was wedded I haue remembred the z Titus 3. 3 deceitfull pleasures thereof wherewith I was intangled I am bent to the vile a Rom. 13. 14 lustes of my flesh wherein I am defiled miserablie and almost drowned eternally O LORD I find sensitlie that Capitall crimes I am not able to expresse sufficiently the hainousnesse the grievousnesse of my filthie enormitie for frequently I b Timoth. 5. 4 haue turned the grace of GOD into wantonnesse I haue despised c Rom. 2. 4 the riches of the bountifulnesse of thy patience without d Ephes 4. 15 feeling I haue given my selfe to commit vncleannesse to commit wickednesse even with a vehement desire and with greedinesse Alace O mightie GOD if it was said of thy servant IOB that hee added rebellion e Iob. 34. 37 to his sinne may not I say rather of my selfe that I haue added high treason to my manifold transgressions In so great a light of the GOSPEL I f Ezech 16.49 haue exceeded the people of sinfull Samaria in vngodlinesse Alace O LORD without mercy and amendement I haue iustified the sinne of Sodom and Gomorah in pride and aboundance of idlenesse If the prophet DAVID protested O LORD that g Psal 73. 22 hee was a beast before thee how can I declare my beastlynesse vnto thee For h Psal 119.176 I haue gone astray like a lost sheepe I am now in great danger and jeopardie I who should haue beene vpright am like i Deut. 32. 15 a horse waxing fatte haue spurned with my heele and forsaken thee who made mee I haue not regarded but I haue offended the GOD of my salvation I haue beene like an k Hosea 10.12 heifer vsed to delight in threshing but haue no desire of the painfull worke of plowghing I am like a vile l 2 Pet. 2. 22 dogge returning to his vomite againe I am like the filthie Sow once washen and yet turneth backe to the pudle and filthie myre like m 2 Tim. 4. 17 a cruell Lyon devouring and like a false foxe n Luke 13 31 deceiving like a bold o Psal 22. 12 bull of Bashan pushing and wronging or like a subtill Serpent and like an p Levit. 11. 41 vncleane creature creeping on my bellie and licking the dust of the earth altogether abhominable and vnmeete to bee offered vp vpon GODS Altar And I confesse that by nature I am like q Ierem. 13. 23 a Leopard that cannot change his spots I doe acknowledge O LORD Worse than senslesse creatures that r Isaiah 5. 4 I haue beene an evill vine in thy vineyarde thou lookest that I should bring foorth sweet grapes but I haue brought foorth soure I as I am the sonne of Adam haue not the fatnesse of the oliue but am as a wilde oliue I am Å¿ Rom. 11. 7 as a brier or thorne of the garden worthie to bee cast in the fire I am alace like a barren and vnprofitable husbandrie for t Iob. 31. 40 thistles doe grow in me in stead of wheate and cockle in stead of barley I like earth doe drinke in the raine that commeth vpon mee but I am hurtfull and noysome and neere u Heb. 6. 8 to cursing whose end without repentance is to bee burned O pitifull GOD I haue reason to cry to thy Majestie that x â— Tim. 1. 15 I am the least of thy Saints that I am y Luke 17. 10 the chiefe of all sinners I am an vnprofitable servant I haue not done that which was my duetie to doe and LORD most justlie may thou cast z Malach. 2.3 the dongue of our confession backe vpon our faces and reject me with all my service but now O LORD by thy helpe I will assay to lament before thee most bitterly my woefull state and great miserie A PREPARATION TO LAMENTATION The third Chapter THou to whom the Alsufficient GOD the a Iam 1.17 giver of every perfect gift and donation hath vouchsafed vpon thee this Heavenly wisdome that thou art of this resolute purpose as to b 1 Sam. 7.2 lament after the LORD to c 1 Sam. 1.15 powre foorth thy soule with Hannah before thy GOD to deplore thy miserable estate and wretched condition Know thou must certainly and bee perswaded in thy minde assuredly Three thinges needefull for true lamentation that first thou must haue three things necessarie namelie a sure sense and feeling of thy vnspeakable miserie againe a great feare and terrour therewith lastly an vnfained sorrow and heavie displeasure for the same No lamentation will bring to thee Feeling life solide joy and consolation without a sure sense and painefull feeling of thy sore disease and doolefull calamitie Before thou attaine to this feeling thou must of absolute necessitie and without any controversie haue two things First spirituall quickning Secondly tymous awaking vnlesse thou bee quickened inwardly vnlesse thou be awakened throughly thou shall neither haue knowledge nor feeling of thy wretchednesse and misery And yet before this d Galat. 6. 15 new birth and regeneration there must bee Death of sin in thee vndoubtedly a e Coloss 3. 5 true mortification and f Heb. 2. 15 deliverance from the death of sinne and impietie which by many degrees is worse than naturall death the separation of the soule from the body This naturall death bringeth to Death of sin worse than naturall death the bodie seven evils Namelie senselesnesse weaknesse heauinesse vglinesse coldnesse rottennesse stinke or an evill savour Now albeit this bee most evident and manyfold by the proofe of dayly experience so that it needeth no probation yet wee will insist a little therein for our memorie and consideration 1 Saul being slaine had no feeling Senslesnesse when the Philistims abused his body and g 1 Sam. 31. 10 hanged vp the same on the wall of Bethshan 2 A dead body wanting vitall Heavinesse spirits is heavier than it was when the soule remained therein this heavinesse of body apparantly made these Iewes when they were burying h 2 King 13.21 a corps when they saw the Souldiers of Moab they cast his corps in the sepulchre of Elisha 3 Seeing there is weakenesse Weaknesse in man while hee liveth for all flesh is as grasse how weake is hee wanting life That Giant Goliah being dead had i 1 Sam. 17.46 no strength to keepe his carkase from the foules of the aire 4 If olde age bringeth coldenesse Coldnesse to the feeble body for David himselfe being striken in yeares albeit k 1 King 1. 1 they covered him with cloths yet no heat came vnto him death much more maketh the body cold as a key or as clay 5 The body by death groweth Vglinesse vglie and vnprofitable to behold when beautifull l Genes 12. 11 Sara her selfe was deprived of life then her loving husband Abraham had no
