thy deserts O Lord I confesse vnto thee that my harte is vncleane and that I am a man of polluted lippes wallowing in the dunge and stinkinge in the rottennesse of my owne sinne soe that I may iustlye tremble to appeare before thy glorious presence much more to present vnto thee thy pure prayses out of my defiled mouth But who except thou O Lorde can make mee cleane and what is pure which thou hast not purged Thee therefore O Father of life O Lord of light thee with all the forces of my soule thee most humbly most earnestly I do beseech heare O mercifull helpe O myghtye Lord helpe thy seruant whome of thy mercie thou hast created clense my filthynes lighten my darknes enflame my coldenes quicken my dulnes awake my drowsines reuiue my deadnes repaire the ruines of my soule enlarge the frame of the vnderstanding thereof clense it from all earthly corruption garnish it with thy heauenly graces that it may bee conueniently both fitt and furnished to receiue thee that thou maist make thine entrie possesse that which is thine owne both by creation also by redemption and that as thou art exalted aboue all creatures soe aboue all creatures I may honour thee loue thee and praise thee not with that affection wherewith my weakenesse is able either to doe or to desier but with that perfection wherewith in dutie I should and wherewith thy Saintes and angells indeede doe O giuer of life O restorer O preseruer O enlightner of life O most louinge and louely Lorde But what shall I say where shall I finde full praises to extoll thee my speach faltreth and my spirit faileth my tongue can applie no fitting wordes neither can my minde supplye sufficient matter I want wordes to expresse my minde I want alsoe a minde to apprehende thy merites I conceiue farre aboue the abilitie of my vtterance and yet farre vnder the dignitie of thy desertes Lord my soule is desirous to yeelde praises to thee for thy benefites but it is vnable to conceiue that which is worthy and vnwilling to vtter that which is vnworthy it is ashamed to sende forth woordes knowinge how weake they are for soe weightie an office without thy presence it can neuer attaine to any degree of thy praise let it therefore haue thee O Lorde that it may in some measure praise thee For what worthy praise can I giue vnto thee by whose goodnes I was created by whole mercie I was redeemed by whose power I am preserued and by whose grace I looke to bee glorified when I was not thou diddest make mee when I was lost and forlorne thou camest downe and tookest mortallitie vpon thee to redeeme mee thou a King diddest humble thy selfe to exalt mee thou wert sould to redeem mee thou wert wounded to heale mee and thou diddest dye to saue mee O sonne of God how hast thou abased thy selfe how were thy affections inflamed how large were the limits of thy mercie Lorde thou hast loued mee more then thy selfe beecause for my sake thou wouldest endure not onely a contemptible life but both a shamefull and painfull death And yet did not thy loue in this sorte leaue mee but thou hast continuallye soe followed mee with thy fauours as though thou haddest regarded mee alone and neglected all thy other creatures When I wandred thou diddest seeke mee when I was ignorant thou diddest instruct mee when I offended thou diddest correct mee when I sorrowed thou diddest comforte mee when I stumbled thou diddest stay mee when I fell thou diddest raise mee when I stoode thou diddest strengthen mee in my affaires thou diddest direct mee in my troubles thou diddest helpe mee in my dangers thou diddest deliuer mee waking thou diddest inlighten mee sleeping thou diddest watch mee sinninge thou diddest suffer mee and prayinge thou diddest heare mee Further thou hast annointed mee with thy holy spirit and giuen mee a minde to follow thee thou hast called mee by thine owne name and thou hast sealed mee with thy bloude vnto eternall life These and manye other benefites haue I receiued some in hand and some in hope although through my owne sinnefull demeanor I haue almost both let go my hold and lost my hope But what if by my owne fault I haue lost these graces shall I bee vnthankefull to him by whose fauoure once I had them Lorde I can yealde noe reason wherefore I had them but that thou wert mercifull ney can I say any thinge nowe I haue soe neere lost them but that thou art iust therefore I thanke thee beecause thou diddest giue mee them I am sorie beecause I haue noe better kept them and I pray thee that thou wouldest againe fully restore them For I assure my selfe that thy goodnes is as willinge to restore as it was to giue and that my weakensse is as able to recouer as it was to receiue