pedibus secreet sinnes and robberies haue beene in diverse ages disclosed by dogs passing over these which haue beene discovered by men and women conjunct or verie neare to the evill doers themselues Forasmuch that this is most cleare and evident and altogether true without doubt or contraversie that thy sinne can not bee keept secreet perpetually but it shall bee manifested and revealed openly and at length without repentance shall bee punished publickly â—he Gentils by experience knew this plainely and confessed the same frequently It is then the safest and best way beleeue mee it is most profitable and comfortable vnto thee that thou thy selfe make a true humble and sinceere confession of thy owne sinnes since they can not bee covered continually but will certainely be manifested if not in this world yet most fearefully in that day of the Å¿ Rom. 2. 5. declaration of the just judgement of GOD when the secreets of all hearts shall bee revealed and everie t Math. 12.38 idle word shall bee brought to an account and everie privie action shall bee disclosed And that thou may bee thus moved In the second place thou hast to consider of the profite and commoditie Of the good of confession of confession And first heere obserue a great difference yea and manifest opposition betwene the effect of the confession of the guiltie before the judgement seate of men or earthly judges and of that confession which is made before the Spineus in lib. de peccatorum confessione tribunall of GOD the Heavenlie judge who is the righteous and high judge u Genes 18. 25 of all the world The confession before Magistrates even at other times mercifull is verie dreadfull dangerous and deadly for evill doers when Achan made his confession of the thift of the execrable goods then Ioshuah and all x Iudg. 7. 25 Israel stoned him his sonnes and his daughters his oxen his asses and his sheepe with stones and burnt them with fire because of his trespasse and abomination When the Amalâ—kiâ—e a stranger confessed the killing of Saul then David caused to kill him and that justly because his owne y 2 Sam. 16 mouth testified against him Thus after a confession made before earthly z Rom 12. 1 powers who are Ministers of justice followeth death sorrow punishment and execution and therefore it is no wonder although malefactors be verie unwilling to confesse capitall crymes So these Eunuches Bigthan and Teresh did not acknowledge their conspiracie against Assuerus vntill a Ester 2. 22 inquisition was made and it was found so and therefore they were both hanged on a tree and died shamfullie But it is plaine contrarie in The fruites of confession regarde of the confession of our sinnes to the Almightie After the same followeth great good and vnspeakable commoditie as most evidently appeareth by proofe of sacred Scripture by examples by the testimonies of learned writers and by experience First If b Proverb 28 13. thou hide thy sinnes saith Salomon thou shall not First Mercy prosper but if thou will confesse them and forsake them thou shalt haue mercie What more pleasant or more expedient to a miserable sinner then GODS mercies Secondly forgivenesse of thy fault and remission If c Iohn 1.9 thou acknowledge thy sinne saith St. IOHN 2 Remission GOD is faithfull and just to forgiue thee thy sinne Thus forgivenesse and remission bringeth happinesse and salvation Blessed is hee d Psal 28. 13 whose wickednesse is forgiven him so proclaimeth the Prophet DAVID Thirdly If thou confesse thy offences the Apostle witnesseth 3 Sanctification that GOD will e Iohn 2. 9 cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse so thou may bee most sure of sanctification and f Heb. 12. 14 holynesse without the which no man shall see the LORD in his eternall glory Fourthly thou by confession 4 Knowledge shall get Heavenly wisedome and instruction as when Daniell was speaking and confessing his sinnes and g Daniel 9 2â— presenting his supplications in that same instant the Angell Gabriell gaue him knowledge and vnderstanding So when thou shalt truely acknowledge thy wickednesse the holy Spirit will bee sent vnto thee to bestow vpon thee knowledge vnderstanding Fiftly Ioy and consolation shall 5 Consolation come to thee in tyme of anguish and affliction If thou shalt make to GOD a right confession as David was greatly greeved and very sore troubled for his murther and adultery when he confessed that he had sinned against the LORD hee was immediatly strongly and joyfully comforted when the Prophet Nathan replyed on this maner the h 2 Sam. 12.13 LORD hath put away thy sinnes thou shalt not die that was glad tydings and comfortable newes vnto his wearied and distressed spirit So it is most certaine that consolation will come to every Christian after confession Sixtly if thou confesse thy sin 6 Employment in the LORDS service in sinceritie the LORD then will more readily imploy thee in his service as when the Prophet Esay confessed his vncleannesse and pollution that hee was a man of polluted i I saiah 6. 