PROGRESS OF PIETY, 
 
 WHOSE JESSES LEAD INTO THE 
 
 HAEBOUE OF HEAVENLY HEAET'S EASE. 
 
 JOHN VoRDEK 
 
 Rom. XII. 
 Continue in Prayer. 
 
 ^<i REPRINTED FOR 
 
 CJe Parifeer Society, 
 
 FOR THE PCBLICATIOX OF 
 
 THE WORKS OF THE FATHERS AND EARLY WRITERS OF THJ 
 REFORMED ENGLISH CHURCH. 
 
 CAJMBRIDGE : 
 
 PRINTED AT 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. 
 
 M.DCCC.XLVII. 
 
The little volume here presented to the mem- 
 bers of the Parker Society is one of extreme rarity. 
 A copy of it some years since came into the 
 possession of the late George Stokes, Esq., the 
 Society's Honorary Librarian ; but it was an im- 
 perfect one, wanting the title-page and the dedi- 
 cation. To supply these defects, a second copy was 
 searched for in all directions, in the chief of the 
 public libraries, and many private ones, throughout 
 the kingdom, as well as through the booksellers ; 
 but without success. At length, most unexpect- 
 edly, a complete copy was met with, but of a 
 different edition from that of Mr Stokes, and 
 bearing date in its title-page 1596. It was found 
 upon examination to contain several prayers not 
 inserted in the earlier edition ; but the omissions 
 in the later are much more copious than the ad- 
 ditions. It seemed therefore desirable to reprint 
 the first edition complete, and to incorporate with 
 it the new matter supplied in the other. This has 
 been done accordingly, and all the differences of 
 
IV INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. 
 
 matter between the two editions are carefully 
 noted in the margin. 
 
 The more important variations also of readings 
 are recorded : but in publishing a work whose value 
 and use is altogether of a devotional character, it 
 has not been considered necessary to register all 
 tlie verbal discrepancies, except where a reading 
 of the later edition has been substituted for one 
 of the earlier. 
 
 The date of the first edition may be gathered 
 with tolerable accuracy from a passage in p. 95 of 
 this reprint : " Our most sacred queen Elizabeth, 
 in whom, under our good God, w^e have been this 
 thirty -three years almost complete^ so happily de- 
 fended." This stands in the edition of 1596, 
 "thirty-nine years." The conclusion would be, 
 that the earlier edition was published in 1590. 
 But in point of fact, Elizabeth began to reign in 
 November, 1558. Consequently the thirty-ninth 
 year of her reign would not be complete till 
 November, 1597; whereas the year which the 
 title-page assigns to the publication (1596) would 
 terminate, even according to the old computation, 
 eight months before. It may be that this later 
 edition was produced soon after the commencement 
 of the thirty-ninth year of Elizabeth's reign, and 
 in introducing the change from the thirty-third to i 
 the thirty-ninth year extreme accuracy was not 
 attended to. Upon this supposition the earlier 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. 
 
 edition may have been published somewhat late 
 in 1591. 
 
 And this conclusion is strengthened by another 
 circumstance. In p. 110 of the present reprint, 
 we meet with the following : " Such a strong 
 deceiver arose of late, even yesterday^ that hideous 
 Hacket." Now Hacket's conspiracy and execu- 
 tion, according to Strype, (Annals, Vol. it. p. 96, 
 Oxf.) took place in July, 1591. If the book 
 therefore was published in the interval between 
 that and the following November, the language of 
 the reference to Hacket would be strictly accurate. 
 It may be observed that no bibliographer except 
 Low^ndes(see p. 2) makes any mention of the earlier 
 edition, and he does not assign its date. 
 
 As the two copies in question are the only 
 ones whose existence is known of, there are no 
 means of ascertaining whether any other edition 
 was printed in the interval between these two. 
 Nor again, though it is here assumed that the 
 edition of 1590 — 91 was the first, is there any 
 evidence to substantiate it. The probability of 
 it is sustained by the fact of the great alterations 
 made in the book after this edition, as such a re- 
 modelling of the work would be more likely to 
 take place after the first, than after a later, 
 edition. 
 
 Some of the poetical pieces in this volume have 
 been already reprinted by the Parker Society in 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. 
 
 " Select Poetry of the reign of queen Elizabeth," 
 pp. 460, &c. But in the account there given of 
 the author (p. xliii.) it is erroneously stated, that 
 the " Progress of Piety" was ''^ first printed in 
 1596." 
 
 Of the author's history little is known. He 
 published several theological works, of which the 
 " Mirror for the Multitude," mentioned in the be- 
 ginning of the Dedication of the present volume, 
 appeared in 1586, and others both before and after 
 that: but whether he was the same with John 
 Norden, the topographer, is doubtful, though the 
 coincidence in name and time seems to make it 
 probable. He was a layman, as we learn from 
 himself (see p. 118); and his little work here re- 
 published will be appreciated by the friends of the 
 Reformation as a specimen of the degree in which 
 the influence of that great event had leavened the 
 minds of thinking and religious men at that period. 
 And though its author was not numbered among 
 the dignitaries or martyrs who led on that glorious 
 triumph, yet the circumstance of his book being 
 dedicated to the queen, with his own testimony to 
 her majesty's " gracious acceptance of his former 
 travail," must be taken as an indication that its 
 scriptural principles and devotional feelings were 
 in accordance with the tone of religion then pre- 
 vaiHng in our reformed Church. 
 
 It is a satisfaction therefore to the Council of 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. Vll 
 
 the Parker Society to have succeeded in rescuing 
 from oblivion a book of such intrinsic merit and 
 interest, and to introduce it now to an extended 
 circulation as a sample of the practical and de- 
 votional theology of the Elizabethan age. And 
 indeed they would hardly feel excused to their 
 subscribers, several of whom have urged the sub- 
 ject upon their attention, if, besides the more 
 learned works, which are so valuable both intrin- 
 sically and as authoritative documents, they did 
 not put forth some occasional specimens of what 
 may be considered the more popular manuals of 
 that day; of which many, both doctrinal and 
 practical, yet remain. 
 
 November, 1847. 
 
 The following is the list of Norden's works, 
 extracted from Watt, Bibliotheca Britannica, omit- 
 ting those of the topographer, as being of no in- 
 terest to the reader, even if they belong to the 
 same author: — 
 
 1 . A Pensive Man's Practise. 4to. 1585. 1591. 
 
 2. The Sinful Man s Solace. 8vo. 1585. 
 
 3. A Mirrour for the Multitude. 8vo. 1586. 
 
 4. Antithesis; or Contrarietie between the 
 Wicked and the Godly. 1587- 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. 
 
 5. A Reforming Glass. 16mo. 1596. 
 
 6. A Progress of Pietie. 24mo. 1596. 
 
 7. Christian Familiar Comfort and Encourage- 
 ment unto all English Subjects, not to Disraaie at 
 the Spanish Threats. 4to. 1596. 
 
 8. The Mirrour of Honour. 4to. 1597. 
 
 9. Vicissitudo Rerum ; an Elegiacall Poeme. 
 4to. 1600. 
 
 10. The Labyrinth of Man's Life. 4to. 1614. 
 
 11. The Pensive Soule's Delighte. 8vo. 1615. 
 
 12. An Eye to Heaven in Earth. 8vo. 1619. 
 
THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Epistle Dedicatory 3 
 
 The Author's Prayer 4 
 
 A Preparation to this Progress 5 
 
 Recogitation 7 
 
 A Psalm, wherein is set forth the Love of God towards us 32 
 
 A Motion to Prayer for God's Spirit 34 
 
 The Prayer for the aid of God's Spuit 35 
 
 A Motion to a Prayer for Queen Elizabeth 38 
 
 The Prayer for the Queen 41 
 
 A Praise for her Majesty's most gracious Government... 44 
 
 A short Prayer for the Queen 45 
 
 A Motion to a Confession of our Filthiness. The first Jess 47 
 
 The Confession of our sins to God 51 
 
 A short Confession of our sins 53 
 
 A Motion to a Prayer for the Forgiveness of our sins. 
 
 The second Jess 55 
 
 The Prayer for the Forgiveness of sins 59 
 
 To the praise of God for the Forgiveness of our sins ... 63 
 
 A short Prayer for the Forgiveness of sins 64 
 
 A Motion to a Prayer for Mortification of our sinful 
 
 affections. [The thu-d Jess.] 66 
 
 The Prayer for Mortification 72 
 
 A Psalm tending to true denial of ourselves 77 
 
 A Motion to a Prayer for obtaining the Kingdom of 
 
 God. The fourth Jess 79 
 
 The Prayer for the Kingdom of God 82 
 
 A Psalm for the Kingdom of God 85 
 
 A short Prayer for the obtaining of the Kingdom of God 87 
 
 A short Prayer for Mortification 88 
 
THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A most necessary Motion to a Prayer for the comfort 
 and preservation of the Church of Christ. The 
 
 fifth Jess 89 
 
 The Prayer for the Church of God 98 
 
 A Praise of God's favour in protecting his Church 104 
 
 A Prayer for the Church of Clirist 105 
 
 The sixth Jess, wherein the soul must arm itself against 
 
 dangers of the time 107 
 
 The Prayer against False Prophets, Errors, and Schisms, 
 
 and for Increase of Christianity 119 
 
 A Psalm against False Prophets and deceitful Teachers. 123 
 A Motion to a Prayer that all Estates may govern them- 
 selves according to their Duties. The seventh Jess 125 
 The Prayer that every man may live uprightly in his 
 
 calling 129 
 
 A Psalm for God's direction in our callings 133 
 
 Exhortation to call to mind what must be done when 
 
 affliction Cometh. The eighth Jess 135 
 
 A very necessary Prayer in time of Trouble, Crosses, and 
 
 Afflictions 144 
 
 A Song of Praise for God's present help in Trouble 150 
 
 A Motion to a Thanksgiving in the Morning 152 
 
 The Thanksgiving in the Morning 154 
 
 A Motion to an Evening Prayer 156 
 
 The Prayer for the Evening 157 
 
 Psalm before we go to Bed 160 
 
 How we ought to carry ourselves towards our Queen ... 161 
 
 A short Prayer against Errors and Schisms 178 
 
 A short Prayer in Crosses, Troubles, and Afflictions ... 179 
 A short Prayer, that all men may live uprightly in their 
 
 calling 180 
 
 The Conclusion 182 
 
 The Author to the Book 187 
 
 A Devout Prayer, for the preservation of her Majesty's 
 
 forces now at sea 188 
 
Qnorden.] 
 
[Facsimile of the title-page of the edition of 1596.] 
 
 A 
 
 PROGRESSE 
 
 of Pietie. 
 
 OR 
 
 The harbour of Heauenly 
 
 harts ease, to recreate the af- 
 flicted Soules of all such as 
 are shut vp in anye in- 
 ward or outward 
 affliqtion. 
 
 By lohn Norden. 
 
 Rom. 12. 
 Continue in Prayer. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Prmted by I. Windet for I. Ox- 
 
 enbridge, and are to be soulde in 
 
 Paules Church-yarde at the 
 
 signe of the Parrot. 
 
 15 9 6. 
 
 [Title of the first edition, as given by Lowndes, Bibliographer's 
 Manual, p. 1354.] 
 
 Progresse of Piety, whose Jesses lead into the 
 Harborough of heavenly Hearts-ease, to recreate 
 the afflicted Souls of all such as, &c. 
 
 London. 12mo. 
 
MMI-OGI"- 
 
 THE 
 
 TO THE MOST FAMOUS CHRISTIAN 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH, 
 
 BY GOD'S ESPECIAL FAVOUR, QUEEN 
 OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND IRE- 
 LAND, DEFENDER OF GOD'S 
 ETERNAL TRUTH. 
 
 Your Majesty's most gracious ac- 
 ceptance of a poor former travail of mine, 
 The Mirror for the inultitucle, iny most 
 dearly beloved Sovereign, emboldeneth 
 me once again, in all loyal obedience, 
 humbly to beseech the same to afford 
 the like gracious acceptance of this Pro- 
 gress unto heavenly heart's ease : which 
 although it might have carried a more 
 base title, in regard of mine unworthi- 
 ness; yet considering the course of the 
 treatise, and the estate of the. time, whose 
 happiness and heart's ease is of some 
 censured after the quantity and quality of 
 every particular man's worldly felicity, 
 I thought it not unfit, under your Ma- 
 jesty's most royal protection, to give it 
 that title, for that it leadeth unto the 
 true peace of the inner man : who (how- 
 
 [^ This Dedication is reprinted from the 
 edition of 1596, the only copy of the first edition 
 which has been met \\-ith being an imperfect 
 one, in which these leaves are wanting.] 
 
 1^2 
 
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 
 
 soever the body in bodily things fare in 
 this life) ought only to be comforted 
 and eased with the due contemplation 
 of God's most divine love, ready help, 
 and provident regard of our inward and 
 outward miseries, wherewith we cannot 
 but be touched in some measure while 
 we live here. 
 
 And because we have here no continu- 
 ing city, but seek one to come, it behoveth 
 us to go out of the camp of these worldly 
 cares, and take our progress in the way 
 of piety unto that heavenly harbour 
 where we shall rest through the assur- 
 ance of God's love towards us, in this 
 life, inwardly endued with such ease of 
 the heart and peace of conscience, that, 
 whatsoever affliction or cross thwart our 
 endeavours, yet shall we rest as the 
 saints of God in a heavenly heart's ease, 
 until we come to that heavenly city, 
 new Jerusalem, where we shall have full 
 fruition of all happy and heavenly heart's 
 ease for ever. 
 
 Now forasmuch, most dear Queen, 
 as that your gracious lenity affordeth 
 acceptance unto the least shew of loyal 
 love, thereby inciting many to shew 
 themselves willing to present their tra- 
 vails unto your sacred view : I, the worst 
 and un worthiest, in all humility presume 
 to reach out the hand of my hearty zeal, 
 and unfeigned love, to be laid even under 
 the feet of your most sacred will and 
 disposition; and would think me your 
 most happiest poor subject, might it 
 
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 
 
 please your Majesty favourably to accept 
 this my poor Progress. 
 
 Your Majesty's most happy sub- 
 ject in seeing your gracious 
 days, whose end God 
 grant I never 
 see. 
 
 JOHN NORDEN. 
 
THE AUTHOR'S PRAYER, 
 
 WHICH HE USED IN THE PERFORM- 
 ING OF THIS WORK. 
 
 MERCIFUL and wise God, what am 
 I that I should take thy w^ord into my 
 mouth ? that I should undertake to cele- 
 brate the praises of thy name ? being a 
 man of polluted lips, of a defiled heart, and 
 of a corrupt conversation before thee. 
 
 1 do acknowledge against myself 
 (good Father), that I deserve not to be 
 heard when I cry, so ignorant I am of 
 myself, unable rightly to pray for myself, 
 but rather to be rejected ; and especially 
 presuming to set down rules and direc- 
 tions to teach others to pray. 
 
 But in all humility (my good God) 
 I enter into thy presence, craving pardon 
 for my sins, and thy directions in my 
 proceedings, who saidst unto David, 
 " Open thy mouth, and I will fill it :" 
 Oh, fill me with thy divine knowledge, 
 and I shall be filled, and shew thy glory 
 to posterities. 
 
 Thou that saidst unto Paul, "My 
 grace is sufiicient for thee," assist me 
 with that grace, and enable me to per- 
 fonu those things through the strength 
 thereof, which in love of thee I have 
 conceived, and in thy fear have purposed 
 to publish, to thy glory, and comfort of 
 thy children. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase my faith. 
 
A PREPARATION TO THIS 
 PROGRESS'. 
 
 Ephes. vi. 
 
 10 My brethren, be strong in the Lord, 
 and in the strength of his might. 
 
 11 Put on the whole armour of God, 
 that ye may be able to stand against the 
 assaults of the devil. 
 
 12 For we wrestle not against flesh 
 and blood, but against principalities, 
 against powers, against worldly govern- 
 ors, the princes of the darkness of this 
 world. 
 
 13 For this cause take unto you the 
 whole armour of God, that ye may be 
 able to resist in the evil day ; and hav- 
 ing finished all things, stand fast. 
 
 14 Stand, I say, and your loins gird- 
 ed about with verity, having on the 
 breastplate of righteousness ; 
 
 15 And your feet shod with the pre- 
 paration of the gospel of peace. 
 
 16 And above all take unto you the 
 shield of faith, where\^dth ye may be 
 able to quench all the fiery darts of the 
 wicked. 
 
 1 7 And take the helmet of salvation, 
 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the 
 word of God. 
 
 [' A preparation to Prayer, ed. 1596.] 
 
A PREPARATION TO THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 18 And pray always with all manner 
 supplication in the Spirit, and watch 
 thereunto with all perseverance. 
 
 Being thus furnished in the Lord, we 
 may proceed on in our progress, with 
 this precogitation following. 
 
ALL SUCH AS DESIRE TO 
 
 TAKE THIS PROGRESS ARIGHT, MUST 
 
 SET IT FORTH WITH THIS 
 
 RE COGITATION. 
 
 It is necessary that every Christian 
 should know what a high and excellent 
 course he taketh in hand, that rightly 
 flieth unto God in prayer : for therein 
 have we conference with God; and there- 
 fore w^e must sequester all our affections, 
 and for the time wholly dedicate our 
 hearts, minds, and soids, unto the due 
 contemplation and beholding, first, of our 
 own necessities and unableness to run 
 this course, and then of the power, pro- 
 mises, and love of God. And in this 
 contemplative premeditation we must 
 fall down unto him, who so lovingly 
 calleth us, saying : " Come unto me, all 
 ye that labour and are laden, and I will 
 refresh you." 
 
 Having this so loving a command- 
 ment from our good and favourable God, 
 not to burden us, but to ease us, not to 
 weary us, but to refresh us, not to afflict 
 us, but to relieve us; it is our duties 
 without delay, yea, casting away all lets 
 and impediments whatsoever, to make 
 haste in this our progress, wherein we 
 shall meet with this our God, who com- 
 
 In prayer we 
 do as it were 
 confer with 
 God. 
 
 Matt xi. 28. 
 
 God calleth 
 us to prayer 
 for our own 
 
 good. 
 
10 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Luke xi. 9. 
 
 We must 
 pray in the 
 spirit. 
 Eph. vi. 18. 
 Jude, 20. 
 
 How bodily 
 things are to 
 be asked. 
 
 How to ask 
 
 spiritual 
 things. 
 
 The circum- 
 stances of 
 seeking. 
 
 The circum- 
 stances of 
 knocking. 
 
 mandeth us to " ask," to " seek," and to 
 " knock." To ask ? liow ? Not as we ask 
 man of man, with the tongue and lips 
 only, but with the heart and spirit. For 
 the Lord our God is a spirit, and he 
 will be honoured, that is, prayed unto, 
 in spirit and truth. 
 
 What must we ask ? "We must ask 
 whatsoever is necessary either for our 
 bodies or souls : but in this manner bodi- 
 ly necessities are to be referred unto God, 
 whether to be granted or not granted, for 
 that he seeth what is most expedient for 
 us in that behalf; and therefore with this 
 condition we must ask them, if they 
 bring no hurt unto our souls : but things 
 that concern our salvation, they are ab- 
 solutely promised, and we may in faith 
 absolutely J^ray for them. 
 
 We are commanded to "seek:" where- 
 in we must consider where tp seek, when 
 to seek, and for what to seek. For the 
 place where, we must seek in the way, 
 namely, in Christ, who is " the way, the 
 truth, and tlie life." The time when, 
 while it is to-day, that is, continually, 
 deferring no time. For what ? For te- 
 mission and pardon of our sins, and the 
 favour of our heavenly Father, w^liere- 
 unto Christ is the way, in whom and by 
 whom we take a direct course unto eter- 
 nal salvation, the end of this progress. 
 The Lord saith, " Seek ye my face ;" and 
 let us say, " Thy face, O Lord, will we 
 seek," namely, by prayer. 
 
 Again, we are willed to " knock :" 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 11 
 
 wherein we must consider whereat to 
 knock, wherewith to knock, wherefore to 
 knock, and when to knock. We must then 
 knock at the door, that is, unto Christ, 
 who is the door by whom all men must 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven. To 
 him then we must knock, not with the 
 fist of the hand, but of the heart, even 
 by faith ; which so beateth at the gate of 
 mercy, that the entrance of God's recon- 
 cihation wdth us is by him made easy 
 and open, which being thus opened, we 
 may enter, and in faithful prayer ask 
 what is necessary both for body and 
 soul: which gate unless it be opened 
 unto us, we are shut from this progress, 
 and shall not at all enter into that heaven- 
 ly heart's ease. And therefore for the 
 time when w^e must knock, it must be 
 whensoever we are severed from the pre- 
 sence of God by the shutting up of the 
 door of his mercy, the merits of Christ, 
 by our sins, which is daily, yea, continu- 
 ally : then must we knock in faithful 
 prayer, and he will hear us, and open 
 the door, where is that heart's ease. 
 
 We must now consider what prayer 
 is, how many kinds of prayer there are, 
 to whom we must pray, and how we 
 must be prepared before we pray; then 
 go on in our progress. 
 
 Prayer is a vehement desire of the 
 heart to obtain something at the hands 
 of God. By w-hich definition it appear- 
 eth, that the efi'ectual prayer is in the 
 heart ; and therein lie hidden the treasures 
 
 Christ is the 
 door whereat 
 we must 
 enter. 
 
 When we 
 must knock. 
 
 What prayer 
 
 Prayer must 
 be from the 
 heart in 
 spirit. 
 
12 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 of godly aftections, which do in the time 
 of prayer break forth, sometime in words, 
 sometime uttered in silence unto the 
 Lord, who seeth them afar off. 
 
 There are four kinds of prayer, and 
 all of them necessary to be daily used of 
 every Christian, viz. 
 
 Four kinds 
 of prayers. 
 
 Deprecation^ or a Prayer 
 
 Whereby w^e desire God to remove sin 
 from us, and whatsoever punishment we 
 have injustice deserved to be laid upon us. 
 The Lord heareth not such as continue 
 sinful ; and therefore we are to pray, first, 
 to have sin removed, and then other evils 
 that come through sin ; to have sickness 
 taken away, Exod. viii. ; to have afflic- 
 tion eased, James i., and such like. 
 
 Supplication^ or a Prayer to obtain any 
 thing for ourselves. 
 
 Whereby we crave such things as 
 are necessary both for our souls and our 
 bodies : as for the kingdom of God, 
 namely, that God's word may have free 
 passage, 2 Thess. iii. ; for the peace of 
 the church, Psal. cxxxii. ; for our soul's 
 health, Psal. xxxvi. ; for wisdom, 2 
 Chron. i. ; for increase of love, Phil. i. ; 
 and, above all things, for the glory of 
 God, Joh. xii. &c. 
 
 Intercession^ or a Prayer in the hehalf 
 of another. 
 
 Wherein we pray for the prosperity, 
 comfort, and relief of other men, 1 Tim. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 13 
 
 ii. ; for all kings, Baruc. i. ; for all 
 that are in authority, 1 Tim. ii. ; for the 
 ministers of the word, Heb. i. []xiii.] : 
 Coloss. iv. : Matt. ix. ; one for another. 
 Jam. ii. [v.] yea, for our enemies, Matt. v. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 "Wherein we set forth the majesty, 
 power, righteousness, and glory of God, 
 and such like, whereby we celebrate the 
 name of the Lord, and praise him for his 
 benefits, which are infinite : for there is 
 nothing in this life that we enjoy, but we 
 hare it from him, and we every day re- 
 ceive new blessings and benefits of him ; 
 and therefore we must at all times, in all 
 places, and for all things, glorify him. 
 
 These deprecations, supplications, in- 
 tercessions, and giving of thanks, are only 
 and alone to be made and given unto our 
 God, and to none other. And it is not 
 amiss to recount the divers and sundry 
 occasions that may move us to call upon 
 him only. 
 
 First, " he is only wise," and there- 
 fore knoweth, not only what we want, 
 but the time, manner, and mean how to 
 relieve us. 
 
 He giveth wisdom to them that ask 
 it; for, "If any man lack wisdom, let 
 him ask of God, which giveth to all men 
 liberally." 
 
 He is the fountain of our life, and 
 therefore without him we cannot live. 
 
 He denieth not any man's requests, if 
 he ask aright, that is, in true faith. 
 
 Praver must 
 be to God 
 only. 
 
 Causes to 
 move us to 
 come unto 
 God. 
 
 Rom. xvi, 27. 
 Jude, 25. 
 
 1 John V. 20. 
 Heb. viii. 11. 
 James i. 5. 
 
 John 
 
 Matt. vii. 7. 
 & xviii. 19. 
 
14 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 John iii. 33. 
 Rom. iii. 4. 
 1 Cor. i. 9. 
 
 Effects of 
 prayer. 
 2 Sam. xii. 
 
 Matt. xi. 
 Numb. xi. 
 Exod. viii 
 
 1 Sam. i. 
 
 2 Kings xix. 
 
 Dan. xiii. 
 [Hist. Susan. 
 Apocr.] 
 Jonas ii. 
 
 The scrip- 
 tures do tes- 
 tify God's 
 readiness to 
 hear, and 
 power to 
 perform. 
 
 He is true and faithful to perform his 
 promises: "yea, let God be true, and 
 every man a liar." 
 
 These and many other most singular 
 qualities are in our God, which may stir 
 us up to call upon him. And, the more 
 to confirm us in a confidence that these 
 things he will perform to the good of his, 
 let us recount some sacred examples out 
 of the word, and follow the steps of such 
 as have gone before us in this most holy 
 exercise. 
 
 Salomon prayed for wisdom, and ob- 
 tained it in great measure. David ob- 
 tained forgiveness of his notorious crimes, 
 of whoredom and manslaughter, by 
 prayer. By prayer forgiveness of sins 
 was obtained. By prayer Miriam was 
 cleansed of his [^her] leprosy. Moses 
 prayed, and the plague ceased. Anna, a 
 barren woman, was made fruitful by 
 prayer. By prayer Ezekias overcame 
 Zennacherib. Susanna, being falsely ac- 
 cusedj by prayer was delivered. By prayer 
 Jonas was delivered in the whale's belly. 
 Innumerable are the examples of the effect 
 of prayer, and the readiness of God to 
 hear the faithful ; and whoso will search 
 the scriptures, shall find both in the old 
 and new Testaments sufiicient matter to 
 move him to prayer. 
 
 Sith, therefore, that prayer is so ex- 
 cellent and high an exercise, and the 
 mean whereby to join ourselves in pri- 
 vate, and as it were in familiar, conference 
 or communication with our God ; let us 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY 
 
 15 
 
 now consider how this prayer is to be 
 made, and how we must be prepared 
 unto the same. 
 
 We know that the tongue and lips 
 are the instruments of the body, to utter 
 the intent and meaning of the heart of 
 man to man in private conference or 
 speech : and they are also the members 
 by whose aid the minister poureth forth 
 the meaning of the spirit to the under- 
 standing of the hearers in pubKc or 
 common prayers. And although they 
 be indeed the instruments whereby that 
 is outwardly uttered which is inwardly 
 desired ; yet are the words (be they never 
 so godly in themselves) of no value, and 
 bring neither profit nor comfort to him 
 that prayeth, unless the heart ^^^thin be 
 touched with the feeling and taste of 
 many particular virtues, which are re- 
 quired in every one that will pray unto 
 God aright : by which virtues we must 
 prepare ourselves to approach before our 
 God in the name of his Son. 
 
 And first there is to be sought for, 
 obtained, and embraced, knowledge ; and 
 a necessity is laid upon us, that we know 
 and be acquainted with God himself, 
 who hath laid himself open and made 
 himself apparent unto us in his word; 
 and unless we know him, we can never 
 call upon him aright. " God is a spirit, 
 and he that will worship him aright, 
 must worship him in spirit and truth." 
 God is not as man, who only seeth, seek- 
 eth, and knoweth outwardly : but he 
 
 The tongue 
 and lips are 
 necessary 
 members to 
 be used in 
 prayers. 
 
 1 Cor. xiv. 15. 
 
 The tongue 
 and lips with- 
 out the con- 
 sent of the 
 heart and 
 spirit do pro- 
 fit nothir)g 
 in prayer. 
 
 Knowledge 
 the first step 
 to teach us 
 to pray. 
 
 John iv. 24. 
 2 Cor. iiL 17. 
 
 God knoweth 
 the heart, and 
 seeth our in- 
 ward parts. 
 
16 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY, 
 
 Acts i. 24. 
 XV. 8. 
 
 Rom. viii. 27. 
 Rom. viii. 26. 
 
 We must lay 
 aside all car- 
 nal consider- 
 ation in our 
 prayers. 
 
 Faith the 
 handwhereby 
 we receive 
 all things by 
 promise. 
 
 Prayer with- 
 out faith is 
 
 Ignorance 
 the mother of 
 unbelief. 
 
 seeth and searcheth the hearts, and our 
 very thoughts are not hid from him. 
 " He knoweth what we need before we 
 ask," and what the spirit meaneth which 
 groaneth within us : which spirit, and not 
 the outward words, " maketh request" 
 with sighs which cannot be outwardly 
 discerned. 
 
 This spiritual worship therefore is 
 altogether acceptable imto our God ; and, 
 all carnal consideration exempted, we 
 must only seek him as he is, namely, in 
 spirit, who by his divine working reveal- 
 eth unto us his will, whereupon all our 
 petitions are to be grounded, and with- 
 out the same knowledge we cannot ob- 
 serve the things requisite in this so high 
 function and progress. 
 
 The principal and absolute hand, 
 whereby we apprehend and take hold of 
 the power, love, justice, judgment, pur- 
 pose, wisdom, will, and providence of 
 God, is faith; which faith cometh by 
 knowledge and understanding of the 
 word of God; for "faith cometh by hear- 
 ing, and hearing by the word of God." 
 And without faith our prayers are but as 
 wind passing by and from our lips, and 
 by reverberation of the air makes a 
 sound, but to no profit, and (as the Holy 
 Ghost saith) it turneth unto sin. 
 
 Faith being thus engendered by the 
 word, it must be fed and nourished con- 
 tinually by hearing or reading of the 
 same, until it grow up unto such a per- 
 fection as may banish all ignorance, 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 i7 
 
 which is the mother, or rather the stocks 
 and fetters which detain man still in un- 
 belief, wherein whatsoever we do or say- 
 is sin. And therefore, having obtained 
 this singular gift of faith, as the lively 
 hand whereby to receive the good things 
 of the Lord, let us continually endeavour 
 to increase this faith : for howsoever a 
 man persuadeth himself to be sufficiently 
 armed and prepared to approach before 
 God in prayer, in that he is able to utter 
 a form of words, either compiled by 
 another or premeditated by himself; not 
 having his heart stayed and anchored in 
 true knowledge upon this lively feeling 
 and working faith, he doth deceive him- 
 self, and flattereth himself that he hath 
 done a great work, and run a good course 
 acceptable before God, when he hath 
 spent many words and much time in 
 speaking in the air, his prayer returning 
 unto himself in vain. " Without faith it 
 is impossible to please God." And the 
 nature of faith is constantly to assure a 
 man, that whatsoever he asketh he shall 
 receive. " Faith is the ground of things 
 which are hoped for, and the evidence of 
 things which are not seen." And who- 
 soever in this faith repaireth to God in 
 prayer, shall, in waiting the leisure of 
 the Lord, find by experience that the 
 things which be asketh, and for which 
 he waiteth, shall be performed ; " and if 
 he ask wisdom, it shall be given him, and 
 that in abundance." By which wisdom 
 we shall be enabled to ask aright, and 
 
 Words with- 
 out faith are 
 spent in 
 prayer to no 
 profit. 
 
 Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 The nature 
 of faith. 
 
 Heb. xi. 1. 
 
 James i. 6. 
 
 I^NORDEN.] 
 
18 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Mark ix. 23. 
 Matt. viii. 13. 
 & ix. 29. 
 
 Hope is the 
 inseparable 
 companion 
 of faith. 
 
 We must 
 wait God's 
 leisure for 
 the perform- 
 ing of that 
 we ask. 
 
 Rom. [viii.] 
 24, 25. 
 
 We must 
 patiently 
 abide God's 
 
 " to him that so asketh and believeth all 
 things are possible. As we believe, so 
 shall we obtain." Read the xith to the 
 Hebrews, and there shall ye see the 
 eifect of faith. 
 
 Being endued with this faith, it can- 
 not be but it will break forth into this 
 excellent work of prayer; whereunto also 
 is adjoined hope, the unseparable compa- 
 nion of faith : for when by faith there is 
 conceived an assurance of the obtaining 
 of our requests, there must be an attend- 
 ance for and waiting on the Lord's per- 
 forming; as Abraham waited and was 
 attending the time when the Lord would 
 send the seed which he promised should 
 be borne by Sarah his wife, faith having 
 first conceived the truth of God, that 
 what he had said should come to pass, 
 but in a time when the Lord had decreed 
 it. And this and such like attendance, 
 waiting, and patience, is a hope to re- 
 ceive that hereafter which we see not, 
 whereby the faithful are as it were fed 
 with patient abiding the Lord's leisure in 
 all things : for " hope that is seen " (that 
 is, the thing that we look for being in 
 possession) "is no hope ; for how can a 
 man hope for that which he hath ? But 
 if we hope for that we see not, we do 
 with patience abide for it." In this is 
 great consolation offered unto the faith- 
 ful, for that, having prayed for the things 
 which they would either avoid or receive, 
 they abide patiently the burden of the 
 one, and the want of the other, until at 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 19 
 
 last they receive their expectation fully 
 answered to their notable comfort. And 
 in this we learn, that in no case we may 
 indent with God for the thing w^e ask, 
 the manner how, or the time when we 
 shall obtain the same; for in so doing we 
 should shew ourselves over malapert and 
 bold (being as indeed we are of ourselves 
 beggars) to appoint the Lord when or 
 how he should work for us, or give us 
 his benevolence : and especially, for that 
 we of ourselves be so gross of conceit, that 
 we often ask amiss. Many times we 
 would have the performance of things 
 after such a sort, and in such a time, as 
 God seeth it not necessary for us : and 
 therefore the Lord, considering our infir- 
 mities and bearing with our weakness, 
 giveth us hope whereby we receive com- 
 fort, and faint not under the burden of 
 whatsoever affliction. Ask therefore in 
 faith, and wait in hope. 
 
