constanter surer and better righteousnesse which is his merit and satisfaction by Faith imputed vnto thee Philip. 3. and is that Righteousnesse which God onely accepteth of Sathan moreouer by Adams sinne hath blotted and defaced Gods Image in thee and deadly wounded thee in all thy powres and operations and left thee lying halfe dead Luk. 10. so that there was no desire or motion left or remayning in thee to satisfie Gods will and therefore shouldest die â—ternally but on the contrarie Iesus hath not onely clothed thee with his owne righteousnesse Gal. 3 27. Esa. 55. Col 3.10 healed thy soares and wounds by his stripes and death begot thee againe by the holie spirit and imprinted his image of new but also he will at the last day cleare thy mortall bodie and make it like to his glorious bodie To be short Sathans course was to take all thy gifts and heauenly ornaments from thee and throw thee head-long to euerlasting perdition but Iesus Christ opposed himselfe and ayded thee in such wayes that not onely hee tooke this flesh and bloud vpon him satisfied for thee made attonement for thee reconciled thee with his Father obtayned eternall remission for thee gaue thee his righteousnesse his holie spirit and euerlasting life but also he promoted thee to bee accounted righteous holie Gods child Gods heyre his brother his cousin his bride and bed-fellow heyre the Temple and habitation of the holy and glorious Trinitie Now mayest thou say deare Soule Omnia benefecit Mar. 7. He hath done al things well and therefore ô Lord thy name be praysed and glorified for euer euer ô my God how gratiously hast thou comforted me how mildly hast thou refreshed my drowsie and drooping Soule how sweete is thy consolation wherfore now I am quiet and setled in mind and will say truly thou art that mercifull Gate and Ladder to eternall Life Ioh. 14. Gen. 28. Thou art the Way Veretie and Life no man commeth vnto the Father but by thee thou art the Way and there is Saluation in no other Act. 4. for there is no other name giuen vnto man vnder heauen in the which wee shall be saued but in thy name Thou ar the Truth for he that abideth not in thy learning hath not God but he that abides in thy learning hath both the Father and the Sonne Thou art Life for hee that beleeueth in thee hath eternall Life but he that beleeueth not in thee shall not see Life but Gods wrath shall abide on him The Sinners prayer to relie on God O Iesus Christ Ioh. 1. who art that right and heauenlie doore without whom none can come to the Father graunt that by a true and constant faith I may euer depend and relie vpon thee by thee mount vp to heauen and there be possessor of that euerlasting inheritaÌ„ce of glorie prepared by thy Son my Lord and Sauiour in whose name I call vpon thee saying as hee himselfe hath taught mee Our Father which art in heauen c. Flesh. Seeing that now by Christ I am reconciled vnto the Father and iustified before him by Faith and in my hope alreadie blessed may I doe what I will vntill the day of death Spirit No by no meanes beloued Soule for if true Faith be in thy heart Rom. 8. and thou made a new creature by the holie spirit thou must think for other wise for the regenerate delighteth in a new life attentiuely watcheth that hee fal not into sinne and is grieued in his heart for his owne and other mens vngodlinesse Pro. 24.16 abhorreth and hateth sinne eagerly and if the faithfull man be miscarried and seduced by Sathan or fall by inborne and naturall infirmitie hee daylye repenteth and comforteth himselfe in Iesus Christ whose seede abideth in him therefore there is no condemnation to him Rom. 8.1 seeing by the hand of Faith hee alwayes apprehendeth Iesus Christ and therefore did I call new obedience the Third part of Repentance which declareth it selfe in a iust sober godlie life and conuersation both to God and man in thankefulnesse and loue so mayest thou daylie exercise thy selfe in forme following A most excellent Prayer for all times to be vsed I thanke thee my God heauenly father for creating me according to thy similitude and likenesse Gen. 1. and when I had fallen away by sinne and therby became the childe of wrath thou didst bestow and freely giue thy well-beloued sonne to bee my redeemer what shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psa. 116.12 gouern me by thy holy spirit that I may take pleasure in thy Law for in vaine serueth man thee Matt. 15. by mens lawes and traditions grant that I doe no more liue after the flesh Rom. 8. but after the spirit so that I may fight that good fight alwayes keeping faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1. teach mee euer to bee of the minde that Iesus Christ my Lord was of who hath left me an example that I should walke in his foot-steps Phil. 1. 1 Pet. 2. Ephes. 6. Rom. 12. Ioh. 2. Gal. 5. strengthen my faith and hope that I may withstand Sathan and not fashion my selfe like to this wicked and euill world for her course tends to destruction giue mee thy grace that I may euer crucifie my sinnefull flesh mortifie and daunt the sinnefull lusts and concupiscences thereof that I may daily die to sinne and exercise my selfe in all goodnesse and vertue 1 Cor. 9. helpe me my Lord euer to feare thee from my heart to loue thee with all my power Deut. 6. and with all my strength that all my ioy and pleasure may be in thee Psal. 18. grant that I thy creature may aright know thee my creatour and bee found faithfull manfull couragious in seeking thy glory 1 King 19. and in all humility euer call on thee I may desire thy word more then gold yea more then fine gold and bee obedient to thy commandements Ps. 19.8.10 for in keeping of them is great reward Ezek. 19. ô Lord Iesus Christ enflame my heart with thy loue Psal. 73.25 that I may esteeme thee aboue the greatest treasure and that I may consider what it is to loue this wretched world bow my heart to thee my redeemer that I may repute this earth and the glory thereof to bee as it is indeede nothing and that I may long and groane for that eternall Kingdome to come ô Lord keepe me from immoderate sollicitude and care for worldly sustenance and cause mee neuer giue trust to this temporary life Grant vnto mee ô my redeemer stedfast patience vnder the crosse of all afflictions constant magnanimity fortitude and faith in all tentations and that in the crosses of this life I despaire not grant gracious father that I may humble my selfe in greatest prosperity encline my heart to godlinesse and make my will conformable to thy
thy dearest friends then say Hide not thy face farre from me Psal. 27.9 10. put not away thy seruant in anger thou hast beene my helpe leaue me not neither forsake mee ô God my saluation When my father and my mother forsake mee then the Lord will take mee vp In another place Psal. 73.25 26. whom haue I in heauen but thee and there is none vpon the earth that I desire but thee my flesh and my heart failes but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer If Sathan say thou must yet neuerthelesse die answer blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14.13 and if hee proceede and say thou shalt neuerthelesse be condemned for hee will not depart at one repulse then mayest thou with all boldnesse and courage of Spirit say Thou liâ—st Satan for thou art a lyer from the beginning for none that beleeue in Iesus Christ shall perish but shall haue euerlasting life The sicke persons prayer for comfort and victory ouer all tentations of Sathan O thou Lord Iesus Christ Almighty destroyer of hell death and condemnation and eternall victor and conquerour for mee strengthen mee in all my weaknesse by thy holy Spirit that I may take vnto me the whole armour of God Eph. 6.13 that I may be able to withstand in the euill day and hauing finished all things to stand fast my loynes girded about with verity 14. and hauing on the brest-plate of righteousnesse and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace 15. 16. hauing the shield of faith wherewith I may bee able to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked 17. the helmet of saluation and sword of the spirit which is thy word 18. and pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseuerance That thus being in armes like a valiant champion and Christian souldier I may manfully fight vnder thy banner and hauing ouercome may through thy grace bee crowned with glory wherethou art at the right hand of thy father in the heauens blessed God for euer and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee how I may conclude my dayes and coÌ„mend my spirit to God Spirit As for the â—ighth and ninth point beloued soule looke to the end of thy sicknesse and if thou shalt perceiue that thou canst not liue long then with all patience thou mayest say Act. 7.59 Lord Iesus Christ receiue my Soule I desire to be dissolued to be with thee Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit And continue herein euen to thy last gaspe and when words and motions of thy outward members shall begin to fayle thee then betake thee to thy inward and most heauenly contemplations as of the place whether thou art going of them that are there before thee of the Saints to whom thou shalt be welcome and of Iesus Christ the Doore and Way by whom thou shalt enter with whom thou shalt be blessed eternally But if it shall so bee that God shall restore thee to thy wonted health then thanke him all thy life time both in heart and word and deed and giue diligent heed seeing thou art made whole Iohn 5.14 that thou sinne no more least a worse euill come vnto theâ— Wherfore fall vpon thy knees and oft and diuers times recite this Prayer following A thanksgiuing after sicknesse I thanke thee Almightie Lord God that thou so kindly fatherly hast visited and chastised mee for my offences it is good for mee that thou hast humbled mee that I might learne thy precepts O my God how often remeÌ„bred I thy deare seruant king Ezekiah who sayd I shall not see the Lord Esa. 38.11.12 euen the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the Earth my age is departed and is gone from mee as a Sheepeheards Tent I haue cut off like a Weauer my life from day euen to night thou wilt make an end of mee But I now vnderstaÌ„d O Lord that this my sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glorie of God that thou Son of God mightest be glorified thereby for thou hast had mercie vpon mee thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back Thou louedst my soule and deliueredst it from the pit of corruption how comfortably hast thou turned my sicknesse into health I thanke thee my God yea I thanke thee from the bottom of my hart that thou hast raysed mee from my bed that I may visit and frequeÌ„t thy house walke in my calling and perfit my actions Lam. 3 22. It is of thy goodnesse and mercies that I am not consumed because thy compassions fayle not O how oft should I remember this thy rod of correction how wisely should I walke all my dayes that I may eschew thy wrath assist mee my God that with the new health of my bodie I may begin to lead a new life graunt that I may alwayes praise thy name gouerne mee by thy holy Spirit that I may glorifie thee by my life and not giue my membersweapons of vnrighteousnesse to serue sinne for thou hast deliued my soule from death which hath waited for me thou art my help and my shield my heart shall reioyce heereafter euery moment in thee for thou hast compassed me with songs of deliuerance I will praise thee in the congregation in the midst of the people I will sing vnto thee ô Lord To whom be praise and glory now and for euer Amen CHAP. V. Containing a spiritual confutation of all worldly fleshly thoghts which molest-men when as they intend the Art to die well Flesh. FOr so much as the Christian in his sicknesse or in any other estate should daily aduise himselfe on the houre of his death yet notwithstanding there are many terrours in mens hearts whereby they are afraid of Death Spirit That is naturall deare soule for our nature in the beginng was not created to dy but to liue but death is come into the world by sione for death is the wages of sinne Rom. 5.12 Yea beloued Soule like as death is a consumer of all that haue life so all that haue life are foes enemies to death for seeing man of nature hath but a short time to liue it is no maruell neither yet sinne nor to bee discommended in any man to be afâ—aid of death and to auoyd it by all meanes possible Wee haue a remarkable example in our Sauiour Iesus Christ hee began to bee sorrowfull and very heauy before death Mat. 25.37 for hee knew that his howre did approach for albeit there were many causes of his sorrow and sadnesse vpon the mount of Oliues yet was this one because hee was a very true man and had in him all our naturall conditions and affections and therefore while the God-head which is the Word rested it selfe and held it selfe quiet in that anguish of his
