instrument of my eternal Happiness that from this temporal Commemoration I may rise to the blessed Vision of my sweet Redeemer I am now almost in the Suburbs of Death grant that it may be in order to my entrance into the heavenly Jerusalem 't is not long before I shall try the Grand Experiment for now my Pulse beats about threescore and much further the strength of man cannot go Therefore I desire to settle the affairs of my Soul before I go hence and be no more seen I cannot tell whither I shall have another opportunity to partake of thy holy Table Therefore let this present participation of the holy Sacrament be a Seal and Testimony for the Remission of my Sins Though I have not long to live yet I will enter into covenant with my Soul to serve and obey thee to love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my strength for the Righteousness of thy Testimonies is everlasting give me understanding and I shall live O thou who art the appointed Heir of all things the express Image of thy Fathers Person let thy Grace comfort and refresh me who hunger and thirst after eternal life let my Soul never faint in the Courts of the Lord as long as my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Let Satan never find an opportunity to tempt and ensnare my Soul may I ever be diligent to prevent a surprize and abstain from transgressions lest my portion be among sad and accursed Souls As for me I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me Evening and Morning and at noon day will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice he hath delivered my Soul in peace from the Battel that was against me therefore I will put my trust in him for ever I confess I have omitted much good and am guilty of many Offences of Ignorance Infirmity and Knowledge therefore thy pardon I still beg and assistance of thy Grace that I may bring forth fruits worthy of Repentance Make thy Church happy in a Moses and Aaron in Nursing Fathers to go in and out before thy people and holy Ministers to stand before thee our God Preserve them from the malice of their Enemies and the strivings of the people let their lips preserve knowledge that we may seek the Law at their mouth Spare thy people bless them in their Souls Bodies and Estates that this Nation may be at length as great an instance of thy mercy as it has been of thy wrath and fury Every one of us more or less has contributed to the vast heap of crying sins yet seeing thou hast graciously afforded us a space for repentance and suspended the dreadful execution let our sorrow procure the continuance of thy Favours that Peace and Plenty may be within our Borders and no Invasion in the Land I thank thee O merciful Father for the freedom of thy Gospel the food of the Word the sweet refreshings of thy Sacraments publick Communions in thy Church and for all the benefits which are enjoyed by the society of Saints and good men Pitty all those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of Death who are not acquainted with thy Name or knowing it are nevertheless carried away by strong delusions into the ways of errour and mischief Bless all the sons and daughters of affliction strengthen them in the hour of tryal that neither the love of this world nor the loss of light neither the fear of death nor the terrors of Hell may make them unwilling to depart this life And now at length I humbly desire thee to give me wisdom to order my life aright from henceforth that I may be wary and circumspect in all my actions a careful and an understanding Hearer of thy Word a constant frequenter of thy Courts sober and temperate exercising my self unto all godliness that my whole Spirit Soul and Body may be kept blameless unto the end Plant in my Soul a deep detestation of all evil that when I see my sins I may also behold my Redeemer Bless this Religious Society the pious and aged Brethren that Peace and Love may endear and unite us all together that we may faithfully communicate heavenly things one to another temper our minds with submission and reverence that we may honour our Governours and pay our just duty to all our Superiours and no way carry our selves insolently to our Inferiours O Father Son and Holy Ghost the Blessed Three in One the All in All accept of these and all my hearty Prayers through Jesus Christ my God and Saviour Amen In the time of Sickness O Thou determiner of my days in whose hands are the Issues of Life and Death behold and pity thy aged and sinful Servant diseased in body and distressed in mind turn thy face unto me send down thine aid to comfort me for I am in pain desolate and poor Speak peace unto my Soul and say thou art my Salvation O dearest Jesus the brightness of thy Fathers Glory dispel these Clouds of Darkness and Despair thou who art the Souls Physician arise with healing under thy wings and shew thy skill in my weakness If it be thy Will and uncontroulable Decree by this thy Chastisement to finish my days draw near to my humble and afflicted Soul support it by thy strength in this day of Trial as I have alwaies endeavoured to live