shall thy tongue sauour of the same and if thou wilt auoid the slanderous tongue of another walke innocently if yet it follow thee sit downe by it and take it as a crosse sent of God for thy patience How to vse the tongue to profit SPeake therefore at all times and in all companies as in the presence and hearing of the great God of heauen and earth speake as becommeth a sober man a ciuill man as a religious and faithfull Christian man that thy words being seasoned with the salt of grace may be profitable also to others for by thy words thou maist disorder and by thy words thou maist well order thy house The example of an euill tongue iâ— parents dangerous for their children and seruants IF thou leaue an euill and contagious sent behind thee by breathing out vngodlinesse cursing and bitternesse wherby thine owne house thy wife children and family may be infected and retaine thy filthy disease when thou art dead doe what otherwise thou canst doe in setling thy lands and disposing thy goods they may profit them to whom thou leauest them as touching their temporall estate but as touching their well ordering in godlinesse it shall hinder preiudice them more than their patrimonies can aduance them An euill tongue is infectious AN euill tongue infecteth all that are neere it if it haue its naâ—â— all course of talking wherefore auoid such as delight their tongues in scurâ—ility and filthy communicaâ—ion and exhort thy children seruants and familiars to vse their tongues in praises of and prayers to God for to this end hath God giuen thee and them tongues to speake and be not like them that honour God with their lipps and dishonour him with their conuersatioâ—s It were better thou hadst no tongue at all than to vse it to Gods dishonor and to the hurt and â—â—ander of his innocent children Froward language breeds strife BEware that thou stirre not vp quarrells and contentions among thy neighbours by a peruerse tongue froward language breeds strife in a family betweene husband and wife parents and children c. And especially griefe and sorrow many timeâ— punishments and sometimes death for capitall slanders to them that offend in their tongues Slander and flattery two vices of the tongue AS slander is an abuse of the tongue so is flattery and of the two flattery is the most dangerous If thou flatter thou vsest thy tongue to deceiue if thou delight to be flattered thou longest to be deceiued Therefore neither flatter nor hearken vnto flatterers for if they come vnder colour of friendship to see thee they will speake faire when yet their hearts are full of malice 〈◊〉 deceit As the disciples of the Pharisies and the Herodians came in flattery to entangle Christ flattery makes some men proud as the people showting at Herods oratioÌ„ crying the voice of God and not of man Absalom stale the hearts of the people from Dauid by flattery Flattery is deceitfull and dangerous SO deeply doth the tongue of a flatterer pierce that his words goe downe as it were into the bottome of the belly of the flattered for he will so subtilly insinuate by protestations of loue and coloured zeale of true affection as vnlesse a man be the better armed with diuine discretion he cannot auoid the snare A flatterer may be suspected by too glorious and ouer-painted words for he that meanes plainly seeketh no such glosing far-fetch termes Aâ— plaine meaning man is soonest deceiued by flattery and therefore better are bitter reproofes of a friend than the fawnes of a secret enemy Abandon flattery and take heed to the faire words of a flatterer How to vse the tongue to Gods glory VSE thy tongue in the setting forth of Gods glory in prayer vnto and praising of him exhorting thy houshold and family in the knowledge feare and obedience to God And when thou speakest vnto God vse not many words noâ— much babling for few words proceeding from a feeling and faithfull heart are more acceptable to God than many words without inward zeale and zeale can continue no longer than the heart is feruent through the spirit of God And when it waxeth cold and dull it seemeth the heart becomes faint and the hands feeble as appeared euen by faithfull Moses who at the first was feruent yet at length became feeble Exod. 17. Fit to meditate before we speake especially to God in prayer BE not therefore rash to offer the sacrifice of prayer in a faint and vnfeeling heart but meditate before thou open thy mouth and vtter not vnaduisedly whatsoeuer comes into thy mouth Let not thy tongue go before thine vnderstaÌ„ding especially in thy prayers to God speak not to nor of God but with highest humility and reuerence and take not his name into thy mouth in vaine speake well or speake nothing for euen a foole when he holdeth his peace is accompted a wise man among men The tongue well gouerned is aâ— necessary instrument IF then thou gouerne this member aright vnto the end it shall proue a necessary instrument towards the setling of all the rest of thy house in order before thou dye If it continue