inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
and graines in confusion Let vs cast vp our dayes by Iacobs account valewâ— them not to be more not to better then he did his few and euill as he that truly considers it shall most rightly find it true for the first that they are few what age since there were creatures that liu'd and breathed died in it and howers yeares to wast and spend themselues to giue it a quantitie and quality thereof that might speake with more probabilitie and exemplarie experience hereof then ours when our yong men in our streetes in our houses oftentimes part with there health there life and all within an hower and others fall downe dead as they trauaile vpon the way and the latest yeares of our ould men accomplish not the child-hood of our fore-fathers with such daily other presidentes of death before our eyes both of vntimely youth and ould age that might moue vs to looke into our selues yet as if we tooke leases of our liues as wee do of our houses we incroach and build set vp pull downe alter repaire like earth-deluing-moles presse crush our owne bowelles and consciences to heaue vp little piles of rubbish and earth toyle our bodies and beat our braines to ioyne our possessions together dispeopling whole villages that we may be Lordes alone drawing the earth from the poore that they liue tread vpon by exactions plottes and tyrannies pulling the bread from out there handes and the food from out there mouthes calling our habitations after our owne names as if we should for euer liue or our posterities after vs succeed to the worldes end or world without end when he that sits in heauen laugheth them to scorne for he that thinkes to be rich or great without him in the prophanenes of his heart Esay 14. 15. let him know Gen. 11. 7. that the least breath of his mouth shall so batter his seat that the place thereof shall be no more found and scatter his riches as the dust before the wind or the chaffe that slies in the ayre and all there thoughtes inteÌ„tions more vaine theÌ„ vanity it selfe if we liued like Adam without any president of death before our eyes and the length of our dayes in some measure stretched out like to his it were some little securitie for presumption to build vpon but wee that haue sene our thousand three-thousand weekly such a dearth of health that the sicke haue bene more then the sound the dead more then the lyuing and death hath so layd about in our streetes and in our houses that grasse hath growne in the one and solitarinesse so taken vp the other that the sight of a man in either hath bene more pretious then the gold of Ophir sometimes come so neare vs that it hath puld away the wife from our owne bosome children from our owne loynes reueld in the darke of the night at the noone of the day disposest vs of neighbour and frend neare and distant far of spared none from the child supported by the hand for weakenesse to him that walkes with the staffe for age with such an innumerable and daily witnesse in which number our owne bowelles sometimes a part the sentence of God vpon all flesh as a forerunner and the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof with such a â—ercenesse succeeding all crying with a loud voyce and proclaming this proclamation of God Statutum est omnibus semelmori O but may the yong man or some not aged say although we must once die yet we may liue many yeares and therefore we wil take our pleasures whilst we may and when they haue forsaken vs when age shall ceaze vpon vs with her whitenesse die our lockes into another coullor then will we repent vs and thinke of our end O but who euer thou art that thinkes so deceiue not thy selfe with this vaine procrastinating folly but let Salomons experienced councell be the tutor to thy youth forget not to remembe his MemeÌ„to To remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill dayes approach and the times wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them and beeing a reasonable creature offer not God that indignity that hath made thee both body and soule giuen thee both health and strength thy beeing thy benefites all that thou hast as to offer him the huskes and refuse of Sathan What earthly maister that but for a few temporall benefits as in sustayning our yeares of infancye although all that he could for vs were but as a grauell stone in comparison to the whole sea shore of his goodnesse that would not expect in recompence hereof the abilitye of our best seruice to his imployment which if wee should neglect him in and forsake him vnacknowledged so long vntill our youth and strengthes were spent and old age were crept vpon vs and wee disabled to helpe our selues much lesse to stand him in stead or deserue his former kindnesse yet then with blushlesse faces should offer to put our selues vpon him for a second suppertance that with the acclamation and consent of the earthly maisters in the world would not only turne his face away but vtterly reiect foreuer cast vs off from his acknowledgement Is it then iust with vs and is it not much more iust with God We are all seruants to him in a thousand duties he fashioned vs in our mothers wombe carefully tooke vs out from thence euer since protected and preserued vs vpon the finger of whose prouidence we sticke as the sun in the firmament and shall wee from him that hath done so much for vs dedicate the ioy marrow of our bones to the enemie of our God our good the welfare of all mankind to him that compasseth the earth seeking whom he may deuour shal we I say in our ripest iudgement and abilitie of largest consideration make no vse hereof but run one with the spurre of the flesh and the pricke of the deuill all the sun-shine of our dayes in obliuion and forgetfulnesse of him we should euer remember If we doe the euening will bring heauinesse vnto vs which will not indure for a night and ioy approach in the morning but a night without end of sorrow and lamentation whom no day shall euer arise to cleare and he that hath lost Christ in a large youth and run from him many yeares must not thinke that few wil vntread that path againe and recouer him but rather that a yeare may so lose him that many shall not find him againe though with Ioseph and Mary he be sought in sorrowing Presume not vpon that text of mercy to much At what time soeuer a sinner although it be an Oracle of truth truth it selfe for if thou refuse the time of grace that is offered thou knowest not whether it wil be offered thee againe whether thou shalt euer after haue a time to repent thee of thy sins from the bottome of thy hâ—rt that thine owne
