A Weeks Work and a Work for Every Week, Dialogue

A Weeks Work and a Work for Every Week · Dialogue

p. 1A DIALOGVE BETWEENE IOHN the beloued Apoſtle, and his beloued Gaius.

Epist. 3. verſ. 1.

Iohn.

GRace be with thee (Noble Gaius) mercy and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the Sonne of the Father, with truth and louelove.

Gaius.

Reuerend Father, p. 2let this thy prayer, this day preuaile with God: for Grace & Peace, Mercy & Truth in LoueLove I much long after.

Iohn.

Well may wee wiſh for theſe things, (friend Gaius) as the foundation of all good fauours with God and all good men.

Gaius.

Oh (my Lord) I thanke God, theſe things with me are of greater price, then any thing which may ſeeme moſt pretious with the world. For Grace maketh me acceptable to God: Peace comforteth mee within my ſelfe: Mercy from God affordeth me remiſsion of ſins, and Mercy from me, ſhewed p. 3towards others, maketh them both to pray and praiſe God for me. The Truth of God warranteth my courſe and way; and truth obſerued of me, iuſtifieth my words and workes: LoueLove in God to me, procureth peace, bringeth forth mercy, and confirmeth truth; louelove in our ſelues maintaineth peace, vrgeth to mercy, and bindeth one to another, and all vntounto the truth. Therefore (Sir) doe I in ſoule deſire earneſtly after the ſame, but I cannot attain vntounto that meaſure which I would. I hunger after the perfection of all true holineſſe; but (alas) I cannot bee ſatiſfied. I thirſt after righteouſneſſe, p. 4but (ah miſerable man that I am) who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death, which ſo much doth hinder mee in my heauenly progreſſe.

Iohn.

I reioyce greatly (worthie Gaius) that I find thee thus well prepared for further inſtructions; bleſſed art thou for ſo hungring and thirſting after the beſt things, for thou ſhalt be ſatisfied.

Gaius.

My Lord, I am not ignorant (bleſſed be God for this knowledge of my ſelfe) that I am heere indeed in this preſent world, but not of this world; one as a pilgrime and ſtranger, without p. 5any certaine manſion; hither ſent of the Lord for a time to bee employed in his ſeruice, and ſo to ſtay till hee call mee hence; which houre I waite for, looking for death daily, and the Lords comming to iudgement. And therefore I deſire to bee ready prepared, and to learn whatſoeuer may be needfull both for continuance, and encreaſe of grace in the way of life. Eſpecially ſeeing how the world groweth ſo on to worſe and worſe; and this our preſent age declining ſo faſt vntounto wickedneſſe; leſt I bee intrapped, and become guiltie of the common ſinnes, and ſo periſh in the deſerued plagues.

p. 6Iohn.

Indeed (good Chriſtian heart) wel mayeſt thou ſo tearme theſeEuill daies. our preſent times. Is not pietie turned by many into policie? ſincerity by others into ſchiſme? true zeale is decayed, conſcience is now but a cuſtomarie faſhion graced with conformitie: faith is altogether a formal ſeruice without faſting, without true feare of God and feruencie of ſpirit, without gratious words tending to edification, or good workes aſſuring vsus of ſaluation: godly gouerment is groſly abuſed by couetous perſons, and made a baſe p. 7courſe for filthie gaine: true deuotion is not knowne from Popiſh ſuperſtition; religion is held but an opinion, or a point of ſtate, which is therefore often pretended, but ſeldome truly intended. For many indeed loathe the word of life; they louelove riches, they reckon not of Chriſts righteouſneſſe; if they can enioy a preſent honour and proſperity, they will hazard heauen, and the eternall Paradiſe. Such profane Eſaus will ſell their future hopes for a preſent meaſe of pottage: if euer ſuch Atheiſts hauehave recourſe to God at p. 8any time for mercy, it is then only, when they perforce come vnderunder the hand of his iuſtice. For where is that man, which, in onelyonly hatred of the worlds vanities, in true deteſtation of his owne foule corruptions, vponupon good aſſurance of life eternall, will in his health and higheſt proſperity begin heartily to ſing the ſong of Simeon, and to ſay, Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſeruant depart in peace, for mine eyes hauehave ſeene thy ſaluation, embracing Chriſt by faith, as hee tooke him in his armes?

Gaius.

Alas (my Lord) p. 9this is our carnall ſtate, indeed in a fleſhly ſecurity, for the moſt part. For many hauehave a religion without the vertue of the ſpirit, and power of the word: they frame a God all of mercy, without terrour in execution of iuſtice: they imagine a Chriſt without a fan in his hand, to diuide the chaffe from the wheate to burne it, and without an iron rod, to breake the wicked in pieces. But what ſhould I thus complaine of others? Oh that I could pray and mourne for them, and amend my owne waies, which verily I deſire; and therefore doe I humbly craue of thee farther directions, how I may daily exerciſe p. 10my ſelfe in true holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, that ſo I may auoid what is euill, and in the end find death aduantage vntounto me, and the laſt iudgement, the day of my perfect redemption.

Iohn.

(Welbeloued Gaius) this thy heauenly deſire, holy purpoſe, & moſt gratious affection, diſpoſed ſo happily to goodneſſe, doe cauſe me greatly to reioyce. It is a rare thing now a dayes, to find ſo humble a ſpirit in ſo learned a perſon; ſuch piety in ſo great proſperity: ſuch hunger and feeling of wants ſtill, in ſo great abūdance of grace. I know p. 11not whether I more admire thee, then louelove thee: both are ſo high in degree in my thoughts and meditations vponupon thee.

Gaius.

Reuerend Sir▪ I thanke you for your vndeſerued louelove; but I cannot ceaſe to maruell, how my meane gifts and graces ſhould bee eſteemed of ſo great worth with you; when I know, that of my ſelfe I am nothing, and hauehave nothing but of God; that more ſtrength of corruption is in mee, then power of grace; much more yet to bee deſired, then I hauehave attained vntounto, & wherein many thouſands excell me.

Iohn.

Good heart, vponupon p. 12this thy humility, the Lord in mercy looke, and will exalt thee, as he hath promiſed them that are humble and meeke.

Gaius.

If God be pleaſed to ſhew me mercy in any meaſure, I will acknowledge it his good grace without my merit. But may it pleaſe thee (thou holy man of God) to ceaſe to admire my poore deeds, and no deſarts; and with the eye of pitie to look vponupon my great defects, and by thy gracious words inſtruct mee yet further how to demeane my ſelfe, that my wants may bee ſupplied, my preſent ſtate of grace preſerued, and by little and little, through prayer p. 13and practice, good things may by Gods mercy bee encreaſed vntounto the end.

Iohn.

It pleaſeth me well (good Gaius) though not to ceaſe to admire thee, yet willingly to aduiſe thee (wherin I can) to the vtmoſt. Therefore for the preſent take this my counſell and aduice: thou ſhalt doe well to obſerue theſe rules following, for the generall courſe of life.

Firſt and aboue all, ſetGenerall rules for the whole courſe of life. God euer before thy face: thinke him alwaies with thee, preſent by thee, and earneſtly looking vponupon thee, iudging rightly, and as thou deſerueſt, iuſtly p. 14to reward thee.

Secondly, behold his glorious Angels attending thee; perfect patternes of pietie, and all purity; in well doing they doe guard thee; through wickednes they flie from thee.

Thirdly, hauehave an awful regard to all Gods Commandements, omit no dutie; commit no iniquitie; feare to offend in the leaſt ſinne, and be zealous of eueryevery leaſt good worke; eſteeme not lightly of any of Gods Commandements; iudge eueryevery part of his will ſet downe in his word, worthie of all p. 15holy reuerence, and that with obedience in feare.

Fourthly, in the matters of God, and holy motions, abandon thine own will; ſhut out carnall reaſon; ſeeke not thine owne glory, fauour, or praiſe of other in thy ſeruice to God; but onelyonly reſpect his good pleaſure, and a conſcionable diſcharge of thy owne dutie.

Fifthly, hauehave alwaies a louelove vntounto the Word, a reuerend eſtimation of his Miniſters, and a religious care to ſanctifie the Sabbath; three things moſt vſually of a very prophane careleſneſſe, neglected & p. 16deſpiſed.

Sixthly, in what eſtate ſoeuer thou doeſt ſtand, take wiſely an occaſion from thence to become more holy towards God, to man more iuſt, and in thine owne heart more truly humble and gracious. If it be in abundance enioy thy wealth with thy brethrens welfare; ſupply their wants, by giuing freely, or lending in true louelove. Thinke not thy ſelfe an abſolute Lord of thine own, but Gods Steward, who giueth, & can take away; looke ſo vponupon the poore, as on thy ſelfe, who may bee in their p. 17ſtead. Make not riches thy hearts habitation, nor the power of reuenge vponupon thine enemie, nor the prop to beare vp iniquity, nor as fuell to maintaine the fire of luſts, nor any euill whatſoeuer; but with thy riches honour God; doe therewith publike good, in maintaining religion, iuſtice, truth, charitie, and eueryevery good way. If thou beeſt in honour, bee not puffed vp; contemne no inferiour, he may bee thy equall: preſume not to equalize thy ſelfe to thy better; acknowledge thy equall eueryevery where, as thy fellow: and to ſuch rather p. 18giuegive then take honor from. Pride is hatefull, but true humility (not a baſe ſpirit) is a badge of true honour. For know this, that meanely borne are in place of honour euermore high minded, and of a more preſuming diſpoſition, with contempt of others, then the truly deſcended of ancient noble progenitors. In aduerſitie, of what kind ſoeuer, take it from God alwaies thankfully; bee quiet and contented, looke to the Lords promiſes; and vſe all good & lawfull means for deliuerance; wait with patience; giuegive God glory; iudge it thy deſert; p. 19know thy offences; and ceaſe to ſinne. Euer being perſwaded, that thy preſent eſtate is beſt for thee, and moſt for Gods glory: and withall beleeue, that in the end thou ſhalt hauehave a comfortable iſſue of all thy troubles.

Seuenthly, liue to the world as a ſtranger, and as an enemie to thine owne corruptions. When thou ſeeſt other grow rich, enuie not their proſperity: but if they bee godly, reioyce and praiſe God: if wicked, admire Gods mercy, and pray for them. Think that what thou thy ſelfe haſt, is more then p. 20thou well deſerueſt, or rightly canſt vſe, without Gods ſpeciall grace: the leſſe thou haſt, the leſſe account thou art to make. Striue to bee well pleaſed with Gods will and his diſpoſing of all things: & for this ende pray much and feruently; faſt often, but beware of hypocriſie: reade the holy Scriptures diligently, and that with all reuerence, attention, and faith: make them thy counſellours in all thy enterpriſes; thy comforts in aduerſitie, thy guide in proſperity, and the rule of thy whole life.

Eighthly, be much addicted p. 21vntounto heauenly meditations, lifting vp thy heart vntounto the Lord, ſending forth ſpirituall eiaculations vponupon eueryevery occaſion; though prayers bee but ſhort, yet may they pierce the heauens, by ſighes that cannot be expreſſed. If thou doe thinke of God, let it be with high reuerence to his Maieſtie: ſpeake of him with feare, as his glorious excellencie requireth. So know him, as thou mayeſt in acknowledging him, neuer dare to diſobey his Commandements. Behold him in his goodnes to louelove him, in his iuſtice to feare him: p. 22in his word to know him, and to beleeue in him. Behold him alſo in his workes, his wiſedome andHow to behold the Lord in his creatures power in the workes of creation: his mercy and iuſtice in the worke of redemption: his euer being in our continuall preſeruation. Acknowledge his prouidence, in prouiding for his creatures; his ſtrength in the mightineſſe of mountaines, and powers vnreſiſtable; his holineſſe by his Angels puritie, and his Saints piety; his inuiſibility by the aire and ſtrong winds; his miraculous hand by the Ocean ſea; his glorious Maieſtie p. 23by the brightneſſe of the Sunne; his bountie by extending his goodneſſe to eueryevery creature; his dominion and ſoueraignty by his rule ouer the world; his patience, by not ſpeedily confounding ſome preſumptuous ſinners, yet his iuſtice in due inflicted puniſhments vponupon others. His beautie by the heauens brightneſſe, the Sun in his glory, the ſhining ſtarres, the gliſtering gold, and the liuely colours ſet vponupon his faire creatures full of admiration to the beholders. His truth by the performance of his word; his ſtability, by the certain p. 24and vnchangeable courſe of things; and his infiniteneſſe by the earths roundneſſe, the heauens circumference, and the immeaſurable ſpatiouſnes betwixt both. Praiſe this God in all his proceedings: diſgrace none of his workes, magnifie his goodneſſe for the leaſt of his gifts: bee ſilent when hee croſſeth thee: feare, when he is vſing vponupon his children the rod of his correction: but tremble at his wrath, in his worke of deſtruction, and euer ſubmit to the powerfull hand of his prouidence.

