The devovt soul, or, Rules of heavenly devotion : also, The free prisoner, or, The comfort of restraint by Jos. H. B.N.
         Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.
      
       
         
           1650
        
      
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             The devovt soul, or, Rules of heavenly devotion : also, The free prisoner, or, The comfort of restraint by Jos. H. B.N.
             Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656.
          
           [6], 182, [2] p.
           
             Printed by W.H., and are to be sold by George Latham, Junior ...,
             London :
             1650.
          
           
             "Severall tractates written by Dr. Hall B. of Norwich, in and since his imprisonment and retiring": p. [1]-[2] at end.
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Devotional literature.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           DEVOVT
           SOUL
           ,
           OR
           ,
           Rules
           of
           heavenly
           DEVOTION
           .
        
         
           ALSO
           ,
           THE
           FREE
           PRISONER
           ,
           OR
           ,
           The
           Comfort
           of
           RESTRAINT
           .
        
         
           By
           Jos.
           H.
           B.
           N.
           
        
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             W.
             H.
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           
             George
             Latham
          
           ,
           Junior
           ,
           at
           the
           Bishops-head
           in
           St.
           Pauls
           Church-yard
           .
        
         
           
             M.
             DC
             .
             L.
          
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           All
           Christian
           Readers
           ,
           
             Grace
             and
             Peace
          
           ,
        
         
           THat
           in
           a
           time
           when
           we
           heare
           no
           noise
           but
           of
           Drums
           and
           Trumpets
           ,
           and
           talk
           of
           nothing
           but
           armes
           ,
           and
           sieges
           ,
           &
           battels
           ,
           I
           should
           write
           of
           Devotion
           ,
           may
           seem
           to
           some
           of
           you
           strange
           &
           unseasonable
           ;
           to
           me
           ,
           contrarily
           ,
           it
           seems
           most
           fit
           and
           opportune
           ;
           For
           when
           can
           it
           be
           more
           proper
           to
           direct
           our
           adress
           to
           the
           throne
           of
           grace
           ,
           than
           when
           we
           are
           in
           the
           very
           jawes
           of
           Death
           ?
           or
           when
           should
           we
           goe
           to
           seek
           the
           face
           of
           our
           God
           ,
           rather
           ,
           than
           in
           the
           needfull
           time
           of
           trouble
           ?
        
         
         
           Blessed
           be
           my
           God
           ,
           who
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           these
           wofull
           tumults
           ,
           hath
           vouchsafed
           to
           give
           me
           these
           calm
           ,
           &
           holy
           thoughts
           ;
           which
           I
           justly
           suppose
           ,
           he
           meant
           not
           to
           suggest
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           be
           smothered
           in
           the
           breast
           wherein
           they
           were
           conceived
           ,
           but
           with
           a
           purpose
           to
           have
           the
           benefit
           communicated
           unto
           many
           .
           Who
           is
           there
           that
           needs
           not
           vehement
           excitations
           ,
           and
           helps
           to
           Devotion
           ?
           and
           when
           more
           than
           now
           ?
           In
           a
           tempest
           the
           Mariners
           themselves
           doe
           not
           only
           cry
           everyman
           to
           his
           God
           ,
           but
           awaken
           Jonah
           ,
           that
           is
           fast
           asleep
           under
           the
           hatches
           ,
           and
           chide
           him
           to
           his
           prayers
           .
           Surely
           ,
           had
           we
           not
           bin
           failing
           in
           our
           devotions
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           have
           been
           thus
           universally
           miserable
           ;
           That
           duty
           ,
           the
           neglect
           whereof
           is
           guilty
           of
           our
           calamity
           ,
           
           must
           in
           the
           effectuall
           performance
           of
           it
           ,
           be
           the
           meanes
           of
           our
           recovery
           .
           Be
           but
           devout
           ,
           and
           we
           cannot
           miscarry
           under
           judgements
           ;
           Wee
           is
           mee
           ,
           the
           teares
           of
           penitence
           ,
           were
           more
           fit
           to
           quench
           the
           publique
           flame
           ,
           than
           bloud
           .
           How
           soone
           would
           it
           clear
           up
           above
           head
           ,
           if
           wee
           were
           but
           holily
           affected
           within
           ?
           Could
           wee
           send
           our
           zealous
           Ambassadours
           up
           to
           heaven
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           fail
           of
           an
           happy
           peace
           .
           I
           direct
           the
           way
           ;
           God
           bring
           us
           to
           the
           end
           ;
           For
           my
           owne
           particular
           practice
           ;
           God
           is
           witnesse
           to
           my
           soule
           ,
           that
           (
           as
           one
           ,
           the
           sense
           of
           whose
           private
           affliction
           is
           swallowed
           up
           of
           the
           publique
           )
           I
           cease
           not
           daily
           to
           ●ly
           the
           Father
           of
           mercies
           with
           my
           fervent
           prayers
           ,
           that
           hee
           would
           ,
           at
           last
           ,
           be
           pleased
           ,
           after
           so
           many
           streames
           of
           bloud
           ,
           to
           
           passe
           an
           Act
           of
           Pacification
           in
           heaven
           :
           And
           what
           good
           heart
           can
           do
           otherwise
           ?
           Brethren
           ,
           all
           ye
           that
           love
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           Church
           ,
           and
           his
           Truth
           ,
           and
           his
           Anointed
           ,
           and
           your
           Countrey
           ,
           &
           your selves
           ,
           and
           yours
           ,
           joyn
           your
           forces
           with
           mine
           ,
           and
           let
           us
           by
           an
           holy
           violence
           make
           way
           to
           the
           gates
           of
           Heaven
           with
           our
           petition
           ,
           for
           mercy
           and
           peace
           ;
           and
           not
           suffer
           our selves
           to
           be
           beaten
           off
           from
           the
           threshold
           of
           Grace
           ,
           till
           wee
           be
           answered
           with
           a
           condescent
           .
           He
           ,
           whose
           goodness
           is
           wont
           to
           prevent
           our
           desires
           ,
           will
           not
           give
           denyals
           to
           our
           importunities
           .
        
         
           Pray
           ,
           and
           farewell
           .
           
             NORWICH
             .
             
               March
               20.
               1643.
               
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           
             
             
               THE
               DEVOUT
               SOVLE
               .
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 I.
                 
              
               
                 DEvotion
                 is
                 the
                 life
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
                 the
                 very
                 soule
                 of
                 Piety
                 ,
                 the
                 highest
                 imploiment
                 of
                 grace
                 ;
                 and
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 the
                 prepossession
                 of
                 heaven
                 by
                 the
                 Saints
                 of
                 God
                 here
                 upon
                 earth
                 ;
                 every
                 improvement
                 whereof
                 is
                 of
                 more
                 advantage
                 and
                 value
                 to
                 the
                 Christian
                 soul
                 ,
                 than
                 all
                 the
                 profit
                 &
                 contentments
                 which
                 this
                 
                 world
                 can
                 afford
                 it
                 .
              
               
                 There
                 is
                 a
                 kind
                 of
                 Art
                 of
                 Devotion
                 (
                 if
                 we
                 can
                 attain
                 unto
                 it
                 )
                 whereby
                 the
                 practice
                 thereof
                 may
                 bee
                 much
                 advanced
                 :
                 We
                 have
                 known
                 indeed
                 some
                 holy
                 soules
                 ,
                 which
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 generall
                 precepts
                 of
                 piety
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 own
                 happy
                 experiments
                 of
                 Gods
                 mercy
                 ,
                 have
                 ,
                 through
                 the
                 grace
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 grown
                 to
                 a
                 great
                 measure
                 of
                 perfection
                 this
                 way
                 ;
                 which
                 yet
                 might
                 have
                 been
                 much
                 expedited
                 ,
                 and
                 compleated
                 ,
                 by
                 those
                 helps
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 greater
                 illumination
                 and
                 experience
                 of
                 others
                 might
                 have
                 afforded
                 them
                 :
                 Like
                 as
                 we
                 see
                 it
                 in
                 other
                 faculties
                 ;
                 there
                 are
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 out
                 of
                 a
                 naturall
                 dexterity
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 own
                 frequent
                 practice
                 ,
                 have
                 
                 got
                 into
                 a
                 safe
                 posture
                 of
                 defence
                 ,
                 and
                 have
                 handled
                 their
                 weapon
                 with
                 commendable
                 skill
                 ,
                 whom
                 yet
                 the
                 Fence-schoole
                 might
                 have
                 raised
                 to
                 an
                 higher
                 pitch
                 of
                 cunning
                 :
                 As
                 nature
                 is
                 perfited
                 ,
                 so
                 grace
                 is
                 not
                 a
                 little
                 furthered
                 by
                 Art
                 ;
                 since
                 it
                 pleaseth
                 the
                 wisedome
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 to
                 work
                 ordinarily
                 upon
                 the
                 soul
                 ,
                 not
                 by
                 the
                 immediate
                 power
                 of
                 miracle
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 such
                 methods
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 such
                 means
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 most
                 conduce
                 to
                 his
                 blessed
                 ends
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 true
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 our
                 good
                 motions
                 come
                 from
                 the
                 Spirit
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 neither
                 is
                 it
                 lesse
                 true
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 the
                 good
                 counsails
                 of
                 others
                 proceed
                 from
                 the
                 same
                 Spirit
                 ;
                 &
                 that
                 good
                 Spirit
                 cannot
                 be
                 crosse
                 to
                 itself
                 ;
                 he
                 therefore
                 that
                 infuses
                 
                 good
                 thoughts
                 into
                 us
                 ,
                 suggests
                 also
                 such
                 directions
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 render
                 us
                 apt
                 both
                 to
                 receive
                 and
                 improve
                 them
                 :
                 If
                 God
                 be
                 bounteous
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 idle
                 ,
                 and
                 neglective
                 of
                 our
                 spirituall
                 aids
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 II.
                 
              
               
                 IF
                 you
                 tell
                 me
                 (
                 by
                 way
                 of
                 instance
                 in
                 a
                 particular
                 act
                 of
                 Devotion
                 )
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 gift
                 of
                 prayer
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 Spirit
                 of
                 God
                 is
                 not
                 tied
                 to
                 rules
                 ;
                 I
                 yeeld
                 both
                 these
                 ;
                 but
                 withall
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 say
                 there
                 are
                 also
                 helps
                 of
                 prayer
                 ,
                 and
                 that
                 we
                 must
                 not
                 expect
                 immediate
                 inspirations
                 :
                 I
                 find
                 the
                 world
                 much
                 mistaken
                 in
                 both
                 ;
                 They
                 thinke
                 
                 that
                 man
                 hath
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 prayer
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 utter
                 the
                 thoughts
                 of
                 his
                 heart
                 roundly
                 unto
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 expresse
                 himself
                 smoothly
                 in
                 the
                 phrase
                 of
                 the
                 holy
                 Ghost
                 ,
                 and
                 presse
                 God
                 with
                 most
                 proper
                 words
                 ,
                 &
                 passionate
                 vehemence
                 :
                 And
                 surely
                 this
                 is
                 a
                 commendable
                 faculty
                 whersoever
                 it
                 is
                 :
                 but
                 this
                 is
                 not
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 prayer
                 ;
                 you
                 may
                 call
                 it
                 ,
                 if
                 you
                 will
                 ,
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 Elocution
                 .
                 Doe
                 wee
                 say
                 that
                 man
                 hath
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 pleading
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 talk
                 eloquently
                 at
                 the
                 Barre
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 in
                 good
                 termes
                 loud
                 and
                 earnestly
                 importune
                 the
                 Judge
                 for
                 his
                 Client
                 ;
                 and
                 not
                 rather
                 hee
                 that
                 brings
                 the
                 strongest
                 reason
                 ,
                 and
                 quotes
                 his
                 books
                 ,
                 and
                 precedents
                 with
                 most
                 truth
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 clearest
                 evidence
                 ,
                 so
                 as
                 may
                 convince
                 the
                 Jury
                 ,
                 and
                 perswade
                 the
                 Judge
                 ?
                 Do
                 wee
                 say
                 hee
                 hath
                 the
                 gift
                 of
                 Preaching
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 deliver
                 himself
                 in
                 a
                 flowing
                 manner
                 of
                 speech
                 ,
                 to
                 his
                 hearers
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 cite
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 or
                 Fathers
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 please
                 his
                 auditory
                 with
                 the
                 flowers
                 of
                 Rhetorick
                 ;
                 or
                 rather
                 ,
                 he
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 divide
                 the
                 Word
                 aright
                 ,
                 interpret
                 it
                 soundly
                 ,
                 apply
                 it
                 judiciously
                 ,
                 put
                 it
                 home
                 to
                 the
                 Conscience
                 ,
                 speaking
                 in
                 the
                 evidence
                 of
                 the
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 powerfully
                 convincing
                 the
                 gainsayers
                 ,
                 comforting
                 the
                 dejected
                 ,
                 and
                 drawing
                 every
                 soule
                 nearer
                 to
                 heaven
                 ?
                 The
                 like
                 must
                 we
                 say
                 for
                 prayer
                 ;
                 the
                 gift
                 whereof
                 hee
                 may
                 be
                 truely
                 said
                 to
                 have
                 ,
                 not
                 that
                 hath
                 
                 the
                 most
                 rennible
                 tongue
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 prayer
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 a
                 matter
                 of
                 the
                 lips
                 ,
                 as
                 of
                 the
                 heart
                 )
                 but
                 he
                 ,
                 that
                 hath
                 the
                 most
                 illuminated
                 apprehension
                 of
                 the
                 God
                 to
                 whom
                 he
                 speakes
                 ,
                 the
                 deepest
                 sense
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 wants
                 ,
                 the
                 most
                 eager
                 longings
                 after
                 grace
                 ,
                 the
                 ferventest
                 desires
                 of
                 supplies
                 from
                 heaven
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 whose
                 heart
                 sends
                 up
                 the
                 strongest
                 groanes
                 and
                 cries
                 to
                 the
                 Father
                 of
                 mercies
                 .
              
               
                 Neither
                 may
                 we
                 look
                 for
                 Enthusiasmes
                 ,
                 &
                 immediate
                 inspirations
                 ;
                 putting
                 our selves
                 upon
                 Gods
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 solemn
                 exercises
                 of
                 our
                 invocation
                 ,
                 without
                 heed
                 ,
                 or
                 meditation
                 ;
                 the
                 dangerous
                 inconvenience
                 wherof
                 hath
                 been
                 too
                 often
                 found
                 in
                 the
                 rash
                 ,
                 and
                 unwarrantable
                 expressions
                 
                 that
                 have
                 fallen
                 from
                 the
                 mouths
                 of
                 unwary
                 suppliants
                 ;
                 but
                 we
                 must
                 addresse
                 our selves
                 with
                 due
                 preparation
                 ,
                 to
                 that
                 holy
                 worke
                 ;
                 we
                 must
                 digest
                 our
                 sutes
                 ;
                 &
                 fore-order
                 our
                 supplications
                 to
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ;
                 so
                 that
                 there
                 may
                 be
                 excellent
                 and
                 necessary
                 use
                 of
                 meet
                 rules
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 .
              
               
                 He
                 ,
                 whose
                 Spirit
                 helps
                 us
                 to
                 pray
                 ,
                 and
                 whose
                 lips
                 taughts
                 us
                 how
                 to
                 pray
                 ,
                 is
                 an
                 all-sufficient
                 example
                 for
                 us
                 :
                 all
                 the
                 skill
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 and
                 Angels
                 ,
                 cannot
                 afford
                 a
                 more
                 exquisite
                 modell
                 of
                 supplicatory
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 blessed
                 Saviour
                 of
                 ours
                 gave
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 mount
                 ;
                 led
                 in
                 by
                 a
                 divine
                 ,
                 and
                 heart-raising
                 preface
                 ,
                 carried
                 out
                 with
                 a
                 a
                 strong
                 and
                 heavenly
                 enforcement
                 ;
                 
                 wherein
                 an
                 awfull
                 compellation
                 makes
                 way
                 for
                 petition
                 ;
                 and
                 petition
                 makes
                 way
                 for
                 thanksgiving
                 ;
                 the
                 petitions
                 marshalled
                 in
                 a
                 most
                 exact
                 order
                 ,
                 for
                 spirituall
                 blessings
                 ,
                 which
                 have
                 an
                 immediate
                 concernment
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 place
                 ;
                 then
                 for
                 temporall
                 favours
                 ,
                 which
                 concern
                 our selves
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 second
                 ;
                 so
                 punctuall
                 a
                 method
                 had
                 notbeen
                 observed
                 by
                 him
                 that
                 heareth
                 prayers
                 ,
                 if
                 it
                 had
                 been
                 all
                 one
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 to
                 have
                 had
                 our
                 Devotions
                 confused
                 ,
                 and
                 tumultuary
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 III.
                 
              
               
                 THere
                 is
                 commonly
                 much
                 mistaking
                 of
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 it
                 were
                 nothing
                 
                 but
                 an
                 act
                 of
                 vocall
                 prayer
                 ,
                 expiring
                 with
                 that
                 holy
                 breath
                 ,
                 and
                 revived
                 with
                 the
                 next
                 taske
                 of
                 our
                 invocation
                 ;
                 which
                 is
                 usually
                 measured
                 of
                 many
                 ,
                 by
                 frequence
                 ,
                 length
                 ,
                 smoothnesse
                 of
                 expression
                 ,
                 lowdnes
                 ,
                 vehemence
                 ;
                 Whereas
                 ,
                 indeed
                 it
                 is
                 rather
                 an
                 habituall
                 disposition
                 of
                 an
                 holy
                 soul
                 ,
                 sweetly
                 conversing
                 with
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 forms
                 of
                 an
                 heavenly
                 (
                 yet
                 awfull
                 )
                 familiarity
                 ;
                 and
                 a
                 constant
                 entertainment
                 of
                 our selves
                 here
                 below
                 with
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 spirits
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 sanctified
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 and
                 affections
                 ;
                 One
                 of
                 the
                 noble
                 exercises
                 whereof
                 ,
                 is
                 our
                 accesse
                 to
                 the
                 throne
                 of
                 grace
                 in
                 our
                 prayers
                 ;
                 whereto
                 may
                 be
                 added
                 ,
                 the
                 ordering
                 of
                 our
                 holy
                 attendance
                 
                 upon
                 the
                 blessed
                 word
                 &
                 sacraments
                 of
                 the
                 Almighty
                 :
                 Nothing
                 hinders
                 therefore
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 a
                 stammering
                 suppliant
                 may
                 reach
                 to
                 a
                 more
                 eminent
                 devotion
                 ,
                 than
                 hee
                 that
                 can
                 deliver
                 himself
                 in
                 the
                 most
                 fluent
                 and
                 patheticall
                 formes
                 of
                 Elocution
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 our
                 silence
                 may
                 bee
                 more
                 devout
                 than
                 our
                 noise
                 .
                 We
                 shall
                 not
                 need
                 to
                 send
                 you
                 to
                 the
                 Cels
                 or
                 Cloysters
                 for
                 this
                 skill
                 ;
                 although
                 it
                 will
                 hardly
                 be
                 believed
                 ,
                 how
                 far
                 some
                 of
                 their
                 Contemplative
                 men
                 have
                 gone
                 in
                 the
                 Theory
                 hereof
                 ;
                 Perhaps
                 ,
                 like
                 as
                 Chymists
                 give
                 rules
                 for
                 the
                 attaining
                 of
                 that
                 Elixir
                 ,
                 which
                 they
                 never
                 found
                 ;
                 for
                 sure
                 they
                 must
                 needs
                 fail
                 of
                 that
                 perfection
                 they
                 pretend
                 ;
                 
                 who
                 erre
                 commonly
                 in
                 the
                 object
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 alwayes
                 in
                 the
                 ground
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 faith
                 ;
                 stripped
                 ,
                 by
                 their
                 opinion
                 ,
                 of
                 the
                 comfortablest
                 use
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 certainty
                 of
                 application
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 IV.
                 
              
               
                 AS
                 there
                 may
                 be
                 many
                 resemblances
                 betwixt
                 Light
                 and
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 so
                 this
                 one
                 especially
                 ;
                 that
                 as
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 light
                 universally
                 diffused
                 through
                 the
                 aire
                 ,
                 and
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 particular
                 recollection
                 of
                 light
                 into
                 the
                 body
                 of
                 the
                 Sun
                 and
                 Stars
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 is
                 in
                 Devotion
                 ;
                 There
                 is
                 a
                 generall
                 kind
                 of
                 Devotion
                 that
                 goes
                 through
                 the
                 renewed
                 heart
                 and
                 life
                 of
                 a
                 
                 Christian
                 ,
                 which
                 wee
                 may
                 terme
                 Habitual
                 ,
                 and
                 Virtual
                 ;
                 and
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 speciall
                 ,
                 and
                 fixed
                 exercise
                 of
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 which
                 we
                 name
                 Actuall
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 soule
                 that
                 is
                 rightly
                 affected
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 is
                 never
                 void
                 of
                 an
                 holy
                 Devotion
                 ;
                 where
                 ever
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 what
                 ever
                 it
                 doth
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 still
                 lifted
                 up
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 fastned
                 upon
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 converses
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 ever
                 serving
                 the
                 Lord
                 in
                 feare
                 ,
                 and
                 rejoycing
                 in
                 him
                 with
                 trembling
                 .
              
               
                 For
                 the
                 effectuall
                 performance
                 whereof
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 requisite
                 first
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 heart
                 bee
                 setled
                 in
                 a
                 right
                 apprehension
                 of
                 our
                 God
                 ;
                 without
                 which
                 ,
                 our
                 Devotion
                 is
                 not
                 thanklesse
                 onely
                 ,
                 but
                 sinfull
                 :
                 With
                 much
                 labour
                 therefore
                 ,
                 &
                 agitation
                 of
                 a
                 mind
                 
                 illuminated
                 from
                 above
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 find
                 our selves
                 wrought
                 to
                 an
                 high
                 ,
                 awfull
                 ,
                 adorative
                 ,
                 and
                 constant
                 conceit
                 of
                 that
                 incomprehensible
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 in
                 whom
                 wee
                 live
                 ,
                 and
                 move
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 ;
                 One
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 three
                 most
                 glorious
                 Persons
                 ,
                 infinite
                 in
                 wisdome
                 ,
                 in
                 power
                 ,
                 in
                 justice
                 ,
                 in
                 mercy
                 ,
                 in
                 providence
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 that
                 he
                 hath
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 that
                 he
                 doth
                 ;
                 dwelling
                 in
                 light
                 inaccessible
                 ,
                 attended
                 with
                 thousand
                 thousands
                 of
                 Angels
                 ;
                 whom
                 yet
                 we
                 neither
                 can
                 know
                 ,
                 (
                 neither
                 would
                 it
                 availe
                 us
                 if
                 we
                 could
                 )
                 but
                 in
                 the
                 face
                 of
                 the
                 eternall
                 Son
                 of
                 his
                 Love
                 ,
                 our
                 blessed
                 Mediatour
                 God
                 and
                 Man
                 ;
                 who
                 sits
                 at
                 the
                 right
                 hand
                 of
                 Majesty
                 in
                 the
                 highest
                 
                 heavens
                 ;
                 from
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 whose
                 glorious
                 humanity
                 ,
                 we
                 comfortably
                 rise
                 to
                 the
                 contemplation
                 of
                 that
                 infinite
                 Deity
                 ,
                 whereto
                 it
                 is
                 inseparably
                 united
                 ;
                 in
                 and
                 by
                 him
                 ,
                 (
                 made
                 ours
                 by
                 a
                 lively
                 Faith
                 )
                 finding
                 our
                 persons
                 ,
                 and
                 obedience
                 accepted
                 ,
                 expecting
                 our
                 ful
                 redemption
                 ,
                 and
                 blessednesse
                 .
                 Here
                 ,
                 here
                 must
                 our
                 hearts
                 be
                 unremoveably
                 fixed
                 ;
                 In
                 his
                 light
                 must
                 we
                 see
                 light
                 :
                 no
                 cloudy
                 occurrences
                 of
                 this
                 world
                 ,
                 no
                 busie
                 imployments
                 ,
                 no
                 painfull
                 sufferings
                 must
                 hinder
                 us
                 from
                 thus
                 seeing
                 him
                 that
                 is
                 invisible
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 V.
                 
              
               
                 NEither
                 doth
                 the
                 devout
                 heart
                 see
                 his
                 Grd
                 aloof
                 
                 off
                 ,
                 as
                 dwelling
                 above
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 circle
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 but
                 beholds
                 that
                 infinite
                 Spirit
                 really
                 present
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 
                   The
                   Lord
                   is
                   upon
                   thy
                   right
                   hand
                   ,
                
                 saith
                 the
                 Psalmist
                 .
                 Our
                 bodily
                 eye
                 doth
                 not
                 more
                 certainly
                 see
                 our
                 owne
                 flesh
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 spirituall
                 eye
                 sees
                 God
                 ,
                 close
                 by
                 us
                 ;
                 Yea
                 in
                 us
                 ;
                 A
                 mans
                 own
                 soule
                 is
                 not
                 so
                 intimate
                 to
                 himselfe
                 ,
                 as
                 God
                 is
                 to
                 his
                 soule
                 ;
                 neither
                 do
                 we
                 move
                 by
                 him
                 only
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 him
                 :
                 What
                 a
                 sweet
                 conversation
                 therefore
                 ,
                 hath
                 the
                 holy
                 soul
                 with
                 his
                 God
                 ?
                 What
                 heavenly
                 conferences
                 have
                 they
                 two
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 world
                 is
                 not
                 privy
                 to
                 ;
                 whiles
                 God
                 entertains
                 the
                 soul
                 with
                 the
                 divine
                 motions
                 of
                 his
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 the
                 soul
                 entertaines
                 God
                 with
                 gracious
                 compliances
                 ?
                 
                 Is
                 the
                 heart
                 heavy
                 with
                 the
                 grievous
                 pressures
                 of
                 affliction
                 ?
                 the
                 soule
                 goes
                 in
                 to
                 his
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 pours
                 out
                 it selfe
                 before
                 him
                 in
                 earnest
                 bemoanings
                 ,
                 and
                 supplications
                 ;
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 mercy
                 answers
                 the
                 soule
                 again
                 ,
                 with
                 seasonable
                 refreshings
                 of
                 comfort
                 :
                 Is
                 the
                 heart
                 secretly
                 wounded
                 and
                 bleeding
                 with
                 the
                 conscience
                 of
                 some
                 sinne
                 ?
                 it
                 speedily
                 betakes
                 it selfe
                 to
                 the
                 great
                 Physician
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 ,
                 who
                 forthwith
                 applyes
                 the
                 balm
                 of
                 Gilead
                 for
                 an
                 unfailing
                 and
                 present
                 cure
                 :
                 Is
                 the
                 heart
                 distracted
                 with
                 doubts
                 ?
                 the
                 soule
                 retires
                 to
                 that
                 inward
                 Oracle
                 of
                 God
                 for
                 counsail
                 ,
                 he
                 returnes
                 to
                 the
                 soule
                 an
                 happy
                 settlement
                 of
                 just
                 resolution
                 :
                 Is
                 the
                 heart
                 deeply
                 
                 affected
                 with
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 some
                 speciall
                 favour
                 from
                 his
                 God
                 ?
                 the
                 soul
                 breaks
                 forth
                 into
                 the
                 passionate
                 voice
                 of
                 praise
                 &
                 thanksgiving
                 ;
                 God
                 returns
                 the
                 pleasing
                 testimony
                 of
                 a
                 cheerful
                 acceptation
                 :
                 Oh
                 blessed
                 soul
                 ,
                 that
                 hath
                 a
                 God
                 to
                 go
                 unto
                 upon
                 all
                 occasions
                 ;
                 Oh
                 infinite
                 mercy
                 of
                 a
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 vouchsafes
                 to
                 stoop
                 to
                 such
                 intirents
                 with
                 dust
                 &
                 ashes
                 .
                 It
                 was
                 a
                 gracious
                 speech
                 of
                 
                 a
                 worthy
                 Divine
                 upon
                 his
                 death-bed
                 ,
                 now
                 breathing
                 towards
                 heaven
                 ,
                 That
                 he
                 should
                 change
                 his
                 place
                 not
                 his
                 company
                 :
                 His
                 conversation
                 was
                 now
                 before
                 hand
                 with
                 his
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 holy
                 Angels
                 ;
                 the
                 only
                 difference
                 was
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 now
                 going
                 to
                 a
                 more
                 free
                 and
                 full
                 fruition
                 
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 of
                 life
                 ,
                 in
                 that
                 region
                 of
                 glory
                 above
                 ,
                 whom
                 he
                 had
                 truly
                 (
                 though
                 with
                 weaknes
                 and
                 imperfection
                 )
                 injoyed
                 in
                 this
                 vale
                 of
                 tears
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VI.
                 
              
               
                 NOw
                 ,
                 that
                 these
                 mutuall
                 respects
                 may
                 be
                 sure
                 not
                 to
                 coole
                 with
                 intermission
                 ,
                 the
                 devout
                 heart
                 takes
                 all
                 occasions
                 both
                 to
                 thinke
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 speak
                 to
                 him
                 .
                 There
                 is
                 nothing
                 that
                 hee
                 sees
                 ,
                 which
                 doth
                 not
                 bring
                 God
                 to
                 his
                 thoughts
                 .
                 Indeed
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 creature
                 ,
                 werein
                 there
                 are
                 not
                 manifest
                 footsteps
                 of
                 omnipotence
                 ;
                 Yea
                 ,
                 which
                 hath
                 not
                 a
                 tongue
                 to
                 tell
                 us
                 of
                 it's
                 Maker
                 .
                 
                   The
                   heaven
                   declare
                
                 
                 
                 
                   the
                   glory
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   firmament
                   sheweth
                   his
                   handy-worke
                   ;
                   one
                   day
                   telleth
                   another
                   ,
                   and
                   one
                   night
                   certifieth
                   another
                   :
                   Yea
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                   how
                   manifold
                   are
                   thy
                   works
                   !
                   in
                   wisdome
                
                 
                 
                   hast
                   thou
                   made
                   them
                   all
                   :
                   The
                   earth
                   is
                   full
                   of
                   thy
                   riches
                   ,
                   so
                   is
                   the
                   great
                   and
                   wide
                   sea
                   ,
                   where
                   are
                   things
                   creeping
                   innumerable
                   ,
                   both
                   small
                   and
                   great
                   beasts
                   :
                
                 Every
                 herb
                 ,
                 flower
                 ,
                 spire
                 of
                 grasse
                 ,
                 every
                 twig
                 and
                 leaf
                 ;
                 every
                 worm
                 and
                 fly
                 ;
                 every
                 scale
                 and
                 feather
                 ;
                 every
                 billow
                 and
                 meteor
                 ,
                 speaks
                 the
                 power
                 and
                 wisdom
                 of
                 their
                 infinite
                 Creator
                 ;
                 Solomon
                 sends
                 the
                 sluggard
                 to
                 the
                 Ant
                 ;
                 Esay
                 sends
                 the
                 Jews
                 to
                 the
                 Ox
                 and
                 the
                 Asse
                 ;
                 Our
                 Saviour
                 sends
                 his
                 Disciples
                 to
                 the
                 Ravens
                 ,
                 &
                 to
                 the
                 Lillies
                 of
                 the
                 field
                 ;
                 
                 There
                 is
                 no
                 creature
                 of
                 whom
                 we
                 may
                 not
                 learn
                 something
                 ;
                 we
                 shall
                 have
                 spent
                 our
                 time
                 ill
                 in
                 this
                 great
                 schoole
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 if
                 in
                 such
                 store
                 of
                 Lessons
                 ,
                 we
                 be
                 non-proficients
                 in
                 Devotion
                 .
                 Vaine
                 Idolaters
                 make
                 to
                 themselves
                 Images
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 whereby
                 they
                 sinfully
                 represent
                 him
                 to
                 their
                 thoughts
                 and
                 adoration
                 ;
                 could
                 they
                 have
                 the
                 wit
                 and
                 grace
                 to
                 see
                 it
                 ,
                 God
                 hath
                 taken
                 order
                 to
                 spare
                 them
                 this
                 labor
                 ,
                 in
                 that
                 he
                 hath
                 stamped
                 in
                 every
                 creature
                 such
                 impressions
                 of
                 his
                 infinite
                 power
                 ,
                 wisdome
                 ,
                 goodnes
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 give
                 us
                 just
                 occasion
                 to
                 worship
                 and
                 praise
                 him
                 with
                 a
                 safe
                 and
                 holy
                 advantage
                 to
                 our
                 soules
                 :
                 
                   For
                   the
                   invisible
                   things
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   from
                   
                   the
                   creation
                   of
                   the
                   world
                   ,
                   are
                   clearly
                   seen
                   ,
                   being
                   understood
                   by
                   the
                   things
                   that
                   are
                   made
                   ,
                   even
                   his
                   eternall
                   power
                   and
                   Godhead
                   .
                
