graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe
deare Father I confesse my weakenesse is such that I want patience to endure thy tryall take from me thy heauy hand or lay no more vpon mee then I can beare giue an issue vnto all temptations and make a way for mee to escape and in the end grant me a finall deliuerance As thou madest me of dust so thou canst take from me my breath againe and cause me soone to returne vnto my originall earth againe yet spare mee a little that I may recouer my health and strength before I goe hence and be no more seene There is I confesse no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger nor rest in my bones because of my sinnes my heart panteth my strength faileth my beauty and liuely-hood consumeth like a moth-eater-garment O Lord if it be thy will remoue thy stroake away from mee and consume mee not by the blow of thy hand Ease mine agonies mittigate mine extremities be mindfull of my sorrowes and mercifull vnto my sinnes redeeme my life from destruction strengthen my weakenes heale my disease and cause mee againe to walke before thee in the land of the liuing But if thou hast otherwise determined of me to translate mee hence thy will be done grant me patience vnder thy correcting hand and a liuely faith in the all sufficient and efficacious merit of Christ my Sauiour If thou wilt not heale my disease yet forgiue me mine iniquity seale vnto mee a free pardon of all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne say vnto my soule that thou wilt be my saluation In affiance of thy mercifull absolution cause me to declare mine iniquities and be filled with godly sorrow which may worke repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Sprinkle mee with the bloud of Christ and puriâ—â—e me from my dayly pollutions that being washed iustified and sanctified I may be presented vnto thee without spot or wrinkle Let nothing separate mee from thy loue but giue me perseveing grâ—ce to hold out vnto the end that dying thine Angels may conuey my soule into Abrahams bosome there to raigne with thee world without end Amen A Prayer to bee vsed by the friends of the sicke c. O Lord our God and most gracious Creator thou madest vs immortall creatures but by sinne we haue brought death and destruction vpon our selues for we haue profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine ordinances cast thy word behinde our backs liued in all sinne and sensuality spirituall slumber and security so that thou mightest iustly cut vs off from the land of the liuing and giue vs our portion which hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth But Lord for thy mercy sake and for the merits of thy Sonne spare vs a little and giue vs space of amendment before we goe hence and bee no more seene and grace whereby we may draw neare vnto thee to seeke thy fauour in Iesus Christ. Correct vs in thy mercy and not in thy Iustice lest wee should be consumed and brought to nothing If thou giue ouer our bodies vnto sickenesse let it be to the destruction of the body of sin that being aliue vnto God through Iesus Christ we may grow in grace and bee more fruitfull in all good workes And whilest wee liue teach vs to dye dayly mortifying the deeds of the flesh contemning the world with the vanities thereof Weane vs from inordinate selfe-loue that wee may not endeare our selues too much to these transitory liues of ours but may bee ready to depart when it shall please thee to call for vs knowing that we cannot liue euer with thee vnlesse we be willing to dye and be with thee Wherefore we pray thee take away the bitternesse of death and sweeten by the wood of Christs Crosse these waters of Marah that we may sigh and groane in our selues desiring to be deliue-from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Worke in vs a willingnesse to depart but yet we humbly intreat thee let our liues and the life of this thy sicke seruant bee now and euer precious in thy sight looke mercifully vpon him that is grieued with sicknesse Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole Send him therefore helpe and health from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend him Let the enemy haue no aduantage against him nor the wicked approach to hurt him but bee thou present with him and strengthen his faith increase his patience vnder thy correcting hand Lift vp by the hand of thy mercy and Fatherly indulgence this thy seruant from the bedde of his sorrowes If thou wilt longer exercise him lend him strength to endure thy tryall and in the end bee bettered by it If thou hast determined to take him hence certify him how long he hath to liue make him to know his end and the measure of his daies that by prayer and repentance of faith hee may prouide wisely for his last end and bee found of thee in peace and inioy euerlasting happinesse dispose his â—editations aright for death and in the howre of death and alwayes make him to deny himselfe in renouncing iustification by any inherent worth or righteousnesse In all sorrowes and sufferings let thy comforts reioyce his soule To this end mortifie in him the corruption of nature quicken him with the soule of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from worldly thoughts and his minde from carnall desires motions and affections Wash his soule and body with the blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout both in Spirit soule and body with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that departing in the true faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of reioycing in full assurance of a blessed resurrection he may haue boldnesse in the day of Christ and passe from death to life and bee euer with thee to behold thy glory grant this for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer to be vsed by those that are about the sicke O Lord our God great and glorious thou that art the Iudge of all the earth we dust and ashes vile and miserable sinners doe here most humbly cast downe our selues before thee for our sinnes which are the causers of all the euils of punishment which thou inflictest on the sonnes and daughters of men Deare Father heare vs and forgiue whatsoeuer is past and grant that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee through newnesse of life walking before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes And because the dayes are evill giue vs grace to redeeme the time and numbring our dayes aright apply our hearts vnto wisdome Cause vs constantly to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and ensue it Looke mercifully on this thy seruant grieued with sickenesse and sanctifie this visitation vnto him that those graces which thou hast begun to worke in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected Restore vnto him the voice of ioy and health that the
that my father left me Sayes another I haue possessions indeed which I haue purchased as mine owne proper inheritance wherin who can pretend interest but my selfe Should I forgot that which I haue dearely paid for to them that I know not Men ought not to be prodigall in giuing away their goods IT is not meant that any man should be prodigall and consume the inheritance of a Father though many haue wantonly consumed honorable and inferior estats to their dishonour and shame without doing that which God requireth of all men to be done to his glory and their owne future assured comfort Neither is it vnlawfull for any man to purchace so it be by his mony lawfully gotten But neither he that hath it by descent nor he that doth purchace possessions but is bound both to lend and to giue especially to the needie members of Christ. But thou wilt say who are they how shall I know them Surely they that beare but the outward image of Christs humanity must be supposed to be of the number of them to whom thou oughtest to doe good for if thou giue to any poore man whose heart thou knowest not if thou doe it in the name of one of the members of Christ though he be not thy worke is accepted of God as done to himselfe And thou shalt not thereby diminish but procure a blessing vpon the rest of thy lands and goods for God hath promis'd it Euery man is but a steward vnder God of his lands and goods ANd deceiue not thy selfe but know that though thy possessioÌ„s came by descent or purchace and thy goods by gift or by thine owne industrie thou art but steward of them vnder God to feed the hungry to clothe the naked to lend vnto and to releeue the poore And not to conuert them totally as most men doe to thine owne priuate pleasures or worldly profits Say not with Nabal what is Dauid or who is the Sonne of Ishai who are the children of God that I should giue or lend them my siluer and gold my bread or my victualls that J haue prouided for mine own children my seruants and friends Shall I giue it to beggers or lend my monie to poore snakes that will neuer pay me againe Some rich men seeme to loath the Poore IT grieueth such Nabals indeed to look vpon the poore but with disdaine much lesse to giue or lend vnto them wherewith to releeue and comfort them And yet they thinke God loueth them dearely because he heapes vpon them daily more and more this worlds Mammon yet care not for the poore like Iudas that bare the bag Therefore cry the poore vnto the Lord against such hard stonie and couetous hearted miserable rich men And the Lord heareth in heauen and will reward them as they reward the poore for as the poore cry and the rich will not heare them so shall the rich cry and the Lord will not answere them and hence it comes that Christ himselfe affirmes it to be as hard a thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen as for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle this is no skarre-crow Why there are poore and rich in the world HOw can these men set their houses in order before they dye when their hearts are hardened and out of order while they liue nothing regarding Christ in his members There shal be euer some poore in the land saith Moses And Christ saith the poore shall you alwayes haue with you And why only to try the charity of the rich If you releeue them you releeue Christ in them If you afflict them Christ is afflicted by you in them What reward they shall haue that helpe the poore members of Christ. GOd will repay whatsoeuer man giueth or lendeth vnto his distressed members Giue therefore to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away And your reward shal be great And ye shal be called the children of the most high Yet notwithstanding this assured reward and this most glorious title What say the rich to the poore that begge or would borrow This is no giuing age and worse of lending The time indeed is in euery string out of tune harpe where a man will or can he shall find a most harsh discord and all out of order in poore and rich the poore will not worke and the rich will not giue And now begins the Lord to see whether it wil be brought into better order by his fauourable chastisements the body is sicke and the members droope and drop away and yet are men slacke to set their houses much lesse their soules in order before they dye Men seeke to runne from death but carry the infection of sinne with them MEn that are affraid to stand the aduenture of the dissolution or their bodies at home are fled to hide themselues from Gods correcting rod. Let them bewaâ—e that they carry not with them a more pestilent infection in their soules than they seeke to escape in their bodies Some aduenture their soules where they dare not aduenture their bodies IT is strange that many men that are valorous and aduenturous that for the getting of a little mucâ— of the world will aduenture their soules and yet of so faithlesse fearefull and cowardly hearts as they will not aduenture their bodies in the place where they haue laid their soules already to pawne Death finds men euery where DIscretion indeed it is to auoid infection of the body But he that seekes to saue his life may lose it and he that flies farthest off may find death as neere him as at his owne house when he returns for he that flyes in a desperate distrust of Gods power prouidence and protection may preuent the danger but assuredly as great a danger attends him yet if he seek to auoid it in the faith and feare of God in hearty prayer referring himselfe to the will of God for his dissolution or preseruation whether he liue or die he is safe and more happy in his death being the Lords than ten thousand that remaine out of order aliue abroad or at home The loue of this world make men feare death BVt what makes men chiefely to flye death only the loue of the world and the glory and riches thereof because these in the vaine conceit of themselues are most happy of all men and so they are reputed but only of the worldly minded because God suffers them to grow great and rich and glorious and full of the meanes to make them to thinke themselues the deare children of God blessing themselues in the increase of their riches and therfore is the very name of death bitter vnto them Who then dares say vnto such a great man in these dayes as Esay did to Hezekiah Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye would he not spew such a plaine dealing friend for euer out of his good conceit Riches make the better man TAke heede whosoeuer
