REMINISCENCES OF OLD GLASGOW. Gabriel Neil- The Springburn Highway. nd successful in bu .. of hie iu: Wb " mean gift in tho art of biographical vrrn about old ' larly Zachary Woyil. T " ho d msraber him, tho accompany*:- t Gabriel Neil. from a photograph of the eighteen-fifties, will no doubt be appreciated. It is an excellent likeness of Mr Neil, who, it may be mentioned here, was born at 36 Gallowgait in 1797 ; died at Edgefauld, Spriiyjburn, in 1862, and lies buried in the Gorbals Cemetery. During hw whole manhood tho name of Gabriel Neil was associated, in some way, with almost every : scheme for the public weaL He was much m- i tcre^ed in the Glasgow and Springburn high- way, about which there were many disputes from 1822, when a great hollow was filled up near the Blind Asylum, till 1835. In tho latter I original one) was going to be diverted to suit ! interests. Mr James Duncan - , - ,. ,t > r *,*rm'>.n f tKn Town- THE LAST BATTLE SOUL IN DEATH, MR ZACHARIE BOYD, MINISTER OF THE BARONY CHURCH, GLASGOW. WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS MANUSCRIPT WORKS. No man also, having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new ; for he saith, The old is better. Luke v, 34. FIRST PRINTED EDINBURGH, 1629. GLASGOW: RE-PRINTED BY GEORGE RICHARDSON, OPPOSITE THE UNIVERSITY. M.DCCC.XXXI. ONLY 300 COPIES PRINTED. TO THE MOST NOBLE THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE, ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, &C. &c. &C. AND LORD RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, THIS EDITION OF "THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN DEATH," WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST MUNIFICENT BENEFACTORS TO THE UNIVERSITY, IS, (BY PERMISSION,) MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY HIS LORDSHIP'S MOST OBEDIENT AND VERY HUMBLE SERVANT, THE EDITOR. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH or MR ZACHARY BOYD, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS MANUSCRIPT WORKS. " HEE who would rightlie draw a man's portrature must paint his blemishes as well as his beaittie. In such a case his tvrats and his wrinkles must be wrought with the pin- sell, that his image may be like unto him selfe. If men be onlie portreycd in their vcrtues, the halt'e of their face shall not bee scene * * * *. If yee would preach my vertues yee must also preach my vices, and then when should that sermon have an end ?" * The above are part of the judicious sentiments of Mr.Boyd on the subject of deli- neation of character; and from his usually honest and sincere manner of plain dealing, with whatever comes under his review, as respects himself and others, they may be assumed as the standard, by which he would have wished his own character to be esti- mated. To have presented a " portrature " in all the variety of lineaments which his description affords would have been gratifying to us, however painful the duty, if such had been called for, of sketching the " blemishes " of the moral picture ; but the task, under any circumstances, is one now surrounded with many difficulties, from the scanty supply of information which can be collected for the illustration of his public and pri- vate life; and the best we can do, is to gather up a few of the fragments of what the portrait once was. Though in his day a voluminous author, and a Minister of the Church who must have attracted considerable attention, with the exception of Prin- cipal Baillie, f no contemporary has been found to record any particulars connected with him; and the few brief hints given by that historian, are chiefly accidental to his account of the civil and religious struggles of that period, so interesting in the annals of Scottish History. Wodrow had intended to write a life J of Mr Boyd, as in his MSS. he mentions he had collected materials for it, but did not live to undertake it, a circumstance much to be regretted, as at that time, and with the facilities he had, the subject would most likely have been enriched by him with many instructive and important details. Since the time of Wodrow, Mr Boyd's benefaction to the Univer- sity, and the singular quality of some of the effusions of his poetical genius, have elicited the notices of several writers, and among these Pennant and Pinkerton may be quoted; but their remarks throw no light on his personal history. His printed works have now become so scarce, as to be seen and known only by the curious; ami * " Last Battcll," p. 393. In subsequent parts of this sketch, wo occasionally quote from this work, from which many of the characteristics of its author may bo drawn. We consider it as the best and most Ultimate source, from which sui'h can be derived in the absence of more direct information. As he is a writer who often alludes to himseli in his works, it is not too much to say, that those who could afford the time, carefully to peruse his numerous thick volumes of MSS., might make many discoveries of events in his history. t Baillie died llitt', aged (ij. He succeeded Mr Patrick Gillespie in the office of Principal of the University in 1CG1, Wodrow says of him, " He may most justly be reckoned among the great men of this time, and was an ho- nour to his country for his profound and universal learning, his exact and solid judgment, that vast variety of lan- guages he understood to the number of twelve or thirteen and his writing a Latin style which became the Augus- tan age. He had been employed in much of the public business of the Church since the year liioT, and was a worthy member of the venerable assembly at Westminster, and at London almost all the time of it, and hath left behind him a very large account of matters both of Church and State." His MSS. in the University Library amount to about L'500 closely-written pages, which arc likely to contain many interesting facU respecting Mr ttoyd, if we may judge bv that specimen of them which have been printed. t Hr mention; sUT that he had n memoir ^f Frir.c'pni F r said, that the remembrance of him lias been kept alive in the public mind from generation to generation, almost entirely from it being generally believed that he translated (he ichole Bible into verse ; for we may ask, who is there of any pretensions to literary or antiquarian lore, that lias not heard of Zachary Boyd's Bible ? Some efforts have recently been made to retrieve his history from the unmerited neglect which it has met, * and the particulars that have been brought to light must be con- sidered valuable. If the present attempt to increase our limited stock of knowledge, shall be instrumental in leading others to pursue a similar course, they are but doing justice to the memory of one who has strong claims on our attention and respect, as a benefactor to learning, a friend to religion and to the cause of humanity, in being at great pains to direct men through life by his counsels, and to soften their pillow in their last hours. We may remark, that it is much to be regretted the obscurity into which has fallen the history of many other distinguished men, whose memorials, had they been seized upon by some friendly hand at the proper time, would have spared much of the trouble and uncertainty experienced, when exertions are made to rescue their names from oblivion. No incitement should be necessary to induce to such la- bour, as biography is of itself a useful auxiliary to the interests of literature generally, and ought therefore to be assiduously cultivated ; while another important advantage to be derived is, that the mode of existence, or the manner in which eminent men have spent their lives, often reads to mankind lessons more useful and impressive, than those writings to which they have trusted for immortality. Mr ZACH/VUY BOYD was descended from the family of the Boyds of Pinkill, (Car- rick, Ayrshire,) but in what degree of relationship he stood to that family has not been ascertained, f He was cousin to Mr Robert Boyd of Trochrigg, J who was ap- pointed Principal of the University of Glasgow in 10 15, and cousin to Mr Andrew Boyd, Bishop of Argyle. He was most likely born in Ayrshire, considerably previous to 1590, the time about which his birth has been stated. He received his education at the school of Kihnarnock. The first notice which we have of him, is in a letter there about four years, he was appointed one of the Regents in J61 1. It is said that an offer of the Pnncipalship was made to him which he declined. According to his own statement, he had been absent in France sixteen years, where it " had pleased God to make him a preacher of his Word the space of four years j" but his own Church and many others having been dispersed by bloody wars, he returned to his native country in 16^ 1. He relates the following anecdote in one of his sermons: "In the time of the French persecution, 1 came by sea to Flanders, and as I was sailing from Flanders to Scotland, a fearefull tempest arose, which made our mariners reclc to and fro, and stagger like drunken men. In the mcanc tyme there was a Scots Papist who lay neere mee. While the ship gave a great shake I observed the man, and after the Lord had scut a calme I said to him, ' Sir, now yee see the weaknesse of your religion ; as long as yec are in prosperitie, yec cry to this Sainct, and that Sainct: in our great danger, I heard you cry often, Lord, Lord; but not a word yee spake of our Lady.' " On his reaching Scotland he further informs us, that he "remained a space a private man at Edinburgh, with Doctor Sibbald j the glory and honour of all the Physitians of our Land." It was not, however, to be expected, that a man of Mr Boyd's worth and eminence could remain long under the shade of private retirement ; for he " was againe sought out by that worthie man, our Scots Onesiphorus, Sir William Scot of Eli; hee * A ]>aper in The Edinburgh Christian Instructor, Vol. XXVII, gives some account of Mr Royd and n few of his works ; but one decidedly preferable, in being more full and accurate, is that in Appcnuix to Edit ISjO, of M'L'rc's Ili-t. of CiUsgow, from which we have extracted much information. t Kobertson's account of the Ayr-hire families, Vol. Ill, p. ol'J. : The liuulj, of 1'inkill and Trochrigg were descended from Adam Boyd, third son of Alexander, the second M>n of I.ord Holier! Hoyd, the famou.- Chamberlain of Scotland in the minority of James 111. It is said Mr Zachary, in !n- " I-'iHiie I ellei- of t'ouifortc-s fin the Deaths of the Kailc of Iladrtingtounc and the I.oid Boyd, "claims kindred 1<> the latter. M.nV: Alexander lloyt, a Latin poet of considerable eminence, Norn 1 Jth Jan., J.Vi.', died April, IM'l. visa s.-n of Adam llovd l I'M. Kill. Cue "I I;.- I'tn.-'i:!-. in the .-tvly "f Oimthfl-yv, '\liilc in th.it '"intry. is detailed hy himself, A p., r XX.KIV OF MR ZACHARY BOYD. / sought mee out diligentlie and found mee." About the same time lie had also resided with James, Marquis of Hamilton, and his Lady, at their mansion at Kinneil, Linlith- gowshire, who were both highly esteemed for piety and zeal for the public interest ; and to whom he afterwards dedicated one of his works. In 1623 he was ordained Minister of the Church of the Barony Parish of Glasgow, * in which situation he continued till his death. He tilled the distinguished office of Lord Rector of the Uni- versity of Glasgow, in the years 1634*, -35, and -4-5. -j- Baillie, in a letter dated 4-th August, 1643, speaks of him as being then Vice-Chancellor. J He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Fleming of her we have no account. His second wife was Mar- garet Mure, third daughter of William Mure of Glanderston, || (near Neilston, Ren- frewshire). She afterwards became the wife of Mr James Durham, If Minister of the Inner High Church. He had no ff offspring by either of his wives to represent his person ; but we have sufficient to endear his remembrance in his writings and pious deeds. It shall be our object in the subsequent part of this sketch to notice these, and also to make a few gleanings respecting him, from such accounts as have been trans- mitted to us. In 1633, Charles I, attended by his Court, visited Scotland, JJ to pass through the ceremony of Coronation, and on 17th June, the day after the ceremony, Mr Boyd met him at the Porch of Holyrood House, and addressed to him a panegyrical Oration in Latin, couched in the most exalted strains of loyalty and affection. How far Charles merited his good opinion may be inferred from his conduct in 1637, when he commenced carrying into execution the project so obnoxious to his Scottish subjects, of obtruding Episcopacy on them, without distinction of persons. It appears that Mr Boyd had been at first a dissentient from the principles of the " Covenant," for Baillie says, " the greatest opposites in the West to this subscrip- tion are our friends in Glasgow, all the College, without exception, &c., and Mr Za- charias. They are not only withdrawers of their hands, but pathetic reasoners against it. How this comes I will not say, but I have my own thoughts." What his thoughts were he does not explain, but from what he adds respecting a visit he made to the " College and Ministers," to endeavour to persuade them to change their senti- ments, " we left them," says he, " resolved to celebrate the Communion on Pasch in the High Church kneeling," it is but too evident, that the ministers, and without doubt Mr Boyd among the rest, had begun to conform to some of the simpler rites of Prelacy. || || From such dangerous paths he had, hoAvever, soon retraced his * The ancient Barony, or "Baronry Church," (immediately under the present Inner High Church,) in which he preached, must, with its sepulchral gloom, have been well fitted to impress the minds of his hearers with a deep solemnity. Fennant, in his tour in Scotland, 17G9, p. 25i, makes the following observation : " Deep underground is another, in which is also divine service, where the congregation may truly say, Clamavi c profundis, (Out of the depths, O Lord, have I cried unto thee) : the roof is fine, made of stone and supported by pillars, but the beauty much hurt by the crowding of the pews." He is designed Min.of the Karonry Kirk, May Iti'JS. Com. Rcc. of Glas. f- Annals of Glasgow, Vol. II, p. 115. The Rector " is annually elected by the Dean, the Principal, the Professors, and the matriculated Students of the University. It is his duty to preserve the rights and privileges of the University, to convoke those meetings in which he presides, and with his assessors to exercise that academical jurisprudence among the Students themselves, or between the Students and Citizens, which is bestowed upon most of the Univer- sities in Europe " University Calender, p. 12, IW1 2S. t Letters, Vol. I, p 377. \ " Elit. Flemyng, spouse to Mr Zachrie Boyd," appears in the testament of John M'Kildune, merchand burges of Glasgow, Oct. 1&3U. Com. llec. of Glas. "Jonnet and Margaret Fleeming,"to whom he bequeathed " an hundreth merks " each, were probably her relations. See App., p. v. || This family consisted of two sons and six daughters, and supplied wives to other eminent men. The fourth daughter, Janet, was man-led to Mr John Carstairs, Minister of the Gospel at Glasgow. They were father and mother to the Kev. William Carstairs, Principal of the University of Edinburgh. The fifth daughter, Elizabeth, was married to Mr Alexander Dunlop, Minister of the Gospel at Paisley, whose son was the liev. William Dunlop, Principal of the University of Glasgow, and Historiographer for Scotland. Crawford's Hist, of Renfrewshire, p. 40. t A traditional anecdote is arloat, that when Mr Boyd was drawing out his " Last Will and Testament," his spousemade one modest request, namely, that he would bequeath something to Mr Durham. " No, no, Margaret," was the reply of the Minister, " I'll lea' him naething but thy bonnie sel\" Another version of the reply runs in this sarcastic strain : "/'// lea' him what I caima keep frae him." Mr Durham died Will June, 1658, in' his 3t>th year, so that she must soon again have been left in widowhood. From accounts, her history can be traced for 30 years farther. She is much praised for the care with which she preserved Mr Durham's MSS., which were not printed for many years after his death. ft From the particular manner which, in his MS., he notes the lines commencing " The Historic of Samson," (App., p. xiii,) he seems to have intended them to point out the peculiar features of his own case, as well as the one he is describing. Jt Charles at this time visited Glasgow. ^ Letters, VoL I, p. 4(5. 1111 Without throwing any doubt upon the veracity of the statement of Uaillic, it is possible that in the heat of hi- enthusiasm for the Covenant, he may have formed exaggerated opinions of the reasons of the Ministers for their BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH stops; for at an interesting meeting held in the " High Kirk," he is there among others setting to his seal to the cause of the Covenant, to which he afterwards became a zealous and consistent adherent, the description of the scene affording an excellent subject for the graphic delineation of the painter. w At our townsmen's desire, Mr Andrew Cant and Mr S. Rutherford were sent by the nobles to preach in the High Kirk, and receive the oaths of that people to the Covenant. Lord Eglinton was ap- pointed to be a witness there. With many a sigh and tear by all that people the oath was made. Provost, Bailies, Council, and all except three men, Patrick, James, and Mr Archibald, held up their hands ; Mr Zacharias, Mr John Bell, younger, has put to their hands. The College it is thought will subscribe, &c., and almost all who re- fused before." * In the subsequent " troubles " that happened in the kingdom it appears that he took no active share. While many of his brethren, courageous for the Faith, were engaged with the Army, f tendering their pious exhortations, amid the confusion of war and camps, he pursued at home the peaceful vocation of his ministerial labours : but though this was the case, he was not insensible to their dangers in the field, on the contrary he evinced a heartfelt interest in their proceedings, celebrating the triumphs of the Covenant in the lucubrations of the Muse. On 28th August, 1640, the Scots Army obtained a victory over the Koynl Army at Newburn, on which occasion he printed a very singular poem,J descriptive of the feats of the Conflict ; and where, as if to atone for his past errors, and show to the world that he had made a full recantation of his once Prclatical leanings, he stigmatizes as a " beastly fool " every one who draws a sword in defence of the Bishops. In 1643 he published a more useful work in his " Crosses, Comforts, and Councels, ncedfull to be considered and carefully to be laid up in the hearts of the Godly, 'in these boysterous broiles and bloody times." We also find, from the titles of many of his MS. discourses, that with a diligent and affec- tionate zeal for the spiritual edification of the people under his charge, he had im- proved the remarkable events of the period as they successively occurred. After the decapitation of Charles, public affairs in the two kingdoms had not by any means assumed a settled posture. The Presbyterians being considerably disappointed with the manner in which things had turned out for their interest, recalled the son of Charles to his native kingdom, as its sovereign, and also as that of England and of Ireland. This provoked the wrath of the newly-formed Commonwealth, which sent its armies into Scotland, commanded by Cromwell, who defeated the Presbyterians at the battle of Dunbar, on 3rd Sept., 16.50. Cromwell obtained possession of Edinburgh and immediately pursued his route to Glasgow as Baillic narrates. " Cromwell, with the whole body of his army, conies peaceably by the way of Kilsyth to Glasgow. The Magistrates and Ministers fled all away, I got to the Isle of Cumray with my Lady Montgomery, but left all my family and goods to Cromwell's courtesy, which indeed was great, for he took such a course with his soldiers, that they did less displea- sure at Glasgow than if they had been at London, though Mr Zacnary Boyd railed on them all to their very face in the High Church "\\ In the midst of this universal refusal and delay. The subscribing of the Covenant was a step of the most solemn consideration, involving nothing less than declaring themselves rebels against the lioyal authority; and though it may have been at the time extremely proper, yet on such a subject the best of men may have their religious scruple?, of which it may take some time to get rid. The disruption was one most likely to be attended with much blood-shed, and this was a consequence, at which men of considerate and humane feelings would shudder. * Letters, Vol. I, p. 66. t Haillic describes his own appearance at Dunse-law in the following very spirited manner : " It would have done you good to have cast your eyes athort our brave and rich hills, as oft as I did, with greater contentment and joy, ibr I was there among'the rest, being chosen preacher by the gentlemen of oi>r Shire, who came late with Lord Eglinton. I furnished, to half-a-dozen good fellows, muskets and pikes, and to my boy a broad sword. I carried myself, as the fashion was, a sword and a couple of Dutch pistols, at my saddle ; but I promise for the oflcncc of no man except a robber in the way ; for it was our part alone to pray and preach for the encouragement of our country- men, which I did to my power must cheerfully." Letters, Vol. I, p. 174. t Sec Appendix, p. xlv. ^ letters. Vol. II, p. 359 || " 1,3. Octotier, on Sabbath, 10 anno, at Cromwell's ;coming\ I expounded the eight of Daniel; the morrow God wrought my deliverance, to him be glory for evermore. 'Ihe psalme I preached on wa< the 38 psalme, v. 13, 14, 15. Wei: did sing psalme 7r>, from the beginning to the 8 verse ; and the re>t of the psalme after sermon. Divers Sojours did sing with u." MS. note on I'amily Hiblc. This interesting relic of our author is in the [Kjsscssion ol Andrew Kntikcn, Ksq., Merchant, lil;is<_'ow in excellent condition Ho, Louden, printed by John Field, 1(H8, with " a briefe Concordance or Table to the Bible of the Last Translation, carcfullic perused and enlarged, by Mr John OP MR ZACHARY BOYD. panic and disgraceful flight of the dignitaries, Mr Boyd appears in the most undaunted manner to have stood firm to his post, and to have been the only minister who had confidence to face with his sharp rebukes the invader of the city. The inhabitants must have been thrown into a very distracted state by the appearance of Cromwell and his victorious army ; but from the magistrates and ministers, who were the natural guardians of the temporal and spiritual interests of the community, we would have expected more courage, and particularly from the narrator of the fact himself, who had stood the brunt, in many of the trying periods of the history of his country, both at home and in the field. An anecdote is related of an occurrence which took place at this time. " When Cromwell went in state to the Cathedral Church, it so happened that Mr Boyd preached in the forenoon, when he took occasion severely to inveigh against Cromwell, so that his Secretary Thurlow whispered him for leave to ' pistol the scoundrel,' ' No, no,' says the General, ' we will manage him in another way :' he therefore asked the minister to dine with him, and concluded the entertain- ment with prayer, which lasted for three hours, even until three in the morning. * " In the course of the letters of Baillie, there are some circumstances connected with Church affairs where mention is made of Mr Boyd, which we would willingly have made subservient to our purpose, in the illustration of his life, but their details pre- sent nothing worthy of remark. When Baillie was in London, Mr Boyd corresponded with him, ' July 8, 1645, I got Mr Roberts and Mr Zacharias." The number and nature of his works f bear sufficient testimony, that he was an ardent, zealous, and indefatigable Minister of the Gospel of Christ, " a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Of the manner in which he acquitted himself of his important charge to the souls of men, we have an account from his own pen in a solemn appeal to God before the " Sicke man." "That I speake truelie, I darre be answerable for it, in the presence of my God. As yee must one day make a reckoning to God of that which yee heare, so must I that self same day give an account of what I teach. My sermons must be read before him, that sent me to preach, for hee will know how I have fedde his Lambes. If I build upon Christ, the fundamental stone, the Pearlcs and precious stones of Christe's passions, I shall get a reward ; but if I builde upon him Stubble, Hay, or Wood, because I hold fast the foundation, he shall save my Soule, when hee shall trye my Doctrine with the fire and light of his Word. But because I builded upon him the combustible light stubble and hay of humane words, of worldlie eloquence, I shall bee saued verie hard- lie, only by the fire of great affliction, For this cause, knowing the great danger, I wish that all my comfortes to you and all others bee onlie of Christ, who is both our Suretie and our Saviour." In this conscientious discharge of his duty as a " Preacher of God's Word," which he had at the same time exercised with humility ,J he seems, whether in danger or out of it, to have been animated with a heroic firmness. In a mind such as his, so richly stored with the noble examples furnished by Sacred History, and with such a Downame, B. in Divinitie." The Bible and Concordance are throughout liberally interspersed with MS. critical observations and annotations on the translation. ;On the title page,) " eniptus 8 lib., M. Zacharias Liodius." * Cromwell was accustomed frequently to hold similar meetings. \Ve have an account of one them, which took Cromwell and his officers better casuists and theologians than they anticipated. The house in which these confer- ences were held, was situated on the east side of Sallmarket street, opposite the entrance to Bridgegate, lately taken down. The roof of the principal apartment, where Cromwell is said to have had his levees, was elegantly finuhcd in stucco. t See Appendix, p. i. I " A watchword both for Minister and the people, 1 Cor. chap, iv, v. 0, And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself, and to Apollos, for your sakes : that ye might learn in u not to think of men above 'hat which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another," MS. note on Familv Bible, i. |0 inOURAPIUCAl. SKETCH deep sense of the responsibility attached to his office, we are prepared to expect the same consistency of principle, aud decision of conduct, iu admonishing men, even of the most exalted rank. " I have observed," says he, " in reading the Book of God, that few Kinges either of Juda or of Israel receiued auie peat praise from God's penne, which can neither faine n.W flatter. Trueth >vill yield no ground though it should meete a tyrant in the face. O fainting flatterer, who darre not preach hut to please thy Prince ! Who art thou that should feare a mortall man ivhich shall ^bee made as yrasse ? By a wise, grave, godlie reproofe, thou might have saved his Soule, in whose blood thou hast imhrewed thyself, either by fearful! silence or flattering elo- quence." From the intrepid nature of this declaration, evincing his own mauly in- dependence and zeal for the cause of truth, and from a view of the high ground on which he took his station, we can explain his reasons for the very familiar and honest language he employs in addressing his Monarch, in the dedication to the " Last Bat- tell," in which, with all its faithful boldness, there is conspicuous, the expression of a most respectful and devoted loyalty. It must have been with sensations of grief and Eity that be witnessed the severity of the future misfortunes of Charles, who bad pro- ably long ere that, forgotten the good advices of the Preacher so sincerely tendered him, or remembered them when too late, if ever he had attended to them at all. We have every reason to suppose, that the tenor of his conduct in life became the high office of which he made profession. From the sternness with which he censures manners and customs prevalent in society, the conforming to many of which could incur no moral guilt, it is to be presumed, that he was of the most rigid and austere class of Divines. The taste of the age permitted an author to prefix to his works the opinions of his contemporaries respecting himself and his productions, and from some of these we can gather a few flowers to strew over his grave, commemorative of the great estimation in which both were held. Among these it is said, that " his consistent life taught equally as his voice, or his writings, unfolding an abundant store of sacred learning." His recovery from fever was hailed with delightful satisfaction, as the " restoration of one from the dead, who by the afflictive dispensations of Providence had received an insight into the grave that he might teach more successfully the mode of preparation for death." His work in glowing terms is extolled, as, " O truly, a golden little Book, dropping with sacred honey and seasoned with wisdom ;" and though from such flattering eulogiums we make some abatement for the usual colour- ing peculiar to the language of panegyric, still sufficient remains to give us a very pleasing view of the sentiments which were then entertained, of his merits as an au- thor, and of his character as a private Christian. In taking occasion to reprimand him " who is of a base spirit, who sluggish lie, gape- ing and stretching himself, lyeth luskingon the downe," he thus speaks of his own vigilaucy, " I remember of a verse, which, while I was young, served for a irakener for to rouse me from my morning sleep, Sanctificat, sanaf, ditat cjuoque surgere inane. That is, it maketh holio, whole, and rich to rise early in the morning." Iu a letter to Patrick Lindsay, Archbishop of Glasgow, with whom he appears to have been on familiar terms, he makes mention of being in ill health, and it is probable that from sedentary habits, and close application to his literary and ministerial studies, he had considerably impaired his constitution. Towards the termination of his life he had become rather infirm, so as to have been under the necessity of somewhat curtailing the usual length of his discourses, and in this respect, his conduct had displeased cer- tain of his more pious hearers, who could not, even with the growing infirmities of their " Pastour,' be reconciled to stinted measure, as "Feb. 1:3, 1051. Some are to speak to Mr Z. Boyd, about the soon skailiug of the Baronie Kirk on Sunday after- noon." * His doatli must have occurred about the end "of Hi.").'}, or very early in the commencement of Hij-i.f In l(i.ji,the famous Donald Cargill was appointed his suc- * Spfcion Ucrord.i. t His buriil-plaec cannot l>c ascertained. It was most probably in that part "t the Old IJaroiiT Church approttii- .ited for -epulttirr, tnit no record of thost interred there has l>cen preserved. OF MB ZACHARY BOYD. I 1 cessor. * We are ignorant of any of the circumstances attending his last moments, a time peculiarly interesting in the life of every man, when he is about to leave this earthly scene, and to close with it forever when the principles and motives which regulated his conduct are to be brought to the test and when from such experiment he must either receive that consolation it is fitted to impart, or be left destitute. From what we know of him, however, without the hazard of an erroneous conclusion, we may venture to say, that his state of mind at the trying hour, was that of a firm and cheerful expectation in the belief of the great doctrines of Christianity which he had so earnestly inculcated, both from the pulpit and the press, with the additional com- fort and support derived from a long and laborious life in his Master's service. About twenty-five years before his death, he was so near the verge of the grave, f that his friends had made the necessary preparation of his winding sheet, which he after- wards found among his books. He seems to have recovered from the disease with a renewed determination to employ the remainder of his life, in the cause to which it had been previously devoted ; he pursued perseveringly to near its termination this happy course, and just lived to complete an extensive MS. work, bearing for its title, " The Notable places of the Scripture expounded," at the end of which he adds in a tremulous and indistinct handwriting, " Heere the author was neere his end, and was able to doe no more, March third, 1653." Mr Boyd was a benefactor to the University to a very large extent, by his gift, of date 9th Dec. 1652, J of 20000 Scots, for building the fabric of the College, and supporting three Bursars in Theology, with the donation also of his Books and MSS. In commemoration of his munificence, the University erected his bust, || represented with an open book in his hand, and with the following inscription : MR ZACHARIAS I5ODIVS FIDELIS ECCLESLE SVBVRBAN.E PASTOR 20000 LIB QVA AD ALENDOS QVOTANNIS TRES ADOLESCENTES THEOLOGIZE STVDIOSOS J QVA AD EXTRVENDAS NOVAS HAS MDES VNA CVM VNIVKRSA SVPELLECTILI LIBRARI.-E 1f ALJLE BIATRI ACADEMLE LEGAVIT. The Wodrow MSS. state, that "the intimacy Principal Strang had with Mr Zacha- rias Boyd, from his infancy to his death, helped to procure a much greater benefaction (greater than some others he had just mentioned,) of 2-iOOO pounds Scots, for the further carrying on the building of the College and the publick Library." Intimacy with the Principal perhaps weighed something in his mind, and may have assisted in obtaining his very liberal benefaction ; but we are disposed to give his own benevolent heart the largest share of praise in the transaction. It had long been premeditated, for among his papers one is entitled, " Copy of Mr Zacharie Boyd s Mortification to the College," dated 1G30, at least seventeen years before his death. In this pious act, he had been moved by religious and conscientious principle, and which was in accord- Annals of Glas. Vol.1, p. 1S2. "This parish had boon long vacant, by reason that two members of the resolution party, viz. Messrs Young and Blair, had still opposed the settlement of such godly men as had been called by the people." Memoir of Cargill, by J. Howie of Lochgoin. t In reference to this event in his MS. " Treatise of Troubled Conscience," he appends the following note. " A little after the ending of this treatise, the author fell into a fever, in all men's judgments deadly; the mercy of God toward him was visibly seen. This heere I declare to the praise of the glory of his grace." J In a Deed bearing the same date, there is the following clause. " And providing that the Masters of the said Colledge, shall debursealsmuch money as will suffice to print in one volume, all the said Mr Zacharias Boyd's work." The " work " referred to, was most probably his work, " 'I he Flowers of Zion," which he seems carefully to have prepared for the Press. The publication of this work, as was supposed, would reflect no credit on his memory, and would be attended wilh no advantage to the public. It was therefore not printed. $ The book, which for the precious truths it contains! he, without doubt, esteemed his dearest earthly treasure, he gifted to his wife. " I have given this Bible to my Loving Spouse, Margret Mure M. Zachary Boyd. Mar- grata Mure oweth this Book, I with my hand at the pen." MS. on Family Bible. || This bust is certainly possessed of some character, but as a work of art it must be considered rather an inferior production, though time has doubtless blunted its features. The picture from which we have taken the Engraving, most likely painted when he was in the prime of life, affords a more pleasing, and it maybe supposed a more correct likeness. ' 'J he Last Battell" is inscribed on the book he holds in his hand, in the original picture. It An error is mentioned in this part of the inscription, which should read, "svpellectili Litiraria," instead of " Librariac." As it at present stands, it appears as if his household effects had been bequeathed to the Library, of which it stood in no need. These, as was the case, more naturally fell to the widow. " Svpellecti'.i Libraria," merely included his Books and MSS., properly speaking, the furniture of his Library. IS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH auce with the doctrines he brought before the view of the " Sicke Man," when ha ays, " Seeing God hath blessed you with wealth, I doubt not but yee will doe some- thing for the well of Colledges and Hospitals. Colledgcs are the Seminaries or seed- plots of vertues, out of which come those who become rulers of the Church and Commonwealth. Hospitals are shelters for the poore, the friends of Christ." To which the " Sicke Man" readily responds, " all thesethings were done in my Testa- ment, while I put mine house to an order. I have not forgot that point of duetie. Hee is not worthie to bee called a faithfull man who leaveth not behind him some fruits of his Faith. That Faith which cannot Justine a man by good workes before men, will never Justine his Soule before God." And to exclude all merit of his own, and the appearance of ostentation, he beseeches God in the language of devout Nehe- miah, " Remember mee, O Lord, concerning this, and wype not away my good deedes which I have done for thy glorie'' The philanthropy of his disposition, and his desire to maintain and encourage the interests of learning, had however, to a certain extent, been rather injudiciously exercised, as he had a number of relations in Kil- marnock, who, it is said, were poor, and would have been the better for sharing in the bounty of his Testament.* There is at present on his benefaction to the University, three Bursaries f of five pounds per annum each, tenable for four years; the patrons of two, are the members of the City Council, and the appointment of the third is vested in the Merchants' House of Glasgow.;}: The University, at successive periods of its history, has been much indebted to the munificence of Royalty, and also to that of distinguished individuals, in endowments of lands, revenues, &c., in the establishment of Bursaries, and in gifts for the purposes of building, ornamenting, and repairing the fabric, all of which have contributed to its present far-famed celebrity in Science, so that now, instead of its being, as it has been represented in its original, like " a naked child left to be fed and clothed upon the charity of the public," it assumes a more gigantic stature, greater vigour, and fairer proportions, as it grows in years. From the purpose to which Mr Boyd wished part of his benefaction to be applied, the fabric of the College appears at that time either to have stood in need of repair, or had required further enlargement, and we find, about five years after his death, vigorous operations of that description going forward, under the management of Principal Gillespie, who had carried his zeal for pulling down and building up, to a most unwarrantable extent, alike regardless of the low condition of the finances of the College, and the " clamour " of his Colleagues. In the midst of the indiscriminate seizure of all kinds of property belonging to the College, which could be made available for his purposes, it is likely that " 8000 merks of Mr Boyd's mortification, in my Lord London's hands," had, at that time, been expended'; and to such a length did the Principal pursue his schemes for raising money, notwithstanding the strongest opposition, that among other efforts of his ingenuity, he had effected an entire alteration in the economy of the Bursars tables, even to that of those of " Mr Zacharias." To the improvident and speculative turn of the Principal for building and embellishment, we are perhaps a good deal in- debted for the present respectable appearance of the fabric of the University, but his injudicious conduct at the time was severely felt, and for many years after, so that Bui Hie, in 1661, in a letter to Sharp, relative to the distresses in which they were * The following note informs us who some or those relations were, " Jany. 1", IfiJi, Marrionne Boyti, Spouse to Chairles Hall in New Mylnes, heir portioner of Mr Zncharias Hoyd, minister of the Barnnie Church of Glasgow, her uncill, and Zacharias M'Calume, eldest son to Janet Uovd, daughter to Johnne Boyd in Kirk dyk of Kilmarnock, heir portioner of the said Zacharias Boyd. his cr.vid uncill." \pp. to M'Ure's Hist, of Ghs. It is probable that the generous act of Mr Hoyd had at the time of hi-= death, caused some demurring amonj; his relations. They appear, however, fro n a Deed preserved among his papers, to have acceded afterwards to the ri!*htof the College in the most ample ami satisfactory manner, and for this to have received from the College a douceur. (See a curious document, Apo , p. v.) t University Calender, l<-'27 '.. j Second on the List ot the record of Mortification', to the Merchant* house there appears the following," Marcii, 1655, ZacharU Boyd 10 K) Scots. Interest to he paid to a stu .lent of Divinity. The College receive the funds and pay the Bursary, the Home merely present." View of the Histy. and Const of the Mer. House, &c , p. 39. \ When Cromwell first visite'l Glasgow he sent for the preacher, and entertained him hospiUbly with the adjunct of a long prayer, whinh had such a marvellous effect in his spee;ly conversion to Cromwell's view?, that he immedi- ately gave out, that Cromwell was surely one of the elect. He receiveJ from him the office of Principal in 165?. OF MR ZACHARY BOYD. 13 involved, emphatically says, " Dear James, help your old friends out of beggary and dyvoury, if you can."* Mr Boyd appears to have been a scholar of very considerable learning. He com- posed in Latin, and his qualifications in that language may be deemed respectable. His works also bear the evidence of his having been possessed of a critical knowledge of the Greek, Hebrew, and other languages. As a prose writer, he will bear com- parison with any of the Scottish divines of the same age. He is superior to Ruther- ford, and, in general, more grammatically correct than even Baillie himself, who was justly esteemed a very learned man. His style may be considered excellent for the period. Of his characteristics as a writer, his originality of thought is particularly striking. He discusses many of his subjects with spirit and ingenuity, and there is much which must be acknowledged as flowing from a vigorous intellect, and a fervid and poetical imagination. This latter tendency of his genius is at all times awake, and from which may be inferred his taste for metaphor, and love of colouring, so con- spicuous in his writings. We occasionally mark the features of a noble soul, soaring in the contemplation of the sacred subject on which he descants, but sometimes defi- cient of pinion to sustain the flight he descends rapidly ; and many of his finest pas- sages are in this way very considerably disfigured. He has great fertility of explica- tion, amounting often to diffuseness, and, in many cases, it would have been well had he known where to have paused. With extensive powers of graphic delineation, he is an instructive and interesting writer, though frequently dwelling too much upon minute circumstances. He seems naturally to have been a man of an agreeable temperament, and as a consequence, at times, blends, with the subject on which he dilates, a dash of his own good nature, in some humorous and witty observation. His irony, often well-timed and well-turned, comes down with the force of illustration, and the sneer of sarcastic rebuke. A close observer of mankind and their actions, the judgment he forms respecting them, is that of a shrewd, sagacious, and penetrating mind. Like a skilful master of his profession, he discovers an intimate knowledge of the manifold and secret workings of the depravity of the human heart; and though some of the dis- closures of its wickedness may not be conveyed in the most polished terms, we com- mend the honesty and simplicity of his heart, who had invariably followed the good old practice of a sincere and wholesome plainness. He studies to give the most power- ful idea of the object or quality he depicts, without frequently being very scrupulous from whence he chooses his images of comparison, many of them certainly homely enough, and not quite in the present taste of fine writing; while in others, we cannot help admiring their appositeness and elegance, and remark them, as having passed through a mind of no ordinary compi'ehension. With a lively and familiar mode of expression, he seldom fails to arrest the attention of the reader. Many parts of his language may be considered as deficient in refinement according to our standard and opinions ; but the age in which he wrote should be kept in view, and that, now, forms of speech, manners, customs, in fact, the whole face of society, have undergone mate- rial alterations. His pi-aye rs breathe the warm and powerful strains of a devotional mind, and a rich vein of feeling and piety runs through the matter of all his medita- tions. As a minister of Christ, he must have been eminently qualified to discharge the duties of the pastoral office in the consolation of the sick. From his works, there may be selected gems of sentiment, and passages of beauty and interest, which would do no discredit to the names of some of our best modern Divines. He did not steer clear of those conceits, quaint illustrations, and alliterations, peculiar to the age, which were often mistaken for solid learning-. He wrote much, and apparently in an ex- peditious manner, and had not always practised that careful finishing and revision of his works, so necessary to secure the unbounded reputation of an author, and which might have spared some of the repetition to be found in them. There will be a great diversity of opinion regarding his compositions, in which there is certainly something to censure, but much to praise. He is, upon the whole, a man of superior talent, and must hold, among our Scottish Divines, a very eminent * A;>t>. to M-'Ure's Hist, of GUs., p. 3fi7. 14 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH place, as a learned, judicious, earnest, and generally eloquent writer. The Chris- tian reader will peruse his work with interest, pleasure, and profit; and it will furnish to tho antiquarian, and man of taste, data to judge of much of the character of the age, as respects this branch of its literature, and the manners then existing in society. Ho is a writer who alludes to these last, more frequently than many of the same class, and thus becomes an object of curious attention. He was a coad- jutor with those men, who by their orations the materials for which, borrowed from tho splendid imagery of Holy Scripture, and the familiarities of common life wrought with such spirit-stirring effects on the minds of their countrymen, as to sti- mulate them, fearlessly to asseft the rights of their religion and liberties, in the face of a powerful enemy, and while securing these, contributing to produce a new political jera in the history of the whole empire. We have now to notice Mr Boyd in the character in which he has hitherto been best known to the world, namely in that of a poet, for such he undoubtedly considered himself, and was so held even by wise men of his generation, though there have been found among the moderns some to dispute his claim, and to speak rather harshly of him. One of his most popular attempts to render himself serviceable to his country was in preparing a poetical version of the Book of Psalms for the use of the Church. It had been previous to 1616 that he engaged in this, as the Assembly of 1647, when appointing a committee to examine Rons' version, which had been transmitted to them by the Assembly at Westminster, "recommended them to avail themselves of the Psalter of liowallan, and of Mr Zachary Boyd, and of any other poetical writers. It is further particularly recommended to Mr Zachary Boyd to translate the other Scriptural Songs in Metre, and to report his travails therein to the Commission of that, Assembly: that after their examination thereof they may send the same to the Pres- byteries to be there considered iinfil the next General Assembly. (Assembly Acts, Aug. 28, 1617.)" Mr Boyd complied with this request as the Assembly, Aug. 10, 1618, " Recommends to Mr John Adamson and Mr Thomas Crawfurd to revise the labours of Mr Zachary Boyd upon the other Scripture Songs, and to prepare a report thereof to the said Commission for publick affairs," who, it is probable, had never given in any " report " of their " labours." Of his version, Baillie had not entertained a high opinion, as he says, " Our good friend, Mr Zachary Boyd, has'put himself to a great deal of pains and charges to make a Psalter, but I ever warned him his hopes were groundless, to get it received in our churches, yet tho flatteries of his unadvised neighbours makes him insist iu his fruitless design."* There seems to have been a party who did not undervalue Mr Boyd's labours quite so much as Baillie, and who, if possible, were determined to carry their point, as according to Baillie's state- ment. " The Psalms were often revised and sent to Presbyteries," and " had it not been for some who had more regard than needed to Mr Zachary Boyd's Psalter, I think they (Rons' Version) had passed through in the end of last Assembly; but these, with almost all the references from the former Assemblies, were remitted to the next." On 23rd Nov. 1619. Rons 1 version, revised and improved, was sanctioned by the Com- mission with authority of the General Assembly, and any other discharged from being used in the Churches, or its families. Mr Boyd was thus deprived of tho honour to which he aspired with some degree of zeal, and it must have boon to himself, and friends, a source of considerable disappointment ; tho performing, however, of such a task, so beneficial to his country, although unfortunate in its issue, must bo applauded as the action of a benevolent mind. Had there boen no other version at the time, to have taken its place, the Church would not have been ill served with his, for the one he produced must be considered very far from being a poor effort. He perhaps erred in this, as in some others of his poetical works, in being too literal, but the versifica- tion isiu li'oiioral smooth, and the sense and spirit of the prose version well preserved.! Tho work, however, which lias given the groatost public notoriety to his name as a poetical writer, is that ironerally called, " Zachary Boyd's Bible," said to be a * letter*, Vol. II, p. i'.-'.n. t See Appendix, p. xliv. OF MR ZACHARY BOYIJ. lo metrical version of the \vliole Scriptures, au arduous task indeed, if ever lie contemplated the undertaking. But such a book as this has only existed in name, not in reality, at least it is no where to be found among bis works. The only one approaching to it, is a metrical version of the " Foure Evangels," * which proceeds through the Gospels of the New Testament by chapter and verse ; and this is but a partial attempt to do that, in which he was very unsuccessful. He appears to have devoted a con- siderable part of his time to the cultivation of poetry, and among other works pro- duced two volumes, under the title of " Zion's Flowers, -f- or Christian poems for Spiritual! Edification," and it is these which are usually shown as his Bible, and have received that designation. These volumes consist of a collection of poems from select subjects in Scripture History, such as that of Jonah, Jephta, David and Goliah, &c., rendered into the dramatic form, in which various " speakers " are introduced, and where the prominent facts of the Scripture narrative are brought forward and amplified. We have a pretty close parallel to these poems in the "Ancient Myste- ries" of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, J and in the Sacred Dramas of some modern writers. His mind appears evidently to have had a bias for indulging in the dramatic style of writing, and so constituted, would readily perceive the effect which might be given to certain portions of Sacred Scripture, full of striking occurrences, where different features of character were exhibited, all of which might be advan- tageously brought up more vividly to the imagination, in the alluring garb of poetical dress, and under this strong temptation, with the faculty for versification which he ap- pears to have commanded with much ease, we are not surprised to find him nurturing his predelictions. In the composition of this work, he had, without doubt, the best motives, as it is impossible to bring the mind to conceive, that he who was so thoroughly imbued with a respect for religion and reverence for the Scriptures, could ever cher- ish any malevolent design against either. " The Use," which he appends to each of these poems, is full of the spirit of religion and morality, as well as the sentiments he introduces in amplification of the subjects, and discover the same anxious and pious solicitude for the temporal and eternal interests of mankind, so prevalent throughout his other writings. It is probable that he intended them for the benefit of the people, by way of superseding those trifling and licentious productions at that time in common use, so great a disgrace to our country; and to bring about a reformation on this point, he addressed a poem to the General Assembly, pressing on their notice the necessity of such being discarded. These poems or pieces, may be deemed his principal work and the most successful effusions of his muse which we have in MS., and from a perusal of them, do certainly upon the whole, leave a very different impression on the mind, from that of those absurd reports regarding them which have gone forth into the world. Many of the characters they embrace are supported with considerable effect, they contain much curious descriptive writing, sound sense, regular versification, and in numerous instances good poetic feeling. Having been written merely for didactic purposes, they are not to be measured by those rules constructed for such works as are intended for dramatic representation, but are to be viewed solely as literary efforts. The general falling off in his imagination, (in comparison to that obvious in his prose v r oiks,J when he directs his course to poetry, is, however, much to be lamented ; and besides this, we have to re- cognise in the poems under consideration, much which is no ornament to them, in their being interspersed with mean phrases, tautological expressions, and far-fetched ima- gery, all of which have, certainly, a share in giving to several passages of his poetry, * See Appendix, p. xlii. f- See Appendix, p vii. j The Ancient Mysteries were a representation of some event rrcordcd in the Old or New Testament. They comprehended such subjects as the Fall of Luciter, tlie Creation, the Deluge, Abraham, Melchisidec, and I ot, Moses', &c. (-Godwin's Life of Chaucer, Vol. 1, p. 135. These repvctcntations were "got up" by the cleigy of that day, to increase their own influence, and though a most unhallowed al>iit>c of things sacred in making them the subjects of dramatic performance, had, nevertheless, a very civilizing tffeit upon the prople, in withdrawing their attention from their barbarous sports. ^ In " The Last Battell " there are the dramatis pc nonce, in the " Pastour, Sicke Man, Spiritual! Friend, Carnall Friend, Sathan, Michael," &c., who sustain their offices or paits, sometimes with considerable spirit; and unques- tionably he had abilities in this way which might have been turned to some account in a different department of literature. An opportunity of judging of this might have been arlbrded in " The Popish Powder Plot," a piece at the end of one of the volumes of" 'Jhe Flowers of Zion." It is now, however, so much destroyed that few lines of it are legible in any one place. 10 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH that ludicrous tinge which has been ascribed to them. With a portion of the fair sex of his day, he must have been no favourite, as when an opportunity presents itself, he takes occasion to animadvert in the severest terms on the follies and extravagancies of the toilet, which appear to have been carried to such a height as to call forth the reprobation of the virtuous, and in this, and other matters, by introducing what re- lates to his own times, into a piece detailing the events of some thousand years pre- vious, he has sometimes committed a very disallowable species of anachronism. The defects in execution, as respects the mechanical structure of many of his verses, are but too obvious. He seems to have kid it down as a principle, the never sacrificing of sense to mere sound, and in consistency with this rule, to whatever shifts he is driven in the formation of his rhymes, he usually contrives to inform the mind of the reader, by bringing out the meaning of his subject, if he does not succeed in delighting the ear with the narmony of his numbers. To blame him, however, for a few of his faults, is, in some respect, to reproach our ancestors, that they were not farther advanced in improvement, at an age when it may be said, that neither literary taste nor the standard of writing was accurately fixed. It is from this work that the various quotations which have occasioned so much mirth to the public, are said to have been made, but not one of those in circulation are to be found there, and the liberties assumed in this particular, in the numerous forgeries that have been issued, are very unbecoming.* This spurious progeny is bandied about by those who have a desire to be more witty than wise, and has tended very much to scandalize the memory of the good man. The only genuine extract from his MSS. is that printed by Pennant,f somewhat rough and home-spun it must be confessed, but in all the rude singularity of its native dress, presenting, it will be acknowledged, a picture very faithful in its details, of the apparently hopeless and unenviable situation of the pro- phet in the belly of the whale. Such, however, are the eccentricities of old Zachary, who is frequently a poet of a very unique description, but in this specimen he has in his peculiarities surpassed his usual excellence. What, in the view of his own unso- phisticated mind, he intends as a simple and unvarnished statement of facts, has been perverted from its primitive object by parody and burlesque, in the innumerable ridi- culous versions and commentaries of the scoffers and profane. Passages of this de- scription, as might have been expected, were the first to be seized upon, and little more of bis works being known, they have been imagined as of a most improper character, unfit for the public eye ; and this opinion has, to a great degree, been confirmed by the privacy with which they have been kept, by a hard fate, secluded as close prisoners to the shelves of the University Library, to be shown only as the NtifffB PocticcB of a celebrated man, who lived two .centuries ago. Though in many respects, he has unguardedly thrown himself open to the attack of the critic, it is unreasonable and ungenerous to talk of him as altogether a ludicrous and dog- geral rhymer, and to slump his works with the broad assertion of their being a "cloud of miserable rhymes," J or, that they are to be justified only on the principle, that " he adapted his verse, with its gross imagery, to suit the intellect of his hearers."*) Dr Jamieson justly vindicates the reputation of our Author when he say?, It is astonishing what liberties hare been taken with the memory of one of the principal benefactors of this University, good Zachary Boyd, in the extracts pretended to be given from the MS. of his Poetical Works preserved in the College Liurary. Unpolished as many of his expressions are, they have been grossly exaggerated." Theatruin Scotia;, 1814. The facetious Sam. Colville, in the Scottish Hudibras, (Belfast, 17*1, ) has given two specimens from our author, by way of holding him up to derision ; one of which is the following : " There was a man, called Job, Dwelt in the land of Uz ; He had a good gift of the gob The same case happen us." Unless such ae to be found in his printed work, No. 15 of the Catalogue, (see App., p. iv,) we know of no other source ; but as this writer has not condescended to give his authority, they are most likely to be classed with those hearsay quotations, no where else to be discovered. It is the opinion of the same writer, that our author was "a poet who paraphrased or rather burlesqued several places of Scripture, probably that was owing more to ignorance than design," but from any such imputation he must be altogether freed. t See App , p. xii, where the passage is given entire. \ " His translation of the Scripture in such uncouth verse as to amount to burlesque has been often quoted; and the just fame of a tx.>nefactor to learning has been obscured by that cloud of miserable rhymes. Candour will smile at the foible but applaud the man." Portraits of Illustrious persons by I'iiikerton. Loud. "1797. With this unfeeling notice it given a coarse and ill-executed engraving of the picture in the College. S " In the possession of the College is a very singular version of the Bible, by the Rev. Zachary Boyd, a worthy, A MOKNINU HYMNE FOR CHRIST. 17 Such wholesale condemnation, even accompanied with the qualifying epithets of " wor- thy, learned, and pious," are not sufficient to indemnify for this ill usage. As a poet, he can hold only a subordinate place in the galaxy of great names, which have shed a lustre on our country; but, notwithstanding the blemishes of his poetry, it possesses many features of originality and interest, which, combined with the association of his name, with what is useful and venerable in our Institutions, will entitle it to a share of the public acceptance. Had he written less, and been more attentive to its quality, he might have secured for himself a higher reputation, but quantity, on all occasions, had been with him indispensable ; the native luxuriance of the plant, has but too often re- tarded the progress and maturity of that, which by proper care and attention, might have ripened into much excellent fruit. Permission having been received from the Very Reverend the Principal and Pro- fessors of the University, to make Excerpts from Mr Boyd's Manuscript Poetical Works, for the first time, a little of that mystery will be unveiled which has so long hung over them. The Excerpts from " The Flowers of Zion," are given chiefly with the view of showing the character of the poetry, but will also afford the reader a "limpse of the manner in which the author treats several of his subjects. The selection has been made from some of the principal scenes of the pieces, where the subjects were supposed to be most interesting, and not with any partial reference to the quality of the poetry, which throughout the volumes is, in this respect, pretty uniform. Some of these Excerpts may frequently disappoint, by their abruptness, but in poems of such extent as many of these are, and where it has been our aim to give a general view of the contents of the work, rather than of any single poem, another course of proceeding could not with propriety be adopted. It may seem unfair, that while we have pointed out many of the detects of his poetry, he should not also, on the other hand, have the benefit arising from the selection of a few favourable specimens. In the course of his writings, various extracts might be adduced very creditable to his talents, but from this we refrain, deeming it in our circumstances a supererogatory task, besides en- croaching on the pleasure that every reader feels, in being allowed to make his own observations and discoveries according to his taste. We confine ourselves to the fol- lowing, which exhibits much of the genius and piety of the Christian poet : A MORNING HYMNE FOR CHRIST.* O Day Spring from on high, Cause pass away our night ; Cleare first our morning skyc, And after shine thou bright. Of lights thou art the Light, Of righteousnesse the Sunne ; Thy beames they are most bright, Through all the world they runne. The day thou hast begunne, Thou wilt it clearer make ; Wee hope to see this Sunne, High in our Zodiak. O make thy morning dew To fall without all cease; Doe thou such favour shewe As unto Gideon's fleece. () doe thou never cease To make that clew to fall The dew of grace and peace, And joys celestiall. This morning wee doe call, Upon thy name divine, That thou among us all, Cause thine Aurora shine. Let shadows all decline, And wholly pass away, That light which is divine, May bring to us our day. A day to shine for aye, A day that is most bright, A day that never may Be followed with a niglit* learned, and pious divine of this city, who lived about a century and a half ago, and dying, bequeathed to this semi- nary of knowledge his fortune and all his MS., but not on condition of printing his poem as is vulgarly imagined (The writer is here in a mistake. See Note t, page 11.) It is probable that lie adapted his verse to the intellects of his hearers, the only excuse for the variety of gross imagery, of which part of the Soliloquy of Jonas in the whale's holly will be thought a sufficient specimen." Pennant's I'our in Scotland, Lond. 1790. * " English Academic," see Ap,, p. xxxiii. TK \NSCK1 1'T, &(J. (), of all lights the Light, The Light that is most true, Now hanish thou our night, And still our light rcncwe. Thy face now to us show, O Son of God most deare; O Morning Starre most trow, Make thou our darkncsse cleare. Nothing at all is heere, That with thee can compare ; O unto us draw neere, And us thy children sparre. Thy mercies they are rare, If they were understood ; Wrath due to us thou bare, And for us shed thy blood. Like beasts they are most rude, Whom reason cannot move, Thou most perfectly good, Entirely for to love. Us make mind things above, Ev'n things that most excell ; Of thine untainted love, Give us the sacred seal. In mercy with us deal, And all our sinnes remove ; Thysclfe to us reveale, And this our song approve. Us in thy mercy move, To walk aye in thy way ; First make us sicke of love, And then with flaggons stay. Let us not go astray, To wander furre from thee ; Thou art the only way To joyes that lasting bee. O that wee light could see, That shineth in thy face ! So at the last should wee, From glory goe to grace. Within thy sacred place, Is only true content, Where God's scene face to face, Above the firmament. O that our hours were spent, Among the sonnes of men, To praise th' Omnipotent, Amen, yea, and Amen ! Transcript of the Fac-simile at payc xxxii of the Appendix. JOSEPH SOLD BY MIS BRETHREN. THE SPEAKERS: 1. Jacob, 2. Rachel, 3. Joseph, 4. his brethren, 5. a certaine man, 6. the Midianites. Jacob. Yee, Rachel, knowe yee dearest are to me: I love my Sonnes, but none like Joseph bee; Of mine old age he is the staffe and strength ; Yee know the same as well as I at length : Yee may remember how your father's sheep 1 keept for you in double prentisc~ship : God at the first did so my mind direct, To you and yours I had a great respect : Time hath not par'd the least of my good will I you did love, and yet I love you still: I duly daily mind to love you well : No thing on earth shall this my kindnesse quell : Yea, for your sake this little Joseph more, 1 love then all that borne were him before : A lovely Lade hee is, also his very birth Unto us all presaged holy worth ; Hee surely is the darling of mine age, Hee of our love is a most sacred pledge ; I of his worth doe many tokens see, Above the others farre his vertues be; To Elders modest, to his equals mild He is ; his wits doe farre surpasse a child. Him I doe, count from Heav'n to be our lot ; Let us him make a. particoloured coat. Rachel. My mind misgives me if that all the rest ; Not grieved bee ; but doe what seemes you best. Their stomack's proud, they with a hauty eye Disdaine, when they such ods among them see ; There is none that would not be first in place : Humilitie of all's the rarest grace. I glade would bee that Joseph had that coate, But this I feare it kindle anger hote. Jacob. APPENDIX. CATALOGUE OF MR. ZACHARY BOYD'S WORKS. IN MANUSCRIPT. (DEPOSITED IN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.} \, Zion's Flowers, or Christian Poems, for Spiritual Edification, 2 vols. Ito. Psal. 119, v. 54 : Thy Statutes have been my Hongs in the House of my Pilgrimage. To lesus Christ, my Lord. thou Eternal, I'le forever ehuse Thee for the Subject of my Sacred Muse, Till, in the Quire of Angels, thou me bring, Where Saints the Anthems of thy glory sing. >', The English Academic, containing precepts and purpose for the well both of Soule and Body. Divided into thirtie and one dayes' exercise, 12mo. To lesus Christ, my Lord. Of Momus beasts I doe not feare the bite. 1 to thee offer heere my Muse's mite. To the Reader. If this my verse, in part or whole, But tingle with their din, Knowe mine intent is for to toll The better ringers in. :>, The Foure Evangels in English Verse, 12mo. Psal. 119, v. 54 : Thy Statutes have been my Songs in the House of my Pilgrimage. God, my heart from drosse that's earthly raise, And make thou mee a penman of thy praise ; 1 will, Lord lesus, ev'n for ever, chuse Thee for the Subject of my Sacred Muse. 'V* The following are contained in 13 volumes, small 4 to, closely written, in excellent order, carefully bound and paged, and appear to have been prepared for the Press. To give an idea of the extent occupied by the respective suhjrcts, tin: number of pages in each is stated, 4, The most Notable places of the Bible expounded from Genesis to the Book of Ezra included ; also the Book of lob, 1017 pages. -j, Zion's Teares, wherein are contained the most lamentable miseries of God's Church, 648 pages. (>, A clearre Exposition of the Sacrament of the Passover in all its rites and ceremo- nies, applied to Christian uses, 3(50 pages. 7, The Doctrine of Fasting, shewing a most clearre way how wee shall bee delivered both from publick and private calamities, and how wee may eujove the- vn- speakable blessings of God, preached in 7 Sermon*;, 110 pages. N, A Sermon of Repentance, made at a publick fast during the troubles in Scotland, for th>- i'ooke of Common Prayer, Atii>o I (>.'$:-, the third of nine, before noon, f-Jzi.'iir./, chap. IS, verse .'51, '>0 pages. !), The Weapons of the Church, a Sermon at a Public Fast, dnri .: in Scotland, fur the Book of Common Pravcr, I'xnl. \'l'>, v. ii, Id, A Sermon for a Fa 1 638, Psal. 65, v. 1 1 , 29 pages . 78, Returne, O Lord, how long ? Psal. 90, v. 13, 28 pages. 79, Scripturcc Flores, Christian Meditations upon the most rare places of Genesis and Exodus, 1209 pages. 80, Sermons upon the Passion of lesus Christ, preached at the receiving of the Sa- crament of the Lord's Supper, in 30 Sermons. 81, Sermons upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Ilo'.rewes, 31 Sermons, 785 pages. 82, Holy Meditations for the help of God's people, to receive the Sacrament worthily Containing holy instructions for preparation before the Day of the Sacrament, and instructions also for coming rightly to the Table, and for thank esgiving at- tor the same, 466 payes. S3, A Manual for the Sabbath Day's Exercise, or the Trumpet of Zion for wakening IV flU.\Ti:i) WORKS. of secure and senselosse Soules, while they come to the House of (iod for the hearing of his word, divided into 52 Sabbaths, 304 pages. Hi Sermons upon that most excellent Song of Moses, made a little before his death, in 29 Sermons, H62 pages. Ha, The Wedding Garment, preached the 28 of May, 164.3. H6, Basilius, (S. Magnus) l)e lejnna Oratio prima, cum notis manuscript is, Zacharue Bodii. PRINTED. 1, A clearre Exposition of the Institution of the Lord's Supper, (mentioned by the Author in his MSS. as published,) contains 705 pages of MS. 2, A Compend of the Bible, (mentioned by the Author in his MSS. as published,) H3 pages of MS. 3, The Water of the Well of Life, lohn 0, v. 35, ( do. as printed at Glasgow, May 1050). 4, A Small Catechism on the Principles of Religion, IHmo. 5, Two Sermons for the use of those who are to come to the table of the Lord, with diverse prayers, fit for the necessities of the Saincts at divers occasions, Hvo, Edin. 1629. 6, Two Oriental! Pearl es Grace and Glory, the Godly man's choice, and a cordiall ofcomfortes for a wearied Soule, Hvo, Edin. 1629. (Reprinted Edin. 17Is. Dedicated to lames, Marquis of Hamilton, &c.) 7, The Last Battell of the Soule in Death. Diuided into Eight Conferences, whereby are shewne the diuerse skirmishes that are betweeue the Soule of Man on his Death-bedde, and the enemies of our Saluation, 2 vols. 8vo, Edin. 1629. (Reprinted, Glasgow, 1831, two volumes in one.) H, Oratio Panegyrica, Ad Carolvin Maguse, Britannia?, Francise, et Hibern. Regcm DivincB vcritatis propugnatoran, habita a ZACHARIA BODIO, Glasguensis Ecclesiae Pastore, bora secunda pomeridiana in Kegia portion Ccenobii sancta crucis, 17 die lunii, 1633, pridie illius diei quo sacrum REGIS caput cinxit au- reum SCOTLE Di ADEMA. Regis ipsiusjussu pralo commissa, 4to, Edin. 1633. 9, The Balm of Gilead prepared for the Sicke. The whole is divided into 3 parts : 1 , The Sicke man's sore ; 2, The Sicke man's salve ; 3, The Sicke man's Song; Hvo, Edin. 1633. 10, The Song of Moses, in 6 parts, Hvo, Edin. 1635. (This is ascribed to Mr. Boyd, but published without his name.) 11, Four Letters of Comfortes for the Deaths of the Earle of Haddingtoune and the Lord Boyd, with two Epitaphs, Hvo, Glasgow, 1640. 12, The Battell of Newbvrne, where the Scots Armie obtained a notable victorie against the English Papists, Prelats, and Arminians, the 28 day of August 1640. The second edition, Hvo, Glasgow, 1643. 13, Crosses, Comforts, and Councels, needful to be considered, and carefully to be laid up, in the hearts of the Godly, in these boysterous broiles and bloody times, Hvo, Glasgow 1643, 14, The Garden of Zion, wherein the Life and Death of Godly and wicked men in the Scriptures arc; to be seene, from Adam unto the last of the Kings of ludah and Israel, with the good uses of their life and death, Hvo, Glasgow, 1644. 15, The Second Volume of the Garden of Zion, containing the Bookes of lob, Pro- verbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, all in English Verso, Hvo, Glasgow, 1644. 16, The Holie Songs of the Old and New Testament, dedicated to the Royall Lady Mary, his Majestie's eldest daughter, Princess of Orange, Hvo, Glasgow 1645. 17, The Psalms of David in Meeter, the third edition, 12mo, Glasgow 1646. 18, Verses prefixed to Boyd on the Ephesians, folio, Lon. 1652. 19, The Life of Robert Bovd, (mentioned bv Woodrow). ACCOMPT OF EXECIJTRY AND MOVABLE GOODS, &c. Jan*. 24, 1655. Accompt of Mr. Zachary Boid's Executry and Movable Goods, as the same was divided in two equall halfes, betwixt the Col- ledge and his relict ; besides his Bookes, which were left to the Colledge, and the household plenishing, which was left to his relict. Imprimis, Of byrun stipends owing- by the toun of Glasgow, preceding the crop 1653, - - ... Item, The stipend of the crop 1653, Item, One veer's annuell of eleven thousand merks, owing by liowallaud, Item, Bygou unnuels of the sum of five thousand merks, owing by tin Earle of Glencairn, Item, Two yeers' annuell of the sum of six thousand merks, owing by the Earle of Loudon, Suma totulis of the movables, Ib. 2198 0576 00 00 0440 00 00 0833 06 08 04.80 4527 00 06 00 08 CHARGE, Tnde the Colledge half is, - - - 2263 13 04 Of the sum of 2263"*- 13 s *- 4 d - the Colledge have received payment of the particulars hereafter mentioned. Imprimis, Half of the bygon stipends owing by the toun of Glasgow, Inde, - 1099 00 Item, Half of the stipend, crop 1653, Inde, ... 0288 00 Item, Half of the annuels, addebted by Howalland, Inde, 0220 00 Suma, - - - 1607 00 Payed -1- 1 =.* lQ sfl - Item, There rests owing by the Earle of Glencairne,041 6 13 Item, There rests owing by the Earle of Loudon, 0240 00 "Svrna, - - - 0656 13 DlSCHAKGK. Imprimis, Halfe of the expenses depursed in legall pursute, conform to an particular accompt, extending to 74 5 0. Inde the half is, 37 02 6 Item, To Mr. lohn Spreull, for his paines in attending and pursuing the payment of the bygon stipends, 66 03 4 Item, Half of an accompt owing by the defunct to lohn Luke, extending in whole to 6(i /l6 - 13 4. Inde the half is, 33 06 8 Item, Half of the pittie compts depursed by the relict, ex- tending in whole to 192' 1 "*- 6 8. Inde the half is, 96 03 4 Item, The legacies to Mr. Zachary his two servants, 36 00 Item, The legacies payed to Jonnet and Margaret Fleeming, to Catharin Vallance, and Mr. Zachary \Vilky, to each of them four, an hundreth merks. Inde., - - 266 13 4 Item, A bond of 400"*- to Glanderstoun, - 4 ()() 00 Item, Given by the Colledge, in composition to the Airs portioners of um lc Mr. Zacharie Boyd, for their good will, and entering Aires to corroborat the Col- ledge right, 666 13 o Item, Given to them for charges of the service and retoures, 030 00 4 Item, Given for annuell of 500 merks, from Whitsonday 1654 to Candlemas 1055, to Charles Hall, till his compo- sition w;is payed, conform to the Colledg'e band, - 015 (10 iv ACCOMPT OF EXECUTUY, &f. Memorandum, that the wliol is to repay -^ to the Colledge, the halfe of the above ( Snui, 164-7 02 6 mentioned 6G / 6 - ()3 sA - -\ d - given for Mr. l Ion. Spreules paines. NEATHER POLLOK RECTOR. PATRIK GILLESPIE, R. BAILIE, IO. YOUNG, IA. VETCH, PAT. YOUNG, STN. BURNET, GEO. SANCLAR. Whilk sounift of 1647'* 6 - 02 sA - OG rf - being deduced from the total of 22G3 W6 - 13*M d - ther rests GIG" 7 '- 10 sA - 10 d - free money, made of Mr. Zacharia's executrie, to be given in; when it shall be payed to lames Lees, together with the 33 lib - OG sA - S d - resting by the relict; in whole G49 W6 - !?** G d - which is to be charged upon the account of the money applyed to the wall building. Memorandum, that after * * of Mr. Zacharia's Discharges to the Erie of Glencairne, there will be resting by him only 825 W> - so that there is to deduced from the soume totall S lib - G sft - S rf - Inde, to be deduced of the Col- ledge halfe, 4 6 - 3 s ' 1 - 4 d - Printed from the original MS. in the Archives of the University. In " The Testament, Testamentar, and Inventar of the guidis, geir, debtis, and sowmess of money quhilkis pertenit to Vmquhill James, Archibischope of Glasgow, the tyme of his deceis, Quha deceist in the moneth of October, the yeir of God jm Vje threttie twa yeiris," there appears the following among the debts " awand out :" viz. In the first, " to Mr Johnue Bell, Mr Johnne Maxwell, and Mr Zachrie Boyd, Ministeris, for thair stipend the crop 1632 yeiris, Audit chalderis of malt, pryce of the boll vj li. vi* viii d - Item, To thame as ane part of thair stipendis the said yeir, audit chalderis of meill, pryce of the boll vli vj s> viij d - " Wishaufs Lanark, p. 151, Printed by the Mai t land Club. EXCERPTS FROM " THE FLO WERS OF ZION." * DAVID AND GOLIAH. [Contains about 850 lines.] THE SPEAKERS : 1. The Philistines, 2. Saul, 3. Jesse, 4. Da- vid, 5. The Israelites, 6. The Captaincs, 7. Eliab, 8. Goliah. # King Saul. Captaines, now receive from race instruction: Bee not enchain'd in gives of base subjection, To feare your foe and basely for to yeelde, Take courage now and bravely face the field. Why feare yee so, thus fisking in and out, Like those who of the Lord's protection doubt ? Feare not this man, who by his mouth profane Doth play the dog, and belch out with disdaine Against our God, and 'gainst his people all : When pride is greatest, swiftly doth it fall. This villain vile blasphemes, wo worth his hap, Hee is a Dcv'll, within a man his shape. Though he seemes strong, and sturdily doth goe, God will find some that will him ov'rthrow. See how he stands, in a most raging moode; Upon his beard of foame comes doun a flood, His mouth is frouthy, fury fills his face, He's like a horse, that's prancing in his place. His long black locks, hang shagged Satyres like, A doun his neck ; his bush beard floateth thick; His armes are brawnie, and all bristled are, Most hedge hog like, with wire instead of haire ; Like two fire brands his eyes they doe appear, With frowning face: he seemes theKing of feare. Yet, for all this wee will some courage tak, For all is lost if wee now turne the back ; Some Captaine stout will take this Duellin hand, If that from mee he shall this understand, That hee who shall this Philistine now slay, Shall by mee well rewarded bee this day. Yea, this I'le cause declare by trumpet's sound, If any shall in all the host be found, Who Israel shall of this great feare relieve, I'le unto him my daughter Michal ghe. The Captaines. The danger's great, though great be the reward; Men more their life then great rewards regard If any hope of vict'ry were in sight, For such rewards men gladly all would fight ; Where death is certaine, that man is not wise That on a venture dares so enterprise. The man's u gyant, of a stature tall, His onley weight would crush us, bones and all; Who looks on him may easily perceive, His very mouth capacious as a cave ; Upon his legs as pillars he doth goe ; Hee's like a steeple reeling to and fro ; Hee goes as he would all us overwhelme. A cypress tree doth wave upon his helme; His burnish'd harness, like a comet bright, All blazing bloody seemeth in our sight. H is lance a loome-beame, yea a mast most big, Which hee doth shake ev'n like an osier twig; Hiscoate of maile, the strength hard can carrie, Yea, its a burden to a Dromderrie ; His stormy voice is like the roaring thunder, When as the clouds most sulph'ry break asunder ; From top to toe hee's all in harness bright; What captaine darre, with such a gyant fight ? Great's the reward, yet no man darre appeare ; Wee love the prize, but none will win't so deare. Goliah. O beastly men of Isra'l, give yee eare: How long shall yee like cowards shake for feare ? Among you all is not a champion, That in this valley darre mee fight alone In single combat, that wee conclude Our variance now, by one man's onely blood? Is there not one among you that hath strength, With w horn I heere might cope now at the length? O fy for shame ! that none darre come me neare Where 1 defy ; like haires they flee for feare; With coats of brass they come, and caps of steele; While they should fight, anone they turne the heele. If yee not fight, why come yee to the field? Why are you arm'd? its best that now yee yeelde, And bee our servants as yee were before. Cast downe your armes, and so rcbcll no more : Fy, fy ! now great is Israel's disgrace, None darre mee meet, nor look mee in the face. * It is to be regretted th.'.f one of these volumes has sustained so ranch injury from damp as to be in very bad coalition, and what remains of it ought to be tpeedily transcribed, that it may not be entirely lost to the world. In the extracts taken from it * -* * will be occasionally found mixed with the prii'i >ng, to supply the place of words, in consequence of the MS. bring either deficient or obscure. Where these asterisks occur between passages in the text, uart of the subject has been omitted for the sake of brevity. EXCKKITS. Frcez'd minions all, most brave in vaunts and vows, Lions in Court, in Camps arc turn'd to Cows; Base cowards all, shall thus the day begone ? If yee not fight, why put yee armour on ? O that one were to buckle with me heere, Your mighty God less than yourselves I feare ; Come fourty, fifty, yea, come all of you, Yea, let your God come also with you now. fugitives who darre not turne the face, This day I shall you cover with disgrace ; And als your God, of whom yee greatly boast, For feare this day, hee hath left Isral's host. Fy, beastly men, who can not fight but fly, You and your God 1 doe this day defy ! Saul. My Soul abhorres to see this villaine lewd, Who like a Cyclop 'gainst the heav'ns hath spew'd Blasphemous words, which all the Skye defile, His words are all of a most uncouth stile. The Lord of Hoasts, I hope shall let us see, Tliis mouth blasphemous muzzled so to be, That it shall not be able more or lesse, Against our God such railings to expresse. But oh, alas! as yet I not perceive, That of my Captaines any courage have. ***** It is in vain that I entreat or threat, 1 scarce can three or four together get, Among us, none either will or can Now undertake to grapple with this man. His monstrous limbs when in the dust they thrust, Up in the Skyes they raise a cloud of dust ; No man hath courage, for our common weal, Gone from their breast, their hearts are to their heele. What shame, that this our so victorious host Should all be daunted with one pagan's boast ! This bragging fellow, for to work our shame, Will say, I came, I look'd, I overcame; 'Along all their worthies none durst undertak ; In panick (care they soon did turn the back. Chill'd with an ague, all unapt to fight; More sheep then men,soone put unto the flight. Yea more than this, that wee before him fly, Hee'le both us shame and will our God defy. Is heere no man for God to undertak ? What shame is it, that Israel turn the back ! Shall now this nation of so great renowne Thusbedestroy'd,ancisack't,andbatter'ddowne? Cheare up your hearts, our GOD'S a God of might, Feare not this man, that with his sword so bright Doth brandish thus; goe to, make no delayes, Who fisrhts for God, God will him crowne with bayes ; But if that so, those over us should reigne, Wee'le be their vassels or some baser thing. Will no man stir at such a villame's cryes, Who both our God and army als defyes? If men lor oiiglit should boldly undertake, It should bo for the great Jehovah's sake. My tare abhorri-s to heare how so he cryes, Ilis blasphemies doe fret the very skyes. Fv! what'sour fi-are? why Mand wee thus in awe? Who shall him fight shall br mv soime in law. The Captaines. Who darre unto this monster now draw neare ? Ev'n at his sight our hearts are squis'd with feare, And tremble ev'n as doth the aspen leafe ; Except the heav'ns us help there's no releefe. The King doth offer what a man could crave ; But w hen a man is brought unto his grave, Moulded in dust, what can such gifts availe, Thoughts of such dangers make our face grow pale. Saul offers much, the gift is great indeede. What boots a gift when once a man is dead ? The civik garland of greene oaken boughs, Thrice three times wreath'd about men's glorious brows, Allureth much unto some noble fact; But who darre now in such a danger act, 'Gainst this Colosse, so big, so fierce a foe? Hee seems some steeple reeling to and fro. His brazen cuirass none of us can carry, If hee come forward none of us will tary ; Hee at a stroake will grund us into powder. His loiiir black locks hang shagg'd udoune his shoulder. Wee for this Duell darre not now appearc. \\ ee wish the prize, but who will win't so dcare ? David. This monster's boast cooles Isral's cournge so, Within my breast it makes a rage to glow, Through all my veines J find a burning fire, To see how Captaines, that doe fight, for hire, llccoile in haste, like Haires, with trembiii.g feare, As soon as they doe see him drawing neare. Big looking Minions also, all make hast To turne their heeles ; the host is all agast. JEliab. Thou idle boy, thus vagueing here and there, Thou hast cast off, of these few sheep the care. Our father's flock : hast thou no more adoe, But 'mong the souldiers thus a wand'ring goe ? Thou hast not errand hither certainly ; But heere and there to look with wand'ring eyi 1 , Thou for the sheepe cares neither more nor lesse ; I know the pride and als the naughtiness, That from thy youth have ever beene in tht-e, For thou art come the Battell for to see. A faithfull sheppard, still his flock among, Them guides, them guards, and doih them lead along The pastures greene, where they may eate their fill, And be refresl/d beside the waters -.till. David Why are yon wroth, liy kindled are your eyes ? Oh that wee hnmb'ied could, with dust) knies. Call on the Lord in such -\ troubiciis time ! My comming hither surely is no cnine. Why rage yee thus, O yee, my l-rother est roddes, I scorn to fight at so unsightly oddes, As with a shepheard to the Duell go, And now myselfe will not disparage so. -Hut if so bee that thou wilt persevere, And in the presence of all Is'ral heere Mee still provoke, sure 1 will not thee .spare; But with thy Hesh give to the fowles ol'aire, And to the beasts that are upon the field, Its best in time that unto mee thou yeelde. Before that thou be scourged with my roddes, Now cursed bee thou, cv'n by all my Gods. ***** I thought to spare this Pigmcc base, yea nought, Piece of a man, who foolishly hath sought To grapple with one that is not his match, A warriour strong, who can him quickly catch And rent in pieces, as a Hawke a Dove, If 'trainst him he his strength could once improve. But sith it's so, that you will not forbcarc, March on, thy match lie is the King of feare ; (Your God) commands hi-, ark, bin I the earth, I challenge linn, su- if he d.uic cnu- IVjinth. Saul. This fight it scein'd as when in Summer ev'r, A Galley and Carague, do cope together ; The one strikes quick, the other vercs as slow, Larboard and starboard from the poop to prow, Thence on the wind, and by hcroares the other, Goe to and fro, and whiles doc choak together. The little boy about the gyant, light Both forward, backward, to the left and right, Both in and out, he slept, he stopt, he stretch'*!, And whiles recoil'd, whiles forward als hereach'd; He stoutly active did himself adventure Against this gyant in a fierce rencounter. Behold he comes unto us now with speede, And in his hand he heares the monster's head. THE HISTORIE OF JONAH. [Contains about 1130 lines.] THE SPEAKERS: 1. The Lord. 2. Jonah. 3. The Skipmatter. 4. The Sailors. 5. The King of Ninivt: 6. The Men of ftinive. # # # * # Jonah, Its best I think that I myself bedight, With what will fit me for a hasty flight ; As I resolve I'le here no longer stay, I'le ship myself to seeke another way ; I'le skulk the place where God hath sent me to, For Nineve I will to Tarshish goe ; I'le change my gowrie now fora shipman's weede, And from the Lord will flee away with speede To Joppa, where I mind to goe aboord. That 1 may flee the presence of the Lord. Loe here in Joppa, at my coining hither, I see a ship strong to abide the weather; As I perceive to saile they ready are, Most willingly I'le pay thereof I he fare. I see the sailors drinking parting cup, When that is done the sailes they will hoist up Now all's aboord, the anchors they doe way, The Keele begins the Rudder to obey ; Wee leave the key beyond us at our back, There's great appearance vve'le good voyage mak; No storme there is but a sweet gentle gale, Which makes the canvas of our sailes to swell ; * * * * * glide along the shore, Where winds will serve there is no need of oarc ; Her motions nimble she outstrips the tide, Out braves the billowe.-, and on winds doth ride ; She plies th.it course her compasse sets her on, If thus we saile we'le Tarshish gaine anonc. The Lord. It is my mind to suffer for a space, That seas lie cahne and lhat the winds do ecu A ; I'le let the Mainsaile llap against the yard, So that no use of Compasse or of Can! Be for a space, thai wlu-n the storm shall bio A So Mid-lcnly, tin sailui.i then may know That Heav'ns in "i.ith against some 1 wick-- sinner EXCERPTS. That is aboord the ship, and lurketh in her. () yee, my winds, who hitherto your course Have barred in, break out with all your force, To * know my wrath is kindled hot Make (seas) to swell even like a seething pot; Blow hard * * to hells they down be driven, And * * * * up to the very Heaven. The Shipmaster. What meanes this work, we had a gentle calme, And now wee're quash'd, and by a sudden * An houre agoe of compasse and of card Wee had no use, but still against the yard The flagging mainsaile flapt, but now at last The angry heavens do blow a wrathfull blast ; The winds before had barred in their course, And now at length break out with stronger force; Like one who in at first his breath doth draw, That out againe he may it stronger blow ; While from the top mast I the heavens espy, And see how sudden darken'd is the sky With gloomy clouds, and see our ship so driven, I tokens see of a provoked Heaven. The Mist grows thick, wee see not lesse or more, If wee be farre or neare unto the shore ; Our Rudder fails, our ship's at random driven, All is obscured, wee scarse see, sea or heaven. Ho ! sailors, see if you can land discern, I'le endeavour for to hold fast the Sterne; Let. each one know his place as I command, At fore deck some, at hin deck some must stand. '1 he tacklings broken, riv'n is the rnainsaile, The sea doth roar, the surges up doc swell; And which is worse, as I do understand, The force of seas hath broke the Rudder band; Except this storme anone begin to slack, Wee cannot faile, but shipwrack we will mak. ***** Our skill doth faile, we work in vaine this clay, Sith strength and skill us faile, its best to pray, And cry unto our God : let ev'ry man Cry to his God and do the best he can. If one will not, perhaps another will, If one not know another may have skill ; Among the gods, as wee instructed bee, Some rule the land, and some command the sea. Yet for all this, all darkens still about, VVe'le light the burden, and the wares cast out; Spare not for price, cast out of every sort, VVho can this bee who I heare highly snort. 1 see a man that's in the lower duck, Hard fast asleepe not fearing storm nor led :; I with my fist will thump him on the brest, And rouze this sluggard from his uncouth rest. () how this beast my heart it doth disdaine ! Though I him jog and shake its all in vaine ; If he not snor'd 1 sure would think him dead, For all our cryes he stirres not foot nor head. Unto this fellow yet again I'le goe, And with my hand will give a shrug or two, Till I him pull and ti:g him breast and back, Nothing but feare will cause this man awake. While thus uiul thus I have even thumped him, I lee but begins for to draw up a linirne, And stretch an anne, and open ti|> his eye, As when at first wee men doe vvak'ning see- What meaii'st, thou sleeper, hast lliou net at all A God on whom thon uscst for to rail When troubles come ? arise, and seeke releefe, In open ruine on the rocks of griefe. * * * * * With floods of teares all blubbered are our eyes, Yet all our gods are deafe to these our cries ; It likely is, that untill they be pleas'd, Cry what wee will, wee never will be eas'd ; But at the last their wrath with great disdaine, Upon some rocks will split our ship in twaine ; There must be heere the cause of all our griefe Some Atheist Dog some halter Now cast the lots that wee among us all, May know for whom this trouble doth befall. As wee desir'd, the Pilot he hath done, The lot wee see is Jonah fallen upon ; Wee hope the winds theirbellowing will asswage, And that wee guiltlesse will escape their rage; Sith wee have found the man that is the cause Of all these surges, and most fearfull flaws. The Sailors. ***** Goe to, goe to, thou wretch, and tell us soon What is that fault so foule that thou hast done ; Reveale the whole that wee may understand, Both what thou art and also in what land Thou hast been bred, and what is this that thus Hath moved thee to come aboord with us. Jona/t. [ am a man come of the Hebrew nation, [ am a prophet that's my occupation ; [ feare the Lord, the God of heav'n, most hy, Who made the Sea, and als the Land that's dry : Hee with his word mee sent to Ninive. But from his presence I in feare doe flie, And mind for Tarshish 'gainst the Lord':, command. ?or me therefore he hath lift up his hand, kVhich makes the surges froathy for to swell, Whiles up to heav'n, and whiles wee goe to hell. The Sailors. With divers thoughts our troubled * fill'd, In great distrcsse as with ane ague chill'd ; Fy, shall a prophet by us sailors dye, Shall wee be Actors of his Tragedy ? Shall wee be men to throw a prophet ilownc. Into this gulf where hce must surely drowne ' Wee'le yet essay by toilc to win the shore. What can this beat, the sea boiles more and more ; Wee strive in vaine, our hearts begin to quailc, For want of rest our bodies faint and faile. V\ ec see those seas which furious so arise, Will not be pleased but with this sacrifice. There's no refuge, wee must obey the lot, This man must die, if that wee perish not. Wee cannot beare the burden of his guilt, Xor pay the price of blood that must be spill Sitli from the heavens given foorth is the decree Wee ministers must ot God's justice be. * * * * * The winds not tyre, but still doe louder blew, And prouder .surges still us ovei flow ; Lay to your arms and help in haste afl'ord. This Jonah take, and r;ist him over Sioni : EX( F.RPTS. As wee perceive no other meanes wee see, That raging seas may calmc and quiet bee. Now over boord he thrown is by and by, Where in the waters lie doth sprawling ly ; There Jonah is, God's wrath for to appease, Ov'r head and cares, downe soused in the seas. But what is that, that neere him wee doe see, Like to a Tower, thus wambling on the Sea: A monster great the Leviathan strong, With beame-like jawes, which followcs him along. A little space the whale did * * * To waste his time, but in a * * * Hec wheel'd about, and * * * * * The living man he buried Jonah. I did rebell ; heere is my day of doome, Feasts dainty seeme untill the reck'ning come; Alas ! too late, it now repenteth mee, That I refused to go to Ninive. I thought to lurk, but now my miseries Me clearly tell, God hath n rivalled eyes, And that hee will o'ertake them by and by, Whoe'er they bee that from his face doe fly. I understood that God was good and kind, But mongrell thoughts with foly pierc'd ray mind. Here apprehended I in prison ly, What goods will ransom my captivity? What house is this, where's neither fire nor candle, Where I nothing but guts of fishes handle ? I and my table are both heere within, Where day ne'er dawn'd, where sun did never shine. The like of this on earth man never saw, A living man within a monster's maw ; Buried under mountains which are high and steep. Plung'd under waters hundreth fathomes deep. Not so was Noah in his house of tree, For through a window hee the light did see ; Hee sail'd above the highest waves a wonder, I and my boat arc all the waters under ; Hee in his ark might go and also come, But I sit still in* such a strait'ned roome As is most uncouth, head and feet together Among such grease, as would a thousand smother. I find no way now for my shrinking hence, But heere to lye and die for mine offence ; Eight pris'ners were in Noah's hulk together, Comfortable they were each one to other. In all the earth like unto mee is none, Farre from all living I heere lye alone; Where I cntomb'd in melancholy sink, Choak't sufTocat with excremental stink. This grieves me most, that I for grievous sin, Incarc-'rd ly within this floating In ; Within this cave my heart with griefe is gall'd, Lord heare the sighes from my hearts centre hal'd; Thou know'st how long 1 have been in this womb, A living man, within a living tomb. Oh, what a lodging ! wilt thou in these vaults, As in a Hell most dark correct my faults ; 1 neither kno when day doth shine, or night Comes for my rest, I'm so depriv'd of sight; Though that the judgement's uncouth sure, I share, I of God's goodncsse never will despaire ; I'le turn to him, and in those words will pray Within this whale ; what God indits I'le say. * # # * # Jonah. Its best that I out of this city part, To ease my sore oppres't and heavy heart ; What God hath said I hardly can believe, Can hee so threaten, and so soone forgive '/ Can hee revoke his sentence, and so soone, As voide of might, leave what he saith undone ? I'le build a booth without the cities gate, And there I'le waite till be expired the date Of forty days, that 1 may clearly see What shall befall unto this Ninive. On th' Esterne side heere is a pleasant greene, Where at one sight the city may be scene ; I'le branches cut and leavie boughs, which may Mee ov'rshadow, lest the burning ray That from the sun comes with a scorching heate, Without a shadow on my head should beate ; There I will sit untill at last I see, What shall become of sinfull Ninive. The Lord. This slender booth of boughs by Jonah made, By parching heate is withered ev'ry blade ; The greenest leaves to dust now crumbled lye, Leaves lose their shadow when as they goe dry, Now by the strength of my Almighty word, For Jonah's head I will prepare a gourd, Whose leaves most broad on all sides may lye over, And with their shadow Jonah closely cover. Jonah. O happy gourd ! which, timcous in my neede, Is so sprung up to cover now my head In such a season, when the sweeteing heate Hath spoil'd my booth, and on my head doth beate. Those leaves have sap, and lye right close together, No scorching sunne will make you for to wither ; O what a pleasure will those leaves afford, Which spread so faire from such a pleasant gourd ; For divers reasons I was very sad, But now I am become exceeding glad. In any place, it rarely hath beene scene, A gourd with leaves made in one night so greene. Sprang up so high to give my sense delight, Its colour greene, doth much refresh my sight ; Now heere Flc sit, most willing, till I see What .shall become of godlesse Ninive. The Lord. Ileere Jonah joyes, and thinketh that hee will Enjoye his gourd, and that it will be still Greeiie leaved all, his pleasures to maintainc. Not knowing that all earthly things are vainc ; And feeble folies which doe passe away, As doth the beautv of a summer day. 1'le make a worme, which on his gourd shall fall, Which shall it smite, and it shall wither all. To doe the same 1 will not long delay ; But untill morne that springs the light of day. Jonah. I thought I was from all my troubles eas'd, Alas ! how soone are all my joyes diceas'd ; My gourd is slaine : the sunnes consuming ray Hath crumbled it to dust, and dy'd away. It was my pleasure ; 1 delighted in it, And now all's gone, and perish'd in a minut. Things most wee prize, are oft on sudden lost, What most wee trust, it oft deceives us most. But what is worse, most troublesome I find, There doth arise a vehement Easte wind ; And with the same, the sunne with scorching heate, More then before upon my head doth beate; If this continue, head and heart will rive, Far better it's for mee to dye than live. The Lord. What says ! thou Jonah ; art thou miscontent, Thy cruse of joy is it already spent? And nothing left but a displeased mind, Which is still seeking what it cannot find ? Is this a matter that a prophet yee, Should for a weede in such an anger bee ? To thee its little, that I heere doe lye, Without a shade, scorch'd with a sweltering skye; W T hy dost thou ask, what thou thyselfe canst tell ? I'le not deny, 1 think that 1 doe well For to be angry, even unto the death, For many reasons, kindled is my wrath. The Lord. What mean'st thou man, such murmurings so to make, And on a weede compassion such to take; Whose seede thou with thy hand did never sow, Nor know'st the way that it on earth doth grow? Hath such a plant compassion in thy sight, Which from the earth did spring up in a night, And in another withered quite away? Is this it, which stirres so thy wrath to-day? silly man ! hast thou such carking care Within thy heart, a number of leaves to spare ? And should not I have reason to have pity, To bring to mine such a mighty city, AVherein are more than six score thousand people That are so young, and void are of all That by no meanes they able are to learne The right hand from the left for to discerne ? Should I subvert so many infants so, With beasts and cattell numberlesse also; If at my beame of justice I should weigh Men's works, I should the race of mankind slay. J'm merciful!, I am compassionate. Far bee't from me to raze so brave a state, And in my wrath to bring to desolation A city such, which may be call'd a nation. Sith that to me they humbly bow the knee, 1 yet will spare the towne of Ninive. THE HISTORIE OF SAMSON. [Contains about 2100 lines.] THE SPEAKERS : 1. The Lord. 2. The Angel. 3. Manoah. 4. Manoatis Wife. 5. Samso7i. 6. The Philistines. 7. Samson s Bride. 8. Sam- son's Father-in-law. 9- The Men of Judah. 10. The Gazites Neighbours. 11. The Gazites. 12. Delilah. 13. The Lordt of the Philistines. Angel. In Zorah I doe know a certaine man Of Israel's seed, and of the tribe of Dan, Because that hee no children hath at a//, Hee's made to bee a sporting tenice ball ; To honest minds reproach is painful ever, It turns an ague to a burning fever. His wife, while she heares such reproaches rude, Laments her case in a most mourning moode. To speak the truth, she is of greatest worth, She in her griefe oft prayers doth powre foorth ; She's not like those who with a foolish shew, With painting vile doe spoile their native hue. She cares not for those loose and light attires, Which open doores to petty vaine desires ; She not with drugs adulterates her face, Like those who doe adulterers embrace. Some men may say our wines spend all wee have. And all their lime in pranking proudly brave. But shee is modest, humble, curtesse, wise, Her husband is for cov'ring of her eyes; She's truly godly of a heav'nlie mind. I oft in secret, her at her pray'rs find, With pond'rous words come from a broken soule, As though her sinneswere writ in ample scroulle. Ev'n as the sunne when in diameter, Earth's interpos'd betweene the sunue and her Ecclipsed is, and is disrobed quite By that black shadow, of her borrow'd lyght; So carking cares with sorrowes shadow her, Ecclipse the lights that from the heavens appeare, To shine on men their mourning to comfort This grieved woman is one of that sort. I vvill goe doune unto her, by and by With loving words I'le cleare her cloudy sky. Ho ! Manoah's wife I willing come to thee, Whom 1 so modest and so humble see ; Not like vain women, who have greatest speede To curl the cockers of their friz led head. The diamonds dance in their haire as spangles, As pearly dew that on the branches dangles ; Though they bee base they'le counterfeit the queen e, In rich gold tissue on a ground of greene ; Where heere and there, the shuttle doth encheck The changeant colour of a Mallard's neck ; The pearles and rubies, they are set out A doun their robes, with fringe of gold about ; They are so vaine, each part of them descries, That cost and cunning strive to get the prize. But thou art humble ; in thy modest face Doth meekness shew, and in thy heart is grace; c Not like those women, who have still them by The vile fard boxes of hypocrisy. Nor, like to those whose wily waxen mind Takes ev'ry seale, and sailcs with ev'ry wind ; Unconstant, like to the Cameleon, Who of each object takes the colours on. 1 for thy pood doe unto thcc appeare. Sith thou art barren, and thou dost not beare, Take this from inee, this shall be shortly done, Thoushalt conceivc.and thou shaltbeare asonne * ' * * * Samson. God's spirit at times begins my heart to move, Ev'n in the camp of Dan, which I doe love, 'Twixt Zorali and Estaol ; this I feele It seemes to bee for Israel's commonweale. Now its my mind to Timnah downe to goe, And view that place, and see if so and so Things goe apace,which may mee comfort bring. And to the land, I seeke no other thing. But who is this that comes before mine eye, 1 heere in Timnah doe a woman see, Whose face with beauty kindleth my desire. While I her see, Love me inHammes with (ire. Upon her haire the glist'ring golden spangle With pearles and rubies, diamonds doe dangle ; The like of her mine eyes did never see, An Imp of glory she does seem to bee. No ornament she needs, that in my sight The gold or pearles may bolster up delight, Mee to invite her pleasant face to love ; Her face itself sufficient is to move Without all help, to kindle mine affection. Against this flamme 1 know not a protection but ev'n herself; this is my choicest joye That I her beauties may at last enjoye; She's like a rose bud passing all the rest, Within her bosom is a lily breast. Yet for a space 1'le lay my love aside, for greene advisements are not fit to guide Things of great weight : I will incontinent My father, mother, with the same acquent ; I hope they'le not from mee the same disswade, Though 1 doe fancy a Pliilistian maid. My parents deare, my childhood's ov'rgrowne, Aud of my youth the blossomes fully blown ; My vigours strong ; I hope you'le not disswade, Though I doe favour a 1'hilistian maid. UnpaUern'd beauty lodging in her face, The like of her is not in all this place ; Her love my heart inflameth so, that I In grief am made close prisoner to her eye. * * * now, but I must discover, * * * that I'm a wounded lover. Oh ! that it were w ithin your heart to prove As prone to pity, as I am to love That virgin faire ; t' exchange my single life It's my desire : oh that she were my wife ! If well you look, you easilie may descrie, A speaking lover in his sparkling eye ; If you refuse this, I'll resolve you more, I'le ship wracke make, for rocks are near the shore. Love as I see makes strongest men to droope, And them to serve that never yet could stoope ; Love's not like lust, which as soon as its spended, Fooith with the pleasure and contentments ended. My love encreascth daily more and more, 1 would be glad she were my wife therefor. I'm not like those that marry but for pelf. No not, I her would marry for herself; I'm sicke of love, behold my port and puise, My bloodlesse cheeks, and deadnesse of mine eyes. Manoah. Take heed, my sonne, beware lest such deceit* Thee gull with glances of such golden baits ; Thou hast not yet attain'd to full perfection Of ripen'd years, the prime of thy affection. My Samson deare, 1 tender much your well, My counsell is that you suspend a while And not goe on, you shall at last this find That such a marriage torture shall your mind. It's but for beauty you so frolick are, If you goe on you'le fall into a snare; 'Mong 1'hilistines you know there is no grace, Why will you marry one of wicked race ? Uncircumcis'd, without God's covenant borne, A foolish girle come of a clan forlorne. How is't that so bewitched is your mind, That in Isra'l a match thou canst not find ; But must for beauty goe to seek a nothing, Which will at last prove unto us a loathing. My sonne in time take counsell and beware, Lest you be caught in a Pliilistian snare; Thy passion's thwarting that thou'lt not submit Unto our counsell, who doe think it fit, That thou with one of Israel's maids thy life Live in God's feare, and take her for thy wife. Samson, Love's like the taste,which isnotrul'd by reason, One sort of meat is not for all in season ; Some appetits doe change at ev'ry houre, Some love the sweete, and some doe love the sow re ; Some only doe for women's bounty match, Some spirits there bee whom beauty soone doth catch. As for this maid, though Philistine she bee, I see no wife so fit as her for mee ; Now get her for mee, for she doth excell Among all objects; she mee pleaseth well. My father and my mother as 1 see, Not understand what is design'd by mee ; It's of the Lord that I seek this occasion 'Gainst Philistines, who now- by no persuasion Will unto us our liberties restore ; But with hard reines doe reigne still Isra'l o're And them oppress; thus bitter griefes doe gaule them, Which night and day, without all cease inthrall them. Samson's Jlriile. All worldly pleasures are hut painted joyes. Wee spend our time in triffles and in toyes; While as wee think perfect's our happmesse, And that hencefoorth it never will grow lesse, And that all griefe for ever is debarr'd, \none wee see that all our mirth is marr'd. EXCERPTS. When I at first took Samson by the hand, To bee my match, he made mee understand That what hee said, I could not wish and want That I not seeke could, what hee would not grant But as I see of men such are the wayes, Their Jove to women, fierce and fierce, betrays Fair promises they at the first doe mak, And afterwards to doe, they are too slack. My Samson deare, why is it that you so Obscurely deal, and will not let mee kno What means your riddle ? what is in your mind That you of mee the love your back behind Should cast, so soone as bridall feast be ended ? Samson. At the first, when as she was my bride, I did perceive great tokens of her pride : She would be mistresse, and have all her will. Such liberty doth oft a woman spill ; Ev'n families doe live most unrouly lives Base crouching husbands, and commanding wives. Four things I hate, and never could endure ; These are the four ; they are most naughty sure: Commanding wives, and base commanded men, A cock that's silent, and a crowing hen. As yet I will not know how things are past ; Oft wronged husbands, ever are the last That get the newes of what their wives have done; Yea, when they know, they thinke it oft too soone. While as I think what in the riddle past, I may conjecture that she was not fast. The Philistines. O Philistines ! good newes; lift up your voice In songs of mirth ; now time is to rejoice: Wee see the Samson, captain in their land Fast coming hither, as wee did command. Lest that he should, through speed, have from them past, His wristes are bound, and he is fetter'd fast. Hee's like a Fox that's taken in a snare. This day our Dagon for us well doth care : Hee hath us freed from many fearfull woes. Man then is glad when well his market goes. Samson. Deare Delilah, the subject of my joye, I floe abhorre that dumpish grief an noye, Thine troubled heart, where love's to me so sound. Farre bee't from mee in you to make a wound. My heart is prob't ; 1 have no art to borrowe A needlesse help, to counterfeit my sorrowe ; To see you griev'd, whose smiles 1 oft did find Delicious Juleps to my troubled mind. The beames ol beauty, streaming from your eye So strain my heart, that I cannot deny To blaze to you, what secret was before, My love to you grows daily more and more ; By day my thoughts are on you, and by night, When broken slumber* make me long for li^ht, i I with your love am so inflamm'd, that I Am now become close pris'ner to your eye. Love in your words so daily cry'd mee hath, That this my soule is vexed unto death. Deare Delilah, then bee no more * * * Wrongs done before, they shall be now amended; Sith that so often you have made request, I'le speake no more but with an open breast, I to thy tiust most freely will impart My life, and all the secrets of my heart. Knowe this, that 1 a Nazarite was borne, And since that time my locks were never shorne ; If I bee shav'n, then clearly all will see, That this my strength will quickly goe from rnee; This is the truth ; if this were done, O then Thy Samson should be weak as other men. Delilah. Goe hide yourselves, and I my time will tak, As I indented so I'le undertak. Where is my Samson ? when I heare his name My maiden blushes cov'r my face with shame ; Those who are lovers and in love expert, Thinke not it best that maidens should be pert. Now, from the fields him comming I doe see, By his slow pace he wearied seemes to bee. Now, welcome home, where have yee beene this day, It's not your use to be so long away. Samson. Vly spirit was sad ; the day did me adjourn Upon the fields that I could not returne : The aire so deare, and birds melodious, Did mee withhold from comming to your house. L up and downe did wander heere and there, For to refresh mee with a wholesome aire; Vly limmes are wearied, and a sadnesse deep Doth seize my heart, I'm like to nod asleep. Delilah. My Samson deare come hither unto mee, Lay softly downe thy head upon my knee ; t is the place of others all the best, rVhere Samson would desire to take his rest. She knows not love, or is a lover weak, f any can find in her love a leak As vessels have, which old unseason'd are : ^rotri such conceits my thoughts are very farre; Lhis thou hast knowne, and dayly it doth provo That Delilah is constant in her love. Samsim. Sith it's your will, that on your knee I rest t's also mine, and I doe think it best ; am so wearied, that I must with speede "Jpon your knee most soft, lay downe mine head. ieepe quiet all, that nothing from abroad, )r from within, come for to break my nod ; think this houre hath brought to mee good hap, That I my head have pillow'd on thy lap. Delilah. [he lap is mine ; the favour is to mee, That such an hrad should rest upon my knee. XVI EXCERPTS. Which I may cocker, and most quiet kecpe Untill that thou be lulled fast asleep. Now, sith that hee in sleepe begins to snort, It's time that I begin to play the sport. Come hither lad, and that with all thy speede, Sev'n locks of haire shave thou from off his head. Ho ! Samson wake, awake ! make haste anone, The Philistines are comming thee upon. Samson. Where are those men ? are now the cowards neare, They'le flee like haires as soon as I appear ; I neede no sword, but only shew my face, Looks of mine eye will thousands of them chace. 1 will goe out, and I myself will shake, As I before at other times did make Them tremble all ; as oft they have had trial), Their wounds are witnesse "gainst their whole denial). Now Philistines come out if yee be men. Why skulk you thus as beasts within a den ; A trembling fever is within your breast, Lest that yee rouze a Lyon from his rest. The Philistines. Thy froathy words doe not our hearts affright, With clipped head, als clipped is your might ; Thou art but lead, for heav'ns have not conjoin 'd So strong a body with so stout a mind. Sith thou art author of our miseries, Before thou dye wee will put out thine eyes. Now Samson's blind, O what a joyfull thing! Wee will anone to Gaza doune him bring; With bands of brasse wee will him straitly bind, And after that in prison cause him grind. O Philistines behold this man and wonder ! This, this, is hee who with his arm did thunder On Askelon our city, where his pow'r Was such, that he slew hundreths in an houre. This is the man, who by a conjuring hand, Thrash'tdouncourmen, and wasted all our land. This is the man who beeing his alone, Mow'd doune a thousand with an asse's bone. This is the man whose wrists did break with speede, Strong withes like flax, and twined ropes like threed. This is the man, who in the open way, Did on his head a web als beare away, Wove with his locks ; though that the same hac bin By Delilah well fast'ned with a pin. This is hee who unhinged Gaza's gates, And on his back them bare, with barres anc grates; The only Captaine that all Israel had, Hee's comfortless and now his case is bad, Turn'd a mill horse, made altogether blind ; For all his life appointed for to grind, And for his paines must have no other hire But twisted cords, and torturing whips of wire. Now there hee is untill that Death bereave him Of his last breath his griefs shall never leave him. There stands the Captaine, who hath holes for eyes, A just reward for nil our miseries ; Hee bawls for help, no help at all hee'le find, Hee must till death within this mill-house grind. This day a pillar's fallen, that did support The chiefest rafter of their Zion's court. Sam ion. I have been foolish, this I doe confesse, Lord thou know'st my doings more and lesse ; While I awoke I found mvself dishearted, But wist not that God's Spirit from me departed. His absence, as I found the same at length, Mee weaken'd thus, and mee depriv'd of strength. 1 thought, at first, that I myself would shake As I was wont, but oh ! I was so weak That I could not then grapple with the least Of Philistines ; who now doe like a beast Mee make to grind to satisfy their lust, To see mee heere all overlaid with dust. The Lord indeede for my most lustful) eyes, Hee on mee hath brought all these miseries; By instance oft he punisheth a sin, In the same member that he finds it in. If thou for sin each member that's in mee Should punish Lord, what member should be free? My bygone faults, they hence shall never please mee, Now I repent, I hope thy help shall ease mee; If I but heere a little space remain, My haire will grow, and strength will come againe. The Lords of the Philistines. Long time is past since Samson lost his eyes, Who by his strength brought great calamities Upon our Land, where thousands he did kill; Now belly blind he grinds within our mill, As doth a beast who'll trouble us ro more, Wee'le unto Dagon sacrifice therefore; Unto his house with gentry wee'le resort, And als with those that are of' courtly sort, That wee to him for his deliv'rance may, With sacrifice now solemnize this day, And make good cheer, till with the frolick cup, Wee rouse and raise our merry spirits up. Let all heere learn that it is but a rage. With infidels to yoke in marriage; Men should beware and watch attentively, And wisely make a covenant with their eye. Lest among women into snares they fall, Whereby they losse their goods, their life, and all. Of sin the wages death is * * Which should give warning unto men, and they To watch and pray; for soone the day will come, Wherein the Judge of cv'ry man will summe, The severall Items of his sinnes each one, And take a reck'ning what each man hath done. If men, like Samson with a glancing eye, Court Delilahs, and with them Wantonly Mispcnd their time in foolish idle toyes. Times will come after that will end their joyes. KXCERPTS. Hence learne how Samson sinn'd with lust- ful eyes, Which were made blind, cause God oft in justice punisheth a sin In the same member that he finds it in. No man shall sin, but he shall find a crosse, Some sullen care, or else some sudden losse ; Hence learne also, that those have cause of feare Who humme their secrets in a woman's ear. To feare the Lord, and serve him as wee can, It surely is the highest pitch of man ; Hee's happy who God's will so well observes, That ev'n his look him for a lesson serves. THE HISTORIE OF JEPHTA. [Contains about 720 lines.] THE SPEAKERS: 1. GUead. 2. Gilead's Wife. 3. Gilcnd's Sonnes. 4. Jephta. 5. Vaine Mai. 6. The Ammonites. 7- Israel. 8. The Messengers of Israel. 9. The King of Amman. 10. The Messengers of Jephta. 11. The Captaines of Aminon. 12. The Captaines of Israel. 13. Jephta s Daughter. GUead. I'm cross'd to see within my family. Such warres, debates, which are so frequently 'Twist Jephta and his brethren, who abhorre To see that hee bee lodg'd within my dore. They cannot suffer him to have a place Within my house who is of bastard race. I often see how from their gogle eyes Despight, contempt, ev'n as a lyghtning flies; Impatiently, ev'ry one against him fomes, A foolish fury in their bosom roames. Gilead's Wife. For most the bastards are intolerable, A sinfull seed to God abominable; I doe abhorr't, it is against my heart That with our children hee have lot or pait. An ill example eas'ly twists and winds Into the breasts of youth, and fastly binds Those who engage, with man in company That are profane ; and doe most lavishly Mispend their time in triffles and on toyes: This youth is not for tarrying with our boyes, Hee frueths, allures, suggests, and in conclusion Hee'le be a pander unto their confusion. GUead. The youth as yet has not experience, There bee some ov'rsight, and some negligence In his miscarriage ; it may bee with time Hee mend such faults, and keepe him free of crime; That youth be wise, it is a thing most rare, Though whiles they faile, wee must not then despair?. Gilt-ad's Wife. 1 wish our house bee not a house of strife, Who lives with bastards lives a troubled life , My sad complaint not enters in your eares, Though from mine eyes, fall down distilling teares, My silent pleaders, both by day and night ; Before I strive, I'le rather yeild my right. * * * * * Jephta's Daughter. ***** I once was high, how lowe is brought my saile, Where with my fellows now, I must bewaile My dayes of griefe for my virginity, Which is the cause that Jephta now doth ly In sackcloth mourning, grievously tormented, While heere my state by virgins is lamented. Sith I a virgin must abide alwayes, I knowe not what will sweeten out his dayes ; No comfort now hee hath from what is mine, God's grace can turne his water into wine; The peerlesse treasure also of his grace, Can dry the sorrowes of his hand-maid's face. The dayes that were appointed for to mournc Are now expir'd ; I will againe returne Unto my father ; Oh Lord tune my tongue With wordes of comfort while I goe along, Him for to spare, for this doth break my heart, While I think how his mind for mee will smart. When set apart for my virginity, Hee then of hope of all posterity Shall be depriv'd, till ended be his yeares; This day and night beblurres my cheeks with teares. I saw my father once a lovely man, Now crouched downe, his face is pale and wan; Deare father I'm return'd to you againe As I did bargaine; let not griefe or paine Afflict your mind, our God is good and wise. Judge not his secrets with censorious eyes, His cord must guide you, lest your pinnace run Upon one rock, while you another shunne. I am like water, the more hard you straine mee And gripe your hand, the lesse you doe retaine mee. So are all things that wee possesse on earth, They should us teach to seeke the things of worth; in the heav'ns have a most sure abode, For perfect joye is in the face of God. Now father deare, I heere come to your hand, For to obey as you shall mee command. THE FLOOD OF NOAH. [Contains about 860 lines ] THE SPEAKERS: 1. The Lord. 2. Aon/;. 3. J\ r oah's Wife. 4. Sent. ~>. Cham. 6. Jajihet. 1. Thf Scorners. As Cham hath said, it surely seeuics much better That many wrights conveened bee together, With diverse others; that .some may with slight Give help, and others with their strength and might. H KXCKRPT*. Strong nimble hands must at the work still batter, Before our Barge be ready for the water. Wee should make haste, while as the streames but purl. For when the flood shall come, and quickly hurl Ov'r hills and mountains in a fearfull rage, Wc'le have no time then for to build our Barge ; Swift swallows shall with wearied wings fall downe, For want of earth, both men and fowles shall drowne. Noah. Goe quickly, Sem, with all your companie. Fell downe those firs, which growing heere you see, Upon high hills, which look downe to the east. Cham runne thou west; and Japhet of all least, Seeke to the south, and oakes and ashes hew, And elmes and pines, and cedars not a few With sawes divide; get wimbles for to boare, And nailes and pinnes, you must have in great store. What needfull is, I shall to you reveale Ev'n from the fore deck to the hindmost keele, 1 shall you teach that you may well discern, To build our Gallion with itsstemme and sterne. Planks of such sort, see that yee well remark, Which best will fit the belly of the Ark, And bottom als ; look and consider well, An oaken beame whereof to make a keele. Of timber als, prepare a massy lump, Which you shall bore thereof to make a pump, That if by leeks, the waters by and by, Flow in our boat it may anone be dry. Wee neede not feare to saile ov'r mountains farre, For God shall be our Steersman, and our Starre, And Compasse als; yea more, he shall not faile To guide all gales, and bee for Mast and Saile. He through all dangers shall us safely drag, And will set ov'r us, as a Royal flag, Some signe of love ; which plainly shall declare, That winds and waves should still our Gallion spare. All things cry haste, wee now no time must slip, Till that completely rigged bee our Ship, Which on the seas, that are both deepe and wide, Must goe through surges of a stormy tide. Wee busy were, which you will not allow, Till that the sweat did bubble on our brow ; Those sturdy fellowes with their axes keene, Made many an oak to light upon the greene. Some did fell downe, some seeke, some clave the trees, They fervent wrought, most like to busy bees ; Some bor'd with wimbles, and some also well Did forme the fore deck, some did hew the keele. None idle was; but Cham of all the three, In all this work, most careless seem'd to bee ; But as for Japhet, he well play'd his part, Hee at the work was both with hand and heart. The Hulks now dress't without, and als within, Of all this work scarce laking is a pin. Noah. God as I see will throw his deadly dart At stubborne man ; it thrills mee through the heart To see how man but count it phantasie To be afraide for threat'ning prophesie. The world now sports, while God in painful thunder, Doth threaten for to break the clouds asunder, And poure downe floods, so that this Hulk shall sail Ov'r highest hills, as ov'r the lowest vale. No boot it is ; those offscums Jabin's sons. Will not relent but plot rebellions; Though to seeke grace, I them doe daily urge, Who feare not God shall surely feele his scourge. O Sem and Japhet, I your care commend, Who this great work have brought unto an end ; Though it bee long, yee shall most surelie see, Upon the earth a fearfull Tragedie. God shall the heav'ns and earth together rumble, And swelling surges shall ov'r mountains tumble; The world's great day is hard now at the hand, God, man, beast, fowle, will drowne in all the land ; No signe 1 see that God his wrath will stop. This from my lockes makes a cold sweate to drop. Before that God the heav'nly sluices break, I'll yet essay men for their sins to check ; If that my sermon with those men prevaile, So that they mourne for sin, then all is well ; But if they stiil remaine as they have been, Of all their blood my hands are pure and cleane. Yee Men of Marble, with hard hearts of flint, Of God's fierce wrath you shall not 'scape the dint, Except in haste yee to the Lord returne With bleeding hearts; oh that you now could mourne! For grieving God, the date that God you gava Expired is ; hec yet your soules would save. Repentance late is often little worth, Repent, repent, lest vengeance now come foorth, Both stern and strange, and in a fearfull day You from the earth, as doung, sweepe all away. Your sins have made God's Majesty to frowne; The angrie welkin threatens you to drowne. The earth shall bee, with its faire flow'ry bud, Defaced all in a most furious flood. No tops of lulls, nor yet the tallest tree, Shall a refuge unto transgressors bee. Then, sallow fac'd, yee sadly shall bewaile Your puddly thoughts, which you have lov'd so well. The Scorncrs. Tush, Noah, tush ! yee still have preached fearei Those hundred, and also those twentie yeares. Yee threaten us, as though some slimy strands Should break their sluices and drowne all these lands ; And that the seas, with rage and great disdaine, Should overflow the fat and flow'ry plain. 1 hose are but tales the mirth of men to marre. Unto the Ocean, God hath set a barre, And said to it, No farther shall thou goe. As hee hath said, the sea obeyeth so. EXCERPTS. XIX Goc, tell your tales, which are of little worth, To fooles : let us now all be marching foorih Unto greene groves, or to some pleasant park. Let God now Noah lock within his Ark, And save him there, and als his sonnes each one, When all the world, shall be drown'd and gone. Old doted foole ! thy folly all may see, Ingraven deepe, in thy great towre of tree. It thou wilt have to be a mighty fort, A towre of steel to save and to support Thyself, thy sonnes, from perill and mishaps, Which will the world swell with tempestuous claps. How longs your ark, how high, how broad us tell, Teach us, for yee in wisdom doe excell ? Wee heare the length Uiree hundred cubits bee, And that the breadth but fiftie which wee see, And that the hight should thirtie cubits have, Men, fowles, and beasts, from drowning for to save. With all those, as it must be understood, Yee must for all have ev'n sufficient food. What if you with your somies and household dear, And beasts and fowles remain there but a yeare? Yea, if but half that space you there remaine, Will the Ark you all, and food for you containe? Bread for yourselves, and fodder for your Horses, For Elephants, for Camells, and for Asses; For Cowes and Sheepe, for Dogs and filthy Swine, For Hart and Hind, for Goats and Porcupine ; For Weezles which haunt in the clefts of rocks, For wittie Monkeys, and the wily Fox ; And thousands more of beasts and fowls also, Which to the Ark, you must als make to goe? There must be Peacocks, which with golden eyes, Upon their feathers the beholders please ; There must be Lapwings, with their hooded tops, And Eagles which slill haunt among the rocks; There must the Ostrich also have a place, The Cran and Owle, with its ill-favor'd face ; The Swallow swift, and als the Cormorant, The Brigander, Quaile, Barnacle, Feasant, The Shovler, Brambline, Bitter, and Hickway, The Paret, Partridge, Dove, and the Ospray, The Heron, Harefoot, Rooke, and the Wood- pecker, The Daker Hen, the Ganet, and the Plover. The Kestwell, Cough, the Crow, Raven, Gull, the Jay, The Jackdaw, and the Griphon strong for prey, The Pelican, the Phenix, and the Thrush, The Falcon fierce, which downe with force doth rush, The Gosehawk, Tercell, Gerfalcon, and Seker, The Merlin, Musket, Hobb, that's still a taker, The Wagtaile, Snipe, the Starling, and the Stork, The Cuckoo, Titling, Titmouse, and the Bat, The Teele, and Mavis, and the chattering I'y, The Yelamber, and pratling Papingay. The Goldfinch, Tieldfare, with Cock, Hen, and Kit, And many moe, where will these fowles all sit? What shall they eate if they continue long, Within that house with beastes and fowles so strong ? Some eat but wormes, some grasse, and some but graine, Some must have flesh their life for to maintaine; For Horse, Kine, Sheep, and other beasts, the fodder Would fill an Ark that's longer, deeper, broader. Count well your cubits, and consider all, If that your Ark can beasts both great and small, With fowles and foode within itshoundscontaine, See if yee can by reason this maintaine. Yet more of beastes and fowles all that be cleane, Of ev'ry sorte preserved must be sev'n ; Th' odde one for God a sacrifice must bee, The other six must serve to multiplie ; The fodder, fowles, the beasts with biggest bulks, Would surely fill a score of greater Hulks. Noah. foolish men ! yee by such questions vaine, Declare that you are wicked and profane ; If yee did well God's pow'r great understand, Yee surely would deepe silence still command, To such discourse ; can God not worke a wonder, But yee his deedes must wiih vaine doublings blunder? Can yee mee tell where first man beeing had, When of the earth God the foundation laid? Or can you tell or yet conceive by thought, How God those all things out of nothing brought ? Or can yee tell how that the earth alone So fixed is, and laid on a ground-stone 'Twixt the two poles; and how the starry heav'n In circling course is still most swiftly driv'n From east to west ? those wheeles they never stand, What turns them thus can you well understand ? Can yee well tell who think yee clearly see, What barrs are those, that thus hemme in the sea? Stirre up your wits, and this yet tell me more, What makes it thus to move from shore to shore? Yet to come nearer, can you me in forme, How in the belly you receiv'd your forme? Tell how in skulls thus formed were yourbraines, And how that chease, was turn'd to flesh and veines, To sinews, arteres, and to bones and blood? How all was done, have you well understood? Know yee how framed was each thing apart, The hands, the head, the liver, and the heart, And all the rest? see how yourself a wonder Is to yourself, and yet yee goe to blunder God's mighty work in a farre lesser thing ? Cease any more such neediesse doubts to bring, 1 plainer yet may prove ev'n space by space, And foot by foot, that all this ample place, By subtile judgement, make, and symmetry, Might all those lodge, and that most handsomely. But I had rather God's great works admire, Who gracious is to all that doe him feare ; Hee can make roome where little seemes to be For man and beast, yea, even als multiplie The little food, or make one dinner small To last a yeere. so for to feede us all. But as for you, vaine Scorners! yee shall smart, A pale despaire shall seize your heavy heart ; XX FJCCERPTS. On God by tun yee have all turn'd the buck, Your wordes of scorn portend the dismall wrack. Goe to, my Sonnes, 1 see no other thing, But God the flood upon the land will bring ; Men who should mourne have lift a wanton heel, Against the Lord to whom their soule should kneeJe. Hee roughly now will smite his enemies, And rustly guerdon their iniquities. I heare a noise within the clouds already Of humming stormes, see that the Ark be ready Us to receive ; Sem, Japhet, I you charge, That with all haste you will prepare our Barge ; The flood anone will rumble, rowle, and roare, It men, and fowles, and cattle will devore. ***** Noah. My wife, my sonnes,with your three wives anone, Into the ark let us al! eiiiht begone, That after us, into this Carrik rare, May enter in of ev'ry Soule a pair. When wee shall all be entered into it God will the door behind us closely shut. Now all is clos'd, as yce most clearly see, I pray the Lord our Pilot for to bee, To guide our Hulk and still it to support, Untill he bring us safely to our port. The clouds above with such a force rush downe, That in short space they all the earth will drowne, The show'rs, I hear, purle not in droppings small, It is not raine, but rather floods that fall And rage so loud, as if it were a thunder, Threat'ning to break, and crush our Ark asunder. If that God's hand were not us now to save, Wee should be svvallow'd with eacli swelling wave ; When men have time, for Sin they will not mourne, God's wrath and mercy follow turn by turn, When mercy off' red, is despis'd, anone Then commeth wrath, and mercy must begone. I hear lowd cryes of men on ev'ry side, They shout, alas] where shall wee now abide What tree, what rock, what hill can wee perceive Sufficient hight us from this flood to save? The trees are drown'd, yea, ev'n the cedars tall ; Now rests but rocks and hills to save us all. I heare again, some that doe shrike and cry, To tops of mountains let us by and by Climb us to save ; the flood it waxeth still, Behold, anone it will als drowne this hill. The water still doth mount, out cryes another, I'm to the paps, cold makes my chin to shiver; Oh Lord for help, from Heav'n Lord help send downe, For highest hills with floods are overflow'n. O heare our sighs, forget, forgive our sin, Oh pitie us in waters to the chin ! I heare again in waters Lions roare, And howling Wolves, and barking Dogs and Boare, And grunting Swine; Fowles also make great din At their last smugglings, deepest floods within. The din is lesser ; as I now suppose The surges deepe, their mouths with waters close. Now how is all, I will lot'k out and SIT, No thing at ull appears but heav'n and sea ; And bodies dead of fowles, and beasts, and men, Which float aloft upon the upper brimme Of the vast ocean, which doth ever threat Our brittle bark in pieces for to break. By boist'rous winds wee to and fro are driv'n, The swelling surges threat the starres in heav'n, At this black sight, a hearte of steele would mourne, To the first chaos all is like to turnc. No earth, no grasse, no flow'r, no herb, no tree, No hill, no house, no mountain can I see, No thing but sea, and cloudy heav'ns appear. My trembling heart is fill'd with greefe and feare, To see such marks of God's most dreadful wrath. Yet though I feare, I am not void of faith; But still believe that God will mee support, And will this Barge bring safely to her port. O God the Lord, who rulest sea and land, This huge, vast vessel guide thou with thy hand. Now at the window mind I to look out, And to consider all the parts about, I f land appears ; so far as I can see, No thing at all is to bee scene but sea. Yet I resolve for to send out a Scout, To sore aloft, and spy if heere about Hills may bee scene,' or if seas swell and growe, For I yet doubt, if that they eb or flowe. This I'perceive, which lessens much my feare, The clouds grow thin, and skyes begin to clear, The wind that blows with such a furious rage, Will, as I hope, the waters soon asswage ; I see no top as yet of any hill, The surges cov'r the highest mountain's still. In hope and feare wee will waite on a space, God will not faile to help us by his grjce, And send reliefe in his appointed time, Hee us respects, though we're but dust and slime, Now as 1 think our tossed hulk doth halt Upon some hill, it may be Areret ; That waters eb, I now do make no doubt, Therefore to spy I now will send a Scout. Amongst the fowles, none fitter now can bee Than is the Raven, who with his bright eye Will soon descrye, some carion, or by smell Will find it out ; then shall wee knowe right well If th' earth be dry, for if on hill or plain Hee find some flesh, he'le not returne againe. Now from the window wantonly he flies, And snuffs the winds and sores unto the skyes ; Hee seekes his prey, hee now hath ta'en his fliglit Right farre abroad, he's almost out of sight, Spyeing and feryeing from the highest aire, Whiles up, whiles downe, whiles heere and also there. Hee neerer cornes, not farther doth he goc, In hov'ring way, he still go'th to and fro ; No certain signe wee can now from him say, That now the flood is ebbed any way. Sith it is so, farre best I doe approve, That I send out for Scout the nimble dove ; With her bright eye, she from the highest -,k\r r Discover will if trees, or lands be dive. EXCKKPTS. Now, from the window with a souple wing, She swiftly flies us tidings for to bring ; If tops of trees or rocks do not appeare, Us for to comfort, in our trembling feare. Her neck it glisters with a golden hew, In part it's greene, in part it's also blew ; See how shee mounts if any land there bee, With her cleare eyes she surely will it see. Though that the aire be pure, and skye be bright She Hies so farre, shee's almost out of sight ; But O ! againe, behold how shee at last, With all her speede turns back the waye shee past Unto our Ark, she surely on the ground By narrow searching, hath no footing found : Now shee aboord comes swiftly at my call, Unto the hand of mee the Admirall. Wee'le waite a while, and after as a Scout, Wee'le send her foorth to try all parts about; If surly surges of the waters fall, If shee some signe can bring from mountaines tall, Whom lower hills as kneeling doe adore, Some tops terrific, that ev'n the welkin gore. I thinke ere now that some hill top be dry, If it bee so, the dove will by and by, It will discover ; see how she anone Out at the window is most quickly gone. With nimble swirls, through the aire she scuds, And fiercely fleeing cleares by speed the clouds; She's flowne so farre that she escapes mine eye, Shee's out of sight, I no more can her see ; Though that she tary, yet I doe not doubt, But she at last shall prove a trusty Scout. Ho ! ho ! behold the dove with feathers faire, Our faithfull Scout comes scudding through the aire; Good newes withjoye will all our hearts now fill; The dove she bears a branch within her bill Of olive greene. Oh ! let us all adore God's mercy great, who will us set ashore Ere it be long; God will us one and all At libertie set from this stinking stall. Let sev'n days passe, and I will by and by, Send foorth the Dove as Scout to search and try If th' earth be dry ; for if on hill or plaine She find her food, shee'll not returne againe. Now courage take, for soon wee'le win ashore, Our Scout the Dove to us returnes no more ; Doubtlesse the flood is ebbed, and the land In part is dry, as yee may understand. At first, shee found not where her sole to set, The second time, she brought into her beak Ane olive branch, not farre from tops of trees ; Shee on the land doth eate some beans or pease, Or other food, which she finds on the plaine, This is the cause shee not returnes againe ; Yet as I think the surges swelling still, Doe proudly roll above the highest hill. The earth is dry, God thinks on us in love ; Now from the Ark the cov'ring wee'le remove, That wee from thence may spye all round about, And try if that at last wee may come out And view the fields, where wee may take the aire; Wee'le waite on God who will to us declare, What time wee should from this our Hulk remove ; Hee never failes to those whom he doth love ; Hee did us spare who were a number small, When the Deluge did drowne the wicked all. THE TOWRE OF BABYLON. [Contains about 990 lines.] THE SFEAKEBS : 1. The Lord. 2. Nimrod. 3. The Nubles. 4. The Massons. 5. The Carpenters. 6. The Servants. 7. The People. ***** Nimrod. A jangling noise of judgements cowards fright, But men of courage boldly goe to fight ; In dangers great couragious men not stick, At whiffing flashes of sharp swords so quick. Though thunder claps from the Emperiall round, About their eares make a most dreadfull sound; Yet Lion like they strive themselves to save, To brave their foes who still their ruine crave. Brave warriours ! wit is ever bold to seeme, The hardest things most easy to esteeme, That so no feares their courage brave may quell, I feare no force from heav'n nor yet from hell . In dangers great 1 know me how to save, 1 scorn a master or a match to have. As for those floods that from the heav'ns did fall, And drown'd the world to eight a number small, I mind to build a Towre of strong defence, No more to be in Heaven's reverence. The Massons. Unto you, Sir, ourselves, and all we aw, Owre love to you shall bee for us a law, Yee seeke but right our safety to procure, This is your charge, and als your choicest cure. Like modest Bees yee are that take but small Of ev'ry flow'r, though yee have choice of all; Yee give us peace now, for a bloody warre, This doth engage us to your service farre. Craftsmen aside in warre their lumes doe lay, The Merchant, trade and traffique doth decry. The poore, who safely lodged in some vault, Are driv'n to Rampires to sustaine th' assault ; Then Massons, Weavers, Carpenters, and all, Must from them cast their tooles both great and small. Wee build a Towre, Heaven's furies to gain- stand, To save ourselves, that in a rage so rude Wee bee not drowned by another flood ; Wee will obeye, and quickly goe to action, Let deeds bear witnesse of our best affection. Sir, yee must knowe, take yee now heede anone, In all this plaine no quarreyes are of stone To build your walls, which must be thick and strong ; Wee will therefore goe all llie fields along, E xxn hXCERPTS. To spy where is good clay both tough and thick, That wee thereof for building may have brick ; Them wee shall burn so in a furnace all, Till they be hard most fitting for our wall. Goe to now, lads, we male this proclamation Dig downe with speede to lay the house founda- tion; Dig deepe, yea deepe, untill that out of sight You fi nd good ground to beare the house's weight. Let all be hands, no man must stand or stay, Let all now dig, or brick make of the clay ; Taskmasters, hold the workers in your sight, Let ev'ry man now work with all his might, That to the skies the walls we may upreare, And so bee sav'd, hence foorth from noisome feare. Though now the Sunne goes with his charet gay, And cleares the skyes with a most pleasant ray, Bee not deceiv'd, the skies againe will frowne, And clouds will fall in floods us for to drowne. By fearefull blasts of this yee inkling have, While stormes burst out, that wee ourselves may save, Let all goe work, let none now idle sit, Let young and old doe that which seemeth fit. Nay, tender Ladies, with soft velvet loof, Must now be servants, and not stand aloof; Now bow your backes that barrowes yee may beare, With presses of brick, to build a fortresse heere Against the heav'ns ; that hencefoorth floods ol water Not drowne us, or from one another scatter. The gold ring'd fingers must not heere be spar'd, Away with faces overlaid with fard ; It is not time for to sit idle now, While painefull sweate should bubble on your brow. Cease now to curie the cockles of your head, Those precious pearles, now take away with speede, Which nimbly dance upon your haire as spangles, Or as the fruit upon the tree that dangles. Such triffles leave, the Masters so command, Rise up all quick, to work now put your hand. Yee Groomes with gownes, your robes anone cast by, Your spared armes to labour yee must try, Soft finger'd men, you working let us sec, Till that your hands with labour brawnie bee ; Cast pens away ; take paines, and every houre Imploy your hands, for this most stately Towre. And yee who bricks in rouling carts do draw, Spur fast your beasts, to dally stand in aw ; Yea, jerk your jades, and make them scour amaine, Through thick and thin, both over hill and plaine, Till Hesperus in azur wagon bright, Bring glist'ring tapers for to cleare the night; No rest till then as long as lasts the day, None must from work himself withdraw away. The clay is soft, it may be hard anone, It were more hard to build a towre of stone. For sturdy quar'men, with steele-headed cones, With massive sledges should thusslent the stones, With grones and sobs; stone work doth still require More labour than the bricks all burnt with fire. ( i real labour is 'mong rocks both hard and slift". To cut wide windows through a horned cliffe; Through these indeed is painfull labouring, Where hammers, wedges, and the beetles ring, With massie sledges, where men alabaster And marble hard, with strength of armes doe master. Nimrod. I see some busy, but I als perceive Some idle rogues that always play the knave ; Whatever they bee, ev'n whether great or small, With wirey roads they shall be scourged all. Yee Massons, try those baked bricks to lay, In such a sorte, that fearefull stormes they may With force abide ; that though the heavens them thunder, They thereby should not broken be asunder ; If all were done, I surely would disdaine, To tremble for those water gates of raine. The Taskmasters. Lads, goe to work, bring bricks, and make good plaster,. That wee may please our only liege and master ; His checker's open richly to reward, All those that doe this noble work regard. The Servants. From Morne to Ev'n wee drenched are in sweate, Wee swell for thirst, and get but little meate ; Wee' re pay'd with frownes, and whiles with cunning smiles, This world is now full of vaine wittie wiles. Though with great sweate, wee study you to please, Wee are but fed with rotten beanes and pease ; Our clothes are tatter'd and besmear'd with clay, With paine our bodies are consum'd away ; Your wordes are Reedes most brittle, which anone, Pierce through the heades of them that beare thereon ; Yee speak of checkers, but where is the treasure, Our wage is small, our work is out of measure. The Taskmasters. Goe quick to work, while you such things pre- tend, Yee falsely lie ; if but your finger's end Hut eke a while, you beastly fret and frowne, Not caring that the Heav'ns the worlds should drowne. Ye barbarous villaines ! to your barrowes goe, And beare the bricke, the highest walls unto, That so hence foorth, in clouds the hoorded waves, S'o more us drowne, as base and heartlesse slaves. Ho Carpenters ! it is now time that yee, A'hat's to be done by you most quicklie see ; Wee daily long to see this castle rear'd, To save us from the stormes now greatly fear'd ; \ow quickly fall, to fell downc with your strokes, I'he goodly cedars, ashes, pines, and oaks. And alders als, with other sorts of trees, Which inay you fit in all necessities. Of forest plants now strip the mountaines hie, With axes sharp, cut downe each goodly tree ; The branches sned, and of the timber greater Make quicklie beames, rend beames, and also rafter ; Saw also boards and planks, that you may all, The lofts most sure ev'n lay from wall to wall. The Massons nimbly, as wee wish'd have done, Yee Carpenters swarme to your work anone; There hammers quick on bricks do chearely goe, And echo loud your axes let also. Pel-mel subvert the oaks and cedars tall, Its time to work, let none be idle at all, And slip their work ; spare neither hands nor eyes, Untill this house shall reach the highest skyes. * * * * # Well done, brave lads, our axes and our saws Make ready work, each one another draws With courage great ; when all in every part Still at the work with hand doe, some the heart. Our axes noise, through heav'ns rebounding brim, Affright the fish that in Euphrates swim. The Massons. Yee little boyes, to worke now swarme yee fast, And yee also who have your lad-age past; The walls are high, take courage as you see, Above the clouds this work will shortly bee. Bring, bring with speede, give slime als as we crave, Our towre the heav'ns shall soone for seeling have; Wee hope anone that both its front and feet, With heav'ns above, and hills below shall meet. Make haste, be quick, and lye not idle so, Your limber limbs lift up, and quickly goe. Nimrod. Now, now, I see what many workmen can Performe for him that stoutly plays the man ; Who have no courage for the common weale Within their breasts, their fainting heartes con- geale. Not acting right ; but who most stoutly darre Great things attempt, they feare no threat'ning Jarre ; Not heav'ns themselves, which with a cloudy brow, Jn counterpuffs of blust'ring winds do blow. I'le raise this Towre the highest clouds cv'n ov'r, Till that the heav'ns it for its seeling cov'r. The Lord. I great Creator, as is in the story Of the creation, made all for my glory. 