 Faith having gotten this acceptable 
 and inseparable companion hope, then is 
 there another fellow- virtue which must 
 attend this faith and hope, without the 
 which there is no absolute preparation to 
 this notable exercise of prayer ; and that 
 is love, which is more acceptable unto 
 the Lord than faith or hope : insomuch 
 as faith and hope extend but unto a 
 man's own private good, and hath an 
 end, and is not seen ; but love extend- 
 eth itself to wish well unto all, and 
 abideth for ever, and sheweth itself ap- 
 parently. It is the badge and cognisance 
 
 leisure, and 
 not indent 
 with God 
 touching the 
 time or man- 
 ner of obtain- 
 ing our de- 
 sire. 
 
 All of us are 
 
 beggars. 
 
 We are fool- 
 ish, and know 
 not how to 
 ! ask aright. 
 
 Love, without 
 which faith 
 and hope 
 are dead. 
 
 Love, the 
 badge of a 
 
 2—2 
 
20 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 true Chris- 
 tian. 
 Johnxiii, 35. 
 
 GaL V. 22. 
 Col. ui. 14. 
 
 The danger 
 of the want 
 of love. 
 
 1 John iii. 11. 
 
 ver. 14. 
 
 We must 
 forgive. 
 Mark xi. 26. 
 Matt. vi. 14. 
 Gal. V. 14. 
 
 1 Pet. iv. 1 
 
 The sacred 
 virtues of 
 love. 
 
 A deceitful 
 shew of love. 
 
 of a true Christian indeed ; and therefore 
 saith Christ, " By this shall men know 
 that ye are my disciples, if ye love one 
 another." The commendation of this 
 singular virtue is great, and largely set 
 forth by the Spirit of God in the scrip- 
 tures: for it is "the fruit of the Spirit of 
 God," it " is the bond of perfection," with- 
 out which there is no union between us, 
 but a continual striving, contention, and 
 hatred, which poisoneth all other affections, 
 be they never so good in our own eyes. 
 And where there is no love, there is no as- 
 surance whether a man stand in the favour 
 of God or no ; and without that assurance 
 faith is dead, without which there is no 
 salvation. And therefore, it was " a mes- 
 sage and commandment which we have 
 heard from the beginning, that we should 
 love one another." Again, " we are 
 translated from death unto life, because 
 we love one another." But on the con- 
 trary, " He that loveth not his brother 
 abideth in death." We must "forgive, if 
 we have any thing against any man, that 
 God may forgive us." "Love is the ful- 
 filling of the law." It is a most high and 
 sacred virtue, "covering the multitude 
 of sins." 
 
 Such is the integrity of this virtue, 
 that it bewrayeth not the imperfections 
 of other men, but rather charitably deem- 
 eth of all, wishing well unto all, and 
 doing good unto all; not as the world 
 useth, to love only in words, and in 
 smiling countenance, as to have honey 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 21 
 
 in our lips and gall in our hearts, as 
 Judas had; but to have a perfect love, 
 an affection seasoned with the spirit of 
 meekness, of patience, and inward desire 
 of the wealth of all, mortifying all hate- 
 ful and malicious affections, all desire of 
 revenge, lest that we deceive ourselves 
 with a persuasion that we please God in 
 prayer, when we hate our brother whom 
 indeed w^e should absolutely forgive. 
 But how ? not as some use to forgive and 
 not forget ; but we must both forgive and 
 forget, and thirst only in love to do good 
 for evil. For a man that beareth hatred 
 against his brother, how dare he ask for- 
 giveness of God? AVe must therefore 
 forgive one another before w^e take our 
 journey in this progress, and be so far 
 possessed with love that we pray one for 
 another. "Love must be without dis- 
 simulation," that our faith may be there- 
 by approved, and that " knowledge may 
 be joined with faith, with knowledge 
 temperance, with temperance patience, 
 with patience" (which is hope) "god- 
 liness, with godliness brotherly kindness, 
 and with brotherly kindness love." Hav- 
 ing thus sealed up the assurance of our 
 calling, let us proceed unto humility, a 
 singular virtue, and the next step to come 
 unto our heavenly heart's ease. 
 
 Humility is a casting down of our- 
 selves in our own conceits, and an in- 
 ward abasing of ourselves before God, 
 acknowledging ourselves unworthy of his 
 favour, and disclaiming our own deserts 
 
 Matt. vi. 14. 
 Mark xi. 25. 
 A false for- 
 giving. 
 
 Ecclus. 
 xxviii. 
 
 We must 
 pray one for 
 another. 
 James v. Ifi. 
 
 Humility is 
 necessary in 
 prayer. 
 
 Humility, 
 what it is. 
 
22 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 We must be- 
 ware of a 
 counterfeit 
 humiliation. 
 
 Col. u, 18. 
 
 We have 
 warrant to 
 come boldly 
 unto God, 
 without the 
 aid of any 
 creatiu-e. 
 
 A counterfeit 
 humility is 
 too common. 
 
 True humili- 
 ty. 
 
 attributing all things that we receive to 
 proceed only of his mercy; wherein we 
 must carry a very short hand over our 
 affections, lest that through the pride of 
 nature we counterfeit this humiliation, 
 and frame unto ourselves a humility not 
 only not necessary, but merely offensive : 
 and such humility Paul condemneth; 
 for whiles we labour to subject ourselves 
 under the power of angels and saints, 
 by whose mediation and intercession we 
 covet to approach unto God, under colour 
 of lowliness of mind, we do not only miss 
 the way, which is Christ, but betake us 
 to a way which cannot lead us to God : 
 for none cometh to the Father but by 
 Christ; and we have free warrant to come 
 immediately unto him who calleth us, 
 "Come unto me," &c. And this kind 
 of humiHation doth diminish his love to- 
 wards us, wherein he hath finished all 
 things for us, and resteth himself ready 
 to hear us, to accept us, and to relieve 
 us ; and therefore we must fly unto him 
 in all meekness of heart and soul, assum- 
 ing unto ourselves nothing but the merits 
 of Christ to join us to God through faith. 
 In a counterfeit humility many come 
 near unto their duty in the eye of man, 
 as when they can bow down their heads 
 like bulrushes, as the prophet saith, and 
 yet are puffed up in mind. But the hu- 
 mility which indeed is required of us in 
 prayer is, to cast ourselves down before 
 God in spirit, to be of a humble and 
 lowly mind, and with the poor Publican 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 23 
 
 abase ourselves, covering our faces with 
 shame, and cry unto the Lord, saying, 
 "Lord, be merciful unto us sinners;" and 
 that " we are not worthy that he should 
 come under our roof," namely, to dwell 
 with us, and to comfort us with his pre- 
 sence. " The kingdom of heaven belong- 
 eth unto the poor in spirit." And the 
 Lord by his prophet Esay saith, "To 
 him will I look, even to him that is poor 
 and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at 
 my words." The Lord receiveth the 
 prayers of the meek, and granteth their 
 demands ; but the arrogant and haughty 
 man he sendeth away empty, and disap- 
 pointeth of his desire. " Let us therefore 
 cast down ourselves, and the Lord will help 
 us up :" he will stretch forth his hand 
 and aid us, he will fructify our hearts 
 with good cogitations ; " for he giveth 
 grace unto the humble:" therefore "let us 
 deck ourselves with lowliness of mind," 
 and " he will exalt us in due time." 
 
 Now having thus prepared ourselves, 
 and decked our hearts and inward parts 
 with these most beautiful ornaments of 
 faith, hope, love, and lowliness of mind, 
 all grounded upon the true knowledge of 
 the word, we may boldly approach into 
 the presence of our high and omnipotent 
 God, whose countenance is most amiable 
 and comfortable to as many as come unto 
 him in prayer, being thus beautified with- 
 in, howsoever base they seem in the eye 
 of the world; for as well the poor and 
 miserable Lazarus as the rich and wealthy 
 
 Matt. V. 3. 
 The kingdom 
 of God be- 
 longeth only 
 to the poor 
 in spirit. 
 Isai. lx\i. 2. 
 
 The prayer 
 of the arro- 
 gant is not 
 heard. 
 James iv. 10. 
 
 1 Pet V. 5. 
 1 Pet. V. 6. 
 
 A base estate 
 is no cause 
 why God will 
 reject a man. 
 
24 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 There is no 
 respect of 
 persons with 
 God. 
 
 We must be 
 zealous in 
 prayer. 
 
 The force of 
 true zeal 
 breaketh 
 forth into 
 conference 
 with God by 
 prayer. 
 
 The nature of 
 true zeal. 
 
 Zacheus, as well a Daniel imprisoned as a 
 David enthronised, being thus inwardly 
 qualified, may come and receive freely 
 what they want : there is no respect of 
 persons with God; the poor and rich, the 
 high and low, renowned and ignominious, 
 the bond and free, the Jew and Gentile, 
 all nations and tongues, are of like regard 
 with him. Therefore let none be afraid 
 to undertake this comfortable progress. 
 
 Wherein also we must remember to 
 be truly zealous; that is, there must ap- 
 pear ardent aifections of the heart to 
 hunger and thirst to please God in our 
 prayer. Which zeal must be guided by 
 knowledge : and then whosoever thus di- 
 ligently seeketh his God in prayer, shall 
 find by experience that it is not the tongue 
 and lips that avail, but the ardent motions 
 of the inner parts, which enkindle such a 
 zeal, that it striveth to break forth into 
 a certain familiar conference with God, 
 in such measure that, being fervent with- 
 in, at last it " speaketh with the tongue." 
 And it maketh the very heart to ache, 
 sigh, and groan within, until it can find 
 opportunity to open itself, if not in words, 
 yet in silence, as Anna and Abraham did, 
 who, speaking nothing with the lips, 
 cried aloud in the heart through zeal, and 
 the Lord heard them at large. And 
 doubtless the prayer is then most effec- 
 tual, when the heart is thus exercised 
 within. And he that delighteth in this 
 precious exercise shall find, that this zeal 
 and fervent desire to talk with God is 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 25 
 
 not exempted from any place, nor limited 
 to any time, but performeth the same, 
 sometimes bein^ solitary and alone, some- 
 times in company; and even then may 
 the heart be working in prayer and god- 
 ly meditation, when the outward man 
 seemeth to consent to other external 
 things. The experience of the strength 
 of the Spirit of God in this behalf is clear, 
 no doubt, unto many thousands in this 
 land; and it forceth me the rather to ap- 
 prove it, for that I have received un- 
 speakable consolation therein. And he 
 that is thus enkindled, whether he utter 
 his zeal by words or without words, it 
 is alike with God, who seetli the heart. 
 And it is the most comfortable consola- 
 tion that can come unto a man in this 
 life, to taste how sweet the Lord is, in 
 subjecting his ear and applying his love 
 unto us when we thus confer with him 
 in spirit, and receiving again at his hands 
 all such necessaries as we beg of him, he 
 sheweth himself able, willing, and ready 
 to fulfil our desires. And therefore let 
 us be faithful in asking, and let us wait 
 his good time in hope, though we see not 
 the thing we need, neither perceive any 
 mean how we should obtain the same ; 
 yet through this hope we shall rest so 
 satisfied, that our comforts in the want 
 will be as great as though we presently 
 possessed the same. 
 
 We need not to stand scrupulous of 
 the place where to pray; "for it must be 
 everywhere, lifting up pure hands with- 
 
 Zeal sheweth 
 itself at all 
 times, and in 
 all places. 
 
 It is a sweet 
 thing to have 
 the experi- 
 ence of this 
 
 The comfort- 
 able effect of 
 hope. 
 
 1 Tim. ii. 8. 
 We may pray 
 everywhere. 
 
26 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Acts xxii. 17. 
 Matt. vi. 6. 
 
 Psal. vi. 6. 
 
 Isai. xxxviiL 
 
 4. 
 
 2 Kings iv. 32. 
 
 2 Kings vL 
 Acts X. 9. 
 Dan. vi. 
 Matt. XX vi. 39. 
 Jonas iii. 10. 
 
 We must 
 pray always 
 
 Mark xiii. 33. 
 1 Pet. v. 8. 
 Col, 4. 2. 
 
 out wrath or doubting." Paul prayed in 
 the temple. Christ willeth us to enter 
 into our chamber. David and Ezekias 
 prayed in their beds ; Elislia in the house, 
 the door being shut, and in the fields. 
 Peter prayed in the upper part of his 
 house ; Daniel in the lions' den ; Moses 
 in the wilderness ; Christ in the fields, 
 and Jonas in the whale's belly. So that 
 it appeareth by these examples, that the 
 place doth neither sanctify or pollute our 
 prayers. 
 
 But wheresoever the Spirit moveth 
 us thereunto, we may find the Lord ; 
 yea, seven times a day with David, or 
 three times a day with Daniel; yea, as 
 often as we feel ourselves apt to call upon 
 him. And therefore at all times, and in 
 all places, let us prepare ourselves to this 
 holy exercise: going, riding, working, 
 writing, or whatsoever we do, or where- 
 soever we be, let us always be inwardly 
 meditating of the goodness, mercy, and 
 power of our good God : so shall we find 
 him always ready and willing to answer 
 our desires with good and comfortable 
 success in all our proceedings. 
 
 Having now learned in some measure 
 how to pray, we must seek to put the 
 same in continual execution, with watch- 
 fulness : and especially for that " our ad- 
 versary the devil, as a roaring lion, seek- 
 eth whom he may devour." Let us, 
 therefore, to avoid his subtleties, "con- 
 tinue in prayer, and watch in the same 
 with thanksgiving." 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 27 
 
 "Let us take the cup of salvation, 
 and call upon the name of the Lord :" so 
 will "he dehver our souls from death, 
 our eyes from tears, and our feet from 
 falling." The Lord will take charge of 
 us, and will preserve us in our going 
 forth and coming in : he will keep us 
 under the shadow of his wings ; yea, as 
 the apple of his eye will he preserve us, 
 in plague, in famine, and from the sword. 
 Infinite are the blessings that God pour- 
 eth down upon them that call upon him 
 sincerely : seek the scriptures, and ye 
 shall find in great abundance, how the 
 Lord hath done for the children of men 
 that have called on his name. Be not 
 deceived: the neghgence of this exercise 
 descrieth a man, and indeed findeth him 
 to be a very beast ; dead in this life, nei- 
 ther having sense or feeling of his own 
 wants, nor of his own danger, but pass- 
 eth unto hell as in a dream, from whence 
 there is no redemption. 
 
 Now let us also somewhat consider 
 of the lets and hindrances of this most 
 precious exercise, that in time we may 
 remove them, and cleave unto God, who 
 willeth us to come. 
 
 The greatest impediment or let is the 
 abundance of worldly things, as riches, 
 health, authority, mighty and many 
 friends, whereby we grow into a conceit 
 of a secure estate of ourselves ; insomuch 
 as we imagine that we have no need of 
 the aid of God. It casteth us into a 
 slumber, which procureth many drowsy 
 
 Psal. cxvi. 13. 
 Psal. cxvi. 8. 
 
 The success 
 of faithful 
 prayer. 
 
 The negli- 
 gence of 
 prayer is dan- 
 gerous. 
 
 Lets and hin- 
 drances to 
 prayer. 
 
 The danger of 
 security. 
 
28 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The afflicted 
 man cometh 
 nearer unto 
 God than the 
 rich and 
 secure. 
 
 David's ex- 
 perience of 
 the danger of 
 security. 
 
 It is good for 
 a man to taste 
 of the cross. 
 
 God cureth 
 all our 
 
 dreams of self-ability to wade through 
 all adverse things of the world, and to 
 need nothing, when as indeed we stand 
 weak, poor, miserable, naked, and in 
 need of all things. And therefore it often 
 falleth out, that the poor, miserable, and 
 afflicted men of the w^orld are more exer- 
 cised in prayer than the rich and secure 
 men of the world. For what driveth a 
 man to God but want ? "What moveth 
 us to seek him but misery, trouble, ene- 
 mies, sickness, and the crosses of this 
 life ? And therefore David, finding that 
 dulness bred security, security idleness, 
 and idleness negligence of this divine ex- 
 ercise, whereby he fell into sin, and being 
 touched with the hand of God and roused 
 out of that slumber, acknowledged that 
 "it was good for him that the Lord hum- 
 bled him with his cross:" and then he 
 began to seek the Lord in prayer. So if 
 we men be not in some sort humbled 
 with the cross of Christ, we shall, in se- 
 curity, forget our duty towards our God 
 in this behalf. Wherefore it is good for 
 every man to call to mind his estate : if 
 he be poor, miserable, and afflicted, let 
 him pray unto God, who applieth medi- 
 cines to all our miseries, and giveth issue 
 to all our crosses, and maketh them com- 
 fortable unto us. Let him that is rich 
 examine from whom his abundance of 
 wealth, rest, and tranquilUty cometh, and 
 he shall find that it is from God; even 
 that God that can give and take away, 
 set aloft and pull down: he can alter 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 29 
 
 estates at his pleasure. And therefore, I 
 say, let all degrees bow unto him, and 
 watch in prayer, lest that, his divine 
 honour being neglected, his blessings be 
 denied and turned to our confusion. 
 
 " Consider this, ye that forget God, 
 lest he tear you in pieces, and there be 
 none that can deliver you." It is now 
 time, yea, high time, that we cast off 
 our security, and betake us to his pro- 
 tection : and let us pray " that he will 
 create in us clean hearts, and a right 
 spirit within us ; that he will restore us 
 the joy of his salvation, and that he will 
 establish us with his free Spirit." This 
 is the comfort of the children of God, 
 when the children of the world delight in 
 vain and deceivable things. This joy 
 satisfieth the poor in spirit, when the 
 children of the world, the rich and migh- 
 ty, the healthy and strong in their own 
 conceits, do pine away with superfluous 
 worldly cares. 
 
 Let us now redeem the time ; let us 
 cast off these occasions of earthly de- 
 lights, which hold us so unto the world 
 downward, that we seldom lift up our 
 hearts unto the Lord. Yet is there a 
 remnant that bow not their affections so 
 to the world, but are always rapt up, 
 as it were, unto the heavens with spirit- 
 ual conference with the Lord. And these 
 cry out in their souls, and say, " Oh 
 that we had wings like a dove, that we 
 might fly from this world and worldly 
 things, and rest with Christ!" But it is 
 
 All men have 
 cause to pray 
 unto God. 
 
 It is time to 
 cast off secu- 
 rity. 
 
 The state of 
 such as de- 
 light not in 
 prayer. 
 
 We must re- 
 deem the 
 time. 
 
 Some, and 
 that many, 
 that exercise 
 themselves 
 in prayer. 
 
 Mortified 
 men. 
 Psal. Iv. 6. 
 
30 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The foolish 
 of the world. 
 PsaL liii. 1. 
 
 Psal. 
 
 7. 
 
 lii. 1. & 
 
 2 Cor. V. 7, 8. 
 
 They that 
 love God, fly 
 up in faitli, 
 and settle 
 their affec- 
 tions v/ith 
 him and in 
 him, despis- 
 ing the 
 world. 
 
 The end of 
 them that 
 truly serve 
 God. 
 
 The conclu- 
 sion. 
 
 not the fool that thus wisheth, " he that 
 saith in his heart there is no God;" nei- 
 ther " the man of power that boasteth 
 himself in his wickedness; neither the 
 man that taketh not God for his strength, 
 nor the man that putteth his trust in the 
 multitude of his riches." But the man 
 that hath tasted how sweet the Lord is, 
 he desireth to be dissolved from this mi- 
 serable life, and be with Christ. These 
 men, " walking by faith and not by sight, 
 are bold, though they be at home in the 
 body, to covet rather to remove out of 
 this body and to dwell Avith the Lord." 
 And these men often fly up above the 
 third heaven in their godly prayers, me- 
 ditations, and contemplations, and tram- 
 ple under their feet, as it were, all the 
 worldly trifles of the world, which are 
 so greedily embraced of the most. These 
 men only enjoy the sweet conference with 
 the Lord, in the spirit of meekness and 
 love, even in this life : and these men 
 shall enjoy the eternal blessings prepared 
 for the dear children of God in heaven. 
 
 Oh, let no man therefore be so forget- 
 ful of this divine exercise, this sweet and 
 most comfortable, this familiar and sa- 
 cred repast, that he, in regard of any 
 worldly security whatsoever, should rest 
 idle at any time, but to pray continually, 
 and daily to give tlianks for God's most 
 comfortable presence. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 31 
 
 " Let us go unto the altar of our God, 
 even unto the God that comforteth our 
 souls." 
 
 " Let us exalt the Lord our God, and 
 fall down before his footstool ; for he is 
 holy." 
 
 " Let us in an acceptable time make 
 our prayer, even in the multitude of his 
 mercies." 
 
 " Let us worship and fall down, and 
 kneel before the Lord our maker ; for he 
 is our God, and we are the people of his 
 pasture and the sheep of his hands." 
 
 Let us cry out unto him and say : 
 
 " Lord, open thou our lips, and our 
 mouths shall shew forth thy praise." Psal. 
 li. 15. 
 
 " Lord God of hosts, how amiable 
 are thy tabernacles ! My soul longeth, 
 yea, and fainteth for the courts of the 
 Lord; for mine heart and my flesh rejoice 
 in the living God." Psal. Ixxxiv. 1, 2. 
 
 "O come, therefore, come, and let us 
 rejoice unto the Lord, let us sing aloud 
 unto the Rock of our salvation: let us 
 come before his face with praise, and sing 
 aloud unto him with psalms." ' 
 
 [^ The whole of these pages, from p. 9, are 
 omitted in ed. 1596. j 
 
 Psal. xllii. 4. 
 An exhorta- 
 tion to repair 
 unto God. 
 
 Psal. xcix. 5. 
 
 Psal.lxix. 13. 
 
 Psal. xev. 6, 
 
 7. 
 
A PSALM, 
 
 WHEREIN IS SET FORTH THE LOVE 
 OF GOD TOWARDS US, WHEREIN 
 HE ACCEPTETH US TO COME 
 UNTO HIM FOR WHATSO- 
 EVER WE NEED: FIT 
 AT ALL TIMES TO 
 BE SUNG. 
 
 Oh, what a joyful thin^ it is 
 
 To sing unto his praise, 
 Who lovingly embraceth his, 
 
 And guides them in his ways ! 
 
 He calleth such as are opprest. 
 And helps them by his might : 
 
 The poor oppressed gain them rest, 
 The wronged have their right. 
 
 come therefore and let us fall. 
 And humble us on knee 
 
 In hearty zeal; and then he shall 
 Of bondmen make us free. 
 
 His mercies, great and manifold, 
 Forthwith he will extend: 
 
 His favours far surpass the gold, 
 Whose glory shall have end. 
 
 Let us therefore sing out in zeal. 
 That people all may know, 
 
 That he to his doth still reveal 
 His secrets here below. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 33 
 
 His heavenly heart's ease they shall find, 
 
 Who do perform his will; 
 But worldly men continue blind, 
 
 Yainly conceited still. 
 
 teach us, Lord, teach us in love, 
 What we should do and say; 
 
 Give us directions from above. 
 How we may rightly pray: 
 
 That we to thee may honour give, 
 And to our children shew. 
 
 How thou thy servants dost relieve 
 That want thine aid below. 
 
 [norden.] 
 
God is will- 
 ing and ready 
 to give his 
 Spirit to them 
 that pray 
 for it. 
 
 We know 
 not what to 
 ask without 
 the Spirit. 
 Rom. viii. 26, 
 27. 
 
 Flesh and 
 blood igno- 
 rant of things 
 necessary to 
 be prayed 
 for. 
 
 2 Cor. i 
 & V. 5. 
 
 22, 
 
 Rom. viii. 27. 
 The Spirit of 
 God the pro- 
 mised Com- 
 forter.' 
 John xiv. 26. 
 
 A MOTION TO PRAYER, 
 
 THAT GOD BY HIS SPIRIT WILL TEACH 
 
 US HOW TO PRAYi, WHICH IS THE 
 
 SETTING ON OF THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 Let us consider how willing and rea- 
 dy our good God is to hearken unto the 
 desires of all such as hunger and thirst 
 for the riches of his grace, without which 
 such is our poverty, that " we know not 
 what to ask as we ought : but the Spirit 
 helpeth our infirmities, and maketh re- 
 quest for us with sighs which cannot be 
 expressed." And although that flesh and 
 blood be so corrupt that it always gro- 
 velleth on the puddle of worldly cares, 
 and the better part, namely, the inner 
 man, in the mean time is forgotten, and 
 standeth endangered to fall into many 
 evils; yet, having the "earnest of this 
 Spirit," we may boldly come unto our 
 God, who hath promised to send the 
 same : if we ask it at his hands, he will 
 give it in such abundance and full mea- 
 sure, that by the virtue thereof we shall 
 be " able to pray according to the will of 
 God." This is the Comforter which 
 Christ promised to send unto us, even 
 " the Holy Ghost, which should teach 
 us all things." And without it we know 
 nothing. And, alas ! what were it for 
 
 [^ The words after pray are omitted in 1596.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 35 
 
 us to fall down before God in most rever- 
 ent outward manner, pouring forth a 
 huge heap of words from the lips, not 
 having this inward director ? Surely it 
 were but to spend time to no purpose : 
 it is the Spirit that crieth in our hearts, 
 Abba, Father : "the spirit of a man 
 knoweth only the things that are of 
 man; but the Spirit of God knoweth 
 and desireth the things that are of God. 
 And the natural man perceiveth not the 
 things of the Spirit of God, for they are 
 foolishness unto him : but he that hath 
 the Spirit of God, he discemeth all things." 
 Let us, therefore, "pray in the Holy 
 Ghost : let us pray always with all man- 
 ner prayer and supplications in the Spirit." 
 And let us pray continually for the 
 aid of this sacred guide, the Holy Spirit 
 of God, which will both move us unto, 
 and direct us in all things that are re- 
 quisite to the due performance of this 
 godly exercise. 
 
 The Prayer for the aid of God's Spirit. 
 
 Forasmuch, dear Father, as every 
 man living is of himself before thee as 
 a beast, neither knowing thee nor the 
 things concerning their own duties unto 
 thee ; I, as one of the most perverse, fil- 
 thy, and corrupt, do here humble myself 
 before thee, begging at thy hands that 
 which thou hast promised to give unto 
 as many as ask it of thee, thine Holy 
 Spirit, that sacred Comforter, which re- 
 
 words with- 
 out the Spirit 
 of God are 
 
 The effect of 
 the Spirit 
 The spirit of 
 man under- 
 standeth only 
 outward 
 things. 
 1 Cor. ii. 11. 
 vers. 14, 15. 
 
 The Spirit of 
 God discem- 
 eth all things. 
 
 Jude, 20. 
 Eph. vi. 18. 
 
 3—2 
 
36 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 vealeth thee and tliy will to the simple 
 and ignorant : which also stirreth up the 
 minds and inward affections of thy chil- 
 dren to call upon thee : it prepareth the 
 hearts, and openeth the mouths of thy 
 children to celebrate thy name. Bestow 
 it therefore, good Father, bestow it upon 
 me, thy poor creature, and upon all thy 
 children. And grant that, although all 
 of us are of corrupt affections and of pol- 
 luted lips, yet w^e may be besprinkled 
 with that heavenly hyssop, that we there- 
 by may have our hearts cleansed from 
 the corrupt affections of the world, and 
 the eyes of our understandings opened, 
 that w^e may see the good things that we 
 should ask ; that our feet, which are fet- 
 tered with the cares of vain things, may 
 be set at liberty, that we may walk the 
 right way unto the kingdom of heaven ; 
 that the hands of our souls may appre- 
 hend and take hold of the riches and 
 righteousness of thy Son, Christ Jesus ; 
 and that, by the aid of tlie same Spirit, 
 we may cast off all impediments, lets, and 
 incumbrances that detain us from coming 
 unto thee. Sanctify me within and with- 
 out : wash me, and I shall be whiter 
 than snow. Let thy truth and thy Spi- 
 rit meet together in my soul, that my 
 prayer may enter into thy presence ; and 
 that thine ears may incline unto my 
 humble petitions : so shall I declare thy 
 loving kindness in the morning, and thy 
 truth in the night. 
 
 Thou knowest whereof we be made ; 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 37 
 
 thou forgettest not that we are but dust, 
 and unprofitable people ; not fit, apt, or 
 able of ourselves to pray unto thee, or 
 praise thy name. 
 
 Wherefore, good Father, enlighten us, 
 and teach our hearts rightly to conceive, 
 and our tongues freely to speak, what 
 may be to thy glory and our comfort : 
 allure us to seek thee, and grant that our 
 hearts may rejoice in thee, and that we 
 may live and die in thee. Amen. 
 
 " Let us now seek the Lord ; let us 
 seek his strength : yea, let us seek his 
 face continually." Psal. cv. 4. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
As the prince 
 is, so are the 
 people. 
 
 Queen Eliza- 
 beth was 
 given as a 
 token of 
 God's love. 
 
 The blessings 
 that we have 
 by queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 A MOTION TO A PRAYER 
 
 FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH, WHO AS THE 
 
 SERVANT OF THE GREAT KING 
 
 PROTECTETH THIS PROGRESS'. 
 
 Forasmuch as experience itself teach- 
 eth, that as an evil prince draweth the 
 greatest part of his subjects unto the 
 same profession and course of life which 
 the prince professeth and taketh ; and so 
 the prince and people, as it were, bound 
 unto sin, pass together in the w^ay of 
 death; so the good and godly prince, 
 both by good example of life and by sa- 
 cred laws, inciteth and winneth his peo- 
 ple to the heavenly course, which tendeth 
 to the obtaining of freedom of soul and 
 body to life eternal : and as the former 
 is sent in judgment unto a people for 
 their punishment, and his long continu- 
 ance to be lamented; so is the other 
 given as a blessing, and a most especial 
 token of the love of God, for whose long 
 and prosperous reign every subject is in 
 duty bound lovingly, zealously, and faith- 
 fully to pray unto God : 
 
 If so, what have we to say? what 
 have we to do, and what have we to 
 think of our gracious Queen, chosen of 
 the Lord himself, and miraculously pre- 
 
 [^ The words, who progress^ are omitted 
 
 in 1596.1 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 39 
 
 served, and lovingly given us for onr most 
 especial good ; by whom we have the 
 freedom and liberty of the gospel, which 
 is the path to our heavenly heart's ease ; 
 which before her days we know was 
 stopt up with the briars and thorns of 
 persecution and death, and now laid open 
 again, as a most evident token that the 
 Lord, by her sacred government, will 
 lead his people through the wilderness of 
 all the divisions, hurlyburlies, and tu- 
 mults in this world ; and to that end hath 
 raised up many zealous, grave, and reli- 
 gious counsellors and godly ministers, 
 who do direct the whole progress and 
 marching on of her obedient people in 
 the path of a godly profession of the 
 word of God, whereby at length they 
 shall come to that pleasant land of know- 
 ledge, where they shall, even in this life, 
 enjoy the heavenly heart's ease, the peace 
 of a good conscience without reproof? 
 Therefore it is most expedient that we 
 should call to mind our duties which we 
 owe unto her majesty, not only in regard 
 of the commandment which Paul setteth 
 down to Timothy, "that supplications, 
 prayers, intercessions, and giving of 
 thanks, should be made for kings, and 
 such as are in authority;" but also in 
 regard of the daily experience of her 
 most sacred government, which is such 
 and so gracious as the like benefit hath 
 not been extended to any nation before 
 us. And therefore, that we may avoid 
 negligence in that behalf, let us, accord- 
 
 We must 
 have consi- 
 deration of 
 our duties to 
 our gracious 
 queen for 
 many causes. 
 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. 
 
 No nation 
 hath had 
 like benefit as 
 England hath 
 had, not only 
 of the gospel, 
 but of long 
 peace. 
 
40 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 We must 
 pray for our 
 gracious 
 queen, that 
 God will 
 bless her with 
 all comforts. 
 
 The peril of 
 our time 
 giveth us oc- 
 casion to pray 
 for queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 An especial 
 cause to pray 
 for queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 The dangers 
 of foreign 
 countries 
 give us cause 
 also to pray 
 for queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 ing to the former counsel of Paul, pray 
 for her majesty's prosperous continuance 
 amongst us. Let us make intercession 
 for her perseverance and going on in her 
 sacred duty to God as she hath begun, 
 and that he will prevent the evils which 
 her adversaries maliciously pretend against 
 her. And, finally, let us give thanks for 
 her long so comfortable being our nurs- 
 ing-mother ; that she may so continue, 
 if it please our God, to the shutting up 
 and finishing of all time upon the earth, 
 that she with us, and we with her, may 
 meet our Saviour Christ Jesus together 
 in the clouds, when we shall enjoy our 
 absolute heart's ease in heaven. 
 
 If we consider the perilous estate of 
 our time wherein we live, and the danger 
 of our days, we shall find great occasion 
 to humble ourselves before the Lord in 
 prayer for her, that the bright beams of 
 his favour may shine unto us even in her, 
 who, as we see, hungereth and thirsteth 
 for the peace, comfort, and good of us 
 her people ; who being taken from us, we 
 know not whether the Lord will send us 
 (in regard of our forgetting his so great 
 a benefit in her) a David or a Saul : and 
 therefore it behoveth us to pray, that God 
 will lengthen her days upon the earth, 
 for the further comfort of his church. 
 
 If we look into the present estate of 
 our neighbours in foreign parts, it will, 
 if we be not careless, strike us with ter- 
 ror, lest that God for our sins should also 
 turn our peace into war, our plenty into 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 41 
 
 want, and our comfort in her to misery 
 and trouble by foreign enemies. 
 
 Let this, and many other deep occa- 
 sions, carry us into a desire to cry unto 
 our God for his continual love towards 
 her, whose prosperity is ours, whose 
 health is our happiness, and whose con- 
 tinuance is our comfort. The right hand 
 of the King of kings hold her up ! 
 
 The Prayer for the Queen. 
 
