which of them should be most usefull most honourable All are most excellent at several times Crown Groâ—nes Crown Ejaculations crown Extemporary crown Sett crown Mixt prayer I dare boldly say he that in some measure loves not all kind of lawfull Prayers loves no kind of lawfull Prayers For if we love God the Father we can hate no Ordinance his child though perchance an occasion may affect one above another XVIII All manner of Prayer IT is an antient Stratagem of Satan yet still he useth it still men are cheated by it to set Gods Ordinance at Variance as the Desciples fell out amongst themselves which of them should be the greatest How hath the Readers Pue been clash't against the Preachers Pulpit to the shaking almost of the whole Church whether that the Word Preached or read be most effectuall to Salvation Also whether the Word preâ—ch'd or catechiz'd most usefull But no Ordinance so abused as Prayer Prayer hath been set up against Preaching against Catechâ—zing against it selfe Whether publick or private Church or Closet Set or Extempore Prayer the best See how St. Paul determines the controversie * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with all manner of Prayer so the Geneva Translation and supplication in the Spirit Preferring none commending all lawfull Prayer to our practise XX To God alone AMongst all manner of prayer to God I find in Scripture neither promise precept nor Precedent to warrant Prayers to Saints And were there no other reason this would incourage me to pray to Christ alone because St. Paul struck Elimas blind Christ made blind Bartemeus See St. Peter kill'd Ananias and Saphira with his Word Christ with his Word revived dead Lazarus The Disciples forbad the Synophaenician woman to call after Christ Christ called unto her after they had forbidden her All my Saviours Workes are saveing workes none extending to the death of mankind Surely Christ being now in Heaven hath not lesse goodnesse because he hath more glory his Bowels still earn on us I will therefore rather present my Prayers to him who alwayes did heale then to those who sometimes did hurt And though this be no convinceing Argument to Papists 't is a comfortable Motive to Protestants A good Third where so good Firsts and Seconds have been lay'd before OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS I. Love Anger I saw two chil dren fighting together in the street The Father of the one passing by fâ—rch't his sonne away and corrected him the other lad was left without any check though both were equally faulty in the Fray I was halfe offended that being guilty alike they were not punished alike But the Parent would only meddle with him over whom he had an undoubted Dominion to whom he bare an unfayned affection The wicked sinne the Godly smart most in this world God singleth out his owne sonnes and beateth them by themselves Whom hee loveth he * Chasteneth Whilest the ungodly preserved from affliction are reserved for destruction It being needlesse that their haire should bee shaved with an hired * Rasor whose Heads are intended for the * Axe of divine Justice II. Upwards Upwards HOW large Houses doe they build in London on little Ground Revenging themselves on the Narrownesse of their Roome with store of Stories Excellent Arithmetick from the Roote of one Floore to multiplie so many Chambers And though painfull the climbing up pleasant the staying there the higher the Healthfuller with clearer Light and sweeter Aire Small are my Meanes on Earth May I mount my Soule the higher in Heavenly Meditations relying on divine providence he that fed many thonsands with * five Loaves may feed me and Mine with the FIFTH PART of that one Loafe that once was all mine Higher my Soule higher In bodily Buildings commonly the Garrets are most emptie but my minde the higher mounted will bee the better furnished Let â—severance to Death bee my uppermost Chamber the Roof of which Grace is the Pavement of Glory III. Bewâ—re wanton wit I saw an Indentu e too fairely engrossed for the writer beter Scrivener then Clearke had so filled it with flourishes that it hindred my reading thereof the wantonnesse of his Pen made a new Alphabet and I was subject to mistake his Dâ—shes for reall Letters What dammage hath unwarie Rhetorick done to Religion Many an innocent Reader hath taken Damasâ—en Theophilact at their word counting their eloquent Hyperboles of Christs presâ—nce in the Sacrament the exact Standards of their judgement whence after ages brought in Tâ—ansubstantiation Yea from the Faâ—hers elegant Apostraphe'es to the Dâ—ad lively Pictures by hasty Eyes may be taken for living Persons Prayers to Saints tooke their Originall I see that truths Secretary must use a set Hand in wrighting important points of Divinity Ill dancing for nimlle Wits on the Precipisses of dangerous Doctrines For though they cscape by their agility others encouraged by their examples may bee brought to destrâ—ction IV. Ill. done Un done I Saw oneâ— whether â—ut of haste or want 〈◊〉 skill put up his Sword the wrong way It cut