a blessing Beware thou seeke not to the reputed cunning men and women who are supposed to heale by their Charmes and Spels who if they preuaile in any cure it is by the permission of God by the deuill The surest remedie is to haue thy recourse to God and not to Baalzâ—bâ—b as Ahaziah who dyed the death for running to Witches and Wizards the limbs of the deuill but put thy trust in the all-sufficient God alone vsing such lawfull meanes as hee hath appointed both for the ease of thy soule and health of thy body and then recommend the issue to him with godly patience committing thy will to his will If he restore thee to thy former health be thou thankfull to him and let thy thankfulnes appeare by a new and godly course of life and true obedience If he haue otherwise determined of thee namely to call thee out of this miserable mortall life reioyce and be glad for thy soule now sicke in sin shall suddainly receiue a new and glorious life thy body now oppressed with griefe shall be at rest though it perish and rot in the graue it shall rise againe and meete the soule and be thereunto again vnited with farre greater glory then thy hart can thinke In the meane time seeke or thinke of nothing but of the things that are aboue and endeuour to haue thy heart thine vnderstanding thoughts and affections so qualified and the Lampe of faith in the merits of Christ so liuely enlightned that thou mayest ioyfully meet the Bridegrome Christ in soule and body when hee shall appeare in the cloudes in glory and maiestie to giue euery man according to his works Be not afraide therefore of Death it is but the seperation of the soule now as in a prison from the body which is but a carkasse full of naturall infirmities which the soule possesseth for a little time fraught onely with miseries with griefe and feare which being dissolued shall bring end to all thy cares dangers feares miseries and afflictions and bring thee to the Paradise of God where thou shalt feele no more of these vnsauourie things of the flesh for the Lord will transforme this thy vile base and corrupt body and make it like vnto his most glorious body Then shalt thou be no more subiect to sinne or sicknesse no aduersity nor anguish shall afflict thee no enemies shall trouble thee no slanders disgrace thee And where thou art here mortall subiect to all the former euils thou shalt be there immortall The face of God which is the fountaine of light shall there shine vpon thee and no darknesse shall ouershadow thee all perfection of ioy glory and gladnesse thou shalt finde there and be so plentifully filled with the contemplation of the aboundance of those heauenly pleasures that you will or can delight in nothing but in the beholding of the most glorious face of Iesus Christ and onely delight in the association of that heauenly company which ioyes if thou truly knewest here as thou shalt enioy them there Thou wouldest be content rather to endure a thousand deaths then to be depriued of them Prepare thy selfe therefore with all diuine furniture with faith hope loue and all other holy and heauenly affections to goe the way of all flesh Lay willingly downe thy carnall part in the graue to become dust whereof it was made and commend thy soule into the hands of God that gaue it and of Iesus Christ who redeemed it And according to the counsell that God gaue to Hezekiah set thy house in order And aboue this thy corporaâ—l habitation set thy soule in order and as much as in thee lyeth haue peace with all men Depart in the loue of and to thine enemies And as farre as the possibilitie of thy earthlie substance will extend owe nothing to any man when thou departest hence but loue and thinke not much neither let it grieue or trouble thy minde to leaue thy worldly wealth which was but lent thee thy father mother wife children lands possessions siluer gold and the things that haue beene or are most deare vnto thee to hasten to this heauenlie habitation where eternall glorie shall bee thy wealth the eternall God thy Father Iesus Christ thy brother all the Saints and Angels and all the holie and most glorious heauenlie companie shall bee far more comfortable vnto thee then all the former who were both mortall and inconstant And in steede of the base and vncertaine possessions in the earth thou shalt possesse a Kingdome for euer In steede of thy gold and siluer and thy most precious Iewels thou here for a moment enioyest thou shalt enhabite a Citie whose walls are gold garnished with all maner of precious stones farre excelling the rarest and richest that euer the earth yeilded whose beauty and excellencie the tongue of man no not of an Angell can truly expresse to our apprehension But shadowed out vnto vs vnder these most precious ornaments incomprehensible Should any carnall consideration therfore hinder thee from a willing minde to change this thy mortall and miserable life as short as euill for a life so glorious and permanent The longer thou continuest here the more cause thou hast to desire to be dissolued for that thou here doest augment daily thy sinnes and euery day brings new griefe Prepare thy selfe therefore without delay make thee readie that when GOD shall call thee thou mayest be willing to goe And for thy better preparation vse prayer often in a liuely faith and if thine infirmitie will permit thee vse this prayer following or any other godly prayer with holy meditation to season thy soule through the holy Ghost commending thy spirit vnto God in Iesus Christ. A Prayer to be often said of a sicke man or woman O Lord my GOD and my most louing and mercifull Father in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ I thy most vnworthy creature heauie laden with the burthen of my manifold and grieuous sinnes much oppressed with the infirmity and sicknesse which thou hast iustly inflicted vpon my corrupt and weake body doe humbly pray thee to pardon my sinnes and giue me patience to beare this thy gentle correction in which I doe heartily submit my selfe vnto thy heauenly will whether it be thy pleasure to permit me yet a little while to enioy the health of my body to serue thee or to take my soule out of the lothsome prison of my sinfull carkasse into thine owne hands where I know it shall be safe and not perish And therefore Lord giue me a godly contented minde to suffer my body to returne vnto the earth from whence it was taken there to rest vntill it shall please thee to raise it againe at the last resurrection and to make it of a mortall an immortall and of a corruptible to make it a perfectly glorious body In the meane time O Lord I doe beseech thee to fortifie and strengthen my soule against all
tentations that I may be able to resist whatsoeuer assaults of the deuill and his Ministers As for mine owne power alas it is euen weakenes it selfe but my hope and strength is of thee I can alledge nothing neither canst thou finde any thing in mee either woorthie or acceptable whereby I might haue hope either to haue my sinnes forgiuen me or to be released or eased of my sicknesse or to be restored to my former health or strength yet I haue hope O Lord that thou in mercie wilt pardon my sinnes in the merites of my Redeemer and that for his sake thou wilt either restore me to health or speedily to end this my grieuous infirmity which if for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes thou thinke sit to lay yet more heauily vpon me strengthen me so much the more with perfect faith and godly patience that I may beare it that the apprehension of death which is something terrible to flesh and bloud daunt me not But that I may rest assured that thou thus rebukest mee not in thine anger nor that thou chastisest me in thy heauie displeasure but rather of thy loue which is better vnto me then life O Father what shall I render vnto thee for all thy benefits for they haue bin infinite towards me And euen this thy fatherly correction I acknowledge not the least for hereby Lord I finde thy gracious purpose to be to reclayme me from my wonted sinnes which without thy mercy cannot but procure not the death of my body only but of my soule also so dearely redeemed by the bloud of thy dearest Son O strengthen Lord strengthen my faith that I may now at the last take such firme assured holde of the merites of Iesus Christ that all my sinnes and vngodly deseruings may be couered and that his righteousnesse may be imputed vnto me I doe confesse O Lord to my shame and griefe that before thou diddest correct me I went awry I followed too much the desires of my corrupt hart But now Lord I doe heartily repent me that euer I offended thee but if it be thy gracious good wil and pleasure and if in thy wisdome thou thinke it fit to restore mee to my former health which I humbly leaue vnto thee I shall endeuour by thy grace to walke more warily and shunne the enticements that haue seduced me and the allurements of Sathan that haue deceiued mee But if thou haue determined this my sicknesse to be my last and finall trouble I shall most heartily embrace it with a longing expectation for the time of my dissolution And when the time commeth accept it with a ioyfull and glad heart and that I may be the more truly and readily prepared at the instant of the departure of my soule from my body wash me throughly and make me cleane that I may appeare before thee in the immaculate roabes of Christs righteousnes and not in mine owne polluted garments of corruption That I may heare that most sweet and comfortable voyce of my Redeemer Come thou blessed of my Father enter into and possesse the ioyes prepared for thee from the beginning of the world which grant gracious Lord God for Iesus Christes sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glory for euer O Lord encrease and euermore and more strengthen my faith and fill my heart with vnfained godly desire to be speedily dissolued that I may liue with thee in heauen Amen A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman of faithfull friends that come to visite him or her LOrd God Almighty and Father of incomprehensible