then defence or excuse then boasting of it and this is the wickeds chayre and steps to hell then be ashamed to thinke that thou art ashamed to speake for I see thy heart and thoughts know what thou art striue against them and if they yet remaine haue indignation of them feare and cry to mee that thou art troubled with them and I will ease thee for iustly doe I challenge thy heart who gaue my Sonnes heart to be pierced for thee thus thou must obey against thine inclination and naturall reason For what is faith but a contrariety to reason and hope to experience and lay not downe thine owne conclusions I am wel pleased with thy intents which prepare thy heart to seeke mee the seeds of all sinnes are in euery mans heart which would appeare if I suppressed them not the tongue is a worlde of wickednesse what is the heart then out of whose aboundance the mouth speaketh Soule I know that in mee that is in this flesh there dwelleth no goodnesse but euery good and perfect gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights open my eyes I beseech thee that I may see the maruellous things in thy law I cannot leaue alas my sinne I haue vsed it so often and so long it is so plyable to my nature that I would rather lose my life hauing long accustomed it then now cease from it and yet I am now and then tormented with the memory of it my conscience is a snare to mee yea an assize a bench a iudge a iaylour yea a hangman it selfe to me and whither shall I flie poor wretch Lord. It is good to learne thy inward corruptions by thy outward senses thy sense leades thee to sinne because thy heart leadeth thy sense thy corruption hath stolen away thy heart for outward senses bewray thy inward affections therefore Christ will neuer bee sweet vntill thou see yea and feele in experience thy naturall corruption for none can hunger for righteousnesse except hee feele himselfe empty and wanting thereof and where there is an exceeding hunger there must bee an exceeding feeling as a feeble and small hunger had the like feeling comforte then thy selfe in that thou feelest the impurenesse of thy heart and want of vprightnesse and deadnesse to all goodnesse for the feeling of their wants is quicknesse and liuing and this quicknesse and life is by my spirit in thee and where my spirit is there is life euerliuing which is regeneration or life euerlasting the more thou doest feele the one the more deepely doest thou weigh the feeling of thy confused estate by which thou findest comfort in sorrow great light in darknesse and in this that thou both sighest and groanest for the hardnes of thy heart it is a testimony that thy hart is not altogether hardned for if thou feelest this in thy selfe that thou desirest to loue mee and to bee better being wearied and toyled with sinne comfort thy selfe for it is in earnest of regeneration for difference betwixt a motion to euill and consent to it for the body of sinne wicked motions and affecons shall neuer bee out of thee while thou liue thou must not onely striue to presse out the breath of sin and close vp the eyes of it at the death of it but to follow it to the graue and couer it that it neuer rise for this is to ouercome and receiue the crowne not that the life of sinne can be here destroyed but may well be weakened as the mangled part of a Serpent cut in peeces haue not that power to hurt as when it was whole so corruptiō hath not siercenesse to preuayle against thee how-soeuer the reliques thereof remaine but like a mighty Prince which is become a poore prisoner Soule I by reason of my olde custome in sinne doe often yeelde to tentations I doe not abound more and more in wisedome and goodnes but rather perseuere in sinne and rebellion Lord thou knowest and I feare vnlesse thy mercy be the greater the sentence of my conscience which is thy register and my remembrancer the wicked may bee secure but neuer in safety Lord. Custome is worse a hundred folde then nature and doth greatly preuaile with my dearest children Ioseph a good man beeing among prophane men had some smell of their wordes and lied The Sodomites by their vniust conuersation vexed Lots righteous soule yet hee could haue found in his heart to liue still amongst them therefore there is nothing more fit then to auoid all occasions of sinne and to procure honest things both in the sight of God man and then in all actions to auoide euill thou must learne to keepe that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill bee sure it be good thou doest but if it haue but a shew of euill auoide it and if it be an ill fauoured thing to see to flie it If thou heare threatnings and tremble heare promises and beleeue pray in wants be thankfull for mercies and with reuerence receiue Sacraments they keep thee from falling and recouer thee when thou art fallen it goeth wel with thee to prosper and thriue in sinne is a signe of my wrath as the childe that the father hateth is giuen ouer to be ruled by his owne pleasure but I chastise my children whom I loue that they should not be condemned with the world again thou wilt neuer leaue sinne vntill thou knowe sinne to be sinne and be truely sorrowfull for it presse to resist the first motions of sin for one breedeth many it is hard to get out of the clawes of the diuell thou canst without great danger touch the young thorne dallie with the young bore and carry a young Serpent but if these bee olde thou knowest the danger cut the thorne in the roote mussle the boare bruise the head of the Serpent yea destroy it in the very egge before it be hatcht by the fall of others in sinne thou maist be taught to stand and rise if thou be fallen and as cōcerning the accusation of thy conscience thou speakest of thou shalt neuer labour to leaue sinne so long as thou art quiet in minde vntill thou be stricken with feare or cast downe with iudgements then if thou looke to my highest maiesty offended by sinne the benefits which bound thee to doe my will how neare thy sinnes pierce mee the purpose and ende thou tendest to in sinne the time and place of transgression last if thou see the loathsomenesse and deformity of sinne for that a stinching carrion is more tolerable to the sent then a sinfull soule vnto me if thou narrowly consider how huge and detestable thy sins will seeme for by them thou art made like vnto the diuell himself I haue imprinted naturally in all a condemnation of sinne that euen committing it thou shouldest condemne it in thy selfe and be ashamed of it before others wo vnto them that are depriued
art thou that sufferest for righteousnesse sake then feare not the wickeds feare neither bee troubled but count it exceeding ioy when thou fal into diuerse temptations that the tryall of thy faith bringeth forth patience let patience haue her perfect worke that thou may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing that thou may say O Lord thou knowest remember me and visit mee reuenge me of my persecutors take mee not away in the continuance of thine anger for thy sake I haue suffered rebuke to such belongs the kingdome of heauen for it is better if it be the will of God that thou suffer for well doing then for ill doing Thou maiest know and discerne hereof by the sicknesse of thy heart arising of the guiltinesse of sinne which maketh thee suspect all thy waies for the wicked man is continually as one that trauelleth with childe and the number of yeares is hid from the tyrant a sound of feare is in his eares and in his prosperity the destroyer shall come vpon him for thus the wicked may say the thing that I feared is come vpon mee and the thing that I was affraid of is come vnto mee I haue no peace neither had I quietnesse neithr had I rest yet trouble is come thus the sinners feare commeth like sudden desolation and their destruction like a whirlewinde for ease slayeth the foolish and the prosperity of fooles destroieth them impatient they are in aduersity and proud in prosperitie yet that they haue is as a bird in captiuitie which beeing let loose will returne to her owne liberty againe the righteous are escaped out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his steed yea the godly account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed when as the wicked man dieth his hopes perisheth all afflictions end in death and can pursue the Saints no further but I will bring an euerlasting reproach vpon the wicked and a perpetuall shame which shall neuer bee forgotten for sinne not beeing cured in this world endeth not in death for what was in hope recurable finite measurable here becommeth in hell incurable infinite vnmeasurable which makes the godly say how excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings they shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasures for with thee it is the well of life and in my sight shall they see light and yet neuerthelesse for their manisolde good and because I loue them I chastise them but the wicked are not in trouble as other men are neither are they plagued as other men and when they are raised vp I will despise their image but the godly are alwaies with me I will holde them by my right hand I will guide them by my counsaile and and afterwardes receiue them to glorie Soule Now I clearely perceiue Lord my misery from that corrupt fountaine in mee O what a blessed estate haue I fallen from what a woefull and miserable condition hath the transgression of Adam brought vpon mee a generall infection and corruption of all the powers and faculties of my soule and body my soule alas spiritually 〈◊〉 my minde through ignorance vaine in all the discourses and imaginations thereof the vnderstanding blinde not sauouring the things of God my conscience wounded and neuer soundly peaceable my memorie fit to reckon euill and forget good my will altogether gaine-standing either to chuse or doe good and my affection led by it my conuersation loathsome to God and man my thoughts both infinite and insatiable to euill my members weapons of vnrighteousnesse my best actions the greatest abhominations that minde can thinke or tongue expresse All the mischances of that hereditary pollution and actuall transgression which I am so propense and naturally willing vnto as is the foule to flie or the stone to goe downewarde thou art I know a iust and righteous God who will not iustifie sinners Lord. Be of good comfort sin is transgression of the law I haue decreed a remedy from all eternity promised immediately after the fall and exhibited in the fulnesse of time my Son Iesus Christ to performe a full redemption for thee and all the elect which hee performed in obedience to mee the Father in comming to redeeme and take thy nature vpon him made obedient to the lawe in fulfilling it perfectly which thou hadst broken and in vndergoing the punishment due vnto thee in obedience I say in humility at his natiuity and whole life suffering all the miseries that sin had drawne vpon thee in his body hunger colde pouerty c. in soule ignorance temptation faintnes and then his death the paines wee had deserued but specially in his soule griefe for the sinnes of the worlde when hee pleadeth himselfe before my iudgement seate as guilty for thee who had neede of his owne creatures the Angels to comfort him withdrawing of the Diety for the present my curse vpon him for sinne the power of Sathan preuailing for a time the horror of beeing ouerwhelmed with my heauy wrath for thee his detaining vnder the power sorrowes of death these and much more done in his humaine nature accompanied with the merit and efficacie of the diuine nature made them meritorious for thy saluation beleeue in him and thou shalt passe from death to life Soule O well is mee that the curse of the lawe is deriued from mee vnto Christ that my nature beeing crusifyed with him corruption in it may bee abolished not to serue sinne hereafter that hand writing of my sinne is cancelled and shall not come to remembrance before thee the spots of my soule purged by his blood by the which the eternall testimony of grace is ratefied vnto mee now sin and death and the diuell that hath the rule of death is destroyed thou hast deere Iesus not onely not beene holden by the sorrowes of death but also hath obtained a glorious conquest by thy resurrection ouer all thy enemies Satan power of hell and sinne in taking away his sting and guiltinesse thereof the rage and fury of the same in weakening the force and eating out the corruption thereof death it selfe also and the dominion thereof by the same meanes are subdued and in the place of these there is recouered vnto vs the fauour of our GOD whose children we are become in Iesus Christ who giueth faith peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost vnto them whereby they become fruitfull to all good works and in the end ceasing from all sinne by him do attaine eternall glorie in the heauens Lord. Yea and in heauen thou shalt be deliuered from all sorrow haue perfect knowledge with me perfect righteousnesse and holinesse neuer to be changed