Ninthly, in the next p. 25place, with thy thoughts of God, ſauour alſo the things that are of God; that is, his word and ordinances, miniſtery and magiſtracie, alſo all diuine truthes, though aboue all reaſon; likewiſe all holy motions, preſſing downe the corruptions of thy heart; yea, ſharpe rebukes for reformatiō; ſhew patience in bearing of wrōgs, and manifeſt louelove to the godly, though neuer ſo poore; and let their account of thee bee more eſteemed of, thē the countenance of the mightieſt, that bee enemies to goodneſſe. Let mourning and p. 26ſorrow for ſin pleaſe thee better then wicked mirth. Preferre Gods honor and diuine worſhip, before thine owne life, and al thy wealth. Hold it thy greateſt preferment and glory to be a true Chriſtian, and a companion to all that feare God, profeſſing the truth with them in the way of life. Iudge it no diſgrace to bee noted for zeale in religion, for following the holy Saints in true deuotion. But deſire and ſtriue to bee like the beſt; follow Dauid in feruencie; Ioſias in tendernes of ſpirit, and a melting heart; Barnabas in charitie, p. 27Nathaniel in ſinceritie, without guile; Moſes in the ſpirit of meeknes, and Ioſhua in his reſolution to feare God, and that alone with all thine houſehold; and bee as Cornelius in his holy eſtimation of the miniſterie, and alacrity of ſpirit, to ioyne with the people of God. Step forward euer with theſe and the like, in the way of vertue, & that vntounto the death, as holy Martyrs hauehave done conſtantly, & looke to the reward of glory in the end.

Tenthly, as thou art religious; ſo bee alſo righteous: ſerue God, and doe p. 28thy dutie vntounto men: obey lawful commands of ſuch as hauehave authority ouer thee. Looke on God in the Commander, and for a reward at his hands. Be of a peaceable ſpirit: offerOf our carriage towards men. wrong to none, & wrongs receiued, ſeeke not to reuenge: deſire onelyonly that which is thine owne; require y^t peaceably, which other withhold wrongfully; vſe law, but as a moderator, and not as an auenger; hate no man, though he hauehave deſerued it; by louelove win him, and by thy weldoing hold him faſt to thee: make account of thy neighbour, p. 29as of thy ſelfe: let his honour bee thy ioy; his ſorrow, thy griefe; and his life to thee pretious, his chaſtitie preſerue, as thine owne honeſty: thinke thy good name touched, in the cracke of his credit, for the Goſpels ſake: wiſh him euer well; do as thou wouldeſt be done vntounto. If in his abſence thou ſpeakeſt of him, let it be good; and in his preſence onelyonly for his good. Couet not to bee preferred before him; that is, pride: not to hauehave his life; that is bloody cruelty: nor to ſatisfie thy luſt; that is filthie diſhoneſtie: nor to get his p. 30goods, that is the euerie: nor to take away his good name; that is worſe then death. Though he diſlike of thee; yet louelove thou him: faile not thou of any dutie, albeit other doe not obſerue thee according, as is meet. There is in thee, the more grace; and the greater praiſe thou doeſt deſerue, when thou canſt ſubdue thy paſſions, paſſe by contempt, neglect thy ſelfe, and teach other men their duties onelyonly by thine owne weldoing. This will procure louelove, make all thy paths peaceable, and get thee praiſe and due honour p. 31with men: if not; yet God ſeeth, hee will iudge, and plead thy cauſe for thee in their conſciences, reuenge thy wrongs vponupon obſtinate enemies, and recompence fully thy goodneſſe vponupon thy ſelfe. Let this comfort thee againſt their vnthankfulneſſe, and remember the end, obſerue the commandement of louelove, liue euer in daily expectation of death, & the reward of life, the crowne of glory, and by the helpe of Gods ſpirit, thou ſhalt neuer doe amiſſe.

Gaius.

O bleſſed Lord God! how do I hunger, to hauehave part in this bleſſednes! my ſoule is p. 32as the thirſtie land. I preceiue heereby my great wants, and bewaile my imperfections. I ſee now the narrow way, and the ſtraight gate to life, and feare. Ah how much is profeſſed, how little practiced? I ſhould vtterly deſpaire of my ſafety, but that I reſt vponupon Gods mercy, and relie onelyonly vponupon Chriſt his merits. Now the Lord vouchſafe mee his ſpirit, and the helpe of his grace, that I may be a true obſeruer of all theſe things, thus to doe his will, thus to performe my bounden dutie. Oh (Sir) that I could in this manner liue towards God ſo in holines, & towards men ſo righteouſly: Oh that I might p. 33paſſe thus thorow this ſinfull world, with that peace of conſcience, with that ioy of the ſpirit, with that preparednes for death, & with that longing after our Lord Ieſus his comming, which is gotten hereby, and which the very creatures doe groane for, and all the godly true repentants heartily wiſh for. Oh how grieuous is it now to mee to conſider, how far I am from this practice of piety, eſpecially when I doe weigh my owne weakneſſes, and alſo want of grace to attaine to the due & full performance of this ſo conſcionable a courſe? Oh what ſhall I doe? Oh what ſhall I do? I am ſo loden with p. 34corruptions, and the world ſo full of tentations, compaſsing mee about with examples of wickedneſſe, that I feare my fall. He that ſeeketh goodnes, oh how little is he regarded! vertue wanteth praiſe, vice is not abhorred; innocency made a prey, iuſtice ſet to ſale; ſincerity reputed follie, and iuſt dealing is held the high way to beggerie. If yet for all theſe things I ſhould diſclaim the way of well doing, I ſhould therewith looſe the hope of heauen: if I ſhould embrace vngodlineſſe and vanitie, I am ſure to be damned in hell. As (Sir) what ſhall I doe? Ah my poore impriſoned ſoule! oh that I were diſſolued! p. 35let mee looſe (O Lord) out of this priſon of my body: O come Lord Ieſu, O come quickly, and make an end of theſe dayes of ſinne; I deſire bee diſſolued, and to bee with thee.

Iohn.

Alas (good ſoule) what moueth thee thus to bemone thy ſelfe? thou art a happie Creature, and haſt no ſuch cauſe to complaine in this ſo ſorrowful a manner. Comfort thy ſelfe (my heart) in that large portion of piety giuen vntounto thee: thy deſire in time ſhall bee ſatisfied, vponupon thy lowlineſſe, aſſuredly, the Lord doth look. Feare not to finde mercy p. 36and fauour, he will refreſh thoſe that trauell and bee heauie loden. And therefore let vsus proceed on, as wee hauehave done hitherto, & if thou wouldeſt know more, wherein I may enforme thee, demand, and I will make anſwere; ſhew wherin, and I will inſtruct thee, and the Lord direct thee in the way that thou ſhalt chuſe.

Gaius.

Sir, ſeeing I hauehave thus found fauour in your eyes, and that you iudge mee among the faithfull; I deſire to be informed more particularly, The vſe and end of this booke.how from time to time eueryevery day, as a worke for eueryevery weeke, during life, I p. 37may behaue my ſelfe religiouſly in the way to eternitie?

Iohn.

Is it thy deſire (beloued Gaius) to hauehave mee ſet downe, how thouThe ſum and parts handled herein. ſhouldeſt exerciſe thy ſelfe, firſt in the morning, on the day time abroad, in the euening returning home, and in the night time awakening, and ſo in the end of the weeke, for a preparation to the Sabbath?

Gaius.

Euen ſo, this, indeed (Sir) is my deſire: for hauing particular rules ſo ſet before me, I may the better vnderſtand what to doe, more orderly goe forward, and according to the diſtinction p. 38of times, looke ouer daily my precepts, till I become cunning by a conſcionable practice: which the holy one vouchſafe mee of his great goodneſſe and mercy.

Iohn.

Euen ſo be it (myDirections for eueryevery morning. bowels). Now therefore awaking in the morning forthwith before other things, I. Conſider how1. Dutie. graciouſly God hath renewed his mercy towards thee, preſeruing thee aliue in the night, and giuing thee (as it were) in the morning a new life, awaking thee (perhaps) by the voice of man, by the crowing of a cooke, by the ſound of a bell, or otherwiſe, p. 39and opened againe thine eyes in darkeneſſe, to behold the ſhining light; for which mercy giuegive him hearty thanks and praiſes; and withall, deſire him to giuegive thee ſight to thy ſoule, as thou haſt light for thy body: and that as hee expelleth darkneſſe from thee, and affoordeth thee day light and Sun-ſhine, to the eyes of the body: ſo in like maner to bee pleaſed to remoue ignorance, that ſpituall darkneſſe from thy minde, by the light of his illuminating ſpirit, that thy ſoule by the ſun-ſhine of the holy Scriptures, p. 40may ſee how to walke in this vaile of teares, & thorow this darkeneſſe (in which the world lieth without ſight of ſinne, or remorſe of conſcience) vntounto thy heauenly harbour.

Then ſecondly, fall to2. Dutie. Meditations vponupon our awaking. meditation, and firſt, how God can awake vsus from the ſleepe of ſinne, and open our eyes, to ſee the light of the truth, either by extraordinarie means, or by ordinarie, and theſe weake, or more forcible, as it pleaſed him to awake Dauid by Nathan, and Peter by the cocke; although wee hauehave ſlept as many p. 41yeeres in ſinne, as houres in our bed.

Secondly, that after a ſleeping, though long, if there be life, there followeth a wakening: ſo is it with the elect, though they fall aſleepe againe in ſin, and lie therein a long time, yet becauſe they are not vtterly without the life of God, they ſhall at length awake againe.

Thirdly, that as awaking in the morning by the day light, in the appointed time to ariſe, and men vp & in health, there is not by and by a returning to ſleepe in bed againe; no more ſhall bodily p. 42death ſeaze vponupon any, there ſhall be no more returning to reſt in the graue, in the day of the laſt reſurrection.

Fourthly, that as a carefull husband, aiming at his thrift, is aſhamed to lie ſleeping in bed, as if it were ſtill night, when the Sunne is vp, yea ſhining vponupon him, and hee called to his buſineſſe: euen ſo ſhould eueryevery good Chriſtian carefull of ſaluation be aſhamed to lie ſleepiing in any ſinne, when the cleare light of the Goſpell ſhineth vponupon him, and is called vponupon by faithfull Teachers to the performance p. 43of his duties.

Fifthly, by thy riſing vp,Meditations in riſing. thinke vponupon thy reſurrection, which is twofold: firſt, from the kingdome of darkneſſe, and our naturall corruption, to the true light and kingdome of grace; and of the ſecond reſurrection, from the darkneſſe of the graue, to the heauēly light of the kingdome of glory.

Sixthly, in ariſing vpMeditations vponupon our naked▪ neſſe. without clothes, as naked; 1. conſider how naked we be by nature of all holines and righteouſneſſe, when wee come into the world, ſo to bewaile our wretchedneſſe. 2. That wee ſhall p. 44ariſe naked at the laſt day, as Adam was in his innocencie. 3. That as in this bodily nakednes without clothes wee bee aſhamed, for the vncomelines therof, to bee ſeene ſo of men, vnleſſe wee bee fooles, or madde: euen ſo ſhould we be aſhamed to be ſeen of God, of his Angels, and of any good men naked, without the couering of grace and goodneſſe, becauſe of the filthineſſe of ſinne. And as none but fooles and madde men come naked before men; ſo do none but mad men, wicked fooles, and men deſperately leaud, liue naked p. 45of goodneſſe before God, and his Church. 4. Think alſo, that thou ſhalt ariſe out of thy graue as thou doeſt ariſe out of thy bed, and ſo, indeed, appeare in iudgement.