right hand is of more puissance then the whole arme either of flesh or any spirit besides yea then the whole loines whole substances whole bodies of Angels or of Men siluer gold silke purple all other creatures so it shall walke through life and death without controulement if it find Angels Principallities powers things present things to come or any other creature in the world stopping her passage and rebuking her forwardnesse shee shall cleare her way notwithstanding and clime into the presence of her God and in his eares deliuer her message Bee we in sickenesse to him the true Phâ—sition that knowes both the cause and the cure shee comes for health bee wee in imprisonment there shee sollicites a release from him the Lord of liberty bee we opprest with pouerty or want The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein to him shee comes for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich are we afflicted aboue measure beyond the strength of man insomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no receiuing the sentence of death within our selues so as in our opinion we comprehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment thereof yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes euen almost beyond hope without expectation and by his good pleasure we are deliuered therefore heerein let vs receiue comfort hee hath hee doth and will deliuer vs not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes and rottennesse haue made their long and last prey vpon them but from the death of our mindes too when the spirit is buried vnder sorrowes there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giue it comfort Therfore be our misery bee our affliction neuer so great and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery no release when all earthly meanes and comforts forsake vs let vs not yet forsake this refuge let vs not despaire in his helpe no more then Ionas did who in the bottome of the sea within a prison within that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not bee nor to humane reason more without hope yet saith hee Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord and hee heard mee out of the belly of hell cryed I and thou heardest my voyce Therefore I say againe in aduersity let vs not despaire but pray with hope In aduersity be it neuer so great let vs pray with confidence In our prosperity let vs pray in our prosperity neuer so flourishing let vs pray let vs pray continually In our health and prosperity let vs pray to continue it in our sickenesse and aduersity let vs pray to release it And if we consider our estate rightly we shall perceiue many reasons that may moue vs to this exercise daily to seeke his fauour and louing countenance without whose protection and care ouer vs wee are ready to fall into a thousand dangers to perish continually let vs therefore in time and season with wordes sutable to our purpose and intention either thankes-giuings for benefites receiued or with petitions and intreaties for necessities implored in the time of sickenesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity let vs come before him suting our wordes in the habite of our occasions with such fitnesse and decency that they sal not harshly and from the purpose in the eares of the Almighty And to that end good Reader I haue heere compiled and set downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for seuerall persons occasions and times after the example of our Sauiour Christ the true patterne of all wisedome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme thereof himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requests as farre as seemes expedient to his vnsearchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our coÌ„plaints our necessities better then we our selues for because Prayer is so excellent a thing so ready so swift so powerful so vnseperated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes forsak vs therfore that wee should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imply it more deerely esteeme it there is great reason that it finds vs ofteÌ„times out coÌ„fort in greatest extremities that wheÌ„ we find our selues in misety our waies hedged vp as with thornes that wee cannot stirre to deliuer our selues there hence when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of sinne as with a floud and iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Doue that brings vnto our soules the Oliue branch of comfort yet because for the most part we kill the life therein through the coldnesse of our deuotion and carelesnesse of our deliuery and vnfit preparation thereunto and finde not the sweetenesse and successe that else we might expect and obtaine at the hands of God thereby Therefore I haue here drawne them out to life shewed both the excellency thereof and preparation thereunto befitting that these formes hereafter