cannot afford it at such a price and that they will keep it seuen yeares before they will sell it so and yet let their customers back be no sooner turned to be gone but presently he is called againe and his money taken which before was refused with so many othes If Seruants will thus burden their consciences for their masters profit many against their masters wils what will they do for themselues who shall let them then to sweare away all faith truth and conscience for euer to sweare their soules to the Diuel that they shall neuer repent and to sweare a plague into their houses which shall consume the very timber and stones of it O my Brethren tremble at this prouoking sinne tremble to bring the great and holy name of the Lord for a witnesse to your base twelue penny lies tremble to deale so saucily with the omnipotent Maiestie that can send a deadly thunderbolt to strike you presently thorow in the place where you stand Beare with a vehement speech when it proceedes out of a loue more vehement For your pretious soules sake leaue off this profitlesse and pleasurelesse sinne let this be the first sinne thou fightest against and when thou hast got the victory of this the rest of thy conquest will be the easier Hast thou beene a prophaner of the Sabbath and one that hath made no conscience of going to Church longer then thy masters eie hath been vpon thee and when thou hast beene there hast made small account of that which hath beene taught but either hast been talking or sleeping or idly or wickedly thinking c. Henceforth frequent more duely the the holy sanctuary and house of praier prepare thy selfe aforehand that thou maiest reap profit of the things which thou shalt heare intend more reuerently and deuoutly to Gods worship rob not the Lord of the day which he hath consecrated to the glory of his great name he requireth but the seuenth six are ours and shal we not afford him one If a Father hauing called his children together should tell them It is so that I haue cast vp my accounts and I find my estate to be worth seuen thousand pound six of which seuen thousand I am content presently to part with among you and the one thousand see you vse as thriftily and carefully to my behoof as you would the six thousand to your owne What ingratitude vnreuerence were it to so bountifull a Father for these children hauing gotten the seuen thousand pound into their hands to turne all to their owne vse and aduantage neuer respecting their kinde Fathers good nor his charge vnto them or at the most so carelesly that it may appeare there is but little religion of their vow in them The Lord who is our heauenly Father hath giuen vs six daies to do our businesse and affaires in and onely one day he hath reserued to himselfe appointing vs to bestow it in his worship and seruice because that day is his delight as the Prophet saith what negligence what impiety what contempt can be greater then for vs to spend the whole weeke in following our pleasures or our drudgeries whē the holy Sabbath comes to intrude into our heauenly fathers right and consume that also in the carnall workes or couetous proiects or ordinary exercises of the weeke before what intolerable auarice is it or sacriledge rather hauing so bountiful allowance from our heauenly father not to be content vnlesse we may seaze his peculiar reseruation into our hands also This is right to haue thousands of sheepe pasturing vpon our owne downes and yet to kill the poore mans onely Lambe that slept in his bosome for the prouision of our house But here some will say it is true we must lay away all worke on the Sabbath day but yet to sell and take money for wares in the shop before and after seruice is no great worke and therfore as good do that as stand idle No I deny it for as the prouerbe goeth amongst vs Thou hadst better be idle then ill occupied so they were better stand still then vent their commodities they be both sins but selling of ware is the greater how little soeuer for a man may aswell take 40. pounds that day as one pēny For Gods cōmandemēt is broken in both In the 16 of Exodus GOD condemneth the Israelits for purposing to gather Manna on the Sabbath day what easier worke could there be then this nay moreouer it was to be done between fiue and six a clock in the morning when they might haue serued GOD all the day after and they needed not to haue gone far for it neither but onely come forth of their doores and stoop to take it vp But marke whē they came forth they found nothing Here is a good lesson for vs to learne that as they went out to gather Manna on the Sabbath day and found nothing so the gaines that is gotten by selling wares on the Sabbath day is iust nothing howsoeuer men are blinded and thinke the contrary for GODS curse eates it vp and more too I grant we are not tied to so strict an obseruation of the Sabbath in euery respect as the Iewes were yet thus farre the morall part of the precept doth oblige vs to the worlds end namely to do no workes on that day but workes of holines or of meere necessity but men now a daies make no bones to step ouer any of Gods lawes when they bee in the way of their profit and yet they will be good Christians too We remember that day to pamper our belies with good cheere and fine clothes and to take our pleasure we remember to keep a right Epicures Sabbath but to heare Gods word taught to lay our petitions in common together in our Churches and to cal our families together when wee come home that wee may bee the better for that wee haue heard which is the right christians Sabbath this we remember vtterly to forget I am perswaded there is more wickednesse committed both by Prentises and others on the Lords day then on any three daies in the weeke beside and the reason is because men for the most part will see that their seruants shall follow the businesse of their trades all the weeke but vpon Gods day they are careles of them and suffer them to do what they list themselues That is the day of their recreation For as Salomon saith it is a pastime to a foole to doe euill When they should walke to the Lecture for the recreation of their soules the masters are walkt to their gardens or the fields for their bodily pleasure and the seruants to the Tauerne or to some place of greater corruptiō to the endāgering of their soules so the word preached to them in the day time before is no better then the seed that fell vpon stony ground because for want of due rehearsal afterward which is as it were the depth of earth it withereth
