Saint Paul calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He would willingly listen to one that would sometime pray for himselfe as Christ prayed for us with strong cries and teares Hebr. 5. 7. Remembring how Importunity prevailed with the unjust Judge in the Parable of our Saviour and how it may prevaile for them that will give God no rest till he vouchsafe to answer them Such were holy David's prayers wont to be set forth in the sight of God as the incense Ps 14. 2. like frankincense laid upon hot coales So should ours be as if our hearts as well as our tongues were touched with a coale from the Altar mounting upward with that fervour attention and devotion which carries our â—…houghts from earth and presents us as it were for that time before the Throne of God's Royall Majesty in Heaven Now they will more happily and easily compasse this fervency and intention of spirit that are able to follow Saint Peter's advise to joyne Sobriety amd Watchfulnesse unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4. 7. For Sobriety makes us fit to watch and if we bring not a hearty vigilant prayer we may pull a curse upon our selves rather then a blessing We cannot but thinke so if we consider that Prayer is one of the chiefest Services that we performe to God and therefore we must not think that God will indure to have that done coldly and lazily and carelesly Prayer gives us accesse unto the Throne of God and leave to speake and hope to have Audience before his Divine Majesty Therefore should we study to offer it up attended with those graces and virtues and ushered in with that preparation that may put us in further hope of Acceptance after we are heard In that regard the holy Saints of God in all ages being to commence some speciall suit unto God have not been unwilling many times to prepare themselves with Fasting and lay hold of all other good helps whereby they might come as well fitted as they may be for a businesse of so high consequence as that of Prayer XIII The close of this Meditation with a returne to the time ANd now having given a view of most of those helps to conclude this Meditation I will only adde that some advantage to Prayer may be drawne from the very Time which brought us into this discourse Of all other the Morning is the fittest time for Prayer While we are more fresh fasting and sober while our best thoughts affections vigilance intention and fervor not yet taken off or abated with worldly affaires are the more ready to attend our Prayers Therefore let us use the more care not to let that time of our Devotions be passed over but as it should be And both then and ever Let us not presume to pray without some serious preparation or some praevious ejaculation sent before to that purpose For we had better spend lesse time in Prayer then rashly and unpreparedly adventure upon such a worke too soon Preparatory Ejaculations fit to be used when we compose our selves to Prayer OLord all hearts and all things else are naked and manifest in thy sight Hâ—…b 4. 13. and all at thy disposall O Cleanse the thoughts of my Heart by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit and make it fit for Prayer and other holy Duties Graft in it with the hatrâ—…d of Sinne the love of thy holy namt Give me that Faith that may conduct my selfe and that Charity that may take others along with mee to the Throne of thy grace Teach my Heart the Reverence due to thy Divine Majesty in the presenting of my humble Petitions Make my servent and vigilant Prayer truly expressive of the value of that which I came to begge conformable to thy holy will and in the name and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is enough to be spoken of Prayer in generall in reference to our present purpose From this Digression we will now returne to our particular Morning-Devotions For which we learne of our Mother-Church by what she doth in publick Prayer to begin our private Addresses then too with a form of confession which is to begin with our pardon and peace first humbly begged from Almighty God I shall therefore commend unto you first a Confession and Prayer used by Bishop Andrewes then another used by Archb. Laud. XIV Confessio cum Precatione ALmighty God and most mercifull Father all-mercifull and Mercy it self I have wiâ—…tingly and willingly run from thy wayes erred and strayed from them more like an untamed heifer and wild asse then a lost and wandring sheep I have followed too much or rather altogether the absurd devices and brutish desires of my own heart I have not only offended against but even been offended at thy holy Laws thy most holy Laws I have left undone nay not done all those things which I ought to have done I have done done nothing else but those things which I ought not to have done And there is no health nor hope of health in me But thou O Lord have mercy upon me miserable most miserable sinner the greatest of sinners and the most unthankefull for so great grace as hath been offered to me Spare me and all them O God which confesse their faults Restore thou them that be penitent that desire to be penitent that wish they were so that feare they are not enough that are sorry they are not more penitent for this is according to thy promises thy most gracious