in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swal owed vp of death and desperation we vtterly renounce all worldly confidence and flee to thy soueraigne goodnesse as our onely stay and refuge beseeching thee not to cal to remeÌ„berance our mauifold sinnes and wickednes whereby we coÌ„tinually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and wickednesse which haue neither worthely esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweete comfort of the Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy Sonne Iesus Christ who by offering vp his body in sacrifiee once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sins Haue mercie therefore vpon vs. O Lord forgiue vs our offences each vs by the â—oly spirit that we may rightly weigh them and earnestly repent for the same and so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken cannot praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungring and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set forth thy praise and glory And albeit we be but worms dust yet thou art our Creator and we be the workes of thy hands yea thou art our redeemer and we be the people whom thou hast bought thou art our God and we thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord neither according to our desarts punish vs but mercifully chastise vs with a fatherly affection that all the world may knowe that at what time so euer a Sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his hart thou wilt put away all his wickednes out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holy Prophets Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thée to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeyned him the day to trauaile graunt O deare Father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continuallie watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shall appeare for our deliuerance out of this mortall life and in the me and season that we be not ouercome by any sautasies dreames or other temptations but fully set our mindes vpon thee loue thee seare thee and rest in thee in such sorte that our very sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy name Furthermore that our sleepe be not excesssiue or ouer much after the insatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake nature that we may be better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glorie of thy holy name and profite of our Brethren thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art in Heauen c. Almighty and euerlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to grant vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting and increasing the sâ—me in vs daylie vntill me grow to the full measure of our persectiotn in Christ whereof we make our confession saying I beleene in God the Father almightie c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it VVhen a man is bound to vvarde any iourney THis our life most mercifull Lord is nothing els but a pilgrimage through-fare for we haue here no abiding or dwelling place We are come from thee and we must returne againe vnto thee But amongst or betweene all the traps assaults pits and snares which the Diuell hath layde out and spread abroad for vs blinded in sinne Vouchsafe thou O Lord Iesus Christ to leade vs with thy right hand for thou art a true trustie and a sure friend Open our eyes to the intent that we misse not the way which thou thy selfe art but leade vs through and by thy selfe vnto thy Father to the intent that all we may be made one with thee and him euen like as hou art one with him O most mercifull Lorde like as thou doest send thine holy Angels to be defenders of as many as serue please thee with a simple innocent and pure heart by the which they be led like as young children oren are lead of them which are elder and stronger than they And like as thou diddest vouchsafe to send thine Angell Raphal to be a guide vnto the Sonne of that rouerent man Toby Vouchsafe euen so O Lord to send vs the same Angell although we are not so worthie as the same Toby was that he may encourage and leade vs thorow that way which is not pleasant vnto vs but vnto thee So be it A Prayer for a Christian life MOst mercifull mightie God take away from vs all euill counsell and then our sinnes suffer vs not to run into an vngodlie and wicked life and sinally kéepe our minds far from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue and in the stead of those euils graunt that we may continuallie be occupied in thy law and sacred Scriptures that we be not caried about like the wirked as light dust and fruitles chaffe with euery blast of affection and Docirine but rather that we as trees planted by the water brookes induâ—d with the life of the spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that whatsoeuer we take in hand may prosper and tende to thy praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall all away in thy iudgement we may stedfasily stand and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer in distresse SEeing that O almightie God our wretch eduesh and pouertie is right greattherefore haue we very much neede of thy saiuation for se long as we now flee vnto theâ— to the intent thou shouldst be our speedie succour and assured defence we call to rememberance our most grieuous sinnes corrupt life and leaud behauiour which neither we wil hide or yet if we were willing thereto could keep the same secret froÌ„ thee Thou right well perceiuest al our naughtines which we truly acknowledge and confesse vnto thy diuine maiestie we haue grieuouslie sinned we haue done greatly amisse we haue bin marueilous disobedient very stubborne and exceeding wilful against thee who deserue farre more heynous displeasures then these which we now feele and suffer But bowe thou downe thy fauourable looke O excellent father and giue care vnto our feruent Prayerse haue compassion vpon vs that crie out daily vnto thee and lift vp our sorrowfull eyes and heauie mindes towards thy most excellent mercies seate hauing this assured confidence that thou art ready to
