their sins and that they might be found ready at the coming of Christ. And how that David was not concent to pray at Morning at Evening and at Noon but he would also rise up at midnight to pray unto God And if Christ did chide his Disciples because they would not watch with him one hour in praying what chiding dost thou deserve who thinkest it too long to continue in prayer but one quarter of an hour If thou hast spent divers hours in seeing a vain Mask or Play yea whole days and nights in carding and dicing to please thy flesh be ashamed to think a Prayer of a quarter of an hour long to be too long an exercise for the service of God 5. Consider that if the Papists in their blind superstition do in an unknown and therefore unedifying Tongue fit only for the Children of mystical Babylon mutter over upon their Beads every morning and evening so many scores of Ave-Maries Pater-Nosters and idolatrous prayers how shall they in their superstitious devotion rise up in judgment against thee professing thy self to be a true worshipper of Christ If that thou thinkest these Prayers to be too long a task being shorter for quantity than theirs but far more profitable for quality tending only to God's glory and thy good and so compiled of Scripture phrase as that thou may'st speak to God as well in his own holy words as in thine own native language Be ashamed that Papists in their superstitious worshipping of creatures should shew themselves more devout than thou in the sincere worshipping of the true and only God And indeed a prayer in private devotion should be one continued speech rather than many broken fragments 6. Lastly When such thoughts come into thy head either to keep thee from prayer or to distract thee in praying remember that those are the Fowls which the evil one sends to devour the good seed and the carcases of thy spiritual Sacrifices but endeavour with Abraham to drive them away Yet notwithstanding if thou perceivest at some times that thy spirits are dull and thy mind not apt for Prayer and holy devotion strive not too much for that time but humbling thy self at the sense of thine infirmity and dulness knowing that God accepteth the willing mind tho' it be oppressed with the heaviness of the flesh endeavour the next time to recompence this dulness by redoubling the zeal and for the time present commend thy soul to God in this or the like short Prayer Another shorter Morning Prayer O Most gracious God and merciful Father I thine unworthy Servant do here acknowledge that as I have been born in sin so I have lived in iniquity and broken every one of thy Commandments in thought word and deed following the desires of mine own will and lusts of my flesh not caring to be governed by thy holy Word and Spirit and therefore I have justly deserved all shame and misery in this life and everlasting condemnation in hell-fire if thou shouldest but deal with me according to thy Justice and my desert Wherefore O heavenly Father I beseech thee for thy Son Jesus Christ his sake and for the Merits of that bitter Death and bloody Passion which I believe that he hath suffered for me that thou wouldest pardon and forgive unto me all my sins and deliver me from the shame and vengeance which is due to me for them And send thy Holy Spirit into my heart which may assure me that thou art my Father and that I am thy Child and that thou lovest me with an unchangeable love and let the same thy good Spirit lead me in thy truth and crucifie in me more and more all worldly and carnal lusts that my sins may more and more die in me and that I may serve thee in unfeigned righteousness and holiness this day and all the days of my life That when this mortal life is ended I may through thy mercy in CHRIST be made partaker of everlasting glory in thy heavenly Kingdom And here O Lord from the bottom of my heart I thank thee for all thy blessings which thou hast bestowed upon my soul and body for electing me in thy love redeeming me by thy Son sanctifying me by thy Spirit and preserving me from my youth up until this present day and hour by thy most gracious providence I thaâ—k thee more especially for that thou hast defended me this night from all perils and dangers and hast brought me safe to the beginning of this day And now good Lord I beseech thee keep me this day from all evil that may hurt me and from falliâ—g into any gross sin that should offend thee Set thy fear before mine eyes and let thy spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall think do or speak this day may tend to thy glory the good of others and the peace of mine own conscience And to this end I commend my self and all my ways and actions together with all that do belong unto me unto thy gracious direction and protection praying thee to keep both them and me from all evil and to give a blessing to all our honest labours and endeavours Defend thy whole Church from the tyranny of the world and of Antichrist Preserve our gracious King from all conspiracies and treasons grant him a long and prosperous reign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles the Lady Maâ—â— the Lady Elizabeth and her Princely â—â—sue endue them with thy grace and defend them from all evil Bless all our Ministers and Magistrates with those graces and gifts which thou knowest necessary for their places Be favourable to all that fear thee and tremble at thy judgments comfort all those that are sick and comfortless Lord keep me in a continual readiness by faith and repentance â—or my last end that whether I live or die I may be found thine own to thine eternal glory and mine everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ my only Saviour In whose blessed name I beg these mercies at thy hands and give unto thee thy praise and glory in that praâ—er which he hath sanctifyed with his own lips saving Our Father which art in Heaven hallâ—â—â—d be thy Name c. Further Meditations to stir us up to Prayer in the Morning THink not any business or haste though never so great a sufficient excuse to omit prayer in the Morning but meditate 1. That the greater thy business is by so much the more need thou hast to pray for God's good speed and blessing thereon seeing it is certain that nothing can prosper without his blessing 2. That many a Man when he thought himself surest hath been soonest crossed so maist thou 3. That many a Man hath gone out of his door and never come in again Many a Man who rose well and lively in the morning hath been seen a dead Man ere night So may it befal thee and if thou
both for Princes and People to study than that which â—eacheth sinful man to deny himself by mortifying his corruption â—hat he may enjoy Christ the Author of his salvation to renounce these false and momentary pleasures of the world that he may attain to the true and eternal joys of heaven And to make them truly honourable before God in Piety who are now only honourable before Men in vanity What charges soever we spend in earthly vanities for the most part they either die before us or we shortly die after them But what we spend like Mary in the Practice of Piety shall remain our true memorial for ever For Piety hath the promise of this life and of that which shall never end But without Piety there is no internal comfort to be found in Conscience noâ— external Peace to be looked for in the World nor any eternal happiness to be hoped for in Heaven How can Piety but promise to her self 〈◊〉 zealous Patron of your Highness being the sole Son and Heir of 〈◊〉 gracious and great a Monarch who is not only the Defender of the Faith by title but also a Defendeâ— of the Faith in truth as the Christian World hath taken notice by hiâ— learned confuting of Bellarmine ever spreading Heresies and his suppressing in the blade of Vorstius ' s Athean blasphemies and â—ow easie is it for your Highness to equal if not exceed all that were before you in Grace and Greatness if you do but set your heart to seek and to serve God considering how religiously your Highness hath been educated by godly and vertuous Governours and Tutors as also that you live in such a time wherein God's Providence and the King 's Religious Care have placed over this Church to the unspeakable comfort thereof another venerable Jehoiada that doth good in our Israel both towards God and towards his House of whom your Highness at all times in all doubts may learn the sincerity of Religion for the Salvation of your inward Soul and the wisest counsel for the direction of your outward state And to excite you the rather to the zealoâ—s Practice of divine Piety often suppose with your self that your Highness hears your Religious Father James speaking unto you as sometimes holy David spake to his Son Solomon And thou Charles my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts iâ— thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever To help you the better to seek and serve this God Almighty who must be your chief Protector in life and only comfort in death I here once again on my bended knees offer my old Mite new stampt into your Highness'sâ— hands daily for your Highness offering up unto the most High my humblest prayers that as you grow in age and stature so you may like your Master Christ increase in wisdom and favour with God and all good men This suit will I never cease in all other matters I will ever rest Your Highness humble Servant during life to be commanded LEWES BAILY AD CAROLUM PRINCIPEM Tolle Malos extolle Pious cognosce Teipsum Sacra tene Paci consule disce pati ADVERTISEMENT This Book being now exactly Corrected and purged from many Thousand Faults which have escaped former Impressions is now also printed in a fair large Roman Character for the Use and Benefit of Aged Persons and to be sold by Edward Brewster at the Crane in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. The 42. Edition TO THE Devout Reader I Had not purposed to enlarge the last Edition save that the importunity of many devoutly disposed prevailed with me to add some points and to amplifie others To satisfie whose godly requests I have done my best endeavour and withal finished all that I intend in this argument If thou shalt hereby reap any more profit give God the more praise And remember him in thy Prayers who hath vowed both his life and his labours to further thy Salvation as his own Farewell in the Lord JESUS THE CHIEF CONTENTS Of this Book 1. A Plain description of God in respect of his Essence Persons and Attributes so far as every Christian should competently endeavour to learn and know with sundry sweet Observations and Meditations thereupon Page 4 2. Meditations setting forth the miseries of man in his life and death that is not reconciled to God in Christ. 