Therefore O Lorde Iesus by thy precious teares by thy blessed bloude which thou diddest shedd for my redemption by the aboundance of thy mercies I most humbly beeseech thee saue thy seruant saue one of thy members though poore and feeble saue I saye a part of thy selfe Be as greate in pardoning those that are submitted vnto thee as in punishing those that are rebellious poure vpon my heart the sweete streames of thy mercies conforme my life confirme my faith settle mee in a right and vpright course and contynue mee in the same euen vnto the end The worlde O Lorde is wrapped in darkenesse whereby it is made subiect both to the pollicies and power of our most dangerous and deadly enemy who beeing the prince of darkenes is thereby become alsoe the prince of the worlde but by thy light his malice is discouered by thy wisdome his deceites are auoided and by thy strength his power is repelled Hee hath manye and verye greate thinges I confesse to laye vnto my charge but for thy names sake O Lorde rebuke him and deliuer me Drawe my desires aboue the pitch of his darkenesse raise my soule out of this myrie lake of misery which affoordeth nothing but eyther daungers or discontentmentes that this filthy lumpe of flesh onely may abide on earth but my thoughtes may continually attend vpon thee O sweete Iesus the way of health the gate of life the pallace of pietie of ioy of safetie I doe too much depresse thy benefites whilest I labour to expresse them for they haue not onely filled but ouerflowed the frame of the worlde But O thou who vnfealest the silence of the dumbe vntie my tongue that I may declare thy goodnes and giue my voice a power to praise thee for the same By thee O Lord the exile is reduced the captiue redemed the sinner is iustified the sicke are healed the dead are raised and the damned are saued By thy goodnesse wee are created by thy power wee are preserued by thy mercye wee are saued Thou diddest create vs without any neede thou doest gouerne vs without any labour thou mayest
fountaine of mercy Heale the diseased helpe the distressed which crieth to thee for comfort O light behold the blinde O strength stretch forth thy haÌ„d that the lame may come vnto thee O life raise the deade out of the sepulchre of his sinnes O mercrfull louer of mankind ah shew thy selfe vnto me reueale thy glorie reueale thy grace oh let me beehold oh let mee hold thee Let mee finde let mee feele that thou onely art the hope of the distressed the reliefe of the afflicted the comforte the strength the ioy of all O Christ let me not in vaine beleeue this trueth O Christ let mee not in vaine lay hold vpon this hope O Christ let me not in vaine desire this mercie And if my faith be so little my hope so colde my prayer so weake that I can thereby deserue neither pardon of my punishment nor participation of thy glorie supplie thou I beseech thee my imperfections that by thy mercy I may obtaine the one and by thy merites the other O Sweete Iesu O my God bring mee from all ontward thinges to my selfe and from my selfe vnto thee make mee as like to thee in will and desier as I am in nature set me wholly on fire with thy loue thy sweete loue thy longinge loue thy chast loue with desire of thee with contentmente with ioy with saciety in thee Let this light of thy loue captiuate my sences from all other both lightes delightes let it cleere my soule from the grosse vapors of earthly affections that I may thereby if not fully satisfie yet shew my selfe industrious to satisfie thy goodnes and good-will and that as hetherto I haue liued against my selfe and without thee so from henceforth I may leade my life for my selfe in and by thee sweete Iesus Amen Hom. II. a. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tam grauiâ— ille mihi nigri quam limina ditis Ore aliud qui fert aliud sub pectore celat As dale of death so doe I hate that kinde Whose tonge from thâ—ught whose mouth dissent from minde Periissem nisi periissem The II. Deuotion The touch of sinne and the terrors of hell causeth the soule to lay hould vpon Gods mercie O Soule O wicked O wretched soul shake off sloath this sleepe this death of sinne wherin thou walowest and wherin thou wanderest raise vp rowse vpp thy selfe from this dangerous dulnes Call to thy consideration vnhappie creature from whence thou runnest where thou art and wherto thou hastnest the fauour which thou forsakest the horrour wherein thou abidest and the terrour wherto thou tendest Thou wert once washed cleane with the heaueÌ„ly fountain in baptisme cloathed with the pure robe of righteousnesse endowed wyth the ioies of heauen and espoused to my Sauiour Christ but now thou hast