say it O Lord thou hast appointed thy creatures to labour for me then seeing I am eased by them make me to goe forwarde more busilie in thy seruice that they may beare me in all my journeyes to glorifie thee and not carrie me to sinne Numb 22.21 with Baalam the sonne of Beor who caused Israel to sinne And as thou hast appointed the Beasts for my commoditie so through my sinne thou hast inarmed thy creatures aganst me for now the Earth bringeth foorth as many enemies as friends vnto me For the wylde Beastes doe multiplie as our sinne groweth which destroyeth both Man and Beast and the Cornes and Fruits before our eyes are consumed by thy great Hoste The residue of the Palme-worme the Canker-worme hath eaten Ioel 1.4 and the residue of the Canker-worme the Grashopper hath eaten O Lord waken vs in mercy out of the bed of sinne that beeing reconciled to thee thou mayest rebuke thy great Hoste and drowne them in the Sea Further O Lord when I consider how thou madest mee little lesse than an Angell Psal 8.5 and crownedst mee with honour and glorie and yet I am become like a Beast in my sensualities and pleasures Yea oftentimes like a Swine I returne to the puddle of sinne from which I was cleansed Wash me O Lord throughly from an euill conscience Many are like Bulles Lyons and Beares in this Wildernesse where I dwell O blessed God thou hast rescued mee from the clawes of the Beare and the paw of the Lyon 1. Sam. 17.34 Psal 23.2.4 as Dauid did his Fathers Sheepe O Lord thou art my shepheard when I feele my selfe neare lost thy Staffe will deliuer me Therefore will I sacrifice to thee my bodie and my life for thou art the God of my saluation mine hope mine helpe my Sauiour and my God O Lord Matth. 12 34. this is a generation of Vipers and vnnaturall people they haue recompenced me euill for good Alace as I haue done to thee so haue they done to me Nota. I requite thy kindnes with vnkindnesse thy benignities with mine iniquities But pittie O pittie me I will doe so no more Let my wayes please thee O Lord let my soule be thankfull vnto thee that thou mayest tame those Wilde Beasts and make them friendly vnto me Now seeing thou hast made my bodie and soule this sixth day grant that all the dayes of my life I may glorifie thee in them both that while they are together in this world euery one may prouoke other to serue thee Let Soule and Bodie prouoke one another to Gods seruice my soule may be commanded by thee and so may direct my bodie aright and my bodie may be obedient to the directions of thine holy Spirit that so I may vse all thy creatures to the glorie of thine holie Name that when it shall please thee to diuide them then I may render my bodie to the dust whereof it was made and my soule to thee of whom it was created waiting when they shall meete be vnited together againe at the last day to praise and glorifie thee for euermore Amen A MEDITATION VPON THE SEAVENTH DAY Vpon the vvhich the Lord rested from all the Workes which Hee had made Genes 2.2 WEe haue taken a view of the first sixe dayes wherin we haue seen the wonderful works of GOD in the creation of the whole World and all things therein And now wee come to the seuenth Day which is the sweete day of our Lordes rest wherein hee ceased from any new creation but by his providence sustained those thinges which hee had made By this his example he instituted one Day onelie to bee celebrated as a Sabbath to the ende of the world This Day ought to be had in an honourable regard as Augustine obserueth in his 154. Serm. de temp Tom. 10. in these words Venerabilis est hic dies qui Dominicus dicitur c. that is to say This day which is called the Lordes day is venerable on the which the Light was first seene Genes 1.3 Exod. 14.22 Ibid. 16.15 Mat. 3.13 Iohn 2.1 Luke 9.17 Ioh. 20.1 and 20.26 2. The people of Israel passed thorow the redde Sea 3. Manna rained in the Desart 4. The Lord was baptized in Iordane 5. Christ turned Water into Wine in Canah of Galilee 6. Christ fed fiue thousand people with fiue Loaues 7. Our Lord arose from death 8. Entered thorow the close Doores where the Disciples were gathered for feare of the Iewes Act. 2.1 9. The holy Ghost descended vpon the Apostles c. and on which Day we look for the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ to judgement when as the Church shall bee reformed to a Light seuenfolde greater than the Sunne and Moone c. This is a Day not an Houre not of Ydlenesse but of Rest Nota. not vnto our selues but to the Lord not for a time but for euer God craueth a whole Day which consisteth of all the partes Morning Noonetyde and Euening The whole Sabbath is to be sanctified So it is a verie grosse abuse to parte or diuide the Lordes Day at our owne pleasure Wee giue the beginning of this Day to sleepe and many Craftesmen without conscience to worke the mid-time of the day perhaps to the seruice of the Church and the afternoone to Drinke or Pastime euen as though God had not right and title to the whole Day who commandeth it by his Preceptes and commendeth it by his owne example as wee haue showne afore But seeing ignorant people and I am the more sorie euen those who would haue some appearant showe of knowledge doe object saying How shall they spende the Sabbath they haue kept Church-time what shall they doe afternoone it were better for them to play than to drinke so that they thinke Playes to bee lawfull at afternoone and that vpon the Sabbath First I answere that to vse anie sorte of playing gaming or pastime vpon the Lords day An answere vnto those who aske how they should bestow the Sabbath is altogether vnlawfull for vpon this day especiallie wee haue to doe with God in a serious and earnest matter which businesse will chase away all follies and wantonnesse and bring vs into a due consideration how wee may attaine vnto a reconciliation with our God for our manifold sinnes wherewith wee haue so often and hainouslie prouoked him vnto wrath against vs. How the Sabbath should bee spent But I wil more peremptorily answere to their demaund What they should doe First for the morning of the day rise earely and pray confessing the sinnes of the weeke bygone prepare thy heart to receiue the word of God as thou wouldest prepare the ground in breaking it vp Simil. before thou wouldest cast seede into it In the midday heare the word and sing praise to the blessed Trinitie Blessed is the man who delighteth in the law of the Lord. Psaelm 1.2 And
