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
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
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
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 ROM 8. 38. 39. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue c. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1619. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Robert Nanton Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of his Royall Priuie Councell grace and peace in Iesus Christ. GOd leaues his own children oft to themselues to driue them from the weake holde of their owne strength to relie on himselfe yet doth he heale their backeslidings and loues them freely notwithstanding their reuolting and treacherous dealing against him There is Satan also sifting them and fleshly lusts warring against their soules They may fall in their faith by doubtting of Gods fauour and assurance of their saluation erre in som maine points of religion yea dwell in that ignorance for a season and maintain the same They may fall also in their life in some grosse sins yea sleepe in them vntill they be roused vp and then fall into them againe and so commit rebellion against God and yet remaine in the state of grace For they are not senslesse nor doe continue in their fals hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron without resistance feare or griefe nor becomes in the ende a very beast as doth the hypocrite who falls as the Dromedary that cannot rise againe but their corruption and temptation ouer-ruling them doth mislead them cōming to themselues condemnes thēselues for it and cleares the Lord iustifies him in his iudgements and magnifies the riches of his mercy who neuer forsakes his children but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that they may be able to beare it Of the which both inward and outward temptations and afflictions for keeping of the conscience tender and sensible of the least sinne wilfull fechting againe the light therof of the checkes feares distractions anguishes horrible terrours and swoundings with remedies to the same according to the measure of the Lords grace bestowed vpon mee I haue written here I say which I most humbly dedicate to bee sheltered vnder the protection of your Worshippes fauour And I beseech the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory to establish your heart in his holy feare rectifie your iudgement sanctifie your conscience and giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may knowe what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saincts and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward who belieue according to the working of his mighty power To whose euerlasting blessing I leaue you and rests Yours Worships in all Christian duties Barthol Robertson To the Christian Reader SInce it hath pleased God of his mercy to giue so good a passage vnto my former trauailes I haue made bolde in confidence of thy fauour to let this also see the light I haue been moued thereunto by sundry of my friends and truely I detest and abhorre idlenesse with all my heart yet a brother who was in great confusion of conscience to whom I resorted daily looking if God would put his minde at greater libertie from the thraldome pangs of conscience his case I say spurred mee to vndertake this taske In the method I haue not beene curious for the answere is paralelled to the interrogation so proportionably as I could to the which I haue added prayers for euery day of the weeke to season thy reading which strike most vpon the the cord of thy conscience and because the two extreamities presumption and despaire doe most of all misleade men I haue seasonably subioyned a short meditation of the infinit mercy and iustice of God that to the perfecting of thy saluation thou maiest sayle with an euen and plaine course swaying neither to the left nor right hand and I beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to sanctifie these to thy vse and thee to his glory Amen Thine B. R. The Anatomy of a distressed conscience Containing the discouery of spirituall assaults with the particular remedies thereof in Dialogue-wise betwixt the Lord and the Soule Lord. WHy art thou angry thy countenance cast downe if thou doest wel shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest euill sin lyeth at the doore and the Iudge standeth before the dore Soule I haue been like a Horse or like a Mule alas which vnderstandeth not and am made like vnto beasts that perish I haue wallowed in my owne vomit in the vanity of my mind haue I euer walked hauing my cogitations darkned being a stranger from the life of God through the ignorance that is in me because of the hardnesse of my heart yet somtime I doe professe I did knowe God but by my workes I deny him and am abnominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke a reprobate I haue walked after my owne imaginations and after the stubbornesse of my wicked heart I haue despised the riches of thy bountifulnsse and patience and long suffering not knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth mee to repentance but after my hardnesse of heart that cannot repent haue heaped vppe vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God thus haue I liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes and haue nourished my heart as in a day of slaughter and what shall now become of mee Lord. Thou hast cause poore soule to bemoane thy selfe for the eyes of the wicked shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrowe of minde his owne counsell shall cast him downe his reioycing is but short and the ioy of an hypocrite is but a moment for the wickeds light shall be taken away they are snared in the worke of their owne hands thus I will try the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth my soule hate for I the righteous Lord loue righteousnesse and my countenance beholdeth the iust man many sorrowes shall come to the wicked but thou wretched soule call vnto mee and