3 lippes there his iniquitie was taken away and his sins purged and hee was in the businesse of the LORD imployed and in his service directed and hee was sent by GOD to the people of the Iewes Lastly if thou conceale not thy 7 Furniturâ— of necessaries offences nor thy distresse but will confesse the same ingenuoussie the LORD will furnish thee good things aboundantly as when the Aegyptians confessed to Ioseph their want and great povertie when they said wee k Genes 47.23 will not hide from my LORD our pittiefull indigence then Ioseph did furnish them food and seede to sow the ground So will GOD doe to thee if thou on this maner will deale faithfully and truely Hee will giue vnto thee that bread l Iohn 6. 37 which came downe from Heaven which giveth lyfe to the world He will giue thee that good feed of his m Luke 8. 21 Word and make it n Zach. 8. 12 prosperous to bring foorth good fruite in thee And shortly after the right confession thou mayest assuredly perswade thy selfe of absolution of justification and of thy glorification For the LORD o Psalm 103 8. 9. is full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwayes chide nor keepe his wrath for ever And most sure it is if the LORD absolue thee who shall lay p Rom. 8. 33 any thing to thy charge If GOD justifie thee who shall condemne thee If the Almighti glorifie thee who shall disgrace or bring infamie vpon thee Againe hearken and take heede diligently consider and meditate carefully what the auncient wise true and judicious fathers tell to thee plainly of the profite that commeth to thee by humble and sincere confession One saith cessat vinaicta divina Ambros Beati immaculats
Act 16 25 with Silas were beaten wiih rods and thrust into an inner prison they prayed But O my GOD this spirituall dungeon wherein I am holden fast is farre more dangerous and deplorable How should I poore wretch weepe and sorrow for my mishappe and miserie Am y Iob 7 12 I a sea fish that thou keepest mee in ward When z Psal 4 1 shall I bee delyvered and set at libertie from my deepe distresse Now by my imprisoning O 12 Lamentthy weaknesse LORD I am become verie weake and by my wounds infirme I a Psal 38. 8 am weakned and sore broken I roare for the griefe of mine heart I goe mourning b Psal 66 2 all the day long LORD I am weake my bones are vexed I c Rom 14 1 am weake in faith I d 1 Cor 14. 20 am a child in vnderstanding I e Heb 5 13 am a babe inexpert in the word of righteousnesse I f Psal 22 6 am but a sillie worme and not a man a shame of men and contempt of the people I g Iob 13 52 am like a leafe driven to and fro and like the dry stubble I h Zach 3â— 2 am a burnt sticke a brande taken out of the fire I i Psal 119 141 am small and despised I k Psal 119 83 am like a bottle in the smoke There is no strength nor 13 Lament thy sicknesse beautie in mee poore miserable wretch Let l Psal 119. 169 my complaint come before thee for my great sicknesse and manifold diseases for my inward deafnesse I am alace like many of the obdured Iewes who m Act 7 57 stopped their eares and would not hearken to the Sermon of Steven Or like the deafe n Psal 58 4 adder which stoppeth his eare and will not heare to the charming of the inchauter I o Zach 7 11 haue often refused to hearken I haue pulled away the shoulder and stopped the eare least I should heare the law of GOD and the word O LORD of hoastes which thou hast sent in thy spirit by the Ministerie of thy Prophets I am like the Heathens Idoll I p Psal 115 6 haue eares but heare not Woe is me O LORD for my spirituall blindnesse I am like one of the vnrighteous Aegyptians I am q Wisdome 17 2 blind and bound in the bands of darknesse I r Isa 59 10 grope for the wall and I stumble at the noone day If Samson was sorrowfull for his sight and desired to be avenged on the Philistims Å¿ Iudg 16 28 because they did plucke out his two eyes and for that hee was a laughing stocke to them Haue not I a greater cause of sorrow and hatred against my sinnes which hath plucked out the eyes of my soule and made mee a gazing stock to all creatures Alace O LORD how can I pittifully eneugh make my moane vnto thee for the frowardnesse foolishnesse doublenesse and hardnesse of my filthie heart for it y Psal 101 4 is froward it z Eceles 1 33 is double and divyded it a Hos 10 2 is foolish impenitent b Rom 2 4 and earthly it c Ezech 11 19 is obdured hard and stome O my GOD I haue great reason to lament the spirituall leprosie of mine inward man I may most justly haue my cloths c Levit. 