mercy we here assembled before thy Maiestie in the name of thy most beloued Son Iesus Christ are bold to present our humble petitions vnto thee in the behalfe of this sicke person lying heere visited with sicknes which thou mightest iustly haue laide and inflicted vpon any of vs as great sinners and haue spared him or her but such hath been thy mercy hetherunto towards vs as to afford vs health expecting the time wherein we cannot auoyde but must taste of the same cup. We acknowledge Lord that thou neuer sendest this or any other crosse or affliction to any no not to such as thou louest best but the end therof though bitter for the time to flesh and bloud is happinesse yet doest thou iustly whatsoeuer thou doest and we acknowledge that sinne is the cause of all thy fatherly visitations And forasmuch as it cannot bee but that this sicke party is oppressed in the weakenes of his body by the strong tentations of that common enemie Sathan who endeuoureth so to lay his sinnes to his charge whereof no man is free that if it were possible he might so farre feare him with thy seuere Iustice for the same as that he might despaire of thy mercies and consequently of his owne saluation Wherefore wee thy weake seruants here assembled doe humbly and hartily pray thee to abandon and abolish that infernall Serpent that his false suggestions creepe not into the heart of this sicke party but arme him or her so with a liuely faith that thy holy Spirit may so possesse his soule that the enemie may finde no place for his tentations Besprinkle his heart so with the meritorious bloud of thy Sonne that the deuill seeing and obseruing a stronger then himselfe to possesse the house of his soule he may be enforced to flie and no further to pursue him Cause Lord that some tokens may appeare in this sick person that his soule and conscience are quieted by the presence of the holy Ghost in him whereby we thy most humble suppliants may receiue some comfort in the fruit of our prayers for him And as touching his sicknes we submit our desires to thine owne will yet if thy good pleasure be so as to restore him to the former health which wee in his behalfe entreate thee to the end that hee and we may glorifie thee for thy great mercie in healing him and that he by this thy fatherly correction may learne to liue the residue of the time that he shall here enioy in new and more perfect obedience But if otherwise thou be pleased to dispose of him namely to take him out of this mortall-life giue him wee humbly pray thee an vnderstanding heart to know and to consider his mortality and the glory to come a sound minde perfect memory with a feeling faith patience and obedience that without feare with cheerefull alacrity hee may surrender his soule vnto thee Receiue it good Father as the soule of an Elect Saint and send his body which must rest and remaine in the earth vntill the generall rising againe of the dead a most ioyfull resurrection that he may then enioy the full perfection of glory with thee both in soule and body which we humbly pray thee in the name of Iesus Christ graciously to graunt and that it would please thee to come quickly and finish the worke which thou hast begun
not that God corrects them in this place for their sinnes and that the Maiestrate punisheth them for their offences but in steed of acknowledging their faultes they seeke to cleere themselues by the malice of some enemie some false accuser some cruell creditor when indeede their owne sinnes haue beene the cause of their restraint And therefore such as feare God will take it as a fatherly correction and attribute it to the loue of God that by this meanes seeketh their reformation and saluation Submit thy selfe therefore vnto his will and doe not think that this befalls thee by chance or through the malice of an enemie or the hardnesse of the heart of a Creditor If an enemie haue accused thee or a Creditor arrested thee thinke they were but Gods Ministers though peraduenture thou bee not guiltie of the thing for which thou art accused and imprisoned yet remember what thou hast formerly done for God many times punisheth a man and that seuerely for a sinne formerly committed and long concealed vpon an accusation whereof the Partie is not guiltie yet being guiltie of a former hainous crime that deserueth like punishment the Lord is not vniust to punish him how and by what meanes soeuer God is prouoked by sinne to inflict the least correction vpon man and as there is no man but he is a sinner so there is no man is free from one crosse or affliction or other to put him in minde that God is displeased with his sinne and yet he permitteth some men to runne on long euen to their last gaspe free from any seene crosse or calamitie but these not the happiest men for whom soeuer God chasteneth not here hee reserueth for them a more seuere punishment in the end a prison farre exceeding any worldly restraint for he that is in this world a prisoner is at length deliuered liuing or dead but from that future is no time limited or permitted to be freed through all eterniâ—ies Thinke not therefore this easie restraint grieuous whereof so good vse is to be made for by this thou maist learne if a temporall and momentanie imprisonment be so loathsome and irckesome vnto thee where thou hast yet some though small libertie what will that bee where thou shalt haue no freedome no intermission of torment and horror besides thou hast here some companions and friendly fellow-prisoners whose company thou maist frequent to thy comfort but the companions which they shall there finde are hideous fearefull such as haue no other qualitie but to torment and suffer and be tormented Know therefore that God in his singular prouidence and loue restraineth thee here a prisoner that thou shouldest here learne to auoid that which is prepared for the rebellious and obstinate wicked ones hereafter For if thou reforme thee not being restrained and become obediente what may be thought of thee being at libertie But vsing thy restraint as thou maist oughtest thou art in farre better case then are many Libertines Heere thou maist read the worde and meditate thereon heere thou maist pray and excercise holy duties without such varietie of occasions as the freedom of the world affordeth to distract thee Yet I would not that I should be vnderstood that because corporall restraint is a meanes to haue the minde at libertie when the body is in Prison that any man should wilfully occasion or voluntarily seeke his owne restraint but rather that being thus restrayned to consider duly the cause why you are restrayned for the cause much importeth the ioye or griefe the hope or feare of a Prisoner Pharaohs Baker and Butler were both in Prison the one hanged the other restored to his Office yet both deserued Imprisonment for offending their Maister But Ioseph and Iohn Baptist were Imprisond the one through the false accusasion of his vnchaste Mistresse the other through enuye in telling Herod of his Incest The first had his freedome made Cheef vnder Pharaoh in Egypte the other lost his head to please a Whore There are many causes of imprisonement and many causelesse imprisoned and both haue cause to reioyce the first that God in his fauour calles him to knowe himselfe by the consideration of his offence for which hee is committed the other may the more reioyce that he is punished being an innocent as was Michaiah the Prophet of God who was cast into prison for telling Iehosaphat and Ahab that they should not prosper in fighting against the King of Siriah The deerest children of God haue suffered imprisonment for diuers causes especially for speaking the truth from God as Paul Peter c. whose imprisonments tended to their euerlasting freedome for to suffer for righteousnesse sake is a blessed thing but to suffer as an euill doer hath no promise of inward comfort or outward releefe especially if he continue impenitent for the euill he hath done yet all hope is not taken from a sinner who for the offending of the Lawes of God or men is imprisoned especially if he truely repent and with a liuely faith returne vnto God were he as guiltie as the Theefe vpon the Crosse who from the prison was brought to the Crosse at the Crosse to Christ and from the Crosse to Paradice with Christ. It behoueth therefore to consider the cause of thine imprisonment for as there are seuerall causes so are there seuerall councelles and comforts to be applyed If thou haue offended the Lawes of thy Soueraigne which may be done by diuers forbidden actions deseruing death or some other seuere punishment as treasons rebellion murther theftes and the like Some againe are punished for debte for slandering their neighbours or doing such iniuries against them as the Lawe of man grounded vpon the Law of God hath power to punish with imprisonement in all which is required Patience to beare it prayer in faith to God to be eased with true hearty acknowledgement of thy fault to God against whome euery sinne is committed and to seeke reconciliation with the partie offended so shall restraint for what cause soeuer become the more easie to bee borne And first I will touche the most capitall and most hainous offences such as if thou haue committed or any of them and bee restrained for them there remaineth for thee in the seueritie of Iustice nothing but the expectation of the censure and Sentence of death and therefore fit for thee to learne how to prepare thee that though thy body perish thy soule may be saued Against Treason for which a man is worthily imprisoned ABoue all other sinnes that can be committed against the Lawe of man there is none so great so grieuous capitall hainous as is Treason against the person of a Soueraigne of whome no man ought to moue his tong no not in his most priuate chamber but to what may tende to the welwishing of his welfare and prosperitie much lesse ought any man to moue his hand
