lawes of regeneration in that l â—â—ch 13. 1 fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne and for vncleannesse Grant LORD that with indeavour and industrie I keepe my selfe pure and holy vnspotted m Iam 1. 27 of this wicked world that I may cast n Rom. 13. 12 away the workes of darknesse and so walke honestlie as in the day continually And seing O LORD like o â—sal 119.176 a Pray for conversion lost sheepe I haue gone astray and wandred farre out of that narrow way seeke thy servant and find mee turne me that I may turne convert p Ierem. 31.18 mee and I shall bee corverted turne mee O most mightie and mercifull GOD from the devill myne adversarie a q Iohn 8. 44 lyar and a murtherer who would deceaue mee and destroy mee to IESUS CHRIST my Saviour and r Ephes 5. 29 husband who will teach mee and glorifie Å¿ Psal 91. 15 mee turne me from t Coloss 3.13 darknesse to thy joyfull light from nature to grace turne mee from the broad u Math. 7. 13 way that leadeth to hell and damnation to the strait way which leadeth to Heaven and salvation turne mee from wickednesse to holynesse from wretchednesse to everlasting happines O my GOD draw x Cant. 1.3 mee after thee knit y Psal 86.11 and vnite my heart inseparablie with thy Majestie teach mee thy wayes to feare thine holy name continually to z Genes 17. 1 walke before thee and with thee consciensciously and be vpright in thy sight continually And for this effect O thou Al-sufficient GOD take a mercifull Pray for Gods good dealing with thine heart dealing with my faultie heart that the same which by nature sinne and Sathan hath locked with Lydias a Act. 16. 14 heart it may bee opened by thee who hath b Revel 3. 7 the key of David Grant that my narrow heart may bee c Isaiah 60. 5 enlarged to receaue within mee the LORD IESUS the King of glory O holy Heavenly Father soften e my hard and obdurâ—d heart with the oyle of grace with the precious blood of my Saviour d Iob. 23. 16 that it may receaue the impression of the image of CHRIST that I d 2 Cor. 3. 18 may bee changed into the same image from glory to glory Bow my stiffe e Ezech. 2 4 heart Encline it f Psal 119. 36 to thy testimonies and not to covetousnesse O LORD giue mee a wise and vnderstanding g 1 King 2. 9 heart that I may discerne betweene good and bad O LORD vouchsafe vpon mee an honest h Luke 8 15 and good heart that I may heare thy Word keepe it and bring foorth fruite with patience and O my GOD I most willingly giue i Prover 23 26 mine heart to thy Majestie requiring the same from mee beseeching thy goodnesse to take such full possession and governement of my heart that thou may k Rom. 9. 23 declare the riches of thy glory vpon mee a vessell of mercie that I may be most certainly perswaded a chosen l Act. â— 15 vessell appointed for honour and everlasting happinesse O my blessed Creator assure Pray for the grouth of all good mee that I am thine owne m 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandry Grant that I may bee as good n Math. 13. 8 ground to receaue the good seede of godlinesse and pietiâ— and to bring foorth fruite aboundantly that I may grow o 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour O LORD helpe p Mark 9. 24 my vnbeliefe and encrease my faith my loue patience zeale feare hope courage and all Christian vertues make my good â—orkes q Revel 2. 19 to be moe at the last than at the first O my most mercifull Fatherâ— Pray for the Lords presence Teach r Psal 27. 11 mee thy way and leade mee in a right path Forsake Å¿ Psal 38. 21 me not O LORD bee not far from mee my GOD Thou t Psal 27. 9 art my succour leaue mee not neither forsake mee O GOD of my salvation Though my father and my mother should forsake mee yet thou O LORD will gather mee vp Though u Psal 38. 10 the Light of mine eyes bee not myne owne my sight will faile mee my senses will departe from mee my soule will be separate from my body yet abide thou with mee continually O gracious GOD I most humbly intreate thy Majestie giue mee x Rom. 1. 24 not vp to my hearts lusts nor vile affections for that I will bee but a lost creature and of all most wretched and miserable But O LORD of thy vnspeakable Pray for God his blessing kindnesse and endlesse mercie vouchsafe thy Heavenly and spirituall blessings vpon mee O GOD blesse mee with the blessing of election that thou mayest chuse mee y Psal 65. 