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A10824 The anatomie of a distressed soule Wherein, the faults of the elect,are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked, spirituall defections cured, confused consciences resolued, all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued, the sicknesse, dulnesse, and deadnesse of the spirit releeued, crosses and temptations inward, and afflictions outward remedied, for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne, and feeling of Gods anger, thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the lambe. Robertson, Bartholomew, fl. 1620. 1619 (1619) STC 21096; ESTC S100444 64,335 297

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which delay from time to time to turn to the Sauiour of mankinde which haue made a couenant with death and with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe thorough it shall not come say they at vs for we haue made falshood our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid but what followeth hereon hey falling from the bridge of their vaine hope and Satan that deceiued them shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone then shall they with great griefe say to the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand yes truely they will wish any thing fall rather vpon them then that they should fall into that lake O but can a Lambe wax angry yea the more patient and slow the Lord is to punish sinne the more irefull he is when in spite hee is prouoked to his face which the very Saincts of God haue wisely fore-seen O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger saith hee neither chastise mee in thy wrath and the Prophet Lord correct mee but with iudgement not in thy anger least thou bring me to nothing and no maruell for euen the Angels in that vision had the face of a man and of a lion euen as they were taught of the Lord hee had the face of a lambe to take away the sinnes of the world yea and the face of a lion to punish the sins of the world for this is the day of grace and acceptable time wherein mercy is offered to the penitent which being neglected and contemned in his day the day I say of the Lord hee will vtter cruelty wherefore the Prophet saith woe be vnto them that desire the day of the Lord what haue you to doe with the day of the Lord it is darknesse and not light but the godly contrarily desire the time to bee at hand and therefore doe earnestly craue the appearance of the Lord Iesus saying euen so come Lord Iesus come and tarry not which the wicked doe tauntingly and scornefully vtter but as Sampson was reuenged on the Philistims who iested at him so beholde here is a stronger one then Sampson for now by mercy hee is a man that is sometime to be a lyon and the man is that lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the repentant but then the lyon shall be to the wilfull and stubborne sinner a boare to teare them in peeces And thus God suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and to declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which hee had prepared vnto mercy Cast not away therfore beloued thy confidence which hath great recompence of rewarde for thou hast need of patience that after thou hast done the will of God thou maiest receiue the crowne and be not one of them which with-drawe themselues to perdition but be of faith to the saluation of thy soule if thou cast thy selfe downe humbly at his feet water thy couch in thy earnest repentance with teares if thou shalt with all thy soule aske mercy and forgiuenesse God cannot deny himselfe hee is faithfull and will forgiue euen for his owne Sonnes blood as of a lambe without ipot and blemish let all them which are redeemed thus refuse all things in regarde thereof and cast downe their crownes before his feete confessing them to haue beene and now are most vnprofitable seruants and hee will put away their transgressions as a clowde and like a mist O turne vs vnto thee O Lord for thou art our Sauiour waken vs that we may strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die before our wickednes be full and time of recouery past so shalt thou redeeme our life from the graue and crowne vs with mercy and compassions and thereafter bestow on vs the crowne of righteousnesse layed vp for vs which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them also that loue his appearance wee shall euen receiue I say that incorruptible crowne of glory at the appearance of of our chiefe shepheard not for the works of righteousnesse which wee haue done for our best are but glistering sins but for his owne bountifulnesse and loue of his meer mercy fauour and grace to vs which walke in the spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for he that soweth in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting let vs then bee renewed in the spirit of our minde and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes and holinesse haue the worlde crucified to vs and vs to the world yea that we may liue vnto God bee crucified with Christ and may in all soundnesse of minde say I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for mee O that once to conclude wee might thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus our Lord and iudge them but dung that wee may winne Christ setting alwaies our affections on things that are aboue and not on things which are on the earth that beeing dead to sinne our life may bee hidde with God in Christ that when hee that is our life shall appeare we may also appeare with him in