The Last Battle of the Soul, Religious tract 1 · Part 4 · Section

The Last Battle of the Soul · Religious tract 1 · Part 4 · Section

p. 521The sicke Man.

Alas, of our follies! While wee should seeke GOD and our Soules Saluation with the strongest straine and power of our Soule, by the corruption of our Nature wee are caried on the by: We liue heere in a sinke of sinne: The older the world groweth, it groweth the worse: EueryEvery Age in its foolish dotage, commeth in with the own guise, scorning former phancies with greater follies, yea, with foolish phrancies of which this predominant, that the wisedome of God, which in all times seemed follie to the wicked, did neuer seeme p. 522such a follie as it doeth now, from the vpper brimme of sinne the world is come to the dregges: The image of the worlds vanitie is like that of Nebuchadnezars all gold and siluer in the vp most parts, but in this last & most corrupt age wee are come to the clay: **NoteIf wee bee wise, we must seeke a new world in this olde world, for this will neuer grow a better. As the louelove of Venisō wan Isaac to blesse one for another, so if we louelove this world, with a blind louelove, for a morsell of its Venison, wee will preferie it to Gods blessing: All the dayes of this wretched life, wee remaine in a fooles paradise. But I leaue this.

I desire your earnestlie Sir, that yee would let mee heare something more concerning olde Age, which is a thing that eueryevery man desireth to come vntounto, as if it were the best time of life.

The Pastour.

In this point appeareth the vanitie p. 523of man & the weaknes of his wit: EueryEvery man would liue to be old, and yet no man desireth to bee olde: Let men say what they will, I speake of naturall men, all men desire to liue long, which is to bee olde, and yet they desire to remaine young: * Their wrinkles & their gray haires the companions of olde Age, the end of their desires are vn welcome vntounto them: **NoteThen would they turne backe againe, that with the Eagle theyPsal. 103. 5Ps 103:5 might cast their Bill, whereby they might renew their youth: **NoteHeare old Nestor, who as Poets record, had liued three ages, a surfet of yeares: Heare him with his wish.

O miht praeteritos referat si Iupiter annos.

Like a foolish Pyla… while hee is at the mouth of his Harberie, hee would raise vp the Sailes for to turne to the tempestuous sea againe: **NoteSee howe the olde man if hee get but a faire Sunne blinke of a weekes health p. 524after cloudes returning after the raine, Eccles▪ 122.how hee will rejoyce, as though it shuld neuer be foule weather againe▪

Men may pyne themselues with desire of dayes: But doe what they can their life is like one that saileth, whether hee standeth or hee sitteth, whether hee watch or sleepe, hee is euer vponupon his course.

The sicke Man.

Let it please you Sir, to continue in that discourse.

The Pastour.

Solomon in the last lecture of the Booke of his preaching letteth the young man see the vanitie of many yeares.

**NoteIn that place is most clearelie set downe how olde Age the end of our appointed time is enwrappedIob. 14. 14Job 14:14 with a cloud of miseries, as beeing a time wherevnto like waues in a Sea, one trouble ariseth vponupon the necke of another, the latter beeing euer worse than the former, till at last p. 525fluctus decumanus, the last and the greatest waues of Death come and sweepe the man away: The imaginarie sweetenesse of all earthly contentmentes, is closed and concluded with a bitter Farewell.

**NoteIn that Lecture the Preacher bringeth in the old man like a Skellet whereat in the presence of all yong men hee pointeth out all his infirmities, saying vntounto the young Ones, Beholde, if such a life bee so much to bee desired.

First of all, hee pointeth at hisEccles. 12. 1Eccl 12:1 dayes calling them, The euill dayes, 2. **NoteHee toucheth his yeares, calling them, Yeares without pleasure: 3. **NoteHe speaketh of the moyst, raw & rainie winter of his colde old Age, the dayes of sorrow, vvherein clouds returne after the raine: As one defluxtion hath rained downe, another is arising like a cloude: 4. Hee pointeth out all the imperfections of his bodie: When olde Age is come, p. 526then the keepers of the house tremble, vers. 3.that is, the handes which keepeth the bodie become sicke of the palsie, they tremble, so that they can not carry the cuppe to their heade:

