more in the Summer of my life health and prosperity think of the Winter of death sicknesse and adversity and make provision for them XLV Upon the sight of a shooting match at Buts Here I see some shooting above the Mark others under it some on the right hand others on the left at last cometh one and hit's the mark it self and just so dealeth Death with us sometimes it shooteth above us and takes away our Superiours and Elders sometimes beneath us and takes away our Inferiours and younger sometimes on the right-hand and taketh away our dear friends and sometimes on the left-hand and taketh away our deadly foes and happy were we if we could take these as warning arrowes shot from a loving hand to warn us to look to our selves but such is our improvidence that we will not lay these fair warnings to heart but go on still in our carnall security till at last and it may be when we look least for it it shoots also to us our selves and wo be unto us if it find us unprovided Lord give us therefore the grace so to think of Death every day as if it were to be our dying day XLVI Upon the sight of a man felling or cuiting down a Tree LOrd here I see the Axe laid to the root of this tree to cut it down This tree is a refemblance of me his root of my heart and conscience and the Axe of thy word which hath strook me and pierced me often and that to the very heart by the Ministery thereof But because there hath followed upon it no amendment of life Lord what can I now expect if thou shouldest deal with me in justice but that thou shouldst now also lay to me the axe of thy judgements and cut me down therewith and cast me into hell fire To prevent which Lord make me more and more sensible of the strokes of thy former Axe and give me grace to amend my life thereby XLVII Upon the sight of a new born babe seeking after and sucking the Nurses breast LOrd give me the grace that I may as a new borne babe desire the sincere milk of thy word that I may grow thereby XLVIII Upon the sight of Balme put into a wound LOrd I am a poor wounded Soul wounded in spirit with the sight of my sins and the sense of thy wrath due unto me for them Oh doe thou therefore pour into my Soul the precious Balme of thy soul-saving word that this poor wounded soul of mine may by the comforts thereof be also comforted and cured XLIX Upon the sight of two parties betrothed LOrd betroth thou me unto thy self for ever and that in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies L. Upon the sight of one that had a bone out of joynt LOrd this is my case as long as I am out of that place and calling wherein thou hast placed me I may be still of the body but am neither for use nor ease and neither that to my self nor to my fellow-members and so I must continue till thou shalt be pleased to set me right again which I beseech thee for thy son Christ Jesus sake to do for me LI. Upon the sight of a Bone-setters binding up and splintering of a broken bone THis man hath done a great work in bringing every part and piece of this broken bone into his right place but I see except he do also bind them up and splinter them they will not so continue nor grow together again Lord I have taken many a grievous fall and by means of it I am heart-broken O sweet Jesus do thou whose office it is to bind up the broken-hearted bind up this broken heart of mine that it may continue firm and grow in grace goodness LII Upon the sight 〈◊〉 something blotted out in a Book LOrd my sins are all written in the book of thy remembrance and in the book of my conscience and at the last day when the books shall be opened they will manifestly appear to God Angels and men as so many evidences against me except thou in thy mercy shalt blot them out for thine own sake with the blood of thy Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ which that thou wilt do for me it is my hearty desire and prayer LIII Upon the hearing of certain Captives redeemed LOrd do thou redeem me with the precious bloud of thy Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ from the Captivity thraldom and slavery of Satan wherein I have been so long held to do his will LIV. Upon the sight of one breathing out his last breath LOrd here I see that my life is but a breath which as ths 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…vest me at first so thou maist take from me again when thou pleasest Oh give me grace therefore that I may make such good use of this transitory and uncertain life of mine that I may be prepared for death whensoever or wheresoever it shall in like manner happen unto me LV Vpon the sight of a bruised Reed LOrd I am of my self as weak as this bruised reed having been so much and so often bruised both with outward afflictions and inward temptations yet seeing thou hast promised not to break such a bruised reed in confidence therefore of this thy mercy and gracious promise made unto me in thy word I do now come unto thee beseeching thee so to support my weaknesse by thy power and so to heal me thus miserably bruised by thy grace that though I be weak in my self yet I may be strong in thee and in the power of thy might LVI Upon the sight of a shield LOrd give me the grace to put on the shield of faith that I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked LVII Upon the sight of one that was buffeted LOrd I am often and grievously buffeted by Satan and his messengers Oh that I were freed from these their buffetings or that I might have some comfortable assurance that thy grace shall be sufficient for me either to keep me from being overcome by them or if I am at any time overcome to pardon my weakness and failing therein and to restore me to thy mercy and favour in Jesus Christ LVIII Vpon the sight of a surety arrested and made to pay the debt of the principall THus do I believe that my Saviour and surety Jesus Christ was by death arrested for my debt of sin and that he hath satisfied it to the full concealing the hand-writing that was against me Lord therefore enter not into Judgement with me for any of my sins past but accept of thy Sons active and passive obedience as a full satisfaction for them all LIX Vpon the sight of Snow LOrd thou hast promised that though my sins were as crimson double-dyed dyed in the wool of my originall corruption and dyed
mercy and then shall I be safe XX Upon the sight of a lock hardly to be unlocked LOrd how unwilling and unable am I of my self to open my mouth to speak to thy praise to open mine ears to heare thy word with profit and comfort and to open my heart to attend thereunto for my souls good O doe thou therefore which hast the key of David and openest and no man shutteth and shuttest and no man openeth open all these unto me by the power and might of thy gracious help XXI Upon the sight of a hen with her chickens under her wings LOrd how often wouldst thou have gathered me as this Hen doth her chickens under her wings but I would not yet now seeing my former errour and present danger I doe runne unto thee beseeching thee to shelter me under the shadow of thy wings and to save me now and alwayes for thy mercies sake XXII Upon the sight of a young lusty strong man taking a fall LOrd this brings to my mind the falls and sins of David Peter and others of thy children mentioned in Scripture and it doth shew me what the best of us all are if thou dost leave us to our selves Lord-therefore evermore support me with thy grace and keep me in thy feare XXIII Upon the hearing of one that had adopted another mans Son for his own LOrd I doe believe that thus thou hast dealt with me and that thou hast adopted me in Jesus Christ to be thy Son who am by nature the child of wrath Lord let thy holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption every day more and more witnesse the same unto my spirit XXIV Upon the hearing of one knocking at a door LOrd thou hast knocked often at the door of my heart and hast called and cried often unto me to open unto thee but I have hitherunto turned the deafe eare and not opened unto thee Lord forgive me this my great unkindnesse past and seeing I have neither will nor power of my self to doe it doe thou which hast the key of David that openeth and no man shutteth open the door of my heart and come in and sup with me and I with thee and abide with me for ever XXV Upon the sight of a Candle lighted with a Tinder-box LOrd I see by this how prone and apt my corrupt nature is to commit sin upon every occasion offered unlesse thou by thy grace dost prevent it there being no speedier conjunction betwixt the sparkes of fire strucken amongst tinder then there is betwixt my corrupt nature and sin when once an occasion is offered Lord therefore keepe me by thy grace from all such offered occasions or from entertaining of them when they are thus offered XXVI Upon the sight of a game at Tables VVHen a man playeth a game at Tables I see the chance is not in his power but to play it well it is so the chances and changes of this world which doe betide me were not in my power to prevent them but having betided me I must manage and bear them as well as I can and that I may doe it as I should doe Lord doe thou by thy grace enable me XXVII Upon the sight of a Scullions taking off of a pot ful of good meat from the fire LOrd here I see mine owne and many other mens infirmitie how easie a matter it is for any base fellow to take any of us even