The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 21 · Thursday
Thursday's Deuotion, being the fifth day from the Creation.
The Father worketh. Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Creation on this day.
SO afterward God said, Let the waters bring forth in abundance eueryevery creeping thing that hath life: and let the Fowle flye vponupon the earth in the open Firmament of the Heauen Gen. 1. …0.
Then God created the great Whales, and eueryevery thing liuing and mouing, which the waters brought forth in abundance, according to their kinde, and eueryevery feathered Fowle, according to his kinde; and God saw that it was good, ver. 21.
Then God blessed them, saying; Bring forth fruit & multiply, & fill the waters in the Seas, and let the Fowles multiply in the earth, v. 2….
So the Euening and the Morning were the fifth day.
And I worke, Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Redemption on this day.
THen came the Day of vnleuened bread, when the Passouer must be sacrificed, Luke 22. 7.
And be sent Peter and Iohn, saying; Goe and prepare vsus the Passouer, that we may eat it, ver. 8.
And they said, &c. v. 9. Then he said vntounto them, Behold, &c. v. 10.
And say to the goood man of the house, The Master saith vntounto thee, Where is the lodging where I shall eat my Passouer with my Disciples, ver. 11.
Then he shall shew you a great high Chamber, &c. ver. 12.
So they went, and found as hee had said vntounto them, and neade ready the Passouer, ver. 13.
And he tooke Bread, and when he had giuen thankes, hee brake it, and gaue to them, saying; This is my Body which is giuen for you, doe this in remembrance of me, ver. 19.
Likewise also, after Supper hee tooke the Cup, saying; This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud, which is shed for you, ver. 20.
And he came out, and went (as he was wont) to the Mount of Oliues, and his Disciples also followed him, ver. 39.
And when he came to the place, he said to them, Pray, lest ye enter into temptation, ver. 40.
And he gate himselfe from them about a stones cast, and kneeled downe, and prayed, ver. 41.
Saying, Father, if thou wilt, take away this Cup from me: neuerthelesse not my will, but thine be done, ver. 42.
And there appeared an Angell vntounto him from Heauen, comforting him, ver. 43.
But being in an Agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was like drops of bloud, trickling downe the ground, ver. 44.
For thine instruction meditate
In the Morning, on the creation of Fish and Fow…e.
In the Euening, on thy Sauiours
Agony.
Last Passeouer.
Supper.
For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the Benefits
Corporall of the one.
Spirituall of the other.
For thy correction reproue thy
Abuse of the one.
Vnthankfulnesse for the other.
Quicken
Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne.
Thine obedience by the admonition.
Thy zeale and patience by the prayer ensuing.
The Hymne for Thursday-morning.
O Lord, how manifold are thy workes, in wisdome hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches, Psal. 104. 24.
So is the great and wide Sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts, ver. 25.
There goe the Ships, and there is that Leuiathan, whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein, ver. 26.
These wait all vponupon thee, that thou mayest giuegive them their meate in due season, ver. 27.
That thou giuest, they gather, thou openest thy hand, and they are filled with good, ver. 28.
Thou hidest thy face and they are troubled; thou takest away their breath and they dye, and returne againe to their dust, ver. 29.
They that goe downe to the Sea in ships, that doe their businesse in great waters, Psal. 107. 23.
These see the workes of the Lord, and his wonders in the deepe, ver. 24.
For hee commandeth, and raiseth vp the stormy wind, which lifteth vp the waues thereof. ver. 25.
They mount vp to the Heauens, they goe downe againe to the depth; their heart is melted because of trouble, ver. 26.
They reele to and fro, and stagger like, a drunken man, and are euen at their wits end, ver. 27.
Then cry they to the Lord in trouble, and hee bringeth them out of their distresse, v. 28.
He maketh the stormes to cease, so that the waues thereof are still, ver. 29.
Then are they glad because they are quiet; so hee bringeth them to their desired Hauen, ver. 30.
Praise the Lord vponupon earth ye Dragons and all deepes, Psal. 148. 7.
Beasts & all Cattel; wormes, and fethered Fowles, ver. 10.
He sendeth the Springs into the Vallies, which run between the mountaines, Psal. 104. 10.
