The Seven Days, Prayers and meditations

The Seven Days · Prayers and meditations

p. 108CERTAINE PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS, MOST COMfortable for all eſtates.

Morning Prayer.

ALmightie God, and moſte mercifull Father, I beſeech thee, that thou wouldeſt chaſe away, with the brightneſſe of thy preſence, my ſinnes, as a clowde, that I may come before thee,Pſa. 18.12Ps 18:12 and with a cleane heart beholde thee, and offer vp my Prayer as a Morning Sacrifice, and as Incenſe of ſweet Odour vntounto thee.Reuel. 8.4.Rev 8:4 I thanke thy Majeſtie for the quiet reſt of this night, & p. 109that thou haſt ſo ſafely conuoyed me through the perils of darkneſſe, and ſaued me from the prince of darkneſſe, and brought me to the light of this day, & giuen mee a new day of repentance, wherein I may ſeeke thee. O Lord, it was of thy merciemercy that I was not conſumed: Thou the watchman of Iſrael neither ſleepeſt, nor ſlumbereſt.Pſa. 121.4Ps 121:4 Albeit my bodie was lying as dead, and all my ſenſes were aſleepe, ſo that I was a readie prey to my ſpiritual foes: Yet, O Lord, thou waſt carefull of me, when I was careles of my ſelfe: and thou pitchedſt about my bodie the muiſible companie of thine holie Angels,Pſal. 34.7Ps 34:7 who hauehave graciouſly carried me, and kept me from all euill. Thou ſmoteſt the firſt borne of Egypt in one night by the deſtroyer,Exo. 12.26 2. King. 19 35Exod 12:262 Kgs 19:35 and the hoſt of Senacherib by thine Angel: But, O Lord, thou haſt kept me and mine houſe, ſafe by their hand: thou foundeſt the blood of the Lambe vponupon the doore of my ſoule, and I hauehave eſcaped: praiſe bee giuen vntounto thee, O Lord,Ex. 12.13Exod 12:13 who haſt deliuered me, and glorie to the Lambe p. 110by whom I hauehave eſcaped. But eſpeciallie I praiſe thee that my ſpirituall enemies hauehave not preuailed ouer me, to ſnare me in ſinne:Sathan moſt buſie in the night to cauſe men ſinne. Iob 24.16Job 24:16 for the Prince of darkneſſe worketh his works of darkneſſe in darkneſſe; by the which hee leadeth the worlde vntounto euerlaſting darkneſſe: in the night they ſteale, they murder, and commit adulteries: but the Lord hath deliuered mee from the temptations of the Deuill. Bleſſed bee thy Name; for I knowe the night is to the Lord as the light:Pſal. 139.12Ps 139:12 hee beholdeth mee, and ſeeth mee, therefore I glorifie thee this morning, that thou diddeſt keepe mee, and gaueſt mee not ouer to bee illuded by my ſpirituall foes. Thou waſt a light vntounto mee in darkneſſe. But alace, that my naturall heart cannot acknowledge thy goodneſſe. I hauehave reſted in my bodie, and my minde hath beene at great peace. This is a double reſt, which thou haſt giuen to thy beloued. But alace, thou haſt ſo tenderlie dealt with my fleſh, that I am diſpleaſed that I ſhould ſpende the whole night (which is the halfe of my dayes)Nota. p. 111ſo ydlie, (in my judgement) that I ſhould doe nothing but feede my fleſh with ſleepe. I am diſpleaſed, and thinke within my ſelfe, Shall I lie ſo long, and ſo manie nightes, and ſhall not prayſe my God? for thy ſeruant DAVID not onelie prayed vntounto thee in the morning,Pſa. 55.17 and 6.6. and 63.6. and 77.6. & 119.62 148.Ps 55:17Ps 6:6Ps 63:6Ps 77:6Ps 119:62 at noone-tide, and at Euen, but alſo preuented the night watches, to meditate on thy worde, and watered his Bedde with teares, thanking and thinking on thee, & communing with his owne heart. And likewiſe, O Lord, I would rather bee content, that mine eyes were holden waking with thee, to remember thee, than I ſhould ſleepe to forget thee. I beſeech thee, O my God, to forgiue mee, thy poore creature, who euer doe forget my duetie to thee both day and night: and when I am ſleeping ſanctifie mee ſo by thy grace, that my ſoule may bee waking with thee. Lord, waſh mee from all the vncleanneſſe of body and ſoule, which I hauehave contracted this night: and as thou haſt made ſeparation betwixt the night and day, ſo diuide mee from all p. 112ſinne. Lift vp the light of thy countenance vponupon mee this day, and inlighten my minde with vnderſtanding, that I may ſee the ſecret of thy Lawe. Viſit me with thy ſweere merciemercy this morning,Iob 7.18.Job 7:18 that I may rejoyce in thee all my dayes. I will riſe in the morning, and compaſſe thine holie Altar.Pſal. 43.4. and 26.6.Ps 43:4Ps 26:6 Thou art my Father, and I am thy Childe. I craue thy bleſſing, for Chriſtes ſake, to all the actions of this day: that thou wilt accompanie them with thy ſpeciall preſence, and direction, and ſo I am ſure that whatſoeuer I ſhall take in hand will proſper.

Further, my mercifull Father, I beſeech thee to ſlay the corruptiōs of this wicked nature this day. Bring in captiuitie euerie cogitation of my heart, which rebelleth againſt thy will. Put a watch to the doore of my lippes, that no vnſauourie ſpeach come out of my mouth,Pſa. 141.3Ps 141:3 but that which may tende to edification. And diſpoſe ſo all the actions of this day, that no corruption which is in me may burſt foorth, either in word or deed, whereby I may offende p. 113thee, or my neighbour. Mortifie the luſtes of my fleſh: my pride turne it vntounto humilitie: my couetouſneſſe vntounto liberalitie, mine inſolencie, into grauitie,Chaunge from euil to good. my prodigalitie vntounto abſtinence, my lies vntounto trueth, mine vncleanneſſe to chaſtitie, my profanitie to reuerence, &c: yea, make that alteration and change in me this day, that whatſoeuer delight of ſinne is in me, it may be conſumed, and thy graces as fruitfull hearbs may be planted in place of theſe weeds. Forſake me not, O Lord, this day, leſt I forſake thee: giuegive me not ouer vntounto my ſelfe, and to mine owne counſell and will, leſt I periſh. And becauſe theſe are dayes of defection and apoſtaſie, wherein, if it were poſſible the Elect would periſh;Matth. 24.22.Matt 24:22 I beſech thee, that I fall not backe from thy grace, but let me make ſome progreſſe in godlineſſe, to approach neare vntounto thy kingdome: that as the powers of nature doe decay in me, and I haſten to the graue, ſo the ſtrength of thine holy Spirite may fortifie mine inward man; that I may grow from grace p. 114to grace, vntill I paſſe the dangers of this pilgrimage, and thou bring me to thy glorie, through Chriſt our Lord.

AMEN.

Euening Prayer.

O Lord, let my prayer come before thee, as pure Incenſe, and as the Euening Sacrifice: I preſent it vponupon the golden Altar my bleſſed Sauiour, that he,Reuel. 8.3.Rev 8:3 through the perfume and ſweete ſmell of his ſacrifice, may make my petitions acceptable vntounto thee.

I thanke thee, O gracious and deare Father, that thou haſt ſo fauourably conuoyed me, and preſerued me from the perils of this day, both of my ſoule, and bodie: And alſo I praiſe thee for thy fatherly care whereby thou haſt aboundantly fedde, by thy word, my p. 115ſoule, & by thine earthly creatures my bodie. I thanke thee that thou haſt nurtured me by thy Rod, and that thou haſt not ſuffered my ſpirituall enemies to triumph ouer mee, and forſooke me not, neither left me to my ſelfe, nor to be a prey to them. O Lord, pardon me all the ſinnes of this day and purge me from my ſecret ſinnes, euen thoſe which are hidden from my ſelfe. Who can know or vnderſtand them? no doubt I hauehave ſinned this day. My conſcience may erre, and deceiue me, but thou ſearcheſt the depth of the heart. But I praiſe thee, that thou kepedſt me from preſumptuous ſinnes this day.Pſa. 19.13Ps 19:13 Forget, O Lord, my negligence in thy ſeruice. Alace, I hauehave beene wearied of thy worſhip. And ſeeing thou art and haſt begun to bring darkneſſe vponupon the face of the earth, breake in, O Lord, with the glorious beames of thy preſence, and illuminate my darkneſſe.Pſal. 16.7. When the bodie is at reſt, let the ſoul be buſie with God.Ps 16:7 Inſtruct my reines in the night ſeaſon, and ſpeake familarlie vntounto my ſoule: when I ſleepe in my bed, then open mine eares: when my ſenſes are aſleepe, p. 116then let my ſoule enjoy thy preſence, without interruption. Let thy Spirite teach my ſpirit, and informe her ignorance: rebuke my ſpirit, & correct her ſinfulneſſe: ſtrengthen my ſpirite, and help her weakneſſe: comfort my ſpirit, and cure her ſorrowes. GiueGive me ſleepe and reſt to my bodie, if it may make me the more able to ſerue thee: But if it may ſtay thine honour,Nota. I will be content to want it. And if thou haſt appointed this night that I ſhall awake, Lord, hold the eyes of my ſoul waking, that I may repent for the abuſe of that great reſt which I hauehave receiued alreadie, without rendering thankeſgiuing vntounto thee. Lord, let mee lie with a peacable minde vnderunder the hand of a reconciled God. Suffer not my ſoule this night to bee diſquieted with the cares of this world, which bereaueth worldlings of their reſt: but I caſt my burthen vponupon thee, & all mine affaires vntounto the boſome of thy prouidence, for thou wilt beare them. Why art thou troubled my ſoule?Pſal. 42.5. and 43.5.Ps 42:5Ps 43:5 and why art thou diſquieted within me? truſt yet p. 117in thy God, and he will be thy reliefe. Ly downe in peace, and ſleepe,Pſal. 4.8.Ps 4:8 for he will care for thee. And againe, O Lord, deliuer my ſoule from the fearfull terrours of this night. GiueGive me faith, with Dauid, Pſal. 3.6.Ps 3:6and I ſhall not be affrayde of ten thouſand: for thy preſēce is a ſufficient defence to me againſt all mine enemies. But, O Lord, eſpecially deliuer mee from the feares of thy wrath, when Sathan laieth my ſinnes in order before me, and that they ſtand in the ſight of thy countenance, then thou makeſt me to mourne like a Doue,Iſa. 38.14Isa 38:14 and chatter like a Swallow. Mine eyes were lifted vp on high. I reckoned till the morning:Pſal. 58.6.Ps 58:6 but thou brake my bones like a Lyon. From day to night thou wilt make an ende of me. Then I cryed, My ſinnes hauehave opreſſed me; cōfort me, O Lord, remoue the clowd of my ſinnes, which interueaneth betwixt thy merciemercy and me, & let me ſee thee this night, ſitting vponupon thy merciemercy ſeate, ſtretching out the poynt of the golden Scepter,Heſt. 5.2. and retreating the ſentence of death giuen out by thy juſtice againſt me. Caſt my p. 118ſins behind thy back, & drown them in the bottome of the Sea of thine obliuion, that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace, as in a Citie of refuge, and finde reſt to my ſoule.

Keepe me, O Lord, from the curſe threatned by thy Prophet againſt ſuch as in the night are plotting euil things againſt their neighbours.Mica 2.1. Let me remember (O Lord) that darkneſſe is to thee as light;Pſal. 139.12Ps 139:12 and thou haſt an eye of fire, whoſe light can pierce the moſt hard places. Where can I hide any thought from thee? for thou who plantedſt the eye, doeſt not thou ſee moſt clearly?Pſal. 94.9.Ps 94:9 Therefore keepe my ſoule this night, that I admit no purpoſe therein, whereof thou wilt not be content. Be thou my Counſeller, my Witneſſe, and Judge, that by thy preſence my ſoule may be kept in that holy reuerence to thee, that it conſent to no vncleane or injuſt action to offende thee. Thou haſt tryed, and proued mine heart in the night, and haſt found nothing: for I was purpoſed not to diſpleaſe thee. And becauſe my p. 119Lord wil come (as a thiefe in the night) and I doe not knowe what houre he commeth, let me watch and pray,1 Theſſ. 5.2 Matth. 24.43. and 25.13.1 Thess 5:2Matt 24:43Matt 25:13 that at the voyce of thine Angel I may be watching, with mine oyle in my lampe. Let me praiſe thee in the night, with feruencie. Keepe me from the Arrow which flyeth in darkneſſe, and from the temptations of the Prince of darkneſſe. Preſerue me, O Lord, and my familie, & euerie thing which thou haſt giuen me: I doe reſigne all to thy keeping, who art a faithfull keeper of all things which are committed to thy cuſtodie. Thou wilt ſuffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand. O GOD, be thou a pillar of fire to giuegive light to me this night, and carrie thy child in the armes of thy merciemercy, through all perils of bodie and ſoule. I leaue my ſoule into thine hand, and when I awake I will ſeeke my ſoule in thee.

And finallie, O Lord, this bodily ſleepe teacheth me to die; and when I lie downe in my Bed, I remēber that I ſhall once be caſten into the bed of my graue, that I may ſleep there til the day p. 120dawne, and the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe ariſe, that then I may ariſe alſo, and praiſe thee, O my God, together with the Sonne, and the holie Ghoſt, for euermore.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPONUPON THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL.