following and all other whatsoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull blessed and comfortable to all that shall vse them without the which it is impossible that they should please God or any good successe follow thereupon The Embassadour betweene Heauen and Earth A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day MOST mercifull God and eternall father what may we render vnto thee for all thy louing kindnesse for the which blessings and thankes-giuings for euermore be heaped vpon thy holy name in whom the treasures of mercy and louing kindnesse dwell bodily who of thine owne good will and pleasure hast bene pleased to communicat vnto vs so many of thy fauours so many seuerall ways without any manner of desert of ours to the which may it please thee to ad stil to the number by taking away those iniquities of ours that take away thy fauours and blessings from vs or as a stranger that knoweth them not passe by our transgressions retaine not thine anger against vs foreuer though wâ— retaine our sins the cause of thine anger but returne to vs by grace who returne not to thee by repentance and haue compassion vpon vs who haue not compassion on ouer owne soules subdue our raigning and raging vnrighteousnesse and drowne our offences in the bottome of the sea which else will drowne vs in the bottome of destruction raise vp our soules from the dead sleepe of sinne as thou hast raised vp our bodies from this night of darkenesse protect vs from all dangers from the which no minute we are secured of our selues but in thee brought vs to the begining of this thy blessed sabaoth of rest which good father so sanctifie vnto vs through thy blessed spirit that thy name may be hallowed thy power admired thy mercy magnified and thy loue manifested to thy glory and our euerlasting
thereof but delight in contention and strife therefore I beseech thee because I would not bee as one out of thy fauour giue vnto me that minde that a peacefull man should haue and let thy spirit assure my spirit that my sinnes are washt away in the bloud of thy sonne Christ Iesus that my conscience within me may haue peace and rest without which all ioy will turne into bitternesse and I shall mourne in the middest thereof as the Pellican in the wildernesse The body will beare the infirmity therof but an aking and wounded Conscience who can sustaine O Lord settle this assurance in me that I haue peace with thee and I shal haue peace with all men with whom to haue peace and to be at warres with thee to be at peace with the world and at enmity with thee is to make vnto my selfe a dangerous truce a league of peace against the king of peace the very breath of whose nostrils is able at once to destroy a thousand worlds and all the Creatures therein and therefore vaine is the combination that is plotted against thee Giue mee patience O Lord to digest and passe ouer the iniury and malice of those that contentiously and causlessely by the malice and instigation of Sathan séeke to stir vp strife and disturbe my quyet wherein in the mediation of thee and thy mercies towards me I might meditate day and night free from this troublesome and intangled world with her thousand snares whereby by righting my wrong a little I wrong my selfe a great deale and the remembrance whereof as my means with her so many branches to the vexâ—tion and expence of my mind and body substance endlesly eate me vp yâ— I forget what I liue but to remember woe to him that goes to law for that which yâ— Gospell hath taken order for Therefore good father giue me such a patient disgesting mind that I desire not to iniury others to molest my selfe but rather by yâ— example of thee the true patterne of all imitation that to thy accusers didst not open thy mouth but wast dumbe like a sheep before yâ— shearer wast so far from reuenging the iniuries of man that thou diddest not defend thy selfe And if at any time I bee forced to vse the meanes to take this sword into my hands that I do it not with delight but vnwillingly and with such moderation and clemency that it bee to defend my selfe and not offend others that I offend not in the true vse therof but that I labour to haue peace with thee peace with all men which grant thou that art the God of peace for thy Sonne Christ Iesus sake our Sauiour A prayer for seasonable weather a punishment the Lord hath lately inflicted vpon vs and our whole land for our sinnes ETernall Almighty and Euerlasting God forasmuch as by thy holy word wee are taught that wheÌ„ thine anger is incensed against vs for our sins amongst other thy punishments thou doest shut vp the heauens yâ— there may â—â—no rain that the earth thereby may deny her fruites vnto vs and now thou doest iustly manifest this thy displeasure vnto vs in shutting vp the heauen which was wont to drop downe her wholsome showers in due season vpon the fruits of the earth hardening them as Iron or brasse in dispersing yâ— clouds so that they drop not vpon the dry and parched soyle burnt vp and withering in the heat of thine indignation O Lord though wee are sensible of this thy displeâ—sure kindled so heauily aginst vs at this time yet groaning vnder the weight of our manifold sins and transgressions so great and so innumerable we are afraid in our selues to approach vnto thy Tribunall to craue a release of this thy punishment or to begge any other mercy at thy hands yet because such is thy gracious goodnesse towards mankinde that by thy Prophet Zachary thou hast mercifully promised vs the first and the latter raine to make white clouds and giue showers to euery one grasse in the field Therefore we acknowledging our owne vnworthinesse relying onely vpon thy mercies with lowly contrite broken harts do presume to powre out our humble