reconciliation with God when by casting off sinne in this houre he may in this houre cast off al these curses and miseries accompanying sinne and so both liue a blessed life all his time and close vp his daies with a blessed death which shall be the beginning of eternall life what foolish bodie wouldly forty or fifty yeares mortally languishing of some disease refusing to be cured all his best time and seeking helpe onely in his last worst time when the cure is doubt full by reason nature is decayed or if he recouer yet he cannot enioy his health aboue a day or a weeke or a month and then giue ouer life all But ten thousand times worse infatuated are they that would lie the whole age of a mā in a mortall languishment of soule as it were bedred by reason of sinne and neuer take the physick of repentance till they lie gasping for breath when it is vncertaine whether they shall then haue leasure to repent or if they repent whether it will be of force and able to fetch life in the soule being so farre gone in that desperate consumption or if they recouer and liue the true life which rarely happens they liue in a sort too late both to themselues and others CHAP. 4. THey haue euer proued vnprofitable in religion that haue held too much of that truantly rule the way to well doing is neuer too late Eccles Therefore Salomon calles vpon yong men to remember their Creator in their yong daies as if well doing were neuer too soone Heb. 3.13 And the Apostle exhorteth the Hebrues to call one vpon another to turne to God whilest it is called to day not to make it a morrowes worke his reason is Lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulnes of sinne See heere then one maine danger of dwelling in our sinnes and putting off our amendment from one day to another the longer we continue in sinne the more we are hardened in sinne so that at length wee cannot repent no though wee seeke it with teares as Esau did It is as easie to temper the flint stone betweene our fingers and to make it soft and pliable for sealing as to supple our stonie hearts and fit thē to receiue the impression of grace you thinke you can repent when you will and apprehend the mercies of God when your owne leasure serues you but you are deceiued it is not in man to order his waies nor to returne into the right path being mislead Sinne is cunning and will make you beleeue you may come and goe without entanglement or restraint especially whilest you haue day light enough before you But trust not this fleering Iahel for if you vse to turne in to sleepe in her tent and tast of her milke and butter which she can set in a Lordly dish she wil when you suspect least nayle your head to the ground that it shall be impossible to get loose from her Iudg. 16. This Dalila hath a crue of Philistines ready in a corner when she hath shorne the lockes of your strength vpon her lap to come vpon you and bind you with fetters and put out your eies that you shall neither haue power to start nor yet see the meanes to make an escape In your youth she will teach you to excuse your mistreadings with It is the time and when that excuse is out of fashion by reason of more yeares puld ouer your heads then she will reach you another Apologie It hath beene my custome and I cannot leane it and then followeth hardnes of heart that you cānot repent the greatest iudgemēt that God bringeth vpon a man or woman in this world for then we are past hope God hath decreed our destruction and all the prayers and suffrages of the faithfull which are of great force will doe vs no good God wil answere as hee did to Ieremie Doe not intreat noe for them Ier. 7.16 14.11 make no intercession to doe them good for I wil in no wise heare you I haue thrust them out of my sight I haue decreed to destroy them Yet you may preuent this iudgement yet your custome of euil is not so strong but you may breake it yet you may cast off a litle and a little by good custome that which you haue got at times by euill custome yet your hearts are tender flexible deferre not the new moulding of them til they be growne peruerse and incorrigible lay hold of offered grace whilest the accepted time the day of saluation lasts Remember he that promiseth mercie to the penitent hath not promised repentance to the presumer vpon mercy nor one day of life to the delayer of repentance But you are yong and healthy what then therefore you are not like to die do not lambes skinnes come to be sold as well as sheepes skinnes Doe we not see and heare where euer we go that men and women die that were neither sicke nor old wee may say we will go to morrow to such a place to see such a commodity to receiue such a summe of money to make merry c. and yet before this next euening may heare that voice Foole to preuent thy bargainings thy talkings thy merriments c. this night before the morrow thy soule shall be taken from