mayest as soone find it in Hell God is not in that heaven onely seek and solace thy self in the waies of God that 's heaven on earth indeed both a glimpse of the glorie above and a light to find heaven where it is in heaven and from the goods of the world raise up thy thoughts to a better blisse Say if so well on earth how much better in heaven so let it be not thy myrrour of blisse but perspective Not thy chaire but foot-stoole to take a better sight flight to thy Throne so thou shalt at once walke on earth and goe to heaven yea thou shalt divide thy selfe betwixt both Bodie to earth and Soule to heaven And God will in that day blessedly unite what thou dost devoutly divide and keep with him in heaven for ever both Bodie and Soule 2. Meditation see Soliloquie p. Monday-Service Of the Miseries of this World Morning Prayer Psal 120. 129. 137. Lesson Gen. 47. or Job 14. Luk. 21. or Act. 20. Evening Prayer Ps 39. 42. or 84. 102. Lesson Lam. 3. Rom. 7. Then after this following Collect the Daily Prayers ¶ Monday Collect touching the Miseries of Earth O Lord with us is miserie with thee is mercy on earth all ill in heaven all good O for thy mercies sake support me in all my miseries and deliver me from my sins the cause of them all And of thy goodnesse I beseech thee raise up my heart to covet and seek the good of heaven that my hold and hope of it may comfort me against all the ills of the earth Let the bitternesse which I feele below win me from this evill world and whet in me a holy appetite to the pure sweets and joies which be above And in thy good time fill my Soule with those blessed Solaces I beseech thee even for his blessed merits and mediation sake who is my onely joy hope in heaven and earth Jesus Christ my deare Redeemer and Advocate Amen Meditation of the Miseries of the World WHy so much wedded to the world when woe is her Dowrie entailed as a Portion by God Gen. 3. 17. on Adam and thee if his Son since he forfeited with his Allegiance his Paradise and thine by his default Earth ever since brings forth woes as Job 5. 7. fire sparks Within thee or without thee for thy self or others In Bodie or Soule woods will as soone want leaves as the world faile thee of woes thou art heire to all Inheritour at least of some never secure from any because alwaies in griefe or feare of all And least blest too when most secure most unhappy when least miserable bliss in this life being the greatest curse because the portion of a man markt out for everlasting unhappiness Psal 17. 14. Alas what a purchase is a little fickle worldly bliss with woes all and everlasting after it not without some in it My heart if thou hast so mis-caried in thy choice let this divorce the mariage love earth when thou art fond of woe and not afraid of hell Thou wilt find good Alimonie after this divorce Thou wilt live more well and die much better for it Thou wilt entertaine death as a deliverance from her ills whose goods thou scornest And receive and read a Summons to thy end not as an Archest and call to judgement but an Acquittance from calamitie Thou wilt eye heaven as thy harbour of rest and be weary of the world as a sea of trouble Thou wilt study to steer thy course by the Card and Compass of the Infallible word and rule to know and goe the right way to heaven So good is the Worlds wormwood above her honey for the souls health if we take and taste it right And even our miseries are made great mercies because good medicines for that happy health Did earth afford sinfulfalne man one Paradise he would scarce looke for two Now that he finds a Purgatorie of it it drives him to the true Paradise and bring him sooner to those joies by the hastening of those woes which hie more to heaven when most heavie on earth Tuesday-Service Against the Vanities of the World Morning Prayer Psal 4. 39. or 37. 102. 104. Lessons Eccl. 1. 2. or any Chap. of it Mat. 16. or Lu. 12. Evening Prayer Psal 52. 62. Lessons Eccles 3. 4. c. Hab. 2. 1 Tim. 6. Then the Daily Prayers after this folowing Tuesday-Coll against the vanities of the world O Lord who hast made this world for me and me for another let me not be caried away with the vanities of that world which cannot content my Soule and will not continue with me O! let my heart be fixed on higher things never to be moved with worldly vanities that when this world shall end to me or I to it I may enjoy those honours and joyes and goods which shall never end with thee thy Angels and Saints in a better world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then Daily Prayers Meditation of the Vanities of the World THe World is a shop of Vanities Honours Riches Pleasures the chief Commodities the Devil Master of the shop and Man his miserable Customer The common price is our Souls which we give him to get them and yet possesse nothing lesse worse than nothing by all we get which is the vainest of that vanitie of vanities O Man be not thou so vile and vaine why doth transitory good take thee who hast an Immortall Spirit why doth sensible joy carry thee away who hast a faculty for the highest intellectuall good capacity of Eternitie Alas thou wilt as soone fill a sive with water as thy Soule with the Isa 55. 2. world and couldst thou give her a fill of it a short time would to thy greater losse and grief run it all out again Let the world then be not thy Idol but thy scorne Believe it if worldly good be thy Deity her glory profit and delight thy Trinity they will not fill but faile and vex thy heart and so give thee for blisse a triple infelicity vexation is their fullest satisfaction and their end not thy content but torment It is infinite eternall goodnesse which must give man of an immortall Spirit content In that Deity is his rest and his felicity in that only Trinity Let God then be as he is thy Throne the world as it should be thy footstoole By her good climbe up to God get thus up Abundance of good here seems brave what is all indeed in heaven what is substance when the shew is such what to have all things when so valued to have nothing what blisse is to be found in the Trinity of uncreated goodnesse when so much is fancied in the Three poorpetty created Goods of that revised devised and fond-imagined Godhead What if thou hast senses by which they wooe and court thy love Hath not thy Soule a power to guide and governe those Handmaids O Man thy senses are in thy Soule Monster if thou
which art in Heaven c. The Blessing THe God of Mercy and Peace be with me Body and Soul and blesse me and all mine and those that need his Mercy this night and evermore Amen So ends the Evening Prayer Particular Prayers Prayer of a Husband for a Wife O Lord Thou hast made the 1 Pet. 3. 2. Wife the weaker Vessel yet a necessary one Man the nobler Gen. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 3 9. Prov. 12. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 7. of the two yet the Woman next the Man He is her Head but she is his Crowne let me then tender her as weaker and honour her as a Vessell of worth So weak let me never be as to give her my Power nor so wicked as to make her the Mistris of my Conscience So tyrannous 1 Kings 21. 9. Col. 2. 19. Gen. 21. 12. let me never be as to make her my Slave nor so imperious as not to allow her of my Counsell Let me value her well but my self better and love her much but thee more If she Mat. 19. 21. play Eve let not me be Adam take the forbidden fruit from her hand lest I give her ruine for respect let me not make her my Foot nor let her be my Head Thine Authority in me let me maintaine with love and hers under me with zeale that the yoke 1 Cor. 6. 14. which lies on both may be carryed with more comfort drawn on with more bliss to me and her all that is ours As thou lovest thy Spouse Lord Ephes 29. 22. let me love mine And as thy Church doth love reverence and obey thee let her love honour and observe me in thee and for thee Deare Jesus Amen Prayer of a Wife for her Husband FOr him I pray to thee O God Gen. 2. 23 24. whom thou by thy providence and Ordinance hast made most mine of all mankind my Husband and Head That I may pay him the Duty which by thy command I owe him with such conscience as thou maist acquit me and he behold me not as his Crosse but his Crown That he may Ephes 5. 22 25. return me that love and respect which by thy Law is due from him to me that I may embrace him as my Refuge not my storme Lord let me study by all 1 Pet. 3. 1. love and lowlinesse to make him mine and let him seek in all wisdome and kindnesse to make me his And let both unite Prayers and endeavours to make our selves and all ours thine That being espoused to thee on Earth we may at last be Married with thee in Heaven and dwell together in those mansions of blisse where is neither sin nor sorrow nor care nor discontent nor any distresse but a dower of Immortality and Joy and Glory for Body and Soul with felicity to all eternity even for ever and ever So be it dear Jesus Amen Amen Prayer of a Parent for Children O Lord who by thy favour hast given me Issue and in thy name Gen. 27. 4. 29. 1. power to blesse my Children Set thy seal I beseech thee to my Blessing Blesse them with grace to be thy Children me with grace by good example and education to keep them thine Blesse them with health and long and good life if thy blessed will and me with providence and due care by all right wayes to advance their good let me not allow my Children to be thy rebels and abhorre to make them so Let me not so distract my soul with care for them or load my Conscience with guilt as to convey thy Curse on me and them Let my care be Fatherly for their Lives and Christian for their Soules Believing all Psal 127. care to be vaine without thy blessing and Carking the way unto thy curse All blessings of this world so far good as they serve and help on to a better and unreasonable coveting of them a barre to that blisse O Lord my Children are more thine than mine Thou art Father of their Spirits I Heb. 12. 9. but of their Flesh Let me therefore trust thee for them as their best Father and my self with them as thy good Child taking care to doe our duty to 1 Pet. 5. 7. thee and casting all farther care upon thee So be it dear Father for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer of a Child for Parents O Lord who hast made my Parents as Gods in thy stead under thee the Makers and Preservers of my life let me look at thy power and goodnesse in them and as thee love serve and obey them that I may give die Ephes 6. 1. to their life and length to their dayes And Lord who hast given them power to convey blessing on me give me leave from thee the Father of all to pray blessing on them And to my power to be ever dutifull and helpfull to them That so I may be as the Child of their love so the Heir of their blessing the blessing thou hast promised to loving and obedient Children theirs and thine give it me good Lord for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Prayer for a Family THat I have a Family to governe it is thy mercy O God but rule it aright I shall not without thy grace That grace Lord give me Wisdome to know what I am to doe and ability to do according to my knowledge by my instruction to lead it in thy fear Gen. 19. Deut. 6. 4. by my example to draw it by my Admonition to drive it on By my Providence to doe it right by my Protection to keep it from wrong As carefull to give to all their dues as to receive their duty Let me remember Ephes 6. 7. 9. Job 31. 13. 14. Col. 4. 1. that as my selfe my Servants are thine fashioned by thy hands and bought alike by thy Bloud that I may not despise them lest I despise thee Let me consider that my Children as mine are thine made after thine Image and born againe of thy Spirit that I may not neglect them lest I neglect thee And let them remember and consider that I stand in thy stead that as thy self they may serve and obey me and thine Authority in me And let me and them both be mindfull that I am thy Deputy I that I must account for my Charge and they that they must come to a reckning for their carriage both to thee the Soveraigne Judge and Lord of all That so I may so rule and they obey as all may be done in thee and for thee and all may reign at last in thee through the merits of him of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named the great gracious Master of us all Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephes 3. 13 Amen A Prayer for Issue O Lord who hast ordained Mariage the meanes to propagate Mankind and mak'st it fruitfull to that purpose by thy providence at thy pleasure I beseech