Seuenthly, being vp, &Meditations in putting on of our clothes. putting thy rayment vponupon thee, meditate of theſe things. That as thou lookeſt for raiment for thy body; ſo muſt thou looke for clothing to thy ſoule, which is Chriſts righteouſneſſe. 2. That, as without a hand thou canſt not aray thy ſelfe; ſo without faith, thou canſt not put on Chriſt. 3. That as bodily raiment is to couer our p. 46ſhame (and not therefore to bee proud of it) ſo is Chriſts righteouſneſſe for to couer our ſinnes. 4. That as a rayment fitted vntounto thee, then doth thee good, affordeth thee comfort, maketh thee comely, preſerueth thy body from dangers, which by walking naked it might be annoyed with, and thy ſelfe brought to deſtruction thereby: euen ſo Chriſt his righteouſneſſe, applied vntounto thee, doth thee then good, affordeth thee cōfort, maketh thee comly before God, and is thy preſeruation, to ſaue thee from the burning wrath p. 47of God for ſin, and other perils of deſtructiō, which all that walke naked without it fall into, and periſh vtterly. 5. That, as when thy rayment is on, thou dareſt then boldly bee ſeene, and go before men; ſo hauing on this robe of Chriſt, thou mayeſt come boldly to the throne of grace before God. 6. As thou doeſt prouide a couering for eueryevery part of thy body, &, being able, doeſt beautifie thy clothes with other ornamēts: ſo labour for ſpirituall graces to eueryevery part of the ſoule, and beautifie thy profeſſion with the comly ornamēts p. 48of good words, and good workes: adorne thy eare with the earing of attention to the word, thy necke with the golden chaine of Peters Euangelicall vertues; thy hands, with the bracelets of Almeſ▪ deeds to the poore; let thy white linnen put thee in mind of inward puritie; thy other outward rayment of common honeſty; thy well ſhapt apparell, of decent behauiour; thy clenly going, of auoiding ſpirituall vncleanneſſe; the maske (to one of that ſexe) of modeſty; the long garments of chaſtitie; the mufler of womanly ſilence; the fan, of p. 49Chriſts ran, with which hee will win now the wicked chaffe frō his Church to conſume it with fire. Let thy old garment, put thee in minde of thy old habite in ſinne caſt away; and thy new rayment of thy better eſtate, and regeneration.

Gaius.

Surely I doe perceiue well hereby, that a wiſe and godly minded man, may make good vſe to himſelfe of many things which wee doe lightly regard, either through ignorance, or want of grace.

Iohn.

True it is (Gaius) that holy and ſanctified meditations afford, as it were, food to the ſoule, euen p. 50in thoſe things which all men can vſe, by nature and reaſon, for the benefit and beautie of the body, but few can make good vſe of for the ſoule; with which yet, the godly mans mind is delighted, and thereof reapeth no ſmall profit.

Gaius.

But (Sir) when I am vp and thus apparelled, what other good meditations may be made vponupon the reſt of my actions?

Iohn.

As thou goeſt toMeditations in waſhing. waſh, conſider, 1. that as thy body needeth waſhing, ſo doth thy ſoule of cleanſing. 2. That, as water waſheth away the filthines p. 51of the fleſh; ſo doth Chriſts blood ſinne from thy ſoule. 3. that, as therfore thou doeſt waſh, becauſe thou wouldeſt bee cleane, and hateſt filthineſſe: euen ſo, in hatred of ſinne, and louelove of puritie muſt we hauehave recourſe to the blood of Chriſt, that we may be cleanſed of all vncleanneſſe. 4. As thou haſt waſhed to goe to thy meat; ſo be waſhed in innocencie to goe to the Lords Table.

In bruſhing and makingMeditations in bruſhing & waſhing of clothes. cleane thy garments; thinke that as thy rayment is ſubiect to duſt, and other vncleanneſſe, in the p. 52vſe, or to mothes in lying ſtill: euen ſo art thou thy ſelfe ſubiect to corruptions, both in trauell and reſt. 2. That as thou canſt not endure to hauehave thy garments duſtie, or vncleane, but will bruſh them, to hauehave off the duſt and filth, ſo ſhouldeſt thou not endure to hauehave the dirtie filth, or any duſtineſſe of ſinne to cleaue vntounto thee. 3. That as ſome ſpots and for incklings wil not off with light bruſhing; but need more forcible meanes, and therefore thou wilt vſe rubbing, yea and waſhing too; if otherwiſe the dirt will not out▪ p. 53euen ſo, ſome ſinnes will not off with eaſie meanes, but wee muſt vſe rubbing & waſhing, that is, ardent prayer, and much faſting, & waſh them with abundant teares of a penitent heart: yea and bring our ſelues vntounto the fountaine of grace, & deſire of God to rinſe vsus throughly in the blood of Chriſt, that throughout wee may bee purged and made cleane. 4. That as waſhed clothes▪ need wringing, and alſo the warme Sunne to drie them againe, ſo needeth the penitent ſpirit, ſory for ſinne, and wrung with contrition, the comfortable p. 54promiſes, of the warm Sun beames of the Goſpell, to drie vp his deepe ſorrow, and to refreſh the heauineſſe and ſadneſſe of his ſoule. 5. That as, when thou haſt beſpotted thy clothes, or els others hauehave beſprinkled them, thou yet doeſt not caſt them away deſperately, but vſeſt the beſt meanes to make them cleane, to vſe them againe: euen ſo, though thou through thy owne frailty, or Satan and the wicked by tentations hauehave beſpotted thy profeſſion & good name; yet deſpaire not, neither vtterly caſt of thy profeſſion p. 55and care of a good name, but vſe good meanes to recouer again theſe things by well doing.

In looking into a glaſſe, Meditations in looking into a glaſſe.conſider, that as this is a meanes for thee to ſee thy ſelfe bodily; ſo there is a meanes, euen Gods word, by which (as in a glaſſe) thou maieſt behold thy ſelfe ſpiritually. 2. That as without a glaſſe thou canſt not ſee thy ſelfe, no more canſt thou know thy ſelfe without Gods word. 3. That as a glaſſe ſheweth a man his deformities to himſelfe, yet the man which wanteth eyes, cannot ſee how the glaſſe p. 56doth ſet him forth; ſo, albeit Gods word ſhew to eueryevery man his eſtate: yee, for want of the eyes of the ſoule (knowledge and diuine wiſdome) men doe not ſee their corruptions. 4. That as a glaſſe is true or falſe, ſo doth it repreſent the perſon looking into it, if a true glaſſe, truly; if naughty and falſe, falſely and corruptly: euen ſo, there is a true glaſſe, Gods word, ſhewing vsus truly our ſelues; alſo a falſe and corrupt glaſſe, which if we doe looke into, it doth deale corruptly with vsus, not ſhewing our ſelues truly vntounto our ſelues; ſuch p. 57a glaſſe is mans corrupt reaſon, mens praiſes of vsus, the traditions and doctrines of men in wil-worſhip, the wittie diſcourſes of meere moraliſts, in their Naturals, and ſuch like; theſe bee all corrupt and falſe glaſſes, which we muſt not looke into to ſee our ſelues, but into the only true glaſſe, the word of God. For as a true glaſſe, 1. ſheweth thy ſelfe to thy ſelfe, as thou art foule or faire without flatterie or deceit; ſo doth Gods word ſhew either thy faire graces, or foule vices without partialitie. 2. As thou delighteſt to ſee thy comely parts, and p. 58ſo more to grace them; and as thou doeſt ſee thy ſpots, and lookeſt after them, that thou mayeſt waſh them off: euen ſo, behold thy graces in Gods word, to delight therein, and ſeeke to beautifie them the more; as alſo thy deformities & ſpots of ſinne, to waſh them away. 3. As thou approueſt of a glaſſe, and delighteſt to looke into it, becauſe it is a true glaſſe, though it ſhew thy ſpots; ſo ſhould wee allow of, & delight in Gods word, albeit it diſcouer vntounto vsus our iniquities and ſinnes.

After theſe meditations,3. Dutie. p. 59betake thy ſelfe toIn the morning is prayer. prayer; and caſt downe thy ſelfe before the Lord; craue pardon for eueryevery ſinne: nights pollution, naturall corruption, dayes tranſgreſſion; deſire the ſpirits illumination, the direction of the word, the graces of the ſpirit, the protection of Angels, the helpe of his holy hand to beare thee vp in all thy waies, whatſoeuer thou putteſt thy hand vntounto in the day following, according to thy vocation and courſe of thy lawfull calling.

Hauing thus called vponupon4. Dutie is to read the Scriptures. God, take ſome time p. 60to looke into Gods word, to reade ſome portion of Scriptures. As thou canſt looke into a glaſſe eueryevery morning; ſo hauehave a care to looke into the law of God, to ſee the ſtate of thy ſoule; behold what thou art by nature; what by grace, what here now, and what thou mayeſt bee in the life to come. Alſo conſider of thy place and ſtanding, thy courſe of life & calling: what thy dutie is therein either to God, or to man: what charge thou haſt vponupon thee, whether of a child, a parent, a married perſon, a ruler of a family, a maſter, or of a ſeruant, p. 61a publke or priuate perſon, a paſtor, or one of the flocke, a labourer, or tradeſ▪ man, and ſo forth▪ and according to the ſeuerall reſpects; conſider of thy dutie. By this glaſſe, looke into the order of thy family, thy conuerſation with men, and thy dealings in the world; by it ſet modeſtly thy countenance, frame reuerently thy geſture, guide thy vnruly tongue, ſet thy hands on worke, and order thy footſteps; & ſo reforme whatſoeuer is amiſſe. If thou doeſt looke into it for thy attire, conſider by this glaſſe of truth, not only p. 62how thy raiment dothConſideration of apparell. become thee; but alſo how lawfull to be worne, how conuenient for thee in reſpect of thy place, degree, age, ſexe, and habilitie: thereby to preuent iuſt occaſion of giuing offence; and if yet thou wilt needs excell in brauerie, and goe with the beſt for outward garments; ſee that thou alſo be as readie to imitate the moſt holy in heauenly graces: elſe thou art but the diuels enſigne-bearer, lifting vp the ſtandard of pride to thy owne confuſion.

After all theſe things5. Dutie. weigh ſeriouſly with thy p. 63ſelfe before thou goeſtGodly conſiderations in going abroad. forth. 1. What buſineſſe thou haſt abroad. 2. What warrant thou haſt for thy intendments therin from God & his word. 3. How lawfull thy proceeding and act it ſelfe is in it ſelfe. 4. How lawfull vntounto thee, what calling thou haſt thereunto. 5. What means to effect it, what hope of a bleſſing, what honour may bee thereby to God, what good to others, what profit to thy ſelfe. Do nothing raſhly, nor any thing at any time, againſt religion, charity, publike peace, equitie, or common honeſtie, leſt thou ſinne againſt p. 64God, againſt men and againſt thy owne ſoule.

To conclude, conſider that thy preparation to thy buſineſſe in thy Chriſtian calling, is a preparation to goe forth vntounto the battell with thy ſpirituall enemies, and therfore forget not to keep euer within the Citie, the new Ieruſalem, The Chriſtian Gariſon.the true Church of God, vnderunder thy Generall Ieſus Chriſt, guided by his Vice-gerent his holy ſpirit, following his Enſigne the preaching of his word, hauing vponupon thee the whole Armour of God, the girdle of veritie, the brestplate p. 65of righteouſneſſe, the helmet of ſaluation, the ſhield of faith; on thy feet, the preparation of the Goſpell of peace; in thy hand, or rather in thy heart, the ſword of the ſpirit, the word of God and vſe all theſe with feruent praier; attend the Enſigne-bearers, the true Preachers of Gods word▪ diſplaying their colours, openly and liuely teaching the truth. Keepe with the court of Guard, the fellowſhip of the faithfull; vnderunder the Caſtle of Gods gracious protectiō; being to watch, ſtand firme in thy holy profeſſion, and abide in p. 66thy particular calling. Let the Captaine religion command thee, the Lieutenant ſoundneſſe of iudgement in the truth ſettle thee, the Sergeant prudence order thee; let thy Corporall apprehenſion, ſet thy attention Sentinell, when thou ſhalt heare the Gentlemen of the Round comming, godly diſcourſes and holy motions: keepe the watchword, the witnes of Gods Spirit diligently; if thou ſhalt perceiue any ſecret conſpirators, inward corruptions, outward tentations, make an alarme, let flie from thy heart ſpirituall eiaculations vntounto Ieſus p. 67Chriſt for aide againſt them. If the common ſouldiers corrupt reaſon, and looſe affections begin to be diſorderly, and to mutinie through vaine pleaſures, againſt Captaine religion, complaine preſently to the Generall the Lord Ieſus, that by his Spirit he may ſuppreſſe them, and by the power of conſcience keepe them in obedience, leſt the terrible ſhot of thundering iudgements bring an vtter deſtruction: In all aſſaults fight valiantly, reſiſt thy enemies with courage, and bee perſwaded in the end of victorie; howſoeuer p. 68for thy bodily life care not; neuer yeeld to thine enemies, but fight it out as a ſouldier of Ieſus Chriſt to the death, rather then to bee taken and led captiue; for that is worſe then a thouſand bodily deathes.

Laſtly, going forth thus6. Dutie. In being abroad. well reſolued, ſet God before thee; hide his commandements within thee; cleaue to the rule of his word; purpoſe wholly to do well, and endeauour it; take heede of ill intendments. Auoid ill companie, beware of ill counſell; fauour not thy owne corruptions; ſeeke not thine p. 69owne will▪ aime principally at Gods glory; and thus goe forth in the name of the Lord, bee confident that thou doeſt goe vnderunder Gods protection, and expect a ſafe returne. For bleſſed is ſuch a one in his going forth, and bleſſed ſhall he be in his returning in againe.