contaminate and polluted it well be such a blemish vnto thy Christian profession and such a hindrance to the establishing of the house of thy soule and consequently of thy soule it selfe in order as thou canst not but die suspected either of Atheisme or Infidelity Fit to try thy senses HAuing thus examined thy tongue it behoueth likewise to make tryall of thy fiue senses which haue their imperfections also And first of the eyes The examination of the Eyes the first of the fiue senses IF thou canst now temper thy tongue and so discreetly order thy speech as becommeth a man of vnderstanding fearing God thou shalt the better learne how to carry thine eyes which are the organs and instruments of seeing and by which doe enter into the heart many obiects and motiues tending more commonly to the disorder than to the well-ordering of the affections By the eye enter diuers dangerous motiues to the heart THe eye moues the heart to many vaâ—ities as to the lust of flesh to the pride of life and to the delights and pleasures of the world All which fight against the Soule By this organ entred Eues desire to taste of that beautifull forbidden fruite that purchased her owne her husbands and the death of all their posterity The Eye indeed is the light of the body but many times and by many means brings darkenes vnto the soule which being deluded and betrayed by the inticements of the eye and the rest of the outward senses cannot but be much oppressed and euen groane vnder the burden of the infirmities and sinnes of the body which although it be mortall and shall perish yet for as much as it shall rise againe and become immortall with the soule The soule grieues at the sinnes of the body THe Soule cannot but grieue to feele the
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we
in flaxe soone inkindled and soone extinct soone hot and as soone cold And no other foundation haue those affections that are set vpon carnall and vanishing things A man may as is often obserued affect and hate as it were in one breath things variable and interchangeable for as all naturall things are inconstant so is mans heart Saul seemed so highly to affect Dauid as he was content to giue him his daughter in marriage yet how soone was his loue turned to deadly hatred It was not grounded vpon that loue that proceeds from the Spirit of God But Ionathans loue and affection to Dauid was grounded vpon a more diuine and setled opinion hee saw that God was with Dauid And vpon this ground whosoeuer foundeth his affection towards any man namely as hee findes him to be a man beloued of God his affection is approued of God O that wee could rectifie our loue in this point and learne to affect the best things and not to set our affections on things of the world which when wee haue them they steed vs nothing beyond necessity how superfluous soeuer they bee And when wee seeme to haue them in best assurance either they leaue us before the time or wee must leaue them in time Let us make choice therefore as Mary did of the better part namely to affect things permanent which are aboue and they most excellent Then need wee not to feare bee wee poore or rich high or low noble or base wee shall be able to set our houses both domestick of our soules in such compleate order as shall witnesse our godly care in our liues when wee are dead A preparatiue to Prayer LEt the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be now and alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Let my prayer come before thee as Incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be as an Euening sacrifice like a morning obligation a sweet smelling sauour in thy nostrils Heare my prayers and answer me graciously for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord God Almighty euer-liuing and euer-louing Father in thy well-beloued sonne Iesus Christ who art father of all and rich vnto all that call vpon thy name in truth and sincerity to thee I call and cry together with thy forme and holy spirit three distinct persons in the vnity of essence who hauing made all things of nothing sustainest them in thy good prouidence by the word of thy power that thy name by all men and by all meanes might bee glorified Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy worship and service and to be obserued not only as a holy day but a glorious day vnto thee wherein I ought to pay my vowes vnto thee present my person and my prayers before thee heare thy word and meditate vpon the same to thy glory and mine owne good To this end remoue farre from me all wandring thoughts and worldly affections and worke in me a desire of studying thy Law and of walking in the truth that thy word may not bee vnto mee the sauour of death vnto death but of life vnto life I present not these my supplications trusting to my owne righteousnesse but in thy manifold mercies grant me therefore I beseech thee gratious audience and mercifull acceptaâ—ce euen for my redeemers and sanctifiers sake And as duty obligeth mee