                 And
                 indeed
                 ,
                 wherefore
                 serve
                 all
                 the
                 volumes
                 of
                 Naturall
                 History
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 be
                 so
                 many
                 Commentaries
                 upon
                 the
                 severall
                 creatures
                 ,
                 wherein
                 we
                 may
                 read
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 even
                 those
                 men
                 who
                 have
                 not
                 the
                 skill
                 ,
                 or
                 leisure
                 to
                 peruse
                 them
                 ,
                 may
                 yet
                 out
                 of
                 their
                 own
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 and
                 observation
                 ,
                 raise
                 from
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 works
                 of
                 God
                 sufficient
                 matter
                 to
                 glorifie
                 him
                 .
                 Who
                 can
                 be
                 so
                 stupid
                 as
                 not
                 to
                 take
                 notice
                 of
                 the
                 industry
                 of
                 the
                 Bee
                 ,
                 the
                 providence
                 of
                 the
                 Ant
                 ,
                 the
                 cunning
                 of
                 the
                 Spider
                 ,
                 the
                 reviving
                 of
                 the
                 Flye
                 ,
                 the
                 worms
                 endeavour
                 of
                 revenge
                 ,
                 
                 the
                 subtilty
                 of
                 the
                 Foxe
                 ,
                 the
                 sagacity
                 of
                 the
                 Hedge-hog
                 ,
                 the
                 innocence
                 and
                 profitablenesse
                 of
                 the
                 Sheep
                 ,
                 the
                 laboriousnesse
                 of
                 the
                 Oxe
                 ,
                 the
                 obsequiousness
                 of
                 the
                 Dog
                 ,
                 the
                 timorous
                 shifts
                 of
                 the
                 Hare
                 ,
                 the
                 nimblenesse
                 of
                 the
                 Dear
                 ,
                 the
                 generosity
                 of
                 the
                 Lion
                 ,
                 the
                 courage
                 of
                 the
                 Horse
                 ,
                 the
                 fiercenesse
                 of
                 the
                 Tiger
                 ,
                 the
                 chearful
                 musick
                 of
                 Birds
                 ,
                 the
                 harmlesnesse
                 of
                 the
                 Dove
                 ,
                 the
                 true
                 love
                 of
                 the
                 Turtle
                 ,
                 the
                 Cocks
                 observation
                 of
                 time
                 ,
                 the
                 Swallows
                 architecture
                 ,
                 shortly
                 ,
                 (
                 for
                 it
                 were
                 easie
                 here
                 to
                 be
                 endlesse
                 )
                 of
                 the
                 severall
                 qualities
                 ,
                 and
                 dispositions
                 of
                 every
                 of
                 those
                 our
                 fellow-creatures
                 ,
                 with
                 whom
                 we
                 converse
                 on
                 the
                 face
                 of
                 the
                 earth
                 ;
                 and
                 
                 who
                 that
                 takes
                 notice
                 of
                 them
                 ,
                 cannot
                 fetch
                 from
                 every
                 act
                 ,
                 and
                 motion
                 of
                 theirs
                 ,
                 some
                 monition
                 of
                 duty
                 ,
                 and
                 occasion
                 of
                 devout
                 thoughts
                 ?
                 Surely
                 ,
                 I
                 fear
                 many
                 of
                 us
                 Christians
                 ,
                 may
                 justly
                 accuse
                 our selves
                 as
                 too
                 neglective
                 of
                 our
                 duty
                 this
                 way
                 ;
                 that
                 having
                 thus
                 long
                 spent
                 our
                 time
                 in
                 this
                 great
                 Academy
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 we
                 have
                 not
                 ,
                 by
                 so
                 many
                 silent
                 documents
                 ,
                 learned
                 to
                 ascribe
                 more
                 glory
                 to
                 our
                 Creator
                 ;
                 I
                 doubt
                 those
                 creatures
                 if
                 they
                 could
                 exchange
                 their
                 brutality
                 with
                 our
                 reason
                 ,
                 being
                 now
                 so
                 docible
                 as
                 to
                 learn
                 of
                 us
                 so
                 far
                 as
                 their
                 sense
                 can
                 reach
                 ,
                 would
                 approve
                 themselves
                 better
                 Scholars
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 than
                 we
                 have
                 been
                 unto
                 them
                 .
              
               
               
                 Withall
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 add
                 that
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 stands
                 not
                 alwaies
                 in
                 need
                 of
                 such
                 outward
                 monitors
                 ,
                 but
                 findes
                 within
                 it selfe
                 ,
                 sufficient
                 incitements
                 to
                 raise
                 up
                 it self
                 to
                 a
                 continuall
                 minding
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 makes
                 use
                 of
                 them
                 accordingly
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 if
                 at
                 any
                 time
                 ,
                 being
                 taken
                 up
                 with
                 importunate
                 occasions
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 it
                 finds
                 God
                 missing
                 but
                 an
                 hour
                 ,
                 it
                 chides
                 it selfe
                 for
                 such
                 neglect
                 ,
                 and
                 sets
                 it self
                 to
                 recover
                 him
                 with
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 eager
                 affection
                 :
                 as
                 the
                 faithfull
                 spouse
                 in
                 the
                 Canticles
                 ,
                 when
                 
                 she
                 finds
                 him
                 whom
                 her
                 soul
                 loved
                 ,
                 withdrawn
                 from
                 her
                 for
                 a
                 season
                 ,
                 puts
                 her self
                 into
                 a
                 speedy
                 search
                 after
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 gives
                 not
                 over
                 till
                 shee
                 have
                 attained
                 his
                 presence
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VII
                 .
              
               
                 NOw
                 as
                 these
                 many
                 monitors
                 both
                 outward
                 &
                 inward
                 ,
                 must
                 elevate
                 our
                 hearts
                 very
                 frequently
                 ,
                 to
                 God
                 ;
                 so
                 those
                 raised
                 hearts
                 must
                 not
                 entertain
                 him
                 with
                 a
                 dumbe
                 contemplation
                 ,
                 but
                 must
                 speak
                 to
                 him
                 in
                 the
                 language
                 of
                 spirits
                 :
                 All
                 occasions
                 therefore
                 must
                 be
                 taken
                 of
                 sending
                 forth
                 pious
                 and
                 heavenly
                 ejaculations
                 to
                 God
                 ;
                 The
                 devout
                 soul
                 may
                 doe
                 this
                 more
                 than
                 an
                 hundred
                 times
                 a
                 day
                 ,
                 without
                 any
                 hindrance
                 to
                 his
                 speciall
                 vocation
                 :
                 The
                 Huswife
                 at
                 her
                 Wheel
                 ,
                 the
                 Weaver
                 at
                 his
                 Loome
                 ,
                 the
                 Husbandman
                 at
                 his
                 Plough
                 ,
                 the
                 Artificer
                 in
                 his
                 Shop
                 ,
                 
                 the
                 Traveller
                 in
                 his
                 way
                 ,
                 the
                 Merchant
                 in
                 his
                 Warehouse
                 may
                 thus
                 enjoy
                 God
                 in
                 his
                 busiest
                 imploiment
                 ;
                 For
                 ,
                 the
                 soule
                 of
                 man
                 is
                 a
                 nimble
                 spirit
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 language
                 of
                 thoughts
                 needs
                 not
                 take
                 up
                 time
                 ;
                 and
                 though
                 we
                 now
                 ,
                 for
                 examples
                 sake
                 ,
                 cloath
                 them
                 in
                 words
                 ,
                 yet
                 in
                 our
                 practice
                 we
                 need
                 not
                 :
                 Now
                 these
                 Ejaculations
                 may
                 bee
                 either
                 
                   at
                   large
                
                 ,
                 or
                 Occasionall
                 :
                 At
                 large
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 that
                 of
                 old
                 
                   Jacob
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   I
                   have
                   waited
                   for
                   thy
                   salvation
                
                 ;
                 Or
                 that
                 of
                 
                   David
                   ,
                   O
                   save
                   me
                   for
                   thy
                   mercies
                   sake
                   :
                
                 And
                 these
                 either
                 in
                 matter
                 of
                 Humiliation
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 Imploration
                 ,
                 or
                 of
                 Thanksgiving
                 :
                 In
                 all
                 which
                 ,
                 we
                 cannot
                 follow
                 a
                 better
                 pattern
                 than
                 the
                 sweet
                 singer
                 of
                 Israel
                 ,
                 whose
                 heavenly
                 
                 conceptions
                 we
                 may
                 either
                 borrow
                 ,
                 or
                 imitate
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 way
                 of
                 humiliation
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 these
                 .
                 
                   Heal
                   my
                   soul
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                   for
                   I
                   have
                   sinned
                   against
                   thee
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   Oh
                   remember
                   not
                   my
                   old
                   sins
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   but
                   have
                   mercy
                   upon
                   mee
                   .
                   If
                   thou
                   wilt
                   be
                   extreme
                   to
                   mark
                
                 
                 
                   what
                   is
                   done
                   amisse
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   who
                   may
                   abide
                   it
                   ?
                   Lord
                   thou
                   knowest
                   the
                   thoughts
                   of
                   man
                
                 
                 
                   that
                   they
                   are
                   but
                   vaine
                   .
                   O
                   God
                   why
                   abhorrest
                   thou
                   my
                   soul
                   ,
                   and
                   hidest
                   thy
                   face
                   from
                   me
                   .
                
              
               
                 In
                 way
                 of
                 
                   Imploration
                   .
                   Up
                   Lord
                   ,
                   and
                   help
                   me
                   O
                   God
                   ;
                   Oh
                
                 
                 
                   let
                   my
                   heart
                   bee
                   sound
                   in
                   thy
                   statutes
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   be
                   not
                   ashamed
                   .
                   Lord
                   ,
                   where
                   are
                   thy
                   old
                   loving
                
                 
                 
                   mercies
                   ?
                   Oh
                   deliver
                   me
                   ,
                   for
                   I
                   am
                   helplesse
                   ,
                   and
                   my
                   heart
                   is
                
                 
                 
                   wounded
                   within
                   me
                   .
                   Comfort
                   the
                   soul
                   of
                   thy
                   servant
                   ,
                   for
                   unto
                
                 
                 
                   thee
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                   doe
                   I
                   lift
                   up
                   
                   my
                   soul
                   .
                   Go
                   not
                   far
                   from
                   me
                   O
                
                 
                 
                   God.
                   O
                   knit
                   my
                   heart
                   unto
                   thee
                   that
                   I
                   may
                   fear
                   thy
                   name
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   Thou
                   art
                   my
                   helper
                   and
                   redeemer
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   O
                   Lord
                   make
                   no
                   long
                   tarrying
                   .
                   Oh
                   be
                   thou
                   my
                   helpe
                   in
                   trouble
                   ,
                   for
                   vain
                   is
                   the
                   help
                   of
                
                 
                 
                   man.
                   Oh
                   guide
                   me
                   with
                   thy
                
                 
                 
                   counsell
                   ,
                   and
                   after
                   that
                   receive
                   me
                   to
                   thy
                   glory
                   .
                   My
                   time
                   is
                   in
                   thy
                   hand
                   ,
                   deliver
                   me
                   from
                   the
                
                 
                 
                   hands
                   of
                   mine
                   enemies
                   .
                   Oh
                   withdraw
                   not
                   thy
                   mercy
                   from
                
                 
                 
                   me
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord.
                   Lead
                   me
                   O
                   Lord
                
                 
                 
                   in
                   thy
                   righteousness
                   because
                   of
                   mine
                   enemies
                   .
                   O
                   let
                   my
                   soul
                
                 
                 
                   live
                   ,
                   and
                   it
                   shall
                   praise
                   thee
                   .
                
              
               
                 In
                 way
                 of
                 
                   Thanksgiving
                   :
                   Oh
                   God
                   ,
                   wonderfull
                   art
                   thou
                   in
                
                 
                 
                   thine
                   holy
                   places
                   .
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                   how
                   glorious
                   are
                   thy
                   workes
                   !
                
                 
                 
                   &
                   thy
                   thoughts
                   are
                   very
                   deep
                   .
                   Oh
                   God
                   ,
                   who
                   is
                   like
                   unto
                   thee
                   !
                
                 
                 
                   The
                   Lord
                   ,
                   liveth
                   ,
                   and
                   blessed
                
                 
                 
                 
                   be
                   my
                   strong
                   helper
                   .
                   Lord
                   ,
                   thy
                   loving
                   kindnesse
                   is
                   better
                
                 
                 
                   than
                   life
                   it self
                   .
                   All
                   thy
                   works
                   praise
                   thee
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                   and
                   thy
                
                 
                 
                   Saints
                   give
                   thanks
                   unto
                   thee
                   .
                   Oh
                   how
                   manifold
                   are
                   thy
                   workes
                   !
                   in
                   wisdome
                   hast
                   thou
                
                 
                 
                   made
                   them
                   all
                   .
                   Who
                   is
                   God
                   but
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   Lord
                   ,
                   and
                   who
                   hath
                   any
                   strength
                   except
                   our
                   God
                   ?
                   Wee
                   will
                   rejoyce
                   in
                   thy
                   salvation
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   and
                   triumph
                   in
                   thy
                   name
                   O
                   Lord.
                   O
                   that
                   men
                   would
                   praise
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   Lord
                   for
                   his
                   goodnesse
                   .
                   Oh
                   how
                   plentifull
                   is
                   thy
                   goodnesse
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   which
                   thou
                   hast
                   laid
                   up
                   for
                   them
                   that
                   fear
                   thee
                   !
                   Thou
                   Lord
                
                 
                 
                   hast
                   never
                   failed
                   them
                   that
                   seek
                   thee
                   .
                   In
                   thy
                   presence
                   is
                   the
                
                 
                 
                   fulnesse
                   of
                   joy
                   ,
                   and
                   at
                   thy
                   right
                   hand
                   there
                   is
                   pleasure
                   for
                   evermore
                   .
                   Lord
                   ,
                   what
                   is
                   man
                
                 
                 
                   that
                   thou
                   art
                   mindfull
                   of
                   him
                   ?
                   Not
                   unto
                   us
                   Lord
                   ,
                   not
                   unto
                   us
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                 but
                 unto
                 thy
                 Name
                 give
                 the
                 praise
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VIII
                 .
              
               
                 OCcasionall
                 Ejaculations
                 are
                 such
                 ,
                 as
                 are
                 moved
                 upon
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 some
                 such
                 object
                 as
                 carries
                 a
                 kind
                 of
                 relation
                 or
                 analogy
                 to
                 that
                 holy
                 thought
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 entertained
                 .
                 Of
                 this
                 nature
                 I
                 find
                 that
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 practised
                 in
                 S.
                 Basils
                 time
                 ;
                 that
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 lighting
                 of
                 candles
                 ,
                 the
                 manner
                 was
                 to
                 blesse
                 God
                 in
                 these
                 words
                 ,
                 Praise
                 be
                 to
                 God
                 the
                 Father
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Son
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Holy
                 ghost
                 ;
                 which
                 that
                 Father
                 says
                 was
                 anciently
                 used
                 ;
                 but
                 who
                 was
                 the
                 Author
                 of
                 it
                 he
                 professeth
                 to
                 bee
                 unknown
                 :
                 
                 to
                 the
                 same
                 purpose
                 was
                 the
                 Lucernarium
                 ,
                 which
                 was
                 a
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 evening
                 office
                 of
                 old
                 ;
                 For
                 which
                 ,
                 there
                 may
                 seem
                 to
                 be
                 more
                 colour
                 of
                 reason
                 ,
                 than
                 for
                 the
                 ordinary
                 fashion
                 of
                 apprecation
                 ,
                 upon
                 occasion
                 of
                 our
                 sneesing
                 ;
                 which
                 is
                 expected
                 ,
                 and
                 practised
                 by
                 many
                 ,
                 out
                 of
                 civility
                 :
                 Old
                 and
                 reverend
                 Beza
                 was
                 wont
                 to
                 move
                 his
                 hat
                 with
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 company
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 say
                 withall
                 ,
                 
                   Gramercy
                   Madame
                   la
                   Superstition
                
                 ;
                 Now
                 ,
                 howsoever
                 in
                 this
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 other
                 practice
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 seeme
                 to
                 carry
                 with
                 it
                 a
                 smacke
                 of
                 Superstition
                 ,
                 our
                 Devotion
                 may
                 be
                 groundlesse
                 and
                 unseasonable
                 ,
                 yet
                 nothing
                 hinders
                 but
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 take
                 just
                 &
                 holy
                 hints
                 of
                 raising
                 
                 up
                 our
                 hearts
                 to
                 our
                 God.
                 As
                 when
                 we
                 doe
                 first
                 look
                 forth
                 ,
                 and
                 see
                 the
                 heavens
                 over
                 our
                 heads
                 ,
                 to
                 thinke
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   heavens
                   declare
                   thy
                   glory
                   O
                   God.
                
                 When
                 we
                 see
                 the
                 
                 day
                 breaking
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 Sun
                 rising
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   day
                   is
                   thine
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   night
                   is
                   thine
                   ,
                   thou
                   hast
                   prepared
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   light
                   and
                   the
                   Sunne
                
                 .
                 When
                 the
                 light
                 shines
                 in
                 our
                 faces
                 ,
                 
                   Thou
                   deckest
                   thy self
                
                 
                 
                   with
                   light
                   as
                   with
                   a
                   garment
                
                 ;
                 or
                 ,
                 
                   Light
                   is
                   sprung
                   up
                   for
                   the
                
                 
                 righteous
                 .
                 When
                 we
                 see
                 our
                 Garden
                 imbellisht
                 with
                 flowers
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   earth
                   is
                   full
                   of
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   goodnesse
                   of
                   the
                   Lord.
                
                 When
                 we
                 see
                 a
                 rough
                 sea
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   waves
                   of
                   the
                   sea
                   rage
                   horribly
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   and
                   are
                   mighty
                   ;
                   but
                   the
                   Lord
                   that
                   dwelleth
                   on
                   high
                   ,
                   is
                   mightier
                   than
                   they
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 see
                 the
                 darknesse
                 of
                 the
                 
                 night
                 ,
                 
                   The
                   darknes
                   is
                   no
                   darknes
                   with
                   thee
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 rise
                 
                 up
                 from
                 our
                 bed
                 ,
                 or
                 our
                 seat
                 ,
                 
                   Lord
                   thou
                   knowest
                   my
                
                 
                 
                   down-sitting
                   ,
                   and
                   my
                   up-rising
                   ;
                   thou
                   understādest
                   my
                   thoughts
                   afar
                   off
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 wash
                 our
                 hands
                 ,
                 
                   Wash
                   thou
                   me
                   ,
                   O
                   Lord
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   and
                   I
                   shall
                   be
                   whiter
                   than
                   snow
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 are
                 walking
                 forth
                 ,
                 
                   O
                   hold
                   thou
                   up
                   my
                   goings
                
                 
                 
                   in
                   thy
                   paths
                   ,
                   that
                   my
                   footsteps
                   slip
                   not
                   .
                
                 When
                 we
                 hear
                 a
                 passing-bell
                 ,
                 
                   Oh
                   teach
                   me
                   to
                
                 
                 
                   number
                   my
                   dayes
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   may
                   apply
                   my
                   heart
                   to
                   wisdome
                   :
                
                 or
                 ,
                 
                   Lord
                   ,
                   let
                   me
                   know
                   my
                   end
                   ,
                
                 
                 
                   and
                   the
                   number
                   of
                   my
                   dayes
                   .
                
              
               
                 Thus
                 may
                 wee
                 dart
                 out
                 our
                 holy
                 desires
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 upon
                 all
                 occasions
                 ;
                 Wherein
                 ,
                 heed
                 must
                 be
                 taken
                 that
                 our
                 Ejaculations
                 be
                 not
                 ,
                 on
                 the
                 one
                 side
                 ,
                 so
                 rare
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 
                 hearts
                 grow
                 to
                 be
                 hard
                 and
                 strange
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 they
                 may
                 be
                 held
                 on
                 in
                 continuall
                 acknowledgement
                 of
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 acquaintance
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 and
                 ,
                 on
                 the
                 other
                 side
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 be
                 not
                 so
                 overfrequent
                 in
                 their
                 perpetual
                 reiteration
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 they
                 grow
                 to
                 be
                 (
                 like
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 Romish
                 votaries
                 )
                 fashionable
                 ;
                 which
                 if
                 great
                 care
                 bee
                 not
                 taken
                 ,
                 will
                 fall
                 out
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 utter
                 frustrating
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 .
                 Shortly
                 ,
                 let
                 the
                 measure
                 of
                 these
                 devout
                 glances
                 be
                 ,
                 the
                 preserving
                 our
                 hearts
                 in
                 a
                 constant
                 tendernes
                 ,
                 &
                 godly
                 disposition
                 ;
                 which
                 shall
                 be
                 further
                 actuated
                 upon
                 all
                 opportunities
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 exercises
                 of
                 our
                 more
                 enlarged
                 ,
                 and
                 fixed
                 Devotion
                 :
                 Whereof
                 there
                 is
                 
                 the
                 same
                 variety
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 in
                 Gods
                 services
                 ,
                 about
                 which
                 it
                 is
                 conversant
                 .
              
               
                 There
                 are
                 three
                 maine
                 businesses
                 wherein
                 God
                 accounts
                 his
                 service
                 ,
                 here
                 below
                 ,
                 to
                 consist
                 ;
                 The
                 first
                 is
                 ,
                 our
                 address
                 to
                 the
                 throne
                 of
                 Grace
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 pouring
                 out
                 of
                 our
                 souls
                 before
                 him
                 in
                 our
                 prayers
                 :
                 The
                 second
                 is
                 ,
                 the
                 reading
                 and
                 hearing
                 his
                 most
                 holy
                 Word
                 ;
                 The
                 third
                 is
                 ,
                 the
                 receit
                 of
                 his
                 blessed
                 Sacraments
                 ;
                 In
                 all
                 which
                 there
                 is
                 place
                 and
                 use
                 for
                 a
                 fetled
                 Devotion
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 IX
                 .
              
               
                 TO
                 begin
                 with
                 the
                 first
                 work
                 of
                 our
                 actual
                 ,
                 and
                 enlarged
                 Devotion
                 :
                 Some
                 
                 things
                 are
                 pre-required
                 of
                 us
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 us
                 capable
                 of
                 the
                 comfortable
                 performance
                 of
                 so
                 holy
                 and
                 heavenly
                 a
                 duty
                 ;
                 namely
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 heart
                 be
                 cleane
                 first
                 ,
                 and
                 then
                 that
                 it
                 be
                 cleare
                 :
                 clean
                 from
                 the
                 defilement
                 of
                 any
                 knowne
                 sin
                 ;
                 cleare
                 from
                 all
                 intanglements
                 and
                 distractions
                 :
                 What
                 doe
                 wee
                 in
                 our
                 prayers
                 ,
                 but
                 converse
                 with
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ?
                 and
                 either
                 carry
                 our
                 soules
                 up
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 or
                 bring
                 him
                 down
                 to
                 us
                 ;
                 now
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 no
                 hoping
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 can
                 entertaine
                 God
                 in
                 an
                 impure
                 heart
                 :
                 Even
                 wee
                 men
                 loath
                 a
                 nasty
                 and
                 sluttish
                 lodging
                 ;
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 will
                 the
                 holy
                 God
                 abhorre
                 an
                 habitation
                 spiritually
                 filthy
                 ?
                 I
                 find
                 that
                 even
                 the
                 
                   unclean
                   spirit
                
                 made
                 that
                 
                 a
                 motive
                 of
                 his
                 repossession
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 found
                 
                   the
                   house
                   swept
                
                 
                 
                   and
                   garnished
                
                 :
                 Satans
                 cleanlinesse
                 is
                 pollution
                 ;
                 and
                 his
                 garnishment
                 ,
                 disorder
                 and
                 wickednesse
                 ;
                 without
                 this
                 he
                 findes
                 no
                 welcome
                 ;
                 Each
                 spirit
                 looks
                 for
                 an
                 entertainment
                 answerable
                 to
                 his
                 nature
                 ;
                 How
                 much
                 more
                 will
                 that
                 God
                 of
                 spirits
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 purity
                 it selfe
                 ,
                 look
                 to
                 be
                 harboured
                 in
                 a
                 cleanly
                 room
                 ?
                 
                   Into
                   a
                   malicious
                   soul
                   wisdome
                   shall
                   not
                   enter
                   ,
                   nor
                
                 
                 
                   dwell
                   in
                   the
                   body
                   that
                   is
                   subject
                   unto
                   sin
                   .
                
                 What
                 friend
                 would
                 be
                 pleased
                 that
                 wee
                 should
                 lodge
                 him
                 in
                 a
                 Lazar-house
                 ?
                 or
                 who
                 would
                 abide
                 to
                 have
                 a
                 Toad
                 lie
                 in
                 his
                 bosome
                 ?
                 Surely
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 the
                 verge
                 of
                 created
                 nature
                 to
                 yeeld
                 any
                 thing
                 that
                 can
                 be
                 so
                 noisome
                 
                 and
                 odious
                 to
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 man
                 ,
                 as
                 sin
                 is
                 to
                 that
                 absolute
                 ,
                 and
                 essentiall
                 Goodnesse
                 :
                 His
                 pure
                 eyes
                 cannot
                 indure
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 sin
                 ;
                 neither
                 can
                 he
                 indure
                 that
                 the
                 sinner
                 should
                 come
                 within
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 him
                 ;
                 
                   Away
                   from
                   me
                   ,
                   yee
                   wicked
                   ,
                
                 is
                 his
                 charge
                 ,
                 both
                 here
                 ,
                 and
                 hereafter
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 privilege
                 and
                 happinesse
                 of
                 the
                 pure
                 in
                 heart
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 shall
                 see
                 God
                 ;
                 see
                 him
                 both
                 in
                 the
                 end
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 way
                 ;
                 enjoying
                 the
                 vision
                 of
                 him
                 ,
                 both
                 in
                 grace
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 glory
                 :
                 this
                 is
                 no
                 object
                 for
                 impure
                 eys
                 :
                 Descend
                 into
                 thy self
                 therefore
                 ,
                 and
                 ransack
                 thy
                 heart
                 ,
                 who
                 ever
                 wouldst
                 be
                 a
                 true
                 Client
                 of
                 Devotion
                 ;
                 search
                 all
                 the
                 close
                 windings
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 torches
                 of
                 the
                 law
                 
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 there
                 be
                 any
                 iniquity
                 found
                 lurking
                 in
                 the
                 secret
                 corners
                 therof
                 ,
                 drag
                 it
                 out
                 and
                 abandon
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 thou
                 hast
                 done
                 ,
                 that
                 thy
                 fingers
                 may
                 retaine
                 no
                 pollution
                 ,
                 say
                 with
                 the
                 holy
                 Psalmist
                 ;
                 
                   I
                   will
                   wash
                
                 
                 
                   my
                   hands
                   in
                   innocence
                   ,
                   so
                   will
                   I
                   goe
                   to
                   thine
                   Altar
                   .
                
                 Presume
                 not
                 to
                 approach
                 the
                 Altar
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 there
                 to
                 offer
                 the
                 Sacrifice
                 of
                 thy
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 with
                 uncleane
                 hands
                 :
                 Else
                 thine
                 offering
                 shall
                 be
                 so
                 far
                 from
                 winning
                 an
                 acceptance
                 for
                 thee
                 ,
                 from
                 the
                 hands
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 as
                 that
                 thou
                 shalt
                 make
                 thine
                 offering
                 abominable
                 .
                 And
                 if
                 a
                 beast
                 touch
                 the
                 Mount
                 ,
                 it
                 shall
                 dye
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 X.
                 
              
               
                 AS
                 the
                 soul
                 must
                 be
                 clean
                 from
                 sin
                 ,
                 so
                 it
                 must
                 bee
                 clear
                 and
                 free
                 from
                 distractions
                 .
                 The
                 intent
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 is
                 to
                 welcome
                 God
                 to
                 our
                 hearts
                 ;
                 now
                 where
                 shall
                 we
                 entertain
                 him
                 ,
                 if
                 the
                 rooms
                 be
                 full
                 thronged
                 with
                 cares
                 ,
                 and
                 turbulent
                 passions
                 ?
                 The
                 Spirit
                 of
                 God
                 will
                 not
                 endure
                 to
                 be
                 crowded
                 up
                 together
                 with
                 the
                 world
                 in
                 our
                 strait
                 lodgings
                 ;
                 An
                 holy
                 vacuity
                 must
                 make
                 way
                 for
                 him
                 in
                 our
                 bosoms
                 .
                 The
                 divine
                 patterne
                 of
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 in
                 whom
                 the
                 Godhead
                 dwelt
                 bodily
                 ,
                 retires
                 into
                 the
                 Mount
                 to
                 pray
                 ;
                 he
                 that
                 carried
                 heaven
                 with
                 
                 him
                 ,
                 would
                 even
                 thus
                 leave
                 the
                 world
                 below
                 him
                 .
                 Alas
                 ,
                 how
                 can
                 we
                 hope
                 to
                 mount
                 up
                 to
                 heaven
                 in
                 our
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 if
                 wee
                 have
                 the
                 clogs
                 of
                 earthly
                 cares
                 hanging
                 at
                 our
                 heels
                 :
                 Yea
                 ,
                 not
                 only
                 must
                 there
                 bee
                 a
                 shutting
                 out
                 of
                 all
                 distractive
                 cares
                 ,
                 and
                 passions
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 professed
                 enemies
                 to
                 our
                 quiet
                 conversing
                 with
                 God
                 in
                 our
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 but
                 there
                 must
                 be
                 also
                 a
                 denudation
                 of
                 the
                 minde
                 from
                 all
                 those
                 images
                 of
                 our
                 phantasie
                 (
                 how
                 pleasing
                 soever
                 )
                 that
                 may
                 carry
                 our
                 thoughts
                 aside
                 from
                 those
                 better
                 objects
                 :
                 We
                 are
                 like
                 to
                 foolish
                 children
                 ,
                 who
                 when
                 they
                 should
                 be
                 stedfastly
                 looking
                 on
                 their
                 books
                 ,
                 are
                 apt
                 to
                 gaze
                 after
                 every
                 butter-fly
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 passetin
                 by
                 them
                 ;
                 here
                 must
                 be
                 therefore
                 a
                 carefull
                 intention
                 of
                 our
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 a
                 restraint
                 from
                 all
                 vaine
                 ,
                 and
                 idle
                 rovings
                 ,
                 and
                 an
                 holding
                 our selves
                 close
                 to
                 our
                 divine
                 taske
                 :
                 Whiles
                 Martha
                 is
                 troubled
                 about
                 many
                 things
                 ,
                 her
                 devouter
                 sister
                 ,
                 having
                 chosen
                 the
                 better
                 part
                 ,
                 plyes
                 the
                 one
                 thing
                 necessary
                 ,
                 which
                 shall
                 never
                 be
                 taken
                 from
                 her
                 ;
                 and
                 whiles
                 Martha
                 would
                 feast
                 Christ
                 with
                 bodily
                 fare
                 ,
                 she
                 is
                 feasted
                 of
                 Christ
                 with
                 heavenly
                 delicacies
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XI
                 .
              
               
                 AFter
                 the
                 heart
                 is
                 thus
                 cleansed
                 and
                 thus
                 cleared
                 ,
                 it
                 must
                 bee
                 in
                 the
                 next
                 
                 place
                 decked
                 with
                 true
                 humility
                 ,
                 the
                 cheapest
                 ,
                 yet
                 best
                 ornament
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 .
                 If
                 the
                 wise
                 man
                 tel
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   that
                   pride
                   is
                   the
                   beginning
                   of
                   sin
                
                 ;
                 surely
                 ,
                 all
                 
                 gracious
                 dispositions
                 must
                 begin
                 in
                 humility
                 .
                 The
                 foundation
                 of
                 all
                 high
                 and
                 stately
                 buildings
                 must
                 be
                 laid
                 low
                 :
                 They
                 are
                 the
                 lowly
                 valleys
                 that
                 soak
                 in
                 the
                 showres
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 steep
                 hils
                 shelve
                 off
                 ,
                 and
                 prove
                 dry
                 and
                 fruitlesse
                 .
                 
