A Perfect Pathway to Felicity, Meditations – Title page
Speciall Meditations for all times, and for all persons.
_…, meditate with thy self, and thinke what god is, namely a diuine spirite, or spirituall bring: and therefore will bee worshipped in spirite and …. Consider howe that this blessed God, being diuided into a Trinitie of persons, the Father the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, yet all one in substance and essence, hath by his almightie power created all things both spirituall and temporall, visible and inuisible whatsoeuer. And as he hath created them by his omnipotent power, so doth hee rule and gouerne them by his prouidence, according to his good will and pleasure. And therefore think that nothing commeth to passe by fortune or chance, but by his heauenlie determination, and appointment. Consider how he hath created thée after his owne si…itude and likenesse, and therefore oughtest thou to be holic, as he is holie. How he hath predestinate and chosen thee before the foundations of the world were layde, to euerlasting saluation in Iesus Christ: how he hath and doth iustifie thee, that is, acount thée iust and righteous by a true and liuelie fayth in the blood of his Sonne: howe he doth call thée to the knowledge of his will, and to the state of grace. First by the secret working of his spirite, secondlie, by the preaching of his word: thirdlie, by the sight and vse of all his creatures of infinite varietie. Confider howe he made thée holy, pure and righteous, and howe thou by thy rebellion, pride, infidelitie, and disobedience, madest thy selfe sinsull and wicked. Then consider, howe hee sent his owne sonne Christ Iesus to redéeme thée by the shedding of his blood. Who as he is our onelie saniour and redéemer, so is he our onelie mediator and aduocate, and onelie to be called vppon & inuocated, and neither Angel nor saint, martyr nor confessor, patriarch nor father, nor any other creature whatsoeuer. Consider with thy selfe, that as he hath fulfilled all things for vsus, & reconciled vsus to his father, so is he now ascended into the heauens, to prepare a place for vsus, who at the great day of accounts shall come againe in the same shape, and with the same bodie that he receyued of Marie, to iudge both the quicke and the dead, and to rewarde euerie man according to his works. Thinke that after the generall iudgement, our bodies being made immortall, and incorruptible, shall bee vnited againe to their proper soules, and for euer inherite the euerlasting kingdome of heauen, where is such ioy, as no heart can conceiue, no tongue, no not of Angels themselues expresse, nor any penne is able to write. These and the like meditations ended, render most heartie thanks vntounto god in the name of Iesus Christ, for all his benefites and blessings in merciemercy bestowed vppon thee, pray for grace to bee thankfull, craue pardon for …hy vn thankfulnesse, and the morning approching, exercise thy selfe as followeth.
Precepts and directions for the morning.
WHen thou arisest in the morning, lift vp thy handes, thy eyes, thy soule and mind towards heauen, giuing God heartie thanks, as generally for all his graces, and louing kindnesse shewed towards thée in Christ: so particularly for the quiet rest and sléepe, which hee hath giuen to thy bodie that night. Pray for his protection, and assistance, in the residue of thy life: which done, meditate thus with thy selse.
Meditations in the morning.
SAy thus to thy selfe. This day which I now enter into, is my last day, nay this moment, my last breath. I hauehave no fréehold of my life, fee simple of my dayes, no charter of my yeares, no not for one minute of an houre, or twinckling of an eye. Death, yea infinite deathes daylie waite vponupon me, and threaten my destruction: yea my body it self, earieth in finit deaths in it selfe, being indéed the efficient cause of it owne miserie and calamitie. Think also that as shy bodie now resesh out of thy materiall b…d, so shal it rise out of the bed of thy graue at the great day of the Lord, and appeare before the tribunall seat of God, all naked as euer thou wast borne, there to receiue either the incorruptible crowne of euerlasting glorie, or else the iust rewarde of perpetuall confusion. Thinke also, that as thou risest forth of thy bed to be occupied and emploied in the labours and trauailes of this life, so shouldest thou arise out of the bed of sinne, to serue the liuing God, in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of thy life.
Meditations to bee considered of, at the rising of the Sunne.
