A pathvvay to patience in all manner of crosses, tryals, troubles, and afflictions: inwardly for sinne, or outwardly by sicknesse, pouerty, enemies, imprisonment, banishment, slaunders, disobedience of children, houshold-crosses betweene man and wife, &c. With necessary prayers for euerie of them; as also for diuers other necessarie purposes. By I.N. Norden, John, 1548-1625? 1626 Approx. 374 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 238 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A08282 STC 18615 ESTC S119966 99855171 99855171 20646 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A08282) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 20646) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1179:24) A pathvvay to patience in all manner of crosses, tryals, troubles, and afflictions: inwardly for sinne, or outwardly by sicknesse, pouerty, enemies, imprisonment, banishment, slaunders, disobedience of children, houshold-crosses betweene man and wife, &c. With necessary prayers for euerie of them; as also for diuers other necessarie purposes. By I.N. Norden, John, 1548-1625? [50], 430 p. Printed by E. A[llde] for T. Harper, At London : 1626. Printer's name from STC. I.N. = John Norden. Has added engraved title page which reads: A pathvvay to patience, in all maner of afflictions. Includes index. Running title reads: The path-way to patience. 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Prayer-books -- Early works to 1800. 2004-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A PATHVVAY TO PATIENCE , IN ALL MANER or AFFLICTIONS . By Io : Norden London Printed By Tho : Harper 1626. A PATHVVAY TO PATIENCE , IN ALL MANNER OF CROSSES , tryals , troubles , and afflictions ▪ inwardly for sinne , or outwardly by sicknesse , pouerty , enemies , imprisonment , banishment , slaunders , disobedience of Children , houshold-crosses betweene man and wife , &c. With necessary Prayers for euerie of them ; as also for diuers other necessarie purposes . By I. N. HEB. 12. 5. My Sonne , despise not the chastening of the Lord , neither faint when thou art rebuked of him . AT LONDON , Printed by E. A. for T. HARPER . 1626. To the right Honourable Earle of PEMBROOKE , Lord Chamberlaine to his Maiestie : And to his entirely beloued and most louing brother , the Earle of MONTGOMERIE ; health , honour , and happinesse here , with all heauenly blessings ; and eternall saluation , when the Lord Iesus shall come to glorifie his Saints in heauen . My good Lords , ALthough it behoueth euerie man , that vndertakes to instruct others in any Art , Mysterie , or Science , to be himselfe well furnished with knowledg , iudgement , practise , or experience , in the thing he vndertakes to teach : yet for want of the depth and quintessence of that knowledge and iudgement ; he may speake , to the instruction of others , by the experience of his owne practise . I haue little knowledge to iudge , & lesse iudgement truly and iustly to censure other mens vertues or vice ; : onely hauing some speculation , in , and some practise of , and by practise some experience , in that which I am bold ( vnder your Honourable names ) to publish , Concerning that most excellent vertue of the minde , perfect Patience : I haue essayed ( partly for mine owne , partly for the cōfort of others ) what profit I could produce by mine owne experience , of the patient bearing of mine own crosses and troubles ; thereby to confirme mine owne assurance , and to intimate vnto others , that are any way afflicted , or troubled inwardly in minde , or outwardly with any crosse or tryall ; that impatience , murmuring , or grudging , make the lightest crosses & troubles seeme more irksome , more harsh , and heauier , then in deede they are of their owne nature : And , that perfect patience , makes them seeme light , and easie to be borne , being neuer so weighty in the opinion of men . And therefore I haue , out of my slender experience , endeuoured ( in this little Pamphlet , rudely digested ) to remember some seuerall occasions ( among infinite ) requiring this diuine vertue Patience ; wishing thereby all men to prepare themselues , to vndergoe their troubles , present , or when they come , with godly patience ; as Dauid did , who suffered manifold tentations , yet his soule alwayes kept silence vnto God , assuring himselfe , that he should not , much be moued : not much ; yet the most godly man may doe , as Dauid did in his hast ; fret at the prosperitie of wicked men , himselfe in affliction , pouertie , and vnder the crosse . But a wise man soone reformes himselfe as he did ; when he considereth , that though many are the troubles of the righteous , and that it is his lot to suffer , yet that God will deliuer him in the end out of all . Therefore is he patient vntill his deliuerie come . And to the end that such as haue , or may haue occasion , to make vse of these my weake meditations and prayers ; I haue in all humblenesse presumed , to publish them vnder your Honorable names . Entreating your good Lordships , not to conceiue , that I seeme thereby , so idlely vaine-glorious , and so forgetfull of your places , wisedomes , and Honorable estates , as to presume to teach your Honours , the necessitie and vse of this heauenly , and ( consequently ) Honourable vertue . But onely that your good Lordships would be pleased to grace , this my weake labour , with your Honorable countenance ; for the weaker the building is , it requires the stronger supporters : crauing your Honourable fauours therein , that Other men that haue occasion to vse it , may the more willingly embrace it . For , if men , of whatsoeuer quality , honourable , or inferiour , truly knew the sweetnesse of this vertue , though euery man hath not one and the same , yet the most of men haue , or may haue some cause to practise it , if they will haue comfort in their crosses , which are of as many kindes , as are the seuerall estates and conditions of men , of whatsoeuer quality , high or lowe . Most humbly entreating your Lordships Honourable pardon , of my rudenesse , in handling of a work worthy the labour of a man of most exquisite guifts ; And to beare with my too much boldnesse , in vsing your Honourable names , in a matter so impertinent to your Honours . But I am so much the more encouraged , to present it vnto your good Lordships , by how much , I conceiue ( as well by the approbation of all vertuous men , as by mine owne experience ) your Honourable enclinations to the practise of all diuine vertues : And doe assure my selfe , that your Honours wil take in good part , that which I haue ( though weakely ) done , more in regard of my good meaning , then of the thing it selfe ; which I humbly recommend , vnto your most Honourable acceptations . Euer more bound vnto your good Lordships for many your most Honourable fauours , IOHN NORDEN . To the beneuolent Reader , and especially to such as are afflicted or vnder any kinde of crosse or trouble . THere is no greater comfort to a Christian man , then here to feele Gods ready helpe in his necessities , troubles , and afflictions ; euery man by nature desires it , yet fewe attaine vnto it , for that they vse not the meanes , which are faith , prayer , and patience : faith to beleeue it , prayer to obtaine it , & patience , to wayte for it . Patience is a most especiall vertue , the Mistres and guide as it were of all the affections , and gouernour of the inward minde ; which being thereby well and constantly setled , will restraine thee from all extrauagant and vnruly wayes : It will gently curbe all thine vngodly desires ; It will with-hold thee from taking or seeking rash reuenge of them that doe thee iniurie : It will keepe thee in equall temper , as well in aduersity as in prosperity . And thou canst not be truly reputed a patient man , If thou shew thy selfe discontent ( as to murmure or grudge ) in any outward crosse or inward affliction : Or if thou can not suffer and passe by iniuries , wrongs , rebukes , slaunders , and abuses ( without vndiscreete and peeuish passions ) with a stayed , setled , and patient minde , thou canst not truly be accounted a Christian valiant man. Yet true it is , that many thinke it such a disgrace vnto them , to put vp any small iniurie without desperate and rash reuenge , as hee looseth thereby the reputation of his valour ; but ( if it be dulie considered ▪ ) he is the most magnanim●ous man , that can best keepe vnder , tame and rule his owne passions : and he that is foyled by his owne froward and heedlesse fury , discouereth greatest infirmitie , and sheweth himselfe vnworthie to be called a morall vertuous , much lesse a truely religious man. True Religion is euermore accompaned with a vertuous & valorous minde , which ( if it be perfect ) hath euermore patience ioyned with it , as chiefest of all other mentall vertues : and therefore , he that in euery iniury , crosse or affliction , grosly bewrayeth his impatience , howsoeuer he may otherwise seeme ( not moued ) he is neither rightly religious , nor truely vertuous . No man indeed , can be truly knowne to be a religious or a vertuous man , vnlesse hee meete with the contraries of both , and therein shew his valour , constancie and patience , in maintaining the one , and shewing testimonies of the other : for the man that is carried away or shewes himselfe newter , betweene true and false Religion , or betweene vertue and vice , hath neither Religion nor vertue . Men are not knowne to be truly vertuous but by tryall ; for , as there are certaine minerals , that seeme to be the very mother of gold or siluer , which being cast into the fire , appeare onely sulferous , euaporate , and turne to smoake ; so is there a kind of meeke and ciuile behauiour in some men , that giueth a certaine outward faire lustre , and show , that it will beare the teste ; but when it is tryed by the fire of affliction , crosses , troubles , iniuries , reproches and the like , it will appeare a meere shadowe without any true shew of that substantiall approued vertue . Who is not a vertuous and valorous man before he be tryed ? and who is not a patient man before he be crost ? there be many seeming very valiant , stout and strong men , not dismaid or daunted at any perill , yet if but a feauer take them , the goute possesse them , sickenesse befall them , or any affliction crosse them , they will either shewe their impatience , by murmuring or grudging , hanging downe their heads like a Bul-rush , or sigh and groane vnder the burthen , as if Maluerne hils were fallen vpon them ; and this for want of patience . A rich man as long as he enioyeth health , wealth and honour , wished successe in all his affaires , nothing crossing him ; how can he but be patient in shewe ? But when his wealth turneth into want , his health into sickenesse , his honour into disgrace ; when aduerse successe crosses his hopes , and affliction seize vpon him ( as hee is a man without patience ) he will change his countenance , and by his gesture and cariage , shewe himselfe ashamed of the change of his estate ; fretting himselfe in the gall of his bitter impatience , as if God did him iniurie thus to correct him : whence also ariseth to the increase of his impatience , diuersities of mens censures , as they did of holy Iob. Surely , ( sayes one ) he is a wicked man that God doth thus punish him : Another , Hee was very , prodigall , hee was proude , vaineglorious , ambitious , & the like ; and therefore hath God laid this heauie crosse vpon him : as though they had liued in the very bosome of the man , & were priuie to the very counsell of God , in punishing or correcting him . In like manner doth the vnaduised multitude commonly censure all men afflicted , be it by sorrow for sinne , sickenesse , and some lingring disease , pouertie , imprisonment , banishment , enemies , shipwracke , losse of goods , by whatsoeuer meanes , stubbornnesse of children , disquietnesse betweene maried couples ; and in what sort soeuer a man is afflicted and visited by the hand of God ( though in his speciall loue ) hee must looke for censures , according to the peruerse cenceits and opinions of such as seeme to knowe the very cause of Gods punishing and correcting men here belowe ; and yet neither looke into themselues , nor knowe nor thinke of the cause of causes . Seeing then , that the best and dearest children of God are subiect to afflictions , crosses and troubles of infinite kindes , and consequently to the rash censures of the braine-sicke vulgar , haue they not all good cause to flie vnto God for this heauen●y vertue Patience , to support and sustaine them , not onely in their proper crosses , but in the vniust scandals of idle men ? But iudge thou no man , hee standeth or falleth , he is comforted or crossed according to the good pleasure of God ; and receiue thou thy lot whatsoeuer it be , prosperous or aduerse , as sent of God for thy good . If he visit thee with sickenesse , accept it as his fatherly chastisement , to reforme thee before thou goe hence , thereby summoning thee shortly to appeare before the Throne of his Maiestie . If thou become poore bereft of all thy goods , and haue little or nothing left , content thy selfe ; & consider , thou hast yet more left thee then thou broughtest into the world with thee : and were thou neuer so rich , hadst thou neuer so great possessions , neuer so high place of dignitie in the world ; thou must be taken from all , thou must leaue all , and all must leaue thee : and as thy life is short , so are thy pleasures , crosses and patience of no long continuance . If thou be backe-bitten and slaundered , thinke thy selfe no better nor more worthy the applause of the world , then Christs owne Apostles , and Christ him selfe ; who were scoffed at , railed vpon , and scornefully reuiled , yet reuiled not , but with patience endured buffetings , stripes and death , in greatest meekenes . If thou be banished thine owne natiue Countrie , and from thy dearest friends , inforced to wander from Countrie to Countrie , from Citie to Citie , remember wee are all strangers and pilgrims in this world , and nothing better resembleth our earthly pilgrimage then doth banishment , which may moue vs to thinke seriously and continually of a permanent Citie promised , after our long and tedious exile , which endureth but a little season , and then wee returne , ariue , and shall be receiued into the Countrie of peace , and Citie of perpetuall freedome . If thou be troubled with disobedient and refractarie children , haue patience , remember Adam had a Kayne : Abraham an Ismaël ; Izaacke an Esaii : Dauid an Absalon . It is the case of many a godly and religious father to haue an vngodly sonne . If thou be troubled with a disquiet , proude , sullen , tarte and taunting wife , be patient vnder thine vnpleasant yoake ; looke into the Scriptures , and thou shalt finde many good and godly men to haue gone before thee , that haue shewed thee the way to beare this erosse with patience ; as Moses his Zipporah : Dauid his Michal , and others : and if thou looke neere at home , thou shalt finde many of thy good neighbours sicke of thy disease ; and nothing can ease it but patience , prayer , good counsell in the feare of God. These are the salues for euery sore , the phisicke for euery disease , and Antidotes against euery poysonous and pestilent passion of the minde . And for thy better help , I haue ( though indeed weakely ) in this Treatise , endeauoured briefly to touch many of the crosses that may befall thee ; wherein if thou be ignorant , thou maist therein learne in some measure , how to prepare thee to the patient bearing of them , wayting the Lords leisure and his good pleasure with prayer , in a liuely faith , in true repentance of all thy sinnes , which are the cause of all thy troubles , crosses , and calamities whatsoeuer ; and thou shalt finde the burthen of them light , and the yoake which the Lord , layeth vpon thee , easie . And be assured , that if God correct thee here , he loueth thee , and doth it to reforme thee to saue thee . Ieremie the most famous amongst the Prophets , confesseth , that before the Lord touched him with affliction , he was like a wilde and vntamed Colte : and Dauid , the worthiest among the Kings , acknowledgeth , that before he was afflicted he went awrye : And Paul the chiefe among the Apostles , thought it his greatest glory to suffer affliction for Christ ; and many they were that he suffered , see 2. Cor. 6. Outward affliction , or inward sorrow for thy sinnes hurt thee not ; the one argues the loue of God towards thee , the other thy desire to obay him . There is nothing more hurtfull to thee , nor more offensiue to God then thine impatience , thy murmuring and grudging at Gods gentle chastisements , which are the euils of thy minde and most afflict thee : whereas true patience in faith , is as a brasen Bulworke against all the attemptes and assaults of sinne and Satan ; the workers of all the crosses , troubles & calamities in the world : Imbrace therefore whatsoeuer befalleth thee with godly patience ; and the Lord assist thee . Thine in Christian good will : I. NORDEN . The Table of the perticulars contained in this Booke . A Prayer for the morning . A Prayer before a man goes to his nightly rest . 1 A preparation to godly patience . page 1 2 Touching sinne , the cause of all afflictions , the confession and repentance of them , and patience in troubles . pag 20 3 Comfort for a man afflicted in conscience , by reason of his sinnes . pag. 47 4 A prayer for the forgiuenesse of most haynous sins that afflict the weake conscience of a sinner . pag. 67 5 Comfort for the sick . p. 77 6 A prayer to be often said of a sick man or woman . 79 7 A prayer to be said for a sick man ; of faithfull friends that come to visite him . 105 8 For such as are oppressed with pouerty and want ; not impertinent for the rich . 112 9 A prayer to be said of such as are oppressed , with necessity & want of things necessary . 133 10 A short prayer to be said of him that is in necessity and want . 146 11 Generall counsell & comfort for men imprisoned . 153 12 Against Treason , for which a man is worthily imprisoned . 168 13 For such as are imprisoned , as guilty or vehemently suspected of murther . 173 14 A prayer for a man imprisoned guilty of murther . 179 15 For such as are imprisoned , for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome deseruing death . 185 16 A prayer to be said of a prisoner accused , and like to be condemned to death , for some fact against the lawes ; or to any other corporall punishment . 190 17 A prayer to be said of a penitent offender , going to his execution , or to any corporall punishment . 200 18 For such as are imprisoned for debt . 205 19 A prayer to be often said of a man imprisoned for debt . pag. 216 20 A caueat for cruell creditors , that keepe poore men in prison , whom they know vnable to pay that , for which they keepe them in prison . 226 21 Encouragement for such as are enclosed , and afflicted with enemies , flatterers , and their slaunders . 241 22 A prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies , and is subiect to slaunderous tongues , flatterers , and false friends . 253 23 Counsell & comfort for him that is persecuted , for his constant profession of the Gospell of Christ. 263 24 A prayer for a man persecuted for his faith , and profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. 281 25 Comfort and encouragement for such as are banished , or enforced to liue out of their owne natiue Countrey , either for feare of persecution for Gods word , or of the furie of enemies , that pursue them without iust cause . 292 26 A prayer for a man banished frō his natiue Countrey , for some crime committed , or enforced to forsake it , either for feare of persecution , or of some mighty aduersary that doth vniustly oppresse him . 304 27 Comfort & encouragement for Parents , that are crossed and grieued at the vngodlinesse and disobedience of their children : fit for all Parents to reade . pag. 314 28 A prayer to be vsed of godly Parents , for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children ; and for patience : not ouermuch to afflict themselues , for the stubbornnesse and disobedience of a wicked son . 332 29 A perswasion to patience in the crosses , that often fall out betweene man & wife ; fit to be considered of married folkes , for their mutuall comfort : with counsell to such as intend to marrie . 341 30 A prayer to be said by man and wife together , or by either of them , at any time in priuate . 359 31 How the husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his discontented wife . 367 32 A prayer to be said often of a man , who hath a wife of refractarie conditions . 374 33 How the wife ought to behaue her selfe towards her husband , though hee be faultie , and hard to be pleased . 379 34 A prayer for the wife that is vnequally yoked with an vnkinde , vnthrifty , or an vngodly husband . 385 35 A comfortable conclusion , shewing the benefit of afflictions , to the end we may beare them , in what nature or kinde soeuer they befall vs ; with the more resolute and godly patience . 401 37 A prayer for the forgiuenes of sins , and for the neglect of our duties , in seeking to know God by the hearing of his word , and the practise of the same : fit daily to be vsed . 391 36 A necessary prayer for strength , to beare whatsoeuer afflictions with patience , and for faith to resist the tentations of Sathan . 