euill soeuer the way be and whersoeuer it lyeth euery mans way is right in his owne eyes and will defend or excuse whatsoeuer they doe But I the searcher of the hearts do say your wayes are not my waies nor your thoughts my thoughts because they are wrong waies let euery man turne from his owne wayes their thoughts are the Diuelles souldiers which war against the soule they followe their Captaine and thou followest them thou may easily know whither thou goest the heart of man is to mee as clay to the Potter clay I say to mee but waxe to the diuell for it will haue much tempering and great adoe to bring it to mee but very plyable to any worke that Satan shall put it to for albeit thou shalt see neuer any euill example nor bee tempted by multitude neither outwardly assaulted at all yet thine owne heart will teach thee wickednesse aboundantly what auaileth it thee to forsake companies and retaine thine olde heart still For it is I that can restraine the issue of thy corruptions conforme therefore thy wil to mine hee that toucheth pitch will be defiled by it hee is blessed that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sitte in the seat of the scornefull for the wicked are strangers from the wombe they goe astray assoone as they bee borne they are put out of the booke of life blessed is hee whom I choose and cause come to mee but saluation is farre from the wicked because they seeke not my Statutes hate them therefore that giue themselues to doe willfull vanities for they shall be consumed like the fat of lambs euen with the smoake shall they consume away Thou must not then imitate them but hate them with a perfect hatred that hate mee and bee companion to all such as feare mee There is no path wherein there is not a snake either to sting or impoyson thou canst see thy selfe sooner infected they spy how thou art infected it is my mercy to be good with the communion of Saints so it is my iust iudgement to poure vengeance on the company of the vngodly haue no fellowship with them in their sinne neither draw in their yoak with them take forth the pretious from the toile let them returne to thee but returne not thou vnto them rouse vp thy heart and reioyce in the fellowshippe which is aboue for because of vncleanesse inordinate affection and euil concupiscence my wrath commeth on the children of disobedience Soule Now doe I beginne to feele the heauy burthen of sinne more and more with the which I am truely grieued but I haue not duely alas repented me of them I resolue to suppresse them with all my indeauour but I feare my secret corruptions will breake forth so aboundant is that roote of bitternesse in mee remember not against mee my former iniquities but make haste and let thy tender mercies preuent mee for I am in great miserie helpe me O God of my saluation for the glory of thy name and deliuer mee and bee mercifull to my sinnes for thy names sake I will acknowledge my sinne vnto thee neither will I hide mine iniquity for I thought I would confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgaue the punishment of my sinne O that I might take heed vnto my selfe keepe my soule diligently and thy seruant from euill that the peace of thee O Lord that passeth all vnderstanding may preserue my heart and minde in Christ Iesus and now O Lord who can vndestand his faults keepe mee thy seruant also from presumtuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer mee so shall I be vpright made cleane from much wickednesse Lord. First of all beware beloued soule of Sathans flieghts and condemning thee by presumption say not the mercy of God is great hee will forgiue my manifolde sinne for mercie and wrath come from mee and my indignation commeth downe vpon sinners an obstinate heart shal bee laden with sorrowes and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sin make thou no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of thē Lord breake forth in thy security thou shalt bee destroyed and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance binde not two sinnes together for in one thou shalt not bee vnpunished neither iustifie thy selfe before the Lord for he knoweth thy heart thou must not learne of Satans temptations to bee bolde vpon sinne neither vse pretenses for it as to say I am not an Angell that my nature is corrupt c. The preacher is but a man as an other c. and on the other part beware of desperation in mocking the ouer-fearefull and superstitious for Sathan will make of a Fly an Elephant but saile with an euen course and labour for measure to bee sought in the word of God which will teach not to decline neither to the right nor left hand but to keep the narrow way for wisedome will be iustifled of her children Soule Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindenesse for they haue been for euer remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord gracious and righteous art thou therefore thou wilt teach sinners in the way O God thou hast taught mee euen from my youth vntill now therefore will I declare thy wonderous workes make mee flie from the lusts of youth sollow after righteousnes faith loue peace with them that call on thee with pure hearts neither write thou bitter things against mee make me possesse the iniquities of my youth Lord. There are sins in youth middle and old age negligence in making conscience of sinnes done long agoe maketh falling in great terror of minde when violent remembrance of them surchargeth the mind therefore betimes learne to accuse them that Sathan henceforth haue no place to doe it for if thou iudge thy selfe thou shalt not bee iudged humble thy selfe therefore vnder the mighty hand of God that he may exalt thee in due time cast downe thy selfe before the Lord and hee will lift the vp I will surely gather him that humbleth and I will gather him that is cast out and him that I haue afflicted Soule Willingly desire I Lord to make that fruit of my falles but alas when I looke backe to my mispent time which is vnrecouerable and which I cannot redeeme then great feare and torment assaults mee and pinches so hard that I am at my wits end Lord. Comfort thy selfe poor soule for in my best children there is first youthfull loosenesse and vnstayednesse of affections the way to lewdnesse so Dauid O God thou knowest my foolishnesse and my faults are not hid from thee seest thou not
THE ANATOMIE of a distressed Soule Wherein The faults of the elect are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked spirituall defections cured confused consciences resolued all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued the sicknesse dulnesse and deadnesse of the spirit releeued crosses and temptations inward and afflictions outward remedied for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne and feeling of Gods anger thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the Lambe ROM 8. 38. 39. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue c. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1619. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Robert Nanton Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of his Royall Priuie Councell grace and peace in Iesus Christ. GOd leaues his own children oft to themselues to driue them from the weake holde of their owne strength to relie on himselfe yet doth he heale their backeslidings and loues them freely notwithstanding their reuolting and treacherous dealing against him There is Satan also sifting them and fleshly lusts warring against their soules They may fall in their faith by doubtting of Gods fauour and assurance of their saluation erre in som maine points of religion yea dwell in that ignorance for a season and maintain the same They may fall also in their life in some grosse sins yea sleepe in them vntill they be roused vp and then fall into them againe and so commit rebellion against God and yet remaine in the state of grace For they are not senslesse nor doe continue in their fals hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron without resistance feare or griefe nor becomes in the ende a very beast as doth the hypocrite who falls as the Dromedary that cannot rise againe but their corruption and temptation ouer-ruling them doth mislead them cōming to themselues condemnes thēselues for it and cleares the Lord iustifies him in his iudgements and magnifies the riches of his mercy who neuer forsakes his children but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that they may be able to beare it Of the which both inward and outward temptations and afflictions for keeping of the conscience tender and sensible of the least sinne wilfull fechting againe the light therof of the checkes feares distractions anguishes horrible terrours and swoundings with remedies to the same according to the measure of the Lords grace bestowed vpon mee I haue written here I say which I most humbly dedicate to bee sheltered vnder the protection of your Worshippes fauour And I beseech the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory to establish your heart in his holy feare rectifie your iudgement sanctifie your conscience and giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may knowe what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saincts and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward who belieue according to the working of his mighty power To whose euerlasting blessing I leaue you and rests Yours Worships in all Christian duties Barthol Robertson To the Christian Reader SInce it hath pleased God of his mercy to giue so good a passage vnto my former trauailes I haue made bolde in confidence of thy fauour to let this also see the light I haue been moued thereunto by sundry of my friends and truely I detest and abhorre idlenesse with all my heart yet a brother who was in great confusion of conscience to whom I resorted daily looking if God would put his minde at greater libertie from the thraldome pangs of conscience his case I say spurred mee to vndertake this taske In the method I haue not beene curious for the answere is paralelled to the interrogation so proportionably as I could to the which I haue added prayers for euery day of the weeke to season thy reading which strike most vpon the the cord of thy conscience and because the two extreamities presumption and despaire doe most of all misleade men I haue seasonably subioyned a short meditation of the infinit mercy and iustice of God that to the perfecting of thy saluation thou maiest sayle with an euen and plaine course swaying neither to the left nor right hand and I beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to sanctifie these to thy vse and thee to his glory Amen Thine B. R. The Anatomy of a distressed conscience Containing the discouery of spirituall assaults with the particular remedies thereof in Dialogue-wise betwixt the Lord and the Soule Lord. WHy art thou angry thy countenance cast downe if thou doest wel shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest euill sin lyeth at the doore and the Iudge standeth before the dore Soule I haue been like a Horse or like a Mule alas which vnderstandeth not and am made like vnto beasts that perish I haue wallowed in my owne vomit in the vanity of my mind haue I euer walked hauing my cogitations darkned being a stranger from the life of God through the ignorance that is in me because of the hardnesse of my heart yet somtime I doe professe I did knowe God but by my workes I deny him and am abnominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke a reprobate I haue walked after my owne imaginations and after the stubbornesse of my wicked heart I haue despised the riches of thy bountifulnsse and patience and long suffering not knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth mee to repentance but after my hardnesse of heart that cannot repent haue heaped vppe vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God thus haue I liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes and haue nourished my heart as in a day of slaughter and what shall now become of mee Lord. Thou hast cause poore soule to bemoane thy selfe for the eyes of the wicked shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrowe of minde his owne counsell shall cast him downe his reioycing is but short and the ioy of an hypocrite is but a moment for the wickeds light shall be taken away they are snared in the worke of their owne hands thus I will try the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth my soule hate for I the righteous Lord loue righteousnesse and my countenance beholdeth the iust man many sorrowes shall come to the wicked but thou wretched soule call vnto mee and
