seuered or separated from the other but that there will be a want found of the benefite which should be receiued thereby Meditation is a preparatiue to praier Praier the end of meditation If thou wouldest pray effectually thou must begin with meditation if thou wouldest meditate profitably and fruitfully thou must end with praier Vse both these duty as thou shalt haue occasion as if thy heart be wel ordered and rightly affected as it ought thou canst seldome or neuer want it and withall pray vnto God for a blessing vpon them and doubt not but that thou shalt finde much sweetnes and comfort in them and reape no small benefite by them MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS I will meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies Psalm 119.15 Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God Psalm 143.10 If I regard wickednes in mine heart the Lord will not heare me Psal 66.18 The Lord is neere vnto all that call vpon him euen to all that call vpon him in truth Psal 145.18 Enemies to deuotion first sinfull lusts HE that hath an aguish fitte vpon him can taste nothing well but all things euen the most sweete and wholesome meats are vnsauorie to him he can find no relish in them So it is with the man whose soule is disteÌ„pered through sinne He findes no sweetnes no sauour in the things of God yea his soule doth loath and abhorre them though they be sweeter then Manna it selfe O Lord keepe me from this spiritual distemperature which of all others is most dangerous and grant that I may alwaies delight in those things which are pleasing vnto thee yea that I may finde much sweetnes in them euen in meditation praier and all other holy exercises which thou hast prescribed in thy word that so my soule may liue for euer 2 Worldly Cares THe cares of this world and the desire of these earthly vanities oh what snares they are to the soule and to the spirit of a man How many are taken in them and so brought into a kinde of thraldome bondage What incumbrances are they vnto them in the performance of good actions How doe they coole yea quench the holy motions the godly desires and purposes of the heart and hinder it from diuine and heauenly meditations which otherwise it would relish farre better and finde much more sweetnes and delight therein then now it doth O my God preserue thou mee both now and alwaies from the inordinate and immoderate cares of this euill world and from the excessiue and vnlawfull desire and affection of all vaine and transitorie things Let me not be insnared and intangled with them as others are Let them not be any let or hindrance vnto my soule to withdraw it from the more serious meditation of spirituall and heauenly things or in any sort to coole my affection towards them or to cause me to take the lesse pleasure and delight in them or to be the more vnfit to be conuersant about them Let them not so oppresse my minde that I should finde lesse libertie and freedome of spirit in good things or become more vnapt for the performance of any dutie of thy worship and seruice any holy or religious exercise which thou requirest of me but grant I beseech thee that seeing how deceitfull this world is how vaine all things here below are I may daily be more and more weaned from the loue and desire of them yea may haue thy loue so shed into my heart that all my delight may be in thee all my affections set vpon thee in such sort that all carnall and earthly things which would withdraw me from thee and from the loue of spirituall and heauenly things may be bitter and vnpleasant vnto me and that I may serue thee with more chearefulnes and alacritie all my daies to thy glorie and to the increase of my happines in thy kingdome 3 Sathans suggestions THat euil and enuious spirit the enemie of al mankinde neuer resteth but seeketh vncessantly to cast ill motions and suggestions into the hearts of men and to draw away their minds from euery good thing which they enterprise and take in hand He vseth all meanes to make them faint in the seruice of God to coole their zeale to quench their spirituall deuotion to hinder them in the performance of all good duties and religious exercises which might make for the increase of grace in them and to cause them if it be possible to fall from that purpose of heart and godly resolution which heretofore they haue had to continue in the Lord and to walke in the waies which he hath commanded yea no sooner shall the good spirit inspire into them any good motions any holy desires but that wicked and envious one standing readie at hand will labour presentlie to strangle them so that they shal neuer come to any effect but vanish away and leaue the hearte more heardened and lesse capable of goodnes and of any spirituall and heauenly grace then euer it was before Oh how closely and how slily doth he insinuate himselfe into the minds of men and deceiue and delude them in this maner when they think little he is so neare them or so busie in working them so great a mischiefe euen that which if it be not carefully preuented in time wil be their vtter ruine in the end O Lord let me neuer giue eare vnto the deceitfull inchantments and to the enticing dangerous charmes of that subtile and wilie serpent who is alwaies hissing about me Let me not once listen vnto him nor yeeld vnto any of his suggestions but alwaies resist him in the first motions vnto euery sinne wherunto he shall tempt me And whensoeuer that good spirit of thine shall speake inwardly and secretlie vnto my soule and inspire any good thought any holie affection or desire into my heart let me hearken thereunto as vnto thy voice Let me carefullie vse the meanes to foster and cherish such beginnings of grace as it shall please thee in mercie and goodnes to infuse into me that so I may not fall away from any good thing which thou hast wrought in me heretofore nor finde my selfe more vnfit or vnto ward vnto any dutie or spirituall exercise wherein heretofore thou hast caused me to take much ioy and great delight but graunt that I may daily increase in grace and goe forward cheerefully constantly in the wayes of pietie and true holines and with full purpose of heart cleaue fast vnto thee to the end of my daies neuer forsaking thee nor being forsaken of thee who art the God of my hope my strength my saluation WORKES OF CREAtion ALl the workes of God are excellent and glorious if we stand to consider them â—b 40.10 from Behemoth whom the scripture mentioneth and setteth forth as one of the cheifest of them to the Ostrich from the great Whale in the middest of the seas to the least fish that moueth in the waters
