the aged euen so is a wife full of words to a still quiet man That woman that hath béene vnfaithfull to the Law of the highest and hath brokē Couenant with her husband her children shall take no root and as for her branches they shall beare no fruit A shamefull report shall shee leaue behind her and her dishonour shall not be put out Like as the Sun when it ariseth is an ornament in the high Heauen of the Lord so is a vertuous wife the beauty of all her house Perpetuall are the foundations that bee layde vpon a whole stony Rocke so are the commaundementes of God vppon the heart of a holy woman Whatsoeuer happen vnto thee receiue it suffer in heauinesse and be patient in thy trouble For like as golde and siluer are tried in the fire euen so are acceptable men in the fornace of aduersity God is gratious and mercifull hee forgiueth sinnes in the time of trouble and is a defender to all men that séeke him in the truth Woe be to him that hath a double heart wicked lippes and euill occupied hands and to the sinner that goeth two maner of wayes The blessing of the Father buildeth vp the houses of the Children but the mothers curse rooteth out the Foundations Who so honoureth his father his sinne shall be forgiuen him and when hee maketh his prayer it shall bée heard He that forsaketh his Father shall come to shame and hee that defileth his mother is accursed of God The more greater thou art the more humble thy selfe in all things and thou shalt find fauour in the sight of God for great power belongeth onely vnto God and he is honoured of the lowly Séeke not out things aboue thy capacity nor search the grounds for such thinges as are too mighty for thée many things shewed vnto thée that bée aboue the capacitie of men Be not ashamed of thy friend in his aduersity and kéepe not backe thy counsell when it may do good neither hide thy wisedome in her beauty For righteousnes and truth striue vnto death and God shall fight for thée against thine enemies Make no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for sodainly shall his wrath come in the time of vengeance hee shall destroy thée Trust not in wicked riches for they shall not helpe thée in the day of punishment and wrath equity mercy iustice and Trueth shall deliuer thée In the beautifull dayes of thy prosperity forget not the foggy mists of aduersity and when it goeth not well with thée haue a good hope it shall be better Happy is hee that hath no heauinesse in his mind and is not fallen from his hope Let not to pray alwayes stand in feare reformed vnto death for the rewarde of God endureth for euer and vnto them that will repent he hath giuen the way of righteousnesse Note all these hither to be out of Ecclesiast A dissembling person will vnfold thy Secrets But he that loueth thée in truth wil faithfully stand with thee in perill Through the lying lipps of the malitious the innocent is destroyed But in the beauty of his truth time shall deliuer him The innocent dealing of the iust shall lead them But the wickednesse of such as dissemble shall bee their owne destruction The Lord abhorreth them that be of fained heart But he hath pleasure to encrease the séede of the humble and faithfull Euery man shall enioy good according to the sayinges of his mouth and after the works of his hands Do they some righteousnesse speake the Truth The Innocent person shal be deliuered out of trouble the double dealer shall come in his stead Mercy and faithfulnesse let neuer go from thée bind them about thy necke and write them in the Tables of thy heart Pro. 3. Be not wise in thine owne conceite but feare the Lord and depart from euill So shal thy vertue shine and thy healthes grow Ibidem These sixe things doth the Lord hate A proud looke a lying tongue hands to shedde innocent bloud an heart that goeth about with wicked imaginations féet that be swift in running to doe mischiefe a false witnesse that bringeth vp lies and such a one as soweth discord amongst brothers Pro 6. Dissembling lippes keepe hatred secretly euill will stirreth vpstrise but loue couereth the multitude of sins Prou. 10. The patient abiding of the Innocent shall be turned to gladnesse and the dayes of his trouble are the sure signes of his Sauation Ibidem The perill that the vngodlie are afraid of shall come vpon their heades but the faithfull and the righteous shall inherite their desires He that by violence sheddeth any mans bloud shall be a