neuer wearieth the soules of such as delight in the liuing God whose beautie Dauid saw as neuer satisfied with the contemplation of the glorious Maiestie oâ— Iehouah whose beautie the more the Spirituall minde beholdeth in his word his workes his fauour power and prouidence the more is hee mooued with desire to see more and more And thinkes no happinesse comparable to the happinesse of a heauenly life Much were the Disciples mooued at the sight of Christs transfiguration in so much as they desired to haue built there Tabernacles to haue enioyed that blessed sight Still to desirous was Dauid still to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple Where God is truely heard and duly called vpon by a holy congregation nay by one particular faithfull Christian there appeareth the glorie of God There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mightie God of Iaakob whose glorie filleth the Temple which onely the Spirituall man seeth with a supernaturall eye Though the carnall man bodily present apprehendeth it not Paul at his conuersion saw Gods glorie but they that were with him heard onely a voyce but saw it not Such beautie shineth in the hearts of the deere Children of God by the operation and illumination of the Holy Ghost by whom Stephen saw the glorie of God in the heauens and Christ sitting at his right-hand which none 〈◊〉 can see but such onely aâ—are inlightened who take such surpassing sweet delight in the beholding the face of God not onely in the Word wherein hee is in part seene but especially through faith that their soules are euen rauished and as it were transchanged by the splender therof as it were into the Image of the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father â—od commanding the light to shine out of darkenesse shineth in our hearts to giue light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let vs therefore indeuour to exercise our selues in puritie and sanctitie clensing our consciences from all counterfeit sincerity and labour to become in deed such as wee would seeme to bee And not to neglect the visiting of the materiall Temple to heare the Word of GOD and to pray vnto him if wee hope to be happie for there is none happie but they whom GOD loueth and who loue GOD if wee loue God wee will delight in him to heare him often for our instruction and confirmation of our faith and to seeke him by our prayers for he is ready to bee found of all them that are true of heart who shall heere behold his beautie and hereafter enioy his glorie A Prayer vnto God that he will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to prayse him GRant O most gracious Lord God according to the riches of thy grace that I may bee strengthened by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and so my whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus for thou Lord knowest what I am by nature a man vnworthy to take thine holy Name into my mouth or to come into thy presence being inclynable to no good dutie but apt to euery vanity I come therefore vnto thee heauenly Father in the Name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne in whom thou hast promised to receiue them that sincerely seeke thee heare the voyce of my petitions O Lord when I crie vnto thee and when I lift vp my hands towards the mercies seat of thy holy Temple reiect me not vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule crauing pardon for my sinnes and that thou wilt admit me into the holy societie of thy Saints and that I may delight to dwell in thy holy Temple vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings for euer Let my heart bee euer vpright in thy Statutes and faithfull euer before thee for thou hast pleasure in righteousnesse and hee is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to walke euer vprightly as in thy presence Indue me with thy Spirituall knowledge leade me by thy right hand to thine holy Temple shew mee thy glorie and thy beauty that I may be comforted through thy presence Open mine eares that I may heare thee and thy Word by thy holy Ministrie and prepare my heart to receiue knowledge and vnderstanding and open my mouth and fill it with thy prayses and let my prayers in thy Sons Name bee acceptable vnto thee Shew me thy way and giue mee vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandements and walke in them My hearts desire Lord is to dwell with thee to haue the full free fruition of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth that I may serue thee with a pure affection and giue thee prayse in the congregation of thy Saints Turne thy face vnto me O Lord that I may see the beautie of thy countenance and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit bee admitted to visite thine holy Temple with faith and assurance of thy presence wherein I know is libertie and life protection and plentie of all good things Make my heart stable vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure conscience and vndefiled that I may not come into thine house only to bee seene and to seeme seruiceable or dutifull vnto thee but may inwardly hunger thirst for thy Word the food of my soule the bread of life and imprint the same so effectually in my soule that it may prooue fruitfull in â—ee and that I may shâ—w it in my 〈◊〉 holy conuersation to thy Glorie that being filled with the comforts proceeding from the beautie of thy countenance I may euer posâ—sesse my soule in that peace which passeth all vnderstanding euer-more reuerencing thy glorious Maiâ—stie that euer-more filleâ—h both the heauens and the earth fill my heart O Lord with thy Spirit that I may draw neere vnto thee and to thy Holy place my strong Rocke to thee will I alwayes resort Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse and that I may more abound in hope and be strengthened to euery good work through the power of the holy Ghost by Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Lord increase my faith The Conclusion A Prayer for true happinesse which shall bee consummate onely in heauen O Lord what am I the son of dust and ashes that I should presume to come into thy presence to seeke and desire felicity and happinesse here in this wildernesse of so many vanities miseries and troubles as are among the children of men As for me Lord thou knowest wherof I am made thou remembrest that I am but dust what happinesse therfore Lord can I look to obtaine here where sinne dwelleth in my mortall body
