could not bee called a CommunioÌ„ as the Masse-Priest taketh it alone Thirdlie They differ in the Elements the one being receiued in Water the other in Bread and Wine Fourthlie in the manner of receiuing in Baptisme the receiuer is meere passiue doing nothing himselfe but offering himselfe and suffering himselfe to bee washen by another In the Supper the receiuer is actiue and that which is offered vnto him hee taketh eateth and drinketh The superstitious Papist would put it into his mouth for holinesse And finallie Baptisme is ministrated but once Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil. and cannot bee reiterated the Supper as often as wee doe it sayeth our Sauiour There is a reiteration for as a childe is once infested in his fathers heritage but hee is fedde daylie at his fathers table so once baptized may often communicate The necessitie of the Word and SacrameÌ„ts But now God willing wee shall speake something of the necessitie of the Word and Sacraments The Word is necessarie to saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simplie those who are come to age without the which they cannot bee saued The Sacramentes are necessarie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conditionallie they may bee had So I say with Augustine August Non carentia sed contemptis Baptismi damnat that is Not the want but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth men Iosh 5. For as in the Wildernesse many died who were not circumcised Circumcision then being more strictly vrged than Baptisme is now Exod. 4.24 and of a like power and signification yet vve vvill not judge those who so died to be damned no more reason is it that those who are preuented by death or excluded by necessity bee in danger of damnation lacking Baptisme Preparation to the Sacrament is necessarie A man should not set himselfe to any graue action without deliberation much lesse vnto this which is the grauest of all others the Supper of the Lord he should first try and examine himselfe First let vs try our repentance next our faith and thirdlie our loue Our repentance must bee tryed by the Lawe How to try thy repentance without the which there is no knowledge of sinne Examine our selues and judge our selues that God doe not judge vs. Spare not to search all the corners of thine heart that there be no hid leauen therein try what sorrow thou hast for thy former life and in what measure for manie sinnes doe craue many teares Luke 7.38 as the Magdalen washed Christs feete with her teares and Dauid his bed Next Psalm 6.6 try the trueth and sinceritie of thy repentance for God doeth loue the trueth in the inward parts And be sorrowfull Psal 51.6 not for any paine which hath befallen thee for thy sinnes but for offending God thereby Try thy faith see that thou haue knowledge to vnderstand what is giuen thee How to try thy fayth for ignorance secludeth thee from the Sacraments And next that thou canst apply to thy felt that which thou doest receiue externally in the elements and internally by faith in Christ Finally try thy loue that it be without hypocrisie for there is no conjunction with the head How to try thy loue vnlesse there bee communion with the members of the bodie Therefore purge your selues from the leauen of maliciousnesse and bitternesse 1. Cor. 5.7 yea pardon your enemies heartilie and pray for them if ye desire that at this holy SacrameÌ„t God should be mercifull vnto your sinnes The honourable receiuing of the SacrameÌ„ts Both the Sacramentes craue a like reuerence as they are of a like substance and weight and therefore we ought to come with all humilitie and reuerence to that most holie Supper both in bodie and soule praying that God Almightie would blesse this his ordinance and make it steadable to our saluation and then receiuing it in all deautifull reuerence let vs apply it to our owne comfort rendering thanks to God for this inestimable benefite in giuing his Sonne to the death for our redemption A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORDES SVPPER O Lord God most gracious most holy most glorious I thy poore creature most filthie and vnworthie most graceles and ingracious most contemptible and vilde worme doe heere present my selfe before thine holy Majestie crauing at thine handes that I may bee worthily prepared to receiue the body and blood of Iesus Christ to mine eternall saluation and to this effect I beseech thee that thou wilt remooue from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiuing of the same namely ignorance which blindeth my minde infidelitie and damnable hypocrisie O merciful father replenish me with thâ—ne holy Spirit that I may know and vnderstand the mysterie of my redemption and truly apply it to mine owne soule and in all sinceritie and singlenesse of heart render all praise honour and glorie to thy Majestie for the same O Lord the blinde dulnesse of my minde will not suffer me sufficiently to acknowledge these thy most ample benefits the height the length the breadth and the deepnesse whereof neither man nor Angel euer was able to sound yet I am perswaded that all my saluation consisteth in the death and passion of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST who died for the sinnes of the world and therefore I humbly beg at thy Majesty that as I receiue these outward elements at thy commandement eat and drinke thereof in rememberance of him Nota. so it will please thee secretlie to communicate the vertue of his blood to my soule which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternall life by whose power also and force of his death all my wicked and sinfull affections may be crucified and finally by the aide protection of his blood I may bee defended from all my spirituall and temporall enemies from all temptations and dangers and by the selfe same his bodie blood I may be strengthened to fight my spiritual battels and to goe forward in my spirituall journey to that Land of Canaan in the which battell and journey helpe me good Lord by the precious merite of thy deare SONNE CHRIST IESVS to whom with thee and thine holy spirit bee all honour glorie and dominion for euer AMEN A THANKESGIVING AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMVNION O Most gracious God I heartilie thanke thee for this thy most excellent benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee euen the bodie and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus for the saluation of my soule I beseech thee most mercifull father that thou wouldest bestowe thine holy spirit vpon me that I may honour and serue thee all the dayes of my life that the corruption of my nature may be beaten downe and the Image of God may bee more clearely seene in me that I may cast off the olde man Colloss 3.9 with the lusts thereof and put on the newe man which is formed after God in holinesse and righteousnesse
nourish it within thy Sanctuarie that I beeing brought through this shaddowe of the darke worlde by thine externall and internall light may come to that place where there shall bee no night and where there needeth no Candle Rev. 21.23 neither the Sunne nor the Moone to giue light euen where thy glorie shineth and where the Lambe himselfe giueth light To whome with thee O Father and the holie Spirit bee all honour praise power and dominion now and euermore So bee it A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDES second dayes vvorke THE Heauens were created the seconde Daye The worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the natiue language is taken frō the Waters because the Waters are there and descende from thence The Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato takes as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conspicable because it is objected to the sight of all men The Latine Coelum because it is Coelatum carued with goodlie Ornaments and Firmamentum from the surenesse of it and Expansum because GOD hath spred it foorth as a Curtaine Ps 104.2 The Heauens haue three significations in the Scriptures First it is taken for the Aire wherein the Fowles and Birdes doe flie Mat. 6.26 Heauen hath three significatiōs Secondlie for the Firmament And thirdlie for the Seate of the Angels and blessed Soules Paradise the Bosome of Abraham the third Heauens wherevnto the Apostle Paul was rauished These three were made this day God created a faire Theatre to himselfe this daye wherein