AS now this temporall Sunne in the heauens representing vntounto vsus the true Sunne of God Christ J…sus, is now risen, and hath spread his beames vppon the whole face of the earth, so shall the sonne of God indéed, at the time appointed manifest himselfe to the whole worlde, in vnspeakable glorie, to iudge all flesh, and to reward euerie worke vnderunder the Sunne according to the qualitie, and merite of the same. Thinke also what infinite glorie is treasured vp in the kingdom of heauen, for the elect and chosen of God, after this life. For if this Sunne in the element (being made but one lie for mans vse, and to giuegive light to the world for a time) bee so glorious as no mortall eie without teares can beholde the same, how much more glorious shall we think the ioies of heauen to be, prepared for the elect after this life? Thinke also, that the Sunne in the element doth not onelie giuegive light to the world by his radiations and glistering beames, but also doth quicken, reuiue, fructifie, and cause to growe all naturall thinges vponupon the whole face of the earth: so Christ Iesus the sonne of God, doth not onelie inlighten man by the beames of his grace, and inspiration of his holie spirite, but also doth reuiue and quicken both our bodies, and our soules, being dead in sin, and also maketh vsus fruitfull and plentifull in all good workes, to the praise and glorie of his holie name. Thinke also of the immensitie of this visible Sunne, which beeing in appearance but a small creature, yet such is the maiestie and glorie thereof, that it conueyeth his beames vntounto euerie corner of the earth: and thereby gather thou, the immensitie and vnmeasurablenes of the son of God Christ Iesus, who being the verie light and life of the world, sitteth as a most glorious sonne in the middest of his creatures, imparting to euerie one of them certaine sparkes of his glorie, which beeing taken away, they all consume and come to nothing. These meditations ended, humble thy selfe before God, and pray as followeth, or otherwise as the spirit of God shall …thy spirite.
A praier for the morning.
OH most glorious God and louing Father, who as thou hast by thy mightie power created all things; so hast thou by thy vnsearchable wisdome ordered and disposed them, as may best serue for the benefit and comfort of man. I render most humble and heartie thankes …nto thée for all thy benefites and blessings, both infinite, and inestimable, in merci… bestowed vponupon mee, and namely for the swéete sléepe, & quiet rest, which thou hast giuen to my bodie this night. And as thou hast preserued me this night from all perils and daungers; so I beséech thée to kéepe my body and my soule this …ate, not onelyonly from committing that which is euill in thy sight, but also from sustaining any euil thorow the enuy of the diuel, the malice of his ministers, the allurements and intisements of the worlde, or the corruptions of the …. And for that thou …commaunded euerie man to labor and …in his vocation and calling, for the maintenance of his estate, I pray thée (…father) so to blesse all my labours, and the workes of my handes, which I shall take in hand in thy blessed and holi… name this day, so as they may tend to thy honour and glorie, the reliefe of my necessities, and the common benefite of all men. In all which my labours, giuegive mee grace (I beséech thée most mercifull Father) to deale faithfullie, trulie, & vprightly, with all men, and not to increase my wealtth by …wicked or vnlawful means. Grant that I maie spende this daie in such holie exercises as thou hast commanded in thy blessed word, …those things which are euill, and following those thinges which be good. And for that we are as it were besieged, and on euerie side beset, and most stronglie assailed with many and puissant enemies, as the deuill, & his members, which are infinite, on ye one side, the world & the flesh on the other, I beséech thée (good father) to preserue mee thy seruaunt from all their rage and furie, from al their force & violence. And to this end, let thy holie Angels pitch their tents round about me, conduct me by their ministery, & preserue me by thy mightie power, so shall I prayse thée for euer, in the congregation of thy Saints, thorow Iesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Precepts at thy going foorth of thy Chamber.
WHen thou goest forth of thy chamber salute thy bedfellow (if thou hast any) giuing him the time of the day, & in méeting others do the like, (for ciuilitie requireth it.) And when thou commest into the presence of thy parents, not onelyonly salute them, but also fall downe vponupon thy knees before them, and desire them to praie to God to blesse thée. When thou hast so done, wash thy face and thy hands, and kéepe thy bodie cleane and neat, in the doing wherof meditate thus with thy selfe.
Meditations in the washing of ones face and hands.