didst both live and die in virtue of thy blood that sole and soveraigne antidote and sanctuary of bleeding Sinners thy deare and pretious blood let my soule live if my body die but if thy blessed will both live to praise thy goodnesse to both Lord cast my sins behind thy back and hold me in thy Armes Into thy Armes of mercy I cast my self Body Soul my onely hope and refuge and rock of my salvation is in thy blessed merits and blood deare Jesus take me and keep me in thy Armes now and ever and especially in my last hower and agonie have mercy on me I beseech thee Amen Amen Thanksgiving for one recovered of the Plague THou hast smitten and thou hast healed me O my God! the blow was grievous thy help is greater the blow was just thy help more gracious my sinnes deserved death thy mercy hath spared my life O Lord with an humble thankfull soule I doe acknowledge as ever so now especially from thy good hand my present life and health And now I humbly beseech thee that my heart may smite me that I have ever rebelled against so good a Majestie and thy grace keep me that I never more lift up my hand against so great a goodnesse O let not the pestilence goe from my body to my soule let not Satan and corruption poyson perswade my spirit to sit in the chaire or stay in the house of pestilence Let not others be infected with sinne by me nor me by them lest thou be more provoked and the plague gone returne in a greater judgment My God my help my health my hope my life and comfort be thy Name ever blessed that hast spared my soule and life O let it be no more dishonoured by me that keeping from the infection of an evill world I may live in the blisse of a better where is neither sinne nor sicknesse to infect soule or body but perfect health strength grace and glory in thee and with thee to all eternity O Jesus my onely refuge and the horne of my salvation So be it Amen Amen Prayer for one at the Hower of Death to be said by the Sick or some for him altering the Person 1. Prayer of one at the point of Death GOd the Father his mercies be about me God the Sonne his merits be upon me God the Holy Ghost his comforts be within me Holy Trinitie preserve strengthen and support me that my Death may be pretious in the sight of the Lord and my Soule live with thee to all eternity Amen Amen 2. Prayer for one at the point of Death FAther of mercies let thy love be to him Saviour of the world let thy merits be on him Comforter of departing Souls let thy peace be in him Father Sonne and Holy Spirit defend a Child of thy Family save a Lamb of thy Flock keep a member of thy Church O thou One and onely Lord God of Heaven command thy holy Angels to tender him and forbid evill ones to trouble him Deliver his soul discharge his sinne seale his pardon heavenly Father by thy Holy Spirit in the blood of Jesus Amen Amen 3. Prayer for one at the point of Death LOrd Jesus Succour this Dying Soule make passage for him by death to a better life purge his sins in thy Blood and prepare his Soule by thy Spirit and receive it to the glory of thy Father Jesus that didst so deerly purchase it make haste to receive it from the pangs of present and paines of everlasting death Good Lord deliver it deliver it for thy mercies sake Amen Amen Thanksgiving after Death for one Departed ¶ Say this Scripture Psal 116. 7 15. Returne unto thy rest ô my Soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of the Saints Apoc. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours ¶ Then Pray thus THou that hast sent for this Soul out of the Prison of his Bodie to come to the Palace of thy Blisse receive our praises O Lord for his happy deliverance from pangs to joyes from Tryalls to Triumphs from Earth to Heaven O Lord we beseech thee admit our humble lauds to attend him into thy presence and with them let our prayers enter before thee that as he so we in thy good time may come and present our Halleluja's with our selves in thy sight And meane time lead a godly life to have a blessed death Lord let us not forsake thee now that thou mayest not leave us then in that last and great hower upon which followes an Eternitie of weale or woe Lord have mercy on us and doe not forsake us and therefore let us have the feare of it and thee now and ever before us that as we believed our Brother departed is we may be blessed in and by our death grant we may deare Iesus Amen Amen A generall Thanksgiving for Gods mercies O Thou high Majestie of Heaven how hast thou filled me with the favours of thy bounty how great hast thou been in thy goodnesse and mercy how gracious in thy providence to me thou hast poured the blessings of heaven and earth upon my head Thou hast loaden me with thy gifts bestowed upon me in Creating Redeeming and in Preserving me In my Creation thou gavest me thine Image and madest me more noble than all the Creatures of the earth In my Redemption thou gav'st me thy Sonne and madest me more glorious than the Angels of Heaven In my Baptisme and Regeneration thou gavest me thy Spirit and hast made me more happy than millions of men in the world Thou hast given thy self to me Lord what could'st thou doe more for me thrice blessed yea for ever be thy glorious Name for thine infinite grace mercy and goodnesse to me And in thy providence for this life how abundantly hast thou blessed me in health wealth body mind c. and many and many mercies vouchsafed me In my weaknesse thou hast strengthened me in my dangers thou hast delivered me in my distresses thou hast comforted me in my prayers thou hast heard me in thy judgments thou hast spared me to this day preserving my life and making it many waies joyfull to me And not for any good in me O Lord hast thou been thus gracious towards me My ills on earth hath been many my ingratitudes great against thee For them thou mightest for ever banish me from heaven and with my sinnes cast me into hell amongst those that offend thee for thy owne goodnesse and great Names sake hast thou been thus bountifull and mercifull to me O fill my heart with thy love that my mouth may poure ou◠praises to thee Ravish my soule with thy goodnesse that my heart may ever love thee Fill my life with thy feare that as my lips my thoughts deeds may ever honour thee let me not be so wretched as to forget thy
the Devill of more goodnesse wisdome care and power to save then he is able to destroy Thou canst send more succours to me then he can bring forces against me more holy Angels then he hath wicked Spirits Lord give me that strength Lord send me those succours Put upon me the armour of light to fight with the Rulers of darknesse Let the Helmet of hope be on my head and the brestplate of faith and love on my heart that I be not mortally wounded in the fight In my extremity send thy Angels to succour me And let thy holy Spirit be my Leader that the evill one may not be my Conquerour Lord Jesus that knowest what it was to be tempted and didst overcome the Tempter for me relieve my frailty when I am tempted and suffer not Satan to overcome me And let me be sober and watch and pray that I enter not into Temptation that thou mayest relieve me O Lord How shall I not fall into the hand of Hell if I throw my selfe into Temptation From such presumptions O Christ preserve me How many soules have beene left and lost in those bold adventures of their strength make me sadly to consider that such a daring Spirit may never possesse me Let me remember with feare and trembling what great Saints have falne that I may with an humble and holy care and feare seeke for thy strength to stand and being upheld by thy right hand may never fall But let me not cast my self out of thine into Satans hand for if thou Lord doe not uphold and he pull downe how shall I stand And let me keepe my wayes that I cast not my selfe out for thou wilt not protect me but in thy wayes And let me not runne my selfe into temptation for that is out of my wayes and thy protection Thou great Shepheard of the sheep keepe me a poore Lambe of thy fold Thou Lion of the Tribe of Juda that hast prevailed save me from the roaring Lion that he may never prevaile And in and from all his Temptations deliver me in thy mercy that he may not devour my soule for all his roaring Rescue me thou that didst redeeme me Preserve me thou that didst create me my Lord and my God my strength hope deare Jesus Amen TUESDAY A Prayer against the World O Lord The World is a strong Enemy to conquer The great Conquerors of the powers were Captives to the vanities of the World yet by thy strength it may be conquered for thou art greater then he that is the world Thou didst O Saviour conquer it for me and by thy aide I may conquer it for my selfe And by thy will I must conquer it with thee on earth if I will triumph with thee in Heaven O then let me resolutely set and fit my selfe for the conquest of the world And to the forces of reason Lord give me the powers of grace by which I may make a conquest This world is but for a time and will end at last and how soone to me thou Lord onely knowest and did it endure what comfort or contentment can my immortall soule receive in any or all the good of the world O let me not lose my eternall inheritance in the world to come for a poore portion in this present world Thou Lord hast made me in it but me for thy self and it for me O then let me never be of it let my Spirit alwayes be above it Let me not make my Servant my Soveraigne good Assist me by thy grace that I may not O God! And because my senses are so naturall and neare unto me and the world takes my soule captive by the power of my senses O let me watch those gates against the entries of Temptations and looke well to my sense that I lose not my soule That I doe not Lord keepe me from all evill from the men and from the things of the world From Companies and Counsels and examples of the ill set on by the Devill to wooe for the world Lord keep me as so many foes and fiends to my soule and let me rather suffer them as my sorrowes then take solace in such men From the Vanities of the world that they doe not allure me and the miseries of it that they may not deject me The great powers by which the world assaults me defend me O Lord that they doe not overcome me and let me looke well to my soule because I am never free from such assaults From the Vanities of Riches Honours Pleasures the prevailing goods of the world the Heaven she brings And from the miseries of wants scornes ignominies injuries tortures the powerfull ills of the world the Hell she hath Lord keep me that they lead not my soule into the Captivitie of sin lest I feele a worser Hell and lose a better Heaven Let me not lose thy favour for the smiles nor incurre thy displeasure for the frownes of this world Let neither her Sorceries bewitch me to ill nor her Tyrannies fright me from good Let my love and feare be both on thee the good and ill not of this but another life On that be my heart on this my foot Let me love and value and use this world onely as it may helpe me to that Not for the Throne of my Spirit but the footstoole of my soule By whose good my body may be better enabled to serve my Spirit and both to serve Thee and come to the good of a better world For such a Conquest Lord strengthen me and to these Triumphs above bring me even for his sake who hath overcome the flesh the Devill and the World for me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen WEDNESDAY A Prayer against sudden Death O Thou great Judge of the world I am a child of death by the sentence of the Law for Adams sinne and have deserved it at the hands of thy Justice for my owne yet in thy mercy thou hast not executed that sentence upon me but to this day hast continued my life Yea most mercifull God when the feares and snares of Death and Hell tooke hold on me and my provocations were great against thee in those great distresses I called upon thee and thou didst heare me and deliver me Lord make me ever thankfull for thy goodnesse and take not away thy loving kindnesse from me though since I have not walked worthy of thy mercy Save my soule from the sins that trouble me Save my body from the sicknesses that feare me And save my life from all ill accidents and disasters that may befall me If thou speak the word O Lord I shall be safe body and soule and no ill can touch me Good Lord speake that word and save me Pardon my sins that they doe not destroy me and lengthen my dayes that I may better serve thee For a sudden death by a present repentance and good life Lord ever prepare me And from a sudden death by thy good providence deliver me That I may have