4 and cause mee to come to thee that I may be satisfied with the pleasures of thine holy Temple Blesse mee with the blessing of effectuall vocation that thou mayest call mee inwardly and powerfully to thee that I may answere and obey thy blessed calling and say heere z Genes 22 â— am I readie to doe thine holy will Blesse mee O LORD with the blessing of true sanctification that I may bee holy a Levit. 11. 24 as thou my GOD is most holy that I may keepe b Isaiah 56. 2 judgement and doe justice and restraine my hand from doing any evill Blesse mee with the blessing of spirituall joy and consolation that I may ever rejoyce c Psal 40. 4 in thee my LORD and walke in the light of thy countenance Blesse mee O my GOD with a setled purpose and resolution to serue thee continually that I may determine d Psal 119. 57 to keepe thy Words constantly Blesse mee with the blessing of true repentance through all my lyfe that I may e Revel 20. 6 haue parte in the first resurrection that the second death haue no power to hurt me Blesse mee with an happie end that I may die f Revel 14. 13 in the LORD and receaue the blessing of glory and inherite g Math. 25.34 the Kingdome prepared from all eternity As also O LORD I most humbly beseech thy goodnesse to blesse me with thine owne selfe to bee h Psal 16. 5 my lot and portion to bee the GOD i Psal 27. 9 of my salvation For whom k Psal 73. 25 haue I in Heaven but thee and I haue desired none in earth with thee Grant O gratious GOD that as l Psalm 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so my soule may pant after thee the living GOD vntill thou come to be favourable vnto me Blesse mee with CHRIST IESUS that he may be my m Heb. 7. 2 King governing mee my n Math. 1. 21
pedibus secreet sinnes and robberies haue beene in diverse ages disclosed by dogs passing over these which haue beene discovered by men and women conjunct or verie neare to the evill doers themselues Forasmuch that this is most cleare and evident and altogether true without doubt or contraversie that thy sinne can not bee keept secreet perpetually but it shall bee manifested and revealed openly and at length without repentance shall bee punished publickly â—he Gentils by experience knew this plainely and confessed the same frequently It is then the safest and best way beleeue mee it is most profitable and comfortable vnto thee that thou thy selfe make a true humble and sinceere confession of thy owne sinnes since they can not bee covered continually but will certainely be manifested if not in this world yet most fearefully in that day of the Å¿ Rom. 2. 5. declaration of the just judgement of GOD when the secreets of all hearts shall bee revealed and everie t Math. 12.38 idle word shall bee brought to an account and everie privie action shall bee disclosed And that thou may bee thus moved In the second place thou hast to consider of the profite and commoditie Of the good of confession of confession And first heere obserue a great difference yea and manifest opposition betwene the effect of the confession of the guiltie before the judgement seate of men or earthly judges and of that confession which is made before the Spineus in lib. de peccatorum confessione tribunall of GOD the Heavenlie judge who is the righteous and high judge u Genes 18. 25 of all the world The confession before Magistrates even at other times mercifull is verie dreadfull dangerous and deadly for evill doers when Achan made his confession of the thift of the execrable goods then Ioshuah and all x Iudg. 7. 25 Israel stoned him his sonnes and his daughters his oxen his asses and his sheepe with stones and burnt them with fire because of his trespasse and abomination When the Amalâ—kiâ—e a stranger confessed the killing of Saul then David caused to kill him and that justly because his owne y 2 Sam. 16 mouth testified against him Thus after a confession made before earthly z Rom 12. 1 powers who are Ministers of justice followeth death sorrow punishment and execution and therefore it is no wonder although malefactors be verie unwilling to confesse capitall crymes So these Eunuches Bigthan and Teresh did not acknowledge their conspiracie against Assuerus vntill a Ester 2. 