hast also blessed my iourney with such successe as in thy wisedome is most for my comfort and profit for in all things thou knowest better what is fit for man then man and therefore as thou hast béene pleased to deale with me or shalt thinke hereafter fit for me grant that I consult not with flesh and bloud to finde the expediency of the successe of my iourney knowing this that we are ignorant of the things most conuenient for vs And therefore whatsoeuer doth or shall succéede by thy prouidence giue me wisedome patience and thankefulnesse to imbrace the same Let mée neuer forget the words of thy mouth thy promises made vnto thy Children that all things shall worke together for the best for them And therefore I doe assure mée that thou hast brought my iourney to prosper to farre as may be to thy glory my comfort and the discharge of my duety in all the circumstances of the occasion of the same Make me able therefore to extoll thée O my God let my Soule praise thée O euerlasting Guide Lord most louing God all-sufficient and euer-helping Father to whom with thy Sonne in whom thou preseruest and to the holy Ghost in whom thou sanctifiest all that are thine be euermore ascribed all Glory Power Dominion and Maiesty for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth O Almighty and most mercifull God the Lord of Heauen and Earth which of thine abundant and infinite goodnesse doest adorne and fill the Earth with all kinde of fruit and graine whereby is sustayned both the life of Man and Beast and which yet cannot prosper without thy blessing we humbly beséech thée of thine infinite goodnesse and mercy to blesse our Fields and Ground and make them prosperous to yéelde their increase for without thy fauour and blessing the Earth can bring forth nothing but vnprofitable and hurtfull wéedes nor we by our endeauours make the same to prosper Let not our grounds be desolate in thine indignation shut not vp the Heauens in wrath for our sinnes that it be not as Iron nor our Earth as Brasse but of thy goodnesse giue vs both the earely and latter raine that wée may haue abundance of all Fruit. Thy Riuer O Lord is full of Water prepare our Corne and prosper our earth crowne the yeare with thy goodnesse and let the clouds drop fatnesse let the Pâ—aines be replenished with Shéepe and the Uallies with Corne that the Possessors of the earth may be merry and reioyce Preserue vs O Lord in the time of dearth that wée perish not for hunger nor be confounded in the time of danger wée confesse our sinnes O Lord with groanings and griefe of heart vnto thée heare our prayers in thy holy Habitation and be mercifull vnto thy people which haue transgressed thy holy Commandements and giue euery man according to his wants that in all things wee may confesse and acknowledge with all reuerence thy omnipotent and diuine power and thy bountifull hand with giuing thankes and continuall praises vnto thée which hast giuen vs all things here to inioy Amen O Lord increase my Faith Meditations A most diuine and comfortable Meditation concerning the Maiesty and Power and Loue of God whereby men distressed and in continuall dangers may be stirred vp the more assuredly to depend on him for their deliuery and reliefe though it come not suddenly WHy shouldest thou feare or faint O my poore soule though yet thou finde no more rest then the Doue that could finde no place to set her foot on Be yet comforted for the Lord hée is God and hee turneth all things to good to them that are his Thou hast long sighed and bewayled thy miseries and yet thou art as Ioseph stil in prison but looke not vpon the weake meanes of flesh and bloud to be fréed looke not vpon the staffe of Egypt the bruised Réede of carnall aide to be stayed by they are but false allurings to draw thée from the swéet contemplation of the admirable works of the worker of all good the Lord of hostes besides whom there is no God He sitteth in glory in the Heauens and hath cloathed himselfe with Maiesty It is he that maketh all knées to bow and forceth Kings to stoope and driueth away the armies of his most mighty enemies Hée is the hope and strength and helpe and refuge and rescue and reliefe of them that trust in him and hée is not curious or coy as man that worketh for money hée doth not good for good againe but all in loue all in mercy fréely and wanting no power to bring to passe what hée will either in mercy to his children or in iudgement against his enemies For the heauens are his seate the earth is his foot stoole the Angels are his ministers and all creatures serue him and that for man onely I will not then dismay though I cry yet and be not yet heard there is an appointed time and there is an appointed meane in his prouidence already decréed in my behalfe I know well by his promises which are Yea and Amen Therefore be yet patient O my soule trust yet O my soule stand fast and this God yea this high and glorious God this great and terrible God will be thy kéeper thy Sauiour and protector euermore Hée is an immaculate God a God pure perfect holy feare him therefore O my soule for as hée is cleane he will haue thée cleansed from all impiety hée will haue thée beautified with sanctity and holinesse as hée is holy no euill dwelleth in him sinne must not remaine with thée flye therefore all impiety and embrace the righteousnesse of Christ who will put on thée his robe of righteousnesse and thou shalt be perfect And this God then shall be with thée this God I say shall be thy refuge for euermore Though he sit in the high heauens not séene with the eye of flesh nor can be reached vnto by the hand of natural reason yet he commandeth all doth euen what he will both in heauen and in earth So powerfull he is so magnificent and so absolute in power that at his word the earth trembleth the mountaines moue and in his displeasure he killeth euen Kings for his righteous childrens sakes The heauens aboue doe shew the glory of this God and the artificiall frame of the firmament the glistering Stars therein the Sun and Moone and their due courses vnchangeable throughout all ages and the beautifull ornaments of the earth beneath do approue the admirable workes of his hands His voyce is a mighty voyce for he speaketh and it is heard from one end of the world to another his voyce is a terrible voyce at which all powers Princes Potentates doe tremble That mighty Nebuchadnezzar at his voyce was thrust forth into the field among the wilde Beasts from his Throne and Dauid from the wildernesse called backe to sit in the seate of honour by him was Haman hanged and
wicked innocent but rather to visit their iniquities yet haue wée this comfort that thy mercy to the humble euer rests vnmeasurable and vnmoueable though thou spakest to the Prophet against thine own people being disobedient to thée saying Though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet haue I no heart to this people Driue them away that they may goe out of my sight some vnto death some to the sword and some to captiuity yet we know O our good God that when as Ephraim was heard â—amenting and praying heartily in his distresse thou thoughtest then vpon mercy as a Father pittying his owne children This thy clemency to others incourageth vs to cry for thy mercies in this our misery vpon our repentance both for vs ours and the whole Land Uouchsafe O louing Sauiour to represse the vehement heate of thy fire with godly pitty stay thine hand from our destruction thou art long suffering good gracious and vnwilling sinners should perish Be intreated therefore O Lord most glorious to bid th ne Angels cease from punishing looke forth-with vpon this Land good Father pitty the infected people thereof that wée altogether may say The Lord liueth for euer worthy of praise because hee hath béene mercifull vnto sinners Amen O Lord increase my Faith If not Infected pray thus IT pleased thée O heauenly Father who art Lord