EVen as it is neceſſarie vntounto Saluation, to belieue in GOD our Father; ſo it is neceſſarie to belieue the holie Church our Mother,Belieue the Church, but not in the Church. that ſhe is the Queen, the Spouſe of Ieſus Chriſt. Wee muſt belieue in God, & put our whole truſt and confidence him. Wee muſt belieue alſo that the Church is his Spouſe, and belieue whatſoeuer ſhee ſpeaketh vntounto vsus, of him, out of his own mouth: p. 121for if ſhee bee his Spouſe, ſhee will not adulterate, inuert, or corrupt her Lords ſpeaches. And if an Angel taught another Goſpel, let him bee accurſed.Gal. 1.8.Gal 1:8 In the Nicene Councell, and in Athanaſius his Symbole, the particle [In] is added. But yee muſt vnderſtand, that the Apoſtolicke Symbole, which is called the Creede, muſt bee a Rule of perfection and antiquitie vntounto all the reſt, Then (God willing) I ſhall define the Vniuerſall Church vntounto you, that yee may know her.

The Vniuerſall Church is the Members of the Elect, whom God hath called by his word vntounto Life euerlaſting.What the Church vniuerſallis. Shee taketh not her name from foreign, which is, to elect; but from foreign, which is, to call others, which maguifieth the preaching of the worde: which is the verie voyce of God, by which hee calleth vsus vntounto repentance. Whereby it is euident, that wee cannot bee called the true members of the Church Catholicke, if wee contemne that voyce by the which God calleth p. 122vsus vntounto him. The worde Catholicke, or,The Catholick Church is not tyed to anie certaine place. Iudg. 16.9.Judg 16:9 Throughout all places, telleth vsus, that ſhee is bound to no certaine place, as the Papiſts would binde her (with Dalidaes rope) to the ſeate of Rome. But our Samſon, Chriſt, will breake ſuch ropes as Flaxe. But the Spouſe of Chriſt, the Church, ſtretcheth her armes, and her feete, to the endes of the world: for God gaue him the ends of the Earth to bee his poſſeſſion & inheritance.Pſalm. 2.8.Ps 2:8 From her they will be called Catholickes, rejecting the name of Christians, from Chriſt. But I thinke they merit to be called Cacolyci, which is by interpretation, Euill Wolfs, deuouring the flocke of God vnderunder the Skins of I ambes.The Church inviſible. The beautie of the Church is ſpirituall, in vertue and godlineſſe. Pſ. 45.13.Ps 45:13

This Church is inviſible, becauſe her faith and louelove cannot be ſeene, which maketh her a Church. Neither is it neceſſarie that with an outward ſplendor or beautie ſhe ſhould appeare in any one place of the earth. She is altogether beautifull within. An honeſt Matron ſtudieth not to decke her ſelfe: her vertue, her naturall colour, her p. 123obedience, her louelove, &c. are her ornaments, by which ſhe purchaſeth credit with her Husband, and is famous with men:Prover. 31.11.12, &c. and 7.16.Prov 31:11Prov 31:12 as that womam in the laſt of the Prouerbs. But the whoore of whom Salomon ſpeaketh, decketh her ſelfe with Carpets and Laces of Egypt. So the true Church contenteth her ſelfe: albeit ſhe be backe, yet ſhe is comly,Cantic. 1.4Song 1:4 to pleaſe Chriſt her husband, who looketh not to the outward maske, but to the heart. Chriſt her Husband had neither forme nor beautie externall: hee was a Worme, but not a Man.Pſal. 22.6.Ps 22:6 Should not the Spouſe bee like her Lord? Her Apoſtles were beaten, and ſent to priſon: the holy Biſhops and Martyres, to Fire, and to Lyons: But when ſhe attained,Nota. by peace vnderunder Constantine, to Honour and Riches, then ſhe was defaced, and rent aſunder, by the Hereticall Doctrine of Arrius, and others; and at the laſt the Pope aroſe in the Weſt, and the Mahomet in the Eaſt, who hauehave wounded Religion at the heart, and hauehave made vp, and coined two new Faiths, which are neither p. 124olde nor new; whereby the Church is ſpoyled of her Husbands Veſtures: and beeing cloathed with the Whooriſh habit, ſhe doeth keepe nothing, but the bare name of the Church, wherein ſhee glorieth, and giueth her ſelfe out to the world. The true Spouſe heareth only the voyce of her Husband.Ioh. 10.27.John 10:27 But the Romane Church admitteth ſtrange voyces, which are cōtrary to the voyce of God. Alſo the true Church, as it were, trauelleth in pain, to bring foorth children to Chriſt.Gal. 4.19. 2. King. 11.1.Gal 4:192 Kgs 11:1 The Romane Church, like to Athaliah, murthereth the Kings ſeede, the Sonnes of God, and embreweth not her handes in the bloode of Turks and Iewes, who denie Chriſt, but granteth them Synagogues, to dwell amongſt themſelues: But poore Chriſtians they will perſecute,1572. Aug. 24. Math. 12.20.Matt 12:20 and maſſacre an hundreth thouſand at once in France. Chriſt the husband, in all his life, brake not one bruiſed Reede; he did harme to none: he helped all. (So ſhe is an Harlot Church, albeit profeſſing the word,The Cnurch is as mount Sion. if ſhe be cruell.) His Spouſe is compared to mount Sion. For ſhe being p. 125founded vponupon the rocke Ieſus Chriſt, is inuincible, let her not be affrayde. She is the buſh of Moſes, Moſes his Buſh. A Doue.but the Lord is in the fire that it cānot conſume her. Shee is a Doue, for her ſimplicitie and louelove. The Romaniſts are Foxes. She is Hieruſalem,Ieruſalem. for the viſion of peace is in her.

A PRAYER FOR THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL.

I Confeſſe, O Lord, that I am moſt bound to louelove thee, as my Father, who haſt both made me a creature, and in the boſome of thy Church haſt made me ouer againe a newe creature, after thine Image. Thou haſt commanded me alſo to honour my Mother the Church, who conceiued me, and vvho trauelled in pangues for me, whoſe breſts & pappes I hauehave ſucked, p. 126and out of them I hauehave receiued the ſweete Milke of thy worde, who did keepe & beare me in her armes: vponupon whoſe knees I was foſtered, and in whoſe houſe I hauehave beene fedde euer ſince. Shee pittied my wanderinges: ſhee corrected mine errours: and in a word, O Lord, I acknowledge that ſhe hath done more than the duetie of a louing Mother vntounto mee: for whoſe honour, health, wealth, peace, proſperitie, ſucceſſion, yea, and for all earthlie and heauenlie bleſſinges, I am obliſhed to pray vponupon the knees of my ſoule and bodie continuallie.

And firſt, O Lord, ſeeing that thy Church is the onlie glorie and beautie of the world, without the which there would bee confuſion: yea, the worlde would turne to the olde Chaos: And ſeeing that the worlde hateth her, becauſe ſhee is not of them; O Lord, our God, bleſſe her in the middeſt of her enemies. Beautifie thy Lillie in the midſt of Thornes.Cantic. 2.2Song 2:2 Powre downe all the graces of thine holie Spirite vponupon her. And becauſe the worlde is wrapped p. 127vp in ignorance, and darkneſſe, like vntounto the darkneſſe of Aegypt: Ex. 10.23.Exod 10:23and ſeeing that there is no light, but in the land of Goſhen, O Lord, I beſeech thee to nouriſh, and continue that light of knowledge in her, that all the worlde may knowe thee the true God, and whome thou haſt ſent, Ieſus Chriſt,1. Iohn. 4.14.15.1 John 4:141 John 4:15 to bee the Sauiour of the world. Yea, refreſh, I beſeech thee, this light of thy bleſſed Euangel, that it may illuminate the blinde worlde. And becauſe thy word is the life and light of the world, O Lord, let it bee a Lanterne, euer ſhining in this darkneſſe, to quicken theſe dead people. And to this effect, O God, raiſe vp faithfull Preachers of thy worde,Pray for faythfull Preachers. Prover. 10.13.Prov 10:13 men according to thine owne heart, vvho will carrie this light: giuegive them knowledge and vnderſtanding, that their lippes may obſerue vviſdome, that they teach not the people the lying vanities of a deceitfull and lying heart: but that they may inſtruct them rightly in all thy Precepts: that thou mayeſt feede thy Stewardes, vvho will feede thy people with the p. 128Bread of Heauen, and the Wine which commeth out of thy Wine-cellers: and not with the foyſted bread,Cantic. 2.4.Song 2:4 nor the poyſon of Hereſies, to deſtroye the ſoules of thy people. O Lord, cloathe thy Prieſtes with Righteouſneſſe,Pſa. 132.9Ps 132:9 and let thy Sainctes rejoyce. Open the doore of vtterance vntounto them,Coll. 4.3. that they, with euidence and demonſtration of thy Spirit, may make the whole counſell of God knowne to the people: that they keepe nothing backe, nor adde nothing; leſt thou, O God, adde vntounto them the curſe of thy Law,Rev. 22.18Rev 22:18 & ſcrape their names out of the booke of Life.

And becauſe thy Church is vnderunder continuall dangers, O Lord, keepe her, and all her members, from the cruell rage of all her enemies. Lord, let the malice of her aduerſaries turne to themſelues: and bring confuſion vponupon all ſuch as hate Sion. Lord, giuegive peace to her Walles, and her Palaces: and bleſſe thoſe that bleſſe her,Pſal. 122.7Ps 122:7 and curſe thoſe that curſe her: keepe her like the Apple of thine Eye,Pſal. 17.8.Ps 17:8 which thou loueſt. p. 129Thou wilt bee with her in the middeſt of the fire, and the water, that ſhe bee not deſtroyed, nor ouer-whelmed. By thine hand, O Lord, ſhe hath bene preſerued. They lay ſhares for the poore Church, but cut thou them aſunder; yea,Pſal. 7.16. and 57.6.Ps 7:16Ps 57:6 trappe them in the net which they hauehave laide. They hauehave digged a pitte, let them fall into the midſt of it. So ſhall come to all the enemies of our God, and his Church. Let them be as a turning Wheele,and 83.13 and a rolling Ball. Let them be as ſmoake, which vaniſheth before the winde;and. 68, 2. and as Waxe, which melteth in the Sunne. Let them be like a lumpe of Lead, vvhichwhich ſinketh to the bottome of the Sea. O Lord, if it were any particular reuenge of mine owne, I vvould pardon their vvronges: But, alace, it is done to my Mother, thy Spouſe: how ſhall I beare it? Burie them in eternall forgetfulneſſe, vvho hauehave done ſuch deſpitefulneſſe to her, as that cruel Antichriſt, and his adherents hauehave done. And to the effect that thine enemies may bee diſcomfited, ariſe, O Lord, p. 130ſharpen the Arrowes of thy Worde, by vvhichwhich thou mayeſt pierce the hearts of the Kinges enemies.Pſal. 45.5.Ps 45:5 Draw the Sword of thy Word,Heb. 4.12.Heb 4:12 which is twoedged, that it may cut to the diuiſion of the marrow from the bones. Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Miniſters, but make it a quickning ſpirit, to bring downe great Holdes, & let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes, that thy Miniſtrie may be powerfull, and the world may ſee that thou haſt not left thy Church without both counſell and comfort,1. Pet. 1.221 Pet 1:22 & that men are not only hearers, but alſo doers of thy word.

And againe, I pray for thy Miniſtrie, that they may be faithfull Stewards of thy Myſteries,1. Cor. 3.121 Cor 3:12 vigilant Watchmen, diligent Shepheardes, & wiſe Builders; not of ſtubble,1. Pet. 2.4.1 Pet 2:4 but of Golde, vponupon the foundation which is Chriſt: and that their only care be to ſee the glorie of thy Name, and for the good of the Church, which is our Mother. Bleſſe and increaſe the fruit of her Wombe: let her grow in number like the Starres p. 131of Heauen: let her bee fruitfull in her age: let her ſonnes be like Oliue Plants, bringing foorth fruit: let her daughters be like carued corner Stones,Pſal. 144.12.Ps 144:12 in whoſe hearts thou wilt carue thine Image, in the ſimilitude of a Palace. And bleſſe her with the bleſſing of Heauen, and of the earth, and of the deepe,Gen. 49.25Gen 49:25 and let all the eternall bleſſings which my ſoule can wiſh, bee vponupon thy Spouſe, my Mother, the vniuerſall Church, vponupon all her children, friendes and ſeruants: yea, whoſoeuer loueth the peace of thy Church let them proſper.

I pray namelie to thee, O Lord, for thy Church in France, & Bohemia, Pray for the Church in France, and Bohemia.which thou began with the bloode of innumerable Martyres, & which thou haſt made to grow amongſt the middeſt of thine enemies. Maintaine, O Lord, the vvorke vvhichwhich thou haſt begunne amongſt them: giuegive them wiſedome, that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their aduerſaries: and that in this dangerous time they may cleaue only to thee, who will be both their wiſedome and protection.

p. 132O Lord, looke vponupon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Yle of Britane: thou tranſlated this Vine out of Aegypt, and diddeſt plant a Vine-yarde to thy ſelfe: thou didſt hedge it about with thy prouidence: thou confoundedſt all her enemies, thou buildedſt a watch-tower in the middeſt thereof,Iſa. 5.1.2. &c. Pſal. 80.8.Isa 5:1Isa 5:2Ps 80:8 and ſent watchmen accordingly to giuegive warning to them. But, O Lord, thou crauedſt & lookedſt for wine-grapes, & they yeelded thee wilde-grapes. So that now we deſerue that thou ſhouldeſt pull downe the hedge, and ſuffer the wilde Boare to enter into thy Planting. Remember, O Lord, thine ancient mercies, and forget our iniquities: digge vsus, O Lord, and take paines vponupon vsus, that we may be fruitfull.

