in this manner liue towards God so in holines towards men so righteously Oh that I might passe thus thorow this sinfull world with that peace of conscience with that ioy of the spirit with that preparednes for death with that longing after our Lord Iesus his comming which is gotten hereby and which the very creatures doe groane for and all the godly true repentants heartily wish for Oh how grieuous is it now to mee to consider how far I am from this practice of piety especially when I doe weigh my owne weaknesses and also want of grace to attaine to the due full performance of this so conscionable a course Oh what shall I doe Oh what shall I do I am so loden with corruptions and the world so full of tentations compassing mee about with examples of wickednesse that I feare my fall He that seeketh goodnes oh how little is he regarded vertue wanteth praise vice is not abhorred innocency made a prey iustice set to sale sincerity reputed follie and iust dealing is held the high way to beggerie If yet for all these things I should disclaim the way of well doing I should therewith loose the hope of heauen if I should embrace vngodlinesse and vanitie I am sure to be damned in hell As Sir what shall I doe Ah my poore imprisoned soule oh that I were dissolued let mee loose O Lord out of this prison of my body O come Lord Iesu O come quickly and make an end of these dayes of sinne I desire bee dissolued and to bee with thee Iohn Alas good soule what moueth thee thus to bemone thy selfe thou art a happie Creature and hast no such cause to complaine in this so sorrowful a manner Comfort thy selfe my heart in that large portion of piety giuen vnto thee thy desire in time shall bee satisfied vpon thy lowlinesse assuredly the Lord doth look Feare not to finde mercy and fauour he will refresh those that trauell and bee heauie loden And therefore let vs proceed on as wee haue done hitherto if thou wouldest know more wherein I may enforme thee demand and I will make answere shew wherin and I will instruct thee and the Lord direct thee in the way that thou shalt chuse Gaius Sir seeing I haue thus found fauour in your eyes and that you iudge mee among the faithfull I desire to be informed more particularly The vse and end of this booke how from time to time euery day as a worke for euery weeke during life I may behaue my selfe religiously in the way to eternitie Iohn Is it thy desire beloued Gaius to haue mee set downe how thou The sum and parts handled herein shouldest exercise thy selfe first in the morning on the day time abroad in the euening returning home and in the night time awakening and so in the end of the weeke for a preparation to the Sabbath Gaius Euen so this indeed Sir is my desire for hauing particular rules so set before me I may the better vnderstand what to doe more orderly goe forward and according to the distinction of times looke ouer daily my precepts till I become cunning by a conscionable practice which the holy one vouchsafe mee of his great goodnesse and mercy Iohn Euen so be it my Directions for euery morning bowels Now therefore awaking in the morning forthwith before other things I. Consider how 1. Dutie graciously God hath renewed his mercy towards thee preseruing thee aliue in the night and giuing thee as it were in the morning a new life awaking thee perhaps by the voice of man by the crowing of a cooke by the sound of a bell or otherwise and opened againe thine eyes in darkenesse to behold the shining light for which mercy giue him hearty thanks and praises and withall desire him to giue thee sight to thy soule as thou hast light for thy body and that as hee expelleth darknesse from thee and affoordeth thee day light and Sun-shine to the eyes of the body so in like maner to bee pleased to remoue ignorance that spituall darknesse from thy minde by the light of his illuminating spirit that thy soule by the sun-shine of the holy Scriptures may see how to walke in this vaile of teares thorow this darkenesse in which the world lieth without sight of sinne or remorse of conscience vnto thy heauenly harbour Then secondly fall to 2. Dutie Meditations vpon our awaking meditation and first how God can awake vs from the sleepe of sinne and open our eyes to see the light of the truth either by extraordinarie means or by ordinarie and these weake or more forcible as it pleased him to awake Dauid by Nathan and Peter by the cocke although wee haue slept as many yeeres in sinne as houres in our bed Secondly that after a sleeping though long if there be life there followeth a wakening so is it with the elect though they fall asleepe againe in sin and lie therein a long time yet because they are not vtterly without the life of God they shall at length awake againe Thirdly that as awaking in the morning by the day light in the appointed time to arise and men vp in health there is not by and by a returning to sleepe in bed againe no more shall bodily death seaze vpon any there shall be