benefires O Lord and I haue beene a great abuser of the same Thou didst make the Light vpon the first Day I haue abused it yea when thou sent mee a better Light for my soule I continued still in the workes of darknesse Thou vpon the second Day didst create the Heauens but I haue sinned against the Heauens Luk 15.18 and against thee and am not woorthie to looke vpwardes Thou didst make the Earth vpon the thirde Day but I am an vnprofitable burthen vnto it Thou didst make the Sunne and Moone vpon the fourth Day to shine but whilest they were shâ—ning I was sinning as though those glorious Vessels were appointed to carrie light to let mee see to commit iniquitie And nowe vpon the firth Daye thou furnishest two extraordinarie great Commodities for mans vse the Sea is prepared with Fishes and the Aire with Fowles and Birdes vnto my necessitie O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisedome hast thou made them all the Earth is full of thy Riches thou hast commaunded the Sea to giue mee Fishes and the Aire Fowles thou hast put life into them and they are appointed to die for the maintenance of my life God letteth his creaturs die that we may liue Is not then my life precious vnto thee who makest so manie to die that I may liue But I am not onelie fed with them but am the price of thy Sonnes Bloode O Lord what am I that thou shouldest haue made them al to die that I might liue Then I beseech thee let my life serue to thine honour yea if my death might honour thee I desire to liue no longer Thou giuest me daylie Fishes out of the Seas and out of the Râ—uers Manie are steruing with Hunger and yet thou feedest mee Oh forgiue mee that sometimes I haue loathed those thy good creatures and abstract them not from mee although I haue contemned them heeretofore O Lord what prooues of thy deliuerie haue I had Thou broughtest mee to the Hauen and I forgot the Vowes which I promised vnto thee in the bitternesse of mine heart Nowe Lord I prayse thee for thy notable deliueries whereby thou hast kept mee and hencefoorth let me not doe what I will but what thou wilt and commaund mee as long as I liue Thou mightest haue made mee a baite and foode for the Fishes but yet thou hast made them foode for mee Let it bee O God to thy glorie and for the good of thy people for thou sendest them to the Nette of thy prouidence Let me therefore depende vpon thee I cast me ouer vpon the knees of thy fauour The Lyon shall be hungrie Ps 34.10 but those that feare thee shall lacke nothing which is good for them Oh that if I could be allured by these thy loue-tokens to praise thee aright and that I might bee stirred vp vnto a duetie to the Poore who are in necessitie O liberall God why should I receiue so aboundantlie and giue backe so niggardly and sparingly Open enlarge mine heart O Lord Psal 119. that mine hand may distribute these thy creatures to the hungrie poore and needie as a sure token which thou requirest of my thankfulnesse towardes thee Faythfull Fishers O Lord sende foorth vnto the Sea of this Worlde faythfull Fishers who may drawe manie soules from it vnto thine heauenlie kingdome Purge thine holie Church O God from all Hyrelinges and such as are not fishers of men And againe O Lord as thou hast prepared the Fishes in the Seas for my sustenance so hast thou likewise commanded the Aire to furnish all manner of feathered Fowles to my vse Therefore I giue thee thanks with my whole heart that thou sacrificest thy creatures out of al places for me beseeching thee that I may sacrifice the corruptions of my nature Further O Lord I learn by the Fowles that they flie in the Firmament but they feed on the earth Simil. Lord howsoeuer that I must seeke my foode here yet let my conuersation be in the Heauens When that in the Sommer I heare the sweet voyce of these Birdes which by their Angelicall Harmonie may justlie bee called the Ministers of Musicke I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon me thy poore creature and open my Lips and loose my Tongue that I may sound foorth thy praises and that by these thy creatures I may still finde newe prouocations to bee stirred vp to proclaime thy goodnesse that I being initiate entered into thy praise here may glorifie thee eternallie in Heauen through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES Sixth Dayes Worke. VPon the sixth Day the LORD openeth the