AS the filthinesse and pollution of my bodie, is washed and made cleane by the element of water; so is my bodie, and soule purified, and washed from the spottes and blemishes of sinne, by the precious bloud of Iesus Christ. Thinke also, this washing putteth me in remembrance of my baptisme, of my spirituall birth and regeneration, whereby I am not onelie borne anew by the operation of the holie Ghost; but also am sealed vp to eternall saluation, thorowe the redemption that is in Christ. These Meditations ended, pray as followeth.
A praier to be said at the washing of ones face and hands.
MOst gratious God, ind louing father, who hast giuen thy onelie begotten son Jesus Christ, to suffer death vponupon the Crosse for my redemption, graunt I most intirelie beséech …, for his sake, that as this my bodie is nowe washed, and made cleane by the element of materiall water; so my bodie and soule, may both be purified and purged from all vncleannesse, and filthinesse of sinne, thorow the efficacie of thy sonne his most precious bloud. These things thus ordered, go forth to thy labours in the feare of God, doing all things to his glorie, and the good of thy brethren.
Meditations before and at dinner.
WHen dinner time approcheth, meditate thus with thy selfe, as this earthly tabernacle of my bodie hath néed to be relieued and sustained with common aire and materiall foode; so my sonle hath much more néede to be refreshed, and fedde with the incorruptible food of the word of God: and then as thou dost hunger after the one, so thirst thou much more after the other. This done, draw néere to the table with reuerence, and with heartie affection pray as followeth.
A praier before meate.
MErcifull father, who in thy great wisedome and incomprehensible power, hast not only created the foules of the aire, the beasts of the earth, and the fishes of the sea, of infinite varietie, for the benefite and vse of man; but also by thy blessing doest dailie multiplie and increase them for the sustentation of mans bodies, sanctifie, I beseech thee, these thy creatures by the power of thy worde, giuegive them strength to nourish my bodie, and me grace to vse them to thy glorie, and my owne comfort. And as in merciemercy thou doest feede my bodie with these earthlie creatures, which are transitorie; so vouchsafe to feede my soule with the spirituall foode of thy blessed word, which is euerlasting, and neuer shall decay, thorow Jesus Christ my onelie Lord and sauiour, and for hs sake.
Amen.
Directions how a Christian should behaue himselfe at the table.
WHen thou comest to the table, shew all obeysance, and curtesy, be hauing thy selfe modestlie, humblie and soberlie, as in the presence of God. Eate so much as nature requireth, not how much insaciable appetite desireth. Be spare as well of hande, as tongue. Let thy countenance be amiable and pleasant toward all men. Let all thy communication bee seasoned with salt, as the Apostle speaketh, that it may giuegive grace to the hearers, remembring that wee must giuegive accounts at the day of iudgement for euerie idle word. Use not to laugh much, to iest, or scoffe, to floute or mocke, to deride, backbite, … detract anie man behind his backe, but in all things so …thy selfe, that thou maist neither dishonour thy God, nor giuegive either offence, or euill example vntounto anie at the table. Dinner being ended, giuegive God thankes as followeth.
A thankes giuing to God after dinner.
MOst holy father, Lord of heauen and earth, I giuegive thée thanks in the name of Iesus Christ, for all thy benesites and blessings in merciemercy bestowed vponupon mee euer since I was borne. And namelie, O Fa ther, I praise thée for feeding my hungry body, as alwaies heretofore, so now presentlie at this time, with earthlie foode, beséeching thée to féede my soule likewise with the celestiall foode of thy holie worde. And I pray thée, good Lord, that as thou hast giuen vntounto mee the vse of these earthlie creatures in great measure; so thou wilt in merciemercy vouchsafe to giuegive vntounto me the continuall supplie of al my necessities and wants, néedefull either for my soule, or bodie, to the end, and in the end, thorow Iesus Christ our Lord.
Meditations after dinner.
THinke thus with thy selfe. As the mouth of my bodie whereby I receyue corporall sustenance, is flesh and bloud; so the mouth of my soule, whereby I receyue the spirituall foode of eternall life, is faith towardes God, hope in his promises, & louelove from a pure heart towards ye brefhren for his sake. Thinke also, that as ye Sun is now in his highest ascent & degrée, and therefore of necessitie must néedes decline, and go downward: And as the day also is now at the midst, or full, and therefore must needs in like maner draw towards his end; so my life being once come to his full ripenesse and maturitie, must of force draw towards his end, which is death, the reward or salary of sinne. These things thus performed, dispose thy selfe to the labors of thy vocation, as before, doing all things to the glorie of him that made thée, and one day will require a straite account of thée for all thy labours and workes done vnderunder the Sunne.
