in that Citie but those who are written in the Lambes Booke of Life O that Water of Life Rev. 22.1.2 cleare as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God! There is the Tree of Life which beareth twelue manner of Fruites and rendereth Fruite euerie Moneth O! that is the true Land of CANAAN Exod. 3.17 which floweth with Milke and Honey which is promised to the Elect Children O how blessed are those who stand before thee O Lord 1. king 8.8 and heare thee and see the beautie of thine House O howe amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of Hostes It is better to bee a Doore-keeper in thine House than to bee a Monarch of the whole Worlde Psal 84.1 As the Hart brayeth after the Riuers of Waters Psal 42.1 so doeth my soule pant after thee my liuing Lord. O my GOD when shall I appeare before thee in Sion Nowe my soule returne vnto thy rest for the Lord will pittie thee and will deliuer thee from this Prison and from these wylde Beastes which vexe thee on euerie side and from sinne which daylie troubleth thee and will bring thee to the sight and fruition of the Eternall Ioye which is in the Heauens O glorious GOD I haue not yet seen the HeaueÌ„s where thâ— Saints are but in the myrrour of the Gospell But I see daylie these viâ—â—ble creatures and the Firmament NOTA. If there be such beauty in the outward part of the heauens what is within which are euen the workes of thine owne hand Then if there bee such beautie in the outwarde partes of thy Palace O LORD what will wee looke for in thy Gabinet O my GOD as often as I beholde these outward Heauens then let mine heart inward affections be mounted vp by an holie desire and meditation that the eye of my soule may pierce thorow these thy visible workes euen to the companie of my Brethren the First-borne and to that innumerable number of Angels and Sainctes Oh bee thou my Guide O my LORD and bring mee through the perils of this Wildernesse vnto thine heauenlie Palace euen for the merites and blood of IESVS CHRIST thy well-beloued Sonne our Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Werke IN the Creation of the third Day there bee two principall thinges to bee obserued First The manner of the Creation by separation of the Waters whereby were created two Elementes the Water and the Earth Next The Blessing of GOD. Since there is no difficultie in the wordes I will obserue foure thinges First That so long as those two Elementes were in the confused Chaos so long they were both vnprofitable and each one hindered other but assoone as they were separated Confusion is vnprofitable they were both fruitfull Euen so is it yet where Anarchie hath place either in Church or Policie there shall bee no Blessing in neither of them But happie is that Church and Common-wealth where all thinges are ruled by order and no place is left to confusion Gods blessing inricheth Next the Earth was created barren God spake the worde and it fructified If this was the estate thereof before Sinne howe much lesse nowe beeing subject to a curse will it bring foorth anie good thing without GODS Blessing God prouided for his creatures before they were Thirdlie yee see that God blessed it with Cornes Trees and Fruites for the sustenance of Man and Grasse for Beastes before he made anie of them He prouideth the Milke in the Breast of the Woman as a liuelie fountaine before the Childe be borne Then if he was so prouident before Man was made will he neglect vs Much more when they are when wee are made to his owne Image Let vs seeke him truelie and doubt not Fourthlie there is a treasure which God hath hidden in the Earth for Man Golde and Siluer to inrich him Coales Wood and other firing for his heate Stones for his Building c. and on the face of the Earth Gods hidden treasures should prouoke vs to thankefulnesse Cornes Hearbes Trees Wines Oyles and varietie of crearures both for his pleasure and profit When wee behold daylie these good benefits let vs be drawne by each one of them to thankfulnesse of our Creator Let vs seeke the right vse of them that wee spende them not vpon sinne Finallie by these earthlie blessings call to minde the spirituall Riches Seeke spiritual riches and Foode of our soules that wee may not labour for the foode that perisheth but for that Foode which doth endure for euer Iohn 6.27 A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Worke. ETernall God and most louing Father as thou increasedst this thy hudge workmanship of the Worlde and hast created the Earth vpon this third Day so I beseech thee to increase thy Spirit within me and create in my barren colde and earthly heart fruitfull considerations to thy Majesties Glorie O Lord as thou preparedst in the seconde Daye the Heauens to bee the Citie of our remaining so hast thou ordained and established the Earth to bee the place of our Pilgrimage and wandering as the people of Israel were in the Wildernesse fourtie yeares before they came to the land of Promise Similitude Yet O Lord the Earth is thine and the fulnesse thereof There is no constant abiding to me in this Earth I lodge heere in tents I wander now heere now there helpe me poore Pilgrime in this desart place that I may finde thee a Pillar of Cloude in the day to couer me Exod. 13.21.22 and a Pillar of fire in the night and darknesse of this world to illuminate me to see the way to Canaaâ— Thou openedst a fountaine to Hagar the Bond-woman and her childe Gen. 21.19 when they were steruing for thirst I am not the childe of the Bond-woman but of the free-woman Open the fountaine of the House of Dauid and giue me of the water of life and satisfie my soule with the fatnesse of thine house Ezech. 13.1 Iohn 7.38 Psa 39.12 I am a Stranger heere on Earth as my Fathers were before me Let me not walke then as a stranger among the Philistims and Babilonians If I were a citizen and a man of their owne Ioh. 15.19 they would loue me But because I am not of them neither follow them nor their manners therefore they hate me My Mothers sonnes and familiar friends count me a stranger they stand farre from me Psal 69.8 in the day of trouble Draw thou nigh vnto me when they goe farre from me Iob 19.14 Wilt thou leaue a poore Suckling to die him alone in this wildernesse Though my Father and Mother forsake me yet thou wilt gather mee vp I am a Widow for my Lord and Husband is with thee Psa 27.10 I am his Turtle Doue lamenting mine alone till I see him Bring me thorow the straits of this Pilgrimage Psal 42.7 I steppe out of one deepe to
