Yea knowest thou not Him who knewe the verie thought of the heart of Simeon the Pharisee speaking thus within himselfe of thy Saviour If this Man were a Prophet Hee would surelie haue knowne what manner of Woman this is which toucheth Him Luke 7.39.40 for shee is a Sinner Oh! ô my soule when shall that which was seene felt and confessed by olde Bernhard who lived in that blinde Age which was couched under grosse Darknesse bee seene bee felt and bee confessed by us who liue nowe hauing that great shyning light of the Gospel continuallie with her hote pearcing Beames stryking as it were our verie Eyes so that wee cannot hyde our selues from them eyther LORDS Day or Weeke day yea eyther by day or by night Bringeth hee not in the wicked man speaking thus to himselfe Parietes inquit sunt undiqueue quis me videt I am inclosed on all sides with walles vvho seeth me Alwayes how is that wicked man answered by him Esto nemo te videt non tamen nullus videt te Angelus bonus videt te angelus malus Bernhard videt te bonis malis Angelis major Deus I giue thee sayeth Bernhard that no man seeth thee yet darest thou say that none seeth thee the good Angell seeth thee the evill angell seeth thee also and vvhich is more one who is greater than good and evill angels seeth thee to wit GOD. When that evill angell the devill O my Soule seeth thee thy irreconciliable Adversarie and bitter Accuser ô my Soule seeth thee When GODS good Angell seeth thee that witnesse seeth thee who vvill beare testimonie against thee yea thy loving Brother seeth thee whom by thy sinne thou grievest fearefullie When thy GOD seeth thee that judge seeth thee who neyther can bee possibilie frustrate of His purpose nor anyways corrupted when He goeth to judgement Attempt not heerefore O my Soule to commit sinne upon hope of secresie for I must assure thee from the mouth of thy GOD that if thou shalt sinne against Him thou shalt bee seene by Him SInne and Evill are so joyntlie knit together O my Soule let Satan alleadge vvhat he will let men misled by Satan alleadge what they please that vvhosoever committeth sinne doeth evill albeit neither in the eyes of other men neither in his owne eyes yet in the eyes of that good GOD before whome sinne was never good before whom sinne shall never be good yea before whom sinne hath ever beene evill sinne shall ever remaine evill commit it who so will I pray thee heerefore O my soule while thou breathest heere forget not to thinke grauelie upon that warning and vvakening Sentence which is delivered by the Spirit touching David his adulterie and murther And when the wife of Vriah heard that her husband Vriah was dead 2. Sam. 11.26.27 shee mourned for her husband So when the mourning was past David sent and tooke her to his House and she became his Wife Alwayes hearken hearken O my soule unto that which followed But the thing that David had done was evill in the sight of the LORD Alwayes lest this evill which ever accompanieth sinne be mistaken by thee O my Soule thou must know that howbeit Sinne bee evill in the sight of the LORD yet the evill of Sinne is not hurtfull to the LORD against whom it is committed but onelie unto that Soule by the which it is committed For as mans goodnesse cannot profite his GOD Ioh 35.6.7 8. so his sinne cannot harme His Majestie Oh! ô my Soule When shall the deboashed Gospellers of this our Tyme suffer these Oracles of GOD to take roote downwarde in their heartes to the ende they may bring foorth Fruite upwards in their lyues Doe they provoake Mee to wrath sayeth the Lord and not themselues to the confusion of their owne faces Ierem. 7.19 Eccles 8.13 It shall not bee well with the Wicked neyther shall hee prolong his dayes but hee shall bee lyke a shadow because hee feareth not before GOD. As thou lovest thy selfe then ô my soule strengthen thy selfe against all Sinne if thou wouldest not haue mee to repent albeit alace out of tyme after death and judgement That ever I was borne For that Evill which ever accompanieth the Sinner for Sinne must in despight of Devils and men at length ceaze upon the Sinner unlesse by sincere repentance GOD beeing mercifull unto him for His Sonne IESVS His sake hee quyte himselfe tymouslie of Sinne. THE Wyse Gardener judgeth of his Tree by its Fruite as the vertuous Husbandman judgeth of his Seede according to his Harvest But oh O my Soule When shalt thou learning to bee holilie and truelie wyse beginne to judge of Sinne thine onelie Enemie by that fruite by that harvest alace which it bringeth foorth Oh LORD GOD oh LORD GOD how fearfullie bitter is that fruit which that rotten poysoning tree of Sin bringeth foorth How fearfullie hurtfull is that uncouth harvest which followeth it I must tell thee heere O my Soule that that Sinne whereinto I was conceived and borne and which alace I must alwayes keepe within my bosome while I liue heere bringeth foorth fruite bringeth foorth sheaues yea such stoukes such stackes which bee so fearfullie bitter so horriblie hurtfull that if this bitternesse and hurt coulde bee perceived even by us who call our selues GODS Children wee should bee easilie mooved with that chosen Vessell of GOD uncessantlie to crye out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Knowest thou not ô my Soule Roman 7. that thou and this my bodie came joyntlie in one minute joyned together in this Worlde as two kynde Twinnes loving other moste entirelie embracing other most kyndlie Yea knowest thou not ô my Soule that thou and this my bodie haue lived since that time of my birth in this Worlde some yeares together as husband and wife moste strictlie married one to another even before GOD and by GOD and yet that bitter roote of Sinne which alace was conceived was borne and which hath lived with us will haue in despight of all wee can devise or doe thee O my soule separate from this bodie of mine and this my bodie separate from thee But will bitter Sinne stay heere notwithstanding this bee a sharpe stroake Not ô my Soule For Sinne even after this separation is made will haue that bodie within the which it some-time lodged for heere I am speaking ô my Soule of the verie condition of GODS Sainctes onelie albeit it bee dislodged and put out of the bodie by death couched under the vildest stinke and most pestiferous flewar that ever came to the nosthrils of man notwithstanding that that bodie was sometime pleasant to the eyes of the beholders and savourie to the smell of such as approached neare unto it in such sorte that the loving father may not suffer that his tender childe beeing dead to abide in one house with him that the pittiefull hearted mother can bee
I finde another lawe in my members Rom. 7.23.24 rebelling against the law of my minde and leading mee captiue unto the law of sinne which is in my members And after this bursteth he not foorth into that languishing complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Besides this O my Soule is not miserable man thus depryved of all righteousnesse and corrupted throughout in bodie and soule made a miserable Beggar beeing before so great a Monarch that hee hath no title to anie of the creatures of GOD so that beeing out of CHRIST the verie meate which hee eateth the verie cloathes which cover his nakednesse the verie aire which hee breatheth into c. shall procure his condemnation suppose hee sinned not otherwayes against his GOD. But which is moste lamentablie miserable O my Soule not onelie is man thus depryved of good and corrupted with evill made a miserable Beggar but a monstrous Slaue yea a Slaue unto a fearfull Slaue even unto Satan that evill one who not onelie lodgeth but even worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 fighting against man by those his ugliest champions Sinne the Worlde Death and the Graue When shall this bee seene and perceived by us O my Soule Surelie could this bee seene Sinne should bee hated by us with an unfained hatred Satan should bee resisted by us as our onelie deadliest enemie Wee use to say O my Soule Burnt Bairne Fyre dreaddeth Hath not that fierie Dragon long agoe burnt us all alace in our first parentes Feele wee not even to this day the fearfull hurt which wee received by that burning Yea carrie wee not about with us goe where wee will the scarres and markes of that burning Should wee not then abhorre to looke to that Dragon to obey anie of his counsels were they never so apparantlie profitable or pleasant For albeit his coate appeareth somewhat to bee friendlie his heart shall remaine alwayes the heart of an irreconcilable Foe SCarre scarre O my Soule with sinne as thou lovest thy GOD and thy selfe for hath not thy GOD who loveth thee with a great loue with a wise loue tolde thee That whosoever sinneth against Him must not onelie receiue wages for his sinnes but besides his wages that boontieth which is due unto Sinne also The wages of Sinne O my Soule as thou knowest is Death Rom. 6.23 even that first death with all those diseases which leade a man unto it separating the soule from the bodie and the bodie from the soule and that second death banishing soule and bodie from the comfortable sight of Gods saving Face and gracious presence for ever and why wilt thou die thus O my soule The boontieth of sinne ô my soule is shame Rom. 6.21 procuring such confusion to man that he dare not lift up his head before GOD before Angels before Men unlesse in soule he bee senselesse both of his GOD and of his sinne This shame was that boontieth wherewith our Iust GOD propined our first parents the first sinners O my soule for howbeit Adam and Evah being free of sinne were naked altogether in respect of materiall naturall seene cloathes yet they were not ashamed but could stand before their GOD and looke one upon another with a good heart and chearfull countenance so glorious were they through the beautie of the Image of GOD which then covered them Alwayes O my Soule no sooner are they infected with Sinne by disobeying the Voyce of their GOD Gen. 3.7.8 but as soone they were so covered with Shame that they dare not looke upon GOD and are confounded while they beholde themselues VVOuldest thou bee freed O my Soule from that Death which is the Wages of Sinne and delivered from that Shame which is the bontieth of Iniquitie I beseech thee shake off that Shame which alace too manie misseled by Satan in this our Age are clogged with albeit it procure daylie matter of new death and greater shame unto them and with a good heart smyling countenance put thou on that Shame where-with too few alace in this our Age are covered albeit it bee able GOD beeing mercifull unto us not onelie to slay Death and shake off confounding Shame but also to procure quickening Grace and saving Glorie Alace O my Soule how manie with Vincentius the Hereticke beside Augustine in his fourtie-eight Epistle while they thinke shame to amende their Faultes thinke no shame to continue in their Faultes Corah with his companions lift up themselues against Moâ—ses Numb 16. and Aaron A certaine space is graunted unto them to advise themselues about this their sinne But dare they not face the matter peartlie beeing as readie to present themselues upon the morrow before the LORD as Moyses and Aaron were What wonder then that our GOD just in all His Wayes cover them with Death and with Shame to their destruction who would not confesse their sinne and willinglie acknowledge That Death and Shame belonged unto them because of it to their conversion Fewe Sinners alace O my Soule in these our dayes with Moyses with David with Daniel with that Great Apostle Paul can acknowledge and confesse their sinnes crying yea crying aloude That Shame yea open Shame belongeth unto them and That Glorie and Righteousnesse belongeth to their GOD and therefore what wonder that amongst our Sinners there bee fewe who haue our Blessed GOD to looke their eyes with Moyses to put away their sinnes with David Deut. 34.6 2. Sam. 12. Dan. 9. 