1 Angels made, my mighty povv'r to prove, Whom I ordain'd to dwell with nice above. On earth below, that I might bee ador'd, Fowles, fishes, beastes I made, and man their Lord. At first, all was perfect which I did mak, In all this ALL was neither flaw nor crack ; In heav'ns above all things were calme and still, On earth beneath all things ohey'd my will. No more I needed but a wink or nod, All mee acknowledg'd for their Lord and God. * ' * * But what is this that now on earth I see, It seemes that men up at the heavens would bee ? What those base Ants intend it is a wonder, It seemes that they intend the heav'ns to plunder. This surely seemes a resolution rare, Men mind the heav'ns to scale, ev'n through the aire. Their palace proud sets up the top on hie, Up at my throne it looks as they would bee ; To match me alwayes they seeme pow'r to have, But fooles they are, that mind the Lord to brave. Vile drudges, dust spawn, and most feeble dwarfs, 'Gainst me build Towres and mighty counter scarfs ; To maun the heav'ns they foolishly intend, But who prevailes it will be scene in end. I will them ding now from their braving towres, Who mind to scale this chrystall towne of ours; Though they now build their walls with brick and plaster, To dash their pride I mind to be their master. Upon their tongues I will confusion bring, And by this means them from their drift will ding. I'le mark their mouths, so that in any way, None shall hence know, what doth another say ; I'le make their wordes to be like to the rumours, And jangling noise of men in drunken humours. Some 't\vixt the teeth shall speak, some through the nose, Some in the throat their wordes shall all dispose ; Some wordes shall lisp, some like the jangling Jaye, Or parret like, shall prattle still away. When Carpenters and Massons shall command, Their gibb'rish none at all shall understand ; Now this I mind to stop such ptoud outrages, I will confound the Children's languages. The Massnns. Come hither lads, and work with all your might, Now bring us tiles, the house draws to its bight; In measure good, wee to the clouds are neere, Now bricks in burdens bring unto us heere. The Servants. Wee shall obey as servants doe their master, Take off' our backs those burdens of fine plaster. The ]\fassons. Most beastly rogues ! shall wee thus be befool'd, It's brick wee seeke, that wee the walls may build. The Servants. Take there an hammer, if yee doe require, Who can you serve, if thus you fume like fire. XXIV hXCKKHTS. The Massons. It's brick ! it's brick ! it's brick ! that wee would have, It's brick ! it's brick ! that from you now wee crave. The Servants. Our master's mad, it seems as one would think, Hee gibb'rish speaks, as one that's after drink ; Hee cryes brick ! brick! and brick ! that he doth crave, It is the trowell that he now would have. The Massons. The Lads are tnadde, some flagons they among, Have drunk so hard, that they have lost their tongue ; What meane, yee beastes, to make us idle heere, While yee should brick ! brick ! brick ! unto us beare? The Servants. What meane, our Masters, thus in wrath to cry, And gape and frowne, and turne their mouths awry? What they would have, none of us can define, We'le bring to them the plummet and the line. The Massons. What can this bee, while wee for brick ! brick ! cry, Another thing they bring us by and by ; Some Fairies doubtlesse in their hearts have humm'd, That they thus speak as people all beiiumb'd. Will yee not heare, will yee not understand, To bring us brick! brick! straitly wee command ? Wee idle stand, yee fooles in every thing, Make haste anone, and brick! brick! to us bring. The Servants. What wordes are yon, what is it they doe crave? It may bee that some scaffolds they would have; Heere are some ropes, and timber als is heere, For as wee think a scaffold yeu would reare. The Massons. This work is marr'd, this work it will not bee, Wee nothing heere but plaine confusion see ; We breathlesse are with crying to those fooles, Wee'le work no more, wee heere lay downe our tooles. Wee nothing but confused yawling heare, A bootlesse worke wee are attempting heere ; The after ages, at us wonder shall, How wee our folies here have muster'd all. The Taskmasters. Sir, you us sent as Taskmasters to bee, Your Buildings great still for to oversee ; As first our Carts were pleasantly indeed Drawn without let, they quickly whirl'd with speed. Workmen in swarms most fervent wee did see, So that their feet all feather'd secm'd to bee ; Thus they did flee your glorious towre to build, But from the heav'ns some strock hath them befool'd. While one cry'd come, and quickly cleave a tree, They brought a stone, a lintell for to bee ; One call'd for planks, and mortar they did bring; One call'd for bands, and they him brought a ring; Your men than beasts, more brutish they're become, One to another doth not speake but humme With uncouth accents, when that some did cry For axes, others spades brought by and by ; Some call'd for planks and plaster they did give; Some sought a saw, and others brought a screwe. The Heav'ns to shew this work to be most badd. Your Carpenters and Massons have made madd ; Each gap d on other with a frowning face, And hallooing cry'd ; no thing in any place Was heard but gibb'rish, in a mingle mangle, Some crying brick ! brick ! foolishly did rangle. Some others rafters ! rafters ! still doe cry, What meant such wordes, we surely could not try; No trunchman was 'twixt servants and the mas* ters, Wee heard still rafters ! brick ! brick ! planks ! and plasters ! At last, the Massons madd, like raging fooles, With Carpenters, did tumble down their tooles. Men's tongues are lost, some bray like Asses dull, And some more fearfull bellow like the Bull ; Some roarelike Lions, and some bark like Dogs, And others are who still doe grunt like Hogs. The People. Kings should of vertuc partrons stoutly stand, And not their lust, but what is just command. But many bee who in base vassal lage Their subjects hold, and in a furious rage Put pel-mel all ; their cursed courts devise To work the people ; this now goes the guise. With taxes strange, such daily us extort, Whereas to vertue they should us exhort, Whereas our hearts they kindle should with zeale To feare the heav'ns and help the common weale ; And teach us how to walk in godly wayes, In the contagion of corrupted dayes, Wee see no thing but of our guds perdition, Most naughtie pride and als a vaine ambition. This is the guise of the most naughty ones, Who the poor's flesh doe cut, and gnaw their bones. Wee see what pride, the world hath brought upon The tongues of men, are made Cameleon So divers; that from doores woe cannot goe A peace of ground, but men seem us unto All gibb'rish ; so that, in that uncouth land, What men doe say wee doe not understand. Heere prats the Spaniard, there the Italian ; With uncouth accents, heere's the Nubian, The mignard French, rough Dutch and Arabik, Grave English, Syriak, Chaldee, Toscan, Greek, The Hebrew, Latin, who can master all The tongues thus speaking, on this earthly ball. Each man in Adam, is to one another Accounted always for to be a brother ; And yet for sin, such is of sin the danger, Each land to other is now made a stranger. God's Testaments which doe declare his will, Were first enrouled by Greek and Hebrew quill. O what great paines have wee to understand, Those uncouth wordes set downe at his com- mand; Most time, alas ! to conquere wordes wee spend, And misse the matter which wee should intend ; Yea more, the wordes which are in usage now, Within a space no man will them allowe. \Vordes fine before, are banish "d from the court, And get no roome, but with the countrey sorte. Men's mouthes, like trees, beare wordes as leaves that fall, Now greene and good, anone are withered all, And passe no more; this Babel doth extend, This Nimrod's plague on earth, from end to end. The wordes which whilom all men did admire, LoathM in a trice may hence foorth not appear, No more then .changing French with gallant shewes, Could be content to weare the Irish trews. Our wordes like clothes, such is vain man's con- dition, In length of time doe all weare out of fashion ; Such marked tongues should teach us God's dis- daine, And yet for that, in wordes wee are most vaine ; Wee are like Echo, which by voice begot From hollow vales, speakes wordes it knoweth not. THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM. [Cont.fms about 20CO lines.] THE SPEAK EKS: Well saide, deare Surah, yce remaine the same, A help, a comfort, unto Abraham ; To every stranger that is in distresse, Your charitie yee daily doe expresse ; Not with a frovvne, but with sweete smiling rather, To such a mother, as I am a father God will us blesse ; and will the same regard, For charitie not want shall its reward. God the Sonnc. I take it now a providence to bee, That wee are come heere Cor to hearc and sec Your loving kindnesse ; and yet which is more Wee see how yee the God of heav'n adore. Yee pray before yee put your hand to mcate, So should all doe, then, then, it's time to eate; Too many on this earth both soup and dine, But know not God no more then dogs and swine. ***** Now it is time for us to goe away, As you beganne, give thanks to God and pray. Abraham. Now welcome, Sirs, I thank you heartily, That have me honour'd with your company ; In all your carriage I have surely seen, God's graces which to mee have comforts btene. I neare and narrow still have watch'd and weigh'd, What each of you, and all of you have said ; I would bee glad to hearc from morne lo i-v'n, Such sacred wordes which seeme to come from heav'n. Yet tarry, Sir, but now a little while, And after that I'le say a sad farewell. God the Sonne. Too many men on earth gold mouthed are, Which speak good words, which from their hearts are farre. I clearly heere doe read faire lines of grace Most deep ingrav'n ; I not in any part Have seen a man of a more honest heart ; Your love is sincere, and ev'n as I think, In doeing good that you doe rarely wink. But where is Sarah now, thy darling deare; Now send for her, thatshee my words may he-are. Abraham. My Lord, you see my household's very great, And she always hath a great care of it ; A virtuous woman sure she is and wise, Yea farre above the Kubies is her price. Children to parents richesse may afford, But a good wife is only from the Lord. See that those wordes by thee be understood, For what is said 1 will now make it good; According to the time of life anone I will return ; and Sarah then a sonne Shall have; which from her breasts soft as the silk, With tender gumes shall suck his mother's milk ; Her teats two bottells of the nectar sweete, Shall feed her sonne, her pleasure and delitc. And thou Abram the child shall surely hug, Who thy grey beard shall with his fingers liig ; hXC'KRI'TS. Hee with the comforts of his lovely smile, Thy cares and cumbers often shall beguile. Hee gracious shall bee from the very first, Ev'n with pure milk of true religion nurst; Thy steady steps hee duly shall observe, A nod, a look, shall for a lesson serve. Thou shall not neede him churlishly to chccke, Hee shall obey at ev'ry wink or beck, Hee shall be hopefull by his inclination, Which thou shall help by godly education. The Lord whom thou hast served well always, Shall thus thee comfort in thy latter days. Sarah. I must now laugh, at least myself within, When I did think how those men did begin To speak of Sarah ; now in such a year Thai I a sonne to Abraham should beare. My Lord is old, which something seemes to bee, And 1 am old, this is well known to mee. Those strangers who now hither have been ilriv'n, Know not the projects of the King of Heav'n, Who of all times and things doth guide the course, Men merrie may of such things well discourse. Grey headed I, shall 1 now at the last Bear children, when the date of womens past; Such words 1 take but compliments to bee, From men that think thereby to pleasure mee ; While I was young I looked every day For such comforts, all hopes are now away. God's my comfort ; his strong unshrinking shoulders, In all my cares are ever mine upholders ; Hee barren makes, and fruitful at his will, Unto his own he gives contentment still, Giving, with drawing, hee makes his content, They make all welcome that is from him sent. If I with others children foorth not bring, God will mee give some other better thing ; Hee will ev'n make myself his child to bee, And hee will bee a Father unto mee. It needful is that heere on earth th' Elected, Whiles now, whiles then, by crosses be dissected; Who have their names in God's eternal roll, Will rest content, and not God's works controll. For spouse 1 have the best among all men, More deare to mee then sonnes in number ten ; This unto many might seeme very strange, The good old man, 1 would not surely change For children's comforts ; he with lovely face, Still cheares my heart; so that in ev'ry place I rest content, and what would I have more, Bat him to please, and God for to adore. I must now laugh, when it I think upon, Those wordes that Sarah should hence beare a sonne; I no thing see even either heere or there, But Eleazar hee shall bee our heire. Lot. Not so, my Lord, O let it not be so ! If I from hence unto the mountain goe, Some great mischiefe may there upon me light, Si) tli.it I die ; O let moo in thy sight This favour find! there is a city neere, A little one, where I without all feare May safely dwell, h't not a little one? Now graunt that 1 to it may goe anone. Thy mercy great thou magnified hast, This one request now graunt mee at the last ; With your comforts my wearied heart revive, Graunt this request and so my soule shall live. The Angel. It's true that mountaines show not silver streames, Nor doth each hillock yielde rich precious gemmes; Yee doe so love the pleasures of the plaine, That from them hardly can yee yet refraine. Strive for to snatch God's warnings by the tresses, Strike hot the steele, now goe while danger presses ; The waye to mountaines safest is of all, Yet for thy pleasure I will this recall, And thee permit this city to goe to, Which for thyself I will not over throw. Haste, haste, make haste, escape thou hither now, Flee from this place, why yet thus ling'rest thou, Till thou come hither I can nothing doe, It is thy best thou hasten it unto; Th' innamell'd valleyes of the plaine forget, Your heart, now warn'd, not on such pleasures set. God's wrath is kindl'd sore against this place, Which Sodom's roofs and roots shall all deface ; Fire of a meteor in a summer's Ev'n, With sudden flash shall flamme downe from the heav'n, And shall lick dry the ditches ; and at once Shall burne to ashes both the wood and stones Of Sodom's houses ; men then there shall see What dreadfull plagues for sinnes prepared bee. Upon this plaine shall fall an uncouth raine, Not such as fats the earth, and makes the grainc For to grow up ; but on this stinking Hell A showre of salt, of (ire of Brimstone fell Shall downe fall quick, like exhalations hot ; Heav'ns shall fling downe this flashing thunder shot. The pits of slime, men shall inflamed see lleeke like a night, flamtnes like a day shall bee ; With sudden fire, all shall be sodden then, All shall be burnt, both lades, and girles, and men. Against the sinnes of those most wicked livers, The righteous Lord shall send downe from his quivers Fierce fierie darts, which on the roofs begun, Shall make the lead of turrets downe to run ; The slates and tiles about their eares shall split, The rafters shall through heat the rosin spit. One shall cry, Fire ! and then anone the smoke Blowne in his throat, his wordes, yea voice shall choke. Their orchards faire shall culcin'd be, in fine Their fertile fields shall barren be with brine ; All Sodom shall, that others stand in aw, Consumed be, with hole and sulphry flaw. They for their vile and most enveme trespasses, With walls and rafters shall be burnt to ashes. EXCERPTS. Because they did thusshoot ; their townc and soilc They as in pans that top full are of oile Shall scalded bee ; the flakes of fire most thick, Upon these villaines fearfull deaths shall strike; In Admah's, and als in Gomorrah's plaine, A living soule shall not at all remaine ; Seboim als and Sodom, all shall bee Burnt, branch and root, and after, in a sea That's dead, shall bee ev'n turned in a trice ; That by such plagues, men learn for to be wise, And not defile themselves with sinful pleasures, Which of God's wrath, at last procure the treasures. Make haste, good Lot, with daughters, wife also, That God with fire may Sodom overthro". When oriently faire ris'n is the Sunne, Then God the Lord will Sodom overturne. The Lord on Sodom in a great disdaine, Shall from the heav'n both fire and brimstone Lot. My Lord, farewell, I thank you heartilie For caring for mee, and my familie ; Yee have me taught how plagues now orclain'd are For Sodomites, which doe both neere and farre Make men to tremble with a dreadfull feare, When of the same the tidings they shall heare. My wife and daughters, th angels as yea see Are gone away ; see that yee follow mee ; I'le goe before, and shew to you the way That unto Zoar shortly come wee may. Lest that the angel's threat'nings true yee find, See that yee thrycc look not at all behind. Lot's Wife. My heart is griev'd, I sadly sigh and pitie Of Sodom's ruine, such a noble citie ! Where I with pleasure have my youth head past, And now unseene by mee, it at the last Must be destroy'd ; shall I not with mine eye Have hence foorth leave, those lofty tow'rs to see, And stately roofs once to behold againe, Who can their eyes, against their heart refraine. O Sodom faire, set in pleasant field, Which of best fruits a plenty great doth yeild. O gardens sweete, where flow'rs not laking bee, O fertile orchards, where on ev'ry tree Fruits pleasant dangle ; where in ev'ry part, Things in great number glad the eye and heart. My sonnes-in-law with others, shall they fall ? Shall 1 thus goeing ship wracke make of all? From Sodom I was forc'd to goe anone, So that I have not now a coat but one. The angels instant, caus'd us so to speede, That our equipage, and best things indeede Wee left behind us; thus like beggars so, My husband, I, and daughters now must goe. happy daycs! when I in Sodom faire Liv'd in great wealth, with all contentments rare; Mine heart is there, though I commanded bee Not to look back, yet once I must it see. 1 in my heart but some small inkling find, That th' angel us forbad to look behind ; Hee is away now farre, hee'le not it see Though unto Sodom I turn back mine eye ; Love moves mee to it, but feare back me drawes, And wills me still to keepe the angels laws, Still to goe forward never looking back. But love againe, still bids me courage take. Thus I am toss'd, tush ! I'le not be precise, Unto the towne I will now turne mine eyes. While I unto the plaines of Sodom look, Of fire and brimstone I doe see the smoke ; All's in a fire, my sonnes-in-law and all Are now destroy'd, fire from the heav'n doth fall Upon all flesh, that dwells the plaine within ; As yet the burning seemes but to begin. But what is this, my feet grow very cold, My legs grow stiff, and them no more can fold ; The more I strive to stirre from side to side, The more I struggle, I'm the faster ty'd Unto the ground ; my thighs from warmnesse are All senseless made, my belly is a quar ; It all made hard, my arms and hands anone Are turned dead, hard like a marble stone. I did contemne what th' angel did command, A saltie pillar therefore heere 1 stand ; And that to teach all other men that they When God commands may in all haste obeye. ABRAHAM COMMANDED TO SA- CRIFICE ISAAC. [Contains about 840 lines.] THE SPEAKERS : 1. The Lord. 2. Abraham. 3. Sarah. 4. Isaac. 5. Abraham's Seri'ants. The Servants. Wee are all heere with a most ready pace, Now for to goe to your appointed place ; Things are prepared after your desire, The wood is clov'n, heere also is the fire. Als Isaac's ready, and is glad also, That in his journey he may with you goe ; To goe abroad he thinks a pleasant play, Yet for all that hee not neglects to pray. Flee hath his doore now sleeked him behind. With heavy grones hee's seeking God to find ; With griefe he sobs, in this hee doth excel!, In seeking God as each of us can tell. Wee servants all in him spys not a fault, [lee to us all is as most savory salt; Undoubtedly the mighty God of heav'n, hlim for a blessing hath to Abram giv'n. When with his prayers he at last hath done, [lee to you then will surely come anone ; [ice doth not lye on pillowes of securitie, Jr beastlie snorts on downe beds of impuritie ; As those whose senses o% r ergrowne with fat, STo doore have left for grace to enter at ; Who hath the soundest and the sharpest eye. Think all that hee a worthy man shall bee. Behold him coming with an angel's face, From God lie hath received grace for grace ; Hee goes not like vaine youths with lifted eyes. With foolish habits, points above their knees, And hairc made curl'd with their crisping pins, With other folies to allure to sins. lice hath side hairc, the periwiggs and painting, Appointed for bald heads and beauties fainting; In heart upright he hates hypocrisie, For only varnish he hath veritie. Isaac. Deare father, now the stinne hath brought the day, The sable night and shadows are away ; The heav'ns no more with darknesse muffled are, The light is bright wee see the fields a farre. Let us make haste before the sunne goe bye, Among the glist'ring circles of the sky. Wee cannot tell how soonc this gloomy globe, May cover'd bee as with a cloudy robe ; And heav'nly sluices floods upon us powre ; Wayfaring men must take the morning houre ; When as nights tapers goe all out of sight, And l'ha;bus whecles swift whirling bring the light. However it bee, doe all as you intend, For I on you my Father will depend. Abraham. Up let us goe, and take time by the tresses, Our businesse is urgent, and us presses ; Up lads, and take the wood clov'n on your back, And for to goe see that great haste you make. Spirit of God, our guide, our strength, and stay, Bee with us still, and lead us in our way ! Wee make good specde, now home is out of sight, In such a place I mind to lodge all night; And after that, in such a place againe, The second night I mind for to remaine. The nimble edtje of good men's spirits to rust. God will not suffer in ignoble dust; Man is not borne heere lazy for to sit, For idleriesse ccclipseth clearest wit. The third day dawns while wee heere looking are, Wee from this place may Salem see afarre ; Behold the hill which I must goe unto, For to performe what God mee would to doe. Within myself, unto myself, I now Must speak some words in number but a few ; 1 1' God my heart with faith now did not steele, While I that Hill doe see then should I feele, Such pricking paine, as hitherto I never Since I was borne, upon this earth did suffer. That Hill's the place, where with this bloody knife, 1 must bereave mine Isaac of his life; That Hill's the place, where fire of flaming hot, Shall Isaac burn when I have cut his throat ; That Hill's the place, appointed by and by, Where slaughter'd Isaac shall in ashes lye ; That Hill's the place, where as a sacrifice, Mine Isaac shall bee torne, a bloody guise ; That Hill's the place, where I anone must spill Mine Isaac's blood, and make it downc to trill ; That Hill's the place, whence fearefull grief anil smart, Shall rent in pieces my poor Sarah's heart ; That Hill's the place, whence to the whirling pole, Shall now depart of mine Isaac the soule ; That Hill's the place, whore Isaac by and by, [Burnt in a fire shall all ia allies ly. But all those thoughts not move or trouble mee, I mind my Lord t' obey most chearfullie; And to doe more if he command me farther, Hee steeles my faith soe that I doe not stagger. All one hand mercy, and might at the other, Doe hinder doubts, which heere my faith might smother. A God of mercy hee hath beene to mee, Him to obey I will still ready bee. Though Isaac seeme mine ages sweet reliefe, At (iod's command I will, without all griefc. Him hew in pieces, and commit the same In sacrifice unto the burning flame. With constant eye I will at God's desire, Behold his bowels crackling in a fire ; To mee it is, as a most glorious treasure, To doe for God what is to him a pleasure. If for his sake wee chearfull beare a crosse, Hee by his grace can soone make up our losse. I of his might or mercy doe not neede To doubt, hee can him raise up from the dead. My faith which I as breast plate now put on, Is perell proof against affliction. God in this sea, a pilot wise, can steere, My tossed pinnace to her wished peer; At his command I'le doe as hee hath said, With Isaac's blood I will now glut my blade; His flesh and bones I'le on the altar burne, When that is done I'le to my house returne. Ho! young man, heere abide, and th'assealso, I and this lad alone will yonder goe, To worship God as lice us doth ordaine, When that is done wee'le come to you again. My sonnc, it's time that wee at last begone, What God commands it should be quickly done ; That knife and tree 1 beare, I think it good, But on your shoulders I will lay the wood For the burnt off'rmg; that God may our life Maintains, among both joyes, and warres, and strife ; I know thou'lt not repine or overcome mee, But wilt mee yield what age and place doe own? me. Isaac. When yee command, 1 mind not for to nap, And cast your precepts in oblivion's lap, As senseleose Soule; of you I stand in aw, Your very wink shall serve mee for a law. None but those who are charm'd with frantic k fit, Of madde lup.aticks all bereft of wit. The precepts of their parents will reject, In ev'ry thing I'le doe as you direct. I hitherto have never chang'd this mind, The giddy braiu'd are turn d with ev'ry wind. Wee see that they who dwell this turf upon, Have wond'rous ods in their condition. Wee see that some by nature are outrageous. And others arc, who light and are courageous. But by your leave, let me of yon enquire. Heere is the wood, and heere is als the fire, EXCERPTS. But where's the Lamb, that for burnt off'ring yec Intend to offer unto God most hie; In all this place, I neither sheepe nor ramme, Nor heifer see, nor yet a little lamb. Abraham. While sight doth faile the righteous must believe, They, not by sight but by their faith doe live ; Faith is the substance of things hoped for, The evidence of things not scene afar : Or more at hand ; my sonne I'le this not hide, God for himself sure will a Lamb provide For a burnt ofTring ; he hath at his hand All fowles and beasts to come at his command. My Issaac deare, let us with chearefull front, Goe swiftly on, till we surmount the mount ; That ev'ry thing wee quickly may prepare For this service ; and build an altar there. The altars built, lay now the wood thereon, What God us bids let us it doe anone ; My sonne, now I this thing must tell to thee, Thou, thou, my sonne, this sacrifice must bee; Thou art my love, chiefe matter of my joye, But what's God's will his servants must obeye. I must not now consult with flesh and blood, How God to mee will make his promise good ; I know not how ; but sure God at the last, Will unto mee his promise made, keepe fast. Hee at a time came to mee by and by, And said Abraham look now to the skye, And count the starres in number great indeed, So shall in number bee thy blessed seede. The Lord, who is most mighty and most just, Can bring those numbers out of Isaac's dust ; Hee can againe thee from thine ashes raise, In greatest straits, hee conquers greatest praise. Hee is almighty ; by his strength divine, His might he makes in hardest works to shine, While wits of man no outgate can contrive ; Hee who seemes lost, God can him soon revive. Who knowes not this, at such a fact would shrink, The stoutest heart with griefe opprest would sink; A father soon would say, shall this my mind, Bee mild to all, and to my son unkind? Can I this think to bee a lawfull sute, That I my blade with Isaac's blade should glut ? Shall I a father doe the damned deede, Which furious boares and beares to doe would dread? Such deedes would seeme to shut the gates of grace, That I, and such in heav'n should have no place. This worke is strange unto a carnall eye, And surely seemes a bloody mysterye ; A savage sight, that Abraham is gone Unto a hill to slay his only sonne ; Of dryest eyes, the vessells sure shall leek, Yea powre out teares, when men of this shall speak ; But I not look what men doe think or say, When God commands his servants must obeye. God steeles my faith, ev'n in my greatest tryall, That fast I stand, and stagger not at all ; Though all the world should blame for what is done, And should mcc call a butcher of my sonne. My Faith all doubts is ready for to foile, It not at all will coward like recoil ; Who for to plough God's field doth undertak, With hand to plough should not againe look backe. O Isaac ! now thou must resolve to die, For a burnt off'ring I must make of thee ; It is God's will when thee first to mee gave, What hee hath giv'n, he back againe doth crave. That thou must die it's for no fault of thine, God will thee to his palace Crystalline Remove from hence ; hee will thy blessed soule Have with himself to dwell above the pole ; Where with his angels in a heav'nly quire, Thou shalt abide in better case than heere, God for Abraham, shall unto thee bee, Who shall in love supply all wants to thee. This worke in hand may seeme unto thee strange, But if thou know'st, thou would most gladly change, The companie of all this world so faire ; All is but drosse compar'd with what is there, Where God abides, and showes his glorious face Of blessednesse, that only is the place j Before that thou by death from me depart, I to the Lord resigne thee with my heart. That I now this thee may obedient find, Stretch out thine hands that I them fast may bind; That done, I shall with sacrificing knife, Of my deare sonne at last to end the life. And yet before this thing I doe to thee, The Lord adore with bowed '. heart and knee. Isaac. Who doth not God more than his life respect, Deserves no place among the Lord's elect. My father deare, I have had sweete abode Within your schoole, yea in the schoole of God. Away with teares that blurre the senses so, And bleare the eyes, griefe must her seat forgoe ; What's done to God must bee done chearfully. Let mee to him now saccrificed bee, Hee gave mee life I owe to him a death : Since I him knew, my heart alwayes he hath, In life in death, hee surely can mee save, Who in a womb all dead mee beeing gave ; In all this strait no griefe ingulphs my heart, I'le pray to God I may in peace depart. O father deare, unto my sute give eare, Now make my heart to thee my God draw neerc ; Now reape the graine which thou thyself hast sowne, I all forsake that I may bee thine owne. What thou requests thou justly should'st it have, For what thou lent'st, thou only that dost crave ; While fire my flesh and bones shall all consume, Let Isaac bee to thee a sweete perfume. Doe with mee Lord ev'n as thou didst intend, Into thy hands my soule I recommend. Now father Abram, yee mee willing find, Take both mine hands, and with those thongs them bind ; When that is done, as seemeth to you good, My body bound, take and lay on the wood. I of my life have ended now the houres, I am the Lords, I must no more bee yours. Of Abram's faitli my blood shall be a seal, Deare mother Sarah I you bid farewell. O father Abram ! now wherev'r you like, 1.XI KR1TS. Upon your Isaac with your cutlace stiike; Who loves not God more than all soiuics respect, Deserves no place among the Lord's elect. Take courage, strike ! yea strike and stagger not, Now hither strike, heere lyes thine Isaac s throat. Glut with my blood thy blade, and let mee bee, Unto the Lord an oflTring burnt from thee. O Lord, on earth from thee no more I crave, But that in mercy thou my soule receive. Abraham. God's hand in all this tryall 1 have felt, Without the which for grict'e my heart had swelt ; When I with thongs bound Isaac in this place, A youth so fill'd with modestie and grace. His loving lookes which are so lovely still, The hardest heart with piercing points would thrill ; Though bound hec lyes he makes no provocation, I reape the fruits now of his education. Now make thee ready, now thee ready make, Even of this cutlace to receive the strock ; To God I give thee, no more mine but His Who will thee have ; now take this latter kisse, And so farewell, my Isaac, now farewell, Take you this kisse as of my love a scale. Now drawne's my sword with constant reso- lution, With heaved hand for present execution ; From necke to heele the stroke I will bring so, That I his head cut off may with one bio ; And not him mangle with stroake after stroake, Lest living hee in his owne blood should soak. Now, now, this stroake brought downe with all my force, Shall from his body Isaac's head divorce. The Lord. Ho ! ho ! Abraham ; ho ! Abraham, ho ! Hark ! but a word 1 will say thee unto. Abraham. Lord, heere I am still ready to obey Thy precepts all, and that without delay. The Lord. Hold, hold, thy hand, it is enough to me That thou hast done, thine Isaac shall not die; Now of thy faith a perfect proof I have, Enough, enough, no more of thee I crave. Upon the lad, see thou lay not thine hand To doe him hurt, for so I thee command ; That God thou fear'st I know assuredlie, Sith that thy sonne, thine only sonne, from mee Thou not withheld' st, but at my very word Wast ready for to kill him with thy sword. Now for thy comfort I doe say to thee, Unbind thy sonne, and let him now goe free. THE HISTORIE OF JOHN THK BAPTIST. (Contains about 800 lines ) THE SPEAKERS : 1. The Lord. 2. Zacliarias. 3. Elizabeth. 4. Gabriel. 5. Mary. 6. Herod. 7. Hero- dins. 9. John. 10. The Disciples of John. 11. The Hangman. Herod. All rcadie be yee, peers and princes all, Rejoice with me, sith in memoriall Of my birth day, yee are conveened here, That wee together up our hearts may cheere. Let ev'ry man of wisdome and of worth, Now study who best sports shall marshall forth; F"or to throw downe all melancholious sadnesse, Which at all feastes is but a fit of madness; First make good cheere, and let us merry sup, And after goe, gamboling downe and up. Herodias. Ho ! daughter, come and comfort my distresses, Tims should in time be taken by the tresses ; When as occasion's off'red, hy and by, Wee should not slip good opportunity. The king this night will not make any sadde, His will is that the princes all be glad ; Act thou thy part for thou can leap and praunce, And gallantly thou canst a gailard dance. I train'd thee so ; this did me pleasure give, More if then that, thou could'st both sow and weave ; Prepare thyself in ornaments with speede, Trimme up anone the cockles of thy head. For ornament, thy Jewells all prepare, That diamonds may dangle on thine hairc, All frisl'd with Crispin pins ; that so Yee at your dance may like a princesse goe. The Daughter of Herodias. As yee direct, deare mother, so will I To "Herod's hall goe, that 1 by and by, May make his heart to anchor in the port, Where any sadnesse never did resort. Most part of women who should nimbly passe. Goe sadly like the lazy-pased asse, Or leap like rainmes upon their fattest leasure, But know not what it is, to dance by measure Before a king and princes at a feast ; Such to beholders are but made a jest. This night I will come better speede than those Who have no skill to trip upon their toes, With equal measure, backward, forward, round ; I, when I goe do scarsly touch the ground. Now I resolve this hall to enter in, Downe to the ground to bccke I will begin ; And after that, to please the prince's sight. With artifice I'le dance the Parin right; And after that, with measure and with skill. To please the king, the .1/or/Vf dance I will EXCERPTS. Stravetspy ; and after, last of all, The drunken dance I'le dance within that hall. Herod. In all this feast I have not had such pleasure, As gives this wench, by dancing thus by measure; While as yet I consider well the same, Her dance it will immortalize her name Above the heav'ns, where whirling sphears doe roul, In restlesse dances about either pole. Come hither wench, come hither, and draw near, With lifted hand I solemnly doe sweare, That what thou wilt ev'n now require of mee, It aske anone, and I will giv't to thee. Halfe of my kingdome I now will not spare, To give to thee for such a dance so rare ; Advise a while, and when thou thus hast done, llelurne an answere unto mee anone. Herodias' Daughter. Deare mother, I good speede have found this day, In dancing I have pleased ev'ry way ; The King and all the princes that were there Did all approve my dancing to be rare; By reason that I did observe each measure. The King therefore out of his royall treasure Mee off'red this, that what 1 best to bee Did then esteeme, hee would it give to mee ; Advise he said, and when thou thus hast done, lleturne an answere unto mee anone. My heart's like starres, which wand'ring we do call, Which diverse wayes doe dance about this Ball ; My heart's like teeth, which while they grind our food, From thence themselves doe reape more griefe then good. Deare mother, thou mee for to choise the best, That so at last my mind may bee at rest. Herodias, Deare daughter, when those things I hear you tell, I think that I did ware my money well, While as in dancing yee your time did spend, So that both King and Nobles you commend ; Above all others, who in his birth-day In sweetest notes did sing, or dance, or play. My counsel! is, that not in any case Thou richesse seeke, such sutes are very base ; What cans't thou want of things that heere are seen Sith Herod's King, and Herodias Queene. Thou knowest well, as oft I told to thee, What John the Baptist rudely threaten'd rnee ; And how hee made me wearied of my life. Because that I, who first was Philip's wife My husband left, for marriage of a King ; For this in's Sermon he did fiercely Hinjjc Most sharp reproofes; as if that I most sure Had been some vile, debauch'd, incestuous whoore. 1 flattered him with spenehes faire, but not Could make him change his qualities a jot. My griefe within I studied to represse, That so to wrath I neither more nor lesse Might stirre him up; though I did suffer smart, I keept the matter close within mine hea r t. But as a flood stop'd by a sluice a space, Runs after rougher with a swifter pace, So doe my passions ; for his sermons furious Against him rage, who so to me injurious Did on him raile, till altogether spent ; Thus against me were all his Sermons sent. Sith that the King hath in his royall zeale Made such a promise, see you manage well Your thoughts ; that you from me now goeing forth, From Herod may now seeke a thing of worth, Deare Daughter, if you would mee in my need A comfort give, seek John the Baptist's head ; My heart doth boile against that vilest wight, Who "gainst meay wasswoll'n with sullen spight. Herodias' Daughter. Deare mother, what can fill up such a measure Of comfort, as to you to doe a pleasure, To rid you of a man, wo worth his hap A very serpent in a human shap ; As you desire, I ask shall of the King; I look that I that preacher's head shall bring Unto you shortly ; who with prattling tongue Shall raile no more hence forth to doe you wrong. Now with all speede to Herod I will goe, And unto him I will speake so and so, Good Sir, as you directed me before, I have advis'd ; I neither lesse nor more Will seeke from you, but that I may with speede Have in a charger John the Baptist's head. Herod. Fy Damsel, what? who taught thee so to speak, That thou a maid a prophet's head should seek ? Thou say'stthou will have neither less nor more, Fy such a seek, was never heard before. My conscience and my credit heere doe fight, Th' one doth deny, the other saith it's right ; What can I doe? my nobles mee will scorne, Sith to this maid, before them I have sworne, My promise made to her I must fulfill, Though that the same be sore against my will. Ho, such a one ! to prison goe with speede, And cause the Hangman cut the Baptist's head Hard by his shoulders ; doe as I have said, And in a platter giv't unto this maid. Herod's Officer. As you direct, I shall doe so and so, I'le to the Jailor with the Hangman goe, That hee, as yee have to the Damsel 1 said, May in a platter give unto this maid The Baptist's head; which had more ticing shreights Than Sea hath fish, or Ileav'n hath tumbling lights. Ho, Damsel 1, come ! I'le gladly goe with thee, And as the King hath now directed me, I will with me unto the prison bring The Hangman, who by pow'r now from llu- Kin!/-, KXCERPTS, ETC. In prison shall out oil' the Baptist's head; And it shall give unto thce now with speede, All drench'd with blood, within a platter laid, I shall fulfill what ev'r the King hath said. Ho, Jailor, come ! make open doors anone, What kings command it must be swiftly done. Ho, Hangman, heere ! make sharp your axe with speede, And with one blow cut off the Baptist's head. The Hangman. Rise up, thou wretch ! and cast thy coat there fro, Upon this block receive a deadly bio For thy trespasse, who guilty art of treason ; That such should sufFer,it'sboth right and ruason, John the Baptist- Great men have oft the guilt of greatest sins, Their pride and lust are linked fast as Twins, With diverse others of the vilest sort ; And yet they fret if any them exhort, For to cry out of their most vile offence, They ruling others are a slave to sen*'. Such feed on dainties and are always idle, So that their lusts they can not range or bridle ; Who feare not GOD, let them a prison feare, God will me helpe while as my death draws neere. The wicked live heere in a wo full way, Their life's a death ten thousand times a day. O thou Most High, who me to preach did send, Into thy hands my sonic I recommend. Now lift thy hand, and bring thou downe the stroake, My God's with me, hee will me not forsake. The Hangman. Ho, Damsel, come! as Herod did command, This bloody head receive you from my hand Within that platter ; be you glad therefore, For hence this tongue will treason preach no REMAINDER OF THE CONTENTS OF "THE FLOWERS OF ZION." THE FALL OF ADAM. The Speakers : 1. The Lord. 2. Adam. 3. Evah. 4. The Divel). 5. The Serpent. ( Contains about 900 lines. J ABP.L MURDERED. The Speakers : 1. The Lord. 2. Adam. 3. Evan. 4. Cain. 5. Abel. (Contains about 900 lines. J PHARAOIl's TYRANME AND DEATH. The Speakers. 1. Pharaoh. 2. The Egyptians. 3. The Taskmasters. 4. Itagncl. 5. Puah. b". Ainrain. 7. *** 8. I'haraoh's Daughter. !). Mizram. 10. Moses. 11. Zabad. 12. Zip- porah. 13. The People of Israel. 14. Jethro. 15. The Israelites. 16. Jehovah. 17. Aaron. 18. The Officers of Israel. 19. The Magicians. 20. Pharaoh's Servants. ( Contains about 2480 lines. J THE HISTORIE OF JACOB AND ESAU. The SpCak- ers: 1. The Lord. 2. Isaac. 3. Rebekah. 4. Esau. 5. Jacob, f Contains about 750 lines. J THE HISTORIF. OF JACOB AND LABAN. The Speakers: 1. The Lord. 2. Isaac. 3. Re- hckah. 4. Esau. 5. Jacob. 6. Laban. 7. Laban's Sonnes. 8. Leah. 9. Rachel. 10. Men of the East, f Contains about liOO lines. J JACOB AND ESAU RECONCILED. The Speakers : 1. The Lord. 2. Jacob. 3. Esau. 4. Leah. 5. Rachel. 6. Jacob's Messengers, f Contains about 720 lines. J DINAH RAVISII-ED BY SIIECHEM. TtlC SpCllkCTS : 1. Dinah, ii. Shechem. S.Simeon, 4. Levi. o. Hamor. (>. The Shcchcmites. 7. Jacob. ''Contains about 440 lines. ) JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. The Speakers : 1. Joseph. 2. Jacob. 3. Reuben. 4 Judah. 5. Jehovah. 0. The Egyptians. 7. Pharaoh. JOSEPH TEMPTED TO A DULTKKV. The Speakers : 1. The Ishmaelitcs. 2. Potiphar. 3. Potiphar's Wife. 4. Joseph. 5. The Nurse. 6. The Jailor. 7. The Divell. (Contains about 1615 lines, j NEBUCHADNPZZAK'S FIERIK FURNACE. The Speakers: l. King Nebuchadnezzar. 2. The Princes. 3. The Governours. 4. The C;ip- taines. 5. The Judges. C- The Treasurers. 7. The Counsellors. 8. The Sheriffes. 9. The Rulers of the Provinces. 10. The King's He- rald. 11. The People. 12. The Chaldean.;. 13. Shadrach. 14 Meshach. 15. Abednego. 16. The King's Mighty Men. f Contains about 3280 lines. J THE WORLD'S VANITIES : Divided into Eight branches. 1. Strength. 2. Honour. 3. Riches. 4. Ueautie. 5. Pleasure. 6. Wis- dom. 7. Children. 8. Long Life. {Contains about 550 lines. J THE NEW JERUSALEM, As it is described by St John in the Revelation, chapters xxii. and rxiii. THE POPISH POWDER PLOT. The Speakers: Christ King James Elizabeth Peeres of England 'I he Lords appointed to tryc the Traitors The Earles of Nottingham, Sufiblke, the Lord Monteagle, the Sherift'e of Worcester The Devill The Jesuit Gerrard Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, Guy Faux, c. &c. &c. /'Contains about 1568 lines. ) The following Engraving, presents a very accurate Fuc-similc of n page nf /o'cers f>f Zion," in, the Autograph <>f the Author : Th ' s r- * . o - / 403 - f - ^>^ r EXCERPTS FROM " THE ENGLISH ACADEMIES i Each Day's Exercise contains on the average, about "148 verses ; the Work in whole 4586 verses.) THE FIRST DAVE'S EXERCISE. * # * * 4 WHEN them thy dayes work shall begin, Call on God's blessed name With fervent heart; beware of sin For sin still bringeth shame. When ended is thy task at Even, See that you this practise, To call upon the God of Heaven ; Keep well this exercise. Youth is a seed time, which once past, Ileturneth not again ; So sowe, that you may at the last, Reape a most fruitt'ull grain. A gage of grace, it is most sure, Always to rest content With our own lot : strip not the poorc Of clothes, or no vestment. If wee seekc more, we are most dull, And know not what we say ; When each man hath his oiner full, The surplus rots away. No houses build with too great cost, To ly heere at your ease ; Care not for seelings with embost Your carnall eyes to please. Seeke for a house in heav'n alwayes, Where you may get your rest, When ended are your toilsome days ; This you shall find the best. When you at table down doe sit, To betters still give place ; This you shall find most sure and fit, For to avoide disgrace. In all your wayes strive to be meeke, And let your eyes not swell Like spark ling rubies, for to sccke Revenge, that is from Hell. Your passions strive for to supprobsc. And wisely clip their wings; By all means strive them to redresse, And to pull out their stings. Be not afraide the Lord to serve, On seas nor yet on lands, For he his servants doth preserve, By thousand winged bands. In craving debts bee not severe, But keep the middle way ; Men often who are too austere, Goe very farre astraye. By fraud or force take heed that you, The poore doe not oppresse, Lest that hee cry, and God it see, And bring you to distresse. In all your actions daily strive To keep an honest heart j If this you doe, God will receive, And save you in your smart. THE HFT DAVE'S EXERCISE. THE Divell doth there, by force without, And als by fraud within; Whom God sets not his guards about, Them Satan soon may win. By long experience, this Sp'rit Is growne profound in skill . This surely is his daily meat, Poor sinfull soules to kill. This heire of hell maliciously His secret plots directs; And als a banner boldly hee, 'Gainst Christ the Lord creels. By fraud, by force, this Proteus still, From space to space removes : He first a Fox with crafty skill, And la.st a Lyon proves. Hee retches r.ow with cnicltio. Hcciiu^p ho sec 1 - so <.or>n II KXCERI'TS. His reigne at end ; and fearfully His forces all undone. If he had strength to charme the Moone, And make the Sunne grow dark, While hee is at his brightest noone ; Hee should this gladly work. Hee as a crafty hunter lyes, And bolts of death he beares; Whom he may tempt he hourly tries, With fancies or with feares. Whiles hee comes with a secret plot, Like Angell all in light ; Whiles like a Divell in his black coat, He strives us to affright. With rumbling horrour furiously, Hee whiles assaults our eares, In monstrous forms most fearfully, To others he appears. Both pert and proud this Sp'rit must bee Who with the Lord did strive; Up in the heaven he thinks that hee, Men's ruin may contrive. If that the Lord in mercy great, Not interpos'd his pow'r, This furious tyrant would not sit, Till hee should all devour. He craftily men to obdure, Who liv'd in former age, Koar'd foorth responses most unsure, In a prophetick rage. Hee sat as God most high in place, And oracles gave out ; Which all had still a double face, Which made men but to doubt. This Sp'rit apostat in our dayes Goes raging ever still ; Hee hath great knowledge in his waycs, But bends it all to ill. Who can this Leviathan's tongue With steely crotchets thrill, Or with a thorne both sharp and long, His snuffing nose or guill ? With barbed irons, who indeed, By force his skin can fill? Or who with spears most sharp his head, Can by his power so thrill? Who shall him by his might unhood ? Who with a double reine? Shall bridle him so fierce and rude With snaffle, trench, or chain. Who can a bit put 'twixt his jaw es ? Which are a fcarcfull portal, linpal'd with terror of the lawes, Of hi^ sharp teeth so mortall. Darts daunt him not, this knowe we well, He cares not for the sword, That's forged of the finest steel ; Hee only feares the Word. The WORD OF GOD, and shields of faith, As Scripture tells us well, Are fittest armes in dayes of wrath, For to resist the Div'll. Who want this word with Fairies goe, And dance with them around, Who wanton songs sing them unto, With a most charming sound. THE SIXT DAYE'S EXERCISE. THE flowers, and herbs, and meadows all, Which did with ev'ry sense Make fast a league ; most surely shall, Bee burnt for our offence. Then like a poore dismantled townc, The aire, the sea and land, Heaven's seelings shall be broken downe, Earth's pillars shall not stand. If but ane house all fir'd by chance, In a whole Citie be, The thoughts of all them doth entrance, As all may clearly see. Then drums they beat, and bells they ring, And all look sowre and surly; Some cry, fire ! fire ! some water bring, All's in a hurly burly. No thing is heard but noise and cry ; Some climb, some water beare ; And some with axes by and by, The roofe in pieces teare. All with amazement filled be, Men runne then, turne by turnc To stay the danger ; where they see The rest is like to burne. If such confusion men doe see, For such a burning small, O what a noise, what cryes shall be, When God shall fire us ALL ! THE SEVENTH DAYE'S EXERCISI). WHO can a silk worm ev'ry year Change ev'r from form to form ; Can soon our dust from graves uprear. And quickly them transform. Though thousand bodies in one grave Big-bellied were laid down, Each body then shall surely have, All that which is its own. EXCERPTS. XXXV Their bodies which in times before Were instruments of grace; Shall rise in glory, and no more Mortgaged be in that place. THE FOURTEENTH DAYE*S EXERCISE. BEWARE that sloth and idlencsse, Unto a task thee tye, Lest that thou with lasciviousnesse, Be catched by and by. Who in their curiositie, To wander set their minds, They heere and there faire lodgings see Wherein they have no friends. Some others contrary to those, Will neither walk nor ride For God or man ; but them inclose Still by their warm fireside. Beware new faces for to forme, By fat and greasy fard : For such as thus themselves transform, Hot Tophet is prepar'd. Too many offer service still, But doe fly off in matter; These all corrupt have set their will, To faine and ah to flatter. To one that's old, as you may see, It is a shame indeed, To play the yonker foolishly, Ev'n with his swan-white head. Who haunts the gracelesse rich or poor, And cares no thing for that; Hee's like the mouse that plays secure, Beside the nimble Cat. The greedy heart would have thee give Whatever thing it craves. It is most difficile to live, Among a knot of knaves. It is a folly sparingly, Great treasures up to hoord ; For after comes who lavishly, Spends what you could affoord. Of all your rents see carefully, Yee yearly something save ; Hee'11 break his neck, who foolishly Forspends before he have. If lusty thou great beautie have. Then take good care to save it ; It's hard to keep and safely save, A thing when many crave it. THE TWENTIETH DAYE'S EXERCISE WITH willing mind doe not amisse, For any things heere bee, Those who them prodigally kisse, Their vanitie shall see. Though you doe ill, and for a time Be spar'd, yet sure the day Shall come ; who doth commit a crime, Shall not win well away. While beauties blubber'd starres goe dim, Seek for God's beauties rare ; For at the last though you be trim, The wormes thee will not spare. If thou a king exalted bee, Bee rich in rarest parts, So shall thou in thy kingdom see, A monarchy of hearts. Bee carefull ever to be chaste, Abhorre unlawfull love ; Unto God's judgement seat at last, From hence you must remove. This very hard is for to find, A wond'rous wonder rare, A constant woman in her mind, Who's proud because she's fair. Trust not in him who fears no fall, But sinfull humbly bows, To hide his sin from men ; such shall Not well perform their vovves. f When a good cause thou hast in hand, Bee not of a base mind ; But make thy masters in the land, And march thy foes to find. Prevent, invade, and overcome, God will you help at last; Whatever dangers to thee come, Thou need'st not be agast. In stately troupes see thou not trust, Which rich in arms excell ; All mortall men they are but dust, Though they were nev'r so fell. t From the allusions made in the following verses, which form but a small part of the subject, it is probable, that " The English Academic " was written about the commencement, or during the progress of the war in defence of Presbytcnanisin. '1 he whole of his poetry appears to have been composed in the last sixteen or seventeen years of his life, with the exception of" 'ihe Flowers of Zion," which were most likely earlier productions, EXCKKPTS. Though with conceits of courage great, To men they seem to swell, The basest rogues ev'n from their seat, Will quicklie them expell. Let a good cause thee courage give, When souldiers rage and roar ; It better is to die than live, With those God carts not for. It surely is a grievous sore, When prodigall of wrath, Vile rascals rise up to devore, And put good men to death. THE TWENTY SEVENTH DAYIi's KXKKCISE. PASSE not thy youth in vanitie, In foolish taunting mockes; It is a shame a foole to bee, When come thy snovvie locks. Some trade of life, both <*reat and small Upon this earth must have ; Some saile upon the Brinie Ball, Some to be plowers crave. Some bide at home ; and some goe farre, Where they may find a place ; Some have their hearts inclin'd to warre, Some still are set for peace. Some through the steep and stonie hills, As foot boyes poore must scud ; And some sued hedges with their bills, And some build walls of mudde. Some with sharp axes hew the trees, And some build houses rare; And some to princes bend their knees, And live on daituie fare. Some preachers ordain'd are to bee, And some to teach the schools Appointed are; as all may see, Men idle are but fools. The sweating heat wee suffer must, And als the shiv'ring cold ; They must be overlaid with dust, Who glory would behold. Heere without paines no thing on earth ; Paines all things overcome, Man suffers dolours from his birth, And after that goes home. He hath his fits ev'n like the sea, Which course alternate keeps ; From deeiies to shores that stedfast bee ; And from the shores to deepes. No rest at all on earth wee have, No rest can heere bee found, Alost constant things which heere we crave. Like whirligigs goe round. Most like the pulse within the flesh, Or like the tide in sea ; All things below, both more and less, Goe to and froe wee see. Behold, heere one, who cannot heare That any mirth should bring ; Another gladly doth give eare, When sporting gigs we sing. To keep true cadence to the spring, They measure well their face ; Some others think that all this thing, Is but a mere disgrace. So many heads, so many wits, They are as wee may see ; Most things below doe goe by fits; They most unconbtant bee. All things unconstant from their source, Heere scene are in each place ; Fair Cynthia doth not in her course, So often change her face. Whiles wee are cold, and whiles all hot ; Whiles meek we seem to bee ; Whiles wee are like a seething pot, Or like a troubled sea. Whiles wee doe laugh, and whiles we weepe, Most like a cutted vine Our pearled teares, most brinie creep As from that wound, the wine. When wee on seas sore tossed be, Will often cry a shore; But when wee find us at a lee, Wee foolish rage and roar. When God's hand as a cunning Leach, Hath healed well our wound : Wee then anone forget to preach, What favours wee have found. By Ladies great no thing is spar'd, Their beautie to reforme ; Their face they stil! lay ov'r with fard To get another forme. God's colours can them never please ; But they must by and by, Of foolish men to please the eyes, By art their faces dye. Pride cryes to them, Lay forth vour lock. And freshest colours seek, That yee the Bell among the flock, Mav beare most Ladv like. From thence doth rise great jealousie, Who in a beautie rare, Should most be pleasant to the eye ; And as the fairest fair. Thus for to seeme, there many bee, That lively colours seeke ; To hide their form most cunninglie, And cov'r their sallow cheek. The mind of man still as wee see. Yawns after diverse things ; The earth can never fill our eye, It no contentment brings. All things belowe are still in change, Upon this earthly globe ; Men giv'n unto apperall strange, Can not weare out their robe. A fashion new must still be had, They care not for the cost; That fashion fine, anone grows bad, Then is that garment lost. Coat changing fellowes trouble all ; Whiles with their pullrons wide, And whiles with crews to make them small They goe from side to side. A thousand forms they doe invent, Men's body to defonne ; With God's hands they are not content, Which gave to them their form. Their Hats now with a pointed crowne, Seeme comely to the eye; That Fashion must anone come downe, And broad they all must bee. With broad lips for to save from heate, Our hats must be this year; But cutted lips anone seeme meete ; All is unconstant heere. On God let us fix our delite, Upon this earth so strange ; That wee may weare those garments white, Which wee shall never change. As in our clothes so in our meate, Wee giv'n to changes are; Whiles us to coole, and whiles to heate, Things must be brought from farre. The Indian spice to chase the cold, Must pepper all our broth ; Some there bee of another mold, That spices all doe loth. Some for the cooling Citron cry, For to refresh their livre, That by its juice they by and by May quench their burning f'uvre. And some againe use strongest wine, The Dropsie for to scatter, Which makes the body for to dwine, And turns our drink to water. Some for the Apricock doe cry, Which is of plums the prince ; And some the Marmalet doe buy, Made of the downy quince. Some most the Apple sweete doe love, And some th" astringent Peare ; Some doe the Cherry best approve, And some the Meddelier. Some love the Damson, black and white, And some had rather eate, The Olive aiding appetite, While men are at their meat. The Nutmegs dangling on the trees, Are quickly pulled downe To spice our drink ; some have their eyes Upon the Cinamon. Some there bee also, who for taste, Love the Hesperian Keede, Whence sugger sirrops that are best, In great abundance bleede. Some most of all doe love the vine, Which gripes in thousand sorts, With winding arms about to twine, Her spouse that her supports. Some also bee who foolishly Tobacco still must have ; They live on smoke, and still they bee Unto clay pipes a slave. Yet all this great varietie, Can not content our mind ; Wee still are in anxietie Some new things for to find. When they are found, within a space, They seem no thing to bee, When something from some other place, Must corne to please our eye. At God's service wee cannot stand, But changes wee must have ; Though wee not doe then understand, This is to bee a slave. The love of Christ is now growne cold, Wee little Him remember; To sinne against Him wee are bold ; The best they often slumber. In the Exercise of the S!8th, '."9th, 30th and Slst day, a aricty of the objects in animate and inanimate nature \uthor ; such as, the Sun, Moon, Planets, Constellations, Animals, Birds. Ueasts, Fishes, Precious Stones, Trees, Flowers, &i' The fixed tapers caper still, As wee below estecme; EXCERPTS. But the Seven Planets in our skill, Doe never shake a bcame. Through various passage constantly, They runne both to and froe, And though they wand'rers seem to bee, Yet orderly they goe. Ingenious Saturne first I see, Bald, hoary, wrinkled fac'd; Both sad and siient, still is hee Among the planets plac'd. Next Jupiter with mild aspect ; Hee hath the second place, With modestie he doth correct, The frownes of Saturn's face. Third, Mars with fierie lookes appears, The Master of misorder, Who all the land doth fill with fears, With strife and bloody murder. The fourth, the Sunne with fair aray, A nd goldy locks most bright, Goes as a Bridegroome ev'ry day ; For to revive our sight. Fifth, smiling Venus in her sphere Most bright is to be scene ; 'Mongst other planets which appeare, She seems to be a Queene. Sixt, Mercury smooth Orator, With nimble winged heeles, Doth glister faire ; but goes not farre From Phoebus golden w heeles. Last Luna with her face so faire, But with a borrow'd light ; Her colour is like silver rare, But changeth ev'ry night. Those Seven swift posts doe wander still, Not one another cumber; They in their journey not stand still, As in a sloathfull slumber. Among the Planets Seven, I see The Sunne goe like a King, That in his country seemes to bee, In stately progressing. The rest are but like Lords, or Knights, Or Dukes, that him attend, Or braw Esquires ; those dimmer lights Unto him service tend. The noble Lion first appears, Who first of all hath place; The other beasts are fill'd with fearcs, When hee but frowiies his face. When as this beast roars furiously, Entred in bloody list, Hee rouz'd, doth sharpen his grimme eye, And ruffles up his crest. Hee stareth wild upon his foe, When hee him doth behold ; lice whets his rage while hee doth goe, Unto the Battell bold. The Elephant, Vice Roy, I see Among the brutish band ; Hee for his Strength and Majestic The Vant-gard doth command. A witty beast he seems to bee, In many things perfite; He hath a trump, strange ! wherewith hee Is said sometimes to write. Among the rest the Dog I see, Who hath a perfect smell ; By God appointed, hee's to bee For man a Sentinell. Hee still about the house doth runne, For to hold off the theefe, Untill the rising of the Sunne : Of watches hee's the cheefe. The wanton Weezell skips about ; There plays the wily Fox, To worry lambs, or birds most stout, Among the clefts of rocks. All other birds, of divers sort, Upon the earth are seen, Which for poor man, for to comfort, Ordained well have been. The daintie Plover for the taste, And Goldfinch for the eye ; The Partridge, Wood-cock, all well dresst, Most royall meate to be ; And divers others doe wee see, Some bigger and some less ; Which by the Lord appointed be, His praises to express : The Brigandar and Cormorant, The Barnard and the Quaile, The Kingfisher, that will not want, And als the cat-fac't Owl, The Seaman and the chattering Pyc, The Haven and als the Rooke, The Yelander and Papingay, The Teele, the Drake, the Duk, The wanton Sparroh, hot in lust, The Capon and the Hen, That secke their meatc among the dust, There's Robine and the Wren. I heere the foolish Cuckoo crye ; No song hee hath but one ; The little Titling sits him by, Upon some bush or thorne. The Starling and the Snipe I see, The Wagtaile and the Storke, And other birds, by land and sen, The great God's handy work. Aureola I well did see, In France, the woods among, Who, with long threeds, knit to a tree, Her waving nest did hang. The threedes from some dung hill she had Ta'en for to be those bands : The threedes, as I perceiv'd, though bad, Were spunne by women's hands. At ev'ry corner, nine or ten Were fastn'd to the tree, As it had beene by hands of men : I wond'red it to see. Then at the last ; it well to see, And also it to feele, I cut the branch all from the tree, And it consider'd well. The nest within was well made warm, With fog and softest downe ; That there her brood, free of all harm, Might tumble up and downe. Her body is in quantitie Like Starling's; she doth shewe Her yellowe feathers gloriously, All of a golden hewe. My spirit within almost did faile, While I did it behold, For it seem'd all, from top to taile, To be of finest gold. The way how I her note did try Was, that some greedy Kit Did spoile her nest ; and make her cry As in a furious fit. Whiles to this place, and whiles againe Far from it she did flee, For to lament her birds all slaine ; So I the nest did see. J3ut for to laud those rarities, Now let us goe along ; That wee, with great varietie, From birds may heare a song. The cheefest minstrels that I knowe. Which with their leathers movo, Are Mavis', Larks, and Linnets love, And Nightingales my love . The mirthful Mavis, when she sings, Glad in her service hot, Gives great contentment unto kings : Shee clearly lifts her note ; With sweetest warbles that can bee, In voice that's loud and shrill; The pleasant woods with melodie, She in the spring doth fill. The lofty Lark, in winding wise, Clhnbes through the welkin blew ; She chanting, high above the skyes, Her notes doth still renew. But O I must not now forget The prety Nightingale, Which hath its music notes so set, That it doth never faile. In shape and colours it I see, Like Robine Red-breast faire : Of all the birds none surely be, That with her can compare. A wonder great it seemes to me, A wonder unto all ; That it can raise its notes so hie, Ev'n from a breast so small. God's might so peopl'd hath the Sea With fish of divers sort ; That men therein may clearly see, Great things for their comfort. There is such great varietie, Of fishes of all kind, That it were great impietie, God's hand there not to find. The Fuffen Torteuse and Thorneback, The Scillop and the Goujeon, The Shrimpe, the Spit fish, and the Sprat, The Stock fish, and the Sturgeon. The Torteuse, Tench and Tunny fish, The Sparling and the Trout ; And Herring, for the poor man's dish, Is all the land about. The Groundling, Gilthead, and the Crab, The Gurnard, Cockle, Oyster, The Cramp fish, and als the Sea Dog, The Crefish and the Conger, The Periwinkle and Twinfish It's hard to count them all : Some are for oyle, some for the dish : The greatest is the Whale. He describes this tish at Rrcal lenpth, from .lob's Levia- than: and takes occasion also to notice, in detail, thr KXCEKI'TS. history of his favourite "i>cttish prophet," Jonah. Ofthc i il.iinily which befell him he thus speaks : That said, they Jonah took at last, Both by Ihe feet and head ; And overboard they did him cast, Into the Sea, with speed. But God, in mercy, did perceive That he, who by the lot Appointed was to die; should have A whale to be his boat. Therefore he made the whale quicklie, His mouth to open wide, Him to receive as soon as hee, Came down from the Ship's side. That was the fish to Jonah made, A house and als a prison ; Where three days and three nights he had, Of trembling feares great reason. Then were his prayers his repast, Wherein he did excell ; While in that prison he lay fast, The belly ev'n of Hell. Heere was his Chamber and his Hall, His pantry and his palace ; 'Mongst rolling fishes, great and small, As Herrings," Mullets, Crefish. A miracle how in that Hall, Hee still remained rawe ; And was not ev'n digested all Within that Monster's mawe. The whale him carried still about, Among the weedes and sand; And did at last him vomit out, All safe upon the Land. Some write, that little Musculus, A fish, goes him before, And him directs ; that he may passe Safe botli from Shelfs and shoare. Among the stones, the herbes, the tree; Let us now set our mind ; To seeke in such varieties, The Living God to find. The Carbuncle doth glister clcare, Both in the day and night ; While other stones doe not appeare, Then it doth shine most bright. The Chrysolite doth signify, A precious stone of gold ; 'J he Learned doth it magtiifio. For vertuc;- manifold. The Berill, of colour greene, Like waters of the Sea ; It very hardly found hath beene But where the Indias bee. The Diamond, which doth asswagc With vertues manifold ; In mind of man doth hinder rage, As divers writers hold. At first, for hardnesse, men did think It could not broken bee ; But by Goat's blood, which it doth drink, It's broken easilie. The Indian Sapphire, as wee see, Is of a colour blewe, Like as when cleared is the Skie, With a bright heav'nly hewe. Some trees for fruits arc excellent, And some for fewell be; Some planted are for this intent, For to content our eye. Some are als for another use, As planters think it meete ; For timber for to build our house, Or for cold shades in heate. Upon their branches that are greene, The pleasant birds doe play, And warble sweetly, niorne and ev'n, For man, their heav'nly lay. When Summer gales most pleasantly, Doe wave with gentle puffs, Their leafy sprig.s ; it glads the eye To see their gaudy tuffs. The Lord those trees made of each sort, By wisdom that's divine; But none to men bring such comfort. As doth the noble Vine. This tree is filled all with love, Coils in a thousand sortes, With winding arms, lowe and above, Her Spouse that her supports. Though it bee of a stature lowe, And slmib-Fik seemes to be; There is no tree that hecre doth grow, Which like it wee can see. Its sacred liquor doth comfort, If temperately ta'en, Revives the sp'rites and cheeres the heart, And purifies the braine. It in those that are worn \\ith age Increaseth kindly heat; It dumpish thoughts doth well ;issn;ig( And ;il-. HijrrsK o.ir mralf ; xli It als doth within our veiues, The purest blood beget ; It us refresheth after paines. And sharpens well our wit; The stomach it doth strengthen, and It als our colour mends ; Our veins it purgeth from all sand ; And doth our bladder cleanse ; Maugre the tempests of this life, It frees the mind of care, While deadly cares, debate and strife, Would drive us to despaire. Strong drink is fit for those that be, In danger, griefe, arid smart ; Wine is for those whom we do see, To be of heavy heart. The heart with courage it fills so, That men all feare of scar, Darre boldly to the battell goe, In a most bloody warre. To those that drink it soberly, It serveth for good use; But God above most fearfully, Will punish its abuse. Now leaving trees, without delay Let us the herbes and flow'rs Consider well; that so we may Well spend our golden hours. I see the sage in gardens set, A cordiall good indeed : The Thistle blest is sure most fit, Both for the heart and head. I see the cooling Succory, The Spinage and Vervain, The Shepherd's purse, which mightily, Can running blood restrain, The Spikenard and Valerian, Wood-sorrell, Argentine, And Itubarb, which most gently can Purge well the intestine. Wise Solomon, who had God's pen Committed to his hand, Did write of herbs, for well of men, That they might understand. Hee of all trees and herbes did write, Ev'n from the Cedar tall, Untill the Hyssop whose delight, Is in some naughty wall. The Lord, in mercy, plants hath giv'n, With fruits and pleasant flow'rs, Which by their vertues, sent from heav'n, Comfort those hearts of ours. How many gasping soules indeed From dangers great have 'scap'd By herbes,which those have cur'dwith speede, For whom the graves have gap'd. Herbes have restor'd the bodies weak, Drown'd in melancholy ; And those whose members all did shake, Most ready for to die. The frozen limbs they youthfull make, And fainting hearts sustaine ; Our life declining they bring backe, And long it doe maintaine. God hath made in his mercy great, For man the herbes and trees, Wherein he may find vertues fit, For to cure each disease. That in a healthsome body wee, A healthsome soule may have ; It still by all should wished be, As wise men may perceive. Therefore in this Academic, Of sicknesse and of cure, I will directions give to thee, Thy health for to procure. " Helps for health, wherein are set downe remedies for a great number of diseases befalling to the body of man, in Heroick verse." This, which was likely a curious part of the MS. is unfortunately wanting. " THE MORNING IIYMNE FOR CHRIST," concludes the volume. RECIPES WRITTEN ON THE AUTHOR'S FAMILY BIBLE. FOR THK GOUT. Take white sopo, and the yok of anc egg- * * * * * upon the sore. A NOTAIiLi: KCCU'E. The conserve of proine Hours is notable against, madnesse ; and also against all s (rango fantasies, frights, and fear, which trouble the mind. 1 xlii "THE FOURE EVANGELS. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. THOSE who have received the earnest of the Spirit have unspeakable joyes and glorious . By God's word they are commanded to sing, Epes. 5. 18 ; be filled with the Spirit, v. 19, Speaking to yourselves in Psalmes and Hymnes,and Spirituall Songs, singing and making melodic iu your hearte to the Lord. Col. 3. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in Psalmes and Hymnes, and Spirituall Songs, singing with grace in your heartes to the Lord. We see by these precepts, that great joy c is appointed for all God's servants, even heere on earth, though their troubles be many. Consider how we are commanded to have Psalmes and Hymnes for melodic; David in his Psalmes sings often God's praises, for deliverance from his enemies, and for delivering his people from the land of Ham, which was Egypt. O how greater cause have we to sing the praises of Christ, not for delivering us from the land of Ham, but from the pit of Hell. If, to the praises of David for the slaughter of Goliah, it was sung by the daughters of God's people, Saul hath slaine his thousand, and David his ten thousand, 1 Sam. 18. 7. O how much more have we reason to sing the praises of Christ, who hath overcome the Divell, who hath, Epes. 4. 8. led captivitie captive : and given giftcs to men. Let his merites and his mercies be the matter of all our songs; let all our glories awake for his praise on earth, till in that hcavcnlic Quire we joine our voice, Revel. 11. 2. to the voice of those Harpers, harping with their harpes most sweete Halleluiahs for ever. I knowe no poet, but that worthie auncient Greek poet, Nonnus, that hath made any verse upon the New Testament ; hee hath very worthilie done upon the Gospel of S. John. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S. MATTHEW, IN ENGLISH VERSE. A PRAYER. THY grace my guide Lord, hitherto hath beene; Thou hast me help't, as it may well be scene. From Adam to the Judges, for thy glory, My pen hath gone ev'n in the sacred story, Through Judges all, and Kings that were not few ; Thou me unwind that knotty snarled clue Made in my verse ; and taught me how to chuse Of all their lives, that which was most for use. Through Ezra :ils, and Nehemiah wise, And Esther too, thou hast brought me likewise. Both Job and Psalms, and Proverbs all alongs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, By thee I have compil'd; of all this wholy, I with my heart ascribe to thee the glory. O now JOVAU, I pray thee not disdaine, To guide my pen ; and case me of my paine, In this gude work, that I the sugre'd dainties May now bring foorth ; which thou in sacred places, Sent by thy Sonne, that only Sonne of thine, Who of our shines the coards did all untwine; Who did us save caught in a sad disaster,, Where more we striv'd, we stack the faster. Thou who thy servants alwayes doth inspire, Goe with this Work, I humbly thee require; Make Zephire sweete, blow on this garden Lord, And on her flowers such musky sighes afford, As that to all that view this sacred Held, It may a new and daintie savour ycelde. My greatest paines, shall be no paines but ease, If that my paines and pen, do well thee please. This is the Book excellent, of The generation Of Jesus Christ from David come ; Of Abram who's the sonne. Isaac, Abram did beget, And Isaac did also Beget Jacob ; Jacob, Judas With all his brethren so. And Judas, I 'hares, Zarah als Who botli of Thamarcame, EXCERPTS. xliii 10. 15. And Pharez, Esrora ; Esrom hee, Als did beget Aram. And Aram 'gat Aminidab ; Aminidab, Naasson ; And Naasson also, after that Begat his sonne Salmon. And Salmon, Booz of Itachab, And Booz after that, Obed begat of Ruth, and hee Als Jesse so begat. And Jesse David did beget, Who was the King, who more 'Gat Solomon of her that was, Uria's wife before. And Solomon Iloboam 'gat, And he als Abia Begat ; and after Abia als, Begat the King Asa. And Asa likewise did beget, The worthy Josaphat ; And Josaphat begat Joram, Who Ozias begat. And Ozias begat Jotham, And Jotham 'gat Achas; And Achas also did beget, The good Ezekias. And Ezekias did beget Manasses ; and als hee Begat Amon ; and Amon als Josias, King to bee. And Jechonias, he begat, And his brethren that day; About the time they carried were, To Babylon away. And after that, Jeehonias Begat Salathiel ; Salathiel also did beget, The good Zorobabel. And Zorobabel, Abiud Begat ; and furthermore, That Abiud 'gat Eliakim, And Eliakim, Azor. And Azor, Sadoc did beget ; And Sadoc als Ahim ; And Ahim begat Eliud, Who did come after him. And Eliud, Eleazar Begat ; and after that, Eleazar begat Matthan, And Matthan Jacob 'gat. And Jacob, Joseph did beget. Whn Mary's husband was. Of whom after, was Jesus born Who paid for our trespass. CHAP. II. When of Judea, Jesus was Thus born in Bethlehem ; In Herod's days wise men from East, Came to Jerusalem. They said, where is he that is born ? King of the Jewes to bee, For seeing his starre in the east, To worship him come wee. When the King Herod heard this thing, That spoken was by them, He troubled was ; and als with him Was all Jerusalem. 4. Then he the priests and scribes also, Together gathered he ; Of them he earn'stly did demand, Where Christ then born should be. They said to him, in Bethlehem Of Judah ; so far thus, Ev'n by the prophet Micah, it Most surely written is. Thou Bethlehem of Judah art, Not so the least among The Princes, that in Judah's land, Have rule born very long. For out of thee shall surely come, One that shall all us call; A Governour that well shall rule, My people Israel. Then Herod when he privily The wise men in his fear Call'd ; of them he enquired when The bright starre did appear. And he them sent to Bethlehem, And said unto them, goe, For the young child with diligence, See that yee search also. 0. And when you have him found, see that You bring soon word to me, That I may come and worship him, In all humilitie. 1. When they departed, lo ! the starre Which they saw in the east, Went them before ; untill it stood O're where the child did rest. xliv PSALTER. THREE or four editions of Mr Boyd's version of the Psalms have heen published, but they are now very scarce. He also rendered into verse as a companion to his Psalter " The songs of the Old and New Testament," such as, the Book of the " Song of Songs," that of" Moses at the Red Sea, of Deborah, Hannah, David, Jonah, Marie," &c. We subjoin a few specimens. PSALM 1. Blest is the man that walks not in TV ungodlie's counsell ill ; Nor stands in wayes of sinners, nor In scorncrs' seats sits still. But in the law of God the Lord, Is alwayes his delight ; And constantly he meditates, In his law day and night. And he shall be, ev'n like a tree, The rivers planted by, That in his season bringeth foorth, His fruit most plenteously : His leaf also at any time, Not wither shall at all ; And whatsoever thing he doth, It prosper surely shall. The men ungodly are not so, But in their wicked way, Are like the chafFe which stormy wind, Doth quickly drive away. Therefore th' ungodly shall not stand, Before the Judge's face ; Nor in the righteous company, The sinners shall have place. For wel the Lord doth know the way, Even of the righteous all ; But the way of ungodly men, Most surely perish shall. PSALM 23. The mighty Lord my shepherd is, Who doth me dayly feed : Therefore I shall not want the thing Whereof I stand in need. He makes me in the pastures green, Ly down by his good-will ; He in his mercy doth me lead, Beside the waters still. My wearied soul he cloth re'-torr, lie also ilotli mo li'ad, Into the paths of righteousncsse, For his Name's sake indeed. Though through the valley of death's shade, I walk, I'l fear no ill; Thou art with me, thy rod and staffe, Me comfort ever still. Thou sets in presence of my foes, A table me before ; Mine head with oyl thou dost anoynt, My cup it runneth o're. Goodnesse and mercy all my life, Shall heer me follow still ; And in the house of Gon the LOKD, For ever dwell I will. PSALM 67. God unto us be merciful!, And blesse us with his grace; And cause alwayes to shine on us, Ilis bright and glorious face. That thy good way upon the earth, To all men may be known ; And als among the nations all, Thy saving health be shown. Thee let the people praise, O God ! Let them all praise thee so. O let the nations still be glad, And sing for joy also. For thou the people righteously, Shalt judge by thy good will ; And all the nations on the earth, Shalt govern wisely still. 5. O God ! thec let the people praise, Thee praise even let them all. 6. Then shall the earth her increase yeekl, And our God blesse us shall. God in his mercy, surely shall 1,'s blesse both far and neerc ; And als the ends of all the earth With reverence shall him fear. xlv THE SONG OF SONGS. Christ, Untill the day most clearly break, And shaddows flee from hence; I'le get me to the mounts of myrrhe, And hills of frankincense. My Church, my love, thou art all fair, And so thou seemes to me, Thou art so washen, and made clean, There is no spot in thee. * * ' * * * The Church. O north wind ! quickly now awake, And come thou south, about Upon my garden blow, that so Its spices may flow out. Let my Beloved come at last, Into his garden sweet ; That he there even most cheerfully, His pleasant fruits may eat. Strangers enquiring for Christ. O fairest among Women ! what Is thy Beloved more ? What is he more, than others arc That thou dost charge so sore. The believing Jewes. O that thou, my blest Saviour now, Wert as my Brother neer, That sucked hath the breasts of her Who is my Mother deare. When I should find thee here without, I would with gladnesse thee Most loving kisse, even so that I Should not despised be. THE SONG OF JONAH, Containing a Prayer and Thanks, for hi> deliverance out of the bellie of the Whale, wherein he had heene three days and three nights. Jonah 2nd, verse 1. I cry'd to God, and he me heard : Out of hell's belly, I Did cry aloud, and thou my voice Even heardest by and by. 2. For thou hadst me cast in the deep, In the midst of the sea, The floods me compass'd, and thy waves Did all passe over me. 3. Then said I, I out of thy sighf, Am cast with great disdaine, Yet to thy holy temple I, Will surely look again. 4. Even to the soul the waters did, Me compasse all with speed, The depths me clos'd about, the weeds Were wrapt about my head. 5. To bottoms of the mountains steep, I went down speedilie ; The earth for ever with her bars Did alwayes compass me. Yet hast thou from corruptions pit, By mercies me upon, O Lord my God, and Saviour dear, My life brought up anone. 0. The Lord I did remember when My troubled soul in me Did faint, into thy temple came My prayer, even unto thee. 7. They that do lying vanities, Observe in any way, Their own mercy most foolishly, They do forsake alway. 8. But I to thee with thankfull voice Will sacrifice afford, What I have vow'd, I mind to pay ; Salvation's of the Lord. THE BATTLE OF NEWBURN. Tins poem extends to 1C pages Svo., and is perhaps one of the most inferior in poeti- cal merit, which we have had an opportunity of seeing. It presents a mixture of the serio-comic huddled together very oddly, and from the circumstance of its having gone to a '2nd edition, was at that time, most likely, very generally perused, and esteemed an excellent production. The following analysis of its contents, with a few specimens, will afford the reader some amusement, and some knowledge of what is now valuable, only as a literary curiosity. Opening with an address to his "Excellence, General! Lcslv," our Author tints speaks : 1 wish I Ivul a Yfiiu' with verso divine', Whorrnl" I niipr'ir pyrp-iiT n rich prnpinr. To ofler In your worthi<> Excellence A man Hv (iort rnisHn for th^ Tnilh xlvi EXCERPTS. To helpChrist's church in need you have not faild, Was in strange ways ; Arise ! now to command, When Shee by Strength and Stratagem assaild Yee who Scotland's rudder have in your hand. Next comes the " Battell," but previously to entering into the thickest of it, he invokes assistance to himself from the proper quarter. O Prince of Poets ! make my braine to boile With grace and verse, that 1 may now extoll God's praises high; my tongue and pen Lord steep In lauding songs, pleasant like syrups sweet; My cloudy sp'rite with thy bright beamcs make clear, And in my weaknesse, make thy strength appear. Unto my sute, O Lord, thine; care incline, My drowsie heart and drossie sp'rites refine; On me a portion of thy sp'rite bestow, With heavenly fire now make mine heart to glow. Now up my Muse, make haste to thy career, And sing how God hath freed us of our fear At Ncwburns foord ; where brave Scots passed the Tine Under Christ's colours, with courage divine. He then introduces " the Cannons and Footmen." The Scots cannons, powder and balls did spew, Which with terrour,the Canterburians slew, With hideous roaring and with sulphry flash, They blew such boast that made the clouds to clash ; Yea, thundered so, as though they would have riven The burnished vaults,and battlements of Heaven. Bals rushed at random, which most fearfully Menac'd to break the portals of the sky. The lulls about did greatly grone and grumble. The bals did roul ; both heaven and earth did rumble : To hear such noise, it did give men to think, That heaven and earth, and all did shake and shrink. All this, however, was hut mere sound and child's play to the mutilating and deadly effects. The poulder blast most fiercely did remove, Their beards below, and mustaches above; The whisking bals made all their cheekes so smooth, They sought no Pincers for to draw a tooth ; Yea," legs and arms which in the air did flee, Were then cut olF(like gibblcts,) fearfully. The Scottish bals, so dash'd them with disdain, That hips ov'r head, their skul did spew their brains; Both legs, and arms, and heads, like dust did flee, Into the air with fearfull mutinie. The bals their legs, the legs their heads did break, The heads their arms, the arms did cleave their neck, Each past another did with fury dash. Teeth tare the tongue, and teeth on teeth did gnash, Like pains in hell, they did on other chatter ; The bloody bals, made all their bones to clatter. Mens ribs did rattle at this service hole, They riven, did cut the weasont of the throat, Their foot, their thigh, their breast did break their back. Such was the Kcclc dance at that thunder crack. In this conflict, which was both sowre and surely, Bones, blood, and braines went in a hurly burly. All was made liodgc podge, some began to croole, Who fights for prelats is a beastly foole. Afterwards the " Horsemen" come in for a share of the execution. Then the Horsemen to skirmish did begin, The Pistol bals as thick as rain did spin ; They like small streames in number did conspire Together, for to make a flood of fire. Their bals in squadrons came like fire and thunder Mens hearts and heads, both for to pierce and plunder; Their errand was, (when it was understood,) To bathe mens bosoms in a scarlet flood. From such disastrous consequences, other things could not be expected, than that those of the English army who were so fortunate as to be alive, and able to make their escape, should take to their heels; which gives occasion to our Author finally to celebrate " the Victorie." Thus stood the case, but God of Heaven at last Fought for the Scots ; so that their foes agast Did flee with fear, like Hindcs before the Houndcs ; Their //ark, not /}.-, received most shameful! wo>indc">. The cupping glasse was needful there to be, For Scots broad swords had skill to scarifie. Their backs and shoulders, (of this make no doubt,) That rotten blood and humours might come out Bui t hoy ngist did run in sqtianrom thick EXCERPTS. Abhorring much such rough Scottish Physicke. They would have given their houses and their lands To have been out of such Chirurgions hands ; They spar'd not spurs, to flee they were not slack, Great fear them made, like Cancers, Thus having spent their poulder, to go back, courage and their The Scots them scutcht both upon back and shoulder ; Clusters of stroakes most fiercely on them fell, Which made their hearts to swell, and backs to swell. In tliis engagement so extravagantly descanted on, the Scots lost only 4 or 5 men ; but had more wounded. The circumstance of it was exultingly cherished by the Presbyterians, from the intimidation which it threw into their enemies, and the strength it afforded to their claims, which must be the meaning of our Author when he says, Let all fall down in an Aceldama, It is to them but matter of Ha, Ha. Though this battell was fought with little blood, Yet it was great, if it were understood. From page 16 to 24, which finishes the Work, he has inserted a number of short complimentary poems to the principal leaders of the Scots army,- and a kind of Elegy " for the Son of Sir Patrick Makgie," who was the only person of distinction who fell on that day. He was the Son of Sir Patrick Makgie of Largo in Galloway. Of this brave young soldier he says, " In this conflict, which was a great pitie, We lost the Son of Sir Patrick Makgie, Whose great courage did thrust him in a throng, Where he did die, fighting his foes among." &c. Mention may also be made of the following very pithy and short address, well suited for a covenanting army, who were sometimes neither very well clothed, nor regularly paid. " For all sorts of Christ's souldiers." " Whoever he was that fought for God that day, May look from Christ to get both^rafse and pay." THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT Throws some light on what is meant by the phrase, " can SKIPPE at the SCOLS with her S tillshee bee sicke with healths." Page 12.5 of " The Last Battell." Health is a great benefite and would bee meekillmade of: let vsso spend it, that while it is spent, wee may haue some comfort to remember how wee haue spent it. Seeing my text is of health & of sicknesse, let mee say something against these that are enemies both of their o\vne health, and of other mens. To you first J addresse my speach, who are drinkers of strong drinke, or rather strong in drink- ing. Men of strength to mingle strong drinke, and to scoll as wee say : how call yec such scolls? scols of health. What folio is this, that a man should losse his health by drinking the scolls of health ? what sicknesse is this when a man is sick of healths : the very names of this sin declareth the madnesse of men. What meanclh thou O man, to say before a drinke, that will make the sicke : this is to such a mans health ? A scoller, whose schoole is the tavorne, is not a scholer of Christ that saves, learnc of mee. J never heard tell that Christ scolled to any mans health: and yet hee is the man that onely can in all things say, learne of me : I will not follow St Paul him selfe in all thinges : hee desired not to be followed in all things : but bee yee followers of mee, (said hee,) as 1 am of Christ: Take my counsel, O man, follow not the fashions of this world : if thou would bee a man of health be not a drinker of healths. Bee a scholler of Christ, but bee not a scoller of strong drinke : drink soberly, but scoll not. A scoll is a thing sacrificed to idols: viz. to bellyes that are drunken mens gods, belly gods. The counsell of St. Paul is wise : if any of them that beleeveth not, (saith hee,) bid you to a feast, and yee bee disposed to goe ; whatsoever is set before you, eate, asking no question for conscience sake: but if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice vnto idols, eatc not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake? That which hee said of eating that may I say of drinking : drinke of any drinke that is set downe before you, but if a scoll come to the table," drinke it not, xlviii EXTRACT. because it is a sacrifice offered vnto the stinking idoll of the belly. Let vs not onely flee all evill, but all appearance of evill. What hurt to health such f scolls haue beene, the conscience of many will beare mee record ; I wish that the force of Gods word could sweepe that out, which mans corruption hath brought in. When the brasen serpent made by Gods command was abused; good Hezekiah brake it in peeces and called it Nehushtan, that is a lumpe of brasse. Seeing scols haue beene so vilely abused, let vs breake them in peeces: away with all appearance of evill. This much concerning these enemies of health, who by excessiue drinking, drowne their spirits and the gifts of God within them. There be now another sort of drunkards, who spoile their health with reeke and smoke. To- bacca-men, who goe about to smoke the soule out of the body, as if it were a foxc chased out of his hole : this fire may be called as the fire of Nadab was called : viz. strange fire. I speakc not of the vse but of the abuse of Gods creatures : my reproofe is against these that spend the tyme with plufling of reeke, which should be better imployed. What count should such fine pipers make to God if death in an instant should seaze vpon them with that fire pipe at their mouth? If God should say to that man, what was thou doeing while I sent my servant Death for thee? will that be a gracious answer : Lord I was spending the tyme that thou gavest mee for repentance, at such and such an exercise. I will not insist against this sinne that was once a great stranger in this land. Onely this will I say for the present : this taking of reeke seemeth to be a gracelesse thing. If a man come in into a house and take but a drinke : he will first pray to God for a blessing. But there is no grace for Tobacca, as if it were not a creature of God. Balm of Gilead, 1633. The law is fixed, that all the sonnes of Adam must picke their crummes out of the cloddes with the sweat of their browes : woe to thee that loyters while thou should labour: arise sluggard vp, vp, with the chirping of the birds : labour, sweatc for thy meate ; otherwise if thou eate, the curse of God shall goe downe into thy belly, like the waters of jealoHsie, which shall make thy bellie to swell and thy thigh to rotte. Thou will say to mee, I am a gentle-man : and what should I doe? Was not Adam a gentle-man, who was the king of the whole earth, the dear darling of God before his fall? And yet even before he sinned, God would not haue him to sit ydle : nay his calling was to be a gardener : Scripture saith, and the Lord God tooke the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dresse it, and to keepe it : but after that hce had sinned, the Lord laide a harder taske vpon him : in the sweate of thy face, said the Lord, shall thou eate bread: and yet in that time, if any sinfull man might bee called a gentle-man, hee was one as being the first father of the old world : was not Noah a gentle-man ? was hee not the first father of the newe world ? and yet hee laboured in a vineycard : Scripture calleth him a husbandman. Was not Jacob a gentle-man ? and yet hee keept sheepe : Was not Christ a gentle-man ? and yet hee laboured for his meate with Joseph, the carpenter, hee beeing a carpenter himself. Hee then who both laboured himselfe and commanded others to labour sixe dayes in the weeke, forbiddeth not men to labour heere : what can thou doe, nothing? heere what a great and godly man of our nation said to ydle drones : Call mucke creeles : Hast thou not heard mee? I say it agane, Call mucke creeles. What is it then that hee forbiddeth heere, will you say: I answere, the labour which Christ dischargeth heere, is, that which is done with a carkeing care and excessive desire of any thing below. When the desire of worldly things is more in our mind than spiritual things, when we are more bent to get them than the spiritual, then are we such labourers as are discharged in my text. Two Si'rmons, 1629. f The term has been metonymically used to denote the Salutation of one who is present, or the re-pect paid to an absent person, by expressing a wish lor his health ; while hi- who does so at the same time partakes of the drink, that is used by the company, in token of his cordiality. This is what is now called, "drinking OIK^ health." Dic- tionary of the Scottish Language, by Dr Jamicson, 1808. (.KOR(,E RICHARDSON, PRINTI-.R. THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE IN D E A TH, Diuided into eight conferences. 1. Volume. Whereby are showne the diuerse Skirmishes that are betweene the Soule of Man on his Death-bedde, and the Enemies of our Saluatiori. Carefullie digested for the comfort of the Sicke : By M r . ZACHARIE BOYD, Preacher j)f Gods Word at Glasgow. I OB. 11. Vevs. 14. All the dayes of mine appointed tyme will I waite till my changing come. I Hue to die, tliat I may die to Hue. Printed at Edinburgh , by the Heires of ANDUO HART. 1629. TO THE MOST SACRED And Mightie Monarch, CHARLES, KING OF GREAT BRITAINE, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH. OST DREAD SOVERAIGNE, it was wiselie saide by the Royatt Preacher, The memorie of the just is blessed ; but the name of the wicked shall rot. To haue a good name, both in this life and after death) is a blessing promised vnto the Righteous : but as for the vn- godlie their names become mouldie and rotten. Qui injuste Dominantur juste damnantur. This consideration should rouse vp all men to the doing of that which is good, but chieflie KINGES and PRIN- CES, whose Hues are to bee seene in Chronicles by all ages which come after. While other men's names within a little space are buried in obliuion, the Chronicles, the Register of times, crye vnto the World, Reade and consider what sort of men such and such haue beene. 0/"Saul it is written, that his sin of rebellion, in sparing Agag, was as the sin of Witch-craft, and that his stubborn- nesse was as idolatrie- His enuie against Dauid, and his consulting with the Witch at Endor, shall bee manifest to all Ages to come. Dauid's T^ertues and his Vices are pen- ned ; Solomon's wisdome and his folies ; Rehoboam's con- temning of the olde counsellors ; Ahab's and Ahaz his ivick- ednesse; losiah and lehoshaphat's goodnesse shall bee, to bee seene and reade so long as this world shall last. * Oh, that Kinges would consider, how in a short life, 111 Prou.10.7 I Sam. 15 23. ch. 28. 7 ch. 13. 14 2Sam.ll.. 1 Kin. 3. 9 ch. 11. 9 oh. 12. 14 ch. 16. 20 2 Kin. 16 31. ch. 23. 2 2Chr.20.3 * Note. IV TO THE KING. * Note. * Note, loh. 1.47 * Note. Rcu.17.18 Gen.27.27 Grego. Mora ipsa cum vene- rit vinci- titrsiprius (juuin ve- niut sem- per tuneu- tar. lob, .3. 27. Note. they may soone plot the euill which shall staine their good name to the worlde's end ! * Manie may Flatter a Prince while hee liueth ; but so soone as hee is gone, Trueth, which while hee lined was warded, then comrneth out and plainelie declareth to the world, whether hee was a wise man or afoole. There is no sin so secret, but God in his own time shall bring it to light. If King CHARLES rule well, and bee truelie godlie like Nathanael, without guile, an hun- drcth yeares after this, Great BRITAINE shall blesse the Name of King CHARLES, yea, and that till God end time in Eternitie. The seuen Starres of the Charles- Waine are not so glorious, as shall bee the seuen Letters of CHARLES in G 01)' S Booke, which is the Booke of Life. Though your Majesties Bodie after Death lye rotten in the Graue, yet shall your Roy all Name as if it were per- fumed and embalmed, haue a most sweete sauour, like these Garments ivherein lacob got his Father's blessing, the smell whereof was as the smell of a fielde which the Lord had blessed. Seeing there is nothing more powerfull to moue a man to Hue well, than to remember that hee must die, and after come for to reckon with his God, for this cause haue I penned this Treatise of sicknesse bringing vnto death, where your Majestic may see the most fearefull Skirmishes, which are betweene the faithfull Soule and the enemies of our Saluation. For this cause haue I called it , THE LAST BATTELL OF THE SOVLE. Loe, this wee haue searched, so it is, heare it, and know it for your good. Let it please your Majestic, to looke vpon these my Workes with a fauourable eye, and to take them into your Royall Protection. They were drought foorth in the land of Your Birth, euen in your olde SCOTLAND, whereof ijour Majestic is now the hundreth and ninth King. T fie particular place iL'licrc this Booke icas penned is your )wn GLASGOWE, a Citie once greatlie beloued of great JAMES, your Majestic 's Father, of blessed memorte ; ('if ic that lookethfor t/te like faiionr- from your Roy- all MAtKKTFK. Mi/ rltii'fest spiritiiall desire is, that this may !><'<' r/n- fortable t<> sicke Suiiles. My 'first temporal! ictx/t />', that TO THE KING. your Majestic would daine it with a blink of your fauour. Let it obtaine your Royall Approbation, which shall bee to it as a Passe-port, which neither Pride nor Enuie shall bee able with reason to reject. If anie man bee contentious, I heere appell vnto Csesar. Let mee bee so bolde as heere to aske a Petition from your Majestic, ivhich graunted, I will account a sufficient recompence to all my labours. This is it, that it would please your Religious Majestic to take a speciall care that the prophanation of the Lord's blessed and hallowed day bee remouedfrom this Land. It is come to such a custome, and that chiejlie betweene Edin- burgh and Glasgow, that by no meanes the Church is able to refine it, except that by your Royall authoritie their Market dayes t bee changed. * The abuse is so great, that if your godlie Majestie knew it, yee could not endure it. The keeping of this Precept is the onlie one which hath a memento before it ; and yet it is most forgotten. It is the verie Key of Religion. Let it please your Majestie to consider what good Nehe- miah did for the reformation of such an abuse. I contended, saide hee, with the Nobles of ludah, and saide vnto them, What euill thing is this that yee do, and prophane the Sabbath day ? Did not your Fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this euill vpon vs, and vpon this Citie ? Yet yee bring more wrath vpon Israel, by prophan- ing the Sabbath. See ichat Nehemiah did. It came to passe, that when the gates of lerusalem be- ganne to bee darke before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should bee shut, and charged that they should not bee opened till after the Sabbath. And some of my seruants set I at the gates, that there should no burden bee brought in on the Sabbath day. So the Merchands and sellers of all kinde of ware lodged without lerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and saide vnto them, Why lodge yee about the wall ? If yee do so againe I will laye hands on you. IVhat wrought that ? From that time foorth came they no more on the Sabbath. * Note. Neh.13.17 Verse 18. Verse 19. Verse 20. Verse 21. f At this period the Market-day in Glasgow \vas held upon Monday, and the profanation of the Sabbath alluded to, arose from Goods &c. being- con- veyed on that day to be in time for the market. An Act of Parliament, Ki-iO, changed the Market-day from Monday to Wednesday. Ed. VI TO THE KING. Neh.13.2: * Note. I Chr.^8.9 * Note. Sicut po- tentes po- tentcr tor- menta pa- ticntur, sic et justitia prcemiis fmciitur ple?iiitn .v? rectc exer- cucrint potestatc. * Note. Ps. 82. 6. lob, -2 1.33. After hee had donejthis good worke, hee looked vp to God by prayer, saying, Remember mee, O my God, concerning this also, and spare mee, according to the greatnesse of thy mercie. I pray that your Majestie may reforme this great abuse, with that good Nehemiah. * If this yee do, I am assured that your God shall remember you concerning it, and that hee shall spare you according to the greatnesse of his mercie. One thing I desire earnestlie, that your Majestie, once at least in the day, would carefullie consider these weightie wordes of DAVID spoken vnto SOLOMON. Thinke that King I AMES hath saide them to King CHARLES. These bee the wordes : * And thou, CHARLES, my Sonne, know thou the GOD of thy Father, and serue him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde ; for the Lord searcheth all heartes, and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee ; but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for euer. Now I intreate the Lord so to ingraffe these wordes into your Roy all Heart, that the practise thereof may appeare in the outward swaying of your Scepter. * Let this little Manuell of the Last Battell of the Soule bee like a Page at your Majestie' 's Chamber-door e, with his morning memento inori. Yee Kinges are gods, because God hath so called you : I haue called you gods, saide God, but yee shall die like men. Crownes haue their compasse and Thrones haue their Tombes : Prince, People, great and small, all must goe to Golgotha, for to make their beddes in that place which lob calleth the Slimie valie. The French Drouerbe is true. La mort mord les Rois aussi. Bien que les conducteurs des charrois. So most humblie intreating the Most High to graunt to your Majestie to reigne both well and Jong ouer vs, I re- maine Your Majestie's most humble, most obedient Scruant and Subject, both borne and s\vorne, M. Zacharie Boyd, Preacher of God's word at Glasgmr. AD CAROLVM REGEM. Vll AD CAROLVM REGEM. Maxime magnorum longo sate sanguine Regum, Accipe mine tenues quosfert tua /Scotia fructus : Et si arbusta juvant fragiles ne temne myricas. ANOTHER. This Life, O Prince, is like an raging 1 Sea, Where froathie mounts are heaued vp on hie. Our painted loyes, in blinks that are full'warme, Are like Raine-bowes, forerunners of a storme : All flesh with griefe is prickt, within without: Crownes carrie cares and compasse them about. Your State is great, your place is high : What then ? God calls you gods, but yee shall die like men. Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Subject and Seruant, M. Z. B. ^TtfP^ . *^ O Vlll Bonne In mart qui donne la vie. Eccl.12.3 Isa. 40. 6. V,ers 7. Prou. 31. 30. Beatite sans bont est con tint vin e.c pauca respice, nee parva despice, quse si respexeris quantumvis parva, quan- tumvis pauca, multa magna cluent. Nota. CVM dubius versas ingentes pectore curas Sou pacera sen bella geras, si numina cures Numina laxabunt curas : Tibi Trinus et Vnus Astabit colunaen : 5Si quis tibi noxius armis Irruat, omnipotens diftundet in arma cruorem. MONITA. CAROLE dum roscis resplendet roscida bigis ^ AVRORA, acceleres sacratum insistere limen: Flecte genu supplex ; terrenas exiic mentes, Indue coplestem : Curas quas corde premebas Excute de tii(p MAIESTATIS devotissimus, subditus at sen-its. Z A c i; A R i A s B o D i v s , S. S. EVANGELIl PiLECO. Psal. 102. fi. Similis sum PELICAXO dcserti. Q XI XII Phil. 2. 2? August. Nescis qua hora vtni- et mors : Semper vigi/ia vt quod ne,s- cis (juando vcniet, pa ration tc inveniut qmnn ve- nerit : Ad hoc fort TO THE READER. /4 FTER sixteene yeares' absence into France, where it **- pleased God to make mee a preacher of his word the space of foure yeares, it pleased the same LORD to visit his Church there with bloodie warres, whereby manie Churches, and mine also, were discipated, By this occasion it was the Lord's will to bring mee backe to my natiue Countrie. In that troublous time I remained a space a priuate man at Edinburgh, with Doctor Sibbald, the glorie and honour of all the Physitians of our Land : but againe, within a short space, I was sought out by that most worthie Man, our Scots Onesiphorus, euen Sir William Scot of Eli. Hee sought mee out diligentlie and found mee. The Lord giue mercie vnto his House ; for hee most louinglie refreshed mee, and was not ashamed of mine affliction. The Lord graunt vnto him that hee may finde mercie of the Lord in that day. After my remouing from him vnto this Citie, it pleased the Lord to visit mee with sore sicknesse ; yea, so that in September, Anno 1626, I was like Epaphroditus, sicke niyh vnto death. For when I arose out of that Feuer, I found in my studie my winding sheete among my Bookes. This gaue mee occasion painfullie to search and describe vnto the world this Last Battell of the Soule. I pray God to make it profitable for thine vse. If thou reape anie comfort thereby, I intreate thee to pray for mee, that the Lord would graunt vnto mee, that 1 may finde mercie of the Lord in that day. As for escapes in printing, they are marked at the end of the Booke. Excuse them, in thy fauour, because I remaine farre from the Presse. veniet, vt semper pa- ratus sin. Xlll VOX MORIENTIS AD ANIMAM SVAM. anima mea egredere ; quid dubitas f Egredere ; quid times ? His multis annis Christo Domino ser- visti, et ad hue mortem timebis ? anima insignita Dei imagine, decorata simili- tudine, desponsata injide, dotata in spiritu, redempta sanguine, deputata cum Angelis, capax beatitudinis. hceres bonitatis, rationis particeps, quid tibi cum carne, qua haud aliud vilius sterquilinium invenisti t A V G V S T I N. Vita h(BC misera est, mors incerta ; si subito obre- pat quo hinc exhibimus ? Et ubi nobis discenda sunt quce hie negleximus ? Annon potius hujus ne- gligenlice supplicia luenda sunt? XIV IN OPVS CVM VIVENTIBVS TVM Morientibus vtilissimum, A.D., ZACHARIA BODIO, Glasguensis Ecclesice Pastore adornatum. AD LECTOREM. Epigramma. "EpCELIX qui sancte potuit traducere vitam, *- Et tandem extremum Sancte obiisse diem : Hcec duo qui didicisse cupis, tibi pandit vtrumque Hie Liber, hunc animo volue revalue tuo. AD AVTHOREM LIBRI. Distichon ejusclem. Qui calamo qui voce doces, vitaque perenne fivere, in ceternum vivito ZACHARIA. JOHANNES BELVS, Glasguensis Ecclesise Pastor et Academite RECTOR. AD VIRVM PIETATE ET ERVDITIONE PRy- STANTEM D. ZACHARIAM BOD1VM, GLASGVENSIS Ecclesia^ Pastorern de pra?para- tione ad mortem, postquam ex deplorato morbo convaluisset Scribentem. "C^RGO te nuper mortis defaucibus atrce, ^^ Ereptum nobis reddidit Onmipotens : Vt Doctus moricndi artem e.cpertusque doceres, Qua datur cet/wream transit us ad patriam : Qui bene vivendi toties prcecepta dedisti Doctrincp reserans fiorrea plena sacra-. Foelix Zacharia Doctor ; Sanctissima cujus Vox pariter, Scripta, et consona vita decent. IOHANNES STRANGIVS, S. S. Theologize D. et Academife Glasyuensis Pwfect us. IN DIVINA INTEGERRIMI VIRI D. ZACHARLE BODII, Ecclesiastse non e multis meditamenta, cum e desperata valetudine ad pristinam salutem revaluerat. T^RVSTRA veternum sollicitas meum -*- Bodi Thalice ad munia ; barbitos Obmutet, exurdante nostras Voce Scholce strepera Camoenas. lam colligendas sarcinulas monet Quce vulsit aurem Mors modo pallida : Laureta Cyrrhce, Musicasque Thespiadum fugito choreas. Tu perge Homeri carminis alite Laudande quo te mens animi vocat, Qui baccare, et lauro revinctos Castalio lavis amne crines. Fatalis ex quo cruda Hecates manu, Attonsa pene est ccesaries tibi, Fato superstes reditusque Incolumis, renovas duellum. De morte partam appendis adoream y J^tque Hydra secto corpore fortior Crevity revixti ter triumpho Clarior, et spoliis opimis. Qualis Caystri jluminis accola Morti propinquus dulciter incinit. Melos supremum, talis ista qua superos remittees. Made indole ista, macte faventid, Kxcude fructus uberis ingeni, aureum vere libellum Melle sacro, et sale temper atum. Hoc amoris ergo scri bebat lo. Rayus, lud public! litterarii Mo- derator, Edinburgi. xv XVI xvn CONTENTS. FIRST VOLUME. THE FIRST DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Of Carnall and Worldlie Temptations, Folio 1 THE SECOND DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Of Spirituall Temptations, ......... 38 THE THIRD DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Of Spirituall Temptations, 89 THE FOVRTH DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Doubts Vanitie of the World Vanitie of Olde Age, . . . .152 THE FIFT DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Of the Last Judgement, 210 SECOND VOLUME. THE QVEENE OF BOHEMIA'S LAMENTATIONS FOR THE DEATH OF HER SONNE, vii THE BALME OF COMFORTES, FOR THE QVEENE OF BO- HEMIA, xi THE SIXT DAVE'S CONFERENCE. Of Heauen's Glorie, 279 THE SEVENTH DAVE'S CONFERENCE. The Sicke Man's Last Wordes to his Pastour, Friendes, Wife, and Children, ........... 344 THE EIGHTH DAVE'S CONFERENCE. A Conference with a Carnall Friend, concerning his Buriall, con- cerning Funerall Sermons Diuerse Prayers Death Ap- proaching A Soliloquee betweene the Soule and the Bodie in a Trance. Their Last Adewes The Last Gaspes Mi- chael and Sathan Dispute for the Soule, ...... 389 A COMFORTABLE SPEACH FOR THE WIDOW OF THE DEFUNCT, 457 A COMPENDIOVS EPITAPHE, FIT FOR A GODLIE MAN DECEASED, 464 A COMFORT FOR THE FATHERLESSE, 465 A DIVINE AND HEAVENLTE DISCOVRSE, FIT TO BEE READ TO THESE THAT ARE CONVEENED IN THE HOVSE OF MOVRNING, THAT THEREBY THE LIVING MAY BEE REMEMBERED OF THEIR MORTALITIE, . . .468 ANOTHER DISCOVRSE OF THE SAME SORT, . 472 Fol. 1 THE LAST B ATTELL OF THE SOULE IN DEATH, DIUIDED INTO EIGHT SEUERALL CONFERENCES. Deut. 32. v 22. *Notc.Fj Dan. 5, 9. * Note. THE FIRST DATE'S CONFERENCE. OF CARNALL AND WORLDLIE TEMPTATIONS. &\)t J^ufce JHan* MY Bodie is sicke, my Soule is wounded : God's wrath is fearefull ; it burneth to the bottome of Hell. The heate thereof already maketh my Soule to sweate. I can find no skrine or sconce to set betweene mee and this fire. Oh ! in all appearance I shall shortlie be dissolued, for to be brought before that great Tribunal!. * Alas! what terrours are these, Sinne, Sicknesse, Death, the Graue, and an vnprepared Soule ! I tremble all like Bel- shazzar. Mine heart is entangled with feares ; my knees shiuer, and smite one against another ; mine heart is pricked, while I remember mine euill spent life. * While I had time to doe good, I was of the frozen generation. Nowe God's glowmes, like Boanaryes, Sonnes of Thunder, armed with fierie furie, make heart and Soule to melt, and to fall downe in droppes within my bowels. Oh, for a drop of water for to coole the boyling heate of mine heart ! Is there no man heere that can affoord mee a word of comfort, for to vphold mine heart into this heauie houre ? K" It may be sufficient to observe here, once for all, that the "* Note " on the margin, so frequently used by the Author throughout his Work, is not to be understood by the Reader, as having a reference to a Note or Notes in another part of the Book, but simply as a Nota benr, by which the Author intends, that the Reader should Mark well the passage, or passages, which immediately follow. E<(. A THE LAST BATTELL Garnall * Note. Acts 3, 7. lam. 5, 16. * Note. * Note. Isa. 42, 3. * Note. Hob. 12, 12. * Note. IVov.(i,13 * Note. A Spiritnall Friend. Sir, I thinke it expedient that yee send for your Pastour, the man of God, that beareth the keycs of the kingdome of Hcauen. It may bee that the good God shall put some words of comfort into his mouth whereby your wearied Soule shall be refreshed,* while the chosen seruants of God speake his words to the fainte heart, the Lord putteth foorth a power to enable them to doe all that wherfore they are spoken. So soone as S. Peter had spoken to the lamed man, hisfeete and ancle-bones received sir enyhth. Though miracles cease now, yet this shall bee true, so long as the world standeth : The effectual} feruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much. Will it please you, Sir, that I goe for to fetch him ? The Sicke Man. He shall bee welcome vnto mee ; but, alas ! while I might I frequented him too little. * I haunted rather the companie of these that delighted mee with sportes and jests, whereof now I haue no comfort. * Because I thought I could repent heereafter, I did that whereof I may now fepent, and whereof indeede, as I feare, I shall repent but too late. This now puts my Soule into the dumps; now all my foolish laughters are turned into mourning, for I feare exceedinglie to die, I tremble and tosse within this bed; God alone knoweth what shall bee the end of this lingring tryall. Goe, Sir, I pray you, and desire the man of God to come and visite a bruised recde and a smoaking flaxe. A. Spiritual} Friend. I goe for him presentlie : I hope before hee leaue you, yee shall h'nde this tempest of temptations to grow calme. * In the meane time, till hee come, I pray you to remember that all your paines are but a crosse sent before to crucifie the lone of the world. In your greatest distresse, striue to bee a disciple of lesus, the author and finisher of our faith, icho, for the joy c that iras set before him, endured the crosse. Bee not discouraged in your great- est smarts, * For reproofes of instruction are the way of life. In your greatest feare remember the joy that is set before you. The Pastour. Sir, hailing knowne of your disease by your godlie friend, I am come to see you, and to impart vnto you some spiritual! comforts. " While the Soule is sore troubled, there is danger in delay. A bruised spirit is like a bone out of joynt, the longer it bee let alone the hardlier it Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day is set. If I had knowne of your''sicknesse sooner, I wouk haue visited you ere now. The Sicke Man. I rejoyce, Sir, to see you ; my Soule euer loued you, but, alas ! not as I should haue done. Ij God should but at this time spare my life, with the helpe oJ my God yee should see mee at once a farre changed man. The^Pastour, ComeMeatlv/come life, God^maketh all thinges to worke to the best of these that loue him. God's corrections are good directions. * With one crosse he can worke two cures, first a correction for by-past cor- ruption, and after a direction for times to come. If God should not ^scourge vs^betimes,'1 the reigning of the flesh should proue the mine of the spirit. * This was the vtter ouerthrow of the sonnes of Eli t God would not correct them, because the Lord would slay them. As for that which yee speake concerning the changing and amending of your life, your resolution is good. But seeing the houre of death is vncertaine, it is good that yee bee pre- sentlie prepared. Death commeth vpon man with stealing steps : let no man put far off the day of his death. There is great danger, that any man sooth himselfe with the vaine hope of this mortall life. No man can tell how soone hee shall bee arraigned to compeare before God's barre. None, said a Pagane, is assured to Hue vntill the morrow. * Nemo tarn diuos habuit faventes, Crastinum ut possit sibi potticeri. * It is good, therefore, daylie and hourelie to bee vpon our Watch-tower, preparing our selues for death, which shall either bee the end of all our miserie, or the beginning of our suerlasting woe : delay to prepare for death is a strong threed n the Deuil's net. A man will not die the sooner that hee pre- >are him selfe to die : If a man bee prepared to die, and yet lie not, hoc sibi ponat in lucro, that preparation is great aduantage vnto him : But if hee die, hee hath done that which lee should haue done. * What a dangerous venture is this to a man to delay to prepare himselfe to die, because it may be ;hat yet hee may Hue ! But may it not also bee that hee die ? [t is a dangerous thing to perrell our saluation vpon a may f )ee, which may as well no bee. It is "fearefull to be hanged Duer hell with the euill twined threed of a life that must end, lone can tell how, where, nor when. No man is exeemed rom this necessitie. * Note. * Note. i Sam. 2, 25. Senec. * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall * Note. Hob. 3, 15. * Note. Isa.25,8. * Note. oh. 11,11 oh. 11, 26 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * The post Pale Horse wherevpon Death is mounted, ca- ries his rider thorow all nations, cities, and houses ; pulling out of their heds, Princes, Prelats, and priuate men, without any respect of persons : thus are their hopes cropped in their fairest flower. It is good therefore that wee euer hee vpon our gard. God offereth grace to day : To day if yce heare his voyce. But who promiseth to morrow ? Well is him that feareth alwayes. The Sicke Man. O the terrours of death and of the graue! mine heart quaketh while I remember of these last strugglings that are in death. It was not without reason that the Pagans called it terribiUum terribilissimum y of all fearefull things, the most fearefull. The Pastour. * If men knew what Christ hath made of death, the liuing would not bee so afraid with the feare thereof. Isaiah saith, that hee hath put it into his stomacke, Jtee hath swallowed it vp in victorie. A wise man will not swallow ouer that which hee is not able to digest. Christ hath swal- lowed death and hath digested it perfectlie. * Nowe death, after Christ's digestion, hath lost all its poyson, and is turned into a sleepe. The name thereof is changed, for to tell vs of the change of its nature. Dead Lazarus in Christ's language is called sleeping Lazarus. Lazarus our Friend slecpetli, said Christ, speaking of his death. Hee that liueth and be- leeueth in mee, said Christ, shall neuer die. Death is not death to the friends of Christ, but a sleepe to their bodie, and a translation of their Soule from a prison to a palace. As by the grace of God, it is made an Exodus of miserie, so is it a Genesis of a better life, the corruption of one thing beeing the generation of another. * What is this, that men should so feare death, which is the end of the foule and com- bersome way of our pilgrimage ? * Hath not God made death like a chariote to a wearied man, for to carie him to his euerlasting rest ? This was scene in a visible figure, when Elijah in a fine chariote went vp by a whirle wind rnto heauen. The Sicke Man. All that is true, Sir : But yee know that death is fearefull to all ilesh : So soone as it commeth, it maketh a Soule lyable to yeeld an acount for all the actions of the by-past life.* The bodie and the Soule are of olde ac- quaintance, and haue not wil to part one from the other. I cannot expresse what a worsting 1 linde within mee ; there is Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. such a working feare about mine heart, that I tremble to thinke vpon it. This maketh my words to wade in teares ; mine heart is cut with sobs of sorrow. O death, the enemie of life, is there no comfort against thee ? Is there no balme in Gileadf Of force then must I die? The Pastour. The woman of Tekoah said verie well, Wee must all needes die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot bee gathered. Death is an vnauoida- ble passage ; there is none entrie vnto Heauen but by it. I will striue to let you see before that yee enter in at the doores of death, that your Soule hath no such cause to bee afraide ; indeede I confesse, that death to these that know not Christ, is indeede a most fearefull thing : According to this Sathan said, Skinne for skinne, and all that a man hath hee will glue it for his life. * See how a naturall man would bee content that his skinne were pulled off' him, if it could bee a ransome for to saue his life. Such is the feare of death, that for to bee free of it, a man would give his skinne. * Agag called it a bitter thing. Surelie, said hee, the bitternesse of death is past. * The wilde gourdes shred into the Prophete's pot- tage, for bitternesse were called death : So soone as they had tasted them, all cryed, Death is into the pot ! The bit- ter torments of hell are called, so great a death. Dauid speaking of the pangs of death, calleth them waues : The wanes of death compassed mee. See how death is compared to a raging sea, with rolling waues. To this Dauid sub- joynes, The snares of death preuented mee. Death indeede is fearefull, armed with waues and snares. * Wee in our weaknesse make it also fearefull, painting it with bare bones, with a skul girning with its teeth, and with its sting, like a flocked dart, for to pierce thorow the heart of man. It is true that death is bitter in it selfe ; but hee that made sweetncsse to come out of the strong, and meate to come out of the eater, can bring both meate and sweetnesse out of death for the Christian Soule, though no thing be stronger than death, the greatest eater of the world. One saith well, that there is in death but one bitter morsell to swallow. The chiefe course that wee haue to tak, for to win to an happie death is that, aboue all thinges, wee striue to make our acquaintance with Christ, the Lord of life.* Till a man know Christ, who hath disarmed death by taking away its sting and its dart, hee will tremble at its (juzze.* A bee that want- 2 Sara. 14, 14-. lob, 2, 4. * Note. * Note. 1 Sam. 15, 32. * Note. 2 King. 4, 40. 2 Cor. 1, 10. 2 S;im.22, o. Vers. 6. * Note. * Note, hid;.-. 14, * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall * Note. 14. kc,2,'JJ * Note. * Note. Ki njj. 21 M. * Note. * Note. Nazian.in ta l}(ifiil. * Note. loli. 1 {, G. * Note. Psul.23,4. i'sal. 107, Is. eth the sting, will afray a childe with its buzzc ; but the man of vnderstanding is not afraide for a sound. * I am assured that the excessiue feare of death in a wicked man, is a most powerfull meanes for to make him die hefore his day, that is sooner than hy course of nature hee should haue died. Though a man's day bee set, yet God vscth meanes. Death is a dis- tresse vnto the wicked. Let him then that would die in peace make his peace with his God. *No man can bee willing to die before his conscience bee at quiet, till God and his Soule haue shaken hands and been friended. * A man that is at feede with his God will say to death, God's messenger, as Ahab saide to God's pro- phet, Hast thou found mee, mine enemie ? But as for the godlie man, whose Soule is prepared to meete with his God, hee will say to death, welcome friend, take my Soule by the hand, and draw it out of this prison ; oh, but it is wearied ! oh, but it longeth to bee free from these bonds of mortalitie, combersome clogges of clay ! * Hee that is assured to goe to Christ cannot die vnwillinglie : what careth hee to die an houre, for to liue for euer ? */ will neuer feare death, saide a father, which can doe no more than restore mee to Him that made me. * To change a life that is rnortall, for ane that is eternal, is an vnspeakable profite. The Sicke Man. But, alas ! by what way may I come vnto that life ? The Pastour. I am the way, said Christ, none commeth to the Father but by mce. * This way is thorow the valey of death. In this valey yee neede not to feare, if Christ bee with you. In the valey of the shadow of death, said JJauid, I will feare none euill. His reason was this, that God was with him : For thou art with mee. The Sicke Man. I finde my selfe, Sir, exceeding weake, and that / drawe neere the doores of death ; I take great delight to heare you ; I requeast you to continue your com- forts ; I intreate you to call to remembrance these speciall comforts yee haue had, either by your owne experience, or by reading, or by meditation ; 1 am assured that yee haue some laid vp in store for your selfe against the houre of temptation : let mee heare, 1 pray you, what yee thinke best to be saide to a man in his greatest feares. The Pastour. First of all, that yee may bee capable of comforts, striue to bee patient in your trouble. Acknowledge Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. in this sicknesse the great mercie of your God. In this affliction he hath giuen to you the wish and choise of Daniel's chastisement. You are not fallen into the hands of men, whose compassions are cruell, but in the hands of God, your Father, whose bowels are full of mercifull remembrance. Though a mother should forget her childe, wee are printed vpon his palmes. It is true, that no affliction, for the present, seemes joyous. * Yet, afterward, the bitter seed of sorrow bringeth foorth the sweet and quiet fruit of righteousnes. If yee would bee armed against the feare of death, my counsell is, that aboue all things, in the tempest of your temp- tations, yee have recourse vnto the bloodie wounds of Christ, wherein, as in the holes of the rocke, your Soule like a done may find a place of refug'e. * His wounds well may I call, The secret of the Most High : Hee who lodgeth there is vnder the shadow of the Almighty. * An afflicted Soule is like a bee in a tempest, tossed to and fro : Frae once the bee hath .winne to its hyue-hole, it entereth into rest. The poore Soule of a man for a space will bee wonderfullie tossed with tempests, and long will it wrestle. But so soone as it can once win in at the holes of Christ's wounds, then it enters into rest. * Out of these wounds, as out of its castle and fortresse, it will boast the Deuill, death, the flesh, and the world. In these woundes is the Soule's strongest tower, the secret place of the Most High, where none enemie of man's saluation shall bee able to reach vnto it for to hurt it. Let your chiefest care bee to creepe in into these wounds. * Againe, after that yee haue shaken hands with Christ, and made him your friend, consider well what hee hath made of death. Christ hath made it a friend of a foe. Is not death now a sleepe ? Christ's friends sleeps. Sleepe as yee know is our great friend. Hee must bee a great friend with- out whose friendship wee can not liue. As wee can not Hue with sleepe, neither can wee liue without death. Except that wee die on earth, wee can not liue in Heauen. Tltoufoole, said S. Paul, that which thou sowest is not quickened, ex- cept it die. * The whole course of a Christian is contained within the compasse of these wordes, / Hue to die, that 1 may die to hue. If man will not resolue to liue for to. die, hee shall not die to liue. * The course of a Christian is from a good life to an happie death, and from thence to life, yea, * Note. lsa.49, 15. Heb.12,18 * Note. * Note. Psal.91,1 * Note. Note. * Note. lok 11,11 !Cor.lj,3 * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELI, Carnal Psiil. 102 24. Note. i Cor. ] 5, 31. Note. Note. Isa.57, 1 Noto Note. lol), !,!!) to life eternall : Well is the man that runneth not without this compasse. The Sicke Man. But alas ! my God, take mee no away in the midst of my dayes. Alas ! Sir, must I die so soone ? The Pastour. * The apostle saith, That we die daylie. Tune quoque cum crescimus vita decrescit. It is certaine, that so soone as wee beginne to Hue, wee also beginne to die. What are all the dayes of our life, but a progresse vnto death, which is the putting off of our tabernacle ? * What is this body but a mire of mortalitie ? Hominis quid vita ? cylindrus : What is man's life but a rolling thing ? The Sicke Man. But will the Lord take mee away in the midst of my dayes? Hath not God promised to the godlie man that his dayes shall bee long in the land ? Long life is a thing whereof God hath made promise vnto these whom he loueth. The Pastour. I answere, that such a promise is vnder two conditions : first, of God's glorie ; secondlie, of man's well. * If God loue a man dearlie, hee will whiles take him away in his youth, that hee may haue him neere to him selfe : moreouer God seeth that which no man can fore-see, viz. the euill to come. The righteous, saith Isaiah, is taken away from the euill to come. God hath indeede promised nany dayes to the righteous man : But if God shorten them, in d take him away sooner, what wrong hath hee done vnto lim ? * If a Lord should giue to one of his seruants some cottage-house of clay, with some little piece of ground for :olewort or cabbage for to liue vpon, saying, This will I giue thee for thy life-time. But if, afterward, this Lord should say, Fetch me my good seruant out of his clattie cottage, and )ring him to my palace, that hee may eate at mine own table 'or euer : Tell mee, if by the change that seruant hath lost ? Would that seruant think yee, say, No, Lord, I will not come o thy table, for thou hast promised mee this cottage-house for my life-time ? What Lord in the land was euer troubled until such an answere ? And yet indeede it is so, that God doeth with his faithful! seruantes, when they die into the midst of their dayes. When men are departed from this life, it is the Lord that lath sent his messenger Death for to fetch their Soules from their bodies, which Scripture culleth Tabernacles of <'laij, Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 9 vnto his heauenly mansions, there for to banquet eternallie at his table with Abraham, Isaac, and lacob. Now tell mee, O man, what haue yee lost, for to goe from the earth to the heauens ? Is there any thing in this world of such worth, that should make you desire to Hue, for to stay from your God but an hour? The Sicke Man. That which yee say, Sir, is verie true : but how few are these who in this world, can gladly conde- scend to depart out of this life ? The life is sweete. The Pas four. I confesse indeede that euery one hath not attained vnto this high degree of grace, as to say with S. Paul, I desire to bee dissolued, c. Yet all the godlie will subscribe to this, that all the faithfull are happie who are dis- solued. * Though euerie man can not wish to die yet euerie man of God will say, that death is better than life, death is a salue which healeth vs of all our sores. Is not death God's messenger, sent for to pull the troubled Soule out of this sin- full world, as God's angel pulled Lot out of Sodom f Is not our life heere a warfare ? * Are wee not heere as Daniel was in the dungeon among Lions ? Are not wee heere with leremie sticking fast into the myrie clay? Are not wee heere with Israel, into the house of bondage, ouerbur- dened with sinne, as they were with brick ? Are wee not heere with S. Paul, vnder the bodie of death ? And with loseph in the stockes, riot of tree, but of sinne ? If it were well tolde a man what is heere, and what hee may looke for in the life to come, if hee had but a graine of grace, as great as of mustard seed, hee should easilie discern whereof to make choise. Is not our life heere a wind, and a vapour of vanitie ? But which is most of all to bee consid- ered : Is there not heere a necessitie of sinning laide vpon all the liuing ? Who should not bee glad to bee fredde and ridde of these sinfull bonds ? * Is not this life continuallie sicke of the filthie flooxe of sinne, a most lothsome disease ? When wee seeke our daylie bread, wee must immediatelie subjoyne, forgiue vs our sinnes : first, as wee see heere, wee must begge our bread, and then pardon. * What then are wee heere, but daylie beggers for the bellie ? The king must begge his bread from God : in the heauens there shall bee no begging, but thanking of God for his benefites. Who should for all that hee can beg: on earth, desire for to Hue out O * of heauen but one houre ? * Are wee not all heere vnder a Matth. 8, 11. Phil.1,23. * Note. Gen. 19, 16. * Note. Dan. 6, 16. ler. 38, 6. Exod. 20, 2. Rom. 7, 2. Psal. 105, 10. lam. 4, 14. * Note. Matth. 6, 11. * Note. * Note. 10 THE LAST BATTELL Carnall Amos, 2, 11. * Note. TCom. 6, 23. * Note. Gen. 9, 13 * Note. Psal. 1C, 11. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk.6,,58 Luk 16,9 * Note. corruptible burden, a burden of corruption, under which the Soule is pressed downe as a cart full of sheaues? So long as wee are heere, our Soules are laden with sinnes : * A Soule burdened with such baggage runs on wheeles, as it were downe an hill, all post haste : except that God stay it, it shall neuer cease, till it arrive in hell, where God shall breake it in sunder by the tempest of his wrath. The Sic ke Man. But death is the wayes of sinne : who shall not feare ? The Pastour. * Indeede, death is such of the own na- ture : but God in great mercie hath made death to the god- lie like the raine-bow, which being naturallie a signe of present raine, by God's couenant becommeth a perpetuall signe of faire weather to come after that rain.* As through death Christ wrought our life, so must wee bee killed for to bee made aliue : the glorious resurrection must bee through dust and corruption : our paines must goe before our plea- sures, and lashes before our laughters : after that, in come pleasures for euermore. If wee had the faith of God, wee should not much feare the smart of death, which by Christ is made transitus ad vi- tam, a passage vnto life. * Let vs once passe thorow this lordan, and behold, wee are in an instant in Canaan. The Sic fee Man. All that is true, Sir : no man can con- trole you : yet naturallie all loue life : The life is sweete. The Pastour. How sweete is it, I pray you ? is not our whole life trouble and wearinesse ? * What is our sleep- ing, our resting, our eating, our drinking, but a seruitude to the flesh ? Who should not desire to bee ridde from such ser- uile necessities ? who for to bee free of such bondage, should not renounce his deare selfe, and all the loue of this irksome life ? To bee with Christ, is it not our best ? yea, is it not our rest ? what shame is it for christians to dote so after this present life, who should haue learned to long after the life to come ? * Christ came downe, that wee might goe vp : if wee de- sire not to goe vp, wee know not wherefore hee came downe. Hee came downe to bee a seruant, wee goe vp to bee lords : hee came downe to bee hungrie, wee goe vp to a perpetuall feast : hee came downe to bee banished, where hee had not wherevpon to lay his head, wee goe vp to dwell in palaces of pleasures, into euerlastim/ tabernacles : * in a Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 11 word, hee came downe to distresse, to sorrow, to paine, to miserie, to fight against our enemies, deuils, death, and tem- tations ; yea, hee descended vnto hell, wee goe vp to joy, to honour, to light, to life, to liberty, to our Father, to our friends, to our Sauiour and Comforter. What shall I say more ? Euen to vnspeakable glorie in paradise with God and his angels.* What a folie is this, that a man should desire to bee depriued of such comforts for a puffe of breath ? Bee glad, Sir, to quite the ranke onions of Egypt, for that heauenlie manna, sweete, likeivafers made with honey. The Sicke Man. If a man could bee fullie persvvaded of that which yee say, I think that hardlie could hee with- hold him selfe from putting hands into him selfe, that so hee night change for the better : If all that bee, why should any desire to stay from God but an houre ? If I may desire to 3ee dissolued, why may I not dissolue my selfe ? The work- ing out of a lawfull desire cannot be vnlawfull. The Pastour. No man liuing, Sir, may absolutelie desire to be dissolued, but vnder condition, that it bee for the glorie of God, and the saluation of his own Soule. * For two re- pects a man may desire to bee dissolued : first, for to bee deliuered from the bondage of sinne, which the apostle cal- eth d. bodie of death : secondlie, for an earnest desire to >ee with his God, a man may desire to bee dissolued : but for 10 reason must a man dissolue him selfe, that were selfe mur- ther : * if wee may not kill our neighbour, who wee should oue as our selues, neither must wee kill our selues, who are :he rule and square of neighbourlie loue. * Man in this world is as a set watch ; hee must not remoue, till it please Bim by whom hee was set, to command him to come. Though lawfullie wee may desire death, that wee may bee deliuered from the bodie of death, which is sinne, for to bee ith Christ, which is meakle better for vs, yet wee must not ry for death for some trifles of worldlie troubles, as lonah lid for the lossing of his leafes. Our desire of death should >ee chieflie grounded vpon a desire to bee with Christ, and o bee fredde from the spiritual bondage of our sinnes : well is lim that can sincerelie say from his heart, Miserable man that I am, icho shall deliuer meefrom this bodie of death? That Soule is happie, whose desire is vpon that which is meakle better for it. To bee with Christ, in Scripture stile s called meakle better : What say yee nowe, Sir, doeth not * Note. Isa. 2, 21 Gen. 15, 31. * Note. Rom.7,24. * Note. * Note, * Note. Philip 1, 2'3. I lona.i S. Note. Philip. 1, THE LAST BATTELL Carnall Isa.3810. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa.38,11 * Note. your heart grone vnder this burden of sinfull death ? Doeth not your Soule long to bee out of this bodie, for to bee with Him, where it shall bee meakle better for you ? The Sicke Man. I take vp the matter better than I did : I see by your reasons, that there is no reason where- fore a man should desire to die, but for to bee with his Christ, and to bee deliuered from the bodie of bondage, which is a death : but alas ! The Pastour. I see you yet, Sir, into a plunge, I heard that word, alas, wherefore say yee alas ? Yee looke yet as one who desireth to Hue : my wordes are not gifted with perswasion ; yee seeme to bee afraide at that word, dissolu- ed : what aileth you ? There bee doubtlesse some thing within that troubleth you. The Sicke Man. I am sorie to goe out of this world, wherevnto I am chained by diuerse respects : in the cutting off of my dayes, I will mourne with sicke Hezekiah in the words of his doole : / am depriued of the residue of my yeares, fyc. The Pastour. I see, Sir, that yee are taking vp the Lamentations of Hezekiah : I will striue to make answere to euerie sentence apart. Yee are depriued, saye yee, of the residue of your yeares. * Hee is not depriued that hath changed for the better. * The residue of your few yeares shall bee turned into eternitie. * Hee who seeth many yeares, seeth many miseries, and which is worse, contracteth many sinnes, the cause of all our woe : rnoreouer, what is a resi- due of life ? Death is not farre when it is farthest. The Sicke Man. But if I die, / shall not see the Lord, euen the Lord in the land of the liuing. The Pastour. This is your ignorance ; what can man see of the Lord, in the land of the liuing ? * What can a sinner see of that great IEHOVAH here ? What is to bee seene on earth, but the backe-parts of IEHOVAH ? Into the heauens wherevnto yee now approach yee shall see that great and glorious IEHOVAH, face to face. What are all men on earth, but a number of wormes crawling and creeping vpon a clat or clod of clay ? But againe, what is this that yee call the land of the liu- ing? What is all the land yee see, but a dead lump of earth, where the most part of men are dead in their sinnes ? Doe not the best part die daylie, vnto sinne, which death is Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day 13 our best life, and yet laden with a bodie of death ? * Can yee nowe call this earth the land of the Hiring ? Call mee not Nahomi, pleasant, saide Nahomi, but call mee Mar ah, that is bitter, for the Almightie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee. So may the earth say, call mee not the land of the lining : no, rather call mee a dungeon of death, a place for the burying of the dead, a place where all must needes die t and bee as water spilt vpon the ground, which can not bee gathered vp againe. The Sicke Man. But alas ! if I die, / shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. The. Pastour. This heere is your griefe, that death will strik you with a blindness, so that yee shall not bee able to see any more the faces of these whom yee loue best into this world, as of wife, children, and of friends of your old ac- quaintance. This is your dolour then, that yee shall see them no more. * Let such thoughts, Sir, moue these to mourne, who know not death better than that Pagan, who speaking of a slaine man, said, In ceternam clauduntur lumina noctem. That is, death closeth man's eyes for euermore. This is most false. * A true Christian knoweth, that though both his eyes should sinke downe into his head, or droppe out like blobbes or droppes of water, yet, that with these same eyes runne into water, hee and none other for him shall see his Redeemer. Though, after my skinne, saide lob, wormes destroy this bodie, yet in my Jlesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for my selfe, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. * Lay this comfort to your heart ; though your eyes were eaten out with the wormes, if you die in the faith of lesus, yee shall see God, and none other for you, and that with these same eyes yee nowe looke vnto mee. * If yee bee per- swaded that yee shall see your God in the heauens, in whose face is fidlnesse of joy, yee haue little cause of doole that yee shall no more behold man with the inhabitants of the world. What are all the creatures of this world, but things that dwell in dust ? The sainctes and angels that dwell into these vp- per chambers, whose feete are aboue our head, are so farre in glorie, aboue all the glorie of the world, as the heauens are aboue the earth. * As Zebah and Zalmunah saide of Gi- deons brethren, so may wee saye of all these that dwell there, Rom.7,24. * Note. Ruth 1, 20 i Sam. 14, 14. Note. Virgil. * Note. lob, 19, 26, 27. * Note. * Note. Psal. IB, 11. Isa.26, 18. * Note. lldnr.8,18. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall Isa.38, 12. * Note. * Note. Psal.78,71 * Note. Isa.38,12. * Note. * Note. Isa.38,12 Isa.42,3. * Note. Isa.28,21 euerie one of them is like thesonne of a king. What are all the creatures below, but beggerlie things ? The Sicke Man. But alas ! if I die, mine age is departed and remouedfrom me as a shepheard's tent. The Pastour. What is your doole ? It is all then, that yee must quite your shepheard's tent ? * Nowe, poore man, what haue yee lost ? Yee shall change a poore shepheard's tent for the most pleasant palace of your God, a life mortall for a life that is eternall! * A man brought from age of yeares vnto eternitie, is like Dauid, a shepheard brought from the ewes, for to be made a king. What regret should a man haue for to change a little lodge for a London ? * What is this life but a dayly dyeing ? The Sicke Man. But alas ! I haue cut off. like a weauer. %JU ' my life. Hee ivill cut mee off with pynning sicknesse, from day euen to night hee will make an end of mee. The Pastour. Take heede, Sir, what you say : your meaning is, that by your sins yee haue abridged and cut short your dayes, or that yee haue prouocked God by your sinnes, to take away your life from you. * If it bee so, that, like a weauer, yee have cut your days by your sinnes ; breake off nowe these sinnes by repentance, If by your sinnes yee haue cut, like a weauer, the threeds of this mortall life, beginne nowe, by repentance, to spinne the webbe of a new life some threeds of life eternall. Let nowe the rotten thrummes of the vices of your life fall downe to the ground. * While yee haue time, weaue into your life graces thorow graces, as warpe and woft. Weaue on still, till from grace yee worke in into the eternitie of glorie. The Sicke Man. But alas ! hee will cut mee off with pynning sicknesse. I feare greatlie that the paines of death put mee out of all patience. The Pastour. Take courage, Sir : the paine shall not bee so great as yee feare. God will lay no more 011 you than yee shall bee able to beare. Hee shall weigh all your paines in his mercifull ballance before that hee lay them upon you. Hee knoweth that your strength is not like the strength of a whale : hee breaketh not the bruised reede. * God is so bent vnto mercie, that while hee scourgeth sinners for their faults, hee is saide to bringe to passe his strange worke and his strange act. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. The Sicke Man. But I feare his cutting : God's cuts are verie sensible. I feare to bee cut off with pynning sicknesse. The Pastour. Feare not ; God is cunning in his cutt- ing. * Hee will not cut into the quike like an ignorant Sur- geon ; the mercifull God taketh no pleasure to cut you off with pynmng sicknesse, but hee will cut off your corruptions with such paines ; in such paines should bee pleasure. The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away euill. Pleasant hould bee that paine which is God's Rasor, for cutting off man's corruptions ; away with the pleasures of this rotten flesh. * Such in the beginning, though lawfull, are burning and bloodie pleasures ; vrilawfull end into hellish torments, feare not pynning sicknesse. The Sicke Man. But alas ! from day euen to night hee will make an end of mee. The Pastour. I know, Sir, that the night is wearisome, and that sicknesse, some what light in the day, waxeth heauy in the night. From day to night the sicknesse increaseth. The remeede is this, bee strong in God, whose strength is made perfect in weaknesse. * If dolours increase in the night, heere is a comfort : The night time is a most fitte time for prayer. The time of silence is most conuenient for speak- ing vnto God. * The night time is a speciall time whereof God hath made choise, for in it to speake secretlie vnto men. It was in the night that Eliphaz saw the vision and heard the voyce of instruction : In thoughts, saide hee, from the visions of the night , when deepe sleepe falleth on men, feare came vpon mee and trembling, which made all my bones to shake : then a spirit passed before my face, the haire of my flesh stood vp. It stood still, but I could not discerne the forme thereof. An image was before mine eyes ; there was silence ; and I heard a voyce, &c. See how in the visions of the night, while there was si- lence, Eliphaz heard the voyce of God. * Let no sicke man bee afraide for the night, it is the time of silence, the chiefe time of conference with God : * when creatures are most si- lent, then is a time for man to speake to God, and for God to speake to man : the din of the day marreth our medita- tions. The Sicke Man. But alas ! from day to night hee will make an end of mee. The Pastour. It is better that hee make an end of you, * Note. * Note. Prov.20, 30. * Note. Isa.38,12. I Cor. 12, 9 * Note. * Note. lob. 4, 13, 14, 15, ItJ * Note. Note. Isa.38,12 16 THE LAST BATTELL Carnal Note. Note. Numb. 32. Kxod. 14. 21. Luk.13,4 fob, 1,1 9 'sal.81,15 Sam. 31 4. Matt.27,3 2 Sam. 1 7 Note. * Note. than that any other should do it ; if hee make an end of you pray earnestlie for a good end : if the end bee well, all is well : your complaint is that, from day to night hee wil make an end of you. * Bee thankefull to God for his mercie toward you, in that hee hath giuen you so long- a time to re- pent as from day to night. * Hee might haue made you sinke downe thorow the earth vnto hell in a moment with Dathan and Ahiram : hee might haue burnt you with fire from heauen in a thunder clappe with Corah : hee might haue drowned you into the sea with Pharaoh : hee might haue slaine you vnder a tower with these eighteene at 8 Hoe. : hee might haue sent a winde for to smite the foure corners ol your house, while yee had beene at a banket with lob's children. What if the goodnesse of God had deserted you, and taken \i\sfree /Spirit from you ? What if hee should ioe so to the best of vs ? Certainelie wee should either make away our selues with Saule by the sword, or with lu- das and Ahitophel by the cord, or with Zimrie by the fire. Many others haue in an instant been snatched away in the verie sweate of their sinnes. First then, I say, that is a great mercie of God vnto man that God him selfe maketh an end of him, and not suffereth lim to fall into the hands of his mercielesse creatures. Secondlie, in that, from day to night hee delayeth, it is a mercifull patience : take heede, Sir, what I say ; count this a great mercie of your God ; though yee should die this ight, thanke God for his patience, that it was from day to light, before that hee would make an end of you. * It is a at benefit of God, to get but so much time wherein wee may once cry, Lord, haue mercie vpon me. * No man can sufficientlie esteeme the high price of a daye's laiser vnto light ; heere is the patience and the long suffering of God. Nowe, Sir, consider, and weigh well what hath beene saide; s it not nowe your desire, that yee bee dissolued ? Are yee lot as yet resolued : It would seeme, that there bee some hing that yet troubleth you ; as for the wordes of Heze- ciah's chattering, which hath beene the wordes of your nourning, I hope that in some measure yee haue beene leared with some contentment. The Sicke Man. I confesse, Sir, that yee haue pertinent- ie made answere to all these difficulties ; but, alas! what shall say? Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 17 The Pastour. What aileth you ? Bee plaine with mee, I pray you, Sir, thinke no shame to tell mee what is into your minde.* If the patient couer his sore from the Surgeon, the greater will his danger bee ; it is an hard matter when the jatient playeth false with the Physition ; lay open your wounds, if yee would haue salue fitte for your sores. The Sicke Man. I thinke shame, Sir, to tell you what aileth mee, yet seeing I haue neede both of instruction and of comfort, I will bee no stranger vnto you,* whom I know to bee a man of God, that is not curious for to ripe vp secret sores for your own curiositie, but rather for to cure them. I will not conceale the matter from you ; it is this : I haue filled my barnes, and I desire to enjoye the fruites thereof. There is no man, but hee would desire af- ter great paines, to reape some fruites of his labours ; I wish that death would excuse mee for some years. This is my griefe, for I must bee plaine with you, mine heart cannot well accord to forsake such comforts. The Pastour. That, Sir, is but a worldlie temptation : what are barnes of corne on earth, in comparison of God's most pleasant palace in heauen, wherein are pleasures for euermore ? * Fye vpon barnes ! a nest for myce and rattons. Would yee desire to Hue for to enjoye the leauings of vn- beasts ? They beginne, and as it were, sit at the first messe. Thus after that the fowles of the aire hade gotten their share, and the rattons haue gotten their fill, poore man, as it were, commeth after all, and sitteth downe at the latter meate. * But what are all these things, though man should enjoye them all his alone ? What can hee get of them all but a bellie full of meate ? * What is the bellie to that spirituall birth-right and blessing that is laide vp into the heauens ? What is the bellie, but a thing ordained for destruction with all that is in it ? Meates for the bellie, and the bellie for the meates, but God shall destroy both it and them. Cast out of your heart the care of your bellie. * The bellie in the heart maketh a man a monster. Let this bee your chiefe care, that shortlie your Soule may sit downe at God's table with Abraham, Isaac, and lacob, in God's kingdome. What grieueth you now, Sir ? The Sicke Man. God hath blessed mee ; my moneyes are increased ; and now my life is but comming to the best. The Pastour. * The richest life is not euer the best life : * Note. Note. PsaL 16, 11. * Note. * Note. Note. 1 Cor. 6, 13. * Note. Note. 18 THE LAST BATTELL Camall John 1-2, 6. Luk. 16, 20. I Sam.2j, 36. Verse 37. * Note. Note. * Note. Eccles. 2, 18. Verse 19. 1 King-. 