blessing vnto all the rest of the weeke Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6.33 and all other thinges shall bee casten vnto you vvhere by the contrarie there are Curses denounced aga nst the profanators of the Sabbath Ier. 17.27 that God shall curse the workes of their handes and the Land shall enjoye manie Sabbathes of yeeres euen as it did in the Captiuitie of Babylon Now Three kinds of Sabbaths 1. Of Creation 2. Of Redemption Reuel 1.10 there are three kindes of Sabbathes the first of the Creation as a memoriall that GOD ceased from his worke vpon the seuenth day this lasted till Christes death and resurrection The second Sabbath beganne vpon the day of his resurrectiō which is called THE LORDES DAY in rememberance of a newe Creation of the worlde 3. Of Perfection Isa 66.23 and this will ende with the worlde And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternall when as the sixe dayes of this miserable life shall bee finished vvee shall rest from all our earthlie businesses and trauels that our continuall exercise may bee to glorifie him in minde heart and with all our strength in his Kingdome Then let vs occupie this Sabbath whollie in his prayse vvhich shall bee a sure pledge of that in the Heauens A Prayer vpon the seuenth Day MOst mightie Lord and mercifull Father distill I beseech thee and powre downe into mine earthlie heart thy diuine Dewes vvhich may moysten it together with such heauēly meditations as may stirre vp mine heart vnto thy prayse and glory that as vpon these sixe dayes I haue beene musing and meditating vpon all thy most glorious workes so I may repose my selfe vpon the day of Rest and finde quietnesse to my soule in thee for all the rest of the creatures albeit they be glorious yet they be subject vnto a curse not because of themselues but for man who hath defiled them I haue trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures and I see that it is true that Salomon saide All is but vanitie and vexation of the spirit Eccles 1.2 as Ritches increase so Care groweth But O Lord let me come to thine Arke as the Doue did which found no rest till shee came backe to Noah Genes 8.9 Pull in thine owne doue O my Lord vnto thee for the floods of sinne haue ouerflowed the face of the Earth that I finde no rest heere I am wearie and loadned Lord giue me rest to my soule in thee This day is joyfull to me because that my Lord rose this day from death I beseech thee my God Nota. raise vp my soule from the graue of sinne that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection and make my thoughts spirituall this thy Sabbath day banish from my minde all earthlie cares this day forgiue me in that I haue so many times abused these thine holie dayes Oftentimes when I was praying to thee or thou preaching vnto me Sathan did cast into my mind carnall cogitations which interrupted that communication betwixt my soule thy majestie O Lord forgiue me and fill my soule with thy reuerence and feare in all the dayes of my life to come that all such ydle purposes may be dispatched by thine holie Spirit shut the doore of my soule when thou art speaking vnto me or when I pray to thee that none get entrie to vnquiet me and stay my joy for alace mine heart was casten open vnto many of thine enemies I will close the doore of mine eare to the voyce of all others that thou mayest speake to me Alace my God I finde a great decay of that spirituall joy in me that I haue not that sparke of delight and that inward spirituall joy which I should haue or had sometimes I loath the exercise which I loued mine hands are wearie and fallen downe I haue lost my first loue it was sweeter to me thā the honey Reuel 2.4 now it is loathsome vnto me as the Manna was vnto the Isralites therefore I beseech thee Numb 11.6 kindle vp an holie fire of thy loue in my soule as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus and that the zeale of thine House may eate me vp Luk 24.32 Psal 69.9 and 52.8 and 27.4 Let me flourish as a greene Oliue in the house of my God O would to God I could abide in thine house all the dayes of my life that I might praye with good Anna 1. Sam. 1.13.16 out of the bitternesse of my soule making my supplications to thee O Lord I craue thee pardon for the earthly and ydle speaches which I spake vpon the Sabbath I will holde mine hand vpon my mouth speake no more Iob 39.37 Luk 24.15 The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ he came vnto them alace when I spake of the world he went from me and my heart was colde Lord forgiue me for it was a great sin which I did yea I made no matter to deale in mine earthly businesse on thy Sabbath All mine excuses are nowe accusations against me they burne me when I am trying mine heart But Lord I found neuer any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprysed vpon thy Day I haue sinned I will doe it no more let the world be crucified to me