ones for so saith the Redeemer Take eat this is my body Matth. 26.16 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 Cor. 11.24 which is giuen for you to the remission of sins and againe Take and eat all hereof this cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you Meditation of the Soule for the receiuing of the Communion Now heare my Soule what delicates the Lord thy Sauiour presenteth before thee in this his table truely not bare and naked bread and wine but his body and bloud for the bread which wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 therefore beleeue I and know that my Lord Iesus Christ both God and Man according to his institution is present to my Soule giues his body and bloud to bee eaten and drunke spiritually by a true and liuely faith wrought in me by his holy spirit and applying the merits and benefits of his death vnto mee the manner and way being best knowen vnto himselfe yea Lord Iesus thou thy selfe art here my host and I thy guest heere come I poore creature out of the wicked wildernes of this world fraught with trouble and misery and bring with mee an hungry thirsty and languishing yet a faithfull heart reuiue me my Lord Iesus by this thy table and strengthen mee by this nourishment that I may bee satiate and safe Approach heereunto my Soule to strengthen thy faith and quicken thy heart Ioh. 20.27 and bee not longer faithlesse but faithfull beâ—hold the Lord thy Redeemer assureth thee as with a true token and pawne that thou of meere grace and mercy art appoynted heire of all his blessings and hee imputes vnto thee whatsoeuer he hath procured by the sacrifice of his body and bloud to wit the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes Rom. 4.8 that righteousnesse which is accepted before God and eternall life all these shall aâ— certainely be thine as if thou in thine own person hadst hung vpon the crosse and there merited them yea and he witnesseth heereby that thou for his sake art counted before God as righteous holy and as beloued as Christ himselfe is and moreouer by the same Sacrament through the holy Spirit he giueth himself vnto thee Reu. 3.20 to dwell with thee and sup with thee neuer to depart froÌ„ thee but worke a new life ioy light yea Lord Iesus so am I in thee Ioh. 17.23 Eph. 5.30 and thou in mee and I will sticke vnto thee my Redeemer as a liuing member to a liuing body as a bride vnto her bridegroome for I am a member of thy body Ioh. 15.4 of thy blood and bones yea I am in thee as the branch is in the vine and as a bough receiueth continuall sap vertue from the trees roote so doe I draw comfort life and quickening from thee and so by a true faith both in soule and body abide in thee and thou in mee by thy holy spirit that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate me from thy loue A prayer when thou hast receiued the Communion Praised bee thou O God my Sauiour for thy fatherly care ouer me for preparing this heauenly banquet for me whereby I may quench the appetite of my hungry soule and mittigate the thirst of my heart so that now by this meanes I depart emboldened and established in grace and faith will follow thee my Redeemer with courage Heb. 13.9 will abide constantly with thee and remayne in perseuerance with thee through thy spirit vnto the last gaspe Amen Meditation of receiuing the holie Communion Thou hast said Doe this in my remembrance O my God how holie is the memorie of that how inwardly am I comforted therewith for by this sacrament I call to minde many other Festiual daies and times for in thy Table I remember thy Natiuitie for it testifieth vnto mee that thou in verie deed hast taken my human nature vpon thee and art farre neerer joyned vnto mee than vnto the Angells for thou in no sort tookedst vpon thee the Angells nature but thou tookest the seed of Abraham it likewise represeÌ„teth vnto mee that thou art the true Sacrifice for sinnes and therefore doe I eate the right Pasouer 1. Cor. 5.7 euen Christ which is sacrificed for mee as also I beleeue and trust seeing I am thy member and that thou art risen from the dead and liuest so shall I also so that thou wilt not leaue my Soule in Graue neyther shall death haue power ouer mee but I shall rise and sing vnto the Lord in the land of the liuing and possesse that place where thou my head Iesus Christ liuest world without end And all these things are engrafted and sealed in mee by thy holie Spirit of Promise 1. Eph. 13.14 which is the earnest of my Inheritance for the redemption of that libertie purchased vnto the prayse of his glorie whereby also peace and joy is kindled in my hart for I receiue the spirit of adoption whereby I crie Abba Father the same Spirit bearing witnesse to my Spirit Rom. 8.15 16. that I am the Sonne of God And not onely that but I participate the whole Trenitie the Father Sonne and Holie-Spirit who come vnto mee Ioh. 14.23 and dwell with mee so life euerlasting shall be bestowed vpon mee after this transitorie where I shall continually behold my Lord my God face to face and finally I haue here an vnion and fellowshippe with all the Saints for as hee sayd He that eateth my flesh Ioh. 6.56 and drinketh my bloud abideth in mee and I in him so hath hee sayde also that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs for we that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee are all partakers of one bread how joyfull am I of this heauenlie companie how glad am I of thy Saints to whose number thou hast adopted mee for the which I giue thee thankes honour and prayse for euermore Besides this it is written as oft as you eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup ye declare the Lords death vntill his comming againe wherein deare Soule I am rauished to the contemplation of the Third-heauen with Paule whereof this thy last Supper is as it were an entry and beginning for in thy Fathers Kingdome I shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and there feed vpon Thee the Bread of Life eternally and therefore sigh I from the bottome of my heart saying euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly my Redeemer and tarrie not and therefore I am taught to powre out hartie thanksgiuings for all thy blessings wherewith thou hast blessed mee in heauenly things in
thy word doe I hope My Soule wayteth for thee O Lord more than they which watch for the morning if it be thy pleasure O Redeemer and profitable and necessarie for my selfe that I should liue be preserued from death and destruction because that I may liue hereafter a godly holie and Christian life to my last end but if it shall not be thy will to prolong my dayes but that I must depart out of this world theÌ„ come Lord Iesus Christ my Redeemer receiue my soule into thy hands and giue me place and possession in Paradise in Abrahams bosome with the blessed Angells and all Saints Amen Flesh. Shew mee how I should vse the ordinarie meanes of Physicke in time of sicknesse Spirit Fourthly thou mayest conueniently vse ordinarie meanes and physicke then giue place to the physitian for the Lord hath created him Let him not goe from thee for thou hast need of him but beware that thou haue not recourse vnto the Physitian before thou come vnto the Lord for so did King Asa â— Chr. 16.12 when hee was diseased in his Feet therefore the Lord gaue no blessing vnto his Physicke and so he dyed But especially take heed that you vse no forbidden means and aske not counsell of Witches or those which doe helpe by the meanes of the Deuill through the abuse of Gods holie name 2 Kin. 1.6 for so did King Ahaziah consult with the Idoll of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether he should recouer of his disease Is it because there is not a God of Israell that thou sendest to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron therefore thou shalt not come off from that bedd on which thou art gone vp but shalt surely dye Be circumspect also and seeke out the best practised and skilfullest Physitians for mans bodie is the pretious creature of God and should be honoured and no wayes neglected Another Prayer for the Sicke I thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ true Physitian of my soule that thou hast cured my heart and clensed it from sinne by that heauenlie medicine from aboue I earnestly intreat thee who hast made all things that thou wouldest blesse these outward helpes and meanes which thou hast ordayned Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee whole and by these ayds restore mee to health but if thou wilt not those cannot helpe mee Loe here I am doe with mee according to thy will and pleasure so that euer respect bee had to thy glorie my weale and saluation Graunt these blessings vnto mee for Iesus Christ thy sonnes sake in whose name I pray vnto thee saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. Flesh. Shew mee how I may obtayne the gift of Patience in the time of sicknesse Spirit Fiftly deare Soule see thou alwayes lay hold on patience and request the Lord that he would preseâ—ue thee from impatiencie O how pretious a thing is patience to trust alwaies in the Lords help for it is of the Lords mercie that wee are not consumed Lam. 3.22 because his compassions fayle not they are new euerie morning great is his faithfulnesse for faith and patience cannot bee disseuered Heb. 6.12 Be not therfore slothfull but bee a follower of them who through faith and patience inherit the promiâ—e â—o if we rejoyce in the hope of the glorie of God weâ— must also glorie in tribulations knowing that tribulations worke patience and patience Experience Rom. 5.2.3 4.5 and experience Hope anâ— hope maketh not ashamed Behold and immitate thy Sauiour Iesus Christ Pet. 2.21.24 who hath left vs an example that we should follow hiâ— steps who his owne selfâ— bâ—re our sinnâ—s in his own bodie on the tree and euer committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously so must wee take all â—hings patiently for this is acceptable with God and in this must wee â—esemble euen our young ones who when their headakes come and make their mâ—anes to their mothers layes downe their heads in their mothers laps and crie for helpe euen so do thou my deere Soule make thou thy lamentation before the Lord cast thy burthen vpon him and hee shall sustaine thee Euening and Morning Ps. 55.22 vers 17. and Noone pray and crie aloud and let him heare thy voyce and exspect him with patience And aboue all things flie impatience for it destroyeth and corrupteth all Christian vertues it offendeth God our Lord it hindereth letteth praier and maketh vs the longer that it holds the more vehement we are so as Patience is a pretious and powerfull hearbe so Impatiencie is venimous and poyson to the heart The Sicke persons prayer for patience Take from mee Lord Iesus that noysome offence of impatiencie keep mee that it neuer haue dominion ouer mee least I make the crosse thereby heauier but plant Christian patience in my heart that I may continually attend thy blessed time and leisure for thy time is the right and thy season the true season Indeed truely make mee continually be stedfast in Hope and put my whole confidence in thâ—e 1. Cor. 10 1â— for thou art true and wilt suffer none to be tempted aboue his strength And this I intreate thee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake Amen Flesh. Shew mee some comforts if sicknâ—sse continue long with mee that so I may not despaire in Gods mercie Spirit Sixtly deare Soule if thy sicknesse abide longer time than thy expectation was thinke not that the lord hath forgot thee but vnderstand that in the greatest crosses thou art dearest vnto him Ps. 55.19 but the wicked because they haue no changes therefore they feare not God But as for thee no more than a mother can forget her child can hee forget thee Esa. 49.15.16 for behold he hath graueÌ„ thee vpon the palmes of his hands yea the sicker the child is the greater is the mothers loue and the more diligently watchfully doth she attend and so doth the Lord with thee speakes he not consolation in thy heart and saith Art thou not my deare Sonne and beloued child Ier. 31.20 I haue loued thee with an euerlasting loue therefore with louing kindnesse haue I drawne thee thy Soule shall be as a watered Garden 12. and thou shalt not sorrow any more at all I will satiate thy Soule with fatnesse 14. and thou shalt bee satisfied with goodnes saith the Lord and therefore the Lord is mercifull and gratious slow to anger and plenteous in mercie Ps. 103.8 9 10.11.13 he will not alwayes chide neyther will hee keepe his anger for euer Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities for as the heauen is high aboue the earth so great is his mercy toward them that feare him like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord hath pittie of them that feare him Loe deare Soule thy Father nor mother haue such pittie towards thee as thy Sauior and therefore thou oughtest to
bemoane thy selfe thus Ier. 31.18 Thou hast chastised mee and I was chastised as a Bullocke and accustomed to the Yoake Turne thou mee and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God surely after that I was turned I repented after that I was instructed I smot vppon my Knee I was ashamed yea euen confounded because I did beare the reproch of my youth yet if thou shalt be patieÌ„t since I spake against thee saith the Lord I doe earnestly remember thee still therfore my bowells are troubled for thee I will surely haue mercie on thee saith the Lord. The sicke persons Prayer for comfort in affliction Lord Iesus Christ my Redeemer I complayne that my miserie vexeth mee so sore and that my sicknesse endureth so long I request thee thou eternall Word of thy eternall Father thou liuely comforter proclayme Consolation in my heart that I in my greatest infirmitie anguish and pangs of death may vnderstand that I am thy deare child and cast my selfe in thy armes and bosome turn neuer thy gratious countenance from mee yea Lord the time thou diddest hang vpoÌ„ the crosse tookest our rebuke and reproach vpon thee and wast destitute of the helpe of all creatures yet wast thou notwithstanding thy Fathers onely begotten Sonne and shalt so bee eternally When faithfull Ioseph was in Bonds Ge. 41.14 and had no whit of any creatures fauour Yet wast thou with him loued him and deliuered him in due season When Stephan was lead to death Act. 7.55 and stones cast at him didst not thou manifest thy selfe vnto him when replenished with inward ioy and full of the holy Ghost he looked vp stedfastly into heauen and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God And Lazarus when hee lay at the rich mans gate full of sores Luk. 16.22 yea and the dogs came and shewed greater humanity than man yet was he carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom O my God I am thy vvretched Lazarus heere lie I knocking at thy gate with my pitifull groans naked and full of sores am I my pain is great and my torment will ouercome me but I know assuredly and heereunto 1000. witnesses haue I in mine heart by thy holy Spirit that thou wilt not forsake me thine eyes are ouer mee night and day as one of thine Elect I appertaine to thy euerlasting life therefore thou art with mee in this my distresse Psal. 91.9 I haue made thee my refuge and my habitation ô set not mine iniquities before thee neither secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance for who knowes the power of thine anger Psal. 90.11 euen according to thy feare so is thy wrath O let the beauty of my Lord my God bee vpon me and satisfie mee early with thy mercy that I may reioyce and bee glad all the daies I haue to liue now Lord I loue loue thee therefore deliuer me and shew me thy saluation for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake to whom with the holy Spirit be all honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may resist Sathan in my sicknesse or any other temptation Spirit Seuenthly if Sathan insist in assaulting thee with his fiery darts of tentations Eph. 6.16 enter not in deepe cogitations and disputations with him for hee is too craftie and subtil for thee for of thine owne nature Gen. 3.1 thou canst neuer gaine-stand him remember Adam and Eue who were deceiued by him and miserably seduced although they were in the state of innocency and in their pure and holy nature how canst thou then wretched and corrupt sinner encounter him But cast thine eyes vpon Iesus Christ and heerewiâ—hall comfort thy sicke soule that he in all his tentations abideth constant and was not ouercome but ouercame Sathan for thy weale hath giueÌ„ thee freely his victorie to the end that howsoeuer hee shall double his assaults against thee yet hee shall goe confounded Moreouer the weapons which Iesus Christ vsed against him are to bee considered of thee which were places and sentences of Scripture Eph. 6.17 euen so lay thou hand on the holy sword of Gods word the sword I say of the Spirit 1 Pet. 5.9 Iam. 4. and resist him stedfast in thy faith and he will flie from thee If so be hee say thy sins are greater then can bee forgiuen Gen. 4.13 then kill him with the true word of God and constantly affirme thou liest Sathan for where sinne hath abounded Rom. 5.20 there grace hath superabounded If he say that Christs merits belong not vnto thee thou art not of the number of the Elect then exclaime and say thou liest Sathan for Christ hath sayd come vnto mee all yee that are weary and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest and gaine as in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue 1 Cor. 15. 22. If he shall make Gods indignation and wrath for sinne huge and great against thee say without ceasing Ioh. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not die but haue euerlasting life And in another place God commendeth his loue towards vs in that while wee were yet sinners Rom. 5.8 Christ died for vs and thou hast loued them Ioh. 17.23 as thou hast loued me If hee shall open hell before thee defend thy selfe with this word of God 1 Ioh. 3.8 and say For this cause the Sonne of God was manifested that hee might destroy the workes of the Diuell Hos. 13.14 And againe I will ransom them from the power of the graue I will redeeme them from death ô death I will be thy plagues ô grauâ— I will bee thy dâ—struction Doth hee vpbraid thy weake faith then say thou the Lord will not breake the bruised reede and the smoking flax shall he not quench And againe Esay 42.3 Psal. 51.17 A broken and contrite heart ô God thou wilt not despise And in another place thus saith hee Esa. 57.15 19. 66.2 the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of thâ— contrite ones And therefore hee saith peace peace to him that is farre off and to him that is neere If Sathan obiect thy coldnesse and drowzinesse in prayer thou mayest answer Although I do not speake yet I sigh and groane which is acceptable vnto him If hee affirme that thy crosse sicknes lasts long and that the Lord hath cast thee out of his mind thou mayest answer Caâ— a woman forget her sucking childe Esa. 49.15 that shee should not haue compassion in the sonne of her wombe shee may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. If hee obiect thy pouerty and that thou art despised of all yea of