of this naturall remorse to them that account that vertue which I condemne for a crime though it seem little to thee in committing sinne it was very great in my Sonne in suffering for it if sinnes were not so vsuall they would seeme more palpeable and prodigious and therefore the senses which are oceasions of sinne ought to be well ordered to make a couenant with thy eyes with thy mouth and eares that thy heart walke not after them that thy step turne not out of the way and any blot cleaue to thy hands he that seeth his corruptions truely will bee affraid of the least shew of euill the oftner sin is to haue the more griefe is a note of my children search then the bottome of thy thoughts feele thy grief where it lyeth finde out the cause seek for remedy least it proue incurable if thou take it not in time it will fester more and more and infect all Soule O how truely is my body called a body of death thou shouldest take vp and haue to thy glory all my cogitations but idle thoughts imaginations and discourses come in my ninde to the which alas I yeeld my affection and doe not strike at my conscience in the first motion while reason is on my side and wound it before it receiue a perfect shape O that I might cherish and intertaine good motions and change them into prayer not to smother them by other rouing cogitations making them either die presently or quikly fall away and thus alas I make a mocke of sinne yea I make a God of sinne and serue it in thy steed neglecting thy bountifulnesse which leadeth me to repentance if thou shouldest Lord suffer my conscience checke me and Satan burden mee with the least sinne it would bee so heauy and grieuous that a thousand worlds could not abide it how could I then endure the greatest Adam for eating of an apple was throwne out of Paradise Moses for speaking of an angry worde died in the wildernesse and was not suffered to goe into Canaan Ezekiah did but shew his treasures and for that he all were carried to Babell Iosiah did war against thine and his enemies yet because hee asked not counsel of thee was slaine in battell these for what sinnes are lesse hast thou punished in thy deare children O what shall become of mee in my great sinnes if the iust shal scarcely bee saued where shall the wicked appeare if this shall bee done vnto the greene tree what shall bee done to the dry the least offence commeth not alone but brings a legion of transgressions with it yea the least made thy Son smart and accursed and to say my God my God ctc. and O that no sinne could escape mee without true godly sorrow for the lesse I fauour sinne the nearer I am to thy fauour small meanes doe prouoke me to it but great meanes cannot reuoke me from it the spirit is quickly quenched the tender conscience is soone bruised olde sinnes doe retire new sinnes easily assault and doe depriue mee of the company of a good conscience Lord. Thou must deare soule beware of all sinne generally and must looke narrowly vnto some speciall sinnes whereunto thy nature is most inclinable and subiect for one dead slye will corrupt a whole boxe of oyntment Oftentimes meditate of thy secret sins which are hidden as it were in the darke corners of thy heart which I can reueale when I will in making my creatures bring vnto light thy friends to open them thy owne mouth to testifie them thy dreames to make them knowne in sicknesse to raue on them or in frensie to vomit them out the sharpe torment of conscience make thee cōfesse one priuie sinne vnrepented for if the Israelites made the Beniaminites fewer in number and maintaining an euill cause twice to preuaile It is not light that is heauier then all the world I esteem one iot of my lawe more then heauen and earth secret corruptions be light as Baltasar was in Daniels interpretation which is the losse not of an earthly kingdome such as his was but of the kingdome of heauen the maladies of the soule are contrarie to those of the body for these the greater they be the more we seele them the other the lesse while thy sinne is as a more and may bee as it were blowen out make thee free of it when it shall bee a beame it shall scarce be haled out with horses it shold be thy earely and morning worke to cast out sinnes tarry not while thy sinne be great but pray with feeling of wants and sorrowe for sinne else sinne will deceiue thee and deceiuing thee will harme thee make fatte thy heart thou shalt not perceiue it blinde thy minde thou shalt not see it for when wickednesse is at the ripest then destruction is nearest at hand wherefore while sinne is yet in the sprout and hauing but a little course is vnable to make any great breach keepe it vnder and stay it is is hard to get vnto the way of goodnesse harder to continue in it but hardest of all when thou art out of the way to come in again when sinne breaketh out without controulement and beareth the sway with delight to the breaking of the peace with the conscience it is very dangerous thou oughtest of ten to say direct my steps in thy worde and let no iniquity haue dominion ouer mee keepe mee from presumtuous sins let them not raigne ouer mee tarrie not I say vntill the dead blow commeth but resist the first stroakes of sinne for then thou maiest be easily hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne to day if thou heare my voyce harden not thy heart the violence of sinne is so impetuous that thou mayest soone slip but hardly rise blessed therefore is the man that feareth alway but hee that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euill without sinne thou shalt not be but pray it may be forgiuen neither voyd of tentations for of all tentations not to bee tempted is the greatest but that thou bee not ouercome of them Soule I perceiue sweet Lord there is difference betwixt slumbering and dead sleeping betweene slippes and falles betwixt infirmities and running headlong to vngodlinesse betwixt error with griefe and desire to be freed from it and ignorance wherein the wicked lie still gladly and haue no care to be rid of it I will with my whole minde leaue my sins from hence forth suspect the corruptions and motions of my heart Lord. It is not sufficient poor soule for thee to learne thy sinne for thou maiest fall into it againe and into worse if it bee possible but thou must weep mourne vntil thou com to som grief and such as is answerable to the measure of thy sinnes as it is saide cleanse your hands you sinners and pufie your hearts you double minded bee afflicted and mourne and weep let your
laughter be turned to mourning and your ioy into heauinesse grieuous sins must be repented of with great griefe a sore disease must be cured with sharpe medicines for men must mourne for their sins as one mourneth for his only sonne and and be sorrowfull for them as one is sorrowfull for the death of his first born there must bee in them a great mourning as the mourning of Hadradimmon in the valley of Megiddan for the death of the good King Iosiah euen so must thou mourne because thou hast pierced my Sonne thorough with thy sinnes and wounded him with thy by-past abhominations and thus thou must rent thy heart for a sa man that looks vpon the Sunne if hee turne his face away remaineth turned vntill he turne himselfe againe so hee that turneth himselfe away by sinne maketh himselfe a sinner and so remaineth vntill he turne himselfe againe by hearty repentance and therefore thou must diligently examine thy sinnes not onely in acknowledging of them but also in sense and feeling of them for that will make thee not to change one sin for another but forsake all not as Herod who was contented to relinquish some but not to seperate from his incestuous whore and the young man would rather depart from me albeit that I loued him then from his riches So did Ananias and Saphyra it must then bee a totall not partiall forsaking for whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guiltie of all for the keeping of sinne in part is the losing of grace in whole ye must not forsake sinne for a moment or short time but for euer and not returne with the dogge to the vomit and with the sow to the wallowing in the mire least hauing escaped the filthinesse of this world thou bee yet again intangled in the same for sinnes not truely repented of are meanes to fall vnto them againe thou must not harbour secret sinnes in thy heart and breast but rather desire to be religious then to seeme to be for be assured there is nothing so secret but shal be reuealed whether it bee good or bad thou must not then begin in the spirit and end in the flesh and not only art thou thus to deale with thy grosse sinnes but also with the inwarde corruption of thy nature and the fruits thereof which although thou canst not altogether blot out yet beat it downe and keepe it short for while the tree remayneth in the earth there wil alwaies spring foorth some buds rest neuer from emptying this fountaine from which these mudde springs are deriued Soule By reason of my inward corruption good God I am impoysoned for I see another lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe af my minde bringing me vnto captiuity the lawe of sinne which is in my members oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death for if Satan who neuer ceaseth should do nothing to me yet this would pull and drawe mee from thee vnlesse it be suppressed oh that bondage of sin to bee at the commandement of euery vile wretched lust oh the master the seruice and reward of sinfull persons Satan that God of this world and Prince that ruleth in the children of disobedience hee putteth his vassailes to carry heauier burthens and to toile themselues in baser workes then the cruell taske-masters of Egypt imposed on the poore Israelites impenitent sinners are enthraled to euery bruitish lust they must defile their bodies corrupt their soules consciences and pollute all their works and wayes when and in what manner soeuer the diuell will haue them runne vp and downe like dregges to followe euery vaine delight neuer peaceable by day nor quiet by night euermore labouring to work out their owne ouerthrow possessed with a spirituall phrensie and led by the suggestion of Satan and then the wages of sinne it death to endure endlesse torments in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death now Lord free mee from this slauery of sinne that beeing translated from glory to glory and hauing thy image renued in mee daily more and more I may purifie my selfe euen as thou art pure oh that I might be fenced armed against all enticements it is a blessed thing to worke no iniquity what should it profit a man to win the whole worlde and lose his owne soule it is better to suffer affliction with thy people then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season it is a ioy to liue a holy life euen the life of thee the Lord God the life of Christ the life of Angels to bee zealous of good workes to feele spirituall ioyes in the inward man to looke for a crowne of glory after I haue died the death of the righteous Lord. And so it is true therefore I say search thy corruptions whether thou grow in grace or art consumed in some I giue grace in measure sometime more and some time lesse but they that liue in ignorance and sinne are deade for they sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death for the life of sinne is the death of the man when they sinne with pleasure and delight the best flesh is most tender and where it is most corrupt there it is most hard and where the flesh is nearest to healing there it will more speedily and more freshly bleed the more neare thou art to me the more fearefull thou wilt bee the more pretious thy conscience is the more tender it is for it is a quickning grace of my spirit whē thou feelest peace in conscience and ioy in the holy spirit when thou hast accesse vnto me and reioycest vnder the hope of my glory for blessed is that people which can reioyce in mee they shall walke in the peace of my countenance vnto this peace of minde sincerity must bee linked for blessed is the man to whom I impute no iniquity and in whose heart there is no guile yea blessed are those that are vpright in the way thou must make knowne thy faith by fruits and feeling by sweete effects for loue is carefull to please mee and fearfull to displease and blessed is that man that feareth mee and walketh in my wayes this feare will breed a care of obedience of the word and therefore blessed is hee that heareth the word of God and keepeth that thy heart may stand in awe of mee let mee bee thy feare and dread where my feare is wanting there is no tentation nor sin so great but thou wilt fall in it but remember I beholde all thy wayes and tell all thy steps hee that feareth not me shal feare the least of my creacreatures liue in feare and feare in loue for tasting how gracious I am in all my Saints feare least thou lose so good a Lord this feare will make thee search thy owne corruption the godly
