Judgement & mercy for afflicted soules, or, Meditations, soliloquies, and prayers by Fra. Quarles. Boanerges and Barnabas Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A56828 of text R20980 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing Q101). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 175 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 68 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A56828 Wing Q101 ESTC R20980 12405118 ocm 12405118 61359 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A56828) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 61359) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 289:5) Judgement & mercy for afflicted soules, or, Meditations, soliloquies, and prayers by Fra. Quarles. Boanerges and Barnabas Quarles, Francis, 1592-1644. [15], 120 p. : port. Printed by Ric. Cotes for Richard Royston ..., London : 1646. Added engraved t.p. First ed. of this part; pt. [2] was previously published as: Judgement and mercie for afflicted souls. Cambridge : R. Daniel, 1646. An unauthorized ed. of pt. [2] first appeared in 1644 as: Barnabas and Boanerges. The two parts were later published together as: Boanerges and Barnabas. Reproduction of original in the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. eng Devotional literature. Meditations. A56828 R20980 (Wing Q101). civilwar no Judgement & mercy for afflicted soules. Or meditations. Soliloquies, and prayers. By Fra. Quarles. Quarles, Francis 1646 31046 204 0 0 0 0 0 66 D The rate of 66 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-06 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2002-06 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Pictor adumbravit Vultum ●uem cernimus a●t hic Non valet egregias 〈◊〉 mentis Opes Has si seire cupis , sua consu●c Carmina ●n ●●lis Dotes percipies pectoris eximias What heere wee see is but a Graven face Onely the shaddow of that brittle case Wherin were treasur'd up those Gemms , which he Hath left behind him to Posteritie . A●● 〈◊〉 ●culp : Iudgment and Mercy for afflicted soules by Fra : Quarles 1646. JUDGEMENT & MERCY FOR AFFLICTED SOULES . OR Meditations . Soliloquies , And Prayers . BY FRA. QVARLES . LONDON , Printed by Ric. Cotes , for Richard Royston , at the Angell in Ivy-Lane , 1646. TO MY MOST GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE KING CHARLES . SIR , I Beleeve you to be such a Patron of Vertue , that if this Treatise had the least probabilitie of cherishing Vice , my countenance durst not admit a thought of this dedication to your Majestie . But my owne reason ( seconded by better approbations ) assures mee , these Disquisitions and Prayers are like to beget grace in those where it was not , and confirme it where it was . And being so usefull , I dare not doubt your patronage of this Child , which survives a Father whose utmost abilities were ( till death darkned that great light in his soule ) sacrificed to your service . But , if I could question your willing protection of it , I might strengthen my petition for it , by an unquestionable commendation of the Authors publisht meditations , in most of which ( even those of Poetry begun in his youth ) there are such tinctures of Pietie , and Pictures of devout passions , as gain'd him much love , and many Noble friends . One of that number ( which is not to bee numbred ) was the Religious , Learned , Peaceable , humble Bishop of Armagh ; whom I beseech God to blesse , and make your Majestie and him , in these bad , sad times , instruments of good to this distracted , distemper'd Church and State . This is my unfained prayer : and I doubt not but all that wish well to Sion will seale it with their Amen . Your Majesties poore and most faithfull Subject , RICHARD ROYSTON . The Preface . Reader , IT is thought fit to say this little , and but this little , of the Author and his booke . He was ( for I speak to those that are strangers to his extraction and breeding ) a branch of a deserving family , and the sonne of a worthy father : his education was in the Vniversities , and Innes of Court , but his inclination was rather to Divine studies then the Law . This appeares in most of his publisht books , ( which are many ) but I thinke in none more then this , which was finisht with his life . Wherein the Reader may behold ( according to the arguments undertaken by the Author ) what passions , and in what degrees those passions have possest his soule , and whether grace have yet allayed , or expel'd them , ( those that are inconsistible with vertue ) from the str●ng hold of his affections . Such this Treatise is , and being such , I commend it to the Reader , and this wish with it , that th●se many ( too many ) writers who mistake malice for zeale , and ( being transported ) speake evill of government , and ●eddle with things they understand not , Iude 8 , 10. forgetting there is such sinnes as ●edition and heresie , ( sinnes which Saint Paul , Gal. 5. 20. 21● parallels with murther and witchcraft ) would change their disputes into devout meditations , such as these be ; in which , the pious man shall see vertue adorned with beautifull language , and vice so presented , as 't is not like to infect the minde , nor corrupt the conscience . The method , the arguments , the stile , all speake Mr. Quarles the Author of the booke , and the booke speakes his commendations so much , that I need not commend it ; but I doe thee to God . Farewell . The Table . Meditation I. The Sensuall mans Solace . Pag. 1. His Sentence . 2 His Proofs . 3 His Soliloqui● . 4 His Prayer . 5 Meditation II. The Vain-glorious mans Vaunt , &c. 7 Meditation III. The Oppressors Plea , &c. 13 Meditation IV. The Drunkards Iubile , &c. 19 Meditation V. The Swearers Apologie , &c. 25 Meditation VI . The Pr●●rastinators Remora's , &c. 31 Meditation VII . The Hypocrites Prevarication , &c. 37 Meditation VIII . The ignorant mans Faultering , &c. 43 Meditation IX . The Slo●hfull mans slumber , &c. 49 Meditation X. The proud mans Ostentation , &c. 55 Meditation XI . The Covetous mans Care , &c. 61 Meditation XII . The Self-lovers Self-fraud , &c. 67 Meditation XIII . The Worldly mans Verdour , &c. 73 Meditation XIIII . The Lascivious mans Heaven , &c. 79 Meditation XV . The Sabbath-breakers Profa●ation , &c. 85 Meditation XVI . The Censorious mans Crimination , &c. 91 Meditation XVII . The Liers fallacies , &c. 97 Meditation XVIII . The Revenge●ull mans Rage , &c. 103 Meditation XIX . The Secure mans Triumph , &c. 109 Meditation XX . The Presumptuous mans Felicities , &c. 115 The sensuall mans Solace . COme , let 's bee merry , and rejoyce our soules , in frolique and in fresh delights : Let 's skrue our pamperd hearts a pitch beyond the reach of dull-browd sorrow : Let 's passe the slowpac'd time in melancholy charming mirth , and take the advantage of our youthfull dayes : Let 's banish care to the dead Sea of Phlegmatick old age : Let a deepe sigh be high Treason , and let a solemne look be adjudg'd a Crime too great for Pardon . My serious studies shall be to draw mirth into a Body , to analyse laughter , and to paraphrase upon the various Texts of all 〈◊〉 . My recreat●ons shall be to still pleasure into a Quintessence , to reduce Beautie to her first principles , and to extract a perfect innocence from the milke-white Doves of Venus . Why should I spend my pretious minutes in the sullen and dejected shades of sadnesse ? or ravell out my short liv'd dayes in solemne and heart-breaking Care ? Howers have Eagles wings , and when their hasty flight shall put a Period to our numbred dayes , the world is gone with us , and all our forgotten joyes are left to bee enjoyed by the succeeding Generations , and wee are snatcht wee know not how , wee know not whither ; and wrapt in the darke bosom of eternall night . Come then my soule ; be wise , make use of that which gone , is past recalling , and lost , is past redemption : Eate thy Bread with a merry heart , and gulp downe care in frolique cups of liberall Wine . Beguile the teadious nights with dalliance , and steepe thy stupid senses in unctious , in delightfull sports . T is all the portion that this transitory world can give thee : Let Musick , Voices , Masques and midnight Revells , and all that melancholy wisedome censures vaine , bee thy delights . And let thy care-abjuring soule cheare up and sweeten the short dayes of thy consuming youth . Follow the wayes of thy own heart , and take the freedome of thy sweet desires : Leave not delight untryed , and spare no cost to heighten up thy Lusts. Take pleasure in the choyce of pleasures , and please thy curious eyes with all varieties , to satisfie thy soule in all things which thy heart desires . I , but my soule , when those evill dayes shall come wherein thy wasting pleasures shall present their Items to thy bedrid view , when all diseases and the evils of age shall muster up their Forces in thy crazy bones , where be thy comforts then ? COnsider O my soule , and know that day will come , and after that , another , wherein for all these things God will bring thee to judgement , Eccles. 11. 9. Prov. 14. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull , and the end of that mirth is heavinesse . Eccles. 2. 2. I said in my heart , Goe to now , I will prove thee with mirth , and therefore enjoy pleasure , and behold this also is vanitie : I said of laughter , It is madde ; and of mirth , What doth it ? St. James . Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth , and been wanton ; ye have nourished your hearts as in the day of slaughter . Eccles. 7. 4. The heart of the wise man is in the house of mourning : but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth . Isid. in Synonymis . Pleasure is an Inclination to the unlawfull objects of a corrupted mind , allured with a momentary sweetnesse . Hugo . Sensuality is an immoderate indulgence of the flesh , a sweet payson , a strong plague , a dangerous Potion which effeminates the body , and enerves the soule . Cass. Lib. 4. Ep. They are most sensible of the burthen of affliction that are most taken with the pleasures of the flesh . VVHat hast thou now to say O my soule , why this judgement , seconded with divine proofes , backt with the harmony of holy men , should not proceed against thee ? Dally no longer with thy owne Salvation , nor flatter thy owne Corruption : Remember , the wages of flesh are sinne , and the wages of sinne , death : God hath threatned it , whose judgements are terrible ? God hath witnessed it , whose words are truth . Consider then my soule , and let not momentary pleasures flatter thee into eternitie of torments : How many , that have trod thy steps , are now roaring in the flames of Hell ! and yet thou triflest away the time of thy Repentance . O my poore deluded soule , presume no longer ; Repent to day , left to morrow come too late : Or couldst thou ravell out thy dayes beyond Methusalem , tell me , alas , what will Eternitie bee the shorter for the deduction of a thousand yeers ? Be wisely provident therefore O my soule , and bid vanitie the common sorceresse of the world , farewell ; life and death are yet before thee : Chuse life , and the God of life will seale thy ●boyee . Prostrate thy selfe before him who delights not in the death of a sinner , and present thy Petitions to him who can deny thee nothing in the name of a Saviour . His Prayer . O God , in the beautie of whose holinesse is the true joy of those that love thee , the full happinesse of those that feare thee , and the onely rest of those that prize thee ; In respect of which the transitory pleasures of the world are lesse then nothing , in comparison of which the greatest wisdome of the world is folly , and the glory of the earth but drosse , and dung ; How dare my boldnesse thus presume to presse into thy glorious presence ? What can my prayers expect but thy just wrath and heavy indignation ? O what returne can the tainted breath of my polluted lipps deserve , but to bee bound hand and foot , and cast into the flames of Hell ? But Lord , the merits of my Saviour are greater then the offences of a sinner , and the sweetnesse of thy mercy exceeds the sharpnesse of my misery : The horrour of thy judgments have seized upon mee , and I languish through the sense of thy displeasure ; I have forsaken thee the rest of my distressed soule , and set my affections upon the vanitie of the deceitfull world . I have taken pleasure in my foolishnesse , and have vaunted my selfe in mine iniquitie , I have flattered my soule with the hony of delights , whereby I am made sensible of the sting of my affliction ; wherefore I loath , and utterly abhorre my selfe , and from the bottome of my heart repent in dust and ashes . Behold O Lord , I am impure and vile , and have wallowed in the puddle of mine owne Corruptions ; The Sword of thy displeasure is drawne out against mee , and what shall I plead O thou preserver of mankind ? Make mee a new Creature O my God , and destroy the old man within mee . Remove my affections from the love of transitory things , that I may runne the way of the Commandements . Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanitie , and make thy Testimonies my whole delight Give me strength to discerne the emptinesse of the creature , and inebriate my heart with the fulnesse of thy joyes . Bee thou my portion O God , at whose right hand stand pleasures for evermore . Bee thou my refuge and my shield , and suffer me not to sinke under the corruptions of my heart ; let not the house of mirth beguile mee , but give mee a sense of the evill to come . Accept the free-will offerings of my mouth , and grant my petitions for the honour of thy Name , then will I magnifie thy mercies O God , and praise thy Name for ever and ever . The vain● glorious mans Vaunt . VVHat tell'st thou me of Conscience , or a pious life ? They are good trades for a leaden spirit that can stand bent at every frowne , and want the braines to make a higher Fortune , or cou●age to atchieve that honour which might glorifie their names , and write their memories in the Chronicles of Fame . T is true , Humilitie is a needfull gift in those that have no Qualitie to exercise their pride ; and patience is a necessary Grace to keepe the world in peace , and him that hath it , in a whole skinne , and often proves a vertue borne of meere nec●ssi●ie . And civill Honesty is a faire pretense for him that hath not wit to act the Knave , and makes a man capable of a little higher stile then Fo●le . And blushing modesty is a pretty innocent qualitie , and serves to vindicate an easie nature from the imputation of an ill-breeding . These are inferiour Graces , that have got a good opinion in the dull wisdome of the world , and appeare like water among the Elements to moderate the body Poli●ique , and keepe it from combustion , nor doe they come into the worke of honour . Virtue consists in Action , and the reward of action is Glory . Glory is the great soule of the little world , and is the Crowne of all sublime attempts , and the point whereto the crooked wayes of policy are all concentrick . Honour consults not with a pious life . Let those that are ambitious of a religious reputation abjure all honorable Titles , and let their dough-bak'd spirits take a pride in sufferance , ( the Anvile of all injuries ) and bee thankfully baffled into a quiet pilgrimage . Rapes , mur●hers , treasons , dispossessions , riots , are veniall things to men of honour , and oft co-incident in high pursuits . Had my dull Conscience stood upon such nice points , that little honour I have wonne had glorified some other arme , and left mee begging Morsells at his Princely gates . Come , come , my soule , 1d factum juvat quod 〈◊〉 non licet . Feare not to doe , what crownes thee being done . Ride on with thy Honour , and create a name to live with faire Eternitie . Enjoy thy purchas'd Glory as the merit of thy renowned Actions , and let thy memory entaile it to succeeding Generations . Make thy owne game , and if thy conscience check thee , correct thy saucy Conscience , till shee stand as mute as metamorphos'd Niobe . Feare not the frownes of Princes or the imperious hand of various Fortune . Thou art too bright for the one to obscure , and too great for the other to cry downe . BUt harke my soule , I heare a voyce that thunders in mine eare I will change their glory into shame . Hos. 4. 7 Psal. 49. 20. Man that is borne in honour and understandeth not , is like the beasts that perish . Prov. 25. 27. It is not good to eate too much Hony , so for men to search their owne glory is not glory . Jer. 9. 23. Thus saith the Lord : Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome , neither let the mightie man glory in his might , nor let the rich man glory in his ric●es : But let him that glorieth glory in this , that hee understandeth and knoweth mee that I am the Lord . Gal. 5. 