world lose his own soule or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule Mark 8.36 37. euen so doe thou place not thy heart on thy riches if God doe promote thee to dignitie be thou humble behold the examples of the Patriarches Abraham Isaak Iacob Ioseph Dauid Daniel c. Yea and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe Pet. 2.21 and follow thou their steps esteeme euer Iesus Christ thy best and cheefest goods so shalt thou alwayes easily forgoe thy earthly treasure A Prayer against the pleasures of this world Helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I may vse the pleasures and riches of this world as a pilgrim which shall passe to morrow for surely euerie man walketh in a vaine shew hee is disquieted in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and knoweth not who shall gather them and now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee deliuer mee from all my transgressions Psa. 39.7.8 let my heart desire no more then my daily bread to my susteÌ„tatioÌ„ cause me to be contented keepe me that Mammon be not my Master and that I place not my confidence in any transitory thing for it will hinder mee in the time of death but help mee my God that I may rightly chuse that good part which shall not be taken away from mee Luk 10.42 which is thee my God my Redeemer and Sauiour that all my ioy and pleasure may bee in thee Grant that I may be rich in my soule honourable in faith ioyfull in thee so shall I haue enough both heere and in the world to come that I may willingly leaue this world and gladly without any impediment be carried by thy Angells into Abrahams bosome to rest for euer Amen Flesh. It is notwithstanding great griefe that the Wife shall forsake her married Husband and the Husband his Wife and Children who haue liued so long together in pouertie and distresse and now being in pâ—osperity and joy in their Callings and Trade shall now be sâ—perated Spirit These are fleshly and incredulous thoughts by the which Sathan often disquieteth the heart of man so that there is great paynes to be taken before man will be rightly aduised For we haue experience of many men grudging against God as though he did doe them great vnrighteousnesse because hee maketh them so soone die and leaue the pleasures of this Life especially when they haue all their affaires to dispose and put the matters of all their life time in order So did that noble Romane GAIVS MARIVS who although hee had beene Consull seuen times in Rome and was seuentie yeares of age yet fretted against his FORTVNA which was his Goddesse protesting in bitter exclamations that there was great wrong offered him before that all his dessignements had beene accomplished and brought to passe But the faithfull Children of God doe farre otherwise for they know they are not the God or Makers of their friends neyther can prouide for them but that they are Stewards and Seruants appoynted vnder God Luk. 16.2 so long as it pleaseth him And man in these his dayes layes hold on eternitie but God hath so prouided for them that one time or other hee wil call them to giue an account of their Stewardship and may no longer be Stewards And so he himselfe will be both Father and Tutour as hee often nameth himselfe in the Scripture Ps. 68.5 Defender of the Widow and Father of the fatherlesse euen God in his holie habitation And so both scripture and daylie experience teach vs that many Widowes are in better case after their Husbands death and manie Husbands in better condition of Life after their Wiues death and Children often better prouided and cared for their Parents beeing out of this world than if they liued or than they could haue done for them if they should haue liued longer The Lord deceiueâ—h not Ps. 120 3. he neither sleepes nor slumbers that keepeth thee make the Lord thy Keeper and to bee thy shade vpon thy right hand for hee respecteth euerie one that calleth vpon his name and will neuer bee accused of ouersight of the godlies weale and saluation For although he be high aboue all Nations Ps. 113.46 and his glorie aboue the Heauens yet hee humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaueÌ„ and in earth Yea deare Soule therefore causeth hee manie Widowes and Fatherlesse-Children that he in them may magnifie his goodnesse And therfore this is a sure ground to build vpon that hee will in such wayes haue care foresight for them if they will acknowledge him and accept him for their Father yea neuer a one of them shall haue occasion in the last day to complayne of his prouidence ouer them and defence of them for it is hee onely that rayseth vp the Poore out of the dust Ps. 113.6.7 and lifteth the needie out of the dung-hill that he might set them with Princes euen with the Princes of his people yea it is he onely who setteth the Poore on high from affliction and maketh them families like a flocke Ps. 107.41 Settle thee therfore hereupon for this is Gods vndoubted truth The dying mans Prayer bequeathing all his charge vnto the hands of GOD. O Lord my God thou who hast appoynted mee to bee a steward and seruant vnder thee and hast commanded mee to vnderstand my duty I haue through thy mercy beene about my businesse in all infirmity and weaknesse of body yet with care and diligence kept my conscience and saued me from infidelitie now seeing I can beare charge no longer but am diseased and tied to my bed I render vnto thee that my charge and stâ—wardship it may bee thou wilt dispose of it to another who may better administrate then I. And if I shall liue let it bee a Chriâ—stian and godly life that I with far greater diligence then heeretofore may vnderstand my selfe but if it shall so be that I here end my dayes let it bee a sauing and blessed conclusion of my life Heere am I and commit bequeath and deliuer all whatsoeuer I haue vnto thee great and small be thou father mother and defender vnto them O thou Iudge of widdowes and helper of the fatherlesse thou knowest misery and pouerty well the poore committeth himselfe vnto thee Psa. 10.14 thou art the support of the fatherlesse yea Lord it is thou who hast care ouer them and thinkest vpon them Now therfore sweet Christ enter into thine owne roome and function Psa. 44.18 for I giue it ouer deliuering them to thy maintenance and my soule to thy merciâ— withhold not thy tender mercy from mee ô Lord let thy louing kindnesse and thy truth continually preserue mee Lord Iesus Christ Psa. 40.11 thou didst ordaine a prouisor for thy deare mother Mary raise vp also to my sorrowfull wife Ioh. 9.26 27. kind hearted and honest men which may haue attention to her and whom she may trust in her
our good for we rest from our labors and enioy happinesse because the righteous mans Soule is in Gods hands Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch it And Christ himselfe professeth that hee will come againe and receiue vs vnto himselfe Ioh. 14.3 that where he is there we may be also Hearken therefore and learne what it is to dye for it is nothing else than a passage and home going to rest yea the death of the faithfull is Christs taking of them vnto himselfe A Prayer against Death O Lord Iesus Christ thou eternall true Light inlighten my heart that as a new creature I may looke vpon Death with new eyes and not esteeme it for a hurter of mee but for a messenger by whom thou callest mee from this wretched world and translatst me to the kingdome of thy Sonne from this valley of darkenesse Euen so Come Lord Iesus with that Chariot of Elias and take mee from hence Now let thy Seruant depart in peace Luk 2.29 who longeth for quietnesse rest through Iesus Christ my onely sauiour Amen Flesh. Yet Death is verie terrible cold and euill fauored wee become stiffe and so must rot in our graues Spirit That is also a punishment which God inflicts on the bodie for sinne but the children of God look not to the present shew and shape of Death but looke further off consider how pleasaunt how soone how beautifull how cleare and honourable their bodies shall rise vp at the last day and corruption shal put on incorruption 1 Cor. 15.53 this mortallitie shall put on immortallitie Then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie and by this the holie man Iob comforted himselfe for he knew that his Redeemer liued and that he should rayse him vp from the earth O how beautifull shall our bodies bee there is no starre in heauen shall be so cleere neuer shined the Sunne or the Moon so perfectly as when the Lord shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working Phil. 3.21 whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe for wee are the Lords wheat â— Cor. 15.37 Ioh. 12.24 sowen in his ground which shall rise againe and beare euerlasting fruit So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body there is a naturall body and there is a spirituall body A Prayer against the terror of the graue Strengthen mee ô my Lord Iesus Christ that I bee not amazed at the fearefull sight of dead members nor when I thinke vpon the rottennesse in the graue and that I shall turne to dust and ashes but helpe mee that in a ioyfull hope I may behold the beauty and cleerenesse which shall not onely bee in my soule but euen manifest in my body that I may bee encouraged thereby gladly to meet thee when euer thou shalt please to call mee to that spirituall wedding from this life vnto life eternall through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Flesh. It is very terrible neuerthelesse to taste of death yeâ— to be put in that darke hole in the graue couered with earth full of rottennesse and corruption Spirit That feare ariseth of the sense of sinne for death is our enimy and God created man to bee immortall and made him to be an image of his eternity neuertheles Wis. 2.23.24 throgh the enuy of the Diuell death came into the world and heâ—rein is a figure representing the deâ—sert of sin for the breach of Gods Law in that wee not onely die temporally heere but must eternally perish be thrust downe in to the darke dungeon of hell and there bee ouerspred with the flames of perpetuall fire with the riuers of brimstone if that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had not come to our redemption And of this comes that terrour and hangs on vs vntill wee come to the graue Euen as a man that had been pluckt out of a great fire or out of some deepe and dangerous water so oft as hee thinkes vpon it hee is afraid so is it with vs wee are greatly astonished and amazed when wee bethinke vs on that miserie wherein wee should haue beene destroyed had not the death of Iesus come betweene by whom our attonement is made with the Father But yet all the children of God should lâ—â—rne a new language and attend how the holy Gospell speaketh heereof for it calleth the death of the faithfull a sleepe and their graues chambers to sleepe in for as Iesus Christ hath taken the punishment of death from vs and suffered the paines of hell fulfilled Gods righteousnesse and procured eternall life for vs so the holy Spirit in his Gospell doth take away the harsh and hard names of death and doth comfort the Lords Elect with a new tongue Esa. 26.20 as when he saith Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doores abouâ— thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation passe ouer And in another place Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall wake some to shame euerlasting contempt and some to euerlasting life And againe our friend Lazaruâ— sleepeth Ioh. 11.11 but I goe that I may awake him out of sleepe Also the childe is not dead Matth. 27. but sleepeth and there arose many that slept and so in infinite more places Heere hast thou then thy death changed into a soft sleep and thy graue vnto a warme bed When thou diest thou art said to goe to sleepe because he that betaketh himselfe to his rest is in expectation that the next day after he shall rise and when they beat the earth of the graue with the shouell it iâ— called to shut the dore and when we rot in the earth wâ—e are sayd to rest and to hide vs vntill wrath passe ouer our soules A Praier for the mercies of Christ. O Lord God holy Spirit take thou my heart and replenish it with the comfortable mercies of our Lord Iesus Christ teach me to put due difference betwixt the Law Gospell abolish terror and feare for death and learne me that new language of Canaan that I heare it not onely with mine eares but pronounce it by my mouth that I may beleeue and in experience prooue that when the time of my dissolution shall draw neere I shall not die but sweetly sleep vntill it shall please thee by thine Arch-angell and trumpet of God to awake and raise me vp and so do I lie downe now Lord Iesus in thine armes as a childe in the mothers lap and commit my soule vnto thee and sleep as long a time as it pleaseth thee
42. Haue mercy on me ô God 51. And so according to the seuerall constitutions of thy Soule and as thou findest thy tentation to encrease or bee diminished thou mayest make election of this or that Prayer or Psalme in the Scripture And if it be so that thou growest exceeding weake and that thy speech begin to faile thee these sentences which are but short thou mayest remember Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 Luk. 25. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Psal. 31. Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me Lord God of truth Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Act. 7.59 Abide with vs Lord Iesus Luk. 24.29 for it is towards euening and the day is farre spent I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1. and to be with Christ. Flesh. What shall they then doe that stand by when as they see the sicke take his last goodnight from this world and to depart comforted in Soule and to attaine a blessed end Spirit They are to lament and mourne seeing it is a thing very naturall it cannot bee forbidden but thou must not sorrow euen as others which haue no hope for we that are Christians must admit comfort ought to bee constantly and certainely perswaded that our dead are not dead but sleepe that they doe not perish neither are lost but deliuered from this wicked world and gone home to the Lord and would not for the price of this whole world if it were possible to returne hither againe and therefore wee should rather be thankefull vnto God for their happy dedeparture and learne of them to liue regiously and Christianly and remember them who haue spoken vnto vs the word of God whose face wee should follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13.7 and therefore falling on their knees they may pray as followeth The Prayer of those that are about the sicke person when hee is departed We thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ thou euerlasting Prince of life for vpholding this thy creature in true confession and constant faith and for granting him a blessed departure O how gloriously shall his soule bee carried to heauen to euerlasting rest and ioy by the Angels to Abrahams bosom thine owne celestiall spirits attend at his beds side although with our carnall eyes wee doâ— not apprehend them now doth hee repose himselfe in the Lord Iesus armes now hath all displeasure and greefe an end now shall the Lord wipe away all teares from his eyes Reu. 21.4 and giue him euerlasting peace and comfort with ioy and sâ—luation Now euerlasting ioy shal be vpon his head hee shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse Esa. 35.10 and sorrow sighing shall flie away O thou blessed Soule ô deere and sweet friend happy is the case thou art in thou hast borne Christs yoke now art thoâ— dead but yet thou liuest ô Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon vs that are liuing and as yet remaine on the earth and teach vs to runne out the course of this irkesome misery to the end that we may imitate such faith and constancie daily and hourely to bee prepared that wee as this thy creature hath done may make a blessed good-night and follow him with peace and ioy To raigne with Abraham Isaak and Iacob in heauen for euermore Amen CHAP. IX Declaring where the immortal soule goeth after death the resurrectioÌ„ of our body the ioyes of eternall life and paines which the vngodly haue in their destruction Flesh. NOw seeing the soule is immortall what becommeth of it or whither goeth it after