that acquaintance may be renewed and not lost So for our mutuall exhorting one another how vnequally haue we performed it sparing them too much with whom we are inward and reprouing them too tartly whō we like not so well and perhaps thinking scorne to be admonished our selues by any How many times when we haue met together for our comforts and to the edifying one of another in godlinesse haue wee burst out into prophane and idle talke letting our mouth loose to all vanity that should haue vttered gracious words giuing proofe of the inward sanctification of our hearts so slie is the diuel the perpetual enemie of all good things whē wee goe about to diminish his kingdome to rob vs from our selues and diuert our best thoughts another way I speake this the rather that all those that are the professors of the Gospell might vse these means here after with more care and conscience lest they be ouer-reacht by this slight of Sathan and set a watch before their mouth and keepe the doore of their lips that they giue no example of lightnesse or vanity to them that are new conuerts nor vnto any other but carying thēselues as paterns vnto them in word in conuersation in faith in spirit in loue and in purenesse that euen those that are backwardest in religion may be drawne by their integrity to repentance from the corruptions of the world For vertue shewes so well in whomsoeuer it is that it stirres vp a meruailous loue and desire of it in them that behold it But if neither Gods benefits nor his iudgements nor his word nor godly bookes nor the good counsell and admonition and examples of our brethren who are more carefull of our saluation then we our selues will preuaile with vs let the shortnes and vncertainty of our owne life make vs looke about vs. For what is our life but a vapour a flower a flash a shadow a dreame vanity nothing Haue you euer obserued the bubbles which boyes blow vp in a shell of sope-water how some being swollen to a determinate quantity breake immediatly in the shell some the wind whisleth vp aloft into the aire and are dissolued there some flie alowe by ground till at length they dash against the ground and come to nothing Such things are men and women when you see a thousand of them walking the streetes imagine you see a thousand belles or bubbles of water wandering vp and downe some a high aboue all their fellowes as the gale fauours them some in a lower region and with a thought as high as the highest some beneath that lownes and some as low as the pauement Now stand still a little and marke them and you shall see some times one striking out another sometimes tenne or twenty or thirty popping out of themselues and instantly so many more some of the highest some of the lowest some of the meane ones one amongst another so that anon you cannot see one of the olde men or bubbles left but all are new men or new bubbles call them which you will for all is one blowne vp in the places of the former If this be our best firmenesse if our mettall be thus full of flawes if our life be but a moment and yet vpon that moment depends eternitie of weale or woe in the life to come who would not take opportunitie by the foretop and make hay as the saying is while the sunne shines who would put off his amendment till to morrow when he knowes not what a day may bring forth Man knoweth not his end saith the wisest among men but euen as the fishes be taken with the hooke and the birdes be sodainly intrapped with the snate so are the children of men preuented with the euill day when it comes vpon them sodainly When the tree falleth whether toward the North or South there it lieth and in the same state you die you shall be iudged Learne therefore to number your dayes and consider seriously of your latter end that you may repent betimes for that is wisedome and depart from euill for that is vnderstanding Or if you scorne all other schoole-masters learne of the diuell one rule of policy He knowing his time to be short will doe what mischiefe he can you knowing your time to be short doe you what good you can CHAP. 6 THere remaines yet three other means which I cannot ouerpasse without making mention of them The first is the care of masters Godly carefull Masters and the discipline of a well gouerned house which may set straight the māners of a yong man and restraine him from those vices whereto by reason of his age or the corruption of the place he is inclined For the prouerbe holdeth for the most part true LIKE MASTER LIKE MAN If Abraham feare God his seruants and houshold will bee religious If Herod scorne Christ his captaines courtiers wil deride him also In the History of the Apostles Acts when any housholder was conuerted to the faith of Christ you shall finde it said The man beleeued and all his houshold shewing that as they were swaied before of an Idolatrous master to superstition so now they are swaied by a Christian master to the true worship and seruice of God Here therefore I thinke it not amisse to shew the duty of a Master in some measure as God shal enable me not that I would take vpō me to teach my elders and betters yet let none disdaine to learne of yong ones seeing euen our cradle sometimes may teach vs wisedome for out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings hath the Lord ordained strength but to the end that we that are yet seruants and prentises may know how to cary and behaue our selues when it shall please the Lord to lay such a charge vpon vs. First my Brethren when the Lord shall call vs to this waightie charge that we come to be rulers of