no more returning to rest in the graue in the day of the last resurrection Fourthly that as a carefull husband aiming at his thrift is ashamed to lie sleeping in bed as if it were still night when the Sunne is vp yea shining vpon him and hee called to his businesse euen so should euery good Christian carefull of saluation be ashamed to lie sleepiing in any sinne when the cleare light of the Gospell shineth vpon him and is called vpon by faithfull Teachers to the performance of his duties Fifthly by thy rising vp Meditations in rising thinke vpon thy resurrection which is twofold first from the kingdome of darknesse and our naturall corruption to the true light and kingdome of grace and of the second resurrection from the darknesse of the graue to the heauēly light of the kingdome of glory Sixthly in arising vp Meditations vpon our naked nesse without clothes as naked 1. consider how naked we be by nature of all holines and righteousnesse when wee come into the world so to bewaile our wretchednesse 2. That wee shall arise naked at the last day as Adam was in his innocencie 3. That as in this bodily nakednes without clothes wee bee ashamed for the vncomelines therof to bee seene so of men vnlesse wee bee fooles or madde euen so should we be ashamed to be seen of God of his Angels and of any good men naked without the couering of grace and goodnesse because of the filthinesse of sinne And as none but fooles and madde men come naked before men so do none but mad men wicked fooles and men desperately leaud liue naked of goodnesse
the death of sin the strength of grace of thy contempt of the world and of thy desire to bee with Christ for by a constant course in this daily exercise thou shalt see these things more and more to encrease vpon thee if indeed this worke for euery weeke without formall and customarie hypocrisie in a holy and conscionable respect of thy dutie bee religiously and constantly performed Thirdly consider how thou hast passed ouer so many dayes the allotted time for worldly labours and so hast brought the weeke to an end that so thou mayest meditate of thy shortening of thy daies and drawing nearer vnto iudgemēt Also how thou hast ended daies and weekes and so shouldest end thy sins and as times renew vpon thee and yeeres encrease so shouldest thou be daily renewed in minde and bee encreased in goodnesse that so the longer thou doest liue the better thou may bee more holy to God more vpright to men more spiritual lesse worldly more desirous of immortality lesse regarding vanitie so liuing as thereby leauing a blessed name to posterity so dying as thou mayest enioy a better life in eternity Fourthly with the rest of thy former daily deuotions and euery nights exercise and godly meditation going to bed adde to this night these two considerations That the week is as the end of the world and the seuenth day following as the eternall Sabbath when all the elect of God shall be assembled to worship him for euer and euer Gaius Reuerend Sir although thus be ended the duties and meditations for the sixe daies in the weeke yet is not this worke for euery weeke fully finished One thing remaineth of which though many haue spoken I beseech thee say something and set downe in a few words how I may behaue my selfe vpon this day of rest to sanctifie it and to keepe it holy vnto the Lord. Iohn Friend and faithfull Gaius thy desire is good and I cannot but condescēd to thy request to make vp this so little a worke for him that readeth it which yet will bee a most holy labour to him that practiseth it Concerning this thou art to know three things first 3. Things to bee knowne for the keeping of the Lords day holy what to doe before thou goest to the assembly then how to demeane thy selfe there and thirdly how to behaue thy selfe afterwards Gaius What am I to do I beseech thee in the morning Iohn Thou art not only now to performe thy euery day mornings deuotion but thou must make a speciall preparation for this day First awake early and What to doe vpon the Lords day in the morning arise be times as thy age and health wil suffer thee the sooner vp the more ready for holy exercises and longer time for them It is meet thou shouldest assoone rise for the Lords seruice to the soules safety as in the weeke day for thy selfe or earthly master to get maintenance for the body Secondly being thus risen and ready bee earnest and ardent in prayer and therin first for thy Pastor and Teacher that God would enlarge his gifts vpon him that hee would giue him vtterance and liberty of speech that hee might speake powerfully that the spirit might work both in him and by him effectually that so he himselfe might be a preacher in word and works a liuely paterne of his doctrine in a holy life and conuersation then for thy selfe and the rest of the hearers that they might haue prepared harts as good groūd for the Lords seede that they might bring forth plentifully for the Lords haruest for your ministers encouragement and your owne comfort After this reade some portion of Scripture with the text to be handled if hee goe on with a scripture calling to minde what hee hath spoken where hee left that so you may prepare your selues better to that which remaineth and so with some sweete Psalme of Psal 14. 