thee that thou hast kept me from so many opportunities of sinning against thee from abundance of temptations from innumerable occasions of evil How many have been snatcht away by sudden death and I am alive yet How many have been denyed the grace of Repentance which thou still offerest to me That I have a heart to pray and praise thy Name What a mighty token of thy Love is this Let Heaven and Earth praise the Lord Let all the Angels in Heaven praise him Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord praise thou the Lord O my Soul I remember O Lord how when I have gone through the water thou hast been with me when I have passed through the Fire thou hast commanded the Flames not to kindle upon me I remember when for a small moment thou hast hid thy Face from me How with everlasting kindnesses thou hast visited me again O how often hast thou deliver'd me from the nethermost Hell When I have been ready to sink in the mire thou hast pulled me out of the horrible pit cut of the miry Clay and set my feet upon a Rock and establish'd my goings When the snares of death have incompassed me and the pains of Hell laid hold on me thou hast deliver'd my Soul from Death mine Eyes from Tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living what reward shall I render unto thee for all thy benefits How loth hast thou been to behold my ruine How hast thou call'd after me Have mercy on thy self With what convictions hast thou follow'd me What checks of Conscience hast thou given me O my Lord Thou shalt have all the Glory Thou art worthy to receive Blessing and Honour and Majesty and Dominion How precious are thy Mercies How rich thy Loving kindnesses To do so much for dust and ashes for a Worm for a Grashopper for a Creature that hath abused thee and rebell'd against thee O what goodness is this My understanding is not big enough to comprehend it I 'll acknowledge thee for my God I 'll own thee for my Redeemer Thou shalt be my King my Master my Sovereign Lord I will consecrate all my Labours all my Services all I have and all I am to thy Glory O what a favour is forgiveness of Sin which I trust I have received this day Think O my Soul what a bondage thou art deliver'd from Think what slavery thou art freed from Now thou art at liberty now thou mayst serve God chearfully now thou mayst freely go on from Virtue to Virtue This is a day of Thanksgiving this is a day of glad tidings this is a day which ought to be remembred O my Jesus Thou hast this day visited the Earth and watered it Thou hast made it rich with thy showers thy Grace hath dropp'd upon me this day like the Rain on the mowen Grass O order my steps according to thy Word for the future Let me see thee in every Mercy Teach me to admire thee in every Blessing Let nothing seduce my Heart from thee When any afflictions come upon me let me receive them with Thanks and Submission When I stumble do thou support me when I fall do thou raise me when I go astray do thou seek me when I err do thou direct me When I slacken in thy service do thou strengthen me Keep the door of my Senses that no impure thing may enter there Let my Heart be thy Temple Teach me to enquire daily what progress I make in thy way Let thy Word be a lanthorn to my Feet and a Light unto my paths Let no evil company discourage me Let thy Providence direct me to persons that love thy Law and in these excellent ones let all my Delight and Comfort be O my Lord my Life is hid in thee But when thy Glory shall appear I shall be like thee Speak Lord for thy Servant hears Let none of thy Commandements be hence-forward grievous to me Open thy hand and feed my Soul When I am tempted lay no more upon me then I am able to bear Give me courage to strive to enter in at the strait Gate Let me ever look at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Thy Kingdom Lord is not in Meat and Drink but in Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Give me a taste of it Let Eternity be always in my mind Into thy hands I do commend my Spirit my Body and all the concerns of my Life Let thy Grace come down upon me plentifully Let me not do thy Will negligently Let me live in the thoughts of another life and let those Thoughts encourage me to follow after that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus O hear me O Answer me O pity me O relieve me O come in O succour me thou that art the God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousness all the day long Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee and let such as love thy Salvation say continually Let God be magnified I am poor and needy make haste unto me O God! thou art my Help and my Deliverer O Lord make no tarrying Amen Amen ERRATA PAge 51. l. 24. read liberty p. 169. l. 19 r. Repentance