**NoteThen the strong men bow themselues, their legges are not able to beare them: **NoteThen the grinders cease, their teeth rotte and become mouldie, so that they can eate no bread: **NoteThen they waxe darke that looke out at the windowes, their eyes become bleared and blind: **NoteThen the doores shall bee shut in the streetes, when the vers. 4.sound of the grinding is low, when the teeth the mouthes grinders are rotten, the lippes which are the doores of the streete of the mouth are shut, so that the old man cannot speak so distinctlie as of before: **NoteThen shall hee rise vp at the voyce of the Bird, olde men cannot sleepe, hee muste rise so soone as the Birds beginne to sing, or his sleepe is so vnfound, that the chirpe of a little Bird will w…ken p. 527him: **NoteThen shall all the daughters of singing bee abased neither can an olde man sing himselfe for lacke of voyce, neither can hee heare others sing for deafenesse, so both his wind pipes and his eares the daughters of singing are abased: **NoteThē shallvers. 5. he be afraide of the high thing, he dar climbe no more, hee is no more for Stares and vpper Chambers: * Then feare shall bee in the way, while they walke they tremble as one that is afraide to fall: **NoteThen the Almond tree shall flourish, their gray haires growe white like the flourishes and blossomes of an Almond: **NoteThen a Grasse Hopper shall bee a burden, they are so weake, that they can beare nothing, their knees are weak as water, so that they are a burden vntounto themselues: See howe the weight of a grasse hopper which is little greater than a Bee, is a burden to the man of yeares: **NoteThen shall the vers. 6.siluer cord bee loosed, and the golden p. 528bowle shall bee broken, his Sinewes shall become slacke, and his Gall shall breake: **NoteThen shall the pitcher bee broken at the well, the vaines shall draw no more blood out of the well of the Leuer: **NoteThen shall the wheele bee broken at the Cisterne, his Lightes become so …otten and riuen, that he can no more draw any breath with his broken Bellowes: **NoteSee howe Death stealeth vponupon vsus with insensible degrees.

**NoteBehold, O young man the anatomie of thy selfe, when thou shal… hauehave gottē thine hearts wil of years: **NoteHeere is thy portrature drawen before hand: Painters can portray but according as they see; but tymes to come are present vntounto God: Heere is thy portrature for the dayes of olde age that is to come: **NoteBeholde thy selfe in it before hand, a receptacle of maladies: See there thy balde head, and thy bleared eyes, and thy deafe eare, and thy wrinkled face, p. 529and thy rotten teeth, and thy stinking breath, hauing thy body bowed and crouched with thy third foote into thine hand: **NoteOf thee may bee put out a Riddle, What is it which hauing three feete, walketh with one foote into its hand, I shall assoile it, It is an olde man going with a staffe: To this let mee subjoyne another: What is it that hath his stomacke into a Booste, and his eyes into his pocket? It is the same, viz. An olde man fedde with boost Confections, or cured with cōtinuall purgations, hauing his Spectacles his eyes of glasse, into a case: His dayes are dayes of drousinesse: All his pleasures are out of tune and temper. **NoteBeholde how this proude and loftie creature is so curbed, withered, and wrinkled, that it hath nothing but the vgelie shape of a creature.

**NoteThus after as in a dote hee hath tottered some space about at last hee falleth downe to dust, and dust … neth p. 530Eccle. 12. 7Eccl 12:7to the earth as it was: That is petere principium: **NoteThen all his deuises and his discourses, all his arguments and his syllogismes for Riches, Honour, and preferment, inferre a conclusion which is but petitio principij, a sort of argument scorned by the Learned, as beeing an argument declaring the weaknes of y^e Disputer so after we hauehave spended our wits with our wordes, all our dispute at last is foūd to be but vpō trashes & triffles, or as wee say, de lana caprina: At last all commeth to this, that wee are in end found to hauehave beene neither in moode nor figure, but onelyonly jangling and cangling, and at last returning to that where once wee beganne.

Thus hee who in his youth stepped statelie vponupon the ground, who hauing the world at wish, was wont to brag it out with the brauest, with big & darring words, after that in his life he hath beene tossed with losses, cares, and crosses, hee lyeth down…. p. 531into his greene & growing bedde, that dust may returne to the earth as it was.

**NoteThe Sunne at night seemeth to lye downe, in a bed of darknesse, but like a Gyant in the morning hee ariseth with force of light: But man once dead shall not awake till the heauens Iob, 14. 12.bee no more.

**NoteA man in his youth with a prophane & seared Conscience may swallow ouer Camels of pleasant & profitableMa…. 23. 24 sinnes without any paine, his heart beeing secured with a slumbe…ing and superficiall quiet: But so soone as the tyme of the rotten Age commeth, all the sweetenesse of the sinnes of his youth is turned into gall and worme-wood, the Conscience of his by past euill spent life doggeth behind him.

All the dregges and drosse of dolouis fall downe vponupon this tyme: Then the mirth of youth is turned into mourning: This is the nature of p. 532sinne, the joye thereof euer endeth into sorrow: Who doeth not see how the mirth of youthfull lusts passeth away with the faire blossomes of youth? after y^t commeth old age, life the time of the fall of the leafe, a time of deadlie diseases: After that man in his youth hath drunken at the brimme the clearest pleasures of sinne in his olde sicklie age, when hee hath greatest neede of comfort, then must hee drinke the doolefull and drumblie dregges of sorrow.