even when it was sheathed the edge being transposed where the back should have been So that perceiving his errour he was feigne to draw it out that hee might put it up againe Wearied and wasted with civill Warre Wee that formerly loathed the Mannâ— of Peace because Common could now be content to feede on it though full of Wormes and putrified Some so desirous thereof that they care not on what Termes the Warre be ended so it bee ended But such a Peace would bee but a Truce and the conditions thereof would no longer bee in force then whilest They are in Force Let us pray that the Sword be sheathed the right way with Gods glory and without the dangerous dslocation of Prince and Peâ—ples Right otherwise it may justly be suspected that the Sword put up will be drawn out again And the Articles of an iâ—l Agreement though engrossed in Parchment not take effect so long as Paper would continue V. A Pace a pace ROwing on the Thames the waterman confirmed mee in what formerly I had learnt from the Maps how that River westward runnes so crooked as likely to lose it selfe in a Labyrinth of its owne making From Reading to Lonâ—on by land thirty by water an hundred miles So wantonly that Streame disporteth it selfe as if as yet unresolved whether to advance to the Sea or retreat to its fountain But the same being past London as if sensible of its former Lazinesse and fearing to be checkt of the Ocean the mother of all Rivers for so long loytering or else as if wearie with wandring and loth to lose more way Or lastly as if conceiving such Wildenesse inconsistent with the Gravity of his Channel now grown old and ready to bee â—urted in the Sea runnes in so direct a Line thâ—t from London to Gravesend the number of the 〈◊〉 are eqâ—ally twenty both by Land and by Water Alaâ— How
use EIaculations are short Prayers darted up to God on emergent occasions If no other Artilery had been used this last seven yeares in England I will not affirme more soules had been in heaven but fewer corpes had been buried in Earth O that with David we might have said my heart * is fixed being lesse busied about fixing of Muskets The principall use of Ejaculations is against the fiery * dartes of the I evill Our Adversary injeâ—s how he doth it God kâ—owes that hee doth it we know bad motions into our hearts and that we may be as nimble with our Antidotes as he with his poysons such short prayers are proper and necessary In bard Hâ—vens so choacked up with the envious sands that great Ships drawing many soote water can not come neare lighter and lesser Pinnasses may freely and safely arive When wee are time-bound placebound or person bound so that wee cannot compose our selves to make a large solemn prayer this is the right instant for Ejaculations whether orally uttered or onely poured forth in wardly in the heart VI Their Priviledge EIaculations take not up any roome in the Soule They give liberty of callings so that at the same instant one may follow his proper vocation The husbandman may dart forth an Ejaculation and not make a balke the more The Seaman never the lesse steere his ship right in the dark'st night Yea the Soldier at the same time may shoot out his Prayer to God and aime his Pistoll at his Enemy the one better hitting the marke for the other The feild wherein Bees feed is no whit the barer for their biting when they have tooke their full re past on flowers or grasse the Ox may feed the sheep fat on their reversions The reason is because those little chymists destil onely the refined part of the floure leaving the grosser substance thereof So Ejaculations bind not men to any bodily observance onely busie the spirituall half which maketh them consistant with the prosecution of any other Imploiment VII Extemporary Prayers IN Extemporary prayer what men most admire God least regardeth Namely the volubility of the tongue Herein a Tertullus may equal yea exceed Saint Paul himselfe whose * speech was but meane O it is the heart keeping time and tune with the voyce which God listneth unto Otherwise the nimblest Tongue tires and loudest voyce growes dumbe before it comes halfe way to heaven Make it said God to Moses in all * things like the patterne in the mount Onely the conformity of the wordes with the mind mounted up in heavenly Thoughts is acceptable to God The gift of extemporary Prayer ready utterance may be bestowed on a Reprobate but the grace thereof religious aflections is onely given to Gods Servants VIII Their causelesse Scandall SOme lay it to the charge of Extemporary prayers as if it were a diminution to Gods Majesty to offer them unto him because alluding to Davids expression to * Ornan the Jebufite they cost nothing but come without any paines or industry to provide them A most false aspersion Surely preparation of the heart though not premeditation of every word is required thereunto And grant the party praying at that very instant fore-studieth not every expression yet surely he hath formerly laboured with his heart and tongue too before he attained that dexterity of utterance properly