supplicatioÌ„s before thée beséeching thee yâ— thou wouldst heare our prayers as thou didst sometimes the earnest supplications of Helias who prayed the heauens gaue raine the earth brought forth her fruit And as it hath pleased thee most gracious God likewise to promise by the mouth of Moses thy seruant vnto Israell And in another place by thy Prophet Hosea that if that people would forsake their sinnes turne wholly vnto thee the Lord their God thou wouldst giue raine vnto the land in due time the first raine and the latter that they might gather in the wheate the oyle and yâ— thou wouldest send grasse in their fields for cattle that they might eate inough and yâ— if they would turne vnto thee with vnfeyned repentance thou wouldst heare the heauens they shold heare the earth the earth shold heare the grasse the corn the oyle thou wouldest haue mercy vpon them that were not pittied Mercifull Father with an humble confession of our great ingratitude a hatred loathing of our former transgressions committed with a high and presumptuous hand against thy sacred maiesty and with a serious purpose to walke in the wayes which thou hast commanded so in the griefe and agony of spirit for our former sins we turne vnto thee turne then vnto vs most mercifull father and extend thy great goodnesse and compassion towards vs that we may tast and see how gratious thou art in hearing of these our prayers answearing them gratiously in the seasonable supply of this our necessity to the honour of thy great name and the comfortable refreshing of thy seruantes for the merits of thy sonne Iesus Christ our only Lord and Sauiour A meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefullnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of S. Augustine Miserere mei Domine indigna facientis Digna Patientis ETernall Almighty most mercifull God vpon the knees of our harts we prostrate our selues our soules and bodies at the throne of thy grace being altogether wretched and vnworthy sinners vnworthy of the least of those benefittes that haue not fallen vnto vs seldome now and than and that in a weake and restrayned measure but in bundles and shewes of a large allowance dayly and howerly throwne vpon vs from thy royall and plentifull hand as though we had alwayes performed thy will and our delight and been to walke wholy in the pathes of thy commandements which we haue been so far from witnesse deare God our owne consciences that we haue derided them and set them at light trod them vnder foot vpon the least aduantage or occation nay in sport and merriment and to shew vs men of resolutions presumptuously we haue taken them in vaine and that in so carelesse and high ameasure
that it is thy vncomprehended mercy that before this thou hast not abridged our dayes cut vs off and cast vs into the bottomlesse pitte of hell from wheÌ„ce there is no redemption or thought of mercy but in vayne wherefore bouldened by this one mercy of thine thy patience and long suffering more then all our deserts can euer recompence we will presume to begge another which is that thou wilt touch our harts with a godly sorrow for our sinnes not small but greuious not a handful but innumerable not past but present not secret but exemplary and open in the face of God and man so that if thou shouldest deale with vs according to our deserts Sathan would reioyce but we should mourne neuer to see thy face againe the sun nor the moone the day nor the night although a perpetuall darkenesse the heauen nor the earth nor any other of the blessed workes of thine hands that of thine infinit goodnes thou hast prepared for man what shall wée then doe but vnder the wings of thy mercy séeke our refuge beseching thee to extend thy goodnesse and compassion towards vs which thy dearly beloued sonne our Sauiour and redemer with a loue aboue all loue hath so dearly purchased for vs by his innocent and pretious bloud the least drop whereof is sufficient to heale all our wounds and to wash away all our iniquities to releiue all our wantes and blot out all our transgressions but without thy grace a light vnto our feet and a lanthorne vnto our pathes we are able to do nothing but sinne losing our selues in the thicke mists of iniquity Therefore good father as thou hast appointed all the creatures in the world to serue man and hast ordayned him only to serue thee so giue vs grace that we considering the largenesse of our priuiledge and the honour thou hast indued vs withall with changed affections our willes and natures regenerate and purified by thy gratious spirit we may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life vntill we be renued to the image of thy sonne in whom thou art well pleased and in vs wilt be well pleased if we displease not thee to please our selues if we be angry with our sinnes the deuil our vanities and all that would seperate vs from thee and with harty repentance for our former misdeedes and a zealous indignation against our selues that euer wee haue fallen into so beastly corruption taking héed that wee fall not againe into the same relapse vpon paine of thy heauy displeasure and yet there is no cause O God most iust why thou shouldest bee pleased with sinners which art displeased with sinne but for his sake that dearly payd therefore in the heat and burthen thereof and sinned not the bosome of whose merry in this desert of his if it be not open with Abrahams to receiue vs poore and impotent Lazars with the rich glutton we goe downe into hell from the which deliuer vs for thy mercies sake sweet Sauiour Christ Amen A meditation against the feare of death written in french by the learned P. M s du Plessis THe Crowne and end of all wretchednesse and mysery the key to let vs out of this world of sorrow the doore and the