should still in our hearts Faith in the promises of grace and life Ioh. 3.16 Mat. 14.30 Strength to withstand our owne corruptions Eph. 6.10 the Diuell and the worlds assaults Patience and dependance on God in the time of triall Luk. 22 57 58 60. Heb. 10.35 36. Conloss 1.11 when tedious and sharpe sicknesse pouerty reproch disobedience of children or seruants domestick vntowardnes vnkindnesse of false-hearted friends pressures of mighty enemies sudden vnexpected dangers imprisonment losse of goods or any other vexation afflicts vs The Spirit of Meeknes and Humility Philip. 2.8 Mat. 11.29 proud and towring minds that are euer climbing Iphes 4.2 euer aspiring after earthly things Wisdome and knowledge in the mysteries of our Redemption Ephes 3.19 Colosi 1.9 Constancie Apoc. 2.10 in forsaking striving against sin Moderation in gouerning the rage of our Passions Ephes 4.26 31. Sobrietie Ephes 5.15 in taming our lusts and affections Watchfulnesse ouer our whole man 1. Pet. 5.8 Care to pray often Coloss 4.2 Thes 5.17 Zeale in Prayer Heb. 5.7 Compassion of others misery Heb. 4.15 Mat. 9.36 Obseruing our continuall slips Psalm 119.59 Meditation in the Law of God Psalm 119.15 Attentiuenesse to the Word preached Mal. 13.23 Serious consideration of the shortnesse of our life 2. Pet. 3.10 11. Iob. 14.1 2 3 4 5. Reu. 21. 22. Esay 30.33 the vanity of all earthly things the glory of Heauen and the terrors of Hell-fire Often and deepe thinking of Christs sufferings and loue towards vs Diligence in marking how God deales Psalm 119.21 and alwayes hath done with his children with the wicked with our selues 1. Sam. 17.34 Psal 105. 106. his boundlesse pitty and mercy to some his seuerity and rigor vpon others his howerly fauours vpon vs and ours Psalm 119.101.102 in keeping vs from haynous and notorious sinnes Bettering vs by our sinnes 2. Cor. 7.11 Helping vs against sinnes 2. Cor. 12.9 Defending vs by his Angles Psal 34.7 Blessing our labours and Families Psalm 147.13 14. Teaching vs to beare the crosse patiently Ioh. 16.33 Helping vs when all meanes faile vs Exod. 14.12 13 27. Thankfulnesse to God for euery blessing Psalm 146.1 2. For verily Iam. 1.26 as S. Iames sayes Hee that seemeth to bee religious and refraineth not his tongue but deceiues his owne heart his religion is but vaine so hee that seems religious and prayeth with his tongue not hauing in his heart a true feeling of his wants hee deceiues himselfe and his prayer is but vaine For the sense of want to prayer is like the spirit to the body Iam. 2.26 The body without the spirit is dead feeles not the chains wherein it 's bound the wounds are made in it the dishonour done to it so is prayer wihout sence of want It shewes not that the soule is aliue groning vnder the Diuels yoke the deepe wounds of sinne but like one that hath drunk much Oppium deadly asleep if not stark dead nay more it 's idle like the Heathēs babbling to no end Mat. 6.7 with many fond hypocriticall Ohs and O Father when it cannot tell what to aske the Father It s vnprofitable neither edifying him that makes it nor those that heare it It 's vnacceptable being the Sacrifice of folly and blasphemous rashly taking the most holy Names of God in vaine Therefore if wee finde not in the act of Praying a quick sense of our wants yet at least let vs haue and be deeply moued with the feeling of the want of feeling what spirituall helps our soules doe need And then in the next place let euery Sinner as hee feeles himselfe either by nature or custome most in clin'd to or tempted with any one sinne zealously strongly pray against it The Atheist against his blind and vnbeleeuing heart that hee may acknowledge Gods power infinitenesse Dan. 4.31 mercie wisdome loue iustice goodnesse prouidence and presence euery where seeing and searching all actions all hearts yea the most secret thoughts of the soule and so learne both to loue and feare him The Idolaters and superstitious Acts 19.18 19. against their sottish and sencelesse worshipping of God in any image or visible forme or in praying to any saue him alone in seeking to or counselling with Sorcerers Witches 2. Chr. 33.12 13. Wise men as they terme them or any such Hellish and forbidden Art that henceforth they may serue him in spirit and truth The blasphemous swearer against his hearts corruptednesse and Hell-fir'd tongue Iam. 5.12 that he may no more either by fearefull soule-tearing othes or by mincing and small slight ones as they are accounted but falsly prophane the sacred Name of God who will not let that sinne scape vnplagued Exod. 20.7 but alwayes striue both with his tongue and heart to blesse God confessing his sinne and crying for pardon and grace to amend The carelesse prophane man Exod. 31.16 17. against his wickednes in contemning Gods Worship Word Sacraments Sabbath Church Prayers publike and priuate that he may learne to esteeme of the knowledge of Christ Philip. 