poisoned thy affections Thou goest about in thy monstrous madnesse and vnbrideled furie to kill the immortall Lord who is Truth it selfe to direct vs and Life it selfe to quicken vs and to bring him to the slaughter who onely is able and none but hee to bring all men to death to restore all men to life Tell me I pray thee thou wicked and foolish mad-man wert not thou also as well as the other Disciples with the Lord IESVS when he reuiued the mayden which was dead when he cured the Sonne of the Ruler when he raised Lazarus out of his graue when he cleansed the Lepers healed the man sicke of the Palsie deliuered them which were possessed with Diuels when he made him to see which was borne blinde and restored many others to their sight Tell mee I pray thee had hee beene able to haue done these miracles if God had not beene with him What Aegiptian darknesse had blinded thine eyes that thou couldest not see his diuinitie what Ignorance had blinde-folded thy vnderstanding that thou couldest not know him to be the Sonne of God by his admirable workes Where wert thou when at two sundrie times he fed a great multitude of people with a little bread and a few fishes But to let these mercifull and miraculous workes passe which hee did for others why did not these gracious and charitable deedes which hee performed toward thee so mooue thy minde that although thou hadst imagined yet thou mightest not haue practised thy horrible intended mischiefe against him Remember thou most wretched creature and vngratefull Disciple how thy humble Master washed thy feete Iohn 13.5 How should this wonderfull humilitie of so great a Master haue humbled thy minde being so base a Seruant Remember how hee alwaies extended the tokens of his loue to thee as hee did to the other Apostles yet no kindnesse could restraine thy wicked will nor change thy couetous minde Consider thou most vngratefull and cruell Traitor how often my louing Iesus did mildely admonish thee that thou shouldest retire from thy wicked purpose whose all-seeing eye was able to penetrate into the darkest corners of thy heart and to search the secrets of thy inward bowels It might haue checked thy guiltie conscience when hee said after hee had washed his Disciples feete Yee are cleane but not all Iohn 13.11 And againe I speake not of all of you I know whom I haue chosen Iohn 13.18 But although these generall reprehensions were motiues of small moment to mollifie thy stonie heart yet hee spake vnto thee particularly saying Doe that quickely which thou art about to doe Iohn 13.27 Didst thou not clearely see that hee knew thy inward thoughts and the secret plot of thy wicked counsell And who but God is able to know the secrets of the heart and to discouer our hidden cogitations But was not thy heart as flintie as an Adamant that it did not relent with sorrow was not thy fore-head as hard as brasse that thou didst not blush for shame Were not thine eyes more drie then a rocke that they could shed no teares when thy louing Master and my beloued Lord said mildelie vnto thee What Iudas doest thou betray the Sonne of man with a kisse Luke 22.48 Oh great humilitie exceeding meekenesse most admirable clemencie of my Sauiour Iesus Yet neither the mildnes of his words nor wonderfulnesse of his works could soften thy obdurate heart or reclaime thy obstinate minde oh thou pernicious Traitor My Sauiour called him friend Mat. 26.10 whom hee knew to be a direfull foe that the meeknesse of the name might haue a little calmed the furie of his nature but the Diuell had sowed such naughtie seede in the furrowes of his couetous heart that hee became a wicked guide to deliuer his louing Master into the hands of his bloudie enemies who hating his innocent life had longed for opportunitie to put him to a cruell and shamefull death Tell mee thou damned Iudas what brought thee into such an hellish Phrensie that thou didst complot with the bloudie Iewes to betray thy gracious Lord with a token of kindnesse Had thirstie Couetousnesse so inflamed thy minde that thou didst run headlong to sell thy soule for a little piece of monie If thou hadst come like a foe thy crime had not beene so haynous nor thy crueltie so odious But thou like a cousening hypocrite didst cunningly maske thy deadly hate with the vizard of counterfeit loue Thou didst salute my louing Iesus with no friendly but a deadly kisse that with this token of peace and kindnesse thou mightest cast a mist before the eyes of his faithfull Disciples that they might thinke thou hadst nothing to doe with those wicked persons who came to apprehend their Lord Master thou thoughtest thou haddest complotted so cunningly and contriued thy matters so carefully that all should haue beene hidden in darknesse and no man haue knowne thy