A WEEKES WORKE AND A WORKE FOR EVERY weeke By R. B. The third Edition LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Nathanael Newbery 1616. TO THE VERTVOVS AND RELIgious Ladies the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Bruton the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Yearlington and the Ladie Anne Horner that wisdome which is from aboue that true peace which is from within and the manifestation of both in the fruits of the spirit to their perfect ioy AS I consider with my selfe how Mary did make choice of the better part I cannot but blesse God for the worke of grace So Right Worshipfull on the contrary marking the mad choyce of others I follow the counsell of the Prophet Esaiah I stay wonder Eue had free-will the choyce of an apple and Paradise was before her God said eate not and liue but eate said the Serpent thou shalt not die The diuell was credited God not beleeued the apple was eaten Paradise lost a miserable choice But led she the way in this point of follie and hath shee had no followers What none of her posterity to walk in her steps Behold the sonnes of God chose the daughters of men and forsooke the generation of the righteous Lot left Abraham and made choyce to dwell in Sodome Esau loueth his bellie and for a present messe of pottage selleth away his birth-right The mixt people among the Israelites rather desire garlicke and onyons and to sit by the flesh-pots of Egypt then to eat that sweet Manna frō heauē Yea so mad are men in their choyce as the Iewes from the highest to the lowest cry out to haue a rebell a theefe a murtherer euen a Barrabas instead of that iust one and innocent Christ the righteous As I haue stayed in my thoughts vpon these so now should I wonder but that among our selues I finde many as foolish and as vnreasonable in their chusing They esteeme more of pleasure then of peace wiih God they will sell godlines for earthly gain they preferre profit before piety worldly goods they like of better then heauenly graces they chuse rather to rest vpon an idle conceit in themselues of saluation then vpon the witnesse of Gods word a truly informed conscience they wil plead rather custom then diuine precepts mens examples now for liberty in sinn e rather then the holy liues of the godly recorded in Scripture most in a word chuse rather to be reputed religious then so to be indeed But perhaps you Ladies will say what of all this to you Surely that you beholding nature corrupted and your selues through Gods mercy sanctified by grace may in your more happie choyce giue due praises heartily vnto God who affoordeth you from aboue so much power and strength that you may in some measure with holy Elizabeth walke in the Commandemēts of the Lord with religious Mary sit down at Christs feet heare his word with that blessed Virgin Christs mother ponder the words and lay them vp in your hearts with afflicted Hannah poure out in your necessities your soules by prayer vnto God and with that deuout Anna serue God in fasting and prayers day and night For this end and purpose to further euery well disposed Christian in the path that leadeth vnto life and glory I haue now this third time published this Weeks work worke for euery weeke I haue presumed to send it forth vnder your names not in any merit of the worke but in my true esteeme of your godlinesse and certaine perswasion of your good desires to please God which the Lord encrease in you more more with such inward comfort of spirit as you may perseuere in euery good worke of grace to goe boldly to the throne of grace in euery state and condition to the end of your daies euen so Amen Your Ladyships in all Christian duties RIC. BERNARD Batcombe Iuly 14. A DIALOGVE BETWEENE IOHN the beloued Apostle and his beloued Gaius Epist. 3. vers 1. Iohn GRace be with thee Noble Gaius mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Father with truth and loue Gaius Reuerend Father let this thy prayer this day preuaile with God for Grace Peace Mercy Truth in Loue I much long after Iohn Well may wee wish for these things friend Gaius as the foundation of all good fauours with God and all good men Gaius Oh my Lord I thanke God these things with me are of greater price then any thing which may seeme most pretious with the world For Grace maketh me acceptable to God Peace comforteth mee within my selfe Mercy from God affordeth me remission of sins and Mercy from me shewed towards others maketh them both to pray and praise God for me The Truth of God warranteth my course and way and truth obserued of me iustifieth my words and workes Loue in God to me procureth peace bringeth forth mercy and confirmeth truth loue in our selues maintaineth peace vrgeth to mercy and bindeth one to another and all vnto the truth Therefore Sir doe I in soule desire earnestly after the same but I cannot attain vnto that measure which I would I hunger after the perfection of all true holinesse but alas I cannot bee satisfied I thirst after righteousnesse but ah miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death which so much doth hinder mee in my heauenly progresse Iohn I reioyce greatly worthie Gaius that I find