or his prayers sake but for thy best beloued Soâ—nes sake and such onely prayers as proceed from thine owne Spirit Fulfill therefore good Father all my godly desires through Christ Iesus Amen Let vs pray that wee may pray A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings Spirituall and Corporall comprehending the most needfull blessings fit at all times for all men to bee desired GRacious Lord God and most louing in Iesus Christ thou hast of thine owne free fauour willed all men in all their troubles dangers and wants of Spirituall and corporall things to come vnto thee to aske in the Name of thy Sonne and they shall receiue whatsoeuer they faithfully pray for to seeke helpe of thee and they shall finde it in due and conuenient time to knocke and they shall be admitted into thy holy presence But good Father as thou hast thus commanded me worke in me power truely to performe what thou commandest to pray I am of my selfe dull to seeke I am by nature blinde to knock I am weake and therefore thou seemest to command things to mee impossible to be effectually performed say therefore vnto mee and performe it namely that thy Spirit may bee a sufficient helpe vnto me Thou well knowest mine insufficiencie Lord for I cannot of my selfe thinke a good thought how then can I of my selfe pray and obtaine seeke and finde what I want or knock and bee heard This sacred vertue none by nature hath it is of thine owne free Grace and they onely to whom thou vouchsafest thine owne Spirit to helpe their weakenesse such in deed can faithfully aske such can dilligently seeke and constantly knock they onely obtaine what they aske they finde what they seeke and they are heard and admitted into thy presence when they knock Oh! admit me Lord into the number of them to whom thou hast vouchsafed this blessed priuiledge for they belong onely to the truely faithfull to such as thou hast chosen of thine owne purpose whom thou hast made fit to aske apt to seeke and constant to knock Apt I am to aske many things because I want manie and I know thou art able and willing to grant euery good thing But I am ignorant so to aske as I may obtaine for I know not what to aske as I ought and therefore though I often aske I receiue not because I aske amisse tending my prayers rather to the obtayning of carnall then Spirituall and heauenly riches and finde them not because thou seest the granting of them rather hurtfull then profitable vnto me Send therefore deare Father send downe thine holy Spirit who onely knoweth how and for what to pray though I bee ignorant of hee knoweth thy will though I bee weake he is powerfull and though I be corrupt He is holy as thou art holy â—ee onely knoweth my wants and how they may bee supplied Therfore none but he Lord can make my Petitions effectuall none but he can speake for me with me and in me Good Father denie him not vnto me leaue mee not destitute of his helpe When he commeth he shall teach mee all things fit for mee to learne hee will prompt and tell mee what is fit for me to aske he will prepare my heart hee will rectifie mine affections he will abandon my darkenesse deadnesse and dulnesse he will vntie my faultring tongue and open my closed lippes hee will inlarge my knowledge and increase my faith If I pray without the helpe of this thy blessed Spirit I doe but vtter a bare voyce O Lord which cannot come into thy presence nor returne any comfort to mine owne soule but speaking in and by him I shall assuredly bee heard for when I pray sinceerely and effectually in deed it proceedeth not from mee but from thine owne Spirit that speaketh in mee and beareth the greatest burden of my prayers though the words passe thorow my lippes they are not mine but his Holy Father euer louing louing in Iesus Christ inkindle mine inward godly desires through the heauenly heate of that Sacred fire touch my tongue with that celestiall cole from thine Alter then shall my heart be prepared then shall my lippes be opened then shall I speake with my tongue according to the meaning of thine owne Spirit then shall mine vnderstanding be inlarged then shall I appâ—ehend thy mercie and fully enioy thy fauour in Christ my Redeemer then shall I finde and feele in my heart an assured testimony that my prayers are come vp into thy presence then shall my guilty conscience burdened with sinne be eased and all my wants spirituall and corporall outward and inward bee fully and timely supplied and all my feare bee remooued and all things howsoeuer seeming contrary shall worke together yea together to my perpetuall peace and comfort in thee Then shall I receiue in this corrupt and weake vessell of dust the Image of my Redeemer bring forth the fruits of his Kingdome and euen here feele and be assured to bee sealed vp in the number of thine Elect Saints and enioy the glorie of that future Kingdome in full which heere I partake and know but in part according to that measure of knowledge which it hath pleased thee through thy holy Spirit to reueale vnto mee in this mortality where yet I finde the merits of my Redeemer preuayling to the washing away of my sinnes I heare his voyce and heere desire to follow him and to obey thee in him submitting my selfe to vndergoe whatsoeuer crosse for his sake as hee endured the death of the Crosse for mine euermore looking for longing to be dissolued freed from this worlds vanities and to bee partaker of the glory which by his death hee hath purchased for all that in faith and holy desire Looke for his second comming for which all that are guided by that thy Sacred Spirit inwardly and dayly cry Come Lord Iesus come quickly and end these dayes of sinne In the meane time thou knowest louing Father that I am inforced to bee combred about manie things of faâ—re inferiour condition following the things of my worldly calling which much hinder mee in the performance of better things and which often hinder the liuely working of thy holy Spirit in me I am much and often oppressed with the strength of mine owne inherent corruption often assayled by that my deadly enemie Satan who seeketh by all meanes to stop the course of thy Spirit in mee But thy Grace is sufficient to preuent him for me Thou knowest also deare Father that I am much and often afflicted heere and stand subiect to many and seuerall tryals as to Sicknesse of the body danger of the decay and losse of my Limbes and the vertue and vse of my Senses vnto Pouertie Enimies and Persecution for the constant profession of thy sincere Religion vnder the burden and feare of these ineuitable miseries I should faint but that I know thee and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ and haue the assistance