soiled thy selfe with sinne defiled that glorious garment broken those sacred bandes and by impuritye of life hast made thy louing spouse both thine earnest enemie and seuere iudge O Christ how can I forget thy goodnes and yet how dare I remember thy greatnesse I haue denied thee with Peter beetraied thee with Iudas and runne from thee with thy other disciples nay with the most accursed cruell Iewes I haue mocked blasphemed buffeted and scourged thee spitte vppon thy glorious face torne opeÌ„ thy teÌ„der wounds Then since I haue committed theire crueltie what hope may I haue to auoide their curse that thy bloud be not vpon me and my posteritie Alas miserable wretch in what path haue I walked in what pollutions haue I wallowed in what perplexities am I now plunged wherein the consideration both of good and euill tormenteth me a like of good with griefe of that which I haue lost of euell partly with sence of that which I sustaine and partly with feare of that which I expect I haue lost glory I feele shame I feare punishment the losse is by mee irrepairable the shame inexcusable the feare inconsolable Oh miserable estate oh vncomfortable not onely to be depriued of vnspeakable ioies but to bee afflicted with intollerable paines O sinne the defiler the deformer the destroier of soules from how high a pitch of happinesse hast thou deiected me into how deepe a gulfe of miseries hast thou depressed mee with what a world of woes hast thou enclosed mee heere woe and there woe and a very hell of woes is heaped vppon mee Iustly Lord iustly am I thus tormented for I haue beene fainte yea false in the charge that thou hast committed vnto me I haue throwne away my spirituall weapons I haue forsaken the fielde of christian combate and not onely cowardly yealded but traiterously turned to the prince of darknesse I haue cast off my Sauiour and cast away my selfe I haue forsaken the societie of Saintes ioyned companie with the damned crew I haue abaÌ„doned the pallaces of heaueÌ„ built mee a nest in the loathsome denne of hell I am altogether become an abiect from God and a subiect to the Deuill What hast thou done O madd man O mischieuous O monstrous man what hast thou done what a wofull exchange hast thou made what a lamentable losse hast thou incurred O peruerse will O miracle of madnes How O God hath corruption depraued mee how O God shall satisfaction restore me Cast thy selfe forlorne wretch into the vncomfortable dungeon of sorrow ouerwhelme thy self with mountaines of bitter mourning come griefe come horror coÌ„e anguish come feare heape your felues vpon me wrap me in weigh me downe I haue impudently contemned you I haue desperately prouoked you and now doe miserably call for you So so it is iust afflict the wicked torment the guiltie reuenge the iniuries reuenge the periuries which I haue committed against God giue the sinner a touch of the infernall tortures which hee hath deserued giue him a tast of the banquet which he hath prepared Comforte peace securitie ioy keepe away I will none of you except you bring a pardone with you disquiet shall be my rest mourning my mirth sowre sorrowe my comforte Alas how shall I present my selfe before the maiestie of the most righteous and vpright iudge how shall my fearfull face behold him how terriblie will he cast his countenance vpon mee His eyes farre brighter theÌ„ the sunne haue narrowly obserued all my actions he hath weighed my words he hath nombred my thoughtes he hath seene he hath sealed vp all my sinnes hee hath hetherto bin silent hetherto patient but out alas hee will one day crie out one day he will call mee to a reckoning for all O my hart O poore harte O harte full of miseries yea depressed yea oppressed with manyfold miseries neuer able to sustaine these firebrandes of conscience Alas mine eies are not worthie to looke towardes heauen yea they are most worthy to bee extinguished with teares If then I be ashamed to be seene how shall I be assured to be receiued if I haue no harte to aske what hope can I haue that I shall