What literal Faults or Mistoppings may occur the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen. Books Printed for and Sold by Samuel Lowndes over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand CLelia An excellent new Romance Parthanissa That most Fam'd Romance Dr. Greys Compleat Horseman and expert Farrier Two Sermons Preach'd at the Cathedral Church in Norwich By B. Rively Mr. Glanvil's Saducismus Triumphatus with the Additions of Dr. More and Dr. Horneck Mr. Glanvil's Lux Orientalis Or the Opinion of the Eastern Sages concerning the Pre-existence of Souls Bishop Rust of Truth and Annotations on both Dr. Horneck's Great Law of Consideration Papismus Regiae potestatis Eversor Paul Festeau's French Grammar Maugers Letters in French and English The Mirror of Fortune The French Rogue Cambridge Jests or Witty Alarms for melancholy Spirits Kerhuel Idea Eloquentiae The Situation of Paradise
Es. 5. 11 12. Psal. 105. 5 Matth. 6. 26 27 28. 1 Cor. 10 31. 1 Thess. 5. 18. 10. I must do the same kindnesses favours and services to other Men which I would have other Men who are in such circumstances do to me and therefore must be charitable just honest faithful sincere in all my dealings with them and put a good construction on their doubtful actions because I would have them be so and do so to me Matth. 7. 12. 1 Cor. 13. 4 5 6 7. Rom. 13. 7 8 9. 11. According to the condition calling or relation I am in I must discharge my Duty belonging to that calling condition or relation with very great conscientiousness as a servant I must be faithful and respectful to my Master or Mistriss As a Son or Daughter very tender of my Parents welfare credit and command As a Subject obedient and loyal to the King and those who are in Authority under him in all lawful things as a member of a publick Church careful to preserve its peace and unity As a Husband or Wife loving kind and amiable to my yoke-fellow and in the lawful calling God hath placed me in diligent and industrious 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 18. Eph. 6. 1 4 5. Col. 3. 18 19 20 21 22. Col. 4. 1. Rom. 12. 11. 12. I must delight to think of God and delight to speak of spiritual things and delight to do the Will of God and delight in all these and in other good Works more then in the gaudes pomp glory and vanity of this present World I must use the World as if I used it not and be very indifferent whether I have much of this Worlds Goods or no and my chief aim and design must be to get a share in God's everlasting Kingdom Matth. 6. 33. 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. Psal. 112. 1. Psal. 139. 17. Psal. 119. 72. Consc. Why art thou obliged to do all this in order to Salvation Christ. Partly because God my Supreme Governour expresly commands these things to be done partly because Eternal Happiness is promised to none but such as in good earnest apply themselves to the performance of them partly because infinite glory is a thing of that consequence that it deserves these pains and this excellent temper partly because the LOVE of God to me is so great that I can do no less in common gratitude Matth. 5. â—0 Matth. 19. 17. Luc 13. 24. 2 Cor. 5. â—â— Consc. What is that mighty Love of God that challenges such gratitude Christ. When with the rest of Mankind I was lost and undone in my first Parents depriv'd of all hopes of Mercy and Pardon and Salvation The Eternal Son of God to restore me to God's favour and to make me capable of Pardon and Eternal Salvation took my Nature upon him became Man suffered and died for me and having by his death purchased this Pardon and Salvation for me offers me these Mercies upon condition of obeying the aforesaid Precepts Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 17. 21. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Consc. But what if thou hast not obeyed these Precepts of the Gospel is there any remedy or hopes to recover the favour of God Christ. I must necessarily repent of my disobedience with all speed and make it my business for the future to live up to those Rules in despight of all commands and allurements from Men to the contrary and upon 〈◊〉 repentance sincere resolâ—◠〈◊〉 and earnest endeavours to obey them I may certainly hope for Pardon and Salvation because he hath promised it Matth. 11. 28 29. Es. 55. 7. Joel 2. 12 13 14. Consc. But is it possible dost thou think for any Man to obey and live up to these Precepts Christ. If it were not possible for me to obey them I cannot imagine why God should peremtorily require it of me and therefore I may certainly so far obey them as not to act wittingly or wilfully or deliberately against them and so perform them as to make them the setled Rule of my Thoughts Desires Words and Actions if I will but use the means God hath prescribed in order to this Holy Obedience Matth. 