me vile créeping worme of the earth who in comparison of thée am much woorse than stinking doung and filthy offscowring of the earth Thou dayly assistest me thou cōtinually regardest me thou euermore defendest me from dangers both bodily and ghostly for had not thy hand ouershadowed me I had sunke long since in mine owne shame and confusion And because Lord manifold are the calamities belonging to this life hurtful to the outward man noisome to the inner man I beséech thée stretch out the shield of safty in full breadth ouer me that I may walke without feare not troubled with wicked thoughtes not tempted with euill words not prouoked to deedes of darknes but keeping my feete in the path of light looking alway to the lampe of thy word which shineth vnto sinners sitting in the shadow of death and leadeth the righteous and true repentant to life euerlasting Amen A Prayer against slaunderous and euill tongues From euill Tongues which poyson spit Vouchsafe O Lord thy flocke t'acquit MOst truely spake thy seruant Saint Iames O my swéete Sauiour that the Tongue being but a little member was notwithstanding a world of wickednesse Which to be so thou knowest in thy secret counsell and thou thy selfe haddest proofe thereof whiles thou keptst thy standing in the faire of this life It pleased thée therefore to instruct and teach thine Apostles before hand what they should be subiect vnto in time to come namely to backbitings slanders acursed spéeches tauntes controlments yea to reuilings buffettings imprisonments For if they spared not the Lord and Master much lesse will it sinke into their hearts to fauour the Seruāts whom they hate vnto the death for their masters sake From euill Tongues therefore O Lord wee beseech thee to saue vs not from suffering the bitternesse which procéedeth from them for we are content to tast that which thou hast tasted before vs but from offending in our tongue which oftentimes woundeth the very soule O Lord giue vs grace to set a watch before our Tongue that we trip not in our talke hurt not onely them against whom wee are maliciously minded but also our selues whom we cānot but greatly annoy whiles we séeke either in thought word or deed to wreake our wrath vpon others considering that thou hast reserued all vengeance to thine owne selfe O Lord be gracious vnto vs and as thou art the Shepheard of our soules feeding vs in the sweete pastures of thy grace so we beséech thee to kéepe vs from all manner of spirituall diseases vs wee say which are thy people and the sheepe of thy pasture Amen A Prayer for Peace in time of Warre or other vexations In time of Warre to pray for Peace A zeale in vs O Lord increase BOuntiful Sauiour thou Sonne of the eternall God thou God of peace-vnitie and concord thou that in stead of Peace plaguest men with Warre tumultes and vprors We beseech thee to prolong peace quietnesse amongst vs not onely peace betwéene people and people but peace of Conscience that precious peace which who so wanteth he is no member of the Common-wealth of Christianitie Not onely for this peace of minde but for the other also of body we beséech thée O Lord frame our heartes aright to pray vnto thee knowing that by Prayer that thing is obtained at thine hands which is not else where to bee sought And because thou art the Author of peace without whom the whole world is set on Warre we humbly beseech thée to prosper that peace which thou hast planted in all Christian kingdomes which because thou hast for our sinnes sake taken from vs for a time sending vs in place thereof Warres and Tumults Wée giue thee thankes notwithstanding acknowledging the same to bee a punishment layd vpon vs for our sinnes and specially for abusing that Peace the benefite whereof whiles we might haue vsed to our true comfort we turned the same as we feele by due proofe at this present into bitternesse Neuerthelesse to thee we come and before thy face we fall not onely praying for the withdrawing of Warre and the restoring of our former Peace but also beséeching thée to kindle increase in vs a zeale to pray not only for Peace but for all other thy good Giftes needfull and belonging to this life to the honour and glory of thy name Amen A Prayer for deliuerance from Foes spirituall and temporall From feare and force of all our Foes Preserue vs Lord and them depose EVerlasting God whose right hand is the shield of safegard to the faythfull we beséech thée of thine vnspeakable goodnesse to looke vpon vs who are incompast round about with enemies not onely of the body but also of the soule Of the body as with swearers backbiters slaunderers fighters brawlers quarellers murtherers c Al which we that are Christians account our Foes insomuch as they are the enemies of Christ thy beloued Sonne