comforteth the heart so too much oppresseth the whole body And as some light perfume passing by this sense may comfort the braine So too much will infect the same and turne the swetnesse into putrifaction to the hurt of the body and offence to God Dangers incident to the sense of Smelling IF this sense had or were capable of as many offensiue obiects as the eye it would bee as vnruly and soone bring bane vnto the body But though it haue not so many meanes of prouocation as the taâ—â—â— yet in as great danger for as poysonous meates descending into the stomacke may kill the body So may infected fumes putrifie the braine to the like confusion of the bodie The abuse of sweets perfumes AS this sense hath as other senses haue a vertue to comfort so hath it a vice to offend in the too much wanton delight in pleasing it selfe for many haue a pride not onely to perfume their garments to sweeten or to be smelt sweet in the streetes but their very haire to perfume their Ladies lips in their chambers that they may seeme amiable or rather more amorous indeed too effeminate for becomes it a man that is or would seeme valorous to change his vertues which should appeare in his Wisedome Magnanimitie and Iudgement for the vices that onely are imbraced by Curtesans Light-women and Fooles If we well considered what wee are wee would not perfume us IF thou wilt be womanlike thou mayest as well paint thy face to make thee faire as to vse perfumes to make thee sweet Consider what thou art and whereof thou art made Thou art but dust and diddest thou well obserue what comes of thy perfumed carkasse thou wouldest bee ashamed bee thou man or woman either to paint or perfume so vile a peece of flesh that will putrifie and stinke within foure dayes that thy breath is out of thy body These are they that sauour of the flesh fleshly of vanitie and pleasure euen of death vnto death Seeming faire without but filthy within sweet in shew indeed stinking and corrupt How a man ought truely to perfume himselfe IF thou wilt smell well indeed and desirest thy selfe to bee a good sauour to God consider that as there is a corporall and carnall so is there a spirituall and heauenly sense of smelling with which the soule of the Regenerate man smelleth with inward delight the sweete odours wherewith the garments of the spouse of Christ are perfumed with Myrrh Alo's and Cassia of Mercie Wisedome and Truth Endeauour then to smell of Faith Hope of the Loue of God and of like Loue to thy Neighbour as to thy selfe How to become sweet to God SMell thou of a holy and godly life of heauenly Meditations and godly Prayers Then shalt thou bee vnto God a sweet sauour in Christ and of Christ who shall smell in thee a sacrifice acceptable and shall haue pleasure in thy beauty and sweetnesse And thou shalt smell the sauour of life vnto life eternall And in the meane time thou shalt learne and be able to set not onely thy worldly goods but also the house of thy soule thy body and the members and all the senses thereof and aboue all thy soule in perfect order before thou dye Thus of the sense of Smelling followes the sense of Touching The Examination of the sense of Touching IT may be thought meerely superfluous indeede to speake any thing against the sense of Touching or Feeling because it is onely most sensible of hurt and least hurtfull The sense of touching or feeling is disperst through the whole body IT is a sense not set in one locall place of the body alone as the rest of the senses are as Seeing Hearing Tasting and Smelling all placed in the head the Eye to see the Eare to heare the Tongue to taste and the Nose to smell and neither partakes of the others office But this sense of touching or feeling is distributed through the whole and euery part of the body And euery part is sensible of others hurt from the sole of the foot to the Crowne of the head And cannot bee conceived to rest more in the head than in the foot nor more in the Foot than in the Finger Though the Head and Heart are the most apprehensiue parts And the Hand the common instrument and most imployed in the ayde and defence of this sense as if any part or member of the body bee striken or hurt though all parts feele it yet is the hand most ready to helpe it And the hand is most commonly the most offensiue member by touching to hurt And the most vsefull for the choyce of many necessary commodities the goodnesse substance softnesse and supplenes wherof are best knowne by the sense of Feeling neither the Eare nor the Eye are vsed therein If one member be hurt all the body feeles it IF the head or the most inferiour part be it the finger or the little toe suffer iniury this sense suddenly informes the head the head the heart which summons all the members instantly to yeeld commiseration or ayde vnto the offended part and all consult how to ease and releeue that one grieued member The abuse of the taste procures most hurt to the body THis sense is most abused and feeles greatest hurts by the abuse of the taste which ingrossing al delicate meats drinks to pamper the body with replention procureth the gout whereof one cryes out of his Feete another of his Hands it fils another with the Dropsie whereby one cryes out of his body filled with water another of the swelling of his legges another cryes out of the Stone and many other maladies when either of these seise vpon the body it is felt painefull and grieuous euen to the heart As touch but the Gout and the party will bee ready to rore oppresse or dresse but a wound or sore in any part of the body or let the tooth but ake the sense thereof goes from the place grieued to all other parts of the body The abuse of this Sense of Feeling or Touching THis sense of Touching is likewise abused by too much nicenesse in apparell obserued in those that thinke their garments neuer delicate and fine enough to bee felt Cloth of the wooll of sheepe is too base they must haue them as it were of the dainty and thinne Spiders webbe of the very excrements of filthy wormes soft supple and delightfull to bee felt vnlike to holy Iohn Baptists attire who had his garments of Camels Haire vnpleasant to be felt yet is not soft rayment and fine linnen vnfit for Kings and their followers and great men and women But now a Lord can hardly bee distinguished from a man of no meanes A Courtier from a Countrey-man c. Let vs be sensible of the feeling of the wrath of God for our sinnes IF wee well considered the present times of danger wherein we liue and did but consider how God showes his displeasure for our sinnes and
did take it to heart and did apply our inward sense of feeling of his wrath by the punishments already and without repentance like to be more heauily layd vpon us wee should find it more behoued us to turne our silkes into sackclothes and our fine linnen into lamentation our rich rayment into repentance our feastes into fastes then should wee feele in our hearts by the sense and feeling of the Holy Ghost the free forgiuenesse and pardon of our sinnes The King of Niniueh vpon the preaching of Ionah pronouncing from God the destruction of the City for the sinnes of the same felt such remorse and compunction in â—is heart as hee rose from his Throne and laid his Royall rich and soft robes from him and instead of them arayd himselfe in sackcloth and ashes though hee felt them harsh vpon his tender body in token of hiâ— for example of true repentance to his people for their sinnes and caused man and beastes to bee clothed in sackcloth and to abstaine from food in token of sincere repentance And the Lord spared the City And doe not many Ionasses sent from God preach like destruction to vs for our sinnes if wee become so hardened in our hearts as to be past the sense of the feeling of his displeasure shall we not perish The Niniuites repented at the preaching of one Jonas wee have had ten thousand Sermons to that purpose and repent not WEre the Niniuites who repented vpon the preaching of one Ionas spared And did they feele their hearts pricked and their consciences touched at the preaching of one Sermon and that so short Yet forty dayes and Niniueh shall be destroyd Did a people that had scarsly heard of the true God so suddainly and soundly repent and that in three dayes warning in sackcloth and ashes And wee that haue had aboue threescore yeeres the Law and the Gospell the absolute cleere and free knowledge of the liuing God his Christ by aboue tenne thousand Ionasses beating obedience into our eares and shall wee neuer feele it effectuall in our hearts working repentance for our sinnes and amendment of life We feele the heauy hand of God and repent not ARe our hearts so hardned and our consciences so seared that wee bee so farre past feeling as the very seuere scourge of God cannot awake vs Hath hee put his sickle into his haruest not in the City onely but in the whole land hauing already cut downe many silly innocents with many most guilty Hath hee spared such as knew not the right hand from their lest Euen such as neuer actually offended him more than such as haue committed grieuous sinnes and that of knowledge and with a high hand And hath he not taken also many sincere men and women though not perfect among the rest and feele we not yet his wrath that his displeasure continueth and his hand stretched out still against vs Tokens of the hardnes of our hearts DOth any man or woman yet feele in their hearts that God is angry Doth any repentance appeare by any outward markes of sorrow for their sinnes Doe they lay aside their wanton apparell Doe they any whit abate their pride Doth the vsurer abate his vse and lend to the poore for nought Is Bribery extortion and in Iustice banished Is drunkennes abated Is whoredome abandoned Or any vice reformed Doe not rather all forbidden things increase And euery sinne multiply daily And neither of our senses apprehendeth this The eye of the Magistrate sees not the drunkard punished our eares heare not the cries of the poore and of the oppressed to pity them cursing and blasphemies are in our mouthes And our sense of spirituall feeling is