and me to it vpon thy Sabbath I haue resolued in mine heart that I shall spende my dayes while I liue to thine honour Helpe my resolution by thine holie Spirit that neither the corruption of my nature my weaknesse and forgetfulnes Nota. neither the euil example of these wicked and profane people among whom I liue suffer me to break my promise which I doe make vnto thee but that thou mayst be my speach my thought and my delight vpon the Sabbath dayes Let me be feruent in prayer and supplications to thee vpon the day of thy rest Let me heare what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy seruant Let me gather thy Manna when it is rained downe from the clowdes of Heauen Ex. 16.15 as the people gathered Manna in the Desart that I may heare it as thy word I may gather it and lay it in the store-house of mine heart against the yeere of famine Gen. 41.48 and giue me thy grace that vpon thy holy day I may proclaime thy prayses with the rest of the Saincts This day let me breake my bread to the hungrie seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spirituall graces let me cloathe them that are naked visit those that are sicke and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day that I may moste diligently worke the workes of God that I may gather out the flowrs of thy most holy Scriptures that I may studie to practise which I heare in a godlie life and conuersation so I may redeem the time which I haue spent in vain Eph. 5.16 that I now getting mercie for the abusing of thy
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
in that Citie but those who are written in the Lambes Booke of Life O that Water of Life Rev. 22.1.2 cleare as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God! There is the Tree of Life which beareth twelue manner of Fruites and rendereth Fruite euerie Moneth O! that is the true Land of CANAAN Exod. 3.17 which floweth with Milke and Honey which is promised to the Elect Children O how blessed are those who stand before thee O Lord 1. king 8.8 and heare thee and see the beautie of thine House O howe amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of Hostes It is better to bee a Doore-keeper in thine House than to bee a Monarch of the whole Worlde Psal 84.1 As the Hart brayeth after the Riuers of Waters Psal 42.1 so doeth my soule pant after thee my liuing Lord. O my GOD when shall I appeare before thee in Sion Nowe my soule returne vnto thy rest for the Lord will pittie thee and will deliuer thee from this Prison and from these wylde Beastes which vexe thee on euerie side and from sinne which daylie troubleth thee and will bring thee to the sight and fruition of the Eternall Ioye which is in the Heauens O glorious GOD I haue not yet seen the HeaueÌ„s where thâ— Saints are but in the myrrour of the Gospell But I see daylie these viâ—â—ble creatures and the Firmament NOTA. If there be such beauty in the outward part of the heauens what is within which are euen the workes of thine owne hand Then if there bee such beautie in the outwarde partes of thy Palace O LORD what will wee looke for in thy Gabinet O my GOD as often as I beholde these outward Heauens then let mine heart inward affections be mounted vp by an holie desire and meditation that the eye of my soule may pierce thorow these thy visible workes euen to the companie of my Brethren the First-borne and to that innumerable number of Angels and Sainctes Oh bee thou my Guide O my LORD and bring mee through the perils of this Wildernesse vnto thine heauenlie Palace euen for the merites and blood of IESVS CHRIST thy well-beloued Sonne our Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Werke IN the Creation of the third Day there bee two principall thinges to bee obserued First The manner of the Creation by separation of the Waters whereby were created two Elementes the Water and the Earth Next The Blessing of GOD. Since there is no difficultie in the wordes I will obserue foure thinges First That so long as those two Elementes were in the confused Chaos so long they were both vnprofitable and each one hindered other but assoone as they were separated Confusion is vnprofitable they were both fruitfull Euen so is it yet where Anarchie hath place either in Church or Policie there shall bee no Blessing in neither of them But happie is that Church and Common-wealth where all thinges are ruled by order and no place is left to confusion Gods blessing inricheth Next the Earth was created barren God spake the worde and it fructified If this was the estate thereof before Sinne howe much lesse nowe beeing subject to a curse will it bring foorth anie good thing without GODS Blessing God prouided for his creatures before they were Thirdlie yee see that God blessed it with Cornes Trees and Fruites for the sustenance of Man and Grasse for Beastes before he made anie of them He prouideth the Milke in the Breast of the Woman as a liuelie fountaine before the Childe be borne Then if he was so prouident before Man was made will he neglect vs Much more when they are when wee are made to his owne Image Let vs seeke him truelie and doubt not Fourthlie there is a treasure which God hath hidden in the Earth for Man Golde and Siluer to inrich him Coales Wood and other firing for his heate Stones for his Building c. and on the face of the Earth Gods hidden treasures should prouoke vs to thankefulnesse Cornes Hearbes Trees Wines Oyles and varietie of crearures both for his pleasure and profit When wee behold daylie these good benefits let vs be drawne by each one of them to thankfulnesse of our Creator Let vs seeke the right vse of them that wee spende them not vpon sinne Finallie by these earthlie