418 A PRAYER FOR the Morning . O Lord GOD , heauenlie Father ; when I doe consider how many wayes and by how many sortes of sinnes I haue offended thee night and day ; and doe duly call to minde how graciously thou hast kept mee this night , & how many blessings and fauours I haue receiued of thee ( without number : ) I am euen astonished at my great ingratitude , and doe vtterly condemne my selfe of highest rebellion against thee . Many haue beene the dayes , weekes , months and yeares , that thou hast here afforded me to liue ; and in all the time of my life hetherunto , thou hast graciously preserued mee , plentifully releiued me , & continually kept me vnder thy fatherly protection , in all my nights and dayes ; and hast beene euermore watchfull ouer me ; that I haue from time to time , from night to day , and from day to night , beene euer sustained through thy grace , though I haue some times felt thy correcting rod by some crosses for my sinnes , yet haue they beene euer easie , in comparison of my deseruings ; and profitable vnto me . Lord pardon and forgiue me my sinnes , forgiue my manifold offences , wash me throughly by the blood of Iesus Christ my Redeemer , and clense me from all my pollutions , for they are many , and I am ashamed that euer I gaue way vnto them . But now Lord , now , though late , I pray thee to leade me by thy Spirit in more obedience ; stay me , that I runne not this day into any vnseemely or vngodly actions ; withholde mine eyes from vanities ; keepe vnder the vngodly affections of my corrupt heart , that though they may begin to worke sin in me , Lord suppresse them before they come to execution . Disperse Lord , and dispell all the clouds of ignorance and errors , that darken mine vnderstanding , and giue me wisedome rightly to know thee , and thy Sonne Christ , and what he hath done for my soule ; and through thy grace restraine me this day from that thou hast commanded me to shun : and let me doe nothing , but what may please thee , then whatsoeuer I shall thinke , speake or determine , shall be to thine owne glorie , profitable to my selfe and others . Preserue me from the secret and hidden snares of Satan , who is restles to allure me to sinne , inticing me to imbrace the vanities of the world , and to yeeld to the lusts of mine owne corrupt nature . But Lord , as I haue by thy prouidence , past the darkenesse of this night , & doe now enioy the joyfull benefit of the light of this day : so let me this day auoide all the workes of darkenesse ; and as the day doth administer light vnto my corporall eyes , the better to doe the works & offices of my calling ; so let the light of thy Spirit , O Lord , shine in my soule , that I may walke in the light of thy truth in true obedience , to the good example of others . Thou hast allotted me a calling in this life ; giue me power & wisedome rightly to performe it : my best endeuours can little preuaile without thy blessing and direction ; and therefore I humbly pray thee to prosper whatsoeuer I take in hand this day . Blesse mine vnderstanding O Lord , that I may rightly know and be able truely & faithfully to performe what belongeth vnto my place and calling . Blesse the health of my body , the strength and continuall vse of my limbes & senses , which of them selues are weake , and may soone decay without thy blessing . Increase O Lord , and confirme my faith , grace , wisedome , and obedience euerie day more and more , that I may euerie day more and more dye vnto sinne , and be made stronger and more perfect in righteousnesse . Heale O Lord , all my corporall and spirituall infirmities , and dispose my heart , that I may be euerie day more and more mindfull , that this my life is short , and that this day may be my last day : and let me so walke this day , as if it should be the last day of this my mortall life ; that I may be assured of the immediate entrance into that life which is eternall , with Christ my Redeemer . And vntill that last day shall come , O Lord , I intreate thee in the name of Iesus Christ , that this day and all the rest of my daies and nights , may be prosperous and blessed vnto me ; the day for the performance of my calling , the night for my rest , vntill I come to my finall and perpetuall rest with thee and thy Sonne , to whom with thy blessed Spirit , I ascribe all honour , praise and glory . Amen . Lord● euermore increase my faith . A Prayer to be said before a man goes to his nightly rest . O Gracious Lord God heauenly Father , the keeper and preseruer of all that come vnto thee for succour ; I haue been through thy great mercie and prouidence , kept , preserued , defended , fed , sustained , and relieued this day , now come to an end ; and now as the night succeedeth the day , and the darkenes the light ; so I knowe O Lord , that death will succeede my life , and the graue my bed . Lord , thou madest in the beginning , light and darknes , night & day , morning & euening , and all to thine own glorie , & to the vse of wretched man , who in the beginning turned his light into darkenesse , & that darkenesse hath ouershadowed al that haue proceeded of his corrupt seed ; among whom O Lord , I am so bemisted and blinded with that originall darkenes , as I cannot see , nor truely conceiue the light of thy most sacred word , without that spirituall light , shining from thine illuminating Spirit . Thou madest two lights O Lord , to endure for euer , the Sun to gouerne the day , and the Moone to giue light in the night ; yet doe not these lights O Lord , direct our feete in the wayes of righteousnesse , nor our pathes in obedience , but rather lead vs to the occasions to sin ; but it is the supernaturall light O Lord , that proceedeth from the brightnesse of thy louing countenance , that directeth aright those that are thy children of the light . By this light O Lord , guide me , that the night of ignorance ouer shadowe me not from beholding thy louing countenance , which is more pretious & more sweete vnto me , then all earthly delights . The day-light wherein I should onely followe with godly diligence in my calling , & to serue thee , turneth into the darkenes of my minde without thy spirituall light : how much more will the darkenesse of the night miscarrie my corrupt hart , into idle and vngodly thoughts , especially , by the temptations of the Prince of darkenes , when thy light faileth me ? For such O Lord , is the nature of my polluted heart , that it neuer resteth to infuse euill imaginations into my mind ; especially in my night wakings , and in my sleepe to trouble me , with sundrie euil & vngodly dreames & wicked phantasies ; showing thereby the fruites of my sinfull nature . Therefore gracious Father , I finding in my selfe , & thou knowing mine imperfections better then my selfe , I come in all humblenesse , praying thee to assist me with thy grace , that I may conuert my heart from the euils whereunto it is enclined , and onely incline and frame it to the sincere seruice of , & obedience to thee ; and to dedicate my mind , will and affections , in my night wakings , either to meditate of thy word , or in making my faithfull prayers vnto thee . I cannot O Lord , through the weakenesse of my corrupte nature subsist without cōpetent rest & sleep ; yet I know thou slumbrest not nor sleepest : but with thee the day and night are alike light , and in thy prouidence and loue , hast an eye ouer all that are thine whether they sleep or wake . Giue therefore command O Lord , vnto thy heauenly watchmen to keepe me , and all that I haue , from danger this night : so will I lay mee downe vnder the shadowe of thy protecting winges to take my rest this night ; faithfully cōmending my soule and body , and all that belong vnto me , into thy most powerfull and fatherly tuition ; so shall I not feare what Satan or any malicious instrument of his shall practise or plot against me . And in this assurance O Lord , confirme my faith from night to day , and from day to night ; that all the dayes and nights of my life , may be rightly spent in a holy and sanctified conuersation , to thy glorie and mine own comfort , vnto the end of all my nights and dayes , through Iesus Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer . Amen . Lord , encrease and confirme my faith , this night and euermore . A PATH-VVAY TO GODLY PATIENCE , IN all manner of Afflictions . AFliction heere in this life , is vnto the Godly , as it were a Schoole to learne them Patience : A most worthie and diuine Vertue ; which , adioyned with true & liuely Faith in God , doth so season the minde and the affections of the heart , as it seemeth not to feele , whatsoeuer trouble , or affliction inflicted ; or iniury offered : But , in prosperitie and aduersitie : loued or hated ; sicke or in health ; in fulnesse & in want ; in riches & pouerty ; it resteth in the worst part content , and in the best euer thankfull : neyther lifted vp for the one , or cast downe for the other . Tribulation may lye very heauily vpon a man endewed with this diuine vertue , yet can it neuer presse him down to dispayre , moue him to reuenge , or cause him to seeke sinister meanes for ease : For , hee is strong , when he seemeth most weake ; he goeth on most cheerfully , and with ease , when Carnal men ( obseruing his miseries ) thinke him most heauily and grieuously loaden . It is such , and so excellent a vertue , as is not , neither can it begotten , by friendship or fauour : It is freely giuen , not of Nature , but of Grace : Not attained vnto by Humane learning , but by Spirituall illumination : And therefore , neuer entreth into a froward , vnfaithfull , or repining heart : But , in a heart vpright , and a conscience at peace with God and men ; humble and meeke men and women doe only ( and none else ) enioy her . So precious a Iewell it is , as neither golde nor siluer can purchase it ; It is also so victorious , as nothing can ouercome it : Seldome moued , yet neuer without cause of being moued : for one iniury , trouble , crosse , or afflictiō or another , wil daily , nay euery houre set vpon it to try it . It continually meeteth with one occasiō or another , to exercise it : And the more it is crossed , the more it increaseth , and the stronger and more perfect it waxeth . Where this diuine vertue Patience dwelleth , and hath her perfect working , it is an especiall marke and note , that he , or she that truely possesseth it , or is possessed by it , is the true Childe of God ; yet neuer seene nor obserued , but by iniuries , wrongs , afflictions , abuses , and troubles , the things whereupon it worketh ; and without which it were of no vse . For as Physicke needes not , where no disease is , nor Medicine , where no Maladie is ; So needes there no Patience , where no tryall is . But it fareth not so with Gods Children , they haue matter enough to trye and in-vre their Patience ( though worldly men , that haue all thinges , and all thinges succeed according to their owne hearts desires , haue no seeming cause , to vse , though they often abuse this most worthie vertue . ) The Godly , and such as truely endeauour to liue religiously among the multitudes of men , cannot be but many wayes tryed , to proue their Faith , and to exercise thē to beare their afflictions without murmuring or grudging , Wayting on the Lord with perfect Patience : For where no troubles are , where , and to whom no iniury , abuse , or wrong is offered , and vpon whom no crosses befall , how can Patience appeare ? where no Body is , how can the shadow be seene ? And as the shadow appeareth by the Body ; so in the truely humbled , Patience appeareth in affliction : According to St. Paul , who approueth that Tribulation in the Faithfull bringeth forth Patience , and Patience experience of the mercies of God , and that experience produceth Hope ( neuer to be forsaken in what trouble soeuer ) which Hope is so farre from making him ashamed , that is endewed with these heauenly vertues , that he findeth the end of his troubles to be timely deliuerance , and finally glorie : How can he but reioyce , rather then to be too much deiected in his afflictions ? For , seeing Hope grounded vpon Experience , approueth that afflictions worke Patience , through Faith ; why should afflictions seem so harsh , as to make men miserable , when the Patient suffring of thē , bringeth not onely no shame , but honour vnto the Saints of God , that suffer ? whō it pleaseth him to vse here as seruāts , intending hereafter to glorifie them as his Sonnes and Daughters : he abaseth them here , whom he meaneth to aduance hereafter : His crosses here for a time , carries vs to a Crowne of glory hereafter . Let vs therefore with true & perfect Patience , vndergoe all our crosses & afflictions ; knowing , that through many troubles and trials we must enter into the kingdome of heauen . Carnal men may think indeed , that y e Patient man , & such a one as can contentedly beare troubles , iniuries , wrongs , slaunders reproaches , and afflictions ; to be but a Coward , a Sot , a Silly foole one that hath neither a manly spirit , nor humane Pollicy to reuenge himselfe , or to make sinister shifts in the world , to right and releeue himselfe : and thinke him mad or sencelesse , that he sheweth no more passion , or impatience , in his wrongs and miseries , as meere Carnall men doe : But that seemingsilly Patient man , feels farre lesse trouble of minde in his seeming greatest afflictions , then these Politicks of the world doe ; who are both inwardly vexed and tormented , and outwardly toyled , in shuffling & tossing their wits , like Flies in a Spiders web , or Birds in a Lime-bush , to free themselues of small troubles ; and the more they struggle , the more they entangle themselues , As if they were not blinded with the vaine opinion of their owne carnall wisdome , or carried away with the vaine hope of ( vncertaine ) successe , they could not but acknowledge ; for dayly experience sheweth , that the wisest and carnally Politickst men in the world , seldom bring their euill enterprizes to passe , but with charging their Consciences , and finde at last , that all their inuentions and practises , either end with shame here , or in horror , when they goe hence : For it is iust with God to leaue them to their owne wills and wiles , that wilfully forsake him , and his wisdome to direct them : And experience likewise approueth that the truly patient and faithfull man , depending onely vpon the Power , Prouidence , Wisdome , and Loue of God , in his greatest calamities , findeth euer a most certaine comfortable issue of his hope , and holy desires . In his greatest dangers he passeth not the bounds of Gods holy directions . So all his afflictions tend to his inward comfort , neuer to his outward deserued shame or reproach : He doth consider in true wisedome , that the time of his suffring is heere but short , but the time of his Triumphing shall be perpetuall . And therefore , whatsoeuer the malice of Sathan or his Instruments can practise or purpose against a man , trulie indewed with this diuine Vertue Patience ( which through Faith hauing it perfect operation ) he daun●eth not . Let Rabsach : rayle and blaspheme : Let Shemie curse and cast stones : Let the world and all the wicked therein , worke what they can : let them vomit out their venemous Gall of malice , and spew out their most enuious hearts in most ignominious slanders against him ; he will yet keepe silence in his heart , to God ; who searcheth euery heart , and tryeth the Reynes of euery man , and will giue vnto euery man according to his wayes : And it is he that sends vs troubles to keepe vs in obedience : And it is he that works Patience to beare them ; and nothing hindreth inward comfort in outward crosses , but murmuring , grudging , and impatience in them . Afflictions ( indeed ) though they doe proceed of Gods fauour , seeme nothing pleasant to the fleshly minde : yet ( as St. Paul saith ) they bring in the end , the quiet . and comfortable fruite of righteousnesse , to them that are exercised with Patience to beare them ; They bring , through faith , eternall glory in the end ; not as the cause , but through Faith in him that suffered for vs , and before vs , a testimonie , that God so loueth vs in his Sonne , as to make vs in some measure like him , by suffering with him and for his sake : And when we haue suffered , as much as the malice of Sathan or his Instruments ( by the permission of God ) can inflict vpon vs , yet cannot our suffrings amount to the thousandth part of the best mans euil deseruings : And yet many complaine of the greatnesse of their troubles , that neuer , either examine the haynousnesse of their sinnes , or that they are sent of God , to make them to know that God is angry with their sinnes ; and by his corrections seeketh to draw them to repentance , and amendment of life . If we did truely consider , and duely weigh , that it is God alone that measures out all our afflictions ; the length , breadth , and depth of them by his owne hand in his absolute wisedome ; and that neither Sathan nor the malice of man , hath any further share in inflicting them vpon vs , then they are limited in his prouidence , & did consider ( as I●b saith ) that afflictions spring not of the ca●●h , though many times by earthly men ( yet all of God ) we could not but with a most liuely and firme Patience imbrace them as sent from him . What are the afflictions which can befall vs in this life ? They are indeed of many and sundrie sortes ; yet may be all reduced into these heads : The griefe of the minde for sinne , sickenesse of the body , enemies , losse of goods , slanders of our good name , imprisonment , banishmēt ; & which is the most heauie , yet most comfortable , persecution for the constant acknowledgement and profession of the Gospell of Christ : vngodly children not the least crosse , and houshold disquietnesse betweene man and wise , the most vngodly : many other branches are dependant on euery of these : But what , and of what nature or kinde soeuer they be , they are all determined by God , so to befall vs as he hath limited , and none of them but haue befallen Gods dearest children : And therefore let no man attribute whatsoeuer befals him , to Fortune , Chance or Ill-lucke , common vngodly phrases , vsed not by the ignorant onely , but , too often , by such as stand much vpon their diuine knowledge . A haire falleth not from our head by chance , but by the prouidence of God : And shall we ascribe matters of farre more , yea of greatest moment , vnto a cause that is not ? for there is neither fortune , chance , or lucke , as they are commonly taken , that haue any share in these things ; and therefore can they not be the cause of our troubles , to which there can be no certaine euent ascribed : But the will , wisedome , power and prouidence of God , worketh according to his owne good pleasure , all things vnder the Sunne . Therefore ought all men to reuerence him , and to suffer themselues to be guided and gouerned by him : and not onely , not to murmure and grudge , at his corrections , but to imbrace with an humble heart and patient minde , whatsoeuer hee in his wisedome shall thinke sit , to be laid vpon them , vsing no sinister , violent , or forbidden meanes to be eased ; and not to goe before the good pleasure of God to be eased : for as hee layes them vpon vs , he knowes the time and meanes to remoue them : wherein wee are to followe the example of Noah , who , as hee was shut vp into the Arke by God ; so would he not come forth without him : neither should we that are afflicted by him , seeke to be eased but by him . Affliction in it selfe , and of it owne nature is indeed a heauie burthen , euen to a minde well qualified , as it is the punishment of sinne : But as God changeth the nature of it , in making it the medicine to cure the sinnes of his children , they become light , whose crosses and corrections he sanctifieth by his grace , and maketh those bitter waters sweet . So that through faithfull patience , his dearest children canne with comfort digest them . But contrarily , they bring forth in the wicked , the poysonous fruites of impatience , murmuring , grudging , and many times very blasphemies ; In so much , as to them , euen good things become euill : and they become worse by that , whereby the children of God are made better ; and therefore saith God vnto the wicked ( that through punishment would not amend ) Wherefore should yee bee smitten any more ? for ye fall away more and more . Whereby wee are taught not to repine at the continuall prosperitie of the wicked , that suffer not like troubles as the godly doe here ; for God seemeth to wincke a while at their wickednesse , and forbeares to punish them , suffering them to enioy their profits , their pleasures and carnall delights here , that hee may giue them their iust recompence of condemnation hereafter , that refuse his chastasements here . Happie are they therefore that suffer here , with faithfull and filiall patience , though in showe it be ignominious , and in the censures and opinions of carnall and worldly men base : yet is it indeede the Crowne of their glorie here : howsoeuer they seeme to be neglected and reiected in the world & worldlings , by their true faith , perfect patience , humilitie and prayer : they are sustained , supported , and in their greatest troubles , deepest dangers , distresses and wantes , comforted and releeued : and obtainning at his hands whatsoeuer small comfort , they atribute it wholy and altogether to his meere mercy , goodnesse and prouidence , not vnto selfe wisedome , policie or fortune . They acknowledge their owne wisedome to bee but foolishnesse , their policies friuolous ; and , fortune a meere heathenish inuention : They see and feele their owne weakenes ; they obserue their owne blindnesse ; they finde they can doe nothing of themselues , towards the remouing of their miseries , nor supplying of their wants ; but repaire vnto , and relie onely vpon God , in faithful prayer , and wayte with patience , for , and receiue timely supplie . By troubles and afflictions , they finde the worlds inconstancie , humane ficklenesse ; and that in the world the dearest children of God haue least rest . They are tossed hether and thether ; one trouble followes another as the drops of raine ; whereby also the pride of corrupt nature , in the godly , is humbled , their confidence in worldly meanes abated , their security abandoned . They finde , that fulnesse bred sinne , and sinne procured Gods displeasure , and in his displeasure hee punisheth the wicked , and correcteth the godly ; and neither but for sinne : yet the one in his Iustice , the other in mercie : And therefore saith Iob , to encourage the godly to patience , Blessed is the man whom the Lord correcteth : refuse not therefore the chastisements of the Almightie : Though therefore we be compassed about on all sides with many miseries , let vs not fainte , but in patience possesse our soules , As Christ himselfe teacheth , for Whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth : and scourgeth euery sonne that hee receiueth . Then are chastisements testimonies of Gods loue towards vs : and therefore they that cannot abide to bee corrected , showe themselues bastards , and not the sonnes of God. As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten . Reuel . 3. 