how contrary heereunto are the most and how defectiue are the best I may mourne heauily for the multitude and much lament my own wants but as I heare now my dutie so will I endeauour to performe by Gods grace more carefully hereafter the present desire of my heart and therefore proceed thou best beloued Apostle of the Lord to teach me what to do when the publike seruice to God is ended Iohn 1. Preuent al present occasions of worldly vnnecessarie communication 2. Betake thy selfe a Our duty after publike seruice of God while to some priuate place for priuate meditation and prayer vpon that which thou hast heard remembrest 3. Receiue that day so much nourishment only as may satisfie for necessitie auoiding superfluitie arising of variety which may cause drousines dulnesse of spirit and hinder thy meditation 4. Vse conference with other and occasion them to holy speeches if thou doest doubt thou mayest perhaps bee resolued if thou hast forgot the memories of other may help thee as also giue thee vnderstanding in that thou thy selfe knowest not 5. Being disposed to be merrie sing Psalms abandon foolish and leaud sports and vaine companie 6. Forget not this day to shew forth workes of mercy to visit the sicke to relieue the poore and to comfort the afflicted Lastly in the end of the day praise God for the comforts thereof remember what thou hast heard and that which especially concerned thy selfe make some vse of all but forget not that pray for a blessing resolue to put what thou learnest into daily practise and then before thy rest fall to thy daily deuotion and in all good things bee euer constant vnto the end Gaius O Lord grant me so great mercy how happie were I if thus I could doe I earnestly desire it Oh that I could attaine vnto it This were indeed a blessednesse here a heauen vpon earth a celestiall felicity in a terrestriall place in this wretched state of miserie This pearle if I could purchase I offer willingly to giue away all my carnal pleasures al my worldly profits all vaine honour and my selfe wholly for the loue of it For what am I if I had all the world without the effectuall sauing power and grace of the word if I had all pleasure and had no portion in the heauenly Paradise If I had all honour without certaine hope of heauen Woe would bee to mee endlesse woes would seaze vpon mee I will therefore now resolue to walke with God seek fellowship with the faithfull and abandon the waies of wickednesse whatsoeuer befalleth mee in this present world Iohn A most blessed resolution sweet soule go on and prosper looke for ioyfull fruits of thy blessed labour by well doing thou shalt haue assured hope of Gods fauour boldnesse in Christ to go vnto God who will be to thee a Father the Spirit a Comforter as Christ thy Redeemer and Iustifier Feare not death dread not hell heauen is thine inheritance The godly pray for thee Angels accompanie thee the Law will not curse thee the Gospel is for thy comfort and thy conscience will speake peace vnto thee Satan dare not claime thee God doth acknowledge thee for his owne and hath thee in his safe keeping to bring thee to heauen Gaius Blessed man of God thou beloued of the Lord thou hast comforted me and spoken comfortably vnto thy seruant the Lord recompence thy worke and a full reward bee giuen thee of the Lord God of Israel and now behold thy seruant and the seruant of the Lord bee it vnto mee according to all these thy words Yet good Sir before I end I must needs craue a little more helpe I was aduised to pray vpon the Sabbath day in the morning before I goe vnto the publike congregation and in the euening when the day is ended vouchsafe I beseech thee to help my weaknesse heerein also and to set me downe how to pray morning euening on the Sabbath Iohn Friend Gaius I am ready to further thy gracious desires in al good things much reioycing in thy vnfained loue to the Lord and to the holy exercises of religion I heartily wish thee heerein all happie successe such feruencie such growth such constancie as thy example may moue many to imitate thy vertues and to ioyne with thee in the way to eternitie Thus therefore mayest thou or to the like effect pray in the morning O Lord our God whose A Prayer for the Sabbath day in the morning will and commandement it is that wee should keepe holy this day as set apart for the publike worship and seruice of thy most holy name Now I do heartily beseech thee in thy tender compassion and mercy so to looke vpon me in Christ Iesus that my sinnes may not be a wall of separation betweene thee and me but that of thy gracious goodnesse through my blessed Sauiour I may obtaine ful remission of all my sinnes and by him the gift of thy most holy spirit which may happily prepare and make ready my heart that I may goe to the holy assembly of thy Saints as well prepared ground fit to receiue the good seed of thy most holy word Oh Lord open mine eyes to see thy truth mine eares encline to harken attentiuely bend my will to follow what I shall heare that I may not be a bare hearer but a doer of thy word Giue me wisdome to iudge of the truth humility to receiue it faith to beleeue it conscience to practise it make it vnto me the Sauiour of life vnto life a word of reconciliation that I may for euer by it be wonne vnto thee Withdraw my mind and affections wholly from euery thing that may hinder mee from the performance of my duty this day in thy diuine seruice Take from me blindnesse of mind dulnesse of wit disorderlines of affections deadnesse of spirit hardnesse of heart vnbeleefe pride selfe-conceit presumption of mercy and wicked prophanenes that so I may not contemne nor yet make light account of thy holy ordinances the word read and preached