meerely mortified that it is to be feared he will change his Rod of visitation by sicknes into fearefull famine or make us feele the sword If wee feele not Gods fauourable correction he will send that wee shall feele LEt vs leave off to dally with God as wee haue done many yeeres hee will not alwayes bee mocked If wee have not the sense to feele his hand of this most fauorable visitation hee will send that which we shall feele if we bee noâ— altogether dead and mortified in sinne we haue seemed but to trifle like trewants in our duties commaunded too long God hath fed vs most plentifully with bread from heauen more aboundantly and more freely then he hath done any nation or people in the world as if wee were his peculiar people most worthy to be beloued aboue all other he hath sowed good seed in our eares but it seemeth to haue taken little roote in our hearts which insteed of good fruites of godlines and obedience bring forth the weeds of wickednes and all sorts of sinnes And wee haue beene long admonished of the danger by Gods many zealous ministers and we feele no pricking in our consciences for our transgressions nor feele or feare Gods threates denounced against vs. All men feele their owne wants and wronges but none regard the members of Christ. EVery man feeles the want of the carnall things hee desires and few there bee that feele the want of grace When they are hungry or thirsty or poore or iniured they feele it But who feeles a sorrow in heart for their sinnes to amendment of their liues Who feeles or takes to heart the misery of Ioseph who feeles a true desire in himselfe to relieue the poore or to defend the oppressed Are wee not all the members of one body whereof Christ is the head And if any of the members suffer thinke wee the head feeles it not And shall any member be afflicted and the rest refuse to helpe it Shall we be so carefull of our owne bodily members that if one of them suffer paine to apply all the rest to relieue it And shall so many members of the mysticall body of Christ suffer not only the sicknes of the body but pouerty want of things necessary depriued of all comfortable attendance perish and so many able men looke awry on them Nay to cast sicke seruants most vncharitably out of their houses inforcing many of theÌ„ to die in the fields like beasts Will God suffer these vnfeeling and senselesse hearts goe without a more heauy punishment then yet they haue felt We ought to haue a feeling of the necessity of the poore HAue thou a feeling of thy brother or sisters miseries and let thy heart bee sensible of thine owne danger and set thy house in order against the time of thy visitation for the time is comming and at hand when thou must feele the force of thy finall dissolution And therefore set thy body thy senses and members of it in good order before the time and as thou hast examined thy tongue and senses So examine thine hands and thy feete which must bee also set in order before thou dye if thou thinke to dye in the Lord. And first examine thine hands The hands of greatest vse hindred for want of sight
in the bed put mee in minde of my resting in the graue and my rising from thence of my resurrection that both in life and death I may continue thine through Iesus Christ. Amen Wednesday A Morning Prayer O Eternall and all-seeing God who art of infinite maiesty looke downe from heauen the habitation of thy holinesse vpon me thy poore and vnworthy seruant lying groueling and groning vnder my sinfull misery Thou art a God of power and canst relieue me of goodnesse and wilt in thy good time mercifully helpe mee Vnto thee therefore upon the bended knee of my soule doe I come humbly beseeching thee to cure my sinfull corruptions and by that bloud which my blessed Sauiour out of his gashy wounds did shed for mee to wash away my sinfull staynes O Lord the fountaine of thy mercy can neuer bee drawne dry nor the merits of my blessed Sauiour emptied O therefore bathe my soule in them that being sanctified and iustified I may appeare in thy sight more pure and white then the snow in Salmon And because it is a pleasant thing vnto thee to giue thanks I blesse thy name for keeping mee this night past and bringing of me to the beginning of this day Defend me gracious father in the same let thy eyes alwayes attend vpon mee prosper preserue cheere vp and cherish guide and gouerne instruct and direct mee in all my studies labours actions imployments and duties of my calling that I may spend and imploy this day and the remainder of my life according to thy blessed wil setting thee alwaies before mine eyes and liuing in thy feare euer working that which may be found acceptable in thy sight to the glory of thy most holy name the peace of my conscience and the saluation of my owne soule and the edification by my good example of all those that attend and depend vpon mee To this end be thou O Lord my God and my guide my protector and defender keep me vnspotted of the world teach mee to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly towards my selfe righteously towards my neighbour and piously towards thee my God repenting me of my sinnes and seruing thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all my daies that in life thou maist bee my God in death my deliuerer after death my eternall rewarder Amen Wednesday An Euening Prayer O Most glorious and gracious God who ouerflowest in thy bountifull goodnes vnto the sons daughters of men that endeauour to serue thee and glorifie thy name I doe here at this time with that good Samaritane returne to giue thee thanks for al thy merciful blessings bestowed vpon my soule and body in things spirituall and temporall for mine election before all time my creation in the beginning of time my redemption in the fulnesse of time my iustification by faith in Christ for my sanctification begun and hope of eternall glory to bee reuealed I praise and glorifie thee most holy father for preseruing me hitherto for prospering me this day past in my vocation and calling and for that thou hast yet spared me and giuen me liberty and a gracious opportunity once more to inuocate thy holy name O Lord I acknowledge and confesse that thou mightest haue taken mee away in the middest of my sinnes and in the very act of committing of them but thou hast dealt more mercifully with me continue good Lord this thy mercy and gracious fauour towards mee this night and let thy blessing rest vpon me keepe mee from feare and danger and from all noysome dreames and from all other hinderances of sweet repose and comfortable rest which thou hast appointed for the recreating and refreshing of mankind But because sinne is that which may with-hold good things from mee and deny thy gracious blessing of protection therefore I most humbly and heartily intreate thee for Iesus Christ his sake to seale vnto me a free pardon of all my sinnes of what nature or quality so euer they be whether they be sinnes of omission or commission of knowledge or ignorance of weakenesse or wilfulnesse O Lord deale not with mee according to the magnitude and multitude of them but for thine infinite mercies and sons merits speake peace vnto my soule assuring me of thy gracious pardon and reconciliation in Iesus Christ. Adde them not vnto my account but blot them out of thy booke of remembrance and cast them out of thy sight into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer rise in this life to shame mee nor in the life to come to condemne mee worke in mee an vnfained sorrow for sinne which may occasion my repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Make me to bewaile my sinnes committed and giue mee grace neuer againe to commit my sinnes bewayled but proceed from one degree of holinesse vnto another from faith to faith grace to grace vntill I appeare before thee the God of Gods in Sion Amen Thursday A Morning Prayer O Lord God great and glorious which inhabitest in the highest heauens and dwellest in that light which no mortall man can approach vnto yet beholdest in much mercy and compassion the sonnes and daughters of men not onely lightning euery one that comes into the world but making the out-goings of the morning to be full of glory causing the sunne to shine vpon the iust and vniust mercifully driuing away the darkenesse of the night and shadow of death I praise thy holy Name and thanke thee most humbly that thou hast vouchsafed mee to passe this night in comfortable sleepe and to be brought againe safe and sound vnto this morning light Now I beseech thee by the holy incarnation and blessed natiuity of thy Son Iesus Christ the thrice happy day-starre that appeared to the world let thy mercy this day rest vpon me and let the bright beames of thy light shine into mine heart that I bee not transported either through the corruption of my nature or power of darkenesse to spend this day after mine owne minde and pleasure but that I may carefully follow the heauenly light of thy word to performe thy holy will willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasing and vniuersally without omitting of that which thou commendest vnto me in thy word Increase in me O Lord the gift of Faith and Hope that I may beleeue in thee and trust to thy mercifull promises made vnto me in Iesus Christ and labour to finde in my soule those graces to which thou hast annexed the promises and grant that neither by mine owne negligence nor the infirmity of the flesh nor the grieuousnesse of temptation I be drawn or driuen away from a sure confidence of thy gracious acceptance with thee in the merit of his sacred bloud dispell these mists and clouds of my sinfull life which blemish my soule and darken mine vnderstanding wash away all my pollutions and staines in the bloud of his passion that I may be acknowledged for one of thine when I
Iesu my sins originall and actuall of weaknes wickednesse haue deserued thy wrath and frowning ire yea that thou shouldest with-hold the eye of thy grace far from me and punish me with everlasting destruction from the presence of thy glory Yet Lord seeing thou hast shed thy blood for me O Lord I beseech thee to wash away all my sinnes in the streames that issued from thy precious wounds As thou hast loued mee in laying downe thy life for me and hast left vnto thy Church this holy Sacrament as a pledge and assurance that through thy death all that truely partake of this sacred and heauenly institution apprehending the mysteries therein contained and applying the merits of Christ Iesus crucified they may haue comfort and peace in beleeuing those mercifull promises which thou hast made vnto vs in thy Word and bee partakers of the benefits of thy Sonnes Passion and haue fruition of thy sauing vertue here and life and glory hereafter Accept mee good Lord in Iesus Christ as washed iustified and sanctified and by thy Spirit O my God cleanse and purifie my heart daily more and more sanctifie mine affections and enlarge my heart for holy and heauenly things that mortifying the deeds of the flesh I may grow and increase in grace perfecting my holinesse in the feare of God At this time I intreat thee of thy gracious goodnesse O most holy and heauenly Father by thy Spirit of confirmation to helpe and strengthen me against my weakenesse and grant that through a stedfast lively and constant faith I may receiue and eate this sanctified bread and hallowed Cup or blessed drinke in a holy and reuerend remembrance that thy body O Lord Iesus was crucified and thy blood was shed for the remission of my sinnes and grant that it may so effectually worke in my soule that I may ever hereafter liue in all holy obedience according to thy heauenly will through Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Amen