13 45 rent my head bare my lips covered and cry that I am vncleane If the bodilie leprosie of Oziah King of Iudah caused him d 2 Chro 26.21 to bee cut off from the house of the LORD and to lose an earthly Kingdome may not my spirituall leprosie separate mee from the societie of CHRIST from the communion of the Saincts and depriue mee of an Heavenly Kingdome But now O mercifull Father I want wordes to deplore my 1â— Lament for thy wickednes wickednesse and my e 1 Peter 2. 1 maliciousnesse the very roote and welspring of all my woe and miserie I delight to foster that serpent in my bosome which doeth sting me to carie that fire in my brest which doeth burne mee to keepe still on my stomach that poyson that will infect mee and destroy mee Alace miserable is my madnesse Should it not bee my principall care and my continuall indevoure Should not I take all possible paines to shake off that serpent as f Act. 28. 5 Paul did the viper to cast away these coales to vomite out that noysome poyson that I may liue and not perish eternally Yet LORD this is worse that I cannot condignelie complame 15 Lament thy stubbornnesse of my contumacie and stubbornnesse O my GOD I spake in sinceritie many g Isa 66. 4 times thou hast called but I would not answere thou hast spoken but I would not heare Many times Lord hast thou early h Ier. 11. 7 rysing protested saying obey my voyce but I am disobedient and refractorie Thou hast come to mee when I haue departed from thee Thou hast followed mee when I haue fled away from thee Thou hast stoode and i Revel 3. 20 knocked at the doore of my heart but I would not open vnto thee I haue not O LORD beene throughly moved with the loue of mine owne salvation I haue not beene arightly terrified with the feare of my condemnation I k Isaiah 66. 3 haue not trembled at thy Word or threatnings I haue not beene joyfull of thy sweet promises and consolations Alace O LORD and woe is mee l Isaiah 43. 4 I am obstinate and my necke is an yron sinew and my brow brasse I am senselesse of my sinne and past feeling Yea O LORD I am dead in my transgressions and putrifying in my abominations I haue m Revel 3.1 a name that I liue while I am dead I n 2 Tim. 5. 6 liue naturally but am dead spiritually O my mercifull Father I lament Lament thy curses bitterly that by nature I am subject to thine heavie curse and hath deserved thy terrible malediction in respect I n Ier. 11. 3 haue not obeyed the words of thy mercifull covenant in respect I o Mal. 1. 14 haue sacrificed to the LORD of hostes who art a great King whose name is terrible a corrupt thing a torne and vnworthie offering Albeit I had a male in my flock in respect I p Ier. 48. 10 haue done thy worke negligently in respect I q Isaiah 5. 20 haue beene wise in myne owne eyes and prudent in myne owne sight in respect I haue fled r Hos 7. 13 away and departed from thee my gratious GOD in respect I haue Å¿ Habb 2. 9 coveted an evill covetousnesse to mine house that I may set my nest on high and in respect I t Galat. 3. 10 haue not continued in all things that are written in the booke of the LORD to doe them Alace O LORD what shall I say to thy Majestie How can 17
Saviour saving me my high o Heb. 10. 21 Preist reconciling me my p Math. 13. 10 Prophet and Master instructing mee my q Iohn 11. 52 Pastor nourishing me that he may bee my wisedome r 1 Cor. 1. 30 righteousnesse sanctification and redemption mine Å¿ Philip 1. 21 advantage in lyfe and death that hee may bee All in all vnto mee Blesse mee with thine holy Spirit to bee t Iohn 14. 26 comforter rememberer my u Rom. 1. 4 sanctifier and directer Grant O LORD that I may labour most earnestly to â—ntertaine that good Spirit most carefully conscâ—entioâ—â—ly and continually Blesse me O LORD with earthlie Pray for temporary benefites benefites also according as thy wisdome shall think necessarie for mee I aske them for thy glory for the good of thy Church for my owne necessitie Let mee not want these giftes without the which I cannot well serve but bee so beneficiall to mee that I may bee rather helpfull and comfortable than chargeable to others But grant O Lord that I maye first y Math. 6. 33 seek the kingdome of Heaven and the righteousnesse thereof and then other thinges needefull shall bee ministred vnto mee O LORD teach mee to z Psal 90. 12 number Pray for the best things my dayes that I may apply my heart to wisedome teach mee to a Ephes 5. 15 redeeme the time which I haue foolishly and miserablie lost giue mee grace to be have my selfe as a b 1 Pet. 2. 11 pilgrime a stranger as a sojourner in this earth abstaining from those filthy lusts that fight against the Soule c Titus 2. 12 denying vngodlinesse Grant that I maye liue soberly quietly and godly d Rom. 12. 