This is the course of mans pilgrimage, in this valey of teares: Wee come weeping into this Worlde▪ where vvee walke through troubles and temptations, vvhereof except that God bee more mercifull, the end shall bee bitternesse, brimstone fire.

Alas, for our benummed heart: Oh, that vvee were sensible of our owne miserie, and could weigh what it is to toile into this world, a wildernesse p. 533of woe! What is heere that should tye our heart from the louelove of Heauen? If vvee would speake with Scripture, wee would say, that a thousand yeares in Heauen are but like one day on earth, and againe, if vvee would speake with trueth, vve must say, that one day on Earth seemeth longer than a thousand yeeres in Heauen: **NoteDolour and griefe prolongeth that which is made short by joye and pleasure: **NoteAn houre in a painefull prison is longer than a vveeke in a pleasant Palace: **NoteLet mee speake a Paradoxe: A Child of a day is of a thousand yeares of age, 2 Pet. 3. 82 Pet 3:8older than Methushelah: Why? A day on Earth is like a thousand yeares in Heauen for length: Fye, fye, on our foolish vanitie, that wee cannot consider: **NoteA Childe of a day may bee content with a day of life, and say, if hee could speake, I am full of dayes, yea, full of yeares and full of labour, I wish to be in heauen, wher p. 534a thousand yeeres seeme not so long as a day, yea, where Eternitie it selfe shal neuer seeme to be too lōg: **NoteEye vponupon too great desire of dayes, while wee liue on earth, as vvormes vvee creepe on it: In death we creepe in it.

**NoteMans heart on earth, is like a tooth in the jaw, the deeper roote it hath, the more paine it causeth, when it is in drawing out with the Turkesse **NoteA heart fixed to the earth and nailed to the ground either with pleasure or profite or desire of yeeres cannot be rugged from thence without renting of its filme: **NoteIf mans heart bee sette vponupon long life, hee shall neuer want the disease of the feaze of disease, the messenger of Death: A feeble fitte of a feuer will put him in a maze of amazement: **NoteIn a vvorde, doe the best hee can, all the dayes of his life are but labour Psal. 90. 10Ps 90:10and sorrow: **NoteThe best man that liueth, so soone as hee beginneth to liue, must say with a sigh, All the p. 535Iob. 14. 14Job 14:14dayes of mine appointed time will I waite till my changing come: See I pray you, howe the life of man as with loose reines and a laide downe head is euer in a course like a swift Dromedairie, posting to a change.

**NoteBeholde, Sir, howe foolish this world is, that gappeth so for many yeares, that all that men hauehaveIob. 2. 4.Job 2:4 euen to their skinne, they would giuegive it for their life: **NoteSee and consider how the olde man is besieged with dolours and diseases on all sids, some set on his eyes, some on his eares, some on his teeth, some on his tongue, some on his legges, some on his lights, and some on his liuer: **NoteSee how all sortes of diseases is like flesh f…es prey vponupon the old man, not leauing a free bit of him from the sole of his feete▪ to the crowne of his head: See what a gostlie sight it is to beholde such ratling bones couered with a wrinkled skinne: **NoteNow after that hee hath coughed and spitted on a space p. 536some few yeares, beeing a burden to himselfe, and a cumber vntounto others, at last hee sickneth and taketh bed, and falleth into the hands of Death, which holdeth him with fearefull grippes: **NoteThen Death commeth with a colde sweate ouer-running all his bodie, looketh him grimme in the face: **NoteThen his jaw bones beginne to hang down, and his face to grow pale, and his cheekes wan: Then his eyes water, their stringes breake, his tongue faltereth, his breath shorteneth and smelleth of earth, his heart lifteth, his throate rattleth, his joynts stiffen: After that Death hath made a breach with the shot…es of great artilerie whereby it hath beaten and broken downe all the noble partes of the bodie, Death commeth in like a strong man, and grippeth so the hearte of the poore man, that by diuerses gaspes hee maketh his heart-strings to leape asund…: *That done, the ruinous house of man p. 537falleth, and his Soule leapeth out with his gaspes, which in an instant must compeare before its Iudge, eitherMatth. 25 34. 41.Matt 25:34Matt 25:41 for to heare, Come, or Depart. Let your attention yet goe a little a long with mee.