damnable practise but onely the cursed crue of thy confederates but the Diuill who was the author to allure thee to this mischiefe did beguile thee with a deceitfull imagination and so he will doe all others that follow thy crooked steppes and walke in thy cursed waies Such iugling hypocriticall trickes may often be hooded from the dim sight of men but they can neuer be hidden from the all-seeing eye of Almightie God thou camest with a word of peace in thy mouth when thou didst pretend nothing but warre in thy heart thy speech was as soft as Butter but thy inward thoughts were more sharpe then a Raisor thou didst presume to offer a Traitors kisse Mat. 26.49 to my blessed Sauiour when thy lips were full of poyson and thy throate an open Sepulcher thou camest like a subtle Foxe to salute him with a word of health when thou wert a wicked guide to a hand of cruell Souldiers who meant him nothing but hurt so strong was the desire of filthie lucre to hale thee to mischiefe so eager was thy greedie appetite to bite at this pleasant baite that thou couldest not see the killing hooke For when thou didst sell the precious life of thy louing Master thou didst giue thy damned Soule to the Diuell to be tormented with him for euer in the fire which flameth continually and burneth so extreamely that the paines of the least sparkle of it are more then intollerable wherefore my sweet Iesu so mollifie my heart and moderate my minde which am thy most vnworthy Seruant that I may not giue such direfull and deadly kisses vnto thee which art my most kinde and louing Master And grant vnto mee by thy gracious clemencie that I may offer vnto thee the sweet kisses of loyall Obedience and constant Loue that my Soule may say vnto thee Kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth Cant. 1.1 for thy loue is better then wine Run oh my soule and neither let the baites of terrene pleasure nor the brunts of worldlie sorrow hinder thee in thy way when thou goest to kisse thy
in him they reioyce continually in other creatures hee is admirable because he createth all things powerfully gouerneth all things wisely disposeth all things bountifully In men hee is amiable because he is their GOD and they are his people Hee dwelleth in them euen as in his Temple and they are his Temple Hee disdaineth neyther particular nor vniuersall Whosoeuer is mindefull of him and doth both know and also loue him Motiues to moue vs to loue God hee is vvith him Wee ought to loue him because hee hath first loued vs and hath made vs after his Image and similitude which thing he would not impart to any other creature Wee are made according to the Image of GOD that is according to the vnderstanding and knowledge of the Sonne by whom we vnderstand and know the Father and haue accesse vnto him So great is the affinitie betweene vs and the Sonne of God as that wee are the image of him who is the image of God Which affinitie also the similitude doth testifie because wee are not onely made according to his similitude but also to his likenesse Therefore it behoueth that that which is made according to his image doe agree vvith his Image and not participate onely a vaine name of the Image In vvhich regard let vs represent and expresse his Image in our selues in the feruent desire of peace in the beholding of truth and in the loue of Charitie Let vs holde him in our memorie let vs carrie him in our conscience and let vs adore and vvorship him euery where vvho is present euery where For our vnderstanding in that same respect is the image of him in which it is capable of him and may bee partaker of the same The minde or soule is not therfore the Image of him because the minde remembreth it selfe How the soule is sayd to be the Image of God vnderstandeth and loueth it selfe but because it may be able to remember vnderstand and loue him of whom it was made The which when it doth it becommeth vvise The three faculties of the soule to wit Memory Will and Vnderstanding resembling the Trinitie For nothing is more like to that most excellent and highest Wisedome then a reasonable Soule which through Memory Vnderstanding and Will consisteth in that vnutterable Trinitie But it cannot consist and abide in the same vnlesse it remember vnderstand and loue the same Let it therefore remember her God loue and worship him after whose Image it was made with whom it may alwayes bee blessed Oh blessed Soule with vvhom GOD hath found rest in vvhose Tabernacle hee dwelleth and remaineth How the soule is said to be truly blessed Blessed which may say and hee which created mee resteth in my Tabernacle For hee cannot denie the rest of HEAVEN vnto her Therefore why doe wee forsake our selues and seeke God in these externall and outward things who is at home with vs if vvee