and sworne aduersaries of thy holy Gospell Of the Soule as with Satan sinne the flesh the world the Diuell Hel death and damnation and that which we through our weakenesse cannot fulfill doe thou by thy strength supply and bring to passe that we may not onely be defended from theire force but that they and euery of them féeling the weight and greatnes of thy power may lie vanquished vnder foote cease their further assaultes for Iesus Christes sake our onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A prayer of a penitent soule ouerburdened with sinne A silly soule to sinne in thrall For mercy Lord to thee doe call WOunderfull wise excéeding righteous art thou in thy iudgments O God a punisher of the vngodly and a iust rewarder of the faithfull O looke vpon mée silly soule ouerwhelmed with wickednes looke vpon mée O Lord. and deliuer me For I am in thrall yea in thrall am I vnto sinne the wages whereof is death O succour me succour me Oh assist me assist me Oh saue me saue me Bitterly I complaine and am sorry for my misdeedes heauily I lament for mine iniquities vnfeignedly I repent me of my life wickedly ledde Appease thine anger O God asswage thy wrath Oh let mee be reconciled vnto thee Cast me not away whom thou hast created let not Satan triumph ouer me whom thy Son hath redeemed Be gracious O be gracious most mercifull Father and let the moystning riuer of thy Mercy quench the boyling fornace of thy Iustice that I being comforted in this life with assured taste of thy clemency may glorifie thy name with consent of heart and voice and that by mine example others may do the like Graunt this O God in Christ thy Sonne mine onely Sauiour Amen A Prayer to be freed from all Vices From Vices all defend vs Sweet Iesus and amend vs. IEsus Christ thou immaculat Lambe which wast slaine for the sinnes of the whole world that by thy death we might all be deliuered from death yea from eternall death due vnto vs by deserte of sinne And
that peace which bringeth blisse Their precious peace perpetuall is The authour of This peace is God Who for our sinnes with vs was od For as we know through Adams fall To God his wrath We were in thrall So that hereby this gaine we got Euen death for life ah hellish lot Our owne misdeedes deserueth death And God who giueth life and breath Suppressing peace became our foe And from the heauens aloft did throw His thunderbolts of fearefull threates And in his heate his sword he wheats Even warriour like to strike vs downe For man doth melt when God doth frowne Thus with the Lord we were at ods Ours was the smart the vengeance Gods Which whiles it did endure and last All hope of peace was gone and past Till he from heauen beholding vs With wrethednesse inclosed thus Prouided in this heauy case T' amend our state by his good grace This he vouchaft to bring to passe A wonderous work of his it was From mercie seate he sent his Sonne At whose corruption peace begunn God did ordaine that Christ should die Vpon a Crosse reard vp on hie By losse of life to purchase peace True Christian comfort to increase Among the Iewes betrayd he fell One of the twelue presumd to sell. For thirtie pence his Maisters life The losse whereof abolisht strife The Iewes did lay on him their hands His limbs and ioynts they bound with hands They scoft and mockt him too too bad Their wish and will on him they laid Vpon the Crosse he made his end His soule to God he did commend This sacrifice God highly pleasd And this his rigorous rage apeasd Heere reconcilement first began And peace was made twixt God and man The price of this most perfect peace Which Christian comfort doth increase Declares thereof the dignitie This peace remaynes immortally This peace confirmd twixt God and vs And true attonement sealed thus That through this Pipe of peace may spout And pleasantly in streames run out Such comfort as in thee doe dweâ—l Which are the fountaine and the well The Conduit and the liuely spring Of euery good and healthfull thing Thus Lord if thou vouchafe to worke Ingratitude which loues to lurke Whithin our heartes them to possesse Shall banisht be by thankfullnesse and we shall praise Iehouah then Grant this O God Amen Amen The Locke to this Conduit A Locke to this Conduit of right doth belong Prouided of purpose substantiall and strong Of this Locke t is needfull Christs sheepe to haue skill That opening this Conduit their hearts they might fill With true ioy and gladnesse with peace and with rest And all kind of comfort that we can request FIrst loue the Lord. who formed thee And like himselfe created thee Loue Iesus Christ who thee redeemd So precious he thy soule esteemd Loue him whose loue with losse of life Twixt God and vs cut of the strife Loue him aboue all earthly treasure And lone