thy Spirit and by all meanes mould me and make my heart of that temper that the least touch of sin may trouble me that I may not obstinately goe on in a course of Rebellion against thee Mercifull Father let all thy crosses come rather upon me then this curse befall me That I may rather grieve and groane with hope on earth then waile and houle in hell without remedie A heart of flesh for stone Lord give me let thy holy Spirit work and keep it in me Doe it deare Saviour for me I beseech the in thy mercy Amen Amen Animadversion to the Devout Reader touching these Services THe Author in these Services tenders thee some things new and nothing he hopes naught There are extant Books of Prayers and Meditations and Directions apart and those who joyne some of these together but all as in his way he knowes none He conceives that the Soul engaged in a particular duty will be much assisted by so manie helps at hand and come off better with the Service Vicissitudes of Devotions like changes of clothes as they please the mind because they clog lesse so they will advance her piety the more when all though they goe severall waies meet in one study and care to work her Spirituall preferment Thy Spirit will not be lesse devoted to thy Prayers for having breathed it in holy Scriptures Nor wilt thou take in that Holy aire with lesse advantage to thy Soules health for going to it from thy Prayers Nor will those Heavenly refreshments profit or last less for plying the Soul at present well-devoted with proper pious Meditations Instructions set suteing to her particular purposes This will be as a Word in due season fit and good and serve as a little Sermon to nourish Holy Spirit so Divinely begot which else may starve before it can come to a greater and perhaps not have her particular state and case much reached and relieved neither if she come The Closet the good mans Daily Sanctuary alwayes * Ezek. 11 16. and in persecution often his onely Church as it never wants Gods Spirituall Altar a Devout heart nor his Garden Gods Holy Book in it nor Gods Holy Service an Holy Prayer-Book for it By this shall have a little Pulpit too Necessary for those who have no other and profitable for those who may want a better And surely the Soule which keeps her daily walkes betwixt Gods Altar and Garden her Prayers and his Scriptures must needs grow and goe on in Godlinesse And faster and firmer both for hearing every day a Sermon when Her selfe is the Preacher Her state the Text and God and Conscience the Auditory Reader He that is not for a Pulpit in the Chamber would have this in thy Closet and thinkes he shall doe God and thee good Service in these devote-lesse times to furnish thy Closet with such a Pulpit His Aime thou seest His patterne thou maist easily aime at especially if a Child of that Mother whose wisdome taught him such Prayers Though some things in the Services be new there are no novelties in them but for thy singular use compiled and made a Handfull of little Homilies and Prayers Rules for every Sundayes Devotion Sunday-morning When you awake lift up your heart and say O Sun of Righteousness which this day didst rise for me shine now and ever with thy Grace and Mercy upon me Amen When you are up kneel and say this Prayer O Lord Holynesse becometh thy House Dutifulness becometh me to go to thy Courts wait upon Thee And this is the great day of thy Service Thou that hast given me to see the light of this day make me carefull to do the duty of it timely to Present my selfe unto Thee and reverently to behave my self before Thee that I may come with fruit and favour from thee for Jesus Christ His sake Amen Before you goe to Church say if you have time the Sunday-Service following Omit not to say the Collect for it howsoever in the Afternoone say the Evening-Service Sunday-night When you goe to Bed kneel and say O Sun of Righteousnesse keep me from utter darknesse let me so sleep in thy Peace that I may be every ready to arise and meet thee in thy Glory Amen Amen Seven Services for the 1 st Week Services set to the Daies of the Weeke for foure severall Weeks Sunday-service Of the joyes of Heaven Morning Prayer Psal 36. 84. Lesson Isa 64. Mat. 5. to 13. or Mat. 17. to 14. Evening Prayer Psalm 15. 16. Lesson Isaiah 35. Apoc. 21. Then this following Collect. After it the Daily Prayers ¶ Sunday Collect or Prayer for the joyes of Heaven DEare Saviour who hast purchased lost Heaven for me by thy blood and now possessest it for me in my flesh possesse my soule I beseech thee with thy holy Spirit that my conversation now may be heavenly on earth and my habitation hereafter happy in heaven O let me not for the perishing pleasures of this vaine world lose an eternity of blessed joyes in thy presence and Kingdome Preserve me to it deare Redeemer who hast prepared it for me even for thy mercies sake O Lord. Amen Daily Prayers 1. Meditation of the joyes of Heaven WHat do I on earth when God is in Heaven Why are my Heart Body in two severall worlds And where but with Him and on Him should be my Heart Lord draw to thee what is made for thee till Bodie can come let my Spirit be with thee till my Soule depart from my Bodie to dwell for ever with thee let Devotion carry my thoughts out of my Soule and daily visit thee My help my hope my solace my salvation Father of my Spirit Husband of my Soule Soveraigne of my welfare Author of my nature End of my essence Blisse of my being Satisfaction of my desires Rest of my thoughts Perfection of my powers my life is a banishment imprisonment punishment on earth if thou be in heaven shun I never so much I shall meet with nothing but sinne and miserie seek I never so much I shall not find any thing of blisse below had I whole lands of wealth with hills of honour upon them and rivers of pleasure about those all were not a peble a pile a drop to my blessednesse my avaritious ambitious voluptuous desires are left drie on earth onely fill'd and drown'd in the paradise crowne and kingdome of heaven the ocean of blisse runs about the good that is infinite high above change great without measure full without want long beyond time away then my Soule from thy banishment bondage woe and miserable vanitie to thy home freedome joy and true felicitie Dove of grace flie to the windows of glory mount to those Louvers on high where the ravenous Bird of hell can neither seize or fright thee nor the beasts of the earth devoure or disquiet thee Heaven on Earth is a monstrous confusion if thou vainly seek it there thou
as if made for nothing but thy lust and the dunghill Thou wilt therefore be condemned for thy injury to him thy self and them To a gluttony of torments starved body and soul without crumb or Luk. 16. 23 drop of comfort for thy short pleasures to paines long and lasting for ever Consider this 2. There is a Cloath a Meat a Drink an Art an Office that will help if thou have it Do thou then endeavour it 1. The Coat is Christ Of particular Rom. 13. 13 14. virtue to expell Gluttony 2. The Meat is his Word and Sacrament To which to have an holy Appetite is to lose the Job 6. 27. sensuall and to digest it to loath it 3. The Drink is his Spirit with Eph. 5. 18. which the soul drunk keepes the body sober The greater excesses of good the lesse of it surfets 4. The Art is his Pionry to undermine Dan. 4. 27. gluttony by works of Charity Giving the maintenance of thy lust to the poor So thou shalt at once starve thy Job 29. 15 and 31. 16. sinne and feast thy Conscience And God and Christ himself will come to the feast Mat. 15. 35 Luk. 14. 13. 5. The Office is to keep his Table Which Frugality covers and Temperance takes away His Example Command wil make thee able and Prayer will get the blessing of both And sooner if for his sake thou eat and delight in sober company and leave Gluttons for Saints Wednesday-Service Against Lasciuiousnesse and Luxury Morning Prayer Psal 106. Lesson Ezek. 16. or 2 Sam. 12. Prov. 7. Joh. 8. to v. 42 Evening-Prayer Psal 51. Lesson 2 Sam. 12. 1 Cor. 6. or Heb. 13. ¶ Prayer against Lasciviousnesse LOrd keepe me from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit that before men and thee who discernest both I may appeare pure and undefiled a chast Spouse to thee not to be tempted to any acts or lusts of uncomelinesse or unworthinesse which be ill in thy eyes that are ever upon me O let me be pure and holy in all manner of conversation as thou art holy that in the great day of tryall thou maist not disclaime me but owne me and take me to thy glory for the merits of thy Holy One and Undefiled Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Lasciviousnesse 1. GEnerally The sin of unchastity is vaine foule fearefull and prevailing For 1. The more lust is served the lesse satisfied a Ezek. 16. 28. 2. It 's called particularly filthinesse and uncleannesse b Apoc. 17 14. It is sacrilegiously to make the Body c 1 Cor. 6. 18 19 Gods Temple a Stewes and that is the vilest filthinesse d 1 Cor. 3. 17. 3. It is a short pleasure for everlasting paine e Heb. 11. 24. yet this fire is the end of that fleshlinesse f 1 Cor. 6. 9. Heb. 13. 4. Apoc. 21. 8. Besides a foule conscience it wounds health honour state wasting the balsame of life blessing of wealth and oyntment of a good reputation g Prov. 5. 8 9 10. Pro. 6. 26. 32. 33. Job 31. 9 10. c. 4. It is a strong lust in the assault and commonly gets the victory Nature concurring with the strength h Pro. 7. 21 2 Sam. 11. 2 5. The holy Martyrs could no more be tempted by pleasures then tortures But 2. Particularly In a married condition it is every way worse 1. Not onely Damnation in another world i Apoc. 21. 8. but present Death k Joh. 8. 5. Levit. 20. 10. in this by the Law of God and man too in many places 2. It tends to the confusion of mankinde Incest c. l Gen. 38. 16. 3. The dumbe creatures are true to their Mates 3. The cure of both is the same To kill the sinne 1. In the Egge Stifle the first thoughts and motions of lust m Mat. 5. 28. no Bird but was first an Egge 2. In the hatching Take heed of the things that beget and nourish lust Covenant with the eyes n Job 31. 1 against lascivious Persons Pictures gestures stop the o Pro. 7. 21. eares against lustfull Songs Discourses Devices Keepe the heart p Pro. 6. 255 from being idle and the body from excessive sleeps and meats and drinks or such as are knowne to be provocative q Pro. 23. 33. Temperance Sobriety are great friends to Chastity 3. Tempted Thinke that thy keepers eyes are upon thee with Joseph that God sees thee r Gen. 39. 9. and will judge thee s Prov. 5. 20 21. Thou wilt blush if but a child behold thee Thursday-Service Against Pride Morning Prayer Psal 73. 131. Lessons Isa 14. Luk. 18. to v. 19 or Acts 12. Evening Prayer Psal 86. 138. Lesson Jâ—r 13. Jam. 4. or 1 Pet. 5. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Pride LOrd keepe me from the sinne of Pride which threw Angels out of Heaven and Man out of Paradise lest it cast me headlong into the depths of thy displeasure and barre my soule of both O let me who am nothing but a miserable body and soule a lump of sins and woes let me never exalt my selfe before or against thee Without whose goodnesse but one minute my flesh would fall to the earth and my spirit lie in hell for ever without thy mercy Preserve by these thoughts an humble spirit in me such as thou maist respect on earth and hereafter advance unto thy glory Even for his sake who so abased himselfe for my pride Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! Daily Prayers Remedies against Pride 1. KNow what Pride is A sinne abhominable as that which is 1. Gods hate Others sinnes fly God but this flyes at God * S. Greg. and God at it a 1 Pet. 5. 5. 2. Mans bane It went before the fall of Angels b Jude v. 6. Isai 14. and Adam c Gen. 3. 5 6. and doth goe before destruction d Prov. 16. 18. 3. Christs scorne In his birth life death all humility nothing of pride much against it 2. Know what we are and there is no cause of pride 1. Not for our Ills. And our 1. Bodies are Baggs of phlegme and choler poore and vile e Phil. 3. 21. 1. I am quickened dust and shall be dead f Gen. 3. 19. 2. One worme was my begining and many will be my end and much woe betweene g Job 25. 6 Job 19. 26. 2. Soules be Cages of uncleane lusts and errours h Gen. 6. 5 Nests of Serpents and Vipers i Isa 49. 4 5. 3. Bodies and Soules both have what should humble us 1. My body is subject to a thousand sicknesses and sorrowes but my soule to ten thousand times more sins and wounds and weaknesses and falls k Rom. 7. 24. Psal 19. 12. Psal 40. 12 2. A Grave will be the end of my Body l Psal 49. 14. and Hell without pardon the end of a sinning Soule