so let me now dye the death of the Righteous diminish the fears of death by the hopes of a blessed life hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble hold not thy peace at my tears now my Soul cleaveth unto the dust but let the last Minute be the best of all my life Many days have I enjoyed the Comforts of Life in this quiet and Religious Sanctuary and all I ascribe to thy particular mercy and gracious instances of Providence But now my spirits faint my eyes wax dim my hands shake and the pillars of my house tremble now I find the time of my dissolution approaches by the regular Course of Nature therefore what is my Hope O Lord truly my hope and affiance is even in Thee O Lord my heart is smitten down and wither'd like Grass so that I forget to eat bread there is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure and no rest in my bones by reason of my sin Therefore dear Saviour pardon me forgive me all my sins comfort me in this day of sorrow ease my pains and satisfie my doubts strengthen my hopes and relieve my Soul Thou who are the First-born from the dead the appointed Heir of all things uphold my faint and trembling Soul in the conflict and agony of death that I may utter nothing displeasing to thee O God and give me assurance that my portion shall never be among hopeless and accursed Souls in the Regions of Torment and Despair Welcome blessed Hour the period of my Pilgrimage the term of my
honourably chosen Philosophy Professour of the University of Paris Not long after chancing to be present at the Funeral Solemnities of one of his dear Friends a Man as far as mortal eye could discern of a fair and untainted reputation On a suddain whilst they were celebrating the Office for the Dead and were come to that part of it Responde mihi the Corps began to move and raise it self upon the Bier and was heard at several distances of time to utter these lamentable words I am arraigned at the Bar of God's Justice my final Sentence is already past And I am condemned to Eternal Torments 'T is easie to imagine what a great Consternation this unexpected Revelation wrought in the minds of the People but especially it troubled his familiar and learned Friend Bruno who could not but be surpriz'd with grief and melancholy thinks he if so vertuous and religious a man can perish and be for ever undone what must become of me If my loving and faithful Companion who was eminent for Justice and Piety if so fair a complexion'd Soul scarcely can be saved where shall I who am unrighteous appear If the unwelcom sight of one damned Person so much disturbs all men who behold him if one single instance of God's vindictive Justice create so much confusion in our Spirits then how painful will be the torments of the lowest Hell where crowds and throngs where an innumerable company of despairing Souls lye panting under the heavy load of sin and do in vain eccho forth one anothers fruitless Lamentation If the condemnation of another so much concerns and ruffles my discomposed mind then what a storm must I expect when my tryal does approach and punishment lyeth at my own door After this or the like conflict with himself Bruno resolves to alter the frame and course of his life and to that end prevails with six more Spectators to joyn with him by name Laudvinus two Stephens Hugo who was also their Chaplain and two Laicks Andrew and Garinus These seven religiously determined to retire from the World to absent themselves from the noise and hurry of business and tumult and to seek some convenient place where they might spend the remainder of their days in Exercises of Piety and Devotion in Corporal Austerities and in a severe and mortified course of Life After some travel they came into the Diocess of Grenoble to a place called Carthuse in the Mountainous parts of a vast Wilderness whereof they obtaining an assignation by the consent of the Bishop they erected a Monastery The following Poem was written in Old time by one of their Order which I here insert for the satisfaction of the Curious Miraculum quod Instituto huic initium praebuisse dicitur à quodam Monacho ità describitur SIste viator hos oculis percurrito versus Mira leges cuivis exhorrescenda salutis Cui sit cura suae Historiâ testata fideli Fo rs vitae his ratio melior sumetur agendae Anno octogeno supra mille atque secundo Parisâ—is Doctor pietatis nomine clarus Doctrinaeque simul moritur mox funus honore Justo quo fieret quisquis celebratior urbe Tota erat huc adiit intentis omnibus unà Funebri officio defunctus vertice paulum Sublato è feretro clarâ tristique profatur Voce Dei justo sum Judicio accusatus Obstupuere animis oculisque atque auribus omnes Quippe ad inauditum tamque admirabile monstrum Proin statuunt corpus tumulandum luce sequenti Quâ multò affluxit populus numer osior ortâ Sollicita attoniti nimirum corda tremore Rursum effertur humo condendus mortuus Ecce Erecto est sursum capite haec in verba loquutus Justa Dei de me dudum Sententia lata est Jam magis atque magis cunctis horrescere mentes Corda pavere magis novitatis nescia mirae Alterum