12, 13. * Note. * Note. * Note. aboundance of moneyes is no sure token of God's mercies. If it had beene otherwise, Christ had neuer cast the bagge vnto Judas. That churlish Carle in the Gospel, that would not let La- zarus dyne with his dogges, how soone was his purple pul- led from him, and hee made a begger into hell, seeking a droppe of water from him, whose scabs his dogges had lick- ed on earth ! Nabel like a foole is feasting to day, and to morrow hee shall become sicke, and die with an heart like a stone within him. What fatter then shall hee bee of his feast ? * Beware, Sir, to marrie your minde with your mon- ey, lest yee bee thereby diuorced from Christ. S. Angus- tin saide wiselie, Matrimonium inter aurum et arcam, est inter Deum et animam divortium. A marriage betweene our minde and our money, is a di- uorcement betweene the Soule and Christ, its spouse. * It is good for vs, lest that wee should loue this world too well, that like a curst step-mother it misuse vs, and rather strike vs, than stroake vs, as it doeth with these worldlie brats, who neither Hue, nor loue a life but this. What thinke yee now, Sir, of this world ? The Sicke Man. I desire yet that God would grant mee some space to Hue, that I might make some better prouisior for my little children. I wish that I might Hue till they were better prouided. Within a few dayes, if God would spare mee, I hope that I should make a conquest. The Pastour * Fye vpon that conquest that maketh a man to desire to tarie from God but one houre ! Solomon after all his conquests saide, that hee hated all his labour : /, saide hee, hated all my labour, which I had taken vnder the sunne : The reason is subjoyned by him selfe, because I should leaue it vnto the man that should bee after me. And who know- eth whether hee shall bee a wise man or a foole ? Yea, hee proued a foole indeede, \>y forsaking the counsell of the old wise, for to follow the folie of his young fooles. * What folie is this, I pray you, for a man to desire to Hue, for to conquise sparinglie for one that will spend it all lauishlie, crying among the drunkards, Jill the pynt againe? * Many chil- dren will at one cast of the dyce, cast more from them into a night, than their fathers were able to \vinne into a yeare. * What is great riches to the most part of heires, but fuel to tfu'ir Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 19 fotie ? * Is it not commonlie scene, that after the father hath pynned him selfe with scraiping together this thick clay and pelfie dung, in commeth a forelorne deboched heire with his drunken music, singing Veri vades, wee haue spent more than our fathers haue winne. A little with GOD'S bless- ing is much worth. * Hardlie can men conquise much with a good conscience. From thence is the prophane prouerbe, Well is the heire whose father's Soule is in Hell. The glose is this, hardlie can the father inrich his children, but by lossing his own Soule. What a woefull bargain is this ? Neither doth it euer come to passe, that the euill conquest come to the hands of them for whom it was appointed. * After that the worldling by hook and by crook hath taken with the angle, and hath catcht with the net, and gathered in his dragge, all that is about him. At last it commeth to passe, that after hee hath well ladned his boate, and is come neere the hauen, there commeth a blaste of judgement which ouer-turneth all into a moment. * Thus in the highest of his hopes, in sight of the Shore, ladned and fraughted with the fruite of all his labours of his lyes, his guile, and deceite, hee goeth downe to the bottome of the depths, so that none is able to rescue him. Thus after that, first hee hath made shipwracke of his conscience, hee also maketh shipwracke of all his goods, and so is hee depriued of his imagined profit. * What though his shippe should come in ? What though all should prosper for a while * Let Micah steale his mother's siluer and turne it into gods, and get a priest, and blesse him selfe when hee hath done, thinking that all shall prosper now. But ere it bee long, some of the race of the adder by the way, shall come and take away his gods. And if hee run out to follow for his own, they shall either scorne him with, what aileth thee f or shall boast him to keepe si- lence, saying, Let not thy voyce bee heard among vs, lest anyrie fdlowes runne vpon thee, and thou losse thy life with the InnL's of thine house-hold. * Let no man blesse him selfe with Micah because hee hath gods at home. * Though men by many meanes may be- come rich, and thinke that they shall leaue great wealth vnto their children, God can by as many meanes disappoint them, as by blood, by shipwracke, by fire, by water, by warre, by banquerouptSj by plea, and by piracie, &c. Hee who to day was swaggering in his silkes and swimming in his wealth, * Note. Hab. 2, 6 Philip.3,S * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Danites. Gen.49,1? luflg-. 18, 23. Verse 25. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall * Note. Prov. 13, 22. * Note. 1 King. 17, 16. * Note. * Note. * Note. Gen. 4 1,3 Judg. 9, 9. * Note. Col. 3, 1. Luk. 10,41 speaking of nothing but of thousands, within a little space beholde him againe, and loe ! all is changed. The poore man, hee goeth and no man regardeth him, hee is hungry, nacked and colde, but not so colde as the charitie of these that may helpe him. These who were wont to eate at his table, de- sire no more to see him. The thoughts of olde obligations are to them like letters of Caption for to enforce them to giue somewhat to their olde distressed friend. But colde are such comforts. Heere, beholde, Sir, as in a glasse, what vanitie into these transitorie things, which men thinke to make per- manent to their posteritie.* But let a man bee rich till hee die. After that hee hath spoiled others to make him selfe wealthie, shall his children bee his heires ? No, not. The wealth of the sinner is laid vp for the just. See how God maketh a worlding, to bee as it were a drudge or a packe horse, for to gather with the sweate of his browes that wherewith the righteous man may bee sustained : * as hee made the rauens to flee and fetch flesh for the nourishing of his seruant Elijah. * Sometimes also it will befall other- wise, that the wealth of the sinner shall be laid vp for one worse than him selfe, that all the world may see, and beholde, what vanitie there is in such carking care. * O, will some say, if hee that is dead saw such a man in his house, master of all his labours, what would hee now thinke ? * Thus God in a manner making deboched bare men, like leane kine, prey vpon the wicked, who while they liued would not with the oliue leaue their fatness for to bee kinges in Heauen, letteth the world see what folie it is to put their trust in such tran- sitorie trashes. What say yee now, Sir? Are yee now free of such earthlie temptations ? The Sicke Man. I am miserablie vexed with this world. Worldlie things, do what I can, runne euer into my minde, and trouble mee with carking cares. The Pastour. * So long as a man's heart is clogged with this clay, hee hath no power to stirre hand or foote to heauen-ward. There is both gall and guile in earthlie mind- edness. Well is him, whose Soule can soare farre aboue this region of corruption, for to minde aboue all things the things that are aboue. The Sicke Man. My minde alas ! is like Martha, busied about many things, or rather buried in many things. Temp. OF THfe SOULE, &c. 1. day. The Pastour. But Christ saide, One thing is necessarie. * Hee that saide it, is that which hee saide ; euen that one necessarie thing. * Wee may passe to life eternall without any other thing-. But there is such a necessitie in Christ, that without him wee can do nothing. Without mee, saide hee, yee can do nothing. Christ is that best part, Marie's choise. Well is that Soule, that maketh him its part. Hee is only that which shall neuer bee taken from vs : but what worldlie thing- is that, that as yet troubleth you ? The Sicke Man. Mine heart, Sir, is ouer-burdened with the weight of manie cares concerning this life. The Pastour. * Our Sauiour hath set downe a particu- lar precept concerning that : Take heede, saide hee, to your selues, lest at any time your hearts bee ouercharged with surf etting and drwikennesse, and cares of this life. * Such cares may snow downe white haires vpon our hairie scalpe. But it is only the godlie care, the care of the life to come, that worketh repentance neuer to bee repented of. But come to the particulars. The Sicke Man. I haue latelie bought some heritage, my seruants are plowing it, before I die, I would wish once to reape the fruites thereof. The Pastour. To bee worldlie minded is death. * The command is gone foorth, none can plead ignorance. Loue not the world, nor the things of the world. Well is him that so liueth heere, that hee may bee counted worthie to en- joy that world. * It is no time now, Sir, to thinke of ploughs : yee must now leaue all for to follow Christ, like Klisha, who left his plowing for to follow his new vocation. Take now a kisse of your dearest friends, and follow this great Elijah, the Lord lesus, the chariot of all his chosen, and the horse-men of his Israel. The Sicke Man. My lands are laboured, the haruest draweth neere, there is a plentifull croppe vpon the ground, cornes and wheat, and all abound. The Pastour. There is no solide comfort in wheat or in corne, but only in God's countenance. * I compare all worldlie things to the tallowe of a candle, and spirituall things to the flarnme thereof. If the candle bee right set, that the ttamme bee vpmost, the candle will shine clearelie, and giue light. But if yee turne the candle, and holde the flamme downe, it shall at once drowne in its own tallowe. Euen so * Note. * Note. Luk. 10,41 * Note. Luk.21,34 * Note. * Note. Iohn2, 16. Luk.20,35 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL * Note. * Note. lob, 8, 14. * Note. > Cor. I-',-! * Note. if the Soule of a man bee well set, that spiritual! thoughts bee vpmost, and worldlie considerations sanctified, which haue beene melted and strained from their drosse, bee vnder, that Soule will shine in holie life before men. But if the flarnme of the Spirit bee turned downe, it will drowne vnder the droppes of such earthlie tallowe. By this at last, all our light dyeth out like a candle, so that our hearts that were once enlightned, become like a dampish dungeon. * I confesse, so long as wee are heere, the fire of the Spi- rit within the best of vs, is like ignis in matcria, fire in an earthlie matter, from whence commeth euer some filthie reeke. But when once wee shall bee aboue all places, wherevnto no reeke can reach, this spirituall flamme, abstracted from all earthlie matter, shall shine most clearlie into the presence of God for euer. Are yee not yet, Sir, resolued ? Is not your desire now to bee dissolued ? The Sicke Man. The world is yet still in my minde. I haue taken much paines into it, and am now but beginning for to get some ease. I haue builded an house, gladlie would I dwell some space into it. Mine heart is sore ; yea, it bleeds for to leaue this lodging, and neuer to come to it againe. I had trimmed it for my pleasure, and now, behokle ! shall I bee disappointed ? The Pastour. There is no great matter of griefe, Sir, when a man changeth for the better. * What are all the sieled palaces of Princes on earth, but like the house of a spider f How soone are they all sweept away with the be- some of vengeance, when God is angrie ! What are all our dwellings on earth, but Dungeons in a dunghill ? Let not your heart, Sir, bee on your house. It is now time to minde the things that are aboue. Fye vpon clay and stones ! * What are all the royall palaces of the world to these statelie houses aboue, whereof the floore or pauement glisters with thousands of starres, as with as manic golden nailes, or twin- kling dyamonds ? There the Sunne and the Moone, the two great jewels of heauen, shall bee vnder your feete, which are now aboue our heade. What is within no mortall tongue can tell. S. Paul saw there some thing, but hee neuer re- uealed it, neither was it lawfutt for him to declare what hee bad seene. * This one thing wee may know, seeing the out- ide of heauen is so beautiful!, how pleasant must it bee within ! Heauen is like the Kind's Daughter, whose whole beaut it" /,v Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. within. There is profite, pleasure, health, wealth, honour, happinesse, beautie, and blesse : in a word, therg bee things that eye neuer saw, neither eare heard, yea, which neuer could enter into the heart of man. The Sicke Man. But alas ! must I then forsake all my wealth, and so leaue all my treasures behind me ? The Pastour. * Such treasures are but traitours, though they bee counted gods. God saide to Magistrats, / haue cal- led you gods. But hee neuer called gold god. To call gold god, is dLshdodien language. Gods of gold must be for- saken, for to goe to the God of glorie. * What are all these worldlie things whereon naturall men so do gaze ? What are they but idoles lying vanities ? To ouercome the loue of such lyers is the triumph of Trueth. * If God's arke bee within our hearts, such Dagons will fall downe. Turne there- fore your eyes from such clay, and mind the things that are aboue. Manie gather riches as hee that earneth wages to put it into a bottomlesse bagge. * The first lesson of Chris- tianitie is selfe denyall. The Sicke Man. How is it then, Sir, that a man must goe through this world for to come to Heauen ? The Pastour. * Euen as the Israelites desired to goe through the land of Sihon, the king of the dmorites, for to come to Canaan, the figure of Heauen. Let mee goe through thy land, saide Israel. Wee will not turne aside into the jieldes, nor into the vineyards, neither drinke of the waters of the wells : wee will goe by the king's high way, vntill ivee bee past thy countrey. * It is so, that wee must passe through this world, for to come to that heauenlie Canaan. Wee must not turne aside into the faire fiekles of pleasure, nor drinke our selues drunke in its vineyards ; but wee must follow di- rectlie the rule of God's law the King of Heauen's high way, that so wee may enter into Canaan. What say yee, Sir ? Is it not time to bee resolued ? The Sicke Man. Mine heart is pynned within mee. It is like to breake for sorrow, when I looke to my little chil- dren, who shortlie shall bee fatherlesse. Alas ! hard shall their estate bee when I shall bee away. Who will take care of them ? The Pastour. That which Christ saide to Peter, may bee saide to you, man of little faith, why hast thou doubt- ed ? Hath not God promised to shew rnercie vnto thousands 'sal.45,13 * Note. Psal.82,6. * Note. * Note. Col. 3, 1. Bab. 1,6 * Note. * Note. Num. 21, 21. Matth.U 31. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall Note. Psal.llfi, 11. Hob, (J, IS. Exod. 20, 0. * Note. * Note. Isa. 38, 1 1 Exod. 7, Is * Note. of these that loue him ? * If the king 1 of this land should now come him selfe to your bed-stocke and say, lames, or lohn, heere I giue to you mine hand, before God and good witnesse, that I shall bee a father to your children after you, and shall so prouide for them, that they shall want nothing that may do them good. If yee heard such a man make such promises, I thinke that yee should not bee in paine for the estate of your children : and yet, what is a king but a man ? But so it is, that all men are lyers, or may lye. But God, who can not lye, hath giuen his hand and his trueth to the faithfull man ; yea, hath oblished him selfe by an oath, and hath taken heauen and earth to bee witnesse, that hee shall neuer forsake the godlie man, nor his seede. His promise is to thousands. If yee beleeue God to bee true, relye vpon his promise : Let not the care of children trouble you any more ; prepare your selfe for God, and let death bee wel- come ; put your house to an order in time ; discharge your selfe of all worldlie burdens ; denude your hands and your heart of all temporall affaires, that your Soule haue nothing to do, but to waite vpon your God. * It is not time to bee combered with the world, while the whole heart should bee taken vp with heauenlie meditations. It is now high time to thinke earnestlie vpon that life, wherevnto yee are going by death. It would seeme, Sir, that yee are not content as yet for to remoue. What can this bee that troubleth you ? Should not your heart rejoyce to goe vnto your God ? The Sicke Man. I iinde contrarie draughts within mee. Your wordes, indeede, Sir, beginne to worke vpon mine heart, and to draw vp my Soule toward the pleasures that are aboue. * But againe I finde the desires of this life like weightie paisses drawing me downe to the ground againe. This is my regret. Alas ! must I then leaue this world, and the light thereof, and neuer see it againe any more ? Shall I beholde man no more with the inhabitants of the world f Shall I neuer see, after this, into the land of the liuing, any of all these whom I haue loued so well ? The Pastour. * Sir, it shall bee your farre best to suffer the loue of Christ swallow vp the loue, and all other consid- erations, of worldlie things, as Moses his serpent swal/ou-erf vp the serpents of the magicians. * What euer seemeth pleasant into this world vnto the naturall eye, it is but by juggling of the senses. If we haue the grace of God, this Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. grace shall bee indeede like as a foure nooked clauer, is in the opinion of some, viz. a most povverfull meanes against the juggling 1 of the sight. If wee could seeke this grace, it would let vs see the vanitie of such thinges, which beguile the naturall senses. * The eye of a man's Soule is betimes like the eye of a man come out of a bilious feuer, all things seeme to him to bee yellow, because of the bile which haue peruerted his sight. * Sathan can forge temptations like glasse, of what- soeuer colour hee pleaseth, where thorow all thinges seeme to bee of the colour of his temptations. Thorow one glasse a man's own spouse will seeme to bee filthie ; thorow another, a bordel whore will seeme to bee pleasant ; thorow one, the world will seeme to bee glorious ; thorow another, the bright- est heauens will seeme to bee but cloudes ; thorow one, fa- bles will seeme to bee Scripture ; thorow another, Scriptures will seeme to bee but fables ; thorow one, if a man feast as Christ did, hee will seeme to bee a glutton, thorow another, if hee feast with the Baptist, hee will seeme to bee a deuilL The chiefe gripe of your temptation is in this, that if yee were once dead, yee shall beholde man no more with the in- habitants of the world. Yee are farre beguiled into the sight of the world, wherewith yee are so rauished. * Change your Spectacles, and all that is below shall seeme to bee of another colour. * If your Soule could once soare vp towards heauen, the loue of the earth and earthlie thinges would fall from you, as did the Mantle of Elias, when hee was rapt and rauished vp vnto glorie. The Sicke Man. * But yee know, Sir, that it is verie hard not to bee sore grieued to goe out of this world, Non amplius visurus neqiie videndus, neither for to see any more, nor yet to bee seene. * Who without teares can say his adewes to all his joyes, pleasures, and contentments that are heere ? When I once shall bee caried out of my house, yee shall see mee no more. Hencefoorth yee and I will speake no more together. I, departing from you, must goe to the place of silence, among stinke and wormes. Who can, without dis- pleasure, say to all worldlie joyes, farewell ? Tlie Pastour. It is best that yee turne your backe vnto such naughtie things, as Hezekiah turned his backe to the stocke, and his face to the wall, that hee might conferre with his God. It is great folie to bee so fond vpon such transitorie trashes. What is so pleasant in this world that should allure _____ * Note. * Note. Luk. 7.34 Verse 33. * Note. * Note. 2 Kin?. 2. 13. * Note. Note. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall * Note. Note. * Note. * Note. ,uk.3.16 Eccl.1.2. * Note. * Note. Psal.19.4 * Note. Psal.90.9 * Note. vs to it ? Are not all things inconstant heere below ? * There is nothing that standeth at a stay, but either it is comming in, or going out, like the tyde. * There is no creature but while t beginneth to waxe, it also beginneth to waine. A childe of the age of a day hath lesse time to liue at eauen than hee had n the morning. Since hee came out of the bellie, from the morning vnto eauen, hee hath made a daye's journey in the way to his graue. In ipso ortu vergimus ad occasum. Our arising vp is but a course to our fall. * The degrees of a man's life are as, as many steppes vnto his death. All that wee see below is in a continuall whirling from a beginning to an end. The course of all the Creatures below is in a trance of transi- torie trashes. * I can but teach you with wordes, as lohn baptized with water. It is only the Lord who can perswade. The Sicke Man. I take delight to heare you ; I pray God to perswade mee. Continue, I pray you, into that dis- course, concerning the vanitie and inconstancie of worldlie thinges. Ripe them vp, and open them wider, that I may see them within the bowels. The Pastour. The wisest among men preached, Vanitie ofvanitiesy and all is vanitie I All thinges are vaine, and all thinges cry vnto vs that wee are vaine, so vaine a thing is man. * The Trees, the Herbes, the Flowrishes, the Fruites, the Fishes, the Beastes, the Spring, the Summer, the Haruest, the Winter, the Aire, the Water, the Earth, the Heauens, are all appointed teachers by God, to tell man of his changing. * Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their wordes to the end of the world. All that haue eyes and eares may heare, and read their doctrine, that heere is nothing perma- nent. * One creature calleth to another, Let vs leaue this world. See wee not how wee melt away by droppes, for to bee dryed into dust. Moses saith, that wee spend our ye ares as a tale that is tolde ; a strange speach, for to declare the vanitie of long life, so much desired. While a tale is in tell- ing it seemeth to be something, but when a tale is once tolde these that haue heard it will in end say, that it is but a tale. So long as man's life is lasting, it is like a tale that is in telling; but so soone as Death, the end of all commeth, it is but like a tale that is tolde. Thus, as yee see, all man's life in Scrip- ture language is called but a tale. * All the times of our life, past, present, and to come, are turned at last into a fuimus, wee haue beene. Wee that liue now, let vs remember our Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. case, Ecce tempus nuncfuturum quo dicent nos fuisse, the time shall bee shortlie that man shall say of us that wee haue beene : and thereafter a time shall come that none shall know that euer wee had a beeing. * Our life is like a sparkle flee- ing out of the fire, which dyeth out into the flight : it failleth before it falleth. The Sicke Man. These bee wordes of great power : I finde now some working thereof within mine heart : I pray you continue. The Pastour. Wee haue none abiding heere. * We all, both young and olde, post swiftlie away to the graue, the last bed wherein euerie man must sleepe. Wee are long of com- ming to, but how soone are wee pulled downe ! Our strength^ saith Moses, is soone cut off, and wee flee away. * Wee are like the Yce which thaweth sooner than it froze. * This is the Law of all flesh, Prince, People, Poore, and Rich, all must goe to Golgotha. The preacher saith plainlie, There is no discharge in that warre. * Though a man in the morning bee proud, like a Peacoclce with lifted vp feathers, if Death come before the night come, hee must lay downe his head among dead men's skuls. What a thing is this, that within an hundreth yeares not one of vs all that are heere shall bee left aliue, no not in this great Citie wherein wee Hue ! * Are wee not all as water spilt vpon the ground, which can not bee gathered vp againe? What memorie is now of these that are past ? And what shall bee saide of vs, when wee are gone ? It is our farre best then to follow our God, and to turne our backe vpon all such lying vanities. The Sicke Man. I requeast you, Sir, not to bee wearied. Proceede I pray you into that purpose, that I may learne what vanitie is into this life, which is so much desired. The Pastour. * Man's life into this world is but a pil- grimage, and a race not of great length ; for man that is borne of a woman, hath but a short time to Hue. * Jacob's ansvvere to King Pharaoh's question concerning his age was, few and cuill haue my dayes beene ? What is man, saith one, but vermis crastino moriturus ? a worrne that will die to- morrow. * Dauid putteth the length of his dayes betweene his little finger and his thumbe. My life, saide hee, is like a span long. Some get but an inch. Consider well I pray you, Sir, seeing it is so. What is it then of your life, which is but Note. Note. Psal.90.10 * Note. * Note. Eccles. 8. 18. * Note. * Note. I Sara. 14. 14. * Note. lob, 14,1. * Note. Gen. 47,1. Note. * Note. Psal.39.5. THE LAST DATTELL Garnatt * Note. * Note. * Note. is, dirtie. * Note. Gen.28.17 * Note. Note. iKing.I 8. 19. * Note * Note of the length of a span ? what though it were an ell of ength ? * Is not Methusalah, with his many hundreth yeares, as well in dust as hee that liued but a day. Others haue riuen place to vs, and wee must also giue place to others. To mee to day, to thee to morrow. There is no lodging for mmortalitie vpon the earth. The Sicke Man. My Soule rejoyceth to heare you, Sir, proceede I pray you. The Pastour. Wee haue no great cause to desire to so- journe on earth. * What are wee heere on earth but like poore beggers shute downe to the lowest chambers of the world? This low countrie may well be called Cabul, as Hiram, by disdaine, called the dirtie cities of Solomon. Bee ad now, Sir, for to leaue this earth, a dirtie dwelling. Step vp the stair, euen the ladder of Jacob, that yee may mount vp to your God, for to see what hee is doing aboue. Well is you who shall heare shortlie the musicke of angels into that palace, whose pauement is the roofe of all mortal] dwellings. O if yee knew what is there ! Fye on our ig- norance ! * The children of God in this world are like Lord's children, sent out to bee fostered into little cottages of clay, \vhen they are sent for by sicknesse and death, their Father's messengers, they weepe to come home to their Father's palace, because they know not these many pleasant mansions that bee in their Father's house. But after that they haue once tryed what it is to bee in Heauen with their God, they shall wonder at their childishnesse. * Bee not, Sir, like these sort of men that cannot abide to heare speake of death, but euen sicken at the name thereof, or waxe wroth at the speaker, as Ahab fumed at the prophet, because hee spake not good thinges vnto him. The Sicke Man. Hezekiah spake more wisely* while hee was threatned by the Prophet, Good, saide hee, is the word of the Lord. I pray you to continue your purpose concerning death. * It is good that wee remember our lat- ter end. The Pastour. * Indeede, Sir, the thoughts of death are helpefull and healthfull to the Soules of men, to bee correc- tions for their corruptions. Such thoughts keepe euer Go( in our sight. They are like a strainer, wherethrough the thoughts, wordes, and workes of men are purified. Hardlie can a man thinke of a short life, and thinke euill, ashardlii Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. can hee drearne of a long life, and thinke well. * All the sinnes of God's church in leremie's dayes were imputed vnto this, that slice remembered not her end. *Wee for the most part deceiue our selues with the opinion of long life, and so did they who are dead alreadie. O how gracious would one day bee to these now, who while they liued did scorne at these wordes, Redeeme the time I But their mar- ket time is now past. God's faire was ended before they could vnderstand what it was to buy without money. Well is the man who, while he hath time, so liueth to dye, that hee may dye to Hue. If our life bee good, our death cannot bee euill. * To the godlie man death is a comfort, as beeing a medecine for all his diseases, a cure for all his cares, a rest from his labours. But in this is his greatest joy, that by it the filthie flooxe of sinne is dryed vp into an instant. By it also the prison doore is opened that the Soule, like a doue, may flie vp to its God. The consideration of such thinges made Solomon to preach, The day of death is better than the day that one is borne. Hee spake the trueth, for the one is the beginning, the other is the ending of all our woe and miserie. Now, Sir, before that I proceede any further, I pray you to tell mee what yee thinke now of this world. In this as I remember was your last temptation grounded, that going out of this world, yee should no more see nor bee seene. * I haue let you see as in a glass, what vanitie is in it, yea, that all is but vanitie of vanities, the verie abstract of an abstract, or for to speak so, vanitie fined and quintessenced out of van- itie, which I may call the spirit or quintessence of vanitie. Now, Sir, tell mee what yee thinke of this world, wherein gods must die like men. No worldlie thing below in the day of neede will bee able to keepe touch vnto vs. The Sicke Man. Fye, fye on my faultes, and my folie ! * I foolishlie once thought that I should feather a nest into this world, that should neuer bee pulled downe. Mine heart hath beene so bent toward this vanitie that I haue neither moued foote nor finger toward eternall life. * It is true that I haue beene nourished and brought vp into this world like a childe into a rurall cottage. * I, like a childe, thought that there was no better. lonah was angrie for to quite his Gourd. * The greatest pleasures that are heere, beeing well weighed, are but like the shadow of that * Note. Lam. 1. 9. * Note. Ephes. 5. 16. [sa. 55. 1. * Note. Reuel. 14 13. * Note. Eccles.7.3 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Lona. 4. 7 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Carnall * Note, Note. * Note. * Note, lob -I.I!). Note. Psal.4-;.3. Note. * Note. gourd, euanishing and worme-eaten pleasures. All such comforts are but slender ; they faile man in his greatest neede. The Pastour. * Though worldlie pleasures bee sweete for a space to these whose portion is into this life, yet, as Abner saide of the deuouring sword to loab, it will bee bit- ternesse in the latter end. In all the gourdes of worldlie pleasures are wormes of paine, which shall make them to wither. The Sicke Man. That is most certaine. * Well is him that hath turned his backe to all such lying vanities. So long as a man is in nature, not reformed by grace, hee is but a stranger from Heauen. The loue of the wor]d in his heart, like a moth, eats out all liking of Heauen. * I haue beene too long, alas ! sucking the breastes of this Nourse, whereout of I haue drawn nothing but the swill of wicked- nesse. Blessed bee my God, who hath sent this affliction for to waine my Soule from the loue of all thinges below. I beginne now to incline for to returne to my Father's house in Heauen, where, as I heare, it shall bee much better for mee. Oh, forlorne sonne that I am, who haue wandered so farre from my Father ! The, Pastour. I thanke God, Sir, for these good motions: flesh and blood cannot teach such lessons. But one word I haue obserued into your speach ; yee haue saide that yee be- nne to incline to goe home to your Father. Are yee not as yet fullie resolued ? desire yee not indeede presently to bee dissolued ? * Is it not your greatest desire to flitte from this bodie, which is but a booth, a shoppe, or tabernacle of clay ? Is not your Soule wearied to sojourne into such a reekie odge ? is not your heart panting after God, like an hart panting after the water brookes ? Heare yee not your Soule trying within you, O when shall I come and appearc before God? * A small feeble inclination to goe to God is not suf- ficient ; yee must now come to a stedfast resolution. Hee who is not resolued is not readie for to bee dissolued. Take ourage ; bee not dashed into this danger ; declare your minde freely ; bee not nice, there bee none heere but friendes. The Sicke Man. I am so pynned with sicknesse, that tiardlie can I make answere. * Oh but I am pressed with an heauie hand ! I feare much my last houre. My Soule is sore troubled. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. The Pastour. Learne of Christ in his trouble : Now, ;aide hee, is my Soule troubled ; and what shall I say f Father, deliuer mee from this houre : but for this cause ?ame I into this houre : Father, glorify thy Name. As hee did, so do yee. * Hee, fearing the houre, was earnest with od in prayer, for to bee deliuered from it ; and yet most mmblie submitted him selfe vnto his Father's will. So do yee. If yee feare greatlie that houre, pray feruentlie that od deliuer you from it, and yet, notwithstanding, let God laue all his will of you. His will shall euer bee your well. The Sicke Man. But alas ! my paines are great ; * my 3reach is like the sea. God's rod vpon me is torne with tripes, and worne to the stomps. In my torments I both feare and feele his wrath. If hee loued me, would hee scourge mee with such scorpions ? The Pastour. Whom God loueth hee chasteneth, and scourgeth euerie sonne whom he receiueth. By this yee see plainelie, that hee will receiue none to him selfe but those whom hee is minded to scourge. * This scourging, whereof yee complaine, is God's loue-token, telling you that hee is minded for to receiue you. Woe to the childe whom the fa- ther will not correct ! God commanded! louing fathers to chastise their children till they cry. His command is also, that they bee not hindered for their cryes. Chasten thy sonne, saide God, while there is hope ; and let not thy Soule spare for his crying. So long as there is life, there is hope. While God chasteneth you, it is a token that there is hope. * Woe to that man whom GOD disdaineth to strike. It is a sore word when a father or a master saith to a childe, I despaire of him ; there is none hope ; I giue him ouer, and will strike him no more. It was a fearefull word that God saide to the rebellious Israelites, I will not visite your daughters whei\ they are harlotes, nor your spouses when they are whoores; that is, I will correct them no more, but let them runne head- long to their own destruction. Woe to him whom God will not correct ! * Certe tune magis irascitur Deus cum non irascitur, God is most angrie when he seemeth least to bee angrie. The wicked are most fearfullie plagued when God spareth them most. Let not therefore your sore paines dis- courage you, but rather comfort you, as beeing a speciall token that God will receiue your Soule. * What reckes what thi carion suffer, if so bee that God receiue the Soule ? Shall 31 oh. 12. 27. Verse 28. * Note. * Note. Heb.12.6 * Note. Prou. 19. 18. Note. Hose. 4. 14 * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Caniall Note. * Noto. * Note. Note. -Tor. 12. 9 * Note. Kxoii. 17. II. * Note. * Note. not drinke of my Father's cuppe f saide Christ * To drinke of a kind's cuppe it would bee thought an honour. See then what honour is in the affliction of the godlie ; thereby they drinke of the King of Heaueri's cuppe. This is also a token of our friendship with Christ, when wee drinke with him of one cuppe. Men will not drinke of one cuppe with their enemies. Rejoyce then, Sir, to drinke with Christ in your Father's cuppe. * Though this cuppe bee bitter at the brimme, the bottome will haue a pleasant farewell. Thinke well vpon this, Sir, and possesse your Soule in patience. Despare neuer of God's mercie, though hee seeme to bee angrie. Depend vpon him, trust into him, though hee should slay you. * In confidence of his lone, rest and sleepe in his bosome ; hang on him ; saue his honour by trusting in him. If this yee do, I assure you that yee shall die sweetlie, renting into his arms. The Sicke Man. I finde, Sir, my paines greatlie to in- crease. The Pastour. Bee of good comfort. * If your paines increase, God will increase your patience with your paines : hee is mercyfull, and will surelie strengthen you in the weak- est houre. God's strength is made perfect in weaknesse. In the meane time, bee fighting out the good fight rnanfullie. * Hold vp your hands with Closes against Amalake. Pray feruentlie to your God, that hee would cast into your memo- rie all the good thinges that euer yee heard or reade, where- with your Soule, as with a rempart, may bee guarded against the houre of temptations. Pray often with Christ, Father, deliucr mee from this houre. What say yee, Sir ? It ap- peareth that there bee some thing into your minde yet that vexeth you. The 8icke Man. This 'Soule of mine is verie loath to depart from this bodie. : They bee of olde acquaintance ; haplie long shall it bee before they meete againe. Friendes can not bee but sorie while they shedde. The Pastour. That is natural! to all : but grace in the godlie must rule nature. * Wee must gladlie leaue all, for to goe Hue with Christ ; wee must deny our seines, for to confesse him ; wee must desire to bee dissolued, for to bee with him. Hee who loueth any thing better than him shall not bee found worthie of him. Your Soule, say yee, is sorie to goe irom the bodie. * \\ hat are our bodies for the present, Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day 33 but prisons of clay ? Let them goe to clay, till the day o the resurrection come, when those painefull prisons shall bee turned into pleasant palaces. * What reckes of an inch o time heere on earth, in respect of eternitie in Heauen r Should a man's heart so itch after an inch of earth, that hee would desire to tarrie from Heauen but an houre ? The Soule must turne its backe vpon the bodie, for to turne its face vnto the God of glorie. This is but a childish temptation. * It is for women and children to weepe, at the taking of adewes, chieflie while these that depart are going to a better condition of life. Because the day draweth towards euening, it is now time for mee to remoue. I hope, God willing, to come againe the morrow, and to visite you, that I may minister vnto you some spirituall comforts. In the meane time, seeing your minde hath beene so perplexed with carnall temptations, concerning Life, Lands, Children, and Riches. Cause reade vnto you this night in mine absence the book of Ecclesiastes, from the beginning vnto the end, where yee shall see, as in a glasse, the vanitie of all these thinges, wherewith your Soule now is most enamoured. If yee haue time, cause also reade vnto you lob, 1, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7- Before I goe, Sir, it shall bee best that I recommend you vnto God by prayer. THE FIRST PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN. |~| LORD, in whose hands is the gift of the Spirit of ^-'^groanes, inspire our heartes at this time, that with an leauenlie disposition, wee may fall dovvne before thee vpon the knees of our Soules. Quicken our dead and drowsie leartes to the performance of this duetie of calling vpon thy name. Thou is not close handed to these that seeke thee in sinceritie. Wee are ashamed, O LORD, euen wee all who are leere before thee on the earth thy foote-stool ; wee are ishamed for to face the heauens, the throne of thy majestic. Our heartes are so fullie fraughted with all sorts of shines, which like most filthie streames flow from the first fountaine, 9r rather puddle, of our originall sin, which wee haue from :he loynes of Adam. Wee are all infected with this spiri- ;uall leprosie ; there is nothing that can wash vs, and make vs cleane, saue onlie the lordan of the blood of lesus. Be- sprinkle our consciences, O LORD, with the vertue of that I) Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL loli. (i. >! I Cor. 15 55. Hoso. 13. II. blood, which cryeth for better thinges, than the blood of Abel. Seal vp thy loue in our heartes, by the blood of the Sealed Man, whom thou the Father did seale and appoint to bring life eternall to the world. In him thou art well pleased. In his name, and for his loue, wee begge thy favour. He him selfe hath tolde vs, that what wee shall aske thee in his name, wee shall receive it. O Father of mercies, remember the promise of thy Sonne. In confidence of his command, wee take the boldnesse at this time particularlie to put vp our prayers vnto thee, for this thy diseased Seruant tossed to and fro with diuerse temptations. Sathan, the enemie of his saluation, the feare of death, the loue of the world and of worldlie thinges, haue set themselves in battle-array, like armies betweene his Soule and the entrie of Heauen. They haue maliciouslie ensnared his heart, and taken his affections captiues with the immoderate loue of perishing thinges. Oh, how hath hee beene bewitched with the seem- ing sweetnesse of such vanities ! O Thou LORD IESVS, the LORD of life, encourage him so with thy liuelie Spirit, that hee may bee bold, couragiouslie to face death and the graue. Put these interrogations in his mouth, Death, where is thy stiny ? Graue, where is thy victorie? Cause thy Spirit whisper into his eare, that thou hast put out the life of Death. Cast into his re- memberance the wordes wherewith thou boasted Death, and the Graue, Death, lie ill bee thy plagues, Graue, I will bee thy destruction. Let his Soule know that the Graue is a bedde of rest, for all these that die in the LORD, wherein they rest from their abours, beeing at ease in peace, \vithout any toile or tur- moile. Worke in his heart a desire to bee dissolued, for to jee fredde from the sinfull bonds of mortality, for to goe Iwell where hee shall neuer anger the Lord againe. Let the loue of Christ waine his heart from the desire of anie ibiding heere. O, deare IESVS, who was both buffeted, slaine, and buried, 'or to saue man, set the print and stampe of thy mercie vpon this Soule. Seuer all his thoughts from all that is earthlie, whether it bee life, lands, children, houses, or whatsoeuer other thing may allure him for to sojourne heere in a strange and, wherein wee are all strangers from God, whom wee can Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 35 not see heere but behind. Vntye his heart from the loue of this his natiue soile. Purge him of this out-bearing humour. O LORD, flesh and blood will neuer teach a man to re- nounce his deare selfe, and such other carnall thinges, where- with hee is in phantasie. The earthlie minde is so lumpish, that it wearieth to thinke of thee, and of the pleasures of thy palace. A carnall heart is euer rouing and wandering heere about this world's businesse. Martha is a mother of many children, who trouble themselues about many thinges : but few are these that, with Marie, can folde their heart, for to sit downe at the feete of IESVS, for to make choise of that best part, which shall neuer bee taken from them. Thou, to whom nothing is impossible, draw this Soule vnto thee ; make the 3ent of his affection to bee vpon thee. O, great IEHOVAH, thou hast heard and scene how carnall temptations haue teared the Soule of thy seruant this day in the bedde of his languishing. Immoderate cares for thinges below, haue depriued him of all rest and joyes which hee should haue in thee. Wee must confesse to thee, and from his heart hee acknowledged to bee true, that his minde hath beene too bent vpon such perishing shadowes, which can not bee gripped. Such trashes of no worth haue taken too much roome into his heart. Hee who is not content to quite all for to come to thee, is not worthie of thee. But, LORD, if man's saluation were grounded vpon the sand of his own wwthinesse, such a building could not stand against the winds and floodes of temptations : but his saluation shall neuer bee branled, because it is builded vpon the euer- lasting and most sure Rocke, the foundation of thy Church. O LORD, wee faile all in many thinges. If hitherto thi thy Seruant hath not, as hee should, minded the thinges which are aboue, but lodged in their place the desire of thinges below, now, in thy great mercie, inlighten his mistie minde, and bee mercifull to him in this thing : Make the flesh now to cede and giue place vnto the spirit. Let the heauens come in with the pledges of thy love, which no mortall armes can fadome. Come with thy spirituall and diuine motions, and fill therewith the chambers of his heart, where earthlie thoughts had their abode. Make his Soule to inuite thy Spirit to come in, say- ing, with Laban, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord : where- fore standest thou without ? THE LAST BATTELL Cant.3.7,8 O, deare IESVS, direct so all his thoughts, that hee wearie him selfe no more with the desire of that which sooner or later hee must forgoe. Why should thornie cares, for dust and clay, choake the good motions of thy Spirit ? Let no such care comber him any more for foolish fading commoditie. Dissolue this glew by which his heart is tyed to the ground. In thy light let him see light, whereby hee may perceiue how fraile and fickle are all such transitorie trashes, which beeing too much loued, both coole our zeale and clogge our affections, so that they can in no wise soare vp toward thee. O, blessed Sauiour, in whom is the verie pith and sweetest marrow of God's mercies, make thy Seruant heere to loue thee aboue all thinges in heauen or earth. Make his heart to say, Whom haue I in Heauen but thee ? Make him to loue thee for thy selfe, and not for thine only, which is but an hyred love. Put in thine own hand at the hole of the doore of his heart, and let some droppes of the mirrhe of thy mercie this night fall vpon the handle of the barre, that his Soule, beeing affected therewith, may runne out of the chamber of sleepe, for to seeke him who loueth his Soule, euen his bles- sed Sauiour, the LORD IESVS. Bee mercifull to all thine afflicted members in the Church militant, fighting vnder the bloodie banner of the LORD IESVS CHRIST. The Church is thy Spouse ; keepe her as the apple of thine eye ; make all her members with one minde and one mouth, to glorifie thy Name. Blesse our gracious Soueraigne, the King's Majestic, with thy best blessings. Adorne him with spirituall graces and giftes, wherewith hee may please thee in his whole carriage, both Ecclesiastice and Civill. Make lustice and ludgement the habitation of his Throne ; make Mercie and Trueth goe before his face. Blesse his Royall Match. Make thy mercie to bee shedde abroad in her heart. Cloth her with the roy- all apparell of Christ's Ilighteousnesse. Let readinesse to heare the preaching of the Word bee her Eare-ring, and good workes in her hand like golden Ringes vpon her Fingers. Write vpon the Tables of her heart the Loue of true Godli- nesse. The LORD bee mercifull to the Common-wealth of this land. Protect it from the rage of forraine enemies. Let neuer thy protection depart from this land. Let it bee like that bedde of Solomon, Threescore stron(/e men are round Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 1. day. 37 about it, of the valiant men of Israel. They all handle the sword, and are expert in warre ; euerie one hath his sword vpon his thigh, for the fear e by night. The LORD bee gracious vnto vs all, who are heere vpon our knees before Thee. What wee haue saide to Thee on earth, LORD, heare thou in Heauen. Let this afflicted Soule haue a proofe of thy Trueth, that the effectuall prayer of the Righteous auaileth much. LORD, heare vs for the sake of Him who is righteousnesse it selfe, in whose most perfect prayer wee close vp all our sutes, saying, Our Father, which art, &c. The peace, grace, and mercie of our GOD, bee with you, Sir, for euer. I hope that by God's grace I shall see you earlie in the morning. The Sicke Man. The LORD render to you according to his gracious promise made to all these that serue him in sinceritie. A great blessing requireth great thankes. I neuer deserued such kind- nesse at your hands. The lesse deseruing bee in mee, the more deeplie do I holde my selfe bound vnto your loue. I pray you, Sir, bee as good as your word ; come againe, earlie in the morning. The Spirit of IESVS goe with you. lam. 5. 1C. Luk. 2. i! * Not.-. * Note. Prou. IS. 14. * Nuto. THE SECOND DAVE'S CONFERENCE. OF SPIRITUAL! TEMPTATIONS. GOD sane you, Sir. How haue yee rested this night ? Haue yee found any working- of God's Spirit within you, since our last conference ? Is your minde so at quiet now, that yee may holdlie say, with Simeon, Now let thy seruant depart in peace. The Sieke Man. * Alas ! Sir, Sathan's temptations are like that serpent of Lernc, called Hydra, which had fiftie heads, whereof one beeing cut off, two sprang vp in the place thereof : I take that serpent to haue beene but a fable. But that which I say may bee written for an historic. Many heades of temptations haue yee cut off with the sword of God's word ; but now I thinke that for euerie head cut off', two are sprung- vp in the place thereof. * All my temptations hitherto haue beene but vpon the skinne, like the scratch of a pinne, wrinkles but not woundes. All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles, viz. Feare for my life, feare for my children, feare for the graue of this our muddie mortalitie, and for other such trifles and trashes, vnworthie for to trouble! a couragious spirit. The spirit of a couragious man, saide Solomon, will beare his inftrmitie ; but the wounded spirit who can beare it? * Well is the child e of God in his sorest sicknessse, for while his bodie is sicke, his Soule is sound. His God in great loue will make all Ins bedde in his sicknesse, and strengthen him into the bedde of languishing. * Hee whom God loueth is armed with faith and patience ; all his trouble are but outward scraipings vpon the skinne. The temptations wherewith I am lashed are spiritual! woundings for my sinnes, which neuer troubled mee before. 1 heard often of such troubles, but I neuer knew before this time what such thinges did meane. Thinke yee, Sir, that the spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled ? I heare Dauid crying in Ins Spirit. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 39 mourning", There is no soundnesse in my flesh, neither is there anie rest in my bones. But what reckes of flesh and bones, if the spirit were free ? The Pastour. The most godlie that euer liued have suf- fered spiritual! woundes. Christ, the Captaine of our Val- uation, saide, that his Soule was sadde euen vnto the death, lob cryed, that his spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of God's arrowes : The arrowes of the Almightie, saide hee, are within mee, the poyson whereof drink eth vp my spirit. See how that holie man of God complaineth that his spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of God's arrowes. By this yee see that spirituall woundes are alloted to the dearest of God's elect, so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes. * Trouble of Conscience is the disease of the innocentest Soule. The Sicke Man. That satisfieth mee not. * As for Christ, the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule, were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of others. As for lob, these blowes were blowes of probation and of tryall, for to let the world see that hee was not an hypocrite, that serued God for rewardes, as Sathan did alledge. But it is not so with mee, who am a bond slaue of corruption. I suffer for my sinnes which are euer before mee. The fainer I would forget them, they flow the faster into my rememberance. ' The voyce of my Conscience followeth mee with hue and with cry: "Though God hath spared thee long, thou hast not beene bettered, looke now for vengeance after so long delayes." I can make no answere, I can not denie but God hath spared mee long. In this is my greatest feare. * The higher a stroake bee fetcht, the longer it is in comming : but the higher it bee lifted, the heauier it will foil. The Pastour. I answere to that which yee saide first, viz. that Christ's sufferings are no comfort to you, because they are blowes of satisi'action. * The afflictions of Christ were of diuerse vses : first of all, for to make payment to God's justice for our sinnes : secondlie, hee suffered, that, by his own experience of sense, hee, beeing expert what it is- to suffer, might assure vs that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest, f>r in that lice himselfe hath suffered, beeing tempted, hee is able to succour them that are tempted \ Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward, [Fee haue not, I saide hee, an hi(jh Priest which cannot bee touched with tin 'sal. 33. 3. Ieb.2.10. Mar. H. 34. * Note. lob, 6. 4. * Note. * Note. * Note. 2 Pet. 2. * Note. Note. Heb.2.13 40 Heb.4. 15 * Note. II-b. 5. 8. * Note. Cain in. * Note. Btzu. Lam. 3.39 * Note, loli. 0. ;. Not*-. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all pointcs tempted like as ivee, are ; yet without sin. * This experience which hee had of our niiserie, is called his learning, Though hee were a Sonne, yet learned hee obedience by the thinyes which hee suffered. Hee also suffered for to hee an example vnto us. The Sicke Man. I vnderstand not well these wordes that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings. The Pastour. * The wordes indeede seeme obscure. The most learned thinke that Christ is saide to haue learned obe- dience by his sufferings, because, while hee suffered, hee felt indeede how difficile a thing it is talem obedicntiam Deo prce- stare, to yeeld such obedience vnto God : others say, that by his sufferings hee joyned to his diuine knowledge the practise of his passions ; that which hee had before onlie in contempla- tion is now also known vnto him, by suffering that which hee knew. * Others say, that hee learned obedience by Ms sufferings ; that is, Re ipsa expertus est quid sit patrem hauere cui parendum sit. Hee knew, by experience, what it was to haue a Father to whom obedience was due. Thus Christ, while hee learned obedience by his sufferings, hath teached all the faithfull to suffer patientlie. As for that which yee saide concerning Job, that his afflic- tions were only blowes of probation and of tryall. Yee de- ceiue your selfe, they were also for his sinnes. Wherefore is the liuing man sorrowfutt? saide leremie, the answere is peremptorie, man sufferethfor his sinnes. The Sicke J\Ian. * That seemeth not euer to bee true. While Christ's disciples saw a man that was blind from his birth, they asked Christ, saying, Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that hee was borne blind ? lesus an- swered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the workes of God should bee made manifest in him. Oh, that I were that borne blind, that I were not afflicted for my sinnes, but that the workes of God's mercy might bee manifested in mee ! The Pastour. * These wordes of Christ are not to bee taken so strictlie as though God would lay any affliction vpon a man in whom is no sin. This could not stand with the justice of God. Jf Adam and his children had neuer sin- not one of them could haue beene stricken either with * Note. ne< blindnesse, or deafnesse. * This blind man then was not afflicted for his sinnes only, or especially, or as if hee had Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 41 beene a greater sinner than others, but chieflie this disease came vnto him, that the workes of God's power and mercie might bee made manifest by his cure. * So Dauid was sore afflicted for his adulterie and murther, but chieflie for to stoppe the mouthes of these enemies of God, whom hee by his scandle made to blaspheme. * God as yee see may af- flict you for your sinnes, and yet not chieflie for them, but for to take a tryall of your patience, or for to make others feare to sin when they shall perceiue, by you, how great paines a godlie Soule will suffer before that it can bee well reconciled vnto God againe. The 8icke Man. I confesse, Sir, that yee speake with the tongue of the learned : * but for all that, I finde such temptations tumbling within mee, that I may compare them to the swellings of Jordan- My sinnes, alas ! hudge in greatnesse, stand vp like mountaines, betweene mee and my God. They are so high that they hide Heauen from my Soule. What shall I do, Sir ? If euer yee helped mee, helpe mee now with your comforts. The Pastour. * Though these mountaines bee high, yet yee must climbe the mount, with Moses t if yee would see Canaan. So long as Moses was in the valley, hee could not see the type of Heauen. Wee must all climbe vp the hill. Wee cannot see Christ before wee bee lifted from the earth. Wee are all but men of little stature, like Zacheus. Wee must therefore vp the tree with him, and vp the mount with Moses, before wee can see either Christ or Canaan that place of promise. Yee are sorie for your sinnes : but sanat confessio morbi, a sin well confessed is healed. But what sinnes bee these, Sir, whose toppes reach so high that they hide the Sunne from you ? The Sicke Man. Alas ! for the sinnes of my youth, my riot and my drunkennesse, my chambering and my icanton- nesse, my strife and enny. Fye on my fornications and adulteries, my lying and deceiuing hypocrisie ! * So I had a lampe of profession, 1 cared not for oyle in it. My chiefe care hath euer beene for the outward shell of my duetie, but neuer for the kernell. God's graces in mee haue beene like a pure liquor in a fustie vessell. The Pastour. I am glad to heare of these buffets of your conscience ; such griefe is from grace. I know what * Note. Note. * Note, ler. 12. 5 * Note. Luk.19.3 Rom. 13. 13 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Note. i Sain. Hi 2Pct.2.13 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa. 1. 18 * Not.- * Note. shall bee the euent, euen repentance neuer to bee repented of. But say on. The Sicke Man. * This is my greatest griefe, that I sinned into the light, with Absolmn, euen in the cleare Sunne shine of the Gospel. Now may I well be ranked with these who counted it pleasure to riot in the day time. It were more easie for mee to number the sand than my sinnes. 77/6' Pastour. * There is no sin, either of omission or commission, in the light or in darknesse, that can hinder God to bee mercifull to a sinner, if the sinner can repent. God who is infinite in mercie can forgiue the riots of the day, sinnes of knowledge, as well as night sinnes, which are sinnes of ignorance. * There is one sin of ignorance which shall neuer bee forgiuen, euen to despaire of God's mercie. What ignorance is this, that any creature should thinke it selfe more sinfull than God can bee mercifull ! * To make our sinnes to ouerreach his compassions, were to make the Cen- ter to eontaine the Circumference. If your sinnes bee in number like the sand, God's mercies are without number. * The greatest number that man's braine can inuent, either by telling or by ciphering, in comparison of that which is infinite, is not so much as a droppe of a bucket compared to the great Ocean. The Sicke Man. * I haue, alas ! beene an impudent sinner, who with my sinnes haue buffeted my God on euerie side. It were now righteous with God that hee should buf- fet mee with his judgements. I slept in sin, and could not bee wakened. While Christ's Cocke crowed, my Soule lay fast asleepe ; yea, while hee crowed againe, I had past the third denyall ; and though I was forewarned, I had none hoe in euill doing. While God Avas in my mouth, hee was farre from mine heart. O that bloodie scarlet scrole of so manie iniquities ! The Pastour. * As yee reason with your selfe, and with mee, so let it please you to reason but a little with your God. Come ?iotc, saide the Lord, and let its reason together : thouyh your sinnes bee as scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow ; though tliey bee red, like crintsin, they shall bi>e as n-oll. * There is no sin so red, though it were double dyed, but the vertue of Christ's blood can cause it east its colour. The Sicke Man. * I haue no faith to applie anie sal ue Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. to my sore. I heare your explication of God's mercies, but there is none application within mee. What better will a man bee that yee set much meate downe before him on the table, if hee cannot eate it ? The Pastour. * Manie haue sit downe at Table, hauing their appetite so bound vp at the first, that they abhorred to see meate, and yet little and little haue beene brought on first to taste, and thereafter to eate a little, last of all, one piece bringeth on another, till they recouered their appetite. This is but a disease in your Soule, which maketh it abhorre all comforts, as it is saide of these that are bodilie sicke in the Psalme, their /Soule abhorretk all manner of meate, and they draw neare the doores of death. What was their rerneedie ? Earnest prayer to God. Then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble, and hee deliuered them from their distresses. Man's extremitie is God's opportun- itie. Bee of good comfort, Sir ; haue the Faith of God with- in you. Bee earnest in prayer, and God shall deliuer you from all your feares. The Sicke Man. Oh, that I had Faith ! Oh, that I could pray ! 1 finde my griefes to growe. I spake neuer in earnest till now. All other temptations before were but for carnall thinges. They were all but sport, in comparison of this of my sinnes wherewith my Soule is pressed and borne downe. * I take this to bee the forebrunt of endlesse plagues and paines prepared for the damned. I abhorre my selfe ; fye on mee ! What am I, but a dead Sardian, or, which is worse, a lukewarme Laodicean, neither colde nor hote, a fitte prouocation of vomite to my God. It is a won- der if by this death hee vomite mee not out of his Church, for to cast mee into Hell. Now what pleasure can I haue of all my sinnes, whereof I am ashamed ? All the joyes of my bygone life beeing joyned together, counteruaile not the least part of my present paine. Alas ! Sir, how can I gladly draw neare the doores of death, while there bee such impedimentes betweene mee and the doores of Heauen. The Pastour. I lone these lamentations. * It is good that a Soule bee sensible of sin. Woe to that Soule that is past all feeling. Blessed bee God, that hath wakened you out of the slumber of your sinnes. * God's wrath euer fol- loweth drowsie consciences, for to giue them vp to the spirit * Note. Psal. 107 18. Note. Reuel.3. 1 15. Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall > Tim. "2. IS. * Note. i, 5. (>. Lam.3.3!> Note. I os. 7. Hi. * Noto. * No to. * Noto. Noto. * Noto. < ion. -4-.j,1 * Noto. of slumber, or to sporting 1 spirites, that make men to sport themselues with their own deceiuings. * It is good that in our afflictions, wee consider well the cause ; for Affliction commeth not out of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. leremie in this is plaine, Man sitffer- eth for his sinnes. * It is your part to make a carefull search for the capitall sin, which as yee thinke may chieflie bee the cause of so great a wrath. Till Achan was found, Israel could not stand before their enemies. But say on, Sir ; let mee heare you to Amen. The Sicke Man. God hath set all my sinnes in order before mee. I see nothing 1 but a burning wrath, which Scripture calleth, a consuming fire. * Mine euill thoughts which I euer thought to bee free, stand now vp in battell ar- ray against mee. Lord, tvhy hast t/tou made vs to erre from thy ivays, and hardened our heart from thy feare ? I hatie no comfort within my Soule. * I heare a clamour within my conscience crying vnto mee, What part or interest can thou looke for in the kingdome of Him whom thou hast so highlie dishonoured ? How can thou bee of that number that belongeth to the election of grace ? I finde my con- science raging within mee like a swelling sea. Except some calme of mercie come, my Soule shall bee swallowed vp with some fearefull surge. Alas ! Sir, what is your counsell. All that is within mee is into an vproare ; despaire is working within the bowels of my bellie. The Pastour. * These secret throwings in the bellie are but God's secret reproofes, tokens of his loue. * Such secret checkes are like the rebukes of a father, taking his childe apart to some quiet chamber for to admonish him. This is God's customable doing with his own children. If by their open and scandalous sinnes, they haue not moued the ene- mies of God to blaspheme, hee will take them to the secret chamber of their heart, and there, apart as it were, after that hee hath barred the doore, and put all out, hee will tell them what they haue done. * Joseph would not tell before the Egyptians how his Brethren had solde him. But while hee reuealed him selfe to his brethren, hee commanded all others to goe foorth : Cause euerie man, saide hee, to goe out from mee : and there stood no man with him, u'hile hee made him wife known to his brethren. * God would not reproue lob before Elihu and K/iphaz, his vncharitable friendes, but Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. apart, out of the whirle winde. After that hee had rebuked ind scooled his Seruant lob, in the secret whirle of the winde, and had made him to acknowledge his faultes, hee came to lis friendes and tokle them, that his wrath was kindled a- yamst them. * After that Peter had thrise most shamefullie lenyed his Master, Christ, who heard him so perjuredlie lye, would not reproue him openlie, before the wicked, but onlie turned his eye with a looke towards him. With that secret ooke, which no man perceiued but Peter himselfe, hee gaue lim such a secret checke and nippe of reproofe, that inconti- nent hee went out, and weeped bitterlie. * Yee shall finde at last, Sir, all these temptations that trouble you within, are but God, taking you apart, and telling you with loseph, what yee haue done. God is now in the whirle winde working secretlie with you as with lob, till yee bee humble in dust and ashes. * All this bitternesse which yee finde within, is but from a Loue-looke of Christ, that yee may bee ;aued by weeping bitterlie for your sinnes. * Bee of good comfort, Sir ; all these troubles within are but God out of loue whispering some reproofes into your eare for some by- 2fone faultes. The Sicke Man. I wish that it were so. * But O, what a stir is this within my Soule ! I thinke those wordes of God in leremie to bee directlie saide vnto mee, Tliim own ivickednesse shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reproue thee : know therefore, and see, that it is an euill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear e is not in thee. The Pastour. * While the dregge and mudde of a me- lancholious minde is stirred vp from the bottome with grieu- ous temptations, the sinner must spare to judge, till the Soule bee settled. Let that muddie minde of your's first bee settled, and yee shall shortlie see that matters are not as they seeme to bee. When Christ saide to Peter, Get thee behindt mee, Sathan, it was a speach of glouininesse. But O the sweete gloumes of lesus, more sweete than the world'; smiles ! Let that righteous reproue mee, and it shall bee as oyle which shall not breake mine head. * God may seeme to bee angrie at his darlings, but yet in great loue hee hath locked vp their saluation, and made it sure in his vn- changeable decree. The Sicke Man. Mine heart is pricked with paines anc ob, 38. 1. ob 41. 7 * Note. .uk.22.6i * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. ler. 2. If) * Note. Matt. 16 23. Psal. 141 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Note. * Noto. * Noto. Matt. 8. >{ * Not.-. * Note. Not Not grieued with griefe. This is the rnischiefe, I see none out- gate, my Sonle is enuironed with temptations. The Pastour. The wordes of S. Peter are comfortable, The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the (jodlie out of temp- tations. * If your temptations bee great, heere is matter of joye, yee haue a God who knoweth how to deliuer you. There is no temptation so deadlie but God knoweth how to cure it. * A touch of the garment of Christ's righteousnesse will anone dry vp that flooxe of blood. The Sieke Man. I am so tossed, that I am not able to touch it. * I am like a shippe in a tempest, seeking its Hauen, but cannot come by it ; whiles I am blovven to this side, and whiles to that side. Thus, beeing driuen hither and thither, as with contrarie tydes, mine heart quaketh, and my conscience is in a qualme. The Pastour. Christ who, in the dayes of his flesh, rebuked the windes, will calme such qualmes, that your con- science may bee at rest. * Though the rolling sea rage, so that it make the mariners to reele to and froe, and stagger like drunken men, yet, when they cry vnto the Lord, hee maketh the storme a calm, .so that the wanes thereof are still. Hee who can still the waues of waters, can calme the most stirring surgesse of temptations. * It is written of the mariners, that while in the tempest, all their cunning is gone, their last refuge is to their prayers, Then they cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble, and hee deliuered them from their distresses. If your distresse, Sir, bee like the tempest which can not bee with-stood by care or cunning, runne to your God by prayer, confesse fullie and freelie your shines. Suffer no starting holes or hollownesse in your heart. But worke it to sinceritie, vse all meanes for to bee friendes with your God. Seeke earnestlie from God, for the sake of his Christ, the peace of conscience. The Sieke Man. So I do. * But alas ! while I seeke peace, I heare from God as it were that voyce of Jehu to fohoram's horse-man, saying to my Soule, IThat hast thou to do u'ith peace? f/et thee behinde. mee. What wonder that God bee angrie with mee, who was neuer carefull to please him ? * My Soule, like a Night-owle, hath hated Light, and loved Darknesse. Such is the weight of my transgression, that I am like to sinke thorow the sward of God's wrath. * This checked) nice sore, that while 1 Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. I stroue to ouermaster my conscience arraigning mee for my wickednesse. When I thinke of this I thinke shame to face the Sunne and the Moone. The Pastour. * The more yee bee ashamed of your sinnes, the lesse yee neede to feare euerlasting shame. The Pharisee thought no shame of him selfe, but bragged of his worth ; the Publican could not face the heauens for shame. Your part shall bee with the Publican, who returned justified vnto his house. Hee, who condemneth him selfe, shall goe home to Heauen with the justice of his God. Cry vnto the Lord in your trouble. The Sicke Man. I am not able to speake ; the force of temptations is like to shiuer mee in pieces. All that is within mee is in a fearefull vproare. * Oh, how fearefull is the racke and gibbet of an euill conscience ! The blacke scrole of my sinnes, which of before seemed to bee enroled, is now vnfolded and laid open, wherein euerie letter seemeth hudge, great like a mountaine. Euerie day is a death vnto mee ; all my counts are out of order ; there is not a string in mine heart in a right tune. What are sinners, but stubble ? God's sentence is, Barne them. * Alas ! that while I sinned, I weighed not the following woe : I haue brewed my griefe, and now I must drinke in sorrow. The Pastour. * One thing I perceiue, Sir, that your griefe must haue vent. Till yee haue disburdened your selfe with teares and complaints, yee can not admit anie comfort. The Sicke Man. There is no dolour like to my dolour. The arrowes of the Lord's wrath are within mee, whereof my spirit drinketh the poyson. The Pastour. * These arrowes are not arrowes of wrath, but of warning, like the arrowes of lonathan, shot for to driue Dauid from the furie of Saul. * Heare the Spirit crying, with lonathan, Are they not beyond thee? God's arrowes are flowen ouer you. Are they not beyond you ? There is no danger. ~ 77/y Sicke Man. * My sinnes, which once seemed little like mots, begin now to swell, and to become thicker than moimtaines. I haue no peace within. In my Soule is kin- dled an vnquenchable fire ; in it is the fewell of euerlasting burnings. * Often haue I posted off my sinnes in the lumpe with a slubbert generall confession. Now resteth nothing within mee but feare, distrust, and qualmes of conscience. * Note. Luk.18.11 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. L Sam. -A * Not * Note. 48 THE LAST BATTKLL Spirituatt * Note-. Isa. 7. 9. Matth. la 28. Not*-. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk.13.-l. Dati. <).s. * Note. 77/r Pastour. Bee strong in God, Sir. Hope in his mereie. Belieue in him, though hee should slay you. * If yee trill not belieue, saith Jsaiah, surelie yee shall not bee esta- blished. While the woman of Canaan was making 1 requeast to Christ for her daughter, shee found Christ at the first to bee verie harsh and sovvre, in calling her a dogge. But that little blast beeiug once blowne out, for the humbling of her Soule, shee heard incontinent these wordes of comfort, woman, areat is thy faith ; bee it rnto tJicc euen as than wilt. * God's face may seeme grimme for a space, but there is but a moment in his wrath ; though hee should slay you, yet must yee trust in him. In your hurt yee must hope for his helpe. The Sicke Man. * My strongest hope is but a stinging. feare. My greatest confidence is but trembling of conscience * It seemeth to mee, that there is one knocking at the doore of mine heart, and crying in a voyce, Is Faith heere ? is Loue within ? is one called the Feare of God into this place ? is the Spouse of Christ in this heart ? Alas ! what can I say, bailing such an ouglie Soule within mee ? Can Christ, the Spouse of the Church, loue such a Soule as mine, which is like a bleare or squint-eyed Leah f Can the dark night beguile him, that hee should take such a loathsome Leah for a beautifull Rachel f * If Death now ouertake mee, I looke for fire and faggot, the fewell of euerlasting burnings. Oh ! my faith fainteth, and mine hope houereth. What say yee, Sir ? doeth not your heart pittie to see mee in such a plunge ? '' Yet for all this I must justifie God. All this is righteouslie come vpon mee. Though his wrath should so settle vpon mee, and thereby my bones should bee crushed like these eighteene who were slaine vnder the tower of Siloe, to God should belong right- eousnesse ; but to mee open shame and confusion of fact'. The Pastour. * Shame of face for sin is the beginning of grace in a sinner ; waite vpon the Lord a little, and hee shall make his mercie to appeare like a morning light; at the breake of day all the night shadowes of temptations shall flee away, and Christ, the ISinine of Riyliteousnesse, shall arise and shine vpon your Soule with his blessed beanies. Ibis shall make your Soule, like a bird on a bush, well-comming the morning with a song for joy e that the night is past. The 'SYr/r Man. * Sathan, alas ! hath so hood-winked Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. 4-9 my Soule with my sinnes, that I can not get a sight of mer- cie : the sense of my sinnes giueth mine heart many a colde pull. I feare to die in despaire. What say yee, Sir ? doeth not your heart pittie mee ? The Pastour. The Lord pittie you, and giue mee an heart to pray for you. The Lord put the wordes into my mouth, that may comfort your comfortlesse Soule in this lingring tryall. Haue patience in your paine : sin is like a rotten tooth ; the deeper roote it hath in the jawes, the more painefull it is in the drawing. Continue, Sir, to discouer your sore : if the boile of such corruption bee ripe, I shall launce it, that such filthie matter may bee cleansed away. I pray God so to direct mee, that I may proue a Surgeon cunning in this cure. If there bee any thing as yet that troubleth you, conceale it not, if yee think that my comfortes may bee helpefull vnto you. * Many are more ashamed to confesse a faulte than to commit a sin. What is this that greiueth you now, Sir ? The Sicke Man, The wrath of God affrayeth mee. * His anger is like a Lyon, which can not bee tamed. My sin is past, but punishment is to come. * Terrours cry out of the fire, " Thy pleasures now are ended ; now thou must suffer paines. From the toppe of the pinacle of all thy pre- ferments, come downe to the dungeon of darknesse, because thou hast fallen downe before the yod of this world : goe downe, goe downe to him, whom thou on earth hast wor- shipped." These bee the terrours of God, standing in battell array against mee, which make mee to fling all comfortes from mee. My Soule is possessed with a slauish feare. * Indeede I must confesse, that I am much beholden vnto God, for so large a time of repentance. But alas ! I haue neglected it, yea, and obstinatelie haue kicked against my Maker. * So now I finde by doolefull sense, that I remaine into the guilt. My Soule is so sicke with this that I can not tell. * All comfortes are vnto it like a dead potion into the stomacke, which hath no vertue to worke. God thinketh mee not worthie of comfort : for while I was in prosperi- tie, I was so couered ouer with the spirit of slumber, that I would not bee warned nor wakened by the voyce of God's Trumpeters, sounding judgements, as sonnes of thunder.* Because I misregarcled BocumryeS) the Sonnes of Thunder, God will not daine mee with a Barnabas, a Sonne of Con- G * Note. * Note. * Note. 2 Cor. 4.4. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa.29. 10 20. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt Note. Note. Isa. GG. 2. * Note. Luk.18.13 Note. * Note. Exod.9.31 Verse 3^. lKin-jr.21. 10. Note. Verse ]!. solation. Now beholde, Sir, what grieueth mee : what say yee for my comfort ? Tin' Pastour. * I rejoyce from mine heart, not in your griefe, but in that yee are so grieued for your sinnes. God in mercie hy such sorrow doeth whet vp your desires after him. * The childe hy a knocke and a fall knoweth his own weaknesse, and perceiueth the need of his Nourse. I rejoyce to see you humbled with the sense of your sinnes, vnder the hand of God ; I am comforted to see you humbled ; let this humilitie bee a comfort to your selfe. It is good to bee of a humble and contrite spirit. To whom will I looke ? saide the Lord ; euen to him that is of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. * The more a man bee humbled hee is neerer to bee justified. The Publican, a little before hee was justified, was knocking 1 vpon his breast, and crying to God for mercie to him a miserable man. * The more humble a man bee, hee is the farther from the dint and dan- ger of God's judgements. The Sicke Man. By your discourse, Sir, it would seeme that a cast downe Soule with its own vnworthinesse, is in lesse danger of judgement, than these who are high lifted vp in their own conceit. The Pastour. It is most certaine. * The humble and the proud are like these seedes that were sowne in Egypt, when the plague of haile came : the Flaxe and the Barley were smitten, saith the Scripture, for the Barley was in the eare, and the Flaxe was boiled : but the Wheat and the Rye were not smitten, for they were not (frown vp. The wicked in time of wrath are like Flaxe and Barley ; because they are lifted vp, they are smitten ; they are in the eare, yea, and boiled in their pride, and therefore can not escape. But as for the humbled heart of the godlie man, it is like the Wheat and Rye, the best corne. It is not smit- ten because it is not growne vp, but lyeth humble before the Lord. Corpora maynanimo satis est prostrasse Leoni. Humiliation maketh the Lyon to spare his aduersarie. God is pleased and pacified so soone as hee seeth a man humbled in heart. Ahab had hilled and after also /tad taken p. M, * Note. Matth. 11. * Note. Reuel. 3. 10. * Note. * Note. Matt. 17.1 * Note. Luk. '. h Luk.s.44 * Note. * Note. ' Note. * Note. woe to them who, with Laodicea, haue need of nothing. For the most part, men are drowned in drowsinesse. Se- curitie is farre more dangerous than despaire. As was sung of Saul and of David, so may bee heere,* Despaire hath slaine her thousand, but Securitie her ten thousand. Manie are not wakened till they bee so wakened, that their judgement and senses are lost. It is a fearefull curse for a man to blesse him selfe, while hee should rnourne for his shines, such as blesse them selues, while the Lord pronounceth the wordes of the curse, The Lord will not bee mercifuH to that man. * Securitie hath shaken hands with Hell and Death. But well is him who feareth alwayes. * Hee is greatest in God's sight, who is least in his own eyes. The Sicke Man. But alas ! Sir, my conscience speak- eth home, that I haue beene a stranger from my God. O but I am wearied ! how shall I bee deliuered from this burden of bondage ? The Pastour These who are ladened and wearied, may heare Christ in his Gospel crying vnto them, Come vnto mee. Goe to him who cryeth so louingly, Come. Striue aboue all thinges, to get a sight of your Sauiour, by the eye of Faith. Vrge vpon your heart a deepe meditation of his mercie : his merits are able to cure our maladies. The Sicke Man. * There is such a mist betweene mee and the Messias, that it is not possible for mee to see him. Oh, that my eyes were cleared with God's Ege-salue, that I might diearelie beholde him ! The Pastour. * The great desire yee haue to see him is a sort of sight. * All men see not Christ alike. All goe not vp to the mount with Peter, lames, and John. All see not God face to face, with Moses. All men lay not their head in Christ's bosoms, with his best beloued Disciple. Bee not discouraged, though yee cannot winne so neare to Christ as yee would. * If yee cannot winne to him, for to embrace him, as Simeon did, striue to touch the border of his garment behinde, with the linger of faith, and it shall stay the bloody flooxe of your sinnes. * Yee sigh for a sight of Christ. * A sigJi for a sight of him, is a night of him indeede. * Hee who would bee found of these that songht hint not, will bee much more found of these that seeke him, and sigh for him. Bee of good heart. * Though for a space your spiri- Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day ual day bee mistie, yet at last your drumly sky shall bee cleared. * Christ is not euer absent, while hee is not scene. The Sunne as wee see will bee couered with a cloude, and the Moone will bee vnder wake, but incontinent thereafter, the cloudes beeing ouer-blowne, wee enjoye their brightnesse and their beames. What shall bee able to separate a Chris- tian from the loue of his Christ ? What then shall bee able to make a Christian Soule despaire ? Shall Damnation ? No, for Christ, God's Saluation, is ours. Shall Hell ? No, for our Christ hath the keyes both of Heauen and of Hell. Shall the World ? No, for Christ hath ouercome the world. Shall the Law ? No, for our Christ \iat}\ fulfilled the Law ? Shall Death ? No, for our Christ is the Way and the Life. Shall the Father's wrath f No, for hee hath troden the wine-presse of his wrath for you and for all re- aenting sinners. * All Scripture pointeth at him, saying, This is the way, walk yee in it. Run, Sir, to him, and bee shall deliuer you from all your sinnes, and from all your feares. Striue to curbe your own corruptions which are so broodie within you. The Sicke Man. I cannot, alas ! bee quite of my sinnes. I striue to runne away from them, but the faster they follow mee : like curre Dogges, that are so accustomed to follow their Master, they will not bee boasted home againe Where euer I goe with my thoughts, aboue or below, my sinnes follow hard after mee. * Though I threaten them, though I boast them, yea, betimes intreate them -to depart, their answere is, Wee are thy workes, wee will goe with thee. This putteth my Soule out of peace and order, and thrusteth mee away from the Lord my God. I haue beene long seeking and sighing for comfortes, but as yet I can es- pye none appearance. The Pastour. Comfortes, though sought and sighed for, are not aye seene at the first. * Elijah's seruant went vp the hill Carmell eight seuerall times, to espye some appear- ance of raine. The first seuen times hee could see nothing, and at the eiffht hee saw but a little cloude of comfort. Be- CJ holde, saide hee, there ariseth a little cloude out of the sea, like a man's hand. A little after that, the heauens were Make with cloudes and winde, and there was a great raine. * Holde your face, Sir, a little space, with Elijah, betweene * Note. ,uk.2.30. ieuel.3.7. Ioh.16.33. Matt.3.15, oh. 14.6, Isa. 63. 3 * Note. sa.30.21 Note. Deut. I'd 10. * Note. lKingr.lt 44. Verse 45 Note. THE LAST BATTKLL Spirituatt I Kin. * Note. I lob. 12. 12 * Note. Isu.7. 14. Rom. 8. 1. * Note. I'sal. 4-2.7 * Note. your knees, and east your selfe downe rpon the, earth, as hee did, that is, fall downe in all humilitie of Soule before your God in prayer. That done, send vp your prayer, the spirituall spye vnto the top of the hill. * Send it againe and againe, euer till it espye some little cloude of comfort. If your Sonic take paines in prayer till yee perceiue but an hand-breadth of mercie, at last God's comfortes shall raine downe in great aboundance vpon your wearied spirit. What shall I say ? if yee will not bee informed, yee cannot bee reformed. The Sieke Man. Indeede, that is a pleasant and fit com- parison, worthie to bee printed with a Note on the margent. It hath beene well adapted by you. Oh that it could bee as well applyed by mee ! Oh that the Lord, whose lone expelleth feare, would strengthen my vveake Faith with an hand-breadth of his mercie! Oh for such a little cloude of com- fort ; it would lift vp mine hands which hany downe, and strengthen my weake knees. But, insteede of such a com- fortable cloude, I see nothing but cloudes of icrath, readie to fall and become a deludge of vengeance. From my birth, I must not dissemble, I haue dallied with my God, and haue despised the gratious day of his visitations. * And now all my comfortes resemble to the Eaylc, that taketh her to her wings, and flyeth aloft high into the skye, from my sinfull reach. O feare ! O horrour ! O the multitude of my trans- gressions ! how shall I bee quite ? The Pastour. The best way to bee quite of sin, that it reigne not in vs, is to bend vp our heartes to Christ, who is Emmanuel, God with vs. Though all bee worthie to bee damned, yet there is no condemnation to these that are in Christ. * Hee is that heaue-offering, which wee must euer holde, and heaue vp like a buckler betweene God's wrath and our sinfull Soules. In what case finde yee your Conscience to bee for the present ? The Sicke Man. One deepe calleth to another deepe at the noyse of God's water spouts. My sorrow is like the Sea, it ebbeth and it floweth. As I haue swimmed thorow one deepe temptation, I fall into another that is deeper. My braine is turned with a whirling giddinesse. The Pastour. * There is no such deepnesse either in our sinnes or in our troubles, but the mercie of God in Christ shall bee able to oner-reach it by innumerable fathomes. -V. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. day. 55 P#w/saide, that hee was assured, that neither highth nor depth shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of God. * Though affliction raine downe vpon vs like water falling from spouts, they may well wash vs, but shall not bee able to drowne vs. * A godlie man should not bee afraide for a spout full of bitter waters. * Though the waters of the sea roare and bee troubled, though the mountaines shake with the swelling thereof, yea, though the surges thereof should boast the cloudes, heere is the faithful man's comfort, There is a riuer the streames whereof shall make glad the Citie of God. * Though the Mediterranean Sea, yea, the great Ocean with its surges, should boast God's Jerusalem ; a little riuer or brooke, a Kidron of God's grace sending out streames of com fortes like the waters of Siloe, shall make glad the Citie of God. The Sicke Man. * But how shall I passe thorow to Canaan ? Beholde before mee what floodes of iniquities ouer- flowing their bankes as in the swelling of lordan. Such fearefull floodes runne betweene mee and Heauen, the place appointed for my rest. The Pastour. * One stroake with the garment of Christ's righteousnesse will diuide the floodes of Belial, as Elisha diuided the lordan by striking it ivith the mantle of Elijah, that hee might safelie passe thorow. * Christ's merits are like the Arke, which made the lordan to goe backe, for to make a way for Israel vnto Canaan. * Our heartes, like the Priestes, must stand hard by the side of this Arke, till all our affections, the Lord's Armies, bee come thorow the swelling lordan of o-rieuous afflictions. The Sicke Man. While I beholde my selfe, I abhorre my selfe. * The eye of my God seeth mee ; and what am I, but like a bemired dogge, trodde by Sathan into the puddle of perdition ? Alas ! when good motions came into mine heart, I crosed them with my lustes. Now cursed bee my lustes ! I am so filthie, that I abhorre my selfe ; my sinnes are so red, that nothing is able to make them white. Tlie Pastour. Know yee, Sir, what God saide of olde in Isaiah ? Come now, and let vs reason together : though your sinnes bee as scarlet, they shall bee as white as snow, though they bee red like crimsin, they sliall bee as woll. If yee could but reason a little with God, yee should finde this to bee true. There is no sin which Christ's blood is not * Note. Psal.46.4 * Note. * Note, [or. 12. 5. * Note. 2 Kin-. 2. 14 * Note. loh. 3. 10. * Note. lor. 12. 5. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual} Not*'. * Note. Nott>. * Noto. Kinir.2,). 31. Note. * Not*', loli, 1 4. 12 * Note. * Note. Matt. 1 .'2; Col. 3. 3. Note. * Note. * Note. Not*'. able to purge. ' What euer your sin bee, if yee can repent, hee can forgiue. * Christ can do anie thing but this : hee cannot sane him that will not repent. Seeing yee know him to bee infinite in inercie, haue all your recourse to him. * Take once a proofe of his mercie. Humble your selfe at his feete, and see whether or not there bee mercie with him that hee may bee feared. * The seruants of Benhadad, knowing that the kings of Israel were mercifull kings, put sack-cloth rpon their loynes, and ropes rpon their heads, for to seeke man's mer- cie, which also they found. * Shall man finde mercie into the narrow bowels of a man, and shall hee bound the holie One of Israel? * Christ, who is not onlie true, but Trueth it selfe, hath saide, Whatsoeuer yee shall aske in my Name, that will I do. * Hee who is true may lye, but Trueth can not lye. The Sicke Man. That is trueth. While I consider your comfortes for the distressed Soule, I thinke that all your purpose pointeth chieflie at Christ, as though hee alone were the (/round of (/race. Let mee heare, I pray you, more at large, what Christ is vnto us. 77/6' Pastour. Hee is Emmnauel, God with vs, God with man, God in man, God-Man. In him God and Man are but one person. Our fife is hid with Christ in God. * Because wee did eate of the forbidden Fruite, hee was hanged upon a cursed tree. Hee hath borne vs such a loue as is vnspeakable. * What tongue can forme wordes suffi- cient for to expresse the least part of the same ? By the conduite pype of his Humanitie, Grace for Grace hath beene conueighed to our gracelesse Soules, Who can expresse his Loue, hee loueth vs to the end ? and of his Loue there is none end. * This I will say, that hee hath borne to man such a loue, that hath made all mankind like a Banqueroupt, so farre vnable to pay the principally that though man should loue his Sauiourwith all his might and his minde, yet should hee not pay so much as the interest of so great a loue. No ; though hee should giue his bodie to bee brunt for the honour of his Name. No ; though hee should for his sake haue his name, if it were possible, scraiped out of the Booke of Life. * I hough all our Soules should suffer for his honour the euerlasting paines of the damned, all these paines were not Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. to bee counted the interest of his paines for us. * It is more that a Prince get a deadlie hurt in a battell, than that a thou- sand common souldiers were slaine. * It is more that the Prince of Heauen suffered vpon the crosse but an houre, than that a thousand worlds had beene cast into a thousand hells, for to bee tormented for euer. * There is no proportion in suffering 1 betweene the creature and him who was both God and Man into one person. * O then, what can bee the interest of that principall loue, that moued God to die for man ? * Let this bee like a Bell ringing for to waken your drowsie Soule. Let your Soule, like lohn, leane vpon the blessed bosome of lesus. Haue euer your eye vpon this Mercie seat. The Sicke Man. Is it onlie then in Christ, Sir, that Saluation is to bee found ? All Scripture would yee say, doeth leauell at him. Tlie Pastour. The Scripture is plaine. There is none other Name giuen vnder heauen among men, whereby wee must be saued. Hee is full of the bowels of loue. Hee is that onlie Sauiour, pointed out by both the Testaments. * Like as the two Cherubims, though seuered one from another, yet looked one towards another, and both vpon the Mercie Seate : euen so the Olde and New Testament looke one towards another, and yet point at one and the same Christ, the marrow and kernell of man's saluation. * All Religion is in this, that wee know Christ. This is man's saluation, to know Christ and him crucified. * By his blood, the Bill and Bond of the Law is crost and can- celled. * Hee is that Carkassewherevnto all faithfull Soules, like Eagles, must resort. Hee is our refuge against the dint of God's wrath. The Spouse could not come vp from the wiklernesse, but by leaning vpon her beloued, Christ. * As the Propitiatorie couered the Tables of the Law, that were in the Arke, so Christ couered our sinnes against these Tables. * As the cloude couered the Israelites from the sight of Pharaoh hotelie following after them ; so Christ's righteousnesse like a cloude couered vs from the judgements of God his fierie wrath pursuing vs. * Let men couer them selues neuer so carefullie, still some part of them shall peepe bare, vntill Christ come with the couering of his righteousnesse, * If by the temptations of Sathan your Soule hath beene Note. Note. Note. Note. * Note. Act. 4. 12. * Note. * Note. I Cor. 2. 2. * Note. * Note. Matth. 24. 28. Cant. 8. 5 Note. Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt * Noto. * Noto. Noto. sa. I. 18 Act .2.37. * Note. Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Noto. * Note. ruffled or galled vpon the sore. The best balme that euer dropped from the pen of God's Spirit vpon the leaues of his Sacred Booke, is the Historic of Christ's bloodie passion. There wee may see the dearest mercies that euer moued the relenting bowels of God's tenderest compassions. * Beholde the Sacred Blood of that vnspotted Lambe, which saucd the Soules of those that spilt it. * If yee bee pynned with Corrasiues of terrour, in him are cordials of compassions, the onlie salue for the sores of the Soule. * Though yee were couered with scarlet abomina- tions, heere is vertue whereby yee shall bee made whiter than the snow. * Did hee not pray for them, yea, did hee not saue them, who by bitter railing, discharged vpon him the vtmost of their gall ? Tlie SicJfe Man. Such men at last were pricked in their heartes : they truelie repented. * Their sighes and sobs were supported and sinewed with the strength of Grace. Such men became godlie indeede. But I did neuer passe the pitch of formall pietie. I euer desired more to seeme godlie, than so to bee. I haue beene betimes sore shaken with awfull terrours ; * but I neuer yet could say, that the softening blood of lesus did melt my marble heart. * What euer had I, but some light of reason and glimmerings of generall grace, which can not scare so high, as to conuoy the Soule to the doores of Heauen ? * The word of sauing grace implanteth itselfe into the heart of the godlie man. Hee onlie is furnished with a resolute and vnswayed vpright- nesse. * Alas, alas, alas ! mine heart is throwen with a sore wringing. There is a large haruest for Hell, many called, but few chosen. The Pastour. What shall I say ? * Man's thoughts are framed into a sinfull mould. * The sillie sonnes of u4dam are wonderfullie tossed with the contrarie tydes of Sathan's temptations. Some hee benummeth with the siceet- nesse of securitie, others hee troubleth with the tartenesse of terrours. * O but Sathan's Balow is sweete to the Soule in the craddle of Securitie ! But O how dreadfull shall hee bee, when hee, appearing grieslie and fierce vnto the Soule, shall waken it with a cry and a glowre, saying, Damned Soule, come out to Jire and faggot, come out to Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. vnquencheable brimstone beames, come out to weeping and gnashing of teeth. * A man after this manner wakened in conscience, is like a man wakened out of his sleepe on a sudden : At the first hee is in such a maze, that till hee bee better wakened hee cannot well vnderstand what is saide to him. All his thoughts are into an hurlie burlie. Then his outward rebellions, and his inward repynings, with all his abominations, seeme to fall downe vpon him like cloudes of blood. * There bee no comfortes that can settle his feares, till the Spirit of Grace appeare vnto him in the calme. Looke vp with your eye, Sir, and seeke a blinke of the face of lesus. Hee onlie is the Prince and Pryce of our peace, our joy, and our libertie. If the Sonne make vs free, wee shall bee free indeede. Wrestle with him : vse violence in an holie boldnesse : vis Deo grata. In him are the lasting treasures of mercie and immortalitie. * Hee it is onlie, who can make this biting Conscience to bee toothlesse. Hee onlie can command this raging sea. I know, Sir, that your sorrowes are sore, and my Soule pittieth you, for I see you in the verie pangs and terrours of the newe birth. I perceiue your Soule gasping for grace, as the drie and thirstie ground for droppes of raine. The Sicke Man. O the boisterous blastes of temptations, able to make the tallest and deepest rooted Cedars to stagger, yea, the Sirion to skippe like an Vnicorne! What shall I do ? The Pastour. Seeing Christ alone is our protection and perfection, let all your courage bee in him. * In him yee must bee valiant, for none but the valiant can by violence enter into the Kingdome of God. If a man know Christ well, hee shall not bee discouraged though hee were cast into a raging sea of temptations. * Though a man were cast into a gulfe of twenty fathome deepe, if hee can keepe his head aloft, hee cannot bee drowned. * So as long as Christ our Head is aboue, wee his members may well bee dowked, but wee cannot bee drowned. All Christian comfortes runne vpon him like the Title of a Booke, wherein is contained the substance of the whole. If Christ, Sir, bee yours, yee cannot perish. Hee who is rooted in him, can neuer bee rooted out. The Sicke Man. But how can Christ bee mine, seeing I am but a bagge of corruption and a bodie of death ? What * Note. * Note. lolu 8. 36. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Note, latth. 1H, 13. .lo.S. Luk. lj. 18. * Note. latth. If), 30. ^olos.3.3, Isa. 1.6. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ieb.10.29 * Note. * N)t:'. lath mine heart beene, but like a viper's bellie, filled with a leadly brood ? Miserable man that I am, will Christ euer daine to looke vpon such a vile wretch as I am, who hath urned my Christian libertie into a fleshlie licence. The Pastour. These who are least into their dwn eyes, ire in greatest account with him. * When yee heare of the vandering sheepe br ought home, and of the lost groat found, nd of \heforlorne Sonne returned to his father, yee should cast your figure and say, Of whom is this written but of mee ? for whom is it written but for mee ? * If yee sticke fast by him, no perrell shall make an hairc if your head to perish. Bee of good comfort, for your life 's hid with Christ in God. The Sicke Man. I am so vile, that hardlie darre I pre- sume to thinke that Christ would die for such a filthie rotten reature as I am, who from the sole of the foote to the Browne of the head, is filled with botches, boiles, and putri- ying sores. * When I beholde my selfe into the glasse of God's Law, I abhorre the monstrous face of my Soule. I am one of those in whom Sathan hath parbreaked, and spewed the spawne of all sortes of sin. Of all sinners, I am the first. * For I haue not sinned of ignorance, but of knowledge, against the light of my minde, against the voyce of my God, against the workings of his Spirit, and against the cryes of mine own conscience. This is my greatest ieare, that I haue done despite vnto the Spirit of Grace. This striketh widest wounds into my Soule, and maketh all the bowels of my bellie to wamble. O fye, fye, what a filthinesse is within this heart of mine ! * The small moats moue not thicker in the Sunne, than sinnes of all sortes haue reeled to and froe in this" wicked heart of mine, which is lothing but a nest of Spiders, and a cage of corruptions. * O what a shamefull discouerie should this bee, if mine heart were as well scene as my face ! If all the monsters of my meditations were set in open view, if the eyes of men could spie out what thoughts haue beene within my breast since I was borne. If all the men of Africke, a place most fertile of monsters, were taken to bee witnesse, they would plainlie declare, that the Earth cannot bring foorth such mon- sters as are bredde into the heart of man. * O the great mercie of God, who to the ende, that man may liue with man, hath hidde the heart of man from men ! Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. Cl O my God, though thou hast sealed the eyes of man, that hee cannot see within my breaste, thine eyes, which see our thoughts afar off, perceiue most clearlie all my bygone abominations. To thee alone belongeth the discouerie of a closed heart. Would I bee dashed if the eye of a sinner tooke mee at an euill turne, and shall I not bee ashamed when I remember how the eye of my God hath followed mee in all mine euill ways ? Alas ! my deare Pastour, yee speake much to mee of Christ and of his death, but what portion can such a vile stinking creature as 1, haue with Christ ? I haue delayed all to the after-noone, and now my Sunne is readie for to set. The blacke night of darknesse is posting vpon my Soule. My Soule refuseth all sorts of comfortes. I thinke that it shall die in the verie grippes of such bloodie temptations. Beholde, and consider if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow. The Pastour. * I know, Sir, that no sort of men are sooner or sorer touched for their sinnes, than are the best children of God. Sathan is most busie to blow at the coale of their corruptions. * And againe, there bee no sort of men more readie to appropriate to them selues the comfortes of God, than they to whom they least belong. But yet, Sir, seeing yee are sicke in Soule, yee must not refuse spirituall Physicke. Christ is the onlie comfort against the guilt of sin. * His blood is the onlie trayade against the poyson of this pest ; but can any comfort availe to him that will not receiue it ? As meate set vpon the ta- ble cannot nourish, except that it bee put into the mouth, and from thence bee sent downe to the stomacke, so, neither can the wordes of comfort feede the heart, Ni trajici- antur in viscera nostrce animce et transeant in affectiones nostras, except that they enter into the bowels of our Soule, and passe thorow vnto our affections. Your spirit is so knappish and way-ward, that it will not admit the most solide comfortes. The marke of Christ's Lambes is an eare- marke. My sheepe heare my voyce. The Sicke Man. But thinke yee, Sir, that I can bee one of God's, who haue beene so great a sinner ? My Soule is sicke to the death with surfets of sin. Can God's Spirit * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Bernard. [oh. 1 0.27 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Not* * Notiv * Not>. * Note. * Note, * Note. * Note. Isa.lf). 15. * Note. Matt. 7. 11 Not abide where there is so great corruption ? Can two guests of so contrarie nature, dwell together in one man ? yy/r Pastour. They may indeede, though they cannot agree. * Grace and corruptions may bee into the heart of a man, as Israel was with the lebusites, Hiuites, and Pere- zites, into Canaan. But as Israel wasted these nations by little and little, so the Spirit of God with grace, by little and little rooteth out, wasteth, and foileth these nations of sin that are within vs ; but not all at once ; * lest wee should grow idle, and roust for want of such spiritual! exercise. * The heart of a godlie man is like the house of Abraham, where Isaac and Ismael lodge together. Though for a space they tarie together, at death the olde scorning Ismael shall bee cast out. Hee shall not inherite the promise with Isaac the laughing man. * If, Sir, yee finde a wrestling within your heart, some neice icorking, which once yee did not perceiue, it is a token that grace is conceiued in your Soule. After that a woman hath conceiued, shee will finde some times a working about the heart, prouoking to vomite. It is so with the heart of a regenerate man, so soone as grace is conceiued into it, it will ouercast, till it cast and vomite out many filthie corruptions. = Though Jacob bee little and weake, and at the first seeine not to bee a peregall vnto the rngh man, who is full of strength, yet at last liee shall catch him by the heele, aud ouerturne him in a moment. Waite but a little, and yee shall bee vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of Hell. Tlie Sicke Man. I tremble all with feare, that the Lord cast mee oft' and banish out of the land of the liuing this filthie festered Soule. The Pastour. God is more mercifull than man can con- ceiue him to bee : Can a mother forget her childe that shee haue no compassion ? saith the Lord. * A louing Father will bee loth to cast his Childe out of doores in a deadly di- sease. If these who are euill can giue good thinges vnto their Children, how much more will that Father who is good- nesse it selfe, giue the Holie Spirit, with all other good thinges, to these who will seeke them ? Cry to God in prayer. The Sicke Man. * Alas ! the sorrow of mine heart lameth tin; hbertie of my tongue, my wordes cannot expresse the / roan ex of my grief c. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 63 The Pastour. Though yee bee not able to vtter words, sigh with your hearte vnto God. * God heard Moses his sighs, ike cryes. Why cryest thou to mee ? saide God to the sighing man. * A sigh, out of a soft melting heart, is a powerfull jrayer before God. The Sicke Man. I am both sinfull and senslesse. Though [ haue sinned most hainouslie, yet I finde no melting in mine leart. * All the teares of my repentance within mee are Become like a frozen moisture. I cannot so much as wring out one drop thereof. * Oh, that they were so melted, that ;hey might rush out at the flood-gates of mine eyes, that thereof I might, with the sinfull woman, make a bath for the feete of my Lord ! Oh, that mine heart were formed into another mould ! * Oh, that I could in his presence drench my Soule- in a showre of teares. O how precious is the sense of a reuealed and a reconcealed God ! * I finde my selfe so ycie and colde, yea, so benummed and blockish, as though I were voide of all sense of grace. What can this bee ? The Pastour. * He who findeth him selfe benummed, is not altogether senslesse. * In such a man there must bee some stirring of the pulse of a spirituall life. A dead man knoweth not that hee is dead, no more doeth a dead Soule. A seared conscience feeleth not desertions. * That man hath the beginning of grace, who can say from his heart, / haue no grace in my selfe, but onlie tojinde that I haue no grace. * This wee must all know, that the best of God's Sainctes, will bee troubled with temporall desertions, as lonah was, while he was wrapt with wanes and iveedes in the bottome oi the sea. Out of this lellie of hell they will cry to God, Why hast thou made vs to erre from thy wayes, and hardned our heart from thyfeare f * Most godlie Soules may swarfe in sin ; but they can not die in their sinnes. * A spiritual man may bee doicked in the sea of sin or sorrow, but car neuer bee drowned. At last, God shall make him sing, with lonah, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from corruptions, Lord, my God. * The spirituall life and light which Goc hath once put into the Soule of man, can neuer bee totallie extinguished. God 's graces and his giftes are without re- pentance, ludas, from horrour, may rin to the halter, bu Peter cannot perish. The Sicke Man. Thinke yee, then, Sir, that a man can not fall from the grace of God, if once hee hath beene receiuet Note. Jx. 14.15. Note. Note. * Note. ,uk.7.44. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa. 63. 1 7 * Note. * Note. lona. 2, 6 * Note. Rom. 11. 29. THE LAST BATTELL SpirituaU * Note. * Note. Luk. !. Phil. 1. 0. * Note. * Note. I Sam. 10. 21, and .15.11. Mat.2.5.28 * Note. Luk. 1.20. lob, 1.21. * Note. * Note. * Note. Fsa. -12. 3. * Note. Note. Malih. 21 40. Note. Mai. 4. 2. Note. Note. Note. in Grace ? * May not Grace, like some plants, for a space take roote, and thereafter wither ? May not God beginne a good worke into a man, and after leaue it imperfect ? The Pasteur. * God's working in the godlie is not like the doings of him that beginneth to build an house before hee count his cost, but is not able to finish it. / am conjident of this verie thiny, saide 8. Paul, that Hee which hath beyunne a f/ood worke in you will performs it vntill the day of lesus Christ. "God's spirituall giftes, which are without repentance, come neuer within the compasse of God's Revocation. * God will make Saul a kiny, and againe repent that euer hee was crowned, and thereafter will put him from his kingdome. Hee will lend out a Talent and after take it backe againe. * Hee will giue to man a tongue, and thereafter make him dumbe. Hee will giue Health, Wealth, Riches, and after take all backe againe. The Lord hath yiuen and the * Lord hath taken, may bee saide of all thinges except of his spiri- tuall and speciall yraces. These hee giueth once, but neuer taketh them backe againe. * Sin, indeede, will waken and diminish the sense and feeling of their operation, but can neuer take them quite away. * Grace in a godlie Soule will bee betimes likejlaxe smoking without a flamme, or like em- bers vnder an heape of ashes : though all seeme to bee dead ut, yet there is some little secret spunke within, which shall neuer bee quenched. * New sinnes, I confesse, are verie dangerous. They will wonderfullie impaire the sense of mercie into faithfull Soules, yea, so that to their judgement the Spirit of God will seeme altogether to haue forsaken them. * But yet into their most desperate-like cry there is a My of Faith in their prayer, My God, my God, why hast thou for- saken mee ? * Grace in a godlie Soule will bee like sappe into an Oa/ce or Elme in the frostie dayes of December, hidde close within the barke. * While Christ, the S unne of Riyhteousnesse, re- moueth his hote beanies from the faithfull Soule, the Soule drouppeth like an Herbe into a winter day. * Grace, like sappe, runneth in to the heart, and there lurketh for a space. * But againe, so soone as this Sunnc beginneth to returne, with the heat and health of his counte- nance, in a new Spring-time, then will appeare againe, first bude, then blossomes, then Jloicrishes, and after fruites. That which was hid of before, is incontinent perceiued. * As seede Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. now cast into the ground seemeth to bee a dead thing 1 , and yet hath life in it, so is God's grace aliue and quickening when it seemeth farre otherwise. * In a swoone a man liu- eth, though hee seeme to bee dead. * The life of God in a man can neuer altogether bee choaked with sin. Our miserie is not able to ouer-reach his mercie. * A sparkle of fire should bee more able to burne vp the sea, than man's sinnes for to dry vp the blood of his mercie. * Where grace is begunne a man may fall, but hee can neuer fall away. * If, Sir, yee haue found once the life of God within your Soule, yee haue receiued a sure pledge and pawne of immor- talitie : say to your Soule, A.nd now, my Soule, returne vnto thy rest. The Sicke Man. There is no rest within me. I am, alas ! as a man vpon a raging Sea, tumbled and tossed with such fearefull temptations, which make all the bowels of my bellie to wamble. The Pastour. Sea Sicknesse, Sir, is sore while it last- eth : * but manie seeke this sicknesse for to cure them of a worse. Take courage : God hath imbarked you into this temptation, for to cause you cast out some corruptions which lye and lurke about your heart. * Bee content to tarie a little space vpon the Firth, till the filth of your stomacke bee cleane purged away. Assure your selfe that all this sore sicknesse shall worke your health in the latter end, which shall cause you to sing, For his mercie endareth for euer. In the shadow of God's wings make your refuge, vntill these calamities passe oner. The Sicke Man. I am euer in great doubt of myselfe. The Pastour. * Though yee doubt of your selfe, yee must not doubt of God's kindnesse and compassions. * If yee doubt that God can bee mercifull to your sinnes, yee denie your Creede, wherein yee see foryiuennesse of sin to bee an expresse Article of Faith. * Though for some space yee bee troubled with doubts, at last yee shall know, by his Spirit within, that Christ was no more willing to suffer for sinners, than hee shall proue both willing and able to saue you. God's custome is to choose the hardest way for the best end, partlie for to proue his \power, partlie lor to try our trust. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. ?s. 116.7 * Note. * Note. Psal.57.1 * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ps. 50. -21 * Note. * Note. Reu.3. Hi The. Sicke Man. I wish it bee so ; but for the present I fimle a frare within mee which maketh my Soule to tremble. * I euer thinke that hardlie can it bee, that the Spirit of God would dwell into mine heart, which is a verie cage of cor- ruption. * If the men of God, when they see bordels, ab- horre them, and goe by them, shall not the Spirit of God much more passe by rnee, yea, and abhorre mee, who of mine heart haue made a most filthie steiv ? * Moreouer, Sathan is busie with his Bellowes, blowing' at the juniper coals of God's wrath, that against mee may bee kindled a consuming fire, * The frowne of a Prince may bee the fauour of God ; but when GQ& frowneth, who shall shewe fauour ? *O what a crye is in the dumbe choppe of the conscience ! The Pastour. As 1 perceiue, yee are in the storme of temptations. * As the shippe in a tempest goeth with a low sai/e, so is it good and most sure, in the tempest of tempta- tions, to take downe the top sailes of our own worth. * But yet, Sir, in your humilitie, beware to disprise and set at nought the graces of God that are within you. Vertue standeth in the midst. * As the Publican would not bragge vainlie with the Pharisee, that hee was not like other men, so neither would hee desperatelie say, with Caine, Mine ini- quitie is greater than that it may bee forgiuen. The Sicke Man. * Alas ! Sir, yee know not what weight hangeth vpon mine heart. Yee are not priuie vnto my secret sinnes, which I thinke shame to vtter. O these gna wings of my warmish Conscience! Hardlie can yee imagine what h'lthie thoughts haue beene into my heart since I came into this world. Hitherto they haue all beene hidde from mine eyes : * but now I thinke that I see all my sinnes set in order before mee. My Soule is poisoned with the stinke of such corruptions. I abhorre myselfe ; and what wonder that God abhorre mee. The Pastour. '' The more a man abhorreth himselfe, God, who is milde and mercifull, loueth him the better. It is good for a man to stinke in his own nose. * A wicked | man may well hee compared to the Latin Cimex, French Puna/se Tree, Lice that stinke most vilelie, and yet feele not the stinke of their own breath. Laodicea thought her- r* seltV happie, and yot God saide, that hoe would speir her out of In* )>nmth. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. God's thoughts are not man's thoughts. Yee complaine, Sir, of the filthinesse of your bygone thoughts, it is well done ; but heere is your comfort, Now is that fountaine of God in Zachrie opened to the house of Dauid for sin and for vncleannesse. * Though through sin yee were lepper in Soule, as Naaman was in bodie, the Jordan of Christ's blood is able to make you cleane. * The precept is not of hard practice, Wash and bee cleane, belieue and bee saued. * If yee would haue the Spirit of God to take a Chamber into your heart, keepe your heart cleane. God's house must bee a cleane house, it must often bee swept. * If the dust or dirt of sin defile the pauement thereof, it must first bee watered with the teares of repentance. * The stoure and dust must bee laid with holie water, and then wee must sweepe out all filthinesse with the besome of godlie reuenge. This doing, Sir, God shall delight to dwell in you. * If Sathan blow at the juniper coales of your sinnes kindled with sparkles of fierie wrath, runne with the Bucket of Faith to the blood of lesus, which is onlie able for to quenche that flamme. The Sicke Man. My cheekes are watered with teares trickling downe both day and night. * My moist eyes are soked in this salt brimie water. O but they are comfort- lesse teares ! The Pastour. * God at last shall make them comfort- able, like the bowlefull of dewe, which Gideon wrang out of his Fleece, God's signe of Israel's Saluation. Haue pa- tience a little, Sir, and your waterie eyes shall receiue the other drye signe of thejleece ; all your teares shall bee dryed and wyped away, so that yee shall neuer weepe any more. The houre is fast comming, that God shall wype away your teares, the waters of your weeping : after that there shall bee no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, nor paine. Seeke the Lord while hee may bee found, and call vpon him while hee is nigh. To him alone in lesus must yee haue all your recourse ; on him alone must yee relye. The Sicke Man. I wote not where to goe. I can neither sitte, stand, nor lye. Mine heart, alas ! is hardened, yea, hard like the heart of the Leuiathan, which is hard like a piece of the nether milstone. I thinke that such hardnesse is from the deceitfulnesse of sin. The Pastour. * It is a sort of softnesse when wee feel Zach.13.1 * Note. 2 Kin. 5.1 Note. 2 Kin. 5. 10. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.120. 4-. * Note. * Note, lud^e. 6. 38. Reuel. 21. 4-. Iob.41.24. Heb.:3.13. * Note. (58 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Note. Mic. 7. 9. Note. * Note, ler .20. 3. ReueLS.5 Note. Luther. our own hardnesse. Hee who hath begunne such softening will bring his own work to perfection in his appointed houre. * The seedes of grace are like Come ; they are not ripe the first day they are sowen, but ripen by degrees. From this is that saying, Grace requyreth space, or in space commeth Grace. A reprobate sense is not so neere at auie time as when it is least suspected and most neglected. Say in all patience, with the Prophet Micah, I will beare the indignation of the Lord, because I haue sinned against him. Hee will turne againe, hee will haue compassion vpon you. Hee will sub- due your iniquities, and cast them in the depths of the sea. Holde vp your heart toward the Father of Lights, the Giuer of euerie good gift. Let your Soule flee vp to the Throne of his Grace. The Sicke Man. My Soule is not fit for fleeing to the heauens. * It is like a pulled foule that wanteth the feathers. It may well nod with its head, and make a mint with the stumpts of its wings, but can by no meanes hoise it selfe from the Earth. All my comfortes are clipped from mee. Sinnes, heauie like milstones, are hung about my necke. Oh, that I were cast into the sea with my sinnes, there to bee buried for euer farre, if it were possible, from the presence of my God ! Since yee came to mee mine heart was not in such a plunge of miserie as it is now. There is nothing within mee but wrath and woe, warring against my saluation. God's heauie hand hath distressed mine heart wonderfullie. * My Soule is so besieged with temptations that it may well bee called, Magor missahib, feare round about. This I feare that my name bee crossed out of the Booke of Life. The Pastour. 1 remember of a wise counsell which a learned Diuine gaue to a man sore assaulted vpon his death- bedde with the temptations of the Deuill : * When thou art tempted of Sathan, saide hee, and seest no way to escape, euen then plainlie close vp thine eyes, and answere nothing to his temptations. But commend thy cause to God. This, saide hee, is a principal!, point ofwisedome, that wee must follow in the houre of death ; that is, that u-ee dainc not to giue Sathan an answere, but say, with Michael, The Lord rebuke thee, Sathan. If thy flesh tremble and feare to enter into another life, and if it doubt of salua- Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 69 tion, if thou yeeld to these thinges, thou hurtest thy selfe ; therefore close thine eyes as before and say with S. Stephen, Lord lesus, receiue my spirit, and then certainelie Christ will come vnto thee with all his Angels and bee the guider of thy way. * At the entrie of the red Sea, when Israel, enuironed on both sides with mountaines, hairing the sea before and the Egyptians behinde, could see no meanes of escape, then Moses saide to Israel, The Lord shall fight for you, and yee shall holde your peace. That is, yee shall seale vp your thoughts in silence, and let God bee doing. So do yee ; bee silent for a space ; daine not Sathan's temptations with an answere ; feare not ; stand still, and see the saluation of the LORD. * As Moses saide of the Egyptians, so will I say of all your temptations within a short space, The Egyptians whom yee haue scene to day, yee shall see them againe no more for euer. The Sicke Man. Oh, that, with lob, I could lay mine hand vpon my mouth, and, with lacob, waite for God's sal- uation. But alas ! / am laden with iniquitie. Sathan be- siegeth mee so that I cannot keepe silence. Sathan hath laide downe a bloodie libell before mee, wherevnto hee vrgeth mee to make an answere. The Pastour. If yee must needes make answere, learne that notable speach of Bernard on his death-bedde. * About an houre before his death, hee beeing, as hee thought, pre- sented before the great Tribunall of his ludge, where hee found him selfe seuirely charged with the accusation of Sathan, forsooke himselfe for to relye vpon Christ alone, freely confesse, saide hee, that as thou affirmest, I am most vmvorthie, and that by no worthinesse of mine can I merite eternall life ; * yet I am assured, that my Lord Christ hath a double right to Heauen's glorie, one by heritage, and another by conquest. The first is sufficient for him selt'e, the other is for mee, ex cujus dono jure illud mihi vendicans, non con- fundor, which by right of gift I claime and challenge, and shall not bee confounded. Vpon this Rocke yee must cast the anchor of your Soule. The Lord is able to do vnto vs aboue all that ivee can aske or thinke. Take courage, Sir. * Let Sathan make out his processe ; your deare and louing Brother is both your ludge and your Advocate. * Note. Exod. 1.4 14. * Note. Exod. 14. 14. lob, 40. 4. Gen.49.18 Isa. 1.4. Bernard. * Note. * Note. Note. 70 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall lleb.2. 10 Hom.T.lS. * Note. Xoto. Phil. 3. Ik * Note. Ephes.-^.l Note. The Sicke Man. Oh that I could take that counsell and keepe silence, waiting till the Captaine of Saluation bring mee thorow this red sea of bloodie temptations ! Oh that I could lay hold vpon that right of Heauen, which Christ hath conquered. But alas ! I can finde no ground or warrant in mine heart that such a conquest can belong to mee, for I know that in mee dweUcth no good thing. The Pastour. * The greatest foe the faith of the godlie hath, and the chiefest cause of their trembling and troubled heart is, that often they seeke in themselues grounds and warrants of God's fauour, as though the Lord could not loue them vnlesse there bee in them such vertues as in euerie point should bee. * Because they want perfection, they thinke they haue nothing. By this meanes JSathan shaketh sillie Soules to and froe like Reedes with the windes of dis- trust. Make the right vse of such temptations, let them drawe you from your selfe, for to relye onlie vpon the mercie of your Lord. * Bee earnest to finde God's marke in your Soule, euen Sanctification, the Saluation marke, whereof the marrow is Christ's satisfaction. From this marke, presse toward the marke, for the price of the high calling of God in Christ lesus. The Sicke Man. Faine would I haue grace so to do. But out vpon mee ! I haue taken such surfct of sinnes, that I finde my selfe voide of all grace. * O death, death, death ! doolefull is that separation of a Soule dead in sin from the bodie dead for sin. I am so defiled and deformed that while I remember judgement, it maketh mee all to shake and to shiuer. F*ye on mee, a gracelesse creature, wallowing in a mire of niiserie ! Oh, but for a dramme of God's grace ! Oh, for the great- nesse of the pickle of mustarde seede thereof ! 77/6' Pastour. He that desireth grace is not altogether gracelesse. It is God's goodnesse that hath giuen you this small and weake desire of grace ; in this God's good hand is rpon you. Hee who giueth grace, to desire grace, shall giue also grace for grace. God often giueth to a man aboue his hopes, 1 sought but life, saicle Damd yet the Lord gaue him to bee a King. God who, in sicknesse, giueth you the desire of grace, shall, before yee die, giue you grace for grace, a grace which, at last, shall make you to sing, 7 sought oat grace, yet God hath giaen me glorie. * If yec Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 71 feele and feare his wrath, seeke the more earnestlie for his mercie. * This was that good counsell which Zephaniah gaue to Israel, before the decree of wrath come out : Seeke righteousnesse, seeke meeknesse, it may bee yee shall bee hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Christe's cry is, /Seeke, Aske, Knocke. * Seeing- God desireth to bee asked, hee longeth to giue; seeing hee desireth vs to seeke him, hee desireth to bee found ; seeing hee desireth vs to knocke, his desire is to open. * God is more rich and liberall than wee are poore, his hand is wider for to giue giftes, than our heart can bee for to receiue. * Hee who will not belieue that God can bee mercifull to him is twise in the wrong 1 to God. After O that hee hath broken the law of his lustice, by offending, hee is not content except that hee wrong his mercie by distrust. * God's delight is to bee with the children of men on earth, as also to haue them with him selfe in Heauen. Now, Sir, beeing assured of this loue, embrace this Lord with all the armes of your affections. * Seeke earnestlie the Spirit of Grace, for hee is powred on thirstie grounds. / will powre water, saide the Lord, vpon him that is thirstie, andjloodes vpon the dry ground. The Sicke Man. Oh, but for one droppe of that water ! Oh, that my Soule were watered with the dropping bowels of his mercie. * In the meane time, my bones with sorrow are dryed vp like an hearth. The terrours of the Almightie sticke within mine heart, and my spirit sucketh out the ven- nome thereof. I thinke that I am in the verie gorge pype of hell. If this wrath continue, doubtlesse it shall bee my bane. The Pastour. * God's wrath is fearefull, I confesse, but God will not bee long wroth with his Children. / will not, saide the Lord, contend for euer, neither tuill I bee alwayes wroth : for the spirit should faile before mee, and the Soules which I haue made. * So soone as man beginneth to bee wearied of his sinncs, God beginneth to bee wearied of his wrath, yea, which is strange, in all our afflictions hee is afflicted. There is but a moment in his wrath, but his mer- cie endureth for euer. * There is such a mercie in God, that in comparison thereof all the mercies of men are but scrofe and scumme. A myte of his mercie shall remoue the mountaines of your rnise- rie. In Christ is a mine of mercie. Note. Zeph. 1.2, 3. Matth.7.7 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa. 44. 3 * Note. * Note. Isa.57. 1 7 * Note, fsa. 6.3. 9, * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual * Note. 2 Kinrr. 3 13, * Note. 1 Sam. 3. 5, Uoh.-k 1 * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. Isa. 54. 8, * Note. Psal.91.1. 1 Tim. 1 19. * Note. Note. Iud-f.18.7. Gen.31.^7 The Sicke Man. I know that it is so. But I as yet haue no sense of such a mercie. * While I seeke and cry for helpe, God either answereth not at all, or when hee rnaketh auswere, it is like that which Elisha saide to lohoram, seeking comfort vpon extremitie, What haue I to do with thee ; get thee to the Prophets of thy father and mother, and desire them to helpe thee ; get thee to thy pleasures and profiles, and preferments, which, in forsaking mee, thou didst so eagerly pursue. This maketh all the woundes of my remorse to bleed afresh. The Pastour. * As Samuel tooke the voyce of God to bee the voyce of Eli, so manie take the voyce of a temptation to bee the voyce of God. Wee must try the Spirits. Sathan is craftie. * Hee can winde him selfe wonderfullie into the heart of men, some times by sleepie securitie, some times byfearefull despaire. * While hee entiseth vnto sin, hee maketh God to speake nothing but mercie to a sinner. Thou may sin, will hee say, and repent againe. * But while hee accuseth for sin, hee maketh all God's wordes to bee wordes of wrath, that the sinner may bee swallowed vp with despaire. * Take heed, Sir, who it is that answereth to your cry. Though God should draw you thorow Hell bee yee still assured of Heauen. His wrath is but for a moment, but his mercie endureth for euer. * Settle your heart in the secret of God, lest it bee car- ried away with euerie light wind and gale of temptation. Seeke, out of your selfe, in Christ the grounds and warrands of your saluation. The Sicke Man. I feare greatlie to bee ouer-blowen, and that I make shipivracke of the faith vpon most fearefull bankes and dangers. Such a boisterous gale did I neuer feele. The Pastour. While temptations are most terrible to our feeling, they are often least dangerous. * Shallow seas are full of broken ivaters, while deeper, though more terrible, are of a softer swelling, carrying the burden more safelie aboue. Take courage ; the most godlie heart must encounter with manie thorters. The Lord humbleth the hearts of his Sainctes, lest that, in a vaine conceite of their own worth, they should ouer-weene them selues. * Thinke well vpon that which I say, a red-warre in the Soule is better than a sleepie hiish securitie. Away with Laban's mirth, his sonys and his tabrets. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. Flat opposition is not so dangerous as a couered agree- ment. Take to heart this my counsell, Though the Lord should slay you, yet put your trust into him. God is not euer gotten at the first : verilie, saide Isaiah, thou art a God that hiddest thy selfe, God of Israel, the Sauiour. The Sicke Man. I vnderstand not what such hidding meaneth. O the fearefull Tribunall of God, whose eyes of fire see all the wayes of man ! In his ballance hee ponder- eth all his goings. God's mercie I know is a good staffe to stay vpon, but it is farre from mine heart and hand. I am not like these sinners which but trip and stumble, and rise again after a snapper. My fall is with my full weight. The mil- stones of his wrath are hung about my necke, which beare my Soule downe to the bottome of Hell. I finde now the trueth of that saying of the wise, His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself e, and hee shall bee holden with the cords of his sinnes. The Pastour. What shall I say ? as truelie saide the wise, By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Seeing yee are acquaint with the speaches of the wise, remember that counsell of the wise, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and leane not to thine own understanding. I pray you to bee plaine with mee. What is this that maketh you like a reede shaken with the ivinde, wherein lyeth the strength of your temptations ? The Sicke Man. I will not conceale the matter from you. This is it : mine own heart absolueth mee not. * While I put mine hand into mine own bosome, oh, how leprous pull I it out againe ! My conscience giueth mee a terrible twetch. * Incessantlie it cryeth out Guiltie against mee. What shall I say then, to that of the Apostle, If our heart condemn vs, God is greater than our heart ? Is not this the true sense of these wordes, If our own heart con- demn vs, much more will God condemn vs, who is more mightie than our heart ? * In this I finde my selfe amidst the thickest throng of fearefull temptations, wrapped in the wrath of God. * This temptation is like a fresh post-horse, for to carrie mee to damnation : it is of Sathan's saddling. The Pastour. * Indeede, Sir, the judgement of a man's conscience is a liuelie image of the judgement of God. It is certaine, that whom the conscience comlemneth into this world, him shall God condemn in the world to come. And Isa.45.15. Reu.1.14.. fou.5.21 Deut. 32. rou.5.22 Prou. 15, 13. Prou. 3. 5. Matth. 11 7. * Note. * Note. 1 Ioh.3.20 * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Gen.27.15 Ion. 2. 2. Ion. 4. 11. * Note. * Note. 2 Kin.,'. 4 27. * Note. Ion. 1. 5. * Note. againe, whom the conscience shall absolue into this world, him shall God absolue into the world to come. * The con- science is God's ludge within. But this yee must know, that it is not time for a ludge to giue out sentence while his wits are troubled, or while hee is in a moode or passion. * A wise ludge will not bee sudden, but will take time to consider well the cause before hee pronounce. * A conscience that is troubled should not sit downe in judgement. * As one appealed from drunken King Philip to sober King Philip, so must a sinner appeale ifrom his Conscience in a qualme to his Conscience in a calme. * Moreouer, euerie voyce that is within a man is not the voyce of his conscience, but of some temptation shrouded vnder the coat of the conscience, like Jacob cloathed with Esau's garment. While lonah was but in the bellie of a fish, his heart cryed that hee was in the bellie of Hell. Sathan hath a deceiuing Prospect or Dioptre for sin. At the one end, sin and judgement appeare to bee farre off, little like Midges ; but while the instrument is turned, these midges appeare like mountaines. Sin in the doing is like Zoar, a little one, but in repenting it is like Nineueh, hudge and great. It seemeth before the doore of mercie like a Camell at a needel's eye. The Sicke Man. But thinke yee, Sir, that the con- science of a man which God hath set within him as an ludge, as a Watch and a Witnesse, yea, as a thousand witnesses, can faile at any time. The Pastour It is certaine, that while the consciences of men are well wakened, and not troubled with terrours of temptations, they are into the breastes of men, verilie God's voyce, declaring to the Soule what God hath, concerning it, ratified into the Heauen. But yee know that manic a man's conscience will bee mightilie troubled. * Sometimes it will bee darkened with ignorance, so that, as Samuel tooke Eliab for Dauid, it will also take him to bee appointed to bee a King whom the Lord hath rejected. * Sometimes it will not know what ailleth the Soule, no more than Elisha knew what ailled the Shunamite, while shee fell downe at his feete. * Sometimes it will bee fast asleepe, like lonah, while hee snorted in the hatches. * I compare the consciences of the godlie, and of the wicked, to men in a dreame. One man that is lyen downe Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. in his bedde, hungrie without his supper, will dreame that hee is at a feast making good cheare. But while hee awak- eth, his Soule is emptie, his dishes flee away with his dreame. * It is so that it fareth with a wicked man, whose conscience is in a dreame. Hee will imagine that assuredlie there is nothing but Heauen for him. * Hee will thinke with the hungrie dreamer that hee is readie presentlie to sit downe at table, euen at that Table, with Abraham, Isaac, and lacob, in the Kingdome of God. Now while hee is euen at the sitting downe, which is at the houre of his death, his conscience wakeneth, and hee is found emptie. Thus all his dishes Jleeth away with his dreame. * Againe, another man shall dreame of fearefull thinges, viz. that hee is in the midst of his enemies, readie to bee slaine. If any bee waking in the bedde with him, hee will heare him into his sleepe sighing and sobbing with a sore mone. But so soone as hee is wakened, hee findeth him selfe in suretie lying vpon a bedde of downe. * It is euen so that it will often fare with a godlie man, whose conscience is in a dreame. * His heart will bee burdened with griefe as with a night mare. Hee will imagine that God is be- come his enemie, and that assuredlie hee will cast him into hell. * Now, while hee thinketh that hee is euen at the fall, and while for fear thereof in his sleepe hee is making his mone, God in mercy wakeneth him softlie, and loe ! hee is lying into the armes of his God. * At last it fareth with the godlie and the wicked, as it fareth with Pharaohs But- ler and his Baker after their dreames, the one was restored to his office, but the other was hanged. The Sicke Man. * I wish at God that my conscience were in such a Dreame, and that all my troubles were but some spirituall night mare, a disease that is cured by wak- ening the Soule that sleepeth. * I know that the spirituall senses of the Soule may bee sometimes couered with a vaile of grosse dulnesse ? but 1 cannot suspect or surmise that this can bee a dreame. Beholde ! I speake, I heare, I see, I sauour ; how then can this bee a dreame f The Pastour. * Hee who dreameth, will thinke all that. Hee will thinke that hee speaketh, that hee heareth, seeth, and walketh, and runneth and leapeth ouer brinkes or ditches, while indeede hee is snorting vpon his bedde. * Yea, in his dreame hee will thinke that his dreame cannot * Note. * Note. Matth. 8. 11. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. Gen.4U3 * Note. * Note. Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Iudg.6.12 Verse 13. * Note. bee a dreame, but that surelie hee is broad awake. This cannot bee a dreame, hee will thinke euen while as hee dreameth. I know, Sir, that your bodie is surelie awake, and not dreaming : but in all appearance your Soule is in a slum- ber. The Lord waken you softlie in his mercie ! The Sicke Man. * If I dreame, the Lord waken mee soone out of this dreadfull dreame. I am filled with a world of woes, euerie thought is as it were a thorne thrust into mine heart. * My feares are like the feuers, they goe by fits. * A little since, I thought that my blood was calmed, and that I had some respite. Of my sinnes I had but a shallow sense, but now, beholde ! a new fit of greater force, which maketh all the powers of my Soule to shiuer. * All my sinnes are, in God's quarrel/, vp in armes against mee. God's wrath followeth mee with a full saile, and chargeth mee afresh with bloodie blowes. * While I was but breed- ing this feuer, I was but chained with worldlie enchant- ments. All my trouble was but for Barnes, Lands, Chil- dren^ Houses, and other perishing pleasures, trifling trou- bles, which I could not for a long space resolue to forsake. * But now is paine in stead of pleasure, a sowre and bit- ter sauce prepared for Adam's sweete Apple, feare, shame, and remorse. * What reckes to want pleasure, if so bee there were no paine ? I would not giue a flee for the world, and all the pleasures or profile that therein is, if I could once bee reconciled to my God. * Mine heart is like an u4nuile wherevpon the Lord striketh most fiercelie with the hammer of his wrath. * There is not a power of my Soule which is not loaden with blowes. * All my distresses hitherto haue beene but light skirmishes, now I am come to the maine Battell. My Soule is hunted to and froe like a Partridge on the mountaines. Who is on my side ? icho ? The Pastour. The Lord is with you, though yee per- ceiue him not. * This is incident to the faithfull, not euer to know when God is with them. * Gideon was a man renouned for his Faith, hee was one of the Catoloque of the faithfull, and yet while the Angel saide vnto him, The, Lord is with thee, thou mightie man of valour, hee answered, O/i, my Lord, if the Lord bee with vs, ichy then is all this be- fallen vs ? * See how the man of God knew not, that God was with him. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day- 77 * Take courage, Sir : seeing 1 the skirmishes are past, and that yee are come to the maine Battell, God shall bee your maine helpe. Come out against all your enemies, as Dauid came out against Goliah, in the name of the God of Battells and Lord of Armies. * There is no Corslet of proofs against a stone cast out of a sling in the name of that great IEHOVAH. Resist the Deuill, and hee shall flee from you. The Sicke Man. God's wrath hath heate the fierie for- nace one seuen times more than it was of before. I am so dashed with the sense of my sinnes, and so pierced with stinging feares, that thereby all the powers of my Soule are haken. * Hitherto I have beene crossed with care, for my life and for my Children. What care I now for my dear- est Children ? Would to God that I might giue my first borne for my transgression, and the fruite of my bodie for the sinnes of my Soule. * Beholde heere a poore distressed and distracted sinner, who knoweth not to what hand to turne him. All the enemies of my saluation pursue mee with hue and with cry. The great God of Justice hath set vp a Gibbet into my Soule. All the terrours of the Lord muster against mee. * I am (/ailed and goared with sinfull feares, as Egypt was plagued with Flies and Frogges. Mine heart is tilled with dismaiednesse ; my bellie trembleth, and rottennesse is entered into my bones. * While I had time to repent 1 wittinglie wallowed into the myre of sin, wherein now I necessarilie stick. * Feare driueth, Hope draweth : I am tossed like a Tenice ball. O the straitnesse of that account, which 1 am shortlie to bee called vnto ! O that terrible Tribunall ! O these chaines of darknesse, in which sinners shall bee re- serued vnto God's last Sessions ! * Who can stand in such a tempest, where the creature hath a combat with God and with his wrath, hand to hand ? I am stricken with such amazednesse, that I know not where to finde any true re- freshment. * This maketh death to mee as a King of feare. * All the sinnes that euer I did commit, seeme to mee malicious blowes which I haue set vpon the face of my GOD. Hardlie can I thinke that such a Caine, or cursed Cham as I, can euer enter into Canaan. Thinke yee not this to bee true ? I finde this to bee trueth. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. The Pastour. * These bee but temptations of Sathan, * Note. Sam. 1 7. 45. * Note. am. 4. 7. * Note. Micah,6.7. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. [sa.57.21 * Note. 78 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Luk. 22 31. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. who is seeking for to sift you as wheate. Pray Christ that hee would pray for you, that your faith faile not. * There is full power in Christ for to locke vp the jawes of that roar- ing Lyon. Hee, at last, shall discouer vnto you those Gun powder plots. The Sicke Man. I know that there is sufficient power in Christ for to saue mee, but I doubt of his will. * If Christ were minded to saue mee, would hee not giue mee an assurance to bee saued? This temptation passeth thorow the bark to the bone. The Pastour. Our assurance is not perfect into this life. Wee are all heere like a Shippe, tossed with contrarie Tydes into a raging Sea. * As the weather beaten Barke is driuen with many con- trarie courses before shee can winne her Hauen, so hath the Soule many toes and froes before it pierce to the Skies for to enter into Heauen. * God giueth to no man heere all good thinges at once ; but some wee receiue in hand and some in hope. * This hope is the Christian Soule's plight anchor in the swelling Seas of temptations. While all that is present is full of trouble, Hope fetcheth comfortes from the times to come. * While it is foule, wee hope it shall bee fair ; while wee are sicke, wee hope for health ; while wee prouide for our children, wee hope they shall do well ; while men write Bookes, they hope they shall do good. * While the Mariner saileth thorow the raging waues, hee hopeth to come home againe, hee hopeth for vantage. * While the Sower casteth his seede from him hee weepeth, but Hope comforteth him that hee shall receiue againe a plentifull increase. * The hope of the pleasant Spring is a comfort in the colde Winter. The hope of the Day is the long Night's comfort. * Death's speciall comfort is, in hope that wee shall all meete againe. Well then, Sir, seeing it is so, the comfortes which wee haue not receiued as yet in handy receiue them in Hope ; waite vpon God, and waite vpon him still. " While all your senses are silent, Hope shall come with Helpe, assuring you that at last yee shall preuaile. * Let the Deuill do his worst to dismay you, sticke yee fast by this Hope which shall neuer faile you ; yea, though God himself e should seeme to bee your enemie, yet say to him, with lob, Though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 79 The Sicke Man. That, Sir, is of verie hard practise : for if the Lord of Life put out the life, who shall put it in againe ? Mine Hope is small, if it bee not lost. I feare to feele shortlie that which shall bee without either end or ease. * All sorts of temptations come haile shot vpon mee. * I am laide open to all the blowes of God's wrath. I am like a wind-waued tree, loose at the roots. * Mine heart quaketh, my Soule panteth ; my conscience is in a qualme. What can such torments bee but verie Posies and fore-runners of euerlasting paines ? * What can they bee but the verie smoke of God's wrath, comming before a fire that shall burne to the bottome of Hell ? * The feare of this clogeth so my Con- science, that I cannot thinke but such terrours bee the verie earnest of eternal woe. This maketh my liuer to rolle in my bodie. O that mercie might bee bartered for money ! The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, such terrours are such of their own nature, euen the smoke of a kindled wrath, neuer to bee quenched. * But, vnto the godlie, their nature is changed by grace. Such tremblings and shakings, such thunders and earth quakes, feares axidjires, are but the pre- parations of the Soule for to meete with its God into the still and calme voyce. * After this manner, as ye know, the Lord came vnto his seruant Elijah. Before he came to him, he prepared his way by three fearefull Messengers : first, by a winde which rent the mountaines and brake in pieces the rockes ; second- lie, by an earth quake, which made all to shake vnder him ; thirdlie, by ajire. ^* All these came before for to terrific the man of God, that by that meanes hee might bee the better prepared to meete with his God in the calme. * Before Christ would shew hirnselfe to the world, hee sent two austere Messengers before him : first, Moses, with ajierie Law, and last, the Baptist, like a Carpenter, with a sharpened Axe in his hand, for to hewe downe euerie fruitlesse tree that marred the ground. * After them, came the meeknesse of the Lambe of God, crying, Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and laden, and I will ease you. God will not bee mercifull to proud selfe-sufficient men. * Take, Sir, these Wastes of temptations to bee but the Lord's winde of preparation. * These heart-quakes are but earth quakes. * All your other fierie temptations are but fire from Heauen, Pastes from GOD, in haste for to giue * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Deut 32. 22. * Note. * Note. * Note. I King. 19. 11. * Note. * Note. * Note. Matth. 11. 28. * Note. * Note. * Note. 80 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. * Note. 'sal. 24.7 * Note. Psal.81.8 Psal. 141. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Kxod. H 13. * Note. Exod. 8. 26. * Note. Exod. M 14. Isa. 28. 28. you warning of his comming. * By such warnings the Lord ,vill waken you, lest, with the wicked in the slumber of secu- ritie, yee should sleepe still in your sinnes, or with scorners should smoothe them ouer, and jest them away, as though the iinnes of men should neuer be sentenced, nor their life examined. * Bee of good comfort, Sir ; your sharpest temptations, which Sathan hath whet vpon the whet-stone of his malice, jy God's grace shall bee to you like the Baptist^ s Axe, for to hewe downe all superfluities of wickednesse within you. It is good that God snedde the vnfruitful and rotten branches of our life, that in our heartes a way may bee pre- pared for the Kiny ofalorie. * Yee must also know, Sir, that such troubles and tem- pests are but a preface of God's presence, as, Hearken and take head, Israel, was set before the Law. Suffer, therefore, patientlie the Lord's rebukes. Let the righteous smite mee, saide Dauid, and it shall bee a kindnesse, and let him reproue mee, and it shall bee an excellent oyle which shall not breake mine head. * These feares, Sir, that trouble you, are nothing but God's reproofes. * Take them as a kindnesse, yea, and as an excellent oyle, which shall neither breake head nor heart for your hurt. * The nature of oyle is not to breake but rather to heale that which is alreadie broken. God, by such troubles, intendeth to refine you. Haue patience but a little in your griefes. Yet a little while, and they shall bee no more. * The night is darkest while the dawning is near- est ; * while tliefeuer is at the hight, tlje cooling sweate is at the doore of the poares. * While the Mountaines are on both hands, and Pharaoh behinde, and the Sea before, then let Israel stand still, and see the Saluation of the Lord. '' These Egyptian temptations are but for to chasse you to Canaan with hard bondage, from a Land where it is counted an abomination to offer Sacrifice vnto God. * So soone as the rod of God shall strike vpon that Sea it shall make way, and yee shall safelie passe thorow. The Lord shall fiyht for you, and yee shall holde your peace. And what then ? The Egyptians whom yee haue seene to day, yee shall see than ayaine no more for ever. God will afflict his own, but not destroy them. Bread Come is bruised, bat God will not breake it with the ivheeles of Ids cart. The Sicke J\Jan. I haue looked for such comfortes, but, Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. 81 alas ! they are long in comming. In the meane while, my Soule is all agast, I taste nothing but gall and worme-wood, mine heart is filled with sorrow. * My breach is like the sea, all my worldlie sweetnesse is turned into wormes of Con- science. My teares trickle downe both day and night, and yet God delayeth to send mee comfort. My God, shake off the sinnes which hang so fast on. The Pastour. Haue patience, Sir, but a little, and com- fort shall come. * Before yee recipe your fruites yee must first till and sow the ground. * The seede time is a sorrow- full time : Man soweth his seede in teares. * But, againe, while hee remembereth, that except hee sow hee shall not reape, and that as hee soweth, so shall hee reape, hee casteth from him his seede liberallie downe vpon the ground, smiling, with his watered cheekes of sorrow, in hope of a plentifull increase. * Thinke it not strange, Sir, that in this seede time of grace yee sow in teares. Comfort your selfe in this, that joy shall arise out of your sorrow. * While yee sow in teares, thinke not your labour lost. * Out of your greatest sorroiv shall spring your truest joy. As at the rising of Christ our Lord was an Earth quake, so at our regeneration, which is thejirst resurrection, there is an heart-quake. Bee not discouraged though the hand of God bee heauie vpon you ; his stripes will worke to your well. * As an horse, or a mule, beeing once well lashed with a whippe, doth euer after feare, if hee heare but the Bell which is tyed to the whippe, so man, if hee hath beene once well scoured and scourged with God's rod, hee will so tremble at the sound thereof, that hee will feare to anger the Lord againe. It is good that God mingle the tartenesse and terrours of the Law with the sweetenesse of the Gospel. The Sicke Man. I am so confounded with shame that I cannot face the Heauens. Fye vpon my filthinesse ! my course is backward from my God. The Pastour. It is an euill token when for sin there is no shame in the sinner. This Scripture calleth a Whore's forehead. * In this Lot his elder daughter bewrayed her selfe, and shewed that shee was not touched for her sin of Incest , for, after shee had committed vilanie with her father, shee, as it were, shamelesslie bragged of it, by calling her sonne Moab, that is, Of my father, that his name might cry to the world, The father of this childe bet/at him vpoi * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. 126.6 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. lor. 3. 3. * Note. iron. 19.3" THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt * Note. * Note. Psal.43.5, * Note. Gen. 7. 13 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. 66.2. lam. 5. 13 Ps. 137.*. * Note. * Note. * Note. lona. 4. 7 his own daughter. * Shame euer followeth sin. If men bee not ashamed of sin, which is Repentance, God shall shame them for sin, which is Vengeance. As for your backward course, a few steppes backward will make you aduance further in your leaping. The Sicke Man. I feare exceedinglie : I feare to losse both Soule and Saluation. The Pastour. Let Faith moderate your feare. * When Jacob thought that hee had lossed Joseph, and was in great feare for Benjamin, euen then found hee both Joseph and Benjamin. Look often vnto God, and yee shall finde him, with Dauid, to bee the light of your countenance. The Sicke Man. God hath opened the floode-gates of his wrath against my Soule. O the deepenesse of my troubles ! The Pastour. * The Soule, in deepest troubles, is like Noah's Arke on the waters, the higher it was tossed, the nearer it approached to the heauens. * Little boats of little burden are but for shallow waters ; but great shippes of greater load are sent vnto the depths. * The deepenesse of your temptations, Sir, declare that God hath loaden you with many graces. * Brauest Captaines are put to the front and forebrunt of the choake. * Best Christians are battered with most bitter temptations. God who suffereth them to bee tempted, knoweth what they can do ; and therefore to en- courage others by their example, hee putteth them to a proofe, for to let the world see what his grace can worke in weake- nesse. At last yee shall say, Wee went thorow jire and water, but thou hast brought vs to a wealthie place. What say yee, Sir ? Beginneth not your heart to rejoyce ? Bee glad, Sir, and say to God, with the Psalmist, All my springs shall bee ofthee. The Sicke Man. I haue little minde of springs. The Apostle saide wiselie, Is any man mirrie, let him sing. Mine Harpe and Heart both are out of tune. The Harpe of my joy is hung vpon the willowes. * My fingers can guide no more this wirbling instrument. * All the joy of my light, and the light of my joy, is quenched with vnspeakable griefe, as with a dampe. * Mine heart is like a moth eaten cloth, all rent with temptations, and eaten out with the worme of Conscience, like that worme which did eate away the pleasures of Jonah. By its byte all my joy is fallen downe like that Gourd. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. S3 All the good that euer was within mee is boulted out. Sa- than hath sifted mee. I thinke presentlie that I am at the verie mouth of Hell, readie to fall downe to the bottome thereof. The Pastour * The way to Heauen is neare by the gates of Hell. The way to pleasures for euermore, is paued with paines. Dauid first cryed to God, de profandis, out of the depths, saide hee, haue I called to thee. But after- ward hee praised him in excelsis, with the highest Organs of laude, euen with loud Cymbals, yea, high sounding Cymbals. * It was well saide by one, Quo acerbior miseria eo ac- cept tor misericordia, the sowrer the miserie, the sweeter the mercie. Let the hope of that sweete mercie which is to come, sweeten the tartenesse of your present terrours. * Hee who can bring light out of darknesse, and who brought water out of the fierie flint, can make the sweet- nesse of his grace spring out of the gall of bitternesse. Woe to him whom God will not correct ! This was a sore word, Ephraim is joyned to idoles, let him alone. Pray God that hee neuer let you so alone. Blesse God for this chastisement. Though for a space yee bee in the fearefull depths of temptations, let nothing make you to despair ; Christ the most solide Rocke of your Saluation shall turne all such surges mio froth. * While lonah was in the bellie of hell, and all the bil- lowes of God's wrath passing ouer him, yet would hee not despaire into that hell, but beeing tumbled vp and downe there, hee trembled in his belieuing, and belieued in his trembling. * Then I saide, I am cast out of thy sight. There was his trembling. Yet I will looke againe toward thine holie temple. There was his belieuing. And the Lord spake to the Fish, and it vomited out lonah vpon the dry land. These were the fruites of his Faith. * Learne, Sir, of lonah, not to despaire, were it in the bellie, of hell. Though for a space yee, as it were, goe downe, with that Prophet, to the bottome of the mountaines, the time shall come that yee shall sing to God, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from corruption, Lord my God. * God for a space, for the sinnes of his chosen, for his glorie, for his praise, for proofe, for example, and manie other reasons, may bee ecclipsed from shining to the sillie, sinfull * Note. Psal.16.11 Psal. 130.1 Psal. 150.5 * Note. * Note. Hos.4-.17 * Note. Ion. 2. 4. * Note, lona. 2. Verse 10 * Note, lona. 2. 6 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL A * Note. Isa. 51. h * Note. Mala. 4. 2 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 2 Tim. 4.8 ]!ant. 1.9 Heb.12.19 sal.l8.S. Soules of his Turtles. * But there is none obscuritie that shall bee able for euer to restraine from them, the celestiall influence of his blessed beames of comfort. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with euerlast- ting Idndnesse will 1 haue mercic on thee, saith the Lord thylRedeemer. TheSickeMan. But alas! mine heart is alreadie wounded with vncurable woundes. The Pastonr. In Christ is your remeede. * If yee bee wounded, there is health in his winges, for the healing of your icoundes. Though for a space such woundes bee sore in your feeling, yet fret not. : Yee would gladlie suffer all that, and more, if yee knew how many stripes Heauen were worth. Though Christ tarie, yet hee will not tarie. Hee is more sensible to our sores than wee can imagine. * Be- lieue him while hee speaketh. These bee his wordes of sense, Hee that toucheth you, toucheth the nipple of mint eye. * Bee of good heart, Sir; Christ shall bee the ludge of our siuncs, who was judged for our sinnes. Hee to whom all judgement is deliuered, was deliuered for vs vnto death. Yee say, that your heart is wounded, let this bee a saluc for your sore. A broken heart is the verie heart of repentance neuer to bee repented of. ! The heart which was neuer wounded for sin, is deadlie wounded with sin. * The heart which was neuer wounded for sin, hath neuer known the vertue of Christe's woundes, the onlie remeede of sin. Bee of good courage in this goodfyht, like the Church, who for her valour in spirituall warfare, is compared to the troopes of horses in the Chariots of Pharaoh. Now seeing the day groweth to an end, after that in my 3rayer I haue recommended you to God's protection and direction, I will leaue you vntill morrow. Let vs pray. A PRAYER FOR THE STCKE MAX, TOSSED WITH SPIRIT UALL TEMP TA TIONS. LOUD, how terrible art thou, when thou art angrie at by creatures ! Who can stand before thee a consum- ing fire. When thou is prouocked, the Earth shaketh and trembleth, the foundations of the hilles are moued. When thy wrath is kindled, smoke commeth out of thy nostrils, OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 85 nd out of thy mouth commeth a deuouring 1 fire, whereby oals are kindled. O the terrour of these euerlasting burnings ! Who darre ipproach vnto thee ? Who shall bee so bolde as to stand )efore thee, seeing there is none so fierce that darre stirre ip the Leiiiathan, one of thy Vassals, whose scales are his wide, whose eyes are like the eye lids of the morning, and vho by his neesinges maketh a light to shine, and kindleth ioals by his breath ? O GOD, most gracious, make thy North winde to awake, ind blow vpon him for the cooling of his conscience parched vith fierie temptations. Change thine angrie countenance oward this sillie cast-downe Soule, sore tossed and troubled vith spirituall tempest. O heare our earnest sute and bee not deafe towards vs. O let the bright beames of thy mer- ;ie disperse and breake thorow the cloudie gloominesse of hy wrath. Let the cleare skie of thy fauour appeare vnto his darkened spirit, that in a holie boldnesse, hee may come vnto the Throne of thy grace. Thou hast saide, Lord, linger is not with mee. Thy word plainelie affirmeth, that there is but a moment in thy wrath. [n wrath thy custom is to remember mercie. Forget not so good a custome. O remember heere a sinner, vexed with thy wrath. Breake not this bruised reede, neither quench this smoking Jlaxe, but kindle vp the lurking sparkle. Make thy strength perfect in his weakenesse ; make thy Mandrakes '~o give a smell, that his Soule may bee refreshed with the sa- uour of life vnto life. Take from him all hardnesse of heart. Suffer not hi; Conscience to bee seared with sin, neither too sensible of sin lest that hee losse his patience. Giue him a soft and a yield ing heart, for to admit the comfortes of thy Spirit. O tak out of his breast the hard marble and Jiintie heart of Nature and put in the place thereof ajleshie and melting heart, wit! a tender and feeling spirit. Open his eyes with thine eye salue, that hee may see thy mercie thorow the cross-barrec gates of so fearefull temptations. As the iveiglit of thy wratl hath made his Conscience to bleede, so let the might of mercie, like Balme, cure and couer the woundes of thy wrath O GOD of pittie, pittie this poore Soule weeping in secrete a thy feete. Pittie this Spirit which is filled with heauinesse Sore sorrow, O LORD, is entered thorow all the powers o ob, 42.K) "ant.4-.16 Isa.42.3 2 Cor. 1 9. Cant.7.1 86 THE LAST BATTELL Heb.4.12 Mic. 7. 18 I'sal. 141. 5. losh. 10. 10. Prou. sus- his Soule, euen to the di aiding of thejoynte*, and the mar- row of his bones. Put these wordes of comfort in his minde and mouth, that thou retainest not thine anger for eiter, because thou deliahtest in mercie. O sanctifie the force of all his painefull temptations, that they may worke to his well : let him know that thou hast an hand in all his troubles. Let him say, Let the righteous smite mee, and it shall bee a benejite : Yea, though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee. Good GOD, giue him not ouer to the raging euill of his own corruptions. Sutler not his Spirit to bee ouerwhelmed with the burden of temptations ; but with the temptation giue him an out-gate. Make the Spikenard of thy mercie sende out a sweete smell, whereby his fainting heart may bee com- forted. Giue him victorie ouer all the enemies of his salua- tion. As loshuah made his men of warre to set their feete vpon the neckes of their enemies, and tread them vnder foote ; euen so, LORD, make this thy weake seruant to set his feete vpon the neckes of these sinnes, which, like Kinyes, haue sweyed their sinfull Scepter in his heart. Thou who made a Cake of Barley bread to tumble vpon the tents of Midian, and ouer turne them, thou can easilie worke great workes by weake meanes. It is thy custome to make thy strength per- fect in weaknesse. Let this poore sicke Patient heere haue the proofe of the practise of thy custome. Let his Soule, like a Doue, enter in at the cliftes of the Rocke ; let it creepe in by the woundes of Christ vnto his blessed bowels, there to bee warmed with God's most feruent loue. Whither shall hee goe ? LORD, to whom shall hee make his mone, but to thee ? Whom hath hee in Heauen but thee ? O LORD, now the day is farre spent, and the wearisome night approacheth. Before wee goe let us obtaine our sute that thou would make thy wrath to relent a little. Let not our prayers bee powred out in vaine. Wee will not admit a refusall, and therefore set vs not off till another time. Aban- don not this troubled Soule. Thou who hast saide vnto man, Say not vnto thy neigh- bour, Goe and come ayaine, and to morrow I will giue thee, if thou now haue it. O LORD, practise thine own precept. Wee are heere come, not for to buy, but to beyye thy mercie, for thy distressed Seruant. Thou cannot denye but thou hast mercie ; for this is euer true : Mercie is with thee. Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 2. day. 87 Seeing then, LORD, now thou hast it, wee vrge thee with thine own directions, say not, Goe and come againe ; to morrow I will giue thee. By such a delay thou should but enhance his griefe. Alas ! LORD, what rest shall his wearied Soule get all this night, if thou delay and drift him vntill morrow ? O come, come, and powre into his heart the comfortable bowels of thy compassions! Powre into his Soule the powers of thy Spirit, whereby hee may bee reuiued, and goe softlie, the rest of his time in the bitternesse of his Soule. Refresh his parched Conscience with the dew of thy grace. Deare Father, for Christe's sake, let not hardnesse of heart creepe any more vpon him. Receiue him softlie into thine Armes this night, and cause his spirit to rest into thy bosome. Whe- ther hee sleepe or hee wake, make all his thoughts to run vpon thee. In the darknesse of the night make thy loue like light to breake in vpon his Conscience, as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day. Seeing Sathan, the Lord of the night, the Prince of Darknesse, is most combersome in the night, wee intreat thee, that thou would shield and preserue him by thy merciefull and powerfull protection. Make his Soule to stand vpon a continuall watch, that it may bee readie with a well furnished Lampe for the comming of his Lord. Make the day of thy mercie to breake, and all the shadowes of temptations to flee away. O Father, heare and helpe, for the sake of the dearest blood of thy Sonne, the alone purger of the Soule, and the chiefe softner of hardened heartes. Bee thou a Sanctuarie vnto this troubled Soule. Create vpon him a cloude and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming Jire by night ^ joyne the direction of thy fire with the protection of thy cloude. O giue now thy blessing vnto this halting man. Souple and loosen his stiffe and stupefied joyntes, that, beeing drawne by thee, hee may runne after thee. Fence and garde his Soule by thy grace, till thou bring him vnto glorie. O Jesus, pray thou for him, whom Sathan hath sought to winnow, let him bee found as good corne vpon thy barne floore, vnto the praise of thy heauenlie glorie of thy diuine grace. Blesse thy beloued Church vniuersall ; purge her from all Shismes and diuisions which breedeymz# thoughts of heart. Decke and decore her \vithpuritie and vnitie, the two most [sa.38.15. Prou.4-.18 88 THE LAST BATTELL A Prayer. Psal.73.y4 precious spirituall jewels of thy Spouse. Make her fertile, like a broodie Vine. Direct our gracious Soueraigne in all his wayes, Guide him by thy Counsel/, and afterward briny him vnto ylurie. Blesse his Royal Match, the Queene's Majestic ; make her i Nurse mother in Israel, a blessed Mother of blessed Chil- iren. Blesse all the Estates of this Land : blesse thy Ministrie ; adorne their breastes with thy Vrim and thy Thummin, thy light of doctrine, and perfection of life. Blesse vs all who are heere humbled before thy face this night ; while our bodies shall goe to bedde for to rest, grant that our Soules may goe rest in the armes of thee our most louing God and Father. To thee, with thy Sonne and the Spirit of Grace, wee giue all praise and glorie for euer. A men. Cause reade vnto you this night, when yee awake, Psal. 6, Ps. 49, Ps. 102, Ps. 130. The grace of God and the peace of his Spirit bee with you. The Sicke Man. The Lord direct you, Sir, in all your wayes. I looke yee shall returne the morrow earlie. Thinke vpon that where wee left at last. I looke that yee shall cleare that matter more at large at our next meeting. My God bee with you. ^^^^^^^^^^^sf^ l 89 THE THIRD DAVE'S CONFERENCE. OF SPIRITUALL TEMPTATIONS. THE Lord blesse you, Sir. According to your desire I am come againe to visite you in your bedde of lan- guishing. The Sicke Man* I was looking for you ; for since yee left mee yesternight, I may say, with Jacob, Sleepe departed from mine eyes. My conscience all this night hath beene like a boiling pot. * O but weake man is borne to manie sorrowes ! His dayes are few and euill. The best of them is but labour and sorrow. But let vs now begiune where wee left. The Pastour. Our last conference, as yee may remember, was concerning Christ ; in whose winges, I saide, was health for healing of your woundes. * I declared vnto you, that hee s so tenderlie touched with the feeling of our sores, that hee lath declared that these that touch vs, touch the apple of his 'ye. Hath this beene the matter of your night's meditation ? The Sicke Man. That which yee haue saide of Christ, Sir, is true. There is indeede aealth in his winges, and helpe n his hands. But alas ! Christ will not bee helpefull but to these that are of a strong Faith. My Faith is both faint and 'ecklesse nothing but a smoke of Faith. The Pastour. * Christ hath saide plainlie, that hee iv ill not juench the smoking jlaxe. S. Peter was not a man of strong Faith when, in his voyage to Christ vpon the sea, hee be- ganne to sinke- Saide not Christ vnto him, Thou man of 'ittle Faith, why hast thou doubted ? * The Lord reproued lim for the weaknesse of his Faith, but neuer coost him off or the littlenesse thereof. The Sicke Man. That was another matter, Christ was with his Apostle. * There was vertue into that hand, therewith hee gripped the sinking man, as was vertue in M * Note. Psal. 90. 10. Note. Zach. 2. 8 * Note. Isa.42.3. Matth. 14 31. * Note. * Note. Mat. G..5G. 90 THE LAST BATTELL Spirititall * Note. Ioh.lG.7. * Note. ^uk.17.0 * Note. Matth. 14 * Note. Numb. 2 1 9. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Phil >.- * Note. iis garment, while the hemme thereof was but touched. Such a weake Faith as mine, cannot reach vp so farre as to touc.h him into the Heauens. The Pastour. Though your faith bee weake, and that Christ also bee bodilie absent, yet bee not for that disquieted ; bis Godhead is present. * Hee himselfe hath saide, con- cerning his bodilie presence, that it was expedient for vs that hee should goe away. As for the weaknesse of your Faith, pray God to strengthen it. * Faith though it bee ittle, yet it is of great force, a araine of it will cast a moun- taine into the sea. The Sicke Man. Let mee see, I pray you, Sir, anie particular example of a weake Faith sauing anie man. The Pastour. Of this in Scripture wee haue a cloude of witnesses. I shall let you see two, one in substance, the other in type or figure. * That of Peter in the New Testa- ment is substantial],. Christ called him a man of little Faith, and yet by that Faith, though little, hee was saued. The other is in the Old Testament, in the type and figure. When the Israelites were bitten with the fierie Serpents, their onlie refuge and remeede was to looke vp to the brazen Serpent. This was the verie type of a Soule stung with sin, beholding Christ with the eye of Faith. * Of these who behelde that serpent of brasse, some were bleared, and other some had weake eyes. But the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure. * Nay, the old man with his dimmed eyes, beholding as through awmf that type of Christ, was as soundlie cured, as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour. * The meate taken with a paralitique and trembling hand, will not refuse nourishment to the bodie, no more than if it were taken with a stable hand. Obserue, Sir, what 1 say, * Faith is the eye of the Soule, whereof the Israelites eyes were but a figure, Christ is the trueth of the brazen Serpent. * Though this eye bee dimmer in some, yet if it see, the Soule shall bee saued. Faith is the hand of the Soule, Christ is the foode. : Though this Faith tremble, Christ trembleth not. * The palsie is not into the foode. Bee of good courage, Sir ; feare not this trembling feare ; the worke of saluation cannot bee wrought out but with feare and trembling. * When the work shall bee ended, all trembling shall cease, and Faith shall bee stable, then the Soule shall bee made free from all palste paine. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day- 91 Tlie Sicke Man. Oh, that I were but sicke of such a palsie paine ! Oh, that I were assured to haue anie graine of true Faith ! Alas ! I am vndone. * This wretched heart of mine is so wrung with wrath, that there remaineth not within it so much as a droppe of grace. All my spiritual! moisture is spent ; all the faculties of my Soule are so racked, that my tongue cannot vtter my griefe and smart. * Is there no Balme in Gilead for a sorrow-beaten sinner ? Oh, through excessiue paine my Liuer is rolled within mee ! If I finde no remeede, my Soule shall shortlie bleede to death ; my paines exceede, my sorrow is extreme ; thorow the tor- tours thereof my Soule is compelled to roare. Oh Lord, turne thy wrath into mercie, and thy Justice seate into a Throne of grace, and pardon the sinnes which more and more ripen thy wrath against mee. Mine heart is rent and har- rowed with griefe : what salue can I finde fit for such sinfull sores ? The more I thrust griefe out, the more it throng- eth in. The Pastour. The souerainge salue for such sores, is to get a sight of Christ, who bare all our sinnes vpon his battered backe, which was torne with mercilesse stripes. Christ in that plight, is the most fit object for the eye of a troubled Soule. * There is no salue for the sore of sin, but the sight of him who is the trueth of that brazen Ser- pent, the object of the faithfull eye. * This remeede among all others is like the master Bee, the best of all the hyue. Though yee bee like Zacheus, a man of little stature, so that yee cannot see Christ ouer the multitude of your sinnes, yet run before, climbe the tree of the Crosse, and beholde him. * No, rather beholde him now vpon the Crosse fixed vpon a mount high aboue, that all may see him, euen vpon mount Caluarie. Beholde him there treading death vnder his feet. * Though there bee a mount of dead men's skules, there is no dead skule so high, but Christ may bee seene aboue it. * Christ is euer nearest in the hotest skirmish. Hee is the sea and the seate of mercie. If yee can seeke, yee shall finde no scant of mercie into him. Yee shall wonder at his loue when yee shall relish his kindnesse. * To Christ then, yea, to Christ alone must yee runne and forsake all, as the Mariner, while all his cunning is gone, runneth to God in the tempest. * In him is Balme for all wounded spirits, there is no gash so deepe, but his * Note. * Note. * Note. Numb. 21 9. * Note. * Note. Luk.19.3. * Note. Luk. 23. 32. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. 107 27. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! * Note. Heb. 5. 7. * Note. Matth. 17. 16. * Note. Psal.73.^6 * Note. * Note. * Note. loh. 1.528. * Note. * Note. * Note. Mai. -i. :>. * Note. * Note. blood can cure it. As all riuers lead to the sea, so should all comfortes guide vs vnto Christ. * While hee was in the dayes of his flesh there was no miserie that could withhold sinners from him, neither lamenesse, nor blind- nesse, nor deafenesse, nor deuills, could stay any from him, nor stay him to do them good : hee healed them all. * Neuer a man came backe from him, saying, / haue sought to this God iu vain I came to him, but hee could not helpe mee. Or, as the father of the lunaticke saide, / brought him to thy Disciples, and they could not cure him. * To him may all heart broken sinners say, with the Prophet, My flesh and mine heart faileth, but thou art the strength of mine heart and my portion. * Flesh and friends, health and wealth, and all will faile vs, but lesus will neuer faile vs. * Man's extremitie is his opportunitie. By him alone the Soule of man hath light, libertie, and life. All other helpes and hopes are but vaine. * As no water could wash arid cleanse the leprosie but onlie Jordan, so nothing can wash away the leprosie of sin but the blood of Christ, the Lambe of God, which is a spirituall Jordan for washing of leper Soules. * In a word, in all our stormie troubles Christ lesus is a firme Rocke of refuge which repelleth and turn- eth into froth, all the waues of most tempestuous tempta- tions. * By his blood alone our Soules are both healed and hallowed, vpon the right of your redemption sute the remis- sion of your sinnes. Eee not abashed ; hee who hath Christ needeth not to feare. The Sicke Man. If I were one of Christe's, would hee leaue mee thus wise comfortlesse ? * Hee is the Sunne of Righteousnesse, in whose beames, as in a spring time, I was wont to rejoyce ; but now hee is gone down. * My Soule is benighted, and I am affrighted, with grudginges of despaire. Oh, that mine eyes of flint were melted into teares ! O smite myjlmtie heart with the rod of thy mercie, that it may make teares, the water of repentance, to gush out at the Conduite pypes of my mourning eyes ! O what a palpable darknesse ! The Pastour. Comfort your selfe with hope, waiting till that Sunne arise againe vpon your Soule. * Suppose a man created vpon the earth as Adam was at the first, if hee should see the Sunne set, hee would bee afraide at that first dark- nesse, thinking that the Sunne wer<> gone downe, neuer for Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 93 to returue. But knowing- by experience that hee is ordained by God, a Ruler for to rule the day, by intercourse of the night, while hee seeth him set hee is content, because hee looketh for his rising againe. If the yeare were euer Winter, which maketh all thinges to die and wither, wee would all die for sorrow. * But now, in the deepest snowes and most hoarie frosts, wee haue some sparkle of joy kindled by the hope of the approaching Spring. As in these naturall thinges, so it is in spirituall. * Christ, the Sunne of Righteousnesse, will seeme to the Soule to set vnder the night cloude of some fearefull temptation. In such a case the sinner will thinke that hee shall neuer see God againe. * But for all that, after some houres of darknesse, appeareth Roseis aurora quadrigis, Christ, that Day-spring from on high, which the Soule, like a Bird on a bush, wel- cometh with a morning spring. After deepest discomfortes come dearest coinfortes. Haue patience, Sir, a little, till the night of your tempta- tion bee past. After a little, open the window, and yee shall see the iSkie of day, then againe, beholde that Sunne, which seemed to bee lost, arising with his blessed beames, with a louing and life-giuing countenance. Bee not discouraged ; though Christ absent himselfe, it shall bee but for a space, vntill the day breake, and the shadowes flee away. * All his absence from the godlie, is but like that which hee saide to his Disciples, Yet a little while, and yee shall not see mee, and againe, a little while and yee shall see mee. * It is of his helpe, as of Habakkutfs vision, Though it tarie, waite for it, because it will surelie come ; it will not tarie. Bee stoute and couragious ; the bitterest of your temptations are but the sweete glowmes of a Father. The Sicke Man. I am pricked with the poisonous ar- rowes of Sathan's spyte. I doubt if God would bee so rough to one of his own Children as hee is to mee. * Fathers strike with the rod, but I am scourged with Scorpions, wherewith the Lord is now auenging the quarell of his couenant. Oh, that euer I came to this wretched passe ! The Pastour. Yee are impatient. * There is nothing in all your affliction but the smiting of the righteous, which yee should account a kindnesse. Such smiting is but smiling, in effect, a loue-token, Whom I loue, I chasten. God's cor- rections are balme which shall not breake your head. Gen. 1.16. * Note. * Note. Male. 4. 2. * Note. Luk.1.17. Cant. 4. 6. * Note. * Note. Hab. 2. 3. * Note. Leuit. 2(5, 25. * Note. PsaLUl.; THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! Deut 28. 65, and eh. 32. 25, Zac. 3. 2. * Note. Psal.101.1 * Note. * Note. * Note. Ilcb. 6. 6. The Sicke Man. I am both bruised and broken ; my paines surpasse my power ; Sathan with his snares and fet- ters hath confined mee to a wretched slauerie ; my Soule is out of temper. Trembling of heart^ and sorrow of minde, and tcrroitrs from the Chamber, assault mee on all sides. O but the passage to glorie is rough and boisterous I Beholde how I sweate for paine, as one rosted with a fearefull flamme. The Pastour. In that heate is a comfort. The style of the godlie is to bee called Brands pluckt out of the fire. 7* not this a brand taken out ofthejire ? saide the LORD, in Zacharie. This manifesteth that a godlie man for a space may bee scorched vpon kindled coales ; but God incontinent rescueth him, as a man will catch quicklie at that which hee would not haue burnt. God will neuer leaue his own to the full rage of a stinging Conscience. Let all men haue patience while God worketh. * If for sinnes hee punisheth his dead- liest enemies, why should hee not also for sin correct his dearest Children ? If man vncontrolled may sing of mercie and of judgement for to keepe his house in order, shall not God haue his will to sing what song hee pleaseth vnto his own creature ? * Let the cracking Law musicke of Sinai bee ended, and then God shall rejoyce your heart with the sweete melodic of the Gospel. * If, while God in this your trouble in a manner is mourning vnto you, yee lament for your sinnes, hee shall in the end make you dance at the pyp- ing of his Gospel. * From Sinai hee shall bring you vnto Sion, where all your paines shall bee turned into pleasures. The Sicke Man. All pleasures are farre from mee for the present. A world of pleasures are deare bought with one pang of Conscience. God's wrath hath seazed vpon mee, for to dragge my Soule downe to the bottome of Hell. It runneth euer into my minde, that I am guiltie of the sin against the Holie Ghost. This I take to bee the marke, that such as once are guiltie of that sin, cannot bee renewed a(/aine by repentance ; this marke seemeth to bee in mee, for as yet, for all the holie wordes I haue heard out of your mouth, I finde no renouation. Though God's goodnesse by you hath ledde mee to repentance, I haue not beene moued, but, after mine hardnesse and impenitent hearty I haue treasured vp vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath. This spoileth mee of outward peace and inward joy. ~\\ hat can this bee but the sin against the Holie Ghost, which shall femp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. either bee forgiuen in this world nor in the world to ome ? I pray you, Sir, to let mee know what a fearefull in that is, which Scripture saith shall neuer bee forgiuen. ,et inee heare of its name and nature. The Pastour. This sin, Sir, of all sinnes is the most ;arefull, as being a sin of highest nature. In Scripture it is ailed Blasphemie against the Holie Ghost. Because there s no pardon for it, it is called A. sin vnto death. Christ lim selfe declared this plainelie : Verilie, saide hee, I say vnto jou, all sinnes shall bee forgiuen to the sonnes of men, and Blasphemies, wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme, but hee hat shall blaspheme against the Holie Ghost hath neuer ^orgiuenesse. The Sicke Man. These wordes seeme strange that all sinnes shall bee forgiuen to the sonnes of men, and also blas- ^hemies wherewith soeuer they shall blaspheme, whether gainst the Father or the Sonne, but that there is no forgiue- nesse for blasphemie against the Holie Ghost. By that speach t would seeme that there bee blasphemies against God, which are not against the Holie Ghost. By that, also, it would me that the Holie Ghost is greater than the Father or the Sonne, for whateuer blasphemie is vttered against them it may >ee forgiuen, but as for that where with the Holie Ghost i wronged, it is an inexpiable staine, of it there can bee had no emission. Before yee proceede, cleare mee of this difficultie. The Pastour. The like of these wordes are also in S. Matthewe's Gospel : All manner of sin and of blasphe- mie, saide Christ, shall bee forgiuen vnto men, but the blas- phemie against the Holie Ghost shall not bee forgiuen vnto men. To this is subjoyned, in the verse following, Whoso- uer speaketh a word against the Sonne of Man, it shall bee forgiuen him, but whosoeuer speaketh against the Holie Ghost, it shall neuer bee forgiuen him. By this at the first blinke it would seeme indeede that it were not so dangerous to offend the Father, or the Sonne, a the Holie Ghost. Wherefore, yee must consider that this sin, which is callec the sin against the Holie Ghost, is no less against the Father and against the Sonne, than it is against the Holie Ghost. * But it is called the sin against the Holie Ghost, because it is a most high rebellion, and stiffe standing out against th peculiar worke of the Spirit, which is to inlighten the minde lar.3.28. lat. 12.31 loh.5.16. lar.3. 28 Verse 29. \lat.l2.C Verse 35 * Note. THE LAST BATTP;LL Spiritual * Note Opera tr nitatis a extra sin communi * Note. Mat. 23. 2 Iar.8.1,5 * Note. Sam. 10 11, a IK! h.22. 18 * Note. * Note, am. 2. 10. and bo\v the will and affections, that man by repentance mai bee brought home againe vnto his God. * As the Creation is ascribed to the Father, and Redemp tion vnto the Sonne, so is illumination and conuersion o: Soules ascribed to the Holie Ghost, though all these exter- nall actions of Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification, bee common to all the three Persons of the Trinitie. Vnderstand then, that the reason wherefore this sin is callec the sin against the Holie Ghost ; it is because it is agains that eneraia and efficatious working of conuersion, common to all the three Persons, but particularlie ascribed to the Holie Ghost, as our Creation is to the Father, and our Redemption to the Sonne. * When man stifflie and stubbornlie sinneth against the remcede of sin, how can that sin bee remeeded ? It must of necessitie bee a sin remeedilesse. A sin past all remeede is a desperate disease. The Sicke Man. Let mee, I pray you, heare more learlie what this sin is. The Pastour. It is an vniuersall apostasie from a cnowne Trueth, with an eager, earnest, and malicious perse- cuting of the same, by both secret and open hostilitie. The Sicke Man. I know that manie of the learned call :hat sin an vniuersall apostasie from the Trueth, but I neuer could well vnderstand that. The Pharisees are esteemed to haue beene guiltie of that sm, yet I cannot reade that they had made an vniuersall apostasie from the trueth of doctrine. Christ saide, that they in Moses' chaire, which did signifie that they had kept some thing of Moses his doctrine, though miserablie mixed ith the leauen of their traditions. Thus as yee see their apostasie was not vniuersall. Saul did not altogether renounce the religion of Israel hough, after hee had beene among the Prophets, hee killed Priest es. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, that doubt is not without Teat difficultie. * Mine opinion concerning that, is that vho out of malice and despite renounceth and persecuteth ny fundamental! point of religion, which hee hath before nowne and approuen, is by consequence guiltie of that niuersatt Apostasie. * My reason is founded vpon the postles rule, Whosoeuer shall kcepe tJic ichole Law, and Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 97 yet offend in one point, hee is guiltie of all. * That is, who euer hee bee that maketh no conscience of one sin, maketh conscience of no sin. If for the feare of God you darre not murther, how darre thou then, if thou feare God, commit adulterie, or how darre thou steale or lye ? * Euen so hee, who out of malice and despight, renounceth anie maine ground of the Trueth, which hee hath once knowne and professed, and after that contemptuouslie with a lifted vp hand persecuted! the same, hee in my judgement hath drawne vpon himselfe the guiltinesse of an vniuersall Apos- tasie. * If by this vniuersall Apostasie were onlie vnderstood an actuall, publicke, and totall renouncing of God and of all Religion, with railing and raging, such sinners should not bee (as indeede they are) most difficile to bee knowne. The Sicke Man. I perceiue by the definition of that sin, that it is not common to all the Reprobates. The Pastour. No, not : but onlie to these who haue beene inlightened with some knowledge of the doctrine of Trueth, and after beginne maliciouslie to persecute the same. The Sicke Man. But thinke yee that any man would bee so beastlie as to persecute a knowne Trueth. I cannot thinke that the Pharisees, who are saide to haue beene guiltie of that sin, did euer know Christ to bee come from God, for had they knowne him, they had not crucified the Lord, the Lord ofglorie. The Pastour. Indeede these wordes are true of manie, but not of those doctours which made Christ to pronounce so manie woes against them. * They and their complices knew what hee was, and wherefrae hee came. Yee both know mee, saide Christ to them, and yee know whence I am. The Sicke Man. Mercifull God ! how could they then pursue him with such spight and bitternesse ? I thinke that by that knowledge, as by a bit, their most head-strong corruption should haue beene snaffled and curbed. The Pastour. * Man doeth not despight to the Spirit of grace at the first, but by little and little, like clay before the Sunne, his heart is hardened by the deceitfulnesse of sin. First, a man will know the Trueth, and will loue it with some sort of feruour for a space ; after a little this loue be- ginneth to lessen and grow colde, while at last it is turned * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 Cor. 2. 8 * Note, loh. 7. 28 * Note. 98 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt > Tli PS. 2. 10. * Note. Horn. 1. -28. Hob. 1. 6. Hcb. 10. 26. Verse. 27. * Note. lTim.1.13 * Note. lTim.1.13 * Note. I Sam. 16. * Note. [oh 17.12 Hoh.j.lG into hatred, man being 1 fallen in loue icith lyes, which fill his bowels with a boiling hatred of the Trueth. From thence commeth a persecution and a finall desertion, a just recompence of reward due to all these that will not receiue and keepe the loue of the Trueth, that they might bee sailed. * If the poore Pagan for abusing his naturall wite, by changing the Trueth of God into a lye, by God's just judgements, was giuen ouer to a reprobate minde, what wonder if they who hauing once beene inlightened, fall away, bee neuer possiblie renewed againe vnto repentance, seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh, and put him to an open shame ? Such men goe about presumptu- ouslie to grinde the face of all godlinesse. The Sicke Man. I see then, that in the sin against the Holie Ghost, there must first bee a knowledge of God's Trueth, and then a wilfull rebellion against it, with a lifted vp banner. The Pastour. The Apostle is plaine : Jfivee, saith hee, sin wilfullie after that wee haue receiued the knowledge of the Trueth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes, but a certaine fearefutt looking for of judgement, andjierie indignation. ' The poyson of that sin is in the word wilfullie, after a preceding knowledge. While Peter denyed his Master it was not wilfuttie, but for feare of his life. Saul persecuted most bitterlie, beyond measure, saide hee, I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it, but God had mercie on him, for it was in his ignorance. k These two great men rode so neare vnto that vnpardon- able sin, that betweene Peter and it, was nothing but wilful- lie, and betweene Paul and it, was nothing but ignorantlie. The Sicke Man. Knew yee euer in Scripture or out of Scripture any that fell into that sin ? The Pastour. * In the Old Testament, Saul fell into it, and therefore the Lord discharged Samuel to mournefor him. * In the New Testament, ludas was guiltie thereof, and therefore Christ would not pray for him. While hee prayed his holie Father to keepe through his own Name the other Apostles, hee would not speake a word for the lost sonne of perdition. In that hee practised his precept, There is a sin vnto death, I do not say that hee shall pray for it. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 99 The Sicke Man. Is this sin so great that God's mercie cannot bee able to ouercome it ? The Pastour. Some thinke that it is called, irremissi- ble, because that it is forgiuen with exceeding great difficul- tie. But certainelie there is no remission for it. * The cause is this, God will not bee mocked with men, neither will hee suffer his Justice to perish for the saluation of anie, for seeing hee that despised Moses 1 Law died without mer- cie, vndertwo or three witnesses, of how much sorer pun- ishment, suppose yee, shall hee bee thought worthie, who hath troden vnder foote the Sonne of God, and hath counted the Blood of the Couenant, wherewith hee was sanctified, anvnholie thing, and hath done despight vnto the Spirit of grace f The Sicke Man. I desire to know how men fall into such a desperate iniquitie. The Pastour. * Such men hauing receiued some geue- rall graces of God in a reasonable great measure, first vn- conscionablie beginne to neglect them, suffering these spar- kles of goodnesse to die out, after that they haue shaken out of their mouth the Bridle of restraining grace : while it is cast loose, lying vpon their maine, they plod on from one sin to another, till shame bee past the shedde of their haire, so that they bee passed all feeling. * The Spirit being often grieued, and the heart made hard with a custorne of sin, whereby as with a canker the noble buddes of the Spirit are fretted and blasted, at last the Lord in his justice rolleth vp the sinner, and wrappeth him into a reprobate sense. * Thus men, by neglecting the inward secret checkes of the Spirit, and by harbouring priuie inward repynings, boil- ing lustes, murmurings, grudgings, and vnthaukfulnesse, the craftie empoysoners of grace, do at last come to this point, that all the good thinges they seemed to haue are most licentious] ie dissolaed into a publicke prophanitie, whereby they vpbraide the Spirit of grace to his face, and that with base and scarrell jests, yea, and often with most filthie belghes of blasphemie. That once done, all their grace clearlie melteth away like snailes, like the fat of Lambes, or like the winter yce, which once beeing thawed floweth away, and is scene no more. All such thinges bee fore-runners posting before the prince *Note. Heb. 10.28 Verse 29. * Note. * Note. * Note. 100 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! Luk.11,1, * Note. Ephes.2.2. 1 Thes. 5 22. * Note. Act.26 .28 * Note. 16. 2 Chron. 33. 2. of sinnes, euen the sin against the Holie Ghost, which is among 1 all sinnes like Beelzebub among the deuills. * Obserue againe, I pray you, how the vnquencheable fire of this vnpardonable sin is kindled. While man suffereth diuers sinnes to lye dispersed in his heart at their naturall libertie, without controlement, Sathan most craftilie, by some cunning sleight, as by an hollow burning glasse, so concen- trates and vnites them together, like fierie beames, that they set on fire the whole bodie of man's corruption, whereby, as by a powder plot, the Soule is blowne vp in blaspheming, euen vp vnto the verie bosome of the Prince of the Aire. Well is the man who from his youth is sensible of all ap- pearance of em/I. Let vs then take heede, and consider how this sin against the Spirit of grace creepeth insensiblie vpon the heart of man : ordinarlie this sin followeth a long custome in sinning, as the head vncurable, Scirrhus in the liuer, affected with the dropsie, commeth after manie surfites. Thus according to that olde saying, though a created testimonie, Sero medecina paratur, Cum mala per longas invaluere ?noras. * O happie they who curbe their corruptions in time before they get edge and vigour ! The Sicke Man. While a man is in this life may it not bee knowne if hee bee guiltie of this sin ? The Pastour. Verie hardlie : for as Agrippa was al- most perswaded to bee a Christian, and yet neuer came from almost vnto altogether, so will a man almost fall into this sin, and yet bee rescued, as a man will bee for a space in the hight of a feuer, that yee will neither know whether hee bee dead or quick. Manie haue beene reuiued at the putting on of their winding-sheet. * Euen so it will bee in the sicknesse drawing vnto this sin, which is a sin vnto death. Some will seeme to bee dead in it as a man into an Apoplexie, and yet it will bee seene that they will rise and repent. Of this assertion I take Manasses for a warrand, for after that hee had knowne the Trueth and had persecuted the knowne Trueth, making the streets of Jerusalem to runne blood, yet saith the Scripture, while hee was taken among the thornes, and bound with fetters, and carried to Babylon, in his affliction hee besought the Lord his (rod, and humbled himself e qreatlie before the God of his fathers. Temp, OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 101 * A man's flesh, whether on his cheeke or hand, cutted to a tacke, being 1 taken in time, while the flesh and blood are yet ivarme, will againe sticke to, and receiue the life almost lost. If such bee the force of Nature, how much more powerfull are the workings of grace ! except then that a man after knowledge bee, as Paul was in his ignorance, exceedinglie mad in persecuting the Trueth, I darre not define his sin to bee past remeede. The Sicke Man. Indeede, Sir, these bee verie cleare si- militudes, which illustrate our purpose wonderfullie. But seeing, as yee thinke, no man can certainlie know the particular man that is now guiltie of this sin, how is it that wee are forbidden to pray for such a man ? If any man, saith S. lohn, see his brother sin a sin which is not vnto death, hee shall pray for him : but there is a sin vnto death : I do not say that hee pray for it. So soone as such a man dyeth, without remeede hee must in all post haste gallop from the land of the liuing, vnto the abhorred region of euerlasting death. To what end serueth this inhabitation, if no man can know assuredlie who is guiltie of this sin ? The Pastour. * The opinion of the most learned is, that in the time of S. lohn, the gift of discretion was given vnto the Church, whereby both sooner and surer they might dis- couer the damnable sin. * As for vs wee can hardlie well per- ceiue it, but by finall impenitencie and most f'earefull despaire, whereby such miserable Apostates, who haue reuolted from the Trueth, declare at last, with lulian, that the God of Gal- lilee hath fullie and fearefullie ouercome them. Till that ap- peare, let vs beware to judge rashlie, seeing Peter, speaking to Simon Magus, seemeth to set before him a certaine pos- sibilitie to bee saued a perhaps, that the thought of his heart might bee forgiuen him. The Sicke Man. Now it appeareth by all your discourse, that the sin against the Holie Ghost is a reuolting from the Trueth, with a most wilfull persecuting. I thanke God, my Soule is free of that. But tell mee, I pray you, may not a man bee free of that most hainous sin, and yet bee damned ? It would appeare that many Reprobates are free of that sin. The Pastour. It is most certaine, for it is onlie the sin of these who haue known the Trueth of God's word, and hath made a fearefull reuolt from it, with a persecuting hatred * Note. Act.26.11. lloh.5.16. * Note. * Note. 102 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual Prou. * Note. * Note. * Note. Gen. 1 j.l * Note. Gen. 3. 2 * Note. against the same. Manie who haue liued in a true profession haue denyed God in this life. There bee but too manie whose hollow heartes are couered with outwardnesse like a potte shard ouer laide with siluer drosse. The Sicke Man. Alas ! that putteth my Soule in terrible feare ; for this is my conscience in a qualme : I haue pro- fessed with great shew, and that without substance. I haue beene one of Sathan's revellers, hauing a smiling countenance, but a bleeding Conscience. God's judgements haue stayed till my sinnes was rype. * When the fire is kindled, woe to the stubble ! There is no place now for to escape. In Hea- uen, in Earth, and in the Sea, God's hand will finde mee out. Fye now on all my greatest pleasures, the Darlings of ac- count ! Though I haue not sinned that sin against the Ho- lie Ghost, which God cannot forgiue, I am guiltie of sinnes which God will nener forgiue. O these eyes of fire, ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne, what sin is able to escape them ! what glistring golden shewes of outwardnesse shall make you to dazle ? and yee euerlasting eyes ! The Pastour. Man had great neede to beware that his tongue walke not without a bit. There is no sin but God can forgiue it, if the sinner could repent. The sea of his mercie is bottomlesse. As for that that God will or will not, it is too great presumption for man to define. '' Yee conti- nuallie flit from one temptation to another, whereon yee feede like a Flee, happing from scab to scab. Yee often seeme desirous to shift the comfortes of the Spirit, for to goe seeke a knot in a rush, a difficultie where none is. Bee earnest in prayer ; sigh to God for the assistance of his Spirit, that yee may bee capable of comfortes which the Tempter most enuyeth vnto you. * When the sillie Soule would fain- st heare the wordes of spirit nail peace, then cryeth hee red- varre, stirring vp temptations like the fowles that combered Abraham when hee should offer sacrifice. Take heede to your selfe, Sir : * The Serpent now is more craftie, than vhen hee pointed Adam to another tree, for to depriue him of the Tree of Life. Resigne vp your selfe in all holie obe- lietice to the will of your God. I can neuer perswade you to take heede to that which I say. * Betweeue a good tongue and a bored holie care is an happie harmonic ; such musicke melodious ; but a deafe eare maketh a dambe tongue. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 103 Beware of the Spirit of giddinesse, which maketh the Soule to run round as it were in a Circle of needlesse doubts. The Sicke Man. I intreat you, Sir, for patience, for I am one of a sorrow-full spirit, as Hannah saide to Eli ; a fierie wrath lurketh in my breast, which maketh mine heart to grone. Pittie mee, Sir, I pray you, for now I am come to the arraignment, and am called to the barre : like a Crane or a Swallow so do I chatter. The voyce of the Preacher did often glide by my faultes ; but now God's Spirit speaketh home, and setteth all my sinnes in order before mee. Now must I end my yeares in the bitternesse of my Soule. * Well may I say, with that godlie Matron, Call mee not Nahomi, that is, pleasant, but call mee Marah, that is, bitter, for the Almiahtie hath dealt verie bitterlie with mee. The Pastour. * That which is most bitter is often most wholesome. God's course with the godlie is from the bitter to the sweete. * When Israel in their progresse had remoued from Marah they came to Elim, from a place of bitternesse they came to refreshing fountaines of water, and to pleasant palme trees. * All this world is but a Marah, a place of bitternesse. * Let vs haue patience but for a space, till wee ariue in Elim vp into the Heauens, where wee shall dwell among most pleasant palmes, and drinke of the wholesome springs of the Well of Life, euen pleasures for euermore. The Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse, hath promised. The Sicke Man. My troubles are farre from such plea- sures. I feare that such troubles bee but the fore-runners of a greater tempest. This maketh all the bowels of my bettie to wamble. The Pastour. * Nay, by the contrarie, take them as I haue alreadie saide to bee, messengers posting before the calme. * It is good, as yee know, to see euerie season like it selfe. * The Christian life in this world must bee like the Winter season, subject to frosts and to snowes, for killing of weedes and of wormes. * If the earth and men's bodies bee not nipped with colde, great are the euills which ensue. * The earth becommeth barren, and man's bodie becomes sicklie and subject to many diseases. * It is euen so with the Soule, if it remaine not heere in a wintrous estate, laide open to the tempests and nipping coldes of temptations, profitable for to mellowe and to rot the fallow ground of the heart, there is no great appearance of anie good spirituall haruest. * But l Sam. 1. 15. Isa.38.14. Psal.50. 2. fsa.38. 15. * Note. Ruth, 1.20 * Note. * Note. Num.33.9. * Note. *Note. Psal.16.11 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 104 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Heb.12.11 Psal.65.11 * Note. * Note. Mai. 4. 2 Lam. 1.16. Ioh.16.22. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.16.11 Reul.2.28. * Note. * Note. * Note. if the winter tempests of afflictions come, whereby the weedes and wormes of the conscience are killed, then may we looke for a plentifull haruest of the quiet fruit of righteousnesse. God in mercie shall step with his mercifull feete thorow the fieldes of our heart, and his steppes shall drop fatnesse. * Let such hopes comfort you in this wearisome winter of your afflictions. * All God's glowmes are but like winter cloudes, or like the louring of the Skie, faire weather will bee nixt. Let such tempests fall but in their own season. Happie is hee whose heart with such boistrous blastes is not swaide awry ! The Sicke Man. O what a longsome Winter is this, wherein I can not once see the Sunne of Righteousnesse ', neither feele the heate of his beames! the Comforter that should relieue my Soule is farre from mee. The Pastour. Let not that discourage you, Sir ; heare what Christ himselfe, the bottomlesse fountaine of all corn- fortes, saith, 1 goe away for a while, and yee shall bee sor- rowfull, but I will come againe, and your joy shall none bee able to take away. If yee finde Christ to bee absent, comfort your selfe with the hope of his returne. * His ab- sence is but for a little. * While the day is at the shortest, and the Sunne farthest from vs, in the dead of winter, wee are comforted with this, that the day at once will grow longer, and that the Sunne will returne to vs by the degrees, by which hee went away. * Your day now, Sir, is at the shortest ; tarie but a little, and yee shall shortlie perceiue a Spring lanuar of joy, after this dead December of distresses. * The more wintrous the Season of the life hath beene, looke for the fairer Summer of pleasures for euermore. Haue patience a little. The Euening of your sorrowes is almost past, the day is at the breaking, your reward is a bright morning starre of joy. * At the 'dawning of these joyes your night cloudie and darkest dolours shall decease. * God, with some ray or beame of his reconcealed face, shall lighten you the way to Heauen's glorie. * This sinfull life of man is like a suryefull sea, tossed with many blastes and billowes. Whiles, the floodes and waues of wrath so catch a man, till all the bowels of his bellie begin to wamble ; all that is within him will bee in a strange stir, while hee, is as it were with lonah doxvne in the belli e of Hell, at the rootes of the mountaines, hauing for his Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 1O5 best garland the weeds wrapt about his head ; in such a pitti- ftdl plight, hee will bee tempted to say to God, with lonah, I am cast out of thy sight, so darkened will the eye of his Conscience bee. But if so bee that in thejawes of his anguish, with lonah, hee can say to his God, in his deepest plunge, Yet I witt looke againe toward thine holie Temple (which I may call the godlie man's Pole, the director of the Christian course,) hee shall bee saued. If, while his Soule fainteth within him, hee can with the weake eye of Faith beholde that Pole of Peace, and with the Mariners in the Pscdme, cry vnto the Lord in his trouble, the Lord shall deliuer him out of his distresses. Hee who, by speaking- vnto the Fish, made it to vomite out the prisoner, by a word of his mercie, shall hale him out of such seas ofsorrowes, and shall softlie and swiftlie bring him thorow the swelling surges to the hauen of peace, rest, and quietnesse, euen of pleasures for euermore. Waite on a little, and your God shall store you with spirituall comfortes. The Sicke Man. But, oh, for the present, I am in the extremitie of anguish, which any created nature can possiblie endure ! * My sillie Soule is lashed with a seuere whippe of double cordes knottie at the end. God's custome is to handle his own nicelie and softlie, like glasses, for feare of crackes. But I am crushed vnder the milstones of his wrath, which are readie euerie houre to settle downe vpon my Soule, for to sinke it from the brimme to the bottome of Hell. O the length and breadth of that flying roll and volume of wrath, that is comming vpon mee for to curse mee with the Theefe and the Swearer! There is such a freting canker into sin, that, in my judge- ment, if it could reach vnto the verie starres, it should make them to roust by staining their brightnesse and polish colour. I thinke that if sin could attaine therevnto, it should rotte these fair celestiall bodies. In my judgement, it should strike the Sunne and Moone, the two eyes of the world, with a catarict suffusion, or with a sort of gutta serena, so that the world should goe blinde. * All this woe is most justlie befallen mee, because while God's long suffering inuited mee to repentance, by delaying the day of my death, I turned his grace into wantonnesse ; j while I was threatened by his lustice, I strained and racked O lona. 2. 4. Psal. 107. Psal. 1 6. 11 * Note. Zach. 5. 3. * Note 106 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Isa.-ty.15 * Note. Gen.35.17 * Note. Zach. 12. 12. Verse 13. Verse 14. * Note. Zac.12.10, Ileb.12.11 * Note. his mercie beyond his trueth and promise. I wonder not now that God's judgements make mee to reele to and froe. j o and stagger like a drunken man. But heere is my griefe, and most piercing paine. I cannot thinke that GOD would suffer anie of his own Children to bee chaissed with such bloodie bickerings, and not incontinent runne to his helpe. Can a Mother forget her Childe? though shee should, God cannot forget these that are his. God's wrath continued! still against mee j my sinnes are mounted vp to his eares with a noyse, and hee hath taken notice. Beholde, and consider, if there bee anie sorrow like vnto my sorrow. The Pastour. These bee the paines of new birth. * In such spirituall trauailing the Soule will bee in a wonderfull distresse, like Rachel, of whom it is written, that in trauail- ing, She was in hard labour. The hardest labour of the first birth is soft being compared to the labours of the second. No sorrow in the flesh is able fullie to expresse it. I see a shadow of such sorrowes in that mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. This is a mourning joyned with fasting, making man and wife for a space to shedde beddes, that the man may mourne in one place and the wife in another. The familie of the house of Dauid apart, and their iviues apart. The fami- lie of the house of Nathan apart, and their wiues apart. The familie of the house of Leui apart, and their wiues apart. The familie of Shimei apart, and their wiues apart. All the families that remaine, euerie familie apart, and their wiues apart. * All this mourning is wrought in man's heart by a Spirit which Zacharie calleth, the Spirit of grace. Beholde, and see, Sir, what it is of this your great griefe. It is a sure token that the Spirit of Grace hath beene powred vpon your Soule. Too, too manie vnder a smiling counte- nance haue a smarting Conscience : while the wicked laugh their heart is sorrowfull. Rejoyce in such a tribulation ; after this short seede-time of sorrow, if yee can haue patience, yee shall reape the quiet fruite of righteoumesse ; after the darke cloudie night of sorrow, the day will dawne. * At the breaking of the Skie a starre of comfort, shall arise, which shall neuer sette vnder a night cloude of icatcrie teares. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 107 Man naturallie is so impatient, that hee cannot waite in a stayed temper till the Lord hath ended his work. The Sicke Man. I vnderstand not such working. * I euer heard preached that God was mercifull to his own, and that hee did proportion, euen at an haire's breadth, their tryals and troubles to their spirituall temper, neuer surcharg- ing anie aboue their force : in their greatest darknesse his custome is to lighten them the way, to relieue with some ray or beame of a fatherlie fauour. But mine heart is al- together soaked and sacked with sorrow. Mine heart is nothing but a gulfe of grief e. The Pastour. The hand of our God is wonderfullie in his workes : as for vs, wee cannot worke vpon a Creature but by the helpe of another. * As for God, while hee vvorketh, it often befalleth that either there is nothing, or that which would seeme to bee contrarie to his working. * In the Creation hee brought some thing out of nothing, from no beeing hee brought a beeing. Hee would not make some thing of some thing, but made all of nothing. God would not builde vpon another foundation. * Once hee destroyed the world with raine, now saith the Lord, I shall neuer do it againe. But how shall a man know it ? euen by his Raine-bow, a certaine signe of raine. * Be- holde, how in the Heauens hee setteth his raine armour for a signe of peace to the world, declaring that hee will no more shoote downe a deluge, for to drowne the Children of en. * Before that God would sende downe fire vpon the sacrifice of Elias, for the tryall of the true God, hee appointed the ditch about it first to bee filled with water. God is best knowne in the contrarie meanes. So Christ would open the blinde eyes by spittle and clay, which naturallie are more fitte to put out the sight than put it in. By the heauing vp of Moses* weake hands, helped vp by others, God made choise to ouerthrow ^4malek, rather than by the sword of losliuuh. By the bluenesse of the wound heepurgeth away euill. Christ, by death, ouercame Death and purchased life. In wratli hee remembereth mercie where mercie would seeme to bee forgotten. Hee first killeth, that after hee may make aliue. His strength is made perfect in weakenesse. Out of the seede of teares hee bringeth an haruest of joy. Applie .ill this to your selfe. * Before that God make a new Crea- tion in you, hee will let you see first that there is nothing in * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 Kin?. 18. 33. Prou.20. 2 Cor. 12.9 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL SpiritnaU * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Rom.7.18 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. your selfe where of to make it. * Though Ged for a space hath opened the Windowed of his wrath, and powred down vpon you deluges of troubles, and as yet seemeth to bend his iimr for a new shot, if hee were of minde to shoote hee would not shew his Bow. Beholde, and see a signe of jreace, a Bow without a string 1 . * Though it were bended, as a token of warre, by God's mercie, it betokeneth peace. While the ditch about the sacrifice of the heart is fullest of water, viz. when all is swimming with aboundance of teares, God then shall bee most readie to answere by fire. * Bee of good courage, Sir, let Christens morter lye still vpon your eyes vntill his worke bee finished, that yee may recouer your sight. * Though clay blindfoldeth, his spittle inlighteneth. The Sicke Man. I am but a lumppe of clay shutte vp vnder vnbeliefe. I cannot practise your precepts ; I haue a will to do so ; but I finde stronger powers within mee lead- ing this Will into Captiuitie. What can this bee ? can both good and euill tarie together in one heart that is God's ? The Pastour. That is most certaine. * There is both fish and drosse in God's net, both corne and chaffe in his barne, both Wheat and darnatt in his field, both Sheepe and Goates in his folde. To will is present with mee, saide Paul, But liow to performe that which is f/ood I finde not. The Sicke Man. * While I beholde such floodes of temp- tations, my braine is so troubled with dizinesse that all seeme to goe round. My Soule is like a Land lying far in the sea, which is beaten with billowes and with waues on all sides ; mine head is giddie while I beholde the strict streame of such tumbling waues. The Pastour. * The temptations and troubles of this world, may well be compared to a Riuer that runneth with a quick stream. * If while yee ride thorowyee euer look downe vpon the streame, your head will wax dizie indeede, so that yee shall bee in danger of a fall. But those who know what it is, euer behold the yonder brinke fixing their eyes vpon that which moueth not. * It is so that wee should do while wee pass thorow the swift running streames of temptations, wee must not fixe our eyes vpon the streame which runneth, but vpon yonder immouable shore of eternitie, where wee minde to land after that wee haue tvaden thorow the cum- bersome foord of this life. In hope against hope relye Temp,. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 109 vpon God's mercie. Challenge your interest therein thorow Christe's bloodie merites. The Sicke Man. * While I desire to do so, the arrowes of fearefull temptations come vpon mee with poisoned points. I heare a voyce within mee crying, What hast thou to do with the shore of eternitie ? Thou who hast wearied thy selfe in the way of wickednesse, and hast spended thy whole life into jlacke dismall dayes, by making others to mourne in blacke, thou shalt neuer weare the white garments of Christ's righte- ousnesse, neither in grace, nor glorie. Oh, that mine heart were in a true spirituall temper ! Oh, that it were seasoned and softened with the dew of grace ! Oh, where shall I hide mee, vntitt these calamities bee ouerpast ? The Pastour. * Your Soule, Sir, within you, is like a man in a shippe tossed with a tempest. As the Disciples on the Sea, fearing to drowne, cryed to Christ, Master, saue us, for wee perish, so do yee. Though for a space hee seeme to sleepe, carelesse of your saluation, hee shall shew himselfe broad awake at your cry. Beholde ! Hee that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe. * My counsell is, that yee wrap and infold your sillie Soule in his bloodie merites, as in a close warm garment, that shall keepe you safe and sure against the winde and weather of all temptations. * I like your feares better than the securitie of these, who thinking that they sleepe in a sound skinne,c,&te, not whether judgements blast, or mercie blesse. If the Hypocrite content man, hee careth not for God. All his best thinges are but forme and outwardnesse ; hee hath a forme of knowledge, hee also hath a forme of godlinesse. * In this forme hee sleepeth, not troubled with any checke or counterblast of Conscience. Waite yee vpon Christ. The Sicke Man. * Christ hath forgotten mee. If hee had minde of mee, would hee suffer my Soule thus to bee eaten away with the bloodie gangrene of an euill Conscience ? Happie are the wicked, for tliey are not plagued like ot/ter men. The Pastour. Nay, vnhappie are the wicked what euer their estate bee ; while they studie to worldlie joy, encom- passing themselues with carnall contentments, it is for nothing but that as the deuills desired, they should not bee tormented before the time. In such false joyes they are ledde hood- winkt to destruction. While God suffereth his own, for * Note. Psal.57.1. * Note. Matth. 8. 25. Psal.121.4 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.73.5 Mat. 8. 29 110 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual Mar. 15.3 I Cor. 11 * Note. * Note. ud. 5. 23 sa. 50.20. 'sal.S-klf) * Note. * Note. * Note. en. l.j.l 2 Note. Not* space, to bee afflicted, it is no token of forgetful nesse, no yet of vncomfortable strictnesse. Did hee not suffer' his owi Sonne to suffer, till hee cryed, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee? God, in great mercie to vs, hath se out his own Sonne as a patrene of patience, for to let al the godlie see, that seeing hee hath torn, with bloodie whippes, the backe and shoulders of his onlie Sonne, that no man shouk take exception to drinke in the same Cup, as also that no man should despaire, or take in euill part to bee chastened o the Lord. But when wee are judged, saith the Apostle, wee are chastened of the Lord, that wee should not bee condem- ned with the world. * Manie will suffer legs and armes to bee cut from them into a feaster, for to saue the rest What recke what the bodie suffer, if so bee the Soule bee sau- ed ? What euer affliction yee suffer in bodie or minde, it i 'or the saluation of your sillie Soule. By such panyes your God will preuent the paines of hell. * In your greatest griefes, God is but practising his own precept of sauing Soules ay feare, whereby they are pulled out of the fire. The Sor- rowes of the godlie end in joy : but as for the wicked they ire like the Sea, whiles tossed, whiles tumbled, but euer in- wardlie disquieted. The Sicke Man. Is this then the estate of the godlie leere, to bee betimes crossed with most fearefull temptations, whereby as with an Ocean sea they will seeme to bee ouer- \vhelmed. The Pastour. It is certaine, for many are the troubles rf the rif/hteous. * Christe's dearest heere are like Lillies r imoii(] the thornes. * This life is the Winter of their af- liction. * They are a qroninc/ generation, Turtles crowd- ng with sighes and grones which their tongues cannot ex- >resse. While Abraham began to sleepe, loe an horrour of f/reat darknesse fell upon him. The Sicke Man. But in such anguish of heart will they not haue some bosome comfortes ? salt Sea water strained thorow the earth becorneth sweete. At the greatest sense of wrath will they not aye haue some hope of mercie, though for a space they haue swimmed downe the current of the times, shitting their sailes to the turning of euerie winde. The Pastour. They will bee in great distresse. * Their Soule will bee shaken like a sea full of surges, tossed with contrarie Tydes. * As for their comfort it will bee like the Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. Ill smoke offlaxe without a flame. * In their deepest tempta- tions, they will haue some bosome secret graces into the heart, as embers vnder an heape of ashes. Some times, in all out- ward appearance they will bee so dowked that they will seem to bee drowned. * While they are all vnder the water, with lonah, as it were at the rootes of the mountaines they will thinke, and so also will others thinke, that they are in the bettie of hell. * This is their estate, while for a space they are borne downe with the weight of wrath, and with the burden of their sinnes, they are as it were many fathome deepe vnder the water. But so soone as it pleaseth God for to remoue that weight, incontinent they come vp to the brimme of the water, because there is breath and life within them. * So long as there is life in a man, hee may well at the first plunge goe downe to the bottome of a poole, but inconti- nent hee mounteth vp againe, because there is a Spirit and breath within him. But if hee bee once dead, hee sinketh downe like leade vnto the ground. * It is euen so with the wicked and the godlie, the wicked are dead in the waters of affliction, and therefore, with Pharaoh and his armie, they sinke downe like Lead, into the miyhtie waters. But as for the godlie, though heauie weights of sin for a space hang fast on, yet because the Spirit of God, a Spirit of life and of breath is within them, they may well at one plunge or other dovvke downe, because of the weight of their corruptions, but incontinent they come vp againe. * By vertue of the Spirit, as by Corke, they are carried aboue, and so at last swimme thorow all the waues of their troubles and temptations, till they come to the shallow, where they may set their feete vpon a Rocke, euen the Rocke Christ. ' f When lonah was cast into the Sea, who euer thought that hee should come out againe ? yet heare how the drouked man sang at last, Yet hast thou brought vp my life from corruption, my Lord my God. So little was his hope once, that hee saide, being in the bellie of hell, The earth with her barres was about meefor euer. What hope of change can wee haue of that which wee call, For euer. * See what little hope that Prophet had for a certaine space, before that God would bring his life from cor- ruption. ' What out-gate could the poore man see into such a darke dungeon into the bellie of the fish, downe at the * Note. * Note, [ona. 2. (i. * Note. * Note. Exod. 15. 10. * Note. * Note, lona. 2. 6. Verse. 2. Ion. 2. G . * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. Dan. 3.21 * Note. * Note. * Note. Exod .13. 21. * Note. Note. Isa. 1. 18. * Note. Exod. 15.1 ver. 20. * Note. rootes of the mountains, into the bottome of the deepe? * That which the sillie man could not see God saw. Hee whom the shippe could not saue, was saued in the bellie of hell. Hee who could saue lonah in the water, could saue his seruant Shadrach and his fellowes in the fire. * While these three poore men were bound in their coat*, their Iwsen and their hattes, and cast into that fearefull Furnace, there came in One that afraide them all, a fourth man, euen the Sonne of God, which by an absolute soueraignetie loosed the the other three, so that they all foure, in the King's sight, walked vp and down together without any hurt. * AH the miracles of the old Testament, were but types and figures oi God's mercie and spirituall blessings vnder the New. * The passage of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan^ was a type of our walking in this world, vnto that Canaan that is aboue. * The Egyptians behinde, the Sea before, the Mountaines on eurie side, were but types of our spirituall enemies. Some like Egyptians behinde, are chaissing vs, some like Mountaines on euerie side, hedge vs in to keepe vs from escape. Some be- fore, like a sea are before vs, between vs and Canaan. Christ is a cloudie Pillar which in the day time is darknesse, and commeth betweene vs and the rage of the Egyptians of this world, so that for mist they cannot see vs. * In the darke night of our tribulations hee goeth before vs in a pillar oj fire, for to bee a light vnto our steppes. * At last, after wee haue passed by many mountaines of miseries, and are come to the red sea of temptations, euen to the last temptations on our deathbedde, where all our shines red like scarlet stand like a red sea between vs and the place of promise, God by the rod of his mercifull power, giueth that sea such a blow that all its billowes make roome to let his people passe thorow. * Then all mourning is turned into musicke : Moses singeth with the men and Miriam with the women. Nothing is heard there songs and sounding Timbrels. Manie a sore siyh had they before they came to this Sony. * Many a pittifull looke gaue they backe to Pharaoh, breathing out rage behinde them, they quaked like an Haire that heareth the barke of the Doy breathing to bee at it. But while at last they saw themselues bounded with an enemy that boasted them with drowning, then God in their greatest feares sent a powerful! deliuerance. * lieholde, heere as in a Cart the draughts of the Christian, man's journey vnto Heauen. Head into it, That thorow manic Temp, OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 113 tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of Heauen, euen thorow burning Riuers of Brimstone. The Sicke Man. But alas ! they came thorow all their troubles and were at last deliuered, but I see none appear- ance that God will do the like to mee. I haue beene pro- digall of the peace of my Conscience, my sinnes doubled, do daylie ripen God's wrath against mee. In all likeliehood God's decree is gone out, that I should perish. * My Faith faileth mee, Hope is flowne away. Oh, for that peace in belieuing ! The Pastour. As by bitter Succorie the burning- blood is cooled and refreshed, so by such bitter bloodie blowes, the pride of life is subdued and hemmed within a compass. * By such torturing and tormenting feares, the good Lord is working for your well, that thereby hee may driue you from all selfe-conceitednesse and partiall ouervaluing of your own worth. * It is God's custome by such meanes to double man's zeale, to blow at the smoking jlaxe, till the weake reeking sparkle of grace bee kindled into a bright burning flame. By such troubles and temptations, the good Lord keepeth your Soule in watchfulnesse. * Manie in this world sleepe soundlie in their shines, beeing fullie stuft and swelled therewith, and for all that neuer waken till they bee wakened in the fire of hell. * Others who are troubled with some in- ward checkes, runne to Tauerns for to drowne their sor- row for sin, by powring in of strong drinke. Others thinke to smoke it out by the reeke of Tabacca. Some runne to the dinne of the world among loud laughters. * As the Israelites in Tophet sounded their Drummes, that they should not heare the squeeles of their Infants burn- ing in the fire, so goe some about by the noise of sports and worldlie joyes, to deafen so their Soules, that they should not heare the shrighes of their troubled Conscience. * But all such comfortes and companionrie are like that red wine giuing colour in the cuppe, and moiling it selfe aright ; but what is the end of all ? * Such thinges may seeme to coole and refresh for a space, like as when a burnt finger is dipped in- to cold water, where one qualitie encirculeth another. But shortlie after that little antiperistasis is past, in come doubled dolours with all the anwels of the principall summe, at last all such drunken comfortes bite like a Serpent, and sting like a (Joe/cat rice, as doeth the drunkards best claret wine. Act. 14.21. * Note. Rom. 15. 13. * Note. * Note. Isa. 42. 3. * Note. * Note. * Note. Prou. 33. 31. * Note. Prou. 33. 114 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt * Note. Mar. 10.25 * Note. Rom.4..18. Hos.2. 18. * Note, loh 20.25. * Note. Verse 29. * Note. Isa. 8. 17. Isa. 49.15. * Note. * Note. Psal.72.11 * Note. * Note. * Well is that Soule which God in mercie exerciseth day- lie, either with one crosse or other, not suffering it to bee rocked and lulled with Sathan's balowes in the cradle of Securitie. Rejoyce then in tribulation, put all your trust in God, yea, though hee should slay you, inwarpe yourselfe in the Mantle of his mercies. Relye vpon him with whom nothing is im- possible. Hee who can make the great Cornell passe thorow the needel's eye, can open the narrow gate, and let your Soule enter into his rest. * Learne of the Father of the faithfull to belieue in hope against hope. God thinketh himselfe most glorified when men belieue in him, while there is least outward appear- ance. His delight is to allure in the wildernesse, where is least appearance. Forget neuer these couragious wordes of lob, Though hee should slay mee, yet will I trust in him. * Not to haue Faith, except wee feele and see, is to bee faith- lesse with Thomas, while hee saide, that hee would not be- lieue till hee was assured by the two witnesses of his senses, viz. Sight and Feeling. * Christ out of pittie granted to him contentment of sense, but with a sore and a nipping checke, Because thou hast scene mee, thou hast belieued ; blessed are they that haue not scene, and yet belieued. If yee would bee blessed, belieue before yee either feele or see. Hee who brought meate out of the deuourer, and light out of darke- nesse, can inlighten your mistie minde. TheSickeMan. What then would yee haue mee to do, Sir, while within and without I can perceiue no token of comfort, none appearance of fauour ? seeing hee hath hid his counte- nance from my Soule, what thinke yee best that I should do ? The Pastour. * Do as Isaiah did, I will, saide hee, watte vpon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will lookefor him. God is like a Mother that cannot forget her childe. * Shee may hide herselfe a little, and let it get a knocke, that it may feare and learne to beware of i greater dangers. * Though Godglowme in outward counte- nance at the faultes of his Children, yet in his heart arc euer thoughts of peace and of mercie. Of this Dauid produced two witnesses, Once I heard, saide hee, yea, twise, that mercie belongeth to God. * Once in all appearance hee heard this read or preached by the Pro- phets, and another time by the Spirit, the inward teacher of the Soule. * Beholde how the Spirit and the Word, once. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 11,5 yea, twite, both outwardlie and inwardlie, haue testified that mercie is with God, yea, as a thing which most properlie belongeth vnto him. In your more sober moode, and colde blood, yee shall confesse this to bee true. * God for a space will seeme to bee vncouth. Hee, as Naomi bade Ruth re- turne home with her Sister Orpah, will bidde a sinner goe seeke his comfortes in his bypast pleasures. But if with Ruth hee see him stedfastlie minded, hee will incontinent leaue off such speaking. The Sicke Man. I know that God is full of mercie. Of this the deuills did neuer doubt. * Within the compasse of his compassions is mercie for a thousand worldes, but what is that to mee ? how shall I come by it ? The Pastour. The Scripture is plaine, Aske, saide Christ, and yee shall receiue, seeke and yee shall Jinde. Sticke to him with a truelie Christian and vnshaken resolution. What euer yee shall seeke from the Father in my Name, aide Christ, hee will giue it vnto you. If yee belieue Christ to bee true, practise his precept. * Take once but a proofe of his promise, seeke in the Name of lesus whatsoeuer thing may do you good, and see whether or not God shall proue faithfull in his promise. * Before that a man will distrust another, hee will first at least bee beguiled once. * Vpon Christe's wordes then with freedome of Spirit, aske, seeke, andknocke, and see whether or not your Soule shall bee an- wered with these three, viz. receiuing, finding, and open- ing. * There is a worthie historic in the Gospel which winteth at this, that wee should do what Christ commandeth, hough there bee little appearance of any good successe. After that Christ had teached the people out of Peter's shippe, the Sermon beeing ended, the Lord saide vnto Simon, Launch out into the deepe, and let downe your nettesfor a draught, Simon answered, saide vnto him, Master, wee haue toiled all the night, and haue taken nothing, neuerthelesse at thy word I will let doivne the nette. What ensued vpon his obedience ? they inclosed such a multitude of fishes that for the weight thereof their nette brake, the aboundance was so great, that they beckoned to their partners, which were into an- other shippe, that they should come to helpe them ; and they ame and filled both the shippes, so that they beganne to inke. * Let your wearied Soule learne of Peter to obey Christ ; though they had toiled all the night and had taken * Note. * Note. Mat. 7. 7. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk.5.4,5. Verse. 7. * Note. 116 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual Note. * Note. * Note. Gen. 2. 19 * Note. * Note. Reul.3.14 * Note. Heb. 0.18 * Note. f appears not tutake notice. -Ed * Note. Matth. 1 -.'.<, 2 1. Verso 2~ * Note. t the rc- proiK-h tor her I'lii'ou r.igt'incnt Ed. Verse V, 1 - nothing 1 , and had lost all hope of any taking, yet at Christe's word they let downe the nette. * Christ in his Miracle would not cause the fish to leap into their Shippe, but hee would haue them to launch and labour, yea, and seeke helpe of others. * Moreouer, before Christ did this, they had toiled all the night before, without anie profit. * Christ came not to abrogate the Law by feed- ing idle men, but hee came to fulfill the Law, and to giue a blessing to these that did eate their bread in the sweate of their face. * Trust first in God, Sir, and at his word launch in the deepe. * Labour in the sweate of your face, seeke, aske, knockc, and bee assured to finde and receiue, for Yea and Amen hath spoken it. * Though your shines bee great, if yee belieue his word, hee hath giuen both his word and his oath to forgiue, two immutable thinaes wherein it is impos- sible that God should lie. O the vnlimited and boundlesse bowels of his mercie ! The Sicke Man. I haue alreadie rapped at the doore of grace, but I haue gotten none answere. * God will not cast vp his gates to let in such a rotten rascall as I am. The dinne of temptations within mee is like the rumbliny of a Linne, wherein waters rush with a noise. I by my sinnes haue growne so heauie vpon the Lord, that I prcsse him as a Cart is pressed, that is full ofshcaues. While I pray, Christ letteth not on him,t that hee either heareth or seeth mee. The Pastour. Though at the first prayer yee receiue not, yet cry againe, and againe. * The poore receiue not almes at your doore at the first cry, and therefore they cry againe, and againe, till their almes come. * That Cananitish wo- man that came from the coastes from Tyre and Sidon, for to seeke helpe of Christ for her daughter troubled with a deuill, was not heard at her first prayer ; shee receiued none answere at all ; at the second, shee receiued a verie hard an- swere, viz. that hee was sent vnto others, (rather) than to the like of her, viz. vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel. At the third prayer, shee receiued the hardest answere of all, viz. that shee and her Daughter were but dot/yes, to whom the Children's bread did not belong. What did shee then ? * Shee tooke the buffet for the bitA Wee are but dogges, saide shee, why then, let rs eate the crumbes. At that word Christ could refuse her no more, hut gaue her all her will, () Woman, saide hee, yreat is thy Faith, bee if rnfo thee Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 117 euen as thou wilt. * Though while yee cry, Christ make none answere, yet cry againe. If hee call you a dog, cry for a crumbe. * Often his comfortes are folded in his Judge- ments. S. Paul prayed thrise before God gaue to him an an- swere. While the angel of the Deuill did buffet him, hee cryed for helpe once and againe ; after the third time God made an- swere, that his grace should bee sufficient for him. lacob got not his blessing at the first sute ; no, not : at last it came to worsling, and weeping, and wresting, hee wept and made sup- plication, and then the Lord blessed him. Did not Christ himselfe in his great agonie pray, and after one prayer, pray againe for the remouing of the pain full cuppe ? * If yee haue prayed, pray yet againe, were it in the same prayer, as Christ did, of whom it is saide, that againe hee went away and prayed, and spake the same wordes. God may let his own cry, and cry againe, but hee will not let them cry till they bee confounded. At last when his time is come, hee will arise to their helpe. * Hee cannot sit the importunate cryes of wearied spirites. * Because of the importunitie of the seeker, that neighbour in the Gospel could not get his friend refused : the one friend came to the other friend's doore, but for the lend of three loaues, for to set dovvne before another friend, who was in his journey, (and) came late vnto his house, d. friend of mine, saide hee, in his journey is come to mee, and I haue nothing to set before him. From within, the other answered, that hee should not trouble him, because the doore was shute, and his Children were with him into the bedde. / say vnto you, saide Christ, though hee will not rise and giue him, because hee is his friend, yet because of his importunitie, hee will rise and giue him as many as hee needeth. The spirituall vse of this is subjoyned vnto the verse fol- lowing, Aske, audit shall bee giuen you, seeke, and yee shall jinde, &c. * Because of the earnest sute of the poore Wi- dow, the euill ludge, who neither feared God nor respected man, was forced to do her justice. * These thinges are written for our learning, not to take a refusall from our God in any thing that may bee good for our Soule ; Man's impor- tunitie in seeking, is God's opportunitie in giuing. TheSickeMan. These thingfes cannot bee written for mee. Z5 What doeth Christ care for mee ? haue not I treacle vnder the tilthie feete of mine affections that precious Blood ? Haue * Note. * Note. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Verse 9. Hos. 12.4. * Note. Mat.2G.42 Mar. 14.39 * Note. * Note. Luk. 11.9. Verse 8. * Note. * Note. 118 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Ileb.10.29 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. I '.sal. 3-k 9 l'sal.37.37 * Note, * Note. * Note * Note not I counted that Blood of the Couenant as an vnholie thing ? My Spirit is in a feare that it hath done despight vnto the Spirit of grace. * This is the chiefe gash and wound of my Soule ; this is a gangrene, which eateth out mine heart : the temptation is come from the barke to the bone. The Pastour. * If yee vf&ce guiltie of that sin, yee would not bee so grieued for it. * These who do despight vnto the Spirit of grace, mourne not for that sin as it is an hainous offence against God, but as it procureth the wages of euerlasting woe. * In such a man the feare of judgement is greater than the hatred of sin. ludas could say, Oh, I haue sinned in betraying the innocent blood ! The feare of judgement, and not the loue of Christ, made him bewaile his treason. The sin against the Holie Ghost is not so great but God could forgiue it, if the sinner could repent. The bosome of God's mercie is not so streightened that it cannot receiue a sinner, because of the hudge greatnesse of his sinnes. There was no disease which Christ could not cure in the dayes of his flesh. But because of the vnbeliefe of men, in some partes hee could not do manie miracles. * Obserue a strange word, spoken of God, by God himselfe, Hee could not do. * Vnbeliefe in a manner putteth the Almightie in a sort of weakenesse, so that hee cannot do. * As there was no sicknesse but Christ could cure it, if men could beheue, so there is no sin but God can forgiue it, if man can re- pent. * If any sin vnpardoned lye still, and beare vpon the Soule of man, it is because of his vnbeliefe. * Bee earnest with God, that hee would increase your Faith. * Bee of good courage, Sir, though manie bee the troubles of the righteous, yet heere is his comfort, the end of that man is peace. Your Soule is trauailling in thepaines of the new birth. Let the Spirit of Christ bee doing, till hee end the worke of your Sal- nation within you. * There is sweete in his glowmes, and loue in his looke, euen while hee seemeth to bee angrie. * Hee who with a silent looke, first pricked, and then healed the heart of Peter, shall at last after your troubles wipe away your teares, and yee shall weepe no more. * The looke of our Lord is a working looke. * Our beholding is but by reception of spaces, but Christe's looking is by emission of graces, which like streamcs of heate and light come from the Sunne, the icorlde's eye, with a most powerfull influence. Bee of good courage, Sir; bee not dismayed in yourafflic- Temp. OF THE SOULE, & c . 3. day. 119 tions. * Such is the courage of Christens Spouse that shee calleth all her troubles but a looke of the Sunne, a little black blink wherewith the outward skinne is onlie made duskie. * Christe's will is that wee suffer heere such jlea-bitings, that wee may know what hee hath suffered for vs in sauing vs from eternall woe. Fixe your Faith in his merites, which are the onlie Oyle that maketh all thinges easie, euen a most precious restoratiue for a languishing and sorrow beaten Soule. Bee wise, and ware by your doubting to confine the bound- lesse mercies of your God, belieue and bee saued, this is the trueth of the Gospel. The Sicke Man. But the Law of God is of a great stricknesse ; it bindeth all the senses, and all the thoughts and imaginations of the heart, to a perfect obedience, vnder the paine of Maranatha. This thought straineth hard mine heart, and wringeth it together into a narrow roome, with a predominant power. The Pastour. * Indeede, Sir, the Law of God, striketh vpon all that is in man, and oblisheth most strict to a perfect and sincere obedience, for not only dischargeth it actuall Murther, Adulterie, Theft, and such like, but also the coun- sells, and plots, and desires to practise such villanies. * Yea, not onlie such plots, which are forbidden in the Commande- ment, which forbiddeth the euill action, but also the least de- sire of ill, though detested and abhorred with speede. * The tenth Command which is last, requireth such a puritie into the heart of man, that it will not onlie haue it to bee cleane of grosse euill thoughts, fedde and petted with yielding and consent, but also it requireth that it bee free of the least im- pression of anie euill thought. * The Soule of man is like a Gristatt looking Glasse : If a man but blow vpon it with his breath, at once it is darkened with a duskie skinnme, wherewith it is dimmed, that. till it bee sweept, the image of a man's face will not appear into it. * So it is of sin and of our Soule, the least affection or inclination to sin is like a dimmc skumme vpon the face of the Soule, caused by the stinking breath of the Deuill. What is a filthie temptation, but afflatus illins impuri Spiritus, a breathing of that vncleane Spirit ? Thus as yee see, God indeede requireth a great puritie to bee in his creature, for the hammering downe of the pride of flesh, puft vp with vaine and ouenveening conceits. * His * Note. Cant. 1.6. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note Note. * Note. * Notr. 120 THE LAST BATTEI.L Spirituall * Note. 1*801.08. 13 * Note. * Note. Mat.2o.23 * Note. * Note. * Note. Kphes. (>. * Note. * Note. Law requireth that his Children bee so cleane, that there bee not so much as the breath of euill vpon them, for to darken, or make dimme the polish of their cristall colour. * But heere is our comfort, there is an hand in the heau- en that is able to sweepe away all our sinnes whatsoeuer, and make our Soule, were it neuer so roustie, to become cleare like gold new come out of the fornace. Though yee haue lyen among the pottes yet shall yee bee as the winges of a Done couered u'ith siluer, and her feathers with yellow gold. Let not the rigour of the Law affright you. Christ is hee who hath fulfilled the Law. * Hee hath nailed that hand writing vpon his Crosse, and so hath made vs free of its rig- our. Sin reigneth not in a godlie heart ; but so long as man is heere, sin hath in him some poisonous and pesti- lent rootes. * If wee do what wee can to imploy God's graces faithfullie, for to render his Talents with some profit, hee shall say vnto vs, faithfull seruant come and enter into thy Master's joy. Bee of good heart, after that God's anger like the Moone is come to its hight, it shall beginne to waine as it beganne to waxe. After a fit It 'flood shall come a low ebbe. The Sicke Man. What then thinke yee best that 1 do, while I am enuironed with so many troubles and temptations ? The Pastour. * Your best is to runne euer vnto Christ in whom alone is vertue for to cure your filthie flooxe. Let nothing hinder you in the way till yee bee at him. * By his blood hee shall present you harmlesse and guiltlesse before God's Tribunall. Though swarmes of temptations, wherein is Beelzebub the master flee, buzze about you, bee not astoni- shed. * Hold on your course, till yee come to him. Though many troubles lye into your way, yird vp your loynes and run with courage through this snakie field, having your feet shod icith the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Let grief e bee a whetstone vnto (/race. The Sicke Man. * If I should now run to Christ, thinke yee that I would bee welcome to him, after that I haue sported so long, and solaced myselfe in securitie, in the soft and grcene icay of fading pleasures. * While his precious word was preached, I like the craftie Adder closed mine eares, as from the voyce of a Charmer. But thinke yee that hee can loue nice, who is one so vnworthie to bee loued, a lazie drousie drooping drone, altogether carelesse intheworkeofmysaluation. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 121 The Pastour. There is a great misconceit of God in most men's heartes. * Some there bee who with amplifying conceits, make the way to Heauen broader than the Scrip- ture, like the Pharisees' broad Philacteries or shaking rib- bands. Others againe, as Balaam's Asse thrusted his mas- ter to the wall in a roume way, with lesse reason than the sse^ they thrust aside vpon the walles of doubts or despaire, as though God's mercies were so narrow that no possibilitie were for to passe thorow. By this meanes they fasten vpon God an impossibilitie to forgiue. But to come to the point, your question is, if I thinke that God can loue you, who is so vnworthie to bee loued. I thinke it verilie, and I am perswaded. * God, I con- fesse, cannot loue sin in man, but hee may loue man in sin. God inuiteth not these whom hee loueth not. Gome vnto mee, saith hee, all yee that are wearied. * Your wearinesse cryeth vnto you, that which was saide to the blinde man, Bee of good comfort, arise, the Master calleth thee. An humble confession in the mouth, is the speech of contrition in the heart. God hath sworne that hee liketh not a sinner's death. Hee is more glad to finde vs for to helpe vs, than wee can rejoyce to finde him for to bee helped by him. * Who can thinke but hee is glad tojinde vs, that tooke such paines to seeke vs, that not caring for the vnwholesome and noysome night aire, came to our doore hauing his head full of dewe, and his lockes full of the droppes of the night ? which is more, such was his loue and liking of vs, that for to save our life, hee would die a cursed death. The last wordes of your complaint are, that yee are one who is vnworthie to bee loued. * I had rather heare a sinner calling himselfe wretched and vnworthie with the Pablicane, than boasting of his wor- thinesse with the Pharisee. * The swelled hydroppie wordes of thankesgiuirig that wee are not like other men, are a sure token of a deadlie and incurable disease. Man naturallie goeth about to lessen and impaire his faultes, yea, often ra- ther than hee will cry guiltie, hee will fasten his follie by consequent vpon his Maker. Adam saide, The woman which thoa gauest mee,aaue mee of the tree, and made mee to eate. * Mauie are carried downe the muddie streame of ouerween- ing their own worth. Our greatest worthinesse is in the sense of our own vnworthinesse, and in the seeking of * Note. Mat. 23. 5. Numb. 22. 25. * Note. * Note. Mat. 1 1.28 * Note. Mar. 10.49 * Note. * Note. Luk.18.13 Note. Gen. 3.12. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Prou. 18. 10. Mai. 4. 2 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Liuit. -2(j, Christe's worthinesse. * That man is worthie before God, who findeth himselfe vnable to do that which is ivorthie, and vnwilling to do that which is vnworthie. * The verie strife and battell betweene grace and nature in the regenerate, is a victorie in God's eyes. * A broken imperfection, if it bee sincere without gnile, is put vp in his mercifull count booke, for a perfection indeede, such is the mercie of God, while wee mislike ourselues. * These were the wisest wordes of AgiiTi in God's account, when hee saide, / am more foolish than any man. 8. Paul was neuer more dearelie beloued of God as when hee, hating himselfe, called himselfe the first of sinners. * Cast your eyes off yourselfe, and looke vnto God your strength and your stay. The name of the Lord is a strong towre, the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The Sicke Man. O that I could practise your precepts ! O that my God would inspire mee with such a blessed and liuelie vigour of his Spirit, that might quicken my Soule to euerlasting life ! O that it would please my God, stronglie to refresh mee with the comfort of his countenance ! But alas ! out of this most filthie puddle of my heart, arise such filthie vapours which so ouer-cloude the Sunne of RigJiteous- nesse, that I am not able to beholde his face. While hee did shine vpon mee, his most bright and vnspotted beanies were fullie darkened. * The more the heate of his word did beate vpon mee, the more my conuersation became stinking and loathsome like a carton cast out before the Sunnc, this I cannot denie ; at the remembrance thereof, I finde myselfe charged afresh vpon the Conscience with terrours and vexa- tions. O the dead slubber of securitie, wherein I haue sleept vnto this houre ! my custome euer was to post ouer my shines, in the lumpe with a generall slubbert confession. There is nothing within mee but matter of feare ; I feel my faith fainting, I feare my sinnes, I feare the wrath of God, I feare the force of Sathan the king of feare. * I may well bee called that which leremie called Pashur, viz. Magor-missa- bib, that is, Feare round about, yea, I not onlie feare, but I feele a fearefull wrath. * My stubbornesse and stonie Jit-art hath brought vpon my Soule God's brazen handes. * Now is hee doing to mee that which of olde hee threatened against these that were like mee, If i/rr tralkc stubbornlie against nine, I will icalkr stubbornlie icith you. In my youth I was guided by the guise of times, my delight was tn t/oc Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. with the drove, now I am lost, beeing colde, dead frozen in the dregges of my vncleannesse. The Pastour. The force of temptation wringeth such wordes out of you, as though yee had none hope at all. * Your Soule, Sir, is like the Moone into an ecclipse. * There bee darknesse and changing of colours for a time, because your sinnes like an earth come betweene you and the beames of Christ, the Sunne of Riahteousnesse. * I haue scene the Moone in her ecclipse for a space as though shee had not beene at all into the heauens, but as shee darkened by little and little, so after the greatest darknesse was past, the light returned by degrees. Despaire not, Sir, of an infinite mercie, let not your heart bee wasted with wearinesse. Though the earth of your sinnes, which in comparison of God's mercie is but a pointy ouer- shadow the Soule for a space, while it is in this low region, the time shall come that God shall mount your Soule aboue the circle of the Starres, wherevnto the shadow of such an earth is not able to attaine. * Though God for a space walke stubbornlie with you, hee is not stubborn. When yee shall beginne to walke humblie with your God, God shall walke no more stubbornlie with you, but shall deliuer you from all your feares. Build your self e vpon your holie faith. The Sicke Man I may well say, with lob, my stroke is heavier than my groniny. Whereon can my Faith lay holde ? * God is armed with wrath, and Sathan is armed with despight. * I see nothing for the present but blowes and bloodie battells, most dreadfull feares teare in pieces mine heart strings, and sucke out the inmost of mine hearte's blood. The Pastour. Though there bee manie aduersaries, yet Christ is with you. * Make all your boast of him who is the Captaine of your Saluation. Hee hath whine the field, hee hath tread vnder foote principalities and powers, and hath ledde Captiuitie captiue. * Hee whose Faith is founded vpon him, shall neuer bee confounded. * His fresh bleeding woundes are euer filled with compassions. '~ Though God by our shines bee moued to shew some wrath, heere is our great comfort, There is no condemnation to these that are in Christ. Belieue yee not the Scriptures ? I know yee be- lieue. If Christ bee with vs, who shall bee against vs ? These who thinke that their sinnes oner-reach God's mercie, make the Centre to com passe about the Circumference. 123 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Mic. 6. 8. Iudjr.5.20. lob, 13. 2. * Note. * Note. * Note. Heb.2.20. Hphes.4.8. * Note. * Note. * Note. lom.S. 1. * No to. 124. THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa.28.21. * Note. Psal. 103 13, 14. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk.21.2 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Though hee should receiue a world of sinners in the bosome of his mercie, it will not for that bee the more streightned. O the vnspeakable compasse of God's compassions ! The Sicke Man. I doubt not of the infinite compasse of his mercie, but whether or not hee will shew that mercie to such sinners as I am ; this often troubleth my darkened and drooping Soule. The Pastour. * To shew mercie to most miserable per- sons, is most familiar to God's Nature. * Hee neuer execu- teth judgement till wee egge him and inforce him vnto. * For this cause, where hee punisheth, hee is saide, to do his worke, his strange worke, and to bring to pass his act, his strange act, Hee hath sworne by his life, that hee taketh no delight in our death. * Our God is not rigorous against these that would faine do well. No, not, but like as a father that pittieth his children, so the Lord pittieth them that feare him, for hee knoweth our frame, hee remembereth that wee are but dust. * Our God will not exact strictlie a perfection in the life of his Children. * If wee haue an affection to do well, though wee cannot effect it, hee will ac- cept it. * A godlie Father hath saide well concerning this, Deus magis delectatur affectu quam affectu, that is, God is more pleased with the affection of a man than with the effect itselfe. * Christ thought more of the poore woman's mites than of rich men's millions, and that all because of her good affection. Well is the Soule in whose bosome it lodgeth. The Sicke Man. But the good affection must euer bee followed with some effect. * Mine heart hath beene nothing but a filthie puddle, a false Fox hole. The more I dig into this dung hill 1 am the more confounded. O what a Jewell is a good Conscience coffered vp into the heart of a Christian ! It is like a precious pearle in a ring. I am ashamed to come into God's presence while I looke vpon my shines. The Pastour. Shall the sicke man bee ashamed to lay out his sores to a secret and wise Surgeon ? * It is good to thinke shame of sin before wee do it, for to abstaine from it. It is also good to thinke shame of it after it is done, for to repent vs of it. But wee must neuer thinke shame to con- fesse it. * This is the craft of Sathan, hee taketh away shame from man at the commission of sin, and restoreth it againe to man at the confession of sin. * That which hee hath once taken away from a man by forged cauillation like Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. Zacheus, hee, though in a worse sense, restoreth \iimfoure- fold. * A wicked man after that hee hath sinned, hathfoure- fold more shame to confesse his sin before a Congregation, which indeede, should bee his honour, than hee had at the committing of sin, the onlie cause of shame. * If hee had beene as ashamed to commit sin priuilie, as hee is ashamed to confesse \tpublicklie, hee had neuer taken pleasure into sin. * Men of widest Consciences, whose heartes are stuft and engrossed with wickednesse, will often I confesse seeme shamefaced before men. * In the presence of a carnall eye, they will strains the anate like nice Maidens, who cannot eate at Table where they are scene. Their throat is so narrowe, that hardlie can any meate pass ouer, quasi vero. O but in secret, greatest gluttons, deuouring blacke bread embrued with yesterdaye's broth. * Shee that but pitissat sippes before the Sober, can skippe at the scols with her Commers till shee bee sicke with healths. Euen so it is of such sinners, most modest they are and shamefaced while they are scene. The^raafe of a light vaine word they cannot digest if men haue heard it, but in the meane time, in the polluted thoughts of their prophane hearts, they arejilthie dreamers, and if secret occasion serve, with- out shame of God they will swallow Gamells, making no bones. * Though their sin bee neuer so hudge in greatnesse, euen d.dulterie, the wracke of most famous Families, if they can straine and passe it with a close conueyance, their heart will say of it as Lot saide of Bela, Is it not a little one. " Well is that Soule which, while it is tempted to sin, hath euer an eye vpon its God, saying with loseph, Now, beholde, my God seeth mee, and hee is a witnesse of this my doing. How then can I do this great wickednesse and sin against God? As for that yee say now, that yee are ashamed to come before God while yee looke vpon your sinnes. It is good, Sir, that yee thinke shame to come into God's presence, be- cause of your sin, but thinke not shame in God's presence to confesse your sin. * Sin, whether secret or confessed, is euill, but the confession of sin is euer good. God's word is true : If wee confesse our sinnes, hee is faithfidl and just toforoiue vs our sinnes, and to cleanse vs from allvnriaht- eousnesse. * Trust in God, Sir ; relye vpon his mercifull bowels, who out of his great compassions hath saide, / haue * Note. *Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Iudg.5.8. * Note. Gen. 19. 20 * Note. Gen. 39.9. * Note, loh. 1. 9. * Note, lob, 33.24. 126 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! * Note. Pron. \~>. 10. * Note. * Note. Gen. 4.13. * Note. Mat. -11. 3. * Note. lKiii.21 27. * Note. * Note. Psal.108.4 * Note. * Note. Luk. 17.4. receiued a ransome. God loueth those that are feelinylie affected, and wakened out of the slumber of Conscience. The Sicke Man. But thinke yee verilie that God will bee mercifull to mee, whose Soule hath beene but a soile for weedes ? The Pastour. * I thinke that yee your selfe should thinke none otherwise. A good man, saith Solomon, is mercifull to his beast. * It is a beastlie thing for a man to thinke, that God will not bee more mercifull to his Soule than anie man can bee to his beast. * God was more offended at Cain for despairing 1 of his mercie than for killing- of his brother. * lu- das kindled more God's wrath for the desperate hanging- of himselfe, than for the betraying of his Lord that was hanged by his treason. * Hee who offered his mouth to receiue a kisse from that Treatour, had neuer refused him mercie, if hee had sought it with a repenting heart. Because prophane Ahab had but a shew or outward scroofe of repentance, hau- ing Sackcloth nearest his skinne, the Lord spaired him all his dayes, to let men see what hee will do to true repentance, seeing hee is so gracious vnto that which is but an outward likenesse thereof. * There is no sin that offendeth God more highlie than iistrust. * Heere is the great injurie of doubt or despaire, it maketh the sin of a little Grashopper to ouer-reach the infinite mercie of the Most High, as though man, a little clat of clay, could bee more sinfull than that infinite Majestie can bee mercifull. Happie is that Soule which God hath singled out in time, for to make it loath its best loued plea- sures. God delighteth to take vp a seate in a bruised heart, sorrow beaten for displeasing of its God. Take a good heart, Sir ; yee haue to do with a God whose Name and Nature is mercie, a God whose mercie is f/reat aboue the Heauens, yea, and ouer all his u'orkes. ' That which ouer-reacheth all God's workes, may easilie ouertoppe all your shines and iniquities. * God will haue man with his narrow bowels of mercie to forgiue his brother seuen tunes DI a day, if hee shall returne seuen tunes in a day, sayiny, It repenteth mee. * If God requireth such mercie of man, whose bowels in the widest are not of a span breadth, what shall Hee do, whose compassions are rouled together into bowels broader than the sea, yea, wider than the hcaucns ? Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 127 If yee can repent, Sir, God can forgiue. When man ceaseth to spume, God beginneth to spare. The Sicke Man. I take God to witnesse, that I am sorie for my sinnes, and so ashamed that, with the Publicane, I cannot lift vp mine eyes to the heauens. * I would bee con- tent to kisse the ground a thousand times for to get but one kisse ofthefeete of Him who is the onlie helpe of the con- science and health of the countenance. I finde myselfe deepe to the Chin in a gulfe of miserie. Tell mee truelie, Sir, I pray you : Thinke yee that if with a mourning heart I con- fesse my sinnes to God, that hee will haue pittie of mee ? I am sore perplexed ; the deepe thoughts of mine own guilti- nesse strike mee with such a set silence that I am not able to vtter my griefe. My feare is that I bee of the familie of Hell, an heire of horrour and vtter woe. Bee free with mee, I pray you. Thinke yee that such an horde of miserie as mine can euer ineete with his mercie ? The Pastour. * It is great ignorance, Sir, to thinke that anie miserie of man can ouer-reach the infinite power of his pittie, and boundlesse compasse of his compassions. It were more easie to turne the Sunne from his course, than God from shewing mercie to repenting sinners : both his Name and Nature is mercie. See wee not out of what myres of miserie, God's mercie hath deliuered repenting sinners. * In Scripture wee may read long Catologes of pardoning sinnes. Consider well, I pray you, thinke deeplie vpon the mercies of your God. * Looke well what hee hath done to others. Could the adulterie of Dauid, the incest of Lot, the drunk- ennesse of Noah, the rnurther of Simeon and Leui, the per- secutions of Paid, the perjurie of Peter, or any other like sin, hinder God to bee mercifull to them so soone as they re- pented ? * Wherefore were all these pardons printed into God's Booke, but for to tell all ages that no man, were hee euer so sinfull, should despaire of the mercie of his God ? As I line, saith the Lord, / take no delight into the death of sinners, but rather that they should repent and Hue. Those bee his own wordes. If wordes beare no weight, be- holde effects : God hath so loued the world, that hee hath giuen his onhe Sonne, that whosoeuer beheueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. : This is not a verbatt low, when a man giueth his best beloued for to die tor another. * God hath not spared his oultc Sonne, that Luk.18.13 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. > Sam. II. 4 Gen. 19.33 ch. 9.21. ch.34.iJ5. Act. 8. 3. Mat.26.74 * Note. Ezek. 33. 11. [oh. 3. IG. * Note. * Note. 128 THE LAST BATTELL SpirituaU loh.15.13. * Note. * Note. * Note. Rom.5.7,8 * Note. * Note. Luk. 15.7. * Note. Heb. 12.29 ludsf. 13. Verse 22. * Note. by his satisfying sufferings, his Justice beeing payed, hee might shew mercie to man, his poore vnworthie creature. Not onlie the Father hath loued the world ; but also the Sonne, out of vnspeakable loue, was as desirous to die for man as the Father was to send him. This out of his own mouth hee declared, that no loue could ouer-reach his loue, No man, saide hee, hath greater loue than this, as when a man layeth downe his life for his friend. * The highest of man* loue is to die for his friend. * But Christe's loue was great- er, hee died for vs euen when wee were his enemies. * In another point, beholde the loue of Christ : scarselie, saith the Apostle,y0r a righteous man will one die, yet peraduenture for a good man some would euen dare to die. But God commendeth his loue towardes vs, in that, while wee were yet sinners, Christ died for vs. * Who shall doubt of thi loue which the Lord hath registered on earth with the dearest blood of his onlie begotten Sonne ? * There is such a loue in the Father, and such a loue in the Sonne, and such a loue in the Holie Ghost, toward the saluation of man, that all the heauens are filled with loue of our well, so that at the con- uersion of one sinner on earth, there is more joy among the Sainctes and Angels, than for fourescore and nineteene righteous who neede not repentance. * If, Sir, yee would haue the heauens to rejoyce, cast your selfe into the armes of your God, with these wordes, Lord, do with mee what thou wilt; though thou should slay mee, yet will I trust in thee. If yee would see the picture of God's mercie, yee must draw aside the curtaine of all cumuli surmises. The Sicke Man. Oh, that I might cast my Soule into his Armes ! But how can I do this ? The Lord hath turned his backe on mee : shall I cast my selfe into a consuming fire f At the first sight of his angrie face my Soule will die for feare. The Pastour. Men often are deceiued. So soone as Manoah had seene the Angel, hee saide to his wife, IPee shall surelie die, because ivee haue seene God. But his wife answered more wiselie, If the Lord were pleased to kill rs, hee would not haue received a sacrifice from vs. As shee saide to him, so say I to you, If the Lord were pleased to kill you, hee would not haue giuen his Sonne in a Sacrifice for you. * It is a greater loue token, that God hath {jiuen Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 129 his Soime in a Sacrifice for you, than that hee should re- ceiue anie sacrifice from you. It is the Apostle's argument, that since God hath giuen vnto vs his own Sonne, hee will not refuse vs anie other thing that may do vs good. Christ alone is the sinner's refuge ; hee is a Rocke of comfort which cannot bee shaken, a Rocke which commandeth all seas of sorrowes, the pole of our peace. Bee earnest in prayer with God ; cry till hee heare. The Sicke Man. I am wearied with crying to God ; my prayers may bee called, the voyce of my roaring. But what shall I say ? I cry, but there is none that maketh answere. God hath couered himselfe with a cloude, that my prayers should not passe thorow ; hee hath stopped his eares, that my prayer should not bee heard. This is a most fearefull blast and blow in this bloodie battell. The Pastour. Deceiue not your selfe ; often our prayer framed and followed by the Spirit of grace is heard, though the sense of grant bee not yet brought to vs. God for causes will let a time goe betweene seeking and finding. After this the Angel spake vnto Daniel, At the beginning of thy prayer God heard thee, and now I am come to tell thee. * See how a space will interceede betweene God's hearing of man's prayer, and man's knowledge that God hath heard him. Though yee as yet know not, whether God hath heard you or not, yee must not infer that God hath not heard you at all. * Waite on a little, with Daniel, till God thinke it time to sende you a Messenger for to tell you that hee hath heard you, yea, that hee heard you at the beginning of your prayer. Till this Messenger come, depend whollie vpon Christe's good, will. Let all your trust bee in him, who is your most faith- full A.duocate for to plead your cause. * Hee will bee a guide to all these that seeke him, and a light to all these that see him, and life to all these that loue him. Though a Mo- ther should forget her Glulde, the Lord will not forget his own, whom hee hath printed vpon the palrncs of his hands. Manie Mothers thinke it enough to beare and bring foorth their Children ; that done, they sende them out a fostering vnto others. * But Christ not onlie is as a Mother, (who) beareth and bringeth vs foorth by the second birth, but also feedeth and fostereth vs vpon his own breastes as a louing Nourse. I hauc, saide hee, carried Ephraim as a Nourse in mine armes. * Bee of good comfort, Sir ; let the joye of Christ Psal.22.2. Dan. 9. 23. * Note. * Note. * Note. fsa.49.lj. * Note. 130 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Isa. 53. 3. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. lCor.3.21 Verse 14, * Note. * Note. Note. relish all your sorrovves. Hee was the man of grief e, that hee might bring joye to the world ; hee was beaten with stripes, that of his stripes hee might make physicke for sicke Soules : by his stripes wee haue health. * In a word, his flesh was pierced and bored, that in these holes there might bee a Citie of refuge for sinfull Soules, pursued with the tempest of God's wrath, the Auenger. * Woe to him that maketh an idole of his own sufficiencie ! As the Thunder chieflie beateth the highest steeple-heades, so doeth the fire of God's wrath strike at the hight and top of proudest spirites. The Sicke Man. By the most part of your speach, Sir, I thinke that your chiefe comfortes against Death and all other troubles, are grounded vpon Christens Blood, and his woundes. The Pastour. That which I say, Sir, is true. * When as all thinges will forsake vs and fall from vs, Christ will sticke and stand fast by vs. That I speake truelie, I darre bee answerable for it in the presence of my God. * As yee must one day make a reckoning to God, of that which yee heare, so must 1 that selfe same day, giue an account of that which I teach. My Sermons must bee read before him that sent mee to preach, for hee will know how I have fedde his Lambes. * If I builde vpon Christ the fundamentall Stone, the Pearles and precious Stones of Christe's passions, I shall get a reward ; but if I builde vpon him Stubble, Hay, or Wood, because I holde fast the foundation, hee will saue my Soule, when hee shall trye my Doctrine with the fire and light of his Word. But, because I builded vpon him the combustible light Stubble and Hay of humane wordes, of worldlie eloquence, I shall bee saued verie hardlie, as by the fire of great affliction. * For this cause, knowing the great danger, I wish that all my comfortes to you, and all others, bee onlie of Christ, who is both our suretie and our Sauiour. * Hee in loue swallowed the bitter pill of death, the cure of all our diseases. After that, for our cause his face had beene couered with our blasphemous spittle, and his backe battered with bruises, hee continued in his loue, and for our cause would bee hanged vpon that stinking It ill, Mount Caluarie, suffering a death which God had blasted with a curse. * I will tell you plainlie, Sir, that there is no meditation so comfortable to a wearied Soule, as that which is concern- ing the bleeding woundes of lesus, the vanquisher of Hell. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day * His woundes are as manie windowes wherethorow wee may see the vnspeakable aboundance of our Lord's loue. * Let men riinne from East to West, from South to North, they shall finde no place of auoydance from the fierie wrath, but onlie into these his woundes, which well may bee called, The refuge or Sanctuarie of a troubled Soule. Heere is libertie for a Soule that is enfolded into the snares of God's judgements. * Heere is chiding place against the euill day. Heere is the hole of the Rocke, the windowe of the Arke where poore Soules, like Doues that can finde no footing, may enter in. * Heere is a Citie of refuge for chaissed sinners. The people that dwell therein shall bee forgiuen their iniquitie, There bee wide boundes within the compasse of his compassions. Seeing Christ is such an One, runne and hie you as fast as yee can vnto this Rocke of refuge. Hee who shall bee founded thereon, shall neuer bee confounded. * Take vp all the matter in a word, the right- eousnesse of Christ lesus purchased vnto vs by his Blood is the onlie cure and couer of our sinnes. * All other thing are but like jig leaues, too short and thinne a couer, like these cutted coates of Dauid's seruants, which couered not their buttockes. * How darre anie rotten stinking attainted flesh attempt to attribute anie worth into itselfe, in the atchieument of that Pearle and peerelesse work of man's Saluation, whereof Christ lesus is the onlie Author and Actor ? Manie who would seeme in this world to carrie away the Garland of godlinesse, are hanged in this snare. Away with such a pang of pride and eleuation of spirit ! Tlie Sicke Man. I see now, Sir, that Christ is the onlie Salue which is able to heale the sores of the Soule, the blis- ters and bitinges of our Conscience. I see that his Blood is the onlie liquour of that Fountaine of Dauid for sin and vncleannesse. * But I am so defiled with wilfull wallowing in the puddle of sin, that hardlie thinke I, that euer hee will daine to looke vpon such a bemired Dog as I am, who haue followed the swing and the sway of the most filthie. Of mee it is written, Let him that isfilthie beejUthie still. The Pastour, Let not that discourage you. * Yee can- not bee ignorant in what estate hee found his Church. Ati O the first before hee married her, hee found her in her first ! Itirth, a cast away, a bloodie brood, a misshapen creature. ! 181 * Note. * Note. * Note. Ex. 33.22 Gen. 8. 9 * Note. Isa.33.24 * Note. 2 Sam. 10 k * Note * Note. Szec.33.1 * Note. 132 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual/ KxckluV). * Note. Verso (i. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. lCor.5.14 * Note. * Note. Mat. 11. -28 * Note. * Note. with a long Nauell, vncut, vnsalted, and not swaddled, lying in the opcnfielde to the loathing of her person in the day shee was borne. Yet all that made not him to loath her. * But after that by two commands of life hee had bidden her Line, Kite, whereby shee got strength, hee decked her, and sware vnto her, and entered into couenant with her, and shee became His. Beholde, and wonder at the loue of our Lord, the Spouse of our Soules. * All our filthie and bloodie deformities could not scarre him from the loue of our Soules. If any bee defiled with sin and vnclean- nesse, let them come to him, who will not refuse to wash them. Hee is the onlie lauer of the Church. * There is nothing pure, but that which hee hath purged. It is hee alone who hath repaired all our mines. Listen vnto his voyce, crying to all sorrow beaten sinners, Come vnto mee. Thinke often vpon this, Sir, if yee desire comfortes in your distresse. * The great work of man's redemption, finished by the blood and death of God, is a work worthie of con- tinuall wondering. As for the work of the Creation, it cost the Lord but his Will and his Word. * But the work of man's redemption was a costlie work, it was chargeable to God, it cost him the best thing that hee could giue, euen the life of his Loue, our Lord. * O what a mercie ! O what a fiuelie Loue ! The meditation of this work should work in our heart a louing compulsion and a compelling loue. * The thought of this made S. Paul to say, The loue of Christ constraineth mee. * What shall a Christian man feare hauing Christ his Brother to bee both his Aduocate and his ludge, his Suretie and his Sauiour ? * Was not his blessed Bodie displayed abroad vpon the crosse, with his armes spread, a crying jesture, a jesture crying with a voyce, Come vnto mee all yee that are ladened and ivearied ? * Oh, that wee were sicke for the loue of him who died for the loue of vs ! Oh, that wee were wounded with loue, when wee remember his precious woundes, from which gushed out the streames of our Saluation. * Flee, Sir, to the holes of this Rocke, flee to the bores of his woundes, runne not with Adam vnto the shrubbes for to hide yourselfe from God ; heere is your hiding place in the Lord's deepest woundes. * Hee is the fortresse of your Faith, our strength and our stay, the onlie helpe and ground of all our hopes, our war- rantable justice. Hee onlie is the bodie of all spiritual! coin- Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 133 fort : all other thinges, were they neuer so specious, are but shew and resemblance. Shroud yourselfe vnder his protec- tion, and throw no more yourselfe vpon temptations, where- by yee may bee disabled from manfullie fighting out the good fight, followed with a Crowne, filled with massinesse of glorie. The Sicke Man. Now well is mee that euer I heard tell of Christ. Blessed bee the day the Sonne of God was borne. But, alas ! where are the holes of that Rocke, where my wearied Soule may enter in ? The Pastour. Lift vp your lumpish thoughts ; seek first to the naile holes in his feete, beginne humblie, creep in into these lowest woundes, and there for a space settle your abode ; kisse his sacred Feete, wash them with the true teares of re- pentance, wype them with the haires of your head ; from thence looke vp, and come to the naile holes of his hands. * Bee busie there like a Bee, sucke out of them the Honey of Heauen ; from thence go to the Speare hole in his side. * Let your Soule sitte downe there, and croude like a Doue, euer till Christ let it in, into the hole of the Rocke, the place of its euerlasting rest. * If once the faithfull Soule, Christe's Turtle, winne in, into the fortresse of his woundes, from thence it will boast all the enemies of its Saluation. From thence will it cry to the flesh, Crouch. There it careth not for the Serpent's hissing, nor for the Cockatrice's denne, nor for the Graue's gaping, nor for Deathtfs dungeon, nor for the Pope's Purgatorie, his pardons, his dirges, and his Trentals, which bring fatte morsels to Baal's Priestes. Christ is mine, will hee say, Hee is to mee aduantage both in death and life. 5 As the Doue found no footing till shee came to the Arke, o the Soule can finde no rest, till it come to Christ. It euer totters, till it leane vpon his Loue. Happie is the Soule that is secured with the seale and secret impression of God's fauour. The Sicke Man. If I had faith to belieue, all would bee well. I acknowledge that there is sufficient helpe in lesus, but such an helpe is onlie for these who are strong in faith : my faith is both fainte and fecklesse. The Pastour. Christ hath saide plainlie, that hee will not quench the smoking flax e. 8. Peter was not a man of strong faith, when hee beganne to sinke downe into the Sea. Saide not Christ vnto him, Thou man of little Faith, why * Note. * Note. * Note. [sa. 11.8. * Note, jcn. 8. 9. 134 * Note. * Note. Luk. H. 14 x Noto. Mat.l7.:>< Horn. .'). I Note. Note. THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual], hast thou doubted ? * Hee reproued him for the vveaknesse thereof, but cast him not oft' for the littlenesse thereof. The Sicke Man. That was another matter. Christ was witli him, Christ took him by the hand. * There was ver- tue in the gripe of Christe's hand, as was in the hem of his garment while it was touched. Such a weake faith as mine cannot mount vp so high as that it may reach vnto Christ into the heauens. The Pastour. Though your faith bee weake, and Christ also bee absent in bodie, yet bee not for that disquieted. Hee is present in his Godhead. As for the weaknesse of your faith, pray God to strengthen and increase your faith. * Faith, though little, is of great force ; a araine of it is able to renioue Mountaines, and cast them into the Sea. I pray you, Sir, to intreat God for a fixed hearty for as I perceiue, endlesse are the mazes of Sathan's circular temp- tations, which vnavoidablie, if they bee not barred out by grace, wiude themselues into man's heart with a site and craftie insinuation. The Sicke Man. O man of little faith that I am ! If I had Faith, I would belieue that I had it ; if I had Faith, I am perswaded that I should haue Peace. Beeina justified by Faith, wee haue peace towardes God. That peace I seeke, and cannot finde. These troubles wherewith I am tossed, plainlie argue that my Faith is failed. The Pastour. I answere, that who euer are justified by Faith, they also haue peace toward God, though such a Peace bee not euer felt. That which a man feeleth not, is not euer absent. * A man in a trance knovveth not that hee liueth, and yet hee is not altogether depriued of life. The tree seemeth to bee dead in time of Snow and frost, and yet it hath life, and sappe at the roote. These then that are justified by Faith, haue Peace ; but their peace is not euer sensible, but often is disturbed with fearefull temptations. The Sicke Man. I desire to know of you what is that yee properlie call the peace of Conscience. The Pastour. I take the aualmes of Conscience chieflie to proceede from a sense of God's wrath kindled for some shines of commission or omission. * Sathan also with his bellou'esblowetla at this fire, yea, often while God is pacified, hee assaulteth the sillie Soule with false fcares and counter- feit alarums. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 135 * Now when by the vertue of Christe's intercession the fire of God's wrath is quenched, the Conscience of man be- ginneth to settle and grow calme, and instead of accusing vs any further, it beginneth to excuse and acquite vs before the Tribunall of our God. * Vpon this doeth ensue a pleasant calmnesse, quietnesse, and rest, in the Soule of a sinner. Though this Peace bee sore enuied, and often troubled by Sathan's railing and raging, yet the Soule hauing peace with God, is at last after a little space made free of all its feares, and is made sensible of that truce and atonement, euen of that Peace which passeth all understanding. The Sicke Man. I would earnestlie learne of you how a man whose Conscience is troubled, may recouer that Peace which once hee had ? The Pastour. The best method I know, is that a man ripe first vp his Conscience, and spie what mote of sin is fallen into his Conscience, which is the eye of the Soule. * The eye beeing hurt will water and powre out teares, so must the Conscience bee sore grieued for offending of God. Secondlie, out of this griefe it must sigh before the Lord in feruant prayer, first, for forgiuenesse, chieflie of that sin which lyeth heauiest vpon the heart. Thirdlie and last of all, the Soule must sute earnestlie for the restoring of that joye. After this manner Dauid did proceede in that penetentiall Psalme. First of all, hee was exceedinglie grieued, which griefe did burst out in wordes watered with teares, Haue mercie vpon mee, God; according to thy louiny kindnesse, &c. Thus after hee had cryed for to bee washen, and purged with Hysope, hee cryed that God would restore vnto him the joijes of his Valuation. Aboue all thinges let such a person bee often groning to God in prayer, for to catch some blink of God's reconcealed face in lesus his bloodie woundes. ; That blood of sprinkling is the onlie Salue for the sores of the Soule. To all this let not these helpes bee neglected, viz. that such troubled Soules make vse of good Bookes, by whose helpe their deuotion may bee roused vp, for to remem- ber the dayes of olde. * My chiefe conn sell is, that such persons fixe stedfastlie the eye of their Faith vpon lesus bleeding on the Crosse, wherevpon hee payed our ransome, and triumphed ouer all the enemies of our Saluation. This is the trueth, whereof Israel had the type in the brazen Ser- pent which healed all the beholders. My counsell also is, * Note. * Note. Phil. !. 7. * Note. Psal. 51.1 Verso 7. Verse. 31. * Note. Note. 136 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt Luk. 1.78 Hob. 2. 17 Verse 18. rsal.90.11 * Note. that such troubled persons frequent the Sermons of power- full Preachers, and seeke conference with them, whom God hath stamped with a powerfull gift of Teaching 1 and integri- tie of life, men who haue had great experience in the wayes of God, and who haue smarted themselues at other times by such fearefull nipping checkes, men who are not ignorant of the Deuill's deuices. It is saide of Christ himselfe, the Orient and Day-spring, That in all thinges it behoued him to bee made like vnto his Brethren, that hee might bee a mercifall and faithfull High Priest in thinges pertaining to God, to make recon- celiation for the sinnes of the people. For in that hee him- selfe hath suffered, beeing tempted, hee is able to succour them that are tempted. See how it behoued Christ him- selfe for to suffer temptation, that hee might bee able to suc- cour vs in our temptations. While the troubled sinner is in doing all these duties, hee must carefullie watch ouer all his wayes, that by no sin either in thought, word, or deede, hee grieue the Spirit of God againe. For a new sin thrust vpon the heart, will make all the closed woundes of the Conscience to gap and to bleed afresh. A Soule that is become relapse shall finde God harder to bee intreated than of before : not without much ado shall it get peace, that after by anie knowne sin it hath quar- relled againe the Spirit of comfort. But, indeede, hee or shee whose Conscience hath beene once well lashed with God's whippe, and battered with his blowes, had rather runne thorow a fire than anger the Lord againe. At the first appearance of a temptation they will start for feare, and with a sigh will cry to God with a trem- bling voyce, O my God, how should I thinke this wicked- nesse, let bee to do it ? Who kjioweth the power of thy wrath ? According to thy feare, so is thine anger. * Too, too manie in this nation affect this sicknesse of Con- science, as beeing onlie the disease of the holiest. This they will vtter as yee would thinke with bleeding grones before men ; while indeede they are but scorning the world sporting wantons, laughing vnder a painted maske of miser ie. Their teares are prcejicarum lachrymce, teares without trou- ble, water solde for the winde of man's praise. They are spots in the Church, which make the waves of God to bee euill spoken of : such open a wide dooiv vnto Atheisme. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 137 The Sicke Man. Fye vpon hypocrisie ! God will not bee scorned ; there is nothing- so secret but at last it shall bee made manifest. I am assured, that who for to catch men's applauses, faine a mourning 1 for their sinnes, the Lord shall suffer them to fall either in some scandalous sin, or other fearefull inconuenient, whereby they shall bee forced in ear- nest to mourne to their shame. In my judgement there is no such bitter and comfortlesse mourning, as is that of these for their manifested sinnes, who once did most faine deepe grones for catching of applauses. The Pastour. To such may well bee applyed that of the Prophet, Thine own wickednesse shall correct thee, ana thy backslidinas shall reprouethee; know therefore and see, that it is an euill thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear e is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hostes. Let no man sport in secret sinnes, were it in a thought, for that which hath winges will declare the matter. The Sicke Man. I haue often been seeking out the rea- son, wherefore the wicked in the world for the most part know not what trouble of Conscience meaneth. What thinke yee ? The Pastour. Their heauen is on earth. Dauid seeing their peace and prosperitie, did beare them at enuie, yea, so that his feete were almost gone. They are not in trouble, saide hee, in trouble like other men, neither are they plagued like other men, &e. Euen at their death hee could perceiue no bands of any vehement paines, after that the whole space of their life, they had enjoyed more than their heart could wish. * Howeuer it bee that they prosper in this world, yet certainlie if a man will goe and seeke God in his Sanctuarie, there hee shall tell him that hee hath set them in slipperie places, and that when hee awaketh, hee shall despise their image. There is a hell for them after the heauen of this earth. The Sicke Man. I would gladlie bee instructed of you, that I might discerne betweene the true solide Peace of con- science which the godlie enjoye, and that senselesse benum- mednesse of the wicked, wherein they beeing deceiued, cry Peace, peace, euen while God is putting thejierie lunt vnto the mosine of their sudden destruction. Let mee heare of the peace both of the one and other. I thinke all men should studie to marke the difference. ler. 2. 19. Eccles.10. 20. Psal. 73.5 * Note. Verse 18 Verse. 20. Thes.5.3 138 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. The Pastour. The Reprobates, who haue their portion in this life, will seeme indeede to haue that true Peace of Conscience, because nothing 1 within troubleth them. * Their peace indeede is nothing but a dead benummednesse of spirit; their Conscience, being seared, is not capable of feeling. I shall giue you two speciall markes whereby yee shall dis- cerne a true Peace and quietnesse of Conscience, from the dead benummednesse which the wicked haue. First, a Conscience which hath God's peace is awfull of sin y wittinglie and vvillinglie for a world it would not despight the Spirit of grace. * But the wicked who is in a false peace, flitteth from sin to sin, as a Flie from scab to scab, laying all his burden securelie vpon the broad shoulders of God's mercie. Secondlie, the seared dead Conscience of the wicked hath but a part of that which is called Peace. Their heartes will bee senselesse of all euill, they will haue no warre within ; no sorrow is there. * But as they haue no spirituall sorrow for their sinnes committed, neither haue they anie spirituall joye for the sense of their sinnes remitted. Heere then know the true Peace of God in the Conscience. The vnspeakable griefe for sin is asswaged, the fearefull qualmes are calmed, the raging 1 and roaring tempestes are allayed, the swelling seas are fallen and ebbed, God is come in the calme, not onlie for to wype away the teares of sorrow from their eyes, but also for to Jill their mouthes with laugh- ters of joye. * So not onlie are they voyd at last of the sense of most terrible horrours, but they are sensible of a joye which will make them to dance with Dauid before the Arke, yea, to laude the Lord at a Stake, amidst tarrie powdered flammes of fire. This is that continuall feaste which cheareth the g^odlie Soule, amidst the bloodie bickerings of Sathan, and burning persecutions of mercilesse missacrours. Let all men try their Peace at this Touchstone, if not on- lie they finde their former paines lessened, but also a joye in GOD, whereby their Soule is feasted with such contentment, that for all the gold of Ophir they would not losse it : their estate is doubtlesse happie. * Whoeuer hee bee that findeth this, hee may sing to GOD, Gloric bee to God in the high- est heauens, peace on earth, and toward my Soule goodwill. The Sicke Man. Blessed bee God who hath heightened your eyes for the spying out of that remarkable difference be- Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 139 tweene the true and false peace of men's Conscience. I neuer heard it so clearlie discussed. * O but Sathan is euer busie to marre this Peace of the godlie who will not warre and wage battell vnder his colours ! I haue seen these who are now godlie, before their conuersion to bee verie vaine, light, and wanton sinners, while they thus did runne ryote in sin with the wicked world ; I haue scene them most mirrie and solacious companie: I often wondered to see them dance and sing, roare and reuett. I could see no bands of sorrowes in their life. They neuer complained of Sathan's malice against them. * But so soone as once they beganne to loue the Preach- ing of the Word, and to loath the carnall pleasures which once they loued, I haue scene them againe so courbed downe with griefe and mainelie crossed, as though it had no more beene they. Sathan letteth them not rest, neither night nor day. The Pastour. In that is no wonder : Sathan will bee verie loath to trouble his own. So soone as hee hath lulled them asleepe into the cradle of securitie, hee will bee verie carefull that none waken them. Out of a counterfeit loue hee will adjure the watchmen, by the Roes and by the Hindes, that they waken not his beloued, till hee please. * Hee will say of him, as Christe's Disciples saide of Lazarus, but in another sense, If hee sleepe, hee shall do well. See how carefull Sathan is for the rest of his own, lest that beeing wakened, they runne away from him. * This Christ him- selfe in the dayes of his flesh made cleare by a similitude, When, saide hee, a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, his goods are in peace. * So long as Sathan like a strong armed man keepeth the palace of a wicked man's heart, hee is alone, so that none bee welcome but hee, hee will let that man bee, lest that by troubling and disquieting his peace, hee grow sorie and mis- like his seruice. But if once hee perceiue the Soule to shrinke, seeking an occasion to bee quite of him, hee will put all the powers of hell in armes and vproare, and will driue fariouslie, like lehu, for to regaine it againe into his king- dome. ' f While a Theefe or a murtherer is in the stockes, fast in fetters, the laylor will bee mirrie, and will sing be- side him, as though hee were his friend, but if (in) the most secret houre of the night hee heare him knocking off his bolts, * Note. * Note. ^ant. 2. 7. * Note. Ioh.11.12. * Note. * Note. 2Kin 9.20 * Xoto. 140 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituatt * Note. * Note. Prou. 17. 12. Rom.5. 1, and perceiue him to haue escaped, hee will waken all the citie, and pursew him with hue and with cryes. * Sathan is like the Taylor, a peaceable spirit so long as the Soule is fast in his fetters, and clogged with his bolts, in a deepe dun- geon ; * but if once hee perceiue that the Spirit of lesus hath, as the Angel did to Peter in the prison, smote him on the side and raised him vp, making all his chaines to fall from him, and that the man ariseth vp quicklie, and girdeth him- selfe, and bindeth on his Sandales, and casteth his garment about him, as Peter did, for to runne and follow his God, it is a wonder how that cruell Spirit will roare, and rage like a Beare bereeued of her whelpes. If hee gette a grippe of the poore man, hee will cause him roare with gasping gr ones, till God come with a helping hand. The Sicke Man. Indeede, Sir, yee by your both plaine and learned discourse haue dispelled the mist of manie diffi- culties. The last difficultie wherein my Soule did sticke, as yee may remember, was concerning my Faith, which I concluded not to bee, because I had no peace of Conscience. This did marre and deface all my comfortes. My ground was from the Apostle, whose wordes are, That beeing justified by Faith, wee haue peace toward God. I haue heard you declare, that a man may haue Faith and yet for some space not to bee sensible of that peace. O my God, let thy mercie bee closelie applyed to my Soule ! strengthen my Faith, that I may grippe and apprehend it with a sure and euerlasting holde. Oh, that my Soule might lye downe in that peace that passeth all vnderstanding ! I am sore troubled with a weake and wauering heart, which is yet tossed and swayed to and froe with doubts and difficul- ties, like a feather in the winde. Alas ! Sir, I complaine of the weaknesse of my Faith. That Faith must bee strong which is able to draw downe Saluation from the heauens, and batter downe strong holdes, and ouerthrow principalities and powers, and conquere and subdue, tame, represse, and repel 1 our strongest corruptions. Let mee see, I pray you, anie particular example of a weake Faith, whereby anie at anie time haue beene saued. I3y the Light of God's Word dispell this mist of ignorance : make mee free of this shrewd temptation. The Pastour. That of Peter in the New Testament is Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 141 remarkable. Christ himselfe called him, A man of little Faith ; and yet who doubteth of his Saluation ? The other example, in the Olde Testament* was in type and figure. When the Israelites were biten with the fierie Serpents, their onlie remeede was to looke vp to the brazen Serpent. All this was a type and figure of a Soule wounded with sin, looking vp vnto Christ with the eye of Faith. * Now it is cer- taine, that some in Israel were bleared, and some of a weaker sight than others ; but the weaknesse of their sight could not hinder the cure, nay, the olde man, with his dimmed eyes, beholding as thorow a mist that type of Christ, was as soone and soundlie cured as hee whose eyes were in their greatest vigour. * The meate taken with a paraliticke and trembling hand will not refuse nourishment to the bodie, no more than if it were taken with a strong and stable arme. * Faith is the eye of the Soule, whereof the Israelites' eyes were but a figure. Christ is the trueth of the brazen Serpent. * Though this eye bee dimmer into some, yet if it see, that sight is Sal- uation. Faith is the hand of the Soule, Christ is thefoode. Though this Faith tremble, Christ trembleth not ; the palsie is not in the foode. Bee of good courage, Sir ; feare not this trembling feare ; the work of Saluation cannot bee wrought but with feare and trembling. Though yee feare, yet despaire not ; there is mercie with God in an vnspeakable measure. * In one Psalme it is saide againe and againe, vnto sixe and twentie times, that his mercie endurethfor euer. This mercie, I confesse, is whiles concealed from the god- lie, for ends best knowne vnto their heauenlie Father. * Who is hee that often shall not spie, at diuerse times, his minde to bee dulled or ouercast with some cloude of Melancholic^ * While this humour domineeres, Sathan maketh choise of it, for therein to set a seate for grimme and grieuous temp- tations. * While hee perceiueth the bodie to bee troubled and distempered, hee quicklie afresh representeth vnto the view of our Soule the greatest and most grieuous sinnes of our vnregeneration, and that into their fullest and foulest shape. By this meanes deepe gashes and wide gappes are made in men's Consciences. Bee strong in God, Sir ; saue his honour, by putting your trust in him. * Shall God's word cry to man, sixe and twen- tie times, that her is a mercifull God, and shall man doubt Matth. 14. 31. Num. 2 1.9 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.6.5. * Note. Psal. 13G. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 142 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual} Psal.136. * Note. Num.20.h Verse 10. 1 Cor. J 0.4 Heb. 6. 6. Rom. 12.8. 2 Cor. 1.3 Ephes.2.4 Hos.11.8. of such a mercie ? If such mercies were but for some dayes, sinners might thinke in some dismatt dayes of the yeare, mer- cie by no meanes could bee found. But, beholde ! the must- call tune of God's mercie is vpon an euerlasting Note, for his mercie endurethfor euer. Hee who doubteth of God's fauour, after so manie testi- monies, may prouoke the Lord against himselfe. * Moses, by his doubting at Meribah, made the Lord's wrath to waxe hote against him. While hee should haue spoken to the Rocke, hee scourged the Rocke more with these wordes of doubt, shall wee cause water comefoorth, than hee did with the Rod. That Rocke was Christ. Moses, while by doubt- ing hee scourged the Rocke, hee scourged Christ, for that Rocke was Christ. Who would euer haue thought, that Moses with his Law Rod would haue scourged Christ the substance both of Law and Gospel? Who euer hee bee that doubteth thinking that God either cannot, or will not bee mercifull vnto him, so farre as in him is, hee scour geth the Lord lesus, as these who by their euill life, are saide to crucijie to themselues the Sonne of God afresh, and to put him to an open shame. Belieue and bee saued. God is both mild and mercifull. Is not his command directed vnto man, that hee shew mercie with chearefuhiesse ? Is hee not called the Father of mer- cies ? Is it not written, that hee is a God rich in mercie ? O these bleeding bowels of compassions ! What saide hee at last, while hee saw the great affliction of Ephraim ? How. saide hee, shall I giue thee vp, Ephraim ? how shall 1 deliuer thee, Israel ? How shall I make thee as ^4dmah ? how shall I set thee as Zeboim ? After these foure, How, how, how, how, Mercie in a manner did turne about his heart with such a force, that hee cryed out, Mine heart is turned within mee, my repentinaes are kindled together. If mercie bee not in his diuine breast, where shall it bee found ? The SickeMan. All that yee haue saide, Sir, concerning the mercie of God in Christ belongeth onlie to repenting | sinners, who haue bewailed the errours of their life, but not to such a rarnished hypocrite as I am, who haue remained fast rooted in the rottennesse of most filthie corruptions, which I had neuer care to curbe or controls. My secret sinnes, like a consuming canker, haue freted out ' Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. the verie heart of Grace. * From my youth I haue wan- dered from the way of happinesse, and haue beene like an idle Beager in the way, readie to goe which way so euer the staff e fell. My greatest feare now is, that I haue too long delayed the day of my repentance : what know I, if God will forgiue a man so grieuous sinnes not repented of, till hee come to his death-bedde. * Hardlie can I thinke that in so short a time a man can binde vp friendship with his God, with whom hee hath beene at feede his whole life time. O mercifull God, melt my marble heart. Put into my breast the precious pearle of Faith. O that with vnspeak- able grones of griefe for my by past euill spent life, I might redeeme the time which I haue so lauishlie mispent ! Oh, that the moisture of my bodie were all melted into teares, if thereby I could bee perswaded that my sillie Soule were alreadie vtterlie out of the reach of all the powers of Hell ! I haue too long most vainelie sported my selfe in Meseck, and ruffled in the tents of Kedar. * If I had not so long delayed to returne to my God, my Soule alreadie in hope should bee feasting vpon the joyes of eternitie. The Pastour. * Indeede, Sir, it is a verie dangerous thing for to delay repentance to the last gaspe, or to one God's mercie, as many do, who neuer lay downe the wea- pons of rebellion, till they can sin no more. Oh, that men would vnderstand their danger ! * Are not our enemies both strong and neare ? Hannibal ad portas, the Deuill is at the doore. * But such is the madnesse of manie, were their Soules neuer so soiled with sin, that if once they can get out but these few wordes, God bee merci- full to mee, they thinke they shall bee in heauen before their feete bee colde. Such men thinke that in death it is easie to conjure the Deuill with a word. It is but folie to put Saluation vpon such Imp-hazard as manie do. * But yet yee must know that hee that made the Time, will not bee subject vnto Time. The King of Time is Eternall. GOD is eternall, and hath all Times at his command. * There is no Time that can hinder him to bee mercifull to a sinner, at whatsoeuer time hee shall re- pent. * For this cause Christ, for to let the world see that hee c&nforgiue, when a sinner can repent, hee tooke from the Crosse the Soule of a condemned Theefe, and after that 143 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note * Note. * Note. * Note. 144 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Numl). 23 19. * Note. * Note. Psal.5ri.22 Uoni.-i.18. Luk.23.43| hee had absolued it, hee carried it to Paradise. God hath saide, that at whatsoeuer time a sinner shall repent, that hee will put away his wickednesse out of his rememberance. Frae once hee hath saide the word, hee cannot take his word againe. Hee is constant in all his wayes, and there- fore neuer saitk and vnsaith one thing. Hath hee saide, and shall hee not do it ? * If yee can but waite a little, yee shall finde all the jiercenesse of hisfurie to bee turned into the fulnesse ofhisfauour. * Hee who shall seeke him earnest- lie, shall not receiue an emptie answere. There is mercie in heauen, for an hell of conscience vpon earth. Cast all your cares aside, cast yourselfe into the armes of your God. Cast thy burden vpon the Lord, and hee shall sustaine thee. Bee strong in the Faith of God. In hope belieue against hope. Though for a space your Spirit bee distempered, yet still re- lye vpon the mercie of your God. Go not oft' this, that the Blood of lesus was shedde for you, and that Christ hath payed your ransome. Whateuer Sathan by his temptations suggest vnto you, belieue him not. Take my counsell I pray you, Sir, that I speake the trueth ; heere I darre take it vpon my Soule's Saluation. The Sicke Man. I thanke God from mine heart, that euer I heard you : your wordes are full of comfort. O how indebted am I to the mercie of my God, who hath vnlocked the bowels of his loue towards mee ! At our first meeting I found my selfe inuolued with much miserie and mischiefe, but since I haue heard you, 1 finde, I blesse God, some stirring of God's Spirit within mine heart. Mine heart before this time hath beene like that Altar at Athens, wherein was ingrauen in great letters, To THE UNKNOWNS GOD. I heard often of God, but I neuer knew him truelie vntill now. This is the infancie of my regeneration. I baue beene too long a stranger from so good a God. My Soule now rejoyceth after many toes and f roes. * I finde mine heart loosed from the cartropes of my sinnes, and 'inked vnto my Sauiour with stronger chaines than of before. There bee better motions within, than euer I did feele before this houre. O thou who is Loue, let my Soule bee possest of a sound and constant loue to thy most mercifull Majestie. Bring my Soule from the shadow of death to the light of thy counte- nance. Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Act 17.23. * Note. I loh. 4-. 8. Mat. 4. Hi. 1 'sal. 1 9. 14- Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 145 Lord of Hastes, giue mee strength and courage to fight out this Christian jight, whereof the victorie is glorious, and the reward a Crowne of immortalitie. Inspire mine heart with the life of grace. * If thy care had not hitherto pre- sented my Spirit, my Soule had long since beene drowned in a sea of sin and sorrow. There haue beene such leeks into mine heart, that except the Lord in time had pumped it with repentance, my Soule long since had made shipwracke of Faith. how much am I beholden to my God, who hath taken longer day with mee, than with anie others, from whom be- fore they were prouided, hee hath demanded his due ! Blessed bee my God, who hath made mee free from thefrenzie of Spirit, by appearing vnto mee in a greater calme. The feeling of his wrath past, I hope shall bee# sauce for to sharpen my blunted loue towardes him in all times to come, with mi- daunted constancie. 