let me loath the honie of wicked delights and because under the flowers of pleasure snakes of guilt lye hid let me beware of all but O Lord ever keepe me from setting my heart on any On thee be my soule ever fixt O God! In thee be the joy of my heart even in thee alone and in other things onely in thee and for thee and let thy feare be the matter or measure of all my pleasures that they may be in thee that when the brook of earthly joyes shall faile I may drink of the river which runs to all eternity O thou who art said to weepe not to laugh strengthen me to see and overcome this vanity That I may joy in thee now and with thee hereafter in endlesse felicity Deare Jesus Amen Daily Prayers Monday-Service Of the Vanity of Honours Morning Prayer Psal 49. 82. Lesson 1 Sam. 2. or Esth 6. Dan. 4. Joh. 12. Evening Prayer Psal 75. 83. Lesson Isa 3. or 5. or 23. or Jer. 5. 2 Cor. 1. ¶ Prayer against the Vanity of Honours O Lord Because thou hast made me great shall I not be good Because my bloud is noble shall my life be wicked Because men doe me honour shall I doe thee shame Lord let such a spirit of basenesse never possesse me let me know that the greater my honours are the greater be my obligations to serve thee And let those parasites of greatnesse appeare as so many fiends of Hell unto me who would have me break those bonds and flatter and nourish such a spirit in me Make me too wise to build my blisse on mans breath that I be not miserable at their pleasure and happy when they list Make me not so fond as to think a glory so vaine can make me happy So poore as to thinke that applause my blessednesse which goes and comes with a blast of mans Make me so wise as to know that a holy spirit makes the noblest bloud and to be thy child is the best descent to beare thine image the best coat to have thine Angels the best Ministers of honour and thine eyes the best Judges And make me so good as to doe those noble acts of vertue and piety which may give me this honour let others court the vaine let me seeke tâ—ue glory To scorne earth get heaven shining as the Sun in the State of immortality King of Glory give this honour to me Sweet Jesus I beseech thee Amen Amen Daily Prayers Tuesday-Service Against the Vanity of Riches Morning Prayer Psal 39. 49. Lessons Deut. 8. 9. or Pro. 11. 23 Mat. 13. or 19. or Mar. 10 Evening Prayer Psal 52. 62. Lessons Job 31. or Eccles. 5. James 5. ¶ Prayer against the Vanity of Riches KEep me O Lord from their madnesse who make riches their God and poverty their Devill Let not that be my heaven whâ—ch is so near to hell let me not make that my blissâ— which earth hath in her bowels And let not that have my heart which is not my heaven From immoderate desires to get or keepe wealth keepe me O Lord and from sinfull defend me that I may not covet much to spend more in the maintenance of lust vice and vanity and have much to ruine me Let me know that riches are good as they come from thee and give me a power of greater piety and charity and alacrity to serve thee and so let me value them as acts of thy bounty But as things unable to save either soule from hell or body from death in the day of distresse or to satisfie the soule in any better day let me despise them as poore and of no value And as Meanes of Sinne and Woe Feeds of pride luxury and excesse let me abhorre them as the Fewell of wrath and hell Let me be rich in thee and to thee in baggs laid up in heaven laid out in earth to mans Necessity and thy Glory Let the riches of grace be my joy others my use and their love my scorne That when the Worldly Rich shall be Beggers bereaved of all comfort I may be rich in all abundance in thee and with thee who art all in all by the purchase of the pretious blood and passion of Him who became poore to make us rich Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Wednesday-Service Against the Vanity of Beauty Morning Prayer Psal 38 39. 45. Lessons 2 Sam. 14. or Pro. 31. or 11. or Ezek. 28. Mat. 23 Evening Prayer Psal 6. 96. 145. Lessons Isay 3. or 28. Ezek. 16. 1 Cor. 11. ¶ Collect or Prayer against the Vanity of Beauty O Lord let me looke at Beauty as thy blessing but not make it my blisse Let not my care be more for my body then my soule and to have a faire face then conscience O let that which is thy face and Image have the chiefest of my costs and care Let the glasse of thy Word be often before me to see it and the waters of repentance daily with me to wash it and the fine linnen of the Saints ever by me to adorne it that the King of Heaven may delight in my beauty and not Men but Angels love me For beauty of the body let it not be my sinne or anothers snare Let me not hate Deformity above Hell and love Beauty before Heaven Since age at last will and infirmity before may deface that beauty and change it to a loath'd deformity And Lord keepe my looks from being lures of vanity Let no guilts be upon my eyes of anothers iniquity Let thy feare preserve me and them from these guilts Make it my care to appeare with a faire and cleane conscience before thee and to Him whom thou hast made the vayle of my eyes let me be joy of his That when humane beauty shall faile an Angels may be given me a body and soule both faire without blot or blemish to all eternity To that beauty Lord Jesus bring me Amen Amen Daily Prayers Thursday Service Against the Vanity of Strength Morning Prayer Psal 22 33. 38. 102. Lessons Job 6. or 9. or 40. or 1 Sam. 17. Act. 3. or 5. Evening Prayer Psal 86. 147. Lessons Job 21. or Isay 26. 1 John 2. ¶ Collect or Prayer against the Vanity of Strength THat I have health the Crown of earthly mercies I thank thee O God of my strength And I beseech thee continue it to me without which I cannot serve thee or enjoy any comfort from thee And let me use it whilst it is with me to the end for which thou givest it me to look and seek after eternall life where is no sicknesse nor infirmity Lord make me know that all other use is Vanity To trust in strength idolatry to turne it against thee villany To doe more sinne because I have more health from thee Let me therefore have care in the dayes of my youth and strength to remember thee my Creatour that in the dayes of age and infirmity thou mayest not forget thy Servant Let my
healthy body make my soul more cheerfull to serve thee How unfit sicknesse is to doe thee service and how many wayes it may come let me sadly consider that in my health I may goe about my happinesse and in my sicknesse have the comfort of a well-employed health and at my death the assurance of eternall life by that employment Lord since thou givest me the best of thy blessings let me give thee the first of my years the strength of my youth not my decrepite dayes that come sicknesse or health life or death I may be Thine ever a child of blisse and heire of immortality by the merits of him who is the Sonne of thy Love Jesus Christ Amen Daily Prayers Friday-Service Against the Vanity of Wit Morning Prayer Psal 36. 94. Lessons 2 Sam. 17. or Prov. 3. Lukc 10. Evening Prayer Psal 90. 111. 2. Lessons Jer. 4. Ecclcs 2. 1 Cor. 3 or 2 Tim. 3. Jam. 3. ¶ Collect or Prayer against the Vanity of Wit I Thanke thee O Lord for the blessing of my Reason For the power of it by which thou hast made me a man not a beast and the use of it by which thou hast made me of understanding not an ideot I beseech thee let me not marre what thou hast made My wit to delude my will and it to draw my soule from thee lest I foole my selfe of the end for which I was made and an Ideot get to Heaven before me As I have the wit let me have the wisdome to know thee and with my understanding the conscience to feare thee without which the most wise is but a foole before thee Ftom a wit to contrive mischiefs and to compasse designes of vanity from skill to use the arts of sinne and finde the wayes of death and hell Good Lord deliver me From an Atheists wit to dispute against thee and Religious acts which binde the soule unto thee and cunning to maintaine acts of vice and villanie Lord keepe me that it find neither roome nor favour in me that such wickednesse be not charged upon me Let me be a foole on earth to be a Saint in Heaven even theirs who thinke Sanctitie a simplenesse Devotion a dulnesse and thy Feare a folly And from pride of understanding and scorne of the simple who have little to my much let this preserve me that thou canst make my much to be little if I so provoke thee bereaving me of my wits by a sicknesse or a phrensie Wisdome of God from all this save me Deare Jesus Amen! Daily Prayers Saturday-Service Against the Vanity of Friends and Favour Morning Prayer Psal 38. 41. 11. 5. 39. Lessons Esth 6. or Job 6. or Pro. 19. Luk. 1. Act. 7. Evening Prayer Psal 88 89. 106. Lessons Micha 7. Eccles 9. James 1. ¶ Collect or Prayer against the Vanity of Friends and Favour O Lord Friends are Jewels and so thou hast taught us to value them yet as men that may be false or will be fickle our trust must not be in them Some are not more friends to my person then my prosperity And those that are now most friends with me may prove bitter enemies against me Let me therefore seeke to have my Conscience thy Angels and Selfe for friends that will never faile me and let thy will be mine O God that all these friendships may be for me O thou great Friend of mankind who by thy bloud didst make falne man friends with God by thy Holy Spirit make me fit for all these friendships And Lord let me not value mans with thy favour They can give me honour but not a Crowne of Glory Wealth but not Heaven Their hands are too short Yea in sicknesse and distresse they cannot reach health or quiet to my body or my conscience And though their power be ever lesse then my wants it may be often greater then their wills O Thou Unchangeable Majestie The everlasting lover of them that feare thee let me be one that thou maist ever favour me Let me not care for mans cloud so the light of thy countenance shine upon me Let my sinnes never hide that light from my soule I beseech thee Sun of righteousnesse let some beame of thy love ever come unto me Lord Jesus say Amen Amen! Daily Prayers Services upon other subjects and particular occasions Advertisement to the devout Reader touching these Services FOr those services in the fourth Week which may not be so proper for all as that of Honour Beauty Strength those here which are of more Cōmon concernment may be used in their stead as the Service against Malice Revenge Impatience The rest as occasion and discretion guides thee and devotion finds most beneficiall for thee Wherein the Authour gives thee thou mayest take thy choice And if thou wilt make these serve for a fift Weeke doe as shall most please and profit thee A Service of the pleasures of piety for Sunday or other day Morning Prayer Ps 4. 30. 32. or 33. 97. Lessons Deut. 16. or Isa 29. or 35. 61. 65. Joh. 16. Evening Prayer Psal 16. 36. or 126. 132. Lessons Heb. 3. or Mat. 3. or 8. Phil. 4. ¶ A Prayer to have the pleasures of Piety RAvish my heart O Lord with the joyes of thy Saints and cause me to see the felicity of thy chosen O! What are the pleasings of sense to the solaces of a Soule or the delights of the flesh to the raptures of Spirit And in what but in thee O God can my immortall Soule take repose or my Spirit finde rellish thou art the Soveraign good In thee is the Crown of joy All in the world is nothing to thee woe without thee And how can my Soule rejoyce in thee but in the favour which thou hast to those that feare thee and those multitudes of mercies which proceed from thy favour to those that are in holy league and peace with thee Lord make me one of thy Saints that I may have some of those joyes which none but those that feele know and those that know cannot utter And give me I beseech thee some taste of those holy pleasures which may encourage me more and more to seek to be a Saint O Lord of those shoures of hidden Manna which daily fall upon Soules greatly devout indeed let some crums and drops come to me who truly desire to be so and whilst others take pleasure to swim in sensuality let me be satisfied with those drops Let sinfull contents be my hate because they banish them and sensuall my scorne because below them Let me joy in the goods of the earth as my common portion but triumph in thy favour as my great Inheritance and in the duties of thy service and feare as the wayes to thy favour To the harvest of joy in Heaven Lord at last bring me and to live more comfortably on earth in thy feare the First-fruits of thy Spirit give me and a love and care and conscience of thy feare encrease ever in me God