of thy blessed Spirit testifying vnto my spirit that thou art the whole and sole disposer of all these and that all things worke together for the comfort of all that loue thee knowing and being assured of thy presence and prouidence I will not feare whatsoeuer befall mee for all troubles crosses and miseries I finde to bee but holesome medecines tempered and gently prepared by thine owne hand for the cure and preseruation of my sicke and sinnefull soule from eternall death I humbly therfore deare Father pray thee so to moderate my troubles and afflictions as by the helpe and aide of thy holy Spirit I may with patience and an heauenly kinde of alacrity vndergoe them And according to thy good pleasure continue the health of my body the vse of my senses limbs peace with thee my God and with all men as becommeth mee still guided by thy Spirit that I abuse none of thy blessings through 〈◊〉 corruptions And while I liue here in this earthly pilgrimage as a stranger vouchsafe me with thy heauenly Spirit to giue mee a competent portion to sustaine me and those whom thou hast coÌ„mitted vnto my charge both in spirituall and corporall sustinance Let not too heauie tentations ouer-presse me let too much want and too heauy crosses ouer-afflict me but lay vpon mee what thou wilt and neuer take from me thy holy spirit so shal I be able to beare what soeuer thou thinkest fit to be laid vpon me for by the strength of thy preuayling spirit I shall vndergo what thou in loue as indeed it is shalt lay vpon me By promise thou carest for me and hast willed mee to cast my care vpon thee which I haue done euer since it pleased thee to reueale thy selfe vnto mee in thy beloued Son and thou hast not deceiued me for I haue euer found thee true in performing whatsoeuer thou hast promised euen in sending that Comforter who hath euer assisted mee in reuealing thy Son in whoÌ„ thy continual fauour I haue euer found most certaine secret sweet so enabling me to speake vnto thee as when I haue offended thee by my sinnes I haue felt the pardon of them in my conscience by the blood of that Lambe testified vnto mee by thy blessing and sanctifying Spirit When I haue been sicke thou hast healed me I haue been in mortall danger and thou hast preserued me I haue had enemies and thou hast defended mee and often haue I been in distresse and want and thou hast without my desire or desert plentifully releeued mee yea Lord thou hast giuen when and what I haue not asked thou camest and soughtest mee first Lord I sought not thee thou aboue all shewedst thy selfe most louing vnto me in sending me thy heauenly spirit without whose ayd I could neither aske nor receiue I could neither seeke nor find comfort neither could I knock or deserue to enter into thy fauour By his presence I haue felt the fulnes of ioy and gladnesse And therefore as thou hast graciously begun Lord so continue thy grace in mee and thy loue towards me alwayes in all places among al men in all my labours iournies and lawfull and godly endeauors for thou hast commaunded mee while I liue â—eere not to rest idle but to bee doing that which is good Thou hast giuen mee a calling wherin without thy blessing I may labour and yet lacke I may ayme by good intent and yet erre without the gracious direction of thy Spirit I am ignorant of and dull to performe that which may bee either well pleasing vnto thee or truly profitable to my self But by the blessing of thy holy spirit I shall please thee in Christ who pleaseth thee for mee and then whatsoeuer I thinke speak or doe shall prosper and yeeld mee supply in all my wants both spirituall and corporal and that from day to day which by thine owne promise shall be sufficient for the day O holy and heauenly Father hold me euer in thine â—bedience shelter me vnder â—he shaddow of thy protecting wings stop the whole course of sinne in mee and continue thine holy spirit euermore in me that he being my guide in all mine actions I may finish the course of this my pilgrimage in all sinceritie sanctitie and safetie and in the end obtain the glory which thy Sonne my Sauiour hath purchased for mee by the shedding of his blood vpon the Crosse and that euermore while I liue I may hunger and thirst for righteousnesse vntill I become a perfect man in Christ Iesus that leauing this mortall life I may ioyfully enter into that euerlasting rest Amen Amen in Christ my hope my strength and my assured and faithfull Redeemer Lord euermore increase and confirme my faith and continue that holy spirit in mee A motiue to begin the day with Prayer IT is a dutie not so much required by God for his owne sake of vs as necessary and profitable for our selues to begin the morning with Thanksgiuing and Prayer The first God requireth of vs as due vnto him for preseruing vs and giuing vs rest and sleepe and safetie the night past The second namely Prayer most necessary for our selues for without the helpe fauour power protection and prouidence of God wee can expect no comfort or safetie or good successe the day following wherein doe lye hidden many dangers of our bodies many bayts allurements and tentations of Sathan the world and our owne corruption for our soules much weaknesse and ignorance in our selues to performe the works of our owne callings besides ill successe in our labours without his blessing And shall we think that God will giue a blessing to our labours safetie to our persons or defence from these spirituall enemies vnlesse we recommend our selues to him in the name of his sonne No no we may not flatter our selues that because we are lustie and strong our senses good our wit and vnderstanding quick we may goe from bed to businesse and walke in our owne wayes vntill the euening either forgetting or neglecting God who with-holding his help and hand infinite are the dangers wee are subiect vnto both spirituall and corporall Therefore looke vp powre out thy pâ—ayers as a sweet morning sacrifice to God in the name of Christ and then goe on thy lawfull occasions and prosper And for want of thine own abilitie to discouer thine owne necessities and to craue Gods blessings and to declare thy thankefulnesse vse the helpe of the labours of such as haue framed prayer for this holy purpose Or this howsoeuer weake prayer following wherein thou mayst finde comfort and so with inward ioy thou maist from day to day the more cheerefully follow thy vocation A Prayer fit to be vsed euery morning O My God my God and my most louing Father in thy best beloued Christ Iesus I yeeld thee vnfained thankes for thy wonderfull mercies and vndeserued fauors vouchsafed vnto mee all my life and especially for electing creating and redeeming mee and for all