what young men did in Sampsons daies in their feasting and how hee reuealeth to the woman which he had concealed from father and mother and Boas commendation of Ruth that shee had not followed young men whether they were poore or rich for childe-hood and youth are vanity and secondly there is in them weakenesse the way to strong vanities and so Dauid as for me saith hee my feet were almost gone my steps had well-neere slipt Thus Abraham made his his wife say shee was his sister so the godly haue spent the time past of their life in the lusts of the Gentiles walking in lasciousnesse lusts reuellings c. And thirdly euen my Saints haue walked in wantonnes in the door to open wickednesse as gluttony drunkennesse and abhominable idolatries which though they breake not forth at all times yet make them lesse carefull to glorifie me for I keepe them that they shal not sinne against mee and doe not suffer them to end their designements other mens harmes may teach the blessed wisedome labour not onely to leaue sinne which one may do for profit feare praise or wearisomenesse but also to repent of it for conscience sake Soule The grieuousnesse of my sinnes filleth mee with feare of iudgement and this feare I hope will cause the power of sinne abate in me thou Lord can giue me victory ouer sin and make it as loathsome vnto mee as euer it hath been pleasant to reioyce in the Lord to vse the meanes of my saluation diligently and to seale vp the pardon of my sinnes in my heart O God when shall it bee If thou wouldest haue destroyed mee for my by-past sinnes thou wouldest neuer haue giuen mee vnfained hatred of thē I consider thy mercy that striueth with mee to bring mee to repentance and thy iustice that will confound such as resist thy mercie hath giuen mee the meanes which thou hast denied to others thou afflictest mee lightly but confoundest others thou gauest mercie when thou mightest iustly haue punished wherin thou doest as it were hire mee from sins and shall I prouoke thee and adde rebellion to sinne O my God I know there is a secret curse vpon euery sinner which will consume him if he doe not repent it hath gone out of thy mouth thy word cānot change because thou art vnchangeable Lord. I haue tolde thee that youth the flower of thy age is of great consideration all this haue I done saith the yong man in the gospel the prodigall maketh his foure stations he hath his portion his fathers ouer-fight euill cōpany but youth worse thē all for youth hath a bundle of folly bound close in his heart which best men haue had neither could flee for as a young man sets his way hee will not departe from it when hee is olde vnlesse by my spirit hee is restrained him that God will haue his roabe must bee a branch of the Almond that is the tree that first blossomes the first fruites was Abels sacrifice so much acceptable to me Soule O God I am like the possessed that was found after sitting in a good mind that sweet wind hath come to me that happened to Elisha I haue felt that gentle calme after the stormie tempest of my heart now may I heare the golden trumpets sounding that ioyfull retrait blessed are the meeke in spirit Lord teach me thy commandements I will run them I shall haue encrease of strength vntill I come to the mount of God while I was in my element of sinne I felt not the weight of it as nothing is heauie in his owne element but now I by thy grace will lay aside euery waight and the sin which doth so easily beset mee runne with patience to the race that is set before mee I finde my selfe within the fadome of thy mercie and compasse of things recouerable the first worke of thy spirit at his comming is to conuince the worlde of sinne that is to make men knowe that without thy sonne Christ there is nothing but sinne and then to rebuke the worlde of righteousnes to make man see that Christ died not for his owne for the prince of this worlde found nothing in him but for our sinnes that so we may see him in the lawe with the wages thereof and the summe in the gospell discharged but good Lord how shall I be assured that I am not vnder the curse but vnder grace for yet I finde such hardnesse in my heart vnquietnesse and troubles in my spirit my sins rebounded vpon mee with terrible fights and fearfull visions which euer amazeth my vnsettled and wauering mind Lord. The examination of thy sinnes is that which first thou must begin with and partly those thou hast committed before thy calling and partly those that were done after thy calling for these sinnes of knowledge of all bite sorest for sinne is most sinfull when thou art intelligenced with my grace in the truth sin after knowledge workes either hardnesse of heart or a troubled spirit and therefore vnderstand that commonly men before knowledge take the trouble of minde very heauily and standing as if neuer any one had it before but they and after knowledge Satan is readie to accuse them of sinne against the holy Ghost as if euery sin of knowledge was a sinne of presumption but learne thou that when tentation ariseth to trie whether thou hast done that sinne or such like already for these tentations are either corrections for some sinnes past or punishment for sinne present or as warning of sinnes to come as thou may bee tempted to adultery and not doe it yet it commeth to thee againe because thou repentest not for this same or the like in thy youth cōmitted again when man will not bee admonished by publique or priuate meane there falleth tentation to sinne differing from that wherein thou doest and presently my iustice punishing one sinne with another as the not repenting couetous to fall into adultery theft or blood and last there may tentation come vpon that neither hee before nor presently doth like of to aduertise he may fall therein hereafter and to signifie that mans standing is not of himselfe none standeth but by my grace Fo as the girdle cleaueth vnto the loynes of man so haue I tyed my children to mee Soule Beside these inward trouarising in my heart which afflicteth mee most the fruite of my corruption I am pinched with sundry diuerse outward afflictions which agrauates and augments my sorrowe Lord thou knowest them well I cannot finde the cause of them for I liue as honest and quiet as any and iniurious to my knowledge to no man in my calling Lord. Vnder any crosse endeauour to haue a cleane conscience to comfort thee with that there is no spirituall cause of these afflictions in thee but that thy sufferings are either for the triall of thy faith beeing assured that thou hast a good conscience in all things blessed
fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition of and coniunction with mee perfect loue triumph ouer all enemies where I shall be all in all crowning thee and all the elect with eternall happinesse blisse for enermore Soule And the Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euill worke and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome to whom be glory for euer and euer Amen A HEAVENLY AND comfortable Mould of Prayers Full of feeling tending to the calming of the conscience for sinne and all other incidents in this wretched life for the benefit of all estates and degrees of people whether by Land or Sea IAM 3. If any man be afflicted let him pray LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniell Speed and are to bee sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1618 A Prayer for Munday at Morning The houshold being assembled the Master thereof or he that shall be made the mouth to God-ward shall with all holy behauiour say Come let vs worship fall downe kneele before the Lord our Maker The houshold beeing assembled shall pray as followeth O LORD our God true iust and merciful who can vnderstand his faults wee come confessing and mourning in the sense of them pouring out our whol desire before thee with plentie of teares and bitter lamentations and our sighing is not hid from thee for wee were borne in iniquity and in sinne haue our mothers conceiued vs how corrupt are our faults our thoughts vaine our words idle actions prophane O what good haue wee omitted and what euill haue we committed how foolish and ignorant are wee yea beasts before thee and while we know thy wil we prepared not our selues neither did according vnto vnto it O Lord how many sinnes and punishments haue wee beene heretofore subiect too how grieuous and heauie are they we presently groane vnder Oh keepe vs deare Fathe from presumtpuous sins let them not raigne ouer vs we and our fathers behaued our selues proudely and hardned our necks but thou O God of mercies gracious and full of compassion of long suffering and of great mercy yet forsookest thē not our Kings Princes and people haue sinned against thee yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in thee O Lord our God albeit wee haue rebelled against thee and now our God what shall we say after this for wee haue forsaken thy commandements therefore abhorre wee our selues and acknowledge vs worthy to bee cut off for euer wee yeeld our selues to thy chastisement for our iniquities are gon ouer our heads and as a weighty burthen they are too heauy for vs wee are pricked in our hearts therefore and what shall we doe O Lord our God most deare Father our onely refuge is to fly vnto thee in Christ hungring and thirsting after the least drop of mercy which wee doe preferre before all earthly comforts in the world intreating thee boldly and constantly in faith to grant it wating diligently and patiently vntill thou answer vs and raise some measure of sense and feeling thereof in our hearts and senses wee call thy mercies of olde to memory how often grace hath been shewed vs from thee our God whē thou didst lighten our eyes and giue vs a reuiuing from our sinnes wherefore most holy father we begge most earnestly thou wouldst giue vs now also strength in Christ to forsake sinne in time to come for in heart we thoroughly purpose neuer to commit the like sins againe bnt thorough thy grace to be changed by the renewing of our mindes to be fearefull of all occasions of sinne and wisely hereafter to decline from sinne and to bend all our strength specially against our beloued sinnes O wee heauily complaine of our weakenesse dulnesse deadnesse and inability to any Christian vertue yet will we by thy power be strengthened to loue out of a pure heart of a good conscience and of faith vnfained and constantly endeauoure to bee found in thy Sonne Iesus Christ and to feele the power of his death and resurrection in sub duing of all our sinnes and wickednesse that the life Christ our Sauiour may appeare in our mortall bodies and that not we but Christ may liue wholly in vs that wee may liue by faith in thy Son who hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs for his sake grant O deare Father that wee may practisc these Christian vertues to the which wee finde our selues most aduerse and contrarie that by thy grace wee may obtaine such victory and conquest ouer our most grieuous temptations and perturbations and violence of sinne as that wee neuer fall into them againe and that albeit we finde in our selues pronenesse and aptnesse to fall into some of these transgressiōs yet work in vs a godly resolution holy strife against them groaning and panting vnder the loathsome burthen of vitious corruptions for this cause O heauenly Father inspire in vs humble and submissiue mindes to the power of thy worde that wee may out of it haue our hereditary pollution discouered and our corruptions more and more purged thereby euer sighing for the day of our dissolution and looking for the day of our Lord Iesus Christ to our immortality to whom with the Father and holy Ghost wee render glory praise and dominion now and euermore On Munday Euening Prayer O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ repentance is thy proper peculiar gift which thou giuest to all them that aske it of thee in faith for as by nature wee haue it not and therefore doe renounce our selues seeing euery good gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights so the time of repentance is in this life and here while we may it must bee obtained with all speedy diligence for alas the longer we delay and deferre the harder it is to bee got and more doubtfull it doth proue to be had the fittest time O Lord is immediately after the sinne is committed and while it is called to day least wee be hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne our time here is as a thought it is cut off and quickly doe wee flie away wherefore deare father we confesse the greatnesse of our sinnes committed by vs this day how infinite in number how dangerous and deadly to our soules how offensiue to them that are without and to them also that are in Iesus Christ wee acknowledge them thou art faithfull and iust to forgiue vs them and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse wee submit our selues O Lord our God willingly to thy rebukes chastisements which iustly thou mayest lay vpon vs for the taming and subduing of our sinnes wee sorrow and weep for them our laughter is turned into mourning and our ioy into heauines we cast downe our selues before thee O God that thou mayest lift vs vp and open our eares by our corrections that our vncircumsied hearts may be humbled and
I will answere and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe and I will guide thee with my eye Soule Can the blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may I also doe good that is accustomed to doe euill I did say alas it was not yet time that the Lords house should be builded in mee but did put farre away the euill day and approached to the seate of iniquity as the smoake vanisheth so driuest thou sinners away as waxe melteth before the fire so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God how shold I then lift vp my horne on high or speake with a stifnecke for thou art iudge and in thy hand is a cuppe and the wine is red it is full of fury mixed and thou pourest out of the same surely all the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof thus the way of the wicked is as the darknesse they knowe not wherein they shall fall their owne iniquities shall take the wicked themselues and they shall be holden with the cords of their owne sinne woe be vnto the vngodly therefore which haue forsaken the lawe of the most high for though they increase yet shall they perish if they be borne they shall be borne to cursing and if they die the curse shall be their portion so shall they goe from the curse to destruction for the soule that sinneth it shal die the death Lord. I will not giue the soule of my turtle doue vnto the beast what is thy sin written with a pen of iron and with the poynt of a Diamond and so grauen vpon the table of thy heart wilt thou not giue thy minde to turne vnto mee thy God is the spirit of fornication in the middle of thee and wilt thou not knowe mee thy Lord wilt thou not poore soule be made cleane when shall it once be I will answer thee with good words and comfortable wordes arise my loue my faire one and come thy way for beholde the winter is past the raine is ouer and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is com and the noyse of the turtle is heard in our land arise my loue my faire one and come away withdrawe not thy heart from mee let me be thy hope in the day of aduersity I create the fruite of thy lips to be peace as well to him that is farre off as to him that is neere As I liue I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue turne thee turne from thy euill waies why wilt thou die silly soule I am patient towards thee and would that all men should bee saued and none perish but would all men should come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth yea and more aboundantly to shew the stablenesse of my counsell I haue thus bound my selfe by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that I should lie thou mightest haue a strong consolation who hast fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before ihee Soule I am empty void and waste the heart melteth and the knees smite together and sorrowe is in my loynes and my face gathers blacknesse for that which is crooked can none make straight and that which is wanting cannot bee numbred woe vnto me miserable soule for I haue rewarded euill vnto my selfe It is the vengeance of the Lord thou wilt take vengeance vpon mee as I haue done thou wilt doe vnto mee thou art a consuming fire a iealous God can my heart endure or can my hands be strong in the day that thou shalt haue ro doe with mee thy tempest goeth forth in thy wrath and a violent whirle-wind shall fall down vpon the head of rhe wicked thy anger shall not reaurne vntill thou hast exeted and untill thou hast performed the thought of thy heart in the latter dayes I will vnderstand it plainely I am but as foame vpon the water I haue plowed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruits of lies I haue trusted in mine owne waies in seruing sinne and liuing according to the flesh and must die for I cannot please thee Lord. Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whom I impute no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile If any man say he hath no sinne he deceiueth himselfe and there is no truth in him If thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am iust and faithfull to forgiue thee thy sinnes and cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse If thou say thou hast no sinne thou makest mee a lyer thou maiest see Adams fall and feele it in thee Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest Abrahams double deniall of his wife Rebecca her lie and deceit Iacobs lie Simeon and Leuie's murder Rachels theft the whole Patriarches bloody deuise against their brother Moses slaughter Moses Aarons murmuring Dauids murther and adultery Salomons idolatry and finally Mathew a publican all the Apostles ambitious Magdalen a notorious sinner Zacheus an oppressor extortioner the Theefe on the Crosse a notorious malefactor Peter a denier Thomas a doubter Paul a persecuter of Christ. But to this purpose appeared the Sonne of God that he might loose the workes of the diuell for surely there is none iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not for who can say I haue made my heart cleare I am cleane from my sinne all like sheep haue gone astray euery one hath turned to his owne way yet I haue laide vpon my Sonne the iniquity of you all For the trangression of my people was hee plagued though hee had done no wickednesse neither was any deceit in his mouth hee was counted with the trespassers and he bare the sinne of many and prayed for the trangressors there is none good but I when thou hast done all is commanded thee yet art thou an vnprofitable seruant thou hast but done that which was thy duty to doe now then there is no difference betwixt thee and others for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God and are iustified freely by grace thorough the redemption that is in Christ Iesus my Son whom I haue set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of thy sins that are passed through the patience of God hast thou laid vp these things in thy poore soule Soule The heauen alas doth declare my wickednesse the earth doth rise vppe against mee great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laide vp for them that feare
shall also be punished Saue mee O Lord and take the glory thereof to thy selfe for for not giuing it thee Herod was consumed of wormes thus thou doest lay the wickeds way vpon their owne heads Lord. The cause of all terrours and troubles in thy minde are thy sins I see and thou knowest it for they doe infect thy minde and conscience with their guilt from which guiltinesse proceedeth a fearfull expectation of these punishments thou hast spoken of to the which thou perceiuest thou art iustly liable neither canst thou be freed from this guiltinesse and fearefull pangs vntill thou thy sinnes beeing done away be reconciled to me for then and not before shalt thou haue peace of conscience boldnesse and confidence when thou art assured that I loue thee and thou mee and so canst rest on my promises and prouidence for there is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painefulnesse and hee that feareth is not perfect in loue the wicked flye when none pursueth but the righteous are bolde as a Lion and thouh thou shouldest walke through the valley of the shadow of death thou wouldest feare no euill because I am with thee and with my rod and staffe comfort thee So being iustified and assured once of my loue thou maist be fully perswaded that nothing is able to seperate thee from my loue which is in Christ Iesus where innocency is there is security for where iustification and assurance of remission of sinnes is there is peace with mee with the creatures and ioy in the holy Ghost Vse the meanes for obtaining of faith as hearing receipt of the Sacraments prayer meditation conference if thou bee not wanting to thy selfe I will not be wanting vnto thee and next approue thy faith by repentance for I haue bound my selfe by promise that all that turne from their sinnes shall in my Son be reconciled vnto mee for I craue no more but that thou beleeue onely and bring foorth fruits of a new life for this is thy part in the couenant with mee for sinnes repented of are forgiuen in my estimate as though they had neuer been committed because thou by these meanes art receiued vnto the protection of my prouidence thou maist be vndoubtedly assured that all things whatsoeuer yea in thy iudgement the worst also shall make together for thy good Be strong and of a good courage it is I that am with thee who can be against thee Soule Is not thy worde euen like a fire O Lord doth not my heart burne within me while thou talkest with me openest to me the Scriptures and manifesteth the word which is like a hammer that breaketh the stone thou onely canst quicken the dead in sinne and call those things which be not as though they were but alas how slow am I to beleeue and how hard is my heart Lord. The occasion of thy euill may bee outward but the cause is inward else neuer should Satan flesh or the world preuaile my Sonne was assaulted but Satan found nothing in him neither was there guile in his lips Satan doth offer thou doest yeelde to tentations if thou canst bee aduersary to thy corruption Satan shall be but as a Chyrurgion which launceth thy impostumation to preserue life howsoeuer hee purposeth to haue wounded to thy heart Ioseph by grace restrained his corruption concerning Putifars wife Dauids eyes opened the vaile to his corrupted heart so sin in him with Bethsheba grew to age in what measure thou withstandeth thy corruption in that measure thou art regenerate and assured to preuaile against strongest tentations thou maist easily espy thy corruption best by thy afflictions or by affections for such is a man as hee is in tentation the heart of man carrieth commonly all the other senses for by it they are moderated and ruled and therefore thou shouldest diligently keepe it againe it marres or makes all thy actions for if it bee pure thy affections are pure yea though some defects bee mixed therewith whatsoeuer commeth from a sound and sincere heart in my eyes is accepted and in my Christ accounded righteousnes vnto thee if for sins sake thou leaue sin though the lees thereof remaine in thee though thou doe not all the good thou louest but in loue desireth to doe it though thou leaue not all the sinnes thou hatest but in hatred of them I accept the good thou doest the euill thou desirest to leaue shall not bee imputed thus striue to haue thy heart right within thee with a purpose to approue thy selfe to mee labouring to kill sinne though the whole body of sinne be not slaine in thee There is a wickednes in thy heart cannot easily be espied the subtilty thereof is vnsearchable which should bring thee out of loue with thy selfe watch diligently ouer it it is like a mill euer grinding thou must circumcise it and make it to bleed to emptie it for there is so much superfluous matter in it Soule Wash mee thoroughly from my iniquity cleanse mee from my sinne O Lord beholde I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue mee create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me I feele alas in my corrupt heart such a world of sinnes and in euery one of them a fault against thee my God a guilt binding my conscience to the punishment of of eternall death and a staine or blot imprinted in mee as the fruite thereof which is my inclination euill disposition prouenesse and aptnesse of heart to offend which causeth me delight and liue in sin which lying in sinne and woe is mee therefore is a greater cause of damnation then the sinne it selfe Lord. Thou must beware of thy thoughts which are the feet and wings the soule walkes flies by yea the waggon and boate it is caried and failed in for an euil thought if it long tarry in the mind it will hardly be restrained before it come to the outwarde act and such monsters of the minde should make thee affraid suspect thy falling in the action of sinne by the affection of it thou must therefore search thy heart which is a bottomlesse pit of corruption and it is a speciall grace to gage it to the deepe for hee that maketh conscience of his thoughts will make conscience of his deeds for if thy heart be found in my my statutes thou shalt not bee ashamed Keepe thee from thoughts iniected as was Iudas his cast in his heart by Sathan and of thoughts arising out of it beware of staying in them by taking pleasure in these immaginations and delight in the sent of them for consent of will with mee is a full action Iudas thought but to doe euill and it is said that thou doest doe quickly after commeth deuise to bring to passe the act that followeth whence ariseth a benummed conscience after diuerse actions
feare before affliction commeth and then it ceaseth but the wicked fear not vntill it come and then they feare too much for piety trembleth in prosperity and triumpheth in aduersity I am alwaies God and am to bee feared of thee for thou art a creature and also sinfull an iron rod can easily break an earthen pot if the commandement onely keepe thee in obedience thou hast not receiued my spirit for my feare causeth obedience and the lawe was not giuen to the iust but to the vniust and therefore learne to say with thy heart I am a man that feare God thou canst not reioyce in mee alwaies faith is often faint loue and little ioy is dead feeling is fallen asleepe yet if thou continue in my feare thou wilt bee zealous of thy selfe least thou displease me mourn vntill these graces shine in thee againe the godly feare sinne more then exernall crosses they that feare least when my iudgements are threatned doe feare most when they are executed a good conscience breedeth true boldnesse sinne breedeth a spirit of feare in the wicked of euills to come the godly say my flesh trēbleth for feare of thee I am affraide of thy iudgements for where feare is not there is security security breedeth hardnesse of heart hardnesse of heart bringeth Gods wrath Soule Wee must haue feare to prepare vs to grace loue to continue vs in that grace this feare not that seruile and excessiue bringeth vs vnto thee helpeth our praiers causeth vs waite continue on our duties I must not bee without feare neither trust in my selfe for when my assistance is weakest sinne and Sathan is strongest neither yet must I haue a cowardly feare fainting of heart to yeelde to tētations but haue a moderate and not a scrupulous feare alawies being strong in thee the Lord my strength the ioy of the Saints may bee temporally interrupted but not finally eternaly absent they haue a iust and royall right in thy Sonne Christ and must maintaine it against all the staines and falls that they feare of the aduersary thus Satan would weare to a dulnesse the edge of our prayers and draw to tedidiousnesse the fruite of our faith and therefore they trust in the Lord with all their heart and leane not vnto their owne wisedome in all their waies acknowledge him and hee doth direct their waies they are not wise in their owne eies but feare thee and departe from euill so health shall bee vnto their nauell and marow vnto their bones they reioyce in his holy name the hearts of them that feele thee O Lord reioyceth they seek the Lord and his strength they seeke his face continually for surely their heart shall reioyce in him because they haue trusted in his holy name they I say doe serue the Lord in feare and reloyce in trembling oh thy louing kindnesse O Lord is better then life truely life is sowen for the righteous and ioy for the vpright in heart but alas good Lord I doe euer feele within mee such procliuity and bentnesse to sinne it is as thou saidst of my corruption whose remnants will follow mee to the graue I am ouer-mastered ouerruled at all times by my actuall impieties against thee and my neighbours offensiue and scandalous to all without any Christian consideration or holy remorse Lord. The cause thereof besides those I haue spoken are first because thou findest not after thy sinne a present controulement of sinne thou thinkest thou hast not offended I oft suffer the spirit of slumber to ouertake trangressors that I may by my spirit more perfectly waken my Saints then