there should bee innumerable Quiristers neare vnto his Throne of pure Seraphims and Cherubims euerie one prouoking other to his prayse and saying Holie Revel 4.8 holie holie LORD GOD Almightie c. And againe there are infinite Aëriall Quiristers who fill the ears of men with their pleasant Songs by their example prouoking men to laude their Creatour And there is a Parpane and middle inter-stise which is the sole and grounde of his vpper House and the Roofe of his neather House to couer the Worlde by an admirable manner I marke three thinges in the Creation of the Heauens Thre things obserued First the order which GOD vseth in the making of them for seeing Man was to bee made of an Heauenlie Soule and an Earthlie Bodie and was to dwell in Heauen for euer and on the Earth onlie for a little time hee maketh the Heauen first If Heauen was first made then seeke it first setting it aboue the Earth and making Man to bow vpwardes looke vnto it and not downward towards the Earth as the Beasts doe being the place of his abode perpetuall remaining The consideration wherof should make vs to vse that same order in our actions which God did in his Albeit our bodies be on the Earth let our hart bee in Heauen Let vs put Heauen in our heart before the Earth let vs looke vnto it and haue our conuersation in it albeit our bodies be captiuate in the earth let our hearts be in our owne Countrey where wee shall dwell for euer Next God grounded the Heauens vpon the second day and perfected them vpon the fourth day God worketh by degrees This is his common forme both in his Spirituall works and in his naturall he worketh by degrees he layeth the foundation of his benefit and after he finisheth it Therfore let vs not hasten nor precipitate but attend Gods will who will perfect our earthly and heauenlie comfort in his owne time Last yee see he bindeth vp the Cloudes in the Aire that they cannot drowne the Earth as he wardes the Seas by the sands By weake meanes God preserueth man to teach vs how God by these weake meanes doeth preserue Mankinde Which if he doe to his enemies what should his Elect Children looke for at his hands A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES second Dayes Worke. O Almightie GOD Thou who created the Heauens the second day inspire my soule I beseech three with heauenlie Meditations inlarge mine heart and loose my tongue to thy praise Ouer-shadow mine heart with thy grace as thou couerest the Eearth with the Heauens that I may consider thy power and goodnesse towards me in this thy workmanship Thou needest not the Heauens O Lord for before the Heauens were thou wast the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but thou madest them for me Therefore lift vp my minde by a spirituall meditation that with heart and minde I may seeke for thee in them and loue them for thee who is in them Thou dwellest in a light vnaccessable I cannot enter into thy Throne to see but I prostrate my soule before the gates of thy grace wrapped in the beggersie clouts of my sinne and at thy commandement I knock Long for Heauen where thou mayest see God Cant. 5.12 Cast the crumms of thy mercie to me that I faint not in this wildernesse Looke with the eyes of the Doue out of thine holie Temple Heare the voyce of my prayer and gather my teares into thy Bottle who am in a strange countrey and so long absent from my Lord and Husband who is now dwelling with thee Looke foorth at the grates of thy Fathers window Cantic 2.9 O thou whom my soule loueth and cure the griefe of mine heart by thy gracious countenance Should wee dwell sundrie so fare I here thou in the heauens hasten thy comming in the Cloudes or hasten my departure by death that I may enjoye the sight of him whome my soule loueth O Lord the Heauen is full of thy glorie when thou commest out of thine Yourie Palaces Psal 45.8 and out of the moste holie places and shewest the signes of thy presence amongst thy Sainctes then the foundations of the Heauens shake then the innumerable legions of the Coelestiall Spirites rayse vp their voyces Psal 18.7 sounding thy prayses they fill al thy Temple speak words which cannot bee expressed Thine holie Armie of twentie thousand thousandes of Angels Revel 7.4 9. and of euerie Tribe of Israel twelue thousand and of all the Nations vnder the Heauens innumerable thousandes Their voyces are like the sound of the Thunder Rev. 14.2 or as the noyse of manie Waters O our God howe glorious art thou in thine holie Temple O that Spirituall Musicke and the Harpes of God wherevpon thy Sainctes doe play both daye and night The twentie and foure Elders Rev. 7.14 15. and the rest who made their long Robes white in the bloode of the Lambe thou leadest them to the pure Fountaines of Waters thou hast wyped away all teares from their eyes They sing Prayse Glorie and Wisedome Thankes Honour Power and Might bee vnto our GOD for euermore The foundation of that Citie is of precious Stones The Iasper the Saphyr Rev. 21.19 20.21 27 and the Emarald the Topaz and the Hiacinth The twelue Gates are twelue Pearles The Streete of the Citie is pure Golde as shyning Glasse There is none vncleane thing
signifie Some Planets but each one of them hath a seuerall office and compleateth his course in his appointed time as the Sunne and Moone doe and haue their particular operations vpon the inferiour creatures As for the Comets they take their name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comets which is called the haire because they seeme to carrie as it were haire about them of whom Plinius maketh mention in his second Booke of his naturall historie and twentie fiue Chapter The ends of their creation Simil. As for the ends of their creation First the Sunne was created to rule the Day the Moone the Night So this darke and blinde world is ruled by the light of Christ and of his Church which is illuminated and directed by him But I maruell how the Church of Rome can call her selfe the Sunne and the Princes of the world the Moone for if she be the Spouse of Christ then must she be the Moone of whom is spoken in the Scripture and Christ must be her Sunne So in comparison of her the secular persons are the Earth I maruell likewise of these against whom Ieremie and the rest of the Prophets so oft speaketh who thinke that their life and the events thereof still depend vpon the Starres or Plannets which is a manifest idolatrie putting them in Gods place NOTA. But let vs learne that the superiour creatures haue so power ouer the inferriour bodies that wee leaue all the euent of them to God Against the curiositie in searching our euents 1. Sam. 28.18 the maker and guider of all let vs seeke his fauour depende on his prouidence without any curious searching of our euent lest wee receiue the answere of Saul A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES fourth Dayes Worke. GRACIOVS GOD and mercifull Father who hast filled the Heauens with such infinite Lightes vpon this fourth Day inlighten mine vnderstanding I beseech thee that I may see thy power and thy glorie in these thy good creatures and through them as through spectacles let me look in to the Father of Lights Thou hast created the Sunne who by his beautie and bountie hath adorned the whole Earth As the Sun shineth on the bodie pray that Christ may shine on the soule hee ariseth each morning on my bodie so I pray thee that the Sunne of Righteousnesse the Sunne Iesus Christ may shine vpon my darkened minde euerie daye and houre and chase away the cloudes of ignorance and of sinne from my soule that thou mayest shine brightly in me Woe is mee my Lord howe manie times hath the Sunne shined vpon mee and as Absolom before the Sunne committed wickednesse 2. Sam. 16 22. so I before the Sunne in the pride of my wicked heart haue often times sinned against thee O my Father and therefore I confesse that I am not woorthie that the Sunne should shine vpon mee O Lord Iesu spreade thy Mantle ouer mee that thy Father beholde not my wickednesse Thou puttest light in the Sunne that hee may shine therefore Lord put knowledge and vnderstanding in mee Thou hast put hotnesse in the Sunne Oh warme mine hart with thy loue that through the loue I beare to thee I may also breake foorth in the loue of my Neighboures And as the Sunne runneth constantlie in his course at thy commaundement so Lord let mee run all my dayes in the path of thy Law for hitherto I haue run as a wylde