See what it is of olde age:**Note Consider how feeble it is, being a burden vntounto it selfe, a time vnfitte for anie affaire: And yet most men in their youth swynishlie wallow in vncleannes, thinking, to keepe the old yeares for the amending of their life & for all other spirituall adoes, as repentance and returning vntounto God, as if a man beeing for to goe a farre and foule journey, should lay the greatest burden vponupon the weakest horse:Prou. 12. 10Prov 12:10 A good man regardeth his beast, how much more should hee regard himselfe: **NoteWhat regard is heere, when a man in his youth rolleth his originall sinne, like a snow-ball among actuall sins, to such a huge greatnesse, that in his strongest youth hee is not p. 538able to moue it, and yet delayeth, thinking that when hee is olde hee shall easilie remoue it and remeede it: The sinnes of youth draw vponupon old age deadnesse of heart and dulnesse of zeale: It is good that man with a watchfull eye holde in perpetuall jealousie the cunning slightes and windings of the deceit of sinne in youth: And therefore, while it is youth time, while God calleth, while the wind serueth, while the Sea is calme, while the Shippe is sound, let vsus sette foorth in time to saile toward the port of Saluation, & the harberie of Grace in Glorie: **NoteO vaine man, who in thy youth turneth the grace of thy God into wantonnesse, and thinketh to come home to God againe when thou is olde, what shall God doe with thy blind lame olde age? Is that a sacrifice for God? Offer it vntounto thy Gouernour, saith Malachie. Mal. 1. 8.Mal 1:8If a blind or lame beast wil not please a man, what shall God doe with that which is more blind than a p. 539beast. **NoteThe King of Babilon commandedDan. 1. 4.Dan 1:4 Ashpenaz the master of his Eneuches to mak choise of Childrē in whom was no blemish, & such as had ability in thē to stand in the Kings Palace: What? shall the Deuill get the finest flower of our age, the strength of our dayes, and the abilitie of our Soule, and thereafter shall God, the King of Heauen, bee serued with the blind 2 Sam. 5. 62 Sam 5:6and the lame such as the verie Soule of Danid did hate? **NoteIt is good afore hand to bee furnished with Graces, which may be as y^e staffe of our old age? *If we spēd our strēgth in our youth at the seruice of God, he shall neuer cast vsus off in our olde age: **NoteBut what shall I say? nothing will waken foolish Virgines while they sleepe,Matth. 25 11Matt 25:11 till that shrill voyce bee heard, The Bridegrome is come: **NoteWhen it is no more time, mē who cōtented themselues with counterfeit shewes & deceiuing shadowes, arise, run, & seeke for Oyle, which they shall not be able to get, either for buying or begging.

p. 540**NoteBy all this my discourse Sir, ye may perceiue that the long date of dayes bringeth men vntounto dotage, & after dotage vntounto dust from thence hee came.

**NoteMan of few yeares is foolish vntounto fourtie, a little after that folie hath left him, dotage succeedeth which vnderstandeth no Precepts.

In this Mappe of the olde mans miserie, yee may see whether or not man hauehave cause to bee greedie of many yeares.

**NoteThough the world were not vaine, yet yee see that man is but vanitie in the world: Let all men heere lay aside such doting vanities, that bring too doolefull miseries.

Let all flesh learne that: **NoteNothing out of God can affoord sound joye and contentment: **NoteIf a man want God, were hee an Emperour as high indeede, as the King of Babylon was in conceite, euen aboue the stars Isa. 14. 13.Isa 14:13of God, his life shall bee crossed with p. 541these th…ee shrude companions, viz. The griefe of thinges by past, the paines of things present, and the feare of after claps.

The sicke Man.

The thought of such thinges beginne to waine mine heart from the louelove of all thinges worldlie: I pray you yet a little to continue in that purpose concerning the vanities of things below. **NoteThe meditations therof lik sharpe & keene spurs should prick and stirre vsus forword from the louelove of this vntounto the louelove of these lasting things which are aboue.

The Pastour.

The sight of this worlde is like that vision of Ezechiel, wherein is often said, Turne thee yet againe, and Ez…k. 8 13thou shalt see moe abominations, than all these: So say I Sir, Turne you yet againe heere, and yee shall see greater vanities than either these of Strength or of Honour, or of Riches, or of Beautie, Pleasure, Wisedome, p. 542or long Life: Beholde a vanitie, which is the cause of all these vanities, viz. Sinne and iniquitie where▪ vntounto we are all subject so long as we liue in this world the region of corruption, where if a man stand on Gods side, he shall become the drunkards song with Dauid, or a by-word with Iob among the chidren of Beliel.