19. Doth a father correct his sonne without a faulte ? it were iniurious : and doth God correct his children that sinne not ? there is none but sinneth , therefore none but deserue correction : seeing then that sinne is the cause of Gods corrections ; let euery man examine himselfe , and take with thankeful patience , his Fatherly chastisements , in what manner soeuer they befall him . Touching sinne , the cause of all afflictions ; the confession and repentance thereof , and patience in troubles . FOr asmuch as sinne is the cause of all our afflictions , and that there is neither crosse , or any kinde of trouble that befall vs , but sinne causeth it : In vaine it is to hope for remedie , reliefe or ease , vntill wee haue in some measure vnburthened vs of our sinnes : for , as an old house pulled downe to bee rebuilt , must be rid of all rotten materials and rubbish , before any good and sound foundation can be laid : so before wee can receiue any inward comfort , or outward release of our troubles ; we must cast out of our hearts , and clense our soules , of all the filthy & loathsome dregs of sinne , that lurke in them : & that can we not doe but by a strict and serious examination of our hearts ; and to call to minde how wee haue spent the time past ; and then shall euery man finde cause enough , why God in his Iustice might inflict vpon vs , in steeede of our light afflictions ( which are but his Fatherly corrections ) his most heauie iudgements & seuearest punishments ; and in steed of our temporall and momentanie miseries , cast vs into perpetuall torments . Knowing then that the cause of our calamities , to bee our sinnes , and hauing vpon due search found out our long hidden iniquities , can we but acknowledge ; that God hath not dealt with vs , nor afflicted vs according to the measure and multitude of our wicked deseruings ? But as a louing father , hee hath by his gentle chastisements , as it were onely wincked at , and beckened vnto vs , to put vs in minde onely of our faults ; least by continuing in them , and multiplying of them , he should haue cause ( in steed of gentle corrections ) to vse his Iustice : therefore hauing found in our corrupte hearts , our vngodly and impious inclinations , which haue begotten in vs infinite actuall sinnes ; we may not any longer couet to conceale them , but heartily , plainely and faithfully , acknowledge them vnto God : ( though we cannot call all our antient sinnes and the faults we haue committed long agoe to our remembrance ) for Who can vnderstand all his faults ? saith Dauid , yet Dauid him selfe confessed his sinnes to God ; sometimes in generall , sometimes in particular : he did not hide his iniquities , but confessed them against himselfe , and was not ashamed to set them down in many of his Psalmes : to teach vs ( if occasion be ) to discouer our sins for the satisfaction of men , but especially vnto God , as Dauid did , who forgaue the punishment of his sinne : Yet had he afflictions still , not as punishments , but as fatherly physicke , to keepe his heart and affections in more due obedience : and though Dauid said he did not hide his sinnes from God ; it is not therefore to bee collected , that he could , or any man can hide his sinnes from him , howsoeuer couertly and secretly they commit them : But who so confesseth them not , he intendeth to hide them as much as lyeth in him from God that seeth them , and thereby doubleth his offence : But who so acknowledgeth his sinnes vnto him , he is faithfull and Iust to forgiue them , and to cleanse him from all his vnrighteousnesse . To acknowledge our sinnes then , is the very entrance into Gods fauour ; which being obtained , ( not by the confession of our sinnes , ) but in , and through a firme faith in Iesus Christ , through whose merites we may freely aske , and assure our selues of the remission of our sinnes : for he hath promised to doe it , who is most faithfull and iust in his word , and that doth Dauid approoue ; saying : I confessed against my selfe my sinnes vnto the Lord , and hee forgaue the punishment of my sinne . He forgaue him , as not to punish him in the seueritie of his Iustice , though he remembred him with his gentle corrections often , as hee doth his deerest children ; yet not all a like : some hee chastiseth after a most milde manner , some more sharpely , yet fatherly ; as he findeth men docible and tractable , or refractarie and hard to bee reformed : for , some are more and sooner reformed , with a sharpe looke of the Lords countenance , then some with many stripes ; As Peter , when he had thrice denyed his Master Christ : Christ but turned his face towards him at the crowing of the Cocke , it was rebuke enough ; he went suddenly forth and wept bitterly , in token of his repentance . Some againe , will hardly remember their sinnes , vntill it be said vnto them , Thou art the man , as Nathan , tolde Dauid ; who before that , had slept in his sinne of adultrie and murder , a whole yeare , neuer thinking of it : But when he was admonished from God by a parable ; then he confessed his sinnes , and repented them ; saying I haue sinned against the Lord : Ioyning with his confession , sorrow and repentance for his sinnes . And the same mouth that reproued him for his sinne , and that he should dye for the same ; pronounced the forgiuenesse and pardon of them ; The Lord hath put away thy sinnes . Whereby we may learne , that the Lord seeketh no seue●r● reuenge against a sinner , confessing and repenting his sinnes , though he leaue some token of his displeasure against sinne , and of his loue to the sinner , in keeping him in future obedience by his fatherlie discipline , least he should too much presume of pardon of second sinning , by the mercie of God declared by the remission of the former : And therefore , although he had pardoned Dauid his sinne , and had forgiuen him the punishment of it ; yet Dauid went not without a token , that he should remember that he had offended , and giuen the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme : God pronounced the death of the child . God sees it necessarie , and we cannot but thinke it expedient euen for vs , That although God doe assure vs that our sinnes ( sincerely acknowledged ) be forgiuen vs ; yet that he beare a kinde and fatherly hand ouer vs , to retaine vs in future obedience , by some daily vnsauory potion , to cure and to keepe our carnall apetite in order , that we returne not to our former iniquities : And therefore not to think it strange , when any crosse or affliction befals vs ; But rather thereby to take occasion to call our selues daily to accompt what we haue done against the Commandements of God , and to acknowledge that for those sins that we haue done , God corrects vs. Let vs beware that we bee not found of the number of those , whom neither Gods angrie countenance , which appeareth in the seueritie of his punishments ; nor his fatherly chastisements , and instructions , contained in his word , can reclaime from committing sinne , nor from whom Gods gentle correction can draw hearty confession of them , and true repentance for them . We must also consider , that it is not enough for vs to confesse our sinnes barely to God ; for hee knoweth them better then wee our selues : but with our confession wee must acknoweledge that God may iustly condemne vs for them . And therefore wee must ioyne with the confession of our sins , true and sincere repentance for them ; which yet auaileth not , without a liuely faith , in taking hold of the blood and merites of Iesus Christ , in whome , and for whose , sake our sins are pardoned : And this faith must bee certaine , it must be an assured confidence of the promises made in Christ , in whom a sinner ( truely penitent , and faithfully confident ) is iustified : and neither by our bare confession , or best workes , but by the meere mercy of God , in his Sonne . As there is no man but sinneth daily ; So hee must daily confesse his sinnes to God , and truely repent them ; not as Iudas & Kayne : Iudas confessed he had sinned ; betraying the innocent blood , and repented , but not in faith ; his repentance was a desperate sorrowe , not for the sinne hee committed , but for the horror of his reprobabation : So did Kayne confesse his sinnes , My sinnes are greater then I am able to beare ; but he tepented not to the obtaining of mercie : Confession of sinnes , and repentance ( without faith ) auaileth not . It auailed not Pharaoh , though hee confessed the righteousnesse of God , and his owne , and his peoples sinnes : But Peter confessed his sinnes and repented with tears : So did Marie Magdaline , and their repentance is recorded by the holy Ghost ; to teach all posterities , how to bewayle their sinnes a right : They were great sinners , yet through faith and repentance obtained pardon ; which to the comfort of greatest sinners , sheweth , that there is yet place of repentance , and acceptation into Gods fauour for them , vpon sincere repentance . God himselfe affirmeth , that He desireth not the condemnation of a sinner , but rather that he repent and be saued : And againe hee saith : Haue I any desire that the wicked should dye , or shall he not liue , if he returne from his euill wayes ? And what is it to returne vnto God , but true repentance for our sinnes ? And we are to consider , that , that repentance which is perfect indeed , is ioyned with the keeping of Gods Commandements : and none can say or assure himselfe , that his confession of his sinnes , and his repentance , is accepted of God ; vnlesse he adde all his desires , to fulfill the Lawe of God : for the breach whereof , God afflicteth his owne dearest children with sundrie crosses to preuent his cursses which hee inflicteth , either here vpon the disobedient and vnrepentant ; to cause his owne to auoid sin , by the example of his seuere iudgements , whereby hee beginneth here to punish them ; or reserueth his punishments of them , vntill his finall condemnation of them . Markes of repentance , are contrition and vnfained sorrow for sinne committed , ioyned with a liuely faith in Christ , for pardon of them , and a setled desire and purpose euer hereafter to walke in a holy feare , to displease God againe by our sinnes ; namely , by the outward breach of Gods Commandements : for the committing of things contrary to the Lawes of God , is that sin we should repent vs of ; which by reason of our corrupt nature , we cannot , but cōmit , without the especiall grace of God ; which although it be the free guift of God , it is not obtained without liuely faith and prayer in Christ ; by whose stripes we are healed , and for whose sake we are heard , and in whose blood we are washed from our sinnes . But sorrow of heart , may be great and yet auaile vs nothing ; as it did not Kayne , Iudas , Esau ; vnlesse true faith bee ioyned therewith : Sorrow indeed may cast vs downe , which if it bee not in an humble and faithfull acknowledgement of our vnworthinesse , to be called or accepted as the children of God , by reason of our sinnes ; it may proue desperate . And therefore sorrow for sinne and faith in Christ to be pardoned , ioyned together , will assure vs , that God is our God and that wee are his people ; that , he is our Father and that wee are his sonnes and daughters . If then we finde in our selues the burthen of our sinnes ; truely and plainely confesse them to God , and heartely repent them ; we cannot but through faith in Christ , assure our selues that our sinnes are pardoned : and hauing an inward assurance thereof , we must acknowledge , that these graces proceede of no other thing , then of the meere merites , and mediation of our alone and onely Sauiour Iesus Christ , who disdaineth not to call vs ( thus receiued into the Communion of the Saints of God ) brethren , whom God knewe before the world was ; predestinated , to be made like to the Image of Iesus Christ , adopted in him ; and by whom , we haue redemption in his blood , euen the full forgiuenes of all our sinnes , through his grace , wherewith hee hath made vs freely accepted of God. Now then , we being through the grace of God , made the Sonnes of God , brethren and coheires with Christ ; shall wee thinke that he will not also furnish vs , with the spirit of his Son , which dwelling in vs ? we shall be able , faithfully to cry Abba Father ; and what is that , but to teach vs how to pray to God his heauenly Father , in his owne name . Therefore Whatsoeuer we shall aske the Father , he will grant it vs , for his sake : so we aske according to his will in a liuely faith , and wa●●● not ; for he that wauereth , is like a waue of the sea tost with the wind . Though therefore our Tribulations be great , and our afflictions many waies grieuous ; yet seeing they proceed from so louing a Father , we may not thinke them to be inflicted vppon vs in displeasure , but in a Fatherly regard of our soules health : Which as sinne hath impaired , so his gentle chastisements , are as wholsome medicines to heale it . And as no Physicke , be it neuer so salutarie for the health of the body , is sauorie to the Palat ; So Gods corrections , howsoeuer they are sent , as eyther Antidotes to preuent sinne , or Medicines to cure it ; They are not pleasant to Flesh and Blood for the time : But as corporall physicke , though harsh in the tast , hauing it working in an vnsound sound body , begetteth health ; and is then much commended , with many thanks to the Physitian . So if we can well digest our troubles & afflictions here , for a little while , and by vertue of them ( seasoned with Faith and perfect Patience ) euacuate our grosse and filthy corruptions , that suffocate our hearts with sin ; wee shall feele a most wished renouation of the health of our mindes , and finde our affections changed ; euen as a body distempred with a Feuer , distasteth the most sauorie thinges , as long as it possesseth the Body ; and afterwards becomes to it perfect taste : So , although , as long as we be holden with the corrupt infirmitie of our naturall wills , no good dutie , or heauenly grace , can be so toothsome vnto vs as pleasure , and the sinnes wee delight in : But being purged and dieted , by the afflictions that our louing Physitian doth compound for vs ; we shall finde sin , and pleasures , and all carnall delights , to become bitter and harsh vnto our hearts . God many times sends vs troubles and afflictions , that by easing vs of them againe , we may knowe , that as he can correcte vs , so he can comforte vs : He neuer maketh a wound but hee healeth it : nay such is his mercie , power , and prouidence , as hee cures the most deadly wounds that our selues doe make vpon our selues , through our sinnes , by his owne free mercie in his Sonne ; and the medicines he vseth , are his fatherly chastisements . Should we not therefore take his salutarie , and gentle stripes with patience , that doe not onely not hurt vs , but heale vs ? If wee were indeed the first of Gods children , that haue beene afflicted and troubled in this life , we might stagger at our crosses and calamities , that are so infinite ; But , if we set before vs the worthy examples for our imitation , which Saint Iames sets before vs , euen our brethren the Prophets , Apostles ( and such as were the most beloued of God ) for an example of suffering , and their patience , such as haue spoken and taught in the name of the Lord , and his Christ , who indured most ignominious tortors , and most cruell afflictions ; for his sake of whom the world was not worthie ; being the Ambassadours of the eternall God : wee could not but beare our light and momentanie afflictions , with most resolute , and godly patience , and as we haue heard , so if we beleeue the patience of Iob , and what end the Lord made with him , namely , in not onely remouing his miseries , but in restoring him to greater glorie , euen here , then he had before ; and which was greatest of all and the end of all , the Crowne of life ; we should acknowledge with holy Saint Iames , That we are blessed that endure here , the chastisements of the Lord. If then it be a blessed thing to endure troubles , he must needs be the childe of God , that is here corrected , and doth suffer it with patience , though the fault be in our selues , for which we are afflicted ; and therefore to impute it to no other cause but to our sinnes . There is a kinde of suffering indeed , couered with a kinde of counterfeit patience : As when men are inforced to vndergoe the ineuitable torments of death , for capitall crimes , committed against the Lawes of Nations , or suffering things they cannot auoide : as there 〈…〉 to showe their impious and vaine-glorious valour , and vngodly resolution at their vnauoidable executions , vndergoe them , as if they were nothing daunted therewith : yet were their inward hearts seene , they would appeare , fraught and full of horrour . But we are to learne of Saint Paul , who had his tribulations and reioyced in them , affirming , that tribulation bringeth forth patience , and patience , experience , and experience , hope ; which hope maketh not ashamed : for , through the loue of God , which is shed abroad in our hearts , by the holy Ghost ; patience becōmeth an assured testimonie , that they that thus suffer , are beloued of God. We need not therefore thinke or conceiue , that our afflictions here to be any disgrace vnto vs ; f●r they are the liuery , and badge of Gods dearest children . It is a glorious thing to be adorned with the note of the honour of any great mans seruice ; and shall wee thinke it a base thing , to weare the cognisance of the King of Kings , and which our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe , hath worne before vs ? yet without sinne in himselfe , but bare the curse for ours : we suffer for our owne sinnes , he endured all and more ; and more heauie crosses for vs , then wee are able to beare for him . What tormēts endured he not ? he was poor , though all the world were his : hee had not a house to hide his head in ; hee had enemies more then wee all ; he was slaundered , railed on , buffered , spet on , crowned with thornes , besides infinite and vnspeakable iniuries ; and finally , put to a most cruell , shamefull , and ignominious death : a death inuented for theeues and murtherers ; and hanged as so capitall a malefactor , being altogether in himselfe innocent ; Lord and Creator of heauen and earth : and shall we most wretched sinners , guiltie of ten thousand impieties , worthie for the least of them to be vtterly confounded , repine at the good will of God , in sending vs so fauourable tokens of his displeasure for our sinnes , and loue of our saluation ? God forbid ! knowing , and being so sufficiently instructed , that nothing doth or can befall vs , but by the meere prouidence of our most louing Father ; neither sicknesse , nor pouertie , nor enemies , nor any whatsoeuer crosse : which hee doth also so graciously temper in his mercie , as they are neuer more heauy then he maketh vs able to beare them , with his owne guifte of setled patience , through the free guift of faith . Wherefore let vs apply our hearts to wisedome , and learne to know , and to acknowledge , that all the troubles and afflictions that fell so heauily vpon innocent Christ , were not for sinne in him , but for ours ; and were most heauily layde vpon him , to make ours light : And that whatsoeuer crosse , affliction , or trouble , befalleth vs , our sins procure them and yet there is no more required of vs for the mittigation of them , or remouing them from vs ; but a full acknowledgement of our sinnes , vnfained repentance for them , faith , in , and obedience to God , and patience for a little space to beare our corrections : If these things be not in vs , how can we thinke our selues , or be thought , in the least measure to haue our troubles remoued or mittigated , but rather to acknowledge our selues worthie to be more seuerely punished in his Iustice ? Let vs therefore afore all thinges , make our peace with God , which by no other means can be , but onely by the merits and mediation of Iesus Christ ; which we must apply vnto our selues , through a liuely saith : praying in the same ( with a godly feare , and feeling of our sinnes ) for remission and pardon of them : and that hee will so arme vs with his heauenly graces , as wee may bee able to beat downe all impatience , and to giue vs power to resist that armed enemy Sathan , who endeauoureth to make vs to think , that our crosses are the curses of God , and that our afflictions proceed from his finall anger , neuer to bee appeased ; but these his sugiestions are false ; let vs not beleeue them : let vs beleeue , that whom God doth chasten , he loueth : and therefore we may assure our selues so much the more , that we are the children of God , by how much we finde these tentations in vs : for if we were his , as he would sugiest vnto vs , that God is angry with vs , and wee not his ; he needed not to trouble vs : but he knowing , that wee are the Lords , hee worketh by all meanes to drawe vs to distrust in God , and that the merits of Christ cannot auaile vs. But let vs be strong in the Lord ; let vs trust constantly and confidently in the merits of his sonne , armed with the shield of faith ; and buckle vnto our selues the sword of the spirit , which is the word of God ; which doth containe most sure promises that he will neuer leaue vs , nor forsake vs : let vs pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit ; and watch thereunto in a holy patience with all perseuerance : So shall wee see the saluation of God , his power and prouidence , in deliuering vs out of all our troubles , of whatsoeuer kinde ; or such inward comforte , as shall make our most bitter and sharpest afflictions , sweet and easie . And for asmuch as sinne , is the greatest and most heauy burthen of misery , that any poore childe of God can be afflicted with : It is the principall part of a Christian , to seeke to be vnburthened of the same ; not as to bee carelesse in the search of his sinnes , and so to feele no burthen ; for he is like a man sicke vnto death , and yet will acknowledge he feeleth no sickenesse at all : but he that findeth his sinnes most grieuous vnto him , and most deiected for them , is nearest vnto pardon ; so he acknowledge them , and in a liuely faith in Christ repent them . Comforte for a man afflicted in conscience , by reason of his sinnes . COnsider first , whosoeuer thou art that art troubled in minde 〈◊〉 thy conscience afflicted by 〈◊〉 ●f thy great sins , 〈…〉 not thy case alone to be a sinner : it is a common disease and sickenesse of the soule ; originally deriued from the transgression of Adam , and remaining in the nature of all his posteritie ; outwardly shewing it selfe in vngodly wordes and deeds , spoken or done against the Law and honor of God ; and inwardly , by the thoughts & desires of the heart , conceiued against the Law of the spirit . And happie is hee , that can consider his owne wayes , and that can and doth examine and finde out the sinnes which are hidden in his owne heart ; which to all other men are concealed , but not from God. The heart is an vnfadomable depth of sinne , and rebellion against God : and the best man by nature , is guiltie of many secret and hidden , as well as open and known sinnes : for , The imaginations of mans heart are onely euill from his youth : And many odious sinnes proceede from that corrupte fountaine ; Such , as men are ashamed to reueale ; and were it possible , they would conceile them from God him selfe : and therefore they often striue to keepe them in their priuate bosomes , vntill they become so heauy & burthensome , as they can no longer beare them , without vnspeakable horror , and vnquietuesse of minde ; vntill they become as a worme , so venemous in the Conscience , as eateth and deuoureth all peace and comfort of the heart ; which the Deuill seeketh