passage to all eternity why should we feare why should we thinke of with so leaden an appetite why should we feare to find that we liue to seeke why should we not harken to the summons therof with ioy as the sicke man harkeneth to the clocke which to the godly brings an end both of sinne and sorrow and all the miseries which are due vnto eyther being so many and so great that they passe the explication or comprehension of man for the best of this life what euer was it but as a bed of flowers ouergrowne with a feild of weedes but as a calme of the sea disquieted with the breath of euery wind the temper of what mans brest was euer so seasoned that it was not subiect to a thousand passions wrested and wrung with so many discontentes that the waight and burthen thereof hath ouer-borne the patience of suffering In beauty honour riches wealth or in any other sensual pleasure who euer found contentmeâ—t that hath wisedome to way them and esteme them truly as the were for the first who euer possest it in the greatest desire with the largest extension that found not saciety or discontent in the fruition and possession that was not tormented with enuy or iealousy the one lancing within or the other reuelling without in honour or riches or any other corporall or mentall guift the fayrest and most admired flowers that the earth brings forth to the delight and pleasure of man-kinde from the which preheminence or prayse or pleasure may be deriued or nature something soothed vp which itches after ambition and admiration that found not vnder these flowers weedes ' nay serpentes to poyson and sting the very life bloud of that felicity if any there were in them from the fullest fountaine of worldly ioy floweth some bitternesse there was neuer pleasure so absolute were it as short as the flash of lightning that before a man hath power to say behould inlightneth the world then dies in obscurity that was not alayed with some abatement and if it were absolute for the time the time is so short that there is a griefe therein what are all pleasures but as a vapor that appeare for a little time and afterwards vanish away sometimes pleasure asswageth paine but most commonly paine killeth pleasure and if our dayes were distinguished the good with white and the euill with blacke stones at the end of our liues we should find more blacke then white the pleasures in the dayes of Noah there eating drinking marying and giuing in mariage thy gaue there content for a time till the flood came and tooke them all away the yongman hath is pleasure to reioyce in the dayes of his youth the chearfullnesse of his hart and the lustes of his owne eyes but in all these there lies a bitternesse the richman hath his pleasure Luke 16. Purple and fine linnen delitious fare euery day and he knoweth not what the griefe of Lazarus meaneth and yet there liâ—s a worme vnder the root of all these goodly branches and surfets and sacieties with these creep in vpon him and if he set his hart therupon let him know with the yongman and all that are caried away with any pleasure in the world that there is a heauy reâ—conning to be rendered for these things the thought wâ—ereof in the middest of all â—ollities shall be stroken dead therwith and to these the thought of death will be greuous Be not therefore drunke with these sensuall delights and pleasures as with new wines which are not pleasures absolute but limited allayed with a thousand discontents and if they were absolute yet of no continuance and therefore greuous since there is nothing else but the
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
finger of thy good spirit I am bold to speake beeing but dust ashes prostrated before the throne of thy maiesty hartely to beseech and humbly intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my deserts for then O Lord where should I stand to plead my case fire and brimstone should bee my portion to drinke that haue drunke downe sinnne as Behemoth drinketh downe water but thou art gracious compassionate therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I seeke for refuge desiring thee to naile all my sinnes to thy crosse that through thy sufferings I may obtaine remission thereof I am a sinner yet redeemed by thy pretious bloud a sinner I am remember thou camest into the world to saue sinners wherof I am chiefe lost in a wildernesse of errours wandring from thy presence helpe me O Lord or else who can deliuer me saue mee O Lord or else I perish for there is no redemption no saluation without thee heare him O Lord that coÌ„demneth himselfe caleth vpon thee O Sauiour whom wilt thou saue if yâ— sinner shall descend to perdition that dispaireth of himselfe and trusteth in thee O blessed Sauiour and Redeemer of the world aswage my griefe heale my diseases thou hast called me when I like the deafe Adder would not heare thy voyce wilt thou then turne away thy face when my cryes come vnto thee wilt thou suffer that to bee lost which thou purchasest at so deere a prise No Lord for thy mercies sake for thine owne sake sweet Iesus Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it MErciful God and most louing father what may I render vnto thee for all thy benefits more in number then the moaths in the sunne or the sands by the sea-shore that hast made to be when I was not predestinated mee from yâ— beginning of the world to be in due time and season protected me in my mothers wombe carefully taken me out from thence euer since been my guardian to these years of my youth for all these thou requirest nought but thankfulnesse towards thee and remembrance of thee in my yonger yeares capacities and shall I neglect and deferre then to giue thee the gifts of thine owne giuing shall I giue the first of my life and best of