At the receiuing of the Bread say thus O Sweet Iesus as thou hast giuen thy flesh to bee the bread of eternall saluation so vouchsafe to worke in mee by a liuely faith that I receiuing the same may euermore continue in thee and thou in me Amen At the receiuing of the Cup say thus O Lord vouchsafe that as thy bloud was shed to wash mee a sinner from the corruption of old Adam so grant that it may through a liuely faith take effect in me washing me from the filth of Sinne and renue in me the fruits of righteousnesse that I may become a fitte member of thine liue in thee and dye in thee Amen A prayer after the receiuing of the most holy Communion of the body and bloud of Christ. O God Father euerlasting great and glorious I thy poore and vnworthy Creature being not able to yeeld thee thanks sufficiently praise the for thine vnspeakeable fauour and louing kindnesses in feeding mee at this time with the spirituall foode of the body and bloud of thy Sonne Iesus Christ whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemption into this miserable world and to giue him euen vnto the death for me In remembrance whereof he hath willed me to eate his body and drinke his bloud to the end that by Faith I should bee knit and vnited vnto him and made a liuely member of his mysticall body and being washed from all my sinnes in his bloud I should leade a new life in all obedience holinesse and righteousnesse Vouchsafe I humbly intreate thee for his sake to indue me with thy holy Spirit whereby hereafter casting away the workes of darkenesse I may walke in the true light of thy holy Spirit and euer remaine in the number of thy holy and elect children waiting faithfully when hee shall come againe for my deliuerance out of this mortall life and whilest I liue here vouchsafe me an vnfained desire to pertake of that his holy Institution and through thy holy Spirit to leade my life according to thy holy will in all things keeping my body and soule vnspotted and vndefiled as fit receptacles of so heauenly food that my soule may bee pertaker of the misteries thereof by faith in Iesus Christ. Amen A prayer to be vsed by the tempted against the assaults of Satans temptations MOst gracious mercifull and louing Father which exercisest thy children with sundry and manifold trialls temptations and tribulations leauing hem vnto themselues as thou dâ—dâ—st Hezekiah to the end hee might discouer and see in himselfe his owne vaine-glory imbecility and much frailty Some like Peter thou exposest to the boisterous windes of Satan winnowings and others like Paul to the blowes of the aduersaries vehement buffetings Thine owne and only Sonne thou diddest not exempt from Satans sharpest and stoutest trials when thou diddest conduct him into the wildernesse to bee tempted of the devill If thou O Lord leade me in like manner to be tried and tempted suffer me not at any time to be ouercome hold thou me vp by thy mighty hand and power animate me by the presence of thy Spirit and holy Angels and let thy grace be euer sufficient for mee that I may giue mine aduersary the foile and in the end get the victory In his departure from me for a season let not Satan bee aduantaged or get strength but detect his policies discouer his subtilties vnto me and defeate his doings and dealings which are against mâ— To this end worke such wisdome in me as may make me to foresee his stratagems such vigilancy as that I may beware his pitfalls which hee prepareth for our soules destruction Let no temptation take me but such as is common to man In thy faithfulnesse O Father try me not aboue my strength and ability but with the temptation make a way to escape that I may be able to beare it Let me neuer yeeld to the devilish motions of Satan suggesting vnto me death or desperation but grant me patience to expect the howre of my departure my soules separation and the dissolution of my body and deliuerance from the misery of this wretched world My trouble let it be without distresse my perplexity without despaire my persecution without forsaking my casting downe without destruction If teare befall me in thy good time wipe them from mine eyes preserue them in thy bottle make them precious in thy sight and my selfe with thee Leauing mee for a little while draw nigh againe vnto me in great compassion and gather me vnto thy selfe that I may euer reioyce in thee and with thee Couer my head in the daies of my spirituall conflicts let thy loue be my bannor thy faithfulnesse and truth my shield and buckler Give mee faith and a sure confidence in thee make me perfectly to trust in thy grace looking for Iustification and saluation through thy mercy and my blessed Sauiours merits Let not any kinde of triall bee irkesome and grieuous vnto me but giue me a right iudgement as in all other things so
The ways of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Pleasure for evermoâ—â— A GOOD Companion For A CHRISTIAN Derecting him in the way to God being Meditations Prayers for every day in the Weeke and Graces before after meate London Printed by G.P. for Rich Collins 〈◊〉 his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at y e 3 Kingâ— 1634 A GOOD COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN Directing him in the way to God being Meditations and Prayers for euery day in the weeke and Graces before and after meate Call vpon me in the day of Trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me Psal. 50. LONDON Printed by G. P. for Richard Collins and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Three Kings 1632. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD GORGE Baron of Dondaulk MOST noble my good Lord My deceased Father very ofteÌ„ suruaied the Kings Lands but now by me he humbly tenders himselfe to be suruaied by you This small Treatise the issue not of his body but his braine he left with vs his children to assure vs and al men that himselfe chiefly studied and shaped his courses so to dye that he might neuer dye that he prepared himselfe so to depart froÌ„ the earth that when he did leaue the Earth he had no other busines but to leaue the Earth for his actions were but an example of his precepts Now my very noble Lord my poore selfe being a dependant vpon your honored House hauing nothing in me to expresse my obliged duty no not so much as aduise or wishes since your being good performance of goodnesse makes all my wishes vaine I beseech you but to read and suruay not what you should doe but what you haue done that your sanctified discreetnesse may be a mirror to others and an inforcement to me euer to remaine Your vertuous honorâ— humbly deuoted seruant I. NORDEN To the Reader IT is the word of the Word One thing is necessary many are troubled about many things but did any euer repent that he had set his house in order Did euer any liue the worse in that they were euer prepared to dye Indeed in our Age desperate Security makes many foole-hardy but those which are so much men that they know they haue a Soule and so far Christian men that they belieue they must giue an account of their steward-ship will entertaine this Treatise as right vsefull The world knowes my Father in his life time wrot many Meditations but God only knoweth that this he composed at his end for his death time for before he could bring it into the world himselfe went out of the world In naturall duty therefore to the memory of my deceased Father and in a Christian Charity to the common good J haue set forth this Booke with my hearty prayers to God that we may so set our house in order that whensoeuer the Bridegrome shall call we may not only haue lamps in our hands but oyle in our Lamps and Lights in our oyle that is not only a profession but a perseuering expression of true Christianity I. NORDEN A COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN to guide him in the way to God Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye Isay 38.1 No difference in the naturall substance of poore and rich HEZECHIAH that good King of Judah being sick supposed of a plague sore was commanded by God To set his house in order for he should die wherby it appeareth that as all men are borne to dye so are they subiect to that pestilent infirmitie To show that there is no difference of men in respect of their naturall bodies Kings Princes and Poorest people are all made of one and the same substance and subiect to all like and the same infirmities and therefore none but such as forget wherof they are made will scorne as many doe such as are in respect of themselues basely attired or poore in substance as the rich man in the Gospell did poore Lazarus No cause why the rich should disdaine the poore ANd as the rich proud amongst vs at this day doe foolishly conceiuing an opinion of theÌ„selues that in regard of their riches and reuenues their outward attire and vaine brauerie they are made of a more delicate matter than the poor and that the meanely attired are not fit to come neere them much lesse to touch them But let the richest and the brauest robed be rest of his riches and the poore man enioy it and let the poore man be attired with his glorious garments and then it will appeare that the difference is only in riches and pouertie not in the beautie or basenesse of either Poore and rich incident to equall infirmities AND as touching their infirmities what sicknes is it that befalls the poore that is not incident to the rich And what priuiledge hath the rich to preuent death more than the poore man hath Only the means of physicke which preuaileth not when the time set by the almightie is come And the like set time hath the poore before which time though he take no physicke though necessarie he shall not dye Rich and poore must dye and come to iudgement BVt it is appointed equally to rich and poore that they shall dye and come to iudgment And therfore it is a dutie required by God And fit in Christian discretion and policie not only that Kings and men of great estates the rich and wealthy Men are to set their house in order while they are in health BVt that all men of what estate condition or degree soeuer they be not only in the time of my common plague or infectious disease yet then especially and when they be sicke but rather in their best health and strength should not only haue continually in their mindes that they must dye but at all times to set keep and continue their houses hearts and senses and members of their bodies in order knowing they must dye yet not knowing the time that when the time commeth be it neuer so sudden they may dye in peace with God and with all men in a good conscience Men of meanes are so to settle their possessions and goods as may reserue peace after their deaths ANd as much as in them is so to dispose and settle their worldly possessions and goods as peace may be preserued and continued amongst such as they intend shall enioy them when they are dead for although all men know that it is appointed that they must dye yet are not all men of like watchfulnes or preparation against the time of death Many are slacke in setting their houses in order SOme liue long and many years and become not bodily sicke at all and therefore it seldome or neuer commeth into their mindes that they must dye and so put off the setting of their houses in order and to reforme their liues vntill many of them be preuented And when they would they cannot either for want of time or of