and readily to expresse himselfe Many houres in night no doubt he is waking and was by himselfe practising Scripture phrase and the language of Canaan wl ilst such as censure him for his lazinesse were fast a sleep in their â—eds Suppâ— one should make an entertainment for strangers with flesh fish foule Venison fruit all out of his owne fold field ponds Parke Orchard will any say that this feast cost him nothing who made it Surely although all grew on the same and for the present he bought nothing by the penny yet he or his Ancestors for him did at first dearely purchase these home-accommodations when that this entertainment did arise So the party who hath attained the faculty and facility of extemporary Prayer the easie act of a laborious habit though at the instant not appearing to take paines hath bin formerly industrious with himselfe or his parents with him in giving him pious education or else hee had never acquired so great perfection seeing only long practice makes the Pen of a ready writer IX Night-Prayer DEath in Scripture is compared to Sleepe Well then may my night-Prayer be resembled to making my will I will be carefull not to die intestate as also not to deferre my will-making till I am not Compos mentis till the Lethargie of drousinesse seize upon mee But being in perfect memory I bequeath my soule to God the rather because I am sure the Divell will accuse mee when sleeping O the advantage of spirits above bodyes If our Clay-Cottage be not cooled with rest the Roofe falls a fire Satan hath no such need the * Night is his fittest time Thus mans Vacation is the Terme for the Beasts of the Forrest they move most whil'st he lies quiet in his bed Least therefore whilst Sleeping I be out-lawed for want of appearance to Satan's charge I committ my cause to him who neither â—mbers nor sleepes ANSWER FOR ME O MY GOD X. A Nocturnall DAvid surveying the Firmament brake forth into this consideration When I considered the Heavens the worke of thy Fingers the * Moon thestarres which thou hast created What is man c. How cometh he to mention the Moone and Starres and omitt the Sunne The other being but his Pensioners shining with that exhibition of Light which the bounty of the Sun alots them It is answered this was Davids night meditation when the Sunne departing to the other World left the lesser lightes onely Visible in Heaven and as the Skie is best beheld by Day in the glory thereof so it is best surveyed by Night in the variety of the same Night was made for man to rest in â—ut when I cannot sleep may I with this Psalmist entertaine my waking with good Thoughts Not to use them as Opium to invite my corrupt nature to 〈◊〉 but to bolt out bad thoughts which otherwise would possesse my soule XI Set Prayers SEt Prayers are prescript Formes of our own or others composing such are lawfull for any and needfull for some to use Lawfull for any Otherwise God would noâ— have appointed the Priests presumed oâ— themselves best able to pray a forme of blessing the people Nor would our Saviour have set uâ— his Prayers which as the Towne-Bushell is the Standard both to measure Corne and other Bushels by is both a Prayer in it selfe and a pattern or plat-forme of Prayer such as accuse Set-formes to be pinioning the wings of the Dove will by the next returne affirme that Girdles and Garters made to strengthen and adorne are so many shackles and fetters which hurt and hinder mens free motion
much of my life is lavisht away Oh the Intricacies Windings Wandrings Turnings Tergiversations of my deceâ—full Youth I have lived in the middest of a crooked Generation * and with them have turned aside unto * crooked waâ—es High time it is now for mee to make Streight * Paths for my feet and to redeeme what is past by amending what is present and to come Flux Flux in the Germaâ—ne Tongue Quick Quick was a Motâ—o of Bâ—shop * Jewels presaging the approach of his Death May I make good use thereof Make haste Make haste God knows how little time is lâ—st me and may I bee a good Husband to improve the short remnant thereof VI Alwaies the Rising Sunne I Have wondred why the Romish Church do not pray to Saint Abraham Saint David Saint Hezekiah c. as well as to the Apostles and their Successors since Christs time For those antient Patriarks by the confession of Papists were long since relieved out of Lim bo soon out who were never in and admitted to the sight and presence of God especially Abraham being Father of the Faithfull as well Gentile as â—ew would according to their Principles bee a proper Patron for their Petitions But it seemes that moderne Saints rob the old ones of their honour a Garnet or late Bernard of Paris have severally more Prayers made unto them then many old Saints have together New Beesoms sweepe cleane new * Cisternes of fond mens owne hewing most likely to hold water Protestants in some kinde serve their living Ministers as Papists their dead Saâ—uts For aged Pastors who have borâ— the Heat of the Day in our Church are justled out of respect by young Preachers not having halfe