shall also be punished Saue mee O Lord and take the glory thereof to thy selfe for for not giuing it thee Herod was consumed of wormes thus thou doest lay the wickeds way vpon their owne heads Lord. The cause of all terrours and troubles in thy minde are thy sins I see and thou knowest it for they doe infect thy minde and conscience with their guilt from which guiltinesse proceedeth a fearfull expectation of these punishments thou hast spoken of to the which thou perceiuest thou art iustly liable neither canst thou be freed from this guiltinesse and fearefull pangs vntill thou thy sinnes beeing done away be reconciled to me for then and not before shalt thou haue peace of conscience boldnesse and confidence when thou art assured that I loue thee and thou mee and so canst rest on my promises and prouidence for there is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painefulnesse and hee that feareth is not perfect in loue the wicked flye when none pursueth but the righteous are bolde as a Lion and thouh thou shouldest walke through the valley of the shadow of death thou wouldest feare no euill because I am with thee and with my rod and staffe comfort thee So being iustified and assured once of my loue thou maist be fully perswaded that nothing is able to seperate thee from my loue which is in Christ Iesus where innocency is there is security for where iustification and assurance of remission of sinnes is there is peace with mee with the creatures and ioy in the holy Ghost Vse the meanes for obtaining of faith as hearing receipt of the Sacraments prayer meditation conference if thou bee not wanting to thy selfe I will not be wanting vnto thee and next approue thy faith by repentance for I haue bound my selfe by promise that all that turne from their sinnes shall in my Son be reconciled vnto mee for I craue no more but that thou beleeue onely and bring foorth fruits of a new life for this is thy part in the couenant with mee for sinnes repented of are forgiuen in my estimate as though they had neuer been committed because thou by these meanes art receiued vnto the protection of my prouidence thou maist be vndoubtedly assured that all things whatsoeuer yea in thy iudgement the worst also shall make together for thy good Be strong and of a good courage it is I that am with thee who can be against thee Soule Is not thy worde euen like a fire O Lord doth not my heart burne within me while thou talkest with me openest to me the Scriptures and manifesteth the word which is like a hammer that breaketh the stone thou onely canst quicken the dead in sinne and call those things which be not as though they were but alas how slow am I to beleeue and how hard is my heart Lord. The occasion of thy euill may bee outward but the cause is inward else neuer should Satan flesh or the world preuaile my Sonne was assaulted but Satan found nothing in him neither was there guile in his lips Satan doth offer thou doest yeelde to tentations if thou canst bee aduersary to thy corruption Satan shall be but as a Chyrurgion which launceth thy impostumation to preserue life howsoeuer hee purposeth to haue wounded to thy heart Ioseph by grace restrained his corruption concerning Putifars wife Dauids eyes opened the vaile to his corrupted heart so sin in him with Bethsheba grew to age in what measure thou withstandeth thy corruption in that measure thou art regenerate and assured to preuaile against strongest tentations thou maist easily espy thy corruption best by thy afflictions or by affections for such is a man as hee is in tentation the heart of man carrieth commonly all the other senses for by it they are moderated and ruled and therefore thou shouldest diligently keepe it againe it marres or makes all thy actions for if it bee pure thy affections are pure yea though some defects bee mixed therewith whatsoeuer commeth from a sound and sincere heart in my eyes is accepted and in my Christ accounded righteousnes vnto thee if for sins sake thou leaue sin though the lees thereof remaine in thee though thou doe not all the good thou louest but in loue desireth to doe it though thou leaue not all the sinnes thou hatest but in hatred of them I accept the good thou doest the euill thou desirest to leaue shall not bee imputed thus striue to haue thy heart right within thee with a purpose to approue thy selfe to mee labouring to kill sinne though the whole body of sinne be not slaine in thee There is a wickednes in thy heart cannot easily be espied the subtilty thereof is vnsearchable which should bring thee out of loue with thy selfe watch diligently ouer it it is like a mill euer grinding thou must circumcise it and make it to bleed to emptie it for there is so much superfluous matter in it Soule Wash mee thoroughly from my iniquity cleanse mee from my sinne O Lord beholde I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue mee create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me I feele alas in my corrupt heart such a world of sinnes and in euery one of them a fault against thee my God a guilt binding my conscience to the punishment of of eternall death and a staine or blot imprinted in mee as the fruite thereof which is my inclination euill