25. 26 27 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Joh. 5 ' 3. Consc. What are those means whereby this Holy Obedience may be attained Christ. They are Eight 1. Consideration and Thinking 2. Earnest Prayer for the assistance of Gods Grace and Spirit 3. Diligent hearing and reading the word of God 4. Asking advice and consulting with faithful Ministers of the Gospel 5. Self-Examination 6. A right apprehension of the Nature of God and of Spiritual things 7. Humbling the Soul with Fasting 8. A conscientious use of the two Sacraments the Son of God hath instituted and ordained Consc. How is Consideration and Thinking to be managed Christ. I must seriously and frequently retire and think with my self that surely Gods promises and threatnings will be fulfilled that upon the moment of my death there depends Eternity and what a sad and forlorn condition I should be in should Eternal anguish seize on my Soul when it leaves this World and though God be patient yet he will not be mock'd that there is no Soul in Hell at this time but would be glad to obey God if they might be freed and tryed once more here on Earth that a work of that concern is not to be neglected for trifles that my Death is very uncertain and a Death-bed is no place or time to bring my self to a habit of Obedience Deut. 32. 29. Ps. 90. 12. Ps. 50. 22. Consc. What is the nature of Prayer and earnest begging for Grace and assistance of Gods Spirit Christ. I must take care that my Heart and Mind do pray as well as my Lips I must be sensible of what I pray for and fix my Thoughts upon God in Prayer and earnestly long for his Grace and Mercy and be importunate with him pray often and with fervour like a person that am concern'd at the danger I am in I must watch against wandring Thoughts or expell them when they come in and my Soul must esteem and prize the Grace of God and assistance of Gods Spirit above all the advantages of the World and be restless till I get it and take notice how God hears and answers my Prayers Joh. 4. 24. Ps. 66. 18. Ps. 63. 1. Ps. 16. 8. Consc. What dost thou mean by diligent hearing and reading of the word of God Christ. When I read or hear it I must read and hear it with attention and resolution to know Gods Will that I may do it Before I read and hear it I must beg of God to enlighten me and to imprint those good Lessons I shall hear or read upon my Soul and to make them effectual to me I must apply the general commands I read and hear to mine own Soul and believe that what God commands all Men as Christians and Believers he commands me in particular I must watch against worldly Thoughts in reading and
hearing and remember I do sin if I do not mind what I read or hear Luc. 8. 18. Marc. 4. 24. Joh. 5. 39. Ps. 119. 18. Consc In what manner must thou ask advice of faithful Ministers of the Gospel Christ. I must go to those who are very serious or send for any of them and ask them about the state and condition of my Soul and what I must do to secure Gods Favour how I must go about the great work of Salvation and beg their direction in performing the Will of God and acquaint them how it is with me what Temptations I am subject to and what Corruptions I am inclined to and intreat them to tell me how to be rid of them and oblige them to help me with their Prayers and to encourage me to a vigorous pursuit of the everlasting Riches and when I have done so must follow their Advice and Counsel Acts 16. 30 31 32. Marc. 10. 17. Phil. 3. 17. Consc. And what is to be done with Self-Examination Christ. I must frequently look into my Thoughts Words and Actions and see whether they are agreeable to the Rules of the Gospel every night I must take an account of my self and consider what I have been doing in the day time whether I have not told a Lye deceiv'd no body broke forth into no passion done good resisted temptations been often with God in Prayer taken notice of Gods providences c. that where I have done amiss I may watch against it the next day and where I have done well I may admire the goodness of God and praise him for it Ps. 4. 4. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Lam. 3. 40. Consc. What apprehensions must thou have of God and Spiritual things Christ. I must Believe 1. That God is a Spirit Omnipresent Omniscient infinitely Good and Wise and Holy and Just and will be a rewarder to them that diligently seek him and punish the Disobedient either here or hereafter or both here and hereafter Heb. 11. 6. 2 Thess. 1. 6 7. Ps. 58. 11. Ps. 50. 21. 