this worldly death Spirit Heareof speaketh the Scripture in these and other places full of comfort and consolation Feare not them which kill the bodie Mat. 10.28 and are not able to kill the Soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both Soule and bodie in Hell I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1.22 and to be with Christ which is farre better The Theefe on the crosse when he was to giue vp the Ghost sayd Luk. 23.43 Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome and Iesus sayd vnto him To day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise The Soules of the righteous are in the hands of God Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch them In the sight of the Wise they seemed to dye 2. and their departure is taken for miserie And their going from vs to be vtter destruction 3. but they are in peace Though the righteous be preuented with death Wis. 4 7. yet shall they be in rest There remaineth therfore a rest to the children of God Heb. 4. Luk. 16.22 And it came to passe that the Begger dyed and was carried by the Angells vnto Abrahams bosome But now he is comforted and thou art tormented Vers. 25. Ioh. 14 2. In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come agayne and receiue you vnto my self that where I am there may you bee also For wee know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolued 2. Cor. 51. wee haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternally in the heauens Therefore wee are alwayes confident knowing that whiles wee are at home in the bodie wee are absent from the Lord. But yee see mee Ioh. 14.19 because I liue yee shall liue also Set your affections on things aboue Col. 3.2 not on things of the earth But Hierusalem which is aboue is free Gal. 4.26 which is the mother of vs all Ps. 16.11 Thou wilt shew mee the the path of Life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A meditation of the Soules departure and blessednesse after death Behold deare Soule these speeches ful of comfort proceeded out of Gods mouth to witnesse that there must be a seuerall consideration had of mens soules for the Soule is a Spirit as are the Angells and Immortall and when the Soule of the righteous shal be sundred from the bodie it shall be taken by the Angells and carried to God to liue with Christ in Paradise aboue in the Heauens where it shal bee in glorie and rest in Gods hand farre from sorrow or griefe for wheÌ„ the Soule is seperated from the bodie it is at freedome and can doe much more without the bodie than when it is ioyned vnto it and imprisoned therein because the bodie in this life is verie heâ—uie and hindereth the Soule froÌ„ seeing heauens comfort while it is here vpon earâ—h it can prayse God honour and serue him reioyce and comfort it selfe therewith while it is in this mortal and miserable bodie much more can it perfect and doe when it is without sinne and natiue corruption and hath no such let and
thine in Iesus Christ in whose name wee call vpon thee as hee hath â—aught vs saying Our Father c. FINIS THE SOVLES REQVEST OR A most sweet and comfortable Dialogue betweene CHRIST and the SOVLE full of heauenly and spiritual consolaâ—ionâ— to 〈◊〉 vp the heart cast 〈◊〉 for sinne and sence of Gods wrath PSALMâ— 27.8.9 When thou saydest seeke my face 〈…〉 said vnto thee thy faâ—e Lord I 〈…〉 Hide not thy face farre from 〈…〉 seruant away in anger c. LONDON Printed by Edw 〈…〉 Iohn Marriot and are to be 〈◊〉 at his shop at the White flowe◠〈◊〉 â—uce neere Fetterâ—lane end in Fleet-street 1618. TO THE WORshipful his approued good Friend M r. William Howpill grace mercie and peace in our Lord Iesus Christ. LVke the Euangelist writeth his Histâ—rie of Christ God Luc. 1.3 and Man and dedicated it to Theophilus a louer of God 2 Iob. 1.1 Iohn the Apostle writeth to the elect Ladie of Chriâ—stian loue And who should haue more interest in this my small Dialogue of spirituall comfort then they by whome the bowels of the Saints are so often refreshed Phiâ— 7. Life it selfe is tedious where the taste of the assurance of mercie is absent what peace can please where the peace of conscience raigneth not and that loue of God is not shed abroad in the heart Rom. 5.5 by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs wher forgiuenes of sin is not sealed in the soule filled with ioy which no man can take away what dainties can like when wee eate not that fatted calfe Luc. 15.23 1 Cor. 5.7 Mat. 22.12 Reuel 2.17 and pascall Lambe Iesus Christ that clâ—athed with his righteousnesse as with a garment we may enioy that hidden Manna and tree of life which is in the middest of the Paradice of God Ibid. vers 7. quenching out thirst with those pure waters of life Of the which according to the measure of grace giuen mee I haue briefly written which I recommend vnto your Worship And I beseech the God of all comfort according to the riches of his mercie hee would make you feele and fill you with all heauenly consolation that you may glorying in the Lord looke for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God Tit. 2.13 and our Sauiâ—ur Iesus Christ to your immortalitie To whom be all power and praise in the Church for euer 2 Tim. 4.8 Amen Your Worships in all christian duties Bartholl Robertson THE SOVLES REQVEST OR A most comfortable Dialogue betwixt Christ and the Soule full of spirituall and heauenly consolations to raise vp the heart cast downe for sin and sense of Gods wrath CHRIST O My Beloued Soule why art thou so sad frettest in thy breast knowest thou not that thy afflictions are so sanctified by my spiritâ— that euen thereby thou art made partaker of my holines Heb. 12.10 Heb. 12.14 1 Thess. 1.6 Gal. 6.14 enioyest the sweet fruit of righteousnesse and obtainest a greater measure of ioy in the Holy Ghost that thereby thou art crucified to the world and the world vnto thee haue I not put sweet wood in these bitter waters to make them sauoury destroyed that death that was in the pot of thy troubles by the meale of my mercies greeueth it thee to wade in the waters which I haue swimmed in The SOVLE O Sauiour giue mee that most precious dearest giue of all thy Holy Spirit the Comforter that I may offer a voluntary and free sacrifice of obedience to thee Giue mee that thou askest and aske what thou wilt Alas as of all other kinde of sinne so haue I in my selfe sufficient matter and seede to breed this corruption for in my feeling I cannot see comfort in my sufferings in so exceeding great measure is my vnderstanding corrupt and affections disordered CHRIST I Worke the sense of sin and mercy by degrees in my children and the yeelding to one draweth on another Take heed least at any time there be in thee an vnbeleeuing heart to depart from mee the liuing God Heb. 3.12.13 lest thou be hardned through the deceiâ—fulnes of sinne To see the length height bredth and depth of my mercy is to behold thy sinne and naturall pollution but let not thine â—eart bee eaten vp with greefe Looke alwaies to my mercies thine enemy indeede is a Lyon and so am I and that of the Tribe of Iuda of thine owne flesh he is a Serpent I am that brazen Serpent to sting all the fiery inuasions of sinne death and condemnation if I be heere so to help thee what shall I doe in glory when I come with thousands of Angels hast thou no knowledge of saluation fearest thou thy sinne is there nothing but doubtfulnesse dulnesse and deadnesse in thee thou must know whatsoeuer knowledge experience and power is in mee the same is made thine 1 Cor. 1.30 I am my Fathers counseller and am thy wisdome the Teacher and the thing taught I haue no holinesse in my selfe by the flesh by being borne of my mother yet do saue great sinners seek then righteousnesse out of thy selfe in mee who being no sinner was accounted a sinner and punished as a sinner for thee that thou hauing no righteousnesse mightest bee accounted righteous and rewarded as righteous through mee who am thy righteousnesse Hebr. the authour and finisher of thy saluation so that albeit of thy selfe to perseuere it seemeth impossible yet with mee it is both possible easie And as for the multitude of thy sinnes whereof thou complainest and thou doest well Marie-Magdalen had seuen Deuills yet first honoured with the sight of my Resurrection Moreouer Mathew a notorious and infamous Sinner crowned with the dignitie of an Euangelist and Paule whosâ— clothes tooke a Purple-dye and Crimson colour in the bloud of the Saints is one of the chief and glorious Apostles Thy naturall corruptions I doe chaunge into the power of a supernaturall grace thy wounded spirit vnto a peace of mind I am the Lord of the whole earth and the heyre of heaueÌ„ yet had not wherwith to helpe my necessitie A Lord of Libertie and yet put in Prison and yet am thy Redemption who will not suffer thee to be ouercome and wil wholly free thee from sin and anguishes in the life to come I cannot lye beleeue my Word whereby I am euidently set forth Gal. 31. and crucified before thy heart Attend Prayer which worketh a feeling of thy faith in mee To Heauen I tell thee I haue a two-fold title one by Inheritance which I reserue to my selfe alone another by purchace and conquest which I haue giuen thee freely and wilt thou not relie on these my Mercies The SOVLE LOrd Iesus I doe often call to mind the things thou hast done for thy glory and my Soules health the matter of my thankfulnesse but I do perseuere in sinne and deserue not the least crumme of Mercie that fall from thy Table anie more
vnder the crosse will boast of his perseuerance in time of aduersity but when one deepe calleth another Psal. 42.7 by the noyse of the water-spâ—uts and all the waues floudâ— of God are gone ouer him then falleth all his courage then is heauen out of his way and the earth is sunke vnder him there is no attention to comfort but hee beginnes to sing Gedeons song with impatiency Iudg. 6.13 Ah my Lord if the Lord bee with vs why then is all this come vpon vs. But the faithfull and Christian heart maketh account that not by prosperitie and wealth but by much aduersitie and many crosses Act. 14.22 he must enter into the Kingdom of heauen therfore if it be well with him he thanketh God for his bountie towards him is no way secure but serueth the Lord in feare reioyceth in trembling Psal. 2.11 And when as it is otherwise with him then hee saith with holy Iob shall wee receiue good at the hand of God anâ— not receiue euill and layeth stedfast hold on the crosse and hath Dauids melodie in his mouth My souleâ— waiteth oâ— the Lord Psal 130. 6.7 more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning I will wait on the Lord for with the Lord is mercy with him is great redemption And if it shall be very heauy yet notwithstanding hee will say with faithfull Paul 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull will not suffâ—r mee to bee tempted aboue that I am able but will euen giue the issue with the tentation that I may bee able to beare it And if flesh and bloud bee timorous and would not willingly vndergoe the crosse yet he beleeueth and is perswaded that neither life nor death Rom. 8.38.39 c. nor any other creature shall beâ— able to separate him from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord for to him that feareth God all things worke togâ—ther for the bâ—st Fourthly the chîldren of this world remembring that death shall separate them from their goods honours wiues children lands and possessions and that they shall goe naked out of this world crie out O death how bitter is thy remembranâ—e to a man that liueth at rest in his possessions Eccl. 41.1 vnto the man that hath nothing to vex him and that hath prosperity in all things and say with the Emperour Sâ—uerus I haue beene great and now it profiteth nothing but contrarily the Christian Soule doth chuse the good part which shall not bee taken away from it and euery minute iâ— ready to let slip these transitorie things and saith with that holy King Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me thou hast giuen me more ioy of hart Psal. 4 6.7 then they haue had when their wheat and wine did abound The vnprepared Hipâ—crâ—te when hee falleth ficke bethinkes him of nothing else than how his sicknesse came to him what vnâ—holesâ—me foode he had eate by what meanes he got this drunken surfeit Mat. 10.30 where he catched that cold or too much heat is vnquiet and impatiâ—nt that such mischance should betide him But the faithfull man knoweth that all the haires of his head are numbred and that the pretious gift of his health cannot be taken away without the Lords speciall pleasure and therefore imputeth all vnto Sin My owne wickednesse hath corrected mee Ierem. 2.19 and my turnings backe haue reproued mee I know therefore and behold it that it is an euill thing and bitter that I haue forsaken the Lord my God and that his feare was not in mee And he beginneth with Paule to say Fâ—r this cause am I weake and sicke 1. Cor. 11.30.31.32 for if I would iudge my selfe I should not bee iudged of thee but when I am iudged of thee I am chastised of the Lord because I should not be condemned with the world whereby hee is taught repentance and amendment of Life The Wicked and Infidells doe neuer worke vpon their Soules vntill they be sicke then first begin they to bee holie and before that time all their dayes they haue beene enemies to the Word and Ministerie But now must the Preacher be sent for and with sugred speeches must be entreated for consolation c. But the faithfull Christian is euerie minute in preparation to a blessed death and neuer suffereth himselfe to fall into that condition and behauior of life wherin he would not die and therefore can say with constant magnanimitie Come Lord Iesus my Ioy and Comforter euery houre I attend thee come when thou â—i't I am readie And when neuer so little sicknesse ouertakes him then saith hee with mirth of heart Now let Thou thie Seruant depart in peace 2. Luk. The Infidel and Reprobate whenas he lacketh counsell and helpe in sicknsse hath recourse to Sathan Witches and to vnlawfull meanes and saith most desperately If God will not helpe then helpe Deuill But the Christian beleeuer knoweth that the Lord hath forbidden all such inconuenient meanes and vnderstandeth Sathans policie and craft Exod. 20.3 that it is not for his good but that his soule should separate it selfe from the true SAVIOVR Yea 1 Sam. 28.8 hee is assured it is an hundred times better to die in constant inuocation on Gods name then to liue vnder protection of Sathan and therefore vseth such meanes as the Lord hath appoynted hee will not tempt the Lord his God he will not seeke after the ministerie of such as God hath not promised a blessing vnto but wil say Mat. 8.2 Here am I Lord Iesus let it be vnto me according to thy will if thou wilt thou canst make me clean but Psal. 40.8 if not Loe here I am thy will be done I desire to do thy good wil O God yea thy lawe is within my heart And to be short the children of this world neuer haue memorie on Gods word for they haue not learned and cannot comfort themselues by their baptisme nor that excellent Sacrament of the Lords Supper but cause some scurrilous History and false fable to be read vnto them with such foolishnesse whereby they may dispossesse the thoughts of death and quiet their hearts but the faithful one is acquainted and exercised in gods word diuideth that word of truth puts a difference betwixt Law and Gospell reioyceth in the couenant of mercie in his baptisme seeketh comfort in the other Sacrament wherewith he was fed and refreshed and so obtaineth new trust and ioye from time to time momentanie hee esteemeth but as they are heâ— counteth nothâ—ng of any iâ—y or pleasure but that which is in Christ his redâ—emer that heauenly life and is glad of that blessed houre Sâ—condly how different is their acceptation and entertainment of death for the wicked seeing it by euident experience that he must dye as others do complaineth of mans great miserie and of the shortnesse of this sweet and pleasant life but maketh not preparation