another I goe through Fire Water carie me therefore from strength to strēgth Psal 84 7 till I appeare before God in Sion There are heere innumberable wylde Beastes young Lyons and fyrie Serpents to sting me but I looke to thy Iesus that Serpent of Brasse Men in danger of the serpents of this world Iohn 3.14 Of the thornie cares of this worlde Of the tentations of Sathan mouing to desperation or presumptiō Similitude 2. Sam. 3.39 who was erected vpon the Tree of the Crosse that he might cure remede me And again I walke vpon Thornes euen the thornie cares of this earth euery morning mine heart is vexed and pricked with them They vnquiet me so that they disturbe that peace which my soule shoulde haue with my God And whiles I am scarce fred of these thoughts Sathan with the temptation of sinne assaulteth mee hee buffetteth mee hee setteth my sinne in order before me and letteth mee see in a Glasse my whole iniquities O Lord bee mine helper my comforter and a strong Tower vnto mee for the sonnes of Zerviah are too strong for mee but I will not feare them if thou bee with mee Thy Rod and Shepheardes Staffe Psal 23.4 will comfort mee though I were walking through the shadowe of darknesse and in the valley of death But O Lord I haue yet farther to complaine that when I haue escaped these stormie tempestes and waues which inuaded me vpon the left hand then Sathan riseth vp on my right hand as an Angell of light and taketh mee vp to the Mountaine and offereth mee Riches Honoures Pleasures c. if I will walke in his wayes and worship him Luke 4.6 as hee did vnto Christ Iesus Lord let mee not taste of these Delicates or of the poysonable Cuppe of sinne Let mee not bee allured with the fruites of sinne albeit they present-faire thinges Let mee not run as a foolish Fish vpon the alluring baite of vnrighteousnesse Similitude I am more contented through pouertie 2. Cor. 6.8 and reproaches through a good report and an euill report to walke in this Earth in a good conscience with thy fauour than to possesse all the Treasures of Babel and to haue the losse of thy countenance Let the Earth bee soure vnto mee that the Heauens may bee sweete to mee Although the Earth smyle vpon mee vet it is but the smyle of mine enemie But albeit thou wouldest cast down thy coūtenance vpō me yet it is the downe-looking of my Father who will gladden my soule at last O my God thou hast commaunded the Earth which of its owne nature is dry and barren to yeelde Foode for my necessitie Thou hast commaunded mee to craue my daylie Bread at thine hand with a promise that if I aske Mat. 6.11 Matt. 7.7 it shall bee giuen mee Therefore O Father giue I beseech thee a blessing to the Earth and my labours therein that I may prosper Giue mee such a measure of thy creatures whereby I may not bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Thou diddest feede thy People with the MANNA in the Desart Ex. 16.13 17.6 1. King 17 4.9 and broughtest them the Water out of the Rocke Thou fedst Eliah by the Rauen and likewise the Widow of Sareptah by thy secret blessing O Lord of Hostes thou art no lesse carefull of thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy Sonnes bloode than thou wast of the seede of Abraham thy seruant Hos 2.19 Sende therefore to the Earth the first raine Marrie me to thee in mercie and compassion that thou mayest heare the Heauens and the Heauens may heare the Earth and the Earth may heare vs thy people Lord let me take them out of thine hands as tokens of thy fauour and earnest-pennies of better things prepared for me in Heauen O Lord the Earth is defyled with cruelties and filthinesse and casteth vp horrible cryes to thy Majestie against the inhabitans thereof it is ladened with a burthen of sinfull creatures Rom. 8.23 it lifteth vp its head cryeth and groaneth as traueling with childe waiting for the day of our redemption for then it shall be deliuered from the burthen O Lord take away the burthen of sinne from the Earth and purge by thy blood the transgressions of vs thy people Sanctifie vs O Lord that the creatures may be sanctefied to our vse and we to thy seruie through Christ Thou hast hidde in the Earth thy great treasures of Golde Siluer Yron Brasse and Coales c. and the world is set on fire in presute of those things yea for Golde they wil renounce their God forsweare their Father perish their soule and their life their King countrey and their Parents O Lord this is a couetous people whose heart is set vpon these perishing and vncertaine things But O Lord thou art better to me than thousands of Golde and Siluer All say Psal 119.72 Psal 4.6 Who will shew vs any good thing but Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me Their treasures are hid in the depths of the Earth and they treade vpon them but thou O my treasure art hid in the height of the Heauens The Theife diggeth Mar. 6.20 and the Roust doeth consume their treasures but thou art incorruptible Their treasures are stollen from them but nothing can separate thee from vs neither death nor life neither things present nor things to come Rom. 8.35 Let mine heart be with thee where thou art for thou art my treasure Let me finde mercie with thee Gen 33.11 and then I haue all these things for thy loue is better than Golde Thy seruant Salomon made choyce thereof 1. king 3.9 and it was Dauids his fathers choyce who for loue of thee craued one thing That he might dwell in thine House all the dayes of his life Psal 27.4 Luk. 10.42 And Marie the sister of Martha desired that one thing Golde is not able to saue me from the Graue but my God thou wilt raise me vp at the last day What pleasure hath man of Golde when he dieth but he casteth it away and calleth himselfe a foole that he should haue taken pleasure in it he biddeth distribute to the Poore whom he spoyled all his dayes But when I die then I possesse my treasure which I longed for death which separateth me from the Earth conjoyneth me to thee and filleth vp my joye when I haue receiued my treasure Further O Lord as thou hast hidden these treasures vnder the Earth so thou hast decored the face of the Earth with thy great blessinges O when I looke vnder my feete and beholde euerie one of thy creatures I see in them thy power and thy glorie yea I see thou hast appointed the Worme to beate downe my pride In the basest creature may be seen Gods glorie Thou hast painted the face of the Earth with all sortes of colours delectable to the sight yea the Lillie passeth
my fellowes I had no delight to pray nor heare thy word albeit my Parents and Masters many times did commaund mee I spent that time euen the first fruites of my youth in ydlenesse My sinfull life and wicked nature delighted not to bee instructed in learning and vertue which my neglect of time is nowe punished in mine age for the which I craue thy mercy O remember not good Lord the sinnes of my youth neither howe ignorant I haue beene of thy trueth Psal 25.7 But by the holy childhood of thy Sonne purge the sinnes of my childhood and of thy great mercy O Lord pittie mine ignorance But when I passed the yeeres of my childhood Adolescencie I entered into mine Adolescencie in a middle age betwixt a Boy and a Man Alace for pittie when I call to minde that time of my life my soule is astonished fearing that thou wilt make mee to inherite the sinnes of my youth Thou gauest mee strength of bodie and quicknesse of minde but how vyldlie abused I all thy benefites I with the prodigall sonne haue spent all my precious youth in sinne Oh when I thinke vpon the monethes of vanitie when I gaue my strength to sinne and did consecrate the first fruits of my life to Sathan my soule fainteth O Lord I am ashamed when I thinke vpon my lende and beastly behauiour more beseeming a Beast than a Man O Lord thou hast not suffered all my follies to be made patent to the world neither didst thou slay me in my sinne Let not my secrete sinnes stand in the light of thy countenance for thine honour is to couer sinnes therefore let them passe like a shaddow If Ioseph did pardon those sinnes of his Brethren wilt thou Gen. 45.1 O Lord call to minde the follies by the which I haue offended thee Alace I was not onely foolish and insolent but I was