will be with him Verely hee with vs and in vs but as yet by faith vntill vvee shall see him face to face Wee know saith the Apostle that Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith How God dwelleth in vs. Because Christ is in our Faith Faith in our Vnderstanding our Vnderstanding in the heart the heart in our breast Through Faith I call God to minde as a Creator I adore him as a Redeemer I attend and wait for him as a Sauiour I belieue to behold him in all his Creatures to haue him in my selfe and that which is more pleasant and blessed then all these vnspeakeable to know him in himselfe What life euerlasting is For to know the Father Sonne and the holy Ghost is life Euerlasting perfect blessednesse What life euerlasting is chiefest pleasure The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man what great loue what great sweetnesse and what great pleasantnesse doth remaine vnto vs by that vision when we shall see God face to face Which is the light of those which doe inlighten rest to the labouring a Countrey to them that returne from exile life to the liuing a Crowne to the conquering Therefore in my vnderstanding I finde the Image of that most high and supreame Trinitie to the vvhich most supreme Trinitie alwayes to be remembred looked vpon and to be loued that I may remember it be delighted with it embrace and view it I must referre and employ that time which I liue The minde is the Image of GOD The faculties of the soule resembled to the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost in vvhich are these three things Memory Vnderstanding and Will or Loue. VVee attribute to the Memory all vvhich vvee know although we thinke not of it Wee attribute to the Vnderstanding all vvhich vvee finde to bee true in thinking vvhich wee also commit vnto Memory By Memory vvee are like to the Father by Vnderstanding to the Sonne by Will to the holy Ghost Nothing in vs is so like to him as Will Loue or Charitie which is a more excellent vvill For Loue or Charitie is the gift of God So that no gift of GOD is more excellent then this For the loue which is of GOD and which is also GOD is called properly the holy Spirit by whom the loue of God is disfused in our harts by whom the whole Trinitie doth inhabite and dwell in vs. Of the miserie of Man and the examination of the last Iudgement MOTIVE II. COncerning the outward man I proceed from those parents which made mee to be worthy of damnation before I was borne Sinners begot a sinner and nourished mee with sinne the miserable brought a miserable creature into the miserie of the light I haue nothing from them but misery sinne and this corruptible body which I carry about mee And I hasten to goe to them which through the death of the body are departed from hence When I looke vpon their Graues and Sepulchers I finde nothing in them but ashes vvormes stincke and loathsomnesse What I am they haue beene and what they are I shall be What am I Man proceeding from a liquid humour For in a moment of conception I was conceiued of humane seed afterward that froth congealed increasing a little was made flesh Mans corruption and afterward crying and lamenting I was deliuered to the banishment of this World and behold now I die full of iniquities and abhominations Now euen now I shall appeare before a seuere and strict Iudge to render an account of my workes VVoe bee to mee miserable vvretch when that day of Iudgement shall come and the Bookes shall bee opened in vvhich all my actions and cogitations shall be recited in the presence of the Lord. Then hanging downe my head with confusion of an euill conscience I shall stand in iudgement before the LORD trembling and sorrowfull to vvit reckoning vp my wicked deeds which I haue committed The conscience of the wicked shall be their owne
I render vnto thee for thy great bountie What shall I yeeld vnto thee for thy gracious mercie I haue nothing O Lord thou knowest my pouertie I acknowledge my needy necessitie I haue confessed my most haynous sinnes and grieuous offences before thy face I haue not hidden mine vnrighteousnesse out of thy sight Wherefore oh my most bountifull Lord supply that by thy infinite liberalitie which is wanting by reason of my vile ingratitude And thou which art onely able create a thankfull heart in me thy poore vnworthy seruant that it may euermore be delighted with the remembrance of thy goodnes and still be ioyfull with the sweet meditation of thy mercies But now oh my Soule meditate a while how sodaine feare had quailed the loue of the Disciples of my distressed Sauiour For being terrified with his vnexpected and cruell apprehension and dreading their owne danger they fled away leauing their Lord and beloued Master Mark 14.50 Then thou mightest truely say oh most