his rest without recommending himselfe to God his body his soule and all that hee possâ—ssâ—th for it is hee onely that keepeth Israel namely all that feare him hee is euer watchfull ouer his for he neuer slumbreth nor sleepeth To his power prouidence and protection then let vs recommend our selues confessing our sins and crauing pardon â—n the mâ—rits of his Sonne so shall we lay our selues downe in peace to rest and rise againe in safetie for the Lord himselfe will sustaine vs. A Prayer before a man goe to his nightly rest O God powerfull and louing in Iesus Christ I thanke thee that thou hast safely brought mee to the end of this day wherein I thankfully confesse I haue receiued at thy most bountiful hands through Christ many coÌ„fortable blessings not worthy of the least of them but rather of punishment for this dayes sinnes though committed in the light yet are they the works of darknes Good Father disperse dispell the darknesse of my sinning minde as a mist and send mee the light of thy sauing grace to enlighten mee now in the darknes of the night which with thee is as the noone day but to me it is fearefull without thee for that in it many dangers lye hidden to mee vnknowne and if I knew them vnable I am without thee to preuent the least of them But thou that hast made the blacke euening hast made also the bright morning and in both thou art a like watchfull ouer those that are thine I doe therefore humbly recommend my selfe my soule and my body into thy most powerfull protection The darknesse of the night doth as well declare thy glory as doth the clearest rest day Though to mee weake creature the night is most dangerous but that thou art my light and my saluation what or whom therefore need I to feare Thou art the strength of my life of whom or of what should I be afrayd Thou art to mee a strong rocke a house of saftie in the night for weake is the strength of the strongest materiall house vnable to preuent the dangers which thou permittest to befall many But Lord I trust not in houses of clay I trust in thee my strength to thee I come for succour defence this night withhold not thy helpe lest I perish in the darknesse I trust in thee let my darknesse be turned into light and let the light of thy sauing couÌ„tenance cheere mee in this nights darknesse for without thy fauor I liue in darknesse in the most cleare day light and hauing thee my light the darknesse of the night shall bee light vnto mee Lord abandon from my heart all vnholy thoughts this night and giue mee a watchful heart though my body sleepe mine eyes shut vp and all thy visible creatures all carnall obiects be taken from my sight let the eyes of mine vnderstanding be alwayes open to behold to my comfort thy brightnesse and glory The Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth the work of thine hands these and all other thy creatures shew thy greatnes and the preseruation of them sheweth thy goodnes and mine owne continuall preseruation I cannot but to my shame and condemnation confesse to thy praise and glory Giue me therefore holy Father a thankfull heart for thy mercies this day past and a fearefull heart to offend thee sleeping by euill and corrupt dreames or waking by euill and vngodly thoughts and vnholy imaginations that sleeping and waking I may feele the working of thy Spirit either in holy Meditations or faithfull Prayers that euen as the day requireth mee not to bee idle in well performing my lawfull labours so I may not spende my night-wakings in idle fantasies but in holy thoughts And let mee not be ouercome as Samson with sleep who lost his strength least Sathan finding mee so sleeping should depriue me of my faith in thee which is my strength the strength of my life but that I may so watch as whether I wake I may wake to thee or whether I sleepe I may sleepe in thee Lord let me not sleepe in my sinnes â—et mee not carry the guilâ— of my transgressions past vnto my bed but through the merites of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus vouchsafe mee pardon for all my sinnes and be thou pleased to bee reconciled vnto mee through his Blood So will I lay mee downe to take my rest beseeching thee so to watch ouer mee that I may rest in peace and rise in peace and let the words of my mouth that I shall vtter this night and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable vnto thee O Lord my GOD my Strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my Faith this night and confirme it in mee for euermore Amen A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience by the example of most holy men that haue been in greatest affliction and may serue as a generall motiue to sundry seuerall Prayers following TRouble comprehendeth all the miseries that man endureth in this life aduersitie enemies sicknes pouertie persecution and all kindes of afflictions and sufferings infinite in number grieuous in qualitie and irksome to flesh and blood and befalleth on men diuersly either for the punishment of sinne past or for the preuenting of sinne to come God sendeth affliction vpon his owne dearest children to weine them from the loue of the vanities of the world that they perish not with the world But vnto the wicked as the beginning of their sorrowes and to terrifie his own from committing like sinnes by example of their punishments Gods children are forewarned that they must suffer He that will liue godly in Christ must suffer affliction yet by promise not aboue their strength for God putteth to his hand to make their burden light with a promise also of future comfort and though their troubles seeme great and grieuous faith in God maketh them more easie to them that suffer then they conceiue that beholde them with carnall eyes Great indeed are the troubles of the righteous but God deliuereth them out of all Sorrow heauinesse may endure for a night namely during this life but ioy commeth in the morning after this death and at the resurrection of the dead glory for euermore Troubles are but for a moment and then commeth comfort therfore doe the children of God with ioy and patience vndergoe them But contrary the comfort of the wicked is here short and momentany but thâ—ir future misery will be perpâ—tuall The patient suffering of the children of God is a manifest token of the righteous iudgement of God as Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians whose patient suffering he commended imputing it a glory vnto them that they were accounted worthy of the kingdome of God for which they suffered Whereby it appeareth that euery suffering euen of the godly is not glorious such as befall them for their transgressions But if we liue godly in Christ and for that suffer