26. Let us not bee desirous of vain-glory , &c. St. August . The vaine glory of the world is a deceitfull sweetnesse , an unfruitfull labour , a perpetuall feare , a dangerous bravery , begun without providence , and finished not without repentance . St. Greg. He that makes transitory honour the reward of a good worke , sets eternall glory at a low rate . VAine-glory is a Froth , which blowne off discovers a great want of measure : Canst thou O my soule bee guiltie of such an emptinesse , and note bee challeng'd ? Canst thou appeare in the searching eye of heaven , and not expect to be cast away ? deceive not thy selfe O my soule , nor flatter thy selfe with thy owne greatnesse . Search thy selfe to the bottome , and thou shalt find enough to humble thee : Dost thou glory in the ●avour of a Prince ? The frowne of a Prince determines it . Dost thou glory in thy strength ? A poore Ague betraies it . Dost thou glory in thy wealth ? The hand of a theefe extinguishes it . Dost thou glory in thy Friends ? One cloud of adversitie darkens it . Dost thou glory in thy parts ? Thy owne pride obscures it . Behold my soule , how like a Bubble thou appearest , and with a Sigh breake into sorrow : The gate of heaven is strait ; canst thou hope to enter without breaking ? The Bubble that would passe the Floodgates must first dissolve ; My soule melt then in teares , and emptie thy selfe of all thy vanity , and thou shalt finde divine Repletion ; evaporate in thy Devotion , and thou shalt rec●ute thy greatnesse to eternall Glory . His Prayer . ANd can I choose O God but tremble at thy judgements ? O● can my stony heart not stand amazed at thy Threatnings ? It is thy voyce O God , and thou hast spoken it : It is thy voyce O God , and I have heard it . Hadst thou so dealt by mee , as thou did●● by Babels proud King , and driven mee from the sonnes of men , thou hadst but done according to thy righteousnesse , and rewarded mee according to my deservings : What couldst thou see in mee lesse worthy of thy vengeance then in him , the example of thy justice ? or Lord , wherein am I more uncapable of thy indignation ? There is nothing in mee to move thy mercy but in misery . Thy goodnesse is thy selfe , and hath no ground but what proceedeth from it selfe , yet have I sinned against that goodnesse , and have thereby heaped up wrath against the day of wrath ; that insomuch , had not thy Grace abounded with my sinne , I had long since been confounded in my sinne , and swallow-lowed up in the Gulph of thy displeasure . But Lord thou takest no delight to punish , and with thee is no respect of persons : Thou takest no pleasure in the confusion of thy creature , but rejoycest rather in the conversion of a sinner . Convert mee therfore O God , I shall bee then converted : Make mee sensible of my owne corruptions , that I may see the vilenesse of my owne condition . Pull downe the pride of my ambitious heart ; humble me thou O God , and I shall bee humbled : Weane mee from the thirst of transitory honour , and let my whole delight bee to glory in thee : Touch thou my conscience with the feare of thy name , that in all my actions I may feare to offend thee . Endue mee O Lord with the spirit of meeknesse , and teach mee to overcome evill with a patient heart : moderate and curb the exorbitances of my passion , and give mee temperate use of all thy creatures . Replenish my heart with the Graces of thy Spirit , that in all my wayes I may bee acceptable in thy sight . In all conditions give mee a contented minde , and upon all occasions grant mee a gratefull heart , that honoring thee here in the Church militant before men , I may bee glorified hereafter in the Church Triumphant before thee and Angells , where filled with true glory according to the measure of Grace thou shalt bee pleased to give mee here , I may with Angels and Archangels praise thy Name for ever and ever . The Oppressors Plea . I Seeke but what 's my owne by Law : It was his owne free Act and Deed : The execution lies for goods or body , and goods or body I will have or else my money . What if his beggerly children pine , or his proud wife perish ? They perish at their owne charge , not mine , and what is that to mee ? I must be paid , or hee lie by it untill I have my utmost farthing , or his bones . The Law is just and good , and being ruled by that , how can my faire proceedings bee unjust ? what 's thirty in the hundred to a man of Trade ? Are we borne to thrum Caps , or pick strawes ? and sell our livelihood for a few teares , and a whining face ? I thanke God they move mee not so much as a bowling dog at midnight : I 'le give no day if heaven it selfe would bee securit●e ; I must have present money or his bones . The Commodity was good enough , as wares went then , and had hee had but a thriving wit , with the necessary helpe of a good marchantable conscience he might have gained perchance as much as now hee lost ; but howsoever , gaine or not gaine , I must have my money . Two teadious Tearmes my dearest gold hath laine in his unprofitable hands . The ●oft of Suit hath made mee bleed above a score of Royals , besides my Interest , travell , halfe pints , and bribes ; all which does but encrease my beggerly defendants damages , and sets him deeper on my score ; but right 's right , and I will have my money or his bones . Fifteene shillings in the pound composition ? I le hang first . Come , tell not mee of a good conscience , a good conscience is no parcell of my trade ; it hath made more Bankrupts then all the loose wives in the universall Citie . My conscience is no foole . It tells mee that my owne 's my owne , and that a well cramm'd bagge is no deceitfull friend , but will stick close to mee when all my friends forsake mee : If to gaine a good estate out of nothing , and to regaine a desperat debt which is as good as nothing , bee the fruits and signe of a bad conscience , God helpe the good . Come , tell not me of griping and Oppression . The world is hard , and hee that hopes to thrive must gripe as hard : What I give I give , and what I lend I lend ; If the way to heaven bee to turn begger upon earth , let them take it that like it , I know not what ye call Oppression . The Law is my direction ; but of the two it is more profitable to oppresse then to bee opprest . If debtors would bee honest and discharge , our hands were bound ; but when their failing offends my bagges they touch the Apple of my eye , and I must right them . BUt hah ! what voyce is this that whispers in mine eare , The Lord will spoile the soule of the Oppressors , Prov. 22. 23. Prov. 21. 22. Robbe not the poore because hee is poore , neither oppresse the afflicted in the gates , for the Lord will plead their cause , and spoile the soule of those that have spoled him . Ezek. 22. 19. The people of the land have used oppression , and exercised Robbery , and have vexed the poors and needy ; yea , they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully . Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them , I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath . Zach. 7. 9. Execute true judgement and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother , and oppresse not the widow nor the fatherlesse , nor the stranger , nor the poore , and let none of you imagine evill in your hearts against his brother . But they refused to hearken ; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts . Bernard , p. 1691. Wee ought so to care for our selves , as not to neglect the due regard of our neighbour . Bern. ibi●● He that is not mercifull to another shall not find mercy from God ; but if thou will'st bee mercifull and compassionate , thou shalt bee a ben●factor to thy owne soule . IS it wisdome in thee O my soul to covet a happinesse , or rather to account it so , that is sought for with a judgement , obtained with a Curse , and punished with damnation ; And to neglect that good which is assured with a promise , purchased with a blessing , and rewarded with a Crowne of Glory ? Canst thou hold a full estate , a good pennyworth , which is bought with the deare price of thy Gods displeasure ? Tell mee , what continuance can that Inheritance promise that is raised upon the ruines of thy Brother ? Or what mercy canst thou expect from heaven , that hast denied all mercy to thy Neighbour ? O my hard-hearted soule consider , and relent : Build not an house whose posts are subject to bee rotted with a curse : Consider what the God of truth hath threatned against thy crueltie ; Relent , and turne compassionate , that thou mayst bee capable of his compassion . If the desire of Gold hath hardned thy heart , let the teares of true Repentance mollifie it ; soften it with Aarons oyntment , untill it become Wax to take the impression of that seale which must confirme thy Pardon . His Prayer . BUt will my God bee now entreated ? Is not my crying sinne too loud for Pardon ? Am I not sunke too deepe into the Jawes of Hell , for thy strong arme to rescue ? Hath not the hardnesse of my heart made mee uncapable of thy compassion ? O if my teares might wash away my sinne , my head should turne a living Spring : Lord I have heard thee speake and am affraid ; the word is past , and thy judgements have found mee out . Fearefulnesse and trembling are come upon mee , and the Jawes of Hell have overwhelmed mee : I have oppressed thy poore , and added affliction to the afflicted , and the voyce of their misery is come before thee . They besought mee with teares , and in the anguish of their soules , but I have stopt mine eares against the cry of their complaint . But Lord , thou walkest not the wayes of man , and remembrest mercy in the middest of thy wrath , for thou art good and gratious , and ready to forgive , and plenteous in compassion to all that shall call upon thee . Forgive mee O God my sinnes that are past , and deliver mee from the guilt of my Oppression : Take from mee O God this heart of stone , and create in my brest a heart of flesh : Asswage the vehemency of my desires to the things below , and satisfie my soule with the sufficiency of thy Grace . Inflame my affections , that I may love thee with a filiall love , and incline mee to relie upon thy fatherly providence : Let mee account godlinesse my greatest gaine , and subdue in mee my lusts after filthy lucre . Preserve mee O Lord from the vanitie of selfe-love , and plant in my affections the true love of my neighbours : Endue my heart with the bowels of compassion , and then reward mee according to thy righteousnesse : Direct mee O God in the wayes of my life , and let a good Conscience bee my continuall comfort . Give mee a willing heart to make res●itution of what I have wrongfully gotten by oppression . Grant mee a lawfull use of all thy Creatures , and a thankfull heart for all thy benefits . Bee merci●ull to all those that groane under the burthen of their owne wants , and give them patience to expect thy deliverance : Give mee a heart that may acknowledge thy favours , and fill my tongue with praise and thanksgiving , that living here a new life I may become a new creature , and being engraffed in thee by the power of thy grace I may bring forth fruit to thy honour and glory . The Drunkards Iubile . VVHat Complement will the severer world allow to the vacant houres of frolique-hearted youth ! How shall their free , their joviall spirits entertaine their time , their friends ! What Oyle shall bee infused into the Lampe of deare societie , if they deny the priviledge of a civill rejoycing Cup ? It is the life , the radicall humor of united soules , whose love-digestive heate even ripens and ferments the greene materialls of a plighted faith ; without the helpe whereof new married friendship falls into divorce , and joyn'd acquaintance soone resolves into the first Elements of strangenesse . What meane these strict Reformers thus to spend their hou●e-glasses , and bawle against our harmelesse Cups ? to call our meetings Riots , and brand our civill mirth with stiles of loose Intemperance ? where they can sit at a fisters Feast , devoure and gurmundize beyond excesse , and wipe the guilt from off their marrowed mouths , and cloath their surfeits in the long fustain Robes of a tedious Grace : Is it not much better in a faire friendly Round ( since youth must have a swing ) to steep our soule-afflicting sorrows in a chirping Cup , then hazard our estates upon the abuse of providence in a folish cast at Dice ? Or at a Cockpit leave our doubtfull fortunes to the mercy of unmercifull contention ? Or spend our wanton dayes in sacrificing costly presents to a fleshly Idoll ? was not Wine given to exhilarate the drooping hearts , and raise the drowzie spirits of dejected soules ? Is not the liberall Cup the Sucking-bottle of the sonnes of Phaebus , to solace and refresh their palats in the nights of sad Invention ? Let dry-brain'd Zelots spend their idle breaths , my cups shall bee my cordialls to restore my care-befeebled heart to the true Temper of a well-complexioned mirth : My solid Braines are potent , and can beare enough , without the least offence to my distempered Senses , or interruption of my boone companions : My tongue can in the very Zenith of my Cups deliver the expressions of my composed thoughts with better sense , then these my grave Reformers can their best advised prayers . My Constitution is pot-proof , and strong enough to make a fierce encounter with the most stupendious vessell that ever failed upon the tides of Bacchus . My Reaso● shrinkes not ; my passion burnes not . O But my soule , I heare a threatning voyce that interrupts my language , Wee be to them that are mightie to drink Wine , Esay 5. 22. Prov. 20. 1. Wine is a mocker ; strong drinke is raging , and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise . Esay 5. 11. Woe bee to them that rise up early in the morning to follow strong drinke , that continue till night , untill wine enflame them . Prov. 23. 20. Bee not amongst wine-bibbers . 1. Cor. 5. 1. Now I have written unto you , not to keepe company , if any that is called a Brother bee a drunkard , with such a one , no not to eate . Aug. in lib. pen . Whilst the drunkard swallowes wine , wine swallowes him ; God disregards him , Angels despise him , Men deride him , vertue declines him , the devill destroyes him . Aug. ad . sac . virg. Drunkennesse is the mother of all evill , the matter of all mischiefe , the well-spring of all vices , the trouble of the senses , the tempest of the tongue , the shipwrack of chastitie , the consumption of time , a voluntary madnesse , the corruption of manners , the distemper of the body and the destruction of the soule . MY soule , It is the voyce of God , digested into a judgement : There is no kicking against Pricks , or arguing against a divine Truth ; Pleadest thou Custome ? Custome in Sinne multiplies it : Pleadest thou societie ? Societie in the offence , aggravates the punishment : Pleadest thou help to Invention ? Woe bee to that barrennesse , that wants such showers : Pleadest thou strength to beare much Wine ? Woe to those that are mightie to drinke strong drinke : My soule , thou hast sinned against thy Creator in abusing that creature he made to serve thee : Thou hast sinned against the creature , in turning it to the Creators dishonor : Thou hast finned against thy selfe , in making thy comfort thy confusion . How many want that blessing thou hast turn'd into a curse ? How many thirst whilst thou surfeitest ? What satisfaction wilt thou give to the Creator , to the creature , to thy selfe , against all whom thou hast transgrest ? To thy selfe , by a sober life : To the Creature , by a right use : To thy Creator , by a true Repentance : the way to all which , is Prayer and Thanksgiving . His Prayer . HOw truely then , O God , this heavy woe belongs to this my boasted sinne ? How many judgements are comprised● and abstracted in this woe● and all for mee , even mee O God , the miserable subject of thy eternall wrath ; Even mee O Lord , the marke whereat the shafts of thy displeasure levell ? Lord , I was a sinner in my first conception , and in sinne hath my mother brought mee forth ; I was no sooner , but I was a slave to sinne , and all my life is nothing but the practise and the trade of high Rebellion ; I have turn'd thy blessings into thy dishonour , and all thy graces into wantonnesse : Yet hast thou been my God even from the very wombe , and didst sustaine mee when I hung upon my mothers breast : Thou hast washed mee O Lord from my pollution , but like a Swine I have returned to my mire . Thou hast glaunced into my breast the blessed motions of thy holy Spirit , but I have quenched them with the springtides of my borne corruption . I have vomited up my filthinesse before thee , and like a dog have I returned to my vomit . Bee mercifull O God unto mee , Have mercy on mee O thou sonne of David ; I cannot O Lord expect the childrens bread , yet suffer mee to lick the crummes that fall beneath their table , I that have so oft abused the greatest of thy blessings am not worthy of the meanest of thy favours . Look , look upon me according to the goodnesse of thy mercy , and not according to the greatnesse of my offences : Give mee O God a sober heart , and a lawfull moderation in the enjoyment of thy Creatures . Reclaime my appetite from unseasonable delights , lest I turne thy blessings into a curse ; In all my dejections , bee thou my comfort , and let my rejoycing bee onely in thee . Propose to mine eyes the evilnesse of my dayes , and make mee carefull to redeeme my time : Weane mee from the pleasure of vaine societie , and let my Companions bee such as feare thee ; Forgive all such as have been partners in my sinne , and turne their hearts to the obedience of thy Lawes . Open their eares to the reproofs of the wise , and make them powerfull in reformation . Allay that lust which my intemperance hath inflam'd , and cleanse my affections with the grace of thy good spirit ; make mee thankfull for the strength of my body , that I may for the time to come returne it to the advantage of thy glory . The Swearers Apologie . WIll Boanarges never cease ? And will these Plague-denouncers never leave to thunder judgements in my trembling eare ? Nothing but plagues ? Nothing but judgements ? Nothing but damnation ? What have I done to make my case desterate ? And what have they not done to make my soule despair ? Have I set up false Gods like the Egyptians ? Or have I bowed before them like the Israelites ? Have I violated the Sabbath like the Libertines ? Or like cursed Cham have I discovered my fathers nakednesse ? Have I embrued my hands in blood like Barabbas ? Or like Absolon defiled my fathers Bed ? Have I like Iacob supplanted my elder brother ? O like Ahab intruded into Nabott● Vineyard ? Have I borne false witnesse like the wanton Elders ? Or like David coveted Vriahs wife ? Have I not given Tithes of all I have ? Or hath my purse beene hidebound to my hungry brother ? Hath not my life been blamelesse before men ? And my demeanour unreprovable before the world ? Have I not hated Vice with a perfect hatred ? and countenanc'd vertue with a due respect ? What meane these strict observers of my life , to ransack every Action , to carpe at every word , and with their sharpe censorious tongues to sentence every frailtie with damnation ? Is there no allowance to humanitie ? No Graines to flesh and blood ? Are wee all Angels ? Has mortalitie no priviledge , to supersede it from the utmost punishment of a little necessary frailtie ? Come , come , my soule , let not these judgement-thunderers fright thee : Let not these Qualmes of their exuberous zeale disturbe thee . Thou hast not cursed like Shemei , nor rail'd like Rabshekah , nor lied like Anani● , nor slander'd like thy ●accusers . They that censure thy Gnats swallow their owne Camels . What if the luxuriant stile of thy discourse doe chance to strike upon an obvious Oath , art thou straight hurried into the bosome of a Plague ? What if the custome of a harmelesse oath should captivate thy heedlesse tongue , can nothing under sudden judgement seize upon thee ? What if anothers diffidence should force thy earnest lips into a hasty Oath , in confirmation of a suffering Truth ; must thou be straightwayes branded with damnation ? Was Ioseph mark'd for everlasting death , for swearing by the life of Egypts King ? Was Peter when hee so denied his master , straight damn'd for swearing , and for-swearing● O flatter not thy selfe my soule , nor turne thou Advocate to so high a sinne : Make not the slips of Saints a precedent for thee to fall . IF the Rebukes of flesh may not prevaile , heare then the threatning of the Spirit which saith , The Plague shall not depart from the house of the swearer . Exod. 20. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord the God in vaine , for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine . Zach. 5. 3. And every one that sweareth shall bee cut off . Matth. 5. 34. Sweare not at all , neither by heaven , for it is Gods Throne , nor by the earth , for it is his footstoole : But let your communication be Yea , yea , Nay , nay , for whatsoever is more then these commeth of evill . Jer. 23. 