3.7.8 more then all the profits and pleasures of the world Heb. 13.17 and loue and reuerence those that teach it The dissembling Hypocrite that makes a shew of Religion and hath none against his hollow peruerse and deceitfull heart that hee may become a true practiser of holinesse in his life Jam. 1.22 holinesse in his life The Voluptuous and vaine men Col. 3.5 6 7 against their lusts lasciuiousnesse vncleanenesse adulreries vanitie of speech attire company and disports that they may redeeme the time they haue lost whilest they walked in the wayes of their own hearts and so long as they liue study to offer vp their soules and bodies vvith Mary Magdalen penitent sacrifices to God The Gluttonous and Drunkards Ephes 5.18 against their Epicurisme sensualitie insatiable bibbing and offensiue abusing themselues their time the Creatures that they may learne in all sobrietie and temperance to watch vnto prayer and fasting lest the vnclean spirit preuaile against them The Ambitious and high-minded against their Pride and Surquedry that they may learne of Christ to become lowly and meeke in heart Mat. 11.29 and so finde rest for their soules The Couetous Ephes 5.5 against their hard-heartednesse and want of Charitie Faith ans all other graces that sith they are such Psal 10.3 as GOD abhorres them they may bee filled with the bowels of compassion Col. 3.12 to pitie those that want Luke 19.8 and restore againe their ill-gotten goods that GOD in Christ may pitie them and restore them to his fauour The vnmercifull and cruell minded Luke 6.36 against their incredulous dogged churlishnesse that GOD would turne their hearts to become mercifull Jam. 2.13 lest in the end they want mercy The slanderous and
THE COVNTESSE OF MOVNTGOMERIES EVSEBEIA Expressing briefly THE SOVLES PRAYING ROBES By Ro NEVVTON Printed at London by George Purstow for A. G. 1620. TO THAT NOBLE ROOT OF HONOVR AND VERTVE THE LADY MARY COVNTESSE OF PEMBROOKE AND HER ILLVSTRIOVS BRANCHES WILLIAM EARLE OF PEMBROOKE LORD Chamberlaine to his Maiestie PHILIP EARLE OF MOVNTGOMERY WITH THEIR HONOVRABLE LADIES MARY COVNTESSE OF PEMBROOKE SVSAN COVNTESSE OF MOVNTGOMERY AND HER VERTVOVS Honourable Sisters ELIZABETH COVNTESSE OF DARBIE AND BRIDGET LADY NORRIS Right Honourable LEt it not I pray you seem strange that thus I vnite you in this Dedication God him selfe hath gone before mee vniting you in blood affinity and vertues and I hope it 's no offence to follow his example The subiect of this worke is Piety whereto as the world doth witnesse you All to bee adicted deuoting your selues most religiously to God in your owne persons being patternes to others of it so still to keepe burning that fire of Goodnesse kindled in your hearts flaming in your liues by the power of Gods Spirit shed abroad in your soules accept of such helpes as heere you shall finde drawn out of the Scriptures Gods Armorie which if you please to vse you shall finde how potent they are in prosperitie to keepe you in aduersirie to comfort you and in the day of the Lord to crowne you through the mercy of God with Happinesse and Eternity which Blessings with All else wishing to Euery One of you desiring the multiplying of All Graces in you Honour Health Children Life to his Glory Stedfastnesse in the Faith comfort and ioy in the Holy Ghost Patience Wisedome Hope and Perseuerance in All god lines to the end and the quiet Peace of Conscience at your end I humbly rest Euer deuoted to Your Honours in all duties Ro NEVVTON From my House at Gretford in Lincolnshire May. 20. 1620. THE COVNTESSE of Mountgomeries Eusebeia expressing briefly the Soules praying ROBES HOw pleasing and sweet in the sight of our glorious and mercifull God the seruice of Prayer and praise is how comfortable and profitable likewise to man in all estates and times whether of Affliction or Ioy the Scriptures which are the words Records of life the experience of such as God by his Spirit hath sealed vnto life doe most exactly and easily declare In the 50. Psalme God cals Prayer a Sacrifice and sayes Psal 50.23 that whoso offers it vnto him honours him And in the 14. verse layes a command vpon his seruants both to praise him and in the day of trouble to pray vnto him adding a most heauenly sweet promise to heare them Now Sacrifices in the Law were that peculiar worship of God which himselfe to serue him with And they were of two sorts Either Propitiatory to appease God for sinnes committed