2. That this God is our Supream Governour and hath revealed himself to be Father Son and Holy Ghost or our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier and that there is some resemblance of these Three in One in the Sun in which is the Light and Heat and Beam which Three make but one Sun 1 Joh. 5. 7. Matth. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 14. 3. That all Mankind fell in Adam the first Man and by that fall moved God to withdraw his Love and Favour from them and that God the Son in commiseration to our Nature became Man of the Virgin Mary suffered and died and by his death rendred God the Father or rather the whole Trinity kind and propitious to us and willing to receive us into Favour and to give us Pardon and everlasting Life upon the conditions of Repentance and unfeigned Obedience and therefore justly called Christ Jesus i. e. the Anointed Saviour Rom. 5. 8 9 10. Gal. 4. 4 5. Matth. 1. 21. 4. That the Scripture where all this is revealed is the word of God because the Men who revealed this in Scripture were inspired by the Holy Ghost and in confirmation of it wrought true miracles miracles levell'd against the power of Sin and impossible to be done by humane strength the truth of which miracles hath been conveyed down to posterity by multitudes of eye-witnesses and from them received by all Christian People Heb. 2. 1 2 3 4. 5. That the promises and threatnings of the Gospel will infallibly be fulfilled sooner or later because God cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. 6. That our Soul is not our Breath nor our Blood nor the Spirits of our Blood but a Spiritual Substance able to live and act without this gross Body we carry about us and will immediately upon leaving this Body be obliged to appear before God and to him give an account of its good and evil Works and according to the prevalency or predominancy of either be made sensible of the Sentence of Absolution or Condemnation which shall be pronounced at the day of Judgment Luc. 16. 22 23. 7. That at the end of this world there will be a solemn day of judgment wherein the Bodies of all Men shall rise and be re-united to their Souls and their Thoughts Words and Actions be brought to light and judged and sentence solemnly pronounced and the Good commanded to take possession of Eternal Joys and the Bad to go into everlasting Torments 2 Cor. 5. 10. Matth. 25. 31 46. 8. That God requires no more of us then we do of our Children and Servants and that 's Love and that this Love if it be true and hearty must necessarily discover it self in Repentance and sorrow for offending him and a sincere endeavour to please and obey him for the future Luc. 6. 46. Malach. 1. 6. 9. That though by nature we are generally more prone to evil then to good and have a stronger byass to Sin then Righteousness yet God the Holy Ghost by his power and influences will certainly assist and help us to abhor that which is evil and to cleave to that which is good if so be that by earnest Prayer Fasting and Meditation we long and breathe for his help and influences Luc. 11. 13. 10. That all the service I offer to God must be performed with my Mind Will and Affections or with my inward Man and with my Heart and that without my Mind have the greatest share in the service it is insignificant and rejected by God Prov. 23. 26. Matth. 22. 37. 11. That by Believing in Scripture for the most part is meant nothing but obeying and that he who obeys not the precepts of the Gospel doth not believe that they are either Divine or necessary to be obey'd or that the Gospel is infallibly true Acts 6. 7. Heb. 11. 24 25 26. 2 Thess. 1. 11. 12. That that frame of Spirit which fits a Man for Eternal Happiness is neither a customary frequenting of the Ordinances of God nor shunning the grosser sins and vices of the age we live in nor being Master of a single Virtue but a Spiritual temper of Mind which puts us upon doing all that 's necessary to be done in order to Salvation Rom. 8. 5 6. 9 10. Consc. What are the Rules to be observed in humbling the Soul with Fasting Christ. I must frequently as often as my strength will bear it give my self to Fasting and Prayer and on those Fasts wrestle with God for growth in Grace and strength against those sins I am most prone and inclined to and greater courage against temptations I must give Alms on that day for the refreshing of some poor Member of Christ and spend the day in Supplications and Contemplations of my sins and of the wrath of God I have deserved and of Gods mercy to penitent sinners in Christ Jesus and in Holy resolutions to be watchful over my Heart for the future that I may perform those
