sinning whose breath is in their nose-thirles and whose helpe is vaine They would not acknowledg that it beloÌ„ged to them surelie both they and their posterity feele the smarte of that Innocent Blood Which men though they know the Law of God how that they which committe such things are worthie of death yet not onelie doe they sinne Rom. 1.32 but also favour them that doe them For to sin by himselfe or by another is all one and he that consenteth is accessâ—â—ie to the fact But heere is their great blindnesse that they did not revoke and retreat their sentence hearing his innocencie justie by the traitor confessed In no ways speake thou against the word of Trueth my Soule but bee ashamed of the lyes of thine ignorance striue for the Trueth vnto death Eccl. 4.25.28 and defend Iustice for thy life and the Lord God shall sight for thee against thine enimies But hardest of all is that rough answere that Iudas receiued they ministred no comfort vnto him but increased the flamme of despare that was kindled in the heart of him The weak haue ye not strengthned EZek. 34.4 as he complaineth justly of them the sicke ye haue not healed neither haue ye bund vp the broken nor broght againe that which was dryven away neither haue yee sought that which was lost but with cruelty rigor haue ye ruled them But the good Sbepherd never resteth but goeth after that which was lost while he find it Luc. 15.4.6 and maketh his rejoycing the compensation of his trauell He did cast the money in the Temple from him which was so deere vnto him that for it hee post-poned the life of his Master Now he became so execrable that he gained nothing of it but a conscience burnt with an hote yron evill acquired goods shall neuer benefite the possessor nor the posteritie 1. King 21.16 Achab beleeued all was well when by violence and fraud hee had obtained Naboths Vine-yard which hee lost with his life and the favour of God most of all For what availeth it to gaine the whole world Mat. 16.26 and losse his soule And what fruit haue they then in those thinges Rom. 6. 21. whereof they are now ashamed for the end of these thinges are death But terrible was his execution for when hee had throwen downe himselfe head-longs hee burst asunder in the middes Act. 1.18 and all his bowels gushed out how great destruction doth abide them that serve the vncleane spirit this was not an evasion by death from Gods judgement but a more short compendious way therto Let not Sathan by his deceit allure thee neither for feare of Ignominie as hee did Saul or with loathsomnesse of thy life to such abominable practises But alace many now adayes doe harden their hearts at wholesome exhortation whereby they make the Lord to cut the threed of this life adjudge them vnto eternall death besids that many by drinking and gluttonie doeth shorten their dayes And doth not whoredome vitious venery procure sudden death What can bee said of Avarice and Covetousnesse which whiles it thirsts for the blood of others they are pearsed by that vnrighteâ—us MaÌ„mon whereby they are â—beacked and killed And what shal be thought of those who provoke the single combat thinketh it a great indignitie vnlesse they kill not themselves or their neighbour Lord grant everie moment while wee enjoye this life wee may consecraâ—e it to the glorie of the Giuer that wee may bee readie at all occasions to giue an account of our times speÌ„t here that we may say with Simeon Now let thy servant depart in peace Luâ— 2.29 according to thy word for my eyes haue seene my salvation Then learne heere my Soule by this his desperation the nature of sinne for before it bee perfected it maketh men drunke but being put in executioÌ„ the pleasure is extinguished the conscience remaineth heavier than Leed which vnlesse the Lord prevent maye dryue thee to despaire For the deceitfulnesse of sinne and delite thereof for a season maketh men so brutish that they can not decerne betwixt good and evill yea causeth them beleuee they are most blessed in greatest sinnes And therfore my Soule resist the Devill and hee will flee from thee whilst thou dost not resist the custome of sinning it brings necessitie vpon thee for it hardneth the senses that they caÌ„not clearlie see it blindeth the vnderstanding lest punishment should terrifie it fettereth the heart to make filthie thinges pleasant it weakeneth the strength that beeing overcome they succumbe The sicknes of their Soule is much more sensible than the diseases of the bodie There is no greater dolour than the wound of the conscience for sin nor any greater burden than the heavie weight of our vile transgressions Heere Sathan is a great politician for he changeth himselfe into an Angel of light while hee lessens our sins extenuateth theÌ„ intysing meÌ„ to fall But when the deede is done like lightening hee shineth in meÌ„ casting his sins suddenlie before him at the which thunderbolt he is benummed stupified feeling the bitter pangues of an euill conscience and doth so cast him downe with this great stroke that hee who before gloried in sinne now thinks himselfe secluded from mercie and salvation Lord hide thy face from my sinnes Psal 51.9 10.11 and put away all mine iniquities creat in mee â— cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within mee Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirite from mee But diligentlie perpend Peters and Iudas repentance by comparing them together that thou mayst vnderstand deare Soule in what state their iniquity was coÌ„mitted Their falls heavily wounded their coÌ„sciences doubtlesse for Peter not onelie denyed Christ but bound himselfe to cursings if hee had known him which was a sin almost to death And the other Iudas did commit an haynous trespasse worthy of everlasting condemnation but Peters was of frailtie of the flesh and feare of death But Iudas was of set purpose and of destinate malice did atempt that detestable fact And Peters againe not in a cause of it selfe so much blameable but of immoderate timeritie conjoyned therewith And to Iudas desperat malice was an insatiable greedinesse annexed but the forgetfulnesse of the word of God was the fountaine of both their falls It concerneth vs euer to pray the liuing God to giue vs ears to hear to lay vp in our hearts his promises threatnings to strengtheÌ„ vs or beat down our pride to say Esay 50.5 The Lord hath opened my eare I was not rebellious neither turned I back But as their fall was so was not their repentance both were Apostles both had woundes of conscience and frighted with the sting therof but Iudas gaue such place to the overburdeÌ„ing streÌ„gth thereof that hee despared of Gods mercie But Peter belieued that Christ is the reconciliation of our sins 1.