thee and done to them that trust in thee but sinners are affraid a feare doth come vpon hypocrites who can dwell with the deuouring fire Who shall dwell with euerlasting burningss wee conceiue chaffe and bring forth stubble our breath as fire shall deuoure vs and we shall be as the burnings of lime as thornes cut vp shall they bee burnt in the fire for wickednesse shall not deliuer the possessor thereof thou armest thy creatures to be reuenged of thy enemies and the world shall fight with thee against the vniust which haue kindled a fire in thy wrath which shall burne for euer thou art wise in heart O Lord mighty in strength who hath beene fierce against thee and prospered who shall stand in thy sight when thou art angry alas my silthinesse shall bee discouered and my shame shal bee seene Lord. I will goe and returne to my place till thou acknowledge thy offences and seek my face in thy affliction if thou wilt seeke mee earely feare not thou shalt not be ashamed neither shalt thou be confounded for thy maker is thy husband the Lord of hoasts is his name and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth am I called for I haue called thee being as a woman forsaken and grieued in spirit and a wife of youth when thou wast refused saith thy God for a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face frō thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For this is as the waters of Noah vnto mee for as I haue sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more goe ouer the earth so haue I sworne that I would not bee wroth with thee nor rebuke thee for the mountaines shall depart and the hills be remooued but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace be remoued saith the Lord that hath mercy vpon thee this is the heritage of my seruants and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord nowe then encline thine eares and come vnto mee heare thy soule shall liue and I will make an euerlasting couenant with thee euen the sure mercies of Dauid behold I haue giuen him for a witnesse to the people and for a leader and commander to them therefore goe thou out with ioy and be lead forth with peace the mountaines and hills shall breake forth before thee in singing and all the trees of the fielde shall clap their hands it shall bee to mee for a name and for an euerlasting signe that shall not be cut off Soule I confesse thy saluation shall bee for euer and thy righteounesse shall not bee abolished though I saide in my haste I am cast out of thy sight yet thou heardest the noyse of my prayer whē I cryed vnto thee and am fully assured that thou which hast promised art also able to doe it Lord. Thou doest well beloued soule to acknowledge thy sin to deale with them as thou hast done and as a iudge doth with malefactors to apprehend raigne and condemne them for he that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy for as thou hast declamed against thy sinnes so haue the Saints before thee for they acknowledged their sinne vnto mee neither did hide their iniquity for they thought they would confesse against thēselues their sinnes vnto mee and I forgaue the punishment of their sinnes and so also my seruant said vnto mee surely thou art iust in all that is come vpon vs for thou hast dealt truely but wee haue dealt wickedly So did another protest against himselfe and his people wee sinned and haue committed iniquity haue done wickedly yea haue rebelled haue departed from thy precepts and from thy iudgements Vncouer thou thy sinne and I will couer it declare thou it and I will heare thee in the worlde confession is confusion but with mee it is farre otherwise for if thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am faithfull and iust to forgiue thee all thy finnes and to cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse and truly deare soule it is of my grace begun in thee that thou breakest out in confession of them willingly opening them and stripping them naked before my Maiesty for he that is penitent before mee and my Angels with whom there is greater ioy in heauen for one that repenteth then for ninty and nine that need not repentance I will not sticke to confesse before the face of men It is not of nature for Adam whilst I pushed his conscience couered himselfe with figge leaues I send a noyse and voyce hee betooke him to the thicke wood and last I vrged him with questions yet hee shifted off his sinne to Euah and this confession that the sight of misery and feare of punishment haue taken out of thee is a heauenly preparatiue to a greater measure of my grace to be wrought in thee Soule If one man sinne against another the Iudge shall iudge it but if a man sinne against thee O Lord who will pleade for him yea he must be swallowed vp with heauinesse If wee say wee haue a couenant with death or with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe through it shall not come at vs for wee haue made falshoode our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid O but how innumerable haue beene punished for their trespasses euen here in this worlde Adam cast out of paradise the world destroyed by water Sodome and Gomorrah by fire Pharaoh by the Sea Amaleck rooted out 3 thousand killed for the worship of the golden Calfe Nadab and Abihu burnt with fire Myriam stricken with leaprosie for incredulity three hundred thousand beside young ones and seruants that came out of Egypt except Ioshuah and Caleb fell in the wildernesse Corath Dathan swallowed quick into the earth Moses and Aaron excluded the Land for murmuring the Princes of the people hanged Achan stoned the tribe of Beniamim ouerthrowen for the Leuites wife Eli for not correcting his children Saul for sacrificing and after him all his house punished What shall I say of those that died of the pestilence in Dauids dayes the disobedient Prophet rent by the Lion the forty children by the bores for mocking Elizeus of Geetze or Hosiah the King willing to burne incense with many more as Ananias and Saphyra Elimas the sorcerer Iudas and Theudas and some of them for very meane sinnes to the iudgement of men yea and the Galileans whose sacrifice Pilate mixed with their blood and the builders of the Tower of Shiloh which fell vpon them which were not the greatest sinners and vnlesse I repent I
then defence or excuse then boasting of it and this is the wickeds chayre and steps to hell then be ashamed to thinke that thou art ashamed to speake for I see thy heart and thoughts know what thou art striue against them and if they yet remaine haue indignation of them feare and cry to mee that thou art troubled with them and I will ease thee for iustly doe I challenge thy heart who gaue my Sonnes heart to be pierced for thee thus thou must obey against thine inclination and naturall reason For what is faith but a contrariety to reason and hope to experience and lay not downe thine owne conclusions I am wel pleased with thy intents which prepare thy heart to seeke mee the seeds of all sinnes are in euery mans heart which would appeare if I suppressed them not the tongue is a worlde of wickednesse what is the heart then out of whose aboundance the mouth speaketh Soule I know that in mee that is in this flesh there dwelleth no goodnesse but euery good and perfect gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights open my eyes I beseech thee that I may see the maruellous things in thy law I cannot leaue alas my sinne I haue vsed it so often and so long it is so plyable to my nature that I would rather lose my life hauing long accustomed it then now cease from it and yet I am now and then tormented with the memory of it my conscience is a snare to mee yea an assize a bench a iudge a iaylour yea a hangman it selfe to me and whither shall I flie poor wretch Lord. It is good to learne thy inward corruptions by thy outward senses thy sense leades thee to sinne because thy heart leadeth thy sense thy corruption hath stolen away thy heart for outward senses bewray thy inward affections therefore Christ will neuer bee sweet vntill thou see yea and feele in experience thy naturall corruption for none can hunger for righteousnesse except hee feele himselfe empty and wanting thereof and where there is an exceeding hunger there must bee an exceeding feeling as a feeble and small hunger had the like feeling comforte then thy selfe in that thou feelest the impurenesse of thy heart and want of vprightnesse and deadnesse to all goodnesse for the feeling of their wants is quicknesse and liuing and this quicknesse and life is by my spirit in thee and where my spirit is there is life euerliuing which is regeneration or life euerlasting the more thou doest feele the one the more deepely doest thou weigh the feeling of thy confused estate by which thou findest comfort in sorrow great light in darknesse and in this that thou both sighest and groanest for the hardnes of thy heart it is a testimony that thy hart is not altogether hardned for if thou feelest this in thy selfe that thou desirest to loue mee and to bee better being wearied and toyled with sinne comfort thy selfe for it is in earnest of regeneration for difference betwixt a motion to euill and consent to it for the body of sinne wicked motions and affecons shall neuer bee out of thee while thou liue thou must not onely striue to presse out the breath of sin and close vp the eyes of it at the death of it but to follow it to the graue and couer it that it neuer rise for this is to ouercome and receiue the crowne not that the life of sinne can be here destroyed but may well be weakened as the mangled part of a Serpent cut in peeces haue not that power to hurt as when it was whole so corruptiō hath not siercenesse to preuayle against thee how-soeuer the reliques thereof remaine but like a mighty Prince which is become a poore prisoner Soule I by reason of my olde custome in sinne doe often yeelde to tentations I doe not abound more and more in wisedome and goodnes but rather perseuere in sinne and rebellion Lord thou knowest and I feare vnlesse