                   To
                   that
                   man
                   will
                   I
                   look
                
                 (
                 saith
                 
                 God
                 )
                 
                   that
                   is
                   poore
                   ,
                   and
                   of
                   〈◊〉
                   contrite
                   spirit
                   ,
                   and
                   trembleth
                   at
                   my
                   Word
                   :
                
                 Hence
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 more
                 eminent
                 any
                 man
                 is
                 in
                 grace
                 ,
                 the
                 more
                 he
                 is
                 dejected
                 in
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 The
                 father
                 of
                 the
                 faithfull
                 comes
                 to
                 God
                 under
                 the
                 
                 stile
                 of
                 
                   dust
                   ,
                   and
                   ashes
                   :
                   David
                
                 
                 under
                 the
                 stile
                 of
                 
                   a
                   worm
                   and
                   no
                   man
                   ;
                   Agur
                
                 the
                 son
                 of
                 Jakeh
                 ,
                 
                 under
                 the
                 title
                 of
                 
                   more
                   brutish
                   than
                   any
                   man
                   ,
                   and
                   one
                   that
                   hath
                   not
                   the
                   understanding
                   of
                   a
                   man
                
                 ;
                 John
                 Baptist
                 ,
                 
                   as
                   not
                   morthy
                   to
                   carry
                   the
                   shooes
                
                 
                 
                   of
                   Christ
                   after
                   him
                
                 ;
                 Paul
                 ,
                 as
                 
                 
                   the
                   least
                   of
                   Saints
                   ,
                   and
                   chiefe
                   of
                   sinners
                   :
                
                 On
                 the
                 contrary
                 ,
                 the
                 more
                 vile
                 any
                 man
                 is
                 in
                 his
                 owne
                 eyes
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 more
                 dejected
                 in
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 the
                 higher
                 he
                 is
                 exalted
                 in
                 Gods
                 favour
                 :
                 Like
                 as
                 the
                 Conduict-water
                 ,
                 by
                 how
                 much
                 lower
                 it
                 fals
                 ,
                 the
                 higher
                 it
                 riseth
                 .
                 When
                 therefore
                 we
                 would
                 appeare
                 before
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 solemn
                 devotions
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 see
                 that
                 we
                 empty
                 our selves
                 of
                 all
                 proud
                 conceits
                 ,
                 and
                 find
                 our
                 hearts
                 fully
                 convinced
                 of
                 
                 our
                 own
                 vilenesse
                 ,
                 yea
                 nothingness
                 in
                 his
                 sight
                 .
                 Down
                 ,
                 down
                 with
                 all
                 our
                 high
                 thoughts
                 ;
                 fall
                 wee
                 low
                 before
                 our
                 great
                 and
                 holy
                 God
                 ;
                 not
                 to
                 the
                 earth
                 only
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 the
                 very
                 brim
                 of
                 hell
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 Conscience
                 of
                 our
                 owne
                 guiltinesse
                 ;
                 for
                 though
                 the
                 miserable
                 wretchednesse
                 of
                 our
                 nature
                 may
                 bee
                 a
                 sufficient
                 cause
                 of
                 our
                 humiliation
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 consideration
                 of
                 our
                 detestable
                 sinfulnesse
                 is
                 that
                 which
                 will
                 depresse
                 us
                 lowest
                 in
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XII
                 .
              
               
                 IT
                 is
                 fit
                 the
                 exercise
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 should
                 begin
                 in
                 an
                 humble
                 confession
                 of
                 our
                 unword●●nesse
                 .
                 Now
                 
                 for
                 the
                 effectual
                 furtherance
                 of
                 this
                 our
                 self-dejection
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 requisite
                 to
                 bend
                 our
                 eyes
                 upon
                 a
                 threefold
                 object
                 ;
                 To
                 look
                 inward
                 into
                 our selves
                 ,
                 upward
                 to
                 heaven
                 ,
                 downwards
                 to
                 hell
                 .
                 First
                 ,
                 to
                 turne
                 our
                 eyes
                 into
                 our
                 bosomes
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 take
                 a
                 view
                 (
                 not
                 without
                 a
                 secret
                 self-loathing
                 )
                 of
                 that
                 world
                 of
                 corruption
                 that
                 hath
                 lien
                 hidden
                 there
                 ;
                 &
                 therupon
                 to
                 accuse
                 ,
                 arraign
                 ,
                 and
                 condemn
                 our selves
                 before
                 that
                 awful
                 Tribunall
                 of
                 the
                 Judge
                 of
                 heaven
                 and
                 earth
                 ;
                 both
                 of
                 that
                 originall
                 pollution
                 ,
                 which
                 we
                 have
                 drawn
                 from
                 the
                 tainted
                 loins
                 of
                 our
                 first
                 parents
                 ;
                 and
                 those
                 innumerable
                 actuall
                 wickednesses
                 derived
                 there-from
                 ;
                 which
                 have
                 stained
                 our
                 persons
                 
                 and
                 lives
                 .
                 How
                 can
                 we
                 bee
                 but
                 throughly
                 humbled
                 ,
                 to
                 see
                 our
                 souls
                 utterly
                 overspread
                 with
                 the
                 odious
                 and
                 abominable
                 leprosie
                 of
                 sin
                 :
                 We
                 find
                 that
                 Uzziah
                 bore
                 up
                 stoutly
                 a
                 while
                 ,
                 against
                 the
                 Priests
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 maintenance
                 of
                 his
                 sacrilegious
                 presumption
                 ,
                 but
                 when
                 he
                 saw
                 himself
                 turn'd
                 Lazar
                 ,
                 on
                 the
                 suddain
                 ,
                 he
                 is
                 confounded
                 in
                 himselfe
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 a
                 depth
                 of
                 shame
                 hastens
                 away
                 from
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 God
                 to
                 a
                 sad
                 ,
                 and
                 penitentiall
                 retirednes
                 .
                 We
                 should
                 need
                 no
                 other
                 arguments
                 to
                 loath
                 our selves
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 our
                 own
                 faces
                 ,
                 so
                 miserably
                 deformed
                 with
                 the
                 nasty
                 and
                 hatefull
                 scurse
                 of
                 our
                 iniquity
                 :
                 Neither
                 only
                 must
                 we
                 be
                 content
                 to
                 
                 shame
                 ,
                 and
                 grieve
                 our
                 eyes
                 with
                 the
                 foule
                 nature
                 and
                 condition
                 of
                 our
                 sins
                 ,
                 but
                 we
                 must
                 represent
                 them
                 to
                 our selves
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 circumstances
                 that
                 may
                 aggravate
                 their
                 nainousnesse
                 .
                 Alas
                 ,
                 Lord
                 ,
                 any
                 one
                 sin
                 is
                 able
                 to
                 damne
                 a
                 soul
                 ;
                 I
                 have
                 committed
                 many
                 ,
                 yea
                 numberlesse
                 :
                 they
                 have
                 not
                 possessed
                 me
                 single
                 ,
                 but
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 evill
                 spirit
                 said
                 ,
                 their
                 name
                 is
                 Legion
                 ;
                 neither
                 have
                 I
                 committed
                 these
                 sins
                 once
                 ,
                 but
                 often
                 ;
                 Thine
                 Angels
                 (
                 that
                 were
                 )
                 sinned
                 but
                 once
                 ,
                 and
                 are
                 damned
                 for
                 ever
                 ;
                 I
                 have
                 frequently
                 reiterated
                 the
                 same
                 offences
                 ,
                 where
                 (
                 then
                 were
                 it
                 not
                 for
                 thy
                 mercy
                 )
                 shall
                 I
                 appear
                 ?
                 neither
                 have
                 I
                 only
                 done
                 them
                 in
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 my
                 ignorance
                 ,
                 but
                 since
                 I
                 received
                 
                 sufficient
                 illumination
                 from
                 thee
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 not
                 in
                 the
                 darke
                 that
                 I
                 have
                 stumbled
                 ,
                 and
                 faln
                 ,
                 but
                 in
                 the
                 midst
                 of
                 the
                 clear
                 light
                 and
                 sun-shine
                 of
                 thy
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 very
                 face
                 of
                 thee
                 my
                 God
                 ;
                 neither
                 have
                 these
                 been
                 the
                 slips
                 of
                 my
                 weaknesse
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 bold
                 miscarriages
                 of
                 my
                 presumption
                 ;
                 neither
                 have
                 I
                 offended
                 out
                 of
                 inconsideration
                 ,
                 and
                 inadvertency
                 ,
                 but
                 after
                 and
                 against
                 the
                 checks
                 of
                 a
                 remurmuring
                 conscience
                 ;
                 after
                 so
                 many
                 gracious
                 warnings
                 ,
                 and
                 fatherly
                 admonitions
                 ,
                 after
                 so
                 many
                 fearfull
                 examples
                 of
                 thy
                 judgements
                 ,
                 after
                 so
                 infinite
                 obligations
                 of
                 thy
                 favours
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 thus
                 having
                 look't
                 inward
                 into
                 ourselves
                 ,
                 and
                 taken
                 an
                 impartiall
                 view
                 of
                 
                 our
                 own
                 vilenesse
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 requisite
                 to
                 cast
                 our
                 eyes
                 upward
                 unto
                 heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 there
                 to
                 see
                 against
                 whom
                 we
                 have
                 offended
                 ;
                 even
                 against
                 an
                 infinite
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 &
                 power
                 ,
                 an
                 infinite
                 mercy
                 ,
                 an
                 infinite
                 justice
                 ;
                 That
                 power
                 and
                 Majesty
                 which
                 hath
                 spread
                 out
                 the
                 heavens
                 as
                 a
                 Curtain
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 laid
                 the
                 foundations
                 of
                 the
                 earth
                 so
                 sure
                 that
                 it
                 cannot
                 be
                 moved
                 ;
                 who
                 hath
                 shut
                 up
                 the
                 sea
                 with
                 bars
                 and
                 doors
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 said
                 ,
                 Hitherto
                 shalt
                 thou
                 come
                 and
                 no
                 further
                 ,
                 and
                 here
                 shalt
                 thou
                 stay
                 thy
                 proud
                 waves
                 ;
                 who
                 doth
                 whatsoever
                 he
                 will
                 in
                 heaven
                 and
                 in
                 earth
                 ;
                 who
                 commandeth
                 the
                 Devils
                 to
                 their
                 chains
                 ,
                 able
                 therfore
                 to
                 take
                 infinite
                 vengeance
                 on
                 sinners
                 .
                 
                 That
                 mercy
                 of
                 God
                 the
                 Father
                 ,
                 who
                 gave
                 his
                 own
                 Son
                 out
                 of
                 his
                 bosome
                 for
                 our
                 redemption
                 ;
                 That
                 mercy
                 of
                 God
                 the
                 Son
                 ,
                 who
                 ,
                 
                 thinking
                 it
                 no
                 robbery
                 to
                 be
                 equall
                 unto
                 God
                 ,
                 for
                 our
                 sakes
                 made
                 himself
                 of
                 no
                 reputation
                 ,
                 and
                 took
                 upon
                 him
                 the
                 form
                 of
                 a
                 servant
                 ;
                 and
                 being
                 found
                 in
                 fashion
                 as
                 a
                 man
                 ,
                 humbled
                 himself
                 ,
                 and
                 became
                 obedient
                 to
                 the
                 death
                 ,
                 even
                 the
                 accursed
                 death
                 of
                 the
                 Crosse
                 ;
                 That
                 mercy
                 of
                 God
                 the
                 holy
                 Ghost
                 ,
                 who
                 hath
                 made
                 that
                 Christ
                 mine
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 sealed
                 to
                 my
                 soule
                 the
                 benefit
                 of
                 that
                 blessed
                 Redemption
                 ;
                 Lastly
                 ,
                 that
                 justice
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 which
                 as
                 it
                 is
                 infinitely
                 displeased
                 with
                 every
                 sin
                 ,
                 so
                 will
                 be
                 sure
                 to
                 take
                 infinite
                 
                 vengeance
                 on
                 every
                 impenitent
                 sinner
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 from
                 hence
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 fit
                 and
                 seasonable
                 for
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 ,
                 to
                 look
                 downward
                 into
                 that
                 horrible
                 pit
                 of
                 eternall
                 confusion
                 ;
                 and
                 there
                 to
                 see
                 the
                 dreadful
                 ,
                 unspeakable
                 ,
                 unimaginable
                 torments
                 of
                 the
                 damned
                 ;
                 to
                 represent
                 unto
                 it selfe
                 the
                 terrors
                 of
                 those
                 everlasting
                 burnings
                 ;
                 the
                 fire
                 and
                 brimstone
                 of
                 that
                 infernall
                 Tophet
                 ;
                 the
                 mercilesse
                 and
                 unwearible
                 tyranny
                 of
                 those
                 hellish
                 executioners
                 ;
                 the
                 shrieks
                 ,
                 and
                 howlings
                 ,
                 and
                 gnashings
                 of
                 the
                 tormented
                 ;
                 the
                 unpitiable
                 ,
                 interminable
                 ,
                 unmitigable
                 tortures
                 of
                 those
                 ever-dying
                 ,
                 and
                 yet
                 never-dying
                 souls
                 .
                 By
                 all
                 which
                 ,
                 we
                 shall
                 justly
                 affright
                 
                 our selves
                 into
                 a
                 deep
                 sense
                 of
                 the
                 dangerous
                 and
                 wofull
                 condition
                 wherein
                 we
                 lie
                 in
                 the
                 state
                 of
                 nature
                 and
                 impenitence
                 ,
                 and
                 shal
                 be
                 driven
                 with
                 an
                 holy
                 eagernesse
                 to
                 seek
                 for
                 Christ
                 ,
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 the
                 ever-living
                 God
                 ,
                 our
                 blessed
                 Mediator
                 ;
                 in
                 and
                 by
                 whom
                 only
                 ,
                 we
                 can
                 look
                 for
                 the
                 remission
                 of
                 all
                 these
                 our
                 sins
                 ,
                 a
                 reconcilement
                 with
                 this
                 most
                 powerfull
                 ,
                 mercifull
                 ,
                 just
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 a
                 deliverance
                 of
                 our
                 soules
                 from
                 the
                 hand
                 of
                 the
                 nethermost
                 hell
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XIII
                 .
              
               
                 IT
                 shall
                 not
                 now
                 need
                 ,
                 or
                 boot
                 to
                 bid
                 the
                 soul
                 which
                 is
                 truely
                 apprehensive
                 of
                 all
                 these
                 ,
                 to
                 sue
                 importunately
                 
                 to
                 the
                 Lord
                 of
                 life
                 for
                 a
                 freedome
                 ,
                 and
                 rescue
                 from
                 these
                 infinite
                 paines
                 of
                 eternall
                 death
                 ,
                 to
                 which
                 our
                 sinnes
                 have
                 forfeited
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 for
                 a
                 present
                 happy
                 recovery
                 of
                 that
                 favour
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 better
                 than
                 life
                 .
                 Have
                 we
                 heard
                 ,
                 or
                 can
                 wee
                 imagine
                 some
                 hainous
                 Malefactor
                 ,
                 that
                 hath
                 received
                 the
                 sentence
                 of
                 death
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 now
                 bound
                 hand
                 ,
                 and
                 foot
                 ,
                 ready
                 to
                 be
                 cast
                 into
                 a
                 Den
                 of
                 Lions
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 burning
                 furnace
                 ,
                 with
                 what
                 strong
                 cries
                 ,
                 and
                 passionate
                 obsecrations
                 he
                 plies
                 the
                 Judge
                 for
                 mercy
                 ?
                 wee
                 may
                 then
                 conceive
                 some
                 little
                 image
                 of
                 the
                 vehement
                 sute
                 ,
                 and
                 strong
                 cries
                 of
                 a
                 soul
                 truly
                 sensible
                 of
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 Gods
                 wrath
                 deserved
                 by
                 his
                 sin
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 
                 dreadful
                 consequents
                 of
                 deserved
                 imminent
                 damnation
                 ;
                 Although
                 what
                 proportion
                 is
                 there
                 betwixt
                 a
                 weak
                 creature
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ;
                 betwixt
                 a
                 moment
                 ,
                 and
                 eternity
                 ?
              
               
                 Hereupon
                 therefore
                 followes
                 a
                 vehement
                 longing
                 (
                 uncapable
                 of
                 a
                 denial
                 )
                 after
                 Christ
                 ;
                 and
                 fervent
                 aspirations
                 to
                 that
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 by
                 whom
                 only
                 we
                 receive
                 a
                 ful
                 and
                 gracious
                 deliverance
                 from
                 death
                 and
                 hell
                 ;
                 and
                 a
                 full
                 pardon
                 and
                 remission
                 of
                 all
                 our
                 sins
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 this
                 come
                 not
                 the
                 sooner
                 ,
                 strong
                 knocking
                 's
                 at
                 the
                 gates
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 even
                 so
                 loud
                 that
                 the
                 Father
                 of
                 mercies
                 cannot
                 but
                 hear
                 &
                 open
                 :
                 Never
                 did
                 any
                 contrite
                 soul
                 beg
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 was
                 not
                 prevented
                 
                 by
                 his
                 mercy
                 ;
                 much
                 more
                 doth
                 he
                 condescend
                 when
                 he
                 is
                 strongly
                 intreated
                 ;
                 our
                 very
                 intreaties
                 are
                 from
                 him
                 ,
                 hee
                 puts
                 into
                 us
                 those
                 desires
                 which
                 he
                 graciously
                 answers
                 :
                 Now
                 therfore
                 doth
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 see
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 all
                 comfort
                 to
                 bow
                 the
                 heavens
                 ,
                 and
                 come
                 down
                 with
                 healing
                 in
                 his
                 wings
                 ;
                 and
                 heare
                 him
                 speak
                 peace
                 unto
                 the
                 heart
                 thus
                 throughly
                 humbled
                 ;
                 Fear
                 not
                 ,
                 thou
                 shalt
                 not
                 die
                 but
                 live
                 .
                 Be
                 of
                 good
                 cheare
                 ,
                 thy
                 sins
                 are
                 forgiven
                 thee
                 :
                 Here
                 therefore
                 comes
                 in
                 that
                 divine
                 grace
                 of
                 Faith
                 ,
                 effectually
                 apprehending
                 Christ
                 the
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 infinite
                 satisfaction
                 and
                 merits
                 ;
                 comfortably
                 applying
                 all
                 the
                 sweet
                 promises
                 of
                 
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ;
                 clinging
                 close
                 to
                 that
                 all-sufficient
                 Redeemer
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 his
                 most
                 perfect
                 obedience
                 emboldning
                 it selfe
                 ,
                 to
                 challenge
                 a
                 freedome
                 of
                 accesse
                 to
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 confidence
                 of
                 appearance
                 before
                 the
                 Tribunal
                 of
                 heaven
                 ;
                 and
                 now
                 the
                 soule
                 clad
                 with
                 Christs
                 righteousnesse
                 ,
                 dares
                 look
                 God
                 in
                 the
                 face
                 ,
                 and
                 can
                 both
                 challenge
                 and
                 triumph
                 over
                 all
                 the
                 powers
                 of
                 darknesse
                 :
                 For
                 ,
                 
                   being
                   justified
                   by
                   faith
                   ,
                   we
                   have
                   peach
                
                 
                 
                   with
                   God
                   through
                   Jesu
                   Christ
                   our
                   Lord.
                   
                
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XIV
                 .
              
               
                 BY
                 how
                 much
                 deeper
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 our
                 misery
                 and
                 danger
                 is
                 ,
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 welcome
                 and
                 joyfull
                 is
                 the
                 
                 apprehension
                 of
                 our
                 deliverance
                 ;
                 and
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 thankfull
                 is
                 our
                 acknowledgement
                 of
                 that
                 unspeakable
                 mercy
                 :
                 The
                 soule
                 therefore
                 that
                 is
                 truly
                 sensible
                 of
                 this
                 wonderfull
                 goodnesse
                 of
                 it's
                 God
                 ;
                 as
                 it
                 feels
                 a
                 marvellous
                 joy
                 in
                 it self
                 ,
                 so
                 it
                 cannot
                 but
                 break
                 sorth
                 into
                 cheerfull
                 and
                 holy
                 (
                 though
                 secret
                 )
                 gratulations
                 :
                 The
                 
                 
                   Lord
                   is
                   full
                   of
                   compassion
                   ,
                   and
                   mercy
                   ,
                   long
                   suffering
                   ,
                   and
                   of
                   great
                   goodnes
                   ;
                   he
                   keepeth
                   not
                   his
                   anger
                   for
                   ever
                   ;
                   he
                   hath
                   not
                   dealt
                   with
                   me
                   after
                   my
                   sins
                   ,
                   nor
                   rewarded
                   me
                   after
                   mine
                   iniquities
                   .
                   What
                   shal
                   I
                   render
                   unto
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   Lord
                   for
                   all
                   his
                   benefits
                   towards
                   me
                   ?
                   I
                   will
                   take
                   the
                   cup
                   of
                   salvation
                   ,
                   and
                   call
                   upon
                   the
                   name
                   of
                   the
                   Lord.
                   I
                   will
                   thank
                
                 
                 
                   thee
                   ,
                   for
                   thou
                   hast
                   heard
                   me
                   ,
                   &
                   
                   hast
                   not
                   given
                   me
                   over
                   to
                   death
                   ,
                   but
                   art
                   become
                   my
                   salvation
                   .
                   O
                   speak
                   good
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   all
                   ye
                   works
                   of
                   his
                   ;
                   Praise
                   thou
                   the
                   Lord
                   O
                   my
                   soul
                   .
                
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XV.
                 
              
               
                 THe
                 more
                 feelingly
                 the
                 soul
                 apprehends
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 more
                 thankfully
                 it
                 digests
                 the
                 favours
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 its
                 pardon
                 ,
                 and
                 deliverance
                 ,
                 the
                 more
                 freely
                 doth
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 mercy
                 impart
                 himself
                 to
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 the
                 more
                 God
                 imparts
                 himself
                 to
                 it
                 ,
                 the
                 more
                 it
                 loves
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 more
                 heavenly
                 acquaintance
                 and
                 entirenesse
                 grows
                 betwixt
                 God
                 &
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 now
                 that
                 love
                 which
                 was
                 but
                 a
                 spark
                 at
                 first
                 grows
                 into
                 a
                 flame
                 ;
                 and
                 wholly
                 takes
                 up
                 the
                 soul
                 .
                 This
                 fire
                 of
                 heavenly
                 love
                 in
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 
                 and
                 must
                 be
                 heightned
                 more
                 and
                 more
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 addition
                 of
                 the
                 holy
                 incentives
                 of
                 divine
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 concerning
                 the
                 means
                 of
                 our
                 freedome
                 and
                 deliverance
                 .
                 And
                 here
                 ,
                 offers
                 it self
                 to
                 us
                 that
                 bottomlesse
                 abysse
                 of
                 mercy
                 in
                 our
                 Redemption
                 ,
                 wrought
                 by
                 the
                 eternall
                 Son
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 Jesus
                 Christ
                 the
                 just
                 ,
                 by
                 whose
                 stripes
                 we
                 are
                 healed
                 ;
                 by
                 whose
                 bloud
                 we
                 are
                 ransomed
                 ;
                 where
                 none
                 will
                 befit
                 us
                 but
                 admiring
                 and
                 adoring
                 notions
                 .
                 We
                 shall
                 not
                 disparage
                 you
                 ,
                 O
                 ye
                 blessed
                 Angels
                 ,
                 and
                 Arch-angels
                 of
                 Heaven
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 shall
                 say
                 ,
                 ye
                 are
                 not
                 able
                 to
                 look
                 into
                 the
                 bottome
                 of
                 this
                 divine
                 love
                 ,
                 wherwith
                 God
                 so
                 loved
                 the
                 world
                 that
                 he
                 gave
                 his
                 only
                 begotten
                 Son
                 ,
                 that
                 whosoever
                 
                 beleeveth
                 in
                 him
                 should
                 not
                 perish
                 ,
                 but
                 have
                 everlasting
                 life
                 :
                 None
                 ,
                 oh
                 none
                 can
                 comprehend
                 this
                 mercy
                 ,
                 but
                 he
                 that
                 wrought
                 it
                 .
                 Lord
                 what
                 a
                 transcendent
                 ,
                 what
                 an
                 infinite
                 love
                 is
                 this
                 ?
                 what
                 an
                 object
                 was
                 this
                 for
                 thee
                 to
                 love
                 ?
                 A
                 world
                 of
                 sinners
                 Impotent
                 ,
                 wretched
                 creatures
                 ,
                 that
                 had
                 dispighted
                 thee
                 ,
                 that
                 had
                 no
                 motive
                 for
                 thy
                 favour
                 but
                 deformity
                 ,
                 misery
                 ,
                 professed
                 enmity
                 ?
                 It
                 had
                 been
                 mercy
                 enough
                 in
                 thee
                 ,
                 that
                 thou
                 didst
                 no●
                 damn
                 the
                 world
                 ;
                 but
                 that
                 thou
                 shouldst
                 love
                 it
                 ,
                 〈◊〉
                 more
                 than
                 mercy
                 .
                 It
                 was
                 thy
                 great
                 goodnesse
                 to
                 forbeare
                 the
                 acts
                 of
                 just
                 vengeance
                 to
                 the
                 sinful
                 world
                 of
                 man
                 ;
                 but
                 to
                 give
                 unto
                 it
                 tokens
                 of
                 thy
                 love
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 favour
                 beyond
                 all
                 
                 expression
                 .
                 The
                 least
                 gift
                 from
                 thee
                 had
                 been
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 world
                 could
                 hope
                 for
                 ;
                 but
                 that
                 thou
                 shouldst
                 not
                 stick
                 to
                 give
                 thine
                 only
                 begotten
                 Son
                 ,
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 thy
                 love
                 ,
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 thine
                 essence
                 ,
                 thy
                 coequal
                 ,
                 coeternal
                 Son
                 ,
                 who
                 was
                 more
                 than
                 ten
                 thousand
                 worlds
                 ,
                 to
                 redeem
                 this
                 one
                 forlorne
                 world
                 of
                 sinners
                 ,
                 is
                 love
                 above
                 all
                 comprehension
                 of
                 men
                 and
                 Angels
                 .
                 What
                 diminution
                 had
                 it
                 been
                 to
                 thee
                 and
                 thine
                 essentiall
                 glory
                 ,
                 O
                 thou
                 great
                 God
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 souls
                 that
                 sinned
                 should
                 have
                 dyed
                 ,
                 and
                 perished
                 everlastingly
                 ?
                 yet
                 so
                 infinite
                 was
                 thy
                 loving
                 mercy
                 ,
                 that
                 thou
                 wouldest
                 rather
                 give
                 thy
                 onely
                 Sonne
                 out
                 of
                 thy
                 bosome
                 ,
                 
                 than
                 that
                 there
                 should
                 not
                 be
                 a
                 redemption
                 for
                 beleevers
                 .
              
               
                 Yet
                 ,
                 O
                 God
                 ,
                 hadst
                 thou
                 sent
                 down
                 thy
                 Son
                 to
                 this
                 lower
                 region
                 of
                 earth
                 ,
                 upon
                 such
                 termes
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 hee
                 might
                 have
                 brought
                 down
                 heaven
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 that
                 hee
                 might
                 have
                 come
                 in
                 the
                 port
                 and
                 Majesty
                 of
                 a
                 God
                 ,
                 cloathed
                 with
                 celestiall
                 glory
                 ,
                 to
                 have
                 dazeled
                 our
                 eyes
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 have
                 drawn
                 all
                 hearts
                 unto
                 him
                 ;
                 this
                 might
                 have
                 seemed
                 ,
                 in
                 some
                 measure
                 ,
                 to
                 have
                 sorted
                 with
                 his
                 divine
                 magnificence
                 ;
                 But
                 thou
                 wouldst
                 have
                 him
                 to
                 appear
                 in
                 the
                 wretched
                 condition
                 of
                 our
                 humanity
                 :
                 Yet
                 ,
                 even
                 thus
                 ,
                 hadst
                 thou
                 sent
                 him
                 into
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 highest
                 estate
                 ,
                 and
                 pomp
                 of
                 royalty
                 ,
                 
                 that
                 earth
                 could
                 afford
                 ,
                 that
                 all
                 the
                 Kings
                 and
                 Monarchs
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 should
                 have
                 been
                 commanded
                 to
                 follow
                 his
                 train
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 glitter
                 in
                 his
                 Court
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 the
                 knees
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 Potentates
                 of
                 the
                 earth
                 should
                 have
                 bowed
                 to
                 his
                 Soveraign
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 and
                 their
                 lips
                 have
                 kissed
                 his
                 dust
                 ,
                 this
                 might
                 have
                 carried
                 some
                 kind
                 of
                 appearance
                 of
                 a
                 state
                 next
                 to
                 divine
                 greatnesse
                 ;
                 but
                 thou
                 wouldst
                 have
                 him
                 come
                 in
                 the
                 despised
                 form
                 of
                 a
                 servant
                 :
                 And
                 thou
                 ,
                 O
                 blessed
                 Jesu
                 ,
                 wast
                 accordingly
                 willing
                 for
                 our
                 sakes
                 ,
                 to
                 submit
                 thy self
                 to
                 nakednesse
                 ,
                 hunger
                 ,
                 thirst
                 ,
                 wearinesse
                 ,
                 temptation
                 ,
                 contempt
                 ,
                 betraying
                 ,
                 agonies
                 ,
                 scorn
                 ,
                 buffeting
                 ,
                 scourgings
                 ,
                 distention
                 ,
                 crucifixion
                 ,
                 death
                 :
                 Oh
                 
                 love
                 above
                 measure
                 ,
                 without
                 example
                 ,
                 beyond
                 admiration
                 !
                 Greater
                 love
                 (
                 thou
                 saiest
                 )
                 hath
                 no
                 man
                 ,
                 than
                 this
                 ,
                 that
                 a
                 man
                 lay
                 down
                 his
                 life
                 for
                 his
                 friends
                 ;
                 But
                 ,
                 oh
                 ,
                 what
                 is
                 it
                 then
                 ,
                 that
                 thou
                 ,
                 who
                 wert
                 God
                 and
                 man
                 ,
                 shouldst
                 lay
                 down
                 thy
                 life
                 ,
                 (
                 more
                 precious
                 than
                 many
                 worlds
                 )
                 for
                 thine
                 enemies
                 !
                 Yet
                 ,
                 had
                 it
                 been
                 but
                 the
                 laying
                 down
                 of
                 a
                 life
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 fair
                 and
                 gentle
                 way
                 ,
                 there
                 might
                 have
                 been
                 some
                 mitigation
                 of
                 the
                 sorrow
                 of
                 a
                 dissolution
                 ;
                 there
                 is
                 not
                 more
                 difference
                 betwixt
                 life
                 and
                 death
                 ,
                 than
                 there
                 may
                 be
                 betwixt
                 some
                 one
                 kind
                 of
                 death
                 and
                 another
                 ;
                 Thine
                 ,
                 O
                 dear
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 was
                 the
                 painfull
                 ,
                 shamefull
                 ,
                 cursed
                 death
                 of
                 the
                 crosse
                 ;
                 wherein
                 yet
                 ,
                 
                 all
                 that
                 man
                 could
                 do
                 unto
                 thee
                 was
                 nothing
                 to
                 that
                 inward
                 torment
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 stead
                 ,
                 thou
                 enduredst
                 from
                 thy
                 fathers
                 wrath
                 ;
                 when
                 in
                 the
                 bitternesse
                 of
                 thine
                 anguished
                 soul
                 ,
                 thou
                 cryedst
                 out
                 ,
                 
                   My
                   God
                   ,
                   my
                   God
                   ,
                   why
                   hast
                   thou
                   forsaken
                   me
                   ?
                
                 Even
                 thus
                 ,
                 thus
                 wast
                 thou
                 content
                 to
                 be
                 forsaken
                 ,
                 that
                 wee
                 wretched
                 sinners
                 might
                 bee
                 received
                 to
                 mercy
                 ;
                 O
                 love
                 stronger
                 than
                 death
                 which
                 thou
                 vanquishedst
                 !
                 more
                 high
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 hell
                 is
                 deep
                 ,
                 from
                 which
                 thou
                 hast
                 rescued
                 us
                 !
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XVI
                 .
              