usque diem conservandum esse cadaver Consultò placuit populus quo consluit omnis Indocti docti juvenesque senesque puellae Matronaeque graves meritò rumore stupendo Exciti officium jam Funebre tertiò adornant Stant cuncti arrectique comas artusque trementes Cum propè putre caput jam attollitur altius atque Flebiliter tremula prorupit voce suprùmum Justo judicio Christi sum condemnatus Demum inopina viri tam docti tamque probati Damnati cunctos valdè sententia terret Incertos quid agant desperantesque remittit Nennullos multa aiunt Judicium Dei abyssus Bruno vir eximius Doctrina Religione Consternatus eo qui omni admirabilis Urbi Extiterat vivus qui se quisque alter Olympo Esse videbatur dignanduc judice Christo Damnato rationem aliam disquirere vitae Festinat comites alii sex se associarunt Deserit extemplo populumque Urbemque frequentem Post ad Eremitae casulam devenit ab illo Judicii horrorem aeterni quì evadere possit Scitatur mox is respondet verba Prophetae Ecce elongavi fugiens loca sola habitavi Omnes unus amor statim succendit Olympi Itur ad Hugonem qui erat inter Episcopus omnes Unus amore Dei flagrans populique salutis Commissi cura noctésque diésque fatigans Quid veniant paucis exponunt ordine verbis Secessum votis orant ardentibus aptum Multa Dioecesi illius loca inhospita nôrant Desertósque vacare foris habitacula montes Audit vota lubens facilÃsque precantibus ultro Unà abit in montem cui adhuc Carthusia nomen Viderat is siquidem pridem per somnia Christum Aedificare sibi pergratam his montibus aedem Seque hùc Steliarum septem splendente ducatu Accersi proin hic communi protinus aere Tecta viâ—is Templúmque Deo properata locantur Hic bonus Hugo à Deo versatur saepe libénsque Ut crebrò officii monitus discedere nolens Invitus sanâ— Brunonâ— urgente relictas Cogatur pasturus oves ita Sancta placebat Consuetudo hominum superis devota seorsum Jure ergo Duos parili celebramus honore Ut Carthusiaci veneranda exordia coetus Qui dedit hos versus saltem hoc mercedis habeto Lector uti dicas pia mens in pace quiescat CHAP. II. Of the Rules and Constitution of the Order AS soon as ever these seven Pilgrims were entred into the City Hugh the Bishop dreams that he saw seven Stars fallen at his feet which afterwards climbed over divers Mountains and then stood still in a certain horrid and obscure place At this time it was that they happily arrived at his Palace and obtaining leave to confer with him they discover the intentions of their journey and humbly desire the Directions of so great and good a man for the prosecution of their designs About the distance of ten miles from the City of Grenoble arises a certain high Mountain in a wild manner encompass't with Woods and Thickets which is called Carthuse from whence this Order takes its name as another does from
obtain when time shall be swallowed up in Eternity when Faith shall be turn'd into Vision bare hopes into actual Enjoyment O Lord hear and graciously accept of these my Prayers through Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Preparatory Prayer before the Sacrament O Thou Searcher of hearts who knowest the secrets and most silent passages of the mind assist me in the survey and examination of my Soul that I may draw up a true Inventory of all the furniture of sin which is lodged in my breast I dare not approach thy Table before I have entred into my self and laid open all my sins and iniquities before thee which I have been contracting so long that I am become an aged sinner I have no other Sanctuary to repair to but thy mercy therefore O Lord pardon the sins of my whole life and pity the Infirmities of age and though I am of small esteem and no reputation among men though this trembling and wither'd Body of mine is become unwelcome to the eye of the World yet grant that thy holy Spirit would vouchsafe to dwell in this Ancient Temple that I may daily magnifie thy holy Name I dare not presume to draw near thy Table without making my addresses to the Throne of Grace for he that confesses his sins shall obtain a covering for them O Lord cleanse my hands and purifie my heart and make me conformable to thy Will and thy Image that I may not pollute thy heavenly food nor prophane the most blessed body and blood of my dearest Saviour To this end sanctifie my body and soul that no unclean thing may come out of my mouth that I may detest and abhor covetousness lying and injurious dealing all cursing blasphemy and unreasonable anger that I may be chaste virtuous meek and religious that I never offer to put that heavenly Food into a mouth used to gluttony and drunkenness to falsifying the truth and speaking evil of my Brethren for this will be to make no difference yea to prophane the Lord's Body Teach me to put off the Old man and repair the breaches of my decay'd Nature prosper and direct my present purposes of communicating at thy Table that I may prove a true Disciple and know my Lord in breaking of bread This is the commemoration of my Saviours death may it prove instrumental to my eternal life strike an aw and reverence in my heart