doe the wicked take courage and transgresse and doe wickedly but I wil search them with light and visite them that are frosen in their dregges and say in their hearts they Lord wil neither doe good nor euill so because the wicked are not taken in their sin they stretch out their hand to more wickednesse their houses are safe from feare neither is my rodde vpon them they say vnto me depart from vs for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes but they shall bee as stubble before the winde and as chaffe which the storme carrieth suddenly away I shall lay vp his iniquity for his children doth the way of the wicked prosper yet are they prepared for the day of slaughter and the worlde counteth the proude blessed and they that tempt me are deliuered but I haue a booke of remembrance of them that feare me and the armes of the wicked shall be broken but the Lorde vpholdeth the iust man The second cause is because thou resteth in my vniuersal promises which although they be true and comfortable yet they can minister no true consolation to thee except thou make a particuler application of them to thy selfe by the word thou seest thy sinnes pardonable yet it is another thing to haue sinnes remissible and another to assure thy selfe that they are already remitted for then thou wouldest search thy selfe more narrowly and purge thy selfe from inwarde sinne as from outward and bee wholly transformed vnto a new holy righteous life therefore the loue of righteousnesse departeth from thee and thou retirest to thy olde sins againe which will breed much sorrowe of heart to remember thy former sinnes to see the greatnesse of them to apply my iudgements to them and to prouoke thy selfe to sorrow for them The third cause is thy slacknes in not espying thy mother speciall and predominant sinne in thee by marking the most checks of thy conscience and the reproaches of thy enemies whereof thou maiest easily bee shortly conquerour if thou labour for the contrarie vertue for a man of vnderstanding knoweth when hee slippeth yea all the dayes of the afflicted are euill but hee that is of a merry heart hath a continuall feast yea and a scorner loueth not one that reproueth him neither will he goe vnto the wise then learne to acknowledge thy speciall secret and seuerall sinnes for the greatest hypocrite will generally complaine of sinne but beeing dealt with in particular points and application of them to their conscience they are not able to distinguish one sinne from another for thus indistinct knowledge cannot auayle in any terrestriall matter much lesse in the businesse of the soule Soule And I poore wretch in any perplexity of minde cannot seperate the blinde and confused cause thereof from the distinct known neither can eschew confusion of minde by bringing my soule to some certaine obiect and matter of my troubled heart good God whence commeth this and how shall it bee amended in mee Lord. The righteous heart knoweth the bitternesse of his soule and the stranger shall not meddle with thy ioy for a sound heart is the life of the flesh and by the sorrow of the heart the minde is heauie giue not ouer they minde to heauinesse and vexe not thy selfe in
thy owne counsell leaue off from sinne order thy hands aright a stubborne heart shall fare euill at the last and hee that loueth danger shall perish therein Now this disordered discerning of sinne commeth of ignorance of my lawe and selfe-loue whereby thou art ashamed to manifest sinne and rip it vp to the quick seeke to a faithfull sound friend or Pastor to whom thou maiest offer thy heart to bee searched deeply by the lawe bee continually with a godly man whom thou knowest to keepe the commandements of the Lord whose minde is according to thy minde and will sorrowe with thee if thou shalt miscarry and let the counsell of thy owne heart stand for there is no man more faithfull vnto thee then it for a mans minde is wont sometimes to tell him more then seuen watchmen which set aboue in an high Tower and aboue all thus pray to the most high that he would direct thy way in truth Soule What shall I doe if my griefe arise of any certaine or knowne sinne Lord. Then vnderstand if thou hast done that sinne already or else not yet committed it but whereunto thou art tempted for olde sinnes are represented oft to sinners as not truely repented of that they may the more mislike them that their particular sinnes may bring them to their grosse greater and generall sins that there may bee a sense of both least their griefe shold passe away without any fruit and reason thus with thy selfe if I bee so angry for this or that sin whereof thou art troubled thy bowels swell thy heart turneth within thee and thou full of heauinesse how vexed may thou be the wickeds bones are full of the sinnes of his youth and it shall lie downe with him in the dust though wickednesse bee sweete in his mouth though hee hide it vnder his tongue though hee spare it and forsake it not but keepe it still within his mouth yet his meate in his bowels is turned it is the gall of aspes within him I would therefore haue thee know poore soule that I would haue no man to perish but all men to come to repentance Soule How shall I then eschew sinne and how shall I be acquited frō that sin which hath passed me Lord. I haue oft admonished thee of thy corruption to make account to suppresse it labour to espy thy secret sinnes with truth and not in shew so hard a matter it is to search thy heart to the bottome for there is not a more wicked heade then the head of the Serpent and giue any plague but the plague of the heart and therefore in respect of sinnes past sinnes present priuie pride hidden wants secret corruptions euer accuse thy selfe of some lurking hyprosie for the godly tremble at the least motion of sinne and say I will runne the way of the cōmandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart bind not two sinnes together for in one sinne thou shalt not be vnpunished and because thy sinne is forgiuen be not without feare or heape sinne vpon sinne say not the mercy of God is great hee will forgiue my manifolde sinnes for mercy and wrath commeth from him and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners the two fountaines and grounds of sinnes are the inward motions of the heart and the outward occasions of the senses especially the eyes for whensoeuer a man heareth the word of the kingdome and vnderstandeth it not the euill one commeth and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heare neither must thou drawe neare to mee with thy mouth and thy heart farre off from me and the things which proceed out of thy mouth come from thy heart and they defile the man keepe thy heart therefore to lay vppe good and pretious things therein as in a store-house keepe it I say diligently for thereout commeth life againe vertue vice dwell very neare together learne to bee holily scrupelous fearefull and suspicious for preuenting of sin to come the heart of the wise shall know the time and iudgement thirdly keep thy selfe from foolish venturing vpon the occasions which are the borders of sinne when thou mayest beholde many of my children better fenced with grace then thou art to haue beene snared for the foolish will beleeue euery thing but the prudent will consider his steps let thy heart bee therefore in feare of God continually set no wicked thing before thy eyes hate the worke of them that fall away let it not cleaue vnto thee Soule Alas good and mercifull father I doe euer finde in mee so many allurements intisements to sinne which often I would eschew but cannot which offer themselues to mee at euery minute neither can I retire me selfe from them albeit I doe sometime protest against them and abhorre them eyther before or soon after the sinne is committed with a very perfect hatred and loathsomnes Lord. Thou must seriously obserue first of the company to discerne good from euill for good company hate the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse and in their eies an euill person is contemned but honoureth them that feare the Lord with sound iudgement labour to holinesse and sincerity of life in all things haue a sight of thy corruptions mourne for them doe good to the houshold of faith which continue in one spirite and in one minde fighting together thorough the faith of the gospell longeth for the appearance of Iesus Christ but these are euill that denie the Lord that bought them bring vpon themselues swift damnation by whom the wayof truth is euill spoken of and are of a prophane life and hate to bee reprooued but rather grow worse and worse which persecute the Saints of God and make choyce of the pleasures of sinne for a season who are affraide of death and set vp their heauen and rest in this life which put farre away the euill day and approach to the sight of iniquity to these thou must fay with Dauid away from mee yee wicked for I will keepe the commandements of my God my eyes shall bee vpon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me and therfore thou must beloued soule bee rather wearie of them because they run the broad way following first examples secondly multitudes thirdly time fourthly custome fiftly opinion Soule I hate vaine inuentions but thy law doe I loue thou art my refuge my shield and I trust in thy worde teach me good Lord these things particularly that I may ingraft them in my heart Lord. Follow the godly but so farre as they followe mee their guide in the word and Iesus Christ the author and finisher of their faith which through faith and patience haue inherited the promises for it is a signe thou art in the wrong way if thou doe nothing but that the greatest part of the world doe for how
euill soeuer the way be and whersoeuer it lyeth euery mans way is right in his owne eyes and will defend or excuse whatsoeuer they doe But I the searcher of the hearts do say your wayes are not my waies nor your thoughts my thoughts because they are wrong waies let euery man turne from his owne wayes their thoughts are the Diuelles souldiers which war against the soule they followe their Captaine and thou followest them thou may easily know whither thou goest the heart of man is to mee as clay to the Potter clay I say to mee but waxe to the diuell for it will haue much tempering and great adoe to bring it to mee but very plyable to any worke that Satan shall put it to for albeit thou shalt see neuer any euill example nor bee tempted by multitude neither outwardly assaulted at all yet thine owne heart will teach thee wickednesse aboundantly what auaileth it thee to forsake companies and retaine thine olde heart still For it is I that can restraine the issue of thy corruptions conforme therefore thy wil to mine hee that toucheth pitch will be defiled by it hee is blessed that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sitte in the seat of the scornefull for the wicked are strangers from the wombe they goe astray assoone as they bee borne they are put out of the booke of life blessed is hee whom I choose and cause come to mee but saluation is farre from the wicked because they seeke not my Statutes hate them therefore that giue themselues to doe willfull vanities for they shall be consumed like the fat of lambs euen with the smoake shall they consume away Thou must not then imitate them but hate them with a perfect hatred that hate mee and bee companion to all such as feare mee There is no path wherein there is not a snake either to sting or impoyson thou canst see thy selfe sooner infected they spy how thou art infected it is my mercy to be good with the communion of Saints so it is my iust iudgement to poure vengeance on the company of the vngodly haue no fellowship with them in their sinne neither draw in their yoak with them take forth the pretious from the toile let them returne to thee but returne not thou vnto them rouse vp thy heart and reioyce in the fellowshippe which is aboue for because of vncleanesse inordinate affection and euil concupiscence my wrath commeth on the children of disobedience Soule Now doe I beginne to feele the heauy burthen of sinne more and more with the which I am truely grieued but I haue not duely alas repented me of them I resolue to suppresse them with all my indeauour but I feare my secret corruptions will breake forth so aboundant is that roote of bitternesse in mee remember not against mee my former iniquities but make haste and let thy tender mercies preuent mee for I am in great miserie helpe me O God of my saluation for the glory of thy name and deliuer mee and bee mercifull to my sinnes for thy names sake I will acknowledge my sinne vnto thee neither will I hide mine iniquity for I thought I would confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgaue the punishment of my sinne O that I might take heed vnto my selfe keepe my soule diligently and thy seruant from euill that the peace of thee O Lord that passeth all vnderstanding may preserue my heart and minde in Christ Iesus and now O Lord who can vndestand his faults keepe mee thy seruant also from presumtuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer mee so shall I be vpright made cleane from much wickednesse Lord. First of all beware beloued soule of Sathans flieghts and condemning thee by presumption say not the mercy of God is great hee will forgiue my manifolde sinne for mercie and wrath come from mee and my indignation commeth downe vpon sinners an obstinate heart shal bee laden with sorrowes and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sin make thou no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of thē Lord breake forth in thy security thou shalt bee destroyed and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance binde not two sinnes together for in one thou shalt not bee vnpunished neither iustifie thy selfe