thy mercy be the greater the sentence of my conscience which is thy register and my remembrancer the wicked may bee secure but neuer in safety Lord. Custome is worse a hundred folde then nature and doth greatly preuaile with my dearest children Ioseph a good man beeing among prophane men had some smell of their wordes and lied The Sodomites by their vniust conuersation vexed Lots righteous soule yet hee could haue found in his heart to liue still amongst them therefore there is nothing more fit then to auoid all occasions of sinne and to procure honest things both in the sight of God man and then in all actions to auoide euill thou must learne to keepe that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill bee sure it be good thou doest but if it haue but a shew of euill auoide it and if it be an ill fauoured thing to see to flie it If thou heare threatnings and tremble heare promises and beleeue pray in wants be thankfull for mercies and with reuerence receiue Sacraments they keep thee from falling and recouer thee when thou art fallen it goeth wel with thee to prosper and thriue in sinne is a signe of my wrath as the childe that the father hateth is giuen ouer to be ruled by his owne pleasure but I chastise my children whom I loue that they should not be condemned with the world again thou wilt neuer leaue sinne vntill thou knowe sinne to be sinne and be truely sorrowfull for it presse to resist the first motions of sin for one breedeth many it is hard to get out of the clawes of the diuell thou canst without great danger touch the young thorne dallie with the young bore and carry a young Serpent but if these bee olde thou knowest the danger cut the thorne in the roote mussle the boare bruise the head of the Serpent yea destroy it in the very egge before it be hatcht by the fall of others in sinne thou maist be taught to stand and rise if thou be fallen and as cōcerning the accusation of thy conscience thou speakest of thou shalt neuer labour to leaue sinne so long as thou art quiet in minde vntill thou be stricken with feare or cast downe with iudgements then if thou looke to my highest maiesty offended by sinne the benefits which bound thee to doe my will how neare thy sinnes pierce mee the purpose and ende thou tendest to in sinne the time and place of transgression last if thou see the loathsomenesse and deformity of sinne for that a stinching carrion is more tolerable to the sent then a sinfull soule vnto me if thou narrowly consider how huge and detestable thy sins will seeme for by them thou art made like vnto the diuell himself I haue imprinted naturally in all a condemnation of sinne that euen committing it thou shouldest condemne it in thy selfe and be ashamed of it before others wo vnto them that are depriued
what young men did in Sampsons daies in their feasting and how hee reuealeth to the woman which he had concealed from father and mother and Boas commendation of Ruth that shee had not followed young men whether they were poore or rich for childe-hood and youth are vanity and secondly there is in them weakenesse the way to strong vanities and so Dauid as for me saith hee my feet were almost gone my steps had well-neere slipt Thus Abraham made his his wife say shee was his sister so the godly haue spent the time past of their life in the lusts of the Gentiles walking in lasciousnesse lusts reuellings c. And thirdly euen my Saints haue walked in wantonnes in the door to open wickednesse as gluttony drunkennesse and abhominable idolatries which though they breake not forth at all times yet make them lesse carefull to glorifie me for I keepe them that they shal not sinne against mee and doe not suffer them to end their designements other mens harmes may teach the blessed wisedome labour not onely to leaue sinne which one may do for profit feare praise or wearisomenesse but also to repent of it for conscience sake Soule The grieuousnesse of my sinnes filleth mee with feare of iudgement and this feare I hope will cause the power of sinne abate in me thou Lord can giue me victory ouer sin and make it as loathsome vnto mee as euer it hath been pleasant to reioyce in the Lord to vse the meanes of my saluation diligently and to seale vp the pardon of my sinnes in my heart O God when shall it bee If thou wouldest haue destroyed mee for my by-past sinnes thou wouldest neuer haue giuen mee vnfained hatred of thē I consider thy mercy that striueth with mee to bring mee to repentance and thy iustice that will confound such as resist thy mercie hath giuen mee the meanes which thou hast denied to others thou afflictest mee lightly but confoundest others thou gauest mercie when thou mightest iustly haue punished wherin thou doest as it were hire mee from sins and shall I prouoke thee and adde rebellion to sinne O my God I know there is a secret curse vpon euery sinner which will consume him if he doe not repent it hath gone out of thy mouth thy word cānot change because thou art vnchangeable Lord. I haue tolde thee that youth the flower of thy age is of great consideration all this haue I done saith the yong man in the gospel the prodigall maketh his foure stations he hath his portion his fathers ouer-fight euill cōpany but youth worse thē all for youth hath a bundle of folly bound close in his heart which best men haue had neither could flee for as a young man sets his way hee will not departe from it when hee is olde vnlesse by my spirit hee is restrained him that God will haue his roabe must bee a branch of the Almond that is the tree that first blossomes the first fruites was Abels sacrifice so much acceptable to me Soule O God I am like the possessed that was found after sitting in a good mind that sweet wind hath come to me that happened to Elisha I haue felt that gentle calme after the stormie tempest of my heart now may I heare the golden trumpets sounding that ioyfull retrait blessed are the meeke in spirit Lord teach me thy commandements I will run them I shall haue encrease of strength vntill I come to the mount of God while I was in my element of sinne I felt not the weight of it as nothing is heauie in his owne element but now I by thy grace will lay aside euery waight and the sin which doth so easily beset mee runne with patience to the race that is set before mee I finde my selfe within the fadome of thy mercie and compasse of things recouerable the first worke of thy spirit at his comming is to conuince the worlde of sinne that is to make men knowe that without thy sonne Christ there is nothing but sinne and then to rebuke the worlde of righteousnes to make man see that Christ died not for his owne for the prince of this worlde found nothing in him but for our sinnes that so we may see him in the lawe with the wages thereof and the summe in the gospell discharged but good Lord how shall I be assured that I am not vnder the curse but vnder grace for yet I finde such hardnesse in my heart vnquietnesse and troubles in my spirit my sins rebounded vpon mee with terrible fights and fearfull visions which euer amazeth my vnsettled and wauering mind Lord. The examination of thy sinnes is that which first thou must begin with and partly those thou hast committed before thy calling and partly those that were done after thy calling for these sinnes of knowledge of all bite sorest for sinne is most sinfull when thou art intelligenced with my grace in the truth sin after knowledge workes either hardnesse of heart or a troubled spirit and therefore vnderstand that commonly men before knowledge take the trouble of minde very heauily and standing as if neuer any one had it before but they and after knowledge Satan is readie to accuse them of sinne against the holy Ghost as if euery sin of knowledge was a sinne of presumption but learne thou that when tentation ariseth to trie whether thou hast done that sinne or such like already for these tentations are either corrections for some sinnes past or punishment for sinne present or as warning of sinnes to come as thou may bee tempted to adultery and not doe it yet it commeth to thee againe because thou repentest not for this same or the like in thy youth cōmitted again when man will not bee admonished by publique or priuate meane there falleth tentation to sinne differing from that wherein thou doest and presently my iustice punishing one sinne with another as the not repenting couetous to fall into adultery theft or blood and last there may tentation come vpon that neither hee before nor presently doth like of to aduertise he may fall therein hereafter and to signifie that mans standing is not of himselfe none standeth but by my grace Fo as the girdle cleaueth vnto the loynes of man so haue I tyed my children to mee Soule Beside these inward trouarising in my heart which afflicteth mee most the fruite of my corruption I am pinched with sundry diuerse outward afflictions which agrauates and augments my sorrowe Lord thou knowest them well I cannot finde the cause of them for I liue as honest and quiet as any and iniurious to my knowledge to no man in my calling Lord. Vnder any crosse endeauour to haue a cleane conscience to comfort thee with that there is no spirituall cause of these afflictions in thee but that thy sufferings are either for the triall of thy faith beeing assured that thou hast a good conscience in all things blessed
fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition of and coniunction with mee perfect loue triumph ouer all enemies where I shall be all in all crowning thee and all the elect with eternall happinesse blisse for enermore Soule And the Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euill worke and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome to whom be glory for euer and euer Amen A HEAVENLY AND comfortable Mould of Prayers Full of feeling tending to the calming of the conscience for sinne and all other incidents in this wretched life for the benefit of all estates and degrees of people whether by Land or Sea IAM 3. If any man be afflicted let him pray LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniell Speed and are to bee sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1618 A Prayer for Munday at Morning The houshold being assembled the Master thereof or he that shall be made the mouth to God-ward shall with all holy behauiour say Come let vs worship fall downe kneele before the Lord our Maker The houshold beeing assembled shall pray as followeth O LORD our God true iust and merciful who can vnderstand his faults wee come confessing and mourning in the sense of them pouring out our whol desire before thee with plentie of teares and bitter lamentations and our sighing is not hid from thee for wee were borne in iniquity and in sinne haue our mothers conceiued vs how corrupt are our faults our thoughts vaine our words idle actions prophane O what good haue wee omitted and what euill haue we committed how foolish and ignorant are wee yea beasts before thee and while we know thy wil we prepared not our selues neither did according vnto vnto it O Lord how many sinnes and punishments haue wee beene heretofore subiect too how grieuous and heauie are they we presently groane vnder Oh keepe vs deare Fathe from presumtpuous sins let them not raigne ouer vs we and our fathers behaued our selues proudely and hardned our necks but thou O God of mercies gracious and full of