world if I say Satan inticed me and I did sinne thou hast commanded me to resist Satan and his tentations so that though I plead with Adam that my Heuah my carnall part that thou gauest me did moue me and I did sinne it will be no excuse for mee if I say the world allured or Satan tempted me it booteth me not and therefore Father I cannot but freely confesse against my selfe that I euen I haue sinned and done all these euills against thee against thee O Lord I haue sinned against my selfe and haue deseruedly stirred vp thy displeasure against me and in thy displeasure is death This this O Lord is the gaine that my sinnes haue gotten not onely a dissolution of the soule and body due to all flesh but the death of body and soule due onely to impenitent sinners among whom I euen I acknowledge my selfe worthy to bee numbred without thy mercy For who hath power Lord by his owne corrupt nature to repent By nature Lord I sinne How can I by the same sinfull part repent of that wherein nature it selfe delighteth A fountaine bringeth not forth bitter water and sweet How then Lord can I bring forth true repentance out of a corrupt heart as it is corrupt Yet Lord though my heart bee corrupt by nature being made in part sincere and holy by thy grace it shall so farre forth worke repentance as is thy grace powerfull and effectuall in me So that though sinne by nature dwell in me by thy grace may sanctity also as Esau and Iaakob in Rebeccahs wombe striuing for superiority Therefore good Father as Esau the elder gaue place and became seruant to Iaakob So let sinne which is in me the first borne giue place in mee vnto sanctity And let sanctity haue the sole dominion in my heart then shall my heart bring forth the good fruits of a godly life though while I liue here the weeds of corruption will also grow but Lord let them not ouergrow the good seed of thy spirit but let them wither and die before they grow vp to beare any fruit vnto death But feed me now at the last with the most wholesome fruits of thy spirit and giue me grace to expresse my sorrow for my sins that I haue done with an inward relenting heart grieued that euer I contriued sin in my inward thoughts that euer I acted it or consented vnto it Lord see and behold my sorrow for my sins if it bring not forth sincere repentance water it so with thy mollifying spirit that it may worke in mee that which may testifie that I repent indeed so that sinne may become loathsome vnto me and sanctitie sweet And although while I carrie about me this vnholy lump of earth my best exercises cannot but sauour of the fountaine from whence they flow if of corruption corruptly if of thy spirit heauenly O season therefore my heart O Lord my soule and whole man with thy spirit that whatsoeuer I thinke speake or doe may sauour from aboue that I may feele in my heart and soule a true and liuely detestation of whatsoeuer sauoureth of the loue of this world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Giue me strength to performe all perfect obedience in all righteousnesse euen to the forgetting of sinne And yet to remember my sinnes past and to repent them that thou my louing Father before whose presence I presently stand maiest bee pleased to turne thy louing and fatherly countenance in mercy towards me in the merits and mediation of Christ my Reedeemer Let these mine humble petitions O Lord ascend vp vnto thee and let the infallible tokens of thy mercies appeare towards mee that my heart now cast downe for feare of thy iudgements may bee againe lifted vp feeling the inward testimonies of thy mercies in Christ. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory A Praier for the morning with thankes for rest and safetie O Father mercifull and euermore louing in Iesus Christ who this night past hast beene a powerfull and prouident Watch-man ouer me euen when by the deadnesse of sleepe I was depriued euen of sense care or feare of any danger which yet without thy preseruation and prouidence might suddenly haue seized vpon me and that by infinite meanes For Lord thou knowest what a malicious and watchfull Aduersary we haue who is attended on by a troupe of infernall Ministers that hourely seeke by some meanes to surprize vs Besides the corruption of our owne nature that is alwaies working in vs sinfull thoughts vncleane desires and most vngodly affections mouing vs in our night-wakings in stead of holy meditation and godly praier to purpose the committing of infinite sorts of sinnes when we enter into the day hauing no meanes to preuent the execution of most sinfull actions but by thine owne most gracious working holy feare and godly obedience in our hearts Wherefore louing Father I come this morning into thy holy presence from which I cannot hide mee and vpon the knees of my heart I vnfainedly intreat thee that as it hath pleased thee this night to preserue me and giuing me comfortable rest and sleepe in safetie so thou wilt be pleased to watch ouer mee this day that no danger befall me either in body soule or any thing belonging vnto me But that I may be so led vnder the pauilion of thy protection guided by thy spirit that neither in thought word or deed I may offend thee endeuouring to performe all holy and heauenly duties vnto thee my God who for all thy mercies requirest onely pure and sincere obedience which is also thy gift for none by his owne power can thinke a good thought much lesse Lord worke any thing pleasing vnto thee but the contrary therefore disclaime I all mine owne merit and cleaue onely vnto thy mercy in Iesus Christ Humbly beseeching thee for his sake to take charge of me this day preuent the malicious intentions of Satan and his ministers mortifie mine owne sinfull affections and infuse into my heart all diuine graces that my waies this day may nothing sauour of sinne but of sanctitie And as I haue by thee safely passed this night so I may begin continue and end this day and all the daies of my life in thy faith feare and obedience And that in all mine actions whereunto I am bound by my place and calling I may so walke and so performe them as that thy blessingâ— may accompany whatsoeuer I endeuour Giue me Lord an vpright heart asking and let me euer receiue counsell from thee to be guided in whatsoeuer I purpose that so prospering the glory may bee thine to whom all power wisdome strength and glory belongeth Amen A Praier to be vsed before a man goes to his rest LOrd as it hath now pleased thee to bring mee in safetie to the end of this day and hast therein by many blessings testified thy fatherly care