or duties omitted or Eucharisticall to praise God for blessings receiued In the first was acknowledged mans guiltinesse to God In the other Gods mercy loue to man By both mans obligation to God Such a Sacrifice Prayer is A Propitiatory sacrifice of a heart broken and pownded with sorrow for sinne which through the eternall sacrifice of Christ Heb. 9.28 who offered vp himselfe once a full and absolute Propitiatorie Sacrifice on the Crosse for the sinnes of all that truely repent is made acceptable in the sight of God Psal 51.17 Wherein in the lippes and tongue are the soules Interpreters to let men and Angels know the vnexpressible and vnsearchable grones and sights of Gods Spirit within vs. Psal 71.23 24. For it is not enough to haue the heart smitten thorow and wounded with griefe vnlesse the tongue likewise tell it out to God Psal 32.3 And as it is a Sacrifice Propitiatorie so is it also an Eucharisticall Sacrifice of a heart drawne out like Salomons Curtaines by the mercy of God and lifted vp and filled with the ioy of Heauen the presence of the Spirit of God in the soule making it daunce Psal 28.7 as Dauid speaks for ioy and forcing the tongue to breake out in songs and melodious reioycings for the pardon of sinnes past Psal 57.7 8 9 10 11. for the presence and feeling of celestiall grace for the assurance of Gods mercy for deliuerance from instant dangers and feares for graces and good motions internall as Faith Hope Loue hatred of sinne care to keep a good Conscience watchfulnes specially ouer the eyes tongue and heart for blessings externall as Health Liberty Plenty Peace Riches Honour Children Friends Seruants fearing God a good name long life For his workes of mercy generall and particular on his children our selues our Families for his Iustice iudgements and plagues vpon the wicked The Priests that offer this Sacrifice are not the sonnes of Aaron alone as once it was in the old Law but All the children of God euery-where redeemed by the bloud of Christ and sancrified through the power of his reuiuing grace for hee hath made vs not onely sonnes of God Iohn 1.12 Reu. 1.6 but giuen vs the honour to be Kings and Priests to God to sacrifice and offer through him odours and incense sweetly smelling and delightfull in the nosthrils of his Father yet as Aaron might not offer Exo. 40.13 14. Leu. 10.1 2 but in his sacrificing weedes and nothing but that which God commanded no more must wee either in the Congregation publiquely with the Saints of God where God enioynes vs to render this sacrifice Psal 100.3 Psa 96.8 9. Math. 6.6 Psal 111.1 or in our owne houses or closets priuately where Christ himselfe hath commanded vs to make it doe it so but that he that is in heauen may accept it and wee that are on earth may haue comfort of it That this may be done some things are required and necessary before wee offer some in the very time and instant of our offering some when wee haue offered this sacrifice to God Before it 2. Chro. 11.18 goe three duties like Dauids 3. Worthies breaking thorow the ranges of the Philistines The first is repentance of all our sinnes Psal 66.16 18. for If I regard wickednesse in my heart saith Dauid God will not heare me Because indeed God heares not sinners Ioh. 9.31 that is such as repent not but refuseth their sacrifice as hee did the Iewes Esay 1.11 12 13 14 15 16. because their hands were full of bloud and the incense of Sheba that is the best and most exquisite words that can be Ier. 6.20 because their hearts were stuffed with euil yea the very offerings of the Priests themselues Micah 6.6 7 8. Amos 5.21 22. plainely affirming that he that offered such sacrifice is as he that slayes a man vgly and abominable in his sight Esay 66.2 Therefore the holy men were wont in ancient time to practise Repentance ere they came to pray renting their clothes in signe of sorrow and detestation of sinne as did Ezra Ezra 9.3 5. and Daniel in the
thou must make amends for thou canst not otherwise then by deeds be atoned at him whom by deeds thou hast wronged In vaine is thy Sacrifice of Prayer of Almes when thou offerest that which is wrongfully got And what can it profit thee that others pray for thee and thou all the while prayest against thy selfe The most high regards not the sacrifice of Cain I will conclude this poynt with that saying of S. Chrysostome vpon those words Mat. 6. Forgiue vs our trespasses Wouldst thou haue God to bee no otherwise good to thee but only not to hurt thee and yet turne away his face and cheerefull countenance from thee alwaies setting thy sinnes in his sight alwaies thinking of thine iniquities and not once vouchsafing to looke vpon thee Surely O man