is a way-fare Eccles 40.1 2 3 4 5 6. calamities dangers Great travell is created for every man and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam from the day that they go out of their mothers wombe till the day that they return to the mother of all things Their imagination of things to come and the day of death trouble their thoughts and cause fear of heart From him that sitteth on a throne of glory unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes From him that weareth purple and a crown unto him that is clothed with a linen frock Wrath and envy trouble and unquietnesse fear of death and anger and strife and in the time of rest upon his bed his nights sleep do change his knowledge A little or nothing is his rest and afterwards he is in his sleep as in a day of keeping watch troubled in the vision of his heart as if he were escaped out of a battel Such things happen unto all flesh Eccles 40.8 9.10 both man and beast and that is seven fold more upon sinners Death and bloudshed strife and sword calamities famine tribulation and the scourge These things are created for the wicked and for their sakes came the floud All his wayes are plain unto the holy Eccles 39.24 so are they stumbling-blocks unto the wicked Who is wise Hosea 14.9 and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressours shall fall therein For the good are good things created from the beginning so evil things for sinners And as this our life is a way wherein we are continually walking and travelling as way-faring men unto another Countrey So Our life here is also as a race Our life here is as a race wherein we must he continually running and not to stand still at a stay Know ye not 1 Cor. 9.24 that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize So run that ye may obtain And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things 2 Cor. 9.25 26. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncerteinly so fight I not as one that beateth the air Let us lay aside every weight Hebr. 12.1 2. and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us Looking unto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith Thirdly Our life is a warr-fare This our life is also a warr-fare and in this our fight our weapons are to be spirituall Finally Eph. 6.10 11. my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil For though we walk in the flesh 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5. we do not war after the flesh For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities Ephes 6.12 to 18. against Powers against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World against spiritual wickednesse in high places Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand Stand therefore having your Loins girt about with Truth and having on the Breast-plate of righteousness And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace Above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the wicked And take the helmet of Salvation and the word of the Spirit which is the Word of God Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplications in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints But let us who are of the day 1 Thes 5 8 9 10. be sober putting on the Breast-plate of Faith and Love and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation For God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ who died for us that whether we walk or sleep we should live together with him I have fought a good fight 2 Tim. 4.7 I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day 2 Tim. 4.8 and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing It is observed by one Of Man that there is in Man First Lacrimabilis inceptio He enters into the World crying 2. Brevis dimensio He is here but of short continuance 3. Tristis afflictio Sorrowfull affliction ever attending on him And in all this there is in him 4. Labilis conditio A falling and backsliding condition And in all nothing but vanity Infoelicitat is fabula homo Man is the very fable or story of Infelicity as one well observeth It is observed by one that in the crying of the Child ah this signifies what miserie he takes from Adam And in crying oh what misery he takes from Eve They suck misery and crosses even from their Nurses teats As Tiberius Tiberius of whom it is written that he was a Drunkard because his Nurse was given to that vice And of Caligula Caligula that he was bloudy because his Nurse was so Homo Infoelicitatis exemplum Forturae Lusus Inconstantiae imago Injuriae et calamitatis trutina Man is the very Pattern and example of Infelicity the very sport and pastime of Fortune to play upon and the ballance of Injury and calamity as a Father observeth Quid est homo Seneca morbidum putridum cassum a fletu vitam auspicatum What is man but even a rotten and a corrupt thing good for nothing and beginning of his Life with crying as Seneca observeth Nascitur Augustine et statim plorat qui et ridere poterat futurae Calamitatis propheta Man is born and presently cries who might have laughed being as a Prophet foretelling of his future calamity as St. Augustine observeth A Father describing the misery of Man saith as followeth Cujus conceptio culpa Nasci poena labor vita et necesse mori Whose Conception is faulty his Birth a punishment his Life a labour and a Necessity in him to die Affliction commeth not forth of the Dust Iob 5.6 7. neither doth trouble spring out of the Ground Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upwards Nemo tam dives Habuit faventes Crastinum ut possit Sibi polliceri Seneca Seneca No man can