the best and most accomplished with grace and goodnesse and by his soothing talk and insinuating flatteries to transport and carry us as it were by the cares whether he pleaseth if thou by thy grace prevent it not Lord therefore strengthen me by thy grace against all such miscarriages XXVIII Upon the hearing of the Relation of a Merchant-Adventurers dangerous Voyage THis mans case and mine are very like for with vain hopes as with a prosperous gale of winde I have often been allured to hoise up the Sailes of my desires and to enter into the perillous Sea of this world with worldly minded men but before that ever I could arrive unto the wicked Haven to which in my setting forth I aymed with how many desperate dangers have I encountred One while I have been tossed with tempestuous stormes of troubles crosses and vexations sometimes lifted up with hopes as if I should touch the Heavens sometimes dejected and cast down with fear is if I should be swallowed in the gulph and as it were in the hell of despair now in danger to dash against the rocks of viiolence and oppression and soon after to split upon the unperceived Quick-sands of treacherie and falshood sometimes I have been carried in an uncouth vastnesse in hazard to lose my self in the by-pathes â—f errour sometimes I have passed through the straits having been beset with many perils here Scylla there Charybdis being ready to fall into the one whilst with my most provident care I have endeavoured to escape the other And if I have chanced to escape these as who ever escaped them all with how many wicked fiends have I been beset as with so many Pirats ready to rob me of all those rich wares of Gods spiritual graces and to enchain me in their gallies of endlesse bondage Nay though I have missed of these too and have had a faire calm of prosperity and a comfortable sun-shine of worldly favours throughout my whole passage yet my danger hath not been any way abated but much more increased For being thus becalmed I have many times had neither power nor will to goe forward to the blessed Haven of Heaven but contrary-wise being bewitched with the Syrens songes of carnall alluring pleasures I have been so strongly taken with them that I thought Heaven to be no where but there till I was in the end like to be devoured by them by whom I was first allured That therefore I may the better passe over this troublesome Sea and avoid all these dangers and in the end come to my desired haven the kingdome of Heaven Lord let thy true Church be my ship thy holy word my Card and Compasse thy blessed Spirit my Pilot thy good Angels my Convoy and doe thou thy selfe alwayes watch over me by the eye of thy speciall providence XXIX Upon the sight of a fish taken with a Hooke and Line LOrd here is an Emblem of my simplicity and the Devils subtilty he like the cunning fiisher hides the hooke of his temptations under the bait of some pleasing vanitie and I like the silly fish whilest I am looking on his pleasing bait and coveting that am caught with his Soul-destroying hooke from which good Lord deliver me XXX Upon the sight of a stubborn and refractory Oxe going under the Yoke LOrd herein I see mine owne folly for whereas thy yoke of affliction which thou hast put upon my neck might be carried by me if not with ease yet without any great
pain if I would goe quietly and patiently under it submitting my self therein to thy divine will and pleasure I see that by my much striving and strugling it doth both offend others and hurt my selfe as the refractory Oxe doth both wrong his fellow and wring his own neck by this his reluctancy Lord give me grace therefore in all mine afflictions to look up to thy visiting hand therein and patiently to submit thereunto XXXI Upon the sight of one rowing a boat against the stream LOrd herein I see what I am by nature and what Iam by grace This boat were there no Oares to set it forward would goe down the stream and go backward of his owne accord but to go forward against the stream I see there is no possibility longer then the boat-man with his Oares doth enforce it and set it forward And so Lord it is with me of mine own accord Iam apt to go backward in grace and goodnesse but to goe forward therein it being against the streame and tide of mine affections and naturall corruption I cannot without the assisting Oares of thy grace which Lord I beseech thee to grant unto me and give me grace to â—ply them for that end as thy child should doe XXXII Upon the sight of Fire raked up under the Ashes HEre is no token of fire to be seen neither light nor heat nor so much as any smoke and yet when the ashes are taken away there will fire appear which with blowing and the supply of new fewell will soon kindle again and become a great flame And why Lord may not this be my case in whom for the present there is so little appearance of grace and goodnesse Oh remove then from me the ashes of my sinfull corruption and give me the grace to stirr up the coles of those gracious gifts which I have formerly felt in me and let thy blessed Spirit with the quickning gale of his gracious breath quicken and revive them in me that they may return to their wonted or increase to a greater flame XXXIII Upon the hearing of a Dog barking at strangers THis Dog doth not use to bark at any of the houshold but fawneth on them all only I see if a stranger approch or come neer the house he will bark at him and perhaps bite him too so deal the wicked men of the world with me they be alwayes barking at me and many times by their slanders and back-bitings do bite me too But Lord here is my comfort that this sheweth me to be a stranger to them and to their sinful courses and my hearty desire and prayer is that I may continue still so to be XXXIV Upon the sight of one pounding Spices in a Mortar THis Spice being whole had little or no smell in it but being bruised and beaten I perceive it maketh a sweet and odoriferous smell throughout the whole house so 't is with the graces of God in my heart as long as they remain therein whole and sound without disturbance little good comes by them to my self or others but being well beaten and pounded in the Mortar of affliction they afford a sweet smell in the nostrills of God and all good men and become advantagious to Gods glory and to mine own and others good Lord therefore evermore so beat and pound me in this Mortar rather then that I should continue whole and uselesse for these ends XXXV Vpon the sight of a Lanthorn and Candle carried before one OH that thy word O Lord might be a Lanthorn unto my feet and a light unto my steps to direct and guide me in the wayes of thy Commandments XXXVI Upon the sight of one wearing a Seal at his Hand-wrist SWeet Jesus my Lord and Saviour set me I pray thee on thine heart as a Seal and as a Signet on thine arm that I may never be forgotten of thee or removed out of thy love and favour XXXVII Upon the sight of one drawing another after him Lord I know that none can come unto thee except thou draw him oh draw me therefore I beseech thee and I will run after thee XXXVIII Upon the hearing of one enquiring after a lost Sheep LOrd I have gone astray like a lost sheep oh seek thy servant and bring me home again to the rest of thy flock that thou mayst joy in me and I in thy Salvation XXXIX Upon the sight of one carrying an heavy Burthen LOrd mine iniquities are gone over my head and are as an heavy burthen too heavy for me to bear oh doe thou therefore which hast promised to ease all those that are heavy laden with the burthen of their sins when they come unto thee give ease and rest to my wearied foul which now cometh unto thee for ease and comfort XL Upon a Temptation to strain ones Conscience for a litle extraordinary gain LOrd here I see I may enrich my self by unjust gain but alas what shall I be advantaged if for this gain I must lose my soul for ever Lord therefore keep me from this and from all other meanes and waies of enriching my self by ill and unjustly gotten goods XLI Upon the hearing of a Lawyer pleading at the Bar for his Client LOrd I am greviously accused by the Devil and mine own Conscience for being a grievous sinner in thy sight and the truth is I am so indeed and have nothing to answer or say for my self Oh sweet Jesus be thou therefore my Advocate and appear thou for me and plead thou my cause and so shall I be justified in the sight of God and all mine enemies mouthes shall be stopped XLII Upon the hearing of an Alien made a free Denizen LOrd I am by nature and in the state of unregeneration an Alien from the Common-wealth of Israel and a stranger from the Covenant of promise but thou which canst make those that be afar off to become near by the bloud of Christ by that same bloud do thou of an Alien and Forrainer make me a free Denizen of thy Heavenly Kingdom and give me the the grace to lead my life and to have my Conversation in Heaven as it becometh those that be Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God XLIII Upon the hearing of the coming and entertainment of a great Ambassadour LOrd what a do is here to entertain the Ambassadour of an earthly prince and what priviledges have they for the security of their persons and honours and yet how are the Ministers of thy word who are thy Ambassadours every where slighted scorned and contemned Lord lay not this to their charge but in mercy look upon it and amend it XLIV Upon the sight of a laborious Ant or Pismire OH Lord this poor silly creature laboureth hard in Summer to provide for Winter and that onely by the instinct of nature Oh added unto my nature grace that I may much