families and that we keep seruants it behooueth vs nay we are bound in duty to God to haue as great a care of their saluation as of our owne and to see they do their faithfull seruice to God as we will looke that they should faithfully serue vs For assuredly that seruant that is not faithfull to GOD can neuer bee faithfull to his master but he that serues GOD with a good conscience wil serue his master with a good conscience The awe presence of his master to ouereie and chide him needes not for his owne heart will check him They doe best serue their Masters that haue learned first to serue God and the feare of God will keep him from vntrustines You may find a kind of pick-thanke officiousnes in seruants of another making but there is no seruice like his that serues man for conscience toward God And beside our duty to God and desire of faithful seruice to our selues the care we should haue of our childrens godly education that they be not corrupted shold double our care to keep
the Saints or the children of the Diuell to the blessed freedome of the Sonnes of God Is their part in the saluation of Christ that dayly and hourely crucifie him afresh in a iolly scoffing brauery deride his passion as if his backe were broad enough to beare all their filth Do we looke that the Lord should performe the grant when wee faile in the condition is not our breach of couenant with him a frustrating of his indentment with vs Beleeue it my brethren beleeue it whilest wee remaine in our sins the Lords grant remaines void we cannot claime the benefite of one drop of Christs bloud nor of the least part of his merits the shaken sword of the Cherubin hangeth ouer vs we stand banished from the paradise of Gods fauor and liable to the seuerest penalty of those his lawes which we haue violated onely so long as that penalty is not inflicted so long doth the Lord expect if at any time wee will renue our couenant by repentance and so escape out of the snare of the Diuell of whom we are holden captiue to do his pleasure Moreouer when we were sprinkled in the holy Lauer of Baptisme which is as it were the wombe of the Church where our regeneration or new birth was first set a foot we vowed a vow to God which ought of all Christians to be most holily obserued that wee would perfect that newe birth of ours euery day more and more by beleeuing his word obeying his commandements mortifying our flesh cōpressing our lusts resisting the diuel renoūcing the world fighting māfully vnder his bāner against all oppositiō that finaly hauing finished our course we might receiue the crowne of life which he hath promised to them that continue faithfull vnto the death Now our impenitencie weltring in sinne is not onely a not fostring but a very killing of our spirituall nature in the first seede or kernell a breaking of our vowe to God nay a very denying of God and his word an abiect yeelding vs to his and our enemies a cowardly running away from the spirituall battell at the first stroke striking a wilfull losing of our immortall garland and an occasion to make Christ the great captaine and finisher of our faith vtterly to casheere vs out of his band as hauing in vs no sparkle of that generosity and braue-mindednes which ought to be in such as weare his colours and beare armes vnder his standard The wisedome of the world is to retaine to the strongest part and methinkes we hauing beene bred vp vnder the worlds wing should by this time haue taken out that point of wisedome and retaine to Gods side for his is the strongest and surest side O my brethren looke backe to your Baptisme and learne to amend Let not the royall Character which God hath set vpon vs by the ministery of his Church be any longer thus vilely blurd and defaced by our enormous sinnes Let vs not breake our vow to God lest he binde fast his curse to vs Leaue not the Lord of hosts to whom we haue giuen our names and those powerfull legions of his blessed Angels our consederates and guarders in his quarrel to ioine with the Diuell whom we haue defied with the world sin and the flesh a sort of cowardly rebels which will themselues cut our throates when we least suspect them But let vs newdeep our selues in the water of contrition and that will fetch againe the primitiue colour which was put vpon vs in the day of our Baptisme Ouer and beside all this whereas the patience and bountifulnesse and long suffering of our God in sparing vs so many yeares and waiting for our amendment though in the meane time wee force him to complaine that he is pressed vnder our sinnes as a cart is pressed vnder a hard load of sheues I say whereas this gracious patience of his should leade vs to repentance we by continuing in sinne do abuse his patience and heape vp greater wrath vpō our heads against the day of wrath and declaration of the iust iudgement of God which will suddainely ouertake vs. God is prouoked saith the Psalmist euery day heere is forbearance but what followeth 2. if a man wil not turne after all Gods waiting thē he wil whet his sword bēd his bow make ready his arrows against such prouokers When we see wrath in a mans face it is an argument that he will strike we are wont to shun giue backe frō him Let vs take heed Gods face lookes very angerly we haue dared him so long and put him so to it that he cannot hold his fingers he must needes breake out into blowes And the blowes of his anger are no light stripes but euen deaths wounds as all the Land from Dan to Beersheba will beare witnes O then my Brethren if this Lion roare who wil not tremble crouch before him if he