most sweet promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord that invites all and promiseth to refresh all that feel the weight and â—…urden of their sins and come to Him for ease Grant therefore O most mercifull Father â—…or his sake who is our Redeemer Advocate Author and Finisher of our Faith Propitiation Righteousness and Justification that I and all penitents may ever hereafter live a Godly Righteous and Sober life Grant that we may do this to the glory of thy Holy Name and the Salvation of our own Soules Amen Pro Remissione Peccatorum O Eternall God and most Mercifull Father Pardon I beseech Thee all the Sins Omissions Commissions Thoughts Words and Deeds by which I have provoked Thee â—…o anger from the time of my birth to this present moment that no one nor all of my â—…ins together may ever be able to cry oftâ—…er or lowder in thine eares for vengeance â—…hen the cry of my Prayers may ascend up to Thee for Mercy and forgivenesse and obâ—…ain what they sue for Particularly I humbly â—…eseech Thee forgive unto me my greater and â—…ore clamorous Sins Such as are O Lord â—…gainst Heaven and against Thee have I â—…nned and committed foul transgressions 〈◊〉 Thy sight But I beseech Thee wipe â—…em all out of the Booke of Thy Remembrance through Jesus Christ our Lord anâ—… onely Saviour Amen To these if you will adde a Penitentiaâ—… Psalme There are seaven of them that is thâ—… 6. 32. 38. 51. 102. 130. 143. They will 〈◊〉
very well one for every severall Day of thâ—… Weeke And they may help on the Worke 〈◊〉 our Repentance if we will so often use thâ—… words of those pious Men that made them with their spirit And all the helps in thaâ—… worke are as necessary as they will be advanâ—… tageous For We are charged often and seriously to reâ—…member how we have provoked the Lorâ—… our God to wrath more then once Deu. 9 7 8â—… And the Lord our God is a consuming fireâ—… and a jealous God Deut 4. 24. Thereforâ—… humble thy selfe greatly For the vengeanâ—… of the ungodly is Fire and Wormes Ecclus. 7â—… 17. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where will the ungodly and sinner appeare 1 Pet 4. 18. The Meditation of these places of holâ—… Writ were enough to fright the Impenitenâ—… and make them long to be better acquainteâ—… with Penitentiall Psalmes Then may they heare more comfortablâ—… words For If wee confesse our fins God is faithfuâ—… and just to forgive us our sins 1 Joh. 1. 9. Noâ—… is not the voice of the Gospell only Solomon could put us in that hope long before thâ—… Gospel was sully revealed He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Prov. 28. 13. And others before him have said the like It was God's mercy ever of old Hos. 14. 2 3 4. Hos. 6. 1 2. But we must lay hold on it while it is called to day Hebr. 3. 13 15. There is a long night coming when nothing can be done John 9. 4. And there is no relying or boasting of the little day of our life Prov. 27. 1. We know not how soon the Sun may set for ever upon us and we be conveyed out of the way into our everlasting House Eccles 12. 5. Therefore let us not put off from Day to Day to turne to the Lord. For suddainly his wrath may breake forth and in our security we may be destroyed and so perish in the day of Vengeance Ecclus 5. 7. But God is never so ready to punish as he is to pardon The Royall Prophet that had experience of that mercy tells us that when but he resolved to confes his transgressions unto the Lord the Lord forgave the iniquity of his Sin Psal. 32. 5. And if we would have it confirmed by the Evangelicall Prophet he could tell us God is so mercifull that upon our resolution before we call he will answer and while we are yet speaking He will heare Isay 65. 24. How then can they think to escape that neglect so great Salvation Hebr. 2. 3. After this so needfull and gainfull a Service of Confession As our Church doth so we should do well to addresse our selves to another Confession that of Praise and Thanksgiving In imitation of the Invitatory Psalme and the Te Deum and the like Hymnes in publicke we should have somewhat ready for that purpose in private Such as what now followes XV. A Morning Devotion framed according to St Basil's direction Constitut. Monast. c. 1 and the rare Patterne of the sweet Singer of Israel in many Psalmes PRaise the Lord O my Soul While I live will I praise the Lord yea as long as I have any being will I sing praises unto my God Psal. 146. 1. As long as I live will I magnify him on this manner and lift up my hands in his Name Ps. 63. 5. Every day will I give thanks unto Him and praise his Name for ever and ever Ps. 145. 2. Every day with all readines and thankfulnes of heart I will worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord my God my Maker Psal. 95. 6. By whom I was fearfully and wonderfully made Psal. 139 13 14. My soul cannot but be affected with that curious workmanship even to astonishment and amazement To consider how there is not the least bone or member in my body but tooke along with it an apparent stamp and impression of Divine Power and Wisdome While my whole Body to say nothing of the rate Faculties of the Soule was so cunningly and secretly wrought and embroidered with veines sinewes arteries and other incomparable varieties of necessary parts that as they were first framed and molded secretly in my Mothers wombe so they are not now all of them exposed to the view of every eye but show themselves onely by the use that is made of them Such are the wonders of my Creation How shall I then be able to expresse or conceive how mercifully and freely I was redeemed with a costly and mighty salvation 1 Cor 6. 