thee Aske but that one street which leadeth from the City to the common iudgement hall how many times her stones haue beene bestained with the reeking gore of murdered men since the beginning of this last terme and tell me whether life be so sure a thing when so many sound bodies haue groand their last in a peaceable well gouerned City within the compasse of one terme and the limits of one street and how knowest thou whether thy time be not as short as theirs seeing as I said afore not onely wicked men vpon earth but all the Diuels in hell all the creatures in the world are armed against thee whilest thou remainest impenitent and weltrest in thy sinnes Thou knowest how short warning Esay 38.1 Ezekias had Put thy house in order for thou shalt die and not liue Numb 20.25 And Aron Bring Aron and Eleazar his sonne vp into mount Hor and cause him to put off his garments and put them vpon his sonne and then he shall die immediately vpon the top of the mount What if the like warning were giuen thee where is thy repentance then become where are thy good purposes for hereafter Then thou wilt cry out if I had knowne my time had beene so short Ifs at deaths aproch vaine foolish I would long ere this haue reformed my waies If it were now to begin my life I would take another course In what sanctimony and vprightnes would I walke before God man O that the Lord would spare me a little before I goe away from hence and be no more seene O that he would allowe me but one moneth or one weekes respite
to bewaile my sinnes and sue for mercy Wouldst thou then be a new man be so now Wouldst thou then seeke Gods fauour seeke it now Wouldst thou then amend all faults amend them now Why doest thou not preuent those ifs and conditions which will then bee but foolish thoughts why doest thou not that this day nay day by day all thy life long which thou wouldest doe at such an extremity seeing thou knowest not which will be thy last day why doest thou not doubt al thy daies endeuour to be such a one al thy life as thou wouldest be at the point of death But put case thou knewest thy life would be lengthned out to some forty or fifty yeares more and that thou wert assured not to dy the vtmost expiration of those yeares be like then thou wouldst nothing but follow thy lustes the while and thinke the last yeare soone enough to reforme thee But blind fooles they are that are thus conceited if thou canst not with the straining of all thy sinewes pull vp a yong tree of two or three yeares planting how wilt thou hope to pull it vp when the spurs of the rootes are fastened deep on euery side and the boughes are like to the couering of a tent ouer thy head Assay to root out but one vice now whilest it is fresh and greene and thou shalt finde it a matter of some paines and difficulty and will it be easier thinkest thou seuen yeares hence when the custome of it is growne to a habit or as it were another nature and the generation therof multiplied to an hundred to a thousand Say a man were now to carry a basket of stones frō London Bridge to Islington setting forward about the stoopes with the basket on his shoulder feeling the waight thereof to pinch and wring him should presently like a true louer of his ease set it downe againe till another time and euery day the while come and put in more stones till it were heape full and running ouer would you thinke the basket would be lighter at last for these daily additions or this man likelier to cary it through then being grown rustie with many yeares sloth whē it made him shrug to stand vnder it in the beginning while his strength was fresh No no my deere brethren the longer we continue in sinne the fuller and heauier growes the basket and the vnweldier wee grow that must be the porters Come come vp with it carry it you must and it will neuer be lighter nor you better able to beare it then you be at this present straine your selues for a furlong or two though it sit vneasie at first you shall finde it lighter after a little vse Better smart once then ake euer set about it despaire not of the successe by consideration of the difficulty pray God both humbly and continually to impart vnto you his holy spirit and to shed it out in your hearts through Iesus Christ that you may compresse your owne affections and by his strength ouercome all impediments walke more in all holy obedience before him only be not your owne foe feed not that same humour of lingring let not loose the raines to your corrupt affectiōs which cry stil a little more sleep a little more slumber For the holy Ghost doth not assist cowards and sluggards such as fit idly with their armes folded together but those that labour and endeuour earnestly to tame their naturall wickednes and to crosse the swing of their lusts those he deemeth worthy his aide and they in him shall be more then conquerors Set your hand to Gods hand the worke will be nothing The violent and resolute that breake thorow all opposition they and no other take heauen by maine force But say that the Black-moore could change his skin and the Leopard his spots and that you hauing learned all daies of your life to do euill could at the last repent and doe wel yet what an vnthākfull vnbeseeming thing were it to spend your youthful daies in the pleasures of the world the seruice of the Diuell then to bring your crooked worne daies to offer to the Lord To call the Diuell and the world to the feast and full dishes and let God stand at dore waiting among the beggers for the reuersion scraps The Lord himselfe is driuen to complaine of this base measure by his Prophet When ye bring the blind for sacrifices you say it is not euill and when ye bring the lame and sick ye say it