Gen. ca. 26. If God keepe not promise wee haue done with saluation but God will keepe it and not lye And therefore albeit our hâ—arts doubt wee must haue our recourse vnto him who will not change for the Lord speaketh so of himselfe I am the Lord and lye not And againe Gods gifts and callings are without repentance Consider this deare Soule and hold thee fast by Gods word He appeareth to be angry but is well pleased 1. Ioh. 3.20 for God is strong and his Word much more sure than thy owne heart And therefore learne to vnderstand the Lords Customes his delight is with the children of men hee ieastâ— and dallieth with thâ—m as Fathers with their children yea hee withholds his hands a little from them to prooue them not for their hurt and destruction but that they should not lean to themselues 1. Cor. 1.9 but on him who rayseth the dead and can make the weak and feeble strong and valiant Hee hath no pleasure in presumption but his will is that we should serue him with feare Ps. 2.11 and reioyce with trembling And we may see in Peter and Thomas what it is to bee too much confident and to build vpon our own courage and strength Ier. 17.9 No man knoweth himselfe aright but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And therefore pray continually that mercifully hee would vphold thee to the end and bee persuaded if at any time thou hast felt comfort that God will certainely come again to thee and if that at any time he hath ioyed thy heart that hee certainly oftner oftner will doe it for thy comfort Yea if in all thy life time thou hadst receiued but onely one drop of comfort yet doubt not but pray beleeue hope and haue patience Hab. 2.3 the Lord will certainely come and will not delay vnlesse thou bee altogether stifnecked and vnwilling Remember the example of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.21 Behold how her Lord ieasteth with her how he dismisseth her yea euen thrice First hee holdeth his peace and answereth not a word Secondly hee heareth but that hee is not come for her good but for the benefit of the Children of Israel but the third time he calleth her a Dogge as vnworthie of his comfort but what doth shee for the first in that Christ was silent she meeteth him with a patieâ—t heart which well could stay and trust For the second she answers with a faithfull heart that shee must haue some portion of his promises For the third she meeteth him with an humble heart and willingly wil be a Dogge desiring that which appertayned to him that is the crums which fal from the table that is a verie small helpe a little deale of comfort wherewith shee and her daughter would bee contented Here the Lord cannot hide himselfe longer from her but presenteth a copious measure of mercie vnto her saying O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But if thou shalt now say behold she was strong in Faith and I am weake thou must vnderstand that our faith is resembled vnto a Fencer who is in the lists against another for he is euer in feare that he shall be ouercome and be too feeble against his Enemie euen so is it with Faith for when we wrastle and fight wee thinke that wee are weake and shall loose the Victorie But it shall not fall out so for victorie belongeth vnto faith let it incline whether it will it appertaineth euer vnto her yea and a weake Faith shall win the field and through the Lords strength power we shal be kept through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 readie to bee reuealed in the last time Remember also the Patriarch Iaâ—obs wrastling how he straue with God and stucke hardly vnto him and let him not goe but sayd Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee A Prayer for stedfast Faith in Christ. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest I beleeue although but with a weake faith yet by the selfe same I put my whole trust and confidence in thee reach mee thy comfortable hand and draw mee to thee O Lord I am weake increase my faith stand not farre off from mee for thou art mine onely hope to whom else can I goe Kindle that little sparke in my heart by thy holie spirit that I may euermore doe thy will Behold to will is present with mee Rom. 7 18. but how to performe that which is good I find not Yea lord Iesus thou art my Life my Hope and Saluation for hauing thee I haue all things Now haue I thee although by a weak hand now haue I thee albeit my hand be weake thine is strong Let me not goe from thine hand to the end that I let thee not go from mee Looke chearefully vpon mee as thou didst vpon Peter Marie Magdalen the woman of Canaan the holy Patriarch Iacob driue away darkenes from my heart let me enioy the consolation of thy mercies here am I as a poore Dog and stay for the crums which fal from the table of mercie Behold I thus wrastle with thee by praier O thou strong Lord insinuate thy selfe into my hart for by thy streÌ„gth I striuâ— with thy selfe giue thy selfe vnto me I wil not leâ— thee passe by any meanes before thou blesse mee I will not desist before the sâ—n of consolation rise brightly vnto me now thou Lord Iesus Christ who hast praied for Peter dost sit at the right hand of thy father Intercessor for me that my faith shall not decay Arise O Lord still the tempest of my heart and rages of temptation that in a liuely seÌ„ce I may see and rast the sweetnesse of thy word and holy spirit that thereby I may learne that inward ioy and freedome from sinne and power thereof by the death and passion of thy deare Sonne my Sauior the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holie Spirit bee rendered as most due is all honor power and glorie of all true Christians from this time forth for euer Amen CHAP. VII Contayning spirituall consolations and Instructions against the terrours that eyther the Soule or the conscience of Man now readie to dye can obiect Flesh. It may bee neuerthelesse euidently seene that euerie man is mortall and yeeldeth vnto death Spirit Men dye truely and loose their liues by reason of sinne but they that haue the true comfort of the heart infused by Iesus Christ and rejoyce therein They account death nothing else but a passage froÌ„ this miserable world to their owne natiue inheritance for Christ that dwelleth in them hath tasted death for them taken away the power therof and broaken her sting so that death can doe no more but disseuer the Soule from the body and bereaue vs of this transitorie Life Yet it shal serue as all other things doe to
our good for we rest from our labors and enioy happinesse because the righteous mans Soule is in Gods hands Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch it And Christ himselfe professeth that hee will come againe and receiue vs vnto himselfe Ioh. 14.3 that where he is there we may be also Hearken therefore and learne what it is to dye for it is nothing else than a passage and home going to rest yea the death of the faithfull is Christs taking of them vnto himselfe A Prayer against Death O Lord Iesus Christ thou eternall true Light inlighten my heart that as a new creature I may looke vpon Death with new eyes and not esteeme it for a hurter of mee but for a messenger by whom thou callest mee from this wretched world and translatst me to the kingdome of thy Sonne from this valley of darkenesse Euen so Come Lord Iesus with that Chariot of Elias and take mee from hence Now let thy Seruant depart in peace Luk 2.29 who longeth for quietnesse rest through Iesus Christ my onely sauiour Amen Flesh. Yet Death is verie terrible cold and euill fauored wee become stiffe and so must rot in our graues Spirit That is also a punishment which God inflicts on the bodie for sinne but the children of God look not to the present shew and shape of Death but looke further off consider how pleasaunt how soone how beautifull how cleare and honourable their bodies shall rise vp at the last day and corruption shal put on incorruption 1 Cor. 15.53 this mortallitie shall put on immortallitie Then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie and by this the holie man Iob comforted himselfe for he knew that his Redeemer liued and that he should rayse him vp from the earth O how beautifull shall our bodies bee there is no starre in heauen shall be so cleere neuer shined the Sunne or the Moon so perfectly as when the Lord shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the working Phil. 3.21 whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe for wee are the Lords wheat â— Cor. 15.37 Ioh. 12.24 sowen in his ground which shall rise againe and beare euerlasting fruit So also is the resurrection of the dead it is sowen in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowen in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sowen in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowen a naturall body it is raised a spirituall body there is a naturall body and there is a spirituall body A Prayer against the terror of the graue Strengthen mee ô my Lord Iesus Christ that I bee not amazed at the fearefull sight of dead members nor when I thinke vpon the rottennesse in the graue and that I shall turne to dust and ashes but helpe mee that in a ioyfull hope I may behold the beauty and cleerenesse which shall not onely bee in my soule but euen manifest in my body that I may bee encouraged thereby gladly to meet thee when euer thou shalt please to call mee to that spirituall wedding from this life vnto life eternall through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen Flesh. It is very terrible neuerthelesse to taste of death yeâ— to be put in that darke hole in the graue couered with earth full of rottennesse and corruption Spirit That feare ariseth of the sense of sinne for death is our enimy and God created man to bee immortall and made him to be an image of his eternity neuertheles Wis. 2.23.24 throgh the enuy of the Diuell death came into the world and heâ—rein is a figure representing the deâ—sert of sin for the breach of Gods Law in that wee not onely die temporally heere but must eternally perish be thrust downe in to the darke dungeon of hell and there bee ouerspred with the flames of perpetuall fire with the riuers of brimstone if that our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ had not come to our redemption And of this comes that terrour and hangs on vs vntill wee come to the graue Euen as a man that had been pluckt out of a great fire or out of some deepe and dangerous water so oft as hee thinkes vpon it hee is afraid so is it with vs wee are greatly astonished and amazed when wee bethinke vs on that miserie wherein wee should haue beene destroyed had not the death of Iesus come betweene by whom our attonement is made with the Father But yet all the children of God should lâ—â—rne a new language and attend how the holy Gospell speaketh heereof for it calleth the death of the faithfull a sleepe and their graues chambers to sleepe in for as Iesus Christ hath taken the punishment of death from vs and suffered the paines of hell fulfilled Gods righteousnesse and procured eternall life for vs so the holy Spirit in his Gospell doth take away the harsh and hard names of death and doth comfort the Lords Elect with a new tongue Esa. 26.20 as when he saith Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doores abouâ— thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation passe ouer And in another place Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall wake some to shame euerlasting contempt and some to euerlasting life And againe our friend Lazaruâ— sleepeth Ioh. 11.11 but I goe that I may awake him out of sleepe Also the childe is not dead Matth. 27. but sleepeth and there arose many that slept and so in infinite more places Heere hast thou then thy death changed into a soft sleep and thy graue vnto a warme bed When thou diest thou art said to goe to sleepe because he that betaketh himselfe to his rest is in expectation that the next day after he shall rise and when they beat the earth of the graue with the shouell it iâ— called to shut the dore and when we rot in the earth wâ—e are sayd to rest and to hide vs vntill wrath passe ouer our soules A Praier for the mercies of Christ. O Lord God holy Spirit take thou my heart and replenish it with the comfortable mercies of our Lord Iesus Christ teach me to put due difference betwixt the Law Gospell abolish terror and feare for death and learne me that new language of Canaan that I heare it not onely with mine eares but pronounce it by my mouth that I may beleeue and in experience prooue that when the time of my dissolution shall draw neere I shall not die but sweetly sleep vntill it shall please thee by thine Arch-angell and trumpet of God to awake and raise me vp and so do I lie downe now Lord Iesus in thine armes as a childe in the mothers lap and commit my soule vnto thee and sleep as long a time as it pleaseth thee