1 offering vp soule and body an holie living and acceptable sacrifice to thy Majestie LORD let me not fashion my selfe like vnto this world which will surely and suddainlie perish but grant that I may bee changed by renueing of my mind that I may proue and doe thy holy good-will which is perfite and acceptable that I may walke e Ephes 4. 1 worthy of that heavenly vocation wherevnto I am called O Lord giue mee the gift of perseverance that I maye persevere vnto the end that I may be f Math. 24. 13 saved LORD grant that I may be faithfull g Revel 2. 10 vnto the death that I may get the Crowne of lyfe Let h Psal 19. 14 the words of my mouth and the meditation of mine heart bee acceptabe to thee O LORD my strength and my Redeâ—mer Let my life and death bee pretious in thy fight and receaue me in thy rest that I may inherite eternall glorie and endlesse felicitie with thee in thine Heavenly Kingdome to remaine and reigne with thee for ever and ever So bee it even so bee it A DESCRIPTION OF TRVE PRAYER The seventh Chapter THus after the confession of our sinnes after bitter lamentation for the â—ame and earnest petition let vs come to a plaine description of prayer which may bee in this manner Prayer is a principall part A description of true prayer of GODS service wherein a true Christian leaving the earth in his heart and affections ascending into Heaven in his mind approaching vnto the throne of grace presenting him selfe before the glorious GOD hee conferreth and speaketh familiarly with his CREATOR hee offereth a spirituall sacrifice vnto his Majestie he wrestleth with the Omnipotent he giveth a comfortable victorie hee becommeth the a 1 Cor. 3. 16 Temple of GOD the holy Spirit dwelling in him and obtaineth every b Iam. 1. 17 good gift that is necessarie for him In the forsaid description I say Three reasons wherfore prayer is the principall part of Gods service that Prayer is a principall part of GODS service for three reasons first because vnder the name of invocation all the LORDS worship is comprehended as is written in the booke of Genesis Then c Genes 4. 26 began men to call vpon the name of the LORD that is at that tyme the Church began to The 1. reason bee manifest and to exercise the the LORDS publicke worshippe Againe it is said that in Canaan Abraham d Genes 12. 8 called vpon the name of the LORD that is hee served GOD openly and wholly altogether as the LORD appointed by faith obedience prayer and thankfulnesse Contrariely the heathen rebels reprobats atheists vpon whom GOD e Psal 79.6 will powre out his wrath are thus marked that they f Psal 79.7 haue not called vpon the name of the LORD that is they prayed not vnto GOD. Againe the Prophet complaineth that there g Isaiah 64. 7 is none that calleth vpon the name of the LORD as if hee should say there is none that worshippeth thee rightly so it is most manifest that whosoever doe pray truely hee then serveth his Majestie also who neglecteâ—h this duetie is a rebell to the GOD of glory Secondly by reason that prayer The second reason wherefore prayer is the principall part of Gods service is most honorable to GOD seing the supplicant doth ascribe most justly all his holy and true attribute to his Majestie acknowledging the same in all sinceritie let mee remember six of them briefly namely GODS omnipresence omniscience and his omnipotencie also his rememberance his goodnesse and his fidelitie The petitioner honoureth GOD as present every-where with his The true petitioner honoureth GOD as omnipresent owne in h Psal 91. 15 trouble chiefly and more to bee magnified than all mortall and miserable men for Abraham was not ever present with his beloved wife Sarah when shee was i Genes 12.14 taken to Pharaohs house and when Abimelech k Genes 20. 2 sent and tooke her Neither was Iaakob ever present with his owne sonne Ioseph when he was cast l Genes 37.20 in a pit and and after sold to the Ishmaelites Neither was David ever present with Abner but being out of his sight Ioab m 2 Sam. 3. 2 killed him Neither was St. Paul a teacher ever present with the Galatians for after his departure they o Galat. 1.6 were soone removed away vnto an other Gospell they were seduced and bewitched o Galat. 3. 1 that they did not obey the trueth But this is the glory of our GOD vpon whom wee depend and vnto whom wee pray that he is our husband who will marrie p Hosea 2. 19 vs for ever hee will never be absent from vs but at all occasions in every place present with vs so that wee shall not be defiled by the foule aâ—d q Zach. 13. 2 vncleane spirit and be vnspotted r Iam. 1. 27 in this filthy world That GOD is our Å¿ Math. 23. 9 Father to keepe vs continually that wee perish not in the t Iob 33. 24 pit of sin and damnation that hee is our everlasting King to delyver u Luke 1.