Runnegate to his graue and his posterity shall bee confounded with shame A man that dealeth faithfully shal bee filled with blessings and hee that maketh too much hast to be Rich shal not be vnguilty Like as Hell and destruction are neuer full euen so the eyes of the couetous men can neuer be satisfied The Seat of the King that with Iustice and equitie faithfully iudgeth the poore shall encrease and stand for euer Many men like the Bread that is gotten with deceit but at the last their mouthes shall bee filled with grauell These thrée Proverb all No force is left vnprepared against the day of Battaile But the Lord giueth the victory He that soweth the séeds of malice shall reape sorrow and in the haruest of his crueltie shall he perish The end of Equity Iustice Patience and Truth is riches honour prosperity and health Who so giueth Rewardes shall obtaine victory and triumph but he taketh away the soule of such as receyue them Reioyce not thou at the fall of thine enemies and let not thy hart bee glad when hee stumbleth least the Lord when he seeth it be angry turne his wrath from him to thee He that turneth away his eare from the needy or from his Neighbour in necessity his Prayer shall bee abhominable Sow no euill seedes in the furrowes of vnrighteousnes for the lucre of any other mās Lordshippe labour not vnto the King for the Seate of Honour so shalt thou goe vntouched of any misfortune Ecclesiast 7. Who so vniustly challengeth rule to himselfe shal bee hated of the people Ecclesiast 20. Carry thy wronges with patient hart and thinke of no reuenge the Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of anguish and to reserue the malitious vnto the day of iudgement Peter 4. If our hearts condenm vs not then haue wee trust to God-ward and whatsoeuer we aske we receiue of him Iob. 3. For this purpose appeared the Sonne of GOD to loose the paines of Hel and the Workes of the Deuill Ibidem Warres with great discretion ought to bee taken in hand for through strength of good Counsell thinges prosper that men deuise Pro. 24. When thou goest to battaile against thine enemies and also seest Horses and Charrets and people more then thou bee not
thine eare and heare mee behold how desolate I am stretch out thy hand and helpe mee Lord I desire to come to thée and my weakenesse is such as without thy helpe I am not able to raise my selfe vnto thée Therefore Lord remember thy swéet promises tarrie not ouerlong strengthen me with thy holie Spirit heare my Praiers and wash me in thy righteousnes I cast not these peticions before thee hoping in mine owne Merites which are are none but trusting in thy great mercie and swéet promises Wherefore Lord heare me and forgiue me and I shall liue for euer L LEt Enmity passe which seeketh Death and Destruction and before thou prayest forgiue els thou heapest vengeance on thy selfe LOrd make thy waies knowen vnto me that I may walke so perfectlie that no kind of Sinne ouercome me Thou leadest straight in iudgement and giuest sight to the blind Thou art neare vnto them that call vpon thée with faithfull heart haue mercie vppon mee heare me and giue me a Heart to pray vnto thée Laye not against mee my sins past but for thine own sake forget them I vnderstand not all mine errours my sinnes haue taken hold on mee and of my selfe I am not able to return Send me therefore thy holy helpe to strengthen mine infirmitie Kéepe my mouth and lips and let the thought of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight Permitte not the woord of Truth to depart my breast suffer not Malice to dwell in my heart Deliuer me from false surmises and accusations of men rule mee after thine owne will and pleasure Remooue from me vanities and let not the foote of Pride take holde on mee so shall I be frée from the greatest sin Stay and kéepe me from euerie euill waye for in thée I trust it is thou onely that canst helpe Looke vnto mee with thy mercies and graunt me grace in thy sight Amen I IN equitie Loue and Truth gather all thy riches in the handes of the poore laye vppe thy Almes and these shall defend thee from euill fight for thee against thy enemies better then the strength of mightie men preserue thy fauour as the apple of an Eye and rise with thee in the day of Iudgement to paye thy reward on thy head IN hope of thy mercie and forgiuenesse most mightie and dreadfull God whose truth is vnspotted I am bold to come before thée My trust