election unto salvation working in us for our greater comfort 70 71 72 73. As also wherein our chiefest cause of rejoycing should consist being in this because our names are written in heaven 72 73. CHAP. IIII. Of prayer and the force thereof and how necessary and needfull a duty the same is Fol. 64. Herein is set forth and shewed the ten properties of Prayer 74 75 76 77 78. How that Prayer is the key that opens the Scripture unto us and enlightens our understandings therein with some directions to be observed in reading of the Scriptures 75 76. Here is also set forth six necessary observations touching prayer and the use thereof 78 79 80 81 82. As also the necessity of prayer and that in four regards occasioned by our enemies the Devil the world the flesh and the wicked 78 79. Here is also shewed that we must pray in all places at all times and that without ceasing for all persons even for our enemies 79 80. Also we must pray to God alone with examples of this so doing 81 82. Also that we must pray with knowledge and with understanding 82 83. As also touching publick or Church-prayers shewing how needfull they are and in what respects and for whom we are there to pray even for all persons of what estate and condition soever they be of 83. Here also is the prayer set down which the ancient Christians used to make for their Emperours 83 84. That prayer is like unto Jacobs Ladder reaching up to heaven whereby we fly a high pitch and do thereby as it were mount up to heaven as it were with the wings of the dove 84 85. That by the wings of the dove is meant Meditation and Prayer 85. Here also is set down for our imitation the Prayer of St. Augustin and of St. Bernard 85. That our prayers ascend up to heaven and grace and mercy descend down upon us 85. Three sorts of Prayers observed by S. Bernard that do never ascend up unto heaven 85 86. That he which prayes to God and presently offends again doth not pray as he ought to do unto God but doth as it were mock and delude him 86. That watching and prayer ought to go hand in hand together with the Emperour his Pages memento unto him every morning putting him in mind to be watchfull 86 87. That all our worth and worthinesse is onely from God and grace to us nothing of or from our selves 87. The great benefit of constant and frequent prayer and that in three regards 87 88. Of the powerfulnesse of prayer prevailing with God himself and that in three regards 88 89 90. No better deliverance in time of distresse than by prayer unto God 88 89. That God caused a house to be made for the performance of the duty and service of prayer unto himself styling the same by the name of the house of prayer 89 90. That the house of prayer and prayers therein used with private prayer also the best means to remove Gods Judgments from us 90. Of the great and powerfull effect of prayer prevailing with God himself with divers examples thereof by way of instance what hath been wrought and effected by divers of the true and faithfull servants of God and all by prayer 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102. That prayer is as a strong City of refuge for us thereby to fly unto God in our greatest need 103. In prayer we ought to be carefull what we ask and how lest we fail in obtaining of our desires as the mother of Zebedeus children did 103. That in regard we are continually in danger we are therefore continually to pray unto God for deliverance from all dangers and herein we are to observe S. Bernards rules as touching the use of prayer the same being ever to accompany us going forth and returning lying down and rising again and for all Gods blessings on us to shew our thankfulnesse to him in prayer 103 104. Together with a threefold rule to be observed by us in our prayers to God 104 105. That we are to pray with humblenesse of mind for that God resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble 104 105. That we must pray with zeal and fervency for that the prayer of the spirit and soul is the spirit soul and life of prayer 105. That we are to pray to God to teach us to pray 105 106. CHAP. V. As touching afflictions how necessary they are for us here in this life and what good use we are to make of them to our selves 107 108. Of the true use of afflictions and wherefore God layeth afflictions on us in this world together with four speciall causes wherefore God layeth afflictions here upon us all of them tending to our good 108 109. That through tribulation we are to enter into the kingdome of God and that afflictions are inseparable but not infallible notes of salvation 110. That it is the cause not martyrdome which maketh men happy 110. That the depth of Affliction is the chiefest stirrer up of devotion witnessed by some examples by way of instance as of the children of Israel David Daniel Jonah Manasseh the three children 110. That a temporall affliction is a spirituall medicine 111. That none can passe from pleasures here to everlasting delights in heaven 111. That good things are for good men and ill things for ill men though the things not good yet turn to the good of the godly 111. That afflictions make a man more humble wary and cautious in his wayes and they prove helpfull to the godly yea all things turn to their good 111. 112. That afflictions do make us fit vessels for Gods choice 112 113 How that by afflictions men will learn to fear God 114. That afflictions are chastisements for our sins 114. That by afflictions men are brought to keep Gods commandements which they would not be brought unto by Gods benefits 114. Not to strive with our maker the potsherd with the potsherds of the earth nor the clay with him that fashioneth it 114. Not to be impatient and murmure against God in time of adversity 114 115. That in time of troubles and dangers prayer is the best refuge 115. How that God comforteth his afflicted children with his blessings 115. How that after trouble God sendeth comfort to them that wait patiently on him and trust in his mercies 115. That afflictions work in a man repentance and humiliation 115. That afflictions stirr up a man to repentance and will open the eyes of a mans understanding and will draw him to repentance when nothing else will 115 116. CHAP. VI. A Meditation upon life and death and how we are at all times and upon all occasions to fit and prepare our selves for death that so it seize not upon us at unawares 117. Herein is set forth First the condition of our life here what the same is 117. That our life here is a sea-fare 117 118. Secondly that