afterwards again in the many threds of my actuall transgressions yet if I will but consent and obey thou wilt make them as white as snow Make good this thy promise to me thy servant who is both willing and desirous to obey thee in all things as far as thy grace shall enable me LX Upon the sight of two wrastling together LOrd give me thy grace that when I shall wrastle with thee by my prayers and my tears as thy servant Jacob did that I may not let thee goe till thou hast blessed me and when I shall wrastle with the Devil to withstand his temptations doe thou so assist me with thy grace and let thy power be so seen in my weaknesse that he may not be able to prevail against me LXI Upon the sight of one winning a wager at running LOrd this man hath taken great pains to win this earthly wager Oh that I could take the like pains in running my Christian Race that I might in the end obtain the Crown of Glory LXII Upon the hearing of the wind rising ARise O North and come O South and all ye other Soveraign winds of the Spirit of God do ye breath and blow upon the garden of my soul that the sweet odours of Gods heavenly graces which are therein may be dispersed to the glory of God and to the benefit of other Christian Souls LXIII Upon the sight of a thirsty Traveller going to a Well to drink LOrd this man doth not more thirst after the water of this Well to quench his bodily thirst then my Soul doth after thee the fountain of ever-living water Oh give me therefore of this water and do thou which biddest me to come unto thee and drink satiate my soul therewith when I am come LXIV Upon the sight of a weaver weaving in his looms LOrd this mans work is to me a Remembrancer of my mortality and that many waies His shuttle sheweth me the swift passing away of my time his weaving the addition of daies to my age but so as the more of his work is added to the cloth the less is upon the beam and the more the one increaseth the nearer the other approcheth to his end and cutting off so the more daies are added to my age the more is detracted from my life and the nearer it draweth to its end and cutting off Therefore Lord give me thy grace that I may make a right use of this my short and swift-passing life and be ever mindfull as I should be of my mortality and ever preparing for it lest I be cut off before I look for it LXV Upon the hearing of a Cock crowing LOrd the crowing of a Cock was to Peter a means with thy blessing to bring him to the sight of his sin and to true repentance for it Oh that thou wouldst so bless unto me the voice of thy Spirituall Cocks the Ministers of thy word and mine own conscience that they may also by thy blessing be a means to bring me to the like sight of my sins and to true repentance for the same LXVI Upon the sight of a Malefactors arraignment LOrd this must one day be my case for I must appear before the judgement-seat of Christ the Judge of quick and dead that I may there receive the things which have been done in my body according to that I have done whether it be good or evil and therefore good Lord give me the grace that I may in the mean time ever think upon it and use the means to have my sins put away by true repentance for them and by a lively faith in the merits of Jesus Christ before that great and fearfull day shall come LXVII Upon the sight of one stooping and striving to go in at a strait passage LOrd the way leading to thy Kingdome is through a low and a strait passage through which none can enter that are not lowly and humble and can be content for the Kingdome of heavens sake to strip themselves of whatsoever thing may be an hindrance to their entrance thereinto O give me the grace therefore to be truly humble in thy sight as thy child should be and to cast away every thing that presseth down and my sins that hang so fast on that I may with the more speed and ease enter thereinto LXVIII Upon the sight of Reapers reaping down a close of corn THis field of corn being ripe what wonder is it to see Reapers put into it to cut it down And therefore Lord when our sins are become so ripe what can be expected but that the sickle of thy wrath should be put in amongst us to cut us down also All that I can say for my self or the people of this sinfull nation is Lord enter not into judgement with us or if our sins shall force thee so to do Lord in justice remember mercy and repay us not according to our deserts LXIX Upon the sight of a Mower cutting down grass in a medow THis medow is the emblem of mankind for as in this there is grasse of all sorts and sizes â—â—me longer some shorter some younger and but newly sprung some elder and othersome so ripe that it is ready to wither yea and amongst these too there are many flowers of a most gay and specious colour and yet when the Mower comes with his sithe down they go all neither one not other is spared And just so is it with mankind some are taller and lifted up higher than others in honours and worldly preferment others are of a meaner sort rank and condition some are infants newly born others of elder and riper years yea some by reason of their old and decrepit age ready to wither yea and amongst these too there are some of a more beautifull and specious shew in the eyes of the beholders than others yet when Death Gods mower once comes with his sithe he spares neither young nor old neither rich nor poor nor any of any sort or condition amongst mankind but down they go all one as well as another Lord teach me therefore so at all times to prepare for it that when it shall come it may not find me unprepared LXX Upon the sight of a Dog returning to and eating up his own vomit THe stomach of this Dog before he vomited seemed to be very sick and much pained and yet being eased of that pain how ready and willing is he to return to this his vomit again which formerly pained him and to eat it up And if this be so odious a thing in my sight Lord what shall I be unto thee when after the confession of my sins unto thee whereby I have found ease and comfort I shall return again to my former sinfull course of life that so much dishonoured thee and wronged mine own soul Therefore Lord I beseech thee so strengthen me with thy grace that having confessed my sins
sight of a traveller wearing a sword OH that I were as carefull in my journey to Heaven-wards to put on the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to defend me from my spirituall enemies as I see this traveller is careful to put on his materiall sword ro defend him from his bodily enemies LXXXVIII Upon the sight of a Sparrow lighting on the ground LOrd thy word doth assure me that this sparrow doth not light or fall on the ground without thy providence Oh give me the grace therefore that I may not fear to fall from an higher to a lower estate if thy will be to have it so seeing I am more worth then many sparrowes LXXXIX Vpon the hearing of one that was gone to sojourn at another mans house LOrd this mans estate and mine are much alike he is a sojourner with man but I with thee my God for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were Oh give me the grace therefore that I may passe the time of this my sojourning here in fear XC Upon the sight of a snare baited LOrd I cannot passe through any place in this world where the Devil hath not his snares laid and baited for me with some pleasure or profit pretended Oh give me the grace therefore to be alwaies vigilant and watchfull over him and his designes and enterprises that for any worldly respect I may not fall into any of his snares XCI Vpon the sight of one smitten for his faults LOrd let the righreous smite me and and it shall be a kindnesse and let him reprove me and it shall be an excellent Oyle which shall not break mine head XCII Vpon the sight of a Blackmoore LOrd this Blackmoore cannot change his skin no more can he do good that is accustomed to do evil Oh keep me therefore by thy grace that I may not get any evil custom or delight in the practise of any known sin XCIII Vpon the sight of a waiting Gentlewoman BEhold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse so Lord grant that mine eyes may wait upon thee untill thou have mercy on me XCIV Upon the sight of a grain of mustard-seed LOrd this seed is the least of all seeds yet when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a tree so that the birds of the aire come and lodge in the branches of it So Lord grant that that little measure of grace which is yet to be seen in me may in thy good time increase and by thy blessing and gracious assistance become so great that thou thereby maist be glorified others edified and my own soul more and more comforted XCV Upon the sight of the Sea roaring and beating with his waves against the shore in a great storm LOrd Isee in this the truth of thy word which tels me that thou hast set bars and doors to the Sea and hast said unto it hitherto shalt thou come but no further and here shall thy proud waves be stayed Lord deal so with the rage and fury of thine and mine enemies and suffer it not to proceed any further then it may make for thy glory and for the good both of my self and others XCVI Upon the sight of a