92. 95. comfort praise God Thirdly and lastly after all these things speedily dispatch all businesse of absolute necessity auoide whatsoeuer is superfluous leaue as few as possibly may be at home make hast to the assembly and thinke whether thou art going looking to thy feet before thou enter into the house of the Lord and be more ready to heare then to offer the sacrifice of fooles Gaius Oh Lord God Of mens vnpreparednesse to Gods house how vnpreparedly come most into Gods house wee doe vsually rush into the holy assemblie without doing any of these duties from worldly businesse stuffed with cares of this life which choke the seed of Gods word some out of the Alchouse with red faces bidding defiance to all sober spirits other hardly gotten from their beds hauing not shaken off their idlenesse and perhaps their wantonnesse other spend all the time in dressing and attiring themselues that they may come to see and to bee seene into the congregation as the diuels ensigne-bearers of vanity pride Some come with couetousnes as Iudas some with hypocrisie as Ananiah some with enuie as the Pharisies some with Prophanenesse and mocking spirits like the Iewes some to cauill and catch aduantage as certaine did in Ieremies daies some come for companie as good fellowes not for conscience some onely of a fashion and of a custome taken vp vpon a kind of religion but neither knowing why nor wherefore nor euer learning any thing for their reformation Some come for feare of man but not of God most that come come as the people did to Ezechiel to heare but very few to doe because indeed they come not thus in a conscionable preparation But I haue been too long in this sorrowfull complaint shew me I pray thee what I am to do in the open congregation Iohn 1. Be thou respectiue How to carry our selues in the open congregation of Gods presence the presence of his holy Angels 2. Shew a reuerent behauior in thine eies countenance gesture of thy whole body whether it bee standing sitting or kneelings 3. Wholly addict thy selfe to attentiue hearing ioyning with the minister and the rest of the congregation in all the publike exercises is the preaching of the word in administration of the Sacramēts in distributing to the poor in their necessities in prayer and singing of Psalmes vnto God 4. Auoid all wandring thoughts idle gazing drowsie sleeping superstitious praying there alone also priuate reading and whatsoeuer may shew either neglect or contempt of the publike administration of holy thing 5. Continue constant with the congregation abide to the end and conclude with the rest depart with a heart lifted vp vnto God for such heauenly means of saluation and so goe forth with a reuerent and a holy behauiour in respect of God of his Angels of Gods Ministers and his people and in respect of departing so immediately from such holy and heauenly exercises and also in regard of the place but without superstition set apart to so holy an end Gaius Alas alas
A WEEKES WORKE AND A WORKE FOR EVERY weeke By R. B. The third Edition LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Nathanael Newbery 1616. TO THE VERTVOVS AND RELIgious Ladies the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Bruton the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Yearlington and the Ladie Anne Horner that wisdome which is from aboue that true peace which is from within and the manifestation of both in the fruits of the spirit to their perfect ioy AS I consider with my selfe how Mary did make choice of the better part I cannot but blesse God for the worke of grace So Right Worshipfull on the contrary marking the mad choyce of others I follow the counsell of the Prophet Esaiah I stay wonder Eue had free-will the choyce of an apple and Paradise was before her God said eate not and liue but eate said the Serpent thou shalt not die The diuell was credited God not beleeued the apple was eaten Paradise lost a miserable choice But led she the way in this point of follie and hath shee had no followers What none of her posterity to walk in her steps Behold the sonnes of God chose the daughters of men and forsooke the generation of the righteous Lot left Abraham and made choyce to dwell in Sodome Esau loueth his bellie and for a present messe of pottage selleth away his birth-right The mixt people among the Israelites rather desire garlicke and onyons and to sit by the flesh-pots of Egypt then to eat that sweet Manna frō heauē Yea so mad are men in their choyce as the Iewes from the highest to the lowest cry out to haue a rebell a theefe a murtherer euen a Barrabas instead of that iust one and innocent Christ the righteous As I haue stayed in my