because of thy Presence and in consideration that it is thy holy Ordinance My soul mourns when I consider at what a great distance my sins have set me from thee but yet now I begin to revive and wax glad because of thy faithful promise of re-union O how I hunger and thirst for thy saving health to be united to that sacred Body whose Head is Christ Give me Faith to believe in him who by Faith and new Obedience is made mine Make me a welcome Guest at thy holy Table that all the days of my life I may bear a good Conscience both towards God and towards Man which will be a continual Feast O Lord this is a Feast of Love therefore expel out of my mind all disorderly and uncharitable thoughts that I may lovingly embrace all my aged Brethren who are fed within the walls of this Religious House that I may extend it to all men even my enemies and forgive the whole world for thou didst the same thing to us who were at variance with thy holiness and purity For he that comes to thy Table with the barbarous thoughts of Revenge does certainly crucifie his Saviour afresh If my Lord and Saviour descended from his glorious Palace in Heaven was so humble as to take our Nature upon him endured the contradiction of sinners and at last laid down his life for my sake truly I am ashamed to think that I should scruple acts of kindness and civility Instances of love and charity to those who are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh for so thy Prophet tells me by advising me not to turn away my face from my own flesh Seeing my God was made a Sacrifice for me what can I do less than make my solemn vows in the House of the Lord to serve him faithfully all the days of my life than to thank him for the pledges of his love and the seals of his Favour that while I carry about with me this frail and shattered body I may fit my self for the glorious Mansions above where there will be an Eternal Communion of Saints Who can tell how oft he offendeth therefore O Lord cleanse me from my secret faults Cast me not away in the time of my old age and forsake me not when my strength faileth me enable me to get the mastery of sin that I may perform holy duties with more ease and satisfaction and that I may have sweeter fellowship with thy Spirit I am eternally bound to thank thee for thy gracious instances of Providence in my own behalf that when I was a slave to sin and punishment thou gavest thy Son for a Ransom didst send thy holy Spirit for a pledge and comforter thy Word for a Guide and hast prepared a Kingdom for my inheritance I am now going about to renew thy Covenant to beg pardon for my failure in any of the conditions that I may not forfeit my right to Eternal Happiness Accept of my Prayers and Vows my imperfect offers of Duty and Obedience for the sake of the Son of thy Love the Holy Jesus my Mediator and Redeemer the Saviour of Mankind Grant that I may be a worthy Receiver that this holy action prescribed us by the great Attonement may prove efficacious and add to the life and refreshment of my Soul through Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer after the Receiving the holy Communion O Dearest Jesu the Head of the Church the Beginning and First-born from the Dead thou who gavest thy self a Sacrifice and Propitiation for my sins accept of my hearty Prayers and receive my Thanksgiving thou who upholdest all things by the word of thy Power sustain my weak and aged body thou who art the brightness of thy Fathers glory purifie and refine my Soul that it be not sullied with the filthiness of sin I humbly thank thee for the greatness of thy love in humbling thy self to the death of the Cross for thy institution of this Blessed Sacrament for thy gracious invitation to this holy Table and lastly for the unspeakable comfort and refreshment of my Soul Possess my Soul with a mighty sense of thy great goodness that I may declare to the sons of men the wonderful works that the Lord hath done unto me Let me clearly perceive the manifestation of thy wisdom and love who to inform and instruct my weakness are pleased by these Elements of Bread and Wine to figure out unto me the Body and Blood of my dearest Saviour may the Shadow lead me to the Substance and this Seal of thy gracious Covenant be an
Obijt Decemb. 12o. 1611 Aetati s Suae 79. Thomas Sutton Deo Dante Dedit F.H. Van Houe Sculp Domus Carthusiana OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST NOBLE FOUNDATION OF THE CHARTER-HOVSE NEAR Smithfield in LONDON BOTH Before and since the REFORMATION WITH THE Life and Death of Thomas Sutton Esq the FOVNDER thereof And his last WILL and TESTAMENT To which are Added several Prayers fitted for the Private Devotions and Particular Occasions of the Ancient Gentlemen c. By SAMVEL HERNE Fellow of Clare-Hall in CAMBRIDGE Bona Fama est propria Possessio Defunctorum LONDON Printed by T.R. for Richard Marriott and Henry Brome at the Gun in St. Paul's Church-yard the West end MDCLXXVII IMPRIMATUR Antonius Saunders Reverendissimo Archi-Episcopo Cantuariensi à Sacris Domesticis TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER in GOD GILBERT Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Grace c. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE RIGHT REVEREND AND MOST WORTHY GOVERNOURS OF THE Charter-House May it please your Lordships AS your Honours bear a particular Relation to that Goodly and Noble Foundation whereof I design to give an Account I had been unjust if I had deprived your Lordships of the Patronage of That which is confirmed unto you by a Royal Hand for which you have his Majesties Letters Patent Therefore in your most Noble Breasts is justly lodged the Right and Management of this glorious and weighty Benefaction and the Trust is so judiciously seated that all Wise men conclude our Generous Founder added more Glory to the Reformed Religion by choosing such Honourable Patrons than ever he could expect from the single Instance of his own Bounty and so he is become a double Benefactor I find since the first Foundation a considerable accession of Revenues added by the care and diligence of your Lordships Wisdom as also a numerous Train of Excellent Orders made for the better Government and Regulation of the Members therein contained After all this I could not satisfie my self why all these Great and Magnificent Actions should lye dormant and be buried within the narrow bounds of this Religious House and not appear to the World in their full Beauty and Proportion Nor could I render any tolerable Account of this long continued Silence unless your Lordships labour to be as Eminent for Humility and a generous Contempt of Glory as you have approved your selves for Fidelity and Conduct Upon this Account I am bound to beg your Honours Pardon seeing I not only begin this way to Trespass but also add another Crime by presuming to undertake a Labour so much above my feeble Strength and Capacity However I am resolved in some measure to have a regard to my Duty as well as I can and recommend that to Posterity which it would be a Sin to conceal For I must needs declare I could do no less than pay this humble Acknowledgment to the lasting Glory of our Founder the deserved Honour of your Lordships and the Memory I owe to that Place wherein I had the Happiness to be Educated How often has the warm Influence of your Religious Cares visited these Walls of Retirement and refreshed the fainting Spirits of the poor Inhabitants This cannot but make you the happy Returns of Joy and Glory hereafter For the Interrogations at the last Day will relate to those Duties which now are the kind Purposes and constant Entertainment of your Souls That Heaven would graciously bestow on your Lordships a long Life and a continued Happiness with all the Blessings of this and the endless Joys of that World to come is the hearty Prayer of Your Honours most humble and most faithful Servant Samuel Herne THE PREFACE I Serve no other ends in piecing together these few Collections than to give an honest Instance of my Duty and Thankfulness for wherever any Obligation lies upon a man common honesty leads him to endeavour to pay the Debt Now seeing it is impossible for me according to my small Talent to discharge the Total Sum I am resolved as much as in me lies to make this publick Acknowledgment viz. to be just and thankful For the Apostle makes Ingratitude the Compendium of all Impiety 2 Tim. 3.2 in these two words unthankful unholy Thus you see the plain reason why I bestow my thoughts upon the Memory of this Great man to whom I and many others owe all we can express not that I reflect upon the silence of any man who for ought I know may in his private Closet give more substantial Testimonials of his Thankfulness than I can by this faint endeavour in a publick way besides though in general all men who receive favours are bound to be thankful yet I am apt to think every single man has as much right to choose the way of expressing his Thanks as he has a propriety to his Complexion and Fortunes In digging up the Foundations of Ancient and Religious Houses 't is usual to find Vrns and old Reliques of Men and Times sometimes the uncorrupted Carkass of a great and celebrated Person These and the like Curiosities are thought worthy to be exposed to common view if so this I hope may in part excuse my present Attempt For occasionally searching in the Dust and Foundation of the present Charter-house now and then I could not but meet with a Leg or an Arm some strokes of the Ancient Model some few fragments of the old Foundation But at last I met with the Original Grants and Charters for this Carthusian Monastery in the most elaborate Works of that Excellent Antiquary of our Age Mr. Dugdale Why therefore should I be so rude as not to take notice of Sir Walter de Manny whose Memory the very worms dare not assault Brit. p. 117. Says Cambden Fuerant Regnante Hen. 8. fas sit meminisse avitae pietatis monumenta c. Ille autem quasi Torrens rupto aggere irruit Orbe stupente Anglia ingemente omnia funditus prostravit p. 311. Latifundia sibi arripuit quae piissimo instituto ad Dei gloriam consecrata in Sacerdotum Eleemosynis Pauperum refectione captivorum