of God and of his good creatures because Dauid saieth There is a God that careth for the poore they deceiue themselues for there is no promise but to the poore fearing God and that endeauour to liue by their lawfull labours for no wilfully idle poor man can expect any promised comfort from God but the godly who are made poore by Gods prouidence to draw them to himselfe through affliction God tryeth all his children poore and rich not after one and the same manner but some by enemies as he did Dauid some by sicknesse as hee did Hezekiah some by imprisonment as he did Joseph some with pouertie and penurie as he did Lazarus some by losse of children and goods as hee did Iob yet hee hath his time againe to release them as hee raysed Dauid to the Crowne of Jsrael as hee healed Hezekiah and gaue him longer life from the prison hee made Joseph a Prince hee gaue Iob abundance of wealth and tooke Lazarus from his misery inâ—o Abrahams bosome When then that hath any faith or feeling of these most worthy examples of Gods humbling his Chrildren and againe raysing them vp will faint or feare whatsoeuer befall them in this life Were he persecuted as Eliah by Jezebel who had no visible helpes but a silly boy attending him did not God send an host of heauenly Angels for his defence God hath his Angels ministring Spirits still ready to incampe about his such is his care and watchfulnesse his power and his prouâ—dence that no Saul shall preuaile against his chosen Dauid though hee were a mightie King with his armies against that one single man he could not hurt him no Senacherib with his mighty Host could not haue his will against faithfull Hezekiah And therfore sayth Dauid full of assurance If an Host pitched against me my heart should not bee affrayd So Iaakob was not dismayde at Esaus coÌ„ming against him with foure hundred men because hee knew that God was with him But admit that an Herode haue power permitted him of God to take away Iohn Baptists head and to kill Iames with the sword shall we deeme it a hurt vnto them in furthering and hastening their deliuery from misery to their future glorie with Christ Whatsoeuer the enemies of God practise against the faithfull Children of GOD by persecuting them as they did by whipping Paul by imprisoning Peter by stoning Steuen Doe they not make these the more glorious in their patient suffering for Christ who hath prouided for them a Citie a Kingdome a Crowne What lose then these seeming miserable men when for their momentanie sufferings they shall receiue a perpetuall reward Gods faithfull Children the more they are persecuted and afflicted the more they flourish in well doing and the more they suffer the more faithfull strong and constant they grow And the more miseries they indure so much the more take they hold of Gods power prouidence and promises who hath assured them that hee will neuer faile them nor forsake them But whatsoeuer by whomsoeuer and in what manner soeuer they suffer all shall worke together for their future eternall happinesse A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles afflictions with a confession that sinne is the cause of them O Father full of mercie and abundant in louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy best beloued thou hast euer a most Fatherly care of thy Children though thou permit them often times to vndergoe heauie afflictions in this present life by reason of which their greeuous troubles they are commonly censured of the world to bee euill doers and to bee cast out of thy fauour as was thy deare seruant Iob. And such as euer prosper and fall into no mis-fortunes nor troubles like other men to bee most beloued of thee which often causeth thy dearest Children to doubt of thy loue But Lord I know thee to be a Father whose propertie is to correct those whom thou louest best to keepe them vnder thine obedience who else by reason of their originall corruption the worlds vanities and Satans malice might bee easily drawne to rebell against thee I account it therefore gracious Father an especiall token of thy fauour and loue towards me that thou in so gentle a manner dost remember me and so fauourably to correct me for I cannot but acknowledge Lord and confesse against my selfe that my heart within mee is so filthy my minde so polluted and my will and affections so infected with sinne that if thou shouldest seeme to winke at and passe by mine infinite transgressions and not in some measure to afflict me I could not but according to mine owne corrupt condition but runne into and commit more and more heinous sinnes then hetherunto I haue done which already are more then sufficient to cast mee cleane out of thy fauour and consequently leaue me to mine owne vnruly will which euermore hungreth and thirsteth after things most offensiue vnto thee I doe confesse O Lord that pleasure and ease and fulnesse of all carnall delights are most sweet vnto to my carnall minde but much offensiue to thy most holy will The things that I should doe I cannot doe but the things that I should not doe they are my chiefe delight I loue what I should loathe and loathe that which is life vnto my soule whereby I heape vpon mee dayly a most importable burden of thy wrath And were it not that thou dost visite me with these thy Fatherly corrections I could not but meerely forget that euer thou createst me that Iesus Christ came and suffered to saue mee or that there were a Holy Ghost sent to comfort me And therefore good Father lay vpon me here what troubles or afflictions thou in thy wisdome thinkest sit to reclaime me from my euill wayes and yet as thou knowest to an obduâ—ate heart afflictions though they bee sharpe and greeuous yet they profit not without thou with thy corrections adde the molifying playster of thy Spirit to make my heart appliable to thy working hand Thou saydest vnto Paul hauing carnall motions that thy Spirit was sufficient to sustaine him O let thy Spirit possesse me then shall my stubborne heart relent then shall my peruers will in some measure frame it selfe to thy Will then shall my corrupt mind now wandring after vnholy things be reclaymed and onely seeke thee and the things more pleasing vnto thee The Fathers of our flesh haue beene carefull of our corporall preseruation and haue in loue corrected vs for our childish faults And shall I thinke that it behooueth me not to subiect my selfe to thy louing care of the preseruation of my soule who seeing not onely the faults of my weake youth but the grosse sinnes of my ripest age that I should repine at thy louing chastisements which thou so fauourably inflâ—ctest vpon me not to confound mee but to conforme mee to thine obedience And therfore Father as thou well obseruest my sinnes which either I neglect to call to minde or which I cannot but