By these Springs shall the Fowles of the Heauen dwell, and sing among the branches, ver. 12.
Let eueryevery thing that hath breath praise the Lord; Praise ye the Lord, Psal. 150. 6.
The Admonition for Thursday Morning being an Exhortation to peace-making or the seauenth Beatitude.
THE ANALYSIS.
The deuout soule must labour to make peace, and hauehave peace with all, as far as it is possible in
1 Obedience
To the LAVVE.
To the GOSPEL.
2 Conformitie to
1 God the
Father.
Sonne.
H. Ghost.
2 The Saints.
3 In hope & expectation of blessings.
1 Temporall as
1 Good daies.
2 A good name or honor
2 Spirituall, as
1 The glad tydings of the Gospell.
2 Wisedome.
3 Righteousnesse.
4 The guidance of Gods Spirit.
5 The vnitie of the Spirit, or communion of saints.
6 The Beatifical vision, or sight of God in Heauen.
THE TEXTS.
SEeke peace and ensue it,Precepts. Psal. 34. 14.
Execute the iudgement of truth and peace in your gates, Zach. 8. 16.
Let none of you imagine euill in your hearts against your Neighbour, ver. 17.
HaueHave Salt, and hauehave peace one with another, Mar. 9. 50.
Into what house soeuer yee enter, first say; Peace bee to this house, Luke 10. 5.
If it bee possible, hauehave peace with all men, Rom. 12. 18.
Let vsus therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith wee may edifie one another, Rom. 14 19.
God hath called vsus to peace, 1 Cor. 7. 15.
Be of one minde; liue in peace, 2 Cor. 13. 12.
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which all yee are called in one body, Col. 3. 15
Follow righteousnesse, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, 2 Tim. 2. 22.
Follow peace with all men,God the Father, God of peace. &c. Heb. 12. 14.
God is not the God of confusision, but of peace, 1 Cor. 14. 33.
The God of peace shall be with you, Phil. 4. 19.
To vsus a Sonne is giuen,The Sonne, Prince of peace. and the gouernment shall bee vponupon his shoulders, and his Name shall be called, Wonderfull, Counseller, The Mighty God, The Euerlasting Father, The Prince of peace, Isa. 9. 6.
Melchi…sedec▪ first being by interpretation, King of Righteousnesse; and after that, also, King of Salem, which is King of peace, Heb. 7. 2.
That he might be like to the Sonne of God, who abideth our Priest continually, ver. 3.
The fruit of the Spirit is louelove,The holy Ghost, the Spirit of peace. Examples. ioy, peace, &c. Gal. 5. 22.
Abraham said, Let there bee no strife betweene me and thee, and my Herdsmen & thy Herdsmen, for we are brethren, Gen. 13. 8.
I labour for peace, The Saints, children of peace.Psal. 1 20 6.
Though I bee free from all men, yet hauehave I made my selfe seruant vntounto all, that I might gaine the more, &c. 1 Cor. 9. 19.
Why suffer yee not rather wrong? 1 Cor. 6. 7.
Being reuiled, we blesse; being persecuted we suffer it. 1 Cor. 4. 12.
Being defamed,The f…uits of peace are Prosperity. wee intreat, ver. 13.
What man is he that desireth life and loueth many dayes, that he may see good, Psal. 34. 12.
Seeke peace, &c. ver. 14.
Blessed are the Peace-makers, Honour.for they shall be called, The children of the most High, Mat. 5. 9.
If the Sonne of peace be there,Benediction your peace shall rest vponupon it; if not, it shall turne to you againe, Luk. 10. 6.
The Wisdome from aboue is first pure,Wisdome. then peaceable, Iam. 3. 17.
The fruits of righteousnesse are sowne in peace of them that make peace, Righteousnesse.Iam. 3. 18.
The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke, but righteousnesse and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17.
Liue in peace, The speciall presence of God.and the God of louelove and peace shall bee with you, 2 Cor. 13. 12.
Keepe the vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Vnity.Eph. 4. 3.
Follow peace, Beatificall vision.&c. without which no man shall see God, Heb. 12. 14.
The Prayer for Thursday Morning:
composed of
Petitions sutable to the worke of the day.