ouer me so let my heart within me through faith and faithfull obedience testifie mine vnfained thankfulnesse to thee The light of this day hath afforded vnto mee that benefit which the darknesse of the night could not though to thee the day and night are of equall light for with thee is no darknesse at all But to me as I am blinde by nature the day and night are of like darknesse and obscuritie though the light of the day discouer visible creatures yet as long as the darkenesse of the ignorance of heauenly things possesseth my inward parts I see not at all as I ought to see the light of the day doth administer vnto my corporall eies many outward obiects which often causeth me inwardly to erre and outwardly to goe astray as the sinnes which I haue this day committed by the miscarriage of mine eye may witnesse against me Forgiue it Lord vnto me and grant that the light which thou hast created good turne not through my corruption to thy dishonour and my shame but as the light of the day is a most especiall blessing to the good to doe good offices in this life so let me vse it to the doing of the works of diuine light not of darknesse Let it hence-forth serue vnto mee as a Motiue to the Contemplation of that celestiall-light that is neuer ouershadowed with darknesse and to the obseruation of thine immensurable greatnesse and power in creating and preseruing of thy Creatures visible numberlesse Giue me grace that I beholding the infinite works of thy hands may with diuine modesty consider thy wisdome in framing and disposing them thy deepe and vnfathomable prouidence in oftentimes turning those things to the comfort of those that are thine which their enemies suppose and hope will tend to their confusion This also is thy doing maruellous in the eies of such as either know thee not or that thinke all things to come to passe without thy direction and limitation Lord I haue this day found that thy wisdome hath directed me thy power hath preserued mee and thy prouidence guided me And in thy great mercy I haue finished this day in safetie and receiued many blessings at thy hands acknowledging yet my selfe vnworthy of the least of them by reason that I haue many waies offended thee Though I haue not noted in my thoughts all my sinnes yet thou knowest them And if the righteous man fall seuen times a day how often haue I that am all corrupt sinned this day None is so iust as sinneth not but he is blessed to whom thou O Lord imputest it not Sinners couet secrecy they hate to be seene but loue the sinne darknesse is their desire and the night is as a Closet to hide them in conceit when thou O God seest their actions in the darke as at noone day O preserue mee in thy light Lord and grant I neuer couet to doe that in secret whereof I should be ashamed to commit it openly and euen this night now come vpon mee vouchsafe Lord to ouerspread the bright beames of thine all shining light ouer me that sinne enter not into my heart in the darknesse of the same And let me make my night wakings as interims gained for Meditation and Praier And that I may spend the intermissions of my sleepe in preparing my selfe to my finall rest That through thy power and prouidence I may rest safely this night free from all danger of soule and body And that rising againe in the morning I may not bee forgetfull to giue thee the glory And as the night succeedeth the day and the day the night so let my faithfull praiers succeed holy Meditation and a holy endeuour to worke righteousnesse succeed my faithfull petitions Let thine eares be open vnto my praiers Let thine eies by way of blessing be vpon all mine actions Let thy prouidence preuent whatsoeuer mischiefe Satan or any mine enemies his complices shall plot practise or endeuour to execute against me In hope whereof I doe commit and commend my selfe my soule and body and whatsoeuer concerneth me into thy most powerfull protection this night in the name of Christ thine alone beloued To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be ascribed as most due all honour praise and glory for euer Amen Lord euermore increase my faith
and comfort in affliction 359 An effectuall Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 370 A Prayer for the morning with thanks for rest and safety 382 A Prayer to be vsed before a man goes to his rest 387 A MOTIVE to the Reader touching Meditation and Prayer First of Meditation MEditation is an inward action of the soule wherin the faithfull exercise themselues especially vpon the Word and promise of God vpon Heauen and heauenly things arising by the attentiue hearing or serious reading of the same Word deliberate consideration of the truth and infallibility of Gods promises contained therein and the assured performance of them touching their future blessed and glorious being after this life whereof the faithfull heart being assured through the testimony of Gods holy Spirit it delights in nothing so much as continually to thinke and meditate of the same according to the words of Christ Where our treasure is there are our hearts and thereof wee continually thinke DAVID had his heart set vpon his treasure hid with Christ aboue which made him to meditate cheerefully to sing O how loue I the Law of the Lord It is my continuall meditation yea I will meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies So did Salomon cry out Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel who spake with his mouth to Dauid my father and with his hand hath performed it 1 King 8. 15 16. All the promises of God in Scripture doe administer vnto the faithfull matter of continuall meditation and serious consideration and among many of his promises his promse of defence and deliuery of his in the time of danger trouble and affliction is to be often considered for that it concerneth especially the children of God that are most afflicted who considering the waies of God to be mercy and truth and that what he promiseth he will assuredly performe cannot but worke patience and patience hope and how can he bee without continuall holy Meditation whose heart is with God from whom he hopeth his helpe will come but in Gods owne time and therefore though wee hope we may not make haste though he promise to defend vs from danger deliuer vs in trouble he will not so answer our expectations as if wee knew the time when or the manner how to be releeued or defended better than he He will exercise his owne children awhile to proue their patience faith and obedience to cause vs to meditate and ponder his word and promise till hee haue sufficiently tried our constant assurance of his timely deliuery for it is his property to come to helpe his when they thinke hee hath most forgotten them How suffered he Dauid a man chosen after his owne heart to bee enuironed with infinite dangers in so much as he thought God had forsaken him altogether and forgotten him and therefore cries out How long wilt thou forget me Lord for euer and againe hee confessed that God had giuen him his hearts desire and that hee had not denied the request of his lips whereby appeareth that the sorce of liuely faith holy meditation and diuine prayer are able to make God offended God appeased suddenly to remoue sorrow and so bring ioy God hath promised to be a defence to the faithfull in whatsoeuer dangers yet if we wel weigh and consider the course of Gods dealing with his owne children and duly meditate of his power prouidence and wisdome wee shall finde that hee doth not alwaies come immediatly at the call of his dearest children DAVID was banished and persecuted long Ioseph was imprisoned long they both prayed for deliuery yet continued in a hard estate which was an argument in humane reason that God cared not for them and