pleasure to looke on her he m Genes 23.3 arose from the sight of the corps he made request and gaue money for a place to burie his dead wife from his sight 6 Putrefaction and rottennesse followeth death The bodie will Rettennesse returne to the dust and bee putrified albeit the n Genes 13. 16 Physitian embalmed Ioseph and put him in a chest yet they could not preserue his fraile flesh from putrifying o Exod. 13. 15. for Moses tooke but his bones with him from Egypt 7 A dead body becommeth loathsome and hath an evill smell A evill savour therefore Marke said of Lazarus whom CHRIST p Iohn 11. 39 did raise from the graue LORD hee stinketh already hee hath beene deade foure dayes Yet notwithstanding this naturall death bringeth not wretchednesse but rather happinesse to the bodies of the godly For their bodies being deade shall q Isaiah 57. 2 haue peace and shall rest in their beds for a time They r 2 Cor. 15. 42 43. 44 will be sowne in corruption but raised in incorruption They will bee sowne in dishonour but raised in glory They will bee sowne in weakenesse but raised in power They will be sowne naturall bodies but raised spirituall bodies Now the death of sinne will bring such senselesnesse that albeit the Å¿ Prover 23.35 wicked be striken yet they are not sicke albeit they be beaten yet they know not they haue no feeling nor paine of their misery their heart is dead within them and they are like a stone 2 This death it will bring such heavinesse so that the sinner cannot lift vp his soule to GOD it will be disquieted a Psal 42. 11 and cast downe within him 3 It will bring such weaknesse that one cannot rise inwardly vnlesse hee bee lifted one cannot stand vnlesse hee bee strengthned one cannot goe forward except hee bee borne in GODS bosome one cannot doe good except hee bee helped b Iam. 4. 6 neither resist the Devill or the smallest tentation except c Ephes 6. 13 14.15.16.17 18 he put on the whole armour of GOD. 4 Coldnesse commeth by the death of sinne and no wonder for as a father saith Frigus DEI est cum deserit peccatorem nec vocat Augustin nec aperit sensum nec infundit gratiam GOD leaveth that sinner hee calles not on him neither openeth hee his senses neither infuseth grace Hee remaineth like to the Salamander who as they say walking vpon the fire doth extinguish the same And d Hab. 1. 6 albeit hee cloth himselfe yet shall hee not bee warme 5 By this death of sinne one becommeth abominable and vglie in the eyes of the Almightie The LORD cannot endure to looke vpon such a one If hunger or bodily famine will make the e Lament 4.7 Nazarites who were purer than snow and whyter than milke and rudier than the red pretious stones to haue a visage blacker than a coale and to bee withered like a stocke will not this death bring greater blacknesse and deformitie it will surelie remoue all comelinesse and beautie If DAVID said in regarde of his afflictions hee was become a f Psal 71. 7 monster vnto many surely much more a sinner in respect of his transgressions appeareth a monster in the eyes of the Almightie Hee is g Titus 1. 16 abominable and to every good worke a reprobate 6 By this death a sinner becommeth like h Isaiah 14. 16 a carkase troden vnder foote such a one i Iob 13. 24 consumeth like a rotten thing and as a garment that is moth-eaten hee is corrupt and putrified 7 Yea k Ioel. 2. 20 his stinke shall come vp and his corruption shall ascend and his l Isaiah 34. 3 stinke shall come out of his body and the mountains shall bee melted with his blood But which is worst of all this death of sinne without regeneration bringeth the m Revel 21 8 second death which is eternall death anguish and tribulation Mors prima animam nolentem pellit de corpore Augustinus Mors autem secunda animam nolentem tenet in corpore The first death thrusteth the vnwilling soule out of the body the second death detaineth the vnwilling soule within the body Mors nulla major est quam vbi non moritur mors Idem surelie there is no greater death than when death dieth not This bringeth everlasting misery and perpetuall wretchednesse the aboundaunce of all affliction the want of all consolation Ingressus humanae conditionis miserabilis progressus humanae conversationis culpabilis Hugo de vilitate humanae conditionis egressus humanae dissolution is damnabilis The ingresse of mans condition is miserable the progresse of mans conversation is culpable and the egresse of mans dissolutionis damnable Now contrariwise if thou shall bee quickened with spirituall life thou shalt surely attaine to happinesse and felicitie then thou hast o Revel 20. 