sweet Iesu They which saw me fled from me I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde And againe Thou hast put my friends my neighbours and acquaintance farre from mee Also that was verified which the Prophet had fore-tolde All my friends haue forsaken mee and they that lay in waite haue preuailed against me He whom I loued hath betrayed mee For so wert thou left alone my louing Iesus and they which were neere vnto thee made hast to be gone and would tarrie no longer with thee Consider further oh my soule the disciples of my Sauiour flying for feare and lamenting with sorrow when they saw their most beloued master traiterously betrayed ignominiously abused and led like an innocent Lambe to the shambles Attend to their sighing and groning to their weeping and moning for loath they were to leaue so louing and so well beloued a Master But why should feare of danger haue bin so violent or dread of death so strong as to pull them from so deare a friend They professed they would remaine constant and that no affliction should abate their courage but their words proued no deedes and all was but vaine presumption Selfe-loue of their owne securitie made them forsake their distressed Master in his captiuitie But tell mee bold-hearted Peter why didst thou like a coward forsake thy faithfull Maister Didst thou professe so much and performe so little Was thy manhood so soone quailed when thou was put to thy triall I know thou didst shew some signe of courage and thou beganst to play the man when thy Maister was first apprehended but it was but done in a fit of thine anger and thy heate was soone cooled thy promise great and thy performance little when thou wert in mount Tabor and saw but some beames yea rather some sparkles of the eternall glory of thy blessed Maister then thy senses were so rauished and thy minde so amazed that thou diddest crie out Bonum est esse hic Mat. 17.1 Marke 9.2 Luke 9.28 It is good to be here let vs build three Tabernacles but now thou doest not say Bonum est esse hic It is good to tarry here with my poore disgraced Master Say thou didst loue thy Master well yet it appeareth thou didst loue thy selfe better oh why diddest thou make such a vaine ostentation of thy courage and yet afterwards shew thy selfe such a coward But take heed oh my soule that thou dost not so vehemently inueigh against faint-hearted Peter and the rest of his fearefull fellowes that thou forget thy selfe and passe by thine owne infirmity Wee all loue Christ when our cups may ouerflow with wine and our bellies be filled with the finest wheate but the heate of our loue is quickly cooled if but a small blast of stormie persecution doe bluster against vs. Wee all desire to dwell vvith him as did rauished Peter when his eyes vvere dazeled vvith the beames of his glory appearing vnto him on Mount Tabor But all of vs flye from him or follow him a-loofe-off when wee see him going to Golgotha We dare presume to say with forward Peter Lord if all leaue thee I will not forsake thee Mat. 26.33 Mark 14.29 Iohn 13.37 But alas when wee come to the tryall we are readie to flie and leaue the field at the first alarme Wee could all be content to eate pleasant hony and to feede our selues with sweet milke but our mouthes are filled with murmuring and our hearts with grudging the time is long and the iourney tedious while wee trauell in the wildernes of this world towards heauenly Canaan Exod. 17.2 Alas were the Disciples of my Sauiour so fearefull at the first encounter who had beene so often fore-tolde of that day and had beene so well instructed by their louing Maister to arme themselues against the assaults of affliction Then how can I poore worme boast of my strength and vaunt of my manly courage How should I holde out vnto the end when such stout Souldiers begin to shrinke at the beginning of the battell I know mine owne imbecilitie my powerfull Lord I confesse mine infirmitie I feele my heart quake and I perceiue my courage to quaile so soone as I see but a darke cloud of affliction and stand in dread of euery storme of persecution Strengthen my heart oh Lord with Christian Fortitude that my minde may not be dismayed with feare nor my senses drowned with the streames of immoderate sorrow whensoeuer I must drinke of the bitter waters of affliction for the profession of thy name or feele the pricking thornes of persecution in my sides for the confession of thy truth Teach me to take vp my crosse and to follow thee and that I may not be ashamed of this noble badge of true Christianitie Instruct mee to know that affliction is the lot of thy Children and that thou vvilt haue their Faith tryed in the fiery furnace and graunt mee oh Lord such a plentifull measure of thy quickning grace that although my fraile