most loving fathers correction of his child I Know that there cannot be a more loving and tender-hearted father towards a child then this father is and yet for the amendment of something that he knoweth to be amiss in him see how severely he doth correct him Lord therefore keep me from doubting of the love towards me when thou shalt be pleased in never so grievous a manner at any time to afflict me XCVII Upon the sight of footmen running a Race LOrd enlarge my heart that I may run the way of thy commandement and that with that patience confidence and perseverance that I may in the end obtain the incorruptible crown of glory XCVIII Upon the sight of water running out of a rock LOrd strike my hard and stony heart with due remorse for my sinnes that my head may be as waters and mine eyes as a fountain of tears to weep mourn and lament for them as thy child should do XCIX Upon the sight of a Snakes or Adders skin LOrd I see that nature hath taught this Serpent to renew his age by casting his old skin Oh that grace might teach me in like manner to put off the old man that I might be renewed in the spirit of my mind and become a new man in thy sight C. Upon the sight of one starting back at the sudden sight of a Serpent OH that I might have the grace to flee from sin as I see this man to flee from this Serpent CI. Upon the sight of an old weak man leaning on and going by a staff THis staff I see is this old mans stay without which he can neither stand nor go Lord I am as weak in spirituall strength as this old man is in bodily Oh be thou therefore my stay that I fall not and keep thou me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on thee CII Vpon the sight of the Day-star LOrd this Star assures me that it is not far to day and that ere long the Sun will arise Oh that the day of Salvation would dawn unto me and that the day-star of saving knowledge would arise in my heart to assure me that the day-spring from on high will shortly visit me and that the Sun of righteousness Jesus Christ will arise unto me CIII Vpon the sight of one sowing his ground when it rained LOrd give me the grace to sow to the Spirit though it be in tears that I may one day reap in joy CIV. Vpon the sight of one slinging a stone out of a sling LOrd do thou thus sling the souls of thine enemies as out of the middle of a sling but do thou bind up the souls of thy servants in the bundle of life with thee the Lord their God CV Vpon the hearing of a master calling up his servants LOrd it is as high time for me to awake out of the sleep of my sins as it is for these servants to awake out of their bodily sleep Oh therefore call me by thy Word blessed Spirit that I which have so long slept in sin may at last awake and arise out of the bed of my carnall security CVI. Upon the hearing of a Countrey-mans joy for his good crop of corn I Confesse Lord that the Husbandmans joy in harvest for his good crop of corn is great but Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me and then shall I have more gladnesse in my heart then such men have when their corn and wine and oyl encreaseth CVII Vpon the sight of one running
to a tree for shelter in a storm IN like manner Lord do I desire to run unto thee Lord be thou my shelter from the storm of my potent adversaries that the blast of these terrible ones may be as a storm against the wall CVIII Upon the sight of April showers OH let thy word drop down into my heart as these showers doe descend upon the earth that like good ground it may bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God CIX Upon the sight of a quiver of Arrowes LOrd make me as a polished shaft and do thou hide me in thy Quiver from the face and fury of thine enemies and mine CX Upon the sight of one quenching out of fire LOrd thy Spirit within me is as fire and my sins are as water Oh strengthen me therefore with thy grace that these sins of mine may never be so prevalent in me as to have the power to quench any good motion of thy blessed Spirit within me CXI Vpon the sight of a great load of Corn LOrd keep me from pressing thee down with my sins as I see this cart is pressed down with sheaves CXII Vpon the sight of one making preserves OH thou which art the preserver of men do thou preserve me in Jesus Christ unto thy heavenly Kingdome CXIII Vpon the sight of one overjoyed for having gotten into the presence of an earthly Prince LOrd let me come into thy presence in heaven who art the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and then shall I have infinitely more joy then this world can afford even joy unspeakable and glorious and such pleasures as never shall have end CXIV Vpon the sight of one that endeavoured to save his child by pulling of him out of the fire into which he was faln LOrd I am thine Oh save me for thy mercies sake from the fire of hell CXV Upon the sight of one striving to take something out of anothers hand LOrd I am one of thy sheep and therefore never suffer any of thine and mine enemies to pluck me out of thy hands CXVI Upon the sight of a great preparation made for the entertainment of a great personage LOrd who is greater then thou art Oh that I could with as much care and with as great preparation seek to entertain thee in my soul as this man doth this great personage into his house CXVII Vpon the sight of one that was at plough LOrd thou hast said that no man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdome of God Oh that I might therefore have thy grace to persist and to go on in that Christian course that I have begun that I may not in the end be bereaved of thy heavenly Kingdome CXVIII Vpon the hearing of a Counsellour or Advocate pleading for his Client LOrd Jesus be thou my Advocate with thy Father and do thou appear in his presence for me and plead thou my cause before him against all the enemies of my salvation when they shall seek to lay any thing to my charge CXIX Vpon the sight of a Gardener watering his garden LOrd this Gardener may water his garden to make it fruitfull and the things in it to grow but when he hath done all that he can there will be neither fruit nor growth without thy blessing for Paul may plant and Apollos may water but 't is thou onely must give the increase Lord therefore let thy blessing second my endeavours in all that I shall undertake in thy fear CXX Vpon the sight of a Physitian giving physick to his patient LOrd heal my soul for I have sinned against thee and heal all mine other infirmities for thou Lord onely canst do it and without thee all other are Physitians of no value CXXI Vpon the hearing of one that was cut and cured of the stone THe stone whereof this man complained and wherewith he was so grievously vexed was onely in his body but I Lord have a stony heart within me Oh do thou therefore according to thine own gracious promise made unto me in thy Word take this stony heart out of my flesh and give instead thereof an heart of flesh CXXII Vpon the sight of a pattern to work by LOrd give me the grace to shew my self a pattern of good works to all those with whom I live that thou maist be glorified thereby CXXIII Vpon the sight of one slipping and taking a fall LOrd it is thy charge that he that thinketh he standeth should take heed lest he fall Oh do thou therefore hold up my goings in thy paths that my feet slip not CXXIV Vpon the hearing of Partridges to call THese Partridges being severed do by this their call come together but commonly for their hurt because hereby they discover to the Partridge-taker where they are and so make themselves his prey Lord give me grace to avoid the company and not to hearken to the call of wicked men lest being in their company and being made partaker of their sins I doe also partake of their punishments CXXV Upon the sight of money tied up in a napkin LOrd keep me from being like that unprofitable servant in the Gospel who laid up his masters talent in a napkin lest that be taken from thee and I for not imploying it to thine advantage be cast into utter darkhess where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever CXXVI Vpon the sight of a naked Infant LOrd thus naked came I out of my mothers womb and thus naked shall I return thither again O give me grace therefore to seek for that true clothing the robes of thy Sons righteousness that howsoever it fareth with my body yet my soul may not appear naked in thy sight CXXVII Upon the sight of a Carpenter driving a nail into a piece of timber LOrd do thou fasten me in thy favour as a nail in a sure place and let thy soul-saving word be fastened in my heart by the Masters of the Assemblies the Ministers of thy Word as a naile never to be pulled out from thence CXXVIII Upon the sight of one ear-marking his sheep LOrd grant me the true ear-mark of thy sheep which is to hear thy voice speaking unto me in thy Word as thy child should do CXXIX Upon the sight of a Master beating his Servant LOrd give me the grace that seeing I know the will of thee my Master so much as Ido I may endeavour to do it by leading my life accordingly lest for my carelesness and neglect of my duty therein I be also beaten with many stripes in hel-fire hereafter CXXX Vpon the sight of a cholerick person that was apt to take notice of and to be very angry for the least offence offered him LOrd if thou shouldst be thus extreme to mark every thing that I have