compassion of long suffering and of great mercy yet forsookest thē not our Kings Princes and people haue sinned against thee yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in thee O Lord our God albeit wee haue rebelled against thee and now our God what shall we say after this for wee haue forsaken thy commandements therefore abhorre wee our selues and acknowledge vs worthy to bee cut off for euer wee yeeld our selues to thy chastisement for our iniquities are gon ouer our heads and as a weighty burthen they are too heauy for vs wee are pricked in our hearts therefore and what shall we doe O Lord our God most deare Father our onely refuge is to fly vnto thee in Christ hungring and thirsting after the least drop of mercy which wee doe preferre before all earthly comforts in the world intreating thee boldly and constantly in faith to grant it wating diligently and patiently vntill thou answer vs and raise some measure of sense and feeling thereof in our hearts and senses wee call thy mercies of olde to memory how often grace hath been shewed vs from thee our God whē thou didst lighten our eyes and giue vs a reuiuing from our sinnes wherefore most holy father we begge most earnestly thou wouldst giue vs now also strength in Christ to forsake sinne in time to come for in heart we thoroughly purpose neuer to commit the like sins againe bnt thorough thy grace to be changed by the renewing of our mindes to be fearefull of all occasions of sinne and wisely hereafter to decline from sinne and to bend all our strength specially against our beloued sinnes O wee heauily complaine of our weakenesse dulnesse deadnesse and inability to any Christian vertue yet will we by thy power be strengthened to loue out of a pure heart of a good conscience and of faith vnfained and constantly endeauoure to bee found in thy Sonne Iesus Christ and to feele the power of his death and resurrection in sub duing of all our sinnes and wickednesse that the life Christ our Sauiour may appeare in our mortall bodies and that not we but Christ may liue wholly in vs that wee may liue by faith in thy Son who hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs for his sake grant O deare Father that wee may practisc these Christian vertues to the which wee finde our selues most aduerse and contrarie that by thy grace wee may obtaine such victory and conquest ouer our most grieuous temptations and perturbations and violence of sinne as that wee neuer fall into them againe and that albeit we finde in our selues pronenesse and aptnesse to fall into some of these transgressiōs yet work in vs a godly resolution holy strife against them groaning and panting vnder the loathsome burthen of vitious corruptions for this cause O heauenly Father inspire in vs humble and submissiue mindes to the power of thy worde that wee may out of it haue our hereditary pollution discouered and our corruptions more and more purged thereby euer sighing for the day of our dissolution and looking for the day of our Lord Iesus Christ to our immortality to whom with the Father and holy Ghost wee render glory praise and dominion now and euermore On Munday Euening Prayer O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ repentance is thy proper peculiar gift which thou giuest to all them that aske it of thee in faith for as by nature wee haue it not and therefore doe renounce our selues seeing euery good gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights so the time of repentance is in this life and here while we may it must bee obtained with all speedy diligence for alas the longer we delay and deferre the harder it is to bee got and more doubtfull it doth proue to be had the fittest time O Lord is immediately after the sinne is committed and while it is called to day least wee be hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne our time here is as a thought it is cut off and quickly doe wee flie away wherefore deare father we confesse the greatnesse of our sinnes committed by vs this day how infinite in number how dangerous and deadly to our soules how offensiue to them that are without and to them also that are in Iesus Christ wee acknowledge them thou art faithfull and iust to forgiue vs them and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse wee submit our selues O Lord our God willingly to thy rebukes chastisements which iustly thou mayest lay vpon vs for the taming and subduing of our sinnes wee sorrow and weep for them our laughter is turned into mourning and our ioy into heauines we cast downe our selues before thee O God that thou mayest lift vs vp and open our eares by our corrections that our vncircumsied hearts may be humbled and
wee willingly be are the punishments of our iniquitie O when wee cōtemplate the incōprehensible infinite and glorious Maiesty of thee our God whom wee haue so heauily offendee in doing so many so great and haynous wickednes in sinning against thee against thee only haue wee sinned and done euill in thy sight O the vilenes and abiectnesse of man that durst thus commit such wickednesse against thee O God how feareful by reason of our manifold iniquities is our condition vnder Satan for of whomsoeuer a man is ouercome euen to the same hee is in bondage besides the dangers wee haue incurred by our sinnes euen all the plagues and curses temporall eternall that are written in thy booke wherefore O most heauenly Father wee most heartily entreate thee to remember the riches of thy mercie in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of thy onely and dearely beloued Sonne as of a lamb vndefiled and without spot when nothing else in the world was auaileable thereto whose sacrifice is daily and hourely effectuall vnto vs timously preuenting sin carefully furthering and diligently sanctifying our cōuersation from impiety his blood cleanseth vs from all sinne hee is the head of his Church and sauour of his body leading vs by the guidance of his spirit to perfection O how excellent is the estate of them that are in thy Sonne how many benefits and priuiledges haue they hee died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse hee ascended on high and ledde captiuity captiue and if we now sinne as wee cannot else doe and wo is vs therfore we haue an aduocate with thee O Father euen Iesus Christ the righteous O how vnthankefully offend wee against the blood of this thine annoynted in not walking worthy of the same but treading vnder foot thy Sonne and counting the blood of the coueuenant so much as in vs lyeth as an vnholy thing wherewith wee were sanctified do spight and grieue the spirit of grace dulling yea oftentimes quenching thy spirit in vs thus liuing in sinne we dishonor thee but maruailous yea wondrous is thy patience it is thy mercyes that we are not consumed because thy cōpassions faile not and therfore when we consider deer father how small the number of those is which shall bee saued and that many shall striue to enter in but shall not be able and doe meditate vpon thy iudgements from time to time still continually inflicted vpon the world for sinne and that if the righteous scarcely shal be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare whither shal wee slye from thee O wee haue recourse vnto thy mercie O forgiue vs therefore all our sinnes and offences for his sake who was crucified and did hang on the tree for vs O giue vs thy grace that wee may grow more and more therein that wee thinke often of our end and of the fearfull day of iudgement that sinne may haue little rest in vs but that wee may rest in thee this night and euermore through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lod to whom with thee and the holy Ghost wee giue all glory praise and thankesgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Morning O Lord God eternall and euerlasting Father with heuay griefe loathsome detestation of our sinnes wee confesse them all vnto thee O searcher of the heart and raines there is not any creature which is nor manifest you thy sight but all things are naked and open to thy eyes we acknowled them although our knowledge herein bee too short and doe yeeld our vnsearchable hearts vnto thee O God blaming that corrupt fountaine of our hearts against our selues vnto thee who art ready and able to forgiue O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame but righteousnes belongeth vnto thee wee are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies wee detest our waies and couer our faces yea groane vnder the body of sinne and desire to bee rid of it and more carefully hereafter to please thee wee haue felt thy punishments and displeasure often before for sinne and therefore now wee cannot cease crying out against our corruptions and rebellions O Lord wee cannot mourn enough at our priuy motions and prouocations to sinne wee beare the traytor in our bosome which giueth way vnto the temptation which wee cannot of our selues subdue and captiuate and O Lord we haue no certainty of our life if to day yea euen this houre thou wilt call vs neither yet the assurance of the renewing and returne of thy mercie which oft we haue refused disdained and contemned Oh that wee soone yea now heartily repent and earnestly conuert the surer would be our acceptance and the more cōfortable our after conuersation but O thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon us O thou pittifull Samaritain take vs vp not halfe but altogether dead in sinnes trespasses make vs liue the life of grace that wee may haue our conuersation in heauen from whence wee looke for thee the Sauiour that wee may walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitfull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of our God in dying to sinne and liuing to righteousnesse that wee may finde fauour grace peace and contentment both with God and man casting away euery thing that presseth downe and renouncing our especiall sinnes which hang so fast vpon vs for this cause O Lord make vs surrender our hearts vnto thee and let our eyes delight in thy waies for if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not keepe our soules therefore that they be not couered with the spirite of slumber and sleeping in sin but that wee may stand vp from the dead and thou wilt giue vs light take from stupidity and senselesnesse spirituall blindnesse and hardnes of heart that wee may walke circumspectly redeeming the time which we haue lost and alwaies be watchfull ouer our selues that we may auoide presumption by meditation of thy iustice and despaire by quicknesse and liuelinesse out of thy word for apprehending thy comfortable promises make vs hide them in our hearts that wee may not sinne against thee keepe vs that we may doe all things as in thy presence and neuer yeeld to the inward rebellions and deceitfulnesse of the heart but wrastle by thy grace against the backewardnesse thereof that wee may daily offer it vppe as a sacrifice of obedience vnto thy Maiesty regarding and accounting all things but losse and iudging them to bee dung that wee may win thy loue and fauour and so liue in the time of our perigrination here that we may continually feare our selues haue a holy iealousie of all our best actions that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare wee may receiue an incorruptible