Directions how to behaue thy selfe before and after Supper.
WHen the daie is ended, and the night approcheth, first praise God, for thy preseruation, and protection that …, beséeching him to take …care ouer thee that night. This done arraine thy selfe (as it were) at the barre, and call thy conscience to accounts, demaunding of thy selfe, as wel what good thou hast omitted, and hast not done, as the euill which thou hast committed, and shouldest not hauehave done. And as well repent for the one, as be sorowfull for the other. This doue, drawe towards the table in reuerent maner, pra…g GOD to sancti…e his c…atures vntounto thée, either in this, or the like forme.
A thankes giuidg to God before Supper.
FAther of mercy, and God of all trueth, looke downe I beséech thée, from the throne of thy heauenly pallace vponupon vsus thy humble seruants, albeit most wretched and miserable sinners, sanctifie both our bodies and soules, by the presence of thy holie spirite, and blesse these thy creatures vntounto vsus, giuegive them strength to nourish our bodies, and our bodies their naturall powers and force, euerie member to performe his office and dutie, according as thou hast appointed, & as thou séest to bee best for thy glorie, and the sustaining and repairing of our ruinous and weake natures. And we pray thée good father also, to féede our soules with the celestiall Manna of thy blessed worde, and bring vsus once to suppe with thée in the kingdome of heauen, thorow the precious bloud of Iesus Christ.
Then sall to thy meate reuerentlie, as before at dinner, hauing alwaies a diligent eie, that thou abuse not the good creatures of God, by gluttonie, drunkennesse, gourmandise, or anie other kinde of riot, or excesse. Remember that nature is satisfied with a little, and what is more then wil suffice nature, is super fluous, and one daie thou shalt be accomptable for it, to the great iudge of all the earth. Thy bodie being satisfied, forget not to relieue the necessitie of the Saints, according to thy abilitie, that God maie blesse thée, and multiplie thy store. When Supper is ended, giuegive God thanks, eyther as followeth, or otherwise, as the spirite of God shall illuminate thy heart.
A thankesgiuing to God after Supper.
OH Lord our god, most gracious & holie father, we render all praise and thankesgiuing to thy soueraigne maiestie, for all thy benefites and blessings so plentifully bestowed vppon vsus. And namelie we thanke thée (holie father) for these thy good creatures, which thou hast at this present in full measure giuen vntounto vsus. Oh Lord make vsus thankfull for them, & pardon our vnthankfulnesse for Iesus Christ his sake. Finally, make vsus al thy true, obedient and faithfull seruants, and bring vsus to euerlasting life in thy good time, for thy great mercies sake in thy beloued.
Amen.
Directions of Christian behauiour after supper.
THe rest of the time after Supper vntill thou goest to bed, spend with thy familie, either in singing of Psalmes, and spirituall songs, singing and making melodie to the Lord, in your hearts: or else in conferring, reasoning, disputing & talking of the word of God, in reading, expounding or interpreting of the same. Then, when time calleth thée to go to bed, call thy whole housholde togither in some conuensent place, make publike confession of your sins to God the Father, craue pardon and forgiuenesse for Iesus Christs sake, and pray for grace to bee able to resist sinne hereafter, with all meanes, waies, and allurements leading there unto. Which done, repaire to thy chamber, reuoluing with thy selfe these and the like things following.
Meditations when thou cō mest into thy chamber.