Motiues to peaceablenesse agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
ONe depth calleth vponupon another; the depth of my ignorance vpō the depth of thy Wisdome; the depth of my wickednesse, vponupon the depth of thy goodnesse; the depth of my misery, vponupon the depth of thy mercy. O Lord, in the depth of thy Wisdome finde meanes to helpe my ignorance; in the depth of thy goodnesse, to ouercome my wickednesse; in the depth of thy mercy to relieue my misery. Inlighten mine vnderstanding, that I may know mine ignorance; rectifie my will, that I may detest my wickednesse; and mollifie my heart, that I may bewaile my misery: and by faith incorporate me into thy Sonne, Iesus Christ, that I may be partaker of his knowledge, righteousnesse, and happinesse. As he made my ignorance his ignorance, and my sinne his sinne, and my misery his misery▪ by taking vponupon him my guilt, and satisfying for my punishment: so make thou (I beseech thee) his Wisdome my instruction, his Righteousnes my sanctification, and his Glory my happinesse. Consider mee, I beseech thee, not as I am in my selfe, defiled; but as I am in him, washed; not as I am in my selfe naked, but as I am in him, clothed; not as I am in my selfe wounded, but as I am in him, healed; not as in my selfe, a childe of wrath, but as in him reconciled and at peace with thee. And hauing my peace made with thee by his chastisement; grant that I may hauehave peace, as farre as it is possible, with all men; especially, with all the children of peace. Let mee euer remember and consider, that thou, my Father, art the God of peace; and thy Sonne, my Sauiour, the Prince of peace; and his Law, the Gospell of peace; and his Seruants, the Children of peace; whose duty is the study of peace, and the marke they principally aime at, as the end of their faith, the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding. O let mee striue and contend against strife and contention, as a thing most hatefull to thee, hurtfull to my neighbour, and most of all preiudiciall to my selfe, by endangering my person and state, disturbing the quietnesse of my minde, hindring me in the prosecution of my businesse, and (which is worst of all) making me indisposed, and altogether vnfit for the performance of diuine duties. Teach me of what spirit I am or should be, euen of that which descended vponupon thy Sonne in the likenesse of a Doue without Gall: By this spirit mortifie in me the lusts and affections of the flesh, as enuy, wrath, reuenge, and the like. By the still voice, in which thou spakest to Elias, let mee learne that thou art not in the fire of my rage, nor in the storme of my passion, but in the saft gale of grace. Lord, who on this day replenishedst the Sea and Riuers with fish, and Aire with Fowles in shapes admirably various, and in number almost infinite; stir me vp by the consideration thereof, to admire thy power & wisdome in thus storing, and (as it were) peopling this vaste and fearefull seeming solitude; and much more to magnifie thy goodnesse in thus richly and daintily furnishing the tables of men. Blessed Lord, who this day madest the waters fruitfull, let thy Spirit moue vponupon the waters of my teares, that they may abound in the fruits of repentance, and bee blessed in the encrease of spirituall consolatious. Lord, who this day commandest the Fowles to flye through the aire, lift vp my soule from the earth with the wings of faith and hope, that she may flye vp towards Heauen. Make mee light and cheerefull after my heauy sorrowes and grieuous afflictions, that though I hauehave beene as blacke and sad in my heart and countenance, as if I had layen among the pots, yet I may be, by the grace of thy Spirit, which descended in the likenesse of a Doue, like that Doue, whose wings are siluer, and her feathers like gold. So be it. Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
God grant that my louelove may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement, Phil. 1 9.
That I may discerne things that differ one from another, that I may be pure, and without offence, vntill the day of Christ, ver. 10.
Filled with the fruits of righteousnesse, which are by Iesus Chirst, vntounto the glory and praise of God, ver. 11.
The Deuotion for Thursday Euening.
THE HYMNE.
Wherein the deuout soule expresseth her desire of prayer for peace
Publike.
Priuate.
THE TEXTS.
BEhold how good and pleasant a thing it is, brethren to dwel together in vnity, Ps. 133. 1.
It is like the precious Ointment vponupon the head, that ranne downe vponupon the Beard, euen Aarons Beard, and went downe to the skirts of his clothing, v. 2.