prayor to God in his Sonne Christ who shed his blood for thee and thereby able to wash thee from thy bloody sinne if thou truely repent and doest faithfully and feruently praye for pardon and if thou be destitute of the power to pray of thy selfe thou maist vse the former prayer made for a man grieued in conscience for the hainousnesse of his sinnes or this short confession and prayer following and that often vntill thy conscience become at peace with God and then howsoeuer both the Lawe of God and men condemne thee for the facte and that thou suffer death for the same take it with godly patience for better it is for thee to suffer here a temporall death for thy sinne then to carrie the burthen of a tormenting conscience not suspected to thy graue which though man doe not shall accuse thee when it will be too late to crye for mercie A Prayer for a man imprisoned guiltie of murther O Lord God whose mercies are aboue all thy workes and yet I wretched creature haue not deserued the least part of the same but rather vtter confusion both of body and soule not onely for my manifold and grieuous sinnes committed euen from my youth but aboue all other of my grieuous sinnes I feele the heauy burthen of this one sinne this capitall and crying sinne in thy seuere Iustice impardonable the wilfull taking away of the life of thine innocent creature whose blood cryeth against mee as did that guiltlesse blood of Abel crye against his murtherous brother Kayne who was reiected by thee by reason of his impenitency deale not so with mee deare father I praye thee I am heartely forty for my wicked facte and doe acknowledge it to be most hainous yet not exceeding thy mercy which as farre as the heauen is aboue the earth so is thy mercie aboue thy Iustice and as farre as the East is from the West so farre canst thou put this my grieuous sinne from mee which though it be as red as blood yea blood it selfe yet is the blood of that Lambe Iesus Christ of more then sufficient efficacie and vertue to make it white as snowe O cast mee not vtterly out of thy fauour though I be a most grieuous sinner for my soule is heauy within mee my heart is cast downe I dare not looke vp vnto heauen where thou sittest a seueate Iudge and I tremble to thinke how grieuously I haue offended thee I am fallen O Lord I am fallen into the hands of my most deadly enemie Satan that pursues mee with deadly hatred he he O God prouoked mee to this vngodly deede and now he seekes to draw me to dispayre of thy mercie into whose hands O Lord I cast my selfe knowing that there is yet mercie with thee and in Iesus Christ perfect Redemption I am also fallen into the hands of men whose Lawes I haue by this mine vngodly facte wilfully broken by whose Lawes I am condemned and that worthily and there is none to comfort me but thou alone against whom especially I haue committed this bloody sinne for which as I doe acknowledge to haue deserued the death not onely of my wretched body but also of my most sinfull soule so I beleeue that the death of my body shall be a sufficient satisfaction to the Lawe of man and the griefe and sorrowe of my truely repenting heart through the preuayling death of my Sauiour Iesus Christ shall bee a satisfaction to thy Iustice. And as I doe acknowledge that I haue deserued to dye so I beseech thee Lord to prepare me therevnto with Patience faith firme and constant assurance of thy mercy that I fainte not at my approaching death but may bee assured that as thou forgauest the Theef vpon the Crosse receiuedst him into Paradice so thou wilt receiue my soule in the merites of Christ my Sauiour when through death it shall leaue my sinfull body which graunt gracious Lord God for his sake that dyed for penitent sinners among whome I cannot but confesse I am the greatest and the greater shall thy mercy appeare Lord confirme my faith in thee to the end and in my end Amen For such as are imprisoned for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome deseruing death AS the Lawes and Ordinances of Kingdomes are many to meete with the sinnes and transgressions of men which are infinite so the causes of mens restraynts imprisonments and punishments are not to bee named or numbred yet euery man commonly knowes the offences that deserue the same and haue not yet the grace or power to auoide the committing of them Thou art in prison knowne or vehemently suspected of some grieuous facte committed against the Lawes deseruing the executing sword of the Magistrate vpon life or member thy case is hard and dangerous deserued death or some other seueare punishment hangeth ouer thy head at the pleasure of the Iudge It behoueth thee therefore to looke into thine owne heart and to examine thine owne conscience strictely whether thou be guiltie or not of the cryme laid vnto thy charge or of any other grieuous cryme which thou hast long concealed for God many times doth punish an offender for some wicked facte formerly committed and neuer discouered by the suspition of a cryme and punisheth it as the acte done and therefore if thou feele thy selfe guiltie of any grieuous offence commited against God by the breach of the Lawes of man which thou hadst cleane forgotten if thou be after vniustly accused or suspected of another which if thou were guiltie of it deserued as seueare punishment as the former and thou receiue it though in that thou be innocent yet in Gods Iustice this thy punishment is for thy former offence iust He that wittingly or wilfully disobeyeth the Lawes of man is guiltie of the breach of the Lawe of God by whom Magistrates that establishe Lawes for ciuile gouernment of their subiects are set and appointed and haue their authoritie and power to punish offendors from God and therefore should euery soule submit it selfe to the powers ordained by God And seeing thou hast highly offended these Lawes fit it is that thou shouldst be apprehended restrained of thy raunging libertie whereby thou maist not onely offend others but bee a meane to intice others to thy example of sinning Receiue therefore thine imprisonment and punishment with patience murmure not against the Magistaate that thus in Gods steed and as his Minister correcteth thee who if hee had let thee runne on further in thine impieties the greater had beene thy sinne and the greater would haue beene thy finall punishment whereas now thou mayst haue time to examine thy life past and to repent thee of thy sinnes and to seeke to God in Christ for pardon and therefore hast thou rather cause to thanke God for thine imprisonment then to grudge that hee correcteth thee so shalt thou make profit of thy restraint in redeeming thy former ill spent time and learne
at the iust proceeding of the Magistrate whose Lawes I haue offended nor against them by whome I was found guiltie nor against the Iudge by whose Sentence I am condemned for they are all thy Ministers O Lord and haue done nothing but what thy good pleasure is they should doe And therefore I impute vnto thee O Lord all equitie Iustice and righteousnesse to my selfe nothing but sinne shame confusion O God though thy Iustice requite that sinners should here be punished yet thou reseruest mercie to them that are sorie that they haue offended thee I am sorie O Lord I am sorie that I haue committed the least sinne against thee but this grieuous sinne for which I am inforced to suffer I lament and repent more then death it selfe because I haue thereby dishonoured thee wronged those to whome I rather should haue done my best dutie I haue caused others to sinne by the example of my sinne and haue inticed them that otherwise might haue liued without the danger I haue drawne them into so that I may be said to be guiltie not onely of mine owne blood but of theirs also that haue sinned by my meanes or with mee and deserue like punishment O Lord remember that all men are sinners and there are great and crying sinnes and there are sinnes of infirmitie but Lord the sinnes that I haue committed haue cryed and thou hast heard them they cryed vnto thee for this punishment which thou hast determined iustly to be inflicted vpon me and as the censure is already past vpon me which I cannot auoid so doe I expect the time beseeching thee in the aboundance of thy mercies to giue me constancie to perseuere in a liuely faith vnto the end If my lot Lord be vntimely death and that I see I must suffer for the guilt of my trangressions here let me finde fauour with thee as that Theefe did who suffered for his sinnes and was receiued into Paradice not of desert but of thy free mercie O deale not with me Lord after my merit for then the death of my body or what soeuer corporall punishment were no satisfaction to thy Iustice Haue mercie therefore vpon me O Lord and what course soeuer man taketh with my body receiue thou my soule into thine eternall Paradice My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared and into thy hands Lord I commend my body to be punished and my soule to be glorified in the merits of Iesus Christ my Redeemer Amen O Lord encrease my faith and confirme it to the end For such as are imprisoned for debte THe Law of equitie which is the Lawe of God requireth that a man should owe nothing to man but loue and good will which is hard at all times for the most of men to performe there must bee as there euer hath bin lending borrowing buying and selling Debitor and Creditor some debters would but cannot paye some haue wherewith will not paye the first may be pityed the other exacted For the same Lawe of equitie giueth lawfull power to a Creditor vpon conuiction to cast him into prison and there to detaine him till he paye it Many thinke that what is lent them is as if they found it making no reckoning to repaye it and so in steed of satisfaction and thankes they bring griefe vnto the Lender But in the same Chapter ver 3. men are aduised that haue occasion to borrowe to keepe their word to deale faithfully and kindely with the Lender so shall their necessities bee alwayes releeued But Men of euill conscience as is there further said standing in neede of another mans helpe will kisse their hand and humble themselues vntill they haue gotten what they desire and when they should