glory to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise maiesty and dominion both now and euer-more Amen A Heauenly Christian caueat whensoeuer or wheresoeuer the Diuell by suggestions the flesh by the corruption thereof or the world by wicked example would allure or entice thee to sinne then seriously bethinke thee and guard thee with these few Articles 1 VVEigh diligently the eternity both of life which is a reward of well-doing as also of death paine for yeelding to the contrary which both are such as the eye hath not seen the eare hath not heard neither yet can enter into the heart of man and shall rather by sense be felt then by iudgement bee vnderstood 2 Remember the nobility worth and dignity of the nature of man how gracious it is in the sight of God while it standeth in grace how abiect vile it is subiect vnder sinne 3 Consider the value of the rest tranquillity and peace of a good mind both with God thy selfe and thy neighbour for while thou sinnest God is against thee to punish thee in doing well Satan is against thee to assault thee 4 Make euery day a recitall of the Lords blessings vpon thee in thy predestination and
I will answere and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe and I will guide thee with my eye Soule Can the blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may I also doe good that is accustomed to doe euill I did say alas it was not yet time that the Lords house should be builded in mee but did put farre away the euill day and approached to the seate of iniquity as the smoake vanisheth so driuest thou sinners away as waxe melteth before the fire so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God how shold I then lift vp my horne on high or speake with a stifnecke for thou art iudge and in thy hand is a cuppe and the wine is red it is full of fury mixed and thou pourest out of the same surely all the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof thus the way of the wicked is as the darknesse they knowe not wherein they shall fall their owne iniquities shall take the wicked themselues and they shall be holden with the cords of their owne sinne woe be vnto the vngodly therefore which haue forsaken the lawe of the most high for though they increase yet shall they perish if they be borne they shall be borne to cursing and if they die the curse shall be their portion so shall they goe from the curse to destruction for the soule that sinneth it shal die the death Lord. I will not giue the soule of my turtle doue vnto the beast what is thy sin written with a pen of iron and with the poynt of a Diamond and so grauen vpon the table of thy heart wilt thou not giue thy minde to turne vnto mee thy God is the spirit of fornication in the middle of thee and wilt thou not knowe mee thy Lord wilt thou not poore soule be made cleane when shall it once be I will answer thee with good words and comfortable wordes arise my loue my faire one and come thy way for beholde the winter is past the raine is ouer and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is com and the noyse of the turtle is heard in our land arise my loue my faire one and come away withdrawe not thy heart from mee let me be thy hope in the day of aduersity I create the fruite of thy lips to be peace as well to him that is farre off as to him that is neere As I liue I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue turne thee turne from thy euill waies why wilt thou die silly soule I am patient towards thee and would that all men should bee saued and none perish but would all men should come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth yea and more aboundantly to shew the stablenesse of my counsell I haue thus bound my selfe by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that I should lie thou mightest haue a strong consolation who hast fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before ihee Soule I am empty void and waste the heart melteth and the knees smite together and sorrowe is in my loynes and my face gathers blacknesse for that which is crooked can none make straight and that which is wanting cannot bee numbred woe vnto me miserable soule for I haue rewarded euill vnto my selfe It is the vengeance of the Lord thou wilt take vengeance vpon mee as I haue done thou wilt doe vnto mee thou art a consuming fire a iealous God can my heart endure or can my hands be strong in the day that thou shalt haue ro doe with mee thy tempest goeth forth in thy wrath and a violent whirle-wind shall fall down vpon the head of rhe wicked thy anger shall not reaurne vntill thou hast exeted and untill thou hast performed the thought of thy heart in the latter dayes I will vnderstand it plainely I am but as foame vpon the water I haue plowed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruits of lies I haue trusted in mine owne waies in seruing sinne and liuing according to the flesh and must die for I cannot please thee Lord. Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whom I impute no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile If any man say he hath no sinne he deceiueth himselfe and there is no truth in him If thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am iust and faithfull to forgiue thee thy sinnes and cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse If thou say thou hast no sinne thou makest mee a lyer thou maiest see Adams fall and feele it in thee Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest Abrahams double deniall of his wife Rebecca her lie and deceit Iacobs lie Simeon and Leuie's murder Rachels theft the whole Patriarches bloody deuise against their brother Moses slaughter Moses Aarons murmuring Dauids murther and adultery Salomons idolatry and finally Mathew a publican all the Apostles ambitious Magdalen a notorious sinner Zacheus an oppressor extortioner the Theefe on the Crosse a notorious malefactor Peter a denier Thomas a doubter Paul a persecuter of Christ. But to this purpose appeared the Sonne of God that he might loose the workes of the diuell for surely there is none iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not for who can say I haue made my heart cleare I am cleane from my sinne all like sheep haue gone astray euery one hath turned to his owne way yet I haue laide vpon my Sonne the iniquity of you all For the trangression of my people was hee plagued though hee had done no wickednesse neither was any deceit in his mouth hee was counted with the trespassers and he bare the sinne of many and prayed for the trangressors there is none good but I when thou hast done all is commanded thee yet art thou an vnprofitable seruant thou hast but done that which was thy duty to doe now then there is no difference betwixt thee and others for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God and are iustified freely by grace thorough the redemption that is in Christ Iesus my Son whom I haue set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of thy sins that are passed through the patience of God hast thou laid vp these things in thy poore soule Soule The heauen alas doth declare my wickednesse the earth doth rise vppe against mee great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laide vp for them that feare
laughter be turned to mourning and your ioy into heauinesse grieuous sins must be repented of with great griefe a sore disease must be cured with sharpe medicines for men must mourne for their sins as one mourneth for his only sonne and and be sorrowfull for them as one is sorrowfull for the death of his first born there must bee in them a great mourning as the mourning of Hadradimmon in the valley of Megiddan for the death of the good King Iosiah euen so must thou mourne because thou hast pierced my Sonne thorough with thy sinnes and wounded him with thy by-past abhominations and thus thou must rent thy heart for a sa man that looks vpon the Sunne if hee turne his face away remaineth turned vntill he turne himselfe againe so hee that turneth himselfe away by sinne maketh himselfe a sinner and so remaineth vntill he turne himselfe againe by hearty repentance and therefore thou must diligently examine thy sinnes not onely in acknowledging of them but also in sense and feeling of them for that will make thee not to change one sin for another but forsake all not as Herod who was contented to relinquish some but not to seperate from his incestuous whore and the young man would rather depart from me albeit that I loued him then from his riches So did Ananias and Saphyra it must then bee a totall not partiall forsaking for whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guiltie of all for the keeping of sinne in part is the losing of grace in whole ye must not forsake sinne for a moment or short time but for euer and not returne with the dogge to the vomit and with the sow to the wallowing in the mire least hauing escaped the filthinesse of this world thou bee yet again intangled in the same for sinnes not truely repented of are meanes to fall vnto them againe thou must not harbour secret sinnes in thy heart and breast but rather desire to be religious then to seeme to be for be assured there is nothing so secret but shal be reuealed whether it bee good or bad thou must not then begin in the spirit and end in the flesh and not only art thou thus to deale with thy grosse sinnes but also with the inwarde corruption of thy nature and the fruits thereof which although thou canst not altogether blot out yet beat it downe and keepe it short for while the tree remayneth in the earth there wil alwaies spring foorth some buds rest neuer from emptying this fountaine from which these mudde springs are deriued Soule By reason of my inward corruption good God I am impoysoned for I see another lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe af my minde bringing me vnto captiuity the lawe of sinne which is in my members oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death for if Satan who neuer ceaseth should do nothing to me yet this would pull and drawe mee from thee vnlesse it be suppressed oh that bondage of sin to bee at the commandement of euery vile wretched lust oh the master the seruice and reward of sinfull persons Satan that God of this world and Prince that ruleth in the children of disobedience hee putteth his vassailes to carry heauier burthens and to toile themselues in baser workes then the cruell taske-masters of Egypt imposed on the poore Israelites impenitent sinners are enthraled to euery bruitish lust they must defile their bodies corrupt their soules consciences and pollute all their works and wayes when and in what manner soeuer the diuell will haue them runne vp and downe like dregges to followe euery vaine delight neuer peaceable by day nor quiet by night euermore labouring to work out their owne ouerthrow possessed with a spirituall phrensie and led by the suggestion of Satan and then the wages of sinne it death to endure endlesse torments in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death now Lord free mee from this slauery of sinne that beeing translated from glory to