1 perceiue now that the day is darkened, and that the night approacheth. Oh, that I might continue conference with you ! but lest I should wearie you, from the best of my bowels, my dear Pastour, 1 bidde you farewell. I looke to-morrow for a new conference, for with manie difficulties mine heart is yet troubled and tossed. I requeast you before yee goe, to helpe mee with your prayers. The Pastour. I blesse God, who hath begunne to inter- mingle the sweete honie of some comfortes with the bitter (/all of painefull temptations. * GOD who hath begunne to make you his Prentice in Grace, shall anone make you a freeman in Glorie. * As Ministers must first sitte at Gama- leel's feete for to learne, before they sitte in Moses* chaire for to teach, so must Christians first bee humbled with tempta- tions on earth, before they bee honoured with exaltations into the Heauens. * Well is the man that is truelie humbled by GOD, and made afoole in his own eyes ; for hee which thinketh him- selfe wise, is a foole, ipso facto. * All naturall wisdome with- out Spirituall humilitie is like ouernight's Manna, which did no good but mould and fust. God by diuers temptations, first carnall and after spirituatt, hath besieged the corruptions of your nature, and hath battered downe the strong holdes and fortified Castles of your imaginations and reasoning, the high thinges which exalt tliemselues against the knowledge Isa. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 5. 4, * Note. 1 Tim. 1.19 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 146 THE LAST BATTELL Spirituall Cor. 10.5 Psal. 123.2 Psal.42.1. >f GOD. Before hee leaue you, hee shall bring into Cap- iuitie euerie thought of your heart to the obedience of Christ. According to your desire wee shall bend our knees o GOD in prayer, that yee may spell his loue out of such a 'atherlie correction, and learne in time to stay yourselfe vpon lis kindnesse and good will. A PRAYER FOR THE S1CKE MAN. LORD of Mercie, whose bowels are turned within thee, when thou beholdest the griefe of the godlie, )ee heere present for the reliefe of this thy poore distressed Seruant. His eyes are stedfastlie fixed vpon thee, as the eyes of the handmaide are jived vpon the hands of her Mis- resse. Beholde, LORD, and heare his amazed broken heart, bray- ing after thee as an Hart panting after the Riuers of waters. Pittie this sillie Soule which is like the drye ground gaping 'or droppes of Raine. Oh LORD, his strength is dryed vp like a Potte shard, his tongue cleaueth vnto his jawes, and thou hast brought him vnto the dust of death. Let the sweetest comfortes of thy Bleeding bowels, bee powred into his broken heart. Make the joyfull Light of thy countenance breake foorth vpon his drooping and cloudie Conscience. O strengthen his sillie Soule in this heauie houre ! Pacific the pangs of his remorse, that hee may laye holde vpon the merites and mercies of thy Sonne IESVS. Come, gracious GOD, with thy strength for his succoure Sathan, a most bitter enemie, hath besieged his Soule with most fearefull temptations. There is no mischiefe which could bee deuised, but hee hath mustered it and set it in bat- tell arraye against him. While hee had health and youth, this enemie was the chiefe entiser of him vnto sin, by bearing him in hand, that it was an easie thing after many sinful pleasures enjoyed, to returne vnto God, whose fauour am kindnesse might bee procured by and by without anie labour But now, Father, while hee seeth his day declining am the Sunne of his life neare its setting, of an Entiser hee is become an Accuser y striuing by all nieanes to cause him maki shipwracke vpon the bankes of deapaire. Might and da; hee vexeth and teureth his Soule by whispering into his ear most impudent lyes against thy Truetli, viz. that hee is so Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. miserable that thou art not able to bee mercifull vnto him. Hee suggesteth most craftilie that it is in vain for him to sue to thee for thy grace, that there is none hope of mercie left for such a sinner, that there is none accesse vnto the Throne of Grace for the prayers of such a miserable wretch, and that it is (to) no purpose for him to pray. But what ? LORD, thou who art Trueth itself e, wiltthou suffer this father of lyes to trouble still thy seruant ? Wilt thou heare anie longer thine infinite mercie thus reproached and reuiled, as though thou were not able to pardon the faultes of thine own poore creature ? What is that to say, but that God shall cease to bee that God, whose mercie is aboue all his workes ? O LORD, most mercifull, can the sinfull scarlet rednesse and the Crimsin colour of man's corruptions bee so dyed that it cannot bee washen away with the Blood of thy Lambe ? O scale vp the sense of thy loue in his heart, make thy Spirit to whisper in his eare, that mercie is with thee, that thou may bee both feared and loued. Shall anie thing, LORD, withhold the heart broken-sinner from the Throne of Grace ? Is not this the voyce of thy Spirit, Come vnto mee all yee that are wearied and ladened with sinnes f Is not thy promise written in thy Booke, that thou wilt ease them f O most louing Father, euen in despight of Sathan, and his most despightfull suggestions, make his Soule bolde and con- fident, that it may aduenture itselfe to the mercifull Throne of thy Grace. Cleare, and cleanse his eyes from the spirituall (joare of sin, that with Simeon hee may see thy Saluation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. O deare IESVS, deliuer this Darling from the power of the Dog. Incline thine eares and heare the grieuous grones of this poore prisoner. Make him a prisoner of hope. Turne thee now about, and refresh his wearied heart with a blink of thy mercie. Shew him the light of thy Countenance, and hee shall bee saued. Enlarge his heart, that thy Graces find- ing a spacious roorne, may plentif ullie harbour in his Soule. Alas ! LORD, what shall wee say, if thou shalt say to him, / haue no deli(/ht in thee ? Beholde, heere hee is, do to him as shall seeme good in thine own eyes. Thou hast not forgotten, neither can thou forget, but that thy delight is in mercie. Where sin doeth abound, shall not 147 Hcb.4.1G [oh. 8.44-. Hcb.4.16 Mat. 11. 28 .uk. 2..'}0, 31. 148 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual! > Cor. 1'2.7. Isa. 42. 3. Psal.7;j.25 Cant. 1.7. there thy Grace abound much more ? Thou, LOUD, hast often bathed this sillie Soule in most bitter brimie teares. Thou hast hid thyselfe from it, and it hath beene troubled. Now amide the vexations of so many temptations, blink vpon him with a reconcealed face. O God of Battells, in this Battell of the Soule sende downe thy strength for to gard him against the assaultes of Sathan, who pursueth him so eagerlie with most sharpe and fearefull assaultes, like a Dog hunting after a sillie straggling sheepe. Though for a space thou suffer him to bee butteted with a messenger of Sathan, yet let him know that thy Grace shall bee sufficient for him. Let thy right hand holde him vp, and let thy gentlenesse make him great. Renewe his heart with the power of thy Spirit, and reinvest him with the image of thine holinesse, which once hee lost in Adam. Cast his Spirit againe in thine own mould. At last, LORD, put Sathan to silence, let thine own Spirit speake vnto this Sicke in his inward partes. Say vnto his Soule, / am thy Saluation. Make thy good Spirit of com- fort to whisper in his eare, that thou art well pleased, and that thou hast receiued a ransome. Such wordes of mercie will bee a blessed Balme, whereby thou shalt heale this sor- row beaten Soule, stung with a checke and smart for his sinnes. Though, LOUD, hee hath but some poore beginnings of tjrace, in a time wee confesse when thy graces in him should haue beene ripe, for that glorie which is now shortlie to bee reuealed vnto him ; yet, notwithstanding let it please thee of thy meere mercie to pittie and pardon. Remember thy mercies of olde which were neuer wont to break the bruised reede y nor to quench the smoking flaxe. If thy great mercie bee not his strength and stay, hee must needes bee ouercome. For whom hath hee in Heauen but thec ? or who is on earth whom hee can desire besides thee ? O Thou, whom his Soule loueth, tell him where thou makest thy flocke to rest at Noone in the greatest heate of affliction. Seeing hee seeketh after thee onlie, let him bee refreshed with thy comfortes ; for i.c/iy should hee turtle aside by thejlockes of thy companions? Consider well, wee pray thee, LORD, how hee hath beene vexed and disquieted with manie fearefull temptations : now at last come with thine helping hand, come, and abate the Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 149 force and furie of all his enemies, whether within or without ; subdue their raging 1 and reigning power, that when the houre of his departing shall come, hee may with Simeon depart in peace. Stand, LORD, fast by him, forsake him not in this perelous time. Let thy Spirit guide and leade him in the Land of righteoumesse. Let thy grace bee vnto him a Sunne by day and a Moone by night. Take all impedimentes out of the way ; bridle and so curbe all his vnrulie affections, that they 'may folde vnder thine obedience. Suppresse all his carking and heart deuiding cares, whype out of his heart all treacherous temptations. Embalme his heart with the sweet- nesse of thy new fresh graces. Settle in his Soule that godlie sorrow, which causes Repentance neuer to bee repent- ed of. This sillie Soule, LORD, hath beene fearefullie tossed to and froe with the waues of thy wrath, Let it please thee to command a calme. Settle thou his heart, and stablish it with thy free Spirit. Mercifull GOD, thou knoweth how Sathan hath sought to sift and to winnow him, but of thy mercie thou shalt neuer suffer his Faith to faile. Builde vpon the Rocke which cannot bee shaken. Through thy fauour giue him peace in belieuing, and joye in the Holie Ghost, that by the grace and power of thy Spirit hee may finish his course with comfort. Let it now bee made manifest, that his life hath beene hid with Christ in God. Thou who hast numbered his haires, obserue his griefe and his grones ; pittie the crouding of thy Turtle Done. Take thou to heart the anguish of his Spirit. Beholde, LORD, how hee renounceth himselfe, despairing of his own worth. Giue him grace to flee to thy promises, that as in the fearefull and perelous path of this valey of death, hee looketh for nothing but hell torments and paine for his own sake, so hee may assuredlie looke for heauen's glorie, euen pleasures for euermore, and that for thy promise sake, for thy Name's sake, for thy Christ's sake, in whom thy Soule is best pleased. Make the bones which thou hast bruised to rejoyce. Leaue him neuer to himselfe, LORD, till thou hast made thy graces, now blooming in his heart, to become rype for thy glorie. LORD, blesse thy beloued Church which is hated of the \yorld ; shee is now pricked with persecutions as a Lillie among the tliornes. Let this comfort Her in all Her dis- Psal.51.12 uk.22.31 Col. 3. 3. 'sal. 16. II :;mt. 2. 2. 150 THE LAST BATTELL Spiritual Psal.15.10 Act. 17.11 tresses, that thou shalt neuer forsake Her ; but that thorow manie tribulations thou shall bring- Her vnto Glorie. Lord, pittie and pardon the vnthankfull Church of this Land. Binde Her vnto Thee by the vnion of Faith, and fasten euerie one of our heartes to another by the bond of loue ; lest at last by our misdemeanour, thou bee forced to roote vs out of thy good Land as a fruitlesse Nation. GOD bee gracious to our dread SOVERAIGNE the Kinge' Majestie. Gard His Royall Person from the rage of Hi enemies. Infatuate their plots ; make giddie their braines ; discouer their enterprises. Make Him the Man of thy right Hand ; anoint His Head with the blessed droppes of the Gyle of thy Grace and gladnesse ; make Him an humble Homat/er to IESVS who hath written on His thigh the King of hinges. LORD giue Him Grace according to His Place. Say vnto His Queene, Hearken, Daughter, and con- sider, and incline thy eare. Make her to forget her own people, and Father's House. Instead of Her olde acquaint- ance, giue her Children whom thou mayest make Princes on the Earth. Aboue all thinges wee intreat Thee to dis- charge vpon Her Soule, the beames and brightnesse of sauing Knowledge. Blesse all the Nobilitie of this Land. Make them truelie Noble, like the men of Berea who were couragious for the Trueth. Make euerie one of vs faithfull in our place and calling ; keepe our Soules euer waking and waiting for thy comming. Preserue vs from slumber of Conscience, and deadnesse of heart, that liuing according to thy law, wee may bee in this wicked world godlie professours, like burning and shining Lampes for to shew light vnto others. We all heere, O gracious Father, relying vpon thy pro- mised readinesse to helpe thy little Ones, and to listen to their cryes, haue powred out our Soules in thy presence. Wee intreate Thee from the sinceritie of our inward partes, that of thy Fatherlie indulgence, it would please Thee to vouch- safe a favourable audience both to these and to all other our most humble and godlie desires, and that for IESVS thy deare Sonne's sake, to whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee all glorie and honour, world without end. AMEN. Cause read vnto you this Night, Psahne 38, Ps. .'39, Ps. 40, Ps. 41, Ps. 42, Ps. 130, 1m. 38, Isa. .03, In/in 10. Temp. OF THE SOULE, &c. 3. day. 151 Let the end of euerie day remember you of the end of your life. Though euerie day of our age should bee as long as that day of loshuah, when at his word the Sunne stood still in Gibeon, yet it would bee night at last. The Lord teach vs to number our dayes, that wee may applie our heartes to wisdome, and to well doing. The grace of lesvs and the peace of his Spirit rest with you, and comfort you in all the grones of your griefe. The Lord turn your smoking flaxe into a burning fire of zeale. The God of all mercie and compassion refresh your weake and wounded heart with the softest oyle of his sauing grace. Nothing, Sir, is vnpossible to your God, who of a bruised Reede can make a pillar ofbrasse, which the Prince of the powers of darknesse shall not bee able to shake. I intreat the Lord to giue you such Grace that may lead you vnto the face and presence of your GOD. Bee more and more earnest with your GOD, that hee would inspire your heart with Life, Spirit, and motion, that thereby yee may bee made fit for that blessed association with Sainctes and Angels, farre from the crossing checkes of Conscience. Iosh.10.12 Psal.90.l--> 152 Prou. 1 32. lom.4.18 * Note. * Note. THE FOVRTH DAVE'S CONFERENCE. A CCORDING to your desire, Sir, I am come againe this morning, for to visit you, and for also to reapi the fruites of yesterdaye's conference. This is the sweete fruites of a godlie life, It hath, saitl Solomon, hope in the end. I pray God to blesse you with >uch an hope, whereby, in hope ayainst hope, yee may cleau *ast vnto your God. Fiiide yee the storme of your temptations tllayed ? hath the Spirit of God giuen edge and vigour to hese comfortes which yee heard yesterday ? Haue yee put on a Christian courage with a resolute and contented patience, to abide the blessed will of your God ? The Sicke Man. Well is the man and blessed, yea, thrise blessed is hee whose transgressions isforyiuen, whose in is couered, for hee is free from that sting of Conscience hat will for euer torment the Soule of the vngodlie. All this night I haue beene sore cumbered with manie pirituall temptations, as yee haue heard. My Soule for a pace hath beene wonderfullie perplexed. The spirit of man, .las I is but too ingenious to debar itselfe from glorie. * It is wonder how this should bee in such a glorious Noonetyde f the Gospel hitherto. Glorie bee to God, yee haue com- orted mee much ; yee haue handled my sores with the soft nd smooth hand of a most wise and charitable discretion; viselie haue yee singled out comfortes most expedient for the ure of my Soule. Now seeing by your former discourse I aue reaped comfort, let mee bee so bolde as to intreat you to eclare breaflie how a man may know by the workinges of the Spirit ivithin, whether hee bee a Reprobate or one of God's bosen ones. It is no time for mee now to bee beguiled, len which looke to die, haue neede to looke well what they do. I desire earnestlie to bee instructed touching the diuerse orkinges of the Spirit into the wicked and the godlie. My iiiefe desire is to make mv Saluation sure. Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. 153 The Pastour. 1 shall do what I can to giue you con- tentment in that point. The matter indeede is not without difficultie : but yet the Lord God will do nothing which hee will not reueale vnto his seruants the Prophets, so farre as is needfull for his glorie and the well of his People. Mine helpe is in the Name of the Lord, that made Heauen and Earth. The Spirit of God in man hath two sortes of operations, one generall another speciatt. As for the generall, common to all men, by the Spirit the wicked will say, lesvs is the Lord. I know lesvs, saide the Deuill to the sonnes of Sceuah. * By this Spirit also the wicked will refraine from outward scandals, yea, they may preach, yea, prophecie with Saul, Caiaphas, and ludas, so that they will bee wondered at, like Saul among the Prophets, or like Simon Magus, to whom the world for a space gaue heedefrom the least to the great- est, saying, This man is the great power of God. Manie hauing but this super ficiall glistering of grace, applaude and content themselues, thinking that they are wise while they indeede arefooles. By this Spirit also they will taste the good gift of God, but anone they spite it out againe. * Meate tasted in the mouth onlie, and not let downe to bee digested in the sto- macke, is vnprofitable for nourishment. * By this same Spirit also they will bee inlightened, so that they will loue the deare Sainctes of God, and will re- uerence them as King Herod did lolm. * But heere is their stay, they haue euer an Herodias, which they will not forsake. Some one reigning sin or other \\\m pestilent canker, cleaueth fast vnto them and beareth rule into their mortall bodies. Either one sin or other, secret or publicke, must bee their Darling. * And this againe, like a mother, sin must haue a dancing daughter, called Hatred of reproofe, whose chiefest sute is, that the preacher, were hee an John, either want the head, or else bee silenced. This is the verie border of the wicked man's progresse with all his might and maine in the way to glorie. Further, I cannot see that hee can winne, but onlie to a taste in tJie mouth of the goodnesse of God's giftes, and to a certaine, or rather vncertdine, liking of that which is good, which at last shall losse the head with the Baptist, before hee losse his plea- sures with Herod. Thus as yee see, manie are deceiued with Amos,3.7. Psal. 124.8 Act. 19. 15. * Note. I Sam. 10. , II. Act. 8. 10. * Note. * Note. Mat. U.I 3 * Note. 154 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. Heb. 6. 4 * Note. * Note. the false flashes of an euill grounded assurance, that they are in the readie and right way to Heauen, when as indeede they are but faggots prepared for euer lasting burnings. The Sicke Man. There bee one passage in Scripture which hath often affrighted my Soule, in it I see a Reprobate to make such a progresse in the way to Heauen, that hardlie can I thinke that euer I did match him. * The Apostle saith, 1. that hee will bee inlightened, . that hee will taste of the heauenlie gift, 3. that hee will bee made partaker of the Holie Ghost, 4, that hee will taste the good word of GOD, 5. that hee will taste the powers of the world to come ; and yet for all that hee shall fall away, so that hee cannot bee renewed by Repentance, and so shall die a Reprobate, and last, after death, shall bee carried with the wicked into the same streame, till hee fall downe into the gulfe and poole of perdition. I intreat you, Sir, to giue mee some light for the clearing of these wordes, for often haue they troubled my Soule, and dryuine it deepe into the dumps. * At the first view of these wordes it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen, and yet thereafter bee disseised by some .sinnes and iniquities, and depriued of all hope of eternitie. The Pastour. The Lord inlighten my mistie minde, that I may cleare these your doubts to your well and contentment. I confesse that at the first sight of these wordes I myselfe was amazed, so that I did wonder how all that could bee. Indeede, at the first view as yee say, it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen, and yet thereafter bee dis- seised by one sin or other, whereby all his former vertues shall fosse their grace. * But let a man lift vp his heart to God in prayer, and thereafter consider well the wordes, and weigh them in the Balance of the Sanctuarie, hee shall easilie perceiue that a Reprobate may bee endowed with all these giftes, and after all bee debarred from entering into glorie. In the wordes yee haue obserued fine difficulties, vnto which, God willing, I shall make answere seuerallie. First of all, it is saide that the Reprobate who is but a Bellie-blinde, will bee inlightened. For to stand vnder this, yee must first consider that into that place of Scripture the Apostle speak- eth of Apostates, that is, of men that haue forsaken the true Religion, which once they did profVsse, for to become pro- \ Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 155 fessours of lyes, men who haue reuolted from the Trueth after that the windowes of their Soule were shute close, for to barre out the Light , and that willinglie and of set purpose. * First then it is saide, that they were inlightened, that is, once they knew the Trueth, for knowledge is light. *But because that hauing light, they wanted loue, God sent them strong delusions to belieue lyes. * S. Paul, speaking of these that had but the light of nature, the twilight of reason, saide, that they were iulightened in such a sort that thereby they knew God. But because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankfully but be- came vaine in their imaginations, how grieuous was their punishment ! * A little after, both their sin and their punishment is more plainelie set downe. Euen, saith hee, as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge, God gaue them ouer to a Reprobate minde. * That is, hee put out and quenched that little light of Nature which once they had, as hee tooke the Talent from the idle man that rolled it vp into a napkin. * The greater that light bee within a man, if it bee abused, the greater is the punishment which is for to ensue- But to come to that Light wherewith a Repro- bate brought vp in the Church may bee inlighteued. * The Light of knowledge within a man who hath not the loue of the Trueth, is but like the light of a blazing Comet, which shortlie dyeth out, and filleth the world with a pestiferous stinke. * An Apostate on earth is like a Comet in the hea- uens, a starre but in appearance. Such men, with all their apparent eminences of zeale and dazeling shewes, bee but blazing starres, such as the Dragon is saide to sweepe downe with his taile. * S. lude calleth them wandering starres, they keepe not their Station. * They are Planets in their motion, and Comets in their substance, not fixed in the hea- uens, but kindled meteores in the aire, which seeme to bee in the heauens, and therefore they losse at last their light, so that, as S. lude saith, to them is resented blacknesse of iarknesse. Such may haue the spirit of illumination, for the good of others, without the Spirit of Sanctification, for the good of their own Soules. * Though they haue some light of knowledge, yet in loue and life they \valke by the darke side of the cloude with the Egyptians. * There is Loue and Light in the life of all true Israelites, whose course is by the light side of the Jierie pillar. * The wicked for * Note. * Note. * Note. Rom. 1.21. * Note. Verse 28. * Note. Mat. 16.28 * Note. * Note. * Note. lud. 5. 13. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 156 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Noto. fsa. 6. i). * Noto. (ion.19.11 the most part are with the Sodomites, either stricken with 2Kin.o.i!i blindnessr, or if they see, they see as these Syrians saw that came to apprehend Elishah at Dothan, they saw indeede, but their judgement was so troubled, that though they saw, yet they could not perceiue, till out of Dothan they were entered into Samariah, the citie of their enemies. * That was the figure whereof this is the substance, Heare yee indeede, but understand not, and see yec indeede, but perceiue not. O how the eyes of the Soule of man are dimmed with the mis- tie vapours ofvanitie, thorow which it is hard euen for the godlie often to see anie glimmerings of grace ! But to the purpose, obserue well what I say. k The god- lie and the wicked will both bee inlightened. But the god- lie is inlightened like a starre fixed into the heauens. whose light is firm and constant. But the wicked inlightened is but like a blazing Comet, which for a space will haue a greater glance than a true starre into the eyes of the igno- rants. * But the learned Philosopher knoweth it to bee no- thing, but a bundle of filthie mutter kindled into the Aire, which shall shortlie bee quenched. * Thus as yee see, the wicked like a Comet will bee kindled with some strange jire, hee will bee so inlightened, that hee will giue light vnto others for a space with his hoarie beanies. * But this Stella crinita, hoarie starre, because hee is not fixed into the hea- uens by faith, hee not beeing in the same Firmament with the Sunne of Righteousness^, within some fewe Moneths hee dyeth out, leauing nothing behinde him but the pestiferous smoke and stinke of an euill name, and ofjilthic scandals, a cause pest wherewith manie are infected. : Thus as yee see, manie like a Comet or a Candle, will for a time blaze with beautifull brightnesse, beeiug full of godlie shewes, without anie life of grace, but at last dye out with a filthie smell. The twilight of Nature is no light but darknesse. * Let therefore euerie man trye his Light, by his lone. * Though a man should know Christ neuer so well, if hee cannot say to him, as Peter saide, Lord, thou knoicest that I lone thee, the light of that man shall not continue, but soone or since, with one sin or other, it shall bee put out as with a dampe. * Then manie shall wonder what can bee| wordie of such a blazing professour, when they shall see all his rootlesse (/races icithered and wasted. Now, Sir, examine \vell your selfe. * If yee findt 1 a lone * Noto. * Noto. * Noto. Mai. 4. 3. * Note. Noto. Note, loli.:.' 1. 1' *"Noto Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 157 in your heart with your light, a loue of God, not so much for his benefites as for himselfe, who is most Zoue-worthie, bee not affrighted to heare that Reprobates may bee inlight- ened. * All their graces at the best are rootlesse, glorious glances, foolish flashes, euanishing in a moment. Let mee yet a little illustrate the matter, that it may ap- peare how Reprobates are saide to be inlightened. The Godlie and the Reprobates are both saide to bee in- lightened, but diuerslie : the Godlie are inlightened like the Sunne, but the wicked are like the Moone. In the Sunne, as all know, the light is rooted and fixed, so that not onlie doeth it shew light vnto others, but also it hath light within itselfe. * As for the Wicked, they are inlightened like the Moone, which sheweth light vnto others, beeing darke within, like a Glasse which in the sight of the Sunne will glance with some beames vnto others, hauing no light within itselfe. * In this the wicked also are like the Moone, that while they are in pleni-lunio, in their fullest light, in the midst appeareth some blacke spots. In the greatest light of the wicked, if men can looke vp, and beholde, they shall perceiue often one grosse sin or other, where the light haue no reflexe, which is like the blacke spot of the Moone. Thus as yee see, all the light of the Wicked is but in an outward reflexe, whileas they are darke within. But the Godlie are like lohn the Baptist, whom Christ called a burn- ing and a shining light. Not onlie shine they outwardlie vnto others, but also they burne within themselues, like these Disciples, whose heartes while Christ spake, did burne with- in them in going to Emaus: these were their wordes, Did not our heartes burne within vs, while hee talked with us by the way ? * The Wicked may well blaze without, but neuer burne within. God may so dispence, that like a burning Glasse they may make others to burne, while like the burning Glasse they remains themselues colde, or at the best but luke war me. Now I thinke that all men may easilie perceiue how the wick- ed are saide to bee inlightened. Such men I confesse are hard to bee knowne at the first. * A man at least for a moneth must bee acquainted with the Moone before hee can know that it is but a darke bodie, which hath no light in itselfe, but borrowed and outward. A life time is not often sufficient for to trye Hypocrites trans- * Note. * Note. * Note. loh. 5. ,'J5. Lvk.2i.32 * Note. * Note. 158 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts 2 Cor. 1 14. Rcu. 3.1 * Note. * Note. * Note. formed, like Sathan, into Angels of light. Such Moone- men beguile manie with outward reflexes. Though these which are outwardlie adorned with such co- lours, blesse themselues with L/aodicea, as hauing neede of nothing, yet their sinnes by the hand of God's Justice are written in the Register of their Conscience, yea, deeplie in- grauen as with the penne of a dyamond. Thus Reprobates cannot now vnderstand, because their Consciences are seared and senselesse. They are in such Slumber and benummednesse of Conscience, that they can- not consider nor make a sound search into the state of their Soules. * Nay, though they could, they would not, for feare that thereby they should bee enchained to melancholie, a marr- mirth of all their carnall delights. * Of such I will say something, (I pray God that it may chasse them to seeke sinceritie). Except that such, who care onlie for colours and shewes of godlinesse, for to bee well thought of among men, except, say I, they turne to God with true, sound, and timelie repentance, in my judgement hardlie hall they escape some fearefull and remarkable judgement, euen in this life. Cannot God appoint them to bee his own executioners, for to bee Burriors to themselues ? After that, n his wrath, hee hath kept an assise in their Conscience, and lath made them with ludas to crye out Guiltie against them- selues, hee can make them hang vp themselues in the loupe of a corde, for to bee spectacles of his wrath before the world, rlee can make them poyson themselues, or powre out their ife with their blood, by sword or by knife. * This judge- ment shall crye to the liuing, Thus shall it bee done with dm who dallies with his God. If hee escape that : * woe, woe, woe vnto him on his eath-bedde, where Sathan with hellish malice and bloodie rueltie, shall wound him with his empoysoned darts, which ee shall fasten deeplie in his Soule. Then with manie a ore sigh shall hee crye, that hee is enthralled in the snaires nd fetters of the Deuill. Some I know will winne out of lis world without anie scene blot, or blow for secret blvts, icy will die also with some formalt land perfunctory appear- nce of repentance. Others will die in a qtiiete drousinesse, j nd so poore like Nabal. Manie as yee see may die with- ! ut anie scene signe of God's wrath. But in the day of the | .ord, God shall pull that painted vizard oh 1 ' their face, for; Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 159 the discouering of all their abominations, and that before the face of all Sainctes and Angels, who shall wonder to see all the filthinesse which they in their life could so cunninglie col- our and couer, with most painefull painting. Then men's applause and the world's praise, which they did once vnder the colour of vnhallowed zeale most eagerlie pursue, shall by no meanes auaile them, for the righteous Lord with aglowme of his justice shall banish them to the loathsome dungeon of the bottomlesse pit* Thus after they haue carried the matter smoothlie for a time by juggling dissimulation, at last all their abominations are set in open view. The Sicke Man. I finde myselfe satisfied concerning that doubt of the inlightening of the Wicked, who as I see are starke blinde, grosslie and palpablie ignorant in the myste- ries of Saluation. Now teach mee what this is, that hee will taste of the heauenlie gift. How can vnsanctijied mor- talitie bee capable of celestiall benejites ? The Pastour. By the heauenlie gift I vnderstand the fauour of God and eternall life. * The wicked man whose portion is onlie in this life, will taste these thinges, that is, betimes hee \vi\\finde a certaine sweetnesse in God. * The most wicked man that is, will at one time or other lift vp his eyes to God, yea, and thinke himselfe much beholden vnto God. But all this goodnesse is but like the morning dewe ; it hath none abiding, a sound offeare is euer into the wicked man's eares. * As a man may taste poyson and yet not bee the worse, because incontinent he spitteth it out againe ; so a wicked man may taste good thinyes, and yet not bee the better, because that after he hath tasted them, hee letteth them not ouer his throat, but spitteth them out againe. * That which hee hath tasted with the one eare, hee spitteth out at the other eare. * The good wordes may flow a little into his braine and rin into his memorie, so that thereof hee may prattle like a Paroquet, but nothing goeth down to his heart, which I may call the stomacke of the Soule. * If a man should but taste food, were it neuer so fit of it selfe for to feed, hee should not bee able to Hue thereby. It is euen so of the wicked spirituallie. They cannot Hue by tast- ing of graces, where God hath not opened the heart as hee opened the heart of Lydia, there is nothing but a tasted grace. Let mee yet cleare the matter. * Note. * Note. Hos. 6. 4. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. Act.16.14. 160 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. * Note. I Sam. 18. 18. * Note. '2 Sara. 9. 8 * Note. * Note. Luk.lo.16 * Note. * Note. Luk.lG.i. * Note. ' The wicked will get a taste of heaven, as the godlie will get a taste of hell. * In this doing, 1 obserue a secret lust ice, and a secret mercie of God. It is a mercie for the godlie that they taste the bitternesse of wrath heere, that they may esteeme the more of heauen's glorie heere after. * The baser our estate bee before wee bee exalted, wee shall thinke the more of honour when it commeth. What am I, saide Dauid, beeing but a shepheard, that I should marrie a Kinge's Daughter ? Who am I ? saide hee, and ivhat is my life, or my father's f ami-lie in Israel, that I should bee Sonne in laic to the King ? * If Dauid had beene a Kinge's Sonne, hee could haue well thought himselfe an cquall match for a Kinge's Daughter ; but while hee considered his own base estate and the basenesse of his father's familie, hee thought himselfe so ouermatcht, that hee wondered at such honour, which made him say, Who am I? What am I, saide lamed Mephibosheth, that I, a dead dog, should sitte at the Table of a King ? * The greater aduersitie a man bee come out of, the more sweete is his prosperitie when it commeth. * The tempestuous bypast blastes of Winter commend the beautie of the Spring. * Bring mee a man who is daylie accustomed to good cheare, to a Banquet, and little shall hee thinke of it, because such is his ordinarie fare. But, O if bread was not sweete to that hunger-bitten forlorne, when hee came home, from his huskes ! * I thinke that the godlie in heauen shall remember of the bitter taste of wrath they felt on earth, which shall so rauish them with joye of their changed estate, that no tongue shall bee able to expresse. * But againe, heere is lustice and wrath for the wicked. God in this life giueth vnto them a taste of his sweete thinges. Some common spirituall confections hee putteth into their mouth, whereof they finde some heauenlie relish. * I am of this opinion, that while they shall bee in hell, the remembrance of that sweete taste shall neuer goe out of their heart, which shall bee a most powerfull meanes for die increasing of their smart. * What a sting was this vnto the glutton in hell, when Abraham saide to him, Sonne, remember that thou in thy life-time recieuedst thy good thinges I ' Yee may see heere that the wicked haue remembrance in hell of what good thinges they haue receiued on earth, which is an hell in hell. Thus as yee see, God in lustice and in wrath will let the Wicked heere on earth taste his good thinges, for the increase Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 161 of their woe thereafter. *By the sweete taste they had of God on earth while they liued, they know now in Hell, which * is a part of their torment, what joye the godlie haue in Heauen. * Andagaine, the godlie, by that bitter taste of wrath which once they felt on earth, shall know, which shall wonderfullie increase their joye, what tormentes the wicked suffer in hell) from which the Lord in his vnspeakable mercie hath made them free. By this, as yee perceiue, both the godlie and the wicked taste heere both of Hell and of Heauen. The godlie taste of Hell, that Heauen may bee to them the sweeter. The wicked taste of Heauen, that Hell may bee to them the sowrer. God loueth not the wicked, but hateth them as hee hated Esau. * For this cause, while hee giueth them a taste of his good thinges, it is that while they shall bee in easelesse and end- lesse tormentes, they may remember how siveete a God they haue despised, and how sowre a Sathan they haue serued. * All these good thinges which are jointlie in the wicked man, are but like fair e attyre vpon a leper ous bodie, or like jewels about the necke of an hanged man. Hee hath nothing but the dead portraiture of an Israelite indeede. * But in all this time, while vnder the shewes of godlinesse, hee is drinking in iniquitie like water : a dreadfull sound is in his eares, for hee knoweth that the day of darknesse is readie at his hand. God at last in great wrath shall runne vpon him, euen on his necke, vpon the thicke bosses of his buckler, because hee did couer his face with fatnesse, and made collops of fatte on his flankes, not caring for the lean- nesse of his poore Soule. * Woe' to these, who content with bare tasting of graces, inwrappe themselues in cloudes of hypocrisie ! The Sicke Man. My Soule, Sir, rejoyceth to heare you speake. * I perceiue now by your speach, that the wicked will get a taste of spirituall yood thinges into their mouth, but that from thence nothing commeth downe to their heart, because the passage is stopped. The Pastour. It is euen so. * Quod non deglutiunt multo minus concoquunt, that which they cannot swallow downe, lesse can they digest. * The heartes of all men are naturallie fast shute for to holde out God. Christ found the doore of his Spouse barred when hee came, neither would shee open it, till the sauour of his Mir re had wrought vpon * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. loh. 1.47 * Note. Iob,l5.l6 Verse. 23 * Note. * Note. Note. * Note. Cant. 5. 2 Verse 5. 162 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. 'sal.10.-J. Act. 16. 14. * Note. * Note. Heb. 10.29 * Note. * Note. Act. 8. 17 Verse 18 * Note. * Note. ier heart. At the best of men's heartes hee must often stand and knocke, againe and againe. But as for the wick- ;d man's heart, it hath no entrie for grace, not in all his houyhts. The heart of a Reprobate is like a Pest house, :losed vp. Lidiah's heart was closed till God opened it. " Thus as yee see, the wicked may, for to speak so, get a mouthfull of God's qood thinqes, which they will taste (and) as t were, rollvp and downe with their tongue, like a sweete'mor- ell, with some sort of pleasure. * But at once they loath that which they loued, and spitte out these heauenlie confec- tions. Thus doing they are saide to do despight vnto the Spirit of Grace. O but the hollow heart of man harbour- eth manie close corruptions ! The Sicke Man. Now, Sir, I pray you proceede. Let mee heare some thing concerning the third difficultie, which is, that a Reprobate may bee made partaker of the Holie Ghost. How can this bee ? * This seemeth to bee verie bard and knottie, that a man can bee a Reprobate, a limbe of Sathan, and one of thefamilie of hell, and yet bee made partaker of the Holie Ghost. Let mee vnderstand what is that to say. The Pastour. * By the Holie Ghost in Scripture are often vnderstood the giftes and graces of the Holie Ghost. According to this it is saide, that these of Samariah receiued the Holie Ghost ; after that Peter and lohn had prayed for them, and laide hands vpon them, they receiued the Holie Ghost, that is, spirituall giftes. It was for to haue a power to giue such giftes, that Simon Magus offered money to the Apostles. * Whereas then it is saide that Reprobates are partakers of the Holie Ghost, it is too bee vnderstood of such giftes that are common both to the Godlie and Wicked. The best temper of their religion, and the highest pitch of all their holinesse, is nothing but outwardnesse and formall Christianitie. The Sicke Man. I desire earnestlie to know what com- mon giftes these bee that the Holie Ghost will bestow vpon a Reprobate. The Pastour. A Reprobate may carrie the matter smoothlie for a time. * Hee may wonderfullie invvrappe himselfe in f/odlie qlancing- shelves, so that hee cannot bee espyed for a space ; by & juggling dissimulation, hee will euen bleare the eyes of the Prophets, which are God's Seers. Doubts, OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 163 * When hee is clothed with a coat of formes, men will thinke that vnder such formes bee the true substance. While hee hath that pogQufftg rqg yv&jff&us forme of 'knowledge ; and that jjtd^dxrt? wff&stas, forme of godlinesse, men who see not as God seeth, will take him to bee some great Diuine, while indeede all the graces hee hath are but formes and outward- nesse, without anie life or roote of sound inward sanctifying grace. All such formes in end proue starke nought. * A Reprobate may bee a teacher of God's word, a builder of God's House, like Noah's Carpenters, who builded the A.rke, and yet drowned into the floode. * Hee may blaze like a Comet with colourable pretences of pietie, and shew light vnto others for a space, yea, so that with most glorious glances hee shall make men's eyes to dazzle, and yet shall at last dye out, leauing nothing behinde but the smoke andstinke of an euill life, like the snuffe of a Candle when there is loathsome reeke without a Jlamme. * An Hypocrite may bee a man of a milde and mercifull disposition, yea, zealous in appearance, without any scene blot or blemish. By his hypocrisie hee may do good to others. Men seeing him will stand in awe to offend, thinking him to bee a sincere man. * A Reprobate will bee like the man that beareth the Lan- terne in the darke night, wherewith while hee giueth light vnto others, hee is least inlightened himselfe. * While others by that light will see the best and cleanest way, hee himselfe and lanterns together will fall into a mire. * Thus after that his light is quenched in some scandalous puddle, the followers know what a man hee was. A Reprobate may haue immunitie from grosse and in- famous sinnes, hee may bee a man of great giftes, wondered at by manie, as was Simon Magus, to whom all gaue heede, from the least to the Greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. * A whole people's applause is no sure token of God's fauour. * As Sirion, which is Hermon, was called by Moses, Sion, so may a godlie man both thinke and call an Hypocrite a cho- sen vessel. * Of such a man often may a godlie man say, as Elisha saide of the Shunamite lying at his feete, The Lord hath hid it from mee, and hath not tolde mee. * The godlie and wicked are sibber vnto other in outward shewes than Sirion and Sion are sibbe in syllabes. Nay, in out- wardnesse and glorious glances, the wicked beare the Bell, * Note. Rom.2.20. 2Tim.3.5. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Act. 8. 9. * Note. * Note. Deut.3.4S * Note. * Note. 164 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. (Sam.16.6 Verso 7. hidg.l2.fi. I Sam. 20. 9. * Note. 27. 1 Sam. 17. 6. * Note. * Note. because their greatest care is cunninglie to manage and eager- lie to catch such vaine applause. * The high stature and faire face of Eliab deceiued the Seer: Surelie, saide hee, the Lord's anointed is before him, and yet for all that the voyce come out from God, declaring that God had refused him. That which is like vnto another, is not that wherevnto it is like. There is but an H betweene Sibboleth and Shibbol- eth, and yet the losse of that letter cost the Ephraimites their Hues at the passage of lordan. The want of that note of Aspiration made them to losse their breath with their life. Manie vnder a maske of mildnesse may deceiue men with fair wordes, as loab did Amasa ; but God well knoweth the Galilean accent, though Peter should denye with an oath. The craft of Hypocrites is wonderfull. * While they walke in a plodding course of glorious shewes, beeing fast nailed vnto outward formalitie, they will wonderfullie bleare the eyes of men, so that they will out-steppe the best in low, louring, and counterfeit crouching. Who would not haue thought Ahab a true repenting man, while sicke in sacke hee went softlie with sackcloth nearest his skinne ? Man's eyes are easilie, easilie juggled with soddered shewes. But God, who seeth not as man seeth, looketh on the heart. They that see such painted men, as they themselues also, may thinke that they are alreadie possessed of the Kingdome of grace, and also intituled to the Kingdoms of glorie, while indeede they are but prophane men of seared Consciences, seeking for no- thing but popular applauses, for the aduancement either of their profite or preferment, or reputation and worth. By some worldlie respect they euer are carried on the by, where- by they euer come short of sinceritie. * Woe vnto them euen when all men shall speake good of them ! * For a space they may well thinke, in their own fond conceite, that they are stored with all the riches of God's graces, like Beggers in their sleepe, dreaming that they are tumbling themselues amid great heapes of gold. O but when such awake, they are not onlie emptie of their imagined good, but filled with sorrow for beeing depriued of that which they had, in their imagination, the greatest ground of their con- tentment. Thus all comfortes shall bee sweept from them with the besome of vtter desolation. O the deceitfulnesse of man's heart ! JPho can know Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. it ? saide leremie. * What eye can pierce and passe thorow all the wyles and windings of \ti\ juggling sin of Hypocrites, which hauing nothing but f&ogtpvffts Vff&ictg, a forme of god- linesse, which beare the world in hand that they are scalded and burnt with the zeale of God '* House ? The best thinges that are in such are nothing but ciuitt outwardnesse, clothed with colourable pretences of pietie, without any justifying faith in the heart, or renewing power in the Soule, wherein is the practise of pietie. What shall 1 say more ? A Reprobate, as yee see, may bee both courtesse and kinde, solacious in conuersation, a man beloued of his neighbours ; yea, such a man may driue out his dayes without anie seene blot, or outward scandal. Hy- pocrisie may bee so small spunne that no carnall eye can per- ceiue it. Such a man also may haue some troubles of conscience, some secrete checkes of remorse, for his by-gone folies, euen ludas his {bsrocp&eia, repenting or forethinking : but his Soule was neuer acquainted with travailing and hard labour in the newe birth, which is borne with that ^zruvoia,, euen an vniuersall change of minde, will, and affections, which is onlie peculiar to the godlie. I will yet say more : a Reprobate, while hee possesseth a true doctrine, though but outwardlie, hee may haue the gift of prophecie, with Saul and Caiaphas, yea, of miracles, and also of healings, of helpes in gouernments, and of diuersities of tongues. * Beholde how a wicked man may bee a Preach- er, and a Prophet, or among the Prophets, and a worker of niracles. Haue wee not cast out deuills in thy Name ? shall manie say to Christ at the day of judgement ; to whom Christ shall answere, Departefrom mee, for I know you not. All these good thinges may a man haue, and yet bee a stranger from the life of God. * Though such outward thinges haue a glorious appearance, and bee great in the eye of the world, yet they are no sure token of God's loue. * Did not Christ call ludas, Friend? All the common giftes and graces of the wicked, are nothing but like the friendship that was betvveene Christ and ludas, whom Christ called Friend, for to let him know that the greater was his sin. Such, for all their glistering shewes, are strangers from the life of God, holden fast vnder the power of the first death ; and yet none so much as they, are puft vp with a conceite of imaginarie 165 * Note. * Note. I Sara. 10 12.' Mat. 7. 22 Verse 32, * Note. * Note. Mat. 20..5C 166 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. Mar. 6. 20. * Note. * Note. Mar. 6. 28. * Note. Reu. 3. 4 Isa. 17.6. , uk. I >..'}:> *' Note. perfection, so powerful! is the deuillish influence of pride. The greater God's giftes shall bee into the wicked, the greater shall bee their woe. The Sicke Man. 1 haue heard, and am satisfied concern- ing that the wicked may bee made partakers of the Holie Ghost. I pray you to discusse the fourth difficultie, which is, that a man may taste the good word of God, and yet bee a Reprobate. The Pastour. Hee will indeede, Sir, taste the good word of Gody as I haue expounded that hee will taste the heauenlie gift. * Hee will taste the good word of God, that is, hee will vnderstand the Word, hee will take pleasure to read it, and to heare it preached, with some flashes of comfort, where- by hee will bee moued to harbour some good meanings and intentions, not onlie that, but also hee will do manie thinges, as Herod, who heard lohn gladlie, and did also manie thinges. * But such a man hath euer some Herodias, a darling sin, secrete or knowne, which hee would preferre to the head of lohn the Baptist. * While hee is in the Church, it may bee, hee heare the Word with some gladnesse, yea, and weete his cheekes with teares at the preaching of Christe's Passion, but let him goe from thence to his Banqueting, a dancing of a daughter of this Herodias, viz. some little tick- liny joye of his Mistresse, and predominant sin, will make him to forget all that was preached. A small requeast of ome dancing deuill will make such a man, if hee bee of power, to lay the Preacher's head in a platter. * There bee manie who, while they heare the Word preach- d in the Church, are like a Siffe or Riddle into the water : o long as they are in hearing, they seeme to bee full of God's word, euen to the brim ; but so soone as they are once de- jarted, all that they heard runneth out, and they to their olde *yas againe. The best thinges that are in the wicked are to [jod, as who, for a sacrifice should cut off a Dog's necke, or offer Sicyne's blood. The Sicke Man. This is a strange matter. This world, is I see, is like Sardis : Thou hast afewe names in Sardis, which haue not defiled their garments. The Godlie are as the baking of the Olive, Two or three Berries in the toppe of the rppermost bough. Christ called them well, The httle ftocke. Great, as 1 see, is the deceitfulnesse of sin. * I thought when I saw a man or a woman, hearing the \\ ord Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 167 with great attention, and whiles with teares, that these could not bee but the Lord's chosen and dearest ones. And yet I see that a man may heare the Word with great appearance of godlinesse, yea, and thinke the Word most sweete for the time, yea, loue and reuerence God's Messengers, and yet for all that bee kept short of the state of Grace. The Pastour. All that is true ; for Herod reuerenced lohn for a space, and heard him gladlie ; Simon Magus be- lieued with a temporarie faith ; and Esau, though hee wept and sought the blessing with manie teares, yet could finde no place in his heart where hee could lodge true Repentance. Manie are endewed with painted graces, which hauing but the face and not the heart of grace, are meere hypocrisie, euen vices masked with the appearance of vertues. Such formall holie persons come farre short of beeing in Christ lesvs, in whom all true goodnesse is most liuelie incorporate. The Sicke Man. I haue heard you, Sir, discusse, verie pertinently, foure difficulties ; the fift and last, and greatest, is behinde. Often haue I wondered what could bee the true sense and meaning thereof : the wordes are these, hee will taste of the powers of the world to come. What can a Re- probate haue to do with the world to come ? I vnderstand not well these wordes. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, they want not difficultie. Some of the Learned thinke, with S. Chrysostome, that by the powers of the world to come, are to bee vnderstood, the powerfull working and miracles vnder the Gospel, which in respect of the Law was called, The world to come, as if the dayes of the Gospel were the dayes of a newe world, since Christ, that Day Spring from on high, and most glori- ous Sunne of Righteousnesse, did appeare for to inlighten euerie man that commeth into this world. But in my judge- ment that bee more subtile than solide. * I had rather thinke that Reprobates are saide to taste of the powers of the world to come when they finde some sort of sweetnesse in God, with a kinde of desire to bee out of this world, for to bee with God into the heauens. * Such a desire betimes will make their heartes Jlutter vp toward these heauenlie Mansions. * But such fluttering desires, wanting the feathers of Faith, incontinent come short, and fall downe againe with a jumpe. Hee hath not a settled constancie, nor well grounded resolution. God at some times will let the Wicked see some glimpse of his Act. 8. 13. Heb.12.17 Luk.1.78. Mai. 4. 2. * Note. * Note. * Note. 168 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts * Note. * Note. * Note. glorie, as it were a lightning that passeth most swiftlie away, which for a little space in the darke night letteth a man see tha which is before him ; but so soone as it is past, his eyes be* come more dazzled and darkened, than they were of before ; such powers are but painted powers. They are indeede like the lining powers as an imaye is like a man, but they want the heart of godlinesse. Thus according- to my knowledge, in a serious and impar- tiall search, is all the wicked man's progresse toward the kingdome of glorie. All the best graces that hee hath, are but glances of graces and dreames of glorie, euen extreme pouertie, glorious sinncs, beautifull abominations. These bee God's limits, who hath saide to him, as hee saide to the proud waues, Hitherto shall yee come and no further. Such a man in his best estate and conceite is but an Hy- pocrite lurking vnder the Canopie of a counterfeit profession. His best estate is both broken and banqueroupt in spiritual! thinges. * For a space such a man may goe pleasantlie like a Shippe before the winde, but at last downe commeth a blast of judgement, and sinketh him downe irrecouerablie into the bottome of hell. The Sicke Man. I am glad to haue heard the solutions of these fiue difficulties, which often did trouble my minde. By all your discourse I perceiue that the Reprobates at their best, feele but some generall good motions, and that all their perswasions, that they shall at last come to heauen, are nothing but imaginations, and vaine dreames of glorie. Manie in mine opinion are deceiued in this world, who like these that dreame, thinke they awake, while they indeede are fast asleepe. Manie in this world as I see, thinke to bee saued, whose thoughts shall proue to bee but dreames, some obscure printes of vnsound joyes. Though for a space they may bee of good acceptance with the most godlie, and clappe their own hands, as if they were in the passage to Paradise, they are in end disappointed, because they want true inward lolinesse, without which no man shall see God's face. The Pastour. It is most true, Sir, for as men for the most part desire to bee flattered by others, so they take de- ight to flatter themselues, feeding v-pon fond fancies and phantasies, like Hypochondriackes, or braine sickc, who can- not bee perswaded, but that they are Kinges, while indeede they are but Beggers. Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. I6y The Sicke Man. This is a terrible disease. * But to leaue the Reprobates, and come to the Elect, I desire now to know of you what bee that speciall spirituall working, which is onlie peculiar to the Elect and chosen ones of God. I wish to heare of the proceedings of God's Spirit working into the heartes of the godlie vnto their Saluation. The godlie I am assured are of a more noble and heauenlie tem- per, full of the Spirit of Grace. The Pastour. * In my judgement, where the Spirit of God worketh to the Saluation of the Soule of a sinner, before it come to a full persuasion and hight of assurance, there is first a tempest of wrath against sin, going before the comming of God in his mercie, viz. a shaking winde, a trembling earth- quake, a burning fire, which like three grimme posts come running before to tell that God is comming into the calme. * Before that God shew his presence into the still voyce, hee proceedeth by steppes and degrees. First hee rebuketh the sinner of sin, and wakeneth his Conscience with some sight of his iniquities, and with some sense of that wrath which sin hath deserued. From this ariseth a great heaui- nesse into the heart, which breaketh foorth both in speach and countenance, so that the world, which knew him of before, will wonder at his change, as if hee were a creature cast into another mould. * After that God hath thus prepared the Soule of men with thundering tempests and tremblings, with blastes and with burnings, and thereby hath made them more afraide of sin than they were of before of sin itselfe, at last hee commeth vnto them into the calme of his mercie, and first giueth vnto them grace to flee all occasions of sin, and after that, to hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh. *Hee who in despight can gnash his teeth against that wherein once hee tooke pleasure, to displease his God, is not a sholler of flesh and blood, not a naturall man that is content with ciueli outwardnesse. * After that the Spirit hath wrought a detestation and hatred of sin into the heart, hee putteth a cry into the heart for mercie, with si.ghes and sobbes which cannot bee expressed. * Sometimes these sighes will breake out into such wordes, that both speaker and hearer will won- der wherefrae they come. * After that, the Spirit in his motions by a sweete and silent inspiration, goeth forwarde in his progresse into the heart by little and little, with -Life, Light, Libertie, and peace of Conscience, euen that peace * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. [udff.5.23. * Note. * Note. Note. * Note. 170 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. * Note. Reu. 2.17. Cor. 12.+. * Not<>. Gen.I9.-JO Note. * Not*-. 2Tim.!.s which passeth all vnderstanding, and so cannot bee expressed n humane wordes. Now am I come, Sir, as yee heare, ad metam non loquendi, that I can say no more. * It were >ut folie for mee to dyue so deepe in God's workinges, as 'or to take vnto mee to declare vnto you that which passetb all vnderstanding. * The newe name into the white Stone, s knowne to none but to these that haue receiued it. Though ice that hath this name know it himselfe, yet hee cannot vtter it It is like these wordes of Paradise which S. Paul called unspeakable. Now for to sum vp breaflie all that hath beene declared in a more large and ample discourse, I shall obserue three thinges which are onlie rooted in the godlie heart, and are altogether trangers from the Reprobates. * First, where true grace is, there is a remorse andpain- full griej , with manie sore sighes, for all bygone slips. By this as by a Bitte or Bridle the Soule of the godlie man is kept from backslidings and scandalous stumbling relapses. Secondlie, hee hath a present quiche feeling of these sinnes, which of before hee counted but little and veniel. If it bee sin, hee will say no more, Is it not a little one ? * A lye for luce, or for sport, yea, a light idle word will checke him at once in the Conscience, though hee were persuaded that it were neuer knowne to anie. Last of all, by a long practise in well doing, hee acquireth in his Soule an habituall tendernesse, whereby the former good motions are so confirmed and strengthened, that it is a pleasure to him to do well. Off this ariseth the gracious and most sweete temper of the good Conscience, which is to his Soule a perpetual feast. This is the Christian's progresse in true godlinesse, which is neuer so calme in this world, that it can bee saide to bee without troubles, which marke the way vnto glorie. Thus much for the proofe of the point in hand. * Onlie this I desire you to obserue, that such spirituall workinges goe by degrees, like a Riuer that is waxing, like an Herbe that is growing^ like a day that is but dawning, or like a Victorie but beginning. At last commeth now full Flood, now is perfect growth, now is Noone-day, now haue I foughten the good Jight, and now I looke for the crowne of righteousnesse. This beeing all finished, the repenting sin- ner entereth into glorie, the place of full contentment, where Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 171 the restlesse eyes of man's desire, shall rest from peeping or prying anie further for anie greater felicitie. Thus breaflie, by waye of compend, haue I declared vnto you. But all this is not so soone done as saide. Sitter bee the Battells of a Christian before hee can come to this rest. There bee bloodie battells against the Deuill, bloodie battells against the World, bitter and bloodie battells against the cor- ruptions of his flesh. Manie a stroke will hee giue vpon his breast with the Publican, manie a stroke will hee giue vpon his thigh, crying with Ephraim, fye! What haue I done? * S. Paul was pricked with a thorne in the flesh, and buf- feted by a deuill, before hee got the Crowne. * Christ him- selfe, speaking of himselfe, saide, Ought not Christ to haue suffered all these thinges, and so to enter into his glorie ? It is easie to heare this short discourse of wordes. * But what paines are into the second Birth. The paines of the first Birth are so piercing, that the verie paines of hell are compared vnto them. And yet I haue knowne women who by their own confession, haue trauailled more into the second birth, than euer they did in the first. * Manie would bee content to die for to bee borne againe. This flesh of ours is ill to die, yet it must die, and bee mortified. At the birth of Ichabod, where is the glorie ? The first wordes that this newe creature learneth to speake, is, Where is the glorie ? * At the first it seeketh after God's glorie, as the newe borne Babe at the first seeketh after the dug with the tongue and the lips. * It is the best foode of a regenerate Soule to set out God's glorie, as it was our Sauiour's meate to do his Father's will. After all that, the Soule maketh a procession in well do- ing-, neuer standing at a stand, but euer going forward, though sometimes more slowlie. The way to glorie is from grace to grace. * Manie foullie deceiue themselues : because that they forbeare one sin or other, wherevnto at other times they haue beene most slatiishlie addicted, they thinke them- selues reformed men, and that if death should come, inconti- nent the doores of Heauen should goe wide open to the walls, for to let in their Soules with their formes of godlinesse. Such are so high in their own conceite, that they thinke to bee after death cannonized sainctes. Of this sorte bee so manie, that Scripture calleth them a generation. There is a (generation that arc pure in their ler. 31-19. * Note. 2 Cor. 12.7. * Note. Luk. 24.26 * Note. S;im.t.2. * Note. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Proii.oO.i. 172 THE LAST BATTELL Doubts. * Note. * Note. Gen. 4. 11 lob. 12. 6 Luk.18.11 * Note. own conceite, and yet are not washed from their jilthinesse. In him who is truelie a childe of God, the strongest cor- ruptions of the flesh must bee snaffled and curbed bv the Law of the Spirit. * It is not enough to beate downe one sin, or two, or manie, as manie will do, but reserue aye some one or other, for which they must pray with, Naaman, In this thing the Lord pardon thy seruant. * Let no man deceiue hirnselfe; there is no place in Hea- ueh, but for him or her whose studie is applied to an vniuer- sall sinceritie of all their wayes. Let it bee that Cain was not a Theefe, but did not Goc curse him for his murther ? Let it bee that ludas was free of manie sinnes, yet because hee was a Theefe and a Trai- tour, and died so, hee was damned. Let it bee that the Pharisee was not an adulterer, as hee bragged, yet his prid was the bane of his Saluation. * Hee that maketh not conscience of the least sin, is guiltie of the greatest. According to this God himselfe saith, that whofaileth in one,faileth in all. If for God and for Con- science sake, a man abhorre the great sinnes of murther and adulterie, and such others of notorious rank, for these same sakes hee will abstaine from lesser sinnes, otherwayes it is but some worldlie respect, either for shame or losse, which like a restraining grace, withholdeth him from matching the same. Manie will neither kill, nor commit adulterie, and yet will make no conscience to slander or lye, either in sport or earnest, or by hooke or crooke catch that which is not their own. Whoeuer hee bee, who without controlement looseth the reines to such petit sinnes, hath neuer as yet set his foote forward in the way that leadeth to life : the Spirit of grace as yet hath made no residence into him. The Spi- rit hee hath, is but a sporting Spirit deceiuing him with lyes. The surest note of the Spirit of the grace, is a sanctified studie and endeauour to an vniuersall sinceritie in all our tvayes, of thought, word, and deede, which will bee I confesse often with great weaknesse and failing, for in manie thinges wee offend all. Now, Sir, what thinke yee of all that hath beene saide ? according to the knowledge that God hath giuen mee, I haue cleared your doubts. If my discourse hath done you good, je God the praise, yet would I know what all these wordes lath wrought in your heart. Doubts. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 173 The Sicke Man I blesse God for that which I haue heard. * By God's Grace I haue catcht some hope of a bet- ter life. The desires of mine heart beginne to enter the confines of eternitie. I finde the motions of the Spirit of Grace, working into my Soule the great worke of Saluation. I am now refreshed with the sweete streames of spiritual 1 comfortes. I finde now my Soule lifted vp toward God, and I finde the loue of this world falling downe like the Mantle of Elijah. I thinke that I goe now more sweetlie and swiftlie to my God, with a more holie arid heauenlie desire than euer I did heeretofore. Your comfortes, Sir, make mee to hye faster. * I take this to bee a newe workmanship of grace. * I hope shortlie to bee at the vpshot of all my trou- bles. * I finde within mine heart some kindled joye, which I take to bee the pawne of pleasures for euermore. The Spi- rit of God like a Done hath brought vnto my Soule a com- fort like an Oliue leaue, assuring mee in some weake mea- sure, that thejloode of God's wrath is asswadged vpon my Soule. What shall I say ? The best of God's blessings are behinde. Oh that now my Sauiour were into the cloudes ! I had rather die, than I should Hue for to anger the Lord againe. Alas, that mine heart hath beene so glewed to the ground like a shell Snaile fastened on the wall ! Seeing, Sir, God hath wrought so well by you in this great worke of my conuersion, I intreat you to continue in some good purpose, that my minde may still bee keept bended vpon that which is good. * If yee leaue off' to teach mee, my minde will but wander in vanitie. O Lord, worke all my thoughts to holie and heauenlie meditations. The Pastour. Blessed bee God who hath giuen you such a resolute and contented minde. See what yee desire mee to speake chieflie of at this time. The Sicke Man. * Seeing I am shortlie for to leaue this world and to goe to the Heauens, for to take out of mine heart the least roote of regret to quite this world, I pray you, Sir, to say something of the vanitie of this world, of the last Judgement, and of the joyes of ffeauen, where short- lie I hope to bee. Let mee heare how I shall losse nothing in the change. Striue, Sir, I pray to kindle and blow vp the dying fire of my deuotion, helpe mee to goe from strength to strength, till 1 bee in Zion. The Pastour. The Lord put such wordes into my mouth, * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.16.11 Gen. 8.11. Note. 174 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie o * Note. Gen. :}. 8 Eccles. 1 .2 * Note. * Note. Heb.2.13. * Note. * Note. * Note. which may hee able to winne your Soule vp to Heauen, am to weane it from all worldlie pleasures. First, for to speake but a word in generall concerning this world. * What is it but a piece of earth, made barren with God's curse, whose fruites without sweatie labours, are but thistles and thornes ? As for the vanitie of the world, seculum speculum, thi world is a glasse wherein a drumlie eye may see its vanitie. Hee who was wisest in it, speaking of it, after that hee was tyred with trying its pleasures, preached that it was but vani- tie of vanities, a verie Idea, that is the abstract of vanities, which are the abstracts of thinges that are vaine. * So ac- cording to Solomon's Text, all that wee account most sub- stantiall, is but an abstract of an abstract, as if a man shouki dreame that hee dreamed, which should bee the dreame of a dreame. * This is like that vanitie which Habakkuke call- eth verie vanitie, wherein are some fewe flashes of deceiuable comfortes. Thus as yee see, the life of man in this world is nothing but &fardle of vanities, shadowes and dreames, a bundle oi displeasing pleasures, vaine in inside and outside too. * Our greatest pleasures heere are but a mixture of miserie. They are soone marred like a mistuned song. * Thejlees in the alague of flees, were not so thicke in Egypt as vanities are in ;his world, for which the most part of the world exchange ;he happinesse of their Soules. These who are most glorious n worldlie pompe, are constrained to say at last with that King in Homer : * The great God hath imprisoned mee mth cares ; happie they who are free of such dangers are secured in cottages of clay ! After that man hath beene vpon the toppe of his pompe, and s come to the vertical point of his pleasures, after which hee lath hunted with great eagernesse of heart, hee must come lowne and bee curbed with paines of diuerse diseases, dis- tressed till hee bee turned into dust. * All his pleasures, profiles, and prefermentes shall slide away like a shadow. They shall passe like a Post passing >y, like water lift vp with a Siffe, or sand with openfoigers. As the shippe passeth oner the waues, its trace not heei no- able to bee scene on the brim, or as thejbwle mounting to the Skie, piercing the Aire, so that no mortall eye can per- ceiue any token of her passage, though the eare heare the the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 175 noise of her winges, so shall it bee of all earthlie thinges ; when once the inch of this life beeing ended, our mortall Soule shall bee dislodged out of this clay. All earthlie contentments then shall bee like a Bird, of whose flight no token can bee found, after, for a space by the shaking of her winges shee hath parted the aire, in a greater heminencie of going. In all our greatest pleasures bee lurking sorrowes, like serpentes among the grassse, which maketh way to a fairing man to step backe or start aside. Oh, that wee were wise ! What shall I say ? In this transitorie life wee are rniserablie blindfolded ; because wee loue not the heauens, God letteth vs dote vpon the earth. It is righteous with God so to do. Of all this wee must say, This is the Lord's doing, it is maruellous in our eyes. Oh, that wee could consider ! In these last dayes of this world, there is come vpon the world a plague of vanitie, like a plague ofjlees, whereof pride is Beelzebub the master flee, which buzzeth in most men and women's heads, commanding other legions of vanities full of fretting sorrowes, or of false flat- tering pleasures wherewith the sillie Soule is fettered. * The whole life of man in inclosed in Mesopotamia betweene two riuers of teares ; First, wee mourne at our Birth, and last, others mourne at our Burial. Nascimur flentes morimur gementes. * The whole bounds of our life is inclosed be- tweene weeping and groning. * At the first sight of the light wee weepe, and last at the closing of our eyes, wee gaspe out our life with a grone. What shall I say ? So sooue as wee are borne, wee are gone like a shadow when it declineth. Oh, that wee could consider that there is nothing heere which is not mixed with some spyce of vanitie ! * If wee had eyes to see, wee would say, What is below in this Region of corruption, without corruption or contempt ? * Within vs, without vs, aboue vs, about vs, all is out of order. The powers oftheheauens are shaken, the Aire about our heads is full of tempests and flashing meteors : the world is waxed olde, arid is come to its decrepite age. The last dayes are dayes of diseases, the companions of olde age. All is wrong, the Church is sicke of sects, the Sea is full of Pyrates, and the Land of Robbers, yea, and of shines and sicknesse vn- knowne to former ages. The. godlie are as sheepe among wolues. Psal. 117. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. 109. 23. * Note. * Note. Mat. 10.16 176 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of Psjil. 55.6 * Note. Psal.l <)'., * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. rud.lti.21. * Note. * Note. ! Kin. k" Note. that I had winyes, like a Done, for then would IJlee away and bee at rest ! * Heere is nothing but AJesech and Kedar, where there is nothing but woe for the godlie which dwell therein. * Where shall a godlie man liue, or in what state shall hee liue ? or how shall hee liue ? but hee shall bee battered and besieged with much toyle and turmoyle ? * If hee bee wealthie, hee shall bee enuied. If hee bee poore, hee shall bee despised. If hee bee wise, hee shall bee accounted craftie. If hee bee simple, hee shall bee called foolish. * All that is within vs, all that is without vs, yea, and in ourselues, are readie to be- tray vs, and to giue vs vp into the hands of our enemies. The eyes beholde, that vanitie may come in. The eares hearken like open Jloode gates, to lette in streames of vanities for to drowne the Soule. The false heart within, that keep- eth the keyes of all the senses, while the Soule is sleeping bringeth in vpon it, like a Delilah, a number of cruel Phili- stines. * Thus the strong men of Israel is made a jest and mocke vnto the vncircumcised, that belong not to the couenant. This whole world is but a world of vanitie. The wise man Solomon, the mirrour of wisdome and wonder of the world, was sent into this world as a spye from God for the well of man. * By his wisdome his minde ran thorow the world like a Pilgrime from countrie to countrie, yea, like a Bee from herbe to herbe, for to taste them. Hee considered all the trees from the Cedar to the Hyssope for toprye into, and pierce the pith and vertues of all thinges abroad, for to take thorow notice thereof. After that hee had thus wand- ered, beeing come home againe from his pilgrimage, the world flocked about him, to search what hee had heard and scene abroad, and what hee thought of the world, and of all the glorie thereof. * What newes, Solomon ? did the World- lings say, whose heart is like a Ferret in the earth. What hast thou seene or heard ? Solomon contracted! all his Newes into a Line, Vanitie of vanities, and all is vanitie! All these thinges which are so loued, I haue looked into, would Solomon say, but I haue found nothing but vanitie from the barke to the bone- * In Trees is vanitie, in Herbes is vanitie, as well in the Cedar as in the Hyssope. In Sil- uer is vanitie, in Gold is vanitie, in lewels is vanitie, in Honour is vanitie, in Cloathing is vanitie, in Strength is the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. vanitie, in Wisdome is vanitie, in Beautie is vanitie. In a word, all is full of vanitie, yea, all is vanitie, yea, vanitie of vanities. AU the creatures, saith the Apostle, the Spye of the New Testament, are subject to vanitie. * For the sin of man, all the Creatures haue lost that glorie and liber- tie which once they had, and are become slaues vnder a base bondage, vnder which they (jrone as a woman in trauaill. All earthlie comfortes which spring out of sinfull pleasures faile and fade like grasse. * Alas ! what is heere that should moue a Soule to desire to sojourne heere but a moment. * This world is a Tenise of temptations, wherein the sil- lie Soule, like a ball without anie ceasing, is tossed from wall to wall, as one waue of the Sea rusheth vpon another, beeing carried with a gale of winde ; so do all sortes of sorrowes heere, as in a moued sea, swell, roll, and rage, with most fearefull rushinges, vpon man, till hee bee turned into froth. * It is a wonder how the eyes of man should bee so bleared, or rather juggled, that anie thing below should make him to say, as they saide on Tabor who knew not what they saide, It is good for vs to bee heere, and yet who is hee that is not dulled and darkened with the cloudes of folie ? Is not this world a wildernesse ? the wayes thereof are rough and crooked. * Man's best thinges heere are like the Heartechoke, whereof the most part is vnprofitable leaues. * Our joy es are joyned with sorrowes, checker worke, white and blacke, like Litties among thornes. * Our hopes heere are vaine, the profite is false, the plea- sures are passing, the labours are losse, the promises are but lyes. * The whole state of this Prince of Creatures is heere but a banishment; heere and there hee stumbleth, where hee thought best to stand ; where hee purposed to take his rest, there hee findeth his ruine. No worldlie comfortes are to bee trusted into, they are like the staffe of a broken reede, whereon if a win leane it will goe into his hand. Do what hee can, some painfull splinter or other, shall bee fastened in his flesh. ; There is nothing on Earth which can bee man- aged with such cunning, that it may bee without cumber. The proudest and loftiest waues of men's designes are easilie broken into foame. * God's fauour is the surest Sanctuarie. Nothing within the compasse of this created world, can yeelde to man solicle comfort or contentment : nothing can possiblie 177 Rom.S.20. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk. 9.33. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isa.36.6. * Note. * Note. 178 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note. Exod.6.3 * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. lO 26. * Note. fill the boundlesse desire of his Soule. * Such a diuine sparkle can neuer cease rising, till it bee joyned to that great SHADAI, GOD all sufficient. Till the Soule bee at Him, it can neuer bee settled, but is euer tossed, whiles to the right hand, and whiles to the left : now it is rauished with joye, and in an instant againe, it is surprised with amazement. Whateuer it enjoyeth heere, it cannot bee content, but is euer foolishlie peeping and prying beyond all that which it hath, affecting with a strong straine, greater riches, high hon- ours, and preferments, which I may call, The guilted glori- ous miseries of mankinde. Woe, woe, woe dwell into that house where such thinges are not sanctified to their owners! O that I could cunninglie rype vp with a Razour this worlde's vanitie, that wee might see it within the bowels ! O what depth of discomfort should bee there scene, if wee had eyes to see ! All the pregnancie of man's Spirit, all the most rich induementes of his minde, without the sanctifying Spi- rit of lesvs, become but an idole of selfe-conceite. * As for all other outward thinges, in the very turning of an hand, and closing of an eye, they often remoue insalutato hospite, not taking their good night. Inconstancie is the poyson of our pleasures. Though a man euen now were neuer so happie in his own conceite, how soone may the Lord sende a change ? * Hee can make the fruite of all his labours to bee like an vntimelie birth, for whom the Mother hath suffered manie woes, and yet could neuer enjoye a sight thereof aliue. The greatest glorie of this world, is like Hills which seeme highest afarre off. * Men in their folie, may say, as Dauid saide in his pro- peritie, / shall neuer bee moved. But, O folie ! there is nothing permanent heere. Man is tossed vp and downe as he Locust, either with discountenance or disappointment, Breaking into foame his projects vpon the rocks of disgrace. All is turned about with a continual! change. There is no Time but it passeth, there is no Day but it darkeneth, there is no Fruite but it rotteth, there is no Flower but it fadeth, there is no Force but it faileth, there is no Strength but it weakeneth, there is no Beautie, but it withereth, there is no Garment but it weareth, yea, the Heauens themselues ica.ve olde, as doeth a garment. * Beholde, how all that is aboue vs, beneath vs, about vs, is full stuffed with vanitie : this at the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 179 last shall worldlings know to bee true, when their laughter shall bee madnesse in their own eyes. It is a wonder how men are so blinde in this glorious Noone-tyde of the Gospel. * All that is most esteemed in this world, the foole's Pa- radise, is chieflie of those, 1. Strength, 2. Honour, 3. Riches, 4. Beautie, 5. Pleasure, 6. Wisdome, J. Children, 8. Long Life : of these thinges may no man say, with Niobe, Exces- seremetum meajam bona, I need not feare to losse them. The Sicke Man. I desire to heare you discusse the vani- tie of these eight thinges seuerallie, for which men straine the vtmost vaine of their wits, as if in this region of corruption such thinges were able to stretch themselues into eternitie. The Pastour. All such thinges are but broken staues of reede, not to bee relyed vpon. * To naturall eyes indeede such thinges are so glancing, that they, like a starre newe created in the Skie, will make them to gaze, yea, often it befalleth that the prosperitie of such thinges enjoyed by the wicked, will not onlie draw the eyes of the Godlie vpon them, but will bee (an) eye-sore vnto them. / was enuious at the foolish, saide Dauid, when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked. Let vs relish these eight thinges a little, and orderlie trie what is their worth. 1. STRENGTH. As for Strength, if Samson the strongest now could speake out of his Graue, hee would teach the liu- ing that it is but a vaine thing. * What a vaine thing is this, which in the highest degree that euer was in man, might bee shauen from him with the lockes of his haire ! Let a Feuer but seize vpon the strongest that euer breath- ed, before it leaue him, it shall teach him to know that all the force of flesh is vanitie. * Reuben, who was called by his Father, the man of his might, and the beginning of his strength, and the excettencie of power, is in the verse following, called, vnstable as water. The Philistines' great man, the strength of Philistia, the terrour of Israel, was felled downe with a stone out of a Shepheard's scrippe and slung. There is no solide strength in flesh, but hee who is strong in God, of him shall bee saide, as was saide of loseph, His bow abode in strength, and the armes of his hand were made strong by the hands of the Almightie GOD of lacob. * Note. * Note. 'sal. 73.3. * Note. Iud.16.19. * Note. Gen. 49.3. Verse 4.' Ten.19.-24 180 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal. 82.7. Act. 12.22 Luk.16.15 1 Sam. 10 22. * Note. * Note. Isa. 5 1 . 1 2 Note. 2. HONOVR. What is honour, which men in the hightof Spirit desire with the strongest straine ? * What is it, but like a King in a play ? when the play is done, the ornaments are taken from him. To-day man is a King, and to-mor- row a Carrion. * The greatest pompe of King Agrippa, and of his Queene Bernice, is called in Scripture language, a meere phantaxie, or euanishing shew. Hee came downe with his Queene, saith S. Luke, (AerawroKhris (f>uvrafficcg, that is, hee came downe with great phantasie. As honours are changeable like &phantasie, so often change they men, so that they become phantasticke. Honores mu- tant mores, Honours change manners, but oftest to the worse. If men knew the vanitie of this point, they would not so eagerlie hunt after that wherein there is no contentment. * After that Alexander had fished the whole world with his herrie water net, what found hee but folie and euan- ishing shewes, whereof the most pleasant relish was like the white of an Egge. wherein is no sauour ? * Kinges, which are the most honourable men of this world, are gods in name but not in nature. I haue saide, Yee are gods, but yee shall die like men. King Herod's flat- terers cryed that hee was God, but Death belyed them, cry- ing that hee was but a man, a god that could not resist the wormes. Often that which is highlie esteemed among men, is an abomination in the sight of God. * God liketh not euer best these to whom hee filleth a full cuppe of temporall felicitie. Hee whom God hath elected to bee a King in Heauen, is often hidde, like Saul among the stuff, or like Come among Chaffe. * I haue obserued in reading the Booke of God, that few Kinges, either of luda or of Israel, receiued anie great praise from God's penne, which can neither faine nor Jiatter. Trueth will yeelde no ground, though it should meete a Ty- rant in the face. * O fainting flatterer ! who darre not preach but to please thy Prince, who art thou, that thou should feare a mortall man, which shall bee made as grasse ? By a wise, graue, godlie reproofe, thou might haue saued his Soule, in whose blood thou hast en brewed thyselfe, either by fearefull silence or flattering eloquence. " O how dangerous is the high estate of Princes, vnto the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. . day. 181 Princes themselues ! They are followed with such applause, that often they are made to forget what they are. / haue called you gods, is the flatterer's Text. Hee cannot passe this point ; his Glasse is runne, and Time is spent, before hee can winne to the other part of the verse, But yee shall die like men. Let vs heare what God himselfe speaketh of the Monarches of his own people. Except a verie few, there is not one but hee is either branded with this, And hee did euillin the sight of the Lord; or with this, And hee followed the sinnes of leroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sin. * Honour will not abide with Kinges, except that they abide with God. While Nebuchadnezar was boasting of his Build- inges, euen while the word was in the Kinge's mouth, there fell a voycefrom Heauen, saying, King Nebuchadnezar, the kingdoms is departed from thee. No King standeth so strong in his prosperitie, but God can shake him and lay him on his backe. * King Dauid of this got an afterwit : In my prosperitie, saide hee, / saide I shall neuer bee moued. But so soone as God beganne to hide his face, hee beganne also to bee troubled. * That is notable which Isaiah saith concerning the King of Babylon, who in his fond conceite did reach the hight of heauen, as beeing at league with all contrarie powers : Thou hast saide in thine heart, I will ascend into heauen, I will exalt my Throne aboue the Starres of God : I will ascend aboue the hight of the Cloudes ; I will bee like the Most High. What saith God to that ? It shall not bee so, O Lucifer, Somie of the Morning. I shall take thee at the trip. Though thou should scare aboue the Skies of heauen, yet thou shalt bee brought downe to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowlie looke vpon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, and did shake kingdomes f * This is the end of all flesh, irreuocablie concluded by the KING of Kinges' decree, Dust thou art, and vnto dust shalt thou returne. * The way of greatest Monarches is from the Palace to the Pit. Were a man neuer so high in Honour, hee must say at last, with King Dauid, I goe the way of all the earth. * If Princes in their pompe could practise Memento mori, Psal.82.6. lKin.ll.fi 2Kin.l3.1 * Note. Dan. 4. 31 * Note. Psal.30.6. Verse 7. rsa.14-.13. Verse 1-k Verse Jj. * Note. Gen. 3. 19 * Note. Psal.30.9, 1 Kin. 2. . * Note. 182 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of giving. 10 19. Icr. 20.2, I Kin. 22.8 2 Kin. 22.2 Mai. 3. 25. * Note. .uk.9.19. * Note. Act. 12.22. Selfe-conceite should not bee able to poppe in itselfe \vhhpufh of pride ', which make manie to quarrel with the reprouers. Hee is like a Phenix, who beeing i n honour, can digest a reproofe, and finde it good, with Hezekiah, who, while hee was sore threatened, saide, Good is the word of the Lord. O how easile do faire flattering wordes cogge in themselues, by slie and craftie juggling, into the heartes of these that are in high places ! Tell them that all goeth well, and that thi world shall last, and that in their prosperitie they shall neuer bee moued : such Preachers will please ; but if a leremiah come in with his woes, some Pashur shall not misse him vpon the cheeke. Aliab could not abide to heare good Mi- caiah. Wherefore ? / hate him, saide hee, for hee docth not prophecie good concerning mee. In this was all the distemper. But wiselie and godlie was it replyed by good lohoshaphat : Let not the King say so. Well is that King who in his honour reputeth this his great- est honour, to Honour Him from whose Grace hee hath his Crowne. His praises shall not bee silent, while hee shall lye in the place of silence, sleeping into slyme. The Lord make the praise of our Gracious SOVERAIGNE to sound like that of losiah : A.nd hee did that which is right in the sight of the Lord, andivalked in all his wayes, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. AMEN, AMEN. What shall I say more of the vanitie of Honour and Pre- ferment among men ? I am assured of this, that it is no sure token of God's loue, for euen they that worke ivickednesse are set vp. Of these oftest is saide, they are made, euen while they are madde. * The most naughtie and most vnworthie, whose valorous acts and vertuous deeds no man can record, haue often found roome where they may drinke in a full cuppe of temporall iappinesse. Manie will wonder to see them step with a graue and stayed ciuilitie. Haue not manie seene such in Kinges' Courtes with great applause runne vp, without anie rubbe as it were, to the toppe of Tabor, where, to manie who knew them before in a base estate, they will seeme to bee trans- figured ? *The Lyers and the Flatterers will gather about the Gallant, and were it not the feare more of Lyce, than of God while hee speaketh, they would cry, The royce of God and not of\ the Wvrld. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 183 man. While hee is thus wise in his greatest pride, prince- lie mounted, gallopping vpon the highest hills, imperiouslie dominearing and reuelling in the world, down commeth a thunder bolt, with fierie flashes of a diuine wrath, ouer-turn- ing, and downe-throwing horse and man from the steepest of all his prefermentes. Thus to all, at last hee becommeth a spectacle of amazement. * Take vp now our Minion with all his honours, which once hee did so eagerlie hunt after. The fairest blossomes of his glorie, are blasted as with mildewe. Beholde, now, all his honours rolled in the dust. The higher hee was mounted, the greater is his fall. Who but Haman to- day, thryuing in this world, and raising vp himselfe a Pa- ramour of a Prince? By his outward glistering hee mak- eth men's eyes to dazzle. Now hee hath the winde at will, and saileth as hee pleaseth, with flaunting sailes amide his greatest jollitie. But tarrie a little, looke vp to the weather- cocke. The winde is turned, the head is where the tail was. Haman is disgraced, his louers are Apostates, no man darre auouch him, his honours is taken from him. This is his Prince's will, Caput obnubito arbori infoelici suspendito, Gouer his face. * And seeing hee was the chiefe of a knot of knaues, let him haue the highest pinne ofjiftie cubits high. By thus hee becommeth a man of hiah degree. * Thus hee to whom once manie were glad to holde the bason, as to a darling of account, proueth at last to bee one of this worlde's fooles, which care not what bee their end so that their way bee pleasant. * At last, after all such pleasures, profites, and prefer- mentes, the vngodlie man with great shame, with a rotten name, is grieued and gauled with sorrow. Though hee both chaff e and fret, yet of necessitie must hee packe him to the abhorred Regions of death. This is no newe thing vnder Heauen ; and yet, alas ! how few are these that in their carriage can consider, that hee that thinketh hee standeth, should take good heede lest hee fall. * Prosperitie striketh most men blinde on this eye, vntill the current thereof bee cutte, or crossed with some disaster. * While men are exalted, hardlie can they dreame of a change. Sathan is euer most busie to stickle and stricke the bargain betweene them and Death, and Hell, and all sort of disgrace. Let vs also say something of the jLeuites, which are the * Note. Le Mar- quis d'An- cre en soit tesraoiu. Est. 7. 8. * Note. Est. 7. 9. * Note. * Note. Prou.10.7. I Cor. 10. 12. * Note. * Note. 184 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of \ Tim. !). 17. * Note. Luk.U.34 Exod.15. 10. Proa. 11. '22. * Note. I 'sal. G-2.9. Hah. 2. 13. Eccles.1.2 * Note. Isa. 4-0.1.5. King of Heauen's fauourites, and if it may bee saide, his best beloued Minions. Their Honour is great, if with the shin- in soone or since wee must al draw neere to the doores of Death. There is no discharge in this warre. Euerie man in this life hath his appointed time, wherein night and day hee must watte till his change come. * Men's dayes are distributed vnto them like hourett seuerallie diuided vpon the Horologe. Some must Hue but till One, another vnto Two, another vnto Three. The Palme turneth about, and with its foiycr pointeth at the houre. So soone as man's appointed houre is come, whether it bee thejirst, second, or third, there is no more biding 1 for him. Nee prece nee precio, neither by pryce nor prayer, can Death bee moued to spare him but an houre ; no, not. * As the sound of the Glocke Bell ringing, his last houre passeth away with all speede, and turneth not againe, so must the poore man at Death with all haste packe him out of sight, and no more bee seene vpon the land of the lining. His houre beeing sounded, hee must with all haste remoue, that another might take place. One of whom none can sure- lie say, Hee shall bee a ivise man or afoole. Then all that the sillie man had painefullie prouided must bee giuen to him, whom the father often in his life beholding, saide with a sighe within himselfe, Beholde him for whom is all this drudgerie ; Beholde him for whom is all my toyle and turmoyle, Il 7 ho knoiveth whether hee shall bee a wise man or afoole? yet shall hee bee master of all my labours. Now happie, and thrise happie they whom GOD in mercie remoueth in time from seeing heart-break of folie, and de- boched manner of their godlesse posteritie. Scripture ac- counteth this for a singular benehte to the Righteous, when bee is remoued, that hee should not see the euill day to ome. The Sicke Man. Alas, of our folies ! While wee should seeke GOD and our Soule's Saluation, with the strongest straine and power of our Soule, by the corruption of our Na- ture wee are carried on the by. Wee liue heere in a sinkc rf sin. The older the world groweth, it groweth the worse. Euery Aye in its foolish dotage commeth in with the own f/uixe, scorning for \\\ev pliancies with greater folies, yea, witli foolish phancies of which this is predominant, that the wis- domr of God, which in all times seemed folie to the wicked, did lUMier seenie such a folie as it doeth now, from the vpper' Olde Aye. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day 193 brimme of sin the world is come to the dregges. The image of the worlde's vanitie is like that of Nebuchadnezzar's, all gold and siluer in the vpmost partes, but in this last and most corrupt age wee are come to the clay. * If wee bee wise, wee must seeke a newe world, in this olde world, for this will neuer growe a better. As the loue of Venison wan Isaac to blesse one for another, so if wee loue this world, with a blinde loue, for a morsell of its Venison, wee will pre- ferre it to God's blessing. All the dayes of this wretched life, wee remain in a foole's paradise. But I leaue this. I desire you earnestlie, Sir, that yee would let mee heare some thing more concerning olde Age, which is a thing that euerie man desireth to come vnto, as if it were the best time of life. The Pastour. In this point appeareth the vanitie of man, and the weaknesse of his witte. Euery man would Hue to bee olde, and yet no man desireth to bee olde. Let men say what they will, I speake of naturall men, all men desire to Hue long, which is to bee olde, and yet they desire to remaine young. * Their wrinkles and their gray haires, the com- panions of olde Age, the end of their desires, are vnwelcome vnto them. * Then would they turne backe again, that with the Eagle they might cast their Bill, whereby they might renewe their youth. * Heare old Nestor, who as Poets record, had liued three ages, a surfet of yeares, heare him with his wish : mihi prceteritos referat si lupiter annos. Like a foolish Pylat, while hee is at the mouth of his Har- jerie, hee would raise vp the Sailes for to turne to the tem- jestuous sea againe. * See how the olde man, if hee get jut a faire Sunne blink of a weeke's health, after cloudes returning after the raine, how hee will rejoyce, as though t should neuer be foule weather againe. Men may pyne themselues with desire of dayes ; but do what they can, their life is like one that saileth : whether lee standeth or hee sitteth, whether hee watch or sleepe, hee s euer vpon his course. The Sicke Man. Let it please you, Sir, to continue in that discourse. The Pastour. Solomon, in the last lecture of the Booke of his preaching, letteth the young man see the vanitie of manie eares. * Note. * Note. * Note. 'sal.103.- * Note. > * Note. 194 THE LAST BATTELL Vdnitie of * Note, ob, 14.14, * Note. Eccl.12.1 * Note. * Note. Verse 3. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Verse 4, * Note. * Note. * Note Verso i * Note * In that place is most clearelie set downe how olde Age, the end of our appointed time, is enwrapped with a cloude of miseries, as beeing a time wherevnto, like waues in a Sea, one trouble ariseth vpon the necke of another, the latter bee- ng euer worse than the former, till at \ast,Jluctus decumanus, the last and the greatest waues of Death come .and sweepe the man away. The imaginarie sweetnesse of all earthlie :ontentments is closed and concluded with a bitter Farewell. * In that Lecture, the Preacher bringeth in the olde man ike a Skettet, whereat in the presence of all young men hee aointeth out all his infirmities, saying vnto the young ones, Beholde, if such a life bee so much to bee desired. First of all, hee pointeth at his dayes, calling them, The euill dayes. 2. * Hee toucheth his yeares, calling them, Yeares without pleasure. 3. *Hee speaketh of the moyst, raw, and rainie winter of his colde olde Age, the dayes of sorrow, wherein cloudes returne after the raine. As one defluxtion hath rained downe, another is arising like a cloude. 4. Hee pointeth out all the imperfections of his bodie. When olde Age is come, then the keepers of the house tremble, that is, the handes which keepeth the bodie, become sicke of the palsie, they tremble so, that they can not carrie the cuppe to their head. * Then the strong men bow themselues, their legges are not able to beare them. * Then the grinders cease, their teeth rotte and become mouldie, so that they can eate no bread. * Then they waxe darke that looke out at the windowes, their eyes become bleared and blinde. ' Thei the doores shall bee shutte in the streetes, when the sound of the grinding is low, when the teeth, the mouthe's grinders, are rotten, the lippes, which are the doores of the street o the mouth, are shut, so that the olde man cannot speake so dis- tinctlie as of before. * Then shall hee rise rp at the voyc( of the Bird, olde men cannot sleepe, hee must rise so soone as the Birds beginne to sing, or his sleepe is so vnsound that the chirpe of a little Bird will waken him. : Then shall all the daughters of singing bee abased, neither can ai olde man sing himselfe for lacke of voyce, neither ran he heare others sing for deafnesse, so both his winde pypes am his eares, the daughters of singing, are abased. * Then shal hee bee afraide of the high thing, hee dare climb no more, he< is no more for Stares and vpper Chambers. ' Then fean shall hee in the way, while they walke they tremble as one Olde Age. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 195 that is afraide to fall. * Then the Almond tree shall Jlowrish, their gray haires growe white like the flowrishes and blossomes of an Almond. * Then a Grasse-Hopper shall bee a bur- den, they are so weake, that they can beare nothing, their knees are weake as water, so that they are a burden vnto themselues. See how the weight of a grasse-hopper, which is little greater than a Bee, is a burden to the man of yeares. * Then shall the siluer cord bee loosed, and the golden bowle shall bee broken, his Sinewes shall become slacke, and his Gall shall breake. * Then shall the pitcher bee broken at the well, the vaines shall draw no more blood out of the well of the Leuer. * Then shall the wheele bee broken at the Cisterne, his Lightes become so rotten and riuen, that hee can no more draw anie breath with his broken Bellowes. See how Death stealeth vpon vs with insensible degrees. * Beholde, O young man, the anatomic of thy selfe, when thou shalt haue gotten thine hearte's will of yeares. * Heere is thy portrature drawen before hand. Painters can portray but according as they see ; but times to come are present vnto God. Heere is thy portrature for the dayes of olde age that is to come. * Beholde thy selfe in it before hand, a receptacle of maladies. See there thy balde head, and thy bleared eyes, and thy deafe eare, and thy wrinkled face, and thy rotten teeth, and thy stinking breath, hauing thy bodie bowed and crouched, with thy third foote into thine hand. * Of thee may bee put out a Riddle : What is it which hau- ing three feete, walketh with one foote into its hand? I shall assoile it ; It is an olde man going with a staffe. To this let mee subjoyne another : What is it that hath his stomacke into a Booste, and his eyes into his pocket ? It is the same, viz. An olde man fedde with booste Confections, or cured with continuall purgations, hauing his Spectacles, his eyes of glasse, into a case. His dayes are dayes of drousinesse. All his pleasures are out of tune and temper. * Beholde how this proude and loftie creature is so curbed, withered, and wrinkled, that it hath nothing but the vglie shape of a creature. * Thus after as in a dote hee hath tottered some space about, at last hee falleth downe to dust, and dust returneth to the earth as it was that is, petere principium. * Then all his deuises and his discourses, all his arguments and his sylloqismes, for riches, honour, and preferment, inferre a con- * Note. * Note. * Note. Verse 6. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Iccl. 1J.7. * Note. 196 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note, lob, 14. 12. * Note. Mat. 23.24 elusion which is but petitio principii, a sort of argument scorned by the Learned, as beeing an argument declaring the weaknesse of the Disputer. So after wee haue spended our wittes with our wordes, all our dispute at last is found to bee but vpon trashes and triffles, or as wee say, de lana caprina. At last all commeth to this, that wee are in end found to haue beene, neither in moode nor figure, but onlie jangling and cangling, and at last returning to that where once wee be- ganne. Thus hee who in his youth stepped statelie vpon the ground, who hauing the world at wish, was wont to bragge it out with the brauest, with bigge and darring wordes, after that in his life hee hath beene tossed with losses, cares, and crosses, hee lyeth downe into his greene and growing bedde, that dust may returne to the earth as it was. * The Sunne at night seemeth to lye downe, in a bedde of darknesse, but, like a Gyant, in the morning hee ariseth with force of light : but man, once dead, shall not awake till the heaue?is bee no more. * A man in his youth, with a prophane and seared Con- science, may swallow ouer Camels of pleasant and profitable sinnes without anie paine, his heart beeing secured with a slumbering and superficial] quiet ; but so soone as the time of the rotten Age commeth, all the sweetnesse of the shines of his youth is turned into gall and worme-wood, the Con- science of his by past euill spent life doggeth behinde him. All the dregges and drosse of dolours fall downe vpon this time. Then the mirth of youth is turned into mourning. This is the nature of sin, the joye thereof euer endeth into sorrow. Who doeth not see how the mirth of youthfull lustes passeth away with the faire blossomes of youth ? after that commeth olde age, like the time of the fall of the leafe, a time of deadlie diseases. After that man in his youth hath drunken at the brimme the clearest pleasures of sin, in his olde sicklie age, when hee hath greatest neede of comfort, then must hee drinke the doolefutt, and drumblie dregges of sorrow. This is the course of man's pilgrimage in this valie of teares, wee come weeping into this World, where wee walke thorow troubles and temptations, whereof, except that God bee more mercifull, the end shall bee bitternesse, brimstone fire. Olde Age. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 197 Alas, for our benummed heart ! Oh, that wee were sen- sible of our own miserie, and could weigh what it is to toyle into this world, a wildernesse of woe ! What is heere that should tye our heart from the loue of Heauen ? If wee would speake with Scripture, wee would say, that a thousand yeares in Heauen are but like one day on earth ; and againe, if wee would speake with trueth, wee must say, that one day on Earth seemeth longer than a thousand yeares in Heauen. * Dolour and griefe prolongeth that which is made short by joye and pleasure. * An houre in a painefull prison is longer than a weeke in a pleasant Palace. * Let mee speake a Paradoxe : A childe of a day is of a thousand yeares of age, older than Methushelah. Why ? A day on Earth is like a thousand yeares in Heauen for length. Fye, fye, on our foolish vanitie, that wee cannot consider ! * A Childe of a day may bee content with a day of life, and say, if hee could speake, I am full of dayes, yea, full of yeares, and full of labour ; I wish to bee in Heauen, where a thousand yeares seeme not so long as a day, yea, where Eternitie itselfe shall neuer seeme to bee too long. * Fye vpon too great desire of dayes ! While wee liue on earth, as wormes wee creepe on it. In death wee creepe in it. * Man's heart on earth is like a tooth in the Jaw, the deeper roote it hath, the more paine it causeth when it is in drawing out with the Turkesse. * A heart fixed to the earth and nailed to the ground, either with pleasure, or profite, or desire of yeares, cannot bee rugged from thence without renting of itsjilme. * If man's heart bee set vpon long life, hee shall neuer want the disease of the feare of disease, the messenger of Death. A feeble fitte of a feuer will put him in a maze of amazement. * In a word, do the best hee can, all the dayes of his life are but labour and sorrow. * The best man that liueth, so soone as hee beginneth to liue, must ay with a sigh, All the dayes of mine appointed time will I ivaite till my changing come. See, I pray you, how the life of man, as with loose reines and a laide downe head, is euer in a course, like a swift Dromedairie posting to a change. * Beholde, Sir, how foolish this world is, that gappeth so for manie yeares, that all that men haue, euen to their skinne, they would giue it for their life. * See and consider how the olde man is besieged with dolours and diseases on all sides, some set on his eyes, some on his eares, some on his teeth, * Note. * Note. * Note. iJPet.3.8 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Psal.90.10 * Note. Fob, U. 14. * Note, lob, -2. 4. * Note. 198 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Matth. 25, 3141. * Note. Prou. 12. 10. * Note. some on his tongue, some on his legges, some on his lights, and some on his liuer. * See how all sortes of diseases, like flesh flies, prey vpon the olde man, not leaning a free bit of him, from the sole of his feete to the crowne of his head. See what a gostlie sight it is to beholde such rattling bones couered with a wrinkled skinne. * Now after that hee hath coughed and spitted on a space, some fewe yeares, beeing a burden to himselfe and a cumber vnto others, at last hee sickeneth and taketh bedde, and falleth into the hands of Death, which holdeth him with fearefull grippes. * Then Death commeth with a colde sweate ouer-running all his bodie, looketh him grimme in the face. * Then his jaw bones beginne to hang downe, and his face to growe pale, and his cheekes wan. Then his eyes water, their stringes breake, his tongue falter- eth, his breath shorteneth and smelleth of earth, his heart lifteth, his throate rattleth, his joynts stiffen. After that, Death hath made a breach with the shottes of great artilerie, whereby it hath beaten and broken downe all the noble partes of the bodie, Death commeth in like a strong man, and grip- peth so the heart of the poorc man, that by diuerse gaspes hee maketh his heart-stringes to leape asunder. * That done, the ruinous house of man falleth, and his Soule leapeth out with his gaspes, which in an instant must compeare before its ludge, either for to heare, Come, or, Depart. Let your attention yet goe a little along with mee. See what it is of olde age. * Consider how feeble it is, beeing a burden vnto itselfe, a time vnfitte for anie affaire : and yet most men in their youth sicynishlie wallow in vn- cleannesse, thinking to keepe the olde yeares for the amend- ing of their life, and for all other spirituall adoes, as repent- ance and returning vnto God, as if a man, beeing for to goe a farre and foule journie, should lay the greatest burden vpon the weakest horse. A good man regardetli his beast : how much more should hee regard himselfe ! '' What regard is heere, when a man in his youth rolleth his originall sin, like a snow ball, among actuall sinnes, to such a hudge great- nesse, that in his strongest youth hee is not able to moue it, and yet delayeth, thinking that when hee is olde hee shall easilie remoue it and remeede it. The sinnes of youth draw vpon olde age deadnesse of heart and dullnesse of xeale. It is good that man, with a watchfull eye, holde in perpetuall jealousie the cunning slightes and windings of the deceite of the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 199 sin in youth ; and therefore, while it is youth time, while God calleth, while the winde serueth, while the Sea is calme, while the Shippe is sound, let vs set foorth in time to saile toward the port of Saluation, and the harberie of Grace in Glorie. * O vaine man, who in thy youth turneth the grace of thy God into wantonnesse, and thinketh to come home to God againe when thou is olde ! what shall God do with thy blinde lame olde aye? Is that a sacrifice for God? Offer it vnto thy Gouernour, saith Malachie. If a blinde or lame beast will not please a man, what shall God do with that which is more blinde than a beast f * The King of Babylon commanded Ashpenaz, the master of his Eneuches, to make choise of Children in whom was no blemish, and such as had abilitie in them to stand in the Kinge's Palace. What ! shall the Deuill get the finest flower of our age, the strength of our dayes, and the abilitie of our Soule, and thereafter shall God, the King of Heauen, bee serued with the blinde and the lame, such as the verie Soule of Dauid did hate ! * It is good afore hand to bee furnished with Graces, which may bee as the staffe of our olde age. * If wee spende our strength in our youth at the seruice of God, hee shall neuer cast vs off in our olde age. * But what shall I say ? nothing will waken foolish Virgines while they sleepe, till that shrill voyce bee heard, The Bridegroome is come. * When it is no more time, men who, contented themselues with counterfeit shewes and deceiuing shadowes, arise, run, and seeke for Oyle, which they shall not bee able to get, either for buying or begging. * By all this my discourse, Sir, yee may perceiue that the long date of dayes bringeth men vnto dotage, and after do- tage vnto dust from thence hee came. * Man of few yeares is foolish \\\to four tie, a little after tlmtfolie hath left him, dotage succeedeth which vnderstand- eth no Precepts. In this Mappe of the olde man's miserie, yee may see whether or not man haue cause to bee greedie of manie yeares. ; Though the world were not vaine, yet yee see that man is but vanitie in the world. Let all men heere lay aside such doting vanities, that bring too doolefull miseries. Let all flesh learne, that * nothing out of God can affoord sound joye and contentment. * If a man want God, were hee an Emperour as high indeede, as the King of Babylon was in conceite, eucn aboue the starrcs of God, his life shall * Note. * Note. Dan. 1.3. 2 Sam.5.6. * Note. * Note. Mat. 25. 11 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. rsa.H.i:J.' 200 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note. Psal.6.6. -uk.22.62 > Pet. 2. 8. Note. R.'iiel. -2.-1 Note. Vcr*e 10. Verse 1-k Verse 20. Heuel.3.1 Verso 1.3, * Note. bee crossed with these three shrude companions, viz. The grief e of thinges by past, the paines of thinges present, and the feare of after clappes. The Sicke Man. The thought of such thinges beginne to waine mine heart from the loue of all thinges worldlie. I pray you yet a little to continue in that purpose concerning the vanities of thinges below. * The meditations thereof, like sharpe and keene spurs, should pricke and stirre vs for- ward from the loue of this, vnto the loue of these lasting thinges which are aboue. The Pastour. The sight of this world is like that vision of Ezechiel, wherein is often saide, Turne thee yet againe, and thou shalt see more abominations than all these. So say I, Sir, Turne you yet againe heere, and yee shall see greater vanities than either these of Strength, or of Honour, or of Riches, or of Beautie, Pleasure, Wisdome, or Long Life. Beholde a vanitie, which is the cause of all these vani- ties, viz. Sin and iniquitie, wherevnto wee are all subject so long as wee line in this world, the region of corruption, where if a man stand on God's side, hee shall become the drunk- ard's song with Dauid, or a by-word with lob among the children of Beliel. " Looke thorow this world, and consider sin in all sortes of men, and sorrow following euer sin at the heels. In this place beholde Dauid making his bedde to swimmc with his teares for his adulterie. In that place againe, beholde Peter weeping bitterlie for his denyall. In this place againe, be- holde Lot, vexing his righteous Soule from day to day, for the vnlawfull deedes of the wicked. In that place beholde S. Paul groning vnder a dead bodie of sin, euen a bodie of death. No man is able to hunt all the corners of man's cor- ruptions. From particular men let vs come to whole Chur- ches, defiled with spots and blemishes. * Heere is the church of Ephesus which hath left her first Loue. * There is Smyrna where some of God's best seruants are cast into prison. Heere againe is Pergamus, defiled with the doctrine of Ba- laame, and of the Nicolaitanes. In Thyatira the whoore lezebel sat as a Proplietesse, teaching and seducing God's seruants to commit fornication, and to eate thinges sacri- ficed rnto idoles. Sardis had a name to Hue, and yet was dead. Laodicea was neither colde nor hote, so that God threatened to spewe her out of his mouth. * Among all th<; the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day 201 seuen Churches onlie Philadelphia keept the word of his pa- tience, and yet her life was not without feare to loose her Crowne. Beholde, I come quicklie, saide the Lord, holde that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy Crowne. * But long since, hauing neglected this precept, shee is be- reaued of that comfort and Crowne. * Where now are all these most flourishing Churches of dsia ? where now are all these Churches of Grecia, most glorious in Constantius, dayes ? Because they helde not fast that which they had, they haue all lost their Crowne. By deare Experience haue they learned what vanitie is. * Beholde and see how this world is like a working sea, wherein sin like a gall ivinde, or strong Tyde, carrieth manie tribulations and destructions from Countrie to Countrie. * All is made thereby subject vnto changes like the Moone, Crownes haue their compasse and triumphs haue their tombes. All our sweetest thinges in end proue but honied poyson. Thus all that yee see heere below is vnconstant. * The greatest kingdomes are turned about as with whirling wheeles. The Kinges vpon its spokes are marked vpon this dittie. REGNABO, REGNO, REGNAM ; SUM SINE .&5> REGNO. Reu.3.10. V^erse 11. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. The Wood- cut intro- duced here, did not be- long to the oldEdition buthasbeen added for the sake of jfivingscope to theillus tration of our Author. Ed. 202 THE LAST BATTELL Vanitie of * Note. * Note. I Cor. 10 12. * Note. Dan. 5. 27, Psal. 82.0. Dan. 2.34 Psal. 90.3 lob, 40.23 * Note. * Note. lKin.21. lob, 14.22 One Prince is lying 1 vpon his backe, another hath a spoke in his handy climbing- vp the Wheele. The third is vpon the toppe. The fourth is fallen, hauing his heeles vp and his head downe. * All the thinges of this world are diuided into foure : either they lye low, or they climbe, they stand, or they are fallen. The poore man is lying vpon his backe, without anie helpe or hope. Another is full of climbing conceites. The third beeing there where all would bee, euen vpon the toppe, the higher hee is mounted the greater is his fall. * Hee then falleth, that another may stand in his place : while hee againe is lifted vp, hee must stand with feare and heare, Let him that standeth take heede lest hee fall. * At last also to him the handwriting commeth foorth, that in God's ballance hee is found wanting, and that there- fore his kingdome must bee taken from him. Then all the pleasures of his wine and of his ivhoorcs, then all his feast- ing, his mirth, and his musicke, is turned into a trembling feuer, which maketh all his joyntes to shiner, and his knees to smyte one against another. Beholde, and consider, how the glorie of Kinges, the gods of this world, is brought to destruction. Though their heads bee golden, their feete are but of clay, like Nebuchadnezzar 's image. God's little stone cut out without handes, is able to bruise and grinde in powder, their Gold, Siluer, Brasse, Yron, and Clay, for the allaying of the pride of their peacocke feathers. Hee can let them see the blacknesse of their feete. None of them can stand before the winde of that voyce, Returne,yee children of men. Though their honours, which they do broach with so bolde a face, were reared aboue the highest cloudes, and exalted aboue the starrie Skie, yet must they descende at the Euening of their life, and make their bedde with the beggers in the dust. Thus after they haue drunke vp the pleasures of this world as Behemoth, the Riuer of Jordan, they at last finde all to bee but vanitie and change. * When their houre is come, they must quite all, and make resignation of all into the hands of a new succession, for to goe dwell in the Land of darknesse and shadow of death. * Who knew the weight of their Crownes, they would neuer bee so sicke for them, as King Ahab was for Nabothe's vineyard. If of anie man may bee saide, this is most true of him who is in highest places, IVhile hisjlesh is vpon him, hee shall the World. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 203 haue paine, and his Soule within him shall mourne. After that for a space hee hath feasted, with Belshazzar, and fatted himselfe against the day of slaughter, with Wheat, Wine, and Oyle, at last shall hee know, but too late, that no Feast is continuall but that of a good Conscience. * Oh that great men, while their mindes, with Dauid, are beastlie, would, with Dauid, goe to the Sanctuarie of God, for to learne that if great men bee not good men, though they were Kinges, they are set in slipperie places. * Seeing Kinges and Kingdomes are but vanitie, what is that on earth that is not vaine ? There is nothing that can stretch to eternitie below. * In this world all men are strangers in their birth, pil- grimes in their life, and at last, like combersome guests, by death, they are thrust out at doores. The language of Tabor was that, It is good for vs to bee heere ; but the language of heauen proclaimed that Peter knew not what hee saide. Striue to keepe euer your heart loose from the earth. The glassie sea of this world is neuer without tempests. * Hee that would haue his Soule wained from the loue of this world, let him remember but these sixe thinges : 1 . what hee is in himselfe, 2. what is within him, 3. what is aboue him, 4. what is beneath him, 5. what is before him, 6. what is behinde him. * Man in himselfe is but dust and ashes, a cage of cor- ruption. Thrise with one breath is hee called, Earth, earth, earth ! Earth by creation, sustentation, and corruption, saith Bernard. fFithin him is a blinde minde, a peruerse will, and most vile affections, yea, so that euerie imagination of the thoughts of his heart are onlie euill continuallie. ^4boue is a weightie vengeance, hanging by a small twined threed of God's patience ; below him is a fierie fornace, and the smok- ing brimstone gulfe of euerlasting burnings ; against him Sathan and sin, with their legions posting to and froe, so that when one departeth it is but to fetch seuen others worse than himselfe ; * before him is nothing but miserie, volumnes of woes and lamentations ; those bee his Day-booke ; behinde hint pale Death followeth with stealing steppes. * See what a masse of miserie, like a hudge armie, besetteth and besiegeth the whole course of the life of man, till death at last come with the dead stroke, and separate the Soule from the lumpish heauinesse of clay. Then they that die in the Lord are bles- Dan. 5. 2, Psal.73.22 * Note. * Note. Luk.9.33. Ueu.15.1. * Note. * Note. ler. 22. 29 Gen. G. .3. Mat. 12. 4-j * Note. * Note. 204 THE LAST BATTELL Ren. 14. 13 2 Pet. 1.4 sed ; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours. But because the day is alreadie spent, yee shall now carefullie thinke vpon that which hath beene saide. It was a speciall propertie required in Sacrifices fitte for God, that they could chewe the cude. I leaue that which yee haue heard vnto your night's meditations. I pray God that by his Spirit, hee would conuoy into the substance of that which your eare hath receiued. Before I leaue you, let vs all bend our knees vnto God in prayer, that it would please his Highnesse, to blink downe vpon you with a reconcealed face. His boundlesse and bot- tomlesse mercies did neuer yet know how to breake a bruised reede, or quench a smoking flaxe. Let vs pray. A PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN. LORD, the GOD of the Spirits of all flesh, the pre- seruer of men, in whom is both power for to saue and to destroy, thou art the true Teacher of Israel. Thou hast the keyes of Heauen, of Hell, and of the Graue. Come and cast the armes of thy mercie about this sorrow-beaten sinner. Rejoyce him with the comfortes of thy Spirit. Inspire him with holie motions, and with the life of Grace, till hee bee made partaker of the diuine Nature. Thou hast alreadie made his heart to melt within him at the sight of his trans- gressions. Thou hast set all his sinnes in order before him. This is out of thy great mercie, whereby thou would not suffer him to freeze in the dreoaes of his corruptions. Now at last, LORD, after thou hast refined him in the fierie for- nace of temptations, sende him reliefe, refresh his Soule, and coole it with thy comfortes. Let thy Spirit come vnto him with glad tydinges, that all his sinnes are forgiuen him. Oh, what sorrow of heart hath hee had since hee hath felt the power of thy wrath ! His poore two ryes haue beene like two fountaines of teares trickling downe both day and night. The apple of his eye hath euer beene dropping downe the salt) brimic, and bitter teares of sorrow. Oh, how bit- terlie hath hee weept since this buttell beganne ! Hatli hoc not powred out his heart like water before tliee, in bemoaning his transgressions ? Now, LORD, ibr thy mercie' sake, make him free of all excessiue grie j 'e. Beholde him with the temlerest eye of thy Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 205 compassions. Ridde him of all gripping grief es of Conscience. Settle in his heart a godlie sorrow, which may cause repent- ance neuer to bee repented of. Bee pleased toward him. Turne thine angerie face from the bloodie colour of all his transgressions, and looke vpon the perfect and vnspotted righteousnesse of thy Lambe, whose blood hath blanched the red crimsin sinnes of the world. No flesh, O LORD, is able to stand before thee when thou art angerie, for what is man, which is consumed before the moth ? Hee dwelleth into an house of clay, and his foundation is in the dust. When it shall please thee, hee must lye downe into his growing bedde, and there say to Corruption, Thou art my father, and to the Worme, Thou art my mother and my sister. O who shall stand when thou shall say, Returne, yee Children of men f O gracious GOD, pittie this creature that was once formed to thine own image, which, once lost, thou hast repaired with the Blood of thy Sonne. Stampe his heart with thy liuelie Image, and coine it with thy countenance. Insinuate thyselfe into his Soule, and compasse him with thy comfortes. Let thy poore Seruant heere, who hath beene most fearefullie tos- sed and scorched with fierie temptations, finde a spirituall cooling and refreshing in thy inercifull bowels. Temper so the Spirit of his minde, bow his will, and incline his affec- tions, that his chiefest delight may bee in thee. Couer his sillie Soule vnder the shadow of thy Winges, vntill all these calamities bee ouerpast. Refresh this panting Soule, braying after thy water brookes. Giue him a newe heart, put within him a newe Spirit, take this stonie heart out of his breast, and in the place thereof put an heart of flesh. By thy word, O LOUD, wee haue let him see what the vanitie of this world is, how vnconstant are all thinges below, and how they are turned vpon a whirling ivheele. O make his heart consider, that there is nothing heere on earth that can bring solide contentment vnto the heart. What are the best of our dayes on earth but labour and sorrow ? Is not our life a vapour a breath ? are not our dayes consumed as a tale that is tolde ? Make the consideration of such naughtie thinges below, moue him so much the more to minde the thinges that are aboue. Let him know that in the surging wanes of this worldlie Sea there is no permanent peace, so no crosse shall Isa. 1.18. lob, 4. 19. lob, 17. 1 Psal.90.3. Psal.42.1. Psal.90.9. Col. 3. 1. 206 THE LAST BATTELL A Psal.Ki.ll 2 Cor. 3. 18. Proii. U. 10. come vpon him vnawares. Teach him by practise and ex- periinentall feeling of thy Graces, that thy strength is made perfect in weakncsse. Let him feele that it is a fruite of thy loue, that thou suftereth him to bee afflicted. Sanctifie his sorrowes, and make them to leade him vnto die face and presence of his GOD. By the loathing of thinges earthlie, worke in his heart a loue and a liking of thinges heauenlie, an ardent desire of thy celestiall dainties. Let him know, that so soone as hee shall come to thee, that with thy face thou shall fill the desires of his Soule, for in thy face is fallnesse of joyes. O thou to whom nothing is impossible, lift vp his Soule to affect that happinesse, so that earnestlie his Soule may desire to see that day, when hee shall bee cloathed with the long white robe of Christe's righteousnesse, euen the innocencie of thy deare Sonne lesvs. Couer him, Lord, couer him with the golden fleece of thy righteous Lambe. Perfume him with the sweete sauour of Christe's merites, thy mercies. Let the Blood of his Aduocate pleade for his pardon. Naile all his sinnes to the Crosse of thy Sonne lesvs. Ridde out of his heart all doubts and difficulties, draw his eyes from looking vpon himselfe, make thine own selfe the object of his sight, in the mirrour of the Gospel, wherein, as with open face, hee may beholde, as in a glasse, the glorie of the Lord, and bee changed into the same image, from glorie to glorie, euen as by the Spirit of the Lord. Seeing a good man is mercifutt to his beast, how much more wilt thou bee, who are mercie itselfe ! Thou who art most plenteous in mercie, vnlocke, wee in- treat thee, the treasures of thy mercies, and aftbord vnto thy seruant such graces whereby hee may come to thy Glorie. Sende a Seraphim for to kindle his zeale and aiiectiou to- ward thee. Publish and proclaime vnto his Soule, that thou art paciiied, and that thou hast receiued a ransome. These dayes by past, LORD, thou hast him trained vp with diuerse fearefull temptations, whereout of, let it please thee now to giue him an out-gate. O put thy quickening Spirit within him, that by the force of thy life hee, dying vnto sin, may line vnto Thee, who art our life and lengthening of our dayes. Thine eare hath heard the beanie grones of his heart, which haue made thine heart to bee turned within thee. O now let thy compassions hee so kindled together, that hee Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. may in all boldnesse come to the throne of thy Grace, per- mit him such familiaritie with thee, whereby hee may cast his burden vpon thee. Giue him, LORD, a full resolution to submit himselfe al- wayes to thine appointments, that his heart neuer ariie more repine nor grudge at thy proceedings. By the finger of thy Grace, frame fullie his heart for the following of thy will. Gracious Father, rouse vp his Soule, and raise vp the good motions of thy Spirit within him. Make him in rnercie to growe in Grace, which may worke a deepe detestation of all bygone slippes, whether secret or knowne, with an eager and earnest striuing to bee renewed in the Spirit of his minde. O thou whose bowels rumble lowd with compassions, pa- cifie and calme all the clamours of his Conscience. Thy mercie is most magnified when it relieueth the extremest miserie. Thy light is most precious when it shineth into the depth of discomfort and darknesse. O pittie and pardon him ! besprinkle him with the Blood ofvertue, that beeing purged from all carnall and spirituall vncleannesse, hee may growe vp vnto full holinesse in thy feare, and so may end his life in thy fauour, the surest Sanctuarie of a troubled Soule. Pittie the distressed members of thy Church. Manie a time haue they afflicted her from her youth. The plowers plowed vpon her backe, making long furrowes. Let them all bee confounded and turned backe, that hate Zion : confound all hatchers of Heresies, let them bee as the grasse vpon the house toppes, which withereth afore it groweth vp, wherewith the Mower filleth not his hand, nor hee that bindeth sheaues his bosome. Protect Her by thy cloude by day, direct Her by night by thapiUar of fire, let neuer the bright starre of thy Gospel goe downe, which pointeth out vnto vs the Sauiour and Valuation of our Soule. O righteous LORD, thou hast juste cause against this Church to make her Sunne goe downe at noone, and darknesse to surprise vs in the cleare day, with a sudden and ineuitable surprisall and destruction. O GOD, blesse vs with an holie vnion, and banish farre of the Deuill of division. Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kinge's Majestie. Make him to joye in thy strength, and greatlie to rejoyce in thy Saluation. Direct His Heart and His mouth by thy Spirit, and giue him his hearte's desire, and withholde not Psal.55.2:2 Psal. 129. 1,2, &c. 208 THE LAST BATTELL the requeast of his lippes. Giue to Him the courage of Dauid, and the wisdome of Solomon. Bee fauourable to His Royall Match. Inflame Her Heart with the loue of thy deare Sonne lesvs. Let all Her desire bee to know him crucified. Make her an happie Mother of happie Children, euen a blessed Mother in Israel. Blesse our Nobilitie, make them noble like the men of Be- rea, so that they may haue courage for the Trueth. And seeing, LORD, that as wee may see in this our deare Friend, man is like to vanitie, and that his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away, take vs to thy schoole, and teach vs to number our fewe and euill dayes, that wee may applie our heartes to wisdome and to well doing. Let it please thine Highnesse to grant vs these our sutes for the onlie sake of lesvs, the Author andjinisher of our faith, the verie Anchor of our Soule, the onlie stay and staffe of our hope, the end and rest of all created desires, the true ubstance of ceremoniall shewes and shadowes. To him, with Thee and thy Spirit of Grace, bee praise and thankesgiuing, glorie and dominion, now and euermore, AMEN. If your sleepe in the night bee interrupted, cause read vnto you the Booke of Ecclesiastes, the strong enemie of all worldlie vanitie. Moses his Psalme, which is the nintie Psalme, shall bee meete for your meditations, cause reade also the 1 Peter, chap. 1. The LORD sanctifie all your spirituall exercises, to the comfort of your wearied Soule. The GOD of all mercie blesse the little sparke of Grace enkindled by his Spirit in you, till it spread into a bigyeflaimm. GOD with a little Dewe of newe Grace, can so blesse and prosper another Grace alreadie giuen, that Hee will make it, though so little like a grauie of mustard, to growe towardes a tree. Blesse GOD, who hath not suffered you to treade the feare- full and desperate path of these who from the beginning of their life vnto the end, haue beene nothing but disturbers of peace, waues of the Seafoaininy out their own shame, and casting vp mire and dirt vpon the shore of their whole con- uersation. The LOUD edge the little measure of your weake Faith, with a longing desire after fulnesse of persuasion, and season your heart witli sailing Grace. The Lord make his Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4>. day. 209 most Sacred and powerfull Word so to enter into the se- cretes of your Soule, that it may strike a dead stroke at the sweetest of your sinnes, that your sinnes beeing slaine, your Soule may Hue, and haue a portion in God's newe Jerusalem. Till yee come there, the LORD guarde you with an inuincible troupe of his blessed Angels. The Loue of the Father, the Grace of the Sonne, with the Peace of his Spirit bee with you for euer. 2 I) 210 THE FIFT DAYE'S CONFERENCE. OF THE LAST 1UDGEMENT. Eccl. 5. 3 * Note. * Note. JMcfee JHan. OVanitie of vanities ! O vanitie of vanities ! all is vani- tie ! this whole night I haue dreamed of vanitie. thinke that my Dreame proceedeth from yesterdaye's Conference, for Solomon saith that a dreame commeth throng} the multitude of businesse. * Well is the man that is wel occupyed in the day, for in the night such businesse maketh an impression into his Spirit. An euill doer in the day, cannot often dreame of good into the night. * Happie is the man that hath made the Lord the onlie leuell of his life. What houres can it now bee ? I long for a sight of my lou- ing and comfortable Pastour. The Pastour. Heere I am, Sir, come againe for to see what progresse yee haue made into your Christian pilgrim- age. Yee heard yesterday of the vanitie of all thinges that are below. I desire now to know how your heart hat! beene affected since ? The Sicke Man. I haue, Sir, all this night dreamed that this world is but vanitie, a lifting vp for a fall, a race vnto a mine. I see now, that all the profiles and pleasures thereof are but like a rotten Nut, when men thinke to cracke the kernell they finde nothing but wormes, with rottennesse and bitternesse, which prouocke the eater to spitte. O how the pure and cleane streames of diuine grace, are stained with the stirring of the foule puddle of corrupt nature ! I am greatlie oblished to my God, who hath giuen to mee uch patience in my sicknesse, that I haue beene able to heare that heaucnlie discourse which yee had yesterday, concerning earthlie thinges. This life, as I perceiue, is nothing but a toilesome task of cares, the best of our time is but labour and sorrow, our ease is a disease, and wee rotte in our rest. Mine heart is no more in this world. Hee is but a fao/r, and so Last Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day shall \ieefeele, whoeuer hee bee, that is too bent for the tran- sitorie trashes thereof. * Heere is not our rest. Rest heere is not our best. As water by standing becommeth stinking, so the Spirit rotteth by carnall rest. The ease of the flesh is the disease of the Spirit. If wee bee without God in the world, in our well wee shall finde but woe, in our wealth but want, in our loue but lacke, in our mirth but mone. In laughing the heart shall bee sorrow/nil, and the end of that mirth shall bee heauinesse. Without God, in greatest companie, is greatest melancholic. Hee whose eyes the god of this -world hath not blind- folded, may easilie perceiue, that all that is heere is but vani- tie which vexeth the spirit. * What folie is this to take pleasure in such perishing thinges, which can bring no com- fort at the conclusion of all, when dust must returns to the earth as it was ! Oh, that wee were wise to consider, that while wee are heere, wee are compassed about with a bodie of sin, in a world of wickednesse ! All sortes of euill in this world with ager pursute persecute the Soule of sinfull man, all the depths of Sathan and policies of Hell concurre into this worke. Now, Sir, I intreat you, seeing yee haue spoken so hea- uenlie of the earth, that it would please you to say somewhat concerning the last judgement and the joy es of Heauen. The Pastour. Such a matter is verie vnpleasant, yea, verie fearefull to a naturall man. It is written that while as S. Paul reasoned of Riyhteousnesse, Temperance, and ludaement to come, Felix, who was but a naturall man, trembled all while hee heard him, and therefore desired him to leaue off' preaching anie more, and to goe his way till a more fitte and conuenient time. * Though the wicked tremble at this discourse, yet it is comfortable and profitable nto the godlie. * I wish at God that I had that tongue of the Learned, that thereby I might produce these reasons of S. Paul, which hee vttered while hee reasoned vpon this natter before Felix. This, Sir, yee must first know, that the day of Judgement shall bee a great day, a day of Law, when all the Sonnes of Adam must compeare before the eyes of him who seeth our hounhts a farre off, euen to the verie depths of our heart. The Sicke Alan. First of all, I desire to heare of the Note. Eccl. 2. 1 Prou. 14 13. Ephes.4.4. * Note. Eccl. 12.7 \ct.24.25. Xote. Note. Isa.50.4. 212 THE LAST BATTELL Of the'' Last Mar. 13.32 Verse 33. Verse 34. Verse 35. Verse 36. 2Pet.3.10 * Note. * Note. * Note. lam. j. S time that Christ shall come into the Cloudes for to judge both quicke and dead. The Pastour. As for the particular time of that great and glorious comming of the Lord, no man can define when it shall bee, whether in the night or in the day, at mid-night or cock-crow. It was a time hidde from Christ himselfe as man, while hee was heere in the dayes of his flesh ; neither hought hee shame to tell it. His wordes and his counsell concerning that are of great weight : But that day, saide bee, and that houre knoweth no man, no, not the Angels which are in Heauen, neither the Sonne, but the Father. Now what was his Counsell therevpon ? Take heede, saide hee ; watch and pray, for yee know not when the time is : for the Sonne of Man is as a man taking a farre journie, who left his house, and gaue authority to his seruants, and to euerie man his work ; and commanding the Porter to watch : Watch yee therefore ; for yee know not when the Master of the house commeth, at Euen, or at Mid-night, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the Morning ; lest, comming suddenlie, heejindeyou sleeping. And what I say vnto you, I say vnto you all, Watch. S. Peter saith, that hee shall come as a Theefe in the night. * By all this it euidentlie appeareth, that no man can de- signe the particular time of the comming of the Lord vnto Judgement. No tongue can tell whether his comming shall bee in the night or in the day, in the morning or in the eue- ning, at the prayer or at the preaching. * Watch yee there- fore, saide Christ ; and this hee doubled againe, And what I say vnto you, that I say vnto you all, Watch. The Sicke Man. What can bee the cause wherefore God hath kept vp to himselfe the particular knowledge of that great day ? The Pastour. * God in great wisdome hath hidde from all fleshe the time of his comming, as hee hath concealed from all men the houre and forme of their death, that all may striue to bee readie at all times. The Sicke Man. Though this clay bee not particularlie knowne, thinke yee not but it is verie neere ? The Pastour. S. lames in his dayes saide, the commiiuj of the Lord draweth neere. The Sicke Man. But since hee saide that, it is more than Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 213 a thousand and fiue hundredth yeares, and yet all thinges re- maine euen as they were, haue I heard some men say. The Pastour. * These bee the wordes of them, whom S. Peter calleth Scoffers. Knowing this first, saith hee, that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers, walking after their own lustes and saying, Where is the promise of his comming ? for since the Fathers fell asleepe, all thinges continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. This is as much as if they had saide, If there were a God indeede for to come to judgement, hee would not bee so slacke in his comming ? But what saith S. Peter to that ? The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise, (as some men count slacknesse,) but is long suffering to vs ward, not wil- ling that anie should perish, but that all should come to re- pentance. The Sicke Man. I see now that no man can be certaine at what time Christ shall come. It is a secret which God hath kept vp from all the liuing into his own bosome. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, it is such a secret that may not bee searched. Christ after his Resurrection, saide a'wise word to his Apostles, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power * This is the wisdome of God, who hath concealed such thinges from the knowledge of all men, as well learned as vnlearned, as well Kinges as Subjects, that all flesh at all times bee in readinesse when the Lord shall come to judge- ment. This made the Lord so carefullie to warne his Dis- ciples to watch, The Sicke Man. The Lord graunt that wee may euer haue our loynes girded and our Candles in our hands, wait- ing for the comming of that Lord. The Pastour. That should bee our daylie prayer. *This should teach vs not to lye downe to sleepe, like foolish Vir- gines, without Oyle in our Lampes, lest, before wee waken, the Bridegroome come vpon us vnprouided, and enter in his Chamber, while wee shall bee seeking that which wee shall not finde. The Sicke Man. Now, Sir, I pray you proceed, and de- clare to mee how the Lord shall come downe from Heauen, for to judge this world wherein wee dwell. The Pastour. Hee shall come downe, not and his Queene Be mice came downe, [MTU 7ro7X?jg * Note. 2 Pet. 3. 3. Verse 4. * Note. Verse 9. Act. 3. 3. * Note. Luk.l2.3 * Note. Mat. 25.3 Act.2j.23 214 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last Mat. 24. 3 2Pet.3.10. with much phantasie or vaine shew, which is nothing 1 indeede but a foolish phantasie. But, O the vnspeakable Glorie that shall bee seene at the comming of the Lord ! The Sicke Man. I requeast you earnestlie to continue into that purpose, for it affecteth mine heart verie much. The Pastour. I reade in the Gospel that while Christ was sitting vpon the Mount of Oliues, his Disciples carne vnto him priuatelie, saying, Tell vs when shall these thinaes bee, and what shall bee the signe of thy comming , and the end of the world? Christe's answere was, that they should take heede that no man deceiue them, because, saide hee, manie shall come into my Name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceiue manie. The Sicke Man. But did hee not declare anie particular signes or tokens that should appeare before his comming ? The Pastour. The Lord hath declared that before that great and terrible day come, The Sunne shall bee darkened, and the Moone shall not nine her light, and the Starres shall fall from heauen, and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken. The Sicke Man. I wish to heare the exposition of these wordes, for they seeme to bee full of difficulties. The Pastour. Some thinke that these wordes are but an allegoric of the calamities that were to befall to the Church, and to the whole world before the comming of Christ. Others of the Learned take these wordes to bee spoken properlie. And for to cleare their opinion to bee true, they alledge the wordes of S. Peter as a Commentarie vpon Christe's wordes. The Heauens shall passe away, saith hee, with a great noise, md the Elements shall melt withferuent heat, the Earth also, and the workes that are therein, shall bee burnt vp. And a little after hee subjoyneth, Looking for, and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God, wherein the heauens, bceing on fire, shall bee dissolued, and the Elements sltall melt withferuent heate. The Sicke Man. These bee wonderful! wordes of won- lerfull workes, yee will bee so good as to make them more cleare. The Pastour. * First it is saide, That the heauens shall passe away prcrteribunt, not that they shall bee turned to nothing, or shall so passe away, that they shall bee no more ; but they shall passe away, in that they shall bee changed, j ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day 215 According 1 to this the Psalmist, speaking of the heauens, saith, that all of them waxe olde as doeth a garment. As a vesture shaltthou change them, and they shall bee changed. Though in our lifetime, because it is so shorte, wee cannot sensiblie perceiue anie decay in the heauenlie influences, yet it is certaine that the heauens are but creatures ordained for the seruice of man, creatures subject to faile, weare, and waxe olde. The Sicke Man. What a change, Sir, thinke yee that, that shall bee ? The Pastour. It shall bee a change altogether for the better. All the Elements shall bee melted as mettell into a fornace whereby it is refined. After that they are melted, they shall bee cast into a new mould, for to receiue such a forme as it shall please the Most High to giue vnto them. * I compare all these great creatures of the world, as the Heauens and foure Elements, to an olde piece of monie stamp- ed so long since, that hardlie can it bee knowne whose su- perscription is in it, all the Letters beeing worne off with the vsing. * It is euen so of the Heauens, and of the Elements in these latter dayes. It is so long since they were stamped, that the letters of God's name vpon them are growne dim, and are not so legible as they were wont to bee. But in that last day, the Lord shall make the olde Heauens, and this olde Earth all to melt into a fire, and thereafter shall stampe them like a newe stricken Crowne. Then hee shall giue them such a temper, that they shall neuer waxe olde anie more. * God's first impression on his creatures, hath by sin beene dimmed and darkened, but this secunda cura, the second coyning of these creatures shall bee so durable that nothing shall bee able to deface it : for God then shall bee All in all. ' Then Tempus edax rerum, Time that eateth all thinges, yea, all times, as yeares, moneths, dayes, nights, houres, like floodes, shall all runne in, into the sea of eternitie, where they with all such vnconstant thinges shall bee swallowed vp in victorie. The Sicke Man. What is that to say, That the Hea- uens shall passe away with a great noise ? What sort of a noise shall that bee ? The Pastour. The word in the originall is, go which the French hath termed auec vn bruit siflant de tem- peste, that is, the roaring of a tempest, which commeth with * Note. Psal. 102. 26. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. * Note. Isa.51. 6 sa. 6 j.l 7 Rom.8.21 * Note. * Note. such a thudde, that it casteth downe both Trees and Houses, making 1 all to shake, and also lifting vp dust and straes, and all in the aire as with a whirlewinde. Erasmus termeth it, In morem procellce, like a Tempest. * Such a Tempest was neuer heard since the world was founded. It shall bee a Tempest which shall shake the world of its foundation. Aboue and below, all shall bee shaken with such a roaring and cracking tempest, that no mortall heart can conceiue. The Heauens, the Earth, the Waters, the Aire, the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres, shall bee so shaken with that tem- pest, as though they were but pickles of dust, and carried with a whirlewinde. My minde is in a maze to thinke vpon the greatnesse of that day. * My penne while I haue beene writing of it, hath fallen out of my hand, so haue I beene rauished with admiration of that day. O what a day shall that bee, when all that euer God made shall bee set on fire ! the Heauens beeing set on fire, saith the Apostle, shall bee dissolued, and the Elements beeing set on fire shall melt with feruant heate. Isaiah saith, that the Heauens shall vanish away like smoke. What fearefull tempest must that bee, which shall put all the world into a burning flamme ! All shall bee set on fire, the Heauens aboue, the Earth beneath, the waters also must bee burnt and melted into that wonder- full fornace. By this fire all thinges must bee purged. The Sicke Man. It would seeme by Scripture that those heauens which are now, shall bee altogether abolished. The Lord saith in Isaiah, Loe ! I will create newe Heauens and a newe Earth, and the former shall not bee remembered, nor come into minde. To create a thing, is properlie to make omething of nothing. What then ? shall the Heauens and Elements, which are now, bee reduced to nothing ? The Pastour. It is most certaine that they shall not bee put to nothing, but according to their earnest expectation, they shall bee deliuered at the last day from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the Sonnes of God. * It is not God's custome so to reward his olde seruants, as to put them from their beeing, that so hee may bee quite of them. * As for that which Isaiah saith, that hee will create newe Heauens and newe Earth, and that the former shall not bee remembered, it is not to bee vnderstood of the last day. The Lord by these wordes did onlie declare this to that people, that hee would so alter and change the state ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 217 of his Church at the comming of the Messias, that it should seeme to dwell into another world. The Sicke Man. I took euer that passage otherwise, but I holde that exposition best. But, beholde what S. John saith concerning the Heauens, the Earth, and the Sea, I saw a newe Heauen, and a newe Earth, for the first Heauen, and the first Earth ivere passed away, and there was no more Sea. What is that to say ? The Pastour. * The first Heauen and the first Earth, are saide to haue passed away, not that their substance was no more, but as one sayth well, because alia ejus videbatur fades, it was so changed that men would thinke, that it could not bee that cloudie Heauen, and clattie Earth which was be- fore. The Sea also was no more such as it was before. The Sicke Man. But S. lohn saith, that hee saw a white Throne and One sitting on it, from whose face the Heauen and the Earth Jledde away, and there was found no more place for them. By this it would seeme that they shall bee altogether abolished. The Pastour. I answere, that they shall not bee abolish- ed, but they are saide to flee away from the face of God, as most learned Diuines thinke, ad declarandum eorum terro- rem et animum ad fa-gam paratum, for to declare their feare to compeare before the face of so great a Majestic, till they bee forbished and scoured of the roust of their vanitie, wherevnto they haue beene made subject, they thinke shame of their vncleannesse before such eyes of puritie. * It is saide, that there ivas no place found for them, not that they wanted a place, but because of such a Majestie, they did goe about to hide thernselues. It is well saide by a Learned interpreter vpon these wordes, Quorum locus non reperitur, ilia latent et occulta manent, whose place is not found, they lurke and remaine hidde, not that they shall want a place, but because no man can finde out by searching what shall bee their place. By this is onlie declared, that till the Heauens and Elements bee renued, they shall in a manner goe and hide themselues from before the face of that heauenlie Majes- tie, as a ragged man, who thinking shame to compeare among those who are richlie arrayed, withdraweth himselfe vnto some darke corner that hee should not bee scene, till hee bee better arrayed. After .that all shall bee made cleare and Reu.12. 1. * Note. Reu.