with loue most kindly measure Loue thou his Saints and holy ones As of his Church the liuely stones Whose head is he his members they Who hates his Saints doe him betray· Loue thou Gods word his Gospell heare Therein of life are riuers cleare It is the pearle whereby was wrought A wonder worthy dayly thought loue vnto all thy neighbours beare And let thy loue shine euery where To all and some to friend and foe To them that seeke thine ouerthrow Loue all hate none to christ commaunds Herein the Law consistes and standes Loue Strangers well no gaudge them beare Remembring once we strangers were Though Denizons now by Gods good grace His loue restord vs to this place Loue vertuous life and goodnesse seeke And like to Christ learne to be meeke Loue lowlinesse and spit at pride Gods spirit in such will not abide Loue to forgiue and to forbeare This is a signe of Christian feare Thy brothers fault though worthy blame Dissemble thou and hide his shame Thus armd with loue thou mayst be hold Sinne Satan Death our enimies old Shall not haue power to doe thee harme God is thy helpe he is thine arme This is the Locke which thou and I And euery one before we die Ought set vpon our hearts and mindes Where treasure lie of sundry kindes Which Locke if we doe seeke to haue It is not Death nor yet the graue Thou shalt abridge our heauenly blisse In Christ our Conduit kept it is Of all therefore this is the summe If to this Conduit we will comme And thence fetch comfort at our need This is if we to pray proceed And aske of God the things we want Beseeching him the same to graunt For Iesus sake his onely Sonne By loue this worke must be begonne Which if we haue then sure we may Before the Lord approch and pray For otherwise all that we doe Is sinne and death belonges thereto This locke of loue O graunt vs then Sweet Sauiour Christ. Amen Amen The Key to this Conduit A Key to this Conduit of Comfort pertaines Whose vse and due seruice whosoeuer disdaines Aloofe from this Conduit them selues let them keepe Christ is not their Shepheard nor they of his Sheepe This Key therefore learne we to vse and possesse Our Shepheard Christ Iesus then may we confesse FIrst â—now thy selfe but flesh and blood Nay nay but art thou halfe so good Know rather this thou art but dust From Earth thou camst to Earth thou must Know thine estate by Adams fall Exild from life to death in thrall To sinne a slaue to Hell a pray Know this and cast all pride away Knowst thou thy selfe a blast of winde And hearst about a lofty winde Knowst thou thy state to be but nought Thy life a threed but slightly wrought And settest vp the Peacocks plume As though nothing should thee consume This knowledge but fond and vaine A better knowledge doth remaine A knowledge which from God proceedes This knowledge guides our thoughtes and deedes This knowledge shewes as in a Glasse That sinne in vs had brought to passe Eternall death and endlesse paine In Hell where damned soules remaine· This knowledge learnes vs likewise this That albeit we did amisse And kindled Gods consuming ire Yet Christ his blood hath quencht that fire So that this knowledge marked well May be supposed to excell All earthly things which passe away As Flowers in hâ—ate of Summers day This knowledge leades vs to the Lord And makes our willes with his t' accord Know God aright know Christ his sonne Know thou the thing he will haue done Know him that made the heauen and earth Aâ—d fed thee since thy day of birth Know him that giâ—es thee in thy need Conuenient Victuals thee to feed Know him in Christ his Sonne first â—orne The sauiour of our soules forlorne Know God the Father onely wise Know him in heart with faythfull eyes Know him whom heauen and earth obey Whose word ordain'd both night and day The world and all that is therein Are lessons where
THE CONDVIT of Comfort Containing sundrie comfortable Prayers to the strengthening of the faith of a weak Christian. By Abr. Fleming The fifth Jmpression Printed at London by A. M. and are to be sold by Fr. Groue at his shop without Newgate 1624. To the Christian Reader TO auoyd all doubt of deceit Christian Reader which might bee thought to lie lurking vnder this glorious title The Conduit of Comfort we will make an Anatomie of this Encheridion or Manuel opening the very body laying out the bowels thereof before the eyes of thy iudgement Note therefore euery member for thy full satisfaction as followeth The Anatomie of this Manuell The Conduit of Comfort The Contemplation of a Christian. The Lords Prayer expounded by Sentence and Example The Common Creed expounded by Sentence and Example The Ten Commandements expounded by Sentence and Example The Appurtenances to this Conduit The Cesterne is Conscience The Pipe is Peace The Locke is