glory and hauing thy image renued in mee daily more and more I may purifie my selfe euen as thou art pure oh that I might be fenced armed against all enticements it is a blessed thing to worke no iniquity what should it profit a man to win the whole worlde and lose his owne soule it is better to suffer affliction with thy people then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season it is a ioy to liue a holy life euen the life of thee the Lord God the life of Christ the life of Angels to bee zealous of good workes to feele spirituall ioyes in the inward man to looke for a crowne of glory after I haue died the death of the righteous Lord. And so it is true therefore I say search thy corruptions whether thou grow in grace or art consumed in some I giue grace in measure sometime more and some time lesse but they that liue in ignorance and sinne are deade for they sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death for the life of sinne is the death of the man when they sinne with pleasure and delight the best flesh is most tender and where it is most corrupt there it is most hard and where the flesh is nearest to healing there it will more speedily and more freshly bleed the more neare thou art to me the more fearefull thou wilt bee the more pretious thy conscience is the more tender it is for it is a quickning grace of my spirit whē thou feelest peace in conscience and ioy in the holy spirit when thou hast accesse vnto me and reioycest vnder the hope of my glory for blessed is that people which can reioyce in mee they shall walke in the peace of my countenance vnto this peace of minde sincerity must bee linked for blessed is the man to whom I impute no iniquity and in whose heart there is no guile yea blessed are those that are vpright in the way thou must make knowne thy faith by fruits and feeling by sweete effects for loue is carefull to please mee and fearfull to displease and blessed is that man that feareth mee and walketh in my wayes this feare will breed a care of obedience of the word and therefore blessed is hee that heareth the word of God and keepeth that thy heart may stand in awe of mee let mee bee thy feare and dread where my feare is wanting there is no tentation nor sin so great but thou wilt fall in it but remember I beholde all thy wayes and tell all thy steps hee that feareth not me shal feare the least of my creacreatures liue in feare and feare in loue for tasting how gracious I am in all my Saints feare least thou lose so good a Lord this feare will make thee search thy owne corruption the godly
crowne of glory which is promised them that growe in grace in the knowledge of our Lord Sauior Iesur Christ to him be glory both now and for euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Euening O Most louing and mercifull Father if the beauty and flower of all our best actions which is prayer bee so sinfully stained with our naturall corruption alas how odious and abhominable are the rest of our sinnefull workes thou findest no stedfastnesse euen in thy seruants and layest folly upon thy Angels how much more on them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust thou hast no need that any should testifie of vs for thou knowest what is in man thou lightenest things that are hid in darknesse makest the counsell of their hearts manifest our hearts are deceitfull and wicked aboue all things who can know it and if our hearts condemne vs thou art greater then our hearts and knowest all things O what boldnesse might wee haue towards thee if our hearts condemned vs not O what treachery is in this our flesh O the continuall readinesse that is in Satan that goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs and thou O Lord lookest down from heauen and beholdest all the children of men frō the habitation of thy dwelling place thou beholdest vs all that dwell in the earth thou fashionest the hearts of euery one and vnderstandest our works O Lord aboue all things giue vs an earnest striuing against our corruptions a tendernesse of conscience in all our actions a lowlinesse and humility in all our carriage making conscience of the least sinnes keeping our selues from the occasions and all appearances thereof and because O Lord thou hast not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by the means of our Lord Iesus Christ which died for vs that whether wee wake or sleep we shold liue together with him grant we beseech thee that we may entertain stirre vp thy gifts which is in vs and the good motions thereof let not thy spirit lye a sleep in vs keep vs from terrors in conscience from loathing coldnesse and deadnesse in Christian duties and exercises discontentment and blindnesse of minde aptnesse to fall into those sinnes again which wee either abhorre or by thy spirit haue heretofore conquered that we may rouse vp thy spirit and labour more and more to be quickned in the inward man euer making warre against some chiefe lust of the heart to get the maistery ouer it that by experimentall conquest of our owne wee may learne in time to conquer all the rest and because our heart lyeth open to all temptations grant wee beseech thee O deare Father that casting downe the imaginations and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of thee our God and bringing in captiuity euery thought to the obedience of Christ that we may follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith loue patience and meckenesse that fighting the good fight of faith wee may lay holde on eternall life and now O Lord thou art in this darknesse of