the administration of the Sacramēts prayer and thankes giuing with the whole congregation Being set to heare good Father blesse me from wandring thoughts vaine imaginations Satans suggestions drowsinesse of the flesh and whatsoeuer is an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy blessed word Sanctifie my vnderstanding rightly to conceiue my memory to retaine and keepe and my heart truly to affect what thy seruant shall speake vnto mee and to the rest of thy people this day O Lord open his mouth that hee may speake onely thy truth enforme his vnderstanding settle his iudgement enflame his affections with that truth which he shal deliuer vnto vs and guide so his tongue that he may speak wisely seasonably aptly and also with great power of thy spirit to the heart and consciences of euery of vs his hearers so as we may liuely feele the power of thine owne ordinance and may also truly say of him that
in this manner liue towards God so in holines towards men so righteously Oh that I might passe thus thorow this sinfull world with that peace of conscience with that ioy of the spirit with that preparednes for death with that longing after our Lord Iesus his comming which is gotten hereby and which the very creatures doe groane for and all the godly true repentants heartily wish for Oh how grieuous is it now to mee to consider how far I am from this practice of piety especially when I doe weigh my owne weaknesses and also want of grace to attaine to the due full performance of this so conscionable a course Oh what shall I doe Oh what shall I do I am so loden with corruptions and the world so full of tentations compassing mee about with examples of wickednesse that I feare my fall He that seeketh goodnes oh how little is he regarded vertue wanteth praise vice is not abhorred innocency made a prey iustice set to sale sincerity reputed follie and iust dealing is held the high way to beggerie If yet for all these things I should disclaim the way of well doing I should therewith loose the hope of heauen if I should embrace vngodlinesse and vanitie I am sure to be damned in hell As Sir what shall I doe Ah my poore imprisoned soule oh that I were dissolued let mee loose O Lord out of this prison of my body O come Lord Iesu O come quickly and make an end of these dayes of sinne I desire bee dissolued and to bee with thee Iohn Alas good soule what moueth thee thus to bemone thy selfe thou art a happie Creature and hast no such cause to complaine in this so sorrowful a manner Comfort thy selfe my heart in that large portion of piety giuen vnto thee thy desire in time shall bee satisfied vpon thy lowlinesse assuredly the Lord doth look Feare not to finde mercy and fauour he will refresh those that trauell and bee heauie loden And therefore let vs proceed on as wee haue done hitherto if thou wouldest know more wherein I may enforme thee demand and I will make answere shew wherin and I will instruct thee and the Lord direct thee in the way that thou shalt chuse Gaius Sir seeing I haue thus found fauour in your eyes and that you iudge mee among the faithfull I desire to be informed more particularly The vse and end of this booke how from time to time euery day as a worke for euery weeke during life I may behaue my selfe religiously in the way to eternitie Iohn Is it thy desire beloued Gaius to haue mee set downe how thou The sum and parts handled herein shouldest exercise thy selfe first in the morning on the day time abroad in the euening returning home and in the night time awakening and so in the end of the weeke for a preparation to the Sabbath Gaius Euen so this indeed Sir is my desire for hauing particular rules so set before me I may the better vnderstand what to doe more orderly goe forward and according to the distinction of times looke ouer daily my precepts till I become cunning by a conscionable practice which the holy one vouchsafe mee of his great goodnesse and mercy Iohn Euen so be it my Directions for euery morning bowels Now therefore awaking in the morning forthwith before other things I. Consider how 1. Dutie graciously God hath renewed his mercy towards thee preseruing thee aliue in the night and giuing thee as it were in the morning a new life awaking thee perhaps by the voice of man by the crowing of a cooke by the sound of a bell or otherwise and opened againe thine eyes in darkenesse to behold the shining light for which mercy giue him hearty thanks and praises and withall desire him to giue thee sight to thy soule as thou hast light for thy body and that as hee expelleth darknesse from thee and affoordeth thee day light and Sun-shine to the eyes of the body so in like maner to bee pleased to remoue ignorance that spituall darknesse from thy minde by the light of his illuminating spirit that thy soule by the sun-shine of the holy Scriptures may see how to walke in this vaile of teares thorow this darkenesse in which the world lieth without sight of sinne or remorse of conscience vnto thy heauenly harbour Then secondly fall to 2. Dutie Meditations vpon our awaking meditation and first how God can awake vs from the sleepe of sinne and open our eyes to see the light of the truth either by extraordinarie means or by ordinarie and these weake or more forcible as it pleased him to awake Dauid by Nathan and Peter by the cocke although wee haue slept as many yeeres in sinne as houres in our bed Secondly that after a sleeping though long if there be life there followeth a wakening so is it with the elect though they fall asleepe againe in sin and lie therein a long time yet because they are not vtterly without the life of God they shall at length awake againe Thirdly that as awaking in the morning