principally and aboue all other things and primarily in the first place and before all other things I extoll thine infinite goodnesse together with thine eternall wisdome and truth that thou hast protected mee all this night past and made me to rest and sleepe so quietly vnder the shadow of thy wings And I beseech thee from the bottome of mine heart to protect me this day with thy mighty hand from all dangers both of body and soule giue thine holy Angels charge ouer mee to guide me in all my waies to keepe mee from euils both bodily and ghostly that keeping my faith and a good conscience I may haue thy witnesse and testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordained me to wrath but to obtain eternall life and saluation To this end remoue farre from me the offences of this present euill world mortify and kill in me the concupiscense of the flesh crucifie all carnall lusts and affections that vice being supplanted vertue and grace may bee established liue and grow in mee Let not since haue dominion ouer mee reigne and beare rule in my mortall body to ouer-sway my soule and incline it unto euills but let thy loue possesse my soule that grace may incite and stirre vp the same vnto all holy duties which may be soe pleasing vnto thy maiesty as may procure thy fauourable kindnesse blessing and protection Giue mee a contrite heart to bewayle my former life and let mee finde comfort in thy mercy for the remission of my sinnes Sanctifie me O blessed and holy trinity this holy day with thine especiall grace that I may honour thee as a Creator loue thee as a redeemer and expect thee as a Sauiour that I may haue a modest carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in my prayers and reuerent attention in thy presence to heare thy word Vnlocke the cares of my body that I may heare those things which thou shalt teach me that hearing I may vnderstand them vnderstanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorne that profession which I haue made in thy name and confirme mee in the faith of thy sonne Iesus Christ whereto I was baptized Raise mee O Father by the power of my sauiours resurrection from sinne and iniquity and giue me spirituall rest peace of conscience ioy in the holy ghost and fellowship in the communion of Saints that when I shall leaue this world I may keepe an euerlasting Sabbath with thee in the kingdome of heauen Behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy withall the power of my soule and strength of my minde for all these graces and fauours beseeching thee to continue vnto mee the right vse of the same that thy spirit may witnesse vnto my spirit that I am thy sonne and shall bee heire of thy kingdome of glory and that I may be partaker of the inheritance with thy Saints in light where are pleasures that last for euermore Grant this O Father for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noone O Lord my God great in maiesty and infinite in mercy wonderfull in thy goodnesse vnto thy Church and children who hast commanded mee to make prayers and supplications for those that shall enter into the ministery and stand before thee to waite at thine Altar the harâ—est being great and the painefull and conscionable labourers but few I beseech thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to send able ministers into thy Church and set such ouer particular congregatiâ—ns as like Iohn the Baptist may
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
comforteth the heart so too much oppresseth the whole body And as some light perfume passing by this sense may comfort the braine So too much will infect the same and turne the swetnesse into putrifaction to the hurt of the body and offence to God Dangers incident to the sense of Smelling IF this sense had or were capable of as many offensiue obiects as the eye it would bee as vnruly and soone bring bane vnto the body But though it haue not so many meanes of prouocation as the taâ—â—â— yet in as great danger for as poysonous meates descending into the stomacke may kill the body So may infected fumes putrifie the braine to the like confusion of the bodie The abuse of sweets perfumes AS this sense hath as other senses haue a vertue to comfort so hath it a vice to offend in the too much wanton delight in pleasing it selfe for many haue a pride not onely to perfume their garments to sweeten or to be smelt sweet in the streetes but their very haire to perfume their Ladies lips in their chambers that they may seeme amiable or rather more amorous indeed too effeminate for becomes it a man that is or would seeme valorous to change his vertues which should appeare in his Wisedome Magnanimitie and Iudgement for the vices that onely are imbraced by Curtesans Light-women and Fooles If we well considered what wee are wee would not perfume us IF thou wilt be womanlike thou mayest as well paint thy face to make thee faire as to vse perfumes to make thee sweet Consider what thou art and whereof thou art made Thou art but dust and diddest