breathe the life of grace daily more and more into me and to inspire me continually with good motions with holy and heauenly desires that so I may delight in those things which are pleasing vnto thee and bring foorth the fruits of the spirit abundantly throughout the whole course of my life to the praise of the glorie of thy grace from whence alone is all my sufficiency and abilitie to the benefit of those among whom I either now doe or hereafter shall liue and to the endlesse comfort and saluation of mine owne soule through Christ my Lord and Sauiour who with thee O father and with thy holie spirit bee blessed and praised both now and euermore Amen The loue of the world and worldly desires banish all true loue of God from the soule HEE that suffereth any wordlie desires or the inordinate affection of any earthly thing whatsoeuer to take place in his heart cannot loue God sincerely entirely and vnfainedly yea the more the desire of his heart is inlarged vnto the affecting of those things the more is the loue of God abated and diminished in him as much as the one increaseth so much the other of necessitie must decrease O Lord who hast manifested thy loue so richly towards me fill my heart daily more and more with the loue of thy maiestie let the same whollie possesse me For this end suffer me not to be intangled at any time with the inordinate desire of any of these fading and fruitlesse vanities but free me I beseech thee from the sinful and immoderate affecting thereof yea purge my heart and banish farre from me the loue of al those things which might be a meanes in any sort to alienate my minde from thee and grant that my soule may delight in thee and that I may loue thee with my whole heart yea that the affection of my loue may bee set and fixed vpon thee alone who only art worthie to bee loued aboue all things and that if I loue or affect any thing else it may not bee otherwise then in thee and for thee vnto whom I am desirous to giue my heart with all the affections thereof The sinfulnes of mans nature corrupted O Lord what a fountaine of corruption do I see continually springing vp within me and how much more doth there abound in me which beeing hid from mine eyes is seene onely of thee who alone knowest the heart and beholdest the inward and most hidden secrets thereof which the eye of man cannot pierce into Doe thou vouchsafe to clense it daily more more Powre downe plentifully that cleane water of thy sanctifying grace which may wash away that filthines euen those staines and pollutions wherewith I am defiled and which beeing lothesome in mine owne eyes cannot but be as an abomination before thee who art so pure that thou canst not see euill nor behold wickednesse O let thy spirit purge and purifie my soule from that inbred corruption and contagiō thereof which cleaueth so fast vnto it yea let it be as fire to drie vp those polluted streames which flow continually from that vncleane fountaine that so I may be found of thee without spot and blamelesse in the day of that glorious appearance of thy sonne my blessed sauiour and redeemer in whom though I see him not yet doe I beleeue and reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Blindnes of minde a great miserie IF any want the eyes of their bodies they account it a greate miserie and would vse any meanes be at any cost to enioy the comfort and benefite of their sight And yet most want the eyes of their soules and thinke it to be no miserie neither regard nor seeke once for that wherein the comfort of their liues consisteth and whereby they should come to see the light of glory in the kingdome of heauen O Lord though others be wilfully blinde and so most miserable whiles they see it not yet open thou mine eyes euer more and more Suffer not sinne with the deceitfulnes thereof to drawe any filme ouer them but giue me daily a clearer sight of mine owne miserie and of thy vnspeakeable mercies towards mee who am vnworthie of the least of them Hardnes of heart a fearefull plague THere can no worse plague happen vnto any one then a harde and obdurate heart and yet alas how fewe be there that complaine of it although they be farre gone with it How fewe that seeke to be thoroughly recouered of it although they haue present meanes continually offered vnto them for the cure of it Oh they know not the danger of it or if they doe and seeke not carefullie for the remedie surely they are exceeding desperate of their estate Good Lord breake thou this stony heart of mine I humbly pray thee Giue me to see and to grieue daily more and more for the hardnes of it and neuer to sleepe in rest till I feele it softned and mollified yea till I be cured and altogether recouered of it Howsoeuer it shall please thee outwardly to afflict me for my good yet Lord keepe me alwaies I beseech thee from that inward spirituall and most fearefull iudgement which thou vsest to send vppon the reprobate who beeing past all feeling seale vp vnto themselues thereby the assurance of eternall