they be for so much as thou art faulty thy selfe and must be borne withall And if thou canst not bee such as thou wouldest bee thinkest thou to make another according to thy minde We wish that others were godly and yet wee our selves mend not We would have others severely corrected which we refuse our selves We find fault with the licentiousnesse of others and wee our selves will not be gaine-said We seek that others should be bridled by Law and we our selves refuse obedience whereby it is evident that we love not our Neighbour as our selves If all were perfect what should wee suffer at other mens hands for Gods sake But now it pleaseth God that we must beare one anothers burden and that because no man is without fault no man but hath his burden no man that can live by himselfe no man but lacks advise sometimes and therefoâ—e we ought to suffer one with another to comfort one another to help instruct and admonish one another And never shall the vertue of a man be so knowne as by occasion of adversitie for occasions makes not a man fraile but shewes what he is The way to quietnesse both temporall and eternall THou must bridle and breake thy will in many things if thou wilt live a quiet life And if thou wouldest stand upright and goe forward in godlinesse account thy selfe in this world but a banished man and a pilgrime And if thou desire to be a Christian thou must prove a foole before men for Christs sake A hood or a shaven head maketh not a religious man but an alteration from vice to vertue and a mortication of thy lusts hee which loveth any thing besides God and the salvation of his soule shall find nothing but misery and sorrow and let not him looke to be long in quiet which laboureth not in the sight of men to be most abject and inferior to all for thou art in this life to serve not to rule and called to suffer and labour not to loiter and live at pleasure For men are tryed in this world as gold is in the surnace and let no man here look to stand upright unlâ—sse with all his heart he humble himselfe for the Lords sake The exercise of a true Christian THe life of a Christian should be adorned with all vertues that hee may be such inwardly as he outwardly appeareth to the world yea more vertuous should he be then he seemeth in as much as God seeth our hearts who wee must intirely revereâ—ce wheresoever we are and before whom we should walke uprightly as Angels Every day wee should renounce our mindes and as though we were but newly converted from sinne we ought to inflame our zeale and say O my Lord God assist me I humbly beseech thee in this my good purpose and zeal give me grace even at this present time godly to enter into thy service for what hitherto I have done is nothing In this our race and going forward in godlinesse wee must use great diligence if we minde to finish our course as we should For if hee which couragiously goeth on is tried many times What will become of him which either seldome or faintly setteth forward Many things cause us to change our good minds but we never so lightly omit spiritual exercise but we greatly hinder our selves thereby The purpose of the just dependeth upon the favour of God not upon their own wisdome on whom they trust in all their enterprizes For man may purpose but God disposeth neither can man of himselfe bring any thing to passe If we omit our accustomed exercise either for Religions cause or to profit our brethren we may easily attaine thereunto againe but if carelesly of sloth or faintnesse of minde we neglect the same we do both highly displease God and greatly endamage our selves Let us doe our best yet shall wee â—ffend in many things All be it will be good to shoot at some certaine things and especially against those vices which hinder us more then others we must examine and set in order as well outward as inward things for both are necâ—ssary to our proceedings If thou canâ—â— not at all times take account of thy selfe yet doe it sometimes and at the least once a day either at morne or night In the morning consider how thou wilt spend thy time till evening And at night call to minde how thou â—ast spent the day and what thy thoughts words and deeds have been for thereby we commonly both displease God and offend men Gird thy loynes like a man against Satan bridle thy riotous appetite so the more easily shalt thou bring under all the unruly desires of the flesh Be thou at no time idle altogether but alwaies either read or write or pray or meditate or doe somewhat for the publlique welfare The body must bee exercised with judgement for all exercises be not for every man private exercises must not be used in a publicke place aâ—beit thou art to take heed that thou be not too publicke slow and swift unto private but having done thy dutie according to thy calling if any leasure be gotten betake thee to thy selfe as thy profession doth require All men cannot use one exercise but that is for some which is not for others Againe according