is good I shall be heard for that thou hast euer béene the true head of all Iustice and delightest in truth Denie thy selfe thou canst not for thou hast promised In what time soeuer a Sinner doth with a broken heart repent his wickednesse at that instant thou wilt cansell the recordes of thy remembraance and the fowlenesse of his fault shall remaine no blemish to his soule Heare mee now therefore oh Maker of Heauen and earth I acknowledge I haue sinned and done vnpleasant things in thy sight I confesse the misdéedes which rebell against my Soule with Saul saying I haue sinned I haue played the Foole and haue erred excéedingly And with like humble lowlie and faithfull heart as did King Dauid who vnfainedlie cried out his Sinne and became thy seruant So most Holie in hope of the same hire with contrite heart I sigh and say I haue broken thy Lawes and not walked in thy Commandements If I should now recite and number the Mountaines of my misdéedes which ouerwhelme my bodie and that are eager enemies to my pining Soule the day were too short Lord I néede not thy blisfull Seate is aboue the starry Firmament and thou sittest on high beholding what is done amisse in the Earth belowe My wickednes that I most secretlie haue cōmitted to th◠Celestiall eies haue béen manifest Forgiue me good Lord that my tongue may iustifie thy euerlasting Truth that others beholding in me thy manifold mercies may likewise with me be ashamed of their euill and séeke after thy mercie Woe am I that my heart hath béen so long vnacquainted with the Welspringes of thy Truth that my handes haue wrought vnrighteousnesse and heaped sinne vpon sinne Turne awaye from the sight thereof the fulnesse of thy furie Exchange the roughnesse of thy rage into méeke mildnesse before thou correct mee most louing Sauiour I am not able to abide thy heauie displeasure if thou chastice me with thy rodde of Iustice I perish I haue not one good déed to preferre mine offences beare number with the flowers and blossomes of the Spring my truth is no whitte and with vnrighteousnesse all is defiled Forgiue me oh Heauenly King forget thou that art the swéet spring of my soule Giue mee thy holy Spirite that it may be with mee and labour with me to attain thy blessed fauour for mine ignorance cannot desire that I ought neither can my féeble strength without thine ayde rayse mee vnto thy presence Thy Spirit will helpe my debility and make right intercession for all my necessities Thy Spirit will make mee praye with such humblenesse of heart and sorrowfull sighings as no tongue can tell That gift most precious will hold mee vp where flesh would fall and guide my féeble féete in the light of the Lord. The Spirit I say will purge me from all earthly affects and lift me vp to heauenly things Therefore conioyne mee oh God of all mercy to thy holye Spirit to teach mee to tread the steady steppes of thy worthy will So shall I lead my Life in the true Lawe of thy louing kindnesse and with a strong and stable mind perseuer in Prayer vnto the end Graunt mee therefore for thy Truth and Sonnes sake that I may enioye this swéet possession of thy holy Spirit which may alwayes lead my labours after thy lyking and kéepe my heart in thy feare Swéet Iesu make a couenant with mee that I neuer may become an enemie vnto thée any more nether be found vnwoorthy of thy rich mercy and bountifull benefites but that the remainder of my life imployed in thy Seruice may iustly mooue thee to forget the iniquity of my tender yeares Continue thou God of all comfort with increase by the assistance of thy grace what I haue begun So shall I liue to glorifie thy might and mercy for euer and euer Amen Z ZEale anger carefulnesse and sorow cause celeritie of old Age Iustice mercie equity and truth make glad the holy Ghost and to a merrie heart is giuen long life sweet tast ZAcharie spake from thée O Lord saying Like as I deuised to punish you what time your Fathers prouoked mee vnto wrath and spared not Euen so am I now minded to doe well vnto the house of Iuda and Hierusalem therefore feare it not Now the thinges you shall doe saith the Lord are these speake euery man the truth to his neighbour execute Iudgement truely and peaceable within your Portes none of you Imagine euill in his heart and loue no false oathes O Lord of my selfe I am so sinnefull and ignorant that I cannot speake nor thinke a good