seek those things which are above and to settle my affections on them and not on the things which are in the earth lest heaving and heaping up these earthly things in hope to make further way for my greedy desires I be in the end pierced through with many sorrows and become a prey to Sathan CLXXXI Upon the sight of a Marriage LOrd do thou marry me unto thee for ever and that in righteousnesse and in judgement and in mercy and in compassion CLXXXII Upon the sight of a virgin trimmed up and going to be married LOrd grant that as this virgin going to be married hath adorned her self and made her self ready for her husband so I being clothed with the robes of Christs righteousnesse may be alwayes in a readiness for him and to be presented unto him as a chast virgin when the marriage day of the lamb shall come CLXXXIII Upon the sight of the stars in a clear starry night LOrd give me the grace to doe what I can in my place and calling to turn many unto righteousness that so I may one day shine as the stars for ever and ever CLXXXIV Upon the sight of a Raven LOrd thou wert pleased to feed thy servant Eliah by the ministery of those unclean birds the Ravens Oh give me therefore the grace nor to refuse the food of my soul although brought unto me by one that is as unclean in my sight as the Ravens were in the sight of Elias CLXXXV Upon the hearing of young Ravens crying in the nest LOrd thy word doth tell me that thou feedest the young Ravens when they cry Oh let me therefore never despair of thy providence towards me for the feeding of me and the supplying of my wants who am in thy sight much better than they CLXXXVI Vpon the sight of an Anchor SEafaring men use the Anchor to stop and stay their ships that they may not be carried away and tossed up and down with the violence of the waves Lord my soul is tossed up and down in the sea of this world amongst the severall changes and chances thereof as much as any ship can be on the sea and I have no help nor hope in my self or any other creature to avoid the ship-wrecking thereof therefore Lord doe thou give me the grace to fasten the Anchor of my hope on the firm ground of thy gracious promises made unto me in Jesus Christ and then shall I be safe CLXXXVII Vpon the sight of a Rainbow LOrd this Rainbow is an Emblem of thy mercy which like the Rainbow is not to be seen when once the night of death is come and as that so this terminates on the earth the ends of it reaching no further Oh give me the grace therefore to make use of thy mercy in this time of mercy that my soul may never be drowned more in the deluge of sin here nor in the deluge of thy wrath for my sins hereafter CLXXXVIII Vpon the sight of one winnowing of corn LOrd I see in this how Sathan would serve me if thou shouldst leave me to his will for thy word doth tell me that he would winnow me as wheat But sweet Jesus do thou for me what thou didst promise to do for Peter do thou pray for me that my faith may not fail and then all Satans winnowing of me shall not be able to hurt me CLXXXIX Upon the sight of a piece of Scarlet LOrd my sins like Scarlet have been twice died died in the wool by my originall corruptions and died in the cloth by my many actuall transgressions but yet here is my comfort that thou canst yea and wilt for so thou hast promised make these my sins that be as Scarlet to become as white as snow upon my true repentance which I beseech thee for thy mercy sake to grant unto me CXC Vpon the sight of a foundation laid LOrd give me the grace that I may lay a good and sure foundation for my self against the time to come that in the end I may obtain eternall life CXCI. Vpon the sight of one that pleaded hard against his Adversary PLead thou my cause O Lord with them that strive with me CXCII Upon the sight of a bunch of dried Hysop hanging up in an house LOrd purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean and give me the grace that both my soul and body may with a bunch of Hysop that is my faith dipped in the bloud of the true paschall lamb my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be sprinkled therewith that the destroying Angel of Gods wrath may passe over me CXCIII Vpon the sight of wormes in a dead carcase LOrd these wormes shew me what must become of my dead body the wormes will destroy it but when they have done this they will die themselves but there is another worm which I more fear the worm of conscience which will never die Lord of thine infinite mercy keep me from that CXCIV Vpon the sight of a curious piece of workmanship LOrd I am thy workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works but I have not answered that end for which I was created Lord pardon my failings and enable me to do it better in the time to come CXCV. Vpon the sight of a linsie-woolsie garment LOrd I see by thy forbidding of this unto thy people under the old law that thou wouldst not have them mingle diverse Religions together Oh therefore give me the grace that I may never offend in this kind but that I may chuse the true and refuse all false Religions CXCVI. Vpon the sight of one that had a withered hand LOrd this man I see cannot stretch forth this hand of his to do any thing therewith no more can I stretch forth either of mine to do any thing that is good Oh therefore do thou sweet Jesus which tookest compassion on the man which had the withered hand in the Gospel and didst heal that do thou by the same power and grace also heal mine that I may be able to do that good which thou expectest at my hands CXCVII Upon the hearing of the word withdraw at a Committee LOrd give me the grace that I may withdraw my self from every brother that walketh inordinately and which doth think that gain is godlinesse CXCVIII. Upon the hearing of an hard and dangerous service of a souldier LOrd give me the grace that I may fuffer affliction as a good souldier of Jesus Christ CXCIX Upon the sight of a mother wiping the teares from her childs face LOrd in thy good time bring me to thy heavenly Kingdome where thou hast promised to wipe all teares from my eyes CC. Upon the sight of a wide and spacious gate LOrd thy word tells me that it is the wide gate and broad way that leadeth to destruction Oh keep me therefore by thy grace that I may neither enter
that the way to heaven is not like an easie stair-case on which a man may go up with his hands in his hose but I see by this that he that will come thither must make use of his hands as well as of his feet Lord give me the grace therefore that I may by the hand of faith lay hold on the merits of my crucified Saviour and stretch forth my hands to the doing of good works as well as have the feet of my soul my affections carrying me forward in the way that leads unto thee and to thy heavenly kingdom CCXXI Upon the sight of one whom another did uphold as he went LOrd do thou which upholdest all things by thy mighty word uphold me with thy free spirit with the right hand of thy righteousness in all my going that my foot-steps slip not and I fall into some dangerous temptation and from thence into condemnation CCXXII Vpon the sight of an empty house swept and garnished LOrd this house shews me what I have been in thy sight when I have heretofore received the holy Communion of the blessed body and bloud of my Saviour Jesus Christ I have I must confesse been like this house emptied of all good works swept with an overly repentance and garnished with an outward shew of a seeming sanctity which was not in me in deed and in truth Lord keep me from being ever so again lest Sathan take unto him seven devils worse then himself and enter into me and so make my last estate far worse then was my first CCXXIII. Upon the sight of fire seising upon an house which could not be quenched LOrd keep me from that fire of Hell which shall never be quenched CCXXIV. Upon the sight of two coales lying together whereof the one kindled the other LOrd here I see the benefit of unity and concord for where that is one I see may do much good unto another either by enkindling the graces of Gods Spirit in him or by preserving them already enkindled Oh give me therefore the grace that I may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace CCXXV. Vpon the sight of one that came to visit his friend that was in great perplexity LOrd I am grievously perplexed oh visit me with thy salvation CCXXVI Vpon the sight of one that by violence took something from another LOrd thy word doth tell me that the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and that the violent take it by force Oh that I might have thy grace to use this holy violence that in the end I might obtain thy heavenly Kingdome CCXXVII Vpon the sight of one writing very swiftly LOrd make me a Scribe prompt in the law of thee my God and let my tongue be as the pen of a ready writer to express the comforts that I find therein CCXXVIII Vpon the sight of vapours rising out of the earth LOrd these vapours shew what my life is for what indeed is my life but a vapour that appeareth for a little time and afterward vanisheth away Oh that I might therefore have the grace so to redeem this short time of my life and to improve it to such holy and sanctified uses that when this short life of mine shall have its end I may live with thee in life everlasting CCXXIX Vpon the sight of one binding of sheaves in a corn-field LOrd the work that this man is now about shewes me what will