blessings call to minde the spirituall Riches Seeke spiritual riches and Foode of our soules that wee may not labour for the foode that perisheth but for that Foode which doth endure for euer Iohn 6.27 A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Worke. ETernall God and most louing Father as thou increasedst this thy hudge workmanship of the Worlde and hast created the Earth vpon this third Day so I beseech thee to increase thy Spirit within me and create in my barren colde and earthly heart fruitfull considerations to thy Majesties Glorie O Lord as thou preparedst in the seconde Daye the Heauens to bee the Citie of our remaining so hast thou ordained and established the Earth to bee the place of our Pilgrimage and wandering as the people of Israel were in the Wildernesse fourtie yeares before they came to the land of Promise Similitude Yet O Lord the Earth is thine and the fulnesse thereof There is no constant abiding to me in this Earth I lodge heere in tents I wander now heere now there helpe me poore Pilgrime in this desart place that I may finde thee a Pillar of Cloude in the day to couer me Exod. 13.21.22 and a Pillar of fire in the night and darknesse of this world to illuminate me to see the way to Canaaâ— Thou openedst a fountaine to Hagar the Bond-woman and her childe Gen. 21.19 when they were steruing for thirst I am not the childe of the Bond-woman but of the free-woman Open the fountaine of the House of Dauid and giue me of the water of life and satisfie my soule with the fatnesse of thine house Ezech. 13.1 Iohn 7.38 Psa 39.12 I am a Stranger heere on Earth as my Fathers were before me Let me not walke then as a stranger among the Philistims and Babilonians If I were a citizen and a man of their owne Ioh. 15.19 they would loue me But because I am not of them neither follow them nor their manners therefore they hate me My Mothers sonnes and familiar friends count me a stranger they stand farre from me Psal 69.8 in the day of trouble Draw thou nigh vnto me when they goe farre from me Iob 19.14 Wilt thou leaue a poore Suckling to die him alone in this wildernesse Though my Father and Mother forsake me yet thou wilt gather mee vp I am a Widow for my Lord and Husband is with thee Psa 27.10 I am his Turtle Doue lamenting mine alone till I see him Bring me thorow the straits of this Pilgrimage Psal 42.7 I steppe out of one deepe to
thy Spirit may make the whole counsell of God knowne to the people that they keepe nothing backe nor adde nothing lest thou O God adde vnto them the curse of thy Law Rev. 22.18 scrape their names out of the booke of Life And because thy Church is vnder continuall dangers O Lord keepe her and all her members from the cruell rage of all her enemies Lord let the malice of her aduersaries turne to themselues and bring confusion vpon all such as hate Sion Lord giue peace to her Walles and her Palaces and blesse those that blesse her Psal 122.7 and curse those that curse her keepe her like the Apple of thine Eye Psal 17.8 which thou louest Thou wilt bee with her in the middest of the fire and the water that she bee not destroyed nor ouer-whelmed By thine hand O Lord she hath bene preserued They lay shares for the poore Church but cut thou them asunder yea Psal 7.16 and 57.6 trappe them in the net which they haue laide They haue digged a pitte let them fall into the midst of it So shall come to all the enemies of our God and his Church Let them be as a turning Wheele and 83.13 and a rolling Ball. Let them be as smoake which vanisheth before the winde and. 68 2. and as Waxe which melteth in the Sunne Let them be like a lumpe of Lead vvhich sinketh to the bottome of the Sea O Lord if it were any particular reuenge of mine owne I vvould pardon their vvronges But alace it is done to my Mother thy Spouse how shall I beare it Burie them in eternall forgetfulnesse vvho haue done such despitefulnesse to her as that cruel Antichrist and his adherents haue done And to the effect that thine enemies may bee discomfited arise O Lord sharpen the Arrowes of thy Worde by vvhich thou mayest pierce the hearts of the Kinges enemies Psal 45.5 Draw the Sword of thy Word Heb. 4.12 which is two-edged that it may cut to the diuision of the marrow from the bones Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Ministers but make it a quickning spirit to bring downe great Holdes let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes that thy Ministrie may be powerfull and the world may see that thou hast not left thy Church without both counsell and comfort 1. Pet. 1.22 that men are not only hearers but also doers of thy word And againe I pray for thy Ministrie that they may be faithfull Stewards of thy Mysteries 1. Cor. 3.12 vigilant Watchmen diligent Shepheardes wise Builders not of stubble 1. Pet. 2.4 but of Golde vpon the foundation which is Christ and that their only care be to see the glorie of thy Name and for the good of the Church which is our Mother Blesse and increase the fruit of her Wombe let her grow in number like the Starres of Heauen let her bee fruitfull in her age let her sonnes be like Oliue Plants bringing foorth fruit let her daughters be like carued corner Stones Psal 144.12 in whose hearts thou wilt carue thine Image in the similitude of a Palace And blesse her with the blessing of Heauen and of the earth and of the deepe Gen. 49.25 and let all the eternall blessings which my soule can wish bee vpon thy Spouse my Mother the vniuersall Church vpon all her children friendes and seruants yea whosoeuer loueth the peace of thy Church let them prosper I pray namelie to thee O Lord for thy Church in France Bohemia Pray for the Church in France