not repent with them whom they haue transgressed withall After David had willingly confessed his fault and acknowledged the iust iudgement of God behold what great hope he conceyued of the mercy of God Sprinckle me O Lord saith he with I sope and I shall be cleane Wash mee and I shall bee whiter then snowe By the sprinckling of the bloud of the immaculate Lambe he promiseth to himselfe clearenesse too thogh he acknowledge his conception to be sinfull yet by this washing hee hopeth after the whitenesse of iunocency which passeth the whitenesse of the Snow And he trusteth not only in the innocency but looketh to sée his doubtful penitency turned into heauenlie ioy Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladnes saith David that the boÌ„es which thou hast broken may reioyce Giue mee the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy free spirite O singular faith of a sinner what man hath at any time cried Iesu haue mercy on me but forthwith he hath obtayned grace Take pitty Lord sayeth the woman of Canaan and her daughter was was healed The blind poore man cryed out O Sonne of David haue mercy on me and he receyved sight Let vs heartily zealously constantly call on him and in the midest of our miseries say Iesu thou Sonne of David haue compassion vpon vs. And of poore impotent beggers hee will make vs fellow heyres with him of the kingdome of Heauen He hath opened the sanctuary of his holinesse and thou runnest into the dungeon of dispayre hee hath stretched out his hand to thee thou turnst away thy face he openeth the gates of Heauen and thou hastest to destruction behold the bosome of his goodnes and thou créepest into the lake of vnhappinesse The Theefe that hung on the Crosse heard him saying This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and thou offerest thy selfe to the Deuill The mercy of God came vnto vs wheÌ„ he sent his Son into the earth Let vs therefore goe to it Let vs incline to him as he did to vs The way is first to leaue our life For first the Physitians vse to purge the body that they may minister wholesomer Medicines Forsake O thou Sinner thy wicked imaginations which fight against God leau to lust be not couetous refrain riot flie arrogancy that God may powr his blessings vpon thee He that persisteth in his wickednesse and calleth for grace is like to an enemie which being ready armed asketh peace of his Master hee that asketh receyueth he that séeketh findeth and hee that knocketh hath it opened vnto him if thou wilt desire mercy craue it truely if thou séeke it séek it indeed if thou knock at the gate of forgiuenesse knocke earnestly If thou require an example of one that faithfully craued the fauour of God Marke the Prodigall Child who leauing his Swine returned to his Father and said Father I haue sinned against Heaven and against thee make me as one of thy hired servants Marke the Publicane which for the guiltinesse of his conscience dare not lift vp his eyes to heauen dare not come to his redéemer but standing a farre off hee knocketh his breast and saith Lord bee mercifull vnto me a Sinner S. Hierome affirmeth the offence of Iudas to be greater in despayring the mercie of God theÌ„ in betraying Christ as Cain stirred God to anger more through desperation of pardon then by the slaughter of his brother Abel Manie which haue persecuted Christ being conuerted beléeuing in him haue obtained pardon are made examples to man that he ought not to distrust the remissioÌ„ of his wickednes seeing the death of our Sauior is forgiuen to the penitent Wilt thou heare saith Augustine the mercy of God leaue thy abhomination hee will forgiue thée Wilt thou see the truth of God do good thou shalt be crowned with Iustice God is not so mercifull to vse vniustice nor so iust to be vnmerciful but som man wil say meÌ„ encrease their offeÌ„ces by too much hope but how much doe they enlarge their guiltines by distrust of remission If there were no forgiuenes then thou wouldâ—t rage say I am wretched I am condeÌ„ned why is not my law why shall I not fill my selfe with sacietie if after this there bee nought but torment this would be thy saing O worse then dispayre it selfe Hee doth better therefore that correcteth thée with promise of forgetfulnesse and sayth I will not the death of a finner but that he convert and liue God by his promise would not haue sinners to presume but his will is they should not in any wise distrust and therefore he hath made them ignorant of