thee thus well prepared for further instructions blessed art thou for so hungring and thirsting after the best things for thou shalt be satisfied Gaius My Lord I am not ignorant blessed be God for this knowledge of my selfe that I am heere indeed in this present world but not of this world one as a pilgrime and stranger without any certaine mansion hither sent of the Lord for a time to bee employed in his seruice and so to stay till hee call mee hence which houre I waite for looking for death daily and the Lords comming to iudgement And therefore I desire to bee ready prepared and to learn whatsoeuer may be needfull both for continuance and encrease of grace in the way of life Especially seeing how the world groweth so on to worse and worse and this our present age declining so fast vnto wickednesse lest I bee intrapped and become guiltie of the common sinnes and so perish in the deserued plagues Iohn Indeed good Christian heart wel mayest thou so tearme these Euill daies our present times Is not pietie turned by many into policie sincerity by others into schisme true zeale is decayed conscience is now but a customarie fashion graced with conformitie faith is altogether a formal seruice without fasting without true feare of God and feruencie of spirit without gratious words tending to edification or good workes assuring vs of saluation godly gouerment is grosly abused by couetous persons and made a base course for filthie gaine true deuotion is not
euer I had rather bee there a doorekeeper then dwell in the tents of the vaine and wicked though mighty in the world Surely there is no company comparably to the blessed communion of Saints who are Christs members the temple of the holy Ghost and hee in the middest among them Make me highly to esteeme of the publike assembly where thy word is preached and thy name called vpon and cause mee euer to bee vnfainedly thankfull for the same Oh it is thy exceeding great mercy towards me and towards vs all this day that wee may with such freedome and liberty enioy that truth in peace which the blessed Apostles taught and sealed with their blood which many thousands of Saints after thē did professe and maintaine with their very liues in the middest of bloody persecution because otherwise they could not enioy the benefit of the word What ingratitude were therefore this in vs if wee should not laud thy name daily sing praises vnto thy most diuine Maiesty which hast thus in so great mercy dealt with vs that may without feare of open enemies keep publike meetings frequent those places set vp in the honour and praise of thy blessed sonne Iesus How vnworthie should we make our selues of this vnspeakeable grace and fauour if wee should carelesly neglect as too many doe so great meanes of our saluatiō Those that died for the truth may well perswade vs to the loue of the truth and they that shead their blood for preaching it others also who rather then they would not heare it and enioy the benefit of it were contented to hazard their liues they may iustly condemne vs of negligence and shall rise vp in iudgement against vs if wee will not leaue our vaine pleasures and our worldly profits for it O Lord our God lay not this iniquitie to our charge the too much neglect if not contempt of the sauing means of saluation thou mayest in thy iust iudgment vtterly depriue vs of all meanes of our spirituall life of all grace and heauenly comforts for that indeed we doe not so esteeme of the ministerie of thy word and of the Gospell of thy Son as we should Turne vs of thy mercy O God from the accursed loathing to a blessed louing thereof And make vs to account of it as a thing most precious to shew the same in a more earnest seeking after knowledge therein in a greater desire thereof with feruencie of spirit for the truth against sinne in our selues and others against superstition and idolatrie against prophanenesse against contempt of good gouernment and base account of thy faithfull ministers then hitherto wee haue done and cause vs to bring forth also better fruits worthy the Gospell of Christ and our profession That so it may appeare that we be Christians indeed professors in good earnest sincere louers of the truth that so these thy mercies may be established vpon vs continued with vs and propagated to posterities whereby not onely we but euen our children childrens children may haue cause herein with vs to magnifie thy name for euer and for euer And here O Lord I call not vpon thy name for my selfe alone and these thy people knowne vnto me but for all thy whole Church euery where in all the world remember them Lord in thy mercy call those that are not yet called confirme such as are bring backe such as slip out of the way resolue such as stand doubting raise vp such as doe fall comfort the afflicted stand by such as be in combate with the diuell with the world or with the strong and violent streame of corruptions flowing out from their owne euill hearts Stand by them good Lord helpe them for the victorie and deliuer them from euill and by thy grace euer either preuent their falles or forgiue their offences Blesse these particular Churches of England Scotland and