 Our omnipotent and mighty God, 
 that governest kings and kingdoms, 
 whose power exceedeth the power of all 
 potentates of the earth, we acknowledge 
 thy mercy, we commend thy wisdom, 
 and praise thy mighty power, in that 
 thou hast so like a loving Father estab- 
 lished the peace of thy church here in 
 this our land ; and in that thou hast cast 
 out the adversaries of Israel, and planted 
 us, as thine own people, in their steads. 
 Which weighty work, good Father, 
 such is thy strength, that thou hast en- 
 abled thine handmaid, not by tyranny, but 
 by truth, not by cruelty, but by loving 
 kindness, to establish in this our realm : 
 who hath confirmed the same to thy obe- 
 dience, and hath reduced many of thine 
 adversaries from disobeying thee to love 
 thee, from not knowing thee to serve 
 thee. And therefore, good Father, we 
 magnify thy name, we extol thee with 
 praise. And so much the more, good 
 Father, because she hath through thee 
 
42 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 driven back our enemies, and in thy 
 name and by thy power trodden down 
 such as rose up against her and us : and, 
 above all, for that under her we have 
 tasted how sweet, loving, and comfort- 
 able thou art towards us. And thy fame 
 in her is spread from one nation to ano- 
 ther people, yea, from one end of the 
 earth to the other ; and all the nations of 
 the w^orld do see and consider that great 
 is her God : for the wonders that thou 
 hast done for her are marvellous in the 
 eyes even of her enemies ; for when men 
 rose up against her, they prevailed not, 
 but stumbled and fell. The experience 
 of thy continual favour increaseth yet 
 daily, even to thy perpetual praise. 
 Wherefore, good Father, be still mindful 
 of her, and bless us in her; continue thy 
 loving kindness, and make her days joy- 
 ful, that she may see the increase of thy 
 glory to shine in this land, as the sun in 
 his strength. And let her foes be beaten 
 down on all sides ; let not one of them be 
 able to stand in her presence : grant her 
 continual peace and true happiness ; go- 
 vern her will, and sanctify her affections, 
 and beautify her crown with the glorious 
 ornaments of godliness, of wisdom, of 
 knowledge, of faith, of zeal, and true hu- 
 mility before thee, that she may continue 
 a spectacle of sincerity to all posterities ; 
 and that the princes of the earth may 
 see her godly proceedings, and in a godly 
 emulation endeavour more and more to 
 follow her good and gracious example. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 43 
 
 And let all her people practise evermore 
 to serve thee, and to celebrate thine ever- 
 lasting praises in her behalf. Hearken 
 unto her from heaven, and unto us for 
 her; behold her from above, and grant 
 that she may openly confess that all her 
 strength, all her comfort and salvation 
 cometh from thee. Thou art her strength, 
 thou art her castle, thou art the author 
 of her perpetual safety. 
 
 Give unto her thy judgments, Lord, 
 and thy righteousness unto her council, 
 that they may judge thy people with 
 righteousness, and thy folk with equity. 
 
 O let the mountains bring peace, and 
 the little hills righteousness unto thy peo- 
 ple. Let there be no decay, no leading 
 into captivity, nor no cause of lamenta- 
 tion in our land ; but let thy truth pre- 
 vail, let thy peace continue, and let her 
 godly proceedings take effect under thee, 
 to the gracious governing of all thy peo- 
 ple. Let thy word break forth, and the 
 glorious beams thereof shine forth and 
 banish the obstinate and stiff-necked ig- 
 norance of such as delight in vanities. 
 And to this end, good Father, exalt thine 
 anointed: let thy hand assist her, and 
 thy right arm hold her up ; and let not 
 her foes prevail agairfst her. So shall she 
 sing forth thy praise, and we, her people, 
 for evermore give thanks unto thee for 
 thy loving hand and favourable care of 
 her saving health. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A PRAISE 
 
 FOR HER MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Rejoice, O England blest ! 
 
 Forget thee not to sing : 
 Sing out her praise, that brought thee rest 
 
 From God thy mighty King! 
 
 Our God and mighty King 
 Our comforts hath renew'd : 
 
 Elizabeth, our queen, did bring 
 His word with jDeace endu d. 
 
 His word with peace and love 
 She planted, and it stands : 
 
 Her helper was the King above; 
 She brings it from his hands. 
 
 She brings it from his hand; 
 
 His counsel did decree. 
 That she, a Hester in this land, 
 
 Should set his children free. 
 
 None ruleth here but she; 
 
 Her heavenly guide doth shew. 
 How all things should decreed be 
 
 To comfort high and low. 
 
 Oh, sing then, high and low! 
 
 Give praise unto the King 
 That made her queen : none but a foe 
 
 But will her praises sing. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 45 
 
 All praises let us sing 
 To King of kings above! 
 
 Who sent Elizabeth to bring 
 So sweet a taste of love. 
 
 A short Prayer for the Queen\ 
 
 O Lord Almighty, King all suf- 
 ficient, the governor, preserver and con- 
 tinual protector of princes, to whose beck 
 and will all kings of the earth are subject, 
 look in mercy and favour upon the estate 
 of thy servant our queen Elizabeth. Be 
 unto her a safe refuge in all times of 
 danger, and let thine Holy Spirit be unto 
 her a continual guide of all her imagina- 
 tions, actions and proceedings. And for- 
 asmuch as thou beholdest the present 
 danger of the estate of us thy little flock 
 of this realm, in that the enemy of thy 
 Son's gospel vaunteth himself against us 
 thy poor people, and against her our de- 
 fender under thee ; be both to her and us 
 a tower of strength, and fight thou with 
 them that fight against her and us, and 
 be with our armies whensoever they shall 
 encounter the adversary; that she thy 
 servant, and we thy people her subjects, 
 may still shew ourselves thankful unto 
 thee for thy protection, and covet more 
 and more to serve thee in all truth and 
 holy zeal, as becometh us in all things. 
 Grant these things, good Father, in the 
 merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour ; in 
 
 [1 Inserted from 1596.] 
 
46 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 whom as tliou art well pleased, be pleased 
 to bless, preserve and direct our queen, 
 to comfort, defend and support us, and 
 either to bring our enemies to a perfect 
 peace in embracing thy truth with us, 
 or to confound their devices and power 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A MOTIOX TO A CONFESSION 
 
 OF OUR FILTHIXESS, AND THE 
 
 CORRUPT AFFECTIONS THAT 
 
 DWELL IN US. 
 
 THE FIRST RESTING-PLACE OR JESS' 
 IN THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 Before we presume to ask of God 
 forgiveness of our sins, or anything else 
 whatsoever, we must cast away our own 
 deserts, and confess against ourselves that 
 w^e are altogether unworthy of any good ; 
 yea, worthy^ rather of death eternal. And 
 therefore, to the end that we may fully 
 cast ourselves down, let us observe this 
 course. First, daily to examine ourselves; 
 whereby we shall find that we stand in 
 a most dangerous case in respect of our 
 continual sins: which being found, we 
 cannot but accuse ourselves to have 
 broken our faithful promise which we 
 made unto our God, wherein we vowed to 
 forsake sin, and to cleave unto righteous- 
 ness, to deny Satan, and to embrace our 
 God. Upon which examination and ac- 
 cusation we cannot but proceed farther, 
 and judge ourselves worthy of God's high 
 indignation. And so, consequently, we 
 shall find matter to be even our own 
 udges, and to pronounce sentence of 
 
 \} Jess: a check, or pause. Properly, the strap 
 tied about the hawk's leg.] 
 
 We must cast 
 ourselves 
 down in con- 
 demning our 
 own deserts, 
 before we 
 may presume 
 to ask. 
 
 We must first 
 examine our- 
 selves. 
 
 We must ; 
 cuse our- 
 selves- 
 
 We must 
 judge our- 
 selves. 
 
48 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 We must 
 condemn 
 ourselves. 
 
 Observations 
 in our ex- 
 amination. 
 
 Every man 
 upon exami- 
 nation shall 
 find himself 
 guilty. 
 
 Rom. iii. 9. 
 
 All men are 
 sinners. 
 Psal. xiv. 1,2. 
 
 Rom. iii. 23. 
 
 condemnation against ourselves, even of 
 eternal death and damnation. 
 
 And, as touching the examination of 
 ourselves, we must beware that we cast 
 aside all partial conceits of our own in- 
 tegrity; and rest inexcusable in ourselves, 
 by a deep descending into the bottom of 
 our affections ; and by all circumstances, 
 with diligence and godly wisdom, try out 
 all our cankered dispositions, whether 
 they have been conceived in the mind, 
 uttered with the tongue, or performed 
 with the body; whether we have been 
 bent to anything which might not stand 
 with the law of God, either in neglect- 
 ing our duties towards God in hearing 
 his word, in reading, or in not praying 
 unto him, as he hath commanded; or 
 whether we have broken our duties to- 
 wards our brethren, either in revenging 
 injuries, in oppressions, in covetousness, 
 in adultery, in wantonness, in strife, in 
 idleness, or in whatsoever thing tendeth 
 to the detriment of any man in particu- 
 lar, or the church or commonwealth in 
 general. In which examination let no 
 man think he standeth clear and blame- 
 less ; but rather let him accuse himself, 
 and say he is guilty, if of one, then of 
 all: for the word of God "concludeth 
 all under sin." And the most righteous 
 is impure before the Lord. The Psalmist 
 saith : " We have all corrupted our ways, 
 we have all done abominable things; and 
 there is none that doth good, no, not 
 one : we have all sinned, and are deprived 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 49 
 
 of the glory of God/' Will any man 
 then be so hardy as to excuse himself of 
 sin ? Who so saith, there is no truth in 
 him. "There is no man that sinneth 
 not." " The children of men are vanity ; 
 yea, the chief men are liars." We must 
 therefore beware how w^e cloak our sins ; 
 for it is as much, when we seem to jus- 
 tify ourselves, as to make the word of 
 God vain, and of no force. " If we say 
 we have no sin, w^e make God a liar, 
 and his word is not in us." 
 
 He therefore that examineth himself, 
 cannot but find sin in himself. Wherein 
 we must beware, that under this general 
 speech wherein it is said, " that every 
 man is a sinner," we justify not ourselves 
 to be as righteous as other men, and so 
 go on still in sin, because all men sin ; as, 
 perad venture, some men that have not the 
 inward feeling of the danger wherein they 
 stand may dally with their own destruc- 
 tion, and say they shall be saved as 
 well as other, for that all have sinned. 
 This is a most dangerous evil, and wor- 
 thy to be remembered ; for there is no 
 greater peril to the soul than to flatter 
 itself in sin by example of other men : 
 for if we linger and wallow in sin with- 
 out compunction or inward sorrow of the 
 soul, it argueth that there is no strict ex- 
 amination ; or else, having examined and 
 finding sin, we content ourselves to slum- 
 ber therein, and proceed not to the accu- 
 sation, without which there never cometh 
 a right proceeding unto a sound confes- 
 
 1 John i. 8. 
 
 1 Kings viii. 
 
 46. 
 
 Psal. Ixii. 9. 
 
 It is a danger- 
 ous thing to 
 say we have 
 no sin. 
 
 1 John i. 10. 
 
 When we ex- 
 amine our- 
 selves, we 
 must beware 
 how we look 
 into the lives 
 of other men. 
 
 The greatest 
 peril to our 
 soul is, flat- 
 tering our- 
 selves in sin. 
 
 [norden.] 
 
50 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 To accuse 
 ourselves is 
 a most neces- 
 sary step to a 
 true confes- 
 sion of our 
 sins. 
 
 Examples of 
 true confes- 
 sion. 
 2 Sam. xii. 13. 
 
 Luke XV. 18. 
 
 Matt.xxvi.75. 
 
 True confes- 
 sion of our 
 sins to God, 
 
 James i. 15. 
 
 The effect of 
 true confes- 
 sion is recon- 
 ciliation with 
 God, and 
 obtaining of 
 his favour 
 again. 
 
 1 John L 9. 
 
 sion; without which we cannot "judge 
 ourselves," as it is commanded, "that 
 we be not judged of the Lord;" neither 
 sufficiently " condemn ourselves, without 
 which we cannot but be condemned of 
 the Lord." Who amongst men in these 
 days can say truly as Paul, who said 
 "he knew nothing by himself?" But 
 admit he could, he cannot say he is 
 thereby justified. Then let us all accuse 
 ourselves, and confess with David, " we 
 have sinned against the Lord ;" and with 
 the lost son cry out against ourselves, 
 that " we have sinned." And thus shall 
 we do, if with Peter we examine our- 
 selves, and with him accuse ourselves, 
 and so proceed in judgment and condem- 
 nation against ourselves; and upon con- 
 demnation of ourselves bewail our estates 
 bitterly, which is a true repentance of 
 our evils past, bewraying all our corrup- 
 tions unto the Lord, who then will be 
 our loving God, and we shall be his peo- 
 ple ; he will be our Father, and we his 
 children. And although "our corrup- 
 tions bring forth sin, which being con- 
 ceived bring forth death;" yet, having 
 thus examined, accused, judged, and con- 
 demned ourselves, we casting ourselves 
 down before our God in true repentance, 
 he will receive us again into his favour: 
 for " if we acknowledge our sins before 
 God, he is faithful and just to forgive us 
 our sins, and to cleanse us from all our 
 unrighteousness." Who would not then 
 but come to so loving a God, and fall 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 51 
 
 down before him in this humiliation, and 
 say: 
 
 " The Lord is my strength, and my 
 salvation, therefore shall I not be moved." 
 
 " let us therefore pour forth our 
 hearts always before him ; for God is our 
 hope." Psal. Ixii. 2. 8. 
 
 The Confession of our sins to God. 
 
 O MOST gracious God and overliving 
 Father, who art clear and clean from spot 
 and sin, I, most miserable and wicked 
 wretch, do acknowledge and confess that 
 many and great are my sins, mine of- 
 fences infinite, and my righteousness like 
 a most filthy and polluted cloth. If I 
 should conceal my ofionces, if I should 
 cover mine iniquities, they would break 
 out against my will, and that to my 
 greater shame. But, alas ! I cannot hide 
 mine unrighteousness from thee ; the cor- 
 ruptions of my nature and the pollutions 
 of my proceedings here in this life are 
 manifest and filthy before men; much 
 more known and odious they are before 
 thee, who loathest whatsoever is e\41, 
 and searchest out the secrets of all hearts : 
 thou beholdest the inward thoughts, and 
 uncoverest the hidden parts within. And 
 therefore even against myself I will con- 
 fess my sins, I will lay open mine iniqui- 
 ties, I will accuse myself before thee: 
 I judge and condemn myself worthy of 
 death eternal. I deserve not to be ac- 
 cepted to come, or to present myself be- 
 
 4—2 
 
52 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY, 
 
 fore thy tribunal- seat ; but to be rejected, 
 to be cast off as a filthy wretch, and 
 never to be received into favour again, 
 but to rest as a reprobate and a castaway: 
 who, if I should not be reconciled into 
 thy favour again in Christ thy Son, I 
 should wish the hills to cover me, and 
 the mountains to fall upon me, to hide 
 me from thy majesty. And therefore, 
 good Father, I lay down mine offences 
 before thee by an open confession, that 
 my sins are so great, so many, and griev- 
 ous, that when I examine them they are 
 more than the hairs of my head, nay, 
 than the sand of the sea, which are im- 
 possible to be numbered. I accuse my- 
 self, and hold me guilty of manifest high 
 treason against thee ; and by the testi- 
 mony of mine own conscience I judge 
 myself worthy of thy disfavour : yea. 
 Lord, I cannot but utterly condemn my- 
 self to be no more w^orthy to be called 
 thy son, no more worthy to be partaker 
 of any of thy blessings ; but, by the due 
 desert of mine evil and corrupt behaviour, 
 to be cast into utter darkness, where shall 
 be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And 
 yet, Lord, who knoweth, or by examina- 
 tion can find out, his iniquities at the full? 
 who can recite all the transgressions that 
 he hath done ? Only thus much I must 
 needs confess, that "I have sinned against 
 thee, and done evil in thy sight, that 
 thou only mayest be approved just, and 
 be acknowledged a most righteous God, 
 when thou hast utterly condemned me 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 53 
 
 for my sins." All men, O Lord, all men 
 are vanity : there is not one that doth 
 good, no, not one ; we were all of us bom 
 in iniquity, and in sin have our mothers 
 conceived us. And we, miserable and 
 filthy as we are, do daily transgress thy 
 will, and do "multiply our transgres- 
 sions continually." And therefore I, a 
 most filthy wretch, cannot but again and 
 again accuse, judge, and condemn myself 
 to have deserved thy just displeasure 
 with pains eternal : and yet such is thy 
 favour, that thou wouldest not that we 
 should die in our sins, but unfeignedly to 
 repent and come unto thee. Oh, good 
 Father ! " What are we men, that we 
 should be clean, and he that is born of a 
 woman, that he should be just ?" We 
 have all corrupted our ways, and we 
 have all need of thee : and therefore I 
 come unto thee; accept me again into 
 thy favour, that I may say, " When my 
 soul began to slide, thy mercies, Lord, 
 did hold me up." Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 A short Confession of our Sins. 
 
 Most gracious God, and loving Father 
 in Jesus Christ, pure and holy, I confess 
 unto thee mine unrighteousness, which 
 maketh me unworthy to come before thee, 
 
 [^ This "short Confession" is inserted from 
 ed. 1596, in which the preceding " Motion " and 
 " Confession of Sins" are omitted.] 
 
54 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 not only in regard of mine original cor- 
 ruption,Avhiclil traduced from disobedient 
 Adam; but in regard of my continual 
 sins, and actual evils which I daily com- 
 mit against thee, whereby I cannot but 
 become offensive unto thee, and ever 
 loathsome in thy sacred eyes. But, alas ! 
 such is mine estate, being considered as 
 it is in and of myself, that I can bring 
 forth no better fruits, than the tree of 
 Adam's disobedience, whose roots, as they 
 are sin, so bear they sin in me, and con- 
 sequently procure death and destruction. 
 But, dear Father, as by Adam sin en- 
 tered and took hold of himself and all 
 his posterity ; so by thy Son we are all 
 justified, by our adoption into his right- 
 eousness of thy free love, if we take hold 
 of thy promises in him, and become obe- 
 dient as he is obedient unto thee. And 
 therefore, dear Father, howsoever our cor- 
 ruptions, as they are in us, of ourselves 
 have bewrapped us in bondage to sin and 
 death; let thy Son's merits be unto us a 
 sufficient ransom for our everlasting li- 
 berty, not only to come freely unto the 
 throne of thy grace, but in the end to 
 obtain the joys eternal with him in hea- 
 ven. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A MOTION TO A PRAYER 
 
 FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, 
 
 WHICH IS THE SECOND JESS 
 
 OR RESTING-PLACE IN 
 
 THIS PROGRESS!. 
 
 Having thus cast ourselves down be- 
 fore our God in true humility, wherein 
 we have acknowledged that we are so 
 polluted with sins, and so tied with the 
 chains of death, that there is no evasion 
 or mean in ourselves, or by ourselves, to 
 escajDe the snares of Satan, that " lurketh 
 like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may 
 devour;" we must now endeavour to find 
 out the mean how to be made at one 
 w4th, and be reconciled unto, our God 
 again. Wherein thus much we are first 
 to consider, that as by Adam all men 
 have sinned, and have deserved death by 
 sin ; even so by Christ are we cleansed 
 from sin, and stand again in the favour 
 of God the Father by faith in him : 
 " whom also we have to be an Advocate 
 to God our heavenly Father, and he it is 
 that obtaineth pardon for all our sins." 
 It is the passion and most innocent death 
 of Jesus Christ, the immaculate Lamb, 
 which is a sufficient reconciliation for 
 our offences. And therefore he saith, " If 
 
 [' The latter clause of the heading is omitted 
 in 1596.1 
 
 We must 
 seek how to 
 be reconciled 
 to God. 
 
 Christ recon- 
 cileth us to 
 God our of- 
 fended hea- 
 venly Father. 
 
56 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 Whohaththe 
 benefit of 
 Christ's 
 
 Matt. ix. 13. 
 
 Whom Christ 
 came to call. 
 Matt. xi. 28. 
 
 2 Pet. iii. 9. 
 
 Christ is our ^ 
 ransom. 
 
 any man sin, he hath an Advocate with 
 the Father, even Jesus Christ the riojhte- 
 ous." That is, if any man acknowledge 
 his offences truly hefore God, and that 
 he is sinful, impure, and corrupt, and 
 doth faithfully submit himself unto the 
 favour of God in Christ, without stand- 
 ing to justify himself righteous ; such a 
 one hath the benefit of Christ's death, 
 and such a one shall be partaker of the 
 deserts of Christ, wherein he shall obtain 
 pardon for all his sins. But he that will 
 not thus throw himself down before the 
 Lord, and cry out against his own un- 
 worthiness, and say that he is a sinner, 
 and unable of himself to obtain remission 
 of sins, there is no place of mercy for such 
 a one. For Christ " came to call, not the 
 righteous," such as were in their own con- 
 ceits holy, pure, just, and without sin, 
 "but sinners" (such as did so confess and 
 acknowledge themselves) to " repent- 
 ance ;" such sinners as are sorry for their 
 sins, and repent them of their evils : such 
 Christ himself calieth, saying, " Come 
 unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy 
 laden, and I will ease you." " Our God 
 is patient, and would have no man pe- 
 rish ; but would that all men should 
 come to repentance." And therefore he 
 sent his Son Christ Jesus, to give himself 
 a ransom for all that repent and truly 
 believe in him. 
 
 We were in " bondage " and " capti- 
 vity," and he most frankly took upon 
 him to ransom us with a great price, even 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY, 
 
 57 
 
 his blood ; " which blood he shed for 
 many, for the remission of sins :" not for 
 all, but for such as truly repent and 
 amend their lives ; for they that run on 
 still in their sins, howsoever they flatter 
 themselves, they are left unto themselves, 
 and the merits of Christ work not for 
 them : his death to them is none advan- 
 tage. And we therefore must take heed 
 lest that we deceive ourselves with this, 
 that " he is the Lamb of God that taketh 
 away the sins of the world;" and that 
 thereby every man in the world is so in- 
 cluded, and every man's sins by him so 
 taken a way, without repentance, that 
 we have scope to sin because he taketh 
 it away. But we must take hold of his 
 merits by faith, which faith will work in 
 us a detestation of sin, and a desire to 
 reform evil in ourselves, and to be recon- 
 ciled unto God in amendment of life. 
 For it appeareth that the whole world 
 was polluted and defiled with sin, and 
 that the whole world needed a mean to 
 be cured of that great misery ; and to 
 that end came Christ, even to save all 
 that repent and believe the gospel : to 
 such is the glad tidings of salvation sent, 
 as well unto the Gentile as to the Jew, 
 to the bond and free, to all people and 
 nations of the world. Wherein appear- 
 ed the unspeakable "love of God, not 
 that we loved him first, but that he 
 loved us, and sent his Son to be a recon- 
 ciliation for our sins." It was he "that 
 bare our sins in his body on the tree. 
 
 Matt. XXVI. 
 28. 
 
 They that 
 run on still \ 
 in sin have no 
 profit of the 
 merits of 
 Christ. 
 
 John i. 29. 
 
 The effects 
 of faith. 
 
 The whole 
 world was 
 dead in sin. 
 
 All are called 
 to salvation. 
 
 1 John iv. 10. 
 
 1 Pet ii. 24. 
 
58 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 How we must 
 repent. 
 
 1 Pet. iv. 3. 
 
 God is ready 
 to receive us 
 ifweunfeign- 
 edly repent. 
 Luke XV. 20. 
 
 Luke i. 50. 
 
 Rom. iii. 24, 
 25. 
 
 that we being dead to sin, should hve in 
 righteousness, by whose stripes we are 
 healed." 
 
 Being then healed of this deadly exil, 
 even of death itself, let us speedily repair 
 unto our good God in hearty repentance, 
 casting aside and giving over all the de- 
 ceitful works of darkness; and let us pray 
 that he will vouchsafe us forgiveness of our 
 sins, wherein of long time we have lived. 
 Let us be earnestly sorry that "we have 
 spent the time past of our lives after the 
 lusts of the Gentiles, licentiously and 
 wickedly, in wantonness, in lusts, drunk- 
 enness, gluttony, covetousness, and in 
 abominable idolatry." " To-day, if we 
 will hear his voice, let us not harden our 
 hearts." But having laid open our weak- 
 ness and infirmities, with an ardent de- 
 sire to reform our lives, let us boldly 
 approach unto our merciful God, who 
 seeing us afar off, namely, unfeignedly 
 purposing to amend our lives, he will 
 come with his Spirit and meet us, and 
 will embrace us with the arms of his love, 
 and will put on us the robes of his own 
 righteousness. Lo, " his mercy is from 
 generation to generation to them that 
 fear him." And therefore let us fear no 
 more ; for " we are freely justified by 
 grace, through the redemption that is in 
 Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth 
 to be a reconciliation through faith in 
 his blood, to declare his righteousness 
 by the forgiveness of our sins that are 
 past." 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 59' 
 
 let us not therefore "despise the 
 riches of his bountifulness and patience, 
 and long-suffering, knowing that the 
 bountifulness of God leadeth us to re- 
 pentance." Let us fall down before him 
 therefore, and he will heave us up; let 
 us cry out, and he will hear us ; let us 
 fly unto him, and he will come and meet 
 us, and embrace us. " If our sins w^ere 
 as red as scarlet, he will make them as 
 white as snow." " Therefore will every 
 man that is godly make his prayer unto 
 him in a time when he may be found." 
 " The Lord redeemeth the souls of his 
 servants, and none that trusteth in him 
 shall perish." 
 
 " I should have fainted, but that I 
 believed to see the goodness of the Lord 
 in the land of the living." Psal. xxvii. 13. 
 
 The Prayer for the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 O God of my salvation, I have ac- 
 knowledged my sins unto thee : I have 
 not hidden mine iniquities. For thus, 
 my good God, I thought, I will confess 
 my wickedness against myself unto thee, 
 Lord : forgive the punishment of my 
 sins ; unto thee, O Lord, I cry. my 
 Strength, be not far from me, lest that if 
 thou answer me not, I be like them that 
 go down unto the pit. Remember not 
 the sins of my youth, nor my rebellions ; 
 but according to thy kindness remember 
 thou me : even for thy goodness sake 
 remember thou me : gracious and righte- 
 
 Rom. ii. 4. 
 
 God's readi- 
 ness to re- 
 ceive us. 
 
 PsaL xxxii. 6. 
 
 Psal. xxxiv, 
 22. 
 
60 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 ous thou art, and thou teachest sinners 
 in the way. O turn thy face towards 
 me ; let thy loving favour and mercies 
 evermore be extended; for I am miser- 
 able, sinful, and poor. And I come unto 
 thee, the fountain of all help : forgive my 
 sins ; wash me, and I shall be clean ; let 
 me taste of thy old loving kindness, who 
 hast ever been ready to forgive, ever ready 
 to help, ready to receive the complaint of 
 the poor, ready to receive the miserable, 
 to embrace them that return from their 
 evil ways ; as appeareth by David, by 
 Peter, by Mary Slagdalene, and many 
 other, who, repenting their sins, have 
 found favour. Our fathers called upon 
 thee, and thou didst hear them; they 
 trusted in thee, and were delivered ; they 
 depended upon thee, and were not con- 
 founded. Wherefore have mercy upon 
 me, O God ; have mercy upon me, ac- 
 cording to thy great mercies, and accord- 
 ing to the multitude of thy compassions 
 do away mine iniquities. cleanse me 
 from my secret sins, and cover my known 
 sins with the righteousness of thy Son : 
 remove mine iniquities far away from me, 
 and be not angry with thy servant for 
 ever. O enter not into judgment with 
 me ; for if no flesh before thee be justi- 
 fied, what shall become of me, who have 
 so highly sinned ? 
 
 Lord my God, full of mercy, I appeal 
 unto thee, I fly unto thee, I rest upon 
 thee : leave thy displeasure against me ; 
 and howsoever weak and unable I be to 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 61 
 
 stand in thy presence, let thy Spirit 
 of strength hold me up, and say unto 
 me, " Fear not, for my grace is sufficient 
 for thee." I take hold of thy love, and 
 I rest upon thy favour in Christ : reject 
 me not, though there be no good in me ; 
 pour down that absolute good thing, 
 even thy grace, and let it direct me to 
 amendment of my corrupt life. Thou 
 hast said, that thou art well-pleased in 
 Christ thy Son: in him be thou also 
 pleased with me, and receive me again 
 into thy love through his merits, by 
 whom every sinner receiveth free access 
 unto thee. And although I, for my part, 
 most loving God, be a vessel full of faults 
 and filthiness; although I be no more 
 worthy to be called thy son ; although 
 I be a servant most unprofitable, yea, a 
 withered and starved branch, who have 
 lost the quickness and vigour of thy bless- 
 ed Spirit, and am good, of mine own 
 proper nature, for nothing but for the 
 fire ; yet, good Father, have mercy upon 
 me, have patience with me ; cast me not 
 from thee, but rather endue me again 
 Avith a new spirit, and a lively feeling of 
 thy pleasure and will, and ableness to do 
 thereafter, that I may fill up the residue 
 of my days in sincerity, in holiness, in 
 righteousness, and in the due service of 
 thee, in faith unfeigned and in all single- 
 ness of heart and soul ; that from hence- 
 forth, instead of straying from thee, I 
 may dwell and be shrouded under the 
 shadow of thy wings; that instead of 
 
62 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 sin, which heretofore hath miscarried me, 
 I may embrace piety, godliness, and true 
 zeal ; and instead of ignorance, whereby 
 I have gone so long astray, I may take 
 hold of the knowledge of thy saving 
 truth. And let it be as a lantern unto 
 my feet, and a light unto my paths, that 
 so I may rest safe in thee through a 
 lively faith which never deceiveth. And 
 grant that I may carefully perform what 
 thou likest, howsoever disliking it be 
 unto me; and may watchfully avoid 
 what thou loath est, howsoever liking it 
 be unto me. For I acknowledge, good 
 Father, that flesh and blood savour no- 
 thing of the things belonging unto salva- 
 tion; but I w^ait in the Spirit for thy 
 loving kindness and mercy promised in 
 Christ thy Son, in whom I am bold, 
 with deep sighs of the heart, to cry. 
 Lord, forgive mine offences, remit mine 
 iniquities, cover my sins, and lay not my 
 former evils unto my charge. 
 
 Good Father, give the knowledge of 
 salvation unto me, and to all thy people, 
 by the remission of our sins, through the 
 bowels of thy tender mercies, that we 
 may perceive in our minds both comfort, 
 peace, and gladness of thy Holy Spirit, 
 which may begin a new life in us, pleas- 
 ing thee. And for the better performing 
 of our duties unto thee, from henceforth 
 quench all the corrupt motions of our 
 minds striving with thy divine pleasure ; 
 and restore again in us the image of thy 
 di\ane light, which was lost ; that, being 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 63 
 
 thus inwardly renewed in our minds, 
 we may reform us outwardly in our 
 conversations, and may sing aloud unto 
 thee, and may serve thee with gladness, 
 and come always unto thee with joy. 
 Amen. 
 
 O Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 " Sing unto the Lord a new song : 
 O sing unto the Lord a new song." Psal. 
 xcvi. 1. 
 
 " Sing unto the Lord, and praise his 
 name ; declare his salvation from day to 
 day." ver. 2. 
 
 To the praise of God for the forgiveness 
 of our sins. 
 
 What shall we do to thee, God, 
 For all that thou hast done? 
 
 Whose love from us removes the rod 
 Which our offences won. 
 
 Thy Son hath brought us peace again, 
 And made us one with thee; ' 
 
 Although our sins deserved pain. 
 His cross hath made us free. 
 
 Oh, how shall we requite thy love? 
 
 AVhat recompence is due 
 To thee or him? Help from above, 
 
 Our sinful lives renew. 
 
 The best reward that we can give, 
 
 It helps not thee at all; 
 Yet thou in bounty dost relieve 
 
 Us wretched wights in thrall. 
 
64 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Great is thy glory, love, and might ; 
 
 Thy mercies have no end: 
 All thanks and praise to thee in right 
 
 Each heart should still extend. 
 
 But we, poor sinners, may cry out 
 Against ourselves, and say. 
 
 Our purest deeds, like filthy clout. 
 Our gross conceits bewray. 
 
 No stay is in our crooked will; 
 
 A rash consent we give 
 To each dehght that seeks to kill 
 
 Our souls, wherein' we live. 
 
 But now thy saving health extend; 
 
 Thy mercies sweet prepare, 
 And salve our sores : let us amend. 
 
 And break thou Satan's snare. 
 
 A sJiort Frayer for the forgiveness 
 of sins^. 
 
 O Father everlasting, merciful and 
 full of pity ! I do acknowledge myself 
 sinful, whereby I have deserved punish- 
 ment in thy heavy displeasure. But I 
 have an advocate, even Jesus Christ the 
 righteous, and he hath redeemed me from 
 all fear of death, if I truly repent mine 
 evils, and reform my life according to thy 
 will. Wherefore, most dear Father in him, 
 sanctify me again, and wash me clean 
 through his blood ; cover me with the pre- 
 
 [^ Therein, 1st edit, wherein, 1596.] 
 P This Prayer is reprinted from ed. 1596, 
 not being in the first edition.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 65 
 
 cious and most glorious robe of his inte- 
 grity and obedience, and in him forgive my 
 sins, and for his sake remember them no 
 more ; but rather supply the wants of all 
 spiritual graces and gifts in me, of faith, of 
 knowledge, of love, of patience, of repent- 
 ance, of obedience, and true reformation 
 of my life ; that, being renewed again and 
 regenerate in him, I may mortify all my 
 corrupt and filthy afiections, and live in 
 all holiness, righteousness, and true zeal 
 all the days of my life : that when this 
 frail body shall return to dust, my soul 
 may ascend where Christ my Saviour 
 sitteth at thy right hand, at the time 
 appointed, my soul and body may receive 
 the fulness of the joys prepared for thine 
 elect in thy celestial paradise. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, increase my faith. 
 