night our saluation and light wee will beholde thy face in righteousnesse and when wee awake wee shall bee satisfied with thy image wherefore our heart is glad and our tongue reioyceth and our flesh also doth rest in hope and now the Lord deliuer vs from euery euill worke this night and euer preserue vs vnto his heauenly kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to whom bee praise for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday at Morning VVEE confesse O Lord God most mercifull Father that in vs that is in this our flesh there is no godnes in such bondage are we vnto sinne that while wee are about any good as very seldome alas wee are euill is present with vs and wee are led captiue thereto yet Lorde by thy grace wee striue against that slauery in very great weakenesse and wee thank our God througe Iesus Christ our Lord that wee in our minde in some small measure doe serue thy lawe but in our flesh the law of sinne for it is thou O God which workest in vs both the will and the deede euen of thy owne good pleasure wee haue had our conuersation in times past so miserable was our case in the lusts of our owne flesh in fulfilling of the flesh and of the minde and wee are by nature the children of wrath walking after the course of this world and after the Prince that raigneth in the ayre euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience but thou O God who art rich in mercie through thy great loue whereby thou louedst vs euen when wee were deade by sinnes hah quickned vs together in Christ thy deare Son our Lord grant good God vnto vs a rectified iudgement proceeding frō an enlightned and sanctified vnderstanding wrought by a liuely faith thorough thy worde that wee may meet together vnto a perfect man and to the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ vouchsafe gracious Father according to the riches of thy glory that we may be strenthened by thy spirit and comforted in all the faculties of our soules that wee may know and proue the loue of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ that wee may be filled with all the fulnesse of thee our God giue vnto vs a sanctified conscience keeping it sensible of the least euill desiring to liue honestly with a continull cheerfulnesse of well doing and holy ordering and disposing of our affections that we may set them on things that are aboue and not on things which are vnder the earth for crucifying of the flesh and natiue corruption therof and in building more more forward the new man that wee may wake a most gracious conquest ouer our most vnruly thoughts in fitting and conforming our outwarde actions to thy most holy acceptable and perfect will and serue thee the Lord our God with ioyfulnesse with a good heart for all thy blessings bestowed vpon vs both spirituall and temporall that as wee haue receiued Iesus Christ our Lord so wee may walke rooted and built in him and stab lisht in the faith abounding therein with thanksgiuing to preuent security and giue thy grace alwaies O deare Father that wee may ioyne with this our faith vertue with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse and with godlinesse brotherly kindenesse and with brotherly kindenesse loue that we be not idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ that as this same very day wee beginne heere with thee directing our prayers as incense before thee so by these means an entry may be ministered vnto vs aboundantly vnto the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that when we shall lay downe these our
we shall see light and now heauenly Father wee renew this night the memory of the by-past dayes blessings bestowed vpon vs most vnprofitable seruants begging yea more and more recounting that wee haue receiued beseeching thee to giue vs grace that wee doe not doate or rest vpon temporary things but rather forget them in regard of the the things of the life to come Lord grant vs true wisedome to thinke not so much what thou canst giue vs but what is fit for vs to receiue neither so much on what wee want as what wee haue aboue many of thy most dear children neither yet what we haue but how we haue vsed it and yet not so much what wee haue as what we may haue if we doe beleeue be thankefull and obedient vnto thee how deare therfore are thy thoughts vnto vs O Lord how great is the summe of them if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake wee are still with the for when we called then thou heardest vs and hast increased strength in our soules thou art our God heare O lord the noyse of our prayers O Lord God the strength of our saluation thou art our hope and our portion in the land of the liuing let vs heare therefore thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee is our trust shew vs the way that wee should walke in for we lift vp our soules vnto thee deliuer vs O Lord from all danger of body and soule this night and euermore for we hide vs with thee and blessed is hee that hath thee the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God who is neare vnto all that call vpon yea vnto all that call vpon him in truth thou wilt fulfil the desire of them that feare thee thou wilt also heare their cry and thou wilt saue them thou preseruest all them that loue thee all flesh shall blesse thy holy name for euer and euer what a prerogatiue is this thou grantest vnto vs O heauenly Father to attaine vnto by thanksgiuing in that thou O God art the receiuer and we the giuers vnto thee and how much better it is to giue then to receiue and how small a tributerequirest thou for