not thy iustice and my desertes but remember thy mercies and my miseries thinke not vpon thy hate towardes offenders but thinke vpon thy loue towardes thy creatures cast thy seuere eye of reuenge vpon thy sonne but looke vpon me with thy eye of pitty O deare God hell is alreadie full and what profite is there in my distructioÌ„ Also many millions of sinners will neuer come vnto thee will neuer cal nor care for thy helpe so that if thou reiectest the repentant and sorrowfull sinner who then shall bee saued and whome wilte thou fâ—â—de righteous if 〈◊〉 iudgest without mercie When I was not O Lord thy fingers framed mee and thou neither hatest nor contemnest any thinge that thou hast made When I was a captiue of the deuill a slaue of hell thou didest send thy beloued sonne to die for my redemption and do not now I beseech thee cast that away which thou hâ—â—â— purchased at soe â—â—gh a price When I walked in my owne wicked waies thou didst patiently endure me mightily preserue me and graciously call mee and wilt thou not now beestow one louinge looke vpon mee Why then O louing God looke vpon thy beloued sonne behold what hee hath suffered of thy goodnesse call him to thy remembraÌ„ce for whom thy will his obedience did cause him to suffer Behold his bitter agonies wherein his bodie was sprinkled with a bloodie sweate beeholde his backe torne with whips his head pricked with thornes his face defiled with spitting behold his blessed body so strained vpon the crosse that all his bones might be numbred behold his harmlesse handes his vndefiled feete pierced with sharpe nailes behold his naked side strooke through with a speare behold the aboundance of blood which gushed forth of those holy fountaines which blood still streameth fresh in thy sight and now pleadeth for my pardon Beholde O gracious God how his feeling was possessed with paine his hearing with reproach his eies with scorne his tast with gall beholde howe his neck bowed his heade hung his breast beat how his sight waxed dimme his countenaÌ„ce pale his legs armes stiffe how hee groaned how hee gasped and gaue vp the ghost Behold the preist behold the sacrifice euen the lambe vndefiled gloriously imbrued with his owne blood Gracious and mercifull God by this thy sonne by this my Sauiour I most humbly beeseech thee to looke fauourably vpon me encline thine eares towardes me hide not thy face now my soule is troubled Graciouslie receiue the lost sheepe which strayinge from thy pastures through sinne and flying from thy presence through a guiltie conscience hee hath louinglye sought and ioyfullye doth bring vnto thee vpon his own shoulders Heare mee O God of all power turne towardes mee and let thy mercies accept his merits for full satisfaction of my misdeedes O infinite mercie thou hast sett vs a way and giuen vs a light thou hast threaned vs the paines of hell and promised vs the ioies of heauen now pierce my flesh with thy feare that I may auoide the one and inflame my soule with thy loue that I may attain the other Grante I praye thee that as longe traueilers are therby taught to loue their owne cuntrey soe my former errâ—urs may henceforth bee a meane to hould mee in the right path that beeing led by thee walking through thee I may come vnto thee and rest in thee for wee sillie wormes are vnable to enter into thine eternitie vnlesse thou who hast created vs doest guide vs in Saue O God who desirest not the deth of a sinner saue my sinnefull soule which flieth froÌ„ thy feareful iustice to thy comfortable mercies from the desert of my sinne to the desert of thy Sonne This O God is easie to thy power and vsuall to thy mercie and agreeable to thy will Such are the witlesse wilfull right as is the heedles flie Which kils it selfe hurtes his sight has hath her in his eie Sperate miseri Cauete faelices The death of Saintes is precious Psal. 125. Miserable is the death of Sinners Psal 53. The III. Deuotion The guiltines of sinne and the consideration of Death calleth the sinner to call vpon God for his mercy in Iesu Christ. O Most high most holye moste mightye most mercifull most good most goodly most louinge most fearefull and terrible God the Creator the renuer the maintainer of all thinges whome to know is to bee wise whome to serue is to raigne whome to loue is the life and happinesse of the soule behold I pore wretch to thee who art both rich and liberall I miserable to thee who art both pittifull and plentifull do draw neere behold a hunger-starued begger knocketh at thy doore open vnto mee O honourable householder without whome all aboundance is beggerie open I say thy mercies to my miseries and although I am not worthy to sitte at thy feast with thy sons yet with the basest of thy seruantes let me bee refreshed with some broken pieces that are taken from thy table Thou hast commaunded vs O gratious God to knock to aske and to seeke whereuppon thou hast promised to open to geue and to bee founde beholde now my sighinge doth seeke thee my teares crie vnto thee and the groanes of my payned soule do knocke at the gate of thy mercies behold Lord I am desirous to doe thy will performe thou I besech thee thy word And first O Lorde I acknowledge against my selfe that I was conceiued in iniquitie and borne in miserie but thou of thy free loue