tabernacles we may receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules now the very God of peace sanctifie vs throughout and wee beseech God that our whole spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse both this day and vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Spirite three persons in one Godhead we ascribe all honour maiesty dominion power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Euening LOrd God heauenly Father wee are come here to worshippe and fall downe and kneele before thee our Maker doe heere acknowledge with quaking and trembling soules our wickednesse to be very great and all the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of our hearts are not only euill continually but also wee doe commit sinne in transgressing thy holy law yea the least sinne breaketh the whole law and maketh vs guilty of the wages therof which is eternall death endlesse condemnation O how filthy and loath some is sinne in the greatest pleasure and most ioyful actions thereof by birth wee are altogether tainted defiled and polluted with corruption and vncleanesse who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse we are prone and desperately set to commit sinne with greedinesse wee reioyce in doing euill alas we delight and repose our chiefe contentment therein although all the day long thou O deare Lord stretchest forth thy hand vnto vs disobedient and gaine-saying people who hate to bee reformed and pluckt out of sin yea our best actions are but beautifull sinnes wee are all vncleane things and all our righteousnesse is as filthie clouts and wee all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde haue carried vs away and we know good Lord that hee that committeth sinne is of the Diuell for the Diuell sinned from the beginning but for this purpose appeared thy Son O God that hee might loose the workes of the Diuell who was to that effect decreed from all eternity promised immediately after our fall in Adam but when the fulnesse of time was come thou O most mercifull father sent forth thy Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs that were vnder the lawe that wee might receiue the adoption of thy sonnes who for vs hath obtained a glorious and meritorious conquest his humaine nature being accompanied with the efficacy of that his diuine ouer the curse dominion and rigour of the lawe chaining vppe Satan and destroying for euer the power of hell sin death and condemnation O Lord our God what can wee render vnto thee for so great graces and benefites wee will take the cuppe of thanksgiuing and call vpon thy name O Lord for thy mercies sake grant vs a full assurance of our acceptation into thy fauour through Iesus Christ a constant desire of the promised happinesse that wee may hunger and thirst after righteousnesse a cheerfull expectation and wayting for all these ioyes spirituall blessings thou hast blessed vs with in heauenly places that wee may willingly resigne our selues vnto thy holy obedience embracing those meanes which thou hast offered for our saluation that wee may trust in the and doe good commit our way vnto thee and cast our selues vpon thee when all meanes shall faile and rest in thee yea euen hope in death reuerently depend vpon the truth of thy promises although wee cannot see them as yet accomplished albeit they seem against all sence and reason that this following night wee may not onely meditate of the true life of God day of resurrection and our arising to iudgement to render account for the workes done in our flesh whether they bee good or bad but also may rest in the sweete bosome of thy portection desiring at all times to bee loosed and to bee with Christ euer thinking the time of our departure to be at hand and therefore to fight a good fight to finish our course and keepe the faith that henceforth there may be laid vppe for vs the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteuos iudge shall giue vs at that day and not vnto vs onely but to all them also that loue his appearing which shall bee cloathed in white array and whose names are written in the booke of life purchased by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ who treadeth for vs the vine presse alone to whom with thee and the holy Spirit our comforter be all praise power honor and glory Amen A Prayer for Thursday Morning O Eternall God and euerlasting Father we from the bottome of our hearts do thanke thee for thy blessings spirituall and temperall common particular that thou hast predestinated vs before the world begā elected vs to be in thy Christ adopted sons called vs by thy spirit to this light of thy Gospell and giuen vs assurance in faith of thy vnchangeable fauour renewing in some measure this corrupt nature and framing thy image in true righteousnes and holinesse in our inwarde man not making vs not onely capable of grace in the soule of wisedome and spirituall knowledge but also making some conformity in vs to thy will in life and conuersation these blessings wee haue receiued of thee freely beside thy continuall prouidence and ouer-sight ouer vs this night by-past and all the daies of our life Lord enlighten our mindes that wee may know all things in thee and nothing any otherwise then as it commeth from thee and as it hath relation to thee for thou art all things in all all things do exist in thee therefore euery thing may be knowne in thee thou most merciful father known yea seene and felt in euery thing euen in the least and basest creature grant therefore that we doe neuer rest in any thing till wee come to thee and now beholde wee approach to renew that soundnes wherewith wee laide downe that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first of this day and to prouide for holy and setled courses in our callings all the day after and so begin a-new to liue the daily life of grace that thy kindnesse and mercy may follow vs all the dayes of our life and now haue we laid our selues downe in peace which was thy gift doe awake with the comfort there of thy mercies are renewed euery morning if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake we are still with thee good Lord assist vs that wee may daily weaken the olde man in vs with the vitious lusts and sinneful concupiscences thereof giue vs comfortable experience of this our corruption that wee may be the more and more humbled in our selues euer hungring and thirsting for that righteousnesse which is in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour weane vs from the loue of this world and distrustfull cares for temporall things cōfirm our faith stedfastly in the prouidence of
our hearts this night and euermore and stablish vs in euery worde and good worke in whose name we call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Morning NOt trusting in our owne worthinesse for there is none but in thy great mercies doe we present our selues before thee this morning O Lord in great weakenesse to shew our thankefulnesse for thy vnspeakeable goodnesse so plentifully bestowed vpon vs most vndeseruedly for what are wee but wormes and what is man that thou art mindefull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him wonderfully hast thon made him in his mothers wombe hee is the image and glory of thee O God thou mightest haue equalled him him with the vgliest and basest creatures it hath pleased thee to spread forth the shadow of the wings of thy protection ouer vs this night wee meditate in the dead of sleepe to haue our soules taken away in thy anger for the offences committed the day before and all the daies of our life and suddenly to haue beene arrainged at thy tribunall seate yet thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and turne vnto thee and now thou hast spared vs vnto this day grant O gracious Father that wee may euer meditate of the true life of thee our God of the day of the resurrection of these our bodies when corruption shall put on incorruption and of our rising to that solemne and dreadfull iudgement O Lord as thou hast banished this nights dardnesse away wherein wee had a sweete repose and sound rest that compassed vs so grant we humbly beseech thee that inward light in minde by the rising vnto vs of that Sunne of righteousnes thy Son the Lord Iesus Christ that wee may mourne for the ignorance and blindenesse that yet resteth in vs and others also the night is past and the day is at hand vouchsafe wee may cast away the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that wee may walke honestly as in the day not in gluttory or drunkennesse nor in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and enuying but that wee may put on the Lord Iesus Christ praising his mercy and patience that yet wee liue to praise him and are continued in life to make our election more sure such is the constancy of thy loue towardes vs O Lord God Father euerlasting for whom thou louest to the ende day vnto day vttereth the same and night vnto night teacheth knowledge thou hast O Lord sealed vs to theday of redemption and hast giuen vs earnest of the spirit of promise in our hearts by the which spirit also wee beholde as in a mirror thy glory O Lord with open face and are changed vnto the same image from glory to glory O when shall we fully enioy the same in that life to come when shall wee cease from all sinne haue perfect knowledge of thee perfect righteousnes and holinesse neuer to bee changed fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition and coniunction with thee our God when thou shalt bee all in all and triumph ouer all thine and our enemies in that inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not reserued in heauen for vs O Lord giue vs the grace that we may keepe our selues in a holy temper and peace of mind by a constant course in all occurrents and so prepare our selues vnto that crowne of glory loking stedfastly vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith to breede constant affiance thereof for this cause O Lord let the glorious light of thy great Maiesty neuer departe from the inwarde eyes of our soules that we may bee seriously affected with the sense of our wants benefits purchased by thy Son our Sauiour and perpetually assisted by thy spirit to consider the great and manifolde blessings which wee haue receiued from thee to prouoke vs to thankefulnesse without which all our prayers are vneffectuall grant good Lord we may seriously bewaile our neglect of prayer and condemne our selues for our lip-labour and customarie deuotions our wearisomensse in well-doing and our contentment with small little feelings and finally we may rest vpon the continual mediation of our blessed aduocate Iesus Christ who continually maketh intercession for vs and is now both praying for vs and ready to present our prayers to the throne of grace and to couer all the infirmities and faylings of them with the mantle of his euerlasting mercies innocency and holinesse to him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost wee render all glory praise dominion thanksgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Euening O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ thy beloued Son our onely Sauiour wee thee from our very hearts for the least of all thy blessings which are infinitely greater then wee can deserue as well as for the greatest and do as readily praise thee for thy mercies receiued as wee were earnest to sue for the obtaining of them