22 inquisition was made and it was found so and therefore they were both hanged on a tree and died shamfullie But it is plaine contrarie in The fruites of confession regarde of the confession of our sinnes to the Almightie After the same followeth great good and vnspeakable commoditie as most evidently appeareth by proofe of sacred Scripture by examples by the testimonies of learned writers and by experience First If b Proverb 28 13. thou hide thy sinnes saith Salomon thou shall not First Mercy prosper but if thou will confesse them and forsake them thou shalt haue mercie What more pleasant or more expedient to a miserable sinner then GODS mercies Secondly forgivenesse of thy fault and remission If c Iohn 1.9 thou acknowledge thy sinne saith St. IOHN 2 Remission GOD is faithfull and just to forgiue thee thy sinne Thus forgivenesse and remission bringeth happinesse and salvation Blessed is hee d Psal 28. 13 whose wickednesse is forgiven him so proclaimeth the Prophet DAVID Thirdly If thou confesse thy offences the Apostle witnesseth 3 Sanctification that GOD will e Iohn 2. 9 cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse so thou may bee most sure of sanctification and f Heb. 12. 14 holynesse without the which no man shall see the LORD in his eternall glory Fourthly thou by confession 4 Knowledge shall get Heavenly wisedome and instruction as when Daniell was speaking and confessing his sinnes and g Daniel 9 2â— presenting his supplications in that same instant the Angell Gabriell gaue him knowledge and vnderstanding So when thou shalt truely acknowledge thy wickednesse the holy Spirit will bee sent vnto thee to bestow vpon thee knowledge vnderstanding Fiftly Ioy and consolation shall 5 Consolation come to thee in tyme of anguish and affliction If thou shalt make to GOD a right confession as David was greatly greeved and very sore troubled for his murther and adultery when he confessed that he had sinned against the LORD hee was immediatly strongly and joyfully comforted when the Prophet Nathan replyed on this maner the h 2 Sam. 12.13 LORD hath put away thy sinnes thou shalt not die that was glad tydings and comfortable newes vnto his wearied and distressed spirit So it is most certaine that consolation will come to every Christian after confession Sixtly if thou confesse thy sin 6 Employment in the LORDS service in sinceritie the LORD then will more readily imploy thee in his service as when the Prophet Esay confessed his vncleannesse and pollution that hee was a man of polluted i I saiah 6. 3 lippes there his iniquitie was taken away and his sins purged and hee was in the businesse of the LORD imployed and in his service directed and hee was sent by GOD to the people of the Iewes Lastly if thou conceale not thy 7 Furniturâ— of necessaries offences nor thy distresse but will confesse the same ingenuoussie the LORD will furnish thee good things aboundantly as when the Aegyptians confessed to Ioseph their want and great povertie when they said wee k Genes 47.23 will not hide from my LORD our pittiefull indigence then Ioseph did furnish them food and seede to sow the ground So will GOD doe to thee if thou on this maner will deale faithfully and truely Hee will giue vnto thee that bread l Iohn 6. 37 which came downe from Heaven which giveth lyfe to the world He will giue thee that good feed of his m Luke 8. 21 Word and make it n Zach. 8. 12 prosperous to bring foorth good fruite in thee And shortly after the right confession thou mayest assuredly perswade thy selfe of absolution of justification and of thy glorification For the LORD o Psalm 103 8. 9. is full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwayes chide nor keepe his wrath for ever And most sure it is if the LORD absolue thee who shall lay p Rom. 8. 33 any thing to thy charge If GOD justifie thee who shall condemne thee If the Almighti glorifie thee who shall disgrace or bring infamie vpon thee Againe hearken and take heede diligently consider and meditate carefully what the auncient wise true and judicious fathers tell to thee plainly of the profite that commeth to thee by humble and sincere confession One saith cessat vinaicta divina Ambros Beati immaculats