               
                 THe
                 sense
                 of
                 this
                 infinite
                 love
                 of
                 God
                 cannot
                 chuse
                 but
                 ravish
                 the
                 
                 soul
                 ,
                 and
                 cause
                 it
                 to
                 goe
                 out
                 of
                 it self
                 ,
                 into
                 that
                 Saviour
                 who
                 hath
                 wrought
                 so
                 mercifully
                 for
                 it
                 ;
                 so
                 as
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 nothing
                 in
                 it self
                 ,
                 but
                 what
                 it
                 hath
                 ,
                 or
                 is
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 Christ
                 .
                 By
                 the
                 sweet
                 powers
                 therefore
                 of
                 Faith
                 and
                 Love
                 the
                 soul
                 finds
                 it self
                 united
                 unto
                 Christ
                 ,
                 feelingly
                 ,
                 effectually
                 ,
                 indivisibly
                 :
                 so
                 as
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 distinguished
                 betwixt
                 the
                 acts
                 of
                 both
                 :
                 
                   To
                   me
                   to
                   live
                   is
                   Christ
                   ,
                
                 saith
                 
                 the
                 blessed
                 Apostle
                 ;
                 and
                 elsewhere
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   live
                   ,
                   yet
                   not
                   I
                   ,
                   but
                   Christ
                   liveth
                   in
                   me
                   ,
                   and
                
                 
                 
                   the
                   life
                   which
                   now
                   I
                   live
                   in
                   the
                   flesh
                   ,
                   I
                   live
                   by
                   the
                   faith
                   of
                   the
                   Son
                   of
                   God
                   ,
                   who
                   loved
                   me
                   ,
                   and
                   gave
                   himself
                   for
                   me
                   .
                   My
                   beloved
                   is
                   mine
                   ,
                   and
                   I
                   am
                   his
                   ,
                
                 
                 saith
                 the
                 Spouse
                 of
                 Christ
                 in
                 her
                 Bridall
                 Song
                 .
                 O
                 blessed
                 
                 union
                 ,
                 next
                 to
                 the
                 hypostaticall
                 ,
                 whereby
                 the
                 humane
                 nature
                 of
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 God
                 is
                 taken
                 into
                 the
                 participation
                 of
                 the
                 eternall
                 Godhead
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XVII
                 .
              
               
                 OUt
                 of
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 this
                 happy
                 union
                 ariseth
                 an
                 unspeakable
                 complacency
                 and
                 delight
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 in
                 that
                 God
                 and
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 thus
                 inseparably
                 ours
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 whose
                 union
                 we
                 are
                 blessed
                 ;
                 and
                 an
                 high
                 appreciation
                 of
                 him
                 above
                 all
                 the
                 world
                 ;
                 and
                 a
                 contemptuous
                 under-valuation
                 of
                 all
                 earthly
                 things
                 ,
                 in
                 comparison
                 of
                 him
                 ;
                 And
                 this
                 is
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 an
                 heavenly
                 reflection
                 of
                 that
                 sweet
                 contentment
                 ,
                 
                 which
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 mercies
                 takes
                 in
                 the
                 faithful
                 soul
                 ;
                 
                   Thou
                   hast
                   ravisht
                   my
                
                 
                 
                   heart
                   ,
                   my
                   sister
                   ,
                   my
                   Spouse
                   ,
                   thou
                   hast
                   ravisht
                   my
                   heart
                   with
                   one
                   of
                   thine
                   eyes
                   .
                   Thou
                   art
                   beautifull
                   ,
                   O
                   my
                   Love
                   ,
                   as
                
                 Tirzah
                 ,
                 
                   comely
                   as
                
                 Jerusalem
                 ,
                 
                   Turn
                   away
                   thine
                   eyes
                   from
                   me
                   ,
                   for
                   they
                   have
                   overcome
                   me
                   .
                   How
                   fair
                   is
                   thy
                   love
                   ,
                   my
                   sister
                   ,
                   my
                   Spouse
                   ?
                   How
                   much
                   better
                   is
                   thy
                   love
                   than
                   wine
                   ,
                   and
                   the
                   smell
                   of
                   thine
                   ointments
                   better
                   than
                   all
                   spices
                   .
                
                 And
                 the
                 soul
                 answers
                 him
                 again
                 in
                 the
                 same
                 language
                 of
                 spirituall
                 dearnesse
                 ;
                 
                   My
                   beloved
                   is
                   white
                   and
                   ruddy
                   ,
                   the
                   chief
                   est
                
                 
                 
                   among
                   ten
                   thousand
                   .
                   Set
                   me
                   as
                   a
                   seal
                   upon
                   thine
                   heart
                   ,
                   as
                   a
                
                 
                 
                   seal
                   upon
                   thine
                   arm
                   ,
                   for
                   love
                   is
                   as
                   strong
                   as
                   death
                   :
                
                 And
                 as
                 in
                 an
                 ecstaticall
                 qualm
                 of
                 passionate
                 
                 affection
                 ;
                 
                   Stay
                   mee
                   with
                   fiaggons
                   ,
                   and
                   comfort
                   me
                
                 
                 
                   with
                   apples
                   ,
                   for
                   I
                   am
                   sick
                   of
                   love
                   .
                
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XVIII
                 .
              
               
                 UPon
                 this
                 gracious
                 complacency
                 will
                 follow
                 an
                 absolute
                 self-resignation
                 ,
                 or
                 giving
                 up
                 our selves
                 to
                 the
                 hands
                 of
                 that
                 good
                 God
                 ,
                 whose
                 we
                 are
                 ,
                 and
                 who
                 is
                 ours
                 ;
                 and
                 an
                 humble
                 contentednesse
                 with
                 his
                 good
                 pleasure
                 in
                 all
                 things
                 ;
                 looking
                 upon
                 God
                 with
                 the
                 same
                 face
                 ,
                 whether
                 he
                 smile
                 upon
                 us
                 in
                 his
                 favours
                 ,
                 or
                 chastise
                 us
                 with
                 his
                 loving
                 corrections
                 ;
                 If
                 he
                 speak
                 good
                 unto
                 us
                 ,
                 
                   Behold
                   the
                   servant
                   of
                   the
                   Lord
                   ;
                   be
                   it
                   unto
                   me
                   according
                   to
                   thy
                   word
                
                 ;
                 If
                 evill
                 ,
                 
                   It
                   is
                   the
                   
                   Lord
                   ,
                   let
                   him
                   doe
                   whatsoever
                   he
                   will
                   :
                
                 Here
                 is
                 therefore
                 a
                 cheerfull
                 acquiescence
                 in
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 an
                 hearty
                 reliance
                 ,
                 and
                 casting
                 our selves
                 upon
                 the
                 mercy
                 of
                 so
                 bountifull
                 a
                 God
                 ;
                 who
                 having
                 given
                 us
                 his
                 Son
                 ,
                 can
                 in
                 and
                 with
                 him
                 deny
                 us
                 nothing
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XIX
                 .
              
               
                 UPon
                 this
                 subacted
                 disposition
                 of
                 heart
                 will
                 follow
                 a
                 familiar
                 (
                 yet
                 awfull
                 )
                 compellation
                 of
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 an
                 emptying
                 of
                 our
                 souls
                 before
                 him
                 in
                 all
                 our
                 necessities
                 .
                 For
                 that
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 is
                 infinitely
                 mercifull
                 ,
                 yet
                 will
                 not
                 have
                 his
                 favours
                 otherwise
                 conveighed
                 to
                 us
                 than
                 by
                 our
                 supplications
                 .
                 The
                 style
                 of
                 his
                 deare
                 ones
                 is
                 ,
                 his
                 
                 people
                 that
                 prayeth
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 owne
                 stile
                 is
                 ,
                 the
                 God
                 that
                 heareth
                 prayers
                 :
                 To
                 him
                 therefore
                 doth
                 the
                 devout
                 heart
                 pour
                 out
                 all
                 his
                 requests
                 with
                 all
                 true
                 humility
                 ,
                 with
                 all
                 fervour
                 of
                 spirit
                 ,
                 as
                 knowing
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 will
                 hear
                 neither
                 proud
                 prayers
                 ,
                 nor
                 heartlesse
                 :
                 wherein
                 his
                 holy
                 desires
                 are
                 regulated
                 by
                 a
                 just
                 method
                 ;
                 First
                 ,
                 suing
                 for
                 spirituall
                 favours
                 ,
                 as
                 most
                 worthy
                 ;
                 then
                 for
                 temporall
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 appendances
                 of
                 better
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 both
                 ,
                 aiming
                 at
                 the
                 glory
                 of
                 our
                 good
                 God
                 ,
                 more
                 than
                 our
                 own
                 advantage
                 :
                 And
                 in
                 the
                 order
                 of
                 spirituall
                 thngs
                 ,
                 first
                 and
                 most
                 for
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 most
                 necessary
                 ,
                 and
                 essentiall
                 for
                 our
                 souls
                 health
                 ,
                 than
                 for
                 secondary
                 graces
                 ,
                 that
                 concern
                 
                 the
                 prosperity
                 &
                 comfort
                 of
                 our
                 spirituall
                 life
                 :
                 Absolutely
                 craving
                 those
                 graces
                 that
                 accompany
                 salvation
                 ,
                 all
                 others
                 ,
                 conditionally
                 ,
                 and
                 with
                 reference
                 to
                 the
                 good
                 pleasure
                 of
                 the
                 munificent
                 giver
                 ;
                 Wherein
                 ,
                 heed
                 must
                 be
                 taken
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 thoughts
                 be
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 taken
                 up
                 with
                 our
                 expressions
                 ,
                 as
                 with
                 our
                 desires
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 we
                 doe
                 not
                 suffer
                 our selves
                 to
                 languish
                 into
                 an
                 unfeeling
                 length
                 ,
                 and
                 repetition
                 of
                 our
                 sutes
                 :
                 Even
                 the
                 hand
                 of
                 a
                 Moses
                 ,
                 may
                 in
                 time
                 grow
                 heavy
                 ;
                 so
                 therefore
                 must
                 we
                 husband
                 our
                 spirituall
                 strength
                 ,
                 that
                 our
                 devotion
                 may
                 not
                 flagge
                 with
                 over-tiring
                 ,
                 but
                 may
                 bee
                 most
                 vigorous
                 at
                 the
                 last
                 .
                 And
                 as
                 we
                 must
                 enter
                 into
                 
                 our
                 prayers
                 ,
                 not
                 without
                 preparatory
                 elevations
                 ,
                 so
                 must
                 we
                 be
                 carefull
                 to
                 take
                 a
                 meet
                 leave
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 at
                 their
                 shutting
                 up
                 :
                 following
                 our
                 supplications
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 pause
                 of
                 a
                 faithfull
                 ,
                 and
                 most
                 lowly
                 adoration
                 ;
                 and
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 sending
                 up
                 our
                 hearts
                 into
                 heaven
                 ,
                 to
                 see
                 how
                 our
                 prayers
                 are
                 taken
                 ;
                 and
                 raising
                 them
                 to
                 a
                 joyful
                 expectation
                 of
                 a
                 gracious
                 and
                 successefull
                 answer
                 from
                 the
                 father
                 of
                 mercies
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XX.
                 
              
               
                 UPon
                 the
                 comfortable
                 feeling
                 of
                 a
                 gracious
                 condescent
                 ,
                 follows
                 an
                 happy
                 fruition
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 all
                 his
                 favours
                 ;
                 so
                 as
                 we
                 have
                 not
                 them
                 so
                 much
                 ,
                 as
                 God
                 in
                 them
                 ;
                 which
                 advanceth
                 
                 their
                 worth
                 a
                 thousand
                 fold
                 ,
                 and
                 as
                 it
                 were
                 brings
                 down
                 heaven
                 unto
                 us
                 ;
                 whereas
                 ,
                 therefore
                 ,
                 the
                 sensuall
                 man
                 rests
                 only
                 in
                 the
                 meer
                 use
                 of
                 any
                 blessing
                 ,
                 as
                 health
                 ,
                 peace
                 ,
                 prosperity
                 ,
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 and
                 reacheth
                 no
                 higher
                 ;
                 the
                 devoute
                 soul
                 ,
                 in
                 ,
                 and
                 through
                 all
                 these
                 ,
                 sees
                 ,
                 and
                 feels
                 a
                 God
                 that
                 sanctifies
                 them
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 enjoyes
                 therein
                 his
                 favour
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 better
                 than
                 life
                 .
                 Even
                 we
                 men
                 are
                 wont
                 ,
                 out
                 of
                 our
                 good
                 nature
                 ,
                 to
                 esteem
                 a
                 benefit
                 ,
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 for
                 its
                 owne
                 worth
                 ,
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 love
                 ,
                 and
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 giver
                 :
                 Small
                 legacies
                 for
                 this
                 cause
                 ,
                 finde
                 deare
                 acceptation
                 ;
                 How
                 much
                 more
                 is
                 it
                 so
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 ?
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 sweet
                 apprehension
                 
                 of
                 this
                 love
                 that
                 makes
                 all
                 his
                 gifts
                 ,
                 blessings
                 .
                 Doe
                 we
                 his
                 gifts
                 ,
                 blessings
                 .
                 Doe
                 we
                 not
                 see
                 some
                 vaine
                 churle
                 ,
                 though
                 cryed
                 down
                 by
                 the
                 multitude
                 ,
                 herein
                 secretly
                 applauding
                 himself
                 that
                 he
                 hath
                 bags
                 at
                 home
                 ?
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 shall
                 the
                 godly
                 man
                 find
                 comfort
                 against
                 all
                 the
                 crosses
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 that
                 hee
                 is
                 possessed
                 of
                 him
                 that
                 possesseth
                 all
                 things
                 ;
                 even
                 God
                 All-sufficient
                 ;
                 the
                 pledges
                 of
                 whose
                 infinite
                 love
                 he
                 feels
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 whole
                 course
                 of
                 Gods
                 dealing
                 with
                 him
                 ?
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXI
                 .
              
               
                 OUt
                 of
                 the
                 true
                 sense
                 of
                 this
                 inward
                 fruition
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 breaks
                 forth
                 into
                 cheerfull
                 thanksgivings
                 
                 to
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 all
                 comfort
                 ,
                 praising
                 him
                 for
                 every
                 evill
                 that
                 it
                 is
                 free
                 from
                 ;
                 for
                 every
                 good
                 thing
                 it
                 enjoyeth
                 :
                 For
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 keeps
                 a
                 just
                 Inventory
                 of
                 all
                 Gods
                 favours
                 ,
                 so
                 it
                 often
                 spreads
                 them
                 thankfully
                 before
                 him
                 and
                 layes
                 them
                 forth
                 (
                 so
                 near
                 as
                 it
                 may
                 )
                 in
                 the
                 full
                 dimensions
                 ;
                 that
                 so
                 ,
                 God
                 may
                 be
                 no
                 loser
                 by
                 him
                 in
                 any
                 act
                 of
                 his
                 beneficence
                 .
                 Here
                 therefore
                 every
                 of
                 Gods
                 benefits
                 must
                 come
                 into
                 account
                 ;
                 whether
                 eternall
                 or
                 temporall
                 ,
                 spirituall
                 or
                 bodily
                 ,
                 outward
                 or
                 inward
                 ,
                 publick
                 or
                 private
                 ,
                 positive
                 or
                 privative
                 ,
                 past
                 or
                 present
                 ,
                 upon
                 our selves
                 or
                 others
                 .
                 In
                 all
                 which
                 ,
                 he
                 shall
                 humbly
                 acknowledge
                 both
                 Gods
                 free
                 mercy
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 his
                 own
                 shamefull
                 unworthinesse
                 ;
                 setting
                 off
                 the
                 favours
                 of
                 his
                 good
                 God
                 the
                 more
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 soyle
                 of
                 his
                 own
                 confessed
                 wretchednes
                 ,
                 and
                 unanswerablenesse
                 to
                 the
                 least
                 of
                 his
                 mercies
                 .
              
               
                 Now
                 as
                 there
                 is
                 infinite
                 variety
                 of
                 blessings
                 from
                 the
                 liberall
                 hand
                 of
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ,
                 so
                 there
                 is
                 great
                 difference
                 in
                 their
                 degrees
                 ;
                 For
                 ,
                 wheras
                 there
                 are
                 three
                 subjects
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 good
                 we
                 are
                 capable
                 of
                 ;
                 The
                 Estate
                 ,
                 Body
                 ,
                 Soul
                 ;
                 and
                 each
                 of
                 these
                 doe
                 far
                 surpasse
                 other
                 in
                 value
                 ,
                 (
                 the
                 soul
                 being
                 infinitely
                 more
                 worth
                 than
                 the
                 body
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 body
                 far
                 more
                 precious
                 than
                 the
                 outward
                 estate
                 )
                 so
                 the
                 blessings
                 that
                 appertain
                 to
                 them
                 ,
                 in
                 severall
                 ,
                 differ
                 in
                 their
                 true
                 estimation
                 
                 accordingly
                 .
                 If
                 either
                 wee
                 doe
                 not
                 highly
                 magnifie
                 Gods
                 mercy
                 for
                 the
                 least
                 ,
                 or
                 shall
                 set
                 as
                 high
                 a
                 price
                 upon
                 the
                 blessings
                 that
                 concerne
                 our
                 estate
                 ,
                 as
                 those
                 that
                 pertain
                 to
                 the
                 body
                 ,
                 or
                 upon
                 bodily
                 favours
                 ,
                 as
                 upon
                 those
                 that
                 belong
                 to
                 the
                 soul
                 ,
                 we
                 shall
                 shew
                 our selves
                 very
                 unworthy
                 ,
                 and
                 unequall
                 partakers
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 bounty
                 .
                 But
                 it
                 will
                 savor
                 too
                 much
                 of
                 earth
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 be
                 more
                 affected
                 with
                 temporall
                 blessings
                 ,
                 than
                 with
                 spirituall
                 and
                 eternall
                 .
                 By
                 how
                 much
                 nearer
                 relation
                 then
                 ,
                 any
                 favor
                 hath
                 to
                 the
                 Fountain
                 of
                 goodnesse
                 ,
                 and
                 by
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 it
                 conduceth
                 to
                 the
                 glory
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 ours
                 in
                 him
                 ,
                 so
                 much
                 higher
                 
                 place
                 should
                 it
                 possesse
                 in
                 our
                 affection
                 and
                 gratitude
                 .
                 No
                 marvell
                 therefore
                 if
                 the
                 Devout
                 Heart
                 bee
                 raised
                 above
                 it self
                 ,
                 and
                 transported
                 with
                 heavenly
                 raptures
                 ,
                 when
                 ,
                 with
                 Stephens
                 eyes
                 ,
                 it
                 beholds
                 the
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 standing
                 at
                 the
                 right
                 hand
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 fixing
                 it self
                 upon
                 the
                 consideration
                 of
                 the
                 infinite
                 Merits
                 of
                 his
                 Life
                 ,
                 Death
                 ,
                 Resurrection
                 ,
                 Ascension
                 ,
                 Intercession
                 ,
                 and
                 finding
                 it self
                 swallowed
                 up
                 in
                 the
                 depth
                 of
                 that
                 Divine
                 Love
                 ,
                 from
                 whence
                 all
                 mercies
                 flow
                 into
                 the
                 soule
                 ;
                 so
                 as
                 that
                 it
                 runs
                 over
                 with
                 passionate
                 thankfulnes
                 ,
                 and
                 is
                 therefore
                 deeply
                 affected
                 with
                 all
                 other
                 his
                 mercies
                 ,
                 because
                 they
                 are
                 derived
                 from
                 that
                 boundlesse
                 Ocean
                 
                 of
                 Divine
                 goodnesse
                 .
                 Unspeakable
                 is
                 the
                 advantage
                 that
                 the
                 soule
                 raises
                 to
                 it self
                 by
                 this
                 continuall
                 exercise
                 of
                 thanksgiving
                 ;
                 for
                 the
                 grateful
                 acknowledgement
                 of
                 favours
                 ,
                 is
                 the
                 way
                 to
                 more
                 ;
                 even
                 amongst
                 men
                 (
                 whose
                 hands
                 are
                 short
                 and
                 strait
                 )
                 this
                 is
                 the
                 meanes
                 to
                 pull
                 on
                 further
                 beneficence
                 ;
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 from
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 all
                 Consolation
                 ,
                 whose
                 largest
                 bounty
                 diminisneth
                 nothing
                 of
                 his
                 store
                 ?
                 And
                 herein
                 the
                 devout
                 Soul
                 enters
                 into
                 its
                 heavenly
                 Task
                 ;
                 beginning
                 upon
                 earth
                 those
                 Hallelujahs
                 ,
                 which
                 it
                 shall
                 perfect
                 above
                 in
                 the
                 blessed
                 Chore
                 of
                 Saints
                 and
                 Angels
                 ,
                 ever
                 praising
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 saying
                 ,
                 
                   Blessing
                   ,
                   and
                   Glo-ry
                   ,
                   and
                   Wisdome
                   ,
                   and
                   Thanksgiving
                   ,
                   
                   and
                   Honour
                   ,
                   and
                   Power
                   ,
                   and
                   Might
                   ,
                   be
                   unto
                   our
                   God
                   for
                   ever
                   and
                   ever
                   .
                
              
               
                 Amen
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXII
                 .
              
               
                 NOne
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 services
                 of
                 God
                 can
                 bee
                 acceptably
                 ,
                 no
                 not
                 unsinfully
                 performed
                 without
                 due
                 devotion
                 ;
                 as
                 therefore
                 in
                 our
                 prayers
                 and
                 thanksgivings
                 ,
                 so
                 in
                 the
                 other
                 exercises
                 of
                 Divine
                 Worship
                 ,
                 (
                 especially
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 reading
                 and
                 hearing
                 of
                 Gods
                 Word
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 our
                 receipt
                 of
                 the
                 blessed
                 Sacrament
                 )
                 it
                 is
                 so
                 necessary
                 ,
                 that
                 without
                 it
                 ,
                 we
                 offer
                 to
                 God
                 a
                 meer
                 carcasse
                 of
                 religious
                 duty
                 ,
                 and
                 profane
                 that
                 sacred
                 name
                 we
                 would
                 pretend
                 to
                 honour
                 .
                 First
                 then
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 come
                 to
                 Gods
                 
                 Book
                 ,
                 not
                 without
                 an
                 holy
                 Reverence
                 ,
                 as
                 duly
                 considering
                 both
                 what
                 and
                 whose
                 it
                 is
                 ;
                 Even
                 no
                 other
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 Word
                 of
                 the
                 ever-living
                 God
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 wee
                 shall
                 once
                 be
                 judged
                 .
                 Great
                 reason
                 have
                 wee
                 therefore
                 ,
                 to
                 make
                 a
                 difference
                 betwixt
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 writings
                 of
                 the
                 Holiest
                 men
                 ,
                 even
                 no
                 lesse
                 than
                 betwixt
                 the
                 Authors
                 of
                 both
                 :
                 God
                 is
                 true
                 ,
                 yea
                 ,
                 truth
                 it self
                 :
                 and
                 that
                 which
                 David
                 said
                 in
                 his
                 haste
                 ,
                 S.
                 Paul
                 
                 sayes
                 in
                 full
                 deliberati
                 on
                 ,
                 
                   Every
                   man
                   is
                   a
                   lier
                
                 .
                 Before
                 we
                 put
                 our
                 hand
                 to
                 this
                 Sacred
                 Volume
                 ,
                 it
                 will
                 be
                 requisite
                 to
                 elevate
                 our
                 hearts
                 to
                 that
                 God
                 whose
                 it
                 is
                 ,
                 for
                 both
                 his
                 leave
                 and
                 his
                 blessing
                 :
                 
                   Open
                   mine
                   eyes
                
                 ,
                 saith
                 the
                 sweet
                 singer
                 
                 of
                 Israel
                 ,
                 
                   that
                   I
                   may
                   behold
                   
                   the
                   wondrous
                   things
                   of
                   thy
                   Law.
                
                 Lo
                 ,
                 Davids
                 eyes
                 were
                 open
                 before
                 to
                 other
                 objects
                 ;
                 but
                 when
                 he
                 comes
                 to
                 Gods
                 Book
                 ,
                 he
                 can
                 see
                 nothing
                 without
                 a
                 new
                 act
                 of
                 apertion
                 :
                 Letters
                 he
                 might
                 see
                 ,
                 but
                 wonders
                 hee
                 could
                 not
                 see
                 ,
                 till
                 God
                 did
                 unclose
                 his
                 eyes
                 ,
                 and
                 enlighten
                 them
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 not
                 therfore
                 for
                 us
                 ,
                 presumptuously
                 to
                 break
                 in
                 upon
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 think
                 by
                 our
                 naturall
                 abilities
                 to
                 wrest
                 open
                 the
                 precious
                 Caskets
                 of
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ;
                 and
                 to
                 fetch
                 out
                 all
                 his
                 hidden
                 treasure
                 thence
                 ,
                 at
                 pleasure
                 ;
                 but
                 we
                 must
                 come
                 tremblingly
                 before
                 him
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 all
                 humility
                 crave
                 his
                 gracious
                 admission
                 .
                 I
                 confesse
                 I
                 finde
                 some
                 kinde
                 of
                 envy
                 in
                 my self
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 read
                 of
                 those
                 scrupulous
                 
                 observances
                 of
                 high
                 respects
                 given
                 by
                 the
                 Jewes
                 to
                 the
                 Book
                 of
                 Gods
                 Law
                 :
                 and
                 when
                 I
                 read
                 of
                 a
                 Romish
                 Saint
                 ,
                 that
                 never
                 read
                 
                 the
                 Scripture
                 but
                 upon
                 his
                 knees
                 ,
                 and
                 compare
                 it
                 with
                 the
                 carelesse
                 neglect
                 whereof
                 I
                 can
                 accuse
                 my self
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 some
                 others
                 :
                 Not
                 that
                 wee
                 should
                 rest
                 in
                 the
                 formality
                 of
                 outward
                 Ceremonies
                 of
                 reverence
                 ,
                 wherein
                 it
                 were
                 more
                 easie
                 to
                 be
                 superstitious
                 than
                 devout
                 ;
                 but
                 that
                 our
                 outward
                 deportment
                 may
                 testifie
                 ,
                 and
                 answer
                 the
                 awfull
                 disposition
                 of
                 our
                 hearts
                 :
                 whereto
                 we
                 shall
                 not
                 need
                 to
                 be
                 excited
                 ,
                 if
                 wee
                 be
                 throughly
                 perswaded
                 of
                 the
                 Divine
                 Originall
                 ,
                 and
                 authority
                 of
                 that
                 Sacred
                 Word
                 .
                 It
                 was
                 
                 motive
                 enough
                 to
                 the
                 Ephesians
                 zealously
                 to
                 plead
                 for
                 ,
                 and
                 religiously
                 to
                 adore
                 the
                 Image
                 of
                 their
                 Diana
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 was
                 
                   the
                   Image
                   that
                   fell
                   down
                
                 
                 
                   from
                   Jupiter
                
                 .
                 Beleeve
                 we
                 ,
                 and
                 know
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Scripture
                 is
                 inspired
                 by
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 we
                 can
                 entertain
                 it
                 with
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 an
                 awfull
                 addresse
                 ,
                 and
                 we
                 cannot
                 be
                 Christians
                 if
                 we
                 do
                 not
                 so
                 beleeve
                 .
              
               
                 Every
                 Clause
                 therefore
                 of
                 that
                 God-inspired
                 Volume
                 ,
                 must
                 be
                 ,
                 as
                 reverently
                 received
                 by
                 us
                 ,
                 so
                 seriously
                 weighed
                 ,
                 and
                 carefully
                 laid
                 up
                 ;
                 as
                 knowing
                 ,
                 that
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 tittle
                 therein
                 without
                 his
                 use
                 .
                 What
                 we
                 read
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 labour
                 to
                 understand
                 ;
                 what
                 wee
                 cannot
                 understand
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 admire
                 silently
                 ,
                 and
                 modestly
                 enquire
                 
                 of
                 .
                 There
                 are
                 plain
                 Truths
                 ,
                 and
                 there
                 are
                 deep
                 mysteries
                 .
                 The
                 bounty
                 of
                 God
                 hath
                 left
                 this
                 Well
                 of
                 Living-water
                 open
                 for
                 all
                 ;
                 what
                 runs
                 over
                 is
                 for
                 all
                 commers
                 ;
                 but
                 every
                 one
                 hath
                 not
                 wherewith
                 to
                 draw
                 .
                 There
                 is
                 no
                 Christian
                 that
                 may
                 not
                 enjoy
                 Gods
                 Book
                 ,
                 but
                 every
                 Christian
                 may
                 not
                 interpret
                 it
                 ;
                 those
                 shallow
                 Fords
                 that
                 are
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 may
                 be
                 waded
                 by
                 every
                 Passenger
                 ,
                 but
                 there
                 are
                 deeps
                 wherein
                 he
                 that
                 cannot
                 swim
                 ,
                 may
                 drown
                 .
                 
                   How
                   can
                   I
                   without
                   a
                   Guide
                   ,
                
                 said
                 that
                 Ethopian
                 Eunuch
                 :
                 Wherefore
                 serves
                 the
                 tongue
                 of
                 the
                 Learned
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 direct
                 the
                 Ignorant
                 ?
                 Their
                 modesty
                 is
                 of
                 no
                 lesse
                 use
                 than
                 the
                 others
                 skill
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 
                 a
                 woefull
                 condition
                 of
                 a
                 Church
                 when
                 no
                 man
                 will
                 be
                 ignorant
                 .
              
               
                 What
                 service
                 can
                 our
                 eyes
                 doe
                 us
                 in
                 the
                 wayes
                 of
                 God
                 without
                 our
                 thoughts
                 ?
                 our
                 diligent
                 and
                 frequent
                 reading
                 ,
                 therefore
                 ,
                 must
                 be
                 attended
                 with
                 our
                 holy
                 meditation
                 :
                 we
                 feed
                 on
                 what
                 we
                 read
                 ,
                 but
                 we
                 digest
                 only
                 what
                 we
                 meditate
                 of
                 .
                 What
                 is
                 in
                 our
                 Bible
                 is
                 Gods
                 ;
                 but
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 in
                 our
                 hearts
                 ,
                 is
                 our
                 own
                 :
                 By
                 all
                 which
                 our
                 care
                 must
                 be
                 ,
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 to
                 become
                 wiser
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 become
                 better
                 ,
                 labouring
                 still
                 to
                 reduce
                 all
                 things
                 to
                 godly
                 practice
                 .
              
               
                 Finally
                 ,
                 as
                 we
                 enter
                 into
                 this
                 task
                 with
                 the
                 lifting
                 up
                 of
                 our
                 hearts
                 for
                 a
                 blessing
                 ,
                 so
                 we
                 shut
                 it
                 up
                 in
                 the
                 ejaculations
                 
                 of
                 our
                 thanksgiving
                 to
                 that
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 hath
                 blessed
                 us
                 with
                 the
                 free
                 use
                 of
                 his
                 Word
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXIII
                 .
              
               
                 OUr
                 eye
                 is
                 our
                 best
                 guide
                 to
                 God
                 our
                 Creator
                 ,
                 but
                 our
                 ear
                 is
                 it
                 that
                 leads
                 us
                 to
                 God
                 our
                 Redeemer
                 .
                 
                   How
                   shall
                   they
                   beleeve
                   except
                   they
                   heare
                   ?
                
                 Which
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 effectually
                 doe
                 ,
                 our
                 devotion
                 suggests
                 unto
                 us
                 some
                 duties
                 before
                 the
                 act
                 ,
                 some
                 in
                 the
                 act
                 ,
                 some
                 after
                 the
                 act
                 .
              
               
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 Apostles
                 charge
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 should
                 be
                 swift
                 to
                 hear
                 ,
                 but
                 heed
                 must
                 be
                 taken
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 make
                 not
                 more
                 haste
                 than
                 good
                 speed
                 :
                 we
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 so
                 forward
                 as
                 not
                 to
                 
                   look
                   to
                   our
                   foot
                
                 when
                 
                 
                 we
                 go
                 to
                 the
                 house
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 lest
                 if
                 we
                 be
                 too
                 ready
                 to
                 heare
                 ,
                 we
                 offer
                 
                   the
                   sacrifice
                   of
                   Fooles
                
                 .
                 What
                 are
                 the
                 feet
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 ,
                 but
                 our
                 affections
                 ?
                 If
                 these
                 be
                 not
                 set
                 right
                 ,
                 we
                 may
                 easily
                 stumble
                 ,
                 and
                 wrench
                 at
                 Gods
                 threshold
                 .
                 Rash
                 actions
                 can
                 never
                 hope
                 to
                 prosper
                 ;
                 as
                 therefore
                 to
                 every
                 great
                 Work
                 ,
                 so
                 to
                 this
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 due
                 preparation
                 required
                 ;
                 and
                 this
                 must
                 be
                 done
                 by
                 meditation
                 first
                 ,
                 then
                 by
                 prayer
                 .
                 Our
                 meditation
                 first
                 ,
                 sequesters
                 the
                 heart
                 from
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 and
                 shakes
                 off
                 those
                 distractive
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 carry
                 us
                 away
                 from
                 these
                 better
                 things
                 :
                 for
                 what
                 room
                 is
                 there
                 for
                 God
                 ,
                 where
                 the
                 World
                 hath
                 taken
                 up
                 the
                 lodging
                 ?
                 