Heart is Sacrifice which he that was broke upon the account of thy sins will not despise Nay he will comfort the humble Soul and the contrite Spirit he will pour Wine and Oyl into its wounds supple it with Balm heal it with his Death and make it whole by his Agonies See here O my Soul the Bread which is broke is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ see how many broken pieces are here which all make but one Loaf So thou and thy fellow-Believers make one mystical Body whereof the Crucified Jesus is Head and Governour who influences the Body by his Spirit and from his fulness dispences Grace for Grace Rejoyce O my Soul For now the waves and billows of Gods wrath are laid The storm of vengeance is husht The thunder is gone The clouds cleer up thy broken Saviour hath turn'd the sound of the Trumpet of War into a still small Voice O break with him no more O preserve that friendship which was so dearly bought A friendship purchased by Blood sure must never dye Thou art his Friend O do not become his Enemy again for fear he be never friends with thee again On the pouring out of the Holy Wine THus O my Soul thus flow'd the precious Blood of the tormented Jesus In such streams it issued from his wounded Body Thus was the costly Juyce let out Thus the rich Veins emptied themselves of their Treasure and all that thou mightst mayst be clean And O Jerusalem wilt not thou be clean When shall it once be When God makes use of his own Blood to purify thee O my Soul Wilt thou wallow still in thy Dung and Nastiness This would be inexcusable Arise wash thy self in this Jordan and thy Flesh shall come again like unto the Flesh of a little Child O my Soul had not this Blood been shed there had been no remission of Sins From the shedding of this Blood date thy happiness when God saw this Blood the tide turned and thy offended Father looked on thee with a merciful Face How sweet is this Blood it nourishes into Eternal Life How high the value of it it redeemed a whole World How wholsom it expels all Sicknesses What pity was it that the least drop of it should fall upon the ground It was fit to be receiv'd by the hands of Angels But the Earth on which sinful Men walk'd was defiled and cursed and therefore it must fall upon it to take away the Curse Man's Sin had made it subject to O precious Blood Drop drop upon my Soul Let me feel thy Virtue Drive out the Curse Water this barren Ground that hath brought forth Briars and Thorns and let it bring forth pleasant Fruit again 6. When I receive the Holy Bread my Mind must vent it self in some such breathings as these Either O My Lord I do remember with Joy and Grief that thy Body was Crucified for me the meanest of thy Servants I remember it with joy because thy Love is wonderful O how vehement how violent was it to love an Enemy and by that Love to charm me into Obedience I remember it with grief because my Sins were thy Murtherers O my Lord I will stand out against thy offers of Grace no longer Here take my Heart I solemnly resolve to dedicate my Self and all I have to thy Service Or O God! this Sacred Bread puts me in mind how the Lamb of God was offered for me Do I believe this and shall not my Soul make thee her highest and her chiefest good O my God I take thee here not only for my Saviour but for my King and Master too Come Holy Spirit rule my Heart for I will hence forward serve no other Gods but the Great Jehovah alone who loved me and gave himself for me Or O my Jesus My Life My Joy My Comfort Thou diedst that I might live I remember it and adore thy Majesty in misery O make me thine and as this Bread doth mingle with my Substance so let thy Spirit mingle with my Soul that the same Mind may be in me which was also in Christ Jesus Or Look upon this Bread O my Soul it represents the bleeding Body of thy dearest Lord. Bleed O my Heart Give thy self up to him that groaned for thee It 's done O God neither Death nor Life shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. 7. When I receive the Holy Wine my thoughts must still be at work and address themselves to God in Christ Jesus some such way as this Either O Jesu I thankfully remember that thy Blood was spilt for me What am I and what is my Fathers House that thou hast brought me thus far Thou hast loved me better than I have done my self O my Lord give me thy sweet thy tender thy free thy humble Spirit that I may be one with thee and may admire none in heaven but thee and desire nothing on Earth besides thee Or O blessed Balsom of my wounded Heart Welcome thou Sovereign Salve How seasonable is this Medicine I die if thy Blood relieve me not O wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow I have deserved to drink the Cup of Trembling and Astonishment and thou holdest out to me the Cup of Salvation O my Soul remember who it is that is so kind to thee O esteem adore magnifie and love him for ever Or O thou blessed Shepherd of my Soul How ought I to blush when I think of thy Blood which my Sins did spill Thou