disposition prouenesse and aptnesse of heart to offend which causeth me delight and liue in sin which lying in sinne and woe is mee therefore is a greater cause of damnation then the sinne it selfe Lord. Thou must beware of thy thoughts which are the feet and wings the soule walkes flies by yea the waggon and boate it is caried and failed in for an euil thought if it long tarry in the mind it will hardly be restrained before it come to the outwarde act and such monsters of the minde should make thee affraid suspect thy falling in the action of sinne by the affection of it thou must therefore search thy heart which is a bottomlesse pit of corruption and it is a speciall grace to gage it to the deepe for hee that maketh conscience of his thoughts will make conscience of his deeds for if thy heart be found in my my statutes thou shalt not bee ashamed Keepe thee from thoughts iniected as was Iudas his cast in his heart by Sathan and of thoughts arising out of it beware of staying in them by taking pleasure in these immaginations and delight in the sent of them for consent of will with mee is a full action Iudas thought but to doe euill and it is said that thou doest doe quickly after commeth deuise to bring to passe the act that followeth whence ariseth a benummed conscience after diuerse actions
of this naturall remorse to them that account that vertue which I condemne for a crime though it seem little to thee in committing sinne it was very great in my Sonne in suffering for it if sinnes were not so vsuall they would seeme more palpeable and prodigious and therefore the senses which are oceasions of sinne ought to be well ordered to make a couenant with thy eyes with thy mouth and eares that thy heart walke not after them that thy step turne not out of the way and any blot cleaue to thy hands he that seeth his corruptions truely will bee affraid of the least shew of euill the oftner sin is to haue the more griefe is a note of my children search then the bottome of thy thoughts feele thy grief where it lyeth finde out the cause seek for remedy least it proue incurable if thou take it not in time it will fester more and more and infect all Soule O how truely is my body called a body of death thou shouldest take vp and haue to thy glory all my cogitations but idle thoughts imaginations and discourses come in my ninde to the which alas I yeeld my affection and doe not strike at my conscience in the first motion while reason is on my side and wound it before it receiue a perfect shape O that I might cherish and intertaine good motions and change them into prayer not to smother them by other rouing cogitations making them either die presently or quikly fall away and thus alas I make a mocke of sinne yea I make a God of sinne and serue it in thy steed neglecting thy bountifulnesse which leadeth me to repentance if thou shouldest Lord suffer my conscience checke me and Satan burden mee with the least sinne it would bee so heauy and grieuous that a thousand worlds could not abide it how could I then endure the greatest Adam for eating of an apple was throwne out of Paradise Moses for speaking of an angry worde died in the wildernesse and was not suffered to goe into Canaan Ezekiah did but shew his treasures and for that he all were carried to Babell Iosiah did war against thine and his enemies yet because hee asked not counsel of thee was slaine in battell these for what sinnes are lesse hast thou punished in thy deare children O what shall become of mee in my great sinnes if the iust shal scarcely bee saued where shall the wicked appeare if this shall bee done vnto the greene tree what shall bee done to the dry the least offence commeth not alone but brings a legion of transgressions with it yea the least made thy Son smart and accursed and to say my God my God ctc. and O that no sinne could escape mee without true godly sorrow for the lesse I fauour sinne the nearer I am to thy fauour small meanes doe prouoke me to it but great meanes cannot reuoke me from it the spirit is quickly quenched the tender conscience is soone bruised olde sinnes doe retire new sinnes easily assault and doe depriue mee of the company of a good conscience Lord. Thou must deare soule beware of all sinne generally and must looke narrowly vnto some speciall sinnes whereunto thy nature is most inclinable and subiect for one dead slye will corrupt a whole boxe of oyntment Oftentimes meditate of thy secret sins which are hidden as it were in the darke corners of thy heart which I can reueale when I will in making my creatures bring vnto light thy friends to open them thy owne mouth to testifie them thy dreames to make them knowne in sicknesse to raue on them or in frensie to vomit them out the sharpe torment of conscience make thee cōfesse one priuie sinne vnrepented for if the Israelites made the Beniaminites fewer in number and maintaining an euill cause twice to preuaile It is not light that is heauier then all the world I esteem one iot of my lawe more then heauen and earth secret corruptions be light as Baltasar was in Daniels interpretation which is the losse not of an earthly kingdome such as his was but of the kingdome of heauen the maladies of the soule are contrarie to those of the body for these the greater they be the more we seele them the other the lesse while thy sinne is as a more and may bee as it were blowen out make thee free of it when it shall bee a beame it shall scarce be haled out with horses it shold be thy earely and morning worke to cast out sinnes tarry not while thy sinne be great but pray with feeling of wants and sorrowe for sinne else sinne