diddest cleanse mee thou diddest sanctifie me thou didst through faith on my part and mercy on thyne betroath thy selfe vnto me Yet I vnmindfull of so greate goodnes haue since with many a foule fact distained my selfe and dishonored thee not dreading thy displeasure whole wrath maketh the deuells to quake I was borne in necessary but I pluÌ„ged my selfe in voluntarie sinnes I made no conscience in offending thee feared not to forgett thy lawe Notwithstandinge thou accordinge to thy wonted mercies diddest not banish mee from thy protection but as though I had daylye and duly obserued thy will thou diddest bountifullye heape thy benifites vppon mee so much vndeserued of mee as not desired When I sinned against thee the deuill was readie to haue made a pray of mee I was content I was desirous to haue perished with him but thou O Lord diddest driue backe him and draw backe me not onely without either my request or knowledge but very much against my mind When I was in daunger of death both by sickenesse casualties and my soule was so rocked a sleepe in sinnefull securitie so burdened with the weight of wicked actions that it must needes haue suncke downe into hell thy grace stoode by mee thy power did preserue both my body from death and my soule from damnation I did offend thee but thou diddest defend mee I did deserue death but thou diddest preserue life I did not regard thee when thou
his father In him I haue a portion of flesh aud bloud in him a parte of my selfe euen now doth reigne in him a part of my selfe is alreadie glorified and as I doe nothing doubt of this his communion with mee in nature soe will I not distrust of my participation both heere of his grace and heereafter of his glorie for although I am sinnefull yet is not hee soe vnnaturall that either hee can forgette or will forsake his owne meÌ„bers Hee that dispaireth or distrusteth his owne safetie hee denieth Christes mercie and consequently hee denieth his loue hee denieth his truth hee denieth his power the loue of his passion the truth of his promise and the power of his ascention Therefore the more willinge hee was to suffer and the more able hee is to saue the lesse cause haue I to feare for when all thinges shall faile he will most constantly keepe his faith O wonderfull misterie O exceeding mercie euer to bee admired euer to bee loued wee were not worthye to bee seruantes and loe we are made the sonnes of God yea the heires of God and fellowe heires with Iesus Christ. Who but must bee amased at such bowelles of mercie who but will reioice at such aboundance of loue which when I call to my consideration the burthen of my flesh doeth not so presse me the weight of my mortalitie and miseries are not soe grieuous as they were wont Gracious Lorde what thankes what praise shall I tender to thee for this adoption where shall I get good wordes to set forth this thy good will Surely if I had the tongue and knowledge of Angells yet could I neither thanke thee nor thinke of thee as is it meete For thy exceeding loue proceding from thy meere goodnesse reacheth beyond all boundes both of vtterance and vnderstandinge thy praise Oh Lord is incomprehensible and then wee doe most praise thee when wee knowe thee to bee thine owne praise and acknowledg our selues vnable to praise thee But O sweete Sauiour whome none seeketh but the admonished none findeth but the guided I beeseech thee by thine inestimable goodnesse let mee not bee vnthankfully silent for these thy benefits teach me secretly in my hearte O my God teach mee thy humble seruant O mercifull God euen by thy greate mercies I beseech thee teach my hearte with what reuerence it shoulde thinke of thee tell my soule with what delight it shoulde loue thee giue my tongue some power to poure forth praises vnto thee correct my weakenesse erect my hope direct my desires finish the work that thou hast beegunne and bringe mee to the fullnesse of thy mercie I was dead and buried in sinne I shoulde haue rotted in distruction but thou diddest raise mee thou diddest reuiue mee by thy loue I liue aâ—d therfore I offer my selfe wholly vnto thee most earnestlye entreating thy gracious acceptance that wee may loue and liue together O Lorde Iesus I bowe the necke of my soule vnder the feete of thy maiestie and in the lowest degree of reuerence doe giue thee most humble and hartie thankes for these thy benefites I yeelde thee praise O Lorde although base and bare and farre vnanswerable to thy desertes yet something my weaknesse is bounde to performe namelye to settle my minde to beeholde and loue thee and to praise thee with wordes soe well as I can O amiable O admirable Iesu let mee loue