and Bohemia which thou began with the bloode of innumerable Martyres which thou hast made to grow amongst the middest of thine enemies Maintaine O Lord the vvorke vvhich thou hast begunne amongst them giue them wisedome that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their aduersaries and that in this dangerous time they may cleaue only to thee who will be both their wisedome and protection O Lord looke vpon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Yle of Britane thou translated this Vine out of Aegypt and diddest plant a Vine-yarde to thy selfe thou didst hedge it about with thy prouidence thou confoundedst all her enemies thou buildedst a watch-tower in the middest thereof Isa 5.1.2 c. Psal 80.8 and sent watchmen accordingly to giue warning to them But O Lord thou crauedst lookedst for wine-grapes they yeelded thee wilde-grapes So that now we deserue that thou shouldest pull downe the hedge and suffer the wilde Boare to enter into thy Planting Remember O Lord thine ancient mercies and forget our iniquities digge vs O Lord and take paines vpon vs that we may be fruitfull And finallie O Lord blesse all the visible Congregations of people who call vpon thy Name and all the particular persons whose names are written in the Booke of Life fill vp the number of thine Elect cal them effectually by thy word that we may bee all one Folde vnder one chiefe Shepheard Shorten O Lord the dayes of sinne Ioh. 10.17 and hasten thy comming Lord Iesus that thy Spouse beeing prepared a pure Virgine she may be taken vp to the newe Hierusalem to Heauen Rev. 21.10 where after the infinit Battels temptations of this world she may reigne eternallie and bee crowned in thy Kingdome with Christ her blessed Lord and Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE HOLY COMMVNION THERE are two great Seales which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word to wit Two Seales affixed to the Word the Sacrament of Baptisme and of the Lordes holy Supper Albeit the Church of the Iewes was loadned with manie Sacraments as the Passeouer Circumcision Manna Christians haue fewer Sacraments in numbeâ— than the Iewes but mâ—re in sigâ—ification and amplification the Rocke the Clowde the Sea c. Yet God hath giuen the Christian Church Numero pauciora factu faciliora significatione ampliora that is Fewer in number easier to be done and of more large signification The Sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of Initiation when wee are entered into the Familie of God and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sacrament of Confirmation whereby the Children of God who are spirituallie borne in Baptisme in the Bath of Regeneration by the remission of their sinnes in Christes bloode which is signified by the washing of water the same are fedde at his Table in the Sacrament of the Supper are fedde by Christes bodie and blood Poâ—h the Sac aments ha e one substance vnto euerlasting Life Both these Sacramentes offer one Christ who is the substance and matter of them both albeit diuerslie First the diuersitie is in the time The Sacraments differ in â—â—e things for Baptisme must goe before the Supper neither can anie communicate who are not first baptized Next Baptisme to one the Supper to manie for otherwise it
quikneth and comforteth all the inferiour creatures by his comming to the Earth in Sommer Psal 19.6 By his remouing they are as it were comfortlesse and dead So Christ is both the light and life of the world by whom wee haue not only our naturall beeing but also the life of our soules I am the Way the Life and the Trueth Iohn 14.6 sayeth hee So that without him there is nothing but death Therefore as wee see light and heate in the Sunne Light and heate together let vs followe these two qualities of the Sunne that we haue light and heate saith and loue And as the High-priest carried in his Ephod his Vrim Simil. Ex. 28.30 and his Thummim that is Illumination and Perfection So should all Christians haue the true knowledge of God and faith working by loue As for the course of the Sunne he is in continuall course The course of the Sun without interruption since his creation But in the dayes of Ioshua when he stood and in the dayes of Ezekiah Iosh 10.12 2. king 20.2 when he stayed his course came backe ten degrees By which his constant course we are taught to runne forward in that good race of Christianity without wearying Learne at the Sunne to run a constant course NOTA. and we must stay neuer except it be to see the exterminion of Gods enemies and turne backe vnlesse it be from sinne to Gods obedience The course of the Sunne is through the Zodiacke which deuydeth the Aequinoctiall in two equall parts the one halfe to the North the other halfe to the South painted vnder the figures of Beasts the twelue signes coelestiall the Lyon Bull Ramme c. It is called Zodiacke from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What the Zodiacke is a Beast The Sunne in his course passeth monethly through one of these twelue signes whereby he compleateth his course in twelue moneths He knowes his apointed times giuen him by God Ps 104.19 which he transgresseth neuer He ariseth dayly in his proper time to giue light to vs let vs then rise earlie out of the bed of sinne Simil. It riseth early let vs rise earlie from sinne that as he goeth forward euerie houre of the day in light so wee may goe after him to doe the works of light which God hath commanded vs. This way made Dauid his Progresse at Morning Noonetide and at Euen in the Night he arose with the Sunne went forward and when he sate he ended with the praising of God Ordinarie defectes of the Sonne His defects are some