at euery occasion and minute I may bee ready to take my leaue of this world and raigne with thee my Lord and Sauiour eternally in the world to come Amen Meditation of the fourth the manner Concerning the fourth thou art ignorant deare soule by what kinde of disease the Lord will call thee from hence whether it shall happen by pestilence maladie in the head ague c. by shipwracke or fire and it may bee God hath appointed thee to be ouertaken by robbers wilde beasts or some such casualtie yea O soule many neuer intend repentance in all the time and space they haue health and prosperitie vntill some languishment and sicknes seize vpon them but who knoweth whether at any time hee shall haue sicknesse and leisure together Haue wee not daily examples how many decease by palsie by sword and sudden death through sundry other maladies of body and before they were euer sicke or diseased or that God suffered them to haue the benefit of their bed and rest A praier to forsake the world and follow Christ. O God how foolish are wee miserable and fond creatures how smal heed and attention giue wee to daily occurrences The fowle is an vnreasonable creature yet when it seeth another to bee killed beside it shee presently swingeth and flieth away and when it spieth a man to bend his bow aime at it there is no longer staying but quickly conueieth it selfe thither where it may bee secure and safe Euen so O soule death breakes in all places many mens hearts and they do fall on euery side then feare O soule and flie from sinne to righteousnesse from hell to heauen from this damnable and deceitfull world to Iesus Christ that then thou maist boldly say Now shoot death when thou wilt for although thou bereaue mee of this transitorie and momentanie life Heb. 13. yet by a strong and constant faith I possesse the kingdome of heauen which shall giue mee infinitely more then thou canst take from mee Meditation of the soule not to delay repentance Delay not O soule thy repentance vntil thou be sicke Eccl. 12. but worke thy conuersion euen now with-all diligence put not off from day to day thy amendment of life neither continue in wickednesse vntill deaths vncertaine houre approach A praier when first we fall sicke O Iesus Christ my Redeemer preserue me from a painfull sicknesse violent and hastie death ouertake mee not in my sinnes and suffer mee not to die without repentance and giue vnto mee if it be thy pleasure a quiet and patient departure that without great paine and griefe I may in my right wits attaine a blessed end confessing thy most holy name vntill the last gaspe and so to commend my soule and spirit with my whole heart carefully into thy mercifull hands my most gratious and louing Sauiour and Redeemer to whom with God the Father and the holy spirit be rendred from the bottome of my heart all honour power might maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen CHAP. II. Wherein is comprehended the true and right art to die well and first of Christian repentance Flesh. BEcause wee neuer are vnpursued by death it is very needfull therefore that both Young and Old Great and Small Rich and Poore should learne the art of dying blessedly Spirit Yes truely daily examples may teach vs so for consider thy neighbour like as he is dead so shalt thou bee yesterday was his this day for thee Eccl 38. to day a King to morrow dead yea ô Soule death is like a Mower Eccl. 10. which walkes in a greene meadowe cutting with his Sithe all he commeth at and maketh no account whether it be grasse thistle or rose neither considereth hee how old how beautifull or how pretious the hearbes bee there are none too strong for him none too young no castle for height nor bulwarke for securitie can hold him backe he wil not be corrupted with siluer and gold yea if it were possible that thou couldest giue him the whole kingdomes and riches of the world hee would not hold off a minute to abide thy time nor waite a moment for the performance of thy pleasure and will now this should be our daily meditation diligently to marke and carefully learne the day both to liue in Gods feare and dye in his faour The young mans prayer O my God how is man verely as nothing how goeth all beautie away as a shadowe and wretched man knoweth not whether he shall dye old or young neither can any by his riches strength and powre Ps. 144.4 deliuer himselfe or his brother helpe mee my God that from my youth vpward I may constantly giue heed to walke vpright in my wayes Ps. 119.1.9 according to thy word gouerne me by thy holie Spirit that my heart goe not a whoring from thee that my youth neuer puffe mee vppe to bragge thereof Ps. 73.27 and that I put not my trust in health strength honour riches or beautie graunt that I may in my inward mind heare the end of all which is to serue thee and keepe thy commaundements Eccles. 22.13.14 for this is the whole duetie of man for thou wilt bring euerie man vnto iudgement with euery secret thing whether it bee good or euill Lord write this same in my heart and giue me thy grace not onely to vnderstand the same but also to rectifie my life and conuersation thereby vnto my last end and graunt that I may die vnto sin and liue vnto righteousnesse to the glorie of thy holy name through Iesus Christ my sauiour Amen Flesh. How may I then prepare my selfe to die blessedly Spirit The right preparation to a happy death is in the cōstant leading of a Christian and righteous life A Meditation of the Soule for earnest repentance Wouldst thou then dye blessedly beloued Soule make earnest and serious repentance and continue stedfast therin to thy last for God accepteth well conuersion from sin Wis. 12. Ma◠24. and who so abideth to the end he shall be saued A Prayer for speedie Repentance Praysed bee thou my God who hast no pleasure in our death and destruction but rather that wee should turne from our sinfull waies and liue Ezek. 18. Ezek. 33. helpe me Lord Iesus that I delay not my conuersion to thee and shift not ouer my repentance from day to day for thou hast promised me thy mercie but that I might deferre my repentance vntil the morrow second or third day thou hast not promised vouchsafe therefore thy mercie on mee this verie day Ps 95. Tit. 3. that I may redeeme the time lost by an earnest repentance and not bee taken in my sins and trespasses the day following graunt this for the glorie of thy blessed name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauior Amen Flesh. What is then true and Christian repentance Spirit Repentance is nothing else then that a man rise from his sinne and turne with all his
teares as a well cease not neither leaue off for the Almighty is angry for thy sinnes Lam. 2. pardon them ô Lord I beseâ—ch thee and grant that when I shall sleepe in death my bodie may rest temporally and my soule may liue with thee eternally for Iesus c. Flesh. Shall man then in such sorrow doubt and despaire for his sinnes Spirit No God forbid but he should embrace the second part of Christian repentance which is faith in our Lord Iesus Christ who hath satisfied for our sinnes and reconciled vs to God his heauenly father Rom. 5. in this case raise vp encourage thy selfe learne comfort after this manner ô most louing Iesus Christ thou most sweet Sauiour and Redeemer how heauy is my hart how sad is my Soule in my brest Ps. 43.5 Esa. 38. My God thou hast broken all my bones like a Lyon I beseech thee that thou wouldest not despise my contrite and broken hart my Redeemer Ps. 51.17 giue mee thy mercifull hand and draw mee out of this heauinesse and suffer me not to sinke and perish of too much sorrow O my God I thanke thee thou hast touched my heart in making mee vnderstand my sinnes and giuing mee thy mercie to bewaile theÌ„ vnfainedly O I am become godly sorrowfull not to my hurt for godly sorrow worketh Saluation 2. Cor. not to be sorrowed for where else might I haue found comfort for my disquieted Soule of what other shold I haue found rest for my broken heart but of thee onely ô most dearely beloued Sauiour for thou camest into the world to saue miserable sinners 1. Tim. 1. therefore is thy name Iesus Mat 1. to saue thy people from all their sinnes Here am I ô Sauiour although a verie great yet a Penitent sinner Loe I heare thy comfortable voyce Mat. 11. Come vnto mee all yee that are laden and we aried I will refresh you Bâ—hold my God I come and bring with mee a sorrowfull broken Ps. 51.17 and contrite heart O reuiue my dead soule O heale my sinfulâ— wounded conscience O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world take from mee my sinne Ps. 51.9 and the guilt thereof and forgiue all mine iniquities Thou art my Redeemer and the onely sacrifice by which God thy Father and I am reâ—conciled Ioh. 3. for as Moyses exalted the Serpent in the wildernesse so wast thou exalted on the Crosse to the end that I and all that beleeue in thee should not perish but haue euerlasting Life Mar. 9. I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe yea Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee Ioh. 21. albeit with a weake faith neuerthelesse by the same little small faith I put all my trust and confidence in thee and beleeue doubt not I beleeue and know well that all my bitter and grieuous sinnes are surely and verely satisfied for and remitted by thy bloud and death I know and beleeue I am assured and persuaded ô my Redeemer that thy pure conception cleanseth my sinfull conception thy vndefiled birth purgeth my vncleane birth thy holie life sanctifieth my sinfull life thy humiliation is my exaltation thy hellish sorrowes are my heauenly comforts thy bonds are my freedome thy contempt is my honour thy sores are my salue the expulsion of thee is the in-bringing of mee thy smart and payne is the ioy of my Soule thy desert is my Redemption thy passion and death is a sacrifice for all my sinnes thy obedience is satisfaction for all my wickednesse thy descending into hell is my deliuerance from the Deuill power and force of hell Rom. 4. thy resurrectiâ—on is my righteousnesse and thy ascending into heauen is a seale and assurance that I am heire of eternall Life and that through Thee I haue alreadie right title and possesion of the kingdome of heauen Yea Lord Iesus all these hast thou merited for me giuen and bestowed them freely vpon mee and thy heauenly Father accepts of them and accounts them to mee in such maner as if I had deserued all the same in my owne proper person and as if euerie faithfull ones Redemption had beene purchased by himselfe Mat. 9. bee joyfull therfore comfort thee thy sinnes are forgiuen and thou reighteous before God thou hast a mercifull Father in heauen thou art heire of eternall Life thou hast the earnest of thy inheritance in thy heart which beares witnesse vnto thy spirit that thou art the Sonnâ— yof God Who will craue ought here is Christ that hath payed and satisfied for thee Who will accuse thee Rom. here is God that pronounceth thee Iust and Holie Meditation of the Soule of faith in Christ. Doest thou meditate on that hurt thou incurredst by the first fall doth that corruption deriued vnto thee from Adam grieue thee O giue thankes and praise to the Lords name for thou hast obtayned more in Iesus Christ thy Redeemer than thou hast lost in Adam the trespasser ô miracle of all miracles who can comprehend such things bee glad ô my soule and consider narrowly what thou losest in the first what was gotten in the second Adam againe Behold how Sathan is disappointed of his purpose for hee minded to draw thee altogether and finally from God and to draw thee in the pit of Gods euerlasting displeasure but contrarywise Christ thy Lord hath not onely reconciled thee with thy father quenched his wrath and anger and purchased mercy to thee but also hath aduanced thee to such vnspeakable promotion Heb. 2. that thou art become Gods kinsman for he hath taken thy flesh bloud vpon him thou couldest neuer haue come to higher promotion and preferment vnlesse thou hadest beene euen God himselfe And Sathan bethought him to driue thee out of the garden of Paradise and so bereaue thee of the companie and societie of the holy Angels but quite contrarie Christ thy Sauiour not only brings thee to that healie Paradise and eternall life but exalteth thee aboue all Angels and maketh thee most honourable in that he took not the Angels but mans nature vpon him Heb 2. Sathan also intended to take from thee the food of life and it so happened for the Lord God excluded man by reason of his transgression that he should not eat of the tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3. but now Christ is that nourishment Ioh. 6. and tree of life farre more excellent and good then that first which extends and dilateth his boughes and branches whereby wee come vp to heauen hideth vs vnder him feedeth vs of him and wee are satiate and shall haue vnder his shadow quietnesse and rest for euermore Againe Sathan would haue carried thee from thy righteousnesse cast thee deepely downe into sinne spoyled thee of thy originall justice wherein without sinne thou wert first created to Gods similitude but on the other side Christ thy Lord freely giueth thee a
take my yoak vpoÌ„ you for he that will follow mee must forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse daily and come after mee and this precept is not giuen to any Infidell and wicked man Luk. 9.23 but vnto the faithfull and holy ones For the crosse of Christ is such a precious iewell that hee will not commit it to the vngodly and incredulous yet such an ornament hee will not bestow vpon prophâ—ne and godlesse people behold Simon of Cyrene Luk. 23.28 what greater honour could there come vnto him then that hee helped Christ to beare his Crosse behinde him ô what commendations shall it be vnto him at the last day A Prayer for obedience in the Crosse of Christ. O Lord Iesus Christ thou who hast enioyned that I should beare thy Crosse giue mee an obedient heart that I may with all humility receiue it vpon my shoulders 1 Kin. 3.9 and in all possible readinesse follow thee according to thy good pleasure through the same Lord Iesus Christ in whose name I call on thee saying Our Father c. Flesh. Shew me the third rule how to beare the crosse of Christ patiently Spirit Iesus our Sauiour hath three sorts of schooles of aduersity The first is of nurture when as hee reclaimeth his owne from sinne 1 Cor. 11.32 and chastizeth them for the same The second schoole is of probation or triall when hee exercizeth their faith Mic. 7 9. Esay 28. Esay 28.26 Esay 44. Rom. 8. hope and prayer The third is martyrdome when hee suffereth his Saints to bee persâ—cuted for his name sake A Meditation of the soule concerning the comfort of Christ to those that suffer for his sake Hearken ô my Soule thou art the Lords Disciple and Scholler and hee will not faile neither must thou grudge to bee brought vnto one of these schooles for if it so happen that hee punish thee for thy sinne as he did King Dauid thanke him for his correction It was good for mee saith Dauid that thou chastizedst mee that I might learne thy iudgements Psal. 119. And if hee put thee to triall as he did Ioseph and Iob Psal. 44. then bethinke thee that heereby he puts an edge vpon thy faith wakens thy hope prouokes thee to prayer Esay 25.9 and if he aduance thee to that honour to be persecuted cast in prison or dy for his name sake then reioyce that thou art couÌ„ted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name Act 5.14 A Prayer for stedfast faith in all afflictions O Lord Iesus Christ thou who wast not ashamed to hang vpon the crosse with disdain and all kind of reproch grant that I neuer blush to stand by thy crosse with the Virgin Mary and if thou bring me thereunto mercifully maruellously help me to follow thee Ioh. 19.25 bee prepared if neede bee to lay down my life for thy sake according to thy pleasure grant this heauenly father for Iesus Christs sake my only Sauiour and Redeemer to whom bee all honour and glory Amen Flesh. Shew me the fourth rule of Christs Crosse. Spirit The crosses of the faithfull are a token and signification of Gods loue for whom hee loueth hee chastizeth Reu 3.19 but the world shall reioyce saith he but yee shall weep and lament Ioh. 16.20 for so iudgement must beginne at Gods house and therefore in the daies of Ieremiah 1 Pet. 4.17 the Lord began to bring euill on the City which is called by his name Ier. 25.29 and hee that loues his childe will not spare the rod Hebr. 12.6 but if thou art without chastisement whereof all are partakers which are his sons then art thou a bastard and not a sonne behold thy Lord Iesus Christ the onely begotten sonne of his father how angry was his father with him how bitterly did God smite him although it was not for his owne sinne but for the offences of other men A Prayer for willingnesse to vndergoe the Crosse of Christ. Lord Iesus helpe mee that I neuer withdraw my selfe from thy crosse and correction but willingly embrace and kisse the same as a well â—nclined childe and heartily thank thee at all times for whatsoeuer blowes or scourges it shall please thee to inflict vpon me Grant this ô heauenly father for the same my Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen Flesh. Shew mee the fifth rule concerning Christs Crosse Spirit The greater the euill is the Lord is the neerer for he will bee with vs in trouble hee will deliuer vs and honour vs Psal. 90.15 yet how hard is it to flesh bloud to beleeue it for we suppose that when sorrow and greefe is at hand the Lord hath forgot vs and giuen vs vp to Satan and to all kinde of mischance ô not so my soule for although Sathan bee thy professed enemy and goeth about night and day to deuoure thee yet can he not touch an haire of thy head by his will Mat. 10.30 yea how is it possible the Lord should not remember vs for in acceptable time will he heare vs and in a day of saluation will hee help vs Esay 49.8 can a woman forget her sucking childe that shee should not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord but if it is for a small moment that hee forsaketh thee but with great mercies will he gather thee in a little wrath he will hide his face from thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee Esay 54.7 saith the Lord thy Redeemer the mountaines shall depart and the hils be remoued but his kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my mercy and peace bee remoued from thee Vers. 10. saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee for how should hee lie who is verity himselfe Light therefore is sowen vnto the godly in darknesse and therefore Psal. 112 4 Rom. 8. Psal. 23.1 if God be with vs who can bee against vs. Now then the Lord is thy sheepheard thou shalt want nothing that is good for thee A Prayer when wee haue obtayned faith in Christ. Lord Iesus I hauing once the possession of thee I account nothing of the heauen or earth or fulnesse thereof but esteeme all to be dung and naught in regard of thee and thy knowledge Ps. 73. and albeit my soule and life should be grieuously tormented eyther with inward or outward tormeÌ„ts and afflictions thou art my lot and the portion of inheritance for euer grant therefore O Lord God my faith fayle not but with assured hope of glorie I may call on thee my Sauiour Amen Flesh. Shew mee the sixt rule concerning the crosse of Christ and the crosses of this life Spirit The Crosse serueth Gods children to their good for wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God to them who are called according to his purpose Rom.