and now we offer vnyo thee sacrifice of praise for the preseruation of vs in our callings which are thy ordinances imposed on euery Christian Lord forgiue vs for strayning our conscience in the least euill this day giue vs thy mercifull assistance that wee may cleaue to reioyce in the good testimony thereof that in simplicity and godly purenesse with singlenesse and contentment by thy grace wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde conuincing the hollownesse and hypocrisie of the same which is the moath of well-doing keehe vs good Lord from vncertaintie and dulnesse in good things preserue vs from corruption in iudgement and Apostacy in life Inable vs to holde to the ende and so obtaine the crowne for this cause O Lord giue vs an inclination and resolution of the heart to all goodnesse that wee may iustifie and beautifie therby our professiō giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure that in doing these things wee may neuer fall and so bee deliuered from many inwarde pangs and outward troubles deare Father grant wee may may euer haue righteousnesse in most precious account prosecuting it with all zeale and courage and rest with delight and contentation in it and practise the same not onely as our knowledge informeth but euen desire beyond our knowledge perfection therein Lord make vs renounce Nature and holde on thy Sonne Iesus Christ by a liuely faith and bring foorth the fruits of true righteousnesse in him giue vs good God a holy and settled purpose to serue thee a plaine and sound dealing in our callings daily repentance and coueuenanting with thee for recouery of our decaies make our hearts daily to be informed out of thy word that wee may worke continually as in thy presence with a full and strong perswasion of thy loue and plentifull experience of the same and preferre it aboue all things whatsoeuer more and more be
assured of our acceptation into thy fauour that no trouble or dismay ouerwhelme vs with the weight thereof but if it shall bee thy good pleasure wee be assaulted on euery side yet wee bee not in distresse if in pouerty yet not ouercome with pouerty if persecuted yet not forsaken if cast downe yet perish not that euery where wee may beare about in our bodie the dying of our Lord Iesus Christ that the life of Christ may also bee made manifest in vs vouchsafe vnto vs O Lord the shield of true faith whereby wee may beat back all the fiery darts of the Diuell as carnall confidence presumption security infidelity distrust and incredulity giue vs a constant desire of the promised happinesse purging and preparing our selues to it perfect thy worke in mortifying our sinnes preserue thy graces in vs with increase of new obedience sustaine our hearts against the deferring of thy promises in contrary tentations make vs haue refuge vnto thee to hold fast the hope which is set before vs which wee haue as an anchor of our soules both sure and stedfast confirme therefore our faith against infidelity and discontentment our hope against despaire our truth against errour with the which of thine owne will thou didst begette vs that wee should bee as the first fruits of thy creatures confound Satans kingdom the worldes deceitfulnesse and our hearts doubtfulnesse inlighten our vnderstanding with this sauing knowledge of thee O God confirme stablish our iudgements therein quiet our conscinces sub due our wils and affections to thee and grant vs thy mercifull concurrence that wee may finish our course with ioy now Lord wee make our prayers to thee this night in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare vs in the truth of thy saluation wee will therefore lie vs downe and also sleep in peace for thou Lord only maketh vs dwell in safety to God the Father our Creator to God the Sonne our Redeemer to the holy Ghost our sanctifier comforter we ascribe all honor power and glory now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Morning PRaised be thou O Ood which hast not put back our prayers nor thy mercies form vs our life alas is subiect to many fearefull breaches and distractions with many false shadowes appearances of good for not onely doe we not shine as lights before others but also in respect of our euill example we are stumbling-blocks to them we doe little alas or rather nothing to edification but to offence Lord wee heartily mourne for all our sinnes whereunto wee haue yeelded our selues this night and all our life time before and do this morning renew our repentance and vowes vnto thee more effectually then before intending our callings more carefully and conscionably then we haue done labouring both to auoide the outwarde acte of sinne to haue our hearts purged from the euill thoughts thereof that wee giue no way to our corruptions but bee masters of them and so bee free from the rage amd slauery of the same which is the greatest happinesse in this worlde for if wee say wee haue fellowship with thee and walk in darknesse we lie and do not truely wherefore O Lord grant that wee may possesse contrite and broken hearts for all our sins with remembrance of thee in our greatest security awake and rowse vs vp from the dead sleep of sin make vs desire euermore carefully to serue thee looking for and hasting vnto the comming of that great day of thee our God by which the heaaens beeing on fire shall bee disolued and the elements shall melt with heate O sweete Father make vs diligent now that wee may bee found then in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in peace without spot and blamelesse hauing by thee increase of his grace in vs experience of his raigning in our mortall bodies by whom wee shall haue strength and assurance to perseuere and continue to the end for this purpose deare father daily quicken our estate in Christ thy Son by constant and serious repentance that from thee our holy purpose being renewed we likewise also receiue strength to practice accordingly make vs ouercome the world by thy power which hindereth our groth in grace pressing vs downe euen with our own weight Enlarge our hearts consciences wills and affections that all the members of our bodies may be enliued restrain and bridle our corruptions that wee may daily weaken them heartily loath them and groane vnder them keepe vs from despaire and ourwarde reproach let not the time multitude and example of sinne draw vs away which doe commit sin most greedily and hide it most dangerously let our hearts still cleaue vnto thee and to thy word that by it daily sent out of our selues wee may obtaine new strength in thy Sonne Iesus Christ to goe forward in well-doing that discerning our inability thereto wee may interest our selues in his pretious merits that growing in grace we may be perfected in glory for the increase of glory shall answer to the increase of grace Lord thou knowest wee shall haue this day as wee haue had heretofore more tentations and oppositions of the world humble vs and make vs patient that wee may by thy spirit preuailing in vs be euen ioyfull in all our crosses aduersities and troubles whatsoeuer charitable in iudging others zealouse ouer our selues holy and vpright in our duties and callings that wee may more and more feare thee O great and glorious God more and more humbled in thy greatest mercie more and more thankefull for the least of thy blessings whereunto we haue obtained a right only in Christ Iesus who accepted of vs aboue the worth of our obedience grant vs wee may be cast downe by serious meditation of thy maiesty power and goodnes as also of our owne vnworthinesse O how many are thy deliuerances from euill preseruations and goodnesse acceptances of vnperfect seruice renewing and increasing of spirituall and temporall blessings preuentions of wickednesse which we acknowledge to be thy great mercies in vs confessing therewith our manifolde wants desiring humbly faithfully continually and constantly suppliment of them receiuing in the meane time euery present blessing as steps and pledges in our right to heauen power and mercy belongeth to thee O Lord holy and fearefull is thy name how gracious and mercifull art thou slowe to anger and of great kindnesse thou art good to all and thy mercies are ouer all thy workes teach vs to do thy will this day for thou art our God let thy good spirit leade vs vnto the land of righteousnesse to thee therefore with the Frther and the holy Spirit be glorie praise honour world without end Amen A Prayer for Saturday Euening LOrd there is risen vnto vs and wee haue apprehended light in darkenesse wee haue waited the accomplishment of thy promises in thy light
all kinde of seruile actions and outward imployments with all froward affections and lusts that we may study to enter into that rest with thy people and cease from our owne works as thou O Lord didst vnto thine blessed God strike in our hearts in time of praier a reuerent esteemation of thy glorious Maiestie a feeling of our defects and giue constant faith in thy sweete promises faithfull remembrance of thy receiued blessings louing and charitable affections towardes our neighbours and grant vnto vs mercifull Father while wee heare a wide and open heart to receiue and holy ludgement to discerne lowlinesse in minde feeling in the inward man and stability in the memory and euermore in thy seruice bestow on vs an humble soule an hungring and thirsting heart that the blood of the Lord Iesus Christ which thorough the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to thee our God may purge our consciences frō dead works to serue thee the Lord vouchsafe on vs an vnfained loue to thy word that wee may lay it vp and hide it in our soules and euer sanctifie our thoughts that our whole meditations may be thereon and practise the same in life and conuersation that all men seeing our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father to thee therefore with the Sonne and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise and dominion both now for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Euening GLory praise and honour bee vnto thee most mercifull and heauenly Father who hast appointed this speciall day and ministry of thy word for our instruction O Lord grant wee may feele our knowledge increased our faith strengthened our soules mindes and consciences aboundantly thereby refreshed good God thou hast promised that if any lacke wisedome thou wilt giue it him yea all other things in and with thy Christ we beseech thee therfore make thy holy worde a power of life vnto life vnto vs yea a power of saluation vnto vs that beleeue in parte yea Lord wee beleeue we pray thee helpe our vnbeliefe for wee are fraught with blindesse and error our affections frowarde peruerse and disordered and reprobate to any good worke by nature make vs good Lord new creatures that as new borne babes we may desire the sincere milk of thy word that we may grow thereby annoynt our eyes with the eye-salue of thy holy spirit Lord ioine to thy word that penetratiue vertue to pierce and finde out our so pregnant corruptions for it is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then any two-edged sword and entereth through euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite and of the ioynts and marow is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart which we beseech thee by thy word to discouer rip vp and ransacke to the bottome