not to order them according to thy word deserueth thy dreadfull curse Graunt therefore that as thou hast blessed me with an household so I may diligently watch that nothing be commited of the same that might offend thy father lie goodnesse and be an occasion of turning thy blessing into cursing but that so many as thou hast committed to my charge may eschue all vice imbrace all vertue liue in thy feare call vpon thy holie name learne thy blessed commandements heare thy holy word and auoiding idlenesse diligentlie exercise themselues euerie one in his office according to their vocation and calling vnto the glorie of thy most honorable name Amen Of all Christians ALbeit O Heauenly FAther all we that vnfeinedly professe thy holy religion and faithfullie call on thy blessed name are thy sonnes and heires of euerlasting glorie yet as all the members of a body haue not one office so likewise we being manx and making one bodie whereof thy dearely beloued Sonne is the head haue not all one gift neither are we all called to one office but as it hath pleased thee to distribute so receiue we we therefore most hūbly praythee to send the Spirit of loue and concord among vs that without any disorder or debate euery of vs may be conent with our calling quietly liue in the same studie to doe good vnto all men by the true and diligent exercise therof without too much séeking of our priuat gaine and so order our selues in all poynts according to thy godlie will that by well-doing wee may stoppe the mouthes of such foolish and ignorant people as reporte vs to be euill dooers and cause them through our good workes to glorifie thee our Lord God in the ay of visitation Amen A Prayer meete for all men and to besaid at all times O Most mercifull Father grant me to couer with an ardent mind those things which may please thee to search them wisely to know them truly and to fulfil them perfectly to the laud and glory of thy name Order my liuing so that I may doe thatwhich thou requirest of me and giue me grace so that I may know it and haue will and power to doe it and that I may obtaine those things which be most connenient to my soule Cacious Lord make my way sure streight to thee so that I fall not between prosperitie and aduersirie but that in prosperous things I may giue thee thankes and in aduersitie be patient so that I be not lift vp with the one nor oppressed with the other And that I may reioyce in nothing but that which moueth mee to thee nor to be sorie for any thing but for those things which draw me from thee desiring to please no bodie nor fearing to displease any besids thee most louing father let all worldly things be vile vnto me for thee and be thou my most speciall comfort aboue al. Let me not be merie with the ioy that is without thee And let me desire nothing besides thee let all labour delight me which is for thee and let all the rest wearie we which is not in thee Make me to lift vp my hart oftentimes to thee and when I fall make me to thinke on thee and be sorie with a stedfast purpose of amendement Louing Lord make me humble without faining merrie without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnes true without doublenes fearing thee without desperatiō trusting in thee with out presumption telling my neighbors their faults meekly without dissimmulatiō teaching them with words and examples without any mocking obedient without arguing patient without grudging and pure without corruption giue me also I beseech thee a waking spirite that no curious thought with draw me from thee Let it be so strong that no filthie affection dram me backward so stable that no tribulation breake it graunt me also to knowe thee diligentlie to learne a godlie conuersation to please thee and finallie hope to imbrace thee for the precious blood sake of that immaculate Lambe our onlie Sauiour Iesus Christ To whom with thee O Father and the holy Ghost thrée persons and one God be all honor and glory world without end Amen A Prayer for the obtaining of saith O Mercifull God deare Father of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in whom as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him forasmuch as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and thereto promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and graunt vs that which in his name wee shall aske of thee Loe gracious Father I am bold to beg of thy mercie through thy Sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards me in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christ thy Sonne may be thankfull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life So be it A Prayer for repentance MOst gracious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned and done wickedlie and thorough thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentance whereto this long suffering doth draw my hard hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy Spirite power and grace to humble mortifie and teare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me thorow Iesus Christ thy dearly beloued Sonne Amen A Prayer for remission of sinnes and for the comfort and true feeling of Gods sauor and mercie OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wieked Blindis my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscener is in me as a spring or stincking puddie Oh how faine is saith in me How little is my loue to thée or thy people How great is selfe-loue How hard is my heart by the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnesse towards me whether thou art my mercifufll father and whether I be thy childe or no Indeede worthilie might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause and not the fruite rather of thy Children The cause and not the fruite rather of thy Children The cause why thou art my Father is the mercy goodnesse grace and trueth in Christ Iesus the which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good wil to bring me into thy Church by Baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy Children that I might be holy faithfull obedient and innocent and to cal me diuers times by the ministring of thy word into thy kingdome besides the innumerable other benefits alwaies hether to powred vpon me all which thou hast done of this thy good will that thou of thine owne mercie bearest to me in Christ and for Christ before the world was made The which