remember so consider what correction is fit for my reformation for I am thine and vnder thine owne hand doe with mee what it shall please thee onely strengthen my faith that whatsoeuer thou layest vpon mee I may still trust in thee Yet Lord let not thy corrections be ouersharpe or ouer heauie or ouerlong for mee to beare for I am weake And therefore as thou increasest thy corrections so increase my strength to beare them And as my sinnes by thy Grace shall diminish so Lord with-draw withhold thy correcting hand that in what measure soeuer my troubles and tryalls bee my faith may bee so confirmed as I may bee able to beare whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to lay vpon me Hetherunto good Father as I haue felt thy correcting rod so also I haue found thy supporting hand thou woundest and thou healest nay rather Lord thou curest the wounds which my selfe haue made for there is no sharper sword to my soule then mine owne sinne and thy chastisements do abate the edge thereof As thou knowest my sins Lord so thou knowest my troubles I am in danger deliuer me I am in want relieue mee I haue enemies defend mee In thee I trust for there is none besides thee whom I may trust Thou art that mighty Iehouah that omnipotent God of Hostes who hast infinite meanes to helpe releeue comfort and defend those that are thine though they bee beset with a thousand miseries with sicknes with pouertie with enemies with slaunder backbiting enuy malice strife of tongues imprisonment and with what else soeuer misery that Sathan can deuise against them thou hast yet more infinite meanes to deliuer them out of all And therfore Father if all troubles crosses trialls and callamities should meete and combine in one against me I shall not assisted by thy grace be ouermuch moaned or dismayd Though trouble and affliction bring sorrow and sorrow heauines for a time yet is my heart restored againe at length as it were to life againe by thy grace nay Lord I often find ioy in thy fauour euen in the midst of misery for as thou Lord continuest not long in thine anger so is not my heart in continuall heauinesse But as by thine holy aid I increase in faith euen so decreaseth my grief and sorrow and in my greatest troubles the apprehension of thy blessed presence with mee causeth my heart to leape for ioy within mee though by nature I am weake and prone to stoope and droope vnder the least affliction yet I finde thy grace euermore ready to support and strengthen me Therefore doe I yeeld thee all honor praise thanks together with my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus and thy heauenly Spirit that euermore doth comfort me confirm my faith in thee Lord euermore encrease my Faith A Prayer for a man hindred by sicknesse or any kind of infirmity of his body or limbes whereby hee is disabled to follow and performe his lawfull calling fit especially for such as cannot maintaine their poore estates without performance of their honest labors O Great and most gracious Lord God mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ thou hast created me formed and framed me with all compleat limbs and lineaments in the beginning with all my senses perfect and aboue all with a measure of the knowledge of thee thy Christ wherein for that I haue not so walked as becommeth a sonne of so gracious and great a father but haue too much neglected my dutie and thankfulnesse erring estraying and ranging to and fro from one vanity and sin vnto another abusing al the parts and powers of my soule and body contrary to that light which thou hasâ— giuen me defiling my selfe and polluting those parts of my corrupt flesh which thou first createdst in mee clean and free from any of mine owne actuall pollutions Thou in great mercy hast inflicted these infirmities vpon my corporall parts to cure my diseased soule my spirituall and best part imprisoned inthrallâ—d in a most filthy and lothsome dungeon of dark and detestable impieties Lord I doe confesse my else worthy of greater punishments for my grieuous sinnes But thou art so mercifull and so commiserate a Father that as thou knowest the qualitie of my sinns so thou well knowest what quantity of correction may be sufficient to reforme me And therefore I doe wholly and in all submission commit my selfe vnto thy mercy knowing that thou hast power to mitigate or totally to remoue the paine and misery which my sinns haue iustly drawne downe vpon me Good Father remember that thou hast promised that whatsoeuer wee shall aske of thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Christ and wauer not we shall receiue Lord I beleeue that thou art able to cure me of whatsoeuer infirmitie let not the weakenesse of my faith hinder thy good work vpon mee let not my former sinns preuent thy mercy for I constantly assure me that thou caÌ„st help me such is thy power and that thou either wilt helpe mee or so mitigate mine infirmities as I shall not onely bee able to beare them with patience but in a measure sufficiently follow my vocation such is thy mercy Father I haue a Mediatour with thee and such a mediator as is not ignorant of though neuer tainted or touched with any humane infirmitie he hath taken vpon him and satisfied for my sinnes and for my sinns I do acknowledge this mine infirmitie is fallen vpon mee Therefore Lord my sinnes being once sufficiently punished in him punish not me ouer-heauily for them againe I am vnfainedly sory for that I haue offended thee and doe heartily repent me of my sinnes and thou hast promised pardon to the penitent and mercy vnto such as are truly sory for their sinnes This being thine owne promise Lord and thou knowing my faith though weake and my repentance what should hinder thy mercies in forgiuing my sinns and my sinnes being forgiuen what should hinder that thy sweet saying Be thou whole and I shall be whole Lord as thou canst do all things by thy word without meanes so by blessing whatsoeuer meanes that which thou wilt shall bee done the very clay in the street openeth the eyes of the blinde thou giuing a blessing vnto it which in humane opinion should rather make blinde them that see But such is thy great power and vertue of thy word as things most contrary to humane reason obey thee and worke the effect wherunto thou appointest them as the cluster of figgs healed Hezekias and the washing in Iordan cured Naaman the Syrian of his leprosie Thou Lord art the great Phisician curing Phisicians that cannot cure themselus howe much lesse others without thee Therefore I know that nothing can hinder thy healing of mee but mine owne vnbeliefe sin which are the chiefe diseases of my soule that thus pollute my body so that soule and body being sicke I come an humble patient and petitioner desirous only to touch the hem of thy garmeÌ„t for