Rom. 12. or Heb 10. v. 30. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Revenge O Thou to whom vengeance belongeth keepe me from a revengefull spirit that I fall not into the hands of thy vengeance And since my pitty and patience and pardon is thy will let me not study revenges and returnes of injuries Thou O meek and mercifull Saviour didst pray for thy bloody enemies O let me then forgive my greatest foes Committing my cause to thee who wilt doe justice for me on them if I seek not revenge and for thy self upon me if I doe Thine O Lord is the sword of vengeance thine is the sharpest sword O let me not dare to take it out of thy hand lest whilst I strike others I fall justly by thy sword Though flesh and blood provoke me to it let thy holy Spirit hold me from it cast keep out of me that evil spirit by thy power O good God and Saviour of thy mercy Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Revenge 1. THe sinne of Revenge strikes at God and Man 1. It invades Gods Prerogative and takes his sword out of his hand Rom. 12. 19 2. It is many waies an injury to man To his 1. Nature Borne without armes to live without revenge And even armed Bruits agree with their kind and Devils avoid quarrels 2. Glory To passe by an injury of Prov. 19 11. all the most excellent victory Caesars noble memory to forget Pro. 16. 32. Ro. 12. 22. nothing but wrongs 3. Peace The mind is disturbed and takes no rest Ester 5. 11 12 13. Prov. 12. 15 4. Justice I am my owne Judge and anothers Executioner 5. Wisdome If my revenge fall on a Just man it toucheth God his Zach. 2. 8. friend If he be unjust my vengeance will make me so too 2. Be a Christian and you cannot doe this sinne contrary to the Holy life and law of Christ for when much provoked Luk. 9. 55. 1. He check'd his Disciples for calling for it 2. He commands Charity to pardon Joh. 15. 12 Luk. 21. 19 Ro. 12. 20. wrongs Patience to suffer them and Kindnesse to conquer them 3. He forbids Selfe-love the mother 2 Tim. 3. 2. Ephes 4. 31 32. and Wrath the father both which beget and bring forth revenge A Penitentiall Service fit for a troubled Soule fasting and praying for mercy and grace for Wednesday or other Day Morning Prayer Psal 6. 32. 38. or 51. 130. 143. Lesson Isa 1. Mat. 11. or Act. 3. Evening Prayer Psal 40. 42 43. Lesson Job 9. or Ezek. 18. or 33. 2 Cor. 7. ¶ 1. Collect or Prayer for a Penitent O Lord I doe here cast downe my self before thee O cast me not away from thee I cannot stand at the Barre of thy justice I doe therefore lie downe at the Foot-stoole of thy mercy I doe condemne my self for my sins Lord doe not thou judge me Cancell my sins in my Saviours blood and wash my soule in the streames of mercy Though as red as crimson and scarlet thou hast promised the penitent they shall be white as snow O acquit this pensive soule of mine I beseech thee let not my guilt be black as Hell before thee Wash me from it forgive it me And because forgivenesse of what 's past availes not if I fall againe into former offences O God of all grace I beseech thee so to pardon me a sinner as to make me a Saint Give me an holy strength to mortifie my lusts with an holy care to watch and withstand all occasions and temptations to wickednesse especially those that are by nature custome or condition of life most ready to surprize me against them make me to watch and ward and pray and strive more diligently And let thy Holy Spirit assist and strengthen me to a victory even for the blessed merits of him who overcame the world for me the Captaine of my salvation thy Deare Son Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen ¶ 2. Collect or Prayer for a Penitent O God! with a prostrate body and bleeding heart I doe most humbly confesse bewaile my wretched nature and wicked life before thee For my thoughts my lusts my deeds and words past my conscience cryes out against me * Here thinke of particulars when you say it So vaine so vile so foule so ill have they been before thee And thou art greater then my heart and can'st lay more unto my charge then conscience knowes about me O thou searcher of all hearts and wayes how oft I have vowed thee better service thou knowest and have shamefully violated my faith with thee I have sometimes begun to seek after thee but soone lost my self again in the waies of former vanity As the hills so hath been my love to vaine things but my goodnesse as the morning dew which vanisheth presently And for this even from my owne mouth thou mayest againe condemne me Yea Lord with grief of heart and shame of face I doe yet further confesse and lament bitterly that as if it had been a light thing my self to be in sinnes and armes against thee I have been a Leader of others into Rebellion and so am both a Sinner and a Tempter before thee I have countenanced in them what I should condemne and encouraged what I should abhorre And so as principall to my owne have made my selfe accessary to other mens ills and by nursing the acts of their sinnes have contracted their guilts for which thou mayest againe condemne me charging their wickednesse and woes upon me And though I have been and am at this day so guilty unworthy and vile a wretch against thee O how good and gracious a God hast thou been all my life at this present art unto me Though I deserve all vengeance even to eternall death thy mercies have been and are still great upon me O God of all pity and patience I am confounded to consider thy great goodnesse and my wickednesse against thee Woe is me that the bonds of thy Lawes and thy mercies and my vowes should be all thus broken by me For this shame and confusion of face for ever might justly cover me But Lord though I be every way a miserable Sinner thou art infinitely more a mercifull God Thou hast a propitiatory for sinne above all my provocations Mary Magdalene was foule with lust yet forgiven St. Peter perjured but pardoned Saint Paul made others to blaspheme yet found mercy O Lord for thine infinite mercies sake let my sinnes be forgiven me even for my Saviours sake punish not my guiltinesse upon me Seale to my soule thy pardon in his blood which was shed to save me And for time to come let thy Holy Spirit assist me to live with more conscience and lesse sinne before thee Lighten my mind with a sight of thy truth and fire my heart with a love to thy majestie that the vanities of the earth may be my scorne and the glory of heaven the onely ambition that
takes me and thy feare my onely care as the way to that glory In that way guide me keep me and continue me by thy holy Spirit I beseech thee let me so use thy earthly blessings that they may not hinder me Father of mercy and God of grace grant this I beseech thee even by the blessed Mediation and Merits of Jesus Christ Amen ¶ 3. Prayer for a Penitent Confessing Sins and Deprecating Judgments O Thou Holy and Dreadfull Majestie I am ashamed to lift up my eyes unto thee for the sins I have committed against thee Woe is me for the undue thoughts and lusts and words and deeds of which I stand guilty before thee I have like a prodigall Child wasted those goods and daies in the delights of vanity which thou O Father didst give me not to sinne with but to serve thee And even for those few houres which I have spent best privately in thy service and in thy Sanctuary I have need to aske thy forgivenesse and mercy So coldly so carelesly so distractedly so irreverently have I then and there behaved my selfe before thee By thy holy lawes by thy many mercies by my often vowes promises I stand at this day deeply obliged unto thee But I have broken all those bonds and even to this houre am not free from rebelling against thee For this I doe confesse thou mightest sentence me to as many judgments as the mercies are with which thou hast blessed and yet blessest me Thou mightest cast away that soule which I have so much polluted with sinne and smite that body which hath been so much a servant to it in the acts of vanity Thou mightest take away all Hope and Comfort from me and at once bereave me both of Life and Soule Of all these plagues O Lord I am most guilty by my sinnes and if thou shouldest execute them all upon me thou wert but righteous in thy judgements But in judgment Lord remember mercy To thy poore servant to thy penitent prostrate Child grant thy pardon Deare Father and reach to my soule thy hand of mercy I have guilt but thou hast Bloud O Blessed Redeemer I have staines but thou hast Grace O Holy Comforter O Holy blessed and glorious Trinity Spare my life and save my soule I beseech thee who have condemned my selfe for sinning so much and resolve by thy grace to serve the more conscionably And Lord save thy poor distracted Church O forgive her sinnes and build up her walâ—s And in Her preserve all that are dutifull Children and faithfull to thee and her especially those who are in Place and Power to preserve Her Lord doe thou preserve Her and Them and all who are deare and neare to me and Thee Comfort all that are cast down especially those whose soules bleed for their sinnes all poor-penitent-broken Spirits Have mercy on them O Lord and comfort for them and heale them thou good Physitian who alone canst help them by the pretious wounds and death and bloody passion of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Letanie Ten Commandements Epistle 2 Cor. 11. 18. Gospel Mark 4. v. 35. Prayer for Catholike Church Service against Impatience for Thursday or other day Morning Prayer Psal 77. 37. Lessons Job 2. or Prov. 25. Mat. 18. Evening Prayer Psal 106. 145. Lessons 2 Sam. 15. Rom. 12. or Jameâ— 5. ¶ 1. Collect or Prayer against Impatience O Lord let not a Spirit of impatience possesse me by which I do but provoke thee and advance not all Jer. 7. 19. above my misery By it I shall neither get thy blessing nor ease my burden Isa 45 9. but draw thy curse double the cross upon me Thou art my Maker I may not strive with Thee And my misery Psal 39. 10. is thy worke I must not contest with it I may struggle under the yoke Lam. 3. 27 but what I shall gaine but gaule and guilt by the strife Gaule to my Jer. 28. 13. neck and Guilt to my conscience I will therefore kisse thy Rod and bow to what I cannot breake thy yoke Under which I will draw on my course with more humility and care Sad for that I have offended and carefull that I may not offend 1 Pet. 5. 6. so shall my obedience be accepted and my deliverance hastened For O Lord it is not my punishment but amendment which thou dost seek and therefore sendest distresse to drive me to Hos 5. 15. my duty Which when I learne by thy rod and yoke thou dost lay them aside and appeare in more comfortable shapes unto me yea and allowest my Apoc. 3. 10. patience good recompence for my better behaviour in the schoole of my misery Good Lord let me learne what thou doest teach that I may receive what thou doest give the honour of being held thy Faithfull Servant under the crosse and the glory of having Rom. 8. 18. a Crowne for my service Not for any merits of mine or it but for thine infinite mercies sake and the merits of Him who is the Great Master Heb. 12. 3 4. and Patterne of Patience and all perfection Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ 2. Prayer against Impatience LOrd keep me from Impatience as much my paine as sinne To thee the wise and just Disposer and Governour of Humane affaires it is a sinne a quarrelling and fighting with thy Providence To me a poore fraile Creature who cannot maintaine contest Job 2. 10. against my Maker it will be but paine If thy Hand lay the burden on Isa 49. 5. I must submit I cannot resist thee Pray it off I may I cannot throw it from me yea impatiently to seek to cast it off is the way to overwhelme me O! let me not delight at once in thy displeasure and my overthrow Thou art just If evill be on me it's what I deserve Thou art good If I submit to thy will thou wilt worke my good out of that evil Thou art great If I will not by choice I shall by force submit to thy will When therefore evil be it never so much or great is upon me let me look up to thee from whom it flowes Let me looke in to my sinne for which it comes Let me looke on to my good to which it tends So shall I sit downe in Patience under it and kneele downe in prayer to be delivered from it waiting humbly till thou shalt set me above it Even so give me grace to do and say of my Crosse and Paine as thou my Saviour didst of thy bitter Cup and Passion Father If it be thy will Let this Cup passe from me if not not my will but thy will be done Amen Amen Remedies against Impatience 1. AN Insurrection against the Government of a Providence Almighty and Good and therefore ever fond and foule 2. A Sinne of an everlasting date because man is in the perpetuall motion of misery till at rest in heaven 3. A Sinne which keeps