perdition Feare of God I Haue oft wondered to see in what awe most stand of mortall men who haue power of their goods life or outward estate how carefull they are to please them how affraid to offend them and yet in the meane while how regardlesse they are and shew thēselues to be of that great that powerfull and immortall God whose name is terrible yea who is able presently to cast them both soule and bodie into hell for euer there to haue their portion among the damned Either men are Atheists and thinke there is no God for they that beleeue that there is a God can not but know that his power is infinite and therefore must needes feare him more then any man whose power is but finite when it is greatest Or else they are maruellous desperat who though they know and will acknowledge the power and the fiercenes of his wrath yet feare not the punishment and the horrible torments which he hath threatned against them O Lord let me not be either so blinded or so hard-hearted as the wicked and vngodly are Let me alwaies feare before thee and tremble at thy presence standing continually in awe of so great and glorious a maiestie which the Angels adore and reuerence And let this feare of thee and thy righteous iudgements banish and driue out of my heart the loue of all sinne so that I may not once dare willingly to commit the same though I might thereby gaine the whole world Yea Lord doe thou plant thy feare in my heart let it possesse my soule and then it can not be but that I should seeke in all things to please thee more then men and feare to offend thee in
from the Eagle to the flie from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall from the starres of heauen to the dust of the earth and from the Angels of God to the wormes that creepe vpon the ground Who is there that considereth of them aright or is so affected with them as he ought Lord let me alwaies delight to be searching into them and in them as in a glasse see cleerely thy wisdome and mightie power and learne to know thee the Creator of all things both in heauen and in earth and in all places and knowing thee to worship and serue thee in spirit and truth lest I be like vnto the heathen who when by the frame and workmanship of the world and the creatures therein wherein thy maruellous wisdom is ingrauen they knew thee to be God and yet glorified thee not as God became vile and abominable and altogether inxecusable forsaking thee their Creator who art blessed for euer Amen Worke of Redemption OF al the workes of God that of the Redemption of man-kind is most wonderfull and glorious whether we consider the person of the Redeemer the persons redeemed or the meanes and manner in and by which it was effected and brought to passe It passeth all knowledge all vnderstanding The Angels â—et 1.12 those heauenly creatures doe admire at it and desire continually to haue a more cleare and perfect insight into it as being so great and vnsearchable a mysterie that no creature is able fully to comprehend the breadth the length and depth and height of it Oh the maruellous blindnes of men for whom it was wrought that they can see and discerne so little of it their great forgetfulnes that they so seldome remember it their extreame sottishnes that they scarce euer admire it in that holy maner that they ought yea rather little regard it and esteeme very lightlie of it O merciful God farre be it from me to sinne so great a sinne against thy maiestie by prising so inestimable a benefit so much vnder the worth and value of it and by being so meanely affected with it as the most are yea let me and al thy redeemed ones alwaies cleerely behold and faithfully remember this great and gratious worke of thine towards vs let vs highly esteeme of it reioyce continually and glorie in it and vncessantlie praise and magnifie thee for it for euer What can be rendred vnto thee O Lord for so great loue for those exceeding riches of thy grace towards vs in Christ Iesus what can be rendred vnto thee worthie of that infinit goodnesse of thine sufficient for so vnspeakable mercie and bounty All that we can returne vnto thee for it is honour glorie and thanksgiuing O let vs neuer be found wanting in this seeing we owe vnto thee much more although there is nothing that thou more desirest of vs and yet euen this is thy gift also yea thy especiall grace O doe thou make me truly and vnfainedly thankefull Mercies of God WE can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto the Lord for the least of those blessings which he daily and most freely vouchsafeth vnto vs health peace libertie maintenance and continuall protection preseruation c. and yet who is there almost that is heartily and vnfainedly thankefull for those great and wonderfull mercies of his which coÌ„cerne our eternall happinesse saluation in the heauens euen that glorious estate which of his free grace and bountie he hath promised vnto vs and will in due time giue vs full possession of for euer O the exceeding dulnesse of the hearts of men that are no more mooued with the consideration of these things yea that esteeme more of those ordinary kindnesses which are shewed vnto them by men then of all those infinit and vnspeakable blessings and benefites which are vouchsafed vnto them by so gratious a God so kinde and louing a Father O Lord let me neuer be vnmindfull of the least of thy mercies and fauours which thou hast shewed vnto me from the beginning of my life vnto this present giue me a thankful heart for them especially lift vp my heart and soule vnto a due and serious meditation of those great and inestimable mercies of thine wherein thou hast in a speciall maner shewed thy selfe so exceeding good and gratious vnto me in electing me vnto life and saluation in freeing and deliuering me from that wretched estate and that