to the diversitie of time wee thinke of exercises for some like us of holydaies some on working daies some in the time of warre some in the time of quietnesse some we minde when we are pensive and some when we rejoyce in the Lord good exercises should oftentimes be renewed especially on holy daies as though we were then departing out of this life and going to the everlasting daies of rest And therefore at such times especially we should shew our selves most devout and most carefully execute Gods Hests looking as it were presently to have a reward of our labour from God which if it be deferred let us think with our selves that we are not sufficiently prepared but unworthy so great glory to be revealed unto us at a time convenient and prepare our selves more diligently to our end Happy is that Servant saith our Saviour Christ whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watchfull know ye of a truth he will make him ruler over all that he hath Of solitarinesse and silence SEeke a convenient time to meditate and oftentimes call the benefits of God into mind omit curious things and chuse such matter as may rather stir up thy mind unto godliness then busie thee too much withdraw thy self from speaking vainly from gadding idly from listning unto rumours and novelties And thou shalt find good leasure and sufficient for thy spirituall exercise and that after the example of the most godly who shunned the company of men as much as they might and chose to live a part unto God One said I never came amongst men but I departed more wicked then I was before And this we find true when we talk much together It is easier to be
me be once truly renewed by thy grace and setled in thy service that I never slip nor slide back but grant unto me most mercifull Father a sure and setled dependance upon thee so that in all my wordt workâ— and deeds I may rejoyce in serving fearing and obeying thee and that I may spend all the residue of my dayes truly serving thee seeking to glorifie thy Name and magnifie thy goodnesse unto me so long as it shall please thâ—e to lend me breath to this fâ—aile body And mercifull Father favourably governe and guide help instruct and teach me in thy wiâ—dom to magnifie thy holy Name multiply and increaâ—e thy mercies on me O Lord preserve and prospâ—r me in all my waies and works and all about me remember thy poore flock build up thy Church renew Sion governe assist and blesse all pain ull Preachers and Pastors of thy Word teach them and us understanding rihgtly to know thee and truly to follow thee awake my drowsie soule defend it from evill imaginations keep me in holy and heavenly meditations grant me to observe thy waies so that I may walke in piety and peace set my sinnes so before mine eyes that when I look back on them I may with sorrow weep lament and repent my time past which hath been spent so wickedly or unprofitably O powerfull Preserver remember me restore me to joy and comfort and hasten in time thy salvation unto me Draw my lingring soule and it shall run after thee turne me unto thee with all williâ—gnesse come thou neare unto me gâ—â—d Lord and dâ—clare and shew thy mercies on me estâ—blish me in grace excite me to goodâ—â—sse Give me grace that I may alwaies grow stronger and â—â—â—â—â—ger to walke before thee weaker and weâ—ker to sinne faithfull and â—â—â—me in thy service Grant this deare Gâ—d and mercifull Father for Christ Ieâ—us his sake our Saviour and Redeâ—mer Amen A Prayer in time of Warre O Glorious Lord God and everlasting Father we intreat theâ— mercifully to looke downe upon us and hearken unto our complaintâ— and desires and grant we beseech thee our requests O gracious Father thou knowest nor sinnes and our iniquities are not hid from thee they lye open to thy Judgements yet we know that thy mercies are the cure of our miseries and when wâ— fly to thee thou drawest neare to us we beseech thee now to be favourable and spare us for all our sinneâ— past and be ready to deliver us from sinnes to come looke down in mercy upon us and as thou hast been ouâ— everlasting defence so now defenâ— us from the rage of our enemies goâ— in ond out O Lord before our Armies before our Generalls before ouâ— Fleets and Commanders And granâ— we may be thy Souldiers to fight under thy Banner stirre up our hearts and strength against the enemy defend thy afflicted Flock remember we beseech thee the burthen of misery laid upon thy Church in this time in these our Kingdomes and elsewhere and in thy due time restore them to their former glory Settle our hearts and affections to regaine and recover that which hath been lost and grant that we seeing their double dealing may no longer trust to them which have no truth they imagine mischief in their hearts and are set on fire to doe ill but breake thou the knot of their malice lay open their plots discover their devices weaken their Armies over-throw their Inventions confound their Councels and consume their numbers O