will deceiue thee and deceiuing thee will harme thee make fatte thy heart thou shalt not perceiue it blinde thy minde thou shalt not see it for when wickednesse is at the ripest then destruction is nearest at hand wherefore while sinne is yet in the sprout and hauing but a little course is vnable to make any great breach keepe it vnder and stay it is is hard to get vnto the way of goodnesse harder to continue in it but hardest of all when thou art out of the way to come in again when sinne breaketh out without controulement and beareth the sway with delight to the breaking of the peace with the conscience it is very dangerous thou oughtest of ten to say direct my steps in thy worde and let no iniquity haue dominion ouer mee keepe mee from presumtuous sins let them not raigne ouer mee tarrie not I say vntill the dead blow commeth but resist the first stroakes of sinne for then thou maiest be easily hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne to day if thou heare my voyce harden not thy heart the violence of sinne is so impetuous that thou mayest soone slip but hardly rise blessed therefore is the man that feareth alway but hee that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euill without sinne thou shalt not be but pray it may be forgiuen neither voyd of tentations for of all tentations not to bee tempted is the greatest but that thou bee not ouercome of them Soule I perceiue sweet Lord there is difference betwixt slumbering and dead sleeping betweene slippes and falles betwixt infirmities and running headlong to vngodlinesse betwixt error with griefe and desire to be freed from it and ignorance wherein the wicked lie still gladly and haue no care to be rid of it I will with my whole minde leaue my sins from hence forth suspect the corruptions and motions of my heart Lord. It is not sufficient poor soule for thee to learne thy sinne for thou maiest fall into it againe and into worse if it bee possible but thou must weep mourne vntil thou com to som grief and such as is answerable to the measure of thy sinnes as it is saide cleanse your hands you sinners and pufie your hearts you double minded bee afflicted and mourne and weep let your
what young men did in Sampsons daies in their feasting and how hee reuealeth to the woman which he had concealed from father and mother and Boas commendation of Ruth that shee had not followed young men whether they were poore or rich for childe-hood and youth are vanity and secondly there is in them weakenesse the way to strong vanities and so Dauid as for me saith hee my feet were almost gone my steps had well-neere slipt Thus Abraham made his his wife say shee was his sister so the godly haue spent the time past of their life in the lusts of the Gentiles walking in lasciousnesse lusts reuellings c. And thirdly euen my Saints haue walked in wantonnes in the door to open wickednesse as gluttony drunkennesse and abhominable idolatries which though they breake not forth at all times yet make them lesse carefull to glorifie me for I keepe them that they shal not sinne against mee and doe not suffer them to end their designements other mens harmes may teach the blessed wisedome labour not onely to leaue sinne which one may do for profit feare praise or wearisomenesse but also to repent of it for conscience sake Soule The grieuousnesse of my sinnes filleth mee with feare of iudgement and this feare I hope will cause the power of sinne abate in me thou Lord can giue me victory ouer sin and make it as loathsome vnto mee as euer it hath been pleasant to reioyce in the Lord to vse the meanes of my saluation diligently and to seale vp the pardon of my sinnes in my heart O God when shall it bee If thou wouldest haue destroyed mee for my by-past sinnes thou wouldest neuer haue giuen mee vnfained hatred of thē I consider thy mercy that striueth with mee to bring mee to repentance and thy iustice that will confound such as resist thy mercie hath giuen mee the meanes which thou hast denied to others thou afflictest mee lightly but confoundest others thou gauest mercie when thou mightest iustly haue punished wherin thou doest as it were hire mee from sins and shall I prouoke thee and adde rebellion to sinne O my God I know there is a secret curse vpon euery sinner which will consume him if he doe not repent it hath gone out of thy mouth thy word cānot change because thou art vnchangeable Lord. I haue tolde thee that youth the flower of thy age is of great consideration all this haue I done saith the yong man in the gospel the prodigall maketh his foure stations he hath his portion his fathers ouer-fight euill cōpany but youth worse thē all for youth hath a bundle of folly bound close in his heart which best men haue had neither could flee for as a young man sets his way hee will not departe from it when hee is olde vnlesse by my spirit hee is restrained him that God will haue his roabe must bee a branch of the Almond that is the tree that first blossomes the first fruites was Abels sacrifice so much acceptable to me Soule O God I am like the possessed that was found after sitting in a good mind that sweet wind hath come to me that happened to Elisha I haue felt that gentle calme after the stormie tempest of my heart now may I heare the golden trumpets sounding that ioyfull retrait blessed are the meeke in spirit Lord teach me thy commandements I will run them I shall haue encrease of strength vntill I come to the mount of God while I was in my element of sinne I felt not the weight of it as nothing is heauie in his owne element but now I by thy grace will lay aside euery waight and the sin which