20. Luc 1. 69. and by no lesse Providence and Goodnes miraculously preserved in fad and perilous times unto this day Therefore shall the first Fruits of every Day be Hâ—…s and the first opening of my mouth the serving and blessing of his holy Name My hearty Prayers and Praises shall come daily before Him like the Incense Psal. 141. 2. ascen ding upward and seasoning and sweetening my thoughts here for the whole day In this manner and for ever Praise the Lord O my Soule and all that is within mee praise his holy Name Praise the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his Benefits Ps 103. 1. c. Which forgiveth all thy sinnes thy great sinnes and healeth all thy Infirmities thy manifold infirmities Which satisfieth thy Body and Soule with variety of good things and so often after a sweet and quiet sleep reneweth thy strength in the Morning and returneth thee to thy Friends and thy own imployments Young and lusty as an Eagle v. 5. that appeares in her fresh plumes vigorous and youthfull againe For this shall my mouth every morning be filled with thy praise O Lord and my Soule make her boast of Thee Ps. 34. 2 3. For this I will remember Thee in my Bed and when I awake Ps. 71. 7. And upon all opportunities sing of thy Honour and Glory all the day long So shall my Soule be more and more satisfied as it were with marrow and fatnes while I thus endeavour to praise Thee with joyfull lips Ps 63. 5. Here we may tender a particular recognition of some speciall mercy and favour showed to us or ours After which we may take others into our Confession of Praise And O that all others might joyn with me in the close of my thankful acknowledgments O that they would praise the Lord with me and let us magnify his Name together Psal ' 34. 3. Though not in the same place yet with the same heart and affection bearing a part in the Angels and our Churches Hymne Glory be to God on high and in earth Peace good will towards men We praise Thee O God we blesse Thee we worship Thee We laud and magnifie thy glorious name evermore praising Thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to Thee O Lord most high O that men would thus praise the Lord for his goodnesse
Grave produced these following Ejaculations and Prayers against the sudden and violent approach of Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such true Devotions and Prayers are the surest meanes to procure a Guard of blessed Angels against the greatest dangers of the darkest times Surer then Salomons valiant men that walked about his Bed every one with his Sword upon his Thigh because of the perils of the night Therefore the pious Bishop thought of no confidence and no repose like that of the Royal Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this confidence he might well conclude his Prayers thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We are now coming to the incomparable Bishop's last Hymn and sweetest Anthemn in which he was wont to shut up and conclude the Devotions of the whole day Hark Hark! stand a little and listen and admire for it is a full Anthemn and all his best faculties of body and soul make up a Consort in the delivery of it with all his skill and strength Observe the Deepness of the Base and the Height of the Trebles I mean the Lov Descent of his Reverence and Humility with the High Strain of his Joyes and Thankfulness while he Sings a Requiem to his body and soul in a full expression of his service and the glory which he heartily ascribes unto his God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is not this rare Musick Is it not farr above the strange imaginary Musick of the Spheres Doth it not exceed the natural Consort of the pretty chirping Birds that seem all to joyn together in a kind of Martens and Evensong to the Honour and Glory of the All-creatour that opens his liberall Hands every day to fill all things living with plenty Nay doth it not emulate our Church Musick the cheifest Musick in the world and the best kind of that Musick when the skillfull Artists joyn the sweetest Voices with the variety of sweet Instruments Why shall we not then think this Musical close of all his other Devotions to be his Introduction to conduct him and wellcome him to the Heavenly Quire above to be made acquainted with their Halelujah's and Trisagium's and Doxologies and other wayes of Divine rapture which cannor be learned or practised but in that place whereof the Holy Land was but a Figure For how can we learn or sing the Lords song in a strange Land After this Anthem I can furnish you with no more out of the holy Bishop's papers God be thanked for these which I have received from several hands and laid together to be ready for your use in your private Closets where somwhat would be done besides that which others see you doe in God's House But if you know not how to use them yet may you perhaps be