of life and death once to plague the Egyptians and yet to spare the Israelites in the borders of Gosen onely because thou plaguest where thou pleasest So with the pestilence now hast thou infected euen from Dan to Beersheba yet my selfe and diuers others in this place rest safe from this so pestilent an Infection protected and kept as yet safe therefrom onely by thy hand onely by thy goodnesse for our sinnes we confesse stand vp as rampired walls against vs and deserue no lesse then theirs whom already thou hast bruised with a iust measure of thy Judgements O gracious Lord God stirre vs vp to â—hew our hearts throughly thankefull vnto thée that in thankesgiuing and praise we may go before others which in paines and plagues doe goe before 〈◊〉 And as in mercy thou hast drawne â—…knesse from our bodies so in loâ—e to our soules make vs loath the vaine delights of this life that we may faithfully seâ—ue and séeke thée in these our dayes of health wherein wée obtaine thy mercy inioy thy fauour and rest preserued from the pestilence wherewith many of our Brethren lie perplexed beside sundry thousands whom the graâ—t hath swallowed Blesse vs still O Lord our God blesse vs O Father without within be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Son our Sauiour Lord stand by vs for our good continually that when the world repineth at thy Judgements when the wicked swell in their impatiency when the vnregenerate grudge and murmure at thy plagues and punishments wherewith thou chastisest and correctest thy deare Children that euen then wée may haue and inioy quietnesse of heart and peace of conscience neuer to be dismaied or to distrust thy prouidence ouer vs but still to leaâ—e stedfastly vnto thée and rest vpon thée and the rock of thy Truth This confidence Lord grant vs and thy protection from this couragious disease that raigneth that wée may chearefully â—ound forth thy diuine praises amongst men vnto the praise of thy grace in Christ Jesus To whom our Sauiour and Redéemer with thée the blessed Father of vs all and the holy Spirit the Sanctifiâ—r of our soules thrée persons yet one diuine essence be giuen all laâ—d glory and thankes in this world and in that to come for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer in the time of Tempests and vnseasonable Weather God bringeth vp the cloudes from the ends of the earth and maketh the lightnings with the raine he draweth forth the windâ—s out of his treasures Psal. 135. 7. Hee commandeth and raiseth the stormie windes and it lifteth vp the waues of the seâ— Psal. 107. 25. But he ariseth and rebuketh the windes and the sea and maketh them calme Mat. 8. 26. Marke 4. 39. By his word he stilleth the winde and by his counsell appealeth the deepe Ecclus 43. 23. O Most mighty and mercifull Lord God let all the powers of the earth blesse thée and praise thee their euer-liuing God in thine holy and heauenly habitation for thou O Lord sittest on high in the Throne of thy Maiesty and makest thy strength and might knowne to all Nations thy voyce is vpon the waters From thée O God procéedeth Thunder thy voyce maketh the Wildernesse to tremble yea thou makest the mighty hils to tremble and shake the Earth trembleth and quaketh the foundations also of the Mountaines moue and shake when thou art displeased there commeth out of thy nostrils smoke and out of thy mouth a consuming fire thou makest darkenesse thy secret place and at the glory of thy presence the Clouds passe away thou thunderest from the heauens and giuest out thy voyce thou drawest forth the Windes out of thy treasures and commandest them backe againe to their places all things are in subiection vnto thée thy workes magnifie thée O Lord yea they tremble at thy presence the Mountaines and Hils dread thée when thou art displeased yea the whole world is afraid The Waters O God know thée and are afraid yea the depths tremble thy voyce O Lord diuideth the fiery flames O Lord thy voice maketh the Wildernes to tremble Thou remainest King foreuer thou wilt giue strength vnto thy People and blesse them with peace O most mercifull God shaddow vs from thy displeasure which is too vehement and intollerable let thy countenance shine vpon vs and haue mercy on vs protect thou our houses and vs that we be neither consumed by fire nor drowned by waters send not vpon the earth such vntemperate or vntimely Showres or any other vnseasonable weather whereby the Fruits thereof may be hurt or our soules harmed O God the Father which diddest send thy onely Sonne to die the death of the Crosse for my sake preserue mée and grant vnto me a blessed end O God the Son which didst suffer for my sake the heauy death of the Crosse defend me and O God the holy Ghost comfort mée blesse and kéepe mée from all dangers from this time forth and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Peace in true RELIGION Behold saith the Lord I will extend peace vpon my Church like a floud as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem Esay 66. 12. 13. These things haue I spoken to you saith Christ that yee in mee might haue peace in the world yee shall haue affliction but be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world Iohn 16. 33. O Most high and glorious God who art the Authour of Peace from whom doe procéede holy counsels and righteous destres giue vnto vs thy Seruants that Peace
importunate with mee for that which I cannot performe and resting in danger of their cruelties haue no other refuge but to depend on thy mercy and prouidence wherein as in a safe sanctuary I shall rest euermore preserued vntill these dangers be ouerpast Many doe looke vpon me to sée and consider what will become of my miseries and I continually pleade thy frée mercy in Christ wherein thou promisest to couer the multitude of my sins for which I am thus afflicted the righteous thereby take hold of hope and in my behalfe wish a prosperous and happy end of my destres encouraging mee to perseuere for that thy word euer sure warranteth a timely deliuery of all such as are penitent patient and faithfull vnto the end But alas good Father in Christ Jesus I a most sinfull man doe challenge no comfort ease or reliefe in mine owne right but in the merits of him in whom thou art well pleased and in whom thou shewest mercy vnto sinners among whom I am the greatest Yea Lord I am ignorant of good things and wander as a beast by nature in the vast wildernesse of this worlds vanities hauing little or no taste of thy sauing truth or féeling of future dangers but of thée onely I haue knowledge of my selfe I am weake but from thee I haue all strength of my selfe is misery from thée is mercy of my selfe I am altogether vnperfect but from thée is all perfection both inward tending to the consolation of my said soule and outward to the reliefe of my distressed body Therefore teach me O Lord teach me thy truth shew me thy wayes and leade mee in thy pathes continually withhold my heart from euery euill thought my hands that they commit no euill kéepe mine eyes sincere and my tongue that it speake no vnséemely thing and my féet from falling Regard moe not as I am in mine owne selfe nor deale with me as I deserue by mine owne wayes but according to thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse banish my sinnes as a mist driue away my imperfections as a cloud and supply my wants with timely reliefe Thou art righteous and gracious and reformest sinners and forgiuest their sins Be mercifull therefore vnto mine iniquities for they are very great Kéepe my soule and deliuer me let mee not be confounded nor perish vtterly for I trust in thée Thou art the light of my saluation the strength of my life and my refuge and sure defence in trouble In the time of my greatest dangers thou shalt hide mee in thy tabernacle namely in the secret places of thy prouidence which no man can finde out thou shalt kéepe me and hide me from them