6 part in the first resurrection the second death shall haue no power over thee thou are blessed and holy thou shall bee nourished in this life and glorified in the life to come Resurgat in prima resurrectione qui non vult in secunda damnari Let him rise in the first resurrection who in the second would not be condemned 2 Thus thou living the life of grace shall bee nimble light and spirituall discerning al things p 1 Corin. 5. 14 seeking q Coloss 3. 1 those things which are aboue While thou art in nature thou art like an egge heavie and dead Similitudo Zanchii but in and by grace hatched thou art like a birde moving seeking and flying 3 Then the loue of GOD shed r 2 Cor. 5. 14 abroad into thy soule constraining thee to doe thy duetie shall strengthen thee for thy calling Å¿ 2 Cor. 12. 9 His grace shall bee sufficient for thee thou shall bee more strong than Goliah than Milo who with a Sam. 17. 5 stroke of his fist did kill a Cow than Polydamas who trusting to their owne strength died all miserably Franciscus Patricius lib. 2 de institutione reipubl but thou shall liue most happily overcomming the Devill thine adversarie Yea in t Rom. 8. 37 al things through CHRIST thou shall be more than a conquerour u Philip. 4. 13 through him thou shall bee able to doe all things necessarie 4 When thou enjoyeth that spirituall life thou shall be warme with the heate of the holy Spirit and of the x Malach 4. 2 sunne of Righteousnesse which shall arise vnto thee wherewith thou shall bee so inflamed that the extremitie of cold shall never prevaile against thee These fourtie Martyres who that father writteth in the dayes Basilius Magnus in 40 Martyros of cruell Licinius were cast into a pond of water all the night suffering the cold Northerne wind and their bodies being frozen and almost senslesse their soules remaining hotte with the
bee a strong confession if thou desires to haue strong i Hebr. 6.18 consolation to vphold thee in the day of tentation then also vse a strong confession of thy sinnes and transgressions never goe about to extenuate thine offences but rather labour to aggrevate and to aggrege the same 1 In regarde of the person against whom thou hast offended who hath beene so patient h 2. Pet. 3.9 in sparing a guiltie malefactor and would not thee to perish but to come to repentance and is so bountifull and mercifull towards thee whose mercies i Lament 3.21 faile not but are renued every morning Who k Exod. 34. 6 is strong gratious slow to anger abundant in goodnesse and trueth who l Psal 68. 19 ladeth thee dayly with his benefits who so loved thee that hee m Rom. 8. 32 spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him to death for thee and for thy redemption and for thine eternall glorification 2 Of IESUS CHRIST who made himselfe of no reputation but humbled n Philip. 2. 8 himselfe to the death of the crosse for his affection towards thee who o Revel 1. 5 shed his pretious blood to wash thee and to make thee a King and Priest to GOD. 3 In consideration of the season the p Rom. 13. 12 night is past the day is at hand that thou hast sinned when salvation was neere thee in the revelation of his glorious Gospell when his light hath shined clearely before thine eyes when his trumpet hath frequently fearefully and comfortably sounded in thine eares that thou hast not only trespassed in q Act. 17. 30 the time of ignorance which GOD regarded not but after so many instructions admonitions reprehensions counsells and consolations comminations and commandements in the contrarie 4 In consideration of the occasion or matter wherefore thou hast so transgressed for so small aâ—d base thing for some r Genes 25.33 pottage with Esau to sell thy birth-right or for a cuppe Å¿ Iudg. 4. 14 of milke with Sisera to lose thy lyfe or for some beastes with Saul t Sam. 15. 28 to bee deprived of a Kingdome not earthly or temporary but Heavenly and eternall for a triffle for vanitie and perishing pleasure a short and filthie delectation to losse GODS favour to bee plagued with his anger to destroy thine owne soule to bee miserable for ever confesse thy sinne vehemently that GOD may the more pittie thee 15 In thy confession transferre 15 An accusing confession not thy faults vpon others to lay the blame vpon them or cleareing and excusing thy selfe for now they be many like that foolish man of whom Seneca speaketh Seneca de tranquillitate animi who having a fore foote and so crooking he imputed the cause of his limping to the sharpenesse of the way and not to the thorne pricking his foote within or like one that is sea-sicke ascribing the cause of his diseasâ— to the swelling of the sea and not as the trueth is to the corrupt Simile humors of his owne stomack or like that blind woman Harpasta Seneca epistola â—0 who would not bee perswaded of her owne blindnesse but found fault with the house wherein shee remained as being voide of light and over dark So I say with too many it is who in their spirituall crookednesse their inward sicknesse and in their owne spirituall blindnesse would lay the fault vpon other outward occasions but not vpon themselues But in thy confession charge thine owne selfe for thy transgressions blame thine owne selfe and thine inward corruption accuse thy selfe principally and only with DAVID It u 2 Chron. 21. 17. is I even I that haue sinned but these sheepe what haue they done By such confession thou will obtaine the free absolution of GOD and stop the devils mouth from thine accusation 16 Lastly let thy confession 16 A punishing confession be without flattering of thy selfe and let it bee with some holy indignation and with a desire to take some punishment x 2 Cor 7. 