37 3. Meditations of the blessed state both in life and death of a man that is reconciled to God in Christ Wherein thou shalt find not a few things worthy the reading and observation 63 4. Meditations on seven hindrances which keep back a sinner from the Practice of Piety necessary to be read of all but especially of carnal Gospellers in these times 104 5. How to begin the Morning with pious Meditations and Prayers 138 6. How to read the Bible with profit and ease once over every year 143 7. A Morning Prayer 217 Another shorter Prayer for the Morning 157 Another brief Morning Prayer 161 8. Meditations how to walk with God all the day 162 Especially how to guide thy Thoughts ibid Thy Words 168 Thy Actions 173 9. Meditations for the Evening 185 10. An Evening Prayer 189 Another shorter Evening Prayer 195 11. Things to be meditated upon as thou art going to bed 198 12. Meditations for a godly Housholder 200 13. A Morning Prayer for a Family 203 14. Holy Meditations and Graces before and after dinner and supper 209 15. Rules to be observed in singing of Psalms 215 16. An Evening Prayer for a Family 217 17. A Religious Discourse of the Sabbath Day wherein is proved that the Sabbath was altered from the seventh to the first day of the week not by humane ordinance but by Christ himself and his Apostles that the fourth Commandment is perpetual and moral under the New Testament as well as under the old And the true manner of sanctifying the Sabbath Day is described out of the Word of God 222 18. A Morning Prayer for the Sabbath Day 267 19. An Evening Prayer for the Sabbath Day 282 20. Meditations of the true manner of Fasting and giving of Alms out of the Word of God 287 21. The right manner of holy Feasting 303 22. Holy and devout Meditations of the worthy and reverent receiving of the Lord's Supper 305 23. An humble Confession of sins before the holy Communion 330 24. A sweet Soliloquy to be said a little before the receiving of the holy Sacrament 345 25. A Prayer to be said after the receiving of the holy Sacrament 353 26. Meditations how to behave thy self in the time of sickness 363 27. A Prayer when one begins to be sick 365 28. Directions for making thy Will and setting thy House in order 371 29. A Prayer before the taking of
and receiving of the Sacrament to the knowledge of thy saving grace and obedience of thy blessed will for that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thine only begotten Son from the torments of Hell amd thrall of Satan for that thou hast by faith in Christ freely justified me who am by nature the Child of wrath for that thou hast in good measure sanctified me by thy holy Spirit and given me so large a time to repent together with the means of repentance I thank thee likewise good Lord for my life health wealth food raiment peace prosperity and plenty and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of body and soul and hast brought me lafe to the beginning of this day And as thou hast now wakned my body from sleep so I beseech thee waken my soul from sin and carnal security and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in my bodily eyes so good Lord cause the light of thy Word and holy Spirit to illuminate my heart and give me grace as one of thy children of light to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a clear conscience towards thee and towards all men in all my thoughts words and dealings And so good Lord bless all my studies and actions which I shall take in hand this day as that they may tend to thy glory the good of others and the comfort of mine own Soul and Conscience in that day when I shall make my final accounts unto thee for them Oh my God keep thy servant that I do no evil unto any man this day and let it be thy blessed will not to suffer the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil Members or any malicious enemies to have any power to do me any hurt or violence But let the eye of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil and command thy holy Angels to pitch their Tents round about me for my defence and safety in me going out and coming in as thou hast promised they should do about them that fear thy Name For into thy hands O Father I do here commend my soul and body my actions and all that ever I have to be guided defended and protected by thee being assured that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot perish nor suffer any hurt or harm And if I at any time this day shall through frailty forget thee yet Lord I beseech thee do thou in mercy remember me And I pray not unto thee O Father for my self alone but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church and chosen people wheresoever they live upon the face of the earth Defend them from the Rage and Tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist Give thy Gospel a free and a joyful passage through the world for the conversion of those who belong to thine Election and Kingdom Bless the Churches and Kingdoms wherein we live with the continuance of Peace Justice and true Religion Defend the King's Majesty from all his Enemies and grant him a long life in health and all happiness to reign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth and her Princely Issue Increase in them all heroical gifts and spiritual graces which may make them fit for those places for which thou hast ordained them Direct all the Nobility Bishops Ministers and Magistrates of this Church and Common-wealth to govern the Commons in true religion justice obedience and tranquility Be merciful unto all the Brethren which fear thee and call upon thy name and comfort as many among them as are sick and comfortless in body or mind especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of thy truth and holy Gospel And give them a gracious deliverance out of all their troubles which way it shall seem best to thy Wisdom for the glory of thy Name the further enlarging of the truth and the more ample increase of their own Comfort and Consolation Hasten thy coming O blessed Saviour and end these sinful days And give me grace that like a wife Virgin I may be prepared with oil in my Lamp to meet thee the sweet Bridegroom of my Soul at thy coming whether it be by the day of Death or of Judgment and then Lord Jesus come when thou wilt even Lord Jesus come quickly These and all other graces which thou knowest needful and necessary for me this day and evermore I humbly beg and crave at thy hands O Father giving thee thy glory in that form of Prayer which Christ himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name c. Meditations to stir us up to Morning Prayer IF when thou art about to pray Satan shall suggest that thy Prayers are too long and that therefore it were better either to omit Prayers or else to cut them shorter meditate that Prayer is thy spiritual sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased and therefore it is so displeasing to the Devil and so irksome to thy Flesh. Bend therefore thy Affections will they nill thy to so holy an exercise assuring thy self that it doth by so much the more please God by how much the more it is unpleasing to thy flesh 2. Forget not how the Holy Ghost puts at down as a special note of reprobates they call not upon the Lord they call not upon God And when Eliphaz supposed that Job had cast off the fear of God and tha◠God had cast Job out of his favour he chargeth him that he restrained prayer 〈◊〉 God making that a sure none of the 〈◊〉 and a sufficient cause of the other On the other side that God hath promised that whosoever shall call on his name shall be saved It is certain that he who maketh no conscience of the duty of Prayer hath no grace of the holy Spirit in him For the spirit of grace and of prayer are one And therefore Grace and Prayer go together But he that can from a penitent heart morning and evening pray unto God it is sure that he hath his measure of grace in this world and he shall have his portion of glory in the life which is to come 3. Remember that as loathing of meat and painfulness of speaking are two symptoms of a sick body So irkesomness of praying when thou talkest with God and carelesness in hearing when God by his Word speaks unto thee are two sure signs of a sick Soul 4. Call to mind the zealous devotions of the Christians in the Primitive Church who spent many whole nights and vigils in watching and praying for the forgiveness of