And finallie, O Lord, bleſſe all the viſible Congregations of people, who call vponupon thy Name, and all the particular perſons whoſe names are written in the Booke of Life: fill vp the number of thine Elect: cal them effectually, by thy word, that we may bee all one p. 133Folde, vnderunder one chiefe Shepheard. Shorten, O Lord, the dayes of ſinne,Ioh. 10.17.John 10:17 and haſten thy comming, Lord Ieſus: that thy Spouſe beeing prepared, a pure Virgine, ſhe may be taken vp to the newe Hieruſalem, to Heauen,Rev. 21.10Rev 21:10 where after the infinit Battels, & temptations of this world, ſhe may reigne eternallie, and bee crowned in thy Kingdome, with Chriſt, her bleſſed Lord and Sauiour.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPONUPON THE HOLY COMMVNION.

THERE are two great Seales which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word: to wit,Two Seales affixed to the Word. the Sacrament of Baptiſme, and of the Lordes holy Supper. Albeit the Church of the Iewes was loadned with manie Sacraments, p. 134as the Paſſeouer, Circumciſion, Manna,Chriſtians hauehave fewer Sacraments in numbe… than the Iewes, but m…re in ſig…ification, and amplification. the Rocke, the Clowde, the Sea, &c. Yet God hath giuen the Chriſtian Church Numero pauciora, factu faciliora, & ſignificatione ampliora: that is, Fewer in number, eaſier to be done, and of more large ſignification.

The Sacrament of Baptiſme, is a Sacrament of Initiation, when wee are entered into the Familie of God: and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sacrament of Confirmation, whereby the Children of God, who are ſpirituallie borne in Baptiſme, in the Bath of Regeneration, by the remiſſion of their ſinnes, in Chriſtes bloode, which is ſignified by the waſhing of water, the ſame are fedde at his Table, in the Sacrament of the Supper; & are fedde by Chriſtes bodie and blood,Po…h the Sac aments ha e one ſubſtance. vntounto euerlaſting Life.

Both theſe Sacramentes offer one Chriſt, who is the ſubſtance and matter of them both, 1albeit diuerſlie. Firſt, the diuerſitie is in the time:The Sacraments differ in …e things. for Baptiſme muſt goe before the Supper: neither can anie communicate who are p. 135not firſt baptized. Next, Baptiſme to one, the Supper to manie; 2for otherwiſe it could not bee called a Communiō, as the Maſſe-Prieſt taketh it alone. Thirdlie, They differ in the Elements; 3the one being receiued in Water, the other in Bread and Wine. 4Fourthlie, in the manner of receiuing: in Baptiſme the receiuer is meere paſſiue, doing nothing himſelfe, but offering himſelfe, and ſuffering himſelfe to bee waſhen by another. In the Supper the receiuer is actiue, and that which is offered vntounto him hee taketh, eateth, and drinketh. The ſuperſtitious Papiſt would put it into his mouth for holineſſe. And finallie, 5Baptiſme is miniſtrated but once,Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil.Luke 22:191 Cor 11:25 and cannot bee reiterated: the Supper as often as wee doe it, ſayeth our Sauiour. There is a reiteration: for as a childe is once infeſted in his fathers heritage, but hee is fedde daylie at his fathers table: ſo once baptized, may often communicate.

The neceſſitie of the Word and Sacramēts.But now (God willing) wee ſhall ſpeake ſomething of the neceſſitie of the Word and Sacraments. The Word p. 136is neceſſarie to ſaluation, foreign, ſimplie, thoſe who are come to age, without the which they cannot bee ſaued. The Sacramentes are neceſſarie, foreign, conditionallie they may bee had. So I ſay with Augustine, August.Non carentia, ſed contemptis Baptiſmi damnat: that is, Not the want, but the contempt of Baptiſme condemneth men.Ioſh. 5.Josh 5 For as in the Wilderneſſe many died, who were not circumciſed, Circumciſion then being more ſtrictly vrged than Baptiſme is now,Exod. 4.24Exod 4:24 and of a like power and ſignification, yet vve vvill not judge thoſe who ſo died to be damned: no more reaſon is it, that thoſe who are preuented by death, or excluded by neceſſity, bee in danger of damnation, lacking Baptiſme.

Preparation to the Sacrament is neceſſarie.A man ſhould not ſet himſelfe to any graue action, without deliberation, much leſſe vntounto this, which is the graueſt of all others, the Supper of the Lord: he ſhould firſt try, and examine himſelfe. Firſt let vsus try our repentance: next, our faith: and thirdlie, our louelove. p. 137Our repentance muſt bee tryed by the Lawe,How to try thy repentance. without the which there is no knowledge of ſinne. Examine our ſelues, and judge our ſelues, that God doe not judge vsus. Spare not to ſearch all the corners of thine heart, that there be no hid leauen therein: try what ſorrow thou haſt for thy former life, and in what meaſure: for manie ſinnes, doe craue many teares;Luke 7.38Luke 7:38 as the Magdalen waſhed Chriſts feete with her teares, and Dauid his bed. Next,Pſalm. 6.6Ps 6:6 try the trueth and ſinceritie of thy repentance: for God doeth louelove the trueth in the inward parts. And be ſorrowfull,Pſal. 51.6Ps 51:6 not for any paine which hath befallen thee for thy ſinnes, but for offending God thereby.

Try thy faith, & ſee that thou hauehave knowledge to vnderſtand what is giuen thee:How to try thy fayth. for ignorance ſecludeth thee from the Sacraments. And next, that thou canſt apply to thy felt that which thou doeſt receiue, externally in the elements, and internally by faith in Chriſt.

Finally, try thy louelove, that it be without p. 138hypocriſie: for there is no conjunction with the head,How to try thy louelove. vnleſſe there bee communion with the members of the bodie. Therefore, purge your ſelues from the leauen of maliciouſneſſe and bitterneſſe:1. Cor. 5.71 Cor 5:7 yea, pardon your enemies heartilie, and pray for them, if ye deſire that at this holy Sacramēt God ſhould be mercifull vntounto your ſinnes.

The honourable receiuing of the Sacramēts.Both the Sacramentes craue a like reuerence, as they are of a like ſubſtance and weight: and therefore we ought to come with all humilitie and reuerence to that moſt holie Supper, both in bodie and ſoule, praying that God Almightie would bleſſe this his ordinance, and make it ſteadable to our ſaluation: and then receiuing it in all deautifull reuerence, let vsus apply it to our owne comfort, rendering thanks to God for this ineſtimable benefite, in giuing his Sonne to the death for our redemption.

p. 139A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORDES SVPPER.

O Lord God, moſt gracious, moſt holy, & moſt glorious, I thy poore creature, moſt filthie, and vnworthie, moſt graceles, and ingracious, moſt contemptible and vilde worme, doe heere preſent my ſelfe before thine holy Majeſtie, crauing at thine handes, that I may bee worthily prepared to receiue the body and blood of Ieſus Chriſt, to mine eternall ſaluation: and to this effect, I beſeech thee, that thou wilt remooue from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiuing of the ſame: & namely, ignorance, which blindeth my minde: infidelitie, and damnable hypocriſie. O merciful father, repleniſh me with th…ne holy Spirit, p. 140that I may know and vnderſtand the myſterie of my redemption, and truly apply it to mine owne ſoule, and in all ſinceritie and ſingleneſſe of heart render all praiſe, honour, and glorie, to thy Majeſtie for the ſame. O Lord, the blinde dulneſſe of my minde will not ſuffer me ſufficiently to acknowledge theſe thy moſt ample benefits: the height, the length, the breadth, and the deepneſſe whereof neither man nor Angel euer was able to ſound: yet I am perſwaded that all my ſaluation conſiſteth in the death and paſſion of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST, who died for the ſinnes of the world: and therefore I humbly beg at thy Majeſty, that as I receiue theſe outward elements at thy commandement, & eat and drinke thereof in rememberance of him,Nota. ſo it will pleaſe thee, ſecretlie to communicate the vertue of his blood to my ſoule, which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternall life: by whoſe power alſo, and force of his death, all my wicked and ſinfull affections may be crucified: and finally, by the aide & p. 141protection of his blood I may bee defended from all my ſpirituall and temporall enemies, from all temptations and dangers, and by the ſelfe ſame his bodie & blood, I may be ſtrengthened to fight my ſpiritual battels, and to goe forward in my ſpirituall journey, to that Land of Canaan: in the which battell and journey helpe me, good Lord, by the precious merite of thy deare SONNE, CHRIST IESVS, to whom with thee and thine holy ſpirit, bee all honour, glorie, and dominion, for euer.

AMEN.

A THANKESGIVING, AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMVNION.

O Moſt gracious God, I heartilie thanke thee for this thy moſt excellent benefit which thou haſt beſtowed vponupon mee, euen the bodie and blood of thy Sonne, p. 142Chriſt Ieſus, for the ſaluation of my ſoule. I beſeech thee, moſt mercifull father, that thou wouldeſt beſtowe thine holy ſpirit vponupon me, that I may honour and ſerue thee all the dayes of my life, that the corruption of my nature may be beaten downe, and the Image of God may bee more clearely ſeene in me, that I may caſt off the olde man,Colloſſ. 3.9. with the luſts thereof, and put on the newe man, which is formed after God, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe.

Nowe, O Lord, thou haſt fed me with the moſt excellent foode which thou hadſt, and haſt ſlaine thy fatted Calfe for me:Luk. 15.23Luke 15:23 Therefore grant that I may honour thee, as my Father, and beſtow all the actions of my life, the motions of my minde, & the ſpeaches of my mouth, to ſet foorth thy praiſes in this world: that I become neuer vnthankfull and ingrate, to meete thy good benefits with my ſinnes. To thee therefore, O Lord, with thy Sonne, and holy Spirit, be all prayſe, and honour, for euermore.

Amen.

p. 143A MEDITATION OF THE TROVBLE OF CONSCIENCE.

AS it is eaſie to ſpeake of Sickneſſes, and deadlie Diſeaſes, incureable; ſo men may ſpeake of a troubled Conſcience: but none can ſpeake of either of them more powerfullie or comfortablie, than thoſe who hauehave experimented them both: therfore let vsus ſpeake firſt of Conſcience it ſelfe: and next, of her diſeaſes and troubles: and laſt, of the remedies anenſt a grieuous and troubled Conſcience.

Conſcience is a compoſed worde of Con and Science; ſo that it muſt hauehave a knowledge of ſinne,What Conſcience is. and ſomewhat more; that is, a feeling, conjoyned with p. 144the knowledge. There are manie who ſinne ignorantlie, thinking that they doe God good ſeruice, as Saul did, and the Iewes, 1. Timot. 1.13. Rom. 10.2.Rom 10:2of whome hee beareth witneſſe, that they hauehave the zeale of God without knowledge: others knowe their ſinne, and that they are into a wrong courſe, hauing Science, without Conſcience; and Knowledge, without Feeling: and theſe are in a worſe caſe: for their knowledge maketh to their farther damnation.

God hath erected a Tribunall in man,Conſcience is Gods Tribunall. Iudge, Accuſer, and Burrio. & hath ſet it in his heart, fenſing the Court of Conſcience, wherein he maketh both Index, Index, & Vindex: that is, Attourney, Iudge, and Burrio. There is no Subterfuge againſt the accuſations of the conſcience, no excuſes, no replyes, no dilators, but ſhe muſt ſimplie confeſſe: And as ſhe giueth vp dittie againſt her ſelfe, ſo ſhe giueth ſentence of condemnation for her ſinnes, according to the law of God: wherevpon ariſeth ſuch torments, & tortures in the conſcience, and an Hell begun, and a fire kindled, which ſhall neuer be p. 145quenched, vnleſſe God by the bloode of his Chriſt quench the ſame.

The tenderneſſe of the Conſcience.The Conſcience is a verie tender thing, and doeth examine the quieteſt thoughts of the minde, which other men doe paſſe lightly; it cenſureth the ſmalleſt words, or ydle ſpeaches; challenging man that he muſt bee comptable for them: it chargeth mens looks, as Iob ſayeth, I hauehave made a couenant with mine owne eyes, his hearing, taſting,Iob 51.1. and all his other ſenſes, ſo that the ſmalleſt thought is more grieuous to a feeling conſcience, than the worſt actions are to a ſleeping conſcience, or to a reprobate.

This Conſcience is common to the Elect, & reprobat.Rom. 1.24.25.26. &c.Rom 1:24Rom 1:25Rom 1:26 The Hethniks looked to the glaſſe of nature, and their conſcience mutually accuſing or excuſing them: but Chriſtians looke vntounto the glaſſe of the Law, and ſee there what they hauehave done, well or euill.