mad I contemned all admonitions of thy seruauntes I thought my Parentes and Elders were but foolish and I euanished in my mad rage I was nigh vnto the gates of Hell I posted and ranne as swiftly as the Dromadarie Ier. 2.24 or the wilde Asse But thou tookest mee in my moneth and when I was ladened with sinne then thou mercifully chastisedst mee while I was burning in the flame of my lustes thou tamedst mee by a grieuous disease and sicknesse which thou layedst vpon mee by which my bodie was brought vnder Blessed bee thou O Lord who hadst that care of mee that thou chastisedst me and nurturedst mee that I should not perish with the wicked worlde Thou didst meete thy seruant Paul when hee went to Damascus Act. 9.3 and smotest him to the ground with blindnesse that he might rise againe a new man to honour thee Thou diddest preuent Dauid by the hand of Abigall 1. Sam. 25.23 who stopped him from sheeding of blood O most mercifull Lord thou didst meete mee by thy rodde and didst cast mee downe and raysedst mee vp againe Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue learned to followe thy Commaundementes Psal 119.67 Now I thy poore Supplicant vpon the knees of a sorrowfull soule craue pardon and grace for all the transgressions of my youth But O my God as I grew in yeeres so I grew in sinne Age. and I forgot thy former mercies I went to Iericho and mine enemies wounded mee vpon the way Luk 10.33 and left me for dead my fellowes passed by mee but gaue mee no comfort But thou O pittifull Samaritane hadst mercy vpon mee thou filledst my woundes with the wine of thy blood thou powredst in the oyle of thy spirit to soften them thou tookest mee vpon thy shoulders and broughtest mee to the Inne of thy Church where I might remaine vntill I was perfectly cured Prayse bee vnto my God who left mee not in my sinne but had compassion vpon mee But Lord haue pittie for my soule is inwardly tormented when I thinke on my former dayes and how I haue sinned against thee My Senses are defiled my Seeing my Hearing my Tasting The sight my Smelling and my Touching Alace I made not a couenant with mine Eyes but they were full of filthinesse therefore now doe I water my Couch with the teares of my complaint Forgiue O Lord Psal 6.6 my wandering lookes and nowe set minâ— Eyes vpon thee that the Eyes of minâ— Heart beeing purified with a purâ— Heart I may see God Math. 5.8 I opened the doores of mine Eares vnto the strange voyces of thine enemies I welcomed Sinne The hearing whensoeuer it came to my Soule But alace I repent and wish at God that I had not done so Yet nowe O Lord open the doores of my Soule that thou mayest sound the voyce of joye and gladnesse that the. Psal 51.8 Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Woe is mee that euer I tasted the delicates of sinne and that as Eua The â—â—sting Gâ—â— 3.6 by her taste and sight brought that guiltinesse vpon her selfe and vs so I by mine abusing of these good benefites haue procured that with the prodigall Childe thou shouldest bring me to pouertie O God keepe mee that I neuer taste the foode of the king of Babel but let mee eate the pottage of Daniel thy seruant Daniel 1.8 The Smelling Oh that the stinking smell of sinne were away from mine head Let mee smell the sauour of thine Oyntmentes thy Myrrhe Psal 45.8 and thy Cassia when thou commest from thine Yuorie Palaces The Touching Oh that euer I stretched foorth mine hand to sinne Now Lord extend d mine hand to thy seruice to bee bountifull to the Poore and to sow my seed vpon mâ—nie waters that I may reape eternall joye My minde is replenished with ignorance mine heart is indured my will is rebellious to thy will my mouth an open sepulchre and my feete are swift to run to euill O Lord haue pittie on mee and remember that Christ my Lord was wounded in all the members of his bodie and in all the members of his bodie that by his woundes I might bee cured Preuenting grace Preuent mee by thy grace â—â—eke thy lost Sheepe and light the â—andle of thy word Matth. 15.24 that thou mayest â—â—de thy lost Pennie And when thou â—ast found mee Lord giue mee thine â—â—companying grace Accompanying grace that it doe not â—â—rsake mee Put the Ring on my sinâ—er euen the Ring of thy loue and faâ—our And last I beseech thee bestow â—pon mee thy following grace â—ollowing grace which â—ay crowne the whole mercies that I â—aue receiued all my life Sinne alace sticketh faster to mee â—an doeth my flesh yea the marrow â—ithin my bones O Lord make diuiâ—on betwixt vs Sinne separateth vs from God and separate it from â—ee which hath made so long separaâ—â—on betweene thee and mee It is a â—urthen which lyeth vpon mee and is â—oo heauie for mee to beare therefore 〈◊〉 my God
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
before the Organes letting vs see how GOD bindeth not his works to instruments Life out of Death Honour out of Infamie c. whereby his owne Glorie may appeare the greater Next the Light was made without anie Organe where from it should proceede For the Sunne and Moone were made vpon the fourth day by which God would teach vs that we should not binde his operation to anie instruments for hee can worke by them and without them against them Therefore it is naturall Idolatrie to binde the actions to the creatures and to spoyle the Creator of his due honour Light excellent for fiue respects Now the Light is most excellent in fiue respects First because it is necessarie for the direction of our actions for he that walketh in darknesse 1. Necessarie Iohn 8.12 knoweth not whither hee goeth Secondlie the Light is moste pleasant for it addeth beautie vnto all inferiour creatures 2. Beautifull who if they had no light shining vpon them they vvould bee vnder disgrace Thirdlie the Light is moste comfortable for Darknesse is the Image of Hell 3. Comfortable and a little light vvill greatlie comfort those that are in darknesse Fourthlie the Light is most pure simple 4. Pure and simple and can admit no corruption for albeit it shine vpon filthie places yet it neither receiueth nor admitteth anie infection therefrom but it illuminateth them that they seeme to bee purged And fiftlie the Light is most coelestiall 5. Coelestiall because it proceedeth not from the Earth but from the Heauens Our Sauiour CHRIST is compared to the Light Christ the true Light in all respects for all these fiue reasons following First Without him vvee must vvalke in darknesse Secondlie He is most pleasant and beautifieth vs. Thirdlie He onlie comforteth vs. Fourthlie Hee receiueth no corruption of our flesh And fiftlie He came from aboue Christ exceedeth the Light in four things But there are other foure thinges vvherein our Sauiour exceedeth this materiall Light First The Light is created and he is an vncreated Light Next The Light cannot pierce thorow all things for there are secret places in the Earth to the vvhich it can neuer attaine But there is no darknesse if it were as palpable as the darknesse of Egypt Ex. 10.20 to which Christ cannot shine Thirdlie The Light can shine to a seeing eye but it cannot giue light to a blinde eye and it offendeth a soare eye But Christ is the Light of our minde and giueth vs light to see And last the materiall Light altereth and changeth vnto darknesse but Christ is vnalterable when hee is become the Light of the soule he cannot depart