Discourses Reader Thou hast here that which the Author thinkes was never seene before All Divinity in Soliloquie or at least the most Materialls of all And sure thy Appetite is not good to Heaven if none of the Meat relish thee and thy Stomack ill if Godlinesse digest worse with thee Provision is here made thee of Meales for Seven Dayes sufficient to keep thy Soul in Health if Spirituall life be in thee and Gods Blessing begged of thee without which Preaching Hearing Writing Reading all is but Breath and Labour lost and doth not solidly nourish but vanish into aire and emptinesse The Author would have thy Soul Fed not Cloid and therefore breakes into parts his longer Soliloquies to prevent such Surfeits Dâ—votions please God better by being quick then long and so by Man should be measured more by their Spirit then Length Barre Idlenesse then and he leaves thee who knowest thy strength best to thy owne measure And when thou dost Feed and ruminate on these Holy Repasts He prayes Gods Blessing on the Meat and thy Soul Much Heavenly good may it doe thee Sunday-Soliloquie The Nobility of Piety OR A Soliloquie Discovering to the Soul How much Sin sets Her below and besides Her self and gives Ten deadly Wounds to her Life and Honour O My Soule Thou art Spirit a Heb. 12. 23. thy Body is Flesh Wilt thou then make Flesh of thy Spirit Feeding on corrupt lusts turnes it into the basest Flesh b Rom. 7. 5 Rom. 8. 6. That of the Body is Naturall and good but this of the Soul unnaturall and ill c Rom. 8. 7. O! Doe not make thy selfe a Monster whom God hath made his most Goodly creature d Gen. 1. 26. Psal 8. 5 He that did so Dignifie thee in thy Begining did it to Glorifie thee in the End But Carnality makes thee fall off from thy Dignity and short of thy Glory e Psal 49. 12. With it God will not owne thee for his f Jer. 2. 21. and then tremble to think who will take thee O! Doe not commit so grosse on Apostacy Maintaine Primitive Spirit in thee if thou hast sense of honour or welfare If it be lost by lust let Grace make a Recovery g Eph. 4. 15 O My Soule The Immortall piece of Man h Mat. 22. 32. why is the Mortall i Gen. 4. 19 part preferred before thee The Body will die thou canst not k Eccles 12 7 Canst thou not die and carest not how to live Hath that which will die must die all thy care What a folly is this to preferre a Lease to a Perpetuity a Moment to Eternitie The Satisfactions of a Body to the Salvation of a Soule Nay by Seeking for it an unreasonable Welfare to bring on both an Eternall ruine For so the Immortall is made damnably Mortall l Ezek. 18. 4 and dies to blisse and the Mortall Miserably m Isa 66. 24. Immortall ever living in woe Be wiser and better O my Soule to thee and it Doe thou so waite on God and let it so wait on thee in his Service that when thou shalt be rewarded it may share with thee in his Salvation By thee let it be made Immortall in Glory n Job 6. 29. Be not thou by it Immortall in Misery For thy own sake suffer not this For thy o Mark 9. 48. Bodies sake do that If thou dost love it indeed Promote it to Heaven to raise it from a Grave to a Throne is a friendly Promotion But doe not kill thy selfe for love of it O what a Murder is this O what a Murderer art thou p Pro. 6. 32 8. 38. My Soul if thou beest Murdered of eternall Life the Body is both q Rom. 13. 14. Gal. 5. 21. Quarrel and Sword but thy selfe wretched Spirit thy selfe art the Murderer r Hos 13. 9 O do not commit so Horrid an Homicide look to thy Body as thy Life and fight against Sensuality as for Eternity 3. O my Soul The Noble part of Humane nature Remember thy Nobility To love Earth and Earthly things is infinitely below thee Thy Mind and Will thy Armes are made to imbrace the Soveraign Truth and Goodnesse of Heaven Set thy Foot O my Soul Set thy Foot upon Earth s Psal 8. Thy Foot yea let thy Servant and Subject the Body set Foot on it It doth by Nature set it Foot to teach thee not to set thy Heart upon it t Psal 62. 10. O my Soul if thou dost thou art not a Sinner more against Grace than very Nature and art not lesse a Prodigie to Earth than Heaven O thou Noble of the Almighties Making be not so base a Creature of the Devills u Joh. 8. 44 as by him to be made at once a Miscreant and the Abomination of the World 4. O my Soul Gods Image is in thee What then doth the Similitude of Beast upon thee Why doth not Reason but Sense governe thee v Psal 49. 12. Why doth not Rationall will but Brutish Appetite rule thee This is to out-doe the Devill in thy undoing He took Shape of a Serpent for an ill turn and time and thou appearest and continuest in thy bestiall Shape Nay not the Figure of Beast but the very Forme is in thee Vnreasonable Creature that thou art worse then the Brute that hath no Vnderstanding because with Reason and against it My Soul Heaven hath in it neither Beastly Bodies nor Soules w Apoc. 21 27. And therefore Act like Man Appear like God if thou wouldst be there If then x Ephes 4. 24. Deform'd by Wicked Spirit be Transform'd y Ro. 12. 2. by Holy one Child of God Maintaine thy Fathers likenesse that thou maist inherit his happinesse Acts of Lust and Brutishnesse z 1 Joh. 2. 16 Ephes 5. 5. blot it out of thee and thee out of Heaven 5. O my Soul Thou art the Spouse of God no Creature is thy Match or Mate Thy Creatour is thy Husband * Isa 54. 5 Where then is thy Honour if the World have thy Love and Earth thy Embraces O thou that hatest Adultery with Man how darest thou be Adulteresse a Jam. 4. 4. to God May not a Strumpet-Body stand in thy sight and must a Whorish b Ezek. 6. 9 heart lie in thy Bosome Must not Man Court thee and shall the Devil Wooe thee Is thy Bed Clean and God's Defiled Instead of thy Lord thy Slave the World taken into his Bed What is Gods Bed but Mans Heart Setting it on other then him but Strumpetting c Ezek. 16. 30. his Bed * Consensisti in corde tuo concubuisti Aug. And the Baser the good which steales Affections from him the more Abonable the Whorishnesse O thou Beloved above all Creatures d Prov. 8. 31. that hast God for thy Husband Heaven for tâ—y Dower and Earth for thy Service Let not Hell be thy
8. 12. 6. 15. Jer. 3. 3. Prov. 7. 21 Jer. 9. 12. in brasse as will be in thy countenance Entrance teares of the veile of shame but continuance whores the forhead And so my Soule it is with all Sin as that One. Entrance conceives Continuance This begets Custome And That Impudence And It Vengeance Say then my Soule Say and doe with Humble and Holy Job Once have I Spoken but I will not answer Job 40. 4. 5. Yea twice but I will proceed no further No Thrice may carry thee so far from God that either thou carest 2 Tim. 3. 3. Prov. 1. 24. 31. Apoc. 22. 11. not or canst not Returne and so must on and Proceed Proceed for want of a Timely pause till thou come to a fatall Period Beware then of Bad Customs And so doe by 3. Lewd Companies Indeed the way not to be struck with those is to fence against these For they will both instill the one and induce the other That as they are Schools of Prov. 4. 14 error and This as they be forges of wickednesse Those within these without both lead to Leudnesse According Hos 7. 6. 7. to the Dialls next us our Watches goe and wrong if they be set to wickednesse When David therefore would have his goe right he bids these be gone Away from me ye wicked for Psal 6. 8. I will Keep the Commandements of my God That is His Conscience cannot Prov. 1. 10 goe right if their Company be not away How should we goe right and be with Mat. 26. 69. them that are wrong Saint Peter though fully resolv'd and warn'd against it thus fell into his fearfull error The way of Christ lay not through the High-Priests hall nor will Devotion kindle but coole at such a fire A Spark amongst live-coales holds its heat amongst dead it dies My Soule If thou canst not decline evill livers delight not in them they will damp and Prov. 13. 20. Prov. 6. 27. Col. 3. 12. 1 Cor. 5. 10. Ephes 5. 11. Mat. 8. 28. Ephes 2. 1. Mazentius dead thy Sparke Civility with all is good Familiarity dangerous Thou maist live amonst Gods rebells thou must not love them If thou dost thou wilt in time be like them Dead as they are to all good As the living Bodies chain'd by the Tyrant to the Dead And Buried as they are in all ill As sound Bodies living with the Pestilent catch their death And without the Preservative of Gods great mercy and grace damn'd with them for both As those that are found with Rioters incurre the same Doome how Luc. 6. 25. Num. 16. 24. Apoc. 18. 4 dost thou feare their Condemnation and love their Company How canst thou laugh with them in this World with whom thou wouldst not houle in that other Why dost thou dread a Plaguie Body and sit with a Pestilent Psal 1. 4. Cathedra Pestilentiae 2 Cor. 11. 3. 2 Tim. 4. 3. Prov. 4. 15. Act. 2. 40. Soule Surely the Soule is better then thy Body and her Plague worse and that infection greater Read Lord have mercy on them writ on a Sinners Doore When thou dost see in their lives a Crosse to all Gods Commandements And my Soule say Lord have mercy on thee for dareing so much in Spirituall dangers and Lord have mercy on thee that thou doe not further dare so much Shun profane Companies And as not goe the way with these So doe not give way to 4. Vaine Scruples My Soule Two things God desires Thy Joy in his Service and His Comfort in thy Life The Devill a friend to neither seekes to rob thee of both And thy Scruples are his Theeves If they overtake and overcome thee they will bind thee from the One and beat thee out of the other Taking both thy heart from all Duty and all joy from thy heart Believe it they will give thy Spirit no Freedome and thy Conscience no rest For when thou shouldst be doing good thou wilt be disputing it when at Gods work questioning thy Warrant when acting and waiting on his Service entertaining arguments about it Thus when others are well on their journey thou art quarrelling thy Passe and dost either with Balaams asse stand Judg. 22. 27. Exod. 14 and not move at all or with Pharaohs Chariots drive on heavily And no wonder for the Wheels are of The minde becomes darke the heart dull the Spirit dead the Conscience dared nothing but weaknesse and wavering and trembling and chilnesse and confusion in the powers of action and so either none at all or a stupid trepid troubled motion These be the first fruits of thy Scruples fetters and Snares And what then the Second but Heart-gaules and Gripes They will beat thee till they leave not one sound part of comfort in thee Scourge thee with thoughts Saw thee with doubts Rack thee with feares Torture thee with perplexities till thou hast neither joy of Duty nor Life Leaving thee in a labyrinth of woe dolefull dismall full of nothing but Damps of joy Dumps of Spirit and Distresses of Conscience And here My Soule Take view and heed of the Devils boundless craft 1 Pet. 5. 8. and rage When he cannot make thee quick to ill he will make thee dead to goodnesse If not dissolute irresolute If not Debauch'd for Hell Distracted Heaven-ward If loose of life then Conscience it selfe is a Scruple if strict then every Scruple is a Conscience First he would have thee have no conscience and if not It to be all Scruple With the profane even Carefull Piety goes for Holy lunacy and Motions of holy Spirit for fits of Ghostly Phrensie But to the Religious he perswades what he can what they doe and are all to be profane So when he cannot make our hearts hard as flint to bad purposes he makes them weak as water to better And this is the Malice of the Devill When he cannot have us in Hel to have it in us To Torture us with our Scruples when he cannot with his Torments Now to have us without the Comfort of Heaven because not ever without the joyes of it He would have all like himselfe if they will not goe to it carry Hell with them But Dear Soul do thou defeat his 2 Cor. 2. 12 Devices A Scrupulous Conscience is as unsafe as sad Thy Scruples as they are thy Clogs and Rods so they will be his Skrewes if they continue so Skrewes to winde thy thoughts up through doubts and feares to the utmost pin of Despaire and either leave thee there or let thee downe againe to as ill though a more merry Pin of thy first estate in Presumption They will hoist thee up from Atheisme till they have thee to Superstition and then let thee fall to Atheisme againe So niceness of life ends often in retchlesnesse of Conversation When Satan cannot make our hearts tough enough he makes them tender too much and from that excesse brings them