Lord thou hast in times past made the Starres to fight in order the Sun to stand still the Seas to devoure the Winds to overthrow thy enemies So now O Lord cause these thy Creatures to assist and help us and our distressed Neighbours that all the world may know It is thou that fightest our Battels and undertakest our cause Finally O Lord blesse we beseech thee us and every one of us in what we shall take in hand for defence of thy Church and Truth blesse we intreat thee our King and Parliament our State and Clergy our Communalty and give thy blessing unto us all and last of all blesse we beseech thee all the worthy Companies of Souldiers in Cities and all other places in the Land blesse O Lord their inventions of Warre and make them expert by their practises prosper all their undertakings so that all the world may know that thou art the Guider of our Councells and Leader of our Armies Grant this deare Father and all other good things unto us for the good of the Church amongst us and the reliefe of others by us now and ever for Christ Jesus sake our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for Gods protection of his Church in respect of the present troubles of it ALmighty God the Lord of Hosts and Governour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent Worke in us and in all thy people unfained and effectuall repentance that what thou seest amisse in us and amongst us or in any parts of thy Church may speedily and thorowly be reformed that which is righteous and good in thy sight may be established and maintained especially in this our Land and other places professing thy Truth and Gospell and in the meane time while we strive after that which may be most agreeable to thy holy Will as it is revealed in thy holy Word be mercifull unto us and bring us on as thou seest it needfull evermore supporting us in our most gracious Shepherd by thy staffe of comfort And thou Sonne of David that knowest the mercilesse condition of Satan and cruell men his cursed Instruments we humbly beseech thee never to deliver us over into their power but save and defend us and all thy people evermore from the hands of all our enemies both bodily and ghostly And more particularly at this time we earnestly beseech thee O heavenly Father by the mediation of thy Sonne Jesus our only Mediator to be mercifull to those that are joyned with us or stand out for thy Truth or any righteous Cause and give that issue to the present troubles of thy Church as may make most for thy glory the advancement of thy Truth and Gospell the reliefe of all thy distressed people in all those parts of thy troubled Church and for the establishing of truth and peace in this our Land May it please thee once to free all our Brethren from the dominion of that Mistery of Iniquity as also still to shield and secure us and all other professing thy Name and Truth from that cruell Faction which as if they delighted in bloud have already spoyled so many Nations Lord thou only art the Catholick King we can acknowledge no King over all the Earth but thy selfe nor any Universâ—ll Head over all thy Church but that only Arch-bishop of of our soules thy Sonne Jesus our blessed Saviour to whom all power is
given both in Heaven and Earth Arise then thou Lord to whom the Kingdomes doe belong and shew thy selfe and let not the man of the Earth any longer exalt himselfe least he be too proud and least he ascribe to himselfe or to his graven Images or vaine Idols the conquest that thou shalt see and suffer over thy people Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the praise For the honour of thy Name arise before Ephraim Benjamin and Manasses before Great Britaine Ireland and other Countries that call upon thy Name arise and shew thy selfe for us for on thee only doe we call We call on thee to save us and our Forces and thy people now in more danger how and in what manner and at what time fully to declare thy Salvation we referre to thy heavenly wisedome only in the meane time that it may please thee to sanctifie and save to preserâ—e and provide for them and us and all thine both in Field and City Protect and defend deliver us and ours at home and abroad And thou great Sheheard of Israel be pleased to take downe more and more that Man of Sinne that hath and would exalt himselfe against thee Asswage then the malice of those that are enemies to us or to any of thy people and evermore confound all their devices that we being armed with thy defence may ever more and more give praise to thee which art the only Author of our peace and Giver of all victory And all this good Lord for us for them and all thine not for our merits but for thy great Mercy sake and for the Truth sake of thy gracious Promises in Jesus Christ our Lord and only Advocate and Redeemer To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be all praise and glory now and for ever-more Amen A Prayer before Sermon O Most gracious God assist me I humbly beseech thee in