thoughts vpon these so now should I wonder but that among our selues I finde many as foolish and as vnreasonable in their chusing They esteeme more of pleasure then of peace wiih God they will sell godlines for earthly gain they preferre profit before piety worldly goods they like of better then heauenly graces they chuse rather to rest vpon an idle conceit in themselues of saluation then vpon the witnesse of Gods word a truly informed conscience they wil plead rather custom then diuine precepts mens examples now for liberty in sinn e rather then the holy liues of the godly recorded in Scripture most in a word chuse rather to be reputed religious then so to be indeed But perhaps you Ladies will say what of all this to you Surely that you beholding nature corrupted and your selues through Gods mercy sanctified by grace may in your more happie choyce giue due praises heartily vnto God who affoordeth you from aboue so much power and strength that you may in some measure with holy Elizabeth walke in the Commandemēts of the Lord with religious Mary sit down at Christs feet heare his word with that blessed Virgin Christs mother ponder the words and lay them vp in your hearts with afflicted Hannah poure out in your necessities your soules by prayer vnto God and with that deuout Anna serue God in fasting and prayers day and night For this end and purpose to further euery well disposed Christian in the path that leadeth vnto life and glory I haue now this third time published this Weeks work worke for euery weeke I haue presumed to send it forth vnder your names not in any merit of the worke but in my true esteeme of your godlinesse and certaine perswasion of your good desires to please God which the Lord encrease in you more more with such inward comfort of spirit as you may perseuere in euery good worke of grace to goe boldly to the throne of grace in euery state and condition to the end of your daies euen so Amen Your Ladyships in all Christian duties RIC. BERNARD Batcombe Iuly 14. A DIALOGVE BETWEENE IOHN the beloued Apostle and his beloued Gaius Epist. 3. vers 1. Iohn GRace be with thee Noble Gaius mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Father with truth and loue Gaius Reuerend Father let this thy prayer this day preuaile with God for Grace Peace Mercy Truth in Loue I much long after Iohn Well may wee wish for these things friend Gaius as the foundation of all good fauours with God and all good men Gaius Oh my Lord I thanke God these things with me are of greater price then any thing which may seeme most pretious with the world For Grace maketh me acceptable to God Peace comforteth mee within my selfe Mercy from God affordeth me remission of sins and Mercy from me shewed towards others maketh them both to pray and praise God for me The Truth of God warranteth my course and way and truth obserued of me iustifieth my words and workes Loue in God to me procureth peace bringeth forth mercy and confirmeth truth loue in our selues maintaineth peace vrgeth to mercy and bindeth one to another and all vnto the truth Therefore Sir doe I in soule desire earnestly after the same but I cannot attain vnto that measure which I would I hunger after the perfection of all true holinesse but alas I cannot bee satisfied I thirst after righteousnesse but ah miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death which so much doth hinder mee in my heauenly progresse Iohn I reioyce greatly worthie Gaius that I find thee thus well prepared for further instructions blessed art thou for so hungring and thirsting after the best things for thou shalt be satisfied Gaius My Lord I am not ignorant blessed be God for this knowledge of my selfe that I am heere indeed in this present world but not of this world one as a pilgrime and stranger without any certaine mansion hither sent of the Lord for a time to bee employed in his seruice and so to stay till hee call mee hence which houre I waite for looking for death daily and the Lords comming to iudgement And therefore I desire to bee ready prepared and to learn whatsoeuer may be needfull both for continuance and encrease of grace in the way of life Especially seeing how the world groweth so on to worse and worse and this our present age declining so fast vnto wickednesse lest I bee intrapped and become guiltie of the common sinnes and so perish in the deserued plagues Iohn Indeed good Christian heart wel mayest thou so tearme these Euill daies our present times Is not pietie turned by many into policie sincerity by others into schisme true zeale is decayed conscience is now but a customarie fashion graced with conformitie faith is altogether a formal seruice without fasting without true feare of God and feruencie of spirit without gratious words tending to edification or good workes assuring vs of saluation godly gouerment is grosly abused by couetous persons and made a base course for filthie gaine true deuotion is not