that couet my destruction thou shalt set me vpon a rock against which man shall not preuaile Harken therefore O Lord harken vnto my voyce when I cry vnto thée haue mercy vpon mee and comfort mee Thou sayest Seeke yee my Face And what is it O Lord but to séeke thy helpe in distresse and danger to craue thy fauour and succor in the time of néede O Father my soule by the priuiledge of thy frée Spirit which teacheth truth in the inner parts is ready my heart also is prepared to séeke thée my tongue speaketh vnto thée as vnto the liuely helper of all that are oppressed Hide not therefore thy face in displeasure which in loue thou willest me to seeke be vnto me as heretofore thou hast béene my succour and shield and leaue me not vnto the end My naturall father indéede that begat me and my mother that bare mee may forget mée my friends that pretend to fauour mee may forsake mee when thou rebukest me but thou canst not forget mée nor forsake mee for thou in thy Word hast promised the contrary and therefore I will not feare to flye vnto thée who giuest what earthly fathers cannot giue and supplyest my wants that neither my most familiar and my dearest friends can supply I should vtterly faint did I not verily trust in thée and assuredly know that thou hast no respect of persons and that thou acceptest not of men as the world doth by the outward habite and externall glory but the inward parts decked with faith feare and obedience thou likest and embracest the poorest for pietie and in the proud whom the world doth reuerence thou hast no delight Frame thou therefore mine inward zeale and let not my outward basenes ouer-much depriue me of some comfort among the children of men and when I cry vnto thée be not as men who regard not the poore but with spéede heare and consider and refuse not to answere me with timely reliefe And let not the vnsauorie miseries of this life accompanied with the naturall we akenesse of my flesh draw me into the way of the wicked but let me rather hold fast by thy promised protection as by the Altar of a liuely â—â—fuge â—ow downe thine eare I â—ay O Lord and let me not for euer cry vnto thée in vaine Draw me out of the net that is laid for mée deliuer me from the dangers prepared against me Thou hast séene my troubles and hast knowne my soule in the bitternes of distresse and yet thou hast not vtterly forsaken mée but in mercy hast mightily preserued mee from infinite perils And now Lord euen now séeing my life wasteth in heauinesse and my yéeres consume in forrow sith I am a reproach euen among my neighbours and all my friends faile me and sith I am euen at the point to perish be pleased to thinke of my miseries and send me spéedy reliefe As thy goodnesse O Lord is great which thou hast laid vp as in a treasury for all that feare thee so let thy mercy appeare and thy prouidence and power toward me be séene among such as thinke indéede thou hast forsaken me vtterly O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the fift Prayer VVHerein the poore man appealeth vnto God being stricken with a kinde of despaire because there be that say of him There is no helpe for him in God he therefore not onely cryeth vnto God that he will consider it but he himselfe also entreth into the cause why they so say and findeth it to be for that they see his store consumed and his basket emptied and his foes furious against him but hee herewith not dismayed reasoneth against these mens infidelity who in these their allegations seeme to deny that either there is a God or that he careth for or will or can helpe the poore And yet hee presumeth not vpon his owne integrity but confesseth God to be iust and rightly may punish sinners among whom he is the greatest and hee finding this temptation to be very grieuous he prayeth God to second his feeble nature by his free grace and that he will stay him with his staffe while he correcteth him with his rod because he is but a weake man may easily be burdened aboue his owne strength But being assisted by God hee assureth himselfe
worlds for that thou createdst mee being nothing and being borne a sinfull reprobate by nature diddest redeeme mée from Satan and hell and adoptedst mée one of thine owne children by thine owne Sonnes bloud in whom and for whose sake thou acceptest me an heyre with thy Saints of the glory of Heauen And for â—ine assurance here in this life hast giuen mée not onely thy promise in thy Word but hast sanctified mée with thy holy Spirit whereby I beléeue and can in some measure resist the motions which arise in mee by meanes of that originall corruption which I brought into the world and beare about mée which could not but condemne mée were it not that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the righteous did iustifie me by a liuely apprehension and a faithfull féeling of his most frée merits working for me and in my behalfe These most swéete spirituall fauors so farre surmount the apprehension of the most wise in the world and any féeling to the comfort of carnall men that they cannot assure themselues of their owne saluation a more miserable estate then which cannot light vpon man How much then Lord am I wretched creature bound vnto thy frée mercy in choosing mee to be one of thine owne by Adoption and to giue mée the earnest-penny of thy Spirit to assure mee thereof and that so farre from presuming vpon any desert of mine owne as I wholly condemne my selfe and acknowledge all my hope and assurance to be wrought in me by thine owne frée loue I vnworthy deseruing nothing lesse deseruing rather thine heauy and high indignation and consequently thy iust Judgements whereby in stead of my frée election I should be reiected in stead of my redemption I should be condemned and to be retained in the fearfull power and bondage of Satan and hell in stead of my sanctification and iustification I haue merited reprobation and yet deare Father in the abundance of thy fauors I haue and doe inioy the blessings of all spirituall comfort and contentment and withall haue inioyed so many corporall comforts and earthly graces at thy hands as are more in number then my sinnes which are more then the dust of the earth my life I had of thée the continuance thereof of thée the health of my body thou preseruest and when I haue beene sicke thou hast healed me In my hunger thou féedest mée and refreshest me when I am thirsty thou cloathest me and which is more thou bearest me as the Eagle doth her young euen vpon the wings of thy prouidence so that I haue bin defended from infinite imminent dangers both from the perill of the sword and the plague and from the violence of many misfortunes which might haue befallen me whereby had I not béene protected by thée I had perished long agoe and many times being poore thou hast relieued mée being eâ—uied thou hast kept mee from the power and open force and secret deuices of my many enemies And moreouer which is not the least Lord thou hast not onely giuen mée the vse of my limbes and seruice of my senses but hast taught my heart to conceiue and my hands to performe that by which in thy prouidence I profit in my calling and liue How then most gracious and louing Father am I bound vnto thy diuine Maiesty for such and so many heauenly and spirituall blessings and corporall and â—arthly benefits the least of which as I haue not deserued so can I not make recompence vnto thée for the least But as thou hast fréely bestowed them all vpon me in Christ so in Christ I returne to thée the glory in whom thou art well pleased and in him reconciled vnto mée or else would the benefits which I receiue become rather a curse then a blessing vnto me Oh that I were therefore of wisedome sufficient of power able in disposition willing and in zeale so seruent as I might powre forth thy deserued praises with a ioyfull heart But good Father accept the sacrifice of my wiâ—ling minde and impute not vnto me either