wofull miserie whereinto I was so deeply plunged by the sin of my first parents in redeeming me therefrom by so deare a price euen the death of thine own Sonne my blessed Sauiour in adopting me into the number of thy children by faith in him and in prouiding that glorious mansion for me in the heauens there to liue and raigne with thee for euer O giue me a liuely sense and feeling of thy goodnesse thy loue and vnspeakable mercies so gratiously vouchsafed vnto me so vile and vnworthie a creature Inflame my heart with an vnfained and most entire loue of thy maiestie and let my mouth alwaies praise thee yea let me in heart in soule and with all the powers of the same praise thee continually and yeeld that glorie which is due vnto thee both now and euermore Amen The folly of the wicked to be wondered at I Maruell much when I reade how the Israelits being in the way to Canaan a type of heauen for the goodnesse and pleasantnesse of it desired so oft and so earnestly to returne againe into Egypt a figure of hell it selfe where they had been so hardly intreated yea so cruelly and vnmercifully handled But much more do I maruell can neuer sufficientlie wonder at those who when the Lord offers to bring them out of the house of that spirituall bondage and not onely to free them from the power of darknesse and the tyrannie of sinne and Sathan but also by the light of his word spirit to leade and conduct them safely into that heauenly Canaan which floweth with the milk honie of his rich and plentifull graces euen the inheritance of his chosen the place where his honour dwelleth desire rather notwithstanding still to be vnder the hands of their cruel taske-masters in the kilnes among the bricks and in the yron fornace and to indure the most seruile and the most wofull and wretched thraldome and slauery that euer was or can be possibly that so they may fill themselues with the Onions and Garlike of Egypt Lord let the couÌ„sell of the wicked be farre from me suffer not thy seruant to delight in the waies of such a foolish generatioÌ„ who know not thee nor regard that which should be their happines But let me euer praise thee with ioyfulnesse that thou hast deliuered my soule out of the hands of my cruell and deadly enemies and brought me from the house of bondage the kingdome of darknesse and death it selfe into the wayes which leade vnto thy heauenly and glorious kingdome And although I
our best friends and louingst companions who expect looke continuallie for our comming into that heauenly citie that celestiall mansion the place where they we are to rest remain with our Sauiour in the presence of that glorious God for euer to be partakers of that felicity blessednes which is vnspeakable and glorious Why then doe we not weane our selues from the world why do we settle our selues here where our rest is not yea why are we so loth to leaue this drie and barren wildernesse where we liue among strangers that know vs not yea amongst many wild and sauage creatures who seeke to do vs all the mischiefe they can O Lord raise vp my thoughts and the affections of my heart vnto those things which are aboue vnto those things which concerne my future estate in thy kingdom let it be continually the earnest desire of my heart to be with thee my God in the heauens there to behold thy face in glory for euer and to haue the full fruition of that sweet and comfortable fellowship and communion of my Sauiour and of all the Saints Angels wherein consists true happinesse and blessednesse Death alwaies to be remembred MAny liue as if they shold neuer die they remember not the euill daies that shall come vpon them and the yeares which shall approch wherein they shall say We haue no pleasure in them They consider not how their eyes shall waxe dimme their eares deafe their tongues speechles yea how their spirits all their senses shall faile them and all those worldlie helpes wherein now they rest and comfort themselues vtterly forsake them O Lord teach thou me to number my daies that I may applie my heart vnto wisdome Let me alwaies be mindfull of my end consider seriously of my frailetie mortalitie that so when death cōmeth which continually waiteth vpon me it may not find me vnprepared but that in the last houre the verie remembrance whereof is bitter vnto many I may find sound comfort and be translated out of this vale of teares this place of mourning where I am compassed about with sinne and miserie into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne and my blessed Sauiour and so be made partaker of that glorious and immortall inheritance which thou reseruest for vs euen for all thy Saints in the highest heauens the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where we shall liue and raigne with thee eternallie What maner of life it becommeth Christians to leade THe heathen could say that if men as it is meet they should would haue this alwaies in their minds that they were made of God himselfe in regard of the better part which is the soule and spirit that God was their father he doubted not but they would leade a life beseeming their estate and condition that they would do nothing whereby they might shew themselues to be base degenerate such as in whom there were no resemblance of that diuine and heauenly nature Me thinks many that are Christians at least in name and profession should blush when they reade when they heare this They call God father and thinke themselues much wronged if any should tell them that they were not his children and that not onelie by creation as the heathen are but also in a more speciall maner by grace and adoption through Christ and yet behold many of them are not ashamed of that vilenesse and basenesse in their behauiour their actions liues and practises which the pagans and heathen themselues were ashamed