Ireland and herein especially the principall member of the same our dread Soueraigne the Kings Maiestie the Queene Prince Charles Fredericke Prince Elector and the Lady Elizabeth the Honourable Councell and worthy Nobles the Ministery and Ministers of thy Gospell and all Schooles of learning for the furtherāce of religiō Lord continue peace among vs vnite our hearts in one in the truth and for the truth cause iustice in true iudgmēt to bee maintained grieuous wrongs and oppressions to bee vtterly suppressed good works of zeale mercy piety to be euery way furthered and the instruments to be highly aduāced And if there be any enemies to thee O God and to thy people maintaining that man of sinne O Lord thou mighty God of heauen reueale them to the world discouer all craftie Achitophels set thy selfe against them and all wicked seducers misleading thy people by errour into Antichristian superstition and idolatrie and either conuert them or confound them for the safety of thy people and their great peace yea for the more full manifestation of thy hatred against that man of sinne against that tyrannicall regiment and that bloody persecuting power with all the trecherous and traiterous adherents to the same and this doe O Lord for thy owne name sake also euen for the merits of Christ Iesus our only Lord Sauiour in whose name we pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. Gaius I giue vnto thee thou mā of God most humble thankes for this so great labour vndertaken for my sake I wish I could recompence this thy so great goodnesse but albeit I cannot I doubt not but he that is able and hath promised to reward euery good worke hee assuredly will to whom I shall daily pray that hee may recompence and euerlastingly blesse thee for euery good deede euen so Amen Iohn I thank thee good Gaius I haue done but my dutie of God I deserue nothing of thee for a requitall I looke for no more but that which I know already thou wilt do euen constantly make to a good vse of al. Therin the Lord blesse thee and I am satisfied and so farewel till our next meeting Gaius The Lord be with thee my Father my Father and his holy Angels take safe custodie of thee for euer and euer Amen FINIS
knowne from Popish superstition religion is held but an opinion or a point of state which is therefore often pretended but seldome truly intended For many indeed loathe the word of life they loue riches they reckon not of Christs righteousnesse if they can enioy a present honour and prosperity they will hazard heauen and the eternall Paradise Such profane Esaus will sell their future hopes for a present mease of pottage if euer such Atheists haue recourse to God at any time for mercy it is then only when they perforce come vnder the hand of his iustice For where is that man which in onely hatred of the worlds vanities in true detestation of his owne foule corruptions vpon good assurance of life eternall will in his health and highest prosperity begin heartily to sing the song of Simeon and to say Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation embracing Christ by faith as hee tooke him in his armes Gaius Alas my Lord this is our carnall state indeed in a fleshly security for the most part For many haue a religion without the vertue of the spirit and power of the word they frame a God all of mercy without terrour in execution of iustice they imagine a Christ without a fan in his hand to diuide the chaffe from the wheate to burne it and without an iron rod to breake the wicked in pieces But what should I thus complaine of others Oh that I could pray and mourne for them and amend my owne waies which verily I desire and therefore doe I humbly craue of thee farther directions how I may daily exercise my selfe in true holinesse and righteousnesse that so I may auoid what is euill and in the end find death aduantage vnto me and the last iudgement the day of my perfect redemption Iohn Welbeloued Gaius this thy heauenly desire holy purpose most gratious affection disposed so happily to goodnesse doe cause me greatly to reioyce It is a rare thing now a dayes to find so humble a spirit in so learned a person such piety in so great prosperity such hunger and feeling of wants still in so great abūdance of grace I know not whether I more admire thee then loue thee both are so high in degree in my thoughts and meditations vpon thee Gaius Reuerend Sir I thanke you for your vndeserued loue but I cannot cease to maruell how my meane gifts and graces should bee esteemed of so great worth with you when I know that of my selfe I am nothing and haue nothing but of God that more strength of corruption is in mee then power of grace much more yet to bee desired then I haue attained vnto wherein many thousands excell me Iohn Good heart vpon this thy humility the Lord in mercy looke and will exalt thee as he hath promised them that are humble and meeke Gaius If God be pleased to shew me mercy in any measure I will acknowledge it his good grace without my merit But may it please thee thou holy man of God to cease to admire my poore deeds and no desarts and with the eye of pitie to look vpon my great defects and by thy gracious words instruct