giue vs a lowly heart to make a lowly vse of reprehensions out of thy worde and apply them earnestly to our selues that the righteous may smite vs which is a benefit and reproue vs which is as pretious oyle that shall not breake our heads that by them wee may be reclaimed from our froward backwarde wills and because good Lord our remembrance of good things is very short and faileable and doth reserue very few good things against the houre of temptation day of death make vs good Lord carefull euer to heare meditate pray and conferre giuing alwaies thankes with a plyable obediēce to thy lawes that in spirituall discretion and heauenly wisdome we may consummate our perigrination here and worke out our saluation with feare trembling by thy grace establish our hearts in thy truth that wee be not carried about with euery light winde of doctrine but that wee may lay holde on the good labouring daily to be led on to perfection and most gracious Father make vs not onely to see and feele our owne defects but giue vs a heart to lament them Lord freely and finally pardon them for Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne sake moisten and water our hard dry hearts with the dew of thy heauēly blessings shoure them downe vpon vs for lightning of our minds setling of our iudgements cōforting of our soules and reformation of our mis-behauiours grant we may yeeld a full assent to the truth of thy word not measuring it after the crooked rule of our mis-leading affections that wee be not of those which make a show of religion but deny the power thereof and wee beseech thee for thy tender mercies sake this night to subdue the flesh which lusteth against the spirit confound Satan aduersary to our saluation and keep vs against the example of the worlde which is set in euill that we may neuer be wearie to beginne where wee left off in well-doing neither yet breake off where thou requirest continuance of obedience but goe from faith to faith like the way of the righteous which as the light shineth more and more vnto perfect day so shall wee glorifie thy name and our owne soules be strengtheded the weake ones by our example bee confirmed and edified the vnruly admonished the feeble-minded comforted and be patient toward all men and shall dissolue from hence in thy fauour whilst now we liue in thy feare hauing in our mouthes a new song of thanksgiuing occasioned by thy new blessings day by day heauenly graces be-bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy spirit be praise and glory for euermore Amen A MEDITATION of the Mercy and Iustice of God Against declining either to the left or right hand in presumption or despaire that wee may leade an euen course in Christianity LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1618. To the Right Worshipfull Sir William Alexander Knight Secretarie and one of his Maiesties most honerable priuy Councell in Scotland MEn to make themselues as it were eternall they write their names on their houses Absolon reared a piller is not this said one Niniuie which I builded for my glory Ninus to immortalise his father Belus made for him an Idoll in whose dominions while Terrah Abrahams father did dwell he became with the rest an Idolater these would haue their fame time ending together but they haue shot short of the seauen wonders of the world nothing but naked names remaine all these are mutilate inuentions to the Iew departed his brother or nearest kinsman must raise seed to continue his name in Israell but children beeing the Lords gift could not bee had when as they would books with time that eates all doth often smoother may successiuely by concatenation of ages in the Presse as a new Phoenix reuiue but all these to perpetuity are set apart as faulty For as they all monuments children and bookes are of this below so shall with the same although neuer so olde bee dissolued
the godly man only and his name doth euer indure who hath it and himselfe also written in heauen and registered in the booke of life for all consuming oblusion hath no place your vertues and graces make you liue longer then any of these post-running records but your goodnes for euer with the Antient of daies to whō I heartily pray that after your period shall bee faithfully finished here you may be partaker of glory thus I rest euer your Worships In all Christian duty to be commanded Barthol Robinson A. Meditation of the infinite Mercy and Iustice of God against declining either to the left or right hand in presumption or despaire that we may lead an euen course in Christianity II is certaine Caine his offence in his speech in extenuating the Lords mercy was greater then that trespasse done by his hand in shedding his brothers innocent blood for he might haue obtained pardon for the same if hee had beene capable of it for although mans heart be deceitfull aboue all things and that all the immaginations of his thoughts be euill continually and desperately wicked so that none can knowe it so deepe it is yet infinitly more deepe yea insearchable are the riches of the mercies of Christ for what proportion is there betwixt a sparke of fire and the great vast gulfe of the Ocean to quench it hee will turne againe saith the Prophet hee will haue compassion vpon thee hee will subdue thy iniquity cast all thy fins into the depth of the Sea for he retaineth not his anger for euer because he belighteth in mercy yea there is no Sea so large but the Lord hath set a bound that it may not passe ouer but as the heauen is high aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre us the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoouer our transgressions from vs this then so ample a depth of his mercy easily doth swallow vp the shallow profundity of sin how deep soeuer it be for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption beholde hee doth not abhorre the confessing theefe the weeping sinner the hūble Cananite the lately taken adultresse the wrongfull customer the contrite Publican neither yet his disciple that denyed him nor that bloody persecutor of the disciples yea not thē that crucified him but prayed for them how great then is thy goodnes O Lord which thou hast laide vppe for them that feare thee and done to them that trust in thee euen before the sonnes of men for the earth is full of the goodnes of the Lord taste then see how gracious the Lord is his louing kindnesse is better then life his mercy is aboue all his works as oyle swimmeth aboue water wherefore the Lord takes this stile in commendation specially to himselfe that hee will bee called the Father of mercy and God of consolation for it doth lye as it were in his bosome and is vnto him as his daughter euen the bowels of compassion hee accounteth his riches not to consist in kingdomes heauens or Angels all which although he possesse yet he can create better if it were his pleasure but hee is rich in mercy for there is nothing better nothing greater for his mercy is not onely aboue all his workes but also it reioyceth against iudgement and gloriously triumpheth ouer it The mercy seate which was a type of Christ in whom God is well pleased was without the Arke but the testimony of the Tables of the lawe were within the same mercie compassing and shutting vp iustice within it Indeede the Cherubins with a fiery sword debarred Adam from accesse to the garden again but in this mercy-seate the Cherubins stretch out their wings on high and couers the mercy-seate with their wings so Christ stretcheth out his hands all the day long vnto vs gathering vs as the henne doth her chickens yea and the lawe it selfe which is a proclamation of Gods iustice in the second cōmandement doth visite iniquity vnto the third and fourth generation but extendeth mercy vnto the thousand of them that loue him herein therefore doth mercy glory and as is were boast it selfe for where mercy is mentioned there is no speech made of iustice but when iudgement is denounced there is euery place left for mercy which is promised to the penitent so the Lord is gracious and full of compassino what can hee deny vs that hath giuen his owne Sonne for vs and hee that hath giuen his life for vs cannot refuse to giue vs his mercy so maiest thou say vnto thee O my strength will I sing for God is my defence and the God of my mercies for thou Lord hast not failed them that seeke thee for as thy Maiesty is so is thy mercy yea and to the sinfull hee doth say thou hast rauished my heart my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart turne away thine eyes from me for thou hast ouercome mee yes truely that true and liuing Sampson for the loue hee did beare to thee was crucified of the Iewes as that other Sampson was put to death by the Philistims And what can more liuely portrait out his mercy then when hee saith I am pressed vnder as a cart is pressed that is ful of sheaues yea Lord great is thy pitty in delaying and prolongging thy wrath thy mercie and moderation in inflicting it great is thy goodnesse in remouing thy anger and iudgements procured thereby Dauid after he had slept as long as women vsually goe with child or there about when hee had trauailed with iniquity and had conceiued mischiefe and brought forth falshood for when lust was conceiued it brought forth sinne and sin when it was finished broght forth death yet the Lord such is euer his clemency desired him to make choice of punishment although Dauid had prouoked him to wrath against the lawe of armes wherein the weapons shold be in the election of him that is offended and not in his that prouokes O that wee were wise and vnderstoode this that we would consider our later end and so albeit we grieue his spirit often and diuerse times yet so manifold are his tender mercies that as about the time of forty yeares God suffered the Israelites manners in the wildernesse so hath hee euen to this day sparred vs what could he haue done any more to his vineyard that he hath not done to it let vs now at the last search and try our waies and turne againe to the Lord let vs lift vp our hearts with our hands vnto our God in the heouens whom wee haue pressed with our sinnes as with a talent of leade for hee is not slacke concerning his promise as some men count slacknesse but is patient toward vs and would haue no man to perish but would all men to come