weakenesse or vnwillingnes vnthankfulnesse or forgetfulnesse of this high duty forasmuch as that all-sufficient Lambe sacrificed for mée mediateth as well for me and in my behalfe my inward thanksgiuing presenteth them vpon thine altar of mercy as he euer presenteth vnto thée my prayers for pardon of my sins Of my selfe Lord I cannot bring thée Abel or Elias sacrifice but an heart of true thanksgiuing which it may please thée to accept as thou didst the sacrifice of Bullockes and Goates â—nd let mée Lord be truely able to offer vnto thée Dauids morning and euening sacrifice of praise especially that most swéete and preuailing sacrifice of â—iliall obedience which thou so much acceptest and although it can merit no fauour at thy hands as it is my worke it being sanctified in Christ it is the speciall meane not onely to discharge my duety in part but to obtaine new and continuing blessings and benefits at thy hands in Christ to whom with thée and the holy Ghost be all honour power praise and thanksgiuing for euermore Amen O Lord increase my Faith and make me euermore thankfull Another thankesgiuing in and for Gods gentle corrections O Eternall God powerfull and true which bringest downe to nought again aduancest thou in mercy often correctest thy dearest children and holdest them in by afflictions lest their ouer-much liberty should giue them ouer-much scope to run astray and consequently to sinne and dishonour thy name to their owne destruction Therefore O louing and most mercifull and deare Father I doe yéelde thée thankes that thou hast visited me with crosses and beaten me with gentle afflictions and corrected mée with fatherly chastisements for they are thy louing imbracements welcome to the spiritually minded â—â—kesome yet to flesh and bloud that fauour not of any thing contentedly but of sinne delight and vanity baites and snares of death Good therefore is it for mée deare Father that thou hast humbled me with thy louing corrections and great is thy fauour yeâ— and thy prouidence and power past all the capacity of the wisest for 〈◊〉 Lord I haue found fauour in thy sight I haue receiued comfort at thy hands euen in the time of my déepest afflictions yea when I was cast downe and in the conceit of mortall men confounded altogether thou yet didst take me vp and didst not suffer mée to perish vtterly for when mine enemies laid waite for mée and snares to take mée and intended my destruction they were by thée preuenced of their purpose and when they hasted to take me they stumbled and fell and I escaped from them as a bird from the snare of a Fowler therefore doe I giue thée the glory I praise thy name and I will magnifie thy goodnesse for euer O Father who hath looked vpon me in my troubles but thou who hath sustayned me but thou who hath fed me but thou who hath preserued me but thou who tooke me out of the Lyons
mouthes but thou who relieued mée when I wanted things necessary but thou who hath deliuered mée in the time of danger but thou who shall haue the praise and glory but thou the God of my saluation and mine euerlasting refuge But what recompence deare Father shall I make vnto thée what reward shall I giue thée what sacrifice shall I offer thée I am a worme no man I haue no good thing to present vnto thée but onely I say and confesse and acknowledge euen from my heart and soule with my tongue and lips that thou onely art God onely good onely able and willing to helpe the poore to relieue the distressed to comfort the abiect and to deliuer them that are ready to be swallowed vp of mercilesse waters I am poore yet thou prouidest for mée I want and thou giuest mée things expedient I haue Enemies but thou defendest mée from their tyranny I am féeble and weake and fearefull to fall but thou doest yet strengthen mée and vphold mée thou leauest mée not in misery thou forgettest mée not in my calamity thou doest not euer hide thée from mée nor turne thy face when I séeke thée but thou rather hearest me before I call and preparest mée salue before I vnfold my sore and giuest before I aske more then I can desire Yea Father when I thinke my selfe ouer-whelmed with the troubles that like raging waues doe follow one another thou takest mée vp and settest me on a sure Rocke and when I begin to slide and my faith séemeth to faile me thou euen then with thy helping hand dost hold me vp so that neither the waters of this worlds troubles can altogether swallow mee vp neither I altogether so fall as if there were none to helpe me vp Therefore O Father full of loue full of power full of compassion and patient to thée onely I yéeld praise for my present reliefe and comfort I thanke thée for thy louing and fatherly helpe who art absolute in thy prouidence and therein raisest meanes to support thy Children when they are in danger And as thou of thy frée fauour in Christ thy beloued hast at this time and for euer deliuered mee yea when I was past hope so continue my louing God and helper and Sauiour vnto the end and as thou séest my Soule in aduersity continually so be thou my continuall helper that I may still sing vnto thee the song of praise for thou art worthy to be praised oh thou art worthy to be praised to thée be praise for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith PSAL. 18. 2. The Lord is my rock and my fortresse and he that deliuereth me my God and my strength In him will I trust my shield and the horne also of my saluation and my refuge A Thankesgiuing to God for that Enemies haue not preuailed according to their desires with prayer to preuent them OH Lord of Hosts Lord of heauen and earth who defendedst Dauid from the malice of Saul Hezekiah from the power of Senacherib and all thy Children from their Enemies so farre as was euer expedient for thy glory and their soules comfort I thanke thée and blessed be thy holy Name for euer for that thou hast not suffered mine Enemies to triumph ouer mée buc hast most graciously deliuered mée from their malicious deuices hatefull inuentions Thine eye hath séene their laying in wait for mée and their wicked practices and in thy prouidence they are fallen and I stand they are snared and I am deliuered they are punished and I am preserued But it was not mine owne policy mine owne power wisedome or sword that hath kept them backe it was thine owne will thy worke and thine is the glory neither haue I escaped their wicked practices because I was iust nor because I was innocent neither of which deserueth so much but it was thine owne frée mercy in Jesus Christ by which they are snared and I am deliuered and I doe acknowledge it and doe confesse before all men yea I doe publish thy praise for thy goodnesse who art my strength and my saluation be thou euermore so and I shall neuer be moued be thou my rock whereupon I may euer more rest saie And grant that as I haue séene thy saluation tasted of thy sauing health felt the power of thy right hand and béene partaker of so many of thy benefits and blessings make mée able to glorifie thy Name that as thou hast now disappointed mine Enemies of their hope and weakned their power as thou hast scattered them brought their deuices and imaginations to nought so Lord stand alwaies by me and as they haue made a mocke of me trusting in thée so let shame befal them for their cruelties let their mouthes which spake lyes be stopped their armes still weakened and their hearts waâ—e faint whensoeuer they shall attempt their malicious deuices against me againe when they shall compasse me about with the multitude of their wicked imaginations then let the multitude of thy mercies ouer-match them They haue sought my hurt without a cause and therefore fell without my force thou tookest my cause into thine owne hand and hast brought me out of the snare that they had laid and taken them for thou iudgest right let them therefore know that it is thou hath hast done it and although they say in their hearts