hast turned my Darkness into Light and my Treason into an Antidote Thou curest me by Contradictions and the Blood my Sins have drawn from thy flesh is become the only refuge I have in the day of Wrath. O look upon thine own Blood and hide me in thy Wounds I know not how to prize thy favour O do thou teach me to do great things for thee to deny my self to take up my Cross and to follow thee Or O my Lord By thy Tears and by thy Blood thou adjurest me this day to imitate thee in thy Graces in thy Meekness in thy Patience in thy Humility in thy Charity in thy Contempt of the World and in thy Heavenlymindedness My heart is fixed O God! my heart is fixed I will Sing and give Praise Thou shalt be my Pattern Here under thy Cross I promise Obedience and Conformity to thy Graces O do thou help me O assist me uphold me with thy free Spirit so shall I teach Transgressors thy Way and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Or Great Bishop of my Soul who hast left the ninety and nine in the Wilderness and art come to seek this straying Sheep Behold Lord the Prodigal is coming home again Thou comest towards me Bleeding Groaning Dying thou comest to receive him that hath forsaken thee to draw him that hath fled from thee to kiss him that did scourge thee to Crown him that did Prick thee to Embrace him that did
the Characters How bloody were the Lines yet thy Blood makes them as white as snow O my Lord I hear thy words sharper then any two edged Sword and piercing to the dividing asunder of the Bones and Marrow I hear thy complaints I mean which broke the Rocks and shook the Earth and shall not my heart be moved at them For Thee the Son of God to cry out My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Who can hear this Who can think of it and not stand confounded For Omnipotence to sink thus For infinite Perfection to faint thus For him that sate on the circle of the Earth and before whom all Nations were as Grashoppers for him thus to Swound thus to Weep thus to Mourn What could be the reason Oh thou Prince of Peace For the iniquity of thy People thou vast struck for the sins of the World thou didst suffer banishment and wast used as if thou hadst not been anointed with Oyl or been guilty of the crimes thy foes accused thee of The snares of death did encompass thee thy friends forsook thee and thy heritage like a Lion out of the Wood did roar against thee O my Bowels be ye troubled at this remembrance O my flinty Heart canst thou see thy Lord as it were crucified before thine eyes and not break out into floods of Tears O Jesu Thou cryest to thy Father and he hears thee not He seems to be cruel to his Son and deaf to thy lamentations The windows of Heaven seem to be shut and a vail to be drawn over all the Joys and Comforts and Consolations that formerly water'd and enrich'd thy Soul See how dry and barren and burnt up this precious Soil appears No showers from above come down no Sun shines upon it the Stars of Heaven with-hold their influence and scarce an Angel will stir to thy assistance O Thou who art all Glorious within and art thy self the Glory of the Universe Were my Sins laid in a ballance they would weigh heavier then the Sand on the Sea-shore and then what need I wonder that thou cryest so loud under the heavy load for the arrows of the Lord stick in thee and his hand presses thee sore O Blessed Nazarite whiter then Snow brighter then the Sky purer then the Sun How is thy Face disfigured with Grief How do thine Eyes languish How dismal dost thou appear Is this the Face that was the perfection of Beauty Is this the Face that was once the desire of all Nations Is this the Face which so many Prophets and Righteous Men have desired to see Is this the Face that Abraham long'd to behold and the Patriarchs were ambitious to have a view of Is this the Face admired by Angels and dreaded by Divels What is thy Beloved more then another Beloved O thou fairest among Women Is this the mighty Bridegroom of the Church who was once transfigured on the Holy Mount and his Face did shine as the Sun and his raiment became white as the light Is this he whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows whose garments smell of Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia and cast such a scent that the Daughter of Tyre came with a Gift and the rich among the People entreated his favour How is he alter'd How is his Countenance chang'd How is the Gold become dim and the fine Gold changed Yet still thou art lovely to a Soul that sees farther then the outside Still thou art a Cordial to fainting Spirits Still thou art a fountain of living waters Still thou art the Joy of the whole Earth the Light of Heaven and the Song of Sion My thoughts O Lord shall follow thee to the