The Hethniks deſcribe Conſcience, Magna est vis conſcientiae in vtram que partem, vt neque timeant, qui nihil commiſerint, Cic. pro Milone.& poenam ſemper ante oculos verſari putent qui p. 146peccarint: that is, Great is the force of the Conſcience on both ſides, that neither they are feared who did no wrong, & thoſe who hauehave offēded, ſuppoſe puniſhment euer to be before their eyes. Then if this be into the Hethniks, much more ought it to be in Chriſtians, who ſee clearly either God allowing their good actions, whereby there is bred an vnſpeakable tranquillitie and peace to their ſoules: or diſſallowing them, whereby the infernal furies are kindled within them.

In the trouble of Conſcience there ariſeth a fire of the wrath of God,The trouble of Conſcience. conceiued againſt our ſinnes: out of the which fire ariſeth ſuch a ſmoak, which letteth vsus ſee nothing in God but juſtice: and where the Creator is obſcured, and his light eclipſed, nothing appeareth vntounto vsus on earth but darkneſſe. All the creatures, yea, the deareſt vntounto them, ſeeme to be their enemies: for when the Sunne is darkened,Simil. what maruell is it that there bee no light on the earth? or what comfort can all the creatures miniſter vntounto vsus, when the p. 147Creator draweth back his coūtenance from vsus?Simil. As if the King would looke downe vponupon a Subject, who dare countenance him any longer?

This ſort of temptation befel Dauid, Pſal. 22.1. Narke 15.34. Christ had trouble of conſcience. Iohn 5.4.Ps 22:1John 5:4and to our Lord himſelfe vponupon the Croſſe, who cryed, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Neither ſhall we account them the leſſe beloued of God, who are thus tryed; for as the poole of Betheſda, being troubled by the Angel, brought preſent health to him who was caſten into it; ſo a troubled conſcience, in Gods merciemercy, bringeth ſaluation and comfort to a Chriſtian. And as Medicine that worketh vehemently, after bringeth health,Simil. ſo doeth tranquillitie and peace come after a troubled conſcience.

Pretended trouble, and true differ.But many pretende a trouble of conſcience, when there is nothing in them but a furious madneſſe, and a melanchollious deſperate diffidence in God, for perplexities & miſeries whereinto they are brought: where there is a manifeſt difference betwixt that their paine and the other, in that the godly p. 148are only pained for the ſinnes which they hauehave done againſt God;Trouble worketh diuerſlie in the godlie and wicked. the other for the calamities whereinto their ſins hauehave brought them. True it is, they acknowledge their ſin to be the cauſe of it, but they are not moued for the ſin, but for the paine.

Now ſeeing the ſpirit of man can beare all externall paines,Prou. 18.14.Prov 18:14 but who can beare a wounded ſpirit? therefore let vsus ſee what remedies can be applied to cure the diſeaſes of the Conſcience.

Remedies againſt a troubled conſcience.Firſt, it is neceſſary that the doctrine of faith bee propounded, whereby the conſcience terrified with Gods judgementes, may bee ſtrengthened by his mercies: and it is requiſit that all the places of Scriptures, which promiſe Gods merciemercy, ſhould bee propounded vntounto the patient.

Next, that an interpreter, one of a thouſand, may bee ſought, who may pray for him, as a ſpirituall Phyſician to his ſoule.

Thirdly, that he be frequent in reading, and praying, that he enter not into temptation: and then thus being p. 149exerciſed, by Gods helpe hee will recouer.

And after his recouerie, let him take heede to himſelfe, that he grieue not Gods Spirit, but walke in feare and trembling; and he ſhall finde ſuch exceſſiue joy after that trouble, as hee neuer did in all his life before. For as after the Winter blaſts,Simil. the Sunne ſhineth more comfortably in Sommer, ſo after a troubled conſcience commeth greateſt tranquillitie to our minds: & after the raging ſtormes of the Sea, commeth greateſt tranquillitie, and calmneſſe,Simil. ſo after a diſquieted minde God ſendeth greateſt conſolations.

A PRAYER FOR A TROVBLED CONSCIENCE.

O Lord, art thou alſo become mine enemie? haſt thou hid thy countenance in diſpleaſure? p. 150Oh, that my griefe vvere vvell weighed,Iob 6.2.Job 6:2 and my miſeries laide together in the Ballance: they would bee farre heauier than the ſand of the Sea: for thine Arrowes are in me, and the venome thereof drinketh vp my ſpirit. I eate Gall for my Meat,Pſa. 69.21Ps 69:21 & my Drinke is mingled with Vinegar. Oh, that God would deſtroy me. I burne with ſorrow: ſpare me not, O Lord: yet hauehave I not denyed the wordes of the holie One:Iob 6.10.11. Iob 7.6. &cJob 6:10Job 6:11Job 7:6 my ſtrength is not the ſtrēgth of a ſtone: my dayes are ſwifter than a Weauers ſhottle,Iob 7.6. &cJob 7:6 and flie away like the winde. I ſpeake to thee, O Lord, in the trouble of my ſpirit, and moue in the bitterneſſe of my minde. Am I a Whale fiſh, that I am kept in ward? I abhorre my life, for my paine is greater than I am able to beare.Geneſ. 4.13 Iob 19.13. &c.Gen 4:13Job 19:13 I hauehave none now to help me: all hauehave forſaken me. I am left to be a prey to my ſpirituall enemies: thou haſt ſet my ſecret ſinnes in the light of thy countenance. I inherit now the ſinnes of my youth,Iob 20.11. and 7.3. Pſa. 50.21Job 20:11Job 7:3Ps 50:21 and the moneths of vanitie, which I paſſed. Thou haſt put my ſinnes in order, and p. 151thoſe things which I thought light, by ydle thoughts and ſpeaches, now I finde them like mountaines: ſo terrible is thy Tribunal, and thy Face burning like fire. The Heauens are not cleane before thee:Iob 4.28. and 15.15 and 15.16Job 4:28Job 15:15Job 15:16 thou foundeſt no ſteadfaſtneſſe in the Angels, how much leſſe can I, who hauehave drunken in iniquitie like water, bee juſtified before thee? If I would juſtifie my ſelfe, when thou haſt reaſoned with me,& 9.3.20. mine owne mouth would condemne me: though I were juſt, yet I could not anſwer, but I would mak ſupplication to my Iudge.and 9.15. If I waſh me with ſnow water, & purge mine hands moſt cleanly,& 9.30.31 yet ſhalt thou plunge me into the pitte, & mine own cloathes ſhall make me filthie.

What ſhall I doe, O thou Sauiour of men? Wilt thou abſent thy ſelfe for euer? Hath God forgotten to be mercifull?Pſal. 77.7.8.9. &c.Ps 77:7Ps 77:8Ps 77:9 Will hee ſhow no more fauour to my miſerable ſoul? doth his promiſe faile for euermore? hath he ſhut vp his tender mercies in diſpleaſure? He hath lifted me vp, and caſten me down again. He hath ſhot at me with his Arrowes, p. 152as at a marke. Then I ſaid, This is my death.Iob 7.20. and 16.13 Pſa. 77.10Job 7:20Job 16:13Ps 77:10 Yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the moſt High, and how he deliuered his children by his mightie arme. Is the Lord like man, that he can repent? and, Whom he loueth,1. Sam. 15.29.1 Sam 15:29 doeth he not louelove to the end? Manie pledges of thy fauour I hauehave receiued in my youth: wilt thou nowe reject me, in my gray haires? Is there any ſhaddowe of change in thee? Albeit all men be liars, yet thou art faithfull, and conſtant for euer. Thy Sonne ſaid, Heauen and Earth ſhould periſh, but one jot of thy word ſhould not fall to the ground.Matth. 24.35.Matt 24:35 But all the Scriptures proclaime thy merciemercy: thou cryedſt in the Campe of Iſrael, with thine owne voyce, The Lord is mercifull, full of compaſſiō, & of great kindneſſe,Exo. 34.16Exod 34:16 ſhewing merciemercy vntounto thouſands. Therefore, O Lord, hauehave merciemercy vponupon me miſerable wretch, cure my wounds, powre in the Oyle and Wine of thy Sonnes blood and ſpirit, that I may be made whole. For out of the deepe places of a grieued heart hauehave I calledPſa. 130.1Ps 130:1 p. 153vponupon thee. If thou wouldeſt obſerue mine iniquities, vvho can be ſaued?Pſa. 130.3 4.Ps 130:3 But merciemercy is with thee, that thou mayeſt be feared: For euen as when the Sunne departeth in Winter, then all tempeſts ariſe, Snow, Haile, Froſt,Simil: Windes, &c: ſo when thou obſcureſt thy countenance from me, then the Winter of all tēptations ariſeth aganſt me: the Deuill, my ſpirituall enemie, raiſeth vp ſuch fearfull temptations, that through the multitude of ſinnes, he terrifieth me; euen in the night, when I would hauehave ſlept, he thought to hauehave made me to deſpare of thy mercies: but, O Lord, I know that thy mercies are more infinite than my ſins are, or can bee: yea, though my ſinnes be moe than the haires of mine head,Pſa. 40.12Ps 40:12 yet thy mercies are as the Sandes of the Sea, or the Starres of Heauen, which cannot be numbred. Therefore, O God, let thy face ſhine vponupon mee, and I ſhall bee ſaued.Pſa. 31.16Ps 31:16 Mine enemies are riſen vp againſt me, and as thornes they pricke me on euerie ſide:Pſa. 42.10 Pſal. 22.8.Ps 42:10Ps 22:8 they ſay, Now where is thy God? he truſted in p. 154the Lord, let him deliuer him: let him ſaue him, ſeeing he loueth him. Pſa. 38.20 and 11. Pſal. 41.9.Ps 38:20Ps 38:11Ps 41:9Yea, thoſe who render euill for good are mine enemies, becauſe I followe goodneſſe. My friends and familiars hauehave forſaken me, and he that ate at my table, hath lifted vp his heele againſt me: yea, he with whom I went vntounto the Houſe of God, and communed with him of ſpirituall matters, and who prayed with me, and exerciſed the parts of diuine worſhip, doeth ſcorne me, ſaying, Where is thy confidence, thine hope, and thy feare, which thou haſt of God? But, O Lord, let me not be aſhamed,Pſal. 25.3.Ps 25:3 becauſe I put my truſt in thee.

O thou Sunne of righteouſneſſe, come with the bright beames of thy countenance: diſperſe and chaſe away the clowdes of my ſinnes, and of all theſe temptations: chaſe away my ſpirituall aduerſaries, and giuegive not my temporall enemies cauſe to rejoyce ouer me, neither yet to diſhonour thine holie Name; that when others ſay, Beholde, this poore man called vponupon the Lord in his miſerie, Pſal. 34.6.Ps 34:6and he heard the voyce of his p. 155prayer; they may turne alſo vntounto thee, and be ſaued: for I will conſecrate my ſelfe to thy Name for euer, through Chriſt Ieſus, my Lord and Sauiour: to whom, together with thee, O Father, and the holie Spirite, bee all prayſe, honour, glorie, power, and dominion, World without ende. So be it.

A MEDITATION VPONUPON THE ESTATE OF KINGES.

KINGES are the principall and chiefe mēbers of the Church, and are Heads of that Church which is within their Dominions: and therefore euerie King ought to doe the part of an Head vntounto her: that is, To fore-ſee her wealth, maintaine her libertie, ſpeake p. 156for her, heare thoſe things which concerne her weale, defende her from perſecution and oppreſſion, and that ſhee bee not craftilie dealt withall, as Pharoah did to the Iſraelites: Exod. 1.10 11 Pſal. 45.7.Exod 1:10Ps 45:7leſt they touch the Lordes Anointed, and hee rebuke them, and roote them out,

All good Chriſtians are moſt duetifullie bound to pray for Kinges,1. Tim. 2.2.1 Tim 2:2 (yea, although they were euill, as Samuel prayed for Saul: 1. Sam. 16.1.1 Sam 16:1and the Apoſtle Sainct Paul in verie manie places of his Epiſtles, admoniſheth and chargeth vsus to pray for Kinges, Magiſtrates, and all ſuch as are in authoritie) and not to ſay with ſome phantaſticke perſons, that they cannot finde an heart to pray for them: for theſe ſort of people are Welles without Water.2. Pet. 2.172 Pet 2:17

If the Kinges bee perſecuters, let vsus heartilie pray to GOD to conuert them: if they bee Nouriſh-fathers, let vsus beſeech the Lord long to continue them, and their poſteritie. Yea, wee ought not onelie outwarldlie and publicklie to pray for Kinges; but alſo inwardlie, and in our ſecret thoughtes, to p. 157nouriſh a reuerent and honourable rememberance of them,NOTA. and to ſpeake reuerentlie of them, leſt the Fowles of the Aire carrie it away: and wee ought by all meanes to procure for their preſeruation: for they are (as was ſayde to Dauid) better than ten thouſand of vsus.2. Sam. 18.3.2 Sam 18:3

To oppone our ſelues againſt Kings, Princes, or other Magiſtrates, doeth greatlie ſmell of Antichristianiſme and Poperie, Antichriſtianiſme to oppone to Princes.whatſoeuer colour of zeale it ſeemeth to hauehave. And indeede Kings hauehave power of Procuration, for the proſperitie of the Church: but as for Adminiſtration, it belongeth onelie to the Clergie.1. Chronic. 13.10.1 Chr 13:10 The example of Vzza may bee a ſufficient warning for Princes, that they paſſe not the limites preſcribed vntounto them by God: For if there bee a woe threatned againſt thoſe who remooue the auncient Marches,Deuter. 27.17.Deut 27:17 farre greater ſhall the malediction bee vponupon ſuch as ſhall remooue thoſe Marches which God hath ſet betwixt himſelfe and Man,Exod. 19.24.Exod 19:24 and which Hee interdicted vponupon Mount SION.

p. 158A PRAYER FOR THE KINGS MAIESTY, AND HIS ROYALL SEEDE.