**NoteLooke thorow this world, and consider sin in all sortes of men, & sorrow following euer sinne at the heeles: In this place behold Dauid Psal. 6 6.Ps 6:6making his bedde to swimme with his teares for his adulterie: In that place againe, behold Peter weeping b…tterlie for his denyall: In this placeLuk. 22. 92Luke 22:92 againe, behold Lot, vexing his righteous 2 Pet. 2. 8.2 Pet 2:8Soule from day to day, for the vnlawfull deedes of the wicked: In that place behold S. Paul groaning vnderunder a dead bodie of sinne, euen a bodie of death: No man is able toRom. 7. 24Rom 7:24 hunt all the corners of mans corruption: p. 543From particular men let vsus come to whole Churches, defiled with spots and blemishes: **NoteHeere is the Church of Ephesus, which hath Reuel. 2. 4.Rev 2:4left her first LoueLove. **NoteThere is Smyrna where some of Gods best seruantes are cast into prison: Heere againevers. 10. is Pergamus defiled with the doctrine vers. 14.of Balaame, and of the Nicolaitanes: In Thyatira the whoore Iezabel sat as a Prophetesse teaching and seducing vers. 20Gods seruants to committe fornication, & to eate things sacrificed vntounto idoles: Reuel. 3. 1.Rev 3:1Sardis had a name to liue, and yet was vers. 15.dead: Laodicea was neither cold nor hote, so that God threatned to spewe her out of his mouth: **NoteAmong all the seuen Churches onelie Philadelphia Reuel. 3. 10Rev 3:10kept the word of his patience, and yet her life was not without feare tovers. 11 losse her Crowne: Behold, I come quicklie, said the Lord, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy Crowne: **NoteBut long since hauing neglected this precept, shee is bereaued p. 544of that comfort & Crowne: **NoteWhere nowe are all these most flourishing Churches of Asia? where now are all these Churches of Grecia most glorious in Constantius dayes? Because they helde not fast that which they had, they hauehave all lost their Crowne: By deare Experience hauehave they learned what vanitie is.

**NoteBehold and see how this world is like a working sea, wherein sinne like a gall winde or strong Tyde carrieth many tribulations and destructions* Note from Countrie to Contrie▪ **NoteAll is made thereby subject vntounto changes lik the Moone, Crownes hauehave their composse & triumphs hauehave their tombes: All our sweetest thinges in end proue but honied poyson.

Thus all that yee see heere below is vnconstant: **NoteThe greatest kingdomes are turned about as with whirling wheeles: The Kinges vponupon its spokes are marked vponupon this ditt… … Regnabo, regno, regnam; su… … sine regno.

p. 545One Prince is lying vponupon his backe, another hath a spok in his hand climing vp the Wheele: The third is vponupon the top: The fourth is fallen, hauing his heeles vp & his head down: **NoteAll the things of this world are diuided into foure: Either they lye low, or they climbe, they stand, or they are fallen: The poore man is lying vponupon his backe without any helpe or hope: Another is fall of climbing conceits: The third beeing there where all would bee euen vponupon the toppe, the higher hee is mounted the greater is his fall: **NoteHe then falleth, that another may stand in his place: while hee againe is lifted vp hee must stand with feare and heare, Let him that 1 Cor. 10 12.1 Cor 10:12standeth take heede, lest hee fall: **NoteAt last also to him the hādwritting commeth foorth, that in Gods, ballance he is found wanting, & that therforeDan. 5. 27Dan 5:27 his kingdome must bee taking from him: Then all the pleasures of his wine & of his whoores, then all his feasting, p. 546his mirth, and his Musicke is turned into a trembling feuer, which maketh all his joyntes to shiuer, and his knees to smyte one against another: Beholde, and consider, how the glorie of Kings, the gods of thisPsal. 82. 6.Ps 82:6 world is brought to destruction.

Though their heads bee golden, their feete are but of clay like Nebuchadnezars image: Gods litle stone cut Dan. 2. 34Dan 2:34out without hands, is able to bruise & grinde in powder, their Golde, Siluer, Brasse, Yron, and Clay, for the allaying of the pride of their peacocke feathers: Hee can let them see the blacknesse of their feete: None of them can stand before the winde of that voyce: Returne ye Childrē of men.Psal. 90. 3Ps 90:3

Though their honours which they doe broach with so bold a face were reared aboue the highest cloudes, and exalted aboue the starrie Skie yet must they descend at the Euening of their life, and make their bed with the beggers in the dust.

p. 547Thus after they hauehave drunke vp the pleasures of this world as Behemoth the Riuer of Iordan, they at lastIob. 40. 23.Job 40:23 find all to be but vanitie and change: **NoteWhen their houre is come, they must quite all, and make resignation of all into the hands of a new succession, for to goe dwell in the Land of darknesse and shadow of death: **NoteWho knewe the weight of their Crownes, they would neuer be so sicke for them, as King Ahab was1 Kin. 21 41 Kgs 21:4 for Nabothes vine yarde.

If of any man may bee said, this is most true of him who is in highestIob, 14. 22 places, While his flesh is vponupon him, hee shall hauehave paine, and his Soule within him shall mourne: After that for a space hee hath feasted with Belshazzar, Dan. 5. 2.Dan 5:2and fatted himselfe against the day of slaughter with Wheat, Wine, and Oyle, at last shall hee know, but too late, that no Feast is continuall, but that of a good Conscience.