Asse in the broade way of destruction yea I brayed after the desires of sinne psal 42.1 as the Hart doeth after the Riuers of Waters and nothing could haue satisfied mee vnlesse I had obtained my sinfull desire Now Lord haue mercie vpon me draw my feet out of the vnhappie way of sinne let me runne with as speedie a course in the way of thy seruice Let vs bee more diligēt to serue God than wee were before to sin against him that as Sainct Paul thy seruaunt was more diligent in thy employment than he was in the destruction of thy Church so I may be more busied in thy honourable seruice than I was in seruing mine owne affections and in the seruice of Sathan Alace O Lord howe slow am I to doe thy seruice But if thou wilt drawe mee I will run after thee Oh drawe mee by the Cordes of thy loue Cantic 1.3 yea rather than I should lie behinde force mee with the Cordes and Whippes of thy visitation that I may learne to runne a quicker swifter pace than I haue done heeretofore But alace NOTA. that the Sunne which is a senselesse creature should neuer bee wearie and that I should so soone bee tyred in seruing of thee The Sunne constant in its course O louing Father stirre vp a constant zeale of thine honour in mine heart I beseech thee that as I goe forwarde in yeeres so I may make greater progresse in godlinesse O LORD when I see the Sunne and the Moone and the Starres c. which are the workes of thine owne hands O then I thinke with my selfe What is Man that thou shouldest visit him or the sonne of man that thou shouldest magnifie him For albeit the Sunne were in the highest top of its beautie glorie yet it is but my seruant and likewise the Moone The Sunne serueth vs let vs serue GOD. and the Starres Then fye vpon mee if I shall not in whatsoeuer estate I am serue thee O my gracious God who hast made so glorious creatures for my vse LORD I pray thee let my light so shine before men that all who beholde my conuersation may take occasion to glorifie thine holie Name O Father of Lightes lighten thou my Candle that it may shine clearelie and furnish it with the Oyle of thine holie Spirite and Worde that it may shine euen as a bright Morning Starre in thy Kingdome Thy seruant Paul O Lord 1. Cor. 15.41 sayeth that there is one glorie of the Sunne and another of the Moone and another of the Starres It is true there is great diuersitie amongst the Sainctes heere on Earth and likewise great difference of glorie in the Life to come But O my God let mee shine but as the least of thy Starres that I may bee fixed in thy Firmament and giue out my light of knowledge and good life vnto this darke Age. The Moone knoweth the time of her change and as shee changeth so doe all the inferior creatures with her for all men are grasse and there is no steadfast abiding for them heere But O Lord heerein is my comfort The Moone changeth but God can not change Ps 90. ◠6 Psal 90.2 Luke 1.5 that there is no shadowe of changing with thee Thou art from euerlasting to euerlasting yea my God thy kindnesse and trueth abideth from generation to generation euen vnto such as feare thee and attende vpon thy mercies and goodnesse O vnchangeable God I finde none alteration with thee for although men runne
Nowe O Lord thou hast fed me with the most excellent foode which thou hadst and hast slaine thy fatted Calfe for me Luk. 15.23 Therefore grant that I may honour thee as my Father and bestow all the actions of my life the motions of my minde the speaches of my mouth to set foorth thy praises in this world that I become neuer vnthankfull and ingrate to meete thy good benefits with my sinnes To thee therefore O Lord with thy Sonne and holy Spirit be all prayse and honour for euermore Amen A MEDITATION OF THE TROVBLE OF CONSCIENCE AS it is easie to speake of Sicknesses and deadlie Diseases incureable so men may speake of a troubled Conscience but none can speake of either of them more powerfullie or comfortablie than those who haue experimented them both therfore let vs speake first of Conscience it selfe and next of her diseases and troubles and last of the remedies anenst a grieuous and troubled Conscience Conscience is a composed worde of Con and Science so that it must haue a knowledge of sinne What Conscience is and somewhat more that is a feeling conjoyned with the knowledge There are manie who sinne ignorantlie thinking that they doe God good seruice as Saul did and the Iewes 1. Timot. 1.13 Rom. 10.2 of whome hee beareth witnesse that they haue the zeale of God without knowledge others knowe their sinne and that they are into a wrong course hauing Science without Conscience and Knowledge without Feeling and these are in a worse case for their knowledge maketh to their farther damnation God hath erected a Tribunall in man Conscience is Gods Tribunall Iudge Accuser and Burrio hath set it in his heart fensing the Court of Conscience wherein he maketh both Index Index Vindex that is Attourney Iudge and Burrio There is no Subterfuge against the accusations of the conscience no excuses no replyes no dilators but she must simplie confesse And as she giueth vp dittie against her selfe so she giueth sentence of condemnation for her sinnes according to the law of God wherevpon ariseth such torments tortures in the conscience and an Hell begun and a fire kindled which shall neuer be quenched vnlesse God by the bloode of his Christ quench the same The tendernesse of the Conscience The Conscience is a verie tender thing and doeth examine the quietest thoughts of the minde which other men doe passe lightly it censureth the smallest words or ydle speaches challenging man that he must bee comptable for them it chargeth mens looks as Iob sayeth I haue made a couenant with mine owne eyes his hearing tasting Iob 51.1 and all his other senses so that the smallest thought is more grieuous to a feeling conscience than the worst actions are to a sleeping conscience or to a reprobate This Conscience is common to the Elect reprobat Rom. 1.24.25.26 c. The Hethniks looked to the glasse of nature and their conscience mutually accusing or excusing them but Christians looke vnto the glasse of the Law and see there what they haue done well or euill The Hethniks describe Conscience Magna est vis conscientiae in vtramque partem vt neque timeant qui nihil commiserint Cic. pro Milone poenam semper ante oculos versari putent qui peccarint that is Great is the force of the Conscience on both sides that neither they are feared who did no wrong those who haue offēded suppose punishment euer to be before their eyes Then if this be into the Hethniks much more ought it to be in Christians who see clearly either God allowing their good actions whereby there is bred an vnspeakable tranquillitie and peace to their soules or dissallowing them whereby the infernal furies are kindled within them In the trouble of Conscience there ariseth a fire of the wrath of God The trouble of Conscience conceiued against our sinnes out of the which fire ariseth such a smoak which letteth vs see nothing in God but justice and where the Creator is obscured and his light eclipsed nothing appeareth vnto vs on earth but darknesse All the creatures yea the dearest vnto them seeme to be their enemies for when the Sunne is darkened Simil. what maruell is it that there bee no light on the earth or what comfort can all the creatures minister vnto vs when the Creator draweth back his coūtenance from vs Simil. As if the King would looke downe vpon a Subject who dare countenance him any longer This sort of temptation befel Dauid Psal 22.1 Narke 15.34 Christ had trouble of conscience Iohn 5.4 and to our Lord himselfe vpon the Crosse who cryed My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Neither shall we account them the lesse beloued of God who are thus tryed for as the poole of Bethesda being troubled by the Angel brought present health to him who was casten into it so a troubled conscience in Gods mercie bringeth saluation and comfort to a Christian And as Medicine that worketh vehemently after bringeth health Simil. so doeth tranquillitie and peace come after a troubled conscience Pretended trouble and true differ But many pretende a trouble of conscience when there is nothing in them but a furious madnesse and a melanchollious desperate diffidence in God for perplexities miseries whereinto they are brought where there is a manifest difference betwixt that their paine and