that thou may ever bee graced with vprightnesse of heart and sinceritie to the end thy prayer may haue force with GOD and tend to thy solicitie Content not thy selfe to bee like the hypocriticall Iewes of whom GOD complaineth because they e Hosea 7. 14 cryed not vnto him With their hearts When they houled vpon their beds and because f Isaiah 29.13 they came neere to him With their month and honour him With their lips but had removed their heart farre from him And truely this is a most grievous complaint also of that same Evangelicall Prophet There g Isaiah 64. 7 is none that calleth vpon thy Name What did that holy and wise Prophet lament did not that people appeare h Isaiah 1. 12 before GOD and did tread in his courts and brought oblations and kept Sabbaths and solemne assemblies Did i Amos. 5. 22 they not then pray to GOD when they offered burnt offerings meate offerings and peace offerings The Prophet yet spake truely they did not call vpon GOD because they did it not rightly but lypocritically and the prayer of the hypocrite shall turne to sinne and bee esteemed transgression A Father maketh a notable comparison in affirming that the hypocrite Augustin and counterfaite Christian is like that golden k Revel 17. 4 cuppe which was in the hand of that whoorish woman full of abomination and filthinesse of her fornication His prayer then can not bee acceptable Yea though l Iob. 20. 6. 7 his excellencie mounted vp to the Heavens and his head reach to the clouds yet hee shall perish for ever lyke his doung and they which haue seene him shall say where is hee But worship thou thy GOD as hee requireth m Iohn 4. 23 in Spirit and Trueth with an vpright and honest heart in true simplicitie which is the whole grace of our oratrie which covereth Tota Rheto ricae nostrae gratia est mera simplicitas and â—â—â—eth all other infirmitie which is the highest perfection of Christianitie for GOD n Pâ—al 51. 4 who loveth trueth in the inward affection hee will ever doe o Psal 125. 4 good to them that are true in heart Hee will heare their prayers and in his owne good tyme grant them their requests and fuâ—fill their desires Moreover in the eight place yea in the first studie principally Humiliue to haue true humilitie because as excellently saith the Wise-man The p Ecâ—lâ—s 35.17 prayer of him that humbleth hiraselfe goeth through the clouds and ceaseth not till it come â—â—ere and will not departe till the most â—â—igh haue respect therevnto to judge righteously and to execute judgement and doubtâ—â—sle q Isaiah 66. 2 the LORD will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Words Caeâ—eâ— a vitia in peccatis superbia vero in Augustin recte factis timendâ— est Other vyces in sinnes but pryde is to bee seared in weldoing And questionlâ—sse all r Prov. 16. 5 that are proud in heart are an abhâ—mination to the LORD The ambitious pâ—titioner shall not bee rewarded but punished learne Å¿ Mat 11. 29 then of thy Saviour to bee mâ—â—ke and â—oâ—lie in heart and thou shall find rest vnto thy soule Thou shall bee conteâ—ted and thy petition graâ—ted t Prov 29. 23 For the humble in sâ—irit shall receive glorie and enjoy merâ—ie O felix humilitas quae DEI trahit â—lementiam Augustin ejus ligat omnipotentiam O happie humilitie which draweth GODS mercie and bindeth his omnipotencie Nynthly Take good heed to Oppurtunitie the time u 2 Cor. 6. 2 accepted and to the day of salvation wherein GOD will heare thee and succour thee Bee not thou like profaine Esau x Heb. 12. 12 who afterward out of tâ—me seeking the blessing with teares was rejected Follow not the joolish y Math. 25 12 Virgins who vntymously when the gate was shut did cry and were repulled but bee carefull z Isaiah 55. 6 to seeke the LORD while hee may bee found and to call vpon him while hee is neere As some Emperiours namely VESPASIAN had a time even when he was going to the baths wherein hee did principally show his liberalitie and bountifulnesse So the great and most a Genes 4. 22 High GOD possessour of Heaven and earth hath his owne season when hee will bestow his rich mercie and vnspeakeable goodnesse when hee will b Hos 10. 