continually to feed , and agrauates the sinnes grieuously in the minde of a poore sinner , that he begins to fainte , and as it were to sincke vnder the burthen of his afflicted conscience ; which is the most heauy crosse of all crosses ; a burrhen importable , where it lighteth : and it seemeth to bee in some measure thine owne case , and is indeed dangerous : for , that soule that sinneth ( and perseuereth therein ) shall dye : and it seemeth , thou feelest the weight of grieuous sins ; which makes thee sad , melancholicke , and heauy ; which is yet a token that thou art not so dead in sin , as that there is no feeling of sinne in thee ; which may be an argument that there is some life of grace yet in thee , and that the spirit of God is not altogether dead in thee : for , if thy conscience were so feared vp and hardned , that there were no sinne felt of thee , thy case were farre more dangerous : and though thou groanest , and grieuest vnder the burthen of thy sinnes , it may be onely for feare of the Iudgement of God , and his punishments due for thy sinnes , which is in it selfe but a seruile and slauish feare : But if thou grieue , that thou hast offended God by thy sinnes , and dishonoured him by thy transgressions ; this proceedeth of a godly sorrow , and so a signe , that there is yet place and time for thee to repent & turne vnto God , & therfore despaire not of the mercies of God in Christ , who through thy faith ( if it be liuely and stedfast ) will be thine Aduocate , by whom and by none other , or other meanes , thou shalt be reconciled to God , and not dye in thy sinnes . Thy sins are great , & great and fearefull the iudgements of God for sinne ; yet greater then both , is the mercy of God , towards a truly penitent sinner : he is much displeased for sinne , yet retayneth not he his anger , long , against a sinner , if he returne vnto him ; for , mercy is more pleasing vnto him then Iustice : And though he seeme to turne away his louing fauour from thee ( being a notorious sinner ) and suffer thee to lye plunged , and as it were wallowing in the bloud of thy sinnes , and leaue thee destitute of all inward feeling of comfort ; yet , if thou were the most haynous sinner , and haue but an inclination , & an inward true desire to regaine his fauor , and be truly sorie that thou hast offended him , hee will turne againe , and haue compassion vpon thee ; he will put away thine iniquities , and cast thy sinnes into the botome of the Sea : for , as high as the heauen is aboue the earth , so great is his mercie towards them that truly feare him . God is iust , in deede : But , if it may be so said , he is more mercifull then iust ; but to none , but to such , as doe not onely feare , and grieue for their sinnes , as did Iudas and Esau : But to such alone , as in a liuely Faith take hold of the merites of Christ ; who in deede died for sinners , but not for such as die in their sinnes , as they did . There must a reconciliation be made , betweene God & a sinner , before he can assure himselfe of pardon and remission of his sinnes , and that must not be delayed : it must be to day before to morrow ; for , as life is short and vncertaine , and repentance requireth some time to be perfected ( though there be one example , as of the Thiefe vpon the Crosse of suddaine repentance ) it is not so easie or speedy a worke to be well done : there be many lets , which you shall finde in your selfe , and many blockes Sathan will lay in your way ; therefore what you purpose to doe , doe it speedily , willingly , faithfully and fully . There is no meanes for you to be eased of the burthen of your sinnes , but to cleaue vnto God in the merites of his Christ , whome God the Father hath sent into the world , to saue all those ( be they neuer so great and grieuous sinners ) as doe truly confesse , hartily repent , and faithfully beleeue , the pardon of their sinnes ; and that they shall be saued through him . If therefore thou truly beleeuest in Iesus Christ , and appliest his death and merites , vnto thy selfe , in a full assurance , and a setled perswasion that he dyed euen for thee ; then were thy sinnes neuer so great and haynous in quality , neuer so many in number , were they as red as scarlet , or coloured as purple ; his bloud , euen the bloud of that Lambe shall make them as white as snowe : And therefore did Dauid crie , wash mee , O Lord , wash mee and make mee cleane : And what should hee wash , but his sinnes ? And wherewith , but with the meritorious bloud of Iesus Christ ? And before you can be thus washed and cleansed ; before you can haue the terror of your conscience eased , and appeased ; You must confesse , and lay open your sinnes before the Lord , and say with a feeling , and faithfull heart , Against thee , against thee , O Lord , onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight . It must not be a lip confession : as to acknowledge thy sinnes with thy mouth , and to retaine them in thy heart : Such a confession is hypocriticall , and encreaseth thy sinnes : were thy sinnes neuer so small in thine owne opinion , yet oughtest thou to thinke them great , and grieuous , and so they are ; for , the least sinne that a man commits , is the breach of the Law , and he that breaketh the least , is guilty of the greatest : It seemeth , thou dost in deede feele already the grieuousnesse of thy sinnes , by thy heauinesse and mourning : which is a good beginning of repentance ; but vnlesse thou doe therewith , conioyne Faith in the merites and bloud of Iesus Christ , and dost truly purpose and endeuour to leade a new life ; thy repentance will be still imperfect . Thou mayest also feare God , and yet little profit thee , except thou beleeue in the mercies of God in Christ ; for the deuils themselues feare and tremble , at their finall sentence of vtter condemnation . To feare God , as a Sonne , is in deede a most heauenly vertue , and is found in none , but in the very sonnes and daughters of God : for their feare is not so much of the punishment for sinne , as for that they haue offended so louing a God by their sinnes : But to feare God , for the first , is to feare him as a Slaue , that feares more the whip , then to abuse his Maister . And this feare proceedeth of the suggestion of Sathan , who tempts and allures thee to sinne ; perswading thee that thy greatest sinnes are but veniall , and easily pardoned , by saying onely Lord haue mercie vpon me , or by some superficiall and light confession . And when the sinne is committed , he tells thee that thy sinnes are so great and haynous , as they can not be forgiuen : Agrauating that seruile feare , which often drawes silly weake soules , to dispaire of Gods mercies . Thou grieuest that thou hast sinned , because thou hearest that euery sinner shall die : And yet thou thinkest it sufficient , to thinke , yea and to confesse thou art a sinner ; and Sathan would haue thee goe no further : And so farre he will permit thee to goe , without hindering thee , as he did Kayne and Iudas ; but when hee sees thee begin to leade a life , contrary to that he hath led thee and lulled thee in ; when he obserueth thee , to shew any fruites of true repentance ; hee will then tell thee , it is a needlesse labour ; for thy sinnes are so great , as God will neuer forgiue them , though thou repent neuer so m●ch . Beleeue not this auncient lyer , though hee doe perswade thee , that thy sinnes are so great , as the bloud of Iesus Christ can not preuaile to heale thee of them ; beleeue him not , I say , for he himselfe knoweth , ( though to the agrauation , and ●ncrease of his owne torments ) 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ came into the world to saue greatest sinners , that repent and beleeue in the merites of Christ : of which number , because hee knoweth he cannot be , he laboureth , and vseth his infinite infernall Ministers , to draw as many as hee can , to his disobedience and condemnation . Beleeue him not , nor feare him not , hee is a lyer in his suggestions , and weak in his power : and though he doe perswade thee , that thy sinnes are so great , as cannot be pardoned in the bloud , and by the merites of Iesus Christ , beleeue the contrary ; for , he himselfe knoweth , and hath confessed , Christ to be the Sauiour of the faithfull , and he that shall finally condemne him , and all vnbeleeuers . Art thou come to torment vs before the time , saith he ? foreshowing , that there is a time appointed for his vtter condemnation at the last day . Hee knoweth , that Christ came to saue sinners , and that without exception of any sinne , ( the sinne against the holy Ghost excepted ) of which sinne hee is highly guilty , and therefore neuer to be forgiuen . Take vnto thy selfe therefore a spirituall courage , and defie this reprobate lyer , this malignant aduersary , to his face ; and tell him , in a liuely feeling of the spirit of God , in a true and firme faith , that thou beleeuest in Christ thy assured Redeemer , and hee shall not onely not preuaile against thee , but he shall flie from thee : And for thy more strength put on the whole armour of God , and he will buckle it vnto thee , that armed Christ against this common and mortall aduersary ; who ouercame him , and triumphed ouer him : hee will arme thee so on all parts , that thou shalt not feare to encounter him hand to hand , as Christ did : Thou shalt combate with him , and conquer him as Dauid did Goliah ; and therefore yeeld not to his tentations , feare not his suggestions : Looke vp vnto Christ thy Sauiour , though hee be in the heauens glorified , and hath his Throne of glory there ; hee will yet be thy safe second here ; hee will be euer on thy side : therefore , if through frailty thou shouldest be in some measure foyled ( as it seemeth thou art ) be not discouraged , he will enter the List for thee , and in thy behalfe : And as soone as that infernall Champion , doth but obserue , that thou art seconded , by him , that hath alreadie conquered him , he will not abide the field , he will flye and forsake any further pursuit of thee . Yet remember , that this enemie will seeke and spie all occasions , to take thee at any aduantage ; and will marke whereunto thou art still enclined ; and according to thy cōmon course of siuning , hee will feede thee with occasions , to moue thee to offend thy louing God and Iesus Christ : and therefore must thou continually wrestle ( as long as thou liuest here in the flesh ) not onely , with the infirmities of flesh and bloud , but against principalities , against powers , and against spirituall wickednes ; against worldly gouernours , the Princes of the darknesse of this world , all inuisible : And thinke not thy chiefest conflict , to be with the visible men of this world ; but looke euery houre to be assayled by one spirituall enemie or another : and when thou feelest any motion in thy heart , to any kinde of sinne ; thinke thou presently , now I must either fight or be foyled , for there is no string away : Sathan hath swift wings , he will ouertake thee , and finde thee out goe where thou wilt ; and that thou findest in thy selfe , by the present horrour of thy conscience for thy sinnes , which hee layes before thee as in an vgly glasse ; shewing them to be so monstrous ( as they be vnto thee ) as hell it selfe : Be not yet dismayed , take hold of Christ , though not with thy hand ( as the woman in the Gospell ) yet with thy heart ; fasten vpon him with a liuely faith , and hold him fast , for nothing preuailes with him , nor against Sathan and sinne , but a strong and liuely faith in Iesus Christ. In this assurance stand fast , be not afraide , though thou be guilty of many and great sinnes ; so was Dauid and many worthy men of olde , yet they obtayned pardon , and were ( through the merites of Christ imputed righteous . The mercy of GOD wrought vpon their sinnes ; for , if all men were of them selues righteous , needing no repentance , how should the mercies of God appeare ? what auayled then the death and merites of Christ ? Why should he be reputed a Redeemer , a Sauiour ? or wherefore should he be called a Mediatour if there were no sinne , or sinners ? Hee came not to call the righteous , such as feeling no sinne in themselues , hold themselues iust ; but hee came in deede to call sinners to repentance , and to saue ( through his bloud ) such as feele and acknowledge their sinnes : Therefore be thou not afraid , though thou feele thy sinnes burthensome vnto thee ; hee , euen Christ , came to ease them , if thou faithfully beleeue in him : And thinke not but faith and true repentance can and will turne Gods iustice into mercy ; his anger into fauour ; and his most heauie displeasure into loue ; euen into that loue wherewith God loueth his dearest children freely ; for he loueth none ; that loue not him , and none can loue him , but such as he loueth ; for , to loue God , and to be beloued of God , are of God alone : And they to whom he vouchsafeth this heauenly fauour , to loue him , are filled with all fulnesse of whatsoeuer may make them assured of their saluation , quieting and pacifying their afflicted consciences , and giuing them , inward setled peace . Therefore , if thou haue , and feele an inward godly sorrow that thou hast offended so louing a God , and hast in thy selfe a desire to be reformed , and to be reconciled to God ; Thou needest not feare , for the loue of God towards thee ; is not absent , neither are thou altogether destitute of thy loue towards him : And therefore whatsoeuer Sathan doth suggest against thee , beleeue him not , beleeue thy Redeemer ; he is the truth , he ( euen he ) doth assure thee , that at what time so euer thou shalt repent thee of thy sinnes from the bottome of thy heart , the Lord will put them out of his remembrance . He is the truth that hath promised this , and he will assuredly performe saluation , euen to thee ; though thou be a grieuous sinner , if thou truly repent , and faithfully beleeue , that thy sinnes are pardoned in his bloud ; who is also the way : he hath traced out , before thee and for thee , a perfect example of righteousnesse , patience and obedience ; walke in it ; then , as he is also the life , he shall be thy life : and mauger sinne , Sathan , and death , thou shalt liue , and liue for euer . Pray therefore vnto GOD faithfully and feruently , and he will assuredly ease thee , euen here , of that heauie burthen , wherewith thy conscience seemeth to be grieuously afflicted , and oppressed . And for thy further instruction and helpe , if thou be so ignorant , as not knowing how to pray to thy comfort , thou mayst vse the Prayer following ; or according to the measure of that grace , which God hath giuen thee , sigh and groane , inwardly to God , who accepts euen inward desires , to repent and to be reconciled to God , as if they were prayers in deede , so it be in faith from the heart : or thou mayest vse any other godly prayer , which may best expresse the sorrow of thy heart for thy sinnes , the forgiuenesse of them , and the assurance of thy saluation . A Prayer for the forgiuenesse of sinnes , that afflict the weake conscience of a sinner . OEternall , euerliuing , and most louing Lord God , in Iesus Christ , towards them that feare thy name , and walke vprightly before thee ; and a seuere Iudge vnto impenitent sinners ; who onely knowest the thoughts and secrets of all hearts : from whose all-seeing eye no sinne or sinners can be hidden . Consider Lord , that I was originally made to thine owne Image , in righteousnesse and holinesse : and that I became corrupt , and consequently sinfull by his transgression , in whom I was first made holy ; and doe confesse my selfe O Lord , one of , and the worst of all the cursed seede of him , in whom all posterities became accursed ; and I cannot conceale the corruption which I haue had & receiued from them , by whom I was begotten , and borne : and that this corruption ( now become mine ) hath begotten , and brought forth so many and monstrous sins in me , as I am not onely , not worthy to be called thy Sonne , but ashamed to be knowne to be the worke of the hands of so great , so gracious , and so righteous a God ; for , my sinnes ( O Lord ) are so great , so hainous , so odious , and so many in number , as haue so farre ouergorged my corrupt heart , & so infected my wretched soule , with the filthinesse of them , that I feele euen the stink of them , so loathsome vnto mine own guilty Conscience , as I cannot but holde my selfe detestable in thy sight ; Mine Iniquities are gone euer mine head , a burden too heauie for me to beare . O wretch that I am , how dare I come into thy presence , such a trayne and troope of intollerable sins accompaning me ? Thou canst not Lord , but obserue & see , and seeing and obseruing , my hainous sinnes , how can I but feare , that thou in Iustice , wilt , not only put me back and reiect me and my praiers , but worthily and deseruedly confound me ? I haue an accuser , a Iudge and an executioner within me : I am Arraigned , and condemned , euen by the accusation and witnesse of mine owne guilty Conscience ; the horror whereof , hath beene , and is such , as hath made mee affraid to seeke to thee ( whome I haue so deeply offended ) for pardon , lest that in thy fury , and in the seueritie of thy Iustice , thou shouldest leaue me to the will of him that hath bene the principall instigator of me to sin , and now the chiefe accuser of me for sinne ; and thinketh that he had , and hath such a share in me , throgh my former often consenting vnto his inticements , that thou my God , were not able to take me out of his hands . But now , holy , heauenly and mercifull Father , in Iesus Christ , through thy grace ( vndeseruedly ) working in me , I haue found him a deceiuer , an imposter , an enemye ; who hath done what lyeth in him to worke my ruyne , by my rebelliō against thee , throgh his continuall tentations ; vsing all his impious Instruments to deceiue me : the pleasures of the world , the lust of mine own flesh , which hath bin euer prone to be allured by him : And I , wretched creature , blind in all good thinges , neuer obserued , what a dangerous course of life , I haue ( to this day ) walked in , vntill now . Now deere Father , as it hath pleased thee , of thine owne free mercie , to open the eyes of my sinning soule , to see that I haue lōg erred , and that all that I haue hetherto done , hath bene euill : So now , seeing mine owne wicked deseruings , giue me power to repent me for all my sinns . Reforme me , O gracious Father , reforme mee , and by thy grace , ease and comfort my grieued hart , through the powerfull and effectuall working of thy spirit henceforth in mee ; that now at the last I may taste of thy goodnesse and rich mercy , in Iesus Christ : Though I haue nothing in my selfe to moue thee to haue compassion vpon me , yet remember , that I haue a deseruing and a preuailing Aduocate with thee , whose merites may moue thee , and his mediation preuaile with thee for me : And therfore I haue hope , that I shall be pertaker of his all sufficient satisfaction , made for all sinners , among whome I cannot but acknowledge my selfe the greatest ; and least deseruing thy fauour . O my God , I feele my miserable estate , I acknowledge the grieuousnesse of my sinnes , and that for them thou mayest iustly condemne me ; but that I haue learned by thine own promises , that there is mercie with thee , & that thou delightest not in the condemnation of a sinner , but rather that hee should repent , and turne vnto thee , and liue . Lord haue mercie vpon me ; haue mercy vpon me , for I am weake : I feele a burthen of my sinnes , that presseth me downe , and nothing can raise me , but thy mercies in Iesus Christ. O giue me a liuely faith , that I may apply the preuailing merites of that sacred Lambe , crucified for all beleeuers , to the washing away of all my sinnes , and to the ease of my guilty conscience , heauily burthened therewith : so shall my poore afflicted and distressed soule , be refreshed my heart now grosly defiled , shall be made cleane , mine affections , now altogether ranging after vnholy things , shall be changed into perfect obedience vnto thee ; and Sathan that hath long and maliciously pursued me with his most violent tentations , shal● flye at the presence of thy holy spirit in me : and all my thoughts , imaginations , desires , words and workes , shall be sanctified and made holy by the same Spirit . O hide not therefore gracious Father , hide not from me thy louing countenance : but turne away thy face from my sinnes , blot out all mine offences out of thy remembrance : create in me a cleane heart , restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation , and stablish me with thy free spirit , and let me neuer returne again to my former slauery of sinne ; and I shall offer vnto thee , the vnfayned sacrifice of praise , for thine vnspeakeable mercies : All honour & glory , to Christ my Redeemer , and to the holy Ghost , the obedience of mine vnfayned heart , for that he assureth mee of all these incomprehensible blessings . Amen . Lord euer , more and more encrease my faith . Comfort for the sicke . THe miserable estate of a man perplexed in conscience for his sinnes , is the greatest affliction that can befall a man in this life , which is the sicknesse of the soule : for , a wounded conscience who can beare ? And next to it , there is not a greater , then is the extremitie of the sicknesse of the body : and therefore neede these two sicknesses aboue all other crosses , to be especially sought to be eased : the first , with spirituall , the next , both with spirituall and corporall comfort . They are Twinns , borne together and liue together , though the one by inspiration , the other by propagation : And therefore , if the soule be diseased , the body can not ( though it may seeme contrary ) be in perfect health : It will shew apparent tokens of the sicknesse of the minde ; and , if the body be ouermuch tormented with the grieuousnesse of sicknesse , the soule cannot but feele , ( through a mutuall loue , which is between the soule and the body ) a kinde of griefe and sorrow . I will therefore apply vnto thee ( whome I see to be cast downe by thy bodies infirmity ) the counsell & comforts , which may first ease thee of thy inward feares and troubles ; for it can not be but that Sathan , that auncient enemie of al mankinde , hath beene busie in the time of thy health to draw thee to sin ; that by sinne thou mightest offend God ; that by offending God , thou mightest be reiected of him : and now , finding thee visited by the hand of God , with grieuous sicknesse ( fore-showing , either the speedie approaching of death , or a gentle forewarning thereof ) hee cannot be lesse watchfull , and diligent , in this thine extremity , ( nay farre more then hee was in thy most healthfull estate to trouble thee ) for , when thou wert healthfull