to repentance The wicked still say because hee delayes his comming either by continuation of present punishment or prorogation of their life where is the promise of his comming for since the Fathers died all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation and doth God know it say they Is there knowledge in the most high can hee iudge through the darke clouds the cloudes hide him that hee cannot see and he walketh in the circle of heauen and so doe they think in their heart God hath forgotten hee hideth away his face and will neuer see the vision that is seene is for many dayes to come and doth prophecy of the times that are farre off but woe vnto them that drawe iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as with cart-ropes which say let them make speed let them hasten his worke that wee may see and let the counsell of the holy one drawe neare and come that wee may knowe it And when the seruant doth say in his heart my master doth deferre his comming and shall begin to smite the seruants and maidens and to eate and drinke and be drunken the master of that seruant will come in a day when hee thinketh not and at an houre that hee is not aware of and will cut him off giue him his portion with vnbeleeuers Therfore beloued sinne not because grace hath abounded for the grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared teaching vs that we should deny vngodlinesse and wordly lusts and that wee should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world despise not therefore the riches of his bountifulnesse and patience and long sufferance knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth thee to repentance least thou after thy hardnesse and heart that cannot repent heape vppe to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and truely his long suffering is saluation and repentance the way to bring vs thereto that we may finde mercy with the Lord at that day thus the heart of the penitent is like waxe it is molten in the middest of their bowels but the wickeds is as strong as a stone and as hard as the nether mil-stone thus they sowe pillowes vnder their arme-holes and make vailes vpon the head of euery one that standeth vp to winne soules lying in sinne and presumptuously reposing vpon vaine perswasion of the mercy of God which they euer abuse truely his mercie is that green-bed wherin his true members doe lie howsoeuer the wicked make his mercy cloakes of shame for as the Apostle saith they haue theis liberty for a cloake of malitiousnesse saying as the Iewes did this is the temple of the Lorde rrusting in lying wordes that cannot profit but bee thou not deceiued God is not mocked let no man deceiue thee with vain wordes for for these things the wrath of God comes vpon the children of misbeliefe who rest in their owne peace and security when as hee that walketh vprightly walketh onely boldly and in the feare of the Lord is an assured strength wherefore well doth the wise-man aduise vs say not Gods mercy is great hee will bee pacified for the multitude of my sins for mercy and wrath come from him and his indignation resteth vpon sinners make no tarrying to turne to the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed and perish in the day of vengeance and againe say not I haue sinned and what harme hath happened vnto mee for the Lord is long-suffering he will in nowise let thee go and concerning propitiation be not without feare to adde sinne to sinne Is not the mercy of God great and nothing can be greater larger as is said the Archangels and Angels in heauen Prophets Apopostles Martyrs and Confessors on earth and all things that liue or yet are created commend the same in one Psalme euery verse euen twenty sixe times endeth with this for his mercy endureth for euer O but beware hereof this is Satans olde subtilty whereby hee maketh man bolde on sinne as hee did Euah you shall not die at all said hee hee couereth and hideth the Lords iustice from mens eyes and remoueth the euill day a far off thus hee lieth in waite secretly euen as a Lyon in his den he lieth in wait to spoyle the poore when he draweth him into his net therefore heape of poore do fall by his might but hee greatly enlargeth the Lords bountifulnes and patience for as it is true the Lord is mercifull so is this true that hee visiteth the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generation therefore thou must consider that which Dauid did sing I wil sing mercy and iudgement saith hee vnto thee O Lord will I sing And herein is God and his ministers distinguished from Satan and his for God euer conioyneth mercy and iustice together but Satan harpes continually on one of them onely as hee saith peace peace when there is no peace thus these monsters draw out their breast and giue sucke to their young ones thus the wicked is made to boast of his owne hearts desire hee blesseth himselfe and contemneth the Lord the deceiuing teachers wordes are softer then butter yet is there warre in the heart of him they are spoken to their wordes I say are more gentle then oyle yet are they swords but if thou wilt bee cured beloued there must be put into thy sores both wine and oyle that thou maiest suffer the wholesome and sound doctrine and not resemble those whose itching eares turne away from hearing the truth on whom while they dream on peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth as sorrow vpon a woman with childe and they shall not escape any wise Whenas a childe hath a bird tyed by the foot tosseth it to and fro vntill hee kill it so these false teachers men seducing themselues while they abuse the Lords tender mercies as if they were bound to all their youthfull sinnes and antient follies want only insolently bragging of thē and grieuing the holy spirit of Israel they turne his mercies I say thus disdained by them vnto the bitternesse of his wrath fooles and children they may bee called concerning vnderstanding albeit they bee of a ripe age And like as an olde man beeing to passe ouer a narrow and small bridge putteth on his spectacles in which the bridge appeareth a great deale bigger then of it selfe it is where hee falleth to the hazard of his life in the ditch so they that wander from this mortality to immortality by the mercies of God not rightly esteeming the same but walkes in the broade way that leadeth to destruction they may I say cry out great is his mercy which yet is not so great that it will fauour them
which delay from time to time to turn to the Sauiour of mankinde which haue made a couenant with death and with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe thorough it shall not come say they at vs for we haue made falshood our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid but what followeth hereon hey falling from the bridge of their vaine hope and Satan that deceiued them shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone then shall they with great griefe say to the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand yes truely they will wish any thing fall rather vpon them then that they should fall into that lake O but can a Lambe wax angry yea the more patient and slow the Lord is to punish sinne the more irefull he is when in spite hee is prouoked to his face which the very Saincts of God haue wisely fore-seen O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger saith hee neither chastise mee in thy wrath and the Prophet Lord correct mee but with iudgement not in thy anger least thou bring me to nothing and no maruell for euen the Angels in that vision had the face of a man and of a lion euen as they were taught of the Lord hee had the face of a lambe to take away the sinnes of the world yea and the face of a lion to punish the sins of the world for this is the day of grace and acceptable time wherein mercy is offered to the penitent which being neglected and contemned in his day the day I say of the Lord hee will vtter cruelty wherefore the Prophet saith woe be vnto them that desire the day of the Lord what haue you to doe with the day of the Lord it is darknesse and not light but the godly contrarily desire the time to bee at hand and therefore doe earnestly craue the appearance of the Lord Iesus saying euen so come Lord Iesus come and tarry not which the wicked doe tauntingly and scornefully vtter but as Sampson was reuenged on the Philistims who iested at him so beholde here is a stronger one then Sampson for now by mercy hee is a man that is sometime to be a lyon and the man is that lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the repentant but then the lyon shall be to the wilfull and stubborne sinner a boare to teare them in peeces And thus God suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and to declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which hee had prepared vnto mercy Cast not away therfore beloued thy confidence which hath great recompence of rewarde for thou hast need of patience that after thou hast done the will of God thou maiest receiue the crowne and be not one of them which with-drawe themselues to perdition but be of faith to the saluation of thy soule if thou cast thy selfe downe humbly at his feet water thy couch in thy earnest repentance with teares if thou shalt with all thy soule aske mercy and forgiuenesse God cannot deny himselfe hee is faithfull and will forgiue euen for his owne Sonnes blood as of a lambe without ipot and blemish let all them which are redeemed thus refuse all things in regarde thereof and cast downe their crownes before his feete confessing them to haue beene and now are most vnprofitable seruants and hee will put away their transgressions as a clowde and like a mist O turne vs vnto thee O Lord for thou art our Sauiour waken vs that we may strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die before our wickednes be full and time of recouery past so shalt thou redeeme our life from the graue and crowne vs with mercy and compassions and thereafter bestow on vs the crowne of righteousnesse layed vp for vs which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them also that loue his appearance wee shall euen receiue I say that incorruptible crowne of glory at the appearance of of our chiefe shepheard not for the works of righteousnesse which wee haue done for our best are but glistering sins but for his owne bountifulnesse and loue of his meer mercy fauour and grace to vs which walke in the spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for he that soweth in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting let vs then bee renewed in the spirit of our minde and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes and holinesse haue the worlde crucified to vs and vs to the world yea that we may liue vnto God bee crucified with Christ and may in all soundnesse of minde say I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for mee O that once to conclude wee might thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus our Lord and iudge them but dung that wee may winne Christ setting alwaies our affections on things that are aboue and not on things which are on the earth that beeing dead to sinne our life may bee hidde with God in Christ that when hee that is our life shall appeare we may also appeare with him in glory to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise maiesty and dominion both now and euer-more Amen A Heauenly Christian caueat whensoeuer or wheresoeuer the Diuell by suggestions the flesh by the corruption thereof or the world by wicked example would allure or entice thee to sinne then seriously bethinke thee and guard thee with these few Articles 1 VVEigh diligently the eternity both of life which is a reward of well-doing as also of death paine for yeelding to the contrary which both are such as the eye hath not seen the eare hath not heard neither yet can enter into the heart of man and shall rather by sense be felt then by iudgement bee vnderstood 2 Remember the nobility worth and dignity of the nature of man how gracious it is in the sight of God while it standeth in grace how abiect vile it is subiect vnder sinne 3 Consider the value of the rest tranquillity and peace of a good mind both with God thy selfe and thy neighbour for while thou sinnest God is against thee to punish thee in doing well Satan is against thee to assault thee 4 Make euery day a recitall of the Lords blessings vpon thee in thy predestination and