Thess 5.17 while wee are heere call vpon the Lord in all thy actions seek for help and counsel of him in all thy redresse and sorrow feare God hope in him beleeue in him and stay for his comming so shall mercie and grace blessings and life compasse thee euerie where round about for nonâ— euer was ashamed that put their trust in him Rom. 10.10.11 or yet that had called rightly on his name Ps. 145.18.19 for the Lord is neere vnto all them that call vpon him to all that call vpon him in truth hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him hee also will heare their crie and will saue them A most comfortable Prayer to God for receiuing and accepting our Prayers I thanke thee my Lord and my God for these thy vnspeakable benefits that thou hast not onely commaunded vs to call vpon thy name in all distresse but of thy fatherly loue and kindnesse hast giuen vs to vnderstaÌ„d that thou willingly wilt heare and graunt in conuenient season whatsoeuer is good and profitable eyther to the soule or bodie I beseech thee my good God powre out on me thy holie spirit Zach. 12.10 that Spirit of Prayer Grace and Supplications that I may delight and take pleasure in calling on thee and euery day bow the knee of my heart before thee my Father who art the right father ouer all thy children in Heauen and in Earth Helpe mee daylie to apâ—proach more and more vnto thee with all confidence and trust on the name of Iesus Christ my Lord that I may call on him as a good child doth on his beloued father Graunt I may lift vp holy hands without wrath and doubting that all my Prayers yea the meanest thought of my heart is certainely heard of thee Lend me patience whensoeuer my helpe is delayed Hab. 2.3 for I cannot prescribe vnto thee time or maner though thou tarrie I may waite for thee because thou wilt surely come and wilt not tarrie Heb. 10.38 that I doe not slide backe but still liue by faith Let mee haue thy Grace whereby I may serue thee acceptably Heb. 12.28 with reuerence and godly feare for the Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him Ps. 147.11 in those that hope in his mercie gouerne mee my God and make mee remember by thy holie spirit daylie to bethinke mee of my mortallitie that I may euer bee in readinesse and may pray at euerie occasion from my heart for a blessed seperation from this world graunt this mercifull father for Iesus Christs sake in whose blessed name we call on thee saying Our Father c. CHAP. IIII. Containeth how a Christian man should behaue himselfe when God sends sicknesse vpon him Flesh. How then shall a Christian man behaue himselfe when God shall visit him with sicknesse Spirit Thou knowest not deare Soule whether God will visit thee by sicknesse or suddainely withoâ—â— bodily disease call thee hence The faithfull Soule should euer remeÌ„ber the vncertainetie of death Therefore often haue I aduertised thee that thou shouldest not delay repentance till thou beest sicke but daylie call on God yea the selfesame time thou art in bodily health stand stedfastly in the faith and good preparation wherein thou needest not stand in feare of safetie thinke vpon that rich foolish drunken Naball how hastily the Lord smote him that heâ— died Sam. 25.38 Remember that rich man who denied to Lazarus the crums which fell from his Table how short Luk. 16.22 his being here was Forget not that wretched wealthie man of whom it is sayd Thou Foole this night thy Soule shall bee required of Thee then whose shall all those things be which thou hast prouided Luk. 12. â—0 And what should I say more wee are daylie taught by euident eye-sight that innumerable numbers dye before euer they be diseased truly before God thou art of no better account than other nor knowest thou what chance he will permit to ouertake thee but if it shall so happen the Lord should call thee from hence by bodily sicknesse and cast thee downe on thy bed thou mayest thus learne to dispose of thy selfe 1 Learne to know the causes of thy sicknesse which is sinne 2 Seeke remission of thy sinnes and reconciliation with God 3 Pray to God for a gratious departure and cause the congregation to pray for thee 4 Contemne not the ordinarie menanes and physicke so thou canst haue the opportunitie of it 5 If thy sicknesse continue striue to be patient and beware of impatiencie 6 Haue euer this full assurence in thy heart that thou in thy greatest malladie and weakenesse art Gods deare child 7 If Sathan assault thee resist him by Faith so will he depart from thee 8 If thy time and houre be come giue theâ— ouer vnto Gods will and pleasure 9 If the Lord shall restore thee to thy health agayne bee thankefull euen from thy heart vnto his gratious Maiestie for thy recouerie A Prayâ—r against sudden death Preserue mee O Lord Iesus Christ if it bee thy will from a sudden death suffer me not to dye in my sinnes but that I may dâ—y and night bethinke mee on the hour of my death euer prepared in a sauing repentance in strong faith and stedfast hope that I may blessedly sleepe from hence when it shall please thee but if so be thou do not call mee by bodily infirmitie here am I in all lowlinesse before thee for I know thou art so mercifull and good that thou dost suffer nothing to betide mee but which shall be good and sauing for mee Graunt me but this that I may alwayes bee in readinesse as a good patient that both sicknesse and death may redound to thy glorie And this I craue at thy hands for Iesus Christs sake and in his name I call on thee saying Our Father c. Flesh. Now open vnto mee those nine fâ—resayd heads that I may bee taught how to vse my selfe in my sicknesse Spirit First remember well that as death is the wages of sinne so likewise are all sicknesses Gods punishments whereby hee brings vs to him when wee haue gone astray by sinne Doe not O soule as the couetous and vngodly and Inâ—idells doe who when they are â—icke beginne to wrastle and lament therefore that their costs are spent and they cannot haue health to earne more or else they begin to meditate how it happened them whether they haue Eat any vnwholsome Meats or Drunke any hurtfull Drinkes or if by other means their maladie hath taken them But remember what the Prophet saith Ier. 2.19 Thine owne Wickednesse shall correct thee and thy back-sliding shall reproue thee Know therefore and see that it is an euill thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my feare is not in in thee saith the Lord of Hostes and therefore he who sinnes against his maker shall fall into the hands of his flesh A Meditation of
the soule learning to know the cause of sicknesse Hearest thou ô Soule in this poynt thou shouldest bee singularly attentiue for when the Lord shall intend to call thee all outward meanes must obey him for wheÌ„ we his creatures will not know the diseases of our soules then doth the Lord send sicknesse of body that wee might haue greater coÌ„sideration of our soules and bee alwayes in repentance and as our children sometimes meâ—it the rod and correction so do we deseâ—ue sicknesse and punishment at Gods hands ô thou merciful God if thou shouldst visit vs so often with sicknesse as wee deserue wee should not bee one twinckling of an eye in perfect health but it is but now and then that thou chastizest vs to the intent wee should euer remember and feare thy holy name And often it commeth to passe thatinfants and young ones are chastized of the L. so that they make the elder in yeeres sorrowfull and are mooued to lament and pity the poore distressed soules 2 Sam. 12.15 for sicknesse is an Ambassadour sent of God counselling vs to rise from sinne and not to perish in our wickednesse lest it bee sayd Woe vnto their soules Esay 3.9 for they haue rewarded euilto themselues marke deare Soule how insolently and carelesly men lead their liues that are not touched with the crosse or any sicknesse at all they regard not the word of God neither the Sacraments they forget both faith in Christ and prayer then are their soules in greatest danger for the lesse a father corrects the more disobedience groweth in his children so is it with mankinde the greater health and wellfare they haue the more negligent wax they and secure A comfortable Prayer in time of sicknes Lord Iesus Christ here lie I full sicke and acknowledge that it is thy fatherly pleasure that it should bee so for there cannot perish an haire of my head without thy will how then should I lose the precious gift of my health but by thy pleasure behold Lord thou hast euen made me such an one as thou willingly wouldst looke vpon and as thou in thy passion wast a worme and not a man Psal. 22.6 â—uen so hast thou made mee like vnto thee Psal. 39 11. ô my God when thou with rebukes doest correct man for his iniquity like a moth thou makest his beauty to consume away I thank thee my God that thou hast corrected mee for I know that it is for my weale my God thou louest mankinde well and faithfull are the wounds of a friend helpe me my God Pro. 27.6 that I may bee mindefull of this chastâ—zement all the dayes of my life and may feare thee and depart from euill which shall bee the health to my nauell Pro. 3.8 and marrow to my bones make mee circumspect ouer sin that some danger or other a great deale worse then this befall not euen for my Sauiour Iesus Christ sake to whome be all honor and glory now and for euer Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may haue remission of my sinnes and be reconciled to God Spirit Secondly seeing that now thine outward sicknesse affrayes thee and thou art sicker where thou feelest it not giue diâ—igence aboue all things to apply physicke thereto thy true health is repentance and stedfast faith in Iesus Christ by which thou mayest attaine forgiuenesse of sinne and a mercifull father in heauen for by faith thy hart is purified and accouÌ„ted righteous thou receiuest peace and ioy in conscienc so that thou art reuiued although thy body be weak and diseased The sicke persons prayer and confession that his sinnes are cause of his sicknesse I confesse before thee my Lord Iesus Christ with a broken and contrite heart that I haue procured this my sicknesse by my sinnes and am greeued from my soule and heart that I haue offended thy Maiestie and brought my selfe to this mishap yet ô Lord thou settest not light by a sorrowfull soule looke therefore vnto my miserie Psal. 147.3 and heale my wounded heart â—orgiue me all my trespasses and cleanse mee from my wickednesse wherby I haue kindled thy wrath against me ô Lord my Redeemer who speakest alway peace vnto thy pâ—ople and consolation to the perplexed Comfort my Soule say vnto my hart ioyfull words Sonne be of good cheere Matth 9.2 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee how am I thereby refreshed in my soule life marrow and bones Yea Lord Iesus if thy holy word were not my trust then should I perish in my weaknesse I beleeue and am perswaded that by thee Iesus Christ attonement is made for mee reconciliation with thy father purchased and I am ordained to that heauenly blessednesse to which thou of thine infinit mercy bring mee for Christ sake to whom bee glory and honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may pray for a gracious departure in time of sicknesse Spirit Thirdly in time of sicknesse we should haue our recourse vnto our God Psal. 41.3 the Lord will strengthen vs vpon the bed of languishing and make our beds in sicknesse and therefore my sonne in thy sicknes be not negligent but pray vnto the Lord as did Ezekiah and he will make thee whole Esay 38.2 leaue off from sin and order thy hands aright and cleanse thine heart from all wickednes and see thou communicate thine inward sorrow and greefe Eccles. 38.9.10 vnto the congregâ—tion of the Saints of God that they may ioyne with thee in praier for many stickes make the greater fire Verily verily I say vnto thee saith our Sauiour that if two of you shall agree on earth Mat. 18.19 as touching any thing what they shall aske shall bee done for them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered together in my name Vers. 20. there am I in the midst of them and if it be that thy sicknesse bee so vehement and thou so weake that thou canst not pray with thy mouth make then sighes and groanings of a true heart to ascend vnto the Lord for the spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8.26 with groanings which cannot bee vttered perseuer therefore in inuocating on Gods name by thy voice thoughts and cogitations and by the Church and delay not before that the Lord doe looke vpon thee and helpe thee The sicke mans Prayer O LOrd Iesus Christ thou hast sent thy messenger which is sicknesse vnto me to waken vp my repentance be hold my Lord I know it is thy will thou wouldest haue me obedient and conuerted vnto thee I haue nothing to direct vnto thee but my prayers and the poore sinfull and imperfect sighes of my heart out of the deeps therefore I haue cried vnto thee Lord heare my voice let thine eares bee attentiue to the voice of my supplications I wayte for the Lord my Soule doth waite and in
thy dearest friends then say Hide not thy face farre from me Psal. 27.9 10. put not away thy seruant in anger thou hast beene my helpe leaue me not neither forsake mee ô God my saluation When my father and my mother forsake mee then the Lord will take mee vp In another place Psal. 73.25 26. whom haue I in heauen but thee and there is none vpon the earth that I desire but thee my flesh and my heart failes but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer If Sathan say thou must yet neuerthelesse die answer blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14.13 and if hee proceede and say thou shalt neuerthelesse be condemned for hee will not depart at one repulse then mayest thou with all boldnesse and courage of Spirit say Thou liâ—st Satan for thou art a lyer from the beginning for none that beleeue in Iesus Christ shall perish but shall haue euerlasting life The sicke persons prayer for comfort and victory ouer all tentations of Sathan O thou Lord Iesus Christ Almighty destroyer of hell death and condemnation and eternall victor and conquerour for mee strengthen mee in all my weaknesse by thy holy Spirit that I may take vnto me the whole armour of God Eph. 6.13 that I may be able to withstand in the euill day and hauing finished all things to stand fast my loynes girded about with verity 14. and hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnesse and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace 15. 16. hauing the shield of faith wherewith I may bee able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked 17. the helmet of saluation and sword of the spirit which is thy word 18. and pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance That thus being in armes like a valiant champion and Christian souldier I may manfully fight vnder thy banner and hauing ouercome may through thy grace bee crowned with glory wherethou art at the right hand of thy father in the heauens blessed God for euer and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee how I may conclude my dayes and coÌ„mend my spirit to God Spirit As for the â—ighth and ninth point beloued soule looke to the end of thy sicknesse and if thou shalt perceiue that thou canst not liue long then with all patience thou mayest say Act. 7.59 Lord Iesus Christ receiue my Soule I desire to be dissolued to be with thee Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit And continue herein euen to thy last gaspe and when words and motions of thy outward members shall begin to fayle thee then betake thee to thy inward and most heauenly contemplations as of the place whether thou art going of them that are there before thee of the Saints to whom thou shalt be welcome and of Iesus Christ the Doore and Way by whom thou shalt enter with whom thou shalt be blessed eternally But if it shall so bee that God shall restore thee to thy wonted health then thanke him all thy life time both in heart and word and deed and giue diligent heed seeing thou art made whole Iohn 5.14 that thou sinne no more least a worse euill come vnto theâ— Wherfore fall vpon thy knees and oft and diuers times recite this Prayer following A thanksgiuing after sicknesse I thanke thee Almightie Lord God that thou so kindly fatherly hast visited and chastised mee for my offences it is good for mee that thou hast humbled mee that I might learne thy precepts O my God how often remeÌ„bred I thy deare seruant king Ezekiah who sayd I shall not see the Lord Esa. 38.11.12 euen the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the Earth my age is departed and is gone from mee as a Sheepeheards Tent I haue cut off like a Weauer my life from day euen to night thou wilt make an end of mee But I now vnderstaÌ„d O Lord that this my sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glorie of God that thou Son of God mightest be glorified thereby for thou hast had mercie vpon mee thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back Thou louedst my soule and deliueredst it from the pit of corruption how comfortably hast thou turned my sicknesse into health I thanke thee my God yea I thanke thee from the bottom of my hart that thou hast raysed mee from my bed that I may visit and frequeÌ„t thy house walke in my calling and perfit my actions Lam. 3 22. It is of thy goodnesse and mercies that I am not consumed because thy compassions fayle not O how oft should I remember this thy rod of correction how wisely should I walke all my dayes that I may eschew thy wrath assist mee my God that with the new health of my bodie I may begin to lead a new life graunt that I may alwayes praise thy name gouerne mee by thy holy Spirit that I may glorifie thee by my life and not giue my membersweapons of vnrighteousnesse to serue sinne for thou hast deliued my soule from death which hath waited for me thou art my help and my shield my heart shall reioyce heereafter euery moment in thee for thou hast compassed me with songs of deliuerance I will praise thee in the congregation in the midst of the people I will sing vnto thee ô Lord To whom be praise and glory now and for euer Amen CHAP. V. Containing a spiritual confutation of all worldly fleshly thoghts which molest-men when as they intend the Art to die well Flesh. FOr so much as the Christian in his sicknesse or in any other estate should daily aduise himselfe on the houre of his death yet notwithstanding there are many terrours in mens hearts whereby they are afraid of Death Spirit That is naturall deare soule for our nature in the beginng was not created to dy but to liue but death is come into the world by sione for death is the wages of sinne Rom. 5.12 Yea beloued Soule like as death is a consumer of all that haue life so all that haue life are foes enemies to death for seeing man of nature hath but a short time to liue it is no maruell neither yet sinne nor to bee discommended in any man to be afâ—aid of death and to auoyd it by all meanes possible Wee haue a remarkable example in our Sauiour Iesus Christ hee began to bee sorrowfull and very heauy before death Mat. 25.37 for hee knew that his howre did approach for albeit there were many causes of his sorrow and sadnesse vpon the mount of Oliues yet was this one because hee was a very true man and had in him all our naturall conditions and affections and therefore while the God-head which is the Word rested it selfe and held it selfe quiet in that anguish of his