and strong , thou couldest nor but be , by the corruption of thy owne nature , proane to sinne : And this common enemie of mans saluation worketh vpon our corruption , and our ablenesse to sinne : And when hee findeth vs most weake in our bodies , and our sences , and powres , labouring against the violence of our infirmities ; then he commeth , and presenteth vnto our guilty consciences , the sinnes which he before prouoked vs to commit . In the sicknesse of the body , hee findeth fit oportunity to trouble vs ; for , although hee knoweth not the time which God reserueth in his owne wisedome , and power , when any man shall dye ; yet when sicknesse comes , he knowes it is the fore-runner of death ; and therefore hee knoweth that then or neuer hee must imploy all his Engines , and batteries , or else for euer rest frustrate of any hope to preuaile . And therefore , he will solicite thee , now to distrust in the mercies of God in Christ , and will suggest vnto thee , that now thou seest and feelest that GOD is displeased with thee , and that hee hath no delight in thee , ( as if thou were his , he would haue ) hee would not torment thee as hee doth : and that thou were as good to cast off all thy hope in him , as to deceiue thy selfe , vainely trusting that hee will yet shew thee any mercy or louing countenance . These fearefull assaults , it cannot be but thou dost , or mayest endure at this thy capitall enemies hands , if thou be in deede the true childe of God : for , if thou were one , whom Sathan had in his owne power , hee would permit thee to rest quietly , he would not disturbe thee : but finding thee to be inwardly enclined to seeke the Lord , praying for pardon in his Sonnes merites , which hee cannot endure , without roaring and raging against thee , suspecting that he hath lost thee now altogether , though thou were somtimes something seruiceable , or rather ( according to naturall corruption ) slau●shly enclined to his workes of darknesse , before the Lord in fauour visited thee with his fatherly corrections , to reclayme thee from Sathan and sinne , to make thee his obedient Sonne ; and the more thou declinest from him and his tentations , and the more thou louest and enclinest to serue God , with a pure heart , the more will hee euer seeke to molest thee , and if it were possible , to driue thee to dispaire . But feare not whatsoeuer he shall obiect against thee , or lay vnto thy charge , though when he seeth thee weakest , hee will trie his strength against thee most : Beleeue , that when thou art weakest , God is strongest for thee ; and Sathan , though hee dare to tempt the dearest children of God , as he did Christ himselfe ; yet he trembleth , when he seeth Christ , with his holy Spirit assisting thee , and by his merites layd hold on by a liuely faith comforting thee ; feare him not therefore , but encline thine heart vnto God , and know that this thy sicknesse , hath not fallen vpon thee by chance , or by Sathans malice : It came euen by Gods meere prouidence in loue , to correct thee here in the flesh , to call thee home vnto him , that thou perish not with them whom Sathan hath subdued , that haue not walked in the feare of the Lord , whome Gods louing corrections could not reforme . A greater mercy of God can not be obserued , then to draw a sinner out of the power and slauery of sinne and Sathan , by a gentle hand , to make him hi● owne Coheire with Iesus Christ his Sonne ; and it is the end of this his correcting thee . Repent thee therefore of thy former sinnes ; and beleeue sted fastly , that in , and through the bloud and merits of Christ , thou shalt assuredly be saued ; and so shalt thou finde that this enemie of thine , will giue ouer further to pursue thee . As touching the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes , how haynous so euer they be in quality , or how many so euer in number , they shall not be imputed vnto thee . Thou hast beene already taught , that all afflictions of whatsoeuer kinde , doe proceed , and are inflicted vpon vs for sinne ; and especially , for the neglect of hearing the word of God , and practising what it teacheth : And yet not alwayes simply for sinne , but sometimes that the glory of God may the more appeare , especially in healing the sicke : Lazarus dyed , and yet Christ said , that his sicknesse was not vnto death ; not so vnto death , but that hee knew hee could , and would raise him againe , though hee were foure dayes dead and buried . And therefore was his sicknesse and death , onely , that the glory of God might be seene , by raising of him ; and the faith of his Disciples be the more confirmed : but we must impute our sicknesses , and all other crosses , as layde vpon vs for our sinnes ; and learne by the example of good Hezekias , to turne our selues vnto God , and to mourn , not so much for our sicknesse as for our sinnes . Thou therefore that art thus afflicted , in body , and no doubt in minde also ; repayre vnto God , in liuely , faithfull , and earnest prayer , aboue all things for the pardon of thy sinnes : for , prayer ( if it be feruent ) is the most euident argument , that thou art the childe of God , and preuaileth much ; for , where true saith is , there necessarily followeth , true repentance : faith , and repentance for sinne , and offending God , are inseperable : And if thy repentance be serious , it will either produce outward teares , or inward griefe for your sinnes ; though teares be not alwayes ready , not verball prayers powerfull ; especially in a sick man , whose powres are commonly so shaken , with the force of the disease , as griefe of the heart , can hardly wrest teares from the eyes , or words from the lips : yet , with God it shall be accepted , both sufficient prayers , and preuailing teares : if thou finde such griefe in thy heart for thy sinnes , and such a desire to be reconciled vnto God in Christ , as may but moue inward , and silent sighes vnto God , who respecteth more the holy disposition of the heart , then any outward action or gesture of the body ; it shall bee sufficient : though some outward showe of faith and repentance be necessary , for the satisfaction of such as visite a sicke person , if he can but showe it by the tongue in speaking , though weakely , confessing his sinnes , lifting vp his hands , or eyes ; it may argue the inward heart wel prepared , and that hee wanteth not the spirit of God. And therefore if your sicknesse be so violent , as that you cannot showe verball tokens of the working of Gods spirit in you , whereby they that come to visite you , cannot witnesse for you , your sorrow by your outward cōfession ; It is enough that God knoweth it by your inward true sorrow of heart . It was enough that God saw that good King Hezekiah , in his sicknesse , inwardly bewayling his sinnes , though hee could not with plaine termes vocally , and with fluent words , as hee was wont ; but inwardly , to mourne , like a Doue , and to chatter like a Crane very weakely and obscurely ; yet God vnderstoode him , and accepted his weake vtterance , as a most earnest and effectuall prayer . So that , if it come to passe , that thy weakenesse become such , as thou canst not vocally and verbally pray ( as by thy sicknesse it may come to passe , though thou be in present perfect memory ) thy heart ( though neuer so faint ) may yet haue a feeling of Gods mercies ; and may shew it selfe powerfull to God , though it seeme weake vnto men : for , God is absolute in vnderstanding ; can , and doth conceiue the meaning of thy heart , farre better then in thy best strength thou canst thy selfe vnderstand it . As for thy present sick estate , thou must not be carelesse of it , but after prayer for pardō of thy sinnes , thou mayest craue restitution of thy bodily health ; if God , who can restore it , thinke it fitter for thee then death : and thou art not only not forbidden , but commaunded , to seeke the lawfull helpe of the Physician ; prouided that thou depend not so vpon the Art of the Phisician , as to exempt and neglect thy prayer to God for a blessing vpon it ; for , if God giue not a Diuine working vnto the physick ( howsoeuer it may seeme to worke ) it may helpe one part and hurt another : A cluster of Figges healed Hezekiah ; and the washing in Iordan the Leaper : yet neither the Figges , nor the water of their owne nature cured their diseases ; it was God gaue the vertue to both ; and therefore whether thine infirmitie be inward or outward , with the meanes vse prayer , that God may giue a blessing . Beware thou seeke not to the reputed cunning men and women , who are supposed to heale by their Charmes and Spels ; who if they preuaile in any cure , it is ( by the permission of God ) by the deuill . The surest remedie is , to haue thy recourse to God , and not to Baalz●b●b : as Ahaziah , who dyed the death , for running to Witches and Wizards , the limbs of the deuill : but put thy trust in the all-sufficient God alone , vsing such lawfull meanes as hee hath appointed , both for the ease of thy soule , and health of thy body ; and then recommend the issue , to him with godly patience ; committing thy will to his will. If he restore thee to thy former health , be thou thankfull to him , and let thy thankfulnes appeare , by a new and godly course of life , and true obedience . If he haue otherwise determined of thee , namely , to call thee out of this miserable mortall life , reioyce , and be glad ; for thy soule , now sicke in sin , shall suddainly receiue a new and glorious life ; thy body now oppressed with griefe , shall be at rest ; though it perish and rot in the graue , it shall rise againe , and meete the soule , and be thereunto again vnited with farre greater glory then thy hart can thinke : In the meane time , seeke or thinke of nothing , but of the things that are aboue ; and endeuour to haue thy heart , thine vnderstanding , thoughts , and affections , so qualified , and the Lampe of faith in the merits of Christ , so liuely enlightned , that thou mayest ioyfully meet the Bridegrome Christ , in soule and body , when hee shall appeare in the cloudes , in glory and maiestie , to giue euery man according to his works . Be not afraide therefore of Death ; it is but the seperation of the soule ( now , as in a prison ) from the body , which is but a carkasse full of naturall infirmities , which the soule possesseth for a little time , fraught onely with miseries , with griefe and feare ; which , being dissolued , shall bring end to all thy cares , dangers , feares , miseries and afflictions ; and bring thee to the Paradise of God , where thou shalt feele no more of these vnsauourie things of the flesh ; for , the Lord will transforme , this thy vile , base and corrupt body , and make it like vnto his most glorious body . Then shalt thou be no more subiect to sinne , or sicknesse ; no aduersity , nor anguish shall afflict thee , no enemies shall trouble thee , no slanders disgrace thee : And where thou art here mortall , subiect to all the former euils , thou shalt be there immortall : The face of God , which is the fountaine of light , shall there shine vpon thee ; and no darknesse shall ouershadow thee : all perfection of ioy , glory and gladnesse , thou shalt finde there ; and be so plentifully filled with the contemplation of the aboundance of those heauenly pleasures ; that you will or can delight in nothing , but in the beholding of the most glorious face of Iesus Christ , and onely delight in the association of that heauenly company : which ioyes , if thou truly knewest here , as thou shalt enioy them there , Thou wouldest be content , rather to endure a thousand deaths , then to be depriued of them . Prepare thy selfe therefore , with all diuine furniture ; with faith , hope , loue , and all other holy and heauenly affections ; to goe the way of all flesh . Lay willingly downe thy carnall part in the graue , to become dust , whereof it was made , and commend thy soule into the hands of God that gaue it , and of Iesus Christ who redeemed it : And according to the counsell , that God gaue to Hezekiah , set thy house in order . And aboue this thy corpora●l habitation , set thy soule in order ; and as much as in thee lyeth , haue peace with all men : Depart in the loue , of , and to thine enemies . And , as farre as the possibilitie of thy earthlie substance , will extend ; owe nothing to any man , when thou departest hence , but loue : and thinke not much , neither let it grieue or trouble thy minde , to leaue thy worldly wealth , which was but lent thee ; thy father , mother , wife , children , lands , possessions , siluer , gold , and the things that haue beene , or are , most deare vnto thee ; to hasten to this heauenlie habitation ; where eternall glorie shall bee thy wealth , the eternall God thy Father , Iesus Christ thy brother , all the Saints and Angels , and all the holie and most glorious heauenlie companie , shall bee far more comfortable vnto thee , then all the former , who were both mortall and inconstant : And in steede of the base and vncertaine possessions in the earth , thou shalt possesse a Kingdome , for euer : In steede of thy gold and siluer , and thy most precious Iewels , thou here , for a moment enioyest ; thou shalt enhabite a Citie , whose walls are gold , garnished with all maner of precious stones , farre excelling the rarest and richest that euer the earth yeilded ; whose beauty , and excellencie , the tongue of man , no not of an Angell , can truly expresse , to our apprehension ; But shadowed out vnto vs vnder these most precious ornaments , incomprehensible . Should any carnall consideration therfore hinder thee , from a willing minde , to change this thy mortall and miserable life ( as short , as euill ) for a life so glorious and permanent ? The longer thou continuest here , the more cause thou hast to desire to be dissolued ; for that thou here doest augment daily thy sinnes , and euery day brings new griefe . Prepare thy selfe therefore without delay ; make thee readie , that when GOD shall call thee , thou mayest be willing to goe : And for thy better preparation , vse prayer often , in a liuely faith ; and if thine infirmitie will permit thee , vse this prayer following , or any other godly prayer , with holy meditation , to season thy soule through the holy Ghost , commending thy spirit vnto God in Iesus Christ. A Prayer to be often said of a sicke man or woman . O Lord my GOD , and my most louing and mercifull Father , in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ ; I , thy most vnworthy creature , heauie laden , with the burthen of my manifold and grieuous sinnes ; much oppressed , with the infirmity and sicknesse which thou hast iustly inflicted vpon my corrupt and weake body ; doe humbly pray thee to pardon my sinnes , and giue me patience to beare this thy gentle correction ; in which I doe heartily submit my selfe vnto thy heauenly will ; whether it be thy pleasure , to permit me yet a little while , to enioy the health of my body , to serue thee ; or to take my soule out of the lothsome prison of my sinfull carkasse into thine owne hands ; where I know it shall be safe , and not perish : And therefore Lord giue me a godly contented minde , to suffer my body , to returne vnto the earth , from whence it was taken , there to rest vntill it shall please thee to raise it againe , at the last resurrection , and to make it , of a mortall , an immortall ; and of a corruptible , to make it a perfectly glorious body . In the meane time , O Lord , I doe beseech thee , to fortifie and strengthen my soule , against all tentations , that I may be able to resist , whatsoeuer ▪ assaults of the deuill , and his Ministers . As for mine owne power , alas it is euen weakenes it selfe , but my hope and strength is of thee . I can alledge nothing , neither canst thou finde any thing in mee either woorthie or acceptable , whereby I might haue hope , either to haue my sinnes forgiuen me , or to be released , or eased of my sicknesse ; or to be restored to my former health or strength : yet I haue hope ( O Lord ) that thou in mercie wilt pardon my sinnes , in the merites of my Redeemer , and that for his sake thou wilt either restore me to health , or speedily to end this my grieuous infirmity ; which , if for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes , thou thinke sit to lay yet more heauily vpon me , strengthen me so much the more with perfect faith and godly patience , that I may beare it ; that the apprehension of death , which is something terrible to flesh and bloud , daunt me not : But that I may rest assured , that thou thus rebukest mee not in thine anger , nor that thou chastisest me in thy heauie displeasure , but rather of thy loue which is better vnto me then life . O Father , what shall I render vnto thee , for all thy benefits ? for they haue bin infinite towards me : And euen this thy fatherly correction I acknowledge not the least ; for hereby Lord , I finde thy gracious purpose to be , to reclayme me from my wonted sinnes , which without thy mercy , cannot but procure , not the death of my body only , but of my soule also ; so dearely redeemed , by the bloud of thy dearest Son. O strengthen Lord , strengthen my faith , that I may now at the last , take such firme & assured holde of the merites of Iesus Christ , that all my sinnes and vngodly deseruings , may be couered , and that his righteousnesse , may be imputed vnto me . I doe confesse , O Lord , to my shame and griefe , that before thou diddest correct me , I went awry ; I followed too much the desires of my corrupt hart : But now Lord , I doe heartily repent me , that euer I offended thee : but , if it be thy gracious good wil and pleasure , and if in thy wisdome thou thinke it fit , to restore mee to my former health , which I humbly leaue vnto thee ; I shall endeuour by thy grace , to walke more warily , and shunne the enticements that haue seduced me ; and the allurements of Sathan , that haue deceiued mee . But , if thou haue determined , this my sicknesse , to be my last and finall trouble , I shall most heartily embrace it , with a longing expectation , for the time of my dissolution : And when the time commeth , accept it , with a ioyfull and glad heart , and that I may be the more truly and readily prepared , at the instant of the departure of my soule from my body ; wash me throughly , and make me cleane , that I may appeare before thee , in the immaculate roabes of Christs righteousnes ; and not in mine owne polluted garments of corruption : That I may heare that most sweet and comfortable voyce of my Redeemer ; Come thou blessed of my Father , enter into , and possesse the ioyes prepared for thee , from the beginning of the world : which grant gracious Lord God , for Iesus Christes sake , to whom with thee and the holie Ghost , be all honor , praise , and glory , for euer . O Lord encrease , and euermore and more strengthen my faith , and fill my heart with vnfained godly desire , to be speedily dissolued , that I may liue with thee in heauen . Amen . A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman , of faithfull friends that come to visite him , or her . LOrd God Almighty , and Father of incomprehensible mercy , we here assembled , before thy Maiestie , in the name of thy most beloued Son Iesus Christ , are bold to present our humble petitions vnto thee , in the behalfe of this sicke person , lying heere visited with sicknes , which thou mightest ▪ iustly haue laide , and inflicted vpon any of vs , as great sinners ; and haue spared him ( or her : ) but such hath been thy mercy , hetherunto towards vs , as to afford vs health , expecting the time , wherein we cannot auoyde , but must taste of the same cup. We acknowledge Lord that thou neuer sendest this , or any other crosse or affliction , to any , no not to such as thou louest best ▪ but the end therof ( though bitter for the time , to flesh and bloud ) is happinesse ; yet doest thou iustly whatsoeuer thou doest : and we acknowledge that sinne is the cause , of all thy fatherly visitations . And forasmuch as it cannot bee , but that this sicke party , is oppressed in the weakenes of his body , by the strong tentations of that common enemie Sathan , who endeuoureth so to lay his sinnes to his charge ( whereof no man is free ) that if it were possible , he might so farre feare him with thy seuere Iustice for the same , as that he might despaire of thy mercies , and consequently of his owne saluation . Wherefore , wee thy weake seruants here assembled , doe humbly and hartily pray thee , to abandon and abolish that infernall Serpent , that his false suggestions , creepe not into the heart of this sicke party , but arme him ( or her ) so with a liuely faith , that thy holy Spirit may so possesse his soule , that the enemie may finde no place for his tentations : Besprinkle his heart so , with the meritorious bloud of thy Sonne , that the deuill , seeing and obseruing a stronger then himselfe , to possesse the house of his soule , he may be enforced to flie , and no further to pursue him . Cause Lord that some tokens , may appeare in this sick person , that his soule and conscience are quieted by the presence of the holy Ghost , in him , whereby we thy most humble suppliants , may receiue some comfort , in the fruit of our prayers for him . And , as touching his sicknes , we submit our desires to thine owne will ; yet , if thy good pleasure be so , as to restore him to the former health which wee in his behalfe entreate thee ; to the end that hee and we may glorifie thee , for thy great mercie in healing him ; and that he by this thy fatherly correction , may learne to liue the residue of the time that he shall here enioy , in new and more perfect obedience : But , if otherwise thou be pleased to dispose of him , namely , to take him out of this mortall-life ; giue him wee humbly pray thee , an vnderstanding heart , to know , and to consider his mortality , and the glory to come ; a sound minde , perfect memory , with a feeling faith , patience and obedience ; that without feare , with cheerefull alacrity , hee may surrender his soule vnto thee . Receiue it good Father , as the soule of an Elect Saint , and send his body ( which must rest and remaine in the earth vntill the generall rising againe of the dead ) a most ioyfull resurrection , that he may then enioy the full perfection of glory with thee , both in soule and body , which we humbly pray thee , ( in the name of Iesus Christ ) graciously to graunt ; and that it would please thee to come quickly and finish the worke , which thou hast begun and determined for him . And graunt that we may all , in all humblenesse , faith , constancie and obedience , wayte when thy pleasure shall be to visite any of vs , with thy finall fatherly visitation . O Lord encrease his , ours , and the faith of all that belong vnto thee ; that wee all may looke , and long for the time of our dissolution , with