                 
                   Wee
                   cannot
                   serve
                   God
                   and
                   Mammon
                   .
                
                 Then
                 secondly
                 ,
                 it
                 seizes
                 upon
                 the
                 heart
                 for
                 Gof
                 ,
                 fixing
                 our
                 thoughts
                 upon
                 the
                 great
                 businesse
                 we
                 goe
                 about
                 ;
                 recalling
                 the
                 greatnesse
                 of
                 that
                 Majesty
                 into
                 whose
                 presence
                 we
                 enter
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 maine
                 importance
                 of
                 the
                 service
                 we
                 are
                 undertaking
                 ;
                 and
                 examining
                 our
                 intentions
                 wherewith
                 we
                 addresse
                 our selves
                 to
                 the
                 work
                 intended
                 ;
                 I
                 am
                 now
                 going
                 to
                 God●
                 House
                 ;
                 Wherefore
                 doe
                 I
                 goe
                 thither
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 to
                 see
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 be
                 seen
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 to
                 satisfie
                 my
                 owne
                 curiosity
                 in
                 hearing
                 what
                 the
                 Preacher
                 will
                 say
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 to
                 satisfie
                 the
                 law
                 ,
                 that
                 requires
                 my
                 presence
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 to
                 please
                 others
                 eyes
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 avoid
                 their
                 censures
                 ?
                 Is
                 
                 it
                 for
                 fashion
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 for
                 recreation
                 ?
                 Or
                 is
                 it
                 with
                 a
                 sincere
                 desire
                 to
                 do
                 my
                 soul
                 good
                 ,
                 in
                 gaining
                 more
                 knowledge
                 ,
                 in
                 quickning
                 my
                 affections
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 in
                 a
                 desire
                 to
                 approve
                 my selfe
                 to
                 my
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 the
                 conscience
                 of
                 my
                 humble
                 obedience
                 to
                 his
                 command
                 ,
                 and
                 my
                 holy
                 attendance
                 upon
                 his
                 Ordinance
                 ?
                 And
                 where
                 we
                 find
                 our
                 ends
                 amisse
                 ,
                 chiding
                 and
                 rectifying
                 our
                 obliquities
                 ;
                 where
                 just
                 and
                 right
                 ,
                 prosecuting
                 them
                 towards
                 a
                 further
                 perfection
                 .
              
               
                 Which
                 that
                 it
                 may
                 bee
                 done
                 ,
                 our
                 meditation
                 must
                 be
                 seconded
                 by
                 our
                 prayers
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 an
                 unholy
                 rudenesse
                 to
                 presse
                 into
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 that
                 God
                 whom
                 wee
                 have
                 not
                 invoked
                 :
                 Our
                 prayer
                 
                 must
                 bee
                 ,
                 that
                 God
                 would
                 yet
                 more
                 prepare
                 us
                 for
                 the
                 work
                 ,
                 and
                 sanctifie
                 us
                 to
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 blesse
                 us
                 in
                 it
                 ;
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 remove
                 our
                 sinnes
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 send
                 down
                 his
                 Spirit
                 into
                 our
                 hearts
                 ,
                 which
                 may
                 inable
                 us
                 to
                 this
                 great
                 service
                 ;
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 blesse
                 the
                 Preacher
                 in
                 the
                 delivery
                 of
                 his
                 sacred
                 message
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 be
                 pleased
                 to
                 direct
                 his
                 Messengers
                 tongue
                 to
                 the
                 meeting
                 with
                 our
                 necessities
                 ;
                 that
                 hee
                 would
                 free
                 our
                 hearts
                 from
                 all
                 prejudices
                 and
                 distractions
                 ;
                 that
                 he
                 would
                 keep
                 off
                 all
                 temptations
                 ,
                 which
                 might
                 hinder
                 the
                 good
                 entertainment
                 ,
                 and
                 successe
                 of
                 his
                 blessed
                 Word
                 :
                 Finally
                 ,
                 that
                 hee
                 would
                 make
                 us
                 truely
                 teachable
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 ordinance
                 
                 the
                 power
                 of
                 God
                 to
                 our
                 salvation
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 act
                 of
                 hearing
                 ,
                 Devotion
                 cals
                 us
                 to
                 
                   Reverence
                   ,
                   Attention
                   ,
                   Application
                   .
                   Reverence
                
                 to
                 that
                 great
                 God
                 ,
                 who
                 speaks
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 mouth
                 of
                 a
                 weak
                 man
                 ;
                 for
                 ,
                 in
                 what
                 is
                 spoken
                 from
                 Gods
                 Chair
                 ,
                 agreeable
                 to
                 the
                 Scriptures
                 ,
                 the
                 sound
                 is
                 mans
                 ,
                 the
                 substance
                 of
                 the
                 message
                 is
                 Gods
                 ;
                 Even
                 an
                 Eglon
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 hears
                 of
                 a
                 
                 message
                 from
                 God
                 ,
                 riseth
                 out
                 of
                 his
                 seat
                 .
                 It
                 was
                 not
                 St.
                 Pauls
                 condition
                 only
                 ,
                 but
                 of
                 all
                 his
                 faithfull
                 servants
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 he
                 hath
                 committed
                 the
                 word
                 of
                 reconciliation
                 ;
                 
                   They
                   are
                   Ambassadors
                
                 
                 
                   for
                   Christ
                   ;
                   as
                   if
                   God
                   did
                   beseech
                   us
                   by
                   them
                   ,
                   they
                   pray
                   us
                   in
                   Christs
                   stead
                   to
                   be
                   reconciled
                   
                   to
                   God
                   :
                
                 The
                 Ambassie
                 is
                 not
                 the
                 bearers
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 Kings
                 ;
                 and
                 if
                 we
                 do
                 not
                 acknowledge
                 the
                 great
                 King
                 of
                 heaven
                 in
                 the
                 voice
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 we
                 cannot
                 but
                 incur
                 a
                 contempt
                 .
              
               
                 When
                 therefore
                 wee
                 see
                 Gods
                 messenger
                 in
                 his
                 pulpit
                 ,
                 our
                 eye
                 lookes
                 at
                 him
                 as
                 if
                 it
                 said
                 with
                 
                   Cornelius
                   ,
                   We
                   are
                   all
                   here
                   present
                   before
                
                 
                 
                   God
                   to
                   heare
                   all
                   things
                   that
                   are
                   commanded
                   thee
                   of
                   God
                
                 ;
                 whence
                 cannot
                 but
                 follow
                 together
                 with
                 an
                 awful
                 disposition
                 of
                 mind
                 ,
                 a
                 reverent
                 deportment
                 of
                 the
                 body
                 ;
                 which
                 admits
                 not
                 a
                 wild
                 &
                 roving
                 eye
                 ,
                 a
                 drouzy
                 head
                 ,
                 a
                 chatting
                 tongue
                 ,
                 a
                 rude
                 and
                 indecent
                 posture
                 ;
                 but
                 composes
                 it self
                 to
                 such
                 a
                 site
                 a
                 may
                 befit
                 a
                 pious
                 soul
                 in
                 s●
                 
                 religious
                 an
                 impoiment
                 .
                 Neither
                 do
                 we
                 come
                 as
                 authorized
                 Judges
                 to
                 sit
                 upon
                 the
                 Preacher
                 ,
                 but
                 as
                 humble
                 Disciples
                 to
                 sit
                 at
                 his
                 feet
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXIV
                 .
              
               
                 REverence
                 cannot
                 but
                 draw
                 on
                 Attention
                 ;
                 We
                 need
                 not
                 be
                 bidden
                 to
                 hang
                 on
                 the
                 lips
                 of
                 him
                 whom
                 we
                 honour
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 the
                 charge
                 of
                 the
                 Spirit
                 ,
                 
                   Let
                   him
                   that
                   hath
                   an
                   ear
                   hear
                
                 ;
                 Every
                 one
                 hath
                 not
                 an
                 ear
                 ,
                 and
                 of
                 those
                 that
                 have
                 an
                 ear
                 ,
                 every
                 one
                 heareth
                 not
                 ;
                 The
                 soul
                 hath
                 an
                 ear
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 the
                 body
                 ;
                 if
                 both
                 these
                 eares
                 doe
                 not
                 meet
                 together
                 in
                 one
                 act
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 hearing
                 :
                 Common
                 experience
                 tels
                 us
                 that
                 when
                 the
                 minde
                 is
                 otherwise
                 
                 taken
                 up
                 ,
                 we
                 doe
                 no
                 more
                 hear
                 what
                 a
                 man
                 says
                 ,
                 than
                 if
                 we
                 had
                 been
                 deaf
                 ,
                 or
                 he
                 silent
                 .
                 Hence
                 is
                 that
                 first
                 request
                 of
                 Abigail
                 to
                 
                   David
                   ;
                   Let
                   thine
                   handmaid
                   speak
                   to
                
                 
                 
                   thine
                   eares
                   ,
                   and
                   hear
                   the
                   words
                   of
                   thine
                   handmaid
                
                 ;
                 and
                 Job
                 so
                 importunately
                 urgeth
                 his
                 friends
                 ,
                 
                   Hear
                   diligently
                   my
                
                 
                 
                   speech
                   and
                   my
                   declaration
                   with
                   your
                   ears
                   .
                
                 The
                 outward
                 ear
                 may
                 be
                 open
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 inward
                 shut
                 ;
                 if
                 way
                 be
                 not
                 made
                 through
                 both
                 ,
                 we
                 are
                 deaf
                 to
                 spirituall
                 things
                 .
                 
                   Mine
                   ear
                   hast
                   thou
                   boared
                
                 ,
                 or
                 
                 digged
                 ,
                 saith
                 the
                 Psalmist
                 ;
                 the
                 vulgar
                 reads
                 it
                 ,
                 
                   my
                   eares
                   hast
                   thou
                   perfitted
                
                 :
                 Surely
                 our
                 ears
                 are
                 grown
                 up
                 with
                 flesh
                 ;
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 passage
                 for
                 a
                 perfit
                 hearing
                 of
                 the
                 voice
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 till
                 hee
                 have
                 
                 made
                 it
                 by
                 a
                 spirituall
                 perforation
                 .
              
               
                 And
                 now
                 that
                 the
                 ear
                 is
                 made
                 capable
                 of
                 good
                 counsel
                 ,
                 it
                 doth
                 as
                 gladly
                 receive
                 it
                 ;
                 taking
                 in
                 every
                 good
                 lesson
                 ,
                 and
                 longing
                 for
                 the
                 next
                 :
                 Like
                 unto
                 the
                 dry
                 and
                 chopped
                 earth
                 ,
                 which
                 soaks
                 in
                 every
                 silver
                 drop
                 ,
                 that
                 fals
                 from
                 the
                 clouds
                 ,
                 and
                 thirsteth
                 for
                 more
                 ;
                 not
                 suffering
                 any
                 of
                 that
                 precious
                 liquor
                 to
                 fall
                 beside
                 it
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXV
                 .
              
               
                 NEither
                 doth
                 the
                 devout
                 man
                 care
                 to
                 satisfie
                 his
                 curiosity
                 ,
                 as
                 hearing
                 only
                 that
                 hee
                 might
                 hear
                 ;
                 but
                 reducts
                 all
                 things
                 to
                 a
                 saving
                 use
                 ;
                 bringing
                 all
                 hee
                 
                 hears
                 ,
                 home
                 to
                 his
                 heart
                 ,
                 by
                 a
                 self-reflecting
                 application
                 ;
                 like
                 a
                 practiser
                 of
                 the
                 art
                 of
                 memory
                 ,
                 referring
                 every
                 thing
                 to
                 its
                 proper
                 place
                 ;
                 If
                 it
                 be
                 matter
                 of
                 comfort
                 ,
                 There
                 is
                 for
                 my
                 sick-bed
                 ,
                 There
                 is
                 for
                 my
                 outward
                 losses
                 ,
                 There
                 for
                 my
                 drooping
                 under
                 afflictions
                 ,
                 There
                 for
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 my
                 spiritual
                 desertions
                 ;
                 If
                 matter
                 of
                 doctrine
                 ,
                 There
                 is
                 for
                 my
                 settlement
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 truth
                 ,
                 There
                 for
                 the
                 conviction
                 of
                 such
                 an
                 error
                 ,
                 There
                 for
                 my
                 direction
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 practice
                 ;
                 If
                 matter
                 of
                 reproof
                 ,
                 he
                 doth
                 not
                 point
                 at
                 his
                 neighbour
                 ,
                 but
                 deeply
                 chargeth
                 himself
                 ;
                 This
                 meets
                 with
                 my
                 dead-heartedness
                 and
                 security
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 my
                 worldly-mindednesse
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 
                 my
                 self-love
                 and
                 flattery
                 of
                 mine
                 owne
                 estate
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 my
                 uncharitable
                 censoriousnesse
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 my
                 foolish
                 pride
                 of
                 heart
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 my
                 hypocrisie
                 ,
                 This
                 with
                 my
                 neglect
                 of
                 Gods
                 services
                 ,
                 and
                 my
                 duty
                 ;
                 Thus
                 in
                 all
                 the
                 variety
                 of
                 the
                 holy
                 passages
                 of
                 the
                 Sermon
                 ,
                 the
                 devout
                 minde
                 is
                 taken
                 up
                 with
                 digesting
                 what
                 it
                 hears
                 ;
                 and
                 working
                 it self
                 to
                 a
                 secret
                 improvement
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 good
                 counsell
                 that
                 is
                 delivered
                 ,
                 neither
                 is
                 ever
                 more
                 busie
                 ,
                 than
                 when
                 it
                 sits
                 still
                 at
                 the
                 feet
                 of
                 Christ
                 .
                 I
                 cannot
                 therefore
                 approve
                 the
                 practice
                 (
                 which
                 yet
                 I
                 see
                 commonly
                 received
                 )
                 of
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 think
                 it
                 no
                 small
                 argument
                 of
                 their
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 to
                 spend
                 their
                 time
                 of
                 
                 hearing
                 ,
                 in
                 writing
                 large
                 notes
                 from
                 the
                 mouth
                 of
                 the
                 Preacher
                 ;
                 which
                 ,
                 however
                 it
                 may
                 be
                 an
                 help
                 for
                 memory
                 in
                 the
                 future
                 ,
                 yet
                 cannot
                 (
                 as
                 I
                 conceive
                 )
                 but
                 be
                 some
                 prejudice
                 to
                 our
                 present
                 edification
                 ;
                 neither
                 can
                 the
                 braine
                 get
                 so
                 much
                 hereby
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 heart
                 loseth
                 .
                 If
                 it
                 be
                 said
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 this
                 means
                 ,
                 an
                 opportunity
                 is
                 given
                 for
                 a
                 full
                 rumination
                 of
                 wholsome
                 Doctrines
                 afterwards
                 :
                 I
                 yeeld
                 it
                 ,
                 but
                 withall
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 say
                 that
                 our
                 after-thoughts
                 can
                 never
                 doe
                 the
                 work
                 so
                 effectually
                 ,
                 as
                 when
                 the
                 lively
                 voice
                 sounds
                 in
                 our
                 ears
                 ,
                 and
                 beats
                 upon
                 our
                 heart
                 ;
                 but
                 herein
                 I
                 submit
                 my
                 opinion
                 to
                 better
                 judgements
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXVI
                 .
              
               
                 THe
                 food
                 that
                 is
                 received
                 into
                 the
                 soul
                 by
                 the
                 ear
                 ,
                 is
                 afterwards
                 chewed
                 in
                 the
                 mouth
                 thereof
                 by
                 memory
                 ,
                 concocted
                 in
                 the
                 stomack
                 by
                 meditation
                 ,
                 and
                 dispersed
                 into
                 the
                 parts
                 by
                 conference
                 and
                 practise
                 ;
                 True
                 Devotion
                 findes
                 the
                 greatest
                 part
                 of
                 the
                 work
                 behinde
                 ;
                 It
                 was
                 a
                 just
                 answer
                 that
                 
                   Iohn
                   Gerson
                
                 reports
                 ,
                 given
                 
                 by
                 a
                 Frenchman
                 ,
                 who
                 being
                 askt
                 by
                 one
                 of
                 his
                 neighbours
                 if
                 the
                 Sermon
                 were
                 done
                 ;
                 no
                 saith
                 he
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 said
                 ,
                 but
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 done
                 ,
                 neither
                 will
                 be
                 ,
                 I
                 fear
                 ,
                 in
                 hast
                 .
                 What
                 are
                 we
                 the
                 better
                 if
                 we
                 hear
                 and
                 remember
                 not
                 ?
                 If
                 we
                 be
                 such
                 auditors
                 as
                 
                 the
                 Jews
                 were
                 wont
                 to
                 call
                 sieves
                 ,
                 that
                 retaine
                 no
                 moisture
                 that
                 is
                 poured
                 into
                 them
                 ?
                 What
                 the
                 better
                 if
                 we
                 remember
                 ,
                 but
                 think
                 not
                 seriously
                 of
                 what
                 we
                 hear
                 ;
                 or
                 if
                 we
                 practice
                 not
                 carefully
                 what
                 we
                 think
                 of
                 ?
                 Not
                 that
                 which
                 we
                 hear
                 is
                 our
                 own
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 which
                 we
                 carry
                 away
                 :
                 although
                 all
                 memories
                 are
                 not
                 alike
                 ,
                 one
                 receives
                 more
                 easily
                 ,
                 another
                 retains
                 longer
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 not
                 for
                 every
                 one
                 to
                 hope
                 to
                 attain
                 to
                 that
                 ability
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 can
                 goe
                 away
                 with
                 the
                 whole
                 fabrick
                 of
                 a
                 Sermon
                 ,
                 and
                 readily
                 recount
                 it
                 unto
                 others
                 ;
                 neither
                 doth
                 God
                 require
                 that
                 of
                 any
                 man
                 ,
                 which
                 he
                 hath
                 not
                 given
                 him
                 ;
                 Our
                 desires
                 and
                 endeavours
                 may
                 not
                 be
                 wanting
                 
                 where
                 our
                 powers
                 faile
                 ;
                 It
                 will
                 bee
                 enough
                 for
                 weak
                 memories
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 can
                 so
                 lay
                 up
                 those
                 wholsome
                 counsells
                 which
                 they
                 receive
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 they
                 may
                 fetch
                 them
                 forth
                 when
                 they
                 have
                 occasion
                 to
                 use
                 them
                 ;
                 &
                 that
                 what
                 they
                 want
                 in
                 the
                 extent
                 of
                 memory
                 ,
                 they
                 supply
                 in
                 the
                 care
                 of
                 their
                 practice
                 ;
                 Indeed
                 that
                 is
                 it
                 ,
                 wherein
                 lies
                 the
                 life
                 of
                 all
                 religious
                 duties
                 ,
                 and
                 without
                 which
                 they
                 are
                 but
                 idle
                 formalities
                 ;
                 that
                 which
                 the
                 Philosopher
                 said
                 of
                 all
                 vertue
                 ,
                 I
                 must
                 say
                 of
                 true
                 godlinesse
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 consists
                 in
                 action
                 ;
                 Our
                 Saviour
                 did
                 not
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   Blessed
                   are
                   ye
                   if
                   you
                   know
                   these
                   things
                
                 ;
                 But
                 ,
                 
                   If
                   ye
                   know
                   these
                   things
                   ,
                   blessed
                   are
                   ye
                   if
                   ye
                   doe
                   them
                   .
                
                 The
                 end
                 of
                 our
                 desire
                 
                 of
                 the
                 sincere
                 milk
                 of
                 the
                 Gospel
                 ,
                 is
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 
                   grow
                   thereby
                
                 in
                 the
                 stature
                 of
                 all
                 Grace
                 ,
                 unto
                 the
                 
                   fulnesse
                   of
                
                 
                 God.
                 
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXVII
                 .
              
               
                 THe
                 highest
                 of
                 all
                 Gods
                 services
                 are
                 his
                 Sacraments
                 ;
                 which
                 therefore
                 require
                 the
                 most
                 eminent
                 acts
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 .
                 The
                 Sacrament
                 of
                 initiation
                 ,
                 which
                 in
                 the
                 first
                 planting
                 of
                 a
                 Church
                 is
                 administred
                 only
                 to
                 those
                 of
                 riper
                 age
                 and
                 understanding
                 ,
                 cals
                 for
                 all
                 possible
                 reverence
                 ,
                 and
                 religious
                 addresses
                 of
                 the
                 receivers
                 ;
                 wherein
                 the
                 Primitive
                 times
                 were
                 punctually
                 observant
                 ,
                 both
                 for
                 substance
                 ,
                 and
                 ceremony
                 ;
                 now
                 ,
                 
                 in
                 a
                 setled
                 and
                 perpetuated
                 Church
                 ,
                 in
                 which
                 the
                 vertue
                 of
                 the
                 Covenant
                 descends
                 from
                 the
                 parent
                 to
                 the
                 child
                 ,
                 there
                 seems
                 to
                 be
                 no
                 use
                 of
                 our
                 preparatory
                 directions
                 :
                 Only
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 fit
                 that
                 our
                 Devotion
                 should
                 call
                 our
                 eyes
                 back
                 ,
                 to
                 what
                 we
                 have
                 done
                 in
                 our
                 infancy
                 ,
                 and
                 whereto
                 we
                 are
                 ever
                 obliged
                 ;
                 that
                 our
                 full
                 age
                 may
                 carefully
                 endeavour
                 to
                 make
                 our
                 word
                 good
                 ,
                 and
                 may
                 put
                 us
                 in
                 minde
                 of
                 our
                 sinfull
                 failings
                 .
                 That
                 other
                 Sacrament
                 of
                 our
                 spirituall
                 nourishment
                 ,
                 which
                 our
                 Saviour
                 (
                 as
                 his
                 farewell
                 )
                 left
                 us
                 for
                 a
                 blessed
                 memoriall
                 of
                 his
                 death
                 and
                 passion
                 ,
                 can
                 never
                 be
                 celebrated
                 with
                 enough
                 Devotion
                 .
                 Farre
                 be
                 it
                 from
                 us
                 to
                 come
                 to
                 this
                 
                 feast
                 of
                 our
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 our
                 common
                 garments
                 ;
                 the
                 soul
                 must
                 be
                 trimmed
                 up
                 ,
                 if
                 we
                 would
                 be
                 meet
                 guests
                 for
                 the
                 Almighty
                 .
                 The
                 great
                 Master
                 of
                 the
                 feast
                 will
                 neither
                 abide
                 us
                 to
                 come
                 naked
                 ,
                 nor
                 ill
                 clad
                 :
                 Away
                 therefore
                 ,
                 first
                 with
                 the
                 old
                 beastly
                 ragges
                 of
                 our
                 wonted
                 corruptions
                 :
                 Due
                 examination
                 comes
                 in
                 first
                 ,
                 and
                 throughly
                 searches
                 the
                 soul
                 ,
                 and
                 finds
                 out
                 all
                 the
                 secret
                 nastinesse
                 ,
                 and
                 defilements
                 that
                 it
                 hides
                 within
                 it
                 ;
                 and
                 by
                 the
                 aid
                 of
                 true
                 penitence
                 ,
                 strips
                 it
                 of
                 all
                 those
                 loathsome
                 clouts
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 it
                 was
                 polluted
                 ;
                 Sin
                 may
                 not
                 bee
                 cloathed
                 upon
                 with
                 grace
                 ;
                 Joshuah's
                 filthy
                 garments
                 
                 must
                 bee
                 pluckt
                 off
                 ,
                 ere
                 hee
                 can
                 be
                 capable
                 of
                 
                 precious
                 robes
                 :
                 Here
                 may
                 be
                 no
                 place
                 for
                 our
                 sinfull
                 lusts
                 ,
                 for
                 our
                 covetous
                 desires
                 ,
                 for
                 our
                 naturall
                 infidelity
                 ,
                 for
                 our
                 malicious
                 purposes
                 ,
                 for
                 any
                 of
                 our
                 unhallowed
                 thoughts
                 ;
                 The
                 soul
                 clearly
                 devested
                 of
                 these
                 and
                 all
                 other
                 known
                 corruptions
                 ,
                 must
                 in
                 the
                 next
                 place
                 in
                 stead
                 thereof
                 ,
                 be
                 furnished
                 with
                 such
                 graces
                 and
                 holy
                 predispositions
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 fit
                 it
                 for
                 so
                 heavenly
                 a
                 work
                 .
                 Amongst
                 the
                 graces
                 requisite
                 ,
                 Faith
                 justly
                 challengeth
                 the
                 first
                 place
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 which
                 is
                 both
                 most
                 eminent
                 ,
                 and
                 most
                 necessarily
                 presupposed
                 to
                 the
                 profitable
                 receit
                 of
                 this
                 Sacrament
                 ;
                 for
                 whereas
                 the
                 main
                 end
                 of
                 this
                 blessed
                 banquet
                 is
                 the
                 strengthening
                 of
                 our
                 
                 faith
                 ,
                 how
                 should
                 that
                 receive
                 strength
                 ,
                 which
                 hath
                 not
                 being
                 ?
                 to
                 deliver
                 these
                 sacred
                 viands
                 to
                 an
                 unbeleever
                 ,
                 is
                 to
                 put
                 meat
                 into
                 the
                 mouth
                 of
                 a
                 dead
                 man
                 :
                 Now
                 therefore
                 must
                 the
                 heart
                 raise
                 up
                 it selfe
                 to
                 new
                 acts
                 of
                 beleeving
                 ,
                 and
                 must
                 lay
                 faster
                 hold
                 on
                 Christ
                 ,
                 and
                 bring
                 him
                 closer
                 to
                 the
                 soul
                 ;
                 more
                 strongly
                 applying
                 to
                 its
                 self
                 ,
                 the
                 infinite
                 merits
                 of
                 his
                 most
                 perfect
                 obedience
                 ,
                 &
                 of
                 his
                 bitter
                 death
                 and
                 passion
                 ;
                 and
                 erecting
                 it self
                 to
                 a
                 desire
                 and
                 expectation
                 of
                 a
                 more
                 vigorous
                 and
                 lively
                 apprehension
                 of
                 its
                 omnipotent
                 Redeemer
                 .
                 Neither
                 can
                 this
                 faith
                 be
                 either
                 dead
                 ,
                 or
                 solitary
                 ;
                 but
                 is
                 still
                 really
                 operative
                 ,
                 and
                 attended
                 (
                 as
                 with
                 other
                 graces
                 ,
                 so
                 )
                 
                 especially
                 with
                 a
                 serious
                 repentance
                 ;
                 whose
                 wonderfull
                 power
                 is
                 ,
                 to
                 undoe
                 our
                 former
                 sins
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 mold
                 the
                 heart
                 and
                 life
                 to
                 a
                 better
                 obedience
                 :
                 A
                 grace
                 so
                 necessary
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 want
                 of
                 it
                 (
                 as
                 in
                 extream
                 corruption
                 of
                 the
                 stomack
                 )
                 turnes
                 the
                 wholsome
                 food
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 into
                 poison
                 ;
                 An
                 impenitent
                 man
                 therefore
                 comming
                 to
                 Gods
                 Board
                 ,
                 is
                 so
                 far
                 from
                 benefiting
                 himself
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 he
                 eates
                 his
                 owne
                 judgement
                 :
                 Stand
                 off
                 from
                 this
                 holy
                 table
                 ,
                 all
                 yee
                 that
                 have
                 not
                 made
                 your
                 peace
                 with
                 your
                 God
                 ;
                 or
                 that
                 harbour
                 any
                 knowne
                 sinne
                 in
                 your
                 bosome
                 ;
                 not
                 to
                 eat
                 is
                 uncomfortable
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 eat
                 in
                 such
                 a
                 state
                 is
                 deadly
                 ;
                 yet
                 rest
                 not
                 in
                 this
                 plea
                 ,
                 that
                 ye
                 cannot
                 
                 come
                 because
                 yee
                 are
                 unreconciled
                 ;
                 but
                 (
                 as
                 yee
                 love
                 your
                 souls
                 )
                 be
                 reconciled
                 that
                 you
                 may
                 come
                 .
              
               
                 Another
                 Grace
                 necessarily
                 pre-required
                 is
                 charity
                 to
                 our
                 brethren
                 ,
                 and
                 readinesse
                 to
                 forgive
                 ;
                 For
                 this
                 is
                 a
                 communion
                 ,
                 as
                 with
                 Christ
                 the
                 head
                 ,
                 so
                 with
                 all
                 the
                 members
                 of
                 his
                 mysticall
                 body
                 :
                 This
                 is
                 the
                 true
                 Love-feast
                 of
                 God
                 our
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 wherein
                 wee
                 professe
                 our selves
                 inseparably
                 united
                 both
                 to
                 him
                 and
                 his
                 ;
                 If
                 there
                 be
                 more
                 hearts
                 than
                 one
                 at
                 Gods
                 Table
                 ,
                 he
                 will
                 not
                 own
                 them
                 ;
                 These
                 holy
                 elements
                 give
                 us
                 an
                 Embleme
                 of
                 our selves
                 :
                 This
                 bread
                 is
                 made
                 up
                 of
                 many
                 grains
                 ,
                 incorporated
                 into
                 one
                 masse
                 ;
                 and
                 this
                 wine
                 
                 is
                 the
                 confluent
                 juice
                 of
                 many
                 clusters
                 ;
                 neither
                 doe
                 we
                 partake
                 of
                 severall
                 loaves
                 ,
                 or
                 variety
                 of
                 liquors
                 ,
                 but
                 all
                 eat
                 of
                 one
                 bread
                 ,
                 and
                 drink
                 of
                 one
                 cup.
                 Here
                 is
                 then
                 no
                 place
                 for
                 rancour
                 and
                 malice
                 ;
                 none
                 for
                 secret
                 grudgings
                 and
                 heart-burnings
                 ;
                 
                   Therefore
                   ,
                   if
                   thou
                   bring
                   thy
                   gift
                   to
                   the
                   Altar
                   ,
                   and
                   there
                
                 
                 
                   remembrest
                   that
                   thy
                   brother
                   hath
                   ought
                   against
                   the
                   ,
                   Leave
                   there
                   thy
                   gift
                   ,
                   and
                   go
                   thy
                   way
                   ;
                   first
                   bee
                   reconciled
                   to
                   thy
                   brother
                   ,
                   and
                   them
                   come
                   and
                   offer
                   thy
                   gift
                   .
                
              
               
                 Neither
                 may
                 we
                 doe
                 ,
                 as
                 those
                 two
                 emulous
                 Commanders
                 of
                 Greece
                 did
                 ,
                 who
                 resolved
                 to
                 leave
                 their
                 spight
                 behind
                 them
                 at
                 Mount
                 Athos
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 take
                 it
                 up
                 again
                 in
                 their
                 returne
                 ;
                 
                 here
                 must
                 bee
                 an
                 absolute
                 ,
                 and
                 free
                 acquitting
                 of
                 all
                 the
                 back-reckonings
                 of
                 our
                 unkindnesse
                 ,
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 receive
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 peace
                 into
                 a
                 cleare
                 bosome
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXVIII
                 .
              