State his Palace is an Inne His bed a Manger His Throne a Cratch His Canopy none but Webbs which Spiders spin him Is it for strength then the Oxe is better For Beauty He lies in Soile and dust For wit It falls down at his feet Lo whom a Star and Angels Mat. 2. 11. Mat. 2. 2. Luc. 2. 8 9 2 Cor. 8. 9 and Sages proclaim Lord King of Heaven and Earth he is born thus poor that thou shouldst not be proud 2. His life is like his Birth to kill thy Covetousnesse He had no Lands to Lord but to walk in No Mounts to climb but to kneel on Mount Olivet Luc. 22. 39. Mat. 14. 13. 19. was his Closet and the Desert his House His Table the Grasse no Covering but Heaven His Provisions not the purchase of Monies but Miracles By them and Loanes he lives If he ride if he rest if he feast with his Friends Beast Bed Roome all are borrowed Birds and Beasts were provided Mat. 21. 3. Luk. 22. 11 better they had their Nests and Holes He not where to lay his Head Mat. 8. 20. Mat. 27. 60. Mat. 3. 16 17. Mat. 17. 5. Joh. 12. 29 Mat. 25. 14. 15. Luk. 16. 2. Nor House nor Tomb Dead or Living Not He He whom Heaven own'd by Voice and Signe for the Beloved Sonne of God the Lord of all would have nothing that thou shouldst not gape for much and Grasp at all Thou that by his favour dost borrow all of Gods and must account for all not laid out for him And can his Passion revive and lust live No for 3. His Death is the Crucifixion of lust a 1 Pet. 4. 1. 2. 24. Rom. 6. 16. Gal. 2. 20. It crucified him as the cause b Rom. 4. 25. 1 Pet. 2. 22 and thou must crucifie it c Gal. 5. 24 that 's the Consequent And as they him thou it that 's the Patterne d 2 Cor. 13. 4. And as he it so thou that 's the Power e Rom. 6. 11. Come lustfull thoughts Clap his thorns to thy Head Rise wanton Lusts Thrust his Speare to thy heart Tempt fleshly Deeds Strike his nailes into thy hands and into thy feet at such Motions If to Drunkennesse put his Spunge to thy mouth If to Gluttony bring his Gall to thy Palate In short whatever the flesh lusts for for his Deaths sake denie it At Bed or Board let it no where Obtaine let his Crosse crucifie it Golgotha burie it Let it not live the Lord of Life suffered Death for it And for thee that thou shouldst not let it Live That thou die not for 1 Pet. 2. 14 Rom. 8. 13 ever for it Alas my Soul If thy lust struck him who had none of his own Dead how shouldst thou who hast all 2 Cor. 5. 21 Isa 53. 45. and of thy owne Live How not be Dâ—om'd and damn'd to eternall Death Gal. 5. 21. My Soule If thou sadly thinke of God in those foure and of Christ in these three these will be like wisdoms Seaven Prov. 9. 1. Pillers to build up thy heart to all Godlinesse And though such thoughts be the Epicures Dreads and Atheists follies Beleive thou God who loves not thy griefe and wisheth thee no better wisdome And despise not the Inspirations of the Almighty which are Gods Aids to advance that blessed worke My Soule Make much of them if they be Gods For 2. Holy Motions are great helps to Pietie Indeed when Holy Motions and Meditations meet as most what they doe as they make a blessed mixture and union of Holy Spirits Gods and mans So they give a great strength by the juncture and concurrence of two such Holy Hands in one and the same Soule mans and Gods And the worke will goe on that 's undertaken by such two 1 Joh. 4. 1. Ezek. 13. 3 Jer. 31. 33. Ezek. 11. 19. But My Soul It is as necessary as worthy thy knowledg to discern which be and which be not the Motions of the Holy Spirit For if another to it Delusion leads thee and if it guide thou wilt follow it The Tryall of Spirits is That is not Gods which is not Holy nor the Motions His which are not Heavenly For Gods Law is the way when his Spirit is the Guide Which did dictate and therefore will never drive Isa 8. 20. Joh. 16. 13 14 15. Gal. 1. 8. 2 Joh. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 6 from that way As being ever the same and never contrary to it selfe Even Gods Spirit in his Word makes this Tryall And when the Spirit is found Right make much of the Motions They are Rom. 8. 14 1 Cor. 11. 1. from an High my Soule Thou must not bring and bow them to thy Mind but it to them When God is leader thou must not goe before but keep the place of a follower And follow after in Gods name for it Leads ro Heaven It is no worse nor lesse A Messenger from it a Guide to it All good and regular Motion is from the first and Best Mover It is an Angell sent from Heaven for Mal. 2. 1. â— Angelus nuncius what 's that more then a Heavenly Messenger Take heed then Deare Soule Thou doe not entertaine bad and neglect good motions That 's to observe a Devill before an Angell Give not Audience to the Devils Messenger before Gods Embassadour That is to be tyed in too strict a league with Hell too loose with Heaven Beleive it there is as much difference betwixt a good and a bad Motion as a Cherub and a Fiend and betwixt their Isa 8. 19. entertainments as an Angels and a Devils And in their ends too For the one weighes to the Center below the other lifts up to the Circumference above A Seraphim to fire the heart and carry it up in the flame That is a Hellish Firebrand this the Heavenly Isa 6. 6. coale Thou art in some errour and the light of this is to lead thee right At a stand and coole in good and the heat of this is to waâ—me thee and lead thee on Under a fall of grace dead under the ashes of prevailing frailty 1 Thes 5. 19. And this is to quicken thy sparke and stir it up O my Soule then Kindle not the Hellish Quench not the Heavenly coale Quench not the Spirit Cast not water and Earth upon it Drown not the Motions in Sensuall and secular pleasures and affaires Thy heart is the hearth where it is to burne but if good acceptance and endeavours Ephes 4. 30. 2 Tim. 1. 6 doe not blow and stir it up it will goe out They make the Bellowes for this Holy fire O my Soule Have dread of this The Messenger oft refus'd will come Act. 13. 46. Luc. 13. 35. Cant. 5. 23 6 7. Rom. 1. 28 2 Thes 2. 3 1 Sam. 16. 14. Luc. 12. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Luc. 11. 26. Apoc. 3. 10. no more
The Guide not followed will be gone The coale not kindled wil not warme And woe to thee if the good Spirit leave thee for then the Ill one will lead thee In stead of good Angels ill thoughts will haunt thee And thou knowest whither they goe whom he doth lead When God knockâ— at thy heart let him not stay at the doore when his Enemy at the first Motion is let in Doe not that for shame If so know that to keep out Gods Spirit is to shut dore on thy Blisse and doe not that for feare No My Soule In Prosperity or Adversity At thy Devotions or other occasions In Church or Closet By Day or night Well or Sick If thy minde be moved to some knowne good or against some evill God knocks doe thou open His Angel is at dore take him in His Spirit would enter bid him welcome Welcome blessed Spirit that Luc. 13. 36. Mat. 21. 19. comes to carry me to Heaven Welcome Holy Comforter that comest to keep me from Hell O come and never goe from me Holy Spirit of God My Soul thou hast seen what Heavenly Helpers Holy Meditations and Motions be Hear the God of all help and he will assure thee so If others Amos. 6. 3. put off the evil day it 's wisdome for thee to have it before thee If others Act. 24. 25 put by good motions it will be thy happinesse to entertaine them believe him who sayes both O that they were wise that they understood Deut. 32. 29. this that they would consider their latter end Wherefore Holy Brethren Partakers Heb. 3. 1. of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus For consider him that endured such Heb. 12. 3. contradiction of Sinners lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds And Behold I stand at the doore and knock Apoc. 3. 20. if any man heare my voyce and open the dore I will come to him and Sup with him and he with me The Summe of this Part is Good Meditations are great Nurses Psal 119. 15. Psal 1. 2. Gen. 24. 63. of Gods feare Serious thoughts of Death Judgement Heaven and Hell are Meditations good against all Sins in the World Sober Considerations of Christs Birth Life Death are destructive to Pride Avarice and Lust which Three make all Holy Motions of God great Aids to the Practice of Godlinesse How they may be known to be Gods What good offices they have and doe from him to us as His Messengers and guides for our best good Why and how to be entertain'd as sucâ— and how foule and fearfull it is to neglect good and embrace Ill Motions Saturday-Soliloquie Remedies of Humane Frailtie OR A Soliloquie shewing the Soul What Provisions of Grace and Mercy God hath made to support her weakness in the way of Piety MY Soul For all thy Cares 1. Part. and Helps thou wilt fail in Eph. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 8. thy Perpetuall Service so long as Flesh and Devil cease not their Perpetuall Motion God Ez. 18. 23. Gal. 3. 11. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 6. 19. Jam. 2. 26. Psal 41. 4. therefore in tendernesse of mercy hath provided for thee Remedies of Grace Repentance that thou do not die Faith to make thee and it live And New Obedience to keep all alive Sin my Soul is ill humour to Heaven a disorder of Holy Spirit and just temper in thee For this Disease Repentance is Gods Remedy * Tert. de paenit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. And very sufficient to heal thee For it will Bleed a Act. 2. 37 thee in Contrition Vomit thee in Confession b Ezek. 18. 31. Orig. Purge thee by Conversion c 1 Cor. 5. 9. Sweat thee with Guilt d Act. 9. 10 Bath thee in Teares e Joel 2. 12. Diet thee from occasions of ill f 2 Cor. 7. 11. Cauterize the corrupt part with Threats g Jona 3. 4 5. and foment the weak with Promises h Joel 2. 13 And Exercise all in Almes i Dan. 4. 27. Fasts k Joel 2. 12 and Prayers l Luk. 18. 13. And of the healing vertues of all these Penitent Soules have had Blest Experiments For that Bleeding cured the Barbarous Jewes m Act. 2. 38. Vomiting David n 2 Sam. 12. 13. Purging Ephraim o Hos 14. 8 The Sweat did the Jailer good p Act. 16. 29. The Bath helpt Magdalen q Luk. 7. 38. The Cautery Saul r Act. 9. 16. Fomenting s Hos 6. 1 2. Israel The Exercise did Zacheus t Luk. 19. 8. Ahab u 1 King 21. 19. even the Publican w Luk. 18. 13. Ease O my Soul Admire and Adore that Great and Good Physitian that Isa 57. 18. Prescribes thee so faire and yet so Soveraigne Jer. 8. 6. Peccata commssa plangâ—re plangenda non committere a Medicine To Grieve thou hast done ill and desire thou maist doe better To be sorry for what was amisse and not doe again what will make thee Sorry When I have wandred to returne When I have been fool'd to Jer. 3. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3. 2. Joh. 12. 40 Isa 1. 16. Paenitens ferè innocens est Eccl. 7. 29. Hos 14. 4. Isa 1. 18. Luk. 15. 17 Ezek. 18. 30 31. Luk. 15. 22 24. 2 Cor. 7. 10 Luk. 4. 18. Act. 11. 18. grow wise When I am sick to be well When I am foul to wash When I cannot be a Saint as good as Adam was fully Innocent to be as well as Enoch may be truly Penitent Was ever Prescript so faire And yet my Soul this Heales Sin Guilt and Staine Returnes thee both to God and thy self Recovers both Fall and Wit Restores both Tainted Bloud and Spirit Reduces to a Paradise both of Joy and Innocence Saves thee from Death sets thee in Health Disposeth thee to long even everlasting life Can any Medicine be more Soveraigne Take it then my Soul if thou lovest thy self And how and when thy Physitian gives it Not half for he appoints the whole Nor this hereafter for he wills it Now To Grieve for Sin and do no more Joel 2. 12. is to see not to lose thy Sicknesse And to amend what is not first griev'd to recover before thou art Sick To be Compunct and not Confesse is to bleed inwardly To Confess but not be Contrite to Vomit wantonly To Confesse and Pro. 28. 13 not Amend to cast and lick up the Vomit To be Frighted for Sin and not 2 Pet. 2. 22 bettered is to Sweat and take cold Joh. 5. 14. after it To weep for it and commit it 2 Pet. 2. 22 is with the Sow to wash and wallow To Abstain occasions and not acts is to fast it into a better Stomack To be Threatned into Despaire is instead of Gen. 4. 13. Sin to burne thy self And