brotherly kindnesse charity For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see farr off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins If we feel these heavenly and divine vertues and graces thus working in us we may then from hence draw unto our selves for our souls comfort a full assurance of our election by God in and through Christ Iesus our blessed Lord and Saviour unto salvation and that our names are recorded written and registred in heaven in the book of life wherein we are onely to rejoyce And the seventy returned again Luke 10.17 18 19 20. with joy saying Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name And he said unto them Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the powers of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you Notwithstanding in this rejoyce not that the spirits are subject unto you but rather rejoyce in this because your names are written in heaven Be it known unto you therefore Acts 13.38 39. men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sin And by him all that be here are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses CHAP. IIII. Of Prayer and the force thereof and how necessary and needfull a duty the same is FIrst Oratio est clavis diei that is Prayer is the key that opens the day unto us to put us in mind of Gods protecting of us the night past and of our thankfulnesse to be rendred unto him for the same with commending of our souls and bodies to his protection for the day present Secondly Oratio est sera noctis Prayer ought to shut up the day it is the key that lets in the night unto us with our praise to God for our dayes preservation with a recommendation of our souls and bodies unto his powerfull protection for the night ensueing Hereupon it is said by one With morning prayer the day begin With evening prayer the night shut in Without this prayer sit not to eat Without Gods praise rise not from meat Thirdly Oratio est vinculum invincibile ut S. Bernard S. Bernard Prayer is a bond invincible availing very much if it be fervent The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much James 5.16 17 18. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three yeares and six moneths And he prayed again 1 Kin. 17.17 and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing Matt. 21.22 ye shall receive Fourthly Oratio est vis Deo grata ut S. Chrysostom Prayer is such a force S. Chrysostom or earnest vehemency as that the same is very acceptable and well-pleasing unto God Fifthly Oratio est clavis Scripturae Origen Origen Prayer is the key that opens the Scripture unto us and enlightens our understandings therein Hereupon in reading of the Scriptures this rule directory is prescribed unto us Read not this Book in any case But with a single eye Read not but first desire Gods grace To understand thereby Sixthly Oratio est Deo sacrificium Augustin St. Augustin Prayer is a sacrifice well-pleasing unto God By him therefore Hebrews 13.15 let us offer the sactifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name Seventhly Oratio est Diabolo flagellum S. Augustin St. Augustin Prayer is a whip or scourge unto the Devil to drive him away from us And when he was come into the house Mark 9.28 29. his disciples asked him privately Why could not we cast him out And he said unto them This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting Eighthly Oratio est orauti subsidium St. Augustin S. Augustin Prayer is great help and succour unto him which doth pray in time of misery and affliction and at all times whatsoever I sought the Lord Psal 34.4 6. and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles I cried unto the Lord Psal 3.4 with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill I will call upon the Lord Psal 18.3 6. who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from mine enemies In my distresse I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God he heard my voice out of his temple and my cry came before him even into his eares Call upon me in the time of trouble I will deliver thee Psal 50.15 and thou shalt glorifie me The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him Psal 145.18 19. to all that call upon him in truth He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them In my distresse Psal 120.1 I cried unto the Lord and he heard me O thou that hearest prayer Psal 65.2 unto thee shall all flesh come Ninthly Oratio est armatura inexpugnabilis Prayer is an armour of proof not to be withstood invincible as one observeth It is a principall piece of our spirituall armour Praying alwayes with all prayer Ephes 6.18 and supplications in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Tenthly Orationes sunt tormenta Christianorum ut Pater Prayers and supplications are the gunns of Christians as it were to shoot up their prayers unto heaven Give me those groanes St. Chrysostom and sighes quae non sunt ostentationis sed compunctiouis which proceed not from vain ostentation and boasting but from the compunction or pricking of the conscience St. Chrysostom As touching Prayer Observations touching prayer and the use thereof these observations do arise as namely First The great necessity of Prayer The necessity of Prayer in these regards following First Satan seeks to destroy and devour us and therefore we ought to pray for deliverance Be sober 1 Pet. 5.8 9. be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Whom resist stedfast in the faith Resist the devil James 4.7 8. and he will flee from you Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh to you Secondly the world will allure us and therefore we are to pray for assistance Thirdly the flesh will betray us and therefore we are to pray for defence Fourthly the wicked will seduce us and therefore we are to to pray for continuance My son if sinners entice thee Prov. 1.10 11 14 15
grace and Mercy doth descend down upon us as St. Augustine well observeth But there are some Prayers which do not ascend up to Heaven as St. Bernard observeth as namely Oratio timida S. Bernard A fearfull Prayer 2. Oratio tepida A dull and heavy Prayer 3. Oratio temeraria A rash and hasty Prayer These 3 kinds of Prayers as St. Bernard observeth do never ascend up to Heaven Qui orat S. Chrysostom et peccat non orat ad Deum sed deludit as St. Chrysostome observeth He which doth pray unto God and then presently offends again doth not pray unto God as he ought to do but doth even mock and delude him Watch and pray Mat. 26.41 that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Hereupon it is written of an Emperor that had his Page Watch and pray that every morning came unto him using to him these few words namely Vigilasti Emperator vigila O Emperor hast thou been watchfull and carefull of thy self if so it is well Mat. 24.42 be watchfull still Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come Watch therefore Mat 25.13 for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man commeth Take ye heed watch and pray Mark 13.33 35 37. for ye know not when the time is Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the Master of the House commeth at even or at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or in the morning Lest comming suddenly he find you