* Oh, that great men while their p. 548minds with Dauid are beastlie, wouldPsal. 73. 22Ps 73:22 with Dauid goe to the Sanctuarie of God, for to learne that if great men be not good men, though they were Kinges, they are sette in slipperie places.

**NoteSeeing Kings and Kingdomes are but vanitie, what is that on earth that is not vaine? There is nothing that can stretch to eternitie below.

**NoteIn this world all men are strangers in their birth Pilgrimes, in their life, & at last lik combersome guests by death they are thrust out at doores: The language of Tabor was that▪ It is Luk. 9 33.Luke 9:33good for vsus to bee heere: But the language of heauē proclaimed that Peter knew not what he said: Striue to keepe euer your heart loose from the earth:Reuel. 15. 1Rev 15:1 The glassie sea, of this vvorld is neuer without tempests.

**NoteHee that would hauehave his Soule wained from the louelove of this world, let him remember but these sixe things: 1. What hee is in himselfe: p. 5492. What is within him. 3. What is aboue him: 4. VVhat is beneath him. 5. What is before him: 6. What is behind him.

**NoteMan in himselfe is but dust and ashes, a cage of corruptiō: Thrise with one breath is he called, Earth, earth, Ier. 22. 29.Jer 22:29earth! Earth by creation, sustentation and corruption, saith Bernard: Within him is a blind minde, a peruerse will, and most vile affections,Gen. 6. 5.Gen 6:5 yea, so that euerie imagination of the thoughts of his hearte are onelie euill continuallie: Aboue is a weightie vengeance, hanging by a small twined threed of Gods patience: Below him Matth. 12 45Matt 12:45is a fierie fornace and the smoking brimstone gulfe of euerlasting burnings: Against him Sathan and sinne with their legions posting to and fro, so that when one departeth, it is but to fetch seuen others worse than himselfe: **NoteBefore him is nothing but miserie, volumnes of woes, and lamentations: Those bee his Day-booke: p. 550Behind him pale Death followeth with stealing steppes: **NoteSee vvhat a masse of miserie like an hudge armie besetteth and besiegeth the whole course of the life of man, till death at last come with the dead stroke, and separate the Soule from the lumpish heauinesse of clay: Then they that die in the Lord are blessed, yea, saith the Spirit, That they may rest Reuel. 14. 13Rev 14:13from their labours. But because the day is alreadie spent, yee shall now carefullie thinke vponupon that which hath beene said.

It was a speciall propertie required in Sacrifices fitte for God, that they could chewe the cude: I leaueLeuit. 11. 7Lev 11:7 that which ye hauehave heard vntounto your nights meditations. I pray God that by his Spirit he would conuoy into the substance of that which your eare hath receiued.

Before I leaue you, let vsus all bend our knees vntounto God in prayer, that it would please his Highnesse to p. 551blinke downe vponupon you with a reconcealed face: His boundlesse and bottomelesse mercies did neuer yet know how to breake a bruised reed, or quench a smoaking flaxe.

Let vsus pray.

A Prayer for the sicke Man.

O LORD the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh, the preseruer of men, in whō is both power for to saue and to destroy: Thou art the true Teacher of Israel: Thou hast the keyes of Heauen, of Hell, and of the Graue: Come and cast the armes of thy merciemercy about this sorrow-beaten sinner: Rejoyce p. 552him with the comforts of thy Spirit: Inspire him with holy motions, and with the life of Grace, till hee bee made partaker of the diuine 2 Pet. 1. 42 Pet 1:4Nature. Thou hast alreadie made his heart to melt within him at the sight of his transgressions: Thou hast sette all his sinnes in order before him: This is out of thy great merciemercy, wherby thou wold not suffer him to freeze in the dregs of his corruptions: Now at last, LORD, after thou hast refined him in the fierie fornace of temptations, send him reliefe, refresh his Soule, and coole it with thy comfortes: Let thy Spirit come vntounto him with glad tydinges, that all his sinnes are forgiuen him.

Oh, what sorrow of heart hath hee had since he hath felt the power of thy wrath! His poore two eyes hauehave beene like two fountaines of teares trickling downe both day and night▪ The apple of his eye hath euer beene droping downe, the salt brimie and p. 553bitter teares of sorrow: Oh, how bitter lie hath he wept since this battell beganne? Hath hee not powred out his heart like water before thee, in bemoaning his transgrassions?