               
                 BEsides
                 these
                 graces
                 there
                 are
                 certaine
                 holy
                 predispositions
                 so
                 necessary
                 that
                 without
                 them
                 our
                 soules
                 can
                 never
                 hope
                 to
                 receive
                 true
                 comfort
                 in
                 this
                 blessed
                 Sacrament
                 ;
                 whereof
                 the
                 first
                 is
                 an
                 hungring
                 and
                 thirsting
                 desire
                 after
                 these
                 gracious
                 means
                 of
                 our
                 salvation
                 :
                 What
                 good
                 will
                 our
                 meat
                 doe
                 us
                 without
                 an
                 appetite
                 ?
                 Surely
                 without
                 it
                 ,
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 expectation
                 of
                 
                 either
                 relish
                 ,
                 or
                 digestion
                 ;
                 as
                 therefore
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 invited
                 to
                 some
                 great
                 feast
                 ,
                 care
                 first
                 to
                 seed
                 their
                 hunger
                 ere
                 they
                 feed
                 their
                 body
                 ;
                 labouring
                 by
                 exercise
                 to
                 get
                 a
                 stomach
                 ,
                 ere
                 they
                 employ
                 it
                 ;
                 so
                 it
                 concerns
                 us
                 to
                 do
                 here
                 :
                 and
                 ,
                 as
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 listlesse
                 ,
                 and
                 weak
                 stomached
                 ,
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 whet
                 their
                 appetite
                 with
                 sharp
                 sawces
                 ;
                 so
                 must
                 wee
                 by
                 the
                 tart
                 applications
                 of
                 the
                 law
                 ,
                 quicken
                 our
                 desires
                 of
                 our
                 Saviour
                 here
                 exhibited
                 .
              
               
                 Could
                 wee
                 but
                 see
                 our
                 sins
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 miseries
                 by
                 sin
                 ;
                 Could
                 wee
                 see
                 God
                 frowning
                 ,
                 and
                 hell
                 gaping
                 wide
                 to
                 swallow
                 us
                 ,
                 wee
                 should
                 not
                 need
                 to
                 bee
                 bidden
                 to
                 long
                 for
                 our
                 deliverer
                 ;
                 and
                 every
                 pledge
                 of
                 his
                 
                 favour
                 would
                 be
                 precious
                 to
                 us
                 .
              
               
                 Upon
                 the
                 apprehension
                 of
                 our
                 need
                 of
                 a
                 Saviour
                 and
                 so
                 happy
                 a
                 supply
                 therof
                 presented
                 unto
                 us
                 ,
                 must
                 needs
                 follow
                 a
                 renewed
                 act
                 of
                 true
                 thankfulnes
                 of
                 heart
                 to
                 our
                 good
                 God
                 ,
                 that
                 hath
                 both
                 given
                 us
                 his
                 dear
                 Son
                 to
                 work
                 our
                 redemption
                 ,
                 &
                 his
                 blessed
                 Sacrament
                 to
                 seal
                 up
                 unto
                 us
                 our
                 redemption
                 thus
                 wrought
                 and
                 purchased
                 ;
                 And
                 with
                 souls
                 thus
                 thankfully
                 elevated
                 unto
                 God
                 ,
                 we
                 aproach
                 with
                 all
                 reverence
                 ,
                 to
                 that
                 heavenly
                 Table
                 ,
                 where
                 God
                 is
                 both
                 the
                 Feast-master
                 and
                 the
                 Feast
                 .
                 What
                 intention
                 of
                 holy
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 what
                 fervour
                 of
                 spirit
                 ,
                 what
                 depth
                 of
                 Devotion
                 must
                 we
                 now
                 find
                 in
                 
                 our selves
                 ?
                 Doubtlesse
                 ,
                 out
                 of
                 heaven
                 no
                 object
                 can
                 be
                 so
                 worthy
                 to
                 take
                 up
                 our
                 hearts
                 .
                 What
                 a
                 clear
                 representation
                 is
                 here
                 of
                 the
                 great
                 work
                 of
                 our
                 Redemption
                 ?
                 How
                 is
                 my
                 Saviour
                 by
                 all
                 my
                 senses
                 here
                 brought
                 home
                 to
                 my
                 soul
                 ?
                 How
                 is
                 his
                 passion
                 lively
                 acted
                 before
                 mine
                 eyes
                 ?
                 For
                 lo
                 ,
                 my
                 bodily
                 eye
                 doth
                 not
                 more
                 truely
                 see
                 bread
                 and
                 wine
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 eye
                 of
                 my
                 faith
                 sees
                 the
                 body
                 and
                 bloud
                 of
                 my
                 dear
                 Redeemer
                 ;
                 Thus
                 was
                 his
                 sacred
                 body
                 torn
                 and
                 broken
                 ;
                 Thus
                 was
                 his
                 precious
                 bloud
                 poured
                 out
                 for
                 me
                 ;
                 My
                 sins
                 (
                 wretched
                 man
                 that
                 I
                 am
                 )
                 helped
                 thus
                 to
                 crucifie
                 my
                 Saviour
                 ;
                 and
                 for
                 the
                 discharge
                 of
                 my
                 sins
                 would
                 he
                 be
                 thus
                 crucified
                 :
                 
                 Neither
                 did
                 hee
                 only
                 give
                 himselfe
                 for
                 me
                 ,
                 upon
                 the
                 Crosse
                 ,
                 but
                 lo
                 ,
                 both
                 offers
                 and
                 gives
                 himself
                 to
                 me
                 in
                 this
                 his
                 blessed
                 institution
                 ;
                 what
                 had
                 his
                 generall
                 gift
                 been
                 without
                 this
                 application
                 ?
                 Now
                 my
                 hand
                 doth
                 not
                 more
                 sensibly
                 take
                 ,
                 nor
                 my
                 mouth
                 more
                 really
                 eate
                 this
                 bread
                 ,
                 than
                 my
                 soule
                 doth
                 spiritually
                 receive
                 ,
                 and
                 feed
                 on
                 the
                 bread
                 of
                 life
                 ;
                 O
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 thou
                 art
                 the
                 living
                 bread
                 that
                 came
                 dome
                 from
                 heaven
                 ;
                 Thy
                 flesh
                 is
                 meat
                 indeed
                 ,
                 and
                 thy
                 bloud
                 is
                 drink
                 indeed
                 :
                 Oh
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 so
                 eate
                 of
                 this
                 bread
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 may
                 live
                 for
                 ever
                 .
                 He
                 that
                 commeth
                 to
                 thee
                 ,
                 shall
                 never
                 hunger
                 ;
                 he
                 that
                 beleeveth
                 in
                 thee
                 ,
                 shall
                 never
                 thirst
                 :
                 Oh
                 that
                 I
                 could
                 now
                 
                 so
                 hunger
                 ,
                 and
                 so
                 thirst
                 for
                 thee
                 ,
                 that
                 my
                 soul
                 could
                 be
                 for
                 ever
                 satisfied
                 with
                 thee
                 ;
                 Thy
                 people
                 of
                 old
                 ,
                 were
                 fed
                 with
                 Manna
                 in
                 the
                 wildernesse
                 ,
                 yet
                 they
                 dyed
                 ;
                 that
                 food
                 of
                 Angels
                 could
                 not
                 keep
                 them
                 from
                 perishing
                 ;
                 but
                 oh
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 hidden
                 Manna
                 ,
                 which
                 giveth
                 life
                 to
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 even
                 thy
                 blessed
                 self
                 ,
                 give
                 me
                 ever
                 of
                 this
                 bread
                 ,
                 and
                 my
                 soule
                 shall
                 not
                 dye
                 but
                 live
                 :
                 Oh
                 the
                 precious
                 juice
                 of
                 the
                 fruit
                 of
                 the
                 Vine
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 thou
                 refreshest
                 my
                 soul
                 !
                 Is
                 this
                 the
                 bloud
                 of
                 the
                 grape
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 not
                 rather
                 thy
                 bloud
                 of
                 the
                 New
                 Testament
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 poured
                 out
                 for
                 me
                 ?
                 Thou
                 speakest
                 ,
                 O
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 of
                 new
                 wine
                 that
                 thou
                 wouldest
                 drink
                 with
                 
                 thy
                 Disciples
                 ,
                 in
                 thy
                 Fathers
                 Kindome
                 ,
                 can
                 there
                 be
                 any
                 more
                 precious
                 and
                 pleasant
                 ,
                 than
                 this
                 ,
                 wherewith
                 thou
                 cheerest
                 the
                 beleeving
                 soule
                 ?
                 our
                 palate
                 is
                 now
                 dull
                 and
                 earthly
                 ,
                 which
                 shall
                 then
                 exquisite
                 and
                 celestiall
                 ;
                 but
                 surely
                 ,
                 no
                 liquor
                 can
                 be
                 of
                 equall
                 price
                 or
                 soveraignty
                 with
                 thy
                 bloud
                 ;
                 Oh
                 how
                 unsavory
                 are
                 all
                 earthly
                 delicacies
                 to
                 this
                 heavenly
                 draught
                 !
                 O
                 God
                 ,
                 let
                 not
                 the
                 sweet
                 taste
                 of
                 this
                 spirituall
                 Nectar
                 ever
                 goe
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 mouth
                 of
                 my
                 soul
                 ;
                 Let
                 the
                 cōfortable
                 warmth
                 of
                 this
                 blessed
                 Cordiall
                 ever
                 work
                 upon
                 my
                 soul
                 ,
                 even
                 till
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 ,
                 the
                 last
                 moment
                 of
                 my
                 dissolution
                 .
                 Dost
                 thou
                 bid
                 me
                 ,
                 O
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 do
                 
                 this
                 in
                 remembrance
                 of
                 thee
                 ?
                 Oh
                 ,
                 how
                 can
                 I
                 forget
                 thee
                 ?
                 How
                 can
                 I
                 enough
                 celebrate
                 thee
                 for
                 this
                 thy
                 unspeakable
                 mercy
                 ?
                 Can
                 I
                 see
                 thee
                 thus
                 crucified
                 before
                 my
                 eyes
                 ,
                 and
                 for
                 my
                 sake
                 thus
                 crucified
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 remember
                 thee
                 ?
                 Can
                 I
                 find
                 my
                 sins
                 accessary
                 to
                 this
                 thy
                 death
                 ,
                 and
                 thy
                 death
                 meritoriously
                 expiating
                 all
                 these
                 my
                 grievous
                 sins
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 remember
                 thee
                 ?
                 Can
                 I
                 hear
                 thee
                 freely
                 offering
                 thy selfe
                 to
                 me
                 ,
                 and
                 feele
                 thee
                 graciously
                 conveighing
                 thy self
                 into
                 my
                 soul
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 remember
                 thee
                 ?
                 I
                 doe
                 remember
                 thee
                 O
                 Saviour
                 ;
                 but
                 oh
                 that
                 I
                 could
                 yet
                 more
                 effectually
                 remember
                 thee
                 ;
                 with
                 all
                 the
                 passionate
                 affections
                 of
                 
                 a
                 soul
                 sick
                 of
                 thy
                 love
                 ;
                 with
                 all
                 zealous
                 desires
                 to
                 glorifie
                 thee
                 ,
                 with
                 all
                 fervent
                 longings
                 after
                 thee
                 ,
                 and
                 thy
                 salvation
                 ;
                 I
                 remember
                 thee
                 in
                 thy
                 sufferings
                 ,
                 Oh
                 doe
                 thou
                 remember
                 me
                 in
                 thy
                 glory
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXIX
                 .
              
               
                 HAving
                 thus
                 busied
                 it self
                 with
                 holy
                 thoughts
                 in
                 the
                 time
                 of
                 the
                 celebration
                 ,
                 the
                 devout
                 soul
                 breaks
                 not
                 off
                 in
                 an
                 abrupt
                 unmannerlinesse
                 ,
                 without
                 taking
                 leave
                 of
                 the
                 great
                 master
                 of
                 this
                 heavenly
                 feast
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 a
                 secret
                 adoration
                 ,
                 humbly
                 blesseth
                 God
                 for
                 so
                 great
                 a
                 mercy
                 ,
                 and
                 heartily
                 resolves
                 and
                 desires
                 to
                 walk
                 worthy
                 of
                 the
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 ,
                 whom
                 it
                 
                 hath
                 received
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 consecrate
                 it selfe
                 wholly
                 to
                 the
                 service
                 of
                 him
                 that
                 hath
                 so
                 dearly
                 bought
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 given
                 it
                 these
                 pledges
                 of
                 its
                 eternall
                 union
                 with
                 him
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 Devout
                 Soul
                 hath
                 thus
                 supt
                 in
                 heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 returns
                 home
                 ,
                 yet
                 the
                 work
                 is
                 not
                 thus
                 done
                 :
                 after
                 the
                 elements
                 are
                 out
                 of
                 eye
                 and
                 use
                 ,
                 there
                 remains
                 a
                 digestion
                 of
                 this
                 celestiall
                 food
                 ,
                 by
                 holy
                 meditation
                 ;
                 and
                 now
                 it
                 thinks
                 ,
                 Oh
                 what
                 a
                 blessing
                 have
                 I
                 received
                 to
                 day
                 !
                 no
                 lesse
                 than
                 my
                 Lord
                 Jesus
                 ,
                 with
                 all
                 his
                 merits
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 and
                 with
                 him
                 ,
                 the
                 assurance
                 of
                 the
                 remission
                 of
                 all
                 my
                 sins
                 ,
                 and
                 everlasting
                 salvation
                 :
                 How
                 happy
                 am
                 I
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 be
                 not
                 wanting
                 to
                 God
                 &
                 my self
                 ?
                 How
                 unworthy
                 
                 shall
                 I
                 be
                 ,
                 if
                 I
                 doe
                 not
                 strive
                 to
                 answer
                 this
                 love
                 of
                 my
                 God
                 and
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 hearty
                 affection
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 all
                 holy
                 obedience
                 ?
              
               
                 And
                 now
                 after
                 this
                 heavenly
                 repast
                 ,
                 how
                 do
                 I
                 feel
                 my self
                 ?
                 what
                 strength
                 ,
                 what
                 advantage
                 hath
                 my
                 faith
                 gotten
                 ?
                 how
                 much
                 am
                 I
                 nearer
                 to
                 heaven
                 than
                 before
                 ?
                 how
                 much
                 faster
                 hold
                 have
                 I
                 taken
                 of
                 my
                 blessed
                 Redeemer
                 ?
                 how
                 much
                 more
                 firm
                 and
                 sensible
                 is
                 my
                 interest
                 in
                 him
                 ?
              
               
                 Neither
                 are
                 these
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 and
                 this
                 examination
                 the
                 work
                 of
                 the
                 next
                 instant
                 onely
                 ,
                 but
                 they
                 are
                 such
                 ,
                 as
                 must
                 dwell
                 upon
                 the
                 heart
                 ;
                 and
                 must
                 often
                 solicite
                 our
                 memory
                 ,
                 and
                 excite
                 our
                 practise
                 ,
                 that
                 by
                 this
                 means
                 
                 we
                 may
                 frequently
                 renew
                 the
                 efficacy
                 of
                 this
                 blessed
                 Sacrament
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 souls
                 may
                 batten
                 more
                 and
                 more
                 ,
                 with
                 this
                 spirituall
                 nourishment
                 ,
                 and
                 may
                 be
                 fed
                 up
                 to
                 eternall
                 life
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XXX
                 .
              
               
                 THese
                 are
                 the
                 generalities
                 of
                 our
                 Devotion
                 ,
                 which
                 are
                 of
                 common
                 use
                 to
                 all
                 Christians
                 ;
                 There
                 are
                 besides
                 these
                 certaine
                 specialties
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 appliable
                 to
                 severall
                 occasions
                 ,
                 times
                 ,
                 places
                 ,
                 persons
                 ;
                 For
                 there
                 are
                 morning
                 ,
                 and
                 evening
                 Devotions
                 ;
                 Devotions
                 proper
                 to
                 our
                 board
                 ,
                 to
                 our
                 closer
                 ,
                 to
                 our
                 bed
                 ,
                 to
                 Gods
                 day
                 ,
                 to
                 our
                 
                 own
                 ;
                 to
                 health
                 ,
                 to
                 sicknesse
                 ,
                 to
                 severall
                 callings
                 ,
                 to
                 recreations
                 ;
                 to
                 the
                 way
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 field
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Church
                 ,
                 to
                 our
                 home
                 ;
                 to
                 the
                 student
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 souldier
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Magistrate
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 Minister
                 ,
                 to
                 the
                 husband
                 ,
                 wife
                 ,
                 child
                 ,
                 servant
                 ;
                 to
                 our
                 owne
                 persons
                 ,
                 to
                 our
                 families
                 ;
                 The
                 severalties
                 whereof
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 scarce
                 finite
                 for
                 number
                 ,
                 so
                 are
                 most
                 fit
                 to
                 to
                 be
                 left
                 to
                 the
                 judgement
                 ,
                 and
                 holy
                 managing
                 of
                 every
                 Christian
                 ;
                 neiis
                 it
                 to
                 be
                 imagined
                 ,
                 that
                 any
                 soul
                 which
                 is
                 taught
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 any
                 acquaintance
                 with
                 heaven
                 ,
                 can
                 be
                 to
                 seek
                 in
                 the
                 particular
                 application
                 of
                 common
                 rules
                 to
                 his
                 own
                 necessity
                 or
                 expedience
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 result
                 of
                 all
                 is
                 ,
              
               
               
                 A
                 devout
                 man
                 is
                 he
                 that
                 ever
                 sees
                 the
                 invisible
                 ,
                 and
                 ever
                 trembleth
                 before
                 that
                 God
                 he
                 sees
                 ;
                 that
                 walks
                 ever
                 ,
                 here
                 on
                 earth
                 ,
                 with
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 heaven
                 ;
                 and
                 still
                 adores
                 that
                 Majesty
                 with
                 whom
                 he
                 converses
                 ;
                 That
                 confers
                 hourly
                 with
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 spirits
                 in
                 his
                 own
                 language
                 ;
                 yet
                 so
                 ,
                 as
                 no
                 familiarity
                 can
                 abate
                 of
                 his
                 aw
                 ,
                 nor
                 fear
                 abate
                 ought
                 of
                 his
                 love
                 .
                 To
                 whom
                 the
                 gates
                 of
                 heaven
                 are
                 ever
                 open
                 ;
                 that
                 he
                 may
                 go
                 in
                 at
                 pleasure
                 to
                 the
                 throne
                 of
                 grace
                 ,
                 &
                 none
                 of
                 the
                 Angelical
                 spirits
                 can
                 offer
                 to
                 challenge
                 him
                 of
                 too
                 much
                 boldness
                 :
                 Whose
                 eyes
                 are
                 well
                 acquainted
                 with
                 those
                 heavenly
                 guardians
                 ,
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 whom
                 hee
                 doth
                 as
                 truly
                 acknowledge
                 ,
                 
                 as
                 if
                 they
                 were
                 his
                 sensible
                 Companions
                 .
                 He
                 is
                 well
                 known
                 of
                 the
                 King
                 of
                 glory
                 ,
                 for
                 a
                 daily
                 sutor
                 in
                 the
                 Court
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 and
                 none
                 so
                 welcome
                 there
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 :
                 He
                 accounts
                 all
                 his
                 time
                 lost
                 that
                 falls
                 beside
                 his
                 God
                 ;
                 and
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 more
                 weary
                 of
                 good
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 than
                 of
                 happinesse
                 .
              
               
                 His
                 bosome
                 is
                 no
                 harbour
                 for
                 any
                 knowne
                 evill
                 ;
                 and
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 question
                 whether
                 hee
                 more
                 abhorres
                 sin
                 ,
                 or
                 hell
                 ;
                 His
                 care
                 ,
                 is
                 to
                 entertain
                 God
                 in
                 a
                 clear
                 and
                 free
                 heart
                 ,
                 and
                 therefore
                 he
                 thrusts
                 the
                 world
                 out
                 of
                 doors
                 ,
                 and
                 humbly
                 beseeches
                 God
                 to
                 welcome
                 himself
                 to
                 his
                 owne
                 :
                 He
                 is
                 truly
                 dejected
                 ,
                 and
                 vile
                 in
                 his
                 owne
                 eyes
                 :
                 Nothing
                 but
                 hell
                 is
                 lower
                 
                 than
                 he
                 ;
                 every
                 of
                 his
                 slips
                 are
                 hainous
                 ,
                 every
                 trespasse
                 is
                 aggravated
                 to
                 rebellion
                 ;
                 The
                 glory
                 and
                 favours
                 of
                 God
                 heighten
                 his
                 humiliation
                 ;
                 He
                 hath
                 lookt
                 down
                 to
                 the
                 bottomlesse
                 deep
                 ,
                 and
                 seen
                 with
                 horror
                 what
                 he
                 deserved
                 to
                 feel
                 everlastingly
                 ;
                 His
                 cries
                 have
                 been
                 as
                 strong
                 ,
                 as
                 his
                 fears
                 just
                 ;
                 and
                 he
                 hath
                 found
                 mercy
                 more
                 ready
                 to
                 rescue
                 him
                 ,
                 than
                 he
                 could
                 be
                 importunate
                 :
                 His
                 hand
                 could
                 not
                 be
                 so
                 soon
                 put
                 forth
                 as
                 his
                 Saviours
                 ,
                 for
                 deliverance
                 .
                 The
                 sense
                 of
                 this
                 mercy
                 hath
                 raised
                 him
                 to
                 an
                 unspeakable
                 joy
                 ,
                 to
                 a
                 most
                 fervent
                 love
                 of
                 so
                 dear
                 a
                 Redeemer
                 ;
                 that
                 love
                 hath
                 knit
                 his
                 heart
                 to
                 so
                 meritorious
                 a
                 deliverer
                 ,
                 and
                 wrought
                 a
                 
                 blessed
                 union
                 betwixt
                 God
                 and
                 his
                 soul
                 .
                 That
                 union
                 can
                 no
                 more
                 be
                 severed
                 from
                 an
                 infinite
                 delight
                 ,
                 than
                 that
                 delight
                 can
                 bee
                 severed
                 from
                 an
                 humble
                 ,
                 &
                 cheerfull
                 acquiescence
                 in
                 his
                 munificent
                 God
                 ;
                 And
                 now
                 ,
                 as
                 in
                 an
                 heavenly
                 freedome
                 ,
                 he
                 pours
                 out
                 his
                 soul
                 into
                 the
                 bosome
                 of
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ,
                 in
                 all
                 faithfull
                 sutes
                 for
                 himself
                 and
                 others
                 ;
                 so
                 ,
                 he
                 enjoyes
                 God
                 in
                 the
                 blessings
                 received
                 ,
                 and
                 returns
                 all
                 zealous
                 prayses
                 to
                 the
                 giver
                 .
              
               
                 He
                 comes
                 reverently
                 to
                 the
                 Oracles
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 brings
                 not
                 his
                 eye
                 ,
                 but
                 his
                 heart
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 not
                 carelesly
                 negligent
                 in
                 seeking
                 to
                 know
                 the
                 revealed
                 will
                 of
                 his
                 Maker
                 ,
                 nor
                 too
                 busily
                 
                 inquisitive
                 into
                 his
                 deep
                 counsels
                 ;
                 not
                 too
                 remisse
                 in
                 the
                 letter
                 ,
                 nor
                 too
                 peremptory
                 in
                 the
                 sense
                 :
                 gladly
                 comprehending
                 what
                 hee
                 may
                 ,
                 and
                 admiring
                 what
                 he
                 cannot
                 comprehend
                 .
                 Doth
                 God
                 call
                 for
                 his
                 ear
                 ?
                 He
                 goes
                 awfully
                 into
                 the
                 holy
                 presence
                 and
                 so
                 hears
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 he
                 should
                 now
                 hear
                 his
                 last
                 :
                 Latching
                 every
                 word
                 that
                 drops
                 from
                 the
                 Preachers
                 lips
                 ,
                 ere
                 it
                 fall
                 to
                 the
                 ground
                 ,
                 and
                 laying
                 it
                 up
                 carefully
                 where
                 hee
                 may
                 be
                 sure
                 to
                 fetch
                 it
                 .
                 Hee
                 sits
                 not
                 to
                 censure
                 ,
                 but
                 to
                 learn
                 ,
                 yet
                 speculation
                 and
                 knowledge
                 is
                 the
                 least
                 drift
                 of
                 his
                 labour
                 ;
                 Nothing
                 is
                 his
                 own
                 but
                 what
                 he
                 practiseth
                 .
                 Is
                 he
                 invited
                 to
                 Gods
                 feast
                 ?
                 he
                 hates
                 to
                 come
                 in
                 a
                 soul
                 and
                 slovenly
                 dresse
                 ;
                 
                 but
                 trims
                 up
                 his
                 soul
                 ,
                 so
                 ,
                 as
                 may
                 be
                 fit
                 for
                 an
                 heavenly
                 guest
                 :
                 Neither
                 doth
                 he
                 leave
                 his
                 stomach
                 at
                 home
                 cloyed
                 with
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 but
                 brings
                 a
                 sharp
                 appetite
                 with
                 him
                 ;
                 and
                 so
                 feeds
                 as
                 if
                 he
                 meant
                 to
                 live
                 for
                 ever
                 .
                 All
                 earthly
                 Delicates
                 are
                 unsavory
                 to
                 him
                 ,
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 that
                 celestiall
                 Manna
                 :
                 Shortly
                 ,
                 he
                 so
                 eates
                 and
                 drinks
                 ,
                 as
                 one
                 that
                 sees
                 himself
                 set
                 at
                 Table
                 with
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Angels
                 ;
                 and
                 rises
                 and
                 departs
                 full
                 of
                 his
                 Saviour
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 strength
                 of
                 that
                 meal
                 walks
                 vigorously
                 and
                 cheerfully
                 on
                 towards
                 his
                 glory
                 .
                 Finally
                 ,
                 as
                 he
                 well
                 knows
                 that
                 he
                 lives
                 ,
                 and
                 moves
                 ,
                 and
                 hath
                 his
                 being
                 in
                 God
                 ,
                 so
                 he
                 refers
                 his
                 life
                 ,
                 motions
                 ,
                 and
                 being
                 wholly
                 to
                 God
                 ;
                 so
                 acting
                 
                 all
                 things
                 ,
                 as
                 if
                 God
                 did
                 them
                 by
                 him
                 ,
                 so
                 using
                 all
                 things
                 ,
                 as
                 one
                 that
                 enjoyes
                 God
                 in
                 them
                 ;
                 and
                 in
                 the
                 mean
                 time
                 so
                 walking
                 on
                 earth
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 doth
                 in
                 a
                 sort
                 carry
                 his
                 heaven
                 with
                 him
                 .
              
            
          
        
      
       
         
           
             
             
             
               THE
               FREE
               PRISONER
               :
               OR
               ,
               The
               COMFORT
               of
               RESTRAINT
               .
            
             
               Written
               Some
               while
               since
               in
               the
               Tower
               ,
               BY
               
                 I.
                 H.
                 B.
                 N.
              
               
            
          
        
         
           
             
             
             
               
                 The
                 Free
                 Prisoner
              
               :
               OR
               ,
               The
               Comfort
               of
               Restraint
               .
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 I.
                 
              
               
                 
                   SIR
                   ,
                
              
               
                 WHiles
                 you
                 pity
                 my
                 Affliction
                 ,
                 take
                 heed
                 lest
                 you
                 aggravate
                 it
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 your
                 thoughts
                 make
                 it
                 greater
                 than
                 it
                 is
                 in
                 my
                 own
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 true
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 under
                 restraint
                 ;
                 What
                 is
                 that
                 to
                 a
                 man
                 ,
                 that
                 can
                 be
                 free
                 in
                 the
                 Tower
                 ,
                 and
                 cannot
                 but
                 be
                 a
                 prisoner
                 abroad
                 ?
                 Such
                 is
                 my
                 condition
                 ,
                 and
                 every
                 Divine
                 
                 Philosophers
                 with
                 me
                 .
                 Were
                 my
                 walks
                 much
                 straiter
                 than
                 they
                 are
                 ,
                 they
                 cannot
                 hold
                 me
                 in
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 a
                 bold
                 word
                 to
                 say
                 ,
                 
                   I
                   cannot
                   ,
                   I
                   will
                   not
                   be
                   a
                   prisoner
                   :
                
                 It
                 is
                 my
                 soul
                 that
                 is
                 I
                 :
                 my
                 flesh
                 is
                 my
                 partner
                 ,
                 (
                 if
                 not
                 my
                 servant
                 )
                 not
                 my self
                 :
                 However
                 my
                 body
                 may
                 be
                 immured
                 ,
                 that
                 agile
                 spirit
                 shall
                 flie
                 abroad
                 ,
                 and
                 visit
                 both
                 earth
                 &
                 heaven
                 at
                 pleasure
                 .
                 Who
                 shall
                 hinder
                 it
                 from
                 mounting
                 up
                 (
                 in
                 an
                 instant
                 )
                 to
                 that
                 supreme
                 region
                 of
                 blisse
                 ,
                 and
                 from
                 seeing
                 that
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 eye
                 of
                 faith
                 ,
                 which
                 S.
                 Paul
                 saw
                 in
                 extasie
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 it
                 hath
                 viewed
                 that
                 blessed
                 Hierarchy
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 to
                 glance
                 down
                 through
                 the
                 innumerable
                 ,
                 and
                 unmeasurable
                 globes
                 of
                 light
                 (
                 which
                 move
                 
                 in
                 the
                 firmament
                 ;
                 and
                 below
                 it
                 )
                 into
                 this
                 elementary
                 world
                 ;
                 and
                 there
                 to
                 compass
                 seas
                 and
                 lands
                 ,
                 without
                 shipwrack
                 ,
                 in
                 a
                 trice
                 ,
                 which
                 a
                 Drake
                 ,
                 or
                 Cavendish
                 cannot
                 doe
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 danger
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 some
                 years
                 navigation
                 ;
                 And
                 if
                 my
                 thoughts
                 list
                 to
                 stay
                 themselves
                 in
                 the
                 passage
                 ;
                 with
                 what
                 variety
                 can
                 my
                 soul
                 be
                 taken
                 up
                 of
                 severall
                 objects
                 ;
                 Here
                 ,
                 turning
                 in
                 to
                 the
                 dark
                 vaults
                 ,
                 and
                 dungeons
                 of
                 penall
                 restraint
                 ,
                 to
                 visit
                 the
                 disconsolate
                 prisoners
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 fetch
                 from
                 their
                 greater
                 misery
                 ,
                 a
                 just
                 mitigation
                 of
                 mine
                 own
                 ;
                 There
                 ,
                 looking
                 in
                 to
                 the
                 houses
                 of
                 vain
                 jollity
                 ,
                 and
                 pitying
                 that
                 which
                 the
                 sensuall
                 fools
                 call
                 happiness
                 ;
                 Here
                 stepping
                 in
                 to
                 the
                 
                 Courts
                 of
                 great
                 Princes
                 ,
                 &
                 in
                 them
                 observing
                 the
                 fawning
                 compliances
                 of
                 some
                 ,
                 the
                 trecherous
                 underworking
                 of
                 others
                 ;
                 hollow
                 friendships
                 ,
                 faithless
                 ingagements
                 ,
                 faire
                 faces
                 ,
                 smooth
                 tongues
                 ,
                 rich
                 suits
                 ,
                 viewing
                 all
                 save
                 their
                 hearts
                 ,
                 and
                 censuring
                 nothing
                 that
                 it
                 sees
                 not
                 ;
                 There
                 calling
                 in
                 at
                 the
                 low
                 cottages
                 of
                 the
                 poor
                 ,
                 and
                 out
                 of
                 their
                 empty
                 cupbord
                 furnishing
                 it self
                 with
                 thankfulnesse
                 ;
                 Here
                 so
                 overlooking
                 the
                 Courts
                 of
                 Justice
                 ,
                 as
                 not
                 willing
                 to
                 see
                 rigour
                 or
                 partiality
                 ;
                 There
                 listning
                 what
                 they
                 say
                 in
                 those
                 meetings
                 w
                 ch
                 would
                 passe
                 for
                 sacred
                 ,
                 and
                 wondring
                 at
                 what
                 it
                 hears
                 .
                 Thus
                 can
                 ,
                 and
                 shal
                 ,
                 and
                 doth
                 my
                 nimble
                 spirit
                 bestirre
                 it
                 
                 selfe
                 in
                 a
                 restlesse
                 flight
                 ,
                 making
                 onely
                 the
                 Empyreall
                 heaven
                 ,
                 the
                 bounds
                 of
                 its
                 motion
                 ;
                 not
                 being
                 more
                 able
                 to
                 stand
                 still
                 ,
                 than
                 the
                 heavens
                 themselves
                 ,
                 whence
                 it
                 descended
                 :
                 Should
                 the
                 Iron
                 enter
                 into
                 my
                 soul
                 ,
                 as
                 it
                 did
                 into
                 that
                 good
                 Patriarchs
                 ,
                 yet
                 it
                 cannot
                 fetter
                 me
                 :
                 No
                 more
                 can
                 my
                 spirit
                 be
                 confined
                 to
                 one
                 place
                 ,
                 than
                 my
                 body
                 can
                 bee
                 diffused
                 to
                 many
                 .
                 Perhaps
                 therefore
                 you
                 are
                 mistaken
                 in
                 my
                 condition
                 ;
                 for
                 what
                 is
                 it
                 I
                 beseech
                 you
                 that
                 makes
                 a
                 prisoner
                 ?
                 Is
                 it
                 an
                 allotment
                 to
                 the
                 same
                 roome
                 without
                 change
                 ,
                 without
                 remove
                 ?
                 What
                 is
                 that
                 still
                 to
                 a
                 mind
                 that
                 is
                 free
                 ?
              