of and haue condemned as by their liues so also by their writings thereby setting a brand of iust reproch and eternall infamie vpon the foreheads of such fained counterfet Christians who are the staine of true religion and christianity such as though they think that of right they may claime this title to themselues to be the chosen people of God those to whom he hath giuen the name priuiledge of his owne sonnes yet in verie deed are the children of the diuell seuen-fold more then the heathen themselues who knew not God in Christ O mercifull Lord grāt I humblie beseech thee that as I call thee father and beleeue and acknowledge my selfe to be thine owne adopted sonne through thy Christ in whom thou hast freely loued and elected me from eternitie so also I may haue grace from thee for thy gift onelie it is not to fashion my selfe like vnto the wicked and vngodly the men of this world that I may not be like vnto them in those vaine courses wherein they walke and delight themselues but that I may alwaies do those things which are beseeming my calling and profession as acknowledging thee to be my father and glorying in this that I am thy sonne so liuing and ordering my selfe as it becommeth thy sonne euen shining forth in all holinesse of life and godly conuersation to the glory of thy name the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience and to the good example of others whom thou hast aduanced vnto the same profession which is so glorious Gods patience in bearing with sinners IT is a wonder that the Sunne which is a witnesse of so many and so enormous sinnes and wickednesses as are committed vpon the earth standeth so long in the heauens and giueth light vnto the world that the heauens are not dissolued and that the elements melt not that the waters ouerflow not and ouerwhelme vs yea that Christ that iust and righteous Iudge of the whole world commeth not in flaming fire to burne vp this earth with all the workes therein which are polluted defiled with our sins It is thy mercie O Lord that we are not consumed O be thou patient towards vs who cease not to prouoke thee daily Let thy good spirit still striue with vs yea draw vs vnto thee with the consideration of thy lenitie and the riches of thy bountifulnesse that so thy long sufferance may be vnto vs saluation euen an effectuall meanes to winne vs vnto the loue and obedience of thy maiestie and so in the end to bring vs to eternall life and happinesse in the heauens The soule how it is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest as the holy Ghost is IF thou wert to entertaine some honourable personage how carefull wouldst thou be to make such preparation and prouision for him that he might be receiued in that maner that were fit for his place and estate how much more carefull sollicitous then oughtest thou to be to prepare the secret lodgings of thy heart and soule to see that nothing be out of order in thy whole man that no vncleannesse nor any thing which is any way polluted remaine within thee who art to receiue and to entertaine so honourable a guest euen the holy spirit of the most high God and to become a temple for so great and so glorious a presence to dwell in for euer O heauenly Father purifie my
any thing not fearing the feare of those that bee thine enemies and hate thee Feare of God speaking in his word MEn we see oft times are stricken and amazed at the sudden noise of a great thunder-clap they tremble and quake yea this causeth many with the Heathenish Emperour to seeke for couert and to hide and shroud themselues for feare And yet behold such is the corruption of mans nature such is their stupiditie that although they heare daily a greater more dreadfull noise euen the mightie and terrible voice of God which soundeth in his word and whereby he threatneth them in most fearefull manner not only with temporall iudgement but also with eternall perdition and destruction yet they are scarce once moued they feare not they doe not quake and tremble but sooth vp themselues in the wickednesse of their hearts and blesse themselues in their sinfull and vngodlie waies thinking that al is well and dreaming of nothing but of peace and safetie when thir confusion is neerest and sudden destruction and desolation ready presently to seize vpon them O let it be otherwise with me with all them that feare thy name O Lord let me be touched rightly affected with the consideration of thy great and glorious maiestie when I behold thy wondrous and maruellous workes how thou casts forth thy lightnings vnto the ends of the world and thundrest from heauen with a mightie voice at the noise whereof euen the bruit beasts and dumbe creatures doe quake and tremble for feare Let these things cause me to acknowledge the greatnes of thy power to stand in a holie and awfull reuerence of thy presence and to giue glorie vnto thy name who art the mightie and glorious God of heauen and earth but let me be much more moued and inwardly affected when I heare the voice of that mightie and powerfull Word of thine which goeth out of thy mouth and which thou causest to sound in mine eares by the ministerie of men whom thou hast ordained and in and by whom thou speakest both to the eares and to the hearts of men O let this word of thine which in it selfe is mightie in operation and whereby through the working of thy spirit thou doest maruellous things let it strike and break in sunder this hard and stonie heart of mine let â—r cause me to tremble at the hearing of it yea euen to fall downe before thee and to adore thy maiestie to be afraid of thy displeasure and to serue thee with an humble and with a contrite heart all my daies Then according vnto thy promise thou wilt looke mercifully vpon me thou wilt deale exceedingly graciously with me yea though heauen be thy throne