1. â—â—m 1. to heare them with Daniel to receiue them to mercie with Paul Pronounce thy selfe heerefore O my Soule worthie of death because of thy sinnes that GOD through His CHRIST may receiue thee to Life Take the Coate of Shame to thee for thy sinne O my Soule to the ende that thy GOD for thy Saviours sake who for a while was covered with Shame for thee may cloathe thee with Grace heere and with Glorie heere-after for ever FOrget not forget not O my Soule to giue in a Bill of Complaint against thy selfe unto thy GOD accusing thy selfe condemning thy selfe before His Majestie for the secret sinnes committed by thee hid from the Worlde yet knowne by Him And with this forget not to giue in the like Bill against thy selfe before GOD before Angels yea before Men for thy manifest and knowne sinnes seene by that Sunne which shineth by day and not kept secret from that Moone which governeth the night For if thou O my Soule deceived by that olde cunning Deceiver vvho as yet taketh pleasure to deceiue shalt attempt to refuse for anie alluring promise can bee made unto thee for anie harming threatning can bee pronounced against thee to giue in those Billes against thy selfe to the ende that thou happilie judging thy selfe bee not justlie condemned with the Worlde I know one beeing taught of my GOD who will both peartlie and fearcelie giue in his Bill against thee ayming at no lesse than thy
distressed Israel hearest thou not Moyses and Aaron the Commissioners of thy God Exod. 4.29.30.31 to day sweetlie telling thee that they were sent of God to bring thee out of Aegypt that thou mightest celebrate a Feast to the Lord thy God in the Wildernesse Alwayes must thou not bee contented the next day to heare Pharaoh his Taske-masters speaking thus to thee bitterlie Thus sayeth Pharaoh Exod. 5.10.11 I will giue you no more Straw goe your selues get you Straw where you may finde it notwithstanding the number of Brickes which you made in time past shall not be diminished O David telleth not Samuel thee 1. Sam. 16.27 that thou shalt be a King of Iudah yea anoynted he thee not with Oyle in the Name of the Lord to certifie thee hereof Alwayes after this must thou not be contented not onlie not to finde a nightes lodging in thine owne house but not so much as a Caue or hole to hide thy selfe in in all Iudea and Israel Thus he who to day heareth blessed Iesus who is Loue it selfe promising unto him a Crowne must be contented to morrow to haue wise Iesus ladening him with a Crosse But O! wherefore dealeth our wise God with His owne thus For speciall graue reasons ô my Soule is this done I assure thee for hereby He tryeth the faith the hope the patience of His owne hereby He stirreth them up earnestlie to deale vvith Him by continuall Prayer for He will haue His owne to aske that from Him which He is to giue unto them yea this He doeth to moue His owne being set at libertie to be the more thankefull and to use Gods good thinges bestowed on them the better to make the Wicked His and their unjust enemies the more inexcusable and to conquish the greater Glorie to His owne Name when having in spight of all oppositions performed that liberallie which Hee did promise graciouslie to His owne He advanceth them and overthroweth His and their enemies LEt it not grieue thee ô my Soule that some day hid up from thee that in some place unknowne to thee thou must lay downe this dustie tabernacle vvherewith thou hast for some yeares bene cloathed as with a Garment but see that thou being now happilie ingraffed in Christ and through His grace dying to sinne daylie for the which He died Philip. 1.23 and living to Him who died for thee and rose againe even with an holie languor submitting alwayes thy will to the good will of God long for that day with that great Apostle And when that day shall draw neare I charge thee ô my soule that in that day thou lift up thy self rejoice What wise man being wearied all the day long with laboures abroade will grieue to draw home at night First to refresh himselfe with some entertainment and thereafter laying aside his Garmentes to goe to his rest knowing that so pleasing God when the morning shall arise hee will finde his Garment againe And darest thou O my Soule bee grieved when that night of Death shall approach all thy wearie Labours sustained by thee here being finished to lay down this thy clay bodie and to haue thy selfe conveyed by those Angels of God unto that refreshing Palace of that Paradise which is Aboue nowe wyde open to keepe thee because of the obedience of that second ADAM who died for thee Yea darest thou O my Soule be grieved in that night of Death to haue this clay bodie conveyed to that resting Bedde of the Graue sweetelie nowe perfumed by the Buriall of the Sacred Bodie of thy gracious Saviour IESVS For knowest thou not when that glorious brightlie shyning Morning of Iudgement shall approach in the which that Mightie GOD thy Saviour whom the Heavens doe now containe shall manifest Himselfe in Glorie accompanied with thousands of His Angels and with the sound of the last Trumpet that thou shalt not onlie meet with that wonted Garment of thy Bodie but take it up againe but put it on againe Alwayes not as men take up their Garments here in the morning after their rest in the night but farre otherwayes more comfortablie joyfullie and profitablie by a thousand thousand degrees As men here lay aside their Garments at night going to their rest so they take them up in the morning having taken them up they goe foorth againe eyther to their wonted or some new labour But I must tell thee O my Soule to thy great comfort That thou shalt take up this tabernacle of my bodie in that shining Morning of Iudgement in a farre more excellent estate than it was laide downe into by thee into that darke night of Death and when it was laide downe in the Chamber of the Graue It was laide downe in corruption it shall be taken up in incorruption it was laid down in dishonour 1. Cor. 15.42 43.44 it shal be taken up in glorie it was laid down in weaknes it shal be takeÌ„ up in power it was laid down natural it shal be taken up Spiritual Could this be well coÌ„sidered O my soule would I cease while I liue here to imploy all the members of my bodie holilie And when Death should approach mee would I not undoubtedlie be heartfullie contented even with joye to lay down this earthlie tabernacle Again I will assure thee O my Soule because so hath my Lord and Master IESVS by the sweetest words of His owne sweetest Lippes assured me that thou having in that day of Iudgement taken up and put on that Garment of this Bodie shalt never goe foorth to anie olde or new Laboures againe But shalt alwayes rest in endlesse rest for evermore free of all suspition of future griefes and filled with a verie Sea of unexpressible Glorie For in that day thou being happilie praesented a chaste Virgine well decked and trimmed 2. Cor. 11.2 with the Ornamentes of thy Glorious Husband IESVS before thy Glorious Husband IESVS shalt haue that Marriage nowe contracted with Him joyfullie solemnized and perfectlie consummated And then thy Blessed Husband having wyped away all Teares from thine eyes shall take thee in to His most secret Cabinet of Glorie there not onelie to see but to possesse for ever that Glorie vvhich Hee possessed before the Worlde was made Could this bee well weighed by thee O my Soule wouldest thou not crye with David As the Hart â—â—ayeth for the Rivers of Waters so panteth my Soule after Thee Psal 42.1 O GOD My Soule thirsteth for GOD even for the living GOD. When shall I come and appeare before the praesence of GOD Yea wouldest thou not crye with Paul O wretched Man that I am Who shall deliver mee from this Bodie of Death Rom. 7.24 Philip. 1.13 I desire to bee loosed and to bee with CHRIST which is best of all Yea thou wouldest uncessantly crye with the Kirke CHRISTES Bryde Come LORD IESVS Rev. 22.20 Even so Come quicklie Amen FINIS
perceiue that which thy blessed Maker would leade thee unto by that more than Majesticke Glorious Comfortable Oracle sounded by His Majesties Glorious Lippes while Hee is about to make Man for Himselfe after that Hee had made the other creatures for man Let us make Man in our owne Image Belieue mee O my Soule Could this Oracle never alace sufficientlie as yet considered by man bee rightlie weighed by thee thou wouldest learne to thinke lesse of the other creatures after the which alace so manie doate so miserablie yea by the which alace there is a verie worlde grosselie bewitched Yea thou wouldest learne to accompt of none but thy GOD yea not to attempt to loue thy selfe but for GODS cause and in so farre as thou findest thy selfe like unto Him What O my Soule Shalt thou bee made to see and heare if thou shalt compare the twentie sixe verse of the first of Genesis pointing at Mans Creation with the third sixt ninth fourteenth twentie and twentie foure verses of that same Chapter leading us to the Creation of the other creatures True it is O my Soule that all these were created by that same GOD by whome Man was also created yet they and Man are not brought foorth after one and the same manner for albeit our GOD being to create the Light the Firmament c. be content to say Let there be Light let there be a Firmament c. yet it contenteth not His wise mercifull Majestie when He is to make Man barely to say let there be a Mā but he must say Let us make Man to our owne Image Thus passing from the Creation of the other creatures to the making of Man not without speciall advise and deliberation as it were and yet heere thou must not thinke ô my Soule that thy powerfull GOD to whom all thinges are easie brought