WHen thou art come into thy chamber, call to thy remembrance what euill thou hast committed that day past, either in thought, word, or déed, towards GOD, or towards man, and the good which thou shouldest hauehave done, and hast not done. I… thou hast s…ne or heard anie good thing in anie man, note it, learne it, and praie for grace to follow it. If againe thou hast séene or heard anie cuill in anie man, note it in thy selfe, and pray for grace to eschue it. This done, knéele downe by thy bed side confesse thy sinnes to GOD the father, craue pardon for Iesus Christ his sake, and pray to him to protect thée that night, and to defend thée vnderunder the shadowe of his wings, from all perilles and daungers both bodilie and ghostly. Thy clothes being put off, meditate thus with thy selfe. Oh what a filthie, vncleane, and vgglesome carkasse doe I beare aboute with me, that for verie shame had néede to be couered with garments? Thinke also from what an excellent state and dignitie (in regard of thy first creation) thou art fallen, by reason of the …ilthines of sin. Then thinke, that if thy apparell were giuen thee for verie necessities sake, to couer & hide thy shame withall, what reason hast thou to be proude therof? For should a begger bee proude of the cloutes that wrap his sores? Thinke also, that as thou canst not without shame stand before men, naked and bare, so canst thou not without shame and confusion of face, stand before the maiestie of God, except thou be clothed & muested with the garment of Christs righteousnes and holines. Finallie thinke, that as thou puttest off, and laiest aside thy materialgarments: so shalt thou once, and peraduenture before thou …ysest againe, put off, and lay away the earthlie mansion of thy bodie, committing it to mother earth againe, from whence it first came. When sléepe commeth vppon thée, pray as followeth.
A prayer when sleepe commeth vponupon one.
MOst mercifull father, with whom there is no difference of time, nor varietie of chaunge, séeing thou hast appointed the day for man to trauaile in, and the night for him to take his naturall rest, I beséech thee that as my bodie hash béene occupied and employed this day in the labors of this life, so it may receiue by thy protection quiet rest and sleepe this night, that I may be the ab…er to go forwarde in the exercise of good works, in the rest of my life that I hauehave to liue, to the praise and glorie of thy blessed name. And in this my sléepe defend me, I beséech thée, from all perilles and daungers, and from all the force & violence of mine enemies both spirituall and corporall. And as it maie please thée to graunt to my bodie quiet rest and sléepe; so let it bee thy good pleasure to make my soule watchful and vigilant to waite vponupon thee, and diligentlie to looke for y• comming of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ vntounto iudge ment for my redemption. Kéepe me from al fearefull dreams, and visions, from all phantasticall apparitions, & diuelish illusions of the wicked enemie, from all carnall pollusions, & vngodlie suggestions of the wicked spirit. Finallie graunt, that both my bodie and my soule, resting vnderunder thy diuine protection, may be safe from all enmitie and hostilitie whatsoeuer, and at the last may attaine euerlasting life, thorow Iesus Christ my onelie Sauiour and redéemer. This done, dispose thy selfe to rest, committing both thy bodie and soule into the hands of God, praying him to be thy watchman that night. Then discend thou into the secret closets and priuie chambers of thine heart, search euerie place, and ransacke euerie corner: and if thou findest anie filthinesse or vncleannes therein (as in deed thou shalt, find nothing else) wash it away with the teares of repentance, & make itcleane with the broome of contrition. Then thinke thus with thy selfe. My bed dooth represent vntounto me my graue, wherein I must once sléepe, and the clothes, the earth, where with all I shall shortlie be couered in my sepulchre or graue. And as these flees and gnats do bite and gnaw my skinne, so shall the wormes, cate and consume the frame of my bodie, in the dust of the earth, when the Lord doth please. When the morning beginneth to dawn and the daystarre to appeare, thinke thus. As nowe the morning commeth on, and the daie starre beginneth to appeare, so shall Christ Iesus the true morning star, shewe himselfe at the time appointed of his father, to iudge both the quicke and the dead. And when thou hearest the crowing of the cocke, the sounding of belles, or anie other noise whatsoeuer, think alwaies, that thou hearest the trumpe of the Archangell sound, saying, arise you dead, and come vntounto iudgement. When thou awakest out of sléepe, praie to this effect as followeth.
A prayer when one awakes out of sleepe.
MErcifull father, grant that as thou hast now awaked my earthlie bodie out of this materiall sléepe, so thou wilt also vouchsafe to raise me vp from the sleepe of sinne, and in the generall resurrection of all flesh, to eternall life, thorowe Iesus Christ my onelie Sauiour and redéemer.
Meditations when one awaketh out of sleepe.