by the day light in the appointed time to arise and men vp in health there is not by and by a returning to sleepe in bed againe no more shall bodily death seaze vpon any there shall be no more returning to rest in the graue in the day of the last resurrection Fourthly that as a carefull husband aiming at his thrift is ashamed to lie sleeping in bed as if it were still night when the Sunne is vp yea shining vpon him and hee called to his businesse euen so should euery good Christian carefull of saluation be ashamed to lie sleepiing in any sinne when the cleare light of the Gospell shineth vpon him and is called vpon by faithfull Teachers to the performance of his duties Fifthly by thy rising vp Meditations in rising thinke vpon thy resurrection which is twofold first from the kingdome of darknesse and our naturall corruption to the true light and kingdome of grace and of the second resurrection from the darknesse of the graue to the heauēly light of the kingdome of glory Sixthly in arising vp Meditations vpon our naked nesse without clothes as naked 1. consider how naked we be by nature of all holines and righteousnesse when wee come into the world so to bewaile our wretchednesse 2. That wee shall arise naked at the last day as Adam was in his innocencie 3. That as in this bodily nakednes without clothes wee bee ashamed for the vncomelines therof to bee seene so of men vnlesse wee bee fooles or madde euen so should we be ashamed to be seen of God of his Angels and of any good men naked without the couering of grace and goodnesse because of the filthinesse of sinne And as none but fooles and madde men come naked before men so do none but mad men wicked fooles and men desperately leaud liue naked of goodnesse
my minde in heauenly meditations from vncleane vnquiet and foolish dreames and so refresh me by the quiet benefit of sweet sleepe that I may arise more chearfully comfortably in the morning to the labours of my particular calling While I doe sleepe watch I beseech thee ouer me cause thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about me that so I may rest and also arise in safety and therby be moued to laud and praise thee still renewing my thankes as thou doest renew thy mercies daily And now Lord going to my bed I commend my selfe my soule and body into the hands of thy fatherey protection for thou art awake when I sleepe and thou onely art able to preserue mee If it so please thee now this night to take my life from me and to remoue me out of this vale of miserie this doe O Lord of thy great mercy pardon me all my sins wilfull transgressions negligences and ignorances euils committed and duties omitted in any measure manner or any way displeasing to thy Maiesty and that for the death and passion the righteousnesse the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our blessed Sauiour I humbly beseech thee and for his sake take vp my soule to thy heauenly habitation there to rest vntill I come wholly body and soule vnto thee in that great day of the resurrection But if it yet please thee stil further to prolong my life then I hartily pray thee good God of thy tender mercy herein to heare mee that as dayes be added to the time of life so graces may bee encreased that as I grow in yeeres so may I also bee fruitfull in good workes encreasing in grace to thy praise my better preparednesse to death and to my eternall comfort at the last day the time of my perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and that blessed Spirit bee giuen all honour glory and praise of me and all thy people as is most due for all thy louing mercies past and present for the future hope of eternall blisse this night and for euermore Amen Gaius Now if it please thee my Father proceed to the next point and shew vnto me what meditatiōs I should haue in the night season if it happen that then I should awake Iohn Let it 1. put thee Meditations vpon our awaking in the night in mind of awaking from sinne as thou hast awaked frō sleep that thou perish not by death 2. Thinke also how God can make men which are dead in the graue to liue againe as easily as hee hath made thee to awake out of thy sleepe 3. By thy sudden awaking to consider how suddenly thou mayest bee raised vp and summoned to iudgement Secondly by the darknes Of darknesse of the night first thinke of the spirituall darknesse in which natural men sinfully and desperately doe sleepe to pray that God would open their eyes to see the wonders of his law then of the vtter darknesse into which all such impenitent sleepers shall bee cast to moue thee to mourne for them aliue that they may not bee damned when they bee dead further by this darknesse so comfortlesse behold also their comfortles estate for as they cannot which are in darknes see either themselues or others or their way or house or friends or enemies no more can men in spirituall darknesse know thēselues nor the Church of God nor discerne the godly from the vngodly nor the way of life from the way of death nor foresee perils or the pit prepared for them no more then men which remaine in darknesse can see to auoide the dangers which they may fall into vntill the light doe againe shine vpon them Thirdly if thou canst Of dreames cal thy dreames to remembrance by their vanitie iudge of thy leuity by their vncleannesse thy filthinesse by their idlenes thy foolishnesse by the furie in them thy madnes by their much vncertainty thy wauering and inconstancie the delight in their deceits thy easinesse to bee led by delusions the fearfulnesse in them thy timorous heart the seldome thoughts of goodnes thy much delight in wickednesse and little care of godlinesse Fourthly in the silent night vpon thy bed it