the day of their death if thou repent present pardon is prouided no day is prefixed Wherefore to conclude if thou hast liued well till this day and still abidest in this life liue well amend thy life and beholde forgiuenesse and bee sure that what hee hath pardoned shall not bee imputed to thee againe which for his merry he grant that taketh away the Sinnes of the world Amen CONSOLATIO NVLLA maeroris magnitudo nulla angustiarum acerbitas nulla defectuum multitudo nulla scelerum enormitas te ad desperationem nimiamve pusillanimitatem adducat Quantumcunque peccaveris semper Dej misericordia in infinitum excedit tuas iniquitates Quantumcunque infirmus sis semper illius benignitas a diuvare parata est tuam fragilitatem Vult potest Deus sanare ac liberare te si ad eum verè conuerteris atque humilis factus ipsum piè inuocas speras in eo O quam homini salutaris Deo grata est spes atque confidentia illa quam Dei amor sanctaque humilitas parit quae homineÌ„ non ad negligentiaÌ„ vel incuriaÌ„ sese emendandi neque ad facilitatem peccandi pertrahit sed magis ad conatum proficiendi extimulat THE AVTHORS Prayer IN the deapth of thy mercy O Lord bow down thine eyes behold encline thine eares and heare stretch out thine Arme and helpe for I am thine vnworthy creature and haples man that thorow thy rodde of wrath haue experience of most wretched misery Mine enemies pursue mée with gaping iawes and whetted teeth saying within themselus let vs now deuoure him for the time that we looked for is come wee doe find and sée it They haue fortified round about me and haue inclosed me with tormeÌ„t and trauell My flesh and skin are made old my bones are bruised they haue hedged me that I cannot gett out haue said heauy links vpoÌ„ me Helpe Lord thy seruant whome thou neuer faylest I cry and call pittiously yet am I not heard my innocency is trodden downe and my life suddued with like surmises My mourning they dayly heare but comfort I find farre off They haue stopped vp my wayes with quartred stones and made my pathes crooked They lay wayte for me as wilde Beares and deuouring Dragons with open mouth deliuer me from their gréedy gripes
of the field is known by his fruit So are the rotten thoughtes of the dissembling person by his open déeds of malice Forgiue thy Neighbor the hurt that hée hath done thée so shall thy sinnes bee forgiuen thee when thou prayest Remember the end and let enmity passe which séeketh death and destruction abide in the commaundement of thy God that thou mayest reape his blessing They that reioyce at the fal of the righteous shal be taken in the snare anguish of heart shall consume thē before they die Wrest not thou the Law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blind the wise and peruert the wordes of the righteous that which is iust follow that thou mayst liue Hee that leadeth a godlie life and speaketh the truth hée that abhorreth gaine won by violence and deceit hee that kéepeth his hand that hee touch no reward which stoppeth his eares that he hear no counsell against the innocent bloud which holdeth down his eyes that hee sée no euill he it is that shall dwell in hie whose sauegard shall be on a Bulwarke of rockes and his ioyes incomprehensible Esa 33. The Congregation of dissēbling Hipocrites shall be desolate and vnfruitfull and the fire shal cōsume the houses of such as are greedy to receiue gifts the dissembling person conceiueth crauell and beareth vanity and their bodie bringeth forth deceite Iob. 15. There bee many that for their sundry friendshipps and benefites which are diuerslie giuen vnto them bee euer the more proud and hie minded and vndertake not onely to harm the benefactors but are vnthankefull for theyr receyued goodnesse goe about to escape the iudgement of God whose eyes vieweth all vertue séekes to punish all wickednes be not in the number of such Hester 16. My right hand shall not spare the sinners my sword shall not cease ouer them that shed the innocent bloud vpon earth Esdras 15. Despise not a man that turneth himselfe away from sin and cast him not in the téeth withall but remember we bee all fraile and offenders Eccle. 8. Thrée things there be that my Spirite fauoureth the vnity of Brethren the loue of Neighbours and a man and wise that agrée well together Thrée things there be which my soule hateth a rich man couetous a poore man proud and an old man that is vnchast Eccle. 