is good enough for God Offer it now to thy Prince will he be content with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of hostes Repent and be ashamed of this ingratitude play not the harlots with God let none haue the maidenhead of your youth but your deere Lord husband Let none enioy the flower and beauty of your time but hee that bought you with his precious bloud you are his giue him his owne let him haue it new and faire not when it is mangled misused that one cannot but blush in the presenting of it Cast your selues into his embracement in your youth health whilest you haue something to commend you his armes are open to receiue you stay not looking for a better match this is the best that euer you shall light on take it whilest it is offred you shall neuer repent you of your earlie bestowing Hereafter perhaps God will hold you vnworthy of his loue as hertofore you held him vnworthy of yours and scorne you in your old age and sicknes as you set not by him in your health and youth The fiue virgins for lingring but one houre and that in their youth and prime were shut out of the marriage chamber and had this answere to their knocking I know you not you are no friends nor guests of mine And shall we thinke the Lord will open vnto vs and giue vs a cheerful welcome lingring not houres but yeares and prostituting our virginity and prime to the world the Diuell Gods sworne enemies Yet the the doore is open you may fill your lamps with oile and be wise by their harmes But if you put it to hereafter the gates will be shut and all your knocking will be but so many fruitles strokes rebounding vpon your owne hearts Lastly whilest we lie soaking in sin and returne euery day to our old vomit we do pile vp more and more wood for our owne burning I meane we do increase our accounts against that firy day of wrath which will come vpon as a theefe in the night in which the heauens shall passe away with a noise and the element shall melt with heat and the earth with the workes that are therein shall be consumed then shall all the thoughts of our hearts be discouered and an account required of euery idle word that we haue spoken So strict shall that iudgment be Where wil the vngodly and sinner appeare
by an vtter destruction chastening in the meane time the countries round about vs as hauing some hope of their turning and amendment Let vs therefore with all speed humble our selues vnder Gods mighty hand and make a godly vse of his iudgments that euery litle chastismēt of his may driue vs to a lothing forsaking of our former euil waies that we may stand in awe and not sinne for our God is a iealous God and a consuming fire so shall he smel a sauour of rest and receiue an attonement for the land so shall the light of his countenance be lifted vp vpon vs and so shal it go well with vs and with our children after vs in their generations The word preached Gods Ministers Another very direct meanes to this end is the preaching of Gods word the voice of his Prophets ministers rising vp early premonishing vs of our dāger shewing vs the way wherin we should walk Therfore the Lord when he sent the Prophet Ieremie to the people of Israel and Iuda he bade him proclaime a fast and tell them what he had threatned against them Ier. 36. Because saith the Lord it may be when they heare the euill that I purpose to bring vpon them they will returne from their wickednesse and so by that meanes I may forgiue them their sinnes and receiue them to fauour This is the manna that came downe from heauen this is the immortall seed by which so many are borne to God How great cause haue wee to blesse the Lord that it hath pleased him so to dispose of vs that wee should be borne and bred in such a time and among such a people as professe the faith of Iesus Christ and are daily taught and instructed both to beleeue and liue accordingly Our Fathers longed to see these dayes and could not see them we feare no burning nor imprisonment for professing the doctrine of Christ wee neede not crosse the seas to seeke instruction wee may in a blessed freedome of minde and body approch to Gods altars and sit at the feete of the Lords Prophets and heare those heauenly comforts and directions from their mouthes Neuer was London so well supplied with godly reuerend Ministers since the first stone of her walles was layd then in this very day The Lord Iesus continue and encrease the number But what account make we of these meanes we can content our selues to sit an houre in the Church to heare Gods word taught not for conscience but for fashion as our deedes make plaine For where almost is he or she that hath left any one deere sin this seauen yeares though twice seauen yeares they haue heard it condemned nay which is strange vpon the monday we commit those very sinnes which vpō the Sabbath day before were to our faces most particularly reprooued which were enough to discourage vtterly those men of God in the worke of their ministerie they taking such paines watching for vs whē we sleep studying and spending their spirits to bring vs to repentance and we like wretches making small account of it and profiting little in godlinesse by it but that the Lord hath sayd his word shal neuer goe forth in vaine but either it shall lift vs vp higher to his courts in heauen or sinke vs downe deeper into the pit of hell And the labours of his Ministers shall be as highly rewarded for leauing the gracelesse ones without excuse as for conuerting a weake soule from going astray A Seruaunt when hee is commaunded to do any thing by his Master will feare to looke his Master in the face or to come in his way if hee neglect it and doe it not How dare wee then hauing sate in the