flesh beginne to tremble and my weake heart to faint at the first assault of danger and I seeke a corner to hide my head in in the time of trouble yet that I may not flye so farre from thee but that I may quickly returne to thee as Peter and Iohn did who loued and were so dearely beloued of thee and as the rest of thy Disciples did after thy glorious resurrection and in the sorrowfull time of calamitie trouble and persecution so mittigate the dolor of my passions that I may endure all extremities with Christian patience knowing that all the afflictions of this world are but momentarie and that the ioyes prepared for the faithfull after this life are innumerable and shall endure eternally Now let vs leaue the sorrowfull Disciples and come to our louing Iesus who being bound was presented to Annas by the wicked Iewes who examined him concerning his Disciples and concerning his doctrine Ioh. 18.19 And although the humilitie of my Sauiour was great and his modestie no
should all my sences be afflicted with mourning vvhen my minde doth contemplate the wounds of thy body and meditate the sorrow of thy soule afflicted with the deadly pangs of thy bitter passion vvhich inflamed thy heart with excessiue heat and dried vp the moysture of thy bowels with immoderate thirst And how should mine eyes swell with weeping and my hart be wearied with groning to bewaile my sinnes which so sharpened the hearts of the Gentiles vvith the eagernesse of crueltie and so shortned the hands of the Iewes vvith the malice of impietie that they reteined no sparke of pitty in their hearts nor would extend their hands to giue thee any comfortable refreshing in thy greatest extreamity But as their hearts and bowels were filled with sharpe sower and malicious humors so they giue thee a sowre and bitter drinke compounded of Gall and Vinegar Oh nefarious horrible impiety oh detestable cruelty of the perfidious Iewes to be so stony-harted as not to afford so much as a draught of cold water to my dying Iesus vvho is able to giue water of life which shall so plentifully satisfie the longing desire of those that drinke of it that they shall neuer after be molested vvith thirst nor haue any necessity to drinke Oh would I had beene there my bountifull Iesu that my vveeping eyes might haue afforded thee store of water to haue slaked thy drinesse and quenched thy thirst Oh how extreame vvas the griefe of thy tender-hearted Mother Oh how sorrowfull vvas the sadnes of Iohn thy louing Disciple who loued thee so tenderly was beloued of thee so intirely Oh how dolorous was the lamentation of Mary Magdalene mourning for thee her kinde distressed Master who had forgiuen her many sinnes because shee had shewed thee much loue Who all did behold thee with their wofull eyes and did heare thee with their doleful eares complaine that thou wert dry and thirsty and no doubt but they did all wish with sighes desire with heauy groanes that they had beene able but alas they might not be suffred to giue thee some comfortable refreshing When the Diuell our ancient enemy did tempt thee in the Wildernesse thou wert pinched with hunger at thy death thou wert parched with thirst thy moysture dryed vp like a pot-shard and thy tongue cleauing to the rooffe of thy mouth Now what are these naturall wants and weak infirmities found in thy body but strong arguments vnto vs of thy true man-hood and true testimonies of thy humane nature that we might know that although thou wert indued with exceeding patience yet that thou being man wert subiect to our passions but as thy sacred Conception was free from all carnall corruption so thy pure Life was alwaies free from all sinnefull infection Thou hadst great cause my louing Sauiour to be molested with drinesse and grieued with thirst when as thy body was distempered with watching brused with cruell blowes and thy bloud exhausted with thy bleeding wounds yet such as was the inhumanity such was the cruelty of the pittilesse Iewes that in this extremitie they would not afford thee a cuppe of colde water But is it credible yea is it possible that my Sauior should be afflicted vvith thirst at his death who hath tolde vs and it is true that hee hath told vs that he hath the water of life Tell me my bountifull Iesu how was thy moisture consumed what caused thy thirst art thou not hee which cryed If any man thirst let him come to me drinke Ioh. 7.37 art thou able to satisfie others that are thirsty and art thou thy selfe oppressed with thirst art not thou he my louing Sauiour which said to the woman of Samaria that thou hadst the water of life that hee vvhich should drinke of this water should neuer thirst any more but that it should be a well of water in him springing vp vnto euerlasting life Thy speech my Sauiour is veritie