 [[norden.] 
 
The weak- 
 ness of our- 
 selves. 
 
 We mustseek 
 to keep the 
 favour of 
 God. 
 
 It is not 
 enough to 
 forsake sin, 
 but we must 
 cleave unto 
 righteous- 
 
 A MOTION TO A PRAYER, 
 
 TENDING TO THE OBTAINING OF TRUE 
 
 MORTIFICATION OF OUR SINFUL 
 
 AFFECTIONS, WITHOUT WHICH 
 
 WE CANNOT PLEASE GOD : A 
 
 SWEET PLACE OF REST 
 
 IN THIS PROGRESS \ 
 
 Having acknowledged our sins and 
 corrupt affections before our God, and in 
 Christ his Son having obtained atonement 
 with him ; and yet resting in ourselves 
 sinful and miserable, and of ourselves un- 
 able to obtain the favour of God, and, 
 being obtained, not able to stand without 
 his continual aid ; w^e must seek by all 
 means to frame all our actions in his fear, 
 knowing this, that it is not enough for 
 us to have found the mean how to be 
 reconciled unto God; but we must use 
 the means also, being reconciled, to re- 
 tain and keep him our favourable God 
 still; which is by mortifying of those 
 evils in us which break forth unto his 
 dishonour. We must leave sin. Yet 
 this is not enough ; we also must cleave 
 unto righteousness, and exercise our call- 
 ings to God's glory : we must not only 
 " eschew evil," but we must " do good;" 
 we may not only "seek peace and atone- 
 ment with God," but we must " ensue 
 
 [' The last clause is omitted in 1596.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 67 
 
 and follow it." It is not enough for us 
 "not to walk in the counsel of the 
 scorner and wicked persons, or not to 
 stand in the way of sinners; but we 
 must delight in the law of the Lord," 
 and that not for a time, and then to 
 return to our vomit and vanity again, 
 according to the course of the world, who 
 thinketh it enough to cease from evil for 
 a time, and to serve the Lord at seasons 
 ordinary ; but we must '^ exercise our- 
 selves in his word, and that continually, 
 day and night." And we must " gird up 
 the loins of our minds, and be sober, 
 and trust perfectly on that grace that is 
 brought unto us in the revelation of Jesus 
 Christ ; as obedient children, not fashion- 
 ing ourselves unto the former facts of 
 ignorance, but as he which hath called 
 us is holy, so let us be holy in all man- 
 ner of conversation," pleasing God ; not 
 " making our boast of our own heart's 
 desire, as the covetous, who blesseth him- 
 self in his own wealth and prosperity, 
 and contemneth the Lord ;" grounding 
 the foundation of our hope upon vain 
 things, whereby oftentimes we are stir- 
 red up to execute things offensive unto 
 Godj which yet may carry colour of war- 
 rant by the law of man, wherein the 
 inward affections of the heart appear not 
 only not mortified, but rather revived to 
 sin. If we duly look into our desires, 
 we shall find out few or none that truly 
 tend to that mortification which is re- 
 quired, but rather to the advancing of 
 
 Psal. i. 1, &e. 
 
 1 Pet i. 13, 
 14,15. 
 
 Things may 
 offend God 
 which carry 
 colour to be 
 lawful. 
 
 5—2 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The first step 
 to become a 
 godly man. 
 
 Matt xvi. 24. 
 Mark viii. 34. 
 
 Luke ix. 23. 
 
 We must for- 
 sake our- 
 selves. 
 
 the pride of our flesh against the humi- 
 lity of the spirit. Let none think it 
 irksome or tedious to learn this, that 
 the first step to the perfection of a godly 
 man is to deny himself ; which denial is 
 keeping under of all the corrupt motions 
 which rise in ourselves, and covet to 
 break forth in action, contrary to that 
 which our God hath commanded : and 
 if that be hard to perform, that which is 
 farther required is more hard ; and they 
 are the words of Christ himself, which 
 I dare not deny. " If any man," saith 
 he, " will follow me, let him forsake him- 
 self;" and yet that not enough : " let him 
 take up his cross and follow me." And 
 in another place : " If any man will come 
 after me, let him deny himself, and take 
 up his cross daily and follow me." We 
 are commanded to forsake ourselves, and 
 to deny ourselves : wherein we may see 
 the great necessity of this mortification, 
 and how severely it is enjoined us. If 
 we forsake ourselves, whither shall we 
 fly to leave ourselves ? We must under- 
 stand that we, as long as w^e are in the 
 body, are at home in the flesh, where 
 many corruptions lurk ; and therefore if 
 we will forsake ourselves, we must sup- 
 press the evils in ourselves, and by the 
 Spirit ascend up from our carnal habita- 
 tion, and dwell with the Lord in conti- 
 nual contemjDlation of his will, in a daily 
 desire to be with him. Thus also must 
 we deny ourselves ; for when the motions 
 of the flesh do, as it were, entreat the 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 69 
 
 We must 
 deny the de- 
 sires of the 
 flesh. 
 
 mind and soul to consent unto that which 
 is unlawful, we must presently check 
 ourselves, and in- an inward godly an- 
 swer repel the proud desires of the flesh, 
 which savour not the things that ap- 
 pertain unto life, but unto death, and 
 therefore necessary to be denied. Thus 
 if we carry our affections within the com- ' 
 pass of the Lord's good pleasure, we shall i 
 then easily attain unto the other part, | 
 namely, to take up the cross ; that is, i 
 accept willingly the miseries, troubles, ' 
 afflictions, and persecutions which may 
 happen unto us : but so long as we are 
 carried away with the allurings of the ' 
 world and the flesh, we shall say, as Pe- j 
 ter said unto his Master (savouring of the I 
 flesh, and not of the Spirit), " Save thy- , How danger- 
 self, go not to Jerusalem to fall into | pkase the 
 trouble :" so shall we always covet pleas- | ^^^" 
 ing things, but poisoned things, as riches, I 
 preferment, honour, ease, idleness, negli- ; 
 gence in our calling, excess in buildings, ' 
 superfluous diet, most devilish attire; and 
 what evil accompanieth not this ? It is 
 thought an easy fault, nay, no fault, to 
 be en\4ous, to be a glutton, to be drunken, 
 to be a blasphemer, to receive rewards 
 against justice, to be partial in judgment 
 if it lean but a little awry, and especially 
 if it be not seen of men. But this liberty 
 of the flesh will be one day restrained, 
 and God's mercies detained from such 
 libertines ; who, although they cannot 
 nor will forsake or deny themselves as 
 yet, it may please God to rouse them out 
 
 Many gross 
 faulti are 
 thought no 
 faults. 
 
70 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Prayer ne- 
 cessary to 
 mortifica- 
 tion. 
 
 No excuse 
 will serve. 
 
 The observa- 
 tion of the 
 letter of the 
 law excuseth 
 not. 
 
 1 Thess. V. 22. 
 
 Rom. vi. 
 19. 
 
 Rom. vii. .'>, 6. 
 
 of this forgetfulness, and strike their 
 hearts with such a feeling of his displea- 
 sure, that they may cast off their affec- 
 tions of the flesh, and measure all their 
 thoughts, words, and works by the Spi- 
 rit : and therefore it is good to pray unto 
 the Lord for his assistance therein, know- 
 ing this, that he that cannot forsake him- 
 self, and deny himself, howsoever he flat- 
 tereth his own security and integrity, 
 wherein he foolishly persuadeth himself 
 that he followeth Christ, he is far from 
 Christ ; and surely he will say unto him 
 in the last day, " I know thee not." It 
 is not the buying of a farm, the proving 
 of oxen, nor the marriage of a wife, that 
 can excuse us continuing in the flesh and 
 fleshly desires. 
 
 It is not enough to observe the letter 
 of the law : for then we may still con- 
 tinue manslayers in wrath towards our 
 brethren; we may commit adultery by 
 lusting; we may sin in our communication, 
 exceeding yea and nay. And therefore 
 must we " abstain from all appearance of 
 e\'il ;" and in all purity both of soul, mind, 
 and body, through the power and strength 
 of the Spirit of God, endeavour continu- 
 ally to forsake and deny ourselves: "being 
 made free from sin, let us become the ser- 
 vants of righteousness, and let us give all 
 our members instruments of righteousness 
 in holiness and pureness." "When we were 
 in the flesh, sin had power in our mem- 
 bers, bringing forth fruits unto death : 
 but now, being delivered from sin, we 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 71 
 
 must serve the Lord in ne^vness of spirit, 
 
 and not in our old conversation." There i No good 
 
 dwelleth no good thing in our flesh, for 
 we may feel continual rebellions therein, 
 which repugn the law of the Spirit; which i 
 law giveth strict commandment against 
 the affections of the flesh, and would have 
 all the corrupt motions thereof to be ut- 
 terly denied. And therefore let us fight 
 manfully against all evils, in what degree 
 soever they rise against the Spirit. 
 
 We must carefully watch the doors 
 of our hearts >vith the weapons of the 
 Spirit, lest that sin creep into our inward 
 parts ; which obtaining the consent of our 
 minds, yea, but a little, it will take such 
 advantage by pleading possession, that it 
 will be hard to remove it. And therefore 
 let us prevent the entry of sin, by morti- 
 fying the deeds of the flesh ; so shall it 
 never bear fruit in us to death. And 
 surely, "if the Spirit that raised up Christ 
 dwell in us, our mortal bodies shall be 
 quickened by the same Spirit;" and so 
 quickened, that it shall bring forth the 
 fruits of true mortification in us. And 
 then shall we be known to be the sons of 
 God, even by that badge of denying our- 
 selves. 
 
 Let us pray therefore unto the Lord, 
 that he will sanctify us within ; that he 
 will make our whole lump holy, the root 
 and the branches holy. If our hearts be 
 pure, all our actions will likewise be pure. 
 We must hunger and thirst for righte- 
 ousness, if we will be blessed \vith the 
 
 dwelleth in 
 our flesh. 
 
 We must be 
 watchful 
 against sin. 
 
 Rom. viii. 11. 
 
 How we may 
 be known to 
 be the sons 
 of God. 
 
 Rom. xi. 16. 
 
72 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The inward 
 affections and 
 outward 
 actions must 
 concur. 
 
 righteous. We must run the race of the 
 godly, if we will receive the reward with 
 the godly : we must subdue our evils, and 
 conquer our corrupt motions, as do the 
 godly, if we will be crowned with the 
 godly. We must have our hearts, hands, 
 and all the parts of our bodies, knit to- 
 gether in one consent to the true forsaking 
 and denying of ourselves. The inward 
 shew and outward affections must concur 
 in the same : so shall we be both out- 
 wardly approved, and inwardly assured, 
 that we have the Spirit of truth, and so, 
 consequently, that we are the Lord's, who 
 will always attend our safety, if we thus 
 carry ourselves before him. 
 
 Read the xvth Psalm : learn it and 
 have it in thine heart, and observe it in 
 thy proceedings ; and it shall teach thee 
 what it is that is required of thee to be- 
 come a lit man to enter into the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 The Prayer for mortification. 
 
 O RIGHTEOUS God and merciful Father, 
 who art so pure and clean that there is 
 no evil dwelleth with thee, no corruption 
 resteth in thy sight ; but he that walk- 
 eth uprightly, he that worketh right- 
 eousness and speaketh the truth from his 
 heart, he is accepted with thee; such a 
 one thou lovest, such a one thou receiv- 
 est, and such a one shall rest in thy 
 holy hill : but, on the contrary, he that 
 waiketh after his own heart's desires, he 
 that yieldeth unto the corrupt motions 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 73 
 
 of flesh and blood, and cloaketh iniquity 
 under the shew of godliness ; such a one 
 dost thou hate, such a one doth thy soul 
 abhor, and such a one shall not come near 
 thee; he may pray and shall not be heard, 
 he may cry and call, but thou wilt not 
 help him. Wherefore, my good God, sith 
 there is required in all men the sincerity 
 and true inward zeal of the soul, and an 
 absolute killing of the motions of the flesh 
 and mortifying of all fleshly afi*ections; 
 look favourably upon me, in whom do 
 dwell an innumerable troop of foolish fan- 
 tasies, a heap of sinful affections. I find 
 and feel, that though many times to will 
 be present with me, yet to perform is not 
 in my power : sin prevaileth, and death 
 through sin swalloweth me up ; so that 
 I rest in darkness of sin, and that by 
 giving scope unto mine own perverse will. 
 And so long, good Father, as I dwell in 
 this house of flesh and blood, detained 
 dowTiward with the pleasing and enticing 
 things thereof, I cannot master my cor- 
 rupt desires, I cannot bridle mine affec- 
 tions ; but, instead of true mortification, 
 I break out into such outrage, by consent 
 of all my members, that my affections 
 extend from conceiving evil to perform- 
 ing of evil, from desiring to sin to com- 
 mit sin, even with greediness. And yet 
 such is my miserable estate, being thus 
 in myself, that flesh and blood flattereth 
 itself, and concludeth, that whatsoever I 
 purpose in an evil desire, so that it break 
 not forth into open gross wickedness, that 
 
74 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 I am holy enough, that I am as sincere 
 as is requisite, and that I stand too fearful 
 of thy judgments; when thou knowest, 
 that all and every the least conceit of 
 sin, breaking into action, in what covert 
 measure or mean degree soever, it by and 
 by endangereth my soul, and deserveth 
 sudden judgment. And therefore let it 
 please thee, that as thy dear Son, through 
 thy surpassing love, hath reconciled all 
 such unto thy favour again, that are truly 
 penitent ; so let thy Holy Spirit conti- 
 nually work to the taming of unbridled 
 flesh, and let me by the same Spirit 
 never leave more and more to seek and 
 endeavour to subdue my gross affections, 
 until I come to a true and absolute mor- 
 tification of all the evils that rise up in 
 me : so shall I deny and forsake myself, 
 and follow thee : so shall I leave myself 
 and come unto thee ; I shall hate myself 
 and love thee; I shall conquer myself 
 and serve thee. 
 
 Good Father, thou seest that I am 
 most weak, and without the continual 
 working of thy grace I cannot in any 
 measure suppress my desires, but rather 
 they the more strongly rise in me: I 
 cannot deny myself, but rather I deny 
 the working of grace in me: I do not 
 only not mortify my sins, but sin rather 
 reviveth and becometh strong in me, in- 
 somuch as it bringeth forth fruit not unto 
 life, but unto death. Therefore, I beseech 
 thee, sanctify me, that I defile not myself 
 with the filthiness of the flesh, or fleshly 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 75 
 
 things, howsoever they seem to please 
 me. Let me not be deceived vnih the 
 pleasing judgment of worldly men, who 
 affirm sin to be no sin, darkness to be 
 light, and light to be darkness ; atheism 
 to be religion, and sanctity to be sin ; 
 covetousness to be good husbandry, and 
 charity to be folly; hatred and revenge 
 to be manhood, and love to be cowardice ; 
 swearing to be courage, and meekness to 
 be madness; pride to be decency, and 
 comeliness to be beastly. O good Father, 
 many are the enormities that rise up in 
 us, and defended not only as things tole- 
 rable, but as things laudable : mortify 
 therefore, mortify these evils; let us no 
 longer be besotted with the filthy fashions 
 of the corrupt world; extinguish the 
 flames of carnal desires, repress the raging 
 lusts of the flesh; and grant that we may 
 shun, and with due watchfulness avoid, 
 all things that have but the appearance 
 of evil; that being thus inwardly sub- 
 dued, I may make outward profession; 
 that whatsoever I do, it may be simply 
 grounded upon the truth of a good con- 
 science, in singleness of the spirit, in new- 
 ness of life. And let me still retain this 
 in memory, that I cannot follow mine 
 own will, and thy word: I may not 
 impart my afi'ections to the deeds of the 
 flesh, and the works of the Spirit : I can- 
 not walk in darkness and light, the way 
 of death and the way of Hfe: I cannot 
 serve thee and sin. Direct me, therefore, 
 good Father, direct me in my whole life. 
 
76 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 and separate me from the world and 
 worldly thinors. and let me dwell with 
 thee in all godly meditations and con- 
 templations ; and let me nse the things in 
 this world as if I used them not ; let me 
 live in this life as if I were dead to sin : 
 and being thus truly mortified in the 
 body, and quickened in the Spirit, let 
 me look in continual watchfulness for 
 the dissolution of this my mortal body, 
 that my soul may ascend; and in the 
 end, both in soul and body, I may for 
 evermore enjoy the eternal joys of heaven. 
 Amen. 
 
 O Lord, increase our faith. 
 
THIS TEXDETH TO A TRUE 
 
 DENIAL OF OUESELVES, IX MORTIFY- 
 ING OUR AFFECTIONS, WHEREBY WE 
 OYER GREEDILY EMBRACE THE 
 PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD. 
 
 Corrupt and filthy are we all, 
 
 The proudest man is dust : 
 Xo comfort here; we live in thrall. 
 
 And linger here in lust. 
 The sweetest of delights that we 
 
 Can choose to please our will. 
 What brings it us? who doth not see 
 
 That pleasures turn to ill ? I 
 
 Art thou a man whose state Is great, : 
 
 If pomp exalt thy mind, ! 
 
 What then ? Thy soul ^^^th sin impleat 
 
 Bewrays thy pleasures blind. 
 A doleful bell doth wait to ring, 
 
 When thou secure shalt die : 
 What song of glory canst thou sing, 
 
 When corpse in grave shall lie? 
 i 
 What shall avail thy lofty looks. 
 
 Whereat the poor do quake ? 
 And what thy Machavilian books? 
 
 Wliose cursed sleights forsake. 
 Thy bravest buildings high in state, 
 
 Thy golden god's but dusi : 
 Thy Thrasos and thy Gnathos mate 
 
 No more shall serve thy lust. 
 
78 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Thy formal friends, that fawn on thee, 
 
 And please the time for gain, 
 Will sigh in shew, but shrink from thee, 
 
 When most thou groans't in pain. 
 Thy rich array, which here doth make 
 
 Thy stinking carcass gay. 
 Thy foe, when thou art gone, will take, 
 
 And laugh; and thou in clay. 
 
 No state so strong, no man so sure, 
 
 No office, or degree. 
 Can grant us warrant to endure 
 
 Beyond our time, we see. 
 Why then doth flesh triumph, and brave 
 
 Itself in pleasing days; 
 Yet sinks in sins ? At last the grave 
 
 Our gross farewell displays. 
 
 Oh then in haste and happy time 
 
 Bid all this trash farewell; 
 Ye high and low, of dung and slime. 
 
 To day leave off to swell. 
 Subdue ye pride, deny your will. 
 
 Now mortify your lust : 
 No share else in God's holy hill 
 
 Ye have ; to hell ye must. 
 
A MOTION TO A PRAYER 
 
 TENDING TO THE OBTAINING OF THE 
 KINGDOM OF GOD. 
 
 'THE FOURTH JESS, AND A NECES- 
 SARY LODGING FOR THE SOUL 
 IN THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 It hath pleased Almighty God in 
 great measure of mercy to call us home 
 unto him to confess our sins ; which al- 
 though they be great and many, yet 
 through the abundance of his love he 
 hath taken them away through the 
 merits of his Son, and only craveth this, 
 that we will forsake ourselves, and follow 
 him : wherein we are moved to seek the 
 Lord our God, and to frame ourselves to 
 that course that may bring us wholly 
 unto him, being the fountain of all good- 
 ness, which we can receive either in soul 
 or body. 
 
 And forasmuch as he saw the cor- 
 ruptions of our hearts to be such, as they 
 brought forth oftentimes perverse and 
 contrary desires, tending most especially 
 to wWldly and fleshly things; he in 
 favour directed us especially what to 
 crave at his hands, namely, to " seek the 
 kingdom of God, and the riches and 
 righteousness thereof ; and then shall all 
 things necessary both for body and soul 
 be administered unto us." Insomuch as 
 [1 This clause omitted in 1596.] 
 
 The kingdom 
 of God is 
 principally 
 to be sought. 
 
80 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The founda- 
 tion. 
 
 The kingdom 
 of God is not 
 of the world. 
 
 The kingdom 
 of God, 
 whereof it 
 consisteth. 
 
 Luke vi 20. 
 
 Matt. V. 4. 
 
 Isai. Ixi. 2, 3. 
 
 Psal. XXX vii. 
 
 11. 
 
 Psal. xxiv. 4. 
 
 Matt. \. 10. 
 
 2 Cor. ix. 5. 
 
 it appeareth that the foundation of all 
 our petitions, tending to bodily relief, 
 must be builded, not upon our own rash 
 conceits, as to ask what our natural dis- 
 position w411 lead us unto ; but to seek 
 the word of God, the knowledge of 
 Christ, and [the things that belong to 
 eternal life. And then] ^ the things of the 
 body, being of small moment, shall be 
 cast upon us by the loving providence of 
 our good God. Although in deed the 
 kingdom of God be not meat and drink ; 
 it consisteth not in the outward man, as in 
 promotion, in riches, in beauty, in honour, 
 in health, in fiiends, nor in whatsoever 
 pleasures of flesh and blood ; no, not in ce- 
 remonies and traditions invented by man; 
 not in the outw^ard word, neither in what- 
 soever is seen with the external eye ; but 
 it consisteth in spiritual feeling, taste and 
 use, in the sincere and pure knowledge, 
 exercise, and comfort of the gospel of 
 Jesus Christ, performing the will of God 
 here in earth. 
 
 And herein it is required, that we be 
 " poor in spirit, to hunger and thirst for 
 righteousness, to be meek, to be merci- 
 ful, to be pure in heart, and gladly suffer 
 persecution for righteousness' sake." We 
 must be loving, liberal, pitiful, patient 
 in troubles ; and in all things we must 
 frame and conform our words, works and 
 thoughts to do the will of our heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 [^ The words between brackets are omitted 
 in 1596.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PEETY. 
 
 81 
 
 To him we must fall down to be 
 strengthened in faith, without which we 
 cannot retain this kingdom, the lively 
 and effectual word ; which that it may- 
 be purely preached without fraud, deli- 
 vered without vain glory, received and 
 practised without faltering or fear, we 
 must pray unto our God, who hath pro- 
 mised and will perform, to send us his 
 aid, to keep us npright in this glorious 
 path to eternal life. And we must pray 
 unto him, that he will make our under- 
 standings capable of the truth of his will, 
 and what he requireth at our hands 
 in seeking of this his kingdom : that he 
 will frame our lives in all simplicity of 
 faith, submitting ourselves wholly unto 
 his word, casting down our own imagi- 
 nations, and every proud conceit of our- 
 selves; that through meekness, in true 
 knowledge and obedience, we may be 
 made meet partakers of the everlasting 
 kingdom of God. 
 
 Having obtained this spiritual feeUng 
 of the will of God in his word, and being 
 sealed up through faith in a longing desire 
 for all spiritual perfection; let us proceed 
 to the execution of our callings, which 
 may answer the commandment of God 
 herein. Let us continually seek new and 
 daily means, by hearing the word preach- 
 ed, by stirring up one of another, and by 
 giving sacred examples of virtue and god- 
 liness, that our callings may be made 
 sure, to be founded and established in this 
 kingdom. 
 
 [[norden.] 
 
82 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 The benefit 
 that we have 
 by seeking 
 the kingdom 
 of God. 
 
 Then may we freely approach unto 
 our God, and he will receive us : we may 
 call on him, and he will hear us: we 
 may beg of him, and he will give us all 
 things necessary for body and soul. He is 
 our Almighty King, and he will defend 
 us ; he is our merciful God, and he will 
 relieve us ; and he is our merciful Father, 
 and he will feed us, clothe us, and teach 
 us : and at last he will crown us with 
 the glory of his Son ; he will make us as 
 the saints in heaven, and we shall receive 
 the inheritance of everlasting bliss. And 
 therefore let us seek and pray unto him, 
 that we may obtain this principal and 
 chief foundation of all true comforts in 
 this life, the kingdom of his Son Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 The Prayer for the Kingdom of God. 
 
 MOST gracious God and loving Fa- 
 ther, it hath pleased thee to command 
 us, first and before all things, to seek 
 thy kingdom, and the riches and right- 
 eousness thereof, with promise that then 
 all things necessary for body and soul 
 shall be given us : wherefore, good Father, 
 sith that our unableness is such, that we 
 cannot attain unto this high matter of 
 ourselves, vouchsafe to prepare our hearts, 
 that at this time and always we may 
 above all things hunger and thirst for 
 this righteousness, the absolute mean of 
 our true comfort ; without which all our 
 comfort is but care, our wisdom but 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 83 
 
 foolishness, our glory but shame, our 
 riches but poverty, our godliness im- 
 piety, and all our prayers sin. AVhere- 
 fore, good Father, I humbly pray thee, 
 in the behalf of all thy children, that thou 
 wilt pour into our hearts a godly con- 
 sideration of our imperfections, not being 
 endued with this absolute integrity ; that 
 we may see our poverty and nakedness, 
 not being enriched and clothed with this 
 riches and weeds of sanctity; that we may 
 feel how ready we are to pine for want 
 of this food of our souls, tliy sacred word, 
 the glorious gospel of Christ, wherein 
 consisteth this heavenly kingdom; which 
 kingdom, O Lord, teach us to find. 
 
 Endue us with thy Holy Spirit : pour 
 into our hearts that sacred gift which 
 thou hast left for our comfort, to lead us 
 to this kingdom, that may direct us in 
 all truth, that may manifest in us the 
 knowledge and exercise of thy word, 
 wherein resteth that sjjiritual happiness, 
 which here by faith we see as a shadow 
 far off, which one day shall be manifest 
 to our absolute joy and salvation. 
 
 In the mean time, good Father, sanc- 
 tify our hearts with heavenly contem- 
 plations and sanctified meditations ; that 
 our joy, which now is but in part, may 
 be daily enlarged through the divine 
 fruits of love to thy law, faith in thy 
 promises, and of hope that our joy shall 
 be full at the appearing of thy Son. So 
 shall the kingdom of thy Son appear in 
 us; and we, which wander in the darkness 
 
 )— 2 
 
84 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 of this polluted world, shall appear ma- 
 nifestly to be the heirs of thy kingdom, 
 through faith, testified by the fruits of a 
 sanctified life. 
 
 And to the end, good Father, that 
 thy kingdom may daily more and more 
 appear and increase, grant free and com- 
 fortable passage to thy word and gospel 
 of Christ, that it may be plainly, purely, 
 and plentifully preached. And vouchsafe 
 to increase the number of the labourers 
 in this work, who may faithfully and 
 diligently work therein : that through 
 the same thy people, which now sit in 
 darkness, may be enlightened ; that such 
 as are far off may come near, and they 
 that are without, at thy good pleasure 
 may be brought into this kingdom ; that 
 we may all put on that sanctified garment 
 of a new life and sincere conversation, 
 which may approve us to be thy children, 
 and citizens of thy kingdom ; and that, 
 as becometh thy sons, we may be re- 
 formed in our lives. 
 
 Give us thine Holy Spirit, that we 
 may believe thy word, and thereby so 
 direct our lives, that we in all virtuous- 
 ness and godliness of conversation may 
 finish our course upon earth ; and after- 
 ward live with thy Son in eternal bliss. 
 And seeing thy kingdom is not meat and 
 drink, neither consisteth in ceremonies 
 and traditions devised by man, neither 
 cometh it with observations, neither is it 
 in word, but in righteousness, and peace, 
 and joy in the Holy Ghost, and in power; 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 85 
 
 grant that we all may be truly regene- 
 rate and bom anew by the Holy Spirit, 
 and may no longer spend the days of our 
 lives in the lusts of the flesh, in the vanities 
 of the mind, and in pride of life ; but may 
 elevate and raise upward all our affec- 
 tions, even unto thy holy hill, from whence 
 Cometh the life wherein we live, the help 
 whereby we stand, and the power where- 
 by we are defended. And be thou present, 
 good Father, in all readiness to support 
 us being w^eak, to relieve us being poor, 
 and to train us up in all heavenly know- 
 ledge being altogether ignorant. 
 
 And let every of thy children that 
 thirst after that righteousness, be filled 
 with all good things within and without, 
 that we may go forward in daily exercise 
 of piety and godliness, in knowledge, in 
 faith, in love, in hope, and in true zeal, 
 that we may live within the compass of 
 thy fatherly protection, die in thy love, 
 and be in the end crowned with the 
 'glorious merits of thy Son in heaven. 
 Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 For the Kingdom of God. 
 
 The God- of bliss, 
 
 Who faithful is. 
 His sacred word doth send, 
 
 To teach us all 
 
 On him to call. 
 And to his laws attend. 
 
86 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 His kingdom pure, 
 
 Which shall endure 
 For ever, doth begin 
 
 In those that know 
 
 How here below 
 To mortify their sin. 
 
 And they that will 
 Embrace with skill 
 The way that trains to bliss, 
 Shall quickly see, 
 That they shall be 
 Reformed from things amiss. 
 
 God above. 
 
 Look thou in love 
 On all that long to see 
 
 Thy saving health. 
 
 Thy heavenly wealtli. 
 And glorious kingdom free. 
 
 Thy kingdom shew 
 
 To us below, 
 That wander here awry: 
 
 Direct our feet. 
 
 Thy statutes sweet 
 To us thy folk descry. 
 
 O be not slack. 
 But what w^e lack 
 
 With speed let us obtain : 
 For thou dost feed. 
 Such as have need ; 
 
 Thou dost no poor disdain. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 87 
 
 ^A short Prayer for the obtaining of the 
 Kingdom of God. 
 
 O Father merciful and everlasting, be 
 merciful unto us, and give unto us a feeling 
 of thy blessed Avill : open unto us the w^ay 
 of true knowledge : prepare our steps to 
 walk aright, that in all the course of our 
 lives we may be guided aright, and savour 
 more of heavenly than of earthly things : 
 and let our whole delight be to medi- 
 tate righteousness : let us embrace equity, 
 and execute justice; let us abound in 
 love, mercy, sanctity, and true holiness; 
 and furnish us largely with all spiritual 
 graces, whereby we may continually seek 
 thine everlasting kingdom, and practise 
 the righteousness thereof for evermore. 
 Illuminate our understandings by thy 
 Spirit, and let thy word be our whole 
 comfort, and the use thereof our continual 
 delight. And abandon from our thoughts 
 all superfluous cares of worldly things, 
 that we may shew ourselves, by a con- 
 tinual holy meditation of thee and things 
 above ; may use the things of this life as 
 if we used them not, knowing this and 
 assuring ourselves by thy promises, that 
 if we seek and covet to have our con- 
 versation on things spiritual, all carnal 
 things expedient shall be given us by 
 thee, to whom be praise for ever. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 [' The two following Prayers are reprinted 
 from the 1596 edition, not being in the first.] 
 
88 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 A short Prater for Mortification. 
 
 O Lord mighty and merciful, who 
 didst create man in the beginning simple, 
 sincere, pure, and without sin, in which 
 his innocency he then represented thine 
 own image, who art pure and without 
 spot of sin ; yet such was man that he 
 fell from thee by disobedience, whereby 
 he corrupted his ways, and became far 
 unlike unto thee, defiled with all vanities, 
 wherein, alas ! we all of us wallow, the 
 most with greediness, and all in overmuch 
 neglect of our duties : wherefore, most dear 
 Father in Jesus Christ, create in us new 
 thoughts, new affections, and new wills; 
 shape in us true obedience, that we all 
 may mortify and kill all sin, and vain 
 inclinations, which in us rise up against 
 thee. Let sin no longer bear rule in us ; 
 but let thy grace more and more abound, 
 that all that we do, think, or speak, 
 may be savouring of our godly desires of 
 heaven and heavenly things. And let 
 all earthly and carnal delights become of 
 no price in our hearts ; that so we may 
 be approved, not only before men, to be 
 as we ought, but to thee to be as thou 
 requirest in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
 O Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A MOST NECESSARY MOTION 
 
 TO A PRAYER, TENDING TO THE COM- 
 FORT AND PRESERVATION OF THE 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST, WORTHY 
 TO BE DULY CONSIDERED 
 IN THESE DAYS. 
 
 iTHE FIFTH JESS, WHEREIN THE SOUL 
 
 MUST EXERCISE ITSELF IN 
 
 THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 There is none so ignorant, I trust, 
 but well knoweth and is fully satisfied, 
 that our good God by the operation of 
 the Spirit, through the preaching of his 
 word, hath gathered together a great 
 multitude of people out of all parts of 
 the world, whom he hath endued with 
 the knowledge of himself; and whom he 
 hath chosen sincerely to serve him, to 
 call on his holy name, and to celebrate 
 his praises in this world : which company 
 of people, though far and near scattered, 
 he hath so united and knit together in 
 one faith, in one baptism, and in one 
 sincere course of doctrine, taught and 
 left unto us by Christ our Saviour, that 
 he our Saviour disdaineth not to call 
 them his church, in whom he will be 
 served, and in whose hearts and souls he 
 vouchsafeth to dwell, even by his Holy 
 Spirit : he disdaineth not to accept this 
 church as his spouse and wife, affording 
 [^ This clause omitted in 159G.] 
 
 How the 
 whole 
 strength is 
 knit together, 
 though the 
 members be 
 scattered 
 
90 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Eph. V. 22. 
 2 Cor. xi. 2. 
 Rev. xxi. 2. ! 
 Eph. i. 23. 
 Col. i. 24. 
 1 Cor. i. 2. 
 
 Every mem- 
 ber of the 
 church is 
 joined unto 
 Christ. 
 
 Matt, xxviii. 
 
 18. 
 
 Col. ii. 10. 
 
 The Spirit of 
 God dwelleth 
 in his church. 
 
 himself to be her husband ; he is the head, 
 and this faithful company the members. 
 This "church of God is holy :" it is "sanc- 
 tified in Christ Jesus," and every member 
 thereof is a " saint by calling." Whoso- 
 ever is of this fellowship and company, 
 and is truly joined unto that head Christ 
 Jesus, is so separated from the wicked, 
 that he liveth in Christ, and Christ in 
 him. 
 