11 of thy selfe for thy foolishnesse For thy beastlinesse with IOB abhorre y Iob. 42. 6 thy selfe in dust and ashes with the Prophete IEREMIE smite thine owne z Ierem. 31. 19 thigh and say what haue I done with the Publican knock thine a Luke 18. 14 owne brest with St. Paul beate thine owne body and bring it into subjection Thus thou hast more than reason to take heede most diligently and carefully that thou confesse thy sinnes arightly and in due maner or else know for a surety that thy confession will be altogether improfitable and never comfort thee without the forsaid conditions in some measure bee keept therein and first of all labour to get a sure notice and exact knowledge of thy secreet sinnes and privie corruptions of thy predominant profitable as thou dreames and pleasant vice Take travell with all industrie to try them with the b Proverb 20 27 light of the LORD with the Lanterne c Psal 119. 115 of his Word by searching d Zephan 2. 1 thy selfe narrowly by e 1 Cor. 11. 28 examining by f 2 Cor. 13. 15 prooving thy selfe most accurately and continually and thereafter goe to a sinceere humble and most serious confession and prying into thy selfe profoundly bee perswaded that thou cannot confesse thy sinnes sufficiently Thus farre for preparation come now to thy right confession as it shall please GOD to helpe thee and strengthen mee to further thee PSAIME 102. 6. I am like a Pelican of the Wildernesse A CONFESSION OF OVR SINNE AND INIQVITIE The second Chapter ALmightie GOD and most mercifull Father Now I thy poore servant am heere a Act. 10. 33 present before thee and it is of trueth thou seest b 1 Sam. 16. 7 not as man seeth for man looketh only to the outward appearance but thou ô GOD beholdest mine heart and searchest c Ierem. 17. 10 my reines thou vnderstandest d Psal 135 2 my thoughtes a farre off I take thy selfe to record O Lord GOD e Numb 27.16 of the spirits of all flesh that I desire greatly to confesse my sinnes in sinceritie humilitie and tymouslie as it becommeth mee to doe And I acknowledge before thee who knowest the hearts f Act. 1. 24. of all men that my transgressions are many they g Psal 49. 12 are moe 1. Many sins in number than the haires of my head my trespasses are multiplied before thee as the h Isaiah 40.12 waters As the waters in the deludge were encreased exceedingly to i Genes 7. 18 drowne the old and wicked world so are my sinnes to destroy mee everlastingly Certainly it was easier to Ioab to k 1 Sam. 24. 9 number the thousands of Israell than it is for mee to number the millions of mine iniquities It was as easie for Abraham to number the l Genes 13. 16 dust of the earth the
m Genes 22.13 sand which was vpon the sea shore and the starres of Heaven as it is to mee to number my innumerable offences and manifold enormities whereby I haue offended thy godly Majestie I 2 Great sins am compelled also O gratious GOD to confesse vnto thee that mine iniquities n Psal 25. 11 are great my wickednesse o Iocl 3. 13 is grievous it is also growne to a terrible hight it is mounted vp to the cloudes Nebuchadnezar but dreamed that p Daniel 4. 8 the hight of that tree which hee saw in aâ— vision reached vp to the Heaven but I am perswaded that my sinne is ascended higher It is come vp to q Revel 18. 5 Heaven and cryeth r Genes 18.20 vpon GOD for wrath and indignation against mee I doe acknowledge O Heavenly and mercifull Father that my 3 Heavie sins sinnes are wondrous weightie and infinitly heavie The Å¿ Psal 70.27 stones are weighty and the sand is heavie but light in respect of my iniquities for t Psal 23. 4 they are growne over my head and as a weightie burden they are too heavie for mee the iron thereof is importable Manasseh In the prayer of Manasses was bound downe with many iron bands that hee could not lift vp his head vnto Heaven I am bund downe with many heavie bands of sinne that I can not lift vp my heart to thee as I most earnestly desire to doe The people of Israell protested that u 2 Chron. 10.4 Salomons yoke was heavie and his servitude sore vpon them and prayed that it might be made lighter but LORD I find the yoke of sinne much more bitter and the slaverie thereof more intolerable I long to bee eased thereof The Israelites sighed x Exod. 2. 23 and cryed to GOD when they were kept vnder with the heavie burdens of the Aegyptians I haue greater cause O LORD to bee vexed and wearied with the burden of sinne which y Heb. 12. 1 hangeth so fast and presseth so sore downe which without helpe from thy Majestie would thrust my soule to the lowest hell I confesse O GOD that as my 4 Filthie sinne sinnes they are not few but many they are not small sinnes but great sinnes they are not light but verie heavie sinnes so they are most vile filthie and abhominable polluting and defiling mee both outwardly and inwardly in soule spirit and body It is trueth pitch z Eecles 13. 4 defileth him that toucheth it and mirie clay contaminateth him that walloweth in the same The excrements of men which thou most holy GOD commanded to be digged in a Deut. 23. 13 the graue and to bee covered with earth the dung of beastes doe not so defile the body as the excrements of filthie sinne hath polluted my soule and inward man The corruption of dead Carions and carkases b Levit 11. 39 made the handlers thereof vncleane but LORD my continuall doing of dead c Heb. 12. 1 workes hath made mee much more polluted and detestable in thy presence The Ammonites for their wrong to DAVID did d 2 Sam. 10. 