^0.11 * Note. 218 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Luk. 17.31 s>Pet3.7. * Note. * Note. * Note. Phil. 3. ! cleane by the fire, they shall appeare before God in their ap- pointed place. The Sicke Man. Thinke yee that it shall bee a long time before that all can bee refined by that fire, as also before that the dead bee raised vp and gathered together ? The Pasteur. * All this shall bee done in a moment: in the twinkling of an eye the dead shall bee raised, and the lining shall bee changed whereuer they bee found, whether grinding at the Mille, or walking in the fieldes, or lying in their beddes, they must all compeare either for to bee taken, or to bee forsaken, all other thinges shall bee speedilie dis- patched. The Sicke Man. O but hee is a great God, who by his word kcepeth in store the ffeauens and Earth which are noiv, resenting them vnto fire ayainst the day of Judgement! Great must hee bee who shall kindle such a fire. Now after that this fire shall bee quenched, what shall bee done ? The Pas four. Alter that by the fire the Lord hath cleans- ed all his creatures from their roust, and scoured them from all their drosse, hee shall forme them by his word, the breath of his mouth : * as a maker of Glasses, by the blast of his mouth, formeth as hee pleaseth the soft melted liqnour taken out of the fornace. * But wherevnto can wee compare the Most Hiffh in his most wonderful! workes ? * Then the O Heauens, which of before hee had rolled vp like a scrole, shall bee vnfolded, and put out of their roll, and the Earth beeing purified and fined, shall bee made a Lodging" for righteous- nesse. According to his promise, saith S. Peter, wee looke for newe Heauens andnewe Earth, wherein dwelfeth riyhte- ousnesse. The Sicke Man. What is that to say, that righteous- nesse dwelleth into the newe Heauens and into the newe Earth ? These wordes seeme to bee difficile. The Pastour. The opinions of men are diuerse concern- ing the sense thereof, some thinke that Riahteousnesse shall dwell in the newe Heauens and newe Earth, vnderstanding by Righteousnesse^ the righteousnesse of Christ. According to this, S. Paul's greatest desire was that hee might bee found in Christ, Not, saide hee, having mine own riahte- ousni'sse, whi.Qh is of ihe Laicc, but Unit wind) ?.v of the Faith of Christ, the Rifjhlr.ousnesse of Cod hi/ Faith. Olhers by u Metonimie, vnderstand that righteousness^ dwell- Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 219 ing on the newe Earth, to bee taken for all faithfull and righteous men who shall bee the citizens of that newe Hea- uen and of that newe Earth. * O if wee knew the glorie of these newe tbiuges, they would surelie rauish our heartes, so that wee would all cry, Come, Lord lesvs, Come ! * These newe Heauens shall neuer bee oner-cast with cloudes, there shall bee none ecclip.siug of light anie more. * As for the newe Earth, there shall bee no more sweate of brovves. All toyles and turmoyles shall cease. Sin, the cause of all our woe, shall bee no more there. * The most barbarous and barren part that is now on earth, shall bee more pleasant than euer was Paradise, for then God shall bee All ia all. * All the Earth shall bee like that Holie of holies, but without a partition wall. In that Holie of holies in Canaan, none but one, and that but once in the yeare, might enter : but in the newe Heauens and newe Earib, all the faithfull shall haue their perpetuall residence, where they $ti&\ follow the Lambe whither-so-euer it shall please him to goe. There shall they for euer bee courting his countenance. * Fye that men will not liue well for a little space, that they may liue with the Lambe for euer, among these plea- sures for euermore ! Fye that men for stinking pleasures, should losse the comfort of these places, wherein nothing but righteousnesse shall bee able to dwell ! The Sicke Man. Seeing the heauens and the earth shall Dee made newe, yee thinke that they shall change for the Detter ? The Pastour. That is most certaiue : They haue in their own kinde beene obedient seruants vnto their God, and God will also glorifie them, with a kinde of glorie which his Wis- dome shall thinke fittest for them. The heauens as a gar- ment are waxed olde at God's seruice. * God will not cast off his olde seruants, but after their seruice hee will reward them. * If their cloathes bee worn at his seruice, hee will giue them a newe coate. * If their first powers bee shaken, hee will put newe powers into them againe. * It was truelie aide by the Father of Lyes, that none serue God for nought. * It shall not bee for nought, that the Heauens by their motions, and the Earth by its birth, haue declared the glorie of God omnipotent. The Sicke Man. But is it possible, that such creatures liaue anie knowledge while they serue God, that hee will re- * Note. Ren. I -2. 17 * Noi.e. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ex. 26. 33. Reu.lki. * Note. Psal.Ki.ll Psal.102.1 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note, lob, 1.9. * Note. 220 THE LAST BATTELL * Note. Rom.8.19, Verse 20. Verse 21. * Note. Verse 22. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. ward them at the last day, that thereby they may bee incou- raged at his seruice ? The Pastour. * They haue indeede a certaine secret in- stinct from GOD, which worketh in them a sort of longing for the last day, which shall bee the day ofrewardes, the day of their deliuerance. In this the Apostle is plaine : For, saith hee, the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God : for the creature was made subject vnto vanitic ; not willinglie, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope : because the crea- ture itself e also shall bee deliuered from the bondage of cor- ruption, into the glorious libertie of the Children of God. * For this cause the whole creation is saide to grone and to trauaill together vntill now. The Sicke Man. O the great secretes of God ! I pray you, Sir, to let mee vnderstand these wordes by some breefe exposition. First, what is that which hee calleth the earnest expectation of the creature, which waiteth for the manifesta- tion of the Sonnes of God? What creature is that ? what expectation can that bee ? The Pastour. By the creature are not vnderstood these little creatures, as Frogs, Flees, Midges, Beastes, Fowles, Fishes. * Such creatures haue none expectation of better thinges to come, for in the world to come there shall bee no vse for them : * but by the creature is to bee vnderstood the whole world, viz. the Heauens and all the Elements, as Earth, Fire, Water, Aire ; which now are all so knit in loue, that euerie one, as it were, taketh another into its bosome. * Be- cause they are so fast coupled together, and so neere to other, that nothing can come betweene them, for this cause, as if they they were all but one thing, they are called, in the singular number, the creature. * As for its expectation, it is called by the Apostle, u<7roza- gcifoioxiM, a stretched out of the hand : in which word, the wait- ing of the world for the comming of the Lord, is set out like a woman standing vpon her tip-toes, stretching out her head for to see, if shee can see her husband comming a farre, whom shee looketh and longeth for hourelie. * See how liuelie thi Apostle declareth the secret instinct of the workle's desire for the comming of Christ lesvs. In a most powerful! word, hee letteth vs see the Heauens and the Earth, and all the Ele- ments, all as it were a man or a woman standing vpon their Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 4. day. 221 tip-toes, and holding vp their heads, for to see if lesvs bee comming according to his promise. All the Faithfull, who are the Spouse of Christ, grone within themselues, sighing till they see their Sauiour in the Cloudes, so also this creature hath the own grones and sighes, till Christ come for its deliuerance. * And as the Churche's desire maketh Her to cry, Come, Lord lesvs, come, so in this creature there is a secret instinct and earnest expectation, which moueth it in the own language to cry for Christe's comming. The Sicke Man. What vnderstandeth the Apostle while hee saith, that the creature was made subject to vanitie, not wittinglie, but by reason of him that hath subjected the same in hope? First, how it is saide, that it is made subject to vanitie. Can the Heauens and the Earth bee saide to bee subject to vanitie ? The Pastour. The most Learned thinke, that by this subjection of the creature to vanitie, is to bee vnderstood, ejus fluxa et evanida conditio, that is, a condition subject to change, corruption, wearing away, or waxing olde. As for the Earth, it is euident, as for the Heauens, Scripture is plaine : they waxe olde as doeth a garment. * This is the vanitie of these creatures. Heere is also another vanitie wherevnto they are subject, in that they are made seruants to these that will not serue God, whom they serue. . That the beautifull Sunne, should furnish light to these that delight in Spirituall darknesse, it is a vanitie and a drudgerie wherevnto the Sunne is subject. That the Earth should beare and bring foorth fruites, for to feede the blacke mouthes that blaspheme its Maker, is a great vanitie wherevnto it is made subject. * The Sea groneth vnder the Shippes of Pyrats and Robbers. * See what an vproare was in that Element for lonaJis rebellion, * So long as hee was in that Shippe, God scourged the windes with his word of command : the windes scourged the Seas : the Seas scourged the Shippe wherein God's Rebell did lye, till hee was cast out. If The Sea euer seethed with the fire of God's wrath, the wanes euer tumbled vp and downe, breaking one vpon another, with rush- ing and roaring. Till it tooke order, with the rebellious man, there was no resting for its waues. The Sicke iWan. But how is this that it is saide, that Rom.8.23. * Note. Keu.22.17 Ps. 102. 26 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Noto. Mat.26.4: * Note. Cor.7.21. Note. * Note. * Note. the creature is subject to vanitie, but not wittinglie? I would seeme by that, that they obey God, but against their will. The Pastour. The Heauens or Earth properlie haue nei- ther a willing nor a nilling, but onlie a secret instinct, which is like a will. * This secret instinct which God hath put into his creature is that, Omuls natura conservairix sui eat, euerie creature siriueth to keepe and maintain ilselfe. Now, while by God it is made subject to such changes, weakening and wearing, which is against the working of that instinct, it is saide in Scripture language, to bee subject to vanilie, but not wiltiiif/lie. Neither for that must wee thinke, that the creature in that rebelleth or repynelh against God in anie wise, as if it hac a will striuing against God's will, no, not. * But in some measure it may bee saide to haue an instinct, like that will oi Christ, at the drinking of the bitter Cuppe. Christe's natu- ral! instinct was that the Cuppe should passe from him, and yet for all that his prayer was, Not my will, but thy wilt bee done. * It is euen so in some manner, of the instinct of the Hea- uens and of the Earth. They naturallie shrinke from bond- age and abuse, as also they incline to keepe themselues from corruption and vanitie ; neither for that is their will contrarie to God's will. Hee ivho is called a xeruant should not care for it. But yet if hee may bee made free, the Apostle's di- rection is, that hee vse it rather. The sicke man may will life, and seeke cure for to preserue his life, though God's will bee that hee die, if so bee that hee submit vnto God's will his whole desire, as Christ did, euen while hee desired the Cuppe to depart, which hee knew to bane been put into his hand for to drinke it. * A will that is diuerse from God's will, if it bee subacted and subjected vnto God's will, may bee free of sin. * So the Heauens and the Earth are sub- ject vnto vanitie, but not willina/ie, because they incline to bee free of the bondage of man's corruption. But seeing it is their Lord's will that they beare the burden, and bee sub- ject to such changes, they become subject, but withall they are euer groning and longing for their redemption. * As a woman in trauaill naturallie desireth to bee deliuered, and yet submitteth her selfe to God's will ; as naturallie these crea- tures of God haue an instinct to bee deliuered from the bur- ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day 223 den of their bondage. But seeing their instinct or desire to bee made free, is not so soone effectuate, neither can bee, be- fore the world end, the Lord, their good and kinde Master, for to encourage them vnder the burden of their bondage, lest they should faint, hath giuen vnto them another secret instinct, which the Apostle calleth their hope. For to cleare this to you in a word. * There is in this world, groning vnder the corruption of the wicked, a certaine instinct like Hope, whereby it looketh for to bee made free, from the bondage and burden of this corruption, as a woman in trauaill is comforted with hope of deliuerance. This is that, whereat the Apostle pointetb, when hee saith, that God had subjected the creature in hope. The Siclce Man. In my judgement yee speake perti- nentlie. In that difficuUie I haue full satisfaction. But what is this, that is subjoyned vnto the verse following ? I vnderstand not the wordes well. They are these : * The creature at last shall bee deliured from the bondage of cor- ruption, into the glorious liber 'de of ike Children of God. What is this libertie of the Sonnes of God ? or how can the Heauens and the Elements bee saide, to bee made partakers of that libertie which belono-eth to the Children of God ? I o confesse mine ignorance heere, in this point 1 desire to bee instructed. The Pas-four. This is the libertie, whereof they shall bee partakers with the Children of GOD: they shall then haue all their will, they shall no move bee subject to that whereof they would desire to bee free. * Not wittinylie., shall bee no more in them in all their subjection. * They shall bee no more slaues to serue sinners, but shall serue God and his Sainctes, which is true libertie. Thus in so far re as they shall bee free of all that foresaide bondage, they are saide to bee deliuered into the glorious liber tie of the Children of God. * This shall bee a part of the libertie of God's Sainctes in Heauen, not to bee subject to the wicked anie more, not to wearie nor waxe olde, all this shall they haue common with the creature. * But O what a g-lorie shall the Children G> haue, greater than all the creature shall receiue, euen afarre more, and exceeding iveialii of Glorie ! The Stcke Man,. I will not now inquire concerning that weightie glorie, I reserue it to afterward, God willing. One thing I desire to know, whether or not the Lord shall come Rom.8.20. * Note. Rom. 8.20. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. iCor.4.17. THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. Mat. 2 1.9 * Note. * Note. Isa. -2. 22. Psal. 68.4. * Note. Luk. :j. 4- Verso 5. downe before the World shall bee refined with fire, or if it shall bee after. The Pastour. In my judgement before that the Lord come downe, the Heauens shall bee newe, and the Earth and all shall bee newe. As a Citie, before the entrie of a King 1 , prepareth all beforehand, maketh the wayes cleane, and caus- eth sweepe off the streetes the dunghills, so all the streetes of the Heauens, and of the Aire, and of the Earth, must bee made cleane before the comming of the Sonne of man. * While in the dayes of his flesh, hee entered into the Citie of Jerusalem in qualitie of a King, riding vpon an Asse Colt, all the streetes were couered with cloathes and greene bran- ches of trees, so that the foote of his Asse scarcelie could touch the ground, all that was there rang with the sound of Hosanna ! Hosanna ! * Euen so in my judgement, when that great Lord shall make his entrie into the world as a King from Heauen, the world shall all bee made newe, it shall looke with another face than it doeth at this day. * If our gra- cious Soueraigne, King CHARLES, (whom I pray the Lord to blesse with a prosperous reign,) were comming from Lon- don for to enter into this Citie, wee would all clothe ourselues in comelie apperall, wee would receiue him with great ap- plause, all snouting, GOD SAVE KING CHARLES! Would wee do this to a sin full man whose breath is in his nostrils ? What thinke yee then shall these creatures do, whose neckes are yoked vnder the bondage of corruption, euer till the Lord IAH our God, come downe riding vpon the Skie with sound of libertie for euermore. Mine heart faileth mee while I thinke of that great ap- plause, and welcome to the world, that Christ shall get, when hee shall bowe the Heauens, and come downe into the Aire. Shall hee who in the dayes of his flesh, in the dayes of his disgrace, was so honoured at his Royall entrie in Jerusalem, not bee much more honoured at his Royall entrie into the world, which is groning after that houre of his comming, as a woman in trauaill, yearning after the houre of her deliuerie ? At his second comming, all his wayes shall bee prepared, and the Hosanna, Hosannah's of Jerusalem shall bee turned into Halleluiah, Halleluiah. * Before Christ came h'rst to appeare among men, hee sent a Messenger to prepare his wayes. The voyce nf One crying in the irildernesse, Prepare yee the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Euerie valie Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. shall bee filled, and euerie hill and mountaine shall bee made low, and the crooked shall bee made straight, and the rough wayes shall bee made smooth. * Seeing in his humilitie his wayes were prepared before his comming, there is greater appearance, that before hee come backe to this world againe with his millions, this newe earth and all shall bee prepared. * It is a disgrace for a Citie to bee cleansing streetes, while the King is alreadie within the portes. It is but rus- ticke manners to sweepe an house after that an honest man hath entered, whereby the dust that is vnder his feete is car- ried vp to his hat, and betweene his shoulders. The Sicke Man. It is your opinion then, that all shall bee cleansed with a fire before the Lord come downe ? The Pastour. It is indeede. And it seemeth also to haue some ground into Scripture, for Christ while hee was declaring in the Gospel the thinges that should befall before his comming, hauing saide, that the Sunne and Moone should bee darkened, and that Starres should fall from Heauen, which declared the change of this world. In the next verse hee declareth, that after that appeared the signe of the Sonne of Man in Heauen. The Sicke Man. According to your discourse it would seeme, that before the comming of the Lord, at the renewing of this world, there shall bee a strange stirre among all the Creatures. The Pastour. That is most certaine, and that both aboue and below. S. Luke saith, that there shall bee signes in the Sunne, and in the Moone, and in the Starres, and vp- on the Earth, Pressura gentium, distresse of Nations, with perplexitie, the Sea and the wanes roaring. Men's heartes failing them for feare, and for looking after these thinges wJiictt are comming on the Earth ; for the powers of Hea- uen shall bee shaken. Then shall they see the Sonne of Man comming in a cloude, with power and great glorie. The Sicke Man. All these wordes bee wordes of great weight. It would please you to giue mee the interpretation thereof. The Pastour. In these wordes, the Euangelist letteth vs see, how this bigge olde world shall bee broken downe for to bee made newe againe. Some of the Learned expound these wordes by way of similitude taken from man, the little world, * Note. * Note. Mat.24.29 Verse 30. Luk.21.2c Verse 26. Verse 27. 226 THE LAST BATTELL * Note. Mat.2-l-.-29 Rfii. 1 ;.:*. Verso -I-. * Noto. while as hee is olde and failed, the humours of his bodie, like elements, are troubled and shaken together. His two eyes like the Sunne and Moone are darkened, and his other senses like the Starres fall downe and decay. His minde and his reason like heauenlie powers are shaken, so at last man, like an olde house all decayed, falleth downe into his dust. * As this little world decayeth, so doeth this great world, wherein wee Hue, all is failing about vs, aboue vs, till at last the verie voutes of heauen shall bee rent, gotfyjffrov, with a noyse, and shall bee melted with fire, and as it were cast into calmes, whereout of shall come a newe world, which shall neuer anie more waxe olde. The Sicke Man. That is well saide for the generall. I perceiue now that the Lord by his infinite power shall spread the Heauens like paper or parchment, and that they shall bee melted like mettall. Let mee now particularlie vnderstand these wordes of S. Luke, as they are written into his Gospel. First hee saith, that there shall bee sit/nes in the Sumie, and in the Moone, and in the Starres. What signes shall these bee ? The Pastour. Some of the Learned thinke that these signes shall bee miracles, whereof God from these heauenlie bodies shall make a shew vnto men vpon the earth. Some thinke that this is spoken of great and strange ecclipses, that shall goe before that day. Some thinke that there shall bee such a great and glorious liyht that shall goe before Christe's comming, that both Sunne and Moone shall bee darkened, as the Starres in the morning are darkened at the rising of the Sunne, so that they cannot anie more bee scene, beeing ob- scured by a greater light. Some by an allegoric referre these great ecclipses to great learned men, great lights in the Church, making defection and Apostasie from the Trueth. The Sicke Alan. But S. Matthew sayeth, that the Starres shall fall from Heauen. The Pastour. These wordes also bee diuerslie interpreted. Some by these fallen starres vnderstand alorious professours of the Trueth falling away by Apostasie, such Starres are these whom the Draf/on is saide to draw downe with his taile. These bee the wordes of S. John, dind there appeared aunt her wonder in Heauen, andbeholde a t/reat red Dragon, and his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen, and did cast them to the earth. * Bv these starres, as ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 227 a learned man saith well, are vnderstood these whose names in outward appearance were written in Heauen, like the Angel of Sardis who had a name to bee lining, and yet ivas dead. * Wicked men for a space may blaze like Comets, and seeme to bee starres fixed in their orbe, and yet at last proue to bee nothing but a bundle of filthie matter, like these shote starres, that come not from Heauen but from the Aire, whereof the Deuill is the prince. Others are of the opinion, that this bee spoken of the starres of heauen, viz. that they shall fall downe. The Sicke Man. But seeing one starre is so manie times bigger than the whole Earth, as Philosophers esteeme, how can they fall ? or if they fall, whither shall they goe ? The Pastour. One answereth verie well to that, that it is verie difficile to pronounce, but the day of the Lord shall reueale all. * In my judgement, by the falling of the starres, with other such like thinges, is vnderstood the decaying and passing away of the Heauens, which shall in that day, as S. Peter testifieth, passe away with a noyse. * An house while it is olde, and readie to bee taken downe, will all bee full of cliftes and riftes, so that the olde syling, that was once fast joyned together with nailes, will beginne to cling, and then to gape, the nailes also will become loose and hing out. All signes and tokens of an hastie ruine. It shall bee euen so of that heauenlie house, when it is decayed and neare a fall. The starres, which are like golden nailes into the syling of the world, are saicle to bee loosed and to fall downe, for to declare the failing and ruine of the world. Some thinke that the starres reallie shall fall downe, like the leaues of a tree nipped with a winter frost. S. lohn, speaking of that strange change and perturbation, that shall bee both aboue and below before that great day, saith, that the starres of heauen shall fall downe vnto the earth, euen as a figye-tree casteth her vntimelie figges, when shee is a shaken of a mightie winde. In these wordes wee see first, the infinite power of that Majestie who shall shake the fixed starres out of their firma- ment, againe obserue that the starres are saide to bee shaken like vntimelie and greene figges, and not like figges that as wee say are droppe ripe, which droppe downe of will without anie violence. * By this it would appeare, that this world mio-ht stand longer than it shall stand. I thinke that if the ~ O Lord should sillier the heauens to turne about some hun- Reu.3. 1. * Note. Ephes.2.2 * Note. 2Pet.3.10. * Note. Rcu.G.13 * Note. 228 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last Mat.24.22 * Note. 2Pet.3.12 Gen. 1.2 * Note. * Note. 2 Sam. 2-i 14. * Note. dredth thousands of yeares, that then the starres should fall downe to the earth, not like greene figges, but like fruite that s ripe at the falling. But the Lord, as wee see, will shake the starres ere they bee ripe, and that, as some thinke, for the Elect's sake. For the Elects sake, saide Christ, these dayes shall bee shortened. In the Greek it is decurtabuntur, which is to shorten or mutilate. I know that the most Learned interpret these wordes of the calamities of the lewes, which God would not suffer to jee distressed for manie yeares. The Sicke Man. Mine heart wonders at these wordes of the Reuelation, concerning the starres which shall fall downe to the earth like vntimelie fyges shaken with a miahtie winde. I thinke your obseruation therevpon verie pleasant. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, the wordes are wonderfull ; but the worke shall bee more wonderfull ; * for in all ap- pearance, the heauens Seeing dissolued, that is, all shaken asunder, and the starres shaken loose, falling downe to the Earth, and all the Elements beeing melted together, in all appearance, Starres, Sunne, and Moone, Clay, Water, Fire, and Aire, shall become for a space like a Chaos, a confused lumpe or masse, without forme, as they were at the first and that till the God of order hath refined and purified all by his refining fire. Some thinke otherwise ; but the day oi the Lord shall reueale all. The Sicke Man. That shall bee a terrible worke. * Now let mee know what S. Luke vnderstandeth by these wordes, that vpon the earth shall bee distresse of Nations, with per- plexitie. The Pastour. * That is, men of all Nations shall bee so troubled at the sight of such thinges, that, like a man in a straite, they shall not wotte to what hand to turne them, euen as Dauid was when hee saide, / am in a great stratte, that is, perplexitie. As for that which S, Luke saith of the Sea, viz. the sea and the wanes roaring, by these wordes hee de- clareth that the sea shall bee all stirred to the bottome, so that the waters and all shall bee muddie and drumblie. * The word Salum, turned heere Sea, signifieth properlie mare tur- batum, a raging, troubled, and tempestuous Sea. All these thinges that shall appeare, are called Fore-run- ners, sent before to tell all the Faithfull, that when they shall see them, that they lift vp their heades, and looke vp for to Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 229 see their Redemption that is neare. S. Luke compareth the time of all these thinges that appeare before the Lord's com- ming, to the spring-time, when trees beginne to budde : when the buddes shoote foorth, saith hee, yee know that Summer is at hand. So likewise yee, when yee see these thinges come to passe, know that the kingdome of God is nigh at hand. The Sicke Man. All these foresaide thinges bee but juddes, as I see, forewarning vs of the Summer season, wherein the Lord shall come. But what is that which S. Matthew saith, that after all these thinges shall appear the SIGNE of the Sonne of Man in Heauen? What is that which hee calleth the SIGNE of the Sonne of Man in Hea- uen ? What SIGNE thinke yee that to bee, that shall bee scene in Heauen after that the world shall bee made newe ? The Pastour. The interpreters varie much in their opin- ions concerning this Signe, what sort of Signe it should bee. Some thinke that it shall bee the signe of the Crosse vp- on which the Lord hang. This SIGNE, as some thinke, shall bee seene into the Aire, before the comming of the Lord. Such a signe, as some write, was that which Constantine saw in the Aire, while hee was going to battell against the ene- mies of Christ. With this signe was heard a voyce vttered in these wordes, IN HOC SIGNO VINCES. Others thinke, that by the SIGNE of the Sonne of Man, is to bee vnderstood Christ himselfe, who is called, The Signe of the Sonne of Man, as Circumcision in Scripture Language is called, The signe of the Circumcision. * I incline rather to thinke with Beza, that, that signe shall bee some great Majestic and vnspeakable glorie, aboue all compasse of comparison glorious, which shall appeare, whereby the comming of that Lord shall bee known to all. not to bee the comming of a creature, but of Him who is Lord of all the creatures, hauing a name aboue all names. * The Kinges and Princes of the earth, while they are among the multitudes of their Subjects, by some glistering Jewell, will bee discerned from all the rest, or by the great respect that is carried to their persons, by these that are about them. * All sheaues fell downe before Joseph's sheaue. So all creatures at his approach shall fall downe before him. * As before Joseph, in his progresse, was a cry, Abrecli, bow the knee, so at the comming of this Lord, the Angels in a man- ner shall cry, Abrech. At his name euerie knee in Heauen, Luk.2l.30 Verse 31. Mat.21.30 Rom.4.11. * Note. Phil. 2. 9. * Note. * Note. Gen. 37.7. * Note. (ien.il. 13 230 THE LAST BATTKLL Of the Las * Note. Canto. 1 Note. L'ant.5.11 Ian-. 2. 7 Iat.24.3 Tlios. 4 16. * Note. Thes. 4. Note. * Note. * Note. and Earth, and vnder the Earth, shall bow. * Before, be hinde, and about that Bodie of God, both white and ruddit the chicfest among ten thousand, shall bee such a glorie an throng of Majestic as shall bee a certaine signe, that it can bee none other but the Prince of Eternitie, hee beeing among his most bright and glorious Angels, like a Sunne the Starres. The wordes of the Earth cannot bear such signification as may expresse the glorie of this Signe. * Mine heart is without mee, while I thinke vpon the glo rie of that Lord, whom all eyes shall see that day with hi golden Head and bushie Lockes. Christ shall bee clothec in his triumphing apperall with such a brightnesse, that the Moone shall bee confounded, and the Sunne ashamed, a. these who beeing clothed in course rayment, are ashamed to bee scene among these who are pasmented with gold. * Ii a word, at his presence all powers shall shake, and all crea turcs at his becke shall obey. The Sicke Man. After that, that Signe shall appeare ,vhat thinke yee shall bee done ? The Pastour. When Christ, the desire of all Nations, shall bee readie to come, hee shall send before him his An- gels, with a f/reat sound of a Trumpet, and they shall gather lis dispersed and despised Elect from the foure windes, from one end of Heauen to the other. S. Paul saith, that the Trumpet shall blow, and the dead shall arise. This shall lot bee a brazen Trumpet, but a celestiall, which shall sound so shrill with & princelie noyse, that all the creatures on iarth, in Heauen, and Hell, shall heare it. * S. Paul hath three notable sayings, concerning the sound hat shall bee heard at Christe's comming. First hee saith, hat hee shall descend with a shout, secondlie, with the voyce f the Archangel, thirdlie, ivith the Trumpet of God. The Sicke Man. The rememberance of that shout maketh nine cares to tingle and my heart strings to tremble. What shout thinke yee that, that shall bee ? The Pastour. Some thinke that it shall bee a great noyse ml dinne, such as is heard into hudge great assemblies. * It lay bee a shout of victorie or of praise. ' The Angels and .lillions of Sainctes, who sing his praise continuallie, cannot eepe silence that day. They shall bee all about Christ that ay, shouting for the joye of that desired day. The word liout in the originall is KstevfffAU, which properlie signihVth Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 231 that sounding voyce which the Mariners vse to others, euerie one for to moue another to row. Others thinke it to bee like a cry of Souldiers, qualis est militaris convasatio, while they trusse all their bag-gage for to remoue. The Sicke Man. For what cause chieflie shall this shout bee ? To whom shall it bee directed ? The Pastour. It shall bee chieflie for the Glorie of God. * It shall bee directed to the dead, who are to bee raised vp by the power of God, and by the meanes of his Seruants, the Angels, who at the raising vp of all creatures shall shout like Mariners, heauing vp that which is heauie by force of their armes. * What Archangel that shall bee, or what shall bee that voyce, one saith verie well, Dies Domini revelabit, The day of the Lord shall reueale it. The Lord prepare vs for it. O what a Glorie when Christ shall appeare with hands as gold ringes set with the Berill ; and tvith a bright bettie ouerlaid with Saphires ! The Sicke Man. Is it your judgement, that Christ the ludge of the World shall come downe from Heauen with a great Majestic ? The Pastour. It is certaine, of the day of his comming againe may well bee saide, that which was saide of his first comming, This is the day which the Lord hath made. In that day hee himselfe shall come downe in a Charet of a Cloude as hee ascended into a Cloude. All the Glorie of Heauen shall bee seene that day. The Father shall bee there in vnspeakable Glorie. The Holie Ghost shall bee there with vnspeakable Majestic. All the Sainctes and Angels hall bee about Him, like burning Lampes and glistering Sunnes. The Sicke Man. What passage of Scripture letteth vs ee clearlie the Glorie of his comming to judgement ? The Pastour. That passage of Daniel is verie formal : / behelde, saide hee, till the Thrones were cast downe, and the Ancient of dayes did sitte, whose Garment was white as snow, and the Haire of his Head like the pure woll. His Throne was like the fierie flamme, and his wheeles as burning fire. A fierie streame issued and came foorth from before him thousand thousands ministered vnto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. S. lohn saith. that the number of them was ten thousand times ten * Note. * Note. Cant.5.14. Ps.118.24 Dan. 7. 9. Verse 10. Ilcu.j.ll. 232 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. Mat. 3. 9. * Note. Exod. (i.3. Psal.50.12 I Cor. li. 5-2. Heb .9.27. 1 Tlu-s. ']. thousand, and thousands of thousands. * Let these brutish blasphemers heere by the way take a Lesson, who say, that if manie bee damned, God shall ride with a thinne Court, wordes worthie to bee scourged with a thousand hells. Away, yee barking blasphemers ! God hath no neede of you nor of your like. * Hee who could of stones raise vp seede vnto Abraham^ and make stones to cry, Hosanna, Hosanna, needeth not want multitudes of these that will sing his praises. But hath hee not Angels in Heauen alreadie, who are in number ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. But though they were none but himselfe, is hee not that great SHADAI, God all sufficient, who hath neede of none, of whom all haue neede? If I were hungrie, saide hee, / would not tell thee ; for the world is mine, and the fullnesse thereof. The Sicke Man. This would I learne of you, viz. if when the Trumpet of the Resurrection shall blow, these that are then liuing shall die first ? The Pastour. The Scripture saith, that they shall bee hanged. This change, which shall bee into the twinkling of an eye, shall stand vnto them in steade of death. In that is the word fullfilled, It is appointed to all men once to die. The Sicke Man. Thinke yee that these that then shall bee aliue, shall winne first to Christ ? It would seeme that they haue a. fore start of these who are rotten in the Graue. The Pastour. The Scripture is plaine : This wee say vnto you, by the word of the Lord, that wee which are aliue, and remaine vnto the comming of the Lord, shall not preuent them which are asleepe. Some gather vpon these wordes, that these who are dead shall preuent them who are aliue, and shall bee sooner at Christ than they, viz. that Adam and Eue shall bee with the first, and in the first ranke ; and so that, at that Conuention these who first were dead, shall preuent them that shall bee aliue. But that hath no sure ground in Scripture, for though it bee saide, that these who shall bee aliue shall not preuent these ivhich are asleepe, it will not follow that these which are asleepe, shall preuent these which are aliue. The Apostle himselfe saith, that tree shall all bee caught vp together in the cloudes. As for who shall bee formost, Dies Domini revelabit, the day of the Lord shall declare it. The Sicke Man. I see then that yoin - opinion is, that j ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 233 all flesh that day must arise and compeare before God, and that none must bee excepted. But how is it that the God- lie onlie by Christ are called, The children of the resurrec- tion ? By that it would appeare, that none shall arise but the members of Christ. The Pastour. It is most certaine that all shall arise. All that are in the graue shall heare his voyce, and shall comefoorthy they that haue done good vnto the Resurrec- tion of life, and they that haue done euill vnto the Resur- rection of damnation. As for the Godlie, indeede, properlie they are the Children of the Resurrection, because they shall arise willinglie out of their beddes, and because by the vertue of Christe's Resurrection they shall arise, hee beeing the Head, and they the members, which must follow after that Head. As for the wicked, they shall bee scourged out of their Graues, the force of wrath shall draw them out, that as Malefactors they may come and heare their doome pro- nounced against them. The Sicke Man. I heare you say, according to God's word, that all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce., and shall comefoorth. If that bee, where shall the little Children that died without Baptisme bee ? The Roman Church teacheth that such goe to a prison, where they shall neuer see the face of God. Shall not their bodies come out of their Graues ? If the Heauens and the Earth passe away, what part can they bee in, where they shall not see God's face ? The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, your reason refuteth that errour sufficientlie. For certainlie their bodies must come out of their Graues. It is not possible but in that day they shall see Christ. * Truelie, to put such into an euerlasting prison, for such a were to blame the Lord himselfe of injustice. The Lord hath saide, The sonne shall not heare the iniquitie of the father. What if the father by negligence shall neglect to cause baptize his Childe ? shall the Childe for his father's negligence bee clapped vp into euerlasting prison ! If that were, should not the prouerbe bee true, The fathers haue eaten sowre yrappes, and the Children's teeth are set on edge. It was well saide by Bernard, Non privatio Baptismi sed eontemptus damnat. That is, not the want, but the contempt of Baptisme, con- Luk. 20.36 loh. 5. 28, 29. cause, Note. Ezek. 18. 20. Ezek. 18.2 Bernard. 234 THE LAST BATTELL Orat.fu- ncb. ilf <>!> ibitu Vn- lent. * Note. 1 Cor. 15. 29. S. (Jhry- sost. Luther. Bucanus. Piscator. demneth. If anie condemnation bee, the Father who con- temneth, and not the Childe who contemneth not, shall bee damned. S. Ambros, speaking of f^alentmtan, who disceased before hee could come to him for to bee baptized, saide, Quern regeneraturm eram amisi, sed ille non amisit gra- tiarn quam poposcit. That is, I haue lost him whom I was for to regenerate, but hee hath not lossed the grace which hee sought. * None but baptizers of Bells will bee against this trueth. The Sicke Man. I am well satisfied in that point. I wonder much how men should goe so farre astray. Where shall these bodies of little Children bee in the day of the Re- surrection, if they shall not compeare before Christ the ludge ? I thinke this argument can hardlie bee answered vnto. Another difficultie heere may bee moued concerning Bap- tisme, which the Apostle taketh as an argument to proue the Resurrection. What shall they do, saith hee, which are baptized for the dead ? if the dead rise not at all, ivhy are they then baptized for the dead? The wordes seeme verie difficile. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, they want not difficultie. Some interpret the wordes, for the dead, that is, Vice et loco mortuorum. The custome was among the Christians, as S. Ambros recordeth, that if anie died without Baptisme, some of the liuing came to the bedde where they were dead, or to their Graue, and there were baptized for them. Chry- sostome and Epiphanius declare that this was a custome among the Marcionites, which they reproue as a vaine in- uention. Others interpret these wordes of these who on their death- beddes were baptized, that thereby all by-gone sinnes might bee purged away. Others interpret, To bee baptized for the dead, that is, in the faith of the Resurrection of the dead. For these who were to bee baptized, first did rehearse the Creede, and when they came to the Resurrection of the dead, at these wordes they were baptized. Others of the Learned take the wordes, VTTSP vczzuv, about the dead. The custome beeing of olde, that these who were baptized, were baptized about the Graues, where the dead ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 235 did lye, for to testifie that they did belieue the Resurrection from the dead. Some by baptizing heere vnderstand that washing and ablution of dead bodies. After this signification, Cuppes are saide, (^K^Ti^saffdai, to bee baptized, or washen. This wash- ing of the dead bodies before their buriall, as some thinke, was common to the lewes, who, in hope of the Resurrection, did bath them and make them cleane. This was also a cus- tome among the Paganes, to wash and anoint the dead bodies. Such were called Pollinctores. This also appeareth to haue beene done in the dayes of the Apostles, by the Christians. In the Actes it is written of Tabitha, that beeing dead, they washed her, and laide her in an vpper Chamber. All these baptizings and washings were in hope of the Resurrection. As for the Paganes, they wrought the worke as Peter on Tabor spake, not knowing what hee saide, or as Caiaphas prophesied, not vnderstand- ing the prophecie which hee preached. This by the most Learned is approued. Others interpret, to bee baptized for dead, not, for the dead, or aboue the Graues of these that are buried, but for dead, say they, that is, as dead to sin, for to destroy and mortifie sin, which is the chiefe end of Baptisms. This, say they, is a maine argument for to proue the Resurrection ; for if there were no Resurrection, to what purpose should men crucifie their shines ? * Beholde how these few wordes, to bee baptized for dead, hath troubled so manie braines ; where wee may learne the shallownesse of man's witte. God, with that little Greek g', hath giuen all the Doctours of the Church a taske that may teach them humilitie, an Antidote for to cure our swell- ing knowledge. The Sicke Man. That which yee say is trueth. Oh, that men were wise in this point, that they could consider the weaknesse of their wittes ! But to come to our purpose concerning the Resurrection. Manie a time haue I in my Spirit wondered at the greatnesse of that worke. The Pastour. It shall bee a great worke indeede. * But if anie Saducean spirit would doubt of it, it must also doubt more of the Creation. I take the Creation to haue beene a greater worke. It is more to haue made our bodies of no- Mat. 7. 4. Act. 9. 37. Luk.9.33. Ioh.I8.14. * Note. * Note. 236 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last Tcrtul. Verse -'* 1 Dan. \->.2 Mat.il i..'> Verso .;.'> thing, than to gather their dust together, which is now but dispersed. This was a Father's argument : f^tique idoneus est reficere qui facit : quare miramur ? quare non credimus f Deus est qui fecit : considera authorem et tolle dubitationem. That is, it is easie for God to make ouer againe that which hee hath once made : why marueill wee ? yea, why belieue wee not ? God hath made all. Consider the Maker, and doubt no more. The Sicke Man. Let mee heare some thing out of Scrip- ture concerning this point. The Pastour. There bee manie most famous passages for the probation of that great worke, both out of the Olde and Newe Testament. / know, saide lob, that my Redeemer liueth, and that hee shall stand at the latter day vpon the earth ; and though, after my skinne, wormes destroy this lodie, yet in my flesh shall I see God ; whom I shall see for my selfe, and mine eyes shall beholde, and not another, thouf/h my reincs bee consumed within mee. Daniel is cleare in this : Manie of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake : some to euerlasting life., and some to shame and euerlasting contempt. The Prophet Ezekiel, by way of similitude, setting the deliuerance of Israel, pointeth at the Resurrection. 13e/iolde, people, saith hee, / will open your Graues, and cause you to come vp out of your graues. Christ, in the Newe Testament, made numbers of the Sainctes to come out of the dust of death. What they were, no man can tell their names : whether it was Moses or losh- ua, Samuel, Dauid, losaphat, losiah, or whd, no tongue can tell. But this wee know, that after Christ arose, by the power of his Resurrection, hee made manie to come out ol their Graues. The yraues 'were opened ; and manie bodies of sainctes which slept arose, and came out of the qraues, after his Resurrection^ and went into the holie Citie, and appeared vnto manie. The Sickc Man. O but that was wonderfull ! Thinke yee, that after that they did returne to their graues ? T/tr Pastour. The most Learned esteeme, that they neuer did returne backe to dust, but that they waited on Christ vntill the day of his Ascention, in which day they did accompanie him vp to the Heauens, where, with their liend, ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 237 Christ, they were receiued into Glorie, with the great applause of all Angels and Sainctes, whose Spirits aboue are desiring continuallie to see the day, when Soule and bodie shall bee joyned, for to bee glorified together for euer. The Sicke Man. After that the dead are risen, and the liuiiig changed, what, thinke yee shall immediatelie follow before wee meet with the Lord himselfe ? The Pastour. In the judgement of some, so soone as the dead shall bee raised, and the liuing changed, before that wee shall meete with Christ into the cloudes, there shall bee a sore mourning, both among the Godlie and the wicked, for the piercing of that Lord. Euerie one of the Godlie in that day shall say, as the Butler saide to Pharaoh, I do remember my faultes this day. Such a mourning was neuer heard since the world was founded, as shall bee heard that day for a space. Christ himselfe hath declared this, saying, Then shall all the Tribes of the earth mourne, when they shall see the Sonne of Man coming into the Cloudes. All shall bee a^ast at the first sight of lhat High and loftie One, that inhabiteth Eternitie. S. lohn saith, Beholde ! hee commeth with Cloudes, and euerie eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him. And all the Kinrides of the Earth shall ivaile because of him. The Prophet Zacharie compareth this mourning to the mourning of Hadadrimmon, in the valie of Megiddon, for the death of good losiah. Some thinke that onlie the wicked shall mourne in that day. In my judgement it is the most true opinion. Others, by reason of these foresaide passages, thinke that all, both Godlie and vngodlie, at the first sight of lesvs, shall waile with great lamentations, while they shall beholde Him whom they haue pierced. * All at the sight of Him who was pierced for, and by our sinnes, o-v|/omw, plangent, that is, shall strike their breasts with their hands, the signe of great doole. After that the Lord hath suffered his to mourne for a space in his sight, hee shall incontinent command them to come, and by vertue of his word they shall all, as with winges, fh'e vp into the Aire, there for to meete their Lord, * the strength of their heart, the jotje of their glorie, the desire of their yr.v, and that wherevpon they set their mindes. So soone as they shall come to him, hee shall wype all Gcn.41.9 Mat.24.3t Isa. 57. 15, Rcu. 1.7. Zech. 1-2. 11. * Note. Note. THE LAST BATTELL CanUUl Verse 2. * Note, tearesfrom their eyes. * Then shall these mourning Mor- decais put off the Sack-cloth of their doole, for to bee arrayed Reu. 7. 9. with the Kinye's royall apperall, the White linnen of hea- * Note, iien, the glorious Liuerie of Christ lesvs. * These hauing Rcu. 4. 4. celestiall Grownes vpon their heads, shall ylaunce in ylorie, Mat 13. 43 like shining- Sunnes, that all that euer tooke breath may see Esth. G. 9. how it shall bee done to them, whom the Kiny of Heauen * Note, will honour. * When the Godlie shall see themselues powerfullie deliuered from so fearefull dangers, they shall cry to Christ, as the Israelites saide to Gideon, Reiyne thou ouer vs, because thou hast deliuered vs. According to their de- sire, hee shall reigne ouer them in all prosjyeritie. Then shall his curled Lockes, bee fullie dryed of the Dewe and doole droppes of the night of all afflictions. The Sicke Man. When the Lord shall come to ludye- inent, in what place, thinke yee, that hee shall sitte downe as ludge, for to pronounce his sentence ? The Pastour. It is thought by some, that Christ and all his Angels shall come downe to the Earth, that the sentence may bee pronounced in the presence of the wicked, 'who for feare of distresse and destruction, like creeping wormes, shall striue to hide themselues vnder Rockes and Mountaines, for to couer themselues from the face of the L/ambe. Glad would they bee for to haue the cliftes of the rockes, and the secret place of the Graue, for a Shelter in that day. " That shall bee a day of trouble and of treading downe, a day of perplexitie and of crying to the mountaines. Then shall the wicked, in fearefull qualmes of yriefe, beeing haltered with horrours, wish that the Rockes and Mountaines would skippe like Rammes, for to leape vpon them, that thereby they might bee hidde from the Lambe. But from that Royall presence there shall bee none escape. The Angeh of great power shall liaile them away by force before his great Tribunall, where all the euill they haue com- mitted, and all the good they haue omitted, both publicke scandales and secret sinncs, shall bee ript rp, and set in open view before all the world, to their perpetual! infamie. This is the trueth of God's word : ludye nothing before the time, saide S. Paul, vntill the Lord come, who both tcill briny to lit/Jit the hidden tlnnyes of darknesse, and will make manifest the counsell of the heartes. * Note. * O merciful! God ! what is this ? What can foolish man Reu.G. 1C * Note. Isa.22.5. Psal. 114 14. * Note. I Cor. 4. 5. ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 239 thinke in himselfe while hee concealeth his sinnes ? Beholde heere it is written, that at that day God shall make manifest the counsell of the heartes. The world saith often, that thought is free. * But beholde ! heare how the verie euill thoughts of the wicked in that day shall bee spread out and laide in broad band before the face of God, of Angels, and of men. * What an awe-band should this bee for to make vs watch better ouer our most secret thoughts, seeing in that great day, before so manie famous witnesses, GOD, Sainctes, and Angels, the most secret counsells of the heart shall bee made manifest ! * O then, then, shall the blacke Mores' hiddes, and Leop- ardes* spottes clearlie bee seene ! Then shall all the hidde murthers and all the counsells thereof bee made manifest. Were hee a King, hee shall not bee able to couer himselfe. Then shall all the hidde Fornications and Adulteries, yea, the verie plots and counsels for such thinges, though not effectu- ate, all shall bee brought to light. O yee most vile heartes ! in that day yee shall bee vnboweled and anatomised before the eyes of all that euer breathed on earth. * What thinke yee, O sinners, who will not remember this ? Will yee not thinke vpon this, that the day is fast comming? except that by speedie repentance, yee preuent the wrath, God shall discharge vpon you the thunder bolts of his vengeance. Vengeance shall beate vpon your braines and breasts, wherein your sinnes were bredde. The Sicke Man. * Oh, that men were wise for to lay such meditations nearest their heart ! alas ! such thoughts in our heartes are often but rawe and euill digested. Wee oftest misse the corne and choose the chaffe, such are the folies which are euer ajloate in our braines. But to come to the maine purpose which wee haue in hand, let mee see what warrand these haue in Scripture, who say, that Christ shall come downe to the Earth, for to sitte in his last dissise. The Pastour. They ground their Assertion vpon the wordes of lob, who saith, / know that my Redeemer liueth, and that hee shall stand at the latter day vpon the Earth. In the French version it is, II demeurcra le dernier sur la terre. That is, as our olde version hath, Hee shall stand the last vpon the earth. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. lob, 1 9.25. THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. loci, 3. 2. * Note. Act. 1.12. Act. 1.11. Illdr.V.U. By this it would appeare, that Christ the Judge shall come downe to the Earth, where hee shall haue a Judgement seate for to * do Justice vpon that Element where sin did most abound. Other learned Diuines thinke otherwise, viz. that Christens Throne, wherevpon hee shall sitte that day, shall bee erected in the Aire. The Sicke Man. Seeing some are of that opinion that Christ shall judge, hee beeing vpon the earth, what place thinke they, that hee shall choose for to sitte downe into ? The Pastour. As for the particular place where that last Judgement shall bee giuen, some thinke that it shall bee into the aire ouer the valie of lehoshaphat, neare by the Mount of Oliucs, which is not farre from Jerusalem, Their chiefe grounde, is from that of loeL I will, saide the Lord, t/ather all Nations in the Valie of lehoshaphat, and will plead with them there. There will I sitte to judge the Heathen round about. The opinion of some is, that where Christ was crucified, and put to open shame, and railed vpon, there shall hee chieilie in that day make manifest his Glorie. * This great Judge, in all appearance, shall judge the world in righteousnesse, and conuincc the world of sin and of righteousnesse, where hee himselfe was most vnrighteouslie judged and condemned. Manie of the Learned Schoole-men thinke that hee shall come downe toward the mount of Oliues. Their ground is this, that Christ ascended from the mount of Oliues, and that there the angels saide vnto the men of Galilee that were gazing vp toward heauen, that as they had seene him (joe into heauen, so should hee come againe. These bee probable conjectures. But in my judgement no man can assuredlie tell in what particular place this great ludjre shall sitte downe, for to pronounce his Judgement. This is most certaine, that hee shall come downe. Beholde ! hee commeth, saith 8. hide, -irith ten thousand of his Xainctcs, to execute judgement vpon all, and to conuinee all tliat are rn(/odlie among them, of all their rngodUe deedes which they haue vncjodlie committed, and of all their hard speeches, ichich rngodlie sinners haue spoken against him. Tin- Xirke Man. After what form thinke yee that ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. Christ shall come downe from Heauen at doomes-day, that great judiciall day ? The Pastour. In the most glorious form that is possible to him, with whom nothing is impossible. That glorious King shall bee accompanied with all the Armies ofheauen. Before him in die itto decritorio, in that judiciall day, shall bee heard a shout, a voice of an Archangel. The most shrill Trumpet of heauen shall sound so high with a rebound- ing noyse, that the dead in their Graues shall awake and arise out of their beddes, like sleeping men that are wakened in the morning, with the sound of the Drumme or fift houre Bell. At that sound all the dead must come out of their Graues, as men after sleepe arising out of their beddes. * None then must lye still with the Sluggard, who turning himselfe on his bedde, as a door on its hinges, saith, Yet a little sleepe, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleepe. No, not. At the first shout, at the first voyce of the Archangel, at the first blast of the Trumpet, all shall arise and compeare before the face of that ludge, in the day of that great generall Assemblie, when God shall comfort his own, and make a speedie riddence of the wicked, whom hee shall deuoure by the fire of his jealousie. None shall bee able in that day to award his bloives. There shall bee such paines which no damned Soule shall bee able to auoide, or abide. But the Godlie most gladlie, like Eagles about a dead bodie, shall flock about their Lord. The Sicke Man. I heare by your discourse, that the LORD shall come downe in great pompe and magnificence, After that hee is come downe into his Charet with his thou- sand thousands, what shall bee done next ? The Pastour. Daniel saith, that the ludgement shall bee set, and the Bookes shall bee opened. After that Christ by his power hath cast downe all the little thrones of Emper- ours and Kinges, hee himselfe shall sitte downe vpon a Throne of infinite Majestic. His Garments shall bee white as snow, and his Haire \\kepure woll. This is saide by Daniel, for to let vs see that the ladge of the world, shall bee vpright and spotlesse in his ludgement. To this is subjoyned, by the Prophet, that the judgement ivas set. The Sicke Man. I vnderstand not well these last wordes. What is that to say, that the ludgement was set ? The Pastour. * It is in the Hebrew, Dinaiethib. In * Note. Prou. 24. 33. Mat,21.28 3an. 7.10. 2-1,2 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. * Note. Mat25.31 Reu.20.12 * Note. Rcu.20.12 Ileu.21,27 Isa. 4 .3. Exod. 32 32. Luk.l(>.-20 * Note. the Latin, ludicio considente, or as Arius Montanus hath turned it, Indicium sedit, that is, the judgement satte downe, that is, as who would say, the Session satte downe. By this Judgement some of the Learned vnderstand Christ and his Sainctes with him, as Assessours in thatjurie all sitting, Christ for to judge, and they for to approue his Judgement. This then know, that when the Sonne of Man shall come in his Glorie, not with a scornfull Reede in his hand, but with a celestiall scepter, hee shall separate the Godlie and the wicked one from another. His Godhead, which in the dayes ofhisjleshe did lurke, shall in that Session most ardentlie appeare with such a brightnesses as shall make the eyes of deuills to dazzle. The Judgement beeing thus orderlie set, the Bookes shall bee opened. The Sicke Man. What Bookes are these which shall bee opened ? The Pastour. S. John, speaking of that last Session day, saith, / saw the dead, great and small, standing before God t and the Bookes were opened, and the dead were judg- ed out of these thinges that were written in the Bookes, ac- cording to their workes. Your desire is to know, what Bookes these bee which shall bee opened in that great day. In my judgement there shall bee two Bookes opened that day. * The first is that golden Booke of the Godlie, called, The Booke of life, which in the Chapter following is called The Lambe's Booke of life. These whose names are written in that Booke, are saide in Isaiah, to bee written among the lining in Jerusalem . This is that Booke, whereof Moses spake, when hee saide to God, Ifthou wilt notforgiue this people, blotte mee, I pray thee, out of the Booke which thou hast written. This may bee called The predestination Booke, which is kept in Heauen. Rather rejoyce, saide Christ to his Disciples, that your names are written in Heauen. The Sicke Man. Thinke yee, Sir, that God hath anie material! Booke, wherein the names of his !Saiuctes are written? The Pastour. No, not. * But, as one saith well, In- faUibilis Dei memoria et ceterna ad vitam elect io, hber dicitur, that is, the infallible memorie of God, and his eter- ludyement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 24,3 nail election vnto life, is called a Booke. Wherefore that ? will yee say : because that which is written in our Booke is most surelie kept. If wee haue a thing to day in our memo- rie, wee may forget it incontinent : but if it bee well written in our Booke, wee are sure of it. * According to this, God, for to shew vnto his deare ones how well hee remembereth them, hee saith, that hee hath written them vpon the palmes of his hands. This is that Booke of rememberance, whereof speaketh IWalachie. One of the Learned calleth well the Booke of Life, Sym- bolum electionis, the signe or badge of our election. * This is that which the Prophet Ezekiel calleth, The writing of the house of Israel, and secret of the Lord. The Sicke Man. But how is it saide, that this Booke hall bee opened ? The Pastour. The Booke of Life, or of Predestination, is saide to bee opened when it shall appeare to all the world, who they are whom God hath predestinate. * So long as the Godlie are heere, they are God's secret ones, no more knowne to the world, than a man is able to read that which is within a closed Booke. While it shall bee seene by all what they are, then that Booke is saide to bee opened. When these off-scourings of ;he world, the most despised among men, shall bee seene vpon Thrones, shining like Sannes about their God, the Sunne if Riyhteousnesse ; then shall all the wicked read, as in an open Booke, that these whom they once did despise were truelie the Sainctes of God. * The Booke of Predestination is like that Booke of the Rettelation, which was so fast sealed, that no man could open t, but the Lyon of the tribe of ludah. Without the force of a Lyon, such scales could not bee lifted vp. The Sicke Man. I haue heard concerning the Booke of the godlie. Now let mee know what bee these Bookes, wherein were written all the workes of the wicked ; according to which, S. lolm saith, that they shall bee judged. * By this it would ippeare, that all the shines which they in their life did com- mit vnder the curtame of darknesse, shall then bee set in open view. O the deepe displeasure of our God ! Happie hey who are highlie in his favour ! I would gladlie know * Note. Isa. 4-9.16. Mai. 3. 6. * Note. Ezek.13.9 * Note. Mat, 13.4-3 Mai. 4-. 2. * Note. Reu.5.5. Reu.20.12 * Note. 244 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. Dan. 7. 9. Reu.21.27 Reu.20.12 Verse 12. * Note. * Note. * Note. Rom.2.10 * Note. Gen. 41.5 what a blacke bible is that which is called The Booke of the Wicked? The Pastour. * When Christ, the Ancient of dayes, sitting vpon his Throne, readie for to judge the wicked, shall bee vpon the touch of their tryall, the Bookes of accounts hall hee laide open. The Booke of the Godlie is but one Booke, called The Booke of the Lambe, and The Booke of Life. But as for the wicked, while the Scripture speaketh of them, it speaketh of Bookes in the plurall number. The Bookes were opened, saith S. lohn, and the dead were judged out of these thinyes that were written in the Bookes. * By these Bookes some vnderstand the Lawe of God and their own Conscience. Their bosome Booke, like VriaKs Letters, containing their own death. Let mee also add vnto these two, a third Booke, euen the Booke of the Gospel. First of all, the Lord shall open his Lawe Booke vnto the wicked, where they shall see what they haue done, that God hath forbidden, and what they haue not done, that hee hath commanded. * At the breach of euerie command they shall see curses of Woe, woe, woe, annexed like the reekie taile of a Comet, which are nothing but the smoke of God's wrath. After that, with sore sighing and griefe of minde, they haue read through all the Booke of the Lawe, and haue clearelie scene what filthie breaches they haue made, to them shall bee presented the Booke of the Gospel, wherein they shall see, that they haue sinned against the remeede of sin, by refusing grace offered vnto them, and by treading vnder their vncleane feete the precious Blood of the Lambe, the price of their Redemption. * Though the wicked shall indeede bee judged according to their workes, yet the maine cause of their condemnation shall bee, because they would not belieue in the Sonne of God. For this cause the Gospel, which is the Booke of Faith, shall bee God's chiefe Booke of Judgement. Accord- ing to this, S. Paul plainelie saith, that in that day God shall judge the secretes of men, by Icsvs Christ, according to my Gospel. * Now, lest the wicked should thinke God anie wise to bee vnrighteous while hee judgeth, the third Booke, like loseph's Cuppe whereby hee did diuine, shall bee produced, euen their bosome Booke, the booke of their own Conscience, the booke of Nature and of Nations, which euerie one of them had in ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. keeping within their breast, since they could discern good by euill. * Whateuer they haue spoken, wrought, or thought, there shall they finde it written, in most blacke Characters, and as it were subscribed with their own hand, so that they shall not bee able to haue a face for to deny, no more than a man can deny his own hand write. * The Letters of that Booke shall bee printed with so great a Character, that all the Godlie who shall bee Christe's As- sessours in that lurie, for to passe their Verdict vpon them, hall see easilie a farre offj all the shame of the wicked, which was once closse couered vnder varnished colours of great godlinesse. O in that day all their filthie thoughts and craftie conuey- ances, and secret conspiracies, and hidde murthers, and adul- teries, and all other rnischiefe, the vnhappie cockle and dar- nell of their heartes, whereof they were secretlie guiltie. shall bee set in open view before GOD, Angels, and men ! All their faces shall bee couered with the filthinesse of their menstru- ous clouts. All their sinnes, both known and secret, shall God set in order before them, that all eyes of men and An- gels may beholde their abominations. short, sower, sweete pleasures, with long euerlasting tailes of sorrow ! * O but the Sainctes of God shall wonder in that day, to see so manie whom they while they liued, judged in Charitie to bee godlie and ivell set persons ! O, say I, but they shall wonder to see them in base bondage, among the blacke band, hauing the Bookes of their Consciences blotted with so manie Items of idle and wicked thoughts, which in this life could neuer bee taken within the walke of humane justice ! * Af- ter the Items of their vile thoughts, shall appear the Items of idle and wicked wordes. After all, shall bee seene the most filthie Items of their most vile and abominable vvorkes, which they thought had beene buried in eternal obliuion. The dashing tempest of God's wrath, shall wash out all the varnished paintings of their hypocrisie. Mercifull GOD, what shame in that day shall come with confusion vpon all the faces of the wicked ! When such secret sinnes, as hidde murthers, by Sword or by poyson, hidde adulteries, incests, stolen inches andfaJsewcif/hts, and all other such iniquities whereof this world is full, and that vnder a faire colour and shew of godlinesse, when all these hidde sinnes, say I, shall bee singled out, and shall come to lio-ht, * Note. * Note. Psal.50.21 * Note. * Note. 24-6 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Las the godlie, whom they once reputed precise fooles and simple * Note Fellowes, shall wonder at the sight thereof. * Then shal they point at such persons, saying among themselues, Fye fye ! out vpon him, out vpon her ! Oh shame ! who coulc haue thought that euer hee had beene such a man, or tha shee had beene such a woman ; was this the life that thesi dapper and delicate persons did leade, vnder the fair e coloui of such a glorious profession ? Ah, stinking hypocrites formall Pharisees with your sodered shewes, to whom poore poore Publicans seemed to bee no bodie, because while yei sinned God kept silence, yee thought that hee was altogether such a one as yourselfe. But now hee shall reprove you and shall set all your sinnes in order before you. It shal bee clearlie proued vnto your faces and false heartes, tha yee were but painted Tombes and whited icalh. The Lord in hisfurin shall hurle you out of your place. Hee in hL rage shall push you all downe like a rotten and tottering icall. Nothing shall bee able to dazzle, or deceiue the eye, ofyour^Iudge. A Prayer The Sicke Man. The Lord bee mercifull to my sillit Soule. The Lord cast all my sinnes behinde thy backe, 'ind burie them in the bottome of the Sea. It is euident then as I see, that all secret sinnes shall come to light in that day, and shall bee seene written with Letter ?reat like mountaines, for to bee seene by the eyes of all these that euer tooke life, and that to the euerlasting shame and infamie of these who, in the dayes of God's patience, turned his grace into wantonnesse. The Pastour. It is most certaine, that there is nothing * Note, which shall not bee seene that day. * All the closse cor- ruptions wherewith the wicked were stuft and swelled, shall >ee set in open view, all the wicked shall bee known, yea, euerie mother's sonne of them shall bee clearlie seene, vnmasked and vnwizorcd, yea, stript starke nacked of all their cloaks of craftinesse. What haue they thought or icrought, it shall bee ouh.i.i-> Zephaniah hath written, At that time, saith the Lord, will I search Jerusalem with lampcs, and visit the men that are frozen in their dreyges, and say in their heart, The Lord will neither do good nor euill. Then shall bee seene who Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 247 sported in Meshech, and who ruffled in the tents of Kedar, contented themselues with painted and guilded graces. After that the Lord hath found out with this light all their abominations, and hath set them in order before them, then shall hee cry, Ah I I will ease mee of mine adversaries, that saide, Hee shall fling contempt vpon their faces. The wicked then shall bee so pynued with such pinches, yea, so astonished, as that no tongue can expresse. They who, while they had time to repent, would not shedde a teare for to get God's mercie, would then, when the Sun-shine of their glorie is past, bee glad to please God, by powring out the dearest droppes of their blood into teares, wherewith they might bathe the feete of lesvs. * O the terrours of that day ! That day shall bee most fearefull, it shall bee like a day of Battell, wherein nothing is to bee heard but noyse, squeaking and yellings, nothing to bee seene but gaping of wounded men, and tumbling of gar- ments into blood. All these who on earth were rotten at the heart, shall bee ranked in the number of that bashfutt band. O what vnspeakable feares and tremblings shall then seaze vpon these wretched Soules ! In all partes they shall bee wounded. Three restlesse plagues, Sorrow, Shame, and Feare, shall continuallie nettle them, till an heaped treasure of wrath come rushing vpon them with breath of kindled luniper. Sathan shall continuallie flash in their face, fire whose flammes shall bee fed with riuers of brim-stone kindled with an euerlasting wrath. The great God with the Hammer of his vengeance, shall strike thorow the rebellious loynes of their pride, and shall breake the yron sinewes of their ob- stinacie. * Then would they giue a world for an hole in heauen, for to relish the least pleasures that bee there. No tongue of man or Angel can fullie expresse the least part of these woes. * Manie millions of their earthlie pleasures shall bee deare bought with one minute of such paines. Their best shall bee the verie contrarie of that which they like best. For all shall goe to all. Reeling shall bee their rest, and paines their pleasures, mourning shall bee all their mirth, and their bone musicke shall bee but gnashing of teeth, euen in the presence of their ludge, before whom they shall stand like abominable monsters, and spectacles of amazement. * Thus, as is well saide in the Psalme, The way of the wick- ed hee turneth vpside downe. At the first dash hee shall Isa. 1.4j?. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ps. HU.9. 248 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. * Note. Dan. 5. 6. break in pieces the claspes and haspes of their foolish hopes, wherein once boldlie they did sin, that (/race might abound. The Sicke Man. O how fearefull shall their condition bee, while, like Tinder before the fire, readie to bee con- sumed^ they shall stand arraigned before the Barre of God's justice, with the volumnes of their sinnes written in Letters great like niotmtaines, so that euerie eye may read them ! * The Lord, as I thinke, out of a sowre, seuere, and im- perious austeritie, shall beholde that cursed band with glaunc- ing eyes of vnutterable wrath, wharefrae shall come nothing but wilde frre, brim-stone, and gun-powder, for the euer- lasting firing of their Conscience. * Not onlie shall the Lord beholde their vilanies, but to all eyes that euer saw sight, hee shall anatomize their guile- full heartes, wherein all their most filthie plots and deuices shall bee seene, vnto their euerlasting shame and infamie. O what shame and confusion of face, O what fears and tremblings, shall seaze vpon these who on earth, for a point of their hose, would bee at daggers drawing with the greatest ! Then shall these who were bold to sin in their life, de- spising God and his threatnings, then shall they shake and quake, like a man whose necke is laide vpon the Blocke, wait- ing for nothing but the dead stroke from the instrument of death. Then all their comfort shall bee turned into confusion. Then shall they know how foolishlie they conceiued an ima- ginarie Hell, while pressed down vnder a sinfull load, the wrath of God, like a Mille-stone, shall crush them downe to the deepes of despair e, where one sorrow, succeeding, shall for euer presse at the heeles of another. The Pastour, O these vnspeakable terrours ! It is most certaine, that Belshazzar neuer did speake so while hee saw the hand writing on the wall, as the wicked, these doolefull wights, shall do when they shall stand before God with the Bookes of the Lawe, Gospel, and of Consciences, laide open before them. Horrours shall bee heaped vpon them with terrours and torments, whereof a created Nature can bee capable. O then what gnashing of teeth and volumnes of woes ! They shall bee so soacked in teares, and sacak- ed with sorrowe, that who shall see them shall see the verie image of Death, and yet none shall pittie them. There shall they stand, stript starke nacked, before their Judge, like cri- minals rpon the panncll, looking for nothing but present ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 249 condemnation both of Soule and bodie, which God shall make the eternall fuett of euerlasting flammes. The Soule and bodie, combined mates in miserie, shall mourne for euermore. The Sicke Man. Lord, season my Soule with the graces of thy Spirit, reuiue it with a spirituatt vigour. Let mee Hue the life of the righteous, and let mine end bee like vnto theirs. I haue heard you, Sir, with great attention, declare that when Christ shall sitte downe to judge, hee shall separate the wicked from the Godlie, as Goates from the Sheepe, and that the wicked, with all the hoast of hell lapped vp in that same bundle of condemnation, shall stand at his left hand, and that the Godlie shall sitte vpon Thrones at his right hand. Now I desire to know of you, what shall bee the case of the Godlie at the right hand, before that the ludgement bee pronounced ? The Pastour. It hath beene tolde you, that the Wicked, who on Earth made the world to tremble with their boiste- rous bragges, shall at God's Left hand bee standing in dis- grace, discount, and discountenance with their ludge. There hall they stand all trembling, hauing before them the Booke of the Lawe, where they shall see all their Sinnes, of Thoughts, Wordes, and Workes. While their guilted Consciences hall bee crying Guiltie within them, at the sight of the Lawe Booke of their transgressions, the Lord, for to aggrauate their iefe, shall present before them the Booke of the Gospel, where they shall see how by vnbeliefe they haue sinned against the remeede of sin. * With these two shall bee joyned the Booke of their Consciences, ratifying vnto them, that what is contained into the other two Bookes is an vndoubted trueth. At the reading of these bloodie Bookes, as yee haue alreadie heard, their Consciences shall bee tortured with vnspeakable amazement and fear e. Their Soules, all agast, pricked and perplexed, shall yawne for a droppe of comfort, which no creature aboue or below shall bee able to aftborde. Now yee desire to know what shall bee in that time the state of the godlie, Christe's right hand, before that the ludgement bee pronounced. It is certaine, that they all in great Glorie, wearing the ihinim/ Crowms of immortalitie, shall sitte vpon Thrones, beeing more bright than the Sunne at the noone-day. In judgement they shall passe verdict on the wicked. They > \ A Prayer. Numb. 23. JO. Mat.25.33 Luk.22.30 * Note. 250 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last shall all in that summarie processe sitte as Christe's assessours, for to judge the Angels, that is, for to approue Christe's Judgement pronounced against the Deuills, the euill Angels, and against all that cursed crue of the Reprobates, who in their life, lining vnder maskes of mischief e, branded them with the nik-names of puritanisme, proud hypocrisie, glori- ous singularitie, and phantasticke precisenesse, who in a word, in hight of stomacke ruffling and swashing, did tread vpon God's Turtles, accounting them the most vile off-scourings of the Earth. but the wicked, who on earth were swelled with selfe- conceite, shall wonder to see these to bee the Assessours of their ludge, in highest fauour with God, whose life once they counted madnesse ! O what a wonder shall it seeme to the worldlie wise, when they shall see these simple ones, whose life they loathed, whom they counted fooles on earth, all decked and adorned with rarest jewels, so high set vpon Thrones with the most glorious Angels of God ! O how shall they, whom their life reposed in beddes of Yvorie, bee Amos,o.4. amazed to beholde God's little ones so brightlie shining, like Mat. 10.42 Sunnes, with glistering Crownes and glorious Garlands, Mat. 13.43 possessing fullie Wealth, Honour, Health, and Hearte's desire, yea, pleasures vnparalleled by ante that heart of Jleshc can wish ! * Note, f * The wicked, beholding this, shall bee swallowed vp with griefe and grones, for then shall they remember, how on Earth they haue drowned the good motions of the Spirit, in vain ryots, prophannesse, and revillings of good fellowship. 1 say againe, that the wicked who once, in their swagger- ing humour and accursed gallentnesse, were wont to braue Mat. 10.42 it out with the best, with the great contempt of Christe's little ones, shall wonder, and wonder againe, at the sight of these * Note, whom God in that day shall honour. * Are these they, shall they say, whom sometimes icee had in derision, and of whom wee made a parable of reproach ? Are these the men and the women, whom wee in hight of stomacke disdained to beholde ? Beholde ! now wee see that they are indeede that Psal. 16.3. which on earth they were called, euen Sainctes, God's most excellent ones. Certainlie, the glorious glaunces of these blessed and beautified bodies, sitting all in royall apperall, shall strike the wicked in a wonderfull maze, while they shall beholde ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 251 such jewels of joy e, they shall bee striken into the dumbe dumpes of saddest melancholic. O the folie of such miser- able mucke wormes, who count it now an heauen to creepe and crawle in oyled and buttered paths of carnall prosperitie ! But in short, to proceede in this purpose orderlie. When all thinges shall bee put to an order, the wicked beeing at the left, and the Godlie at the right hand, in my judgement there shall bee a great silence, that the ludge may haue audience. All men shall bee stedfastlie looking, for to heare what GOD the LORD shall say. Then God shall lay judgement to the Lyne, and righteousnesse to the Plummet. Then shall the Lord rise vp as in mount Pera- zin, and shall bee ivroth as in the valie of Gibeon, that hee may do his worke, his strange worke, and bring to passe his act, his strange act. O that cleare and bright shining Eye, which nothing in that day shall bee able to escape ! The Sicke Man. To whom thinke yee that Christ in that ludgement shall first addresse his speach ? Whether shall hee speak first vnto the Godlie, who in a sacred violence did take the Kingdome, or to the wicked, who in the dayes of their fleshe did sleepe most softlie in the dowries ofsecuritie, caring for nothing, but their Purses and their Paunches ? The Pastour. The Lord shall speake first vnto his own, who are the chosen generation, the royall Priesthood, the holie Nation, the peculiar people. * To these sitting at his right hand, first shall hee say, with his Lillie lippes dropping sweete Myrrhe, Come, yee blessed of my Father, inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the founda- tion of the world. * At the hearing of these wordes of their Lord's most louing inuitation, all their senses shall open like floode gates for to receiue vnspeakable loyes. What tongue can tell what joye the Lambe's Bride, with her purple Head and Doues -Eyes, shall haue, when Shee shall see with what a Bridegroome Shee shall bee matched that day ! After that the Lord hath comforted his own, hee shall turn him to the Goates, that bashfull band, trembling at his left hand. * Before that hee open his mouth to speake, hee shall beholde these bruite beastes made to bee taken and de- stroyed. With fierie lookes, with kindled eyes, sparkling furie and rage, and flashes of lightning, hee shall beholde Isa. 28. 7. Mat. 11. 12 lPet.1.17. * Note. Cant.5.13. Mat.25.34 * Note. Reu.21.9. Cant. 7. 5. loh. 3.29. Mat.25.3.3 * Note. 2Pet.2.12. THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. * Note. Psal.73.4 * Note. I Thos.5.3 * Note. these dentils' droiles, doolefull creatures. In his counte- nance they shall read the Characters of awfull terrours, euen of the horrours of hell. At the first sight of that angrie Majestic, with brent browes and his sterne countenance, a Torrent of terrours shall violentlie rush vpon their Soules. dashing them with a dazzling astonishment. Then shall they wish, in these flamming horrours, vexing them to the quicke, that mountaines would fall aboue them for to hide them from such angrie eyes. Then shall they know how foolish they were in their lifetime, to thinke that while they sinned, the Lord was but a stocke or a stone which could not perceiue them. * O that glauncing wrath, which like fire shall greaslie appeare in the eyes of that ludge, ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne! The glaunces of that fierie furie shall so dazzle the sight of the Reprobate, yea, shall so dash them, that they shall not bee able to abide his countenance. No, not ; though their eyes were of steele, or of yron, nothing then shall stand in the gappe against the irruptions of such a fierce and fierie vengeance. * While these prophane men liued on earth in a blazing prosperitie, they thought their mountaine so strong, that they could neuer bee moued. In their lifetime they liued in glad- nesse. At their end, they disceased Jairlie in the eyes of the world. They seemed Sainctes, because that in their death were no bands. But, O the terrours that abide them ! * At the first sight of their ludge, a Torrent of terrours shall most violentlie rush vpon their Soules, standing in an heauie dumpe, and waiting on their dreadfull doome. While they Hue heere, the stone of their heart is like an grauell stone, so bedded in the bladder, that it cannot bee painefull. Little dreame the wicked now that such fearefull and hellish horrours are preparing for them. But, O their euerlasting woe is presentlie in hatching and hammering ! It is nearest to the birth while the wicked are most secure. Sudden de- struction is nearest, while the preaching of peace are doubled by crying, Peace and saftie. * Happie is the man to whom the Lord doeth vouchsafe the grace in this world, to waken out of the drousie slumber of sin, for to repent in time ! Woe to these in whose heartes the long forbearance of God's wrath hath wrought a more frozen coldnesse, and presumptuous securitie, wherein beeing ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 253 lulled, they are carried, in a most sweete and sound sleepe, to places where their eye-lids shall neuer bee refreshed with rest anie more ! O how shall they fling and cry, when they shall feele themselues stung and galled vpon the sore ! * After that the Lord hath browbeaten them with the biggest lookes of his wrath, and hath terrified them with his piercing eyes of fire, and after that hee hath disclaimed all interest that euer hee had into them, hee shall cause take these Foxes that spoiled his vines. That done, hee shall vnsheath the flamming sword of his vengeance, with these most fearefull wordes of excommunication, Depart from mee, yee cursed, into euerlasting fire, prepared for the Deuitt and his Angels. In that fire, like dry chippie burn-wood, they shall burn, but in this they shall bee like Salamanders, that they shall neuer bee consumed. By that most fearefull blast of wrath the LORD shall chasse them all away from before his face, as the chaffe of the mountaines before the winde, and like a rolling thing before the whirle winde. * The mightie Lord, lo wring with a darke and cloudie countenance, shall then in great furie lay about him with the heauie ham- mer of his judgements, and that with full iveight. With one stroke, without anie iteration of strokes, from the best strength of a diuine ^4rme, hee shall bring downe their hairie scalpes to the lowest dungeon of Death, euen to euer- lasting burning brim-stone beames, which no mercie shall bee able to coole or quench. There shall they drinke in cuppes of wrath for euer. * If these miserables could bee put out of paine vpon the sudden, they should not bee altogether comfortlesse. But the mercilesse vengeance of God's wrath, shall add leasure and lingring to their dying life, and liuing death, that sen- siblie they may feele death in a life of vntollerable suffer- ings. No mercie, no pittie, no regard shall bee had vnto them, no, not ; but the Lord* s justice shall charge the edge of his flamming sword vpon the heads, and heartes of these doolefatt creatures of infamous ranke. These fearefull blovves of lustice shall bee without anie mixture of mercie. * Hee who created them without anie labour, shall destroy them without anie losse. Snaires, fire and brim-stone, in that day shall raine downe vpon the hairie scalpe of euerie one, ivhich in their life time did goe on in their sinnes without remorse. In this perplexitie and anguish, besieged * Note. Cant.2.15 Gen.3. 24-. Mat.25.41 * Note. * Note. * Note. 254 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. fudir.7.13, * Note. * Note. with judgements, both felt and feared, shall they stand before their Judge, all trembling and waiting vpon the sentence of that doohfull doome. The Sicke Man What shall become of the wicked after that the Lord hath discharged them his presence anie more, by commanding them to depart f The Pastour. * So soone as the Lord hath pronounced these wordes of euerlasting excommunication, they shall all in- continent goe down to Hell in heapes, for to bee scorcht and parcht with the euerlasting burnings of a deuouring wrath. They who haue beene intrapped in their sinnes, shall bee en- tombent in God's plagues. There shall bee no more abiding for them, in his presence. They shall bee chassed from their God, vnto euerlasting exile, in dungeons of Deuills and of darknesse, where they shall bee pestered with vnspeakable doole infloodes of fire ', wherein they shall waile and yelle for euer. God's most heauie vengeance, like a Barley Loafe tumbl- ing from aboue, shall thrust them downe and crush them al- together like the Tents of the Midianites. Sathan then, with all the spight hee can, shall lay on load with millstones of miseries hung about their neckes. Hee shall draw them downe with chaines of curses to the dungeons of darknesse. Thus Hell with a gaping gulfe shall swallow them all at once. They shall goe downe most fearefullie with grappling Deuills, with squeeles and roaring voyces, which beeing heard by the blessed (in whose eyes and sides they once were prickes and thornes,) shall rouse vp their heartes wonder- fullie to rejoyce and sing, with such an high tune, that shall make the whole world to resound with a rebounding noyse. Mine heart trembleth to thinke vpon these torments which the wicked shall suffer into the fierie Lake, after their depart- ing from before their ludge. ^Lll wordes faile mee, I finde my conceptions too weake in thinking vpon that infinite wrath. O then these who enjoyed once all the pleasures which could bee purchased on Earth, shall want all the good which they can desire, and receiue all the euill which they can de- serue ! * They shall for euer bee dying in a life which shall neuer end, that they may die contiuuallie, and that in vtter darknesse, where Sunne neuer shincd, where Day shall neuer dawne. Because that in the dayes of their fleshe on earth they would not so Hue to die, that they might die to ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 255 Hue, they shall for euer in the Hell die to Hue, that they may liuing to die, a lining death and a dying life, a life and death of woes. These miserable creatures shall bee so perplexed, that they shall both grieue to Hue andfeare to die. They shall desire absolutelie neither death nor Life, and yet in a manner shall they wish for both, but all in vain. The fall bended lustice of God shall giue no truce to their teares, nor place to their plaints. Vnto all these terrours of God's wrath shall bee joyned another feare, euen Sathan the king offeare. Hee in most bitter spight shall besiege these trembling Soules with vnspeakable terrours ; * for hee shall stare them in the face with most grizlie formes and terrible representations. Hee in great furie shall hunt out vpon them most fearefutt gnawing wormes which shall feast on their Consciences. The thoughts of such thinges should pierce, as I thinke, euen vnto the verie center of seared Consciences. O but the assurance of happinesse in manie is false and misgrounded ! Obstinate sinners, whose heartes are hard paued with obstinate rebellion, thinke now that they shall neuer see that day : because God now keepeth silence, they thinke that hee is like vnto them. But the slower God's hand bee in comming on, the sadder and sorer shall his stroke bee. While the wicked most securlie snort in their sinnes, dream- ing of saftie and suretie, euen then their judgement linger eth not, and their damnation is not in a slumber. This shall they know by sense and feeling, when God's most fierie jealousie shall breake foorth vpon them like the sorrowes of a woman in trauaill. No sorrow can bee heere like vnto their sorrowes. Fire, chaines, rackes, and lashing whippes, cannot expresse the shadow of one infernall tortoure. All the woes that euer were heard on earth are nothing to the least of these vnpittied plaints. The Sicke Man. I haue one question for to propound to you. It is concerning the order of Christe's proceeding into judgement. What reason is there thinke yee that the ludge in that day shall first absolue the godlie, by bidding them come with his Father's blessing, before that hee speake a word vnto the wicked, whose heartes in their lifetime for the most part were sealed vp by the spirit of slumber ? The Pastour. I finde two probable reasons, first because the great God of mercie is more bent to shew mercie toward * Note. Psal.50.21 2 Pet. 2. 3. 56 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last * Note. * Note. Mat21.3l * Note. * Note. his creatures, than to powre vengeance vpon them, and that for to teach all Judges to execute lustice with grauitie and griefe. Beholde heere how our God, while hee is euen come vnto the last periode, giueth vnto the wicked who in their life, with Whoori&h fore-heads, out faced the Sunne, beholde ! I say, how hee giueth them a certaine respight and a delay from Hell in that space while hee is speaking vnto the God- lie ; and yet the more slowlie hee striketh, the surer shall hee set his blow, which shall shake euerie sinewe of their bodie, and each power of their Soule. * The other reason wherefore hee speaketh first to the Godlie such wordes of comfort and of comming, is that the wicked, who in the dayes of their vanitie combined sport with spight against him, may see how good a God hee shall bee to all these which haue serued him heere in faith and trueth. * O what shall the trembling Soules of these worldlie brats, that would not serue Christ in their life, thinke when they shall heare that Lord, so sweetlie, in so sweete heauenlie and honie wordes, say vnto all his Sainctes, his dearest Darlings, whom they as out-castes despised on Earth, Come, yee bless- ed of my Father, come and bee all Kinges with mee for euer more ; come from thejawes of Death to the joy es of an euer blessed Life ! Such wordes shall make the heartes of the Godlie to daunce and leape within them for joye ; but shall make the heartes of the wicked to droope and t to bleede for sorrow. () what would Diues in thejierie boyltng Lacke then giue to bee in the place of Lazarus! * Manie Kinges of Princelie but prophane blood, which haue borne the Croivne and swayed the Scepter aboue the heads of manie thousands, beeiny drunke tvit/i idolatrie, * secret rnurther of their Parents, for to sitte vpon their Throne, shall then spue and fall, but shall neuer rise againe. They all, drenched in a poole of wrath, shall wish in that day that they had weept and wypt the feete of lesvs with the haires of their head, yea, that they had beene borne beggers, hauing the Faith and feare of lesvs. My heart trembleth to thinke how so manie thousands, who denned and dreamed once to bee sau- ed, shall with damned Deuills rush downe to the snakie poole of perdition, because like &wyne in their life they trampled or Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 257 vnderfeete the precious pearls of mercie, purchased by the Blood of lesvs. The Sicke Man. After that the sentence shall bee pro- nounced, whither thinke yee that the wicked shall first goe to paine, or the Godlie vnto pleasure ? The Pastour. It would seeme by the wordes of the Gospel, that the wicked, that base brood of corruption, to whom Christ hath spoken last, shall first goe to torment. After that the doom is giuen out, with a roaring thunder, it is saide, And these shall goe away to euerlasting punish- ment, but the righteous vnto life eternall. After that the wicked are like chaffe chaissed away to brim-stone beames, the Armes of Christ, and the Gates of Glorie shall stand wide open, for to giue entrance to the righteous, whom the Father of Christ lesvs shall receiue with most cordiall ernbracements, vnto their euerlasting comfort. Blessed are they who now cast their bread vpon the waters, looking neither for thankes nor recompense from men, for then they shall bee richlie re- warded by God. The Sicke Man. What reason, thinke yee, can bee of that order, that before the Godlie goe to glorie, the wicked, all in a rout, shall bee hurled away to euerlasting punish- ment, beeing thrust downe into the dominions of darknesse, most fearefull spectacles of amazement ? O how these so mirrie men shall then bee pensiue and perplexed ! The Pastour. This would seeme to bee the maine rea- son, viz. for thereby to kindle vp so much the more the loue of the Godlie toward their God. The bitter bickering and fearefull squeeles of the Reprobate hurling downe to hell, beeing heard and seene by the Godlie, shall make the joyes ofheauen to relish the sweeter vnto them. * If while a people were in a Church, the Church should fall downe and smother the one halfe, not doing anie harm vnto the other, these who should escape, should, by beholding the crushed and bloodie bones of others, much more bee rau- ished with the joye of such a deliuerance than if the house had not fallen at all. * When Dathan and dibiram, with their companies, sanke downe to Hell, in the sight of all Israel, what joye, thinke yee, had these whom the earth did beare aboue ! Manie who neuer in their life gaue God thankes for that the sward of the earth hath borne them aboue, if thev should see such a Mat.2o.46 Note. * Note. Num. Hi 258 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last sight as of Daihan and of Abiram, they would regard the benefite the more, and would giue God more thankes for that one mercie, than for all by-gane fauours shewed vnto them, since they beganne to walke vpon the ground. Wee thanke God little, that the earth beareth vs aboue, because see it not swallow vp sinners with a gaping gulfe. wee * Note. * Note. Zeph. 2.2 * Note. While men see the miserie of others, it wakens into them the sense of God's mercie toward them. * O how glad shall the Godlie bee then, that they haue serued God, when they shall see the Deuill and his Darnell, the wicked seede, cast into a fierie Lake ! when these blessed Soules shall see the hells open, and the blacke deuitts flashing fire into the faces of the wicked, and hurling away these damned spirits, with fearefull cryes and shrikes, downe to the dungeons of dis- tresse, and to most vile Vaults of darknesse, entrinched among gnawning wormes, stinking Scorpions, and hissing Serpents, then they who were wont to weepe for the sinnes of the wicked in this life, shall haue no compassion on them ; but shall laugh to see them lashed, rejoycing in the justice of their God powred out vpon these, that in a selfe liking of their own estate, despised the sweetnesse of his mercie. O happie they, who gather themselues before the decree come foorth! * Beholde, and consider what a change is this. These who mourned of before for their sinnes, shall then solace themselues in their sorrowes. The shrikes and squoakes of these damned Soules falling down to hell, which shall bee to the wicked a song of judgement, shall bee to the Godlie in that day quite otherwise, euen a song of mercie, full of mirth and of musicke. O how sweete then shall mercie bee to the Godlie, when they shall see what God's fearefull vengeance shall work on the wicked, whom their life by an accursed Alchymie, turned the (/race of their God into wantonnesse ! O how rejoyced shall their heartes bee, when that great IEHOVAH shall beginne to sway with his Almightie Arme, that mace of yron for to dash these forelorne limmes, with paine both of sense and of losse. Then shall the Theefe wish that both his hands had beene maimed and mutilate. Then shall the vncleane person whose eyes are filled with adulterie and filthinesse, wish that hee had beene borne blinde. Then shall the Drunkard wish that hee had beene borne without a mouth. Then shall the ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 259 Blasphemer, a man of bloodie oathes, wish that his tongue with a Turkesse had beene torne out of his throat. * This also for a surplus shall bee joyned to their anguish, none shall bee for to wish them well, or for to condole their miserie. * The decree beeing once come foorth, and the doome of damnation beeing once pronounced with these wordes of command, Depart from mee, &c., all the vngodlie in scarlet abominations, who in their excessiue pride rousted on high as in Eagles nests, shall in that day fall down with Deuills into that Dungeon and ward house of Hell, where there is no light but for to let these which are tormented see their miserie, no darknesse but that which may hide from their eyes all sortes of comfort. Then all their by-past burning pleasures shall bee quenched into the fire of Hell, like red hote yron quenched into water with an extinguishing noyse. Nothing shall bee then but shouting and gnashing of teeth, sighing, sobbing, and fearefull grones, Feuell of fire, and garments rolled in blood. All wicked Soules shall that day bee drencht into an Ocean of desperate displeasure, and shall bee carried away with an invnding spaite of spight- full wrath. O what joye shall bee kindled into the heartes of the Godlie, when on the one hand they shall beholde the miseries of the Theeues, Drunkards, Adulterers, Fornicators, and Blasphemers, who were wont wantonlie to stretch out their throates into high blastes of blasphemie, and when on the other part they shall consider how God in mercie hath fast- ened them as nailes into a sure place, which cannot bee shaken ! O what gladnesse of heart shall the Sainctes haue, after that they haue seene the wicked tumbled downe into Hell, to see what companie they shall bee into, among Angels of light and loue with Christ himselfe, in whose face isfull- nesse of joye, at whose right hand are pleasures for euer- more ! * These pleasures vnspeakable, for the greatnesse of thern- selues, shall bee commended vnto the Godlie by two by -re- spects. First, by the consideration of that infinite woe and hellish virulencie, without ante mixture of mercie, wherein- to they shall see the wicked to bee plunged, whereof they shall bee free. Secondlie,*by the rememberance of the miserie whereinto they liued, while they did dwell on earth, during *Note. * Note. Mat.25.41 Isa. 9. 5. Isa. 22.23 Psal.16.1 * Note. 260 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last Cant. 2. 2 Ken. 7. 14 Prou.27.7 Reu. />. 8. Reu. 19.1. Mat.25.4G * Note. the dayes of their vanitie, their estate changed to the better, shall become the sweeter. Are they not these who are called Lillies among the thornes ? doeth Scripture call them, These that are come out of the great tribulations ? Their by-past tribulations shall wonderfullie commend their present feli- citie. This wee see to bee of great force by daylie experience. The considerations first of other men's woes, and of the cala- mities wherewith at other times wee haue beene perplexed, are like Hunger, which like good sauce giueth relish and taste to coarse thinges, which at other times wee thinke to bee no dainties. To the hungrie Soule euerie bitter thing is sweete. How sweete then shall the sweetnesse of God's face, bee to the Godlie after all their terrours are past, and after they haue seene the wicked, these fearefull arid mis- chappen brats tumbled down the steepe precipes of eternall destruction ! What pleasures 1 pray you shall these bee, when pleasures for euermore shall bee joyned with the rememberance of all these tribulations, wherein wee were enwrapped while our feete stacke fast in the myre ? All these considerations joyned together with vnspeakable pleasures, shall make the Harpes of God sound Halleluiah, Halleluiah, for euer and euer. Such meditations ouerflow my Soule, dyuing in such depths. Now, Sir, yee haue heard of the last thinges which shall bee done in this world, heere is the conclusion of the last judgement, The wicked, as S. Matthew saith, shall yoe away to euer lasting punishment, bat the Righteous to Life eternall. The Sicke Man. * O but mine heart is sore moued within mee, while I thinke of that deepe Gulfe vvhereinto all wretched Soules shall bee plunged ! O yee who in the dayes of your vanitie, drinke vp the verie Creame and flower of the earth, all your pleasures now, then must bee gone ! Oh that euer and anone wee could applie this vnto our heartes ! My Soule is like one looking down from an high and steepie place. The meditations of these woes of the wicked, make all my senses to bee troubled, and all my spirites to bee confusedlie shuffled together : my heart within mee is so tossed to and froe, that it is come like a squissed egge, ?chosr ludgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 261 yolke is mingled with its white. All my thoughts are con- founded as one that is into an hurlie burlie. Good Lord, let thy visions bee vnto my Soule visions of peace. The blessed God preserve vs from all these woes. Lord, make vs all to cleaue to thee with full purpose of Soule. Now to come to the purpose. In your discourse yee haue powerfullie let mee see the wicked swallowed vp in afeare- full gulfe. Let mee heare now what becommeth of the godlie. The Pastour. After that Christ hath giuen them his Blessing, saying vnto them, Come, yee blessed of my Father, &c., they all, beeing crowned and clothed in royall apperall, shall all in good order goe triumphantlie in Charets vp to the Heauen of heauens, with such shoutes of Triumph and of loye, of Loue and of Laud, as was neuer heard since the world was founded. * Then shall that prophecie bee fulfilled, God is gone vp with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises. That shall bee the Lambe's marriage day, a day that shall neuer bee darkened with a night, a Feast that shall neuer bee followed with a Fast. * The day of the bringing of a Queene to the King of the Land is a day of great joye. What pleasure can bee had of Mirth or Musicke, shall not bee away that day. But alas ! what can the earth affoord, simile aut secun- dum, that is, like vnto that joye, which shall Jill and ouer- jlow all the heartes of the godlie, when Christ shall bring vp to the Heanens his Church, which is his Wife, his faire Loue, hauing Doues' eyes within her Lockes, beeing clothed and crowned with the glorie of himself e f what tongue can expresse, nay, what heart can conceiue, what joy and glorie shall bee there, where the Lambe's Wife shall bee decked with her Husband Christ, who shall enliue Her with match- less joye and glorious immortalitie ? This is that great wonder which 8. lohn in his Reuela- tions, saw in Heauen, viz. ^4 ivoman clothed with the Sunne, and the Moone vnder her feete, and vpon her head a crowne of twelue Starres. Beholde, and consider the Lambe's Bride, all enuironed with Light, clothed with Christ her Sunne, and crowned with glistering starres of glorie, heauenlie jewels, diuine Dyamonds. Beholde he A. Prayer. Mat.25.34 * Note. Psal. 47.5 Verse 6. * Note. Cant. 4. 1 Reu.12.1 262 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Las Cant. 1.10 * Note. Cant. 8. 5 Reu. 19.7 * Note. * Note. Cant.3.11 leu. 19.9 * Note. * Note. s.81. 10, Cor. 15, 28. making- a foote-stoole of the Moone, the second great Ligh of Heauen. See how shee treadeth vnder her feete tha most inconstant creature, for to declare that constancie of her loue toward her Lord, which shall last for euer, without anie change. O the beautie of that Bride, whose cheekes shal bee comelie with rowes of Jewels, whose necke shall bee decked with the chaines of Christe's merites ! * The Angels themselues, beholding this Bride so royal- lie attyred, shall wonder at her beautie. When these Noble Spirites shall see and consider that great familiar itie^ tha shall bee betweene Christ and his Spouse, they shall wonder and shall say one to another, Who is this that commeth vp out of the wildernesse, leaning vpon her well beloued ? After that the Church, the Lambe's Wife, who on earth was betrothed by grace, shall in the Heauens bee married by glorie, and conuoyed vnto his euer greene bedde, ali Eternitie shall bee in the Heauens like a marriage day, de- ;ored and trimmed with all sortes of Flowers and of Fruits, of Feastings and of Musicke, and of all contentment that can bee conceiued, heard, scene, sauoured, or touched by a reature. There our wants shall bee turned into wishes. That which there shall bee least, shall bee manie thousand degrees aboue all that anie mortall heart heere can desire. * All our senses shall bee possessed and filled with plea- sures, our minde shall bee inlightened. Our will shall bee ;ontented. All our affections shall bee satisfied. * The Angel in the Reuelation gaue a command vnto lohn, to write in a Booke concerning the Lambe's feast, prepared for lis Marriage in the day of the gladnesse of his heart, but not beeing able, neither hee to indite nor S. lohn to write all the dainties of that Feast, hee desired him to write that ,11 were blessed which were called vnto it. Write, saide hee, Blessed are they which are called vnto the Marriage Sup- per of the Lambe. Lest lohn should haue doubted whether t was so indeede or not, the Angel subjoyneth, These are the rue sayings of God. * Let vs conceiue this much of these Measures, that they cannot bee conceiued. All that wee can onceiue shall bee lesse by manie degrees than the least thing vee shall receiue. * Then all our desires shall bee enlarged ind made wider. Open thy mouth verie wide, and 1 shall it vnto thce. God himselfe beeing All in all, all our lesires shall bee fullie satisfied, and though they shall bee Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 263 always satisfied, they shall neuer bee cloyed. All wordes heere are full of wants, for these bee thinges which passe all humane sight and search. The Sicke Man. The consideration of such thinges en- liueth my Soule, and loose th mine heart wonderfullie from the loue of all worldlie thinges, and draweth my heart with a feruent desire of a sight of that day. It is no wonder that the whole creation groneth and trauailleth inpaine together vntill now. If wee had heartes to belieue, wee should finde into our heartes an earnest expectation and a waiting for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God. Alas, that our deuotion should bee so rotten and vnsound ! * If wee could get but a glimpse of our God heere behinde, it should stirre vp all our desires to see his Face. The Pastour. That is most certaine. * By this desire shall a man know whether hee bee a spirituall man or a car- nail. Hee that is but carnall, neuer desireth to goe out of this world. It is good for vs to bee heere, will hee say, as Peter saide on Tabor. But hee that hath receiued the Spi- rit, will finde better motions in his heart. Wee ourselues, saith S. Paul, which haue the jirst fruites of the Spirit, euen wee ourselues grone within ourselues, waiting for the adoption, to wite, the redemption of our bodie. The Sicke Man. Alas ! wee all are heere naturallie of a temporising temper, wee linger and delay to returne to our God. Lord of eternitie, bee fauourable to vs that wee may feare thee ; let thy grace worke such grones in our heartes that thereby wee may know that wee haue certainlie re- ceiued the jirst fruites of the Spirit. So long as wee are heere, make the current of our affections to runne the way of thy Commandments. There is a difficultie now come in my minde, whereof I gladlie desire to bee cleared. It is concerning Christ him- selfe. Of him it is saide, that hee shall deliuer vp the King- dome to God his Father, after hee hath subdued all his enemies. The Pastour. I remember well where these wordes are written. The Apostle speaking of the Resurrection of the last judgement, suith, Then corn-met h the end, when hee shall haue deliuered vp the Kingdoms to God his Father, when hee shall haue put doivne all rule, authoritie, and power. Rom.8.22. * Note. * Note. Luk. 9.33 A Prayer. Rom.8.27. I Cor. 15. Mr. 264 THE LAST 13ATTELL Of the Last Verse 25. Verse 28. * Note. Iudee, the greater is our Glorie. * The subjection of a crea- ,ure to God, is the verie Image of God in the creature, jod's Image in ^4dam was chieflie in his subjection to God's will, which was defaced by his rebellion, which is the verie [mage of the Deuill. The Sicke Man. Wee are much beholden to our God, who in his great mercie hath reuealed vnto vs all these thinges nto his word. His word may well bee called, a Lanterne vnto our steppes, a light which inlighteneth the eyes, burn- ng clearer than anie Cresset light warning from dangers. The Pastour. Indeede, God's word is a word of life and of light. It is a sauing word, the power of God to Salua- ion. This power is onlie peculiar to the mightie operation of this word. * There bee in the creatures wordes and lines of wordes, for to declare vnto man that there is a God, that so man may bee without excuse. Day vnto day vttereth speach, and night vnto night sheweth knowledge. Their Line is gone out through all the earth, and their wordes to the end of the world. But all these wordes and lines, are but lines of wordes concerning the creation. All that they can say, is but that there is a God, a mouer, a primum ens, a. first Be- ere, whereby all thinges haue their beeing. But in all these lines of wordes there is not one word of Christ the Redeemer. There is not a day where the Gospel shineth not, that can vtter anie speach, or shew anie knowledge of that which concerned! man's Saluation, wrought with the bloodie sweate of God. There is not a word, let bee a line, in anie worke of Nature, concerning the great mysterie of Godlinesse, Christ manifested in the fleshe, justified in the Spirit, scene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp into Glorie. The, Sicke Man. O wordes worthie to bee written with the poynt of a Dyamond ! Seeing it is so, this should make vs to esteeme so much the more of the glorious Gospel, which is t\\Q power of God to saluation of all beleeuers. * Note. * Note. Psal. 19.8 Rom. 1.16 * Note. Psal. 19. 2. ler. 17. 1 Rom.1.16 THE LAST BATTELL Of the Last Mat. 13.44 * Note. Luk.16. 9. Mat.14-.29 * Note. Dan.3. 23 Verse 27 loh. 21. 1 The Pastour. The Gospel indeede is like a most rich treasure digged into ajielde, for which a man that hath found it will goe and sell all that hee hath, that hee may buy that fielde for the treasure's cause. This Gospel is like a Sunne newlie created in the hea- uens, which shineth both day and night, both in life and death, with most glistering and wholesome Beames, whereby the vnwholesome cloudie night aire of iniquitie is rarified, scattered, and dispersed. * As the Sunne in the heauens by its heate, maketh all the earth in the Spring to growe greene, and the Comes to come vp, at the first with small greene poynts, and after to shoote vp to the shote bled, and after that to come to the Seede, that at last beeing cut downe in a white ripenesse, it may bee layde vp into Girnels. Euen so the Gospel like a Sunne shining from the Heauens, commeth after the colde frostie season of the dead Winter of our Na- ture, and by its beames warmeth vs, and wakeneth vp the seede of grace sowen into our heartes by the good hand of God. After that, with its heate, by little and little, it ripeneth these sowne graces, at last while wee are ripe, and while the graces of God in vs are come to their perfection, the Lord sendeth his seruant Death to cut vs downe with a sickle. After that by Death wee are cut downe, the Lord treasureth vs vp into euerlasting Tabernacles, the Girnels of the Prince of Heauen, farre from the keene razors of lying tongues. Now seeing the day is farre spent, heere I shall pause, leau- ing that which hath beene saide to your night's meditations. By the grace of God I shall returne in the morning earlie. Hee that made Peter safelie to walke vpon the swelling wanes vpholde you so, that yee sinke not at the rising of anie boisterous blaste of temptation. * God's children in this world are like these three children in the jierie furnace, though such fire seeme to bee a consuming Jire 3 it shall not bee able so much as to sindge their apperall. The Sicke Man. But before yee goe, Sir, according to your good former custome, by your deuoute prayers, com- mit my Soule to the armes of my Sauiour. I euer feare that my false heart giue mee the slippe. As God hath giuen you a diuine tongue, so Lord, giue mee a sanctified eare, the sweetest spiritual! musicke and harmonie of God's seruice. Oh, that with Peter I could gird my coate, and swimme tho- row all the swelling seas of temptations, that I might come Judgement. OF THE SOULE, &o. 5. day. vnto my Lord ! Offer vp I pray you, Sir, for mee the Chris- tian sacrifice of prayer. Resigne my Soule into his mer- ifull hands. Oh, that I could with you homage mine heart vnto God in feruent supplications ! Wee are not able as I see to stand a moment in the right way, without God's -under- propping hand. Alas ! Sir, I finde in my prayers great distractions, which wonderfullie blunt the edge of my deuotion : while my mouth s speaking to God, my minde is speaking with folies and jhansies. * If a man speaking vnto a prince, should now ;urne him vnto this man, and now to that man, would not hat Prince at last command him silence, enjoyning him with all speede to packe him out of his presence, as beeing a man who knoweth not what is matchable to such a Majestic. Manie a time, alas ! haue I at prayer babbled out with my lippes manie sauourlesse wordes, which haue wrought nothing but the sadding and grieuing of God's Spirit. Lord, make this meditation of mine own vnworthi- nesse, bee like a whetstone to my prayers, that by helpe thereof I may pray better than euer I did before. Giue mee grace at all times, but specialise in prayer, to keepe watch and ward ouer my thoughts, that I neuer let loose the bridle unto them, as most foolishlie often I haue done, rushing my Soule ouer head and eares into the myres of earthlie mindednesse. Now, good Lord, make meefreshe and nimble in my Spirit for prayer. Oh for that Spirit of spirituall grones, which maketh intercession for the Sainctes : according to the will of God, I desire your helpe in prayer ! The night is noysome ; / lye downe, I say, When shall I arise, and the night beginne? I am full of tossing vnto the dawning of the day. The Pastour. I rejoyce with my Soule to heare you. I know no surer token of God's Spirit within a man, than a bentnesse to prayer. Reprobates with Herod may gladlie heare Preachers. But they all in Scripture are branded with this blotte, they call not vpon God. Desire of confer- ence with God, is a most sure token of friendship betweene God and man. Can two walke together except they bee agreed? Can two speake together except they bee friendes: Hypocrites I know will make long prayers, which are but lip labour, which our Lord calleth much babbling. But thei heartes in their prayers wander from God, and goe to worldlie 271 * Note. A. Prayer Rom.8.27 lob, 7. 4. Amos,3.3 Mat. 6. 7 272 THE LAST BATTELL Isa.29. 13. Act. 5. 2. * Note. lCor.7.31 Dan. 7. 9. Hob. 4. 13 toyes, so that while they are speaking one thing with the mouth, their heartes are vpon another subject. Thus Scrip- ture calleth, A drawing neere to God with the mouthy while the heart is farre off. * God cannot bee scorned, but knoweth how much is behinde, though Ananias would seeme to bring all. Hee who can pray from his heart, by his prayer as with a piercing keye, is able to vnlocke the celestiall treasures of God, where out of, hee will draw comfortable cordials for distressed Soules, in their gasping agonies. Let vs now bend our knees most humblie before our Maker, and worship him both with heart and mouth, the most plea- sant harmonic of a Christian Soule. The Lord set all our heartes rightlie on worke ! For the heart of man in prayer is most bent to play reakes in wan- dering from God. A PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN. Great and Omnipotent GOD, whose Eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sunne at Noone Day, our sinnes cannot bee hidde from Thee. Fain would wee confesse them, but alas, for this hardnesse of heart ! Smite, O LOUD, smite these our heartes of yron, soften them with the fire of thy Spirit, till my sighs and sobs they melt within our bowels. O LORD, who shall not feare thee, to whom is giuen all power both in heauen and earth. When wee remember thy last Sessions, which shall bee in that great and last judicial day, it maketh all the haires of our head to start vp. Wee are instructed by thy diuine Word, that the fashion and figure of this world shall passe away, and that all Thrones shall bee remoued, that, that most Royall and glorious Throne may bee erected for the comming of the Sonne of man. O LOUD, in that great and terrible day all thinges must compeare nacked before Thee. Then shalt thou bring to light the thinges which were hidde in darknesse, and shalt make manifest the most secret counsels of men's heartes. From thy face nothing shall bee able to procure escape. Happie shall that Soule bee, on whom in that day thou shalt blink with a re concealed face. O gracious (JOD, whose goodnesse is bottomlesse, and greatnesse immeasurable, now speake home to the heart Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. 273 of thy seruaut heere, who in his fainting weaknesse hath desired mee to powre out this prayer for him. All his de- sires are toward thee : stampe vpon his Soule the Image of thyselfe. Giue him a pawne and a pledge of thy fauour ; make him assured that in that day hee shall finde thee a favourable ludge, who shall cry on him among the rest of thy Children, Come yee vnto mee, yee blessed of my Father, and receiue a Kingdoms. Let this consideration beare out in the stormie houre of the last assaults. Set a strong garde and a narrow watch ouer his heart, lest hee bee vnawares surprised by Sathan's craftie plots. Let the Sconce of thy mercie fence off the parching heate of Sathan's most fierie temptations, kindled in a bonefire. Furnish him now with such grace whereby hee may possesse his Soule in patience, looking for that blessed hope, and appearing of thy glorie in the cloudes. It was long since written by thy blessed Pen-men, that the Iudf/e standeth before the doore, and that the end of all thinges draweth neere. Now seeing sin is come to such an hight, that thy lustice cannot much longer forbeare, but that thou must come shortlie to put an end to this most corrupt world, LORD, cleanse quite away all our corruptions before thou come. Graunt that continuallie, with the wise Virgines, wee may haue our Lampes of oyle, trimmed for the comming of our Lord, the blessed Brideyroome of our Soules. Graunt that in that day with gladnesse wee may lift vp our heads, bee- irig assured of a gracious welcomming vnto our Master's joy. Keepe this euer fast in our rnemorie as an aweband aboue our heads, for to keepe vs from sin, that Christ the deter- mined ludge of the world, shall come for to render to euerie one according as hee or shee hath done in the dayes of their fleshe. Graunt therefore that whether wee sleepe or wee wake, the shrill Trumpet of God's voyce may bee as if it were euer sounding to our Soules, Arise for to compeare in judgement. O LORD, inlighten our mistie mindes, that with an vn- dazzeled eye euerie one of vs may try and descry clearlie our own estate in this world ! In a more speciall manner let it please thee to regard thy poore prisoner heere in this bedde of languishing, whom Sa- than hath sought to sift that his Faith might faile. Waken Mat.25.34 Mat. 25. 4. [oh. 3. 29. Luk.21.28 Mat.25.11 THE LAST BATTELL Rom. 8. 1, Ezck. 11. 16. Cant. 1.1 3 1 Ioh.2.1 1 Tim.4.8 Dan. 9. 7 Mat. 8.12 his Soule softlie with a mercifull motion of thy Spirit of comfort. Let him not bee like these, who in a dull, dead, and senselesse securitie, not thinking on Death, choppe in the earth before that euer they bee aware, neither sutfer Sathan to quench his clearest comfortes with the dampe of despaire. By this heauie sicknesse which daylie increaseth, thou is now Summoning thy seruant heere to a particular and personall compearance before thy great Tribunall. Let him fiude thy Royall Seate to bee a mercie seate. Proclaime vnto his Conscience in his inward parts, that thou wilt neuer enter into judgement with him. Assure his Soule that hee is one of thine, and that there is no condemnation to these that are in Christ lesvs, who unto all his faithfull is like a little Sanctuarie. Let the graces of thy Spirit bee all night like a bundle of Myrrhe into his bosome. Scale vp in his heart this comfort, that hee who shall bee his Judge, is hee, euen hee, who is now his Advocate, interceding at the right hand of the Fa- ther for him. Giue him strength couragiouslie to fight out this bloodie Battell, that in the end thou may set on his head that neuer fadding Crowne of righteoiisnesse. Let Sathan bee now chained vp, that hee bee not able anie more to set by the eares the corruptions of his nature, with the motions of thy grace. Hee confesseth, Lord, before thee, that if presentlie thou should pronounce his doome, and suddenlie plunge him in the deepest Hells, that righteoumesse in so doing should be- long to thee. This from his heart would hee acknowledge, beeing willing that thy Name may bee glorified, to take to himselfe shame and confusion of face. O LORD, whose bowels euer rumble with compassions, raine down vpon thy Seruant's heart heere a showre of grace, for it is parched and dryed with griefe and sorrow. Pittie him, for hee abhorreth himselfe as a stained sinner stript of all good thinges, worthie to bee crushed vnder the mountaines and mill-stones of thy vengeance. Neither darre hee, neither will hee plead against thee for his innocencie. Heere hee is, readie to subscribe all thy will, were it with the best arteriatt blood of his heart. His confession is, that thou art most just though from thy presence thou should banish him to the blacke lacke, and woefutt dungeon of darknesse, where is nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth. Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 5. day. Out of a sore sense, and aboundance of feeling", hee powreth out this most plentiful! and sincere confession before thee. Beholde him heere, LOUD, opening 1 the bosome of his con- fession and selfe condemnation before thee. thou whom his Soule loueth, tell him where thou feedest, and where thou makest thy flocke to rest at noone, in the time of parch- ing 1 , and most piercing heate of temptations. O coole this fainting- Soule with thy blessed breath, comming from the foure vvindes. Besprinkle it with the sauing and sacred blood of lesvs. Thou, Lord, who is the chiefe Patterne and examplar of all true Kindnesse, Pittie, and Loue, let his grones and sup- plications get entrie into thine eares. Send downe the Lad- der of lakob, the ministring Spirites, for to waite vpon him, who is one of thy Redeemed ones, that when his Soule shall bee seuered from his bodie, they may carrie it into the blessed bosome of Abraham, the father of the Faithfull. Giue him a sound and a sanctified heart, say vnto his Soule, as thou saide of olde concerning thy beloued Children, / will delight to do him good. Take away the trespasse of thy Seruant, and saue him, for hee, distrusting his own worth, is now fiedde to the homes of thine Altar, euen to the Crosse of lesvs, the sanctuarie of troubled Soules. As Elisha was first invested with a single Spirit, and thereafter with a doubled Spirit, so now in thy tender com- passions, double thy graces vpon him, which were but single of before. Let thy fauours, falling downe vpon him, bee like the raine which falleth first in small droppes, and after powr- eth downe in great aboundance. O quicken and enliuen his Soule with a supernaturall vigour and life of grace, that by no lowring tempest of temptation his holie Faith bee dashed out of countenance. Let not his hope bee like the Spider's webbe which is easilie sweept away with the least blaste of winde. The weaker his bodie growe, increase so much the more his spiritual! strength. Verifie that Text in him, To him that hath shall bee giuen. Thou who giuest repentance to the sinner, giue pardon to the repenter. In the boisterous blastes of most fearefull temptations, let his sillie Soule finde a shelter wider the shadow of thy fauoitr. There is no succour but vnder thy winges from the plagues of God, and curses of the Lawe. Thy blood onlie is able to purge and purifie him, from the froth and filth of all his iniquities. Heb. 1.14. Luk.16.22 Isa. o9. 5. Mat.25.29 276 THE LAST BATTELL lob, 6. 4. \le. Of JJauid, the man of God's heart, it is saide, that hee slept with his Fathers. Of good Hezekiah it is also saide, that hee slept with his Fathers. All these, the Lord's worthies, his Adirim, excellent ones, did goe away in a peaceable manner, verie comfortable to all these that saw them. That is verie comfortable I confesse. But what though it fall out other- wise, that the death bee violent, either by fyre, or by warre, or by water ? In what fashion so euer the death of the Godlie bee, it is glorious, for it is pre- cious to the Lord, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Sainctes. Whether it bee by sword or by pestilence, by fyre or by famine, by warre or by water, God's Word, without exception of anie sort of death, saith, that it is precious to the Lord. * These cighteene men on whom the Tower in Siloe fell were not greater sinners than others. Were not all the Children of faithfull lob crushed in a moment by the ruinc of an house? This was no token of wrath to lob, but was for a tryall of his patience. Did not Samson die with the Philistines, yea, and after the same sort of death ? and yet hee is renowned in the blessed Catologue of the Faithfull. Was not the death of that most worthie King, losiah, like vnto the death of wicked Ahab, but were killed by the Archers; the dcadlie shaft trans-pierced them both. Turne thine hand, saide Ahab, and carie mee out of the Host, for I am wounded. Haue nice away, saide good losiah, for I am sore wounded. Of these woundes they died both. See how these two who were so differing in their life, yet were outwardlie alike in their death. Because of God's grace losiah is saide to haue becne gathered to his Graue in peace. It is more sure, judging of the death by the former life, than of the life by the death, except that some notable signe of repentance appeare, like that oj the conuerted Thecfe, who both prayed and preached rpon the crosse. Other- wise wee see that manie godlie die violent deaths, whose life plainlie declared that they were the children of God. It is knowne by God's word, how Herod most cruellie murthered all the Children of Bethlehem that wen from tiro OF COMFORTES. Xlll yeares olde and vnder. That day is called, The day of the Innocents. So fearefull and bloodie was that slaughter, that the Prophet, foreseeing it, by an tiyperbolick forme of speach, bringeth in Rachel as it were come out of her raue, for to lament the death of these Babes, and that manic hundreth yeares after shee had beenc buried. In Mama, saide hee, was there a voyce heard, Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her Children, and would not bee comforted, because they were not. * Shall wee for all that thinke that God was more angrie at these little children of Bethlehem, than at these who were of greater age ? Will anie man thinke that these little ones were the greatest sinners in Bethlehem, because, while all others did escape, they did fall into the hands of a bloodie Butcher ? I had rather, if it were giuen mee to my wish, that the fyre, or the famine, or the water, took away the life of my Children, than that a bloodie Herod should cuttc all their throats, most cruellie embrewing himselfe in their blood. While Dauid was in a great strait, doubting of what plague to make choise, at last hee resolued, saying, Let vsfall into the hand of the Lord, (for his mercies are great,) and let mee not fall into the hand of man. O but, will your Majestic say, to die and to bee suffocate in the waters, that is a matter of great sorrow. If hee had died in a Battell honourablie, that had affoorded mee some comfort. Then would I haue heard of his valiant- nesse. The Colonels and the Captaines, and others of Martial Spirites, had beene the Trumpeters of his praise, so should hee haue died with great honour. Let it please your Majestic to weigh the matter well in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie. Indeede, MADAME, to die in a Battell is by men accounted honourable. To die fighting with a bloodie Sword in the hand, is by men called, The bedde of honour. * But in my judgement it is better for the Soule to die in water than in warre ; for, in the one, man is often in a rage, thirsting like an Horse- leach after the blood of his brother. At that time, there is nothing sound 01 settled within him. All his thoughts are in an hurlie burlie. If instantlie hee die the Sunne of his life goeth downe vpon his wrath. His whole desire is bended for to destroy his brother. But in the water his chiefest desire is for to saue himselfe. To die in warre is to die by the hand of man, but water is like the pest which that great warriour called, The hand of God. O but, alas! will your Majestic object, such as die so get not space once to cry God's mercie. God forbid, MADAME, that our Saluation should depend vpon the last worde of our life, or vpon a prayer at the last gaspe. Our Saluation is better fastenec than so. Tliere is no condemnation to them which are in Christ lesvs. Your Majestic knoweth that the day of ludgement shall come in an instant vpor both the Godlie and the wicked. Then shall they all bee changed in the twinkling of an eye. Not one of all the men and women then lining vpon earth, shall get so much time wherein they might but say these few wordes God bee mcrcifull to rnec a sinner, and yet for all that, shall wee thinke, tha that sudden change shall bring anic prejudice to the Saluation of God's Elec and chosen ones ? God forbid. Wlwm God loueth hee foucth to the end His giftc^ and graces are without repentance. t Sam. 24. 14. cr.3l.15. * Note. * Note. Rom. 8.1 Luk.18.1 Rom. 11 29. XIV THE BALME OP COMFORTES. Gen. 4>. 10. * Note. I know that your Majestic would haue earnestlie desired that hee had been found aliue, and that a Preacher by a prayer had commended his Soule into the hands of his Sauiour. For answers, I am assured that that young Prince was so well trained vp by your Majestie in the schoole of pietic, that mom- ing and euening hee was accustomed to bee earnest at his priuate deuotion. It is the opinion of learned Diuines, that who carefullie in the morning hath cast his Soule into the Armes of his God, shall thereafter all the day finde the vertue of that prayer preuailing with God, though at the moment of death heo bee not able with his tongue to speake vnto GOD. The prayers that were conceiued before, cry vp to God at the last gaspe for mercie, peace, grace, and reconcealiation, through the blessed blood of lesvs, which cryeth for better thinges than the blood of Abel. Now seeing, that without any doubting your Majestie is assured of his Saluation, consider these joyes of heauen which his Princelic Soule now enjoy eth. These joyes haue I described as I can in this second volume of the Last Battell which 1 haue dedicated to your Majestie. There yee shall clearelie see that hee hath changed for the better. * While hee was aliue hee was a Prince on Earth, and now the Lord hath made him a crowned King. Thus intreating the Most High to sende vnto your Majestie the COMFORTER himselfe, who can most cunninglie cure the wounded heart, I humblie take my leaue. Your MAIESTIE'S Most humble and most obedient Sentant, M. Z. B. From Glasgow, the 12. of Februric, 1629. 9 9 9 9? 9 9 U^ xv TO THE QVEENE OF BOHEMIA. OVR poore life heere is not of single joyes, But mixt with Gall, and worme-wood of annoy es : The dint ofwindes, and wanes, and stormie streames, Wee must endure before wee reach to Heauens. Paines heere want pause ; all is but losse and labour ; A thousand cares within our heartes do harbour. The life of man on Earth is but a blast; It comes with teares, and endeth with a gaspe. All that is heere is with a speedie flight, On jangling wheeles, soone hurled out of sight: All that is heere is out of tune and taste; All whirles about, but rest will come at last. Waite still, vntill that Day Spring from on high Come downe, with thousands brighter than the Skie. Then mistie Cloudes tffsorrowes shall depart, When that Aurora shall rejoyce our heart. ANOTHER. HEERE bubbling Waters, Seas of sorrow es, dash; Heere Waues, heere Windes, which make the Cloudes to clash Heere Fcuers, Ft/res, heere fickle vanities, Combined are to bring Calamities To mortall man, (not sparing young or olde,) Whose life is like vnto a tale thafs tolde. Now happie hee, who free from all distresse, Rests in the Heauens, farre from this wildernesse. A PRAYER FOR THE AFFLICTED. MY troubled Soule, Lord, counsel! and comfort, My sternlesse-Boate conduct thou to her Port, From cloudie cares my muffled Spirit redresse, And of mine heart the griefe and groncs represse. My Spirit to thcc, its Maker high, aspires, Who art the Zenith of my best desires. Your MAIESTIE'S Most humble and obedient Seruant and Oratour M. Zacharie Boyd, Preacher of GOD'S Word at Glasgow 279 THE SIXT DAVE'S CONFERENCE. OF HEAUEN'S GLORIE. A Clje CCORDING to my promise, Sir, I am heere come againe for to see what it shall please God to do with you at last : waite constantlie on your God. * His minde is to do you good in the latter end. I earnestlie now desire to know what the meditation of the last judgement hath wrought into your heart this night by- gone. The Sicke Man. * Except that a man bee well occupied in the day, his heart in the night will swarme with worth- lesse and witlesse thoughts. Sathan, the lord of the night, is euer busie by secret foisting in of corruptions into man's thoughts, to justle out of his heart all holie and heauenlie meditations. All this night it seemeth vnto mee that I heard the shrill sound of the last trumpet, sounding most fearefullie the Alarum of the Resurrection, at the second and sudden comming of our Lord. All Sainctes and Angels seemed to bee present at that great lubile. I thought in my sleepe that I saw the Sonne of Man, enuironed with iimumberable Charets of fyre, comming downe with vnspeakable pomp, Glorie and Majestic, 1 thought him more glistering than the Sunne, while hee shineth in his greatest force. Mine eyes were dazeled with the brightnesse of his Beames. All thrones made roome vnto his Throne. Mine heart was neuer so rauished as it hath beene this last night by-past. In the thoughts of mine heart in the night, while deepe sleepe falleth on man, there came into my memorie some passages of Scripture concerning heauen's giorie, whereof most gladlie I desire now to heare. The Apostle S. Paul speaketh of this with great power, IVee faint not, saide hee, but though oar outward man perish, yet the inward man is * Note. * Note. lob, 4.. 13. 2 Cor. I. 16. 280 THE LAST BATTELL Of H 2 Cor. k 17. * Note. renued day by day. There bee some other good wordes following, but my memorie faileth mee. The Pastour. I shall helpe you, Sir, in that matter. The verse following is, For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for vs a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie. The Sicke Man. These bee the wordes indeede, I finde great difficultie in these wordes, I pray you to make them cleare. What is that to say, Though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renued day by day. The Pastour. The interpretation of these wordes is, that the corruption and decaying of the outward man by diuerse crosses and calamities, Servit renovando homini interno, is a meanes for the renewing of the inward man, that wee may growe in godlinesse. By the outward man is vnderstood the bodie, by the inward the Spirit and the minde. By the weakening of the bodie the Spirit is made strong. The Sicke Man. But what say yee of these wordes, that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is saide to workefor vs, or to cause vnto vs, an exceeding and eter- nall weight of glorie ? Is that the merit and worth of affliction ? The Pastour. The Romane Church expounds it so, that by such afflictions men merit euerlasting glorie. Indeede the wordes in the original seeme much to fauour that exposition. The wordes are these, Karg>yasra/ yfuv, Conjicit parit, operator nobis, that is, Gauseth or worketh that Glorie. * But it is certaine, that affliction yet is light, and for a moment. Both light and short, cannot bee properlie a cause of an euerlasting and infinite weight of glorie. A moment cannot bee the mother of eternitic. That which is so light can neuer bring out an infinite weight. But God who is infinite in power, maketh affliction a meanes for to bring vs vnto glorie, as good workes are via regni non causa regnandi, the way to the Kingdome, but not the cause of reigning, so through the way of manic tribulations wee must enter into God's Kingdome. The Scripture is the best interpreter of itselfe. Abraham, who was the Father of the Faithfull, was not justified either by his doings or his suffering's. If Abraham icere justified by n'orkes, liec hath whereof to nlorie, but not before (i<>. 6. * Note. Rom.8.18. * Note. Dan. 9. 7 2 Cor. 5.1 Verse 6. Verse 3. Verse 4- Verse 6. Verse S 282 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's * Note. * Note. lTim.6.20 Col. 2. 8. * Note. lloh.2.13. * Note. Psal. 19.8. Psal. 19.7. Act. 17. 11 neuer well vnderstand them ; doubtlesse they bee wordes full of comfortes, for these that are looking for a better Life. I pray you, Sir, to giue mee the exposition thereof. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, they want not great difficul- tie, neither doeth that which I say make for the Doctrine of papists, who affirm that the Scriptures are obscure, and there- fore must not bee read by the common people. * It is by reading that men purchase vnderstanding. The Doctours themselues before they read are ignorant, neither was it euer heard that Scriptures were abused so much by the common people, as by these who are most Learned. Where heare wee that the Merchand, the Artisan, or rurall men, be- ginne Heresies ? * Are not they forged in the vnsanctified braines of these in whom are lodged the oppositions of sci- ence, falsely so called. It is oftenest scene that through Philosophie and vaine deceite, the Soule of man are spoiled and not by ignorance of the simplest sort. There is none obscuritie in God's Word, that should de- barre the people young or olde from the reading of it. * The Letter which my God hath written vnto mee, I may open it, and read it, and see what my Father's icill is. The Spirit of God in S. John, leading his hand, hath set downe these wordes, I write vnto you, Fathers, &c. I write vnto young men, &c. I write vnto you, little Children, &c. Who hath power to forbid anie man to read the Missiue Letter which his God hath written vnto him. Moreouer, there is such a Light in God's word, that will make a blind man to see. * The light of the Sunne will shew and discouer hidde thinges in darknesse vnto him who hath eyes, but cannot make a blind man to see. But the light of God's word, Meirah Henaiimfacit ut oculi videant, it maketh the eyes for to see. In that Psal me also it is saide, that the Lawe of the Lord maketh wise the simple. It is a great ignorance for Papist Doctours, to close and claspe their Bibles from the hands of the ignorant and simple ones, seeing by this word the simple are made wise. It is written to the euerlast- ing praise of the men of Berea, that after Paul had preach- ed, they searched the Scriptures, for trying of his Doctrine. These bee the wordes of their praise. These iccre more noble than these i)i Thessalonica, in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of ininde Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6 day. 283 and searched the Scriptures daylie, whether these ihinges were so. * As for difficulties, wee acknowledge that there bee manie and great in Scripture, but as for that which is absolute etsim- plictter, absolutelie and simplie necessary for our Saluation, it is clearlie set down in Scripture : if there bee anie diffi- cultie in one place, that which is there obscure will bee made cleare in some other part of Scripture. This much by the way concerning the obscuritie of Scripture. Now, to come to the wordes of S. Paul. In the first verse it is saide, For wee know that if the earthlie house of this Tabernacle were dissolued, wee haue a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in the heauen. Some after this manner expound these wordes, after that this bodie, like a Tabernacle, is taken away from the Soule, the Soule shall bee in a better estate, euen in euerlasting Glorie into the Heauens. The French marginall note vpon this is that, that eternall house in the heauen, is the bodie after the resurrection. * So long as wee are heere in the sinfull bodie, the bodie is but like a Tabernacle, vnconstant, weake, fraile ; but in the heauens, it shall bee like an house that is constant, Jirme, strong. So corpus et gloriosa ejus conditio, the bodie and its glorious estate, in the opinion of some is heere called an house. By that house then wee must vnderstand the glorie that is prepared for the Sainctes in heauen, which for its constancie and commoditie is called an house. According to this the Apostle in the second verse saith, that wee grone. earnestlie desiring to bee clothed vpon with our house which is from heauen. That house from heauen, is that Glorie which is from heauen. Others of the Learned interpret that word, Superindui, to bee clothed vpon, vt siquis indutus est thorace, et superin- duitur pallio. Puto autem sic. Explicandam ex versu 4. Sancti capiunt corpore cwlesti ita indm, vt non prius exvantur corpore mortali, sed super induantur, codesti Seu immortali, hoc est ut per subitam transmutationem absorbi- ator mortalitas ab immortalitate. Thus would bee say, that the Sainctes beeing liuing at the end of the world, desired not to cast their mortall bodies from them, but desire them to bee changed and clothed aboue with immortalitie. Mortalitie is one (Joatf which must bee put off, * Note. *Note. Piscator. 284 THE LAST BATTELL Of H Bcza. * Note. S. Arab. * Note. Psalms 1.1 A Prayer that immortalitie may bee put on. Others thinke that there bee mention heere made of a double clothing. Aliis placet, saith JBeza, primam vestem diet Christi justitiam, alteram veroillius justifies prcemium quorum sententice nolim prce- judicium afferre, the one they make to bee the righteous- nesse of Christ, the other the glorie purchased by that righteousnesse. * S. Ambrose, speaking of these wordes, In this wee grone, &c. If so bee that beeing clothed, wee shall not bee found nacked. saith, Vt hcec sit sententia destruendum quidem hoc tabernaculum morte sed ita tamen ut non pereat. Imo ut corruptibilitate deposita restituatur nobis immorta- litate induendum. That is, the Tabernacle of this bodie shall bee dissolued by Death, not so that it shall perish, but that all corruption beeing taken away, it may put on incorrup- tion, euen euerlasting glorie. For if the bodie did perish, then in that case the Soule should bee nacked. Now while wee are in the Tabernacle of the bodie, beeing burdened with sin and corruption, wee grone, not desiring to bee vnclothed, that is, altogether to want our bodie. but that putting off the corruptions of the bodie, wee may bee clothed with immor- talitie of life, which shall swallow vp mortalitie with all combers and inconuenients whatsoeuer. * The Soule of man hath an ardent desire to bee clothed with immortalitie, but hath not will to want its bodie, with- out which it thinketh itselfe nacked. According to this the Apostle saith, In this wee grone, earnestlie desiring to bee clothed vpon with our house which is from Heauen, that is, with glorie and immortalitie fast and firm like an house. If so bee that beeing clothed, icee shall not bee found nacked, that is, shall not want the clothing and couering of our bodies. The Sicke Man. My braine is so sore troubled that I cannot bend my spirites so high, for the vnderstanding of these thinges which are so far aboue my reach. Happie is hee who with Dauid is not exercised in great matters which are too high for him. Lord, inlighten my mistie minde, and make mee to know thee and thy Sonnc lesvs Christ, and him crucified. Lord, also helpe mce in the knowledge of all that may increase the knowledge of him into my Sonic. I haue heard you, Sir, at large vpon the last judgement, am all the proceedings thereof. Yee haue also cleared some ditricnl Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 285 ties which this night did runne into my minde. Now, lest vaine thoughts should drawe mine heart aside vnto toyes, let please you to turne your purpose concerning the joyes of Heauen. * While I did beholde but the outside of Heauen, mine heart was euer rauished at the sight of that Tapestrie, em- broydered like mos t glorious Arrasse cloth. O what glo- rie must bee within, where the Lord himselfe is with all his ndenized Citizens of glorie ! Let mee heare you a little therevpon. There, by the grace of my God, I hope to bee within a little space. O what place of perfection and blisse my Soule longeth to dwell into, that azured Palace ! Let mee heare of its Glorie. The Pastour * The prince of Philosophers, most subtile in Naturall Science, speaking of the Heauens, saide, that it was much to get anie little knowledge thereof. All his knowledge could reach no further but from motion to motion, till hee come to the first Mouer, who by the force of his Al- mightie arme turneth about these celestiall bodies. * But hee knew no more the great MOVER, than yee would know a man a farre off vpon the toppe of an Hill, displaying an Ensigne or Standart. While the Mouer were casting his Standard, yee might perceiue the motion of a Banner, and by that motion yee might easi lie judge that there bee a Mouer, and yet for all that bee ignorant, not knowing the man who is the cause of all the motion, whether hee were your foe or your friend. ' The Paganes saw the motions of the heauens, as wee see the shaking of a tree moued by the windes. I see the Tree shaken and the Branches rushing one vpon another, I heare also the noyse, I also know that the Mouer is that which wee call the Winde. But ivhence this mouer commeth and whither it goeth,or what moueth it, no earthlie tongue can tell. * Paganes which haue not Gospel, written in quicke Let- ters, by the dead knowledge of Nature, will come from ens to ens, that is, from beeing to beeing, till they come to ens en- tium, him that is a Beeing, which causeth all beeings. From motions men in nature will come to motions, till they clime vp to Primus motor, \\iefirst Mouer. * On him will they looke as a man in an high Feuer, to whom this man and that man will say, Know yee mee ? know yee mee ? The sight of the brain e is so dazeled, that it is paine and much labour but to heare these three wordes, Know yee, mee f *. Note. * Note. Aristo t. lib. 1, de ccclo. * Note. * Note. loll. 3. 8. * Note. * Note. 286 THE LAST BATTELL Of H * Note. * Note. Luk.lJ.17 * Note. * Note. Act. 17.27. Gen. 19. 11 Act. 17.23. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Isn. :}!.] !. * Note. Exo.1. :; I, * Braine sicke Nature can by no meanes know God, till the Feuer of nature bee cooled with Grace. After that the coole of Grace hath brought a sweate, wherewith the Soule is purged from the rotten humours of iniquitie, then the Soule becommeth like a man after a Feuer, come to himselfe againe. * According to this it is saide of the Forlorne, that hee came to himselfe, after that hee was cooled of his foolish Feuer. Till wee come to ourselues by Grace, wee shall neuer bee able to know the Lord by Nature. All that the most wise Pa- ganes could do by the whole helpe of Nature, was to come from beeings, to him that is the cause of all beeing, and from mo- tion to the first Mouer. * But who that Mouer was, the feuer of Nature made their braine so giddie that they could not discerne him. * When all the Clergie of Athens into that Famous Col- ledge of Greece, had sought out this God, tofeele after him, andfinde him, they wandered vp and downe in their ima- ginations, like blinde Sodomites about Lot's doore, not bee- ing able to finde it. All their naturall knowledge which was but from Sense, could no wise reach vnto him. For this cause they set vp an altar into their most learned Cittie, with this inscription written vnto great Letters, To THE UN- KNOWNE GOD. * Behokle, where the true God was vnknown, euen in the Cittie where Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the great lights of Nature, had teached publicklie, the verticall point (of) all their knowledge could neuer reach vnto the borders, nay, not vnto the base of the Gospel. * Behokle, and see where Science was to bee solde in greatest aboundance, there was a profession of the ignorance of the true God written vpon their Altar in great Letters, for by the greatnesse of the Letters, to declare the grosse dulnesse of their ignorance. * Hee who knoweth not God, were hee neuer so learned, wbftt can hee speake of Heauen ? : What should Heauen itselfe bee without the presence of God, but like a Cittie laide waste, or like an olde Dungeon not inhabited, where lim and Ziim resort ? * As for vs, blessed bee God, wee know that there is a God into the Heauens, the sight of whose backe purtrs made the face of J/o.sr.v so to shine, that no eye vndazeled could beholde him. What a Majestic must this bee, whose Ixickr part*'* printed such a lio-Jit into the face of n man, that no Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 287 man could beholde the face of a sinner stamped with a second impression ! This is hee who as Scripture teacheth, dwelleth into an inaccessable light, of which a learned Pagane hauing scene some light impression, not in the face of Moses, but onlie into the face of Nature, saide a great word, * Lumen est vmbra Dei, Deus est lumen luminis. All light which wee see is but a duskie shadow of God. But God, is the Light of light, a lining Light, the Life of light, the Sunne that shineth to the world aboue, and the Candle of Heauen. Christ the Sunne of righteousncsse in Heauen, shall bee without anie shadow of the Earth, which is the cause of our night. Hee shall bee a Sunne which shall shine contiuuallie both round about and in all the parts of the Heauen, for there shall bee no night there. For to come thither man should bee content to plucke out his right eye, euen his sweetest bosome delights. The Sicke Man. Mine heart is wained from the loue of the base lump of this Earth. I desire to heare something more concerning these celesti- all buildings, which Scripture calleth, euerlasting Taberna- cles, the resting place of all created desires. Seeing there- after Death wee must sojourne eternallie, let mee heare of the Glorie of these heauenlie Mansions prepared for God's most precious jewels. * O these blessed burnished vauts, all beset with diuine Dyamonds ! Let mee heare a description of that Palace. The Pastour. The matter is high, our creeping worde, of Babel cannot reach to the ancles of such loftie matters- arc but of yesterday and know nothing. As I know, I shal in my stammering tongue and musling speach do what I can for to allure you to the loue thereof, As for the structure, furniture, and beautie, of that Palace of our God, it is wonderfull. By no skill can any mortal hand chalk them out. There is that blessed Bridegroomefs chamber, garnished with an azured Curtaine which is em- broidered and spangled with starres of light, as with goldei studs, whose beautie no rnortall tongue is able fullie to ex- presse. ' f Well may wee say and sing of that Cittie, tha which Dauid sang of its figure, Glorious thinnes are spoken ofthee, thou cittie of our God ! nay, let mee ra- ther say of the figured Cittie, such glorious thinges are in thee that they cannot bee spoken, O thou Cittie of our God ! Tim.6.16 Plato. * Note. * Note. Mai. 4. 