be my case in the great and generall harvest of the world at the worlds end for then I shall be found either to be of the number of the tares which must be bound in sheaves to be burnt or be good wheat which must also be bound in sheaves to be carried into thine everlasting barn in Heaven Oh give me therefore the grace that whilest I am in this field of the world I may spring up and bring forth fruit unto thee in holinesse like the good seed which thou thy self sowedst that so I may have some comfortable assurance that after this life I shall enjoy life everlasting in heaven and not be like the tares of the Devils sowing which must be burnt in hell-fire for ever CCXXXI Upon the sight of an Ewe that brought two Lambs LOrd thou hast been pleased in thy Word to compare thy people to a flock of sheep every one of which bringeth forth twins that I may then have the more comfortable assurance that I am one of thy sheep and of this thy flock Lord give me the grace to bring forth those blessed twins of holinesse and righteousnesse which thy word requireth in all those that are thine CCXXXII Upon the coming on of the twilight LOrd this is the time that the Adulterer waiteth for and the Adultresse maketh use of for the accomplishing of their uncleannesse thinking now that no eye shall see them Lord keep me from having any fellowship with these unfruitfull works but give me grace rather to reprove them CCXXXIII Upon the sight of two Turtle-doves kept tame in a house LOrd thou wert pleased of thy gracious goodnesse and mercy under the law to accept of two turtle Doves or two young Pigeons from the poor that were not of ability to bring a Sheep for a sin-offering Oh be thou as gracious a God to my poor soul and accept at my hands what I am able to doe though much lesse than that others do do or I should do CCXXXIII Upon the sight of a brand taken out of the fire LOrd this brand shewes me the estate wherein I was and wherein I might have been had not thy mercy prevented it I was in the very midst of the fire of affliction and therein I was likely to have continued till I had been utterly consumed hadst not thou in thy mercy prevented it Oh be thou still my gracious God as to deliver me from the danger wherein I am at present so to keep me from the like danger in the time to come lest I be consumed in thy wrath CCXXXIV Vpon the hearing of a little boy that crope in at a window and opened the doores to let in greater theeves LOrd this little theefs entrance and making way for greater theeves shews into what danger my soul may come by wanton looks for if I let but these once into my heart through the windowes of mine eies they will quickly let in many another foul sin that will wholly rob me of thy grace Oh turn away therefore mine eies from such vanities and give me the grace to make a covenant with mine eies that they may not admit any such lustfull objects CCXXXVI Upon the sight of one going up a slippery hill where though he had many slips and some falls yet recovered the top of the hill at last LOrd Heaven is thy holy hill and the way thither is very slippery and none can ascend thither without many
me the grace therefore to magnifie thy mercy for the favour which thou hast shewed me in preserving my life thus long and teach me so to numbet my daies that be to come that I may apply my heart unto wisdome and may spend the residue of them in thy fear that dying never so suddenly I may die in thy favour through Jesus Christ CCLII Vpon the hearing of the sentence of death pronounced against a malefactour LOrd here I see in what a fearfull agonie this poor soul is upon the Judges pronouncing of the sentence of Death against him And if this sentence of Death pronounced by an earthly Judge be so terrible how much more terrible must needs be that sentence which the Judge of the quick and the dead shall pronounce against sinners at the last day Oh give me therefore the grace that I may so judge my self here that I may not be thus judged of thee with the Judgement of condemnation hereafter CCLIII Vpon the sight of one bending his bow to shoot LOrd how often have thine and mine enemies bent their tongues like bows to shoot out bitter words like arrowes against me But Lord as thou hast ever been so still be thou my shield and then I shall be safe CCLIV Vpon the sight of a shepherd breaking the teeth of his sheep-dog LOrd do thou thus break the teeth of thine and mine enemies that they may by their barking at me and my good name and not biting or hurting me hasten me in the way to that blessed field and fold of thine in heaven hereafter and fetch me in when I am strayed and stragled from thee here CCLV. Vpon the sight of one teaching a child to read LOrd I am a very child in understanding and can no more spell or read any thing in thy book the holy Scriptures for my souls present comfort here or everlasting good hereafter then this child can do unlesse I have one to teach me Oh do thou then by the ministers of thy word which thou hast appointed to be teachers of thy people and by the co-operating and assisting grace of thy blessed Spirit which thou hast promised shall teach us all things teach me every day better and better to spell read and understand what may be for my souls good CCLVI. Vpon the sight of swine eating acornes under an Oake HEre I see these swine greedily grouzing up the Acornes which they finde under this tree but I see not one of them lifting up so much as half an eye towards the tree that sned them down unto them And just so Lord have I too often done for how many blessings have I received from thy bounteous goodness for which I have been so far from giving thee deserved thanks that I have scarce ever looked up with an acknowledging eye to that bountifull hand of thine from whence they all have come Lord pardon this my great unthankfulnesse past and make me every day more and more thankfull as thy child should be CCLVII Vpon the sight of a boy which had a bird tied by one leg in a string LOrd herein I see how the Devil deals with me This poor bird having his wings at liberty may flutter up and down and sometimes seem to take his wings and to flie away but being fast tied by but one of his legs he is still in the boys possession and do what he can he cannot flie from him and just so it is with me if the Devil have gotten hold of me though it be by the voluntary entertainment of but any one lust or sin he cares for no more for he knowes that I am thereby in his possession and that he may when he pleaseth if I shall at any time offer to flie from him call me back to his obedience again Good God therefore give me the grace that I may mortifie and subdue all my vile lusts and sinfull affections every day more and more and that I may not willingly continue in any one of them to thy dishonour and the wronging my of own soul CCLVIII. Upon the sight of one tasting of sweet-meats LOrd give me thy grace to taste and see how gracious thou art and that thy word may be as sweet to my taste as this that he hath now tasted feems to be unto his CCLIX Vpon the hearing of one blamed for tarrying longer then was expected LOrd I have been long in misery and I have sent my prayers as messengers unto thee for release therefrom but yet I see little or no appearance of any such release Oh my God make no longer tarrying if it be thy blessed will but rid me out of this misery under which I have so long groaned or if thy will be that I shall continue in it then Lord give me the grace to submit to thy blessed will therein and with patience to attend thy deliverance therefrom when thy will and pleasure shall be to have it and in the mean time not to murmure and repine against thee though to flesh and blood thy tarrying seem longer then ordinary CCLX Upon the hearing of some that were taken captives by the Turks LOrd these poor souls are like to undergo much misery in the place to which they are carried captives and must remain in the same except they be redeemed from thence by some ransom paid for them And this just is my case for Lord I have been taken captive by the Devil to do his will and am like still so to continue except thou O sweet Jesus the Saviour and Redeemer of mankind shalt by the ransome which thou hast paid for me redeem me from thence which I do believe thou hast done for me and wilt in thy good time give me the comfortable assurance thereof which Lord hasten to do for thy mercies sake I do beseech thee CCLXI Upon the sight of a post riding by LOrd this post I see rideth apace but my daies if I had the grace to take notice of it do post away with a far greater speed Lord give me the grace to take notice of it as I should do and to make the best use of it whilst time serveth CCLXII Upon the sight of a swallow LOrd this bird I see observes the time of his returning to us Oh that I might have the grace to observe in like manner the time of my returning unto thee by true and sound repentance CCLXIII Upon the sight of one that stumbled at a stone in his way LOrd how many stumbling-blocks doth the Devil continually cast in my way towards Heaven from all which good Lord deliver me But above all other keep me I beseech thee so by thy grace that neither Jesus Christ my crucified Saviour may be unto me a stumbling-block as he was unto the Jewes nor thy word as it hath been unto other disobedient persons CCLXIV Upon the sight of stubble burnt in a