 And forasmuch as we all know that 
 Christ our Saviour, when he came in the 
 flesh, and being present in the world, 
 though he were Lord of all, became as a 
 servant, humbling himself, and was of no 
 reputation among men ; but was scorned, 
 derided, whipped, spit at, and in most 
 base manner abused, and at last he was 
 crucified ; yet was he pure, innocent, 
 stedfast, patient, faithful, and did love 
 his enemies, and prayed for them : all 
 this he did and suffered, to the end that 
 his church and every member thereof 
 should learn of this their head, and be 
 guided by this their husband, how and 
 in what course to carry themselves in 
 this present world. 
 
 And, for that man of himself is ig- 
 norant and weak, he hath left his own 
 example for his children to follow, and 
 his Spirit to guide this his church, that 
 it step not aside to an unknown husband ; 
 but that in all obedience they should 
 perform what he commandeth, and care- 
 fully avoid what he forbid deth. 
 
 Christ, being now ascended and sitting 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 91 
 
 in the heavens at the right hand of his 
 Father, hath left this his church as his 
 image here in earth, to be scorned, scoffed, 
 whipped, afflicted, persecuted, and even 
 massacred, murdered and spoiled by the 
 enemies of his cross. And every member 
 of this church must lay down his account 
 before-hand, and reckon what it will cost 
 him; and he shall find that it will amount 
 unto no less than persecution, trouble, 
 enemies, and even death itself, if he will 
 truly follow his master Christ. And this 
 portion is the very badge whereby his 
 church and the true members thereof are 
 known : it is the touchstone and trial of 
 our professions. And to the end that we 
 may the more exactly follow him, he 
 commandeth us to forsake ourselves, and 
 to take up his cross, and patiently abide 
 and bear whatsoever trial shall be laid 
 on us by his enemies; who, if they spared 
 not him, being the head, they will not 
 forbear the members. If they called him, 
 even our master, Belzabub, what re- 
 proach will they not give us? If they 
 crucified the Lord of glory, much more 
 will they persecute his children. 
 
 It appeared, as soon as the master 
 was taken away, the servants were 
 despised : when the shepherd was gone, 
 the sheep wandered abroad; and all 
 the children of God were tried, "some 
 by mockings and scourgings, some by 
 bonds and imprisonment ; some were 
 hewn in pieces, some stoned, some slain 
 with the sword, some wandered up and 
 
 The true 
 church is the 
 image of 
 Christ. 
 
 The church 
 must suffer 
 persecution. 
 
 The lot of 
 God's chil- 
 dren. 
 
92 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY- 
 
 Heb xi. 36, 
 37,38. 
 
 2 Cor. xi. 24. 
 33. 
 
 Acts iv. 3. 
 Acts vi. 12. 
 
 Acts viii, 3. 
 
 Psal. xi, 2, 
 
 down in sheep-skins, destitute of comfort, 
 afflicted and tormented ; some wandered 
 in the mountains and in the wilderness, 
 hiding themselves in caves and dens of 
 the earth," and none escaped the hand of 
 the enemy ; and yet they were such " as 
 the world was not worthy of." Paul the 
 apostle was mightily persecuted of the 
 Jews, after he became a member of this 
 church. Peter and John were also bitterly 
 persecuted : Stephen most miserably hand- 
 led, and at last stoned. All the apostles 
 and disciples of Christ were persecuted, 
 and havock was made of the church 
 of God ; insomuch as all such as took on 
 them the profession of Christ, or had but 
 the name of Christians, were forced to 
 taste of the cup whereof their master 
 tasted. And we that follow them in 
 profession, must be contented to follow 
 them in troubles, to take up the cross, 
 and to bear what the world will lay upon 
 us. There is no way to the kingdom of 
 heaven, but by Christ ; and there is no 
 way to Christ, but by tribulation. 
 
 " The wicked do continually seek to 
 oppress such as are of true heart ; they 
 make sharp their swords, they bend their 
 bows, and dispose their arrows in the 
 strings, coveting to shoot at those that 
 fear God." " The kings of the earth band 
 themselves, and the princes of the world 
 assemble themselves together, against God 
 and his church." England, since it hath 
 come to the taste of true religion, hath 
 tasted how true it is that is said, that 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 93 
 
 they that will live uprightly, shall have 
 many that will rise up against them. 
 How hath the rage of Satan appeared 
 against us, with bitter threats from Spain, 
 with excommunications and condemna- 
 tions from Rome ! How have we been 
 laboured to have been seduced by priests 
 and seminaries from our bounden love 
 and duty, not only towards her majesty, 
 but towards our God! If cursings, if 
 blessings, if dissuasions or persuasions, if 
 threats of hell, if promises of heaven, if 
 throwing down, or exalting high, if fear 
 of fire and sword could have prevailed; 
 we had fallen and forsaken God ere this 
 day. How have they sought the death 
 and destruction of our gracious queen and 
 grave counsellors, by enchantments, by 
 magic, by murder, and by all devilish 
 practices ! Have we not been environed 
 by fleets of foes at sea, by armies of 
 rebels by land, and endangered by hidden 
 traitors at home ? Hath there yet any of 
 their conspiracies prevailed? Hath not 
 God stood our defence? Hath not our 
 Christ, the head of our church, stood in 
 the gap against these treacheries and 
 tumults? And doth there not hereby 
 appear a church militant, a church still 
 driven to defend itself; and a church 
 malignant, a church fraught with malice 
 against the truth ? a church offended and 
 a church offending ; a church suffering 
 and a church persecuting ? And who 
 doth not see how manifestly it appeareth, 
 that our church is that church which 
 
 The practices 
 of the ene- 
 mies of the 
 church of 
 God. 
 
 A church mi- 
 litant, and a 
 church ma- 
 lignant. 
 
94 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The badge 
 of the anti- 
 christian 
 church. 
 
 The troubles 
 in France. 
 
 resembletli our head Christ Jesus in suf- 
 fering, and the other to be the church 
 resembHng their father the devil by 
 massacring and kiUing? Who, seeing his 
 kingdom to be near at an end, and noting 
 hov/ his church and the reprobates' com- 
 pany diminisheth, beginneth to enkindle 
 the coals of dissension between kings and 
 kingdoms, and stirreth up traitors under 
 colour of teachers, murderers in the 
 name of catholics, and devils under the 
 habit of a religion ; by whom the whole 
 world is at this day set all in a flame, 
 and they labour by all means to pervert 
 with the venom in their tails the con- 
 sciences of all true Christians; and where 
 they see they cannot prevail by the truth, 
 they seek it by tyranny ; in the place and 
 stead of mercy, they use massacres ; in- 
 stead of peace, which the truth embraceth, 
 they stir up wars ; and instead of love, 
 the badge of Christians, they execute all 
 hatred, even to blood. If we look into 
 late years, we shall find in France how 
 thousands of the church of God have 
 been murdered, some in their beds, some 
 in the streets, some in the temple, some 
 preaching, some praying; and whosoever 
 was noted to serve God aright, was 
 swallowed up in this devilish fury : and 
 for that the more they strived to sup- 
 press the truth, the more seeing it to 
 prevail, they, by the instigation of the 
 adulterer of Rome, proceed on to new 
 devices, sparing neither old nor young, 
 great nor small, but take all by the 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 95 
 
 throat, even their kings, and with butch- 
 erly hands defile their palaces with most 
 cruel murders, killing every innocent; 
 even such as can but name the Lord 
 Christ, and him serve as their only Re- 
 deemer in the lowest measure, do they 
 most cruelly cut off with untimely death. 
 
 Is it not therefore high time for the 
 poor church of God, in regard of this 
 bloody work of the devil, to pour forth 
 continual ardent prayers unto our God 
 for his present help in this trouble ? And 
 howsoever we rest in great measure freed 
 from massacres and open murders here 
 in England, through the loving hand of 
 our good God ; yet are we not without 
 continual occasions to move us to godly 
 supplications, tliat God in his mercies will 
 continue our favourable God for ever, and 
 that he will be still mindful of us, that 
 we fall not into our enemies' hands, who, 
 as we see, practise by all kinds of policies 
 to press in upon us, to deal with us as 
 they have dealt with other nations ; nay, 
 to make us to be no more a people. 
 
 The remembrance of our little per- 
 secution in the time of queen Mary 
 may move us to due obedience unto our 
 God, who did speedily deliver us by the 
 gracious hand of our most sacred queen 
 Elizabeth; in whom, under our good God, 
 we have been this thirty-three ^ years al- 
 most complete so happily defended, that 
 we have had free scope to serve our God 
 in truth; whereas we see other nations 
 
 [^ Thirty-nine, 1596. See Introductory Notice.] 
 
 England hath 
 great cause 
 to pray. 
 
 The persecu- 
 tion in queen 
 Mary's time, 
 a mean to 
 draw us to 
 prayer now. 
 
96 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Psal. xxix. 2. 
 Psal. ii. 1. 
 
 The enemies' 
 hope Cometh 
 to nought. 
 
 to be so suppressed by the heavy hand 
 of the wicked man, that none dare stand 
 up to profess God, but with present 
 torture. 
 
 let us therefore be thankful to our 
 mighty God for his help in all former 
 dangers, and pray that we may shew our- 
 selves " wise as serpents and as innocent 
 as doves;" that we may stand sound and 
 unblameable in our professions, in faith 
 strong, in love unfeigned, and constantly 
 persevering in this inviolable truth, that 
 the gates of hell, nor the tyranny of the 
 evil man prevail not against us; that the 
 fond and idle fury of that Romish idol 
 terrify us not, whom, together with his 
 worshippers, our all-sufficient God laugh- 
 eth to scorn ; who, as we see and have 
 tasted, hath by his providence turned 
 their practices to their own perdition, all 
 their plots, snares and pits to catch them- 
 selves. Is not " this marvellous in our 
 eyes ?" But "the truth is great, and it 
 prevaileth." 
 
 It is the Lord that hath done this 
 great thing. It is he that " driveth back 
 the heathen, and that planteth his church : 
 it is he that destroyeth the adversaries, 
 and maketli his own people to grow; it 
 is he that giveth strength unto his people, 
 and blesseth us with peace." Why then 
 do the foolish heathen thus rage; why do 
 these peevish people murmur against the 
 church of Christ in vain ? When their 
 hope was to have prevailed vdth their 
 peevishly termed invincible army, they 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 97 
 
 stumbled and fell : the hand of the just 
 God was against them, and his mighty 
 hand cast them into the bottom of the 
 sea, and with his power he confounded 
 their device; and howsoever they seem 
 to continue malicious, and in a deep 
 desire to cut us off and to dispeople us, 
 let us not fear, but duly call upon the 
 name of God, our head and husband, and 
 he ^vill break their bows, he wall shiver 
 their spears in sunder ; their own swords 
 shall pierce themselves, and their own 
 bullets shall rent themselves in pieces. 
 
 Let us therefore continually fall down 
 before him in prayer, and in due obedience 
 unto his word submit ourselves unto his 
 will ; and if he will that we suffer for his 
 name and truth's sake, let us glorify him 
 in our sufferings, knowing this, that a 
 cro^vn of life is laid up in store for as 
 many as take his yoke with patience, 
 and faithfully endure unto the end. 
 
 If it please him, he can " make wars 
 to cease from one end of the world to the 
 other :" but if it be his pleasure to raise 
 up new evils against us for our sins, let 
 us acknowledge his judgments to be just, 
 and our deserts to be \i\e. And let us 
 serve him continually, without fear of 
 them that can but kill the body, and 
 cannot annoy the soul : then shall nothing 
 separate us from this our Christ, nor from 
 the unity of his church, " neither tribu- 
 lation, nor anguish, nor persecution, nor 
 famine, nor nakedness, nor peril of the 
 sword, nor death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
 
 If God will 
 that we suf- 
 fer, let us 
 glorify him 
 therein. 
 
 Nothing must 
 separate us 
 from Christ. 
 
 I^NORDEX.] 
 
98 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 principalities, nor powers, nor things pre- 
 sent, nor things to come, nor height, nor 
 depth, nor any creature," neither pope, 
 Spaniard, Turk, nor infidel; nothing shall 
 "separate us from the love of God which 
 is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
 
 Let every member then of this true 
 church, with all power and diligence, en- 
 deavour to approve himself by know- 
 ledge, by faith, by prayer, by humility, 
 and patient abiding the Lord's leisure in 
 all things : so will our loving God keep 
 us under the shadow of his wings, and 
 preserve us as the apple of his eye, that 
 we may grow up, and bring forth fruit 
 a thousand-fold, to the glory of his name : 
 and whether by life or by death he hath 
 decreed to glorify us, let us take either 
 in all godly obedience unto his will, and 
 present our continual prayers unto his 
 majesty for the comfort and preservation 
 of the universal church. 
 
 The Prayer for the Church of God^ to 
 
 he said at all times, and especially 
 
 in danger. 
 
 Almighty God and overliving 
 Father, who hast vouchsafed to gather 
 unto thyself an holy company out of all 
 nations of the world, whom thou hast 
 most gloriously entitled with the names 
 of thy church, thy spouse, and thy mem- 
 bers, and whom also thou teachest, lovest, 
 and feedest ; whom also thou so tenderly 
 considerest, that howsoever the wicked. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 even thine enemies, do seek to annoy it, 
 thou so defendest, guardest, and blessest 
 it, that no hair of the head of the least 
 member thereof falleth, much less any of 
 that company perisheth or is trodden 
 down, without thy providence. Yet, 
 good Father, such is thy pleasure, that 
 while this company shall dwell in earthly 
 vessels, it is as a ship tossed and tum- 
 bled vsdth the cruel storms and dangerous 
 waves of the sea, of continual persecu- 
 tions, subject to often assaults of the 
 enemy, dashed sometime against the 
 sword, sometime beaten with slanders, 
 backbitings, reproaches, and sometime to 
 beatings, buffettings, crosses, and some- 
 time to massacres, murders, and most 
 cruel death. It is never free from peril ; 
 it is always and by all means tried. 
 There is no comfort, no joy, no rest, as 
 long as it is in this life, but in hope, 
 waiting patiently the comforts and con- 
 solations in heaven. 
 
 It continually depainteth out the 
 sufferings, the crosses, and ignominious 
 course which Christ himself was forced 
 to suffer here in earth : insomuch as it 
 is made known to be thy church, by the 
 continual calamities which here in this 
 life it endureth. 
 
 Good Father, thou seest how the 
 heathen do rage, and how the froward 
 people of the earth do murmur against 
 thee in these thy members; how the 
 kin^s of the earth band themselves, and 
 the princes assemble and consult together 
 
 7—2 
 
100 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY, 
 
 against thee, thy Christ, and against his 
 church. But make thy people strong 
 in faith, that we may break their bands, 
 and cast their cords from us : for sal- 
 vation belongeth unto thee, and thy 
 blessing is upon thy people. Thou seest, 
 
 Lord, thou seest how the wicked bend 
 their bows, and make ready their arrows, 
 that they may secretly shoot at thy 
 children, and to hit them they fear not. 
 But thou, righteous Lord, lovest right- 
 eousness; thy countenance doth behold 
 the just, and thine hand shall hold them 
 up. Withdraw not therefore thy tender 
 mercies from thy church ; let thy mercy 
 and thy truth alway preserve it : for thou 
 seest that innumerable troubles are raised 
 against it : but send thou thy light and 
 thy truth, and let knowledge, faith, and 
 true obedience in lowliness and zeal, lead 
 it ; and by thy mighty hand preserve it 
 in thy holy mountain, and let it always 
 rest in thy tabernacles: furnish it with 
 all joy and gladness, and gird it about 
 with strength. Let it through thee be 
 able to thrust back her adversaries, and 
 in thy name tread down such as rise up 
 against her. Let thy church continually 
 sing, The Lord is my light and my 
 salvation ; whom shall I fear ? The Lord 
 is the strength of my life ; of whom shall 
 
 1 be afraid ? In the time of trouble and 
 danger hide thy people in thy tabernacle, 
 in the secret place of thy pavilion ; hide 
 them, Lord, and set them upon a sure 
 rock, that when the wicked, even their 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY, 
 
 101 
 
 enemies and their foes, come upon them 
 to devour them, let them stumble and 
 fall. Be thou our strength and shield. 
 Thou givest strength unto thy people, 
 and blessest them with peace. But, 
 good Father, thou seest that the wicked 
 furiously rage, and endeavour to rush in 
 upon thy sanctuary : they imagine mis- 
 chief against thy church, and seek by all 
 means to devour thine inheritance. They 
 lay snares, O Lord, to entrap thy spouse, 
 and to dismember thy Christ. They take 
 wicked counsel, and in deceit do they 
 work all their devices : they lay wait for 
 the righteous company, and seek to de- 
 stroy them. But they shall not be de- 
 stroyed in the perilous time : for thou. 
 Lord, hast promised to stand in the de- 
 fence of thine own people. Thou hast 
 saved us from our adversaries, and hast 
 put them to confusion that hate thy 
 people. 
 
 Up, Lord, and behold how yet the 
 enemy seeketh to destroy us. O hide not 
 thy face, forget not our misery and afflic- 
 tion. Thou, God, art the king of all the 
 earth, thou reignest and rulest over the 
 heathen : therefore will we not fear. The 
 Lord of hosts is with us, the God of 
 Jacob is our refuge ; yea, this God is our 
 God for ever and ever : he is the guide 
 of his church, and he it is that will 
 come and will not keep silence : a fire 
 shall devour before thee, so that thine 
 enemies shall not be able to stand in thy 
 presence ; they shall be scattered abroad, 
 
102 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 and come to shame suddenly. Thou, 
 God, hast given a banner to them that 
 fear thee, that it may be displayed in 
 testimony of thy truth; that thy be- 
 loved, even thy spouse, may be delivered ; 
 and that every member of thy church 
 may dwell in thy tabernacle for ever, 
 and may rest under the covering of thy 
 wings, when the wicked shall fall and 
 be utterly discomforted. Oh, how ter- 
 rible art thou in thy works ! through 
 the greatness of thy power shall thine 
 enemies be subjected unto thee. And 
 although thou sufferedst the wicked to 
 ride even over our heads, although we 
 have been forced to pass through fire 
 and water ; yet hast thou delivered us, 
 and brought us into a wealthy place, 
 where thy word and gospel, even the 
 truth of our salvation, is freely delivered. 
 "Wherefore, God, arise, let thine enemies 
 be scattered ; let them that hate thee fly 
 before thee : as the smoke vanish eth, so 
 let thine enemies be driven back; let 
 them not come near thy sanctuary. As 
 wax melteth before the fire, so let the 
 enemies of thy church perish at thy pre- 
 sence, and let thy people be glad: let 
 thy congregations sing and rejoice; let 
 thy beloved leap for joy. send down 
 thy gracious rain upon thine inheritance, 
 refresh the weary members of thy church, 
 such as have felt the woe of thine ene- 
 mies : let them be recomforted. Let the 
 solitary poor man, that thirsteth for thy 
 saving health, be filled with the hid 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 103 
 
 treasures of tliy love. Deliver tlie im- 
 prisoned, and let the children now in 
 captivity be set free. AVound the heads 
 of the obstinate and stiff-necked adver- 
 saries of thy church, and bruise the hairy 
 scalps of such as seek to destroy thy 
 people. Destroy the company of the 
 spearmen, and the multitude of the 
 proud, whose hearts are lifted up against 
 thy people. Scatter those idle and evil- 
 affected ones, whose delight is in war : so 
 shall all kingdoms of the earth seek thee, 
 and the nations dispersed shall attend un- 
 to thy voice, and all such as know thee 
 shall sing forth thy praises; yea, they 
 sliall sing unto him that rideth upon the 
 high heavens, and ascribe all power unto 
 thee our great God, our mighty king, 
 our husband and head. O God of hosts, 
 cause thy face to shine upon us, and we 
 shall be saved. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A PRAISE OF GOD'S FAVOUR 
 
 IN PROTECTING HIS CHURCH, COM- 
 FORTABLE TO THE FAITHFUL. 
 
 " Sing faithfully unto God our strength : sing 
 loud unto the God of Jacob." Psal. Lxxxi. 1. 
 
 Our God is good ; why should we then 
 
 So long neglect his praise? 
 His help doth pass the help of men, 
 
 Whose laws and love decays. 
 But lo, the love of God endures, 
 
 From day to day it stands: 
 His spouse to love and live he lures, 
 
 And breaks her cruel bands. 
 
 He sends his word and gives her light ; 
 
 His gospel feeds his flock : 
 His people only take their flight 
 
 To him their lively rock. 
 On him they stay, on him they stalW, 
 
 And he extends his aid: 
 He breaks with truth the doleful band, 
 
 Whereat his church dismayed. 
 
 No pompous pope, no Spaniard proud. 
 
 No direful drum of foe. 
 No shaft, no shot, no rainless cloud. 
 
 Can daunt his spouse with woe. 
 What though the peevish man of sin 
 
 His bloody badge display? 
 What if he vainly vaunt to win? 
 
 Be still: he shall decay. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 105 
 
 The proudest of our foes shall fall, 
 
 Their stoutest strength shall rue : 
 The stately strumpet, fraught with gall, 
 
 Shall faint, and all her' crew. 
 Jehovah yet his church shall save. 
 
 And with his hand defend: 
 Who then will rest a popish slave, 
 
 And not our England's friend? 
 
 Breathe out thy word, God, our guide ; 
 
 Let it be publish'd so. 
 That it may stand and still abide. 
 
 And teach thy church to grow. 
 Let truth prevail, let faith abound. 
 
 Let all reform their ways : 
 Our queen preserve, her foes confound; 
 
 Send peace in all her days. 
 
 ^A Prayer for the Church of Christ. 
 
 Most gracious God and loving Fa- 
 ther in Jesus Christ, look in favour upon 
 the estate of thy church generally dis- 
 persed through the whole world, and 
 whom by the malice of Satan and ty- 
 ranny of antichrist thou seest continually 
 assailed with many dangers. Be thou, 
 therefore, a castle and defence, a buckler 
 and rock, strong and forceable to with- 
 stand the fury and force of all adversaries : 
 and for the better comfort endue it con- 
 tinually with faith unfeigned, wherein 
 it and every member thereof may safely 
 
 n So 1596. First edition, his.'\ 
 [2 This Prayer is reprinted from the edition 
 of 1596, not being in the first.] 
 
106 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 run and repair under the shadow of 
 thy wings, whensoever peril appeareth. 
 Graciously guide and govern it ; be pre- 
 sent with it, and take the defence thereof 
 into thine own hands, to whom it spe- 
 cially and alone belongeth; and let it 
 hold on the true course of professing and 
 practising thy true religion, that the 
 adversaries may have no cause to con- 
 demn it through sin; which howsoever 
 it may seem to dwell in the most godly, 
 while we live here, yet let us always 
 have an eye and diligent watch over our 
 thoughts, words and actions, that our 
 light may shine to thy glory, our good, 
 and example of other, in peace and war, 
 in comfort and calamity, and not be 
 dismayed at the noise and report of the 
 greatest danger. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
THE SIXTH JESS 
 
 WHEREIN THE SOUL MUST ARM ITSELF 
 AGAIXST DANGERS OF THE TIME, 
 IN REGARD OF FALSE DOC- 
 TRINE, WHEREWITH ELSE 
 IT MAT BE MISCARRIED 
 IN THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 Christ, foreseeing in the days of his 
 flesh, that after his departure his children 
 should be in danger to be seduced from 
 his sincere truth by the ministers of 
 Satan, false prophets, and lying teach- 
 ers, hath very graciously given us a 
 forewarning to take heed of such as enter 
 in amongst us in sheep's clothing, who 
 are inwardly ravening wolves; who 
 should privily bring in damnable he- 
 resies, even denying the Lord who hath 
 bought them, and who bring upon them- 
 selves swift damnation : yet many shall 
 follow their destructions, by whom the 
 way of truth is evil spoken of. It was 
 prophesied long ago, that in the latter 
 days (even the days wherein we live) 
 should rise up very dangerous doctrines, 
 and Satan should transform himself into 
 an angel of light; and false apostles, 
 having put on the person (as it were) of 
 
 [^ Instead of, The sixth Jess, 1596 reads, A 
 Motion to a prayer ; and omits the concluding 
 words, wherewith, &c.] 
 
 Matt. vii. 15. 
 
 2 Pet ii. 1, 2. 
 
 Satan and his 
 ministers 
 change them- 
 selves into 
 angels of 
 light. 
 
108 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 There are 
 many kinds 
 of deceivers. 
 
 Satan's bark, 
 a deceitful 
 and a secure 
 cradle. 
 
 Christ himself and of his apostles, should 
 creep into the hearts of God's children, 
 and so enchant them with their counter- 
 feit holiness, that many through their 
 hypocrisy should be deceived. 
 
 Many such have in our days risen up, 
 and have carried great shew of being of 
 the flock of Christ, but by their actions 
 have shewed themselves very devourers 
 of the sheep of Christ, and have sought 
 to suck the blood of his saints : of which 
 kind of deceivers there are many kinds, 
 and they most subtle and wily in their 
 generation ; and therefore it behoveth the 
 children of God to be careful, watchful, 
 and obedient unto the will and word of 
 God, which is the line whereby we must 
 direct our course, to sail aright unto the 
 harbour of the heavenly truth. We must 
 touch the compass of our hearts with the 
 loadstone of truth, whereby we shall be 
 able to elevate all our affections unto the 
 heavenly day-star Christ Jesus, that no 
 counterfeit stone of man s deceitful opi- 
 nions shall draw us from the course unto 
 our heavenly harbour, the kingdom of 
 God, where we shall enjoy our true and 
 heavenly heart's ease even in this life. 
 
 Let us therefore pray that we be not 
 miscarried by the deceits of the wicked 
 pilot Satan, whose directions are merely 
 indirect, and whose sails are deceitful, 
 being glorious to the eye ; and the bark 
 wherein he carrieth his unhappy passen- 
 gers seemeth to be a most secure cradle, 
 gliding on without tempest or wave. 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 109 
 
 until it come to the end of their race, 
 where, alas! they fall into the gulf of 
 perpetual perdition. Such a master is he, 
 and such mariners are his false prophets, 
 that they delight flesh and blood, and all 
 their course seemeth sweet, but short : 
 and sour merchandise shall they have, 
 that pass in the pinnace of his poisoned 
 errors. 
 
 Let us therefore be watchful, and fly 
 his painted poison ; for we may be soon 
 miscarried, if we enter but one step into 
 his course. Let us call to mind that 
 Paul hath forewarned us of a very peril- 
 ous gulf, wherein, without great watch- 
 fulness and prayer, we may easily fall; 
 and that is, into perverse opinions, drawn 
 thereinto by such as should enter in even 
 amongst ourselves, yea, of ourselves, even 
 of the fellow- teachers in our congrega- 
 tions, that should speak perverse things, 
 yea, and draw disciples after them : the 
 strength of whose enchantments we have 
 seen, even in our own church of England ; 
 whose perverse doctrines might be re- 
 cited, but more fitly omitted. ''The Spirit 
 speaketh evidently, that in the latter 
 times some shall depart from the faith, 
 and shall give heed unto spirits of error, 
 and doctrines of devils, which speak lies 
 through hypocrisy, and have their con- 
 sciences burned with a hot iron." 
 
 Let us hearken unto the word of the 
 Lord, and embrace it. Therefore let us 
 covet in all obedience and meekness to 
 be taught the truth; pray for under- 
 
 Acts XX. 
 30. 
 
 1 Tim. iv. I. 
 
110 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Deut. xiii. 1. 
 ver. 6. 
 
 Jer. xxiii. 16. 
 
 ITira. 
 
 The impu- 
 dency of false 
 prophets. 
 
 Cor. xii. 
 13—15. 
 
 Hacket, a 
 
 counterfeit 
 
 Christ. 
 
 standing and fulfilling of the same, that 
 we may be able to discern these false 
 prophets and dreamers of dreams, of 
 whom Moses also forewarned the chil- 
 dren of Israel, willing them not to heark- 
 en unto the idle fantasies of men, who 
 prophesy unto us lies, and teach us va- 
 nity ; that speak the visions of their own 
 hearts, and that teach those things which 
 they themselves have invented of their 
 own brains, and which they have not 
 learned out of the word of the Lord, and 
 yet say, *' The Lord hath said it," being 
 " puffed up, and yet know nothing, but 
 doting about questions and strife of words, 
 whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil 
 surmisings," &c. ; and yet fear not nor 
 blush to make the Lord of heaven the 
 author of their lies and vanities; who 
 being enemies of God, very traitors against 
 his crown, kingdom, and dignity, stick 
 not to colour their devilish practices, 
 peevish opinions, and gross errors, -svith 
 the word of God, when indeed the word 
 of God bewrayeth them, confuteth them, 
 and confoundeth them. Are not these false 
 apostles, deceitful workers, saith Paul, 
 transforming themselves into the ministers 
 of Christ and into his apostles ? 
 
 Such a strong deceiver arose of late, 
 even yesterday, that hideous Hacket', 
 stirred up by Satan, who was trans- 
 formed into no less in arrogation of title 
 than into Christ himself, having on a 
 
 [^ See Strvpe, Ann. of Reformat. Vol. it. 
 pp. 95, &c. Oxf. 1824 J 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 kind of habit of holiness, his heart fraught 
 with a legion of devils ; who poured out 
 mighty blasphemies against God, high 
 treasons against her innocent majesty, 
 and most detestable practices against 
 his country : and yet, a Christ ! nay, a 
 cursed caitiff: in whom was performed 
 the saying of Christ our Saviour, that 
 there should arise false Christs, that 
 should shew such strength of error, that, 
 if it were possible, the very elect should 
 be seduced by them. And surely it is 
 dangerous for the weaker sort to touch 
 them in discourses, in disputations, or 
 any conference, unless it please God to 
 arm them strongly with the sword of 
 the Spirit, that by the word of truth 
 they may be enabled to confound them 
 in their arguments : for the very true 
 Christians may often fall through frailty 
 into some conceit of things evil to be 
 good, and good things to be evil, and 
 especially when it shall carry colour of 
 godliness to conceive it so. And many 
 times it falleth out that evil things carry 
 colour to preach unto us good, as in the 
 adherents of this wicked man, the two 
 gentlemen that were deceived by him, 
 and drawn to enter into an unlawful 
 action ; that that action carried colour 
 of love, in that they preached repentance 
 unto their country ; it carried colour of 
 religion, in that they preached as mes- 
 sengers sent from God. But see how 
 all these gay shews were mingled with 
 mischiefs, tending to stir up uproars and 
 
 It is danger- 
 ous to dispute 
 with false 
 prophets. 
 
 Christians 
 through 
 frailty may 
 fall into 
 many gross 
 errors. 
 
 Whereunto 
 a counterfeit 
 shew of god- 
 liness may 
 tend. 
 
112 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 It is time for 
 God's minis- 
 ters to preach 
 repentance 
 and amend- 
 ment of life. 
 
 tumults among the people, and to raise 
 an evil opinion and disloyalty in the 
 subjects towards her majesty ; and more- 
 over it tended to envy and wicked zeal, 
 to bring magistrates into contempt. 
 
 All w^hich preach unto us that it is 
 time for all estates to look about them, 
 to be watchful, and to be ready to stand 
 in the day of trial ; for these are perse- 
 cutions raised against the highest, even 
 by such as are with us in some out- 
 w^ard shew, but not of us, as the issue 
 of their works declare. But in my poor 
 opinion, this their preaching publisheth 
 unto us God's displeasure for overmuch 
 security. If they being false prophets 
 preach unto us repentance, it is time 
 for the true ministers of God to cry out 
 for repentance; for God many ways 
 preacheth unto us repentance and amend- 
 ment of life. And because the devil to 
 an evil purpose speaketh' that which 
 may admonish us, let us use the means 
 to learn how to amend what is to be 
 amended: so shall w^e tread him and 
 his purposes under our feet; and God 
 himself will send preachers to publish 
 his pleasure, and to declare his truth 
 with warrant of his word, whose exhor- 
 tations shall not be by deceit, nor by 
 uncleanness, nor by guile, but as they 
 were allowed of God, and to whom the 
 gospel being committed, they shall speak, 
 not as they that please men, but God, 
 which shall approve their hearts. By 
 [1 Preacheth, 1596.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 113 
 
 whose doctrine also we shall be able to 
 find out all the false prophets that en- 
 deavour to miscarry us. 
 
 The aptest mean to bring men into 
 the captivity of errors and erroneous 
 teachers is ignorance of the word, which 
 would God it were merely banished 
 the church of God, that through know- 
 ledge we might wade in the true word, 
 and by the same distinguish and cull 
 out the poison of all perverse teachers, 
 and cast it in the fire of utter oblivion ; 
 that the hearts of true Christians might 
 be comforted, and all the congregation 
 of God knit together in love ; and that 
 all the ministers of God might pro- 
 ceed in one rule, and might all mind one 
 thing in the Lord, that nothing be done 
 of contention or vain glory, but that in 
 meekness of mind every man esteem other 
 better than himself. What moved these 
 two gentlemen, Ardington and Coppinger, 
 to run that course, but vain-glory and ig- 
 norance of the word ? without the know- 
 ledge whereof the intricate and hidden 
 subtlety of that wicked monster Hacket 
 could not be descried, who bewitched 
 them with forgetfulness of their duties to 
 God and their most gracious queen, for 
 that they searched not the counsel of 
 God, neither builded their proceedings 
 upon his word; but pricked on by the 
 sting of singularity and vain-glory, brake 
 out into desperate and irreligious terms, 
 laying open, as it were, before all the 
 world their own corruptions, and the 
 
 l£?norance, 
 the mother 
 of errors. 
 
 Col. ii. 2. 
 
 Phil. iii. 16. 
 
 [norden.] 
 
114 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The end of 
 Hacket, that 
 counterfeit 
 Christ. 
 
 2 Cor. xi. !.'>. 
 
 2 Tim. ii. 14. 
 
 2 Tim. ii. 15, 
 16'. 
 
 devilish affections of that wicked man, 
 that counterfeit Christ, that forged king, 
 who was deservedly crowned with a 
 halter in Cheap, according to the words 
 of Paul, that " the end of these men shall 
 be according unto their works." 
 