Loue. The Key is Knowledge THE CONDVIT OF COMFORT A Morning Prayer for a Family MOst gratious God and omnipotent Father which dost from the Throne of thy grace behold all the wickednesse of mortall Men pardon wee beseech thee our most lamentable and grieuous sinnes and wash them away by the precious blood of thy most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus who dyed to saue vs sinful men of which sort we are the most miserable and wicked We giue thee most hearty thankes O Lord that thou hast brought vs safe to the beginning of this day and raysed vs from the sinne of Sloth and Ignorance and grant O Lord that wee may so spend this day that it may be most to thy glory the comfort of our owne Soules giue vs grace most heauenly Father that wee may follow our vocations wherevnto thou hast called vs and that we may doe alwayes those things which may bee righteous in thy sight Graunt these our humble petitions most heauenly Father all things necessary for vs for thy deere Sonnes sake Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the blessed Trinity be all Honour and Glory both now and for euer more Amen An Euening Prayer for a Familie OH Euerlasting Lord God and mercifull Father wee thy poore and wretched Creatures from the bottome of our hearts giue thee most humble and hearty thankes that of thy mercy thou hast vouchsafed to nourish vs with thy goodnesse by thy power preserued vs from all dangers and perils that might haue befalne vs this day yea and at all times of our life heeretofore We most humbly beseech thee in the merits of thy Sonn Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and Sauiour not to respect our vnworthynesse but in his graue to bury our misdeeds which we either wittingly or ignorantly haue done Especially those sins which this day we haue commited against thy diuine Maiesty either in thought word or deed O Lord bee mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs the euill that we haue committed and supply the good which wee haue omitted Lord restore what we haue lost lighten our darknesse and alter the whole course of our mindes that nothing may bee wanting in vs to the setting forth of thy prayse Wée beseech thee O Lord according to thy goodnesse to defend vs this night from all perills and dangers keepe vs from feareful dreames and vaine cogitations preserue our bodies from eternall death and our soules from euerlasting damnation Grant these things O Lord and all other thy graces requisite for vs euen for thy Son Christ Iesus sake In whose name we conclude this our vnworthy prayer in that forme of prayer which hée in his Gospell hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for the obtaining of Grace In this wicked world O Christ whiles I liue To gouerne and guide me thy spirit of grace giue WOrship Praise Honour Glory Maiestie be giuen vnto thee O God my Creator to thée O Christ my Redéemer and to thee O holy Ghost my Sanctifier for all the blessings of thy grace most plentifully powred vpon mee for my election my Creation my Redemption my sanctification and for all other thy good giftes and benefites beséeching thée O swéet Sauiour that as by thy bitter death and passion the power of sinne was suppressed the concupiscence of the flesh subdued the wickednes of the world asswaged and the maliciousnesse of Satan quenched so it would please thee to ouer-shadow mee with the Shield of thy fauour that I a painefull pilgrim and weary wanderer in the world may passe my pilgrimage in peace of conscience comforting me with the hope of thy promises which wilt canst refresh the fainting soule and restore it when it is attainted with any dāgerous disease O Christ my Phisician so prepare the thoughts of my heart vnto thee that I may be swallowed vp in the contemplation of Heauen and heauenly ioyes not regarding the vanities of this world which are but baits and snares to intangle vs and to make vs lothsome in thy sight Giue me grace O thou Son of Dauid to liue in the world as ready to leaue the world Let the world continue as thou diddest make it euen a seruant for the maintenance of men and not a soueraign to rule and haue them at commandement And because thy Kingdome O Christ is not of this world giue me I beséech thee such a renewed heart such a sanctified soule such a godly desire and such an earnest endeauour to do thy wil that I contemning this wicked world with all the transitory pleasures of the same may raigne with thee in thy kingdome purchased for the faithful euen by thy precious Blood Death Passion Graunt this O Christ my Mediator at the appointed time of thy good will and pleasure Amen A Prayer for thankefulnesse to God for his gifts For Wisedome and Wealth with other gifts more Lord giue me the grace To thanke thee