But if before thou goeſtMeditations in going to meate. out, or afterward (whē thou wilt) thou ſhall receiue any bodily nouriſhment: conſider theſe things, 1. That as thy body ſtands in need of food, ſo doth thy ſoule alſo. 2. That as hunger maketh meate pleaſant, and forceth p. 70thee to looke for food, and to receiue it thankfully; euen ſo a ſoule hungering after grace, maketh the word pleaſant, cauſeth vsus to ſeeke it, and hauing it, to thanke God heartily for it. 3. As nothing maketh vsus delicate in feeding, or to deſire variety of diſhes, and daintie fare: but quezie ſtomackes, or a cuſtome in nice feeding, want of appetite, or weakneſſe in digeſtion: ſo nothing but daintineſſe and an appetite to varietie, weake ſpirits, yet withall full of proud conceits, fleſhly apprehēſions, itching eares, p. 71want of good ſtomackkes and hearts vnhumbled, doe cauſe the fine and delicate cooking of Gods word, and ſaucing it with the froth of mens wits, to make it fleſhly ſweet, and pleaſant to vaine perſons. 4. Conſider how thou canſt lay aſide thy worldly buſineſſes, thy pleaſures and profits to take thy bodily repaſt either at home, or as occaſion ſerues abroad, where thou mayeſt hauehave it; euen ſo ſhouldeſt thou lay aſide thy pleaſures and profits at times fitting, for to get food for thy ſoule, either at home or abroad: for p. 72as food is neceſſarie for the bodie; ſo is the word of God preached for thy ſoule. 5. As thou knoweſt that food preſerues not life without Gods bleſſing, and that the leaſt crum may bereaue thee of thy life, if it go wrong: and therefore doeſt thou pray to God before: euen ſo, know alſo, that hearing, and preaching of the word doth not giuegive, not preſerue the life of the ſoule▪ except God bleſſe the ſame; yea the leaſt miſtaking in the chiefeſt points (if God preuent it not) may cauſe thee to erre euen vntounto death. And p. 73therefore before we come to the word, let vsus pray heartily to God for a bleſſing. 6. As thou wilt not ſit downe to receiue food but with cleane hands; ſo come not to Gods word, or the Lords Table, without a cleane heart: and as thou wilt ſit downe, if thou haſt a good ſtomack, when meate is prepared for thee, laying aſide thy buſineſſe for a while; ſo indeed if our hearts bee good, whē the Lord hath prepared by his Miniſters food for vsus, let vsus, as wee ought, lay aſide worldly buſineſſes a while, to heare his doctrine, words of inſtruction, p. 74for our ſtrength and edification.

And being ſet downeMeditations being ſet at the table. at a feaſt, then let the houſe in which thou art, put thee in remembrance of Gods Church: the Maſter of the houſe, of Chriſt Ieſus the head of his Church, and Lord of the feaſt; the table, of the Lords Table: thy ſitting downe, the ſpirituall reſt at the heauenly banquet: the faire linnens, of puritie; the furniſhing of the Table, the variety with plentie of all things, of the things prepared for vsus by Chriſt. Let the cleanly & decent ſeruice, put thee in mind of the pure worſhip p. 75of God: the wholeſome food of ſound doctrine, the orderly placing of diſhes, the orderly adminiſtration of holy things. The ſeruitours, let them remember thee of Gods Miniſters; the bread, of the word of God, and Chriſts body in the Sacrament; the drinke and wine, of the water of life, and blood of Chriſt; milke, of the principles of religion and catechizing; ſtrong meate, of harder points of doctrine; ſalt, of the miniſtery of the word; ſauce, of afflictiōs mingled with Gods mercies, to make them taſte the better. The cunning p. 76caruing, and cutting vp of the food, of the right diuiding of Gods word; the reaching of it cut, of the giuing to eueryevery man his part and portion; thy hand, of thy faith; thy chewing in thy mouth, of thy meditation in heart; thy digeſtion, of thy true receiuing of the word. Remember by thy companie, the communion of Saints; by their talke together, the holy conference; by their▪ idle ſpeech, the nature of vaine and iangling ſpirits; and by their graue and ſober ſpeaking, the wiſdome of their words, which are wiſe in heart. p. 77By the muſicke, (if any be) conſider of the ſweet melody, in concord of louing hearts, liuing in vnity; and of the ioies in heauen, and mirth vnſpeakable; by the chearing of the heart with meate and drinke, cauſing thee to bee merrie, weigh the ſweet comforts of the word refreſhing thy ſoule making thee glad in the peace of a good conſcience, which is a continual feaſt. When thou offerest of that thou haſt vntounto any, let it put thee in mind, of the cōmunicating of thy graces, and gifts of heauenly things vntounto others. When thou receiuest willingly p. 78with thankes what other offer to thee, thinke how willingly and thankfully thou ſhouldeſt receiue the food & meanes of ſaluation from other, when any ſhall offer the ſame vntounto thee.

Being at length well refreſhedBeing refreſhed and readie to ariſe frō the table. and ready to ariſe, thinke what a bleſſing of God it is to hauehave food to refreſh the body; and ſo in like manner to hauehave meanes of inſtruction to thy ſoule. Let him that giueth thankes in the end, call to thy remembrance, how the Miniſter giueth thankes at the end of the time of the publike worſhip, p. 79which thou art to ſtay for them, as at the Table for ſaying of grace.

To conclude this, as thou feeleſt ſtrength of body by taking corporall food: ſo labour to feele ſtrength of grace, by receiuing the food of the ſoule. And as thou perceiueſt that the body will famiſh, without nouriſhing of it daily; ſo the ſoule wil periſh where there is no viſion. And as thou canſt find in thy hart to bee at coſt for the bodily food, and canſt labour and go farre for it: ſo, ſuch a louelove and hunger ſhouldeſt thou hauehave for the foode of the ſoule, that p. 80thou ſhouldeſt willingly bee at coſt for it, to labour for it, to ſeeke it, as ſiluer, and to ſearch for it as treaſurie; that thou mayeſt come to the feare of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Gaius.

Alas my heart is heauie, my ſoule is perplexed within me; Oh how wanting hitherto hauehave I been of theſe duties, and ignorant of theſe meditations. I confeſſe, I hauehave riſen without any true reuerent remembrance of God; a few prayers, perhaps, I hauehave made, more in ſound of words, then with ſighes and grones from an earnest affection of the heart. But p. 81now hauehave I better vnderſtood how eueryevery morning, I am to demeane my ſelfe; the Lord giuegive mee grace, what now I know, and thou (good man of God) haſt ſo largely inſtructed mee in, hereafter neuer to neglect.

Iohn.

Comfort thy ſelfe (my bowels) thou haſt a large portion in the Lords inheritance, I wiſh chiefely, that thou mayeſt proſper, as well as thy ſoule proſpereth: thy beginnings in goodnes; thy deſire to encreaſe in grace, & thy faithfull endeauour to attaine thereunto, by Gods bleſſing, ſhall bring thee to perfection, and to p. 82thy deſired wiſh in the end.

Gaius.

Thou haſt ſpoken (I thanke thee) comfortably vntounto thy ſeruant: but if that I hauehave now obtained thy grace, and that I bee acceptable in thine eyes, before thou proceedest any further, I beſeech thee to frame me a form of prayer for eueryevery morning, as may fitly agree with my former meditations.

Iohn.

(Faithfull Gaius) I very willingly condiſcend to this thy holy deſire; if therefore it pleaſe thee, in this or the like maner, thou mayeſt frame thy prayer.

p. 83Bleſſed be thy name, (most A Prayer for the morning.gracious Father, the Lord of life) for that thou haſt of thy goodneſſe and mercy thus preſerued mee this preſent night paſt; and haſt awakened mee, raiſed mee vp, giuen vntounto mee comfortable meditations, and a moſt ſweet taſte of thy heauenly graces; Oh my Father, my Father, how is my ſpirit delighted with theſe celeſtiall ioyes! afford me ſtil, I humbly beſeech thee, the like meaſure of thy mercy daily, that I may euer feele theſe comforts, and neuer ceaſe to praiſe thy goodneſſe.

Indeed (O Lord) I freely confeſſe vntounto thee, that I p. 84hauehave lien in the bed of my corruptions, and ſlept in the darke ignorance of my mind, and therein tooke ſuch delight, as if thou haddest not ſent out the ſweet beames of the light of truth, and called me vp by thy faithfull teachers, I had yet remained in the night of miſdeeds, and periſhed in my ſinnes.

Sythen therfore (O Lord) thou haſt thus brought mee from darkneſſe to the light, and opened mine eyes to ſee that which before I could not diſcerne; cauſe mee now, I beſeech thee, to ſhake off al fleſhly drouſines, that in ſo broad a ſun-ſhine of the Goſpell, I may not, as careleſſe of ſpirituall p. 85thriſt, ſloathfully lie downe againe in the ſinfull corruptions of mine owne heart: but ſo partake of the firſt reſurrection in the ſtate of grace, as I may enioy the bleſsing of the ſecond in the kingdome of glory.

I doe acknowledge to thee, how without thee, I am (O Lord) very miſerable, poore and naked, ſo as I am aſhamed to come before thee; but in mercy doe thou pitie mee, and clothe me with that faire rayment of Chriſt his righteouſneſſe, that I may be bold to draw neare to the throne of grace; this beſt robe by the ſpirit put vponupon me, and giuegive me the hand of faith to apply p. 86the ſame vntounto me, that I may thereby be preſerued from the heate of thy wrath for ſinne, and eſcape eternall deſtruction. GiueGive mee grace (good Lord) to beautifie my holy profeſsion with ornaments of grace, good words, and good workes; let mee neuer want the linnen of inward ſincerity, nor the outward garment of Chriſtian honeſtie, that I may be welcome to the companie of thy Saints, the onelyonly comely creatures, whom thou (O Lord) haſt waſhed and made cleane.

Waſh me (O Lord) with them, for I confeſſe my ſelfe polluted with manifold ſins; and that they ſtick ſo hard & p. 87cleaue ſo faſt vntounto mee, that I cannot be deliuered nor clenſed, except thou (my God) by thy mercifull hand, the worke of thy Spirit, doſt rinſe mee in the precious blood of Chriſt. Surely, if it were not for the hope which I hauehave of thy gracious fauour, I ſhould verily deſpaire of my ſaluation. For when by the glaſſe of thy word I ſee my ſelfe ſo vncleane, my corruptions alſo to be ſo many, and withall, feele them ſo ſtrong in mee, I cannot but mourne with teares, and lament with heauineſſe of heart, my preſent eſtate deſeruing death, and iuſtly cauſing me to feare rather damnation, then to hauehave any hope p. 88at all of ſaluation.

But there is mercy with thee, (O thou bleſſed God of mercy) to which I now appeale, humbly crauing at thy hands the ful pardon of al my ſinnes; behold (deare Father) the merits of my Redeemer, the price which hee hath paid to ſatisfie thy iuſtice, that ſo of thy goodneſſe, thou mayest be well pleaſed with mee, that my prayers may bee granted, and my requeſts, which I now put vp vntounto thee, may graciouſly be heard of thee.

It is thy will (O Lord) that eueryevery one ſhould hauehave a calling to walke in, and that wee ſhould performe ſuch duties diligently as do belong thereunto, p. 89now (Lord for thy merciemercy ſake) as thou haſt giuen mee a calling, and deſire to performe the charge laid vponupon me therby; ſo, I do earneſtly beſeech thee, to help, guide, aide and ſtrengthen me therin; put vponupon mee that whole furniture of thine, for my ſpirituall warfare, that I may be armed at all aſſayes, to reſiſt, & alſo to preuaile againſt all my ghoſtly enemies.

O Lord, thou knoweſt well how manifold the tentations bee, which doe follow all thoſe that deſire to liue in, and by their callings religiouſly, and honeſtly. Thou doeſt alſo know, how I deſire like a true Iſraelite, to walke before thee p. 90in godly ſimplicity, and towards the world without fraud or guile peaceably; but Satan is ſo powerfull and often in his tentations, the world ſo full of deceitfull allurements, and my heart ſo weake, and vnable to reſist, that (vnleſſe thou by thy ſpirit doe aide me, by thy power defend mee, by thy word inſtruct mee, and by thy grace preuent mee) I ſhall vndoubtedly goe aſtray from my intended purpoſe of wel▪ doing.