 It is time for the children of God to 
 take warning and be watchful, consi- 
 dering these dangerous times, wherein 
 swarms of false prophets do every where 
 fly to and fro to disquiet the godly, as 
 Papists, Brownists, Anabaptists, the fa- 
 mily of lust and lewdness, termed the 
 Family of love ; and many other danger- 
 ous sects, who seek to quench the ardent 
 zeal of sincere Christianity, striving about 
 words, which is to no profit, but to the 
 perverting of the hearers. But let us 
 pray that our ministry may shew itself 
 approved unto God, and that our mi- 
 nisters need not to be ashamed, but may 
 divide the word of truth aright, that they 
 may stay profane and vain babblings, 
 which increase to more ungodliness ; and 
 that they may keep the pattern of the 
 wholesome word which they have learned 
 in faith, and which they may teach in 
 love in Christ Jesus. For such is the 
 subtlety of this wicked work-master, who 
 hath sent forth these hellish harvest-men, 
 that some one of these his subtle sects in 
 shew meeteth, and as it were matcheth 
 every godly endeavour and sincere course 
 that the children of God do practise in- 
 deed, only to impair the credit of a right 
 Christian life in God's sincere children. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PLETY. 
 
 115 
 
 by the opposition of science, falsely so 
 called. 
 
 We know that it is the duty of every 
 •child of God to do good works to ap- 
 prove his faith, by which faith he is 
 justified. And we see that the devil hath 
 stirred up a doctrine of works, that by 
 them men are justified; and therefore such 
 as stand upon their o^^^l justification 
 carry themselves in shew answerable in 
 moral sincerity to the most godly : when 
 yet they hang in the spider's web of sin, 
 because they imagine that God will thank 
 them because they do that which he hath 
 commanded them. And yet by the mouth 
 of God himself they are condemned for 
 unprofitable servants. 
 
 We know that true Christians do 
 thirst after the word, and desire to be 
 fed with the food of the gospel ; and 
 therefore desire to repair unto sermons, 
 and to be studious in the word. And 
 we may see how the devil provideth to 
 blemish this Christian virtue, by stirring 
 up even of his wicked ministers to perform 
 the same, as did the soothsayers of Pharao, 
 and at length to break out into gross and 
 most palpable evils, to the end that the 
 fall of them that stood not should blemish 
 the zeal of right godly afi*ected. 
 
 Again, we know that it is the duty 
 of Christians to shun swearing and blas- 
 phemy, to give continual thanks for 
 God's benefits, to instruct their families, 
 and to pray for and with them. And 
 we see that the devil, having emulation 
 
 1 Tim. vi. 25. 
 
 Lukexvii. 9, 
 10. 
 
 The devil 
 endeavoureth 
 to blemish 
 every sincere 
 exercise. 
 
 8—2 
 
116 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 2Thess.ii. 15. 
 
 The devil 
 practiseth to 
 blemish the 
 preachers of 
 the word. 
 
 hereat, endeavoureth either to draw such 
 as exercise this sincere course of life into 
 some action to discredit their profession, 
 or else stirreth up some counterfeit of his 
 in some shew to perform this integrity, 
 that at the last by some notable fall he 
 may bring all other sincere professors into 
 ignominy. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, 
 and keep the instructions which ye have 
 been taught, either by words or by the 
 examples of the apostles. For, above the 
 rest of his dangerous practices, mark how 
 he endeavoureth to blemish the profession 
 of the gospel, even in the ministry, and 
 in the sound preachers of the word, by 
 drawing them into some gross evil or 
 other, to the end that he may bring all 
 the godly and zealous workmen of the 
 Lord into contempt, blinding the eyes of 
 the world, and thereby raiseth a false 
 opinion of the very sacred truth. 
 
 By this w^e see, that even now is come 
 the time of trial, and now it will be 
 found out who are God's children in 
 shew, and who in deed; it will appear 
 who will continue unto the end : for if 
 we give consent to strange doctrine, to 
 new devices, to false and counterfeit 
 ways, whereunto we are daily moved, 
 then shall we be vagabonds from the 
 church of God, howsoever we seem to 
 dwell in the same, and to be members of 
 it in outward shew; then will God in 
 the last day say, "I know you not," 
 howsoever we say we have prophesied 
 and preached in his name. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 117 
 
 let us therefore pray, that we may 
 hold on a true course, and keep the line 
 of the truth, without going to the right 
 or left hand, howsoever subject we shall 
 then be to slanders, to scoffs, to re- 
 proaches, to imprisonments, and some- 
 time to death itself. 
 
 Happy are we that have the book 
 of life laid open before us, wherein is 
 contained the way to God's kingdom, 
 and whereby we may take the path to 
 our heavenly heart's ease, and that with- 
 out reproof, whereof we may rejoice ! 
 
 And for a farther cause to move us 
 to go unto God in prayer, let us some- 
 what consider the controversies which of 
 late have risen, by the work and instiga- 
 tion of the devil, even in our own church, 
 amongst our own guides, in our own 
 native land ; how it hath raised a scruple 
 and doubt in some that are not alto- 
 gether grounded in the knowledge of the 
 word. Whether they should obey the 
 magistrate in ecclesiastical causes ? and. 
 Whether there should be a superiority 
 or equality in church governors ? These, 
 and many other cavils hath he raised, to 
 hinder the preaching of the gospel ; which 
 is greatly to be lamented, and an esta- 
 blishment of concord amongst ourselves 
 to be sought and heartily prayed for. 
 The word warranteth our obedience unto 
 magistrates^ and therefore w^oe be unto 
 him that wdll teach us contrary doctrine. 
 Let us endeavour to perform our duties, 
 and give unto God that which is God's, 
 
 What the 
 true profes- 
 sors must 
 look for. 
 
 A consider- 
 ation of the 
 controversies 
 in our own 
 church. 
 
118 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Heb. xiii, 17. 
 
 Phil. iii. 18, 
 19. 
 
 and unto Caesar that which belongeth 
 unto Caesar. And for the controversy of 
 the inequality of church governors, it is 
 to be considered, that there are several 
 functions in the church, and every func- 
 tion hath his several person and place: 
 let us therefore pray that every person 
 may measure his calling by the word, 
 and limit his superiority or inferiority 
 as they are therein directed : then shall 
 not the people of God want their due 
 food in regard of human contentions. 
 that every one would enter into his own 
 conscience, and, as much as in him lieth, 
 cast away all carnal consideration; and 
 what the word of God warranteth let 
 him hold, and give no ground to the 
 cavillers, and shun the contrary ! 
 
 And for us that are the common 
 people, that must expect to be fed by 
 the ministry, let us pray for their unity, 
 and that God will give them humble 
 spirits, vigilant and watchful eyes, know- 
 ledge, love, zeal, and constancy, that the 
 false prophets may be abandoned, and 
 the true ministers of God be esteemed 
 and embraced as the ministers of God. 
 Let us " obey them that have the over- 
 sight of us, and submit ourselves ; for 
 they watch over our souls, as they that 
 must give accounts, that they may do it 
 with joy, and not with grief, for that is 
 unprofitable for us;" knowing that " false 
 prophets are the enemies of the cross of 
 Christ, whose end is damnation, whose 
 God is their belly, and whose glofy is 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 119 
 
 their shame, which mind earthly things." 
 " If any man therefore purge himself from 
 these, he shall be a vessel of honour, and 
 sanctified and meet for the Lord." And 
 therefore let every man pray unto God, 
 that they may all speak one thing, and 
 that there may be no dissensions amongst 
 us, but we may be knit together in one 
 mind, and in one judgment : so shall the 
 glory of God appear, and our church 
 prosper. 
 
 The Prayer against False Prophets^ Er- 
 rors^ and Sc?iis7ns, and for Increase 
 of Christianity. 
 
 Forasmuch, good Father, as the later 
 times of the world are come upon us, and 
 we are by thy divine providence allotted 
 unto these dangerous and evil days, 
 wherein, as we have been foretold, many 
 false prophets and perverse teachers, 
 dreamers of dreams, and lying apostles, 
 are risen up ; and Satan that wicked ser- 
 pent hath turned himself into an angel 
 of light, and his ministers into the form 
 of thy Son Christ and his apostles, where- 
 by he endeavoureth to continue his king- 
 dom, and to hinder the passage of thy 
 divine word, to exalt error, and to stop 
 the truth, to confirm vanity, and to blem- 
 ish thy word ; and forasmuch also, good 
 Father, as that man of sin, the son of 
 perdition, heretofore foretold to come, is 
 already come, and hath established his 
 
120 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 seat of pride, and sendeth abroad his 
 lying ministers to seduce such as have 
 not suificient taste of thy word, and 
 whom thy grace directeth not, to beware 
 of his wicked practices: grant, O mer- 
 ciful God, that we may through the 
 assistance of thy divine Spirit be wise in 
 thee, and be so guided by thee, that the 
 deceiving devices of these lying spirits 
 withdraw not our minds, hearts, and 
 souls, from the true embracing of thy 
 sacred word. Grant, Lord, that we 
 wander not from the path of thy heavenly 
 kingdom, but may constantly and firmly 
 persevere in thine infallible truth unto 
 the end, and may banish all errors and 
 shew of falsehood, and abide in the unity 
 of thy true church and Christian re- 
 ligion for ever. Let no deceitful thing 
 miscarry us ; let not the craft and sub- 
 tlety of Satan, nor the hypocritical habit 
 of holiness, (wherewith many of the 
 children of perdition are clad, to deceive 
 the simple and true of heart,) prevail 
 with us. Defend us, good Father, from 
 erroneous sects, and let us not in any 
 sort join with the schisms and divisions 
 of the world : for, good Father, as they 
 are many, so are they in many sorts dan- 
 gerous ; for they all carry shew of truth, 
 some mixed with the truth, and all of 
 them defended for a truth, insomuch as 
 the truth itself is little, yea, least of 
 all maintained, but suppressed, persecut- 
 ed, and upbraided even with the titles 
 of error, heresy, falsehood, novelty, cause 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 121 
 
 of tumults, of rebellions, and contempt 
 of magistrates, and such like persecu- 
 tions : which how contrary it is, thou 
 knowest. It is hard therefore, unless thou 
 vouchsafe the light of thy Holy Spirit, 
 to discern between these, and as hard 
 to stand without being seduced through 
 their subtleties : send down therefore thy 
 grace, and direct us in thy truth, and 
 gather us together in one sound pro- 
 fession : enable us to conceive aright the 
 things that belong unto salvation, and 
 keep us from such as come into the 
 church in sheep's clothing, but are in- 
 wardly ravening wolves ; which spare not 
 thy flock, but cruelly devour thy beloved 
 sheep with the poison of erroneous doc- 
 trine : and root out the tares, cockle, and 
 darnel of error already sown from the 
 good seed of thy word. 
 
 And forasmuch, good Father, as the 
 case standeth so, that whoso will profess 
 thy name, and seek to sanctify the same 
 in a sincere and right course of life, not 
 bending his affections or yielding liking 
 to the wicked course of this world, in 
 whose proceedings standeth but the 
 shadow without the substantial fruit of 
 sincerity, cannot w^ade through this vale 
 full of confused corruptions, but he shall 
 fall into the hands of such as carry the 
 titles of Christians, and^ will yet seek anti- 
 christianly to impose themselves against 
 him, with the bitterness of their upbraid- 
 ings, to quail, if it were possible, and to 
 [^ And, wanting in the first edition.] 
 
122 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 discomfit, nay, to seduce even the faithful 
 from the sincere service of thee : and 
 this, dear Father, is dangerous unto the 
 weak and feeble ones : wherefore give us 
 aid and strength, that we slide not by 
 their slipjDery practices from a constant 
 perseverance in the inviolable truth, but 
 rather may with all wiUingness, not only 
 lay down our goods, and all natural re- 
 spects, but even life itself, rather than to 
 shew ourselves as broken bows, to start 
 aside with every blast of vain doctrine, 
 and thereby be carried away into vanity 
 and error. 
 
 And, according unto thy promise, 
 vouchsafe that whensoever any of thy 
 children, for the testimony of their faith 
 in thee, and for their ardent zeal of thy 
 word, shall be apprehended, reproved, or 
 exacted before princes or rulers, howsoever 
 unlearned or unable they shall be in respect 
 of deep literature or worldly wisdom, 
 thine Holy Spirit may enlighten their un- 
 derstandings, give knowledge unto their 
 hearts, and utterance unto their lips, that 
 they may be able to speak and defend 
 thy truth, to the utter confutation of 
 such false teachers as shall withstand the 
 same: and give them also knowledge 
 and boldness, that the high looks and 
 the thundering threats of the mighty ad- 
 versaries dismay them not : so shall thy 
 name be glorified, thy word magnified, 
 and thy poor children sing forth the 
 praise of thy might and majesty with 
 heavenly wisdom in worldly foolishness, 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 123 
 
 and in the end be crowned with the 
 diadem of eternal felicity, with thy saints 
 in bhss. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 Against False Prophets and Deceitful 
 Teachers. 
 
 God, that guid'st thy faithful flock. 
 
 And lead'st it by thy hand. 
 That gav'st it water of the rock 
 
 In dry Arabia land : 
 Give grace to us to fly the men 
 
 That teach thy word awry, 
 Of whom thy Son forewarn d us when 
 
 He did their sleights espy. 
 
 He did foresee hypocrisy 
 
 Should lurk in godly weed. 
 And wolves in sheeplike tire to lie. 
 
 And on thy sheep to feed. 
 The subtle serpent shrouds his wiles 
 
 Attired hke angel bright, 
 And false apostles, fraught with guiles, 
 
 Do counterfeit the light. 
 
 The man of sin, that sits on high 
 
 With triple crown on pate. 
 And lifts his lewdness to the sky, 
 
 Holds saving Christ in hate. 
 He sends his subtle sots by swarms 
 
 Through all the world, to win 
 Thy children pure by wicked charms, 
 
 To draw their souls to sin. 
 
124 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Keep US thy children, Lord, therefore. 
 
 Direct us by thy grace, 
 That their enchantments may no more 
 
 Our zeal sincere deface. 
 And let thy truth be still our guide. 
 
 That we thereby may know 
 Their falsehood, who do start aside, 
 
 And fly the subtle foe. 
 
A MOTION' TE>rDLN'rT TO A 
 
 PRATEK. THAT ALL ESTATES MAY 
 
 GOYEEX THEMSELVES ACCORD- 
 
 lyG TO THEIR ITT IE S. 
 
 iTHE SEVENTH JESS, :\rEET TO BE 
 
 DAILY EREQUENTED. TH.1T WE 
 
 ERR NOT IN OUR PROGRESS. 
 
 We often offend, all the > r: 
 this point, namely, in atir: / 
 
 iiii:..::"- -- - - 
 
 •::- wc<.i,ithy 5cxrm 
 
 t'j ;_ : ■::,;_■:- 1- :,_ : - : their iiliucd- 
 ance of all things, and thi 
 need of nothing ; and therei : - - : 
 
 never fly nnto Gtxi for succour, but seek 
 it in their chests. 
 
 The politic and wise accoidiug unto 
 the world are careless of the counsel of 
 God, of his directions and assistance, be- 
 cause in their generations they are wiser 
 than the children of light, and so deep 
 are they in their own sdf-judgment, that 
 it is impossible for them to be deceived. 
 They that have high, profitable, and 
 honourable offices, which is in this life 
 \} This clause omitted in 1596.] 
 
126 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY- 
 
 A sincere 
 conscience 
 must accom- 
 pany a high 
 office or cal- 
 ling. 
 
 Too good 
 opinion of 
 our skill in 
 manual oc- 
 cupations, 
 dangerous. 
 
 Every man 
 must" con- 
 sider why he 
 was placed in 
 his calling. 
 
 the greatest worldly gift that God be- 
 stoweth upon man, what availeth it if 
 they execute such high places without 
 the due observation of the sincerity of 
 conscience, violated with corruption and 
 violence towards inferiors, and with cru- 
 elty towards such as offend them ? These 
 high callings, honourable or profitable 
 offices, will render unto the abusers of 
 the same the reward of eternal ignominy 
 in the end. 
 
 The baser sort of men, such as in 
 their arts, faculties, and manual occupa- 
 tions, do exceed other in skill and excel- 
 lency, they wax arrogant, and elevate 
 themselves above other, and in their 
 conceits despise other; yet in the end 
 besot themselves, and» fall into miserable 
 contempt, even of the most basest. 
 
 Sith then that these high gifts often- 
 times make us to forget ourselves and 
 God; it is good and most expedient for 
 every man in his calling to look into the 
 end for which he was called thereunto, 
 and to proceed unto the performance and 
 execution thereof, according to the com- 
 mandment of God, in truth, in zeal of a 
 good conscience, and in all humility and 
 meekness ; knowing this, that otherwise 
 our callings will be crossed, and that in 
 judgment. Saul was w^orldly-wise and 
 a mighty king, and one that stood in the 
 place of high honour and dignity : yet 
 because he thought his ^^^sdom better 
 than indeed it was, the Lord pulled him 
 down from his kingly throne to igno- 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 127 
 
 miny and shame. Job was wealthy, yet 
 he was brought to extreme poverty, to 
 shew the uncertain estate of rich and 
 wealthy men. Achitophel was wise and 
 politic, insomuch as his counsel was ac- 
 counted as the oracle of God ; yet because 
 it was not seasoned with the truth in 
 the fear of God, it turned to his own 
 shame, and at last, his counsel being 
 contemned, he hanged himself. The 
 judges that accused Susanna falsely were 
 men of authority; yet for that they 
 abused their authority, they were found, 
 worthy of death. Demetrius was a cun- 
 ning artificer, and under colour of his 
 skill, and by reason of the gain which 
 he got by the same, he was moved to 
 drive others of the same mystery, not 
 having the fear of God, not only to for- 
 sake religion, but to raise tumult against 
 Paul. So that we see that not one of 
 these excellent gifts or rare qualities are 
 of themselves able to comfort or relieve 
 us, but rather of themselves to draw us 
 into divers evils, yea, and breed in us 
 greater inconveniences than if we were 
 destitute of them. And therefore it be- 
 hoveth every one of us to crave the 
 assistance of God and the direction of 
 his grace, that we may guide our pro- 
 fessions and use his gifts wisely, reve- 
 rently, and humbly, knowing that it 
 cometh not of ourselves to perform any 
 good in what place or calling soever we 
 be : howsoever rich, howsoever glorious, 
 howsoever wise, howsoever cunning we 
 
 Job 1. 3. 
 Job ii. 
 
 2 Sam. xvi 
 23. 
 
 2 Sam. xvii. 
 23. 
 
 Our callings 
 themselves 
 cannot re- 
 lieve us. 
 
 No calling 
 without the 
 fear of God 
 prospereth 
 
128 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Psal. cxxvii. 
 1, 2, &c. 
 
 are, without the fear of God we are yet 
 poor, ignominious, foohsh, and ignorant, 
 and very sots, and nothing that we take 
 in hand shall prosper to the end, howso- 
 ever it fare with us for a time. 
 
 We may not shew ourselves swine, 
 who seek their draff and acorns, and 
 their whole nurture from the earth, never 
 looking up to the hand that giveth it, 
 nor to the tree from whence they fall. 
 We live not by bread only, that we sow 
 and reap of the earth; we get not our 
 wealth by our own wisdom, but by the 
 providence of Gocl, by his word, and by 
 his promises which we apprehend and 
 receive by the hand of faith : and there- 
 fore must we look up unto the hill, from 
 whence cometh our help ; we must fly 
 unto the Lord, who blesseth our wealth, 
 our wisdom, our authority, our know- 
 ledge, and our occupations : for he set- 
 teth in authority and puUeth down; he 
 giveth wisdom and besotteth it ; he in- 
 structeth us in arts, sciences, and in our 
 occupations, and he blesseth and curseth 
 us in them ; as we shew ourselves in duty 
 obedient unto him, so he sheweth him- 
 self ready, willing, and able to bless and 
 help us. 
 
 It is not enough to be able in some 
 measure to discharge our duty in our 
 offices and callings, but we must pray 
 that we may discharge the same truly, 
 which we cannot do without the blessing 
 of God. "Except the Lord build the 
 house, they labour in vain that build 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 129 
 
 it. Except the Lord keep the city, the 
 watchmen wake in vain." All our en- 
 deavours and labours are to no purpose, 
 except the Lord bless the end. " It is in 
 vain for us to rise early and to go to our 
 rest late, and in grief to eat our bread," 
 unless the Lord give blessing unto our 
 labours and studies. 
 
 Wherefore let us repair unto our good 
 God with humble hearts in faithful sup- 
 plications ; that he will give us ableness 
 to perform our callings skilfully and 
 religiously, that in quiet of conscience 
 we may eat the fruits of our labours, 
 and so prosper in all that we take in 
 hand, that our brethren be neither de- 
 ceived by us, nor ourselves forced to use 
 any unlawful thing for our own relief, 
 which may ofifend the Lord. 
 
 The Prayer that every man may live 
 uprightly in his calling. 
 
 O God of all comfort, and giver of 
 all consolation, forgive my sins, cleanse 
 me, and wash me from all iniquity, 
 which disable me to perform my calling 
 in such sincerity as becometh me. And 
 through the blood of thy Son purify 
 my heart and my imperfections ; increase 
 my knowledge and sanctify my affec- 
 tions with thy grace, that, my sins being 
 forgiven, I may rest in thy favour, and 
 in thy favour find continual comfort, and 
 be daily blessed with new gifts ; that I 
 may be found perfect in my calling, sea- 
 
 ver. 2. 
 
 [[norden.I 
 
130 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 soned so with a lively faith in thee, that 
 thy Holy Spirit may continually dwell 
 and bear rule in me, and lead me to the 
 due performance of those things which 
 thou requirest to be done in my calling; 
 that, all unnatural affections being truly 
 mortified, I may only rest in thee, and 
 rely on thee, and be ruled by thee in all 
 things. 
 
 Good Father, grant that I may take 
 the direct and right course in my voca- 
 tion to eternal life ; in w hich course con- 
 sisteth the inward peace of the soul, 
 which is only delighted in thine inviola- 
 ble truth, revealed by thy Son, and left 
 unto us in his word and last will : in 
 which his last will and testament are 
 comprehended all necessary rules, and 
 the sacred discipline, whereby thy chil- 
 dren are to guide themselves in their 
 several callings; which directions are 
 comprehended in three principal virtues, 
 by thee bestowed upon them that seek 
 them at thy hands in the name of thy 
 Son, faith, hope, and love ; which three 
 are so united and knit in one, that they 
 dwell together in thine elect children ; 
 and so precisely direct them through 
 thy grace, that they go not awry in 
 their caUings. 
 
 I therefore, good Father, being of 
 mine own wisdom ignorant, and of mine 
 own power unable to compreliend the 
 height, the length, and depth of my call- 
 ing, instantly beseech thee in mercy to 
 behold me, an unperfect creature, without 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 131 
 
 these virtues, and so adorn me with 
 them, that I may be made perfect in all 
 good works of the Spirit, that my bo- 
 dily labours be not in vain in thee. 
 
 Grant also, that I may join with all 
 my travails, labours, affections, desires, 
 and endeavours faith, with faith know- 
 ledge, with knowledge temperance, with 
 temperance patience, with patience god- 
 liness, with godliness brotherly kindness, 
 and with brotherly kindness love ; that 
 I be not unfruitful in my calhng, but 
 may acknowledge thy Son Christ Jesus, 
 and in him to have peace of conscience ; 
 that I may be patient in troubles, long- 
 suffering in wrongs, meek in trials, faith- 
 ful in expecting help in distress, rejoicing 
 in heart, quieted in mind, in hope to 
 enjoy at thy hands, and in thy good 
 time, whatsoever maketh to the true 
 comfort of my soul, and the relief of 
 my body ; that in all truth and inward 
 feeling of thine aid my calling may be 
 made perfect, and sealed with the seal of 
 thine own spiritual approbation. So 
 shall I thine unworthy creature, and aU 
 such as thou hast committed to my 
 charge, be directed in the true knowledge 
 of thee, and sustained with things ne- 
 cessary while we live here. 
 
 blessed Lord and loving Father, 
 except thou thus direct me, I cannot 
 stand, but shall fall into many miseries. 
 For no estate, no degree, no calling, 
 office, function, or trade of life, can pros- 
 per or be rightly performed without 
 
 9—2 
 
132 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 thy continual aid, direction, and provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Therefore, Lord, guide me by thy 
 Spirit, increase my faith, give me wis- 
 dom and ableness in all things to execute 
 my calling as I ought ; and to the exe- 
 cution thereof bless all my members, 
 make them apt and ready instruments to 
 perform their duties, that in no point I 
 fail in a Christian proceeding therein. 
 And bridle in me the nature of flesh and 
 blood, which (unless thou season my 
 affections by thy Spirit) will so much 
 the more glory, by how much thou hast 
 exalted me to worldly preferment, and 
 enabled me to live in this world in higher 
 reputation than other men, whereunto 
 flesh and blood is ready to attribute 
 chiefest heart's ease ; and by that subtle 
 shift Satan many times moveth us to 
 rely upon vain things. And therefore, 
 good Father, vouchsafe so to ground all 
 mine affections upon thy fear, that I be 
 not miscarried in my calling from the 
 true obedience unto thee, w^ithout which 
 neither honour, profit, friends, wealth, 
 wisdom, or any other blessing of thine, 
 can stead, relieve, or comfort me. 
 
 Be present therefore, good and gra- 
 cious Father, with me, and grant that all 
 things that I take in hand may begin in 
 knowledge, proceed in fear of thee, and 
 end in love ; that my whole course of life 
 may be blessed with good effect in all 
 mine endeavours ; that neither mine ene- 
 mies rejoice at my miseries, the godly be 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 133 
 
 offended at my rashness, nor my estate 
 hindered by my foolishness. Good Lord, 
 grant this for thy Son's sake. Amen. 
 
 For GocTs direction in our callings. 
 
 God of gods, O Father great, 
 
 Thou guide of all degrees : 
 The high and low look up to thee 
 
 Attendant on their knees. 
 
 We have our being and our food. 
 Our wisdom and our skill. 
 
 Our high estate, all honour eke, 
 And callings, at thy will. 
 
 All kings receive their sceptres pure 
 
 And diadems from thee : 
 Thou makest them apt to rule a land. 
 
 Else they unable be. 
 
 Thou givest sage and sacred men. 
 
 And senators most grave. 
 To guide thy people in the bests. 
 
 That fit them best to have. 
 
 Thou choosest eke the godliest ones 
 
 And meetest men to be 
 The preachers of thy sacred will, 
 
 Who learn to teach from the 3. 
 
 Thy grace doth guide their lips aright. 
 
 Else speak they all awry ; 
 Thou art the fountain full of love. 
 
 Whereof they drink, or die. 
 
134 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The poorest thou dost frame to skill, 
 
 The lowest learns to live; 
 Each hand takes hold of art from thee : 
 
 Thou dost all blessings give. 
 
 Else all their curious cunning fails, 
 Our labours lose their grace: 
 
 In vain we travail, and our toil 
 Turns us to poorest place. 
 
 Sith then, good Father, each degree 
 
 Depends on thee for aid, 
 The high and low, wealthy and wise; 
 
 Else rest they all unstaid: 
 
 Bless all thy people in their charge, 
 
 Our callings all direct ; 
 Teach prince and people in the way 
 
 That graceth thine elect. 
 
iHE THAT RIGHTLY WALKETH 
 
 IN THIS PROGRESS ^klUSTARM HIMSELF 
 TO SUFFER CROSSES, AND THERE- 
 FORE IT IS NECESSARY TO CALL 
 TO MIND WHAT IS TO BE DONE 
 WHEN AFFLICTION C03IETH, 
 WHICH IS A CERTAIN COM- 
 PANION IN THIS PROGRESS. 
 
 THE EIGHTH JESS. 
 
 Every one that walketh aright shall 
 suffer affliction: under which title of 
 affliction are comprehended all troubles, 
 crosses, and calamities whatsoever, be it 
 poverty, sickness, imprisonments, ene- 
 mies, loss of goods, slander, banishment, 
 or whatsoever other adversity. And all 
 these, or some part of them, do all the 
 children of God especially taste, but in 
 love, although sometime the wicked are 
 touched with them also in the Lord's 
 judgments. But for the most part, the 
 " ^\^cked come not into misfortune like 
 other men, but are lusty and strong, and 
 flourish Hke green bay-trees, laying up 
 great heaps of riches for their children." 
 And contrariwise, the godly, such as fear 
 God and walk in his ways, such as 
 
 f ^ In 1596 it stands, ''A motion to a prayer, 
 
 wherein the soul must arm himself when 
 
 ajffliction cometh." The remainder is omitted.] 
 
 The poor 
 man's enter- 
 tainment in 
 this progress. 
 
 The trodly 
 and the 
 wicked are 
 troubled, but 
 in divers 
 sorts. 
 
 The worldly 
 estate of the 
 wicked. 
 
 The estate of 
 the godly in 
 
136 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 1. lxix.33. 
 
 Gen. xxxix. 
 20. 
 
 Psal. cv 18. 
 Jer. XX. 2. 
 
 The Lord 
 worketh for 
 his children. 
 Psal. 1. 15. 
 
 Psal. cvii. 13. 
 
 Prayer draw- 
 eth troubles 
 to a good 
 end. 
 
 tremble to sin, they are pinched with 
 poverty, they are visited with sickness, 
 they are imprisoned, they are persecuted, 
 slandered;, and taste of all the perverse 
 things of the world, according to the 
 saying of David : " Many are the troubles 
 of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth 
 them out of all." " He heareth the poor, 
 and despiseth not his prisoners." Such 
 as are shut up in the afflictions of the 
 world, as was David, who was persecuted 
 of Saul, and crossed by his own son 
 Absolon : as Joseph, who was impri- 
 soned for his sincerity and continency, 
 whose hard and evil entreatment is spe- 
 cified, Psal. cv. Jeremy, the holy prophet 
 of God, was likewise imprisoned and 
 buffeted, fettered and evil entreated, for 
 doing the message of God. Daniel, for 
 that he refused to commit idolatry, was 
 cast into the lions' den. Elias was pur- 
 sued by the wicked ministers of Jesabel 
 to have been slain. But let us mark how 
 the Lord worketh. He willeth us to call 
 upon him in the time of trouble, and he 
 will hear us and ease us. So these men 
 cried unto the Lord, and he delivered 
 them out of their distress. He did not 
 only deliver David, but made him a 
 king. He did not only set Joseph free, 
 but made him chief ruler of the king's 
 household : he was exalted out of prison 
 to promotion : so were Jeremy, Daniel, 
 Elias, and all God's children delivered. 
 We also read of Peter, Paul, Silas, and 
 many other : the end of whose troubles 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 137 
 
 are comfortably wrought by the living 
 hand of the Lord by prayer. 
 
 Yet oftentimes the Lord permitteth 
 his children to be most deeply plunged in 
 misery, in such sort as flesh and blood 
 often doubteth whether it be possible that 
 there may be any mean to deliver it ; for 
 we see that we stick fast (as David saith) 
 in the deep mire of troubles, where no stay 
 is, where is no comfort at all, no friend to 
 aid us, no mean to rid us, but the cruel 
 streams and merciless waters run as it 
 were over our heads. The Lord sheweth 
 his children • great troubles and adver- 
 sities, but he turneth unto us again ; he 
 reviveth us, and taketh us up from the 
 deep of the sea. So did he help the 
 children of Israel, even through the Red 
 sea : the story of God's great goodness 
 and power therein is manifest, and com- 
 fortable to God's children, how he fed 
 them in the barren wilderness with bread 
 from heaven, and how he gave them 
 drink of the hard rock. Sampson being 
 ready to die with thirst, the Lord gave 
 out a fountain of water out of the tooth 
 of the jawbone of an ass to comfort him. 
 Elias, being hungry, had meat sent him 
 from God by a raven. The Lord can and 
 will, if he see it expedient for us, make 
 us bread of stones. He preserveth his 
 children in the furnace of the most cruel 
 fiery trial. The children of God walk 
 through fire and water, but the Lord 
 bringeth them into a wealthy place; as 
 he did Jacob, who came over Jordan 
 
 Psal. Ixix. 2. 
 
 Psal. Ixxi. 20. 
 
 Exod. xvii. 6. 
 Psal. cxiv. 8.. 
 Exod. xvi. 13. 
 
 Psal. Ixxviii. 
 
 16. 
 
 Judg. XV. 19. 
 
 God's provi- 
 dence in 
 feeding his 
 children. 
 
 Psal. Ixvi. 12. 
 
 Gen. xxxn. 
 10. 
 
138 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Psal. Ixix. 14. 
 
 Psal. xlvi. ]. 
 
 Affliction, a 
 necessary 
 mean to draw 
 us to God. 
 
 with his staff only, but he returned very 
 rich. God blesseth his children with 
 good things, and wdien we begin to 
 shrink through the extremity of our 
 afflictions, yet he will extend his hand, 
 as he did unto Peter, and will hold us 
 up, that we perish not in the waters of 
 trouble. 
 
 " Let us then cast our burden upon 
 the Lord, and he shall nourish us ; he 
 will not suffer the righteous to fall for 
 ever." Let us take up the cross and fol- 
 low our master Christ, who hath framed 
 out this progress before us, and tasted 
 of the crooked passage of the world. 
 " God is our hope and strength, yea, a 
 present help in trouble;" he is ready 
 always to be found : why should we then 
 fear, or be faint-hearted, though we fall 
 into misery, as though some strange thing 
 happened unto us ? Let us be patient, 
 and wait awhile ; for it is the way that 
 the godly have w\alked before us, and 
 have been comforted. David, before he 
 was troubled, went awry ; he fell from 
 his duty to God ; but after he was touch- 
 ed with the crosses of the world for his 
 disobedience, he began to look back again 
 from whence he was slidden, and ac- 
 know^ledged that it w^as his sins that 
 had plucked down God's anger against 
 him. So he reformed his heart, and con- 
 fessed, "that it was good for him that 
 he was troubled." So let every one of us 
 acknowledge that our miseries are but 
 messengers to revoke us from sin, and to 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 139 
 
 keep us in awe of our God ; who is so 
 loving unto us, that he will not suffer us 
 to fall, but will by and by whip us for 
 our fault : if not, it is an argument that 
 he beginneth to leave us to ourselves, to 
 fill up a greater measure of sin against 
 the day of vengeance. Thus he suffereth 
 the wicked to wallow in their pleasures, 
 in health, in wealth, in friends, in con- 
 tinual prosperity, and to have as it were 
 all heart's ease in this world : but, alas ! 
 it is a dangerous slumber wherein they 
 are cast by the heaviness of sin, where- 
 in they lie fatting in all delights, but 
 at last they come to the everlasting 
 slaughter. And far better w^ere it that 
 they had suffered want instead of wealth, 
 sickness instead of health, sorrow instead 
 of joy, pains in place of pleasure, and all 
 misery and affliction instead of their de- 
 lights in this life, which is but for a 
 moment, rather than to perish for their 
 pleasure eternally. 
 