and knocketh if thou will heare his voyce and open the doore hee will come in vnto thee and supp with thee Esay 60.19.20 and thou with him where there shall bee no more Sunne to shine by day neither the brightnesse of the Moone Iohn 14.23 to shine to thee for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glorie and the dayes of thy sorrow shall bee ended Loue him therfore freelie beloued Soule and keepe his word 2. Iohn 3.24 and his Father will loue thee hee will come vnto thee dwell with thee for hee that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and Christ in him and heereby shalt thou know that hee abideth in thee even by the Spirit which hee hath given thee I will intreate thee of all favour poore Soule to meditate thy omission of good thinges commission of evill and losse of wholesome time occasion which three are past by and these three present the shortnes of this life the difficultie to bee saved 1 Pet. 4.17 18. and the fewnes of them that do enter in that strait way For if judgement beginne first at the house of God what shall be the end of them which obey not the Gospel of God and if the righteous scarcelie hee saued where shall the vngodlie and sinners appeare Doe not forget these three things to come Death than the which nothing is more terrible the last Iudgment than the which nothing is more horrible eternall Punishment than the which nothing is more vntolerable O that thou were wise then wouldst thou vnderstand this Deut. 32.29 thou wouldst consider thy letter end But I poore Soule doe not know what to doe â— Chro. 20.12 but mine eyes are towards thee O Lord for trulie great travel doe sinners take to perfect their iniquities they imagine nothing impossible so they may aquire their designes The way of sinners is made plaine with stones so smooth thinke they iâ— Wisd 5.7 but the end thereof is hell darknesse and paine Flee from sinne as from a Serpent the teeth thereof are the teeth of a Lyon Eccl. 21.10 to slay the soules of men All iniquitie is as a two edged sword the wounds thereof can not bee healed And if thou hast sinned doe so no more but pray for thy fore-sinnes that they may bee forgiuen thee Eccl. 5.5.6.7 And because thy sinne is forgiuen bee not without feare to heape sinne vpon sinne And say not The mercie of God is great hee will forgiue my manifold sinnes for mercie and wrath come from him his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners Make no tarying to turne vnto Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenlie shall the wrath of the wrath of the Lord breake foorth and in thy securitie thou shalt bee destroyed But blessed is that people whose God is the Lord for peace shall bee vpon them â—â—l 6.16 and mercie and vpon the Israel of God Vnto him therefore â—h 3 20. that is able to doe exceeding aboundantlie aboue all that wee aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs be praise in the Church by Christ Iesus thorowout all generations for euer Amen THE AGREEMENT OF DIFFERENCES IN THE INCARNATION PASSION AND Ascension of our Saviour THE MYSTERIE OF the Incarnation A Mother and a Virgine beares a Sonne The Creature her Creator on her knee FroÌ„ all beginning yet but now begun Servant to Time Lord of Eternitie Earths Weaknes HeaveÌ„s Power in him doth dwell That is both God and Man Emanuel Meekenesse is heere combin'd with Maiestie The Lyon with the Lambe keepes peacefull place Obedience findes a Seat in Emperie This Earthly substaÌ„ce breeds a heaveÌ„ly grace To Poverty rich Gifts are broght by Kings Terrestriall figures of Coelestiall thinges Who sits in HeaveÌ„ vpon the Throne of State Suckes here on Earth the milke of Infancie Who rules the Stars guids the sterne of Fate Sustaines the yoke of humane Miserie Eats drinks wakes sleepes weepes a mortall man In whom Immortall happines began THE MYSTERIE OF the Passion THe Iudge of MaÌ„ by MaÌ„ is iudg'd to die He that coÌ„mands the law the law obeys Submission hath a Seat in Soveraingn'ty This stormie Night begets our Halâ—yon days The best of Hope springs froÌ„ the worst of Fears And giues vs cause of Ioy from cause of Tears The Lord of Life is subiect vnto Death The Masters power the Minister obeyes At once inspyring expiring breath Submittes to Kinges yet Kings kingdomes swayes Sin vpon Vertue hath imposde a Blame Honour by Basenesse is exposde to Shame Thus from the Crosse our Blessednes is bred His suffering made it a triumphant Signe Our looks are raisde while he bowes down the Head He tasteth Vinegar to giue vs Wine Saues all by loosing all to Tyrannie Helpes all yet cryes Lamasabachtani THE MYSTERIE OF THE Resurrection and Ascension DEath froÌ„ the Graue Life to the Graue is broght Flesh without Sin sees no coruptioÌ„ By yeelding was this noble Conquest wroght O're Sin the World Death Hel al Pollution Extensiue Weaknes with intensiue Power His Hurts haue healed these wouÌ„ded states of our ASCENSION He that the Earth hath for his Footestoole laid Makes his Ascens vp to his Heavenlie Seat There dwels his Power which his Mercy made And here his Mercy which his Power makes great All glorious in his Seaâ— he sits vpon All gratious in the Place he treades vpon Hee which is taken vp is left behind Vnbounded Power doth circumscribe al things He that hath fram'd the heart ruls the mind Doth giue Himselfe to Beggars as to Kings Mercie remaines whilst Maiestie doth tower And Grace descends with his ascending Power Succumbat ratio fidei captiva quescat A SHORT CONFESsion of our Sinnes MY life O LORD is a perpetuall rebellion against thee for who can make cleane that which is conceiued in the filth of sin My time was a Sea and flood of sorrow secluded froÌ„ all goodnes vntil thou didst put forth thy hand and pull mee into thine Arke and had I not bene made cleane in some measure by the red Sea of the Blood of thy Son in Baptisme I should haue lyen in the filthie puddle of my vyle corruption Neither hath Sathan ceased to bereaue mee of the loue whereby thou first didst loue mee Hee did not show me deceiuing Serpent the wages of Sinne but â—â—eeting and turning did hyde thy wrath from mee Amitie with him is enimitie with my God His loue is hatred because the Image of my Saviour is in mee hee pursueth at my heales but if thou bee with mee who shall bee against mee I can not thinke a good thought of my selfe but shall doe all thinges through thee O Christ who strengthenst mee who is my life resurrection the hope of the afflicted my light in darknesse the wholesome dew of my drye and withered Soule my strength in weaknesse the Physitian of my
for the Soule to your daylie practise as afore and thus my good intention to your favourable censure wishing alwayes your Hon. not to think it amisse althogh it agreeth not so much with my professioÌ„ as in respect of others more beseeming that I should exhort your Ho. as you haue begun to bee constant in your religious dueties althogh I know it was not needfull for mee to remember you of those things you haue beene taught of God because I know the sinceritie of your profession and practise hath so many witnesses since you beleeued the Gospell of Salvation and was sealed by the Spirit of promise you haue a witnesse in your selfe which I am perswaded will not faile in life or death to plead your aboundant consolation Now thus with due acknowledging of the manifold kindnesses I haue receiued both from your selfe and from my right Honourable good Lord Patron I commit your Honours and your most Noble Familie to the mercifull protection of the Almightie who mot without ceasing multiplie his graces vpon you and crowne you with all kind of blessings The God of mercie and Father of Glorie who hath abounded towardes you not only in outward happinesse of vnstained Nobilitie grandour greatnesse of meanes and favour with the highest on our earth but which is greatest of all in the vnsearchable riches of Iesus Christ in the largenesse and eminencie of manie singulare gifts and abundance of all good workes make you perfite to doe his will and worke in you an increase of all that is pleasing in his sight That yee may see many good and happie dayes in this life and end them with comfort and immortalitie in the life to come I rest Your Hon. owne Physitian in all humble duetie M. P. ANDERSON THE COVNTESSE OF MARRES SANCTVARIE Morning meditation of the first Day I Doe present my self O LORD before thy sacred Majestie a poore sinfull creature filthy within and filthie without but where shall I goe to bee cleansed the waters of Iordan cleansed the leprosie of Naamans bodie 2 King 5.14 but all the waters in the Ocean can not cleanse the leprosie of my soule I am enforced to come to thee O Lord for where shall I goe Thou hast the words of eternall Life Iohn 6.47 If thou wash mee not I can haue no part with thee Iohn 13.8 Wash I beseech thee O Lord not my feete onelie but my hands and my head also Mercifull Father let not the gates of thy mercie bee closed vpon mee which haue beene opened to so manie poore sinners before me If thou refuse to be mercifull where shall mercie bee found Luc. 23.43 O Lord thou didst not abhorre the penitent Theef nor the woman of Canaan when shee requested thee Mat. 15.22 neither the woman apprehended in adulterie Iohn 11 8. nor the Publican praying to thee Mat. 26 74. neither yet the Disciple