say vnto you Sweare not at all neither by heauen for it is Gods seate nor yet by the earth for it is his footestoole neither by Ierusalem for it is the ciite of the great King neither shalt thou sweare by thy head because thou caust not make one white hayre or a blacke But let your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoeuer is more then that commeth of euill Eccl. 24. The man that vseth much swearing shall be filled with iniquitie and the plague shall not be out of his house Zachar. 5. The Prophet saith that the curse of God shall rest in the house of fhim that sweareth falsty and consume it with the Timber and stones thereof iiij Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt doe no maner of worke thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruant and thy mayd seruant thy cattell and the straunger that is within thy gates for in sixe daies the Lord made heauen and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it Christ Matth. 12. It is lawfull to doe a good déede on the Sabboth day Matth. 2. For the sonne of man is Lord euen of the Sabboth day The Lord saith by his Prophet Esay Esay 26.58 hebrewes 4. That his Sabboth is hallowed and kept when we rest and cease to doe our owne wayes when we in word thought and déede fulfill his wil and not ours and when we suffer him to do his workes in vs. That at the last wee may come to that Sabboth and true rest euen eternall life which Christ the Lord of the Sabbath hath obtained for vs by his blood The second Table v. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy daies may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee Christ Matth. 15. Honor thy Father and Mother that is the first Commandement that hath any promise that thou maiest be in good estate and liue long on the Earth By this Commandement Christ teacheth vs not only to haue our Father and Mother in reuerence and to obey them as he himselfe was so subiect vnto his mother he Virgine Mary But also to minister vnto their necessities Match 15. Marke 7. Eccles 3. He that feareth the Lord honoureth his Father and Mother and doth them seruice as it were vnto the Lord himselfe Honor thy Father in deede and word and in all patience that thou mayst haue Gods blessing and his blessing shall abyde with thee at the last The blessing of the Father buyldeth vp the houses of the children But the mothers curse rooteth the foundation c. vj. Thou shalt doe no murther Christ Math. 5. Ye haue heard how it was said vnto them of the old time Thou shalt not kill Whosoeuer killeth shall be in daunger of iudgement But I say vnto you whosoeuer is angrie with his Brother shall be in dauger of iudgement Whosoeuer sayth to his brother Racha shall bee in daunger of a Counsell But whosoeuer sayth thou foole shall bee daunger of hell fire Item yee haue heard how it is sayd thou shalt loue thy neighbours and hate thyne enemies But I say vnto you loue yor enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you pray for them that doe you wrong and persecute you that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heauen For he maketh the Sonne arise on the euill and on the good and sendeth his rame on the iust and on the vniust vij Thou shalt not commit adulterie Christ Matth. 5. Ye haue heard how it was said to them of the olde time Thou shalt not commit adulterie But I say vnto you that whosoeuer looketh on a wife lusting after her hath committed adultlerie with her alreadie in his heart 1. Cor. 6. knowe yee not that your bodies are the members of Christ Shall I now take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid Doe you not know that he which coupleth himselfe with an Harlot is become one body For they saith he shall be two in one flesh But he that is ioyned vnto the Lord is one spirit Flee fornication Euery sinne that a man doth is without the bodie but he that is a fornicatour sinneth against his owne bodie Either knowe ye not how that your bodies are the tempses of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in you whom you haue of God and how that you are not your owne For ye are dearely bought therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your Spirites which are Gods Hebr. 13. Let wedlocke be had in price in all poynts and let the Chamber be vndefileld for whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge viij Thou shalt not steale Christ Matth. 10. Steale not Detraude no man Matth. 5. If any man wil sue thee at the law and take thy coate from thee let him haue thy cloake also Giue to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away 1. Corin. 6. Now is there vtterly a faulte among you because ye goe to lawe one with another Why rather suffer ye not wrong Why rather suffer yee not your selues to be robbed Nay yee your selues doe wrong and robbe and that the brethren Ephes 4. Let him that did steale steale no more but let him rather labour with his hands same good thing that he may haue to giue him that needeth jx Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Christ Mark 10. Beare no false witnesse Matth. 13. I say vnto you that of euery idle worde which men shall haue spoken they shall giue accounts at the day of Iudgment Ephes 4. Wherefore put away lying and speake euery man the truth to his neighbour for as much as we are members one of another Let no filthie communication proceede out of your mouthes but that which is good to edifie with all when neede is that it may haue fauour with the hearerse Let al bitternesse fiercenesse and wrath roaring and cursed speaking be put away from you Ephe. 5. Let not frithinesse foolish talking nor iesting which are not comely be once named among you but rather giuing of thanks x. Thou shalt nor desire thy neighbours house thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife nor his mayde nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Christ Math. 7. Whatsoeuer ye would men should do to you euen so do ye to them Marke 7. To loue a mans neighbour as himselfe is a greater thing then all burnt Offerings and Sacrifices Matth. 14. Be not ouercome with iust for the care of this world and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word Hebrewes 13. Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse and bee content with that ye haue alreadie 1. Tim. 6. Godlinesse is great