repay it they prolonge the time and giue a carelesse answer and though they bee able yet scarse giue the halfe againe or deceiue him of his mony and insteed of thankefulnes and loue they giue him curses rebuke euill words for the good hee hath done them And this is the cōmon course of politicke and wilfull Banckeruptes and euill disposed persons that get what they can into their hands of others mens goods and either voluntarily take shelter in one prison or another intending a forceable moderation and qualification of their debts or else conuey away their goods and estates secretly and fleeth the Country intending to pay nothing at all though their estates be able to discharge their debtes and to leaue competent meanes of the rest to maintaine and releeue themselues by which sinister and too common a dishonest practise many haue vniustly inriched themselues But such fraudulent getting goods come little short of if it equalize not meere roberie though for a while they may smile at and reioyce in their impious pollicie If thou therfore haue or intende thus subtillie to defraude thy Creditors hauing sufficient to satisfie them and in the meane time sufferest thy Creditors to want who peraduenture haue as much need as thy selfe there is not onely no pitie to be had of thine imprisonment but fit a more seuere punishment were inflicted vpon thee especially if thou be of the number of them that will rather spend that in prison or in standing out in Lawe to defraude a Creditor knowing that in equitie it is due then with the same money to make him honest satisfaction or in part But if thy debt haue grown by meere necessitie of borrowing and thou at the time of receiuing it hadst a true sincere and godly purpose to repaye it by probable expected meanes and in the meane time some crosse by the finger of God hath befallen thee whereby thou art indeed preuented of thy true meaning of the performance of thy faithfull promise thou art to bee excused in thy breach and pityed in thine imprisonment not hauing conueniently wherewith to pay and if thy Creditor able to forbeare doe continue the hardnesse of his heart towards thee still detaining thee thinke it a fatherly chastisement vpon thee to inure Patience in thee wherein if thou submit thy selfe to Gods will in working for thee by faithfull prayer thy Patience shall produce the experience of the loue and fauour of God towards thee so shalt thou not need to bee so much ashamed of thine imprisonment as he may be iustly condemned that detaines thee thou maist reioyce seruing the Lord when he shall be sorie that hee dealt so vncharitablie with thee It behoueth thee yet to examine thy selfe and thy life past whether thou haue liued in the feare of God and in godly diligence in thy calling or whether thou hast past thy time in idlenesse in ryoting gaming and company keeping according to the course of too many in this corrupt age and hast beene compelled through thy deserued necessitie to supplie either thine owne vanities or thy poore family to borrow not knowing any meanes nor hauing a godly purpose to repay it if it be so and thy Creditors haue
that hath bene the principall instigator of me to sin and now the chiefe accuser of me for sinne and thinketh that he had and hath such a share in me throgh my former often consenting vnto his inticements that thou my God were not able to take me out of his hands But now holy heauenly and mercifull Father in Iesus Christ through thy grace vndeseruedly working in me I haue found him a deceiuer an imposter an enemye who hath done what lyeth in him to worke my ruyne by my rebelliō against thee throgh his continuall tentations vsing all his impious Instruments to deceiue me the pleasures of the world the lust of mine own flesh which hath bin euer prone to be allured by him And I wretched creature blind in all good thinges neuer obserued what a dangerous course of life I haue to this day walked in vntill now Now deere Father as it hath pleased thee of thine owne free mercie to open the eyes of my sinning soule to see that I haue lōg erred and that all that I haue hetherto done hath bene euill So now seeing mine owne wicked deseruings giue me power to repent me for all my sinns Reforme me O gracious Father reforme mee and by thy grace ease and comfort my grieued hart through the powerfull and effectuall working of thy spirit henceforth in mee that now at the last I may taste of thy goodnesse and rich mercy in Iesus Christ Though I haue nothing in my selfe to moue thee to haue compassion vpon me yet remember that I haue a deseruing and a preuailing Aduocate with thee whose merites may moue thee and his mediation preuaile with thee for me And therfore I haue hope that I shall be pertaker of his all sufficient satisfaction made for all sinners among whome I cannot but acknowledge my selfe the greatest and least deseruing thy fauour O my God I feele my miserable estate I acknowledge the grieuousnesse of my sinnes and that for them thou mayest iustly condemne me but that I haue learned by thine own promises that there is mercie with thee that thou delightest not in the condemnation of a sinner but rather that hee should repent and turne vnto thee and liue Lord haue mercie vpon me haue mercy vpon me for I am weake I feele a burthen of my sinnes that presseth me downe and nothing can raise me but thy mercies in Iesus Christ. O giue me a liuely faith that I may apply the preuailing merites of that sacred Lambe crucified for all beleeuers to the washing away of all my sinnes and to the ease of my guilty conscience heauily burthened therewith so shall my poore afflicted and distressed soule be refreshed my heart now grosly defiled shall be made cleane mine affections now altogether ranging after vnholy things shall be changed into perfect obedience vnto thee and Sathan that hath long and maliciously pursued me with his most violent tentations shal◠flye at the presence of thy holy spirit in me and all my thoughts imaginations desires words and workes shall be sanctified and made holy by the same Spirit O hide not therefore gracious Father hide not from me thy louing countenance but turne away thy face from my sinnes blot out all mine offences out of thy remembrance create in me a cleane heart restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirit and let me neuer returne again to my former slauery of sinne and I shall offer vnto thee the vnfayned sacrifice of praise for thine vnspeakeable mercies All honour glory to Christ my Redeemer and to the holy Ghost the obedience of mine vnfayned heart for that he assureth mee of all these incomprehensible blessings Amen Lord euer more and more encrease my faith Comfort for the sicke THe miserable estate of a man perplexed in conscience for his sinnes is the greatest affliction that can befall a man in this life which is the sicknesse of the soule for a wounded conscience who can beare And next to it there is not a greater then is the extremitie of the sicknesse of the body and therefore neede these two sicknesses aboue all other crosses to be especially sought to be eased the first with spirituall the next both with spirituall and corporall comfort They are Twinns borne together and liue together though the one by inspiration the other by propagation And therefore if the soule be diseased the body can not though it may seeme contrary be in perfect health It will shew apparent tokens of the sicknesse of the minde and if the body be ouermuch tormented with the grieuousnesse of sicknesse the soule cannot but feele through a mutuall loue which is between the soule and the body a kinde of griefe and sorrow I will therefore apply vnto thee whome I see to be cast downe by thy bodies infirmity the counsell comforts which may first ease thee of thy inward feares and troubles for it can not be but that Sathan that auncient enemie of al mankinde hath beene busie in the time of thy health to draw thee to sin that by sinne thou mightest offend God that by offending God thou mightest be reiected of him and now finding thee visited by the hand of God with grieuous sicknesse fore-showing either the speedie approaching of death or a gentle forewarning thereof hee cannot be lesse watchfull and diligent in this thine extremity nay farre more then hee was in thy most healthfull estate to trouble thee for when thou wert healthfull and strong thou couldest nor but be by the corruption of thy owne nature proane to sinne And this common enemie of mans saluation worketh vpon our corruption and our ablenesse to sinne And when hee findeth vs most weake in our bodies and our sences and powres labouring against the violence of our infirmities then he commeth and presenteth vnto our guilty consciences the sinnes which he before prouoked vs to commit In the sicknesse of the body hee findeth fit oportunity to trouble vs for although hee knoweth not the time which God reserueth in his owne wisedome and power when any man shall dye yet when sicknesse comes he knowes it is the fore-runner of death and therefore hee knoweth that then or neuer hee must imploy all his Engines and batteries or else for euer rest frustrate of any hope to preuaile And therefore he will solicite thee now to distrust in the mercies of God in Christ and will suggest vnto thee that now thou seest and feelest that GOD is displeased with thee and that hee hath no delight in thee as if thou were his he would haue hee would not torment thee as hee doth and that thou were as good to cast off all thy hope in him as to deceiue thy selfe vainely trusting that hee will yet shew thee any mercy or louing countenance These fearefull assaults it cannot be but thou dost or mayest endure at this thy capitall enemies hands if thou be in deede the true childe of God for