Redemptione Ecclesiarum reparationibus per Ecclesiae scita expendenda c. I know an Attempt of this Nature is an Imployment far beneath men of singular Parts and high Atchievements yet in the advancement of Knowledge some body must moyl and drudge some Persons must clear and labour in the Foundation who though they seem buried alive and make no flourishes above ground yet they prove full as useful and beneficial to mankind Thus men awake Antiquity by searching into Dormitories and places of long repose thus they bring Mortar and unpolisht stone to be made smooth by a more curious hand to be placed in order by the skâ—ll of the Great Surveyer Much of the same nature I conceive these lose and rude Collections to be and that they would puzzle the skill of another Inigo to bring them into shape and figure That which some Historians complain of is my comfort
Element yields Gold The Savage Indian gets it the Servile Apprentice works it the very Midianitish Camel may wear it the miserable worldling admires it the covetous Jew swallows it the unthrifty Ruffian spends it what are all these the better for it only good use gives praise to Earthly Possessions hearing therefore you owe more to God that he hath given you an heart to do good a will to be as rich in good Works as great in Riches to be a Friend to this Mammon is to be an enemy to God but to make Friends with it is Royal and Christian His Enemies may be wealthy none but his Friends can either be good or do good Da accâ—pe saith the Wise man The Christian who must imitate the high pattern of his Creator knows his best Riches to be Bounty God who hath all gives all reserves nothing and for himself he well considers that God hath not made him an owner but a servant and a servant of servants not of his goods but of the giver Not a Treasurer but a Steward whose praise is more to have laid out well than to have received much The greatest gain therefore that he affects is an even reckoning a clear discharge which since it is obtained by disposing not by keeping he counts reservation loss and just expence his trade and joy He knows that well done faithful Servant is a thousand times more sweet a Note than Soul take thine ease for that is the voice of the Master recompensing this of the servant presuming and what follows to the one but his Master's joy and what to the other but the loss of his Soul Blessed be that God which hath given you an heart to fore-think this and in this dry and dead Age a will to honour him with his own and to credit his Gospel with your Beneficence Lo we are upbraided with barrenness your name hath been publickly opposed to these challenges as in whom it shall be seen that the truth hath friends that can give I neither distrust nor perswade you whose Resolutions are happily fixed on purposes of good only give me leave to hasten your pace a little and to excite your Christian forwardness to begin speedily what you have long and constantly vowed You would not but do good why not now I speak boldly the more speed the more comfort neither are the times in our disposal nor our selves If God had set us a Day and made our Wealth inseparable there were no danger in delaying now our uncertainty either must quicken us or may deceive us How many have meant well and done nothing and lost the Crown with lingring whose destinies have prevented their desires and have their good motions the wards of their Executors not without miserable success to whom that they would have done good is not so great a praise as it is dishonour that they might have done it then Wrecks are our Warnings we are equally mortal equally fickle Why have you this respite of living but to prevent the Imperious necessity of Death It is a woful and remediless complaint the end of our days hath overrun the beginning of our good Works Early beneficence hath no danger many joys for the conscience of good done the Prayers and Blessings of the Relieved and the Gratulations of Saints are as so many perpetual Comforters which can make our life pleasant and our death happy our evil days good our good better all these are but lost with delay few and cold are the Prayers for him that may give and in lieu our good purposes foreslow'd are become our tormentors upon our Death-bed little difference is betwixt good deferr'd and evil done good was meant who hindred it will our Conscience say There was time enough means enough need enough what hinder'd did fear of envy distrust of want alas what Buggs are these to fright men from Heaven as if the envy of keeping were less than bestowing as if God were not as good a Debtor as a Giver He that gives to the Poor lends to the Lord says Solomon If he freely give us what we may lend and grace to give will he not much more pay us what we have lent and give us because we have given that is his bounty this is his justice O happy is the man that may be a Creditor to his Maker Heaven and Earth shall empty before he want a Royal Payment if we dare not trust God while we live how dare we trust men when we are dead Men that are still deceitful and light