O my God, helpe me, helpe me therefore (O my God). In al my iuſt proceedings protect me: make my good purpoſes proſperous, if it bee thy will, I heartily pray thee. Bend my p. 91mind euer to thy good pleaſure and will, that I encline not vntounto wickedneſſe, by ill companie, ill counſell, ill examples of others, though for a time they flouriſh by il means

Make mee (O Lord) to delight more in thy fauour and louelove, then in the gaine of all earthly goods. Poſſeſſe ſo my heart with vprightneſſe, and true intendment of iuſt dealing, and peaceable walking towards all, in all my courſes, that I may boldly come to thee, and make thee (my God) the Iudge of all my actions.

Goe out, Lord, before me, and let my eyes be this day as at all times, euer vponupon thee, p. 92that ſo before I ſpeake, I may conſult with thee; before I do any thing, I may bee aduiſed by thee; that ſo in going out, and in continuing abroad, thy care may be ouer mee, thy prouident hand may helpe me, thy mercy alſo may couer me, that ſo, I may by thee returne home in good peace and ſafety, through Ieſus Christ, our Lord and onelyonly Sauiour, in whoſe name I further call vponupon thee, for my ſelf, & for the whole Church, and eueryevery member of the ſame, in that holy forme of prayer which hee taught his bleſſed Apoſtle, ſaying, Our Father which art in heauen, &c.

p. 93Gaius.

For this (thou bleſſed ſeruant of God) I moſt humbly thanke thee; now if it pleaſe thee, proceed on to the ſecond point, how I may carrie my ſelfe abroad on the day time.

Iohn.

Hold thy ſelfe (Gaius) to this mornings worke conſtantly; then go forth in Gods name, feare not, neither be faint-hearted, for the Lord is with thee.

Walk as a Saint amongDirections for the day time. men, ſtriuing daily to perfection: let them as apparantly ſee thee to be come out of Satans houſe of bondage ſpiritually, as they can behold thee out p. 94of thine owne houſe bodily.

Liue in the light of Gods word, with reſpect vntounto all and eueryevery one of Gods Commandements, as thou doeſt walke with thy body, and ſight of the eyes in the ſhine of the Sunne.

Behold and looke vp often to the heauens, as thy eternall manſion; conſider of the earth, as but the place of thy pilgrimage, not any continuing habitation. Thinke of thy remoue all, prepare for a better home. Prouide for thy ſelfe with God; thereupon often ſet thy mind: but p. 95vponupon this world, vaine and fading away, no more thē needs muſt: knowing that he, which is leaſt intangled in mundane affaires, is moſt fit for God, and can with the greateſt eaſe bid farwell to this world.

Make all the day time the manifeſtation of thy graces; thy calling, the circuit of thy walking, thy iuſt dealing with men, the true triall of thy faith towards God: thy painfull labour in thy vocation, the ordinarie means of thy maintenance; be neuer either idle, or ill exerciſed.

In thy conuerſing withHow to behaue our ſelus in conuerſing with others. men, doe as thou wouldeſt p. 96bee done vntounto; buy and ſell in truth and equitie, moderate by mercy, what thou mayeſt hauehave by law in extremity. Seek not gaine vnlawfully; neither that which may vndoe thy brother. Make no vniuſt prey vpō thy poore neighbours neceſſity: neither ſeeke aduantage vponupon meere miſtakings in word or deed. Hee that truſteth thee, faile him not; fruſtrate not a hopefull expectation of thy goodneſſe. Secrecies in friendſhip reueale not, no though the partie become thy deadly enemie.

p. 97Bee not haſtie to promiſe, but thy word being paſt, keepe it faithfully: deale warily, and yet liue innocently. In companie with perſons vnknowne, hauehave a wiſe reſpect to thy words and behauiour: and be religiouſly ſuſpicious: feare the worſt till thou know more; as thou ſhalt find men worthy thy louelove, ſo afford it them, and therein proceed by degrees, and abide conſtant. LoueLove onelyonly for vertues, and forſake not friendſhip becauſe of humaine frailties.

Intermeddle not in other mens matters; be no p. 98buſie body to ſpeake or do without the compaſſe of thy vocation. If thou bee intreated to interpoſe thy ſelfe betweene parties, let thy words & aduice tend to peace, and iudge without partiality, be alike iuſt therein to friend and foe.

To conclude, ſo liue in the view of all, as none may iuſtly condemn thee, though ſome maliciouſly ſlander thee: ſo alſo as all good men may behold thee in thy iourney towards heauen, & as Gods ſteward in thy courſe ready at eueryevery houre to giuegive vp thine account to the Lord, with a chearful hart.

p. 99Gaius.

A men, amen, I beſeech thee good God of Iſrael. For if eueryevery man would thus behaue himſelfe abroad, The good which cōmeth by mens iuſt and faithfull dealing.then would fraud and falſehood bee ſent packing; oppreſsion would be ſuppreſſed; cruelty would bee turned into Chriſtian compaſsion, and friendly courteſies; biting vſurie, into workes of merciemercy; vniuſt gaine, by periurie, briberie, robberie, and ſymonie, into iust dealing, equitie and pietie. Wee ſhould heare no more of hard hartedneſſe, extortion, malicious reuenging, the extremitie of iuſtice: the miſchiefs of iniuſtice: for all miſſe-deeds would bee turned into almes-deeds, p. 100and duties of louelove, by which peace is preſerued, and charity practiſed. And ſo, though wee were abroad, wee ſhould neither offend, nor eaſily bee offended; and when wee bee returned home, wee might ſit downe with ioy to meditate vponupon Gods mercies, to ſing praiſe to him, to conferre of the best things, & to be think our ſelues in the euening how to prepare our ſelues to our nights reſt; in which point alſo I deſire to bee inſtructed. For hauing learned my mornings meditations, and the duties therof, alſo how to carrie my ſelfe abroad on the day, I would be glad (my Father) to know how to behaue p. 101my ſelfe returning home, ſitting in the houſe, and going to my reſt at ſeaſonable houres.

Iohn.

(Good Gaius) IDirections for the euē ing. perceiue thou art loath to break off, before thou haſt perfected the worke: it is my ioy to goe on with thee, being ſure that thou doeſt willingly turne eueryevery good precept into a cō ſcionable practice. When therefore thou doeſt returne home:

Firſt, giuegive thy ſelfe toMeditations in returning home. meditation vponupon theſe things, 1. That as the end of the day cuts off thy worldly buſineſſe abroad, and cauſeth thee to returne p. 102home; euen ſo the worlds end ſhall cut off all earthly buſineſſes, and bring vsus to our euerlaſting home. 2. That as the ſetting of the Sunne, and the darkneſſe of the night couering vsus, doth make vsus, that we cannot follow our callings abroad; euen ſo, by the declining of Gods grace, the loſſe of the light of truth, blindneſſe and darke errour poſſeſſing vsus, wee cannot follow the workes of pietie, nor doe the duties of good Chriſtians. 3. That as after thy long trauel and abſence from home, yet thou doeſt returne again; euen ſo, there p. 103is a time comming, when thou muſt, though heere ſtaied very long, returne to thy home, thy euerlaſting manſion. 4. That as thy houſe, being faire andHeauen. pleaſant, they alſo which liue in it, louely, peaceable, and ioyfull at thy comming, doe much reioyce thy heart to enter in, and to ſit downe with them, hauing ſuſtained much trouble abroad; euen ſo, may it be great ioy to vsus, after this miſerable life ended, to enter into heauen, into that pleaſant Paradiſe, and to ſit downe among that louely, peaceable and ioyfull company p. 104of elect men and Angels. And on the contrary, as mā hauing had pleaſures, honour, and all contentment abroad, returning home, to a filthy houſe,Hell. the people in it moſt diſorderly, and nothing among them but wickedneſſe, & the puniſhments thereof, woes, miſeries, & much lamentations, as ſuch a man, I ſay, would be exceedingly caſt down to thinke that he muſt goe to ſuch a home; and it would be as bitter to him as death, to enter into his houſe; euen ſo will it bee to all ſuch as here liue in this world full of honour, p. 105pleaſures and riches, with all fleſhly and carnall contentment, whē they muſt needs goe to their home, euen hell, the harbour for all thoſe that liue and die irrepentantly, there to bee tormented with the diuels and his Angels for euer.

Secondly, being entredAnother duty being ſet downe. into thy houſe and ſet downe, then call to remembrance what God hath done for thee; what mercies hee hath ſhewed, what benefits beſtowed, what friends raiſed, what comforts affoorded, and ſo forth. And againe on the other ſide, what euils p. 106preuented, what dangers auoided, how peaceably continued and preſerued, and ſuch like, that ſo the Lord for them may bee moſt worthilie magnified.

Conſider what thou haſt done, what duties performed, to ſee the continuance of grace, what duties omitted, and ſinnes committed, to behold thy imperfections, and decay in goodneſſe, except thou repent.

Thirdly, after theſeA third dutie at night. things, take Gods booke into thy hand, reade it for thy ſelfe, & others, if thou haſt a familie, & conclude p. 107with prayer, and a Pſalme of praiſes vntounto the Lord. And withall, meditate vponupon the candle, brought for thee to reade by, that as thou canſt not reade without light; no more canſt thou vnderſtand without the illumination of Gods Spirit. 2. As the light of the candle, being in our eye but a little light; yet giueth a great light to the whole houſe; euē ſo doth that heauenly enlightening of God, though it ſeeme neuer ſo little to worldly wiſedome, yet doth it greatly enlighten vsus. 3. As while the candle is light, we can reade, and p. 108it being out, wee cannot ſee: no more can wee ſee heauenly things, if once the light of Gods ſpirit be taken from vsus. So likewiſe meditate, that the word is as fire, which thou ſitteſt by. The fire thaweth off froſtines, and expels cold: ſo the word melteth frozen hearts: it comforteth vsus going to reſt; ſo doth the word, going out of the world: it trieth mettals, ſo the word doth men. It diuideth things, ſending ſome vpward, and leaueth ſome on the earth; ſo the word diuideth people, ſome ſending vpward, ſome leauing below, &c.

p. 109Fourthly, in going to thy 4. Dutie. Meditations in going to reſt.reſt, thinke vponupon the ende of this earthly toyleſomeneſſe, in the eternall reſt: in putting off thy clothes, thinke how thou ſhalt at length be vnclothed, and as thou art naked in a ſhirt, ſo ſhalt thou bee naked in a ſheet. Thinke alſo as thou ariſeſt naked in the morning, and ſo returneſt to thy bed naked in the euening: euen ſo cameſt thou naked into the world and ſo naked ſhalt thou returne againe.

Fifthly, in lying downe 5. Meditations in lying downe.in thy bed, conſider thy bed as thy graue: thy lying downe, the laying of thy p. 110body in the place of the dead; the couering, the earthly molds vponupon thee: the cloſing of thine eyes, the repreſentation of death: the ſleepe poſſeſſing thee, deaths ceaſing vponupon thee: the impoſſibility to preuent ſleepe euer, the ineuitableneſſe of death: the ringing of the bell, the ſound of the laſt trumpet. Thinke by thy companion in bed, of the dead with thee in the graue; & that two may be together, the one receiued, the other refuſed.

Conſider how, as a flea in the bed may bite thee, ſo the wormes in graue p. 111ſhall eate thee: as ſleepe taketh away all care of the world from thee; ſo ſhall death in like manner ſet thee free from the ſame. And as thou doeſt not feare to ſleepe, becauſe thou art in hope to awake againe: ſo be not afraid to die, for that thou ſhalt ariſe afterwards to life eternall.

Laſtly, as thou knoweſt thou haſt a ſoule awaking; though thy body bee ſleeping: ſo know, that albeit thy bodie lie a while aſleepe in the graue; yet thy ſoule euen then liueth and partaketh of ioy: let this be for thy comfort.

p. 112Thus by theſe thy heauenly meditations, thy laſt thoughts being ſo fixed vponupon God and good things, before thou doeſt fall aſleepe, they will cauſe thee to lift vp thine eies to the Lord, to entreate him to take protection of thee, (for he neither ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth, which keepeth Iſrael.) Theſe will preuent vaine dreames, idle fantaſies, and prepare thy ſoule to better cogitations. Yea, thus graciouſly exerciſed, albeit thou doeſt lie down to riſe againe in the morning; yet wilt thou ſo reſt ſecure, and lie downe without feare, as p. 113one aſſured of life, though for this light thou behold it no more with bodily eies, vntil the day of iudgment. It is euer therefore beſt to hauehave thy mind full of godly meditations, in betaking thy ſelfe to reſt: and it ſhall not bee amiſſe ſo to lie downe, as thinking no more to riſe till the laſt day: the preparation to death, doth not any whit ſooner haſten it, but maketh it more comfortable when it doth come.

Gaius.

Bleſſed is that man, that thus meditateth of his mortalitie: happie is he, ſurely, that thus prepareth to his rest; vndoubtedly hee p. 114ſhall finde the ſweet fruites thereof in the end.