stead of thine atteÌ„dants men seruants maid seruants c. thou shalt haue for thine attendants Iobs sisters brothers wormes to attend and affect thee euen as friends affect friends as long as they can be each to other friendly So as long as the wormes can find in thy dead flesh wheron to feede they wil be thy companions But when the substance of thy body is spent they will leaue thy bare bones to thy mother Rottenesse the end of all flesh And therefore set thine house in order for this must be the certaine end of thine vncertaine mortall life Many perplexe themselues to make them they know not rich MAke not thy selfe more miserable then by striuing to aduance thy posterity to greatnesse and so expose thy selfe to the losse of heauen And flatter not thy selfe with a vaine conceit that it is thy glory to get riches and possessions for thy children with the losse of an eternall inheritance to thy selfe Who are chiefly to be cared for and how far THou art no further bound than to haue a fatherly care of thy family Among the rest thy wife and children are most to be respected for whom thou oughtest to prouide things necessary to maintaine and to sustaine them otherwise indeed thou art to be condemned as an vnbeleeuer But to couet and to vse forbidden nay too solicitous meanes to make thy children great or thy friends after thee rich is not commanded but forbidden Many seeke to secure their posterities in their possession more than their owne assurance of heauen MAny seeke to purchace and to set and settle lands as surely as can be deuised by grauest counsell for the more security of their children after their death to the end they should remaine in their names from one generation to another and lawfull yet not laudable retaining least assurance or security in the meane time vnto themselues of an inheritance immortall after their deaths Notwithstanding their great and spacious possessions here which were a good meane to enable a man to doe the works of charity commanded by God lawfully gotten which the poore haue not Euill gotten goods seldome continue to many generations IF they haue been ill gotten or ill kept they seldome continue to the third generation sometimes not to the second And yet many men couet in their worldly wisedome to preâ—ent if it were possible the very counsel of God himselfe by limiting and entailing their lands and possessions sometimes to ten sâ—cceeding generations intending to perpetualize their names and estates to the end of the world And yet it is seene and daily obserued that as humane policy hath found out this vncertaine deuice of limiting their possessions to such as perchance may be vnborne a hundred yeares after such a deuice is made So like policy hath found out a meane to frustrate the same euen by the same Law by which it was in conceit made strong and irreuocable And sometimes God in his wisedome and secret iudgement alters and turnes the deuices of men cleane contrary to their intentions God disposeth of all earthly inheritance WHen Iosephâ— intended to haue preferred Manasses his first borne to whom by course of inheritance the first place belong'd before Ephraim his secoÌ„d sonne God so directed the heart and the hand of Iaakob in blessing them which then had great force working with the will of God he preferred Ephraim his second before Manasses the first borne So God gaue Isaaks inheritance to Iaakob the younger before Esau the the elder shewing how vncertaine the issue is of the purpose of man touching the making of his heire though it be a part of the setting of thy house in order before thou dye No counsell against the Lord. THere is no counsell against oâ— without the Lord man may purpose this or that child shal be his heire and inherite his Land or this or that friend shall enioy his goods but the disposition is in God who alters the purpose of man euen as he will to shew that the wisedome of man is indeed but foolishnesse without God How men ought to guide their affections in preferring their children or friends IT is not yet vnlawfull for men to respect one sonne or one child or one friend before and aboue another and to haue a desire to preferre one before another to enioy their Lands and goods after them So they respect the preferring the glory of God and that with prayer before their owne naturall affection Namely where they find one more inclinable to vertue to the feare and seruice of God than another to preferre such before them that haue only naturall endowmeÌ„ts as feature as beauty priority of birth wit and comlinesse like Absalom and meere carnall inclinations for the more fauour fathers shew and the more meanes they heape vpon such in making them great or rich the more they will run into riot as is obserued in too many in this corrupt age which breeds scaÌ„dal to the father in so disposing his wealth when he is in his graue And the more dishonor vnto God that lent the meanes and argues no direct setting of his house in a Christian order before he dyed Many rather couet to aduance their posterities to wealth here than themselues to glory heereafter MANY men plainely shew that they loue the world their vncertaine posterity and their owne vaine glory more deerely than they loue their owne soules By so abundantly prouiding to make their posterity great themselues famous some rather infamous after their deaths Can a man be thought to loue his owne soule when he aduentures it in getting superfluous and forbidden meanes to inrich and to make them great whom he knowes not whether they wil be good or euill And to that vncertaine end to hoord vp and to keep riches doing good to none vntill they must needes leaue them Esau more to be excused than some miserable rich men ESau sold his birth right indeed for a messe of potage only to refresh the necessity of his fainting spirit and is more to be excused than they that sell their soules more precious than all the Kingdomes that Sathan tempted Christ withall for the superfluous aduaÌ„cement of them whom they truly know not And yet when they haue gotten much and disposed it to whom they list before they dye they are farre from the setting of their houses much lesse of their souls in good order before they die Jt is lawfull to possesse lands and goods IT is not denied neither doth any scripture inhibite men to haue and enioy possessions lands and goods be they by descent gift or purchace and to leaue them to their children For God hath from the beginning lent these inferior things of the earth to the sonnes of men and alloweth the vse of them lawfully gotten so they be godly vsed and rightly disposed for he that disposeth them without good warrant runs before the counsell of of God as in worldly wisedome or vaineglorious desires many doe to
a doore whereat many euils enter BY the eare of our first Parents as at a doore entred the first 〈…〉 allurements and deceitfull promises that moued them to rebell against their Maker and therefore thou maist not think that Satan will be lesse industrious in vsing like flattering and falsely obsequious ministers to sound like delightfull deceiuing songs in thine eares both of pleasure and profit as may seduce thee and poyson thy affections and so infect the whole house of thy soule as will bring all that appertaines vnto thee out of order The eare a necessary member to conuey words to the vnderstanding YEt is thine eare an excellent and necessary Organ it tryeth words as thy taste tryeth meat and thy palat Wine whether good or euill and distinguisheth the voyces it heareth conveying also the matter to the vnderstanding As when Iosiah the King heard the Booke of the Law read his eare conuey'd the words to his intellectiue sense which his heart conceiuing wrought such compunction in him as hee rent his clothes for that hee thereby found that the Lord was angry because the people had not obey'd the words of the Booke The godly Jewes likewise were pricked in their hearts when their sinnes were reproued by Peter So we being reproued of our sinnes by the Word preached if wee haue eares to heare may bee moued to amendment of life The words of the mouth of no vse without the eare WIthout the eare the tongue were of no vse but as the tongue of a brute beast onely for feeding not for speaking for what auaileth speech to a man that heares not at all no more than to shew colours to a blind man Without the eare the minde of one man cannot be conuey'd ordinarily to the vnderstanding of another neither could man be partaker of the Word of GOD by preaching neither were the most excellent Art of Musicke of any vse Seeing therefore it hath pleased God to giue thee this so vsefull an Organ apply it to the hearing his voyce As Mary did sitting at Christs feet to heare him preach Apply not thine eares to flatterers nor vngodly discourses TAke heed that this instrument of hearing bee not abused and deceiued by the frailty of the mind in hearkning vnto flatterers that onely vse their tongues to deceiue And open not thine eare nor listen thou to vngodly and prophane relations and vnseemely discourses they breed but wickednesse in thy minde and corrupt thy heart with vanities and forbidden thoughts neither spend thou pretious time in hearing or reading fabulous and lasciuious bookes rimes of ribawdry foolish and offensiue libels hearken not to vngodly songs nor to old wiues tales whereby many times the holy Name of GOD is not onely taken in vaine but blasphemed which vngodly men heare with a kinde or diuellish delight and thinke they sinne not Auoid the listning to things mouing to sinne BVt know thou that whoso lendeth his eare to heare things tending to moue vnto sinne delighteth in the meanes to make him more sinnefull and sheweth himselfe willing to adde fewell to the fire of his carnall concupiscence as if corrupt nature it selfe were not prone and ready enough to offend GOD but it must haue Sathanicall prompters and outward motiues to make it more guilty Prophane eares listen to vnholy things THese men haue eares to heare but apply them to that which is euill vncircumcised eares such as Ieremy the Prophet reproueth saying They are not ashamed to open their eares and listen with attention to whatsoeuer may tend to Gods dishonour And such eares haue they that in their wanton feasts and banquetings euen while they are partaking of the good blessings of God euen among their superfluous cups and cates which were sin enough cannot be godly merry in receiuing Gods creatures with thankfulnes prayer for a blessing vpō that they receiue to refresh their bodies which for formes sakes as appeareth peraduenture one in the company well disposed may seeme to performe forget yet all holy reuerence to God and desire to haue their eares filled with variety of musicall instruments which may bee vsed without offence Wanton songs at feasts wicked ANd which is most wicked their meates and wines must be sawced and seasoned with lasciuious wanton and most hellish songs of ribawdry and filthinesse the more to stirre them vp to lust and reioyce and laugh at their own shame and will not sticke to controule any that shall reproue it ready to abandon him out of their societies as a Precise Puritan for interrupting their vngodly mirth with some godly communication which they hold motiues to melancholy There is no sweet or pleasing feast to some but where the Diuell is one of the Musitinsa or Foole in the Play and they to dance after his Pipe If an Infidell should heare some of their delightfull songs he would surely thinke they were either of none or of some Ethnike religion Why not Psalmes rather than wanton songs at Banquets AShame it is to Magistrates especially to such as will admit of such infernall melody who ought to suppresse it if they will be merry why can they not aswell recreate themselues with instruments of musicke if they desire it and Psalmes to the praise of God as to please the Diuell with songs of iniquity Fit it is to abandon the songs or banish the singers for the very breath of them infecteth not onely the Tauernes where they are commonly receiued but the very streets where they are permitted to seeke company to corrupt Stop thine eares from filthy songs THou therefore that intendest godly order in thine owne house and wishest the welfare of thine owne soule stop thine eares from hearing such vile and vicious forbidden vanities To what to apply thine eares LEarne and accustome thine eares to heare wisdome and hearken to vnderstanding delight thine eare onely to hearken and to attend vnto the Words of GOD preached whereby God speaketh vnto thee and calleth thee from these vngodly vanities To make thee holy as he is holy And hearken not vnto the voyce of Sathan that speaketh by his infernall Ministers to make thee more and more sinnefull God hath giuen and opened vnto thee eares to heare him and wilt thou apply them to heare his holy Name prophaned and blasphemed to please the Diuell Wherefore God hath giuen men eares HEE hath giuen thee eares to hearken vnto and to learne vnderstanding in heauenly things and to discerne his voyce from the voyce of strangers namely of Satan and of such as delight to speak but not as becometh perfect Christians their word tendings to offend God and good men Jt is a like euill to talke or to delight to heare euill talke EVill words corrupt good manners and therefore thinke not that it is no sinne to heare prophane and vngodly discourses though thou thy selfe discourse not for to lend an eare with delight vnto vngodly talke is as euill as if thou didst vse thy tongue therein for there is no