2. tcu.21.25 Slat. 5. 29. .uk.10.9 * Note. Mai. 3. 16 lob, 8. 9. * Note. Ps. 87. THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen^s *Note. * Note. * Note. Exod. 26 15. * Note. Phil. 3. 8. * Note. Cant. 2. 2. * Note. * Note. Rom. 7. 19. lieu. 1 4. 13 Cant. 2. 3. * All the glories wee see without are but sparkles of these infinitlie bright blazing perfections, which are within, euen thinges which eye neuer saw, eare neuer heard, and which cannot enter into the heart of man. One saide verie well, * Res verop sunt in mundo invisibili, in mundo visibili vm- brce rerum. That is, in Heauen the invisible world is the substance of thinges indeede, but in this visible world on earth is nothing but shadowes of thinges, which are lesse than accidents. * The greatest glorie that wee see in the outside of the Heauens is but a vaile that couereth the glorie that is with- in, as the JBadgev^s skinnes couered the Arkc of glorie and the Tabernacle. * But because wee are in this world as children in the womb, wee cannot conceiue what can bee without this world, wee haue made a great conception, if wee can conceiue that it cannot bee conceiued ; wee muse well of Heauen, if while wee muse wee bee amazed, counting all joye, pleasure, profile, and preferment below, to bee both losse and doung in comparison of thinges that are aboue, which infinitlie goe beyond all created comprehensions. If these who goe downe to the deepes sec the wonders of the Lord, what wonders shall they see who are in the bights of eternitie ? What rest can a man looke for till hee bee into the Heauens ? ' There the Wastes of windes, and tempests of tongues, and terrours of Conscience, are not : there the Church, the Lord's Lillie, is no more among the thorites. Therejhe heart of man is no more greiued nor ouer clouded with lowring Melancholic : all is in peace within ; all is calme and cleare. * There is day without night, heauens without cloudes, mirth without mourning, joye without sorrow, and beautie without blemish. * All good thinges must abound there, where God shall bee, All in all. When wee shall bee there, our God shall inlighten our minde, and shall giue our mill its will without controlement. Then shall no man say, I do the euill that I would not, and do not the good that I would do : nay, but wee shall do-all the good wee would, beeing in no wise trou- bled with the euill wee would not. Then shall wee rest front all our labours, refreshed vnder the euerlasting shadoiues of Christ, that most pleasant Apple tree, whose frvite is sivecte to tin' taste. Nothing, in a word, shall bee inlaking that may rcjoyce all the senses of our bodic without, and all the Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6 day. 289 faculties of our Soules within. All the Godlie, these blessed Denizens of Heauen, shall euer in a Quire, sing 1 the praises of the Lambe, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, vpon the loud Cym- bals, Harpes, Organes, and Timbrels of God. * O Lord, one day in thy Court is better than a thou- sand elsewhere, saide the Psalmest, speaking but of the figure of heauen. Is it so of the figure of heauen ? what shall it bee then to bee in heauen itselfe ? euen in these newe heauens, let it bee but the tenth better, according to that, one day in heauen shall bee better by ten thousand times, than the best day that euer man did see on earth. There is no serenitie below, which is not ouer-clouded with some dumpes of heauinesse : while the fleshe is vpon the Soule it shall bee sorrowfull. Pure and sincere joyes cannot dwell in the valie of tear es, in this muddie mortalitie. One day aboue is more bright and better than ten thousand be- low. Is it so of one day in Heauen ? Mercifull God ! what shall it bee then of these dayes without number, euen of that euerlasting of dayes, euen that eternal day of light, life, and libertie, cleare without all gloomie cloudes of sicknesse and of sorrowes ! * O for a sight of the light of that countenance, a light of continuance, which no mistie vapour shall for euer bee able to ecclipse ! O Day neuer to bee darkened with a following light ! O euer freshe pleasures, which no sorrow shall bee able to fret, waste, or weare out ! O Eternitie, Eternitie, neuer to haue an end ! O that fair e heritage I vnto all these that are there, the lines are fallen in pleasant places. * If wee had heartes to belieue, the thoughts of such Glo- ries should waine our heartes from the milkie transitorie trashes below, which worldlings dreame to bee an heauen, not to bee changed with anie such preached pleasures. O when shall our Soules get them, with the Spouse to these high Mountaines of Myrrhe and hills of frankincense ! '' The consideration of this happinesse made Ignatius, a Scholler of S. Paul, to defie all the torments that cruell Barrios could inuent, for the tormenting of his bodie. Fyre, Gallowes, beasts, saide hee, crushing of my bones, quarter- ing of my members, breaking of my bodie, let all the torments of Sathan seaze vpon mee together, I care not for them, so that I may enjoy e my Lord and his riahteousnesse. Reu.19.1. * Note. Ps. 84-. 10. * Note. * Note. Psal. 16.6. * Note. Cant. 4. 6. * Note. Hicro in Catologo. 290 THE LAST BATTELL Of H * Note. * Note. Psal. 87.3 2Chr.3.1 * Note. Lam.2.15 loscph . 1 Booke chap. 3. O that all the thoughts of our heartes were made subordinate and coutributarie, to such spirituall and diuiue desires ! The Sicke Man. O Lord, in the multitude of thy thoughts within mee, thy comfortes delight my Soule ! Continue your speach, 1 pray you, concerning the beautie of the Heauens, within which is the Presence Chamber of the great King. The Pastour. * S. lohn describes it with such wordes as men are able to vnderstand or imagine. The vnderstand- ing of man concerning the beautie of a Place, reacheth no further than to Gold, Glasse, Crystall, Pearles, and precious stones, which indeede are nothing but like Coales, or drosse, in comparison of these heauenlie bodies. * Before that the man of God beganne to declare what hee had seene of Heauen, hee saide that there came vnto him an Angel, that carried him away to a great and high mountaine, and shewed him the great Citie, the holie Jerusalem, a type and figure of Heauen. Glorious thinges are spoken ofthee, Citie of our God, euen of thee, Jerusalem. Because that Jerusalem was a type and figure of Heauen, 1 shall first speake a little thereof. As for the earthlie, it was a Citie in Judea, builded as some thinke by Melchisedech. Otherwise it was called, Salem, and lebus or lebmi. After that, it was called JElia, from jElius Hadrianus the Emperour, who builded a part thereof, and enuironed Mount Caluarie, Christe's Sepulchre, and Golgotha, with a wall. This Citie had two partes, the vpper part and the lower. The vpmost part thereof with the Temple was builded vpon mount Moriah. * Because in this Citie the Lord had his residence, and did shew himselfe more familiarlie than into anie other part of the world, it was called The perfection of beautie and joye of the whole earth. It is written, that in circuite and compasse it was foure miles. In forme it was foure square, hauing twelue gates. Joseph recordeth that it was Dauid that first called the Citie Jerusalem. In the time of Abra- ham, saide hee, it was called, Solyme. Some also say, that Homere called it Solyme, which in the Hebrew tongue, saith Joseph, signifieth a Fortresse. This much concerning the earthlie Jerusalem, which now is in bondage with her Children, the most cursed Citie in Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &C. 6. 291 the world, since that desperate voyce of blasphemie was heard in it, His blood bee vpon vs and vpon our children. The Sicke Man. That is a fearefull desolation. The Pastour. Great was that desolation. It is called the abomination of desolation, a desolation abominable, or foresigtiified by an abomination. The Sicke Man. I remember well of these wordes of that Gospel. This I remember, that Christ did speake them with a Nota, Whoso readeth let him understand. Often while I did read these wordes I found myselfe secretlie ac- cused of negligence, in that I tooke (no) paines to vnderstand the saying which Christ desired the Reader to vnderstand. I pray you, Sir, let mee vnderstand the wordes. The Pastour. The wordes are these, When yee there- fore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the holie place, (whoso read- eth let him vnderstand,) then let them which are in ludea, flie into the mountaines. The wordes of Daniel are these, And after threescore and two weekes, shall Messiah bee cutte off, but not for himselfe. And the people of the Prince that shall come, shall destroy the Gitie, and the Sanctuarie, and the end thereof shall bee with ajloode, and vnto the end of the warre desolations are determined. And hee shall conjirm the couenant with maniefor one weeke, and in the midst of the weeke hee shall cause the oblation and the sacrifice to cease, and for the ouer -spreading of abominations, hee shall make it deso- late, euen vntill the consummation, and that determined shall bee powred vpon the desolate. These bee the wordes of the Prophet, of which Christ saide, Whoso readeth let him vnderstand. * The meaning is this. By this porzkvyptx, 7% abomination of desolation, the most Learned vnderstand that Romane armie, which vnder Vespasian and Titus, fearefullie wasted the land of ludea, and sacked the Citie of Jerusalem. It was saide, to stand in the holie place, that is, in the holie Land of ludea, neare vnto Jerusalem the holie Citie. In these wordes Christ foretolde of the ruine of that Citie, ac- cording to Daniel, who of before had particularlie set downe the time. Thus as yee see, the Romane armie was called, The abomination of desolation, that is, Abominatio desolans sen vastans, abominablie destroying. This is more cleare in S. Mat.27.15 Mat.24.13 Mat.24.15 Verse 16. Dan. 9. 6 Verse 27 * Note. 292 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauerfs ,uk.21.10 * Note. Gen. 4. 15. Verse 24. Verse 10. * Note. Gal. 4. 26. Heb. 12.22 Reu.21.10 Gal. 4.20 Hob. 12.22 Luke, IVTuen yee shall see Jerusalem compassed with Armies, then know that the desolation thereof is neare. When that destroying and abominablie desolating Armie compassed that holie Citie, then did the abomination of desolation stand in the holie place. * Some of the Learned interpret this abo- mination standing in the holie place, to bee that profanation of the Temple, Collocata ibi Aquila, et multis patratis quce per legem non licebant : vnde etiam mox sequutum est Tem- pli et verbis et gentis excidium. By placing therein the Eagle, the Romane Ensigne, and by doing diuerse other thinges forbidden by the Lawe, wherevpon the desolation of Temple, Citie, and of Nation, did ensue. The Sicke Man. I thinke now that I vnderstand by you, that which by reading hitherto I haue not vnderstood. What other thing could ensue, but an abomination of desolation where the Messiah was cutte off ? If for the blood of Cain vengeance was to bee taken on the murtherer seuenfolde, and for the blood of Lamech, if his bragges were true, seuentie and seuenfolde, what vengeance must bee taken vpon the shedders of the blood of God, which not onlie with the blood of Abel did cry vnto God from the ground, but also from the heauens, wherein the Sunne clothed in doole and wrapp- ed for a space in his mourning weede, would not looke vpon that creature wherevpon his Master was slaine f But for to leaue this Jerusalem which is now abominablie desolate. Let mee heare something of the spirituall Jeru- salem. The Pastour. * The spirituall Jerusalem is called Jeru- salem which is aboue, and also the Citie of the liuing God, the heauenlie Jerusalem, and also the holie Jerusalem de- scending out ofheauenfrom God. The Sicke Man. Thinke yee that in all these passages of Scripture Jerusalem bee taken after one sense. The Pastour. I answere that the spirituall Citie Jeru- salem in Scripture is taken two wayes, either for the Church below, wherein God as in a Citie calleth the Godlie to im- mortalitie and happinesse, or it is taken for the heauens where the Godlie actuallie possesse that which they had heere but in hope. In the first sense, the Church militant on earth is called Jerusalem aboue, and the heauenlie Jerusalem. The Sicke Man. Seeing by that Jerusalem is vnderstood the Church heere below, wherefore is it called Jerusalem Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 293 aboue, and the heauenlie Jerusalem ? I thought euer that such a Jerusalem did signifie the heauens. The Pastour. * It is called Aboue and heauenlie, be- cause all the true Godlie, the denizens thereof, minde the thinges that are aboue. Though their bodies bee heere, their heartes are into the Heauens. For our conuersation, as S. Paul saith, is in heauen. For this spiritual! exaltation of heartes, the Church in the New-Testament is called, The mountaine of the Lord's house, established in the toppe of the mountaines, exalted aboue the hills. * One speaking of this Jerusalem, which S. Paul calleth Jerusalem aboue, the mother of vs all, noteth quicklie these thinges : In hoc quod dicitur sursum. originis altitudo. Quod Jerusalem, Pads multitudo. Quod mater, Fcecunditatis amplitudo. Quod nostrum omnium, Charitatis latitude. It is called Aboue from the hiahnesse of its Kinred and pedegree. It is called Jerusalem from aboundance of peace. It is called Free from its great liberties. It is called a Mother because of its fruitfulnesse. It is called the Mother of vs all to teach vs charitie and loue. Are wee not all the Children of the Church our Mother f Why then, as Joseph saide to his brethren, See that fall not out by the way. The Sicke Man. I haue often heard of Jerusalem, that most famous Citie of the land of Jurie, but I could neuei well know wherefore it was so called. Bethlehem, Bethel, and Bethauen, are easilie knowne by their significations, viz House of Bread, House of God, and House of Wickednesse . but as for Jerusalem I vnderstand not its signification. The Pastour. * Learned men are of diuerse opinion concerning the name thereof. Some thinke that it bee so called from Jebus, which was its name while the lebusiens dwelt there. Hierom thinketh that it is so called from isgog a Greek word, which signifieth holie. According to this ii Scripture it is called, The holie Citie. Others are of th( opinion, that Sem, the sonne of Noah, called it Salem, that is Peace, and that Abraham called it Jehouah lireh, the Lon will prouide, or see. Thus at last Salem and lireh, put to * Note. Col. 3.1. * Note. Gal. 4. 26 Card. Gen.45.24 * Note. Mat. 27.5 Gen.22.l 294 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heaueti's Heb.7.2. Abricho inijas. Sijah, ariditas. 2Chr.3.1 iChr. 21. 10. Verse 20. Verse 26. I Kin. G. 2 gether by Dauid, made lerusalem, that is, Vision of Peace. While it was called Salem, Melchizedech was King thereof, called by the Apostle, King of Salem. The Sicke Man. Let mee heare a little of the situation of that Citie, and of that Land of Canaan. The Pastour. From Britaine it lyeth toward the South East. One calleth it Centrum et terra vmbilicus, the Cen- ter and nauell of the Earth. In it were two mountaines of great renowne, mount Sion and mount Moriah. Sion, like an half Circle, as writters record, did lye at the South side of lerusalem. On it was builded the strongest Fortresse of the Citie. There, before Dauid's time, was the strong Holde of the lebusites, so strong as they thought, that blinde and lame men were able to keepe it against whomsoeuer. This Mountaine was higher than all the rest. Sion signifi- eth drynesse, because the Hill was dry without anie myre or dirt. As for mount Moriah, this was the Hill wherevpon that Temple was builded. Then Solomon beaanne to build the house of the Lord at lerusalem, in mount Moriah. The ground wherevpon that statelie House did stand, was that threshing floore of Oman the lebusite, which Dauid would buy from him for the full price. The occasion was this : Dauid hauing caused number the people, the Lord was ex- ceeding wroth, so that in reuenge hee sent out his Angel, who killed with the sword of Pestilence, threescore and ten thou- sand men. At last Dauid, lifting vp his eyes, saw the Angel, betweene the heauen and the earth, with a drawne sword, stretched out ouer lerusalem ; which hauing seene, hee and the Elders of Israel, clothed in sack-cloth, fell vpon their faces. At that time Oman, with his foure Sonnes, while they were threshing Wheate, saw also the Angel, and hidde themselues, Dauid vpon that occasion bought the floore, and offered Sacrifices with prayer, and God answered him by fyre vpon the altar of burnt offering, and so God was pacified. After Dauid's death, Solomon builded the Temple there. It signifieth the fear e or doctrine of GOD. The Sicke Man. Let mee heare a little of that glorious Temple. The Pastour. It was seuen yeares in building. The length thereof ivas threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twentie cubits, and the hight thereof thr it ie cubits. All the Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 295 stones were readie for the wall before they were brought thi- ther ; so that there was neither Hammer nor Axe, nor anie toole ofyron, heard in the House while it was in building. Those that write of this Temple diuide it in three partes : first, toward the West was Sanctum Sanctorum, the Holie of holies, called also The Oracle. This by a vaile was di- uided from all the rest. At the death of Christ this Vaile was rent from the toppe to the bottome. Before that, no man might enter into it but the High Priest, and that but once in the yeare, not without blood. There stood the Arke, wherein was the Pot of Mannah, and Aaron's Rod, and the Tables of the Couenant. The Sicke Man While I was a Scholler I heard that passage confronted with another, which declareth that neither the Mannah nor the Rod were in the Arke, but onlie the Tables. The Pastour. Indeede it is written, that the Mannah was layed vp before the. Testimonie, or Arke. In another place it is plainelie saide, there was nothing in the Arke saue the two Tables of stone. So indeede in that passage of the Epistle to the Hebrewes, the Greeke word \v signifieth juxta, beside the Arke. The second roome of the Temple is called by the Apostle, The first ; that is, the first part of the Tabernacle. Not first in dignitie, but in regard of entrie, if it bee compared with the Holiest or Oracle. This part is called Sanctum and Sanctuarium, and uytcc Sancta ; which word some of the Learned take to bee corrupt, as also ayicc, ayiav for ciyiov ayi&iv. In this middle roome was the Candle sticke, and the Table of the Shew-bread, and the Altar of incense. The third part of the Temple toward the East, was the Porch called Atrium. Heere stood the Brazen Altar, wherevpon the burnt offerings were burnt, sub dio, vnder the open aire, as some thinke. On this altar was kept that fyre which came downefrom Heauen. Heere stood also the Molten sea, set vpon twelue Oxen, &c. The Sicke Man. I haue heard concerning mount Sion and mount Moriah, and of the holie Temple, with great con- tentment. Now I intreat you to let mee heare of the mount of Oliues. While Christ was nigh vnto the mount, hee sent his disciples into a Village for to bring him the Asse, whereon 1 Kin. 6. 7. Verse 1G. Heb.9.4. Exod. 16. 34. Heb. 9. 2 See Pise. in the Heb. 9. 2. 2Clir.7.1 Mat. 2 1.1 Verse 296 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's Mat 24. 3. Mar. 14.30 Mat.26.30 Luk. 19.40 Mat.-26.3G Mar. 14.33 Act. 1. 9. Num. 19.2 hee rode thorow lerusalem, the day the little Children cryed, Hosanna, Hosanna. The Pastour. Indeede this Mount is well renowned by Christe's often resorting vnto it. While hee was sitting up- on the mount of Oliues, hee taught his Disciples most diuinelie concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the signes preceding, as also of the end of the world, and of the signes of his comming to Judgement. It was vpon the mount of Oliues that Christ told Peter, that before the Cocke crew twise hee should denie him thrise. It was to the mount of Oliues that hee came out of lerusalem, after his last Supper, for Matthew saith, that after they had sung an Hymne, they went out into the mount of Oliues. It was at the descent of the mount of Oliues that Christ saide, that if men should holde their peace the stones would cry out his praise. It was in Gethsemane, a valie at the roote of the mount of Oliues, where Christ suffered the bloodie agonie. While hee there in a colde night did sweate blood, there the Disci- ples slept. With himselfe hee tooke a part Peter, lames, anc John, to whom hee saide, My Soule is exceeding sorrowfuli vnto death, tarrie yee heere and watch. There the Lore fell on the ground, praying, that if it were possible the houre might passe from him : all this befell to our Lord at the roote of the Mount of Oliues. At last from the mount of Oliues our Lord ascended into Heauen. As for the Mount itselfe, it is so called, because of the Oliue trees which grewe there in great aboun dance. S. Augustine calleth it, The mountaine of vnction, be- cause of its great fertilitie. Others calleth it, The mountains of health, because of diuerse Herbes good for Physicke, which growe there. lerom writteth that vpon this mount the red Cow was burnt, whose ashes were prepared by the Priest for separation and purification. This mount was situate toward the East from lerusalem something more than a mile. Between it and lerusalem runnetl the Brooke Kidron. The Sicke Man. Mine heart is sore wounded to heare of these places, which hath beene so renowned by the pennc of God. I haue heard of Sion, and of Moriah, and of the mount o: Oliues. Now let nice heare of Hermon. Glorte. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 297 The Pastour. The Hill Herman is also made glorious by God's word, wherein mention is made thereof. The heauens are thine, saith the Psalmest, the earth also is thine. The North and the South thou hast created them. Tabor and Herman shall rejoyce in thy name. Dauid speaking of brotherlie loue and of the communion of the Sainctes, compareth it to the oyle that ranne downe vpon the beard of Aaron. To this hee subjoyneth, As the dewe of Hermon, and as the dewe that descended vpon the moun- taines of Zion. In the Song of Solomon, mention is made of Shenir and Hermon. This Hill hath three names, the lewes call it Hermon, the Amorites call it Shenir, and the Sydonians call it Sirion. Moses, by the figure Syncope, taking out two Letters, calleth it Sion. From Aroer to Arnon, saith hee, euen vnto mount Sion, which is Hermon. This Mountaine is thought by some to bee higher than Mount Sion that is in lerusalem. It is neare the lordan, not farre from the mountaines of Gil- boa, where King Saul was slaine. Some will it to bee called Hermon, from Heren, res de- vota, a thing consecrate to God, or to an holie vse. The Sicke Man. There is a passage in the Psalme, concerning Hermon, whereof I know not well the sense. my God, saith the Psalmest, my Soule is cast downe within mee. Therefore will I remember thee from the Land of lordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Missar, or the little hill. The Pastour. These wordes want not difficultie. In our poesie they are turned after this manner, And thus my Soule within mee, Lord, doeth faint to thinke vpon The Land of lordan, and record the little hill Hermon. In the French Paraphrase it is after this manner, Car i'ay de toy souuenance Depuis outre le lordain, Et lafroide demourance De Hermon, pais hautain : Et de Mizar antre mont, &c. In the French paraphrase made by Beza, and also in the English and French versions it is turned, the hill Missar, which is some other hill lesse than Hermon, as the Hebrew 's. 89. 11. Verse 12. 'sal.133.3 Cant. 4. 8. Deut.13.9. Beut.4.48. Psal. 4-2.6. 298 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's lunius. Bellarmin on the 4 Psalmc. Of Jeru- salem. Hieron. Iosh.19.-2-2 A. 6. word doth import. In my judgement our paraphrase is not so correct as the French, for Herman was not a little hill as our meeter calleth it, but as it is esteemed by the Learned, was higher than mount Sion. By the Land of the Hermonites, the Learned vnderstand that hillie space of the countrie where is mount Herman, and by Missar they vnderstand some other part where there bee little hills, towards the border of Israel ; as lunius expound- eth. By these three places of the Psalme, viz. the Land of Jordan, Herman, and Missar, are vnderstood, saith hee, three diuerse Borders of the Land of Israel. The Riuer of Jor- dan bordering at the East, Herman at the North toward vs, and Missar, these other little hills bordering at the South, In the Papists version, these bee the wordes of the Psalme, Memor ero tui de terra lordanis, et Hermonoim a mon- te modico, that is, from the little hill Hermonoim. Whether that bee mount Herman or not, saith one of their most learned interpreters, nan liquet, I cannot tell. The most part of these that write mount Herman, thinke that there were two mountaines of this name. The one was beyond Jordan, neere vnto Libanus, towards the North-east, distant from it an hundreth twentie and two myles. The other was neere to mount Tabor, towards the North from Jerusalem. It is from Jerusalem to it but about fourtie myles : of this the Psalmest seemeth to speake, where hee saith Tabor and Herman shall rejoyce in thy Name. The Sicke Man. It rejoyceth my Soule to heare the names of thinges which were saide to rejoyce in God. Now speake of Tabor. The Pastour. Tabor is mons rotundus et sublimis, a round and high mountaine, lying towards the North from Jerusalem about fiftie myles. It is esteemed to bee one of the chiefe Hills that are in all the Land of Canaan, both for highnesse and fruitfulnesse. Some esteeme that it bee foure myles and more of bight. It is decored with all sortes of Herbes and Trees. S. Jerome, speaking of it saith, Ex omni parte finitur cequaliter, it is an exceeding round Hill into the partes of Galilee. Of this mount frequent mention is made in Scripture. In loshnah, wee see that it bordered the lotte of the Land of the tribe of Issachar, whose coast reached vnto Tabor. It was neere vnto Tabor where De- borah and Barak ouerthrew the Annie of Kingf Jubin with Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &C. 6. day. 299 his Captaine Sisera. For Barak beeing vpon the Mount with his men of warre, by the counsell of Deborah, hee went downefrom mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. It was vpon this Mount that Zebah and Zalmunna the Kinges of the Midianites, slew the brethren of Gideon. IVhat manner of men, saide hee vnto them, were they whom yee slew at Tabor ? It was at the plaine of Tabor, where Saul after hee was anoynted by Samuel, met the three men going to Bethel, with Kids, Loaues, and Wine. This Hill was so steepe and so strong, that leremie from thence tooke his comparison, saying, that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon should ouerthrow Pharaoh and his Armie, though they were as Tabor among the mountaines. It is the opinion of all, that vpon this mount Christ was transfigured, when Moses and Ellas came downe and confer- red with him touching his sufferings. The Sicke Man. From Tabor proceede to Carmel by the sea. I finde within mee great heauinesse of heart, while I thinke vpon these places where God once did shew so manie tokens of his loue. The Pastour. I finde also mine own bowels moued with a mourning motion. Oh that that people had beene wise ! Oh that their example may teach vs to feare to offend so great a Majestic ! If God hath not spared the naturall branches, wee should not bee high minded, but should feare. If wee continue not in his goodnesse, hee will also cut vs off. But to the purpose. As for Carmel, it is the name of a Citie in the tribe of ludah. Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, were Cities there. It is also the name of that most fertile mountaine which had a valie most fruitful lying hard by it. For its fertilitie, in Scripture language, all fertile places are called Carmel. The flowrishing estate of Christe's Kingdome is called, The ex- cellencie of Carmel. It is not farre from Ptolemais, neere vnto the Sea, for which cause the Prophet leremie called it Carmel by the Sea. It was at mount Carmel, where Ellas by his prayer made fire to come downe, and consume his sacrifice with the water in the ditch, whereby hee confounded the Priests of Baal, and proued the Lord to bee God by fire. It was vpon the toppe of this Htoiintuinc, whore Elias cast hi rnselfe downe vpon the Iudg.1.14. Iudg.8.18. 1 Sam. 10.3 Ier.46. 18. Mat. 17.1. Icr.-I6.18. Rom. 11. 81. losh. 15.55 Isa. 35. 2. Icr. 46. 8. I King.lS. 20. Verse 42. 300 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's ft. 90. 17 Rom. 11. 81. Cant. 8.1. Gen. 9.27 A Pravcr, Earth, putting his head betweene his knees, when his seruant spyed the Cloude like a man's hand, arising out of the Sea. The Sicke Man. O but mine heart bleedeth to remem- ber of these holie places, wherein is nothing now but desolation! The Pastour. Wee haue to pray with Moses, that the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs. All these beauties of Canaan are past and gone. That glorious Jerusalem is razed and sacked with all her pompe. Invndations of woes are vpon that Land which once did flow with Milke and Honie; the land hath spewed out its inhabitants. All this should bee, for to teach vs to minde these better thinges which are aboue. While that Land was at its best, it could not containe the shadowes of these pleasures that are aboue. Mellejluit terra hoc promissa et lacte redundat. Ast ea quo sursum est nectare et Ambrosia. This haue I thus Englished : With honie, milke, that holie Land did richlie ouerflow : But Nectar sweete, and Ambrosie, aboue do richlie growe. While wee remember of that people's desolations, let vs bee instant with God, that hee would call them in. They haue stumbled not that they should fall, but that by their fall, Sal- uation might come to vs for to prouoke them tojealousie. If they abide not in vnbeliefe, they shall bee grafted in. Let vs bee earnest in prayer for them. While they had court with God, they were carefull for vs Gentiles. In their familiaritie with God, they spake of vs and for vs. Wee haue a little Sister, saide they, what shall wee do with her in the day shee shall bee spoken for. The sincere lewes euer groned for the ful- filling of Noah's prophecie, that God would perswade laphet to enter into the tents of Sem. LORD, of thy mercie bring back Sem, that hee may re- maine with laphet in the Church of God. Amen. The Sicke Man. I haue heard sufficientlie concerning the earthlie Jerusalem, and diuerse partes of the holie Land, and that with griefe of heart, because in that Land where God once was well knowne, now the enemies of God dominire. The cry of Christe's Blood is yet still against it, so that it hath spewed out the ancient inhabitants. Lord, make all Nations by its example, learne to stand in awe to prouoke so great a Majestie. Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 301 Now let vs come to that Jerusalem which is aboue, the Palace of the great King, where God is seene of his Sainctes face to face. In what place of Scripture is mention made of it ? The Pastour. In the two last Chapters of the Reuelation that heauenlie Jerusalem is described. The Sicke Man. How can that bee, seeing it is saide that lohn saw that heauenlie Jerusalem descending out ofheauen from GOD? The Pastour. As Jerusalem, God's Church heere below, is called Jerusalem which is aboue, because her heart is in heauen with a great desire to bee there. So Jerusalem, the triumphing Church aboue, may bee saide to descend out of heauen, because of the great desire they haue to see vs all well heere below. Dailie they pray in Heauen for the Sainctes heere, fighting on earth vnder the bloodie Banner of Christ lesvs. * They pray for them all in generall, which cannot bee without great affection descending from the reflexe of their loue toward our God. If by some Angel they heare the re- port of the conuersion of sinners, there is great joy e in heauen. That good will and affection they beare vnto the Sainctes below, in Scripture language is called a descending out ofheauen. The Sicke Man. O but as I thinke that Citie must bee glorious ! The Pastour. No glorie is comparable to that which is there. That Citie is called an holie Citie. Holiness is the chiefest beautie that is. This was good Moses his prayer Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs : that is true holinesse. * This most excellent beautie of the heauens, is typified by the most bright glancing of precious stones : her light, saith S. John, was like vnto a stone most precious, euen like a Jasper stone, cleare as Crystall, two creatures colour, greene and cleare, most pleasant for the sight of the eye. By all this, this Citie had twelue gates, and at the gates twelue Angels, whom I may well call Ccelestes Janitores, the blessed doore keepers of Heauen. The building of the wall was of Jasper, and the Citie was pure Gold, like vnto cleare Glasse. * The foundation stones which are laide in our buildings, are but of the cornmones sort ; but all the foundation stones of this Citie, vnder whose Vaults wee sojourne heere, are most precious stones, as Jasper Saphir, Chalcedonie, Emerald, Sardonic, Sarduis, Cryso- Reu.21. 10. Gal. 2. 6. Reu. 21. 10. * Note. Luk. lo.7 Reu. 21. 10. Mat. 27.53 Ps. 90. 17 * Note. Reu.21.1 Verse 18 * Note. Verse 19 302 Reu.21.20 Verse 21. * Note. Verse 21. * Note. Aret. in Apocalip. lob, 4. 19. Ileu.21.21 Cant, 8. 9. Ron. 3.18. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen 9 s lite, Berill, Topas, lacinct, Amethyste. If such glorious stones bee the foundation stones, what glorie must bee aboue in the Palace toppe, where is the busking of Beautie ! As for the gates, The twelue gates were twelue Pearles, eucrie seuerall gate was of one Pearle. Wonderfull gates of wonderful 1 Jewels, for who euer on Earth saw a Pearle so great as an Apple ? * Beholde and wonder how the greatest doore of Heauen should bee of one Pearle. As for the streetes of the Citie, they were pure gold, as it were transparent glasse. * This Glasse one calleth it, Aliquid auro nobilius quod non est in rerum natura. That is, some thing more precious and excellent than gold, which thing is not in this world to bee found. O mercifull God, what stupiditie is this in man, that hee cannot so feruentlie loue this God, who hath builded for his Soule and bodie such a pleasant Palace, where hee shall so- journe for euer in most happie immortalitie ! O mercifull God, what a deadnesse and dulnesse is this in our spirites, that wee cannot, but after rnanie reasons and arguments, bee content to remoue from these our sinfull Tabernacles of clay, for to goe dwell with our God in his golden Citie and Palace ofsiluer, where the Lord for euer shall feast vs with the joyes of his countenance among these purer Spirites, his excellent ones, the Angels of glorie ! The Sicke Man. It is certainlie a great blindnesse. Lord, put the eye salue of Grace to our carnall and naturall eyes, that our sight beeing cleared thereby, wee may get some glimpse of these Palaces and Pleasures that are aboue. O Lord, hoise vp mine heart, and raise it out of the mucke of this earth ! Make the relish of Heauen to dash out of mine heart all earthlie desires. It is maruellous how the Soule of man should bee such a stranger to Heauen. * When I consider how the Soule, that diuine proportion, so noblie furnished with powers of great eleuation, euen of most high contemplation, should so debase itselfe among myre and dirt, not hauing a face to beholde the heauens, it putteth mine heart into a wonderfull maze. What can a Soule finde either in heauen or earth, except God alone, which is able to satisfie the desires of its so wide Capacitie ? * O the beautie of these celestiall buildings, all Gold and Azure ! But rather, O the beautie of GOD himselfe, in i whose presence is the greatest glorie of that painted Palace ! Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6 day. 303 O the beautie of beauties, of him whose mercifull presence should turne the hells ofpaine into heauens of pleasures for euermore ! let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vp- on vs ! * O what a fickle folie is this for man to losse eternitie ofhappinesse for the minute of a miserable world, in worldlie pleasures wherein is more sensible paine than joye that can bee enjoyed ! But to follow out our purpose intended concerning- hea- uen's glorie. I haue, Sir, alreadie heard of the beautie of that Citie, now let mee heare of its Boundes. None as I thinke shall bee there troubled for want of Elbow-roome. The Pastour. * O the vnspeakable boundes that bee there ! &. lohn saith, that it was measured with a golden reede. The measure thereof as the word of God testifieth, was twelue thousand furlongs, which is more than fifteene hundreth myle. Numerus indejinitus pro definite. A Citie greater in boundes, than who should joyne together in one that great Niniuie, Paris, Rome, London, Venise, Alexandria, Constantenople, and that great Alcaire or Ba- bylon, a Citie containing in circuite foure hundreth foure- score furlongs. Nay, joyne all the Cities of the world to- gether in one, and they shall in no way bee comparable vnto this Citie of our God, as it is set downe in the Cart of the Reuelation. Let a man beholde the Cart of the world, and in it hee shall easilie couer with his hand, all the boundes of Europe. But beholde, how the Heauens in that Cart of God occupie more than fifteene hundred myles. What, I pray you, is all this Earth in comparison of these heauenlie Mansions, but an hand-breadth in comparison of fifteene hundreth myles ? * What wonder seeing, as the most learned Philosophers haue obserued, the least fixed con- spicuous starre, which seemeth to bee but a golden naile fixed into this seiled house, containeth the greatnesse of the earth eighteene-folde. Others of the greater sort are esteemed to bee more than an hundreth-folde greater than the whole earth. It is most certaine that if the whole bodie of the earth were where a starre is, it should not appeare so great as that little blacke spotte that wee see into the Moone. Nay, cer- tainlie though an hundreth Earthes, as great as all this were joyned in a cluster or in one masse, they should not there appeare so great as a little motte in the 8unne. For seeing Ps. 16. 11. Ps. 90. 17. * Note. Reu.21.15 Verse 10. * Note. 304 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen* s * Note. * Note. Prou.30.2 Prou.8.ll Proa. 21. 16. Reii.31.33 A Godlie Prayer. * Note. a starre which is of such a bignesse and such a brightnesse, seemeth to bee but a sparkle ; as much of earth as would come to the greatnesse of a starre, beeing corpus opacum, a bodie darke and duskish, should not in anie way bee able to bee an object for our sight heere below. * Fye on foolish Atheimse, that will not looke vp to the Heauens for to consider what an Arme it can bee, which turneth about with a continuall whirling, Bodies of such a quantitie ! The Sicke Man. Oh that wee could vnder-value our- selues as wee should, to acknowledge our stupiditie. * Hee is not a man indeede but a beast, that can not say and thinke with that wise Agure, Surelie I am more brutish than anie man, and haue not the understanding of a man. The Pastour. Oh that wee were wise, for wisdome is better than Rubies ! Oh that wee were wise, for the man that wandereth out of the way of understanding, shall re- maine in the congregation of the dead ! Wee are such muddie worldlings, that wee cannot thinke of that immortali- tie of pure and rejined pleasures that are aboue. The Sicke Man. But to the purpose. Is there not a Temple in Heauen wherein the Sainctes conueene for the seruice of their God ? The Pastour. S. lohn saith that hee saw no Temple therein, for the Lord GodAlmightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it. The Sicke Man. I vnderstand not how the Lord God can bee saide to bee the Temple thereof. Lord, set bounds and limits to my curiositie. Let the loue of thy- self e haue the preheminence in swaying all my desires. A Temple or Church properlie signifie a particular house appointed for God's seruice : for so it is that such an house should not bee in heauen. But the Lord himselfe shall bee to all the Sainctes insteede of such an house. The Temple is a place properlie for offering vp of sacrifices, for instruc- tion of ignorants, for comforting of these that are afflicted. * To declare vnto vs that there shall bee no neede of such thinges, the Scripture teacheth that there shall bee no Tem- ple, but that the Lord and the Lambe shall bee the Tem- ple, that is, shall bee insteede of sacrifice, instruction, com- fort, joye, and all other good thinges vnto his own, so that Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 305 hee shall bee All in all. No created Spirit is able to con- ceiue and wade thorow such mysteries. The Sicke Man. The summe of your discourse, as I per- ceiue, is that though that Citie want a Temple, God himselfe by his presence shall bee insteede of all thinges which are helpfull vnto vs heere. But it would seeme by another place of the Reuelation, that in the Heauen there is a Temple. There was giuen mee a reede like vnto a rod, saith S. John, and the Angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God. The Pastour. * By that Temple is to bee vnderstood the Church of God on earth, as the most Learned esteeme. * They also thinke that this Calamus mensorius, measur- ing Reede, is the rule of holie Scriptures, whereby Sectes and Heresies are discerned from the trueth of Religion. By this Temple heere I say, wee must vnderstand the Church of Christ : according to this it is saide to the Faith- full, Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwetteth in you ? The heartes of all the faithfull are a Temple, which God hath consecrate vn- to himselfe for his Spirit to dwell in. The /Sicke Man. O my God, keepe still mine heart in an holie spirituall temper ! Soften and season it with the dewe of thy Grace. Inlighten the eyes of my mistie minde, that beeing made quicke and nimble, they may sharplie dis- cerne, and with a liuelie vigour apprehend, their blessed ob- ject, euen God himselfe, the Soueraigne felicitie of my Soule. O Lord of immortalitie, make heauenlie meditations onlie to lodge into mine heart, which may breede therein, thoughts of a more noble and spirituall temper, then ordinarlie arise and are fostered in earthlie minded men, who drinke vp iniquitie like water, andfeede vpon it as the horse Leech vpon cor- ruption. The Pastour. The Lord giue eare to your desires. Oh, that wee could consider how our drousie thoughts and dull affections, are so glued vnto the world, as though Eternitie of happinesse were lodged vpon earth, and the short time of pleasures had its residence onlie in the Heauens ! Such fo- lies and fancies by the subtilitie of Sathan, are moulded into vnstable and vnhallowed braines. There is a secret influence of folie from the corruption of our Nature, whereby except that God's Grace stand in the gap arid debarre it, all the Reu. ll.l. * Note. * Note. lCor.3.I6. A Godlie Prayer. 306 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauerfs * Note. * Note. :z.48.31. Verse 35. teu.21.12 * Note. Reu.21.24 * Note. Isa. 60.19 Verse 20 * Note. Reu.22. 1 Ps. 129. wisdome of God shall seeme to bee but folie vnto the Soule of man. The Sicke Man. The Lord giue vs wisdome in all thinges. But to follow our purpose, seeing wee are now speaking of hat heauenlie lerusalem, I would gladlie heare you declare he differences that are betweene the heauenlie and the earth- ie Jerusalem. The Pastour. There bee manie notable differences wor- hie our obseruations. 1. * The earthlie was builded into dust, and now it hath the salt of God's curse soivne vpon it ; he other hath its foundation into the Heauens, blessed for uer. 2. That which is below had not a gate for euerie Tribe, neither were all Israel free Denizens therein. * But as for the Citie aboue, The gates thereof, saide Ezekiel, shall bee after the name of the Tribes of Israel. The name of the Citie from that day shall bee IEHOVAH SHAMMAH, the Lord is there. S. lohn saith, that hee saw this Citie enuironed with a wall, both great and high, with twelue gates, and at the gates twelue Angels, and names written thereon, which are names of the twelue Tribes of the Children of Israel. 3. That which was earthlie was abhorred by the Gentiles, and at last by them destroyed, and now by Turkes possessed and subdued. * But as for lerusalem aboue, the Nations of them which are saued shall walke in the light of it, ana the Kinges of the earth do bring their honour and glori( into it. 4. These of the earthlie lerusalem, could not see without the light of the Sunne by day, and of the Moone by night. It behoued them to haue fire and Candles in the night time, as in anie other Citie. * But to lerusalem aboue, God hath saide, The Sunne shall no more bee thy light by day, nei- ther for brightnesse shall the Moone giue light vnto thee , but the Lord shall bee vnto thee an euerlasting light, and thy God thy Glorie. Thy Sunne shall no more goe doivne, neither shall thy Moone withdraw itselfe ; for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting Light. o. In the earthlie lerusalem, often in place of lustice was a seat of malice. * But in the Newe lerusalem euill judges shall haue no sitting, but the Throne of God and of ih Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 307 Lambe shall bee in it, an appointed seate for the righteous Lord, who shall lay judgement to the line, and righteous- nesse to the plummet. The Sicke Man. O but my Soule is going to a pleasant Palace ! O thou my Soule rejoyce within mee, that God hath prepared such pleasures for thee ! how amiable are thy Tabernacles, Lord of hostes ! Mine heart is in heauen. Glorious thinges are spoken of thee, thou Citie of our God! The Pastour. It is certaine that man's heart cannot con- ceiue the beautie of these buildings within. * If the house of God on earth seemed so pleasant to King Dauid, that hee counted this the one thing hee would seeke, that hee might dwell into it, what shall wee thinke or say concerning God's Palace in the Heauens ? One thing, saide hee, haue I de- sired of the Lord, that I will seeke after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life, to beholde M^BEAVTIE of the Lord. Lord's mercie ! what dulnesse and deadnesse of heart is this, that wee seeke not after the same ! should not this bee our one thing, euen our onlie hearte's desire, to dwell with God aboue, for to beholde that BEAVTIE of the Lord, these euer greene pleasures in his celestiall arbours? * There is nothing heere below which can bee sufficient for to expresse the image, nay, not the shadow of these thinges that are aboue. In the most glorious creatures which are below, as Gold, Glasse, Crystall, Pearles, and precious Stones, wee may see some thinges like shadowes of these glorious thinges aboue. But there is no creature heere which can carrie to our imagination the shadow, let bee the image of the glorie that is vp into that Holie of holies. O but God is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working ! But our Soules are so sleepie and sluggish that they cannot con- sider. * The fancies and folies of the earth bring vs quite out of conceite with celestiall pleasures. Alas ! in the best of vs the seedes of grace lye buried vnder the thornes, shame- fullie ouertopped by them. The little dramme of goodnesse in our heartes is weighed down with weightie talents of wicked- a mightie streame of earthlie thoughts and worldlie nesse desires, like a Torrent, carrieth our Soules downe the hill from all heauenlie contemplations. The clawing flatterers of Isa.28.17. Ps. 84. 1. Ps. 87. 3. * Note. Ps. 27. 4. * Note. Isa.28.29. * Note. 808 THE LAST BATTELL Of H A Prayer A Prayer. A Prayer * Note. our worldlie affections whisper vnto vs, that it is good for vs to bee heere. The Sicke Man. The Lord subdue the master sin, which like a Ringleader and head of all wickednesse, maketh all our purest conceptions of heauen to become muddie and drumblie. O Lord, let thy graces in mee bee presentlie vp in armes, *or to remoue all such earthlie mindednesse from mine heart ; jy the power of thy diuine Arme rouse vp this drousie Soule, hat it may seeke thee afresh by a renued act of Faith and Repentance. Make mine heart to deteste all earthlie plea- sures, which are but rotten at the heart. Kindle in mine heart a loue of thy Palace aboue, stirre vp all my desires with a foretaste of the pleasures that are there ; that find- ing the comfortable relish thereof, I may most willinglie de- sire to bee dissolued, and to bee with Christ in the heauens for euer. O Lord, insteede of all meanes both outward and inward, supplie mee aboundantlie with the presence of thy Spirit. Waine my Soule from the loue of the earth, that thou may winne it to the loue of the Heauens. O happie they who studie to pietie and puritie, for no vn- cleane thing shall bee able to enter into these mansions ! Lord, let vs not bee like these, who after that they haue seemed to disgorge their stomackes, most jilthilie, with the Dog, swallow vp their own vomit againe. O shelter mee and saue mee, from the vnsoundnesse and vnsettled- nesse of a deceitfull heart, that I lash not out into the cesse of superfluitie of wickednesse : now while wee are speaking of the heauens, make all the loue of the earth hence- foorth to bee cryed downe into my Soule. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in Heauen. I am joyced that while wee are speaking of the heauens, the Spi- rit of grace furnisheth you with such heauenlie prayers which would hearten anie man, to mime thorow hell to Hea- uen, except hee bee of the number of these who thinke it but a tricke to goe to hell. The Sicke Man. I pray you now, Sir, to continue into that purpose concerning the glorie of Heauen, for it aftecteth much my Soule. Your powerfull speach maketh my mindt to stay in a feeling meditation vpon these beauties that are aboue. * If I heard not such good purpose, my mimic wouh re- Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 309 either feede vpon dull and fruitlesse melancholic, or else should gade and runne ryot in reuellings, and in a world of foolish and fond imaginations. * The thoughts of man cannot runne long without rub or interruption in Spirituall thinges, except that God in mercie both support them outwardlie, and sinew them inwardlie by the finger of his Spirit. The heartes of men are so light in their gading, that most easilie are they moued to glide ouer the best thinges, and either swynishlie to wallow in filthinesse, or furiouslie to follow these whose whole pregnancie of witte, is spended vpon trifles. Thus mirrilie they pass away that time, wherein they should redeeme the time that is past. I wish that mine heart by your discourse were confined to celestiall meditations. Proceede now I pray you where yee left at last. The Pastour. My speach was, that all the most glorious creatures that wee can either see aboue or below, are lesse than shadowes, types, or figures, of thinges that are within the Heauens. * In them, as in a glasse, wee see weaklie the invisible thinges of God. As a man not beeing able to face the Sunne, beholdeth him in a Basen full of water, and yet not without some dazeling of his sight. That weakened light will make hi eyes to water, and teares to trickle downe. If the glorie of one of God's seruants bee so glistring in robes of light, that no man can beholde him but into the glasse of another crea- ture, and that also with great paine, it is certaine that Goc must put manie more creatures betweene himselfe and vs, that the glorie of his beames, beeing weakened by diuerse reflexes from one creature to another, man with his weake tender eyes may looke vpon his light. * If a man cannot beholde the Sunne in the day, hee may in the night beholde his beames vpon the bodie of the Moone If his sight yet cannot suffer that, hee may beholde him h his second reflexe, by beholding the Moone in a glasse. I: as yet his sight dazle, there is a third and weaker reflexe By another glasse thou may gette the reflexe of that ylassen reflexe. * Certainlie there must bee manie reflexes of God's bright- nesse from one creature to another, before that his invisible thinges can bee scene by vs. What glorious beames of God's face thinke yee, bee these, which shine within that highes * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 310 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen' s * Note. (ion. 1.16 * Note. * Note. * Note. Exod. 34 33. * Note. Heauen called, Ccelum Empyrium, the Jierie Heauen f not that there is fire, but because (as the most Learned thinke) it is purer than all the other heauens, as much as the jire is purer than the other Elements. O what shining brightnesse of God is to bee scene there, where all is more glancing and cleare than that fire which Moses saw in the Bush ! * Let vs come downe from thence to beholde the glorious Starres, the twinckling eyes of heauen, laughing vpon the godlie with their celestiall smyles. O these bright and peere- lesse Pearles ! Let vs from thence come downe to the two great Gouernours of the day and of the night, from thence descend to the cleare pure aire, so glancing with the light of the Sunne, as if it were all of Azure. Come downe yet, and vnder that are Aquce limpidce, the cleare waters, the mother of Pearles and of precious gold ; for the weakest eye there is terra opaca, that thicke, darke, duskish, and lumpish masse of earth, which a bleare eyed Leah may beholde, for in it to see without watering eyes, the invisible thinges of God, were it by looking vpon a Lillie or a Hose, or vpon a Snaile or a Snaike. * Beholde the goodnesse of God, who hath sette his crea- tures by degrees in distance from the place of his inaccessible light, that thereby the bleared eyes of men may get some glimpse of the shadowes of his invisible thinges, which are of truest worth. * But O, O, O, what a glorie and matchlesse fairnesse is there, where God, the King of Glorie, is scene face to face ! O the glorie of the Godhead! The knowledge of the least sparkle of that glorie, is not attainable by anie carnall capa- citie. * Because of that brightnesse that was in Moses his face, by the reflexe of that Light which hee had scene but in JE- HOVAH'S backe partes, it behoued him to couer his face with a Vaile when hee came for to speake vnto men. Was the skinne of the face of a sinner so inlightened with bright beames from the Backe of God, that no man could beholde it, nor looke toward it, till it was couered with a J- r aile ? How manie Vailes must God put betweene his face and ours, lest wee should bee dazeled with his ylorie. ! I take all the circles of the heauens, the Fire and Aire aboue vs, to bee as manie obscuring T^ailes, which the Lord hath cast betweene the Glorie of his face and the eyes of sinful] man. * And yet Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. in the Sunne hee hath fastened such a sparkle of his glorie, that by his heate and his brightnesse, hee will cause man, the king of creatures, to bee ashamed to beholde him. Hee wijl cause him flie vnto the shadowes, and goe with Gogle eyes of glasse, for to saue his eyes of flesh from the reflexe of his beames, though blunted vpon the darke and duskie element of the earth. See how man's sight is so weake, that it cannot abide an earthlie blunted reflexe of that celestiall creature. What shall I say more of the heauens, v/hich are so farre aboue vs ? * Let vs come downe and learne humilitie at the feete of creatures below, as at the feete of Gamaleel euen in this elementare Region of corruption. * Beholde there is such a whitenesse into the snow, which is but frozen and con- gealed blacke water, that it will make the dull sight of man so to dazle, that when hee is entered into his own house, hee is not able to know the faces that are his own ; yea, manie by such brightnesse, at last haue lost their sight. Let mee yet come to an obscurer bodie. The small printed Letters which wee read must bee darkened with the blacknesse of inke ; and yet because the whitenesse of the Paper scattereth so the sight, it must bee gathered with the greenish colour of glassen Spectacles. * Now I pray you, how should man beholde that passing glorie of his God, who cannot beholde the whitenesse of Pa- per, but with borrowed eyes of Glasse ! Let man heere learne in his weaknesse to bee humble, and to reuerence him that hath made so manie creatures, which for brightnesse hee is not able to beholde. * If poore man cannot beholde the apperall of God's creatures clothed with light, or with colours not scene without light ; if such a little glance is able to dazle his sight, how should hee bee able to beholde the King of creatures, euen the great Creator him selfe, whose backe paries are brighter than ten thousand Sunnes ? Because of this great weaknesse caused into man by sin, man is remoued farre from the presence of this King, lest hee should bee destroyed by the brightnesse of his beames. * If while the Sunne shineth with his beames darded directlie downe, the creatures are so parched with heate below that they are constrained to gaspe, what should become of vs, if God's glorie should appeare at our verticall point, without the interposition of manie other creatures betweene him and * Note. Act. 22.3. * Note. * Note. * Note. 312 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's IIeb.12.29 Exod. 33. * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 Pet. 1.4- * Note. Ps. 10. 11, vs ? If a little sparkle of his Glorie in the Sunne, manie thousand myles from vs, maketh a man to faint, sweate, and gaspe, what should become of vs if God himselfe, the con- suming fire, should approach vnto vs ? If the Sunne, which seemeth to bee but of an hand breadth, hath such light and heate, what should it bee if all the heauens were inlightened like the Sunne ? Though all the heauens were turned into a Sunne, they should not bee of such brightnesse as are the backe paries of IEHOVAH. The Sunne, with all his light and heate, may make the face of man more obscure and dus- kie, but cannot inlighten it ; but the backe paries of God, printed such light into the face of a man, that for brightnesse no man could beholde it. * Mercifull God, what stupiditie is this in man, that hee will not consider what a Majestic this must bee, whose ob- scurest partes are more bright than the Sunne, and who with all is not confined with naturall dimensions, as with breadth or length, but is aboue the Heauens infinitelie, with infinite bounds, and brightnesse, the least sparkle whereof is more bright, than if the whole Heauens were wholie turned into a shining Sunne ! * If men knew the pleasures that are there, they would not losse them for the painefull pleasures, or rather vnplea- sant paines, of this sinfull life. Alas, that wee are so care- lesse of the attainment of such a weight of glorie ! Alas, that wee gaze so greedilie vpon the painted and varnished vanishing glorie ofthinges below, which all perish ivith the vsing. * If men knew what relish is into these dainties that are aboue prepared for the Sainctes, they would not so glut themselues with the swynish huskes of earthlie thinges, but would reserue their hist, for that whereof there is no loathing. Fye on men that for folie should losse such an inheritance \\\v&fadeth not aivay. * In this world wee haue Bethel, the house of God, but aboue, Peniel, the place of God's face, wherein are pleasures for eucrmore. Below, all pleasures ebbe and flow with dis- content and comfort. But aboue is an euerlastingy/? sea of joyes, which could neuer enter into the heart of man. Vn- der the Lawe, God was hidde vnder a vaile. In the Gospel wee see him in a ylasse. But in heauen wee shall see him face to face, and that indeede euen a* hee is. Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 313 The Sicke Man. Mine heart by these wordes is possest with a secret louelie rauishment. Continue I pray you to declare what more beautie is within that Paradise. * Let mee heare of these pleasures, which the Sainctes there haue in the presence of their God, and what bee the order and chiefe ornaments of that Palace, what bee the attyre of these that follow the Lambe, and what bee the forme of theu: feast- ing at table with Abraham, Isaac, and lacob. The Pastour. * Such thinges are transcendent to all the wittes of Nature, and to all created inuentions. It is good that wee beware to launch toofarre into such a bound- lesse and bottomlesse Ocean. * What is the compasse of man's braine, little like a Nut- shell, that it should containe conceptions of that which is infinite ? God who killed the Bethshemites for looking into his Arke, and reproued the Galileens gazing vp to the Hea- uens, will not allow men to pierce and prye curiouslie, into his mysteries which surpasse all created capacitie. * Our greatest wisdome shall bee to wonder at that which passeth the reach of all reason and reuelation. * It may well con- tent the most curious Soule to bee of God's Court, though it bee not of his secret Counsell. * In nothing man's reas< appeareth more reasonable, than to cease from reasoning in that which is aboue his reach. The matter is heere so high, that all wordes forsake mee, as it were confessing, that they are neither fit nor able to ex- presse such wonderfull mysteries. * As the heauens could not bee measured but with a Reede of gold, so cannot these heauenlie thinges bee declared but in the golden language of heauen, which our sinfull mortal itie can neither speake nor vnderstand. * It is dangerous for man to bee curious to learne what God esteemeth not necessarie to teach. Man must not haue eares to listen where God hath not a tongue to speake. God's silence should teach all men sobrietie in searching. In that royatt Palace of pleasures aboue, without doubt, bee comfortes and contentments, yea, and such I am per- svvaded, as greater the /Sunne and Moone, the two eyes of Heauen, neuer saw. What! say I greater ? The image oi such thinges could neuer enter into the heart of man. * In my judgement all the Godlie at the first sight oi heauen's glorie, shall bee like men in a dreame. As it * Note. * Note. * Note. Sam.6.19 Act. 1. 11. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 314 THE LAST BATTELL Of 'Heauen's Ps. 126.3. Prou.23.2. * Note. * Note. I Kin.10., written of God's people, When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion, wee were like them that dreame. All such glorie, beautie, and pleasure, shall bee thinges so excellent and beyond expectation, that for a space they shall seeme to the Sainctes incredible, for a space in my judge- ment, the Godlie shall bee like these that dreame, wondering how so great a glorie can possiblie bee. My minde is now dazded with such high considerations. O, O, O, these so vnspeakable beauties that are within that Holie of holies ! O the order that is there ! O the dainties that are on these Tables ! O the Table of that Ruler, where all may take of all without putting a knife to their throat. O the apperall of God's seruants there ! O these fairest flowers, which shall decke their garlands of Majestic ! O these peerelesse Pearles of price ! O these louelie lemmes! O these celestiall crownes spangled with jewels more glistr- ing than starres ! O yee Angels and Archangels ! O yee all of that heauenlie Quire, Cherubims, Seraphims, Princes, Powers, Thrones, Vertues, and Dominions, all inflammed with most glorious diuine beames of light ! O yee Noble followers of the Lambe, all decked with glorie and garlands of immortalitie ! O the amazing beauties of these celestiall Mansions ! O yee blessed eternized Denizens, who Hue there into an eternall vnitie of loue, which no jarres, strife, or debate, shall for euer bee able to vntwine ! purest Spirites, purged from all drossie mood ofsinfull mortalitie! Palace of pleasures, wherein Angels and Sainctes all around with celestiall Harpes make all to ring with Holie, Holie, Holie, Halleluiah, Halleluiah ! O yee purest plea- sures of perfection, which no fretting canker of time shall bee able to outweare, or cancell! the owlish eyes of my minde are not able to reach within the bounds of so bright an Hori- zon. The most I can conceiue, is lesse than the least and lightest glorie that shall bee there, where Soules are solaced without stresse or strife in immortalitie. * O glorie, glorie, glorie, without anie veine of vanitie! Mine heart is rauished and is no more within mee. * When the Queene of Shebah came to Jerusalem to see the glorie of Solomoji, after that shee had considered the meate of his Table, and the sitting of his seruants, and the attendance of his Ministers, and their apperall, and his Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 315 Cuppe bearers, it is saide, that there remained no more spirit in her. All her spirites in a manner ranne out of her by the holes of her senses, for to come and sitte downe and wonder at the glorie of the man. Thus wondering shee remained for a space, as if shee had beene amazed, till her stupified spirit returned vnto her againe : then shee beganne to speake, It was a true report that I heard in mine own Land of thine actes and of thy wisdome, howbeit I belieued not the wordes vntill I came, and mine eyes had seene it. A.nd beholde the halfe was not tolde mee. Thy wisdome and prosperitie exceede the fame which I haue heard. Happie are thy men, happie are these thy seruants, which stand continuallie before thee, and that heare thy wisdome. * Consider how the glorie of a man in its greatest, not comparable to the glorie of a Lillie, drew the spirit so out of the Queene of /Shebah, that for a space shee was not able to speake. Shee wondered at that which shee saw, but what shee had seene shee could not vtter in wordes, but on- lie saide in generall, that shee had heard a true report which shee could not belieue vntill shee came, and her eyes had seene it. And now when shee hath seene, shee declareth that the halfe had not beene tolde her. Consider well I pray you. * If the beholding of the glo- rie of an earthlie prince so rauished the heart, not of a rus- ticke that will easilie wonder at anie thing, but of a Queene, yea, and so that no more spirit remained in her, what should it bee if wee should get but as through the grates, one sight thorow the heauens of that great God of Solomon sitting vp- on his Throne ? * If but for the quarter of an houre wee might see the meate of his Table, and the standing of his seruants, and the at- tendance of his Ministers, Sainctes and Angels casting downe their Crownes at his feete, if I say, wee could see these thinges as they are, this our Spirit should bee carried toward him with such a strong bent affection, that it should not tarrie within vs, but beeing rauished should runne out of this bodie of clay, for to goe abide with him that made it, among pleasures perfectlie abstracted from paine. * If God as hee is should appeare vnto vs were it neuer so little, the bonds of our bodies should not bee able for to fetter so our Soules, but at the first sight of God they with lKin.10.6 Verse 7. Verse 8. * Note. Luk. 12.27 * Note. * Note. * Note. 316 THE LAST BATTELL Of H * Note, ixod. 33. Act. 7. 56 * Note. * Noto, most flagrant desire, should flutter out of sinfull clay, or to enjoye his most amiable presence, wherein are pleasures ee of diuerse ages, children, men, or olde men, as wee were tieere when wee deceased ? The Pastonr. It is hard to tell : wee must not swerue from the wisdome of God's word. Scripture heere is silent. But seeing Heauen is the place of perfection, it is probable, as some Diuines thinke, that in Heauen all shall bee in great- est perfection. Seeing, say they, that infancie is imperfec- tion, and olde age is defection, none of two are conuenient for bodies that are perfectlie glorified. * As the Sunne tak- eth the mid course of Heauen, so shall the godlie, who shall shine like Sunnes, abide in the middest, betweene the Poles, in the midst of all extremities, for there shall bee the per- fection of Vertue, Age, Stature, Beautie, and of all that shall concerne them. * All shall bee content, for all shall drinke their Jills out of the Riuer of the vnmixed pleasures and perfections of God, which neither Man nor Deuill, the strength of Hell, or length of eternitie, shall euer bee able to trouble or make drumblie. The Sicke Man. There is one thing which earnestlie 1 desire to know, viz. whether or not wee who on earth haue liued together, and loued one another, shall know each other in Heauen ? The Pastour. It is thought that so shall bee, and that because of the presence of God, in whom is such a Light, that by it wee shall see and know, these whom wee neuer did see or know on earth. * When Christ was transfigured vpon mount Tabor, downe came Moses and Elias whom the Apostles had neuer scene of before. Though they had neuer scene them before that, yet by the light of Christe's transfiguration, they were so inlightned, that they did perfectlie know what they were. If the sight of that figured light, gaue such a knowledge Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 325 vnto sinners, that they knew these whom they had neuer scene, what shall it bee when all obscure figures, and also our sinnes, which maketh all good thinges obscure, shall bee remoued, and God shall bee All in all ? * But though wee should all know one another, as I thinke indeede wee shall, all these carnall respects which are heere, as of Father, Mother, Wife, and Children, shall all fall from vs, like the mantle of Elias, before wee enter into Heauen, for to enjoye these Empyrian pleasures, which are so farre aboue thefadome and reach of all changeable mortalitie. * Wee thinke much now of such earthlie respects, which are indeede Coagulum hujus mtce, the verie curding and joyning together of greatest naturall contentments. But seeing all such thinges are but thinges of Childe-hoode, they shall not enter into our thoughts, when wee shall bee perfect men into the Heauens, the presence-chamber of our God. When I was a Childe, saide S. Paul, I spake as a Childe, I understood as a Childe, I thought as a Childe ; but when I became a man, I put away childish thinges. So long as a man is into this world, if he bee compared with that which hee shall bee, hee is but a Childe, hee vnder- standeth as a Childe, hee speaketh as a Childe, and hee think- eth as a Childe. All the dearest naturall respects that are heere, are but childish thinges. Seeing they are so, when wee shall come to Heauen, where wee shall bee perfect men, they all shall bee put away. * I will let you see this in a naturall figure. In this world wee haue that which wee call Childe-hoode, and that which wee call the perfection of a man. Now tell mee, I pray you, should it bee seernlie for a graue Senatour, sitting before his Prince, and conferring vpon the most weightie matters of the Kingdome,tobeginne and speake what hee did with this Childe, and that Childe, with whom hee was wont to ride vpon Reedes? Would hee, beeing a wise man, at such a time, beginne to discourse how with these little companions, hee builded vnder a bower little houses into the sand, or how in their childish conuentions they made their little f castes of Pier es, Nuts, and Apples ? Would a wise man, thinke yee, in the presence of his Prince, put off the time with such purpose ? No, not. When the foolish Childe is become a ivise man, hee speak- eth no more as a Childe, neither vnderstandeth hee as a Childe, neither thinketh hee as a Childe. Such childish * Note. 2. King-. 2. 13. * Note. 1 Cor. 13. 11. * Note. 326 Note. * Note. Isa. 28. 1 1 Col. 3. 1 1 * Note. Ps. 30. 8. lieu. M.13 * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauejf S things in Heauen shall not so much as once come into his thought, for that were to thinke as a Childe. That which is now in part shall bee done away, at the comming of perfection, which shall bee in that Coronation day. * Because wee are heere but children, wee cannot now vn- derstand the wisdome of the wordes and thoughts that wee shall haue aboue. Languages then shall cease. One shall not speake English, and another French, and another Span- ish. That Babylonish confusion of tongues shall bee taken away, and wee all shall speake the Language of the Lambe. * God then shall speake no more vnto his people with stam- mering lippes and with another tongue. Then shall bee no difference of coun trie-men or estates, whether they were borne in Asia, Europe, or Affrica. There shall it not bee looked to whether they wereKinges or Subjects, Masters or Seruants, bond or free. In the Heauen s is neither Grecke, nor lewe, Circumcision nor vncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free. But Christ shall bee All in all. * What can bee laking vnto man, where God shall bee vnto him All in all, yea, and the Soule of his Soule? As the Soule is in the whole man, and whollie in euerie part, so shall the whole diuinitie in the heauens, informe the whole mysticall bodie, and bee in it whollie, and that into the least member thereof, God beeing All in all. Then, and not till then, wee shall bee satisfied aboundantlie with thefatnesse of God's house, and drinke of the Riuers of his pleasures, yea, and our Soules shall feast themselues by all our senses vpon vnmixed joyes, free from the mudde and distemper of all displeasures. In a word, our heartes shall bee fastened to our God with such cordes of loue, which nothing aboue or below, shall bee able to vntwine. Heere is our journie's end ; heere is our resting place from our labours and toilesome trauels. Heere is absence of all euill, and presence of all that is good. * Heere the Lambe is the Temple, and the Light, and the Tree of Life, that bringeth foorth fruite euerie moneth, euer newe joyes without perishing of the olde, euer newe pleasures without anie loath- ing of the former, euer newe light without anie darkning, euer newe life without anie dying, euer newe delights without anie dolours, euer newe Glorie without anie grudge, euer newe mirth without anie mudde of miserie. * Bodilie plea- Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 327 bures worke a great desire aye till they bee gotten. But spirituall delights, as a Father saide, Cum non habentur sunt infastidio, Cum habentur sunt in desiderio. Before they bee (/otten they are loathed ; but are they yotten, they are loued. * So long as our Soules are ledde loode-winkt in this our moodie and mistie mortalitie, wee cannot thorowlie perceiue this. O that wee had heartes to consider ! O that wee could ightlie minde the thinges that are aboue ! * O that our leartes were wained from this our natiue soile, a place of lunger and colde, a place of nackednesse, sicknesse, and sor- row, that wee might earnestlie desire to bee into that holie Land, where wee shall feast on the Tree of Life, and drinke of that Cry stall Riuer with pleasures for euermore ! So ong as wee are in this our mortalitie, wee must bee still look- ng till our change come, which beeing once made, wee shall neuer change anie more. * O then the sweetnesse of the Crowne, shall for euer allay the sowrnesse of the Crosse ! The Sicke Man. Mine heart is wonderfullie rauished with such purpose. I finde my Soule silent within mee, that it may hearken and giue good heede to that which yee say. Blessed bee hee who createth thefruite of the lippes. O Lord, come and let thy Spirit take house-roome into mine heart. Now let vs come to our purpose againe. So farre as I can obserue your minde is, that wee all shall know one another in Heauen, but without regard to anie carnall consideration, whether they were our Father or Mother, or our Sister ? The Pastour. It is euen so. * For if anie particular respect should bee had to anie, it should bee of a man to hi wife, or a wife to her husband, who must leaue bothfathe) and mother and cleaue unto another, for to become one flesh. Yet so it is, that in Heauen, there shall bee no more particular respect betweene them, than these whom they hat neuer seene before. The Lord hath made this plaine. Th< Saddticees, who scorned the Resurrection, hauing tokle Chris that there had beene seuen brethren in Israel, which all hac married one wife, one after another, and that last of all, the woman died also. Now saide they, Li the Resurrection whose wife of them shall shee bee c t Tesvs answered, and saide, The children of this worli Gresror. * Note. Col. 3.1. * Note. 's. 16.11 ob, 14.14 * Note. * Note. Luk.20.3 Verse 3-. 328 THE LAST BATTELL, Of Heauen' s Ps. 16. 11 marrie, and are giuen in marriage ; but they that shall Luk.vo.35 bee accounted worthie to obtaine that world, and the re- surrection from the dead, neither marrie, nor are giuen in Verse 3fi. marriage. Neither can they die anie more, for they are equaU vnto the Angels, and are the Children of God, bee- ing the Children of the Resurrection. * Note. * Certainlie, at that day none of these seuen brethren will claime anie more acquaintance vnto that woman, than vnto her whom they had neuer seene before that day. * Note. * What created thing- can allure the eyes of the creature, Ps. 73. 25. where the Creator is visiblie seene as hee is ? Whom haue * Note. / in Heauen but thee ? saide the Psalmest. * As the Sunne by his beames at his first rising darkeneth all the glo- rious starres of light, so that they seeme to flie away from his presence, quite out of the heauens, so shall the loue of God himselfe, like a greater Light darken and dazle all other desires whatsoeuer. No by-respects shall bee able to hinder vs to haue our eye to the maine. Wee shall loath all thinges that wee may feast on his face, wherein \sfulnesse of joye. The Sicke Man. I desire, Sir, to know, of you whether or not there shall bee degrees of Glorie in the Heauens, or if all shall bee alike in honour ? The Pastour.'The most part are of that opinion, that there shall bee diuerse degrees. Their opinion is founded vpon these wordes, There is one glorie of the Sunne, and another of the Moone, and another glorie of the Starres. For one star re differ eth from another starre in glorie. So also is the Resurrection of the dead, it is sowen in corrup- tion, it is raised in incorruption. * Some of the Learned, who esteeme that there shall bee diuerse degrees of glorie in Heauen, thinke that no such thing is intended in these wordes, but onlie as one Starre differeth from another in glorie, so shall the bodie after the Resurrection differ farre in glorie, from the estate wherein it was in this life. According to this it is saide, it is sowen in corruption, it is raised in glorie, for to declare the different estate of the godlie heere and heereafter. * Note. * For this assertion concerning degrees of glorie, this seemeth to bee most cleare, which is saide by Christ to his Mat.19.27 Apostles : Beholde, saide Peter, wee haue forsaken all and followed thee, what shall icee haue therefore f And Jem's 1 Cor. 15 41. Verse -1-2. * Note. Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 329 saide vnto them, Verilie I say vnto you, that yee which haue followed mee, in the regeneration, when thee Sonneof Man shall sitte on the Throne of his Glorie, yee shall al- so sitte vpon twelue Thrones, judging the twelue Tribes of Israel. The Sicke Man. Before yee proceede, I pray you, to sleare these wordes, That yee which haue followed mee, in the regeneration, when the Sonne of Man shall sitte on his Throne, yee also shall sitte vpon twelue Thrones. I vn- derstand not well what the word Regeneration signifieth there. To follow Christ in the regeneration, what can that bee ? The Pastour. These wordes bee diuerslie read. Some reade them this way, Yee who haue followed mee, in the regeneration. Others reade them after this manner, joyning there-with the following wordes, In the regeneration, when the Sonne of Man shall sitte on his Throne, yee also shall sitte. If the wordes bee so joyned, Yee who haue followed mee, in the regeneration, Iv rrj Trofatvyzizcitx,, the word Regene- ration is taken, as the most Learned esteeme, for the preach- ing of the Gospel, which Christ brought into the world, whereby a newe creation, or regeneration of men's heartes and Soules, hath beene made in the world. So to follow Christ in the Regeneration is to embrace his Gospel, whereby wee are regenerate. * But in the opinion of the most part, Kcth.fvysvsffia, He- generation, heere is rather to bee joyned with the wordes following, after this manner, In the regeneration they shall sitte vpon Thrones, according to that, In regeneration, is as if hee had saide, In renovatione mundi vel post renova- tionem mundi in altero seculo, that is, in the renewing, or after the renewing of the World. Indeede, regeneration heere seemeth chieflie to signifie the Resurrection and restor- O ing of our bodies. The Sicke Man. It would appeare by that saying oi Christ in S. Matthew, that the Apostles shall sitte vpon twelue Thrones, in greater dignitie than anie others. The Pastour. It would seeme so to bee. As for Moses, JEnos, and Julias, and so manie worthie Prophets, most glo- rious instruments of God's grace in this world, it would seeme that their glorie there should bee greater than that of com- mon persons. Manic of them that slcepe in the dust of the * Note. Daii.li>. > 330 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's Dan. 12 3 Mat. 1 3.43 Indg.5.31. * Note. Mat.25.23 earth shall awake. And they that bee wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and they that turtle manie to righteousnesse, as the star res for euer and euer. The Sicke Man. That, and as much is saide, as well of all the Faithfull as of Prophets and Preachers. Then shall the righteous shine foorth as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father. Beholde how all the Righteous shall shine foorth as the Sunne. Likewise, Deborah in her song saide, Let them that loue the Lord, bee as the /Sunne when hee goeth foorth in his might. By this it would seeme, that see- ing they all shall bee like Sunnes, that their glorie shall bee equall. * Moreouer, let mee reason as I (when I was a Scholler) haue heard reason in the Schooles : wee are not saued by anie worth that is in ourselues, but onlie by the righteousnesse of Christ lesvs. Now for to bee saued, a man by Faith must applie vnto his Soule the whole righteousnesse of Christ, for Christe's righteousnesse diuided cannot saue. Seeing then I, a poore Craftsman or Labourer, by my Faith receiue the whole righteousnesse, I receiue as much as Moses, or Elias, Peter, lames, and John ; and so seeing that Righteousnesse is the onlie meritorie cause, I hauing it all by imputation, must also receiue the glorie in as great a measure as they. For what can they haue, except that righteousnesse, which can deserue at God's hand anie thing that is Eternall ? Though a man should giue his bodie to bee burnt for the cause of Christ, hee doeth nothing but that which hee is ob- lished to do. By this then it would seeme, that seeing by the onlie righteousnesse of Christ, eternall happinesse is merit- ed, and that all that haue Faith, must applie vnto themselues that whole righteousnesse without anie diuision, that whoso- euer hath Faith to bee saued, shall receiue as great a degree of glorie as anie of the Apostles. Otherwise, if yee make difference, yee would seeme to attribute some part of heauen's glorie to the worth of man's doings or sufferings. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, the matter is full of difficul- tie : manie thinges would seeme to make for that opinion, particularlie the Parable of the Talents, for to him that had gained but two Talents with his two, as well as to him who had gained fiue with his fiue, shall bee saide, Intra in gaudi- um Domini, Enter into thy Master's joye. To all was saide alike, Enter into joye. Not, Thou enter into the great- Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 331 estjoye with thy ten Talents, and thou into a lower Chamber with thyfoure Talents. * Indeede, the arguments are both strong, for and against both the opinions ; yea, so strong that they made a verie learned man, after reasoning to and froe, to say, Vtramque sententiam esse probabilem, et habere argumenta ex Scripturis. Neutram tamen ex Scripturis certo confirpnari posse. That is, both the opinions are probable, and haue arguments out of Scriptures; but by no argument out of Scriptures can it bee certainlie prouen, that there shall bee degrees of glorie in a greater measure in some than in others. And therefore, that learned man, seeing the matter so vrged with most for- cible arguments, leaueth it vndiscussed, as beeing a thing the knowledge whereof is not absolutelie necessarie for Sal- uation. * There bee manie deepes in Scriptures where the grossest Elephants must swimme. Thinges absolutelie ne- cessarie for Saluation, are into the plaine shallow foords of the Gospel, where the little Lambes of Christ, may wade ouer for to enter into Canaan. So long as wee are heere, wee know but in part. Multa sunt reservanda futures scholce. * There bee manie thinges heere whereof wee must leaue off the searching out, till from these little Classicke Schooles below, wee passe Master into God's celestiatt Fni- versitie aboue. * It is great wisdome for man to learne heere, Sapere ad sobrietatem, to bee sober in his search. The Sicke Man. I thanke God for this well employed time. Oh, that all my wordes had beene from my youth concerning such spirituall purposes ! Alas, for euill spent yeares ! Oh, that young men would learne in time to spende well their (/olden houres ! * Happie is liee who weareth out the short time of this sinfull life, at the sincere seruice of his God. My Soule no\v with the pinched forlorne is re- turning home to the goody?z?*e of my Father's house. Haue yee yet anie more to say concerning the thinges that are aboue ? The Pastour. If yee would haue a short description of all these thinges, take it vp in these few wordes, Eye hath not seem, nor eare heard, neither haue entered into the heart of man, the thim/es which God hath prepared for them that lone him. * No man can so imagine of such joye, pleasure, and con- * Note. Martyr. * Note. * Note. * Note. lCor.2. 9. * Note. -332 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's * Note. (Cor. 4. 17 * Note. * Note. 1 loh. 3. 2 Heb. 11.1 Ps. 137. 2 Mai. 4. 2. * Note. tentment to bee there, but the thing itselfe shall bee manie stages aboue all humane imaginations. It shall bee our wis- dome to imagine that they cannot bee imagined. * When I thinke of that euerlasting and exceeding weight of Glorie, which passeth all vnderstanding, my meditation is dazeled, and my tongue is tacked, the one not beeing able to conceiue, nor the other to describe these thinges, which eye neuer saw, eare neuer heard, and which could neuer enter in- to the heart of man. * This is the godlie man's non vltra, his outmost boundes. There is no created capacitie on earth which can conceiue an euerlasting and exceeding weight of Glorie. The greatnesse of this glorie putteth mee to silence. Sight and Sense, Feeling and Fruition, shall one day teach vs that which now eye cannot see, nor eare heare, nor heart conceiue. So soone as wee shall see God as hee is, wee shall know him, and his glorie, as wee are knowne. Then shall wee see with our eyes, that which now wee be- lieue with Faith, which is the substance of thinges hoped for, and a demonstration or euidence of thinges not scene. So long as wee are heere in this muddie mortalitie, wee Hue in avalie ofteares, where wee are forced to hang downe our heads, and hang vp our Harpes, as beeing captiues in Babel. Aboue are the comfortes of Sion, where joyes afresh are in- finitlie redoubled. Now, Sir, according to your desire, I haue spoken at large, of this world's vanitie, and also of the last judgement, and of Heauen's glorie, and of Hell's horrour. Thinke yee that this discourse hath made anie motion in your heart, for to make you striue with a stronger straine, to draw nearer vnto your God? The Sicke Man. I thanke God from mine heart, that mine heart is in another temper and tune, than when yee came first vnto mee. God by his Spirit in your wordes, as by a soft and sweeete breath, hath refreshed rny Soule. By Faith, my spirituall eye, I see now Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse, arising vpon mine heart with the brightnesse of his beames. Mine heart now burneth within mee, and panteth with an vnutterable longing, for a sight of the face of my God. * Now, Lord, drawe the Curtaine, that some glimpse of joye, may yet more clearlie appeare for the recreating of my Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 333 wearied Soule. O deare Redeemer, no tongue can tell how much poore sinners are beholden vnto thee, who with a strong Arme hast brought them out of a dry pit, wherein was not a drop of comfort. O that deepe and darke dungeon of sin that I haue beene into ! O these blessed beames which my Soule feeleth com- ming from his countenance ! O the light of that Face which putteth more joye into mine heart, than all the world can haue, when their Wheate, Wine, and Oyle, do most abound. * infinite weight of glorie ! pleasures euer to bee spoken of, though vnspeakeable ! Ojoyes euer to bee thought of, though none heart bee able to conceiue them ! plea- sures most pleasant to the eye, though eyes below cannot see them ! 0, euerlasting mirth of Musicke ! yee ce- lestiatt tunes, most worthie to bee heard, though cares of flesh cannot heare you ! Tree of Life, most sweete to the taste, though sinfall tongues may not taste of thee ! Crystall Riuer, proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lambe, when shall my Soule drinke of thee with a full Cuppe ? * Mine heart like an Hart panteth and brayeth after these water brookes. Oh, when shall I come and appears before God ! my God, keepe mine heart vnder some spiritual sense of these blessed delights, till perfectlie I enjoy e thee into the armes of my Soule, with the contentment of all con- tentments, then which there can bee no greater. The Pastour. It is the Lord who \vitht\ieJSye-8alueof hi: grace hath inlightened your minde. Hee hath taken out thi moats of temptations, which of before did make the eyes of your Soule so to water, till they became drumblie. Now, Sir, yee know full well what it is of God and his goodnesse in the Heauens, where faithfull Soules shall bee fed with the breat of Angels, and feasted with the daintiest delicates that are aboue. * The wicked in this world are like blinde men which eatc manie moats andjlees. They eate them because they can- not see to discerne them. * All the knowledge of the wickec is but a carkase and carion of knowledge. To know Goc and his Sonne Christ, and him crucified, is the verie marrow and kernell of true happinesse. * A Soule whose eyes the Lord hath iulightned with grace, can no more rest oft' it God, than an element out of its own place. It may well bee ,ech.9. 1 1 Ps. 4. 7. * Note. * Note. Ps. 42. 2. A Prayer. Reu.3. 18. * Note. * Note. * Note. 334 THE LAST BATTELL Of Heauen's * Note. * Note. * Note. Prou. H. 13. * Note. Mai. 4. 2. Ps. 94. 17, * Note. detained and with-holden from its place by some stronger power, but no power can make it to rest, till it bee there where God hath appointed it to rest. Your Soule now, Sir, is drawing neare vnto its Rest. The nearer yee bee vnto it, let your motion towards it bee the swifter. * In this, Grace is like Nature, swiftest at the end of the motion which tendeth vnto rest. Vp still with your heart, and rejoyce in your God, * Hap- pie are yee who now are flitting from this world, wherein the sillie Soule, as a JBall'in a Tenice, is tossed from wall to wall, and scourged with the Racket of diuerse temptations, which by course, one after another, are readie to catch it at euerie rebound. * Let your Soule now altogether rejoyce in your Sauiour. That is the onlie joye which shall neuer bee taken from vs. All other joyes are but like flying moats in the aire, toyle and toyes, toylesome toyes, fur euen in laughing the heart is sor- rowfull, and the end of that mirth is heauinesse. The Sicke Jllan. Blessed bee my Lord for euer. I finde now the beginning of these joyes, \v\\ichpasseall understand- ing* My Spirit hath receiued the earnest of immortalitie. * I finde now my Soule in the kindlie temper of a spirituall constitution, which as I am fullie perswaded shall neuer bee troubled with anie rnoodie mixture of distempered mortalitie, if once this Battell were ended. O the blessed beames of that righteous Sunne, which shines so brightlie upon my Soule ! They shall neuer bee intercepted by anie earthlie interposition of sinfull shadows. * Hencefoorth nothing shall bee able for euer to set God and my Soule at oddes. O now nothing shall bee able to affright my Soule anie more with dreadful! distempers ! To God alone belongeth the glorie. Well may I say, If the Lord had not helped nice, it had not failed, but my Soule should haue beene put to silence. * 1 esteeme all the joyes which I feele to bee a Cluster of Canaan, which my faith, like a trustie Spie, hath brought vnto mee, that thereby I may know the goodnesse of that Land. But because I cannot tell what assaults my Soule may yet suffer, for I finde my former joyes a little ouerclouded. I pray you, Sir, to conceiue a prayer to God for mee, that the assurance of his pardons may more and more bee sealed vp into mine heart, that death bee not vnto mee as a king of feare, but rather as a passage and an entrie to life e tern all. Glorie. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 335 Make earnest requeast for mee, that I die not as the wicked, whose hope doeth perish with their breath, hailing their breath, hauing their Soules goared with sin, the sting of i Cor. 15. death. O Lord, bring mee, an Outlawe by Nature, within the boundes of thy Sheepe-folde. Fill now my Soule with spi- rituall and heauenlie inspirations. I haue, alas ! the most part of my life, beene like roustie yron, vnfitte for anie worke. It hath fared with mee, as with the Eye which seeing other thinges, seeth not itselfe, nor the face wherein it is fixed. In knowing other thinges I haue remained ignorant of myselfe, a great stranger at home into mine own bosome, from my youth, my Soule sicke of a spirituall dropsie, did swell in a conceite of its own excellencie. Now, Lord, wound this pride of life within mine heart, wound it in the head, and craze it in the braine. Separate all iniquitie from mee, that nothing wherewith thy Spirit may bee grieued, may harbour in mine heart. Vpon this earth there hath beene none hoe with my desires, which like the sore crauing Horse Leach, could say nothing but Giue, giue. Now, Lord, make my Soule to loath that which I haue too much loued ; prepare my Soule, emptie it of all that is euill before it come before thy Face, wherein isfulnesse ofjoye for all Sainctes and Angels which are aboue. Now, Lord, after that thou hast cleansed mee by the fierie tryall, by beating and battering mine hard heart, let the workmanship of thine holie hands bee to refine mee more and more, till I become perfectlie a newe creature. O powre this heart into the calmes of thy compassions, that therein as in a mould, it may receiue thy Huelie Image. Weede out of mine heart all carnall and earthlie desires. The Pastour. I blesse the Lord, for such working of his Spirit. According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to God in prayer. While wee are praying, lift vp your heart vnto God and pray with your Spirit. Set now all your affections in bensell before the Lord. Let vs all humble ourselues heere before our Maker. A PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN. f\ LORD, prepare our heartes to prayer. Let vs not bee ^-* rash with our mouth, nor hastie with our heart to vtter anie thing before thee. A Prayer Ps. 16. 11 336 THE LAST BATTELL sa. 1. 18. 's. 103. 12 O glorious GOD, and all mercifull Father, which art the true Physition, both of Soule and bodie, wee must humblie bend our knees before thee, intreating thee to bee with thy seruant heere, whom thou hast now laide into this bedde of languishing. Let not his sinnes, whereof hee hath beene guil- tie from his youth vp, prouoke thy wrath anie more against him. Knit them all in a bundle, and cast them all behinde thy mercifull backe, burie them all into the bottomlesse sea of thy compassions, that they neither bee able to accuse him anie more in this world, nor yet to condemne him, in the world to come. Though his sinnes, Lord, were like Scarlet and Crimsin, there is vertue into the Blood of thy Lambe, to make them white like woll, and whiter than the Snow. For thy Sonne's sake, remoue all his transgressions as farre from him, as the East is from the West. Hell, Lord, and Destruction are before thee, how much more the heartes of the Sonnes of men ! Thine All-seeing Eye, pries most clearlie into the inmost closet of man's heart. Looke with the Eye of thy compassions, within the Doores ol this wearied heart of thy Seruant. Looke in and proclaime mercie and pardon vnto his sillie Soule. Let him know, that neither Death, nor Life, shall bee able to separate him from thy Loue. O Lord, assist him, anc stand fast by him in this houre. Desert him not in his great- est and last agonie. Let thy Spirit possesse him so fullie, that there bee none entrie or roome, for Sathan's temptations Where the Temper is busiest, let thy Spirit bee strongest. Arme him with all Pieces against the last conflict of thi bloodie battell. Honour him with the Laivrels of victorie Let thy strength bee made perfect in his greatest weaknesse Do the turne by thine own force, and take all the glorie to thyself. By the vertue of thy Christ, crucifie into him the olde Mai and his workes. Make him to die into him, that hee may Hue to thee, who to all the Faithfull, is aduantage both in life and death. Hee is now, LORI?, walking betweene thy Mer cie and thy Justice through manie temptations. Gouerne thou his steppes with such wisdome, that thefeare of lustic may keepe him from presumption, and the hope of mercie ma preuent despaire. Increase his patience with his paine Sanctifie his Sicknesse, make it as Bellowes to thy graces Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. that thereby they may bee kindled and blown vp to a greater flamme. Enamour him with the loue of thy goodnesse. Powre in the oyle of thy mercie into his bruised heart, which hath beene filled with mournfull grones. And seeing now thou art calling him to repetitions, to see what hee hath profited in thy Schoole, cast into his remem- brance all the good thinges that hitherto hee hath heard, or meditate for to comfort this houre. Bee strong in him now in this time of tryall. Applie vnto his woundes the*jBalme of Gilead. Hee is weake, and therefore, O LORD, forbeare him in thy mercie. O pittie this wounded man, as did that Samaritane. Powre Oyle into his woundes, binde them vp, and take him to thine Inne. For thy mercie' s sake remember him. For thy Sonne's sake pittie him. For thy promise sake forget him not. Free his Soule from the maze of all worldlie cares. Inspire into him the life of grace with a most fresh vigour, and feruent heate of zeale to thy Glorie. Hee, LORD, in his most piercing paines knoweth not what to do, but his eyes are on thee. In thine hands is both Life and Death. Thou bringest to the Graue, and bringest backe againe. In thy great mercie, O LORD, make all his bedde in his sicknesse, make his bedde to bee a Schoole vnto him, where- in hee may not onlie learne the hudgnesse of his own miserie, but also the greatnesse of thy mercie. Let neither Death fright him, nor the Graue grieue him. Let him know that Death is but a sleepe for the friendes of Christ, and the Graue a bedde for the resting of their wearied bones. Let not the weight of mortalitie, beare downe his Spirit from minding the thinges which are aboue. Make him content to quite gladlie all earthlie pleasures and contentments, for to goe and dwell with thee his GOD in immortalitie. Let neither the sweetnesse of the Figge, nor the grapes of the Vine, nor the fatnesse of the Oliue^ hinder his desire to reigne in heauen. Against the feare of death comfort him with hope of the glorious Resurrection. Assure his Soule though his bodie goe to bee eaten of the wormes, that hee in that bodie againe shall see his Redeemer and none other for him. Furnish him with spirituall courage vnto the end. Giue him boldnesse to march without feare thorow the valie 337 Luk.io.3i Ps.41.3. loh. 11.11. i sa . 57. 2. Col. 3. i. P*. 23. 4. 338 THE LAST BATTELL A Sara. '20 20. of death, for to come to thee, yea, to runne, were it thorow Hell, for to come to thee in Heauen. Tell vnto his Soule that his paiiies dismay him not, seeing lis trauaill is to bring foorth eternall life. Let thy lustice- scate trouble him no more, seeing Christ hath payed his debts. Let him not bee afraide to come before the face of lis ludge, seeing the ludge himselfe is his brotfter, who lath both cut and cancelled that handwriting of the Lawe, which no flesh was able to performe. Pittie him, LORD, pittie him, for, loe ! hee is now in thine lands, looking pittifullie vp to thee for thy mercie. Some of thy fetters are yet vpon him, none can loose him but the lands which haue bound him. Pittie, good LOUD, and par- don, set vnto this Soule the seale of thy pardons by the Spi- rit of adoption. Heale and sweetlie close vp the woundes of lis Spirit, by the vertue of thy most blessed Blood. This is our confidence, that thou who hast stricken him is able to heale him, and will also do it, if it bee for thy glorie and his well, if not, Lord, in judgement remember mercie. If it bee his best, that after some dayes* sicknesse hee de- part out of this mortall life, let these paines which hee suffers now bee like lonathan's arrowes, which were not shote for to hurt but to giue warning. Giue him grace, that like an obedient Childe, hee may as well kisse thine hand while it beateth as while it blesseth. If thy decree bee come foorth, that hee must remoue from this World, assure him of a better place, where pleasures are in greater number than the starres. Teach him by thy Spirit, that by death hee shall change a mortall habitation, a dungeon ofdarknesse, a cage of corruptions, for cuerlasting Tabernacles, most heaucnlie sacred Mansions, where con- stant peace and vnmixed joyes remaine. Weane his heart from the loue of all thinges that are vnder the Sunne. Let the beautie and glorie of the Heauens, whereof hee hath heard at length this day, drawe the desires of his heart to abide into that Palace of pleasures, where there is Light icithout Darknesse, Mirth without sadnesse, Health with- out Sicknesse, Wealth without Want, and Beautie without blemish. For the sake of thy deare selfe, seale vp into his Soule the assurance of thy loue, that in all boldnesse, thorow the bleeding bowels of Christe's compassions, hee may come Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 339 Ps. 78. 69. Amos,6 .6. Ps. 132. IS to the Throne of thy grace, and from thence hee may enter into glorie. O LORD, the comfort, the joye, and the glorie of Israel, bee fauourable to thy distressed Sainctes, dispersed vpon the Earth. Thy Church heere below is like a shippe on the sea : though itfloate aloft, it is sore tossed to and froe with winde and with wane. Thou therein seemeth whiles to sleepe. Now, LORD, at last awake, in these boisterous blastes. Master, Master, saue vs,for wee perish ! Awake, O LORD, and re- buke the windes. Alas ! O LORD, thou seemeth now to lowre in thy wrath, by driuing all our petitions from thee, with a darke and cloudie countenance, so that these that trust in thee are cleane dashed out of countenance, while they heare the scornings of the aduersaries, who now waste and hauocke thy Vine. Arise, O LORD, as a man of warre ; Awake, as one out of sleepe, and like a miahtie man that shouteth by reason of Wine. Smite thou all the enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetuall reproach. Take the Cudgell into thine hand, and strike away these Dogges which follow Thee but for crustes. Let vs neuer bee colde or carelesse in the distresse of others, but for to assure vs that wee are all members of one Bodie, giue vs this pledge of mourning with these that mourne. Make vs all to bee grieued for the affliction of Joseph. Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE, with the Spirit of Wis- dome and of Grace ; rescue Him from all dangers, both bodilie and ghostlie. Though Hee bee a Prince among men, yet Hee is thy Subject. Thou who by Grace hast made Him to reigne ouer thy people on earth, at the end of his appointed time, when the dayes of His Reigne shall bee happilie finished, xalt him highlie in the heauens among thy Sainctes and Angels. So long as Hee is heere, let him know that it itandeth Him fast in hand to bee an Homager vnto Thee. Direct him so in all his carriage, that His ivhole life may bee to all His Subjects, an holie patronage of good example. Let him neuer retract or repealc that vow which hee made at His Coronation, for to maintaine the puritie of thy Gospel, and for to bee a louing Father vnto thy people. Clothe his enemies with shame, but rpon Himself e make His Crowne to fiowrish. Blesse his Royall Match. Make Her to striue and 340 THE LAST BATTELL Ps. 51. 6. Ps. 132. 9, Hos. 6. 1 Cant. 3. 6 stretch all the powers of Her Soule by prayer, in searching the sincere knowledge of thy trueth. LORD, in Her care- full search, make Her to say at last with the Spouse, / haue found him whom my Soule loueth, I will not let him goe. Thou, LORD, louest Trueth in the inward parts, and there- fore, so sanctifie Her heart, that Shee may daylie thriue in the power of Godlinesse. Though all outward meanes should faile Her, bee Thou to Her insteede of all meanes, aboundantlie supplying Her with the power and presence of thy Spirit. Leuell, LORD, Her Heart directlie to the loue of Christ and of him crucified, that by a true and liuelie Faith in him, Shee may shine among the Sainctes in Hea- uen, like one who in a great measure hath beene receiued in Grace on earth. Let thy Priestes bee clothed with righte- ousnesse. Blesse all our Nobles, make them truelie noble, not like Ephraim, whose righteousnesse was like the morning dewe. Let them neuer for feede or fauour, slinke or shrinke backe from the puritie of thy Gospel established in this Land. Giue vnto vs all courage for the Trueth, that wee may bee bold to resist euen vnto the blood, not beeing like these, who at the first, in an hote and hastie zeale promise faire with Peter, but anone at the first womanlie temptation, start aside like de- ceitfull bowes. Suffer no sin to goe current with vs without checke. Let vs neuer follow the sway of times, with sewed Cushions vnder our Elbowes. LORD, abide with vs this night. As thou hast drawne the night Curtaine of darknesse vpon the face of the earth, so bee thou a pillar of the cloude betweene vs and our ene- mies. Hide our Soules from Sathan's temptations, as by the cloudie pillar thou hidde the Israelites from the Egyptians. Make vs this night to sleepe softlie and soundlie in thine Armes, that our bodies beeing refreshed with sleepe, may bee the better enabled to-morrow, for to set foorth thy Glorie in the worke of our Vocation. LORD, let these our weake prayers come vp before thee, like Pillars of smoke perfumed with the liuelie sauourofthy Sonne. To whom with thee and the Spirit of Grace, bee end- lesse Glorie and Dominion for euer. Now, Sir, wee haue recommended you to God, who is stretching out the Armes of his mercie, readiefor to re- ceiue your Soule into the bosome of his Loue. Make you Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 341 now readie for him, for in all appearance yee are not farre from the doores of death. Bee vigilant in prayer, lest Sa- than yet put in his leauen into the Spirited dough, and so by sowring it, make it distastefull to the Lord. By a little drop of filth, the pure webbe of the Spirit will become a men- struous cloth. The Sicke Man. The lost sheepe is found. I giue you most heartie thankes for that feruent prayer ; I pray God that it bee heard in the Heauen, as Solomon prayed for these that prayed in the Temple which hee had builded, saying, Then heare thou in Heauen. Lord, graunt that these comfortes and contentments bee not deceiuable feelings and flushings ofjoye. O Lord, let not the Spirit of Grace in this newe birth recoyle, as once Zarah in Thamar's wombe. Seeing God hath furnished mee with a newe spirituall strength, I wish that I could imploy it well, for the short space that I haue to Hue among mortall wights in this region of corruption. Lord, stirre all the streames of mine affections toward thyselfe. Wounde, ward, weaken, and waste, all my delight- full and darling sinnes, that my whole joye may rest on thee. Command and confine all my thoughts to thyselfe, that by Faith my Soule may seaze and lay holde on the merits of Christ, the celestiall Pearles of price. Disburthen my Soule of euerie weight that hangeth so fast on, lest that thereby it should bee swayed away from thee. 1 finde mine heart stirred with a feruent desire to powre out itselfe in prayer before God. I pray you all that sitte by, to joyne your affections with mine into this worke. THE SICKE MAN'S PRAYER FOR HIMSELFE. LORD, the Father of mercies, and GOD of all Conso- lation, bee present in thy great mercie with mee thy vnworthie seruant, into this time of trouble, suffer mee earth and ashes to speake with thy mercie. In the multitude of thy compassions, blotte out my transgressions ; wash mee thorowlie from mine iniquitie, and cleanse mee from my sinnes, whereby the seede of thy grace within mine heart hath beene choaked and starued. Let the depth of thy mercie swallow vp the deepes of my miserie. Bridle my sinnes, and spurre forward thy graces within mee. Set all mine affections on foote, that they may Ps.107.18. lKin.8.34. A Prayer. 342 THE LAST BATTELL Ps. 51. 8. Reu.3.18. Mat.21.22 follow after thee. Put a fairer flamme into rny smoking flaxe> and more strength into this bruised reede, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce. O Lord, with thine eye-salue cleanse and open the eyes of my poore Soule, that I beholding 1 these thinges that are aboue, may gladlie desire to bee dissolued y for to bee there with my Lord and Sauiour. Lord, let thy Spirit carrie still a strong hand ouer mee. Furnish mee with such measure of thy graces, whereby I may patientlie waite vpon thy will. Except that by a speciall fauour thou vpholde mee, I shall neuer bee able to secure my feete in so slipper ie ground. While I haue beene hearing most glorious speaches of the Heauens, the shadowes of earthlie thinges haue ecclipsed my minde like a Moone. O make such shadowes to flie away, that the horizon of my spirituall sight beeing cleared, I may in some measure see the backe parts, whereby my Soule may bee heightened like the face of Moses. Though often I haue beene deafe at thy preachings, bee not thou dumbe at my prayers. O Father of mercies, listen vnto the grones of my drooping Spirit assailed with diuerse temptations. Heare the sighes and crouding of thine own Turtle Doue. O LORD, leade mee into the Land of vprightnesse, and make thy grace to seate itselfe into mine heart. Store my memorie with these good lessons, which I haue heard preach- ed in mine health. Let mee neuer ouer-prize anie good thing that is within myselfe. Though lames and lohn bragged that they were able to drinke of thy cuppe, scarce could they abide to see Thee drinke it. O Lord, make mee euer to vndervalue thy greatest worth, that thorow the valie ofhumilitie, I may come to these euerlasting exaltations. Come LORD, for loe thy seruant commeth. I am will- ing, Lord, helpe my vnwillingnesse. If it bee thy will to loose mee out of this sinfull prison, when I shall leaue this earth to earth, appoint thine Angels to carrie my Soule vnto Abraham^ s bosome, where I may sing with thy Sainctes Halleluiah for euer. Come, Lord, now and seeke thy lost groate, fetch home vpon thy Shoulders this icandering shecpe, and make all the Heauens to rejoyce. Despise not that which in the creation thou didest ennoble with thy like- nesse. Giue mee a war rand and a token, to bee admitted within the Gates of thine euerlasting Tabernacles. Till I come there make my Soule to burnc still in holie feelings. Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 6. day. 343 Lord, heare mee, for the deare sake of thy Sonne, to whom with thee, and the Spirit of Grace, (as it is most due,) wee render all praise, glorie, and dominion, for euer, AMEN. The Pastour. Blessed bee God, Sir, who maketh his Spirit to worke so powerfullie within you. Wee are all greatlie refreshed with your comfortes. It hath beene a great joye to vs all to heare that most sweete and feruent prayer, full of the grones of the Spirit of lesvs. * In you haue wee scene the trueth of that Text, The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for wee know not what wee should pray for as wee ought, but the Spirit itself e maketh intercession for vs with gronings which cannot bee vttered. I am assured that that same Spirit hath made intercession for you, with gronings in that prayer which now yee haue vttered. And againe, while I consider in what weaknesse and faintnesse I found you at the first, 1 wonder at such a vigour of Spirit which I perceiue now to bee into you. * Truelie the word of God is most true, God giueth power to the faint, and to them that haue no might hee increaseth strength. Euen the Youths shall faint and bee wearie, and the young men shall vtterlie fall ; but they that waite vpon the Lord, renewe their strength ; they shall mount vp with winges as Eagles. * Manie in their afflictions either desperatlie rage, or weaklie wale. But God in great mercie hath at last filled you with true Christian courage and comfort in your greatest smart, hee hath listened to all your desires, beeing moued with that sacred Loue, which always burneth in his bosome. * His Grace, like the Northerne Pole, hath giuen you aime and direction whither to bend your course. Now the darknesse of the night beginneth to ouer-cloude the earth. By God's grace I shall returne in the Morning so soone as the birds shall beginne to chirpe at the spring of day. * Because, while the Spirit of man is idle, it weareth and wasteth itselfe away with barren and lumpish melancholic. While yee shall awake, cause reade Scripture vnto you, and particularlie these places : Psalme 27, Psalme 84, Psalme 87, 1 Corinthians, 15 2 Corinthians, 12, Reuelation, 21, Reuela- tion, 22. His Grace bee with you. * Note. Rom.8.26. * Note. Isa.40.2. * Note. * Note. * Note. 344. * Note. THE SEVENTH DAVE'S CONFERENCE. THE SICKE MAN'S LAST WORDES TO HIS PASTOUJt, FRIENDES, WIFE, AND CHILDREN. JJastour. THE Lord blesse you, Sir. According to my promise yester-night, I am come againe earlie. All this night mine heart hath earned to know of your estate. How haue yee passed this night ? The Sicke Man. O the mercie of my God towards mee, that hath moued you to take such paines for mee, an vnwor- thie worme ! By your most holie Sermons yee haue furni- shed, and supplied my minde with store of holie and heauenlie meditations. Yee haue beene both a Paul for to plant mee in the true Faith, and an Apollos for to water mee. Christ the Master builder, by the Finger of his Spirit hath laide the foundation of his Temple within mine heart. Hee hath made choise of you, a skillfull Workeman to aduance the worke, till in mercie at last hee shall roofe his graces in mee with celestiall Glorie. By the word of God yee haue com- forted mee, that is onlie the word of comfort. * Of all other wordes were they neuer so eloquent, I will say with a Father, In a thousand talents of worldlie wordes a man shall hardlie jinde an hundreth pence of spirituatt and hea- uenlie wisdome. This life is like the Haw thorne, more pricking than pleasant. Yee haue rauished my heart with desire of immortalitie aboue. I blesse God, Sir, that euer I saw you. The Pastour. All these good thinges are to bee ascribed to the working of GOD'S Spirit. All the juice and sappe whereby the branches spring and Hue, ensueth and ariseth from the roote of the tree. Wee who are Pastours, are but the Lord's spoutes and cockes of his conduits, whereby Jus graces are conuoycd vnto the hearten of our hearers. If the Spirit of God make not a man's Saluation sure, hcc will A Speach, $c. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 345 incessantlie reele from one doubt to another, from one temp- tation to another, like a drunken man from wall to wall. It is good, therefore, that yee summon your heart and your glorie to giue praise vnto your God. Let not a thought of your heart absent itselfe from this point of seruice. God must not bee serued by halfes. As for mee. I am but the Lord's weake Instrument for your well ; giue God the glorie. The Sicke Man. Blesse the Lord, my Soule, and all that is within mee, blesse his holie Name ! I desire now to come with Dauid, to my last wordes. A SPEACH OF THE SICKE MAN TO HIS PAS TOUR. First of all, I addresse my speach to you, my worthie Pastour. God's mercie in you toward mee hath beene great, for yee haue soundlie vnfolded all the intricate difficulties, wherewith my Soule had beene fearfullie entangled. Yee are one of these that may well say, Wee haue the minde of Christ. God by his Grace haue made you that one of a thousand, you baue I found to bee like lonah the sonne of Amittai, that is, the sonne oftrueth. Happie is that Preacher who is ledde in all trueth I the Majestic of that message ! O the wisdome of these that gaine Soules vnto Christ ! Wisdome hath saide, that hee that winneth Soules is wise. O but my Soule loueth you ! * My loue toward you assureth mee of God's loue to- ward mee, for by this wee knoiv that mee are translated from death to life, because ivec loue the Brethren. 1 loue you, Sir, in the dearest blood I haue, for yee haue beene the good instrument of God for my conuersion, yee, in all my troubles, while mine heart was toucht to the quicke, and my Conscience ransackt to the bottome, haue beene to mee a Barnabas, a sonne of consolations, wherewith as with splents, yee haue bound mine heart. God in great mercie hath giuen vnto you the tongue of the Learned, with lippes touched with a coalefrom his Altar, for the relieuing of iny wounded Conscience with wordes of comfort. O but that is true, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life! By the sword of the Word, yee haue cut the twisted bonds of my greatest temptations, wherein my Soule lay fast fetter- ed. Mine heart hath beene greatlie rejoyced to heare you resoluing all my doubts and difficulties. O how beautifull are the feete of these that bring good ty dings ! Now I finde that of Solomon to bee true, The word of the wise are Ps. 103.1. 1 Cor.2.16 Iob.33.23. lona. 1.1. Prou. 11. 30. * Note. Uoh.3.1'4 Isa. 50. 4. Isa. G. 6. Prou. 15.4 Isa. 52. 7. Eccl. 12. 11. 346 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. Cant. 7. 8 * Note. Isa. 1. 6. * Note. Bernard. * Note. 2 King. 13 21. Cant.8.10 1 Pet. 5. 2 Dan. 12 3 a* goads and as nailes fastened by the Masters of assemblies, which are giuen from one Shepheard. Christ that great Shepheard of the flocke, hath with your wordes, as with goades and nailes, so fastened mee to himselfe, that death it- selfe shall not bee able to seuer vs. * Yee haue wonderfullie restored my sicke Soule with flagons of the most sweete juice of the clusters of wine. Yee haue bound vp my bro- ken joynts with the spirituall splents of diuine comfortes. * O in what woefull plight, O in what seas of gall was I plunged when yee came first vnto mee! there was nothing sound into my Soule ; all was full of botches, boiles, and putrifying sores. But yee like a cunning Surgeon in cur- ing tumours, haue brought the matter to an head, and at last with great skill yee haue launced the boiles of my corruptions, whereof now God in mercie hath made mee free. I tremble to remember these fearefull temptations wherewith yee found mee at the first beset and besieged. * These were indeede such temptations as Bernard called, Terribilia dejide, horribilia de divinitate. * Sathan hath assaulted mee both in a blacke shape and into an Angel of light. By your sweete comfortes my Soule hath beene reuiued, like that dead man that lined by touching the bones of Elisha. Yee haue fed my Soule with the doc- trine of your breasts bigge as Towers. Yee haue strength- ened and sinewed my weake Soule with comfortable wordes, wouen and wrought out of a feeling heart by the strength of holie meditations. And now happie are yee who hauebeene the instrument of my conuersion. I hope to bee one day, one of these that shall stand at your backe, when yee shall say to your Master, Christ, Be- holde, heere 1 am, and the children that God hath giuen mee. Account mee, Sir, one of these Talents that yee haue gained with the Talent of your gift. Your wordes haue stricken home vnto mine heart, with powerfull and particular applications of comfortes, whereby my disaffected Soule hath beene wooed and wone, vnto the loue of my Sauiour lesvs. Account mee therefore a seale of your Ministerie. Yee know better than I, what God hath promised to these that with a readie minde, shall conuert a sinner from his euill wayes, such (as God himselfe hath promised,) shall bee like the starres in the firmament for euer. From your lippes is come the sweetest balme that euer dropped from the pennc his Pastour. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 347 of God vpon the leaues of the Booke of life. Blessed bee my God, who by his good Spirit into your mouth hath breathed most sweete comfortes into my Soule. * Woe to all Doctours of despaire ! Blessed bee your lippes, wherein God hath placed the presentation of knowledge. Your tongue to mee hath beene like a siluer watch bell, to rouse and waken vp the gifts of God within my Soule. God by his wordes in your mouth, declaring vnto man his righteous- nesse, hath blown vp his Graces which were weake into mine heart like a smoking flaxe, or a sparkle of fire vnder greene wood. Blessed bee my God, who by your diuine instructions hath made mee to bee acquainted with himselfe. Your com- fortes hath beene cordials and lenitifes, to the ranking and festered sores of my Soule. To God bee glorie, who hath made you most cunning of that great Arte of sauing sinners. O my deare Pastour, by the refreshing Balme of your consolations yee haue infinitlie indeered my Soule to you, God's one of a thousand. * I am assured that God hath made you faithfull with leremie, for to takefoorth the pre- cious from the vile. Now my God, with whom I thinke to bee shortlie, bee with you in your Ministerie, and make you his faithfull ser- uant vnto death, that yee may bee a worthie wooer for Christ, for to bring home manie straggling sinners vnto him, the blessed Bridegroome of our Soules. Farewell now, my faithfull Pastour. My Soule now is glad to flitte from this house of clay. * As for my bodie it must goe to the graue, where for a space it shall bee confined but not confounded, for I looke assuredlie for the day of the Resurrection. Lord, seale vp in my Conscience the discharge of all my sinnes, that I may gladlie lay downe this Tabernacle. The Pastour. Mine heart rejoyceth with an exceeding great joye, to reape such fruites of my labours. But this know, that what good yee haue by mee, it is not from mee, but from him that sent mee. * It is God that giueth life and Soule vnto the Word that is powerfull to Saluation. Paul may plant, and Apottos may water, but it is God who giueth the increase. * The best of all Preachers, are but like lohn the Baptist, the voyce of a Cryer, who could not make all the crooked straight, nor the rough plaine. Ifanie good bee conuoyed vnto your Soule by mee, I am * Note. Mai. 2. 7. Iob,33.23. Isa.42.3. Iob,33.23. * Note. Ier.15.19. A Prayer. * Note. A Prayer. * Note. Rom. 1. 16. I Cor. 3.7. * Note. Luk. 3. 4. SkS THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 Pet. 4. 19 * Note. * Note. * Note. but the Instrument or Channell wherethorow the Spirit of lesvs hath made his graces to flow vnto you. To him alone belongeth the glorie and the thankes. * It is not humane eloquence which conuerteth Soules. One word quickened and enliued with his Spirit, is more fruitfull than all the glo- rious eare-pleasing pompe of man's wordes, which like Agrippa and Bernice, are full ofphantasie. All the good that man can do, either by word or worke, is like the honie in the combe, gathered out of manie flowers. But the euill is like the Spider's webbe, drawne out of our own bowels. The griefes of your heart, Sir, haue beene verie great, but now yee are mercifullie comforted. * Manie in this world plod on from sin to sin, marching mirrilie and fearelesslie to- wards the plagues of Hell. But O, how much are yee be- holden vnto your GOD, who in all your wearisome mazes, hath supported and sine wed your Soule by his sauing Grace! Because, Sir, there bee heere diuerse of your Friendes and other acquaintance, vnto whom it may bee yee would de- sire to speake. I giue place to them that now they may learne something of you. * The last wordes of a godlie man, are verie forcible vnto the lining. And therefore, Sir, while yee haue breath, spende your short time vpon this, that by your good counsell, yee may do good to these that are for to liue after you. That once done, commit your Soule to God as afaithfull Creator. Hee himselfehath saide, I will not leaue thee, neither will I forsake thee. A SPEACH OF THE SICKE MAN TO HIS FRIENDES. And now yee, my trustie Friendes, whose age God hath crowned with ripenesseof judgement, I turne myselfe to you. But first of all, let mee speake vnto you my spirituall and speciall Friend, who in my deepest plunge, while I was fast sticking into the myrie clay, did vpholde mee with your comfortes. * Your counsell to sende for my Pastour hath prouen a speciall salue for my sore. God by that man of whom yee spake hath now healed my Soule of all its harmes. O blessed bee that vnspeakable mercie of my God ! * Though Sathan hath bereaued mee of my puritie, hee could not bereaue my God of his pittie. * The Lord of light hath brought my Soule out of that long and loathsome night, which is in the valie of the shadow of death, in comparison whereof the most palpable darknesse of Egypt, might haue beene esteemed to bee day. O that pleasant Sunneshine wherewith his Friendes. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- 349 my Soule is now inlightned ! my God, breathe more and more into my Soule the life of grace. The Spiritual!, Friend. Glorie bee to God for his won- derfull mercie towardes you ! The Lord now set your Soule on wing, that swiftlie, like an Eagle, it may flie vp to its God. * Manie a sore assault haue yee suffered since I spake with you at the first; Sathan and his temptations, with the world, and the corruptions of Nature, had gathered them- selues against you like Gebal, A.mon, and Amaleck, against Israel. Of them may yee well say now, They compassed mee about like Bees, they are quenched as thejire ofthornes. To Sathan may yee now say, Thou hast thrust sore at mee that I might fall, but the Lord hath helped mee. When I met with you first, yee were compassed with a chaine of calamities, one linked into another. * To mee yee appeared to bee hanging ouer Hell, by the slender twined threed of a lifelesse hope. Yee were plunged deeper downe than lonah was, when hee went downe to the bottome of the mountaines, where the weedes were wrapt about his head. Now let your Soule say with lonah, I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thanksgiuing, I will pay that, that I haue vowed ; saluation is of the Lord. The Sicke Man. Blesse the Lord, my Soule, and all that is within mee, blesse his holie Name. Blesse the Lord, my Soule, and forget not all his benefits. Fare- well, my trustie Friend. Now as for you, mine other friendes, I turne myselfe to you. * Hee that is conuerted with Peter, should labour for the conuersion of others. Hee whose weaknesse the Lord hath helped, should strengthen his brethren. It is now time to take our last good night. Heere in your presence, I say Farewell, world, wherein I haue liued, which I haue too much loued. Learne yee in time to set your affections vpon God. None of you can tell if God shall giue you such leasure to repent, as hee hath granted vnto mee. * If yee forsake not in time the sweete pleasures of your shines, feare lest at last that, that bee found true which ^4bner said to loab, Knowest thou not that it will bee bitternesse in the latter end ? * There is no sin so sweete to man in his life, but before his death it shall bee dissweetned, and turned into gall and worme woode within the bellie of the Conscience. A. Prayer. A. Prayer. * Note. 's.l 18.12. * Note. lona. 2. 9 Ps. 103. 1 * Note. Luk.22.3:: * Note. 2Sam.2.2( * Note. THE LAST BATTELL A SpeacK to * Note. * Note. Eccl. ll.C .uk.16.2 * Note. ..uk. 12.22 * Note. am. 2. 23 * Note. * Note. I speake by experience, as one who hath knowne the ter- rours of the Lord. * O my deare friendes, looke ouer your shoulder, backe to your bygone life, and consider how grieue( yee shall bee for the sinnes of your pleasures, when yee shal bee warded into your death-beddes, readie to compeare before the great ludge of the world. As yee see mee this day, so shall others see you ere it bee long. 1 haue often beene glac among you. Yee see now by mee what it is of all wordlie joye. * With a little blast of sicknesse, such comfort like chaffe are chassed away. Your time is fast comming, your Glasse is running; my sicknesse cryeth vnto you, Learne of the estate of this your old Friend, to make yourselues readie for another tvorlde. To mee to-day, to you to-morrow. Where the treefalleth, there shall it lye. Whither the Glut- ton and the Begger are gone, thither must wee all ; that is, either to Abraham* 's bosome, or to the Deuill's dungeon. * The death of one, is like a Purseuant^ charging all others to bee readie to flitte and remoue. Happie, yea, thrise happie is that man, who in these strange- lie prophane and desperate dayes is not dulde with securitie. Blessed is hee who is forewarned ; striue to bee forewarned. Blessed is that man who is euer upon his watch, hauing lis loines girded, and his Candle in his hand, waiting for the comming of his Lord. Adewe, my louing Friendes. * Seeke n time the friendship of your God. Striue to bee worthie that stile of Abraham that was called, The friend of God. O my deare Friendes, let mee now tell you what the Lord lath done to my Soule. * Hee hath at last beene sensiblie gracious to my poore Soule, which Sathan hath long hunted p and downe, like a Patridge on the mountaines. The Deuill like a dogged Doeg, hath sought to sucke out the heart Jood of this trembling Turtle. Blessed bee the Lord for uer, who hath disappointed him. The Pastour. I feare, Sir, that long speach trouble you. Your affection carrieth you aboue your strength. Contract our speach in as few wordes as yee can. What counsell vill you giue to your Spouse heere ? It is good that shee icare your directions ; for I see that God's Spirit is mightie n you. The Sicke Man. If anie naturall man were heere for o heare mee, hee might vvillinglie thinke that I were Pierbosus, a man of manie wordes. * But, alas ! that I haue his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 351 spoken so few of this sort. From Morning vntill Euening, my tongue in health, like the penne of a readie writer, was swift to speake of too manie thinges, whereof now I repent from the bottoms of mine heart. If Nature bee so windie in vaine pratling, should grace want wordes in that which may bee profitable to the hearers ! I care not what carnall men thinke for my manie wordes. * I am shortlie for to compeare before him, before whom man's improbation, or approbation, is of little weight or worth. My strength so long as I can speake, shall bee spended into that which may do good to these whom I shall leaue behinde. * I shall do what I can, both feelinglie and faithfullie, to warne others tojliefrom the wrath to come. Bee not offended, I pray you, Sir, if I bee free with you. The last motions of God's Spirit in this mortall life would bee verie charitablie thought of. I pray you, Sir, to pardon mine hastie and cankered Nature, if I haue spoken anie thing amisse, whereat yee may take exception. The Pastour. The Lord blesse you, Sir. Praised bee his Name, who hath touched your lippes with a Hue coale taken with a tonges from off his Altar. The Lord is with you ; speake so long or so little as yee please. Glad am I to heare the motions of that Spirit of Grace which is lodged into your heart. Heere is your Spouse, Sir. Let her heare your last di- rections. THE SICKE MAN'S SPEACH TO HIS SPOUSE. As for thee, my Spouse, now shortlie thou art for to bee a Widow. I counsell thee that, first of all, thou marrie thy selfe to Christ ; let him bee thy spirituatt Spouse. * As for other marriage, the word concerning widowes is plaine. It is good for them that they abide so. But if they cannot containe, let them marrie, for it is better to marrie than to burne. * No marriage, as thou seest, is directlie ap- pointed for Widowes, but for these that cannot containe. Otherwise the Apostles wordes are true. It is good for them that they abide so. * If so bee that thou marrie, plant not a Thorne where a Vine should growe. Dishonour not the first beclde, and preferre not purse nor portion to the worth of the person. If GOD call thee to marriage, see that thou call GOD to thy marriage, if Christ bee at thy marriage, that is, if thou marrie in Christ, thy water shall bee turned into * Note. * Note. Luk. 3. 7. Isa. 6. C. * Note. I Cor. 7. 8. * Note. * Note. 352 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. Ioh.2. 11. Mar. 13.33 Eccl. 10.1. * Note. Gen.30.38 Verse 38. * Note. loh.-k 27. * Note. wine, which was Christe's first miracle. * The water of wearinesse, of trouble, and of 'sorrow, which thou hast drunke with mee, shall bee turned into wine of joy e, yladiiesse, peace, and prosperitie. But if thou marrie not in Christ, hut make thy choise by thy sight, and not by sighes to God in prayer, then shall thy wine bee turned into water. God shall mani- fest a newe miracle vpon thee to the worse, that is, all the prosperitie, peace, and contentment, thou had with mee, shall bee changed in miserie, pinch, and pouertie, and ma- nie a woe is mee ! Then had thou neuer such a cause to put on thy doole weedes, as when thou shall put it off. Take good heede to thyselfe. Now is the last age of the world, this life is full of dangers. Sathan hath laide more snaires on earth, than there bee starres in heauen. Remember well this watch- word, Watch and pray, hau- ing euer thine eye vpon thy God. Keepe thyselfe from all appearance of euill. A flee great of wickednesse will cause all thy perfume to stinke. * Sin is like a Riuer, which at the source is but small. A scandell is like a scab that be- ginneth with itching, but endeth into blisters, boiles, and putrifyiny sores. Take good heede to thy carriage and to thy companie ; euill company, vaine communication, and rot- ten wordes, will worke vpon the conceptions of the minde, like lacob's pilled rods, set in the gutters and watering trouyhes before theflockes. The flockes which conceiued before the rods, brought foorth Cattell riny-stroaked, spekled, and spotted. In euill companie at the hearing of vaine, idle, or rotten wordes, what can the heart of man or woman con- ceiue, but that, which after it is brought foorth shall appeare both spekled and spotted ? An euill thought is a sin which besides its own particular sting, is able to trouble sore the Conscience, by awaking the olde sinnes of our vnreyenera- tion. Let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee. * Haunt neuer the man whose name is pitched with a blacke report. It is hard to touch pitch and not to bee defiled. It is not good for men were they neuer so good, to bee haunters of women. Christe's Disciples wondered that hee spake vnto a woman apart, a great argument that Christ was neuer with that Sexe but in companie. It is no better for women to haunt the companie of men. Fire andflaxe are easilie kindled, the least sparkle of fire will kindle Tinder. * Good out- his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day 353 1 Cor. 20 12. *Note. Pet. 3. 2. * Note. "ant.2.15. ward meanes are helpful to inward motions, the mothers oj our actions. Some I know will say, that they feare none euill, anc that they are cleane of all such pollutions. If it bee so, it is a benefit of God. But yet learne the lesson, Caute et caste. None stand so well but they haue to take heede lest they fall. * Were thou neuer so holie, thou hast neede to say the Lord's prayer, whereof, Lead vs not into temptation, is a petition. Enter neuer into that, whereinto thou desireth not to bee ledde. None at the first dash bee brought to the hight of corruption. S. Peter willeth that women's chaste conuersation bee coupled with feare. Feare always if thou bee wise. Hee or shee that would auoid a sin, must shune the occasion. * The least shewes or appearances of euill are these little Foxes that spoile the vines. How little eauen will sowre the whole lumpe ! What is the best of all sinfull flesh, but like Gun powder. A sparkle of tempta- tion may kindle in a moment, that which in our whole life- time, wee shall not bee able to quench with manie teares, no more than Esau could recouer the blessing, which after it was solde, hee sought with manie teares. That which wee may bee tempted to, wee may fall into. Let all flesh sus- pect its own frail tie. Scorners may speake as they please, )ut daylie doolefull experience will subscribe the trueth of my wordes. * In this last age. alas ! manie godlie persons, in appear- ance, like shooting starres, fall down in diuerse places, with heir blazing profession from Heauen vnto Earth, a most sure token of a tempest to come. * Too manie, alas ! shame good- nesse by seeming good, like Frogges infrockes. Vice in the labit of Vertue. While inwardlie the heart is rotten, now or then corruption must burst out into scab and scandale. Manie with their faire profession, are like Rowers in a boat, who looke one way but goe the cleane contrarie. For this ;ause I intreat thee to studie the substance of godlinesse, and lot to bee like these whose chiefest care is spended vpon ihewes. S. Paul speaking of the life of the godlie, saith, hat it is hidde with Christ in God. * It is so hidde there, , that none shall bee able to finde it, for to steale it away, or to take it by force, but not so hidde but that it must also appear e in all the effects of godlinesse. * Note. Vidcra vo- mtia. * Note. !ol. 3. 3. 354 THE LAST BATTELL * Note. Ez. 37. 9 * Note. loh.13.18 * Note. * Note. 1 King. 17 12. * Note. * When God commanded Ezekiel to preach vnto the drye bones, that they might Hue, hee ordained for him this Text, Thus saith the Lord God, Gome from thefoure windes, O breathy and breathe vpon these slaine, that they may Hue. For to applie this, where there is a life after slaughter, I speake of a spirituall life, a life hidde in God, there must appeare foure effects from the foure windes. From the East, the Orient of that life, there must bee an arising from sin. From the West, there must bee a dying to sin, euen a setting and going downe of wickednesse. From the South, must come the heate of zeale moisted with showers of tear es of true repentance. At last from the North, must come a chill colde of trembling feare to offend God, whereby wee make an end, or worke out the worke of our Saluation with feare and trembling. These bee the foure parts of godli- nesse, wherein all Christian Soules must bee carefullie exer- cised. In this is the substance of true godlinesse, It is better to bee starke naught, than to double our sinnes by seeming good. It is easie to juggle the outward eye of flesh, but that inward Eye which seeth our thoughts afarre off, nothing shall escape. There is not a Crowne of life for carnatt liners. Hearken vnto mee, mine heart. Bee busie in prayer, joyne fasting therevnto, lest that the high feeding of the flesh make the bodie to kicke against the Soule, which is too farre in loue with the bodie. * Of a pampered bodie may the Soule often say in some measure, as Christ saide of ludas, Hee who hath eaten bread at my table, hath lift his heele against mee. * All fleshlie pleasures are both vaine and vile, they are like blisters, which beginne with itching, but end in swelling sores. Beware of such succred poyson. * My counsell is, that often thou reade the holie Scriptures, and particularlie the thirtie one Chapter of the Prouerbs, where thrift and godlinesse are joyned together. Bee care- full and painefull in thy manage. Thinke surelie that Idle- nesse is the mother of all mischiefe. Seeke God's grace both earnestlie and earlie. A little with God's blessing is a rich heritage. An handfull ofmeale and a little ogle in a cruse, was sufficient for the Prophet and the JJ r idow of Sarepta, till the famine was past. That blessed handfull was better, than the best prouided Barne or Girnell in the Land. * The grace of God is an heritage of greatest and his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 355 unrest rent. Vnsanctified prosperitie is but a seeming Sunneshine which vnauoidablie must perish. Blessed is the woman who with Marie in some measure is receiued in Grace. Take good heede to thine heart, watch well ouer thy thoughts ; though thoughts bee called light, the sin of thought is heauie. From the inward thoughts spring and sprout all outward mischiefes. As for thine outward carriage, meddle not in other men's matters. * Curious searchers of the life of others are often carelesse correctors of their own. Manie neglecting the hudge beame in their own eye, must needes bee tampering with the little motes that are in others. A slicked tongue and a slacke hand keepe other companie. An idle woman must bee a prattler ; when the hand cannot practise, the tongue must prattle. To such it is scorne to preach, that for euerie idle word wee must all bee answerable. My deare Spouse, 1 must tell thee all that I thinke con- cerning thy well, for I desire thy Soule to bee knitte with mine into the bundle of life. Take good heede to thyselfe, these who in this world haue a name to Hue, haue great neede to rule well their life. The nearer a bodie bee to a lighted Candle, the greater is the shadow thereof, so the nearer the bodie of sin bee to one that is inlightened, the greater is the scandale thereof. * Put the breadth of thy finger hard neare to the Candle, and it shall make a shadow greater then all your bodie ; but the farder it bee remoued the lesse it will appeare. Remember, I pray thee, how neare thou art to the Candle of a bright and glorious profession, a little Mote of euill will bee called a mountaine in thee, be- cause thou was my wife, and because wee haue liued with good report. " The wicked are most faine to take the God- lie, but tripping in a lesser fault, of their infirmities they make bucklers for the defence of their maliciousnesse. Vse my counsell for feare of scandale, and for to flee all appearance of euill, Hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh. Watch well ouer thyselfe both alone and in companie. Striue neuer to seeme to bee that which thou art not indeede. * Manie haue much more than they shewe ; but moe shewe much more than they haue. The Religion of the greatest part, for all their pretences, is but a smoke, a shadow, a blast, or a sound. * Substance without appearance, is better than Luk.l. 28. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 356 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ezek.2.16 lam. 2. 20 * Note. Prou. 25. 25. * Note. * Note. Luk. 10.41 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. appearance without substance. * The Soule which hath but a forme of godlinesse is most deformed in God's sight. Ordinarlie shee who is mo&tfarded is mostjilthie. * Vices are most vile, when they are shrouded and ouer-cast with a countenance of Vertue ; a wizard of pietie maketh one a monster in God's eyes. * There is no such villanie as that which is varnished ouer with colours of godlinesse. Sinners may cloake sin and couer it for a space, but they cannot stand long, for wickednesse shall bee broken as a tree. Let therefore thy Faith within appeare in thy life without. * All the Faithfull should bee like the rule of that JSooke, which Ezekiel saw in a vision, which was written within and without. If there bee no Letters of life written with- out, there is no lining Faith within, but a dead carion of Faith, for Faith without workes is dead. For this cause flee faefoggie lithernesse of the flesh, and striue for the fruites of Faith. * Aboue all, bee earnest in prayer, the preseruer of honestie. Heare God's word with reuerence, as good newesfrom afarre Countrie. Let this word bee a straight rule to direct thee in all the carriage of thy life ; let no worldlie businesse with-drawe thee from it while it is preach- ed. * These who eate their bread with greatest sweate, eate not the sweetest bread. It is not earlie rising, nor late going to bedde, that enricheth. * Though for a time Martha's toyling and troubling her selfe about manie thinges, seeme to bring much profile, it shall bee scene at last, that it is the grace of God that enricheth. * This is most certaine, the surest fastning in this world is but loosnesse without God, in whom alone is the certain- tie of that which shall neuer perish. * In all thine affaires, in all companies, remember that in the secrete closets of thine heart, thou haue frequent ejacula- tions vnto thy God, that hee may guide and garde thee while thou shalt encounter with temptations : hardlie shall shee bee caught that feareth the snare. Sathan with his baites and lures is euer waiting for to catch his prey. * Hee hath three great gunnes, three great impoysoners, whereby hee wasteth the graces and good names of manie, viz. the lust ofthejlesh^ the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. It shall bee thy best to arme thy selfe against these three, by holding con- tinuallie a wakening and jealous eye oucr thy whole CQJI- uersation. * If the euill thought bee stiffled so soone as it his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 357 beginneth to stirre into the heart, it shall neuer bee able to produce an euill action into the hand. For this cause wise Solomon gaue a precept which I may call a spirituatt Cor- diall, which is, that aboue all watch and ward men and women should keepe their heartes. * Manie with Hypocrites may seeme to haue their hands in heauen, by giuing almes with the Pharisee, while indeede their proude, loftie, and faithless heartes are in Hell. God looketh not so much to the outward action as to the inward affection. * The Lord cannot away with the painted super- ficial flowrishes of holinesse of these that are false hearted and meerlie formall. The Israelite, indeede, in whose heart is no guile, is the Lord's delight. Studie therefore, I entreat thee, to the puritie and power of godlinesse. Bee carefull to write all these heart precepts vpon the palmes of thine hands, lest that vnawares thou bee woefullie caught and ensnared in some scandalous sin, whereby thou shalt shame thy pro- fession. All mortall feete are feeble and stand in a sliperie ground. O what danger is in giuing way to our first sinfull motions ! while sin is least feared it is most to bee feared. Sathan is most dangerous while hee is transformed into an Angel of light. Poyson confected with Sucre is most pierc- ing and deadlie. Smiling loabs are most cunning in smiting ; faire alluring and tickling temptations oftest preuaile. * Ma- nie are like the Larke, which, while it playeth ivith the feather, and stoopeth to the glasse, is suddenlie enwrapted in the Fowler's net. There is nothing more dangerous than securitie. While Peter thought himselfe stronger than all men, Sathan was hatching three abominations in his heart, which at last brake out, first in lyes and then in perjurie. Stand in awe and sin not. One sin draweth on another like linkes in a chaine. Wee haue sinned, wee will go vp ; that is, wee haue sinned, wee will sin. Keepe euer GOD in thy sight, and bee humble. Bee carefull in all thy carriage to Hue in good example. Allow not thy selfe in that which is euill ; flee the folies of this age, which is wonderfullie giuen to newe guises of decking the bodie : most women's hearts are sowred with this leauen. * Let spirituall joyes bee thy jewels, and the good workes of thine hands, let them bee the gold ringes of thy fingers, the matter of thy pleasures. There is nothing more pleasant than to do well. * For this cause good workes are in that Song Prou.4.23 * Note. Luk.18.12 * Note. Fob. I. 47. 2 Cor. 11. 14. * Note. Dent. 1.41 * Note. * Note. Cant. 6. 1. 358 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. * Note. Mat 11.8 * Note. * Note. I Pet. 1.1 8. * Note. * Note. * Note. of Sony s called, & gathering of Lillies ta&jlowrishing ofth Joint's. Shee who is too curious of the outward decking 1 oi the Backe, cannot bee carefull of the inward trimming of the heart. * Fard and foolish vaine fashions of apperall, are bat Bawds of allurement to vncleannesse. * Away with these dyed Dames, whose beautie is in their Boxe ! Such dawb- ings are soone washed off from these painted lezabels ; such melting faces are not meete for marterdoome, for the cause of lesvs : vnder such false faces is no lodging for true and honest heartes. In all thinges striue thou to bee sober. * Beware to out- runne thy ranke, or to out-weare the fashions, by attyring thy selfe too gorgeouslie. Soft apperall is but for Kinyes houses. What are such Cuts and Cordons, Silkes and Satins, and ether such superfluous vanities, wherewith manie aboue their ranke and place are so disguised, but infallible tokens of an vnsanctified heart ? * With such folies often are joyned libertine eyes and wandering in wanton glances. Let my counsell please thee, Idol not thy bodie with these who har- bour in their bosome the snaike of pride. * Let thy chiefe care bee to decke the hidden man of the heart. A meeke and humble Soule is a great ornament in God's eyes. Thi is Scripture, The ornament of a meeke and quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God. Shee whose heart is truelie godlie, will bee most carefull to put on that which most will please the Lord's eye. Consider well what I say ; follow not the fickle fancies of vaine women, whose mindes are like the Moone, in a continuall change ; but rather bee a Scholler of these whose wisdome is constantlie contrarie to all newe fangled folies. * Too curious busking is the mother of lusting lookes, the luy-Bushe hung out for to inueiyle vnsanctijied heartes vntofolie. * What are these finest silkes, the fairest feathers of our stride, what are they but wormed worke and moathes* meate? Striue for the power of mortifying grace. While the flesh is ustie and at full sea, the Spirit is at vnder, euen at a low ebbe. The pampering pride of life is the bane and poyson of spiri- tual! graces : beware of it. It is an high treason against the Most High, it is a sin which first lifteth vp, and after bring- eth downe with a shamefull fall, that which it hath once lii't- d vp. * The heart of man is like the shell fish, which pride, as an his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, c. 7- day. 359 Eagle, taketh vp into the aire, but while it is come to a great hight, it anone letteth it fall vpon the rockes of shame and disgrace ; where, after that it hath dashed it in pieces, it greedilie deuoureth it. * Hee who in Heauen could not dwell with Pride, will neuer on Earth harbour in that heart where- in it lodgeth. Outward counterfeit humilitie may for a time juggle the eyes of the beholders, such a varnished pride is a double abomination. O how detestable vnto God are these who beeing vainlie puft vp in their fleshlie minde, haue no lodging for humilitie, but into their mouths ! And yet who can haue patience to giue eare, shall at last heare a Sibboleth, some swelling word, which by the accent, shall giue notice, that they are not such as they say. * Certainlie Humilitie is one of the fairest flowers in the whole garland of spirituall vertues. Whereas Pride a spirituall tympanic bloweth vp the heart, and maketh the Arteries to swell with vncleane spirites, Humilitie temper- eth the blood, and quieteth the Spirit with such a calm- nesse, as that wherein the Lord appear eth to Elijah. Some, if they bee not PFhoores or Theefes, they thinke that they cannot faile, and yet in one sin are all sinnes, for who faile in one, faile in all. * That which God saide by his Prophet is notable, If a man beget a sonne that is a Theefe or a Murtherer, or that docth anie one of these thinges. Obserue the wordes, Anie one, though hee do all these thinges, Shall hee Hue ? hee shall not Hue ; hee hath done all these abominations. See how hee who hath done but anie one, is heere also saide to haue done all these abo- minations. See how all sinnes by a little bore creepe in with a deceitfull pace. If one poysonfull herbe bee in the Potte, death is there. What shall I say more of Humilitie, the rarest vertue in women ? This I will say, The lowliest heart is euer in highest in God's account, it euer hath the best share of his fauours. * As streames of waters runne to the low valies, so do the graces of God flowe to the humble Soules. Shame and confusion of face is the ordinarie end of all the puffes of pride, and of all vnlawfu.ll daliance. This sentence neuer lighted false, Pride must get a fall. This is Scripture, Though the Lord bee high, yet hath hee respect vnto the lowlie, but the proude hee knoweth a far re off. Bee constant in all thy wayes. Striue to keepe peace * Note. Col. 2. 18. * Note. 1 Kin. 19. 12. * Note. Ez. 18.10. Verse 13. * Note. Ps. 133. G. 360 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. 1 Kin. 21. 