bottle yea and true meeknesse and hunger after mee Psal. 56.8 all outward benefits turne to thy blessings as seales of my fauour thy crosses are no curses but being sanctified turne to thy good in faith patienly possessing thy soule thou doest wait and looke assuredly for my glorious kingdome after this life it is not thine actions it is thy affections I respect desirest thou to bee righteousâ— then art thou righteous Meanest thou to leaue thy sinâ—es I repute thee as if thou hadst left them wouldest thou not fall I esteeme thee as a valiant Worthy who neuer was vanquished For if there bee a willing minde in thee it is accepted according to that thou hast and not according to that thou hast not 2 Cor. 8.12 thou art blessed that feelest thy wants and desirest to haue them supplied I haue giuen thee a sight of thy sinne a sorrow for it a feeling of the forgiuenes of it in my bloud a power to crucifie it lay holde on my righteousnesse by my resurrection a hope for strength from the same to sanctification and perseuerance to the end What now hadst thou these in thy nature wherby thou wast dead in sin no not so it is my grace which in thee is not in vaine howbeit thou hast receiued but the first fruits of the spirit which are but as a handfull of corne in respect of the whole field See though thy spiâ—ituall growth bee slow yet it is certaine and goeth surely neither begun nor continued by thee but by my spirit Be perswaded therefore that I who haue begun this good worke in thee will performe it vntill my day for with mee there is no change Phil. 1.6 Iam. 1.17 nor shadow of change and therefore as my gifts and callings are without repentance so will I fulfill the desires of them that feare mee Psal. 145.19 The SOVLE I Must grant and doe not deny thou hast loued mee deare Iesus and giuen thy life for mee Gal. 2 20. 1 Ioh. 5.10 else God forbid I should make thee a lier for thou crauest no other thing at my hand but that I should beleeuâ— and haue faith for the assurance of thy loue I should sinne blasphemously if I should not beleeue thy Word both confirmed by thy selfe and ratified by thine oath though I doe else sinne and sorry am I for it yet will I not thus blaspheme nor adde this to other vnworthinesse for this mistrust will weigh downe all the rest for none is damned for sinne if hee doe not ioyne to it infideliâ—y that soueraigne salue of thy bloud doth cure all sores of sinne but not this because it doth refuse the cure and as it were pulleth off this precious plaster when it is layd on it beside this distrust of thy loue deare Christ tormenteth the minde and setteth the conscience vpon the wracke when as men haue no other assurance of thy loue but onely so farre foorth as they finde themselues worthy of making no other ground of thy loue but their owne deserts thus ouerballanced with the vnsupportable waight of sinne they sinke in desparation when I sinne I am greeued at the very heart because I haue displeased thee yet my sinnes doe not make mee doubt of thy loue towards mee founded not vpon my worthinesse but vpon thine owne free mercie grace and good-will for how should I loue thee if I were not perswaded of thy loue yea I loue thee 1 Ioh. 4.19 because thou louedst me first and I know that as loue is the fulfilling of the lawe Rom. 13.8 so want of it is transgressing of all For loue is strong as death iealousie is cruell as the graue the coales thereof are coales of fire Cant. 8.6 which â—ad a most vehement flame But yet alasse poore wretch I feare my sinnes doe bereaue me oft his thy spirit I feele for this time I greeue the spirit 1 Thes. 5.19 quench him vtterly CHRIST I Haue once giuen thee my spirit I am faithfull and iust in all my wayes Ps. 145.17 and my Father is faithfull by whom thou hast been called vnto my fellowship 1 Cor. 1.9 I am not as a man that I should lie neither the Sonne of a man that I can repent thou hast receaued my spirit that thou mayest know the things giuen thee of me 1 Cor. 2.12 for he had knowledgâ— truth and faithfulnesse and so because thou art a Sonne my father hath sent forth his spirit in thy heart which crieth Abba Gâ—l 4 6. father This is the spirit of thy adoption and the same spiâ—it because of thy weakenesse and that thy faith is mixed with doubting is the earnest of thy inheritance purchased vnto the praise of my glorie Ephes. 1.14 by whome thou art sealed vnto the day of thy redemption a seale to secure thee concerning the couenant I haue made with thee in my bloud that it neuer shall be reuoked farre surer then that scaled with King Ahassuerus Ring Ester 8.8 For to this effect had my father sealed mee also that thou shouldest neuer doubt of my meditation Mat. 3.17 17.5 Iohn 1.32 For being reconciled by my death my father giueth thee his spirit in hostage and pledge that hee will not misse a day in performing his promise and in assurance of eternall peace Thou canst not denie but my spirit which rebukest the world of sinne wrought in thee a generall astonishment for sinne Ioh. 16. a speciall griefe for speciall sins a renuing of the affections arauishmeÌ„t with vnspeakable ioy of my free mercy and peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstanding the vnderstanding englighteneth the iudgement reformeth and godly anger Ephes. 3.18 This is the life of God in thee for they who haue receaued the spirit are led by the spirit great weakenesse is ioyned with thee Collos. 3.4 but thy life is hid with mee in God and when I thy life shall appeare then shalt thou also appeare with mee in glorie and as I said a little while ye shall see me and after a while yee shall not see me for I go vnto my father So is it very gainefull for thee beloued Soule that there be an interposition betwixt thee and me that a cloude and dampnesse should ouertake thee yet shalt thou not bee tempted aboue that thou art able to beare buâ— with the temptation will giue thee the issue A milde rod shall serue thee euen the rod of the roote of Iesse Num. 17.10 which flowreth among the other rods that so the sweetnesse of the flowre may mitigate the sharpenesse of the rod. I doe often humble euen my dearest children by masking and disguising my selfe vnto them The eyes of the two Disciples going to Emaus were holden they did not know mee speaking with them The Spirit doth liue in thee when his graces are dead in thee neither doth feeling ioy and practise alwayes follow Faith I am holden and thou art saued by
teares as a well cease not neither leaue off for the Almighty is angry for thy sinnes Lam. 2. pardon them ô Lord I beseâ—ch thee and grant that when I shall sleepe in death my bodie may rest temporally and my soule may liue with thee eternally for Iesus c. Flesh. Shall man then in such sorrow doubt and despaire for his sinnes Spirit No God forbid but he should embrace the second part of Christian repentance which is faith in our Lord Iesus Christ who hath satisfied for our sinnes and reconciled vs to God his heauenly father Rom. 5. in this case raise vp encourage thy selfe learne comfort after this manner ô most louing Iesus Christ thou most sweet Sauiour and Redeemer how heauy is my hart how sad is my Soule in my brest Ps. 43.5 Esa. 38. My God thou hast broken all my bones like a Lyon I beseech thee that thou wouldest not despise my contrite and broken hart my Redeemer Ps. 51.17 giue mee thy mercifull hand and draw mee out of this heauinesse and suffer me not to sinke and perish of too much sorrow O my God I thanke thee thou hast touched my heart in making mee vnderstand my sinnes and giuing mee thy mercie to bewaile theÌ„ vnfainedly O I am become godly sorrowfull not to my hurt for godly sorrow worketh Saluation 2. Cor. not to be sorrowed for where else might I haue found comfort for my disquieted Soule of what other shold I haue found rest for my broken heart but of thee onely ô most dearely beloued Sauiour for thou camest into the world to saue miserable sinners 1. Tim. 1. therefore is thy name Iesus Mat 1. to saue thy people from all their sinnes Here am I ô Sauiour although a verie great yet a Penitent sinner Loe I heare thy comfortable voyce Mat. 11. Come vnto mee all yee that are laden and we aried I will refresh you Bâ—hold my God I come and bring with mee a sorrowfull broken Ps. 51.17 and contrite heart O reuiue my dead soule O heale my sinfulâ— wounded conscience O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world take from mee my sinne Ps. 51.9 and the guilt thereof and forgiue all mine iniquities Thou art my Redeemer and the onely sacrifice by which God thy Father and I am reâ—conciled Ioh. 3. for as Moyses exalted the Serpent in the wildernesse so wast thou exalted on the Crosse to the end that I and all that beleeue in thee should not perish but haue euerlasting Life Mar. 9. I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe yea Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee Ioh. 21. albeit with a weake faith neuerthelesse by the same little small faith I put all my trust and confidence in thee and beleeue doubt not I beleeue and know well that all my bitter and grieuous sinnes are surely and verely satisfied for and remitted by thy bloud and death I know and beleeue I am assured and persuaded ô my Redeemer that thy pure conception cleanseth my sinfull conception thy vndefiled birth purgeth my vncleane birth thy holie life sanctifieth my sinfull life thy humiliation is my exaltation thy hellish sorrowes are my heauenly comforts thy bonds are my freedome thy contempt is my honour thy sores are my salue the expulsion of thee is the in-bringing of mee thy smart and payne is the ioy of my Soule thy desert is my Redemption thy passion and death is a sacrifice for all my sinnes thy obedience is satisfaction for all my wickednesse thy descending into hell is my deliuerance from the Deuill power and force of hell Rom. 4. thy resurrectiâ—on is my righteousnesse and thy ascending into heauen is a seale and assurance that I am heire of eternall Life and that through Thee I haue alreadie right title and possesion of the kingdome of heauen Yea Lord Iesus all these hast thou merited for me giuen and bestowed them freely vpon mee and thy heauenly Father accepts of them and accounts them to mee in such maner as if I had deserued all the same in my owne proper person and as if euerie faithfull ones Redemption had beene purchased by himselfe Mat. 9. bee joyfull therfore comfort thee thy sinnes are forgiuen and thou