Earth and maketh it to bring foorth his Treasures and bringeth foorth Beastes of all sorts for Mans vse and last of all hee made Man Gods power out of the dead Earth bringeth Man and Beast First yee see the power of the worde of God which of that dead and colde bodie of ehe Earth brought foorth so manie liuing creatures which were not before This is a great Argument for the affirmance of the resurrection of our dead bodies Argument for the resurrection of the body for if hee brought out of the bosome of the Earth and gaue life which was not how easie is it then for him to raise out of the Earth the bodies which were liuing and to cause the Sea the Aire and the Earth render an account of the Bodies consumed in them The Lord created Kyne and Sheepe for his Rayment the Oxen to labour his Ground and the Horses for Carriage yea and the Worme to decore him with Silke As for the Lyon and other wylde Beastes which are enemies to Man it is to bee vnderstoode that it was not so at the beginning for at the first the Lyon the Tyger c. were as obedieÌ„t to Man as the Lambe Sinne hath inaâ—med MaÌ„ aganst God the Beastes aganst Man 1. King 13 24. 2. King 2.23 Nota. Creeping thinges not created in vaine Exod. 8.6 but alace sinne stirred vp and inarmed Man against God and the Beastes against Man as the Lyon against the young Prophet and the Beares against the young Children which mocked Elisha Therefore when wee get anie injurie by the creatures let vs call to minde that it is for our sinnes studie to bee reconciled to our Creator As for the innumerable creeping thinges let vs not thinke that God hath created them in vaine for he hath vsed them as great Hostes to punish his aduersaries whensoeuer he pleased as the Frogges for Pharoah and the little Vermine for Herod yea Act. 12.23 the Worms to sease vpon the Bodies of all Flesh which although neuer so daintilie fedde must bee a Prey vnto them And againe Men are compared to Beasies whâ—se nature is beastlie Psal 10.9 Psa 17.12 Psa 22.12 13.16.20.21 c. Isa 56.10.11 Gen. 49.14 16. let vs remember that Men are often times in the Scripture compared vnto diuerse
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
Beastes and get the names of such Beastes whose fashions and conditions they are moste addicted to followe They are called Lyons Rauens Beares Bulles of Da-shan Swyne Dogges Vipers c. The couetous Pastours are called dumbe greedie Dogges who cannot barke and neuer are satisfied Issachar is compared vnto a wylde Asse which concheth betwixt two Burdens and Dan vnto a Serpent and there are manie of the Trybe of Dan which byteth the Horse heeles and the ryder also And albeit there bee manie Adulterers and Murderers of the Trybe of Dan which shall enter into Heauen yet the Serpent-kynde of the Trybe of Dan shall not come there Plinius sayeth that there are three kyndes of Serpentes One which killeth all Strangers and spareth Countrey folks Plin. lib. 8. cap. 59. another which killeth Countrey folkes and spareth Strangers and the third which spareth none of them and there are people of all these sortes But I marke one thing in the Serpent wherein it differeth in crueltie from all other Beasts A remarkable marke of the Serpit against Man for the Lyon and Wolfe seeke after Mens Blood for the loue of the Bloode wherevpon they feede but the Serpent which feedeth vpon the Dust out of an hatefull desire of naturall reuenge thirsteth after Mans Bloode albeeit it getteth none other gaine thereby but onelie the satisfaction of her cruell minde representing manie deuilish and serpent-like people Nota. who albeit they get none other commoditie by the destruction of godlie persons yet they holde their selues satisfied that they haue gotten the malicious intent of their wicked heartes brought to passe Man of greaâ—est price is made last Now when the Lord had furnished his House with store of al good things as a louing and carefull Father hee builded an House to his Sonne and he â—illed it with all plenishing Simil. and then hee putteth his Sonne into it as God placed Man Hee maketh Man with aduisement Let vs make Man sayde the Father to the Sonne and to the Spirit Gen. 1.26 For this aduisement telleth vs that the Creation of Man is more than the Creation of the whole Worlde for Man is called a little Worlde because in him is comprehended a worlde of wonders in his Bodie and Soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When hee sayeth To our Image then hee clearlie designeth the Trinitie of the persons Trinitie by the worde plurall And when hee sayeth Image in the singular Vnitie then he noteth the Vnitie of the substance The Image of GOD standeth not in the bodilie representation Wherein Gods Image standeth Isa 40.18.20 c. but in the giftes of the mynde therefore it is a grosse Idolatrie for Christians who knowe God to bee an infinite Spirite to close him within the compasse of a finite Image or to picture him with coloures who is capable of no qualitie Levit. 