willing after your Scrutiny or Inquisition to go on with these short Meditations and Prayers and Thanksgivings that follow here contracted into a narrow roome for your accommodation Meditations Prayers and praises of God which may be used after the Scrutiny before you goe to Bed Psalm 139. vers 1. O Lord thou hast searched me out and known me Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising Thou understandest my thoughts long before 2. Thou art about my Path and about my Bed and spiest all my waies 3. For loe there is not a word in my tongue but thou Lord knowest them altogether 4. For thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me I cannot attain unto it 6. Whither shall I goe then from thy Spirit or whither then shall I goe from thy presence 7. If I climb up into Heaven Thou art there if I goe down to Hell thou art there also 8. If I take the wings of the Morning and remain in the uttermost parts of the Sea 9. Even there also shall thy hand Lead me and thy right shall hold me 10. If I say Peradventure the darkness shall cover me Then shall my night be turned to day 11. Yea the darkness is no darkness with thee but the night is as clear as the day The darkness and light to Thee are both alike 12. For my Reins are thine Thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. 13. I will give thanks unto Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made Marvelous are Thy works and that my soul knoweth right well 14. My Bones are not hid from Thee though I be made secretly beneath in the Earth 15. Thine Eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect And in thy Book were all my Members written 16. Which day after day were fashioned When as yet there was none of them 17. How dear are thy Counsels unto me O God O how great is the summe of them 18. If I tell them they are more in number then the sand of the Sea When I wake up I am present with Thee So said the holy Prophet one of the cheifest Seers of Israel What shall we say that have had no such Heavenly Visions and clear illuminations as he had nor will have Tongues so like the Pen of a ready writer as his was we can discover but little of the wonders of our Creation How then shall we be able to conceive and express how wonderfully we are redeemed with a Costly and Mighty Salvation and Miraculously preserved in Sad and Perilous times unto this day Yet let us endeavour at least to praise the Lord and rouse up our soules to it as he did Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his Benefits Who pardoneth all thy sinnes thy great sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities thy manifold infirmities Who crowneth thee every day with mercy and Loving kindness Who shadoves thee from the dangers of every night Who renewes thy strength every morning like that of the Eagle that thou
some just cause lest he answer our childish Petitions with you ask you know not what The best way is to confine and conforme our Prayers as well as our Actions to the will of God and if we ask any thing agreeable to his will he will hear us 1 Joh. 5. 14. As for the order wherein to ask it we may learn that out of the method of our Lords prayer and his own Precept first to seek the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse proposed by him Mat. 6. 33. not doubting but all other necessaries will then be easily intreated by way of accesse addition to the other which is the meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that place But Heaven and such spiritual graces as fit us for that must have the first place in our Prayers and all other things must not onely follow in a second place but with subordination to the good will and pleasure of God with fiat voluntas tua thy will be done For if it be good for us he will grant it either in that particular or in something better we must submit to his holy will with non sicut ego not as I will but as thou wilt Mat. 26. 39 2. Another thing required is to pray in faith For as Prayer is the Hand that knocks so Faith is the Key that opens Therefore be not faint-hearted when thou makest thy prayer Ecclus 7. 10. Ask in faith nothing wavering for he that wavers is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed up and down Jam. 1. 6. Let not such a man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. No God will be found of them that tempt him not and shews himself to such as do not distrust him Wisd. 1. 2. For indeed to distrust him is to offer injury to his Goodnesse and Truth he having promised to hear us when we ask as we should Especially when we ask heavenly things Petite accipietis ask and you shall have is most true in them Math. 77. God is nigh to all them that call upon him faithfully Ps 145. 18. We may have it in our Saviour's own words What things soever you desire when you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them Marc. 11. 24. But this Faith must be grounded upon the mediation of our Lord and Saviour as himself hath taught us VVhatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you Joh. 16. 23. Therefore in this confidence we must remember to preserve our reverence and learn another Lesson from our blessed Saviour that is 3. To pray without Battologies and Tautologies VVhen you pray use not vain repetitions as the heathen do that think they shall be heard for their much speaking and babling Mat. 6. 