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended vponupon the Mountaine of Sion; for there the Lord promiseth his blessings, and life for euermore, ver. 3.
Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Meseck, and to hauehave my habitation in the tents of Kedar, Psal. 120. 4.
My soule hath long dwelt among them that be enemies vntounto peace, ver. 5.
I labour for peace; but when I speake to them therof they make themselues ready to battaile, v. 6.
Pray for the peace of Ierusalem; they shall prosper that louelove thee, Psal. 122 6.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy Palaces, ver. 7.
For my brethren and companions sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee, ver. 8.
Because of the house of the Lord my God, I will seeke thy good, ver. 9.
The Admonition for Thursday Euening, being an Exhortation to Patience, the eightth BEATITVDE.
THE ANALYSIS.
All true Christians must valiantly and cheerfully endure troubles for the Gospell in respect of
1 God his
Will.
Power.
Ordinance.
2 Christ his
LoueLove.
Example.
Sympathy with vsus.
3 The Saints
Practice.
Encouragement.
4 The enemies
Conuersion or
Conuiction.
5 Our selues who therby receiue
1 Tryall.
2 Ioy.
3 Assurance of God's louelove.
4 Quiet fruit of Righteousnes.
5 Holinesse and perfection.
6 Life.
7 Protection.
8 Honor before God.
9 Inestimable rewards:
1 In this life.
2 In the life to come.
THE TEXTS.
IN the world ye shall hauehave afflictions, Iob 6. 33.
I was dumbe, and opened not my mouth, because thou, Lord, hadst done it, Psal. 39. 9.
Let them that suffer according to the Will of God, God his Will.commit their soules to him in well doing, as their faithfull Creator, 1 Pet. 4. vlt.
Who hath euer resisted his Will? Rom. 9. 19.
He is able to subdue all things to himselfe,Power. Phil. 3. 21.
We must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God, Ordinance.Act. 14. 22.
All that liue godly in Christ Iesus, shall suffer persecutions, 2 Tim. 3. 12.
Thou therefore endure hardnesse, as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 2. 3.
You shal be hated of all men for my Names sake, Luke 21. 17.
The louelove of Christ constraineth vsus,Christ his louelove. because wee thus iudge, that if One dyed for all, then all were dead, 2 Cor. 5. 14.
Who shall separate vsus from the louelove of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or distresse, or persecution, or famine, or sword? Rom. 8. 35.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is in Christ Iesus, our Lord, Rom. 8. 39.
Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Iesus, Example.nor of mee his prisoner, but bee partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell, 2 Tim. 1. 8.
As the sufferings of Christ abound in vsus so our consolation abounds through Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 5.
Christ also suffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example, that wee should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2. 21.
Whom he fore-knew, he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne, Rom. 8. 29.
I was hungry,Sympathy. and ye gaue me no meate; I was thirsty, and yee gaue me no drinke, &c. Mat. 25. 43.
In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not vntounto me, ver. 45.
He that despiseth you, despiseth me, Luke 10. 16.
Saul,The Saints continuall practise. Saul, Why persecutest thou me? Act. 9. 4.
Ioseph said,Ioseph. Feare not: for am not I vnderunder God? Gen. 50. 19.
Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe,Iob. and naked shall I returne thither againe; the Lord gaue, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the Name of the Lord, Iob. 1. 21.
Shall wee receiue good at the hands of the Lord, and shall wee not receiue euill? In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips, Iob 2. 10.
But I was a man that heareth not, Daniel.and in whose mouth are no reproofes, Psal. 38. 14.
For thy sake are we killed all the day long, &c. Psal. 44. 22.
It is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth.Ieremiah. Ier. 3. 27.
He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because hee hath borne it vponupon him. ver. 28.
He putteth his mouth to the dust if so bee there may be hope, ver. 29.
Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him; he is filled full with reproach.
Others were tortured, The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church.and would not bee deliuered, that they might receiue a better resurrection, Heb. 11. 35.
And others hauehave beene tryed by mockings and scourgings, yea moreouer, by bands and imprisonment, ver. 36.
They were stoned, they were hewen in sunder, they were tempted, &c. verse 37, 38.