foorth Man with anie greater difficultie than He brought foorth the other creatures or that Hee doubted anie wayes about the making of Man but this is done by Him that hereby His wise Majestie one in substance three in Person Father Sonne and Holie Ghost might recommend to our consideration the excellencie and eminencie of Man beyond and aboue the other Creatures daining Himselfe to take a speciall consultation onelie about the making of Man as about His most excellent and glorious Worke. Shall these three sacred Persons of that incomprehensible Deitie after mature deliberation as it were concurre joyntlie and joyefullie for the making of Man and should not I O my Soule summonding all thy powers with all the members of my bodie after due advise charge them all to concurre for the loving for the seeking and for the serving of that blessed GOD againe crying aloude O my minde O my heart O my will O my whole affections and so ô my loue ô my hatred ô my feare ô my confidence ô my joy ô my sorrow ô mine anger ô my patience concurre to seeke Him concurre to serue Him who concurred to make you yea ô mine eyes mine eares my lips mine handes my feete and remnant members see you all concurre to withstand sinne the enemie of that GOD who with joye concurred to make you and to proue your selues alwayes to be His duetiefull servants who hath proved so gracious a Lord unto you MOurne Mourne ô my Soule when thou rememberest what I was from my GOD being created by Him in Adam and what I am now from my Father Mother having fallen with them in Adam was I not created to the verie Image of His Majestie being so righteous and perfect that in my whole minde heart and will yea that in all the powers of my soule and members of my bodie there was sufficiencie of strength and power whereby I was able to know my GOD to loue my GOD and my Neighboure according to that voyce of the Law Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart with all thy soule Mat. 22.37 39 and with all thy minde And Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thyselfe And that without anie disorder rebellion or corruption and so without anie darkenesse in the minde frowardnesse in the will rebellion in the heart corruption in anie of the remnant powers of the soule or members of the bodie and being thus spirituallie beautified was I not beside this that great emperour greater than the Turke who styleth himselfe THE GREAT EMPEROVR having all the fowles of the Aire all the fishes of the Sea with all which is here on Earth to be found bound by the verie appointment of GOD to serve me yea most readilie willing by the force of His Majesties blessing accompanying me for to serue me But alace ô my soule as I am now from my parents having fallen with them in Adam I am deprived of that Image of my blessed GOD to the which I was made and so voyde of that righteousnesse wherewith I was then cloathed being shapen and fostered as Seth the son of Adam and Evah was shapen and fostered and how was that O my soule surelie in the sinnefull Image of his sinnefull parents so that now my soule is not simplie wounded through sinne but starke dead in sinnes and trespasses and therefore no wonder that our GOD who onlie knoweth perfectlie what harme sinne alace hath procured to us speake thus of man Genes 6.5 All the imaginations of mans heart are onlie evill continuallie And lest anie man should haue proved or should proue so peart as to apply that saying to these of that first world overthrowne by the Deludge it pleased our wise GOD O my soule after that Noah was brought foorth of the Arke to plenish the Earth againe to sound over againe his former Iudgement touching Man saying Genes 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evill even from his youth Oh! ô my soule when shall wee learne to consider rightlie that third Chapter to the Romans by the which that Spirit of trueth describing man unto us as he is out of Christ and destitute of the grace of GOD proclaimeth him to be nothing but a verie masse of vilde and loathsome corruption yea is not this our originall corruption cleared unto us by the holy Scriptures so sensiblie that as wee are acquainted with that good which wee cannot possiblie doe because of it so we are informed anent that evill which we cannot but doe by reason of it 1. Cor. 2.14 2. Corin. 3.5 Roman 7.18 Roman 8.7 The naturall man perceiveth not the thinges of the Spirit of GOD neyther can hee know them because they are Spirituallie discerned Wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues I finde no meaues to performe that which is good The wisedome of the flesh is enimitie against GOD for it is not subject to the Law of GOD neyther indeede can bee Yea is not holie Paul couched under the tyrannie of this fearfull originall corruption where-with alace wee are infected O my Soule compelled to make this confession
comfortlesse confusion and remedilesse condemnation Alace alace O my Soule When shall the dead senselesse sinners of this Age reade with attention consider with meditation that fearfull Stile vvhich that good Spirit of GOD our Teacher giveth to that Evill spirit the Devill our irreconcilable Adversarie Is not that evill spirit stiled by that Good Spirit The Accuser of the Brethren Where-by thy Teacher Rev. 12.10 ô my Soule the Spirit of thy Father and of thy Saviour vvould teach thee That no sooner doe anie of the Children of our GOD commit especiallie anie grosse knowne sinne against His Majestie but as soone that Evill one praesenteth craftilie albeit maliciouslie the names and sur-names of those vvith their sinnes before GOD crying O LORD Thy Majestie madest this Man to Thine owne Image Thy Majestie delivered Thy Sonne to death for him Thy Majestie vvast readie by Thy Spirit to renewe him and yet for all this Thy great loue hath hee not defiled him selfe vvith abominable Idolatries blooddie Murders filthie Adulteries and Fornications brutish Drunkennesse mercilesse Oppressions c. Wilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the Worlde rub Shame upon the face of such a one vvho hath so grosselie rubbed Shame upon Thy Name and upon Thy Blessed Gospel professed by him Yea vvilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the World adjudge such a one to bee mine for ever vvho hath after the offer and proofe of such rare loue and kindnesse refused to bee Thine O my Soule vvouldest thou not bee loath that such an Accusation should bee made against thee especiallie by such an Accuser Forget not then forget not then to accuse thy selfe before thy GOD to the ende that His Majestie may bee mooved out of pittie for thy Savioures sake to excuse thee yea to defende thee even before and against the Devill thine Accuser and deadliest Enemie BLinde Man slipping the first Path in the which hee should stay his steppes is made to fall from that high vvay in the which alone hee should walke heere and to deboash him selfe in that by-way vvhich leadeth him alace towardes that Lake out of the which there is no redemption because man cannot seeke after that true Director and Guide vvho neyther can deceiue nor bee deceived While hee looketh for Life hee findeth in ende nothing but Death yea vvhile delighting unhappilie in his praesent foolish sportes hee promiseth great commodities and comforts to himselfe confusion yea condemnation proue in ende to bee his portion What Noble wise man ô my Soule having his young Childe to put to Schoole doeth not even after deliberation make choise both of that Master by whom hee would haue him to bee taught and of that Pedagogue by whom hee would have him attended O Man I must tell thee were thy Raiment never so course were thy Cheare never so sober yet thou lodgest within thy Clay Bodie an immortall Soule which would bee wiselie committed to some good Master to some faithfull and painfull Pedagogue But where shall such a one bee found Let no man seeke after Man to bee his Pedagogue seeke after Man to bee his Master but after that Blessed GOD vvho onelie made Man and is able to instruct man truelie to governe man rightlie And so let man seeking after a Master after a Pedagogue runne to the Face of GOD runne to the Mouth of GOD even unto holie Scripture by the which Hee sheweth Him selfe to man by the which Hee speaketh unto man inquiring there To what way he shall take him selfe in what way he shall keepe him selfe while hee so journeth heere to the ende when that Night of Death shall fall downe upon him hee may set his feete upon the Thresholde of the Gate of that Citie and bee received with joye to lodge even for ever in the inwardest Palaces of that Citie Rev. 21.27 within the which no uncleane thing can possiblie enter Oh my Soule when shall the men of this Worlde prooue as holilie wise about the governing of their Soules which must necessarilie either liue or die for evermore as Monoah the father of Sampson was circumspect about the dressing of the bodie of that his sonne who was onelie to liue for a while with him Hee was not praesent with his Wife vvhen the Angel of God appeared unto her but can hee not runne to his God and say I pray Thee my Lord let the man of God whome Thou sentest come againe nowe unto us Iudg. 13.8 and teach us what wee shall doe unto the Childe when hee is borne Alace alace ô my Soule who runneth thus to God Who prayeth thus to God That Hee by His Spirit would teach them by that blessed Booke of His Worde what they shall doe to their owne Soules and to the Soules of those who belong unto them while they liue heere Oh Lord God vvhen shall that true aunswere given by Thy Majesties gracious Mouth made unto David Thy Scholler inquiring Thy Majestie about this purpose bee hearkened unto by the men of this Age bee believed by the men of this Age By what meanes shall a young man redresse his way By taking heede there-unto according to Thy Worde Psal 119.9 That which our Master spake to the vylde Sadducees touching the grounde of their fearefull errour denying the rising againe of the dead may bee moste truelie applied unto all kinde of sinners debording from the vvayes of Pietie of Righteousnesse or of Sobrietie Thou art an Idolater a Blasphemer a prophaner of Gods Sabbath a Traitor an Oppressor a Murderer a false man an Adulterer a Fornicator a Drunkard because thou knowest not and believest not the Scripture to bee that Booke vvhere-by God thy Master teacheth thee vvhat is that thou shouldest eschew vvhat is that thou shouldest imbrace IN manie respectes ô my Soule is the estate of man now alace couched under Sinne to bee pittied but in this respect especiallie That beeing naturallie sensible of the mortall Clay Vessell hee is naturallie senselesse of the immortalt heavenlie Soule What man having a maimed or diseased bodie hearing vvho can cure him knowing vvhere he may find that Cure seeketh not incontinent for that man longeth not even with wearinesse to be with that man and yet alace while man is not onlie wounded but dead in soule through a greater number of sinnes lying on it than there be haires on his head he cannot only refuse to heare that Physician to come to that Physician who is onelie able to cure him but he can finde an heart to hate such a tongue to revile such yea now and then a verie hand to stryke such as advise him to heare that Physician to belieue that Physician and to bee content to receiue his Potions and to use that his Salue which is only able to cure his soule Naaman the Syrian beeing infected with Leprosie 2. Kings 5. informed by that base handmaid who served in his house That there was a man in Israel able to cure him will not stint till he