upon the Balance light of truth and heavy of self-love how many Executors have proved the Executioners of honest Wills how many have our eyes seen that after most careful choice of Trusty Guardians have had their Children and Goods so disposed as if the Parents Soul could return to see it I doubt whether it would be happy How rare is that man who prefers not himself to his dead Friend profit to truth who will take no advantage of the Impossibility of the account Whatever therefore men either shew or promise happy is that man that may be his own Auditor Supervisor Executor as you love God and your Self be not aefraid of being happy too soon I am not worthy to give so bold advice let the Wiseman Syrach speak for me Do good before thou dye and according to thine ability stretch out thine hand and give defraud not thy self of thy good day and let not the Portion of thy good desires pass over thee Shalt thou not leave thy travels to another and thy labours to them that will divide thy Heritage Or let a wiser than he speak viz. Solomon Say not to morrow I will give if thou now have it for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth It hath been an old Rule of Liberality He gives twice who gives quickly whereas slow benefits argue uncheerfulness and lose their worth who lingers his receipts is condemned as unthrifty he who knoweth both saith It is better to give than to receive If we are of the same spirit why are we hasly in the worst and slack in the better Suffer you your self therefore Good Sir for God's sake for the Gospel's sake for the Church's sake for your Soul's sake to be stirred up by these poor lines to a resolute and speedy performing of your worthy intentions And take this as a loving Invitation sent from Heaven by an unworthy Messenger you cannot deliberate long of fit Objects for your Beneficence except it be more for multitude than want the Streets yea the World is full How doth Lazarus lye at every door how many Sons of the Prophets in their meanly provided Colledges may say not mors in ollâ but fames how many Churches may justly plead that which our Saviour bad his Disciples The Lord hath need and if this infinite store hath made your choice doubtful how easie were it to shew you wherein you might oblige the whole Church of God to you and make
Bondage the end of my Care and the Haven of my Hopes now I am to take my flight to the place from whence I shall never more return now I am to enter into the loving Embraces of my Lord and Saviour O thou Father of Comforts how do I love to hear of thy mercy and the joys of Heaven O how dear unto me are the promises of the Living God Suffer me not to be impatient in this day of Visitation but meekly to resign my spirit up into thy Hands and peaceably to pass by the Gates of Death to the Kingdom of Glory Separate my Transgressions O Lord from my Soul or else they will separate me from Heaven Now the Enemy is busie and Satan watches for an advantage secure my apprehension add strength to my faith and pity my Infirmities make all my Friends who stand around my Death-bed sensible of Human frailty by beholding me an object of Mortality just setting out for Eternity O Lord let thy pardon refresh my Soul let thy Spirit guide me safely in the way to the blessed Mansions above If they are at the point of death I have fought a long fight in much weakness I have near finish't my Course though in great faintness and the Crown of my Life is that through the strength of thy Grace I have kept the true faith and now dye in it I thank God for all his blessings the company of my Friends the means of Physick holy Prayers and living and dying in the best established Church in the Christian World I willingly resign my Earthly body to the Dust from whence it came and I earnestly desire to be with God I profess to all the World I know no other Name by which any man can be saved but by the Name of Jesus I renounce all presumption and confidence in my own merits I thankfully acknowledge Gods repeated Blessings and heartily bewail my own sins I repose all my trust in the mercy and promises of God and I forgive all my Enemies as now I beg of God to forgive me Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Soul Amen A Prayer to be said at any time by a young Scholar of the House O Merciful Father the Redeemer and Sanctifier of all thy Children I praise and magnifie thy holy Name because I have received many special and peculiar Blessings at thy hands I thank thee O God that I was born of Christian Parents that I was baptized into the true Faith that my Lot is fallen in this excellent place of Piety and Education and that I have the knowledge and opportunity of making my early approaches to the Throne of Grace Teach me O Lord to remember my Creator in the daies of my Youth to dedicate the Spring and Innocency of my Age to the God of Purity and Perfection I am now soft and tender apt to receive the first Impressions that are laid upon me suffer me therefore not to be led aside by the whispers of sin or the pernicious Examples of a wanton and prophane Age Season