that denyed thee In the smell of these thine Oyntments doth my soule runne after thee Cant. 4.10 I doe confesse in sinceritie 1. Tim. 1 15. O Lord that of all sinners I am the chiefe where sinne hath abounded Lord let thy mercie superabound I say vnto thee O Lord with that poore leper Lord if thou wilt Mat. 8.2 thou canst make mee cleane yea although I bee spotted as the Leopard and blacke as a Moore one drop of the blood of Iesus Christ is able to make mee as white as snow I beleeue Lord Psal 51.7 helpe my vnbeliefe It is thy praise O Lord that thou makest the barren wombe the mother of manie children and turneth the barren wildernes into a fruitfull Land Psal 107 35. Exod. 15 25. Iohn 2.9 Mat. 12 10. Thou Lord canst make bitter waters sweet and canst turne water into Wine O Lord pittie my withered heart as thou pittied the withered hand Quicken this dead heart of mine by the quickening vertue of thy Spirit yea Lord Act. 16.14 Numb 17.8 open my heart as thou openedst the heart of Lydia thou that madest the rodde of Aaron to blossome make my soule to floorish in true repentance It is no small mercie O Lorde that thou hast spared mee so long If thou hadst dealt with mee as I haue deserved thou mightest haue taken the Axe in thine hand Mat. 3.10 and hewed mee downe as an vnprofitable tree and casten mee into the fire Long hast thou spared mee O Lord but let mee not bee reserved to anie further wrath as I am partaker of thy sparing mercies make mee partaker also of thy converting mercie Create into mee a new heart Psal 51.10 and renew a right Spirit within mee Let mee finde that change into my soule that is proper to the children of God Translate mee yet further out of the Kingdome of darknesse Col. 1.13 into the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne Fashion me so to thine owne image Gal. 2.20 that I no longer live but Christ may live in me Marke mee with that new Name which no man knoweth but hee that hath received it Giue mee to taste of that hidde Manna which no man can decerne but he that hath tasted of it Create in my soule spirituall senses that in a spirituall manner I may take thee vp who is the spirit of spirits Furnish my languishing soule with some of the first fruits of thy heavenlie Canaan that in the strength thereof I may walke vntill thou possesse mee into that promised rest Bee with mee in all my tentations and lead mee through all difficulties that I may sing that joyfull triumph with thine owne Apostle Thankes bee to GOD who hath given vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Evening Meditation of the first Day SINNE makes mee ashamed to speake vnto thee O Lord but my Saviour encourageth mee to present my selfe before thee vnder the shaddow of his merits doe I appeare in thy sight and in his Name doe I present my selfe and my supplications to thy Majestie O Lord dost thou not number my steppes If the conscience of the sinnes of this one day doe so dash and confound mee what feares may arise in my soule through the memorie of sinnes committed my whole lifetime I doe confesse O Lord my whole life hath beene a wandring from thee and all my dayes I haue beene doing nothing but making vp a dâ—ttâ—y against my selfe thou needst not O Lord to lead any processe against mee for my conviction the conscience may both accuse witnesse and condemne O Lord all my life hath beene either sinfull or vnfruitfull If I haue done anie thing that seemed good it was either counterfeit or corrupt or some way vnperfite the dung of all my sacrifices justlie mightest thou cast vpon my face I haue rather seemed nor truelie beene religious therefore doe I seeke salvation without my selfe Mat. 3.17 I seek it in him in whom thou art well pleased Israel stinged with fyrie Serpents Numb 21 6. were healed by looking to the
vpon my heart as it was wont to doe this is one token that my spirituall Life is weakened therefore as thou hast breathed in my nostrels Gen. 2.7 the breath of a naturall life breath vpon my soule Cant. 4.16 that I may finde the motions of a spirituall Life Call vpon my soule out of the grave of sinne Iohn 12.43.44 as thou called Lazarus his bodie out of the grave Let me find a quickening vertue flowing from thy livelie Spirit to quicken my dead spirit Lord teach mee to redeeme these losses and grant I may ever count it my greatest losse to lose the signes of thy presence Suffer not mine heart to bee oppressed with the thornie cares of this life Luc. 8. but learne mee to cast my care vpon the Lord. What ever I bee doing in these worldlie things 1. Cor. 7.29.30 let mee so doe them as I were not doing them Giue me that dexteritie to discharge such a duetie in mine earthlie calling as may ever agree with mine heavenlie calling Furnish mee with wisedome that I may walke wiselie even towards them that are without 1. Thess 1â— Make my life a patterne of godlinesse that where ever I come or goe I may smell of Iesus Christ Giue mee grace to bee carefull not onlie of mine owne soule but of the soules of all them of whom I haue anie charge that so thy glorie ever beeing before mine eyes thou mayest glorifie mee one day through Iesus Christ my Saviour who fitteth at thy right hand Amen Evening Meditation of the third Day O LORD I never prease to draw nere vnto thee but that Evill one draweth neere to mee If Iehoshua come in before the LORD Zach. 3.1 Satan will bee at his right hand to resist him hee troubleth and distracteth my minde with Armies of vnrulie cogitations It is my greatest difficultie O Lord at anie time to get a free minde to serve thee Exod. 5.3 When Israel desired to goe to the Wildernesse and sacrifice to the Lorde Pharaoh doubled their burdens so doth Satan double his tentations vpon me when I would goe out of my self to serve thee What am I poore weak creature that I should resist such mightie spirituall powers O Lord 1. Cor. 12.9 it is thy battell I fight and thy grace is sufficient for mee Thy people when they builded the wall of Ierusalem Neh. 4.17 they did hold their weapons in the one hand and builded with the other hand Lord furnishe mee with a double portion of thy Spirit that I may resist Satan with the one hand and draw neere to thee with the other O Lord I am come to thine Holinesse to repent my sins Ah Lorde my sinnes are great but my repentance is slender Lord giue me that repentance which thou gavest vnto Peter hee sinned grievouslie but repented earnestlie yea hee weeped bitterlie O Lord hast not thou the keyes of David which openeth Rev. 3.7 and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Open mine heart that I may make such a repentance as â—ought to doe Thou didst keepe Ionas that hee drowned not Thou O Lorde diddest streatch foorth thine helping hand and keeped Peter Mat. 14.31 that hee did not sinke when hee did walke on the waters Lord streatch foorth thine helping hand let not thy servant sinke into the sea of sinne O Lord thou prepared an Arke for thine owne Noah and the Whales bellie for thine owne Ionas Lord if I shall get my foot once within the Arke I shall bee safe Iesus Christ is mine Arke let me be found in him then shall there be no condemnation to mee Rom. 8.1 my sinnes indeed are great O Lord but shall I ballance the sinnes of a finite creature with the mercies of the infinite Creator Psal 25.9 Nay Lorde all thy wayes are mercie and trueth to these that feare thee I haue nothing to lay betweene mee and Hell but thy vndeserved mercie O Lord my God thou art a strength vnto the poore a refuge against the tempest and a shadow against the heat Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most Hie Psal 91. 1. shall abyde in the shadow of the Almightie I will say vnto the Lord O my hope Psal 42.10 and my fortresse hee is my God in him will I trust Confirme my soule O Lorde in the certaintie of this perswasion Strengthen also the arme of thy feeble and weake servant that I may fight with the greater courage against that spirituall Gohab Let mee not depart from thee at this time without some spirituall comfort Thou wouldst not suffer the multitude Mat. 14.19 that waited vpon thee three dayes in the Wildernesse to depart vntill they were refreshed Lorde refresh my soule with some crummes of grace falling from thy Table When Ionathan was wearie 1. Sam. 14.28 and put foorth his rodde and tasted of the honie his dimme eyes received sight and his feeble bodie was strengthened O Lord Luc. 8.46 if I shall touch Iesus by the rodde of faith my dimme eyes shall receive sight and my feeble soule new strength O my Lord am not I seeking this strenth of thee to bruise the head of the old Serpent Gen. 3.15 a sworne enemie to thy Kingdome Denie not armour to thine owne weake souldiour that in the power of thy might I may subdue that great dragon Sinne that it may bee borne downe and Iesus his throne may bee set vp in the secret corner of mine heart Sanctifie my rest this night in such sort that when this wearied bodie hath received its bodilie refreshment I maye rise by thy grace to morrow to doe thee better service in Iesus Christ Amen Morning meditation of the fourth Day THY sacrifices O Lord Psâ—â— 5.17 are a contrite a broken heart I come to thy Altar but I want the sacrifice O Lord who vouchsafedst a sacrifice vpon Abraham Gen. 22.13 vouchsafe a sacrifice vpon me I would wish mine heart could bee dissolved in bitter teares but such is my present hardnesse that neither can I repent as I should neither is mine heart so softened as it should bee EZek. 11.19 It is thy praise O Lord to take the stonie heart away and to giue an heart of flesh Lord I haue a stonie heart rent it O Lord take it away and giue mee a soft heart that I may make such a repentance as my great offences require Lord there is no contentment to my soule but either when thou humblest mee with a sense of sinne or raisest mee vp with a sense of mercie rather than I bee senselesse let mee be sensible of my sinne that in the bitternesse of my heart I may bewaile it Teach mee now to mourne with thy children 2. Thess 1.7 that I may rejoyce in the day of their rejoysing Cherish O Lord those litle sparkles of grace which in thy great mercie thou hast kindled in my soule Increase my faith