aboue them both was innocent Iob long and many waies afflicted God saw his miseries and heard his prayers but he left him yet to be an example to vs of like expectation of Gods timely releeuing vs and in his good time he made Dauid a King and Ioseph the chiefe vnder Pharaoh in Aegypt and restored Iob to his former yea to farre greater glory Thus doth God try his dearest children to occasion them to know and acknowledge that howsoeuer hee seeme to absent himselfe from them in their deepest dangers and to seeme deafe as it were vnto their prayers he yet hath an eie both on them and their enemies hee was a shelter vnto Dauid and curbed Saul he saw Ioseph in prison but with his liberty prepared his aduancement He saw Iobs afflictions but kept a hooke in Satans nosthrills that all that he did against Iob serued to his finall comfort Though therefore it happen the faithfull to be straited and enuironed with so many and mighty enemies and troopes of troubles that there appeareth no euasion no deliuery by any visible meanes yet there remaineth holy Meditation patient deliberation and serious consideration of Gods wonderfull deliuerances of his in all like dangers Consider Dauid and all his troubles and you shall finde hee fainted not but depended onely vpon the promises and prouidence of God with a godly resolution to wait the issue of his hope onely meditating on Gods promises and considering his waies and how he had before dealt with Abraham Izaak Iaacob Noah Lot Moses and other faithfull fathers before him the meditation and consideration of whose wonderfull deliueries cannot but work assurance in any beleeuing heart in like manner though by vnlike and hidden meanes in good time to be deliuered and therefore saith Dauid by way of meditation and confirmation of his and consequently our faith in God Our Fathers trusted in thee they called vpon thee and were heard they prayed vnto thee and thou deliueredst them out of all their troubles as if hee should say in himselfe by way of Meditation I finde by the Word of God that he hath deliuered many before my time that trusted in him called vpon him in greater dangers than I am in why then should I doubt or despaire of like deliuery I trust in him as these fathers trusted I call vpon and pray vnto him as they did therefore surely hee will heare me and helpe me in time conuenient thus did Dauid meditate in his troubles God commanded Iaacob to returne from Laban his Vncle into his countrie and Kindred from whom and whence he fled promising to doe him good Gen. 32. 9. Could Iaacob doe lesse than meditate and tâ—inke seriously of this command and promise of God considering hee was to returne to his desperatly malicious brother Esau who sought to murther him yet vpon due Meditation and consideration of Gods faithfull promise of defending him and doing him good hee ouercame feare by faithfull prayer and the Lord appeased his brothers malice towards him Examples of like nature are plentifull in holy Scriptures as of Mordecay and the Iewes Ester 7. of the Bethulians Iudith 7. and many others Holy meditation is most necessary and an especiall Motiue to faithfull prayer and prayer can neuer be so powerfull as vpon holy
premeditation though short so it be serious for as rumination precedes digesture in cleane beasts so holy Meditation goes before effectuall prayer in Christians Seeing then that there is no kâ—nde of trouble danger misery or affliction that can befall Gods children but there are examples in the holy Booke of God wherein may bee seene Gods outward deliuery or inward comfort in euery kinde what need the faithfull to faint in any Search therfore the Scriptures meditate in them consider the ends and issues the patience and prayers of former godly men and let their faith patience and prayer be paternes for our imitation Then if our knowledge by reading and hearing of the Word our continuall meditation in the Word doe worke in vs through the same spirit that guided them like assurance and faith we cannot but adde preuailing prayer which being without doubting or wauering cannot but in force as it were at Gods hands who is absolutely powerfull like deliueries out of dangers and timely releefe or release in troubles And he that is a religious obseruer of Gods dealing for the defence of his and confounding his their enemies at this day cannot but see approue God to be the same God in power wil prouidence and readinesse to helpe his as he was in any former age to our fathfull fore-fathers Then search the Word meditate therein as Dauid did day and night pray zealously and faithfully and this God euen the euerliuing and all-sufficient God shall effectually performe in his good time whatsoeuer hee hath promised and we pray for Of Prayer THough faithfull prayer be powerfull to preuaile with God in and against all dangers perills troubles and an armour of tried defence against sin and Satan yet few there be that vse it especially as they ought some not at all Many there are that either say in their hearts there is no God as Psal. 53. 1. or that deny the power of God not acknowledging him to be God and so cannot glorifie him as God Rom. 1. 21. Some also are or haue beene so impious as they absolutely haue denied him as Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. Senacherib 2 King 18. 13. to 30. Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3. and others assuming as it were the name of Gods vnto themselues They praid to none but they as Gods were praid vnto whose examples are to be detested as abominable blasphemous and deuilish whose ends may onely serue to terrifie such though neuer so mighty preuailing in their tyranny awhile as either forsake the liuing God and trust in or pray vnto them or that that are no gods such are not to be feared of them that truly trust in and pray vnto the God of hosts as holy Dauid did whose example of faith prayer and holy resolution in all dangers may encourage all faithfull in all their troubles to imitate and practise the same The onely and chiefe refuge that this most godly King had and the principall weapons wherewith he resisted and ouercame his enemies was feruent prayer in a liuely faith Faithfull prayer to God is such a defence against whatsoeuer danger as no enemy be hee neuer so mighty malicious or carnally politike can preuaile against it for howsoeuer a man truly fearing God be beset with euen multitudes of enemies so as no visible helpe can haue accesse to rescue him or to deliuer him yet if hee send this Messenger faithfull prayer vnto God and wauer not in his assurance outward succour or inward comfort will assuredly and timely appeare It was Dauids refuge in euery danger when his perfidious Counseller Achitophel whose counsell was as it were the Oracle of God addressed his traiterous aduice to rebellious Absolom he only praied to frustrate it and his depest wisdome turned into folly 2 Sam. 15. 