doth so easily beset mee runne with patience to the race that is set before mee I finde my selfe within the fadome of thy mercie and compasse of things recouerable the first worke of thy spirit at his comming is to conuince the worlde of sinne that is to make men knowe that without thy sonne Christ there is nothing but sinne and then to rebuke the worlde of righteousnes to make man see that Christ died not for his owne for the prince of this worlde found nothing in him but for our sinnes that so we may see him in the lawe with the wages thereof and the summe in the gospell discharged but good Lord how shall I be assured that I am not vnder the curse but vnder grace for yet I finde such hardnesse in my heart vnquietnesse and troubles in my spirit my sins rebounded vpon mee with terrible fights and fearfull visions which euer amazeth my vnsettled and wauering mind Lord. The examination of thy sinnes is that which first thou must begin with and partly those thou hast committed before thy calling and partly those that were done after thy calling for these sinnes of knowledge of all bite sorest for sinne is most sinfull when thou art intelligenced with my grace in the truth sin after knowledge workes either hardnesse of heart or a troubled spirit and therefore vnderstand that commonly men before knowledge take the trouble of minde very heauily and standing as if neuer any one had it before but they and after knowledge Satan is readie to accuse them of sinne against the holy Ghost as if euery sin of knowledge was a sinne of presumption but learne thou that when tentation ariseth to trie whether thou hast done that sinne or such like already for these tentations are either corrections for some sinnes past or punishment for sinne present or as warning of sinnes to come as thou may bee tempted to adultery and not doe it yet it commeth to thee againe because thou repentest not for this same or the like in thy youth cōmitted again when man will not bee admonished by publique or priuate meane there falleth tentation to sinne differing from that wherein thou doest and presently my iustice punishing one sinne with another as the not repenting couetous to fall into adultery theft or blood and last there may tentation come vpon that neither hee before nor presently doth like of to aduertise he may fall therein hereafter and to signifie that mans standing is not of himselfe none standeth but by my grace Fo as the girdle cleaueth vnto the loynes of man so haue I tyed my children to mee Soule Beside these inward trouarising in my heart which afflicteth mee most the fruite of my corruption I am pinched with sundry diuerse outward afflictions which agrauates and augments my sorrowe Lord thou knowest them well I cannot finde the cause of them for I liue as honest and quiet as any and iniurious to my knowledge to no man in my calling Lord. Vnder any crosse endeauour to haue a cleane conscience to comfort thee with that there is no spirituall cause of these afflictions in thee but that thy sufferings are either for the triall of thy faith beeing assured that thou hast a good conscience in all things blessed
wee willingly be are the punishments of our iniquitie O when wee cōtemplate the incōprehensible infinite and glorious Maiesty of thee our God whom wee haue so heauily offendee in doing so many so great and haynous wickednes in sinning against thee against thee only haue wee sinned and done euill in thy sight O the vilenes and abiectnesse of man that durst thus commit such wickednesse against thee O God how feareful by reason of our manifold iniquities is our condition vnder Satan for of whomsoeuer a man is ouercome euen to the same hee is in bondage besides the dangers wee haue incurred by our sinnes euen all the plagues and curses temporall eternall that are written in thy booke wherefore O most heauenly Father wee most heartily entreate thee to remember the riches of thy mercie in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of thy onely and dearely beloued Sonne as of a lamb vndefiled and without spot when nothing else in the world was auaileable thereto whose sacrifice is daily and hourely effectuall vnto vs timously preuenting sin carefully furthering and diligently sanctifying our cōuersation from impiety his blood cleanseth vs from all sinne hee is the head of his Church and sauour of his body leading vs by the guidance of his spirit to perfection O how excellent is the estate of them that are in thy Sonne how many benefits and priuiledges haue they hee died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse hee ascended on high and ledde captiuity captiue and if we now sinne as wee cannot else doe and wo is vs therfore we haue an aduocate with thee O Father euen Iesus Christ the righteous O how vnthankefully offend wee against the blood of this thine annoynted in not walking worthy of the same but treading vnder foot thy Sonne and counting the blood of the coueuenant so much as in vs lyeth as an vnholy thing wherewith wee were sanctified do spight and grieue the spirit of grace dulling yea oftentimes quenching thy spirit in vs thus liuing in sinne we dishonor thee but maruailous yea wondrous is thy patience it is thy mercyes that we are not consumed because thy cōpassions faile not and therfore when we consider deer father how small the number of those is which shall bee saued and that many shall striue to enter in but shall not be able and doe meditate vpon thy iudgements from time to time still continually inflicted vpon the world for sinne and that if the righteous scarcely shal be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare whither shal wee slye from thee O wee haue recourse vnto thy mercie O forgiue vs therefore all our sinnes and offences for his sake who was crucified and did hang on the tree for vs O giue vs thy grace that wee may grow more and more therein that wee thinke often of our end and of the fearfull day of iudgement that sinne may haue little rest in vs but that wee may rest in thee this night and euermore through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lod to whom with thee and the holy Ghost wee giue all glory praise and thankesgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Morning O Lord God eternall and euerlasting Father with heuay griefe loathsome detestation of our sinnes wee confesse them all vnto thee O searcher of the heart and raines there is not any creature which is nor manifest you thy sight but all things are naked and open to thy eyes we acknowled them although our knowledge herein bee too short and doe yeeld our vnsearchable hearts vnto thee O God blaming that corrupt fountaine of our hearts against our selues vnto thee who art ready and able to forgiue O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame but righteousnes belongeth vnto thee wee are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies wee detest our waies and couer our faces yea groane vnder the body of sinne and desire to bee rid of it and more carefully hereafter to please thee wee haue felt thy punishments and displeasure often before for sinne and therefore now wee cannot cease crying out against our corruptions and rebellions O Lord wee cannot mourn enough at our priuy motions and prouocations to sinne wee beare the traytor in our bosome which giueth way vnto the temptation which wee cannot of our selues subdue and captiuate and O Lord we haue no certainty of our life if to day yea euen this houre thou wilt call vs neither yet the assurance of the renewing and returne of thy mercie which oft we haue refused disdained and contemned Oh that wee soone yea now heartily repent and earnestly conuert the surer would be our acceptance and the more cōfortable our after conuersation but O thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon us O thou pittifull Samaritain take vs vp not halfe but altogether dead in sinnes trespasses make vs liue the life of grace that wee may haue our conuersation in heauen from whence wee looke for thee the Sauiour that wee may walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitfull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of our God in dying to sinne and liuing to righteousnesse that wee may finde fauour grace peace and contentment both with God and man casting away euery thing that presseth downe and renouncing our especiall sinnes which hang so fast vpon vs for this cause O Lord make vs surrender our hearts vnto thee and let our eyes delight in thy waies for if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not keepe our soules therefore that they be not couered with the spirite of slumber and sleeping in sin but that wee may stand vp from the dead and thou wilt giue vs light take from stupidity and senselesnesse spirituall blindnesse and hardnes of heart that wee may walke circumspectly redeeming the time which we haue lost and alwaies be watchfull ouer our selues that we may auoide presumption by meditation of thy iustice and despaire by quicknesse and liuelinesse out of thy word for apprehending thy comfortable promises make vs hide them in our hearts that wee may not sinne against thee keepe vs that we may doe all things as in thy presence and neuer yeeld to the inward rebellions and deceitfulnesse of the heart but wrastle by thy grace against the backewardnesse thereof that wee may daily offer it vppe as a sacrifice of obedience vnto thy Maiesty regarding and accounting all things but losse and iudging them to bee dung that wee may win thy loue and fauour and so liue in the time of our perigrination here that we may continually feare our selues haue a holy iealousie of all our best actions that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare wee may receiue an incorruptible
our hearts this night and euermore and stablish vs in euery worde and good worke in whose name we call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Morning NOt trusting in our owne worthinesse for there is none but in thy great mercies doe we present our selues before thee this morning O Lord in great weakenesse to shew our thankefulnesse for thy vnspeakeable goodnesse so plentifully bestowed vpon vs most vndeseruedly for what are wee but wormes and what is man that thou art mindefull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him wonderfully hast thon made him in his mothers wombe hee is the image and glory of thee O God thou mightest haue equalled him him with the vgliest and basest creatures it hath pleased thee to spread forth the shadow of the wings of thy protection ouer vs this night wee meditate in the dead of sleepe to haue our soules taken away in thy anger for the offences committed the day before and all the daies of our life and suddenly to haue beene arrainged at thy tribunall seate yet thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and turne vnto thee and now thou hast spared vs vnto this day grant O gracious Father that wee may euer meditate of the true life of thee our God of the day of the resurrection of these our bodies when corruption shall put on incorruption and of our rising to that solemne and dreadfull iudgement O Lord as thou hast banished this nights dardnesse away wherein wee had a sweete repose and sound rest that compassed