and the earth thy footstoole yet thou wilt vouchsafe to dwell with me by the comfortable presence of thy grace and blessed spirit for euermore Knowledge and conscience must goe togther MAny labour for knowledge few for conscieÌ„ce to practise those things which they know Such knowledge is vaine and bringeth no profit to him that hath it â—â—e what if thou couldest repeate all the most pithie sentences of the wisest and grauest Philosophers and the greatest Sages that euer were it were nothing Yea what if thou couldest say ouer the whole Bible without book and with the superstitious Iew tell exactly how oft euery letter were found in the same and withall wert able to expound the hardest and most difficult places therein that could be put vnto thee so that al that heard of thee did admire thee as one very rare and eminent in thy kinde All this were nothing it were in vaine and no waies auaileable vnto thee if thou wert not as carefull to haue thy heart touched thy minde sanctified and thy life reformed as thy head stuffed and filled with varietie and abundance of knowledge learning if thou didst not labour as much if not more for the practise of those things which thou knowest then for the bare and naked speculation it selfe without fruther profit Giue me grace O Lord as to vse all good meanes to attaine vnto all kinde of learning which is necessarie and profitable for me especially the knowledge of thy word and those secret and hidden mysteries which thou hast therein reuealed so much more with all diligence carefully and conscionably to practise those things which I haue learned ioyning to my knowledge vertue faith temperance patience godlinesse and vnfained loue and charitie vnto all men euen mine enemies and those that are most bitter towards me yea most wickedly and malitiously set against me that thus the knowledge which by thy blessing I shall attaine vnto may not bee idle or vnprofitable but I may abound and encrease in the fruits thereof to the praise of thy name the benefit of others among whoÌ„ I shall liue mine owne comfort in this life and the furtherance of my saluation in thy kingdome after this life for euer Another IT is not without cause that the Scriptures make the heart the seate of truth sinceritie and vprightnes and not the head seeing the heart is the seate and subiect of the affectioÌ„s the braine of knowledge vnderstanding iudgment A man may know and vnderstand much and yet be very ill affected he may be of a large capacitie and of a very deepe apprehension euen of the greatest mysteries of Christian religion and yet be of an exceeding corrupt minde and of a most vnsound life Knowledge is good and to be desired and sought for and that with diligence but yet good affection must be ioyned with it and increased by it or else it will not bee profitable but hurtfull and dangerous making the owner of it rather worse then better It is a good thing to know much but it is better and more acceptable to God to affect the good things wee know that wee might practise them and to dislike the euill we know that wee might shunne and auoid them God euer loued and delighted more in the truth and sinceritie of the heart then in the bare speculation and fruitlesse apprehensions of the minde and vnderstanding part Let it be my desire O Lord my care and my earnest endeuour rather to liue well then to know much let me labour for both since both are necessarie yet alwaies preferre this before the other seeing that without this is least profitable and more dangerous not of it selfe but through the fault of him that vseth it amisse making the life more corrupt and bringing with it the greater condemnation in the end The worldly mans Idoll THat which euerie one most setteth his heart vpon that doth hee make his God yea rather his Idol Thus the God of the couetous is riches euen that cursed Mammon The God of the voluptuous pleasure of the ambitious honour O then how many vile and wicked Idolaters bee there in the world Surely as many as doe giue themselues ouer to couetousnesse ambition and voluptuousnes euen the excessiue and inordinate desire of the vaine and
transitorie things of this world O Lord God thou only art my God whom haue I in heauen but thee or what is there that I should desire on earth in comparison of thee O let my hart be alwaies fixed vpon thee let my soule loue thee delight in thee seeke and long after thee aboue all things which is that inward and spiritual worship and seruice which thou requirest of all those vpon whō thy name is called of all those that acknowledge thee the Lord to be their God The miserable estate of a worldling HE that doth once imbrace this world can hardly be loosed from it and brought to follow Christ and to cleaue vnto true religiō in the trueth and sinceritie of the profession thereof yea such is the bewitching nature of it that it will daily more and more fasten vpon him and claspe round about him so that he shall haue no power to free himselfe againe except an extraordinarie grace be ministred vnto him of God Of all men of whom there may be any hope a couetous worldling is in this regard most miserable and his estate most dangerous since that it is harder for him to be reclaimed then for any other for of all sinnes out of which there may be any recouery that sinne of auarice and couetousnes is most irrecouerable O blessed Lord let not my heart be glewed at any time vnto the things of this world Let not the immoderate care and desire thereof take hold of me let it not be rooted in me but let me alwaies enioy such freedome by thy grace that I may willingly readily and cheerefully performe those duties which thou requirest of me yea that I may cleaue fast vnto thee and runne with libertie the waies of thy commandements The vnpleasant and distracted life of a carnall and