O KING of Kinges, vntounto whom all the World doeth appertaine, I thy poore creature, according to thy commandement, and as I am bound, doe humbly pray to thy moſt excellent Majeſtie, that thou wouldeſt bleſſe and preſerue all KINGES, Princes, and Magiſtrates, that they may be mindfull of thee, & of their Calling; that they were raiſed vp by thee: (for preferment commeth not from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt:) to the ende that they may leade thy people in thy wayes. O Lord, ſanctifie them, and bleſſe them, that they may diſcharge their duetie faithfullie, to the glorie of thy Name, & the weale of thy Church. Conuert, ô Lord, the perſecuters of thy Church, informe p. 159their ignorance by thy worde, and let them acknowledge their only honour to ſtand in the ſeruice which they doe to Chriſt. But thoſe who maliciouſly ſet themſelues aganſt thee, and againſt thy Kingdome, O Lord, ouerthrow them in the righteouſneſſe of thy judgemēt, as thou diddeſt Herod, Pharoah, Saul, Achab, Iulian the Apoſtate,Act. 12.23 Exo. 14.28 1. Sam. 31.4. 1. King. 22 34.Acts 12:23Exod 14:281 Sam 31:41 Kgs 22:34 & all others, who oppoſed themſelus to thee, and to thy Chriſt; as the Turke, & Antichriſt the Pope doeth, whom, O Lord, we beſeech thee, to confound.

But in ſpeciall, O Lord, I pray to thee for our Soueraigne Lord, the KINGES Majeſtie: indue him with the giftes of thine holie Spirit, anſwerable for his high Calling: giuegive him wiſdome and vnderſtanding, as thou gaueſt Salomon; 1 King. 3.9 2. King. 18 4. &c. 2. King. 23 4. &c. 1. Sam. 6.71 Kgs 3:92 Kgs 18:42 Kgs 23:41 Sam 6:7by the which he may goe in & out wiſely before the people: giuegive vntounto him the zeale of Ioſias, and Ezechias, and make him like Dauid, a man after thine owne heart, who may guide thy people in thy wayes, that he may proſper. Bleſſe his Majeſties p. 158duplicate page p. 159duplicate page p. 160Royall body, with long life, and good health, and guard him by thine inuiſible protection, that none of his enemies hauehave power againſt him: but as thou haſt kept his ſacred perſon euen from his mothers wombe to his gray haires, now thou wilt not caſt off thine ancient care toward him; but keep him in thy right hand. And aboue all, preſerue him frō the ſecret & treaſonable inuaſions of the Pope, and his treacherous Ieſuits, who alreadie interpryſed his death by Powder, but thou diſappointedſt them. And for this we thanke thee, beſeeching thee to keepe him ſtill from thoſe blooddie murtherers, and all traitours, both forraine & domeſticke, who attempt any euill againſt him. Bleſſe his gouernament, O Lord, that the Righteous may flouriſh in his dayes, & that he may, by Iuſtice, bring Peace vntounto thy people.

Bleſſe, O Lord, Prince CHARLES his grace, print thy true feare & knowledge in his tender heart, that he may bee a bleſſing to all his fathers dominions.

p. 161Bleſſe that royal Prince & Princeſſe, the King and Queene of BOHEMIA, and their Children: bleſſe, keepe, and defend them, that they may flouriſh in grace and honour to the worlds ende: that when they ſhall lay downe their temporall crownes at thy feete, then thou mayeſt crowne euerie one of them, and their royall Seede, with that vnchangeable Crowne of Glorie, through Chriſt, our onlie Sauiour, & Aduocate.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPONUPON SICKNESSE.

SIckneſſe is a Schoole of God,Sickneſſe is the Lordes Schoole. whereunto he putteth his Children to be nurtured, and Diſcipline there to bee vſed vponupon them. At this School we learne obedience, which we would not learne at the Schoole of the Word. p. 162Wee doe learne at this Schoole a perfect obedience to the wil of God, mortification of our affections, contempt of the world, louelove to our enemies: and finally, he ſo doeth tame our nature, that our ſpirit becommeth obedient to his bleſſed will, foreign, the greateſt Sickneſſe is neuer to be ſicke.The greateſt Sickneſſe, is, neuer to bee▪ ſicke. It is good therefore that we ſhould be corrected, that we periſh not vvith the vvicked world.

Sickneſſe is Medicine, ſomewhat painfull, but wholſome in the ende. The hand which made thee, feedeth thee,Sickneſſe is painfull, but yet healthfull. and it alſo nurtureth thee: therefore refuſe not the correction of God, if thou be his Childe. Sickneſſe is appointed to correct the abuſe of our health, therefore let vsus vſe our health wiſelie, that God be not forced to apply ſharpe remedies to our miſgouernaments.NOTA.

Diuerſitie of ſinnes hath bred diuerſe diſeaſes,Simil. Diuerſe ſinnes, diuerſe diſeaſes. and as the Apothecaries hauehave drogges anſwerable to the ſoares, ſo God hath prepared ſuch a ſickneſſe, which he thinketh meeteſt to remedie p. 163ſuch a ſoare as thou haſt. Therefore thinke not thy diſeaſe to bee fortuite, but by prouidence: and pray that God may worke by it in thine heart that for which he ſent it: that is, a true conuertion of thee vntounto thy God.

If thy diſeaſe be ſharper, aske of God greater meaſure of patience:Patience neceſſerie. 1. Corin. 10 131 Cor 10:13 for God is faithfull, who will not ſuffer thee to be tempted aboue that which thou art able to beare: thine externall man, which is ſo greatlie humbled, ſhall raiſe vp the hidden man of thine heart: ſo thou makeſt a good change.

A PRAYER FOR A SICKE PERSON.

O Moſt mercifull Father, I ackowledge and confeſſe that I am a moſt vild creture, crying to thee, that thou woldeſt heare me, & let my prayer come vntounto thee in thine holy Temple.Ionah 2.3. and 7Jonah 2:3Jonah 2:7 The waues of thy judgemens hauehave gone ouer me, and hauehave p. 164ouerwhelmed me, the venome of thine arrowes hauehave drunken vp my ſpirit,Iob 6.4.Job 6:4 and thine hand is heauie vponupon me: I thoght the day light ſhould hauehave comforted me; but behold, my pangues increaſſed, and my paine ran vponupon me. Then I began to thinke, My bed will giuegive me ſome reſt, but thou affrightedſt me with viſions,Iob 7.13.Job 7:13 and didſt keepe mine eyes waking. My ſtrength faileth with paine,Pſal. 6.2.Ps 6:2 & my bones are conſumed: hauehave merciemercy vponupon me, O Lord, mine eye,Pſal. 31.9.Ps 31:9 my ſoule, and my bellie are conſumed with griefe.

When thou chaſtiſeſt man for his iniquitie,Pſal. 39.5.11Ps 39:5Ps 39:11 thou makeſt his beautie to fade as a Moth. Surelie man in his beſt eſtate is altogether vanitie. O Lord, vvhy art thou ſo farre from mine health,Pſa. 22.1.2Ps 22:1Ps 22:2 & the wordes of my roaring? I cry by day, and thou heareſt not; and in the night I hauehave none audience. My life is drawing neare the graue, and my yeeres to the buriall. There is nothing found in my fleſh,Pſ. 38.3.4Ps 38:3Ps 38:4 becauſe of thine anger; neither reſt in my bones, becauſe of my ſinne. Mine iniquities are gone p. 165ouer mine head, and as a weightie burthen they are too heauie. My reines are all full of burning, and there is no ſtrength found in my fleſh:Ibid. 7. mine heart panteth, my ſtrength faileth mee, and the light of mine eyes,Ibid. 10. euē they are not mine owne: I beſeech thee pittie me, & come in to this bed to comfort me thy poore priſoner. For, Lord, I am a priſoner of hope, & I truſt in thee, though I ſaid in mine haſte, Thou haſt caſten me out of thy preſence; Pſa. 31.22Ps 31:22yet thou wilt heare the voyce of my prayer, when I call vponupon thee. Take away mine iniquities, which are the cauſe of my ſickneſſe. Purge me from theſe filthie humours, which are the matter of my ſickneſſe: that theſe ſinnes of corrupt humours being remooued, my paine may bee mitigated. My ſinne inwardly preſſeth me downe, and my diſeaſes thereby are augmented. Hide thy face from my ſinnes, and put away mine iniquities. Create a new heart in mee,Pſa. 51.10Ps 51:10 and renew a right ſpirit within me. Let my paine aſſwadge a little, that I may gather my ſtrength, yet before I goe hence,Pſa. 39.13Ps 39:13 and be p. 166no more. Nowe I call to minde my ſinnes, by the which I hauehave prouoked thee to wrath, & I looke to thee, whom I hauehave rejected: I hauehave multiplied mine iniquities againſt thee, and thou moſt juſtlie haſt doubled the ſtripes vponupon me. Cure my ſinnes by thy corrections: I refuſe not to be corrected, but doe it to me in thy merciemercy, and let me feele the merciful hand of thy Spirit bearing me vp, and comforting me: let me heare his voyce ſpeaking peace to my ſoule. GiueGive comfort to mine inward man, as I hauehave ſickneſſe which beareth downe mine outward man. Thou wenteſt downe with Daniel to the denne,Dan. 6.22. and 3.25.Dan 6:22Dan 3:25 and with the thrie Children to the fire: refuſe not to viſit this thy poore priſoner, in this bed of ſickneſſe: and if I finde thee with me, I am content euer to abide heere. Forgiue me, O Lord, the abuſe of my former health: ſurelie thou haſt juſtly puniſhed the abuſe thereof in wantonneſſe, in ryot, & exceſſe, in the pleaſures of my fleſh. Now my fleſh is puniſhed; for my fooliſh delights are turned vntounto gall and p. 167bitterneſſe. Waſh & cleanſe me in thy Sonne, Ieſus Chriſt, his holy bloode, that I may be as white as ſnow, and my fooliſhneſſe may not be in thy rememberance.Pſal. 51.7.Ps 51:7

O, fy vponupon the world, which I loued, and thought it my felicitie: nowe it is a burthen to me: when I deſired to be rich, I fell into many temptations, and with Zacheus greedilie drew to me that vvhichwhich I doe now moſt willinglie reject, and caſt from me. Lord,Luke 19.8Luke 19:8 thou art mine only Phyſician, neither hauehave I gone with Ahaziah, 2. King. 1.2. 2. Chro. 16.122 Kgs 1:22 Chr 16:12to ſeeke after Beelzebib the God of Ekron: neither with Aſa put I my confidence in Phyſicians; but in the liuing God.

O Lord, cure me: helpe me, O my God, who made me: thou art mine health, my ſtrength, and my Sauiour. If mine health may ſerue any wayes to further for thy glorie, I pray thee for to reſtore me. Let me goe to the Houſe of the LORD, and prayſe thee:Pſal. 6.5.Ps 6:5 for the dead will not praiſe thee; and thoſe who goe downe to the pitte, will not magnifie thy Name. Let me not goe p. 168out of this bed to diſhonour thee, but that I may receiue a new life from thee, to leade a new life before thee. And if thou haſt appointed that by this ſickneſſe thou vvilt drawe me home to thee, then I beſeech thee prepare my ſoule, and make it readie, and giuegive me before I come to thee, a cleare ſight of thee, and an earneſt deſire to be with thee:2. Cor. 12.2 3.4.5. &c. Phil. 1.2 3.2 Cor 12:2Phil 1:2 for when Sainct Paule ſaw the Heauens, it is no maruell that he deſired to be diſſolued, & to be with thee. In the meane time, I commit my bodie, and my ſoule to thy pleaſure and good will: diſpone them as thou thinkeſt meeteſt for thy glorie, that whether I liue or die, Chriſt may bee mine aduantage.Phil. 1.4.Phil 1:4 Onlie I craue, holie FATHER, that I may ſo depende vponupon thee in this my diſeaſe, that I neuer depart from thee to any other. I craue alſo holie patience, by the which I may patientlie abide to be corrected by this viſitation,Matth. 11 29.Matt 11:29 & to beare thy yoke willinglie, & drinke this cuppe chearfullie and heartilie; aſſuring my ſelfe, that all theſe troubles in ende ſhall p. 169worke together for the beſt to me: that is,Simil. that by them I may bee tryed as Golde in the fire; and my droſſe being purged, I may ſerue thee more perfectly all the dayes of my life, through Chriſt my Sauiour.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A WOMAN IN TRAVELL WITH CHILD.

O Lord God, and moſt mercifull Father, I thy poore creature, whome thou haſt bound vp with the bandes of this Sickneſſe, doe preſent my ſelfe vponupon the knees both of my bodie and ſoule: euen I thy poore ſupplicant, whome thou putteſt vponupon my knees in this my trauell; that I may learne to knowe that there is no helpe at all for mee, but that which I muſt beg from thee in this my tribulation.