25. Oppresse not thou the law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blinde the wise and peruert the wordes of the righteous that which is iust shalt thou follow that thou maiest liue Levit. 19. Sée that thou know no faces in iudgement nor doe any vnrighteousnesse in iudgement in meat yard in weight or in measure true Ballances true waights a true Epha and a true line shall you haue to all men Ibidem Thou shalt not fauour the poore nor honour the mighty but in righteousnesse shalt thou iudge thy neighbour Ibidem Thou shalt not auenge thy selfe nor bee mindfull of a wrong but shalt loue thy Neighbour euen as thy selfe Iames. 21. As the Sun riseth is heat and the Grasse withereth his flower falleth away and the beauty of the fashion of it perisheth euen so shall the malitious rich vnrighteous and dissembling person perish in the wickednesse of his wayes Iudge nothing before the time which wil lightē thinges that are hidden in darknesse and open the counsels of the hearts so shall euery man haue prayse of GOD. Cor. 4 Sée thou robb not the poore because he is weake and oppresse not the simple in iudgement for the Lord himself wil defend their cause and do violence to them that haue vsed violence Pro 22. God resisteth the proud giueth grace vnto the lowly Iames 4. Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord neyther dispayre when he giueth thee aduersity for whome the Lord loueth him hee chasteneth yea he scourgeth with affliction euery Sonne that he receyueth Heb. 12. Let euery man be swift to heare slow to speake slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God wherfore lay apart all malice and with all meeknesse of heart exercise truth and quietnesse Iames. 1. Lay aside all malitiousnesse and all guile faynednesse and enuie all backbiting and as new born babes desire ye that milke not of the Body but of the soule which is without deceit that ye may grow thereby vnto Saluatiō 2. Ep. Peter The eyes of the Lord doe gouerne the Righteous his eares open vnto their Prayers Ibid. Cap. 3. The desire of the Lowly is acceptable and the Lord will encrease it but the hope of the Proude is the Indignation and in the freshnesse of their Labours hee will roote them out He that casteth out his words rashly worketh care to his life but who so through silence seasoneth his thoughts with wisedome is the Author of long rest Euery labour giueth foorth his fruit onely lippe labour destroyeth time and bringeth forth penury The dayes of aduersity are a blessing of God and a clear conscience is a continuall Feast A malitious man kindleth strife A Foole vttereth his wrath in hast but a discréet person couereth wrong The Lord abhorreth the Prayer of the malitious but who so humbleth his Prayer in faith and Charity shall find his desire The desires of the Couetous man bring vppon him confusion but who so gathereth his riches with loue and fauour shall prosper Through Mercy and Truth sinnes are pardoned and through Righteousnesse and Faith are thy Prayers heard and euill eschewed Righteous lippes are pleasant vnto Kings and dissembling tongues ouerthrow hie Pallaces Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly then to deuide the spoiles with the proude Presumptuousnesse goeth before destruction and after a proude stomacke followeth a foule fall Mercy faithfulnesse preserueth the King and with louing kindnesse his seat is holden vp Who so followeth Righteousnesse and Mercy shall finde both life righteousnesse and honour Like as the golden pillars are vpon the Sockets of siluer so are the beautiful parts of the Body vpon a woman that hath a constant mind The heart of the foolish is like a Cart whéele and his thoughtes runne about like the Axiltree The wiseman tempereth his rage with Patience and seasoneth his wordes with wisedome Who so is mercifull and giueth Almes that is the right thanks offering but he that stoppeth his eares at the cry of the poore shall be cast downe crie himself and not be heard All that is of the eath shall turne to the earth againe all brides and vnrighteousnesse shall perish but Faithfulnes and Truth shall endure for euer Rewards and gifts blinde the eyes of the wise and make him runne that he cannot tell men their faults Let not thy mouth bee accustomed with swearing for in it there be many faults The heauinesse of the hart is all the punishment and the wickednesse of a woman goeth aboue all Like as to clime vp a sandy way is to the féet of