Blessed be thy name most A Prayer for the morning gracious Father the Lord of life for that thou hast of thy goodnesse and mercy thus preserued mee this present night past and hast awakened mee raised mee vp giuen vnto mee comfortable meditations and a most sweet taste of thy heauenly graces Oh my Father my Father how is my spirit delighted with these celestiall ioyes afford me stil I humbly beseech thee the like measure of thy mercy daily that I may euer feele these comforts and neuer cease to praise thy goodnesse Indeed O Lord I freely confesse vnto thee that I haue lien in the bed of my corruptions and slept in the darke ignorance of my mind and therein tooke such delight as if thou haddest not sent out the sweet beames of the light of truth and called me vp by thy faithfull teachers I had yet remained in the night of misdeeds and perished in my sinnes Sythen therfore O Lord thou hast thus brought mee from darknesse to the light and opened mine eyes to see that which before I could not discerne cause mee now I beseech thee to shake off al fleshly drousines that in so broad a sun-shine of the Gospell I may not as carelesse of spirituall thrist sloathfully lie downe againe in the sinfull corruptions of mine owne heart but so partake of the first resurrection in the state of grace as I may enioy the blessing of the second in the kingdome of glory I doe acknowledge to thee how without thee I am O Lord very miserable poore and naked so as I am ashamed to come before thee but in mercy doe thou pitie mee and clothe me with that faire rayment of Christ his righteousnesse that I may be bold to draw neare to the throne of grace this best robe by the spirit put vpon me and giue me the hand of faith to apply the same vnto me that I may thereby be preserued from the heate of thy wrath for sinne and escape eternall destruction Giue mee grace good Lord to beautifie my holy profession with ornaments of grace good words and good workes let mee neuer want the linnen of inward sincerity nor the outward garment of Christian honestie that I may be welcome to the companie of thy Saints the onely comely creatures whom thou O Lord hast washed and made cleane Wash me O Lord with them for I confesse my selfe polluted with manifold sins and that they stick so hard cleaue so fast vnto mee that I cannot be deliuered nor clensed except thou my God by thy mercifull hand the worke of thy Spirit dost rinse mee in the precious blood of Christ Surely if it were not for the hope which I haue of thy gracious fauour I should verily despaire of my saluation For when by the glasse of thy word I see my selfe so vncleane my corruptions also to be so many and withall feele them so strong in mee I cannot but mourne with teares and lament with heauinesse of heart my present estate deseruing death and iustly causing me to feare rather damnation then to haue any hope at all of saluation But there is mercy with thee O thou blessed God of mercy to which I now appeale humbly crauing at thy hands the ful pardon of al my sinnes behold deare Father the merits of my Redeemer the price which hee hath paid to satisfie thy iustice that so of thy goodnesse thou mayest be well pleased with mee that my prayers may bee granted and my requests which I now put vp vnto thee may graciously be heard of thee It is thy will O Lord that euery one should haue a calling to walke in and that wee should performe such duties diligently as do belong thereunto now Lord for thy mercie sake as thou hast giuen mee a calling and desire to performe the charge laid vpon me therby so I do earnestly beseech thee to help guide aide and strengthen me therin put vpon mee that whole furniture of thine for my spirituall warfare that I may be armed at all assayes to resist also to preuaile against all my ghostly enemies O Lord thou knowest well how manifold the tentations bee which doe follow all those that desire to liue in and by their callings religiously and honestly Thou doest also know how I desire like a true Israelite to walke before thee in godly simplicity and towards the world without fraud or guile peaceably but Satan is so powerfull and often in his tentations the world so full of deceitfull allurements and my heart so weake and vnable to resist that vnlesse thou by thy spirit doe aide me by thy power defend mee by thy word instruct mee and by thy grace preuent mee I shall vndoubtedly goe astray from my intended purpose of wel doing O my God helpe me helpe me therefore O my God In al my iust proceedings protect me make my good purposes prosperous if it bee thy will I heartily pray thee Bend my mind euer to thy good pleasure and will that I encline not vnto wickednesse by ill companie ill counsell ill examples of others though for a time they flourish by il means Make mee O Lord to delight more in thy fauour and loue then in the gaine of all earthly goods Possesse so my heart with vprightnesse and true intendment of iust dealing and peaceable walking towards all in all my courses