in some vaine obiect or other in my silent and solitary trauailes and iourneys laying before the eyes of my corrupt minde infinite bayts to allure mee to sin against thee that so I may offend thee that by offending thee thou in thy displeasure mayest inflict some crosse or hinderance vnto my trauels and so to preuent the good successe of mine endeauors But grant good Father in Iesus Christ that neither sin Sathan nor mine owne corrupt desires hinder thy blessings vpon my trauels but that I may constantly continue in thine obedience and thy loue towards mee not onely in these my trauailes but vnto my liues end Amen Lord increase my faith and prosper my Iourney A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are afflicted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children whom if good counsell cannot reforme prayer is to bee made to God for them if that will not preuaile to leaue them to God and the Lawes IT is not the least crosse that can befall godly and religious parents to see and obserue their owne flesh blood their owne dearest children to bee disobedient rebellious and by their lewd liues to become scandalous in themselues and a shame and slander vnto their parents and friends A griefe it is of all griefes especially vnto such parents as haue had not onely a fatherly but a religious care of their holy education And their griefe cannot but bee so much the more by how much the world condemnes the parents censuring them euill by obseruing the vngodly liues of their children A great temptation to a carefull father that hath done his vttermost godly endeauor to educate his children in the feare of God wherin the wise indifferent and impartiall obseruer cannot but spare his condemnation finding this corrupt world so fraught with multitudes of wicked youth whose examples abroad doe worke more euill in children then the wisest and most godly father can worke good in them at home by their best counsell It is no maruel then that a good man may haue euill children who though hee propagate their bodies cannot infuse grace and goodnes into their hearts he can not frame their inclinations to vertue further theâ— God by his diuine Spirit doth second his good endeauors The Husbandman may soyle his land with the best Marle he may be carefull in plowing circumspect in sowing painefull in harrowing as much as in him lieth preuent the vermin that might deuoure the seed sowen Yet it is not his labour diligence or best skil that can forme the blade nor infuse the graine in the eare A good and godly father may infuse his best couÌ„sell into the eares of a refractory sonne and harrowe him with sharp threats to preuent venemous vices that deuoure best counsell But hee cannot imprint grace in his heart nor work the practise of godlinesse in him he cannot driue away Sathan and his wicked instruments from deuouring the good seed sowne in his sonne Euill examples and wicked counsell preuaile more with corrupt flesh then most diuine perswasions or disswasions It is a vaine thing to sowe good corne vpon a stony rocke it will take no root so to giue best counsell to a stubburne and an obdurate heart can not fructifie yet must not parents therfore giue ouer but againe and againe early and late endeauor to encourage his children in veâ—tue and goodnesse and to reclaime them from sin according to the counsell of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes Jn the morning sow thy seed and in the euening let not thine hand rest for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that or whether both shall bee a like good So should parents bee alike instant at all times to instruct their children with holy counsell for they know not whether God haue appointed this or that time or this or that aduice to conuert them from euill to good for as one drop often falling descends at last to moisten the root of the tree So time and timely counsell may mollifie the hardest heart and reforme the peruersest mind for as the wind bloweth when and where it listeth and no man knoweth from whence it commeth so may the Spirit of God come into the heart when man thinketh least of it therfore ought parents to pray earnestly and often for godly liues of their Children in whom then if God haue any share it will in time preuaile The reason why the world is so ful of loose lasciuious vnbrideled youth is much in the euill examples of Parents the want of the feare neglect of the seruice of God for the example of a father may something alter the nature of a son in good or euill For there is a kinde of ineuitable imitation in the son of the fathers qualities If they be good nature rebelleth against them in the son because it is corrupt if they be euill nature it selfe teacheth the son without further documeÌ„t how to resemble the father in euill And nothing can help the one or bridle the other but grace which cannot be obtayned but by prayer Another maine cause of Childrens lewdnesse is too much lenitie in Parents and too much libertie in Children wherein idle doting and foolish mothers are commonly most guilty who because they haue giuen their Children suck of their breasts when thâ—y were young they giue them leaue when they become able to sinne to suck their puâ—ses to feede them fat in vices in haunting Tauernes idle and vngodly companies drinking gaming and which is not the least pampering them in pride the beginning of their fall wherein many silly fathers are as guilty in winking at the mothers folly or not hauing the wit or spirit to redresse it vntill their children become so farre plunged in impieties as when they would they cannot not reclaime them and so in fine are inforced to see them to their vnspeakeable griefe come either to publike shame and obloquie or to vntimely and fearefull ends which may befall the vngodly Children of most godly Parents What then Shall the Parents beare the shame of their Children that kick against all good counsell and will obstinately run to their owne ruine No. But if Parents be totally remisse in wholesome counsell erre in their example in the eye of their Children no maruell if they taste of the shame and griefe of and for their Children But least good men men fearing God hauing vngodly Children to whom they haue done their best duties in their youth to teach them the way of godlinesse and they depart from it should be too much deiected and cast downe through griefe conceiued for the wickednesse of their Children let them consider that as they cannot make one haire black that is white no more can they make him good that is euill neither can they keepe them in awe that are wilfully rebellious nor preuent them of confusion that voluntarily seeke it Foolishly vnaduised then are they that will taxe a good Father