thou wouldest not for a world Such therefore as thou wouldst haue God bee to thee when thou prayest for pardon of thy sinnes such must thou be to thine offending brother Lastly for Preparation Since the Church of God is the house of glory Psal 84.1 11. and God in his Church doth shew his glory since the Angels of God 1. Cor. 11.10 which are full of glory attend on thy sacrifice and marke all thy deeds since the powers of Hell bend and their powers then most to hinder thee Mat. 4.1 when thou shouldst pray most publikely priuately by thy selfe with others abroad at home in all places as Saint Paul commands As the Israelites in the Wildernesse at the giuing of the Law were prepared to heare God speake to them Exod. 19.12 and Moses when hee saw the vnburnt burning bush Exod. 3.5 put off his shooes Bee thou when thou commest to speake vnto God prepared so that neither thine Eye may mislead thy Heart nor thy Heart may faile thy Tongue nor thy Tongue either babble with the Pharises long Math. 6.7 and to little purpose or lispe like the Ephramites Iudg. 12.6 speake thy minde imperfectly and vnaptly to God But that the whole man body and soule with a sanctified heauenly reuerence of God in regard of his blessings for which thou must praise him Psal 117. and of his mercies for which thou must pray to him as also of his iudgements for which thou must feare him and of his wisdome for which thou must honour him may bee offered vp together with thy prayses a holy acceptable Sacrifice to God And this is our reasonable seruice of God Now as before our Sacrifice-offering these are the robes more rich and glorious then those of Aaron Exod. 39. wherein our Soules should bee arrayed if when wee come to the Altar of God we would haue our Prayers goe vp like the incense So in the time whilst wee are in offering I find in the Scriptures and the practice of the Saints some other ornáments that must bee vsed as needfull euery one in the time of Prayer as the former be before The first is that euery request wee make to God must proceed from a liuely sence Psal 51. feeling and vnderstanding of the want of that which wee aske for example In the first Petition when wee pray that Gods name may be sanctified that is that in his Word workes mercies iudgements and all the creatures wee may glorifie him except wee see and feele how proud and blinde how hard-hearted and ingratefull wee are to God by nature and also by custome in sinne for his mercies for his creatures for his Word for his Spirit c. wee can neuer pray seriously for humility for the true knowledge of God for zeale for loue for care to please God all which and more are included in this Petition In the second Petition when wee pray and say Thy Kingdome come who can-rightly with feruencie of Spirit request God to renew his soule his heart his will and affections to sanctifie him so that the spirit that raised vp Iesus from the graue may raise him from the graue of sin and reigne and rule in euery part of him making him liue in holinesse and righteousnesse all his life if first hee feele not the bondage and heauy yoke of his sinne and the slauery wherein naturally he is chain'd to Satan being dayly led captiue to all kinde of vice Gold and heartlesse is that request that flowes not from a true touch of want So in the third Thy will bee done except wee feele and that very liuely our owne pronenesse and aptnesse to rebell against Gods lawes our hypocrisie our pride ambition contempt of God his Word and Sacraments our exaction oppression cruelty impatience and murmuring against God because wee cannot haue our owne wills who can rightly desire to learne that of Christ to deny our selues take vp our crosse daily submitting our selues in all things to God indeuouring both to know his will and do it In the fourth likewise who can Pro. 30.8 with Agur pray for contentednes in all estates aswell pouerty as prosperity that first feeles not a want therof through couetousnesse that 's naturally ingrafted in him and diffidence that God will not prouide for him This liuely sense of want was in Anna 1. Sam. 1.10 when in the anguish of her heart shee praied for a child to God in Dauid Psal 51. when he roar'd for the very torture and vexation of heart because he felt not Gods presence and comfort Psal 130.1 as hee was wont In Daniel also Dan. 9. when with that feruencie of zeale he prayed for Ierusalem the Temple the Iewes and himselfe after their long Captiuity in Babylon And this must needs bee in euery one of vs if like Elias wee would haue our prayers to preualie 2. And as there must be a sense of want Psal 55.17 Psal 119.10 so must our requests proceed also from a liuely and feruent