27. Exod.8.19 * Note. * Note. Amos,3.6 * Note. A Prayer with thy neighbours. * For this end set a. porter at thine eare, for to holde out false reports : an open eare and a loose tongue, are two deadlie foes to all sacred friendship. Where such are, triffles are taken for trueth. After that a matter is thorowlie sifted, most men's reports are found to bee but babbling. * Let the true feare of God harbour in thine heart continu- allie. The feruent zeale of manie is agueish like feuers which come and goe by fits and starts. .Ahab could crouch when hee heard that the Dogges should licke his blood. Till Pharaoh's sorcerers were fearfullie plagued, none of them could pronounce, This is the finger of God. Bee not like the wicked who neuer feare God, but when hee is in a tem- pest. Fooles are so stiffe and steelie that for God they will not stir an inch, till his judgement cause them to stagger. Striue to Hue by precept and not by example. Manie thinke themselues to bee well, because they are not so euill as manie others. * In this they are like the Drapers who ue luster to a Karsey by laying it to a Ruyge. The deeper damnation of some in the poole and puddle of perdition, shall bee a verie small comfort for these that are in the shallow foordes ofthejloodes of fire, kindled with the brim-stone beames of euerlasting burnings. * The fore skinne of an vncircumcised heart is so thicke and brawnie, that no pre- cepts can pierce through it, till the Spirit himselfe make a way. Oh then, seeing wee are all a broode of corrupt loynes, t standeth thee in hand to bee earnest with that Spirit of jrrace, that hee would teach thee to" keepe watch and ward ouer all thy wayes. * If anie creature offend thee, bite not at the stone, but ift vp thine eyes to God. None euill is in the Citie, but l hat which hee hath done. At diuine seruice bee not chill nor colde. Bee feruent in ;hy prayers, while thou speakest to God with thy mouth, suffer not thine heart to wander vpon toyes. It is more difficile o pray than to preach ; wicked men may preach, but they cannot pray, God hath branded them with this blot, they call not vpon God. * The Lord put into thine heart the juice and sappe of his Grace. My Spirit is so wearied that I am not able to expresse my minde. his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 361 The Pastour. The Psalmest saide well, The Lord will perfect that which concerneth mee. Hee who hath begunne n you his graces, shall perfect that which concerneth you, yea, and shall make his grace to bee made perfect in your weaknesse. The Sicke Man. O my Lord, leade mee in the land of vprightnesse. O God, with thee is the Fountaine of life. In thy Light wee shall see light. Reuiue mine heart, O Lord, with some newe supplie of strength from aboue. Let the wordes of my mouth and the meditations of mine heart, bee acceptable in thy sight, Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Aboue all thinges, my louing Spouse, beware of euill com- panie, the corruption of good manners ; andfueZZ offolie. It is good to vse companie as Moses did his Rod : so long as it remained a Rod hee remained with it, but so soone as it aecame a serpent, incontinent, hee fledde from before it. Bee not like these most vile persons, who for to varnish their appearances of euill with alledging innocencie, say, that they care not what men say of them, and that they cannot hinder men to speake. Away with such wordes ! such vaine prat- lings cannot secure the Conscience, neither content the scan- dalized beholders of euill appearances. If thou do not euill, do not euill like. Bee not altogether carelesse what others ay of thee, but in all securitie of life, striue for a good name, which is better than precious oyntment. There is no such folie as folie practised with profession of wisdome. Hypo- crites may warilie watch ouer their wordes and outward ac- tions, but none but Nathaneels haue heartes without guile. Consider well, I pray thee, that wee are now come to the dregges of dayes, and extremities of time, and also to the extremities of sin : for auoiding of the sands, wee rush vpon the rockes. Wee Hue in the last and most corrupt age wherein the verie confluence of all the corruptions of former ages haue made their Randie-vowes. So, (as all may see,) it is vtterlie impossible, except the Lord worke wonders, that anie keepe themselues so passinglie pure from all spice of contagion, but some one infection or other shall sticke vnto them, vnto God's dishonour, and their own disgrace. O how manie rubs are in the way to life eternall ! My best beloued, let such instructions sinke deeplie downe into thine [heart, that thou bee not like Hypocrites, who are more thought- Cor.12.9 A Prayer. 's.143.10. Ps. 36. 9. 's. 19.14. * Note. Exod.4.3. Ioh.l. 47 362 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. Prou.7.11 Verse 12 Gen. 49.7 Gen. 34.1 * Note. lam. 3. G. full for plausible conueiances and outward plastering appear- ances, than for anie substance of godliuesse. Bee trulie god- lie, and not prophane, like these who say what the Prophets will, must into the house of Rimmon, one thing or other must they do, wherein God must bee mercifuli vnto them. * As for thee, bee a Church-wife and also an House-wife, It is not seemelie for women to bee gading heere and there : shee is most happie who in this sinfull time is least knowne of the world, so that shee truelie striue to know God and herselfe. Wise Solomon who in his wisdome excelleth all, as also in number of wiues, spake by experience, that wan- dering Women were not chaste : by this speciall marke hee brandeth the whoore, that her feete abide not in her house, but now shee is without, and now in the streetes. By So- lomons record, shee that gadeth abroad cannot bee well thought of. With Wisdome shee hath cracked her credit. If Dinah had tarried at home while shee went abroad, shee had not beene deflowred, which was the cause of great blood- shed, which made her brethren Simeon and Leui afterward to bee diuided in lacob, and dispersed in Israel. The occa- sion of all that euill was from the vanitie of the Damosell: her folie is registered in God's Chronicles for all Ages to come, that women chieflie may reade it, and bee wise by her example. The wordes are these. And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which shee bare vnto lacob, went out to see the daughters of the Land. Remember well I pray thee, these few precepts. Bee carefull and sincere at the seruice of thy God. Serue him not by halfes. * Hee who is onlie holie, must bee serued wholie. Take good heede to thyselfe, beware of clawing Jlatterers, who for gaine will varnish thy vices, for to make them seeme vertues. Labour for a good name, perrell it not for triffles. If for light matters it bee mainlie hazarded, it shall bee easilie cut off : where euer thou bee, bee content with thy lot. See that in anie wise thou neuer harbour in thine heart a discontented minde. Beware of an euill tongue, which is an vnrulie euill ; within the compasse of the mouth wherein it is, is a world of wickednesse. Bee carefull both for the inward and the outward of thy conuersation, for manie eyes will looke and spye what shall bee thy life after mee. Bee therefore euer vpon thy garde, sin neuer in hope of secrecie, for none can sin without a wit- his Spouse. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7. day. 363 nesse. Sequester thyselfe from all occasions of euill, if thou would haue grace to bee dearlie and deeplie rooted in thine heart. Where euer thou art, thinke God thereto to bee pre- sent. Take him at all times to bee an eye witnesse of thy thoughts. * Though all bee barred out, the Lord is within. Feare God and Hue in peace with thy neighbours. * Let the good thoughts of thine heart, put thee ouer in the hands of practise, first, know and then do, which is complete Christi- anitie. Growe in grace, grone for sinnes past, escape relapses, haunt the godlie, flie these that are of a prostitute Con- science. Sin is like a Ring-worme of a contagious and spread- ing nature, from lesse to more, ouer Shoes ouer Bootes, like Hezekiel's waters, from the Ankles to the Knees, and so higher and higher, from scab to scandale. Shune all appear- ance of euill, so shall thy conuersation sauour like oyntment, and most sweete perfume. Now the Lord bee with thee, Kisse mee, and so farewell. The Pastour. Heere, Sir, are your little Children wait- ing for your blessing, it is good that yee say something to them for their instruction. The last wordes of a Friend or of a Father are often of greatest weight, and beare most into the rememberance of these to whom they are spoken. I feare that yee faint in your weaknesse, and therefore bee as summary and short as yee can. The Sicke Man. I thanke God, though the strength of my bodie decayeth, my Spirit is become stronger, like Samson, after that his haire beganne to growe. My force and cou- rage within is renued, like the youth of the Eagle, by casting of its bill. Blessed bee hee who giueth power to the faint, and increaseth strength to them that haue no might. Lord, mould mine heart after the heauenlie modett of thy Lawe. Emptie mine head, and disburden mine heart of all earthhe cares, that my thoughts may bee whohe and entirelie spent vpon thyselfe, without anie turning awrie from holie and heauenlie meditations. The Pastour. Seeing God is with you in such a spiri- tuall power, spend your short time the best yee may for his glorie, and for the well of these whom yee desire to bee best in this world after you. ' That ne we strength which appeareth in you at the sight of your Children, remembereth mee of old lacob lying on his death-bedde: when it was tolde him that Joseph whom hee * Note. * Note. lad"-. 16. 22. Ps. 103.5 lsa.40.29 A Prayer Noto. 364 THE LAST BATTELL A Spectch to Gen. 48. 2 A Prayer A Prayer. Gen.48.10 1 Kin. 2. 2. * Note. * Note. * Note. loued was come to see him, it is saide, that Israel strengthen himselfe, and satte upon the bedde. The Sicke Man. I finde the like mercie, though not in such a measure. my God, Jit and furnish my Soule with the sanctify- ing grace of thy Spirit. Rouse vp my spirit, whet vp my minde to seeke the thinges which are aboue. Lord, put a lining Soule within this dying bodie. A SPEACH TO HIS CHILDREN. And now yee, my Children, gather your selues together and hearken vnto your louing Father, that yee may remember well his last wordes. Corne neare mee, I pray you, and receiue your olde Fa- ther's blessing ; let mee lay both mine hands vpon your heads, that I may make my last prayer for you. The Angel which redeemed mee from all euill, blesse the Lads, and let them growe in multitude an fishes. God make you as Ephraim and as Manasses. Beholde now, my deare Children, I goe the way of all the earth. Keepe the charge of the Lord your God, to walke in his wayes, that yee may prosper in all that yee do, and whithersoeuer yee turne your selues. By instant prayers to God, hemme in the folies of your youth. * In this wicked euill world, striue to bee like fishes which keepe their fresh taste while they Hue in saltest waters. Bee carefull to consecrate the first yeares, enen the flower and prime of your life, vnto the Lord, which shall bee a meanes for sanctifying the rest of your age. * The Jirst borne and the first fruites vnder the Lawe of Ceremonies were the Lord's. The substance thereof in the Gospel, is that wee giue the Lord the best of our yeares, and the jtfoz and strength of our age. * Most men in the prime of youth are both hote and headie. Happie is hee, who in a sober moode and colde blood, passeth the time of his sojourning heere chieflie while hee is in the strength of youth. By care- full culture and manurance, the fiercenesse of Beares and Lyons will bee mitigated and tamed. It is a great slight of Sathan to make young men sport in their sinnes, vnder hope they may repent when they are olde. But alas ! who is so young that can say, that hee shall line vntill morrow ? * Is it not seene that there bee as manie little as great skulls in his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 365 Golgotha ? As soone, say wee, commeth the Lambe skinne to the market as the olde Sheepe's. * But though they who are young were assured to become olde, they could not bee assured of repentance which is the gift of God, which hee riueth to whom and when it shall please his Majestic. That which is the gift of God's good pleasure is not a thing which man may haue when hee pleaseth. Youth is like the time of the stirring of the poole, a gracious time, if it bee well mployed. Christ, I know, may cure a Soule that hath beene dcke of the palsie of sin eight and thirtie yeares, but that must bee counted a most rare miracle. * Late repentance seldom sound. But alas ! though a man were assured that in his olde dayes hee should repent truelie of all the iblies of his youth, how bitter a thing is that which God's word calleth Repentance ! *A Pagane hauing gotten some ittle glimpse thereof, while hee conferred the pleasures of sin with the paines of repentance, refused to bargaine for his pleasures, saying plainelie, Non emerim tanti poemtere, that hee would not buy repentance so deare. Most men in the heate of their sinnes lay about them to finde some pretence for the lessening thereof, lest they seeme vglie. Oh, that youth would bee wise ! our youth is either a great friend or a great foe vnto our olde age. If wee get a fill of God's mercie in the morning of our age, wee shall bee glad and rejoyce all our dayes. * The rememberance of a well spent youth, is in olde age like the casting of the Eagle's bill, whereby its age is renued. * O the siluer coloured c/ray head of that olde man, who from his youth, in the maine of his life, hath walked in the wayes of righteousnesse ! Grace from the Cradle is of great expectation. * Happie is that youth which is olde in grace. If yee get grace to youi youth, yee shall get glorie after age. God it is who giueth both grace and glorie, which two I may call the * euerlast- ing twinnes concerned into the breast and bowels of tha Mercie that is aboue. Take heede, my Children. In your first dayes striue t< bee like the Ancient of dayes. * A good Conscience we! kept in youth is a perpetuall feast for olde age. That man's youth is a great friend to his olde age who can say with Oba diah, I fear e the Lord from my youth. A well spent youtl is a blessed seede time for Heauen. A well spent youth i * Note. Ioh.5.4. * Note. * Note. Psal90.1 * Note. Psal.103. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 Kin. li 12. 366 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. Ps. *5. li7 lob, 13. 26 * Note. Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 'rou.7.17 spirituall physicke vnto olde age, which of it selfe on Earth is a sicknesse drawing vnto Death. As the well spent youth is a friend vnto olde age, so if it bee euill spent, it is a most fearefull foe ; a foe full of woes : * woe to him whose old bones are sores with the si7ines of his youth ! the Lord hath taken the penne in his hand, wherewith, after hee that hath narrowlie searched his wayes, hee shall write bitter thinges against him, and shall make him possesse the iniquities of his youth. * Beware therefore to set your corruption to worke, for to giue the Prime of your life vnto pleasures. Bee wise in time, lest Sathan slylie foist in and closelie conuay corruptions into your young and tender heartes, by tickling and tempting you to folie. * It is more easie while it is time to spende well the time than after to redeeme the mispent time. Why would yee trouble your olde age with young folies ? If yee sawe the seede of folie in your youth, yee shall vndoubtedlie reape sheaues of sorrowes in your olde age. It is a sore trouble to sowe in laughter and reape in teares. * In the best man that liueth, there is suf- ficient matter of mourning for his cloudie and rainie yeares. The olde man hath enough to suffer vnder sicknesse, though hee had no comber of his sinnes. * O how pleasant is the bitter haruest of a foolish youth ! O folie ! hath not olde age paines sufficientlie in the bodie, though it bee not sur- charged with the troubles of the Spirit ? What wisdome is this to surcharge the weakest age with the heauiest bur- den ? * Thinke chieflie vpon this, seeing the goodnesse of God followeth the whole life of man, from his mother's bellie to his buriall, it is reason that his whole life, as well youth as olde age, bee framed for to expresse his thankfulnesse. My first and chiefest direction to you is, that yee giue to God \hefirstfruites of your age. * Suffer not sin in your tender yeares to get holde and haunt in your heartes. A g-odlie Youth hath a speciall promise of God : These that seeke mee ear lie shall finde mee. This parable was forged in Hell : Young Sainctes oldc Deuilfs, that is, A good Lad will e an euill man. And this is turned ouer againe by the prophane world, viz. An euill Lad will bcc a (food man. Nay, but an euill Lad is in the way to prone an olde ivag- string. A young scoffing Ismael will become an olde swag- gering reueller. Children in Scripture are called Plants. If in the Moneth of May a plant bee without leafes or budde*, his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 367 wee conceiue little good hope of anie fruites to bee had in the haruest time thereafter. Will a tree bring foorth fruites before it flowrish ? When flowrish time is past without anie blossome, shall wee looke for anie fruite for that yeare ? Learne of the Trees to know your seasons. * Solomon sent the sluggard to Doctour Pismire's Schoole for to learne wisdome, to prouide for the euill day. Striue with the trees in your youth to get a spring of grace, which may appeare in the sprout and blossome of dispositions vnto vertues. Mulum est assuescere a teneris. * To beginne well or euill is to bee in the midst of the journie. Most powerfull are the first impressions, like the loue of women, which ordinarlie is greatest towards her first Match, \hsguide of her youth, who tulit primos amores, hath gotten the prime of her loue. It is hard to fall from her first loue. * See what a liking these who are in Kinged Courts will haue to remember of the Cottage or rurall vil- lage whereinto they were borne and brought vp. The secret draught is so powerfull that hardlie can anie expresse the cause. This made a Pagane to say, Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos Ducit, et imme- mores non sinit esse sui. By this yee may see, how by a certaine secret instinct, wee euer loue the places where wee haue beene borne and brought vp. * Obserue the lesson of this, if yee passe your youth in sin and in the pleasures thereof, hardlie shall yee euer forget that companie ; do what yee can, yee shall euer haue a certaine secret loue, which your Soule darre not auouch, toward that which yee once loued while yee were young. * If your sinnes bee your Companions in your youth, they will bee your Counsellors in olde age. Rehoboam's fall was in this, that hee tooke counsell of the young men that were growne vp with him. If sin bee brought vp with you in your youth, there is danger that yee take its counsell in your olde age. The time of youth is most dangerous, for in it the affections are boiling, in it reigne and rage vnhallowed heate and passionate distempers, which, except they bee re- pressed with the strength of grace, breake out into the thun- ders, and tempestuous stormes of vncleannesse, of ryot and of drunkennesse, and such like, which make most fearefull breaches and deepe gashes into the Conscience. Beware therefore at the first to sin, lest at last yee sin by * Note. } rou. G.6. * Note. Prou.2.17 * Note. * Note. * Note. 1 King. 12 10. 368 THE LAST BATTELL A Speack to Isa. 48. 4. * Note. * Note. * Note. Pct.2.11 * Note. iccl.8.13 * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. custome. The hardening custome of sin, is in Scripture called, An yron sinewe in the necke, and a brazen brow. If custom of sin make you impotent in well doing 1 , it shall at last make you impudent in euill doing 1 . * Hee who mant- or stammereth in his speach while hee is young, will in all appearance speake so vntill his dying day. * Fooles dreame that man is like March, if hee come in with an Ad- der's head, they thinke that hee shall goe out with a Pea- cockes taile, as if an euill beginning were the way to an hap- pie end. Bee wise in time, my deare heartes, from your youth con- secrate yourselues Nazarites vnto the Lord, that is, bee pure and holie, touch no vncleane thing, giue no prouocation to the flesh, but rather abstaine from all fleshlie lusts, which warre against the Soule. What shame for God's sonnes to bee shine's slaues ! If yee would Hue long, liue well. * The wicked saith So- lomon, shall not prolong his dayes, which are as a shadow, because heefeareth not before God. * For this cause it shall bee your best to take the first handsett of time for well doing. Resist the Deuill in the beginning of sin. * Fight against iniquitie as against a foraine enemie at the borders of your heart, euen at thejirst landing before it get fitting in fast and stable (/round. While it \&Jleeting t fight it off' the shore. * Sin is like a Cockatrice, it must bee killed into the shell before it come out with piercing venemous lookes. * Sathan in this last and most corrupt age, hath with maijie blots branded earlie holinesse. As for you, my counsel! is, that with great care yee striue to beginne well, earlie in the morning of your age, and that thereafter yee constantlie goe on, till like a Sunne yee come to the Noone of grace in glorie. * In three times of our age wee should striue to three de- grees of holinesse. In Childhood wee must bee good, in Youth head wee must grow better, in olde Age wee must bee best. * Hee who is not best at last in mine opinion, was neuer good at all. In all Ages take heede to all your wayes ; bee neuer wedded vnto anie sin, though it seeme like Zoar but a little one. There is no sin so base that it will goe alone without a Page at its backe. While yee heare of others faults, pruc- his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7. day. 369 tise Plato his Precept, Numquid ego tale ? Haue I done anie such like thing myselfe ? Striue in all your affaires to bee vpright before God and man. Bee euer of these that stand on the Lord's side for the good cause. Let no consideration of profit or preferment, make you to stiffle the voyce of your own Conscience. Shute not your eares at its crye like the Adder at the voyce of the charmer. Bee not loth to know yourselues, trye and examine well your inward parts. Do neuer with great con- fidence, that which yee cannot do with a good Conscience. If yee sin, delight not in sin ; such pleasures are too deare, and bought at too high a rate. In your whole life reuerence your Pastour though sub- ject to manie infirmities, for wee faile all in manie thinges. Elias refused not his meate because a Rauen, an vncleane fowle brought it vnto him. Best men often are signes and wonders euen in Israel. Oh, that I had vvordes of motion, that might stirre you vp to all Christian duties ! Beware, I exhort you, to follow anie euill example giuen by mee. * Striue by grace to bee better than the Roche whereout of yee haue beene hewen. Manie a time haue I started aside and stumbled in the way. It is a rare mercie of God that hath brought mee thorow this world with honestie. It is onlie God's garde, euen his sau- ing grace, which hath kept my life from scab and scandale, for in trueth, I speake it to my shame, that God may haue the glorie, I haue beene like a foolish Flee that flutters about the Candle. It is by the meere mercie of my God, that the winges of my profession, haue not beene scorched with the flammes of some one temptation or other, which should haue beene to mee the cause of some filthie downe- fall. * A scandalous sin is like a dampe which quencheth the bright Candle of a glorious profession. Let these that are forewarned, striue to bee forearmed. Happie is hee who in time beateth downe his own corruptions, and tameth his wilde heart like an horse whom the Ridder breaketh, that hee may trauell him the parts and the pace as hee best desireth. It is onlie God's mercie which hath stopt the torrent of my corruptions. Learne therefore of mee to passe the time of your sojourning heere infeare. The euill which man least fear eth hee is nearest to fall into. Take heede, my deare Children, and giue eare vnto rny Ps. 58. 4. lKin.17.6. Isa. 8. 18. * Note. * Note. lPet.1.17 370 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. ct24.17. * Note. Note. rou.27.6 * Note. Chr. 29 11. \urnb. 2: 10. * Note. iph.4.34- Isa. 59. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note I Cor. 1 10. ounsell. * Where euer yee bee, thinke shame to commit hat which yee would thinke shame to confesse. In all binges striue to haue a cleare Conscience towards God and man. Respect more goodnesse than greatnesse and its sway. 3ee always courtesse. * Cut not a man in the current of isspeach; bee not selfe conceited, but bee little in your own yes. Striue rather to bee good, than to seeme to bee so. Obey four betters ; hearken to the wise ; reuerence the gray haires ound'in the way of righteousnesse. * Suffer rebuke patient- ie, for it is better than secret loue ; faithfull are the wounds rfa friend. Haunt euer the companie of the godlie. In ill affaires bee like the Bee, sucke out of all thinges the best, ind leaue the worst, seeke out the honie, leauing the venome o the Wasp. Let euerie day bee to you as your last day. * Before you goe to bedde at night make your score euen with your ludge. Bee daylie carefull to^ your count, so ihall yee haue the lesse to account for at yourjinall reckon- ng. In all thinges bee vpright and do well, for as leho- 'aphat saide, The Lord will bee with the good. If yee would die the death of the righteous, striue first to Hue the life of the righteous. * If yee would come to the end, yee must not leape ouer the meanes. While yee are young, kill your sinnes in their youth, euen in their first motions, while they touch but the spirit of the minde, before they bee hatch- ed out from vnder the affections. Breake betimes the Cocka- trice 's egge, lest at last it breake out into a Viper. Beware to conceiue mischiefe, lest yee bring foorth iniquitie. * By the corruption of our corruptions, is the generation of our regeneration. Pamper not the Carion. * Beasts fed on the bare commons, are not so neare the slaughter as these that goe into fatter pastures. Beware of all vncleannesse. Make a couenant with your eyes, not to beholde wine and women Keepe carefullie your vessels cleane in sanctification and honour. * If yee slippe in anie sin, beware to sleepe in it for that is death, Vita in vigilia est. * Godlie men in olde age regretting their former haunts, are lessons from God to teach Youth not to plot the pleasures wherewith God is dis- pleased. Manie sinnes of Youth bee called trickes, but it i a terrible tricke to goe to Hell. * People foolishlie cloake Fornication with a tricke of youth, but the Spirit of GOD giueth it a scarlet cloake dyed in red with the blood ofthre\ and twentie thousand. his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 371 * Note. 2 Sam.5.7. 1 Sam. 6. 19. Sfumb. 15. Bee yee wise in time, let the rememberance of the shrill sound of the last trumpet, euer holde your heart in a stirre so soone as yee see the least appearance of euill. * Thinke no sin little, seeing it is against so great a Majestic. For eating of a tree, Adam was banished out of Paradise. For touching the Arke shaken with the Oxen, F'zzah lost his life. For looking into it,fiftie thousand threescore and ten men were laine at Bethshemeth. For gathering sticks vpon the Sab- bath, God declared that the man should bee stoned vnto death without the Gampe. Such thinges are written for our learn- ing. As for you, stand in awe to sin in a thought. To clippe the Kinge's Coyne, were it neuer so little, is an high treason. Bee afraide at the first glowmes of your GOD. Crouch so soone as hee beginneth to shake his rod at you. In all companies bee constantlie godlie, like the Sunne in his light. Too manie, like the Moone, now glister with reflexes of light, and anone are darkened. Now and then they ap- peare with diuerse faces, now with Saul, they are Prophets among the Prophets, and anone, as reuoking all former god- linesse, they runne ryot with gluttons andreuellers. O my beloued, thinke neuer shame to bee godlie among scorners ! Care not that by your conscionable carriage the wicked bee gauled and grieued: in their madde moode they will call all godlinesse but outwardnesse and formalitie. Take good heede to all your wayes, set a garde about your thoughts, and a watch before your mouth. * Seeing the tongue is man's glorie, let it not bee abused with rotten wordes. *Let not your eares bee open for to receiue the scowr- ing of other men's filthie mouths. Bee calme and quiet in all your wayes. Bee not rash or hastie, looke before yee leape, bee not selfe-witted, proude contemners of your betters. Aspire not aboue your pitch. * Care not so much for man's despight as for God's displea- sure. Let God bee the earner of all your cares. Abhorre to bee idle like these who sitting in the Chair e of sloth, passe their time at handle dandie. Loyter not while yee should labour. * The first word that Pharaoh saide to lacob and his sonnes was, What is your trade or occupation ? Bee painefull and faithfull in your calling, Hue not litherlie as these that are giuen to sleepe, the sluggard's lingring sicknesse. Hee is of a base spirit who sluggishlie gaping and stretching himselfe, lyeth tusking on the doivne. Vp, vp, from the * Note. Psal. 57.8 * Note. 2Pet.2.10 * Note. * Note. Gen.44.33 372 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Heb.11.13 A Prayer feathers earlie in the morning, striue with the Cocke in watchfulnesse, and rise with the chirping of the birds. loyne watching against euill, with wishing and prayers for that which is good. * It is good that the bodie bee moistned with the morning dewe, earlie rising bringeth health to the bodie, and increaseth the number of man's dayes. * I re- member of a verse, which while I was young serued for a wakener for to rouse mee from my morning sleepe. Sanctificat sanat, ditat quoque surgere mane. That is, it maketh holie, whole, and rich, to rise earlie in the morning . for this cause earlie buckle yourselues to your businesse. Bee wise and watchfull. In all your enterprises haue an eye vpon your God, do all as into his sight, bee not too cast downe in aduersitie, nor too puft vp in prosperitie. * If man's applause make you to ouerweene yourselues at anie time, chasten your loftinesse with the memorie of manie infirmities which are nested within you, in all thinges feare the worst and hope the best. * That which seemeth to man vnlikelie, is not with God impossible. Let your life, in a godlie, sober, and ciuill carriage, shine before men, that they seeing it, may glorifie your heauenlie Father. Striue not to bee called Doctours and Rabbies though yee bee men of letters, but aboue all striue to bee teachers of others, by good example, and not by word onlie, lest yee bee like the Fyle which smootheth all other thinges, but itselfe remaineth rough. * Beware of all sinfull plea- sures which like faire Ladies come with alluring propines to woo and catch the unstable Soule. * In the verie throng of all your adoes, drawe yourselues to a set dyet of priuate de- uotion. Mine heart beginneth to faint, of force I must make a pause. After that I am refreshed with a little rest, 1 shall declare to you all that is in my minde and memorie. my Soide, seeke and sigh for grace ! Bee carefull for a nearer acquaintance with the Lord of Heauen. Shortlie thou shalt embrace him whom the Fathers by faith saluted but a far re off. The Pastour. Lord, hcare thou in Heauen the gr ones of thine humble supplicant ; make him fullie and freelie to taste and partake of the pleasures of thy graces, till hee come to glorie. Roll his wearied Soule within these com- passions, which in thy mercie are ronled together. drare his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7. day. 373 lesvs, besprinkle thou his heart with thy precious Soule- sauing blood, which is euer louelie to the mercifutt eye of the Father. Take breath a little, Sir, that yee may continue in such precepts. Such heauenlie sentences were neuer bred nor brewed vpon the earth. The Lord himselfe hath put the Roll of these thinges into your mouth, which yee haue eaten, and which make your breath to haue the savour of life vnto life. Certainlie in some measure the Lord lesvs hath breathed vpon you, as hee did vpon his Apostles, when hee saide vnto them, Receiue the Holie Ghost. The Sicke Man. Lord, imprint thine Image into my Soule afresh. My Spirit is reuiued, a newe power is entered into mee. Blessed bee hee who giueth power to the faint ', and who in- creaseth strength to them that haue no might. Giue eare now againe vnto my speach, O yee, my deare Children ; incline your eares vnto the wordes of my mouth. * See that yee Hue in loue : a rent is the forerunner of a mine. If yee would Hue and die in honestie, practise all Christian duties : feare God, loue the Church, honour your King, bee faithfull to your Countrie, reuerence your Mother ; Bee pittifull, bee courteous, hue in loue together. * Your strength is in vnitie, like a sheaf e of arrowes. A three-fulde cord is not easilie broken. * Our Lord, after that hee had ended his last Supper, prayed fiue seuerall times, that his Disciples might bee one. The smallest graine of discord will at last growe to such head and heate, that it will part these who are most intire in loue. Let the falling out of Paul and Barnabas, that blessed paire of most worthie worke-men, teach all good men to Hue in loue. * Men of a waspish nature cannot worke Honie with the Bees : bitter poyson is onlie to bee found in their Combes. So farre as is possible, haue peace with all men. Seeke peace and follow after it. * Bee not bragyers nor brawlers, like Ismael the wilde man, whose hand was against euerie man, and euerie man's hand against him. Returne neuer euillfor euill, lesse euill for good, but rather good for cuill. Bee not like Lyons, which while they are young are gentle, till their tallons growe long. Haue peace with all so farre as is possible, and the God of peace shall abide with you. * Bee not busie bodies in other men's matters, for feare of Ezek.3.1. ^ Cor.2.16 [oh.20.22. Isa.40.29. * Note. 1 Pet. 3. 8. * Note. Eccl.4.12 * Note. Ioh.17.11, 21,22,23, 26. * Note. Ps. 31.14 * Note. Note. 374. THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Note. after-claps, if anie thing bee amisse. * One saith verie well, In little ado much rest, in much ado no rest. Learne of Peter's fall to flee all euill companie, lest in the end yee come home with a weeping crosse. It were better to suffer colde without, than within to bee warmed with such as S. Peter met with in the High Prieste's hall. Such warmnesse is but a colde comfort. If yee fall in loue with anie sin, striue not onlie to leaue it, but also to loath it The Lord giue you wisdome in all thinges. Bee neither giuen to much companie, neither to saucie singular itie. En- terprise nothing rashlie, without conferring first with God and with some godlie friend. * Before yee intend a worke, cast Jirst the costs, like the wise Builder in the Gospel ; holde euer your minde vpon God and honest thinges. * In most secret places thinke on God's eye, which seeth our thoughts afarre off. Bee feruent in prayer ; grieue not the Spirit of grace ; neglect not his graces within you ; what- euer they bee let them bee carefullie imployed ; see that yee bee faithfull in trafficking with your Lord's Talents, for to returne them with profile. Away with these who loue to lurke in a lazie luskishnesse ! This age is defiled with filthie Belghes of blasphemie. To sweare and roare is counted good fellowship. Bridle yee your tongues; beware of the language of Hell. * By little and little, in oathes, the tongue is inured till it strike at Christe's wounds, with bloodie blowes. * Cursed shall they bee who dye their tongue red in that blood, which is the ransome of the world. Consider this, I pray you, stand in awe and sin not. * Bee not like the world's fooles, who beeing loose without anie bridle of feare, care not what bee their end, so that their way bee pleasant. Belieue not all reports : * try before yee trust. Bee not like the blind whelpes which sucke euerie thing that is put into their mouth, thinking it to bee the teates of their mother. While yee Hue in the world bee not worldlings* The most worthie are not most ivealthie. Eutrapeles heaped riches vpon these whom hee hated, for to burden them with cares. Vse the thinges of this world rather with hand than heart. Consider all thinges with a mature and impar- tiall suruey of all circumstances : let neither Loue nor Lucre make you to sway from the square and rule of righteousnesse. * All thinges below are but tottering- and transitorie trashes, his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. J. 3J5 set vpon a whirling wheele. There is none earthlie thing of such worth, for which a man should make a breach in his Conscience. If yee studie to bee rich, yee will fall into ma- nie temptations. It is hard to winne much soone and well. * A short care is fittest for a short life. * Most men's mr heartes are so curbed with carnall, that spirituall meditations take vp their heartes but at reuersion, byjitte and starts. Bee in good example one to another. * Yee who are el- ders, bee like the great wheeles of the Glocke, whereof if one bee set a going it will moue its fellow, and that, the other which is next vnto it. * Let all your strife bee in this, who in the Christian course shall out stripe his fellow in well do- ing, as lohn and Peter ramie a race who should bee first at the Lord's graue. * In all affaires see that your heartes bee euer downe right for the good cause. If yee would walke circumspectlie in all your wayes, haue euer an eye vpon your compt. None of you can tell how soone yee must compeare in judgement. While yee are tempted vnto sin, aske first your heart but these two questions, 1. What answere shall I make for this to my God at that great day f 2. Would I bee content that another did the like vnto mee ? Bee wise like /Serpents and innocent like Doues. Let your life bee harmlesse, for in that day Righteousnesse shall beare and iveare the Crowne. If God spare your dayes, and blesse you with yeares, be- ware to celebrate newe yeares with olde sinnes. * An olde Father saide of himselfe, that when in his tender age hee had once lost the tenor of an holie life, gray haires were got about his head before that hee could recouer it againe. Gray haires in the way of righteousnesse are called, A Crowne of glorie. But seeing while yee are young yee haue no particular promise of long life, dreaine not of manie dayes. It is hard to sitte fast vpon a sandie foundation. Delay not your repentance in a loitering lazinesse ; but as a man that hath a set time for his taske daleyes not, but carefullie listeneth to the Clocke and counteth his houres, so do yee. Bee euer vpon your watch vntill the time of your changing come. In the prime of your dayes bee thinking on your end. Bee instant with God, like Moses, that hee would so teach you to number your dayes, that yee may applie your heartes to wisdome and to ivell doing. * Waste not the short Candle of your * Note. * Note. * Note. Ioh.20. 4. * Note. * Note. Prou. 16 31. lob, 1 -1.1 4, Ps. 90.12 * Note. THE LAST BATTELL A Speack to * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. life at idle playe, which God hath allotted to light you vnto bedde. There is no such foe to repentance, as to thinke that wee haue time enough to repent, or that wee may repent when wee please. * Hee that will not while hee may, shall not when hee would. Bee not prophane like Esau. Liue not in a customarie grosse sin. Loose not the reines to your corrupt affections. If yee fall with the Sainctes, striue also with the Sainctes to bee recouered out of your falles. * Manie speake of Dauid's fall who neuer remember Dauid's rising. The repentance of the Godlie is set downe not to teach sinners to sin, that after they may repent, but rather to driue them from sin, by letting 1 them see how a short sweete is followed with a long sowre. * What a foole is hee, who seeing his Neighbour breake his leg in breaking of an Orchard for an .Apple, would leape the same loupe, beeing assured of as much, and all because hee seeth that now his neighbour is soundlie healed, and feeleth no more paine ! If yee wander from God, hasten your returne. A man out of the way must come backe againe. The sooner heere- turneth the lesse is his labour. If yee fall in sin and rise againe, beware to bee relapse. * An Horse comming by the same place where hee caught a fall, will start a backe. Neither for Spur nor Wand will yee get him into the same hole againe. Dauid, no doubt, after once would not count the Tribes againe, neither would Peter after that awefutt looke of Christ, denye his Master againe, neither would lob seeke anie more to dispute with his God againe. They all know by experience how bitter a thing such sinnes were, and therefore abhorred all such thinges at the verie rememberance thereof. * Remember well, I pray you, that olde age will inquire what youth hath beene doing. This now know, that all youthlie pranking pleasures are followed \\i\\\pagesofpaines. which crye vnto others, that they listen not to the allurements and deceitfull charmes of their rilthie flesh. While Dalilah lulleth in her lappe, shee is armed with Sissershr to cut the haire of our strength. It is good that both olde and young haue their (oynes euer girded, and their Candles in their hands waiting for the comming of their Lord. Learne of the foolish F'irgines, how dangerous a thing it is to sleepe without oyle in your Lampes. his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- 377 Let neuer sin reigne in your mortall bodies. Subdue the flesh to the Spirit. * If yee Hue in God's feare, looke to die in God's fauour. * Happie is the man that keepeth a Ca- lender of his dayes, whereby hee may bee roused vp to thinke euerie day his last. * It is certaine that our life, like a shippe vpon the Sea, is carried with a strong gale. There is none abiding 1 heere ; our Sunne is fast posting to the West; as hee arose so shortlie must hee fall. And therefore, though yee dwell on earth, minde the thinges that are aboue. Let your Soules heere, in earth and on earth, soare vp toward the euerlasting Tabernacles. * Too manie Soules bee Truands from God, onlie minding the thinges that are belowe. Beware that thornie cares choake in your Soules the seede of grace. To bee worldlie minded is death. Aspire not aboue your pitch. * Thrust not your selues in offices. An office is well called, A Calling, because man should waite till hee bee called vnto it. It is better to bee haled by force of others to great offices, than to rush, rashlie vpon them vndesired. It were to bee wished that rather men want Offices, than that Offices want men an- swerable to their discharge. Affect not to bee singular in glorious shewes of profession without substance, like Pedlers who hang out more than they haue within. There bee none so peeuish as prattling pro- fessours without the power of practise. * The newe creature in actions, is the truest outward witnesse of the trueth of the inward affections. Affection bewrayeth the euill affections. Malo esse probus quam haberi. It is better to bee good than so to seeme. Among all humane duties bee carefull to keepe loue with your Neighbours. So farre as is possible, winne the good word and will of all men. Bee not contentious nor stirrers vp of discordes. God hath blessed the peace makers. The Apostle's precept is plaine, Let brotherlie loue remaine. Forget not the poore. Hide not your selues from your own flesh. The rich and the poore will meete together, saith Solomon : that is, One good turne may bee requited by another. If they cannot recompence you. they will pray for you. * Though that which yee giue vnto them at the first seeme to bee lost, like seede sowne into a running water which carrieth it away, the Lord, who brought backe the Jordan shall bring backe your lost seede with a plentiful] 3 D * Note. * Note. * Note. ZJoL 3. 1. .uk.16.19 * Note. * Note. * Note. Matth.5. Heb.13.1 Prou.22.2 * Note. losh.S.H 378 THE LAST BATTELL A SpeacJl to iccles.ll. 1. Luk..l6.9. * Note. * Note. * Note. Prou. 21. 2. 'sal. 107. 18. A Prayer A Prayer Prou. 20 27. * Note. ncrease. Cast then your bread vpon the waters, for yee ihallfinde it after manie dayes. Christe's counsell is, that rich men make vnto themselues friendes of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse. If yee receiue the poore in their neede into your earthlie mansions, they by their prayers shall receiue you in your greater neede into euerlastiny Tabernacles. When Diues hath dyned let Lazarus haue the crums. * Cursed Adam was couered but with figge leaues, and Christ cursed \hefigge tree for hauing leaues without fruites. While yee giue alrnes let all bee done without a desire to bee scene or praised of men. Let not your left hand know what the right hand giueth, and God shall reward that humble secrecie with open honour. What euer bee done, see that it bee done in Faith, without which most glorious workes are but glistering sinnes, and Pharisees' almes, beggers of praise, thinges done to bee seene. Bee meeke and gentle toward all. * The Spirit of God cannot light vpon a Soule but in the shape of a Doue. Euerie way of a man is right in his own eyes ; but the Lord ponder eth the heartes. My Spirit fainteth, my breath shorteneth, mine heart sick- eneth, I finde Death now besieging my Noble parts. I cannot tell how soone God shall fetch away my Soule. It is most certaine that I drawe neare to the doores of death. I haue yet some thing in my minde for to tell you, O my deare Children, but for weaknesse I cannot, till I bee re- freshed with a little rest. Within a little space I looke to bee lockt in my graue. Lord, say vnto my Soule, I am thy Saluation. Refresh mine heart, rejoyce my Soule with a sight of thy reconcealed face, before that I goe hence, and bee seene no more. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in Heauen. O how much fruite groweth off one stalke ! GOD'S grace in you hath brought foorth a large haruest of comfortes to all that haue heard you. The Lord renew e your strength, and put his Spirit within you. The Lord sanctifie your Spirit, which is the Candle of the Lord, searching all the bowels of the bellie. The God of all grace hath cleansed and purified your wordes through the siramer of his great mercie. * So soone as yee haue gathered strength let vs heare the rest of your counsell to your Children. In it is wisdome for to bee learned his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7. day. 379 of olde age : recouer your force a little, that yee may conclude that which yee haue begunne. * It is good in good thinges to goe through stitch. The Sicke Man. Lord, perfect thy strengthen my great weaknesse. My deare Children, hearken vnto mee. It is not possible but in this euill world yee shall bee troubled with great and grieuous afflictions. In my great griefes, I was euer wont to comfort myselfe with that wise speach of Solomon, When a man's wayes shall please the Lord, hee shall make euen his enemies to bee at peace with him. If anie man offend you, or is offended against you, perswade yourselues that some of your wayes please not the Lord, and therefore if yee would please good men, or haue good men for to please you, walke in the wayes which will please the Lord. All men's heartes are in his hands like riuers of water. Hee can make a foe of a friend, and a friend of a foe. * If yee neglect this counsell, yee shall at last bee forced to stand at staue's end with the whole world. Hee who is at variance with his God, will neuer agree with himselfe, and so shall bee in dis- cord with all, for as the Pagane saide well, Conveniet nulli qui secum dissidet ipse. Hee who is not good to himselfe, can bee good to none. Though commonlie men say of some, Hee is, or was euill to none, but to himselfe. A wise man in this land hath made a good replye to that speach, viz. It were almes to \ang him that is not good to himselfe. Now yee are young, yet breath is in the bodie : worke while it is light. * Bee carefull to keepe a Calender, as it were, of your dayes, which may call vpon you hourlie ; bee diligent for the time is short. By yeares, dayes, and hours, our life is continuallie cut and sklissed away. What shall I say more ? The Lord giue you wisdome in all thinges. Godlinesse is true wisdome. Best spirited men are not euer most spirituall. As for you, striue truelie to bee religious Nathaneels, Israelites indeede. Euerie night before yee goe to bedde, set before your eyes the mercies of that day ; muster them orderlie and take a view of them carefullie, that vpon your knees from your heartes yee may giue God his praise. While yee are gone from the publicke prayer of the Familie vnto your priuate bedde chamber, re- member God's mercies afresh. While vee remember them, * Note. Prou. 16.7 Prou. 21. 17. * Note. * Note. [oh. 1.4-7 380 THE LAST BATTELL A Speack to 's.116.13, * Note. * Note. You. 10.7 * Note. Luk.16.19 Mat. 3. 4. * Note. lob, 1.5. * Note. let this bee your last collation drinke before yee goe to bedde ; take with Dauid, the cuppe of Saluation, and call vpon the Name of the Lord. * As tradesmen haue a day Booke for daylie receites, it were expedient that all the godlie haue a register, wherein may bee written the noble actes of the Lord, for to helpe our weake memorie, lest wee suffer his mercies to slippe out of our minde. * If yee either forget your sinnes or God's mercie, remember that yee haue a Con- science, which is a daylie obseruer, a night watch, and a secret spye into your Soules. In all your adoes striue to bee righteous before God, and vpright before men. See in a short verse what shall bee the end both of the godlie and wicked, The memorie of the just is blessed ; but the name of the wicked shall rot. O my deare Children, lay vp carefullie these wordes into your heartes, which I your olde Father haue spoken with much paine. * Thinke vpon this, one day Death will in- quire what life hath beene doing. As for my worldlie affaires, as Rents or Goods, if they bee great lippen not to them ; if they bee little, little with God's grace is enough. If yee bee godlie, God shall bee your Father and your feeder. If yee abound bee not prodi- gall. Make not a god of your Bellie. Beware to tipple or quaffe, or with the glutton to feede delicatelie. Care not for paunch pleasures : lolin liued on locusts. * It is better to Hue on Cake and water with a godlie Elias, than to feast royallie with a foolish Nabal. Though feasts bee pleasant they are dangerous. When the dayes of feasting were ended lob sent and sanctified liis children, and rose vp earlie in the morning for to offer burnt offerings for them all. For lob saide, It may bee that my sonnes haue sinned and cursed God in their heart. Single feasting is fittest for the Soule ?? t? and most wholesome for the bodie. God sendeth sluggards to the Pismire as to a Master of ivorke, for to direct them from loitering to labour. * Let gluttons whose dearest delights are in paunch plea- sures, from morning vntill euen, learne of the Swattowes, who sitte not downe to dine, but feede while they flee. As they feede on flees, so they flee while they feede. What should man do with his Bellie, but feede it as in a flight '< Let the wings of sobrietie carrie you from glutting plentie, his Children. OF THE SOULE, &c. J. day. 381 before yee bee ouertaken with that which shall make you to bee ashamed to morrow. While yee beginne to drinke be- ware of after-clappes. Men by a little distemper at the first, contract easilie an habit of sin. * S. Augustine, speaking how his Mother, MONICA, learned to tipple, saith, Primoribus labiis sorbebat exiguum. Itaq ; ad illud mo- dicum quotidiana modica addenda in earn consuetudinem lapsa erat vt prope jam plenos mero calices inhianter hauriret. That is, at the first shee beganne but to kisse the cuppe, and to sippe a little of the wine, while shee filled the Cuppe to her Parents, but anone shee came to this, that shee made no bones to sucke drye full Cuppes of wine. See how from sip- ping at last shee came to carousing. Oh, but that is a deare drinke, which costeth a man a Spot in his name and a blot in his conscience ! Experience telleth that pleasures is more dangerous than paine, and feasting than fasting. Remember lob's children, see in what a feare that godlie Father was concerning their feasting. Certainelie his feare was not a foolish feare without anie ground. It is set downe in Scripture for to teach men feare in feasting. * Too manie at such times turne themselues into barrels and beastes, swynishlie ouerturning all reason and judgement that is within them. As for you, bee yee sober if yee would bee holie. God will not tarrie into that heart which hath a god in the bellie. * Hee who would lodge the Arke must chasse Dagon to the doore like a dog. * Manie who neglect the bellie, haue pride printed in great capitall Letters vpon their backe. Bee yee not sumptuous in apperall. * Let God giue you the coate according to the colde. Follow not newe fashions. Beware of euill example. Woe to the world for scandales ! As yee should not bee prodigatt, bee not also misers, pinch- pennies. Defraude not yourselues of your graunted good. Bee thankfull to God for all his giftes. Away with these, who after they haue receiued that which they sought, haue done with God, till they neede him againe ! In all the course of your life striue to holde the Ballance equall^ vertues in the midst. * Extremities are like Border Theefes, not subject to the Lawes. Bee neither too nice, nor too pert, too scurrile, nor too silent. * In worldlie wealth trye before yee treasure. If yee bee rich, glorie not * Note. August. Confess. lib. 9,c.8. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Ex. 20. (5 * Note. * Note. lob, 15. 1 in your riches ; if yee bee poore, pray God to keepe you from the extremitie ofpouertie, lest that yee put foorth your hand to steale. * If God sende pouertie bee not discouraged. Though it bee sore, it is no sin. Lazarus with his ragges was welcomer to God, than Diucs with his purple. Hee who begged from that rich man on earthy saw the rich man a begger into Hell. Hee is rich enough who hath the fauour of his God. * In good life is long life. Nequities vitce non sinit esse senem. The wickednesse of life abbridgeth the life. Bee more desirous to Hue well, than to Hue long. Too, too manie Hue to spende their grace-right with their Birth- right. Such like wantone \Vidowes are dead while they Hue. If yee fall in sin, vp, vp, make haste to returne vnto your God. Repentance delayed in youth is a strengthening of sin against the olde and weaker age. The least sin entertain- ed, maketh a way for more. * The least drop of the juice of euill is like leauen that sowreth the whole lumpe. If in this world yee prosper, bee not taken vp with selfe foolish conceite. Take not outward prosperitie to bee the ell and measure of God's loue. * Whither yee wither or yee flowrish in worldlie thinges, thinke vpon this, that your mise- rie or happinesse can bee in nothing but in that which is eternall. * Goe where yee please, the justice of God one day shall try the foote-steppes which yee haue trodden. The chiefe Legacie which I leaue to you all, is the Char- ter of God's promise, which I haue receiued by the hand of Faith. In it is an Heritage of lines fallen in pleasant places, viz. that not onlie hee should bee my God, but that hee should bee a God to my Children vnto thousand generations : keepe fast this promise into the Charter Chists of your heartes. In confidence of this promise depende vpon y ur God in well and in ivoe, in wealth and in ivant. Though hee should slay you, yet say with lob, that yee will trust in him. Now for to drawe to an end, for my breath faileth and mine heart fainteth, I desire you aboue all thinges to bee earnest in prayer with God. *By prayer morning and evening, dresse your Soules like the Lampes of God's Tabernacle. Fill them of the pure oylc-oliue of his Grace, that alwayes they may sliine. * Eliphaz charged lob chieflie with this, as beeintr the chiefe cause of all his woe, that hee restrained his Children. OF THE SOULE, & c . 7. day. 383 prayer before God. With this the Psalmest hath branded the wicked, They call not vpon God, and againe, They call not vpon God. * It is obserued by the most cunning Phy- itions, that paine in speaking and loathing of meate bee two symptoms of a diseased and distempered bodie. A Soute while it prayeth, it speaketh, while it heareth, it eateth. If ;here bee paine in the one and loathing in the other, that Soule cannot bee well. Thrise a day Dauid~was wont to jray, at morning, euening, and at noone. * This zeale also wakened him while others were sleeping. At mid-night hee arose for to pray vnto his God. Happie is^that man, who hall so spende the short time of his life in this valie ofmor- talitie. Let this in all thinges bee an awe-band aboue your heads, that the eye of the Almightie God is euer vpon you, and that bee is acquainted with all your wayes. Where euer^yee bee thinke yourselues euer to bee in that most awefull presence. Make Conscience of all your thoughts, for the verie thought offoolishnesse is euill. Beware of the lustes of youth. Striue with God in prayer, that hee would so ingage you in his grace and loue, that your corruption proue not strongest while your wittes are weakest. Intreate earnestlie the Lord, that hee would make perfect his strength in your weaknesse. When yee iinde anie good beginnings of Grace within yourselues, waite stedfastlie vpon the due accomplishment thereof in Glorie. Whom the Lord loueth hee loueth to the end : his calling and gifts are without repentance. If this yee do carefullie, yee shall bee like twigges, which hauing a vigorous life, sproute and flowrish till they come to trees. And now at last for to conclude, and sumrne vp the whole brieflie. If yee would haue God to dwell into you, bee yee an holie Sanctuarie for his Spirit. If yee would haue Goc to rest in you as hee did into his holie Temple, there must bee in you, as was in his Temple, an Holie of holies. * As were within God's j4rke so must yee haue within your heartes, the Tables of God's Lawe, the sum me of the Olde Testament, and with them the potte of 'Manna; euen Christ the bread of life, the substance of the Newe Testa- ment. Loue this word, honour this word, bleed for thi word, yea, and die for it. Manie in this world bee like thes sal. 14.4. 'sal. 53. 4. * Note. 's.55.16. * Note. Ps. 119. 148. Prou.24.9 * Note?. loll. 6. 35 THE LAST BATTELL A Speactl, Actl7.ll. A Prayer. lPet.5.10. Psal. 144. 10. 1 Tim. 4.5. Gen.27.27 Prou. 15 Zach. 12 10. Pultrons, and base spirited men of Thessalomca, who had no courage for the trueth. As for you, striue to bee like these of Berea, who were better borne and of a more manlie breeding, in that they were couragious for the Trueth. Striue to the keeping of God's Commandments, for like friendes they are so linked together, that if one bee offended all the rest will interest themselues in its quarrell; faile in one, and faile in all. Pray feruentlie, that yee may practise all these my precepts. This doing, yee shall neuer finde your selues fatherlesse. The great God shall bee your Father. To this Father now I giue you, intreating him to bee a Father vnto you in all times to ensue. The Father of mercies, the Sonne of his loue, and the Spirit of comfortes, so guide you in all your carriage, that yee may carrie an incorrupt Conscience to the Graue. The God of all grace make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, and leade you in the Land of vprightnesse. The Lord blesse you all with his best blessings. My blessing I leaue you. Kiss mee, and so fare well. Now the day is farre spent, and my strength beginneth to faile mee ; seeing all thinges, as the Apostle saith, are sanctified by the word of God and prayer, let vs conclude this daye's conference with our humble supplications vnto our God. My deare Pastour, offer yee vp this Ruening Sacrifice. The Lord perfume it with the spirituall incense of Christe's merits, that thereby our Soules beeing perfumed, the Lord may finde a smell as the smell of a fielde which the Lord hath blessed. Pray earnestlie for mee, that the Lord giue mee both strength and courage for the fighting out of this Battell, that in the end I may bee crowned with the Laurels of an euerlasting victorie. The Pastour. My Soule rejoyceth to haue heard so manie good wordes from your mouth. Solomon said verie well and wiselie, A word spoken in due season how good is it ! According to your desire wee shall conceiue a Prayer to GOD for you. The Lord powre vpon all our Soules that promised Spirit of grace and of supplications. A Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 385 A PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN, SORE WEAKNED WITH SICKNESSE. MOST gracious GOD, most deare and louing Father, Let the word of our mouth, and the meditations of our heartes, bee acceptable in thy sight, L ORD, our strength and our Redeemer. By thy Spirit banish all straggling 1 thoughts, and keepe our mindes steddie and at- tentiue in this chiefest worke of deuotion. Beholde, LORD, and consider heere thy poore Seruant fainting in great weaknesse of bodie ; but though flesh and friendes, health and wealth, and all should faile him, thou, LORD, will neuer faile him. Hee is thy Seruant, hee is thy Seruant, the sonne of thy handmaide. Thou hast most powerfullie hitherto supported and vpholded him by thy mer- cifull hand. Now leaue him not while hee is drawing neare vnto his long home. It is easie to perceiue that his age is departing from him, like a shepheard's tent, and that thou art readie to cut off his life like a weauer. His desire, LORD, is to bee with thee ; thou hast heard the sighings of this prisoner, and thou hast vnderstood the grones of thine own Spirit. As thou hast begunne the good worke in him, so perfect it in due time. As thou doest with the yeare, crowne it with thy goodnesse. Withdrawe not thy grace from him till it bee made perfect in weaknesse. Thou, LORD, hast manifested thy loue to him wonderfullie, by putting into his minde and mouth such diuine precepts and counsells, to his Friendes, Wife, and Children, that all that haue heard them, haue beene forced to wonder at the glorie of thy grace. No\v, deare lesvs, let thy force bee with him in his fainting, but the nearer hee draweth vnto his end, let thy Spirit the Comforter enable him the more, till victoriouslie hee hath put an end vnto this Battell. As the strength of his bodie shall beginne to decrease, let the comfortes of thy Spirit increase in his Soule. Seale vp in his heart that peace, which thou hast purchased by the blood of the Prince of peace. Assure him of the rest of these joyes which are to bee reuealed, whereof hee hath alreadie received the earnest. ' O say vnto bis Soule, that thou shalt bet- liis Saluation. Paal.J9.14 Eccl. 12.5 Isa.38.12 Ps. 65. 1 1 ob,4. 13. 'rou. 25. 11. Isa.40.31. Eph.6.11. 386 Ioh.H.14 2 Cor. 5.1 2 Cor. 5. 6 THE LAST BATTJELL In the silence of the night, while deepe sleepe falleth vpon man, make thou his reines to instruct him. Suggest vnto his heart the sweetest wordes of thy comfortes, which may bee vnto him like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Waine his heart daylie more and more from the loue of thinges be- lowe. Make thou his Soule to soare vp with Eagle's wings, towardes the heaueulie Mansions. Prepare now his Soule to the last conjlict. Put vpon him all the Armour of God. Strengthen his Faith, that hee may holde fast by thee, yea, so resoluedlie, that though thou should slay him, yet hee may trust in thee. When the force of sicknesse shall take away the vse of his tongue, make his heart to grone vnto thee in the secret language of thy Spirit, that in thine hands hee commendeth his Soule, and that hee desireth thee to come quicklie for his reliefe. Let not the increasing throes and pangs of death discou- rage him. In greatest anguish vpholde his enfeebled heart with the hope of Glorie. Looke on him, Lord, with the eye of thy mercie ; incline thine eare to the sighes of his heart ; make haste to come, for his Soule is longing for his appoint- ed time, till his change come. As thou art the Lord of 'ife, so vnto thee belong the issues of death. Let strength proceede from thee like vertue from Christens garment, where- by hee may bee incouraged against the fearefull assaults of death, which shortlie in all appearance shall besiege his noble parts, for to bring him vnto dust from whence hee came. Make thy Spirit to enter into his heart, for to vpholde him against this feare and smart of his last and most heauie houre. Let him know that if the earthlie house of his Tabernacle bee dissolued, that hee hath a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in the heauen. Make his Soule more and more earnestlie to grone for to bee cloathed vpon with his house which is in Heauen. Seeing while hee is heere at home in the bodie, hee is absent from the Lord, make thou him confident and willing rather to bee absent from the bodie, that hee may bee present with thee in the Heauens. Let the hope of the Resurrection vpholde against all the terrours of the Graue. Perswade his Soule, that at the sound of that shrill celestial/ Trumpet, his bodie shall arise Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 7- day. 387 and with these same eyes shall beholde his Redeemer, and none other for him. Innumerable euills, Lord, haue compassed him about. Now the time approacheth that thou wilt deliuer him from all his feares. Make haste, Lord ; Come, Lord lesvs, come. Rebuke Sathan wee intreat thee, that in the darksome night hee interrupt not the comfortes of thy Spirit. Suffer neuer that site and craftie one, to bereaue him of \hepledyes of thy loue. Make him to holde fast that which hee hath, that none bee able to take his Crowne. O mercifull God, take notice of all his wants and necessities, and bee thou to him SHADAI, GOD all sufficient for to supplie them. Let him not want that Grace without the which hee cannot seru thee. Through thyselfe make him to push downe all the ene- mies of his Saluation. Through thy Name make him to treade them vnder foote that rise vp against him, for hee hath not forgotten the Name of thee his God, neither hath hee stretched out his hands to a strange God. While his eye-strings shall bee broken, and when the throes of death shall make his heart to tumble within him, then bee thou the strength of his heart, the health of his countenance, and his God. In his greatest griefes anoynt his Soule with some droppes of that oyle ofaladnesse, where- with thou once anoynted our Lord and Sauiour aboue his fellowes. Let thy Graces, like that precious oyntment that ranne downe vpon the beard of Aaron, flowe downe from thee aboundantlie vpon all the powers of his Soule. Let spirituall vertues drop downe vpon him as the dewe of Her- mon, and as the dewe that descended vpon the mountaines of Zion. O thou, the perfection of beautie, shine vpon his Soule. Indewe him with a melting and relenting heart. Bee mercifull to thy distressed Church, comfort Her in all Her teares and troubles. Pittie Her deformities. Adorne Her with Puritie and Vnitie. Though Shee bee outward- lie duskie, because the Sunne hath withered Her, yet Shee is the Kinge's daughter, whose whole ylorie is within. Awake, North Winde, and come thou South ; blow vpon Her Garden, that the spices thereof 'may flowe out. De- clare vnto Her enemies, that if they touch Her, they shall touch the Apple of thine eye. Let them all know that it is hard to kicke against prickes, and that if they persecute thee, thou wilt throw them to the ground. Ps. 45. 7. Ps. 133.2. Verse 3. Cant. 1. 6. Ps. 45. 13. Cant. 4. 6. Zacb. 2. 8. Act. 9. 5. 388 THE LAST BATTELL A Prayer. Ps. 45. 13 loh. 3. 29 A Prayer Bee mercifull to our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kinge's Majestic, as by thy Grace thou hast made him a King, so by thy Grace make him a good King. Powre down a princelie Spirit vpon his Soule, that Hee may haue courage for the Trueth. Make him answerable to his most honourable Style, Defender of the Faith. Vouchsafe thy mercie vpon his Princelie Spouse. Let the beautie of the Lord Her God bee vpon Her, make Her like the Kinge's daughter which is all glorious within. Make Her a Mother in Israel, a nurse Mother to thy Church, an happie Mother of blessed Children. Bee mercifull to all the Nobilitie of our Land, fixe fast their heartes vpon the thinges that are aboue. Blesse our Pastours, make them painefull and faithfull at thy Seruice, that they may gaine with the Talents which thou hast committed to their keeping. Make them to striue more then for states to bee in thy fauour. Let their chiefest care bee to winne and woo manie Soules to the loue of lesvs, the blessed Bridegroome of the Church. Good LORD, bee mercifull to vs that are heere humbled before thee. Encrease our Faith, and better our feeling and apprehension of thy loue. Looke graciouslie vpon this our euening sacrifice y which wee do heere render vnto thy Ma- jestie, perfumed with the merits of thy Sonne, in that prayer which hee by his most sacred wisdome hath taught vs, say- ing, Our Father which art^ &c. The Sicke Man. Before the market time of my life bee ended, O my deare God, let mee haue a rich pennie-worth of thy mercie. Thou who biddeth vs buy without monie, giue vs grace to take the aduantage of the Market, before the Sunne of our life bee set. O that in this our day wee could know the thinges belonging to our peace, that in an holie zeale the cor- ruptions of our affections wherewith our heartes heere bee enthral- led and solde vnder sin, may bee justled out and tread vn- der foote. 389 THE EIGHTH DAYE'S CONFERENCE. A CONFERENCE WITH A CARNALL FRIEND, CONCERNING HIS BURIALL, CONCERNING FUNERALL SERMONS, DI- VERSE PRAYERS. DEATH APPROACHING. A SOLILO- QUEE BETWEENE THE SOVLE AND THE BODIE IN A TRANCE. THEIR LAST ADEWES. THE LAST GASPES. MICHAEL AND SATHAN DISPUTE FOR THE SOVLE. THE troublous toyles of this world are the bane of Man's life ; they surfet his minde with cares. My Spirit is much wearied. Oh, that I had wings like a Done ! then would Iflie away and rest. * O with how manie rootes are wee fastened vnto this earth ! The World, Wife, Life, and Children, but most of all our own corrup- tions, are burdens which hang so fast on, that none hand but that of the Almightie is able to shake them off. So long a wee haue health and wealth wee sfal/ce in our vanities, like Nebuchadnezzar in his palace of confusion. Wee neuer perceiue that wee dwell in Bable till one judgement or other bring vs to confusion. Wee will not suffer to bee reproued while the time is fittest for repentance. Wee are offended at the Word except that it glyde by our faults. Wee will not, with Peter, bee with-stood to the face. ' The Preacher must whisper his reproofes behinde our backes, or hee must speake vnto vs as vnto Princes, into Parables. Wee heare like stones, and (joe like snailes. vpon vs ! oh, that wee were wise ! Fye A Carnall Friend. What are yee now doing, Sir ? In all appearance yee are shortlie for to leaue this world. Yee haue saide all your adewes, and haue turned your backe vpon all worldlie thinges, as Hezekiah did when hee turned hi face to the wall. I desire, Sir, to know of you but one thing : Where would yee bee buried ? Were it not expedient that your Corps lye Ps. 55. 7 * Note. Gal. 2. 1 1 * Note. I Sam. 1 2. Isa.38.-; 390 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to a 2Cor.7.31 * Note. Mat.21.13 * Note. * Note. Reu. 3. 5. A Prayer. into the Church, where are buried these which are in greatest account in this world ? The Sicke Man. What haue I to do with this world, or with the fashions of this world, which passe away ? * Where- fore should I make the glorious House of my God a flesh- potte of corruption ? Fye vpon our folie ! Should it bee conuenient that my stinking bones cast vp anie noysome va- pours, for to trouble the lining at the seruice of the Euer- liuing ? What aduantage shall it bee to my Soule, to come and fetch this bodie out of a Church more than out of a Church yeard ? What prerogatiue shall it bee to my bodie in that day, that it hath beene buried into God's House ? God's House in Scrip- ture is called, An House of prayer ; but in no place is it called, A place of buriall. Let no man make mee an euill example after my death. * What is this : How long shall foolish man goe round in his course and compasse ofvanitie, like a blind horse in a mille ? The Carnall Friend. But would yee not at least haue a Tombe, Sir, and your name written vpon it with this : Heere lyeth such a man ? The Sicke Man. * J^aine man is glutted with vanitie euen vnto the gorge pype. Why trouble yee mee with vani- tie in death, who is now mourning for the vanitie of my life ? Mine account is cast vp for another world. My name is written into the Booke of life, what care I for Letters into stones. Away with such Banners of pride ! Such thinges are but colde comfortes to a wearied Conscience ; such thinges are but vanities of none abode. Where are now the Mausels and most glorious Tombes of Emperours ? It was well saide by a Pagane, Sunt etiam sua fata Sepulchris. That is for to giue a glosse to these wordes : Tombes wherein the dead are buried, will bee buried themselues. Nothing is heere permanent : Triumphs haue their Tombes, and Crownes haue their compasse. my God, fasten and fixe the eyes of my Soule vpon that which is eternaU. O the folies of men's heartes, who vainlie and needlesslie waste vpon their dead vanities, that which might build houses for the poore ! But let proude men lye vnder their statelie Towers ; such lifted vp stones must at last fall downe as hee fell who now lyeth vnder them. Carnall Friend. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 391 I like well of Beza his answere on his death bedde to one hat spake to him of a Tombe : Sub cespite viridi, saide hee ; hat is, Lay mee vnder the greene Turfe. A notable word >f humilitie. Good Deborah was buried vnder an Oke tree. VTanie may lye vnder painted stones, whose Soules are pyn- led into Hell. God will neuer inquire of a man's Soule, Where was thy bodie buried ? but, How hast thou liued into hat bodie ? shall hee say. Lay mee then vnder the greene Turfe. * How manie Marters haue beene burnt into ashes which haue beene cast vp into the winde, and scattered vpon the waters ! Casio tegitur qui non habet vrnam, Hee is couered with the Heauens who wanteth a graue. Facilis jactura Sepulchri est, The losse of buriall is no great losse. O that my Soule were truelie humble ! * I haue, alas ! n the dayes of my vanitie, beene too much pynned with the jride of life, scandalouslie appearing without ; but O, O, O, Si trades in oculo strucs in corde, a little beame of pride in the eye, telleth that there is a stake of it in the heart ! And yet in this Turfe of humilitie, which I crye for, I spye a lurking pride. Pride is a secret thing, so small spun that hardlie can it bee discerned. A man will bee proude that hee is not proude, or rather, because hee will not seeme to bee proude. This is priuie pride. The humblest heart i< not euer couered with coarsest apperall ; yet certainlie it i; good, both in life and in death, to shewe good example. Les ser sinnes at the first make way, and pane a causey fo) greater. Folies framed by some are followed by others Woe to the world for Scandales ! The chiefe thing at burialls whereof men would take heede is that the dead burie not the dead. Woe to these buriers when these who are dead in sin burie them who are dead for sin. As for you, Friend, bee wise in your wordes, Th lippes ofthefoolc, saide the wise man, will swallow vp him- selfe. In manie men the affections keepe captiue the vnder- standing. The Carnall Friend. I pray God to make mee wise In all this which I haue spoken there is no great matter o folie. Seeing the pompe of bnriall displeaseth you, yee ma} bee willing that a funerall Sermon bee made for your prais Beza his reply on lis death bedde. * Note. Note. Eccl. 10 12. 392 THE LAST BATTELL A Speach to * Note. Prou. 31. 31. * Note. * Note. * Note. 2 Sam. II. 4. [.hap. 24. 1. lKin.11.4, 2Chr.32. >o. oh. 20.37, ch. 35. '22, Psal.78.6 and commendation: no man of anie worth now wantetfa this honour. The Sicke Man. So manie men so manie mindes. Away with the flattering pane. 402 THE LAST BATTELL A Mat 27.51 Isa. 1. 18 ler. 23. 6 Isa. 42. 3 loh. 1. 16 Eccl.6.15 his sinnes stand betweene thy face and him, for to ecclipae his Soule the light of thy countenance. Seale vp in his heart by thy Spirit, the free and full forgiuenesse of all his transgressions. Thou who by the vertue of thy death made the vaile of the Temple to rent for to make an open way to the Holie of holies, make also the partition wall of all his iniquities to cleauejfrowi the toppe to the bottome, that his Soule, remoued from his bodie, may get entrie to the highest and holiest of the Heauens, where thine honour dwelleth. Make thy Graces in him to growe like Elias his eloude, which at the first no bigger than an hand, at last by and by did ouerspread the whole skie. Sanctifie his Soule and soften his heart, with the diuine dewe of thy Grace. Say vnto his Soule, I am thy Valuation. Beholde, Lord, his Soule is seeking thee, let nothing in his search carrie him on the by. Keepe fast in his rememberance the blessed bloodie passion of his Redeemer lesvs. When Death shall come, let him die with thy Christ in his Armes. Strengthen and increase his desire to bee dissolued, assur- ing him that it shall bee much better for him. Furnish him with strength, whereby hee may row against the strictest streames of all temptations, till hee arriue into the hauen of the Heauens, the sole and safe harberie of Saluation. And seeing no vncleane thing can enter into Heauen, Lord, wash this thy seruant, and wash him thorowlie, that by the vertue of thy Blood, his sinnes, though they were red like scarlet and crimsin, may bee made white like woll, and whiter than the snow. Pull off his Soule the menstrous cloath of his own riyhteousnesse, and clothe him witli the righteousnesse of him whose statelie style is, THE LORD ovu RIGHTEOVSNESSE. Thou who hast alreadie added strength vnto his Faith, while it was scant like a smoking flaxe^ let not the sparkle which once thou hast kindled for euer bee quenched. Amid the sight of his sinnes, make him to lay holde vpon the merit and full satisfaction of his Sauiour. Let him with all the Faithfull, receiue of that fulnesse, and grace for grace. And seeing now, Lord, hee is comming vnto thee thorow the snakiejielde of manie temptations, let hisfeete bee shod with the preparation of thy Gospel. Thou, Lord, wilt neuer suffer anie that trust in thee to bee confounded. Hee followed thee constantlie in his life, now let thy Spirit tryst Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 403 him at the houre of death. Hee disclaimeth all hope of helpe by anie other than by thyselfe alone. Though hee knoweth not perfectlie what to say, yet his eyes are on thee. Thou who is Alpha and Omega, hast begunne this good worke in him ; crowne it with the perfection of thy goodnesse. Let him more and more feele that hee is euerlastinglie acquite, by the Blood of the Lambe, from the terrours of God's Tribu- nall. Refresh his Soule more and more with celestiall spiri- tualljoyes, proceeding from the Spirit of Grace. Let him feele himselfe assuredlie knit and vnited to thee, O thou presenter of men, that in and by thee hee may bee presented blamelesse before thy Majestie's lustice-seate. Furnish his minde with light, and his mernorie with strength, that hee may vnderstand and remember that Christe's death is an absolute and all sufficient Sacrifice, for remouing the guilt of all repenting sinners. Shewe him a signe of thy loue. Multiplie in his heart the pledges of thy kindnesse. Make him faithfutt vnto death, that hee may receiue the Crowne of life. Thou hast alreadie subdued in him all loue and liking of this world. Now graunt, that the hope of that glorie which is to bee reuealed, may bee so strong in his Soule, that it may shield and fence him from the force and furie of the last assaults. The nearer hee draweth vnto death, inlarye the channell of thy graces like a Riuer which is broadest to- wards the end of its course. Make his heart in the sorest pangs of death, to bee still lifted vp towards thee. And seeing Death and the Deuill, man's two last enemies, are euer busie, the one for to fright, the other for to tempt, prepare him, Lord, and furnish him so with thy Graces, that hee may proue victorious in this last assault. O gracious GOD, assist him by thy force against the most violent blustering- windes of the last and most fearefull temp- tations. If Sathan looke in at the doores of his heart, seek- ing for an entrie, let him neuer get so much as one chamber- roome set a part for his sojourning. Make thy grace vnto him like a Sunne, like a Bridegroome comming out of his Chamber, to disperse the darknesse of his mistie minde. Vnto his last gaspe direct him so by thy good Spirit, that his Soule may cleaue so fast vnto thee that neither sin, nor sicknesse, life, nor death, may bee able to separate him from thee. Thniii/li. tlinn sJimtld situ/ hint yet fill ficr h'tist in 404 THE LAST BATTELL Hab. 8. 2. Eph. 6.12 thee. Faile him not now in time of neede. Vpholde his heart in this heauie houre. Let his Soule lurke vnder the wings of thy mercie, till the tempest of wrath bee calmed and past ouer. Bee thou to him a shelter against the heauie showers of the last agonie. O gracious Lord, in wrath remember mercie. In the multitude of thy compassions blot out his transgressions, and that for the dearest droppes of that sacred Blood that gushed vpon the cursed crosse. Rinse and cleanse his heart from all vncleannesse. Giue him courage in his greatest feares. Let not Death bee vnto him as a king offeare, nor hee as one of the wicked, whose hope doeth perish with their breath. O Lord, let thy Name bee vnto him like a strong tower, for to hide him into the time of trouble. Let this bee the cleare candle of his comfort, neuer to bee quenched, that Christ by his death hath for him and all the Faithfull, ouercome Death and disarmed it of its sting. Declare by the inward motion of thy Spirit to his Soule, that the nature of death by the death of Christ, is changed into a sleepe vnto all thefriendes of Christ, who by the infinite power of his diuine Nature, hath swallowed it vp in victorie, and hath so digested it, that now the bitternesse thereof is past. As the d.rke was to Noah, and Zoar vnto Lot, so bee thou a refuge to this faithfull Soule fighting thy battells, not onlie against Jlesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the gouernours of darknesse of this world, and against spiritual wickednesse in high places. Let thy strength bee made perfect in his weaknesse. As thou hast vpholden him hitherto by the strength of thy Spirit, so con- tinue with him vntill the end. The battell is the Lord's ; fight Lord, for thine own cause, euen for this Soule, one of thy redeemed ones. Obtaine thou the victorie, and take the glorie to thyselfe. O God, both of grace and glorie, seale surelie vp in his bosome the pardon of all his iniquities. Per- fect the comfortes which thou hast begunne ; say vnto his Soule, that heauen is not so high, nor hell so low, nor the world so wide, as are thy mercies towards him. All thy creatures haue their own dimensions, but thy mercie, Lord, like thyselfe, is without measure. Out of these infinite com- passions make this sillie Soule partaker of the dearest mercies that euer rouled together the relenting bowels of thy tender- est loue. Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 405 Heare vs, Lord, in all these our sutes, and that for the sake of thy best beloued and onlie begotten Sonne, the Lord lesvs Christ, in whose Name, and at whose command, wee powre out our heartes to thee, in that prayer which by his own sa- cred and most blessed mouth hee hath taught vs, Our Father, c. The Sicke Man. Lord, heare thou in Heauen. Blessed for euer bee thy Name, for such spiritual! com fortes : for so manie mercies, I can render nothing but the little mites of praise and thanksgiuing. Mine heart is filled with songs of God's mercie. If his Spirit of grace had not vpholden mee in my first feares, while, (as I thought,) I was wrapped into an infinite wrath, I had certainlie been swallowed vp with ouermuch sorrow. But now, blessed eternallie bee the Lord, who hath made the earth to swallow vp all the floodes of temptations and tribu- lations, which that red Dragon the Deuill, a bloodie mur- therer, hath cast out of his mouth after mee, for to carrie my Soule down head-longs to perdition ! Now finde I God' word to bee true, that hee is ouercome by the Blood of th Lambe. Except that the Lord had beene on my side, O in what a dumbe dumpe had my poore Soule beene driuen into ere now ! The Pastour. Hee who followed Adam thorow the thicke bushes, and lonas in the bottome of the sea, Hee who blessed the crooked man, and made the barren fertile, anc the dumbe to speake, the deafe to heare, and the blind to see, hath made his grace perfect in your vveaknesse. Hee best feeleth the pulse of our heartes, and the force of our life. Loth would Hee bee to breake the bruised reede, or to quench the smoking flaxe. * All men by nature are but like an vncleane Dung-hitt of drosse, their heartes at the first are but a den of Dragons. But so soone as the Spirit of grace hath begunne to drawe the draughts and lineaments of God', image within the Soule of a man, nothing shall bee able to deface or mangle that liuelie image. To all sortes of temp- tations, God's wisdome shall finde an out-gate. * Neithei the traines of Sathan, nor the treason of our bosome shines, nor the terrours of hell, nor the trashes of the world, shall euer bee able to preuaile against Adirim, God's excellent ones According as Zacharias, filled with the Holie Ghost, prophe- Reu.12.1 Gen. 3. 8 lona. 2. 1 Gen.32.2 lSam.1.1 Luk. 1.62 Luk. 7.22 loh. 9. 7 Isa. 42. I * Note. * Note. Ps. 16. 3 406 THE LAST BATTELL Death Psal.40.1 Verse 2. Verse 3. Luk. 1. 14 cied, It is graunted vnto vs, that wee, beeing deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, may serue him without feare. The Sicke Man. I blesse God for such inestimable corn- fortes. Sathan hath shrewdlie assaulted mee, but could not preuaile. My corruptions haue beene subdued and awed by the Majestic of the Spirit of lesvs. My Soule rejoyceth in GOD. In the merits of Christ, as in a glasse, I see him a meeke and mercifull Father. I am not now afraide to come to a tryall at his Tribunall, \ am no more dismayed for the vnquenchable flammes of the fierie lake. I thinke certainlie that there was neuer a man so much be- holden to my God as I am. Truelie may I sing with the Psalmest, I waited patientlle for the Lord, and hee inclined vnto mee, and heard my cry. Hee brought mee out of an horrible pit, out of the myrie clay, and .set my fecte vpon a Rocke, and established my goings* Hee hath put a newe song into my mouth, euen praise vnto our God. Manie shall see it and feare, and shall trust in the Lord. that 1 had breath for the setting foorth of his praise ! Happie is hee who while hee may vtter wordes, praiseth God continuallie. Blessed is that man who may call his tongue his Glorie. * O my Soule, I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hindes ofthejielde, that thou cease not to praise his Might, his Mercie, and his Majestic. O my Soule, take heede and listen vnto his voyce. O lesvs, the great Deputie of mercie sent by the Father, forsake mee not in this heauie houre. Now I sore sicken, so that all naturall force faileth mee. My wordes now so wearie mee, that I thinke ere it bee long this bodie shall bee lodged in the place of silence. But let mee intreate you, Sir, so long as yee shall perceiue life to bee in mee, let it please you to continue in some good purpose concerning the world to come. By some holie discourse rouse vp my drousie Spirit, holde mine heart vpon an edge. Let mee not die like a senselesse Nabal, of whom it is written, that his heart died within him, so that hee became like a stone. Manie blindlie and boldlie rush into hell. 1 beseech yii, Sir, to waite well vpon mee, till yee see the end. I thinke that ere it bee long my Soule shall hee at the farthest tryst. A PrayerJ () Lord, warme my frozen Soule with the sense of the kindled compassions of the bowels of thy lour. Inlighten my * Note. : Sam. 2o. 37. Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 407 mistie minde and cleare it with thy countenance. Bee thou the comforter of my Conscience, vntill the day break and the shadows flie away. Take now, Sir, my Soule into the armes of your prayers, lift it vp and lay it into that blessed bosome of my Lord's mercies. Bend yet againe your knees before God in prayer, that hee for his mercies' sake would receiue mee into my Master's joye. O but my Soule fluttereth fast within mee for to bee at my God. Let it please you to bee feruant in prayer for mee, that I m&yfoile vnder my feete the Deuill, Death, and all the powers of hell. The Deuill in death will not faile to giue mee a furious assault at the chiefest fortresse of my Salvation, for to batter it downe to the ground. In- treate the Lord, that his mercie may bee a strong rempart and a blessed Bulwark against all the Engines of hell, which are readie bent to waste and hauock all God's graces within mee. O Lord, campe thine Angels about mee. Place thy Pa- uilions of war betweene mee and mine enemies. Refresh mee more and more with thy comfortes. Giue mee the ear- nest of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding. Possesse mee with the Spirit of gladnesse, for that thou in mercie hast forgiuen mee my sinnes. Continue so vnto the end, that in the heauens for euer this may bee the burden of my song, For his mercie endurethfor euer. Let it please you, Sir, on whom God hath vouchsafed the Spirit of prayer in a good and great measure, to assist mee with your comfortes and prayers, lest by temptations I should beginne to slacke off my care and watchfulnesse. The Pastour. Holde fast your eye vpon Christ your Redeemer. Follow him thorow the valie of death, for hee hath not onlie pointed out our path, but as Captaine of our Valuation, hath trodden euerie steppe before vs. Yee may well sticke a little in the narrow throate of Death, but that one steppe being past yee enter into Rehoboth, a place of roorne, farre from the reekie smoke, vaine shadowes, and dreames of earthlie vanitie, and perishing pleasures. * Bee glad, Sir, to flit from this barren, moorish (/round, and muddle mortalitie, for to goe to a paradise, a Palace, a place of pleasures for euermore. According to your desire wee shall returne to God by prayer. Cant, 4. 6. A Prayer. Ps. 130. 1 2, 3, &c. Ps. 23. 4. Heb.2.10 Gen.2G.22 * Note. Ps. 16. 11 4-08 THE LAST BATTELL Psal.42.1 Isa.57.2. Ps. 51. 8. A PRAYER FOR THE SICKE MAN DRAWING NEARE TO THE DO ORES OF DEATH. Father of mercies and God of all comfortes, in whom all goodnesse and graces are treasured, let it please thee fauourablie to regard the Soule of this thy seruant heere, whose heart panteth after thee, as the wearied Hart panteth after the water Brookes. Refresh his Soule with the di- uine dewe of thy grace till it bee entered in at the gates of Glorie. Powre into his heart the sweete streames of thy loue. Settle his Soule in a right and vpright course, so long as it remaineth in this mistie and muddie mortalitie ; send out thy light and guide it by thy Grace, till it hath pas- sed the straites of Death for to enter into the Land of vp- rightnesse. O Father of mercies, perswade him by thy Spi- rit, that the com ruing of Death shall bee to him a time of discharge, a time of freedome from sicknesse of bodie, an- guish of Spirit, trouble of Conscience, and from all possibili- tie of sinning anie more. Let him know that while hee is going to the Graue, hee is going to a bedde of ease, where most quietlie hee shall rest from all his toylsome labours. Turne all feare of Death into a cheerfull expectation, and longing for the houre of dissolution : Make quiet his Con- science, that hee may die with comfort. O thou Sauiour of mankind, whose bowels are filled with mercifull compassions, spreade the wing of thy righteous garment ouer this 8oule of thy seruant. Thou hast shaken him with thy terrours in diuerse assaults. Thou hast brought him low, for to make him a fitte passenger for the little doore which leadeth vnto Glorie. Leaue him not now, Lord, in his greatest neede. Make thine angels camped about him, powerfullie to assist him against all the last assaults of the Euill One. Thou who hast heard all his grones, registrate thou his sighs, and put all his teares into thy bottels. Suffer not thy kindled zeale to coole in him. In an holie despaire of his own worth, make him wholie to relye vpou thy meere mercies in Christ, the onlie salue for sicke Soules, and remeede for broken bones. While hee is weakest, worke with thy Spirit feelinglie and powerfullie into his heart. Subdue euerie euill motion that may arise therein for the troubling of his Soule. Dravve vp his desire aboue the pitch of all natural) knowledge. Banish Prayer. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 409 all earthlie thinges cleane out of his minde, and make all his thoughts to attend vpon thee. In thy diuine might rebuke Sathan, that hee interrupt not thy comfortes. Let him not bee able by his secret craft and wyles to steale from him the pledges of thy loue. O Sonne of GOD, Sunne of Righteousnesse, sende a quickning heate with a shining light into his sillie Soule. Make thy blessed Beanies to strike on his heart for to warme it with thy loue. Set all his desires afloate from the moode of sinfull mortalitie. Thou at diuerse times hast affrighted him fearfullie with dreadfull visitations of Conscience. His Soule hath beene sore racked with the pittifull perplexities of a vexed minde. Now death is approaching. Sight and senses and all are failing, but thou Lord will neuer faile him. While the naturall eyes of his bodie beginne to growe dimme, then cleare thou the spirituall eyes of his Soule, that hee may with Stephen see the heauens opened, and the Sonne of Man readie to receiue him. And alwayes, Lord, as the time of death shall approach, so let his Soule drawe nearer vnto thee, that while sicknesse shall take away the vse of his tongue, his heart may cry to thee, Come, Lord lesvs, come; in thine hands I resigne my Spirit. Now Father of mercies, seeing thy Girnels are prepared for him, by the power of thy grace fanne this Corne cleane from its chaffe, that it may bee treasured vp therein. Put his life in a readinesse, that hee may giue thee a cheerfull account of all wherein hee hath imployed thy Talents. Let him heare these wordes of joye, Faithfutt seruant, come and enter in thy Master's joye. Long hath his Soule been wooing the heauens with weake fluttering desires. Now open the window of thine Arke, and let in this wearie Doue, crouding for thy Rest. Manie deepths bee betweene vs and heauen : One deepth catteth v on another deepth : for flesh and blood there is no possibilitie of passing thorow. But, Lord, that which is impossible with men is possible with thee. Let therefore the vertue of thy death bee to him like a Bridge for to set him safe ouer all the gulfes ofmiserie. In his journie to thy Kingdome remoue all rubbes out of the way. O Lord, listen to our cry. Put these our vriworthie pray- ers into thy golden Censer. Perfume them with the incense oftfiy righteousnesse, and offer them vp to thy Father vpon 3 H Mai. 4. 2. Act. 7.56. 410 Death A. Prayer, * Note. Isa.16.11 * Note. * Note. the Altar of thy diuinitie. And thou, Father of mercies, for the merits of thy Sonne, his all sailing death which hee hath suffered for all repenting sinners, receiue in mercie this Soule which Sathan hath sought to sift. Receiue the deare price of the Blood of thy Sonne. Let thy lusticesay, / am satisfied. Let thy mercie so smile vpon him, that it may bee the health of his countenance and the comfort of his Conscience. While hee shall finish his course, finish thou his Faith with perfection, whereby hee may die, hauing a settled assurance of that blessed Inheritance and massie Crowne of immortalitie, which Christ hath conquised by his bloodie merits. To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace, bee all glorie, honour, dominion, and euerlasting power, for now and euer. Amen. The Sicke Man. Lord, heare thou in Heauen. bless- ed God, and Father of eternitie, seeing my time now is shorty giue mee grace to manage it well. Shute not thine eares to my sighes, while my tongue in thejaw.es of death, shall cleauefast to the roofe of my mouth. follow mee with thyfauours, euen thorow the valie of the shadow of death. Lord, because thou art faithfull, and cannot lie, I looke shortlie to receiue in hand that which I haue in hope. come now and put an end to the dayes of my vanitie. The Pastour. Blessed and magnified bee the Lord of eternitie, for such wonderfull mercies towards you. * Hee most powerfullie and most wonderfullie hath brought you backe from the corrupt course of Nature, as a Boat rowed against the streame by the force of Armes and of Oares. Beholde ! now yee approach vnto your Heauen : bee of good heart, Sir, yee are neare vnto your rest, the place of pleasures for euermore. Now seeing the end draweth neare, yee haue to remember well if yee haue anie grudge against anie, that before yee decease, they may bee fetcht and friended with you. The Sicke Man. I wish all men to bee well ; I hope that no man wisheth otherwise to mee. * My desire was neuer either to reuile or to reuenge. I am readie to satisfie where I haue failed, and to forgiue where I haue receiued the greatest wrong. Man's wronges against mee are but light in comparison of my wickednesse against God. * Hee is not worthie that God should forgiue him his sinnes who will not forgiue his neighbour an injurie. My good God hath for- Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. ill giuen mee all. 'As hee hath forgiuen mee, so I forgiue all men, and desire the like to bee done by others vntb mee. * My Soule abhorreth these wordes of ranckour, I may for- giue him, but I will not forget him. The softning Spirit of God cannot dwell where there is such stonie, steelie hara 1 - nesse of heart. Fountaine of Grace, powre the powers of thy Spirit within my breast, that my Soule may bee refreshed witn thy blessed balmie comfortes of sailing grace. Drawe vp my spirit toward the Tabernacles of immortalitie. when shall I come and appears before God ! Put to the Spurre to this d\i\\jadde of my foggie flesh, that I may make more haste in my journie. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in heauen. Seeing God hath blessed you with Wealth, I doubt not but that yee will do something for the well of Colledges and Hospitales. * Colledges are the Seminaries or seede-plotes ofvertues, out of which come these who become Rulers of the Church and Commonwealth. Hospitales are shelters for the poore, t\\efriendes of Christ. Christe's counsell to the rich is, that they makefriendes of the Mammon ofvnright- usnesse. Such wordes were not spoken by our Lord with- out great and weightie reasons. The Sicke Man. All these thinges were done in my Testament, while I put mine house to an order. I haue not forgot that point of dutie. Hee is not worthie to bee called a faithfull man who leaueth not behinde him some fruites of bis Faith. * That Faith which cannot justifie a man by good workes before men, will neuer justifie his Soule before God. Remember mee, Lord, concerning this, and wype not away my good deedes which I haue done for thy glorie. Let men dreame of Saluation as they please, S. lames his precept is, that men shewe their Faith by their workes. Though Pharisees do all that they do for to bee scene, men must not in mens sight furbeare to do well. Because Hypocrites come to preaching and prayers publicklie, true Israelites for that must not sitte at home. The Godlie must not bee so base in heart as to abstaine from all publicke good, Because the wicked worship but outwardlie. Shewes without substance in some, should not bee able to banish the shelves rf substance from others. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, yee speake wiselie. As the * Note. A Prayer. Ps. 42. 2. * Note. Luk. 16.9. * Note. Neh.13.14 [am. 2. 18. * Note. THE LAST BATTELL Death . 9. * Note. am. 2. 18, Mat. 6. 4. Mat. 5. 16 Luk.11.33 * Note. Mat. 5. 14. * Note. * Note. * Note. A Prayer tree is first scene in the budde, and then in the Jlowrish, and after in thefruite, so must the life of man bee. Because the barren Jigge tree had nothing but leaves, the fruitfull tree must not growe bare : the leaues of the tree haue their own vse among thefruites. So haue godlie shewes good vses when they are joyned with true substance. * The Faith of a Christian should not thinke shame to shewe \ierfaireface, because Hypocrisie's face seemeth to bee faire while it isfaird- ed ; no, not. God will haue true Faith to come out, that the world may see her into workes. Shewe mee thy Faith by thy workes. Christ who desireth that the niggard or ambitious left handy know not or see not the liberalitie of the charitable right hand, commandeth that wee let our light so shine be- fore men, that they may see our good workes, and glorijie our Father which is in heauen. The graces of God's Spirit in a man are like a light Candle. No man light a Candle, and put it vnder a bushell, but on a Candle-sticke, and it giueth light to all that are in the house. * The good life of the godlie man should bee like a Citie set on a hill, which cannot bee hidde. * The la- bourer soweth not his seede on the ground that it may still remaine hidde vnder the cloddes ; neither doeth God sow his graces in our heartes that there they may lurke and still abide secret. * I like not these who feare to seeme godlie, lest they should bee thought to bee Hypocrites. Euen in that are they Hypocrites, that for feare they seeme to affect god- linesse, will not do good that may bee scene, which would moue the true Israelites to glorijie our Father in heauen, yea, and also allure these to come to God who as yet are strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel. I confesse, that few bee troubled with such a feare. It is a sin whereof verie few in this Land are guiltie, yet seeing it is a sin, it should bee carefullie auoided. * Because Papists wholie relye on their workes, Protestants, with great scan- dale, will onlie bragge of their Faith. Thus both the one and the other against the trueth of doctrine, separate that which God hath joyned together. The Sicke Man. O Lord, GOD of gods, O Father oi euerlasting compassions, u'hose blessed bowels did bleed vpoi\ the crosse for to saue sinners, pittie heere a fraile and feeble creature, yet tugging and wrestling in the Barras of thi sinfull flesh. Furnish mee with strength, whereby I may Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 413 surmount and vanquish all difficulties which are betweene my Soule, and the place of its euerlasting rest. I am weake, forbeare mee, Lord, in thy great mercie. loyne thy Grace with my griefe. O that I were with my Christ, the Marke whereat I aime, the Port whereto I saile, the rest of my de- sires ! Let thy good Spirit, O Lord, assist mee. Let thy fauour and grace bee my vade-mecum till I come to thy Glo- rie. O who shall" giue to my Soule the wings of a Done, that it may flee out of the Douket of this bodie vp to its God ! O deare Sauiour, set mee as a seale vpon thine heart. Drawe mee and wee shall runne after thee. Holde mine heart aloft, that it may onlie minde the thinges aboue. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in heauen, and graunt the sute of thy seruant. I feare, Sir, that yee bee wearied with speaking ; as I perceiue yee force yourselfe in your wordes aboue the reach of your strength. Seeing yee trauaill thus in paine of your speach, spende the little space of life that resteth in holie meditations concerning the bloodie woundes of Christ your Sauiour. The Sicke Man. Christ onlie now is my comfort. I loue him with the best bowels of mine heart. In the bowels of his mercie I reade, by the eye of Faith, most fair lines of his loue, all written in great Capitall letters of an heauenlie impression. * Christ is to mee in steede of all, for alreadie in my neede, hee hath stood mee in more steede than all. O in what a pittifull plight my sillie and forlorne Soule was once into ! Blessed bee hee for euermore, who in so great kindnesse hath shined vpon mee with the blessed, bright, and vnspotted beames of his mercie. Oh, but my Soule panteth after him ! Oh, how this heart of mine is euill to breake ! What a piece of clammie teugh clay is this that fettereth so my Soule, that by no meanes can it bee loosed from it, that it may soare vp to its God, from griefe to glorie. O that I were with him with whom I shall not want the thing that I can wish ! Now, Lord, the time is come ; pull off mee the dull iviede of sinfutt mortalitie, and clothe my Soule in white with the Robe of Christe's right- eousnesse, that it may follow the Lambe. O but I am wearied ! My Soule longeth to see the face of my God. The Pastour. Waite vpon the Lord's will : when it is time, hee will open the prison doore and let your Soule flie v}> to your Glorie. Thinke on Heauen still. * Mount vp Ps. 55. 6. ^ant. 8. 6 Jant. 1. 4 * Note. * Note. 414 THE LAST BATTELL Death A Prayer. A Prayer 2 Tim. 4.8 Ps. 16.11. A Prayer, your minde to your Maker, who shall shortlie roofe with Glo- rie the graces which hee hath reared vp into your heart. Let the hope of these thinges hearten you in the mudde and myre of this sinfull mortalitie. The Sicke Man. O Lord, pittie this Soule, which I haue defiled and defaced with scarlet transgressions and crimsin iniquities. Thou hast begunne the good worke in mee. It is now neere to perfection. Put to now the last hand, and perfect the worke. Rub out perfectlie, with the Blood of thy Lambe, the least staines which sticke in my Soule, that while thou shalt look vpon mee, thou may know mee to bee thy redeemed one by the stampe of thine own Image. O Lord, fixe mine heart so into thine own heart, that no thing bee able to pull it out, without pulling out thine own. It hath beene like a crooked twigge. O writhe it so now the right way, that it may bee according to thine own heart. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in Heauen, and graunt the sute of thy Seruant. Let nothing bee able to tickle, tempt, or trouble his Soule. Bee of good heart, Sir, the Battell is neare an end. Fight out the good fight, finish your course, and keep the Faith; hence- foorth is laide vp for you a Crowne of righteousnesse, which the LORD shall giue you at that day. Make now full proofe of your courage, which shall shortlie bee couered with a Crowne. Holde out still in your holie exercise till your change come. The Sicke Man. I wearie of this cottage of clay. I am at a point with all that is vnder the Sunne. I care not for this world's fauour, no more for its frowne. But, O but my Soule longeth to bee with my Lord, that I may see his face \vit\\fuflnesse of 'joy e ! O Thou with whom nothing is impossible, make the scales of mortalitie to fall from mine eyes, that I may see Thee before euen as thou art. My Soule longeth to bee out of this myrie lake of miserie. for to dwell with Thee into the Palace of im- mortalitie. O when shall I get ridde of these sinfull bonds ! O Sauiour of mankind, give eare vnto my sute. Deliuere mee from this seeming life, that I may die to Hue the life of pleasures for euermore. O drawe, drawe out this Soule en- tombed into this bodie ! Before thou separate them, seale surelie thy pardons within my Conscience, and do perfectlie away all my transgressions. Garde mee and assist mee, andj harnesse my Soule against Sathan his last on-set. Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 415 Let my Soule graspe with an holie greedinesse in the hand of Faith, such spiritual! comfortes as thou, O Lord, makest to come from the boundlesse and bottomlesse fountaine of thy mercie toward all these whom thou loueth. Let my Soule feele more and more sensiblie, these mercies which fairlie and orientlie streame thorow the bloodie woundes of my blessed Sauiour, lesvs the Redeemer. Wash and bathe my drooping Soule in the well of life. Giue vnto it a drinke of the riuers of thy pleasures. O Lord of loue, shedde thy loue into mine heart, thorow the bleeding bowels of my blessed Sauiour. O blessed Re- deemer of lost rnankinde, O Pelicane of pittie, whose heart did euer melt with mercifull compassions, pittie my Soule in this painefull plight. Mine heart strings are racked, my bowels are rent, the house of the Soule is falling downe, now open the doore of thine euerlasting Tabernacles, that my Soule may go from Grace to Glorie. Make the power of thy loue like a load stone, for to drawe mine heart after thee from the mudde of this mortalitie. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in Heauen, and fulfill the sute of thy Seruant, burie all his sinnes and his sorrowes in the bottomlesse sea of thy mercie. Entombe in the Tombe of lesvs, where they may lye for euer without anie hope of a resurrection. The Sicke Man. / waitefor the Lord, my Soule doeth waite and in his word do I hope. My Soule waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning, say, more than they that watclifor the morning. My Soule is wearied of this earthlie Tabernacle. when shall I come and appeare before God ! O that I were at my wished home ! O now moue the poole of thy mercie, and moue my Soule to runne into it. The Pastour. It is likelie that within an houre God shall graunt you your desire. Could not you watch with mee but an houre ? saide Christ to his Diciples. Yee haue now but an houre's absence from your God. Yee haue but an houre's voyage from the bodie to the sight of God's face, the place of your rest. Fixe fast your eyes vpon the Crowne of immor- talitie, till your Soule bee past from toylsome Time to Eter- nitie. Yet a little while, and God shall retire you from the tyring trauells of this life. Watch but an houre, and your end shall bee peace. A Prayer Ps. 130. 5 Verse. 6. Ps. 42. 2. Mat.26.40 Ps. 37. 37 416 THE LAST BATTELL Death A Prayer, A Prayer, [sa. 57.15, The Sicke Man. The Lord sende a good houre wherein I may lay dovvne the loade of this mortalitie. Alas ! manie an houre haue I euill and idlie spent in pampering this foggie flesh, with the light and loose pleasures of this life. O Spirit of Grace, drawe neare vnto my Soule. Make thy residence into this broken heart. Correct, cure, and couer all the corruptions of my Nature. Beginne and end and crowne the worke with thy goodnesse. At last close in mee thy graces with thy glorie. O make mine eyes to see, and mine armes to carrie, and mine heart to bee filled with thy Saluation. Conuoye vnto my Soule the warmest blood that euer heated the heart oflesvs. Let that euer reeking blood wherein is a Sauour of life vnto life, comfort and vpholde my Soule in this last heauie houre. Now, Sir, seeing the end draweth neare, helpe mee to spende well this houre, which in all appearance shall bee my last. I wish now that all my thoughts and affections bee now so bended toward my God, that they neither sway nor swerue from him by anie idle wandering of minde. Thou that art high and excellent, who dwellest in the high and holie place, though Thou bee high, thy promise is to dwell also with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit. According to thy promise reuiue the Spirit of the humble, and giue life to him that is of a contrite heart. O Lord, according to thy wonted grace make mee in my last agonie, to possesse my Soule in peace and patience. Dis- appoint Sathan in all his craftie fetches. O couer this sillie Turtle vnder the mantle of thy mercie. All other couer- ings are but light and slight like Spiders' webbes, which can- not endure the breath and blast of thy mouth. The Pastour. Lord, hearken thou in heauen, and giue eare vnto the sute of thy Seruant. 1 perceiue indeede, that now your wordes wearie you. Lest yee faint I shall take the speach vpon mee. If it bee your will I shall let you heare a most diuine discourse, taken from a godlie preacher on his death-bedde, the wordes surelie are weightie and of great power. If yee please, I shall let you heare them : while I speake them, meditate yee, and in your minde make them your own wordes. The Sicke Man. I intreate you, Sir, for to let mee heare them. 1 shall follow you in mine heart as I can. I liiule that my tongue almost now faileth mee. Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 417 God, while Iheare, let the Spirit of grace take harbour into mine heart. Set all mine affections on bensell, that I may carefullie giue eare vnto thy comfortes, the cordialls of thy Gospel. O cleare the sight of my minde, dazeled with the mist of my corrupt affections. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in heauen, and forgiue the sinnes of thy seruant. After this manner, Sir, the man of God spake vpon his death-bedde. 1 owe to God a death, as his Sonne died for mee. Euer since I was borne, I haue beene sayling to this Hauen, and gathering patience to comfort this houre ; therefore shall I bee one of these Guestes now, that would not come to the banket when they were inuited. * What hurt is in going to Paradise ? I shall lose nothing but the sense of euill. And anone I shall haue greater joyes than I feele paines. For mine Head is in Heauen alreadie, to assure mee that my Soule and Bodie shall follow after. O Death, where is thy sting ? Why should I feare that which I would not escape, because my chiefest happinesse is behinde, and I cannot haue it vnlesse I goe vnto it. * I would goe thorow Hell to Heauen. And therefore if I march but thorow death, I suffer less than I would suffer for God. * My paines do not dismay mee, because I trauaile to bring foorth eternall life. My sinnes do not fright mee, because I haue Christ my Redeemer. The ludge doeth not astonish mee, because the Judge's Sonne is mine Aduocate. The Deuill doeth not amaze mee, because the Angels pitch about mee. The Graue doeth not grieue mee, because it was my Lord's bedde. Oh that God's mercie to mee might moue others to loue him ! * For the lesse I can expresse it, the more it is. The Prophets and the Apostles are my fore-runners. Euerie man is gone before mee, or else hee will follow after mee. If it please God to receiue mee into Heauen before them which haue serued him better, I owe more thankfulnesse vnto him. And because I haue deferred my repentance till this houre, whereby my Sal nation is cut off, if I should die suddenlie. Loe how my God in his mercifull prouidence, to preuent my destruction, calleth mee by a lingring sicknesse, which stayeth till I bee readie, and prepareth mee to mine end like a preacher, A Prayer. Quis hie fuit non liquet. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. 418 * Note. * Note. loh. 2. 10 2 Sam. 23 1. Verse 2. Verse 3. Verse 4. Verse o. Verse, (>. THE LAST BATTELL Death and maketh mee by wholesome paiues, wearie of this be- loued world, ' lest I should depart vnwilling like them whose death is their damnation. * So hee loueth mee while hee beateth mee, that his stripes are plasters to saue mee, therefore who shall loue him, if I despise him ? This is my whole office now to strengthen my bodie with mine heart, and to bee contented as God hath appointed, vn- till 1 can glorifie him, or vntill hee glorifie mee. If I liue, I Hue to sacrifice, and if I die, I die a sacrifice, for his mercie is aboue mine iniquitie. Therefore if I should feare death, it were a signe that I had not Faith, nor hope as I professed, but that I doubted of God's trueth in his promise, whether hee will forgiue his peni- tent sinner or not. * Hee is my Father, let him do what seemeth good in his sight : Come, Lord lesvs, for thy seruant commeth, I am willing, helpe mine vnwillingnesse. Heere is the end ofthatgodlie mail's speach. As at that Brydell in Cana, the best wine came last, so shall it bee heere. After the wordes of a godlie man I shall let you heare the wordes of God spoken by a man inspired by his Spirit, euen the last wordes of Dauid, the man whose praise is this, that hee was a man according to God's own heart. The last wordes of Dauid. Dauid) the sonne of lesse, saide, and the man who was raised vp on high, the anoynted of the God of Jacob, and the sweete Psalmest of Israel, saide, The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee, and his wordes was in my tongue. The God of Israel saide, the Rocke of Israel spake to mee. Hee that ruleth ouer men must bee just, ruling in the feare of God. .And hee shall bee as the light of the morning, when the Sunne riseth, euen a morning without cloudes as the ten- der grasse springing out of the earth by chare shining after rame. Although mine house bee not so with God, yet hee hath made with mee an euerlasting couenunt, ordered in all thinges and sure. For this is all my Saluation, and all my desire, although hee make it not to growe. But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all of them as thornes thrust away, because they ^cannot Jbee takni withjiands. Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 419 But the man that shall touch them must bee fenced with yron, and the staffe of a speare, and they shall bee vtterlie burnt with fire in the same place. A little before his death, at the inauguration of his Sonne, Solomon, hee spake manie notable wordes ; among others these bee of great weight. Lord, wee are heere but strangers before thee and so- journers, as ivere all our fathers. Our dayes on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our Fa- thers, keepe this for euerin the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heartes vnto thee. That hundreth and two Psalme is excellent. It is in- tituled, A prayer of the afflicted when hee is ouerwhelmed and powreth out his complaint before the Lord. Heare my prayer, Lord, and let my cry come vnto thee, hide not thy face from mee in the day when I am in trouble, incline thine eare vnto mee. In the day when 1 call, ansiuere mee speedilie. For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an hearth, &c. Seeing, as wee see, that nothing is stable in this world, but as it is in that Sermon of the Preacher, vanitie of vani- ties, and all is vanitie! wee haue to intreate the Lord earnest- lie as Moses did a little before his death, that hee would so teach vs to number our dayes that wee may applie our heartes to wisdoms, and to well doing. All thinges belowe wither and decay, our best beauties are writhed and wrinkled by time. But the beautie of the Lord is of euerlasting con- tinuance. Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vponvs. O the beautie of the thinges aboue ! O the beautie of the firmament ! O these azured Curtaines spangled with starres of light ! What jewels of joy are within no mortall tongue can tell. Looke vp now, Sir, with the eye of your Faith, and visit these heauenlie Mansions and blessed buildings for immor- talitie. Yee are shortlie for to change for the better. So long as our sillie Soules are heere, they are but poore Soules reading and meditating the mercies of God, within a cottage of clay, hauing nothing to see with but the weake light of the small Candle of grace ; a light dimmed and l Chr. 29. 15. Verse 18. Ps. 102. 1 Eccl. 1 .2 Ps. 90. 12. Ps. 00. 17 lob. M. 2 420 THE LAST BATTELL Death lob. 1. 5. PU 16.13. * Note. * Note. * Note. * Note. Luk.2.29 darkened with the reekie smoke of our sinfull corruptions. But so soone as wee shall bee dissolued by Death, wee shall come to the euerlasting beames of a Sunne, which by nothing is able to bee ecclipsed, a light which knoweth no darknesse, euen that Light which bringeth light out of darknesse. Now, Sir, vp with your heart, mile out your course ; bee like the Pylot who while hee hath hand on the Helm, hath his eye fixed on the heauen. Take now the Guppe of Sal- uation, the great Mazer of his mercie, and call vpon the Name of the Lord. Hee is worthie to bee praised for his vnspeakable fauour toward you. * Hee in great mercie hath to- ward you, turned all the sharpe corrasiues of the Lawe into most sweete cordialls of the Gospel. Hee hath now made you free of all these terrours whereinto yee found yourselfe once lyable. Oh Lord, how did once the sharpe edge of thy Lawe laide to his mourning heart, cut him thorow the verie gall ! But blessed bee thou, who in thy great mercie hast cut the Cartropes of his sinnes, wherewith hee was once kept fast vnder the most heauie bondage of Hell. What say yee now, Sir ? How is it of all ? Haue yee heard all these wordes, and laide them vp into your minde ? The Sicke Man. I haue heard them all, and that with great comfort ; now mine heart is in heauen. Christ by the vertue of his vnualuable Blood shed, hath taken away the gall of my guiltinesse. * Now my bodie is wholie dead to its paine, and my Soule is wholie aliue to its glorie. * I see a Crowne of immortalitie which my Soule would not sticke to fetch thorow the brim-stone beames of hell. My Soule seeth the face of its Redeemer. Christ with a soft hand is now loosing all the bonds of my miserie. * His most sacred Blood hath melted my marble heart. Now come, Lord lesvs, come. Long haue I looked for thy Saluation. Now let thy seruant depart in peace, for mine eyes haue seene thy Saluation. O my deare Soule, I summoned thee with all thy powers and faculties to bee thankfull vnto thy good and gracious Lord ! O what tribulations am I come thorow ! O with what balmie comfortes hath the Lord asswadged the dolours of my Soule ! O my Soule, I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hindes, that thou haste thee vnto thy God in thy Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 4,21 strongest affections. Keepe now tryst with the Spirit of thy God, who is now heere waiting till thou bee readie. The Pastour. My Soule and all that is within mee, praise the Lord, for the powerfull working of his Spirit with- in you, whereby hee hath made such a change as is wonder- full. * This particular remembereth mee of a certaine Marter, who beeing condemned to bee burnt, could feele no working of the Spirit within his heart till hee came neare to the stake. But beeing once come there, with a crie hee clapped his hands, and crying out amaine, saide, Austen, hee is come, hee is come ! The Marter was called, Master Goner. The Sicke Man. By the grace of God I hope shortlie to say as much. My Soule is readie bent waiting for his comming. come, Lord lesvs, come. Let this, mine hungrie Soul, win in now at the ports of thy Palace, for to get a share of the marriage supper of the Lambe ; in hope alreadie I feast vpon the joyes of eternitie. * In my Soule is now the Charter of my Saluation, sealed with that most pure and purifying Blood of the immaculate and spotlesse Lambe, that came to take away the monstrous and menstruous sinnes of the world. * In the vertue of his Blood is my strongest comfort and highest resolution. By it alone all my blacke and bloodie sinnes are clensed from their crimsin colour. The Pastour. Indeede, Sir, it is onlie that Lambe & Blood that can purge away sin and iniquitie. * Though man should wash himselfe with nitre, and take him much sope, yet for all that shall his iniquitie bee marked before God, except that hee bee bathed into this blood of sprinkling. Seeing now your Charter is well sealed, holde fast these writtinys, that nothing aboue or belowe, no, not principalitie, and powers bee able to wrest them out of your hands. Happie is your heart now, wherein is that white jewel oi the Rcuelation, euen the W'hite stone, wherein is a newe name which no man can know except the receiuer. * O the boundlesse bleeding bowels of God's compassions ! O that infinite store-house of Christe's merits and mercies, which no sin, were they neuer so hainous, can bee able to stint or restraine before the repenting sinner get a part of that pur- chase. Neither Death, nor Life, thinges present nor to come * Note. Fox. Act. and monu. Fol. 1555. Late im- pression. Reu. 17.7 * Note. * Note. Isa. 1. 18 * Note. ler. 2. 22 Eph. 6.12 Reu. 2. 17 * Note. 422 THE LAST BATTELL Death CantG.lO, * Note. * Note. A prayer. * Note. * Note. * Note. Matth. 1 1 28. * Note. shall bee able to with holde a mourning sinner, from a share in our Lord's dearest compassions. Christ now, Sir, is readie to receiue you. Make your- selfe readie for him. Lift vp your head, for your Redemp- tion draweth neare. The end of your time and toyle is fast comming. The Angels of God are heere waiting vpon your Soule, which is now looking out to Christ as the morning, faire as the Moone, clear e as the Sunne, and terrible as an Armie with Banners. Where vpon is your minde now fixed ? The Sicke Man. All mine affections are bended toward God. * O what shall bee able to holde or hinder mee from hastening to my Lord, the repairer of life, the destroyer of death, the conquerour of Heauen, and the vanquisher of Hell ! * O my Sauiour come neerer yet vnto mee, let my Soule creepe in by thy woundes, euen to the verie bowels of thy mercie. Warme it like a Chicken vnder the winges of thy loue. The Pastour. In Christ alone is Saluation. Out of his side did issue the water that hath quenched the vnquencha- blefire of God's wrath, with the Blood that taketh away the sinnes of the world. * His holie Heart was racked, his Armes of compassion were stretched out vpon the Crosse, for to declare to all re- penting sinners the infinite widenesse of his mercies. * His sacred Head hang downe bowed, for to giue care vnto the groninqs of his prisoners. * His blessed Bowels, rumbling with compassions, rouled together, made him to proclaime that Oyes of mercie, Come vnto mee, all yee that are wearied and ladned with sin and I will ease you. Much hath hee suffered for our cause. * Like a painefull labourer hee powred out sweate not onlie of water but of blood, at the working the great worke of man's Saluation. At last, by laying downe that Life of loue, hee achieved the victorie ouer Sathan, flesh, the world, and all the enemies of man's Saluation. Them all hee hath crushed and trodde vnder foote. Stand fast by lesvs. In Faith and Hope thrust your heart vpon him. What now, Sir, thinke yee vpon ? The Sicke Man. Christ hath bound vp all my woundes ; hee hath perfectlie closed them with the blessed Balme of his comfortes. Now, at the end of mine appointed time, I am Approaching. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 423 waiting earnestlie till my changing come. I hope ere it bee long 1 to bee translated from grace to glorie. The Pastour. O Lord, set this Soule as a seale vpon thine Heart, and as a seale vpon thine Arme. Out of thy great loue make this Soule beautifull as Tirzah, comelie as Jerusalem, terrible as armie with banners. Thou, Lord, who crownest the yeare with thy goodnesse, take in thine hand the crowne of immortalitie, and in this Soule crowne thy graces with thy glorie. Now, Sir, yee are neare the borders of Canaan, three or four steppes more would set you in that Land of life and loue. The Sicke Man. Mine heart, like an Hart braying after waters, panteth after God. when shall I come and appear e before him ! Now mine heart shiuers within mee ; 1 am so sicke that I feare to faint. The Pastour. Lord, now bee mercifull, and shewe fauour toward this thy seruant. Distill thy graces into his heart, with a blessed influence from the Spirit of thy loue ; pull in all his spirites to thee, and thrust out all distractions. Lord of Life and Loue, breathe into his Soule the life of immortalitie. Take heede now vnto him, yee who are neere about him, for death now approacheth with its last assaults in all ap- pearance. Looke well to him for hee seemeth to bee fallen into a sowne. THE SICKE MAN IN A SOWNE. A SOLILOQUEE, OR A PRIUIE CONFERENCE BETWEENE THE SOULE AND THE BODIE OF THE SICKE MAN LY- ING IN A SOWNE. ob, !*!* A Prayer. Cant. 8. 6. Ps. 56. 1. Ps. 42. 2 A Prayer. Y Soule, desireth thou now to leaue mee that haue borne - thee about mee so manie yeares ? If thou goe from mee, I must no longer remaine among the inhabitants of the world, but incontinent after thy de- parture, I, a vassell of death, must bee hidde vnder the dust, among crawling ivormes, farre from the eyes of the liuing. These who were once glad to kisse my mouth shall abhorre to see my face. Is not the Graue a Babel, a place of con- fusion ? Do not lim and Zim resort there ? Do not the Sat y res and the Fairies dance there ? Mine haire starts all vp for feare, while I thinke vpon Isa.38. 11 Isa. 13.21 424 THE LAST BATTELL I Cor. 15. 52. these solitudes and mansions of silence, I faint at the verie thought thereof. Oh my deare Soule, wilt thou abide with mee no longer ! If thou depart, my Beautie, my Colour, my Conference, my Companie, and all is gone. Oh shall all my senses now bee closed vp ! shall I speake no more, heare no more, see no more, than if I were a stone ! Must I now goe remaine into the myre of mortalitie, the place of silence ! Must I abide the long niyhts among the Graues, \y\acesfearfull to the liuing, where men make no resort I wretched weakling that I am, by Death, as I see, I shall bee grappled to the ground, where I shall bee forced to make my bedde in the darke ! The Soule. My Bodie bee not thou disquieted, I am but for a little space going before thee, for to take seasin of Hea- uen for thee and for mee. Though I bee absent for a space, I shall neuer forget thee. In God's appointed time I shall come againe, and fetch thee out of the muddie mould of mortalitie. At the first blast of that shrill Trumpet I shall come downe, and shall enter into thee and quicken thee againe. At that time God shall cleanse thee from all thy corruptions, and shall make thee like an Angel of God. My sillie Bodie, wee haue taken much paines together for to get a rest which wee haue looked long for, but could not finde ; now goe to thy rest till I come againe for to bring thee to eternall repose. If thou were commanded to goe to la- bour and to paines, thou should haue some cause indeede to whine, and to shrinke as one hampered in a snare. But the Lord is now desiring thee like a wearied man to goe to thy rest, for to sleepe soundlie into a bedde, wherein thou shalt no more bee disquieted with dreames or with visions. When thou shalt once awake, thou shalt bee still with lesvs. If in mercie hee hath made mee to preucnt thee in the possession of eternitie, let not his fauour toward mee worke in thee anie heart rising against that Majestic, who as the Potter doeth with his clay, may do with all his creatures what hee pleaseth. The Bodie. But, O my Soule, the Graue is fearefull ! It is a retired solitude and a place of silence, a place of filthie stinke. I abhorre to thinke of it, how that in that \dungeon of darknesse, and dm of corruption, I must lye Soliloquee. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 425 downe nacked implunged in myrie slyme among wormes, a lumpe of most vile and lifelesse clay. Alas, my Soule ! The Soule. My Bodie, bee not discouraged. * The Graue is a place where the bodie must lye, till with the Eagle there it cast its Bill, a meanes for to renewe its youth. * So soone as once there it hath cast the olde slugh of Nature, in- continent thereafter it shall become a newe creature. Except, saide Christ, that the come ofwheate fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. Haue patience but a little. Newe corne will come at the day of the resurrection. The dayes of man's mortalitie are the Lord's seede time. The bodies of the Sainctes are his seede, the Church-yard is his fielde. Suffer now the Lord to sowe his own ground. Bee not disquieted nor cast downe with griefe. It shall bee thy gaine to goe downe to the graue. There shalt thou bee sowne in corruption, but thou shalt bee raised in incor- ruption. Thou shalt bee sowne in dishonour, but thou shalt bee raised in glorie. Thou shalt bee sowne in weaknesse, but thou shalt bee raised in power. Thou shalt bee sowne a naturall bodie, but thou shalt bee raised a spirituall bodie. See what, by God's mercie, shall bee the great gaine of the Graue. After that the Graues of the godlie shall bee ripe, the Lord by an infinite power shall make all their bodies to bee taken vp, for likejine wheate, to bee laide vp within his heauenlie Girnels. When thou shalt arise, it shall bee to an immortatt happie life. Haue patience for a little space, and bee not crabbed. Yet a little while and I shall not see thee, and againe a little while, after the resurrection, and I shall see thee, when thou shalt bee transchanged into the blessed estate of glorious immortalitie. Then shall I dwell in thee without anie spate or wrinkle. Let the hope of this temper thy present griefe. Let not the Graue afray thee, my deare Bodie, for it is the last bedde which euerie man must sleepe in. Lye downe in- to it gladlie. Bee content with the silke worme, an argu- ment of the resurrection, to bee enwrapped for a space in thy Winding sheete, till the chill colde winter-tyde of this mortalitie bee past. At the glorious spring of eternitie, at the returne of the Sunne of Righteoumesse, so soone as the heate of the beating beames of God's hue shall pierce in vnto o K * Note. Ps. 103.5. * Note. loh. 12.24. 1 Cor. 15 42. Verse 43. Verse 44. .Mai. 4. -;. 426 THE LAST BATTELL Ps. 16. 11 * Note. thy Graue, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, thou shall bee quickened and raised vp, yea, renued and refined from the sinfull dust of corruption, and after that carried aboue the brightest azured skies, vnto the place of immorta- litie, among pleasures for euermore. The Bodie. I cannot but lament and waile to bee de- priued of thy companie. My dearest Soule, full deare art thou to mee. If two strangers had beene but some fewe dayes in their journie together, they will haue a certaine regret for to leaue one another. What wonder is it then, that wee two, who haue beene of such olde acquaintance, mourne at this last and long adewe. The Soule. As thy loue is great toward mee, so is mine also great toward thee, my Bodie. But seeing it is the will of him who married vs together, that now wee bee put asun- der, wee must submit ourselues vnto his good pleasure. This separation shall bee but for a little space, and that for the well ofvs both. * The husband will saile the seas and goe farre from home, in hope to returne with aduantage. The same hope encourageth his wife to Hue like a widow for a space. At last the husband's returne with expected profite, is welcomed with greater joyes than was his former presence. It shall bee so with vs, my deare Bodie. At my returne in the day of the Resurrection there shall enter such a joye into thee, as eye neuer saw, eare neuer heard, yea, and which neuer could enter into the heart of man. As the long dark night maketh the morning seeme sweete to the wearied watch, who hath long looked for it, so shall our little absence bee a certaine commendation of that presence, which after the great day shall bee for euer. Cease in time, I pray thee, to sticke at such earthlic con- ceites. I may no longer tarrie with thee ; the Crowne of im- mortalitie is alreadie in sight. TJie Bodie. But alas ! how is this that thou should goe to glorie before mee, and leaue mee in the dust of death, a piece of moulding clay ? Haue I done anie wrong but by thy counsell and direction ? What haue I beene but the in- strument of thy sin ? All the actions is from thee. Of all that is done amisse thou hast been the inuenter, the con- triuer, and arch-plotter. God is no accepter of persons or of parties. What then is my guilt, that I should bee behinde Soliloquee. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day 427 thee, left into the Graue, afearefutt denne of death and pit of corruption ? What a miserie is this for mee, that I should lye vnder the power and bonds of Death, a Carrion vnder a Turfe, warded in deaths most loathsome denne and abhorred jayle 7 There must I lye, chill with colde, stinking and rotting, with my mouth full of earth and my bellie full of wormes, closed in a Cqffine. O what matter of melancholie is this, that within a fewe dayes, where are my two beautifull twinkling eyes, shall bee nothing but fearefull eye-holes in a rotten skull, which shall bee nothing but a nest of clockes and abominable creeping thinges ! Within a fewe yeares, this head, which now lyeth softlie upon this Pillow, shall bee rouled and trinnelled vp and downe by thefeete of the posteritie. Heere a bone and there a bone, and not a bone together, all shall lye scattered heere and there ; the dogges shall play with some, and Chil- dren shall play with others, some shall lye drying before the Sunne, and others shall bee bruised into pieces, and ground into powder. O what a change is in this our mortalitie ! Beholde presentlie what a starueling I am, beeing nothing but skinne and bone. Beholde, and anone all shall bee turned into stinke. The Soule. All such thoughts are all but worldlie, heauie, dull, andformall. Suffer the Lord to sowe his own seede. Thou art afraide for the Turfe of the Graue. Care not for the Turfe, for vnder it shalt thou bee as a pickle of corne vnder a clod. The Spring time of the Resurrection is not farre froe, when thou shalt rise vp more beautifullie in hon- our, power, and glorie, than euer thou was before. Shall ante thing bee impossible vnto God ! Hee who in his death reuiued inanie Sainctes, whose bodies Death had fast vnder the key of its power, shall with a blast of his voyce make open Graues, to let out all these who were pri- soners of death, from ^4dam vntill that day. Let this comfort cheere vp thine heart, my Bodie. The Graue shall not bee able to keepe thee long. * As lonah was vomited out of the Bellie of Hell, so shalt thou bee de- livered from that Monster's matve. The Bodie. But in the meantime, what reason is it that I, a carrionlie carkase, should bee bound both hand and foote, and committed close prisoner to the graue, a colde and ,tik. 18.27 * Note, ona. 2. 2. 428 THE LAST BATTELL Isa. 57. -2. * Note. * Note. Mat. 20.1.5 * Note. * Note. Gen. 3. 19, * Note. chillie house, while thou art set at libertie ? Beholde, how alreadie I am both withered and wanzed. The Soule. The Graue to the Godlie is no prison, but a resting bedde from their labours, where God refresheth with sleepe the wearied bones of his beloued. The Prophet saith, that they rest in their beddes, and that they enter in peace. * While the moulds are cast on them in the Graue it is but the drawing of their Bedde curtaine. * The buried bodies of the Sainctes are in their graue like Babes lapped in swad- ling cloathes in their Cradles. As a tyred man will not bee offended if hee bee sent to his bedde for to sleepe, neither should the wearied bodie bee grieued to goe to the Graue, the place of rest and quietnesse. Bee not peeuish nor peruerse, my Bodie ; enuie not mine happie estate. Though the Graue should bee to thee a pri- son, why should thou complaine because I am set at libertie ? If it hath pleased God in mercie to bee good to mee, why art thou offended ? May not the Lord say vnto thee, Is thine eye euill because I am good ? What happier should thine estate bee, though God should command mee to bee buried besides thee ? May not God do with his own as hee pleaseth ? Hee might haue taken thee to Heauen, and haue shute mee a prisoner in the Graue. In his justice hee might haue cast vs both into Hell. Thinke it then a mercie that hee is so good vnto mee, who shall neuer count my glorie full till wee bee both crowned with immortalitie in the heauens. * Bee not offended at the Lord's good will towards mee, but rather thanke him that hee hath made death to bee temporatt in his mercie ', which was eternall in his threatning. * Of a corrasiue hee hath made a cordiall. Haue patience, O distressed bodie ! Suffer a little, that God may bee true : Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou returne. Dust beeing once deliuered from the power of the Graue, shall reigne with God in glorie. * The bodie is like gold, which cannot bee ridde of its drosse till it bee molten and dissolued. Againe : as this death is not total, neither shall it bee per- petuall, for at the first sound of the last trumpet all the bu- ried bodies of the faithfull shall, like the Eagle, cast the bill of their mortalitie. Now, mine olde companion and yoke-fellow, art thou not Soliloquee. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 429 content to goe to bedde, and there to sleepe till the morning of the resurrection come ? That day shall make an amends for all that wee haue suffered iu this valie of teares. Then shall all thy confusion hee turned into comfortes. Let vs now bee content that the Lord loose the pinnes, and slacke the cordes of this our Tabernacle of clay. The Bodie. Now glad am I, my deare Soule, that euer I had such a Soule as thee. Now, my deare Turtle, goe with my blessing to the seruice of our God. Goe from the Crosse to the Crowne, from a prison to a Palace, from the morning-weede to the wedding-garment. Goe, dwell with the Lord and the Lambe ; waite well vpon him. Goe now from the blacke and dismall dayes of drooping distrcsse and dirtie distractions, to joy e, to peace, to pleasure, to light, to life, to libertie. Goe, heare that happie harmonic of hea- uenlie Musitians in heauenlie Mansions, where mercies blesse without judgement's blastes. Goe, heare the voice of all the Mcnistrels of that celestiall Quire. Bee thou aboue the Starres, while I am vnder a Turfe. All my comfort is in this, that wee shall meete againe in Blisse. * Now, blessed Soule, prepare thy Lampe, powre out thine oyle. The heauenlie wooer, the Bridegroome, is come for to take thee to his Chambers of Charitie, wherein are pleasures for euermore. In hope of the Resurrection I goe gladlie to my Graue, whereout of I am assured to arise for to meete my Redeemer in the cloudes. This Candle of my comfort shall neuer bee put out. Now before wee shedde, let vs shedde some teares. * The last raine of our afflictions, wherewith wee may bathe the bruises of our Lord, which hee in loue did suffer for our glorie. Now I goe to rest in the dust, a prisoner of hope. Goe thou to thy God ; attend well his seruice, and court hi Countenance for euer in his most pleasant Yvorie Palaces. I am now refreshed with a cooling taste of immortalitie to come. Farewell, my deare Soule and truest Turtle ; mount vp now to the Heauens. Thou hast alreadie past all toyle and turmoyle. The way that rests vnto the kingdome is 'both smooth and euen : without anie rubbe of opposition thou shall enter into immortalitie. O the showres of grace and * Note. Ps. 16. 1 * Note. Cant.2.11 430 THE LAST BATTELL * Note. * Note. mercie which raine downe vpon vs both ! Farewell, till that desired day of the Resurrection come. The Pastour. His eyes stirre a little ; they are full of teares, the tribute of Repentance. Hee beginneth to shake, hee now seemeth to bee wakened out of his traunce. I will inquire what his minde is set vpon. What meditations are these. Sir, that yee are vpon ? Yee seeme to haue beene in some good motion. The Sicke Man. My Soule, Sir, and my bodie, after a blessed agreement, haue beene taking their adewes one from another ; they haue beene blessing each other. Because they haue serued God together, they looke to bee one day both glorified toe/ether. A sea of comfortes hath rained downe vpon my Soule, from the Heauens, in most sweete and pleasant showers. The Pastour. Surelie that is a worthie exercise. Such good motions are plants of God and impressions of his finger. Happie are the Soule and the bodie that can serue God toge- ther with one shoulder ! At that last day they shall haue a joyfull meeting ; they two shall bee clasped together in lone, with such contentments as tongues of Angels are not able to expresse. But O, when the wicked Soule shall returne from hell to take vp its bodie, for to carrie it to euerlasting torments, then shall they curse each other with manie a woe, for their Fornications, Adulteries, Lyes, Deccites, Ryot, and Drun- kennesse. Then would the bodie, if it could haue intelligence of the Soule's comming, wish that a rocke or a mountaine would fall vpon it for to hide it from the Soule, that beeing voyde of life, it might bee free of feeling. But the decree is come foorth, of necessitie they must bee joyned together. O but they then shall looke one to another like Lyons. Their feede shall receiue none agreement ; no, not. They shall neuer agree in anie thing but in this, to tarrie together, that their comfortlesse dolours may bee dou- bled. * This is a deare pennie-worth, so little pleasure for so much paine. ]n that day all the wicked shall bittcrlie repent such barganes. Now happie is your Soule, Sir, and your bodie both, that are so well resolued to depart. Yee are certainlie blessed that euer* yee were borne. * Beholde ! now yee rest in hope of the resurrection, which shall bee in that great day of God's generall assemblie, when all that euer tookc breath shall com- Soliloquee. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 431 peare before Christ, the ludge of the World, for to receiue that which they did in thejlesh, bee it good bee it euill. Now, Sir, seeing- yee are an inrouled Citizen of Heauen, and an adopted heire of God, vp still with your heart to- ward that heauenlie Heritage ; with sighes and grones beate on still at the doores of God's mercie. God giueth vnto prayer victorie against himseJfe. Now the time draweth neere, Sir, your houre is come to a quarter. Fight out the good fight. Fixe the eyes of your Faith vpon the bloodie woundes of lesvs ; lay holde on him, listen to his voyce. Ere it bee long yee shall heare these wordes of joye, Come, faithfull seruant, and enter into thy Master's joye. O Lord, the giuer of grace and of glorie, out of the blessed bowels of thy mercie, bathe and wash this Soule with that arteriall blood which sprang thorow the pierced jilme of the heart of his Redeemer. At the beginning of this Battell, Lord, thou did see how his poore Soule was scorched with thejlammes of hellish temptations, which did burne the verie marrow out of his bones. This is thy ordinarie dealing with thine own. Hell on earth is for the heires of Heauen : but heauen on earth is the portion of the heires of hell. Now, Lord, from his hell bring him to thine Heauens. Make his Soule more clearelie to looke vp toward the blessed bloodie woundes of his Sauiour, wherein hee may perceiue the props of his protection. Make his Soule now to bee futtie pos- sessed with an entire loue to the fairenesse of thy face, wherein are pleasures for euermore. The Sicke Man. Lord lesvs, make clay againe with thy Spittle for to anoynt my dimmed eyes, that clearelie, with Si- meon, my Soule may see thy Saluation. Wee in our life receiue but the first imposition of hands, like the man that saw men walking like trees. Now, Lord, at death giue mee the second imposition, that I may see thee euen as thou art. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in heauen. Maintaine the life of his loue towards thee. Now water the seede which thou hast sowne. Weede out the tares ichich Sa- than hath sowne. Pittie and pardon. Lay all his shines vpon the Sonne of thy loue. Now let his feete bee shod for the journie which hee is making to a better place. Inspire his Soule with the Spirit of Grace, till his life bee expired. Sane him by thy blood which saued them that spilt it. Mat. 25.21 A Prayer. Ps. 16. 11 A Prayer. Luk.2.30. Mar. 8. 24 A Prayer. THE LAST BATTELL Prou. 13 12. A Prayer. Cant.7.10. The Sicke Man. I finde Death besieging my heart with sensible blovves. O bring out my Soule out of this bricke of bondage of the bodie ! Mine heart strings are so racked within mee that they are like to breake. The hope that is deferred is the fainting of the Soule. Lord, helpe mee in this heauie houre. The Pastour. Lord, heare thou in heauen, and satisfie his hearte's desire. The Sicke Man. Pray, pray, that the Lord vpholde mee in the throng of these throes wherewith mine heart is gripped, lest I bee wholie swallowed vp of despaire. The Pastour. O Sauiour of mankinde, who out of thy meere mercie and loue came vnder the charge of his accounts. Make now answere for him, as his Aduocate, before that high Tribunall, before which his poore Soule is now arraign- ed to compeare. Turne all thy wrath in mercie, and thy lustice-seate in a Throne of grace. Call home all his wan- dering thoughts, and settle them vpon thyselfe. Maintaine the life of his loue. Make death to him a Messenger of mercie, and his painesa meaneto bring him to thy pleasures. Captaine of his Saluation t vnder whose bloodie banner hee hath in his life made warre against the enemies of thy glorie, at death ouercome thou all the enemies of his Salua- tion. With thy Trumpets and Lampes terrific all these mercilesse Midianites. Make them like a wheele, and as the stubble before the winde. Graunt the victorie vnto thy weake Seruant heere, that in the Heauens thou may crowne his Soule with glorious garlands of immortalitie. Lord, heare vs, for the sake of thy Sonne, vnto whom with thee and the Spirit of Grace, bee all glorie and honour. Amen. Now, Sir, vp with your heart to the Father of mercies. Fight out couragiouslie the fight of Faith. Christ now is holding out the Crowne, your Saluation is sealed, yee neede not feare, yee haue your warrant vnder the Broad Seale of the King of Heauen. The Sicke Man. O my deare Pastour, hee is come, hee is come whom my Soule loueth ! / am my beloued's and his desire is towards mee. The lost sheepe is found. The vnthriftie Sonne is come home again. All the snares of de- struction are broken. My Soule is escaped like a Bird, I am now at a point, infinitlie desirous rather to goe to my God than to sojourne anie more on earth. Mine heart is more Soliloquee. OF THE SOULE, &c. 8. day. 433 in God than in myselfe, I haue a begunne possession of Heauen by the first fruites. I looke for perfection, in full- nesse of joy e and pleasures for evermore. O blessed lesvs, set mee as a Seale vpon thine heart. O deare Sauiour, the Roote and the Rocke of my Saluation, lo ! I come, stretch out thine Armes and take my Soule into thy bosome : yet a little while, and I shall bee no more a stranger with thee and a sojourner. The Pastour. O blessed bee our God for euermore, who hath made you to triumph so ouer all your enemies, after such vnutterable arones of grief e, where your minde was sore perplexed at the first. Holde fast now that which yee haue. Your heart is now richlie stored with the true treasures of godlinesse. Yee are but sipping of these joyes whereof in Heauen yee shall drinke in a full cuppe. The Sicke Man. Christ the Lord is mine ; hee is mine! Hee is to mee both in life and death aduantage. My com- fortes are in my bosome. The Angelicall Gardes are heere about mee. I die in the Faith of lesvs. Come, euen Lord lesvs, come quicklie and loose this Soule, a prisoner in clay, groning to bee at libertie. my Soule, returne vnto thy rest, for the Lord hath dealt bountifallie with thee. Now may I say, This poore man cryed, and the Lord hath heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles. The Pastour. The Lord is with you, who ere it bee long, shall fulfill all your hearte's desires ; yea, hee shall do aboue all that yee can thinke or wish. Now, Sir, yee haue him whom your Soule loueth. His Spirit is in the verie bo- some of your heart. Holde fast the grip yee haue. Die in his Armes, sleepe in the blessed bosome of your God. Full libertie is at the doore, readie to enter in. Yet a little and yee shall haue a joyfull meeting with Christ and all his An- gels in the King-dome of your Father. Till yee come out of this bodie sticke fast by Faith to Christ your Redeemer. Claime boldlie that which hee hath dearlie purchased by his Blood. O deare lesvs, his staffe and his strength, wrappe now his Soule into the white winding-sheete of thy righteousnesse. While hee hath life Hue thou in him, that while hee breathes hee may Hue to thee, and after death may Hue with thee for euer. Let neither life nor death bee able to separate him from thy lone. The nearer death approacheth for to separate Ps. 16. 11. A Prayer. 2ant. 8. 6. Ps. 40. 7. Ps. 39. 12. Phil. 1.21. A Prayer. Ps. 116.7 Ps. 3*. 6. A Praver. 434 THE LAST BATTELL The Last lob, 19.25. : 470 A DISCOURSE * Note. * Note. * Note, lob, 14. 14 * Note. * Note. Prou. 14. 13. * Note. u-cl.12.5. * Note. full time in his sicknesse ! with manie deepe sigh and heauie grone hath hee beene heard in his feares. His face could neuer bee dryed for teares continuallie trickling ouer his cheekes. * Happie is hee now, for all the cloudes of his sinnes haue beene dissolued by the raine of mournfull teares, wherewith all Soules must bee baptised before that they can bee members of the Church Triumphant. Now blessed bee God, all his teares and his trauells are turned into triumphs. If men shedde not teares on earth, God cannot wype them away in heauen. All, as wee, must fight the good fight, be- fore they can catch the Crowne. * Let vs all learne in him, and in this House of Mourn- ing to see and consider the end of vs all, that while wee are lining, wee may lay it to our heartes, and make it a matter of our night's meditations. * Happie and thrise happie is hee that can practise that saying of lob, All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite, till my changing come. It is good that wee euer bee vpon our garde, v/ell prepared 'or our last departure and finall accounts. * No man can tell how soone hee shall bee arraigned in the great ludge his Consistorie. The day of this life, wherein onlie wee can worke, declineth apace. The fearefull night cloude hath taken post. So soone as it shall come, man shall bee dis- charged to worke anie more. It is good often to consider (lest wee should dote and dreame of immortalitie heere,) that the short threede of this life will bee soone drawne out to an end, that by such thoughts wee may learne in time not to bee taken vp with abortiue arthlie pleasures, which perish in the budde. What is this earth but a muddie myre ? What is poore man's life on this earth but a map of miserie ? * The best of it is white and blacke checker worke, mixed with paines and pleasures, lashes and laughters. Euen in laughter the heart is sorrowfully and the end of that mirth is heauinesse. This g-odlie man's death should bee warning for vs. * Death