               
                 And
                 why
                 is
                 my
                 body
                 then
                 more
                 a
                 prisorer
                 than
                 the
                 
                 best
                 mans
                 soul
                 ;
                 that
                 ,
                 you
                 know
                 ,
                 is
                 peremptorily
                 assigned
                 ,
                 for
                 inhabitation
                 to
                 this
                 house
                 of
                 clay
                 till
                 the
                 day
                 of
                 dissolution
                 :
                 Why
                 more
                 than
                 the
                 stars
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 which
                 have
                 remained
                 fixed
                 in
                 their
                 first
                 stations
                 ever
                 since
                 they
                 were
                 first
                 created
                 ?
                 Why
                 more
                 than
                 those
                 great
                 persons
                 which
                 keep
                 up
                 for
                 state
                 ;
                 or
                 dames
                 for
                 beauty
                 ?
                 Why
                 more
                 than
                 those
                 Anachorites
                 whom
                 wee
                 have
                 seen
                 willingly
                 coopt
                 up
                 for
                 merit
                 ?
                 How
                 much
                 more
                 scope
                 have
                 we
                 than
                 they
                 ?
                 Wee
                 breath
                 fresh
                 aire
                 ,
                 we
                 see
                 the
                 same
                 heavens
                 with
                 the
                 freeest
                 travellers
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 II.
                 
              
               
                 BUt
                 we
                 have
                 (
                 you
                 wil
                 say
                 )
                 bounds
                 for
                 our
                 restraint
                 which
                 the
                 free
                 spirit
                 hates
                 ;
                 as
                 never
                 being
                 pleased
                 ,
                 but
                 with
                 a
                 full
                 liberty
                 both
                 of
                 prospect
                 and
                 passage
                 ;
                 Any
                 barre
                 ,
                 whether
                 to
                 the
                 foot
                 ,
                 or
                 to
                 the
                 eye
                 ,
                 is
                 a
                 death
                 :
                 Oh
                 vain
                 affectation
                 of
                 wild
                 ,
                 and
                 roving
                 curiosity
                 !
                 If
                 their
                 desires
                 cannot
                 be
                 bounded
                 ,
                 yet
                 their
                 motions
                 must
                 ;
                 When
                 they
                 have
                 the
                 full
                 sight
                 of
                 heaven
                 above
                 them
                 ,
                 they
                 cannot
                 climbe
                 up
                 into
                 it
                 ;
                 they
                 cannot
                 possibly
                 see
                 that
                 whole
                 glorious
                 contignation
                 ;
                 and
                 when
                 the
                 whole
                 earth
                 lies
                 open
                 before
                 them
                 ,
                 they
                 can
                 measure
                 but
                 some
                 small
                 peeces
                 of
                 it
                 .
                 How
                 can
                 
                 they
                 be
                 quiet
                 till
                 they
                 have
                 purchased
                 
                   Tycho
                   Brahe
                
                 his
                 prospective
                 trunk
                 of
                 thirty
                 two
                 foot
                 long
                 ,
                 wherby
                 they
                 may
                 discover
                 a
                 better
                 face
                 of
                 heaven
                 ;
                 some
                 lesser
                 Planets
                 moving
                 round
                 about
                 the
                 Sun
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Moonets
                 about
                 Saturn
                 and
                 Jupiter
                 ,
                 &
                 the
                 mountains
                 ,
                 seas
                 and
                 vallies
                 in
                 the
                 Moon
                 ?
                 How
                 can
                 they
                 rest
                 til
                 having
                 acquainted
                 themselves
                 with
                 the
                 constellations
                 of
                 our
                 Hemisphere
                 ,
                 they
                 have
                 passed
                 the
                 Equinoctiall
                 ,
                 and
                 seen
                 the
                 triangle
                 ,
                 the
                 crosse
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 clouds
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 rest
                 of
                 the
                 unknown
                 stars
                 that
                 move
                 above
                 the
                 other
                 Pole
                 ?
                 And
                 when
                 all
                 this
                 is
                 done
                 ,
                 they
                 are
                 but
                 who
                 they
                 were
                 ,
                 no
                 whit
                 better
                 ,
                 no
                 whit
                 wiser
                 ,
                 and
                 perhaps
                 far
                 lesse
                 happy
                 than
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 never
                 smelt
                 
                 any
                 but
                 their
                 own
                 smoak
                 ;
                 never
                 knew
                 any
                 star
                 ,
                 but
                 Charls-wayn
                 ,
                 the
                 morning
                 star
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 seven
                 .
                 For
                 me
                 ,
                 I
                 do
                 not
                 envy
                 ,
                 but
                 wonder
                 at
                 the
                 licentious
                 freedome
                 ,
                 which
                 these
                 men
                 thinke
                 themselves
                 happy
                 to
                 enjoy
                 ;
                 and
                 hold
                 it
                 a
                 weaknesse
                 in
                 those
                 minds
                 ,
                 which
                 cannot
                 find
                 more
                 advantage
                 and
                 pleasure
                 in
                 confinement
                 ,
                 &
                 retirednesse
                 ;
                 Is
                 it
                 a
                 small
                 benefit
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 am
                 placed
                 there
                 ,
                 where
                 no
                 oathes
                 ,
                 no
                 blasphemies
                 beat
                 my
                 eares
                 ?
                 where
                 my
                 eyes
                 are
                 in
                 no
                 perill
                 of
                 wounding
                 objects
                 ;
                 where
                 I
                 hear
                 no
                 invectives
                 ,
                 no
                 false
                 doctrines
                 ,
                 no
                 sermocinations
                 of
                 Iron-mongers
                 ,
                 Felt-makers
                 ,
                 Coblers
                 ,
                 Broom-men
                 ,
                 Grooms
                 ,
                 or
                 any
                 other
                 of
                 those
                 inspired
                 
                 ignorants
                 ;
                 no
                 curses
                 ,
                 no
                 ribaldries
                 :
                 where
                 I
                 see
                 no
                 drunken
                 comessations
                 ,
                 no
                 rebellious
                 routs
                 ,
                 no
                 violent
                 oppressions
                 ,
                 no
                 obscene
                 rejoinings
                 ,
                 nor
                 ought
                 else
                 that
                 might
                 either
                 vex
                 or
                 affright
                 my
                 soul
                 .
                 This
                 ,
                 this
                 is
                 my
                 liberty
                 :
                 who
                 whiles
                 I
                 sit
                 here
                 quietly
                 lockt
                 up
                 by
                 my
                 keeper
                 ,
                 can
                 pity
                 the
                 turmoils
                 &
                 distempers
                 abroad
                 ,
                 and
                 bless
                 my
                 own
                 immunity
                 from
                 those
                 too
                 common
                 evills
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 III.
                 
              
               
                 IS
                 is
                 the
                 necessity
                 ,
                 and
                 force
                 of
                 the
                 restraint
                 ;
                 since
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 we
                 do
                 voluntarily
                 ,
                 are
                 wont
                 to
                 passe
                 from
                 us
                 with
                 delight
                 ,
                 which
                 being
                 imposed
                 seem
                 grievous
                 to
                 us
                 ?
                 Why
                 should
                 not
                 
                 I
                 have
                 so
                 much
                 power
                 over
                 my
                 will
                 as
                 to
                 make
                 that
                 voluntary
                 in
                 me
                 ,
                 to
                 undergoe
                 ,
                 which
                 another
                 wills
                 forceably
                 to
                 inflict
                 ?
                 the
                 mind
                 that
                 is
                 truely
                 subacted
                 to
                 Grace
                 ,
                 can
                 so
                 frame
                 it self
                 to
                 what
                 it
                 must
                 suffer
                 ,
                 as
                 that
                 it
                 finds
                 a
                 kind
                 of
                 contentment
                 in
                 patience
                 ;
                 Thus
                 we
                 daily
                 doe
                 to
                 the
                 Almighty
                 ,
                 whose
                 wil
                 ,
                 by
                 our
                 humble
                 submission
                 ,
                 wee
                 make
                 ours
                 ;
                 and
                 pray
                 that
                 we
                 may
                 doe
                 so
                 :
                 And
                 who
                 can
                 restraine
                 us
                 without
                 him
                 ?
                 If
                 therefore
                 my
                 wise
                 and
                 holy
                 God
                 think
                 it
                 best
                 to
                 cage
                 me
                 up
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 command
                 of
                 authority
                 (
                 upon
                 what
                 cause
                 soever
                 )
                 why
                 should
                 not
                 I
                 think
                 this
                 inclosure
                 a
                 better
                 liberty
                 :
                 who
                 know
                 there
                 is
                 perfect
                 freedome
                 in
                 his
                 obedience
                 ?
                 So
                 
                 then
                 ,
                 if
                 constraint
                 make
                 a
                 prisoner
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 none
                 ;
                 who
                 am
                 most
                 willingly
                 ,
                 where
                 my
                 God
                 will
                 have
                 me
                 :
                 And
                 ,
                 if
                 my
                 will
                 did
                 not
                 often
                 carry
                 me
                 out
                 of
                 my
                 owne
                 walls
                 at
                 home
                 ,
                 why
                 cannot
                 it
                 as
                 well
                 confine
                 me
                 to
                 a
                 larger
                 compasse
                 of
                 the
                 Tower
                 ?
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 IV.
                 
              
               
                 IS
                 it
                 solitude
                 and
                 Infrequence
                 of
                 visitation
                 ?
                 This
                 may
                 perhaps
                 be
                 troublesom
                 to
                 a
                 man
                 that
                 knows
                 not
                 to
                 entertaine
                 himselfe
                 ;
                 but
                 ,
                 to
                 him
                 that
                 can
                 hold
                 continual
                 discourse
                 with
                 his
                 owne
                 heart
                 ,
                 no
                 favor
                 can
                 be
                 greater
                 ;
                 For
                 of
                 all
                 other
                 ,
                 these
                 self-conferences
                 are
                 most
                 beneficiall
                 to
                 the
                 soul
                 ;
                 Other
                 mens
                 communication
                 may
                 
                 spend
                 the
                 time
                 with
                 more
                 advantage
                 of
                 learning
                 ,
                 or
                 mirth
                 ;
                 but
                 none
                 can
                 yeeld
                 us
                 so
                 much
                 spirituall
                 profit
                 ,
                 as
                 our
                 own
                 soliloquies
                 :
                 And
                 when
                 all
                 is
                 done
                 ,
                 the
                 Greeks
                 
                 said
                 well
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 not
                 much
                 ,
                 but
                 usefull
                 that
                 makes
                 truely
                 wise
                 .
                 Besides
                 this
                 ,
                 wee
                 can
                 never
                 have
                 the
                 opportunity
                 of
                 so
                 good
                 company
                 ,
                 as
                 when
                 we
                 are
                 alone
                 :
                 Now
                 ,
                 we
                 enjoy
                 the
                 society
                 of
                 God
                 ,
                 and
                 his
                 Angels
                 ,
                 which
                 wee
                 cannot
                 so
                 freely
                 doe
                 in
                 a
                 throng
                 of
                 visitants
                 :
                 When
                 God
                 would
                 expresse
                 his
                 greatest
                 intirenesse
                 with
                 his
                 Church
                 ,
                 
                   Ducam
                   eam
                   in
                   solitudinem
                
                 ,
                 saith
                 he
                 :
                 
                   I
                   will
                   bring
                
                 
                 
                   her
                   into
                   the
                   wildernesse
                   ,
                   and
                   there
                   speak
                   comfortably
                   to
                   her
                   .
                
                 We
                 cannot
                 expect
                 so
                 sweer
                 conversation
                 with
                 God
                 ,
                 in
                 
                 the
                 presence
                 of
                 others
                 ,
                 as
                 apart
                 .
                 Oh
                 the
                 divine
                 benefit
                 of
                 an
                 holy
                 solitarinesse
                 ,
                 which
                 no
                 worldly
                 heart
                 can
                 either
                 know
                 ,
                 or
                 value
                 !
                 What
                 care
                 I
                 for
                 seeing
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 may
                 see
                 him
                 that
                 is
                 invisible
                 ?
                 What
                 care
                 I
                 for
                 chatting
                 with
                 friends
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 may
                 talk
                 familiarly
                 with
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 heaven
                 ?
                 What
                 care
                 I
                 for
                 entertaining
                 mortall
                 guests
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 may
                 with
                 Abraham
                 &
                 his
                 Nephew
                 Lot
                 feast
                 the
                 Angels
                 of
                 God
                 :
                 and
                 (
                 which
                 were
                 too
                 great
                 a
                 word
                 ,
                 if
                 God
                 himself
                 had
                 not
                 spoken
                 it
                 )
                 be
                 attended
                 by
                 them
                 ?
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 V.
                 
              
               
                 IS
                 it
                 the
                 reproach
                 and
                 ignominy
                 that
                 commonly
                 attends
                 
                 the
                 very
                 name
                 of
                 an
                 imprisonment
                 ?
                 weak
                 minds
                 may
                 be
                 affected
                 with
                 every
                 thing
                 :
                 but
                 ,
                 with
                 solid
                 judgements
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 the
                 punishment
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 cause
                 that
                 makes
                 either
                 the
                 Martyr
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 malefactor
                 .
                 S.
                 Pauls
                 bonds
                 were
                 famous
                 :
                 and
                 
                   Petrus
                   and
                   vincula
                
                 is
                 not
                 without
                 a
                 note
                 of
                 yearly
                 celebrity
                 :
                 and
                 it
                 were
                 hard
                 ,
                 if
                 so
                 many
                 blessed
                 Martyrs
                 ,
                 and
                 Confessors
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 lived
                 ,
                 and
                 dyed
                 in
                 Jayles
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 truths
                 sake
                 ,
                 should
                 not
                 have
                 brought
                 prisons
                 (
                 such
                 as
                 they
                 may
                 be
                 )
                 into
                 some
                 credit
                 .
                 Shortly
                 ,
                 as
                 notorious
                 crimes
                 may
                 be
                 at
                 liberty
                 ,
                 so
                 even
                 innocence
                 may
                 be
                 under
                 restraint
                 ;
                 yet
                 those
                 crimes
                 no
                 whit
                 the
                 better
                 ,
                 nor
                 this
                 innocence
                 the
                 worse
                 .
              
               
               
                 Besides
                 (
                 that
                 which
                 perhaps
                 came
                 not
                 within
                 your
                 freer
                 thoughts
                 )
                 every
                 restraint
                 is
                 not
                 for
                 punishment
                 ;
                 there
                 is
                 a
                 restraint
                 for
                 safety
                 ,
                 a
                 
                   salva
                   custodia
                
                 ,
                 as
                 well
                 as
                 arcta
                 ,
                 such
                 is
                 this
                 of
                 ours
                 :
                 This
                 strong
                 Tower
                 serves
                 not
                 so
                 much
                 for
                 our
                 prison
                 ,
                 as
                 for
                 our
                 defence
                 ;
                 what
                 norror
                 soever
                 the
                 name
                 may
                 carry
                 in
                 it
                 :
                 I
                 blesse
                 God
                 for
                 these
                 wals
                 ,
                 out
                 of
                 which
                 I
                 know
                 not
                 where
                 we
                 could
                 (
                 for
                 the
                 time
                 )
                 have
                 been
                 safe
                 from
                 the
                 rage
                 of
                 the
                 mis-incensed
                 multitude
                 :
                 Poor
                 seduced
                 soules
                 ,
                 they
                 were
                 taught
                 it
                 was
                 pieto
                 to
                 be
                 cruel
                 ;
                 and
                 were
                 misperswaded
                 to
                 hate
                 and
                 condemn
                 us
                 for
                 that
                 ,
                 (
                 which
                 should
                 have
                 procured
                 their
                 reverence
                 ,
                 and
                 honor
                 )
                 even
                 
                 that
                 holy
                 station
                 which
                 wee
                 hold
                 in
                 Gods
                 Church
                 ;
                 and
                 to
                 curse
                 those
                 of
                 us
                 ,
                 who
                 had
                 deserved
                 nothing
                 but
                 their
                 thanks
                 and
                 prayers
                 :
                 railing
                 on
                 our
                 very
                 profession
                 in
                 the
                 streets
                 ;
                 and
                 rejoycing
                 in
                 our
                 supposed
                 ruine
                 :
                 Father
                 ,
                 forgive
                 them
                 ,
                 for
                 they
                 knew
                 not
                 what
                 they
                 did
                 :
                 Here
                 wee
                 were
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 this
                 mis-raised
                 fury
                 ,
                 and
                 had
                 leasure
                 to
                 pray
                 for
                 the
                 quenching
                 of
                 those
                 wild-fires
                 of
                 contention
                 ,
                 and
                 causelesse
                 malice
                 ,
                 which
                 (
                 to
                 our
                 great
                 grief
                 )
                 we
                 saw
                 wicked
                 incendiaries
                 dayly
                 to
                 cast
                 amongst
                 Gods
                 dear
                 ,
                 &
                 wel-minded
                 people
                 .
                 Here
                 we
                 have
                 well
                 &
                 happily
                 approved
                 with
                 the
                 blessed
                 Apostle
                 ,
                 that
                 (
                 what
                 ever
                 our
                 restraint
                 be
                 )
                 the
                 Word
                 
                 of
                 God
                 is
                 not
                 bound
                 ;
                 With
                 what
                 liberty
                 ,
                 with
                 what
                 zeale
                 ,
                 with
                 what
                 successe
                 hath
                 that
                 been
                 preached
                 by
                 us
                 to
                 all
                 commers
                 ?
                 Let
                 them
                 say
                 ,
                 whether
                 the
                 Tower
                 had
                 ever
                 so
                 many
                 ,
                 such
                 guests
                 ,
                 or
                 such
                 benedictions
                 ;
                 so
                 as
                 if
                 the
                 place
                 have
                 rendred
                 us
                 safe
                 ,
                 wee
                 have
                 endeavoured
                 to
                 make
                 it
                 happy
                 ;
                 Wherein
                 our
                 performances
                 have
                 seemed
                 to
                 confute
                 that
                 
                 which
                 Cornelius
                 Bishop
                 of
                 Rome
                 long
                 since
                 observed
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 minde
                 laden
                 with
                 heavy
                 burdens
                 of
                 affliction
                 ,
                 is
                 not
                 able
                 to
                 doe
                 that
                 service
                 ,
                 which
                 it
                 can
                 doe
                 when
                 it
                 is
                 free
                 and
                 at
                 ease
                 ;
                 Our
                 troubles
                 through
                 Gods
                 mercy
                 made
                 us
                 more
                 active
                 ,
                 and
                 our
                 labours
                 more
                 effectuall
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VI.
                 
              
               
                 ADde
                 unto
                 these
                 (
                 if
                 you
                 please
                 )
                 the
                 eminent
                 dignity
                 of
                 the
                 place
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 is
                 able
                 to
                 give
                 a
                 kind
                 of
                 honor
                 to
                 captivity
                 ,
                 the
                 ancient
                 seat
                 of
                 Kings
                 ,
                 chosen
                 by
                 them
                 ,
                 as
                 for
                 the
                 safe
                 residence
                 of
                 their
                 Royall
                 Persons
                 ,
                 so
                 for
                 their
                 Treasury
                 ,
                 their
                 Wardrobe
                 ,
                 their
                 Magazine
                 ;
                 all
                 these
                 precious
                 things
                 are
                 under
                 the
                 same
                 custody
                 with
                 our selves
                 ;
                 sent
                 hither
                 ,
                 not
                 as
                 to
                 prison
                 ,
                 but
                 a
                 repositorie
                 ;
                 and
                 why
                 should
                 wee
                 thinke
                 our selves
                 in
                 any
                 other
                 condition
                 ?
                 How
                 many
                 worthy
                 inhabitants
                 make
                 choice
                 to
                 fixe
                 their
                 abode
                 within
                 these
                 walls
                 ,
                 as
                 not
                 knowing
                 where
                 to
                 bee
                 happier
                 ?
                 
                 the
                 place
                 is
                 the
                 same
                 to
                 us
                 ,
                 if
                 our
                 will
                 may
                 he
                 the
                 same
                 with
                 theirs
                 ;
                 they
                 dearly
                 purchase
                 that
                 ,
                 which
                 cost
                 us
                 nothing
                 but
                 our
                 fees
                 ;
                 nothing
                 makes
                 the
                 difference
                 ,
                 but
                 the
                 meer
                 conceit
                 of
                 Liberty
                 ,
                 which
                 ,
                 whiles
                 I
                 can
                 give
                 to
                 my self
                 ,
                 in
                 my
                 thoughts
                 ,
                 why
                 am
                 I
                 pitied
                 as
                 miserable
                 ,
                 while
                 their
                 happinesse
                 is
                 applauded
                 ?
              
               
                 You
                 see
                 then
                 ,
                 how
                 free
                 I
                 am
                 in
                 that
                 which
                 you
                 miscall
                 my
                 prison
                 ;
                 see
                 now
                 ,
                 how
                 little
                 cause
                 I
                 have
                 to
                 affect
                 this
                 liberty
                 ,
                 which
                 you
                 imagine
                 mee
                 to
                 want
                 ;
                 since
                 I
                 shall
                 be
                 ,
                 I
                 can
                 be
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 a
                 Prisoner
                 abroad
                 :
                 There
                 is
                 much
                 difference
                 of
                 Prisons
                 ;
                 One
                 is
                 straight
                 and
                 close
                 locked
                 ,
                 so
                 farre
                 from
                 admitting
                 visitants
                 ,
                 that
                 it
                 
                 scarce
                 allowes
                 the
                 Sunne
                 to
                 look
                 in
                 at
                 those
                 crosse-barred
                 grates
                 ;
                 another
                 ,
                 is
                 more
                 large
                 and
                 spacious
                 ,
                 yeelding
                 both
                 Walkes
                 and
                 accesse
                 ;
                 Even
                 after
                 my
                 discharge
                 from
                 these
                 Walls
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 be
                 yet
                 sure
                 to
                 bee
                 a
                 Prisoner
                 ,
                 both
                 these
                 wayes
                 ;
                 For
                 ,
                 what
                 is
                 my
                 body
                 but
                 my
                 prison
                 in
                 the
                 one
                 ?
                 and
                 what
                 is
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 but
                 my
                 prison
                 in
                 the
                 other
                 kind
                 ?
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VII
                 .
              
               
                 TO
                 begin
                 with
                 the
                 former
                 ,
                 never
                 was
                 there
                 a
                 more
                 close
                 prisoner
                 than
                 my
                 soul
                 is
                 for
                 the
                 time
                 to
                 my
                 body
                 ;
                 Close
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 the
                 essence
                 of
                 that
                 spirit
                 ,
                 which
                 since
                 its
                 first
                 Mittimus
                 ,
                 never
                 stirr'd
                 out
                 from
                 this
                 strait
                 room
                 ;
                 never
                 can
                 
                 doe
                 ,
                 till
                 my
                 Gaole-delivery
                 .
              
               
                 If
                 you
                 respect
                 the
                 improvement
                 of
                 the
                 operations
                 of
                 that
                 busie
                 soul
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 any
                 where
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 successively
                 ,
                 every
                 where
                 ;
                 no
                 place
                 can
                 hold
                 it
                 ,
                 none
                 can
                 limit
                 it
                 ;
                 but
                 if
                 you
                 regard
                 the
                 immortal
                 ,
                 and
                 immateriall
                 substance
                 of
                 it
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 fast
                 lockt
                 up
                 within
                 these
                 walls
                 of
                 clay
                 ,
                 till
                 the
                 day
                 of
                 my
                 changing
                 come
                 ;
                 even
                 as
                 the
                 closest
                 Captive
                 may
                 write
                 letters
                 to
                 his
                 remotest
                 friends
                 ,
                 whilest
                 his
                 person
                 is
                 in
                 durance
                 ;
                 I
                 have
                 too
                 much
                 reason
                 to
                 acknowledge
                 my
                 native
                 Jayle
                 ,
                 and
                 feel
                 the
                 true
                 Symptoms
                 of
                 it
                 to
                 my
                 pain
                 ;
                 what
                 darknesse
                 of
                 sorrow
                 have
                 I
                 here
                 found
                 ?
                 what
                 little-ease
                 of
                 melancholicke
                 lodgings
                 ?
                 what
                 manacles
                 
                 and
                 shackles
                 of
                 cramps
                 ?
                 yea
                 what
                 racks
                 of
                 torturing
                 convulsions
                 ?
              
               
                 And
                 if
                 there
                 bee
                 others
                 ,
                 that
                 find
                 lesse
                 misery
                 in
                 their
                 prison
                 ,
                 yet
                 there
                 is
                 no
                 good
                 soul
                 ,
                 but
                 findes
                 equall
                 restraint
                 :
                 That
                 spirituall
                 substance
                 ,
                 which
                 is
                 imprisoned
                 within
                 us
                 ,
                 would
                 faine
                 bee
                 flying
                 up
                 to
                 that
                 heaven
                 whence
                 it
                 descended
                 ;
                 these
                 walls
                 of
                 flesh
                 forbid
                 that
                 evolation
                 ,
                 (
                 as
                 Socrates
                 cal'd
                 it
                 of
                 old
                 )
                 and
                 will
                 not
                 let
                 it
                 out
                 ,
                 till
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 spirits
                 (
                 who
                 placed
                 it
                 there
                 )
                 shall
                 unlock
                 the
                 doores
                 and
                 free
                 the
                 prisoner
                 by
                 death
                 ;
                 He
                 that
                 infused
                 life
                 into
                 Lazarus
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 might
                 call
                 him
                 from
                 the
                 prison
                 of
                 the
                 grave
                 ,
                 must
                 take
                 life
                 from
                 us
                 ,
                 when
                 he
                 cals
                 us
                 out
                 of
                 this
                 prison
                 
                 of
                 flesh
                 ;
                 
                   I
                   desire
                   to
                   be
                   loosed
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   be
                   with
                   Christ
                   ,
                
                 (
                 saith
                 the
                 Apostle
                 )
                 as
                 some
                 versions
                 expresse
                 it
                 ;
                 whiles
                 we
                 are
                 chained
                 to
                 this
                 flesh
                 ,
                 we
                 can
                 have
                 no
                 passage
                 to
                 heaven
                 ,
                 no
                 free
                 conversation
                 with
                 our
                 Saviour
                 ;
                 Although
                 it
                 was
                 the
                 singular
                 privilege
                 of
                 that
                 great
                 Doctor
                 of
                 the
                 Gentiles
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 in
                 heaven
                 before
                 his
                 dissolution
                 :
                 whether
                 in
                 the
                 body
                 ,
                 or
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 body
                 ,
                 he
                 knew
                 not
                 :
                 How
                 far
                 that
                 rapture
                 extended
                 ,
                 whether
                 to
                 both
                 soule
                 and
                 body
                 ,
                 if
                 he
                 knew
                 not
                 ,
                 how
                 should
                 we
                 ?
                 But
                 this
                 we
                 know
                 ,
                 that
                 such
                 extasie
                 and
                 vision
                 was
                 in
                 him
                 ,
                 without
                 separation
                 of
                 the
                 soul
                 from
                 the
                 body
                 ;
                 which
                 another
                 should
                 hope
                 for
                 in
                 vaine
                 :
                 And
                 for
                 him
                 ,
                 so
                 he
                 saw
                 this
                 
                 glory
                 of
                 Paradice
                 ,
                 that
                 hee
                 could
                 not
                 yet
                 enjoy
                 it
                 :
                 Before
                 he
                 ,
                 or
                 we
                 ,
                 can
                 be
                 blessed
                 with
                 the
                 fruition
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 we
                 must
                 be
                 loosed
                 ,
                 that
                 is
                 ,
                 freed
                 from
                 our
                 clog
                 ,
                 &
                 our
                 chaine
                 of
                 this
                 mortall
                 body
                 .
              
               
                 What
                 but
                 our
                 prison
                 wals
                 can
                 hinder
                 us
                 here
                 ,
                 from
                 a
                 free
                 prospect
                 ?
                 What
                 but
                 these
                 wals
                 of
                 flesh
                 can
                 hinder
                 me
                 from
                 a
                 cleare
                 vision
                 of
                 God
                 ?
                 I
                 must
                 now
                 ,
                 for
                 the
                 time
                 ,
                 see
                 as
                 I
                 may
                 :
                 Nothing
                 can
                 enter
                 into
                 my
                 soule
                 ,
                 but
                 what
                 passes
                 through
                 my
                 senses
                 ,
                 &
                 partakes
                 ,
                 in
                 some
                 sort
                 ,
                 of
                 their
                 earthlinesse
                 ;
                 when
                 I
                 am
                 freed
                 from
                 them
                 ,
                 I
                 shal
                 see
                 as
                 I
                 am
                 seen
                 ;
                 in
                 an
                 abstracted
                 &
                 heavenly
                 way
                 ;
                 so
                 as
                 one
                 spirit
                 apprehends
                 another
                 :
                 I
                 doe
                 now
                 ,
                 at
                 the
                 best
                 ,
                 see
                 those
                 spirituall
                 
                 objects
                 darkly
                 ,
                 by
                 the
                 eye
                 of
                 faith
                 ,
                 as
                 in
                 a
                 glasse
                 ;
                 and
                 that
                 not
                 one
                 of
                 the
                 clearest
                 neither
                 :
                 (
                 Alas
                 ,
                 what
                 dim
                 representations
                 are
                 these
                 ,
                 that
                 I
                 can
                 attaine
                 to
                 here
                 ,
                 of
                 that
                 Majesty
                 ,
                 whose
                 sight
                 shal
                 make
                 me
                 blessed
                 ?
                 )
                 I
                 shal
                 once
                 see
                 as
                 I
                 am
                 seen
                 ,
                 face
                 to
                 face
                 ;
                 the
                 face
                 of
                 my
                 glorified
                 soul
                 shal
                 see
                 the
                 face
                 of
                 that
                 all-glorious
                 Deity
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 that
                 sight
                 be
                 eternally
                 happy
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 enough
                 for
                 a
                 prisoner
                 in
                 this
                 dungeon
                 of
                 clay
                 ,
                 to
                 know
                 of
                 ,
                 and
                 fore-expect
                 ,
                 such
                 felicity
                 ,
                 whereof
                 these
                 earthly
                 gieves
                 render
                 him
                 as
                 yet
                 uncapable
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 VIII
                 .
              