to frame thy heart to more obedience to the Lawes of God and man for the time thou hast yet to spend in this life If God haue ordained the Magistrate in Iustice to take away thy life iustly deseruing it thou through faith by true repentance and prayer maist enioy a farre more glorious life for thy present ignomiâ—ious death If any other punishment be by the Lawes due for thine offence that it may be satisfied with the depriuation of any part of thy body according to the qualitie of thine offence or to inflict any other corporall punishment vpon thy flesh thinke it is in fauour and that God seeth it better for thee to suffer here a little smart then hereafter perpetuall torments and therefore seeing thou hast offended and made thy selfe guilty of crime so seuearely punishable submit thy selfe to the will of God and to the authoritie of the Magistrate in obedience faith and faithfull prayer A Prayer to be said of a Prisoner accused and like to bee condemned to death for some facte against the Lawes or to any other corporall punishment O Mightie omnipotent and most righteous Lord God I acknowledge thy Iudgements to bee iust and thy Wisedome and Prouidence vnsearchable wherein thou hast found me out and discouered my sins which I haue done as I thought in secret but thine all-seeing eye pierceth through the cloudes no darkenesse can hide sinne and sinners from thy presence Lord seeing thou hast found out mine iniquities and brought my grieuous sins to light I doe appeale from thy Throne of Iustice to thy Seate of mercie for I doe confesse that in thy iust Iudgement I am worthy to bee perpetually condeÌ„ned but in thy mercie I may find fauour and in the merits of Christ thy beloued Sonne I may yet be saued though my mortall body here perish Thou hast power O Lord to worke the hearts of the seuearest Iudges of the earth with Iustice to ioyne mercie not to extende the seueritie in punishing of me as the Lawe for mine offence may iustlie require But aboue all earthly Iudges I stand most affraid of thy displeasure which I doe confesse I haue iustly deserued by mine offences many in number but this for which I am now restrayned is not the least yet not so great but thou canst forgiue and pardon it But before I can bee assured of thy fauour in pardoning mine vngodly deseruings for which I lye here vnder thine and the hand of the Magistrate in bandes I must and I doe humbly and heartily seeke to bee reconciled vnto thee But alas what am I dust and ashes what am I a meere worme what am I the vilest of all sinners that thou shouldest vouschafe to accept my reconciliation with thee the Almightie God Creator of heauen and earth betweene whose sinceritie and my sinnes betweene whose goodnesse and my vilenesse and betweene whose greatnesse and my weaknesse is so infinite difference euen as betweene heauen and hell O! how can I thinke that although thou canst thou wilt bee reconciled vnto me that haue so grieuously offended How can I expect any fauour of thee whom by the breach of all thy commandements I haue so highly incensed against me I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned and many wayes transgressed thy Lawes and had it not beene of thy meere mercy I might haue beene as I haue often deserued confounded long agone I doe acknowledge O Lord and thou knowest that this is not the first grieuous offence that I haue committed and therefore were I innocent in this for which I am apprehended and imprisoned I cannot but confesse that I haue deserued the punishment in Iustice due for this But Lord call not all my former sinnes to thy remembrance cast not vp the whole account of all mine impious actions knowing that I am of the seede of him that first was in thy sauour holy and that first rebelled and became and I in him disobedient and rebellious yet as hee fell of himselfe and I in him together with all his posteritie So was the seed of the woman promised to come he is come hath suffered according to thine owne will to reconcile euen me the greatest sinner and all beleeuers into thy fauour againe the shedding of his blood hath made the attonement and he it is yea euen hee alone in whome I beleeue I shall finde thee reconciled vnto me Then Lord doe with my body here which is the actiue part of all my sinnes what seemeth good in thine owne eyes for as one haire of the head of thy children falleth not without thy Prouidence how much lesse can his life bee taken from him without thee My life and my death are in thy hands though the sword be in the Magistrates yet it is not his but thine and he but thy Minister therefore if thou saye strike he striketh if thou saye spare he spareth Seeing therefore Lord I am thus in thy disposing onele and haue learned out of thine owne promises that all things worke worke together for the good of them whom thou hast chosen my sinnes Lord that hath caused mine apprehension mine apprehension mine imprisonment mine imprisonment the knowledge of mine owne wicked deseruing and my deseruing death may all worke together for my good for except I had beene restrained I had not thought vpon but had runne on still in my sinne had I not beene punished I had not felt thy displeasure for my sinnes so should I neuer haue sought to thee for succour and pardon for my sinnes O the incomprehensible depth of thy Wisedome and mercy in thus visiting me for before I was restrained I forgot my selfe thee my selfe what a wretched creature I was and thee what a powerfull and iust Iudge thou art yet louing to them that repent which is also thy guifte I know and confesse my selfe now to be an offender and in danger and that thou art a iust God and an auenger of sinne Lord dispose of mine offending body as it pleaseth thee it is dust turne it to dust when and how thou wilt and punish it in what manner and measure thou wilt yet seasoned with thy compassion As for my soule Lord receiue it when through Iustice by the Magistrate or otherwise it shall be enforced to leaue this my sinnefull body which graunt for Iesus Christs sake Amen Lord encrease my faith and prepare mee â—o obey thee in what soeuer it pleaseth thee here to doe with me A Prayer to be said of a penitent offender going to his execution or to any corporall punishment O Lord God Almightie though thou be iust in punishing thou art mercifull in forgiuing and sauing sinners among whome there is none so great O Lord as I am who haue long liued in the practise of infinite impieties neuer thinking of the danger which now is deseruedly fallen vpon me I am worthily condemned to what thou wilt inflict vpon mee Lord giue me patience to take it without repining or grudging
miserie and what comfort this comfortlesse place affordeth where I can neither sleepe nor wake but vnder locke But Lord as Paul and Ioseph through thy onely loue towards them and thy prouidence ouer them found grace and fauour with their keepers so worke in the hearts of them vnder whose custodie I am that they vse no stricte seueritie towards me that I may call vpon thee more freely and feruently O Lord I am poore and my Creditors haue no pitie there is no compassion in man but with thee is mercie and timely Redemption thou hast thine owne time to correct and thine owne time and meanes to comfort a time to cast downe and a time to rayse vp though thou seeme to forget thy poore prisoners in permitting them to suffer long and to endure much yet hast thou a fatherly care of them and in thy good time doest euermore deliuer them I beseech thee in the loue thou bearest to Christ thy Sonne my Mediator that when thou seest the measure of mine imprisonment is sufficient to satisfie the seueritie of my Creditors worke their hearts to that compassion towards me though I bee vnable to pay them all as that they may remit my restraint and admit me to my former libertie that I may the better follow the meanes by mine owne lawfull industrie and thy blessings whereby I may attaine vnto such a portion as I may be able as I am willing to pay them all and to owe nothing to any man before I goe hence and bee no more seene but loue If it bee thy good pleasure Lord to take me out of this life before I can make ful satisfaction to my Creditors impute it not vnto me as a sinne but accept my will to doe it as the true performance of it that in peace with thee and as much as in mee lyeth with all men I may surrender my soule into thy hands which though my body be my soule is not so imprisoned as to be restrained from comming vnto thee nor preuented of it ascention to the place of libertie and glorie where Christ my Sauiour is ascended notwithstanding the crueltie of them that now couet to retaine my flesh whereof it may be if they could they would wish to make some profit for their satisfaction which I must then leaue vnto their wils to be disposed Most humblie comending my selfe my soule and my body into thy diuine and heauenly custody vntill the time In the name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be for euer as hath beene from the beginning eternall glorie Amen O Lord increase my faith endue me with perfect Patience and in thy mercie timely deliuerie A Caueat for cruell Creditors that keepe poore men in prison whom they know vnable to pay that for which they keepe them in prison THE practise of Christian charity hath euermore beene to doe to other men as a man desireth others to doe vnto himselfe and is grounded vpon the words and strict commaund of Christ himselfe who willeth all men that whatsoeuer they would that men should doe vnto them they should doe vnto others And againe by way of caueat he saith Take heede what ye doe and how ye deale with other men for what measure ye met to them the same shall be measured to you againe this is the truth yet are ye so hard hearted as for a little money or other matter to keepe a poore man in prison depriue him of his liberty preuent him of the exercise of his calling disable him to prouide for his owne and the reilefe of his poore wife and children and yet account your selues Christians If ye be Christians in deede and not in name onely you cannot but commiserate the necessity of your brethren and approue your selues Christians by louing them by helping them by relieuing their necessities and that freely for Christes sake whose they are as he hath commanded Be not such louers of your selues as onely to respect your owne