from our sinnes in his owne Blood and of vassals and slaves of Satan hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father To him be Glory and Dominion and therefore from us Duty and Obedience for ever and ever Amen 3. So then My Soule Take them And Canst thou valew them enough Never too much Thy Bodies Health is worth all the World but thy owne worth more then Ten Thousands of Worlds Ten Millions of Bodies It 's worth as much as Salvation as Eternity comes to beyond all valew As much as thy Christ thy Saviour thy God is worth above Myriads of Salvation For Repentance Recovers thy Sickness * Gods salve for every sore Latimer Tit. 1. 13. Col. 1. 11. Joh. 3. 15. Act. 16. 31 Faith sets thee Sound Obedience keeps thee strong all give a state of good and perfect health and so save from death And my Soule valew faith above all So God doth and therfore ascribes thy health to it alone to shew it the Cheife And so it is Repentance is but a Preparative to it Obedience a Preservative of it Faith is the Royall Grace Repentance the Latimer Ser. 7. before K. Ed Vsher that goes before Obedience that bears up the Train after it The Queen Mother of this the Mistresse to that Regent to both O My Soule The Cordiall is above all because Christ is all in all The Quintessence of Heavenly vertue Col. 3. 11. the Elixar of all Grace the very Spâ—rit of Goodnesse and the perfection of all Col. 2. 9. Eph. 1. 23. Col. 1. 15. Perfections both in Heaven and Earth Beare no Heart in thy Body then not this in thy heart O let that pretious Viall never want this Holy Essence Count worldly good grease to this Oyle All Delights death to this Glad Psal 4. 6. Phil. 3. 8. Col. 1. 27. Apoc. 2. 10 Apoc. 3. 11 nesse All Honours shames to this Glory Keep thy Christ as thy Crowne thy Life as the Crowne of Life thy Immortall Crown and Keep thy Faith as Him for thou hast and holdest Him in it Keep Him as thy Saviour and it as thy Salvation Him as thine Heb. 10 19 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 Eph. 2. 18. Jam. 3. 2. Inheritance and this as thine Interest Him as the onely Sanctuary of a troubled Spirit and this as the only Accesse to Him If Defects be in thy Repentance Errors in thy Obedience as there may there will be in both fly by Faith unto thy Sanctuary Hide thy Selfe in his wounds Hold by the Hornes of the Altar Creep under his wings Die within his Armes goe run from the Pursuer of blood to this Heb. 3. 18. 19. City of Refuge Enter in by thy Faith And My Soul Keep the viall clean that the Elixar goe not out Wash it with Repentance and Dry it with Obedience that it be so kept let them doe that Duty to it that doth so much good and help for them And then My Soul thou shalt be healthy and strong and happy in them all Of old all was not enough for thy health but Christ hath Mediated thy Covenant thus New And to doe this Heb. 8. 6. Duty God for his sake will give thee Ability Ability of Grace to doe him acceptable Service Take his Word for it he Promiseth he will And his Command with it for he Saies thou must A New heart will I give you and a Ezek. 36. 26. new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart and give you a heart of flesh And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and you shall keep my judgements to doe them Therefore saith the Lord God Repent Ezek. 18. 31 32. and turne your Selves from all your transgressions So iniquity shall not be your ruine Cast away all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new Spirit For will yee die O House of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God Wherefore turne your selves and live The Summe of this Soliloquie God hath appointed Remedies against our failings in His Service 2. Repentance is the Sinners first Remedie And a most faire and Soveraigne Remedie Experiments of it Taking it by Halves or Deferring it too long makes it not to be Saving To Delay it to future is dangerous till death Desperate 2. Faith is a Sinners Cordiall Most pretious because Christ is cheife yea onely Ingredient of it and taken by it Excellent Spirits begot by the Cordiall of true faith Six counterfeits of faith not truly cordiall 3. Obedience in the New Covenant the Souls Preservative in â—ealth Why it is called New and how it is Preservative of it Some take Poison instead of this Preservative The Proofs of these three Remedies and Prescripts how and when to take them and Pretiousnesse of all and of Faith in Cheife Helps to Heaven and Happinesse OR A Soliloquie acquainting the Soul with such Reliefs and Aids as will facilitate and further her Course and Progresse in the wayes of Godlinesse The second Part. Holy Actions and Cautions great Assistants to Piety MY Soul If good Meditations 3. Division and Motions live in thee the mind may do much But when all that is done there must be more And thy Ear Eye Heart Hand Mouth every one must doe his Part Hear Read Resolve Practice Pray all must be in Action And Conscience must keep a particular watch too and have some things in Holy Caution This will compleat all And the Good is not meane which may be done by The Eare. For my Soul by this Dore Gods Act. 14. 2â— 16. 14. Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Joh. 10. 27 Joh. 13. 17 Psal 109. 105. Jer. 23. 29. 2 Cor. 4. 45. Luk. 24 42. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3. 16. Luk. 11. 28. Heb. 5. 11. Isa 28. 10. Heb. 6. 1 2 Heb. 4. 12. Word is received in Baptisme first sets thee Preaching keeps thee on thy feet For what are they but to know and do And in Gods Word is both light and heat and both are Communicated by good Preaching And observe that my Soul to avoid common Errour The work of it is both on minde and heart to informe and enflame Til thou dost as well doe good as know it the Preacher hath not done his nor thou thy work He may tell thee that in an hour which he can scarce teach thee to doe in a life The Principles of Christianity are easie but the Practise is hard And Efficacy as well as Instruction is the work of the Word Even the Preached Word So it be duly Preached For that my Soul thou shalt doe well to eye as another prevailing but most pestilent error The Pulpit doth not make the Word nor Speaking from it Preaching But a Reverend handling of Holy Scripture according to the Truth of Gods Sense and to the aimes
of Gods Spirit a that 's 2 Tim. 1. 19 the true Preaching of the Word Tit. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Neh. 8. 8. 2 Chrâ— 18. 21. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Joh. 4. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. 10 11. Mar. 4. 24. Apoc. 2. 11. Act. 17. 11 Jam. 1. 21. Act. 10. 33 Mat. 13. 22 Heb. 4. 2. Errour and Ill are from the Devill though out of a Pulpit And if thou take heed how thou hearest this and have care to harken to that with an humble honest Heart prepossest with neither Errour nor Lust thou canst not chuse but be of better life because well taught by Gods Word Nor wilt thou be worse for giving thy self to Read it For therefore it is Writing as wel as Word to have it in thy Eye But my Soul avoid extremities Theirs who forbid it as a Mote in the Mat. 22. 29. Peoples Eye And theirs who abuse it as Dust under their Foot What is Sacred must not be too Common and Deat 29. 9 2 Pet. 3. 16 Heb. 5. 12. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Joh. 5. 13 Gal. 3. 2. what is Secret must not be Enquired Mysteries are Labyrinths which every Foot may not must not Tread Necessaries every mind ought and may know If thou wouldst not lose thy self then walk not in the Woods but Plaines If thou wilt not drown thy 2 Pet. 1. 10 Heb. 5. 14. Pontifex â—nter DeuÌ„ homines â—ons cst â—ern self Foard the shallowes not the Deeps And if thou canst not give thy selfe take direction how and where to goe and walk And so thou maist advance much in all Holy wayes The Pavement to Heaven is made there by Gods Phil. 2. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Act. 18. 26. Act. 16. 17. Hand and thy Foot will not goe more wrong because thy Eye sees the pavement Nay of that thou art more sure when thou dost Read then Hear Mans Breath comes in with Gods Word into 1 Joh. 4. 1. the Ear but Gods Pure Word and Spirit into the Eye Into the Eye yes and to the Heart too from it and to the Life from that For my Soul as many Saints have been made better so some have been made Saints by the meer Reading of the Word And the Desk as well as the Pulpit hath begot Converts And sure it is a good Nurse if a happy Mother of Spirituall life Tolle lege made Saint Augustine Saint Mat. 19. 2â— Athanas. And a Text read turn'd Saint Antony Angel My Soul I would not have thee make a Chapter keep thee from a Sermon nor a Sermon make thee slight a Chapter Use both right and thou wilt be much bettered by both And if with Eyes on Heaven and Knees on Earth * C. Boromaeus sic c. and Heart on Book thou dost at due times turne the Sacred Volumes thy Reading will be right Yea though leaves not inspiredly Sacred For when thy self readest Scriptures the flowers of Grace thou art the Bee that gettest the Hony by thy own Hand but in Good and Godly Bookes another hath Gathered and thou hast but to Eat the Hony Yea what is far sweeter and wholsomer to Holy and Heavenly Taste O my Soul be given to read Gods and Godly Comparate vobis Biblia animae pharmaca Chrys Bookes Good Aire breeds good Spirit and Gods Aire Holy Breath Where Flowers of Grace and Plants of Paradise grow as on Holy Grounds the Aire is good Nor is it ill to smell a Posie made of no worse Flowers Gods Bible is a Garden a good Book a Posie Take pleasure then and take Psal 1. 2. profit in both And so thou wilt if thou dost digest what thou dost see and hear For my Soul they bring meat into thy Mouth but that doth Prepare 1 Pet. 2. 2. and Distribute it to thy Nourishment They Convey Gods Word to the Dores Rom. 6. 17. Col. 3. 16. of thy House but thou must not let it lie there but lodge it in thy Heart and make it Commander of thy life And to entertain and observe it so is the work which without serious and strong Resolutions will never be done the proper act of The Heart It must resolve upon action for which thou seest reason and determine a Practice when it knowes Gods Will Act. 10. 30. and Word The Counsels of the minde do nothing without the Decrees of the wil. And Ear and Eye can do no more in the Word of God but furnish the minde with good Counsels Execution must come from the Heart the Great Governour of the little world of Man To it therefore is given the power to make such Decrees And my Soul there is nothing which thou canst not doe by virtue of that power It s wonderful what hath been done by a Romane Resolution Miraculous if any thing were impossible to a Christian not only to Scaevola Dan. 3. 28 burne the Hand and not shrink but to set the Body on flames and Smile at it And much more to quench the fire of burning lusts Resolutions are Cords if then weake Temptation if Num. 30. 13. Judg. 15. 13 strong as Sampson breaks them like Tow. But if well twist and made will bind and hold any though never so strong It did David to a Regular life Psal 119 116. to Gods Law because so stedfastly purposed Joshua from strange Gods The Jos 24. 15 Dan. 3. 28 Three Children from the Image-worship There is no good or ill which thou maist not doe or shun if thou resolve for or against it Have not some suffered their Bodies to be Cut their Limbs to be sawne their Throats to be parcht with thirst and their Stomacks Gnawn with hunger when no meanes else were left for saving of their Lives And might not the Intemperate doe as much for Sobriety and Abstinence and the Incontinent against his lusts if they did see and resolve this as necessary to save their Souls Vowes my Soul may be snares Eccles 5. 2 if not considerately made but Holy Purposes are innocent Bonds into which thou maist more commonly enter And bind thy self to better behaviour with them as wel as vowes in Psal 76. 11 Deut. 12. 11. some cases with both And surely God hath given thee that power of will and thy will that power that thou shouldst as a man made for God move by it to Godlinesse and if dull quicken thy self and strengthen it more fastly and firmly to move But when so set it must goe Thou sal 66. 12 sal 116. 6. must determine and doe Put to Practice what thou hast in Purpose and what thy heart doth resolve that must be done by thy Hand My Soul Experiments confirme Precepts much and want of good Attempts makes brave Exploits be thought impossible and left when else they might be done Of the Christian it is most true what glorious Conquests might be got over our lusts were they not thought Invincible To what