26.1 and which hee himselfe dischargeth by his Lawes For his Image standeth in Righteousnesse and Holinesse Mercie and Loue. GOD made Man and Beast of one substance The substaÌ„ce wherof wee are made should teach vs humilitie euen to teach vs humilitie and if wee had not soules wee differ verie little from Beastes But the power of God appeared so much the more who could produce out of so base a Subject such a glorious Workemanship As the cunning of the Artificer is much more admired Simil. who out of a base matter can worke fynelie than of a strong Mettall Then Mans bodie being so artificiallie made he breathed in him an heauenlie substance which is a spirit as God is who can neyther bee seene nor felt As the Heauens are more excellent than the Earth The wonderfull vnioÌ„ betwixt the Soule the Bodie and could worke without it which the Earth could not doe without the Heauens so can the Soule without the Bodie prayse God as it doeth in Heauen which the Bodie could not doe without the Soule In this life they haue mutuall operations the Soule directeth and the Bodie is directed the Bodie is blinde without the Soule and the Soule would bee creeple without the Bodie Let the Soule therefore commaund the Bodie in those thinges which are lawfull and let the Bodie obey the good direction of the Soule which both being made vp to the Image of GOD they may represent Him in all their actions A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES sixth Dayes Worke. O Lord God Father of Mercies and God of all consolation looke downe vpon mee I beseech thee with the Eyes of thy mercie and sithence thou hast created Man vpon the sixth Day create mine heart anewe and anoint it with a fresh remenberance of thy power and goodnesse that I may become a newe creature Vpon the fifth day thou plenishedst the Aire with Birdes and the Sea with Fishes innumerable Genes 1.21 and now the Earth yeeldeth all sortes of Beastes likewise euen to mans vse and they are brought vnder subjectioÌ„ that I might bee free they lay downe their liues for mee that I may liue by them and albeit both I and they bee made of one substance yet thou hast preferred mee aboue them all and hast put them vnder my feete Psal 8.6 so deare am I vnto thee I thanke thee O Lord that thou of thine vndeserued mercie and loue hast made thy choyse of mee Nota. God made choyse of â—s let vs â—herefore make choyse of God Genes 2.20 Oh Lord cause mee to make mine onelie choyse of thee Amongst thy creatures there is none like vnto thee Adam could not finde one equall to himselfe amongst all thy creatures till out of himselfe thou madest one like vnto himselfe O Lord there is nothing in Heauen nor in the Earth can satisfie my soule thou art the perfection of beautie thou hast giuen me the rest giue me thy selfe without whom neither the creatures visible nor inuisible will content mee Yet seeing it pleaseth thee that they should be appointed to feede cloathe and ease me make me the more able by them to goe forwarde in thy seruice let not that malediction and curse fall vpon mee Let vs beware that wee fight not against the Lord with his owne benefites that I should fight against the God of my life with his owne benefits to whom I am so infinitly oblished for his gracious gifts bestowed on me O Lord I haue receiued some new comfort in the day of my tryall when for my humiliation it pleaseth thee to punish me with pouertie then Sathan biddeth me turne the stones into bread as he did vnto Christ and seeke vnlawfull meanes for my reliefe But Matth. 4.3 Lord augment thou my fayth and let me depende vpon thy promises that I may build vpon them as vpon a sure Holde and speake boldlie with thy seruant Dauid The Lord is my sheepheard I shall not want Psal 23.1 No Prince of the Earth can say this word Nota. but a poore christian depending vpon thee may