The Lord will not see nor consider let them finde that thou séest and considerest their practises and let them vnderstand that thou regardest the cause of the oppressed let them neuer haue power to rise againe against me let them neuer preuaile let mee euermore reioyce in thée O Lord my God my strength and my Redéemer O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing to be vsed after the returne of a Iourney or comming to some Inne or place of rest O God of all goodnesse mercy and loue I giue thée most humble hearty thankes for thy diuine prouidence in leading and conducting me in this my Journey and for preseruing mée from dangers in the same wherein I doe acknowledge thy goodnes towards me who as thou diddest euen by thy hand conduct Lot out of Sodome so hast thou taken mée as it were in thine armes and deliuered mée from perill And as thou diddest send Raphael thine Angell to conduct Tobias And as thou diddest leade the Seruant of Abraham and diddest guide Iacob in their iournies euen by thy holy ministring Spirits so doe I acknowledge that thou hast béene this day with me in my iourney thou hast brought mee in peace and safety vnto this place wherein I may take my bodily rest and refection hauing graciously protected mée from many secret dangers not onely of Enemies Robbers and Théeues but also from danger and hurts of my limbes which are commonly incident and d ee befall euen thine owne Children blessed be therefore thy holy Name for euer I giue glory vnto thy sacred and most glorious Name for that thou hast not onely preserued me but
the great extremity of childe-birth and to giue vnto me the swéete taste and féeling of thy comfort not only in ioy that a man is born into the world which maketh mee to forget my sorrowes but much more in the assurance of thy blessed prouidence and care ouer mee whose holy hand hath strengthened and vpholden mée who hath brought faâ—te weather after stormes and ioy after teares let thy sweete comfort alwayes rest with mée and giue mée grace since it hath pleased thée to make mée a glad mother that I may also become a good mother in shewing my selfe obedient vnto thée and to be carefull for the instruction and bringing vp of my childe in thy â—eare that wee may shew forth thy glory in this life and be made partakers of thy glory in the life to come through Jesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour to whom with thée and the sweete Comforter the holy Ghost thrée persons and one glorious God be all honor and praise for euer and euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for a Man-seruant Let seruants be subiect to their Masters and please them in all things not answering againe neither pickers but that they show all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things 1 Tit. 2. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 18. O Most mercifull and euer-liuing God who hast ordained in the world that there should be masters and seruants and didst heare Abrahams seruant crying to thée I now prepare my selfe to thy diuine Maiesty because seruice is necessary for mée to maintaine mée in this life and doe beséech thée O most louing Father to prouide for mee among good people that may not debarre me from hearing thy Word but rather giue me occasion by their good example to séeke those things which belong to my saluation Assist me also by thy holy Spirit that I may render them good and honest seruice and truely take charge of whatsoeuer they trust mee withall Prosper O God my labours and giue a blessing to those affaires which I shall mannage and vnder-take that thy grace gouerning me while I serue on earth I may afterward be an Heire and fellow-Citizen by Christ Jesus â—eanes in the Kingdome of heauen Thy mercy was so great at Capernaum to the Centurions Seruant that hée found a good Master Thou diddest likewise so louingly respect poore Ioseph when he was a seruant that all things prospered vnder his hand I beseech thee extend thy mercy to me a poore willing Seruant and as thou hast appointed so let mee rest contented Amen Lord increase my Faith and prosper mine endeauours A Prayer of a Maid-seruant O My Lord and Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to call mee to this estate and condition that I must serue to sustaine life and gaine those benefits necessarily belonging thereto I submit my selfe willingly to thy prouidence and appointment For I know thou didst not despise to speake to Abrahams seruant Hagar and didst likewise prouide good Mistresses for Bilha and Zilpha therefore I humbly beseech thy Maiesty to prouide an honest place for mee where too much rigour seuerity and hard vsage may not be shewed me Giue me grace also to yeeld vnto them faithfull and true seruice carrying alwayes a good conscience and keeping myselfe chaste and honest with dutifull obedience to my Mistris and ordering my Masters businesse as it becommeth mee Blesse all my indenours that I neither waste spoile nor destroy any thing Set a locke on my lips that by euill words I giue no occasion of stâ—ife or dissension but rather that I may procure peace so much as lyeth in my power to doe Thou knowest O God much better then my selfe what is néedfull for me and thy word teacheth me that with thé◠there is no respect of persons but thou hearest the poore and néedy as well as the great and mighty when they vnfainedly make their prayers vnto thée in the mediation of Christ Jesus our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Thankesgiuing before Meate O Lord our God and heauenly Father which of thy vnspeakable mercy towards vs hast prouided Meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies giue vs grace to vse them reuerently as from thy hands with thankefull hearts let thy blessing rest vpon these thy good Creatures to our comfort and sustentation and grant wee humbly beseech thee that as wee doe hunger and thirst for this foode of our bodies so our soules may earnestly long after the foode of eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Thankesgiuing after Meate TO thee O Lord our God which hast created redeemed continually preserued and at this time fed vs be ascribed all honour glory and power might and Dominion now and euer more O Lord preserue thy Church vniuersall this Church wherein wee liue the Kings Maiesty the Prince and Realme Grant thy Gospell a free passage confound Antichrist and all Heresies finish soone these dayes of sinne and bring vs to euerlasting peace through thy Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen FINIS A briefe Table of all the Prayers and other things contained in this BOOKE THe Motiue for a priuate Prayer for the Morning Fol. 1. A Prayer for the Morning 2 Morning Prayer where the Family assembles 6 The Motiue for a priuate Prayer for the Euening 11 A Prayer for the Euening 13 An Euening Prayer where the Family assembles 15 A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening 22 In the Morning adde this 29 In the Euening adde this 30 A Prayer for the King 31 For obedience vnto God 33 To be confirmed in the way of Righteousnesse 36 For the assistance of the holy Ghost 40 For Sunday Morning 42 Before the hearing of Gods Word 44 For the Preaching of the holy Word 46 For Sunday night 48 A Prayer to be said before a man begins his Labour 50 A Thanksgiuing or Prayer to be vsed after a mans Labour is finished 52 A generall Confession for sins and of the vanities of carnall delights 53 For humiliation and sorrow after sinne committed 56 A preparation to the Communion 61 At the Communion 66 After the Communion 73 A Motiue to the Prayer following against Temptation 75 A Prayer against all Temptations especially to any particular sinne 78 For a prosperous Iourney 82 A Motiue to a Prayer against Enemies 85 A Prayer against Enemies 87 Of the flocke for their faithfull Pastor 91 For obseruation of Gods Commandements 95 A Prayer and Meditation