vs so grant we humbly beseech thee that inward light in minde by the rising vnto vs of that Sunne of righteousnes thy Son the Lord Iesus Christ that wee may mourne for the ignorance and blindenesse that yet resteth in vs and others also the night is past and the day is at hand vouchsafe wee may cast away the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that wee may walke honestly as in the day not in gluttory or drunkennesse nor in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and enuying but that wee may put on the Lord Iesus Christ praising his mercy and patience that yet wee liue to praise him and are continued in life to make our election more sure such is the constancy of thy loue towardes vs O Lord God Father euerlasting for whom thou louest to the ende day vnto day vttereth the same and night vnto night teacheth knowledge thou hast O Lord sealed vs to theday of redemption and hast giuen vs earnest of the spirit of promise in our hearts by the which spirit also wee beholde as in a mirror thy glory O Lord with open face and are changed vnto the same image from glory to glory O when shall we fully enioy the same in that life to come when shall wee cease from all sinne haue perfect knowledge of thee perfect righteousnes and holinesse neuer to bee changed fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition and coniunction with thee our God when thou shalt bee all in all and triumph ouer all thine and our enemies in that inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not reserued in heauen for vs O Lord giue vs the grace that we may keepe our selues in a holy temper and peace of mind by a constant course in all occurrents and so prepare our selues vnto that crowne of glory loking stedfastly vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith to breede constant affiance thereof for this cause O Lord let the glorious light of thy great Maiesty neuer departe from the inwarde eyes of our soules that we may bee seriously affected with the sense of our wants benefits purchased by thy Son our Sauiour and perpetually assisted by thy spirit to consider the great and manifolde blessings which wee haue receiued from thee to prouoke vs to thankefulnesse without which all our prayers are vneffectuall grant good Lord we may seriously bewaile our neglect of prayer and condemne our selues for our lip-labour and customarie deuotions our wearisomensse in well-doing and our contentment with small little feelings and finally we may rest vpon the continual mediation of our blessed aduocate Iesus Christ who continually maketh intercession for vs and is now both praying for vs and ready to present our prayers to the throne of grace and to couer all the infirmities and faylings of them with the mantle of his euerlasting mercies innocency and holinesse to him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost wee render all glory praise dominion thanksgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Euening O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ thy beloued Son our onely Sauiour wee thee from our very hearts for the least of all thy blessings which are infinitely greater then wee can deserue as well as for the greatest and do as readily praise thee for thy mercies receiued as wee were earnest to sue for the obtaining of them and now we offer vnyo thee sacrifice of praise for the preseruation of vs in our callings which are thy ordinances imposed on euery Christian Lord forgiue vs for strayning our conscience in the least euill this day giue vs thy mercifull assistance that wee may cleaue to reioyce in the good testimony thereof that in simplicity and godly purenesse with singlenesse and contentment by thy grace wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde conuincing the hollownesse and hypocrisie of the same which is the moath of well-doing keehe vs good Lord from vncertaintie and dulnesse in good things preserue vs from corruption in iudgement and Apostacy in life Inable vs to holde to the ende and so obtaine the crowne for this cause O Lord giue vs an inclination and resolution of the heart to all goodnesse that wee may iustifie and beautifie therby our professiō giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure that in doing these things wee may neuer fall and so bee deliuered from many inwarde pangs and outward troubles deare Father grant wee may may euer haue righteousnesse in most precious account prosecuting it with all zeale and courage and rest with delight and contentation in it and practise the same not onely as our knowledge informeth but euen desire beyond our knowledge perfection therein Lord make vs renounce Nature and holde on thy Sonne Iesus Christ by a liuely faith and bring foorth the fruits of true righteousnesse in him giue vs good God a holy and settled purpose to serue thee a plaine and sound dealing in our callings daily repentance and coueuenanting with thee for recouery of our decaies make our hearts daily to be informed out of thy word that wee may worke continually as in thy presence with a full and strong perswasion of thy loue and plentifull experience of the same and preferre it aboue all things whatsoeuer more and more be
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