31. Hezekiah in danger of the King of Ashur vsed onely prayer to God and the Lord slew his enemies one hundred fourescore and fiue thousand in one night 2 King 19. Examples are infinite of the force and effect of prayer in so much as there is nothing that the faithfull want but Prayer if it be faithfull and feruent may obtaine if God in his wisdome thinke it fit for vs to receiue Prayer is it whereby we speake vnto God in a heauenly kinde of familiarity and whereby God is as it were inforced to cast away his rod and to alter his purpose of punishing Great is the force and efficacy of faithfull prayer and greater is the loue of God towards vs in admitting vs so freely and boldly to come vnto him with our petitions nay so louing he is that he allureth vs saying Call vpon mee in the day of trouble and I will heare thee and deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me Here is sufficient warrant and encouragement for vs to flie vnto God by prayer in whatsoeuer trouble misery danger or affliction And the examples of deliuery and helpe in euery kinde are so infinite as who so is conuersant in the old and new Bookes of God cannot be ignorant of the force and effect of faithfull Prayer euen of such as haue beene subiect to like passions as we are Ioshua prayed and the Sunne and Moone stood still Iosh. 10. 12. Elisha prayed and his enemies were strucken with blindnesse 2 Kings 6. 18. Eliah prayed and fire fell from Heauen and destroyed them that came to take him 2 King 1. 10. Faithfull Prayer doth as it were ouercome God in somuch as when he hath a purpose to punish a people or a person he wil forbid the faithfull to pray for them lest he should be ouercome with their prayer and so be enforced to spare them Exod. 32. 10 11. If the prayer of one faithfull man may restraine God as it were from executing his iudgements vpon the wicked how much more may faithfull prayer preuaile for the good of a faithfull man What should then hinder our Prayer to God in our owne necessities and dangers Nothing but impatience and vnbeliefe for if in a true and liuely faith and holy intention wee present our humble supplications vnto God through Christ according to his will reuealed in his Word and wauer not Christ himselfe assureth vs to obtaine what wee pray for Whatsoeuer yee aske saith he the Father in my name hee will giue it you Iohn 16. 23. Let vs not then be cast downe in our spirits but let vs lift vp our hearts to him that seeth vs and taketh care for vs and hath both will and power to deliuer vs. Hee hath a time in his wisdome to humble vs and a time in his mercy to helpe vs a time to debase vs and a time to relieue vs in despight of Satan and his most malicious instruments he had his time to afflict Iob and Ioseph and Dauid and in his time againe he deliuered them Let vs therfore in all our trialls troubles and afflictions call vpon God in the Name of his Sonne and we shall finde that euen in our holy Meditations he will thinke vpon vs
THE IMITATION of DAVID His godly and constant resolution in bearing all his trialls troubles and afflictions being a King Whose example of faith patience hope obedience and deliueries thankfulnesse and prayer is left euen for Princes Potentates and all true Christians to imitate Collected by way of Meditations and Prayers out of the 27. Psalme By I N. LONDON Printed by Iohn Haviland for Richard Whittakers and George Latham 1624. TO THE HIGH and most noble CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and of Yorke and Earle of Chester bee here in this life truest honour highest happinesse and most perfect peace and after this life eternall glory in the Heauens I Know not how to excuse mee most gracious Prince in that I haue presumed to attempt a matter of so high and diuine a subiect considering what I am and to aduenture it to your Highnesse knowing who you are but that my heart was willing ouercame a weake vnderstanding which first it may please your Highnesse of your princely clemency to accept namely the will and to pardon the deed for I may truly protest that I intended herein nothing lesse than to be thought desirous to seeme so impudent as to giue your Highnesse the least or to thinke that you needed any other aduice or counsell in this behalfe than that which you haue so plentifully receiued from him that gaue strength vnto Dauid and wisdome vnto Salomon his son together with the sweet fructifying seed which hath beene so diuinely sowne in your Princely breasts by the wisdome of our second Salomon your most pious and most truly religious Father Humbly beseeching your Highnes to conceiue no other intention in me than an vnwillingnesse to let slip the Interim of my sequestred imploiments in your Highnesse seruice much against my will without some exercise inwardly comfortable though outwardly little profitable yet if any thing vsefull though but to the vulgar it may pray your Princely fauour being done your Highnesse seruice depending beseeching the length of daies to lengthen your daies to his glory your honor and comfort of such as feare God Your Highnesse most humble seruant Iohn Norden TO THE MOST Illustrious Religious and most royally borne Princesse E ETernall happinesse Hearts true content L Long life in peace and plenty permanent I Internall and externall be her graces S Such as to which Heauens Angels daigne imbraces A Amids her foâ—s Iehouah be her shield B By Sea and Land in trenches and in field E Engrau'd b'Elizaes Image in her brest T That Queens that farre in fame surmounts the best H Here then shall highest honour crowne her crest Q Quiuers of Dauids arrowes may she haue V Vpon her head Heauens helmet her to saue EE Earth Aire and Seas all Elements and Winde N Nourish her happinesse the Heau'ns her minde E Estraited neuer let her foes her finde O Order her actions all Iehouah right F Fix in her heart the Target of thy might B Breake thou the rankes and Armies of her foes O O draw thy sword fight for her where she goes H Hem her about with Angels of thy might E Embrace her loue her soone restore her right M Make great thy name in marching on her side I Inthrall her foes and snare them in their pride A Assist her still and still be thou her guide As heartily wisheth her Highnesse faithfully deuoted Io. Norden The Table A Motiue to the Reader touching Meditation and Praier Of Meditation Of Prayer A Premeditation touching the argument of the 27. Psalme pag. 1. Meditation the first The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strengâ—h of my life of whom shall I be afraid 11 A Prayer that God will be our light and our saluation in all our troubles and dangers 30 Meditation the second When the wicked euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon me to eat vp my flesh they stumbled and fell If an host pitched against me my heart should not be afraid though warre be raised against me I will trust in thee 35 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our enemies 56 Meditation the third Oâ—e thing haue I desired of the Lord â—hat I will â—â—qâ—ire euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my liâ—e to behold the beauty of the Lord and to visit his Temple 64 A 〈◊〉 for spirituall knowledge and increase of our holy desires to visit the Temple of God to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 92 Meditation the fourth In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide mee and set me vpon a rocke 99 A Prayer in whatsoeuer trouble 128 Meditation the fifth That he will now lift vp mine head aboue mine enemies round about me therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioy I will sing and praise the Lord. 136 A Prayer with thanksgiuing to God for defence from enemies in that they haue not preuailed against vs. 156 Meditation the sixth Hearken vnto my voice O Lord when I cry haue mercy vpon me and heare me 164 A Prayer that God will haue mercy vpon vs and heare vs. 182 Meditation the seuenth When thou saidst seeke ye my face mine heart answered vnto thee O Lord I will seeke thy face 189 A Prayer that God will neuer hide his face from vs. 197 Meditation the eighth Hide not thy face from mee nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast beene my succour leaue me not nor forsake me O God of my saluation 206 A Prayer that God will bee alwaies neere vnto vs in our afflictions and not to hide his face and fauour from vs. 225 Meditation the ninth Though my father and my mother forsake mee thou Lord wilt take me vp 232 A Prayer that God will shew himselfe our Father in all our troubles and afflictions when all other helpe faileth 245 Meditation the tenth Teach me thy way O Lord and leade me in a right path because of mine enemies 254 A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies 275 Meditation the eleuenth Giue mee not ouer to the lust of mine enemies for there are false witnesses risen vp against me and such as speake cruelly 282 A Prayer that God will preserue vs from our enemies that they preuaile not against vs and to preuent vs of false witnesses 297 Meditation the twelfth I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing 305 A Prayer that God will not forsake vs in our troubles and that our faith faile vs not 320 Meditaâ—ion the thirteenth Hope in the Lord be strong and hee shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord 328 A Prayer for strength patience and hope in troubles 352 A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes reformation of life
of presumption though he were a King whose examples in some cases is not fit for inferiours to imitate But in matters concerning holy duties to God there ought to be no difference betweene Princes and people for God is no accepter of persons but hee that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse be he high or low rich or poore King or vassall is accepted of him And hee that commeth neerest in the imitation of the holy life of a godly King hee neerest resembleth the King of Kings who is holy and would haue all men without exception to become holy as hee is holy and to beare all troubles crosses and afflictions with a godly resolution for his sake that willingly suffered infinite miseries and torments for ours and hee that endureth most with most resolute and godly patience becommeth likest vnto Christ our Redeemer This consideration comming into my minde and feeling the heauy burthen of this worlds miseries crosses and afflictions of diuers kinds I could not but for mine owne satisfaction and comfort search the Scriptures the Register of things of old written for our learning where finding that all our holy fathers the dearest children of God in all ages from the beginning haue suffered and patiently vndergone infinite and grieuous troubles with most godly and constant resolution I tooke counsell and courage to imitate as farre as by the assistance of the same grace of God whereby they suffered I might some worthy preceding patterne of faith and constancy And among many most worthy I finde none in generall troubles and dangers for constant resolution faithfull prayer and patience more fit for imitation than godly Dauid whom although hee were a King and a man chosen after Gods owne heart yet was hee not without his variety of afflictions especially enemies both before hee came to his Kingdome by Saul and his vngodly instruments and after also not onely by forraine enemies as the Philistines the Amonites the Moabites the Amalakites the Edomites and others but by his owne subiects nay by them of his own house as by Ahitophel his owne priuy Councellor and Absolon his owne son He was enforced to flie and to hide himselfe in the Wildernesse in the time of Saul who sought his life and was discouered vnto Saul by faithlesse Doeg He suffered hunger and was denied to be refreshed by sottish Nabal His wiues were taken prisoners and with great danger he recouered them He was like to be stoned of his owâ—e people He was derided and mocked by Michâ—l his owne wife for praising God in a dance before the Arke His seruants were shamefully intreated by Haman to whom hee sent them to congratulate him in loue Hee was forced to flie bare footed from Absolon his sonne He was railed on and causlesse cursed by wicked Shemey with many other extremities of all kinds yet fainted hee not but through faith hee tooke courage and comfort by his prayers vnto and dependance on GOD who neuer failed him noâ— forsooke him but alwaies and in all his perills deliuered him and returneth the praise and glory to God The example of this most worthy King among many other godly fore-fathers doe witnesse vnto vs that it is no new thing to see the dearest children of God afflicted in this life yea most worthy Kings and that not without the speciall prouidence and loue of God who will consecrate his owne through many troubles which yet deserueth not the glory which shall follow Dauid in all his troubles was neuer destitute of Gods assistance inward comfort for he depended vpon diuine prouidence in faithfull praier the strongest armour against enemies the safest Castle against dangers and the best assurance to obtaine whatsoeuer we need And therefore as Dauid beleeued in and prayed vnto this powerfull and preuailing God so may all Gods afflicted childreÌ„ imitate his faithfull and godly resolution in all their dangers with like patience and hope and they shall be safe as he plainly and plentifully testifieth in sundry most sweet and comfortable Psalmes especially in this 27. Psalme wherein being in the middest of his troubles he sheweth the force of his saith to bee such as though hee were in danger and forsaken of all his friends he was as fully assured to bee deliuered in due time as if he had beene euen then out of all danger This blessed example then of a liuely faith and the successe thereof laid thus before our eies cannot but stirre vp in vs if we haue any faith a holy desire to imitate him according to the measure of that spirit which guided this godly King and made him as it were the pen of a most diuine Scribe whose Scripture hath left vs such heauenly learning as may teach vs all things both for this life and that which is to come and happy is the man that truly followeth his worthy example MEDITATIONS and Prayers vpon the 27. PSALME VERSE 1. The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I bee afraid AS God hath giuen vs outward and corporall eyes to see and behold the workes of his hands here below so hath he giuen vs inward and spirituall light to sée himselfe and spiritually to behold the wonderfull