goe thither so desirous was hee of corporall health That poore woman who was long subject to a bloodie issue Matt. 9.20 is not affraide to throng through the people till she come to IESVS so carefull was shee to bee made whole Can blinde Bartimeus knowing that IESVS was comming by Marke 10. who was able to cure him be stayed from crying O Sonne of David haue mercie on me yea which thou wouldest admire ô my soule no sooner heareth he it sayde to him Bee of good comfort arise Hee calleth thee but assoone albeit he was blinde he threw away his cloathes and hastened unto IESVS Oh LORD GOD when shall the Naamans of this our Age leprous in soule by reason of their monsterous sinnes seeke after that water of the Spirit and of the Word which is onlie able to cleanse them when shall the men the women of this Age monsterouslie defiled from the toppe of the head to the soale of the foote through that continuall running issue of iniquitie which maketh them not only uncomely but loathsomelie stinking in the nosthirls of GOD of Angels and of men sensible of GOD runne with faith towards the Hemme of CHRISTS Garment even His blessed Worde that by it this their running stinking issue may bee happilie dried up when shall the blind men of this world find feete to runne with courage and with confidence towards that bright Sunne of Righteousnesse and light of the Worlde IESVS to the ende they may see that the things which bee seene heere are temporall and not to bee rested upon and that the thinges which are not seene otherwayes but by Fayth are aeternall and onelie to beeloved and longed for O my Soule for thine owne vvarning and vvakening remember CHRISTES loving Invitation Come unto Mee Matth. 11. all yee that labour and are heavie ladened and I will giue you rest to your Soules But with this forget not CHRISTES just Conviction if thou attempt to despise His alluring Charge O Hierusalem Hierusalem which killest ihe Prophets and stonest them that come to thee Luke 13. how often would I haue gathered thy children together as the Henne gathereth her Brood under her winges and yee would not Beholde your house is left unto you desolate If I had not come Iohn 15. and spoken unto them they should not haue had sinne but now haue they no cloake for their sinne OH LORD GOD vvhen shall the loose Christians of this last Age beeing enlightened and quickened in Soule by Thy Majestie in Mercie looking on their dead Soules in the Face of Thy Well-beloved beginne to accompt of that Heavenlie and wholesome Poole of Thy Sacred and saving Worde happilie now running plenteouslie through the force of Thy tender Mercies towardes us through everie Citie everie Village everie Cottage so that all persons of all Rankes blessed bee Thou for this Thy great kindnesse may freelie without feare in season and out of season resorte unto it as those olde Iewes accompted of the perishing Poole of Bethesda Iohn 5. which vvas not to bee found but in the Holie Land neyther in it but in the Tribe of Iuda neyther there but at Hierusalem I must confesse ô my Soule That that Iewish dead Poole of Bethesda in foure thinges resembled our Christian liuelie Poole of the blessed Worde of GOD And yet I dare affirme before GOD Angels and Men That our blessed Poole of the Worde surmounteth that of Bethesda so farre in one thing that if men could take it to heart where one Iew esteemed of that their Poole and resorted unto it hundreths thousandes should esteeme of this soft running Poole of GODS Worde not onelie carefullie resorting unto it but enduring their verie life heere joyfullie delighting to dwell beside it First vvhatsoever disease bodilie a man was subject unto this disease that Iewish Poole was able to cure even so this our Poole of the Worde of GOD is able to cure the Sinner of vvhatsoever Spirituall Sicknesse can over-take thy Soule because of anie sinne thou canst fall into Secondlie as none could bee cured in bodie by that Iewish Poole but such as stepped in into it and were wet there-with so impossible is it that anie sinner can bee freed from his sinnes by the meane of GODS Worde till his soule bee dewed by it and so till hee bee mooved and perswaded to heare to belieue and obey it Thirdlie as that Iewish Poole coulde not possiblie cure so much as one mans bodie till the Angel came downe and troubled the Water of it so this Poole of the Worde can cure the soule of no sinner 1. Cor. 3.6.7 till that blessed uncreated Angel even the Spirit of the Father and of His dearest Sonne come downe as it were to his soule joyning His owne inward Vertue with His owne outwarde Worde and that way stryking the heart by His owne Finger as Hee stryketh the eare by His Trueth Fourthlie as amongst the Iewes no man knewe at what time the Angel woulde come downe and trouble the Water for curing of their diseased bodies vvhich mooved the sicke persons looking and longing for health resorting to that Poole constantlie to lye still at it not departing after manie dayes vveekes monethes yea yeares as is manifest by the practise of that man who lay there thirtie eight yeares So amongst us Christians there is neyther Preacher nor Hearer King nor Subject Man nor Woman olde nor young can possiblie knowe vvhat day vvhat houre vvhat minute that blessed Spirit of GOD will joyne His Force and Vertue vvith that His Worde which is heard making it effectuall to quicken the dead to enlighten the blinde to convert such as haue gone astray to comfort the broken hearted and to confirme those who stand I vvould heerefore advyse thee O my soule if thou bee sensible of thine owne Spirituall wantes and if thou long to haue them supplied to resort thither where thou mayst heare this Word crying unto thy GOD with David One thing haue I desired of the LORD that I will require Even that I may dwell in the House of the LORD Psalm 27.4 all the dayes of mylife to beholde the beautie of the LORD and to visit His Temple Yea it were good ô my Soule in this respect that thou resolve with Anna that religious old widow Never to goe out of GODS Temple Luke 2 36.37 but to serue Him there with Fastinges and Prayer night and day But ô my soule lift up thy selfe on high and hearken even with greedinesse I pray thee to the ende thou mayest heare and consider that one thing yea that incomparablie profitable one thing wherein this Heavenlie Poole of GODS Worde accompanied with His Spirit excelleth yea surmounteth that visible Iewish Poole of Bethesda Could that Iewish Poole ô my soule even beeing troubled by the Angell possiblie cure moe at once or one onlie onlie one at one time beeing troubled could it cure for no moe at one time were cured by it beside
bring everie worke uto Iudgement with everie secret thing whether it be good Eccl. 12.13.14 or evill Oh oh when shall Preachers when shall Hearers out of a sense hereof learne to cry unto GOD with David Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of Thy Law Teach me Psaml 119.18.33.34 ô LORD the way of thy Statutes and I will keepe it to the ende Giue mee understanding and I will keepe it with my whole heart Yea ô would to GOD that thou ô my soule couldest in this last age see and feele that which Augustine saw and felt in his time to the ende that out of that sight and sense thou mightest make the like confession before GOD which hee made and send up the like Petition to GOD which hee sent up unto Him My Bodie ô LORD liveth by my Soule and my Soule liveth by thee ô my GOD Be neare me heerefore ô GOD neare in mine heart neare in mine eares neare in mine eyes yea neare in my whole body and everie member of it that they may all serue Thee KNewest thou ô my Soule how blessed IESVS hath loved thee be sure thou wouldest loue Him and out of that thy loue thou wouldest be carefull to keepe His Commandements Iaakob loved Benjamin dearely but ô how more dearelie hath IESVS loved thee Iaakob pintched with Famine is content for the safetie of his owne life Gen. 43.11.12.13 to twinne with Benjamin and to send him downe to Aegypt but blessed IESVS to the ende that Hee might feede thee and keepe thee O my soule will not onlie subject Himselfe to Hunger 2. Sam. 1.26 but unto cruell death Ionathans loue towards David exceeded the loue of Women but IESVS His loue towardes thee O my Soule exceedeth not onlie the loue of Women but the loue of Ionathan Scripture telleth mee Historie telleth mee That Mothers haue slaine their owne children 2. King 28.29 to keepe in their owne lives but neither acquainteth Scripture nor Historie mee with anie Woman who ever was contented to cutte and dresse her owne flesh for the safetie of her chylde Alwayes Scripture largelie telleth mee That Thy blessed IESVS O my Soule is that kindliest Pelicane who could be content to giue His owne flesh not onlie to be scourged to be nailed to be pearced but to be crucified and die on the Tree to the ende that thou O my soule mightest feede upon Him unto life aeternall IESVS His loue towards thee O my Soule exceedeth also the loue of Ionathan Ionathan indeede loued David so that he incurred his fathers wrath for David that he was contented heartfullie that David should succeede to his father in the Kingdome yea Ionathan oft times hazarded his verie life for David alwayes thy Ionathan IESVS O my soule beeing a King yea that King of kinges by whom and under whom all kinges doe reigne would not onlie become poore to make thee rich under-goe that intollerable weight of His Fathers wrath to the ende that thou mightest attaine unto and enjoy His everlasting favoure but also He would die to the ende that thou beeing quickened by Him mightest bee made a king to liue and reigne in Heaven with Him for ever Yea telleth not Scripture mee O my Soule That IESVS hath loved thee so that He hath married thee that He hath tochered thee yea that Hee hath provided a Dourie for thee Abigall is dashed when David Ambassadours come unto her shewing to her 1. Sam. 25.41 That David would marrie her It was a wonder that Salomon King of Iudah married