their Age nor a quarter of their Learning and Religion Yet let not the former bee disheartened for thus it ever was and will be English-Athenians 〈◊〉 for Novelties new Sects new Schismes new Doctrines new Disciplines new Prayers new Preachers VII Charitie Charitie CHurch Storie reports of Saint John that being growne very Aged well nigh a hundred yeeres old wanting strength and voice to make a long Sermon hee was wont to goe up into the Pulpet and often repete these Words Babes k epe your selves from Idols Brethren Love one another Our Age may seeme suffiâ—iently to have provided against the growth of Idolatry in England O that some order were taken for the increase of Charity It were Liberty enough if for the next seaven yeeres all Sermons were bound to keepe Residence on this Text Brethren Love one another But would not some fall out with themselves if appointed to Preach Unity to Others Vindicative Sâ—irits if confined to this Text would confine the Text to their Passion by Brethren understanding only such of their own Party But O seeing other Monopolies are dissolved let not this remain against the fundamentall Law of Charity Let all bend their heads hearts and hands to make up the breaches in Church and State But too many now a daies are like Pharaohs Magicians who could conjure up * with their Charmes more new Frogs but could not remove or drive away those multitude of Frogs which were there before Unhappily happy in making more rents and discentions but unable or unwilling to compose our former differences VIII The Sensible Plant. I Heard much of a Sensible Plâ—nt and counted it a senselesse relation a rational Beast carrying as little contradiction untill beholding it mine Eyes ushered my Judgement into a beleef thereof My comprehension thereof is this God having made three great Staires Vegetable Seâ—sible and Reasonable Creatâ—res that men thereby might climbe up iâ—to the knowledge of a Deity hath placed somethings of a middle nature as halfe Paces betwixt the Staries so to make the Step lesse and the ascent more easie for our Meditations Thus this active Plant with visible motion doth border and confine on Sensible Creatures Thus in Affrick some most agil and intelligent Marmasits may seeme to shake fore feete shall I say or hands with the rudest Salvages of that Countrey as not much more then one remove from them in knowledg and civility But by the same proportion may not man by custome and improvement of Piety mount himselfe neere to an Angelicall nature Such was Enoch who whilest liveing on Earth * Walked with God O may our Conversation be in * Heaven For shall a Plant take a new degree proceâ—d Sensible and shall man have his Grace Stayed for want of sufficiency and not vvhilest living here Commence Angel in his holy and heavenly affections IX Christ my King I Reade how king Edward the first ingenuously surprized the Welch into subjection proferring them such a Prince as should be 1. The Son of a King 2. Borne in their owne Countrey 3. Whom none could taxe for any fault The Welch accepted the Conditions and the King tendred them his sonne Edward an Infant newly borne in the Castle of Carnarvan Doe not all these Qualifications mystically Center themselves in my Saviour 1. The King of Heaven saith unto him thou art my Sonne * this day have I begotten thee 2. Our true Countrey man Reall flesh whereas hee tooke not on him the nature of Angels 3. Without spot or blemish like to us in all things sin only excepted Away then with those wicked men who * Will not have this King to rule over them May he have Dominion in and over me Thy Kingdome come Heaven and Earth cannot afford a more proper Prince for the purpose exactly accomplished with all these comfortable qualifications X. Tribulation I Finde two sad Etymologies of Tribulation One from Tribulus a three forked Thorn which 〈◊〉 that such afflictions which are as full of Paine and Anguish unto the soule as a Thorn thrust into a tender part of the Flesh is unto the Body may properly be termed Tribulations The other from Tribulus the Head of a Flail or Flagell knaggie and knotty made commonly as I take it of a thick black-Thorne and then it imports that Afflictions falling upon us as heavie as the Flaile threshing the Corne are stiled Tribulations I am in a Streight which deduction to embrace from the sharpe or from the heavie Thorne But which is the worst though I may choose whence to derive the Word I cannot choose so as to decline the thing I must through much Tribulation enter into the Kingdome of God Therefore I will labor not to bee like a young Colt first set to Plough which more Tires himselfe out with his owne untowardnesse whipping himselfe with his mis-spent mettle then with the weight of what he drawes and will labour patiently to beare what is imposed upon me XI Beware I Saw a Cannon shot off The men at whom it was levelled fell flat on the ground and so escaped the Bullet Against such blowes falliug is all the fencing and Prostration all the Armour of proofe But that which gave them notice to fall downe