things hee hath done for our soules saluation therefore when we looke vpon his creatures with our corporall eies wee should lift vp the eyes of our mindes to behold him that hath made framed and preserued these visible things The Sunne is a visible creature by whose beames our bodily eies are enlightned for the eye it selfe giueth not but receiueth the light which the Sunne giueth for if of it selfe it gaue the light wee should apprehend â—no darknesse at all but take away outward light and the eye is darke So the eye of the minde the eye of the soule cannot of it selfe apprehend that spirituall light which is Christ that lighteth euery man that commeth into the world And without him the minde is darke and runneth and rusheth vpon diuers stumbling blocks of errors and dangers But he that is guided by that light which was Dauids light séeth and walketh the way of safety and saluation in that light Christ is the well of life he is the light in whom all the Elect sóe the true light and walke in it The ordinary meanes to apprehend Christ the light is the word which he taught and left vnto vs yet not of it selfe that light but onely sheweth it for euery man that heareth the word séeth not the light comprehended in the same but they onely whose inward eies the Lord openeth to behold Christ the light and they walke in the light Many saw Christ but not as hee was the light and their saluation for they delighted in darknes more than light working wickednesse euen against that light in whom and by whom and through whom they onely that truly séeke that light haue assured saluation neither is there safety or saluation in any
with a speare purposing to haue nailed him to the wall suddenly which by Gods prouidence he auoided and after commanded Ionathan his sonne and other his seruants to murther him but God stirred vp the heart of Ionathan to affect Dauid so entirely that he reuealed vnto him his fathers malicious intention against the life of Dauid shewing thereby the wonderfull prouidence of God in preseruing his from most imminent dangers Dauid not yet secure for feare fled from Saul as not willing to tempt God by presuming vpon Gods deliuery and not to vse lawfull meanes to prouide for himselfe hid himselfe in the Mountaines where Saul his enemy with a great power pursued him suborning intelligencers to discouer Dauids abode wheresoeuer hee hid himselfe where may be noted the heat of the malice of an enemy and how ready some wicked wretches are to shew themselues officious to betray the innocent to please a Tyrant But note further the prouidence of God in finding secret vnexpected meanes to preserue the innocent for when Saul was in his most furious pursuit to kill Dauid his abode being discouered God found a meanes to put a Ring in Sauls nose in fauour of Dauid and for his owne glory inforcing him to retire from further following that innocent man and to hasten thâ— rescue and reléefe of his owne Territories which the Philistines had euen then by Gods prouidence inuaded and being sore beset with his enemies he desperatly fell on his own sword and died So it came to passe that when the wicked euen Dauids enemies and his foes came vpon him to eat vp his flesh namely to take away his lise they stumbled and fell God was euer with Dauid for Dauid alwaies depended on God which who so doth shall neuer stumble nor fall But euen his faith and integritie shall make his very enemâ—â—s to feare him As Saul feared Dauid because God was with him whose chiefe armour and weapons were his feare and trust in the name and assistance of Iehouah wherewith he fought diuers battels and slew with great slaughter many Philistines his enemies not onely before but after he was anointed King none preuailed against him but they that came vpon him stumbled and fell Séeing then that Faith and the feare of God and praier be approued of force so far to preuaile with God as to obtaine his helpe and defence against wicked enemies foes that when they assaile vs he causeth them to stumble and fall let vs imitate the faith and fight with that assurance that Dauid did for he is the same God still of the same power of the same prouidence and loue And we are not without like enemies as Dauid in his time had though without cause To relate all Dauids dangers troubles and deliueries battels and victories though profitable for our encouragement yet might séeme tedious not altogether impertinent because by them is the loue the power and prouidence of God séene in defending and reléeuing the faithfull and his iust iudgements against wicked enemies of their stumbling and fals Yet let his faâ—th and constancy moue all faithfull men to imitate his vertues not in that he was a King but in that hée was a godly King of whom God giues testimonie that hee was a man according to Gods owne heart not that he was so conformable by nature but so framed by the grace and good will of God For by nature he was no better in Gods acceptation than Saul who was also a King But God so seasoned Dauids heart of his owne frée mercy that he obeyed and conformed his actions according as God had wrought in his heart and left Saul to the corruption of his owne heart yet did not Dauid glory in any merit of his owne but gaue the praise to God saying Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee And againe The wicked are strangers from the wombe euen from the belly haue they erred Yet Saul after he was anointed King by Samuel was turned into another man and was numbred among the Prophets but no otherwise than Iudas among the Apostles God is the God of all that faithfully and constantly fly vnto him for succour For saluation belongeth vnto him alone not vnto the power of Kings bée they neuer so strong in multitudes of armed men with shipping or whatsoeuer military and warlike furniture but where Gods continuall blessing doth accompany a few they preuaile against many though sometimes God may suffer his owne dearest children to bée encountred and beaten by his owne and their enemies Especially when they presume to stand too much vpon their owne strength as vpon allies friends and multitudes preuailing with these God is not so glorified as when he by few ouercommeth a multitude As when Dauid by a few slew two and twentie thousand Aramites And Ioshua fiue combined Kings wherein yet he would not haue the whole victory to bée ascribed to Ioshuahs forces but was himselfe the principall in the ouerthrow not onely in aiding and directing Ioshuah but in powring downe haile-stones from heauen vpon his enemies wherby he slew more men than Ioshuahs Army did by the sword And sometimes hée taketh to himselfe the whole praise of the victory as when Senacherib came against good Hezekiah with a most inuincible supposed Army vnder the conduct of Tartan Rabsaris and Rabsakeh railing vpon and threatning Hezekiah and blaspheming God stiling himselfe the Great King of Ashur whom he thought God himselfe was not able to withstand flattering himselfe as proud Tyrants use to doe as wée haue seene that hée in despight of Hezekiahs God would depriue him of his Kingdome pretending that he came in the name of the Lord as some of late