is good to fall into an examination of thine owne heart it is the time freest from disturbance in respect of outward impediments thou mayest haue with thy soule free and peaceable conference By a true and serious search thou mayest finde out thy selfe and so bee better knowne to thy selfe and the more thou art acquainted with thy owne corruption the more wilt thou bewaile thy wants and seeke after the grace of sanctification Fifthly in thine inclination to sleepe againe note thereby how a man may awake from sin through Gods mercy and yet bee readie to sleepe againe in sinne by his owne infirmitie Sixthly before thou sleepe againe commend thy selfe in some short prayer to God according to the former meditations and so asleepe for refreshment taking so much as may suffice nature for more strength of labour but not to satisfie the flesh to grow thereby lazie and lustfull Gaius Oh what conceited Laodiceans are we wee out of an ordinarie profession in any measure aboue our brethren hold our selues full of deuotion wee iudge our selues goodly Christians rich in graces flowing in goodnesse lacking little to perfection but alas now I see by the neglect of these things that we are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked I confesse that the Lord hath cause to rebuke and chasten vs except wee speedily grow more zealous and amend Iohn Indeed Gaius men are too wickedly carelesse of a holy conuersation and how to keepe a good cōscience towards God man Men seeme to hate so very much popish superstition as they neglect altogether Christian deuotiō it is iudged enough to bee no Papist though otherwise a man bee little better then a very Atheist in all his courses Gaius Right so my father such as see it may lament it but not remedie it I pray for better vnto him that can reforme it But leauing this proceed on I beseech thee with mee as thou hast begun and come to the last particular how I may make my selfe readie for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Iohn I perceiue that thy heart thirsteth after grace the Lord more and more perfect the same so happily begun in thee First besides these things Directions for a preparation to the Sabbath before mentioned carefully haue in remēbrance euery day the Lords day to keepe it holy when it commeth therefore foresee thy businesse neglect no ordinarie labour order thy worldly affaires so as that day bee set apart for the speciall and publike worship of God that so thy deuotion bee not hindered nor the day prophaned hee hath vtterly lost the power of religion that is carelesse of the Sabbaths sanctification Secondly in the end of the weeke iudge by this holy course of thy growth in religion of
thy selfe hast is more then thou well deseruest or rightly canst vse without Gods speciall grace the lesse thou hast the lesse account thou art to make Striue to bee well pleased with Gods will and his disposing of all things for this ende pray much and feruently fast often but beware of hypocrisie reade the holy Scriptures diligently and that with all reuerence attention and faith make them thy counsellours in all thy enterprises thy comforts in aduersitie thy guide in prosperity and the rule of thy whole life Eighthly be much addicted vnto heauenly meditations lifting vp thy heart vnto the Lord sending forth spirituall eiaculations vpon euery occasion though prayers bee but short yet may they pierce the heauens by sighes that cannot be expressed If thou doe thinke of God let it be with high reuerence to his Maiestie speake of him with feare as his glorious excellencie requireth So know him as thou mayest in acknowledging him neuer dare to disobey his Commandements Behold him in his goodnes to loue him in his iustice to feare him in his word to know him and to beleeue in him Behold him also in his workes his wisedome and How to behold the Lord in his creatures power in the workes of creation his mercy and iustice in the worke of redemption his euer being in our continuall preseruation Acknowledge his prouidence in prouiding for his creatures his strength in the mightinesse of mountaines and powers vnresistable his holinesse by his Angels puritie and his Saints piety his inuisibility by the aire and strong winds his miraculous hand by the Ocean sea his glorious Maiestie by the brightnesse of the Sunne his bountie by extending his goodnesse to euery creature his dominion and soueraignty by his rule ouer the world his patience by not speedily confounding some presumptuous sinners yet his iustice in due inflicted punishments vpon others His beautie by the heauens brightnesse the Sun in his glory the shining starres the glistering gold and the liuely colours set vpon his faire creatures full of admiration to the beholders His truth by the performance of his word his stability by the certain and vnchangeable course of things and his infinitenesse by the earths roundnesse the heauens circumference and the immeasurable spatiousnes betwixt both Praise this God in all his proceedings disgrace none of his workes magnifie his goodnesse for the least of his gifts bee silent when hee crosseth thee feare when he is vsing vpon his children the rod of his correction but tremble at his wrath in his worke of destruction and euer submit to the powerfull hand of his prouidence Ninthly in the next place with thy thoughts of God sauour also the things that are of God that is his word and ordinances ministery and magistracie also all diuine truthes though aboue all reason likewise all holy motions pressing downe the corruptions of thy heart yea sharpe rebukes for reformatiō shew patience in bearing of wrōgs and manifest loue to the godly though neuer so poore and let their account of thee