patience , in assurance in the end , to liue eternally with thee , through Christ our Lord and Sauiour , Amen . For such as are oppressed with pouerty and want : not impertinent for the rich to read and consider . POuertie , and want of things necessary , for the maintenance of this present life , is not the least affliction that can fall vpon man : And that lighteth many times , as well vpon the knowne poore , as vpon them that thinke themselues rich ; for riches , and pouerty , haue wings ; for as the poore man , hauing his wings clipt , that he cannot mount , or soare to the pitch of other men : So the rich are often , so deplumed , as they fall into the poore estate of meanest men ; and therefore , as the rich may fall , so the poore may rise : Let neither then the rich presume , nor the poore despaire : for the Almighty God , that gouerneth all things , hath two hands ; with the one hee doth cast downe the proud , and with the other he exalts the humble : In the rich is required thankfulnesse , and obedience ; In the poore , lowlinesse and patience ; and in both , godly diligence and faithfull prayer : otherwise , the rich cannot prosper , nor the poore be relieued . If the rich man fall into pouerty , it is his blemish ; if a poore man become rich , it is his glory : yet , let not him that riseth , disdaine him that falleth ; for both are from the Lord. To fall , there are manie meanes in a man himselfe , but to rise , being fallen , is not in man ; and therefore the meanes both of mens risings and fallings , are duly to be considered : art thou fallen from riches to pouertie ? examine thy life & conuersation : art thou risen from pouerty to riches ? consider well in thine owne heart , whether by right or wrong . Many may prosper and wax rich by diligence ( in a lawfull calling ) & many become poore through idlenesse : many are borne rich , and dye poore ; and many borne poore , waxe rich : when the rich become poore , it may be either in Gods iustice , or in his mercy : for , if the rich become proud , & presume vpon their wealth ; despising the poore ; it is iust with God , to take that from him , that he abuseth ; yet , also in mercie , to humble him : for there is not a more preuailing means , to make a man know himselfe , then pouerty ; And there is not a more acceptable thing to God , then a man to abase himselfe in his sight : nor a thing more offensiue , then a man to exalt himselfe , by reason of the greatnes of his wealth ; which he arrogateth to himselfe , as if it were his owne , when in deede it is but lent him : And therefore God often times takes it from one , and giues it to others : And in steed of his wealth , giues him want ; that hee may know , that it is neither in the wisedome , nor by the diligence of man , either to get or to retaine his wealth gotten , without the meere mercie and blessing of God. But , where true faith in God is , ioyned with godly care and diligence , in a lawfull calling , there wanteth not prayer ; And where faith and faithfull prayers are , there is true prosperity : And to that man , a little meanes sufficeth to sustaine his estate , and to nourish his life : for , A small thing that the righteous hath , is better then the great riches of the wicked . Therefore in thy case of pouerty and want , thou must consider , and duly examine , the cause , whereby thou art become poore , and to be in this miserable estate ; whether by thine owne idlenesse , corruption of thy life , in wasting either thy patrimonie receiued from thy Parents , or thy riotous expending of that thou hast lawfully gotten by thine owne industry . To receiue meanes , for which thou neuer trauailedst ( as many doe from carefull Parents and friends ) or to get by thine owne labours , and to consume it wastfully in euill company keeping , by gaming & ryot , is worse then Idlenes it selfe , which yet in him selfe is a capitall sin ; one of those , for which Sodom , Gomorah , &c. were burned to ashes : for Idlenesse was in that Citie ; as it is , wheresoeuer it raigneth , the cause of many other sinnes ; as of luxurie , drunkennesse , whoredome , and all other most monstrous , and most abhominable vices : yet doe all these commonly accompany wealth , easily gotten : As when a man finds he hath meanes comming daily in , lightly without labour , hee measures it not by the vncertainty , of the continuance , as appeareth , by his wanton and needlesse expence , but by a vaine hope it will last euer . But , if thou become poore , and thus cast downe , by the louing hand of God , to call thee from thy sinnes ; as by losse of goods , by sicknesse , fire , shipwracke , or the like ineuitable crosses ; Thou mayest account them fatherly corrections , and mayest rather reioyce in , then to repine at them ; for he inflicts this want ( of thy former fulnes ) as Physick to purge thy corrupt heart , of thy carnall delights , and from abusing of thy liberty as thou hast done , which bred in thee security ; and security sin , and forgetfulnesse of thy dutie to God : as in that rich glutton in the Gospel , who hauing plentie of all things delightfull to his carnall part , became so delicious , as he fared daintily euery day , richly roabed in fine linnen , and yet so hard hearted , as although he saw poore miserable Lazarus , hungrie and naked , lye at his gate full of sores , crying for some crummes of the broken meate that fell from his Table , had yet no remorce or commiseration on the lamentable estate of that poore man , who was more refreshed by the rich mans dogges , licking away the filth of his sores , then by any comfort receiued from the glutton , or his gluttonous feasts . There was great difference betweene this rich man , and this miserable begger : The one was had in greatest reuerence , admired and honored for his wealth ; the other held in great contempt , generally despised , by reason of his basenesse and pouertie : But neither did the rich man continue long in his pomp , nor the poore in his penurie : Both died , and both caried to their places appointed by God ; the rich man to hell , the begger into Paradise : the first to perpetuall torments , the other to a most blessed and glorious Being . Consider this duly with thy selfe therefore , thou , that complainest of pouertie , and want : whether wouldest thou enioy here the pleasures of this life ( for a season ) with this man , wealthie and glorious , and in fine to haue his reward ; or to endure a little want , pouertie , and worldlie basenesse , for a little time , and be with Lazarus pertaker of eternall glorie ? I know , if thou wisely consider both , thou wilt not onely not grudge nor repine at thy poore estate , but wilt rather be thankfull vnto God , that he so louingly dealeth with thee , in keeping thee from the meanes to make thee proud , to forget thy selfe and him : As I thinke , thou canst not be ignorant , that riches , health , and earthly happinesse , commonly carie men , not hauing faith and the feare of God , into many noysome lusts , and vngodly and wanton desires : And that pouertie and want , sicknesse and other like crosses , are the good & gracious means , that God vseth , to with-hold his dearest children from running astray ; although it cannot be denied also , but that a faithlesse poore man may haue his heart infected , and poysoned , with as haynous sinnes as the rich : for it is not wealth that alwayes makes a wicked man , though it be a great temptation and prouocation to many and grieuous sinnes : It is not the money but the minde , wherein the error lies ; and it is not pouertie , of it selfe , or anie other crosse that maketh an euill man good ; but it is a meanes which God in his wisedome vseth to preuent the danger , that wealth often worketh : A knife in a childes hand hurteth not , but he is a silly Father , and she a simple Nurse , that will not tak● it from the childe , for feare of the hurt it might do the childe . So riches of themselues hurt not , but the abuse of them , may peruert the reputed owner ; for no man is the true owner of the wealth he possesseth ; hee is but a disposer of it , and it is the well vsing or abusing of it , that draweth vpon the Steward , a blessing , or a curse . If thou that art become poore , and doest acknowledge it iustly layde vpon thee , it is the entrance into assurance , that God hath layde it vpon thee in mercie ; if in mercie then , no doubt but in loue : be assured , that thy pouerty is better for thee then riches , for hee knoweth better then thou what is best for thee ; Take it therefore with patience ; in faith , and embrace it so much the more , by how much thou mayest assure thy selfe , it is a token of the loue and fauour of God towards thee , to humble thee , and to make thee so much the more like vnto thy Redeemer , who became poore , to make thee rich ; hee abased himselfe , to bring thee to honour ; hee was here in worldly want , to furnish thee with all spirituall aboundance ; he hath chosen the poore of the world , to make them rich in God ; hee keepeth his owne dearest children lowe here , that he may exalt them hereafter : for , it is not possible that any man shall liue here in pompe and pleasure , and all earnall delights , and yet assure himselfe , of the glory to come , prepared onely for his Elect Saints that suffer heere . And if Christ our Master and Redeemer , suffered heere pouerty , ignominie , rebuke and shame , before he in his humane nature ascended into glory ; shall any man perswade himselfe that hee shall attaine the glory to come , by a delicate , loose , carnally delightfull , and worldly glorious estate here ? How then are many carnally minded men deceiued , that measure the loue and fauour of God , and his displeasure towards men , according to their worldly prosperity and aduersity ? censuring Gods dearest children seasoned with any kind of affliction , to be the very out-casts of the world , forsaken of God ; and the rich , wealthy and glorious in the world , to be his choyse darlings and fauourites ; then which , nothing is more contrary ▪ although their estates , in deede ( seene with a carnall eye , and iudged by outward appearance ) may be censured as they seeme , but not as they are in deede : for , the outward most glorious , are not commonly gracious within ( though they may be ) neither are the outward poore , commonly inwardly and spiritually rich : But the godly & faithfull poore man , were his case as hard , as was that of poore Lazarus ; yet is he the beloued of God , who iudgeth not as man doth , partially , by the outward show , but according to equity : He doth not iustifie the poore , before the rich ; if the Rich be rich in grace , and the poore a wicked man ; God , in deede , by promise regardeth the poore , and careth for them ; namely , for such , as in a liuely faith depend vpon his prouidence ; liuing iustly , and in an holy diligence in his lawfull calling . If thou thus behauest thy selfe in thy pouerty , the promise of God , is a promise made euen to thee , that hee will neuer faile thee , nor forsake thee . Thou mayst then safely cast thy care vpon him , for he will take care of thee . Thou shalt not want foode and rayment ; and hauing that , content thee with it , it is a plentifull portion : for what more hath he , that hath his Table spread with diuers dishes , and sundry varieties ; but onely feedeth his body with fewe ? And hee that hath diuers and sundry sutes and sorts of garments , one sute sufficeth to couer him at once . If then thou bee fed and cloathed , giue the glory to God that giues it . It may be thou wilt say thou hast a great charge , wife and children to maintaine ; a great burthen vnto thee , who require greater supply , then thou by thy best industrie canst prouide for them ; Thou must allow and allot vnto thy selfe and them , according to thy meanes ; Thou mayst not feede or cloath thee or them , as peraduenture thine and their haughty hearts may require ; But feede them moderately , and cloathe them modestly : for in the superfluity of these two necessaries , many haue not onely exceeded , and vndone themselues , but haue turned thereby , many times the blessings of God into wantonnesse ; And so in steede of the continuance of Gods blessings , they haue caused him to punish them with pouerty , and want : As who so obserueth , cannot but see infinite numbers , that haue receiued great portions and patrimonies from their Parents and friends , that through the excesse of these , together with their lewde , lasciuious , and wicked liues , haue drawne vpon them , such a heauie weight of pouerty and want , as they haue either beene depriued of their libertie , for the debt they ranne into to maintaine their vanities ; or haue beene enforced to begge their bread , and ( like the prodigall Sonne ) haue beene constrayned , through commaunding hunger , to eate the scraps , that they before scorned , to touch with their fingers ; and that in a iust recompence of their former nicenesse and vanities ; who yet , if this gentle correction may reclaime them , and cause them to reforme their wicked liues , to seek after God , through a liuely faith and faithfull prayer ; may be receiued into the fauour of God , who is ready to receiue a sinner repenting , be he neuer so poore , neuer so base , neuer so loathsome in the eyes of men ; as were Lazarus and the lost Sonne . As thou therefore art grieued vnder the burthen of thy miserable and poore estate , so grieue aboue it , that thou hast offended God , who correcteth thee for thy sinnes : Crye for pardon , pray for spirituall graces , seeke the Kingdome of God , and the righteousnesse thereof , haue a liuely faith , repent and be patient , vse the meanes , hearing and reading of the word of God , practise abstinence , from the fulfilling of thy corrupt will ; which thou canst not obtaine , but by repentance , and that repentance cannot be but by faithfull prayer , which will produce perfect patience , wherein if thou wayte the Lords leasure , for the time , and his pleasure for the meanes , assure thy selfe , thou shalt be competently and timely relieued ; for he hath promised , neuer to faile those , that faithfully● call vpon him , and truly obay him : And he is most faithfull to performe what hee hath promised . As for his power to doe it , thou needest not doubt , for his power is so absolute , that he is able ; and his loue to his , such , as he can and will so augment thy least portion , that a little oyle in thy Cruse , and a small quantity of meale in thy vessell , shall not diminish , vntill more supply come . And as for the feeding of thy chargeable Family , he can doe it with the smallest showe of meanes : he had but seauen loaues and a few fishes , and yet with that little in showe and quantity , hee replenished foure thousand men , besides women and little children . And with fiue loaues and two fishes , he fed fiue thousand , and that , that remained when all were satisfied , was more meat then , in show , then was ●efore they began to eate . And can he not feede thee , and thine , if thou be faithfull ; seeme thy store neuer so small ? nothing shall hinder in but sinne , infidelity , and impatience : If thou beleeue faithfully , pray feruently , and wayte patiently , he will doe it . Though it may seome vnto thee , that they store doth not onely not encrease , by prayer , but diminish by spending ; yet beleeue in him that made all things , and yet maketh things to supply his childrens wants . And although hee doe not with thee and thine , as he did for the children of Israell , who , trauailing forty yeares in the Wildernesse , he so preserued their garments , and euen the shooes on their feete , that they decayed not ; yet if thou distrust not his power and prouidence ; as the one decayes , hee will supply it with other . Thou wilt peraduenture say , that these were the extraordinarie workes of God , his miracles of olde , and no such things are seene in our dayes : It is true , why are they not seene ? onely because wee want liuely faith ; our hearts are dull in beleeuing , the eyes of our vnderstandings are darkened , and cast to the earth , we looke not so into the power , nor so beleeue the promises of the Almightie , as hee hath made them in his meere loue towards vs. Wee cannot glorifie God , more then to trust his word , and nothing dishonoreth him more , then to thinke that he either cannot , or will not performe what he hath promised : But wee may not thinke , that we shall haue any thing only for the asking ( for , wee cannot so presume vpon an ordinarie friend ) but before wee presume to aske the supply of corporall things , we must be well furnished with spirituall graces , which must first and before all things , be sought for at the hands of God : for , he and none but hee can giue them . It is the righteousnes of that Kingdome which wee are commaunded , aboue all things to seeke . And hauing obtained this , wee may assure vs , that all inferiour and carnall things shall bee administred vnto vs : And although carnall men thinke , that GOD worketh not myracles now , in prouiding for , & preseruing his children , as in the first ages ; which in deede is a great derogation of the good will , the power , and prouidence of God ; as if he were lesse louing , or lesse able , or of lesse vnderstanding , then he was in our Fathers dayes to helpe his children : he is Alpha and Omega . As hee was yesterday , he is to day , and will continue the same for euer : and therefore , if faith faile thee not , if thou refraine from euill and doe good ; if thou seeke helpe at the hands of God in whatsoeuer danger , supply is whatsoeuer necessitie , and comfort and ease in whatsoeuer crosse or misery , rather then God will denie that which he knoweth most necessary for thee , he will worke beyond the ordinary course to help thee : beleeue in him , serue him , call vpon him , wauer not , be constant , faint not , and thou shalt see assuredly the saluation of the Lord. A Prayer to be vsed of such as are oppressed with necessity and want of things necessarie . O Lord my GOD , who hast bin euermore , mercifull , louing , and a ready helping Father , to all those that haue serued thee with a pure , and called vpon thee with a faithfull heart ; and a patient God , euen to greatest sinners , among whom and aboue others , I acknowledge my selfe to haue deserued the least mercie at thy hands , by reason that I haue not only too much neglected my duty in seruing thee , but haue ( in steed thereof ) too much yeelded my selfe to many vnprofitable & forbidden wayes ; and I know and acknowledge , that thou dost most iustly correct me for my sinnes : and I thanke thee gracious Father , that thou hast remembred me ; for before I felt thy fatherly rod of pouerty , and want , I went astray ; but now Lord , I desire to turne me to the keeping of thy commaundements . As long as I prospered in the world , the vanities of my minde estranged my heart from thee ; and , if I should haue still enioyed what my sinfull heart defired , I should still haue gone astray : But now Lord , I am vnfainedly sorie from my heart , that I haue so long followed mine owne corrupt will , and in spending so many dayes and yeares in vanities . Lord I now returne vnto thee ; receiue me ( though as the prodigall Sonne ) who haue sinned against heauen and against thee , and doe acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to be called thy Sonne : I am worthily become poore , in misery and want ; and know not to whom to repaire for succour , being despised of men , and scorned of mine acquaintance ; by reason of my pouerty ; which I doe confesse , hath not befallen me by chance ; it is by mine owne wretched deseruings , which thou hast obserued , and now in loue , by this thy fatherly correcting mee , put me in minde to consider what I haue beene : and I doe confesse , that I haue beene vnseruiceable vnto thee , and vnprofitable to my selfe and others : Therfore dost thou iustly in punishing me : and yet thou dealest louingly in correcting me ; & I embrace ▪ this fatherly chastisement of thine , as an argument that thou wouldest preuent , a more seuere iudgement , incident to those that run on in their disobedience . Lord , thou hast iustly depriued mee , of the superfluous things of this world ; which , though I cannot but confesse they were deare vnto me , yet not so deare as dan●geros ; for I now finde , that howsoeuer sweet they seemed vnto my carnall minde ; they bred in my heart many fearefull sinnes , which now I feele as pricks in my soule ; and thy correction seemeth to encrease my feare , seeing and feeling it in my minde ( as it is corrupt ) heauie , and burthensome : but when I doe consider it , as it is , in thy purpose , I finde it to be an ease vnto mine inward part , through thine owne gift of faith , in beleeuing it to proceed of thy meere loue ; and of patience to beare it , knowing it to be a most wholsome medicine to cure mee of my disease of sinne , which in it selfe is mortall . Howsoeuer , I haue deserued to be more seuerely punished , & to be brought to a more miserable and poore estate then yet I am ; yet Lord remember thy mercies , and the merites of Iesus Christ thy Sonne ; and for his sake lay it not ouer heauily vpon mee : Leaue mee not altogether destitute of things necessarie for my competent reliefe here : but , as thou hast iust cause , fatherly to correct me ; So , yet graciously protect me , & preserue me from too great miserie ; though I deserue not thy mercie , yet I haue a meritorious Mediatour with thee , for whose sake thou mayest be pleased to mitigate my hard and miserable estate , and to giue me patience to vndergoe it , with competent foode and rayment , and contentment therewith . And defend me Lord , from the iniuries that vsually thy poore children are enforced here to endure : In thee I trust O Lord , whose prouidence I hold my chiefest portion ; for of thee commeth my saluation , my safety , and sufficiencie . Thou diddest create me ( Lord ) and madest mee a liuing creature ; who cannot subsist or continue without such ordinarie meanes , as thou hast ordained for humane sustentation , which thou affordest vnto the most brute beasts , that call not vpon thee : how much more vnto them that faithfully aske it of thee ? I come vnto thee most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ ; who , as thou hast , made all things , and possessest all things : so thou giuest and disposest all things ; to euery man a portion , according as thou thinkest most fit for euery man : And therefore forasmuch as thou seest pouerty a fitter portion then riches ; and want then wealth ; I accept it with hearty thankfulnes , knowing that thou art able to relieue me , as well with little as with much ; And though my portion bee small ; thou hast promised to nourish me , and to sustaine me : Thou refreshest the thirsty soules , and fillest the hungry with good things , and by promise , nothing wanteth