wicked man WHat pleasure is there in the life of a carnall and wicked man who is carried away with the vaine and inordinate desires of his owne heart Before he hath obtained that which he lusts after he is restles and vnquiet All that he had before doth him no good because hee wants that when he enioyes it he is grieued displeased yea vexed because it doth not satiffie him nor yeeld him that contentment which he looked for in it Afterwards he is perplexed and troubled in minde by reason of the guilt which he hath brought vpon his conscience through his sinne the sweetest fruite whereof in the ende is nothing but shame and sorrow yea much bitternes Thus he is continually disquieted discontented and distracted whiles he followeth his vnlawfull desires and yeeldeth to his disordered and distempred affections he hath no peace no ease no rest Witnes the proud person the couetous the voluptuous the ambitious the enuious and malitious and whosoeuer else he be that letteth loose the raines to any vnbridled passion any inordinate affection It is a meere slauery to be a seruant vnto any such lusts the onely meanes to obtaine true libertie hearts ease peace and sound contentement to resist them and to get the mastrie ouer them and to be no wayes bound to them O mercifull Lord let me not be addicted to these things which are base earthly and sensuall let me neuer willingly yield vnto any sinfull desire of my corrupt nature but giue me grace alwaies to bridle yea to subdue and to mortifie those wicked affections which otherwise would preuaile against me that so beeing ouermastered and euen brought into subiectiō vnder me through the working of thy gracious spirit in me I may passe the whole time of my life hereafter in rest quietnes and true peace and contentednes and serue thee with perfect libertie and freedome all my daies The life of the righteous as well to be sought after as their death wished I Marueile not that all men euen the most wicked and prophane of the world do with cursed Balaam desire and wish for the death of the righteous seeing the end of it is true and perfect blessednes and the want of it extreame woe and miserie But this seemes very strange vnto me that they should not as well desire the life of the righteous not onely because this is the meanes to come vnto the other that necessarily depending hereupon but also since herein is true happines to be found and that which is to be desired of all men and without which man cannot but be miserable and euen a burthen vnto himselfe For the righteous the sincere and vpright in life and conuersation they onely leade a peaceable a comfortable and a ioyfull life They reioyce not so much in the face as in heart not so much to the teeth outwardly as in soule and spirit inwardly whereas the hypocrite the false hearted and all that loue vnrighteousnes neuer haue any true mirth any sound ioy but only a false counterfeit image thereof which when it is at the best is but hollow rotten and vnsound yea whē they sport themselues in their carnall and worldly delights most immoderatly and break foorth into excessiue laughter yet then their ioy is but the fit as it were of a frantick or mad man they know not what they doe and at length their sorrowfull dumpes their troubled thoughts and distracting cares returne againe vnto them vnsent for they break off their laughter with a sigh and end their mirth with heauinesse anguish and great perplexednes yea the Lord filleth their soules with much bitternes so that many times to bee eased of it they could willingly be rid of their liues in which they finde so small comfort Lord let me be as carefull to leade a good life as to make a godly end let me hate all vnrighteousnesse and forsake all the waies of the vngodly and let me seek by all meanes to attaine vnto true holinesse and striue after sinceritie and vprightnes that so the spirit of ioy and gladnesse may rest continually vpon me and cause me alwaies to reioyce vnfainedly in thee with that inward spiritual ioy and comfort the sweetnes whereof none knoweth but thine only euen those whom thou hast giuen to taste of it and which being once giuen of thee from whom alone it proceedeth none is able to take it away againe The follie and danger of deferring Repentance IT is exceeding follie in men to liue carelesly and securely all their life long and to put off all vnto their dying houre vainly supposing that it will be enough for them then to commend themselues vnto God and to desire him to take them to his mercie Alas such know not what they doe they know not the price of their soules for surely if they did they would neuer put them in aduenture to the last houre They consider not the danger of losing them for euer for then certainely they would quickly be of an other mind they would look about them they would not set all vpon such a ticklish point nor put themselues vnto that hazard no not for the gaine of
it were continually with manifolde vexations and distractions The only way to liue peaceably and ioyfully is to leade a holie and a religious life in al sinceritie and vprightnes This bringeth with it that sweete peace and that inward solace and ioy which the world cannot giue O blessed Lord the daies of this my pilgrimage are few and euill make them comfortable vnto me I humbly pray thee by leading me forward in the waies of righteousnesse and true holinesse grant that I may alwaies endeuour my selfe to haue faith and a good conscience before thee and before all men and to walke continually in simplicitie and godlie purenes without al guile hypocrisie that so my heart may reioyce in thee vnfainedly yea euen be filled with that ioy which is vnspeakable and glorious How they are to liue that are redeemed by Christ IT is a shame for the Lords free man to make himselfe a seruant a