of an euill Childe comming into shame and deepest danger with the error of his sonne when as good Children are the gifts God in mercie to the Parents and wicked ones a punishment not so much to the Parents as to themselues Though euery man would willingly haue good Children yet the best men haue had and oft haue wicked Children Adam the first man had wicked Caine. Abraham had an Ismael Izaake an Esau Dauid a rebellious Absolom and an incestious Ammon good Eli had two wicked sonnes Hophnie and Phineas Infinite are the examples yet no doubt these good men gaue good instructions to these their erronious issues whereby it appeareth that it is not in good men to beget good Children neither doth it follow that wicked men alwayes propagate wicked Children God frames both in the wombe giues them life and frames their hearts wills and affections It resteth onely then for Parents of vngodly Children to pray for their reformation and to leaue them to God in whose counsell it is determined what shall be the ends of such as feare not him nor reuerence man A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient Children and for patience in Parents not ouermuch to afflict themselues for their irreconciliable stubbornenesse and disobedience HEare the words of my mouth O Lord and consider the meditations and sorrowes of my heart for my spirit is full of heauinesse I am vexed and sore greeued for that they whom thou gauest mee for a blessing are turned to my griefe sorrow and shame I confesse that mine owne sinnes haue prouoked thee to anger against mee and thy displeasure appeareth in that they whom I receiued as a comfort from thee are become not onely disobedient to mee but as it were rebellious against thee and thy counsell Thou art a God that louest not wickednesse and thou hatest iniquity and it cannot be hid from thee what I haue done my neglect in trayning my Children in thy feare thou mayst lay vnto my charge yet thou knowest I haue laboured to winne them vnto thee if it haue beene in vaine thou hast wisdome and power to supply in them what is defectiue in me to giue them I haue endeuoured to make them to know thee and to walke in thy wayes but they haue contemned mine instructions and cast my counsells behinde their backs they will not bee reclaymed from their vanities They forget thee the God of power to punish them and the God of mercie to receiue comfort such as returne from their sinnes to thee Lord it is onely in thee to reclaime them as thou diddest the prodigall son whom thou vouchsafest to receiue vnto mercie after his long going astray no man erreth so farre whom thou canst not recall Oh recall these that erre reduce them back to the sheepe-fold of thy Saints They are the worke of thine owne hands though I wretched man begate them in corruption and their mother conceiued them in sinne and bare them in misery these are no hindrance vnto the worke of thy Grace in them for what is or hath beene the man that hath not had the like beginning thine owne begotten Sonne excepted Enoch that walked vprightly before thee Abraham the Father of the faithfull Eliah and Iohn Baptist and all thine elect vessels came by nature of the same corrupt seed yet thou wert pleased to sanctifie them haddest thou left them vnto their owne original nature they had bin as one of these that lift vp their heeles against not me but thee Lord giue them Grace Wisdome and Vnderstanding Faith and Obedience they are onely thine to giue I may bee as the hand to giue them as from thee food for their bodies wherby by thy blessing they grow and I may sow the seeds of my best knowledge of thy worke in their outward eares but vnlesse thou plow vp the fallow ground of their hearts that it may take roote it cannot fructifie Consider gracious Father that they are of the polluted seede of Adam yet be thou pleased to accept them as thine admit them into thy fauour and guide them by thy Grace in a religious conuersation that they may cease to doe euill cleaue vnto that which is good and walke before thee be vpright TheÌ„ shal they serue thee I shall prayse thee for their reformation and saluation Let neither their sinnes nor mine any more prouoke thee to anger lest thy seuere iudgements should fall vpon them shame grief vpon vs their parents But their repentance Lord shall bee our comfort and wee shall reioyce in their conuersion and not onely wee but all the godly shall reioyce at their returne into the Spirituall societie of thy Saints Grant it gracious Lord for thy Christs sake whose righteousnes make theirs and his merrits a sufficient satisfaction for theirs and for the sins of all that haue erred as they haue done Amen Lord increase in them the holy feare of thy Name Faith Obedience vnto thee giue me grace with patience to waite their holy reformation A Christian incouragement to all that feare God not to bee daunted at the threats power and policies of whatsoeuer enemies be they neuer so many in multitude or seeming strong in armes fit vpon occasion to be taken into consideration to which is added a prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger THey that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion that can neuer be mooued but remaine fast for euer And as the mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the Lord about them that trust in him from generation to generation Wherof holy Dauid had good experience who through the assurance of Gods presence with him his loue towards him and power ouer him could say with a bould and vndaunted spirit If an Host pitched against mee my heart should not be affrayd He alwayes found the redie helpe wherewith God euer assisted him and the true performance of Gods promises at all times in all his dangers and therefore assured himselfe that if tenne thousand of the people did rise against him and beseâ— him round about he would not be affrayde He was in many dangers and wonderfull his deliuerances were as appeareth by diuine History God is not the God of Dauid onely because hee was a King and a man chosen after Gods owne heart but the God of all them that faâ—thfully trust in him of good kings godly subiects through all generations to the end of the world whereof no nation hath had more manifest proofe though vnworthy then wee And therefore bee our dangers neuer so great or many God sheweth himselfe to haue euer as many meanes to deliuer vs. Saluation belongeth to him alone and his blessings are vpon them that call faithfully vpon him Hezekiah sore terrified at the threats blasphemies of Tartan Rabsaries and Rabsakeh the seruants of Senacherib who by his blasphemous letters reuiled not Hezekiah onely but high Iehouah himselfe Hezekiah therefore prayed vnto the