all talking about worldly things which hindereth the sanctifying of the Sabbath more than working seeing one may work alone but cannot talk but with others He that keeps the Sabbath only by resting from his ordinary work keeps it but as a Beast But rest on this day is so far commanded to Christians as it is an help to sanctification and labour so far forbidden as it is an impediment to the outward and inward worship of God If then those recreation's which are lawful at other times are on the Sabbath not allowed much more those that are altogether at all times unlawful Who without mourning can endure to see Christians keep the Lord's day as if they celebrated â— feast rather to Bacchus than to the honour of the Lord Jesus the Saviour and Redeemer of the world for having served God but an hour in outward shew they spend the rest of the Lord's day in sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to play First balasting their bellies with eaâ—ing and drinking and then feeding their lusts with playing and dancing Against which prophanations all holy Divines both old and new have in their times most bitterly inveighed Insomuch that Augustine affirmeth that it was better to plough than to dance on the Sabbath day Now in the Name of Almighty God who rested having created Heaven and Earth and of his eternal Son Jesus the Redeemer of his Church who shall shortly come on the dreadful day of Dâ—om to judge all men according to the obedience which they have shewed to his commandments I require thee who readest these words as thou wilt answer before the face of Christ and all his holy Angels at that day that thou better weigh and consider whether Dancing Stage-playing Masking Carding Diceing Tabling Chess-playing Bowling Shooting Bear-baiting Carousing Tipling and such other fooleries of Robbin Hood Morice-dances Wakes and Maâ—-games be Exercises that God will bless and allow on the Sabbath day And seeing that no action ought to be done that day but such as whereby we either bless God or look to receive a blessing from God how darest thou do those things on that blessed day on which thou darest not to pray to God to bestow a blessing on it to thy use Hear this and tremble at this O prophane youth of a prophane age O heart all frozen and void of the feeling of the grace of God! that having every day in six every hour in every day every minute in every hour so tasted the sweet mercy of thy God in Christ without which thou hadst perished every moment Yet canst not find in thy corrupt and irreligious heart to spend in thy Masters service that one day of the week which he hath reserved for his own praise and worship Let men in defence of their prophaneness object what they will and answer what the Devil puts in their mouths yet I would wish them to remember that seeing it is an ancient Tradition in the Church that the Lord's second coming shall be upon the Lord's day how little joy they should have to be overtaken in those carnal sports to please themselves when their Masters should find them in spiritual Exercises serving him The prophane Wretch would then wish rather to be taken kneeling at prayers in the Church than skipping like a Goat in a dance If this cannot move yet I would wish our impare gallants to remember that whilst they thus dance on the Lord's day contrary to the Lord's Commandment they do but dance about the pits brink and they know not which of them shall first fall therein Where to being once fallen without repentance no greatness can exempt them from the vengeance of that great God whose Commandment contrary to their knowledge and conscience they do thus presumptuously transgress If then God's Commandment cannot deterr thee nor God's Word advise thee I say no more but what St. John said before me He which is filthy let him be filthy still For the second 2. The consecration of the Sabbath's rest consists in performing three sorts of duties First before Secondly at Thirdly after the publick exercises of the Church The Duties to be performed before the publick exercises are 1. To give over working betimes on the Eve that thy body may be the more refreshed and thy mind the better â—itted to sanctifie the Sabbath on the next day For want of this preparation thy self and thy servants being tyred with labour and watching the night before are so heavy that when you should be serving God and hearing what his Spirit saith unto the Church for your Soul's instruction you cannot hold up your heads for sleeping to the dishonour of God the offence of the Church and the shame of your selves Therefore the Lord commands us not only to keep holy but also to remember afore-hand the Sabbath day to keep it holy by preparing our hearts and removing all business that might hinder us to consecrate it as a glorious day unto the Lord. Therefore whereas the Lord in the other Commandments doth but either bid or forbid he doth both in this Commandment and that with a special memorandum As if a Master should charge his servant to look well unto ten things of great trust but to have a more special care to remember one of those Ten for divers weighty reasons should not a faithful Servanâ— that loves his Master shew a more special care unto that thing above all other businesses Thus Moses taught the People o'er night to remember the Sabbath and it was a Holy custom among our forefathers when at the ringing to Prayer on the Eve before the Husbandman would give over his labour in the field and the Tâ—adesman his work in the Shop and go to Evening Prayer in the Church to prepare their souls that their minds might more chearfully attend God's worship on the Sabbath day 2. To possess that night thy vessel in holiness and honour that thou maist present thy soul more purely in the sight of God the next morning 3. To rise up early in the morning on the Sabbath day Be careful therefore to rise sooner on this day than on other days by how much the service of God is to be preferred before all earthly businesses For there is no Master to serve so good as God and in the end no work shall be better rewarded than his service 4. When thou art up consider with thy self what an impure sinner thou art and into what an holy place thou goest to appear before the most holy God who seeth thy heart and hateth all impurity and hypocrisie Examine thy self therefore before thou goest to church what grievous sins thou hast committed the week past confess them unto God and earnestly pray for the pardon and forgiveness of them and so reconcile thy self with God in Christ. Renew thy vows to walk more conscionably and pray for an increase of those graces which
in the state of Corruption no man living can sanctifie a Sabbath in that spiritual manner that he should but that he commits many breaches thereof in his Thoughts Words and Deeds humbly crave pardon for thy defects and reconcile thy self unto God with this or the like Evening Sacrifice A Private Evening Prayer for the Lord's-day O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath suffer me who am but dust and ashes to speak unto thy most glorious Majâ—sty I know that thou art a consuming â—ire I acknowledge that I am but withered stubble My sins are in thy sight and Satan stands at my right-hand to accuse me for them I come not to excuse but to judg my self worthy of all those judgments which thy Justice might most justly inflict upon me a wretched Creature for my sins and transgressions The Number of them is so great the Nature of them is so grievous that they make me seem vile in mine own eyes how much more loathsome in thy sight I confess they make me so far from being worthy to be called thy Son that I am altogether unworthy to have the Name of thy meanest Servant And if thou shouldest but recompence me according to my desert the Earth as weary of such a sinful burthen should open her mouth and swallow me up like one of Dathan's Family into the bettomless pit of Hell For if thou didst not spare the natural branches those Angels of glorious Excellency but hurldst them down from the heavenly Habitations into the pains of hellish darkness to be kept unto damnation when they sinned but once against thy Majesty and didst expel our first Parents out of Paradise when they did but transgress one of thy Laws alas what vengeance may I expect who have not offended in one sin only heaping daily un upon sin without any true repentance drinking iniquity as it were water ever pouring in but never pouring out any filthyness and have transgressed not one but all thy holy laws and commandments Yea this present day which thou hast straitly commanded me to keep holy to thy praise and worship I have not so religiously kept and observed nor prepared my soul in that holiness and chastity of heart as was fit to meeâ— thy blessed Majesty in the holy assembly of the Saints I have not attended to the preaching of thy Word nor to the administration of thy Sacraments with that humility reverence and devotion that I should For tho' I was present at those holy exercises in my body yet Lord I was overtaken with much drowsiness And when I was awake my mind was so distracted and carried away with vain and worldly thoughts that my â—oul seemed to be absent and oâ—â— of the Church I have not so duly as I should meditated with my self nor conferred with my Family upon those good instruâ—ctions which we have heard and received out of thy holy Word by the publick Ministry For default whereof Satan hath stoln the most part of those instructions out of my heart and I wretched creature have forgotten them as though they had never been heard And my family doth not thrive in knowledge and sanctification under my government as they should Though I know where many of my poor brethren live in want and necessity and some in pain and comfortless yet I have not remembred to relieve the one with my Alms nor the other with Consolations but I have feasted my self and satisfied mine own