death and became obedient to admit such pain feare and astonishment of death to come ouer his body which was wiâ—hout sinne it sâ—eweth vs that his humane nature had no pleasure to die yea and himselfe saith I haue a baptisme to bee baptâ—zed with Luk. 12. â—0 and how am I straitned till it be accomplished A Prayer against the feare of Death I thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast not created mee to death but to life and hast implanted a loue in mine heart to liue I request thee from the bottome of my heart teach mee to vnderstand that death ruleâ—h ouer all because of sinne and ouercometh me grant by thy holy spirit that so oft as death shall assault me I may be enemie to iniquitie and euer flie and efchew sinne as death it selfe helpe me ô Lord that in true faith I may hold me fast by thee for thou art life it selfe Ioh. 11.25 and so may freely and boldly say I shall taste of death although I were dead but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Psal. 118.17 Grant I may beleeue from my heart that by Thee the Prince of life I may be deliuered from eternall death and attaine vnto that euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne Amen Flesh. But there are yet some that earnestly craue to die and long for it Spirit Yes truely but it is to be vnderstood that there are twâ— kindes of men which desire to die The Infidell prophane vngodly often wish to die and that of impatiency because of the great misery wherewith God punisheth them for their sinnes for seeing they are without the knowledge of God and without faith they are not participant of the crosse of Christ but despaire in impatiency grudge against God wish themselues not onely to die but also often times lay violent hands on themselues as Iudah Saul and Achitophel did purposing to put an end thereby to their sorrow and misery but then is it that first they begin to haue proofe of their wickednesse sweet heauenly Father keepe vs from hence But the children of God the more they grow in knowledge and increase in faith and loue of Christ the more they are weary of this wretched world and long for that eternall rest and haue Pauls wish in their hearts I desire to depart and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 yea our Sauiour commandeth vs Matt. 6.13 that we should daily craue to bee deliuered from euill for therein not onely doe we pray for deliuerance from transitory distresses of soule or bodie but we aske from our heart that God would either put an end to this sinnefull and wicked world or else come in a blessed time and pull vs from hence to euerlasting rest and quietnesse A Prayer for patience in trouble Now helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I in the abundance of my crosses may rightly order my selfe and learne of thee how I should beare the waight of my yoke Mat. 11.30 preserue mee that I neuer craue my death through impatiency much lesse that euer I shorten the dayes of my life which thou hast giuen bee but grant that euermore day by day I may learne to know thee to establish and confirme my faith and the longer I shall liue the more dearly to loue thee to the end I may learne to contemne this world and to long after that heauenly world which thou hast made to stand in the conquest of Christ by his bloud To whom with thee and thy holy spirit one blessed God I render praise and and glory now and euer Amen Flesh. May a man with a good conscience pray for a long life Spirit Vnto this question S. Paul answereth for Christ should alwaies be magnified in our bodies whether it be by Life or by Death Phil. 1 20.2â—.22.23.24 for to mee to liue saith he is Christ and to me to dye is gayne but if I liue in the Flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall chuse I wote not for I am in a strait betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you and hauing this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and ioy of Faith A meditation of the Soule tossed in the troublesome waues of this life Here mayest thou perceiue beloued Soule that Paule was tossed with two diuers opinions and thoughts he longed for rest and counted it best esteemed it also good that hee should abide in the flesh longer and beleeued that God would spare him that in his ministerie hee might further serue both God and Man yet in both these had this only before his eyes that Christ should be magnified in his bodye whether it were by life or by death So doth also the king Ezekiah 2. King 20.1.2.6 to whom the Prophet Amos denounced death but he turned his face vnto the Wall and prayed vnto the Lord who added vnto his daies fifteene yeares And so was also Paule greatly joyed for his brother and companion in labour and fellow-souldier Epaphroditus who was sicke Phil. 2.25.27 neere vnto death but God had mercie on him and not on him onely but on meâ— also saith Paule least I should haue sorrow vpon sorrow Follow these examples and thou shalt not goe amisse for if thou canst be necessarie vnto God and thy neighbour it is conuenient thou shouldest craue a long and sound life that thou mayest bee a profitable vessel of mercie and chosen to good actions Neuertheles submit thee alwayes to his will and be readie euerie day to be dissolued for time is but lent thee A Prayer for Health and Gods blessings on our Labours Euerlasting Almightie God thou art my Life and Length of my daies my time is in thy hands for in Thee wee liue and mooue and haue our being Act. 17.28 I thank thee from the ground of my heart that thou hasâ— to this present houre suâ—stayned mee and giuen me a healthfull life and good vnderstanding thaâ— in my calling I mighâ— serue thee my God and my neighbour O God thou seest and knowest mâ— heart that I am willinâ— and verie desirous faithâ—fully and truely to walkâ— forward in my vocation and trade and that I haue no wicked purpose noâ— false pretence in my hart I humbly therefore entreat if it shall stand with thy praise and glorie and my owne saluation that thou wouldest prolong my daies and conduct me by thy holy spirit that I may learn to know thee more fully and serue my neighbour more intirely yet if it bee not thy pleasure and that thou knowest it to be better for mee take mee hence vnto thy selfe when thou wilt for I wholely renounce mine owne will and submit me to thy good wil and pleasure Graunt this vnto mee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake Amen Flesh. What shall moue
faithfull and godly affaires yea and as thy mother was left a widdow so wast thou also fatherlesse for Ioseph liued not long with thee therefore thou knowest both estates yea what is hid from thee ô thou searcher of hearts yea ô Lord Iesus thou becamest fatherlesse for all the poore orphans sakes I deliuer vnto thee now my fatherlesse children there receiue thou them it may well be that both I they shall praise and thanke thee therfore vpon that last day Blesse and replenish their hearts with true godlinesse their bodies with soundnesse according to thy will their life with Christian education and grant them whatsoeuer may comfort them in this world or in the world to come Satiate them with a long life and shew them thy saluation ô thou horne of my saluation Thou gouernest thy children maruellously Psal. 91.16 thou teachest and rulest them euermore they know thy voice and follow it grant them patience and mercie that they neuer separate themselues from thee and neuer desist from obedience and true loue to thee and their neighbours vntill thou shalt receiue them into those eternall and euerlasting habitations to be with my Sauiour in heauen for euermore Luk. 16.9 Amen CHAP. VI. Declaring how a Christian man shall willingly giue himselfe to die ouercome the bitternesse thereof and how in constant perseuerance hee may continue to the end Flesh. I Pray you shew mee how I may quiet the feare of death to the end I may willingly adayes which speech iâ— had of death Tush saâ— they a stout heart will ouercome death A Meditation of the Soulâ— against the feare of Death But deare Soule these are nothing else but fleshly and miserable cogitations for our owne courage shall neuer carrie coÌ„fort to the hart nor hope of eternall life For these wicked mens hearts are notwithstanding replenished with perplexitie and griefe for they know not to whom they should come to render their Soules O but the children of God haue a farre more forcible and pithie physicke against the feare of death yea a notable secret reuealed vnto them from aboue which is in true faith and cheerefull confidence in our Lord Iesus Christ which whosoeuer hath and thereby shall lay hold on him hath a preseruatiue and antidote against all the terrors and feares of death And why wilt thou O my Soule be afraid of death knowest thou whose thou art and what thou art thou art â—arth and must returne to earth but Iesus Christ is thy Life Col. 3.3 why mistrustest thou Death is thy Life knowest thou whither thou shalt goe Col. 3 3. Iohn 14.6 Behold Christ is the Way and Ladder to Heauen attend therefore thou must and kisse his Sonne and thou shalt not perish from the way Ps. 2.12 for blessed are they that put their trust in him for hauing him thou hast all things and without him all other things are naught The Sick-mans prayer and faith in Christ. Yea my Lord Iesus Christ thou diedst for my sinnes thou hast reconciled mee with thy father thou hast ouerthrowne death and meriâ—ted eternall life for them that constantly beleeue and hold out vnto the end Now therefore there ariseth mirth and joy in my heart and rest and peace and I count nothing of death for by thee Iesus Christ I haue remission of all my sinnes and am pure and righteous before God O he is a good mercifull father vnto mee I am his deare child and heauenlie heyre and now Lord Iesus I am thine own peculiar whom thou hast redeemed not with corruptible things as siluer and gold but with thy precious bloud as of a lambe without blemish and without spot And hast deliuered mee from hell yea I am thy brother and fellow heire and all that thou hast is mine yea I am thy beloued deere bride thy pleasure and thy joy thy treasure which thou hast dearely bought I am likewise the temple and habitation of thy holie spirit by whom I am sealed vnto the day of redemption yea Lord Iesus thou hast so reconciled and vnited mee that I am Bone of thy Bone and Flesh of thy Flesh yea all thy creatures should rather come to naught thaÌ„ that I should bee seperated from thy loue what then can death worke vpon mee surely nothing else but that I may more nearely approach vnto thee my God Therefore respect I not death but haue life in my thoughts and mind and speake of nothing else but life for Christ is vnto mee both in life and death againe yea I will sing and say with faithfull Iob Iob. 19.25.26.27 I know that my Redeemer liueth and that he shall stand at the later day vpon the earth and though after my skinne be perished wormes destroy this bodie yet in my flesh shall I see thee whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not an others Though my raynes bee consumed within mee Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest that I both beleeue in thee and by my faith remaine with thee eternally yea and I also know that I beleeue in thee and feele the sweetenesse of my faith taste of euerlasting life in my heart Thou art mine and I am thine and I am possessor of all that thou hast as life with euerlasting peace and joy what account I then these transitorie things Hauing thee I haue all things I could wish both earthly and heauenly A way with this temporall pleasure and beautie of this life and all other fading and perishing things for thou Lord Iesus art my comfort alone my goods and wealth my honour delight and euerlasting riches I haue trusted in thy mercie my heart shall rejoyce in thy Saluation O how dearely loue I thee Ps. 13.5 Ps. 18.1 Ps. 28.7 ô Lord my strength ô Lord my rocke my sheild the horne of my saluation and strong defence Such faith such loue burneth in my heart to thee Lord Iesus the which hath so possessed mee and incouraged mee that I am affraid neither of death nor distresse for I am sure that death it selfe and all things shall worke together for my best Now come Lord when thou wilt come I say I am certainely and surely persuaded that in thee and by thee I shall haue life and euerlasting contentment then come Lord Iesus â—hoâ— true God conclude this life destroy thou the last enemie which is death place me in my fathers inheritance whereof I haue thy bloud sprinckled on my heart an vndoubted pawne I am far from home heere and a forrâ—iner in a strange countrey take me home to mine owne that there I may sit at thy table with Abraham Isaak and Iacob that as Iohn enclined on thy bosome at the last Supper so I may rest my wearied soule on thee my God for euer Amen Flesh. I haue truely conceiued comfort and and life in mine heart if I could constantly keepe it but I am afraid my faith will decay in time of triall Spirit Thou hast thine owne
Gen. ca. 26. If God keepe not promise wee haue done with saluation but God will keepe it and not lye And therefore albeit our hâ—arts doubt wee must haue our recourse vnto him who will not change for the Lord speaketh so of himselfe I am the Lord and lye not And againe Gods gifts and callings are without repentance Consider this deare Soule and hold thee fast by Gods word He appeareth to be angry but is well pleased 1. Ioh. 3.20 for God is strong and his Word much more sure than thy owne heart And therefore learne to vnderstand the Lords Customes his delight is with the children of men hee ieastâ— and dallieth with thâ—m as Fathers with their children yea hee withholds his hands a little from them to prooue them not for their hurt and destruction but that they should not lean to themselues 1. Cor. 1.9 but on him who rayseth the dead and can make the weak and feeble strong and valiant Hee hath no pleasure in presumption but his will is that we should serue him with feare Ps. 2.11 and reioyce with trembling And we may see in Peter and Thomas what it is to bee too much confident and to build vpon our own courage and strength Ier. 17.9 No man knoweth himselfe aright but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And therefore pray continually that mercifully hee would vphold thee to the end and bee persuaded if at any time thou hast felt comfort that God will certainely come again to thee and if that at any time he hath ioyed thy heart that hee certainly oftner oftner will doe it for thy comfort Yea if in all thy life time thou hadst receiued but onely one drop of comfort yet doubt not but pray beleeue hope and haue patience Hab. 2.3 the Lord will certainely come and will not delay vnlesse thou bee altogether stifnecked and vnwilling Remember the example of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.21 Behold how her Lord ieasteth with her how he dismisseth her yea euen thrice First hee holdeth his peace and answereth not a word Secondly hee heareth but that hee is not come for her good but for the benefit of the Children of Israel but the third time he calleth her a Dogge as vnworthie of his comfort but what doth shee for the first in that Christ was silent she meeteth him with a patieâ—t heart which well could stay and trust For the second she answers with a faithfull heart that shee must haue some portion of his promises For the third she meeteth him with an humble heart and willingly wil be a Dogge desiring that which appertayned to him that is the crums which fal from the table that is a verie small helpe a little deale of comfort wherewith shee and her daughter would bee contented Here the Lord cannot hide himselfe longer from her but presenteth a copious measure of mercie vnto her saying O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But if thou shalt now say behold she was strong in Faith and I am weake thou must vnderstand that our faith is resembled vnto a Fencer who is in the lists against another for he is euer in feare that he shall be ouercome and be too feeble against his Enemie euen so is it with Faith for when we wrastle and fight wee thinke that wee are weake and shall loose the Victorie But it shall not fall out so for victorie belongeth vnto faith let it incline whether it will it appertaineth euer vnto her yea and a weake Faith shall win the field and through the Lords strength power we shal be kept through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 readie to bee reuealed in the last time Remember also the Patriarch Iaâ—obs wrastling how he straue with God and stucke hardly vnto him and let him not goe but sayd Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee A Prayer for stedfast Faith in Christ. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest I beleeue although but with a weake faith yet by the selfe same I put my whole trust and confidence in thee reach mee thy comfortable hand and draw mee to thee O Lord I am weake increase my faith stand not farre off from mee for thou art mine onely hope to whom else can I goe Kindle that little sparke in my heart by thy holie spirit that I may euermore doe thy will Behold to will is present with mee Rom. 7 18. but how to performe that which is good I find not Yea lord Iesus thou art my Life my Hope and Saluation for hauing thee I haue all things Now haue I thee although by a weak hand now haue I thee albeit my hand be weake thine is strong Let me not goe from thine hand to the end that I let thee not go from mee Looke chearefully vpon mee as thou didst vpon Peter Marie Magdalen the woman of Canaan the holy Patriarch Iacob driue away darkenes from my heart let me enioy the consolation of thy mercies here am I as a poore Dog and stay for the crums which fal from the table of mercie Behold I thus wrastle with thee by praier O thou strong Lord insinuate thy selfe into my hart for by thy streÌ„gth I striuâ— with thy selfe giue thy selfe vnto me I wil not leâ— thee passe by any meanes before thou blesse mee I will not desist before the sâ—n of consolation rise brightly vnto me now thou Lord Iesus Christ who hast praied for Peter dost sit at the right hand of thy father Intercessor for me that my faith shall not decay Arise O Lord still the tempest of my heart and rages of temptation that in a liuely seÌ„ce I may see and rast the sweetnesse of thy word and holy spirit that thereby I may learne that inward ioy and freedome from sinne and power thereof by the death and passion of thy deare Sonne my Sauior the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holie Spirit bee rendered as most due is all honor power and glorie of all true Christians from this time forth for euer Amen CHAP. VII Contayning spirituall consolations and Instructions against the terrours that eyther the Soule or the conscience of Man now readie to dye can obiect Flesh. It may bee neuerthelesse euidently seene that euerie man is mortall and yeeldeth vnto death Spirit Men dye truely and loose their liues by reason of sinne but they that haue the true comfort of the heart infused by Iesus Christ and rejoyce therein They account death nothing else but a passage froÌ„ this miserable world to their owne natiue inheritance for Christ that dwelleth in them hath tasted death for them taken away the power therof and broaken her sting so that death can doe no more but disseuer the Soule from the body and bereaue vs of this transitorie Life Yet it shal serue as all other things doe to
Soule at the very poynt of death Spirit First euery Christian must diligently learne to comfort himselfe by reciting the articles of our faith which is the compend and summe of all doctrine and comfortable speeches but especially hee must learne the three last articles I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes resurrection of the body and life euerlasting So the faithfull soule must apply the whole articles to himselfe in particular and so appropriate them vnto himselfe as if there were none in the world but hee alone which should haue benefit thereby Thereto the Lord hath appointed the Sacraments to confirme that our faith as faithfull and true seales and mercifull tokens whlch hee hath appointed to these articles Here thou maiest apprehend thy holy baptisme wherein thou hast receiued and concluded with God an euerlasting and inuiolable band and couenant of mercy and so art washed and cleansed by the blood of Christ Next maist thou comfort thee by the holy Supper because thou as the Son of God art nourished and refreshed at thy Fathers Table and thereby assured that thou art a true member of Christ a righteous heire to whatsoeuer Christ with the sacrifice of his body and bloud hath merited Besides these things â—hou mayest cause to bee â—ead or sayd these or such â—ike sentences of the Scripture The seede of the woman shall bruize the head of the Serpent Gen 3.15 and the Serpent shall bruize his heeles 1 Ioh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the workes of the Diuell Esa. 35.10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Sion with songs and euerlasting ioy vpon their heads they shall obtain ioy gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flie away Thy dead men shall liue together Esa. 26.19 with my dead body they shall arise awake and sing yee all that dwell in the dust for thy deaw is as the deaw of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead Come my people enter thou into thy chambers Vers. 20. and shut thy doores about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation bee passed ouer Naked came I out of my mothers wombe Iob 19·25 and naked shall I returne thither the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away blessed bee the name of the Lord. I know that my Redeemer liueth Vers. 26. and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and mine eyes shall behold and not a stranger Is not Ephraim my deere sonne Ier. 31.20 is hee not my pleasant childe for since I spake against him I doe earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely haue mercy vpon him saith the Lord. So verily as I liue saith the Lord I haue no pleasure in the death of a sinner but that hee should turne from his euill way and liue I will ransome them from the power of the graue Hos. 13.14 I will redeeme them from death ô death I will be thy plagues ô graue I will bee thy destruction As the Hart panteth after the water brookes Psal. 42.1 so panteth my soule after thee ô God My soule thirsteth for God for the liuing God 2. when shal I come appeare before God Why art thou cast downe ô my Soule 5. why art thou disquieted within mee hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the helpe of his countenance Whom haue I in heauen but thee Psa. 73.25 and there is none vpon the earth that I desire beside thee My flesh and mine heart 26. faileth but God is the strength of mine heart and my portion for euer Wisd. 3.1 The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them 2. In the sight of the wise they seemed to die and their departure was taken for misery 3. and their going from vs to bee vtter destruction but they are in peace Hee that endureth to the end Mat. 24.13 shall be safe Mat. 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest Behold the Lambe of God Ioh. 1.29 which taketh away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Verily verily I say vnto you Ioh. 5.24 hee that heareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent mee hath euerlasting life and shall not come into iudgement but hath passed from death to life I am the bread of life Ioh. 6.35 he that commeth to mee shall neuer hunger and hee that beleeueth on mee shall neuer thirst All that the Father giueth mee shall come to mee vers 37. and him that commeth vnto me I will in in no wise cast out And this is the will of him that sent me vers 40. that euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth on him may haue euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day Vers 47. Verily verily I say vnto you hee that beleeueth on mee hath euerlasting life Ioh. 8.12 I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walke in darknesse but shall haue the light of life Vers. 51· Verily verily I say vnto you if a man keep my saying he shall neuer see death My sheep heare my voice and I know them Ioh. 10.27.28.29.30 and they follow mee and I giue vnto them eternall life And they shall neuer perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hands My father which gaue them me is greater then all and no man is able to plucke them out of my fathers hands I and my father am one I am the resurrection vnto life Ioh. 11.25 he that beleeueth in mee though hee were dead yet shall I liue In my fathers house are many mansions Ioh. 14.2 if it were not so I would haue tolde you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you 3. I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe that where I am there you may be also I am the way the truth 6. and the life no man commeth vnto the father but by mee Iohn 17.3 This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent verse 24 Father I will that they also whome thou hast giuen me be with me where I am that they may beholde my glorie which thou hast giuen me for thou loueâ—st mee before the foundation of the world Neither is there saluation in any other Acts 4.12 for there is none other name vnder heauen giuen among men wherby
we must be saued To him giue all the Prophets witnesse Act. 10.43 that through his name whosoeuer belieueth in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5.20 grace aboundeth much more If God be for vs Rom 8.31 who can be against vs. Hee that spared not his owne Sonne but deliuered him vp for vs all how shall he not with him giue vs all things who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that iustifieth who is hee that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs. I am perswaded that neither death nor life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come c. Rom. 11.32 God hath concluded all in vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercie vpon all Rom. 14.7 None of vs liueth to himselfe and no man dieth to himselfe for whither we liue wee liue vnto the Lord or whether we die we dye vnto the Lord whither wee liue therefore or die we are the Lords 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all dye euen so in Christ shall all bee made aliue 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but with the temptation also will make away to escape that you may be able to beare it Phil. 1.20 â—1 â—â— 23 Christ shall be magnified in my bodie whether it bee by life or by death for to me to liue is Christ and to die is gaine but if I liue in the flesh this is the fruite of of my labour but what I shall chuse I wot not for I am in a straight betwixt two hauing a desire to bee with Christ which is farre better Our conuersation is in heauen Phil. 3.20 from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ. This is a faithfull saying 1 Tim. 1.15 and worthy all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe I am readie now to bee offered 2 Tim. 4.6 and the time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith Henceforth there is layd vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous iudge shal giue me at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto them also which loue his appearing 1 Tim. 6.12 Fight the good fight of faith lay holde of eternall life whereunto thou art also called I know whome I haue beleeued 2 Tim 1.12 for I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I haue committed vnto him against that day We are kept by the powre of God through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.15 ready to be reuealed in the last time The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods Son cleanseth vs from all sinne 1 Ioh. 1.7 In this was manifested the loue of God towards vs because that God sent his only begotten Sonne into the world that wee may liue throgh him here in his loue not that wee loued God but that hee loued vs and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sinnes Here haue wee no continuing Citie Heb. 13 14 but wee seeke one to come As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten Reuel 3.19 Bee thou faithfull vnto death Reuel 2.10 and I will giue thee a crowne of life To him that ouercommeth will I graunt to sit with mee in my throne Reuel 3 21 â—uen as I also â—â—ercame and am set down with my father in his throne Reu. 12.11 And they ouercame him by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie and they loued not their liues vnto death Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Reu. 14.13 yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their workes do follow them Meditations of the Soule Of these and many other comfortable speeches and sentences deare Soule choose and select some which best may comfort thee Make them as familiar vnto thee as the Lords prayer and as some vse to prouide theiâ— winding sheet some yeres before they die against the time there shall be occasion of it that their bodies may bee enfolded therein Euen so picke thou out some remarkeable sentences and learne to vnderstand them to the ende that in time of death thou mayst wrappe thy soule therein for at that time it happeneth that the vnderstanding is mightily lessened the memorie taken away long Sermons cannot bee heard Mat. 4 4. Deut. 8.3 there is no attention giuen to perswation nor Rhetoricall allurements but one comfortable word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God reioyceth gladdeth nourisheth refresheth the heart life and soule But time is too short to learne these things when thou art on thy death bed And therefore acquaint thy selfe diligentlie with Sermons and preachings reading and meditating on Gods word that thou mayest haue these spirituall weapons in the houre of thy greatest combate Make diligent vse of thy going to Church and euerie time see thou learne that wherof thou wast ignorant before so shalt thou encrease in the knowledge of the Lord Iesus Christ corroborate thy faith kindle thy loue augment thy hope and be prouident against that greatest and last assault of Sathan A Praier for a diligent and stedfast faith in Gods word O Lord Iesus Christ open my heart by thy holy spirit that I may giue place to thy word ponder thâ—reon and weigh it diligently and make it familier vnto my soule and not be as a vessel that is crackt and can holde no liquor Hâ—b 2.1 Illuminate my vnderstanâ—ding and confirme my memorie that I may euer call thy ioyfull comfort to minde and bee that good portion of ground which in an honest and good heart may heare and keepe thy word and bring forth fruite with patience vnto the end grant this O Lord God for Iesus Christs sake to whom be all glorie and honour Amen Flesh. What else is behoouefull to comfort the sicke on his bed Spirit I haue set downe euery where prayers for thee which thou mayest vse as occasion serueth and the disposition of thy sicknes requires but the most speciall is the Lords prayer which heere also thou shouldest remember saying Our Father which c. sundry Prayers and Meditions mayest thou haue out of the learned and godly Fathers as Augustine and Bernard and out of holy latter Writers as also out of the booke of Psalmes in the which thou mayest vse these most frequently O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger c. Psal. 8. The Lord is my Sheepheard c. 23. Vnto thee ô Lord doe I lift vp my Soule c 25. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiueâ— 32. As the Hart panteth after the water brookes