therefore IEsus Christ thou which art the Wisedome of thy Father I thy poore creature sometimes a slaue to sinne and a firebrand of Hell but now a child of election and grace as I hope and constantly beleeue giue thee hearty thanks for thy goodnesse diuers and sundry wayes testified vnto mée And because it hath pleased thee to be so bountifull as to endue mée with Wisedome whereas thou mightest haue made mée a senselesse and vnreasonable creature beside that blessed me with worldly wealth I beséech thee be so gracious vnto me as to shew me the way how to vse this Wisedome to thy glory and the comfort of other not boasting therein because it is thy free gift nor abusing it because it is thy blessing Also O swéete Sauiour and Sonne of the eternall God because wealth without thée is but wretchednesse riches pouerty and all earthly pleasures but méere miseries I beséech thée to shine into my heart with the bright beames of thy Spirit that I may like a faithfull Steward not only dispose and lay out the talent which thou hast lent me but also
because this world is like a Wildernesse replenished with wild beasts or rather Monsters vices I meane diuelish and damnable as pride adulterie flatterie idolatrie blasphemie disobedience stubbernesse extortion vsuries hipocrisie dissimulation enuie rancour malice murther letcherie surfetting wantonnesse and an infinite number of the like hellish rable whereto we are dayly endangered insomuch that oftentimes we are ready to be deuowred Stretch out O swéete Iesus the arming sword of thy Spirit cut them off by the wast that they may haue no power to assault vs and after this conquest wrought in vs frame vs anew by the word of regeneration that our liues being amended we may like Sheaues of pure Corne be bound vp brought into thy Barne Heare our Prayers O Christ and let our cries come vnto thée for thy name sake Amen A Prayer against vaine delights and worldly pleasures From vaine delights Lord turne mine eyes And saue my soule in losse which lyes LOrd God Creator of all things illuminate my heart with the Lampe of true vnderstanding and knowledge that although mine outward eyes slumber and sléep in the shadow of death yet the eyes of my soule may he kept waking in the way of life Direct me O Lord in thy feare guid me by thy grace turne mine eies from all vaine delights of this world preserue me from al the sweet entismēts of the flattering flesh fortifie strengthen me against all the craftie temptations of Satan And wheras my soule lieth vpō losse is not like but to be lost if if be left vnto it selfe I beseech thee O Father of mercy God of all consolation to take vpon thée the safety of the same that neither Satan my subtile aduersary nor the flesh the alluring harlot nor the world that foule ill fauor'd monster may preuayle against it but by thy power may vtterly be vanquished put to shame confusion Grant this O God for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ my Sauiour Amen A prayer of a penitent sinner lamenting his former life so ill spent My life misse-led I doe lament And of my sinnes I mee repent LOoke on mée O heauenly Father and gracious God with thy fauourable countenance and in the fulnes of thine euerlasting compassion comfort mée which am swallowed vp with heauinesse And though my Sinnes surmount in thy sight the Sandes of the Seas yet I beséech thee haue an eye to thy Son Iesus Christ whom thou didst send into the world to take vpon his shoulders the whole burden of our sinnes and by his death to make satisfaction vnto thee for the same And albeit O Lord by my deserts I am the child of wrath of death and condemnatiō yet notwithstanding I beseech thée O God giue eare vnto the voyce of my Mediatour Christ Iesus who maketh continuall intercessiō vnto thee not only for mee but also for al such as constantly beleeue in him make him the sure ground work of their saluation Looke not Lord vpon my deformities but vpon his innocencie not vpon mine iniquitie but vpon his righteousnes not vpon the multitude of my misdeedes but vpon the manifoldnesse of thy mercies Remember the bleeding stripes and woundes of thy Sonne my Sauiour in whom alone by the increasing of a liuely iustifying fayth I am a new creature regenerate and made cleane not with Water but by Grace thy Mercie O Father being the fountayne of this Heauenlie benefit O heare the praier of thy poore seruant and for thy Sonnes sake Iesus Christ grant my petition Amen A Prayer of a sorrowfull sinner laying his heart open praying for a firme fayth My heart O Lord wide ope I lay And vnto thee for Faith I pray I Beséech thée O Father of endles mercy to looke vpon me thy poore creature poore indeed and desolate naked and bare of spirituall riches I lay my heart wide open before thee