the other in that the godly are only pained for the sinnes which they haue done against God Trouble worketh diuerslie in the godlie and wicked the other for the calamities whereinto their sins haue brought them True it is they acknowledge their sin to be the cause of it but they are not moued for the sin but for the paine Now seeing the spirit of man can beare all externall paines Prou. 18.14 but who can beare a wounded spirit therefore let vs see what remedies can be applied to cure the diseases of the Conscience Remedies against a troubled conscience First it is necessary that the doctrine of faith bee propounded whereby the conscience terrified with Gods judgementes may bee strengthened by his mercies and it is requisit that all the places of Scriptures which promise Gods mercie should bee propounded vnto the patient Next that an interpreter one of a thousand may bee sought who may pray for him as a spirituall Physician to his soule Thirdly that he be frequent in reading and praying that he enter not into temptation and then thus being exercised by Gods helpe hee will recouer And after his recouerie let him take heede to himselfe that he grieue not Gods Spirit but walke in feare and trembling and he shall finde such excessiue joy after that trouble as hee neuer did in all his life before For as after the Winter blasts Simil. the Sunne shineth more comfortably in Sommer so after a troubled conscience commeth greatest tranquillitie to our minds after the
raging stormes of the Sea commeth greatest tranquillitie and calmnesse Simil. so after a disquieted minde God sendeth greatest consolations A PRAYER FOR A TROVBLED CONSCIENCE O Lord art thou also become mine enemie hast thou hid thy countenance in displeasure Oh that my griefe vvere vvell weighed Iob 6.2 and my miseries laide together in the Ballance they would bee farre heauier than the sand of the Sea for thine Arrowes are in me and the venome thereof drinketh vp my spirit I eate Gall for my Meat Psa 69.21 my Drinke is mingled with Vinegar Oh that God would destroy me I burne with sorrow spare me not O Lord yet haue I not denyed the wordes of the holie One Iob 6.10.11 Iob 7.6 c my strength is not the strēgth of a stone my dayes are swifter than a Weauers shottle Iob 7.6 c and flie away like the winde I speake to thee O Lord in the trouble of my spirit and moue in the bitternesse of my minde Am I a Whale fish that I am kept in ward I abhorre my life for my paine is greater than I am able to beare Genes 4.13 Iob 19.13 c. I haue none now to help me all haue forsaken me I am left to be a prey to my spirituall enemies thou hast set my secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance I inherit now the sinnes of my youth Iob 20.11 and 7.3 Psa 50.21 and the moneths of vanitie which I passed Thou hast put my sinnes in order and those things which I thought light by ydle thoughts and speaches now I finde them like mountaines so terrible is thy Tribunal and thy Face burning like fire The Heauens are not cleane before thee Iob 4.28 and 15.15 and 15.16 thou foundest no steadfastnesse in the Angels how much lesse can I who haue drunken in iniquitie like water bee justified before thee If I would justifie my selfe when thou hast reasoned with me 9.3.20 mine owne mouth would condemne me though I were just yet I could not answer but I would mak supplication to my Iudge and 9.15 If I wash me with snow water purge mine hands most cleanly 9.30.31 yet shalt thou plunge me into the pitte mine own cloathes shall make me filthie What shall I doe O thou Sauiour of men Wilt thou absent thy selfe for euer Hath God forgotten to be mercifull Psal 77.7.8.9 c. Will hee show no more fauour to my miserable soul doth his promise faile for euermore hath he shut vp his tender mercies in displeasure He hath lifted me vp and casten me down again He hath shot at me with his Arrowes as at a marke Then I said This is my death Iob 7.20 and 16.13 Psa 77.10 Yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the most High and how he deliuered his children by his mightie arme Is the Lord like man that he can repent and Whom he loueth 1. Sam. 15.29 doeth he not loue to the end Manie pledges of thy fauour I haue receiued in my youth wilt thou nowe reject me in my gray haires Is there any shaddowe of change in thee Albeit all men be liars yet thou art faithfull and constant for euer Thy Sonne said Heauen and Earth should perish but one jot of thy word should not fall to the ground Matth. 24.35 But all the Scriptures proclaime thy mercie thou cryedst in the Campe of Israel with thine owne voyce The Lord is mercifull full of compassiō of great kindnesse Exo. 34.16 shewing mercie vnto thousands Therefore O Lord haue mercie vpon me miserable wretch cure my wounds powre in the Oyle and Wine of thy Sonnes blood and spirit that I may be made whole For out of the deepe places of a grieued heart haue I called Psa 130.1 vpon thee If thou wouldest obserue mine iniquities vvho can be saued Psa 130.3 4. But mercie is with thee that thou mayest be feared For euen as when the Sunne departeth in Winter then all tempests arise Snow Haile Frost Simil Windes c so when thou obscurest thy countenance from me then the Winter of all tēptations ariseth aganst me the Deuill my spirituall enemie raiseth vp such fearfull temptations that through the multitude of sinnes he terrifieth me euen in the night when I would haue slept he thought to haue made me to despare of thy mercies but O Lord I know that thy mercies are more infinite than my sins are or can bee yea though my sinnes be moe than the haires of mine head Psa 40.12 yet thy mercies are as the Sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen which cannot be numbred Therefore O God let thy face shine vpon mee and I shall bee saued Psa 31.16 Mine enemies are risen vp against me and as thornes they pricke me on euerie side Psa 42.10 Psal 22.8 they say Now where is thy God he trusted in the Lord let him deliuer him let him saue him seeing he loueth him Psa 38.20 and 11. Psal 41.9 Yea those who render euill for good are mine enemies because I followe goodnesse My friends and familiars haue forsaken me and he that ate at my table hath lifted vp his heele against me yea he with whom I went vnto the House of God and communed with him of spirituall matters and who prayed with me and exercised the parts of diuine worship doeth scorne me saying Where is thy confidence thine hope and thy feare which thou hast of God But O Lord let me not be ashamed Psal 25.3 because I put my trust in thee O thou Sunne of righteousnesse come with the bright beames of thy countenance disperse and chase away the clowdes of my sinnes and of all these temptations chase away my spirituall aduersaries and giue not my temporall enemies cause to rejoyce ouer me neither yet to dishonour thine holie Name that when others say Beholde this poore man called vpon the Lord in his miserie Psal 34.6 and he heard the voyce of his prayer they may turne also vnto thee and be saued for I will consecrate my selfe to thy Name for euer through Christ Iesus my Lord and Sauiour to whom together with thee O Father and the holie Spirite bee all prayse honour glorie power and dominion World without ende So be it A MEDITATION VPON THE ESTATE OF KINGES KINGES are the principall and chiefe mēbers of the Church and are Heads of that Church which is within their Dominions and therefore euerie King ought to doe the part of an Head vnto her that is To fore-see her wealth maintaine her libertie speake for her heare those things which concerne her weale defende her from persecution and oppression and that shee bee not craftilie dealt withall as Pharoah did to the Israelites Exod. 1.10 11 Psal 45.7 lest they touch the Lordes Anointed and hee rebuke them and roote them out All good Christians are most duetifullie