Sobriety He nourishâ—â—h his soule by Faith and Obedience to the Word of God he â—â—â—deth on the sincere milke thereof and becommeth strong thereby and at last a Perfect man in Christ Iesus The difference betweene the Corporall and Spirituall taste Corporall food bee it never so sweete and pleasing to the Taste yet it loatheth at length euen that which a little before it delighted in with greedinesse But this food the sweet milke of the Word hath the vertue to season the inward taste and to prepare the spirituall Appetite to feed the soule vnto saluation and the more hee tasteth of it the more his appetite through Faith inflamed is to hunger for more hee cannot be satisfied with little for the more hee tasteth the sweeter he findes it and the more he hungers for it The seuerall operations of corporall and spirituall food O Taste how sweete this food of thy soule this heauenly Manna is It is a food of a contrary nature to the food of thy body bodily nourishment entreth into the mouth this by the eare the first descendeth into the belley and is euacuated turnes to dust the second descends into a prepared heart by the word preached and nourisheth thy soule and retaines it onely to worke thereby righteousnesse shewing it selfe in godly meditations and faithfull prayers And the more thou feedest on this Celestiall food the more wilt thou seeke as it were by violence to have it Thou maist surfeit by the deceit of thy corporall taste by feeding too much but on this that commeth from heaven the more thou feedest the more hungry wilt thou be to feed How to increase spirituall Appetite OMit not the continuall use of it increase it by hearing and confirme it by receiving the Sacraments by faithfull prayer and continuall practise of a godly life So shalt thou bee alwayes fit and well prepared to dye And be alwayes able and ready to set thine house in order before thou dye And being departed out of this mortall life thou shalt taste and be satisfied with the food of Angels in that heavenly city New Ierusalem where God shall giue thee to drinke of the riuers of his pleasures and shalt euermorâ— taste and find how gracious the Lord 〈◊〉 The Examimation of the sence of Smelling Want of smelling hinders the tasting THe sense of smelling may be conceiued to be of least vse of all the bodily fiue senses and may be better wanting than any of the rest The greatest impediment that the want of smelling brings is to the taste for he that hath lost his smelling hath much impaired his tasting Hee that smels not well cannot taste well So that for want of the perfection of these two senses tasting and smelling the body may receiue vnwholesome food in stead of good and salutary Sweet ordours in garments vsed to moue to sinne euilly MAny yet abuse this sense of smelling hauing it in perfection especially in the superfluous desire and custome of odoriferous fumes commonly bestowed in and vpon mens and womens garments most offensiue to God when they are vsed to allure to sinne Sweet odors necessarie and of sundry vses YEt are sweet odours a great blessing of God and of holy vse wherewith the bodies of the dead Patriarcks and Christ were imbalmed and Kings annoynted odors infused as well into simples herbs flowers gums very excrements of some creatures as compounded by Art as Incense c. are of necessarie use with moderation for the comfort of the braine and other salutary ends as in time of any common contagion or infectious disease Physicall smels wholsome perfumes are necessarily to be used to fil up the pores penetrable parts of the head by which coÌ„monly al infectious diseases enter as do also all offensiue and hurtfull corrupt and vnsavourie vapours and stinkes which putrifie the braine and bloud and consequently the whole body which physicall fumes and odours by Gods blessing may prevent How sweet odours are abused and how to be used BVt if these necessaries for health be vsed to stirre vp lust or allure to sinne then is this sense made an occasion to bring other parts of the house of thy soule thy body out of order The vse of them for health and to preuent sickenesse is lawfull and preuailing by faithfull prayer to God for a blessing But delight not too much in pleasing this sense with sweet odours to the offence of God for the excesse in satisfying any of thy senses is sinne beware therefore that thou make not that an instrument of euill which God hath giuen thee to bee vsed to his glory and thine owne comfort Many beasts excell man in the perfection of many of the senses GOD to shew as in all other his workes his omnipotent Power Wisedome and Goodnesse hath created in man and beast fiue senses wherein as touching the perfection of some of them divers other creatures excell man as the Eagle in seeing the Hart in hearing the Spaniell and Heund in smelling the Spider in touching and the Bee in Tasting onely hath he giuen man reason aboue all the rest yet many creatures come neere vnto reasonable vnderstanding and exceed man in exquisite Art As what man is hee that can contriue the manner and compose the matter of the Spiders net or forme the Hony combe Who can gather hony and waxe out of flowers herbes and stinking weedes Nay who can make the nest of a silly Wren If then man comes short in the performance of many things that silly creatures can doe why should hee boast of any rare qualitie of his members or senses when in euery outward facultie silly bruit creatures eâ—cell him Vnreasonable creatures vse their senses lesse offensiue to God than reasonable men ANd sith God hath endued man as well with reason as with his senses and giuen the inferiour creatures like senses without reason what shame is it for man more to abuse his senses thaâ— vnreasonable creatures for euery creature but man vseth it's senses to serue for necessitie when man turnes them through carnall delight into wantonnesse and sinne All creatures man onely excepted glorifie God in their kinds not exceeding their bounds first limited and appointed unto them in their senses or qualities and man keepes no measure in any of hem The necessitie of the sense of Smelling THis seeming silly organ of smelling placed in the head by the nosthrils doth conuey vnto the braine wholesome odours and the ayre whereby wee aspire and respire the breath of life And by it we can iudge betweene good and healthfull euill and vnsauoury sents And without this sense of smelling a man might receiue into his body and braines noysome vapours and mortall stinkes and not perceiue them Sweet odours to bee vsed moderately APply not yet this necessary instrument of thy body to bring the rest out of order as by delighting too much in the superfluous vse of sweete and ouer-pleasing odours and perfumes for as a little Wine
harlots to allure thee to follow them and the multitude to the pit of perdition Follow not the multitude though they scorne thee BEware thou bee not seduced and drawne backe by them let not thy feete follow their steps though they flourish waxe rich and great glorious and thou be scorned derided and scoffed at for being so austere and earnest in the good way regard it not for it will not be long ere thou shalt come to thy iournies end the citie of the liuing God new Jerusalem where after thy tedious iourney thou shalt haue rest glory and peace for euer more Nothing ought to moue us out of the narrow way IN the meane time bee of good comfort ponder all thy paths and order thy wayes aright and let not the prosperitie of them that walke the broad way there pleasures or delights any whit moue thee to turne thy feet out of the way of righteousnesse truth and obedience The right guiding of the feet REsort often to the temple of God bee a diligent and an attentiue hearer of the word of God it shall bee a Lanterne to thy feet and a light vnto thy pathes so that thou shalt not slide The lord will keepe thy feet from falling and guide thee in the way of peace and happinesse to the workes of mercy to goe to the sicke to visite them to the prisoners to releeue and comfort them hee will make thee to bee as it were feet to the lame and eyes to the blinde as was holy Iob. Seeing wee are of our selues corrupt wee must seeke to bee guided by the Spirit of God TO this end hath God especially giuen thee thy feete to carry thy body not to places of iniquity but where thou mayst either doe good or receiue good But trust not thine owne wit or thine owne will for the direction of thy feet aright for they are corrupt and will misguide thee But â—raue daily the assistance of the holy Ghost to leade thee for as a blind man though hee haue legs and feet to beare him can he auoyd danger in his going without a guide And what is euery man but blind And therefore without that spirituall guide cannot man but goe in danger pray therefore the Father in his Sonne to send that holy Spirit which proceedeth from them both all three persons but one God to teach thee how to guide thy feet in the way of a godly and holy conuersation that thou mayst say with holy Iob My feet haue followed the steps of the Lord and not declined And lincke not thy selfe with those prophane and lewd wretches that doe not only not refrain but apply their feet to euery euill and licentious way whom God in the end will binde hand and foote and cast into vtter darnesse for euer The feete of the wicked are fettered with sinne PRay therefore continually vnto the Lord that hee will keepe thy feete from the snares of Satan and sinne the common high way that such men walke in as feare not the Lord. Their feete are fettered they can goe no further than the chaine of their naturall inclination will permit them and that is onely to euill euermore running as it were with greedinesse to their owne ruine and fall at length head and foot into the pit of eternall darkenesse whereunto they were led in the broad way from whence no counsell could reclaime by the Prince of that infernall kingdome with whom shall bee onely and euermore tormented all such as have abused their bodies their senses and members the house of their soules in all vngodlinesse without repentance or care to set keepe them in order as becommeth the elect of God