reighteous before God thou hast a mercifull Father in heauen thou art heire of eternall Life thou hast the earnest of thy inheritance in thy heart which beares witnesse vnto thy spirit that thou art the Sonnâ— yof God Who will craue ought here is Christ that hath payed and satisfied for thee Who will accuse thee Rom. here is God that pronounceth thee Iust and Holie Meditation of the Soule of faith in Christ. Doest thou meditate on that hurt thou incurredst by the first fall doth that corruption deriued vnto thee from Adam grieue thee O giue thankes and praise to the Lords name for thou hast obtayned more in Iesus Christ thy Redeemer than thou hast lost in Adam the trespasser ô miracle of all miracles who can comprehend such things bee glad ô my soule and consider narrowly what thou losest in the first what was gotten in the second Adam againe Behold how Sathan is disappointed of his purpose for hee minded to draw thee altogether and finally from God and to draw thee in the pit of Gods euerlasting displeasure but contrarywise Christ thy Lord hath not onely reconciled thee with thy father quenched his wrath and anger and purchased mercy to thee but also hath aduanced thee to such vnspeakable promotion Heb. 2. that thou art become Gods kinsman for he hath taken thy flesh bloud vpon him thou couldest neuer haue come to higher promotion and preferment vnlesse thou hadest beene euen God himselfe And Sathan bethought him to driue thee out of the garden of Paradise and so bereaue thee of the companie and societie of the holy Angels but quite contrarie Christ thy Sauiour not only brings thee to that healie Paradise and eternall life but exalteth thee aboue all Angels and maketh thee most honourable in that he took not the Angels but mans nature vpon him Heb 2. Sathan also intended to take from thee the food of life and it so happened for the Lord God excluded man by reason of his transgression that he should not eat of the tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3. but now Christ is that nourishment Ioh. 6. and tree of life farre more excellent and good then that first which extends and dilateth his boughes and branches whereby wee come vp to heauen hideth vs vnder him feedeth vs of him and wee are satiate and shall haue vnder his shadow quietnesse and rest for euermore Againe Sathan would haue carried thee from thy righteousnesse cast thee deepely downe into sinne spoyled thee of thy originall justice wherein without sinne thou wert first created to Gods similitude but on the other side Christ thy Lord freely giueth thee a
their wheat and wine did abound Psal. 4.7 and these words cannot deceiue thee Psal. 89.33 for he will not falâ—ifie his truth Vpbraideth hee thee that thou art wretched sicke and desolate c though I bee mayst thou say poore and needy Psal. 40.17 the Lord thinketh on mee therfore if I can haue but thee my God I account of nothing in heauen and in earth suppose my flesh faile and my heart Psal 73.25 thou God art the strength of my heart and my portion for euer relie ô my soule all thy life time heereon for hee will not alter the thing that hath gone out of his lips Psal. 89.34 If the diuell doth affright thee with death gainstand him with a stout and faithfull heart and say thy dead men shall liue Esay 26.19 euen with my body shall they liue awake and sing ye that dwell in dust for thy deaw is as the deaw of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead And so I beleeue the remission of my sinnes resurrection of my body and life euerlasting this is verily true and hereon I repose my selfe for heauen and earth shall passe away Luk. 16.17 but his word shall not fall so that all they that leane to the word shut themselues in the word shall with the word and in the word endure for euer A Prayer to the same effect Lord Iesus Christ King of euerlasting Triumph helpe that I may continually haue thy Law and Gospel before mine eyes and rule all my Thoughts Words and Deeds according to them teach mee by thy holy Spirit at euerie occasion to put them in practise that in thy Law I may perceiue my Sinne and Vildnesse with true comfort in my hart that in all miserie and griefe I may haue these sweete speeches in fresh memorie that they may bee my weapons and aâ—mour To kill my Foe Pro. 30.5 and my Sheild and defence aâ—gainst the Deuill Psal. 23.4 thy rodde and staffe to hold mee vppe my food and refreshing in alâ— trouble and anguish grant I may wholly betake mee to thy Word both sleepe and rise therewith that I may liue and die according to thy Word and if at any time my heart through weakenesse shall distrust assist mee then O Lord that I neuer despaire for neyther thou nor thy Word will deceiue mee I know and doe beleeue it O eternaâ— true God that thou wilt keepe thy Word â—herefore shall I be preserued I beleeue and know thou canst not lye therefore sâ—all I not bee deceiued and although that my heart shall doubt and denie yet art thou constant in thy promise because thou art greater than our hearts and knowest all things therefore shall I neuer be confouÌ„ded 1 Ioh. 3.20 because I put my trust in thee Psal. 25.2 To thee O God the Father Sonne and holie Ghost bee all honour dominion power and glorie now and for euer world with out end Amen Flesh. What is the second point that concerneth Christian life The second poynt Baptisme Spirit Secondly deare Soule meditate daily in thy baptisme and let it comfort thee because God thy Lord in it hath purged thee receiued thee to be his child and in it sealeth with thee that mercifull couenant that he will be thy gracicious God and father and thou shalt be his deare Son and heire yea ô my soule thy Lord Iesus in thy holy baptisme hath called thee by thy name 1 Pet. 3. Esay 62. Ier. 14. Esay 45. before thou knewest him and hath giuen thee a new name that thou shouldest bee called a Christian to witnesse that thou wert brother to Christ and fellow-heire Rom. 8. that thou shalt enioy and bee paticipant with him of all whatsoeuer hee hath bought and merited by his bloud as of remission of sinnes righteousnesse and eternall life Meditation of thy Baptisme Therfore so often as thou shalt heare or recite the Creed I beleeue in God c. I beleeue in Iesus Christ c. I beleeue in the holy Ghost c. heere is thy surmounting consolation that thou art in the number of those of whom it is sayd he that beleeueth and is baptized Mark 16.16 shall bee saued and heereby art separated from Turks Iewes Atheists and all Infidels and other vngodly persons of whom it is said but hee that will not beleeue shall be damned and finally in thy baptisme thou obligest thy selfe not to liue after the flesh Rom 8.12 Luk 1.75 to fulfill the lusts and desires thereof but to serue the liuing God in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of thy life Tit. 2.12 according to his pleasure Prayer for a new life and faith in Christ. I thanke thee my good Lord Iesus Christ for this thy vnspeakable goodnesse in that thou hast not onely taken mee aliue out of the wombe but when I was dead in sinne made me be baptized Psal. 22.9 Ephes. 2.1 and thereby enrolledst and registeredst mee in thy mercifull couenant band didst regenerate me by thy holy spirit Eph. 2.12.13 accept mee to be thy sonne and inheritor of blessednesse 1 Pet. 3.21 not that I loued thee first but thou louedst mee before I was ô my Redeemer Tit. 5.5 how can I render thankes for all thy benefits towards mee I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon thee Psal. 116.12 I beseech thee therefore vphold mee by thy holy spirit that I may stand stedfast in this couenant of grace whereunto I haue had this accesse reioycing vnder the hope of the glory of God comforting my soule therewith confirme my faith that I may cleaue vnto thee alwayes and abhorre and detest Infidelitie and Atheisme seruing thee zealously in the spirit in whatsoeuer calling or condition of life I shall liue yea my God seeing through baptisme I am dead vnto sinne and borne againe Rom. 6.4 grant me thy grace that I may walke in newnesse of life that my conuersion and giuing my members as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God may beare record before thee and men that I haue reciued that Sacrament to my weale and saluation conduct mee safely through this wearisome valley of misery neuer leaue mee vntill thou hast brought me to thy fathers Kingdome which is those riches and treasures thou hast promised mee in my baptisme and thereof assured me and sealed vp the same in my heart by thy spirit giuen vnto me Grant me gracious father forgiuenesse of all my sins that so I may walke before thee in true repeÌ„tance and amendment of life that so I may liue in thy feare and die thy faithfull seruant Amen Flesh. Shew me the third means whereby a Christian life is maintained The third poynt the Lords Supper Spirit Thirdly deare soule repaire diligently and of ten to the Lords Sâ—pper for that is the table the Lord hath prepared for his regenerate children that is the food wherwith hee strengtheneth and refrâ—sheth his new purged
ones for so saith the Redeemer Take eat this is my body Matth. 26.16 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 Cor. 11.24 which is giuen for you to the remission of sins and againe Take and eat all hereof this cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you Meditation of the Soule for the receiuing of the Communion Now heare my Soule what delicates the Lord thy Sauiour presenteth before thee in this his table truely not bare and naked bread and wine but his body and bloud for the bread which wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 therefore beleeue I and know that my Lord Iesus Christ both God and Man according to his institution is present to my Soule giues his body and bloud to bee eaten and drunke spiritually by a true and liuely faith wrought in me by his holy spirit and applying the merits and benefits of his death vnto mee the manner and way being best knowen vnto himselfe yea Lord Iesus thou thy selfe art here my host and I thy guest heere come I poore creature out of the wicked wildernes of this world fraught with trouble and misery and bring with mee an hungry thirsty and languishing yet a faithfull heart reuiue me my Lord Iesus by this thy table and strengthen mee by this nourishment that I may bee satiate and safe Approach heereunto my Soule to strengthen thy faith and quicken thy heart Ioh. 20.27 and bee not longer faithlesse but faithfull beâ—hold the Lord thy Redeemer assureth thee as with a true token and pawne that thou of meere grace and mercy art appoynted heire of all his blessings and hee imputes vnto thee whatsoeuer he hath procured by the sacrifice of his body and bloud to wit the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes Rom. 4.8 that righteousnesse which is accepted before God and eternall life all these shall aâ— certainely be thine as if thou in thine own person hadst hung vpon the crosse and there merited them yea and he witnesseth heereby that thou for his sake art counted before God as righteous holy and as beloued as Christ himselfe is and moreouer by the same Sacrament through the holy Spirit he giueth himself vnto thee Reu. 3.20 to dwell with thee and sup with thee neuer to depart froÌ„ thee but worke a new life ioy light yea Lord Iesus so am I in thee Ioh. 17.23 Eph. 5.30 and thou in mee and I will sticke vnto thee my Redeemer as a liuing member to a liuing body as a bride vnto her bridegroome for I am a member of thy body Ioh. 15.4 of thy blood and bones yea I am in thee as the branch is in the vine and as a bough receiueth continuall sap vertue from the trees roote so doe I draw comfort life and quickening from thee and so by a true faith both in soule and body abide in thee and thou in mee by thy holy spirit that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate me from thy loue A prayer when thou hast receiued the Communion Praised bee thou O God my Sauiour for thy fatherly care ouer me for preparing this heauenly banquet for me whereby I may quench the appetite of my hungry soule and