And they departed from the presence of the Councell, reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name, Act. 5. 41.
Then Paul answered,Paul. What meane you to weepe, and to breake mine heart, for I am ready, not onelyonly to be bound, but to dye also at Ierusalem, for the Name of the Lord Iesus, Acts 21. 13.
In labours more abundant,The Thesa louians. in stripes aboue measure, in prison more frequent, in death often, 2. Cor. 11 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, verses.
Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith, and labour of louelove, and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ, 1. Thes. 13.
God hath set forth vsus the last Apostles, as it were approued to death; for wee are made a spectacle to the world, and to Angels, and to men, 1. Cor. 4. 9.
Ye endured a great fight of afflictions, Heb. 10. 32.
Partly while ye were made a gazing stocke, The Hebrewes.both by reproches and afflictions, and partly while ye became companions of them that were so vsed, ver. 33.
I know thy workes, Thyatyra.and thy labour, and thy patience, Reue. 2. 2.
I know thy faith, and thy patience, and thy workes, ver. 19.
My bonds in Christ are manifest in that place, and all other places, Phil. 1. 13.
And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds,Encouragements. are made more bold to speake the Word without feare, Phil. 1. 14.
And they cast Stephen out of the City,Couuersion of enemies. and stoned him; and the Witnesses laid downe their clothes at the young mans feet, whose name was Saul, Act. 1. 58.
And they stoned Stephen calling vponupon God, and saying, Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit, ver. 59.
And he kneeled downe, and cryed with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sinne to their charge; and when hee had said this, hee fell asleepe, ver. 60.
Sauls conuersion, Act. 9.
They shall lay their hands on you,Conuiction. and persecute you, deliuering you vp to their Synagogues, and into prison, being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake, Luk. 21. 12.
And this shall turn to you for a testimony against them, ver. 13.
And you shall be brought before Gouernors and Kings for my Names sake, for a testimony against them, and against the Gentiles,Triall. Mat. 10. 18.
Others had tryalls of cruell mockings and scourges, yea moreouer of bonds and imprisonment, Heb. 11. 36.
The trying of your faith worketh patience, Iam. 1. 3.
Ye are in heauinesse through manifold tentations, 1 Pet. 1. 6.
That the triall of your faith being much more precious then Gold (though it bee tryed with fire) might be found vntounto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ, ver. 7.
Brethren account it exceeding great ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations, Ioy.Iam. 1. 2.
I reioyce in my sufferings, Col. 1. 24.
Your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy, Assurance of Gods louelove.10. 16. 20.
As many as I louelove I rebuke and ch…sten, Reu. 3. 19.
Whom the Lord loueth he chasteueth; and hee scourgeth eueryevery son that he receiueth, Heb. 12. 6.
No chastening, for the time seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous. Fruit of righteousnesse.Neuerthelesse, afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby,Holinesse. ver. 11.
He chasteneth vsus for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holinesse. ver. 10.
Let patience hauehave her perfect worke, Perfection.that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing, Iames. 1. 4.
By patience ye shall inherite the promises, The promises.Heb. 6. 12.
By your patience possesse your soules, Luke 21. 19.
Because thou hast kept the world of my patience, Life.I will keepe thee from the houre of tentation, Reu. 3. 10.
Whosoeuer confesseth me before men,Honour in in heauen. I will confesse him before my Father which is in he… uen Luke 12. 8.
Verily I say vntounto you,Rewards in this life. that no man that hath forsaken house, or lands for my sake, but he shall receiue an hundred fold, and in the world to come life euerlasting, Mark. 10. 29.
If ye suffer for righteousnesse sake, blessed are ye: yea feare not their feare neither be troubled, 1. Pet. 3. 14.
But sanctifie the Lord in your hearts, ver. 5.
If we suffer with him, wee shall also raigne with him, Rom. 8. 17.
The afflictions of this present life are not worthy the glory that shall be reuealed, ver. 18.
Blessed are they that suffer for righteousnesse sake, for their is the Kingdome of heauen, Mat. 5. 10.
THE PRAYER FOR Thursday euening
consisting, of
Petitions sutable to the workes of redemption on this day.