finallie and totallie vntill the time he bring thee to that Light where thou shalt be with him for euer A PRAYER Vpon the Lordes first Dayes Worke. O Pure and Euerlasting Light vvho dwellest in a light vnaccessable I beseech thee to looke blink into my darkened minde with the gracious beames of thy countenance Psal 36.9 that I may looke vp and see light in thy light O Lord I reuerence and worship thee for all thy workes of wonder which thou hast made for the profite and pleasure of man Gods works a cleare myrrour wherein to behold himselfe Genes 1.3 There is not one of thy works which is not a liuelie myrrour to represent thy glorie thy wisedome thy power and thy goodnesse But my minde is blinde and caÌ„not see thee in them Thou createdst the Light on the first day by the word of thy mouth and it sprang out of darknes That senseles creature obeyed the voyce of thy mouth but alace thou hast manie times cried vnto me Arise from the workes of darknesse and I did not obey thee I am not woorthie that the light shoulde shine vpon mee which will bee a witnesse against mee When I beholde the Light how pleasant and beautifull it is and that it giueth an ornament to all other creatures who If light bee beautifull farre much more the Father of Lights if they were wrapped vp in darknesse were vtterlie disgraced But O Lord how much more art thou beautifull in thine holie Temple when thou hast put onelie a little sparke of thy glorie into this creature Our Sauiour saieth Blessed are those who haue cleane heartes Matt. 5.8 for they shall see GOD. As thou hast giuen mee the benefite of this present light so let mee see thy selfe with a pure heart Thine enemies yea the Beastes see this light but Lord let mee see thy selfe the Father of Lightes As this Light is glorious so it is verie comfortable vnto mee O my God for this night I was couered with darkenesse I turned to and froe and mine heart was sore perplexed and my â—ones sore vexed but when thou didst blinke in earlie in the morning then I reuiued mine heart was comforted and I saide vnto thee If the light be comfortable much more is God Ex. 15.23 O Lord is there such great comfort to mee in this little light abstract not thy presence from my soule All the comfortes of thy creatures will bee like to the waters of Mara which were bitter if thou season them not with thy presence and make them sweete by the Crosse of Christ Breake open the doores of my soule that thou mayest enter in and lighten the eye of mine vnderstanding that I may see thy will thy glorie and the excellencie of thine House But Lord bee mercifull vnto mee that I haue enjoyed so manie lightes and haue abused them vnto sinne Misspent time repented I spent them ydlie profanelie and wickedlie Thou mayest justlie close mine eyes that I should neuer see anie newe light who haue thus mispent so many Thou mayest cast mee into the bedde of Sicknesse or into a Prison where I should see no light But O Lord I was blinded by ignorance mine affections did blinde-folde mee Haue mercie vpon mee that I haue spent so long a light in the workes of sinne 1. Thes 5.5 Ephes 5.8 Let mee walke as the Childe of light and let mee put on the workes of light that I bee like thee and shine here and walke in light that from light I may goe to light for euer Oh let thy word and thy law bee a light to my feete Psal 119.105 that I may see to doe thy will and to keepe thine holie Commaundementes Let mee bee a Lampe of light and not a lumpe of darknesse O God I haue this one coÌ„fort God an vnchangeable Light that albeit this present light be alterable yet Thou art an vnalterable GOD and thy presence shineth at all times Therefore I beseech thee let not the light goe out of the Tabernacle Ex. 30.25 but nourish it continuallie by the fresh and new Oyle of thy Spirite that thou mayest dwell in mee and mayest delight to abide in thine owne Building and keepe in thine owne light which thou hast brought in and
nourish it within thy Sanctuarie that I beeing brought through this shaddowe of the darke worlde by thine externall and internall light may come to that place where there shall bee no night and where there needeth no Candle Rev. 21.23 neither the Sunne nor the Moone to giue light euen where thy glorie shineth and where the Lambe himselfe giueth light To whome with thee O Father and the holie Spirit bee all honour praise power and dominion now and euermore So bee it A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDES second dayes vvorke THE Heauens were created the seconde Daye The worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the natiue language is taken frō the Waters because the Waters are there and descende from thence The Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato takes as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conspicable because it is objected to the sight of all men The Latine Coelum because it is Coelatum carued with goodlie Ornaments and Firmamentum from the surenesse of it and Expansum because GOD hath spred it foorth as a Curtaine Ps 104.2 The Heauens haue three significations in the Scriptures First it is taken for the Aire wherein the Fowles and Birdes doe flie Mat. 6.26 Heauen hath three significatiōs Secondlie for the Firmament And thirdlie for the Seate of the Angels and blessed Soules Paradise the Bosome of Abraham the third Heauens wherevnto the Apostle Paul was rauished These three were made this day God created a faire Theatre to himselfe this daye wherein there should bee innumerable Quiristers neare vnto his Throne of pure Seraphims and Cherubims euerie one prouoking other to his prayse and saying Holie Revel 4.8 holie holie LORD GOD Almightie c. And againe there are infinite Aëriall Quiristers who fill the ears of men with their pleasant Songs by their example prouoking men to laude their Creatour And there is a Parpane and middle inter-stise which is the sole and grounde of his vpper House and the Roofe of his neather House to couer the Worlde by an admirable manner I marke three thinges in the Creation of the Heauens Thre things obserued First the order which GOD vseth in the making of them for seeing Man was to bee made of an Heauenlie Soule and an Earthlie Bodie and was to dwell in Heauen for euer and on the Earth onlie for a little time hee maketh the Heauen first If Heauen was first made then seeke it first setting it aboue the Earth and making Man to bow vpwardes looke vnto it and not downward towards the Earth as the Beasts doe being the place of his abode perpetuall remaining The consideration wherof should make vs to vse that same order in our actions which God did in his Albeit our bodies be on the Earth let our hart bee in Heauen Let vs put Heauen in our heart before the Earth let vs looke vnto it and haue our conuersation in it albeit our bodies be captiuate in the earth let our hearts be in our owne Countrey where wee shall dwell for euer Next God grounded the Heauens vpon the second day and perfected them vpon the fourth day God worketh by degrees This is his common forme both in his Spirituall works and in his naturall he worketh by degrees he layeth the foundation of his benefit and after he finisheth it Therfore let vs not hasten nor precipitate but attend Gods will who will perfect our earthly and heauenlie comfort in his owne time Last yee see he bindeth vp the