Church and there heard out of the Pulpit the seate of Gods Oracles sin forbidden repentance enioyned our negligence taxed not once but continually from time to time with precept vpon precept line vpon line I say how dare we presse so boldly without any awe or reuerence into the presence of God the great Master of all Masters in the world Sabbath after Sabbath and yet guilty to our selues in the meane time of so great disobedience vnlesse wee come thither in an insolent fashion to stout and out-face the Lord or to laugh in our sleeues at his weaknesse that will be borne in hand with a cunning semblance and as well pleased as if the deede were performed O my brethren tremble to dally in this sort with the Almighty if hee speake let his seruants heare if hee command deferre not to doe it receiue it not as the word of man but as it is indeede the word of God Pray aforehand that you may feele the vertue and power of it in your heart renuing and changing your willes and affections let the feete of them be beautifull that bring this tidings of peace and good things vnto you They are the Embassadours of the euerliuing God and disposers of his secrets they are our Fathers in Christ by whom wee are new begotten to eternall life The Lord hath giuen them power out of his word to pronounce his sentence so that what they binde on earth is bound in heauen and what they loose on earth is loosed in heauen Let vs haue them in singular loue reuerence for their works sake The contempt of their persons is a notable policie of the diuell to make their teaching be contemned also Let vs shew our thankfulnesse to God for them in obeying those things which they command vs in his name They haue called vpon vs long enough for amendment let them now haue cause to commend vs that wee haue amended Let our hearing be at length a ioy to them lest their sorrow be hereafter a witnesse against vs One Ionah conuerted Niniueh what a shame is it to vs that so many Ionahs should doe no good in London Another meanes to set vs forward in the way of repentance Good bookes conference is the reading of good bookes mutuall conference and exhortation one of another These doe both after one sort bob vs continually on the elbowe and euen importune vs to well doing and would worke some good effect if we were not negligent carelesse in the vsing of them But so it is how much time doe we spend idlely in doing nothing or vnthriftily in doing naught neuer taking a good booke in our hands all the weeke long though we haue choice of manie and our trades will beare it or if wee begin it growes irksom straight before wee haue turned one leafe ouer or if we haue the patience to goe thorow to the end slightly enough wee cast it in a corner to be moulded and moath-eaten and are as much the better as he that hath lookt in a glasse is after his backe is turned because we doe not stirre vp and whet our remembrance by a second more aduised reading esteeming our olde bookes as olde friends which must euer now and then be visited
godly seruāts for the liberal disposition of a child is easily spilt with the leaud manners of a seruant Hence it commeth that almost their first words are ribauldrie and feareful othes and that they learne to blaspheme God before they can plainely speake GOD yea sometime they proue twofold more the children of Satan then their Tutors were For a new vessell will keep the tatch of the first seasoning a long time after Cause them therefore to frequent the holy exercise of religion as Preaching Catechising Praier Sacraments c. Bring them with you where they may be instructed in the waies of the Lord to doe righteousnesse especially on the Sabbath day because that is a day appointed and set apart of God himselfe for his worship and seruice wherein he wil haue our seruant as free as our selues and to the end we may prepare them the better to the sanctifying of the Lords day we are to call them vp betimes in the morning to praier wherein first we are to thanke the Lord for all his mercies to such vnworthy wretches and namely for the rest and preseruation the night past Then to beseech his Maiestie that hee would so prepare and fit our hearts to the profitable retaining of his most holy and blessed word and so direct the mouthes of his ministers that day in the vttering of it that it may be a comfortable sauour of life and saluation to vs and not a sauour of death vnto destruction And hauing ended this duty by 7. in the morning we may if wee will directly goe where there shall bee a Sermon vntill eight so comming home we are to goe to our owne Parish Church both in the forenoone and in the afternoone and after that to some Lecture as there be diuers blessed bee GOD in diuers parts of the City And hauing thus spent the day till six at night we are not to content our selues there thinking we haue done by this time a work of supererogation but to come directly from the Lecture to our houses and call our seruants together to praiers to almighty God that it would please his Maiestie to giue a blessing vpon that which we haue heard that wee may auoide the sinnes execute the good duties feare the threatnings and lay vp the comforts from the mouth of his ministers plainely shewed and laid down vnto vs. And hauing ended praiers for that instant we are to examine euery one of them particularly what lessons they haue learned at Church and what vses they were taught of those lessons and hauing done that to giue them a generall exhortation incouraging them to goe forward in godlinesse which hath promises of this life and of that which is to come and so to make an end for that time with singing a Psalm of thankesgiuing NOW as we are to performe these duties