that I may boldly come to thee and make thee my God the Iudge of all my actions Goe out Lord before me and let my eyes be this day as at all times euer vpon thee that so before I speake I may consult with thee before I do any thing I may bee aduised by thee that so in going out and in continuing abroad thy care may be ouer mee thy prouident hand may helpe me thy mercy also may couer me that so I may by thee returne home in good peace and safety through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour in whose name I further call vpon thee for my self for the whole Church and euery member of the same in that holy forme of prayer which hee taught his blessed Apostle saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Gaius For this thou blessed seruant of God I most humbly thanke thee now if it please thee proceed on to the second point how I may carrie my selfe abroad on the day time Iohn Hold thy selfe Gaius to this mornings worke constantly then go forth in Gods name feare not neither be faint-hearted for the Lord is with thee Walk as a Saint among Directions for the day time men striuing daily to perfection let them as apparantly see thee to be come out of Satans house of bondage spiritually as they can behold thee out of thine owne house bodily Liue in the light of Gods word with respect vnto all and euery one of Gods Commandements as thou doest walke with thy body and sight of the eyes in the shine of the Sunne Behold and looke vp often to the heauens as thy
eternall mansion consider of the earth as but the place of thy pilgrimage not any continuing habitation Thinke of thy remoue all prepare for a better home Prouide for thy selfe with God thereupon often set thy mind but vpon this world vaine and fading away no more thē needs must knowing that he which is least intangled in mundane affaires is most fit for God and can with the greatest ease bid farwell to this world Make all the day time the manifestation of thy graces thy calling the circuit of thy walking thy iust dealing with men the true triall of thy faith towards God thy painfull labour in thy vocation the ordinarie means of thy maintenance be neuer either idle or ill exercised In thy conuersing with How to behaue our selus in conuersing with others men doe as thou wouldest bee done vnto buy and sell in truth and equitie moderate by mercy what thou mayest haue by law in extremity Seek not gaine vnlawfully neither that which may vndoe thy brother Make no vniust prey vpō thy poore neighbours necessity neither seeke aduantage vpon meere mistakings in word or deed Hee that trusteth thee faile him not frustrate not a hopefull expectation of thy goodnesse Secrecies in friendship reueale not no though the partie become thy deadly enemie Bee not hastie to promise but thy word being past keepe it faithfully deale warily and yet liue innocently In companie with persons vnknowne haue a wise respect to thy words and behauiour and be religiously suspicious feare the worst till thou know more as thou shalt find men worthy thy loue so afford it them and therein proceed by degrees and abide constant Loue onely for vertues and forsake not friendship because of humaine frailties Intermeddle not in other mens matters be no busie body to speake or do without the compasse of thy vocation If thou bee intreated to interpose thy selfe betweene parties let thy words aduice tend to peace and iudge without partiality be alike iust therein to friend and foe To conclude so liue in the view of all as none may iustly condemn thee though some maliciously slander thee so also as all good men may behold thee in thy iourney towards heauen as Gods steward in thy course ready at euery houre to giue vp thine account to the Lord with a chearful hart Gaius A men amen I beseech thee good God of Israel For if euery man would thus behaue himselfe abroad The good which cōmeth by mens iust and faithfull dealing then would fraud and falsehood bee sent packing oppression would be suppressed cruelty would bee turned into Christian compassion and friendly courtesies biting vsurie into workes of mercie vniust gaine by periurie briberie robberie and symonie into iust dealing equitie and pietie Wee should heare no more of hard hartednesse extortion malicious reuenging the extremitie of iustice the mischiefs of iniustice for all misse-deeds would bee turned into almes-deeds and duties of loue by which peace is preserued and charity practised And so though wee were abroad wee should neither offend nor easily bee offended and when wee bee returned home wee might sit downe with ioy to meditate vpon Gods mercies to sing praise to him to conferre of the best things to be think our selues in the euening how to prepare our selues to our nights rest in which point also I desire to bee instructed For hauing learned my mornings meditations and the duties therof also how to carrie my selfe abroad on the day I would be glad my Father to know how to behaue my selfe returning