concerning the continuance of Gods corrections 104 A fit and comfortable Meditation when God seemeth most angry with vs. 107 Against despaire 110 Against backslyding in Religion and for increase of Faith 113 A comfortable Consultation and sweet Resolution what course to take in time of deepest distresse 116 Effectuall Prayers for distressed men 133 A Motiue to a Prayer for Patience in affliction 135 A Prayer for Patience in affliction 136 Against the Temptations of the Diuell 140 The way truely to seeke our God c. being the first prayer in distresse 144 The Motiue to the second Prayer to be said of distressed men 150 The second Prayer for Constancy in affliction 152 The Motiue to the third Prayer 158 The third Prayer wherein hee flyeth and wholly relyeth vpon God 159 The Motiue to the fourth Prayer 164 The fourth Prayer wherein he prayeth for faith zeale and strength to vndergoe Gods corrections 166 A Moriue to the fift Prayer 172 The fift prayer wherein the poore man prayeth God to keepe him from despaire 174 The Motiue to the sixt prayer 179 The sixt prayer to learne how to leaue the world and to desire heauen 180 A Motiue to the seauenth Prayer wherein the poore distressed mans desire is to hold fast the promises of God and to shew himselfe thankfull 185 The seauenth prayer in distresse 186 The Motiue to the eight prayer wherein the poore distressed man craueth pardon for his sinnes 190 The Motiue to the ninth prayer for assurance of Gods prouidence 197 The ninth prayer wherein the poore distressed man acknowledgeth that though God doe deseruedly punish him yet he assureth himselfe that God will relieue him 199 A Motiue to thankefulnesse to God for comfort and reliefe receiued of him in the time of necessity and affliction 206 Preparatiues to Thankefulnesse 238 A generall Thankesgiuing vnto God for all his benefits spirituall and corporall 240 Another thankesgiuing in and for Gods corrections 245 A Thankesgiuing to God for that enemies haue not preuailed according to their desires 250 A Thankesgiuing to be vsed after the returne of a Iourney or comming to some Inne or place of rest 253 A prayer for the Fruits of the earth 255. Meditations COncerning the Maiesty Power and Loue of God 258 Concerning the Knowledge and Prouidence of God 264 Of the Word of God 272 Of the benefit of Faith in God 279 Concerning the vncertainty of mans haphappinesse in this life 285 A sweet contemplation of heauen and heauenly things 291 A consideration of the dangerous estate of the impenitent wicked ones after this life 298 An exhortatiue Conclusion wherein the afflicted are stirred vp to Patience and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate 311 A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man 318 For Patience in sickenesse 319 A Prayer to be said at the point of death 324 A Confession of sinnes with a Prayer to be said of poore distressed men Morning and Euening and at all times else as they shall be there unto moued 326 A very comfortable and most patheticall prayer to be said of such as are in greatest distresse hauing wife and children and in debt not able to maintaine the one or satisfie the other 331 A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man when he is recouered 339 In time of Infection pray thus yea often 341 If not infected pray thus 345 In time of Tempests and vnseasonable weather 348 For Peace in true Religion 351 A deuout Prayer to be vsed of a Widdow 355 For one that prepares himselfe for Marriage 358 For a young Man or Maid preparing to Marriage 361 A Prayer to be said of women great with Childe 363 To be said of a woman in trauell 365 A Thankesgiuing of a Woman after her Deliuery 367 A Prayer of a Man-seruant 370 A Prayer of a Maid-seruant 37â— A Thankesgiuing before Meate 373 A Thankesgiuing after Meate 375 FINIS
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
let him come to this holy Table let him eate the Bread and drinke the Bloud of that Lambe that taketh away his sinnes and will present him pure vnto the Lord. The Lords eye is pure and can abide no wickednesse The Sacrament is holy touch it not rashly If thou haue not on the wedding Garment of sincerity come not the Lord will finde thee out and thrust thee forth of his presence among the vnbeleeuers whose portion shall be with the Diuell and his Angels Let vs therefore search and examine our wayes let vs lift vp our hands with our hearts vnto God in the Heauens and feede on this holy mysterie the life of our soules in remembrance of Christs death vntill his second comming O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer to be said at the receiuing of the holy Communion OH most gracious Lord God mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ my Redéemer in whom thou art also my Father by Adoption in and by thy Sonne my soule O Lord which was lost in Adam bought and redéemed by the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ doth earnestly long and entirely desire to be more and more assured that I am fully and really vnited vnto thée againe in him and therefore I doe hunger and thirst to partake of those meanes whereby that sweete and precious vnion may be confirmed in mée Increase my knowledge more and more of thy sauing truth reuealed vnto vs in thy word and increase my faith to beléeue what thou hast taught for our saluation let me take perfect and assured hold of my regeneration wrought in me by Baptisme the seale of thy promise set vpon mée when I knew not thy Law wherein as I promised to forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnesse so Lord let the operation of thy holy Spirit then promised worke in my soule a true detestation of the workes of darknesse and loue vnfained to thy celestiall and diuine light And for that thou in Christ hast left vnto vs a second seale of thy loue and our adoption the Sacrament of the body and bloud of that immaculate Lambe who for a remembrance of his death our frée adoption by him instituted the same at his last supper with his Disciples and commanded thy Saints dispersed through the world through all generations to this day and for euer to the end of the world to communicate of this holy Sacrament in commemoration of that high and most preuailing sacrifice the offering of thy Son vpon the Crosse for our redemption and attonement with thée And therefore most louing Father I come in the name of him thy Son not of my selfe presuming but in all humblenes through his merits vnto this holy Table to partake with the rest of thy Saints by adoption here at this time gathered together of this holy and heauenly banquet humbly begging at thy hands for his sake that it may please thée to prepare my heart which of it selfe is not onely dull but prophane teach me being of my selfe not onely ignorant of this sacred mystery but too much knowing sinne Sanctifie me by thy holy Spirit who of my selfe am not onely corrupt but wholly prone to euill euermore consequently vnworthy to eat at this holy Table to partake of thy loue so vnspeakable Oh forgiue me Father in thy Christ here represented vnto vs ingraft in me a liuely assurance that my sinnes are done away by his bloud giue me faith to beléeue in him who by faith is made ours and we in him thine by adoption elected euen of thy frée mercy and made heires with Christ Jesus of eternall glory whereof this holy mystery is the most assured pledge Oh make me a worthy partaker of so precious a benefit And for that sinners Lord are not admitted to this sacred banquet of sauing foode where shall I appeare whose sinnes drew downe from heauen him whom thou most dearely louedst and betraid him to the Crosse how then shall I presume to appeare in this holy assembly appointed for thy Saints onely a Table of sanctitie whereof none partake but such as are frée from sinne Who then Lord dare presume to eate of this bread or to drinke of this Cup onely those whom thou hast called