on the Sabbath day so we haue our duties to performe on the weeke daies also For it is not enough for any man to giue his family victuals and prouision one day in the weeke and let them fast all the rest of the weeke after for so he should soone make a leane houshold but we must deale with our seruants in Spiritual things as we deale with them in Corporall things that is as wee allow them meat and drinke sufficiently all the weeke daies and on the Sabbath day they haue extraordinary dishes So although we haue beene carefull to pray and instruct them in religion on the Sabbath day yet we must looke we do our duties in the weeke daies also although not like vnto the Sabbath for the Lord doth not require it at our hands This discipline and good order if wee would carefully inure our Prentises to seuen or eight yeares together till their first youth the age which is set vpon the very pinacle of temptations be past ouer methinkes it were enough to kill all the weedes of vices in them to make euen Atheists religious and grow into a habit of sanctimony and godlinesse Here I thinke it needfull for euery one of vs as we are yet seruants to know our duties also that wee may demeane our selues agreeably to our present condition Seruants duty First then wee are to follow the counsel of the Apostle to be obedient vnto our bodily masters with feare and trembling because they be in their places vnto vs as God God hath set thē ouer vs in his own stead and therefore we ought not onely to carry a reuerend estimation of them counting them worthy of all honor but to performe our duty and seruice vnto them not to the eie as men pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing the will of God himselfe singlie and from the heart labouring continually to please them and submitting our selues to thē in all things as the holy Ghost commandeth But this must not be vnderstood absolutely but with an exception So they bee lawfull things For if a master command his seruant to speake a lie or to sweare his commodities cost so much when they cost much lesse or to breake the Lords Sabbath in such a case we ought rather to obey God then man but in all iust and lawfull impositions not crossing their roiall commandement we are to conforme our selues in all duty and obedience to them yea not only to the good and courteous but euen to the froward sower For this is thankworthy saith Saint Peter if a seruant for conscience toward GOD endure smart suffering wrongfully But it is a great fault in vs that are seruants that if correction be giuen vs though with iustice and discretion we will say most commonly wee deserue it not This is not the saying of the holy Ghost For saith he what praise is it for a seruant to be buffeted for his faults but and if yee fault not and yet suffer hard vsage and take it patiently then is there thanke with God And herein what better satisfaction or quieting of our mindes can we desire then the example of our Sauiour himselfe who neuer sinned neither was there guile found in his mouth yet he was reuiled and reuiled not againe he suffered beyond all degrees of patience opened not his mouth but committed reuenge to him that iudgeth righteously euen to God his Father So ought wee my Brethren when our masters bee out of reason and offer vs extreame measure to put it vp and endure it patiently knowing that they also haue a master in Heauen who beholdeth with an equall eie both vs and them and not to answer Sir I deserue it not For if correction should not bee giuen to the most of vs till wee confesse we deserue it it should neuer be giuen vs. Heere I cannot keepe silence but I must needes make known how good and gratious the Lord hath shewed himselfe in this case to mee his most vnworthy seruant and the rather to cause all other Prentises to thinke themselues not miserable but most happy when the Lord hath set ouer them such
Spirit adopted vs to be thine own children heirs apparent to the great crown O Lord opē our eies euery day more more to see consider of thy great and maruellous loue to vs in all these things that by the due consideration therof our hearts may be drawen yet neerer vnto thee euen more to loue thee feare thee and obey thee that as thou art enlarged towards vs in mercy so we may be enlarged towards thee in thankesgiuing and as thou doest abound towards vs in goodnes so we may abound towards thee in obedience and loue And sith deere Father thou art neuer weary of doing vs good notwithstanding al our vnworthines and naughtinesse therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy and fatherly kindnesse towards vs euen as it were force our hearts and compell vs to come into thy most glorious presence with new songs of thākesgiuing in our mouths We pray thee O most merciful God to forgiue vs all our vnthankefulnes vnkindnesse prophanenesse great abusing of thy mercies and specially our abuse and contempt of thy Gospel together with all other the sinnes of our life which we confesse are innumerable and moe than can be reckoned vp both in omission of good things and commission of euill We most humbly intreat thee to set them all ouer to the reckoning which thy son Christ hath made vp for thē vpon his crosse and neuer to lay any of them to our charge but freely forget all and forgiue all Naile downe all our sinnes and iniquities to the Crosse of Christ bury them in his death bathe them in his bloud hide them in his wounds let them neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. Set vs free of the miseries that are vpon vs for sin and keep backe the iudgements to come both of soule body goods and good name Be reconciled vnto vs in thy deere Sonne concerning all matters past not once