former Sabbathes may here beginne my spirituall Rest in thy Sanctuarie that after I may accomplish it in thine holie Temple throgh Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour AMEN CERTAINE PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS MOST COMfortable for all estates Morning Prayer ALmightie God and moste mercifull Father I beseech thee that thou wouldest chase away with the brightnesse of thy presence my sinnes as a clowde that I may come before thee Psa 18.12 and with a cleane heart beholde thee and offer vp my Prayer as a Morning Sacrifice and as Incense of sweet Odour vnto thee Reuel 8.4 I thanke thy Majestie for the quiet rest of this night that thou hast so safely conuoyed me through the perils of darknesse and saued me from the prince of darknesse and brought me to the light of this day giuen mee a new day of repentance wherein I may seeke thee O Lord it was of thy mercie that I was not consumed Thou the watchman of Israel neither sleepest nor slumberest Psa 121.4 Albeit my bodie was lying as dead and all my senses were asleepe so that I was a readie prey to my spiritual foes Yet O Lord thou wast carefull of me when I was careles of my selfe and thou pitchedst about my bodie the muisible companie of thine holie Angels Psal 34.7 who haue graciously carried me and kept me from all euill Thou smotest the first borne of Egypt in one night by the destroyer Exo. 12.26 2. King 19 35 and the host of Senacherib by thine Angel But O Lord thou hast kept me and mine house safe by their hand thou foundest the blood of the Lambe vpon the doore of my soule and I haue escaped praise bee giuen vnto thee O Lord Ex. 12.13 who hast deliuered me and glorie to the Lambe by whom I haue escaped But especiallie I praise thee that my spirituall enemies haue not preuailed ouer me to snare me in sinne Sathan most busie in the night to cause men sinne Iob 24.16 for the Prince of darknesse worketh his works of darknesse in darknesse by the which hee leadeth the worlde vnto euerlasting darknesse in the night they steale they murder and commit adulteries but the Lord hath deliuered mee from the temptations of the Deuill Blessed bee thy Name for I knowe the night is to the Lord as the light Psal 139.12 hee beholdeth mee and seeth mee therefore I glorifie thee this morning that thou diddest keepe mee and gauest mee not ouer to bee illuded by my spirituall foes Thou wast a light vnto mee in darknesse But alace that my naturall heart cannot acknowledge thy goodnesse I haue rested in my bodie and my minde hath beene at great peace This is a double rest which thou hast giuen to thy beloued But alace thou hast so tenderlie dealt with my flesh that I am displeased that I should spende the whole night which is the halfe of my dayes Nota. so ydlie in my judgement that I should doe nothing but feede my flesh with sleepe I am displeased and thinke within my selfe Shall I lie so long and so manie nightes and shall not prayse my God for thy seruant DAVID not onelie prayed vnto thee in the morning Psa 55.17 and 6.6 and 63.6 and 77.6 119.62 148. at noone-tide and at Euen but also preuented the night watches to meditate on thy worde and watered his Bedde with teares thanking and thinking on thee communing with his owne heart And likewise O Lord I would rather bee content that mine eyes were holden waking with thee to remember thee than I should sleepe to forget thee I beseech thee O my God to forgiue mee thy poore creature who euer doe forget my duetie to thee both day and night and when I am sleeping sanctifie mee so by thy grace that my soule may bee waking with thee Lord wash mee from all the vncleannesse of body and soule which I haue contracted this night and as thou hast made separation betwixt the night and day so diuide mee from all sinne Lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon mee this day and inlighten my minde with vnderstanding that I may see the secret of thy Lawe Visit me with thy sweere mercie this morning Iob 7.18 that I may rejoyce in thee all my dayes I will rise in the morning and compasse thine holie Altar Psal 43.4 and 26.6 Thou art my Father and I am thy Childe I craue thy blessing for Christes sake to all the actions of this day that thou wilt accompanie them with thy speciall presence and direction and so