before the Lord for he knoweth thy heart thou must not learne of Satans temptations to bee bolde vpon sinne neither vse pretenses for it as to say I am not an Angell that my nature is corrupt c. The preacher is but a man as an other c. and on the other part beware of desperation in mocking the ouer-fearefull and superstitious for Sathan will make of a Fly an Elephant but saile with an euen course and labour for measure to bee sought in the word of God which will teach not to decline neither to the right nor left hand but to keep the narrow way for wisedome will be iustifled of her children Soule Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindenesse for they haue been for euer remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord gracious and righteous art thou therefore thou wilt teach sinners in the way O God thou hast taught mee euen from my youth vntill now therefore will I declare thy wonderous workes make mee flie from the lusts of youth sollow after righteousnes faith loue peace with them that call on thee with pure hearts neither write thou bitter things against mee make me possesse the iniquities of my youth Lord. There are sins in youth middle and old age negligence in making conscience of sinnes done long agoe maketh falling in great terror of minde when violent remembrance of them surchargeth the mind therefore betimes learne to accuse them that Sathan henceforth haue no place to doe it for if thou iudge thy selfe thou shalt not bee iudged humble thy selfe therefore vnder the mighty hand of God that he may exalt thee in due time cast downe thy selfe before the Lord and hee will lift the vp I will surely gather him that humbleth and I will gather him that is cast out and him that I haue afflicted Soule Willingly desire I Lord to make that fruit of my falles but alas when I looke backe to my mispent time which is vnrecouerable and which I cannot redeeme then great feare and torment assaults mee and pinches so hard that I am at my wits end Lord. Comfort thy selfe poor soule for in my best children there is first youthfull loosenesse and vnstayednesse of affections the way to lewdnesse so Dauid O God thou knowest my foolishnesse and my faults are not hid from thee seest thou not
wee willingly be are the punishments of our iniquitie O when wee cōtemplate the incōprehensible infinite and glorious Maiesty of thee our God whom wee haue so heauily offendee in doing so many so great and haynous wickednes in sinning against thee against thee only haue wee sinned and done euill in thy sight O the vilenes and abiectnesse of man that durst thus commit such wickednesse against thee O God how feareful by reason of our manifold iniquities is our condition vnder Satan for of whomsoeuer a man is ouercome euen to the same hee is in bondage besides the dangers wee haue incurred by our sinnes euen all the plagues and curses temporall eternall that are written in thy booke wherefore O most heauenly Father wee most heartily entreate thee to remember the riches of thy mercie in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of thy onely and dearely beloued Sonne as of a lamb vndefiled and without spot when nothing else in the world was auaileable thereto whose sacrifice is daily and hourely effectuall vnto vs timously preuenting sin carefully furthering and diligently sanctifying our cōuersation from impiety his blood cleanseth vs from all sinne hee is the head of his Church and sauour of his body leading vs by the guidance of his spirit to perfection O how excellent is the estate of them that are in thy Sonne how many benefits and priuiledges haue they hee died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse hee ascended on high and ledde captiuity captiue and if we now sinne as wee cannot else doe and wo is vs therfore we haue an aduocate with thee O Father euen Iesus Christ the righteous O how vnthankefully offend wee against the blood of this thine annoynted in not walking worthy of the same but treading vnder foot thy Sonne and counting the blood of the coueuenant so much as in vs lyeth as an vnholy thing wherewith wee were sanctified do spight and grieue the spirit of grace dulling yea oftentimes quenching thy spirit in vs thus liuing in sinne we dishonor thee but maruailous yea wondrous is thy patience it is thy mercyes that we are not consumed because thy cōpassions faile not and therfore when we consider deer father how small the number of those is which shall bee saued and that many shall striue to enter in but shall not be able and doe meditate vpon thy iudgements from time to time still continually inflicted vpon the world for sinne and that if the righteous scarcely shal be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare whither shal wee slye from thee O wee haue recourse vnto thy mercie O forgiue vs therefore all our sinnes and offences for his sake who was crucified and did hang on the tree for vs O giue vs thy grace that wee may grow more and more therein that wee thinke often of our end and of the fearfull day of iudgement that sinne may haue little rest in vs but that wee may rest in thee this night and euermore through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lod to whom with thee and the holy Ghost wee giue all glory praise and thankesgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Morning O Lord God eternall and euerlasting Father with heuay griefe loathsome detestation of our sinnes wee confesse them all vnto thee O searcher of the heart and raines there is not any creature which is nor manifest you thy sight but all things are naked and open to thy eyes we acknowled them although our knowledge herein bee too short and doe yeeld our vnsearchable hearts vnto thee O God blaming that corrupt fountaine of our hearts against our selues vnto thee who art ready and able to forgiue O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame but righteousnes belongeth vnto thee wee are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies wee detest our waies and couer our faces yea groane vnder the body of sinne and desire to bee rid of it and more carefully hereafter to please thee wee haue felt thy punishments and displeasure often before for sinne and therefore now wee cannot cease crying out against our corruptions and rebellions O Lord wee cannot mourn enough at our priuy motions and prouocations to sinne wee beare the traytor in our bosome which giueth way vnto the temptation which wee cannot of our selues subdue and captiuate and O Lord we haue no certainty of our life if to day yea euen this houre thou wilt call vs neither yet the assurance of the renewing and returne of thy mercie which oft we haue refused disdained and contemned Oh that wee soone yea now heartily repent and earnestly conuert the surer would be our acceptance and the more cōfortable our after conuersation but O thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon us O thou pittifull Samaritain take vs vp not halfe but altogether dead in sinnes trespasses make vs liue the life of grace that wee may haue our conuersation in heauen from whence wee looke for thee the Sauiour that wee may walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitfull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of our God in dying to sinne and liuing to righteousnesse that wee may finde fauour grace peace and contentment both with God and man casting away euery thing that presseth downe and renouncing our especiall sinnes which hang so fast vpon vs for this cause O Lord make vs surrender our hearts vnto thee and let our eyes delight in thy waies for if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not keepe our soules therefore that they be not couered with the spirite of slumber and sleeping in sin but that wee may stand vp from the dead and thou wilt giue vs light take from stupidity and senselesnesse spirituall blindnesse and hardnes of heart that wee may walke circumspectly redeeming the time which we haue lost and alwaies be watchfull ouer our selues that we may auoide presumption by meditation of thy iustice and despaire by quicknesse and liuelinesse out of thy word for apprehending thy comfortable promises make vs hide them in our hearts that wee may not sinne against thee keepe vs that we may doe all things as in thy presence and neuer yeeld to the inward rebellions and deceitfulnesse of the heart but wrastle by thy grace against the backewardnesse thereof that wee may daily offer it vppe as a sacrifice of obedience vnto thy Maiesty regarding and accounting all things but losse and iudging them to bee dung that wee may win thy loue and fauour and so liue in the time of our perigrination here that we may continually feare our selues haue a holy iealousie of all our best actions that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare wee may receiue an incorruptible
crowne of glory which is promised them that growe in grace in the knowledge of our Lord Sauior Iesur Christ to him be glory both now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Euening O Most louing and mercifull Father if the beauty and flower of all our best actions which is prayer bee so sinfully stained with our naturall corruption alas how odious and abhominable are the rest of our sinnefull workes thou findest no stedfastnesse euen in thy seruants and layest folly upon thy Angels how much more on them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust thou hast no need that any should testifie of vs for thou knowest what is in man thou lightenest things that are hid in darknesse makest the counsell of their hearts manifest our hearts are deceitfull and wicked aboue all things who can know it and if our hearts condemne vs thou art greater then our hearts and knowest all things O what boldnesse might wee haue towards thee if our hearts condemned vs not O what treachery is in this our flesh O the continuall readinesse that is in Satan that goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs and thou O Lord lookest down from heauen and beholdest all the children of men frō the habitation of thy dwelling place thou beholdest vs all that dwell in the earth thou fashionest the hearts of euery one and vnderstandest our works O Lord aboue all things giue vs an earnest striuing against our corruptions a tendernesse of conscience in all our actions a lowlinesse and humility in all our carriage making conscience of the least sinnes keeping our selues from the occasions and all appearances thereof and because O Lord thou hast not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by the means of our Lord Iesus Christ which died for vs that whether wee wake or sleep we shold liue together with him grant we beseech thee that we may entertain stirre vp thy gifts which is in vs and the good motions thereof let not thy spirit lye a sleep in vs keep vs from terrors in conscience from loathing coldnesse and deadnesse in Christian duties and exercises discontentment and blindnesse of minde aptnesse to fall into those sinnes again which wee either abhorre or by thy spirit haue heretofore conquered that we may rouse vp thy spirit and labour more and more to be quickned in the inward man euer making warre against some chiefe lust of the heart to get the maistery ouer it that by experimentall conquest of our owne wee may learne in time to conquer all the rest and because our heart lyeth open to all temptations grant wee beseech thee O deare Father that casting downe the imaginations and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of thee our God and bringing in captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ that we may follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith loue patience and meckenesse that fighting the good fight of faith wee may lay holde on eternall life and now O Lord thou art in this darknesse of night our saluation and light wee will beholde thy face in righteousnesse and when wee awake wee shall bee satisfied with thy image wherefore our heart is glad and our tongue reioyceth and our flesh also doth rest in hope and now the Lord deliuer vs from euery euill worke this night and euer preserue vs vnto his heauenly kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to whom bee praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday at Morning VVEE confesse O Lord God most mercifull Father that in vs that is in this our flesh there is no godnes in such bondage are we vnto sinne that while wee are about any good as very seldome alas wee are euill is present with vs and wee are led captiue thereto yet Lorde by thy grace wee striue against that slauery in very great weakenesse and wee thank our God througe Iesus Christ our Lord that wee in our minde in some small measure doe serue thy lawe but in our flesh the law of sinne for it is thou O God which workest in vs both the will and the deede euen of thy owne good pleasure wee haue had our conuersation in times past so miserable was our case in the lusts of our owne flesh in fulfilling of the flesh and of the minde and wee are by nature the children of wrath walking after the course of this world and after the Prince that raigneth in the ayre euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience but thou O God who art rich in mercie through thy great loue whereby thou louedst vs euen when wee were deade by sinnes hah quickned vs together in Christ thy deare Son our Lord grant good God vnto vs a rectified iudgement proceeding frō an enlightned and sanctified vnderstanding wrought by a liuely faith thorough thy worde that wee may meet together vnto a perfect man and to the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ vouchsafe gracious Father according to the riches of thy glory that we may be strenthened by thy spirit and comforted in all the faculties of our soules that wee may know and proue the loue of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ that wee may be filled with all the fulnesse of thee our God giue vnto vs a sanctified conscience keeping it sensible of the least euill desiring to liue honestly with a continull cheerfulnesse of well doing and holy ordering and disposing of our affections that we may set them on things that are aboue and not on things which are vnder the earth for crucifying of the flesh and natiue corruption therof and in building more more forward the new man that wee may wake a most gracious conquest ouer our most vnruly thoughts in fitting and conforming our outwarde actions to thy most holy acceptable and perfect will and serue thee the Lord our God with ioyfulnesse with a good heart for all thy blessings bestowed vpon vs both spirituall and temporall that as wee haue receiued Iesus Christ our Lord so wee may walke rooted and built in him and stab lisht in the faith abounding therein with thanksgiuing to preuent security and giue thy grace alwaies O deare Father that wee may ioyne with this our faith vertue with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindenesse and with brotherly kindenesse loue that we be not idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ that as this same very day wee beginne heere with thee directing our prayers as incense before thee so by these means an entry may be ministered vnto vs aboundantly vnto the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that when we shall lay downe these our