ordinarie by the inâ—erposition of the Moone betwixt him and the Earth which are rare and sometimes prodigious presaging the eclipsing and death of some rare Prince as the eclipse in the yeere of God 1596. presaged the death of the most Christian King HENRIE the fourth of FRANCE HENRIE the Pearle of France Prince Henrie of Britane and the eclipse of the Sunne the yeere 1612. wherein that excellent Prince HENRIE the Prince of Great BRITANE the Pearle of the World died and was remooued to all our griefes Some defectes are extraordinarie as that which was at the death of Christ for the space of three houres Extraordinarie defects of the which Dionysius Areopagita sayde Aut Deus Naturae patitur aut Mundi machina dissolvitur that is Either the God of Nature is suffering or else the Worlde is dissoluing The Moone is compared to the Church as the Sunne is to Christ The Moone This is a prodigious thing wheÌ„ the Church which shoulde bee the light of the darksome worlde shee goeth betwixt Christ and vs and hideth his beautifull face from vs the which truelie the Church of Rome hath done manie yeeres The Lord let her see howe shee hath beene the cause of that great Ignorance wherin our fore-fathers were plunged for a long season yea shee still hath a desire to nourish Darknesse and calleth Ignorance the Mother of Deuotion The Moone is the other great light but inferior to the Sunne first in place secondly in qualitie thirdly in light because it hath lesse light than the Sunne and some doe thinke that shee borroweth her light from the Sunne Fourthly in honour for she gouerneth the Night but not the Day And fiftly in that the Sunne is constant shee mutable hee hote shee colde hee dry and shee moyst As the Sunne doth represent Christ so doth the Moone the Church which shines in the dark night of this world The comparation of the Moone with the Church being ruled by Christ who can rule and gouerne his Light When the Moone is in the point nearest the Sun then her light is darkened and hidde from the worlde and shee is in her change NOTA. But when shee is farthest from the Sunne then shee is in her greatest perfection The Moone the nearer the Sun the lesser light the Church the nearer Christ the greater farre differing from Christ and his Church For when the Church is nearest Christ then shee shineth in her perfect glorie and shee decreasseth when shee flieth farthest off from him But heerein shee resembleth the Church for that part of the Moone which is toward the Sunne is euer illuminated the rest of her bodie being darkned The Church as farre as shee looketh to Christ is light so likewise the Church so farre as shee looketh to Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shee is light in the Lord but so farre as shee is turned from him shee is nothing but darknesse The Eclipse of the Moone happeneth when the Earth is interponed betwixt her and the Sunne Eclipse of the Moone And so the Church of Christ alace suffereth this Eclipse when the earthlie cares of this life goe betwixt Christ her whereby it doeth come to passe that the world is spoyled of light as we see in the Romish Church which was so long glorious as in her Martyrdome she contemned the world but after when she enjoyed peace and was promoted to honour and wealth she became earthlie minded and her Godlinesse was soone turned into Greedinesse The Starrs As for the rest of the Starres they are innumerable and yet I will affirme that there is not one of them which is ydle but hath a speciall vse for which it was created For as in the Earth the Lord made nothing in vaine for hee sawe that whatsoeuer hee did it was good Then if it was good Gen. 1.10 it behoued to serue for some good vse So in the Heauens likewise hee saw that all was good Some fixed For the Starres there be some fixed as their name Stella à stando beareth So wee should studie to bee fixed Starres in the right hand of CHRIST Rev. 1.16 20. Some of these are remarkable whereof GOD himselfe speaketh vnto Iob as the Hyades Iob 9.9.38 3. Pletades and Orion The Planets haue their name from erring for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doeth
signifie Some Planets but each one of them hath a seuerall office and compleateth his course in his appointed time as the Sunne and Moone doe and haue their particular operations vpon the inferiour creatures As for the Comets they take their name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comets which is called the haire because they seeme to carrie as it were haire about them of whom Plinius maketh mention in his second Booke of his naturall historie and twentie fiue Chapter The ends of their creation Simil. As for the ends of their creation First the Sunne was created to rule the Day the Moone the Night So this darke and blinde world is ruled by the light of Christ and of his Church which is illuminated and directed by him But I maruell how the Church of Rome can call her selfe the Sunne and the Princes of the world the Moone for if she be the Spouse of Christ then must she be the Moone of whom is spoken in the Scripture and Christ must be her Sunne So in comparison of her the secular persons are the Earth I maruell likewise of these against whom Ieremie and the rest of the Prophets so oft speaketh who thinke that their life and the events thereof still depend vpon the Starres or Plannets which is a manifest idolatrie putting them in Gods place NOTA. But let vs learne that the superiour creatures haue so power ouer the inferriour bodies that wee leaue all the euent of them to God Against the curiositie in searching our euents 1. Sam. 28.18 the maker and guider of all let vs seeke his fauour depende on his