my love and my light Learne mee to forget those things that are behind mee Phi. 3.13 and follow hard towards the mark O Lord open thine owne Treasures and sende downe of thy spirituall graces Let mee finde a lifting vp vertue in thy spirit continuallie raising vp my spirit Speake peaceable things to my soule this morning that all the day long I may rejoyce in thee Giue mee faith to applye the sweete promises of mercie made in thy Worde Hedge mee so about with thy grace that my secreet corruptions breake not out Let my whole life bee a walking with thee and a moving towards thee Iohn 12.32 Draw mee everie day somewhat neerer to thy selfe and deface the image of sinne in me that the image of Christ may bee set vp in my soule Bee thou O Lord a bulwarke to thy servant that the violent spait of the corruption of this time dryve mee not away Save mee that I communicat not with the sinnes of other men 1. Tim. 5.22 and cleanse mee from my owne sinnes As this bodie of clay weareth and wasteth graunt O Lord that sinne may weare and waste in me Bring the worke of thine owne grace to perfection and leade mee from faith Rom. 1.17 to faith and from feeling to feeeling 1. Cor. 13.12 vntill faith end in sight and feelling into an endlesse fellowship which I hope to enjoy in the Heavens with my blessed Head and Husband Iesus Christ Amen Evening meditation of the fourth Day I Blesse the time wherein I was acquainted with thy Majestie If thou hadst not sent the light of thine owne Spirit Eph. 2.12 as I was borne a stranger I had died a straÌ„ger I confesse O Lord that before my calling I was doing the workes of the flesh Eph. 2.3 and of the minde and was by nature the child of wrath as well as others But thou O Lorde who art riche in mercie through the great love that thou hast loved mee in Christ Iesus Eph. 2.4 hast made mee to see that I was walking in a way to mine owne damnation Thou in mercie reclaimedst mee and broughtest mee backe yea thou diddest pardon those selfe-same sinnes in mee for the which thou hast condemned others O Lord what didst thou see in mee more than in others Nothing but matter of wrath and condemnation Yea Lord as thou didst separate Eliah from Elisha 2. King 2.11 walking in one way together by a fyrie chariot so hast thou shedde mee from the reprobat sometime walking in one course with them I say with thy servant David Not vnto mee Psal 115. 1. not vnto mee O Lord but vnto thy Name let the glorie bee given Who is able to thinke aright of thy mercy all thy wayes are mercy truth to them that feare thee Psal 25.1 When I remember what I haue beene I am enforced to wonder at thy mercie If thou hadst beene as readie to punish mee for my sinne as I was readie to commit sinne I had had my portion amongest the damned Spirites ere now What follie was there wherein I did not take pleasure I stopped mine care at the voyce of GOD and hearkened vnto the voyce of the Serpent The deceitfull pleasures of sinne ensnared my soule but thou hast broken the grinne Psal 124.6 and my soule like a bird hath escaped all thinges are naked and patent before him Heb. 4.13 with whom we haue to do Thou didst see Nathanael vnder the figge tree Iohn 1.48 I do therefore in all humilitie crave thee mercie for all my sinnes before my calling and also after my calling Like a Dogge I haue returned to my vomite 2. Pet. 2.22 and like a Sowe washed I haue defiled my selfe in the myre againe After that thou hadst made mee cleane these same sinnes for the which I haue lamented and repented I haue falne into againe As my salvation was begunne of thy mercie so let it bee continued and perfected of that same mercie for mercie is all I leane to At that last houre when all these outward comforts as false friends will flie from mee in my greatest neede then Lord bee at my right hand yea bee in the secreet corner of mine heart that my death as well as my life may edifie others in the faith of Christ Let my mouth whilst I haue breath vtter foorth a good matter Psal 45.1.2 Then leade thou mee through the valley of death and in end bring mee into that glorious and lightsome Pallace where the glorie of God shineth most brightlie â—sal 17.15 that my soule may ever bee delighted with the brightnesse of his Face and may haue my part in that Songe of Thankesâ—giving Rev. 5.9.10 c. which the glorified Spirites sound to the praise of GOD to whom be everlasting praise Amen Morning meditation of the fift Day O Heavenly Father as all the waters runne into the Ocean so doth all poore sinners powre out their complaintes in thy bosome Thou art the onelie refuge of a wearied soule to thee onelie doe wee flie in our greatest necessities and at thy mouth doe wee seeke resolution in our most perplexed affaires I haue manie things to lament to thy Majestie but in speciall I lament to thee that my meditations are so confused and mixed with impertinent cogitations Lorde this is a token of a confused heart I am sorie that the heart which should bee the dwelling place of thy Spirit should bee so preoccupied by earthlie fleshlie and profane cogitations I may withdrawe my selfe from the companie of the Worlde but allace I can not with drawe my selfe from a profane heart where ever I goe I carrie a profane heart about with mee and albeit thou givest mee an outward libertie to bow the knee of my bodie yet my spirite is bound Ah Lord I can neither speake nor thinke of thee as I should doe Thou art infinite vnmeasureable incomprehensible what can a finite creature take vp of an infinite God Forgive mee Lord that I worship thee in such ignorance let mee see thee in a clearer light and I shall worshippe thee with a greater affection The better O Lord that I know thee the better I loue thee the more will I reverence thee That woman of Samaria Iohn 4.9 before Thee knew thee preferred a drinke of water to thee but from time shee knew thee shee esteemed much of thee and preferred thee vnto all things To the end therefore O Lorde that thou may haue that rowme in mine heart that thou oughtest to haue manifest thy selfe more clearelie to my soule Drawe abacke this curtaine off my soule that I may take thee vp more sensiblie I crave light with the increase of light and grace with the increase of grace faith with the increase of faith and because that heere is no perfection Graunt I may studie to a growth vntill thou perfite thine owne worke and in the meane time O Lorde consider what I am
and where I am a weak creature in a waste Wildernesse Therefore as thou carried thy own Israel vpon Eagles winges through the wildernesse towards that earthlie Canaan carrie mee through this waste Wildernesse of the Worlde vntill I come to mine heavenlie Canaan Thou knowest O Lorde my soule is as a shippe tossed to and fro with continuall tempests manie times when I haue a straight course to Heaven I am driven aside by the contrarie windes of my corrupt affections Lord Iesus bee thou Pylote to the Shippe of my soule that I make no shipwracke as tentations followeth tentations like the waues of the sea everie one vpon the backe of another so let grace bee doubled that although Satan seek to winnow me as wheat yet he prevaile not I long O Lord to be with thee where Satan will not tempt sin will not accuse and these vnrulie affections will not trouble me Ah when shall this poore spirit bee disburthened of this lodging of clay that that which is divine may behold thy divine Majestie alwayes so long as I am heere in the bodie Thou that teachedst Davids fingers heere to fight Psal 18.33 so that a Bow of brasse was not able to withstand him So strengthen thou mine arme that I may bee able to resist these malitious enemies Thy servant David overcame the Lyon and the Beare and the vncircumcised Philistim yet was hee overcome with his vncircumcised heart Of all difficulties it is the greatest to â—me man to overcome himselfe Lord helpe mee by grace to sight against my selfe I will not despare Lord notwithstanding of all these enemies so long as I may make my plaint to thee Thy eyes are vpon the lust Psal 34.15 thine eares open vnto their crye Thou didst heare the groanings of thine owne Israel Lorde heare the gronings of my soule Thine eare O Lorde is not heavie Esay 59 1. nor is thine hand shortened streatche foorthe the arme of thy mercie and help my distressed soule Didst not thou command the stormie windes and raging seas when thy Disciples were in hazard and they obeyed thee If my small affections