               
                 VVOE
                 is
                 me
                 !
                 how
                 many
                 prisons
                 doe
                 we
                 
                 passe
                 ?
                 so
                 soon
                 as
                 ever
                 this
                 divine
                 soul
                 is
                 infused
                 into
                 this
                 flesh
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 a
                 prisoner
                 ;
                 neither
                 can
                 any
                 more
                 passe
                 out
                 of
                 this
                 skin
                 ,
                 till
                 this
                 frame
                 of
                 nature
                 be
                 demolished
                 :
                 And
                 now
                 ,
                 as
                 the
                 soul
                 of
                 this
                 Embryon
                 is
                 instantly
                 a
                 prisoner
                 to
                 the
                 body
                 ,
                 so
                 the
                 body
                 is
                 also
                 a
                 prisoner
                 in
                 the
                 womb
                 ,
                 wherein
                 it
                 is
                 formed
                 :
                 what
                 darknesse
                 ,
                 what
                 closenesse
                 ,
                 what
                 uneasinesie
                 ,
                 what
                 nuisance
                 is
                 there
                 in
                 this
                 Dungeon
                 of
                 nature
                 ?
                 There
                 he
                 must
                 lye
                 in
                 an
                 uncouth
                 posture
                 ,
                 for
                 his
                 appointed
                 moneth
                 ,
                 till
                 the
                 native
                 bonds
                 being
                 loosed
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 doores
                 forced
                 open
                 ,
                 hee
                 shall
                 be
                 by
                 an
                 helpfull
                 obstetrication
                 drawn
                 forth
                 into
                 the
                 larger
                 prison
                 of
                 the
                 world
                 ;
                 there
                 indeed
                 he
                 hath
                 elbow-room
                 
                 enough
                 :
                 but
                 all
                 that
                 wide
                 scope
                 cannot
                 free
                 him
                 from
                 a
                 true
                 incarceration
                 :
                 Who
                 knowes
                 not
                 that
                 there
                 are
                 many
                 differences
                 ,
                 and
                 latitudes
                 of
                 restraint
                 ?
                 A
                 Simeon
                 may
                 imprison
                 and
                 enchaine
                 himself
                 in
                 the
                 compasse
                 of
                 a
                 pillar
                 ,
                 not
                 allowing
                 himself
                 the
                 ease
                 of
                 his
                 whole
                 dimensions
                 ;
                 Peter
                 may
                 be
                 lockt
                 up
                 in
                 a
                 larger
                 Jayl
                 ,
                 betwixt
                 his
                 two
                 Leopards
                 (
                 as
                 that
                 Father
                 tearms
                 them
                 ;
                 )
                 S.
                 Paul
                 may
                 
                 be
                 two
                 years
                 allowed
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 Prisoner
                 in
                 his
                 own
                 hired
                 house
                 ,
                 but
                 under
                 the
                 guard
                 of
                 his
                 keeper
                 ,
                 and
                 not
                 without
                 his
                 chain
                 :
                 There
                 are
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 upon
                 hainous
                 ,
                 and
                 dangerous
                 occasions
                 may
                 be
                 kept
                 close
                 under
                 many
                 locks
                 ;
                 there
                 are
                 prisoners
                 at
                 large
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 the
                 liberty
                 
                 of
                 the
                 Tower
                 ;
                 yet
                 even
                 these
                 last
                 notwithstanding
                 the
                 allowance
                 of
                 spacious
                 walks
                 ,
                 &
                 fresh
                 gardens
                 ,
                 are
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 acknowledged
                 prisoners
                 :
                 Such
                 is
                 my
                 condition
                 to
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 when
                 I
                 am
                 at
                 my
                 fullest
                 liberty
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 true
                 ,
                 that
                 when
                 I
                 look
                 back
                 to
                 the
                 straitness
                 of
                 my
                 first
                 ,
                 and
                 native
                 prison
                 ,
                 and
                 compare
                 it
                 with
                 the
                 large
                 extent
                 of
                 that
                 wide
                 world
                 ,
                 into
                 which
                 I
                 am
                 brought
                 ,
                 I
                 may
                 wel
                 with
                 Isaac's
                 Herds-mensay
                 ,
                 Rehoboth
                 ,
                 
                 
                   For
                   now
                   ,
                   the
                   Lord
                   hath
                   made
                   me
                   room
                   :
                
                 but
                 when
                 I
                 compare
                 that
                 world
                 ,
                 wherein
                 I
                 am
                 ,
                 with
                 that
                 whereto
                 I
                 aspire
                 ,
                 and
                 which
                 I
                 know
                 to
                 be
                 above
                 ,
                 and
                 look
                 to
                 enjoy
                 ;
                 I
                 can
                 see
                 nothing
                 here
                 ,
                 but
                 meer
                 prison-walls
                 ,
                 and
                 professe
                 
                 my
                 life
                 to
                 be
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 a
                 perpetuall
                 durance
                 .
              
            
             
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 IX
                 .
              
               
                 IF
                 Varro
                 said
                 of
                 old
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 world
                 was
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 
                 the
                 great
                 house
                 of
                 little
                 man
                 ,
                 I
                 shall
                 be
                 bold
                 to
                 adde
                 what
                 kind
                 of
                 house
                 it
                 is
                 ;
                 It
                 is
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 his
                 prison
                 ,
                 yea
                 ,
                 his
                 dungeon
                 .
              
               
                 Far
                 be
                 it
                 from
                 me
                 to
                 disparage
                 the
                 glorious
                 worke
                 of
                 my
                 omnipotent
                 Creator
                 :
                 I
                 were
                 not
                 worthy
                 to
                 look
                 upon
                 this
                 large
                 ,
                 and
                 glittering
                 roof
                 of
                 heaven
                 ,
                 nor
                 to
                 see
                 the
                 pleasant
                 varieties
                 of
                 these
                 earthly
                 landskips
                 ,
                 If
                 I
                 did
                 not
                 adore
                 that
                 infinite
                 power
                 ,
                 and
                 wisdome
                 which
                 appears
                 in
                 this
                 goodly
                 ,
                 and
                 immense
                 fabrick
                 ;
                 and
                 confesse
                 
                 the
                 marvellous
                 beauty
                 of
                 that
                 majestick
                 ,
                 and
                 transcendent
                 workmanship
                 ;
                 Rather
                 when
                 I
                 see
                 the
                 
                   Moone
                   and
                   the
                   Stars
                   ,
                   which
                   thou
                   hast
                
                 
                 ordained
                 ,
                 I
                 say
                 with
                 the
                 Psalmist
                 ,
                 
                   Lord
                   what
                   is
                   man
                
                 ?
              
               
                 But
                 ,
                 O
                 God
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 no
                 dishonor
                 to
                 thee
                 ,
                 that
                 though
                 this
                 be
                 a
                 fair
                 house
                 ,
                 yet
                 thou
                 hast
                 one
                 so
                 much
                 better
                 than
                 it
                 ,
                 as
                 a
                 Palace
                 is
                 beyond
                 a
                 Jayl
                 .
              
               
                 This
                 beauty
                 may
                 please
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 ravisheth
                 my
                 soul
                 :
                 Here
                 is
                 light
                 ,
                 but
                 dim
                 ,
                 and
                 dusky
                 ,
                 in
                 respect
                 of
                 that
                 inaccessable
                 light
                 ,
                 wherein
                 thou
                 dwellest
                 :
                 Here
                 is
                 a
                 glorious
                 Sun
                 ,
                 that
                 illumineth
                 this
                 inferior
                 world
                 ,
                 but
                 thou
                 art
                 the
                 Sun
                 who
                 enlightenest
                 that
                 world
                 above
                 :
                 Thou
                 ,
                 to
                 whom
                 thy
                 created
                 Sun
                 is
                 but
                 a
                 shadow
                 .
              
               
               
                 Here
                 we
                 converse
                 with
                 beasts
                 ,
                 or
                 at
                 the
                 best
                 ,
                 with
                 men
                 ;
                 there
                 with
                 blessed
                 souls
                 ,
                 and
                 heavenly
                 Angels
                 :
                 Here
                 some
                 frivolous
                 delights
                 are
                 intermixed
                 with
                 a
                 thousand
                 vexations
                 ;
                 There
                 in
                 thy
                 presence
                 is
                 the
                 fulness
                 of
                 joy
                 :
                 So
                 then
                 ,
                 let
                 the
                 sensuall
                 heart
                 mis-place
                 his
                 paradise
                 here
                 in
                 the
                 world
                 ,
                 it
                 shal
                 not
                 passe
                 for
                 other
                 with
                 me
                 ,
                 than
                 my
                 prison
                 :
                 How
                 can
                 it
                 ?
                 Why
                 should
                 it
                 ?
                 for
                 what
                 other
                 termes
                 do
                 I
                 find
                 here
                 ?
              
               
                 What
                 blinde
                 light
                 looks
                 in
                 here
                 at
                 these
                 scant
                 loop-holes
                 of
                 my
                 soul
                 ?
                 Yea
                 ,
                 what
                 darknes
                 of
                 ignorance
                 rather
                 possesses
                 me
                 ?
                 what
                 bolts
                 and
                 shackles
                 of
                 heavy
                 crosses
                 do
                 I
                 bear
                 about
                 me
                 ?
                 how
                 am
                 I
                 fed
                 here
                 with
                 the
                 bread
                 of
                 
                 affliction
                 ?
                 how
                 am
                 I
                 watched
                 and
                 beset
                 with
                 evill
                 spirits
                 ?
                 how
                 contumeliously
                 traduced
                 ?
                 how
                 disdainfully
                 lookt
                 upon
                 ?
                 how
                 dragging
                 the
                 same
                 chaine
                 with
                 the
                 worst
                 malefactors
                 ?
                 how
                 disabled
                 to
                 all
                 spiritual
                 motions
                 ?
                 how
                 restrained
                 from
                 that
                 full
                 liberty
                 of
                 enjoying
                 my
                 home
                 ,
                 and
                 my
                 God
                 in
                 it
                 ,
                 which
                 I
                 daily
                 expect
                 in
                 my
                 dissolution
                 ?
                 when
                 therefore
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 released
                 from
                 these
                 wals
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 still
                 imprisoned
                 in
                 larger
                 .
                 and
                 so
                 shall
                 be
                 til
                 the
                 Lord
                 of
                 the
                 Spirits
                 of
                 all
                 flesh
                 (
                 who
                 put
                 me
                 here
                 )
                 shall
                 set
                 me
                 free
                 ;
                 and
                 all
                 the
                 days
                 of
                 my
                 appointed
                 time
                 will
                 I
                 wait
                 ,
                 till
                 this
                 my
                 changing
                 come
                 .
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 X.
                 
              
               
                 YOu
                 see
                 then
                 by
                 this
                 time
                 ,
                 how
                 little
                 reason
                 I
                 have
                 to
                 be
                 too
                 much
                 troubled
                 with
                 this
                 imprisonment
                 ,
                 or
                 my
                 friends
                 for
                 me
                 ;
                 But
                 indeed
                 ,
                 there
                 are
                 some
                 sorts
                 of
                 Prisoners
                 ,
                 which
                 neither
                 you
                 nor
                 I
                 can
                 have
                 teares
                 enow
                 to
                 bewaile
                 :
                 and
                 those
                 especially
                 of
                 two
                 kinds
                 .
              
               
                 The
                 one
                 ,
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 too
                 much
                 affected
                 with
                 an
                 outward
                 bondage
                 :
                 The
                 other
                 ,
                 those
                 that
                 are
                 no
                 whit
                 affected
                 with
                 a
                 spirituall
                 .
              
               
                 In
                 the
                 first
                 rank
                 are
                 they
                 that
                 sink
                 under
                 the
                 weight
                 of
                 their
                 Irons
                 :
                 Poor
                 impotent
                 soules
                 ,
                 that
                 groaning
                 under
                 the
                 cruelty
                 of
                 a
                 Turkish
                 thraldom
                 ,
                 or
                 a
                 Spanish
                 
                 Inquisition
                 ,
                 want
                 Faith
                 to
                 bear
                 them
                 out
                 ,
                 against
                 the
                 impetuous
                 violences
                 of
                 their
                 tormentors
                 :
                 I
                 sorrow
                 for
                 their
                 sufferings
                 ;
                 but
                 for
                 their
                 fainting
                 more
                 :
                 Could
                 they
                 see
                 the
                 Crown
                 of
                 Glory
                 ,
                 which
                 the
                 righteous
                 Judge
                 holds
                 ready
                 for
                 their
                 victorious
                 Patience
                 ,
                 they
                 could
                 not
                 but
                 contemn
                 paine
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 the
                 pomp
                 of
                 Death
                 ,
                 and
                 confesse
                 that
                 their
                 Light
                 affliction
                 (
                 which
                 is
                 but
                 for
                 a
                 moment
                 )
                 works
                 for
                 them
                 a
                 far
                 more
                 exceeding
                 &
                 eternall
                 weight
                 of
                 glory
                 .
                 But
                 alas
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 the
                 weaknesse
                 of
                 their
                 eyes
                 ,
                 that
                 they
                 onely
                 look
                 at
                 the
                 things
                 that
                 are
                 seen
                 ,
                 close
                 walls
                 ,
                 heavy
                 fetters
                 ,
                 sharp
                 scourges
                 ,
                 mercilesse
                 racks
                 ,
                 and
                 other
                 dreadfull
                 engins
                 of
                 torture
                 ,
                 and
                 
                 see
                 not
                 the
                 things
                 which
                 are
                 not
                 seen
                 ,
                 the
                 glorious
                 reward
                 of
                 their
                 victory
                 ,
                 blessednesse
                 .
                 Had
                 they
                 had
                 Stephens
                 eyes
                 ,
                 they
                 would
                 have
                 emulated
                 his
                 martyrdome
                 ;
                 Surely
                 whosoever
                 shal
                 but
                 read
                 the
                 story
                 of
                 the
                 mother
                 and
                 the
                 seven
                 brothers
                 in
                 the
                 Maccabees
                 ,
                 &
                 that
                 of
                 the
                 fourty
                 Armenian
                 Martyrs
                 frozen
                 to
                 death
                 ,
                 reported
                 by
                 Gaudentius
                 ,
                 and
                 shall
                 there
                 see
                 the
                 fainting
                 revolter
                 dying
                 uncomfortably
                 in
                 the
                 Bath
                 ,
                 whiles
                 the
                 other
                 thirty
                 and
                 nine
                 (
                 together
                 with
                 their
                 new
                 converted
                 Keeper
                 )
                 are
                 crowned
                 by
                 an
                 Angel
                 from
                 heaven
                 ,
                 cannot
                 chuse
                 (
                 except
                 he
                 have
                 nothing
                 but
                 ice
                 in
                 his
                 bosome
                 )
                 but
                 find
                 in
                 himself
                 a
                 disposition
                 emulous
                 of
                 their
                 courage
                 ,
                 &
                 =
                 
                 ambitious
                 of
                 their
                 honour
                 ;
                 But
                 alas
                 ,
                 what
                 ever
                 our
                 desires
                 ,
                 and
                 purposes
                 may
                 be
                 ,
                 it
                 is
                 not
                 for
                 every
                 one
                 to
                 attaine
                 to
                 the
                 glory
                 of
                 Martyrdome
                 ;
                 this
                 is
                 the
                 highest
                 pitch
                 ,
                 that
                 earthly
                 Saints
                 are
                 capable
                 of
                 :
                 He
                 must
                 be
                 more
                 than
                 a
                 man
                 ,
                 whom
                 paine
                 and
                 death
                 cannot
                 remove
                 from
                 his
                 holy
                 resolutions
                 ,
                 and
                 especially
                 ,
                 the
                 lingring
                 execution
                 of
                 both
                 .
                 It
                 is
                 well
                 if
                 an
                 age
                 can
                 yeeld
                 one
                 ,
                 Mole
                 :
                 In
                 what
                 termes
                 shall
                 I
                 commemorate
                 thee
                 ,
                 O
                 thou
                 blessed
                 Confessor
                 ,
                 the
                 great
                 example
                 of
                 invincible
                 constancy
                 ,
                 in
                 these
                 back-sliding
                 times
                 (
                 if
                 at
                 least
                 thy
                 rare
                 perseverance
                 be
                 not
                 more
                 for
                 wonder
                 than
                 imitation
                 )
                 whom
                 thirty
                 yeares
                 tedious
                 durance
                 in
                 the
                 Inqusitory
                 
                 at
                 Rome
                 ,
                 could
                 not
                 weary
                 out
                 of
                 thy
                 sincere
                 profession
                 of
                 the
                 Evangelical
                 truth
                 ?
                 All
                 this
                 while
                 thou
                 wert
                 not
                 allowed
                 the
                 speech
                 ,
                 the
                 sight
                 of
                 any
                 ,
                 but
                 thy
                 persecutors
                 :
                 Here
                 was
                 none
                 to
                 pity
                 thee
                 ,
                 none
                 to
                 exhort
                 thee
                 ;
                 If
                 either
                 force
                 of
                 perswasion
                 ,
                 or
                 proffers
                 of
                 favour
                 ,
                 or
                 threats
                 of
                 extremity
                 ,
                 could
                 have
                 wrought
                 thee
                 for
                 thy
                 perversion
                 ,
                 thou
                 hadst
                 not
                 at
                 last
                 dyed
                 ours
                 .
                 Blessed
                 bee
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 all
                 comfort
                 ,
                 who
                 having
                 stood
                 by
                 thee
                 ,
                 &
                 made
                 thee
                 faithfull
                 to
                 the
                 death
                 ,
                 hath
                 now
                 given
                 thee
                 a
                 Crown
                 of
                 life
                 and
                 immortality
                 ;
                 and
                 left
                 thee
                 a
                 noble
                 patterne
                 of
                 Christian
                 Fortitude
                 ,
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 remarkable
                 ,
                 as
                 lesse
                 frequently
                 followed
                 .
              
               
               
                 Whether
                 I
                 look
                 into
                 the
                 former
                 ,
                 or
                 the
                 present
                 times
                 ,
                 I
                 finde
                 the
                 world
                 full
                 of
                 shrinking
                 professors
                 .
              
               
                 Amongst
                 the
                 first
                 Christians
                 ,
                 persecution
                 easily
                 discovered
                 four
                 sorts
                 of
                 cowardly
                 Renegadoes
                 ;
                 The
                 first
                 ,
                 and
                 worst
                 ,
                 whom
                 they
                 justly
                 stiled
                 Idolaters
                 ,
                 that
                 yielded
                 to
                 all
                 the
                 publicke
                 formes
                 of
                 worship
                 to
                 those
                 false
                 Gods
                 :
                 The
                 second
                 ,
                 Sacrificers
                 ,
                 who
                 condescended
                 so
                 far
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 some
                 kinde
                 of
                 immolation
                 unto
                 those
                 fained
                 deities
                 ,
                 or
                 ,
                 at
                 least
                 ,
                 to
                 a
                 tasting
                 of
                 those
                 things
                 which
                 were
                 thus
                 offered
                 :
                 The
                 third
                 ,
                 Incensers
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 (
                 with
                 Marcellinus
                 himself
                 )
                 came
                 on
                 so
                 far
                 ,
                 as
                 to
                 cast
                 some
                 graines
                 of
                 incense
                 into
                 the
                 Idols
                 fire
                 :
                 The
                 last
                 were
                 
                 their
                 Libellaticks
                 ,
                 such
                 as
                 privately
                 by
                 themselves
                 ,
                 or
                 by
                 some
                 allowed
                 proxey
                 ,
                 denyed
                 the
                 Faith
                 ,
                 yet
                 with
                 their
                 money
                 bought
                 out
                 this
                 ignominy
                 ,
                 and
                 sinne
                 of
                 any
                 publick
                 Act
                 of
                 Idolatry
                 .
              
               
                 Not
                 to
                 speak
                 of
                 those
                 many
                 thousands
                 which
                 fell
                 downe
                 before
                 Solyman
                 the
                 second
                 ,
                 and
                 held
                 up
                 their
                 finger
                 to
                 signifie
                 their
                 conversion
                 to
                 his
                 Mahometism
                 ,
                 for
                 ease
                 of
                 their
                 taxations
                 ?
                 how
                 many
                 do
                 we
                 hear
                 of
                 daily
                 of
                 all
                 nations
                 ,
                 and
                 some
                 (
                 which
                 I
                 shame
                 and
                 grieve
                 to
                 say
                 )
                 of
                 our
                 owne
                 ,
                 who
                 yeeld
                 to
                 receive
                 circumcision
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 renounce
                 their
                 Saviour
                 ?
                 Oh
                 the
                 lamentable
                 condition
                 of
                 those
                 distressed
                 Christians
                 !
                 If
                 constant
                 to
                 their
                 profession
                 ,
                 
                 they
                 live
                 in
                 a
                 perpetual
                 purgatory
                 of
                 torment
                 ;
                 If
                 revolting
                 ,
                 they
                 run
                 into
                 the
                 danger
                 of
                 an
                 everlasting
                 damnation
                 in
                 hell
                 ;
                 Even
                 this
                 gentle
                 restraint
                 puts
                 me
                 into
                 the
                 meditation
                 of
                 their
                 insupportable
                 durance
                 ;
                 Why
                 do
                 not
                 all
                 Christia
                 nhearts
                 bleed
                 with
                 the
                 sense
                 of
                 their
                 deplorable
                 estate
                 ?
                 why
                 is
                 not
                 our
                 compassion
                 heightened
                 ,
                 according
                 to
                 the
                 depth
                 of
                 their
                 perill
                 ,
                 and
                 misery
                 ?
              
               
                 What
                 are
                 our
                 bowels
                 made
                 of
                 ,
                 if
                 they
                 yearne
                 not
                 at
                 their
                 unexpressible
                 calamity
                 ?
                 Ye
                 rich
                 Merchants
                 ,
                 under
                 whose
                 imployment
                 many
                 of
                 these
                 poor
                 soules
                 have
                 thus
                 unhappily
                 miscarried
                 ,
                 how
                 can
                 you
                 blesse
                 your selves
                 in
                 your
                 baggs
                 ,
                 whiles
                 you
                 see
                 themembers
                 
                 of
                 Christ
                 your
                 Saviour
                 ,
                 thus
                 torn
                 from
                 him
                 ,
                 for
                 want
                 of
                 a
                 petty
                 ransome
                 ?
                 Ye
                 eminent
                 persons
                 whom
                 God
                 hath
                 advanced
                 to
                 power
                 &
                 greatness
                 ,
                 how
                 can
                 you
                 sleep
                 quietly
                 upon
                 your
                 pillows
                 ,
                 whiles
                 you
                 think
                 of
                 the
                 cold
                 and
                 hard
                 lodgings
                 ,
                 the
                 hungry
                 bellies
                 ,
                 the
                 naked
                 and
                 waled
                 backs
                 of
                 miserable
                 Christians
                 ?
                 Lastly
                 ,
                 what
                 fervent
                 prayers
                 should
                 we
                 all
                 ,
                 that
                 professe
                 the
                 dear
                 name
                 of
                 Christ
                 ,
                 poure
                 out
                 unto
                 the
                 God
                 of
                 heaven
                 for
                 the
                 strengthning
                 of
                 the
                 faith
                 &
                 patience
                 of
                 these
                 afflicted
                 souls
                 against
                 the
                 assaults
                 of
                 violence
                 ?
                 and
                 for
                 their
                 happy
                 and
                 speedy
                 deliverance
                 out
                 of
                 their
                 woefull
                 captivity
                 ?
              
            
             
               
               
                 SECT
                 .
                 XI
                 .
              
               
                 THese
                 prisoners
                 are
                 worthy
                 of
                 our
                 deep
                 compassion
                 ;
                 as
                 those
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 too
                 sensible
                 of
                 their
                 owne
                 misery
                 ;
                 Others
                 there
                 are
                 ,
                 who
                 are
                 so
                 much
                 more
                 worthy
                 of
                 greater
                 pity
                 ,
                 by
                 how
                 much
                 they
                 are
                 lesse
                 apprehensive
                 of
                 their
                 need
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 plausible
                 prisoners
                 under
                 a
                 spirituall
                 tyranny
                 ;
                 whose
                 very
                 wills
                 are
                 so
                 captived
                 to
                 the
                 powers
                 of
                 darknesse
                 ,
                 that
                 to
                 chuse
                 they
                 would
                 be
                 no
                 other
                 than
                 bondmen
                 ;
                 pleasing
                 themselves
                 in
                 those
                 chains
                 ,
                 whose
                 weight
                 is
                 enough
                 to
                 sink
                 their
                 souls
                 into
                 hell
                 ;
                 such
                 are
                 they
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 yielded
                 themselves
                 over
                 to
                 be
                 enthralled
                 by
                 any
                 
                 known
                 sin
                 ;
                 No
                 men
                 under
                 heaven
                 do
                 so
                 much
                 applaud
                 themselves
                 in
                 the
                 conceit
                 of
                 their
                 liberty
                 ;
                 none
                 so
                 great
                 slaves
                 as
                 they
                 ;
                 If
                 the
                 very
                 Stoick
                 Philosophers
                 had
                 not
                 enough
                 evinced
                 this
                 truth
                 ,
                 Divinity
                 should
                 :
                 Indeed
                 ,
                 the
                 world
                 is
                 a
                 worse
                 kind
                 of
                 Algier
                 ,
                 full
                 of
                 miserable
                 captives
                 ;
                 here
                 lies
                 one
                 so
                 fettered
                 in
                 lust
                 ,
                 that
                 hee
                 rots
                 againe
                 ;
                 there
                 another
                 ,
                 so
                 laden
                 with
                 drunken
                 excesse
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 can
                 neither
                 goe
                 nor
                 stand
                 ,
                 and
                 in
                 very
                 deed
                 is
                 not
                 his
                 owne
                 man
                 :
                 here
                 ,
                 one
                 so
                 pinched
                 with
                 golden
                 fetters
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 can
                 neither
                 eate
                 ,
                 nor
                 sleep
                 ,
                 nor
                 at
                 all
                 enjoy
                 himself
                 ;
                 there
                 ,
                 another
                 so
                 pined
                 with
                 envy
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 forced
                 to
                 feed
                 on
                 his
                 owne
                 heart
                 :
                 here
                 ,
                 one
                 so
                 tormented
                 with
                 
                 anger
                 that
                 hee
                 is
                 stark
                 mad
                 for
                 the
                 time
                 ;
                 and
                 cares
                 not
                 how
                 hee
                 mischieves
                 himself
                 in
                 a
                 furious
                 desire
                 to
                 hurt
                 others
                 :
                 there
                 ,
                 another
                 so
                 racked
                 with
                 ambition
                 ,
                 that
                 he
                 is
                 stretched
                 beyond
                 his
                 own
                 length
                 ,
                 and
                 lives
                 in
                 the
                 pain
                 of
                 a
                 perpetuall
                 self-extension
                 .
              
               
                 These
                 ,
                 and
                 all
                 others
                 of
                 this
                 kinde
                 are
                 most
                 miserable
                 prisoners
                 ,
                 chained
                 up
                 for
                 ever-lasting
                 darknesse
                 :
                 So
                 much
                 more
                 worthy
                 of
                 our
                 pity
                 ,
                 as
                 they
                 are
                 lesse
                 capable
                 of
                 their
                 own
                 :
                 Spend
                 your
                 compassion
                 (
                 if
                 you
                 please
                 )
                 upon
                 these
                 deplorable
                 subjects
                 ;
                 But
                 for
                 me
                 ,
                 wish
                 me
                 (
                 if
                 you
                 will
                 )
                 as
                 free
                 from
                 any
                 imputation
                 of
                 evill
                 ,
                 as
                 I
                 was
                 ,
                 and
                 am
                 from
                 the
                 thought
                 of
                 it
                 ;
                 wish
                 mee
                 
                 in
                 your
                 free
                 champian
                 ,
                 where
                 I
                 may
                 have
                 no
                 hedge
                 so
                 much
                 as
                 to
                 confine
                 my
                 eye
                 :
                 wish
                 me
                 happy
                 in
                 the
                 society
                 of
                 so
                 dear
                 and
                 noble
                 a
                 Friend
                 ;
                 but
                 in
                 the
                 meane
                 while
                 ,
                 think
                 of
                 me
                 no
                 otherwise
                 ,
                 than
                 as
                 a
                 Free
                 Prisoner
                 ,
                 And
              
               
                 
                   Yours
                   thankfully
                   devoted
                   in
                   all
                   faithfull
                   observance
                   ,
                   I.
                   N.
                   
                
              
            
             
               FINIS
               .
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Severall
           Tractates
           written
           by
           Dr.
           Hall
           B.
           of
           Norwich
           ,
           In
           and
           since
           his
           Imprisonment
           and
           Retiring
           .
           Namely
           ,
        
         
           
             1.
             
             THe
             
               Devout
               Soul
            
             ,
             and
             
               Free
               Prisoner
            
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             Remedy
             of
             
               Discontentment
               ,
               Or
            
             ,
             A
             Treatise
             of
             Contentation
             in
             whatsoever
             condition
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             The
             Peace-maker
             ,
             
               laying
               forth
               the
               right
               way
               of
            
             Peace
             
               in
               matter
               of
               Religion
            
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             The
             Balme
             of
             Gilead
             ,
             Or
             ,
             Comforts
             for
             the
             distressed
             ;
             both
             Morall
             and
             Divine
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             Christ
             Mysticall
             ,
             Or
             ,
             The
             blessed
             union
             of
             Christ
             &
             his
             Members
             :
             To
             which
             is
             addded
             ,
             An
             holy
             Rapture
             ,
             Or
             ,
             A
             Patheticall
             Meditation
             of
             the
             love
             of
             Christ
             .
             Also
             ,
             The
             Christian
             laid
             forth
             in
             his
             whole
             disposition
             and
             carriage
             .
          
           
             6.
             
             A
             Modest
             Offer
             ,
             tendred
             to
             the
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
             at
             Westminster
             .
          
           
             7.
             
             Select
             Thoughts
             in
             two
             Decades
             ,
             
             with
             the
             breathing
             of
             the
             Devout
             Soule
             .
          
           
             8.
             
             
               Pax
               Terris
            
             .
          
           
             9.
             
             Imposition
             of
             Hands
             .
          
           
             10.
             
             The
             Revelation
             unrevealed
             —
             Concerning
             ,
             The
             thousand
             yeares
             reigne
             of
             the
             Saints
             with
             Christ
             on
             Earth
             .
          
           
             11.
             
             
               Susurrium
               cum
               Deo.
               Or
            
             ,
             Holy
             Selfe-Conferences
             of
             the
             Devout
             Soul
             ,
             upon
             sundry
             choice
             Occasions
             .
             Now
             in
             the
             Presse
             ,
             and
             never
             before
             Printed
             .
          
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A45226-e270
           
             Dr.
             Preston
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             19
             1
             ,
             2
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             104.
             24.
             
          
           
             Cant.
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             41.
             4.
             
          
           
             79.
             8.
             
          
           
             130
             3.
             
          
           
             94.
             11.
             
          
           
             3.
             7.
             
          
           
             89.
             48.
             
          
           
             109.
             21.
             
          
           
             86.
             4.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             71.
             10.
             
          
           
             86.
             11.
             
          
           
             70.
             6.
             
          
           
             60.
             11.
             
          
           
             71.
             23.
             
          
           
             31.
             17.
             
          
           
             40.
             14.
             
          
           
             5.
             8.
             
          
           
             119.
             penult
             .
          
           
             68.
             35.
             
          
           
             92.
             5.
             
          
           
             71.
             17.
             
          
           
             18.
             47.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             63.
             4.
             
          
           
             145.
             10.
             
          
           
             04.
             25.
             
          
           
             18.
             31.
             
          
           
             20.
             5.
             
          
           
             107.
             8.
             
          
           
             31.
             21.
             
          
           
             9.
             10.
             
          
           
             16.
             12.
             
          
           
             8.
             4.
             
          
           
             115.
             1.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             19.
             1.
             
          
           
             74.
             17.
             
          
           
             97.
             11.
             
          
           
             36.
             9.
             
          
           
             39.
             5.
             
          
           
             93.
             5.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             139.
             11
             
          
           
             139.
             2.
             
          
           
             51.
             7.
             
          
           
             17.
             5.
             
          
           
             90.
             12.
             
          
           
             39.
             5.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             11.
             25
             
          
           
             Wisd
             .
             1.
             4.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             26.
             6.
             
          
           
             Ecl.
             10.
             
          
           
             Esa
             .
             66.
             2.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             18.
             27
             
          
           
             Pro.
             30.
             2.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             3.
             11.
             
          
           
             Ephes
             .
             3.
             8.
             
          
           
             Job
             38.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.
             6
             ,
             7
             ,
             8
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             5.
             1.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             103.
             8.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             116.
             12
             ,
             13.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             119.
             18
             ,
             21
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             1.
             21.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             2.
             20.
             
          
           
             Cant.
             2.
             16.
             
          
           
             Cant.
             4.
             9.
             6.
             4
             ,
             5.
             
          
           
             Cant.
             5.
             10.
             
          
           
             8.
             6.
             
          
           
             2.
             5.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             116.
             
             Rom.
             3.
             4
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             119.
             8.
             
          
           
             Carolus
             Bor
             romaeus
             .
          
           
             Acts
             19.
             35.
             
          
           
             Eccles
             .
             5.
             1.
             
          
           
             Judg.
             3.
             20.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             5.
             20
             
          
           
             Acts
             10.
             33.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             25.
             24.
             
          
           
             Job
             13.
             17.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             40.
             6.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             ad
             Eccles
             .
             cautelam
             .
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             2.
             
             Eph.
             3.
             9.
             
          
           
             Zach.
             3.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             5.
             23.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A45226-e4270
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Hos
             .
             2.
             14.
             
          
           
             Non
             enim
             potest
             mens
             attrita
             &
             oneribus
             &
             importunitatibus
             gravata
             ,
             tantum
             boni
             peragere
             ,
             quantum
             delectata
             ,
             &
             oppressionibus
             solut
             a.
             Cornel.
             ep
             .
             2.
             
             Rufo
             Coepiscopo
             .
          
           
             Acts
             ult
             .
          
           
             Gen.
             36.
             22
             
          
           
             Magna
             domus
             homuli
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             8.
             3
             ,
             4.