Faith and not by feeling I teach thee humilitie and not to glorie but in infirmiâ—ies 2. Cor. 11.30.31 for Paul for all his Reuelations was afraid of Aretas and let downe in a basket Elias who commaunded as it were the Heauens to rayne and not to raine hid himselfe in a caue from Iesabell 1. â—i 19.9 Iacob was afraid of his brother Abraham of Pharoah and the Philistims in Gerah O how dearly loued I them but when the starre appeareth againe Mat. â— the wisemen reioiced with an exceeding great ioy Rachel had Labans gods which made him more eager to seeke them I may frowne for a while yet not alwaies retaine my anger No truely Ps. 103.9 I am not angrie at all as a Iudge to punish but as a Father to correct a brother to admonish I cannot cease to loue my owne members Doth anie man strike his owne flâ—sh at any time Thou art one of my members ingrafted in my body by my Spirit and a liuely faith I haue said and doe not repent thou that beleeuest in me art deliuered from the power of darkenesse by my Father and art translated into the kingdome of Mee his deare Sonne The SOVLE THe wordes that thou speakest sweet Redeemer of Mankind are Spirit and Life but thou speakest of affections reformed which I find not How cold are my Prayers O how hard is my hart it cannot powre it selfe out like Water before Thee it cannot admit any impression of thy Word or finger of thy spirit my wauering faith is not confirmed by it I lacke that heauenly light to discerne of my troubles and crosses aright Finally I haue little or no comfort in thy Word wanting the apprehending applyâ—â—g faith the hand of my Soule O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner O sweet Samaritan take mee vp which am halfe dead CHRIST THou hast redemption in my bloud Col. 1.14 euen the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes for they shall neuer bee imputed vnto thee neither heere nor elsewhere neither doe they raigne in thy mortall body but thou hast a serious reluctation against them neither thy vnworthines maketh thee vncapable of the greatest mercies they are of my meere and free loue and grace thou art not the obiect of thine owne faith but I my merits obedience who am by faith vnited vnto thee as a head to a member then look vpon mee I am in thee and thou art in me that which God hath conioyned who can separate it or who can plucke thee out of my fathers hand my father and I am one and my Spirit which hath wrought in thee that desire of profiting by the Word whereof thou so heauily complainest will make thee reape manifold fruits of the immortall seed of the Word in due season which is sowed in the furrowes of thy hart I do feed thee for a time with a sparing hand to sharpen thine appetite wait and trust on me and I will comfort thy heart Psal. 27.16 truly flesh and bloud hath not reuealed the hardnes of thy heart vnto thee but my spirit which worketh the sight of thy corruptions Esa. 63. â—7 I which haue begunne this good worke will performe it Phil. 1.6 It is good for thee that thou bewailest thy defects and wants quench not these motions of my spirit in thee prayer is my gift it is I that worke both the will deede Lam. 1.22 it is I that mark thy many sighs the faintings of thy heart yea my spirit doth make request for thee with sighs that cannot bee expressed when thou holdest thy peace or little knowest of it The sacrifice of God are not words Psal. 51.17 but a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart I will not despise I know thy thoughts before thou thinke them Psal. 1 39.2 thy sighing is not hid from me I doe heaâ—e thy desire Psal. 38.9 Psal. 10.17 it is I that doe put vp as Mediator betwixt thee and my father thy prayers vnto the golden viols which are full of the precious odours of my merits thereby perfumeth and maketh them an offring of sweet smelling sauour vnto him Reu. 5.8 and purgeth their corruptions in my bloud and vnto my throne there is a purple ascent the perfectest bewty is the perfectest mixture of red and white afflictions staineth not but adorneth the beautie of my graces The SOVLE I Am not so washed I see in the lauer of regeneration but that there remaineth in mee slaines of that scarlet engrained die of my corruption I am not wholly spirit as the carnall man is wholly slesh but 〈◊〉 at ciuill wars within my selfe In the spirit I serue the Law of God in the flesh the law of sinne O deare Iesus grant me thy spirit grace 1 Thess. 5.22 that I may auoid the occasions of sinne I may make conscience of my lâ—ast sinnes I may carefully watch ouer my heart that I be not surprized at vnawares I may rest in thy promised assistance and not in mine owne power and haue recourse vnto thee by feruent praier crauing thy ayd that I may bee enabled to stand in the daie of temptations but alas deare Sauiour it vexeth mee greatly that I doe not much Lord thou knowest feele my faith nor the fruits thereof which maketh mee I know not what to thinke that I haue no true faith or if I haue it is yet in the infancy thereof CHRIST FAith is the eye hand and foot of the Soule for by it it commeth seeth and layeth hold on mee seeke light in the Word which is Truth by praier that thou bee not deceiued and follow the same light so farre as thou shalt be warranted thereby the conscience maketh the assumption but examined it by my word lest thou fall in errour and for to learne deere Soule to discerne betwixt the punishment for sinne and trial of thy faith patience and purging of Sinne for I often afflict inwardly the soule with deep sense of sinne and the bodie with crosses outwardly not to prosecute sinne in thee Ier. 51.7 for then it should follow that as the wicked mine enemies exceede in sinne so should they exceed in afflictions also but thee I lead as a louing Spouse with cords of aman Hos. 11.4 euen with bands of loue for whom I loue I rebuke For I am good a strong hold in the daie of trouble and know them that trust in me Nah. 1.7 Nourish this in thine heart it is more certaine and durable then heauen and earth The SOVLE O My sweet Sauiour thou hast taken my feet out of the mire I stucke iâ— Psal. 4.1 Luk. 1.49 and put me at more large liberty of minde thou that art mighty hast done for me great things and holy is thy name thou wilt performe thy worke toward me O Lord Psal. 138.8 thy mercie endureth for euer forsake not the worke of thy owne hands thou hast deliuered me from
finally by Death which shall end the battle betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit The Sunne and Moone doe not perish in their Eclipses no nor loose Light for euer Neyther the sence of my goodnesse in thee shall loose his vertue for euer I found thee when thou soughtest mee not I will returne vnto my owne worke I sende blessing with crosâ—es least thou shouldest despaire and crosses with blessinges least thou shouldest presume Grieue thee not at my vvise Dispensation The SOVLE I Finde deare Redeemer an interchangeable condition of Sorrowe and Comfort of Faith and Feare I haue had some affection to heare knowledge of thie Will purpose of amendment in zealâ— of Spirit called vpon Thee but nâ—w I am in such agonie and conflict of conscience that my Sinnes at all times yea in my Prayers yea while I begin to speake with thee â—ow sweet Iesus so liuely present themselues to my inward sight that I am almost agâ—st and at my Wits-end CHRIST AS the sence of an aguish Man is corrupt so is thie iudgement in Temptation things that are seeme not to be or not such as they are Heb. 10.32.34 Iob. 29.3 Ps. 77.6.12 spirituall things must bee spiritually discerned When Men are diseased deare Soule it cannot thereof bee concluded that they were neuer in health none can say they are a sleepe which are so indeed Preseâ—â— discomforts take away the sence of mercie for a time but in heauinesse and anguish of thy Spirit remember comforts past and assure thee of my returne in due time The day was when thy assurance of my fauor was such as Saâ—han himselfe could not then deny the testimony which then my Spirit did beare to thie Spirit Kom 8.16 greater than eyther the testimonie of Men or Angels for I loued thee before the foundation of the World was layd Be not cruell vnto thy owne bowells Why wouldst thou conspire with Sathan against thy selfe rather resist him 1. Pet. 5.9 beeing stedfast in Faith Resist him I say and hee will flie from thee for hee cannot worke any thing in thee but by thy own consent no motion shall hurt thee whereunto thou giuest not consent in hart thou hast no sinne whiles in heart thou longest to bee free from it thou wantest no goodnesse which in heart thou couetest tâ— haue Rom. 7. It is Sathans nature to contradict my spirit for thus hee doth distresse and anguish afflicted soules holding them in the cogitations of their sinnes and suffers them not to see the length bredth heigth and depth of my mercies Eph. 3.18 neither to know that my lâ—ue which passeth allvnderstanding that thou mayest be filled with all the fulnesse of mee who shall once determine these conslicting daies where I which am in the mids of the throne shall feede thee and lead thee vnto liuing fountaines of waters Reu. 7. â—7 14 13. Heb. 10.37 and shall wipe away all teares from thine eyes Cast not therefore away thy confidence which hath so great recompence of reward And to vse thine enemies weapons against himselfe he seeketh by torment of minde to driue thee to dispaire This is the most euident and sensible testimonie of grace and fauour with mee if thou feele iâ— thy selfe the conflict of the flesh and spirit that is of faith against vnbeleefe and of mee in thee against his power and which is more thou must know the worke of sanctification beginnes in the heart and thence floweth into our whole life Now thoughts meditations and desires are deeds before me and the fruits of faith are testifications of my spirit dwelling in thee more pregnant and euiden then they may or dare bee by Sathan himselfe denied Striue not so to that thou hast not as thou forget that which by my grace thou hast already but assure thee of the continuance of it for â—e that beleeueth maketh no haste but liueth by faith good things to come thou must hold in hope Hab. 2.3 and pursue them in peace for yet a little while and I that shall come Heb. 10.37 wil come and will not tarry couenant made in the sprinckling of my bloud My people after their calling may fal in many foul sins for this cause haue I coÌ„mended my mercy in the Law for many and seuerall sorts of sins Exod. 24.6.7 The Iewes in Esaias daies were as Sodom Gomorrha yet I said though their sinnes were â—s crimson Esa. 1.10 they should bee white as snow I exhorted them to turne to mee Esa. 31.6 which had deepely reuolted yea when they had rebelled and vexed my holy spirit yet I desired them to pray vnto mee and forgaue them Esa. 3.7.10 15.16 and did I not heare Ephraim bemâ—aning himselfe thus thou hast chastized me and I was chastized as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoake Ier. 31.18.20 turne thou me and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God But since I did speake against him as now thou doest against thy selfe I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troâ—bled for him I wil surely haue mercy vpon him surely I am â—esus Christ vnchangeable was yesterday is to day and shall bee the same for euer Heb. 13.8.6 I am thy helper feare not what man can doe vnto thee wheÌ„ sicknes is at the highest then there is greatest hope of diminishing hee cannot bedrowned which hath his head aboue the water I am thy head in heauen who haue bruized the Serpents head on earth The SOVLE OH I feele if thy spirit make mee free Ioh. 8.36 I shall bee free indeede create in mee a cleane heart deare Iâ—â—us and renew a right spirit within mee restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and establish me with thy free spirit let my prayer be directed in thy sight as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euen sacrifice Psal. 141.2 Psal. 119.108 O Lord I beseech thee accept the free offerings of my mouth teach mee thy iudgements Zach. 19.9 Reioice greatly my Soule behold thy King is come vnto thee he is iust hauing saluation he is lowly O open ye the gates of my soule and let in the Prince of glorie Thou that dwellest in the heauens doest looke vnto me that am poore Esa. 66.2 and of a contrite hâ—â—r 〈◊〉 and I tremble at thy words I was very sore â—â—flicted ô Lord quicâ—en me according to thy word Psal. 119.10 119 52. I haue remembred thy iuâ—gements of olde and haue beene comforted I liue yet not I now but thou liuâ—st in me thy father that gaue me vnto thee is greater then all Gal. 2.20 and none can take me out of thy hand Ioh. 10.29 To thee therefore that loueth me and washeth mee from my sinnes in thine owne bloud and hast madâ— mee King and Priâ—st vnto Thee onely wise God my Sauiour bee glory and Maiestie dominion and power now and for euer Amen FINIS
earnestly and diligently for hee should learne preach gouerne correct defend spare beg augment and haue care for his household and those committed to his charge as if hee were heere euer to abide and neuer to die and that he must doe by Gods commandement and loue to his successors but hereto hee should so liue euerie day 1 Tim. 1.19 so keepe faith and a good conscience as if at euery moment hee were to take his fare-well from this world and that hee may say with Paul The time of my departure is at hand I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith hencefoorth is layd vp for mee a crowne of glorie which the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day and not to mee onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing 2 Tim. 7.8 A Meditation of the vanity of this life Therefore deare soule walk worthy of the vocation wherewith thou art called with all lowlinesse and meeknesse and with long suffering and see also that that thou rather abide in a low estate which is better then that which the world climbeth vnto but if the Lord shall promote and exalt thee bee not proud but the greater thou art and higher in authority in this world be thou the humbler for the Lord is high aboue all nations Psal. 113.5.7.8 and his glory aboue the heauens yet hee humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and in earth hee raiseth vp the poore out of the dust and lifteth the needie out of the mire that he may set him with the Princes of his people so the Lord casts downe the proud Eccl. 3.18 and giueth grace vn-the humble the greater thou art then the more humble thy selfe and thou shalt sinde fauour before the Lord for in lowlinesse of minde Phil. 2 3. each should esteeme other better then themselues wherfore seeke not the things that are too hard for thee neither search the things that are aboue thy strength but what is commanded thee Eccle. 3 21.22 think therupon with reuerence for thou must giue a reckoning of all thy behauiour trouble thee not with the thing that is impertinent to thy calling for there is much more enioyned thee then thou canst accomplish meddle not in strange affaires and thrust not thy selfe in any calling beforâ— God thinke not that thou art appointed vnto euerie one for such conceits hath deceiued many and theiâ— rashnes hath ouerthrown them for what profiteth it thee that thou shouldst gape for that which is not ordained for thee folloâ— not thine owne fancie in thy calling and be not proud when any man shall haue neede of thee and if aduersity and pennury shall straight the yet be of good courage because they happen vnto thee in thy lawfull calling for who will honour him who dishonoureth his own trade be alwayes diligent and craue the blessing of God which maketh thee rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Pro. 10.22 truely blessings shall be vpon the head of the iust many hunt after riches Vers. 6. and they hurt the possessour and many are feeble and poore yet the Lord helps them of his grace so that sundry do wonder therat Stay thou alwayes in thy calling and be not iealous ouer the wicked although they encrease in riches depend thou vpon the Lord for it is very easie vnto him to make a poore man rich if it be be his pleasure and for thy good call vpon mee in the day of affliction Psal. 50.15 and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie mee aske and you shall receiue seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you and for our assurance the reason followeth for euery one that asketh receiueth Matt. 7.7 hee that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened but heere is a very glorious and ioyfull promise Verily verily I say vnto you Ioh. 16.23 whatsoeuer that you shall aske the father in my name hee will giue it you and which of all is most comfortable before they call I will answer Esay 65.23 and whiles they are yet speaking I will heare the proofe whereof Dauid had in his greatest anxiety I sayd I will confesse my transgressions vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the iniquity of my sinne the which he noteth with his accustomed particle of attention Selah The Soules meditation concerning the excellency of praier Now maiest thou contemplate thy Lord Christs example whom thou art carefully to imitate how often how diligently how willingly how heartily hee prayed how he fled to the wildernesse that he might powre out his heart to his heauenly father and there prayed not onely for himselfe but taught his Disciples and prescribed vnto them that absolute compendiâ—us forme the Lords Prayer wherby hee hath put as it were words in thine Matth. 6.9 and in all the hearts of the Elect wherby thou mayest present thy selfe before the most great glorious maiesty of God and that thou shalt not wander in thy prayers he sheweth thee how thou mayest boldly go forward vnto the thron of grace Heb. 4.16 that thou mayest finde mercy and obtaine grace to finde helpe in time of neede and in whose name thou shalt make thy supplications that is Ioh. 16.19 in my name saith hee and for their sakes I sanctifiâ— my selfe that they also may bee sanctified through the truth yea in thy Redeemer Iesus Christ thine onely Sauiours name lift vp thy hands and heart by a true and liuely faith and stedfast confidence and so truely as Christ thy Redeemer is at the right hand of his father in heauen as truely are all thy sighes and groanes and paines heard by him and hee will grant them according to his will And moreouer thou hast to consider what benefits thou sâ—alt aske and with what condition thou oughtest to pray for temporall gifts which thou art to request with this exception and restraint if it may stand with his blessed will and with thy good and saluation for the Almighty onely wise God knoweth best what his children stand in neede of and he is so vnspeakably good Luk 11.11.12.13 that hee will giue them nothing that can hurt them although they of misknowledge and ignorance doe most seriously desire it yet spirituall blessings which tend to thy saluation should bee craued of him with sure hope and full confidence such as are our heritable gifts remission of sinnes righteousnesse holy Spirit and life euerlasting euen when it shall please him Who will not then reioyce to pray when as all our teares are seene our groanings waighed and our words heard who will not seeke there where he may certainely find all goodnes who will not knock when he knoweth hee shall bee let in yea and in mid-way wee shall be met and shall receiue in our bosome all things necessarie both for soule and bodie therefore pray wee continually 1