Cross. Methinks I see how thou art going to die thou lookest back on thine Enemies and notwithstanding all their Affronts offerest them Mercy O incomprehensible Goodness Even then when thou art lifted up to the infamous Tree Thou drawest and invitest all Men to thee Thou Preachest on the Cross and thy very wounds are Sermons to the Children of Men and thy Blood trickling down is an exhortation to Repentance Surely it is good for me to adhere unto thee and to count it death to be separated from thee O whether shall I go but to thee who hast words of Eternal Life Thou art my Sun by Thee I shall be enlighten'd by Thee my Soul shall be warm'd O how comfortable are thy beams What a progress must that Soul make on which thou shinest and dartest thy Glorious Rays Thou art that lofty Cedar whose boughs over-spread the Believing World Under the shadow of that Tree will I rest It is for the healing of the Nations I will be glad in the Lord and rejoyce in my bleeding Jesus While the World despises thee I will honour thee While Great Men pass by and regard thee not I that am poor and needy will wait to be refreshed by thee Go ye fools be enamoured with your Trifles admire your Butterflies doat on your sensual Pleasures Here is one that looks charming in his Tears lovely in his Blood amiable in his Wounds and is more beautiful in the midst of all his distresses then the brightest Virgins Face adorned with all the glittering Treasures of the East O my Strength by Thee I desire to be comforted and supported O anoint my Eyes with thy Sovereign Eye-salve and I shall see and live O that the Clouds which dwell on my Understanding were dispersed that I might look upon thee sredfastly Oh! then thou wouldst appear more lovely to me on the Cross then Croesus in his Throne or Solomon in all his Glory God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ. In this lie hid vast treasures of Sweetness O my Jesus make me conformable to thy death and give me leave to carry thy marks in my Body Let me be crucified with thee and let Christ for ever live in me Canst thou live in a Soul that hath abused thy Mercy slighted thy Patience and so often baffled the stratagems of thy Compassion I believe Lord O help mine unbelief Thou camest to call not the Righteous but Sinners to repentance Oh! then my Husband will love me my Redeemer will come and live with me for my repentings are kindled I hate the sins that have defiled my Soul Away ye Swine Here are no Divels to enter in I am to receive my Bridegroom into my Heart Come Lord Jesu Come quickly Thou art the welcomest Guest I know How happy shall I be if thou wilt lodge in this earthly Tabernacle Happier then if all the Angels of Heaven took up their Habitation here O ye besotted Jews what makes you run so fast to kill the Lord of Life ye cannot live without him and what evil spirit doth possess you to kill and murther him Can you think of his miracles and do so Can you reflect upon his Doctrine and attempt such villanies Can you remember how he taught you in the Temple even
to astonishment and venture on such proceedings Can you call to mind how he hath purged your Countrey of Divels and your Sick of their Diseases and suffer the Divel to enter into you O dreadful spectacle O that my Head were Water Who will rise with me against the wicked O thou that art purer then the Lillies purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and my filthiness shall not be seen O bathe me in the Fountain open'd for the House of Judah and Jerusalem and I shall look fairer then the Children which fed on the Meat of the King of Babylon's Table O my God I thirst for thee as dry Land after Water My Soul flies and flutters about like Noah's Dove and can find no rest till it gets into thy Ark. Great Gate of Mercy open to me hide me from the wrath of an offended God and make a covenant of Peace with me Ah! Who would not love thee that hears thee pray for thy greatest enemies O lovely Bridegroom of my Soul wound my Heart that it may be sick of Love How kind art thou even to thy most hard-hearted foes What a motive is this to love thee What needest thou care what becomes of stubborn sinners Why shouldst thou trouble thy self about wretches that will have none of Thee that will have their Dirt and Dung and Trash and Husks and prefer these trifles before Heaven and a Sea of Glory Thou canst live without the society of Men at least thou needest no such company yet thou longest for their Pardon and Happiness as if they had been thy greatest friends Was ever Goodness like this O that my Thoughts and Contemplations might be always busie about this Love This is no vulgar Love the love of David to Jonathan the love of Jacob to Rachel the love of Brethren Sisters Friends will bear no resemblance