the King of Aegypts Daughter But shouldest thou not bee much more astonied O my Soule vvhen thou hearest That even IESVS the great Sonne of David that mightie KING of everlasting Peace Ezek. 16.4.5 hath married thee while thou wast dead in sinne lying in thy blood in the verie open Fielde having none eye pittying thee Hosea speaking of this Marriage bringeth in thy blessed kynde Spouse speaking thus unto thee O my Soule I will marrie thee unto Mee for ever yea I will marrie thee unto Mee in Righteousnesse Hosea 2.19.20 in Iudgement in Mercie and in Compassion Men marrie Women for a while yea for an uncertaine troublesome while Alwayes O my Soule IESVS hath married thee for evermore in such sorte that neyther distance of place nor death nor the graue can possiblie sever thee from Him or Him from thee Yea vvhich is more that the nearer death draweth unto thee and thou approachest to thy graue the more strictlie art thou united with Him and Hee joyned with thee Beside this IESVS hath so loved thee O my Soule that Hee hath tochered thee but vvhere-with I pray thee I heare Saul craving from David an hundreth fore-Skinnes of the Philistims 1. Sam. 18.25.26.27 Acts 20.28 1. Pet. 1.18.19 for his Daughter and I see David laying downe two hundreth for her Alwayes IESVS hath tochered thee O my Soule not with Silver not with Golde not with precious Stones but with Blood Alwayes vvith vvhat Blood O my Soule Not vvith the blood of Rammes of Lambes of Goates or anie man But with His owne onelie moste precious moste honourable and moste cleane Blood Beside this yet O my Soule IESVS hath so loved thee that Hee hath provyded a Dowrie for thee But what a Dowrie Beare vvith mee O my Soule if heere I must confesse that I cannot tell thee because my GOD hath not tolde mee For vvho living heere can possiblie acquaint the Childe of GOD sufficientlie and perfectlie vvith the Valour and Excellencie of that Inheritance which is appointed for thee Some sparkes of the Excellencie and Majestie of it are praesented indeede unto our consideration Luke 12.32 1. Corin. 2.9 1. Iohn 3.2 Coll. 3.3.4 by Scripture but fullie it shall not bee knowne untill wee bee where our dearest Spouse IESVS is Loue this IESVS O my Soule sincerelie Seeke this IESVS O my soule busilie Serue this IESVS O my Soule chearfullie and let nothing content thee untill thou bee where Hee is who hath so loved thee IF thou O my soule wouldest prooue truelie wise to that last day after the which there shall bee no day it were good that thou werest carefull in time to bee certified of the loue of IESVS thy Saviour and Master as of that first thing as of that chiefest thing thou shouldest bee carefull to bee certified of before all thinges so that publicklie before GOD. Angels and Men and privatelie betwixt thy GOD and thine owne heart thou mayest say and sing Blessed bee that IESVS who hath loved mee Blessed bee that IESVS who loveth mee But heere O my Soule there would bee three thinges wiselie considered by thee First wherefore should this bee thy first and chiefest care Secondlie Whereby is it that that loue wherewith IESVS hath loved thee is intimate unto thee Thirdlie how mayest thou bee certified that IESVS loveth thee Let mee possesse all the Worlde ô my soule if IESVS loue mee not woe
contented that the dead corpse of her dearest childe even within some few houres bee put foorth of her doores But heere ô my foule Wonderest thou not that a more vilde stinke that a more loathsome flewar over-taketh and floweth from the verie dead corpse of GODS Children than from the dead Carions of other creatures as of Fowles of Fishes and of Beastes O my Soule cease to wonder at this and learne to thinke upon that loathsome spring wherefrom this proceedeth I must tell thee O my Soule that the bodie of the holiest man that ever lived on earth heere that Glorious Sacred Bodie of blessed IESVS beeing excepted lodgeth a more vilde guest a more stinking guest onelie loathsome to GOD and His Angels than ever the bodie of anie Fowle Fish or Beast did lodge I must confesse indeede that the bodies of those creatures doe lodge corruption yea much corruption as may easilie bee perceived while they doe liue and especiallie when they bee dead Alwayes that stinking loathsome guest of Sinne they doe not lodge which the verie bodies of Abraham Isaac Iaakob Peter Iames Iohn Paul could not but lodge And therefore no wonder that a more noysome stinke flow from the verie dead bodies of GODS Saincts than from the Carions of those reasonlesse creatures But will Sinne stay heere O my soule albeit this be a deepe stroake No no for Sinne will haue that dead stinking body in the which it lodged sometimes couched under the earth under the seas and there returne into dust out of the which is was taken Genes 3.19 Eccles 12.7 But vvill Sinne stay heere albeit this would seeme to bee that dead stroake beyond the vvhich none can goe in the chide of GOD No no for telleth not Historie us that out of the dead stinking corpse of men and women there ariseth most monsterous and noysome beastes Yea uglie Toades and cruell Serpents Augustine in his fourtie eight Sermon to his Brethren the Heremites affirmeth That Toades are bredde in the braines of the dead corpse and That Serpents are bredde in their Neares Yea writeth not Augustine That hee being at Rome saw a Toade in the Brainpanne of one of their Emperours Dare I here forget the like uncouth spectacle by GODS speciall providence I doubt not for my better resolution anent the veritie of the thinges alleadged presented to mine owne eyes beeing in the Kirke yarde of LEITH in the Month of Iune a thousand sixe hundreth and fifteene yeares for beeing there delightning to attend for a while those honest men building for the time our Steeple I behelde within a grassie bush the heade of some dead corpse having in the outmost part of it a little voyde while I haue a purpose to cause the Kirke Officer put this skull under the earth looking on it more narrowlie I behelde through the voyde part of it to my great astonishment a Toade of an hudge bignesse whereupon I called the worke-men to consider the spectacle vvith mee and having made a little discourse unto them upon the Miseries Vanitie Vildnesse and Pride of man we all beganne to consider how vvee might haue the Toade separated from the head but that wee found altogether impossible till the bone was violentlie broken so little was the voyde part of it and so big was the Toade Let the reader judge where this Toade was bred and fostered For He who knoweth all thinges blessed bee His Name knoweth that I saw it lodged as said is O my soule what if those thinges could be considered by men and especiallie by women in this our licentious foolish Age would they take such paines and delight to fat their claye bodies with all sort of pleasures and pleasant thinges as they doe Would they even with the wracke of their estates feede their bellies dresse their heades cover their backes so daintilie so gloriouslie which must be brought so low and bee made a mother to conceiue a nurse to foster yea a lodging to keepe such uglie monsters Yea if this could be considered O my Soule O! with what an hatred would the Childe of GOD hate Sinne O! with what a care would the Child of GOD arme himselfe against Sinne seeing nothing besides Sinne hath brought all these evils upon poore miserable Man IN this last and worst Age of the Worlde alace O my Soule all men almost seeke after Sinne defile themselues with Sinne yea alace delight themselues in Sinne and all because few men alace studie to acquaint themselues truelie with the nature of Sinne. Men now-a-dayes O my Soule miscarried by their owne deceiving Lustes while they fall into Sinne looke unto men yea unto men onelie as if Sinne were committed against man yea against man onelie And out of this false ground blindlinges alace layde by them as they thinke of the man with whome they haue to doe so they thinke of the sinne which they haue committed If that man bee such a one who may grieue and annoy them then they are grieved for their sinne Alwayes not because that Great GOD is abused by them but because a man who may grieue them is grieved by them If that man bee such a man who cannot grieue them who dare not attempt to annoy them by reason of their grandour and credit worldlie and his basenesse and lacke of moyen with men O then O my Soule they can both digest their sinne sweetlie and goe on in their sinne peartlie and pleasantlie For can those men possiblie dreame that anie beside man hath anie intrest to quarrell them for their sinne Alwayes hearken hearken O my Soule would man suffer that good Worde of GOD which is that Worde of Trueth which never deceived any man which never shall deceiue any man to leade him hee should finde that everie sinne committed on earth beneath heere bee the committer of it King or coatter looketh not lower than the Heaven of Heavens and so he should finde that sinne committed beneath heere is committed against none who liveth heere beneath but onelie against that Supreame Majestie who ruling over all thinges hath His Throne set aboue all Thrones even in the highest Heavens I will confesse ô my soule that a Subject may offende and grieue his King that a King may injure and grieue his Subject that a Father may hurt and grieue his sonne that a sonne may hurt and grieue his Father but Scripture beeing well considered will not suffer mee to confesse that a Subject can sinne against his King or that a King can sinne against his Subject that a father can sinne against his sonne or a sonne sinne against the Father Tell mee tell me O my soule vvhat callest thou sinne Sinne I know being taught of GOD is The Transgression of the Law But of whose Law 1. Iohn 3.4 I pray thee Not of the Law of anie pettie King but of the Law of that KING of Kinges who is that onelie Supreame Law-giver who is able to saue and destroy Knowest thou not Iames