bee more esteemed of thē the countenance of the mightiest that bee enemies to goodnesse Let mourning and sorrow for sin please thee better then wicked mirth Preferre Gods honor and diuine worship before thine owne life and al thy wealth Hold it thy greatest preferment and glory to be a true Christian and a companion to all that feare God professing the truth with them in the way of life Iudge it no disgrace to bee noted for zeale in religion for following the holy Saints in true deuotion But desire and striue to bee like the best follow Dauid in feruencie Iosias in tendernes of spirit and a melting heart Barnabas in charitie Nathaniel in sinceritie without guile Moses in the spirit of meeknes and Ioshua in his resolution to feare God and that alone with all thine household and bee as Cornelius in his holy estimation of the ministerie and alacrity of spirit to ioyne with the people of God Step forward euer with these and the like in the way of vertue that vnto the death as holy Martyrs haue done constantly looke to the reward of glory in the end Tenthly as thou art religious so bee also righteous serue God and doe thy dutie vnto men obey lawful commands of such as haue authority ouer thee Looke on God in the Commander and for a reward at his hands Be of a peaceable spirit offer Of our carriage towards men wrong to none wrongs receiued seeke not to reuenge desire onely that which is thine owne require that peaceably which other withhold wrongfully vse law but as a moderator and not as an auenger hate no man though he haue deserued it by loue win him and by thy weldoing hold him fast to thee make account of thy neighbour as of thy selfe let his honour bee thy ioy his sorrow thy griefe and his life to thee pretious his chastitie preserue as thine owne honesty thinke thy good name touched in the cracke of his credit for the Gospels sake wish him euer well do as thou wouldest be done vnto If in his absence thou speakest of him let it be good and in his presence onely for his good Couet not to bee preferred before him that is pride not to haue his life that is bloody cruelty nor to satisfie thy lust that is filthie dishonestie nor to get his goods that is the euerie nor to take away his good name that is worse then death Though he dislike of thee yet loue thou him faile not thou of any dutie albeit other doe not obserue thee according as is meet There is in thee the more grace and the greater praise thou doest deserue when thou canst subdue thy passions passe by contempt neglect thy selfe and teach other men their duties onely by thine owne weldoing This will procure loue make all thy paths peaceable and get thee praise and due honour with men if not yet God seeth hee will iudge and plead thy cause for thee in their consciences reuenge thy wrongs vpon obstinate enemies and recompence fully thy goodnesse vpon thy selfe Let this comfort thee against their vnthankfulnesse and remember the end obserue the commandement of loue liue euer in daily expectation of death the reward of life the crowne of glory and by the helpe of Gods spirit thou shalt neuer doe amisse Gaius O blessed Lord God! how do I hunger to haue part in this blessednes my soule is as the thirstie land I preceiue heereby my great wants and bewaile my imperfections I see now the narrow way and the straight gate to life and feare Ah how much is professed how little practiced I should vtterly despaire of my safety but that I rest vpon Gods mercy and relie onely vpon Christ his merits Now the Lord vouchsafe mee his spirit and the helpe of his grace that I may be a true obseruer of all these things thus to doe his will thus to performe my bounden dutie Oh Sir that I could
Blessed be thy name most A Prayer for the morning gracious Father the Lord of life for that thou hast of thy goodnesse and mercy thus preserued mee this present night past and hast awakened mee raised mee vp giuen vnto mee comfortable meditations and a most sweet taste of thy heauenly graces Oh my Father my Father how is my spirit delighted with these celestiall ioyes afford me stil I humbly beseech thee the like measure of thy mercy daily that I may euer feele these comforts and neuer cease to praise thy goodnesse Indeed O Lord I freely confesse vnto thee that I haue lien in the bed of my corruptions and slept in the darke ignorance of my mind and therein tooke such delight as if thou haddest not sent out the sweet beames of the light of truth and called me vp by thy faithfull teachers I had yet remained in the night of misdeeds and perished in my sinnes Sythen therfore O Lord thou hast thus brought mee from darknesse to the light and opened mine eyes to see that which before I could not discerne cause mee now I beseech thee to shake off al fleshly drousines that in so broad a sun-shine of the Gospell I may not as carelesse of spirituall thrist sloathfully lie downe againe in the sinfull corruptions of mine owne heart but so partake of the first resurrection in the state of grace as I may enioy the blessing of the second in the kingdome of glory I doe acknowledge to thee how without thee I am O Lord very miserable poore and naked so as I am ashamed to come before thee but in mercy doe thou pitie mee and clothe me with that faire rayment of Christ his righteousnesse that I may be bold to draw neare to the throne of grace this best robe by the spirit put vpon me and giue me the hand of faith to apply the same vnto me that I may thereby be preserued from the heate of thy wrath for sinne and escape eternall destruction Giue mee grace good Lord to beautifie my holy profession with ornaments of grace good words and good workes let mee neuer want the linnen of inward sincerity nor the outward