prouidence without any curious searching of our euent lest wee receiue the answere of Saul A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES fourth Dayes Worke. GRACIOVS GOD and mercifull Father who hast filled the Heauens with such infinite Lightes vpon this fourth Day inlighten mine vnderstanding I beseech thee that I may see thy power and thy glorie in these thy good creatures and through them as through spectacles let me look in to the Father of Lights Thou hast created the Sunne who by his beautie and bountie hath adorned the whole Earth As the Sun shineth on the bodie pray that Christ may shine on the soule hee ariseth each morning on my bodie so I pray thee that the Sunne of Righteousnesse the Sunne Iesus Christ may shine vpon my darkened minde euerie daye and houre and chase away the cloudes of ignorance and of sinne from my soule that thou mayest shine brightly in me Woe is mee my Lord howe manie times hath the Sunne shined vpon mee and as Absolom before the Sunne committed wickednesse 2. Sam. 16 22. so I before the Sunne in the pride of my wicked heart haue often times sinned against thee O my Father and therefore I confesse that I am not woorthie that the Sunne should shine vpon mee O Lord Iesu spreade thy Mantle ouer mee that thy Father beholde not my wickednesse Thou puttest light in the Sunne that hee may shine therefore Lord put knowledge and vnderstanding in mee Thou hast put hotnesse in the Sunne Oh warme mine hart with thy loue that through the loue I beare to thee I may also breake foorth in the loue of my Neighboures And as the Sunne runneth constantlie in his course at thy commaundement so Lord let mee run all my dayes in the path of thy Law for hitherto I haue run as a wylde Asse in the broade way of destruction yea I brayed after the desires of sinne psal 42.1 as the Hart doeth after the Riuers of Waters and nothing could haue satisfied mee vnlesse I had obtained my sinfull desire Now Lord haue mercie vpon me draw my feet out of the vnhappie way of sinne let me runne with as speedie a course in the way of thy seruice Let vs bee more diligēt to serue God than wee were before to sin against him that as Sainct Paul thy seruaunt was more diligent in thy employment than he was in the destruction of thy Church so I may be more busied in thy honourable seruice than I was in seruing mine owne affections and in the seruice of Sathan Alace O Lord howe slow am I to doe thy seruice But if thou wilt drawe mee I will run after thee Oh drawe mee by the Cordes of thy loue Cantic 1.3 yea rather than I should lie behinde force mee with the Cordes and Whippes of thy visitation that I may learne to runne a quicker swifter pace than I haue done heeretofore But alace NOTA. that the Sunne which is a senselesse creature should neuer bee wearie and that I should so soone bee tyred in seruing of thee The Sunne constant in its course O louing Father stirre vp a constant zeale of thine honour in mine heart I beseech thee that as I goe forwarde in yeeres so I may make greater progresse in godlinesse O LORD when I see the Sunne and the Moone and the Starres c. which are the workes of thine owne hands O then I thinke with my selfe What is Man that thou shouldest visit him or the sonne of man that thou shouldest magnifie him For albeit the Sunne were in the highest top of its beautie glorie yet it is but my seruant and likewise the Moone The Sunne serueth vs let vs serue GOD. and the Starres Then fye vpon mee if I shall not in whatsoeuer estate I am serue thee O my gracious God who hast made so glorious creatures for my vse LORD I pray thee let my light so shine before men that all who beholde my conuersation may take occasion to glorifie thine holie Name O Father of Lightes lighten thou my Candle that it may shine clearelie and furnish it with the Oyle of thine holie Spirite and Worde that it may shine euen as a bright Morning Starre in thy Kingdome Thy seruant Paul O Lord 1. Cor. 15.41 sayeth that there is one glorie of the Sunne and another of the Moone and another of the Starres It is true there is great diuersitie amongst the Sainctes heere on Earth and likewise great difference of glorie in the Life to come But O my God let mee shine but as the least of thy Starres that I may bee fixed in thy Firmament and giue out my light of knowledge and good life vnto this darke Age. The Moone knoweth the time of her change and as shee changeth so doe all the inferior creatures with her for all men are grasse and there is no steadfast abiding for them heere But O Lord heerein is my comfort The Moone changeth but God can not change Ps 90. ◠6 Psal 90.2 Luke 1.5 that there is no shadowe of changing with thee Thou art from euerlasting to euerlasting yea my God thy kindnesse and trueth abideth from generation to generation euen vnto such as feare thee and attende vpon thy mercies and goodnesse O vnchangeable God I finde none alteration with thee for although men runne