Now, LORD, for thy merciemercy sake make him free of all excessiue griefe: Beholde him with the tendrest eye of thy compassions: Ridde him of all gripping griefes of Conscience: Settle in his heart a godlie sorrowwhich may cause repentance neuer to bee repented of: Bee pleased toward him: Turne thine angerie face from the bloodie colour of all his transgressions, and looke vponupon the perfect and vnspotted righteousnes of thy Lambe, whose blood hath blanched the red Crimsin sinnes ofIsa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18 the world. No flesh, O LORD, is able to stand before thee, when thou art angrie, for what is man▪ which is consumed before the moath? He dwelleth into an house of clay, and hisIob. 4. 19.Job 4:19 foundation is in the dust: When it p. 554shall please thee, hee must lye downe into his growing bedde, and there say to corruption, Thou art my father, Iob. 17. 14Job 17:14and to the worme, Thou art my mother and my sister. O, who shall stand when thou shall say, Returne yee Children of men.Psal. 90. 3.Ps 90:3

O gracious GOD, pittie this creature that was once formed to thine owne image, which once lost, thou hast repaired with the Blood of thy Sonne: Stampe his heart vvith thy liuelie Image and coine it with thy countenance: Insinuate thy selfe into his Soule, and compasse him with thy comfortes: Let thy poore Seruant heere who hath beene most fearefullie tossed and scorched with fierie temptations, find a spiritual cooling & refreshing, in thy mercifull bowels: Temper so the Spirit of his minde, bowe his will, and incline his affections, that his chiefest delight may bee in thee: Couer his sillie Soule vnderunder p. 555the shadow of thy Winges, vntill all these calamities bee ouerpast. Refresh this paunting Soule braying afterPsal. 42. 1Ps 42:1 thy water brookes. GiueGive him a newe hearte, put within him a new Spirite, take this stonie heart out of his breast and in the place thereof put an heart of flesh.

By thy word, O LORD, wee hauehave let him see what the vanitie of this world is, how vnconstant are all things below, and how they are turned vponupon a whirling wheele: O mak his heart consider that there is nothing heere on earth that can bring solide contentment vntounto the heart: What are the best of our dayes on earth, but labour and sorrow? Is not our life a vapour, a breath? arePsal. 90 9.Ps 90:9 not our dayes consumed as a tale that is tolde?

Make the consideration of such naughtie thinges below moue him so much the more to minde the things Coll. 3. 1.that are aboue: Let him know y^t in the p. 556surging waues of this worldlie Sea there is no permanent peace, so no crosse shall come vponupon him vnawares: Teach him by practise and experimentall feeling of thy Graces, that thy strength is made perfect in weakenesse: Let him feele that it is a fruite of thy lone, that thou suffereth him to be afflicted: Sanctifie his sorrowes, & make them to lead him vntounto the face and presence of his GOD.

By the loathing of things earthlie, worke in his heart a louelove & a liking of things heauenlie, an ardent desire of thy celestiall dainties: Let him know y^t so soone as he shall come to thee, that with thy face thou shall fill the desires of his Soule, for in thy face is Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11fulnesse of joyes O thou to whom nothing is impossible, lift vp his Soule toMatth. 19 16Matt 19:16 affect that happines so that earnestlie his Soule may desire to see that day when he shall be cloathed with the long white robe of Christes righteousnesse, p. 557euen the innocencie of thy deare Sonne Iesus: Couer him Lord, couer him with the golden fleece of thy righteous Lambe: Parsume him with the sweete sauour of Christes merites, thy mercies: Let the Blood of his Aduocate pl…ade for his pardon: Naile all his sinnes to the Crosse of thy Sonne Iesus. Rid out of his heart all doubts and difficulties, draw his eyes from looking vponupon himselfe, make thine own selfe the object of his sight in the mirrour of the Gospel, wherein as with open face hee may behold as in a 2 Cor. 3. 182 Cor 3:18glasse, the glorie of the Lord, and bee changed into the same image from glorie to glorie, euen as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Seeing a good man is mercifull to Prou. 12. 10Prov 12:10his beast, how much more wilt thou bee, who are merciemercy it selfe?

Thou who art most plenteous in merciemercy, vnlocke wee intreat thee the treasures of thy mercies and affoard p. 558vntounto thy seruant such graces whereby hee may come to thy Glorie Send a Seraphin for to kindle hi… Isa. 6. 6.Isa 6:6zeale and affection toward thee▪ Publish & proclaime vntounto his Sou… that thou art pacified, and that tho… hast receiued a ransome.

These days by past, LORD, thou ha… him trained vp with diuerse fearefu… temptations, whereout of let it please thee now to giuegive him an out gate▪ O put thy quickening Spirit within him, that by the force of thy life he… dying vntounto sin, may liue vntounto The… who art our life, and lengthening of our dayes: Thine eare hath heard the heauie groanes of his hearte, which hauehave made thine heart to bee turned within thee: O now let thy compassions bee so kindled together that hee may in all boldnesse come to the Throne of thy Grace, permit him such familiaritie with thee, whereby hee may cast his burden vponupon thee.Psal. 55. 22Ps 55:22

p. 559GiueGive him, LORD, a full resolution to submitte himselfe alwayes to thine appointments, that his heart neuer anie more repine nor grudge at thy proceedings: By the finger of thy Grace frame fullie his heart for the following of thy will.