here in this life He that gouerneth his senses and members of his body rightly is well prepared to dye COntrariwise if thou canst now so order thy senses thy hands and feet and all the members of thy body as thou art bound to doe and abuse them not to the hinderance of a godly life thou needst not to feare but that thou art well prepared to set thy house in order before thou dye for the outward good gouernment of the body is a good argument that thy heart within thee is in good order thy will and affections not much out of order and therefore not amisse in few words to examine the inward estate of thy soule as thou hast done thine outward body namely how thy heart standeth An examination of the heart No man knowes truely his owne heart WHen a man goes about to examine euen his owne heart hee enters into a Laberinth of difficulties into a bottomlesse deepe of subtilties deceites and frauds It is indeed vnsearchable and no man can truely finde what is in his owne heart although a man may thinke hee knowes the thoughts purposes and desires which hee concealeth in his heart and may determine in himselfe to put them in execution And yet when it comes euen to the very doing of what he intended another conceit crosseth it and turnes the first determination out of doores and so one thought thrusts out another infinitely for the heart is a store house of variable imaginations and vnstable purposes for when a man is most priuie to the thoughts of his owne heart as hee thinketh hee is commonly deceiued hee may purpose this or that and deliberate vpon the manner of the performance and as it were assure himselfe of a happy and wished end and yet succeed cleane contrary to his intention The heart is a closet full of deceitfulnesse THe heart is as a secret closset lockt vp as it were and euery man thinkes hee hath his owne true key to vnlocke it and so no doubt euery man seemeth to doe when hee deliuers his minde to another by word or writing But such is the deceitfulnesse of the heart that either it ouer-ruleth the tongue that speaketh or the pen that writeth from the meaning of the heart that he vttereth and writeth false-hood for truth or some truth mixed with deceit The dore of his heart are the lips and so subtile is the heart that it cannot open it selfe by nature but to euill for the heart of it self is corrupt aboue all things and corrupts euery action both of the body and mind and whatsoeuer proceeds from it is either euill or mixed with euill And therefore is the wisest naturall man ignorant of the euils of his owne heart The heart pondereth all kinds of wickednesses IF a man duely and throughly examine the wickednesse of his owne heart and be not partiall hee shall finde it inclinable to the most egregious euils that the most wicked reprobate that euer liued committed yea hee shall finde among infinite other greeuous sinnes motions tending euen to murther nay to reason as it were within himselfe against the very essence of God and against the deity of Christ. There is no thing so wicked and impious but mans heart by nature is or one time or other hath beene inclined to perpetrate
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
come vnto thee in my need giue me a will to worke truely and daily in my vocation and to order my skill by the rule of thy wisdome that I be not vnfruitfull Blesse my body and soule that no euill or harme come vnto them and keepe my memory and senses that they passe not the limits of reason and vnderstanding wherewith thou hast endewed me O Lord lighten my minde to looke vpon good things only inflame my heart with the loue of them and conduct mee with thy grace that as thou hast awaked my body from sleepe so my soule may daily be raised from sinne and soule and body and spirit may be renued in righteousnes to serue thee the liuing God to the praise and glory of thy great Name the credit of the Gospell of grace and finally to the saluation of my poore soule in the day of the glorious appearing of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Thursday An Euening Prayer O Lord God my most louing and mercifull Father great in mercie and constant in truth I doe acknowledge my bounden duty of thankefullnes vnto thee for thy manifold graces and benefits imparted vnto mee and although I bee vnable to recount them and farre more vnworthy to be partaker of them neuertheles in full assurance and confidence of thy loue to mee in Iesus Christ I presume to come vnto thee and now againe commit into thy hands this night my soule and body withall my senses and faculties thoughts and affections words and deeds my heart and soule and all that is within mee and without mee my Faith and the continuance of the same beseeching thee to keepe me and them day and night blameles and vndefiled against the day of thy comming O Lord pardon and forgiue me all the sins which I haue either wretchedly effected oâ— wickedly imagined against thine honour and the good of my neighbour Lay not the faults and frailties of my younger yeares vnto my charge forget them Lord and forgiue them and for the better confirmation of thy gracious pardon I humbly intreat thee O Lord to annex vnto thy grant the power of thy grace to attend vpon me that I may not doe mine owne will but thine and eschewing euill and doing good strike mine heart with thy feare O Lord that in fearing thee I may labour to escape those things which thou threatnest and giue me the comfort of thy saluatition that in louing thee I may bee thought worthy to obtaine those things which thou promisest Be fauourable vnto me O Lord that I may this night quietly take my rest vnder the shadow of thy wings voide of all feare spirituall darkenesse dangers bodily or ghostly finall despaire and the like and when the darke end of this mortall life like the shutting in of this day shall come grant mee O Lord a watchfull heart willingly disposed and thereby inabled with thy grace to abandon these transitory nights and dayes and depart hence in the peace of a good conscience into thine euerlasting rest through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour In whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying as he himselfe hath taught me in the Lords prayer Our Father c. Fryday A Morning Prayer O Holy Lord God maker and gouernour of all things both in heauen aboue and the earth beneath vnto thee doe I come with a broken and contrite heart sorrowing for my sinnes seeking to find comfort at thy hands Thou O Lord my God knowest my griefe mine anxiety and care oh let me feele and finde thy comforts to refresh my soule and reioyce my heart Bee with me this day in all my worldly businesse and affaires and let thy grace and holy Spirit euermore defend me and preserue my innocency and integrity that I may bee knowne and acknowledged for thine owne at the last day I thanke thee gracious Father for keeping me this night past and for that thou hast safely brought me to see the glistering light of the day O Lord stirre me vp that I may expresse my thankfulnesse by my serviceable obedience preserue and keepe me from sinne and all annoyances of both soule and body Make mee this day as abstinent from flesh prohibited and forbidden by the Church so from all filthinesse of both soule and Spirit that perfecting my beginnings of holinesse in the feare of God I may bee assured of an inheritance with the Saints in light Strengthen me against the vanityes of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life and renue whatsoeuer is decayed in mee through the malice of Satan or mine owne corruptions and that approuing what is thy good and acceptable will I may endeauour to doe the same and so worke out my owne saluation with feare and trembling Giue me grace to spend this day and the remainder of my dayes in all peace and purity sanctity and sobriety to thy glory the good example of others and finally the salvation of my owne soule for Iesus Christ his sake the Son of thy loue to whom with thee O Father and thy holy Spirit one God in vnity and three persons in trinity be ascribed of me and thy whole Church all honour and glory world without end Amen Fryday An Euening Prayer MErcifull Lord God and my gracious Father in Iesus Christ I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid O leaue me not nor forsake mee but euer bee thou my God and my guide leade me into all truth and in the end let me see thy saluation Wash away all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne sanctifie my nature abolish my corruptions guide mee here by thy councell and after that receiue mee to glory Keepe mee now and euer send mee this night quiet rest and grant that lying downe to sleepe I may rise againe in thy peace walke in thy feare the day following and for euer glorifie thee Infuse into mee O Lord the Spirit of sweet consolation and although my sleepe be a death and my bed as the graue yet suffer me not to perish suddenly or vnprepared but watch ouer me for good guide me now and euermore let no affrightments fall vpon me keepe me from fire storms tempests theeues sudden death and danger and be vnto me a gracious protector and director Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about me my house and habitation Remember thy Church and euery member thereof to preserue and keepe it especially the poore afflicted protestants in all parts beyond the seas and at home in our owne land send them helpe from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend them Be vnto them a sun and a shield a sun to comfort and a shield to safeguard and protect them in all assaults dangers and difficulties trialls temptations and tribulations Put an end and period vnto all their griefes and afflictions and in thy good time vouchsafe them a happy deliuerance out of all their troubles for thou neuer failest in thy compassions towards such
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
according to thy good pleasure and shewest thy selfe in nothing more omnipotent then in the conceiuing forming and bringing forth of mankinde into this world which alâ—â—ough it was in the beginning ordayned most easily yet by the subtilty of our continuall enemy Satan in causing our first parents to transgresse thy commandement and breake thy will by tasting the forbidden fruit it is now most painefull and dangerous grieuous and perillous insomuch O sweet Lord as without thine especiall grace and assistance fauour and mercy it is altogether impossible for vs fraile women a weake sex to beare and abide the same our imperfection and feeblenesse is such as of our selues we are not able to indure the least of all the sorrowes and sufferings that accompany this kinde of trauaile wherefore sweet Lord and louing Father my humble desire vnto thy maiesty is for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wouldest vouchsafe to extend vnto me and to all women thy mercy and louing fauour to mitigate the paines thereof that we may be able patiently to indure the paines of our trauaile at the howre appointed and make that easie and light vnto vs which our defects haue made heauy and burdensome sweeten that which our deserts haue made sowre that the burden wherewith I am now laden may graciously be deliuered from my weake body Send vs all good Lord happy and gracious deliuerance that wee may bee made ioyfull and happy mothers And vouchsafe vnto me to al that haue conceued and be with childe strength to bring forth that which thine omnipotency hath so wonderfully wrought within vs. In our troubles O Lord helpe vs thou most mighty and mercifull God mightily deliuer vs. Let thy power might and loue be no lesse manifest in the deliuery then in the forming of thy creature that being through thy goodnesse