sleeping And what I say unto you I say unto all watch Watch and pray ut dignaremini that ye may be found so doing and accounted worchy whereupon saith St. Bernard Dignitas uostra domine et dignitio tua S. Bernard O Lord all our worth and worthiness is only thine and from thee and thy grace to us proceeding and which we have received from thee alone nothing of or from our selves For of his fullness have all we received and grace for grace Io. 1.16 For it pleased the Father Collos 1.19 that in him should all fulness dwell It is well observed by one That the constant daily The benefit of constant and frehuent Prayer and frequent use of Prayer both private and publick is of extraordinary great benefit and comfort unto the parties praying if we do take into our serio consideration these ensuing particulars As namely 1. How needfull and helpfull to all Prayer is and of how dangerous consequence the neglect thereof is 2. How precious a duty and service Prayer is being pleasing and acceptable unto God 3. How powerfull Prayer is in the prevailing even with God himself 1. No better deliverance in time of distress than by Prayer unto God The Lord is my strength and my shield Ps 28.7 my heart trusted in him and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth and with my Song will I praise him The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed Psalm 9.9 a refuge in time of trouble Blessed be God that hath not turned away my Prayer Ps 66.20 nor his mercy from me But as for me my Prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time Ps 69.13 16 17. O God in the multitude of thy mercy hear me in the truth of thy salvation Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindness is good turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies And hide not thy face from thy Servant for I am in trouble hear me speedily One observeth this of Prayer Aeque pauperibus prodest locupletibus aeque Aeque neglectum pueris senibusque nocebit It gaineth good to poor and rich If use thereof be free And hurteth youth as well as age Neglected if it be 2. God caused a House to be made for the performing of this duty and service of Prayer unto himself and styled the same by the name of the House of Prayer Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain Isaiah 56.7 and make them joyfull in my House of Prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine House shall be called an House of Prayer for all People And Iesus said unto them Mat. 21.13 It is written My House shall be called the House of Prayer but ye have made it a Den of Theeves And he taught saying unto them Mar. 11.17 It is written My House shall be called of all Nations the House of Prayer Saying to them Luke 11 46. it is written My House is the House of Prayer 3. The House of Prayer and Prayer used therein together with private Prayer also is the best means to move and cause God to turn away and remove his judgements from us Ask and ye shall receive That is as one observeth Ask by Prayer and ye shall receive And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in Prayer Mat. 21.22 believing ye shall receive Therefore I say unto you Mark 11.24 What things soever ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Thus we may behold The powerfulness of Prayer and see the powerfull effect of Prayer the same prevailing even with God himself By Prayer Daniel was preserved in the Lions Den. Then said Daniel unto the King Den. 6.21 22. O King live for ever My God hath sent his Angel and hath shut the Lions mouths that they have not hurt me forasmuch as before him Innocency was found in me and also before Thee O King I have done no hurt By Prayer Jonah was delivered in the Whales belly Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the Fishes belly Jonah 2.1 2 7 9 10. And said I cryed by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord and he heard me out of the Belly of Hell cryed I and thou heardest my voice Jonahs Prayer when my Soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my Prayer came unto thee into thy holy Temple I will sacrifise unto thee with the voice of Thanksgiving I will pay that that I have vowed Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spoke unto the Fish and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry Land By Prayer Peter in the Prison and bound with Chains was by an Angel deliver'd from the cruel hands of King Herod Peter therefore was kept in Prison Acts 12.5 6 7 8 9. but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him And when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two Souldiers bound with 2 chains the keeper before the door kept the Prison And behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying unto him Arise up quickly and his Chains fell from his hands And the Angel said to him Gird up thy self
uncircumcised Jeremiah chap. 6. ver 10. and they cannot hearken It is well observed by one That First It is God and he alone that fitteth and prepareth the eares of all to hear aright his word preached unto them He openeth the eares of men Job chap. 33. ver 16. and sealeth their instructions Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire Psalm 40. ver 6. mine eares hast thou opened Secondly It is God and he alone that openeth the heart as he did the heart of Lydia and doth as it were dig delve and prepare the same to receive the word preached as seed sown in good ground that so it may take deep root downwards and bring forth good fruit upwards for the amendment of our lives and salvation of our souls And a certain woman named Lydia Acts chap. 16. ver 14. a seller of purple of the City of Thyatyra which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul But that Luke chap 8. ver 15. on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Thirdly It is God and he alone that doth blesse our memories with a retentive faculty to keep and retain the word which we hear preached unto us Fourthly It is God and he alone that enlightens and illuminates our understandings and sanctifieth our affections by the powerfull operation of his holy Spirit in us thereby enabling us to put in practice in our lives and conversations that which we have heard preached unto us And all this thus wrought in us for the comfort and salvation of our soules in and through Christ Jesus our blessed Lord and Saviour We must likewise take heed what we hear and how we hear Thirdly The powerfulnesse of Gods word and the benefits we have