Gracious Father rouse vp his Soule and raise vp the good motions of thy Spirit within him: Make him in merciemercy to growe in Grace, which may worke a deepe detestation of all bygone slippes, whether secret or knowne, with an eager and earnest striuing to bee renewed in the Spirit of his minde.

O thou whose bowels rumble lowd with compassions, pacifie and calme all the clamours of his Conscience: Thy merciemercy is most magnified when it relieueth the extremest miserie: Thy light is most precious when it shineth into the depth of discomfort and darknesse: O pittie and pardon him, besprinkle him p. 560with the Blood of vertue, that beeing purged from all carnall and spiritual vncleanneste, hee may grow vp vntounto full holinesse in thy feare, and so may end his life in thy fauour, the surest Sāctuarie of a troubled Soule▪

Pittie the distressed members of thy Church: Many a time hauehave they Psal. 129. 1. 2. &c.Ps 129:1Ps 129:2afflicted her from her youth: The plowers plowed vponupon her backe, making long furrowes, let them all bee comfounded and turned backe, that hate Zion: confound all hatchers of Here…ies, let them bee as the grasse vponupon the house tops, which withereth afore it groweth vp, wherewith the Mower filleth not his hand, nor hee that bindeth sheaues his bosome: Protect Her by thy cloud by day, direct Her by night by the pillar of fire, let neuer the bright star of thy Gospel goe downe, which pointeth out vntounto vsus the Sauiour & Saluation of our Soule O righteous LORD, thou hast juste cause against this p. 561Church to make Her Sunne goe downe at noone, and darknesse to surprise vsus in the cleare day, with a sudden and ineuitable sin prizall and destruction: () GOD, blesse vsus with an holie vnion, and banish farre off the Deuill of diuision.

Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie: Mak him to joy in thy strength, & greatlie to rejoyce in thy Saluation: Direct His Heart & His mouth by thy Spi…it, & giuegive him his hearts desire, and with-hold not the requeast of his lips: GiueGive to Him the courage of Dauid, and the wisdome of Solomon. Be fauourable to His Royall Match: Inflame Her Heart with the louelove of thy deare Sonne Iesus: Let all Her desire be to know him crucified: Make Her an happie Mother of happie Children, euen a blessed Mother in Israel.

Blesse our Nobilitie, make them noble like the men of Berea▪ so that they may hauehave courage for y^e Truth p. 562And seeing, LORD, that as wee may see in this our deare Friende, man is like to vanitie, and that his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away: Take vsus to thy schoole and teach vsus to number our fewe and euill dayes, that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome & to wel doing.

Let it please thine Highnesse to grant vsus these out sutes for the onelyonly sake of Iesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, the verie Anchor of our Soule, the onelie stay and staffe of our hope, the ende and rest of all created desires, the true substance of ceremoniall shewes and shadowes.

To Him with Thee and thy Spirit of Grace, bee praise and thankesgiuing, glorie and dominion, now and euermore, AMEN.

If your sleepe in the night be interupted cause read vntounto you y^e Booke of Ecclesiastes, the strong enemie of all worldlie vanitie: Moses his psalme which is y^e ninty Psalme shalbe meete p. 563for your meditations, cause reade also the 1 Pe…er chap. I.

The LORD sanctifie all your spirituall exercises, to the comfort of your wearied Soule: The GOD of all merciemercy blesse the little sparke of Grace enkindled by his Spirite in you, till it spread into a big flame: GOD with a little Dewe of newe Grace can so bl…sse & prosper another Grace alreadie giuen, that Hee will make it, though so little like a graine of mustard to growe towardes a tree.

Blesse GOD, who hath not suffered you to tread the fearefull and desperate path of these who from the beginning of their life vntounto the end hauehave beene nothing but disturbers of peace, waues of the Sea foaming out their owne shame, and casting vp mire and dirt vponupon the shore of their whole couersation.

The LORD edge the little measure of your weake Faith, with a longing p. 564desire after fulnesse of perswasion: And season your heart with sauing Grace. The Lord make his most Sacred and powerfull Word so to enter into the secretes of your Soule that it may strike a dead stroke at the sweetest of your sinnes, that your sinnes being slaine, your Soule may liue, and hauehave a portion in Gods new Ierusalem, till yee come there, the LORD guard you with an inuincible troupe of his blessed Angels. The LoueLove of the Father, the Grace of the Sonne, with the Peace his Spirit bee with you for euer.