garment of Christian honestie that I may be welcome to the companie of thy Saints the onely comely creatures whom thou O Lord hast washed and made cleane Wash me O Lord with them for I confesse my selfe polluted with manifold sins and that they stick so hard cleaue so fast vnto mee that I cannot be deliuered nor clensed except thou my God by thy mercifull hand the worke of thy Spirit dost rinse mee in the precious blood of Christ Surely if it were not for the hope which I haue of thy gracious fauour I should verily despaire of my saluation For when by the glasse of thy word I see my selfe so vncleane my corruptions also to be so many and withall feele them so strong in mee I cannot but mourne with teares and lament with heauinesse of heart my present estate deseruing death and iustly causing me to feare rather damnation then to haue any hope at all of saluation But there is mercy with thee O thou blessed God of mercy to which I now appeale humbly crauing at thy hands the ful pardon of al my sinnes behold deare Father the merits of my Redeemer the price which hee hath paid to satisfie thy iustice that so of thy goodnesse thou mayest be well pleased with mee that my prayers may bee granted and my requests which I now put vp vnto thee may graciously be heard of thee It is thy will O Lord that euery one should haue a calling to walke in and that wee should performe such duties diligently as do belong thereunto now Lord for thy mercie sake as thou hast giuen mee a calling and desire to performe the charge laid vpon me therby so I do earnestly beseech thee to help guide aide and strengthen me therin put vpon mee that whole furniture of thine for my spirituall warfare that I may be armed at all assayes to resist also to preuaile against all my ghostly enemies O Lord thou knowest well how manifold the tentations bee which doe follow all those that desire to liue in and by their callings religiously and honestly Thou doest also know how I desire like a true Israelite to walke before thee in godly simplicity and towards the world without fraud or guile peaceably but Satan is so powerfull and often in his tentations the world so full of deceitfull allurements and my heart so weake and vnable to resist that vnlesse thou by thy spirit doe aide me by thy power defend mee by thy word instruct mee and by thy grace preuent mee I shall vndoubtedly goe astray from my intended purpose of wel doing O my God helpe me helpe me therefore O my God In al my iust proceedings protect me make my good purposes prosperous if it bee thy will I heartily pray thee Bend my mind euer to thy good pleasure and will that I encline not vnto wickednesse by ill companie ill counsell ill examples of others though for a time they flourish by il means Make mee O Lord to delight more in thy fauour and loue then in the gaine of all earthly goods Possesse so my heart with vprightnesse and true intendment of iust dealing and peaceable walking towards all in all my courses that I may boldly come to thee and make thee my God the Iudge of all my actions Goe out Lord before me and let my eyes be this day as at all times euer vpon thee that so before I speake I may consult with thee before I do any thing I may bee aduised by thee that so in going out and in continuing abroad thy care may be ouer mee thy prouident hand may helpe me thy mercy also may couer me that so I may by thee returne home in good peace and safety through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour in whose name I further call vpon thee for my self for the whole Church and euery member of the same in that holy forme of prayer which hee taught his blessed Apostle saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Gaius For this thou blessed seruant of God I most humbly thanke thee now if it please thee proceed on to the second point how I may carrie my selfe abroad on the day time Iohn Hold thy selfe Gaius to this mornings worke constantly then go forth in Gods name feare not neither be faint-hearted for the Lord is with thee Walk as a Saint among Directions for the day time men striuing daily to perfection let them as apparantly see thee to be come out of Satans house of bondage spiritually as they can behold thee out of thine owne house bodily Liue in the light of Gods word with respect vnto all and euery one of Gods Commandements as thou doest walke with thy body and sight of the eyes in the shine of the Sunne Behold and looke vp often to the heauens as thy
euer I had rather bee there a doorekeeper then dwell in the tents of the vaine and wicked though mighty in the world Surely there is no company comparably to the blessed communion of Saints who are Christs members the temple of the holy Ghost and hee in the middest among them Make me highly to esteeme of the publike assembly where thy word is preached and thy name called vpon and cause mee euer to bee vnfainedly thankfull for the same Oh it is thy exceeding great mercy towards me and towards vs all this day that wee may with such freedome and liberty enioy that truth in peace which the blessed Apostles taught and sealed with their blood which many thousands of Saints after thē did professe and maintaine with their very liues in the middest of bloody persecution because otherwise they could not enioy the benefit of the word What ingratitude were therefore this in vs if wee should not laud thy name daily sing praises vnto thy most diuine Maiesty which hast thus in so great mercy dealt with vs that may without feare of open enemies keep publike meetings frequent those places set vp in the honour and praise of thy blessed sonne Iesus How vnworthie should we make our selues of this vnspeakeable grace and fauour if wee should