Gates of Hell by Stripes and Wounds our Lord weÌ„t before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weaknesse of faith and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death RemeÌ„ber that there are two Deaths and feare the greater There are two deaths Rev. 20.14 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie but the second Death is the euerlasting separation of God froÌ„ the soule If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee therfore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death if thou be deliuered from the second 2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death Death is vniuersall for it is a fatall necessitie laide vpon all Flesh Kinges Prophets People c. all must depart A profitable exchaunge by death 3. There is great gain by the exchaÌ„ge for wee get a Palace for a Prison rest for labour libertie for bondage God for men the companie of Angels for the companie of sinners and finallie the Heauens for the Earth 4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death Present joy by death without delay Luke 23.43 NOTA. Sinne is taken away Simil. The-paines of death are short because thy soule shall not bee holdeÌ„ in suspense nor stand at the gates of HeaueÌ„ nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise 5. The sting of Death is taken froÌ„ it which is Sinne then Death can doe thee no more harme than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting 6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall but thy joyes shall be eternall as Paul saith to the Romanes Chap. 8. Vers 18. Inward comfortes The soule shall shortlie returne 7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses 8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little thy soule shal returne shortlie the Comforter shall assist thee Christ is praying for thee in Heauen the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer the Angels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse 9. Heere is thy comfort Christ thy Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master And as he died so he rose againe and ouercame Death in his owne denne Then if the Head bee risen will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie Yes surelie Lastly The right desire to liue or die Psalm 6.5 Isa 38.7 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer let the cause of thy desire be that thou mayest liue better as Ezechias and Dauid saide Shall the dead prayse thee And What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord And if thou desire to die Christ aduantage in life and death see that it be not for thine earthlie burdens but for sinne which thou weariest to beare and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH EVerlasting God and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore Prisoner bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed vpon whome the bondes of Death are seasing and taking holde I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy beseech thee to giue me thine holie Spirite that seeing I am going the way of all flesh I may rightlie resolue 1. King 2.2 with solide judgement and perfect memorie anent my departure that as thou hast prepared a place for mee Iob 14.2 so thou wilt prepare mee for it that I being purged by the blood of Iesus sanctified by thy Spirit may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee warning as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerse diseases yet Lord nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe that which I would not learne by others Nowe therefore O Lord when I looke backe to my former life and consider the sinnes of my childhood and mine age what things I did ignorantlie and what I did against mine owne conscience my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse mine open sinnes and my secret sinnes my presumptions mine injuries to others mine intemperancie my slouthfulnesse and neglect of thy worship all these sinnes so oft committed by mee beeing put in a masse and manie moe with them I beseech thee most mercifull Father that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion and make mee nowe quite of them that they burthen mee no more and I beseech thee that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Armie those stragling Souldiours who are shaking their weapons vpon mee they may bee scattered by thine hand that the work of my saluation may now in mercie bee crowned and finished that now I may cry with my Sauiour at his death Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me now O Lord finish it in me vpon this bedde I acknowledge ô Father that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie for thine innumerable benefits which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection thou caredst for mee thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie thou fedst me thou defendedst mee thou nurturedst me c. Simil. Exod. 19.4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance to the knowledge of the trueth madest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church gauest me that eternall life Iohn 17.3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the Worlde Yea when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse the perils of waters of fire of pouertie of sicknesse of decietfull and wicked men c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee to repent and thanke thee for thy benefits For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites both spirituall and temporall I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes praise and glorie to continue for euermore As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee it is not of mee O Lord but thy grace working in mee who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions thou wouldest finde in them a thousand imperfections Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteousnesse oh spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee And as for the Worlde I disclaime and renounce it as a false and deceitfull friend which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it but for golden offers it crowneth them with thornes I bid good-night to all my Friends Acquaintances and good Christians and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende and die the death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 Mat. 7.13 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ goe thorowe the straite way keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende 2. Tim. 4.8 that seeing I haue gone before you and run my race and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes yee would rejoyce in my victorie and not bee forâ—e for my remoouing And I pray God to bee with you all and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie And seeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying and giuing ouer their office my grinders sailing my sight and hearing decaying Eccl. 12.3 my strong men trembling let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour and so depart in peace with olde SIMEON thy Seruant Now my Soule returne to thy rest for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee Psa 116.7 I commit my spirite into thine handes O LORD take it and by the conuoy of thy moste holie Angels carrie it vnto thy Kingdome And for my bodie I commit it to the dust from whence it came to sleepe there till the Day dawne and my LORD returne and rayse it vppe againe that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs thorow Christ Amen FINIS THE PRINTER TO THE READER BEcause it is vnpossible that Bookes of any quantitie in the first Impression should escape all Faults and especially in the absence of the Author therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie judge charitablie and correct diligentlie such errours as on our behalfe vnwillinglie haue escaped our correction all which God willing at another time wee shall amende most attentiuelie
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