12 come and raine righteousnesse vpon his people which occasion if thou â—loathfully neglect the LORD will not admit thy request nor grant thy petition Tenthly As the holy Apostle Constancie exhorteth thee to c Thess 5. 17 pray continually bee d Galat. 6. 9 not wearie of well-doing for in due season thou shall reape if thou faint not Consider diligently that parable of thy Saviour of the importunate widow and vnrighteous Iudge who e Luk. 18. 5 did her justice against her adversarie because shee did make him wearie Let thy prayer be liâ—e St Stevens looking hee f Act 7. 55 looked to Heaven steadâ—astly and therefore comfortablâ— for hee saw the glorie of GOD and IESVS standing at his right hand readie to receaue him so pray thou constantly and ever with vehement affection But vse g Math. 6 7 not vaine repetitions as the Heathen or â—dolaters who thinke to be heard for their much babling like Baals h 1 King 18.26 priests who called from morning till noone saving no other thing but O Baal heare vs all that labour was lost there was none to answere them or helpe them But I say pray continually with 〈◊〉 and so thou mayest doe comfortaâ—â—â—e for Christ will haue a â—are of thee because if hee gaue accâ—â—â— to thee being farre dâ—â—tant from him much more will hee hold thee when thou are more neere to him and if thou i Psal 37. 4 delyte thy selfe in the LORD surely hee will giue thee thy hearts desire in due and convenient time for to comfort thee Lastly in the first place most carefully and continually labour Spirit to bee possessed wholly with the sanâ—tifying Spirit who is GOD and the gift of GOD which l Rom. 8. 26 Deus donum Dei. will helpe thy infirmities when thou knowest not to pray as thou oughtest the spirit it selfe will make request August for thee with sighes which cannot bee expressed which will worke hope and confidence in thee so that thou m Heb. 10 22 shall draw neare to GOD with a true heart in the assurance of Faith so that thou shall giue thy selfe to true fasting and almes-deeds This hope and confidence will not make thee n Rom. 5. 5 ashamed but encouraged and if thou desirest thy prayer to flee vp to Heaven thou must haue as that Father couâ—selleth two August wings namely this right private fasting a frequent custome of a good o
earth were formed from everlasting to everlasting hee hath beene thy GOD. Againe this divine care is not like the care of mortall men that hath paine and Attenuant vigiles corpus miserabile cuâ—ae Cura quoque interdum nullo medicabilis aâ—â—e trouble with it which weakeneth the bodie and vexeth the soule and can by no worldly meanes be well helped but it is an easie care with alsufficiencie of pleasure for hee that beareth h Heb. 1. 3 vp all things by his mightie Word may with all facilitie care for his owne and that particularlie therefore thou may thinke vpon this care most comfortablie Habebit curam tui qui fecit te quique habuit curam tui priusquam esses GOD who made thee will haue a care of thee who had a care of the before ever thou was hee will so regard thee that thou shall be a i Isaiah 62. 3 crowne of glorie in the hand of the LORD and a royall diademe in the hand of thy GOD. Secondly GODS care towards It is a great care thee will bee a great care if a mortall man will care for his inheritance to keepe the same this did k 1 King 21.3 Naboth who refused to sâ—ll his heritage to king Ahab much more wâ—ll the LORD care for the godâ—ie soules who pray to him he doth esteeme of them greatlie as the sanctified soule will cry vnto GOD thou l Psal 142. 5 art my portion so the LORD will answere aâ—d assure that soule that she is his m 1 Cor. 3.9 building his temple his husbandrie and pâ—rpetuall possâ—ssion Thirdly â—he LORDS care will bee mâ—st joyfull to thee and effâ—ctuall It is effectuall a fatherly care a princely care Seing hee is â—ur Heavenly Father yea the n Heb. 12. 9 Father of our spirits much more rich thaâ— Abraham who could not make all his children his heires for hee sent o Genes 25. 6 them away from him and Isaac himself also while hee was living but our most wealthie and heavenlie Father will make all his children also p Rom. 8. 