to eate with such men not to bee companions of such men But wherefore 1. Cor. 5.11 Ephes 5.7 O my Soule shouldest thou bee loath anie of these wayes to communicate with Sinne Remember O my soule GODS Threatninges and besides that GODS Execution according to His Threatninges so sure I am thou shalt bee easilie scarred from attempting to communicate aniewise with Sinne unlesse unhappilie thou resolue even with vilde Lameth to The Moste High GOD. Are not GODS Children ô my soule thus counselled by their Father Goe out of Babel my People that yee bee not partakers in her sinnes and that yee receiue not of her plagues Revel 18.4 That lying Murderer ô my soule perswaded my Grand-mother Evah That if shee woulde communicate with him in transgressing of GODS Commaundement she should finde a shining precious Pearle But that Spirit of Trueth who delighteth to haue thee living for evermore assureth thee That if thou joyne with a man in his sinnes thou shalt not bee severed from him when hee is plagued for his sinnes But will not our GOD prooue as good as His Worde and so execute as Hee threatned especiallie when Hee findeth that His Threatninges are mocked That will Hee doe undoubtedlie O my soule Corah Dathan and Abiram are sent downe as thou knowest to the Pitte quicke for attempting to rise up against Moyses and Aaron Vpon the morrowe all the multitude of the people of Israel alace communicating with them in their sinne will gather themselues together against Moyses and Aaron crying loudlie Numb 16.41.42.43.44.45.46 and peartlie Yee haue killed the People of the LORD Alvvayes alwayes came there not foorth such a fearce vvrath frō the LORD that before Aaron can come to them albeit he ranne vvith all his force to make an Attonement for them there died of that Plague fourteene thousande and seaven hundreth While the Wife of the Levite vvas villanouslie abused at Gibea a Citie of Benjamin to the death the whole Tribe of Benjamin alace vvill communicate with this Villanie For when the other Tribes their Brethren besought them to deliver unto them the committers of that wickednesse to the ende Iudges 20. And 21. that that evill might bee put away from Israel not onelie would they not obey the voyce of their Brethren but they gathered themselues together to fight against them Alwayes turned not this O my Soule at length to the verie over-throwe of Benjamin Nowe what must thou doe in this respect O my Soule for thine owne praeservation Hearken hearken I pray thee vvouldest thou vvith that valiant Religious Champion Ioshua stand by thy GOD with anie man and fall from thy GOD vvith no man lifting up thine head aboue all thinges earthlie all living on earth towardes the third Heavens in the feare of thy GOD and by the especiall grace of His Spirit conclude thus with thy selfe I will seeke and I will serue my GOD with anieman but I will sinne against my GOD with no man Let the King with his Subject and Subject with his King seeke and serue GOD as Davids Subjectes with him and hee with them did But if all the Subjectes of the Land forsake GOD let the King say with Ioshua I and mine house will serue the Lord. Ios 24.15 1. Sam. 21.17 If the King will fall away from GOD let the Subjectes with Saules Courteoures looke to him and refuse to followe him And if hee attempt to command them to forsake their GOD let them answere couragiouslie vvith the Apostles Whether it bee better to obey GOD or Man judge yee Acts 4.19 Let the Husbande vvith the Wife and the Wife with the Husbande seeke and serue GOD as the Shunamitish Ladie with her Husbande did 2. Kinges 4. But if the Wife vvith Lots Wife vvill looke over her shoulder to Sodome let the Husband vvith Lot keepe his heart and his eye straight upon that Mountaine of Glorie Genes 19. towardes the vvhich the LORD hath directed him If the Husband with Nabal vvill prooue prophane and ungrate let the Wife with Abigall remaine religious and thankfull 1. Sam. 25. Let the Parent with the Childe and the Childe with the Parent seeke and serue GOD as Abraham and Isaac served Him joyntlie and sweetlie together But let the Parent vvith Iaakob learne Gen. 22.6.7.8.9 not to sinne with the Childe for when Simeon and Levi fell into vilde murder vvho were both his sonnes can hee not crye Simeon and Levi Brethren in evill Gen. 49.5.6 the instrumentes of crueltie are in their habitation into their secret let not my Soule come my Glorie bee thou not joyned with their assemblie If the Father will fall away from GOD vvith Saul yet let the Sonne sticke constantlie unto Him vvith Ionathan Yea if the Mother which brought thee foorth fall away from GOD not onelie suffer her not but if GOD haue cloathed thee with Authoritie see that thou take order vvith her 2. Chron. 15.16 as King Aza tooke order vvith his Mother and her Groue otherwayes bee assured that GOD whom thou shouldst not onlie loue better than thy Mother Luke 14.16 but for whose cause thou shouldest hate all that belong unto thee shall take order with thee OH O my soule when shalt thou finde eye-salue to enlighten thee to the ende that thou mayest once see sinne in the own vilde colour of it When shall that Dew come downe from Heaven which may happilie soften thine heart and make it so delicatelie tender that thou mayest once feele sinne in the owne heavie weight of it and so be made now at length to know it in the owne horrible nature with all it drawes after it with all it hath joyned with it and all to the ende that I before I bee made to lay downe this earthlie tabernacle may bee mooved to scarre with it yea to hate it and vvith the verie hazard and losse of all I haue to arme my selfe against it Stoppe thine eares ô my Soule against Satan and close thine eyes upon him also when he speaketh to thee touching sinne when he bringeth thee before sinne or sinne before thee for belieue mee hee will tone it so hee will fairde it so that he will make thee take it for some sweet pleasant wholesome Apple while it is that onlie bitter and destroying poyson which slayeth bodie and soule Open thine eares O my Soule to heare thy GOD enlarge thine heart O my Soule to belieue thy GOD when Hee speaketh unto thee touching sinne for Hee will tell thee that sinne is an uglie defiling thing that sinne is a monstruous uglie defiling thing yea that sinne is a cruell monstruous defiling thing Sinne is an uglie defiling thing making the sinner foule yea even foule in His eyes before whom alone he hath speciall neede to bee cleane and so in the eyes of GOD his Maker and Iudge Sinne is a monstrous uglie defiling thing for none can possibilie wash away that filth which it draweth
sinne to be a sufficient scarre to affray him from the cōmitting of sinne yea from wallowing in uncouth sinnes even with delight as if hee were some filthie Swine made with his Face downwardes and not a Man vvhome GOD hath honoured vvith His owne Image Tell mee tell mee O my Soule if any man would eyther of purpose or with pleasure defile his outward Garment with anie kynde of Filth if hee could bee perswaded that nothing coulde cleanse that his Garment againe but a Vessell full of his owne best blood Now telleth not the Scripture thee O my Soule That thou beeing defiled with Sinne canst not possiblie bee cleansed from it but by the Blood of IESVS onelie Shalt thou then attempt at anie time to commit sinne of purpose and to continue in sinne with pleasure And if thou darest doe so canst thou thinke thy selfe to bee one vvho eyther esteemeth honourablie of that honourable Blood of IESVS shedde to cleanse thee or reverentlie and honourablie of that blessed GOD vvho shedde His Blood for thee SInne is a filthie thing Sinne is a most cruell filthie thing O my Soule as thou mayest easilie perceiue and let this humble thee Alwayes honourable and precious is that Blood of blessed IESVS Forcible and strong beyond measure is that Blood of blessed IESVS and let this comfort thee IESVS His Blood is honourable and precious for it can doe away the filth of Sinne making a man even cleane in His eyes before whom the well informed Childe of GOD stryveth speciallie to bee cleane Forcible and strong is the Blood of IESVS for it can wash a man not from one sinne but from everie sinne yea from all sinnes were they never so monstrous so presumptuous Hast thou not ô my soule considered that first Chapter of Matthew for thine information Yea for thy speciall consolation anent this point ô blessed IESVS my sole saviour of whom art Thou come according to the flesh and so what fathers what mothers will Thy Majestie as man haue is Thy Majestie O my Saviour onlie come of Abraham and not of Pharez also whom Iudah begot on Tamar his Daughter in Law Will Thy Majestie O my Saviour haue Sarah onlie the wife of Abraham for Thy Mother and not Rahab the Harlot and Ruth the Moabitish also But wherefore O my soule would blessed IESVS haue such Fathers haue such Mothers according to the flesh Surelie surelie to testifie before GOD Angels and Men that He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners Marke 2.1 to Repentance were their sinnes never so manie never so monstrous providing that they by a liuelie faith coulde keepe that blood which He hath shedde to wash them and by sincere repentance accompaning this their faith testifie to the world that they haue learned being taught by the Spirit to accompt honourablie of this His blood shedde for them O My Soule I will tell thee to thy comfort were thy sinnes never so manie were thy sinnes never so monstrous that precious blood of blessed IESVS who hath loved thee is sufficientlie able to wash thee from them all Alwayes I must tell thee for thine information and reformation That wise IESVS vvill not vvash thee in His blood from thy manie sinnes by past from thine uglie sinnes praesent to the ende that thou mayest afterwardes defile thy selfe with sinne or continue in the trade of thy praesent sinnes but to the ende Revel 1.5.6 that thou being washen by Him mayest prooue a Spirituall King subduing Sinne and a Spirituall Priest offering up thy selfe in bodie soule in a living and an holie Sacrifice unto GOD. Tell me Rom. 12.1.2 tell mee O Zachariah the Father of Iohn the Baptist Wherefore came CHRIST into this Worlde bringing cleane and cleansing blood with Him Was it not That we being delivered out of the handes of our Enemies Luke 1.74.75 should serue Him vvithout feare O Paul tell me wherfore died my LORD and LYFE IESVS CHRIST for mee Was it not That I hence-foorth should not attempt to liue to my selfe but unto Him vvho died for mee and rose againe Yea 2. Cor. 5.15 tell mee O Paul Wherefore hath our Glorious GOD appointed that His blessed Gospel to bee preached vvhich I may justlie call That buntch of Hyssope by the which our soules are sprinkled vvith that cleansing bloode of that cleane Lambe vvho maketh that destroying Angel to passe by us vvhile others die Was is not O my soule that wee denying all ungodlinesse and worldlie lustes should liue holilie and righteouslie Tit. 2.11.12 and soberlie in this praesent Worlde HAth that Great GOD and blessed Saviour of the Worlde IESVS loved thee O my Soule And loving thee vvashen thee from thy sinnes in His blood Yea renewed thee so by His Spirite that thou darest not attempt to liue to thy selfe seeking such things as may profite thee may pleasure thee but unto Him vvho died for thee studying alwayes to doe those thinges vvhich may please Him and conquish Glorie unto Him Bee sure bee sure O my Soule that this blessed One thy great Saviour enjoying all Priviledges hath no Priviledge in a manner vvhereof Hee will not gladlie make thee Partner And must not this comfort thee against all temptations and crosses if thou canst loue Him and cleaue unto Him And shall not this confound thee if knowing this to bee true as thou must know it to bee most true if thou darest attempt to forget Him and to bee unthankfull unto Him IESVS hath one GOD O my Soule and Hee will haue His GOD to bee thy GOD. Iohn 20.17 IESVS hath a Father and Hee will haue His Father to bee thy Father IESVS is not onelie cloathed vvith an humane nature but also with a Divine nature and Hee will haue thee to bee a Partner of the Divine nature also 1. Pet. 1.4 IESVS is the LORD His CHRIST and so that holy One vvhome His Father hath annoynted Psal 45.7 vvith the Oyle of gladnesse aboue His fellowes to bee the Great King and Priest of the Kirke and Hee will haue thee made a King and a Priest unto GOD His Father also IESVS is the Heyre of that Inheritance immortall Revel 1.6 undefiled which fadeth not away and Hee will haue thee to bee an Heyre of that Kingdome annexed with Him Yea Rom. 8.17 this IESVS is entered alreadie into that Heaven of Heavens even in my nature sitting there at the Right Hand of that Great Majestie and He vvill haue thee O my Soule to be there Iohn 17.24 even with this my bodie also Yea till I be there in bodie in soule the whole Elect of GODS Members with me that holy One that blessed One IESVS vvho is Loue it selfe for otherwayes Hee had never died for mee will account Himselfe to bee imperfect yea to bee maymed as it were such is the force of that loue Ephes 1.13 wherewith Hee loved us and so rarelie inestimable are those