the beginnings of my years with thy Grace and Goodness let wisdom teach me the fear of the Lord that I may cheerfully run the way of thy Commandments I am now entring upon the Stage of the World and humbly desire to be led by good Example therefore O blessed Father lead me not into Temptation but deliver me from Evil Curb and restrain the unruliness of my passion rebuke and subdue the rashness and heat of youth train me up in that way wherein thou desirest I should walk Frame in me an humble and submissive mind that I may be willing to be taught and obey to entertain all godly and profitable Instructions Give me understanding to discern my duty grace and wisdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all corrupt Example and Conveâ—â—â—… and to fix my heart upon Obeâ—â—â—… Thanksgiving Here thy wonâ—… 〈◊〉 mercy has placed me to be brought up in thy Fear and praise thy Name therefore I heartily desire to fulfill thy Will that these my fresh and greener years may be consecrated to thy Service before they receive any taint of Corruption from a lewd and infectious Age I bow my Soul before thee earnestly desiring that I may betimes become a Servant of the Living God Teach me to shun the occasions and appearances of sin that I may never be defiled with its Embraces Teach me to avoid the first steps and entrances of Impiety that I may never be so bold as to violate thy Commands Let the apprehensions of a small sin so terrifie and affright my tender Soul that I may alwaies abhor the malignity of gross and filthy sins that I may keep these Evils at a distance and not be entangled in their Snares As I grow up in years let me encrease in Goodness and Learning that I may fully Answer the ends of my Noble Benefactour and be instrumental to the publishing of thy Honour and Glory Now may I justly sing Hosanna seeing thou hast made so many shiftless Babes and Sucklings to rejoyce Plant in me a just and forward Obedience to all my Governours that are set in Authority over me In an especial manner bless my Soveraign Lord King Charles let him be as the First-born and glorious among the Kings of the Earth let thine Hand hold him fast and thine Arm strengthen him Bless him likewise in all his Royal Relations Be gracious to thine Inheritance bless them who watch diligently for our Souls that at the last day they may give a joyful account of them to the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls Arise O God maintain thine own Cause remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily continue unto us the Light of thy Gospel that the Name of the Man of thy Right Hand Christ Jesus may be glorified thy Church enlarged and defended and we all brought up in the true Faith of thy only Son Bless our Noble and Wise Governours our Instructors both in Sacred and Human Learning and sanctifie my heart with humility that I may shew all due Reverence to the several Members of this Religious House whether in Age or Authority placed above me Purge and cleanse my Soul from all the seeds and beginnings of evil root out of my mind all folly and vanity idleness and self-conceit expel all loose and wanton desires all stubborn and contumacious Humours which are apt to breed in younger years that every day I may wax wiser and more holy sensible of thy gracious assistance and the comforts of a chaste and vertuous life O thou Father of Lights it is by thy Providence I am placed here in the School of Instruction and from thy Goodness I crave a blessing upon my endeavours otherwise all my labour and study will be vain and fruitless To thee therefore do I lift up my Soul who art the Fountain of all Knowledge the Original of all Tongues and Languages I humbly desire thee to endue my mind with knowledge and discretion quickness of perception and a tenacious memory that I may be sit for that station which thou art pleased to design me for As I now make my Addresses betimes to thy holy Majesty so grant that the sincerity and fervour of my Soul may continue and encrease that I may be accustomed to Prayer and lifting up holy hands unto thee Pardon all the sins of my youth the errors and miscarriages of my few and imprudent years Bless me with health of body and soundness of mind increase of friends and profitable acquaintance sanctifie the ministry of thy Word unto me that my Soul may rejoyce in thy Salvation Make me able and ready every day to extol thy loving kindness and frequently to meditate upon thy mercy O thou Pittier of all that stand in need of help my Guide and Castle of Defence the great Preserver of Youth as well as Men through Jesus Christ his sake Amen FINIS Errata sic corrigat Lector Benevolus Page 10. line 14. read now p. 21. l. 11. r. dolentèr p. 21. l. 18. r. propagentur p. 38. l. penult r. 500 marks to Jesus Colledge p. 55. l. 6. r. cholick p. 87. l. 14. r. Horse-heath p. 114. l. 16. r. fitting p. 127. l. 12. r. all p. 135. l. 20. r. of age p. 187. l. 10. in the marg r. by How 's p. 191. l. penult r. latter p. 195. l. 9. r. Fryans p. 234. l. 18. r. the Senior p. 237. l. 16. r. shoes p. 238. l. 4. r. for such