priuate profit and to encrease it by oppressing your poore brother for so he is howsoeuer base and howsoeuer your selues are glorious And in steed of comforting ayding and relieuing him to imprison him the more to impouerish him doth not this show you are none of the houshold of faith who loue one another helpe one another relieue one another as fellow members of one body whereof Christ is the head There is a prouerbe in deed Charitie begins at home And so it seemes and where it begins there it ends where it is bred there it lyes at least it neuer goes abroad to the comfort of the comfortlesse to helpe the poore to relieue the Widow and the Orphan This keeping charity in a mans priuate bosome is the cause that man is become a deuill to man Wolfes deuouring one another by vsurie by extortions by fraud by deceitfull contracts and vncharitable bargaines in wrapping poore innocent men that stand in neede of the helpe of your aboundance in bands morgages and such griping and cruell conditions as poore men are not able to performe and vpon breach of payment or not performing some vnreasonable conditions you vnconscionably exact the penalties take the forfaitures and all aduantages that the seuerity of the Law will allow you thereby vndoing husband wife children and many times the friends of a distressed man and many times not satisfied with all that the poore man and his friends are able to make you keepe the poore body of the party in prison for the vttermost farthing and content your selues oftentimes to passe by the Grate where you heare the poore crie for bread bread O wofull and most impious vncharitablenesse fearefully condemned by the sentence of God himselfe Nay who hath not heard with his eares hatefull to be heard some cruell man say hee would make dice of his debters bones he were as good to say hee would eate his flesh like a Caniball And what lesse doe they that enforce a poore debter to perish in prison there to leaue his bones and flesh too for the satisfaction of the Creditor to make vse of both his bones for dice and his flesh for Mummy fit Relicks for cruell creditots sweet odours for their consciences and wholsome Phisick for their hearts Alas what will a poore mans carkasse profit you what vse can you put it vnto being dead in prison if you retaine him till he pay that he cannot pay dye there he must But your policie is there to keepe him in miserie to draw compassion towards him of some of his friends to engage themselues for your satisfaction It sauours indeede of policie not of piety Is not one mans vtter vndoing enough but the ouerthrow of two or three more and their families for company as often times it happeneth by your extreame crueltie O miserable Creditors can you truly pray to God that is mercifull forgiue my debts as I forgiue my debtors your selues so vnmercifull
contentions and from thence mutuall enmitie malice and reuenge make vse therefore of these backe-biting reports heare them with silence and bewray not a double faulte in thy selfe as first to commit vnseemely things and then to take them as thine enemies whome God vseth as his meanes to reclaime thee from thine errors thou oughtest rather to loue them and to doe them what good thou canst though they seeme to hate thee If they curse thee blesse them if they slaunder thee pray for them Thou canst not doe thine enemie a greater hurt nor thy selfe more good then to doe him good for the hurt he intendeth to thee for So shalt thou heape coales of fire on his head And therefore hast thou not onely no cause to grudge that God sendeth thee enemies to watch ouer thee to keepe thee humble and in obedience and vpon whome through thy patience thou maist worke much good in louing them and seeking to be reconciled to them if they then showe themselues so furious and desperatly bent against thee as they will not be reclaimed thou art not barred of thy remedie by the Lawes and the Magistrate beareth the sword to punish them and to defend thee and if thou finde no preuailing meanes thereby to bee freed from their danger bewray thy case vnto God in faithfull prayer who is a iust God to defend thee in thy iust cause and a powerfull God whome thy mightiest enemies are not able to resist Though thine enemies anger and furie be neuer so great and threaten thee with sundrie things which they will doe against thee and euen gnash their teeth vpon thee as if they would eate thee vp bee not affraid bee onely faithfull and patient and thou shalt either see thine enemies become thy friends their hatred come to an end or them selues to vanish and consume away onely liue thou godly pray faithfully and vse all ordinarie meanes lawfully then bee assured if thine enemies were more then they are more powerfull and more furious then they be they shall stumble and fall God in his prouidence can finde secret and vnexpected meanes to deliuer thee from most deadly enemies if thou call faithfully vpon him and therefore cast thy danger vpon the Lord and hee will defende thee It is not in thine owne power or policie that can saue thee vnlesse with it and aboue it thou craue and haue the power and wisedome of God and his blessing to second any other meanes thou canst vse for what is a sword a speare or armour of esteemed proofe or the strength of a horse to saue thee they are all vaine and of no force of themselues as appeared by that monster Goliah armed completely with a Helmet Brigandine and Bootes of brasse a speare like a Weauers beame and a sword did these things saue him trust in none of these outward meanes trust in the Lord he is a strong rocke a fortresse and defence in whome and in or by no other meanes canst thou bee safe It is hee that breaketh the hornes namely weakeneth the power of the wicked and strengthneth the godly he will guide thee by his counsell hee will protect thee by his power and prouide for thee in his prouidence and in the end receiue thee to glorie out of the reach of all thine enemies Brooke thou therefore with godly patience all reproaches disgraces and slaunders it is but a little while and a light burthen to beare and in the end thou shalt receiue for the ignominie and slaunders thou vniustly indurest here glorie for euermore And therefore commit the safetie of thy body and preseruation of thy soule vnto the Lord in well doing in continuall faithfull prayer and he will heare thee and deliuer thee A Prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies and is subiect to slaunderous tongues flatterers and false friends O Lord my God in Iesus Christ louing mercifull I beseech thee see and consider the malice and secret practises of such as are become mine enemies whereof I neither knowe the true cause nor haue wittingly deserued their hatred or malice thus against me They priuily backe-bite me and slaunder me behind my backe they vpbraide me and speake euill of me vnto my face vniustly giue mee patience O Lord to beare it and wisedome so to carry my selfe in my conuersation and vocation as they may haue no iust cause thus to afflicte me I knowe and doe acknowledge that the sins which I haue committed against thy Maiestie deserue corrections but Lord though I haue offended thee to these mine enemies I haue done nor neuer intended any hurt yet thou seest and knowest what they haue done and what they intende against me Preuent them of their purposes frustrate their deuices and turne their policies and practises they intend against me either to nothing or against them selues If they wilfully and maliciously perseuere let them fall into the danger they wish to me Thou knowest their former flatteries and dissimulations and how they falsely pretended friendship onely as it now appeareth to supplant me and to confonud me if thou permit them Lord who can auoide the oylie words of a false heart but shall be seduced by them vnlesse thou that knowest the inward thoughts discouer their deceite Lord make me to know the secret intentions of all those that flatter me to doe me hurt and giue me wisdome to auoide the furie and force of mine open enemies and graunt mee grace to walke euer in thy truth knit my heart vnto thee that I fearing thy name and depending faithfully vpon thee I may make mine enemies ashamed of their slaunders and malicious practises against me Rescue me O Lord and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse in line thine eare vnto me and saue me from them that hate me Be thou my strong rocke whereunto I may alwayes resort when mine enemies assaile me In slaunderous words or wicked deedes publickely or priuatly Deliuer mee O God out of all their dangers out of the hands of all vngodly and cruell men for in thee is my trust in thee is my strength and of and by thee are the meanes to preuent the mischiefes they pretend and practise against me O stay my feete that they slippe not least they reioyce at my fall and Set a watch before the dore of my lippes that I offend not with my tongue Though they speake euill of me though they lay wayte for mee and though they take counsell together against mee yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills Though I heare their slanderous tonges though I know they detract mee and speake all manner euill against me giue me patience not to be moued to recompence euill for euill Preuent me of their laying wayte for me and frustrate all their combinations and practises against me And keepe me euer in thine obedience for I am of my selfe weake and may giue offence or at least offence may bee raken where no cause is giuen If they