6 stinke in his sight but LORD I am more lothsome in thy pure eyes I doe acknowledge before thee 5 Odious sins O e Genes 18.25 righteous judge of the whole world that my hainous sinnes makes mee odious vnto thy Majestie for I know well that thou hatest f Psal 5. 5 all them that worke iniquitie and even at this time my conscience cryeth to mee that I haue committed many enormities justly O LORD may thou hate mee and set g Psal 50. 21 all my sinnes in order before mee and therefore take vengance vpon mee most deservedly O my GOD I confesse also that Scandalous sin my sinnes are exemplary and scandalous I haue alace caused the h 2 Sam. 12. 14 enemies of the LORD blaspheme They i Rom. 3. 19 who obeyed not the word haue not beene wonne by my holy lyfe and conversation I haue not stopped but rather opened the mouths of the vngodly I haue strengthned them in their wickednesse and impietie as also I haue scandalized but not bettered the weake ones I k Levit. 19. 14 haue put a stumbling block before my blind brethren I haue caused them by mine evill example to goe astray and to fall into the pit I haue beene an offence to some litle ones that dwelt with mee Thou thy selfe O my SAVIOUR hath said it l Math. 18.7 must needs bee that some offences must come Many alace haue come by mee for the which without thy mercie I would be wrapped vp in woe and endlesse miserie I can not deny O most righteous 7 Pernitious sinnes judge but I must acknowledge of necessitie that my filthie faults and terrible transgressions are most hurtfull and pernicious to my selfe for weakning and wounding mee for binding and blindfolding me for sundering me from thee and swallowing mee vp in woe and calamitie I say with thy servant O m Psal 6. 2 LORD I am weake and feeble my sinnes haue made my strength to fall neither am I able to rise againe my n Psal 38. 4. 5.6.7.8 wounds are putrified and corrupt because of my foolishnesse I am bowed and crooked very sore my reines are full of burning and there is nothing sound in my flesh I am weakned and sore bowed I roare for the very griefe of myne heart I find O LORD that myne owne o Proverb 5.22 iniquities doe take me and Sathan by them hath caught me and I am holden with the cordes of sinne and by them the Devill is drawing mee vnto everlasting damnation And as the blind Aramits were p 2 King 6.19 led to Samaria so am I carried to hell and without spirituall eyes am brought to perdition without thy helpe and salvation for q Isaiah 59.2 they doe hide thy face from mee that thou will not heare they doe separate betweene thy Majestie and mee they will make mee alace to perish eternally to bee deprived of all comfort and glory and without true repentance to bee tormented continually in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which r Revel 21. 8 Originall sin is the second death And yet O LORD when I descend more deeply by thy assistance of thy grace into mine heart and narrowly examine my conscience I doe confesse in sinceritie that I am guiltie of originall sin I want that righteousnesse wherewith man was indued in his creation I haue a bent desire a bad inclination to doe evill wickednesse and abhomination Behold Å¿ Psal 51.5 I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne did my mother conceaue mee I t Rom. 7.23 see another law in my members rebelling against the law in my mynde and leading mee captiue vnto the law of sinne which is into my members O LORD this is the evill seede which bringeth foorth evill encrease This is the bitter
roote which beareth bitter branches and corrupt fruite Heere springeth the Vine u Deut. 32.32 of Sodom the grapes of gall This is the poysoned fountaine which sendeth foorth bitter streames I acknowledge O LORD before Actuall sin thy Majestie that I am guiltie of innumerable actuall sinnes and hath offended in thought in word and in deed I x Dan. 9. 5 haue sinned hainouslie I haue done wickedly and haue broken thy commandements continually Thou O LORD mayest bee Sinnes of omission higly offended against mee for the sinnes of omission and neglect of my duety Thy servant Elisha O most mercifull GOD was angrie at the King of Israell because he y 2 King 13.19 did smite the ground but three tymes and ceassed whereas it had beene better and more profitable for him to haue done so many tymes for his honour pleasure vtilitie and for the destruction of his enemies but thou LORD hast much more cause to bee angry against mee poore catiue because I haue so seldome knocked z Math. 7. 7 at the gate of Heaven and neglected that speciall service of prayer tending to my good tranquillitie and overthrow of mine enemies And trueth it is that thy Apostle St. a Iohn 20. 25 Thomas did receiue great hurt spiritually that for a tyme hee was faithlesse and remained in his incredulitie by being absent from that pious companie and was not present with the rest at one tyme when thou O my SAVIOUR appeared but I haue not so frequented the assemblie of the godly as I might haue done conveniently and as I was bound to doe of duety I haue b Psal 26. 8 not so loved the habitation of thine house nor the place where thine Honour dwelleth as it became mee I c Psal 122. 1 rejoyced not to goe vnto the house of the LORD I d Psal 27. 4 did not desire to dwell in the tabernacle of the Almighty all the dayes of my lyfe but I haue delighted my selfe to goe to the places of vanitie and of impietie therefore justly ignorance infidelity and prophainesse abideth with mee I confesse O LORD before thy Heavenly Majestie that I am vnwilling and slothfull to doe the workes of charitie of compassion and of mercy I forget to e Iames. 