this my good purpose and zeale and give me grace at this present time godly to enter into thy service Deare Father assist me with thy holy Spirit and drive away all vain and idle cogitations out of my minde that I may heare thy Word to my Soules comfort grant that it may take deepe roote in my heart and bring forth plentifully to the honour of thy blessed Name to the comfort of my Soule and the good example of my Brethren who seeing my good workes may glorifie thee my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer before the receiving of the Sacrament O Most sweet lover of all Mankinde Lord and Saviour I beseech thee for thy bitter Passion sake to remove from me all pride envie and detraction wrath malice and impatience and all other sicknesses and diseases of the Soule and plant good Lord in my heart and minde true meeknesse charity temperance and modesty with all such other vertues and preservatives unto the Soule And mortifie in me good Lord all uncleane motions carnall desires and inordinate affections and revive in me the love of vertues and the perpetuall exercise thereof so that at this time and at all times I may worthily receive this holy and blessed Sacrament unto thine honour and glory and my soules endlesse joy and comfort Amen A Prayer after receiving of the Sacrament JN most humble and most hearty manner with most due reverence I thank thee good Lord most holy Father and everlasting God thaâ— by the bounty of thy mercifull grace wouldest vouchsafe thus to refresh and feed my Soule through faith with the benefit of the Death and Passion of thy Sonne our Lord God and Saviour Iesus Christ And I beseech thine infinite goodnesse that this the Sacrament of this thy Death and Passion which I most unworthy wretch have now received may never come hereafter in Iudgement and Condemnation unto me for mine evill merits and deservings but rather good Lord it may come to the profit and comfort of my body and to the salvation of my Soule unto the life everlasting Amen A Prayer at the houre of death O Heavenly Lord God wee poore wretches being overcome with griefe come all here attending thy good pleasure with this sick Servant of thine O Lord incline to heare our Prayers and his complaints unto thee be now O Lord present and send thy good Angels and Spirit to attend us be with us O Lord and comfort this sick person and now if the time be come of his departure grant O Lord he may depart with godly comfort and joy everlasting into thy Kingdome Ease O Lord his griefs mittigate his paines asswage his sorrowes anâ— give him a lively touch of thy heavenly comfort put by all worldly thoughts and beat downe all bad suggestions let nothing but good come in his minde and grant that he may to the last gaspe of breath breath out still some comfort of thy helpe and grant when he hath done his last to finish this mortall life then he may with Lazarus be carried into Abrahams bosome O Lord forgive him O Lord receive him O Lord protect him O Lord succour and save him and now and for ever grant he may rest with thee in eternall glory Heare us good Father for this our Brother and doe for him and us according to thy Fatherly mercy in Jesus Christ to whom we commend him with these our prayers for him and all his and our occasions in thaâ— prayer which thy blessed Sonne hath taught us Our Father which art c. FINIS Novemb. 29. 1648. Imprimatur John Downham
Religions the world through and you will find none that ascribes so much to God nor that constitutes so firm a love among men as does the establisht Doctrine of the Protestant Church among us All other either detract from God or infringe the peace of men The Jewes in their Talmod say before God made this he made many other worlds and mard them again to keepe himself from idleness The Turkes in their Alcaron bring him in discoursing with the Angels and they telling him of things which before he knew not and after they make him sweare by Mahomets pen and lines and by Figs and Olives The Papists portray him as an old man and by this meanes dis-deifie him derogating also from his Royalty by their odious interposing of merits and for the society of men what bloody tenents do they all hold as he deserves not the name of Rabby that hates not his enemy to death That 't is no sin to revenâ—e injuries that 't is meritorious to kill an Heritike with whom no faith is to be kept even to the ungluing of the whole worlds frame contexted only by comerse and contracts What abhor'd barbarisme did Selinus leave in precept to his Successour Soliman which though I am not certain they were ratified by their Mufties I am sure they are practiced by the Inheritors of the Empire By this taste learn to detest them all Think not thy kindreds murther ill t is none By thy slain brothers to secure thy Throne This is the way how kingly names may be In fast and from distructive terrors free In other Religions of the Heathen what fond opinions have they held of their gods reviling with