al thy benefits teach vs remember what wee haue receiued heard to hold it fast and repent least thou come on vs as a theefe in the night and it may bee this same night for we doe not know what houre thou wilt come but Lord faithfull art thou which hast called vs to the fellowship of Iesus Christ our Lord who will also do it for thy gifts are without repentance yea and wee haue thy Christ interceding for vs at this time that our faith faile not and thy holy Spirit whereby we doe call Abba deare Father doth abide with vs and shall continue vnto the worlds end deare father whome thou once louest thou louest to the ende and wee are married vnno thee in holinesse and righteousnesse because it is thy pleasure and will we are vnited vnto thy Son our head and giuen to him of thee and therefore wee are sure none shall take vs out of his hands grant vs therefore euerlasting Father according to the riches of thy glory that wee may be strengthened by thy spirit in the inward man that thy Sonne Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith and we being rooted and grounded in loue may be able to cōprehend with all thy Saints what is the bredth and length and depth height and to know the loue of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ which passeth knowledge that wee may be filled with all fulnesse of thee our God vnto thee therefore that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that aske or thinke according to thy power which worketh in vs be praise in the Church of Iesus Christ thoroughout all generations for euer Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord our God wee this day returne vnto thee who haue fallen by our owne iniquity now againe doe wee take hold of thee will not leaue thee wee feele in this our recouery the vndoubted grace of thee our God in the experience of these sensible combates within vs of the flesh and the spirite which are constant testimonies sure sealings of our begun regeneration now are wee mercifull Father ashamed of our faults and do here this day promise to bee more fearefull of our selues and not so venturous vpon the occasions which are the borders of sin which haue also lessened thy grace oftentimes in vs but O Lord our God hide thy face from our sinnes and put away all our iniquiries cast vs not away from thy presence take not thy holy spirit from vs restore vs to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish vs with thy free spirit whō wee haue alas so often grieued especially on the solemne day of thy Sabbath wee haue polluted and prophaned the same making vp thereby our transgression of the whole lawe wee haue hypocritically professed without any benefite heard thy word so that iustly thou maiest deny vs the good occasion of this daies rest for the which we haue deserued to bee henceforth secluded from so seasonable opportunity and visitation thou hast offered vnto vs that by hearing wee should heare and not vnderstand and by seeing wee should see and not perceiue yea our hearts doe waxe fatte and our eares dull of hearing least we should vnderstand with our hearts and return that thou maist heale vs giue vs therefore thy grace to rightly esteeme of this so great a mercy and strengthen vs this day to sanctifie and appropriate it to the right end to a speciall manner of hearing thee according to thy lawe that wee shake off all impediments whatsoeuer which may with holde from the publique and priuate duties of vnfained godlinesse in keeping our hands from doing euill and choosing the thing that pleaseth thee taking holde of thy couenant that thou mayst make vs ioyfull in the house of prayer and accept of our sacrifices of prayer thankfulnesse vpon that thy holy altar euen Iesus Christ our Sauiour that we may turne away our feete from doing our will on thy holy day call thy Sabbath a delight to consecrate it as glorious to thee O Lord honoring thee not doing our owne wills nor speaking a vaine word and albeit we shall be assaulted O heauenly father with many lets and incumberances to perform this obedience yet giue vs thy holy spirit that we may preferre it to whatsouer motions sinne Sathan the flesh or the world shal suggest to the contrary euer directing our minde to the contemplation of that euerlasting Sabbath when from moneth to moneth and Sabbath to Sabbath al flesh shall come to worship before thee giue vs therefore O heauenly Father thy grace to sequester our selues from
all kinde of seruile actions and outward imployments with all froward affections and lusts that we may study to enter into that rest with thy people and cease from our owne works as thou O Lord didst vnto thine blessed God strike in our hearts in time of praier a reuerent esteemation of thy glorious Maiestie a feeling of our defects and giue constant faith in thy sweete promises faithfull remembrance of thy receiued blessings louing and charitable affections towardes our neighbours and grant vnto vs mercifull Father while wee heare a wide and open heart to receiue and holy ludgement to discerne lowlinesse in minde feeling in the inward man and stability in the memory and euermore in thy seruice bestow on vs an humble soule an hungring and thirsting heart that the blood of the Lord Iesus Christ which thorough the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spot to thee our God may purge our consciences frō dead works to serue thee the Lord vouchsafe on vs an vnfained loue to thy word that wee may lay it vp and hide it in our soules and euer sanctifie our thoughts that our whole meditations may be thereon and practise