field LOrd let not the fire of thy wrath and fierce indignation devoure me as this fire doth the stubble that is cast into it but in wrath remember mercy CCLXV. Upon the sight of Rookes in a corn-field newly sown LOrd these fowls are not more desirous to eat up and devour this newly sown corn then is the Devil that master-fowl of the aire to catch away that precious seed of thy word sown in my heart by the ministers and preachers thereof Lord give the grace therefore that I may not be like the ground by the high-way side on which whatsoever seed was sown the fowles presently devoured it because it was not covered with earth but that I may rather be like the good ground wherein the seed sown was so hid and covered that it brought forth fruit in abundance CCLXVI. Vpon the hearing of a strong castle or fort taken by force LOrd my heart the Devil hath for a long time fortified hoping to keep it for himself for ever But Lord thou art stronger then he oh do thou therefore overcome him for me and take me out of his possession that I may live to glorifie thee for this thy wonderfull deliverance of me and for all thy other mercies which thou hast shewed towards me in Jesus Christ CCLXVII Vpon the sight of one that trode in the steps of another that went before him LOrd Jesus thou hast suffered for me and in thy sufferings hast left me an example that I should follow thy steps Oh that I might have thy grace so to do it that following thee here in this world I may in the next attain to that happinesse in Heaven which thou hast promised to all those that follow thee in sincerity and truth CCLXVIII Vpon the sight of one that was sent to reconcile two that were at variance LOrd thou and I have been long at variance by reason of my many and manifold sins committed against thee yet thou art willing I see to have me reconciled unto thee again and for that end hast sent the ministers of thy word as thy Ambassadours to pray me in Christs stead to be reconciled unto thee Lord let not their paines taken herein be fruitlesse and to none effect but give me the grace to accept of the conditions offered and to blesse thy name for the mercy vouchsafed me therein CCLXIX Vpon the sight of chaffe driven away with the wind when one was winnowing LOrd let thine and thy Churches enemies be as chaffe before the wind and let thine Angel scatter them CCLXX. Vpon the sight of one dipping a sop in wine and eating it LOrd grant that after the taking of thy holy Sacrament I may not be like Judas into whom after the taking of the sop Sathan entred lest being filled with iniquity I be brought to destruction both of body and soul as he was CCLXXI. Upon the hearing of some that had suffered shipwrack LOrd keep me from making shipwrack of faith and a good conscience CCLXXII Upon the hearing of a shepherd that watcht his flock by night LOrd be thou my shepherd and do thou which never slumbrest nor sleepest watch over me with the eye of thy fatherly providence that neither the Devil which goeth up and down like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour nor any of his wicked instruments may be able to hurt me CCLXXIII Vpon the sight of a mastive lying before a door LOrd here I see in this mastive lying before this door what I must expect if I shall boldly enter into any known sin for as this mastive lying before the door of this house is ready to fly upon those that shall enter therein so will my conscience fly upon me if I shall enter into the waies of sinne Oh help me therefore with thy grace and keep me by thy power from all such courses that I may neither offend thee my God nor draw upon my self any such sad inconvenience CCLXXIV Upon the sight of a crab-stock grafted with good fruit which yet sent forth many shoots of his own kind LOrd here I see what I am and what I must expect to be as long as I live in this world I may have thy word engrafted in me and may seem thereby to grow in grace and goodnesse but yet still do what I can there will some shoots of my naturall corruption be sprouting forth savouring of the old stock Adams sinfull loines from whence we all came Oh do thou therefore so assist me with thy grace that though such sins may be in me yet they may not reign in me but do thou like a good husband cut and prune them off so as that they may not hinder the growth of thy word in me nor make me unfruitfull in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ CCLXXV Upon the sight of one that sheltred himself under a tree in the time of a storm LOrd the times wherein we live are stormy times and we know not whether to run for shelter in these sad times but onely unto thee who hast promised to be a place of refuge and a covert from the storm to all those that be thine Oh be thou then such a shelter for us and we will glorifie thy name for this thy mercifull deliverance of us CCLXXVI Upon the sight of divers mens sheep put into one and the same sheep-fold LOrd Jesus thou hast other sheep which are not yet of this thy fold wherein we are Oh do thou then which art the good sheph erd in thy good time bring these also into this thy fold that so there may be one sheep-fold and one shepherd CCLXXVII Vpon the washing of mine own hands LOrd give me the grace that I may be as carefull to wash my hands in innocency before I do approch unto thine Altar there to receive the body and bloud of my Saviour Jesus Christ CCLXXVIII Upon the sight of a cart laden with corn LOrd I have by my many and manifold sins often pressed thee as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves Oh be mercifull unto me for what is past and give me thy grace that I may never do so again hereafter CCLXXIX Vpon the sight of one taking larks in a field HEre I see nets spread here I see larks flittering up and down with their wings though tied by their legs here I see a turning glasse against the Sun with the radiant and shining brightnesse whereof those silly birds are so taken that without fear they hasten to the place here I also see the bird-catcher himself sitting a good way off watching to cast his net over them when he thinks they are within the reach of them And Lord what is this but a lively representation of the Devils that grand fowlers dealing with me For where can I go in this wide field of the world where he hath
not spread his nets where he hath not many of his instruments which are in his possession though they seem to be at liberty puposely there set to tempt and toll me into their company and be partaker with them of their sinnes and sinnefull courses where he hath not also many vain pleasures and delights to draw me to his lure and he himself alwaies ready at hand to surprise me and to catch me and to make me his here and eternally his in hell fire hereafter except thou by thy grace shalt ptevent it which I beseech thee for thy Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ his sake to grant unto me CCLXXX Upon the sight of a lamb OH sweet Jesus the eternall Son of the eternall God thou which art the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world do thou so take away my sins that they may neither terrifie my conscience here nor condemm my soul hereafter CCLXXXI Upon the sight of a sheep shearing OH sweet Jesus my onely Lord and Saviour which in thy sufferings wert like a sheep dumb before his shearer and openedst not thy mouth to revile or threaten those that thus wronged thee but committedst thy cause to him that judgeth righteously and therein didst leave me an example that I should follow thy steps give me the grace I beseech thee that I may do the like whensoever I shall be called to suffer with thee or for thee CCLXXXII Vpon the hearing of one that had wronged his neighbour and for it being to appear before a Justice of peace procured some friends in the way thitherwards to take up the matter and to end it for him LOrd I have wronged thee my God and mine own conscience many waies by my sins and have often injured my neighbours by meanes of which both thou and they are become mine Adversaries Oh give me the grace therefore that whilst I am in the way and do live here I may so agree with you all that hereafter I be not delivered to the judge of quick and dead the Lord Jesus Christ that righteous judge and be by him delivered to the Devil the Jaylor of hell who will cast me into that easelesse and endlesse prison of Hell never to come forth thence again CCLXXXIII Upon the sight of a painted and curiously wrought sepulchre LOrd keep me that I may not be like unto this sepulchre to appear beautifull and righteous outwardly to the eies of men and be in the meane time as full of sin and wickednesse within as this is of dead mens bones and all filthinesse CCLXXXIV Upon the sight of one that sought for a thing lost LOrd I have so long erred from the waies of thy commandements that I have at last lost my self and thy favour Oh seek thy servant therefore and in thy good time find me again lest I be lost for ever CCLXXXV Upon the sight of a pot boyling and not skummed LOrd here I see how much skumme and filthinesse is apt to arise out of my heart when once my choler that is within me doth begin to boile and if it be not skummed and taken away by thy grace how soon it will intermix it self with my best actions Oh help me therefore by thy preventing grace that it may not so any more arise in me or if it do that by the same grace assisting me I