Motiues to patience agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
GRacious Lord and Sauiour who this day didst eate the Passeouer, and went eating in thy Supper; Suppe with me in the Euening of this life, and grant that I may Dine with thee in thy day of eternitie. Gracious Redeemer, who this day gauest thy selfe to me in the Sacrament, first instituted by thee; and the day following gauest thy selfe for mee on the Crosse; giuegive me a speciall saith to receiue thee, and retaine thee, and applie continually thy feare to embolden me, thine Agonie to comfort me, thy nakednesse to cloathe me, thy cōdemning to quit me, thy bloud to clense me, thy wounds to heale me, and thy death to quicken me. O let not the worke of thy hands bee plucked out of thy hands. Let not the purchase of thy bloud be morgaged to the diuell. Let not thy teares and bloud bee shed in vaine. Let not thy sighes and groanes be breathed out to no purpose. Let not thine agonie and sweate, let not thy taking and binding; let not thy arraigning and condemning; let not thy stripping and scourging; let not thy buffetting and being spit vponupon; let not thy pricking and goaring; let not thy crucifying & dying want their effects in me. What should I not do or suffer for thee, who wert martired in all parts of thy body and faculties of thy soule for me: In thy minde by apprehension of thy Fathers wrath, in thy affections by feare and sorrow euen vntounto death; in thy inward parts by thine agonie: in thy outward by thy torments: in thy head by thornes: in thy cheekes by buffets: in thy face by spettle: in thy eares by blasphemies: in thy smell by the stench of Golgotha: in thy taste by gall and vineger: in thy handes and feete by nailes: in thy bodie by stripes: in thy side by the launce: and in thy ioynts by the crosse. O Lord, who hast called me to the knowledge of thy truth, and by thy Spirit imprinted thy louelove in my heart by those nailes which fastened thee to the Crosse. Let nothing euer be able to separate me from thy louelove, not tribulation, nor anguish, nor persecution, nor height, nor depth, nor things present, nor things to come, nor life, nor death: for I know that all things worke for the best to them that louelove thee. I cannot suffer the thousandth part of that for thee, which thou hast suffered for mee. I cannot suffer the least part of that which I deserue for my sins. I cannot suffer any thing which the Apostles and Prophets hauehave not suffered before me. I cannot suffer so much as may any way counter-ballance the massie crowne of glory prepared for me: for my light and momentarie afflictions are no way worthy the glorie that shall be reuealed vponupon me hereafter. And for the present, what are afflictions, or crosses, or persecutions, or mockes, or disgraces? but the common lot of thy children, the discipline of thy schoole, the physicke for my soule, the pledge of thy louelove, the badge for my profession, the incentiues of my deuotion, the triall of my faith, the exercise of my patience, the testimonie of my constancie, the marke of my conformitie with thee. When I am thus chastened I am iudged of thee that I be not condemned of the world. Shall tribulation therefore, or anguish, or bands, or imprisonment, or stripes, or banishment, separate me from thy louelove? Nay, sith I know they befall me by thy prouidence, and are mitigated by thy merciemercy, and directed by thy louelove for my greater good; they shall rather vnite me faster to thee. How shall I denie thee who art the Lord that bought me… How should I grieue thy Spirit which comforteth me in all my griefes? How should I set that bloud at nought which was the price of my redemption? How shold I euer willingly offend thee who art my peace, & hast reconciled me to thy Father, and payed my ransome with thy dearest hearts bloud? How can I euer forget thee who remembrest me at all times in all places; in my iournies by thy conduct; at home by thy safe-guard; in my prayers by thy assistance; in my afflictions by thy comforts, in my board by thy bountie; in my bed by thy protection; and in all my wayes by thy support. To this thy gracious prouidence and care which continually watcheth ouer all thine Elect: I commend my sleepe and rest this night, beseeching thee so to order it and me that whether I sleepe or wake, whether I labour or rest, whether I lye downe or rise vp, all may be done vnderunder thy protection, in thy feare, to thy glorie. So be it, Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
TO him that is able to keepe me that I fall not, and to present me faultlesse, before the presence of his glory with ioy Iud, 24.
That is, to God onelyonly wise my Sauiour, be glorie, and maiestie, and dominion, and power. &c. ver. 24.