to them that ●eare thee . The meanest of thy creatures which thou hast ordained for the vse of man , and the least portion thereof , blessed by thee , cannot but bee sufficient , be it but pulse with Daniel and his fellowes , yea the meanest dyet , shall so fructifie to the reliefe of my weake body , as I , in faith feeding vpon the same , shall liue thereby ; and when thou wilt , thou canst encrease my portion , as thou diddest the oyle and meale of Eliahs Hostice . Also consider Lord , that pouerty and want , not affording for the time , competency to supply our great necessity , enforceth to borrow ; and mens harts are hard , and Creditours cruell ; Let me neuer fall into their hands , but as thou diddest send a preuailing guest vnto the widow of Sarepta ( Eliah ) by whom ( through thy power and prouidence ) her little oyle and meale ( euen wholy consumed ) was so encreased , as she had sufficient , not onely for the reliefe of her and her family , but to pay her debts with the rest . This was thy doing O Lord ! And thou art still the same God , who in my greatest necessity canst raise meanes , either by the help of man , whom thou somtimes appointest to relieue thy distressed ones , or by blessing my lawfull labours and endeuours : If they all faile , thou hast infinite other meanes , reserued onely in thine owne wisedome , to helpe in most neede : If thou couldest send that raueuous fowle , to feede Eliah in his hunger , much more canst thou afford ordinary meanes to relieue me , and to enable me to pay all men their due ; a duty required of thee : and I cannot performe it but by thee ; into whose hands I had rather fall , then into the hands of cruell and mercilesse men . I am vnder thine hand , O Lord , support me with thy grace ; strengthen my faith that I faint not , that being in thy prouidence relieued , I may ( as I truly doe ascribe vnto thee , whatsoeuer comfortable supply I shall enioy at thy hands ) humbly recommending my selfe , and mine estate vnto thy blessing , in the name of Iesus Christ : to whom with thee and the holy Ghost , be all honour , praise and thankes for euermore , Amen . Lord encrease my faith . A short Prayer to bee said of him , that is in pouertie and want . O Eternall God , most mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ , thou hast created me of the dust of the earth , and hetherunto sustained my earthly body by earthly meanes ; which I acknowledge to proceede of thy goodnesse onely , and of thy meere blessing ; without the which nothing can succeed comfortably vnto me ; but through thy blessing , the weakest means shall bee sufficient to sustaine me ; and for all thy mercies , thou requirest onely in mee a liuely faith in thee , prayer vnto thee , and patient wayting on thee : So , though my portion be h●re pouertie , yet as long as thou art pleased to showe thy selfe a louing father towards me , I shall be releeued , nourrished , protected and preserued , in my greatest want of the necessaries , required for the sustentation of this short momentanie , miserable and mortall life : Lord , I beleeue thy promises made vnto all beleeuers , that in their greatest necessities , Thou wilt neuer faile them , nor forsake them : Lord I beleeue , confirme my beleefe ; make mee strong in faith , that I may serue thee faithfully and pray vnto thee feruently ; that so I may vndergoe my troubles , and wayte thy gracious pleasure patiently , to be supplyed in what I want ( timely ) knowing ▪ that thou art a God that shewest mercie ; and yet as a louing father thou correctest thine owne deerest children , to retaine them in obedience ; thou hast corrected me , I feele thy rod , thy rod of loue , not of thy heauy displeasure and wrath ; for , if thou shouldest deale with mee , and punish mee according to my merite , I could expect no mercy . I haue of sended thee , I haue sinned against thee , and doe acknowledge , that pouertie and want ( though heauy ▪ and burthensome ▪ vnto flesh and blood ) cannot be a sufficient punishment for my euill deseruings ; and were it not that thy mercies doe farre exceede thy souerity , I had not onely more deepely beene afflicted , but had perished long agone . O Lord , I acknowledge this thy correction iust and gentle ; yet consider Lord that I am weake to beare it , and therefore I humbly praye thee to support mee with thy hand , that I fall not altogether , and furnish mee with thy grace , that I fainte not . I see no humane helpe O Lord , whereon to depend or hope ; there is none to succour mee but thou , whome I haue offended : and how dare I come boldy to begge of thee , whose many and infinite blessings I haue so much and often abused ? If therefore I should come in myne owne name , thou mayst iustly turne thee from me ; O happy am I that I haue one with thee in whose name I may come and bee receiued : I may pray and be heard , I may aske and receiue what I want : heare him O Lord , for me and in my behalfe ; he is my Mediator , and whome thou so dearely louest , as thou hast promised to deny mee nothing for which he asketh of thee for me : and who is not ignorant of this worlds miseries ? hee was Patient in suffering as a man , and now though exalted to the Throne of glorie , he despiseth not those that suffer here as hee suffered ; therefore Lord , for his merits sake heare me , mitigate my miserie , supply my necessities , raise mee out of the 〈…〉 worlds disgrac● , 〈◊〉 out of the 〈◊〉 of miserie wherein I sticke ●●st . Lord , confirme my faith in thee , open the eyes of my dull apprehension of thy power and prouidence ; showe me the well of liuely releefe , as thou didst the spring of releeuing water to miserable Hagar ; that I may be refreshed with the Cuppe of thy saluation , and may rightly vse such meanes for my releefe , as in thy wisedome thou shalt raise vp and prouide for mee : and giue mee grace that I abuse not thy guifts , but to vse them to thy glory ; so shall they bee to my comfort . Giue a blessing to all my labours and godly endeauours ; and that in the feare of thy great name , I may liue in perfect obedience ; that prospering , I may praise thee , and in my hardest estate , be patient ; recommending my selfe and it , to thy gratious and fatherly prouidence , vnto the end . Amen . O Lord increase my faith . Generall counsell and comfort , for men imprisoned . IMprisonment is the depriuation of humane libertie , and befalleth vpon men commonly that haue before abused their freedome : for , it is the nature of humane frailtie , to runne and ra●●ge after pleasures and carnall delights , hauing the raines of the bridle of libertie loose , nothing to curbe it ; It attempteth many vnlawfull actions against the lawes of God ▪ and men , to fulfill corrupt desires , and licencious appetites ; Therefore doth God ( as a louing father ) curbe the bit of their corrupt wills , to keepe them in obedience ; finding no other meanes auailable , to make them to knowe themselues : though hee is able to take away the strength and vse of all their sinning parts , and to make them vnable to followe or performe their impious inclinations : but he dealeth more fauourably with men , then they can deserue , by their restraint . A father , louing his vngodly and disobedient child ; if he cannot otherwise tame and reforme him by counsell and gentle corrections , but that he wil still run into forbidden wayes , & dangerous and vngodly courses , he findeth at the last , no other preuailing remedie , but to take him , & fetter him , restraining him by force from his impious course of life , yet in loue : So doth our louing and heauenly father , after tryall of such as he loueth , by counsell , by instruction and holy documents out of his word , & many times by gentle corrections & fatherly chastisements ; which not preuailing to their reformation , hee vseth this restraining meanes , he depriueth them of their libertie , by imprisonment ; from whence , they cannot at their pleasures runne out , after their former vngodly delights and accustomed vanities ; onely to learne them to liue within the more compasse of obedience ; and to bring their corrupt mindes ; wills and affections , into some better order : and when hee hath sufficiently tryed them , he lets them goe free . And therefore consider , whosoeuer thou art , that art thus restrained , that thou maist haue ( if thou be any way inclined to feare and serue God ) farre more time and libertie to performe many godly duties , more and more , freely in this place of restraint , then when thou hadst thy libertie : there thou maist ruminate and examine thy selfe of the abuses of thy former freedome , wherein thou didst many wayes offend God and transgresse the Lawes of thy Soueraigne ; which in this place thou canst not so freely doe : but rather thou maist here meditate of better things , howsoeuer thy desire may bee corrupt by nature , and haue a longing desire to be at libertie , to fulfill thy former delights , as the Children of Israell longed and looked back to the Onyons , gowrdes , flesh-pots of Egypt , being freed from greater captiuity then thou indurest here . The least restraint that a naturall man hath ( that loues the delights of the world , and his fleshly pleasures ) is as death , to be preuented of them : If he haue but the Go●te , or any other impediment of any part of his body , which disableth him to follow or performe his former vanities ; he longeth to bee eased , that hee may renewe his sinnes , by accompanying his former associates in the delights wherein they mutually were wont to spende pretious time , in the large and delightsome field of this world where are as many occasions , tentations , allurements & prouocations , to miscary the thoughts , as the Eye can see , the Eare heare , or any of the Sences obserue ; all tending ( in carnally minded men ) to the offending of God : and if a man haue not the speciall gift of sobrietie , continence & tēperance ; the libertie and freedome of this deceiuing world , & the corrupt inclinations of the flesh , cannot but seduce him , though hee bee in part of some good inclination ; yet here hee shall finde a secret Satan , & his publick prompters to miscary him ▪ Thou therefore that art thus restrained and limited within the walles , beyond which thou canst not goe ; thy minde is yet at libertie , if it be seasoned with vertue , faith , in and obedience to God ; thou maist send forth thy prayers which are not lockt in , which cannot but returne with greater comfort then thou didst enioy when thou wert at large . But if it be tainted and infected with vnholy thoughts and desires , though they raunge abroade to Tauernes , Theaters , and other prophane places , where thy heart directeth them , they returne no good , but euill vnto thee : and if thou finde thy selfe still inclinable to vanities ; here thou maist learne ( according to the condition of some of thy fellowe-prisoners ) to be more vaine : but abandon their societie , and seeke the company of , and conuerse with them of thy fellowes that feare God , for it cannot be that a prison which should bee as a schoole of vertue ( though too much fraught with many vicious ) should be altogether destitute of some , fearing God , and of whom thou maist either learne good , or to whom thou maist doe good . It is lamentable to see , and grieuous to consider , that the Prison being a place intended for correction of men offending God and the Lawes of men , should not onely not be bettered by their restraint , but are many times founde to be worse conditioned at their comming out , then before they were committed ; which doth argue them so impious as they feare not God , nor reuerence man : they haue no feeling of their sinnes which caused their restraint ; but , in steed of sorrow for their sinnes , they indeauour there , to learne the sinnes wherewith they were little acquainted before : these are men past feeling of their euill deseruings ; they conceiue not , that God corrects them in this place for their sinnes , and that the Maiestrate punisheth them for their offences : but in steed of acknowledging their faultes , they seeke to cleere themselues , by the malice of some enemie , some false accuser , some cruell creditor , when indeede their owne sinnes haue beene the cause of their restraint . And therefore such as feare God will take it as a fatherly correction , and attribute it to the loue of God , that by this meanes seeketh their reformation and saluation . Submit thy selfe therefore vnto his will , and doe not think that this befalls thee by chance , or through the malice of an enemie , or the hardnesse of the heart of a Creditor : If an enemie haue accused thee , or a Creditor arrested thee , thinke they were but Gods Ministers ; though peraduenture thou bee not guiltie of the thing for which thou art accused and imprisoned , yet remember what thou hast formerly done : for , God many times punisheth a man , and that seuerely , for a sinne formerly committed and long concealed , vpon an accusation whereof the Partie is not guiltie ; yet being guiltie of a former hainous crime , that deserueth like punishment , the Lord is not vniust to punish him , how and by what meanes soeuer . God is prouoked by sinne , to inflict the least correction vpon man ; and as there is no man but he is a sinner , so there is no man is free from one crosse or affliction or other ; to put him in minde , that God is displeased with his sinne , and yet he permitteth some men to runne on long , euen to their last gaspe , free from any seene crosse or calamitie : but these not the happiest men ; for , whom soeuer God chasteneth not here , hee reserueth for them a more seuere punishment in the end ; a prison farre exceeding any worldly restraint ; for he that is in this world a prisoner , is at length deliuered , liuing or dead ; but from that future , is no time limited or permitted to be freed through all eterni●ies . Thinke not therefore this easie restraint grieuous , whereof so good vse is to be made ; for by this thou maist learne , if a temporall and momentanie imprisonment be so loathsome and irckesome vnto thee , where thou hast yet some ( though small ) libertie ; what will that bee where thou shalt haue no freedome , no intermission of torment and horror ? besides , thou hast here some companions and friendly fellow-prisoners , whose company thou maist frequent to thy comfort ; but the companions which they shall there finde , are hideous , fearefull , such as haue no other qualitie but to torment and suffer , and be tormented . Know therefore that God in his singular prouidence and loue restraineth thee here a prisoner , that thou shouldest here learne to auoid that which is prepared for the rebellious and obstinate wicked ones hereafter : For , if thou reforme thee not being restrained , and become obediente , what may be thought of thee , being at libertie ? But vsing thy restraint as thou maist & oughtest , thou art in farre better , case then are many Libertines : Heere thou maist read the worde , and meditate thereon : heere thou maist pray and excercise holy duties , without such varietie of occasions ( as the freedom of the world affordeth ) to distract thee : Yet I would not that I should be vnderstood , that because corporall restraint , is a meanes to haue the minde at libertie , when the body is in Prison , that any man should wilfully occasion , or voluntarily seeke his owne restraint : but rather that being thus restrayned , to consider duly , the cause why you are restrayned : for the cause much importeth the ioye , or griefe ; the hope or feare , of a Prisoner . Pharaohs Baker and Butler , were both in Prison ; the one hanged , the other restored to his Office ; yet both deserued Imprisonment , for offending their Maister : But Ioseph and Iohn Baptist were Imprisond , the one through the false accusasion of his vnchaste Mistresse , the other through enuye , in telling Herod of his Incest : The first had his freedome & made Cheef vnder Pharaoh in Egypte ; the other lost his head to please a Whore. There are many causes of imprisonement , and many , causelesse imprisoned ; and both haue cause to reioyce : the first that God in his fauour calles him to knowe himselfe , by the consideration of his offence for which hee is committed ; the other may the more reioyce that he is punished being an innocent , as was Michaiah the Prophet of God , who was cast into prison , for telling Iehosaphat and Ahab , that they should not prosper in fighting against the King of Siriah . The deerest children of God haue suffered imprisonment for diuers causes , especially for speaking the truth from God ; as Paul , Peter , &c. whose imprisonments tended to their euerlasting freedome : for , to suffer for righteousnesse sake is a blessed thing ; but to suffer as an euill doer , hath no promise of inward comfort or outward releefe ; especially , if he continue impenitent for the euill he hath done : yet , all hope is not taken from a sinner , who , for the offending of the Lawes of God or men is imprisoned ; especially , if he truely repent , and with a liuely faith returne vnto God , were he as guiltie as the Theefe vpon the Crosse , who from the prison was brought to the Crosse ; at the Crosse to Christ , and from the Crosse to Paradice with Christ. It behoueth therefore to consider the cause of thine imprisonment ; for , as there are seuerall causes , so are there seuerall councelles and comforts to be applyed . If thou haue offended the Lawes of thy Soueraigne , which may be done by diuers forbidden actions , deseruing death or some other seuere punishment ; as treasons , rebellion , murther , theftes , and the like : Some againe are punished for debte , for slandering their neighbours , or doing such iniuries against them , as the Lawe of man ( grounded vpon the Law of God ) hath power to punish with imprisonement : in all which , is required Patience to beare it , prayer in faith to God to be eased , with true & hearty acknowledgement of thy fault to God , against whome euery sinne is committed , and to seeke reconciliation with the partie offended : so shall restraint ( for what cause soeuer ) become the more easie to bee borne : And first I will touche the most capitall and most hainous offences ; such , as if thou haue committed , or any of them , and bee restrained for them , there remaineth for thee in the seueritie of Iustice , nothing but the expectation of the censure and Sentence of death : and therefore fit for thee to learne how to prepare thee , that though thy body perish , thy soule may be saued . Against Treason , for which a man is worthily imprisoned . ABoue all other sinnes , that can be committed against the Lawe of man , there is none so great , so grieuous , capitall & hainous , as is Treason against the person of a Soueraigne , of whome no man ought to moue his tong ; no , not in his most priuate chamber , but to what may tende to the welwishing of his welfare and prosperitie ; much lesse ought any man to moue his hand , or heart , to touch him to his hurt : for , such is the sacred Majestie of a King , being in earth ▪ Vicegerent vnder God , in the Kingdomes wherein the Lord hath placed him : that he ought in all things to bee obeyed next vnto God , aboue all other , of all his subiects : And whosoeuer goeth about , by counsell , conspiracie , or consent , to betray him , is not onely worthy of imprisonment , but of the most cruell tormenting death that can bee deuised by man : and therefore , if thou shouldest be guiltie but of the knowledge of such a practice , and didst conceale it , thou art not to be graced with one minute of life , nor by the prayer of any good subiect for thy deliuery ; but to haue thy deseruing , not as ●ad Baarah and Rechab , who thinki●g to pleasure Dauid , slew the King their Master Ishbosheth , whome Dauid caused to be slaine with the sword : But the like or worse then Reualiacke had for killing that famous King of France ; whose torments were as horrible as the wit of man could deuise . The Maiestie of God is so imprinted in the person of a King , as when wicked men haue vndertaken any desperate enterprise vpon them , they haue beene many times so daunted , as they haue had no power to act their villanies ; or haue suddainely so discouered their wicked intention , by countenance , gesture or speech , as hath bewrayd the guilt of their conscience , and haue beene preuented of their intended mischiefe . Among many other most memorable examples of Gods Prouidence , the discouery of the many treasons and conspiracies intended , and ready to haue beene executed , euen vpon the person of our late most famous Queene Elizabeth by Parrie and others , are so perspicuous , and her deliueries so wonderfull , as can neuer be forgotten . And his late Maiesties admirable deliuery from the conspiracie of the Gowries is yet fresh in euery mans memory , to Gods eternall glory , and the ioy of all his Kingdomes . When Quintinanus a villaine , being solicited to kill the Emperour Commodus by the conspiracie of Lucilla the Emperours sister , had taken vpon him the murther , wayted the time and conuenient place to execute the Treason ; attending the Emperours comming ; when he saw his Maiestie , hee began to tremble , his countenance changed , his gesture altred , and his tongue could no longer conceale his guiltie conscience : but before the Emperour came neere him , held out his murthering dagger in his hand , cryed out , This the Senate sends thee : whereupon he was preuented and apprehended . If therefore thou be apprehended and imprisoned , as guiltie of this most hainous and monster of all sinnes ; examine thine owne heart , confesse and bewray thine intention to the satisfaction of men , especially of thy Soueraigne ; and acknowledge thy sinnes to God , repent them ; It may be the Lord may yet vpon thy sincere and serious repentance , haue compassion on thy soule , though no good subiect will pitie thy death , or wish the prolonging of thy life ; but the seuearell death . So hainous is Treason and so odious are Traitors . For such as are imprisoned , as guiltie , or vehemently suspected of murther . NExt vnto Treason , Murther is the most crying sinne ; whereof , if thou be guiltie , especially if it were wilfull , and imprisoned for the same , remember , that Who so sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed : Though the Murther be neuer so secretly done , neuer so closely kept , neuer so long concealed ; so odious it is to God , that he seldome or neuer suffers it to goe vnreuealed : The very Barbarians helde Murther so hainous a sinne , as they did thinke it could not escape the vengeance of God , neither indeed can it , for , as the guiltlesse blood of Abel cryed against his murtherous brother Kayne , so doth the blood of euery man ( guiltlesly slaine ) crye against the murtherer , and huntes him from place to place whether soeuer he flye ; where soeuer he hides himselfe , the murthered seemeth still