 But, alas ! what is this counsel to 
 the wise of this world? It is foolish- 
 ness. I will therefore speak again to 
 the poor, to the miserable, to the im- 
 prisoned, to such as live as though they 
 were already dead, in regard that the 
 world affordeth them no comfort, and 
 whose life seemeth unto the prosperous 
 a very madness, a very hell, and an ig- 
 nominious life. To such I say thus, and 
 would wish them to take up their crosses 
 with patience, and follow Christ. And 
 " let them not fear, though the earth be 
 
 Affliction an 
 argument of 
 God's love, 
 and continual 
 prosperity 
 the contrary. 
 
 A sore saying 
 to secure 
 men. 
 
 Psal. xlvi. 
 2, 3, 4. 
 
140 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Nothing 
 should dis- 
 may the 
 godly. 
 
 Psal. ix. 18. 
 
 God's fa- 
 therly care of 
 his children. 
 
 Psal. xii. 5. 
 
 Psal. xviii. 2. 
 
 The world 
 loveth things 
 famous and 
 glorious. 
 
 The Lord de- 
 spiseth not 
 the poor. 
 
 moved, and though the mountains fall 
 into the midst of tlie sea; though the 
 waters thereof rage and be troubled, and 
 the mountains shake at the surges of the 
 same : for there is a river whose streams 
 shall make them glad ; for God is in the 
 midst of it." And thereof giveth he the 
 thirsty to drink, and therewith wash- 
 eth he away the tears from the eyes of 
 his afflicted children, and poureth out 
 abundance of comforts upon all such as 
 long for his ready help : and let them 
 know this, that " the poor shall not 
 always be forgotten; the hope of the 
 afflicted shall not perish for ever: the 
 Lord is a refuge for the poor, a refuge in 
 the time of trouble : he forgetteth not 
 the complaint of the poor." But "for the 
 oppression of the needy, and for the sighs 
 of the poor, I will up, saith the Lord, 
 and will set at liberty whom the wicked 
 hath imprisoned." " The Lord is our rock 
 and our fortress ; it is he that delivereth 
 us, he is our strength, let us trust in him; 
 our shield, the horn also of our salvation, 
 and our refuge." He is not as the world, 
 who loveth only the glorious, the rich, 
 and such as are famous in the world, 
 and who abhorreth the needy, the base, 
 the poor and miserable. But the Lord 
 loveth and regardeth, he favoureth and 
 relieveth the poor ; he hideth not his face 
 from him that is in misery : but when 
 he calleth upon him he heareth him, 
 and relieveth him. And howsoever mi- 
 serably we be crossed, let us be com- 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 141 
 
 forted ; for " the poorest that tmsteth in 
 him shall eat and be satified." They 
 that seek him shall want no manner of 
 thing that is good : although for a time 
 we be tried, and cast down, and most 
 miserably tossed in this cruel world, and 
 though we seem to walk through the 
 valley of the shadow of death, let us not 
 fear ; for God is with us, his rod and his 
 staff will comfort us : he will prepare a 
 table for us in the sight of such as seem 
 to gay of us, " God hath forgotten them :" 
 he shall anoint our heads with the oil of 
 inward comfort : he w^ill fill our cup, 
 and our joy shall be full. And although 
 it fall out w4th the godly in this world, 
 that when they are afflicted, the wicked, 
 nay, sometimes such as carry great colour 
 of Christianity, are ready to persecute 
 them whom the Lord visiteth, and stick 
 not to add more sorrow unto their grief 
 w^hom the Lord toucheth with any cross ; 
 it is no new thing, for experience itself 
 teacheth it, and it is become a proverb, 
 that one mischief foUoweth another, and 
 all troubles come together : and to verify 
 it, every evil is ready to fall upon the 
 afflicted man, and the world addeth mi- 
 sery to misery : what then ? shall God's 
 children dismay at this ? God forbid. 
 Nay, which is more, we see, that if it 
 please God to pull us down from pros- 
 perity to adversity, from ability and 
 wealth to disability and poverty, (as many 
 times the most godly are by the hand of 
 God, in love;) how do our ancient friends 
 
 Psal. xxii. 
 26. 
 
 The world 
 addeth sor- 
 row to him 
 that God 
 visiteth. 
 
 Psal. Ixix. 26. 
 
142 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Our dearest 
 friends fly 
 from us in 
 our troubles. 
 Psal. xxxviii. 
 11. 
 
 The whole 
 world is set 
 against the 
 godly. 
 
 1 Pet. V. 7- 
 1 Pet. iii. 12. 
 
 James v. 5, 
 7. 
 
 and familiar acquaintance slide from us, 
 as though they knew us not ! They scorn 
 to see us, and they pass by us, nodding 
 the head, saying reproachfully. He trust- 
 ed in God, but see his misery : and if 
 there be any cause, they will have a 
 blow at him that is already stricken ; and 
 they think it service to God to vex them 
 that are vexed, and to afflict the afflicted. 
 And surely, if without offence I may 
 make the comparison, the men of this 
 world may be likened to a company of 
 dogs, who will join all together upon a 
 poor cur that is already overmatched. 
 And so do the cruel men hand in hand 
 join together to oppress the oppressed. 
 
 And therefore, all such as fear God, 
 arm you against troubles, for the whole 
 world is set against you. Are ye poor ? 
 it will seek your further misery : are ye 
 slandered ? it will speak more evil of you : 
 have ye enemies ? it will also hate you : 
 are ye any way afflicted? it will seek 
 to pull you utterly down. But stand 
 valiantly, fight a good fight against all 
 these crosses, not with the hand of re- 
 venge, but with patient abiding : so shall 
 ye find rest at the last. " Cast all your 
 care upon God, for he caretli for you:" 
 " his eyes are always over the righteous, 
 and his ears continually open unto their 
 prayers." Grudge ye not therefore at 
 the prosperity of the worldly men, who 
 live here in all pleasure and wantonness, 
 nourishing their hearts as in the day of 
 slaughter: although they seek to kill you, 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 143 
 
 me. 
 
 God, what David saitli to comfort you : 
 " I have been young and now am old ; 
 yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, 
 nor their children to beg their bread." 
 " Hath not God chosen the poor of this 
 world, that they should be rich in faith, 
 and heirs of the kingdom which he pro- 
 mised to them that love him ?" " Where- 
 
 They that 
 suffer are 
 blessed. 
 
 and to oppress you, be patient unto the 
 coming of thy Lord : settle your hearts, 
 for his coming draweth near : and take 
 the prophets for an example of suffer- 
 ing adversity and of long patience, who 
 accounted them blessed which endured. 
 Consider the patience of Job, and his mi- 
 sery, and mark what end the Lord made ; 
 for assuredly the Lord is very pitiful and 
 merciful, who although sorrow, mourning, 
 and tears endure for a night, he sendeth 
 joy again in the morning : although fa- 
 ther, mother, and friends forsake us, the 
 Lord taketh us up : although we may 
 not look for outward comfort while we 
 live here. Yet " let us suffer affliction, 
 let us sorrow and weep ; let our laughter 
 be turned into mourning, and our joy 
 into heaviness ; let us cast down ourselves 
 before the Lord, and he will lift us up." 
 He hath said, " I will not fail thee, nor 
 forsake thee." Howsoever we fall, we 
 shall not perish, for the Lord putteth to 
 his hand : and therefore may the poor 
 afflicted build his comfort upon this pro- 
 mise, and say, " The Lord is my helper, 
 neither will I fear what man can do unto 
 Hearken yet, ye poor children of 
 
 James iv. 9, 
 10. 
 
 Heb. xiii. 5. 
 
 Psal. xxxvii. 
 24. 
 
 Heb. xiii. 6. 
 
 Psal. xxxvii. 
 25. 
 
 1 Pet. iv. 19. 
 
144 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 ver. 13. 
 
 fore let them that suffer according to the 
 will of God, commit their souls to him 
 in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator :" 
 "And rejoice ye, inasmuch as ye are 
 partakers of Christ's suffering, that when 
 his glory shall appear, ye may be glad 
 and rejoice." In the mean time, let us 
 repair unto him in prayer. 
 
 A very necessary "Prayer in time of 
 Trouble, Crosses, and Afflictions. 
 
 Lord God, my most loving Father 
 and Creator, who of thy frank and free 
 favour hast called me into this world, 
 and placed me in the same, where I 
 wander as a poor pilgrim, a miserable 
 and distressed wretch: for whom thou 
 heretofore hast vouchsafed to provide 
 things necessary and expedient, and hast 
 also given me prosperous and gracious 
 success in my proceedings: but of late 
 my sins have made a separation between 
 thy favour and my necessity, insomuch 
 as I now feel thy heavy hand of judg- 
 ment, wherein I am bereaved of some of 
 thy wonted comforts, insomuch as it 
 seemeth that thou settest thyself, as it 
 were, against me : but, alas ! what am I, 
 earth and ashes, that thou shouldest con- 
 tend with me ? Let it rather please thee, 
 good Father, to refresh me with the 
 timely showers and pleasant dew of thy 
 loving assistance : that where I am now 
 low, I may be exalted to thy protection ; 
 being poor, I may be enabled to live; 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 145 
 
 being base, and of little or no credit in 
 the world, I may be beloved and em- 
 braced and comforted of thee. Behold 
 my poverty, consider mine affliction, 
 and weigh my miseries : for innumerable 
 troubles have compassed me; my sins 
 have taken such hold upon me, that I 
 am not able to look up. O let it please 
 thee, good Father, to deliver me; make 
 haste, Lord, to relieve me : though I 
 be poor and needy, O think thou on me : 
 thou art my helper and my deliverer, 
 O make no long tarrying. my God, 
 why hast thou forgotten me ? Thou art 
 the God of my strength ; why hast thou 
 put me away ? Up, my God, why sleep- 
 est thou? Awake, be not far off for ever: 
 wherefore hidest thou thy face, and for- 
 gettest my misery and affliction? My soul 
 is beaten do^\-n, I have no aid, no com- 
 fort, all my consolation is come to an 
 end : therefore rise up, my succour; rise 
 up, my helper ; rise up, my castle ; 
 rise up, my refuge ; rise up, and restore 
 me again, thou God of my comfort, thou 
 rock, and my fortress, my strength, my 
 shield, the horn also of my salvation, and 
 my refuge. 
 
 Thou hast promised to be a refuge 
 for the poor, a refuge in due time, even 
 in affliction. I am poor and in misery; 
 help me, for vain is the help of man. 
 They that know thy name will trust 
 in thee ; for thou never failest them 
 that trust in thee. The poor shall not 
 always be forgotten, the hope of the 
 
 [^NORDEN.] 
 
 10 
 
146 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 afflicted shall uot perish for ever. Thou 
 hast promised to bless our victuals, and 
 to satisfy the poor with bread. Innume- 
 rable are thy mercies, and that my soul 
 knoweth right well, and I thirst after 
 thee in a barren and dry land : I wait 
 thy relief in this miserable time, wherein 
 there is no comfort. But thou upholdest 
 them that fall, thou relievest all that are 
 ready to perish ; and therefore do the eyes 
 of all wait on thee, and thou givest us 
 all meat in due season : open thine hand, 
 and fill us with thy blessings. Divide 
 the Red sea of this cruel, evil, and hard 
 world, that we may pass through our 
 days without danger, satisfied with every 
 good thing : open the hard rock, and 
 give us the water of comfort to drink; 
 send us the manna of thy love and ready 
 help, that we may be filled with all 
 good things. Stand in the gap between 
 us and our adversaries, that our enemies 
 oppress us not. Increase the oil and meal 
 of our stock and store, that we may have 
 sufficient, not only to feed and clothe us, 
 but to relieve thy poor children, and to 
 pay what we owe unto all men, that we 
 owe nothing to any man but good will. 
 Great art thou, God, and great is thy 
 power; yea, thy wisdom and providence 
 is infinite, and past finding out : work 
 therefore, good Father, work for me thy 
 poor wretched creature, that have no 
 mean to help or relieve myself. Help 
 thou me, ray God, that I may say 
 and confess, " I sought my God, and he 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 147 
 
 heard me, and delivered me out of all 
 my troubles." 
 
 O turn thee, good Father, turn thee 
 towards me, and have mercy upon me ; 
 for unless thou hold me up, I shall fall ; 
 unless thou stay me, I shall be over- 
 thrown ; and unless thou relieve me, I 
 shall utterly perish. 
 
 Oh, the remembrance of thy love is 
 sweet, the experience of thy power re- 
 comforteth my soul. It was thou, O 
 Lord, that sentest Elias food by a raven : 
 even so canst thou by unexpected means 
 send comfort unto thy children, even in 
 raising up the most cruel men of the 
 world to relieve them. It was thou that 
 deliveredst Daniel from the lions; and 
 thou canst deliver us from the cruel men 
 of the world. It was thou that directedst 
 the hand of David to kill Goliah ; and 
 thou canst teach our fingers to fight and 
 withstand them that rise up against us. 
 It was thou that filledst many thousand 
 people with a small shew of bread and 
 fishes ; and it is thou that canst feed thy 
 servants that call upon thee, even with 
 little in shew, and canst increase it as 
 thou wilt. It was thou that didst save 
 thy three children in the furnace from 
 the force of the fire ; and thou canst pre- 
 serve us in the fiery trial of this world. 
 It was thou that deliveredst Paul and 
 Silas out of prison; and thou canst deliver 
 thy children out of whatsoever captivity. 
 It was thou that didst work for Joseph, 
 that his imprisonment turned to his pro- 
 
 10—2 
 
148 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 motion ; and thou canst turn all our ca- 
 lamities to our comfort. It was thou 
 that raisedst me from my mother's breast 
 unto this estate wherein I am ; and thou 
 canst preserve me, feed me, and hold me 
 up for ever: yea, good God, I, even I, 
 by experience, can sing of thy goodness ; 
 yea, the goodness of the Lord endureth 
 for ever, the mercies of the Lord endure 
 for ever, the love of the Lord endureth 
 for ever, the power of the Lord endureth 
 for ever; yea, the willingness and the 
 readiness of the Lord to relieve the af- 
 flicted endureth for ever : yea, let all 
 such as heretofore have been dull of 
 belief, now see and consider, that great 
 is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and 
 of Jacob, yea, our God, the God of 
 all believers, whose hand is mighty to 
 save, his mercies infinite, his love won- 
 derful, his providence past finding out : 
 when sorrow cometh in the evening, thou. 
 Lord, sendest joy again in the morning ; 
 when I am in need, thou rehevest me; 
 when I am in danger, thou comfortest 
 me ; when I am sick, thou makest my 
 bed, and curest my disease. When have 
 I come unto thee, and have been reject- 
 ed ? Never hath my complaint been put 
 back, but lovingly heard, and my pe- 
 titions granted, so that I rest assured of 
 thy continual help. I am forced, good 
 Father, to seek thee daily, and thou 
 offferest thyself daily to be found ; when- 
 soever I seek, I find thee, in my house, in 
 the fields, in the temple, and in the high- 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETV". 
 
 149 
 
 way. Whatsoever I do, thou art ^'ith me, 
 whether I eat or drink, whether I write 
 or work, go or ride, read, meditate or 
 pray, thou art ever with me ; whereso- 
 ever I am, or whatsoever I do, I feel 
 some measure of thy mercies and love. 
 If I be oppressed, thou defendest me ; if 
 I be envied, thou guardest me ; if I hun- 
 ger, thou feedest me; whatsoever I want 
 thou givest me. continue this thy 
 lo\^ng kindness towards me for ever, that 
 all the world may see thy power, thy 
 mercy, and thy love, wherein thou hast 
 not failed me, and even my enemies shall 
 see that thy mercies endure for ever. 
 
 Lord, increase my faith. 
 
A SONG OF PRAISE 
 
 FOR GOD'S PRESENT HELP IN TROU- 
 BLE, lA SWEET DITTY TO BE USED 
 IN OUR PROGRESS. 
 
 I I PRAISE my God, who lends his ear 
 Unto my poor complaint; 
 Whose ready help prevents the fear 
 Which caus'd my soul to faint. 
 
 Out of the miry clay his hand 
 Rais'd me, and set me where 
 I do enjoy a pleasant land: 
 He only set me there. 
 
 H He, even he, that Daniel's God, 
 Who shut the lions' jaws. 
 Rescues my soul from dreadful rod 
 And from men's cruel paws. 
 
 N Now will I sing unto my rest, 
 My rock, and fortress sound. 
 Who holds me up, that am opprest; 
 I else should fall to ground. 
 
 N No poor estate, no fretting foe, 
 No crosses shall dismay 
 My soul, that sits all safe from wo 
 In God my sacred stay. 
 
 [1 The latter clause omitted in 1596.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 151 
 
 Out of his storehouse he doth send 
 What may relieve my thrall: 
 He brings my sorrows to an end, 
 And gives me joy withal. 
 
 R Relief alone comes from above. 
 Our God is near at hand : 
 He pours his blessings down in love, 
 He fructifies our land. 
 
 D Draw near therefore, afflicted wights. 
 He calls you for your ease; 
 Be wise, avoid all human sleights. 
 He will your griefs appease. 
 
 E EncHne thine ear, Father dear, 
 In love relieve our need : 
 In David, Job, and Joseph were 
 Thy mercies seen indeed. 
 
 N No end thereof, the same remains; 
 Thy mercies, power, and love. 
 Are ready prest to ease my pains: 
 My help is from above. 
 
All seasons 
 give us occa- 
 sions to praise 
 God. 
 
 We men of 
 our own na- 
 ture far 
 worse than 
 the flowers 
 of the field. 
 
 A resem- 
 blance of the 
 estate of 
 man's life. 
 
 A MOTION 
 
 TO A THANKSGIVING IN THE 
 MORNING. 
 
 It is a necessary thing while we live 
 here, that we should be continually ex- 
 ercised in a due contemplation of God's 
 mercies towards us ; and there is no time 
 but necessarily administereth unto us 
 great and daily occasions to celebrate the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 If we look into the day, whereinto 
 we enter rising out of our beds, a thou- 
 sand things open themselves unto the 
 view of our eyes, whose glory and beauty 
 put us in mind of our far surpassing glory 
 to come, as also of our frailty and igno- 
 miny present. For what are we of our- 
 selves, in regard of the flowers of the 
 field ? whose beauty and hue may make us 
 blush, and indeed to tremble, in respect 
 of our casual and short continuance here, 
 had we not a certain assurance of a more 
 glorious estate to come : for as we see the 
 most sweet and fragrant flower quickly to 
 fade, as to grow in the morning gay, and 
 in the evening cut do^^^l and withered ; 
 and all other things to come speedily to 
 their end ; even such is our estate if we 
 consider the uncertainty of our days, 
 which would soon have an end, did not 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 153 
 
 the mercies of the Lord and his comfort- 
 able hand conduct us and hold us up. 
 
 For let us consider how the want of 
 our daily sleep doth annoy us : who can | 
 forbear sleep one week ? nay, far less [ 
 while ? What thing is more tedious and 
 irksome unto the body, than the want of 
 daily rest ? and what comforteth it more \ 
 than the daily use and enjoying thereof? | 
 And what are we, being possessed with I 
 heaviness and drowsiness of the body ? 
 and when we are cast into a dead sleep, 
 are we not as dead men ? whose memory, 
 hearing, seeing, and all other senses are 
 clean gone; wherein we are separated, 
 as it were, from God and the world, we 
 can neither think on God or good things, 
 we cannot do any thing whereby to de- 
 fend ourselves from the least danger. 
 
 Let us therefore this morning recount 
 the light and great favour of our good 
 God towards us, wherein even this night 
 he hath preserved us from many casualties, 
 whereof there are many kinds, by thieves 
 and robbers, by fire, by sudden sickness : 
 yea, death seemeth to have a hand fixed 
 on us, which might easily have dispatched 
 us this night, had not God prevented us ; 
 whose continual help is so ready, that 
 every morning doth witness his love. 
 Let us therefore reverently fall down and 
 give him condign thanks for all his lov- 
 ing kindness towards us; yea, "early now 
 this morning let us shew forth the loving 
 kindness of the Lord." Psal. xcii. 2. 
 
 The benefit 
 of daily sleep. 
 
 The want of 
 daily rest 
 grievous to 
 the body, and 
 the use there- 
 of the con- 
 trary. 
 
 Sleep maketh 
 us, being 
 alive, to re- 
 semble men 
 dead. 
 
 We should in 
 the morning 
 recount God's 
 blessings in 
 the night 
 past. 
 
 What our 
 duty is to- 
 wards God in 
 the morning. 
 
154 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 The Thanksgiving in the Morning. 
 
 O Lord, I will praise thy name; early 
 now this morning will I glorify thee, who 
 by thy loving protection hast so guarded 
 me, that no evil hath taken hold of me 
 this night. 
 
 O most high, mighty, and favour- 
 able God, the day is thine, and the night 
 is thine: thou hast framed the day for 
 us to travail in, and the night thou hast 
 appointed for us to rest in. I give thee 
 most humble and unfeigned thanks, good 
 Father, for thine unspeakable mercies, 
 who hast not only given me my com- 
 fortable rest this night past, but also hast 
 kept me, as it were, under the shadow of 
 thy wings, even as the apple of thine 
 own eye. And had I not been defended 
 by thee, innumerable dangers had over- 
 taken me. If thou hadst not raised me 
 up this morning, I should not have been 
 able to rise, but have perished in my bed. 
 
 great is thy mercy towards me, far 
 surpassing my deserts ; for it is thy hand, 
 good Father, that hath this night pre- 
 served me from perishing. Therefore lift 
 
 1 up mine eyes even to the heavens, from 
 whence I have obtained this safety. Yea, 
 betimes in the morning will I call upon 
 thee, that thy mercies may evermore pre- 
 serve me and overshadow me, that no 
 evil either of soul or body hurt me : and 
 grant that thy most sacred protection 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 155 
 
 may always prevent all the secret and 
 open evils which hang over my head. 
 
 Give me thy Spirit of wisdom and 
 revelation this morning, that I may 
 know thee and serve thee. Lighten the 
 eyes of mine understanding, that I may 
 know thy will, and according unto the 
 same frame all mine actions this day: 
 and grant also that I may find how ex- 
 cellent thou art in thy power, how sweet 
 thou art in thy mercies, and in perform- 
 ing thy promises, wherein thou continual- 
 ly workest to the comfort, defence, and 
 relief of all such as come unto thee. 
 
 O Lord, increase our faith. 
 
A MOTION 
 
 TO AN EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 A godly con- 
 sideration in 
 the entrance 
 of the even- 
 ing. 
 
 The night is 
 ordained for 
 the rest of 
 man. 
 
 A considera- 
 tion of our 
 estate in the 
 night, with a 
 g;odIy resolu- 
 tion when we 
 shut up our 
 eyes to rest. 
 
 The day being now past, and the 
 light of the sun being overshadowed with 
 darkness, let us consider that even so 
 there will come the day wherein the light 
 of our bodily eyes shall be shut up, not 
 for a night, as in the bed through a slum- 
 ber, but until the appearance again of 
 Christ in his glory, coming to judgment. 
 
 And forasmuch as all things, for the 
 most part, at this time betake them to 
 their rest, and man is limited this time to 
 cease from his labours ; it is our duties 
 especially to betake us into the gracious 
 protection of our good God, submitting 
 us, our bodies and souls, to his tuition, 
 that if it be his pleasure to touch us this 
 night with the finger of death, we may 
 be so readily prepared, that we be not 
 taken unawares, but that we may have 
 the light of the lamp of a faithful ex- 
 pectation of that blessed hour burning 
 continually in our hearts, which may 
 awaken us out of the deadly slumber of 
 security; whereby otherwise we shall be 
 so darkened, that we shall perish, not 
 only in our beds for a time, but in our 
 souls and bodies for ever. And surely in 
 this danger shall we sleep, unless we 
 betake us into the hands of God when 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 157 
 
 we go to bed. It is a matter of great 
 moment, little regarded of worldly men. 
 But the children of God far otherwise 
 betake them to their corporal rest; for 
 they make their sleep an image of their 
 death, and their bed they enter into 
 as into their grave; and in the morning, 
 when the sun and light appeareth, they 
 take a new occasion, when they rise, to 
 contemplate of the celestial and eternal 
 light, glorifying the name of God for his 
 most gracious protection. 
 
 And therefore arise now, all ye 
 servants of the Lord; cry out in the 
 night, pour out your hearts like water 
 before the face of our living God. 
 
 The Prayer for the Evening. 
 
 I THA2s'K thee, good God and most 
 merciful Father, whose providence reach- 
 eth unto the least of thy creatures, and 
 thy favour and love always wait upon 
 thy children to preserve them. Thou hast 
 executed thy sacred comforts towards me 
 this day ; thou hast given me all things 
 necessary, and hast suffered none evil to 
 annoy me. And by thy mighty working 
 I have passed this day, and am now 
 come to the end thereof, entering into 
 the dark and loathsome night, wherein 
 many dangers lurk and lie secretly hid- 
 den, to vex thy children, if thou prevent 
 them not in thy wisdom and love. Have 
 regard therefore, good Father, unto me. 
 
 How the 
 children of 
 God betake 
 them to their 
 rest in the 
 night. 
 
158 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 who am frail, and soon fall into many 
 things offensive unto thy majesty : and 
 the night is often polluted with my sins, 
 insomuch as I cannot but accuse myself 
 before thee, that my sleep cannot be justi- 
 fied to be pure; but even therein, by 
 dreams, fantasies of the flesh, and many 
 vain temptations, I am often moved to 
 consent unto that which thou loathest, 
 and can in no wise then perform what 
 thou lovest. 
 
 Sith therefore, my good Father, that 
 I through my sins deserve no favour, but 
 punishment, I appeal unto thy mercy in 
 Christ, beseeching thee for his .sake to 
 anoint the eyes of my heart with the oil 
 of thy grace, that though the natural man 
 slumber, and in slumbering fall away by 
 weakness, yet my soul may be refreshed 
 this night with diligent watchfulness, 
 lest that, the adversary sowing therein 
 the tares of temptation, I give consent to 
 sin, and so endanger both body and soul 
 by my negligence. Good Father, pardon 
 ' my sins past, and for thy own name's 
 sake be merciful unto me : receive me this 
 night into thy custody and safe protec- 
 tion ; ^let thy arms of love embrace me, 
 let thy grace comfort me, and let thy con- 
 tinual favour defend me from all perils. 
 And in thy love vouchsafe me such com- 
 fortable rest as thou shalt see expedient 
 for the refreshment and preservation of 
 
 [' Ed. 1596. reads, my sins for thy name's 
 sake, omitting the other words.] 
 
 [2 Let .... embrace me, is omitted in 1596. J 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 159 
 
 the health of my body, which else cannot 
 but wax weak, feeble, and be subject^ to 
 such infirmities, as I shall not be able to 
 execute my duty unto thee. 
 
 In thy name therefore, good Father, 
 I yield myself unto my rest ; wherein let 
 thy Holy Spirit keep the door of my 
 heart, and thy holy angels attend about 
 my bed for my safety, for Christ Jesus 
 thy dear Son's merits. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 ^ Wax feeble, and be made subject, 1596.] 
 
BEFORE WE GO TO BED. 
 
 " The Lord will grant his loving kindness in 
 the day, and in the night will we sing of him, 
 even a prayer unto the God of our life." 
 
 Psal. xlii. 8. 
 
 Father, full of might and love, 
 
 Our castle and our stay; 
 Who rulest with thy power above 
 
 The darksome night and day : 
 
 The day is thine, the night also 
 Tliou rulest with thy hand ; 
 
 Both which were made for man, we know, 
 And so was sea and land. 
 
 The sea and land, and all the things 
 Therein which thou hast plac'd. 
 
 Thou gavest us, and mad'st us kings, 
 To use them till the last. 
 
 Which blessings. Lord, this day we have 
 Most richly had from thee : 
 
 Bless eke this night, good Lord, we crave ; 
 Keep us from danger free. 
 
 Preserve us when our drowsy sleep 
 
 Our bodies shall possess : 
 And let not Satan creep into. 
 
 Nor our poor souls oppress. 
 
 But let thy grace prevent his ire; 
 
 Let nothing us annoy : 
 Let faith prevail, let him retire. 
 
 And we good rest enjoy. 
 
 " Tremble, and sin not : examine your own 
 hearts upon your bed, and be still." 
 
 Psal. iv. 4. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
HAVIIS^G THUS FAR PRO- 
 CEEDED IX OCR PROGRESS, WE 3IUST 
 
 BE FORCED TO TAKE UP OUR STANDING HOUSE, 
 
 AND FOR A TIME ABIDE IN THE EARTHLY 
 
 MANSIONS OF OUR BODIES, BEFORE WE 
 
 CAN ATTAIN UNTO THE END OF OUR JOUR- 
 
 NEY, AND BE FULLY POSSESSED OF THAT 
 
 ABSOLUTE HEAVENLY HEART'S EASE. 
 
 IN WHICH STANDING HOUSE, WE 
 
 MUST CONSIDER HOW WE OUGHT 
 
 TO CARRY OURSELVES TOWARDS 
 
 OUR QUEEN, THE HEAD AND 
 
 GOVERNOR OF THIS 
 
 HOUSEHOLD. 
 
 It is a common matter and necessary 
 for princes and great estates, upon their 
 repair unto any house, wherein they pur- 
 pose to make any small abode, to take 
 order that the same be cleansed, swept, 
 garnished, perfumed, and set in decent 
 and pleasing order, as well for health's 
 sake, as for comeliness, pleasure, and de- 
 light. But much more it behoveth us, 
 that have taken up our lodgings and 
 abiding-places in these our mortal bodies, 
 to take order with our affections, wills, 
 and dispositions, that our conversations 
 be in such decent, comely, sweet, and 
 comfortable order disposed, that our souls 
 be not annoyed with the filth and stink 
 of our corruptions, while we abide in the 
 same, but rather that our souls may be 
 delighted with the sweet odours and 
 
 How princes 
 and great 
 men use to 
 deck their 
 houses, where 
 they purpose 
 to abide. 
 
 What order 
 we must take 
 in our bodily 
 houses. 
 
 Qnorden.] 
 
 11 
 
162 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 We must 
 cleanse the 
 heart above 
 all other 
 places. 
 
 Jer. xvii. 9. 
 
 The heart is 
 a subtle 
 corner. 
 
 Deut. xix. 
 19. 
 
 Acts viii. 23. 
 
 Deut. XXX. 6. 
 
 sacred perfumes of sanctity and spiritual 
 graces. 
 
 We must therefore, like unto good 
 surveyors and overseers of our own build- 
 ings, carefully endeavour that all the 
 noisome places within our building be 
 cleansed, and the contagious sinks and 
 unseemly filth and rubble which dis- 
 grace or annoy the same, be cast out and 
 swept. And above all we must look into 
 the heart ; for there lieth infinite filthi- 
 ness; and unless it be carefully seen unto, 
 it will hardly be throughly cleansed : for 
 the heart is the place that " is most de- 
 ceitful and wicked," yea, above all the 
 other parts of the body; and therefore 
 it is demanded, "Who can know it ?" In- 
 somuch as the prophet argueth, that the 
 heart is so subtle and deceitful, that unless 
 we most narrowly search it, there will 
 lie hidden filthiness and corruption, when 
 we think it is well swept and garnished. 
 It is a dangerous thing for us to flatter 
 ourselves in our hearts, saying. Our hearts 
 are clean and we shall have peace; and 
 yet the filthiness of sin rest in us, and the 
 root that bringeth forth gall and worm- 
 wood grow in our wills and behaviour. 
 But we must circumcise our hearts, we 
 must cut off all perverse and corrupt 
 affections, and purge us of all iniquity; 
 wherein we must crave the assistance of 
 the Spirit of God, which will purify our 
 hearts. And he that will not thus en- 
 deavour to cleanse this most filthy part 
 of his house, but resteth stiff-necked and 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 ]63 
 
 as it were of an uncircumcised heart and 
 ear, not forsaking his old wicked conver- 
 sations, neither will hear when God speak- 
 eth unto him ; he doth, as it were, resist 
 the Holy Ghost. And his filthiness will 
 so infect his poor soul, even with the 
 leprosy of iniquity, that he shall never 
 be suffered to enter into the sweet habi- 
 tation of eternal heart's ease. All the 
 filthy desires and lusts of the flesh lie 
 hidden in the heart, adultery, witchcraft, 
 hatred, debate, emulation, wrath, con- 
 tention, sedition, heresies, envy, murders, 
 drunkenness, gluttony, and such other 
 filthy annoyances ; which unless they be 
 swept out and cast off, they will infect 
 the whole house of our bodies with such 
 unsavoury and noisome pollutions, that 
 our mouths will be defiled with cursing, 
 lying, and bitterness, our eyes with lust, 
 our hands with touching unclean things, 
 our feet shall not be able to walk the 
 way of righteousness, but take the way 
 of sin, and all the whole house of our 
 earthly tabernacle shall be so en\aroned 
 with filthiness, that all our progress >vill 
 be turned to our disprofit, and our 
 heart's ease to heart-sore. Wherefore 
 let us cast away all the dregs of the old 
 Adam, which is unrighteousness, wherein 
 we sometime walked; and let us deck 
 us with the works of the new man, which 
 is renewed in knowledge after the image 
 of Christ, who is the way in whom we 
 must walk, the truth which we must 
 embrace, and the life wherein we; must 
 
 Acts vii. 51. 
 