and thy words are truth thou hast the water of life thou art able and as thou art able so thou art most willing to refresh our thirsty soules vvith this blessed vvater if vvee will resort to drinke of thy pure and Christall fountaine I will come vnto thee my sweet Iesu that thou mayest satisfie my soule vvith thine euerlasting bread and quench my thirst with this Water of life for my soule thirsteth after God which is a liuing Fountaine I will cry vnto thee the Lord my God my Sauiour my protector and I will say I thirst I thirst my bountifull Iesu Oh that I might haue but so much as a little taste of this Caelestiall water Oh how doe I long to drinke of this fountaine quench thou my thirst oh my sweet Iesu with this liuing Water for thou onely art able to quench my thirst because vvith thee there is the fountaine of life And graunt that my soule may still thirst with such a longing after thy loue that it may make haste to these waters of comfort Oh how dangerous and deadly were my malady how vnsufferable were my misery how damnable were my state how desperate were my case if I should not drink of this heauenly Fountaine But as the spring of these blessed and wholesome waters doth euer flowe and as thy vnstinted bounty oh my mercifull Sauiour euer aboundeth so thou doest neuer deny any thirsty soule to drinke of this liuing water Wherefore let the feruency of thy loue so inflame my soule that it may thirst and thirsting may runne vnto thee to be refreshed with this comfortable water I know oh my blessed Redeemer that thou wert not onely afflicted with thirst in thy body but that thou wert more affected with thirst in thy spirit Heare thou oh my thirsty soule the sweet word of thy Sauiour Oh with what exceeding mercy is it replenished with what inestimable Charity is it vttered He saith I thirst but he saith not I am pained grieued or afflicted And what dost thou thirst for so much oh my louing Lord Thou dost not thirst so much for wine which is pressed out of the grapes of the Vine or for water which floweth out of the Riuer but thy thirst is my saluation thy meat is my redemption Thou doest thirst for my faith my saluation my ioy this spirituall thirst did more affect thy soule then any naturall or humane thirst could afflict thy body Therefore thirst thou oh my soule after thy louing and merciful Sauiour as the thirsty Hart desireth the water Oh how canst thou but thirst after him who hath thirsteth so much after thee Let all things be they neuer so sower be pleasant vnto thee for his sake let all things be they neuer so bitter be most sweet vnto thee for his loue Refuse not to drinke of the bitter cup of affliction for his cause and hee will not faile to refresh thee in the time of thy calamitie his hand shall be stretched out to deliuer thee in thy necessitie Grant me my Lord that I may
offer vnto thee the wine of my true deuotion vvith the Mirrhe of mortification and gall of hearty contrition But as it might be dolefull vnto thee my soule to heare thy louing Iesus cry out Sitio I thirst so let it be ioyfull vnto thee to heare him take his farewel with Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 Oh let the Meditation of this word be more sweet vnto me then the hony vvhich Sampson found in the carkasse of the Lyon vvhen he was hungry Iudg. 14 8. and more delectable vnto mee then the vvater vvhich hee found in the Iawbone of the Asse vvhen he vvas thirsty Iudg. 15.19 For now had my blessed Redeemer fulfilled the sacred decrees of the holy Scriptures concerning my saluation and appeased the wrath of his Father kindled against me for my sinnes Now he had cancelled the Obligation of my infinite debt and not vvith siluer and gold but with his owne most pretious blood purchased my Redemption And by his death conquered death hell and the deuill Oh happy death that hath redeemed mee to eternall life Oh glorious victory although my Sauiour obtained it so dearely Therefore let mee not be carelesse to sell that so cheape which my Sauiour hath bought so deare Let mee consecrate my soule and body wholly to him for they are his owne he hath dearely bought them Direct my spirit oh Lord by the leuell of thy perfect word let the meditation of my heart be day and night in thy sacred law that I may offer vp vnto thee daily the calues of my vnfained lippes speaking of thy meruailous kindnesse early in the morning and telling of thy manifold mercies late in the euening send downe a gratious raine of thy holy Spirit into the furrowes of my heart that the memory of thine innumerable benefits may perpetually flourish in my minde and thine euerlasting praises euermore sound in my mouth for thou alone art my Redeemer oh Lord God of my saluation A Meditation how CHRIST gaue vp the Ghost and of the