who though sinners by nature yet are they thy children by grace and so their sinnes are not imputed vnto them for whom Christ by his death hath satisfied apprehended by faith shewed forth in newnesse of life and wrought in vs by his righteousnesse in whose name accept me good Father and let the garment of his innocency couer my sinnes and so let me come to this holy Table And as a new man shaped in holinesse and righteousnesse let mée euermore henceforth walk before thée and more delight in thy Commandements then in any or in all worldly things let me by thy power be powerfull ouer Satan let his instigations neuer preuaile in me and let all corrupt affections die in me and let mee wholly die to sinne and liue to righteousnesse and true holinesse And for that I liue among men of diuers dispositions giue me grace to loue all but to couet to conuerse onely with such as are thine as néere as I may to reuenge me of none but to forgiue all wrongs and iniuries and so farre to forget them as I may studie and endeuour to doe good vnto all especially to such as are of the communion of Saints And enlighten mine vnderstanding more and more that I may seé and consider alwayes mine owne weakenesse wants and imperfections that I may so much the more beare with others by how much I cannot but confesie I come farre short of my duty to theé who so offendeth mee most I offend thée much more And therefore good Father frame in my heart loue vnfained true patience and liuely obedience Leaue me not either to the dulnesse peruersenesse or pride of mine owne nature or to mine owne corrupt will make mée little and lowly in mine owne eyes and giue me humblenesse of spirit and indue me with all heauenly vertues that I may rrsemble my first estate of innocency and let my present estate of grace come neere to resemble thy dearest children yea thy selfe who as thou forgauest vs in him that was Lord of all and for vs became as a seruant by his bloud washed away our sins offering his most innocent body a sacrifice for our sinnes whose rent body and spilt bloud being here represented vnto vs by bread and wine I doe most humbly pray theé that wée may be accepted worthy receiuers of his true body and bloud signified thereby and that we may féele euen instantly a renewing of our mindes our hearts to be changed from all corrupt affections and our soules swallowed vp with the due contemplation of this most sacred mystery wherein thou giuest vs not onely thy visible creatures of bread and wine to refresh our weake bodies but thine owne Sonne to saue our soules and bodies Oh who is worthy to open the
hath béene long hammering and hazarding goods and lands and liberty and life and some pawne soule and all to haue this strange meane to make himselfe a great man and a rich man and a wise man and a cunning man and a man to be admired at for his rare skill and great wealth and hidden wisedome and while hée sought this stone of wisedome hée became a foole and a begger and a laughing-stocke to them that become the wiser to sée his ambition and folly But hadst thou this stone that could transinute Maluerne Hils into pure gold and all the Earth into siluer and couldest make thy selfe young againe and lusty and strong againe and haddest what thou couldest wish here in this life what were this vnto thée thou wert yet but a worldly wise man a worldly rich man a carnall man But the Phylosophers stone indéede thou hast not found which is to feare God and to imbrace his Word and to be content with a competent estate and therefore as impossible for thée to goe to heauen as a Cammell to goe thorow a needles eye But tush thou wilt say Abraham was rich Lot was rich Iob was rich and Salomon was rich and yet they were in Gods fauour and Gods elected ones True it is they were blessed of God in their riches because they knew God and beléeued his promises They held not their wealth but as meanes to relieue themselues and others but thou holdest thy wealth to get vaine-glory by them They were bountifull and liberall where néede required and had not the desire of money as thou that hast neuer enough and wilt depart from none that by rapine and wrong and oppression and bribery and sinne inrichest thy selfe They vsed their wealth as though they vsed it not in respect of themselues but to doe good to Gods children by it Who can but imagine that if the Phylosophers stone were to be contriued or compounded of the powder of poore mens hearts and of the bloud of their owne soules would not there be some of these stones composed by mercilesse men that hate to be reformed and say by all their cruelties daily practised that either there is not a God to recompence their wickednesse or else that God séeth not nor considereth their oppression and wrong These men yet prosper in the world and say that these things are theirs these things are Gods blessings these things are to be disposed after their own hearts lusts in vanity and pride in wantonnesse and sinne but to reléeue the necessity of the poore they haue no will the words of worldlings warrant them that they may doe with their owne what they list But the word of God cryeth wee to the rich many more to the hard-hearted and fast-handed rich Man because there is no loue in him or mercy or compassion in him the poore 〈◊〉 ous vnto him and the néedy or 〈◊〉 sed mans cry he cannot heare But God shall heare these afflicters of poore men hée shall finde out their hidden mucke and approue them lyers that say vnto the poore I haue not for you yea God shall heare them and afflict them euen he that raigneth of old shall cast them downe though they long flatter themselues in their prospority and say Wee will preuaile who is Lord ouer vs Let no childe of God therefore repine against these euill men that haue the world at will who are so fat and so well liking as they hold themselues in most happy case Let them alone their day is comming and their confusion commeth they shall be cut downe like grasse and wither as the gréen hearbe and at last be cast into the vnquenchable Furnace The Lord laugheth them to scorne while they laugh the Poore to scorne and the Lord out of Heauen thundereth terrour vnto them while they worke trouble and misery and vexation against the Just that dwell in â—â—se shew vpon the Earth whom yet tâ—…ord holdeth vnder his protection and guardeth so as the wicked preuaile no further against them then may make for the profit of their soules These oppressours and these mighty men that care not for God nor regard his Word nor feate his threates nor beléeue his promises they shall be surely confounded and perish when there shall be none to helpe they shall be consumed as the fat of Lambes euen with the Uiper of their own guilty consciences they shall be stung and consume away and come vnto a fearefull end I haue séene the wicked strong saith Dauid and spreading himselfe like a gréene Bay-trée but hée withered ere he was plucked vp and being plucked vp he is cast into the fire So that let these men of power that oppresse and pitty not the poore thinke what a goodly shew they make in the Stréetes in the Church and in the Markets and seates of Judgement how wonderfull they are in their own â—onceits by reason of their wealth and honour and glorious attite and how the poore fall at their féete and they cast by their countenance from beholding such wretched poore men and with-hold their hands from giuing and their tongues from comforting as if they themselues were and none else the substance and the poore but the shadowes of men But consider I say consider thy state and place and pompe and pride and vanity well and it shall all appeare but as a cloud that vanisheth away suddenly like a glistering bubble in the Sunne So thou goest to the graue in feare and the wormes prey vpon thée as thou didst on the poore for as thou piece-meale didst rob the poore by extortion and bribery so doe the wormes by little