in that Citie but those who are written in the Lambes Booke of Life O that Water of Life Rev. 22.1.2 cleare as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God! There is the Tree of Life which beareth twelue manner of Fruites and rendereth Fruite euerie Moneth O! that is the true Land of CANAAN Exod. 3.17 which floweth with Milke and Honey which is promised to the Elect Children O how blessed are those who stand before thee O Lord 1. king 8.8 and heare thee and see the beautie of thine House O howe amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of Hostes It is better to bee a Doore-keeper in thine House than to bee a Monarch of the whole Worlde Psal 84.1 As the Hart brayeth after the Riuers of Waters Psal 42.1 so doeth my soule pant after thee my liuing Lord. O my GOD when shall I appeare before thee in Sion Nowe my soule returne vnto thy rest for the Lord will pittie thee and will deliuer thee from this Prison and from these wylde Beastes which vexe thee on euerie side and from sinne which daylie troubleth thee and will bring thee to the sight and fruition of the Eternall Ioye which is in the Heauens O glorious GOD I haue not yet seen the HeaueÌ„s where thâ— Saints are but in the myrrour of the Gospell But I see daylie these viâ—â—ble creatures and the Firmament NOTA. If there be such beauty in the outward part of the heauens what is within which are euen the workes of thine owne hand Then if there bee such beautie in the outwarde partes of thy Palace O LORD what will wee looke for in thy Gabinet O my GOD as often as I beholde these outward Heauens then let mine heart inward affections be mounted vp by an holie desire and meditation that the eye of my soule may pierce thorow these thy visible workes euen to the companie of my Brethren the First-borne and to that innumerable number of Angels and Sainctes Oh bee thou my Guide O my LORD and bring mee through the perils of this Wildernesse vnto thine heauenlie Palace euen for the merites and blood of IESVS CHRIST thy well-beloued Sonne our Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Werke IN the Creation of the third Day there bee two principall thinges to bee obserued First The manner of the Creation by separation of the Waters whereby were created two Elementes the Water and the Earth Next The Blessing of GOD. Since there is no difficultie in the wordes I will obserue foure thinges First That so long as those two Elementes were in the confused Chaos so long they were both vnprofitable and each one hindered other but assoone as they were separated Confusion is vnprofitable they were both fruitfull Euen so is it yet where Anarchie hath place either in Church or Policie there shall bee no Blessing in neither of them But happie is that Church and Common-wealth where all thinges are ruled by order and no place is left to confusion Gods blessing inricheth Next the Earth was created barren God spake the worde and it fructified If this was the estate thereof before Sinne howe much lesse nowe beeing subject to a curse will it bring foorth anie good thing without GODS Blessing God prouided for his creatures before they were Thirdlie yee see that God blessed it with Cornes Trees and Fruites for the sustenance of Man and Grasse for Beastes before he made anie of them He prouideth the Milke in the Breast of the Woman as a liuelie fountaine before the Childe be borne Then if he was so prouident before Man was made will he neglect vs Much more when they are when wee are made to his owne Image Let vs seeke him truelie and doubt not Fourthlie there is a treasure which God hath hidden in the Earth for Man Golde and Siluer to inrich him Coales Wood and other firing for his heate Stones for his Building c. and on the face of the Earth Gods hidden treasures should prouoke vs to thankefulnesse Cornes Hearbes Trees Wines Oyles and varietie of crearures both for his pleasure and profit When wee behold daylie these good benefits let vs be drawne by each one of them to thankfulnesse of our Creator Let vs seeke the right vse of them that wee spende them not vpon sinne Finallie by these earthlie blessings call to minde the spirituall Riches Seeke spiritual riches and Foode of our soules that wee may not labour for the foode that perisheth but for that Foode which doth endure for euer Iohn 6.27 A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Worke. ETernall God and most louing Father as thou increasedst this thy hudge workmanship of the Worlde and hast created the Earth vpon this third Day so I beseech thee to increase thy Spirit within me and create in my barren colde and earthly heart fruitfull considerations to thy Majesties Glorie O Lord as thou preparedst in the seconde Daye the Heauens to bee the Citie of our remaining so hast thou ordained and established the Earth to bee the place of our Pilgrimage and wandering as the people of Israel were in the Wildernesse fourtie yeares before they came to the land of Promise Similitude Yet O Lord the Earth is thine and the fulnesse thereof There is no constant abiding to me in this Earth I lodge heere in tents I wander now heere now there helpe me poore Pilgrime in this desart place that I may finde thee a Pillar of Cloude in the day to couer me Exod. 13.21.22 and a Pillar of fire in the night and darknesse of this world to illuminate me to see the way to Canaaâ— Thou openedst a fountaine to Hagar the Bond-woman and her childe Gen. 21.19 when they were steruing for thirst I am not the childe of the Bond-woman but of the free-woman Open the fountaine of the House of Dauid and giue me of the water of life and satisfie my soule with the fatnesse of thine house Ezech. 13.1 Iohn 7.38 Psa 39.12 I am a Stranger heere on Earth as my Fathers were before me Let me not walke then as a stranger among the Philistims and Babilonians If I were a citizen and a man of their owne Ioh. 15.19 they would loue me But because I am not of them neither follow them nor their manners therefore they hate me My Mothers sonnes and familiar friends count me a stranger they stand farre from me Psal 69.8 in the day of trouble Draw thou nigh vnto me when they goe farre from me Iob 19.14 Wilt thou leaue a poore Suckling to die him alone in this wildernesse Though my Father and Mother forsake me yet thou wilt gather mee vp I am a Widow for my Lord and Husband is with thee Psa 27.10 I am his Turtle Doue lamenting mine alone till I see him Bring me thorow the straits of this Pilgrimage Psal 42.7 I steppe out of one deepe to
farre from mee yea albeit mine owne kinsmen stand aloofe and my father and my mother forsake mee yet thou O Lord drawest neare vnto me immediatelie makest me feele thine helpe at hande in my greatest tribulations O Lord suffer mee neuer to change from thee but giue mee thy constant Spirit I beseech thee that in all the cares of my life both in wealth and in woe I may depende vpon thee serue thee rejoyce in thee the onlie comfort of my soule that I bee not like a wandering Planet but a fixed Starre honouring thine holie Name in this Wildernesse that afterwardes I may shine with the rest of thy glorious Starres and holie Angels in the eternal Firmament of thy Kingdome Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES fifth Dayes Worke. THE Element of Water which God created on the fifth Day produceth vnto vs two Treasures The one which filleth the Seas with Fishes the other plenisheth the Aire with Birdes and Fowles for the Lord would leaue nothing emptie â—isâ—es necessarie for our naâ—ure As for the Fishes wee know how necessarie they are for our nature and constitution of our bodie which of a part is humide The prouidence of God in sending â—ishes to Scotland in dve season God hath furnished this Nation with such aboundance of Fishes that they haue obtained the names of Schooles and Droues he sendeth them in the mouth of Haruest in our Seas both East and West in such aboundance that they may feede the poore Labourers in cutting downe their Cornes Such is his rich dispensation in due time for the comfort of his people Daintinesse of some who contemne fish How much are they to be blamed who for delicatenesse of their bellies doe contemne these good creatures which God thought so necessarie for their nature And herefore the Lawes of our Realme are better made than practized whrein dayes are appointed and dayes are forbidden for the eating of Fish which men will violate vnder the colour of Conscience because all Meates are free I grant the difference of Meates is taken away by Christ but thou must not vse thy libertie to the prejudice of thy Brother and the whole Countrey yea to offende the Prince who gaue not out that Law to straine thy Conscience but for the benefite of his Subjects whom to offende were great Conscience in so lawfull commandements As for the superstitious difference for Conscience as though one were holier than another Superstitious differencie in Meats Heb. 13.4 Psal 107.23 Gods power seene in the Seas that is the worke of Antichrist who biddeth abstaine from Meats which God hath created and forbiddeth to marrie which God hath said is honourable amongst all Further they who goe downe to the Sea haue experience of Gods power to deliuer them from the stormie waues thereof where they should call to minde how oft they haue raised vp the waues of their sin against God and beseech him to asswage his wrath against their sinnes that hee who hath power ouer the Windes and Waters may rebuke them with the word of his mouth Mat. 8.27 If thou be sailing in the Disciples Boate Comfort to Sea-faring men in tempestes Matth. 