mittigate the thirst of my heart so that now by this meanes I depart emboldened and established in grace and faith will follow thee my Redeemer with courage Heb. 13.9 will abide constantly with thee and remayne in perseuerance with thee through thy spirit vnto the last gaspe Amen Meditation of receiuing the holie Communion Thou hast said Doe this in my remembrance O my God how holie is the memorie of that how inwardly am I comforted therewith for by this sacrament I call to minde many other Festiual daies and times for in thy Table I remember thy Natiuitie for it testifieth vnto mee that thou in verie deed hast taken my human nature vpon thee and art farre neerer joyned vnto mee than vnto the Angells for thou in no sort tookedst vpon thee the Angells nature but thou tookest the seed of Abraham it likewise represeÌ„teth vnto mee that thou art the true Sacrifice for sinnes and therefore doe I eate the right Pasouer 1. Cor. 5.7 euen Christ which is sacrificed for mee as also I beleeue and trust seeing I am thy member and that thou art risen from the dead and liuest so shall I also so that thou wilt not leaue my Soule in Graue neyther shall death haue power ouer mee but I shall rise and sing vnto the Lord in the land of the liuing and possesse that place where thou my head Iesus Christ liuest world without end And all these things are engrafted and sealed in mee by thy holie Spirit of Promise 1. Eph. 13.14 which is the earnest of my Inheritance for the redemption of that libertie purchased vnto the prayse of his glorie whereby also peace and joy is kindled in my hart for I receiue the spirit of adoption whereby I crie Abba Father the same Spirit bearing witnesse to my Spirit Rom. 8.15 16. that I am the Sonne of God And not onely that but I participate the whole Trenitie the Father Sonne and Holie-Spirit who come vnto mee Ioh. 14.23 and dwell with mee so life euerlasting shall be bestowed vpon mee after this transitorie where I shall continually behold my Lord my God face to face and finally I haue here an vnion and fellowshippe with all the Saints for as hee sayd He that eateth my flesh Ioh. 6.56 and drinketh my bloud abideth in mee and I in him so hath hee sayde also that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs for we that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee are all partakers of one bread how joyfull am I of this heauenlie companie how glad am I of thy Saints to whose number thou hast adopted mee for the which I giue thee thankes honour and prayse for euermore Besides this it is written as oft as you eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup ye declare the Lords death vntill his comming againe wherein deare Soule I am rauished to the contemplation of the Third-heauen with Paule whereof this thy last Supper is as it were an entry and beginning for in thy Fathers Kingdome I shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and there feed vpon Thee the Bread of Life eternally and therefore sigh I from the bottome of my heart saying euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly my Redeemer and tarrie not and therefore I am taught to powre out hartie thanksgiuings for all thy blessings wherewith thou hast blessed mee in heauenly things in
Christ both for soule and bodie as for thy creation manifestation in the Flesh Tim. 3.6 assumption of humane nature redemption for thy holie word for the Faith thou hast endued my Soule with for thy holie Spirit which thou hast enspired into my heart for thy holie Sacrament for Temporall and Spirituall gifts and benefits Luk. 1.4.9 How can I in this my weakenesse comprehend the great things which thou hast bestowed vpon mee Another Prayer after receiuing the holie Communion Helpe me Lord Iesus my Redeemer that I may frequent this holie communion and joyfully embrace that remembrance of thee behold I am thy brother and fellow-heyre and haue right to thy kingdome where should I goe but to thy own table succor me my Sauiour that I may greedily desire this thy great Feast let my mind neuer loose remembraÌ„ce of Thee but that my repose quietnesse and faith and greatest joy may bee in Thee and euermore giue Thee thankes with feruencie from the grouÌ„d of my heart for all thy goodnesse and graces so pleÌ„tifully showred down vpon mee but more specially for that after this perishing world shall decay I am ordayned to eat that Bread of Life with all thy Saints in the Heauens for euermore And therefore beloueâ— Soule when thou drawest thither forget not thy neighbour that eateth and drinketh with thee and sitteth by thee for hee is the member of Christ no lesse then thou therefore thou oughtest to loue him from thy hart for his sake that loued thee and be ready to do him all kindnesse as vnto thy selfe and therefore deare Soule haue respect and care of the needy poore and cast not thine eyes from thine owne flesh but forasmuch as hee nourisheth thee with that bread and giueth thee drinke of that cup should I not minister vnto my brother fellow-heire with mee my bread and refresh him with that thou hast giuen mee gouerne me ô Lord Iesus by thy holy spirit that I euer may dearely loue my neighbor be touched at my heart with the miserie of the pooâ—e and distressed to giue the hungrie meat the thirsty drinke the stranger lodging to cloth the naked to visit the sicke and come to them that are in prison according to my power and measure of thy blessings bestowed vpon mee that I may heare that comfortable voice proceede out of thy mouth at the last daie verily I saie vnto you insomuch as you haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethren yee haue done it to mee and verily I say vnto you inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these you did it not vnto mee Matth. 25.40.45 Let not therefore ô my God my charitie grow colde but that I may extend it with a fellow-feeling coÌ„passion to my empouerished neighbours members with mee of the mysticall body of thy son the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit bee rendred all honour and glorie power and dominion now and euer Amen Flesh. Shew mee the fourth meanes how to attaine to a Christian and godlie life concerning the tolleration of the Crosse and aduersitie thereof Spirit Fourthly deare Soule prepare thee euerie day for the crosses and chastisemeÌ„ts which the children of God in this world must beare after their Mr. for we must throgh many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God Act. 14.22 yea my Soule that doctrine of the Crosse is one of the most secret and hid mysteries into the which mans iudgement and knowledge cannot reach but both it and all other concealed matters are manifested in Gods word onely out of which word we ought to be edified in this poynt Now hereof it commeth beloued Soule that the crosse is heauie for vs to beare wee are greatly affrayd of it euen as though the Lord had left vs or as if hee were our mortall foe deadly enemie A prettie and pithie similitude hereof we haue in the Two Desciples Luk. 24 13 which went from Ierusalem to Emmaus in perplexitie and sorrow to whom the Lord manifested himselfe in another forme so that their eyes were held that they could not know him Loe deare soule this is a figure of the crosse in the which the Lord so clotheth and couereth himselfe that hee appeareth to be a stranger yea euen to his most beloued children and so doth take solace in the compasse of this earth Pro. 8.31 and delight with the children of men yea sometime hee seemeth so farre against them that they imagâ—ne God hath forgot all loue and goodnesse to them Esa. 64.9.12 but Hee will make himselfe knowne in conuenient time and fill their harts with gladnesse and no man shall take their ioy from them Ioh. 16.22 and therefore thou must learne in this verie high poynt how to behaue thy selfe and diligently to consider these seuen following rules coÌ„â—cerning the crosse and thy griefe shall not bee so vehement Flesh. I pray you shew mee thee first rule concerning the bearing of the Crosse. Spirit All true Christians are thereto appoynted of God for whom he knew before he also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne that he might be the first born among many brethren so wast thou ordayned to Anxieties Crosses not onely before thou wast born of thy mother Rom 8.29 but also before the foundation of the world was layd that thou mightest resemble the Lord Iesus Christ yea thou art flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone shall thou not then suffer with him Eph. 6.30 he is thy Maister and thou his desciple he thy Bridegroome and thou his Bride he is thy Head and thou art his Members why wilt thou then desire to bee in better coÌ„dition than he was Looke on the Lord as on the Prince of the Crosse and consider how all the Saints and faithfull ones haue euer followed him Mat. 11.29.30 Christ goeth first making way with the most heauie Crosse vpon his shoulders and the godlie tread on his footsteps for euerie one beareth his owne yoake Rom 8.37 neuerthelesse in all troubles they are more than conquerours through him that loued them and because they are conformable vnto Christ in suffering so shall they bee conformable vnto him in glorie also Prayer willingly for to follow Christ in all crosses and afflictions O Lord God thou who hast prouided thy son for mee to beare the burden of the crosse giue mee a wise heart that I may perceiue thy wonderfull purpose and counsell heerein that I may take it vp willingly and follow my Redeemer cheerfully and so shew my submission and obedience to him heere for a short time but heereafter eternally to raigne with him euerlastingly to God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost bee giuen of mee and all true Christians all honour power and glory Amen Flesh. Shew me the second rule of bearing the Crosse Spirit This is the Lord Iesus Christs coÌ„mandement Matth. 11.30
the soule learning to know the cause of sicknesse Hearest thou ô Soule in this poynt thou shouldest bee singularly attentiue for when the Lord shall intend to call thee all outward meanes must obey him for wheÌ„ we his creatures will not know the diseases of our soules then doth the Lord send sicknesse of body that wee might haue greater coÌ„sideration of our soules and bee alwayes in repentance and as our children sometimes meâ—it the rod and correction so do we deseâ—ue sicknesse and punishment at Gods hands ô thou merciful God if thou shouldst visit vs so often with sicknesse as wee deserue wee should not bee one twinckling of an eye in perfect health but it is but now and then that thou chastizest vs to the intent wee should euer remember and feare thy holy name And often it commeth to passe thatinfants and young ones are chastized of the L. so that they make the elder in yeeres sorrowfull and are mooued to lament and pity the poore distressed soules 2 Sam. 12.15 for sicknesse is an Ambassadour sent of God counselling vs to rise from sinne and not to perish in our wickednesse lest it bee sayd Woe vnto their soules Esay 3.9 for they haue rewarded euilto themselues marke deare Soule how insolently and carelesly men lead their liues that are not touched with the crosse or any sicknesse at all they regard not the word of God neither the Sacraments they forget both faith in Christ and prayer then are their soules in greatest danger for the lesse a father corrects the more disobedience groweth in his children so is it with mankinde the greater health and wellfare they haue the more negligent wax they and secure A comfortable Prayer in time of sicknes Lord Iesus Christ here lie I full sicke and acknowledge that it is thy fatherly pleasure that it should bee so for there cannot perish an haire of my head without thy will how then should I lose the precious gift of my health but by thy pleasure behold Lord thou hast euen made me such an one as thou willingly wouldst looke vpon and as thou in thy passion wast a worme and not a man Psal. 22.6 â—uen so hast thou made mee like vnto thee Psal. 39 11. ô my God when thou with rebukes doest correct