And becauſe this paine of mine hath p. 170come to all Women, by the tranſgreſſion of Eua the firſt Woman,Gen. 3.16.Gen 3:16 let me remember that ſinne is the mother of theſe pangues, foraſmuch as all hauehave ſinned, and muſt be partakers of their ſorrowes. O Lord, I confeſſe I hauehave ſinned with the reſt of my Sexe, and I am now puniſhed with them, as thou gaueſt out ſentence againſt them all. But, Lord, I pray thee, for Ieſus ſake, who was the Seede of the Woman, that thou wouldeſt looſe the bandes of my ſinne.Gen. 3.15.Gen 3:15 Pittie me, pittie me now, O deare Father, for thy Chriſts ſake. Woe is me, that my pleaſure in ſinne ſhould hauehave brought mee to ſuch diſpleaſure. But theſe are the wages of ſinne. Forgiue me, O Lord, my ſinnes, and let the bonds thereof be broken, that thou mayeſt looſe me out of the bondes of this diſeaſe wherewith I am bound.

When thou ſpakeſt of the greateſt paine, thou comparedſt it to the pangues of a woman who trauelleth with child:Iſa. 13.8.Isa 13:8 then, ſince my pangues are moſt vehement, moſt ſudden, & hauehave come to mee before I was aware, O Lord, p. 171let thy power bee ſo much the more towards me, to deliuer me: let my greateſt miſerie bee the object of thy greateſt compaſſion. Therefore nowe, O Lord, helpe mee, for the helpe of man or woman is all in vaine: pittie the workmanſhip which it hath pleaſed thee to frame in my wombe: alace, bring it, and draw it out of my bellie. Thou haſt framed my Childe in a ſecret place: thou haſt brought it to the point of perfection, and there is no ſtrength in me to bring it foorth: but, O my God, euen when I am weakeſt, bee thou ſtrongeſt, yea, then let thy power and merciemercy ſhewe it ſelfe to come in a due and acceptable time. Glorifie thy ſelfe, O Father, in my weakneſſe: and theſe perſons which are now preſent with mee, let them all bee witneſſes of thy mercifull deliuerie, and preſeruation of mee and my Childe: for I will heere lie downe at thy feete, and crie out vntounto thee,Pſal. 69.3.Ps 69:3 euen till I be hoarce: neither will I ceaſe my groaninges, and fearfull ſhouts, vntill it ſhall pleaſe thee to relieue mee.

p. 172O God, thou Father of Heauen, let not this bee my Benoni, Gen. 35.18Gen 35:18that is, the child of my trouble; but let it bee my Benjamin, the childe of my dayes: and I will conſecrate mine Infant vntounto thee and thy ſeruice, in whatſoeuer calling thou pleaſeſt to employ it: giuegive mee it, and I will giuegive it to thee:1. Sam. 1.27.1 Sam 1:27 for, alace, I deſire from thee no children to receiue life, but ſuch as ſhall bee partakers of Life eternall.

Now, Lord, helpe mee, and renewe my ſtrength, that when thou haſt deliuered me, I may rejoyce in the worke of thy merciemercy, and feaſt not to my fleſhlie deſires, but to the honour of thee, my God, whoſe merciemercy endureth for euer.Pſa. 136.1Ps 136:1 Oh, Lord, my ſtrength is dried vp like a potſheard,Pſa. 22.15Ps 22:15 and yet I ſeeke no meanes for my reliefe but onlie out of thine hand. I commit my ſelfe whollie to thy Majeſties good will and pleaſure; and I will not onelie ſacrifice vntounto thee the Calues of my lippes,Hoſ. 14.2Hos 14:2 but alſo of a moſt thankfull heart, whenſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe thee to releaſe mee: yea, and whatſoeuer I ſhall p. 173receiue of thee, that ſhal I render backe againe vntounto thee.

Euen nowe thou gaueſt mee ſome relent and caſment of my pangues: but now my ſorrowes are increaſed againe. Oh, for Ieſus Chriſtes ſake, who by his holie Birth hath taken away the ſinne of our birth, hauehave merciemercy vponupon mee, and purge my birth. GiueGive mee, I beſeech thee, a comfortable deliuerie of my childe, that wee both may prayſe thee all our life, and ſpend our dayes in thy true feare and ſeruice, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF PERSECVTION.

AMongſt many Rods whereby GOD correcteth his Childrē, there bee chiefelie three; to wit, the Sword, the Famine, and the Peſtilence: which were all giuen to Dauids choyſe:2. Sam. 24.14.2 Sam 24:14 of the which three hee choſe the Peſt, p. 174vvilling rather to come vnderunder the Lords hands, than mans: not but that the Sword & Famine were alſo in the hand of God; but mediatelie, for the Peſt is immediatelie the hand of God. It ſeemeth harde that Suſanna ſhould chooſe the handes of man, rather than Gods, and Dauid rather the hand of God, than of men. It is to bee vnderſtoode, that Dauid was meaning of his merciemercy,Re…onciliation betwixt Dauids and Suſannaes choyſe. and Suſanna of his juſtice: for the merciemercy of God is greater than the merciemercy of men: but the feare of Gods juſtice is more terrible than all feares elſe whatſoeuer.

As for perſecution, it is the note and marke of the Church: others may bee perſued,Perſecution a marke of the Church. but not perſecuted: Treaſon is againſt Princes, and Parricide againſt Parents; but perſecution is againſt Chriſt: and looke how high Treaſon is aboue ſlaughter; ſo is perſecution aboue Treaſon: becauſe the perſon of God who is perſecuted, is the greateſt Majeſtie.

Next,Chriſt perſecuted with vsus. it is to bee marked, that Chriſtians are perſecuted with Chriſt: Saul, p. 175Saul, why perſecutest thou me? We hauehave our Head Partaker and Companion with vsus in our troubles: may wee not then be glad of ſuch a partie and yokefellow?

Thirdly, it is common to all Chriſtians, who would liue godly in Chriſt,Perſecution common to all Chriſtians. Ioh. 15.20. Heb. 4.14.15.John 15:20Heb 4:14Heb 4:15 to ſuffer perſecution: then ſince it is the way of the head (who through afflictions entered into Heauen) and of all his members, let vsus not refuſe perſecution; for in ſo doing wee refuſe to bee Chriſtians. Then, ſince the way of perſecution is the Kinges way, by the which hee went into his Kingdome; and againe, ſith it is the way by which all the Sainctes, and the Brethren, and the Firſt-borne, are entered into glory; then (I ſay) let vsus bee bolde to enter in thorowe that way: for who would refuſe to goe through a Wilderneſſe, vntounto a Kingdome? and by perſecution to enter into Heauen?Sinne raiſeth vp enemies to vsus. Iudg. 2.11. and 3.7.8. and 4.1.2.Judg 2:11Judg 3:7Judg 3:8Judg 4:1Judg 4:2

Fourthlie, God rayſeth vp enemies againſt vsus, becauſe we hauehave beene enemies vntounto him; as hee did to the people of Iſrael euer when they went vntounto p. 174duplicate page p. 175duplicate page p. 176Idolatrie,and 6.1.2. and 13.1. 1. King. 11.14.23.26.1 Kgs 11:141 Kgs 11:231 Kgs 11:26 and when as they prouoked him by thinges which were no gods; ſo hee puniſhed them by a People which were not a People: and ſo likewiſe did the Lord to Salomon, when as hee committed Idolatrie.

God hath our enemies in his hand. Simil.Fiftlie, albeit our enemies bee as ſharpe as Raſours, yet they are all in the handes of God, who may well cut away our excrementes from vsus thorow our foes: but they can doe no more. For although God giuegive them leaue and libertie to cut off our fleſh, yet it is but an excrement of our ſoule.Onlie wicked men are perſecuters. Gen. 42.21 Exo. 14.27 1. Sam. 31.4 Pſal. 115.15. It is naturall for wicked men to perſecute. Rev. 12.1.2.3.4. &c.Gen 42:21Exod 14:271 Sam 31:4Ps 115:15Rev 12:1Rev 12:2Rev 12:3Rev 12:4

Sixtlie, none are choſen of God to perſecute the Righteous, but euil men, whom God either will conuert, (with Ioſephs Brethren,) after he hath humbled them; or elſe (with Saul and Pharoah) he will plague them: for he ſayeth, Touch not mine Anointed.

Laſt, it is naturall for the ſeed of the Serpent, and the fierie Dragon, to perſecute the Woman, and her Child, as it is, that Foxes and Wolues ſhould perſecute the Sheepe: therefore let vsus preuaile p. 177by patience, & blunt their ſwords by our ſufferinges.

A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON, WHO IS PERSECVTED with his Enemies.

O Eternall God, and moſt mercifull father, thou haſt commanded all thoſe that are wearie and loaden, to come vntounto thee,Matth. 11.28.Matt 11:28 and thou wilt caſe them: if thou haſt commanded me to come, thou wilt not reject & caſt me away when I am come: heare the voyce of my prayer out of thine habitation, and put not away the ſupplication of my mouth: inlarge my heart to pray, and open thine care to my cry. O Lord, how long wilt thou tarrie? mine enemies are moe than the haires of mine head:Pſalm. 22.12.13. &c.Ps 22:12Ps 22:13 they are ſtrong, like the Bulles of Baſhan: they are fearce p. 178and cruell, like Lyons, and Vnicornes: they conueance againſt me, and ſay, that there is no more helpe for me in God. O Lord,Pſalm. 3.2.Ps 3:2 when trouble draweth neare me, be not farre from me. Lord, hauehave merciemercy vponupon me. It is true, O Lord, I hauehave prouoked thy wrath and indignation: I hauehave beene thine enemie, and hated thee, who waſt my Father: therefore moſt juſtlie haſt thou raiſed vp theſe wicked men againſt me. Whatſoeuer I ſuffer, thou haſt done it out of thy juſtice,Pſal. 51.4.Ps 51:4 that thou mayeſt bee juſt when thou judgeſt. O Lord, forgiue me my ſinnes, and keepe them not in thy remembrance: for all the creatures which were in couenant with me, are become enemies vntounto me. Oh, Reconcile me vntounto thy ſelfe, that the ſtones of the fielde may be at peace with me.Iob 5.23.Job 5:23 The waues of the Sea raged againſt Ionas, Ionah 1.4. and 2.1.2Jonah 1:4Jonah 2:1Jonah 2:2when he fled from thy preſence, but by his affliction thou broughteſt him to obedience, and conformitie to thy will. I confeſſe thou haſt enough to be angry for againſt me: but, ô Lord, what hauehave I done to offend mine enemie? p. 179they perſecute me without cauſe.Pſalm. 7.3Ps 7:3 In the time of their trouble I prayed for them: when they were afflicted, then I burnt: but when they ſawe thee afflicting me, and correcting me, then they were aliue: yea, ſmoat him whom thou didſt viſit.

O Lord, I beſeech thee to try mee, and ſearch mine heart, if euer I hauehave done anie thing amiſſe vntounto theſe who perſecute mee, or was purpoſed to doe them harme; yea, Lord, I hauehave euer done good vntounto them, and they hauehave repayed mee with euill. Thoſe who recompenſe mee euill for good, are mine enemies. But, O Lord, they hauehave done vntounto mee, as I did vntounto thee: for thy benefites, I hauehave loadened thee with ſinnes: ſo ingrate and vnthankfull hauehave I beene vntounto thee, & ſo juſtlie haſt thou repayed me:2. King. 18.19. 2. Sam. 16.5. 1. Sam. 17.10. Rom. 8.28.2 Kgs 18:192 Sam 16:51 Sam 17:10Rom 8:28 they raile aganſt me, as Rabſeketh did againſt Hezekiah, Simei againſt Dauid, & as Goliah curſed the Hoſte of Iſrael: But, O Lord, turne thou their curſing into a bleſſing; who haſt promiſed that all ſhall turne to the beſt to them that louelove thee. I finde that p. 180this ſhort triall hath wrought good vntounto mee, and therefore it is good for mee, that I am humbled thereby: for I finde my ſelfe better diſpoſed to thy ſeruice than I was before. Oh, ſanctifie this mine affliction and croſſe, that howſoeuer Sathan mindeth by this trouble to vndoe mee, thou mayeſt draw about his labour for my ſingular comfort; that by this perſecution I may ſerue thee more righteouſlie, and liue more duetifullie and louinglie with my Neighboures, and more temperately in mine own perſon; ſubduing my luſtes and affections: ſo that this Cuppe which is moſt bitter to my nature, and hardlie of mee to bee drunken, may be conuerted into wholſome Medicine, for the ſaluation both of my bodie and ſoule. O Lord, giuegive me a good Conſcience, that breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe,Eph. 6.14.Eph 6:14 and I will not bee affraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine aduerſaries. Guard me by thy diuine prouidence, and ſecure me by the protection of thine Angels: make mee as a Seale on thine heart,Cantic. 8.6Song 8:6 p. 181and a ſignet vponupon thine arme: I commit my ſoule and bodie vntounto thine hands, and faithfull keeping. GiueGive me not ouer to the luſts of mine aduerſaries, & make me not a ſcorne to fooles,Pſa. 27.12Ps 27:12 which vnderſtand not: let me poſſeſſe my ſoule in patience.Pſal. 7.16.Ps 7:16 Let their miſchiefe turne vponupon their own head: ſlay them not, leſt the poſteritie ſhould forget,Pſa. 59.11Ps 59:11 but rather let them liue, that by their correction others may learne not to perſecute the members of thy body. O Lord, they are the ſtones which thou caſteſt at me, and the roddes of thy furie. I craue thee merciemercy for my ſinne: but as for them, thou canſt caſt the rodde into the fire, when thou haſt chaſtiſed mee. My Lord ſpake ſeuen words vponupon the Croſſe, and the firſt was,Luke 23.34.Luke 23:34 Forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: and I after his example, forgiue heartilie my particular quarrell and reuenge: for vengeance belongeth vntounto the Lord,Deu. 32.35Deut 32:35 and thou biddeſt me bleſſe thoſe who curſe me,Mat. 5.44.Matt 5:44 and giuegive mine enemies foode when they are hungrie, that I may heape coales of fire vponuponRom. 12.20Rom 12:20 p. 182their head. And albeit they hauehave done me wrong both in my perſon & name by their lies, and in my ſubſtance, yet Lord, I forgiue them: let them repent, that thou mayeſt pardon them. And finallie, let mee patientlie endure all theſe wrongs, that thou mayeſt make me meet for thy Kingdome: that being more than a Conquerour, hauing made conqueſt of mine affections, I may inherite thy glorie, and reigne with thee for euer.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF FAMINE.