I am sure that whatsoeuer I shall take in hand will prosper Further my mercifull Father I beseech thee to slay the corruptiōs of this wicked nature this day Bring in captiuitie euerie cogitation of my heart which rebelleth against thy will Put a watch to the doore of my lippes that no vnsauourie speach come out of my mouth Psa 141.3 but that which may tende to edification And dispose so all the actions of this day that no corruption which is in me may burst foorth either in word or deed whereby I may offende thee or my neighbour Mortifie the lustes of my flesh my pride turne it vnto humilitie my couetousnesse vnto liberalitie mine insolencie into grauitie Chaunge from euil to good my prodigalitie vnto abstinence my lies vnto trueth mine vncleannesse to chastitie my profanitie to reuerence c yea make that alteration and change in me this day that whatsoeuer delight of sinne is in me it may be consumed and thy graces as fruitfull hearbs may be planted in place of these weeds Forsake me not O Lord this day lest I forsake thee giue me not ouer vnto my selfe and to mine owne counsell and will lest I perish And because these are dayes of defection and apostasie wherein if it were possible the Elect would perish Matth. 24.22 I besech thee that I fall not backe from thy grace but let me make some progresse in godlinesse to approach neare vnto thy kingdome that as the powers of nature doe decay in me and I hasten to the graue so the strength of thine holy Spirite may fortifie mine inward man that I may grow from grace to grace vntill I passe the dangers of this pilgrimage and thou bring me to thy glorie through Christ our Lord. AMEN Euening Prayer O Lord let my prayer come before thee as pure Incense and as the Euening Sacrifice I present it vpon the golden Altar my blessed Sauiour that he Reuel 8.3 through the perfume and sweete smell of his sacrifice may make my petitions acceptable vnto thee I thanke thee O gracious and deare Father that thou hast so fauourably conuoyed me and preserued me from the perils of this day both of my soule and bodie And also I praise thee for thy fatherly care whereby thou hast aboundantly fedde by thy word my soule by thine earthly creatures my bodie I thanke thee that thou
Iosephs Brethren after he hath humbled them or else with Saul and Pharoah he will plague them for he sayeth Touch not mine Anointed Last it is naturall for the seed of the Serpent and the fierie Dragon to persecute the Woman and her Child as it is that Foxes and Wolues should persecute the Sheepe therefore let vs preuaile by patience blunt their swords by our sufferinges A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON WHO IS PERSECVTED with his Enemies O Eternall God and most mercifull father thou hast commanded all those that are wearie and loaden to come vnto thee Matth. 11.28 and thou wilt case them if thou hast commanded me to come thou wilt not reject cast me away when I am come heare the voyce of my prayer out of thine habitation and put not away the supplication of my mouth inlarge my heart to pray and open thine care to my cry O Lord how long wilt thou tarrie mine enemies are moe than the haires of mine head Psalm 22.12.13 c. they are strong like the Bulles of Bashan they are fearce and cruell like Lyons and Vnicornes they conueance against me and say that there is no more helpe for me in God O Lord Psalm 3.2 when trouble draweth neare me be not farre from me Lord haue mercie vpon me It is true O Lord I haue prouoked thy wrath and indignation I haue beene thine enemie and hated thee who wast my Father therefore most justlie hast thou raised vp these wicked men against me Whatsoeuer I suffer thou hast done it out of thy justice Psal 51.4 that thou mayest bee just when thou judgest O Lord forgiue me my sinnes and keepe them not in thy remembrance for all the creatures which were in couenant with me are become enemies vnto me Oh Reconcile me vnto thy selfe that the stones of the fielde may be at peace with me Iob 5.23 The waues of the Sea raged against Ionas Ionah 1.4 and 2.1.2 when he fled from thy presence but by his affliction thou broughtest him to obedience and conformitie to thy will I confesse thou hast enough to be angry for against me but ô Lord what haue I done to offend mine enemie they persecute me without cause Psalm 7.3 In the time of their trouble I prayed for them when they