7. This vice proceeds commonly from ignorance and inadvertency therefore if you will hear the wise man's advice Be not rash with your mouth and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou art upon earth therefore let thy words be sew or let thy Prayers be short Eccles. 5. 2. Short I say not alwaies in time for Christ himself prayed all night nor avoiding all repetitions for therein may lie the best expression of our Hearts as Psal. 107. and 136. But short that is cutting off the vanity of idle and unnecessary words Such as we might be ashamed to use any where before our betters which made the Son of Sirac joyn them together Use not many words in the company of your Elders saith he and much lesse should you use much babling when you pray when you speak to God himself Ecclus. 7. 14. For in both cases A Fool 's voice is known by the multitude of words Eccles. 5. 3. And we should not come to God with the sacrifice of Fools who consider not what they do Eccles. 5. 3. VVhen we have taken order for this to come as we should do there is yet a fourth Caution 4. To pray with fervency and which will easily follow upon that with perseverance For we must be affected with the value of what we ask and seek after I know not what we do in other cases when we seek any thing that we long for We are so intent upon it and so inquisitive onely for that that we hardly observe what else comes in our way or if we do we desire nothing more then quickly to be rid of it Such should be our earnest Intention and constant Indeavour for the success of our Prayers VVe may raise this thought a little higher if vve will recall how often we have sought and longed for our dearest friends and other delights on earth of lesser value How the very memory of them hath tickled our hearts our groanes alone our discourses in company our phantasies in the day our dreams in the night have run that way VVhen we recall this we may be confounded that in seeking after the best gifts and comforts by Prayer our thoughts were never taken up half so much with eager persuit and longing after them If ours were not some others were This is the way wherein King David was excellent and Mary Magdalen and the Syrophaenician and other like importunate Suiters that would not be denied They knew their earnest desires were like wings to mount them up and procure them admittance to the throne of grace Therefore they never tendred themselves in that remisnes which the Prophet Eliah disliked in King Jcash 2 Reg. 13. 19. or of which Saint Augustine accuseth himself in his Confessiens where he tells us that this was his fault before his Conversion He laboured and prayed for a chast heart but he did it so faintly as if he would be denied And he saith himself he should have been sorry to have been heard too soon So do we many times VVe make fair weather to devotion and knock at the gates of Heaven but we run away before we can have our Answer VVhereas we should be both earnest in the suit and tarry Gods leisure for the grant For it is the fervent prayer of a righteous man that availes much with God Jam. 5. 16. VVhen we pray and that instantly then will he hear our voice Ps. 55. 17. VVhen we have waited patiently then will he encline to us and heare our calling Psal. 40. 1. He loves the prayer of such a one as Epaphras that can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Wrastle with God as Jacob did and be hearty and fervent in prayer As the great Apostle gives honourable testimony of Epaphras He takes delight in such as when they pray will mind who they speake to and consider what happinesse and content it would be to obtaine their humble request at the heavenly Throne of Mercy and therefore in all the time of their devotion they will hoc agere be truly affected and diligently intent and vigilant in their perseverance Ephes. 6. 18 Col. 4. 2. which
not that sinne up by the rootes For there are some sinnes rooted and grounded in other sinnes as Envy and Contention in Pride and Vain glory In all such till the root be quite pulled up and Humility set in the place of it cut the branches as you please some what will bud up and appear again And as some sinnes are the root of others so some sinnes are the food of others as we use to say sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus Lust useth to feed well to fare deliciously and plentifully Therefore there is a Devil that cannor be cast out but by prayer and Fasting And we may safely say that Fulness of Bread and Idleness as they are the Sepulchers of many Virtues so they are the Cherishers of most Vices But when we know the true Root and Cause and Food of a Disease it is half cured It grows late and we need say no more of this Verbum sapienti You may think that I am ready to take my leave of you and bid you Good night adding not a word more of that hard Scrutiny or what else belonging to it may fit it for a happy conclusion And indeed I and all the world must leave you when you are for that business which though it be most profitable is the most unpleasing to us all that are great sinners Yet that I may take my leave the more charitable and that you may find the better