Lusts. I have spent the most part of the day in idle talk vain sports and exercises Yea Lord I have c. And for all these my sins my Conscience cries guilty thy Law condemns me and I am in thy hand to receive the sentence and curse that is due to the wilful breach of so holy a Commandment But what if I am by thy Law condemned Yet Lord thy Gospel assures me that thy mercy is above all thy works that thy grace transcends thy Law and thy goodness delighteth there to reign where sins do most abound In the multitude therefore of thy Mercies and for the Merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour I beseech thee O Lord who despiseth not the sighings of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent sinner to pardon and forgive me all those my sins and all the errors of this day and of my whole life and free my soul from that curse and Judgment which is due unto me for them Thou that didst justifie the contrite Publican for Four Words of confession and received'st the Prodigal Child when he had spent all the stock of thy grace into favour upon his repentance pardon my sins likewise O Lord and suffer me not to perish for my transgressions O spare me and receive me into thy favour again Wilâ— thou O Lord reject me who hast received all Publicans Harlots and Sinners that upon repentance sued to thee for grace Shall I alone be excluded from thy mercy Far be it from me to think so for thou art the same God of mercy unto me that thou wast unto them and thy compassions never fail Wherefore O Lord deal not with me after my merits but according to thy great mercy Execute â—ot thy severe Justice against me a sinner but exercise thy long-sufferance in forbearing thine own creature I have nothing to present unto thee for a satisfaction but only those Bloody Wounds bitter Death and Passion which thy blessed Son my only Saviour hath suffered for me Him in whom only thou art well pleased I offer unto thee for all my sins wherewith thou art displeased Him my Mediator the Request of whose Blood speaking better things than that of Abel thy mercy can never gain-say Illuminate my understanding and sanctifie my heart with thy holy Spirit that it may bring to my remembrance all those good and profitable lessons which this day and at other times have been taught me out of thy holy Word that I may remember thy Commandments to keep them thy Judgments to avoid them aâ—d thy sweet Promises to rely upon them in time of misery and distress And now O Lord I resign my self to thy most holy Will O receive me into thy favour and so draw me by thy grace unto thy self that I may as well be thine by love and imitation as by calling and creation and give me grace so to keep holy thy Sabbaths in this life as that when this life is ended I may with all thy Saints and Angels celebrate an eternal Sabbath of joys and praise to the honour of thy most glorious Name in thy heavenly Kingdom for evermore Amen And then calling thy Family together shut up the Sabbath with the Meditations and Prayers before prescribed for thy Family And the Lord will give thee 〈◊〉 Night a more sweet and quiet rest than ordinary and prosper thee the better in all the labours of the week following Thus far of the ordinary
Physick 375 30. Meditations for one that is recover'd from sickness 386. And a Thanksgiving 390 31. Meditations for the sick taken from the end of God's chastisements 394. 32. Meditations for one that is like to die 396 33. A Prayer to be said of one that is like to die 399 34. Comfortable Meditations against despair 402 35. Directions for those who come to visit the sick 415 36. A Prayer to be said for the sick by those who visit him 418 And choice Scriptures to be read unto him 421 422 37. Consolations against impatiency in sickness ibid. 38. Consolations against the fear of death 425 39. Seven sanctified Thoughts and so many spiritual Sighs fit for a sick Man that is like to die 429 40. Of the comfortable use of true Absolution and receiving of the Lord's Supper to the faithful and penitent before they depart this Life if they may conveniently be had 435 41. The last speech of a godly Man dying 444 42. Meditations of Martyrdom wherein is proved that those who die for Popery cannot be Christ's Martyrs 445 43. A Divine Colloquy betwixt Christ and the Soul concerning the virtue and efficacy of his dolorous Passion 452 44. The Soul's Soliloquy unto Christ her Saviour 461 THE PRACTICE OF PIETY Directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God WHo ever thou art that lookest into this Book never undertake to read it unless thou first resolvest to become from thine heart an unfeigned Practitioner of Piety Yet read it and that speedily lest before thou hast read it over God by some unexpected death cut thee off for thine inveterate Impiety The Practice of Piety consists 1. In knowing 1. The Essence of God that in respect of 1. The diverse manner of being therein which are three Persons 1 The Father 2. The Son 3. Holy Ghost 2. The Attributes thereof which are either Nominal or 1. Absolute 1. Simpleness 2. Infiniteness 2. Relative 1. Life 2. Understanding 3. Will. 4. Power 5. Majesty Real 2. Thy own self in respect of thy state of 1. Corruption 2. Renovation 2. In glorifying God aright 1. By thy life in dedicating thy self devoutly to serve him Ordinarily 1. Privately in thine own Person 2. Publickly 1. With thy Family every day 2. With the Church on the Sabbath day Extraordinarily by Fasting Feasting 2. By thy death in dying 1. In the Lord. 2. For the Lord. Unless that a Man doth truly know God he neither can nor will worship him aright for how can a Man love him whom he knoweth not and who will worship him whose help a Man thinks he needeth not and how shall a Man seek remedy by Grace who never understood his misery by Nature Therefore saith the Apostle He that cometh to God must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him And for as much as there can be no true Piety without the knowledge of God nor any good practice without the knowledge of a Man 's own self we will therefore lay down the knowledge of God's Majesty and Man's Misery as the first and chiefest grounds of the Practice of Piety A PLAIN DESCRIPTION OF THE Essence and Attributes of GOD out of the Holy Scripture so far forth as every Christian must competently know and necessarily believe that will be saved ALthough no Creature can define what God is because he is incomprehensible and dwelling in inaccessible light yet it hath pleased his Majesty to reveal himself in his Word unto us so far as our weak capacity can best conceive him Thus God is that one spiritual and infinitely perfect Essence whose Being is of himself eternally In the Divine Essence we are to consider two things First the diverse manner of being therein Secondly the Attributes thereof The diverse manner of being therein are called Persons A person is a distinct subsistence of the whole God-head There are three Divine Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost these Three Persons are not Three several Substances bâ—t Three distinct Subsistences or Three divers manner of Beings of one and the same substance and Divine Essence So that a Person in the God-head is an individual understanding and incommunicable Subsistence living of it self and not sustained by another In the unity of the God-head there is a plurality which is not accidental for God is a most pure act and admits no accidents nor essential for God is one Essence only but personally The Persons in this one Essence are but three In this Mystery there is alius alius another and another But not aliud aliud another thing and another thing The Divine Essence in it self is neither divided nor distinguished But the Three Persons in the Divine Essence are distinguished among themselves Three manner of ways 1. By their Names 2. By their Order 3. By their Actions 1. By their Names thus THE first Person is named the Father first in respect of his natural Son Christ secondly in respect of the Elect his adopted sons that is those who being not his sons by Nature are made his sons by Grace The second Person is named the Son because he is begotten of his Father's substance or nature and he is called the Word First because the conception of a word in man's mind is the nearest thing that in some sort can shadow unto us the manner how he is eternally begotten of his Father's substance and in this respect he is also called the wisdom of his Father Prov. 8. 12. Secondly because that by him the Father hath from the beginning declared his will for our salvation hence he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Person speaking with or by the Father Thirdly because he is the chief argument of all the Word of God or that Word whereof God spake when he promised the blessed Seeâ— to the Fathers under the Old Testament The Third Person is named the Holy Ghost First because he is spiritual without a body secondly because he is spired and as it were breathed from both the Father and the Son that is proproceedeth from them both And he is called holy both because he is holy in his own nature and also the immediate sanctifier of all God's Elect people 2. By their Order thus THe Persons of the God-head are either the Father or those which are of the Father The Father is the first Person in the glorious Trinity having neither his being nor beginning of any other but of himself begetting his Son and together with his Son sending forth the Holy Ghost from everlasting The Persons which are of the Father are those who in respect of their personal existence have the whole Divine Essence eternally communicated unto them from the Father And those are either from the Father alone