never rage so mightilie if thou wilt command peace they will settle and bee obedient to thy voice And now O Lorde this daye wherein I am entred I know not what inconvenient I may meete with leade me safelie through all difficulties O thou that art the shepheard of my soule Psal 23.1 that I safelie going through the snares of this daye at evening I may bow my knees and sound thy praises in Iesus Christ Amen Evening meditation of the fifth Day I Haue wandred froÌ„ thee O Lord this day That troublesome Spirit hath oppressed my Spirit with varietie of vnnecessarie affaires I bussie my selfe about manie thinges Luc. 10.42 but yet one thing is needfull I finde by daylie experience that the cares of this worlde are thornie cares they pricke and annoy my soule Mat. 13.7 they chocke the seede of grace which in mercie thou didst sowe I to mine heart they are mightie impediments to the growth of my inner man I pray thee let not these earthlie cares diminish mine inward peace nor prejudg my vnion with thy Majestie nor draw on darknes vpon my mind but O Lord let the secret beames of thy lightsome face continuallie shine vpon my soule Let mee ever live in a spirituall sense of my vnion from the which such inward joy may flow to my spirit as may make all estates acceptable to mee O Lorde of all difficulties I finde it the greatest to keepe the heart in a sense of thy presence I confesse O Lorde for all the paines I haue yet taken in thy worship if thou yet leave mee I may fall into as great Athisme as they who never knew thee Therefore waken my Spirit renew my senses lift vp all the powers of my soule Phil. 3.19 that I may ever minde heavenlie things True it is O Lord my earthly calling is a great impediment to my heavenlie calling althogh I were no ways distracted but all times gave my selfe to reading prayer and meditation it were litle enough for the intertaining the life of Christ in my soule But O Lorde as thou hast laide a double burthen vpon mee so double thy Spirite vpon mee that even whilest I am doing the points of my earthlie calling my spirit may bee above Lorde open mine eyes that I may see my predominant sinnes let mee not bee a slave to my affections but give mee grace to strive against everie sinfull motion And as thou O Lord dost now cover all thinges heere beneath with darknesse so cover my sinnes that they bee not seene againe Let never mine heart bee so farre from thee as it hath beene neither bee thou so longe absent from my soule Esay Write my name vpon the palmes of thine hands and let mee be as a signet vpon thy right hand O thou the Watchman of Israel Psal 121.3 who neither slumbrest nor sleepest bee thou my keeper this night Let this temporall rest bee a pledgde to mee of that everlasting rest which I hope to enjoye in the Heavens through Iesus Christ Amen Morning meditation of the sixt Day I Complaine to thy Majestie of the vncessant malice of my sworne enemie hee is a restlesse tempter and I am a carelesse resister hee knoweth my weaknesse and taketh his advantage of my infirmities When I haue best resolutions to serve thee then rageth hee most against mee and when I set my face towards heaven then hee laboureth to dryve me froÌ„ the right mark that Evill one albeit I went not to my rest after in calling vpon thy name yet hath caryed my fantasie after profane earthlie and carnall thinges Ah Lorde I what hee cannot accomplishe in the daye hee laboureth to bring it to passe in the night Take not these for mine actions but for mine enemies divelish suggestions I wold wish the minde were so pure and the heart so spirituallie disposed that ever sleeping or waking I were about spirituall matters And because O Lord thou canst not dwell inro a filthy heart sweepe the house of my soule wash mee a-new Psal 51.7 and make mee cleane prepare a lodging for thine owne Spirit into the secreet corners of mine heart possesse thoâ— thine owne dwelling for thou hâ—st bought it with the bloode of thine owne Sonne Keepe me O Lord 1. Iohn 1.7 1. Pet. 1.5 vnto that Life which thou hast keeping for mee and whilest I am heere in the bodie save mee from carnall securitie Let my delite ever bee to watch and praye and multiplie the spirit of prayer vpon mee Mat. 6.6 Let mee not wearie of wel-doing but leade mee in thy pathes I am sorie that my time hath beene so wasted time slydeth away and I profite litle or nothing in it Let no day slippe away without some spirituall advantage O Lord I count it my greatest gaine to gaine Christ Phil. 3.8 yea I
esteeme all things doung in respect of him Let mee feele sensiblie O Lorde that I am rooted Eph. 2.20 and builded in him Let vertue proceed from him to heale my diseased soule in him Lord bee well pleased with mee thy weake servant Furnishe mee with grace to doe everie point of thy worshippe with some peece of good conscience that in the end thou bee not ashamed of mee nor denie mee not to bee thine but mayest call vpon mee saying Come faithfull servant Mat. 25.21 enter into thy Masters rest vnto the which rest O Lord of thy infinite mercie bring this poore soule of mine in thy owne good time Amen Evening Meditation of the sixt Day WHAT shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites bestowed vpon mee a sinfull worme Psal 116.12 I haue found thy kindnesse in outward things I haue had a proofe of thy favour in inward mercies If Ruth Ruth 2.3 when she found favour with Boaz in suffering her to gather cornes on his field amongst his slaves and give her bodilie refreshment with his servants made such an humble confession saying What am I that I should haue found favour in thine eyes and that thou shouldest knowe mee seeing I am a stranger What may I say to thy Majestie who albeit I was a stranger from the wombe yet hast thou O Lord received mee to mercie and communicatest of thy spirituall Treasure to my soule O Lord thou hâ—st powred in life in my soule where Death had taken seasing yea as thou quickened Lazarus his dead bodie Iohn 11.43 so hast thou quickened my dead soule thou madest light to breake vp where there was nothing but darknesse As the morning clowde passeth away at the rising of the Sunne so the clowde of naturall darknesse passeth away at the breaking vp of the light of thy Face Thou hast O Lorde brought libertie to my soule where I was fettered in the chaines of an vnbelieving heart whereas at my first wakeninges I found terrours feares accusations and great inward griefes thou hast now pacified my soule and brought peace and joye to mine heart Blessed bee the time that ever I knew thee happie was that houre wherein thou manifested thy selfe vnto mee Peter Iames and Iohn were so ravished with the glorie of Christ his transfiguration Mat. 17. 1.2 that they desired never to have removed off that mountaine so Lord the smallest glimmering of thy light doeth so delight the heate that it maketh vs to forsake all that wee may abyde with thee I say to thee Ruth 1.16 O Lord as Ruth said to Naomi where thou goest I will goe My deare Lord strengthen my weak faith that day by day I may get a faster grippe of Iesus Christ and howbeit I continue not at all times in the like degree of feeling yet let never my faith faile mee and whensoever I misse thee give mee grace to seeke thee with a sorrowfull heart vntill I finde thee Leade me forward from faith to faith and feeling to feeling vntill faith end in sight and feeling in a perfite fruition of these supernaturall joyes which I longe for and daylie awaite in Christ Iesus our Lorde and Saviour Amen Morning meditation of of the seventh Day IT hath pleased thee O Lord to separate this Day from the rest of the dayes for thine onelie worshippe LORD in like manner separate mee from my corruptions and in some measure sanctifie mee this Day to thy service that I may dedicate the same whollie to thy service and not onelie cease from medling with my worldlie businesse but I may cease from sinne and haue all the powers of my soule lifted vpward O Lord warme mine heart with the loue of thee inslame mine affections with the zeale of thy Glorie Oh Lord how long shall I dwell in the tentes of Kedar Psal 120.5 when shall this wearisome pilgrimage be ended when shal that blessed Iubile come when all thy Saintes shall be set at libertie and wee to enjoye perfect rest with thee for euer Heere I am oppressed with feares doubtinges deadnesse of spirit blindnesse of minde In the meane time sweet Christ Iesus leaue me not in this place of my banishment for thou art Light and without thee I can doe nothing but walke in darknesse Iohn 8.12 Thou art Life and without thee there is nothing but present Death Thou art the Way and without thee I can doe nothing but walke in the broad way Goe thou before mee my deare Sauiour then shall I cheerefulie follow thee let mee see the way I should walke into and lead mee into that way Make the light of thy face continually shine vpon my soule that in thy light I may see light And now O Lord since I am to goe to thy house to heare thy will out of thy Word be thou my convoy and giue mee grace to take heede to my feete Eccl. 4 5.1 when I goe to the house of the Lord grant I may watch so narrowly over mine heart and minde that I bee not wandring in tyme of thy worshippe make thy word comfortable vnto my soule yea let it bee sweeter to mee than the honey