Heavenlie Priviledges unto the full fruition and everlasting possession whereof Hee must necessarilie haue us advanced BLessed blessed O my soule beyonde measure be all those whose Father Almightie GOD in His dearest Sonne IESVS hath become And therefore I cannot wonder that that Disciple whome IESVS loved speaking heereof was mooved with a shrill voyce thus to crye foorth resembling some Messenger sounding from a Market Crosse some speciall Proclamation Beholde what loue the Father hath shewed on us that wee should bee called 1. Iohn 3.2 The Sonnes of GOD. Manie Sonnes indeede hath His Majestie yea our GOD blessed for evermore bee that His only beloved Sonne IESVS who at a great rate hath conquished these Sonnes unto Him hath a verie worlde of Sonnes Alwayes Revel 7.9 the Scripture telleth mee O my Soule That GOD our Father will make all these His Sonnes Kinges Revel 1.6 and everie one of them a King not to reigne for a while honoured with a fading Crowne But to reigne for evermore in that Kingdome 1. Pet. 1 3.4.5 which is immortall and undefiled and which fadeth not away What King earthlie ô my Soule having manie Sonnes is able to make all his Sonnes Kinges And yet foolish man dreameth those to bee happie who bee the Sonnes of Kinges yea of great men howbeit none can bee possibly truelie happie but such who being borne over againe Iohn 3.3 by the Spirit and by the Worde of GOD bee made the Sonnes of The Most High and so Kings at length to reigne in despight of all Tyrantes and tyrannie for ever I shall not offende heerefore ô my Soule albeit my Coate now bee course my Bread bee browne my Drinke small my Crowne sharpe and pricking having terroures within and troubles without Knowest thou not ô my soule howe thy LORD and SAVIOVR comming to this Earth by His death to draw thee to Heaven was cloathed was entertayned was crowned here and yet blessed bee His Name in despight of all hellish and earthlie Powers is Hee not crowned nowe in that highest Heavens with that Crowne of incomparable Majestie and everlasting Glorie Mat. 28.18 having all power in Heaven and on Earth given unto Him Yea possessing a Name aboue all names which are named in this Worlde Philip. 2.9.10 and unto the which everie Knee must bowe O believing Trades man Craftes man Coatter Beggar Canst thou lift up thine Eyes afore-hande to see Canst thou bow thine heart afore-hande to taste the unspeakeable Ioyes which thy Soule shall possesse that incorruptible Glorie which shall compasse thy verie clay Vessell when thou beeing glorified throughlie the Lambe with the Lambe shall goe in and out before the Lambe in that newe Hierusalem which is aboue having on thine head that Crowne of endlesse Glorie cloathed with a long white Robe having Palmes in thine hand and crying joyfullie with a loude voyce Salvation commeth of our GOD that sitteth on the Throne Revelat. 7.9.10 and of the Lambe Let it bee thy Meate then thy Drinke then while thou sojournest heere O my soule absent in bodie from that Lambe of GOD thy Saviour to thinke upon this IESVS to speake of this IESVS to seeke this IESVS to serue this IESVS who hath called thee unto this honour to bee the Childe of GOD and so to be a King for ever to possesse fulnesse of Ioye in GODS praesence and at His Right Hand Pleasures for evermore Psal 16.11 KNewest thou O my Soule how farre that blessed wise GOD thy Father hath advanced the flesh of man belieue me thou couldest not offend if I should curse thee if thou attempted but so much as to lust after those evils wherewith alace a verie world of people are nowe grosselie defiled And I could not but bee ashamed to be offended if thou shouldest curse mee if I should prease to giue these members of my bodie unto the committing of those sinnes which thousandes alace doe commit in this our time even with delectation and greedinesse O my soule hath not GOD honoured the flesh of man verie farre in making it to be a Cabinet to lodge that immortal Soule made by His Majestie even of an Heavenlie substance hath not our GOD more highlie advanced the flesh of man in making it to bee the Temple and dwelling place of His Holie Spirit Yea to be that Spirituall Immortall Incorruptible and Glorious plenishing which must fill and keepe the Heavens for ever Yea hath not His Majestie advanced it more than highlie in His blessed and onlie begotten Sonne IESVS that holie One being contented to assume and unite in one personall union with His Godheade the verie flesh of man not onlie for a while walking on earth in that our nature but transporting that our flesh to the highest Heavens so that Hee who is GOD alwayes aequall with the Father and with the holy Ghost is cloathed with the flesh of man And He who is cloathed with the flesh of man is GOD aequall with the Father and with the Spirit ô Coelestiall Spirites and heavenlie Angles who serve your blessed GOD alwayes readilie faythfullie busilie fullie and joyefulâ—ie can ye compare with that man who by a liuelie faith is ingraffed into that God-Man and Man-God IESVS Would that holy One cloathe Himselfe with your nature so that you may say He who is GOD is also an Angell and he who is Angell is GOD Or rather Heb. 2.16 tooke Hee not the Seede of Abraham so that the believing man may say He who is GOD is man also Hee who is man is GOD also ô Coelestiall Spirites said that blessed GOD your and our Glorious Maker ever of anie Angell or to anie Angell The angell Zach. 13.7 My fellow And yet our blessed GOD can speaking to and of His Sonne in whom we are thus beyond measure honoured speake thus of Him The man My fellow Darest thou then ô my Soule attempt to dishonour this GOD who hath so farre honoured thee Yea darest thou attempt to advise me being kitled with anie deceiueable lust to abuse this my flesh or anie member of it since His Majestie hath so wonderfullie advanced it We all thinke that David oversawe himselfe verie grosselie to Mephibosheth the creeple son of dead Ionathan who proved constantlie rarelie kinde to David when having tried the grosse falsehood and seditious treacherie of that villane Ziba hee saide to the poore creeple abused honest man 2. Sam. 19.29 Haue I not sayde Thou and Ziba divide the landes But when shall men who holde themselues for good Christians thinke and confesse that they oversee themselues abusing most grosselie the LORD their GOD when they crye aloude albeit not with their shrill voyces yet with their vilde workes even to the hearing of that GOD to whom they be more than oblieged in all respects but chiefely for advancing their flesh so highly which is the onlie ground of mans whole foelicitie O LORD GOD haue I not said Thou and the Devill divide betwixt
you Offend not O my Soule that I speake thus for if manie professing CHRIST amongst us may bee believed when they speake they haue appointed their hearts for GOD and yet if their lyves shall be narrowlie tryed it shall be clearelie found that they haue dedicated their flesh and so their eyes eares mouth handes feete and that foule member of their bodie for the Devill for alace be those their members imployed in the service of anie beside the devils service Is this to bee thankfull to that GOD who hath beene kinde unto them Is this to honour GOD by their flesh who hath so honoured mans flesh Knowest thou not ô loose Christian that the Devill is the Accuser of the Children of GOD CHRISTS Brethren Rev. 12.10 Who first craftilie entyseth them to sinne against GOD and then maliciouslie accuseth them before GOD for sinning against Him Now O! how fearefull an Accusation shall this bee hearken hearken ô my Soule when Satan thine accuser ô loose Christian presenting himselfe before that great GOD upon the sight of thy loose and lewde life shall peartlie say ô LORD it pleased thy Majestie out of thine unspeakeable loue towardes man to cloathe thine owne blessed Sonne with the flesh of man even to the ende that in that flesh He might suffer for man and thereby to advance man to the highest Heavens who having willinglie made himselfe my Companion through sinne should haue beene adjudged to the lowest helles with mee for ever and yet LORD here is a man yea a verie world of men who haue defiled themselues with abominable Idolatries bowing their knees to the worke of mans handes lifting up their handes and sending up their cryes to base creatures forgetting the great and blessed Creator yea defiled in their flesh with fearefull Blasphemies cruell Murthers filthie Incests Adulteries and Fornications with brutish Drunkennesse Covetousnesse and Oppression O LORD will not Thy Majestie being that just judge of the world be avenged upon such grosse unthankefulnesse and adjudge with the soules the bodies of such men to that Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone forevermore seeing they haue so grosselie shamed that their flesh which thou hast so greatlie honoured Thinke upon this ô my Soule Roman 6.12 1. Thess 3.3.4.5 keeping thy selfe from all inward filthinesse Forget not this O my Soule but charge me alwayes In GODS Name to keep this my bodie all the members of it from all outward uncleanenesse EVen the filthiest deboashed liver O my soule offendeth when hee is compared to the Devill and yet everie filthie liver will treade the devils path