thereby We are both in our reading and hearing of the word of God and in our meditations thereon to take into our serious consideration the powerfulnesse of the word of God and the great and unspeakable benefits we receive thereby divers wayes manifested unto us by these ensueing places of Scripture In sacra scriptura quicquid docetur Hugo libro 3. de anima veritas quicquid praecipitur bonitas quicquid promittitnr faelicitas est Nam Deus veritas est sine fallacia bonitas sine malitia faelicitas sine miseria ut Hugo libro 3. de anima In the holy Scripture Hugo whatsoever is taught is truth whatsoever is commanded is goodnesse and whatsoever is promised is happinesse For God is truth without falshood goodnesse without malice and happinesse without misery as Hugo well observeth in his third book of the soul Sacra Scriptura S. Gregory in moral tanto plus diligitur quanto amplius meditatur ut inquit St. Gregory in moral The holy Scripture is so much the more loved of us by how much the more we do meditate therein S. Gregory as St. Gregory observeth Doctrina scripturae perfecta est Piscator fol. 22. cap. 14. omnia scilicet tradens qua ad verum Dei cultum ad aeternam nostram salutem sunt necessaria ut Piscator fol. 22. cap. 14. The doctrine of the scripture is perfect Piscator that is to say shewing unto us all things necessary both to the due worship of God and our own eternall salvation Finis seu scopus Dei in scriptura Piscator fol. 22. cap. 13. est crudire populum suum de recto cultu sui vera hominis faelicitate perfecta est tradens omnia quae sunt ad istum scopum assequendū necessaria ut Piscat fol. 22. cap. 13. The end and purpose of God in the scriptures is to instruct his people and children in the true Piscator and right worship of him as also in the happinesse of man and the same is likewise perfect teaching us all things which are necessary to the attaining unto of that end Doctrina scripturae certo vera est Piscator quippe ab instinctu Spiritus sancti profectus erroneum igitur necesse est quicquid cum eo pugnat ut Piscator fol. 22. cap. 18. The doctrine of the Scripture is certainly true because it proceedeth from the instinct and inspiration of the holy Spirit of God and therefore it falleth out that whatsoever is repugnant thereunto must needs be erroneous A good encouragement for all to read the scriptures An excouragement to read the Scriptures In scripturis abundat quod robustus comedat quod parvulus sugat In the scriptures there is such abundance Fulgentius as that strong men may there find meat to eat and the weak young suckling may there also find fitting food for him to suck on as Fulgentius observeth Divinus sermo sicut mysteriis prudentes exercet sic plerunque superficie simplices refovet Habet in publice unde parvulos nutriat servat in secreto Gregory Epist ad Leande unde mentes sublimium admiratione suspendat ut Gregory Epist ad Leandr The word of God as in mysteries doth exercise the wise so in a superficiall way of knowledge it doth comfort and refresh the weak and simple It hath in common whereby it may nourish the young ones and it keeps in secret that whereby it may hold in suspence with admiration the mindes of the sublimate and learned as Gregory observeth in his epistle to Leander And again as the same Authour observeth Gregory Epist ad Leande It is a deep and yet a shallow foord Ubi agnus ambulat ubi clephas natat where the Lambe may wade and where the greatest Elephant may swimme Or where the weakest in knowledge and understanding may find much comfort and where the greatest and most profound scholar may find matter enough to work upon For since I spake Jeremiah cha 20. ver 8.9 I cried out I cried violence and spoil because the word of the Lord was made a reproch unto me and a derision daily Then I said I will not make mention of him any more nor speak any more in his name But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay Is not my word like as fire Jeremiah cha 23. ver 29. saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word Hear the word of the Lord Isaiah cha 66. ver 2.5 ye that tremble at his word My word shall not return unto me void Isaiah cha 55. ver 11. but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it The word of God called a sword Revelation chap. 19. ver 21. which sword proceeded out of his
mouth The word of God is quick and powerfull Hebrews chap. 4. ver 52. and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloud Revelation chap. 19. ver 13. and his name is called the word of God As for me Isaiah cha 29. ver 21. this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Blessed are they that hear the word of God Luke chap. 11. ver 28. and keep it Receive with meeknesse James chap. 1. ver 21. the engrafted word of God which is able to save your souls Keep therefore Deuteronomy chap. 29. ver 9. the words of this covenant and do them that so ye may prosper in all that ye do As new born babes 1 Peter chap. 2. ver 2. desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Verily John chap. 5. ver 24. verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The word of God The word of God the word of Reconciliation 2 Corinthians chap. 5. ver 18.19 called the word of Reconciliation And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation The word of God called the word of truth The word of God the word of Truth Ephesians cha 1. ver 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise The word of God called the word of life The word of God the word of life Philippians chap. 2. ver 16. Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain The word called the word of Christ The word called the word of Christ Collossians chap. 3. ver 16. The word called the faithfull word of God Titus chap. 1. ver 9. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome The word called the faithfull word of God Holding fast the faithfull word of God as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers Thy word have I hid in my heart Psal 119. ver 11. and 42. that I might not sin against thee So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reprocheth me for I trust in thy word So then faith cometh by hearing Romans ch 10. ver 17. and hearing by the word of God Fourthly In our reading and hearing of the word of God and in our meditations thereon the due consideration of all this ought to stirre up in us a love unto the same and a rejoycing therein as by these ensuing places of Scripture may appear I rejoyce at thy word Psal 119. ver 162. Jeremiah cha 15. ver 16. as one that findeth great spoil Thy words were sound and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart for I am called by thy name O Lord God of hosts Lord Psal 26. ver 8. I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth I was glad when they said unto me Psal 122. ver 1. Let us go into the house of the Lord. For a day in thy Courts is better than a thousand Psalm 84. ver 10. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickednesse O how I love thy law Psalm 119. ver 97.127 it is my meditation all the day Therefore I love thy commandements above gold yea above fine gold I delight to do thy will Psal 40. ver 8. O my God yea thy law is within my heart Fifthly These precedent observations being thus made use of by us the word of God which we have thus read heard and meditated on will then doubtlesse be a constant and a perpetuall comfort unto us at all times both in life and death Be thou faithfull unto death Revelation chap. 2. ver 10. and I will give thee a crown of life CHAP. II. Of the severall Books mentioned in the Scriptures THine eyes did see my substance Psal 139. ver 16. yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them Then they that feared the Lord Malachie chap. 3. ver 16 17 18. spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name And they shall be mine The difference between the wicked and the righteous in the day of Judgment saith the Lord of hosts when I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Thou tellest my wandrings Psal 56. ver 8. put thou my teares into thy bottle are they not in thy book And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book Isaiah cha 29. ver 18. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read Isaiah cha 34. ver 16. And at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince Daniel cha 12. ver 1. which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation even to that same time and at that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Daniel cha 12. ver 2 3. some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt And they that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever A fiery stream issued Daniel cha 7. ver 10. and came forth from before him thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the Iudgement was
be saved And they said Acts. 16.41 Believe on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Rom. 1.16 17 18. for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth For therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written The just shall live by faith But the just shall live by his faith Habakkuk 2.4 Hebrews 10.38 Gal. 3.11 Now the just shall live by faith But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God it is evident for the just shall live by faith But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin Gal. 3 22 23. that the promise by faith of Christ Iesus might be given to them that believe But before faith came we were kept under the law shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed By the deeds of the law Rom. 3.20 21 22. there shall no flesh be justified in his fight for by the Law is the knowledge of sin But now the righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested by the Law and the prophets Even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Iesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe For all have sinned Rom. 3.23 24 25 26. and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God That he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus To him that worketh nor Rom. 4.5 but beliveth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Being justified by faith Rom. 5.1 2. we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ By whom also we have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Rem 8.1 2. Who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the lâ—w of sin and death For Christ is the end of the law Rom. 10.4 for righteousness to every one that believeth The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart Rom. 10.8 9 10 11. that is the Word of Faith which we preach That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth Confession is made unto salvation For the Scripture saith Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Whatsoever is not of Faith Rom. 14.23 is sin And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 9.33 It pleased God 1 Cor. 1.21 by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe For we walk by faith 2 Cor. 5.7 not by sight I live yet not I Gal. 2.20 but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me They which be of faith are blessed Gal. 3.9 26. with faithfull Abraham For ye are all the Children of God by faith in Christ Iesus In whom also Ephes 1.13 14. after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our Inheritance For by Grace are ye saved through Faith Ephes 2.8 and not of your selves it is the gift of God For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again 1 Thess 4.14 even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Above all things take the shield of Faith Wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the wicked Ephes 1.16 17. Watch ye 1 Cor. 16.13 stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong And to whom swore he Heb. 3.18 19 that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief Let us draw near with a true heart Heb. 10.22.23 in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure water Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithfull that promised Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 the evidence of things not seen But without Faith it is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 for he that commeth to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him The whole Chapter being special instances of Faith Of the great Power of faith in the true Servants of God who shewed the powerfullnesse of Faith in general and of their Faith in particular Looking unto Jesus Heb. 12.2 the Author and finisher of our Faith Receiving the end of your Faith 1 Pet. 1.9 20. even the salvation of your Souls Who by him do believe in God that raised him from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Be thou faithfull unto the death Rev. 2.10 and I will give thee the Crown of life Hence is the patience of the Saints Rev. 14.12 here are they that keep that Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Seventhly