tabernacles we may receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules now the very God of peace sanctifie vs throughout and wee beseech God that our whole spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse both this day and vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Spirite three persons in one Godhead we ascribe all honour maiesty dominion power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Euening LOrd God heauenly Father wee are come here to worshippe and fall downe and kneele before thee our Maker doe heere acknowledge with quaking and trembling soules our wickednesse to be very great and all the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of our hearts are not only euill continually but also wee doe commit sinne in transgressing thy holy law yea the least sinne breaketh the whole law and maketh vs guilty of the wages therof which is eternall death endlesse condemnation O how filthy and loath some is sinne in the greatest pleasure and most ioyful actions thereof by birth wee are altogether tainted defiled and polluted with corruption and vncleanesse who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse we are prone and desperately set to commit sinne with greedinesse wee reioyce in doing euill alas we delight and repose our chiefe contentment therein although all the day long thou O deare Lord stretchest forth thy hand vnto vs disobedient and gaine-saying people who hate to bee reformed and pluckt out of sin yea our best actions are but beautifull sinnes wee are all vncleane things and all our righteousnesse is as filthie clouts and wee all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde haue carried vs away and we know good Lord that hee that committeth sinne is of the Diuell for the Diuell sinned from the beginning but for this purpose appeared thy Son O God that hee might loose the workes of the Diuell who was to that effect decreed from all eternity promised immediately after our fall in Adam but when the fulnesse of time was come thou O most mercifull father sent forth thy Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs that were vnder the lawe that wee might receiue the adoption of thy sonnes who for vs hath obtained a glorious and meritorious conquest his humaine nature being accompanied with the efficacy of that his diuine ouer the curse dominion and rigour of the lawe chaining vppe Satan and destroying for euer the power of hell sin death and condemnation O Lord our God what can wee render vnto thee for so great graces and benefites wee will take the cuppe of thanksgiuing and call vpon thy name O Lord for thy mercies sake grant vs a full assurance of our acceptation into thy fauour through Iesus Christ a constant desire of the promised happinesse that wee may hunger and thirst after righteousnesse a cheerfull expectation and wayting for all these ioyes spirituall blessings thou hast blessed vs with in heauenly places that wee may willingly resigne our selues vnto thy holy obedience embracing those meanes which thou hast offered for our saluation that wee may trust in the and doe good commit our way vnto thee and cast our selues vpon thee when all meanes shall faile and rest in thee yea euen hope in death reuerently depend vpon the truth of thy promises although wee cannot see them as yet accomplished albeit they seem against all sence and reason that this following night wee may not onely meditate of the true life of God day of resurrection and our arising to iudgement to render account for the workes done in our flesh whether they bee good or bad but also may rest in the sweete bosome of thy portection desiring at all times to bee loosed and to bee with Christ euer thinking the time of our departure to be at hand and therefore to fight a good fight to finish our course and keepe the faith that henceforth there may be laid vppe for vs the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteuos iudge shall giue vs at that day and not vnto vs onely but to all them also that loue his appearing which shall bee cloathed in white array and whose names are written in the booke of life purchased by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ who treadeth for vs the vine presse alone to whom with thee and the holy Spirit our comforter be all praise power honor and glory Amen A Prayer for Thursday Morning O Eternall God and euerlasting Father we from the bottome of our hearts do thanke thee for thy blessings spirituall and temperall common particular that thou hast predestinated vs before the world begā elected vs to be in thy Christ adopted sons called vs by thy spirit to this light of thy Gospell and giuen vs assurance in faith of thy vnchangeable fauour renewing in some measure this corrupt nature and framing thy image in true righteousnes and holinesse in our inwarde man not making vs not onely capable of grace in the soule of wisedome and spirituall knowledge but also making some conformity in vs to thy will in life and conuersation these blessings wee haue receiued of thee freely beside thy continuall prouidence and ouer-sight ouer vs this night by-past and all the daies of our life Lord enlighten our mindes that wee may know all things in thee and nothing any otherwise then as it commeth from thee and as it hath relation to thee for thou art all things in all all things do exist in thee therefore euery thing may be knowne in thee thou most merciful father known yea seene and felt in euery thing euen in the least and basest creature grant therefore that we doe neuer rest in any thing till wee come to thee and now beholde wee approach to renew that soundnes wherewith wee laide downe that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first of this day and to prouide for holy and setled courses in our callings all the day after and so begin a-new to liue the daily life of grace that thy kindnesse and mercy may follow vs all the dayes of our life and now haue we laid our selues downe in peace which was thy gift doe awake with the comfort there of thy mercies are renewed euery morning if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake we are still with thee good Lord assist vs that wee may daily weaken the olde man in vs with the vitious lusts and sinneful concupiscences thereof giue vs comfortable experience of this our corruption that wee may be the more and more humbled in our selues euer hungring and thirsting for that righteousnesse which is in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour weane vs from the loue of this world and distrustfull cares for temporall things cōfirm our faith stedfastly in the prouidence of
thee our God for outward benefites giue vs confidence and boldnesse euen to sue to thy presence that wee may finde our life and powers quickned in holy duties especially in prayer zeale of thy glory humility patience feare loue that hauing liuely experience of the power of Christ raigning in our mortall bodies wee may haue strength to perseuere vnto the end for this cause quicken our desires and purposes for well-doing that wee may be humbled for our outwarde faylings and sinnes and inwarde vnreasonable lusts labouring more and more to discerne the deceitfulnesse of the heart and vnsearchablenes thereof that wee may bee euer enflamed to redresse the same grant O heauenly Father that in our calling this day aboue all wee may desire to glorifie thee ayme onely at thy loue that wee may be stirred vp cheerefully to prosecute heauenly things and euer renew our estate in Christ by constant repentance that beleeuing thy promises and applying thē to our selues wee may follow hard after the accomplishment of them by our obedience to thy commandements root out of vs incredulity and couetousnes that setting bonds to these earthly desires by true contentation we may haue our eyes fixed continually vpon heauenly purge out of vs hypocrisie spiritual pride keepe vs from the raigning sinnes of this our time that wee may follow constantly after the mark for the high price of our calling in Iesus Christ knit our hearts vnto thee that we may fear thy name giue vs a hatred of all euill and loue of righteousnesse preuent in vs presumption that wee may worke out our owne saluation with feare and trembling that henceforth wee doe not liue to our selues but to him that died for vs and rose againe and therefore resigning our selues bodies and soules into thy hands O God wayting for thy blessings vpon vs in all humility and lowlinesse not sacrificing to our selues but giuing all glory to thee our God for we are not worthie of the least of all thy mercies and all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto vs thy seruants vpon thee is our fruit found who is like vnto thee that taketh away iniquities and pas-by the transgression of thy heritage thou retaynest not thy wrath for euer because mercy pleaseth thee thou wilt turne againe and haue compassion vpon vs thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes in the bottome of the Sea that onely for the merits of thy dearly beloued Sonne Iesus Christ on whom thou hast laid the chastisements of our peace and doest giue thy selfe in him who is thy loue and in whom thou art well pleased to whom with thee and the holy Spirit one very God immortall inuisible infinite and mercifull wee render praise and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer for Thursday Euening O Eternall God and euerliuing Father wee here abase our selues before thee in regarde of our vilenesse and also of the vnworthinesse of the seruice wee doe performe for wee haue not subdued euery imagination in vs that exalteth it selfe against thee neither cut off the power and cords of sinne our zeale is full of ignorance and self-loue our religion replenished with hypocrisie our profession with vaine-glorie our well-doing accompanied with weariesomnes our faith with carnalnesse and our afflictions with impatiency how sluggish remisse are wee in our callings how haue wee been withdrawne in our vntamable lusts wee haue not brought our thoughts in captiuity to thy obedience wee receiue thy blessings with vnthankful hearts neuer returning vnto thee praise how haue wee wasted and neglected this so gracious a time of visitation wherein we might haue builded vppe our selues in thee and practised good vnto others how carelesly haue wee kept our hearts giuing occasion to Satan thereby against vs how much lycence haue we yeelded to the tyrany of the flesh in not liuing soberly and righteously and godly in this present worlde how weakely and feebly haue wee wrastled against our corruptions and which is most miserable custome hath made vs so senslesse past feeling that wee cannot bee moued to beleeue that thy anger is so great or our iniquities so hainous or condition so wretched as truely it is and therefore wee are not affraid of thy Maiesty who is a consuming fire wee doe not tremble at thy iustice who will rewarde euery man according to his workes for tribulation and anguish shal be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill neither doe wee weigh and regard thy plentifull mercies in knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth vs to repentance wherefore we humbly beseech thee to create a cleane heart in vs and to renew a right spirit within vs that we may more sensibly apprehend how wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked we are and now good God according to the measure of that spirituall feeling wee haue obtayned of thee wee most entirely entreate thee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake to forgiue all our sinnes whatsoeuer whensoeuer and wheresoeuer committed against thee for by faith in his obedience are we made righteous who is the end of the lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth Lord we beleeue help our vnbeliefe hee suffered for vs such miseries as sin had drawne vpon vs that hee might sanctifie them vnto vs both in the humility of his natiuity his whole life and his ignominious and cursed death O what grief was it to him that he came to his owne and his owne receiued him not but was betrayed by them and placed before thy iudgement seate O deare Father as one guilty for vs let our olde man O deare Father be crucified with thy Sonne that the body of sinne may bee destroyed that henceforth wee doe not serue sin any more abolish for his sake that hand-writing that was against vs that our sinnes may neuer come to remembrance before thee who by his death hath ratefied the eternall testament of his grace vnto vs for he was deliuered to death for vs and is risen againe for our iustification for thine owne annoynted sake O Lord let the ioyfull light of thy fauour and countenance shine vpon vs and be reconciled vnto vs grant vs true faith in thy Sonne that beeing iustified thereby before thee wee may haue peace of conscience with thee and our neighbours thereby that wee reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorie in the holy Ghost and become fruitefull in all good works and so by thee our God be made meete to be partakers of thee inheritance of the Saints in light who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs to the kingdom of thy deare Son in whom wee haue redemption thorough his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes now the same Iesus Christ our Lord and our God euen the father which loued vs hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace comforte