man for his iniquity like a moth thou makest his beauty to consume away I thank thee my God that thou hast corrected mee for I know that it is for my weale my God thou louest mankinde well and faithfull are the wounds of a friend helpe me my God Pro. 27.6 that I may bee mindefull of this chastâ—zement all the dayes of my life and may feare thee and depart from euill which shall bee the health to my nauell Pro. 3.8 and marrow to my bones make mee circumspect ouer sin that some danger or other a great deale worse then this befall not euen for my Sauiour Iesus Christ sake to whome be all honor and glory now and for euer Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may haue remission of my sinnes and be reconciled to God Spirit Secondly seeing that now thine outward sicknesse affrayes thee and thou art sicker where thou feelest it not giue diâ—igence aboue all things to apply physicke thereto thy true health is repentance and stedfast faith in Iesus Christ by which thou mayest attaine forgiuenesse of sinne and a mercifull father in heauen for by faith thy hart is purified and accouÌ„ted righteous thou receiuest peace and ioy in conscienc so that thou art reuiued although thy body be weak and diseased The sicke persons prayer and confession that his sinnes are cause of his sicknesse I confesse before thee my Lord Iesus Christ with a broken and contrite heart that I haue procured this my sicknesse by my sinnes and am greeued from my soule and heart that I haue offended thy Maiestie and brought my selfe to this mishap yet ô Lord thou settest not light by a sorrowfull soule looke therefore vnto my miserie Psal. 147.3 and heale my wounded heart â—orgiue me all my trespasses and cleanse mee from my wickednesse wherby I haue kindled thy wrath against me ô Lord my Redeemer who speakest alway peace vnto thy pâ—ople and consolation to the perplexed Comfort my Soule say vnto my hart ioyfull words Sonne be of good cheere Matth 9.2 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee how am I thereby refreshed in my soule life marrow and bones Yea Lord Iesus if thy holy word were not my trust then should I perish in my weaknesse I beleeue and am perswaded that by thee Iesus Christ attonement is made for mee reconciliation with thy father purchased and I am ordained to that heauenly blessednesse to which thou of thine infinit mercy bring mee for Christ sake to whom bee glory and honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may pray for a gracious departure in time of sicknesse Spirit Thirdly in time of sicknesse we should haue our recourse vnto our God Psal. 41.3 the Lord will strengthen vs vpon the bed of languishing and make our beds in sicknesse and therefore my sonne in thy sicknes be not negligent but pray vnto the Lord as did Ezekiah and he will make thee whole Esay 38.2 leaue off from sin and order thy hands aright and cleanse thine heart from all wickednes and see thou communicate thine inward sorrow and greefe Eccles. 38.9.10 vnto the congregâ—tion of the Saints of God that they may ioyne with thee in praier for many stickes make the greater fire Verily verily I say vnto thee saith our Sauiour that if two of you shall agree on earth Mat. 18.19 as touching any thing what they shall aske shall bee done for them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered together in my name Vers. 20. there am I in the midst of them and if it be that thy sicknesse bee so vehement and thou so weake that thou canst not pray with thy mouth make then sighes and groanings of a true heart to ascend vnto the Lord for the spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8.26 with groanings which cannot bee vttered perseuer therefore in inuocating on Gods name by thy voice thoughts and cogitations and by the Church and delay not before that the Lord doe looke vpon thee and helpe thee The sicke mans Prayer O LOrd Iesus Christ thou hast sent thy messenger which is sicknesse vnto me to waken vp my repentance be hold my Lord I know it is thy will thou wouldest haue me obedient and conuerted vnto thee I haue nothing to direct vnto thee but my prayers and the poore sinfull and imperfect sighes of my heart out of the deeps therefore I haue cried vnto thee Lord heare my voice let thine eares bee attentiue to the voice of my supplications I wayte for the Lord my Soule doth waite and in
death and became obedient to admit such pain feare and astonishment of death to come ouer his body which was wiâ—hout sinne it sâ—eweth vs that his humane nature had no pleasure to die yea and himselfe saith I haue a baptisme to bee baptâ—zed with Luk. 12. â—0 and how am I straitned till it be accomplished A Prayer against the feare of Death I thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast not created mee to death but to life and hast implanted a loue in mine heart to liue I request thee from the bottome of my heart teach mee to vnderstand that death ruleâ—h ouer all because of sinne and ouercometh me grant by thy holy spirit that so oft as death shall assault me I may be enemie to iniquitie and euer flie and efchew sinne as death it selfe helpe me ô Lord that in true faith I may hold me fast by thee for thou art life it selfe Ioh. 11.25 and so may freely and boldly say I shall taste of death although I were dead but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Psal. 118.17 Grant I may beleeue from my heart that by Thee the Prince of life I may be deliuered from eternall death and attaine vnto that euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne Amen Flesh. But there are yet some that earnestly craue to die and long for it Spirit Yes truely but it is to be vnderstood that there are twâ— kindes of men which desire to die The Infidell prophane vngodly often wish to die and that of impatiency because of the great misery wherewith God punisheth them for their sinnes for seeing they are without the knowledge of God and without faith they are not participant of the crosse of Christ but despaire in impatiency grudge against God wish themselues not onely to die but also often times lay violent hands on themselues as Iudah Saul and Achitophel did purposing to put an end thereby to their sorrow and misery but then is it that first they begin to haue proofe of their wickednesse sweet heauenly Father keepe vs from hence But the children of God the more they grow in knowledge and increase in faith and loue of Christ the more they are weary of this wretched world and long for that eternall rest and haue Pauls wish in their hearts I desire to depart and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 yea our Sauiour commandeth vs Matt. 6.13 that we should daily craue to bee deliuered from euill for therein not onely doe we pray for deliuerance from transitory distresses of soule or bodie but we aske from our heart that God would either put an end to this sinnefull and wicked world or else come in a blessed time and pull vs from hence to euerlasting rest and quietnesse A Prayer for patience in trouble Now helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I in the abundance of my crosses may rightly order my selfe and learne of thee how I should beare the waight of my yoke Mat. 11.30 preserue mee that I neuer craue my death through impatiency much lesse that euer I shorten the dayes of my life which thou hast giuen bee but grant that euermore day by day I may learne to know thee to establish and confirme my faith and the longer I shall liue the more dearly to loue thee to the end I may learne to contemne this world and to long after that heauenly world which thou hast made to stand in the conquest of Christ by his bloud To whom with thee and thy holy spirit one blessed God I render praise and and glory now and euer Amen Flesh. May a man with a good conscience pray for a long life Spirit Vnto this question S. Paul answereth for Christ should alwaies be magnified in our bodies whether it be by Life or by Death Phil. 1 20.2â—.22.23.24 for to mee to liue saith he is Christ and to me to dye is gayne but if I liue in the Flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall chuse I wote not for I am in a strait betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you and hauing this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and ioy of Faith A meditation of the Soule tossed in the troublesome waues of this life Here mayest thou perceiue beloued Soule that Paule was tossed with two diuers opinions and thoughts he longed for rest and counted it best esteemed it also good that hee should abide in the flesh longer and beleeued that God would spare him that in his ministerie hee might further serue both God and Man yet in both these had this only before his eyes that Christ should be magnified in his bodye whether it were by life or by death So doth also the king Ezekiah 2. King 20.1.2.6 to whom the Prophet Amos denounced death but he turned his face vnto the Wall and prayed vnto the Lord who added vnto his daies fifteene yeares And so was also Paule greatly joyed for his brother and companion in labour and fellow-souldier Epaphroditus who was sicke Phil. 2.25.27 neere vnto death but God had mercie on him and not on him onely but on meâ— also saith Paule least I should haue sorrow vpon sorrow Follow these examples and thou shalt not goe amisse for if thou canst be necessarie vnto God and thy neighbour it is conuenient thou shouldest craue a long and sound life that thou mayest bee a profitable vessel of mercie and chosen to good actions Neuertheles submit thee alwayes to his will and be readie euerie day to be dissolued for time is but lent thee A Prayer for Health and Gods blessings on our Labours Euerlasting Almightie God thou art my Life and Length of my daies my time is in thy hands for in Thee wee liue and mooue and haue our being Act. 17.28 I thank thee from the ground of my heart that thou hasâ— to this present houre suâ—stayned mee and giuen me a healthfull life and good vnderstanding thaâ— in my calling I mighâ— serue thee my God and my neighbour O God thou seest and knowest mâ— heart that I am willinâ— and verie desirous faithâ—fully and truely to walkâ— forward in my vocation and trade and that I haue no wicked purpose noâ— false pretence in my hart I humbly therefore entreat if it shall stand with thy praise and glorie and my owne saluation that thou wouldest prolong my daies and conduct me by thy holy spirit that I may learn to know thee more fully and serue my neighbour more intirely yet if it bee not thy pleasure and that thou knowest it to be better for mee take mee hence vnto thy selfe when thou wilt for I wholely renounce mine owne will and submit me to thy good wil and pleasure Graunt this vnto mee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake Amen Flesh. What shall moue