the same in life and conuersation that all men seeing our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly Father to thee therefore with the Sonne and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise and dominion both now for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Euening GLory praise and honour bee vnto thee most mercifull and heauenly Father who hast appointed this speciall day and ministry of thy word for our instruction O Lord grant wee may feele our knowledge increased our faith strengthened our soules mindes and consciences aboundantly thereby refreshed good God thou hast promised that if any lacke wisedome thou wilt giue it him yea all other things in and with thy Christ we beseech thee therfore make thy holy worde a power of life vnto life vnto vs yea a power of saluation vnto vs that beleeue in parte yea Lord wee beleeue we pray thee helpe our vnbeliefe for wee are fraught with blindesse and error our affections frowarde peruerse and disordered and reprobate to any good worke by nature make vs good Lord new creatures that as new borne babes we may desire the sincere milk of thy word that we may grow thereby annoynt our eyes with the eye-salue of thy holy spirit Lord ioine to thy word that penetratiue vertue to pierce and finde out our so pregnant corruptions for it is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then any two-edged sword and entereth through euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite and of the ioynts and marow is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart which we beseech thee by thy word to discouer rip vp and ransacke to the bottome giue vs a lowly heart to make a lowly vse of reprehensions out of thy worde and apply them earnestly to our selues that the righteous may smite vs which is a benefit and reproue vs which is as pretious oyle that shall not breake our heads that by them wee may be reclaimed from our froward backwarde wills and because good Lord our remembrance of good things is very short and faileable and doth reserue very few good things against the houre of temptation day of death make vs good Lord carefull euer to heare meditate pray and conferre giuing alwaies thankes with a plyable obediēce to thy lawes that in spirituall discretion and heauenly wisdome we may consummate our perigrination here and worke out our saluation with feare trembling by thy grace establish our hearts in thy truth that wee be not carried about with euery light winde of doctrine but that wee may lay holde on the good labouring daily to be led on to perfection and most gracious Father make vs not onely to see and feele our owne defects but giue vs a heart to lament them Lord freely and finally pardon them for Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne sake moisten and water our hard dry hearts with the dew of thy heauēly blessings shoure them downe vpon vs for lightning of our minds setling of our iudgements cōforting of our soules and reformation of our mis-behauiours grant we may yeeld a full assent to the truth of thy word not measuring it after the crooked rule of our mis-leading affections that wee be not of those which make a show of religion but deny the power thereof and wee beseech thee for thy tender mercies sake this night to subdue the flesh which lusteth against the spirit confound Satan aduersary to our saluation and keep vs against the example of the worlde which is set in euill that we may neuer be wearie to beginne where wee left off in well-doing neither yet breake off where thou requirest continuance of obedience but goe from faith to faith like the way of the righteous which as the light shineth more and more vnto perfect day so shall wee glorifie thy name and our owne soules be strengtheded the weake ones by our example bee confirmed and edified the vnruly admonished the feeble-minded comforted and be patient toward all men and shall dissolue from hence in thy fauour whilst now we liue in thy feare hauing in our mouthes a new song of thanksgiuing occasioned by thy new blessings day by day heauenly graces be-bestowed vpon vs in Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour to whom with thee and the holy spirit be praise and glory for euermore Amen A MEDITATION of the Mercy and Iustice of God Against declining either to the left or right hand in presumption or despaire that wee may leade an euen course in Christianity LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1618. To the Right Worshipfull Sir William Alexander Knight Secretarie and one of his Maiesties most honerable priuy Councell in Scotland MEn to make themselues as it were eternall they write their names on their houses Absolon reared a piller is not this said one Niniuie which I builded for my glory Ninus to immortalise his father Belus made for him an Idoll in whose dominions while Terrah Abrahams father did dwell he became with the rest an Idolater these would haue their fame time ending together but they haue shot short of the seauen wonders of the world nothing but naked names remaine all these are mutilate inuentions to the Iew departed his brother or nearest kinsman must raise seed to continue his name in Israell but children beeing the Lords gift could not bee had when as they would books with time that eates all doth often smoother may successiuely by concatenation of ages in the Presse as a new Phoenix reuiue but all these to perpetuity are set apart as faulty For as they all monuments children and bookes are of this below so shall with the same although neuer so olde bee dissolued