it is decreed it must Thou must forgoe it all and giue account for all If thou voluntarily leaue them for Christes sake thou shalt finde a farre greater treasure in heauen If thou haue some beneficiall Office or place of dignitie in the world and for the profession of Christ thou bee thrust from it and lose thine honour and reputation among men what losest thou seeing thou art sure of a more high and excellent place and of farre greater honour in heauen If thy Parents thy friends contrarily minded disdaine thee discountenance thee and cast thee cleane out of their fauour and societie and seeme to be ashamed of thee vndergoe it with godly patience for Christ for whose sake thou endurest these things will not be ashamed of thee but will acknowledge thee to be his adopted brother and coheire with him of the Kingdome of his Father Thinke it therfore an honour and no shame vnto thee to be brought forth in the open view and vpon the publick stage of the world to be a witnesse of the truth of Christ and to suffer for the same Thou shalt be esteemed in the sight of good and godly men aboue those that onely preach it and barely professe it when there is no feare of troubles for it and in the time of persecution will not auowe vnto the world by their suffering what they haue taught and outwardly professed in the world for it is one thing to professe and publish the truth of Christ with the mouth in time of peace and another thing to auouch it boldly seeing trouble and euen death it selfe before their faces for the constant perseuerance in the same It is commonly reputed an ignominious thing to be imprisoned and a more reproachfull thing to be put to death after the manner of wicked men But let not this at all daunt thee for Christ at his death whose cause thou maintainest contented himselfe to be hanged as a Thiefe and a Murtherer for such were the companions of his death yet was the Crosse whereon he suffered a more triumphant Chariot of honour then the most pompous triumph of the greatest Monarch of the world for his greatest victories And be thou assured that if thy lot in the wisedome and loue of God be such towards thee as to number thee among his faithfull witnesses constantly suffering death for his sake thou shalt be crowned among the victorious Martyrs Remember the most honourable title that St. Paul giueth vnto that constant seruant of Christ Stephen stiling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ And of Antipas whom St. Iohn calleth a faithfull Martyr of Christ Then which there cannot be a more glorious remembrance of the dead Thinke not therefore that thou art the first that hath suffered for Christ but if thou look into the eleuenth of the Hebrewes thou shalt see such a cloude of like witnesses that haue professed and suffered as thou doest as will encourage thee to stand fast vnto the end And if thou consider the times not farre past thou mayst vnderstand of an infinite number of thine owne Country men and women euen the weakest sexe who haue gone the same way before thee with vnuanquishable patience euen to death and therefore with like patience runne the same race looking vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the bitter death of the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God where thou shalt behold him and his glory and be pertaker of it after thou hast endured a little speaking against of sinners persecution and death it selfe which is the most glorious liuerie of Gods dearest children whereby they are fashioned to the image of their Redeemer and which shall giue an end to all thy sorrowes and shame and bring thee to endlesse ioy and glory which not onely the Apostles of Christ but euen late Martyrs vnderstoode reiâ—yâ—ing that they were accounted wâ—rthy of the honour to suffer for their Masters sake What canst thou then less conceiue but that it is the meere loue of God in Christ towards thee to make choyse of thee among and aboue many others to afford thee this honour to be a maintainer of the glory and authority of the truth of Christ against the falshood and false authority assumed by Antichrist Therefore let it not trouble thee neither be thou the more fearefull to stand fast in thy profession because thou seest a million of Newters on euery side of thee who for the loue of their riches pleasures and carnall commodities the nicenesse of their owne dainty flesh their affection to father mother wife children and esteemed friends to be content to runne with the time and in steede of renouncing the things of this world for Christ rather to renounce Christ for the world In what a miserable case are these poore people poore be they neuer so rich that hold it a thing indifferent to follow God or Baal Christ or Antichrist forgetting that Christ dyed for them and that they shold acknowledge him whose bloud not Antichristian Bulls and Pardons must clense them from or to dye in their sinnes The reason of this their luke-warmenesse is for that the spirit of God by whom the faithfull haue power and strength to maintaine the truth to death dwelleth not in them who worketh mightily in the children of Saluation so that persecution for the same daunteth them not scourgings whippings scossings mockings stonings burning or whatsoeuer death cannot remoue their constancie in the profession of what they beleeue To conclude therefore with thee who art now vnder the crosse of persecution not knowing what end the Lord wil make with thee submit thy selfe to his will vndergoe with godly patience whatsoeuer the aduersaries of the Gospel of Christ shall lay vpon thy body thy soule they cannot touch and commend both thy body and thy soule into the hands and good pleasure of GOD thy heauenly Father in Christ in whom thou art blessed for whom thou sufferest and for whose sake thou shalt receiue a glorious reward In hope of which reward all the former Martyrs that haue beene content to spend their liues for Christ were willing to lay downe their liues desiring to be dissolued and to see the face of him for whom they suffered Feare not therefore if occasion so require to yeeld thy body to the mercilesse enemies of Christ they may kill the body the soule they cannot touch But if thou shouldest forsake him he will forsake thee and hee it is that can kill thy body and thy soule too and cast both into hell If a man take away thy life for Christ they doe thee a fauour against their willes they depriue thee of a mortall that thou maist immediatly receiue an immortall and a most glorious life from their tyrannie thou shalt be transported to the louing imbracements of thy
Psal. 51. Ver. 3. What confession wee must make Iam. 2. 10. Sorrow for sin a good beginning of true repentance yet not perfect without perseuerance in wel doing Sathans illusions 〈◊〉 4. 14. Not to beleeue Sathans suggestions Sâ—â— Iusiâ— Math. 8. 29 Sathan guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost 1. Ioh. 4. 14. Iam. 4. 7. As Christ triumphed ouer Sathan so shal all beleeuers Euery faith full Christian combating with Sathan hath Christ his second Sathan noting whereunto man is enclined feedes him with occasions to offend Eph 2. We are neuer free from trials Sathan hath swift wings to follow and to tempt sinners Most worthy men haue beene guilty of great sins If there were no sinne there needed no Redeemer None can loue God but such as he loueth Christ is the truth the way and the life Pray God accepteth inward sighs for sinne Sicknes of the soule sicknes of the body great afflictions The soule and body feele one the others sicknesse Sathan in our health tempteth vs to sinne and in sicknesse presents it vnto vs. Sathan is most busie to tempt vs to distrust God when wee are neerest our death The true childe of GOD is most tempted of Sathan wherby he may know that sathan hath no share in him When wee are wâ—akest and Sathan busiest God in Christ is strongest for vs. God sheweth great fauour by drawing vs out of the power of Sathan by sicknesse Exo. 15. 26. The neglect of the word and seruice of GOD a great sin Ioh. 11. 4. 15. Prayer an argument of the child of God The effects of true repentance Fit signes of repentance in a sicke man A sick man may inwardly pray thogh standers by obserue it not Wee may pray for health in our sicknes and seek to the Physician so we depend not more vpon his â—rt theÌ„ vpon Gods blessing To abandoÌ„ cunning men and women so reputed 2. Kings How thankfulnesse should appeare vpon recouery Comfort against death Not to fear death for it frees vs from many troubles and brings vs many blessings How to prepare vs for death How to disâ—ose of worldly things before we die and how to leaue all The ioyes of heauen are inexpressible Why wee should desire to dye Pouerty and want a great affliction Riches and pouerty variable Easier to fall then to rise Riches and pouerty may both proceede of Gods mercie The ground of true prosperity The cause and meanes are to be examined how a man comes poore To get and ryotously to spend is idlenesse it selfe Idlenesse the cause of many sinnes God sends pouerty want to weane vs from sinne that fulnes procured Great difference betweene the rich gluttoÌ„ aud poore Lazarus God dealeth well with vs to take away the meanes that make vs proud Pouerty nor riches make men good or euill Pouerty to some better then riches Men iâ—dged happy and vnhappy according to their welth and want God iudgeth not according to the outward appearance Foode and cloathing a sufficient portion Superfluous foode and rayment haue vndone many God is ready to receiue a prodigall God neuer faileth the faithfull Math. 15. 33. 34. Math. 14. 17 Mar. 6. 38. God can satisfie his children with little Deut. 29. 5. It is a great dishonour to God to thinke he cannot doe now as he did of old for the reliefe of his Before corporall wee are to aske spirituall things Math. 6. 13. God as he was so he is and will be for euer Why God depriueth men of their libertie The Prison a place of libertie to serue God It is a death to a carnall man to bee preuented of his pleasures The minde may bee at libertie when the bodie is imprisoned Many are worse after then before they were imprisoned None is restrained of his liberrie but by Gods Prouidence though man may bee the meanes As all men are sinners so all men deserue câ—rrection If a corporall prison be irksome what may we thinke of the infernall God restraineth men here to giue theÌ„ libertie hereafter The cause of imprisonment is to bee considered Gen. 39. 14 Math. 13. 4. He that is imprisoned without iust cause may reioyce 1. King 22. 