which hath no good thing dwelling in it Lord I beseech thee plough it vp with the Plough of thy Spirit and sow therein the seeds of a true Christian faith such a fayth as may haue attending and wayting vpon it Hope and Charitie as handmaides Also O Lord GOD I humbly beseech thee that as thou hast made me thy Steward and put mee in trust with a Talent of thy blessing namely Riches worldly Wealth transitory Treasures so I may be furnisht with the instrument which is able to informe me how to imploy the same aright euen faith not an idle faith barren and vnfruitfull but a busie fayth flowing full of good workes that thereby I may be as a Citie builded vpon an Hill amiable and beautifull and like a Lanterne of light vnto all men who seeing my good works may glorifie thee O Father to whom all glory belongeth both in Heauen and in Earth Amen A Prayer desiring mercy and forgiuenesse Of thee O Lord Mercy I craue For Iesus sake his life which gaue AS thou art a gracious God O thou Iudg of Israel as thou art faythfull in thy promise and iust in thy word so I beseech thee deale fauourably with me poore sinner who bend the knees of my heart before thee crauing that with teares which if I obtaine not alas what shal become of me but death damnation In thee is my hope in thee my trust in thée my confidence let me not be ashamed let me not be forsaken nor confounded but for thy sonne Iesus Christ his sake who suffered a reprochfull death in the face of his sworne and deadly enemies haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vpon me vpon mee miserable soule on whom vnlesse thou haue mercy Satan with his whole power is ready to ouerrun me In time therefore O Lord helpe me in time assist me in time succour me or else I am a cast-away and the child of reprobation Let thy mercy stand betweene my sinnes and thy iudgement for Iesus sake my sweete Sauiour succour mee miserable sinner who neuer cease crying O Father which art in Heauen O our Father which art in Heauen haue mercy O haue mercy Lord in time Amen A Prayer to be prepared against the houre of death Lord at my death the iewell chiefe Which I desire is true beliefe MOst mightie God and mercifull Father as thou hast created and made me of the mould of the earth and inspired into the grosse lumpe of my body a liuing and quickning soule so O Lord I beseech thee to indue me with such knowledge and vnderstanding yea with such an earnest zeale burning desire of thy heauenly dwelling and immortall mantion that I may loath this life which is but a span long and thirst after death which is the entrance to endlesse ioy and happinesse Also O Lord I most humbly beseech thee when it shall please thee to visit me with sicknesse or otherwise to call me out of this life that I may féele working in my heart an vnfained Fayth and a true Christian Beliefe whereby euen in the nipping agonies and pinching
in heart and mind with the sweetenesse of thy word wherein the comfortable promises of life saluation are conteined that wee may exercise our selues therein day and night that wee may reuerently vse it as the healthfull foode of our soules that we may bring vp our children seruants in the knowledge of the same being fully perswaded that there is nothing in the world comparable thereunto for it exceedeth al treasure whē al things are consumed thy word shall continue in glory brightnesse perfection O Lord heare our praiers and for the honour of thy name heare the suites of thy poore seruants euen for thy beloued Sonne his sake Iesus Christ our Sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost one Deitie in Trinitie be all laude honour prayse dominion power glory and maiestie both now and world without end Amen The Contemplation of a Christian. The misery of euery man Through Satans guile by sinne began But Christ vouchsaft mans thrall t' asswage His power supprest old Satans rage WHen Sinne had blemished the happy estate of our first Parents their whole race felt the smart of their punnishment and are at this day subiect vnto miserie Iniquitie made a gappe for many calamities sundry kinds of sicknesses manifold maladies infinite tribulations which we had neuer tasted if our first Parents had not offended Lamentable is our case by theire meanes for the Lord of life hath punished their sins in their posteritie by degrees of generaons throughout many ages Little hope of health is in our selues nay there is in vs no hope of saluation at all for by the subtiltie of Satan sinne got dominion ouer vs by sin death Iustly therefore are we subiect to so many miseries in that we feele the heauy hand of God laying load vpon vs it is for our offences and our disordered life According as our deserts haue beene so GOD hath dealt with vs nay he hath handled vs far