Cloudes in the Aire that they cannot drowne the Earth as he wardes the Seas by the sands By weake meanes God preserueth man to teach vs how God by these weake meanes doeth preserue Mankinde Which if he doe to his enemies what should his Elect Children looke for at his hands A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES second Dayes Worke. O Almightie GOD Thou who created the Heauens the second day inspire my soule I beseech three with heauenlie Meditations inlarge mine heart and loose my tongue to thy praise Ouer-shadow mine heart with thy grace as thou couerest the Eearth with the Heauens that I may consider thy power and goodnesse towards me in this thy workmanship Thou needest not the Heauens O Lord for before the Heauens were thou wast the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but thou madest them for me Therefore lift vp my minde by a spirituall meditation that with heart and minde I may seeke for thee in them and loue them for thee who is in them Thou dwellest in a light vnaccessable I cannot enter into thy Throne to see but I prostrate my soule before the gates of thy grace wrapped in the beggersie clouts of my sinne and at thy commandement I knock Long for Heauen where thou mayest see God Cant. 5.12 Cast the crumms of thy mercie to me that I faint not in this wildernesse Looke with the eyes of the Doue out of thine holie Temple Heare the voyce of my prayer and gather my teares into thy Bottle who am in a strange countrey and so long absent from my Lord and Husband who is now dwelling with thee Looke foorth at the grates of thy Fathers window Cantic 2.9 O thou whom my soule loueth and cure the griefe of mine heart by thy gracious countenance Should wee dwell sundrie so fare I here thou in the heauens hasten thy comming in the Cloudes or hasten my departure by death that I may enjoye the sight of him whome my soule loueth O Lord the Heauen is full of thy glorie when thou commest out of thine Yourie Palaces Psal 45.8 and out of the moste holie places and shewest the signes of thy presence amongst thy Sainctes then the foundations of the Heauens shake then the innumerable legions of the Coelestiall Spirites rayse vp their voyces Psal 18.7 sounding thy prayses they fill al thy Temple speak words which cannot bee expressed Thine holie Armie of twentie thousand thousandes of Angels Revel 7.4 9. and of euerie Tribe of Israel twelue thousand and of all the Nations vnder the Heauens innumerable thousandes Their voyces are like the sound of the Thunder Rev. 14.2 or as the noyse of manie Waters O our God howe glorious art thou in thine holie Temple O that Spirituall Musicke and the Harpes of God wherevpon thy Sainctes doe play both daye and night The twentie and foure Elders Rev. 7.14 15. and the rest who made their long Robes white in the bloode of the Lambe thou leadest them to the pure Fountaines of Waters thou hast wyped away all teares from their eyes They sing Prayse Glorie and Wisedome Thankes Honour Power and Might bee vnto our GOD for euermore The foundation of that Citie is of precious Stones The Iasper the Saphyr Rev. 21.19 20.21 27 and the Emarald the Topaz and the Hiacinth The twelue Gates are twelue Pearles The Streete of the Citie is pure Golde as shyning Glasse There is none vncleane thing
signifie Some Planets but each one of them hath a seuerall office and compleateth his course in his appointed time as the Sunne and Moone doe and haue their particular operations vpon the inferiour creatures As for the Comets they take their name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comets which is called the haire because they seeme to carrie as it were haire about them of whom Plinius maketh mention in his second Booke of his naturall historie and twentie fiue Chapter The ends of their creation Simil. As for the ends of their creation First the Sunne was created to rule the Day the Moone the Night So this darke and blinde world is ruled by the light of Christ and of his Church which is illuminated and directed by him But I maruell how the Church of Rome can call her selfe the Sunne and the Princes of the world the Moone for if she be the Spouse of Christ then must she be the Moone of whom is spoken in the Scripture and Christ must be her Sunne So in comparison of her the secular persons are the Earth I maruell likewise of these against whom Ieremie and the rest of the Prophets so oft speaketh who thinke that their life and the events thereof still depend vpon the Starres or Plannets which is a manifest idolatrie putting them in Gods place NOTA. But let vs learne that the superiour creatures haue so power ouer the inferriour bodies that wee leaue all the euent of them to God Against the curiositie in searching our euents 1. Sam. 28.18 the maker and guider of all let vs seeke his fauour depende on his prouidence without any curious searching of our euent lest wee receiue the answere of Saul A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES fourth Dayes Worke. GRACIOVS GOD and mercifull Father who hast filled the Heauens with such infinite Lightes vpon this fourth Day inlighten mine vnderstanding I beseech thee that I may see thy power and thy glorie in these thy good creatures and through them as through spectacles let me look in to the Father of Lights Thou hast created the Sunne who by his beautie and bountie hath adorned the whole Earth As the Sun shineth on the bodie pray that Christ may shine on the soule hee ariseth each morning on my bodie so I pray thee that the Sunne of Righteousnesse the Sunne Iesus Christ may shine vpon my darkened minde euerie daye and houre and chase away the cloudes of ignorance and of sinne from my soule that thou mayest shine brightly in me Woe is mee my Lord howe manie times hath the Sunne shined vpon mee and as Absolom before the Sunne committed wickednesse 2. Sam. 16 22. so I before the Sunne in the pride of my wicked heart haue often times sinned against thee O my Father and therefore I confesse that I am not woorthie that the Sunne should shine vpon mee O Lord Iesu spreade thy Mantle ouer mee that thy Father beholde not my wickednesse Thou puttest light in the Sunne that hee may shine therefore Lord put knowledge and vnderstanding in mee Thou hast put hotnesse in the Sunne Oh warme mine hart with thy loue that through the loue I beare to thee I may also breake foorth in the loue of my Neighboures And as the Sunne runneth constantlie in his course at thy commaundement so Lord let mee run all my dayes in the path of thy Law for hitherto I haue run as a wylde Asse in the broade way of destruction yea I brayed after the desires of sinne psal 42.1 as the Hart doeth after the Riuers of Waters and nothing could haue satisfied mee vnlesse I had obtained my sinfull desire Now Lord haue mercie vpon me draw my feet out of the vnhappie way of sinne let me runne with as speedie a course in the way of thy seruice Let vs bee more diligēt to serue God than wee were before to sin against him that as Sainct Paul thy seruaunt was more diligent in thy employment than he was in the destruction of thy Church so I may be more busied in thy honourable seruice than I was in seruing mine owne affections and in the seruice of Sathan Alace O Lord howe slow am I to doe thy seruice But if thou wilt drawe mee I will run after thee Oh drawe mee by the Cordes of thy loue