unseemly threats wheÌ„ their affaires have thwarted them as if allowing them the name they would conserve the Numen to themselves In their sacrifices how bucherly cruell as if as t is said of them they thought by inhumanity to appease the wrath of an offended Deity The Religion which we now profess doth establish all in another strain what makes more for Gods glory what more for the mutuall love of man then the Gospel all our abilities of good we offer to God as the Fountain from whence they streame Can the day be light and that light not come from the Sun can a Clock go without a waight to move it or a keeper to set it as for man it teaches him to tread on Cotton milds his wilder temper and learnes him in his patience to affect his enemies and for that which doth partake on both it makes just God a friend to unjust man without being unjust either to himself or man Sure it could be no other then the invention of a Deity to find out a way how man that had justly made himselfe unhappy should with a full satisfaction to exactest justice be made again most happy I would wish no man that is able to trye to take his Religion upon others words but once resolved in it 't is dangerous to neglect where we know we do owe a service For God neglected plentiously Plagued mournfull Ittaly And this before Horrace his time when God is neglected of man man shall be condemned of God when man abridgeth God of his honour God will shorten man of his happiness It cannot but be best to give all to him of whom whatsoever we have we have received and we hold I believe it saftest for to take that Religion which most magnifies God and makes most for the peaceable conversation of men For as we cannot asscribe too much to him to whom we owe more then we can asscribe So I think the most splended estate of man is that which comes nearest to his first Creation wherein all things wrought together in the pleasant imbracements of mutuall love and Concord That Divinity does not crosse nature so much as exceede it THey that are Divines without Philosophy can hardly maintain the truth in their disputations 't is possible they may have an infused faith sufficient for themselves but if they have not reason too they will scarcely make others capable of their instruction certainly Divinity and morallity are not so averse but that they well may live together For if nature be rectified by Religion Religion is strengthned again by nature And as some hold of fate that there is nothing happens below but is writ above in the Starrs only we have not skill to find it So I beleeve there is nothing in Religion that is contrary to reason if we knew it rightly For conversation among men and the true happiness of man Philosophy hath agreed with Scripture Nay I think I may also adde for defining of God except the Trinity as neare as man can conceive him how exact hath he made Justice how busie to find out truth how rightly directed love exalting with much earnestness all those graces that are any way amiable He that seekes in Plato shall find him making God the solum summum bonum To which a pure and vertuous life is the way For defining God my opinion is that man neither by divinity nor Philosophy can as they say tell what he is It is fitter for man to adore and admire him then in vain to study to comprehend him God is for man to stand amazed wonder at The clogged and drossie soule can never sound him who is the unimaginable Fountain of spirits and from whom all things by a gradnate derivation have their light life and being In these things they agree But I find three other things wherein Divinity overtoureth nature In the Creation of the world in the redemption of man and in the way and rites wherein God will be worshipped In the Creation of the world no Philosophy could ever reach at that which Moses taught us Here the Humanists were all at a stand and far all their conjectures being rather witty and conceits then true and reall Some would have all things from fire some from Ayre some from water some from earth some from numbers some from attomies from simples some and some from compounds Aristottle came the nearest in finding out the truest materia prima but because he could not believe this made of nothing he is content to erre and think it was eternall Surely his conceit was as far from reason as the other his reason might have fled unto omnipotency as well as to eternity And so indeed when Philosophy hath gone as far as she is able she ariveth at Almightinesse and in that Abbi is lost where not knowing the way she goeth but by guesse and cannot tell when she is or right or wrong yet is she rather subordinate then contrary Nature is not crosse but runs into omnipotency and like a petty River is swallowed in that bondles Main For the redemption of man Even the Scripture calles it a mystery and all that humanity could ever reach of this was only a flying to the generall name of mercy by the urgins of the Conscience They all knew they had