14.23 and be a true member of his body remember Christ is in the mountaine of Heauen look vp to him with apenitent eye of a sinner and he will looke vnto thee with a pittifull eye of a Sauiour and will pray to his Father for thine helpe The Fishes come not to the Nettes but by Gods direction The Apostles were fishing all night but receiued nothing till Christ came and then they drew out their Nettes full to them their partners Luke 5.5 Iohn 23.1 Therefore it is in vaine to rise earlie except the Lord builde thine house Psal 127.1.2 blesse thy worke Herefore whether we bee on Sea or Land let vs euer studie to get Gods blessing Further God declareth his power not only in creating Fishes for our necessitie and pleasure which wee haue dayly but also in creating Fishes both for quantitie as the Leuiathan of whome Iob speaketh and in qualitie Iob 40.20 21.22 c. Plin. lib. 32 cap. 1 miraculous as Echeyneris or Remora so called from her vertue who being three foot long will cleaue to a great Shippe and hinder her to saile And againe the Mare-maides Maremaids whose face and vpper parts are like a Womans the neather parts like a Fish Many other might be brought in which I omit affirming this that the Lord is maruelous in all his works Finallie Allegorie of the Sea Mat. 4.19 the Allegorie which our Sauiour bringeth in of the fishing is remarkable The Sea is the world the surges of waues and windes are the tentations of the Deuil his children the Fishes are Men who goe through the world the Boate is the Church the Fishers are the Apostles and Ministers who should be fishers of men who must spreade foorth the Nette of the Gospell in the turbulent Sea of this world albeit with great hazard and perrill to draw men from the Sea of this life to the kingdome of Heauen They are called Piscatores hominum Fishers of men Matth. 4. and they are sent to seeke men and fish after the soules of men As for the Fowles of the Aire Fowles they are infinit in number and there is such variety in their colours which is admirable with such heauenly notes and harmonies as their coelestiall Musicke should prouoke vs all to the praise of God when the Birdes doe after their manner praise him The Peacoke is glorious in his colours Iob 39.16 17. and he scorneth the glorie of Kinges The Ostridge an vnnaturall Fowle like vnto vnnaturall Mothers The Doue is full of loue simplicitie Matth. 13.16 which we should imitate The Turtle a patterne of chastitie the contrarie whereof she condemneth in vs. The Eagle full of rapine Iob 39.33 Matth. 10.29 Ierem. 7.8 which wee should flee The Sparow is an exaÌ„ple of Gods prouidence who will much more care for man The Storke and the Swallow know their times which wee doe not neither can we finde that time wherein we should turne from our wandring The Swallow bringeth vp her little ones neare vnto the House of God Psal 83.3 and we flee from it yea and the young Rauens seeke their meate at God who giueth it them in due season So all these Fowles praise God some by their voyces some by their example Let vs learne at the Birds to praise God Let vs then be ashamed to be inferiour to them certifying our selues that these same if we doe it not shal be witnesses against vs at the last day A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES Fifth Dayes Worke. HEarken vnto my Prayer I beseech thee O mine heauenlie Father and moste mercifull God Oh I intreat thine heauenlie Majestie that thou wilt bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me all mine ouertreadinges Great and manie are thy
Beastes and get the names of such Beastes whose fashions and conditions they are moste addicted to followe They are called Lyons Rauens Beares Bulles of Da-shan Swyne Dogges Vipers c. The couetous Pastours are called dumbe greedie Dogges who cannot barke and neuer are satisfied Issachar is compared vnto a wylde Asse which concheth betwixt two Burdens and Dan vnto a Serpent and there are manie of the Trybe of Dan which byteth the Horse heeles and the ryder also And albeit there bee manie Adulterers and Murderers of the Trybe of Dan which shall enter into Heauen yet the Serpent-kynde of the Trybe of Dan shall not come there Plinius sayeth that there are three kyndes of Serpentes One which killeth all Strangers and spareth Countrey folks Plin. lib. 8. cap. 59. another which killeth Countrey folkes and spareth Strangers and the third which spareth none of them and there are people of all these sortes But I marke one thing in the Serpent wherein it differeth in crueltie from all other Beasts A remarkable marke of the Serpit against Man for the Lyon and Wolfe seeke after Mens Blood for the loue of the Bloode wherevpon they feede but the Serpent which feedeth vpon the Dust out of an hatefull desire of naturall reuenge thirsteth after Mans Bloode albeeit it getteth none other gaine thereby but onelie the satisfaction of her cruell minde representing manie deuilish and serpent-like people Nota. who albeit they get none other commoditie by the destruction of godlie persons yet they holde their selues satisfied that they haue gotten the malicious intent of their wicked heartes brought to passe Man of greaâ—est price is made last Now when the Lord had furnished his House with store of al good things as a louing and carefull Father hee builded an House to his Sonne and he â—illed it with all plenishing Simil. and then hee putteth his Sonne into it as God placed Man Hee maketh Man with aduisement Let vs make Man sayde the Father to the Sonne and to the Spirit Gen. 1.26 For this aduisement telleth vs that the Creation of Man is more than the Creation of the whole Worlde for Man is called a little Worlde because in him is comprehended a worlde of wonders in his Bodie and Soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When hee sayeth To our Image then hee clearlie designeth the Trinitie of the persons Trinitie by the worde plurall And when hee sayeth Image in the singular Vnitie then he noteth the Vnitie of the substance The Image of GOD standeth not in the bodilie representation Wherein Gods Image standeth Isa 40.18.20 c. but in the giftes of the mynde therefore it is a grosse Idolatrie for Christians who knowe God to bee an infinite Spirite to close him within the compasse of a finite Image or to picture him with coloures who is capable of no qualitie Levit. 26.1 and which hee himselfe dischargeth by his Lawes For his Image standeth in Righteousnesse and Holinesse Mercie and Loue. GOD made Man and Beast of one substance The substaÌ„ce wherof wee are made should teach vs humilitie euen to teach vs humilitie and if wee had not soules wee differ verie little from Beastes But the power of God appeared so much the more who could produce out of so base a Subject such a glorious Workemanship As the cunning of the Artificer is much more admired Simil. who out of a base matter can worke fynelie than of a strong Mettall Then Mans bodie being so artificiallie made he breathed in him an heauenlie substance which is a spirit as God is who can neyther bee seene nor felt As the Heauens are more excellent than the Earth The wonderfull vnioÌ„ betwixt the Soule the Bodie and could worke without it which the Earth could not doe without the Heauens so can the Soule without the Bodie prayse God as it doeth in Heauen which the Bodie could not doe without the Soule In this life they haue mutuall operations the Soule directeth and the Bodie is directed the Bodie is blinde without the Soule and the Soule would bee creeple without the Bodie Let the Soule therefore commaund the Bodie in those thinges which are lawfull and let the Bodie obey the good direction of the Soule which both being made vp to the Image of GOD they may represent Him in all their actions A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES sixth Dayes Worke. O Lord God Father of Mercies and God of all consolation looke downe vpon mee I beseech thee with the Eyes of thy mercie and sithence thou hast created Man vpon the sixth Day create mine heart anewe and anoint it with a fresh remenberance of thy power and goodnesse that I may become a newe creature Vpon the fifth day thou plenishedst the Aire with Birdes and the Sea with Fishes