were afflicted then I burnt but when they sawe thee afflicting me and correcting me then they were aliue yea smoat him whom thou didst visit O Lord I beseech thee to try mee and search mine heart if euer I haue done anie thing amisse vnto these who persecute mee or was purposed to doe them harme yea Lord I haue euer done good vnto them and they haue repayed mee with euill Those who recompense mee euill for good are mine enemies But O Lord they haue done vnto mee as I did vnto thee for thy benefites I haue loadened thee with sinnes so ingrate and vnthankfull haue I beene vnto thee so justlie hast thou repayed me 2. King 18.19 2. Sam. 16.5 1. Sam. 17.10 Rom. 8.28 they raile aganst me as Rabseketh did against Hezekiah Simei against Dauid as Goliah cursed the Hoste of Israel But O Lord turne thou their cursing into a blessing who hast promised that all shall turne to the best to them that loue thee I finde that this short triall hath wrought good vnto mee and therefore it is good for mee that I am humbled thereby for I finde my selfe better disposed to thy seruice than I was before Oh sanctifie this mine affliction and crosse that howsoeuer Sathan mindeth by this trouble to vndoe mee thou mayest draw about his labour for my singular comfort that by this persecution I may serue thee more righteouslie and liue more duetifullie and louinglie with my Neighboures and more temperately in mine own person subduing my lustes and affections so that this Cuppe which is most bitter to my nature and hardlie of mee to bee drunken may be conuerted into wholsome Medicine for the saluation both of my bodie and soule O Lord giue me a good Conscience that brest-plate of righteousnesse Eph. 6.14 and I will not bee affraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine aduersaries Guard me by thy diuine prouidence and secure me by the protection of thine Angels make mee as a Seale on thine heart Cantic 8.6 and a signet vpon thine arme I commit my soule and bodie vnto thine hands and faithfull keeping Giue me not ouer to the lusts of mine aduersaries make me not a scorne to fooles Psa 27.12 which vnderstand not let me possesse my soule in patience Psal 7.16 Let their mischiefe turne vpon their own head slay them not lest the posteritie should forget Psa 59.11 but rather let them liue that by their correction others may learne not to persecute the members of thy body O Lord they are the stones which thou castest at me and the roddes of thy furie I craue thee mercie for my sinne but as for them thou canst cast the rodde into the fire when thou hast chastised mee My Lord spake seuen words vpon the Crosse and the first was Luke 23.34 Forgiue them for they know not what they doe and I after his example forgiue heartilie my particular quarrell and reuenge for vengeance belongeth vnto the Lord Deu. 32.35 and thou biddest me blesse those who curse me Mat. 5.44 and giue mine enemies foode when they are hungrie that I may heape coales of fire vpon Rom. 12.20 their head And albeit they haue done me wrong both in my person name by their lies and in my substance yet Lord I forgiue them let them repent that thou mayest pardon them And finallie let mee patientlie endure all these wrongs that thou mayest make me meet for thy Kingdome that being more than a Conquerour hauing made conquest of mine affections I may inherite thy glorie and reigne with thee for euer Amen A MEDITATION OF FAMINE THere hath beene Famine thorow all Ages by which GOD hath corrected the abuse of his People The Famine commeth either for the excesse and abuse of Gods good creatures Causes of Famine 1. Excesse as the example of the prodigall sonne beareth witnesse who was brought to such pouertie Luc. 15.15 that hee was faine to sustaine himselfe with the Huskes which the Swine ate because of his ryote 2. Oppression 2. Sam. 21.1.3 Idolatrie 1. King 17 1. or for the oppression of the Poore as in the dayes of Dauid for the wrong which was done to the Gibionites by Sauly or else for Idolatrie as in the dayes of Achab. And the Famine continueth commonlie three fiue or seuen yeares As in the time of Famine the Lord punisheth the wickednesse of his People God in time of Famine remembreth his owne Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1 1. King 18 13. 17.4.9 Psa 34.10 Psa 37.19 Iob 5.22 so by his prouidence hee comforteth the godlie Hee encreased Abraham