But I now deſire to heare of ſome godly directions, how to meditate in the night ſeaſon, if happily I doe awake; but I thinke, I heard thee ſpeak of prayer before I ſhould goe to my bed; therefore as it hath pleaſed thee, to ſet me downe a forme of prayer for the morning, ſo I beſeech thee, affoord me the like helpe for the euening.

Iohn.

It is, indeed (Gaius) as neceſſarie to praiſe God, and to pray vntounto him in the euening, as in the morning; and therefore haſt thou well done to put me in mind hereof. p. 115In the name therefore, & mediation of Chriſt Ieſus, thus, or in ſome ſuch like maner, mayeſt thou make thy prayers vntounto the Almighty.

Honour and praiſe bee giuen A Prayer for the euening.to thee (most holy Father, my moſt gracious Lord, and ſtrong protector) which haſt of thy great goodnes this day, both led me forth ſafely, and now brought me home in peace. This hath been thy mercy wholy, of which I hauehave abundantly taſted, bleſſed bee thy name therefore for euer and for euer.

I confeſſe to thy praiſe and glory, O God, that by thy p. 116light I hauehave walked, by thy power I hauehave been preſerued, by thy grace preuented from ſinnes which I might hauehave run into, from perils which I might hauehave fallen into, and by thy ſpirit hauehave I been directed in that, which hath been comfortable vntounto mee, and wherin I hauehave cauſe to reioyce

Albeit I doe acknowledge, that in my beſt actions I hauehave ſhewed much humaine frailty, and not a little offended thy diuine Maieſty, in thought, in words, and in deeds; which yet, of thy great mercy, thou haſt paſſed by, and not laid vntounto my charge, as thou mighteſt iuſtly hauehave done.

p. 117Now (O Lord) I beſeech thee, ſo be ſtill gracious vntounto me, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, and continue thy fauourable countenance, and bee euer with me; as heretofore, and this day paſt, ſo alſo the reſt of my life, & this preſent night now come vponupon me.

Vnclothe mee, I pray thee, of my old raymēt of vnrighteouſneſſe, and make mee to throw away all my vncleane ragges of filthie corruptions, that I may goe in the whiteneſſe of ſincerity and holines vntounto my eternall reſt.

In the meane ſpace, giuegive mee the candle light of the truth to ſhine vntounto me in this darke world, and make thy p. 118word as a fire to heate and enflame my affections with the louelove of thee (O God) and all goodneſſe, that I may ſee the way, and go with a warm zeale of thy ſpirit, vntounto my graue.

And ſeeing I came naked into the world, and ſo muſt lie downe naked, bringing nothing, neither carrying away any thing; Oh bleſſe mee from couetouſneſſe, and greedie cares of this fading world; If I hauehave but to liue, let mee bee therewith contented.

Put away from mee the feare of death, ſeeing it is but as a ſleepe, and cannot depriue me of life. Yea, ſythen p. 119I am mortall, make mee willing to goe vntounto my reſt, that I may ceaſe to ſinne, and bee freed from the manifold tentations, and troubles which accompanie vsus heere, that although my bodie lie in the graue aſleepe, my ſoule may aſcend vntounto my bleſſed Sauiour, with whom I deſire to bee.

Sanctifie vntounto me my reſt, keepe my minde in heauenly meditations, from vncleane, vnquiet and fooliſh dreames: and ſo refreſh me by the quiet benefit of ſweet ſleepe, that I may ariſe more chearfully & comfortably in the morning to the labours of my particular calling.

p. 120While I doe ſleepe, watch, I beſeech thee, ouer me; cauſe thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about me, that ſo I may reſt, and alſo ariſe in ſafety, and therby be moued to laud and praiſe thee, ſtill renewing my thankes, as thou doeſt renew thy mercies daily.

And now (Lord) going to my bed, I commend my ſelfe, my ſoule and body into the hands of thy fatherey protection, for thou art awake, when I ſleepe, and thou onelyonly art able to preſerue mee. If it ſo pleaſe thee now this night to take my life from me, and to remoue me out of this vale of miſerie, this doe (O Lord) of thy great mercy, pardon p. 121me all my ſins, wilfull tranſgreſsions, negligences, and ignorances, euils committed, and duties omitted in any meaſure, manner, or any way diſpleaſing to thy Maieſty, and that for the death and paſsion, the righteouſneſſe, the merits and interceſsion of Ieſus Chriſt thy Sonne, and our bleſſed Sauiour, I humbly beſeech thee; and for his ſake take vp my ſoule to thy heauenly habitation, there to reſt, vntill I come wholly body and ſoule vntounto thee, in that great day of the reſurrection.

But if it yet pleaſe thee, ſtil further to prolong my life; then I hartily pray thee (good God) of thy tender mercy, p. 122herein to heare mee; that as dayes be added to the time of life, ſo graces may bee encreaſed; that as I grow in yeeres, ſo may I alſo bee fruitfull in good workes, encreaſing in grace, to thy praiſe, my better preparedneſſe to death, and to my eternall comfort at the laſt day, the time of my perfect redemption, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, to whom with thee, and that bleſſed Spirit bee giuen all honour, glory and praiſe of me and all thy people, as is moſt due for all thy louing mercies, paſt and preſent, for the future hope of eternall bliſſe, this night and for euermore, Amen.

p. 123Gaius.

Now, if it pleaſe thee (my Father) proceed to the next point, and ſhew vntounto me, what meditatiōs I ſhould hauehave in the night ſeaſon, if it happen, that then I ſhould awake.

Iohn.

Let it, 1. put theeMeditations vponupon our awaking in the night. in mind of awaking from ſinne, as thou haſt awaked frō ſleep, that thou periſh not by death. 2. Thinke alſo how God can make men which are dead in the graue, to liue againe, as eaſily, as hee hath made thee to awake out of thy ſleepe. 3. By thy ſudden awaking, to conſider how ſuddenly thou mayeſt bee raiſed vp and ſummoned p. 124to iudgement.

Secondly, by the darknes Of darkneſſe.of the night, firſt, thinke of the ſpirituall darkneſſe, in which natural men ſinfully and deſperately doe ſleepe, to pray that God would open their eyes, to ſee the wonders of his law: then of the vtter darkneſſe, into which all ſuch impenitent ſleepers ſhall bee caſt, to moue thee to mourne for them aliue, that they may not bee damned when they bee dead; further, by this darkneſſe ſo comfortleſſe, behold alſo their comfortles eſtate; for as they cannot, which are in darknes, ſee p. 125either themſelues, or others, or their way, or houſe, or friends, or enemies: no more can men in ſpirituall darkneſſe, know thēſelues nor the Church of God, nor diſcerne the godly from the vngodly, nor the way of life, from the way of death: nor foreſee perils, or the pit prepared for them, no more then men which remaine in darkneſſe can ſee to auoide the dangers, which they may fall into, vntill the light doe againe ſhine vponupon them.

Thirdly, (if thou canſt)Of dreames. cal thy dreames to remembrance, by their vanitie, p. 126iudge of thy leuity; by their vncleanneſſe, thy filthineſſe; by their idlenes, thy fooliſhneſſe; by the furie in them, thy madnes; by their much vncertainty, thy wauering and inconſtancie; the delight in▪ their deceits, thy eaſineſſe to bee led by deluſions; the fearfulneſſe in them, thy timorous heart; the ſeldome thoughts of goodnes, thy much delight in wickedneſſe, and little care of godlineſſe.

Fourthly, in the ſilent night vponupon thy bed, it is good to fall into an examination of thine owne heart: it is the time freeſt p. 127from diſturbance, in reſpect of outward impediments, thou mayeſt hauehave with thy ſoule free and peaceable conference. By a true and ſerious ſearch, thou mayeſt finde out thy ſelfe, and ſo bee better knowne to thy ſelfe, and the more thou art acquainted with thy owne corruption, the more wilt thou bewaile thy wants, and ſeeke after the grace of ſanctification.

Fifthly, in thine inclination to ſleepe againe, note thereby how a man may awake from ſin, through Gods mercy, and yet bee readie to ſleepe againe in p. 128ſinne, by his owne infirmitie.

Sixthly, before thou ſleepe againe, commend thy ſelfe in ſome ſhort prayer to God, according to the former meditations, and ſo aſleepe for refreſhment, taking ſo much as may ſuffice nature, for more ſtrength of labour, but not to ſatisfie the fleſh to grow thereby lazie and luſtfull.

Gaius.

Oh what conceited Laodiceans are we! wee, out of an ordinarie profeſsion in any meaſure aboue our brethren, hold our ſelues full of deuotion; wee iudge our ſelues goodly Chriſtians; rich p. 129in graces, flowing in goodneſſe, lacking little to perfection; but, alas, now I ſee by the neglect of theſe things, that we are wretched and miſerable, and poore, and blind, and naked: & I confeſſe that the Lord hath cauſe to rebuke and chaſten vsus, except wee ſpeedily grow more zealous and amend.

Iohn.

Indeed (Gaius) men are too wickedly careleſſe of a holy conuerſation, and how to keepe a good cōſcience towards God & man. Men ſeeme to hate ſo very much popiſh ſuperſtition, as they neglect altogether Chriſtian deuotiō; it is iudged p. 130enough to bee no Papiſt, though otherwiſe a man bee little better then a very Atheiſt in all his courſes.

Gaius.

Right ſo (my father) ſuch as ſee it, may lament it, but not remedie it; I pray for better vntounto him that can reforme it. But leauing this, proceed on, I beſeech thee with mee, as thou haſt begun, and come to the laſt particular, how I may make my ſelfe readie for the ſanctifying of the Sabbath.

Iohn.

I perceiue that thy heart thirſteth after grace, the Lord more and more perfect the ſame ſo happily begun in thee.

p. 131Firſt, beſides theſe thingsDirections for a preparation to the Sabbath. before mentioned, carefully hauehave in remēbrance eueryevery day the Lords day, to keepe it holy when it commeth; therefore foreſee thy buſineſſe, neglect no ordinarie labour, order thy worldly affaires ſo, as that day bee ſet apart for the ſpeciall and publike worſhip of God, that ſo thy deuotion bee not hindered, nor the day prophaned: hee hath vtterly loſt the power of religion, that is careleſſe of the Sabbaths ſanctification.

Secondly, in the end of the weeke, iudge by this holy courſe of thy growth p. 132in religion, of the death of ſin, the ſtrength of grace, of thy contempt of the world, and of thy deſire to bee with Chriſt: for by a conſtant courſe in this daily exerciſe thou ſhalt ſee theſe things more and more to encreaſe vponupon thee, if, indeed, this worke for eueryevery weeke, without formall and cuſtomarie hypocriſie, in a holy and conſcionable reſpect of thy dutie, bee religiouſly and conſtantly performed.

Thirdly, conſider how thou haſt paſſed ouer ſo many dayes, the allotted time for worldly labours, p. 133and ſo haſt brought the weeke to an end, that ſo thou mayeſt meditate of thy ſhortening of thy daies, and drawing nearer vntounto iudgemēt. Alſo how thou haſt ended daies and weekes, and ſo ſhouldeſt end thy ſins, and as times renew vponupon thee, and yeeres encreaſe, ſo ſhouldeſt thou be daily renewed in minde, and bee encreaſed in goodneſſe; that ſo the longer thou doeſt liue, the better thou may bee; more holy to God, more vpright to men; more ſpiritual, leſſe worldly, more deſirous of immortality, leſſe regarding p. 134vanitie; ſo liuing as thereby leauing a bleſſed name to poſterity; ſo dying, as thou mayeſt enioy a better life in eternity.

Fourthly, with the reſt of thy former daily deuotions, and eueryevery nights exerciſe and godly meditation, going to bed, adde to this night theſe two conſiderations. That the week is as the end of the world, and the ſeuenth day following, as the eternall Sabbath, when all the elect of God ſhall be aſſembled to worſhip him for euer and euer.

Gaius.

Reuerend Sir, although thus be ended the duties p. 135and meditations for the ſixe daies in the weeke, yet is not this worke for eueryevery weeke fully finiſhed. One thing remaineth, of which, though many hauehave ſpoken, I beſeech thee ſay ſomething, and ſet downe in a few words how I may behaue my ſelfe vponupon this day of rest to ſanctifie it, and to keepe it holy vntounto the Lord.

Iohn.

Friend, and faithfull Gaius, thy deſire is good, and I cannot but condeſcēd to thy requeſt, to make vp this ſo little a worke for him that readeth it, which yet will bee a moſt holy labour to him that practiſeth it. Concerning p. 136this, thou art to know three things; first, 3. Things to bee knowne for the keeping of the Lords day holy.what to doe, before thou goeſt to the aſſembly, then how to demeane thy ſelfe there; and thirdly, how to behaue thy ſelfe afterwards.