carelesly neglect as too many doe so great meanes of our saluatiō Those that died for the truth may well perswade vs to the loue of the truth and they that shead their blood for preaching it others also who rather then they would not heare it and enioy the benefit of it were contented to hazard their liues they may iustly condemne vs of negligence and shall rise vp in iudgement against vs if wee will not leaue our vaine pleasures and our worldly profits for it O Lord our God lay not this iniquitie to our charge the too much neglect if not contempt of the sauing means of saluation thou mayest in thy iust iudgment vtterly depriue vs of all meanes of our spirituall life of all grace and heauenly comforts for that indeed we doe not so esteeme of the ministerie of thy word and of the Gospell of thy Son as we should Turne vs of thy mercy O God from the accursed loathing to a blessed louing thereof And make vs to account of it as a thing most precious to shew the same in a more earnest seeking after knowledge therein in a greater desire thereof with feruencie of spirit for the truth against sinne in our selues and others against superstition and idolatrie against prophanenesse against contempt of good gouernment and base account of thy faithfull ministers then hitherto wee haue done and cause vs to bring forth also better fruits worthy the Gospell of Christ and our profession That so it may appeare that we be Christians indeed professors in good earnest sincere louers of the truth that so these thy mercies may be established vpon vs continued with vs and propagated to posterities whereby not onely we but euen our children childrens children may haue cause herein with vs to magnifie thy name for euer and for euer And here O Lord I call not vpon thy name for my selfe alone and these thy people knowne vnto me but for all thy whole Church euery where in all the world remember them Lord in thy mercy call those that are not yet called confirme such as are bring backe such as slip out of the way resolue such as stand doubting raise vp such as doe fall comfort the afflicted stand by such as be in combate with the diuell with the world or with the strong and violent streame of corruptions flowing out from their owne euill hearts Stand by them good Lord helpe them for the victorie and deliuer them from euill and by thy grace euer either preuent their falles or forgiue their offences Blesse these particular Churches of England Scotland and Ireland and herein especially the principall member of the same our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiestie the Queene Prince Charles Fredericke Prince Elector and the Lady Elizabeth the Honourable Councell and worthy Nobles the Ministery and Ministers of thy Gospell and all Schooles of learning for the furtherāce of religiō Lord continue peace among vs vnite our hearts in one in the truth and for the truth cause iustice in true iudgmēt to bee maintained grieuous wrongs and oppressions to bee vtterly suppressed good works of zeale mercy piety to be euery way furthered and the instruments to be highly aduāced And if there be any enemies to thee O God and to thy people maintaining that man of sinne O Lord thou mighty God of heauen reueale them to the world discouer all craftie Achitophels set thy selfe against them and all wicked seducers misleading thy people by errour into Antichristian superstition and idolatrie and either conuert them or confound them for the safety of thy people and their great peace yea for the more full manifestation of thy hatred against that man of sinne against that tyrannicall regiment and that bloody persecuting power with all the trecherous and traiterous adherents to the same and this doe O Lord for thy owne name sake also euen for the merits of Christ Iesus our only Lord Sauiour in whose name we pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. Gaius I giue vnto thee thou mā of God most humble thankes for this so great labour vndertaken for my sake I wish I could recompence this thy so great goodnesse but albeit I cannot I doubt not but he that is able and hath promised to reward euery good worke hee assuredly will to whom I shall daily pray that hee may recompence and euerlastingly blesse thee for euery good deede euen so Amen Iohn I thank thee good Gaius I haue done but my dutie of God I deserue nothing of thee for a requitall I looke for no more but that which I know already thou wilt do euen constantly make to a good vse of al. Therin the Lord blesse thee and I am satisfied and so farewel till our next meeting Gaius The Lord be with thee my Father my Father and his holy Angels take safe custodie of thee for euer and euer Amen FINIS
thou Lord art most assuredly with him Giue mee and the rest of thy flocke this grace O Lord God of heauen I doe humbly beseech thee that as hee shall teach soundly aptly and powerfully so wee may all most humbly submit our selues vnto his ministery as well when hee conuinceth our errours rebuketh vs of sinne and threatneth Gods fearfull plagues for the same as when he preacheth peace to the penitent and comforteth the sorrowfull spirit Oh let vs not make exceptions against any thing commanded him to speake but rather iudge him the more faithfull and so to loue him more for the truth sake and for his sincere handling of the same Qualifie him euery way for vs as he may go wisely in and out before vs in soundnesse of doctrine in holinesse of life in humility in godly grauity with wisedome and authority familiarly conuersing among vs. And for his encouragement make vs willing to frequent diligently the Church to heare attentiuely to abide reuerently and to learne of him gladly not to looke vpon his humaine