10. Because of swearing the land mourneth . Aug in Ser. The murtherer killeth the body of his brother , but the swearer murthers his owne soule . August . in Psal. 88. It 's well that God hath forbidden man to sweare , left by custome of swearing ( in as much as wee are apt to mistake ) wee commit perjury : there 's none but God can safely sweare , because there 's no other but may be deceived . August . de Mendacio . I say unto you , Sweare not at all , lest by swearing ye come to a facilitie of swearing , from a facilitie to a custome , and from a custome ye fall into perjury . O What a judgement is here ! How terrible ! How full of Execution ! The Plague ? the extract of all diseases ! none so mortall ; none so comfortlesse ! It makes our house a Prison , our friends strangers ; No comfort but in the expectation of the months end : I , but this judgement excludes that comfort too ; The Plague shall never depart from the house of the swearer : What never ? Death will give it a Period : No , but it shall bee entail'd upon his house , his family : O detestable ! O destructive sinne ! that leaves a Crosse upon the dores of Generations , and layes whole families upon the dust ; A sinne whereto neither Profit incites , nor Pleasure allures , nor Necessitie compells , nor Inclination of nature perswades ; a meere voluntary , begun with a malignant imitation , and continued with an habituall presumption . Consider O my soule , every Oath hath been a nayle to wound that Saviour , whose blood ( O mercy above expression ! ) must save thee : Bee sensible of thy Actions and his sufferings : Abhorre thy selfe in dust and ashes , and magnifie his Mercy that hath turn'd this judgement from thee Goe wash those wounds which thou hast made , with teares , and humble thy selfe with Prayer , and true repentance . His Prayer . ETernall and omnipotent God , before whose glorious name Angels , and Archangels bow , and hide their faces , to which the blessed Spirits , and Saints of thy triumphant Church sing forth perpetuall Hallelujahs , I a poore Sprig of disobedient Adam doe here make bold to take that holy name into my sinne-polluted lippes : I have hainously sinned O God against thee , and against it ; I have disparaged it in my thoughts , dishonoured it in my words , profaned it in my actions , and I know thou art a jealous God , and a consuming fire , as faithfull in thy promises , so fearefull in thy judgements ; I therefore flie from the dreadfull Name of Jehovah , which I have abused , to that gratious Name of Jesus , wherein thou art well pleased ; in that most sacred Name , O God , I fall before thee , and for his beloved sake O Lord I come unto thee . Cleanse thou my heart O God , and then my tongue shall praise thee : Wash thou my soule , O Lord , and then my lippes shall blesse thee . Worke in my heart a feare of thy displeasure , and give mee an awfull reverence of thy Name . Set thou a Watch before my lips , that I offend not with my tongue : Let no respects entice mee to bee an instrument of thy dishonour , and let thy attributes bee pretious in mine eyes , teach mee the way of thy Precepts , O Lord , and make me sensible of all my offences : Let not my sinfull custome in sinning against thy Name take from my guiltie soule the sense of my sinne : Give mee a respect unto all thy Commandements , but especially preserve mee from the danger of this my bosome sinne . Mollifie my heart at the rebukes of thy servants , and strike into my inward parts a feare of thy judgements : Let all my communication bee order'd as in thy presence , and let the words of my mouth bee governed by thy Spirit . Avert those judgements from mee which thy Word hath threatned , and my sinne hath deserved , and strengthen my resolution for the time to come ; Worke in mee a true godly sorrow , that it may bring forth in mee a newnesse of life . Sanctifie my thoughts with the continuall meditation of thy Co●mandements , and mortifie those passions which provoke mee to offend thee . Let not the examples of others induce mee to this sinne , nor let the frailties of my flesh seek Fig leaves to cover it . Seale in my heart the full assurance of thy Reconciliation , and looke upon mee in the bowells of compassion , that crowning my weak desires with thy All-sufficient power , I may escape this judgement which thy justice hath threatned here , and obtaine that happinesse thy mercy hath promised hereafter . The Procrastinators Remora's . TEll mee no more of fasting , prayer , and death ; They fill my thoughts with dumps of Melancholy . These are no subjects for a youthfull care ; no contemplations for an active soule : Let them whom sullen Age hath weaned from aery pleasures , whom wayward fortune hath condemn'd to sighes and groanes , whom sad diseases have beslaved to drugs and diets ; let them consume the remnant of their wretched dayes in dull devotion : Let them afflict their aking soules with the untunable discourses of mortalitie ; Let them contemplate on evill dayes , and reade sharpe Lectures of their owne experience : For me , my bones are full of unctious marrow , and my blood , of sprightly Youth : My faire and free estate secures me from the feares of fortunes frowne . My strength of constitution hath the power to grapple with sorrow , sicknesse , nay the very pangs of death , and overcome . 'T is true , God must bee sought ; What impious tongue dare be so basely bold to contradict so knowne a Truth ? And by repentance too ; What strange impietie dare deny it ? Or what presumptuous lips dare disavow it ? But there 's a time for all things , yet none prefixt for this , no day designed , but , At what time soever : If my unseasonable heart should seeke him now , the worke would be too serious for so greene a seeker . My thoughts are yet unsetled , my fancy yet too too gamesome , my judgement yet unsound , my Will unsanctified ; To seeke him with an unprepared heart is the high way not to finde him ; or to finde him with unsetled resolution is the next way to lose him ; and indeed it wants but little of prophanenesse , to bee unseasonably religious . What is once to bee done is long to bee deliberated . Let the boyling pleasures of the rebellious flesh evaporate a little , and let mee drayn my boggy soule from those corrupted , inbred humors of collapsed nature , and when the tender blossomes of my youthfull vanitie shall begin to fade , my setled understanding will begin to knot , my solid judgement will begin to ripen , my rightly guided will be resolved , both what to seeke , and when to find , and how to prize ; till then my tender youth , in her pursuit , will bee disturb'd with every blast of honour , diverted with every flash of pleasure , misled by Counsell , turned back with feare , puzzl'd with doubt , interupted by Passion , withdrawne with prosperitie , and discurag'd with adversitie . TAke heed my soul , when thou hast lost thy self in thy journey , how wilt thou find thy God at thy journeys end ? Whom thou hast lost by too long delay , thou wilt hardly find with too late ●diligence . Take time while time shall serve , that day may come wherein Thou shalt seek the Lord , but shalt not finde him● Hos. 5. 6. Esay 55. 6. Seeke the Lord while he may bee found , call upon him while he is neare . Heb. 12. 17. He found no place for repentance , though hee sought it with teares carefully . Thou foole , this night will I take thy soule from thee . Revel. 2. 21. I gave her a space to repent , but shee repented not ; Behold therefore I will cast her . Greg. lib. Mor. Seeke God whilst thou canst not see him , for when thou seest him thou canst not find him : seeke him by hope and thou shalt finde him by faith ; In the day of grace hee is invisible , but neare ; in the day of judgement he is visible , but farre off . Ber. Ser. 24. If wee would not seeke God in vaine , let us seeke him in truth , often , and constantly ; Let us not seeke another thing in stead of him , nor any other thing with him , nor for any other thing , leave him . O My soule , thou hast sought wealth , and hast either not found it , or cares with it ; thou hast sought for pleasure , and hast found it , but no comfort in it : Thou soughtest honour and hast found it , and perchance fallen with it : Thou soughtest friendship , and hast found it false : societie , and hast found it vaine ; And yet thy God , the fountaine of all wealth , pleasure , honour , friendship , and societie , thou hast slighted as a toy not worth the finding : Be wise , my soule , and blush at thy owne folly . Set thy desires on the right obj●ct : Seeke wisdome , and thou shalt find knowledge , and wealth , and honour , and length of dayes : Seeke heaven , and earth shall seeke thee ; and deferre not thy Inquest , lest thou lose thy opportunitie : To day thou maist find him , whom to morrow thou mayst seek with teares , and misse : Yesterday is too late , to morrow is uncertaine , to day is onely thine : I , but my soule , I feare my too long delay hath made this day too late ; feare not my soule , hee that has given thee his Grace to day will forget thy neglect of yesterday , seeke him therefore by true repentance , and thou shalt find him in thy Prayer . His Prayer . O God , that like thy pretious Word art hid to none , but who are lost , and yet art found by all that seek thee with an upright heart , cast downe thy gratious eye upon a lost sheep of Israel , strayed through the vanitie of his unbridled youth , and wandred in the wildernesse of his owne invention . Lord I have too much delighted in mine owne wayes , and have put the evill day too farre from mee ; I have wallowed i● the pleasures of this deceitfull world , which perish in the using , and have neglected thee my God , at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore : I have drawne on iniquitie as with Cart-ropes , and have committed evill with greedinesse : I have quencht the motions of thy good spirit , and have delayed to seeke thee by true and unfaigned repentance : In stead of seeking thee whom I have lost , I have withdrawne my selfe from thy presence when thou hast sought mee . It were but justice therefore in thee to stop thine eares at my petitions , or turne my Prayers as sinne into my bosome ; But Lord , thou art a gratious God , and full of pity , and unwearied compassion , and thy loving kindnesse is from generation to generation : Lord , in not seeking thee I have utterly lost my selfe , and if-thou find mee not . I am lost for ever , and if thou find mee , thou canst not but finde me in my sinnes , and then thou find'st mee to my owne destruction . How miserable O Lord is my condition ! How necessary is my confusion ! that have neglected to seeke thee , and therefore am afraid to bee found of thee . But Lord if thou looke upon the all-sufficient merits of thy Sonne , thy justice will bee no loser in shewing mercy upon a sinner ; In his name therefore I present my selfe before thee ; in his merits I make my humble approach unto thee ; in his name I offer up my feeble Prayers ; for his merits grant mee my petitions . Call not to mind the rebellions of my flesh , and remember not O God the vanities of my youth : Inflame my heart with the love of thy presence , and reli●● my meditations with the pleasure of thy sweetnesse . Let not the consideration of thy justice overwhelm me in despaire , nor the meditation o● thy mercy perswade mee to presume . Sancti●fie my will by the wisedome of thy Spirit , tha● I may desire thee as the chiefest good . Quicke● my desires with a servent zeale , that I may seeke my Creator in the dayes of my youth● Teach mee to seeke thee according to thy wil● and then bee found according to thy promise that living in mee here by thy grace , I may here after raigne with thee in glory . The Hypocrites Prevarication . THere is no such stuffe to make a cloake on as Religion : nothing so fashionable , nothing so profitable ; it is a Livery , wherein a wise man may serve two masters , God and the world , and make a gainefull service by either : I serve b●ah , and in both , my selfe , in prevaricating with both . Before man none serves his God with more severe devotion , for which among the belt of men I work my own ends , & serve my self . In private I serve the world , not with so strict devotion , but with more delight , where fulfilling of her servants lusts I work my end , and serve my self : The house of Prayer who more frequents then I ? In all Christian duties who more forward then I ? I fast with those that fast , that I may eate with those that eate : I mourne with those that mourne : No hand more open to the cause then mine , and in their families none prayes longer and with louder zeale : Thus when the opinion of a holy life hath cryed the goodnesse of my conscience up , my trade can lack no custome , my wares can want no price , my words can need no credit , my actions can lack no praise : If I am covetous , it is interpreted providence ; if miserable , it is counted temperance ; if m●lancholly , it is construed godly sorrow ; if merry , it is voted spirituall joy ; if I be rich , t is thought the blessing of a godly life ; if poor , supposed the fruit of conscionable dealing ; if I be well spoken of , it is the merit ●f holy conversation ; if ill , it is the malice of Malignants ; thus I saile with every winde , and have my end in all conditions . This Cloake in Summer keepes mee coole , in winter warme , and hides the nasty Bag of all my secret lusts : Under this Cloake I walke in publique fairely , with applause , and in private sinne securely without offence , and officiate wisely without discovery ; I compasse Sea and land to make a Proselyte , and no sooner made but he makes mee . At a Fast I cry Geneva , and at a Feast I cry Rome . If I bee poore , I counterfeit abundance to save my credit ; if rich , I dissemble povertie to save charges . I most frequent Schismaticall Lectures , which I find most profitable , from whence learning to divulge and maintaine new doctrines , they maintaine mee in suppers thrice a weeke ; I use the helpe of a lie , sometimes as a Religious Stratagem to uphold the Gospell , and I colour oppression with Gods judgement executed upon the wicked . Charity I hold an extraordinary dutie , therefore not ordinarily to bee performed . VVhat I openly reprove abroad for my owne profit , that I secretly act at home , for my owne pleasure . BUt stay , I see a hand-writing in my heart lamps my soule , 't is characterd in these sa● words , W●e hee to you Hypoerites , Match 23. 13. Job 20. 5. The triumphing of the wicked is short , and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment . Job 15. 34. The Congregation of the hypocrites shall bee desolate . Psal. 11. 9. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour , but through knowledge shall the just bee delivered . Luke 12. 1. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie . Job 36. 13. The hypocrites in heart heape up wrath , they die in their youth , and their life is amongst the uncleane . Salvian . de Gubern . Dei . l. 4. The hypocrites love not those things they professe , and what they pretend in words they disclaime in practise ; their sinne is the more damnable , because ushered in with pretence of pietie , having the greater guilt because it obtaines a godly repute . Hieron. Ep. Endeavour rather to be , then to be thought holy ; for what profits it thee to bee thought to be what thou art not ? and that man doubles his guilt , who is not so holy as the world thinkes him , and counterseits that holinesse which be bath not . HOw like a living Sepulcher did I appeare ! without , beautified with gold and rich invention ; within , nothing but a loathed corruption : So long as this faire Sepulcher was clos'd , it past for a curious Monument of the Builders Art , but being opened by these spirituall Keyes , 't is nothing but a Receptacle of offensive putrefaction : In what a nasty dungeon hast thou my soule , so long remain'd unstifled ? How wert thou wedded to thy owne corruptions , that could'st endure thy unsavory filthinesse ? The world hated mee , because I seemed good ; God hated mee , because I onely seemed good : I had no friend but my selfe , and this friend was my bosome enemy : O my soule , is there water enough in Jordan to cleanse thee ? Hath Gilead Balme enough to heale thy superannuated sores ? I have finned , I am convinced , I am convicted : Gods mercy is above Dimensions , when sinners have not sinn'd beyond Repentance : Art thou my soule truly penitent for thy 〈◊〉 Thou hast free Interest in his mercy : fall then my soule before his Mercy seate , and he will crown thy Pemitence with his pardon . His Prayer . O God before the brightnesse of whose All-discerning eye the secrets of my heart appeare , before whose cleare omniscience the very entralls of my soule lie open , who art a God of righteousnesse , and truth , and lovest uprightnesse in the inward parts : How can I choose but feare to thrust into thy glorious presence , or move my sinfull lips to call upon that Name which I so often have dishonored , and made a Cloake to hide the basenesse of my close transgressions ? Lord , when I look into the progresse of my filthy life , my guilty conscience calls mee to so strict account , and reflects to mee so large an Inventory of my presumptuous sinnes , that I commit a greater sinne in thinking them more infinite then thy mercy . But Lord thy mercies have no date , nor is thy goodnesse circumscribed . The gates of thy compassion are alwayes open to a broken heart , and promise entertainement to a contrite spirit ; the burthen of my sinnes is grievous , and the remembrance of my hypocrisie is intolerable ; I have finned against thy Majesty with a high hand , but I repent mee from the bottome of an humble heart : As thou hast therefore given mee sorrow for my sinnes , so crowne that gift in the freenesse of remission : Bee fully reconcil'd to mee , through the all-sufficient merits of thy Sonne my Saviour , and seale in my afflicted heart the full assurance of thy gratious favour : Bee thou exalted O God above the heavens , and let mee praise thee with a single heart ; cleanse thou my inward parts O God , and purifie the closet of my polluted soule : Fix thou my heart O thou searcher of all secrets , and keepe my affections wholly to thee . Remove from mee all by and base respects that I may serve thee with an upright spirit . Take not the word of truth out of my mouth , nor give mee over to deceitfull lips ; Give mee an inward reverence of thy Majestie , that I might openly confesse thee in the truth of my sinceritie . Bee thou the onely object , and end of all my actions , and let thy honour bee my great r●ward : Let not the hopes of filthy lucre , or the praise of men incline me to thee , neither let the pleasures of the world nor the feares of any losse entice mee from thee . Keepe from mee those judgements my hypocrisie hath deserved , and strengthen my resolution to abhorre my former life : Give me strength O God to serve thee with a perfect heart in the newnesse of life , that I may bee delivered from the old man , and the snares of death . Then shall I praise thee with my entire affections , and glorifie thy name for ever and ever● The Ignorant mans faltering . YOu tell mee , and you tell me that I must bee a good man , and serve God , and doe his will ; and so I doe for ought I know : I am sure I am as good as God has made mee , and I can make my selfe no better , so I cannot : And as for serving God , I am sure I goe to Church as well as the best in the Parish , though I bee not so fine ; and I make no question , if I had better cloathes , but I should doe God as much credit as another man , though I say it : And as for doing Gods will , I beshrew mee , I leave that to them that are booke-learn'd , and can doe it more wisely : I beleeve the Vicar of our Parish can doe it , and has done it too , as well as any within five miles of his head , and what need I trouble my selfe to doe what is so well done already ? I hope hee being so good a Churchm●n , and so great a Schollard , and can speake Lati●e too , would not leave that to so simple man as I. It is enough for mee to know , that God is a good man ; and that the ten Commandements are the best prayers in all the book , unlesse it bee the Creede . And that I must love my neighbour as well as he loves mee , and for all other Quilicoms , they shall never trouble my braines , an grac● a God . Let mee goe a sundays and serve God , obey the King , ( God blesse him ) doe no man no wrong , say the Lords Prayer every morning and evening , follow my worke , give a Noble to the poore at my death , and then say Lord have mercy upon mee , and goe away like a Lambe , I make no question but I shall deserve heaven as well as he that weares a gayer coate : But yet I am not so ingrant neither , nor have not gone so often to Church , but I know Christ died for mee too , as well as for any other man : I 'de bee sorry else ; and that , next to our Vicar , I shall goe to heaven when I am dead as soone as another ; nay more , I know there bee two Sacraments , bread and wine , and but two , ( though the Papists say there bee six or seven ) and that I verily beleeve I shall be saved by those Sacraments , & that I love God above all , or else 't were pitty of my life , and that when I am dead and rotten , ( as our Vicar told mee ) I shall rise againe and be the same man I was . But for that , hee must excuse mee , till I have better sartifaction ; for all his learning , he cannot make me such a foole , unlesse hee shew mee a better reason for 't , then yet hee has done . BUt one thing hee told me , now I thinke on 't , troubles me woundly , namely that God is my Master , all which I confesse ; and that I must doe his will ( whether I know how to doe it or nor ) or else it will goe ill with me ; I le read it ( he said ) out of Gods Bible , and I shall remember the words so long as I have a day to live , which are these , He that knoweth not his masters will and doth things worthy of stripes , shall bee beaten with few stripes , Luke 12. 