and the honey combe that I may returne from thy Service with a minde more illuminated and heart by grace better established and affection better informed and all the powers of my soule in a greater measure sanctified finally so rule me by thy good Spirit this day that no part of it bee stollen away from thy service but that I may spend it so regiouslie that when the Evening shall come I may reape the peace of a good conscience the which peace is to mee an arles pennie of that endlesse Peace I hope to enjoye in the Heavens through Iesus Christe our Lord Amen Evening Meditation of the seaventh Day O Lord my God although thy Majesty knoweth it was my purpose in the Morning to haue spent this whollie day in thy service yet I haue stollen a part of it froÌ„ thee my minde hath gone a whooring after other vanities no I dare not but confesse that euen in the verie houre of preaching and prayer my heart hath wandred from thee Oh Lord it is easie to promise obedience but not so easie to performe I perceiue by doolefull experience that my soule is subject to such inconstancie that I can not keep it in the state with thy Majestie no not the space of one day no Lord not one houre yea scarse a quarter of an houre I resolve wel Rom. 7.18 but practise nothing my desire is euer to walke with thee but alace everie moment I wander froÌ„ thee manie are the changes whervnto I am subject sometime I finde the Spirit-slightering vpward incontinent drawing downe to the earth sometimes delighting to talk with GOD at other times wearying of spirituall exercises sometime marveilouslie enlightned with a great light at other times plight with a palpable darknes â— Pet. 1. sometimes rejoycing with
2.22 24. all which were fastned on his shoulders and hee did beare them who never displeased God nor offended man and of whom his verie enemies did confesse He had done all thinges well yet did the Lorde broke him and made him subject to infirmities Esay 53.10 and layd vpon him the iniquities of vs all And what griefe thinkest thou was hee in when hee sweate so powerfully and prayed so ferventlie No doubt he felt the vnsupportable weight of thy sinne Mat. 11.28 the fierce wrath of God against it Rom. 2.8 the justice of the righteous God requiring due punishment for it 1. Thess 1.10 the killing power of the Law Rom. 5.12 pronuncing condemnation to it the strong force of Death Rom. 7.11 the Stipend and reward addebted to it the tyrannie of Sathan Iohn 8.34 insulting on thee for it the infinite and eternall tormentes of Hell 1. Pet. 2.19 just desert to it which no tongue can expresse 1. Pet. 3.19 Mat. 24.41 Mat. 13.42 nor heart conceiue where the worme dieth not and the fire not quenched where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth This I say made thy sweete Saviour in anguish of spirit so to bemone himselfe Iohn 3.16 yet to show that God so loved the world that bee gave his onely begotten Sonne for it And that bee came hither to save sinners Ioh. 12.47 for whom hee was contented to die Hee yeelded his wil to Gods saying neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt THE THIRD STEP to ascend by THirdlie this did aggravate his miseries that hee was betrayed by his familiar friend whom he trusted Psal 44.9 which did eate of his bread his own Purse-master Iohn 13.12 whose feete hee had washed and that with a kisse speaking as the custome of this worlde is peaâ—eablie with his mouth Ier. 9.8 but in his heart bee layed waite for his neighbour Psal 28.3 Bee thou not drawne away poore Soule with the wicked Psal 120.2 and with the workers of iniquitie which speakes friendlie to their neighbours Psal 105. 17.18 when malice is in their heart Deliver my Soule O Lord from the lying lippes and from a deceitfull tongue So did Ioab kill Amasa 2. Sam. 20.4 Iudg. 16.20 and Cain slewe Abel Sampson is betrayed by Philistimes so Ioseph was solde for a slaue they helde his feete in stockes vntill his appointed time came and the counsell of the Lord had tryed him Hypocriticall was thy salutation O sonne of perdition Sayest thou Haile Master Thy Master Iudas whom thou wast bound to defend But what will not the hungrie desire of money doe by it hee lost Christ Col. 3.5 hee lost his Soule hee lost Heauen Iohn 3.36 and damned himselfe The Traitor had a fit end hee hanged himselfe but that was not all hee hanges in Hell perpetuallie for it 2. Thess 1.6.7 Iudg. 1.7 Gen. 9.6 as hee deserved so is hee served for blood will have blood for had hee repented truely he had not put hands in himselfe the word was in his mouthe but the thing was not in his heart Such is the force of conscience setting before him the hainousnesse of his fact the grievousnes of GODS vvrath judgement without mercie and hells fire without redemption For an evill conscience is a Witnesse a Summonder a Iudge a Tormenter a Prison of sinners What thing more grieuous thaÌ„ day and night to cary about such a one a man may avoide all thinges but his owne heart for whither soeuer he goeth it goeth with him either to accuse or excuse Rom. 2.15 The testimonie of a good conscience is a continuall feast which maketh a man alvvayes merrie 1. Tim. 1 19. The putting avvay of a good conscience maketh ship-vvracke of Faith Endevour therefore O my Soule to haue a cleare Conscience towardes GOD and towardes man For if thy heart condemne thee God is greater than thine hearte and knoweth all thinges But if thine heart condemne thee not then hast thou boldnesse towards him and whatsoeuer thou seekest in faith shall thou receiue from him A sicke conscience can no Physician in the world cure but that heavenlie Physician Iesus 1. Tim. 6.10 Thou seest the desire of money is the roote of all mischiefe they who are poysoned therwith doe erre from the Faith Pro. 27.20 these pierce themselves through with many sorrowes they fall into tentations into snares into manie foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in perdition and destruction which is too evident in this miserable creature Iudas But thou my Soule flie thou those thinges Tim. 6.11.12 and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith love patience meeknesse laying hold on eternall Life wherevnto thou art called Thus there is no griefe to that of thy minde no losse to that of life no feare to that of destruction so there is no enemie to a covetous and a dissembling friend no treachrie to that which one of a mans own may practise Iudas was amongst the Apostles by externall vocation but not of them by inwarde sanctification as Christ often foretold them that twelue hee had chosen Iohn 6.70 and one of them was a devill Where the Lordes mercie is evident and thy prodigious malice manifest neither did the faith and firmitie of the Apostles fall by reason of this Traitours defection for what though some did not belieue Rom. 3.3.4 shall their vnbeliefe make the promises of GOD without effect God forbid Let GOD bee true and all men lyears Hee departed from Christ the rest did abide vnto the end they that continued Luc. 23.28 shall bee saved He went to the chiefe Priestes hee might haue knowne Psal 1.1 That blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the wicked And Iacob in the spirite of prophesie saw this Tragedie and abhorred the Actors Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.5.6 brethren in evill the instruments of crueltie are in their habitations vnto their secrets let not my soule come my glorie bee not thou joyned with their assemblies for in their wrath they slew the man Christ and in their selfe-will they digged downe a wall Hee vvent I say not called or sent for or seduced by his Lordes enemies but vvillingly offered himselfe the sinne is more tolerable that hath a preceeding cause Adam was deceiued by the Serpent but the Devill hatched and brotched these venemous contagions of himself and in himselfe No man motioned this businesse to him hee intruded himselfe separating himselfe in soule and bodie from his Master It is good to haue the heart established by grace Heb. 13.9 and alwayes to cleaue vnto the Lord. Hee would recompense the losse hee had by the pouring out of Maries box of Oyntment but hee came short Neither seeketh he a certain summe as to gain much by the bargane but as selling a vyle slaue or base thing referreth the price to themselves what they would giue