man to travel in and the night for him to take his rest so I beseech thee sanctifie unto me this night's rest and sleep that I may enjoy the same as thy sweet blessing and benefit That so this dull and wearied body of mine being refreshed with moderate sleep and rest I may be the better enabled to walk before thee doing all such good works as thou hast appointed when it shall please thee by thy divine Power to waken me the next morning And whilst I sleep do thou O Lord who art the keeper of Israel that neither slamberest nor sleepest watch over me in thy holy providence to protect me from all dangers so that neither the evil Angels of Satan nor any wicked enemy may have any power to do me any harm or evil And to this end give a charge unto thy holy Angels that they at thine appointment may pitch their tents round about me for my defence and safety as thou hast promised that they should do about them that fear thy name And knowing that thy name is a strong Tower of defence unto all those that trust therein I here recommend my self and all that do belong unto me unto thy holy protection and custody If it be thy blessed will to call for me in my sleep O Lord for Christ his sake have mercy upon me and receive my soul into thy heavenly kingdom And if it be thy blessed pleasure to add more days unto my Life O Lord add more amendment unto my days and wean my mind from the love of the world and worldly vanities and cause me more and more to settle my conversation on heaven and heavenly things And perfect daily in me that good work which thou hast begun to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of my sinful soul. O Lord I beseech thee likewise save and defend from all evil and danger thy whole Church our King Charles Queen Mary the noble and hopeful Prince Charles with the rest of the Royal Progeny the religious Lady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and her Princely Issue keep them all in the sincerity of thy Truth and prosper them in all grace and happiness Bless the Nobility Ministers and Magistrates of these Churches and Kingdoms each of them with those graces which are expedient for their place and calling And be thou O Lord a comfort and consolation to all thy people whom thou hast thought meet to visit with any kind of sickness cross or calamity Hasten O Father the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Make me ever mindful of my last end and of the reckoning that I am to make unto thee therein and in the mean while careful so to foâ—â—ow Christ in the regeneration during this life as that with Christ I may have a portion in the resurrection of the just when this mortal life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou O Father knowest to be requisite and necessary for me I humbly beg and crave at thy hands in the name and meditation of Jesus Christ thy Son and in that form of Prayer which he himself hath taught me to say unto thee Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another short Evening Prayer O Eternal God and heavenly Father if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy Gospel and the examples of Peter Mary Magdalen the Publican the Prodigal child and many other penitent sinners that thou art so full of Compassion and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners who are heaviest laden with sin at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts lamenting their sins and imploring thy grace I should despair for mine own sins and be utterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardness of my heart the unruliness of my affections and the uncleanness of my conversation by means whereof I have trangressed all thy laws and deserved thy curse which might cause my body to be smitten with some fearful disease my soul to languish with the death of sin my good name to be traduced with scandalous reproaches and make mine estate liable to all manner of crosses and casualties And I confess O Lord that thy mercy is the cause that I have not been long ago confounded But O my God as thy mercy only staied thy judgment from falling upon me hitherto so I humbly beseech thee in the bowels of the mercy of Jesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased that thou wilt not deal with me according to my deserts but that thou wouldst freely and fully remit unto me all my sins and transgressions and that thou wouldst wash them clean from me with the vertue of that most precious blood which thy Son Jesus Christ hath shed for me For he alone is the Phâ—sician and his blood only is the medicine that ean heal my sickness And he is the true brazen Serpent that can cure that poison wherewith the fiery Serpent of my sins have stung and poisoned my sick and wounded soul. And give me I beseech thee thine holy Spirit which may assure me of mine adoption and that may confirm my faith encrease my repentance enlighten my understanding purifie my heart rectifie my will and affections and so sanctifie me â—hroughout that my whole body soul and spiâ—it may be kept unblameable until the glorious â—oming of my Lord Jesus Christ. And now O Lord I give thee most hearty thanks â—nd praise for that thou hast this day preserved me from all harms and perils notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts And I beseech thee likewise defend me â—his night from the roaring Lyon which â—ight and day seeketh to devour me Watch â—hou O Lord over me this night to keep â—e from his temptations and tyranny and â—et thy mercy shield me from his unappeaâ—ble rage and malice And to this end I â—ommend my self into thy hands and proâ—ection beseeching thee O my Lord and God not to suffer Satan nor any of his eâ—il members to have power to do unto me â—ny hurt or violence this night And grant â—ood Lord that whether I sleep or wake â—ve or die I may sleep wake live and die â—nto thee and to the glory of thy name â—nd the salvation of my soul. Lord bless â—nd defend all thy chosen People every â—here Grant our King a long and happy â—eign over us Bless our gracious Queen Mary with their Princely Progeny the â—ady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and â—er Princely Issue together with all our â—agistrates and Ministers comfort them â—ho are in misery need or sickness good â—ord give me grace to be one of those â—ise Virgins which may have my heart â—repared like a Lamp furnished with the 〈◊〉 of faith and light of good works to meet the Lord Jesus the sweet Bridegroom of my soul
this second and sudden coming in glory Grant this good Father for Christ Jesus sake my only Saviour and Mediator in whose blessed Name and in whose own words I call upon thee as he hath taught me Our Father which art c. Afterwards say Thy Grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy and blessed Spirit be with me and dwell in my heart this night and evermore Amen Then rising up in a holy Reverence meditate as thou art putting off thy Clothes Things to be meditated upon as thou art putting off thy Clothes 1. THat the day is coming when thou must be as barely unstript of alâ— that thou hast in the World as thou arâ— now of thy Clothes thou hast therefore here but the use of all things as a Steward for a time and that upon accounts Whilst therefore thou art trusted with thiâ— Stewardship be wise and faithful 2. When thou seest thy Bed let it puâ— thee in mind of thy grave which is now the bed of Christ for Christ by laying hiâ— holy body to rest three days and three nights in the grave hath sanctified anâ— as it were warmed it for the bodies oâ— his Saints to rest and sleep in till thâ— morning of the Resurrection so that now unto the faithful death is but a sweet sleep and the grave is but Christ's bed where their bodies rest and sleep in peace until the joyful morning of the Resurrection-day shall dawn unto them Let therefore thy Bed-clothes represent unto thee the mould of the Earth that shall cover thee thy sheets thy winding sheet thy sleep thy death thy waking thy resurrection And being laid down in thy bed when thou perceivest sleep to approach say I will lay me down and sleep in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safety Thus religiously opening every Morning thy heart and shutting it up again every Evening with the Word of God and Prayer as it were with a Lock and Key and so beginning the day with God's Worship continuing it in his fear and ending it in his favour thou shalt be sure to find the blessing of God upon all thy days labours and good endeavours and at night thou maist assure thy self thou shalt sleep safely and sweetly in the arms of thy heavenly Father's providence Thus far of the Piety which every Christian in private ought to practise every day Now followeth that which he being an Housholder must practise publickly with his Family Meditations for Houshold Piety 1. IF thou beest called to the government of a Family thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thine own person unless thou causest all under thy charge to do the same with thee For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham that he would not hide from him his counsel For saith God I know him that he will command his sons and his houshold after him that they keep the way of the Lord to do righteousness and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that he hath spoken unto him And Abraham had 318 Men servants which were thus born and catechized in his house With whose help he rescued also his Nephew Lot from the captivity of his Enemies And religiously valiant Joshua protesteth before all the people That if they all would fall away from the true Worship of God yet that he and his house would serve the Lord. And God himself gives a special charge to all Housholders that they do instruct their Family in his Word and train them up in his fear and service These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt whet them continually upon thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up c. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him David according to this Law had so ordered his Family That no deceitful person should dwell in his house but such as would serve God and walk in his way and religious Esther had taught her Maids to serve God in fasting and prayer And the more to further thy family in the zeal of religion settle ever thy chiefest affection on those whom thou shalt perceive to be best addicted to true Religion This also will turn to thine own advantage in a double respect First God will the rather bless and prosper the labour and handy-work of such godly servants For Laban perceived that God blessed him for Jacob's sake And Potiphar saw that the Lord made all that Jeseph did to prosper in his hand yea when innocent Joseph was cast into prison his keeper saw that whatsoever he did the Lord made it to prosper and therefore the keeper committed all the charge of the Prisoners into Joseph's hand 2. The trulier a man doth serve God the faithfullier he will serve thee 2. If every Houshoulder were thus careful according to his duty to bring up his Children and Family in the service and fear of God in his own house then the house of God would be better filled and the Lord's Table more frequented every Sabbath day and the Pastor's publick preaching and labour would take more effect than it doth The streets of Towns and Cities would not abound with so many drunkards swearers whore-mongers and prophane scorners of true Piety and Religion Westminister-Hall would not be so full of contentions wrangling suits and unchristian debates and the prisons would not be every Sessions so full of Thieves Robbers Traitors and Murtherers But alas most Housholders make no other use of their Servants than they do of their Beasts Whilst they may have their Bodies to do their service they care not if their Souls serve the Devil Yet the common complaint is that faithful and good servants are scarce to be found True but the reason is because there are so many prophane and irreligious Masters for the example and instruction of a Godly and Religious Master will make a good and a faithful servant as may witness the examples of Abraham Joshua David Cornelius c. who had good servants because they were religious Masters such as were careful to make their servants God's servants It is the chief labour and care of most men to raise and to advance their house yet let them rise up early and lie down late and eat the bread of carefulness all will be but in vain for except the Lord build an house that is raise up a Family they labour in vain For God hath sealed this as an irrevocable decree That he will pour his wrath upon the Families that call not upon his name yea God will take the wicked and pluck him out of his tabernacle and root him out of the land c. Yea when his
which is to come And for as much as thou hast created us to serve thee as all other Creatures to serve us so we beseech thee inspire thy holy Spirit into our hearts that by his illumination and effectual working we may have the inward sight and feeling of our sins and natural corruptions and that we may not be blinded in them through custom as the Reprobates are but that we may more and more loath them and be heartily grieved for them endeavouring by the use of all good means to overcome and get out of them O let us feel the Power of Christ's Death killing sin in our mortal Bodies and the vertue of his Resurrection raising up our Souls to newness of life Convert our hearts subdue our affections regenerate our minds and purifie our nature and suffer us not to be drowned in the stream of those filthy vices and sinful pleasures of thâ—s time where with thousands are carried headlong to eternal destruction but daily frame us more and more to the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ that in righteousness and true holiness we may so serve and glorifie thee that living in thy fear and dying in thy favour we may in thine appointed time attain to the blessed resurrection of the just unto eternal life In the mean while O Lord increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel and our repentance from dead works the assurance of our hope in thy promises our fear of thy name the hatred of all our sins and our love unto thy children especially those whom we shall see to stand in need of our help and comfort that so by the fruits of Piety and a righteous life we may be assured that thy Holy Spirit doth dwell in us and that we are thy Children by Grace and Adoption And grant us good Father the continuance of health peace maintenance and all other outward things so far forth as thy Divine Wisdom shall think meet and necessary for every one of us And here O Lord according to our bounden duty we confess that thou hast been exceeding merciful unto us all in things of this life but infinitely more merciful in the things of a better life and therefore we do here from our very souls render unto thee all humble and hearty thanks for all thy blessings and benefits bestowed upon our souls and bodies acknowledging thee to be that Father of lights from whom we have received all those good and perfect gifts and unto thee alone for them we ascribe to be due all glory honour and praise both now and evermore But more especially we praise thy divine Majesty for that thou hast defended us this day from all perils and dangersâ— so that none of those judgments which our sins have deserved have fall'n upon any one of us Good Lord forgive us the sins which this day we have committed against thy Divine Majesty and our brethren for Christ his sake be reconciled unto us for them And we beseech thee likewise of the same thine infinite goodness and mercy to defend and protect us and all that belong unto us this night from all dangers of fire robberry terrours of evil angels or any other fear or peril which for our sins might justly fall upon us And that we may be safe under the shadow of thy wings we here commend our Bodies and Souls and all that we have unto thine Almighty protection Lord bless and defend both us and them from all evil And whilst we sleep do thou O Father who never slumberest nor sleepest watch over thy Children and give a charge to thy Holy Angels to pitch their tents round about our House and Dwelling to gâ—ard us from all dangers that sleeping wiâ—h thee we may in the next morning be awakened by thee and so being reâ—reshed with moderate sleep we may be the fitter to set forth thy glory in the conscionable duties of our callings And we beseech thee O Lord to be merciful likewise to thy whole Church and to continue the tranquility of these Kingdoms wherein we live turning from us those plagues which the crying sins of this Nation do cry for Preserve our Religious King Charles Queen Mary the Noble and Hopeful Prince Charles with the rest of the Royal Progeny the religious Lady Elizabeth the King 's only Sister and her Princely Issue all our Magistrates and Ministers all that fear thee and call upon thy Name all our Christian Brethren and Sisters that suffer sickness or any other affliction or misery especially those who any where do suffer persecution for the testimony of thy holy Gospel grant them patience to bear thy cross and deliverance when and which way it shall seem best to thy Divine Wisdom And Lord suffer us never to forget our last end and those reckonings which then we must render unto thee In health and prosperity mâ—ke us mindful of sickness and of the evil day that is behind that these things may not overtake us as a 〈◊〉 but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins be found prepared for the coming of Christ the sweet Bridegroom of our Souls And now O Lord most holy and just we coâ—fess that there is no cause why thou who art so much displeased with sin shouldest hear the prayer of sinners but for his sake only who suffered for sin and sinned not In the only mediation therefore of thine eternal Son Jesus our Lord and Saviour we humbly beg these and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us shutting up these our imperfect requests in that most holy Prayer which Christ himself hath taught us to say unto thee Our Father c. Thy grace O Lord Jesus Christ thy love O heavenly Father thy comfort and consolation O holy and blessed Spirit be with us and remain with us this night and for evermore Amen Then saluting one another as becometh Christians who are the Vessels of grace and Temples of the holy Ghost let them in the fear of God depart every one to his rest using some of the former private Meditations for Evening Thus far of the Housholder's publick Practice of Piety with his Family every day Now followeth his Practice of Piety with the Church on the Sabbath-day Meditations of the true manner of practising Piety on the Sabbath-day ALmighty God will have himself worshipped not only in a private manner by private Persons and Families but also in a more publick sort of all the godly joyned together in a visible Church that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every singular Person but also of the Creatures of the whole universal World Quest. But why do not we Christians under the New keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day whereon it was kept under the Old Testament I answer because that our Lord Jesus who is the Lord of the Sabbath and whom the Law