THere hath beene Famine thorow all Ages, by which GOD hath corrected the abuſe of his People. The Famine commeth either for the exceſſe and abuſe of Gods good creatures,Cauſes of Famine. 1. Exceſſe. (as the example of the prodigall p. 183ſonne beareth witneſſe, who was brought to ſuch pouertie,Luc. 15.15Luke 15:15 that hee was faine to ſuſtaine himſelfe with the Huskes which the Swine ate, becauſe of his ryote,2. Oppreſſion. 2. Sam. 21.1.3. Idolatrie. 1. King. 17 1.2 Sam 21:12 Sam 21:31 Kgs 17:1) or for the oppreſſion of the Poore, (as in the dayes of Dauid, for the wrong which was done to the Gibionites by Sauly) or elſe for Idolatrie, (as in the dayes of Achab.) And the Famine continueth commonlie three, fiue, or ſeuen yeares.

As in the time of Famine the Lord puniſheth the wickedneſſe of his People,God in time of Famine remembreth his owne. Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1. 1. King. 18 13. & 17.4.9 Pſa. 34.10 Pſa. 37.19 Iob 5.22.Gen 21:22Gen 30:43Gen 47:12Ruth 1:11 Kgs 18:131 Kgs 17:41 Kgs 17:9Ps 34:10Ps 37:19Job 5:22 ſo by his prouidence hee comforteth the godlie. Hee encreaſed Abraham and Iſrael amongſt the Heathen People: Hee fedde the Houſe of Iaakob in Aegypt by Ioſeph, Elimelech and Naomi in Moab, the Prophets in the Caue by Obadiah, Eliah by the Rauen, and the Widow by Eliah. Though the Lyons, ſayeth Dauid, doe lacke, & are hungrie, yet thoſe that feare the Lord ſhall want nothing that is good: yea, in the dayes of Famine they ſhall hauehave enough, and ſhall laugh at Dearth and Famine.

p. 184But in the time of Famine let vsus remember howe often times wee hauehave exceeded meaſure in prodigalitie, and howe wee hauehave hardened our heartes to the poore and needie, and let vsus repent and mourne for the ſame.

Next, looke that thou deſpare not, but humble thy ſelfe vnderunder the hand of the Lord, and put thy whole truſt in his promiſe, who is faythfull: but beware that thou ſeeke none vnlawfull meanes for thy reliefe. And laſtlie, let vsus pray feruentlie and often, attending Gods pleaſure with patience: and then no doubt Hee will prouide meanes for our comfort vnlooked for.

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF FAMINE.

IVST and righteous art thou, O Lord God, who haſt ſo manie wayes to humble mee; for nowe thou haſt taken from mee thy good benefits, p. 185which thou gaueſt mee. I confe…, O Lord, that when my wayes were ou…-flowing with Oyle and Butter,Iob 29.6.Job 29:6 …en I brake not my Bread vn… …u…rie.Pſal. 30.6.Ps 30:6 I ſay de in my proſpe…, I wil… neuer bee mooued: but tho …nedſt thy countenance, and I per…d. Thou gaueſt mee, O Lord,Iob 1….21Job 1:21 and tho… haſt taken from mee: bleſſed bee thi… holie Name. I repent mee o… my former abuſe, the contempt of thy benef…es, and thy people. But I returne to thee. O my Father,Luke 15.19.Luke 15:19 & with teares I confeſſe, that I am not woorthie that thou ſhouldeſt beſtowe anie moe vponupon mee. Yet, Lord, I beſeech thee to hauehave merciemercy vponupon mee, and let mee bee as one of thine hyred Seruantes. For I will put my confidence in thee, and I will ſeeke thee earlie, becauſe I knowe thou haſt a thouſande means for my reliefe & comfort, which I ſee not my ſelfe.

O Lord, thou haſt wounded me: oh,Iob 5.18.Job 5:18 heale mee againe. Thou filledſt the Widowes Barrels with Oyle:1. King. 17 16.1 Kgs 17:16 and the Riuers of thine Oyle are not yet dried p. 186vp, but continue ſtill, for they are euerlaſting: Powre downe, therefore, I beſeech thee, o thou plentifull God, ſome droppe of thy goodneſſe vponupon mine emptie ſoule: for the time of my neceſſitie, is the time of thine oportunitie. Make mee an example of thy liberalitie: that all the worlde may ſee, that thou leaueſt not thoſe which put their truſt in thee. Shew ſome tokē of thy fauour vntounto mee, and I ſhall praiſe thee. For ſince thou gaueſt thy Chriſt for mee,NOTA. wilt thou not much rather giuegive mee other thinges, which are good for mee? And laſt, ſeeing thou haſt prepared that hidden Manna for mee, and the Tree of Life,Revel. 2.17 & 22.1.2.Rev 2:17Rev 22:1Rev 22:2 & the Waters of Life, yea, and the whole Treaſures and Crownes in thine euerlaſting Kingdome; then I doubt not, O Lord, but that in this ſhort time of mine abiding heere thou wilt bee carefull for my prouiſion. But howſoeuer it bee, I am content of thy wiſe diſpenſation, and teach mee, my God, I beſeech thee, to bee contented to abound, and to want;Phil. 4.11.Phil 4:11 that neither in wealth I preſume and p. 187misknowe thee, nor that in pouertie I may faint, and tempt the Lord my God: but that in euerie eſtate I may glorifie thee, and ſpeake good of thy Name: Euen for Chriſt Ieſus ſake.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION OF PESTILENCE.

THe Peſtilence is one of Gods three Arrowes,Cauſes of Pestilence. Pſal. 91.6Ps 91:6 which flieth in the mid-day, and in the night killeth manie. The cauſes of it are the contempt of the Lord, an extraordinarie perſecutiō of the Church,Lev. 26.25Lev 26:25 or elſe the pride of Princes, who confide ouer much in the multitude of their Subjectes,2. Sam. 24.10.2 Sam 24:10 as Dauid did.

There are manie ſorts of the Plague, after which it obtaineth diuers names, as Bubo, Blew-blawart, the Flexes, The Peſt is moſt daungerous in 4 reſpects.the Charbuckle, &c. The Peſt is moſt dangerous in foure reſpectes: firſt, becauſe p. 188it is contagious, and infecteth the aire: ſecondlie, it is ſpeedie, and flieth like an Arrow: thirdlie, it is vehement, and extreame painfull: and fourthlie, it is cruell, ſeparating thoſe who are bound by nature, as Parentes from Children, Husbandes from their Wiues, &c. VnderUnder the time of the Plague vvee ſhould fall downe before God. Wee ſhould ſtoupe, when we ſee the Sword in the hand of the Angel. Let vsus confeſſe our particular ſinnes, with Dauid, ſaying, I and my fathers houſe hauehave ſinned.2. Sam. 24.17. Pſa. 51.172 Sam 24:17Ps 51:17 Wee muſt offer vp to GOD the Sacrifice of a contrite heart, and preſent vntounto him the perfect Oblation of Chriſt.

That the Plague may ceaſe, there is none Arte, or diligence of man, or yet Phyſicke, to bee vſed: but the next remedie is, onelie true repentance in CHRISTES Blood.

p. 189A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF PESTILENCE.

O Lord, I confeſſe that I am worthie that thou ſhouldeſt powre foorth all the Violes of thy wrath againſt me,Rev. 6.14.Rev 6:14 and all the plagues which are written in thy Law: for the ſtinke of my ſinnes pierced the Heauens, & forced thee to ſend down this filthie and infectiue Botch, to bee auenged vponupon mine abhominations, whereby I hauehave polluted the Earth. O Lord, bee mercifull to me, and take away mine iniquities. I retiere to the ſhadowe of the Almightie for a refuge and couer:Pſalm. 9.9.Ps 9:9 and I hide me in the ſecret of thy Tabernacle. Thou ſhooteſt thine arrowes in the mid-day, yea they ſlay innumerable thouſands in darkneſſe: at thouſand falleth at thy ſide,Pſal. 91.7.Ps 91:7 and ten thouſands at thy right hand: and yet thou haſt ſpared me, praiſed bee p. 190thy Name for euer. If the men of Benjamin failed not in their ſhooting at an haire-bredth,Iudges 20.16.Judg 20:16 can the eye of the Lord, or his hand, wauer? all things are done by thy prouidence. Marke mee with the letter of mourning, and with the blood of the Lambe:Ezech. 9.4 Rev. 20.15.Ezek 9:4Rev 20:15 write me in the booke of Life, that in the day of thy great ſlaughter the Angel of thy wrath may paſſe by me. I ly wrapped in the mantle of my Sauiour, before thy MercieMercy Seate, beſeeching thee to deliuer me from this plague, if it pleaſe thee. And if thou haſt appointed that I ſhould die therein, ſanctifie my death, that it may bee acceptable to thee: ſanctifie my faith with the aſſurance of thy louelove, that albeit I be ſeperated from men, yet thou wilt not be ſeperated from me: ſanctifie my patience, that I may drink in this Cuppe chearfullie: ſanctifie in ende my memorie, that I may remember thy inercies in the midſt of thy plagues. Lord, let the joy of thy preſence ſwallow vp all my pangues, that hauing receiued the finall victorie in the blood of Ieſus, I p. 191may ſing the triumph, and render my ſpirit into thine hands, through Chriſt Ieſus, to whom, with thee, and the holie Ghoſt, be all praiſe for euermore.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF THE SWORD.

THE Sword is Gods third Arrow, which hee ſendeth out either vponupon a whole Land,Cauſes of the Sword. to puniſh their wickedneſſe,Deu. 28.49Deut 28:49 or to his own choſen Children for their ſinnes: as to Dauid, the Sword of Saul and Abſolam. 2. Sam. 12.9.2 Sam 12:9The Lord threatned by the Prophets, and executed manie times in the Scriptures, this judgement vponupon his people: for he brought Nations vponupon them from farre, flying as ſwift as an Eagle to the prey:Terem 5.15 a people whoſe tongue they vnderſtood p. 192not, and of a fearce countenance, which will not regard the perſons of the olde, nor hauehave compaſſ…on of the young, who ſhall beſiedge them in all their Cities, &c.

The Sword the greateſt Plague. 2. Sam. 24.14.2 Sam 24:14This is the greateſt temporall ſcourge that God euer ſent to a Land, to giuegive them ouer vntounto cruell Tyrants: for which cauſe Dauid made choyſe of the other; becauſe he thought it better to fall into the handes of God, than into the handes of men.

Firſt, we muſt conſider that the author of all Warres,God the author of Warres. and firſt worker, is the eternall God; who being prouoked by the ſinnes of the people, and eſpeciallie by Idolatrie, and innocent blood, as alſo Sacriledge, raiſeth vp Warres either inteſtine among themſelues, or forraine powers. The Scriptures are furniſhed with inſinit examples for the confirmation hereof. Then we may learne, not to looke vntounto the rodde, but to him who ſmiteth vsus, and to turne vntounto him by vnfained repentance, that he may ſtay and bridle the cruelcie of Tyrants.

p. 193Next, ye ſhall know the cauſes of Warre:Warres are lawfull, if they bee warranded. for we muſt not accompt that all Warres are vnlawfull: for as Auguſtine ſaieth, Melius juſtum …ellian, quam Pax iniqua: that is, A juſt Warre is better than an vnjuſt Peace. Therefore, Princes ſhould conſider that they raiſe no Warres vponupon ſmall groundes, neither by ambition or couetouſneſſe encroath vponupon the poſſeſſions of their neighbour Princes; neither yet ſhould they ſuffer their people to bee oppreſſed, or brought vnderunder thraldome, either of their bodies, poſſeſſions, or their conſcience: but rather ought to defende them by the Sword.

As the commodities of Peace are manie, (for in it Religion flouriſheth,The commodities of Peace. 1. King. 4.25. Iſa. 2.4.1 Kgs 4:25Isa 2:4 and Learning is aduanced, euerie man dwelleth vnderunder his owne Figge-tree, and the Sworde is turned into a Mattocke, and the Speare into a Sythe, the voyce of the Bridegroome is heard in the Citie, and not the blooddie cryes of the Opreſſour, which our Sauiour Chriſt, when hee came to the world, brought with him, although it was attributed p. 194vntounto Auguſtus Caeſar;) ſo are the incommodities of Warre alſo manie:The incommodities of Warres. for in it all Religion euaniſheth, good Lawes are aboliſhed, good manners corrupted, good Sciences forgotten, Townes and Villages ſacked, Fieldes and Lands which were manured by great trauell and coſt, waſted by the incurſion of ſtrangers; great Treaſures are ſpent, men muthered, or made captiues, women made whoores, & ſlaues, &c. ſo that Warres are the beginning and mother of all euils.