desire such a one as was in Moses when hee spake not a word and yet the Lord asked him Exod. 14.15 why hee cryed vnto him when in his heart hee onely called on him The same was in Dauid Psal 143. Psal 42.1.2 As the Hart panteth after the riuers of water so longs my Soule after thee O God My Soule is at hirsts for God euen for the liuing God O when shall I enter into the presence of God Esay 37.16 So in Ezekias that noble King whē with bended knees and teares he stretched out his hands and spread Sennacheribs raylings before God 3. Further that our Sacrifice may not be like Esau's Gen. 27.34 who felt roard and praid when the Birth-right was gone and that with bitternesse for a blessing nor like Ahabs 1. Ki. 21.27 which was feruent but yet hypocriticall euery request wee make to God must proceed of a liuely faith by which wee must haue an assurance to be heard For they that pray must haue an affiance that God in Christ will grant their petitions For this cause Christ tells vs Mark 11.24 that whatsoeuer wee
that euery Petition which Faith puts vp must bee made according to the will of God So Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 5.14 Whatsoeuer wee aske in his Name according to his will we shall receiue Otherwise wee may aske Iam. 4.3 as Saint Iames sayes and not receiue because we aske amisse that is hauing neither commandement so to aske nor promise to receiue And so ask'd the Mother of Zebedees children promotion for her sonnes Mat. 20.23 was repell'd of Christ because she begged shee knew not what And so did Peter in Mount Thabor to build Tabernacles Luke 9.33 Mat. 12.38 And the Iewes to see a signe from Christ Wee therefore that sacrifice and that with faith must from God looke for both a cōmandement to warrant and a promise to fulfill our requests And here wee must obserue two Caueats First that all our requests to God are either for things spirituall or temporall And spirituall things are either absolutely necessarie to saluation as the knowledge of God in Christ the remission of sinnes Faith Hope Loue Humilitie Obedience a good conscience c. or else they are but onely such as are profitable as the vnderstanding of all Scripture all knowledge of Arts Tongues power to worke miracles and such like Those that are of absolute necessitie to saluation wee must aske them simply without condition So did Paul Ephes 1.17 Dauid Stephen and others Those that are but profitable and temporarie as health honour children life c. must alwayes haue a condition annexed Jam. 4.15 If it be for Gods glory If it be agreeable to his will Luke 22.42 Secondly wee must not binde God to any circumstances of time place Psal 130.5 6 7. meanes or otherwise but leaue all free to him and with patience attend his pleasure as Dauid did Psal 40.1 who waited patiently vpon the Lord till hee inclined to him For so God commands vs Psalm 37.3 4 5 6. Tarry thou the Lords leisure and hee will bring it to passe 5. Fiftly as we must pray from a liuely sence of our want with feruent desire and a liuely Faith hauing a warrant from the Word of God not asking things vnlawful Psa 99.5 6 Psal 86.7 8 9 10. Phil. 4.6 Esay 45.5 Ier. 23.24 Deut. 6.13 nor stinting God to any time so this sacrifice must bee offered onely to God sith He alone at all times and in all places is able and can heare All men which neither Angell nor Saints can doe Secondly because Prayer and Inuocation is from Man to God a peculiar part of Gods honour Mat. 4.10 And his honour he hath sworne not to giue to another Psal 97.7 In which respect the Angell refused adoration Reuel 22.9 commanding vs to worship God alone And GOD himselfe by Dauid speaking to all the Nations of the earth bids them trust in Him Psal 62.8 and powre cut their hearts before him And in another Psalme Dauid attributes it for a speciall tythe to God Psal 65.2 Thou that hearest the prayer vnto thee shall all flesh come For which cause that commandement is in the 50. Psalme 15. Call vpon mee not on any creature in the day of calamitie and I will help saith God And sure if the Angels must not bee honoured with this sacrifice of prayer and praise who are glorious spirits and more excellent by Creation and Grace than the Saints and are euer with vs Heb. 1.14 about vs for our good according to that of Dauid Psal 34.7 The Angell of the Lord tarryeth round about them that feare him to deliuer them and that of Christ touching little Infants Mat. 18.10 Their Angels alwayes behold the face of their Father which is in Heauen much lesse must we pray to any of the Saints who are neither so excellent nor so present with vs. Esay 63.16 Abraham knowes vs not saith God by the Prophet and Israel is