innumerable Genes 1.21 and now the Earth yeeldeth all sortes of Beastes likewise euen to mans vse and they are brought vnder subjectioÌ„ that I might bee free they lay downe their liues for mee that I may liue by them and albeit both I and they bee made of one substance yet thou hast preferred mee aboue them all and hast put them vnder my feete Psal 8.6 so deare am I vnto thee I thanke thee O Lord that thou of thine vndeserued mercie and loue hast made thy choyse of mee Nota. God made choyse of â—s let vs â—herefore make choyse of God Genes 2.20 Oh Lord cause mee to make mine onelie choyse of thee Amongst thy creatures there is none like vnto thee Adam could not finde one equall to himselfe amongst all thy creatures till out of himselfe thou madest one like vnto himselfe O Lord there is nothing in Heauen nor in the Earth can satisfie my soule thou art the perfection of beautie thou hast giuen me the rest giue me thy selfe without whom neither the creatures visible nor inuisible will content mee Yet seeing it pleaseth thee that they should be appointed to feede cloathe and ease me make me the more able by them to goe forwarde in thy seruice let not that malediction and curse fall vpon mee Let vs beware that wee fight not against the Lord with his owne benefites that I should fight against the God of my life with his owne benefits to whom I am so infinitly oblished for his gracious gifts bestowed on me O Lord I haue receiued some new comfort in the day of my tryall when for my humiliation it pleaseth thee to punish me with pouertie then Sathan biddeth me turne the stones into bread as he did vnto Christ and seeke vnlawfull meanes for my reliefe But Matth. 4.3 Lord augment thou my fayth and let me depende vpon thy promises that I may build vpon them as vpon a sure Holde and speake boldlie with thy seruant Dauid The Lord is my sheepheard I shall not want Psal 23.1 No Prince of the Earth can say this word Nota. but a poore christian depending vpon thee may
blessing vnto all the rest of the weeke Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6.33 and all other thinges shall bee casten vnto you vvhere by the contrarie there are Curses denounced aga nst the profanators of the Sabbath Ier. 17.27 that God shall curse the workes of their handes and the Land shall enjoye manie Sabbathes of yeeres euen as it did in the Captiuitie of Babylon Now Three kinds of Sabbaths 1. Of Creation 2. Of Redemption Reuel 1.10 there are three kindes of Sabbathes the first of the Creation as a memoriall that GOD ceased from his worke vpon the seuenth day this lasted till Christes death and resurrection The second Sabbath beganne vpon the day of his resurrectiō which is called THE LORDES DAY in rememberance of a newe Creation of the worlde 3. Of Perfection Isa 66.23 and this will ende with the worlde And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternall when as the sixe dayes of this miserable life shall bee finished vvee shall rest from all our earthlie businesses and trauels that our continuall exercise may bee to glorifie him in minde heart and with all our strength in his Kingdome Then let vs occupie this Sabbath whollie in his prayse vvhich shall bee a sure pledge of that in the Heauens A Prayer vpon the seuenth Day MOst mightie Lord and mercifull Father distill I beseech thee and powre downe into mine earthlie heart thy diuine Dewes vvhich may moysten it together with such heauēly meditations as may stirre vp mine heart vnto thy prayse and glory that as vpon these sixe dayes I haue beene musing and meditating vpon all thy most glorious workes so I may repose my selfe vpon the day of Rest and finde quietnesse to my soule in thee for all the rest of the creatures albeit they be glorious yet they be subject vnto a curse not because of themselues but for man who hath defiled them I haue trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures and I see that it is true that Salomon saide All is but vanitie and vexation of the spirit Eccles 1.2 as Ritches increase so Care groweth But O Lord let me come to thine Arke as the Doue did which found no rest till shee came backe to Noah Genes 8.9 Pull in thine owne doue O my Lord vnto thee for the floods of sinne haue ouerflowed the face of the Earth that I finde no rest heere I am wearie and loadned Lord giue me rest to my soule in thee This day is joyfull to me because that my Lord rose this day from death I beseech thee my God Nota. raise vp my soule from the graue of sinne that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection and make my thoughts spirituall this thy Sabbath day banish from my minde all earthlie cares this day forgiue me in that I haue so many times abused these thine holie dayes Oftentimes when I was praying to thee or thou preaching vnto me Sathan did cast into my mind carnall cogitations which interrupted that communication betwixt my soule thy majestie O Lord forgiue me and fill my soule with thy reuerence and feare in all the dayes of my life to come that all such ydle purposes may be dispatched by thine holie Spirit shut the doore of my soule when thou art speaking vnto me or when I pray to thee that none get entrie to vnquiet me and stay my joy for alace mine heart was casten open vnto many of thine enemies I will close the doore of mine eare to the voyce of all others that thou mayest speake to me Alace my God I finde a great decay of that spirituall joy in me that I haue not that sparke of delight and that inward spirituall joy which I should haue or had sometimes I loath the exercise which I loued mine hands are wearie and fallen downe I haue lost my first loue it was sweeter to me thā the honey Reuel 2.4 now it is loathsome vnto me as the Manna was vnto the Isralites therefore I beseech thee Numb 11.6 kindle vp an holie fire of thy loue in my soule as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus and that the zeale of thine House may eate me vp Luk 24.32 Psal 69.9 and 52.8 and 27.4 Let me flourish as a greene Oliue in the house of my God O would to God I could abide in thine house all the dayes of my life that I might praye with good Anna 1. Sam. 1.13.16 out of the bitternesse of my soule making my supplications to thee O Lord I craue thee pardon for the earthly and ydle speaches which I spake vpon the Sabbath I will holde mine hand vpon my mouth speake no more Iob 39.37 Luk 24.15 The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ he came vnto them alace when I spake of the world he went from me and my heart was colde Lord forgiue me for it was a great sin which I did yea I made no matter to deale in mine earthly businesse on thy Sabbath All mine excuses are nowe accusations against me they burne me when I am trying mine heart But Lord I found neuer any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprysed vpon thy Day I haue sinned I will doe it no more let the world be crucified to me and me to it vpon thy Sabbath I haue resolued in mine heart that I shall spende my dayes while I liue to thine honour Helpe my resolution by thine holie Spirit that neither the corruption of my nature my weaknesse and forgetfulnes Nota. neither the euil example of these wicked and profane people among whom I liue suffer me to break my promise which I doe make vnto thee but that thou mayst be my speach my thought and my delight vpon the Sabbath dayes Let me be feruent in prayer and supplications to thee vpon the day of thy rest Let me heare what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy seruant Let me gather thy Manna when it is rained downe from the clowdes of Heauen Ex. 16.15 as the people gathered Manna in the Desart that I may heare it as thy word I may gather it and lay it in the store-house of mine heart against the yeere of famine Gen. 41.48 and giue me thy grace that vpon thy holy day I may proclaime thy prayses with the rest of the Saincts This day let me breake my bread to the hungrie seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spirituall graces let me cloathe them that are naked visit those that are sicke and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day that I may moste diligently worke the workes of God that I may gather out the flowrs of thy most holy Scriptures that I may studie to practise which I heare in a godlie life and conuersation so I may redeem the time which I haue spent in vain Eph. 5.16 that I now getting mercie for the abusing of thy