remembring or repeating vnto vs our old and abominable iniquities but accept vs as righteous in him imputing his righteousnesse to vs and our sinnes to him Let his righteousnesse satisfie thy iustice for all our vnrighteousnesse his obedience for our disobedience his perfection for our imperfection Moreouer we humbly beseech thy good maiesty to giue vs the true sight and feeling of our manifold sinnes that we may not be blinded in them through delight or hardened in thē through custome as the reprobates are but that wee may be euen weary of them and much grieued for them labouring and striuing by all possible meanes to get out of them Good Father touch our hearts with true repentance for all sinne Let vs not take any delight or pleasure in any sinne but howsoeuer we fall through frailty as wee fall often yet let vs neuer fall finally let vs neuer lie downe in sinne nor continue in sinne but let vs get vpon our feet againe and turne to thee with all our hearts and seeke thee whilest thou maiest be found and whilest thou dost offer grace mercy vnto vs. O Lord increase in vs that true and liuely faith whereby we may lay sure hold on thy Sonne Christ and rest vpon his merits altogether Giue vs faith assuredly to beleeue all the great and precious promises made in the Gospell and strengthen vs from aboue to walke and abound in all true sound fruits of faith Let vs walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Let vs feele the power of thy Sons death killing sinne in our mortall bodies and the power of his resurrection raising vs vp to newnesse of life Let vs grow daily in the sanctification of the spirit and the mortification of the flesh Let vs liue holily iustly and soberly in this present euill world shewing forth the vertues of thee in al our particular actions that we may adorne our most holy profession and shine as lights in the middest of a crooked and froward generation amongst whom we liue being gainfull to all by our liues and conuersations and offensiue to none To this end wee pray thee fill vs with thy spirit and al spiritual graces as loue wisedome patience contentment meekenesse humility temperancy chastity kindnesse and affability and stirre vs vp to vse praier and watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby wee may grow and abound in all heauenly vertues Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes from day to day make vs such as thou wouldest haue vs to bee and such as we desire to be working in vs both will and deed purpose and power For thou O Lord art all in all thou wilt haue mercy vpon whom thou wilt haue mercy whō thou wilt thou hardenest Haue mercy vpon vs therefore deere Father and neuer leaue vs to our selues nor to our owne wils lusts and desires but assist vs with thy good spirit that we may continue to the end in a righteous course that so at length we may be receiued into glory and be partatakers of that immortal crown which thou hast laid vp for all that loue thee and truely call vpon thee Further we entreat thee O heauenly father to giue vs all things necessary for this life as food raiment health peace liberty and such freedome from those manifold miseries which we lie open vnto euery day as thou seest meet Blesse vnto vs all the meanes which thou hast put into our hands for the sustenance of this fraile life Blesse our stocke store corne and cattell trades and occupations and all the workes of our hands for thy blessing onely maketh rich and it bringeth no sorrowes with it Giue vs therefore such a competency and sufficiency of these outward blessings as thou in thy heauēly wisdome seest most needfull for vs. Moreouer we humbly beseech thee most louing Father in great mercy to looke downe from heauen vpon thy whole Church and euery member of it Be fauourable vnto Sten and build vp the wals of Ierusalem Behold with the eie of pity the great ruines and desolations of thy Church Heale vp the wounds and make vp the breaches thereof in all Nations Regard it as thine owne flocke tender it as thine owne family dresse it as thine owne vinyeard loue it as thine owne spouse Thinke thoughts of peace to it and alwaies looke vpon it in deep compassion Blesse it with thy grace guide it with thy spirit and defend it alwaies with thy mightie power scatter the deuices cōfound the counsels ouerthrow the forces of all that fight against it Specially we intreat thee deere father to set thy self against that Antichrist of Rome that man of perdition which setteth himselfe against thee and against all thy people In thine appointed time we pray thee giue him a deadly downe fal Beat downe all his power and authority daily more and more giue free passage to thy Gospell in all kingdomes that Babylon may fall and neuer rise vp againe The more the fauourites adherents of Rome labour to
vphold their idolatrous kingdome the more let it fall downe euen as Dagon before the presence of thine Ark. Powre downe the vials of the fulnesse of thy wrath vpon the kingdome of the Beast and let their riches wealth credit and authority drie vp euery day more and more as the riuer Euphrates Let it pity thee O Father to see thine owne spouse sit as a deformed and forlorne woman heere below weeping and mourning with haire about her necke hauing lost all her beauty and comlinesse cheere her vp deere Father glad her with the ioy of thy countenance and so decke her and trimme her vp that thou maiest delight in her as a Bridegrome in his Bride Specially we in treat thee to haue mercy vpon th◠Church in this land intend good vnto vs and not euill giue vs not ouer into the hands of the cruell Spaniard as our sinnes haue deserued Scatter we pray thee O Lord the deuices breake the plots of