haue done Are wee come saith he or doe wee this without the Lord Whereat Hezekiah in déed according to humane frailtie was afraid But asking counsell of the Lord by faithfull praier the best refuge and defence in danger he became assured of Gods assistance and banisht feare And that night that God which that Tyrant blasphemed as not of power to resist him sent his destroying Angell and slew Senacheribs army one hundred foure score and fiue thousand men We may not forget our like deliueries fresh in our memories euen by the méere hand of God It is not superfluous to recount other famous Histories recorded in the Booke of God which for further confirmation of our Faith in God in like danger are plentifull Benadab that mightie King of Aram threatned Ahab King of Israel to depriue him not onely of his Kingdome but of all that hée had of his Siluer and Gold of his Women and faire children She wing hereby the insolency pride and securitie of Tyrants who by reason of their carnall strength force and multitudes will dispose of the lands and share the possessions of them whose Territories they thirst after and that before their arriuall as though the victory were theirs before the incounter As we with our eares haue
through faith aboue the outward man euen to haue their conuersation in heauen This is the true and swéetest aduancement this is the glorious lifting vp of the head And thus was Dauid also lifted vp spiritually together with his outward lifting vp aboue his corporall enemies Many good men are aduanced to honor and office To what end Not onely not to gaine earthly glory thereby or to enrich themselues by sinister meanes thereby and to abuse their places and wrong their lifter and lifting vp but as Dauid being lifted vp did acknowledge it to be the Lords doing and as he was aduanced by him so did he séeke by all meanes to aduance his glory and though he were lifted vp aboue his enemies he insulted not ouer them but gaue God the praise that his enemies triumphed not ouer him Praise and thanksgiuing are due vnto God for euery benefit and blessing hée bestoweth vpon vs and hée requireth it especially of them whom he lifteth vp aboue their enemies and that they be lowly in their owne eies and louing to all euen to their enemies And to learne also of Paul in a low estate to be patient and being lifted vp to be thankfull neither to be grieued at the one nor to glory too much in the other In the one pray to be constant in the other giue glory to God Dauid when he knew by his anointing that he should be King after Sauls death continued yet humble and was yet contented to kéepe his fathers shéepe a meane office for a man anointed to be a King and thought it no disparagement And when he was indéed exalted hée set not out his glory by outward vanities neither was hée guarded with swaggering swearing Drunkards and with vile and vitious persons though with sufficient noble attendants his Worthies abandoning his house of the knowne wicked and retained such into his seruice as he found to feare God And in stead of worldly vain-glory he went into the Temple of God and there offered the sacrifices of prayer and praise and not himselfe alone but called the people together and with them went not once but many times into the house of the Lord He was not ashamed being a King to be the formost in the seruice of God And let vs praise God for his like mercy vouchsafed vnto vs and let vs imitate godly examples Here is a liuely patterne of a thankfull heart to God for his aduancement contrary to the course of many who being lifted vp not aboue their enemies but aboue their equals of whom many giue rather thankes to their owne wit and policy and to inferior meanes friends or money But such their aduancement is but as the building of Babel though their language be not confounded but many times changed their manners often altered They rise without God and oftentimes we sée them fall of themselues If therefore thou be exalted remember Dauid by whom and by what meanes he was lifted vp He praied and the Lord heard him and he gaue the whole glory to God Whatsoeuer thou art bée thou neuer so eminent think not praier and praising God to be base exercises or things indifferent They are the works of Gods Saints and therein they exercise themselues day and night But woe to them that onely make their praiers and suits vnto men forgetting God and that being lifted vp offer the sacrifice of praise vnto men to their own deuices to their Siluer and Gold c. Forget not God that can winke at ambitious mens lifting vp and laugh at their fals But when God affordeth lawfull means to lift vp any he giueth theÌ„ assurance of his approbation and if they pray for good successe they shall prosper and profit the place they execute and the place shall iustifie their integritie for as without him nothing can come to good effect So to whatsoeuer action he setteth his helping hand it cannot but prosper And he that is by him lifted vp let him not forget to pray and to praise God lest he hurle him downe againe and his latter end proue worse than the beginning A Praier with thanksgiuing to God for defence from enemies in that they haue not preuailed against vs. O Eternall most wise most louing and most powerfull Lord God who guidest gouernest and disposest all things for all men according to thine owne will and knowest what is meet necessarie and expedient for all those that are thine Grant that whatsoeuer befalleth me here in this mortall life be it pouertie or riches prosperitie or aduersitie trouble or peace yea if enemies rise vp against me all may be for my good for as much as nothing commeth to passe but by thy prouidence in loue Pouerty thou suppliest with plentie if thou seest it good for me troubles thou canst remoue if expedient canst send me quietnesse and comfort enemies thou canst restraine and howsoeuer they seeme to insult ouer me thou canst lift vp my head aboue them And though I bee brought low and for a time endure disgrace ignominy shame euen among my familiars yet as long as it pleaseth thee to accept and retaine me in thy fauour I shall not be discouraged being assured that thou canst and wilt in thy good time shew thy selfe the God of my saluation thou wilt giue mee fauour againe euen of those that now scoffe and deride mee for my miseries they shall againe receiue mee in loue seeing thy fatherly respect vnto me For I know that I seeking helpe and comfort of thee shall againe reioyce and be glad in thee for though I be poore and needy though troubles abouâ—d and enemies rage against me thou thinkest on me and according to thy promise wilt neuer leaue me nor forsake me therefore if all the world disdaine me be thou fauourable vnto me O helpe me and deliuer me from them that afflict me and saue me for I trust in thee and none that trusteth in thee shall bee cast downe for euer I powre out my whole desire before thee my sorrowes and my sighes are not hid from thee and though I seeme to faint and my heart to faile me because my louers and my friends leaue me by reason of my miseries yet I wait on thee for comming I know thy helpe will come for thou art an vpright Iudge though thou haue brought me low I know thou canst and wilt lift me vp againe and they that thinke thou hast vtterly forsaken me shall see that there is a God that hath a care of his deiected people though they say now Where is thy God in whom thou seemest so much to trust Doth he helpe thee or releeue thee thou callest vpon him but he heareth thee not thou seemest to seeke him but findest no helpe at his hands O grieuous tentation to a weake-minde but it daunteth me not I am confident in thy mercies I faint not at these reproaches for they vpbraid not me but thee saying as it were in their hearts it is bootlesse for the