here Moses his love to the Israelites for whose sake and so they might but continue in Gods favour he was content to be blotted out of Gods Book and St. Pauls wish to be even accursed of Christ for his Kinsmen of the Jewish Nation these de monstrations of Love come somewhat nearer but still thy Love my dearest Lord surpasses all these as the light of the Sun doth that of the Moon and the lesser Stars They borrow'd their love from thine and lighted their Candle by thy brighter Fire that which was excess of Love in them was but a spark of that Charity which overspread thy larger Soul They did but wish to die for the People thou didst actually exspire for their good their Love was confined to a single Nation thine extended to the whole World These Men were still their friends that they wish'd to be miserable for but those thou sufferest for were thine enemies Their Love had great defects mingled with it but thine was pure and spotless Theirs had Clouds and Mists to darken it Thine was all Light and Glory Theirs was a suddain transport which might not last many days but Thine was constant to a miracle and those whom thou lovedst thou lovedst unto the end Great Emperour of Souls thou hangest betwixt Thieves and not without reason for thou stealest the Heart away What Heart can see thy Beauty and forbear being enamoured with it Thou dost ravish my Soul with thine Eyes of pity To see thee cast a favourable look on such a monster as I am Who can forbear falling in love with so much clemency I am a Captive in this World The Law of my Members makes me captive to the Law of Sin O take me by force from that prison O set me as a Seal upon thy Heart Rule thou in my Members Erect a Trophy over my Head and rejoyce in conquering me O let me be content to undergo the Cross and reproach with thee that thou mayst remember me now thou art in thy Kingdom O remember me with the favour thou bearest unto thy People O my Jesus Who can hear thee cry I Thirst and not wish for Rivers of Tears What canst thou Thirst for but the Salvation of Mankind Thou camest for that purpose from Heaven Leftst those brighter Mansions to invite poor sinners to the mighty Banquet there For this thou didst travel up and down and enduredst Cold and Hunger and Weariness for this thou wroughtest miracles for this thou didst Intreat Rebuke preach the Word in season and out of season for this thou couldst be content to want a place where to lay thy Head for this thou taughtest daily in the Temple sometimes on the Mount sometimes in a Ship sometimes in a Desart for this thy Soul did long for this thou sufferedst for this thou wast buffeted beaten bruised and wounded even because thou wouldst not give over calling poor deluded sinners to a sense of their Duty for this thou Thirstest here The rude multitude fancies it is either Water or some cordial thou wishest for They measure thy condition by their own sensual appetite but they were purer desires that glow'd in thy Breast It is Water indeed thou thirstest for but such Water as David made his Bed to swim in The Tears of a penitent Soul are the Wine thou longest for They are the Drink the Son of God thirsts after Weep weep mine Eyes that the Lord Jesus may Drink and be satisfied O Lord I have given thee Gall to Drink I have offered thee the cup of Trembling and Astonishment Ah bitter Ah wretched Drink worse then the foulest Ditch-water Drink my dearest Lord Drink of the Brook by the way Drink of these Tears Drink of this Holy Water I do shed O it is the Sweat of a grieved Soul of a Soul weary of Sin and heavy laden with the sense of it My Heart melts my Soul dissolves at the thoughts of my follies Drink up this Heart of mine and let it mingle with thy bowels of Mercy Here Lord accept of the Vows I offer thee Behold and visit this Vine which thine own right hath planted Shine upon it Lord let it bring forth pleasant Grapes no more Grapes of the Vine of Sodom but Grapes sweet and which may cheer the Heart of God and Man The Drink-offerings I bring to thee are insatiable desires after thee the most fervent breathings of my Heart after thy Grace and Mercy O receive them Graciously and love me freely I bring on Rivers of Oyl no Rams no Bullocks with Horns and Hoofs Thou desirest not Sacrifice else would I give it thee thou delightest not in Burnt-offerings Thou wilt take no Bullock out of my House nor He-Goats out of my Folds for every Beast of the Forest is thine and so is the Cattle upon a thousand Hills Thou knowest all the Fowls of the Mountains and the wild Beasts of the Field are thine if thou wert Hungry thou wouldst not tell me for the World is thine and the fulness thereof Thou wilt not eat the flesh of Bulls nor drink the blood of Goats but the offerings thou expectest are