1. 27 visite the widow and the fatherlesse in their adversitie I am not carefull to support the needie the poore the indigent members of Christ my Saviour but I am too readie to abuse thy benefites to spend my substance to wast my goods vpon perishing pleasures and to fulfill the noysome lusts of my corrupt nature I confesse I am one like the inhabitantes of Meroz because I came not to helpe f Iudg. 5. 23 the LORD against the mightie enemy and thus I haue many times omitted and neglected to doe my bounden duety Moreouer I plainely protest vnto thee that I haue fearefully and Sinnes of commission frequently transgressed thy commandementes and most holy precepts Now wicked Shimei was obedient to the charge of Salomon for many yeares and g 1 King 2.3.8 sundrie dayes hee did dwell in his house and did not depart from the place appointed and did not passe over the bounds prescribed but I in few dayes in a short time haue I often times transgressed the limites of thy holy Law I haue deborded into the evill way of iniquitie and against thy precepts I haue taken h Exod. 20. 7 THY HOLY NAME IN VAINE I haue wronged my neighbours and I i Math 33. 8 haue robbed thee O LORD of thy due I k Hosea 8 1 haue surely transgressed thy covenant trespassed against thy law and hath sinned hamously both against my particulare calling and my generall calling of Christianitie I l Math. 1. 12 haue polluted thy name which from the rising of the sunne to the going to of the same is great amongst the Gentiles I haue my conscience cryeth to mee many a time with the carnall Iewes m Numb 11. 6 loathed the Heavenly MANNA I haue wearied of thy holy worship I haue o 1 Thess 5.20 snuffed at thy seruice I haue n Maiach 1 13 despised prophesie I haue p 1 Sam. 15 20 cast away thy blessed word from mee I haue most fearefully rebelled against thy Majestie q Numb 20.10 who hath power to destroy both soure and body in hell fire eternally I acknowledge O my GOD Secreet sins that I haue sinned priuily and am guiltie of many r Psal 19. 12 secret faultes I haue had fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse and Å¿ Ephes 5. 12 am ashamed of these thinges to speake which I haue done in secret and that I haue offended also Publick sins publickly and impudently I haue had a t Ierem 3. 3 whoorish forehead and would not bee ashamed of myne owne wickednesse and filthinesse For I haue not only O most mercifull GOD transgressed ignorantly Presumptuous sinnes and by infirmitie For I u Rom. 7. 15 doe not that good thing which I would doe but the evill which I would not doe that doe I but also alace I haue sinned x Psal 19. 13 presumptuously which is the greatest miserie Woe is mee O gratious LORD it feareth mee that I haue come to the hight of impietie that when thou hast beene threatning I haue beene flattering When y Deut. 29. 19 thy Majestie hath beene cursing I haue beene blessing saying I shall haue peace adding drunkennesse to thirst most miserably and mishantly For O LORD I see truely Inward sin in heart that by nature the z Genes 6. 5 imaginations of my heart are evill continually I a 2 Tim. 3. 8 am of a corrupt mynde there is nothing pure in mee my conscience b Titus 1. 15 is defiled within mee My judgement and vnderstanding is so weakned and vitiat Sinne in vnderstanding that c 2 Cor. 2. 14 I perceiue not the thinges of GOD without thy speciall grace they are foolishnesse to mee Mine d 1 Cor. 37. 5 vnderstanding without thee will puft mee vp and not edifie mee It e Isaiah 47. 10 will deceiue mee and cause mee to rebell against thy Majestie It f Ierem. 4.22 will make mee wise to doe euill but to haue no knowledge to doe well But trueth it is O most mercifull Sinne in will Father that I am the son of Adam I find sensibly my will to bee rebellious against thy will and contrary thereto for thy will O loving GOD is holy heavenly good g Rom. 12. 2 acceptable and perfect but my will is wicked earthly perverse and imperfect Furthermore I acknowledge O LORD Sinne in affection that my affections are lewde earthly they are crooked and vnruely I h Coloss 3. 2 haue set them on things which are on the earth and not on things which are aboue They i Heb. 12. 1 are a heavie burden
and not ruling in my heart powerfully and so many sorrowfull sinners a penitent Publicane may d Math. 21.31 goe to the kingdome of GOD before mee And trueth it is O LORD that I so stubbornely persevere in Malitiousnesse my wicked wilfulnesse that I will not put e Coloss 3.8 away nor f 1. Pet. 2. 1 lay aside my sinfull wrath my anger my envy hatred and maliciousnesse but I delight still to beare in my breast that fire which burneth mee to foster in my bosome that serpent which will sting mee and to keepe fast in my stomacke that poyson which will destroy mee without any regarde of thy wholsome admonitions or of myne owne safetie O righteous Iudge I confesse Intemperance that I doe delight too much for to satisfie the filthie lust of my vitiate nature for by the corruption thereof I haue walked g Rom. 13. 13 in gluttonie and drunkennesse in chalmbring and in wantonnesse and hath not cast away the workes of darknesse Moreover albeit LORD I Pride know assuredly that h Pet. 5. 8 thou resisteth the proud and givest grace to the humble and lowlie yet I doe remaine in my pride and arrogancie I i 2 Cor 8. 1 am puft vp k Isaiah 3. 18 haughtie when in the meane time l Barueh 2. 18 my soule should bee vexed within mee for the greatnesse of my sinne and iniquitie Covetousnesse and I weake in grace should goe crooked who am so wrapped in woe and miserie For I remember with feare and anxietie that I continue also in covetousnesse m Coloss 3. 