which are in Heauen haue mercie vpon me and be thou my mercifull mediator for me vnto thy Father that I may be saued O holy Ghost God conqual with the father the sonne haue mercie vpon me worke thy diume power in me thorow thy gracious mipiration Drame me vnto Iesus Christ that I may finde fanour and be saued Amen The second part As concerning my bodie that I bequeathe vnto the earth from whence it came My Consission I Knowledge and confese with all my heart that I am a sinner yea such a sinner as hath neede of the grace mercie and fauour of God My faith ioyned with hope I beleeue that the Lord will haue mercie vpon me for he hath first made me and if it shall please him he may saue me This I beleeue whether I liue or dye I am the Lords My hope I Hope that I shall find both grace and mercie for my sinnes of God the Father euen for Iesus Christes sake in him I beleeue he is my redeemer he liueth for euer and euer He maketh intercession for sinnes So this I know that now I am a corruptible body but I hope through Christ to rise an vncorruptible body Now a mortall bodie but through Christ and his merites I hope to haue though now an earthly bodie then an heauenly bodie For as many as shall be saued shall shine in the kingdome of God as bright as the Sunne This my faith and hope I lay vp in my minde the mind of my Soule trusting onely to be saued thorowe the merites of Iesus Christ God and man which is in Heauen From whence we looke againe the which shall change our vile bodie and make it like his owne most glorious bodie whereby he is ablel to subdue all things vnto himselfe O Christ haue mercie vpon mee thou hast redeemed mee O Christ saue me A Prayer for the Sicke OH how sicke am I My weakenesse increaseth more and more Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue mee grace pacientlie and thankefullie to beare the crosse and in the middest of this my sickenesse alwaies to say Thy will O heauenly Father bee done and not mine Another Prayer for the Sicke O Lorde Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue submic my selfe wholy to thy most blessed will And I being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercie most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willinglie leaue this fraile wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better wise shall restore it to me againe I beseech thee O most mercifull Iesu Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend my with the Buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the Diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of life and fasuation 〈◊〉 my considence hope and trust i◠in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no merites 〈◊〉 good workes which I may alleage before thée Of sinnes and euill works alas I see a grace heape but through thy mercie I trust to be of the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take and accept me for righteous and iust and to be the inheritour of euerlasting glorie Thou O most mercifull Lord waste borne for my sake Thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake Thou diddest preach and teach thou diddest pray and fast for my sake Thou didest all good woorkes and deedes for my sake Thou sufferedst most greeuous paynes and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy most blessed blood to be shed on the Crosse for my sake Now most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profite me which thou freely hast giuen me which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and foulenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse Let the merites of thy passion and blood be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that my faith and perswasion in thy blood wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercie and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that Charitie waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my Soule may still behold and looke vnon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet that my heart may crye and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu take my Spirit A thankes giuing to God for the departure of the faithfull out of this vvorld O How can we most louing Father render vnto thee sufficient thankes for thine inestimable goodnesse toward thy faithfull seruants Whom thou calling out of this wetched world vouchsafe to place in thy heauenly Ringdome among the glorious companie of thy holy Angels and blessed Saints O full precious is the death of the faithfull in thy sight Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord. For they are at rest from their painfull trauels and labour The soules of the righteous are in thy hand O God and the paine of death shall not touch them In the sight of the vnwise they appeare to dye but they are in peace They shine as the sparkes that runne through the red bush They glister as the shyning heauen They are as the starres world without end They are as the Angels of God They are clad with white garments and haue golden Crownes vpon their heads Tey doe seruice day and night before the glorious Throne of thy Diuine Maiestie They neither hunger nor thirst any more neither doth the Sunne or any heate fall vpon them for the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne gouerneth them and leadeth them vnto the liuing fountaine of waters They followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth They haue such ioyes as eye hath not seene nor eare hath heard neither is there any heart able to thinke them infinite and vnspeakeable are thy treasures O Lord which thou hast layde vp for them that depart in thy faith For these thy fatherly benefites toward the soule of the faithfull and for that it hath pleased thee to call this our Christian brother from this vale of miserie vnto thy heauenly kingdome we giue vnto thee most heartie thankes humbly beseeching thee that thou wilt take like care for vs and so gouerne vs with thy holy Spirit both in sicknesse and in health that we may liue a good and godly life in this present world and whensoeuer it shall be thy good pleasure to call vs hence we may with strong faith