A PRAYER IN TIME OF THE SWORD.

O Lord, we confeſſe that by reaſon wee hauehave abuſed ſo long and ſo gracious a peace, and thy patience which ſhould hauehave led vsus to repentance, wee are worthie of all theſe ſtripes which are laid vponupon vsus by theſe Barbarous Tyrants, which thou haſt raiſed vp againſt vsus: but wee hauehave our refuge to the Throne of thy merciemercy, p. 195beſeeching thee, deare Father, to remember that we are the price of thy Sonnes blood, and for his ſake ſpare vsus: chaſtiſe vsus in merciemercy, and in meaſure, with the rodde of thy children: and ſuffer not thy Turtle Doue to bee a prey to the wild Beaſts.Pſa. 74.19Ps 74:19 Our hearts are oppreſſed and wounded with ſorrow, when we ſee thy glorie defaced, thy Name blaſphemed by theſe blooddie Beaſts, thy Temples burnt with fire, and thy people daylie put to the Sworde. O Lord, the examples of others that called vponupon thee in their troubles giueth vntounto vsus hope that thou wilt not ſuffer vsus to bee confounded. Our enemies hauehave raiſed vp battell againſt vsus without all deſeruings or cauſe vponupon our ſide, or injurie offered vntounto them: therefore, O Lord, maintaine our innocency, as thou didſt alwayes defend a righteous cauſe. O Lord, looke to their crueltie and mercileſſe tyrannie, who ſpare neither the gray haires, nor tender ſucklings, neither women with child: & the rather, O Lord, they ſeeke our deſtruction, becauſe p. 196we hauehave renounced the Romane Antichriſt, whoſe kingdome they defend in daylie ſhedding the blood of thy Saincts. O Lord, looke to their craft, and policies, whereby daylie they vndermine vsus. In vsus, O Lord, there is no ſtrength, no wiſdome, no number nor judgment to withſtand their force, their craft, multitude, and diligence: and therefore, O Lord, looke thou mercifullie vponupon vsus, and deliuer vsus from their crueltie, for thy Chriſts ſake. Thou haſt aſſiſted thy Church euen from the begining, and for the deliuerie of the ſame thou haſt plagued her cruell perſecuters from time to time. O Lord, thou remaineſt one for euer, thy nature is vnchangeable, thou canſt not but hate crueltie, pride, oppreſſion, and murther, and ſpeciallie theſe blooddie Tyrants, who are ſent againſt vsus by that Romiſh Idole, and hired to roote out all thoſe who truelie profeſſe thy holy Name. Put out thine arme, O God, for our relief, & let al the world know,1. Sam. 17.46.1 Sam 17:46 that the God of Iſrael yet liueth. Heare vsus, O Lord, helpe & deliuer vsus, for thy Chriſts ſake.

Amen.

p. 197A MEDITATION OF DEATH.

Death a dead enemieDEath is our laſt and leaſt enemie: for if Sinne and Sathan, who are liuing enemies, bee ouercome by the power of Chriſt in vsus, what need we to feare Death, which is a dead enemie, and altogether without power & ſtrength? Indeed Death is terrible to the Worldling; and no maruell, for it ſeparateth him from all his comforts, and entereth him to all his paines: but it poſſeſſeth the godlie in all their joyes, and maketh an end of all their troubles: it is to them, Non obitus, ſed abitus: non exitus, ſed tranſitus: Ambroſ.iis funera ſunt faenora: that is, Not death, but a departing: not an out-going,In the hour of death remēber what thou wast, what thou art, & what thou ſhalt bee. but a thorow-going: and to theſe their burials are gaines.

In the houre of Death remēber with remorſe thy former life, thy future life with joye and delight, and thy preſent eſtate with patience. If the troubles of p. 198thy conſcience, or paine of thy ſicknes, vrge thee to impatience,Quid ſcis, quid ſue…is, quiſque futurus cris. then thinke, this is the high way to Heauē: for euen by the Gates of Hell, by Stripes, and Wounds, our Lord wēt before vsus. The feare of Death ſpringeth of the weakneſſe of faith, and our great louelove of the world begets in vsus great deſire of life, and our little ſight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death.

Remēber that there are two Deaths, and feare the greater:There are two deaths. Rev. 20.14Rev 20:14 the firſt Death is the ſeparation of the ſoule from the bodie: but the ſecond Death is the euerlaſting ſeparation of God frō the ſoule. If thou be partaker of the reſurrection from ſinne, the ſecond Death ſhal hauehave no power ouer thee: therfore thou needeſt not to be afraid of the firſt Death, if thou be deliuered from the ſecond.

2. Thou needeſt not to feare the firſt Death:Death is vniuerſall. for it is a fatall neceſſitie, laide vponupon all Fleſh, Kinges, Prophets, People, &c. all muſt depart.

A profitable exchaunge by death.3. There is great gain by the exchāge: for wee get a Palace for a Priſon; reſt, for labour; libertie, for bondage; God, p. 199for men; the companie of Angels, for the companie of ſinners; and finallie, the Heauens, for the Earth.

4. Thou mayeſt take comfort in thy death,Preſent joy by death, without delay. Luke 23.43. NOTA. Sinne is taken away. Simil. The-paines of death are ſhort.Luke 23:43 becauſe thy ſoule ſhall not bee holdē in ſuſpenſe, nor ſtand at the gates of Heauē, nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes: for in the day of thy death thou ſhalt be with the Lord in Paradiſe

5. The ſting of Death is taken frō it, which is Sinne: then Death can doe thee no more harme, than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting.

6. The pangues of Death which thou ſuſtaineſt are but momentaneall, but thy joyes ſhall be eternall, as Paul ſaith to the Romanes, Chap. 8. Verſ. 18.

Inward comfortes. The ſoule ſhall ſhortlie returne.7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward croſſes.

8. Thy bodie ſhall ſleepe a little, thy ſoule ſhal returne ſhortlie, the Comforter ſhall aſſiſt thee, Chriſt is praying for thee in Heauen, the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer, & the Angels are readie to conuoy thy ſoule to eternall bliſſe.

9. Heere is thy comfort, Chriſt thy p. 200Sauiour ſuffered the pangues of Death in the higheſt degree.Christ ſuffered death Matth. 10.24.Matt 10:24 Shall the ſeruant be aboue his Maſter? And as he died, ſo he roſe againe, and ouercame Death in his owne denne. Then, if the Head bee riſen, will hee not raiſe after him all the members of the bodie? Yes ſurelie.

Laſtly,The right deſire to liue or die. Pſalm. 6.5 Iſa. 38.7.Ps 6:5Isa 38:7 if thou find a deſire in thee to liue longer, let the cauſe of thy deſire be, that thou mayeſt liue better; as Ezechias and Dauid ſaide, Shall the dead prayſe thee? And, What ſigne ſhall I hauehave to goe to the Houſe of the Lord? And if thou deſire to die,Christ aduantage in life and death. ſee that it be not for thine earthlie burdens, but for ſinne, which thou wearieſt to beare; and for the deſire of the fruition of the glorie of God.

A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH.

EVerlaſting God, and my moſt mercifull Father in Ieſus Chriſt, I thy poore Priſoner, bound by the Chains of Sickneſſe to this Bed, & vponupon whome the bondes of Death are p. 201ſeaſing, and taking holde, I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy, & beſeech thee to giuegive me thine holie Spirite: that ſeeing I am going the way of all fleſh, I may rightlie reſolue,1. King. 2.21 Kgs 2:2 with ſolide judgement, and perfect memorie, anent my departure: that as thou haſt prepared a place for mee,Iob 14.2.Job 14:2 ſo thou wilt prepare mee for it: that I being purged by the blood of Ieſus, & ſanctified by thy Spirit, may enter into the preſent poſſeſſion of that inheritance promiſed to mee. And becauſe manie times I learned by thy Worde that I muſt die, & by daylie experience in the death of others thou gaueſt mee warning, as alſo I hauehave carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerſe diſeaſes; yet, Lord, nowe at laſt I learne by mine own proofe, that which I would not learne by others. Nowe therefore, O Lord, when I looke backe to my former life, and conſider the ſinnes of my childhood, and mine age, what things I did ignorantlie, and what I did againſt mine owne conſcience, my forgetfulneſſe of thy mercies, p. 202and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodneſſe, mine open ſinnes, and my ſecret ſinnes, my preſumptions, mine injuries to others, mine intemperancie, my ſlouthfulneſſe, and neglect of thy worſhip: all theſe ſinnes, ſo oft committed by mee, beeing put in a maſſe, and manie moe with them, I beſeech thee moſt mercifull Father, that thou wouldeſt vouchfaſe to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy merciemercy, and burne them in the fire of thy louelove: burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion, and make mee nowe quite of them, that they burthen mee no more: and I beſeech thee, that now in this my laſt battell thou wilt ſo ſtrengthen my faith againſt infidelitie and diſtruſt, that as by thy power I hauehave ouercome the maine hoſte of ſin, ſo by thy grace theſe remnants of a defeated Armie, & thoſe ſtragling Souldiours, who are ſhaking their weapons vponupon mee, they may bee ſcattered by thine hand, that the work of my ſaluation may now in merciemercy bee crowned and finiſhed: that now I may cry with p. 203my Sauiour at his death, Conſummatum eſt: It is finiſhed.Ioh. 19.30John 19:30 He finiſhed vponupon the Croſſe the worke of ſaluation for me: now, O Lord, finiſh it in me vponupon this bedde.

I acknowledge, ô Father, that I am infinitlie obliedged vntounto thy Majeſtie, for thine innumerable benefits, which I hauehave receiued at thine handes in the time of my life: for thou euer didſt louelove me with a Fatherlie affection, thou caredſt for mee, thou prouidedſt in due ſeaſon to my neceſſitie, thou fedſt me, thou defendedſt mee, thou nurturedſt me, &c.Simil. Exod. 19.4Exod 19:4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones, ſo haſt thou carried mee in the armes of thy merciemercy. But in ſpeciall thou broughteſt mee from ignorance, to the knowledge of the trueth, & madeſt mee to be borne in the boſome of the Church, & gaueſt me that eternall life,Iohn 17.3.John 17:3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God, and whom thou haſt ſent, Ieſus Chriſt, the Sauiour of the Worlde. Yea, when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wilderneſſe, the perils of waters, of fire, of pouertie, of ſickneſſe, of p. 204decietfull and wicked men, &c. thou deliueredſt mee from them all by thy mightie and out-ſtretched arme, and haſt giuen me this time to reſolue with thee, to repent, and thanke thee for thy benefits. For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites, both ſpirituall and temporall, I render vntounto thee moſte heartie thankes, praiſe, and glorie, to continue for euermore.

As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee, it is not of mee, O Lord, but thy grace working in mee, who makeſt thy power to bee knowne in my weakneſſe. And if thou wouldeſt look narrowly to my beſt actions, thou wouldeſt finde in them a thouſand imperfections. Therefore I couch vnderunder the Garment of my Lordes righteouſneſſe: oh, ſpreade the Mantle of thy MercieMercy ouer mee.

And as for the Worlde, I diſclaime and renounce it, as a falſe and deceitfull friend, which promiſeth faire things to thoſe that ſeeke it: but for golden offers, it crowneth them with thornes.

p. 205I bid good-night to all my Friends, Acquaintances, and good Chriſtians: and I exhort all you who would hauehave peace in your latter ende, and die the death of the Righteous,Numb. 23.10. Mat. 7.13.Num 23:10Matt 7:13 that ye would treade the footeſteps of Ieſus Chriſt, & goe thorowe the ſtraite way: keeping faith and louelove with the Sainctes to the ende:2. Tim. 4.8.2 Tim 4:8 that ſeeing I hauehave gone before you, and run my race, and ſhortlie ſhall receiue the Crowne of Righteouſnes, yee would rejoyce in my victorie, and not bee for…e for my remoouing. And I pray God to bee with you all, and to conuoy you ſafely vntounto his Kingdome; that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie. And ſeeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying, and giuing ouer their office, my grinders ſailing, my ſight and hearing decaying,Eccl. 12.3.Eccl 12:3 & my ſtrong men trembling, let the hidden man of mine heart be ſanctified by thy grace, that I may hauehave a cleare ſight of my Lord and Sauiour, and ſo depart in peace, with olde SIMEON thy Seruant.

p. 206Now my Soule, returne to thy reſt, for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee.Pſa. 116.7Ps 116:7 I commit my ſpirite into thine handes, O LORD: take it, and by the conuoy of thy moſte holie Angels carrie it vntounto thy Kingdome. And for my bodie, I commit it to the duſt, from whence it came, to ſleepe there till the Day dawne, and my LORD returne, and rayſe it vppe againe; that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vsus, thorow Chriſt, Amen.

FINIS.

p. 207THE PRINTER TO THE READER.

BEcauſe it is vnpoſsible that Bookes of any quantitie (in the first Impreſsion) ſhould eſcape all Faults, and especially in the abſence of the Author: therefore it ſhall pleaſe the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie, judge charitablie, and correct diligentlie ſuch errours as (on our behalfe) vnwillinglie hauehave eſcaped our correction: all which (God willing) at another time wee ſhall amende moſt attentiuelie.

End of the text · Archibald Simson, The Seven Days (1621)