better then we deserued who by nature are the children of wrath and confusion Most mercifully hath he looked vpon vs and of his plentifull compassion hee sent his boloued Sonne Christ Iesus into the world that he by his bloodshed might worke our releasement Like reprobates and condemned persons wee had been plunged into the déep pit of hell had not the death of Christ made full satisfaction for vs wrought our Redemption A Lion of the tribe of Iuda a brāch springing from the stocke of Iesse pittying vs poore desolate soules by the vertue of his power suppressed Satans rage Maruelous mightily did he vanquish the Diuel our mortall enemy who intended our destruction and vtter ouerthrow had not he in time brought our deliuerance to passe Be ioyfull therefore all nations and lift vp your heads extoll this Lambe of God whose innocencie tooke away our iniquitie and whose heauinesse was our hapinesse Euerlasting prayse and thankes be ascribed vnto his name by whose death we are receiued to life yea to eternall life O prayse his glorious name for euer Amen Death ouer vs possest such power That meanes he sought vs to deuower But Iesus Christ did set vs free To whom all prayse and thankes giue wee WEe are iustly subiect vnto death for death is the reward of sinne and iniquitie Iniquitie hath changed our order of creatiō which was perfect and Angeilcal Life vnto vs through sinne is turned vnto death and the mercy of God into iudgement Lord haue mercy vpon vs for in vs there is no hope of health for Death hath power ouer vs. Increase of new calamities doe light vpon vs dayly and we see our selues forsaken Among our enemies we walke continually euen in the face of the Flesh the World and the Diuell Miserable were wee if Iesus Christ with the shield of safetie should not ouershadow vs. Little should wee differ from the children of wrath nay our case were as comfortlesse as theirs A most mercifull Sauiour art thou O Christ A most mercifull Redeemer and Aduocate Make vs thankfull vnto thee for thy goodnesse for thou didst set vs free from all misfortune Blessed be thy name and great be thy glory through out all the world for this thy kindnesse Early late thou art to be praysed yea in the assemblies cōgregations of the faythfull righteous thou in thy greatnes O God shalt be gloryfied Amen The World is vaine and all therein Yea man is vile because of sinne Yet Iesus Christ redeemed all To Death and Hell that were in thrall WOe be to this world for it is as vaine as smoke yea it is more vaine then vanitie it selfe In riches there is shame and in pleasure there is punishment because of sinne and iniquitie Like a dreame is the life of man his dayes are but a spanne long and his time tarryeth not Like a Fansie or a May-game which hath but an houres delight recreatiō In the world there is nothing more common then wickednesse in the world there is no goodnesse Al are bent vnto mischiefe and villanie the sonnes of men haue set their heartes vpon euill Mightie men and poore slaues all haue troden the path of sinne and vanitie is in all their wayes Like Sheepe without a Shepheard they are gone astray and had beene lost if Christ had not holpen All were in the mouth of Hell gates and had sunke in their owne shame and destruction Miserably had they perished if that good shepheard of our soules had not taken vpon him our deliuerance Bring Frankinsence vnto his Altas O ye people prayse him who is prayse worthy for his power and magnificence Enter into his Temple and Sanctuary sing songs all with one consent to the honour of his name for all the benefits and goodnesse which hee hath plentifully bestowed vpon vs at all times let al the faithfull answer and say Amen Gods prouidence is wonderfull He shewes himselfe most merciful In all our wayes defending vs And by his grace amending vs. WIthout th' assistance of Gods spirit miserable were the condition of all mankind yea most miserable In sinne we are conceiued in sin we are brought vp and the whole course of our life is full of iniquitie Like a menstruous cloth so is our conuersotion in the sight of God and his holy Angels Like a filthy and loathsome Sinke so is our behauiour before the face of the faithfull Iudgment is more méete for vs then mercy yet it hath pleafed God to deale with vs in mercy And that doth daily experience testifie for we sée manifest proofes of his prouidence Meate and cloathing and whatsoeuer is necessary toward the maintenance of man he hath giuen vs. Like a Father he tendereth vs and esteemeth vs as Children begotten a new by free Grace As a Henue hoouering ouer her Chickens so doth he defend vs in all our wayes day by day Mercie is on his right hand Mercie goeth before him and vpon Mercy is the seate of his Maiestie built Be glad therefore