night I will say one word more a word of Comfort If in the foot of your accompt you find sinnes so great and so many that great and many terrours begin to disturb you Strive to arm your selves with all the armour of God and be not so much affrighted as incouraged to goe on For if your inward eyes with the use of your best optick Instruments have found out so many of your own sinnes or multitudes of your worst enemies let your other eyes by the help of your prayers furnish you with as good store of the best weapons that can be used in your defence Lachrimae arma Prayers and Teares are the weapons that David used so long that he washed his bed with them Psal. 6 6 7. Teares are the weapons that Mary Magdalen's Eyes had such plenty of that she could wash our Saviors feet with them Bitter Teares are the weapons made Peter goe out of the place where he denied his Saviour into a fitter place wherein he might presently beg that mercy of God that charmed the Divel from ever haunting of him with the memory of that foul Deniall And if you fain would but cannot weep as they did think of those Prayers without any mention of teares that long before these Weepers were born turned Jacob into Israel and moved God to let him and us know that the Lord of Hostes was overcome with his importunate way of non dimittam nisi which shewed the power of his Prayers that wonne him the Name of Israel And let us prove out selves true Israelites by so following of him if we can extort no Teares or so few dropps as cannot be poured into God's bottle and intitle us to the name of Followers of the other great Champions For if we can begin with no weapons of Tears but without them broken and sorrowfull penitent Hearts yet if we resolve to fight the more valiantly hereafter under Christ's banner in the use of some other spiritual weapons doubt not but the Father of all Mercyes and Mercy it self will gratiously receive us having invited all so freely to come to Him that are weary and heavy laden with the unsupportable burden of their sinnes and haveing not by his teares only but by his pretious blood so fully satisfied for poor penitent sinners I am not sorry that I have shewed you the way how to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and use such weapons in your prayers since God Himself hath shewed us the way how he may be overcome And I hope you are not sorry that I have shewed you the way how to make the night of your Scrutiny whensoever you make choice of it a happy and joyfull night in the close But when you have well passed over the time of your Scrutiny in all the nights after a short Meditation of the Affinity that is between Sleep and Death will easily produce a Prayer and Resolution with an eye to that before you make to much haste to lye down and rest in your bed betweèn those sheets that may prove your winding sheets for ought you know A further supply for the Evening you may take out of the pious Bishops Devotions which shall now follow that you may see how he usually prepared himself for his quiet sleep and rest after his daily labours I wish all may use them whith his spirit and remember that like the winding up again of the Clock such is the necessary Recollection of our selves at night after the disturbances and discomposing of our selves in the day time by the ordinary employment and duties of our Calling and our occasional Commerce with other men In this task our best method will be 1. First to reflect upon our sinnes of the day 2. Then upon the hazard of the night against which we had need to be armed by our prayers 3. Then upon the blessing and praising of God for his former works of mercy and providence and the confidence which we have in his custody of us this night and for ever In this part I find no papers of the good Bishop but only in Greek which I shall re-represent in that order 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amongst theâ—…e preparations for night the very thoughts of the affinity betwixt Sleep and Death or the Bed and the
maiest chearfully go through the works of thy Calling In this manner and for ever praise the Lord O my soul. And O that all others would joyn with me to magnifie the Lord together as it was that holy Prophets earnest wish O that we might all praise Him In the Angels and Churches Hymne O that we might with Angels and Arch-Angels and all the Company of Heaven laud and magnifie Thy Holy Name O Blessed Lord. Evermore Honouring and Praising Thee Evermore Worshiping and Glorifiing Thy Blessed Name For all Thy great Mercies rejoycing in Thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts which was and which is and which is to come Heaven and Earth are full of Thy Glory Glory be to Thee O Lord most High And let all in Heaven and Earth say Amen Amen Halelujah After the Hymn if you are not inclinable to sleep then that the better use may be made of your last Prayers and Meditations concerning the wonders of our Creation Preservation and Divine Omni-present Assistance I will furnish you with a short Paraphrastical Exposition of those Verses of the 139 Psalm which I commended to you before as fit for the time A Paraphrastical Exposition of some Uerses in the 139 Psalme 1. O Lord thou knowest me as well as if thou had'st made a narrow