 Gal.v. 10—22. 
 All the works 
 of darkness 
 lie hid in the 
 heart. 
 
 We must east 
 away the 
 dregs ot old 
 Adam, and 
 embrace 
 Christ. 
 
 11—2 
 
1(34 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Wherewithal 
 we must 
 adorn the 
 houses of our 
 souls ill this 
 Ufe. 
 
 The fruits of 
 the Spirit 
 must beau- 
 tify our 
 earthly ta- 
 bernacles. 
 
 live for evermore; which way as it is 
 pure, clean, sweet, and without turning, 
 so must we be pure, clean, and without 
 sin, not turning back unto iniquity. And 
 as that truth is unchangeable, plain, and 
 without deceit, so must we be simple, 
 constant and faithful : and as that life 
 is without all blemish, everlasting and 
 never ending, so must we be quickened, 
 living without all blemish and spot of 
 sin, in righteousness and holiness for 
 ever. 
 
 Therefore let us consider, what are the 
 principal and chief ornaments to beautify 
 this our mansion-house, being thus swept 
 and cleansed from the former filthiness, 
 that when we shall remove from this our 
 earthly tabernacle, we may take that 
 way, depart hence in that truth, and so 
 for ever live in that life, Christ Jesus, 
 who will bring us unto his heavenly 
 habitation, the absolute end of our pro- 
 gress, and the full accomplishment of our 
 heavenly heart's ease. 
 
 Let us then consider, that as the 
 filthiness which we have cast out was 
 most ugly, filthy and noisome unto us, 
 because they were the works of the flesh, 
 which bring forth death ; so we must 
 adorn us with sanctity and holiness, the 
 works of the Spirit, which will be a most 
 comely beautifying of these our houses 
 of clay, and lead us unto life. We must 
 now, therefore, sweeten and perfume our 
 hearts with love, with joy, with inward 
 peace, with long-suffering, gentleness. 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 J 65 
 
 goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, 
 and all godly conversation, casting away 
 all desire of vain-glory, not provoking 
 one another, nor envying one another, 
 that, being dead to sin, and living to God, 
 we may declare the same in this our 
 standing house by an innocent and sanc- 
 tified life. 
 
 Ha^-ing thus cleansed our houses from 
 filthiness and corruptions of the flesh, and 
 decked the same with the ornaments of 
 the Spirit ; it is necessary that we should 
 proceed to the execution of our callings, 
 according to the rule of the divine word : ■ 
 knowing this, that we live not unto our- 
 selves, but unto God ; not for ourselves, j 
 but for our brethren ; for whose sakes we 
 are bound to travail in our callings, and ] 
 to execute our offices and functions as I 
 becometh us, that our callings in Christ ! 
 may be made sure, even in this life. | 
 
 There are in every body many mem- 
 bers, and every member hath his several 
 place, office, and function. Every king- j 
 dom is a body, wherein there is a go- | 
 vemor, and people, as subjects to be | 
 governed : wherein also are many ma- | 
 gistrates, as the principal members of 
 that body; and also there are inferior 
 members, preserved and defended by the 
 more glorious. Every family is a body, 
 where there is a father, and where com- 
 monly are children; where are masters, 
 and there are servants. All these, having 
 several offices and places in this stand- 
 ing house of our common-weal, must 
 
 We live not 
 to ourselves, 
 nor for our- j 
 selves. ' 
 
 Every body 
 hath many 
 members. 
 
166 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 We are to 
 thank God 
 for our head, 
 queen Eli- 
 zabeth. 
 
 1 Kings X. 
 
 8,9. 
 
 The queen of 
 
 Saba to Salo- 
 
 Prov. xxiv.4. 
 
 No nation 
 hath tasted 
 like blessings 
 as England. 
 
 every one proceed to the performance of 
 his calling in such sort, as there be not 
 any disorder, or any complaining in our 
 streets. 
 
 We are humbly to thank our God, 
 that hath established our head in such 
 comely sort, and endued her with all 
 virtues answerable unto her high function ; 
 yea, we may sing unto our queen Eliza- 
 beth the queen of Saba's song, which 
 she made of the happy government of 
 Salomon. " Happy are thy men, (may 
 we say,) happy are these thy servants, 
 which stand here before thee, and hear 
 thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy 
 God, which loved thee, to set thee in the 
 throne of England, because the Lord 
 loved England for ever, and made thee 
 queen to do equity and righteousness." 
 It is verified in her, that " the king 
 by judgment maintaineth the country." 
 How have we (the poor members of this 
 body, whereof she is the head) been 
 maintained, preserved, conducted and 
 blessed in her government ! No nation 
 hath tasted the like benefits, by peace, 
 by plenty, by health, and especially 
 (which is most sweet) by the continual 
 use of the word of God : whereby hath 
 been descried most filthy dross and dregs, 
 and the rubble of errors, which in former 
 time stuffed up the house of our land, so 
 that we could not walk in the truth 
 without peril; and now in great mea- 
 sure swept and cleansed, and garnished, 
 adorned and beautified with spiritual 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 167 
 
 oraaments, of judgment, of equity, of 
 mercy, and truth : insomuch as we may 
 sing, that " Mercy and truth are met 
 together, and righteousness and peace 
 have kissed each other." The God of 
 peace preserve her, that she may be (if 
 it please him) our head while we stay 
 in this mansion of the flesh. 
 
 that there were such a resemblance 
 of performance of duty in every of the 
 members, as is apparent in the head, that 
 the subjects could answer in like sort for 
 their obedience, as her majesty for go- 
 vernment ! Then should we have a most 
 comfortable abiding in this our standing 
 house of the flesh : then should all the 
 noisome corruptions of envy, malice, re- 
 venge, gall and bitterness of the heart, 
 be turned into love, meekness, mercy 
 and peace : then should we have no lead- 
 ing into captivity, no imprisonments, no 
 murders, no strife, no debate, no cause of 
 complaining amongst us. But we must 
 look into our duties, and fashion our- 
 selves, not according to the former deeds 
 of disobedience, but as becometh the 
 servants of God; kno^Nang that we are 
 commanded to obey such as are appoint- 
 ed to rule over us : we must " submit 
 ourselves unto all manner ordinance of 
 man, for the Lord's sake ; whether it be 
 unto her majesty, as unto our superior, 
 or unto governors, as unto them that are 
 sent from her for the punishment of evil 
 doers, but for the praise of them that do 
 well." We are commanded reverently to 
 
 England spi- 
 ritually 
 blessed. 
 
 How subjects 
 must fashion 
 themselves in 
 obedience. 
 
 1 Pet. ii. 13. 
 
 Exod. xxii. 
 2S. 
 
168 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Rom. xiii. 
 1,2. 
 
 The disobe- 
 dient shall be 
 punished. 
 
 Q. Elizabeth 
 aideth ail her 
 distressed 
 people. 
 
 use the judges, and not to speak evil of 
 the ruler of the people. Every soul must 
 subject itself to the higher powers ; for 
 there is no power but of God, and the 
 powers that are, are ordained of God : 
 whosoever therefore resisteth the power, 
 resisteth the ordinance of God ; and they 
 that resist, they that will not obey and 
 submit themselves unto such as are in 
 authority, shall receive unto themselves 
 judgment: they shall be punished, not 
 only by the censure of the judge in this 
 world, but by the judgment of God. 
 
 This then is not the least thing that 
 we should have care of, while we are in 
 this house, to cast out of our hearts all 
 disobedience, and so beautify the same 
 with unfeigned love unto her majesty: 
 who so wisely ordereth and govemeth 
 this our standing house, and lovingly en- 
 tertaineth every member of this body, 
 that she suffereth not the least, the weak- 
 est, the poorest, nor the basest to be 
 distressed, wronged, or abused, but she 
 extendeth present relief, comfort, and as- 
 sistance. 
 
 What an unnatural member is it then, 
 that will raise itself up to offend this so 
 sacred a head ! nay, what member is it, 
 unless he be overmuch infected with the 
 poison of envy, that will not strive by 
 all possible strength to perform the duty 
 of a true subject, in whatsoever office, 
 calling, or authority he be placed? al- 
 though very dangerous members have 
 been found in this body ; but they were 
 
A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 169 
 
 withered and dried up with the scorching 
 sun of vain-glory, so that they in their 
 callings could bring forth no fruit, but 
 very rottenness of heart, wherein lurk- 
 ed nothing but the eating worms of 
 envy, the viperous affection of hatred 
 unto the truth, and, consequently, devilish 
 desires to disturb, nay, to subvert and 
 confound the whole body. But their rot- 
 tenness and filthiness have been happily 
 found out, and they justly cut off. 
 
 Let us therefore, that now live in a 
 time wherein every man may walk in 
 his duty aright, while it is to-day, yea, 
 while we are in this earthly tabernacle, 
 and therein have the comfortable use of 
 the word to teach and direct us ; let us 
 all endeavour to keep a direct course in 
 every of our particular callings, that we 
 all may be found lively and profitable 
 members of this our common-weal. 
 
 And no doubt (which I heartily wish 
 in the Lord) but all our governors know 
 what belongeth unto their Christian 
 duties, wherein they ought to consecrate 
 themselves wholly to the benefit, profit, 
 honour, and quiet of this our public state, 
 wherein they are appointed to govern, 
 not sparing any labour, care, expenses, 
 toil of mind or body, no, not their lives, 
 to preserve and keep this our common- 
 weal in all happy felicity. And as in 
 these our sacred governors and magis- 
 trates there appeareth a continual work- 
 ing and watchfulness for the maintenance 
 and upholding of this public weal : so in 
 
 Withered 
 members of 
 the body of 
 the common- 
 wealth. 
 
 We must all 
 well agree in 
 our callings. 
 
 Governors 
 must endea- 
 vour to pre- 
 serve the 
 common- 
 wealth. 
 
170 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Necessity of 
 obedience 
 laid upon 
 subjects. 
 
 Every good 
 member is 
 praised and 
 reeeiveth 
 reward. 
 
 Obedience 
 the prop of 
 our quiet. 
 
 US that are to be governed there is a 
 necessity of resolute obedience and duty 
 unto their authority laid upon us. And 
 forasmuch as we see by experience, that 
 the wisdom, love, and zeal of our gracious 
 superior governor doth in some measure 
 seem to surmount her authority in com- 
 manding us ; let our humility, love and 
 free obedience towards her, and the go- 
 vernors under her, be greater than our 
 civil subjection. And let our hearts in 
 all fulness be fraught with such dutiful 
 desire to frame our whole affections to 
 the will of the magistrates, that there 
 may be no occasion given them to lift 
 up the sword of justice against any of us ; 
 for they bear not the sword for nought ; 
 he that offendeth shall be punished, and 
 every evil member of this body shall be 
 cut off by the same. But such as are 
 profitable and helping members, shall not 
 only not taste of punishment, but be 
 praised ; and every good endeavour shall 
 receive his reward : yea, and whosoever is 
 grieved amongst us, if it be the foot, then 
 the' head itself, and the most especial 
 members of the body, will have regard 
 unto the same, and incline help thereunto, 
 as unto themselves. 
 
 Who therefore would not endeavour 
 with all force to answer in duty what is 
 offered and administered unto us from 
 these higher powers ? For take away obe- 
 dience, and we cannot but fall into many 
 miserable calamities, while we are in this 
 
 [* So 1596. The first edition omits the.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY 
 
 171 
 
 house of our mortal bodies. A private 
 house we see is well ordered, when serv- 
 ants yield obedience to their masters, and 
 children humility to their parents : but 
 turn it contrary, and there followeth 
 present confusion : how much more will 
 the calamity be great, and the mischief 
 intolerable, if there should not be true 
 loyalty in the subjects towards their go- 
 vernors, as there is godly carefulness in 
 the governors for the preservation of the 
 subject ! 
 
 We run the most of us, and especially 
 which are the inferior sort, into a most 
 rash breach of the laws carefully made 
 by our superiors; and it argueth in us 
 inconstancy, and bewrayeth in us that 
 our hearts are not fully cleansed from 
 gross enormities. And therefore if we will 
 rest in this house of our earthly bodies, 
 in hope, when we depart hence, to attain 
 unto that spiritual home, that sacred city 
 which we seek, that place of perpetuity 
 and everlasting joy"^; we must enter 
 again into our hearts, and thrust out the 
 old gross desires and corrupt affections 
 there lurking, which break forth often- 
 times to the breach of the laws of our 
 common- weal, which should be kept by 
 us inviolable. But especially we therein 
 violate the laws of our God, who looketh 
 on us, who considereth our ways, and 
 beholdeth our proceedings, howsoever we 
 think he seeth us not. 
 
 It might be thought a superfluous 
 
 [^ Joy, not in the first edition.] 
 
 God seeth 
 our walkings 
 
172 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 Pride, a most 
 ugly sin be- 
 fore God. 
 
 The pride of 
 England. 
 
 thing to set down particularly wherein 
 w^e offend grossly; but for that it is a 
 thing necessary that they should be con- 
 sidered and reformed, I will briefly call 
 to mind some such as I wish especially 
 were redressed. Among which, as the 
 most ugly before God and good men, is 
 pride, a peevish evil, and a flattering con- 
 ceit of ourselves, that we are that which 
 indeed we are not, and indeed we make 
 ourselves monsters, and are not ; for God 
 having created us seemly, and the most 
 glorious of all other creatures, we of our- 
 selves deform ourselves, and mar by our 
 mischief what God hath made in his 
 mercy. But the beginning hereof, even 
 of our pride, is, to fall away from God, 
 and to turn our hearts from our maker. 
 Being fallen from God we are cast down 
 unto Satan ; and turning our hearts from 
 our maker, we become one in consent 
 with our miscarrier : and yet how go we 
 hand in hand with this wicked one, by 
 whom we were deceived, even in the 
 humour of pride, in the beginning ; and 
 cannot yet take heed of his wiles, whereof 
 the greatest is this filthy fashion, pride ! 
 And the pride of England is, as it were, 
 set up upon the highest mountain of the 
 w^orld, seen and scorned even of the very 
 infidels of the earth : such as know not 
 God make marvel of our monstrous 
 attire, which exceedeth not only in cost 
 and colour, but in weight and fashion. 
 pull it down : it is not fit for such as 
 are taking the way to the kingdom of 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 173 
 
 Pride pcl- 
 luteth all the 
 cori:iersof our 
 house. 
 
 The carter 
 and plough- 
 man exceed- 
 eth in pride. 
 
 heaven; it agreeth not with the guest 
 wliich lodgeth in us, the Spirit of God ; 
 it is no fit ornament to deck the house 
 of our silly souls, for it stinketh and 
 polluteth all corners of the house. 
 remoTe it, and send every country his 
 fashion again : be not beholden to any 
 nation for such trumpery, neither to the 
 garment-maker, whose study therein, 
 though it please the vain-glorious for a 
 time, it w411 bring repentance, too late, 
 to the work and the workman. It is 
 from the court come into the country, a 
 dangerous evil, and hath infected the 
 poor ploughman, that a year's wages suf- 
 ficeth not one suit of attire. If I should 
 tell all, the carter would step in with 
 his courtly gards, and will defy him that 
 is not of the fashion: men and women, 
 the rich and the poor, the old and the 
 young, are too far gone in this sickness : 
 the Lord give a timely medicine, lest 
 we perish therein ! We might (were we 
 mindful of our dangers) call to mind, 
 w4iat diversities of diseases and strange 
 maladies have been amongst us of late ; 
 as though the Lord w^ould say, '* As ye 
 change your affections upon vain things, 
 and as ye are never satisfied with variety 
 of fashions, falling daily from niP", so wiU 
 I make you know by the variety of my 
 punishments, that I have yet in store 
 more strange calamities than yet ye have 
 felt." And shall we not yet cast off these 
 enormities ? Surely it is so di&like that 
 wedding-garment, wherewith we must 
 
174 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 1 Tim. vi. 10. 
 
 Covetousness 
 the root of 
 all evil. 
 
 enter into our heavenly heart's ease, and 
 it is so strange unto the Lord, that he 
 will not know us to be his. O that it 
 were reformed, for every man and woman 
 wade in excess in this sin, without re- 
 proof : let it be reformed, lest God re- 
 prove us. 
 
 Should we let pass some little re- 
 compting of another gross evil ? whose 
 reproof is deservedly set down by the 
 sacred censure of God, and therefore I 
 wall shew what the Lord himself speak- 
 eth against it, that I may be irreprove- 
 able : " The desire of money is the root 
 of all evil." what a short and sharp 
 sentence is this ! If it be the root of all 
 evil, then hath it no doubt many branches 
 of evil : therefore is it very unfit to rest in 
 this house of our souls ; for they that have 
 thus lusted extraordinarily for this world- 
 ly muck, " have erred from the faith, and 
 pierced themselves through with many 
 sorrows." See what a most dangerous 
 evil this covetousness is : it disquieteth 
 both the body and mind here. The whole 
 house is out of order where this filthiness 
 lieth ; and therefore above all other evils 
 it is to be reformed, for that it distem- 
 pereth us here, and stoppeth the ways 
 that should lead us to our heavenly 
 heart's ease. " Woe be unto ye rich," 
 saith Christ, "for ye have your conso- 
 lation here." It is a sin so displeasing 
 unto the Lord, that he pronounced de- 
 struction imto the people of Israel, for 
 that, from the least unto the greatest of 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 175 
 
 them, every one was given unto covet- 
 ousness. Let us therefore have a care 
 to reform this enormity, and let us cast 
 it out of our hearts ; for it breedeth many 
 evils : yet this evil, above all other, seem- 
 eth unpunishable, nay, rather commend- 
 able, because it seemeth good husbandry. 
 But all that are in the right way unto 
 that heavenly heart's ease, will cast it 
 out of this their standing house, as dirt, 
 dung, and unprofitable rubble. 
 
 This evil of covetousness draweth 
 unto it another dangerous evil, flattery, 
 which is an evil that draweth light con- 
 ceited men into vain-glory. But all flat- 
 tery is as the kiss of an enemy, as was 
 Judas' ; and therefore are all flatterers to 
 be rejected, and to be cast out of this 
 common society of the members of this 
 body, and to be cut off" as unprofitable 
 and perilous: yet these prosper in the 
 world, and fare far better than such as 
 speak the truth from their hearts. Cast 
 them ofi". 
 
 Certain idle persons, whose infections 
 do annoy a great part of this body, are 
 to be cured or cut off", for they are dan- 
 gerous members ; for whose reformation 
 have been made many notable provisions 
 by sundry sage and grave acts, and houses 
 of correction for vagrants erected in every 
 shire. But it falleth out, that the number 
 of such dangerous weeds rather increase 
 than diminish, to the great detriment of 
 our quiet abiding in this standing house 
 of our common- weal : wherein I suppose 
 
 Covetousness 
 unpunish- 
 able. 
 
 Flatterers. 
 
 Idle and 
 vagrant per- 
 sons. 
 
176 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 the negligence of inferior officers is a great 
 occasion of their increase. 
 
 I have travelled many shires, and it 
 appeareth that there is little or no ex- 
 ecution of these good laws ; greatly to be 
 lamented, not only in regard of the com- 
 mon quiet which by them is like to be 
 disturbed, but also in regard of the per- 
 sons themselves, who endanger their own 
 estates by their ungodly looseness and 
 lewdness of life : the common-wealth also 
 losing their labour and travail, which 
 might in some measure stead their bre- 
 thren, if with a sound and godly dis- 
 position they would frame their limbs 
 to labour ; yet eat they that which is 
 gotten by the sweat of other men. The 
 number of these persons is great ; the 
 persons themselves, for the most part, 
 able of body, hardy, stout-hearted, and 
 fit to be employed in strong affairs ; a 
 number of them yet counterfeiting im- 
 potency, and deforming themselves with 
 rotten rags, pass through the country 
 halting in the day time, and oftentimes 
 annoy the good members of this public 
 weal in the night. These pass and repass 
 by such as have authority to examine, 
 to commit, to punish, and to reform 
 their disorder, and yet few or none set 
 hand to redress it. If the city of Lon- 
 don be viewed, the streets within it, 
 and the suburbs and fields near it, will 
 yield, of young and old, men and women, 
 able of body to serve masters, and to 
 labour for their living, a great number 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 177 
 
 of vagabonds. And, which is most la- 
 mentable, the young and tender girls and 
 lads of all ages lie under stalls in the 
 streets by great companies, under hedges 
 in the fields, and no man taketh them 
 up to bring them to some faculty to get 
 their livings, as is commanded, but suffer 
 them to wallow still in idleness, until 
 they be past to be reclaimed, falling into 
 breach of the laws, and so are eaten up 
 with untimely death ; who if they had 
 been carefully provided for, they might 
 have proved good members of the weal 
 public. It is no new thing, and would 
 God it might be now at the eldest estate, 
 that these evils might be cut off, or in 
 some measure reformed ! The root being 
 cut in sunder, the branches would wither; 
 for there are divers occasions given and 
 tolerated, whereby they thus grow into 
 these idle and vagrant courses. 
 
 It seemeth lawful, (for it is tolerated,) 
 that every man at his pleasure may leave 
 his travail, and go to the play-house, 
 bowling-alleys, bear-gardens, alehouses, 
 taverns, and gaming, where they lose their 
 time, consume their thrift, and offend the 
 laws of God and her majesty. And the 
 sabbath day, which should be sanctified 
 with prayer and hearing of the word, 
 is profaned with these accustomed evils ; 
 which if they were cast out as unpro- 
 fitable in this our earthly abiding-place, 
 we should the more sweetly pass on the 
 way to our heavenly heart's ease. For 
 out of these evils of idleness and loiter- 
 
 Qnorden.] 
 
 12 
 
178 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 1 Tim. vi. 11 
 -16. 
 
 ing spring many noisome things, that 
 blemish our body here, as filthiness of 
 the flesh, drunkenness, gluttony, swear- 
 ing and blasphemy, forgetfulness of God, 
 and contempt of magistrates ; wherewith 
 our abode here being grossly defiled, such 
 will be our unsavoury dwelling, that our 
 spiritual guest, the Holy Ghost, will re- 
 fuse to abide with us. 
 
 Therefore, ye men of God, whom 
 the Spirit of God directeth, "fly these 
 things ; and follow after righteousness, 
 godliness, faith, patience, and meekness : 
 fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of 
 eternal life, whereunto ye are called, and 
 have professed a good profession before 
 many witnesses." Keep on the course ye 
 have begun," without spot, andunrebuke- 
 able, until the appearing of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, who only hath immortality, 
 and dwelleth in the light that none can 
 attain unto, whom never man saw, nei- 
 ther can see. Unto whom be honour, 
 and power everlasting. Amen." 
 
 M short Prayer against Errors and 
 Schisms. 
 
 We humbly pray thee, most merciful 
 Father, in mercy to look down upon the 
 dangerous estate of thy church, which is 
 much pestered and infected with the suds 
 of error; insomuch as it seeraeth to be 
 swallowed up of the perilous inundations 
 
 [^ This and the two following prayers are 
 not in the first edition.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 179 
 
 of sects and schisms, coined by the sub- 
 tleties of that wicked one Satan, whose 
 practice is ever, from the fall of Adam, to 
 stop the pure proceeding of the gospel 
 by the perverse works of darkness. Sanc- 
 tify therefore thy children with thine espe- 
 cial grace, and manifest thy truth unto 
 them, that by the light thereof they may 
 know how to shape the way to the true 
 service of thee. And let them be able 
 to discern between truth and error, that 
 they may be always free from heresies, 
 and not be entangled with false doctrine, 
 nor defiled with the loathsome pitch of 
 man s inventions; but, being endued with 
 the purity of heavenly knowledge, we 
 may all join together in one truth, where- 
 in we may live and die ; and so in Christ 
 thy Son's merits live with thee in heaven 
 eternally. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase my faith. 
 
 A short Prayer in Crosses, Troubles, 
 and Afflictions. 
 
 Father, full of mercy and love in 
 Jesus Christ, have compassion upon me, 
 whom thou hast touched with thy hand 
 of correction. Thou hast found me out 
 in my sins, and beaten me; thy hand lieth 
 heavy upon me : I am not able to sustain 
 the burden of my miseries. I cannot but 
 faint in my distresses, and run to and 
 fro for help ; but lo, Lord, my crosses 
 increase, and thine anger I cannot bear. 
 
 12—2 
 
180 
 
 A PROGRESS OP PIETY. 
 
 Wherefore, good Father in Christ, have 
 compassion upon me, recomfort me again, 
 be pleased with me, and take thy heavy 
 displeasure from me ; and though my sins 
 have deserved more than I can bear, the 
 merits of thy Son are greater than my 
 sins. And therefore for his sake come 
 again in love; and by thy mercy and 
 power repair my decays, relieve my 
 wants, and cure my diseases. Speak the 
 ■word, and it shall be done: all things 
 obey thy voice. AVherefore bless thy 
 creatures all to my use, that I may have 
 them all in this life blessed unto me, and 
 I blessed by thee in Christ. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
 A short Prayer^ that all men may live 
 uprightly in their calling. 
 
 Lord God Almighty, merciful and 
 pure, be pleased in favour to consider the 
 weakness of man; and so sanctify us with 
 thy grace, that we may all confess our 
 sins, and cry to thee for pardon; all ac- 
 knowledge our weakness, and cry to thee 
 for strength; all see our ignorance, and 
 come to thee for knowledge how to be- 
 have us in this mortal life in our several 
 callings, that thereby both thou mayest 
 be glorified, our brethren comforted, and 
 ourselves relieved: that when we shall 
 be called by thee to render account of 
 our stewardships, we may be able to 
 stand before thee acquitted from all that 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 181 
 
 either sin, the devil, or our corrupt flesh 
 may charge us w-ith, not through our 
 own deservings, which in our best en- 
 deavours are evil evermore, but in the 
 merits of thy Son Christ. Amen. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith. 
 
THE CONCLUSION, 
 
 WHEREIN IS EXHORTED UNTO WATCH- 
 FULNESS FOR THE APPEARANCE 
 OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
 IN WHOM, AND BY WHOM, 
 WE SHALL ENTER, AFTER 
 THIS PROGRESS END- 
 ED, INTO OUR EVER- 
 LASTING HEART'S 
 EASE. 
 
 Having attained tlirough the divine 
 assistance of my good God unto the end 
 of this my poor travail, I cannot but 
 conclude with an earnest entreaty of all 
 such as covet this eternal heart's ease, 
 that they will in this standing house of 
 the body call continually to mind the 
 absolute end of this " Progress of Piety," 
 which i^rincipally tendeth unto the finish- 
 ing of the journey and pilgrimage of this 
 life in all godliness, faith, zeal, and ar- 
 dent love of that heavenly mansion, which 
 so far excelleth this earthly tabernacle, 
 as the purest gold exceedeth the filthiest 
 and most loathsome dirt and dung of the 
 earth ; and the heart's ease thereof is much 
 far sweeter than the heart's ease of this 
 world, as the sweetest honey passeth in 
 sweetness the most bitter gall: and happy 
 is that man that soonest attaineth to the 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 183 
 
 enjoying thereof but in part, that is, 
 either in this life, through the quietness 
 of conscience in our Christ, or, being de- 
 parted hence, hath the fruition thereof 
 in spirit, expecting the coming of that 
 great Judge, when soul and body shall 
 enjoy the same at full. let us all, 
 therefore, in all godly watchfulness, in 
 this our pilgrimage which shortly shall 
 have end, have due regard unto our 
 walking, that we walk not awry. Let 
 us daily examine ourselves, and consider 
 w^th judgment, that we shall all appear 
 before that high Judge, from whom no 
 step of our progress shall be hidden ; and 
 whomsoever he shall find halting, or 
 walking awry, he will bereave of that 
 most sweet heart's ease in heaven, and 
 will give most sour and unsavoury heart's 
 sore in hell. 
 
 If I should discourse of the com- 
 forts which shall be shewed unto such 
 as walk this progress and end the same 
 as they ought, and as they are com- 
 manded, alas ! I am as unable, nay, 
 there is no tongue of man or angel can 
 nearer declare the depth of the sweetness 
 thereof, than I am able to number the 
 stars in the firmament; the excellency 
 thereof is such and so unspeakable, as 
 no heart is able to comprehend or con- 
 ceive the same : but let this satisfy all 
 curious conceits, that that our heavenly 
 mansion, our everlasting tabernacle, that 
 our spiritual inheritance, is such and so 
 full fraught with such variety of joy. 
 
184 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 with such unspeakable comforts, with 
 such endless felicity and surpassing glory ; 
 yea, such is the fulness of all spiritual 
 contentation there, that we shall not 
 covet to see more, the ear desire to hear 
 more, the body have will to feel more, 
 nor the heart thirst to conceive more, 
 than we shall there for evermore enjoy, 
 howsoever they are now, whilst we are 
 in the flesh, far removed from our gross 
 conceits, and every report of them seem- 
 eth dark unto our senses, until our 
 all-sufficient God, our Christ, and our 
 Saviour, shall himself appear again in the 
 clouds. Then shall our understandings be 
 opened, then shall our senses be lighten- 
 ed, and then shall we most plainly see, 
 evidently perceive, and to our absolute 
 comfort taste of the fulness thereof : yea, 
 then shall we see our God face to face, when 
 there shall be an end of all our travails, 
 of all our toil, of all our cark, care, fear, 
 trouble, and irksome passage : then shall 
 we hunger no more, thirst no more ; then 
 shall we need no friend, nor fear any foe ; 
 then shall we that are here now in prison 
 be set at liberty, and we that are pressed 
 down with misery shall be raised up to 
 comfort : yea, then shall be an end of all 
 things that now discomfort us. 
 
 O let us therefore be ever thankful unto 
 our God, that hath not only provided this 
 heavenly heart's ease and endless joys for 
 us, but hath also laid out the w^ay there- 
 unto, and given us his own hand to lead 
 us, yea, himself to conduct us unto the 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 185 
 
 same. Let us without ceasing therefore 
 pray unto him, and let us be always in 
 good comfort in him ; yea, let us groan in 
 our hearts \^ath most longing expectation 
 for the appearing of him that shall de- 
 liver us, and free us from dangers, and 
 settle us in these joys. And let us cut 
 off all lets and impediments, how near or 
 dear soever they be unto us, whether it 
 be the eye, the hand, or the foot : let us 
 cast away all excuses, wife, children, 
 lands, goods, gold, and silver, honours, 
 dignities ; yea, let not life itself be dear 
 unto us, if it seem to hinder us from a 
 speedy passage unto our God : knowing, 
 that so long as we are here in this earthly 
 house, our estate is miserable, our passage 
 dangerous, our pleasures perilous, and we 
 wander as wretches through many mi- 
 series. 
 
 We are here but as in a strange 
 country, far off from our own home; 
 whereunto we must endeavour to attain 
 in all simplicity, carrying only with us, 
 as our staff to stay us up, the merits of 
 our Christ, and for our defence here the 
 sword of the Spirit, whereby we shall 
 be able to walk through all the perils 
 and dangers, yea, the fire and water, 
 through which we are to pass. Let us 
 expect, yea, and w4sh with joy that most 
 happy day, wherein that sweet trumpet 
 of our saving Christ shall sound out to 
 call us : let us hearken for it continually, 
 and let us think it will sound to-morrow. 
 Then to-morrow shall be our merry day ; 
 
186 
 
 A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 for then to-morrow shall we meet our 
 God, that will carry us home with him, 
 that in body and soul we may dwell 
 with him for evermore. come, Lord 
 Jesu, come quickly; and let all the people 
 of God say, Amen. 
 
 " We are not yet come to the rest 
 and the inheritance which the Lord our 
 God giveth us." Deut. xii. 9. 
 
THE 
 
 AUTHOR TO THE BOOK. 
 
 Step forth and stagger not, my silly- 
 book : dread not to draw near unto the 
 palace of thy princely patroness, whose 
 sacred sceptre shall be thy sufl&cient 
 safety, and whose worthy wisdom will 
 weigh the willingness of thine unworthy 
 workmaster ; who though he be low, yet 
 he is loyal; howsoever homely he hath 
 compiled thee, he in all duty and hu- 
 mility presenteth thee, though a work 
 unworthy to be patronized with so pu- 
 issant a princess. But herein comfort 
 thee, that her majesty's royal countenance 
 graceth the present that carrieth shew of 
 true love and loyalty, and accepteth the 
 gift as is the mind of the giver. 
 
 Vade^ Vale^ et pro/ice non 
 vi sed veritate. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
^A DEVOUT PRAYER, 
 
 FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HER 
 
 MAJESTY'S FORCES NOW 
 
 AT SEA. 
 
 Most omnipotent Maker and guider 
 of all worlds, thou only searcliest and 
 fathomest the bottom of all hearts, con- 
 sciences, and conceits, and in them seest 
 the true original of all actions intended. 
 Thou that by thy foresight dost truly 
 discern of all actions intended; thou 
 that by thy foresight dost truly discern, 
 how no malice of revenge, nor quittance 
 of injur}^, nor desire of bloodshed, nor 
 greediness of lucre, hath bred the reso- 
 lution of our now set out army, but a 
 heedful care, and a wary watch, that no 
 neglect of foes nor our security of harm 
 might breed either danger to us, or glory 
 to them : these being the grounds, thou 
 that didst inspire the minds, we humbly 
 beseech thee with bended knees to pros- 
 per the work, and with the best fore wind 
 guide the journey, speed the victory, 
 
 [^ This concluding prayer is here reprinted 
 from ed. 1596. It is in fact the prayer made in 
 that year by the queen herseK, as lately reprinted 
 by the Parker Society in the volume of Eliza- 
 beihan Liturgical Services, p. 6G6. The variations 
 of readings here presented are very unimportant 
 except in one instance, the triumph of thy jame, 
 for, their Jhme.] 
 
A PROGRESS OF PIETY. 
 
 189 
 
 make the return the advancement of thy 
 glory, the triumph of thy fame, and 
 surety of this realai, with the 
 least losses of Enghsh blood. 
 To this devout peti- 
 tion Lord give thy 
 blessed grant. 
 Amen. 
 
Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 
 
 1 1012 01181 0597