thee allwaies because thou diddest loue mee firste let mee loue thee onlye for hee loueth thee too little that loueth any thing besides thee except it bee for thy sake allwaies and onely let mee loue thee beecause by thee onelye I shall alwaies liue O that my hearte did so languish with thy loue that it might melt the moysture of my bodie into teares oh that the bowells of my soule were soe enflamed with thy loue that it might consume all drossie desires and drie vp the verie marrowe of my bones oh that I were sicke for the loue of him whoe died for the loue of mee Lorde allthough I bee not worthy soe to loue thee yet art thou worthy much more to bee loued Therefore O louing Iesu doe not soe denie mee that wherof I acknowledge my selfe vnworthy that thy selfe be depriued of that wherof thou art most worthye Graunt O Lorde graunt I beeseech thee not for my desertes but for thy mercies sake grauÌ„t to my soule that it may loue thee as thou hast deserued Grannt I say that I may bee worthy to giue that which thou art worthy to receiue soe shall I bee worthy of that whereof nowe I am vnworthy It is verie much O Lorde that I doe desire beeinge alltogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee but thy bountie hath made mee bold I will speake therefore againe vnto my Lorde although I bee but dust and ashes I will speake againe vnto him who hath not onelye licensed but prouoked but commaunded vs that we should aske O Lord our God O gracious O allmightie God is it not better that thou shouldest freelye giue mee that which I haue not deserued then that I shoulde vnthankefullye not yeelde to thee that which is thy due the one woulde bee a propertie of thy mercie the other an effect of my iniustice Giue therefore vnto mee thy grace that I may returne vnto thee thy due bestow vpon mee thy mercies that I may commit against thee noe iniustice bee liberall vnto me that I may not seeme iniurious to thee giue O Lorde giue vnto my soule aboundance of thy loue which I doe iustlye desire that I may not be vnthankfull vnto thee which thou mayest iustlye punish Deare Christ I doe feele in my heart a weake warmnesse of thy loue but my prayer is that the coales were throughly kindled with desire and blowne with delight into a full flame O sacred fire how comfortablye doest thou burne O heauenlye lighte how sweetlye doest thou shine how desirous are they more and more to burne whom thou dost enflame how are they delighted whome thou doest enlightten Alasse how late haue I loued thee O beautie most exceedinglye both auncient and fresh and yet alasse how little do I loue thee wherfore I beeseech thee O Lorde by thy precious woundes from which gushed out the streames of our redemption wound my sinnefull soule with the dart of thy loue strike Lorde strike with the two edged sworde which procedeth out of thy mouth strike deepe into my harde harte pierce my sencelesse soule parte all the inner partes of my spirit that I may crie out but not complaine how I am wounded with thy loue O sweete Christ O good Iesu euen for thine intercession sake and for thy merites sake I beeseech thee giue me thy holy and chast loue and then shall I bee fullye furnished with all heauenly verâ—ues Lorde thou diddest loue vs when wee were thine enemies and wilt thou denie vs now to loue thee againe thou hast commaunded vs with our whole harte to loue thee and wilt thou not graunt vs abilitie to obey Heare O my God heare O light of mine eies encrease my desire and grant my request stop not thime eares against mee beecause of my sinnes Indue my soule with thy loue subdue my flesh with thy feare that I may allwaies thinke of thee ioyntlye both with tremblinge and trust Settle the loue of thee in mee and the care of mee in thee let my prayer come vnto thee and thy mercie come vnto mee let the ioy of thy happinesse remaine with mee and the coÌ„passion of my miseries remaine with thee Let my hearte loue thee let my flesh feare thee let my whole substance in this worlde ioie whollye in thee that it may enioye thee wholye in the worlde to come Amen Aut vbique aut nusquam liber pag. Lin. error corrected 49 9 my thy 51 13 path pathes 73 12 at them for them 112 7 my any 121 4 shall shalt 114 16 both age both in age 151 7 the God the God of Israell  4 heir their 153 7 resolue resolute 1â—3 11 goodnesse goodnesse 161 15 sonle soule  16 it it 187 14 ether either  16 occsions occasions 184 8 wheeein wherein 189 3 lif lift 191 1 for his merites for his happinesse to praise him for his merites 193 4 sonle soule 197 15 thert veat vtter that 216 2 the whole world the world  3 prepared pierced 217 11 beutifull beautifull 223 2 resoning reasoning