mee yet further how to demeane my selfe that my wants may bee supplied my present state of grace preserued and by little and little through prayer and practice good things may by Gods mercy bee encreased vnto the end Iohn It pleaseth me well good Gaius though not to cease to admire thee yet willingly to aduise thee wherin I can to the vtmost Therefore for the present take this my counsell and aduice thou shalt doe well to obserue these rules following for the generall course of life First and aboue all set Generall rules for the whole course of life God euer before thy face thinke him alwaies with thee present by thee and earnestly looking vpon thee iudging rightly and as thou deseruest iustly to reward thee Secondly behold his glorious Angels attending thee perfect patternes of pietie and all purity in well doing they doe guard thee through wickednes they flie from thee Thirdly haue an awful regard to all Gods Commandements omit no dutie commit no iniquitie feare to offend in the least sinne and be zealous of euery least good worke esteeme not lightly of any of Gods Commandements iudge euery part of his will set downe in his word worthie of all holy reuerence and that with obedience in feare Fourthly in the matters of God and holy motions abandon thine own will shut out carnall reason seeke not thine owne glory fauour or praise of other in thy seruice to God but onely respect his good pleasure and a conscionable discharge of thy owne dutie Fifthly haue alwaies a loue vnto the Word a reuerend estimation of his Ministers and a religious care to sanctifie the Sabbath three things most vsually of a very prophane carelesnesse neglected despised Sixthly in what estate soeuer thou doest stand take wisely an occasion from thence to become more holy towards God to man more iust and in thine owne heart more truly humble and gracious If it be in abundance enioy thy wealth with thy brethrens welfare supply their wants by giuing freely or lending in true loue Thinke not thy selfe an absolute Lord of thine own but Gods Steward who giueth can take away looke so vpon the poore as on thy selfe who may bee in their stead Make not riches thy hearts habitation nor the power of reuenge vpon thine enemie nor the prop to beare vp iniquity nor as fuell to maintaine the fire of lusts nor any euill whatsoeuer but with thy riches honour God doe therewith publike good in maintaining religion iustice truth charitie and euery good way If thou beest in honour bee not puffed vp contemne no inferiour he may bee thy equall presume not to equalize thy selfe to thy better acknowledge thy equall euery where as thy fellow and to such rather giue then take honor from Pride is hatefull but true humility not a base spirit is a badge of true honour For know this that meanely borne are in place of honour euermore high minded and of a more presuming disposition with contempt of others then the truly descended of ancient noble progenitors In aduersitie of what kind soeuer take it from God alwaies thankfully bee quiet and contented looke to the Lords promises and vse all good lawfull means for deliuerance wait with patience giue God glory iudge it thy desert know thy offences and cease to sinne Euer being perswaded that thy present estate is best for thee and most for Gods glory and withall beleeue that in the end thou shalt haue a comfortable issue of all thy troubles Seuenthly liue to the world as a stranger and as an enemie to thine owne corruptions When thou seest other grow rich enuie not their prosperity but if they bee godly reioyce and praise God if wicked admire Gods mercy and pray for them Think that what thou
thy selfe hast is more then thou well deseruest or rightly canst vse without Gods speciall grace the lesse thou hast the lesse account thou art to make Striue to bee well pleased with Gods will and his disposing of all things for this ende pray much and feruently fast often but beware of hypocrisie reade the holy Scriptures diligently and that with all reuerence attention and faith make them thy counsellours in all thy enterprises thy comforts in aduersitie thy guide in prosperity and the rule of thy whole life Eighthly be much addicted vnto heauenly meditations lifting vp thy heart vnto the Lord sending forth spirituall eiaculations vpon euery occasion though prayers bee but short yet may they pierce the heauens by sighes that cannot be expressed If thou doe thinke of God let it be with high reuerence to his Maiestie speake of him with feare as his glorious excellencie requireth So know him as thou mayest in acknowledging him neuer dare to disobey his Commandements Behold him in his goodnes to loue him in his iustice to feare him in his word to know him and to beleeue in him Behold him also in his workes his wisedome and How to behold the Lord in his creatures power in the workes of creation his mercy and iustice in the worke of redemption his euer being in our continuall preseruation Acknowledge his prouidence in prouiding for his creatures his strength in the mightinesse of mountaines and powers vnresistable his holinesse by his Angels puritie and his Saints piety his inuisibility by the aire and strong