42. Haue mercy on me ô God 51. And so according to the seuerall constitutions of thy Soule and as thou findest thy tentation to encrease or bee diminished thou mayest make election of this or that Prayer or Psalme in the Scripture And if it be so that thou growest exceeding weake and that thy speech begin to faile thee these sentences which are but short thou mayest remember Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace Luk. 2.29 Luk. 25. Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Psal. 31. Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me Lord God of truth Lord Iesus receiue my spirit Act. 7.59 Abide with vs Lord Iesus Luk. 24.29 for it is towards euening and the day is farre spent I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1. and to be with Christ. Flesh. What shall they then doe that stand by when as they see the sicke take his last goodnight from this world and to depart comforted in Soule and to attaine a blessed end Spirit They are to lament and mourne seeing it is a thing very naturall it cannot bee forbidden but thou must not sorrow euen as others which haue no hope for we that are Christians must admit comfort ought to bee constantly and certainely perswaded that our dead are not dead but sleepe that they doe not perish neither are lost but deliuered from this wicked world and gone home to the Lord and would not for the price of this whole world if it were possible to returne hither againe and therefore wee should rather be thankefull vnto God for their happy dedeparture and learne of them to liue regiously and Christianly and remember them who haue spoken vnto vs the word of God whose face wee should follow considering the end of their conuersation Heb. 13.7 and therefore falling on their knees they may pray as followeth The Prayer of those that are about the sicke person when hee is departed We thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ thou euerlasting Prince of life for vpholding this thy creature in true confession and constant faith and for granting him a blessed departure O how gloriously shall his soule bee carried to heauen to euerlasting rest and ioy by the Angels to Abrahams bosom thine owne celestiall spirits attend at his beds side although with our carnall eyes wee doâ— not apprehend them now doth hee repose himselfe in the Lord Iesus armes now hath all displeasure and greefe an end now shall the Lord wipe away all teares from his eyes Reu. 21.4 and giue him euerlasting peace and comfort with ioy and sâ—luation Now euerlasting ioy shal be vpon his head hee shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse Esa. 35.10 and sorrow sighing shall flie away O thou blessed Soule ô deere and sweet friend happy is the case thou art in thou hast borne Christs yoke now art thoâ— dead but yet thou liuest ô Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon vs that are liuing and as yet remaine on the earth and teach vs to runne out the course of this irkesome misery to the end that we may imitate such faith and constancie daily and hourely to bee prepared that wee as this thy creature hath done may make a blessed good-night and follow him with peace and ioy To raigne with Abraham Isaak and Iacob in heauen for euermore Amen CHAP. IX Declaring where the immortal soule goeth after death the resurrectioÌ„ of our body the ioyes of eternall life and paines which the vngodly haue in their destruction Flesh. NOw seeing the soule is immortall what becommeth of it or whither goeth it after this worldly death Spirit Heareof speaketh the Scripture in these and other places full of comfort and consolation Feare not them which kill the bodie Mat. 10.28 and are not able to kill the Soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both Soule and bodie in Hell I desire to bee dissolued Phil. 1.22 and to be with Christ which is farre better The Theefe on the crosse when he was to giue vp the Ghost sayd Luk. 23.43 Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy kingdome and Iesus sayd vnto him To day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise The Soules of the righteous are in the hands of God Wisd. 3.1 and there shall no torment touch them In the sight of the Wise they seemed to dye 2. and their departure is taken for miserie And their going from vs to be vtter destruction 3. but they are in peace Though the righteous be preuented with death Wis. 4 7. yet shall they be in rest There remaineth therfore a rest to the children of God Heb. 4. Luk. 16.22 And it came to passe that the Begger dyed and was carried by the Angells vnto Abrahams bosome But now he is comforted and thou art tormented Vers. 25. Ioh. 14 2. In my Fathers house are many Mansions if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come agayne and receiue you vnto my self that where I am there may you bee also For wee know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolued 2. Cor. 51. wee haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternally in the heauens Therefore wee are alwayes confident knowing that whiles wee are at home in the bodie wee are absent from the Lord. But yee see mee Ioh. 14.19 because I liue yee shall liue also Set your affections on things aboue Col. 3.2 not on things of the earth But Hierusalem which is aboue is free Gal. 4.26 which is the mother of vs all Ps. 16.11 Thou wilt shew mee the the path of Life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A meditation of the Soules departure and blessednesse after death Behold deare Soule these speeches ful of comfort proceeded out of Gods mouth to witnesse that there must be a seuerall consideration had of mens soules for the Soule is a Spirit as are the Angells and Immortall and when the Soule of the righteous shal be sundred from the bodie it shall be taken by the Angells and carried to God to liue with Christ in Paradise aboue in the Heauens where it shal bee in glorie and rest in Gods hand farre from sorrow or griefe for wheÌ„ the Soule is seperated from the bodie it is at freedome and can doe much more without the bodie than when it is ioyned vnto it and imprisoned therein because the bodie in this life is verie heâ—uie and hindereth the Soule froÌ„ seeing heauens comfort while it is here vpon earâ—h it can prayse God honour and serue him reioyce and comfort it selfe therewith while it is in this mortal and miserable bodie much more can it perfect and doe when it is without sinne and natiue corruption and hath no such let and
giue vp the dead which were in it death and hell deliuer vp the dead which were in them and the soule in a moment shall returne to the dead body thereof 1 Thes. 4.17 and come liuing before the Lord. Then wee which are aliue and remaine shall be caught vp together with them in the clouds to meete the Lord in the ayre where he shall separate them one from another Math. 25.32.33.34.41 as a sheepheard diuideth the sheepe from the Goates and hee shall set the sheepe on his right hand the Goates on the left theÌ„ shall he say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world then shall hee say vnto them on his left hand Depart from me yee cursed into euer lasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels and these shall go away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall A Meditation of the Soule on the resurrection Now deare Soule thou mayest meditate not only heereupon which is the vndoubted truth of God but for thy farther certification thou mayest ponder on these following poynts Thy dead men shall liue together Esa. 26.19 with my dead bodie shall they arise awake and 〈◊〉 ye that dwel in the dust Mat. 22.31 As touching the resurrection of the dead haue yee not read that which was spoken vnto yee by God saying I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaak and the God of Iacob God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Dan. 12.2 some to euerlasting life and some to shame and euerlasting contempt I know that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 and that he shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth and though after my skinne wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God 26. whom I shall see and mine eyes shall behold and not another for me Verily verily Ioh. 5.25 I say vnto you the houre is comming and now is when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare shall liue c. Now mayest thou diligently marke deare soule how easie it is vnto the Lord to raise the dead Ioh. 17. for it will done by a word as wee may see when hee raised the widdowes son of Naim which was dead he onely said Young man Luk. 7.14.15 I say vnto thee arise and he that was dead sate vp and began to speake So raised he the Ruler of the Synagogueâ— daughter in Capernaum saying Talithacumi which is being interpreted Mar. 5.41 Damosell I say vnto thee arise and after this same manner also did he to Lazarus in Bethania who had now laâ—en foure dayes in the graue for hee cried with a lowd voyce Lazarus come forth and hee that was dead came foorth bound hand and feet with graue-cloths See now beloued Soule although to the eyes of man it appeared to bee impossible yet with the Lord our God nothing is impossible Luk 1.37 For as a mother knoweth well in what chamber or bed shee hath laid her childe to sleepe and thither commeth in the morning awakes and taketh it vp euen so the Lord our God knoweth where our bodies do sleep which were his own temples and habitations vnto whom it shall bee farre more easie to make vs aliue then to a mother to waken her sleeping child Besides this wee haue our Lord Iesus Christ the head of his Church not onely that hee should bee an example vnto vs but also that hee should goe before vs as the beginning of our resurrection for hee died for our sins lay in the graue the third day rose againe for our iustification 1 Cor. 15.16 Rom 4.25 Ioh. 4.19 and therefore with lowd voyce sayeth vnto vs all because I liue yee shall liue also Flesh. Shall then eternall life be such as cannot bee comprehended by man nor vnderstood in this world Spirit Yes truely thou sayest well Of the ioyes of heauen for so it is that the eye hath not seene nor the eare heard nor entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Eternall God what peace what ioy what glory what pleasant being shall they haue who would not daily meditate heereupon but who would not wilâ—lingly enioy the same who would not willingly speake and commune heereof but rather who would not feeâ—e and possesse the same oh if there were any that could teach vs the glory hereof wherof our narrow heart and shallow soule is not capable of how would we be glad to heare and ioyfully long for it Certainely deare Soule if neither Esaias that excellent Prophet nor the Apostle Paul Esay 64.4 who was rauished into the third heauens and saw things vnutterable could not declare the meanest iot of it but heâ—â— him dumb then may the glory peace and ioy be there exceeding great yet notwithstanding the holy Scripture portryeth in some places by notable sentences and speeches the supereminent goodnesse thereof so farre as our tenuity can comprise 1 Ioh. 3.2 Beloued now are we the sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but wee know that when he shall appeare we shall bee like him for wee shall see him as he is Then shall the righteous shine foorth Iob 19. Mat. 13.43 as the Sunne in the kingdom of their father Dan. 12.3 And they that bee wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for euer and euer And GOD shall bee all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 And we shal euer be with the Lord. 1. Thes. 4.17 Who shal change our vile bodie Phil. 3.21 that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie For in the resurrection they neyther marrie nor are giuen in marriage Mat. 22.30 but are as the Angells of God in Heauen And I Iohn saw the holie Citie Rev. 21.2.3 4 5. new Hierusalem come downe from God out of Heauen prepared as a bride and adorned for her husband and I heard a great voyce out of heauen saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall bee with them and bee their God and God shall wipe away al teres from their eyes and there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more payne for the former things are passed away And he that sate vpon the Throne sayde Behold I make all things new c. Reu. 21.22 And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it 23. And the Citie hath no need of the Sunne nor of the Moone to shine in it for