ignornat of vs. And Saint Paul to the Romanes proues by demonstration Rom. 10.14 that wee must pray onely to God Thus Hee alone in whom wee must beleeue must bee prayed vnto Onely in God wee must beleeue To him onely wee must therefore pray And to whom else did the Fathers Patriarkes and Prophets Adam Seth Henoch Noah Abraham Dauid Daniel Esay Ieremy in the Old Testament Christ himself the Apostles and the Church in the new euer tender this sacrifice of Prayer praise but to the most Highest God Phil. 4.6 the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I haue cryed vnto thee O LORD Psal 130.1 Psal 146.1 Psal 5.1 2 3 7. sayes Dauid and vnto thee will I giue thankes for thou art my God And when Ezechia in his straitnesse and distresse prayed began hee not O Lord of Hosts Esay 37.16 God of Israel which dwellest betweene the Cherubims Could Moses or Abraham or the Angels haue holpen them or had they had any confidence in them they might as well haue prayed vnto them also as to God It is therefore a spirit of errour and delusion that perswades poore ignorants to pray to and trust in Saints And of such spirits we must take heede And if the power of Scripture cannot moue such as are simple to beware heare a little short discourse of Saint Austens which word for word I will set downe out of his Booke of taking care for the Dead the thirteenth Chapter If the soules of the dead could be or were present at or about the affayres of the liuing and speake vnto vs when we dreame in our sleepe wee see them surely my Holy Mother no night would forsake mee who followed mee both by Sea and Land to liue with me For God forbid that by obtaining a happier life shee should now become more vnkinde then she was insomuch as when my heart is vexed and filled vvith sorrow shee will not so much as comfort her aggrieued sonne whom she loued most dearly whom shee neuer could endure willingly to see sad But verily it it as the Psalmist sayes My Father and my Mother haue forsaken mee but the Lord hath taken mee vp If then our Fathers haue left vs how are they present and behold our cares And if our fathers bee not what other dead folkes are there that know what wee doe or what wee suffer And a little after The Spirits of the Dead are in such a place as they doe not see the occurrences things in this life If neither they see vs then nor know not what we doe sure heare vs they cannot and why then should wee pray to them Let Christs answer to the Diuel sticke in our hearts when wee are tempted to pray to them Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him onely thou shalt serue 6. Besides as God onely must haue this Sacrifice Heb. 13.15 so wee must offer it not in our owne but in the name and mediation of Christ Gen. 18. For we are
Instruments Sackbuts Shawmes Organs and Fifes and the burthen of all was Praise the Lord. The blessing whereof redounded to himselfe and his and crown'd him with such both admiration and commendation as hee rests a patterne to the Saints of God of all Pietie and goodnes but specially of thankfulnesse to the worlds end In offering whereof as he had the Spirt of God for his Author to moue and rowze vp his Body Soule so hee wanted not the examples of Noah after the Deluge Gen. 8.21 frō whom God smelt a sauour of rest Of Abraham Gen. 14.20 after his victory got of the 4. Kings Of Moses Exod. 15. after Israels passing thorow the Sea Of Debora and Baruc Iudg. 5. when Sisera and Iabin were ouercome to teach him how after his many deliuerances from Sauls malicious and murtherous persecutions 1. Sam. 21 22 23 24. from Absaloms vnnaturall and Achitophels vnfriendly and trecherous conspiracies 2. Sam. 15.11 12. from Gods sharpe handling himselfe and his people for Vriahs wife and life 2. Sam. 12.10 11. hee should with triumphall songs of acknowledgement blesse God and expresse the vnfained thankfulnesse of his heart for all the good turnes hee had receiued Wherein if wee rightly consider of it wee may soone see how God would by his example tutor vs to let none of all those excellent and rich fauours wherewith hee blesseth Mankinde generally and his children in a far more particular sort to scape either our attentiue contemplation and meditation of them or our serious and true acknowledgement of his loue in returning him the interest which onely hee expects and that is the fruit of our lips confessing his name Hel. 13.15 16. which is our Orall Sacrifice of Praise the fruits of our Faith in doing good and relieuing the Saints which is the Reall Sacrifice of our liues For as it 's true which Saint Paul sayes of Him 2. Cor. 9.7 that hee loues a cheerefull giuer because hee that giues ioyfully shewes his