home sitting in the house and going to my rest at seasonable houres Iohn Good Gaius I Directions for the euēing perceiue thou art loath to break off before thou hast perfected the worke it is my ioy to goe on with thee being sure that thou doest willingly turne euery good precept into a cōscionable practice When therefore thou doest returne home First giue thy selfe to Meditations in returning home meditation vpon these things 1. That as the end of the day cuts off thy worldly businesse abroad and causeth thee to returne home euen so the worlds end shall cut off all earthly businesses and bring vs to our euerlasting home 2. That as the setting of the Sunne and the darknesse of the night couering vs doth make vs that we cannot follow our callings abroad euen so by the declining of Gods grace the losse of the light of truth blindnesse and darke errour possessing vs wee cannot follow the workes of pietie nor doe the duties of good Christians 3. That as after thy long trauel and absence from home yet thou doest returne again euen so there is a time comming when thou must though heere staied very long returne to thy home thy euerlasting mansion 4. That as thy house being faire and Heauen pleasant they also which liue in it louely peaceable and ioyfull at thy comming doe much reioyce thy heart to enter in and to sit downe with them hauing sustained much trouble abroad euen so may it be great ioy to vs after this miserable life ended to enter into heauen into that pleasant Paradise and to sit downe among that louely peaceable and ioyfull company of elect men and Angels And on the contrary as mā hauing had pleasures honour and all contentment abroad returning home to a filthy house Hell the people in it most disorderly and nothing among them but wickednesse the punishments thereof woes miseries much lamentations as such a man I say would be exceedingly cast down to thinke that he must goe to such a home and it would be as bitter to him as death to enter into his house euen so will it bee to all such as here liue in this world full of honour pleasures and riches with all fleshly and carnall contentment whē they must needs goe to their home euen hell the harbour for all those that liue and die irrepentantly there to bee tormented with the diuels and his Angels for euer Secondly being entred Another duty being set downe into thy house and set downe then call to remembrance what God hath done for thee what mercies hee hath shewed what benefits bestowed what friends raised what comforts affoorded and so forth And againe on the other side what euils preuented what dangers auoided how peaceably continued and preserued and such like that so the Lord for them may bee most worthilie magnified Consider what thou hast done what duties performed to see the continuance of grace what duties omitted and sinnes committed to behold thy imperfections and decay in goodnesse except thou repent Thirdly after these A third dutie at night things take Gods booke into thy hand reade it for thy selfe others if thou hast a familie conclude with prayer and a Psalme of praises vnto the Lord. And withall meditate vpon the candle brought for thee to reade by that as thou canst not reade without light no more canst thou vnderstand without the illumination
my minde in heauenly meditations from vncleane vnquiet and foolish dreames and so refresh me by the quiet benefit of sweet sleepe that I may arise more chearfully comfortably in the morning to the labours of my particular calling While I doe sleepe watch I beseech thee ouer me cause thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about me that so I may rest and also arise in safety and therby be moued to laud and praise thee still renewing my thankes as thou doest renew thy mercies daily And now Lord going to my bed I commend my selfe my soule and body into the hands of thy fatherey protection for thou art awake when I sleepe and thou onely art able to preserue mee If it so please thee now this night to take my life from me and to remoue me out of this vale of miserie this doe O Lord of thy great mercy pardon me all my sins wilfull transgressions negligences and ignorances euils committed and duties omitted in any measure manner or any way displeasing to thy Maiesty and that for the death and passion the righteousnesse the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our blessed Sauiour I humbly beseech thee and for his sake take vp my soule to thy heauenly habitation there to rest vntill I come wholly body and soule vnto thee in that great day of the resurrection But if it yet please thee stil further to prolong my life then I hartily pray thee good God of thy tender mercy herein to heare mee that as dayes be added to the time of life so graces may bee encreased that as I grow in yeeres so may I also bee fruitfull in good workes encreasing in grace to thy praise my better preparednesse to death and to my eternall comfort at the last day the time of my perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and that blessed Spirit bee giuen all honour glory and praise of me and all thy people as is most due for all thy louing mercies past and present for the future hope of eternall blisse this night and for euermore Amen Gaius Now if it please thee my Father proceed to the next point and shew vnto me what meditatiōs I should haue in the night season if it happen that then I should awake Iohn Let it 1. put thee Meditations vpon our awaking in the night in mind of awaking from sinne as thou hast awaked frō sleep that thou perish not by death 2. Thinke also how God can make men which are dead in the graue to liue againe as easily as hee hath made thee to awake out of thy sleepe 3. By thy sudden awaking to consider how suddenly thou mayest bee raised vp and summoned to iudgement Secondly by the darknes Of darknesse of the night first thinke of the spirituall darknesse in which natural men sinfully and desperately doe sleepe to pray that God would open their eyes to see the wonders of his law then of the vtter darknesse into which all such impenitent sleepers shall bee cast to moue thee to mourne for them aliue that they may not bee damned when they bee dead further by this darknesse so comfortlesse behold also their comfortles estate for as they cannot which are in darknes see either themselues or others or their way or house or friends or enemies no more can men in spirituall darknesse know thēselues nor the Church of God nor discerne the godly from the vngodly nor the way of life from the way of death nor foresee perils or the pit prepared for them no more then men which remaine in darknesse can see to auoide the dangers which they may fall into vntill the light doe againe shine vpon them Thirdly if thou canst Of dreames cal thy dreames to remembrance by their vanitie iudge of thy leuity by their vncleannesse thy filthinesse by their idlenes thy foolishnesse by the furie in them thy madnes by their much vncertainty thy wauering and inconstancie the delight in their deceits thy easinesse to bee led by delusions the fearfulnesse in them thy timorous heart the seldome thoughts of goodnes thy much delight in wickednesse and little care of godlinesse Fourthly in the silent night vpon thy bed it is good to fall into an examination of thine owne heart it is the time freest from disturbance in respect of outward impediments thou mayest haue with thy soule free and peaceable conference By a true and serious search thou mayest finde out thy selfe and so bee better knowne to thy selfe and the more thou art acquainted with thy owne corruption the more wilt thou bewaile thy wants and seeke after the grace of sanctification Fifthly in thine inclination to sleepe againe note thereby how a man may awake from sin through Gods mercy and yet bee readie to sleepe againe in sinne by his owne infirmitie Sixthly before thou sleepe againe commend thy selfe in some short prayer to God according to the former meditations and so asleepe for refreshment taking so much as may suffice nature for more strength of labour but not to satisfie the flesh to grow thereby lazie and lustfull Gaius Oh what conceited Laodiceans are we wee out of an ordinarie profession in any measure aboue our brethren hold our selues full of deuotion wee iudge our selues goodly Christians rich in graces flowing in goodnesse lacking little to perfection but alas now I see by the neglect of these things that we are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked I confesse that the Lord hath cause to rebuke and chasten vs except wee speedily grow more zealous and amend Iohn Indeed Gaius men are too wickedly carelesse of a holy conuersation and how to keepe a good cōscience towards God man Men seeme to hate so very much popish superstition as they neglect altogether Christian deuotiō it is iudged enough to bee no Papist though otherwise a man bee little better then a very Atheist in all his courses Gaius Right so my father such as see it may lament it but not remedie it I pray for better vnto him that can reforme it But leauing this proceed on I beseech thee with mee as thou hast begun and come to the last particular how I may make my selfe readie for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Iohn I perceiue that thy heart thirsteth after grace the Lord more and more perfect the same so happily begun in thee First besides these things Directions for a preparation to the Sabbath before mentioned carefully haue in remēbrance euery day the Lords day to keepe it holy when it commeth therefore foresee thy businesse neglect no ordinarie labour order thy worldly affaires so as that day bee set apart for the speciall and publike worship of God that so thy deuotion bee not hindered nor the day prophaned hee hath vtterly lost the power of religion that is carelesse of the Sabbaths sanctification Secondly in the end of the weeke iudge by this holy course of thy growth in religion of