Gaius.

What am I to do, I beſeech▪ thee, in the morning?

Iohn.

Thou art not only now to performe thy eueryevery day mornings deuotion, but thou muſt make a ſpeciall preparation for this day.

First, awake early, andWhat to doe vponupon the Lords day in the morning. ariſe be times as thy age and health wil ſuffer thee: the ſooner vp, the more p. 137ready for holy exerciſes, and longer time for them: It is meet thou ſhouldeſt aſſoone riſe for the Lords ſeruice to the ſoules ſafety, as in the weeke day for thy ſelfe, or earthly maſter to get maintenance for the body.

Secondly, being thus riſen and ready, bee earneſt and ardent in prayer, and therin, firſt, for thy Paſtor and Teacher, that God would enlarge his gifts vponupon him, that hee would giuegive him vtterance and liberty of ſpeech, that hee might ſpeake powerfully, that the ſpirit might work both in him, and by him effectually; that ſo he himſelfe p. 138might be a preacher in word and works, a liuely paterne of his doctrine in a holy life and conuerſation: then for thy ſelfe, and the reſt of the hearers, that they might hauehave prepared harts as good groūd for the Lords ſeede, that they might bring forth plentifully for the Lords harueſt, for your miniſters encouragement, and your owne comfort. After this, reade ſome portion of Scripture, with the text to be handled, if hee goe on with a ſcripture, calling to minde what hee hath ſpoken, & where hee left, that ſo you may prepare your p. 139ſelues better to that which remaineth: and ſo with ſome ſweete Pſalme ofPſal. 14. & 92. & 95.Ps 14 comfort praiſe God.

Thirdly, and laſtly, after all theſe things ſpeedily diſpatch all buſineſſe of abſolute neceſſity, auoide whatſoeuer is ſuperfluous, leaue as few as poſſibly may be at home, make haſt to the aſſembly, and thinke whether thou art going, looking to thy feet before thou enter into the houſe of the Lord, and be more ready to heare, then to offer the ſacrifice of fooles.

Gaius.

Oh Lord God, Of mens vnpreparedneſſe to Gods houſe.how vnpreparedly come moſt p. 140into Gods houſe, wee doe vſually ruſh into the holy aſſemblie, without doing any of theſe duties; from worldly buſineſſe ſtuffed with cares of this life, which choke the ſeed of Gods word: ſome out of the Alchouſe, with red faces, bidding defiance to all ſober ſpirits: other hardly gotten from their beds, hauing not ſhaken off their idleneſſe, and perhaps their wantonneſſe; other ſpend all the time in dreſsing and attiring themſelues, that they may come to ſee, and to bee ſeene, into the congregation, as the diuels enſigne-bearers of vanity & pride. Some come with couetouſnes, as Iudas; ſome with p. 141hypocriſie, as Ananiah; ſome with enuie, as the Phariſies; ſome with Prophaneneſſe and mocking ſpirits, like the Iewes; ſome to cauill and catch aduantage, as certaine did in Ieremies daies; ſome come for companie, as good fellowes, not for conſcience; ſome onelyonly of a faſhion, and of a cuſtome taken vp vponupon a kind of religion, but neither knowing why, nor wherefore, nor euer learning any thing for their reformation. Some come for feare of man, but not of God; most that come, come as the people did to Ezechiel, to heare, but very few to doe; becauſe, indeed, they come not thus in a p. 142conſcionable preparation. But I hauehave been too long in this ſorrowfull complaint, ſhew me, I pray thee, what I am to do, in the open congregation?

Iohn.

1. Be thou reſpectiueHow to carry our ſelues in the open congregation. of Gods preſence, & the preſence of his holy Angels.

2. Shew a reuerent behauior in thine eies, countenance & geſture of thy whole body, whether it bee ſtanding, ſitting, or kneelings.

3. Wholly addict thy ſelfe to attentiue hearing, ioyning with the miniſter and the reſt of the congregation in all the publike exerciſes, is the preaching p. 143of the word, in adminiſtration of the Sacramēts, in diſtributing to the poor in their neceſſities, in prayer, and ſinging of Pſalmes vntounto God.

4. Auoid all wandring thoughts, idle gazing, drowſie ſleeping, ſuperſtitious praying there alone; alſo priuate reading, and whatſoeuer may ſhew either neglect, or contempt of the publike adminiſtration of holy thing.

5. Continue conſtant with the congregation, abide to the end, and conclude with the reſt; depart with a heart lifted vp vntounto God, for ſuch heauenly p. 144means of ſaluation: and ſo goe forth with a reuerent and a holy behauiour in reſpect of God, of his Angels, of Gods Miniſters and his people, and in reſpect of departing ſo immediately from ſuch holy and heauenly exerciſes, and alſo in regard of the place (but without ſuperſtition) ſet apart to ſo holy an end.

Gaius.

Alas, alas, how contrary heereunto are the moſt, and how defectiue are the beſt? I may mourne heauily for the multitude, and much lament my own wants: but as I heare now my dutie, ſo will I endeauour to performe p. 145by Gods grace more carefully hereafter, the preſent deſire of my heart, and therefore proceed (thou best beloued Apoſtle of the Lord) to teach me what to do, when the publike ſeruice to God is ended?

Iohn.

1. Preuent al preſent occaſions of worldly vnneceſſarie communication.

2. Betake thy ſelfe aOur duty after publike ſeruice of God. while to ſome priuate place for priuate meditation and prayer vponupon that which thou haſt heard & remembreſt.

3. Receiue that day ſo much nouriſhment only, as may ſatisfie for neceſſitie, p. 146auoiding ſuperfluitie, ariſing of variety, which may cauſe drouſines, dulneſſe of ſpirit, and hinder thy meditation.

4. Vſe conference with other, and occaſion them to holy ſpeeches: if thou doeſt doubt, thou mayeſt perhaps bee reſolued, if thou haſt forgot, the memories of other may help thee, as alſo giuegive thee vnderſtanding in that thou thy ſelfe knoweſt not.

5. Being diſpoſed to be merrie, ſing Pſalms, abandon fooliſh and leaud ſports, and vaine companie.

6. Forget not this day p. 147to ſhew forth workes of mercy, to viſit the ſicke, to relieue the poore, and to comfort the afflicted.

Laſtly, in the end of the day, praiſe God for the comforts thereof, remember what thou haſt heard, and that which eſpecially; concerned thy ſelfe; make ſome vſe of all, but forget not that, pray for a bleſſing, reſolue to put what thou learneſt, into daily practiſe, and then before thy reſt, fall to thy daily deuotion, and in all good things bee euer conſtant vntounto the end.

Gaius.

O Lord grant me ſo great mercy, how happie p. 148were I, if thus I could doe! I earneſtly deſire it, Oh that I could attaine vntounto it. This were indeed a bleſſedneſſe here, a heauen vponupon earth, a celeſtiall felicity in a terreſtriall place in this wretched ſtate of miſerie. This pearle, if I could purchaſe, I offer willingly to giuegive away all my carnal pleaſures, al my worldly profits, all vaine honour, and my ſelfe wholly for the louelove of it. For what am I, if I had all the world, without the effectuall ſauing power and grace of the word? if I had all pleaſure, and had no portion in the heauenly Paradiſe? If I had all honour, without certaine hope of heauen? p. 149Woe would bee to mee, endleſſe woes would ſeaze vponupon mee. I will therefore now reſolue to walke with God, ſeek fellowſhip with the faithfull, and abandon the waies of wickedneſſe, whatſoeuer befalleth mee in this preſent world.

Iohn.

A moſt bleſſed reſolution: ſweet ſoule go on and proſper: looke for ioyfull fruits of thy bleſſed labour by well doing, thou ſhalt hauehave aſſured hope of Gods fauour; boldneſſe in Chriſt to go vntounto God; who will be to thee a Father, the Spirit a Comforter, as Chriſt thy Redeemer and Iuſtifier. p. 150Feare not death, dread not hell; heauen is thine inheritance. The godly pray for thee, Angels accompanie thee, the Law will not curſe thee, the Goſpel is for thy comfort, and thy conſcience will ſpeake peace vntounto thee. Satan dare not claime thee, God doth acknowledge thee for his owne, and hath thee in his ſafe keeping to bring thee to heauen.

Gaius.

Bleſſed man of God, thou beloued of the Lord: thou haſt comforted me, and ſpoken comfortably vntounto thy ſeruant, the Lord recompence thy worke, and a full reward bee giuen thee of p. 151the Lord God of Iſrael, and now behold thy ſeruant, and the ſeruant of the Lord, bee it vntounto mee according to all theſe thy words.

Yet (good Sir) before I end, I muſt needs craue a little more helpe. I was aduiſed to pray vponupon the Sabbath day in the morning, before I goe vntounto the publike congregation, and in the euening, when the day is ended, vouchſafe, I beſeech thee, to help my weakneſſe heerein alſo, and to ſet me downe, how to pray morning & euening, on the Sabbath.

Iohn.

Friend Gaius, I am ready to further thy gracious deſires in al good p. 152things, much reioycing in thy vnfained louelove to the Lord, and to the holy exerciſes of religion; I heartily wiſh thee heerein all happie ſucceſſe, ſuch feruencie, ſuch growth, ſuch conſtancie, as thy example may moue many to imitate thy vertues, and to ioyne with thee in the way to eternitie. Thus therefore mayeſt thou, or to the like effect, pray in the morning.

O Lord our God, whoſe A Prayer for the Sabbath day in the morning.will and commandement it is, that wee ſhould keepe holy this day, as ſet apart, for the publike worſhip and ſeruice p. 153of thy most holy name.

Now I do heartily beſeech thee, in thy tender compaſsion and mercy, ſo to looke vponupon me in Chriſt Ieſus; that my ſinnes may not be a wall of ſeparation betweene thee and me, but that of thy gracious goodneſſe through my bleſſed Sauiour, I may obtaine ful remiſsion of all my ſinnes; and by him the gift of thy most holy ſpirit, which may happily prepare and make ready my heart, that I may goe to the holy aſſembly of thy Saints, as well prepared ground, fit to receiue the good ſeed of thy moſt holy word.

Oh Lord, open mine eyes to ſee thy truth, mine eares p. 154encline to harken attentiuely, bend my will to follow what I ſhall heare, that I may not be a bare hearer, but a doer of thy word.

GiueGive me wiſdome to iudge of the truth, humility to receiue it, faith to beleeue it, conſcience to practiſe it; make it vntounto me the Sauiour of life vntounto life, a word of reconciliation, that I may for euer by it, be wonne vntounto thee.

Withdraw my mind and affections wholly from eueryevery thing, that may hinder mee from the performance of my duty this day in thy diuine ſeruice.

Take from me, blindneſſe of mind, dulneſſe of wit, diſorderlines p. 155of affections, deadneſſe of ſpirit, hardneſſe of heart, vnbeleefe, pride, ſelfeconceit, preſumption of mercy, and wicked prophanenes, that ſo I may not contemne, nor yet make light account of thy holy ordinances, the word read and preached, the adminiſtration of the Sacramēts, prayer, and thankeſ giuing, with the whole congregation.

Being ſet to heare (good Father) bleſſe me from wandring thoughts, vaine imaginations, Satans ſuggeſtions, drowſineſſe of the fleſh, and whatſoeuer is an enemie to the ſauing hearing of thy bleſſed word.

p. 156Sanctifie my vnderſtanding rightly to conceiue, my memory to retaine and keepe, and my heart truly to affect what thy ſeruant ſhall ſpeake vntounto mee, and to the reſt of thy people this day.

O Lord, open his mouth, that hee may ſpeake onelyonly thy truth, enforme his vnderſtanding, ſettle his iudgement, enflame his affections with that truth which he ſhal deliuer vntounto vsus, and guide ſo his tongue, that he may ſpeak wiſely, ſeaſonably, aptly, and alſo with great power of thy ſpirit to the heart and conſciences of eueryevery of vsus his hearers ſo, as we may liuely feele the power of thine owne ordinance, p. 157and may alſo truly ſay of him, that thou, Lord, art moſt aſſuredly with him.

GiueGive mee, and the reſt of thy flocke, this grace, (O Lord God of heauen) I doe humbly beſeech thee, that as hee ſhall teach ſoundly, aptly and powerfully; ſo wee may all moſt humbly ſubmit our ſelues vntounto his miniſtery, as well when hee conuinceth our errours, rebuketh vsus of ſinne, and threatneth Gods fearfull plagues for the ſame; as when he preacheth peace to the penitent, and comforteth the ſorrowfull ſpirit.

Oh let vsus not make exceptions againſt any thing commanded him to ſpeake: but p. 158rather iudge him the more faithfull, and ſo to louelove him more for the truth ſake, and for his ſincere handling of the ſame.

Qualifie him eueryevery way for vsus, as he may go wiſely in and out before vsus, in ſoundneſſe of doctrine, in holineſſe of life, in humility, in godly grauity, with wiſedome and authority familiarly conuerſing among vsus.

And for his encouragement, make vsus willing to frequent diligently the Church, to heare attentiuely, to abide reuerently, and to learne of him gladly, not to looke vponupon his humaine frailties, but in true louelove to paſſe them by, to p. 159make much of him, leſt wee ſtumble at his doctrine. Make vsus conſcionable towards him in his maintenance, to deale vprightly and liberally, that hee may doe the worke of his miniſtery cheerfully.

And when we hauehave heard thy word, bleſſe vsus (O Lord) with conſcience of holy meditation and prayer; ſuffer not me, nor any of thy ſeruants, as the common cuſtome is, to be content onelyonly to heare, and to remaine ſtill in ignorance and errour, to come and goe, and yet neuer the better; let not thy word ſo be the ſauour of death vntounto death, to our deeper condemnation.

O Lord pardon my former p. 160negligence, and forgiue vsus all this wretched prophaneneſſe, and careleſneſſe of our ſaluation, as if we were either ſoulleſſe, or ſenſeles: Lay not this ſin (O Lord) vntounto our charge but afford vsus thy grace to heare, & in hearing to learn, and in learning to beleeue, & ſo to profeſſe conſtantly, and practiſe religiouſly eueryevery day more & more, till we become perfect in Chriſt Ieſus.

GiueGive mee grace (O Lord) to auoid all occaſions of prophaning this day; keepe mee from ill companie, and from all vaine, carnall, & worldly minded people, which may withdraw my heart and thoughts from better things. p. 161Cauſe me to make conſcience of my whole carriage, of my thoughts, words, and deeds, that by vaine talke, leaud ſports, light behauior, vnneceſſary buſineſſes of the world, I may not my ſelfe bee guiltie of prophaneneſſe, neither by example may moue others to doe amiſſe.

Let my thoughts be vponupon that which I hauehave heard, and other heauenly things, my words vttered to tend to edification. Let my mirth be that heauenly melody, ſinging Pſalmes to thee (O Lord) in my heart; and my companie ſuch, as I may either learne good from them, or doe ſome good vntounto them; that ſo the p. 162day thus ſet apart wholly to thee▪ and diuine exerciſes, wee thereby may the better be furniſhed and made able in the weeke following to do the duties of our calling conſcionably, in all truth and equitie, to thy glory and our owne cō forts, & that for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, our only Lord & Sauiour, in whoſe name, for my ſelfe, for this congregation, and thy holy Church vniuerſall, I call vponupon thee further, ſaying, Our Father, &c.

Gaius.

By the helpe of my God, I will ſurely make more conſcience of this dutie, then I hauehave hitherto done. I well perceiue the neceſsity of praier p. 163before; for indeed, Paul may plant with his profound learning, & Apollos may water by his powerfull eloquence, but all is nothing, except God giuegive the encreaſe; except hee giuegive eyes to ſee, eares to heare, and hearts to vnderſtand, the Teacher ſhall teach in vaine, and we alſo heare in vaine.

Iohn.

Thy reſolution (Gaius) is very good; and thou haſt alſo well conſidered of the neceſſity of prayer before thou doeſt go to Gods houſe. Verily, the neglect of this holy dutie, and the comming of people ſo prophanely to Gods worſhip (as thou formerly haſt complained) p. 164without due preparation, is the very cauſe, why men reape ſo ſmall fruit by the meanes. Curſed is their irreligious cō ming, their curſed cuſtomarie ſeruing of God, their helliſh luke-warmeneſſe, their preſumptuous prophaneſſe, without any feare of God, eſtimation of Gods ordinances, reuerēt reſpect of his miniſters or care at all truly, of their owne ſaluation. Oh daies without pure deuotion! O times for temporizers!

But goe thou on (good Gaius) as thou doeſt; and as thou ſtil reſolueſt to do; he that is filthie, let him be p. 165filthy ſtil, follow thou not their guiſe: pray continually, and the Lord deliuer his people from the tentations of the times of lukewarmenes, and carnall ſecuritie in a worldly peace, which is the blūter of zeale, the death of true deuotion, the very priſon of ſincere piety, the breeder of Atheiſme, the cauſe of the contempt of religion, the nurſe of proud preſumption of mercy, of vanity & wantonneſſe, with all kind of wickedneſſe.

Gaius.

Sir, wofull experience hath proued this for truth, in many ages; I hauehave learned it; but by your words I hauehave more reaſon to conſider p. 166of it. And therefore the Lord directing mee, and in his mercy making good theſe fatherly aduiſements vponupon me, that I may hauehave the grace to follow the ſame. I hope hereafter to auoid better the occaſions of euill, and the intrapments of Satā, & this ſeducing wicked world, which I will daily pray for, and in mercy I hope the Lord will heare me.

But (reuerend Sir) leſt I be too tedious, let it pleaſe you to finiſh this work, in adding that one thing remaining, which is a forme of prayer vponupon the Sabbath day in the euening.

Iohn.

Hauing meditated p. 167ſomewhat before, of the doctrines, vſes and inſtructions deliuered, of the benefit of the Sacraments, of the excellency of religion, as alſo of the publike worſhip, of the diuine exerciſes, and of the fellowſhip of the godly; and in like manner, hauing conſidered what good thou haſt receiued thereby, wherein informed for rectifying of iudgement, wherein inſtructed to follow vertue, wherin reproued for amendmēt of life, wherein conuinced of errour, wherein comforted concerning affliction, and ſtrengthened againſt tentation, p. 168thou mayeſt thus, or after ſuch a like maner, both heartily praiſe God, and humbly pray vntounto him, as followeth.

O Lord God, moſt gracious Euening Prayer for the Sabbath.and mercifull Father, I doe render vntounto thy heauenly maieſty, all humble & hearty thanks, praiſing and lauding thy moſt holy name, for that of thy great compaſsion thou haſt affoorded vntounto mee and thy people, the preaching of thy word, the effectual means of ſaluation, to as many as truly beleeue.

Oh how pleaſant is thy dwelling place to all that delight in goodneſſe! better is p. 169one day in thy houſe, then a thouſand yeeres elſewhere: right ioyfull are the feete of thy faithful meſſengers bringing to vsus poore ſoules the glad tidings of peace.

Oh that I might dwell in thy houſe for euer; I had rather bee there a doorekeeper, then dwell in the tents of the vaine and wicked, though mighty in the world. Surely there is no company comparably to the bleſſed communion of Saints, who are Chriſts members, the temple of the holy Ghoſt, and hee in the middeſt among them.

Make me highly to eſteeme of the publike aſſembly, where thy word is preached, and thy p. 170name called vponupon, and cauſe mee euer to bee vnfainedly thankfull for the ſame.

Oh, it is thy exceeding great mercy towards me, and towards vsus all this day, that wee may with ſuch freedome and liberty enioy that truth in peace, which the bleſſed Apoſtles taught and ſealed with their blood; which many thouſands of Saints after thē did profeſſe and maintaine with their very liues in the middeſt of bloody perſecution, becauſe otherwiſe they could not enioy the benefit of the word.

What ingratitude were therefore this in vsus, if wee ſhould not laud thy name, & p. 171daily ſing praiſes vntounto thy moſt diuine Maieſty, which haſt thus in ſo great mercy dealt with vsus, that may without feare of open enemies keep publike meetings, & frequent thoſe places ſet vp in the honour and praiſe of thy bleſſed ſonne Ieſus?

How vnworthie ſhould we make our ſelues of this vnſpeakeable grace and fauour, if wee ſhould careleſly neglect (as too many doe) ſo great meanes of our ſaluatiō? Thoſe that died for the truth, may well perſwade vsus to the louelove of the truth; and they that ſhead their blood for preaching it, others alſo, who rather then they would not heare it, p. 172and enioy the benefit of it, were contented to hazard their liues, they may iustly condemne vsus of negligence, and ſhall riſe vp in iudgement againſt vsus, if wee will not leaue our vaine pleaſures, and our worldly profits for it.

O Lord our God, lay not this iniquitie to our charge, the too much neglect, if not contempt of the ſauing means of ſaluation, thou mayest in thy iuſt iudgment vtterly depriue vsus of all meanes of our ſpirituall life, of all grace, and heauenly comforts; for that, indeed, we doe not ſo eſteeme of the miniſterie of thy word, and of the Goſpell of thy Son, as we ſhould.

p. 173Turne vsus of thy mercy (O God) from the accurſed loathing, to a bleſſed louing thereof. And make vsus to account of it, as a thing most precious, & to ſhew the ſame in a more earneſt ſeeking after knowledge therein, in a greater deſire thereof, with feruencie of ſpirit for the truth againſt ſinne in our ſelues and others; againſt ſuperſtition and idolatrie, againſt prophaneneſſe, againſt contempt of good gouernment, and baſe account of thy faithfull miniſters, then hitherto wee hauehave done: and cauſe vsus to bring forth alſo better fruits, worthy the Goſpell of Chriſt, and our profeſſion. p. 174That ſo it may appeare, that we be Chriſtians indeed, profeſſors in good earneſt, ſincere louers of the truth: that ſo theſe thy mercies may be eſtabliſhed vponupon vsus, continued with vsus, and propagated to poſterities; whereby not onelyonly we, but euen our children, & childrens children may hauehave cauſe herein with vsus to magnifie thy name for euer, and for euer.

And here (O Lord) I call not vponupon thy name for my ſelfe alone, and theſe thy people knowne vntounto me, but for all thy whole Church eueryevery where in all the world: remember them (Lord) in thy mercy: call thoſe that are not p. 175yet called; confirme ſuch as are; bring backe ſuch as ſlip out of the way; reſolue ſuch as ſtand doubting; raiſe vp ſuch as doe fall; comfort the afflicted; ſtand by ſuch as be in combate with the diuell, with the world, or with the ſtrong and violent ſtreame of corruptions flowing out from their owne euill hearts. Stand by them (good Lord) helpe them for the victorie, and deliuer them from euill, and by thy grace euer either preuent their falles, or forgiue their offences.

Bleſſe theſe particular Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and herein eſpecially the principall member p. 176of the ſame, our dread Soueraigne the Kings, Maieſtie, the Queene, Prince Charles, Fredericke Prince Elector, and the Lady Elizabeth, the Honourable Councell, and worthy Nobles, the Miniſtery and Miniſters of thy Goſpell, and all Schooles of learning, for the furtherāce of religiō.

Lord continue peace among vsus, vnite our hearts in one in the truth, and for the truth: cauſe iuſtice in true iudgmēt to bee maintained, grieuous wrongs and oppreſsions to bee vtterly ſuppreſſed good, works of zeale, mercy, & piety to be eueryevery way furthered, and the inſtruments to be highly aduāced. And if there be any enemies p. 177to thee (O God) and to thy people maintaining that man of ſinne, (O Lord thou mighty God of heauen) reueale them to the world, diſcouer all craftie Achitophels, ſet thy ſelfe againſt them, and all wicked ſeducers miſleading thy people by errour into Antichriſtian ſuperſtition and idolatrie, and either conuert them, or confound them, for the ſafety of thy people and their great peace, yea for the more full manifeſtation of thy hatred againſt that man of ſinne, againſt that tyrannicall regiment, and that bloody perſecuting power, with all the trecherous, and traiterous adherents p. 178to the ſame; and this doe, (O Lord) for thy owne name ſake alſo, euen for the merits of Chriſt Ieſus our only Lord & Sauiour, in whoſe name we pray vntounto thee, as he hath taught vsus ſaying, Our Father, &c.

Gaius.

I giuegive vntounto thee, (thou mā of God) moſt humble thankes for this ſo great labour, vndertaken for my ſake, I wiſh I could recompence this thy ſo great goodneſſe: but albeit I cannot, I doubt not, but he that is able, and hath promiſed to reward eueryevery good worke, hee aſſuredly will, to whom I ſhall daily pray, that hee may recompence, p. 179and euerlaſtingly bleſſe thee for eueryevery good deede, euen ſo, Amen.

Iohn.

I thank thee (good Gaius) I hauehave done but my dutie, of God I deſerue nothing: of thee, for a requitall, I looke for no more, but that, which I know already thou wilt do, euen conſtantly make to a good vſe of al. Therin the Lord bleſſe thee, and I am ſatisfied, and ſo farewel, till our next meeting.

Gaius.

The Lord be with thee my Father, my Father, and his holy Angels take ſafe cuſtodie of thee for euer and euer.

Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Richard Bernard, A Weeks Work and a Work for Every Week (1616)