mine yeares the strength and marrow of my dayes to the seruice of Sathan and think that thou wilt receiue me in my hoary age when sinne leaues me and I not it Good Lord wipe all such ingratitude out of my mind that I may with a present ioy felicity in thee imbrace thee in due time in some measure which hast done suffered so many things for my soule and body put farre from me O Lord the thoughts and imaginations of wicked men that vpon thy long suffering patience passe ouer their daies in mirth and iollity and thinke their latest yeares or last gaspes sufficient satisfaction for a lewd and long mis-spended life Thy father thy mother in the dayes of thy humanity loosing thee in the temple went but one dayes Iourney without thee but sought thee 3. dayes sorrowing before they found thee Hee yâ— hath lost thee many years must haue many yeares to finde thee againe and late and constrained repentance is seldome true repentance our time is not when wee our selues will but when God doth call heare wee must when he speaketh open we must when he knocketh else wee shall powre out our petitioÌ„s in vaine for when wee pray hee will not heare vs the first and best is his due more then we can giue or he expects and the last worst is not sufficient and hee iustly may and will reiect it Grant therefore mercifull Father that thy word may worke in vs so free and voluntary obedience to thy will that thou mayst accept it which in vs is willing subiection not by thy iudgements which is constrained obedience for feare of distruction which thou litle regardest O Lord take from me that common and dangerous sin of presumption presumption of thy mercies that thou desirest not the damnation of sinners that our yeares youth obseruation of diet curiosity of our health will carry vs to the lâ—st yeares of our expectation and when we draw neere to our end that then safely enough we may begin to thinke vpon thee all in due season And thus make presumption the rocke whereupon we shipwracke our soules and by the which many millions haue perished it drowned the old world it threw the rich glutton into hell Lord make my sence vnderstanding as a bulwark to beat back all the policies and assaults that Sathan can deuise to beat against with that engine that to day I may heare thy voice lest thou harden my heart And if I will deferre vpon hope and example make me that I rather feare the portion of the bad Thiefe then the successe of the good and let me not reâ—use thy grace in my health wheÌ„ thou offerest it lest when I shall craue it in my sicknesse thou refuse to giue it mee Touch mee O Lord with a consideration of the danger thereof that in time I may haue grace to call for thy grace to preuent it that I may now amend and not deferre till hereafter to the end to my death when there is no remedy but either I must to heauen or to hell to God or to the deuill and when that comfort is seldome found which presumptuously was imagined when the memory presentes fantasies and dreames the harte akes the handes tremblâ— the tongue faltereth the eyes wax dim checkes pale lips blacke feet weake and the whole body and soule possessed with anguish and griefe and terrour what repentance shall we then make when our sinnes are so great they ouer-presse vs our comfort so small that we haue noe feeling of it our time so short that we cannot thinke of them our friends weeping that they put vs out of them amasement distraction peeping wildly throughout all our sences miserable is that man in this case whose end and repentance comes so neare together-therefore Lord whatsoeuer at the time of my death I would wish to haue done grant that in this time of my health I may doe it and Lord make me vnderstaÌ„ding capable so wise in my generation so gratious in thy grace that foreknowing these things I may preuent them that with the wise virgines I may euer haue the oyle in my lampe that is bee in readinesse to goe with thee whensoeuer it please thee that now I heare thy voice when thou speakest vnto me be acquainted with thee that thou bee no stranger vnto me but a friend and a friend indeed as at all times so especially at this exigent last extremity which how long it may be I will not presume nor how short it may be dispaire but prepare my selfe against it my readinesse being my resolution that whensoeuer it
vnto the cloudes by the good thoughtes and motions of the spirit and sometimes cast mee downe to the ends of the earth euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell by the temptations and allurements of the world and the deuill till I come vnto the hauen of my rest to the which Lord bring mee for thy mercies sake Amen In time of pestilence TThe life of man most glorious Lord therof by whose handes it was made in whose hands it is inlightned with such vnderstanding capacity so large ample thy creatures benefits so good so innumerable and all for the delight and seruice of man which are so powerful and comfortable to him in the ouerlooking thereof in his large discourse and reason that he could wish in this world a perpetuity without change not knowing in his fleshly and blinded indgemēt what may be more in heauen with thée to content his naturall desire that he inioys not in this eclipse glimpse of thy goodnes vpon earth that lands possessions sumptuous building gorgeous clothing the cōfort of children friends seruāts with many other adiunctes cannot be equalled or exceeded in the world to come we confesse O thou giuer of all good guiftes y◠we are not worthy of the least of these thy benifits not thy friēds but thine enemies such that haue pulled thee frō the crowne to the Crosse nayld thee there vnto death and not greeuing our selues that we haue thus greeued thée snacht thy benefits out of thy hands not returning