48. 1 Cor. 14. 20. Brethren bee not children in understanding , howbeit in malice be ye children , but in understanding be men . 1 Cor. 15. 34. Awake to righteousnesse and sin not , for some have not ●the knowledge of God , I speake it to your shame . Ephes. 4. 18. Walke not in the vanitie of your minds , having the understanding darkned , being alienated from the life of God , through the Ignorance which is in you , because of the blindnesse of your hearts . Levit. 5. 17. And if a soule sinne and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord , though hee wist it not , yet is hee guilty , and shall beare his iniquitie . 2 Thes. 1. 7. 8. The Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven , with his mightie Angels , in flaming fire , taking vengeance on them that know not God . Greg. Mag. Moral . It is good to know much , and to live well ; but if wee cannot attaine both , it is better to desire piety then wisedome , for knowledge makes no man happy , nor doth blessednesse consist in intellectuals . The onely brave thing is a religious life . To sin against knowledge is so much the greater offence then an ignorant trespasse , by how much the crime which is capable of no excuse , is more hainous then the fault which admits a tolerable plea . Iustin , Mart. Resp. ad orthod. HOw well it had been for thee O my soule , if I had bookelarnd ; Alas I cannot reade , and what I heare , I cannot understand ; I cannot profit as I should , and therefore cannot be as good as I would , for which I am right sorry : That I cannot serve as well as my betters , hath been often a great griefe to me , and that I have been so ingran● in good things , hath been a great heart-breaking to me : I can say no prayers for want of knowledge to reade , but Our Father and the Creede : But the comfort is , God knowes my heart , but ● trust in God Our Father , being made by Christ himselfe , will bee enough for me that know not how to make a better . I indeavour to doe all our Vicar bids me , and when I receive the Communion I truely forgive all the world for a fortnight after or such a matter , but then some old injury makes me forget my selfe , but I cannot helpe it , an my life should lie on t . O my ingrant soule , what shall I do to bee saved ? All that I can say is , Lord have mercy upon me , and all that I can doe is but to doe my good will , and that I le doe with all my heart , and say my prayers too as well as God will give mee leave , an grace a God . His Prayer . O God the Father of heaven have mercy upon me miserable sinner ; I am as I must needs confes●e a sinfull man , as my forefathers were before mee : I have heard many Sermons and have had many good lessons from the mouths of painefull Ministers , but through the dulnesse of my understanding , and for want of learning I have not profited ●o much as else I should have done , spare mee therefore O God , spare mee whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood , and bee not angry for ever ; I must confesse the painefulnesse of my calling , and the heavinesse of my owne nature hath taken from mee the delight of hearing thy Word , and the ignorance of learning which I was never brought upto , hath kept me from reading it , that insomuch , in stead of growing better , I feare I have growne worse and worse , and have been so far from doing thy will , that I doe not understand what thy will is , very well . But thou O mercifull God that didst reveale thy selfe to poore Shepherds and Fishermen that had no more learning then I , have mercy upon mee for Jesus Christ his sake . Thou that hast promised to instruct the simple , and to leade the ignorant into thy way , be● good and mercifull to mee I beseech thee ; Thou that drawest the needy out of the dust , and the poore out of the dunghill , give me the knowledge of thy will , and teach me how to serve thee : Take from me the drowzinesse of my heart , open mine eyes that I may see the truth , and mine eares that I may understand thy Word , and strengthen my memory that I may lay it up in my heart , and show it in my life and vocation to thy glory and my comfort , and the comfort of my friends . Lord write thy will in my heart , that when I know it I may doe it willingly : O teach me what thy pleasure is that I may doe my best to performe it : Give mee faith to lay hold of Christ Jesus who died for mee , that after I am dead I may ri●e againe and live with him : Give mee a good heart that I may deale honestly with all men , and doe as I would be done to . Blesse mee in my calling , and prosper the labour of my hands , that I may have enough to feed mee and cloathe me , and to give to the poore : Mend all that is amisse in me , and expect from me according to the measure thou hast given me . Forgive me all my sinnes , and make mee willing to please thee , that living a good life I may make a gratious death , and so at last I may come to heaven and live for ever , for Jesus Christ his sake , Amen . The sloathfull mans slumber . O What a world of Curses , the eating of the forbidden fruit hath brought upon mankinde ! and unavoydably entail'd upon the sonnes of men ! Among all which no one appeares to me more terrible and full of sorrow , and bewraying greater wrath , then that insufferable , that horrible punishment of labour , and to purchase Bread with so extreame a price as sweat : But O what happe , what happinesse have they , whose dying Parents have procured a quie● fortune for their unmolested Children , and conveigh'd descended Rents to their succeeding heirs , whose easie and contented lives may sit and suck the sweetnesse of their cumberlesse estates , and with their folded hands enjoy the delicates of this toylsome world ! How blessed , how delicious are those easie morsells , that can finde the way to my soft palat , and then attend upon the wanton Leasure of my silken slumbers , without the painefull practise of my bosome folded hands or sad contrivement of my studious and contracted Browes ! Why should I tire my tender youth , and ●orture out my groaning dayes in ●oyle and travell ? and discompose the happy peace of my harmonious thoughts with painefull grinding in the common mill of dull mortalitie ? Why should I rob my craving eyelids of their delightfull Rest , to cark and care , and purvey for that Bread which every work-abhorring vagabo●d can finde of Almes at every good mans doore ? Why should I leave the warme protection of my care-beguiling Doune , to play the droyling drudge for daily food , when the young empty R●vens ( that have no hands to worke , nor providence , but heaven ) can call and be supplied ? The pale fac'd Lilly and the blushing Rose , neither spinnes nor s●wes , yet princely Solomon was never robed with so much glory . And shall I then afflict my body and beslave my heaven-borne soule to purchase , Rags to cloathe my nakednesse ? Is my condition worse then Sheepe , ordain'd for slaughter , that crop the springing Grasse , cloath'd warme in soft Arrayment , purchac'd without their Providence or paines ? Or shall the pamper'd Beast that shines with fatnesse , and growes wanton through his carefull Groomes indulgence find better measure at the worlds too partiall hands then I ? Come , come , let those take paines that love to leave their names enroll'd in memorable monuments of Parchment ; The day has griefe enough without my helpe ; and let Tomorrow●● shoulders beare to morrows burthens . BUt stay my soule , O stay thy rash resolves , take heed whilst thou avoyd the punishment of sinne , labour , thou meet not the reward of idle●esse , a judgement ; The idle soule shall suffer hunger , Prov. 19. 15. Eccles. 10. 18. By much slothfulnesse the building decayeth , and through idlenesse of the hands , the house droppeth thorough . Exod. 16. 49. Behold this was the iniquitie of thy s●ster Sodome , pride , fulnesse of Bread , and abundance of idlenesse was in her and in her daughters , neither did shee strengthen the band of the poore and needy . Prov. 6. 6 , 7 , 8. Goe to the Pismire O sluggard , behold her wayes and be wise . For she having no guide , governour , nor ruler , prepareth her meat in Summer , and gathereth her food in harvest . Nilus in Paraenes . Idlenesse is the wombe or fountaine of all wickednesse : for it consumes and wastes the riches and vermes which wee have already , and disinables us to get those we have not . Nilus in Paraen . Was bee to the idle soul● , for he shall hunger after that which his riot consumed . HOw presumptuously hast thou my soule , transgrest the expresse Commandement of thy God! How hast thou dasht thy selfe against his judgements ! How hath thy undeserving hand usurpt thy diet and wearest on thy back the wages of the painefull soule ! Art thou not condemned to Rags , to Famine , by him whose Law commanded thee to labour ? And yet thou pamper'st up thy sides with stollen food , and yet thou deck'st thy wanton body with unearn'd ornaments ? whiles they that spend their daily strength in their commanded callings ( whose labour gives them interest in them ) want Bread to feed , and Rags to cloathe them . Thou art no young Rav●n my soule , no Lilly : Where abilitie to labour is , there Providence meets action , and crownes it : Hee that forbids to cark for to morrow , denies Bread to the Idlenesse of to day : Consider , O my soule thy owne delinquency , and let imployment make thee capable of thy Gods protection : The Bird that sits is a faire mark for the Fowler , while they that use the wing escape the danger ; follow thy calling , and heaven will follow thee with his Blessing : What thou hast formerly omitted , present repentance may redeeme , and what judgements God hath threatned , early Pe●itions may avert . His Prayer MOst great and most glorious God , who for the sinne of our first parents hast condemned our fraile bodies to the punishment of labour , and hast commanded every one a Calling and a Trade of life , that hatest idlenesse as the root of evill , and threatnest povertie to the slothfull hand ; I thy poore suppliant convicted by thy judgements and conscious of my own transgression , flie from my selfe to Thee , and humbly appeale from the high Tribunall of thy Justice , and seeke for refuge in the Sanctuary of thy Mercy : Lord , I have led a life displeasing to thee , and have been a scandall to my profession ; I have slighted those Blessings which thy goodnesse hath promised to a conscionable calling , and have swallowed downe the Bread of idlenesse ; I have impaired the Talent thou gavest me , and have lost the opportunity of doing much good : I have filled my heart with idle imaginations , and have layd my felse open to the lusts of the flesh : I have abused thy favours in the misexpending of my pretious time , and have taken no delight in thy Sabbaths ; I have doted too much on the pleasures of this world , and like a Droane have fed upon the hony of Bees . If thou O God shouldst bee extreame to search my wayes with too severe an eye , thou couldst not choose but whe● thy indignation , and powre the vialls of thy wrath upon mee ; looke therefore not upon my sinnes , O Lord , but through the merits of my Saviour , who hath made a full satisfaction for all my sinnes : What through my weaknesse I have fail'd to doe , the fulnesse of his sufferings hath most exactly done : In Him O God in whom thou art well pleased , and for his sake bee gracious to my finne ; Alter my heart and make it willing to please thee , that in my life I may adorne my profession : Give me a care and a conscience in my calling , and grant thy blessing to the lawfull labours of my hand ; Let the fidelitie of my vocation improve my Talent , that I may enter into my Masters joy : Rouze up the dulnesse and deadnesse of my heart , and quench those flames of lust within mee . Assist mee O God in the redemption of my time , and deliver my soule from the evilnesse of my dayes ; Let thy providence accompany my moderate endeavours , and let all my imployments depend upon thy providence , that when the labours of this sinfull world shall cease , I may feele and enjoy the benefit of a good conscience , and obtaine the rest of new Jerusalem in the Eternity of glory . The proud mans Ostentation . I ' Le make him feele the weight of displeasure , and teach him to repent his saucy boldnesse : How dare his basenesse once presume to breathe so neare my person , much more to take my name into his dunghill mouth ? me thinks the lustre of my sparkling eye might have had the power to astonish him into good manners , and sent him back to cast his mind into a faire Petition , humbly presented with his trembling hand . But thus to presse into my presence , to presse so neare my face , and then to sp●ake , and speake to me , as if I were his equall , is more then sufferable : The way to be contemn'd is to digest contempt ; but he that would be honour'd by the vulgar sort must wisely keepe a distance : A countenance that 's reserv'd , breeds feare and observation : but aff●bility and too easie an accesse makes fooles too bold , and reputation cheape : What price I set upon my owne deserts , instructs opinion how to prize me : That which base ignorance miscalls thy pride , is but a conscious knowledge of thy meri●s : dejected soules , craven'd with their owne dis●rusts , are the worlds Footballs to be kickt & spurnd , but brave and true heroick spirits that know the strength of their owne worth , shall baffold basenesse , and presumption into a reverentiall silence , and spite of envie flourish in an honorable repute . Come then my soule , advance thy noble , thy sublimer thoughts , and prize thy self according to those parts , which all may wonder at , few imitate , but none can equall : Let not the insolent affronts of vassals interrupt thy Peace , nor seeme one s●ruple lesse then what thon art : Bee thou thy selfe , Respect thy selfe , receive thou honour from thy selfe ; Rejoyce thy selfe in thy self , and prize thy selfe for thy selfe ; Like Caesar admit no equall , and like Pompey , acknowledge no superior . Be covetous of thine owne Honour , and hold anothers glory as thy injury . Renounce humilitie as an Heresie in reputation , and meeknesse as the worst disease of a true-bred noble Spirit ; Disparage worth in all but in thy selfe , and make anothers infamy a foyl to magnifie thy glory . Let such as have no reason to bee proud , be humbled of necessitie , and let them that have no parts to value , be despondent . But as for thee , thy Cards are good , and having skill enough to play thy hopefull Game , vie boldly , conquer and triumph . BUt stay my soule , the Trump is yet unturn'd , boast not too soon , nor call it a faire day till night , the turning of a hand may make such alterations , in thy flat'ring fortunes , that all thy glorious expectations may chance to end in losse , and unsuspected ruine . That God which thrust that Babylonian Prince from his Imperiall Throne , to graze with beasts , hath said , The Lord will destroy the house of the proud , Prov. Prov. 11. When pride commeth , then commeth shame , but with the lowly is wisdome . Jer. 11. 15. Heare ye , and give eare , and be not proud , for the Lord hath spoken . Esay 2. 12. The day of the Lord of Hosts shall bee upon every one that is proud and loftie , and upon every one that is lifted up , and he shall be brought low . Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is abomination to the Lord . St. James . God rejecteth the proud , and giveth grace to the simple . Isidor . Hispal . Pride m●de Satan fall from the highest heaven , therefore they that pride themselves in their virtues , imitate the Devill ; and fa●l more dangerously , because they aspire and climbe to the highest pitch , from whence is the greatest fall . Greg. Mor. Pride growes stronger in the root whilst it braves it selfe with presumptuous advances , yet the higher it climes the lower it fals : for he that heightens himselfe by his owne pride , is always destroyed by the judgement of God . HOw wert thou muffled O my soule ! How were thine eyes blinded with the corruption of thine owne heart ! When I beheld my selfe by my owne light , I seem'd a glorious thing ; My sanne knew no eclipse , and all my imperfections were gilded over with vaine-glory : But now the day-spring from above hath shin'd upon my heart , and the diviner light hath driven away those foggy mists ; I finde my selfe another thing : My Diamonds are all turn'd Pebbles , and my glory is turn'd to shame . O my deceived foule , how great a darknesse was thy light ? The thing that seem'd so glorious , and sparkled in the night , by day appeares but rotten wood : and that bright Gh●-worme , that in darkenesse out-shined the Chrysolite , is by this new-found light no better then a crawling worme : How inseparable O my soule is pride and folly ! which like Hippocrates ●winnes still live and die together ? It blinds the eye , befooles the judgement , knowes no superiours , hates equals , disdaines inferiors , the wise mans scorne , and the fooles Idol ; Renounce it O my soule , lest thy God renounce thee ; Hee that hath threatned to resist the proud , hath promised to give Grace to the humble , and what true Repentance speakes , free mercy heares and crownes . His Prayer . O God the fountaine of all true Glory , and the griver of all free grace , whose Name is onely honorable , and whose workes are onely glorious , that shewest thy wayes to bee meeke , and takest compassion upon an humble spirit , that hatest the presence of a loftie eye , and destroyest the proud in the imaginations of their hearts , vouchsafe , O Lord , thy gratious eare , and heare the sighing of a contrite heart : I know O God , the qualitie of my sinne can look for nothing but the extremitie of thy wrath : I know , the crookednesse of my condition can expect nothing but the Fornace of thy indignation ; I know , the insolence of my corrupted nature can hope for nothing but the execution of thy judgements ; Yet Lord , know withall , thou art a gracious God , of evill repenting thee , and slow to wrath ; I know thy nature and propertie is to show compa●●ion , apt to conceive , but readier to forgive : I know thou takest no pleasure in destruction of a sinner , but rather that hee should repent and live : In confidence , and full assurance whereof I am here prostrate on my bended knees , and with an humble heart : Nor doe I presse into thy holy presence , tru●ing in my owne merits , le●t thou shouldest deale by me , as I have dealt by others , but being encouraged by thy gracious invitation , and heavy laden with the burthen of my sinnes , I come to thee O God , who art the refuge of a wounded soule , and the Sanctuary of a broken spirit : Forgive , O God , forgive me , what is past recalling , and make mee circumspect for the time to come : Open mine eyes that I may see how vaine a thing I am , and how polluted from my very birth : Give me an insight of my owne corruptions , that I may truely know , and loath my selfe . Take from me all vaine-glory , and selfe-love , and make mee carelesse of the worlds applause : Endue mee with an humble heart , and take this haughty spirit from me ; Give me a true discovery of my owne merits , that I may truely feare and tremble at thy judgements . Let not the worlds contempt deject me , nor the disrespects of man dismay mee . Take from mee O God a scornefull eye , and curbe my tongue that speakes presumptuous things : Plant in my heart a brotherly love , and cherish in me a charitable affection ; Possesse my soule with patience O God , and establish my heart in the feare of thy name , that being humbled before thee in the meeknesse of my spirit , I may bee exalted by thee through the freenesse of thy Grace , and crowned with thee in the kingdome of glory . The covetous mans care . BEleeve mee , the Times are hard and dangerous : Charitie is growne cold , and friends uncomfortable ; an emptie Purse is full of sorrow , and hollow Bagges make a heavy heart : Povertie is a civill Pestilence , which frights away both friends and kindred , and leaves us to a Lord have mercy upon us : It is a sicknesse very catching and infectious , and more commonly abhord then cured : The best Antidote against it is Angelic● , and Providence , and the best Cordiall is Aurumpotabile . Gold-taking fasting is an approved soveraigne . Debts are ill humors , and turne at last to dangerous obstructions : Lending is a meere consumption of the radicall humour , and if consumed , brings a patient to nothing . Let others trust to Courtiers promises , to friends performances , to Princes favours ; Give me a Toy call'd Gold , give me a thing call'd Mony . O blessed Mammon , how extreamely sweet is thy all-commanding presence to my thriving soule ! In banishment thou art my deare companion ; In captivitie , thou art my pretious ransome . In trouble and vexation thou art my daintie rest . In sicknesse , thou art my health ; in griefe , my onely joy ; in all extremitie , my onely trust : Vertue must vaile to thee ; Nay Grace it selfe not relisht with thy sweetnesse would even displease the righteous palates of the sonnes of men , Come then my soule , advise , contrive , project : Goe , compasse Sea , and Land : leave no exploit untryed , no path untrod , no time unspent ; afford thine eyes no sleepe , thy head no re●t : Neglect thy ravenous belly , uncloathe thy backe ; deceive , betray , sweare and forsweare to compasse such a friend : If thou bee base in birth , 't will make thee honorable ; If weak in power , it will make thee formidable : Are thy friends few ? 'T will make them numerous . Is thy cause bad ? 'T will make thee Advocates . True , wisedome is an excellent helpe , in case it bend this way ; and learning is a gentile Ornament , if not too chargeable : yet by your leave , they are but estates for ●earme of life : But everlasting Gold , if well advantag'd , will not onely blesse thy dayes , but thy surviving children from generation to generation . Come , come , let others fill their braines with deare bought wit , turne their pence into expencefull chari●e , and store their bosomes with unprofitable pietie ; let them lose all to save their imaginary consciences , and begger themselves at home to be thought honest abroad ; Fill thou thy baggs and barnes , and lay up for many yeers and take thy rest . BUt O my soule , what follows , wounds my heart and strikes me on my knees . Thou foole this night will I take thy so●k from thee , Luk. 12. 20. St. Matth. 6. 24. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon . Job 20. 15. He● hath swallowed downe riches , and he shall vomit them up againe : God shall cast them out of his belly . Prov. 15. 17. He that is greedy of gaine troubles his owne house , but he that hateth gifts shall live . 2 Pet. 2. 3. Through covetousnesse they shall with feigned words make marchandize of you , whose judgement now of a long time lingreth not , and whose damnation slumbreth not . Nilus in Paraenes . W●e to the covetous , for his riches forsake him , and hell fire takes him . S. August . O thou covetous man , why dost thou treasure up such hidden mischiefe ? why dost thou dote on the Image of the King stamped on coyne , and hate●t the Image of God that shines in men ? August . The riches which thou treasurest up are lost , those thou charitably besto●est is truely thine . VVHat think'st thou now my soule ? If the judgment of holy men may not informe thee , let the judgements of thy angry God enforce thee : Weigh thy owne carnall affections with the sacred Oracles of heaven , and light and darknesse are not more contrary . What thou approvest , thy God condemnes ; What thou desirest , thy God forbids : Now my soule , if Mammon be God , follow him , if God be God , adher● to him ; Thou canst not serve God and Mammon , If thy conscience feele the hooke , nibble no longer . Many sinnes leave thee in the way , this followes thee to thy lives end ; the roote of evill , the canker of all goodnesse : It blinds Justice , poysons Charity , strangles Conscience , be slaves the affections , betrayes friendship , breakes all relations : It is a roote of the Devills owne planting : Pluck it up : Thinke not that a pleasure which God hath threatned ; nor that a blessing which heaven hath cursed : Devoure not that which thou or thy heyre must vomit up : Bee no longer posse● with such a Devill , but cast him out : and if hee bee too strong , weaken him by Fasting , and exorcise him by Prayer . His Prayer . O God that art the fulnesse of all riches and the Magazeen of all treasure , in the enjoyment of whose favour the smallest morsell is a rich inheritance and the coursest Pulse is a large portion ; without whose blessing , the greatest plenty enriches not , and the highest diet nourishes not ; how have I ( an earthworm , and no man ) fixt my whole heart upon this trasitory world , and neglected thee the onely desiderable good ! I blush O Lord to confesse the basenesse of my life , and am utterly asham'd of mine owne foolishnesse : I have placed my affections upon the nasty Rubbish of this world , and have slighted the inestimable Pearle of my salvation ; I have wallow'd in the mire of my inordinate desires , and refused to bee washt in the streames of thy compassion ; I have put my confidence into the faithfulnesse of my servant , and have doubted the providence of thee my gratious Father ; I have served unrighteous Mammon with greedinesse , and have preferred drosse and dung before the Pearly gates of New Jerusalem ; Thou hast promised to bee all in all to those that feare thee , and not to faile the soule that trusts in thee ; but I refused thy gratious offer , and put my confidence in the vanity of the Creature : But gratious God to whom Repentance never comes unseasonable , that find ' ●t an ●are when sinnes finde a tongue , regard the con●rition of a bleeding heart , and withdraw not thy mercy from a pensive soule . Give mee new thoughts O God , and with thy holy Spirit new mould my desires : Informe my will and sanctifie my affections , that they may relish thy sweetnesse with a full delight . Create in me O God a spirituall sense , that I may take pleasure in things that are above . Give mee a contented thankfulnesse for what I have , that I may neither in povertie forsake thee , nor in plentie forget thee ; Arme me with a continuall patience , that I may cheerfully put my trust in thy providence . Moderate my care for momentary things , that I may use the world as if I used it not . Let not the losse of any earthly good too much deject mee , lest I should sinne with my lippes and charge thee foolishly . Give mee a charitable hand O God , and fill my heart with brotherly compassion , that I may chearefully exchange the corruptible treasure of this world into the incorruptible riches of the world to come , and proving a faithfull steward in thy spirituall houshold , I may give up my account with joy , and bee made partaker of thy eternall joy in the kingdome of thy glory . The Self-lovers Self-fraud . GOd hath required my heart and he shall have it : God hath commanded truth in the inword parts , and hee shall bee obeyed : My soule shall praise the Lord , and all that is within me , and I will serve him in the strength of my desires . And in common cases the tongues profession of his name is no lesse then necessary : But when it lies upon a life , upon the saving of a livelihood , upon the flat undoing of a reputation , the case is altered : My life is deare , my faire possessions pretious , and my reputation is the very Apple of mine eye . To save so great a slake , mee thinks equivocation is but veniall , if a sinne . If the true loyaltie of mine heart stands sound to my Religion and my God ; my well-informed Conscience tels mee that in such extremities my frighted tongue may take the priviledge of a S●●●● or a mentall reservation , if not in the expression of a faire compliances What ? shall the reall breach of a holy Sabbath , dedicated to Gods highest glory bee tolerated for the welfare of an Oxe ? May that breach bee set upon the score of m●rcy , and commended above sacrifice for the savegard of an Asse ? And may I not dispense with a bare lippe deniall of my urg'd Religion for the necessary preservation of the threatned life of a man ? for the saving of the whole livelihood and subsistence of a Christian ? What ? shall I perish for the want of food , and die a Mart●● to that foolish conscience which forbids mee to rub the eares of a little standing Corne ? Iaco● could purchase his sick fathers blessing with a downe-right lye , and may I not di●semble for a life ? The young mans great possessions taught his timerous tongue to shrinke from an decline his hearts profession , and who could blame him ? Come , if thou freely give thy house , canst thou in conscience bee denied a hiding-roome for thy protection ? The Syrian Captaine ( hee whose heart was fixt on his now firme resolv'd , and true devotion ) reserv'd the house of Rimm●n for his necessary attendance , and yet went in peace . Peter ( upon the rock of whose confession , the Church was grounded ) to save his liberty , with a false , nay with a perjur'd tongue ; nay more , at such a time when as the Lord of life ( in whose behalfe hee drew his Sword ) was question'd for his innocent life , denied his Master ; and shall I bee so great an unthrist of my blood , my life , to lose it for a meere lippe-deniall of that Religion which now is setled and needs no blood to seale it ? BUt stay ! my Conscience checks me , there 's a judgement thunders . Harke ; He that denies me before men , him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven , Match . 10. 33. 2 Tim. 3. 1 , 2. Know that in the latter dayes perillous times shall come : For men shall be lovers of their owne selves . Esay 45. 23. I have sworne by my selfe , the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousn●sse , and shall not return , that unto mee every knee shall bow , and every tongue shall sweare . Rom. 10. 10. with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousnesse , and with the mouth confession is made to salvation . Luke 9. 26. Whosoever shall bee ashamed of me and my words , of him shall the Sonne of man bee ashamed , when hee shall come in Glory . August . The love of God and the world are two different things : if the love of this world dwell in thee , the love of God forsakes thee ; renounce that , and receive this , it 's fit the more nobler love should have the best place and acceptance . Theoph. It is not enough onely to beleeve with the heart , for God will have us confesse with our mouth ; every one that confesses that Christ is God , shall finde Christ professing to the Father that that man is a faithfull servant ; but those that deny Christ shall receive ( th●● fearefull doome Nescio vos ) I know you 〈◊〉 . MY soule , in such a time as this when the civill Sword is warme with slaughter , and the wasting kingdome welters in her blood , wouldst thou not give thy life to ransome her from ruine ? Is not the God of heaven and earth worth many kingdomes ? Is thy welfare more considerable then his glory ? dar'st thou deny him for thy owne ends , that denied thee nothing for thy good ? Is a poore clod of earth wee call Inheritance , prizable with his greatnesse ? Or a puffe of breath wee call life , valuable with his honour , in comparison of whom the very Angels are impure ? Blush O my soule at thy owne guilt : Hee that accounted his blood , his life not worth the keeping to ransome thee a wretch , lost by thy owne rebellion , deserves hee not the abatement of a lust , to keepe him from a new crueifying ? My soule , if Religion bind thee not , if judgements terrifie thee not , if naturall affection in●line thee not , yet let common reason perswade thee to love him above a trifle , that loved thee above his life : And thou that hast so often denied him , deny thy self for ever , and he will own thee ; repent and hee 'l pardon thee , pray to him and he will heare thee . His Prayer . O God , whose glory is the end of my creation , and whose free mercy is the cause of my redemption , that gavest thy Sonne , thy onely Sonne to die for mee , who else had perished in the common deluge of thy wrath ; What shall I render for so great a mercy ? What thankfulnesse shall I returne for so infinite a love ? Alas , the most that I can do is nothing , the best that I can present is worse then nothing , sinne : Lord , if I yeeld my body for a sacrifice , I offer nothing but a lumpe of filth , and loathsome putrifaction ; or if I give my soule in contribution , I yeeld thee nothing but thy Image quite defaced and polluted with my lusts ; or if I spend the strength of the whole man , and with both heart and tongue confesse and magnifie thy Name ; how can the praises of my sinfull lips , that breath from such a sink , bee pleasing to thee ? But Lord , since thou art pleased in thy well-pleasing Sonne to accept the povertie of my weake endeavours , send downe thy holy Spirit into my heart , clense it from the filth of my corruptions , and make it fit to praise thee : Lord open thou my mouth , and my lips shall shew forth thy praise . Put a new song into my mouth , and I will praise thee and confesse thee all day long ; I will not hide thy goodnesse in my mouth , but will bee showing forth thy truth , and thy salvation ; Let thy prayses be ●y honour , and let thy goodnesse be the subject of my undaunted Song . Let neither reputation , wealth , nor life been pretious to mee in comparison with thee : Let not the worlds derision daunt mee , nor examples of infirmitie deject me Give mee courage and wisedome to stand for thy honour ; O make mee worthy , able and willing to suffer for thy Name . Lord teach me to deny my selfe , and to resist the motions of my owne corruptions ; create in mee O God a single heart , that I may love the Lord Jesus in sinceritie ; remember not O Lord the sinnes of my feare , and pardon the hypocrisie of my self-love . Wash me from the staines and guilt of this my hainous offence , and deliver mee from this fearefull judgement thou hast threatned in thy Word : Convince all the Arguments of my unsanctified wit , whereby I have become an advocate to my sinne . Grant that my life may adorne my profession , and make my tongue an instrument of thy glory . Assist me O God that I may praise thy goodnesse , and declare thy wonders among the children of men : Strengthen my faith that it may trust Thee ; and let my works so shine , that men may praise thee ; That my heart beleeving unto righteousnesse , and my tongue confessing to salvation , I may be acknowledg'd by thee here , and glorified by thee in the kingdome of glory . The worldly mans Verdour . FOr ought I see the case is even the same with him that prayes , and him that does not pray ; with● him that sweares and him that feares an oath : I see no difference ; if any ; those that they call the wicked have the advantage . Their crops are even as faire , their flocks as numerous as theirs , that weare the ground with their religious knees , and fast their bodies to a skelliton ; nay in the use of blessings ( which onely makes them so ) they farre exceed ; they tearme mee reprobate , and stile mee unregenerate : 'T is true , I ●ate my labours with a jolly heart ; drinke frolick cups ; sweeten my paines with time-beguiling sports , make the best advantage of my owne , pray when I thinke on 't , sweare when they urge mee , heare Sermons at my leasure ; follow the lusts of my owne eyes , and take the pleasure of my own wayes ; and yet , God bee thanked , my Barnes are furnisht , my sheepe stand sound , my Cattle strong for labour , my pastures rich and flourishing , my body healthfull , and my bagges are full , whilst they that are so pure , and make such conscience of their wayes , that run to Sermons , ●igge to Lectures , pray thrice a day by the hower , hold faith and troth prophane , and drinking healths a sinne , doe often finde leane harvests , easie flocks , and emptie purses : Let them bee godly that can live on Ayre and Faith ; and eaten up by Zeale , can whine themselves into an Hospitall , or blesse their lippes with charitable scrapps . If godlinesse have this reward , to have short meales for long prayers ; weake estates , for strong faiths , and good consciences upon such bad conditions , let them boast of their pennyworths , and let mee bee wicked● still , and take my chance as falls . Let mee have judgement to discover a profitable Farme , and wit to take it at an easie Rent , and Gold to stock it in a liberall manner , and skill to manage it to my best advantage , and luck to finde a good encrease , and providence to husband wisely what I gaine , I seeke no further , and I wish no more . Husbandry and Religion are two severall occupations , and looke two severall wayes , and he is the onely wise man can reconcile them . BUt stay , my soule , I feare thy reckoning failes thee ; If thou hast judgement to discover ; wit , to bargaine ; Gold , to employ ; skill , to manage ; providence , to dispose ; canst thou command the Clouds to droppe ? or if a wet season meet thy Harvest and with open sluces overwhelme thy hopes ; canst thou let downe the floodgates , and stop the watry Flux ? Canst thou command the Sunne to shine ? Canst thou forbid the Mildewes , or controll the breath of the malignant East ? Is not this Gods sole Prerogative ? And hath not that God said , When the workers of iniquitie doe flourish , it is the● that shall be destroyed for ever , Psal. 92. 