election before thou wast created his gifts before thou camest to knowledge and his preseruation of thee vntill now from deserued plagues of of pestilence sworde famine fire and water in place whereof hee prolongeth thy life giueth thee food rayment and health of body giueth his presence in his word and Sacraments for thy soule his spirit to thy effectuall calling to grace benefites publicke and priuate generall and particular which are so infinitely and vndeseruedly poured on thee while thou refusest thy loyalty to thy soueraigne reuolts confederates with his greatest enemies 5 Meditate the paines of Christ in his whole life what hee was before his incarnation and what he became after looke vnto his crosse passion and bitter death and for whom he did vndergoe the same and how wee rewarde him with despighfull vnthankefulnesse distrusting his goodnes altogether or else too much presumptuously re-lying thereon in continuation of our sinnes and postponing of repentance 6 Consider that without hearty and zealous remorse neuer any shall attaine to life euerlasting that it is not a gift may bee had at all times yea it is often refused because the pretious time of visitation was neglected than it is seldome true liuely when it is to late that very often impenitency is tyed to sin with the wages thereof 7. That death is a faithfull doore-keeper which will not suffer thee to haue more with thee out of this world of the goods thereof but so much as thou bringest in with thee which is nakednesse crying and griefe the goods of faith hope repentance and charity shall onely accompanie and follow the conscience after death which shall neuer be seuered from the soule either in well or euill doing but supplies in wickednesse all the offices of a Court cites arrests presents iudgeth beareth witnesse condemneth or iustifieth executeth tormenteth eternally for it is that worme that dyeth not 8 Death as our shadow attendeth vs in euery place which as it is most certaine so the day and houre is most vncertaine to vs for who knoweth the time houre or place thereof 9 Looke that the longest liuer hath beene gathered to his fathers and hath gone the way of all flesh our life being but a sleepe or shadowe of longer or shorter continuance 10 Pause vpon the inesteemable good we lose by sinning hardly recoueraable the infinite and vnspeakeable euill wee incurre thereby how short pleasure is requited with vnmeasurable torment 11 Remember the companions which euer attend vpon sinne Gods high displeasure the losse of the right which we haue to his creatures the grieuing of his spirit the banishing of his good Angells from vs confusion storme and torture of minde a fearfull expectation of Gods insupportable wrath the sparkes whereof doe beginne but to be kindled here beside the loath somenesse wearisomenesse and anxiety wee haue in the sweetest fits of sinne 12 Consider the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyres and all the godly how wisely they haue daunted and bridled their vitious willes and affections and couragiously ouer-throwne the strong holde of sinne within them for the crown of glory that was set before them died in Gods fauour and liued all their time in his feare left testimony and cōmendation behind them to the end of the world of their strong and inuincible faith but the memory of the wicked doth rot and his posterity is plagued FINIS Psa. 30. 6. 7 Cant. 3. 4 Hos. 14 4 Hos. 5. 2. 7 Luk. 22. 13 1. Pet. 2. 11 Psal. 22. 51. 77 Act. 1. 6 Cal. 2 2. Sam. 11 1. Tim. 4. 3 Psal. 19. Psal. 44. Psa. 49. 12 Psa. 7. 3 Eph. 2. 3. 7 Iob. 42. 6 Rom. 3. 5 1. Cor. 10 Heb. 13. 18 Eph. 1. 17 18. 19 Gen. 4. 6 7 Iam. 5. 9 Psa. 32 9 Ier. 38. 26 Eph. 4. 17 Tit. 1. 16 Ier. 28. 12 Ro. 2. 4. 5 Iam. 5. 5 Iob 11. 20 Iob 18. 7 Iob 20. 5 Iob 38. 15 Psa. 9. 16 Ps. 11. 5. 7 Psa. 32. 10 Ier. 33 3 Ier. 13. 23 Hag. 1. 2 Iam. 6. 3 Psa. 68. 2 Psa. 15. 8 Pro. 4. 19 Pro. 5. 22 Eccl. 4. 1 8. 9. 10 Ezek. 18 Psa. 14 19 Ier. 17. 1 Hos. 5. 4 Ier. 13. 27 Zach. 13. Can. 2. 10 11. 12 Ier. 18. 5 Ier. 33. 11 2. Pet 3. 9. Heb. 6. 17 18. Na. 2. 10 Eccl. 1. 15 Esay 3. 9 Ier. 50. 15 Deut. 4. 24 Ier. 23. 19 20 Hos 10. 7 15. Ioh. 8. 34 Rom. 8 13 Psa. 32. 1. 2 1. Iohn 18 Gen. 3 Gen. 9 Gen. 12 Gen. 20 Gen. 27 Gen. 34 Gen. 37 Exod. 2 Num. 20 2. Sam. 11 1. Kin. 11 Mat. 20 Luk. 19 Ioh. 18 Act. 9 Ioh. 3. 8 Eccl. 7. 22 Pro. 29 Esa. 53. 7. 8. 9 Mark 10 Luk. 17. xo Rom. 3. 23 24 Iob. 20. 27 Psa. 31. 19 Esa. 33. 12 13. Eecl 8. 8 Wis. 5. 17 20. Ier. 37. 4 Iob. 9. 4 Psa. 76. 7 Hos. 5. 15 Esa. 54. 5 6 7 8 9 10 ver 17. Esa. 55. 3 12 13 Esa. 51. 6 Psa. 31. 22 Rom. 4. 21 Pro. 28. 13 Psa. 32. 5 Psa. 51 Neh. 9. 33 34. Dan. 9. 5. Luk. 15 Gen. 3 2. Sa. 2. 25 2. Cor. 2. 7 Exod. 32 Num. 10 Num. 12 Num. 16 Num. 20 Num. 25. Iud. 19. 20 1. Sam. 15 2. Kin. 11 2. Sam. 24 1. Kin. 13 1. King 2 2. Chro. 26 Act. 12 Ezek. 11. 21 Ioh. 4. 8 Pro. 28. 1 Psa. 32. 4 Rom. 8. 39 Rom 5. 1 Ier. 23. 29 Luk. 24 32 Rom. 4. 17 Luk. 24. 25 Gen. 6 Mic. 2 Ier 17. 9 Pro. 4 15 16 Psa. 51. 3. 5 Ps. 119. 80 Ioh. 13 Pro. 14 2. Kin. 20 18 Ier. 42. 6 Reuel 3. 15 12 22 Ger. 42. 14 15 Heb. 12. 6 1. Cor. 11 32 Iob. 31. 1. 7 Ps 42. 11. 9 Iam. 1. 13 2. Pet. 3 Pro. 14. 9 Rom. 2. 4. 5 Pro. 15. 15 Iud. 17 Mat. 51 Dan. 5. 27 Psa. 101. 8 Ps 119. 133 Psa. 19 13 Heb. 3 Psa. 95. 8 Iam. 4. 8. 9 Mar. 10. 24 Act. 5 Iam. 2. 10. Rom. 7. 23 Ephe. 2. 2 Pro. 4. 16 2. Cor. 3. 18 1. Ioh. 3. 3 Luk. 9. 21 Heb. 11. 25 Rom. 6. 2 Luk. 1 Rom. 5. 5 Psa. 89. 13 Psa. 32 Psa. 119. 1 Ps. 119. 161 Es. 8. 12 Iob 31 Ps. 119. 120 Pro. 28. 14 Heb. 11. 7 Hab. 3. 16 Pro. 3. 5. 6 Ro. 12. 16 Ps. 105. 3. 4 Psa. 33. 21 Psa. 2. 11 Psa. 33. 6 Ps. 9711 Hab. 1 11 Zeph. 1. 12 Iob. 21. 9 Ier. 12. 2. 3 Mal. 3. 15 Psa. 31. 17 Eccl. 21. 7 Pro. 15. 15 Pro. 14 10 Pro. 15. 3 Eccl. 30. 21 Eccl. 3. 27 Eccl. 37. 12 Lam. 1. 20 Iob. 20. 11 11. 12 2. Pet. 3. 9 Eccl. 25. 13 Ps. 119. 23 Eccl. 7. 8 Eccl. 5. 5. 6 Mar. 13. 19 Mat. 15. 8 Luk. 1. 66 Pro. 4. 23 Pro. 2. 8 Eccl. 8. 5 Mat. 26 Gen. 3. 6 Pro. 14 15 Pro. 33. 17 Ephe. 5. 11 Psa. 15. 4 Gal. 6. 10 Phil. 1. 27 2. Pet. 2.