last at afternoone meditate vpon the word which thou hast heard harow the ground by conference and visit the sicke breake thy Bread to the hungrie thou shalt find such infinit occasions of spirituall exercises vpon the Sabbath that thou hast no neede to spende it ydlie for lacke of better exercise Great differance betwixt Rest and Ydlenes But it is to be vnderstoode that there is a great difference betwixt Rest and Ydlenesse for ydlenesse is euer taken in an euill part and is the foster-mother of all sinne and there is no day in the weeke wherein God hath permitted it Sixe dayes shalt thou labour sayeth the Lod. Exod. 20.9 2. Thess 3.10 And the Apostle Paul dischargeth to giue foode to those who worke not But Rest is euer taken in a good sense when we are commanded to cease from one sort of exercise that we may be occupied in a better for the thornie cares of this world wil impede deuotion therefore God willl that we lay them aside for a while to the ende we may the better waite and attende vpon Gods diuine Seruice Wherevpon vpon it followeth necessarilie that the Sabbath is not only abused by such as worke their earthly businesse thereon but also by such as cease in bodie and their mindes and mouthes are filled with worldly affaires Then this Rest consisteth in two things ceasing and working must be the most diligent day in the whole weeke Spirituall rest both in regard of the soule that hath her principall operation that day and the ende of her labour which is God his kingdome which only wee should seeke that day This Rest must be totall and not partlie The Sabbath dayes rest must bee totall and not parted for the soâ—le all the faculties thereof and the bodie with her members must bee put to worke for Gods glorie Wee must not employ our cogitations to think vpon these earthly thinges Haue not our mindes beene worne as Milstones grinding gaine to the world these dayes bygone The Beast careth but for things present Simil. but thy care hath bene for things to come thou wilt serue God this day with thy mouth and thy god Mammon with thy mind God esteemeth and judgeth thy seruice from the inwarde disposition of thine heart as he doeth all things for he looketh not as man doth God judgeth of maÌ„ by his heart 1. Sam. 16.7 If with thy heart thou drawest neare vnto him then thou hast obserued his Sabbath for the heart will carrie thy body which the bodie cannot for thy soule will goe where she pleaseth albeit the bodie be in the Temple of God Next vpon the Sabbath it is required that our hearts and affections be spirituallie disposed with a delight and pleasure in the Lord. Heerefore the Lord craueth by his Prophet that his Sabbath should be a day of delight Isa 58.13 for there is none action which a man inteÌ„deth with hope of gaine or pleasure albeit it bee painfull that hee hath not delight into but specially in the works of sinne which Sathan baiteth with wonderfull delights If we haue taken such pleasure in the seruice of sinne whose ende is death shall we not rejoyce when we goe to the house of our God seeing only that seruice which is done with joy of the heart on the Sabbath is acceptable to God and profitable to thy soule What shall we thinke of such Recusants who will not heare the voyce of their Bridegroome Recusants damned such as for feare come to the Church Simil. neither will come to the Sanctuarie of God or of such who for feare of lawes for shame or custome doe come I will compare them to a shrewde wife married to an Husband who refuseth to him cohabitation and if sometime she be enforced to come to his societie she signifieth by her countenance and outward behauiour that her heart is not with him and therefore is not worthie that he should delight in her As also those Christians of whatsoeuer estate they bee which vse their games and pastymes on the Sabbath Gamesters rebuked whether in the house or in open albeit the one is more offeÌ„siue thaÌ„ the other yet in themselues they are both sinful for in so doing they declare howe little delight they haue in things which are better 1. King 3.24 Simil. Then yee would cut the child in twaine as the whoore would haue done but the Lord to whome the Sabbath belongeth sayeth Either giue me the whole day or take it all to thy selfe The Lord is the Lord of the Sabbath it is his owne day the rest he hath giuen to thee take of thy sixe dayes and robbe not him of his one As the Rod of Aaron swallowed vp the Rod of the inchanters of Egypt Simil. Exod. 7.12 so let the delight of God deuoure all other pleasures And as wee must make conscience of our thoughts and all actions so wee must beware of ydle speaches on his Sabbath Ydle speaches on the Sabbath for if the tongue bee a most noble member when should it bee occupyed in his seruice if not on the day of his rest will not thy tongue finde in that infinite God Nota. infinite matter of speach of the proofes which thou hast had of his power fauour wisedome justice patience c that thou needest not for lacke of spirituall purpose to talke ydlie Besides that his word is an Ocean of matter furnishing thy tongue so well to sing his prayses And so on the Lordes day let vs speak the language of Canaan Further Isa 19.18 we must not goe our owne wayes or doe our will the way which hee hath prescribed vs to goe is to his House and to visit the sicke indigent and not to goe make our merchandise vpon this day The people of Israel went out to seeke Manna vpoÌ„ the sabbath Exod. 16.27 but they found nothing neither shal our Sabbath erraâ—ds find any benediction So on the Lords Sabbath let our mindes our members On the Sabbath let all our members bee occupied in Gods seruice cease from the world and much more from sinne that wee may meditate vpon the Lawe of God Our eyes may beholde his works glorifie him in them our eares may heare his word our tongue may proclaime his praise our knees may bow downe and worship him we may lift vp our hands to heauen our feete may goe to his house so all may concurre in his majesties Sabbath to his honour The promise which God giueth if we obserue it is That we shall mount vp to the high places of the earth Isa 58.14 this is temporall and he will feede vs with the heritage of Iacob our father this is spirituall Godlinesse then hath the promise of this life and the life to come Godlinesse hath a twofolde promise for there is no doubt but the diligent seruice of God vpon this day shall procure a