12. Job 21. 7. Wherefore doe the wicked live , become old , yea are mightie in power ? 8. Their seed is establisht in their sight , and their off-spring before their eyes . 9. Their houses are safe from feare , neither is the wrath of God upon them . 10. Their Bull gendereth , and faileth not , their Cow calveth , and casteth not her Calfe . 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock , and their children daunce . 12. They take the Timbrell , and the Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ . 13. They spend their dayes in wealth , and in a moment they goe downe to the Grave . Nil . in Paraenes . Woe bee to him that pursues emptie and fading pleasures : because in a short time hee fats , and pampers himselfe as a Calfe to the slaughter . Bernard . There 's no misery more true and reall , then false and counterfeit pleasure . Hierom. It 's not onely difficult , but impossible , to have heaven here and hereafter : To live in sensuall lusts , and to attaine spirituall blisse ; to passe from one paradise to another , to be a mirrour of felicitie in both worlds , to shine with glorious rayes both in this globe of earth , and the orbe of heaven . HOw sweet a feast is , till the reckoning come ! A faire day ends often in a cold night , and the road that 's pleasant ends in Hell : If worldly pleasures had the promise of continuance , prosperitie were some comfort ; but in this necessary vieissitude of good and evill , the prolonging of adversitie sharpens it : It is no common thing , my soule , to enjoy two heavens : Dives found it in the present , Lazarus in the future : Hath thy encrease met with no damage ? thy reputation , with no scandall ? thy pleasure , with no crosse ? thy prosperitie , with no adversitie ? Presume not : Gods checks are symptomes of his mercy : but his silence is the Harbinger of a judgement . Bee circumspect , and provident my soule : Hast thou a faire Summer ? provide for a hard Winter : The worlds River ebbes alone ; it flowes not : Hee that goes merrily with the streame , must hale up : Flatter thy selfe therefore no longer in thy prosperous sinne , O my deluded soule , but be truly sensible of thy owne presumption : Look seriously into thy approaching danger , and humble thy selfe with true contrition : If thou procure sowre Hearbs , God will provide his Passeover . His Prayer . HOw weake is man O God , when thou forsakest him ! How foolish are his Counsels , when hee plots without thee ! How wilde his progresse , when hee wanders from thee ! How miserable till hee returne unto thee ! How his wit failes ! How his wisedome falters ! How his wealth melts ! How his providence is befool'd ! and how his soule beslav'd ! Thou strik'st off the Chariot wheeles of his Inventions , and hee is perplext : Thou confoundest the Babel of his imaginations , and he is troubled : Thou crossest his designes that hee may feare thee , and thou stop'st him in his wayes that he may know thee . How mercifull art thou O God , and in thy very judgements Lord how gracious ! Thou mightst have struck me into the lowest pit as easily as on these bended knees , and yet been justified in my confusion : But thou hast threatned like a gentle father , as loath to punish thy ungracious childe . Thou knowest the crooked thoughts of man are vaine , still turning point to their contrivers ruin ; Thou saw'st me wandring in the maze of death , whilst I with violence pursued my owne destruction : But thou hast warn'd me by thy sacred Word , and tooke me off that I might live to praise the● . Thou art my confidence O God ; Thou art the rock , the rock of my salvation . Thy Word shall bee my guide , for all thy paths are Mercy and Truth : Lord when I looke upon my former worldlinesse , I utterly abhorre my conversation : strengthen mee with thy assistance , that I may leade a new life , make mee more and more sensible of my owne condition , and perfect thou the good worke thou hast begun in mee : In all my designes bee thou my Counsellour , that I may prosper in my undertakings . In all my actions bee thou my guide , that I may keepe the path of thy Commandements . Let all my owne devises come to nought , lest I presume upon the Arme of flesh ; let not my wealth encrease without thy blessing , lest I bee fatted up against the day of slaughter ; Have thou a hand in all my just imployments , then prosper thou the worke of my hands , O prosper thou my handy-worke : That little I enjoy , confirme it to me , and make it mine , who have no interest in it till thou owne mee as thy Child : Then shall my soule rejoyce in thy favours , and magnifie thy name for all thy mercies : Then shall my lips proclaime thy loving kindnesse , and sing thy praises for ever and for ever . The Lascivious mans Heaven . CAn flesh and blood bee so unnaturall to forget the Lawes of Nature ? Can blowing youth immure it selfe within the Icey walls of Vestall Chastitie ? Can lusty diet , and mollicious rest bring forth no other fruits , but faint desires , rigid thoughts , and Pblegmatick , conceits ? should wee bee stock● and stones , and ( having active soules ) turne altogether passives ? Must wee turne Anch●rites and spend our dayes in Caves , and Hermitages , and smother up our pretious houres in cloysterd folly , and recluse devotion ? Can Rosie cheekes , can Ruby lippes , can snowy brests and sparkling eyes , prescut their beauties and perfections to the sprightly view of young mortalitie , and must wee stand like Statues without sense or motion ? Can strict Religion impose such cruell Taskes , and even impossible commands upon the raging thoughts of her unhappy votaries , as to withstand and contradict the instinct , and very principles of Nature ? Can faire-pretending pictie be so barbarous to condemn us to the flames of our affections , and make us Martyrs to our owne desires ? Is 't not enough to conquer the rebellious Actions of imperious flesh , but must wee manacle her hands , darken her eyes , nay worse , restraine the freedome of her very thoughts ? Can full perfection bee expected here ? Or can our worke be perfect in this vale of imperfection ? This were a life for Angels , but a task too hard for fraile , for transitory man . Come , come , we are but men , but flesh and bl●od , and our borne frailties cannot grapple with such potent tyranny . What nature and necessitie requires us to doe , is veniall , being done . Come , strive no more against so strong a streame , but take thy fill of beautie ; solace thy wanton heart with amorous contemplations , cloathe all thy words with courtly Rhetorick , and soften thy lips with dialects of love ; surfeit thy selfe with pleasure , and 〈◊〉 thy passion into warme delights ; VValke into Natures universall Bower , and pick what flower does most surprize thine eye ; drink of all waters , but be tied to none . Spare neither cost nor paines , to compasse thy desires . Enjoy varieties ; Emparadise thy soule in fresh delights . The change of pleasure makes thy pleasure double . Ravish thy senses with perpetuall choyce , and glut thy soule with all the delicates of love . BUt hold ! There is a voyce that whispers in my troubled eare , a voyce that blanks my thoughts , and stops the course of my resolves ; A voyce that chills the bosome of my soule and fills me with amazement : Harke , They which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God , Gal. 5. 21. Exod. 20. 14. Thou shalt not commit Adultery . Matth. 5. 28. Whosoever lookes upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart . Rom. 13. 13. Let us walke honestly as in the day , not in rioting , nor in drunkennesse , nor in chambering , nor in wantonnesse . 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstaine from fleshly lusts , which warre against the soule . Nilus in Paraen . Woe bee to the fornicator and adulterer , for his garment is defiled and spotted , and the heavenly Bridegroome casts him out from his chast nuptialls . A world of presumptuous and hainous offences doe arise and spring from the filthy fountaine of adulterous lust , whereby the gate of heaven is shut , and poore man excluded from God . S. Gregor. Mor. Hence the flesh lives in sensuall delights for a moment , but the immortall soule perisheth for ever . LUst is a Brand of originall fire , rak'd up in the Embers of flesh and blood ; uncover'd by a naturall inclination , blowne by corrupt communication , quencht with fasting and humiliation : It is rak'd up in the best , uncovered in the most , and blowne in thee O my lustfull soule ; O turne thine eare from the pleadings of Nature , and make a Covenant with thine eyes : Let not the language of Delilah inchant thee , left the hands of the Philis●ims surprize thee : Review thy past pleasures , with the charge and paines thou hadst to compasse them , and show mee , where 's thy pennyworth ? Foresee what punishments are prepa'rd to meet thee , and tell mee , what 's thy purchase ? Thou hast barterd away thy God for a lust ; sold thy eternitie for a trifle ; If this bargaine may not bee recall'd by teares , dissolve thee O my soule into a Spring of waters ; if not to be revers'd with price , reduce thy whole estate into a Sackcloth , and an Ashtub . Thou whose Liver hath scorch't in the flames of lust , humble thy heart in the Ashes of repentance : And as with Esau thou hast sold thy Birthright for Broth , so with Iacob wrestle by Prayer till thou get a blessing . His Prayer . O God , before whose face the Angels are impure ; before whose cleare omniscience all Actions appeare , to whom the very secrets of the hearts are open ; I here acknowledge to thy glory and my shame , the filthinesse and vile impuritie of my Nature ; Lord , I was filthy in my very conception , and in filthiness my mothers wombe enclosed me , brought forth in filthinesse , and filthy in my very innocency , filthy in the motions of my flesh , and filthy in the apprehensions of my soule : my words all cloath'd with filthinesse , and in all my actions filthy and uncleane , in my inclination filthy , and in the whole course of my life nothing but a continued filthinesse . Wash mee O God , and make mee cleane , cleanse me from the filthinesse of my corruption ; Purge me O Lord with Hyssop and create a cleane heart within mee : Correct the vagrant motions of my flesh , and quench the fiery darts of Satan ; Let not the Law of my corrupted members rule mee ; O let concupiscence have no dominion over mee : Give mee courage to fight against my lusts , and give my weakenesse strength to overcome ; make sharpe my sword against this body of sinne , but most against my Delilah , my bosome sinne . Deliver mee from the tyranny of temptation , or give mee power to subdue it : Confine the libertie of my wanton appetite , and give mee temperance in a sober diet ; Grant mee a heart to strive with thee in Prayer , and hopefull patience to attend thy leisure ; Keepe mee from the habit of an idle life , and close mine eares against corrupt communication ; Set thou a watch before my lippes , that all my words may savour of sobrietie : Preserve mee from the vanitie and pride of life , that I may walke blamelesse in my conversation ; Protect mee from the fellowship of the uncleane , and from all such as are of evill report . Let thy Grace O God bee sufficient for mee , to protect my soule from the buffetings of Satan ; Make mee industrious and diligent in my calling , left the enemy get advantage over me : In all my temptations let mee have recourse to thee . Bee thou my refuge when I call upon thee ; Forgive O God the sinnes of my youth , O pardon the multitudes of my secret sinnes : Encrease my hatred to my former life , and strengthen my resolution for the time future : Heare mee O God , and let the words of my mouth bee alwayes acceptable to ●hee , O God my strength and my Redeemer . The Sabbath-breakers profanation . THe glittering Prince that sits upon his regall , and imperiall Throne , and the ignoble P●sant that sleeps within his sordid house of Thatch are both alike to God : An Ivory Temple and a Church of Clay are priz'd alike by him : The flesh of Bulls , and the perfumes of Merrh and Cassia smoake his Altars with an equall pleasure : And does he make such difference of dayes ? ' Is hee that was so weary of the New-Moones , so taken with the Sunne to tie his Sabbath to that onely day ? The tenth in tithes is any one in tenne , and why the seventh day not any one in seaven ? We sanctifie the day , the day not us : But are we Iewes ? Are we still bound to keepe a legall Sabbath in the strictnesse of the Letter ? Have the Gentiles no priviledge , by the vertue of Messia●s comming , or has the Evangelicall Sabbath no immunities ? The service done , the day 's discharg'd , my libertie restored ; And if I meet my profits , or my pleasures then , I 'le give them entertainment . If businesse call mee to account , I dare afford a carefull care . Or if my sports invite me , I 'le entertaine them with a cherefull heart : I 'le goe to Mattens with as much devotion as my neighbour , I 'le make as low obeysance , and as just responds as any ; but soone as Evensong 's ended , my Church-devotion and my Psalter shall sanctifie my Pue till the next Sabbath call ; Were it no more for an old custome sake , then for the good I find in Sabbaths , that Ceremony might as well bee spared . It is a day of Rest : And what 's a Rest ? A relaxation from the toyle of labour : And what is labour but a painefull exercise of the fraile body ? But where the exercise admits no toyle , there Relaxation makes no Rest : What labour is it for the worldly man to compasse Sea and Land to accomplish his desires ? What labour is it for the impatient lover to measure Hellespont with his widened armes to hasten his delight ? What labour for the youth to number mu●ick with their sprightly paces ? Where pleasure 's reconcil'd to labour , labour is but an active rest ; Why should the Sabbath then , a day of rest , divorce thee from those delights that make thy Rest ? Afflict their soules that please , my rest shall bee what most conduces to my hearts delight . Two howers will vent more prayers then I shall need , the rest remaines for pleasure . COnscience , why start'st thou ? A judgement strikes mee from the mouth of heaven , and saith , Whosoever doth any worke on my Sabbath , his soule shall be cut off , Exod. 31. 14. Exod. 20. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day , six dayes shalt thou labour , and doe all that thou hast to doe , but the seventh day , &c. Exod. 31. 14. Ye shall keepe my Sabbath , for it is holy unto you . Exod. 31. 13. Verily my Sabbaths thou shalt keep , for this is a signe betwixt mee and you , throughout your Generations . Luke 23. 56. And they returned and prepared spices , and oyntments , and rested on the Sabbath day according to the Commandement . Gregor. Wee ought upon the Lords day to rest from bodily labour , and wholly to addict our selves to prayers , that what soever hath been done amisse , the weeke before , may upon the day of our Lords resurrection be expiated and purged by fervent prayers . Cyr. Alex. Sinne is the storehouse of death and misery , it kindles flames for it 's dearest friends . Therefore whosoever when he should rest from sinne , busieth himselfe in the dead and fruitlesse workes of wickednesse , and renouncing all piety , lusts after such things as will bring him into eternall destruction , and everlasting flames , justly deserves to die & perish with the damned ; because when he might have enjoyed a pious rest , he laboured to run headlong to his own destruction . MY soul , how hast thou profaned that day thy God hath sanctified ! How hast thou encroach'd on that which heaven hath set apart ! If thy impatience cannot act a Sabbath twelve houres , what happinesse canst thou expect in a perpetuall Sabbath ? Is six dayes too little for thy selfe , and two houres too much for thy God ? O my soule , how dost thou prize temporalls beyond eternalls ? Is it equall that God , who gave thee a body , and six dayes to provide for it , should demand one day of thee , and bee denied it ? How liberall a receiver art thou , and how miserable a Requiter ! But know my soule , his Sabbaths are the Apple of his eye : Hee that hath power to vindicate the breach of it , hath threatned judgements to the breaker of it . The God of mercy that hath mitigated the rigor of it for charity sake , will not diminish the honour of it for profanenesse sake : forget not then my soule to remember his Sabbaths , and remember not to forget his judgements , lest hee forget to remember thee in Mercy : What thou hast neglected , bewaile with contrition , and what thou hast repented , forsake with resolution , and what thou hast resolved strengthen with devotion . His Prayer . O Eternall , just , and all-discerning Judge ; in thy selfe , glorious ; in thy Sonne , gracious ; who tryest without a witnesse , and condemnest without a Jury ; O! I confesse my very actions have betray'd me , thy word hath brought in evidence against mee , my owne conscience hath witnessed against me , and thy judgement hath past sentence against mee : And what have I now to pleade but mine owne misery , and whither should that misery flee but to the God of mercy ? And since O Lord the way to mercy is to leave my selfe , I here disclaime all interest in my self , and utterly renounce my selfe : I that was created for thy glory , have dishonored thy Name ; I that was made for thy service , have profaned thy Sabbaths ; I have sleighted thy Ordinances , & turned my back upon thy Sanctuary ; I have neglected thy Sacraments , abused thy Word , despis'd thy Ministers and despis'd their ministery ; I have come into thy Courts with an unprovided heart , and have drawne neare with uncircumcised lippes ; And Lord I know thou art a jealous God , and most severe against all such as violate thy ●est ; The glory of thy Name is pretious to thee , and thine honour is as the Apple of thine eye ; But thou O God that art the God of Hosts , hast published and declared thy self the Lord of mercy ; The constitution of thy Sabbath was a worke of time , but Lord thy mercy is from all eternitie ; I that have broke thy Sabbaths , doe here present thee with a broken heart ; thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not heale , nor thy eare deafned that thou canst not heare ; Stretch forth thy hand O God and heale my wounds . Bow downe thine eare O Lord● and heare my Prayers ; Alter the fabrick of my sinfull heart , and make it tender of thy glory ; Make mee ambitious of thy service , and let thy Sabbaths bee my whole delight ; Give mee a holy reverence of thy Word , that it may prove a light to my steppes and a Lanthorne to my feet . Endue my heart with Charity and Faith that I may finde a comfort in thy Sacraments . Blesse thou the Ministers of thy sacred Word , and make