that easy curtesy vnto thee thou requirest of vs which is nothing but gratuity and thankes being more vngratefull vnto thee for all we haue for by thee we liue and moue and haue our being inioying nothing but from thy al-filling hands from that ouerflowing fountaine of thy goodnes yet more returning to a mortall man for one single curtesy then to thee for all these correct O Lord this fault in nature this vniuersal defect in mākind O Lord if thou hast prepared so good things for thy enemies and friends together what hast thou in store for thy elect there seuered surely such things as the eye hath not sene the eare hath not hard the tongue cannot vtter the hart cannot conceiue w e thée ò Lord there is fulnes of ioy at thy right hād pleasures for euermore Psal 16. who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasure Psal 36. where ioy shal be euer present yet we cannot be filled or rather filled but not satisfied what it is O Lord thou knowest best but there is the fountaine spring from whēce all goodnes floweth take vs into thy besome vnder the wings of thy mercy into that celestiall habitation where the sight and splendor of that heauenly presence shal more delight then all the obscured and mixed pleasures the world can afford on the other side we know as a strong motiue vnto vs the vnsupportable and heauy iudgement prepared against the day of wrath for those y◠haue drunke downe sinne as the Leuiathan the waters terrefie O Lord our vnderstanding with there horrour fearfullnes y◠we neuer come there to feele them bring vs by one meanes or other to the heauen of our happinesse what thy promises cānot perswade let thy threatnings performe by y◠terrour of thy punishments which are impossible to be vttered and yet must be indured bound hand and foot cast into vtter darkenesse where thy fauour nor mercy shall neuer-more be extended where nether the light of the sunne nor the moone or starres much lesse the light of Gods face shal euer shine where for euer shal be weping and gnashing of teeth without determinatiō or ceasing O Lord who is able to indure it thy Angell y◠walkes in the darkenes and striketh at noone dayes the many dangers that accompany our wretched liues the least of which one time or other strikes home take vs in our pallace in our gardēs in ourwarehouses in the feild on the sea on the earth in the ayre in our beds at our tables whatsoeuer our bodies do whatsoeuer our minds thinke comes thy messēger in one shape or another takes vs by the hand leades vs from whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs to the tribunall seat of thy iustice and mercy where we are eyther to be acquitted or condemned eyther to be receiued or thrust out Lord therfore deale with vs according to thy mercy that if thou prolong our liues bring vs safe out of this storme tempest of mortality that by y◠fal slaughter of others we be brought to such a serious cōsideration of our owne mortality estate y◠we make our preparation thereunto all y◠days of our life knowing y◠he may fal in his tent y◠hath escaped y◠feild perish in y◠hauen y◠hath passed y◠Ocean y◠it must be surrendered one time or another and if it please thée the we fall by y◠stroke of this thy deuouring Angel as the corruption ranlinesse of our nature infectious enough to procure it and bring to passe that thou accept as my deed my will desire and purpose to serue thée my intent for my action that I would as if I should liue to glorifie thée make mée out of loue with this wretched world and all the allurements and baytes therein and in loue only with thee and thy heauenly kingdom for thy blessed name sake Amē For humility vpon these considerations THou mighty Lord of heauen and earth who holdest the ball of the world in thy hand and keepest all times and seasons as in a register who art all hand all eye all foot for strengthe for fight for swiftnesse to whom the in-most chambers and retired clossets the tabernacles and habitations of mortall men nay the hartes and bosomes of all the creatures in the world are vnfoulded and layed open as leuill to thy sight as the aire which we looke on with our eyes what cā we do the is hid frō thy sight ten thousand times brighter then y◠sun or whether can we go y◠our sins offences lye not naked before thée surely no otherway there is but only to inuolue them in the clowds mistes of sighes repentance repentance the guift of God the ioy of Angels the salue of sins the heauen refuge of sinners O where remaines the subiect of the title the Angels sin not and therfore need not repentance nor the spirits of darkenes for the sentence is already past condemnation sealed it is only for me most wretched sinner y◠I am for my brethren of the same inheritance to vs alone doth it belong and we perceiue it not we eat and feed delitiously we are wanton with thy guifts O God abusing them in surfet and riot and luxuriouslye we sinne in drinking in procuring an appetite to exceed therein we sin in our cloathing most superfluously attyred like the rich glutton condemned to hell as if we would exceed Salomon and match the lillies of
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