readines to confesse from whom it is that hee hath meanes to giue so is it as true that hee loues as well a thankfull receiuer neither does any thing afflict him so or causeth him vtter such bitter complaints as the ingratitude of such for whom hee does most yet they least of all others regard him Num. 11.10 Exod. 14.11 Exod. 15.24 Exod. 16.3 Psal 106.15 26. Esay 1 2 3 Hosea 4. Let the often murmurings of Israel in the Desart and their often smarting for this very sinne vnder so many so grieuous plagues his oftē vpbraidings of them by his Prophets calling Heauen and Earth to record against them his many fearefull Iudgements powred vpō the heads of vnthankfull men euen Kings themselues dethroning Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4.29.30 striking him with Madnesse and because hee forgate to bee thankfull to God making him forget to bee King or Man 2 Ma◠9.10 wounding that proud and ingratefull Antiochus so sore that hee became loathsome to himselfe and vain-glorious Herod with such a like disease Acts 12.23 causing vile wormes to deuoure him aliue witnesse vnto vs the truth heereof They therefore whom God hath blessed with the fatnesse of the Earth for their dwelling Gen. 27.39 and the dew of Heauen from aboue whose names and families he hath made honourable that their fathers owne sonnes as well as strangers Gen. 42.6 bow downe yeelding reuerence vnto them vpon whom he hath made the Spirit of wisedome counsell to rest Numb 11.25 26. whose loynes hee hath cloathed with health and strength whose hearts hee hath seasoned with immortall grace whose liues hee hath saued from the graue from shame who euery day still haue their portion increased must remember when they come and come they must often to set themselues in the presence of God to giue him most vnfained particular thanks for their honour their health their riches Psalm 144.1 2. their knowledge their faith approuing it selfe by loue their all other heauenly and earthly endowments lest else they be worse then the very Beasts which fed by the hand of some louing Heard Esay 1.3 cease not in their kind to shew themselues thankfull It 's reported of Plato that euery day hee gaue God thankes for three things That hee was borne a Man not a Beast Plutarch in Alcibi That hee was not borne a Barbarian but a Grecian And that hee was then borne when hee might haue Socrates to teach him Pamelius Beat. Rhenanus Saint Chrysostome likewise was wont to praise God for that he had made him a reasonable man perfect in the parts of his body and soule not lame nor blind nor foolish as many be for that hee had made him a Christian man no Pagan nor Iew and for that he had made him a regenerate Christian man and a Bishop among Christians enabling him to teach both himselfe others to liue and doe as our Sauiour taught vs. Yea Mat. 11.25 our Sauiour himselfe in his owne Person as of all other vertues and religious obedience so heerein was pleased to become our patterne Acts 4.24 And the blessed Apostles by their preaching and practice nay the sensible and sencelesse Creatures may moue vs to care and diligence in performance of it Psal 19.1 2. And surely if wee giue but our eies leaue to view or our eares to heare of those infinite exceeding mercies which euery day night are dewed vpon vs like the Manna vpō the Israelites in the desart Exod. 16.14 dropping as Hermon vpon our soules deliuerance frō the bondage of sin and Satan comfort against the feare of eternall death care to liue honestly and religiously in the world hope of a Crowne of glory incorruptible loue of Gods Word and his Saints here in earth and vpon our bodies health strength rayment and food or patience in the time of sicknesse and want On our names children goods preseruation and increase or else in the loss of them confidence and comfort it is not possible but the most inflexible Adamantine heart will melt and be dissolued into a Spring of thankfull and ioyfull teares to consider of the kindnes of our good God Seeing then this is the soules rich attire which makes her more beautifull in the sight of God when and whilest she worships before his footstoole than the glittering starres doe the Heauens in the night let vs in the very instant of praying striue against the dulnesse of our flesh the vnwillingnesse of nature the hardnesse of our hearts and the blindnesse of mind to bee soundly touch'd with the feeling and sence of the want of such things for which wee pray as of the want of Sorrow for our sinnes Psal 32.3 4 5. originall actuall lately or long since done against either God or Man Sence of the decaying of sauing grace in vs Psal 51.12 the comfort whereof we haue 2 Thes 3.3 had and