spirit he found his inward part the weaker and so suspecting as it were the loue and presence of God to aid the one and to suppresse the other hee thought God had left him But it séemeth his outward enemies did more preuaile against him than before and being so oppressed by them or afraid of them he turned himselfe vnto God but he séemed to hide his face from him and therefore praied so instantly that God would not cast him away being his seruant in displeasure yet Dauid had the true feare of God in his heart although hée were a little shaken with doubting for the absence of Gods presence and necessary it is that wee should sometimes feele the want of Gods presence with vs that wee should not too much presume vpon our owne worthinesse power and strength to stand firme without him for if he leaue vs be it neuer so little such is our frailty that we begin to faint and our spirituall strength saileth vs which if we can apprehend it is an argument that we are not altogether destitute of the grace of God for if we be so carried away with our owne corruptions as we neuer féele our owne wants of spirituall graces we haue no grace at all The wicked and such as sinne without touch of conscience they neuer féele the want of that they neuer had the spirit of God therefore run on stil in their impieties following euery kinde of carnall destres with greedinesse It is not so with them that God hath chosen and enlightened for they finde in themselues the least of Gods absence if but for a moment for they are seldome idle in one kinde of holy duty or another they either meditate on the word and works of God they pray or offer the sacrifice of thankes to God and when they finde in them selues a dulnesse to pray or ignorance how to pray they presently suspect that they haue deserued by some meanes that God hath left them to themselues who of their owne power without the helpe of the Spirit of God cannot thinke a good thought much lesse faithfully and seruently pray vnto him and then féeling the griefe of their hearts that they cannot be comforted by the exercise of these holy duties finde the fault to bee in themselues and that God for some sinne committed or some good dutie omitted is angrie with them And therefore as Dauid doth here they crie out vnto God O hide not thy face from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure So fearefull are the children of God to lose the benefit of his presence as they thinke nothing so irksome vnto them as his absence and therefore haue alwaies a kinde of holy iealousie that the least sinne they doe coÌ„mit wil cause the Lord to hide himselfe from them Therefore when Dauid considered his infirmities hée could confesse and say Wicked deeds haue preuailed against me but thou wilt bee mercifull vnto my sinne God is mercifull to them that are sorry for their sinnes which sorrow and repentance is the gift of God and the children of God instantly and often call to God for it as a meane whereby they may redéeme his loue and obtaine his presence and the beauty of his face againe And therefore saith Dauid being as it were forsaken and had lost his chiefe comfort the louing countenanâ—â— of the Lord. Turne vs againe O Lord God of hosts saith he cause thy face to shine and we shall be safe Returne wee beseech thee O God of hosts looke downe from Heauen and visit vs againe with the brightnesse of thy louing countenance and hide not thy face from vs nor cast vs away in displeasure There is nothing more causeth the Spirit of God to leaue vs than our sinnes and neglect of the true seruice of God and nothing retaineth him more than the continuall meditation of heauenly things seruent prayer with a godly life he that thus exerciseth himselfe hath God alwaies with him he hideth not his face from such but in what misery trouble feare or affliction they are they are sure either to receiue outward deliuerance or inward comfort and to say with Dauid yet my soule keepeth silence vnto God of him commeth my saluation yet he is my strength my defence therefore shall I not much be moued not much we may haue some doubtings in our heauy afflictions and cry out with Dauid O God why hast thou forsaken me and though we be moued we shall neuer be remoued from the louing fauour of God we shall neuer fall finally into his displeasure though for a time he séeme to hide his face from vs which he neuer doth vntill we couet to hide our sins from him and to doe the things which we thinke hée séeth not we may not thinke that God hideth his all-séeing cies from our transgressions though he turne not his face towards vs to flatter vs as it were in our sinnes for he loueth righteousnesse and hateth iniquity righteousnesse and equity are the establishment of his throne therefore dealeth he iustly when he hideth his face from them that deale vniustly from them that obey him not from them that neglect to call vpon him in â—aith and omit those holy duties which he requireth How can hee looke vpon them in loue that leaue him How can he but hide his face and as it were cast them away in his displeasure that neuer séeke him or serue him Nay that séeke him not with a pure heart and that continually for it is not enough to sinne and serue him by turnes as if he allowed vs a time for our selues to take our carnall pleasures delights in and a time againe for him to haue our times wherein wée cannot sinne either being glutted with sinne or vnable to sinne How can hee but hide his face from such How can it be but he must cast away such in his displeasure Dauid that thus crieth out that God had hid his face from him neuer tooke such prophane liberty and yet through his humane frailty fell and that grieuously but he lay not in it as the reprobate doe he examined his heart and found it corrupt and falted it with the teares of repentance Thou hast fed mee with the bread of teares saith he and giuen mee teares to drinke This is the true medicine to cure the soule that hath sinned Faith and Repentance And who so applieth it truly to himselfe as Dauid did shall finde ease and although God séeme sometimes to hide his face it is but to cause vs the more to séeke it and though he séeme to cast vs off in displeasure it is but as a louing father that dissembleth extreme anger to his childe that hath offended him and maketh a shew as if he will vtterly cast him off determining yet nothing lesse So though God the most louing father to his children séeme often angry with vs as he séemed to bee with Dauid it was more in shew than in déed which we may not