made a ioyfull mother I may obtaine my perfect strength againe and liue to praise and please thee for euermore Amen Another short and most necessary prayer to be said of one with Childe O Lord whose goodnesse wee haue offended and by our sins deserued infinite paines looke with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me lay aside thy Iustice and shew me thy mercifull fauour and louing kindnesse Let me inioy the benefit of thy helping hand and not feele the weight of thy heauy displeasure fauourably lighten me of this heauy burden in thy good and gracious time and in the howre and instant of my deliuery be present with me O Lord and tender my safety through Iesus Christ. Amen A thanksgiuing after the woman is deliuered of the Childe FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee Almighty God of thy gracious goodnesse to ease me of my paines and deliuer me of my burden and from the pangs and throwes of Child-bearing I doe here humbly prostrate my soule and body before thy sacred maiesty to be vnto thee a reasonable liuely and liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight giuing thine omnipotent maiesty infinite and vnfained thanks for this thy gracious preseruation of me and deliuering me out of this great danger of death wherein I was and vnder which I might soon haue perished had not thy mercy sustained me and thy goodnesse imbraced me on euery side To thee therefore O holy and heauenly Father be giuen and ascribed all possible praise and thanksgiuing from this time forth for euermore As thou hast beene gracious vnto me in giuing me a childe so Lord giue me grace to deuote and consecrate it vnto thee and thy seruice To this end worke mightily in it by thy holy Spirit sanctifie it from the wombe that it may bee thine not only whil'st it hangs vpon the mothers brests but so long as it shall breath in the land of the liuing and vntill thou translate it hence to raigne with thee in glory Amen A short Prayer for Wisdome O Lord most great and glorious I confesse that whilst I beare about with me this body of sinne imprisoning the soule my nature corrupted and depraued with sinnes originall and actuall seekes by all meanes possible to oppose the spirit and doe those things which are dissonant and contrary to the motions inspirations and gracious influence and working thereof My flesh lusteth against the spirit so that the things which I would doe I cannot and the things which I suppose to be done in much knowledge and wisdome will bee found not only ignorances and errors but sinnefull wickednesse in thy fight Wherefore I humbly beseech thee O Holy Father to send out thy light and truth thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation to teach and instruct mee to bee my God and guide to leade mee into all truth Lord send downe that wisdome which waiteth about thy throne and plant the same in my heart that all my sayings doings and devises being alwayes ordered by this wisdome from on high I may intend and doe that which is pleasing in thy sight and profitable for mine owne saluation and shun the contrary in all things through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A short Prayer for defence against our Enemies O Lord my God bee not farre from me in trouble and in all dangers bodily or ghostly draw neere and make haste to helpe me I am I confesse a most sinfull creature and haue iustly deserued thy wrath and indignation against me the sorest and seuerest of thy punishments yea that all thy blessings should become curses vnto me and that I should either be destroyed by thine and the churches enemies or that I should bee ruinated by mine owne prosperity Yet Lord for thy mercy sake turne thee vnto me and haue compassion on me let not mine enimies preuaile in their mischieuous devises lest they be to proud in thy mercy conuert them or in thy iustice confound them make them as the stubble before the winde and thine Angell scattering of them Lord I am in thine hand and they are within the compasse of thy power stay and allay their fury let them not take effect in their mischieuous Imaginations and attempts against me but put them to confusion rid me and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Be thou a son and a shield vnto me to comfort and protect me To this end cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee that being defended vnder the shadow of thy wings and armed with the power of thy might I may not feare what man can doe vnto me Lord regard me with the eye of thy grace and guard me with the hand of thy power that being preserued in both soule and body I may liue in piety peace and godlinesse vnto my liues end Amen A Prayer to be said before the receiving of the Lords Supper O Lord Iesus the Sonne of the liuing God who freely and of thine owne accord offeredst thy most sacred Body to bee broken and thy blood to bee shed for my sinnes that thou mightest ransome me from hell and deliver me from wrath eternal condemnation O sweet
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we
may be prepared like wise virgins with oyle in our lamps to meet the sweet bride-groome of our soules whether at the day of our death or Iudgement These and all other graces which for blindnesse we cannot and for our vnworthynesse we dare not aske we beseech thee to giue vnto vs for the worthinesse of thy deare Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Our Father c. An Euening Prayer for a Family O God the God of the spirits of all flesh the high and lofty one that inhabitest eternity who hast made the earth by thy power established the world by thy wisdome and stretched out the heauens by thy discretion the Father of eternity and fountaine of mercy the giuer of all good things the forgiuer of all sinnes and the comforter of all such as fly vnto thee Seeing we are here present before thee be thou present with vs and president in vs and appealing from the seate of thy iustice to the throne of thy mercy we pray thee giue vs a sense of our owne miseries and an assurance of thy mercies that we may not be daunted with ouermuch feare but confident of thy goodnesse may with ioy appeare in thy presence in an humble acknowledgement of our sins To this end we confâ—sse that we haue sinned against heauen and before thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children for we haue transgressed thy holy lawes and commandements not only by our thoughts and words but by our deeds and continuall actions our iniquities are more then the haires of our heads and doe make vs seeme vile in our owne eies how much more in thy sight Lord vnto thee doe wee confesse our sinnes O grant vs pardon and absolution for the same open vnto vs penitents that euer streaming fountaine of thy Sonnes bloud that my sinnes being bathed therein we may appeare without blemish in thy fight by his death mortifie our sinfull corruptions hide them in his wounds and bury them in his graue that they may neither rise in this life to shame vs nor in the world to come to condemne vs. Giue vs thy holy Spirit let him purge our consciences heale our corruptions illuminate our vnderstandings confirme our memories consecrate our soules and bodies that they may be the temples of the holy Ghost to dwell in Bee mercifull to thy Church enlarge the borders thereof Blesse our gracious Soueraigne Lord King Charles with long life and abundance of grace here and his royall consort Queene Mary with a zealous and religious affection that she may follow after that which will bring her to euerlasting ioy and peace hereafter Bee with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary put thy feare into their hearts that they may neuer depart from thee Prosper the most illustrious Princesse the Lady Elizabeth with her hopefull issue Blesse the Nobility Gentry Ministry Magistracy and Commonalty our kind folkes in the flesh and friends in the Spirit Protect all those that stand vp for thy truth but as for thy foes let them be ashamed and confounded And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon vs wherein thou hadst ordayned man to take his rest we humbly beseech thee who art the keeper of thy Israell who neuer slumbrest nor sleepest to watch ouer vs by thy good prouidence Cause thine holy Angels to pitch their tents round about vs that being freed from the terrors of the night and refreshed with moderate rest and sleepe we may the better be inabled to praise thy name and to walke before thee in all good workes and holinesse of conuersation all the daies of our liues Let our bed O Lord put vs in minde of our graue and our rising from thence of our resurrection that whether we wake or sleepe we may be alwayes thine And knowing that thy name O Lord is a strong towre of defence wee here commend our selues this night vnto thy most holy protection If it be thy will to call for any of vs in our sleepe O Lord for Christ his sake haue mercy vpon vs and receiue our soules into thy most blessed kingdome but if it be thy heauenly pleasure to adde more daies unto our liues adde more amendment vnto our dayes that liuing we may liue in thy feare and dying may dye in thy fauour and in the end raigne with thee in Glory Amen A forme of Thanksgiuing WEE blesse and magnifie thy great and glorious name for all thy mercies both spirituall and temporall concerning this life and that which is to come for our creation after thine Image redemption by thy Sonne sanctifitation by thy Spirit for our preseruation by thy prouidence for our life health wealth peace and prosperity for sparing vs so long and giâ—ing vs so large a time of repentance for deliuering our King and state from that horrible plot of the gunne-powder treason we thanke thee for that thou hast giuen vs thy messengers to be admonishers thy word to bee our instructor thy Spirit to bee our counsellour our God and guide to leade vs into all truth Blessed bee God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of merciâ—s and God of all consolation who when we were sometimes alienes and enemies in our mindes by wicked works and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others out of his rich mercy for the great loue where with he loued vs euen when wee were dead in trespasses and sins and the vncircumcision of our flesh hath quickned vs together with Christ hauing forgiuen vs all our trespasses blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against vs taking it out of the way nailing it vnto the Crosse. Wee thanke and praise thy glorious Name for blessing vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly places in Christ for deliuering vs from the power of darkenesse and translating vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne making vs meet to bee pertakers of the inheritance with thy Saints in light Thy hands haue made and fashioned vs. Thou hast deliuered our soules from death our eyes from teares and our feete from falling Thou hast deliuered vs from dangers extended peace vnto vs like a riuer and prosperity like a flowing streame we drinke waters out of our own wels Thou hast strengthned the bars of our gates and blessed our children within vs. Thou hast giuen vs bread to eate and raiment to put on yea our bread like Ashurs is fat and we haue pleasures which euen kings doe want Thou hast not dealt so with any nation oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he hath done for the children of men Wherefore blessing honour glory and power bee vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the lambe for euer and euer Amen A Collect for the Day LOrd blesse vs and make thy face to shine vpon vs keepe vs from sinne and Satan and from sickenesse and sorrow shame and seruitude losse of goods and good