Cantic 1.3 yea rather than I should lie behinde force mee with the Cordes and Whippes of thy visitation that I may learne to runne a quicker swifter pace than I haue done heeretofore But alace NOTA. that the Sunne which is a senselesse creature should neuer bee wearie and that I should so soone bee tyred in seruing of thee The Sunne constant in its course O louing Father stirre vp a constant zeale of thine honour in mine heart I beseech thee that as I goe forwarde in yeeres so I may make greater progresse in godlinesse O LORD when I see the Sunne and the Moone and the Starres c. which are the workes of thine owne hands O then I thinke with my selfe What is Man that thou shouldest visit him or the sonne of man that thou shouldest magnifie him For albeit the Sunne were in the highest top of its beautie glorie yet it is but my seruant and likewise the Moone The Sunne serueth vs let vs serue GOD. and the Starres Then fye vpon mee if I shall not in whatsoeuer estate I am serue thee O my gracious God who hast made so glorious creatures for my vse LORD I pray thee let my light so shine before men that all who beholde my conuersation may take occasion to glorifie thine holie Name O Father of Lightes lighten thou my Candle that it may shine clearelie and furnish it with the Oyle of thine holie Spirite and Worde that it may shine euen as a bright Morning Starre in thy Kingdome Thy seruant Paul O Lord 1. Cor. 15.41 sayeth that there is one glorie of the Sunne and another of the Moone and another of the Starres It is true there is great diuersitie amongst the Sainctes heere on Earth and likewise great difference of glorie in the Life to come But O my God let mee shine but as the least of thy Starres that I may bee fixed in thy Firmament and giue out my light of knowledge and good life vnto this darke Age. The Moone knoweth the time of her change and as shee changeth so doe all the inferior creatures with her for all men are grasse and there is no steadfast abiding for them heere But O Lord heerein is my comfort The Moone changeth but God can not change Ps 90. ◠6 Psal 90.2 Luke 1.5 that there is no shadowe of changing with thee Thou art from euerlasting to euerlasting yea my God thy kindnesse and trueth abideth from generation to generation euen vnto such as feare thee and attende vpon thy mercies and goodnesse O vnchangeable God I finde none alteration with thee for although men runne
farre from mee yea albeit mine owne kinsmen stand aloofe and my father and my mother forsake mee yet thou O Lord drawest neare vnto me immediatelie makest me feele thine helpe at hande in my greatest tribulations O Lord suffer mee neuer to change from thee but giue mee thy constant Spirit I beseech thee that in all the cares of my life both in wealth and in woe I may depende vpon thee serue thee rejoyce in thee the onlie comfort of my soule that I bee not like a wandering Planet but a fixed Starre honouring thine holie Name in this Wildernesse that afterwardes I may shine with the rest of thy glorious Starres and holie Angels in the eternal Firmament of thy Kingdome Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES fifth Dayes Worke. THE Element of Water which God created on the fifth Day produceth vnto vs two Treasures The one which filleth the Seas with Fishes the other plenisheth the Aire with Birdes and Fowles for the Lord would leaue nothing emptie â—isâ—es necessarie for our naâ—ure As for the Fishes wee know how necessarie they are for our nature and constitution of our bodie which of a part is humide The prouidence of God in sending â—ishes to Scotland in dve season God hath furnished this Nation with such aboundance of Fishes that they haue obtained the names of Schooles and Droues he sendeth them in the mouth of Haruest in our Seas both East and West in such aboundance that they may feede the poore Labourers in cutting downe their Cornes Such is his rich dispensation in due time for the comfort of his people Daintinesse of some who contemne fish How much are they to be blamed who for delicatenesse of their bellies doe contemne these good creatures which God thought so necessarie for their nature And herefore the Lawes of our Realme are better made than practized whrein dayes are appointed and dayes are forbidden for the eating of Fish which men will violate vnder the colour of Conscience because all Meates are free I grant the difference of Meates is taken away by Christ but thou must not vse thy libertie to the prejudice of thy Brother and the whole Countrey yea to offende the Prince who gaue not out that Law to straine thy Conscience but for the benefite of his Subjects whom to offende were great Conscience in so lawfull commandements As for the superstitious difference for Conscience as though one were holier than another Superstitious differencie in Meats Heb. 13.4 Psal 107.23 Gods power seene in the Seas that is the worke of Antichrist who biddeth abstaine from Meats which God hath created and forbiddeth to marrie which God hath said is honourable amongst all Further they who goe downe to the Sea haue experience of Gods power to deliuer them from the stormie waues thereof where they should call to minde how oft they haue raised vp the waues of their sin against God and beseech him to asswage his wrath against their sinnes that hee who hath power ouer the Windes and Waters may rebuke them with the word of his mouth Mat. 8.27 If thou be sailing in the Disciples Boate Comfort to Sea-faring men in tempestes Matth. 14.23 and be a true member of his body remember Christ is in the mountaine of Heauen look vp to him with apenitent eye of a sinner and he will looke vnto thee with a pittifull eye of a Sauiour and will pray to his Father for thine helpe The Fishes come not to the Nettes but by Gods direction The Apostles were fishing all night but receiued nothing till Christ came and then they drew out their Nettes full to them their partners Luke 5.5 Iohn 23.1 Therefore it is in vaine to rise earlie except the Lord builde thine house Psal 127.1.2 blesse thy worke Herefore whether we bee on Sea or Land let vs euer studie to get Gods blessing Further God declareth his power not only in creating Fishes for our necessitie and pleasure which wee haue dayly but also in creating Fishes both for quantitie as the Leuiathan of whome Iob speaketh and in qualitie Iob 40.20 21.22 c. Plin. lib. 32 cap. 1 miraculous as Echeyneris or Remora so called from her vertue who being three foot long will cleaue to a great Shippe and hinder her to saile And againe the Mare-maides Maremaids whose face and vpper parts are like a Womans the neather parts like a Fish Many other might be brought in which I omit affirming this that the Lord is maruelous in all his works Finallie Allegorie of the Sea Mat. 4.19 the Allegorie which our Sauiour bringeth in of the fishing is remarkable The Sea is the world the surges of waues and windes are the tentations of the Deuil his children the Fishes are Men who goe through the world the Boate is the Church the Fishers are the Apostles and Ministers who should be fishers of men who must spreade foorth the Nette of the Gospell in the turbulent Sea of this world albeit with great hazard and perrill to draw men from the Sea of this life to the kingdome of Heauen They are called Piscatores hominum Fishers of men Matth. 