wonders which were seene at his death MED XIX Strange a Mar. 15.38 wonders at our Sauiours death were wrought The graues did b Matt. 27.51 open and the dead came forth The Temple rent in c Luke 23.45 twaine Dumbe creatures sought T' expresse to blinded d Luk. 19.40 Iewes their makers worth LIft vp thine eyes oh my soule and behold how the countenance of thy Sauiour is couered with a deadly palenesse his sight beginneth to faile and his heart to faint yet a little before the departure of his soule and in his greatest pangs hee cryed out with a lowd voyce as if he had felt no paine saying Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and vvhen he had said thus bowing downe his head and closing his eyes he gaue vp the Ghost Luke 23.46 Now so soone as his blessed soule was dissolued from his breathlesse body the vaile of the Temple vvas rent into two peeces from the top the bottome the earth did quake the stones were rent the graues opened and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose out of their graues came into the holy Citie and appeared to many Awake thou now oh my soule lie no longer snorting in the bed of carelesse security vvhat wilt thou say what wilt thou doe oh my soule Thou seest that the earth trembleth quaketh that the stones doe cleaue in pieces and that the beholders are all amazed at the death of the Lord Iesus Oh! why art thou so senselesse oh my soule and as it were dead without motion at the recordation of the death and meditation of the Passion of thy Sauiour Oh let the sinnefull vaile of the Temples of thy head rend into peeces which couereth the eyes of thy vnderstanding let thy earthly body tremble with horror and thy stony heart cleaue in sunder with terror of thine impietie and now arise thou out of the graue of thine iniquitie let thine eyes waste and consume away with weeping and let thy heart melt away with sighing that thou mayest shew some signes of sorrow for thy sinnes and some tokens of true repentance for thy transgressions which caused the bitter Passion and procured the cruell death of thy innocent IESVS and cry out vvith the astonished Centurion Verely this man was righteous Hee was the Sonne of GOD Mat. 17. Lift vp thy hands crie out with a faithfull heart Oh my gratious Lord my sweet Sauiour and louing Redeemer how terrible were my trespasses how haynous were my transgressions that nothing but thy pretious blood could wash out the staines of mine iniquitie and nothing but thy death deliuer me out of the chaines of euerlasting captiuitie What shall I doe to gratulate the greatnes of thy loue how shall I perfectly rellish the goodnesse of thy mercy how shall I throughly tast the sweetnesse of thy compassion For how doth thy loue exceede in greatnesse how doth mercy abound in goodnes and how doth thy compassion excel in sweetnes that thou being the true and naturall Sonne of God shouldst be made man that we being sinnefull men should be made the sons of God yea when vvee were thine enemies vessels of sinne and vassals of Sathan And that thou being man shouldest be made subiect to the same passions to the same affections to the same afflictions that we are yea obnoxious to death to pay our debt but yet thy life was neuer infected with any sinfull action no not so much as affected with any euill cogitation Oh my kinde Iesu Oh thou innocent Lambe Oh my most louing Lord by how much the more I consider thy calamity by how much the more I ruminate thy mercy by so much the more cause I finde to be faithfully affected towards thee for the greatnes of thy loue and to be afflicted with thee for thy grieuous torments Oh let me behold in my serious meditation and see with the eye of mine vnderstanding how thy most sacred body is brused vvith cruell blowes thy tender flesh mangled with bleeding wounds thy venerable head perfored and pierced with a Crowne of pricking thornes thy beautifull forehead spotted and thy comely haire knotted with coniealed blood thy nosthrils offended vvith stinking spittle and thy blessed mouth distasted with gall and vinegar thy most bright eyes obscured with a vaile thy amiable face buffeted with fists and defiled with dust thy chast eares filled with reproaches thy naked body scourged with whips thy vveary shoulders shrinking and thy weake knees failing vnder the heauy burthen of the crosse thy most holy hands pierced thy blessed feet bored with sharpe iron nailes thy blessed side opened and thy heart wounded with a speare Oh let the remembrance of thy grieuous torments my louing Iesu let the memory of thy bleeding wounds and scornefull reproaches wound my heart with vvofull compunction and pierce into my hardened bowels that they may relent vvith tender compassion that I may feele some sense of painefull sorrow for thy