assured of our acceptation into thy fauour that no trouble or dismay ouerwhelme vs with the weight thereof but if it shall bee thy good pleasure wee be assaulted on euery side yet wee bee not in distresse if in pouerty yet not ouercome with pouerty if persecuted yet not forsaken if cast downe yet perish not that euery where wee may beare about in our bodie the dying of our Lord Iesus Christ that the life of Christ may also bee made manifest in vs vouchsafe vnto vs O Lord the shield of true faith whereby wee may beat back all the fiery darts of the Diuell as carnall confidence presumption security infidelity distrust and incredulity giue vs a constant desire of the promised happinesse purging and preparing our selues to it perfect thy worke in mortifying our sinnes preserue thy graces in vs with increase of new obedience sustaine our hearts against the deferring of thy promises in contrary tentations make vs haue refuge vnto thee to hold fast the hope which is set before vs which wee haue as an anchor of our soules both sure and stedfast confirme therefore our faith against infidelity and discontentment our hope against despaire our truth against errour with the which of thine owne will thou didst begette vs that wee should bee as the first fruits of thy creatures confound Satans kingdom the worldes deceitfulnesse and our hearts doubtfulnesse inlighten our vnderstanding with this sauing knowledge of thee O God confirme stablish our iudgements therein quiet our conscinces sub due our wils and affections to thee and grant vs thy mercifull concurrence that wee may finish our course with ioy now Lord wee make our prayers to thee this night in an acceptable time euen in the multitude of thy mercies O God heare vs in the truth of thy saluation wee will therefore lie vs downe and also sleep in peace for thou Lord only maketh vs dwell in safety to God the Father our Creator to God the Sonne our Redeemer to the holy Ghost our sanctifier comforter we ascribe all honor power and glory now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Saturday Morning PRaised be thou O Ood which hast not put back our prayers nor thy mercies form vs our life alas is subiect to many fearefull breaches and distractions with many false shadowes appearances of good for not onely doe we not shine as lights before others but also in respect of our euill example we are stumbling-blocks to them we doe little alas or rather nothing to edification but to offence Lord wee heartily mourne for all our sinnes whereunto wee haue yeelded our selues this night and all our life time before and do this morning renew our repentance and vowes vnto thee more effectually then before intending our callings more carefully and conscionably then we haue done labouring both to auoide the outwarde acte of sinne to haue our hearts purged from the euill thoughts thereof that wee giue no way to our corruptions but bee masters of them and so bee free from the rage amd slauery of the same which is the greatest happinesse in this worlde for if wee say wee haue fellowship with thee and walk in darknesse we lie and do not truely wherefore O Lord grant that wee may possesse contrite and broken hearts for all our sins with remembrance of thee in our greatest security awake and rowse vs vp from the dead sleep of sin make vs desire euermore carefully to serue thee looking for and hasting vnto the comming of that great day of thee our God by which the heaaens beeing on fire shall bee disolued and the elements shall melt with heate O sweete Father make vs diligent now that wee may bee found then in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in peace without spot and blamelesse hauing by thee increase of his grace in vs experience of his raigning in our mortall bodies by whom wee shall haue strength and assurance to perseuere and continue to the end for this purpose deare father daily quicken our estate in Christ thy Son by constant and serious repentance that from thee our holy purpose being renewed we likewise also receiue strength to practice accordingly make vs ouercome the world by thy power which hindereth our groth in grace pressing vs downe euen with our own weight Enlarge our hearts consciences wills and affections that all the members of our bodies may be enliued restrain and bridle our corruptions that wee may daily weaken them heartily loath them and groane vnder them keepe vs from despaire and ourwarde reproach let not the time multitude and example of sinne draw vs away which doe commit sin most greedily and hide it most dangerously let our hearts still cleaue vnto thee and to thy word that by it daily sent out of our selues wee may obtaine new strength in thy Sonne Iesus Christ to goe forward in well-doing that discerning our inability thereto wee may interest our selues in his pretious merits that growing in grace we may be perfected in glory for the increase of glory shall answer to the increase of grace Lord thou knowest wee shall haue this day as wee haue had heretofore more tentations and oppositions of the world humble vs and make vs patient that wee may by thy spirit preuailing in vs be euen ioyfull in all our crosses aduersities and troubles whatsoeuer charitable in iudging others zealouse ouer our selues holy and vpright in our duties and callings that wee may more and more feare thee O great and glorious God more and more humbled in thy greatest mercie more and more thankefull for the least of thy blessings whereunto we haue obtained a right only in Christ Iesus who accepted of vs aboue the worth of our obedience grant vs wee may be cast downe by serious meditation of thy maiesty power and goodnes as also of our owne vnworthinesse O how many are thy deliuerances from euill preseruations and goodnesse acceptances of vnperfect seruice renewing and increasing of spirituall and temporall blessings preuentions of wickednesse which we acknowledge to be thy great mercies in vs confessing therewith our manifolde wants desiring humbly faithfully continually and constantly suppliment of them receiuing in the meane time euery present blessing as steps and pledges in our right to heauen power and mercy belongeth to thee O Lord holy and fearefull is thy name how gracious and mercifull art thou slowe to anger and of great kindnesse thou art good to all and thy mercies are ouer all thy workes teach vs to do thy will this day for thou art our God let thy good spirit leade vs vnto the land of righteousnesse to thee therefore with the Frther and the holy Spirit be glorie praise honour world without end Amen A Prayer for Saturday Euening LOrd there is risen vnto vs and wee haue apprehended light in darkenesse wee haue waited the accomplishment of thy promises in thy light
election before thou wast created his gifts before thou camest to knowledge and his preseruation of thee vntill now from deserued plagues of of pestilence sworde famine fire and water in place whereof hee prolongeth thy life giueth thee food rayment and health of body giueth his presence in his word and Sacraments for thy soule his spirit to thy effectuall calling to grace benefites publicke and priuate generall and particular which are so infinitely and vndeseruedly poured on thee while thou refusest thy loyalty to thy soueraigne reuolts confederates with his greatest enemies 5 Meditate the paines of Christ in his whole life what hee was before his incarnation and what he became after looke vnto his crosse passion and bitter death and for whom he did vndergoe the same and how wee rewarde him with despighfull vnthankefulnesse distrusting his goodnes altogether or else too much presumptuously re-lying thereon in continuation of our sinnes and postponing of repentance 6 Consider that without hearty and zealous remorse neuer any shall attaine to life euerlasting that it is not a gift may bee had at all times yea it is often refused because the pretious time of visitation was neglected than it is seldome true liuely when it is to late that very often impenitency is tyed to sin with the wages thereof 7. That death is a faithfull doore-keeper which will not suffer thee to haue more with thee out of this world of the goods thereof but so much as thou bringest in with thee which is nakednesse crying and griefe the goods of faith hope repentance and charity shall onely accompanie and follow the conscience after death which shall neuer be seuered from the soule either in well or euill doing but supplies in wickednesse all the offices of a Court cites arrests presents iudgeth beareth witnesse condemneth or iustifieth executeth tormenteth eternally for it is that worme that dyeth not 8 Death as our shadow attendeth vs in euery place which as it is most certaine so the day and houre is most vncertaine to vs for who knoweth the time houre or place thereof 9 Looke that the longest liuer hath beene gathered to his fathers and hath gone the way of all flesh our life being but a sleepe or shadowe of longer or shorter continuance 10 Pause vpon the inesteemable good we lose by sinning hardly recoueraable the infinite and vnspeakeable euill wee incurre thereby how short pleasure is requited with vnmeasurable torment 11 Remember the companions which euer attend vpon sinne Gods high displeasure the losse of the right which we haue to his creatures the grieuing of his spirit the banishing of his good Angells from vs confusion storme and torture of minde a fearfull expectation of Gods insupportable wrath the sparkes whereof doe beginne but to be kindled here beside the loath somenesse wearisomenesse and anxiety wee haue in the sweetest fits of sinne 12 Consider the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyres and all the godly how wisely they haue daunted and bridled their vitious willes and affections and couragiously ouer-throwne the strong holde of sinne within them for the crown of glory that was set before them died in Gods fauour and liued all their time in his feare left testimony and cōmendation behind them to the end of the world of their strong and inuincible faith but the memory of the wicked doth rot and his posterity is plagued FINIS Psa. 30. 6. 7 Cant. 3. 4 Hos. 14 4 Hos. 5. 2. 7 Luk. 22. 13 1. Pet. 2. 11 Psal. 22. 51. 77 Act. 1. 6 Cal. 2 2. Sam. 11 1. Tim. 4. 3 Psal. 19. Psal. 44. Psa. 49. 12 Psa. 7. 3 Eph. 2. 3. 7 Iob. 42. 6 Rom. 3. 5 1. Cor. 10 Heb. 13. 18 Eph. 1. 17 18. 19 Gen. 4. 6 7 Iam. 5. 9 Psa. 32 9 Ier. 38. 26 Eph. 4. 17 Tit. 1. 16 Ier. 28. 12 Ro. 2. 4. 5 Iam. 5. 5 Iob 11. 20 Iob 18. 7 Iob 20. 5 Iob 38. 15 Psa. 9. 16 Ps. 11. 5. 7 Psa. 32. 10 Ier. 33 3 Ier. 13. 23 Hag. 1. 2 Iam. 6. 3 Psa. 68. 2 Psa. 15. 8 Pro. 4. 19 Pro. 5. 22 Eccl. 4. 1 8. 9. 10 Ezek. 18 Psa. 14 19 Ier. 17. 1 Hos. 5. 4 Ier. 13. 27 Zach. 13. Can. 2. 10 11. 12 Ier. 18. 5 Ier. 33. 11 2. Pet 3. 9. Heb. 6. 17 18. Na. 2. 10 Eccl. 1. 15 Esay 3. 9 Ier. 50. 15 Deut. 4. 24 Ier. 23. 19 20 Hos 10. 7 15. Ioh. 8. 34 Rom. 8 13 Psa. 32. 1. 2 1. Iohn 18 Gen. 3 Gen. 9 Gen. 12 Gen. 20 Gen. 27 Gen. 34 Gen. 37 Exod. 2 Num. 20 2. Sam. 11 1. Kin. 11 Mat. 20 Luk. 19 Ioh. 18 Act. 9 Ioh. 3. 8 Eccl. 7. 22 Pro. 29 Esa. 53. 7. 8. 9 Mark 10 Luk. 17. xo Rom. 3. 23 24 Iob. 20. 27 Psa. 31. 19 Esa. 33. 12 13. Eecl 8. 8 Wis. 5. 17 20. Ier. 37. 4 Iob. 9. 4 Psa. 76. 7 Hos. 5. 15 Esa. 54. 5 6 7 8 9 10 ver 17. Esa. 55. 3 12 13 Esa. 51. 6 Psa. 31. 22 Rom. 4. 21 Pro. 28. 13 Psa. 32. 5 Psa. 51 Neh. 9. 33 34. Dan. 9. 5. Luk. 15 Gen. 3 2. Sa. 2. 25 2. Cor. 2. 7 Exod. 32 Num. 10 Num. 12 Num. 16 Num. 20 Num. 25. Iud. 19. 20 1. Sam. 15 2. Kin. 11 2. Sam. 24 1. Kin. 13 1. King 2 2. Chro. 26 Act. 12 Ezek. 11. 21 Ioh. 4. 8 Pro. 28. 1 Psa. 32. 4 Rom. 8. 39 Rom 5. 1 Ier. 23. 29 Luk. 24 32 Rom. 4. 17 Luk. 24. 25 Gen. 6 Mic. 2 Ier 17. 9 Pro. 4 15 16 Psa. 51. 3. 5 Ps. 119. 80 Ioh. 13 Pro. 14 2. Kin. 20 18 Ier. 42. 6 Reuel 3. 15 12 22 Ger. 42. 14 15 Heb. 12. 6 1. Cor. 11 32 Iob. 31. 1. 7 Ps 42. 11. 9 Iam. 1. 13 2. Pet. 3 Pro. 14. 9 Rom. 2. 4. 5 Pro. 15. 15 Iud. 17 Mat. 51 Dan. 5. 27 Psa. 101. 8 Ps 119. 133 Psa. 19 13 Heb. 3 Psa. 95. 8 Iam. 4. 8. 9 Mar. 10. 24 Act. 5 Iam. 2. 10. Rom. 7. 23 Ephe. 2. 2 Pro. 4. 16 2. Cor. 3. 18 1. Ioh. 3. 3 Luk. 9. 21 Heb. 11. 25 Rom. 6. 2 Luk. 1 Rom. 5. 5 Psa. 89. 13 Psa. 32 Psa. 119. 1 Ps. 119. 161 Es. 8. 12 Iob 31 Ps. 119. 120 Pro. 28. 14 Heb. 11. 7 Hab. 3. 16 Pro. 3. 5. 6 Ro. 12. 16 Ps. 105. 3. 4 Psa. 33. 21 Psa. 2. 11 Psa. 33. 6 Ps. 9711 Hab. 1 11 Zeph. 1. 12 Iob. 21. 9 Ier. 12. 2. 3 Mal. 3. 15 Psa. 31. 17 Eccl. 21. 7 Pro. 15. 15 Pro. 14 10 Pro. 15. 3 Eccl. 30. 21 Eccl. 3. 27 Eccl. 37. 12 Lam. 1. 20 Iob. 20. 11 11. 12 2. Pet. 3. 9 Eccl. 25. 13 Ps. 119. 23 Eccl. 7. 8 Eccl. 5. 5. 6 Mar. 13. 19 Mat. 15. 8 Luk. 1. 66 Pro. 4. 23 Pro. 2. 8 Eccl. 8. 5 Mat. 26 Gen. 3. 6 Pro. 14 15 Pro. 33. 17 Ephe. 5. 11 Psa. 15. 4 Gal. 6. 10 Phil. 1. 27 2. Pet. 2.