Cannot the devill O my Soule peartlie praesent himselfe amonst the Children of GOD before GOD And yet no sooner goeth hee from His Majesties praesence but hee can run with speede not onlie to overthrow all that belonged to that just man Iob but also to bereaue him of his health thinking thereby to make him blaspheme GOD. Even the filthiest liver offendeth if hee bee called a Iudas yet as Iudas went from his Masters Table to deliver Him into the hands of His Enemies so manie called Christians can take their Iourney as it were from CHRISTES Chamber to overthrow CHRIST Alace alace O my soule howe manie bee there who praesent themselues with GODS Sainctes in GODS House before GOD to heare His Word and yet comming from it deboash themselues in all uncleannesse O! how manie bee there who going to Prayer and rysing from Prayer thinke never upon that which they haue confessed or bound themselues unto while they were praying till they goe backe againe to their Prayer deboashing themselues betwixt their one prayer and their other prayer even in those same sinnes for the which in prayer they accused themselues they condemned themselues craving GOD pardon and solemnlie avowing to abstaine from them The judgement of Charitie which suspecteth the best of all adviseth mee to thinke that these knowne Murderers Adulterers Fornicators Drunkardes and so foorth when they goe to their prayer doe nowe and then confesse these their sinnes craving pardon for them and promising to amende their liues and yet with the Swine even nowe washen after they haue risen from their knees they can turne to the puddle of their wonted wickednesse Let all such then who doe heare GOD speaking unto them by His Worde and who doe speake to GOD by prayer joyne repentance with their hearing and with their prayer remembering that he onelie is blessed who heareth the Worde of GOD and doeth it And that the prayer of that man Luke 11 28. Prov. 28.9 who draweth away his care from hearing the Law is abomination before GOD. LET mee not bee carefull ô my Soule for my life what I shall eate or what I shall drinke or for my bodie what I shall put on For thy blessed GOD that Great Master-House-holde of His Kirke can wiselie provide for His owne even in their greatest extremitie albeit not alwayes that which they would bee at yet ever that which shall serue them untill His good worke bee accomplished in them The King of Aegypt taketh Straw frō the Israelites which before was furnished unto them the Taske-masters of Aegypt resolue them notwithstanding heereof that the number of their Britkes must bee fulfilled daylie And when they with wearie heartes are carefull to provide themselues of Strawe they can finde none Exodus 5. for the people of the Land will neyther giue them anie for request nor sell them anie for Silver How then shall they come by it and where shall they finde it Blessed bee GOD ô my Soule vvhen the King vvho was a man carrying the same shape which the Israelites carried vvith his Taske-masters and people can refuse all helpe unto distressed Israel can adde affliction to afflicted Israel that senselesse dead hard Earth vvhich they trode upon vvill offer her helpe unto them praying them as it were to pull up her haire before they should perish and so shee propyned them with that Stubble wherewith shee was covered before they should want altogether that wherewith they might make Bricke unto cruell blooddie Pharaoh O David no favour canst thou finde notwithstanding of thine humble carriage and manie good services in the eyes of Saul thy master and father in Law and yet art thou not lovinglie embraced and kyndlie entertayned by that stranger Achis 1. Sam. 27. that uncircumcised King of Gath Ahab and Iezebel doe busilie seeke thy lyfe O Eliah but doe not the verie devouring Ravens entertayne it as carefullie O Nebuchadnezar thou art so fearcelie set against those three Children of GOD 1. King 17.3.4.5.6 who refused to worship that Image vvhich thou madest that thou vvilt not onelie haue them casten into an hote fierie Fornace but thou wilt haue this Fornace to bee hote at that one time Daniel 3. seaven tymes more than it was wont to bee hote Alwayes vvere not these furious fearce fierie flames mercifull unto them Yea so mercifull unto them that not
onlie they slew them not but that the haires of their head were not burnt neyther were their Coates chaunged nor anie smell of Fire upon them O abusers of Davius yee are so maliciouslie set against the Servant of GOD Daniel that yee will haue him casten into the Denne of Lyons Daniel 6. because hee prayed unto his owne GOD as hee was wont contrarie to that wicked decree vvhich yee by your malicious subtiltie made your king to subscribe unto And yet those Lyons will haue him saved whom yee resolved to haue slaine No refreshment can hungrie Lazarus finde at the handes of the rich Glutton and yet he can finde ease from the tongues of bloodie Dogges Luke 16. How manie wicked men in this our time O my Soule haue soft Doane Beds and Pillowes to lye upon while the Religious Childe of GOD cannot finde a Feather Bedde no not a Fodder Bedde and yet the Earth is contented to be a Bed unto him But ô my soule what if the cruell Princes of the Earth will not suffer so much as this hard earth to be a bedde unto thee O then what shalt thou doe what canst thou looke for be sure either this thy provident pittifull powerfull GOD who hath absolute commandement over all shall O my Soule eyther alter their hearts and make them pittie thee or furnish thee with a strong contented heart able to beare out all that they can devise or doe against thee or make death which is a cruell Burrio to the Wicked but a loving friende to His secret ones to finish thy Laboures and to sende thee to His Rest IOyne ô my soule the thirtiefiue and thirtiesixe verses of the twelft of Exodus with the sixt seventh and tenth verses of the fift Chapter of that Booke that thou mayest learne even with joy to put on that Head-piece of Hope possessing thy selfe alwayes in patience confidentlie and leasurelie depending upon thy GOD even when the King vvhen the Task-masters vvho command under the King yea even when with the King his Task-masters the whole People of the Land are set against thee and busied about nothing but thine overthrow and destruction But vvherefore but vvherefore should I doe this O my soule because He who hath the hearts of all men in His hands can alter both Court and Countrey so that that man vvho this day who this yeare would neither grant thee for begging nor sell thee for Silver a poore Sheafe of Straw to make Bricke of to thy King will another day another yeare giue the willinglie and freelie all his Golde Chaines all his Bracelets all his Ringes and so spoile himselfe to make thee rich And vvould ye not thinke this a vvonder of vvonders Liue there not manie this day who having experience of this in their owne person may say that that King vvho sometime vvas seeking mee to haue offered my bodie to the Gallowes mine head to the Axe hath since that lovinglie embraced mee graciouslie accepted mee to kisse his hand and set mee higher than ever I was before Hast thou compared ô my Soule the ende of the third of Ester with the ende of the eight of Ester In the ende of the third of Ester the Scrybes are writing Letters the King is signating Letters and the Postes are riding and running through the Countrey with Letters In the ende of the eight of Ester the Scribes are writing Letters also the King is signating Letters also and the Postes are running and riding upon Horses of Pryze and Dromidaries with Letters Alwayes tell me vvhat Letters are the Scribes writing is the King Signating are the Postes carrying in the ende of the third of Ester And what Letters be those which the Scribes are writing the King is signating the Postes are carrying in the ende of the eight of Ester In the ende of the third of Ester Letters are vvryting signating and carrying by the Scribes King and Postes to roote out to kill and to destroy all the Iewes both young and olde Children and Women in one day In the ende of the eight of Ester Letters are vvriting signating and carrying by the same Scribes by that same King by those same Postes who vvrote signated and carryed the former granting the Iewes in vvhat Cities soever they were to gather themselues together and to stand for their liues and to roote out to kil and to destroy all the power of the People and of the Province that vexed them both Children and Women and to spoile their goodes Hast thou compared ô my Soule the 19 20 and 21 verses of the third of Daniel vvith the 28 29 and 30 verses of that same Chapter In the 19 20 and 21 verses fearce Nebuchadnezar is so furiouslie set against Hananiah Mishael and Azariah and that GOD vvhome they worshiped that hee would haue them casten into and devoured by the hote fierie Fornace But in the 28 29 and 30 verses pacified Nebuchadnezar thinketh so reverentlie of their GOD and is so favourablie disposed towardes them that blessing their GOD hee maketh a Decree That everie People Nation and Language which spake anie blasphemie against their GOD should bee drawen in pieces and haue their Houses made a jaxe And besides this hee promoted those three in the Province of Babel highlie whom hee decreed before to burne cruellie We use to say and would to GOD our tongues were onelie accustomed with such speaches Blessed bee hee who can make friendes of fremde folke And vvhen I consider this O my Soule I must say Blessed be hee who can make deare Friendes of deadlie Foes Alwayes what must thou doe ô my soule to the ende thou mayest finde this to thy comfort and benefite Let that wise King Salomon informe thee as he was informed by that true Salomon the King of wisdome When the wayes of a man please the LORD Prov. 16.7 he will make his enemies to be at peace with him If thou haue compared O my Soule the 41 verse of the 27 of Genesis with the 4 verse of the 33 of Genesis and with the 29 verse of the xxxv of Genesis thou shalt find this to be most true In the 41 verse of the 27 of Genesis I heare cruell Esau avowing to slay his brother Iaakob when the dayes of mourning for his Father should come Alwayes not onlie see I this same Esau in the 4 verse of the 33 of Genesis embracing this Iaakob falling upon the necke of this Iaakob but in the 29 verse of the thirtiefiue of Genesis I see Esau and Iaakob most kindelie as it became Brethren burying their dead Father Isaac So great advantage reaped Iaakob by walking before GOD and amongst men so that his wayes pleased GOD. If a Subject then find that he is wrōged by his king let him not doe that which may grieue GOD and please his King to the ende hee may obtaine his Kinges favour If a Childe finde that he is wronged by his Father let him not doe that