them holy in their lifes , sound in their doctrine and laborious in their callings . Preserve the universall Church in these distracted times ; give her peace , unitie , and uniformity , purge her of all Schisme , error and superstition ; Let the Kings daughter be all glorious within , and let thine eyes take pleasure in her beautie , that being honor'd here to bee a member of her Militant , I may be glorified with her triumphant . The censorious mans Crimination . I Know there is much of the seed of the Serpent in him by his very lookes , if his words betray'd him not ; He hath eaten the Egge of the Cockatrice , and surely hee remaineth in the state of perdition ; He is not within the Covenant , and abideth in the Gall of bitternesse ; His studied Prayers show him to bee a high Malignant , and his Iesu-worship concludes him popishly affected ; Hee comes not to our private meetings , nor contributes a penny to the cause : Hee cries up learning , and the booke of Common-Prayer , and takes no armes to hasten Reformation ; Hee feares God for his owne ends , for the spirit of Antichrist is in him . His eyes are full of Adulteries , and goes a whoring after his owne inventions : Hee can heare an oath from his superiors without reproof , and the heathenish Gods named without spitting in his face : Wherefore my soule detesteth him , and I will have no conversation with him ; for what fellowship hath light with darknesse , or the pure in heart with the uncleane ? Sometimes hee is a Publican , sometimes a Pharisee , and alwayes an Hypocrite ; Hee railes against the Altar as loud as we , and yet he cringes and makes an Idol of the name of Iesus ; hee is quick-sighted to the infirmities of the Saints , and in his heart rejoyceth at our failings ; hee honours not a preaching ministery , and too much leanes to a Church-government ; hee paints devotion on his face , whilst pride is stampt within his heart : hee places sanctitie in the walls of a Steeple-house , and adores the Sacrament with his popish knee ; His Religion is a Weathercock , and turnes brest to every blast of wind . With the pure hee seemes pure , and with the wicked hee will joyne in fellowship ; A sober language is in his mouth , but the poyson of Aspes is under his tongue : His workes conduce not to edification , nor are the motions of his heart sanctified ; Hee adores great ones for preferment , and speakes too partially of authority : Hee is a La●dicean in his faith , a Nicolaitane in his workes , a Pharisee in his disguise , a rank Papist in his heart , and I thanke my God I am not as this man . BUt stay my soule , take heed whilst thou judgest another , lest God judge thee ; how com'st thou so expert in anothers heart , being so often deceived in thy owne ? A S●ul to day may prove a Paul to morrow ; Take heed whilst thou wouldst seeme religious thou appeare not uncharitable ; and whilst thou judgest man , thou be not judg'd of God , who saith Iudge not , lest yee bee judged , Matth. 7. 1. John 7. 24. Iudge not according to appearance , but judge righteous judgement . Rom. 14. 10. But why dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother ? Wee shall all stand before the judgement seate of Christ . 1 Cor. 4. 5. hudge nothing before the time , untill the Lord , who will both bring to light the hidden things of darknesse , and will make manifest the counsell of the heart . Rom. 14. 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more , but judge this rather , that no man put a stumbling block , or an accusation to fall in his brothers way . Psal. 50. 6. God is Iudge himselfe . St. August . Apparent and notorious iniquities ought both to bee reproved and condemned , but wee should never judge such things as we understand not , nor can certainly know whether they be done with a good or evill intent . S. August . When thou knowest not apparently , judge charitably ; because it 's better to think● well of the wicked , then by frequent censuring to suspect an innocent man guilty of an offence . S. Aug. The unrighteous Iudge shall bee justly condemned . HAs thy brother , O my soule , a beame in his eye ? And ha●t thou no m●●te in thine ? Cleare thine own , and thou wilt see the better to cleanse his : I● a Theese bee in his Candle , blow it not out , le●t thou wrong , the flame , but if thy snuffers bee of Gold , snuffe it : Has hee offended thee ? Forgive him : Hath hee srespass'd against the Congregation ? Reprove him : Hath hee sinned against God ? Pray for him . O my soule , how uncharitable hast thou been ? How Pharisaically hast thou judg'd ? Being sick of the Iaundies , how hast thou censur'd another yellow ? And with blotted fingers made his blurre the greater ? How has the pride of thy owne heart blinded thee toward thy selfe ? How quick-sighted to another ! Thy brother has slipt , but thou hast fallen , and hast blancht thy owne impiety with the publishing his sinne : Like a Flie , thou stingest his fores , and feed'st on his corruptions ; Jesus came eating and drinking , and was judg'd a glutton ; Iohn came fasting , and was challeng'd with a devill ; Judge not my soule , lest thou bee judged ; maligne not thy brother , lest God laugh at thy destruction : Wouldst thou escape the punishment ! judge thy selfe : Wouldst thou avoyd the sinne ? humble thy selfe . His Prayer . O God that art the onely searcher of the Reines , to whom the secrets of the heart of man are onely known , to whom alone the judgement of our thoughts , our words and deeds belong , and to whose sentence wee must stand or fall , I a presumptuous sinner that have thrust into thy place and boldly have presumed to execute thy office , doe here as humbly confesse the insolence of mine attempt , and with a sorrowfull heart repent me of my doings ; and though my convinced conscience can look for nothing from thy wrathfull hand but the same measure which I measured to another , yet in the confidence of that mercy which thou hast promised to all those that truely and unfeignedly beleeve , I am become an humble suitor for thy gratious pardon : Lord , if thou search mee but with a favourable eye , I shall appeare much more unrighteous in thy sight , then this my uncharitably condemned brother did in mine ; O looke not therefore , Lord , upon mee as I am , lest thou abhor me ; but through the merits of my blessed Saviour cast a gratious eye upon mee ; Let his humilitie satisfie for my presumption , and let his meritorious sufferings answer for my vile uncharitablenesse ; let not the voyce of my offence provoke thee with a stronger cry , then the language of his Intercession . Remove from mee O God all spirituall pride , and make me little in my owne conceite ; Lord light mee to my selfe , that by thy light I may discerne how dark I am ; Lighten that darkenesse by thy holy Spirit , that I may search into my owne corruptions : And since O God all gifts and graces are but nothing , and nothing can bee acceptable in thy sight without charity ; quicken the dulnesse of my faint affections , that I may love my brother as I ought : Soften my marble heart that it may melt at his infirmities ; Make me carefull in the examination of my owne wayes , and most severe against my owne offences : Pull out the beame out of mine owne eye , that I may see clearely , and reprove wisely . Take from mee O Lord all grudging , envy , and malice , that my seasonable reproofes may winne my brother . Preserve my heart from all censorious thoughts , and keepe my tongue from striking at his name : Grant that I make right use of his Infirmities , and reade good Lessons in his failings , that loving him in thee , and thee in him according to thy command , wee may both bee united in thee as members of thee , that thou mayst receive honour from our communion here , and wee eternal glory from thee hereafter in the world to come . The Liars Fallacies . NAy if Religion bee so strict a Law to bind my tongue to the necessitie of a truth on all occasions , at all times , and in all places , the gate ●●too strait for me to enter : Or if the generall ●●les of downeright truth will admit no few ex●●ptions , farewell all honest mirth , farewell all trading , farewell the whole converse betwixt man and man : If alwayes to speake punctuall truth bee the true Symptomes of a blessed soule ; Tom Tell troth has a happy time , and fooles & children are the onely men . If truth sit Regent , in what faithfull brest shall secrets finde repose ? What kingdome can be safe ? What Commonwealth can be secure ? What warre can be succesfull ? What Stra●●● can prosper ? if bloody times should force Religion to sh●oud it selfe beneath my roofe ; upon demand , shall my false truth betr●y it ? Or shall my brothers life , or shall my owne be seis'd upon through the cruell truth of my downe-right confession ? or rather not be secured by a faire officious life ? shall the righteous Favorite of Egypts Tyrant , by vertue of a loud lie , sweeten out his joy and heighten up his soft affection with the Antiperistas●s of teares , and may I not prevari●●ate with a sullen truth to save a brothers life , from a bloodthirsty hand ? Shall Iacob and his ●●oo indulgent mother conspire in a lie to purchase a paternall blessing in the false name , and habit of a supplanted brother , and shall I questi●●ion to preserve the granted blessing of a life , or livelihood , with a harmelesse lie ? Come , come , my soule , let not thy timerous conscien●e check at such poore things as these : So long as thy officious tongue aymes at a just end , a lie is no offence : So long as thy perjurious lippes confirme not thy untruth with an audacious b●ow , thou needst not feare : The weight of the cause releeves the burthen of the Crime : Is thy Center good ? No matter how crooked the lines of the circumference bee : Policy allowes it : If thy journies end be heaven , it matters not how full of Hell thy journey be ; Divinitie allowes it : Wi●t thou condemne the Egyptian Midwives for saving the infant Israelites by so mercifull a lie ? When Martiall execution is to bee done , wilt thou feare to kill ? When hunger drives thee to the gates of death , wilt thou bee affraid to steale ? When civill warres divide a kingdome , will Mercuries decline a lie ? No , circumstances excuse , as well as make the lie ; Had Caesar , S●ioio , or Alexander been regulated by such strict Divinitie , their names had been as silent as their dust : A lie is but a faire put-off , the s●nctuary of a secret , the riddle of a lover , the stragem of a Souldier , the policy of a Statesman , and a salve for many desperate sores . BUt , hark , my soule , there 's something rounds mine eare , and calls my language to a recantation ; The Lord hath spoken it , Liers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with ●ire and brimstone , Revel. 2 1. 8. Exod. 20. Thou shalt not raise a false report . Levit. 19. 11. ●e shall not deale falsly , neither lie one to another . Prov. 12. 22. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord ; but they that deale truly are his delight . Prov. 19. 5. He that speaketh lies shall not escape . Ephes. 4. 25. Put away lying , and every one speake truth with his neighbour , for we are members one of another . Revel. There shall in no wise enter into the new Ierusalem any thing that worketh abomination , or that maketh a lie . St. August . Whosoever thinkes , there 's any kind of lie that is not a sinne , shamefully deceives himselfe , mistaking a lying or c●usening knave for a square or honest man . Gregor. Eschew and avoid all falshood , though sometime certaine kind of untruths are lesse sinfull , as to tell a lie to save a mans life ; yet because the Scripture saith , The lyer slayeth his owne soule , and God will destroy them that tell a lie ; therefore , religious and honest men should alwayes avoyd even the best sort of lies , neither ought another mans life be secured by our falshood or lying , lest we destroy our own soule , in labouring to secure another mans life . VVHat a child O my soule hath thy false bosome harbord ! And what reward can thy indulgence expect from such a father ? What blessing canst thou hope from heaven , that pleadest for the sonne of the devill , and crucifyest the Sonne of God ? God is the Father of truth ; To secure thy estate thou denyest the truth by framing of a lie : To save thy brothers life thou opposest the truth in justifying a lie : Now tell me O my soul , art thou worthy the name of a Christian , that denyest and opposest the nature of Christ ? Art thou worthy of Christ that preferrest thy estate , or thy brothers life before him ? O my unrighteous soul , canst thou hold thy brother worthy of death for giving thee the lie , and thy selfe guiltlesse that makest a lie ? I , but in some cases truth destroyes thy life ; a lie preserves it : My soule , was God thy Creator ? then make not the devill thy preserver : Wilt thou despaire to trust him with thy life that gave it , and make him thy Protector that seeks to destroy it ? Reforme thee and repent thee ; O my soule ; hold not thy life on such conditions , but trust thee to the hands that made thee . His Prayer . O God , that art the God of truth , whose word is truth , that hatest lying lips , and abominatest the deceitfull tongue , that banishest thy presence all such as love or make a lie , and lovest truth , and requirest uprightnesse in the inward parts , I the most wretched of the sonnes of men , and most unworthy to bee called thy sonne , make bold to cast my sinfull eyes to heaven ; Lord I have sinned against heaven and against truth , and have turned thy grace into a lie ; I have renounced the wayes of righteousnesse , and have harbour'd much iniquitie within me , which hath turned thy wrath against me ; I have transgrest against the checks of my owne conscience , and have vaunted of my transgression : which way soever I turne mine eye , I see no object but ●hame and confusion : Lord , when I look upon my self , I find nothing there , but fuell for thy wrath , and matter for thine indignation , and my condemnation . And when I cast mine eyes to heaven , I there behold an angry God , and a severe revenger ; But Lord at thy right hand I see a Saviour , and a sweet redeemer ; I see thy wounded sonne cloathd in my flesh , and bearing mine infirmities , and interceding for my numerous transgressions ; for which my soule doth magnifie thee O God , and my spirit rejoyceth in him my Saviour ; Lord , when thou lookest upon the vast score of my offences , turne thine eyes upon the infinite merits of his satisfaction ; O when thy justice calls to minde my sinnes , let not thy mercy forget his sufferings ; Wash mee , O wash mee in his blood , and thou shalt see me cloathed in his righteousnesse : Let him that is all in all to mee , be all in all for me ; make him to me sanctification justification & redemption : Inspire my heart with the spirit of thy truth , and preserve me from the deceitfulnesse of double tongue : Give mee an inward confidence to relie upon thy fatherly providence , that neither feare may deterre mee , nor any advantage may turne me from the wayes of thy truth : Let not the specious goodnesse of the end encourage mee to the unlawfulnesse of the meanes , but let thy Word bee the warrant to all my actions ; Guide my footsteps that I may walke uprightly , and quicken my conscience , that it may reprove my faylings : Cause me to feele the burthen of this my habituall sinne , that comming to thee by a true and serious repentance , my sinnes may obtaine a full and a gratious forgivenesse : Give me a heart to make a Covenant with my lips , that both my heart and and tongue being sanctified by thy Spirit , may bee both united in truth by thy mercy , and magnifie thy name for ever , and for ever . The Revengefull mans rage . O What a Iul●p to my scorching soule is the delicious blood of my offender ! and how it cooles the burning Fever of my boyling veynes ! It is the Quintessenee of pleasures , the height of satisfaction , and the very marrow of all delight , to bath and paddle in the blood of such , whose bold affronts have turn'd my wounded patience into fury ? How full of sweetnesse was his death , who dying was reveng'd upon three thous●nd enemies ? How sweetly did the younger brothers blood allay the soule-consuming flames of the elder , who tooke more pleasure in his last breath then heaven did in his first Sacrifice ? Yet had not heaven condemned his action , nature had found an Advocate for his passion : What sturdy spirit hath the power to rule his suffering thoughts , or curbe the headstrong fury of his Irascible affections ? Or who but fooles ( that cannot taste an injury ) can moderate their high-bred spirits , and stop their passion in her full carreire ? Let heavy Cynicks , they whose leaden soules are taught by stupid reason to stand bent at every wrong , that can digest an injury more easily then a complement , that can protest against the Lawes of nature , and cry all naturall affection downe , let them be Andirons for the injurious world to work a Heate upon : let them find shoulders to receive the painefull s●ripes of peevish Mortalls , and to beare the wrongs of daring insolence : Let them bee drawne like Calves prepar'd for slaughter , and bow their servile necks to sharpe destruction : let them submit their slavish bosomes to be trod and trampled under foot for every pleasure : My Eagle spiri● flies a higher pitch , and like ambitious Phaeton climbes into the fiery Chariot , and drawne with fury , scorne , revenge , and honor , rambles through all the Spheares , and brings with it confusion and combustion ; my reeking sword shall vindicate my reputation , and rectifie the injuries of my honorable name , and quench it self in plenteous streames of blood . Come tell not mee of Charitie , conscience , or transgression ; My Charitie reflects upon my self , begins at home , and guided by the justice of my passion , is bound to labour for an honorable satisfaction : My conscience is blood-proofe , and I can broach a life with my illustrious weapon with as little reluctation , as kill a Flea that sucks my blood without Commission , and I can drinke a health in blood upon my bended knee to reputation . BUt hark my soule , I heare a languishing , a dying voyce cry up to heaven for vengeance ; It cries aloud , and thunders in my startling eare , I tremble and my shivering bones are fill'd w●●●h horror ; It cries against me , and heare what ●●eaven replies , All that take up the sword shall perish by the sword , Matth. 26. 52. Levit. 19. 18. Thou shall not avenge , or beare any grudge , against the Children of my people , but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe : I am the Lord . Deut. 32. 35. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence . Ezek. 25. 12 , 13. Because that Edom hath delt against the house of Iudah , by taking vengeance , and bath greatly offended , and reveng'd himselfe upon them : Therefore thus saith the Lord God , I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom , and will cut off man and beast from it . Matth. 5. 