grace and mercy Yea we read of many in the Gospel that by sicknesses and afflictions were driven to câ—me unto Christ who if they had had health and prosperity as others would have like others neglected or contemn'd their Saviour and never have sought unto him for his saving health and grace For as the Ark of Noah the higher it was tossed with the Flood the nearer it mounted towards Heaven so the sanctified Soul the more it is exercised with affliction the nearer it is lifted towards God O blessed is that Cross that draweth a sinner to come upon the knees of his heart unto Christ to confess his own misery and to implore his endless mercy Oh blessed ever blessed be that Christ that never refuseth the sinner that cometh unto him though weather-driven by affliction and misery 7. Affliction worketh in us pity and compassion towards our fellow brethren that be in distress and misery whereby we learn to have a fellow-feeling of their Calamities and to condole their estate as if we suffer'd with them And for this cause Christ himself would suffer and be tempted in all things like unto us sin only excepted that he might be a merciful High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities For none can so heartily bemoan the misery of another as he who first suffered himself the same affliction Hereupon a Sinner in misery may boldly say unto Christ Non ignare mali miseris succurito Christe Our frailty sith O Christ thou didst perceive Condole our state who still in frailty cleave 8. God useth our sicknesses and afflictions as means and examples both to manifest unto others the faith and vertues which he hath bestowed upon us as also to strengthen those who have not received so great a measure of Faith as we For there can be no greater encouragement to a weak Christian than behold a true Professor in the extreamest sickness of his Body supported with greater patience and consolation in his Soul And the comfortable and blessed departure of such a man will arm him against the fear of death and assure him that the hope of the godly is a far more precious thing than that flesh and blood can understand or mortal eyes behold in this vale of misery And were it not that we did see many of those whom we know to be the undoubted Children of God to have endured such afflictions and calamities before us the greatness of the miseries and crosses which oft-times we endure would make us doubt whether we be the Children of God or no. And to this purpose St. James saith God made Job and the Prophets an example of suffering adversity and of long patience 9. By afflictions God makes us conformable to the Image of Christ his Son who being the Captain of our Salvation was made perfect through sufferings And therefore he first bare the Cross in shame before he was crowned with glory and did first taste gall before he did eat the honey-comb and was first derided King of the Jews by the Soldiers in the High-Priests Hall before he was saluted King of Glory by the angels in his Father's Court. And the more lively our Heavenly Father shall perceive the Image of his natural Son to appear in us the better he will love us and when we have for a time born his likeness in his sufferings and fought and overcome we shall be crowned by Christ and with Christ sit on his Throne and of Christ receive the precious white Stone and morning Star that shall make us shine like Christ for ever in his Glory 10. Lastly That the godly may be humbled in respect of their own state and misery and God glorified by delivering them out of their Troubles and Afflictions when they call upon him for his help and succour For though there be no Man so pure but if the Lord will straitly mark Iniquities he shall find in him just cause to punish him for his sin yet the Lord in mercy doth not always in the affliction of his Children respect their sins but sometimes layeth afflictions and crosses upon them for his glories sake Thus our Saviour Christ told his Disciples That the man was not born blind for his own or his Parents sin but that the work of God should be shewed on him So he told them likewise that Lazarus's sickness was not unto the death but for the glory of God O the unspeakable goodness of God which turneth those afflictions which are the shame and punishment due to our sins to be the subject of his honour and glory These are the blessed and profitable ends wherefore God sendeth sickness and affliction upon his Children whereby it may plainly appear that afflictions are not signs either of God's hatred or of our reprobation but rather tokens and pledges of his fatherly love unto his Children whom he loveth and therefore chasteneth them in this life where upon repentance there remains hope of pardon rather than to refer the punishment to that life where there is no hope of pardon nor end of punishment For this cause the Christians in the Primitive Church were wont to give God great thanks for afflicting them in this life So the Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's Name Acts 5. 41. And the Christian Hebrews suffered with joy the spoiling of their goods knowing that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring substance Heb. 10. 34. And in respect of those holy Ends the Apostle saith That though no affliction for the present seemeth joyous but grievous yet afterwards it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness to them who are thereby exercised Pray therefore heartily that as God hath sent unto thee this sickness so it would please him to come himself unto thee with thy sickness by teaching thee to make those sanctified uses of it for which he hath inflicted the same upon thee Meditations for one that is recovered from Sickness IF God hath of his mercy heard thy Prayers and restored thee to thy health again consider with thy self 1. That thou hast now received from God as it were another life Spend it therefore to the honour of God in newness of life Let thy sin die with thy sickness but live thou by grace to holiness 2. Be not the more secure that thou art restored to health neither insult in thy self that thou hast escaped Death but think rather that God seeing how unprepared thou wast hath of his mercy heard thy Prayer spared thee and given thee some little longer time of respite that thou maist both amend thy life and put thy self in a better readiness against the time that he shall call for thee without further delay out of this World For though thou hast escaped this it may be thou shalt not escape the next sickness 3. Consider how fearful a reckoning
sincere devotion for in the multitude of Opinions most Men have almost lost the practice of true Religion Think not that thou art a Christian good enough because thou dost as the most and art not so bad as the worst No Man is so wicked that he is addicted to all kind of vices for there is an antipathy betwixt some vices but remember that Christ saith Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven Consider with thy self how far thou comest short of the Pharises in Fasting Praying frequenting the Church and in giving of Alms Think with thy self how many Pagans who never knew Baptism yet in moral virtues and honesty of life do go far beyond thee Where is then the life of Christ thy Master and how far art thou from being a true Christian if thou dost willingly yield to live in any one gross sin thou canst not have a regenerated soul tho' thou reformest thy self like Herod from many other Vices A true Christian must have respect to walk in the truth of his heart in all the Commandments of God alike for saith St. James He that shall offend in one point of the Law wilfully is guilty of all And Peter bids us lay aside not some but all malice guile and hypocrisies c. One sin is enough to damn a Man's Soul without repentance dream not to go to Heaven by any nearer or easier way than Christ hath traced unto us in his word The way to Heaven is not easie or common but strait and narrow yea so narrow that Christ protesteth that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and that those who enter are but a few and that those few cannot get in but by striving and that some of those who strive to enter in shall not be able This all God's Saints whilst they here lived knew well when with so often fastings so earnest prayers so frequent hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments and wiâ—h such abundance of tears they devouâ—ly begged at the hands of God for Christ's sake to be received into his Kingdom If thou wilt not believe this truth I assure thee that the Devil which perswades thee now that it is easie to attain Heaven will tell thee hereafter that it is the hardest business in the world If therefore thou art desirous to purchase sound assurance of salvation to thy Soul and to go the right and safe way to Heaven get forthwith like a wise Virgin the Oyl of Piety in the lamp of thy conversation that thou maist be in a continual readiness to meet the Bridegroom whether he cometh by Death or by Judgment Which that thou mayest the better do let this be thy daily practice How a private man must begin the morning with Piety AS soon as ever thou awakest in the Morning keep the door of thy heart fast shut that no earthly thought may enter before that God be come in first and let him before all others have the first place therein So all evil thoughts either will not dare to come in or shall the easier be kept out and the heart wilâ— more favour of piety and godliness all 〈◊〉 day after But if thy heart be not at thy first waking filled with some Mâ—dâ—aâ—ions of God and his Word and dâ—ested like the lamp in thae Tabernacle every morning and evening with the Oyl Olive of God's Word and perfumed with the