4. and they are sent to seeke men and fish after the soules of men As for the Fowles of the Aire Fowles they are infinit in number and there is such variety in their colours which is admirable with such heauenly notes and harmonies as their coelestiall Musicke should prouoke vs all to the praise of God when the Birdes doe after their manner praise him The Peacoke is glorious in his colours Iob 39.16 17. and he scorneth the glorie of Kinges The Ostridge an vnnaturall Fowle like vnto vnnaturall Mothers The Doue is full of loue simplicitie Matth. 13.16 which we should imitate The Turtle a patterne of chastitie the contrarie whereof she condemneth in vs. The Eagle full of rapine Iob 39.33 Matth. 10.29 Ierem. 7.8 which wee should flee The Sparow is an exaÌ„ple of Gods prouidence who will much more care for man The Storke and the Swallow know their times which wee doe not neither can we finde that time wherein we should turne from our wandring The Swallow bringeth vp her little ones neare vnto the House of God Psal 83.3 and we flee from it yea and the young Rauens seeke their meate at God who giueth it them in due season So all these Fowles praise God some by their voyces some by their example Let vs learne at the Birds to praise God Let vs then be ashamed to be inferiour to them certifying our selues that these same if we doe it not shal be witnesses against vs at the last day A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES Fifth Dayes Worke. HEarken vnto my Prayer I beseech thee O mine heauenlie Father and moste mercifull God Oh I intreat thine heauenlie Majestie that thou wilt bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me all mine ouertreadinges Great and manie are thy
say it O Lord thou hast appointed thy creatures to labour for me then seeing I am eased by them make me to goe forwarde more busilie in thy seruice that they may beare me in all my journeyes to glorifie thee and not carrie me to sinne Numb 22.21 with Baalam the sonne of Beor who caused Israel to sinne And as thou hast appointed the Beasts for my commoditie so through my sinne thou hast inarmed thy creatures aganst me for now the Earth bringeth foorth as many enemies as friends vnto me For the wylde Beastes doe multiplie as our sinne groweth which destroyeth both Man and Beast and the Cornes and Fruits before our eyes are consumed by thy great Hoste The residue of the Palme-worme the Canker-worme hath eaten Ioel 1.4 and the residue of the Canker-worme the Grashopper hath eaten O Lord waken vs in mercy out of the bed of sinne that beeing reconciled to thee thou mayest rebuke thy great Hoste and drowne them in the Sea Further O Lord when I consider how thou madest mee little lesse than an Angell Psal 8.5 and crownedst mee with honour and glorie and yet I am become like a Beast in my sensualities and pleasures Yea oftentimes like a Swine I returne to the puddle of sinne from which I was cleansed Wash me O Lord throughly from an euill conscience Many are like Bulles Lyons and Beares in this Wildernesse where I dwell O blessed God thou hast rescued mee from the clawes of the Beare and the paw of the Lyon 1. Sam. 17.34 Psal 23.2.4 as Dauid did his Fathers Sheepe O Lord thou art my shepheard when I feele my selfe neare lost thy Staffe will deliuer me Therefore will I sacrifice to thee my bodie and my life for thou art the God of my saluation mine hope mine helpe my Sauiour and my God O Lord Matth. 12 34. this is a generation of Vipers and vnnaturall people they haue recompenced me euill for good Alace as I haue done to thee so haue they done to me Nota. I requite thy kindnes with vnkindnesse thy benignities with mine iniquities But pittie O pittie me I will doe so no more Let my wayes please thee O Lord let my soule be thankfull vnto thee that thou mayest tame those Wilde Beasts and make them friendly vnto me Now seeing thou hast made my bodie and soule this sixth day grant that all the dayes of my life I may glorifie thee in them both that while they are together in this world euery one may prouoke other to serue thee Let Soule and Bodie prouoke one another to Gods seruice my soule may be commanded by thee and so may direct my bodie aright and my bodie may be obedient to the directions of thine holy Spirit that so I may vse all thy creatures to the glorie of thine holie Name that when it shall please thee to diuide them then I may render my bodie to the dust whereof it was made and my soule to thee of whom it was created waiting when they shall meete be vnited together againe at the last day to praise and glorifie thee for euermore Amen A MEDITATION VPON THE SEAVENTH DAY Vpon the vvhich the Lord rested from all the Workes which Hee had made Genes 2.2 WEe haue taken a view of the first sixe dayes wherin we haue seen the wonderful works of GOD in the creation of the whole World and all things therein And now wee come to the seuenth Day which is the sweete day of our Lordes rest wherein hee ceased from any new creation but by his providence sustained those thinges which hee had made By this his example he instituted one Day onelie to bee celebrated as a Sabbath to the ende of the world This Day ought to be had in an honourable regard as Augustine obserueth in his 154. Serm. de temp Tom. 10. in these words Venerabilis est hic dies qui Dominicus dicitur c. that is to say This day which is called the Lordes day is venerable on the which the Light was first seene Genes 1.3 Exod. 14.22 Ibid. 16.15 Mat. 3.13 Iohn 2.1 Luke 9.17 Ioh. 20.1 and 20.26 2. The people of Israel passed thorow the redde Sea 3. Manna rained in the Desart 4. The Lord was baptized in Iordane 5. Christ turned Water into Wine in Canah of Galilee 6. Christ fed fiue thousand people with fiue Loaues 7. Our Lord arose from death 8. Entered thorow the close Doores where the Disciples were gathered for feare of the Iewes Act. 2.1 9. The holy Ghost descended vpon the Apostles c. and on which Day we look for the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ to judgement when as the Church shall bee reformed to a Light seuenfolde greater than the Sunne and Moone c. This is a Day not an Houre not of Ydlenesse but of Rest Nota. not vnto our selues but to the Lord not for a time but for euer God craueth a whole Day which consisteth of all the partes Morning Noonetyde and Euening The whole Sabbath is to be sanctified So it is a verie grosse abuse to parte or diuide the Lordes Day at our owne pleasure Wee giue the beginning of this Day to sleepe and many Craftesmen without conscience to worke the mid-time of the day perhaps to the seruice of the Church and the afternoone to Drinke or Pastime euen as though God had not right and title to the whole Day who commandeth it by his Preceptes and commendeth it by his owne example as wee haue showne afore But seeing ignorant people and I am the more sorie euen those who would haue some appearant showe of knowledge doe object saying How shall they spende the Sabbath they haue kept Church-time what shall they doe afternoone it were better for them to play than to drinke so that they thinke Playes to bee lawfull at afternoone and that vpon the Sabbath First I answere that to vse anie sorte of playing gaming or pastime vpon the Lords day An answere vnto those who aske how they should bestow the Sabbath is altogether vnlawfull for vpon this day especiallie wee haue to doe with God in a serious and earnest matter which businesse will chase away all follies and wantonnesse and bring vs into a due consideration how wee may attaine vnto a reconciliation with our God for our manifold sinnes wherewith wee haue so often and hainouslie prouoked him vnto wrath against vs. How the Sabbath should bee spent But I wil more peremptorily answere to their demaund What they should doe First for the morning of the day rise earely and pray confessing the sinnes of the weeke bygone prepare thy heart to receiue the word of God as thou wouldest prepare the ground in breaking it vp Simil. before thou wouldest cast seede into it In the midday heare the word and sing praise to the blessed Trinitie Blessed is the man who delighteth in the law of the Lord. Psaelm 1.2 And