17 his heires annexed with Iesus Christ Our heavenly Father is much more powerfull than David was who had no sufficient power to make all his sonnes Kinges but our liberall Father giveth vs q Pet. 1.14 an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not to all his children whom he careth for sufficientlie Haereditas non minuitur copia possessorum nec fit angustior numerositate Augustin cohaeredum sed tanta est multis quanta paucis tanta singulis quanta omnibus This inheritance is not diminished by abundance of possessours neither becommeth strait by number of coheires for it is as much to manie as few and as much to everie one as to all for he that is r Rom. 10. 12 Lord over all is rich vnto all that call vpon him and will giue everie one of his Saints a Å¿ Heb. 12. 28 Kingdome which can not bee shaken which endureth for â—ver and ever Now during the time of our pilgrimage whiles t 2 Cor. 5.6 wee are at home in our body and absent from the Lord and hath not attained to the present possession of that Kingdome 1. â—e will haue a care of our sustentation 2. a care of our preservation 3. a care of our instruction 4. a care of our consolation 5. a care of our marriage band 6. a care of our blessednesse and happinesse Behold u Math. 6 â—6 the fowles of the heaven for they sowe not neither reape nor carrie into the Barnes yet our heavenly Father feedeth them are we not saith our Saviour much better than they Did x Genes 28.2 Isaac care through his fatherly affection for Iacobs safetie will not GOD in greater affeâ—tion regarde the safetie of our â—â—ules who doe consecrate our â—â—lâ—es to his service Also if that royall Prophet was verie carefull to giâ—e good instruction and y Prover 4. 2 good doctrine to his wise sonne Salomon tender and deare in the sight of his parents will not our most wise and provident Father bee more carefull to z Isaiah 44. 3 poure his spirit and his blessing vpon his owne to a Ier. 31. 33 put his Law in their inward parts and to write it in their hearts and to giue b 2 Peter 1. 3 vnto them all thinges that pertaine vnto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called them to glorie and vertue Moreover hee is c 2 Cor. 1. 3 the GOD of mercies and the Father of all consolation he will haue a speciall care to comfort all his children in all their tribulation If Edna was carefull to comfort her daughter Sarah who d Tob. 7. 17 wiped away her teares and spake comfortablie vnto her much more our LORD who though e Psal 27. 10 father and mother should forsake vs yet wil hee gather vs vp will also comfort vs and providentlie prepare a better marriage for vs than f Genes 24. 3 Abraham did for Isaac namelie the King of glories owne sonne to be our husband who g Eph. 5. 25 will sanctifie vs nourish vs and cherish vs who will make vs honorable and happie for ever and ever 4. If thou shall invocat GOD Gods caâ—e is teâ—â—deâ— câ—m passionat arightlie hee will haue a tender and compassionate care for thee who h Iohn 3. 16 hath so loved thee that he hath given his first borne for thee who i Rom. 8. â—2 hath not spared his owne sonne but gaue him to the death for thee that k Iohn 4 9 thou mayest live eâ—ernally through him hee will take care of thee as of the member of his owne body thus l Zech. 2. 8 will the LORD of hosts say that hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his owne eye And if Zaleucus a ruler and law giver of Locris did so pittie his Valer maxim sonne found guiltie of the crime lib. 6. cap 5 of adulterie who therefore conforme to a constitution made by his Father should haue lost both his eyes and so bee deprived of all sight this Zaleucus did not spare himself but pulling out one of his owne eyes and another of his sonnes left the vse of seeing to them both and so behovâ—d himself a mercifull and pitifull Father and a iust or vpright Law-giver Also if Codrus a â—ing of Athens of great nobilitie and greater affection and pittie who for his subjects safetie did suffer yea seek death most willingly for when hee received a response of an oracle that his enemies the people of Peloponesus should bee victorious and rulers if they did not Virgilius in Fâ—logis kill the King of their adversaries Codrus deceived them for in the Aut Alconis habes laudes aut iurgia Codri habite of a beggar by chyding and vpbraiding hee provoked them to slay him and vnknowne to any hee died for his