27 Most godly men haue beene imprisoned As the cause is so ought the counsell to be Diuers causes of imprisonement What is required of a man imprisoned Treason the most capitall sin A Traytor worthy of most cruell death The Maiestie of a King daunteth a Traitor Traytors bewray their intentions by outward gesture No good subiect will pitie the death of a Traytor Murther a crying sin Act 28. 4. The blood of the murthered cryes against the murtherer The prison is a fit place for a murtherer to repent if he haue any grace It is not sufficient for a murtherer to confesse the fact to God but to men The guiltlesse maybe suspected and suffer for the fact of another not confessed Euery man knowes the offences against the Lawes that deserue death God sometimes punisheth an offendor for some former sin by the suspition of a fault he did not commit The offeÌ„ce of mans Lawe is the offence of Gods The sooner an offender is preuented of his sinne the happier is he Better to suffer here then hereafter Though the Law of God commandeth to owe to men nothing but loue yet there must bee lending owing but there ought to be no defrauding by owing Eccl. 29. 4. Ver. 5. 6. The picture of Bankrupts They that can will not pay are worthilie punished They that willingly would and cannot pay are to bee pityed Fit to examine the cause that driueth a man to borrow A good man may be indebted imprisoned for it and that no argument of Gods displeasure The pleasures whervpon men spend their meanes are nothing but drosse The last fit refuge for a poore man that cannot pay his debts Gen. 39. 14. to 21. Math. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 31. Math. 4. 24. Men ought to doe as they would be done vnto Charity begins at home a prouerbe often ill applied The course of cruell men Some brag to make dice of their poore debtors bones The policy of some creditors How can a cruell creditor pray forgiue me as I forgiue A godly rich mans best vsury They are deceiued that thinke goodnes to consist in goods Pro. 10. 15. 16. If the rich change robes with the poore the poore will be the Gentleman the rich the begger The rich Glutton and poore Lazarus Luk. 19. A worthy example for rich men to follow Good counsell for the rich A dead maÌ„ hath no goods Rich credicoâ—s must not wâ—rke all extremities that humane lawes permits Wilfull able debtors may be enforced Enemies are necessarie Psal. 55. 19. Enemies are better then flattering friends The way to trye a true friend from a flatterer It is a mischiefe not to knowe a friend from a flatterer Rom. 16. 18. The best meanes to auoid slander is to liue vertuously Math. 18. 7. To giue no cause of offence If
offence be committed seeke reconciliation speedily Take no offence at any mans words or deeds vnlâ—sse they 〈◊〉 to the disâ—â—nâ—â—r of God or the King God hath a hand in whatsoeuer befalleth vs. Because we see not our owne faults God makes other men to obserue them God vseth enemies often times to reclaime vs from sin Lue 6. 27. 28. The greatest hurt we can doe our enemies is to doe them good Rom. 12. 30. Pro. 25. 21. 12. The way to preuent a furious enemy Humane policie or force without the fear of God preuaile not against an enemy God weakeneth the power of the enemies of his children We must vndergoe ignominie and slaunders for a while and after comes glorie God sheweth not his anger when he suffers vs to bee persecuted for the profession of his truth Math. 5. 10. 1. Pet. 4. 14. If we suffer for Christ his Kingdom is ours by promise Christ is persecuted in his meÌ„bers It is an honour to suffer for Christ and he will reward A dangerous thing to reuolt from the truth for feare of corporall punishment Hee that denies Christ before meÌ„ he will denie him before his Father Sufferings are heere short our glory eternall If wee willingly forsake earthly things for Christ we shall receiue heauenly Losse of honor and office for Christ. Hee that willingly suffereth for Christ hath more honor then he that only preacheth it when there is no danger Thinke it no dishonor to suffer for Christ as a malafactor A Martyr for Christ a most glorious title Persecution a most glorious liuery of Gods children God in his loue suffereth his here to be persecuted for his sake The reuolt of others should not cause vs to feare Ill to be indifferent The cause why many are luke-warme They that kill the body cannot touch the soule Good to loose a corporall to finde ahealy life God doth comfort his at the time of their martyrdome In this time of the freedome of the Gospell this discourse may bee thought superfluous A religious King maintaining the Gospell a great blessing Why this treatise may be at this time borne withall The cause of banishment is to be considered An infectious meÌ„ber in a Common-wealth fit to be punished or banished BanishmeÌ„t presupposeth offence or danger It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to flie his Countrie Mat. 10. 23. Act. 14. â—16 â— King 17. 3 Cap. 19. 3. Exo. 2. 15. Gen. 27. 43. 44. Not to flie from the truth to false Religion Mat. 26. 56. Not to flie as an euill doer Gen. 4. 11 12. Many commit grieuous offences in hope to flie before they be apprehended Psal. 139. 9. 10. God finds a wicked man out goe where he will A forraine Countrie frees not a wickedman from the Iudgement of God The children of God banished finde Gods fauour euery where Where GOD is with a man there is his home A man may repent his sinnes and serue the Lord in any strange Countrey It was once a note of disgrace for a womaÌ„ to be barren and now many grieue they haue children Pro. 10. 1. and 17. 25. Rebellious children greatest griefe Though parents beget and beare children they cannot make them good Parents may doe their best endeuour but it is in GOD to make good children The duty of godly Parents to pray for their children The society of wicked youth â—he meanes to make many corrupt Rebellious children can make arguments against good Parents out of Scripture Parents may not giue ouer to counsell their children Deut. 21. 18 The auncient punishment of an vngodly sonne Many children for want of publicke punishment grow rebellious Late lamentation of some parents Euill youth a mischiefe to the common welth Foolish mothers most guilty of making ill children All pareuts not to bee condemned though many are A fearefull example of a father too indulgent and children stubborne 1. Sam. 2. 24 A wicked son comes commonly to a shamefull and fearefull end What godly parents should doe when they haue done their best duties to make their children good and cannot A good father not to be taxt for an vngodly sonne Good fathers may haue wicked children Gen. 4. 3. 2. Sam. 15. Gen. 16. 12. Wicked men haue not alwayes vngodly children 2. King 16. â— 3. 23. 2. King 20. 21. 21. 18. 22. 23. Godly parents may haue wicked and wicked parents good children They that mary ought to knowe why mariage was instituted Where formerly men and women were onely maried now boyes and gerles Carnall respects in mariage commonly leade men and women to mary Hasty mariages bring hasty repentance The true course how man and wife should conioyne themselues in holy mariage Not ioyning of hands but hearts in the feare of God Hearts contrarily affected can neuer be ioyned together in the Lord. Discorde betweene man and wife a great crosse Eccl. 25. 1. The loue of man and wife a most pretious oyntment Small matters in these dayes breedes quarels between man and wife Many are the complaints between man and wife WheÌ„ there was but one couple in the world one accused the other much more now A preposterouâ— gouernment where the foot guides the head The Scripture condemnes the woman to be more apt to giue offence then the man The man not excused Wiues often cumbred with idle and vnthriftie husbands Contentious women driues their husbands ofteÌ„ out of the house Pro. 27. 15. Cap. 21. 9. Man and wife ought mutually to examine themselues before they reprooue each other Man and wife must be equally content with their lot Many seem fond in the beginning that quickly growe colde 2. Sam. 13. 1. Pet. 4. 8. Vnequall matches sildome prosper long Pro. 18. 22. 19. 14. Men and women ought to pray to God to direct them before they conclude mariage Gen. 24. 12. The choyse of a wife or husband is a matter of great moment lightly regarded The man is the womans head and the woman a principall member of that head Ephe. 5. 33. Tâ—he loue of a man towards the wife consisteth in comforting her 1. Pet. 3. 7. A man ought not to leaue his wife because of her inâ—rmities Bitternes may moue the meekest woman How the Husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his Wife A mans greatest commendation is to win his wife with meekenes A husband must thus examine himselfe Men most faultie are aptest to abuse their wiues How a husband should behaue him selfe that hath an vnkind wife Wiues complaints are more common then husbands Crosses that men suffer here are infinite Why God afflicteth his children here Psal. 42. 7. One trouble calles for another Psal. 40. 12. Gods children must suffer here Ioh. 15. 20. The godly must looke for tryals If we sinne we shall be punished Iam. 3. 39. 40. Afflictions are not the cause of sorrow but sin that procure them Euery man that feareth not God is a transgressing foole God will trye the graces and guifts hee giueth vs by afflictions God proportions our afflictions according to our faith They are in an ill case that suffer no troubles Men that are not afflicted â—latter themselues that God loues them They that haue no troubles may suspect themselues As long as Sathan findes men to runne on in security hee troubles them not A dangerous case to liue securely The afflictions of the godly are not strange 1. Pet. 4. 12. 13. The naturall man makes no difference betweene iust iudgements and fatherly corrections Great difference in the wisedome of God in easing the godly and the wicked The end why God easeth the troubles of the godly The godly and the wicked may be alike afflicted Men afflicted ought to hold fast by God Wee must waite Gods deliuerie