Again Christus in veteri Testamaento est velatus Sed in novo Testamento Christus est nobis revelatus Christ in the Old Testament was hid and covered as it were under a veil and was only shadowed out unto us But in the New Testament Christ is there manisestly revealed unto us and the veil of the old Testament by him taken away 2 Cor. 3.13 14 15. And not as Moses which put a veil over his face that the Children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished But their minds were blinded for untill this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old Testament which veil is done away in Christ But even to this day when Moses is read the veil is upon their hearts Nevertheless where they shall turn to the Lord the veil shall be taken away And without controversie 1 Tim. 3.16 great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world and received up into glory In the beginning was the Word Iohn 1.1 2 14. and the Word was with God And the same was in the beginning with God 1 Iohn
16. consent thou not If they say come with us let us lay wait for bloud let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause Cast in thy lot among us let us all have one purse My son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path For their feet run to evil and make hast to shed bloud Secondly We must pray in all places I will therefore 1 Tim. 2.8 that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Thirdly We must pray at all times Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord Zechar. 8.21 and to seek the Lord of hosts O Lord God of my salvation I have cried day and night before thee Let my prayer come before thee Psal 88.1 2. encline thine ear unto my cry Unto thee have I cried Psal 88.13 O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Evening Psalm 55.17 and morning and at noon will I pray And it came to passe Luke 6.12 in those dayes that he went out into a mountain to pray and be continued all night in prayer to God And he spake a parable unto them Luke 18.1 to this end that men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint Every day will I blesse thee Psalm 145.2 and I will praise thy name for ever and ever Pray without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 But the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet. 4.7 be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer Night and day 1 Thess 3.10 praying exceedingly Continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12.12 Foutthly We must pray for all persons yea even for our enemies Confesse your faults one to another James 5.16 and pray one for another that ye may be healed Love your enemies Luke 6.27 28. do good to them that hate you Bless them that curse you and pray for them that despitefully use you Then said Iesus Luke 23 34. Father forgive them for they know not what they do And they stoned Stephen Acts 7.59 60. calling upon God and saying Lord Iesus receive my spirit And he kneeled down and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge 5ly We must pray to God alone Is any among you afflicted Ja. 5.13 let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalmes Now when Daniel knew Dan. 6.10 that the writing was signed he went into his House and his windows being open in his Chamber toward Ierusalem he kneeled down upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did afore time As for me I will call upon God Psal 55.16 and the Lord shall save me There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius a devout man Acts 10.1 2. which gave much Alms to the people and prayed to God alway And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by Prayer and Supplications Dan. 9 3 4. with fasting and sackcloth and ashes And I prayed unto the Lord my God Daniels Prayer and made my Confession and said O Lord the great dreadfull God keeping the Covenant and mercy to them that love him and to them that keep his Commandements Be carefull for nothing Philip. 4.6 but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised 2 Sam. 22.4 7. so shall I be saved from mine enemies In my distress I called unto the Lord Davids Prayer and cryed to my God and he did hear my voice out of his Temple and my cry did enter into his ears But when thou prayest enter into thy Closet Mat. 6.6 and when thou hast shut thy Door pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly 6ly We must pray with knowledge and with understanding S. Augustin Sonus mentis est intellectus ut Augustin The sound of the mind is understanding S. Augustin and no true prayer can there be without understanding Again publike or Church prayers Publick and Church Prayers are requisite and needfull to shew that that there is and ought to be unanimity and conformity in the Primitive Church And here we are not only to pray for our selves but for all others also of what estate or Conditiou soever they be of I exhort therefore 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men. For Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all honesty and godliness For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour And this was the use of the antient Christians Tertullian who as Tertulllian well observeth did pray for all their Emperors that they might have and quietly enjoy Vitam prolixam imperium securum The Prayer of the antient Christians for their Emperors domum tutam exercitus fortes senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum et quaecunque hominis et Caesaris vota sunt That they might have and quietly enjoy A happy Life a secure Empire a safe House and habitation strong and forcible Armies a faithfull Senate honest and true-hearted People a quiet World and whatsoever else either Prince or People can any waies wish or desire That offerings be made to the most high God Esdras 6.3 for the King and for his Children and that they may pray for their lives Prayer Prayer compared to Iacobs Ladder as one observeth is like unto Jacobs Ladder which appeared to him in a Dream reaching up to Heaven and which he seemed to see and behold and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending down by it And he dreamed Gen. 28.12 and behold a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached to Heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending on it Even so by Prayer we fly a high pitch we soare aloft we do thereby as it were mount up flye and ascend to Heaven And I said Ps 35.6 O that I had wings like a Dove for then would I flye away and be at rest Meditatio et Oratio S. Bernard sunt ale Columbae as St. Bernard observeth Meditation and prayer are the Wings of the Dove and by these Wings of the Dove is meant Meditation and Prayer as St. Bernard well observeth St. Angustines Prayer to God was S. Augustines Prayer That of all judgements and plagues he would ever free him from a stony-heart or from a benummed or seared Conscience St. Bernard Prayer was this S. Bernards Prayer Bone Jesu esto mihi Jesus O sweet Iesus be thou unto me and to my Soul a Iesus a Saviour Oratio ascendit S. August Gratia descendit Our Prayers do ascend up to Heaven and