5 which is Idolatrie which is the n 2 Tim. 6.10 roote of all evill and miserie this o Mark 4. 16 deceitfulnesse of riches hath entred in me subtillie it remaineth in my heart firmelie and chokes the word of GOD within mee It may at sometimes make mee mercilesse without pittie as was the rich p Luke 16. 19 Glutton at other times deceitfull without honestie as was q Genes 24.29 Laban and often hurtfull to my selfe without wisdome as was r 1 King 2. 48 Shimei But now LORD I am compelled to confesse that most abhominable Hypocrisie sinne of my dangerous and deadly hypocrisie O mercifull GOD I haue come Å¿ Isaiah 29. 13 neere thee with my lips and haue honoured thee with my mouth but I haue removed my heart farre from thee I am vtterlie astonied for that I haue spoken t 1 Tim. 4. 2 lyes with dissimulation and haue done deedes deceitfullie I u Psal 125. 4 haue turned aside by my crooked wayes I am plunged in this pudle I am almost drowned in this deluge of hypocâ—isie which is the bane of all grace pietie I by nature am like a beautifull apple rotten within who without helpe of thy Majestie will incontinent putrifie I am like a whyted tombe which x Math. 23. 27 appeareth beautifull outward but within is full of dead mens bones I am like that y Mark 11.13 figge tree which had leaues but no fruit And truely O LORD I acknowledge ingenuously Thou z Râ—â—â—l 3.2 haste not found my workes perfect before a Icrem 17.10 thee who searchest the heart and tryest the reines to giue to every one according to his wayes and according to the fruites of his workes O gracious GOD when I think and consider the infirmities imperfections Sinnes more than the sins of others and sinnes of thy owne servants and of others also where with thy Majestie was displeased and wherefore they were corrected punished their small faults their little and light sinnes if so their may bee any called doe aggrege the hainousnesse the great nesse and widenesse of my most filthie and scandalous sinnes and of my notorious and terrible transgressions Thy owne faithfull Moses b Deut. 1. 37 was chastened for his short misbeleeving at the waters of Meribah and Miriam an holy Prophetesse for c Numb 12. 18 speaking against her younger brother in the matter of his mariage and king Saul and his posteritie were deprived of his kingdome for d z Sam. 15.23 sparing olde Agag and some of the best bestiall yea an honest man of thy owne who did faithfully couragiously and duetifully discharge his calling and being seduced by an other old Prophet because of his eating of e 1 King 13.22 bread and drinking of water in a place forbidden hee did not come to the Sepulchre of his fathers but in the way was slaine by a Lyon Also thy servant Hezekiah who did vprightly in thy sight was proved for showing f 2 King 20.17 his treasure to the Babylonian Ambassadour And how fearefully was Ananias and Saphira punished for g Act. 5.3 keeping away a part of the possession which appertained to themselues and was once in their owne power The fault of Vzzah wherefore hee was slaine was the h 2 Sam. 6.6 putting his hand to the Arke and the holding it when the oxen did shake it The fault of the people of Bethshemesh O holy LORD GOD wherefore so many thousands perished was their i 1 Sam. 6. 19 looking vnto the Arke of the LORD The fault of Lots wife whom CHRIST commandeth vs to k Luke 17 33 remember was her looking backe to Sodome wherefore shee became a Pillar of salt and was made a fearefull spectacle of thy terrible indignation The fault of the Iewes was their l Numb 11. 5 rememberance of the fish and flesh pots of Egypt wherefore they m Cor. 10 5 were overthrowne in the Wildernesse Alace O LORD if my sinnes and offences were woyed n Dan. 5. 27 in the ballance they are more heavie and grievous more displeasant to thy Majestie and pernicious to my selfe I for a long season haue had within mee an evill o Heb. 3. 2 and vnfaithfull heart to depart away from thee the living GOD my infidelitie is of longer continuance and durance I haue not beene contented with my estate nor approved thy wise dealing towards me but hath p Exod. 16. 7 murmured and vttered my impatiencie I haue not mortified q Coloss 3. 5 my lusts and affections but I haue spared my strong sinnes which haue r Rom. 6. 11 had dominion over mee I haue fostered my pleasant and profitable sinnes albeit most dangerous and hurtfull vnto mee I haue drunken in iniquitie Å¿ Iob. 34. 7 like water aboundantly and I haue delighted my selfe to glutte t Psal 141. 4 in the delicates of the vngodly I haue beene puft u Habb 1. 14 vp with vaine glorie and ostentation I haue beene given to fraud and oppression I haue beene a bussie x 1 Tim. 5. 13 bodie and hath passed the limites of my vocation I haue beene given to curiositie and haue beene y Rom. 11. 20 high minded I haue looked frequently vpon sinne and the world with the which I