CAll to remembrance the vnspeakeable …, glory and beatitude, the ineffable blessednes, comfort and solace, which all the chosen of God hauehave, and shall hauehave for euer after this life, in the kingdome of heauen. Thinke also of the wonderfull beautie that our bodies shall hauehave and …at the day of iudgement, being made like to the glorious bodie of Christ Iesus, and shining for euer as the Sun, in the kingdome of heauen.
A prayer to be said at the breake of the day.
OH Lorde thou great and euerlasting light, from whome all other lights whatsoeuer hauehave their being, & in comparison of whom, they are all but grosse and palpable darknes, illuminate my heart, and inlighten my vnderstanding with the perfect knowledge of thy blessed will. And grant that I knowing it, maie faithfullie obcie thee in the same all the daies of my life, that at the last I may attaine to euerlasting rest both of body and soule, thorow Iesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Meditations at the appearing of the day.
THinke with thy selfe, that as thy earthlie bodie is guided and gouerned by thy bodilie eies; so, and much more, is thy soule and mind guided, ruled and gouerned by the direction and inspiration of Gods holie spirit. And therefore howe much more precious the eie of the soule is, then the eie of the eie of the bodie; so much more is the one to be sought for, then the other. Think that brute beasts hauehave their bodilie eies, but man hath not onelie corporall eies, but spirituall also, whereby hee …strange thinges, conceiueth infinite things, vnderstandeth woonderfull things, beléeueth all things, and hopeth all things. This done pray as followeth.
A praier when one ariseth forth of his bed.
I Confesse most merciful father, our first parents by sinne threw themselues, and all their pos…eritie into a most deadly lethargie, and sléepe of sinne, whome thou in great merciemercy vouchedstsafe to restore againe, and renue by the death of thy sonne. Grant holie father, that as thou hast now raysed my bodie from … …all sleepe; so thou wilt also raise both my bodie and …, from the deadlie sléepe of sinne; and at the last from the dust of the earth, to dwell with thée for euer, in thy euerlasting kingdome, thorow Jesus Christ.
Meditations when one ariseth out of his bed.
THinke that as thou now arisest forth of thy bed, so shouldst thou rise from sinne, …the liuing God in holinesse and righteousnesse all the …of thy life. Thinke also, that thy bodie shall rise againe in the end of the world, either to euerlasting life (if thou doo well) or to euerlasting death (if thou do euill.) Then put on thy apparell, in the dooing whereof pray thus.
A praier to be said at the putting on of a mans clothes.
BLessed father, séeing my naturall corruption and silthines is such, and so great, that of necessity it must be couered with these earthly garments, least o… my nakednesse and shame should appeare to the world, clothe me, I beséech thée, with the garments of Christs righteousnesse and holines, and impute not vntounto me my manifold sinnes and offences, least I receiue not shame onlie, but euerlasting confusion both of bodie and soule, as a iust reward and guerdon for my deserts.
Christian directions for the morning.
WHen thou hast attired thy … cently & comely, not …nor proudlie, goe forth of thy chamber, and if thou beest a maister of a houshold, call thy familie togither, confesse your sinnes, craue pardon for Iesus Christ his sake, pray for grace to resist sinne hereafter, prayse God for all his benefites, and blessings in merciemercy bestowed vppon you, pray for continuance of them. Thanke him for your protection that night, besée ching him to protect you thatday, and to blesse all your works andlabours. And finally, desire him to kéepe and defend you that day, and cuer from all perils and dangers, both bodilie & ghostlie whatsoeuer, and to bring you to euerlasting life at the time appointed, thorow the precious bloud of Iesus Christ. This done, go forth to thy labours in the feare of God, doing all things with single eie, and good conscience, to the praise of him that made thée, being assured that as in merciemercy he will not leaue the good good worke that we do vnrewarded: so in iustice he will not leaue the least euill that we doe commit, either in thought, word, or déed, vnpunished, except we repent. To God therefore our father, to Christ Iesus our Sauiour and redeemer, and to God the holie Ghost our comforter, and sanctifier, thrée persons and one true and euerlasting God, be all honour, glorie, praise, dominion & thanksgiuing for euer more.
Amen.
A short Treatise of praiers and supplications, Comprising a briefe summe of all such things as we stande in neede of in this life.
By the same author, P. S. Gent.