in thee and in thy sonne Christ Iesu our Lord commend both our bodies and soules into thy mercifull hands and through thy goodnesse be placed in thy glorious kingdome among thy faithfull chosen people and so for euer and euer praise and magnifie thee our heauenly Father to whom with thy dearly beloued Sonne Iesu Christ our Lord and Sauiour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter bee all glorie and honour world without end Amen A Prayer of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all things were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou diddest nto disdaine to be our mediacour and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a Virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of the holy spirit that both thou mightest in thine owne person woonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the giltinesse of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raysing vp againe these our bodies that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious and immortall bodie according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all things vnto thee as I say of the loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three and thirtie yeeres at the least in most humilitie and paydest the brice of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartely giue thankes to thee so of the same by loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the cloudes of Heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousands of Saints with Angelles of thy power with a mightie crie shoure of an Archangel and blast of a Trumpe suddenly as a lightning which shmeth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a Theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus suddenly in the twinekling of an eye all men that euer haue been be and shall be with women and Children appearing before thy tribunall iudgement seate to render account of all things which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saints and Deuils and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance if that they haue not repented and obeyed thy Gospell and so depart from thee to the Deuill and his Angels and all the wicked which euer haue been or shall be into Hell fire which is vnquenchable and of paynes intolle rable easellesse endlesse hopelesse euen from the face of thy glorious and mightie power but if they haue repented and beleeued thy Gospell If they be found watching with their Lamps and Dyle in their hands if they be found readie apparelled with the wedding garment of innocencie if they haue not hardned their harts and hoorded vp the Treasure of thy vengrance in the day of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the time of grace the acceptable time the time of saluation that is the time of this life in the which thou stretchest out thy hand and spreadest thine armes calling and crying vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowly for thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauie ioden If they hane visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fed the hungrie clothed the naked lodged the harbourlesse if they haue not laden their hearts with Gluttonie and surfetting and carefulnesse of this life If they haue not digged and hid their Talent in the ground doing no good therewith but haue been faithfull to occupie thy giftes to thy glorie and here washed their garments in thy blood by heartie repentance then shall the Angels gather them together not as the wicked which shall be collected as Faggoctes and cast into thy fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy Barne then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the Cloudes then shal their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortalitte and glorie then shall they be with thee and goe whither thou goest Then shall they heare Come ye blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning Then shall they be set on Seates of Maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in al with them and to them then shall they enter and inherite heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious restfull land of Canaan where it is alwayes day and neuer night where is no maner of weeping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenesse enuie malice nor sinne but all wayes ioye without sorrow mirth without measure pleasure without paine heauenly harmonie most pleasant melodie saying and singing Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man that they shall then inherite and most surely inio although here they be tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world where through they are inforced to crye Thy kingdome come Lord Iesus c. How amiable are thy Tabernacles Like as the Hart desireth the water brookes c. Now let thy Seruants departe in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ we mourne to our selues wating for the deliuerance of our bodies c. O gracious Lord when shall I finde such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the fruition of those he auenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all them that feare thee and to rest with thee for euer more A prayer concerning life euerlasting the place vvhere it is and the incomparable ioyes thereof THat there is an euerlasting life none will denie but such as will denie God For if he be true and iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Matth. 25.1 Cor. 16. Hebr. 4.11 and 13.1 Peter 1. it plainly appeareth and els where in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting life is to deny God to deny Christ and all that euer he did also to denie all duetie and religion to condemne of foolishnesse all good men Martyrs Confessours Euangelists Prophets Patriarkes Finally the denyal of eternal life is nothing els but a denyall of the immortalitie of the Soule and so a playne making of man nothing better then beasts If it so be let vs then cate and drinke for to morrowe we shall dye Lord preserue vs from the saduciall and Epicuriall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly perswaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse with