knit his browes that measureth heauen with his span and waigheth the mountaines in a ballance cleaueth the rockes with his voice who dares looke him in the face who shal be able to abide his frownes were we as huge and strong as Behemoth or Leuiathan hee will spurne vs as a chip and trample vs vnder his feete as the mire in the streetes if we incense his maiesty or stirre vp his wrath and iealousie against vs. Apoc. The Kings and great men and stout Captaines and Warriours hide themselues in caues and in holes of the earth frō the feare of the Lord when he riseth vp to be auenged of sinners O what shall the shrub in the wildernes do when the Okes of Bashan and the Cedars of Libanus are thus shaken how dare such silly wormes and grashoppers as we confront the almighty and prouoke him yearly hourely with new and new sinnes neuer once renuing our repentance at the blasting of the breath of whose displeasure the hilles melt and the foundations of the world shake and are remoued Though he haue worne one rod of pestilence to the stumps vpon vs and throwne it by standing and looking at our behauiour after it he can call for another and another if our great hearts be not come downe repentance a change appearing in our liues or he hath famine swords wild beastes bedlem waters treasures of snow and haile lightnings thunderbolts c. or he hath feuers palsies gouts choliks cākers wolfes tympanies c. to scourge presumptuous sinners that wil not be warned his store house is neuer vnfurnished with rods and scorpions too if we put him to it Surely my Brethren we are transformed with Nebuchadnezar into beasts and the hearts and vnderstandings of men taken from vs if this consideration moue vs not to abominate our sins and cease from our prouocations wherewith we haue prouoked this God of anger against vs especially when he hath put vp so many abuses and villanies of ours all our life hitherto wee iustly deseruing euery moment to be rooted
his Angels for euer And wee haue nothing to except against thy maiesty for so doing sith therin thou shouldest deale with vs but according to equity and our iust deserts Wherefore deere father we doe appeale from thy iustice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thee to haue mercy vpon vs and freely to forgiue vs all our sinnes past whatsoeuer both new and old secret and open knowen and vnknowen and that for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator And wee pray thee touch our hearts with true griefe and vnfained repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow and heart-smart vnto vs so as nothing may greiue vs more then this that we haue offended thee being our speciall friend and father Giue vs therefore deere Father euery day more and more sight and feeling of our sinnes with true humiliation vnder the same Giue vs also that true and liuely faith wherby we may lay sure hold onthy Son Christ and all his merits aplying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoeuer hee hath done vpon the crosse he hath done for vs particularly as well as for others Giue vs faith good Father cōstantly to beleeue al the sweet promises of the gospel touching remission of sinne and eternall life made in thy Sonne Christ O Lord increase our faith that we may altogether rest vpon thy promises which are all yea and Amen Yea that we may settle our selues and all that we haue wholly vpon them both our soules bodies goods name wiues children our whole estate knowing that all things depend vpon thy promises power and prouidence that thy word doth support beare vp the whole order of nature More ouer we intreat thee O Lord to strengthen vs from aboue to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitfull in good workes that we may shew forth vnto all men by our good conuersation whose children wee are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits and practise of godlines and true religion To this end wee pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason vnderstanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and seruice taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre vs vp to vse praier watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby we may profit in grace and goodnesse from day to day Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes that we may daily die to sin and liue to righteousnesse draw vs yet neerer vnto thee help vs against our monifold wants Amend our great imperfections renue vs inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide vs against the remnants of sin Enlarge our hearts to runne the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy word let none iniquity haue dominion ouer vs. Assist vs against our special infirmities and master sinnes that wee may get the victory ouer them all to thy glory and the great peace and comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen vs good father by thy grace and holy spirit against the cōmon corruptions of the world as pride whoredome couetousnesse contempt of thy Gospell swearing lying dissembling and deceiuing O deere Father let vs not be ouer come of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures and fond delights wherwith thousands are caried headlong to destruction Arme our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh and the Diuell that we may ouercome them all through thy help and keep on the right way to life that we may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour that our last daies may be our best daies and that we may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore deere Father we intreat thee not onely for ourselues but for all our good brethren thy deere children scattered ouer the face of the whole earth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse them all to cheere them vp and glad them with the ioy of thy countenance both now and alwaies Guide them all in thy feare and keep them from euill that they may praise thy name In these dangerous daies and declining times we pray thee O Lord raise vp nursing fathers and nursing mothers vnto thy Church Raise vp also faithful Pastors that thy cause may be caried forward truth may preuaile Religion may prosper thy name onely may be set vp in the earth thy Sonnes kingdome aduanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all aduersary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their deuises scatter their forces ouerthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let thē know that there is no wisdom nor coūsel power nor policy against thee the Lord of Hosts Let thē know that Israel hath a God that thou which art called Iehouah art the onely ruler ouer all the world Arise therefore O most mightie God and maintaine thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite thorow all their loines and bow downe their backes yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will vnto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be ioy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all fauour we intreate thee O Lord to shew special mercy to thy Church in this Land wherein we liue Continue thy Gospell amongst vs yet with greater successe purge thy house daily more more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still bee a place where thy name may bee called vpon and an harbour for thy Saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and haue care of them that thy Gospell may bee left vnto them as a most holy inheritance Defend vs against forrē inuasiō keep out Idolatry and Popery from amongst vs. Turne frō vs those plagues which our sins cry for For the sins of this Land are exceeding great horrible and outragious giue thee iust cause to make vs spectacles of thy vengeance to all Natiōs that by how much the more thou hast lifted vs vp in great mercy and long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse vs downe in great wrath long war Therfore deere Father we most humbly intreat thee for thy great names sake and for thy infinit mercies sake that thou wouldest bee reconciled to this land and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof Drowne them O Lord in thy infinit mercy through Christ as it were in a bottomelesse gulfe that they may neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. For although our sinnes bee exceeding many and feareful yet thy mercy is far greater For thou art infinite in mercy but we cannot be infinite in sinning Giue vs not ouer into the hands of the Idolaters lest they should blaspheme thy name and say Where is their God in whom they trusted But rather deere father take vs into thine owne hands and correct vs according to thy wisedome for with thee is mercy deep compassion Moreouer wee most heartily beseech thy good Maiesty to blesse our most gratious King Iames and to shew much mercy to him in all things Guide him in thy feare and keep him in all his waies working in his soule vnfeined sorrow for sinne true faith in the promises a great care to please thee in all things and to discharge the duty of his high place in all zeale of thy glory and faithfulnesse towards thy Maiesty that as thou hast crowned him heere in earth so hee spending his daies heere below in thy feare may after this life be crowned of thee for euer in the Heauens We beseech thee also to blesse his Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsellors Counsell them from aboue let them take aduice of thee in all things that they may both consult and resolue of such courses as may be most for thy glory the good of the Church the peace of this our Commonwealth Blesse the Nobility and all the Magistrates in the Land giuing them all grace to execute iudgement and iustice and to maintaine truth and equity Blesse all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell increase the number of them inincrease thy gifts in them and so blesse all their labours in their seuerall places and congregations that they all may bee instruments of thy hand to inlarge thy Sonnes kingdome and to winne many vnto thee Comfort the comfortlesse with all needfull comforts Forget none of thine that are in trouble but as their afflictions are so let the ioyes and comforts of thy spirit bee vnto them and so sanctifie vnto all thine their afflictions and troubles that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Giue vs thankefull hearts for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall for thou art very mercifull vnto vs in the things of this life and infinitely more mercifull in the things of a better life Let vs deeply ponder and waigh all thy particular fauoures towards vs that by the due consideration thereof our hearts may bee gained yet neerer vnto thee and that therefore wee may both loue and obey thee because thou art so kind and louing vnto vs that euen thy loue towards vs may draw our loue towards thee and that because mercy is with thee thou maiest bee feared Grant these things good Father and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies or any of thine thorow out the whole world for Iesus Christs sake in whose name we further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. FINIS