frailties but in true loue to passe them by to make much of him lest wee stumble at his doctrine Make vs conscionable towards him in his maintenance to deale vprightly and liberally that hee may doe the worke of his ministery cheerfully And when we haue heard thy word blesse vs O Lord with conscience of holy meditation and prayer suffer not me nor any of thy seruants as the common custome is to be content onely to heare and to remaine still in ignorance and errour to come and goe and yet neuer the better let not thy word so be the sauour of death vnto death to our deeper condemnation O Lord pardon my former negligence and forgiue vs all this wretched prophanenesse and carelesnesse of our saluation as if we were either soul-lesse or senseles Lay not this sin O Lord vnto our charge but afford vs thy grace to heare in hearing to learn and in learning to beleeue so to professe constantly and practise religiously euery day more more till we become perfect in Christ Iesus Giue mee grace O Lord to auoid all occasions of prophaning this day keepe mee from ill companie and from all vaine carnall worldly minded people which may withdraw my heart and thoughts from better things Cause me to make conscience of my whole carriage of my thoughts words and deeds that by vaine talke leaud sports light behauior vnnecessary businesses of the world I may not my selfe bee guiltie of prophanenesse neither by example may moue others to doe amisse Let my thoughts be vpon that which I haue heard and other heauenly things my words vttered to tend to edification Let my mirth be that heauenly melody singing Psalmes to thee O Lord in my heart and my companie such as I may either learne good from them or doe some good vnto them that so the day thus set apart wholly to thee and diuine exercises wee thereby may the better be furnished and made able in the weeke following to do the duties of our calling conscionably in all truth and equitie to thy glory and our owne cōforts that for Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord Sauiour in whose name for my selfe for this congregation and thy holy Church vniuersall I call vpon thee further saying Our Father c. Gaius By the helpe of my God I will surely make more conscience of this dutie then I haue hitherto done I well perceiue the necessity of praier before for indeed Paul may plant with his profound learning Apollos may water by his powerfull eloquence but all is nothing except God giue the encrease except hee giue eyes to see eares to heare and hearts to vnderstand the Teacher shall teach in vaine and we also heare in vaine Iohn Thy resolution Gaius is very good and thou hast also well considered of the necessity of prayer before thou doest go to Gods house Verily the neglect of this holy dutie and the comming of people so prophanely to Gods worship as thou formerly hast complained without due preparation is the very cause why men reape so small fruit by the meanes Cursed is their irreligious cōming their cursed customarie seruing of God their hellish luke-warmenesse their presumptuous prophanesse without any feare of God estimation of Gods ordinances reuerēt respect of his ministers or care at all truly of their owne saluation Oh daies without pure deuotion O times for temporizers But goe thou on good Gaius as thou doest and as thou stil resoluest to do he that is filthie let him be filthy stil follow thou not their guise pray continually and the Lord deliuer his people from the tentations of the times of luke-warmenes and carnall securitie in a worldly peace which is the blūter of zeale the death of true deuotion the very prison of sincere piety the breeder of Atheisme the cause of the contempt of religion the nurse of proud presumption of mercy of vanity wantonnesse with all kind of wickednesse Gaius Sir wofull experience hath proued this for truth in many ages I haue learned it but by your words I haue more reason to consider of it And therefore the Lord directing mee and in his mercy making good these fatherly aduisements vpon me that I may haue the grace to follow the same I hope hereafter to auoid better the occasions of euill and the intrapments of Satā this seducing wicked world which I will daily pray for and in mercy I hope the Lord will heare me But reuerend Sir lest I be too tedious let it please you to finish this work in adding that one thing remaining which is a forme of prayer vpon the Sabbath day in the euening Iohn Hauing meditated somewhat before of the doctrines vses and instructions deliuered of the benefit of the Sacraments of the excellency of religion as also of the publike worship of the diuine exercises and of the fellowship of the godly and in like manner hauing considered what good thou hast receiued thereby wherein informed for rectifying of iudgement wherein instructed to follow vertue wherin reproued for amendmēt of life wherein conuinced of errour wherein comforted concerning affliction and strengthened against tentation thou mayest thus or after such a like maner both heartily praise God and humbly pray vnto him as followeth O Lord God most gracious Euening Prayer for the Sabbath and mercifull Father I doe render vnto thy heauenly maiesty all humble hearty thanks praising and lauding thy most holy name for that of thy great compassion thou hast affoorded vnto mee and thy people the preaching of thy word the effectual means of saluation to as many as truly beleeue Oh how pleasant is thy dwelling place to all that delight in goodnesse better is one day in thy house then a thousand yeeres elsewhere right ioyfull are the feete of thy faithful messengers bringing to vs poore soules the glad tidings of peace Oh that I might dwell in thy house for