not haue turned into a glorious life Shee knew the conference betwixt her and the Angel before for Faith and Hope will not extinguish Displeasure naturall Ioy but will mitigate them both for she looked to haue with him a joyfull meeting her heart was knit with him whilst hee hang on the Crosse not ashamed of him neither hee forgetfull of her Hee called her woman 2. Cor. 5.16 not Mother raised from all earthly thinges which men count much of for hee knew nothing according to the flesh for in heaven we shall be like Angels to the end that wee may enjoye that heavenlie life And her I say Hee commended to Iohn whom hee loued inteirelie neither will he translate her from the world but will haue everie member of his Churche to keepe one another as he commended his mother to Iohn to be entertained in his suffring forgetting as it were himselfe yet forgetting not her not willing to divide the first and second Table in the first keeping his duetie to his Father to the death and in the midst of that obedience to his Father hauing regard respect to his Mother for if thou hatest not father or mother for his sake Lu. 14.26 thou art not worthie of him Preferre God to any naturall affection which Christ notwithstanding in the middest of torment of blasphemies combate with everlasting Death with the wrath of the Father and with all the infernall powers is carefull to obserue SaÌ„ctified affections do entertaine naturall loue or else they are suffocated for this duetie standeth not in ceremonies but in performing of necessary adoes this registration will rent the conscience of these who procure their mothers curse Iohn haâ—â—rection from the Crosse wee from the heavenly Throne hee tooke an others Mother not his owne and that to his owne house Seeing Christe therfore hath suffred in the flesh it is convenient that wee bee of the like minde Naomi destitute of her two Children Ruth 1. did say when shee came to Bethlehem Call mee not Naomi that is beautifull but Mara which is bitternesse Tob. 10. What did Tobias mother when her Son went away Did not King Salomon acknowledge the true mother of the Childe 1 King 3.24 while shee would not haue him cut in two And what did Rizpah in hanging vp the sacke-cloathes from the beginning of Harvest vpon the Rocke vntill water dropped vpon them from the heaven 2. Sam. 21.10 neither suffering the Birds of heaven to light on the sonnes of Saul by day nor beasts of the fielde by night But what doloure I say can be compared to this of his Mothers whose heart was so deepelie wounded thorow Shee did not extinguish those affections but moderated them for she stood by the Crosse of Christ seeing them whom hee had fed in the wildernes with MaÌ„na broght throgh the red Sea preseÌ„t her Son Gall for Manna Vinegar for water Thou didst feede fiue thousand with fiue loaues filled all Iudea with the wordes of Life and now is that Sunne eclipsed the bright Moone darkned the creatures acknowledge their Creator but the miserable Iews shut their eyes from the tender mercie of God whereby Luc. 1.78 the day-spring from on high hath visited them but it could not bee that either affection or the tender bowels of compassion could stay this sweet Iesus from perfecting the will of his Father and that glorious worke of the Redemption of his owne Elect. The fourth Steppe of the fourth degree of the ascension of the Soule to Heauen c. BEtweene eleven and twelue a clocke both sentence of condemnation and execution thereof fell out From twelue houres to three afternoon the space of three houres a fearefull and terrible darknesse was ouer the face of the earth yeelded the Spirit betweene three foure houres His Father did testifie by this darknesse not onelie of his innocencie as hee was man but also of his Glory as he was God the creatures did vtter their sorrow and began to teach that senslesse hardned people such a judgement is it to fall into a reprobate sense This Eclipse fell out beyond naturall course in the full Moone for the Passeouer was to be celebrated in March the fourteenth day thereof when the Sunne the Moone are far from other and the whole Globe of the carâ—h casten betwixt them but in this Eclipse the Moone which was opposed to the Sunne turned suddenlie and came vnder the Sunne which made this darknesse For the which cause Act. 17. the Philosophers in Athens not finding natural reasons erected an altar to the vnknowne God At this time beganne his greatest agony which was in his Soule with he vvrath of his Father froÌ„ Heaven which were the dolours of death so extreame like as a woman hath in hearing her birth Act. 2. vvhich doth expresse also the paines of hell 1. Thess 5.3 vvhere mountaines of dolour heapes of wrath are laid vp for the reprobate as the waues of the sea followeth one another so are they in growing everlastinglie His God-head never left him nor never shall but the God-head kept it selfe so close that it vvould let him haue no joy vntill he should pay that ransome to the utmost farthing vvhereby the Iustice of God was satisfied for our sinnes And therfore hee cryed out on the Crosse as deserted of God My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Confidence in God will oftimes bee without feeling of joy albeit the spirit be not taken from the Soule yet at last it doeth reviue For â—s knowledge availeth wher feeling is alwayes dead no sense of the old canker of sinne mortified and quickened with a new life to liue to God Those then are not words of Diffidence or Indignation but of combate of the flesh with Faith in the which hee felt the eternall curse that was due for sinne otherwayes he would never haue called God his God the burden of one sin yea of an evill thought can not be born of all the world how heavie must all the sins of the Elect bee that Iesus baâ—e on his backe And now poore Soule behold the dealing of God with his own albeit he loued them never so well hee will touch them with the sense of wrath for sinne in some measure from heaven that thou mayst vnderstand how heavy a wrath Iesus suffered that he might conquesse vnto thee mercie and peace of conscience which was bought payed for with his Blood Detestable and filthie must sinne be that made him thus double his crying Fie on the filthie works of the flesh which drowne men in perdition Esay 34.7.8 Hee did take him to prayer vvilling thee ever to haue refuge into thy God in all trouble Psal 22. who neither can nor will leaue thee He choosed this armor to resist out of the Scripture Which is Eph. 6.13 the sword he hath put in our hands for it vvas in our persons
that hee found himselfe deserted but in him are we takē vp saued Martyrs and witnesses of the trueth haue suffered great and grievous tormentes but divine consolation from aboue did aboundantlie shine in their soules the part which tyrantes could not kill nor touch looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of their faith who for the joy that was sett before him indured the Crosse Heb. 12.2 and despised the shame and mocking of them that stood by who turned his holie word in scornefull jest as though hee had called for Elias Christs Soule now beeing burnt vp with the wrath of God for Sinne Psal 69.22 and all the moisture of his body dryed vp with the same yet did hee not quensh his thirst vntill the wrath of his Father was satisfied Iohn 19.28 the infinite wrath of God thirsted after the blood of the mediator bearing our sins Mat. 11.2.8 Esay 12.3 was not quenshed till the Blood of the Mediator was dryed vp But blessed bee Iesus that had a spirituall thirst pleasure to obey his Father to the death Esay 55.1 to saue thy soule from hell and yet in bitter malice and scorne they tooke a watersponge and putt it to his mouth on a reede The wrath of his Father was begun to bee mitigated yet the wrath of the Iewes could not be asswaged for when hee was liuing they raged against him when hee was dead they persecut him when hee vvas in glorie they would shame him The Lord seeketh but chastismēt the wicked seeke overthrow of bodie and soule if it were possible For Evahs sweet Apple Christ must drink this bit er liquor both thy bread drinke must bee boght with the blood of Iesus To them who are sanctified all things are sanctified If thou bee not found in him thou shall bee accused as a violent possessour of what-soeuer thou hast Now thou dost heare him daylie in his members calling vpon thee I hunger I thirst Mat. 25.35 but thou convertest Gods good creatures to the fulfilling of thy lust rather bereaueth the servants of Christ that that they haue than vouchsafe anie thing on thē Christ after he had drunken cryed out in the audience of them al It is finished the work of Redemption is ended the ransome is payed to buy heaven conquere life which is the first vvorke and to put vs in possession of it which hee began at his Resurrection shall continue till his comming againe declared that no mā did take his life from him but layde it downe Iohn 10.17.18 and would tak it vp againe for he was not a cōmon man but God also to keepe his life or put it out at his pleasure Hee might haue liued lōger by the strength of Nature for the other two out-liued him and were not dead till they came and broke their legges And now when he yeelded vp the Spirit he had a divine power aboue Nature which put out the life saying Father into thine handes Psal 31.5 I commend my Spirit vvhile his Soule was loused from his bodie vvith joye Which sweete death hee did communicate vnto his Martyres Act. 7.59 as Steven all his members Consider heere vveake Soule that Christ hath purchast vnto thee the great benefite of Adoption Iohn 20 1◠For thy Brother Christ hath made his Father thy Father therfore vvil haue a Fatherly care of thee for euer For vvho is more faithfull 1. Pet. 4. 