art 7 Pray for peace and reconâ—iliatiâ—n the Prince n Isaiah 9. 6 of peace and reconciliation which hath o Eph. 214.17 broken the partition wall aâ—d â—â—th preached peace vnto mee that thou might reconcile mee vnto thy GOD giue vnto mee p Iob. 34. 29 peace and quietnesse and who then can make trouble and vexation bee thou my advocate q â— Iohn 2. 1 with the Father and the reconâ—iliation for my soule be thou my attonemâ—nt and propitiation If the inhabitants of Tyrus and Sidon did earnestly labour to haue peace r Act. 12. 20 with Herod an evill and earthly King O LORD what paines should I take to haue concord and vnitie with thee a good and Heavenly King O LORD make mee diligent Å¿ 2 Pet. 3. 14 that I may be founde of thee in peace without spot and blamelesse let the t Col. 3. 15 peace of GOD rule in my heart let O LORD thy peace u Philip. 4.7 which passeth all vnderstanding preserue mine heart and minde in CHRIST IESVS for ever and ever And for this purpose most â— Pray for remissiâ—â— of sin mercifull GOD forgiue me x Math. 6. 12 all my debts grant vnto mee a free discharge of all my sinnes and a comfortable acquittance of all mine iniquities written subscribed and sealed with the Blood of mâ— faviour Put y Col. 2. 14 out that hand writting and obligation that is against me and cortrarie to mee take it out of the way and fasten it vpon the crosse Let it never bee of power to shame mee in this world or to condemne mee in the world to come As z Psal 103.12 farre as the East is from the West so farre remoue thou my sinnes from mee Let a Rom. 6. 12 not finne rule in my mortall bodie that I obey the lusts thereof But O LORD subdue b Math. 7. 19 mine iniquities and cast all my faultes into the bottome of the sea I humbly beseech thee to c Col 3. 5 mortifie and slay my sinne in mee least it slay my soule eternally Burie all my offences in the graue of CHRIST Let them never rise against mee for my conviction and eternall confusion Now almightie GOD Seing by 9 Pray for life spirituall nature I am d Eph. 2. 1 dead in sinne and trespasses I pray thee to quicken mee Let e 2 Cor. 4. 16 my inward man be renued dayly Grant that I may be borne f Iohn 3. 3 againe and bee partaker of regeneration and so enter into thy Kingdome Thou who art the g Iohn 11. 2 resurrection and the lyfe who raised from death Lazarus who was stincking and rotting in the graue and gaue him naturall lyfe breath spirituall lyfe into my dead soule that thou who art the GOD h Math. 22.32 of the living thou mayest bee my GOD and guide for ever O thou who art the i Mal. 4. 2 Sunne Pray for spirituall light of Righteousnesse and the true light of the world who hast abundance of eye k Revel 3. 18 salue arise and shine vpon mee anoynt the blind eyes of my minde illuminate my dark vnderstanding Thou who opened the l Genes 21.19 eyes of Hagar and made her see a Well of water wherewith her dying sonne was refreshed open thou the eyes of my inward man that I may see that Well of the m Iohn 3. 10 water of lyfe that my dying soule may be comforted and thou O powerfull SAVIOUR who did giue sight to that man who n Iohn 9.7 was borne blind giue spirituall sight to my blind soule that I may see thee and follow thee continually O my GOD thou who opened the o Math. 7. 33 eares of that deafe man grant Pray for in ward hearing that myne inward eares may be prepared q Psal 40. 6 and opened to heare thy holy and blessed Word that my bodie r Heb. 10. 5 may bee ordeined and made fitte for thy continuall service and worship For O my graâ—ious GOD while Pray for health I haue beene walking in the wildernesse of this world I haue fallen Å¿ Luke 11. 30 amongst cruell and covetous theeues who haue robbed mâ—e of my raiment and riches they haue wounded me grievously I am now lying waltring in my blood and half dead Many miseregarde me and passe by me without any pittie I can not pittie myne owne selfe but O sweet Samaritan come neere to me and haue compassion on mee Bind vp Ibidem my bleeding wounds powre in wine oile carry me in thy owne armes and heale mee Haue a continuall care of me that I may haue a care to honour thee and glorifie thy Majestie O my blessed Redâ—emer in whom Pray for wisdome are t Coloss 2. 3 hidde all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge giue vnto mee true wiâ—edome and Heavenly knowledge and vnderstanding so that I x Prover 5. 23 may not die for fault of instruction and that I goe not astray through my great folly that I may bee wise y Proverb 16 20. 21. in myne owne businesse and prudent in heart that my vnderstanding may bee a welspring z Pro. 16. 23 of lyfe vnto mee that I may trust in thy mercie and be blessed aeternally O LORD thou who art able to breake a Psal 107. 16 the gates of brasse and to brast the barres of yron asunder Pray for libertie I pray thy Majestie to set mee at libertie who am a captiâ—e and miserable prisoner loose mee from the bands of the devill for spiritually I am bound and bowed b Luke 13. 11 together and can not lift vp my soule in any wise without thy helpe Bring mee out of the snare c 2 Tim. 2. 26 of Sathan that I may come to amendement Take d 2 Sam. 8. 1 the bridle of bondage out of the hand of mine enemie Bee thou LORD my goodnesse e Psal 144. 2 and my fortresse my tower my sheild and delyverer Restore mee to the glorious freedome of thy children Giue mee strength to stand f Galat. 5.1 fast into that libertie wherewith thou hast made me free that I never bee intangled againe with the yoke of bondage And because in the devils dungeon and in the stinking puddle Pray for purgation of sinne I am filthily polluted and miserably defiled O holy God wash g Psal 51. 2 mee througly from mine iniquitie and cleanse mee from my sinnes and pollutions If thou wash mee h Iohn 13. 8 not I shall haue no part nor portion with thee and I know perfectly that no i Revel 21. 27 vncleane thing shall enter in Heavenly Ierusalem nor within thy holy Sanctuarie therefore O gratious GOD I humbly and heartily intreate thy Majestie to wash k Ierem. 4 4â— mine heart from wickednesse and my whole man from vngodâ—ines even in the