search and strict examination of all my inward parts Thou art privy to my times of Rest and Retirement and after them thou seest how I fit my self for employment and how I demean my self in it Thou observest my intimate and familiar thoughts and inclinations and intentions long before they are actually mine 2. Thou art no stranger to my labour in the day or my repose sleep and dreames in the night Thou art throughly acquainted will all my recreations and all my best and worst actions and all my faillures or more perfect proceedings in the whole course of my life 3. There is not a word at my tongues end but thou can'st discern it wholely and infallibly before it come óut Thou hast no need that I should express it unto Thee for Thou Lord knowest it better then I doe And as well do'st Thou know and observe what care I use not only in the governing of my thoughts and deeds but also in the bridleing and regulating of my Tongue which I keep not in with good heed besides the hedge of my Teeth which is my Monitor to warn me of it all my Religion will prove vain and of no esteem in thy pure eyes who art the great Judge and rewarder of all 4. Thou do'st compass me as close on every side as a City is beset in the straitest siege I can stirre as little from thy Presence as if thou had'st laid thy hands upon me to hold me fast 5. This Thy knowledge of me and of all my thoughts words and deedes is so high above my capacity that I can neither comprehend it nor hinder it nor be concealed from it 6. For whether can I goe to hide my self from thy knowledge of me How can I be secured from thy dreadfull omnipresence that frights thine enemies or deprived of thy comfortable omnipresence which is the unspeakable defence of thy servants 7. 8. If I could mount my self as high as Heaven or couch my self as low as Hell If I were as nimble and swift as Light it self which is like the wings of the morning and could be conveyed in a moment from East to West land disposed of in the most remotest parts of the Sea 9. Even there must I expect to be led by Thy hand and no other but Thy gratious conduct could be my guide 10. If I should think to hide my self in some dark corner the darkest night would not therein differ from the clearest day 11. For to Thee the glorious Fountain of Light the day and night the clearest and the darkest places are all one 12. And the abstrusest and most secret parts about me my very Reines the seat of Affections and Original Inclinations to sinne lie all open and naked to thy view who did'st cover me with flesh and compact me with bones and sinewes in a secret place in my Mothers womb 13. So that if there were no other cause yet for my very Creation alone I am bound with all thankfulness to admire and blesse and praise thy holy Name My soul cannot but be affected with that strange and curious workmanship even to astonishment and amazement 14. For there is not so much as the least bone or member of my body but takes along with it an apparent stamp and impression of thy divine Power and Wisdom while my body it self to say nothing of the rare faculties of the soul was so cunningly and secretly wrought and imbroidered with Veines and Sinewes Arteries and other incomparable varieties of necessary parts which as they were first framed and moulded secretly in my Mothers womb so are they not now all of them exposed to the view of every eye but shew themselves only by the use that 's made of them 15. All this frame and substance of the body lay open and naked to thy all-seeing eye while it was yet an imperfect Embryo under the hand of thy mighty power and unsearchable wisdom that lap'd up all the several parts rowling and winding them up together as orderly and exactly to their compleat number as if they had been all Registered in a Book with directions how and in what method they should be placed 16. All this seemed to be so punctually contrived before they had their right frame and fashion that they might be day by day moulded and ordered by a strict and insensible way of growing to perfection 17. O how dear and pretious should all these things that belong to thy Creation and Providence be in my sight that seem in my poor apprehension as the effect of much thought advice and contrivance in the variety of so many several parts and wayes that I should be never able to recollect the summe of them 18. Should I venter upon it with my poor Arithmetick I were as good settle my self to number the sand of the Sea In various meditation of them I may lull my self a sleep and yet when I awake return to Thee again in a fresh way of Rapture and Admiration of thy wonderful works And if this were my employment every day and constant entertainment of my thoughts every night Yet were it too impossible for me in the course of my whole life to comprehend A TABLE Containing The Heads and Chapters In this Book General advice more briefly set down for their sakes that have much other business pag. 1. Ejaculations to be used in the Morning when we are awake p. 1. Ejaculations to be used when we are retired into our Closets p. 2. A short Sermon taken cheifly out of the First and Last words of Ecclesiastes p. 2. A Short Set Form of Devotion to be used before we leave our Closets p. 4. Advice concerning our