quo non Statuas mori It is a very ill thing for any one to live in that state manner and condition of life in the which he would be afraid so to die Male vivit qui semper vivere incipit He liveth very ill that is alwaies but beginning to live well as one observeth A good life is alwaies the cause of a comfortable and of a happy Death While we live here we must not only see and behold Death but we must foresee it and duly prepare for it before it comes One compares Death unto the Basilisk The which Serpent if it see an other before the same be seen there is then much danger to the Party first seen by the Serpent but if a man doth first see and descrie the Basilisk then the Serpent presently dyeth and so no fear of danger Even so If Death be not seen and provided for before hand there is then great danger but if seen before hand and so provided for the danger is then past before death commeth Hereupon a Father well saith Qui non vult in vita praevidere mortem non potest in morte videre vitam He that in Life doth not foresee Death Prosper and S. Augustinr cannot in Death behold and enjoy everlasting Life Tota vita infidelium peccatum est et nihil bouum est absq summo bono ut Pater That is The whole lise of the Wicked is nothing but sin and there is nothing good in us unless we have it from him as Prosper and Augustine do both of them observe Whereupon saith St. Augustine S. Augustin Hic urat hic secat ut in posterum servat Et Domine Domine hic quicquid vis ut in aeternum parcas Burn me cut me flash me or lay here on me what tormenâ—s you will So as thou wilt heal me and cure me of all maladies hereafter and reserve for me everlasting life after this life ended Of the life of Man Of the life of Man and whereunto compared and whereunto the same is compared in regard of the frailty incertainty brevity misery and calamity attending even on the same And Jacob said unto Pharaoh Gen. 49.7 Few and evill have the daies of the years of my life been O remember that my life is wind Iob 7.7 Man that is born of a Woman Iob 14.1 2. is of few daies and full of Trouble He commeth forth like a flower and is cut down he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not My daies are swifter than a Weavers shuttle Iob 7.6 and are spent without hope Now my daies are swifter than a Post Iob 9.25 26. they flee away they see no good They are passed away as the swift Ships as the Eagle that hasteth unto the prey For we are but of yesterday Iob 8.9 and know nothing because our daies upon Earth are a shadow When a few years are come Iob 16.22 then I shall go the way whence I shall not return For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night Thou carriest them away as with a flood Ps 90.4 5 9 10 12. they are as a sleep in the morning they are like grass which groweth up In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth For all our daies are passed away in thy wrath we spend our years as a Tale that is told The daies of our years are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we flye away So teach us to number our daies that we may apply our hearts unto wisdome For my daies are consumed like smoak Ps 102.3 4 11. and my bones are burnt as an hearth My heart is smitten and withered like grass My daies are like a shadow that declyneth Ps 103.14 15 16. I am whithered like grass For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust As for Man his daies are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more Lord what is Man Ps 144.3 4. that thou takest knowledge of him or the Son of Man that thou makest account of him Man is like to vanity his daies are as as a shadow that passeth away The voyce said cry And I said Isaiah 40.6 7 8. What shall I cry All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field The grass whithereth the flower fadeth because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it Surely the People is Grass The grass whithereth the flower fadeth But the Word of our God shall shall stand for ever Let the Brother of low Degree Ia. 1.9 10 11. rejoyce in that he is exalted But the Rich in that he is made low because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away For the Sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat but it withereth the grass and the flower therof falleth and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth So also shall the rich man fade away in his waies Go to now Ia. 4.13 14. ye that say To day or to morrow we will go into such a City and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow for what is your life it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away For that ye ought to say Ia. 4.15 If the Lord will we shall live and do this or that Being born again 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. not of corruptible food but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of Man as the flower of the grass the grass withereth and the slower thereof falleth away But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever No man is sure of his life Iob 24.22 What Man is he that desireth life Ps 34.12 13 14. and loveth many daies that he may see good Keep thy Tongue from evill and thy Lips from speaking guile Depart from evill and do good seek peace and pursue it How excellent is thy loving kindness O God Ps 36.7 9. therefore the Children of Men put their Trust under the shadow of thy Wings For with Thee is the Fountain of Life and in this Light shall we see light Come and see the works of God Ps 66.5 9. he is terrible in his doings towards the Sons of men Which holdeth our Soul in life and suffereth not our feet to be moved By all this the frailty mutability and incertainty of the life of Man here in this World doth evidently appear unto us and that by reason of the miseries and calamities attending of the