may speedily repent me of it and skumme it and take it away as it doth arise lest thy wrath lighting upon me both I and it be in the end consumed with the fire of this thy wrath and just indignation CCLXXXVI Upon the sight of one that was corrected by his master for his bad writing and withall taught how to amend it LOrd thy word doth assure me that he is in a happy condition whom thou chastisest and withall teachest him by thy word how to amend That I may then be so happy Lord let me not onely be chastised by thee for what I have done amisse but be taught also by thy blessed word and Spirit how to amend it CCLXXXVII Vpon the sight of a Smith at work upon his Anvile THey say that the more the Anvile is beaten upon the harder it groweth Lord keep me from being so that I may not be the more hardened in my sins by the strokes of thy judgements inflicted on me for them lest not being amended by them I either cause thee to inflict on me or mine some more heavy judgements or to cease punishing of me which will prove in the end the heaviest judgement of all CCLXXXVIII Vpon the sight of a Dog flying upon the stone that hit him without regard to the throwers hand LOrd how often have I done the like by flying upon those with bitter reproches which were but the secondary causes and instruments of my wrong without ever looking at thy hand which set them on work Lord be mercifull unto me for what is past and give me the grace to look up to thy hand better for the time to come that I may with the more patience and comfort undergo what thou by them shalt think meet to lay upon me CCLXXXIX Vpon the sight of a glasse of distilled water stirred and shaken AS long as this glasse of distilled water stood still and unshaken there was nothing to be seen in it but fair and clear water but now being stirred and shaken what a moode and muddy residence doth there arise in it And just so Lord is it with me as long as I am not stirred moved and provoked by any I seem a Saint and as if I had in me nothing of spleen and gall at all but being once moved and provoked how much impatience techinesse frowardnesse and other like corruptions do there manifest themselves in me Lord give me grace therefore rightly to know my self and mine own heart that I may neither conceive too well of my self nor judge too ill of others when I am exempted and they are suffered to fall in any grosse sin CCXC. Vpon the sight of one skilfull in Chymistrie that extracted salt out of herbs CHymicks are of opinion that there is almost nothing but salt may be drawn out of it and that there is no man but hath salt in him Lord give me the grace that I may also have salt in my self the salt of true spirituall wisdome and discretion that I may by the same so season all my actions and so temper all my affections that both by the one and other I may bring glory to thy name good to others and comfort to my own soul CCXCI. Vpon the sight of a burning fire-brand which was soon extinguished when cast into water LOrd here I see how great a measure of zeal may be soon quenched amongst wicked company Oh give me therefore the grace to keep out of such company which are so prejudiciall to thy glory and to my souls
into this gate nor go forward in this way CCI. Vpon the beholding of the apple of ones eye LOrd I see how carefull every one is to keep off all hurt from this part of the body the eye and especially from this part of the eye the apple of it Oh do thou in like manner keep me as the apple of thine eye and let him that toucheth me be as he that toucheth the apple of thine eye CCII. Upon the sight of one putting off and laying aside his cloke LOrd give me the grace that I may also put off the cloke of maliciousnesse and covetousnesse and of all my other sins wherewith I have thought at any time to cover and hide my mischievous designs CCIII Upon the sight of a fox taken in hunting LOrd take us the foxes even the little foxes that is all those enemies of thy truth even the least of them which by their Hereticall or Schismaticall doctrine or their profane conversation do hinder the course of the Gospel amongst us CCIV. Vpon the sight of a whirlwind LOrd do thou so keep me in thy fear that destruction shall not come upon me as a whirlewind and I be carried away as with a whirlewind in thy wrath CCV Vpon the sight of wheat put into a Garner LOrd grant that when thou shalt come with thy fan in thine hand and throughly purge thy floor at the last day I may not be as the chaffe which thou wilt burn up with unquenchable fire but as the wheat which thou wilt gather into thy Garner CCVI. Upon the sight of a well without water LOrd so empty would my heart be of grace for all my goodly outward shews except thou shalt be pleased by the work of thy blessed Spirit to cause the waters of life to flow thereunto which I beseech thee for thy mercy sake to do for me that it may be in me a well of living water springing up to eternall life CCVII. Upon the sight of gold weighed which proved too light LOrd weigh me not in the ballance of thy Justice for then I am sure I shall be found too light except thou shalt suffer me to have the allowance of those graines of mercy which in thy Son thou hast promised me CCVIII Upon the sight of one much weakned with sickness LOrd I have been long and dangerously sick of sin It was an hereditary disease which I drew from the infected loyns of my first parents and I have much aggravated and increased the malignity of it by mine own distempers since so that with both and my long continuance in them I am so weakened that I can do nothing that good is Oh doe thou therefore whose power is made perfect in weaknesse make perfect this thy power in my weakness and so strengthen me with thy grace that though I cannot do what I should yet I may find grace in thy sight to have that accepted in thy Son which I would do CCIX. Vpon the sight of one that was weary with doing that he was set about LOrd grant that I may never be weary of well-doing but that I may hold out to the end and in the end reap that which thou hast promised to those that faint not CCX Vpon the sight of a gibing fellow sitting in a chair LOrd keep me that though through the violence of temptation and mine own frailty I may at times walk in the counsell of the wicked and stand in the way of sinners yet that I may never have power to sit down in the chaire of the scornfull CCXI. Vpon the sight of one making a sick mans Bed LOrd when thou shalt in like manner visit me with sickness do thou make my bed in all my sickness CCXII. Vpon the sight of a water-pot of stone filled with water Sweet Jesus there was a time when thou turnedst the water that was in the six water-pots of stone into wine thy power is the same still that it was then Oh do thou turn then by that same power of thine the water of mine afflictions into the wine of consolation when thy will and pleasure shall be to doe it for me CCXIII. Vpon the sight of watchmen at a cross way LOrd here I see what watching and warding there is to prevent bodily dangers from corporall enemies Oh that I could have the grace in like manner to watch as I should do against my spirituall enemies the enemies of my salvation CCXIV. Vpon the sight of one blowing the fire under a great deal of wood LOrd this minds me of Tophet mentioned in Scripture which is a representation of Hell where the burning thereof is fire and much wood and thy breath like a river of Brimstone doth kindle it from which place I do beseech thee of thine infinite mercy and by thy Sons merits to free me CCXV Upon the observation of the growth of corn LOrd here I see that this corn which hath been sowed brought forth first the blade then the ears after that full corn in the eares And just so is it with thy graces in my heart they come not to perfection at first but proceed on by degrees and will do so still untill I become a perfect man in Christ Jesus unto which measure of grace Lord in thy good time bring me CCXVI Vpon the sight of a ground well closed with hedges LOrd thou didst make an hedge about thy servant Job by Satans own confession and about his house and about all that he had so that he was not able to come in to do him any hurt until thou wert pleased for his triall and our example to pull down the hedge and to let him in Good Lord make the like hedge about me about all that which is mine that neither Satan nor any of his instruments may be able to hurt me or mine And if thou shalt at any time be pleased to pull down this hedge and to let Sathan or any of his instruments in upon me Lord give me the grace with patience to bear it and to expect that happy end which thou in thy mercy gavest unto thy servant Job CCXVII Upon the sight of some standing in a breach to hinder the enemies from entring LOrd do thou stir up some chosen Moses or other which may stand in the breach before thee to turn away thy wrath lest thou shouldst destroy us CCXVIII Vpon the sight of one wandring and out of his way LOrd assist me with thy grace continually that I may never wittingly or willingly wander from thy commandements the way wherein thou hast appointed me to walk CCXIX. Vpon the sight of one cast off by his Master for his lewd courses LOrd give me thy grace that I may never so wait on any lying vanity that I should for the sake thereof forsake mine own mercy CCXX Vpon the sight of one going up a ladder THis man shewes me