and little deuoure that proud carâ—eis that now as to aâ— Idoll men are forced to crouch and bow themselues Hast thou any thing rightly to boast of O thou foolish man that estéemest the more of thy selfe for thy wealth and great glory being the very meanes to make thée proud and thy pride to make thée despise thy Brethren and consequently God that made thée and them Were it not better for thée to become a Zacheus to restore all thou hast wrongfully and sinisterly gotten and of thy goods well gotten to giue halfe to the poore that thou maist say and be said to be rich in good things because thou doest good But to be rich and hoord it vp to be rich and doe no good is a badge of a man that shall neuer inioy the Kingdome of God Were it not better to wéepe here that wée may reioyce hereafter then to reioyce here and howle for euer But wéepe and howle and lament and be waile your selues yée rich men that haue no remorse for the paines and horror and anguish and torments endlesse shall be your reward if yée repent not and reforme your euill wayes Be no more stiffe-necked nor couetous nor disdainfull but liberall and humble and helpefull to the people of God that God in his mercy may make you rich in knowledge of good things rich in practice and
it as a great benefit and tooke it as an high blessing and said it was good for him Was it good for him and ill for vs was it profitable to him and hurtfull to vs No and therefore Paul was not ashamed of his crosses for crosses make vs the companions of the blessed Children of God nay they make vs the more like to our elder brother Christ Jesus who finished our Redemptions through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through afflictions and he that is ashamed to follow him that way he cannot come to him at all hée will not know him and therefore he shall neuer enter into that holy place hée shall neuer attaine vnto that rest that shall be endlesse and most ioyfull in the heauens How vnsauory therefore soeuer our troubles séeme wée must be patient and neuer giue ouer to cry vnto our helping Father nor to vse our best endeauours in our callings which God will blesse staying our selues in hope vpon his promises Let vs neuer dismay for God that maketh this little wound without doth it to cure a greater within and while hée séemeth to kill vs it is that wée may liue euer and while hée suffereth vs to be here ignominious it is that wée may become all glorious with him in heauen The poore man cryeth and the Lord heareth him and saueth him out of all his troubles Psal. 34. 6. The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him and deliuereth them Vers. 6. Taste ye and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Vers. 8. A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man O Almighty and euerlasting God who although thou art still in thy iudgement yet art thou a mercifull God to the soule that séeketh théeth infinite in thy mercy and plenteous in redemption for though thou send sicknesse yet wilt thou shew pitty according to the multitude of thy compassions for thou dost not willingly chastice and afflict the children of men therefore I poore wretched sinner which am but dust earth and ashes vnworthy the least of thy fauours doe fréely confesse to thy glory and mine owne shame that I am conceiued and borne in sinne that originall corruption stayning and infecting my whole nature hath depriued mée of all holinesse and left in mee an inclination to all euill and that I haue by mine innumerable transgressions in thought word and déede broken all thy holy Commandements and therefore besides all other euils I haue iustly drawne this sickenesse and these diseases vpon me yet not withstand séeing that thou such is thy excéeding great mercy hast no pleasure in the miseries and destruction of thy Children but doest onely by affliction try correct humble and reforme them for there present and euerlasting good I doe therefore most dear and louing Father most humbly beséech thy heauenly Maiesty to pardon my sins the onely causes of my misery and affliction increase and perfect in me all graces that concerne saluation assist mée with the counsell and comfort of thy sacred Spirit and conuert this my visitation to mine amendment and saluation of my soule in Christ. If it be thy good pleasure and will O Lord restore me to my perfect and former health that I may not onely performe my good purposes and pay my vowes which my lips haue promised and my mouth hath spoken in my affliction but also henceforth grow vp in grace in obedience in holinesse vntill I come to the end of mine hope which is the saluation of my Soule But if it be thy will and decrée by this chastisement to finish my dayes I most humbly and earnestly intreat thée O my God as the outward man decaieth to renew in me the inner man and to grant that as the body dyeth so thy grace may liue and reuiue in me Shut not the eies of my mind but open them and make mee vnderstand what the hope of my heauenly calling is and what is the riches of the glorions inheritance that thou hast prepared for me that I may liue in thy faith and obedience and end my life in thy fauour and when this life endeth remaine and raigne with thée in glory for euer Uouchsafe to be a Father to my family kinsfolke and posterity plant thy feare in their hearts confirme them in thy grace and giue them all things competently necessary for the maintenance of this present life Harken O Lord to these my prayers and grant me all other things which thy heauenly wisdome séeth necessary for my soule or body for thy dearly beloued Sons sake To whom with thy Maiesty and God the holy Ghost be rendred and ascribed all honour and glory now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Patience in sicknesse and truely to expresse sorrow for sinne O My most louing and mercifull Father God omnipotent who art nigh vnto all those that call vpon thée in truth thou art a present helpe in time of trouble all powerfull full of wisdome and compassion wonderfully surpassing all earthly Parents I poore miserable wretch long troubled with grieuous sickenesse and so sore vexed with paine and torment that neither my body can take any sleepe or rest nor my Spirit feele any ease or comfort doe here in the onely merit and mediation of Jesus Christ present and humble my selfe before thée humbly begging and intreating for fauour and mercy at thy hands Worke in my heart by thy holy Spirit godly sorrow and repentance for all mine offences impute none of them vnto mée but let mée féele and be assured in my conscience that the guilt and punishment of them are remoued Be thou my Physition to cure and heale mée auert and turne this present sicknesse into a soueraigne medicine and this vehement and grieuous paine into a fatherly and gentle visitation let thy strength appeare in my weakenesse let thy power be perfected in mine infirmity and so arme mée in this my temptation with the gift of Patience and long-suffering that I be not with-drawne from the constant practice of holy dueties neither yéelde vnto mine owne passions and the suggestions of Sathan To this end powre downe thy blessed and sacred Spirit into mine heart â—each assist and direct mée that hée may open to the eyes of my minde the righteousnesse of thy Judgements that I may in all willingnesse aâ—… knowledge the equity of the same that he may bring to my remembrance the cruell and most bitter paines and torments of my mercifull Lord and Sauiour Jesus who by his death hath swallowed the very dregges of thy wrath and by the merit and vertue of it hath so tempered and swéetned the Cup of affliction vnto â— manifest vnto mée the glorious and heauenly happinesse and holinesse of thy Saints and Seruants in heauen that the certaine assurance hope and expectation thereof may abundantly excéede and take away all my present griâ—ie and torment I beséech thée O Lord according to