39. Resist not evill , but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheeke , turne to him the other also . Tertull. What 's the difference between one that doth an injury , and another that out-ragiously suffers it , except that the one is fi●st and the other second in the offence ? but both are guilty of mutuall injury in the sight of God ; who forbids every sinne and condemnes the offender . Tertull. How can wee honou● God if wee revenge our selves ? Gloss. Every man is a murtherer , and shall bee punished as Cain was if hee doe , ( as Caindid ) either ass●ult his brother with violence , or pursue him with hatred . REvenge is an Act of the Irascible affections , deliberated with malice , and executed without mercy : How often O my soule hast thou cursed thy selfe in the perfectest of Prayers ? How often hast thou turn'd the spirituall b●dy of thy Saviour into thy d●mnation ? Can the Sunne rise to thy comfort , that hath so often set in thy wrath ? So long as thy wrath is kindled against thy brother , so long is the wrath of God burning against thee ? O , wouldst thou offer a pleasing sacrifice to heaven ? Goe first and be reconciled to thy brother . I , but who shall right thy honor then ? Is thy honour wrong'd ? Forgive , and it is vindicated . I , but this kind of heart-swelling , can brooke no Powltresse but revenge . Take heed , my soule , the remedy is worse then the disease : If thy intricate distemper transcend thy power , make choyce of a Physitian that can purge that humor that foments thy malady : Rely upon him ; submit thy will to his directions ; hee hath a tender heart , a skilfull hand , a watchfull eye , that makes thy welfare the price of all thy pain●s , expecting no reward , no fee , but prayses , and Thanksgiving . His Prayer . O God , that art the God of peace , and the lover of unitie and concord , that dost command all those that seeke forgivenesse , to forgive ; that hatest the f●oward heart , but shewest mercy to the mecke in spirit : With what a face can I appeare before thy mercy-seate , or with what countenance can I lift up these hands thus stained with my brothers blood ? How can my ●ippes , that daily breath revenge against my brother , presume to owne thee as my father , or expect from thee thy blessing , as thy child ? If thou forgive my trespasses O God , as I forgive my trespassers , in what a miserable estate am I , that in my very prayers condemne my selfe , and doe not onely limit thy compassion by my uncharitablenesse , but draw thy judgements on my head for my rebellion ? That heart O God which thou requirest as a holy present , is become a spring of malice ; These hands which I advance , are ready instruments of base revenge . My thoughts , that should be sanctified , are full of blood , and how to compasse evill against my brother is my continuall meditation : The course of all my life is wilfull disobedience , and my whole pleasure , Lord , is to displease thee : My conscience hath accused me , and the voyce of blood hath cryed against mee : But Lord , the blood of Jesus cries louder then the blood of Abell , and thy mercy is farre more infinite then my sinne . The blood that was shed by me cries . for vengeance , but the blood that was shed for me sues for mercy ; Lord heare the language of this blood , and by the merits of this voyce be reconciled unto mee . That time which cannot be recalled , O give mee power to redeeme , and in the meane time a setled resolution to reforme . Suppresse the violence of my headstrong passion , and establish a meeke spirit within mee . Let the sight of my owne vilenesse take from me the sense of all disgrace , and let the Crowne of my reputation be thy honour ; Possesse my heart with a desire of unitie and concord , and give mee patience to endure what my impenitence hath deserved : Breath into my soule the spirit of love , and direct my affections to their right object ; turne all my anger against that sinne that hath provoked thee , and give me holy revenge , that I may exercise it against my selfe . Grant that I may love thee for thy selfe , my self in thee and my neighbour as my selfe ; Assist me O God , that I may subdue all evill in my selfe , and suffer patiently all evill as a punishment from thee . Give me a mercifull heart , O God ; make it slow to wrath , and ready to forgive ; Preserve me from the act of evill , that I may be delivered from the feare of evill ; that living here in charity with men , I may receive that sentence of , Come ye blessed , in the kingdom of glory . The secure mans Triumph . SO , now my soule thy happinesse is entaild , and thy illustrious name shall live in thy succeeding Generations ; Thy dwelling is establish'd in the fat of all the land : thou hast what mortall heart can wish , and wantest nothing but immortalitie : The best of all the land is thine , and thou art planted in the best of Lands : A land whose Constitutions make the best of Government , which Government is strengthned with the best of ●aws , which Lawes are executed by the best of Princes , whose Prin●e , whose Lawes , whose Government , whose land makes us the happiest of all subjects , makes us the happiest of all people . A land of strength , of plenty , and a land of peace , where every soule may sit beneath his Vine , unfrighted at the horrid language of the hoarse Trumpet , unstartled at the warlike summons of the roaring Cannon . A land whose beautie hath surpriz'd the ambitious hearts of forraigne Princes , and taught them by their martiall Oratory to make their vaine attempts . A land whose strength reades vanitie in the deceived hopes of Conquerours , and crownes their enterprizes with a shamefull overthrow . A land whose native plentie makes her the worlds Exchange , supplying others , able to subsist without supply from forraigne kingdomes ; in it selfe happy ; and abroad , honorable . A land that hath no vanitie , but what by accident proceeds and issues from the sweetest of all blessings , peace , and plentie ; that hath no mi●ery but what is propagated from that blindnesse which cannot see her owne felicitie . A land that flowes with Milke and Hony , and in briefe wants nothing to deserve the title of a Paradise . The Curbe of Spaine , the pride of Germany , the ●yde of Belgia , the scourge of France , the Emperesse of the world , and Queene of Nations : She is begirt with walls , whose builder was the hand of heaven , whereon there daily rides a Navy● Royall , whose unconquerable power proclaimes her Prince invincible , and whispers sad despaire into the fainting hearts of forraig●e Majesty : She is compact within her self , in unitie , not apt to civill discords or intestine broyles ; The envie of all nations ; the ambition of all Princes ; the terror of all enemies , the security of all neighboring States . Let timerous Pulpits threaten ruine , let prophecying Church-men dote , till I beleeve : How often , and how long have these loud sonnes of Thunder false prophesied her desolation ? and yet she stands the glory of the world : Can Pride demolish the Towers that defend her ? Can drunkennes dry up the Sea that walls her ? Can flames of lust dissolve the Ordnance that protect her ? BEe well advis'd my soule ; there is a voy●● from heaven roares louder then those Ordinance , which saith , Thus saith the Lord , The whole land shall be desolate , Jer. 4. 27. Esay 14. 7. The whole earth is at rest , and at quiet , they breake forth into singing . Yea the Firre trees rejoyce at thee , and the Cedars of Lebanon sing , &c. Yet shalt thou be brought downe to hell , to the sides of the Pit. Jer. 5. 12. They have b●lied the Lord , and said , It is not hee , neither shall evill come upon us , neither shall wee see sword , or famine . 1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall . Luke 17. 26. They did eate and drink , and they married wives and were given in marriage , untill the flood came and destroyed them all . Gregor. Mor. A man may as some build a Castle upon the rowling waves , as ground a solid comfort upon the uncertaine ebbs and fluxes of transient pleasures . S. August . Whilst Lot was exercised in suffering reproach and vilence , he continued holy and pure , even in the filth of Sodom : but in the mount being in peace and safetie , he was surprised by sensuall securitie , and defiled himselfe with his owne daughters . 〈◊〉 prosperous and happy state is often the occasion of more miserable ruine , a long peace hath made many men both carelesse and cowardly ; and that 's the most fatall blow when an ●●●xpected enemy surprises us in a deep sleep of peace and security . Greg. Mag. SEcuritie is an improvident carelesnesse , casting out all feare of approaching danger ; It is like a great Calme at Sea , that foreruns a storme : How is this verified O my sad soule in this our bleeding nation ! VVer 't thou not but now for many yeares even nuzzl'd in the bosome of habituall peace ? Didst thou foresee this danger ? Or could'st thou have contrived a way to bee thus miserable ? Didst thou not laugh invasion to scorne ? or didst thou not lesse feare a Civill warre● Was not the Title of the Crowne unquestionable ? And was not our mixt government unapt to fall into diseases ? Did wee want good Lawes ? or did our Lawes want execution ? Did not our Prophets give lawfull warning ? or were wee moved at the sound of Judgments ? How hast thou liv'd O my uncarefull soule to see these prophesies fulfill'd , and to behold the vialls of thy angry God pour'd forth ! Since mercies O my soule could not allure thee , yet let these judgements now at length enforce thee to a true Repentance . Quench the Firebrand which thou hast kindled ; turne thy mirth to a right mourning , and thy feasts of joy to humiliation . His Prayer . O God by whom Kings raigne , and kingdoms flourish , that settest up where none can batter downe , and pullest downe where none can countermand , I a most humble Sutor at the Throne of Grace acknowledge my selfe unworthy of the least of all thy mercies , nay worthy of the greatest of all thy judgements : I have sinned against thee the Author of my beeing , I have sinned against my conscience , which thou hast made my accuser , I have sinned against the peace of this Kingdome , whereof thou hast made me a member : If all should doe O God as I have done , Sodom would appeare as righteous , and Gomorra● would be a president to thy wrat● upon this sinfull nation . But Lord thy mercy is inscrutable , or else my misery were unspeakable , for that mercy sake be gratious to mee in the free pardoning of all my offences . Blot them out of thy remembrance for his sake in whom thou art well pleased : Make my head a fountaine of teares to quench that brand my sinnes have kind●ed towards the destruction of this flourishing kingdome : Blesse this kingdome O God ; Establish it in pietie , honour , peace , and plenty . Forgive all her crying sinnes , and remove thy judgements farre from her . Blesse her governour , thy servant , our dread Soveraigne : Endue his soule with all religious , civill and princely vertues ; Preserve his royall person in health , safetie and prosperitie , prolong his dayes in honour , peace or victory , and crowne his death with everlasting glory . Blesse him in his royall Consort ; unite their hearts in love and true Religion . Blesse him in his Princely issue ; Season their youth with the feare of thy Name . Direct thy Church in doctrine and in discipline , and let her enemies bee converted , or confounded ; Purge her of all superstition and heresie , and root out from her , whatsoever thy hand hath not planted : Blesse the Nobilitie of this land , endue their hearts with truth , loyaltie , and true policy . Blesse the Tribe of Levi , with pietie , learning , and humilitie . Blesse the Magistrates of this kingdome ; give them religious and upright hearts , hating covetousnesse . Blesse the Gentry with sinceritie , charitie , and a good conscience . Blesse the Commonaltie with loyall hearts , painefull hands , and plentifull encrease . Blesse the two great Seminaries of this Kingdome , make them fruitfull and faithfull nurseries both to the Church and Common-wealth . Blesse all thy Saints every where , especially those that have stood in the gappe betwixt this kingdome , and thy judgements , that being all members of that Body , whereof thou Christ art head , we may all joyne in humiliation for our sinnes , and in the propagation of thy honor here , and be made partakers of thy glory in the kingdome of glory . The Presumptuous mans Felicities . TEll bauling Babes of Bugbeares , to fright them into quietnesse , or terrifie youth with old wives sables , to keep their wild affections in owe ; Such Toyes may work upon their timerous apprehensions , when wholesome precepts faile , and find no audience in their youthfull eares : Tell not mee of Hell , Devills , or of damned soules to enforce me from those pleasures which they nickname sinne : What tell ye mee of Law ? My soule is sensible of Evangelicall precepts without the needlesse , and uncorrected thunder of the killiug Letter , or the terrible periphrase of roaring Boanarges , the teadiousnesse of whose language still determines in damnation ; wherein I apprehend God farre more mercifull then his Ministers . T is true , I have not led my life according to the Pharisaicall squire of their opinions , neither have I found judgements according to their prophecies , whereby I must conclude that God is wonderfully mercifull , or they wonderfully mistaken . How often have they thundred ●orment against my voluptuous life : And yet I feele no paine : How bitterly have they threatned shame against the vaunts of my vaine-glory ? Yet find I honor . How fiercely have they preach'd destruction , against my cruelty ? and yet I live . VVhat Plagues against my swearing ? yet not infected : What diseases against my drunkennesse ? and yet sound ; What danger against procrastination ? yet how often hath God been found upon the deathbed ? What damnation to Hypocrites ? yet who more safe ? What stripes to the ignorant ? yet who more scotfree ? What povertie to the slothfull ? yet themselves prosper : VVhat falls to the proud ? yet stand they surest . VVhat curses to the Covetous ? yet who richer ? VVhat judgements to the lascivious ? yet who more pleasure ? VVhat vengeance to the prophane , the censorious , the revengefull ? yet none live more unscourg'd : VVho deeper branded then the Lyer●● yet who more favor'd ? Who more threatned then the presumptuous ? yet who lesse punished ? Thus are wee foold and kept in awe with the strict fancies of those Pulpit-men , whose opinions have no ground but what they gaine from popularitie : Thus are wee frighted from the libertie of Nature by the politick Chimeraes of Religion ; whereby we are necessitated to the observing of those Laws , whereof we find a greater necessitie of breaking . BUt stay , my soule , there is a voyce that darts into my troubled thoughts , which saith , Because thou hast not kept my Lawes , all the curses in this booke shall overtake thee , till thou be destraoed , Deut. 29. Deut. 29. 27. And the anger of the Lord was kind●ed against the land , to bring upon it all the Curses that are written in this book . 2 Chron. 34. 24. Thus saith the Lord , Behold I will bring will upon this place , and upon the inhabitants thereof , even all the curses that are written in the booke . Deut. 28. 15. But if thou wilt not hearken unto the v●yee of the Lord thy God to observe and doe all his Commandements , and his statutes which I command thee this day , all these curses shall come upon thee , and overtake thee . Bernard . It is certaine thou must die , and uncertaine when , how or where ; seeing death is alwayes at thy 〈◊〉 Thou must ( if thou be wise ) ●lwayes be ready to die . Bernard . To commit a sinne is an humane frailtie , to persist in it is a devillish obstinacy . Bernard . There are some who hope in the Lord , but yet in vaine , because they onely smooth and flatter themselves , that God is mercifull , but repent not of their sinne ; such confidence is vaine and foolish , and leads to destruction . PResumption is a sinne , whereby wee depend upon Gods mercies without any warrant from Gods Word : It is as great a sinne , O my soule , to hope for Gods mercy , without Repentance , as to distrust Gods mercy upon Repentance ; In the first thou wrongst his Iustice ; In the last , his mercy : O my presumptuous soule ; let not thy prosperitie in sinning encourage thee to sinne ; lest , climbing without Warrant into his mercy , thou fall without mercy into his judgement : Be not deceived ; a long Peace makes a bloody Warre , and the abuse of continued mercies makes a sharpe judgement : Patience , when slighted , turnes to fury , but ill-requited , starts to vengeance : Thinke not , that thy unpunisht sinne is hidden from the eye of heaven , or that Gods judgements will delay for ever : The stalled Oxe that wallowes in his plenty , and waxes wanton with ease , is not farre from slaughter : The Ephod O my desperate soule , is long a filling , but once being full , the leaden cover must goe on ; and then , it hurries on the wings of the wind : Advise thee then , and whilst the Lampe of thy prosperity lasts , provide thee for the evill day , which being come repentance will bee out of date , and all thy prayers will finde no eare . His Prayer . GRatious God , whose mercy is unsearchable and whose goodnesse is unspeakable , I the unthankfull object of thy continued favours , and therefore the miserable subject of thy continuall wrath , humbly present my self-made misery before thy sacred Majestie ; Lord when I look upon the horridnesse of my sin , shame strikes me dumb : But when I turne mine eie upon the infinitnesse of thy mercy , I am emboldned to poure forth my soule before thee ; as in the one , finding matter for confusion ; so in the other , Arguments for compassion : Lord I have sinned grievously , but my Saviour hath satisfied abundantly ; I have trespassed continually , but he hath suffered once for all : Thou hast numbred my transgressions by the haires of my head , but his mercies are innumerable like the starres of the skie : My sinnes in greatnesse are like the mountaines of the earth , 〈◊〉 his mercy is greater then the heavens : Oh if his mercy were not greater then my sinnes , my sinnes were impardonable ; for his therefore and ●●y mercies sake cover my sinnes , and pardon my transgressions ; make my head a fountain of ●●eares , and accept my contrition O thou Well-●●ring of all mercie : strengthen my resolution , ●●at for the time to come I may detest all sinne : ●●crease a holy anger in me that I may revenge my selfe upon my selfe for displeasing so gratious a Father ; Fill my heart with a feare of thy judgments , and sweeten my thoughts with the meditation of thy mercies : Goe forwards O my God , and perfect thy own work in me , and take the glory of thy owne free goodnesse , furnish my mouth with the prayses of thy name , and replenish my tongue with continuall thanksgiving ; Thou ha●● promised pardon to those that repent ; behold I repent ; Lord quicken my Repentance . Thou mightst have made me a terrible example of thy justice , and struck ●●ee into hell in the height of my presumption ; but thou hast made me capable of thy mercies , and an object of thy 〈◊〉 , for thou art a gratious God , of long-suffering and ●low to anger , thy name is wonderfull , and thy mercies incomprehensible : Thou art onely worthy to bee praised : Let all the people praise thee O God : O let all the people praise thee ; Let Angels and Archangels praise thee , Let the Congregations of Saints praise thee , Let thy works praise thee , Let every thing that breath's praise thee for ever , and for ever , Amen . FINIS .