the Glorie of God did enlighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof 24. And the Nations of them which are saued shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth doe bring their glorie and honour to it And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day â—5 for there shall be no night there And they need no candle neyther the light of the Sun Reu. 22.5 for the Lord giueth them light and they shall shine for euer and euer These words beloued Soule are short but replenished with vnspeakable comfort and although the Scripture had beene more large herein yet our weake and infirme hearts are such and our vnderstanding so small that wee could not comprehend it and therefore the holie Spirit by these speeches openeth but a little windowe through the which wee may see a little glance to the end wee may know what wee should beleeue and hope for and what to comfort and reioyce vs withall But when we shall come thither and possesse such ioy and such gladnesse then shall wee say one to another as old Elizabeth sayde vnto the Virgin Marie Luk. 1.45 O blessed art thou that beleeuest for there is a performance of those thingâ— which were told thee of the Lord. O eternall Life O pleasant Life O perpetuall Ioy and Peace O euerlasting Hierusalem Citie of the holie God O how pretious how beautifull art thou vnto mee thy pulchritude surmounts there is no blemish in thee My heart longeth for thee yea for Hierusalem my Mother For Hierusalem my natiue Land and for thee Iesus Christ thou which art hid there my Life Lord and euerlasting Sheepheard O holie Life O blessed Life which the Lord hath prepared for them that loue him in the which shall be no death for man shall see God face to face for our hearts shall be superaboundantly satiate with the food of Life Oh the oftner I thinke vpon thee the sweeter thou appearest vnto mee O how well wilt thou be my Soule when thou shalt bee loosed from this earthly body and so passe in freedomevnto heauen how welcome shalt thou bee how kindly shalt thou be receyued thou shalt come to great rest and securitie thou needest not stand in feare of any foe or deaâ—h Thou shalt euermore beholde the face of thy God and Redeemer Ps. 45.2 the beaâ—tifullest among the childreÌ„ of men hearest thou not him my Soule calling on thee Song 2.20 Rise vp my loue my fayre one and come away for loe the Winter is past the rayne is ouer and gone Arise my Loue my fayre one and come away Come vnto mee my Elect I haue pleasure in thy beautie come and reioyce before my face with the Angells whose societie I haue promised thee Come out of all thy distresses and feares and enter into thy Fathers rest O reioyce my Soule and be glad thou beautifull daughter for the King hath pleasure in thee O thou sweet Life shew me thy Ports and thy gates â—hy walls and thy manifolde Mansions Reu. 21. â—8 19 Thy Walls are of pretious stones and thy gates are costly Pearle and the â—treet of the Citie is pure â—old as it were transpaâ—ent glasse in the which is sung perpetually a Halleluiah thy light is God the God of light the Son of Righteousnessâ— neuer goâ—th downe in thee There is a feast and banquet where all wearied Pilgrims refresh themselues Ioh. 17.24 O how pleasant is the harmonie which shal be heard there O then shall I find the accomplishment of that promise Father I will that these that thou hast giuen mee should be with me where I am that they may behold the glorie which thou hast giuen mee for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world A Prayer for the ioyes of Heauen O thou Fountayne of Life O springing Well of all comfort when shall I drinke aboundantly of that Water of Life which is thy consolation when shall I appeare before thy ioyefull countenaunce when O LORD shall I see that day of saluation Ps. 118.24 wherin I may reioyce and be glad O how light cleare and ioyfull shall that day be wherein there shall be no euening Math. 25. Enter my soule into thy fathers rest where I shall haue that holy Triâ—nitie one euerlasting God in three persons Come my light and Redeemer and deliuer my soule from from this miserable prison O euerlasting peace Phil. 1.4 which passeth all vnderstanding wherein the holy ones soule doth repose it selfe there is that eternall life which is to know God our Lord and to see God face to face happie are they for euer which are disburdened of this cumbersome and miserable life and are come to that heauenly eternall and ioyfull life to liue with Christ for euer Amen Flesh. What shall then become of the reprobate and vngodly Spirit They shall enter both soule and bodie into euerlasting paine Of the paines of Hell for as the ioy of the godly cannot be expressed so neither can the paines of the wicked and condemned bee shewed for there is such poenarum multiplicitas acerbitas â—eternitas that is first the paine of the condemned shall bee so great and manifold that none can declare it for they shall be cast into vtter darknesse Mat. 22.13 where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth They shall be tormented in the flame Luk. 16.24 The Lord shall raine vpon them snares fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup their wormes shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched Esay 66.24 and they shall bee an abhorring vnto all the people A Meditation of the soule on the paines of hell Behold with these and such like phrases the Scripture giueth vs to vnderstand that vnspeakeable and vnconceiueable miserie the wicked shall come to with that grieuous societie of the diuel who shall ioye in tormenting them which the religious should often meditate vpon Secondly there shall be Poenarum acerbitas for that their paine shall bee so bitter and hard that the condemned cannot endure and yet they must needes suffer it eternally for they shal seeke death Revel 9.6 and shall not finde it and shal desire to dye and death shall slie from them for there shall be neither life nor death but betwixt life and death shall they bee tormented for euermore Euen as a red hot coldron vpon a flaming furnace so shal they be in fire vnspeakeably tormented and abide in such case for all eternitie Thirdly Poenarum aeternitas for their manifolde and bitter torments shall at no time come to an end for so it is said they shall goe to euerlasting paine Mat. 25. for were it of a long continuance and so haue an end would bee some comfort in their expectation but eternitie is endlesse Esa. 34.89 for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the streames shall bee turned into pitch which
Faith and not by feeling I teach thee humilitie and not to glorie but in infirmiâ—ies 2. Cor. 11.30.31 for Paul for all his Reuelations was afraid of Aretas and let downe in a basket Elias who commaunded as it were the Heauens to rayne and not to raine hid himselfe in a caue from Iesabell 1. â—i 19.9 Iacob was afraid of his brother Abraham of Pharoah and the Philistims in Gerah O how dearly loued I them but when the starre appeareth againe Mat. â— the wisemen reioiced with an exceeding great ioy Rachel had Labans gods which made him more eager to seeke them I may frowne for a while yet not alwaies retaine my anger No truely Ps. 103.9 I am not angrie at all as a Iudge to punish but as a Father to correct a brother to admonish I cannot cease to loue my owne members Doth anie man strike his owne flâ—sh at any time Thou art one of my members ingrafted in my body by my Spirit and a liuely faith I haue said and doe not repent thou that beleeuest in me art deliuered from the power of darkenesse by my Father and art translated into the kingdome of Mee his deare Sonne The SOVLE THe wordes that thou speakest sweet Redeemer of Mankind are Spirit and Life but thou speakest of affections reformed which I find not How cold are my Prayers O how hard is my hart it cannot powre it selfe out like Water before Thee it cannot admit any impression of thy Word or finger of thy spirit my wauering faith is not confirmed by it I lacke that heauenly light to discerne of my troubles and crosses aright Finally I haue little or no comfort in thy Word wanting the apprehending applyâ—â—g faith the hand of my Soule O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner O sweet Samaritan take mee vp which am halfe dead CHRIST THou hast redemption in my bloud Col. 1.14 euen the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes for they shall neuer bee imputed vnto thee neither heere nor elsewhere neither doe they raigne in thy mortall body but thou hast a serious reluctation against them neither thy vnworthines maketh thee vncapable of the greatest mercies they are of my meere and free loue and grace thou art not the obiect of thine owne faith but I my merits obedience who am by faith vnited vnto thee as a head to a member then look vpon mee I am in thee and thou art in me that which God hath conioyned who can separate it or who can plucke thee out of my fathers hand my father and I am one and my Spirit which hath wrought in thee that desire of profiting by the Word whereof thou so heauily complainest will make thee reape manifold fruits of the immortall seed of the Word in due season which is sowed in the furrowes of thy hart I do feed thee for a time with a sparing hand to sharpen thine appetite wait and trust on me and I will comfort thy heart Psal. 27.16 truly flesh and bloud hath not reuealed the hardnes of thy heart vnto thee but my spirit which worketh the sight of thy corruptions Esa. 63. â—7 I which haue begunne this good worke will performe it Phil. 1.6 It is good for thee that thou bewailest thy defects and wants quench not these motions of my spirit in thee prayer is my gift it is I that worke both the will deede Lam. 1.22 it is I that mark thy many sighs the faintings of thy heart yea my spirit doth make request for thee with sighs that cannot bee expressed when thou holdest thy peace or little knowest of it The sacrifice of God are not words Psal. 51.17 but a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart I will not despise I know thy thoughts before thou thinke them Psal. 1 39.2 thy sighing is not hid from me I doe heaâ—e thy desire Psal. 38.9 Psal. 10.17 it is I that doe put vp as Mediator betwixt thee and my father thy prayers vnto the golden viols which are full of the precious odours of my merits thereby perfumeth and maketh them an offring of sweet smelling sauour vnto him Reu. 5.8 and purgeth their corruptions in my bloud and vnto my throne there is a purple ascent the perfectest bewty is the perfectest mixture of red and white afflictions staineth not but adorneth the beautie of my graces The SOVLE I Am not so washed I see in the lauer of regeneration but that there remaineth in mee slaines of that scarlet engrained die of my corruption I am not wholly spirit as the carnall man is wholly slesh but 〈◊〉 at ciuill wars within my selfe In the spirit I serue the Law of God in the flesh the law of sinne O deare Iesus grant me thy spirit grace 1 Thess. 5.22 that I may auoid the occasions of sinne I may make conscience of my lâ—ast sinnes I may carefully watch ouer my heart that I be not surprized at vnawares I may rest in thy promised assistance and not in mine owne power and haue recourse vnto thee by feruent praier crauing thy ayd that I may bee enabled to stand in the daie of temptations but alas deare Sauiour it vexeth mee greatly that I doe not much Lord thou knowest feele my faith nor the fruits thereof which maketh mee I know not what to thinke that I haue no true faith or if I haue it is yet in the infancy thereof CHRIST FAith is the eye hand and foot of the Soule for by it it commeth seeth and layeth hold on mee seeke light in the Word which is Truth by praier that thou bee not deceiued and follow the same light so farre as thou shalt be warranted thereby the conscience maketh the assumption but examined it by my word lest thou fall in errour and for to learne deere Soule to discerne betwixt the punishment for sinne and trial of thy faith patience and purging of Sinne for I often afflict inwardly the soule with deep sense of sinne and the bodie with crosses outwardly not to prosecute sinne in thee Ier. 51.7 for then it should follow that as the wicked mine enemies exceede in sinne so should they exceed in afflictions also but thee I lead as a louing Spouse with cords of aman Hos. 11.4 euen with bands of loue for whom I loue I rebuke For I am good a strong hold in the daie of trouble and know them that trust in me Nah. 1.7 Nourish this in thine heart it is more certaine and durable then heauen and earth The SOVLE O My sweet Sauiour thou hast taken my feet out of the mire I stucke iâ— Psal. 4.1 Luk. 1.49 and put me at more large liberty of minde thou that art mighty hast done for me great things and holy is thy name thou wilt performe thy worke toward me O Lord Psal. 138.8 thy mercie endureth for euer forsake not the worke of thy owne hands thou hast deliuered me from