thy Spirit may make the whole counsell of God knowne to the people that they keepe nothing backe nor adde nothing lest thou O God adde vnto them the curse of thy Law Rev. 22.18 scrape their names out of the booke of Life And because thy Church is vnder continuall dangers O Lord keepe her and all her members from the cruell rage of all her enemies Lord let the malice of her aduersaries turne to themselues and bring confusion vpon all such as hate Sion Lord giue peace to her Walles and her Palaces and blesse those that blesse her Psal 122.7 and curse those that curse her keepe her like the Apple of thine Eye Psal 17.8 which thou louest Thou wilt bee with her in the middest of the fire and the water that she bee not destroyed nor ouer-whelmed By thine hand O Lord she hath bene preserued They lay shares for the poore Church but cut thou them asunder yea Psal 7.16 and 57.6 trappe them in the net which they haue laide They haue digged a pitte let them fall into the midst of it So shall come to all the enemies of our God and his Church Let them be as a turning Wheele and 83.13 and a rolling Ball. Let them be as smoake which vanisheth before the winde and. 68 2. and as Waxe which melteth in the Sunne Let them be like a lumpe of Lead vvhich sinketh to the bottome of the Sea O Lord if it were any particular reuenge of mine owne I vvould pardon their vvronges But alace it is done to my Mother thy Spouse how shall I beare it Burie them in eternall forgetfulnesse vvho haue done such despitefulnesse to her as that cruel Antichrist and his adherents haue done And to the effect that thine enemies may bee discomfited arise O Lord sharpen the Arrowes of thy Worde by vvhich thou mayest pierce the hearts of the Kinges enemies Psal 45.5 Draw the Sword of thy Word Heb. 4.12 which is two-edged that it may cut to the diuision of the marrow from the bones Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Ministers but make it a quickning spirit to bring downe great Holdes let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes that thy Ministrie may be powerfull and the world may see that thou hast not left thy Church without both counsell and comfort 1. Pet. 1.22 that men are not only hearers but also doers of thy word And againe I pray for thy Ministrie that they may be faithfull Stewards of thy Mysteries 1. Cor. 3.12 vigilant Watchmen diligent Shepheardes wise Builders not of stubble 1. Pet. 2.4 but of Golde vpon the foundation which is Christ and that their only care be to see the glorie of thy Name and for the good of the Church which is our Mother Blesse and increase the fruit of her Wombe let her grow in number like the Starres of Heauen let her bee fruitfull in her age let her sonnes be like Oliue Plants bringing foorth fruit let her daughters be like carued corner Stones Psal 144.12 in whose hearts thou wilt carue thine Image in the similitude of a Palace And blesse her with the blessing of Heauen and of the earth and of the deepe Gen. 49.25 and let all the eternall blessings which my soule can wish bee vpon thy Spouse my Mother the vniuersall Church vpon all her children friendes and seruants yea whosoeuer loueth the peace of thy Church let them prosper I pray namelie to thee O Lord for thy Church in France Bohemia Pray for the Church in France and Bohemia which thou began with the bloode of innumerable Martyres which thou hast made to grow amongst the middest of thine enemies Maintaine O Lord the vvorke vvhich thou hast begunne amongst them giue them wisedome that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their aduersaries and that in this dangerous time they may cleaue only to thee who will be both their wisedome and protection O Lord looke vpon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Yle of Britane thou translated this Vine out of Aegypt and diddest plant a Vine-yarde to thy selfe thou didst hedge it about with thy prouidence thou confoundedst all her enemies thou buildedst a watch-tower in the middest thereof Isa 5.1.2 c. Psal 80.8 and sent watchmen accordingly to giue warning to them But O Lord thou crauedst lookedst for wine-grapes they yeelded thee wilde-grapes So that now we deserue that thou shouldest pull downe the hedge and suffer the wilde Boare to enter into thy Planting Remember O Lord thine ancient mercies and forget our iniquities digge vs O Lord and take paines vpon vs that we may be fruitfull And finallie O Lord blesse all the visible Congregations of people who call vpon thy Name and all the particular persons whose names are written in the Booke of Life fill vp the number of thine Elect cal them effectually by thy word that we may bee all one Folde vnder one chiefe Shepheard Shorten O Lord the dayes of sinne Ioh. 10.17 and hasten thy comming Lord Iesus that thy Spouse beeing prepared a pure Virgine she may be taken vp to the newe Hierusalem to Heauen Rev. 21.10 where after the infinit Battels temptations of this world she may reigne eternallie and bee crowned in thy Kingdome with Christ her blessed Lord and Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE HOLY COMMVNION THERE are two great Seales which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word to wit Two Seales affixed to the Word the Sacrament of Baptisme and of the Lordes holy Supper Albeit the Church of the Iewes was loadned with manie Sacraments as the Passeouer Circumcision Manna Christians haue fewer Sacraments in numbeâ— than the Iewes but mâ—re in sigâ—ification and amplification the Rocke the Clowde the Sea c. Yet God hath giuen the Christian Church Numero pauciora factu faciliora significatione ampliora that is Fewer in number easier to be done and of more large signification The Sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of Initiation when wee are entered into the Familie of God and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sacrament of Confirmation whereby the Children of God who are spirituallie borne in Baptisme in the Bath of Regeneration by the remission of their sinnes in Christes bloode which is signified by the washing of water the same are fedde at his Table in the Sacrament of the Supper are fedde by Christes bodie and blood Poâ—h the Sac aments ha e one substance vnto euerlasting Life Both these Sacramentes offer one Christ who is the substance and matter of them both albeit diuerslie First the diuersitie is in the time The Sacraments differ in â—â—e things for Baptisme must goe before the Supper neither can anie communicate who are not first baptized Next Baptisme to one the Supper to manie for otherwise it