thee for them that put their trust in thee amongst whom account me for thy mercies sake Againe this eternall life and the place appoynted for them that be thy seruants all men doe graunt to be with thee because thou art euery where therefore eternall life is euery where For they by thy word doe knowe that in almuch as no man can see thee and liue this eternall life and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world whereunto by corporall death they dodepart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwellest in a light whereunto no man can approach Abrahams bosome they reade was aboue as the place of the wicked was alowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into Heauen and thy Sonne our deare Sauiour prayed that where he is those also might be which thou haddest giuen him and might see his glorie Now here deare Fatehr we learne by thy ppirit was ascended and taken vp in his very bodie into heauen whether Stephen looking vp and saw thy Christ standing on thy right hand to whom he prayed Oh Lord Iesus receiue my spirite Graunt I beseech thee gracious God and Father that I may haue a cleane heart more and more to see thee and so in spirit to see and looke often vpon this place whither bring me at the length in bodie also I humbly pray thee Now what a thing this euerlasting life is no man is able to conceiue much lesse able to vtter For the peace of God which is eternall life passeth all vnderstanding The eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither can mans heart conceiue those things which thou deare God hast prepared for them that loue thee Whatsoeuer therefore can be spoken or imagined of the kingdome of the clearnesse ioy and felicitie of the same is nothing in comparison as we may see by the Prophets which because they could not otherwise vnder corporall things haue shadowed the same so that the confidence of eternall life what a thing it is can in no wise be tolde Howbeit somewhat we may be brought into some sight of it by earthly things to thinke on this sort If God hath giuen heere so many things in a strange place how many are the great good things that be at home If in a prison are so many mercies how many are they in the Palace If the wicked haue so many benefites what is the siore prepared for thy seruants Oh Lord If thy Children finde such comforts in the day of teares and mourning what shall they finde in the day of the Marriage If which beastes men being haue the vse of innumerable blessings Oh how many are the blessings which they shall enioy with thy Angels and with thee thy selfe O deare God when they shall see thee and haue the fruition of thee in whom is fulnesse without lothing of all good and faire things so that nothing can be more desired and that for euermore This thy children doe not see as they now beleeue it I say that euen in their bodies they shall see it for euer as Iob said They beleeue that they shall see thee and their owne eyes behold thee when these our corporall eyes our bodies being raysed shall doe their duties Such a knowledge of thee they beleeue to haue as shall not be onely intellectuall and by faith as now it is but euen a full sight and fruition yea a coniunction and fellowship with thee Now they see but in a glasse euen in a darke speaking but then they shall see face to face For faith though it be the substance of things hoped for and a certaine darke sight of thee yet it may not be compared to the reward of faith and glorious sight which we shall see in the life to come when faith and hope shall cease Now thy children knowe that they be thy Sonnes though it yet appeare not what they shal be We know say they that when our Christ God and man shall appeare then shall we be like vnto him for we shall see him euen as he is Oh great prerogatiue to see Christ is he is Which is not to be considered so much for the manhood as for the godhead it selfe as Paule doth also write that when all things are subiect vnto the sonne then shall he be subiect vnto thee deare Father also so that God may be all in all And therefore Christ our Sauiour prayed for vs that we might knowe thee the only true God not that our Christ thy Sonne is not with thee the true coequall and substantiall God but that we might knowe how that after the iudgement such a mysterie of his mediatorship shall not be in heauen as it is now in earth Then thou blessed Trinitie God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost shall be all in all thou shalt be the ende of our desires thou shalt be looked vpon with out ende thou shalt be loued without loathing thou shalt be praised without wearinesse Although lothsomnes be wont to followe fulnesse yet our fulnesse in the contemplation of thy pleasures shall bring with it now kynd at all of lothsomnesse Societie of ioyes shall be in the beholding of thee Pleasures are on thy right hand for euer We shal be satisfted when we arise after thine Image I meane in the resurrection Oh deare father show thy selfe vnto vs and we aske no more Oh graunt vs with thy Saints in euerlasting life to praise with perpetuall praises thy holy name Happie then and happie againe were we if that day were come that we might sing with thy Angels Elders and innumerable thousands a newe song and say thou Christ Iesus which wast staine art worthie to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glorie and blessing In this blessed life all kind of maladies griefes sorrowes and euils be sarre away and all full of all kind of myrth ioy and pleasure Oh that we might see now a little with Saiut Iohn that holy Citie nowe Ierusalem descending from Heauan prepared of God as a Bride trimmed for her husband Oh that we might now something heare the great voyce speaking out of the throne behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be vnto them their God he wil wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor weeping nor crying nor sorrowe for the former things are gone A prayer of death and the commoditie it bringeth WHat other thing do wee daylie in this present life then heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse So that this day is worse alwayes then yesterday by increasing of dayes so sinnes and therefore thy indignation good Lord against vs but when we shall be let goe out of the prison of this bodie and so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation