Seven Treatises, Treatise 4 · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20. Of the declaration of the ninth and laſt duty: Of viewing the day.
NOW the laſt dutie remaineth: that thou muſt with the ſame wel-ordered heart, whereby thou haſt bene taught to go through all the actions of the day, looke backe before thy lying downe how thou haſt paſſed it,VVhat a Chriſtian ſhould do at or before his lying downe. how farfoorth thou haſt walked with God in it as thou art directed and taught; and wherein (as thou art able to remember) thou haſt offended, whether thou haſt remitted thy care and watch, and how thou haſt wandred thereby after the deſire of thine owne heart. That thy ſoule may reioyce in the bleſſing which thou haſt found, (ſo farre as thou haſt bene guided aright) and thou mayeſt by this experience hope more confidently, that thou ſhalt with more eaſe keepe the ſame courſe hereafter: and for thy ſtrayings and infirmities be ſorrowfull and diſpleaſed with thy ſelfe, that ſo thou mayeſt both humble thy ſelfe and craue pardon for thy ſin,Ioh. 5. & be the more carefull to ſin no more in that manner. This I am ſure eueryevery ſound-hearted Chriſtian muſt needes approue of, and thinke him in good caſe who thus lyeth downe to his reſt. For this is indeed to lye downe in peace and ſafetie, that it may be ſutable to his awaking and entring into the day on the morning.
And the benefite and fruite of this trauell who would not be glad to reape and enioy, which is, continuall ſafetie and a proſperous eſtate, whiles a Chriſtian thus ſetteth himſelfe to paſſe the dayes of his pilgrimage, and one of them as another, when his heart is looking after his actions in and through the day that God may be pleaſed? This were to lead a ſtranger-like life indeed and a walking with God: which is no more then ſhould be aymed at by him, and the neceſſarieſt worke which he hath to do. Such an one ſhall well proue that he ſeeketh a kingdome elſewhere, and looketh not for his heauen here. And if it be asked, whether we looke hereby to be voide of ſinne: I ſay no. But yet if in this courſe there hauehave (notwithſtanding the care of pleaſing God in the day) ſome thing eſcaped, which ought worthily to trouble vsus (as by Sathans malice and vigilancie, and our owne corruption may eaſily come to paſſe:) yet by this order taking with our ſelues that hath bene mentioned, it ſhall not ſleepe with vsus; but we hauing ſo farre preuailed with our ſelues, as thus to hunt and purſue it,1. Ioh. 2.2. and to expell and baniſh it, and ſo reconcile our ſelues to our God (as it is ſaid: If any man ſinne we hauehave an Aduocate) before our lying downe, what a quiet and ſweet eſtate is this like to be?
Obiection.But it is (will ſome ſay) an offering of great violence to our ſelues to doe thus daily, and more then Gods word impoſeth vponupon vsus: therefore except it be proued to vsus by authoritie of Scripture, we will leaue it to ſuch as liſt to be ſubiect to it. To whom I anſwer: That the violence which is offered, is but to the fleſh,Anſwer. Rom. 8.12. to the which we are not debters; and therefore are not to take thought to fulfill the luſts of it, but to hinder them rather: which ſhall be graunted of neceſſitie, if it be prooued that God commaundeth vsus to offer ſuch violence to our ſelues, and that he ſtraightly chargeth vsus that we lye not downe in our ſinnes, neither be bold to ſleepe in them: the which, what other thing is it, then that we ſo conſider and looke backe vntounto our actions in the day, that we may hauehave peace when we lye downe at euen?
The words of the Lord, which I alleadge to this purpoſe are theſe: Be angrie, Epheſ. 4.26. & 27.but ſinne not: let not the Sunne go downe vponupon your wrath, neither giuegive place to the diuell. In the which words there is more required, then in this place I vrge: but yet, euen that alſo. For the Apoſtle teacheth, that if anger be kindled in vsus for want of heed-taking, yet that we ſhould ſoone allay the ſame: but if through the hardneſſe of the heart, after ſinne is committed it is not by and by acknowledged and repented of, but it remaineth and boyleth in vsus; yet we muſt force our ſelues to relent and craue pardon of it before the Sunne go downe, and ſo before we dare giuegive our ſelues to reſt, leſt the diuell preuailing ſo farre with vsus, we find it harder afterwards to remoue it.
A reaſon.Now we know, that other ſinnes are in a like deteſtation with God that anger is; and therefore that they muſt be no more ſuffered to abide within vsus then it: and conſequently, if we be priuie in our ſelues to any like ſinne that we hauehave offended, we ſhould expell and driue out the ſame as poiſon, that it lodge not, nor remaine with vsus. And to doe this, it is neceſſarie that we take ſome conuenient time to vsus, both to ſearch and enquire what we hauehave done, and withall to purge ourſelues from it accordingly.
But here if any thinke that this was not intended of the Apoſtle, that wee ſhould before we fall aſleepe, conſider how we hauehave paſſed the day; neither will I preciſely vrge the houre or time ſo particularly: (for indeed he requireth it to be done ſooner, rather then that it ſhould be deferred:) ſo I ſay likewiſe, that if this care be conſcionably kept at ſome other time of the day, that there be peace maintained betwixt God and vsus, it is well; but if that be not perfourmed before, at leaſt before our lying downe it ought to be: which alſo, is the time very fit to commend our ſoules into the hands of God, not knowing whether we ſhall riſe in the morning.
Beſides if it be required by the holy Ghoſt in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes,Heb. 3.12. Another reaſon that we take heede that there be not at any time, and ſo any part of the day, in vsus an euill heart, we being forgetfull and ſlow to obſerue ſuch a charge; can any deny, but that he doth there as well require, that we ſhould ſometime looke backe to ſee how we hauehave regarded the charge that is giuen vsus? And is any time ordinarily and for the moſt part fitter for that buſineſſe, then whē we hauehave ended the day? except ſome ſpeciall ſinne committed in the day do require a more ſpeedie examining of our ſelues before.Iob. 1.9. And if Iob (as we read of him) did eueryevery day of his childrens banquetting together, offer ſacrifice to God and pray for them, and commaund them to cleanſe their hearts and ſanctifie thēſelues, (for ſo it is ſaid that Iob did eueryevery day) adding this reaſon, Leſt they might therin offend God: is it any maruell, if we in our own perſon do retaine this care eueryevery day, and vſe this practiſe? For euen as men who are in great occupyings, do not onelyonly write their takings and their layings out, but do alſo at euen conferre them together, leſt any delay of time ſhould cauſe forgetfulneſſe (and yet this labour they thinke needfull about things that ſhall periſh:) ſo is it much more neceſſarie in the accounts of our ſoules that we ſhould do; that is, daily looke what we gaine or looſe,Pro. 3.22.23. that we may procure to our ſelues thereby moſt ſound ſafetie, and prouide alſo the better for the time to come to do the like, and that with more eaſe. There is nothing againſt this dutie ſo much, as the prophane cuſtome of the world, to whom all goodneſſe and controlling of their licentious courſes is vnſauourie, and therefore vnwelcome and ridiculous. But let ſuch go: know we, that if we deſire to giuegive an eaſie reckoning to God at our latter end, it is our wiſedome and the beſt prouiſion we can make for our ſelues, to yeeld with all conſcionableneſſe, a reckoning to the Lord at the end of eueryevery day: and ſo much the rather, becauſe we louelove no after reckonings to be brought againſt vsus; which may iuſtly be feared, when we hauehave not indeuoured faithfully to do the ſame frō day to day, but are accuſed by our conſciences,Note. that we hauehave dealt too ſlightly; yea hollowly ſomtime, & too much fauouring our ſelues in paſſing by many particulars, which we were willing to be forgottē & buried.
That which we may reade in heathen Poets, as Pythagoras, and others concerning this matter,The heathen poets did vrge it. may and ought worthily to put to ſhame a number of Chriſtians. They wrote, that a man ſhould looke backe at the end of the day, how and in what manner it hath bene ſpent and paſſed: which cogitation (it is to be feared) hath not once entred into the heart of many, which profeſſe to know God in Chriſt. For ſuch as ſee any cauſe of going about it, this I will ſay to helpe them forward: that the more circumſpect they hauehave bene in obſeruing of their wayes, and the more diligently the gouerning of the hart and life be kept throughout the day; the more readily and willingly ſhall they go about this view of the day-ſpending at their lying downe: neither ſhall it be caſt off, or neglected and vntowardly taken in hand, but when they hauehave bin too ſecure & ſlight in doing the duties of the day. Neither would I lay vponupon any a burthen, which they be not able to beare: calling God to record, that I ſeeke in this as in the reſt which I hauehave ſayd, onelyonly the glory of God, and the further peace and comfort to all the faithfull, and the high pricing and eſtimation of a godly life, which will be much ſet by where the life is ſo looked to in the day as I hauehave wiſhed, and at our lying downe viewed in this manner: and therefore wiſhing eueryevery one according to the light and grace which he hath receiued to conſider, whether he can ſay any leſſe but that they walke moſt ſafely & moſt confident, who go about (as they ſhall be able) to make an end of the day in this maner. And the reaſon why this is required, as the laſt worke beſide prayer in the familie, is, becauſe a Chriſtian hath ſomewhat to mention and deale about, and complaine of particularly concerning himſelfe, which he cannot ſo well be ſatisfied in, when he prayeth in company. And he that hath moſt warily looked to himſelfe in the day, and ioyned with the family in duties of humiliation at night, ſhall ſee cauſe inough to adde this duty to both: as we reade it written of Maiſter Bradford, (who had much inward communion with God) that he was neuer ſatisfied in the duties he did through the day, and namely in praying at the Chappell (when he was fellow of a colledge) and in his chamber with his puples, vntill he had alſo powred out his heart to the Lord by himſelfe alone. But yet notwithſtanding this which I hauehave ſayd, ſpeciall regard ought to be had of the many bodily infirmities, diſeaſes and ſickneſſes, with the feebleneſſe of mind, ignorance and other incomberances, which Gods deare children ſhall be afflicted with: for they cannot doe as other may, and therefore as eueryevery one ſhall be more oppreſſed then other, ſo he muſt needs be the more reſpected. For in ſuch caſes the bare lifting vp of the heart to God ſincerely, is as much; and mercy (I know) is better then ſacrifice: but withall, this muſt be graunted, that the more godly euer one is, the more he will bewaile his wants, and ſo this among the reſt; which doth no leſſe in a well ordered heart, then a kind purgation, diſcharge the ſoule of all ſuch droſſe as remaineth to waite him a miſchiefe. Thus I hauehave more largely, as I hauehave thought it expedient, gone ouer theſe parts of the life of a Chriſtian, which for the moſt part are eueryevery day to be done, the better to direct him therein: and ſo likewiſe I hauehave ſayd that which I intended of this whole Treatiſe. It remaineth now to ſee how the practiſe of it is by Sathan and our ſelues broken off and hindred: which is in the next Treatiſe to be ſet downe and handled. But firſt, I thinke good to adde theſe two things: The one, that as I hauehave ſet downe rules for daily direction: ſo for the helping of the weaker ſort ſome example alſo be ſhewed vntounto them thereof: The other, what vſe is to be made of the whole Treatiſe.
After what maner a Chriſtian ſhould view his paſſing of the day at night.
AS concerning the firſt this I hauehave thought expedient to ſay: When thou goeſt alone by thy ſelfe for this purpoſe, firſt call to mind the ſeuerall actions (as thou canſt) from thy firſt awakening: how thou diddeſt awake and (as ſoone as thou wert ready) take order about neceſſaries which muſt be done, and then wenteſt to prayer, after to thy calling:Hovv a Chriſtian ſhould vievv the paſſing of the day. then haddeſt occaſion to be in ſome company, and how thou diddeſt looke to thy ſelfe therein: if at another time in the day thou waſt alone, or at exerciſe of prayer in family or at meate: in another part of the day haddeſt ſome croſſe befall thee, and ſome ill newes brought vntounto thee: or if thou haſt dealt and communed about worldly affaires, buying or ſelling, how thou diddeſt it, and what care thou haddeſt therein. Theſe or any other like vntounto theſe whatſoeuer actions or the maner of them, or whatſoeuer the cogitations and deſires of thine heart hauehave bene, whether they were good or bad, call to mind as many of them as thou canſt. Thus looke backe (as thou art able to remember) how thou haſt ſpent the day from one thing to another, and from one place where thou haſt bene to another: which though at the firſt it ſhall ſeeme ſtrange and hard to do, yet in time will be more eaſie. When thou haſt thus done, thou ſhalt ſee how thou haſt had vſe of any of the nine duties ſet downe, which are the common and ordinary actions of the day: and how the eight inward graces which ought to be companions to vsus eueryevery day, hauehave accompanied thee: and then, ſo farre as thou mayeſt truly do it, giuegive thankes for all grace whereby thou haſt bene guided, and humble thy ſelfe in confeſſing thy defaults, and praying as thou ſhall ſee cauſe.
I hauehave ſet downe a paterne and example to direct thee therein, which as thine eſtate doth agree with it, follow.
A forme or example of viewing or paſsing of the day, when we are ready to lie downe at euen.
I Thanke thee, ô Lord, for my awaking with thee,An example thereof. and that with a willing and ready mind I entred into the day after, with calling vponupon thee (if thou diddeſt ſo) and for that I had liberty and oportunity thereto: and that afterward I went chearfully to the duties of my calling, or ſupplied the omitting thereof, ſome other way with a good conſcience: and that I was wary in company and in ſolitarineſſe, and in my proſperity, and vnderunder my chaſtiſements that I might not offend; but that I did ſome good as I could: and that I had part in family exerciſes, and had care in my earthly dealings that I might not be made worldly by them: that I hauehave taken any benefit by meditation and reading (if thou haſt done ſo:) and now at the end of the day, that I looke backe how I hauehave paſſed the day.
Thus, as theſe or any of them hauehave bene done of thee, call them to mind, as thou canſt, and how they were done: and as they and ſuch like are the chiefe actions to be done in the day; ſo proceed in giuing thankes for doing them (or ſo farre as thou haſt) with thy mind ſeaſoned with the graces, which ſhould direct all the actions of thy life through the day: euen theſe eight, thus:
I alſo thanke thee (ô Lord) that in theſe actions and parts of my life, I hauehave not done them in opinion of any goodneſſe in me, but by thy grace: and hauehave thereby humbled my ſelfe for my ſinnes, and imbraced pardon by faith: and by the ſame faith, hauehave bene holden from many ſinnes, and kept in doing many duties, as louelove, mercy, vprightneſſe, and the workes of my calling: and hauehave had ſome conſideration of my mortalitie, and looked for thy comming: [on the Sabath, that I hauehave attended to ſanctifie it in publicke and priuate exerciſes] and that I hauehave held the peace which paſſeth vnderſtanding: and had thy kindneſſe in remembrance thankfully, with ſome vſe of watching and praying: and now viewed the paſſing of this day in this poore maner: let experience bring hope of better doing this from day to day. (And if thine heart go with the mentioning of theſe, thou ſhalt find ſauour in them.) But ſeeing I hauehave faulted and failed many wayes, both in good doing, and the right maner of it: and in following the deuices and deſires of my heart too much (here if any particular action or corruption be remembred of thee, bewaile it, accuſe and iudge thy ſelfe and renounce it, that thou mayeſt find mercy in that thy need:) I confeſſe and renounce the ſame, praying for Chriſts ſake to be pardoned; that I may lie downe in peace.
The ſecond thing which I ſayd I would adde, was the vſe of this doctrine. For the vſe of the doctrine of this Treatiſe,The vſe of the doctrine of this Treatiſe. Of daily guiding thy ſoule and life, it may be gathered out of that which hath bene ſayd of it; and out of this laſt paterne or example ſo farre as thou ſeeſt nothing in it, which God approueth not. And that is in few words: that eueryevery day and through the day, thou weane and withdraw thine heart from any ſuch noiſome baite or prouocation, as ſuffereth thee not to ariſe in the morning, to walke through the day, and to lie downe at night in peace and ſafety vnderunder Gods protection: and euerie day, I ſtill ſay, wiſhing thee to remember, that if thou beeſt negligent and careleſſe but one day, that may fall on thee to vexe thee long after, which ſhould not elſe fall out in thy whole life. And that part of life which will not ſtand with this, let it, as deadly poyſon, be carefully auoided and reiected of thee.
Here followeth a prayer, containing the ſumme of the life which is to be daily led of a true Chriſtian.
A forme or paterne to teach and direct a Chriſtian how to begin the day with meditation and prayer, and confeſſion of ſinne, and thankes after he hath firſt awaked with the Lord: containing in it the matter of this Treatiſe, neceſſarie for him to practiſe throughout the day following, and for eueryevery day. The ſumme may be drawne out of it more briefly.
The entrance.O Lord God moſt mighty and mercifull through Ieſus Chriſt, let that mind be in me which is in thy faithfull people, and with the which thou delighteſt to be ſought vntounto, ſound and without hypocriſie, humble, meeke, teachable to eueryevery good thing, fitly and readily diſpoſed vntounto eueryevery good worke: let me be framed this morning to the liking of the Chriſtian courſe, as I hauehave learned it out of thy word, and hauehave tried that it is the only happie eſtate which here can be inioyed. And with this mind let me enter into my meditation, thanſgiuing, confeſſion of ſinnes and prayer. For whom hauehave I in heauen (ô Lord) but thee? or whom do I deſire on earth in compariſon of thee? who doeſt whatſoeuer it pleaſeth thee, and haſt all creatures euen the Diuels ſubiect to thee: who, as thou haſt filled the whole earth with thy goodneſſe; ſo particularly thy mercies are wonderfull to me, and that my ſoule knoweth right well. And as in thy fauour is life and happineſſe: ſo thou as one abounding in louelove and compaſſion, haſt counſelled, yea and commanded vsus for our owne good to ſeeke it, that we might be happie by it. And yet, leſt we ſhould be deceiued with the deluſions and baites of this world and ſet our delight on them, thou ſoundeſt this alarme in our eares daily, that all things in this world are tranſitorie, vaine and ſoone flitting away, and we our ſelues with them daily drawing vntounto our end. Thou haſt cauſed this to be publiſhed in our hearing, that all fleſh is graſſe, and the glory and beautie of it, as the flower of the field that fadeth: and that all things below the more they hauehave bene delighted in, the more deeply they ſhall ſting and vexe vsus when they forſake vsus. And leſt we ſhould iudge and hope of our eſtate after the deceiptfull dreames of our owne braine, as we are moſt eaſily inclined to do, thou haſt liuely ſet out our whole ſhape as in a glaſſe, to be full of miſerie and curſedneſſe, if we hauehave not yet attained to know that we are thy ſonnes and daughters, & that our names are written in the booke of life. Theſe all and ſuch like while I meditate vponupon, as alſo, that thou wouldeſt hauehave vsus eueryevery day make our ſaluation more ſure, & to be perſwaded of thine vnchangeable louelove; I wonder at them, and moſt of all to conſider thine ineſtimable and vnutterable kindneſſe in them all.Thankſgiuing. This draweth from me (as there is exceeding great cauſe) vnfeined thankes, with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious, eſpecially for that I ſee, thou haſt done all this for me, euen the vnworthieſt of other: that for my ſake thou gaueſt thy deare ſonne to death, that he might bring me to euerlaſting life: that to me among other, thou wouldeſt hauehave the glad tidings of it to be brought and preached, to the end that I may know my ſelfe as ſurely to be one of thine, as if I were gathered vp to my fathers to inioy thy preſence moſt glorious already: that of me among the reſt of thy choſen ones, thou haſt an eſpeciall regard and care againſt all things that might hurt me, and wilt continue the ſame euen to my liues end, when I ſhall feare neither trouble nor danger, neither Diuell nor hell any more: that thou haſt granted me to know it by faith, and in token thereof haſt ſanctified me and made me able to louelove goodneſſe and loath euill in ſome meaſure: that thou haſt wrought repentance in my heart, whereby I indeuour to forſake all knowne ſinnes, and to pleaſe thee in all things: that thou haſt giuen me a delight in thy word, whereas many find litle ſauour in it: that thou turneſt mine afflictions to my good, and teacheſt me the right and ſober vſe of my proſperitie: that thou giueſt me acceſſe vntounto thy maieſty by prayer, when I will and for whatſoeuer is needfull: that I hauehave liberty to vſe all other helpes for the maintaining of a godly life: that I may riſe vp when I hauehave fallen and offended thee, and returne to thee againe: that thou haſt giuen me to ſtriue againſt ſinne and Sathan as a ſouldier of Chriſt, and makeſt me to find ioy in the Chriſtian life, and thy ſeruice to be perfect freedome. And yet for all this, that thou giueſt me hope of nearer communion with thee: that thou aſſureſt me, that through thy power I ſhall be inabled to perſeuere in this chriſtian courſe to my liues end, and that after it I ſhall be receiued into glory.
And further, that thou haſt not onelyonly beſtowed theſe great priuiledges vponupon me, which are proper and peculiar to thine owne children, but alſo haſt in moſt gratious maner prouided for the continuance of theſe vntounto me, and miniſtred abundantly vntounto me the good things of this life: as, to liue vnderunder a moſt Chriſtian and religious Prince and King defending and maintaining the Goſpell againſt all Antichriſtian malice and tyranny and other aduerſary power, and the ſame truly and ſincerely preached, and by whom our liues, liberties and liuings are peaceably continued. I thankfully alſo acknowledge thy great mercy for the fellowſhip which I hauehave with thy good ſeruants in liuing with them, and for that credite and fauour which thou granteſt me among them: alſo for conuenient habitation, competencie of thy outward bleſſing, good liking, contentation and agreement in mariage [or if ones ſtate require it, out of it] for health and ſtrength to walke in my particular calling, and the benefit of a lawfull calling it ſelfe, for freedome from grieuous paines and diſeaſes; from ſuite and ſeruice, burden and bondage to Pope and tyrant and all other vnreaſonable ones: for bleſſing and ſucceſſe in my lawfull affaires [other benefits mention, as thou ſhalt hauehave cauſe.]
Theſe thy mercies with many other daily renewed vponupon me, both to the comfort of ſoule and body, do cauſe me (I ſay) to thinke my ſelfe infinitly beholding and bound to thy Maieſtie, and to ſay: ô Lord, what is man, that thou ſo delighteſt in him? and againe: What ſhall I render vntounto thee for all thy kindneſſe, which hath no end nor meaſure? This louelove therefore conſtraineth me (contrary to my corrupt nature) to be moſt willingly ſubiect to thy will and holy gouernement: this maketh thy commandements not to be to me, as ſometime they were, burdenſome and vnwelcome, but ſweet and pleaſant: this cauſeth the ſtrength of mine vnruly luſts and vnlawfull deſires to wanze and be weakened in me, contrary to that which ſometime I hauehave found: and perſwadeth me, that euen my afflictions and the hardeſt parts of my life are ſent, not in thine anger and diſpleaſure, but of fauour and mercy; and that for my good thou doeſt of very faithfulneſſe, cauſe me (when ſo euer I am chaſtiſed) to be corrected. And ſo, for thine afflicting of me alſo, I am and more learne, daily to be thankfull. And the rather I ſee iuſt cauſe hereof, becauſe I am priuy in mine owne heart, how litle cauſe I giuegive of this tender handling, and moſt kind regarding of me: yea rather, I ſee cauſes innumerable, why I ſhould be giuen vp into a reprobate ſenſe; and both be made an example vntounto others in this life, of miſerie; and after, be caſt into endleſſe woe.Confeſſion of ſinne. For beſides mine originall ſinne wherein I was conceiued and borne, my whole life (before I was called to know thee to be my Sauiour through Chriſt my redeemer) was nothing elſe but an vtter departing from thee, and a diſhonoring of thy name. In eueryevery cōmandement and branch thereof, I was rebellious, and diſobedient to thee, and that as many times as I hauehave haires vponupon my head. And ſince thou haſt waſhed me from my wickedneſſe, and purged me from my ſinnes, whereas I thought I ſhould hauehave roundly and readily liked and ſubmitted my ſelfe to thy holy will, which is the rule of righteouſneſſe; yet I hauehave fealt, and do daily, that I am hindred much from that good courſe which I deſire; not doing the good which I would moſt willingly, but oft times that which I allow not: and yet beſides this, I perceiue, that there is much ſinne in me which I know not (as from time to time ſince my firſt beleeuing in thee, I hauehave by litle and litle eſpied and found out:) ſo that moſt iuſtly I may ſay: Oh Lord, who can tell the manifold errors of this life, or how oft he offendeth thee? And as for the deceiptfulneſſe of ſinne, who is wiſe inough to diſcerne it in many things? as when we ſhall be angry for a iuſt cauſe; when we ſhall giuegive our eye and heart liberty to pleaſe themſelues in that which they deſire; when we grow weake in faith, whiles we be about our lawfull buſineſſe; and ſuch like: which becauſe I feele my ſelfe to be incombred with, and with many ſuch, I do here as moſt vnworthie in my ſelfe, acknowledge the ſame,1 Pray for pardon, and ſo for the right vſe of this maner of beginning the day. and humbly ſue vntounto thee (ô heauenly father) for thy deare ſons ſake Ieſus Chriſt to pardon ſtill my ſins & corruptiō, who do confeſſe, that I offend thee ſo oft in the day as I cannot expreſſe: & this morning to receiue me gratiouſly into thy fauorable protectiō, that I may be ſatiate & repleniſhed with thy louing kindnes, ſo, that al the day after I may retaine the ſauour of it; hauehave my heart ſo ſweetly ſeaſoned with it, that I may find & feel all my actiōs as good things to proceed out of the good treaſury of it: and not to be fleſhly, rebellious & corrupt, as proceeding from a roote of bitterneſſe. And as for the ſinne which is hidden from me, reueale and bring to light vntounto me, that I may be ſhamed and humbled thereby, and not abuſe thy pardoning of me to bold licentiouſnes, making that a colour of euill in me: but let me plucke downe all pride of my heart, and ſee my ſelfe daily, and ſo this day, more indebted to thy maieſtie, then otherwiſe I could poſſibly thinke my ſelfe to be; and to ſend vp more oft and earneſt prayers againſt the ſame. Thus (good Lord) let me ſenſibly feele this mornings worke to be effectuall through thy bleſſing, (euen as it is thine owne ordinance, that I ſhould begin the day thus) that I may hauehave my heart inlarged hereby, to do my other duties with more cheare and fruitfulneſſe: and that I being thus perſwaded of thy fauor, may alſo be aſſured that thou wilt be with me, to aſſiſt me and bleſſe me in all the lawfull workes & actions which thou haſt appointed me this day to do. And ſeeing thou haſt appointed,2 Prayer for diſcharge of duty in our calling, and for bleſſing in it. that we ſhould be occupied in ſome trauell and worke profitable to the commonwealth, which alſo may keepe our ſelues from idleneſſe, incline my heart to obey this thy commandement, not onelyonly for other cauſes, but chiefly becauſe thou wilt hauehave it ſo, and with chearfulneſſe that may ſhake off tediouſneſſe and vntowardneſſe, as farre as of my frailtie may be obtained. In the workes of my calling let me keepe my heart from all diſtemperature, diſorder and rebellion, and containe my ſelfe from euerie euill way: in the good ſucceſſe which thou giueſt, let me not be lifted vp with lightneſſe: in the contrary, not caſt downe with immoderate heauineſſe. Let me ſee good and ſufficient cauſe of intermitting the ſame as oft as I ceaſe from it,3 For that part of the day vvhichwhich is paſſed in company, that it may be aright. and let my mind be ſtable and well ſetled to follow thee, though the actions of the day be many and variable. In all companies let me frame my ſelfe this day, to be harmeleſſe and innocent at home: let me be warie againſt the common euils which are in families, as brawling, diſagreeing with any, anger, vncharitableneſſe, reuiling, prouoking, or being prouoked by others; but forbearing and forgiuing, if I hauehave ought againſt any; ſo let me be free from fooliſh ieſting, ſlandering of others, lying, vnprofitable and needleſſe talking: So abroad, let me not faſhion my ſelfe after the euill example of the world in theſe or the like, but humbly carying my ſelfe towards mine equals, giuing honor to my betters; and making my ſelfe equall with thoſe who are my inferiours, as knowing my ſelfe what I am. And not onelyonly ſo, but as I ſhall hauehave oportunitie, graunt (good Lord) that I may do good by exhorting, teaching, comforting and admoniſhing, and offering my ſelfe to take good by receiuing the ſame where I may, that thus I may leaue no ill ſauour in any place; but with comfort,4 For the right vſe of ſolitarineſſe. call to mind the companies that I hauehave bene in, and not with an euill conſcience. And that part of the day which I ſhall hauehave free from the fore-mentioned duties to be alone, whether iourneying, ſitting, walking or lying, graunt (moſt mercifull father) that my heart may be weaned from vaine cogitations and fond deſires euen the ſecreteſt: and that out of the good treaſurie of my heart, I may raiſe holy and profitable meditations; oft muſing of the heauenly things contained in thy word, namely, thy mercies, of mine owne mortality, troubles, ſubiection to ſinne and Sathan: and how I may order aright all my lawfull affaires, and diſgrace and bring in diſcredite with my heart all iniquity and the very apparance thereof. Let me aime at theſe things this day,5 For chearfulneſſe in Gods ſeruice. as at a marke. And whereas (moſt mercifull father) we are wont to go to prayer, hearing, conferring, and reading of thy word with much vnwillingneſſe and vntowardneſſe; and to be ſleepie and vnreuerent therein; graunt, that I may be armed againſt theſe: and contrarily may ſtirre vp my ſelfe to chearfulneſſe and gladneſſe when ſuch times in the day come, ſeeing thou haſt appointed them to be eſpeciall helpes for my weakneſſe; labouring, that my heart may be affected with them, and ſtrength obtained thereby from Chriſt Ieſus my head,6 For confidence in all eſtates. to go forward in my ſeuerall duties. Let me in all theſe and other actions this day, hold faſt my confidence in thee, that thou haſt a fatherly care ouer me, both in turning my afflictions (which it ſhall pleaſe thee to ſend) to my great good, and granting me many ſweete bleſſings for my further incouragement: that when I ſhall be perſwaded, that they are both,7 Iuſt dealing to all, and mercy to the needy, and to hurt none in goods, name, &c. from thee of a fatherly cōpaſſion and tender care, I may greatly be vpholden and comforted. And whatſoeuer I ſhall hauehave to deale in with any man, though I be not in preſence with him, let me euer giuegive that which is due to him, as farre as I ſee it to appertaine to me: eſpecially in the commodities of this life, that none may hauehave any iuſt cauſe to complaine of any iniurie done by me: neither may I hauehave any wound of conſcience at any time for ſuch gaine or ſubſtance, and the rather for that I am giuen too much to looke after mine owne right:8 For the right vſe of proſperity and aduerſitie. Here remēber to pray for outvvard benefits and ſucceſſe in earthly dealings. and with this, let mercy and compaſſion be ioyned, that I may as thou haſt inabled me, glad the hearts of ſuch thy poore ſeruants, as whoſe neceſſities it moſt appertaineth to me to relieue. And ſo long as in thy fatherly wiſedome thou haſt purpoſed to grant me health and proſperitie, let me vſe and inioy the ſame with much thankfulneſſe; and ſoberly, humbly and meekly cary my ſelfe in that eſtate, not thinking my ſelfe any thing better then ſuch as want it: let me not diſdaine others, nor my ſelfe be drowned in idleneſſe, ſenſualitie and ſortiſh eaſe; but let me be ſo much the more profitable in euerie good worke whiles thou giueſt me ſo many helpes thereto, then in afflictions I could be; that ſo I may ſerue thy maieſtie with a ſound mind and bodie, ſo farre as thou ſhalt ſee it expedient. And yet not promiſing to my ſelfe continuance of peace and proſperitie, but to looke for my chaunge: to learne to be abaſed, and to want: and contentedly, thankfully and patiently to take vp that croſſe which thou ſhalt allot vntounto me; receiuing much comfort in the triall of my faith by thy chaſtizing of me, and for that I know that in great merciemercy and louelove thou doeſt it. And (good Lord) keepe from me heauie iudgements which are aboue my ſtrength: and when thou freeſt me from manie troubles,9 Againſt vnſetledneſſe by any occaſion. let me in no wiſe trouble my ſelfe with an euill conſcience. And becauſe I am occupied about many things in the day, and therefore am more readie (through the Diuels malice and vigilancie, who ſeeketh all occaſions againſt me) to be vnſetled and brought out of frame, graunt (moſt louing Father) that I may at ſuch times remember, how I ought to hauehave a ſtayed mind and conſtant, euer counting one thing to be neceſſarie in the middeſt of all my buſineſſe, dealings and varietie of actions: and that is, that I may highly prize thy word, that ſo I may do thy will; ſeeing I hauehave then moſt need of this grace of faithfulneſſe and care, when the danger is greateſt. And yet,10 In ſliding to returne ſpeedily, and not to lie ſtill. if I ſhould be ouertaken with any forgetfulneſſe, and vnawares be preuented by Sathan, ſlipping into any ſecuritie, raſhneſſe, earthlineſſe of mind, or ſuch like blind-folding of me that I ſhould be thereby vnſetled, and this my courſe of holy walking be broken off; yet (good Lord) leaue me not ouer-long in that danger: graunt me to eſpie my fall and offence whatſoeuer it be, and not to hide it in any wiſe, but ſpeedily to acknowledge it, that I may obtaine merciemercy for it at thy hands, & ſo may returne to thee againe, becauſe I hauehave ſufficiētly ſeene and tried that it is no liuing, but worſe then death,11 For locking backe and examining the actions of the day. to hauehave thee at any time againſt me. Laſtly, I moſt humbly beſeech thee, that I may ſo warily cary my ſelfe throughout this day in all that I go about, that I may not be vnwilling to view my doings and what hath bene done amiſſe, at euening, and reuerently looke backe and examine how I hauehave ſpent it, and that by theſe rules whereby I hauehave prayed to be directed: and that I may be willing to ſee where I hauehave failed, that I may the better know what badnes doth ſtill remaine in me;After requeſt made for good life, put next a requeſt for the reuerent vſe of all good helpes; as, this beginning of the day, or for the vvell practiſing of the godly life. that ſo I may hauehave iuſt occaſion to humble my ſelfe and confeſſe my ſinne to thee, and may make an end of all breaches, not lying downe in any of them vnrepented. Let me count this no burthen nor toile to do it, (as the moſt of the world do, who thereby prouide ſo many after-reckonings for themſelues, that they cannot anſwer one among a thouſand of them.) And by all my weakneſſes, neglects of dutie and out-ſtrayings let me not be diſcouraged to leaue off this daily looking to my waies, but to increaſe my care rather. And wherein ſo euer I ſhall ſee and find, that I hauehave obtained grace in any good ſort to be guided by the direction which thy word ſetteth before me, there I may be ioyfull and thankfull that thou makeſt any part of my dutie eaſie to me, which I know to hauehave bene farre otherwiſe. And thus let me hauehave good proofe, that in all the cariage of my ſelfe and in eueryevery part of my life I am a ſtranger on earth, as my forefathers were; and lie downe in peace at night, euen as this morning, through thy goodneſſe, I appeare before thy Maieſtie. And for the nouriſhing and preſeruing of this Chriſtian libertie in me, and that I may walke after this direction carefully, let my prayers be oft (as I may be able to offer them) and earneſtly continued this day, and watchfulneſſe adioyned thereto, as thou haſt taught me: that although this manner of liuing be not regarded in the world, yet I hauing obtained of thy Maieſtie to make it my delight, and knowing the incredible gaine that commeth by it, I may be reſolute and throughly perſwaded to make it my practiſe, not onelyonly this day, but euerie day hereafter whereſoeuer I ſhall become, or in what eſtate and condition ſoeuer I ſhall be. That by the faithfull continuance of this Chriſtian courſe, I may ſee my profiting daily in the denying of my ſelfe and litle eſteeming of this world, and ſo hauehave good teſtimonie that I liue by faith: and that when I ſhall be gray-headed, and waxe old, I may hauehave mine old age bleſſed vntounto me, and not full of tediouſneſſe and wearineſſe, idleneſſe and vnprofitableneſſe, waywardneſſe, frowardneſſe and ſuch like annoyances, whiles I acquaint my ſelfe now with the renouncing and forſaking my will in theſe and ſuch like: that thus my latter dayes may be better then my former. And for the obtaining of grace to the practiſing of all duties this day,The armour. arme me with the armour of a Chriſtian, that my particular actions may by the helpe thereof be well ordered: that by the armour of faith I may be able to beleeue all times, and be kept from doubting and diſtruſt in thee what occaſions ſoeuer may be offered me of the ſame; that I ſtanding and abiding in faith conſtantly, may find and feele the ſweet fruite and benefit of that part of my armour: and that I may be ſo ſetled in hope, that I may not faint euen in ſtreights, though I ſee no way (to mans reaſon) of good iſſue, but by patience may be vpholden. That I may ſo be cloathed with the breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, that I may not feare any daunger by falſe accuſations and malitious tongues; but may bring forth plentifully the fruits of righteouſneſſe in all my dealings, and mine innocencie may ſhine as light in the world. That my knowledge, by thy word may direct me to diſcerne good from euill, truth from errour, and ſo may keepe my feete from falling, by the deceiptfulneſſe of ſinne. That I being ſhod with the ſhooes of peace, may not onelyonly hauehave peace of mind in the time of health and proſperitie, but be prepared thereby to go on my iourney of this life euer, in ſickneſſe and tribulation alſo. And laſtly, that I may be ſo girded about with ſinceritie and integritie, that I may be farre from all hollowneſſe and hypocriſie, and may cary my ſelfe in plaineneſſe and ſimplicitie throughout. And that behauior in my heart or life which will not ſtand with this courſe, let be, as I hauehave prayed, as ſuperfluous rubbiſh cut off and caſt from me, and let me hauehave nothing to do with it, that my life may be free from dangerous and reproachfull euils. And whatſoeuer elſe thou knoweſt expedient for me, bodily or ſpirituall, in this life or that which is to come, graunt it to me for Chriſts ſake: to whom with thee (ô Father) and the holy Ghoſt, be all honor and glorie for euer. Amen.
This prayer is not ſet downe to vrge anie to vſe it daily, but as anie ſhall ſee cauſe; and ſometimes to ſtirre vp thoſe that feele themſelues dead and vnfit to pray, by reading it ouer: and euerie thing in it, ſo farre to be applied, as the ſtate of the perſon ſhall require.
The end of the fourth Treatiſe.