19. than our Father to vvhō vve commend our soules vvhich doe not perish but are kept by him 1. Cor. 15.21.22 while they bee joyned to the bodie at the resurrection are receiued vvhen vvee depart this life in his Armes vvho will not suffer them to be taken from his hands but vvill surelie keepe them in peace Be thou therefore carefull of thy Soule at al times but speciallie at the houre of separation for then the devil is busie to devour thee For be knoweth his time to bee short the gulfe of hell open to swallow thee vp If Iesus who had no sin be so careful for his Soule how carefull shuldst thou be who is nothing else but a masse of sinne yea he cryed so loud that the Earth quaked againe and the Temple raue asunder now to declare his Power and Victorie to terrifie the Iewes of whom hee is so mishantly handled and to bring if it were possible that stubborn people to Faith and Repentance Now hath the Doue gone out of the Arke which wil returne with an Oliue branch in signe of peace The Deludge is the wrath of God for Sinne the Arke is Christs Bodie the Doue his Soule At his Resurrection how great joye peace and comfort doeth hee purchase to man-kinde Rom. 4.25 For as he dyed for our sinnes so rose he for our righteousnesse Thē yeelded delivered hee his Spirit which was not taken from him against his vvill For hee hanging on the Crosse did make all the creatures quake and tremble Great was his humilitie beeing made obedient to his Father vnto the death euen the death of the Crosse of the vvhich thou may learne the exceeding greatnesse of his Majestie who euen then whē hee was exalted from the earth did draw all things vnto himself for where a Testament is there must bee the death of him that made the Testament Heb. 9.16 for the Testament is confirmed when men are dead for it is yet of no force as long as hee that made it is aliue So behoued this Testament leauing such an inheritance to his Saintes in that exceeding great glorie bee ratified by the blood of the Testator which is the ground of thy Salvation His death is thine honour the assurance of thy life is the assurance of his death his ignominie and shame is thy Glorie Now haue we heard of the Passion and death of Christ novv shall wee touch briefelie the thinges vvhich followed thereafter The fift Steppe of the fourth degree of the ascension of the Soule to Heauen c. THere fell out immediatly foure things of the which two did teach the people The other two the quaking of the earth renting of the Rockes did threaten destruction for no man to take all excuses away shall perish without advertisemēt The first of these the vaile of the Temple is rēt after the darkening of the Sun in Christes greatest humiliation The Father gaue greatest tokens of his Glorie who is the Lord of Life for dumbe senselesse creatures did shame the Iews and glorified their Maker The Temple was divided in two For the Priest went alwayes into the first Tabernacle and accomplished his office Heb. 9.6.7.8 but into the second went the high Priest alone once everie year not without blood which hee offered for himselfe and ignorances of the people Betwixt these was a faire vvall overgilt with fine gold vpon the which hang a glorious Tapestrie wroght curiously which did hide the Sanctuarie
woundes salue for my sores whose mercies are infinitelie more than my detestable sinnes can bee I haue wandred alace like a lost sheepe Good Sheepheard seeke mee and bring me home againe O Lambe of God who taketh away the sinnes of the world let the light of thy countenance shine on me and looke on mee as thou didst on Peter By dying thou hast overcome Death and brought agâ—ine Life by rysing therefrom If I had the knowledge of Angels and all my members were converted into tongs never should I be able worthily to magnifie the boweles of thy compassion extended to mee wretched sinner which passeth all vnderstanding Thou didst not take deare Christ the Angels but the seed of Abraham beeing made like vnto mee in all things Sinne excepted which nature thou hast glorified in the heavens Now since it is humane nature wherein thou raignest I beleeue also to reigne and bee glorified with thee And albeit my sins hinder me in the constant course of my Salvation yet thy loue this Commnuion and coniunction taketh all lettes out of the way Thou art not so hard O Lord as to despise mee since thy Sonne hath caried my nature vnto heaven Canst thou forget that which thou hast fast by thee No truelie thou art slow to anger full of mercie with thee is plentifull redemption Most louing art thou for no man hateth his owne flesh at any time thou O God louest thy Sonne and they that are his which are risen with him and placed by Faith hope in heavenlie places I was not worthie to bee thy servant but thou hast made mee thy Sonne and fellow-Heire with my Brother Christ Consider the paines of my Redeemer and pardon the redeemed his offences Why did he so obedientlie suffer the punishment of disobedience but onelie to saue mee and thine Elect There was no goodnesse in mee that could induce thee to the same it was thy bountie and free mercie and now thine hand is not shortned but it can saue mee Wil thou then try thy power against straw and stubble against mee who am but a shaddow and lighter than vanitie My sinnes are alwayes in my sight still representing before me thy anger I feele the grievous burthen of them thy iudgements against them but thou will not the death of a Sinner but that hee should turne and liue Enter not therefore in iudgement with mee O Lord for no flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight for thy Christ whom I imbrace by a true Faith is made vnto mee righteousnes wisedome and redemption To whom with thee and the holie Ghost bee all glorie and praise for euer Amen A PRAYER BEFORE the Communion WOunderfull must thy loue bee O Lord towards mee poore and miserable Sinner that thou woldest haue thy deare and onelie Sonne to suffer all tormentes and death for mee and to take vpon him all my infirmities and miseries yet not contented therewith wouldest haue the remembrance of this thy great mercie least it should be forgotten razed out of mine heart and that my Faith should not waxe faint sith thy Sonne hath ascended vp to Heaven after a strange and wonderfull manner fed and nourished mee and distilled in mee that spirituall Life by the meanes of his Bodie making the Crosse the wine-presse out of the which those grapes liquor of eternall life are drawne out Giue me thy holy Spirit that I may haue streÌ„gth against Sathan the World the Flesh Grant spirituall life to abide in mee as the branches hath that naturall from the wine that forsaking my selfe louing of my selfe I may liue in thee by thee and for thee vntill I come vnto thee where I shall see thee face to face True it is O Lord no reasoÌ„ can reach to this spirituall food but Faith onely doeth goe through for by those visible Elements I dâ—e apprehend spirituall and invisible graces and that not by imagination for as Breade doeth nourish the body so doest thou O Christe the soule And as Flesh is a substance so thou Sonne of God incarnate is the cause of this substantiall nourishment of my soule As life is in the bodie so Christ by his Blood shall giue mee life and is my life the condition estate of my flesh my blood and my whole life was more than miserable but by throgh and in thee O Christ all things were restored and made perfect in me The forebidden blood of beastes in the Law should make me shunne a brutish and a beastlie life But thy Blood teacheth mee to liue a Christian holie righteous and sober life For it is not nowe I that liueth but thou in mee who is only consubstantiall with the Father and holy Ghost yea this vnion I haue with thee by true faith as the head with the members an vnion I say of affections wittes participation of heavenlie and eternall blessednesse that I liue not to my selfe but to thee O Lord who loued me and gaue thy selfe for me For they that liue on sweet meates haue sweete breath so they haue a sweet odour in all their words works who taste of this spirituall and heavenlie food in whome Christe doeth spiritually dwell by faith O Christ thy manhood was seene on earth but the God-head not at all yet did great wonderfull things without changing or coÌ„founding of natures so in these Symboles Christs bodie I see not which notwithstanding worketh in me a beginning and grouth of renovation The body of the Sunnes light aboue is in it selfe whole albeit it bee dispersed heere beneath so thou O Christ is aboue in heaven whole yet dost communicate to everie belieuer to bee partaker of thy Body and Blood but diminution or weakening of thy selfe which thou offeredst for me weak not inclosed in me when thou is receiued of mee without any dishonour at all to thy Maiestie when thou commeth vnto this my sinfull cottage hauing mine heart to be thy Temple and dwelling place who filleth the heavens and the earth thy Footstoole O happy is he that doth eate the flesh of my Lord and Saviour with earnest desire to obey his will and stayeth on his promises trusting alwayeâ— on him In this earth am I partaker of Christ by the helpe of his word Sacraments But in heaven aboue without any externall meanes I shall feede on that heavenlie Breade and drinke of that spirituall drinke feeling in effect his presence and enioying that glorious life fulfilled in the Kingdome of God where I shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on mee neither any heate For thou O Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall governe mee and lead me vnto the liuelie fountaines of waters And thou sweete Saviour shall wype away all teares from my eyes O happy day when I shall feede on that heavenlie Manna the food of thy holy Angels in that Paradise and thrise happie am I in Christ to taste of the sweetnesse of the life