to seuer the goates from the sheepe then to imbrace both Iew the gentle now to deuide betweene seruant and seruant at the same mil betweene man and wife in the same bed betweene Iacob and Esaw in the same womb to giue a blessing to the one and a curse vnto the other know therfore the danger of deferring thy repentance and eschew that common sinne least it one day fall thus heauy vpon thee 15 Often and euer thinke vpon the loue of Christ neuer enough to be thought vpon the gratious and admired worke of thy redemption by the bloud of that immaculate and vnspotted Lambe Christ Iesus at the very name whereof shall be bowed all the knees in heauen and in earth but at the thought thereof shall be rent all the hartes of both a mistery so great that the host of heauen admire and the Angels desire to prye into whom in thy poore measure imitate in admiration of his mercy and iustice how they meet imbrace and kisse each other and be thankefull to him that hath so gratiously dealt with thee and all mankind 16 Periculosum existimo quod bonorum virorum non comprobatur exemplo e contrario There was neuer that goodnesse or vertue in the world that might be imitated eyther with ease or difficulty by life or death in whose steps some haue not imitated to tread the end of whose dayes hath bene peace vpon earth and glory with the saints in heauen so on the other side there was neuer vice that set foot vpon earth from yâ— least sence that infects to that which waighes downe to the pit of hell that hath not had imitatours whose reward hath bene misery and contempt vpon earth and a continuance augmentation thereof in the lake of perdition in the world to come therefore let the reward of the on and the punishment of the other be euer set before thy eyes that thou maist follow the better and eschue the worse 17 Do not that iniure to any other that thou wouldest not another should doe vnto thee though thou canst oppresse not yâ— poore by thy might be not quarellsome a company keeper nor gamster nor surety but for a tried friend a good occasioÌ„ because for besides the iosse of time which these expend they draw oâ— oaths quarels surfets sicknes and for the most part end in bloud he the hath any of these cannot rightly intitle his owne goods to himselfe nor anything that he doth possest 18 Againe I say haunt not tauernes alehouses brothels but beware of the danger of the expence the bane both of body and soule and take heed yâ— thou take not delight in any vnlawful thing for there is no one vice that hauing wholly possest a man that is not accompanied with a whole traine of wickednesse at the heeles thereof able to eat vp and deuoure the very root and substance of goodnesse it selfe therâ—ore take heed that thou fal not into the snars therof 19 Keepe not company with any notorious or detected person by whom though not otherwayes thy reputation and credit may be called in question in the opinion of the world for by the company be it good or euill that thou kepest such shalt thou be censured to bée for similis similem querit and in what company soeuer thou come haue a care that the company may be rather bettered by thy presence then any way impeached therby kéepe a straight watch ouer the words thoughts deeds of thy heart restraining the liberty thereof where it would extend further then conuenient and honest 20 Bee fearefull to commit sinne especially any examplar sinne to shew the way as it were to others least they perish therein vnrepentant and it be one day layd to thy charge euery one shall haue enough to answer for himselfe woe to him that shall bee prest with the weight of his owne and others euery sin as a milstone to presse him downe to the pit of Hell Certaine sentences or Rules of good life and pertitinent to the Precepts going before Seruire Deo regnare est 1 THE seruice of God is perfect freedome 2 Where ignorance finds no mercy contempt shall sure find misery 3 There is no man borne without sinne happy is he that increaseth it least 4 Till death there is no man happy then happy is he that dies in the Lord. 5 Make vse of time for it passeth with a swift foot and that which followes most commonly is not so good as that which goes before 6 Hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 7 Expect that loue from thy children that thou thy selfe hast tendered to thy parents 8 So dispose thy time as if thou shouldest liue long and yet as if thou shouldest dye suddainly 9 Doe well to thine enemies that they may become thy friends 10 It is the part of a wiseman to preueÌ„t iniuries ere they happen of a valiant maÌ„ to withstand them ere they come 11 Out of other mens faults iudge how odious thyne owne are 12 There is more trust in vertue then in oathes 13 Hee that wil speake what he would shall heare that he would not 14 Delight not to speake ill of the dead 15 Striue to be rich in that that when thy shippe shall perish suffers no shipwrack 16 Learne that being a child that will adorne thee being a man 17 The wast of time is a deare expence 18 It is better to fall amongst the Rauens of the ayre then the flatterers of the earth for the one strikes the dead but the other wounds the liuing 19 He liues in vaine that hath no care to liue well 20 Greatnesse is not the cause of goodnes but goodnes is the cause of greatnesse 21 So loue that thou maist hate so hate that thou maist loue 22 If by thy labour thou accoÌ„plish any thing that is good the labour passeth but the good remayneth to thy coÌ„fort if for thy pleasure thou shalt do any thing that is ill the pleasure passeth but the euill remayneth to thy sorrow 23 The goodman will not â—in for the loue hee beares to God and goodnesse it selfe But the euill man for feare of punishment 24 Be thou neuer so ould thou maist euery day learne therefore neuer be ashamed to learne that thou knowest not 25 Dispise not ould age but greiue to see it miserable 26 Sweare not often but performe what thou swearest beeing honest though to thy losse 27 T is tiranny to do what may be done and not regard what ought to be done 28 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiuditiall to thy soule 29 So loue thy best friend that thou be not thine owne worst enemy 30 Desire in any thing rather to be in substance without shew then in shew without substance 31 Forbeare to speake much for he that doeth shall not often speake well and it is better to be lame in