sweet Incense of Prayer Satan will attempt to fill it with worldly cares or fleshly desires so that it will grow unfit for the service of God all the day after sending forth nothing but the stench of corrupt and lying words and of rash and blasphemous Oaths Begin therefore every days work with God's Word and Prayer And offer up unto God upon the Altar of a contrite heart the groans of thy spirit and the calves of thy lips as thy morning sacrifice and the first-fruits of the day and as soon as thou awakest say unto him thus A short Soliloquy when one first wakes in the Morning MY Soul waiteth on thee O Lord more than the Morning Watch watcheth for the Morning O God therefore be merciful unto me and bless me and cause thy face to shine upon me fiâ—l me with thâ— Mercy this Morning so shall I rejoyce and be glad all my days Meditations for the Morning Then Meditate 1. HOw Almighty God can in the Resurrection as easily raise up thy bâ—dy out of he grave from the sleep of death as he hath this Morning wakened thee in thy bed out of the sleep of nature At the dawning of which Resurrection day Christ shall come to be glorified in his Saints and every one of the bodies of the thousands of his Saints being fashioned like unto his glorious body shall shine as bright as the Sun All the Angels shining likewise in their glory the Body of Christ surpassing them all in splendor and glory and the Godhead excelling it If the rising of one Sun makes the Morning-Sky so glorious what a bright-shining and glorious Morning will that be when so many thousand thousands of Bodies far brighter than the Sun shall appear and accompany Christ as hiâ— glorious â—raâ— coming to keep his general Sessions of Righteousness and to judge the wicked Angels and all ungodly Men and let not any transitory profit pleasure or vain glory of this day cause thee to lose thy part and portion of the eternal bliss and glory of that Day which is properly termed the Resurrection of the Just. Beasts have bodily eyes to see the ordinary light of the day but endeavour thou with the eyes of Faith to fore-see the glorious light of that Day 2. That thou knowest not how near the evil spirit which night and day like a roaring Lion walketh about seeking to devour thee was unto thee whilst thou slept'st and wast not able to help thy self and that thou knowest not what Mischief he would have done to thee had not God hedged thee and thine with his ever-waking providence and guarded thee with his holy and blessed Angels 3. If thou hearest the Cock crow remember Pâ—ter to imitate him and call to mind that Cock-crowing sound of the last Trumpet which shall waken thee from the dead and consider in what case thou wert if it sounded now and become such as thou wouldst with to be then lest at that day thou wilt wish that thou hadst never seen this yea curse the day of thy natural birth for want of being new born by spiritual grace When the Cock crows the Thief despairs of his hope and gives over his nights enterprise So the Devil ceaseth to tempt or attempâ— any further when he hears the devout Soul wakening her self with morning-Morning-Prayer 4. Remember
that Almighty God is about thy bed and seeth thy down-lying and thy up-rising understandeth thy thoughts and is acquainted with all thy ways Remember likewise that his Holy Angels who guarded and watched over thee all night do also behold how thou wakest and risest Do all things therefore as in the awful presence of God and in the sight of his holy Angels 5. As thou art putting on thine apparel remember that they were first given as coverings of shame being the filthy effect of sin and that they were made but of the offails and excrements of dead Beasts Therefore whether thou respect the stuff or the first institution thou hast so little cause to be proud of them that thou hast great cause to be humbled at the sight and wearing of them seeing the richest apparel are but fine covers of the foulest shame Meditate rather That as thine apparel serves to cover thy shame and to fence thy body from cold so thou shouldest be as careful to cover thy soul with that wedding-garment which is the righteousness of Christ and because apprehended by our faith called the righteousness of the Saints Lest whilest we are richly apparalled in the sight of Men we be not found to walk naked so that all our filthiness be seen in â—he sight of God But that with his righteousness as with a Robe we may cover our selves from perpetual shame and shield our Souls from that fiery cold that will procure eternal weeping and gnashing of Teeth And withal consider how blessed a people were our Nation if every silken suit did cover a sanctified Soul And yet a Man would think that on whom God bestowed most of these outward blessings of them he shâ—uld receive greatest inward thanks But if it prove otherwise their reckoning will prove the heavier in the day of their accounts 6. Consider how God's Mercy is renewed unto thee every Morning in giving thee as it were a new life and in causing the Sun after his uncessant Race to rise again to give thee light Let not then his glorious light burn in vain but prevent rather as often as thou canst the Sun-rising to give God thanks and kneeling down at thy bed-side salute him at the day-spring with some devout Antelucanum or Morning Soliloqui containing an humble confession of thy sins the pardon of all thy faults a thanksgiving for all his benefits and a craving of his gracious protection to his Church thy self and all that do belong unto thee Brief directions how to read the Holy Scriptures once every year over with ease profit and reverence BUt for as much that as faith is the soul so reading and meditating of the Word of God are the Parents of Prayers therefore before thou prayest in the Morning first read a Chapter in the word of God then meditate a while with thy self how many excellent things thou canst remember out of it As first what good counsels or exhortations to good works and to holy life Second what threatnings of judgments against such and such a sin and what fearful examples of Gods punishment or vengeance upon such and such sinners Thirdly what blessings God promiseth to patience chastity mercy alms-deed zeal in his service charity faith and trust in God and such like Christian vertues Fourthly what gracious deliverances God hath wrought and what spâ—cial blessings he hath bestowed upon them who were his true and zealous servants Fifthly Apply these things to thine own heart and read not these Chapters as matters of Historical discourse but as if they were so many Letters or Epistles sent down from God out of Heaven unto thee for whatsoever is wâ—itten is written for our learning Rom 15. 4. Sixthly Read them therefore with that reverence as if God himself stood by and spake these words unto thee to excite thee to those virtues to dissuade thee from those vices assuring thy self that if such sins as thou readest there be found in thee without repentance the like plagues will fall upon thee but if thou doest practise the like piet and vertuous deeds the like blessiâ—gs shall come unto thee and thine In a word apply all that thou readest in H Scripture to one of these two heads chiefly either to confirm thy faith or to increase thy repentance for as Sustine Abstine bear and forbear was the Epitome of a good Philosopher's life so Crede Resipisee believe and repent is the whole sum of a true Christian's profession One Chapter thus read with understanding and meditated with application will better feed and comfort thy soul than five read and run over without marking their scope or sense or making any use thereof to thine own self If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day one in the Morning and another at Noon and the third at Night reading so many Psalms instead of a Chapter as our Church Liturgy appoints for morning or evening Prayers thou shalt read over all the Canonical Scripture in a year except six Chapters which thou maist add to the task of the last day of the year The reading of the Bible in order will help thee the better to understand both the History and scope of the H. Scripture And as for the Apocrypha being but penned by Man's spirit thou maist read them at thy pleasure but believe them so far as they agree with the Canonical Scripture which is indited by the Holy Ghost But it may be thou wilt say that thy business will not permit thee so much time as to read every morning a Chapter c. O Man remember that thy life is but short and that all this business is but for the use of this short life but salvation or damnation is everlasting Rise up therefore every morning by so much time the earlier defraud thy foggy flesh of so much sleep but rob not thy soul of her food nor God of his service and serve the Almighty duly whilst thou hast time and health Having thus read thy Chapter as thou art about to pray remember that God is a God of holiness whereof he warneth us by repeating so often Be ye holy for I am holy And when he devoured with a sudden fire Nadab and Abihu for offering unto him incense with strange fire like those now-a-days who offer Prayers from hearts fraught with the fire of lust and malice the Lord would give no other reason of his judgment but this I will be sanctified in them that come near me As if he should have said If I cannot be sanctified by them who are my servants in serving me with that holiness that they should I will be sanctified on them by confounding them with my just judgments which their lewdness doth deserve God therefore cannot abide any wilful uncleanness or filthiness in them who serve him insomuch that he commanded the Israelites That when they were in