all such as haue plotted the ouerthrow and vtter subuersion of this Church and common wealth Blesse this Church more more with the continuance of true Religion amongst vs. For thy great names sake and infinite mercies sake deale gratiously and fauourably with vs and our posterity Turne from vs that vengeance which is due to vs for our sinnes For thou seest how iniquity preuaileth and the wicked goe away with the goale Atheisme ouerspreadeth euery where and Poperie seemeth to get a head againe Now therefore deere Father wee most humbly beseech thee to take order speedily for the remedying and repressing of these manifold disorders and grieuous enormities that are amongst vs. Be intreated of thy poore children to be good to this English nation Heare the cries of thine elect heare the mourning of them that mourne in Sion Let the cries of thy children crie downe all the cries of the sinnes of the land and be reconciled vnto vs in the multitude of thy compassions that so thou maiest still continue a most mercifull protector of this thine English vineyard Wee pray thee good Father shew special mercy to our most Noble and gratious K. Iames thine anointed seruant blesse him and keep him in all his waies Blesse his gouernment vnto vs. Let thine Angels encamp about him and let thy holy hand be alwaies ouer him keep him from treasons and deliuer him frō the treacheries of his enemies giue him to see what belongeth vnto his peace and giue him a heart earnestly bent to set vpon the practise of the same giue him al graces necessary for his peace and necessary for his saluation continue his gouernement peaceable and prosperous amongst vs and as thou hast made him the breath of our nostrils and a gratious instrument for the sauing of many thousand soules so let his owne soule be saued in the day of thy Sonne Christ Blesse his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsellors and giue such good successe vnto all their Counsels and policies in matters of state that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Blesse all the Nobility worke in them a care to glorifie thy name in their places make them faithfull to thee and faithful to the Land Direct with thy good spirit all such as beare the sword of Iustice that they may draw it out to punish the wicked and to defend the godly that they may with al good care and conscience discharge the duties of their places Increase the number of faithfull zealous Ministers in this Church Send thy Gospell to those places where it is not blesse it where it is Remember them in thy mercy O Lord that are vnder any crosse or affliction whatsoeuer bee comfortable vnto them heale vp their wounds binde vp their sores put all their teares into thy bottle and make their bed in all their sorrowes and put such a good end to al their troubles that they may redound to thy glory and the furtherance of their owne saluation In the meane time giue them patience and constancy to beare whatsoeuer it shal please thy merciful hand to lay vpon them Last of all in a word wee pray thee blesse Magistracie Ministery Cōmonalty Blesse all thy people do good to all that are true and vpright in their hearts And so deere father we do commit cōmend our selues our soules bodies into thy hands for this day and the rest of our life praying thee to take care and charge of vs keep vs from all euill watch ouer vs for our good let thine Angels encamp about vs let thy holy hand be ouer vs and keep vs in all our waies that we may liue to thy praise and glory here in earth keeping faith and a good conscience in all our actiōs that after this life we may be crowned of thee for euer in thy kingdome Grant these things good father to vs here present and to all thine absent praying thee in speciall fauour to remember our friends and kinsfolkes in the flesh all our good neighbours and wel-willers and all those for whō we are bound to pray by nature by deserts or any duty whatsoeuer for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be giuen all praise and glory both now and for euermore Amen An Euening prayer to be vsed in priuate families O Eternall GOD and most louing deare Father we thy vnworthy children do heere fall downe at the foot of thy great maiesty acknowledging from our hearts that we are altogether vnworthy to come neere thee or to look towards thee because thou art a God of infinit glory and we are most vile and abominable sinners such as were conceiued and borne in sinne and corruption such as haue inherited our fathers corruptions and also haue actually transgressed all thy holy statutes and lawes both in thought words deeds before we knew thee since secretly and openly with our selues and with others our particular sinnes are moe than can be numbred for who knoweth how often hee offendeth But this we must needes confesse against our selues that our hearts are full of pride couetousnesse and the loue of this world full of wrath anger and impatiencie full of lying dissembling and deceiuing full of vanity hardnesse and prophanenesse full of infidelity distrust and selfe-loue full of lust vncleanenesse and all abhominable desires yea our hearts are the very sinkes of sin dunghils of all filthines And besides all this we do omit the good things we should doe for there are in vs great wants of faith of loue of zeale of patience of contentment of euery good grace so as thou hast iust cause to proceed to sentence of iudgement against vs as most damnable transgressors of all thy holy commandements yea such as are sunke in our rebellions and haue many times often committed high treason against thy maiesty therefore thou maiest iustly cast vs all downe into hell fire there to be tormented with Satan and