thou well obserue what comes of thy perfumed carkasse thou wouldest bee ashamed bee thou man or woman either to paint or perfume so vile a peece of flesh that will putrifie and stinke within foure dayes that thy breath is out of thy body These are they that sauour of the flesh fleshly of vanitie and pleasure euen of death vnto death Seeming faire without but filthy within sweet in shew indeed stinking and corrupt How a man ought truely to perfume himselfe IF thou wilt smell well indeed and desirest thy selfe to bee a good sauour to God consider that as there is a corporall and carnall so is there a spirituall and heauenly sense of smelling with which the soule of the Regenerate man smelleth with inward delight the sweete odours wherewith the garments of the spouse of Christ are perfumed with Myrrh Alo's and Cassia of Mercie Wisedome and Truth Endeauour then to smell of Faith Hope of the Loue of God and of like Loue to thy Neighbour as to thy selfe How to become sweet to God SMell thou of a holy and godly life of heauenly Meditations and godly Prayers Then shalt thou bee vnto God a sweet sauour in Christ and of Christ who shall smell in thee a sacrifice acceptable and shall haue pleasure in thy beauty and sweetnesse And thou shalt smell the sauour of life vnto life eternall And in the meane time thou shalt learne and be able to set not onely thy worldly goods but also the house of thy soule thy body and the members and all the senses thereof and aboue all thy soule in perfect order before thou dye Thus of the sense of Smelling followes the sense of Touching The Examination of the sense of Touching IT may be thought meerely superfluous indeede to speake any thing against the sense of Touching or Feeling because it is onely most sensible of hurt and least hurtfull The sense of touching or feeling is disperst through the whole body IT is a sense not set in one locall place of the body alone as the rest of the senses are as Seeing Hearing Tasting and Smelling all placed in the head the Eye to see the Eare to heare the Tongue to taste and the Nose to smell and neither partakes of the others office But this sense of touching or feeling is distributed through the whole and euery part of the body And euery part is sensible of others hurt from the sole of the foot to the Crowne of the head And cannot bee conceived to rest more in the head than in the foot nor more in the Foot than in the Finger Though the Head and Heart are the most apprehensiue parts And the Hand the common instrument and most imployed in the ayde and defence of this sense as if any part or member of the body bee striken or hurt though all parts feele it yet is the hand most ready to helpe it And the hand is most commonly the most offensiue member by touching to hurt And the most vsefull for the choyce of many necessary commodities the goodnesse substance softnesse and supplenes wherof are best knowne by the sense of Feeling neither the Eare nor the Eye are vsed therein If one member be hurt all the body feeles it IF the head or the most inferiour part be it the finger or the little toe suffer iniury this sense suddenly informes the head the head the heart which summons all the members instantly to yeeld commiseration or ayde vnto the offended part and all consult how to ease and releeue that one grieued member The abuse of the taste procures most hurt to the body THis sense is most abused and feeles greatest hurts by the abuse of the taste which ingrossing al delicate meats drinks to pamper the body with replention procureth the gout whereof one cryes out of his Feete another of his Hands it fils another with the Dropsie whereby one cryes out of his body filled with water another of the swelling of his legges another cryes out of the Stone and many other maladies when either of these seise vpon the body it is felt painefull and grieuous euen to the heart As touch but the Gout and the party will bee ready to rore oppresse or dresse but a wound or sore in any part of the body or let the tooth but ake the sense thereof goes from the place grieued to all other parts of the body The abuse of this Sense of Feeling or Touching THis sense of Touching is likewise abused by too much nicenesse in apparell obserued in those that thinke their garments neuer delicate and fine enough to bee felt Cloth of the wooll of sheepe is too base they must haue them as it were of the dainty and thinne Spiders webbe of the very excrements of filthy wormes soft supple and delightfull to bee felt vnlike to holy Iohn Baptists attire who had his garments of Camels Haire vnpleasant to be felt yet is not soft rayment and fine linnen vnfit for Kings and their followers and great men and women But now a Lord can hardly bee distinguished from a man of no meanes A Courtier from a Countrey-man c. Let vs be sensible of the feeling of the wrath of God for our sinnes IF wee well considered the present times of danger wherein we liue and did but consider how God showes his displeasure for our sinnes and