winds his miraculous hand by the Ocean sea his glorious Maiestie by the brightnesse of the Sunne his bountie by extending his goodnesse to euery creature his dominion and soueraignty by his rule ouer the world his patience by not speedily confounding some presumptuous sinners yet his iustice in due inflicted punishments vpon others His beautie by the heauens brightnesse the Sun in his glory the shining starres the glistering gold and the liuely colours set vpon his faire creatures full of admiration to the beholders His truth by the performance of his word his stability by the certain and vnchangeable course of things and his infinitenesse by the earths roundnesse the heauens circumference and the immeasurable spatiousnes betwixt both Praise this God in all his proceedings disgrace none of his workes magnifie his goodnesse for the least of his gifts bee silent when hee crosseth thee feare when he is vsing vpon his children the rod of his correction but tremble at his wrath in his worke of destruction and euer submit to the powerfull hand of his prouidence Ninthly in the next place with thy thoughts of God sauour also the things that are of God that is his word and ordinances ministery and magistracie also all diuine truthes though aboue all reason likewise all holy motions pressing downe the corruptions of thy heart yea sharpe rebukes for reformatiō shew patience in bearing of wrōgs and manifest loue to the godly though neuer so poore and let their account of thee bee more esteemed of thē the countenance of the mightiest that bee enemies to goodnesse Let mourning and sorrow for sin please thee better then wicked mirth Preferre Gods honor and diuine worship before thine owne life and al thy wealth Hold it thy greatest preferment and glory to be a true Christian and a companion to all that feare God professing the truth with them in the way of life Iudge it no disgrace to bee noted for zeale in religion for following the holy Saints in true deuotion But desire and striue to bee like the best follow Dauid in feruencie Iosias in tendernes of spirit and a melting heart Barnabas in charitie Nathaniel in sinceritie without guile Moses in the spirit of meeknes and Ioshua in his resolution to feare God and that alone with all thine household and bee as Cornelius in his holy estimation of the ministerie and alacrity of spirit to ioyne with the people of God Step forward euer with these and the like in the way of vertue that vnto the death as holy Martyrs haue done constantly looke to the reward of glory in the end Tenthly as thou art religious so bee also righteous serue God and doe thy dutie vnto men obey lawful commands of such as haue authority ouer thee Looke on God in the Commander and for a reward at his hands Be of a peaceable spirit offer Of our carriage towards men wrong to none wrongs receiued seeke not to reuenge desire onely that which is thine owne require that peaceably which other withhold wrongfully vse law but as a moderator and not as an auenger hate no man though he haue deserued it by loue win him and by thy weldoing hold him fast to thee make account of thy neighbour as of thy selfe let his honour bee thy ioy his sorrow thy griefe and his life to thee pretious his chastitie preserue as thine owne honesty thinke thy good name touched in the cracke of his credit for the Gospels sake wish him euer well do as thou wouldest be done vnto If in his absence thou speakest of him let it be good and in his presence onely for his good Couet not to bee preferred before him that is pride not to haue his life that is bloody cruelty nor to satisfie thy lust that is filthie dishonestie nor to get his goods that is the euerie nor to take away his good name that is worse then death Though he dislike of thee yet loue thou him faile not thou of any dutie albeit other doe not obserue thee according as is meet There is in thee the more grace and the greater praise thou doest deserue when thou canst subdue thy passions passe by contempt neglect thy selfe and teach other men their duties onely by thine owne weldoing This will procure loue make all thy paths peaceable and get thee praise and due honour with men if not yet God seeth hee will iudge and plead thy cause for thee in their consciences reuenge thy wrongs vpon obstinate enemies and recompence fully thy goodnesse vpon thy selfe Let this comfort thee against their vnthankfulnesse and remember the end obserue the commandement of loue liue euer in daily expectation of death the reward of life the crowne of glory and by the helpe of Gods spirit thou shalt neuer doe amisse Gaius O blessed Lord God! how do I hunger to haue part in this blessednes my soule is as the thirstie land I preceiue heereby my great wants and bewaile my imperfections I see now the narrow way and the straight gate to life and feare Ah how much is professed how little practiced I should vtterly despaire of my safety but that I rest vpon Gods mercy and relie onely vpon Christ his merits Now the Lord vouchsafe mee his spirit and the helpe of his grace that I may be a true obseruer of all these things thus to doe his will thus to performe my bounden dutie Oh Sir that I could