drudge and a slaue to the world to sinne and Satan Hee that Christ hath redeemed must liue like one set at libertie being alwaies very carefull and warie that hee be not intangled nor ouercome with any lust with any corrupt and vnlawfull affection lest thereby he bring himselfe into that bondage and seruitude then which there can be nothing more wretched and miserable O Lord since it hath pleased thee of thy infinite goodnes and mercie to redeeme me with so great a price euen with the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne that immaculate Lambe graunt that being freed from that estate of corruption vnto which before I was in bondage and hauing escaped froÌ„ the filthinesse of the world wherewith I was formerlie stained and polluted I may be carefull to renounce all those vngodly courses euen that vaine conuersation wherein I walked and delighted before I knew thee and that sauing grace of thine which thou in the riches of thy mercies hast reueiled and manifested vnto me and that I may daily more and more labour and striue after spirituall libertie and freedome liuing as thy seruant as thy redeemed one and shewing foorth the vertues of thee my God and Sauiour who hast called me out of darknesse into that maruellous light of thine Gods loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared IF wee bee out of fauour with men of no esteeme no reckoning amongst them If despised and disgraced of the world and made as such as are vile and of no reputation If wee bee but in daunger to lose our goods our riches our lands and liuing or to haue our outward estate by any meanes impaired and decayed or in any sort diminished If any of our dearest friends and nearest kinsfolke die and depart from vs for a while or if we our selues be in any perill of death loe then we are very sad and heauie we are exceeding pensiue and grieued out of measure as though no greater euill could befall vs. But if we be cleane out of the loue and fauour of God then which there can be no greater miserie if we be not regarded of him but are vile in his sight such as by reason of our sinnes hee doth lothe and abhorre more then wee doe the vgliest and the loathsomest creature in the world and doth many waies testifie the signes of his hatred and the deepe displeasure which hee hath taken against vs If wee be in continuall danger to hazard the most desireable goods which are better then all things which this whole world can affoord euen those pretious things of God wherin onely true happinesse and felicitie consists If wee be in neuer so great and apparent danger and ieopardie to lose the vnspeakable riches of that glorious and immortall inheritance reserued for the Saints in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall Canaan the Paradise of God where there are such ioyes such pleasure such blessednes as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or to comprehend If our neerest and inmost friend which resteth continually in our bosome and in the secretest lodgings of our hearts vnto whom wee professe the greatest loue and friendship that may be in briefe to whom wee are ioyned and vnited with so neere and strait bands that it is death for vs at any time to bee seuered and separated for the least while for one moment euen our owne soule if that bee dead in vs whiles it seemeth to liue dead in trespasses and sinnes whiles it liueth according to the flesh delighting in those things which are vnlawfull dead in regard of the life of grace whiles it liueth the life of nature yea continuallie in extreame danger to die eternally euen that second death which of all euils is the most fearfull most wofull aboue that any man doth thinke or can imagine though he haue â—resented vnto his minde the most dreadfull things and fullest of horror that can possibly enter into the heart of man yet behold such is the sottishnes of mans nature though wee knowe these things yet wee are not inwardly touched nor moued with them as we ought to be though we reade of them our selues though wee heare of theÌ„ oft by others yea though the Lord from day to day and from time to time causeth them to sound in our eares by the ministerie and preaching of his word in the mouthes of his faithfull seruants whom he sendeth and by the inward and secret voice of his spirit which suggesteth these things vnto vs yet our hearts are not affected with the consideration of them wee haue almost no sense or feeling of these euils and miseries wee make no account of them we are little seldome or neuer troubled with the meditation and remembrance of them The feare and danger of them doth not strike our soules with griefe and sorrow nor make vs so pensiue and heauy as the feare and dread of farre lesser euils doe Wee grieue more at the losse of the fauour and countenance of men yea of carnall and worldly men then of that glorious and immortall God whose louing fauour is better then life and the want of it worse then death we grieue more at the losse of the things of this world which are vaine earthly and transitory and such as can neuer make the owner of them trulie blessed and happie though he had them in greater abundance then his heart albeit neuer so vnsatiable could desire theÌ„ of the things of the world to come which are most excellent heauenly and enduring for euer in the hope and expectation whereof there is ioy and comfort vnspeakable and glorious euen whiles they are not seen but beleeued and in the full fruition and possession whereof there is entire and absolute felicitie and blessednesse We are grieued more at the death and departure of our friend then at the death and destruction of our owne soule more troubled with the feare of the losse of this temporall life which is alwaies fading and whereof wee can haue no certaintie or assurance one houre no not