to be in the eye of the murtherer ; whether he sleepe or wake hee is still tormented ; and the Deuill that inticeth a murtherer , perswading him by many false perswasions , which he conceiueth in his minde , by this or that meanes he may escape when he hath committed the Murther ; he layes the murthered before the eyes of the guiltie conscience of the murtherer ; and telles him , loe here is that innocent person thou hast wilfully murthered ; God will seuerely reuenge it , hee will giue thee into the Magistrates hand to be here tormented in the flesh , and take away thy life , and then cast thee into eternall torments as thou deseruest . If , therefore , thou be guiltie of any such grieuous crime , and be derected , and imprisoned , thou maist thanke God , who hath discouered thee and restrained thee in this place , from whence thou canst not escape , to the end , thou shouldest no longer raunge the world with a tormenting conscience , but rather casting off all vaine hope to be freed , betake thee to repentance for all thine offences ; and especially , for this thy most odious facte , crye earnestly and faithfully to God for mercie , that he will still the crye of the innocent murthered , that soundeth so fearefully in the eare of thy guilty conscience : crye for pardon in Christ , for whose sake there is mercie with God , if with a true and liuely faith thou craue it . If thou be guiltie , and yet but onely vpon suspicion committed , the facte not fully reueiled ; if thou confesse it not to the Magistrate , thy burthen will be for the more heauie , though thou thinke it sufficient to confesse it in secret and silence to God , who needs not thy confession of the facte : for hee saw it done , and knew thine intention before thou didst it ; he hath seene and obserued thee since , how thou hast runne hether and thether for safetie , and how thou hast sought all meanes to hide it and escape : but all in vaine : there is ●o hiding thee from his sight . Thy sinne is grieuous , thou hast laid violent and murtherous hands vpon , and taken away the life of the Image of God , though a humane creature : and ●s the facte is done against God , so thy repentance or hardnesse of heart , are knowne to him alone , not to man , against whom also thou hast grieuously sinned ; therefore must thou openly acknowledge the facte before men , that thou maist free the innocent that may be otherwise had in suspition , to be actors of that which thou thy selfe hast done ; and so double thine offence , in causing another to suffer for thy sinne ; and so heape as well his blood ( as the blood of the murthered ) vpon thine owne conscience : Therfore as thou art discouered , taken , kepte from any hope of escape ; make of necessitie a vertue : take that punishment with a godly patience , that by all thy secret intentions , inuentions and subtile practises , thou canst not auoide : craue forgiuenesse of thy sinnes of God , vpon the knees of a most penitent and relenting heart : and if it be possible , wrest through bitter sighes and sorrowe , euen teares of blood from thy bloody conscience , in heartie and faithfull prayor to God in his Sonne Christ , who shed his blood for thee , and thereby able to wash thee from thy bloody sinne ; if thou truely repent and doest faithfully and feruently praye for pardon : and if thou be destitute of the power to pray of thy selfe , thou maist vse the former prayer , made for a man grieued in conscience for the hainousnesse of his sinnes ; or this short confession and prayer following ; and that often , vntill thy conscience become at peace with God : and then howsoeuer , both the Lawe of God and men condemne thee for the facte , and that thou suffer death for the same , take it with godly patience ; for better it is for thee to suffer here a temporall death for thy sinne , then to carrie the burthen of a tormenting conscience ( not suspected ) to thy graue , which ( though man doe not ) shall accuse thee when it will be too late to crye for mercie . A Prayer for a man imprisoned , guiltie of murther . O Lord God , whose mercies are aboue all thy workes , and yet I wretched creature haue not deserued the least part of the same , but rather vtter confusion both of body and soule : not onely , for my manifold and grieuous sinnes , committed euen from my youth ; but aboue all other of my grieuous sinnes , I feele the heauy burthen of this one sinne , this capitall and crying sinne , in thy seuere Iustice impardonable ; the wilfull taking away of the life of thine innocent creature , whose blood cryeth against mee , as did that guiltlesse blood of Abel crye against his murtherous brother Kayne ; who was reiected by thee , by reason of his impenitency : deale not so with mee ( deare father ) I praye thee ; I am heartely forty for my wicked facte , and doe acknowledge it to be most hainous ; yet not exceeding thy mercy : which as farre as the heauen is aboue the earth , so is thy mercie aboue thy Iustice : and as farre as the East is from the West , so farre canst thou put this my grieuous sinne from mee : which , though it be as red as blood , yea blood it selfe ; yet is the blood of that Lambe Iesus Christ , of more then sufficient efficacie and vertue to make it white as snowe . O cast mee not vtterly out of thy fauour , though I be a most grieuous sinner ! for , my soule is heauy within mee , my heart is cast downe , I dare not looke vp vnto heauen where thou sittest a seueate Iudge ; and I tremble to thinke how grieuously I haue offended thee . I am fallen , O Lord I am fallen into the hands of my most deadly enemie Satan , that pursues mee with deadly hatred ; he , he ( O God ) prouoked mee to this vngodly deede , and now he seekes to draw me to dispayre of thy mercie ; into whose hands O Lord I cast my selfe , knowing , that there is yet mercie with thee , and in Iesus Christ perfect Redemption : I am also fallen into the hands of men , whose Lawes I haue by this mine vngodly facte wilfully broken , by whose Lawes I am condemned , and that worthily : and there is none to comfort me but thou alone , against whom especially I haue committed this bloody sinne : for which , as I doe acknowledge to haue deserued the death not onely of my wretched body , but also of my most sinfull soule ; so I beleeue that the death of my body shall be a sufficient satisfaction to the Lawe of man ; and the griefe and sorrowe of my truely repenting heart ( through the preuayling death of my Sauiour Iesus Christ ) shall bee a satisfaction to thy Iustice. And as I doe acknowledge that I haue deserued to dye ; so I beseech thee Lord to prepare me therevnto with Patience ; faith ; firme and constant assurance of thy mercy ; that I fainte not at my approaching death : but may bee assured , that as thou forgauest the Theef vpon the Crosse ; & receiuedst him into Paradice ; so thou wilt receiue my soule , in the merites of Christ my Sauiour , when through death it shall leaue my sinfull body : which graunt gracious Lord God , for his sake that dyed for penitent sinners ; among whome I cannot but confesse I am the greatest : and the greater shall thy mercy appeare . Lord confirme my faith in thee to the end , and in my end . Amen . For such as are imprisoned , for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome , deseruing death . AS the Lawes and Ordinances of Kingdomes are many , to meete with the sinnes and transgressions of men , which are infinite ; so the causes of mens restraynts , imprisonments , and punishments , are not to bee named or numbred : yet euery man commonly knowes the offences that deserue the same , and haue not yet the grace , or power to auoide the committing of them . Thou art in prison , knowne or vehemently suspected of some grieuous facte committed against the Lawes , deseruing the executing sword of the Magistrate vpon life or member ; thy case is hard and dangerous , deserued death , or some other seueare punishment hangeth ouer thy head , at the pleasure of the Iudge . It behoueth thee therefore , to looke into thine owne heart , and to examine thine owne conscience strictely ; whether thou be guiltie or not , of the cryme laid vnto thy charge , or of any other grieuous cryme which thou hast long concealed : for , God many times doth punish an offender for some wicked facte ( formerly committed and neuer discouered ) by the suspition of a cryme ; and punisheth it as the acte done : and therefore if thou feele thy selfe guiltie of any grieuous offence commited against God by the breach of the Lawes of man , which thou hadst cleane forgotten ; if thou be after vniustly accused or suspected of another , which ( if thou were guiltie of it ) deserued as seueare punishment as the former , and thou receiue it , though ( in that ) thou be innocent ; yet in Gods Iustice , this thy punishment is for thy former offence iust . He that wittingly or wilfully disobeyeth the Lawes of man , is guiltie of the breach of the Lawe of God , by whom Magistrates that establishe Lawes for ciuile gouernment of their subiects , are set and appointed ; and haue their authoritie and power ( to punish offendors from God : and therefore should euery soule submit it selfe to the powers ordained by God : And seeing thou hast highly offended these Lawes , fit it is that thou shouldst be apprehended & restrained of thy raunging libertie , whereby thou maist not onely offend others , but bee a meane to intice others to thy example of sinning . Receiue therefore thine imprisonment and punishment with patience ; murmure not against the Magistaate , that thus in Gods steed , and as his Minister correcteth thee ; who if hee had let thee runne on further in thine impieties , the greater had beene thy sinne , and the greater would haue beene thy finall punishment : whereas now , thou mayst haue time to examine thy life past , and to repent thee of thy sinnes , and to seeke to God in Christ for pardon ; and therefore hast thou rather cause to thanke God for thine imprisonment , then to grudge that hee correcteth thee : so shalt thou make profit of thy restraint , in redeeming thy former ill spent time , and learne to frame thy heart to more obedience to the Lawes of God and man , for the time thou hast yet to spend in this life . If God haue ordained the Magistrate in Iustice to take away thy life , iustly deseruing it , thou ( through faith ) by true repentance and prayer , maist enioy a farre more glorious life , for thy present ignomi●ious death . If any other punishment be by the Lawes due for thine offence , & that it may be satisfied with the depriuation of any part of thy body , according to the qualitie of thine offence , or to inflict any other corporall punishment vpon thy flesh ; thinke it is in fauour , and that God seeth it better for thee to suffer here a little smart then hereafter , perpetuall torments : and therefore seeing thou hast offended , and made thy selfe guilty of crime , so seuearely punishable ; submit thy selfe to the will of God , and to the authoritie of the Magistrate , in obedience , faith , and faithfull prayer . A Prayer to be said of a Prisoner , accused and like to bee condemned to death for some facte against the Lawes , or to any other corporall punishment . O Mightie , omnipotent , and most righteous Lord God , I acknowledge thy Iudgements to bee iust , and thy Wisedome and Prouidence vnsearchable , wherein thou hast found me out , and discouered my sins , which I haue done ( as I thought ) in secret : but thine all-seeing eye pierceth through the cloudes ; no darkenesse can hide sinne and sinners from thy presence : Lord , seeing thou hast found out mine iniquities , and brought my grieuous sins to light ; I doe appeale from thy Throne of Iustice , to thy Seate of mercie : for I doe confesse , that in thy iust Iudgement I am worthy to bee perpetually condēned ; but in thy mercie I may find fauour : and in the merits of Christ thy beloued Sonne , I may yet be saued , though my mortall body here perish . Thou hast power O Lord , to worke the hearts of the seuearest Iudges of the earth , with Iustice , to ioyne mercie ; not to extende the seueritie in punishing of me as the Lawe for mine offence may iustlie require . But aboue all earthly Iudges I stand most affraid of thy displeasure , which I doe confesse I haue iustly deserued by mine offences , many in number ; but this for which I am now restrayned , is not the least : yet not so great but thou canst forgiue and pardon it . But before I can bee assured of thy fauour in pardoning mine vngodly deseruings , for which I lye here , vnder thine and the hand of the Magistrate , in bandes ; I must and I doe humbly and heartily seeke to bee reconciled vnto thee : But alas , what am I dust and ashes ? what am I ? a meere worme : what am I ? ( the vilest of all sinners ) that thou shouldest vouschafe to accept my reconciliation with thee the Almightie God , Creator of heauen and earth , betweene whose sinceritie and my sinnes , betweene whose goodnesse and my vilenesse , and betweene whose greatnesse and my weaknesse , is so infinite difference , euen as betweene heauen and hell ? O! how can I thinke , that ( although thou canst ) thou wilt bee reconciled vnto me , that haue so grieuously offended ? How can I expect any fauour of thee , whom by the breach of all thy commandements I haue so highly incensed against me ? I haue sinned , Lord I haue sinned , and many wayes transgressed thy Lawes ; and had it not beene of thy meere mercy , I might haue beene ( as I haue often deserued ) confounded long agone . I doe acknowledge O Lord , and thou knowest that this is not the first grieuous offence that I haue committed ; and therefore , were I innocent in this , for which I am apprehended and imprisoned , I cannot but confesse that I haue deserued the punishment in Iustice due for this . But Lord , call not all my former sinnes to thy remembrance ; cast not vp the whole account of all mine impious actions , knowing that I am of the seede of him that first was in thy sauour holy , and that first rebelled , and became ( and I in him ) disobedient and rebellious : yet as hee fell of himselfe , and I in him , together with all his posteritie , So was the seed of the woman promised to come , & he is come ; & hath suffered according to thine owne will , to reconcile , euen me ( the greatest sinner ) and all beleeuers into thy fauour againe ; the shedding of his blood hath made the attonement : and he it is , yea euen hee alone , in whome I beleeue I shall finde thee reconciled vnto me . Then Lord doe with my body here ( which is the actiue part of all my sinnes ) what seemeth good in thine owne eyes : for as one haire of the head of thy children , falleth not without thy Prouidence , how much lesse can his life bee taken from him without thee ? My life and my death are in thy hands , though the sword be in the Magistrates ; yet it is not his but thine , and he but thy Minister : therefore if thou saye strike he striketh ; if thou saye spare he spareth . Seeing therefore Lord I am thus in thy disposing onele , and haue learned out of thine owne promises , that all things worke , & worke together , for the good of them whom thou hast chosen : my sinnes Lord , that hath caused mine apprehension ; mine apprehension mine imprisonment ; mine imprisonment , the knowledge of mine owne wicked deseruing ; and my deseruing , death ; may all worke together for my good : for , except I had beene restrained , I had not thought vpon , but had runne on still in my sinne : had I not beene punished , I had not felt thy displeasure for my sinnes ; so should I neuer haue sought to thee for succour , and pardon for my sinnes . O the incomprehensible depth of thy Wisedome and mercy , in thus visiting me ! for before I was restrained , I forgot my selfe & thee : my selfe , what a wretched creature I was ; and thee , what a powerfull and iust Iudge thou art : yet louing to them that repent , which is also thy guifte : I know and confesse my selfe now to be an offender , and in danger , and that thou art a iust God and an auenger of sinne . Lord dispose of mine offending body , as it pleaseth thee : it is dust , turne it to dust , when and how thou wilt ; and punish it in what manner and measure thou wilt ; yet seasoned with thy compassion : As for my soule , Lord receiue it , when through Iustice by the Magistrate or otherwise , it shall be enforced to leaue this my sinnefull body : which graunt for Iesus Christs sake , Amen . Lord encrease my faith , and prepare mee ●o obey thee in what soeuer it pleaseth thee here to doe with me . A Prayer to be said of a penitent offender , going to his execution ; or to any corporall punishment . O Lord God Almightie , though thou be iust in punishing , thou art mercifull in forgiuing and sauing sinners ; among whome there is none so great , O Lord , as I am , who haue long liued in the practise of infinite impieties , neuer thinking of the danger which now is deseruedly fallen vpon me : I am worthily condemned to what thou wilt inflict vpon mee ; Lord giue me patience to take it without repining or grudging at the iust proceeding of the Magistrate , whose Lawes I haue offended ; nor against them by whome I was found guiltie ; nor against the Iudge , by whose Sentence I am condemned : for they are all thy Ministers ( O Lord ) and haue done nothing but what thy good pleasure is they should doe : And therefore I impute vnto thee ( O Lord ) all equitie , Iustice and righteousnesse ; to my selfe nothing but sinne , shame & confusion . O God , though thy Iustice requite , that sinners should here be punished , yet thou reseruest mercie to them that are sorie that they haue offended thee ; I am sorie O Lord , I am sorie , that I haue committed the least sinne against thee ; but this grieuous sinne , for which I am inforced to suffer , I lament and repent more then death it selfe ; because I haue thereby dishonoured thee , wronged those to whome I rather should haue done my best dutie : I haue caused others to sinne by the example of my sinne , and haue inticed them that otherwise might haue liued without the danger I haue drawne them into : so that I may be said to be guiltie , not onely of mine owne blood , but of theirs also that haue sinned by my meanes , or with mee , and deserue like punishment . O Lord remember that all men are sinners ; and there are great and crying sinnes , and there are sinnes of infirmitie : but Lord , the sinnes that I haue committed , haue cryed , and thou hast heard them ; they cryed vnto thee , for this punishment which thou hast determined iustly to be inflicted vpon me ; and as the censure is already past vpon me , which I cannot auoid , so doe I expect the time , beseeching thee in the aboundance of thy mercies , to giue me constancie to perseuere in a liuely faith vnto the end . If my lot ( Lord ) be vntimely death ; and that I see I must suffer for the guilt of my trangressions here ; let me finde fauour with thee , as that Theefe did who suffered for his sinnes , and was receiued into Paradice ; not of desert but of thy free mercie : O deale not with me Lord , after my merit , for then the death of my body or what soeuer corporall punishment , were no satisfaction to thy Iustice ; Haue mercie therefore vpon me , O Lord , and what course soeuer man taketh with my body , receiue thou my soule into thine eternall Paradice . My heart is prepared O God , my heart is prepared , and into thy hands Lord I commend my body to be punished , and my soule to be glorified in the merits of Iesus Christ my Redeemer . Amen . O Lord encrease my faith and confirme it to the end . For such as are imprisoned for debte . THe Law of equitie , which is the Lawe of God , requireth that a man should owe nothing to man but loue and good will ; which is hard ( at all times ) for the most of men to performe : there must bee as there euer hath bin , lending & borrowing , buying and selling , Debitor and Creditor : some debters would , but cannot paye ; some haue wherewith & will not paye : the first may be pityed , the other exacted : For the same Lawe of equitie , giueth lawfull power to a Creditor ( vpon conuiction ) to cast him into prison , and there to detaine him till he paye it . Many thinke that what is lent them , is as if they found it , making no reckoning to repaye it : and so in steed of satisfaction and thankes , they bring griefe vnto the Lender . But in the same Chapter ver . 3. men are aduised that haue occasion to borrowe , to keepe their word , to deale faithfully and kindely with the Lender , so shall their necessities bee alwayes releeued : But , Men of euill conscience ( as is there further said ) standing in neede of another mans helpe , will kisse their hand , and humble themselues , vntill they haue gotten what they desire , and when they should repay it , they prolonge the time , and giue a carelesse answer ; and though they bee able , yet scarse giue the halfe againe , or deceiue him of his mony : and insteed of thankefulnes and loue , they giue him curses & rebuke , euill words for the good hee hath done them : And this is the cōmon course of politicke and wilfull Banckeruptes and euill disposed persons , that get what they can into their hands , of others mens goods : and either voluntarily take shelter in one prison or another , intending a forceable moderation and qualification of their debts , or else conuey away their goods and estates secretly , and fleeth the Country , intending to pay nothing at all ; though their estates be able to discharge their debtes , and to leaue competent meanes ( of the rest ) to maintaine and releeue themselues : by which sinister and too common a dishonest practise , many haue vniustly inriched themselues . But such fraudulent getting goods , come little short of ( if it equalize not ) meere roberie : though for a while they may smile at , and reioyce in their impious pollicie . If thou therfore haue , or intende thus subtillie to defraude thy Creditors , hauing sufficient to satisfie them , and in the meane time sufferest thy Creditors to want , who peraduenture haue as much need as thy selfe ; there is not onely no pitie to be had of thine imprisonment , but fit a more seuere punishment were inflicted vpon thee , especially if thou be of the number of them that will rather spend that in prison ; or in standing out in Lawe , to defraude a Creditor ( knowing , that in equitie it is due ) then with the same money to make him honest satisfaction , or in part . But if thy debt haue grown by meere necessitie of borrowing , and thou at the time of receiuing it , hadst a true , sincere , and godly purpose to repaye it , by probable expected meanes : and in the meane time some crosse by the finger of God hath befallen thee , whereby thou art indeed preuented of thy true meaning of the performance of thy faithfull promise : thou art to bee excused in thy breach , and pityed in thine imprisonment , not hauing conueniently wherewith to pay : and if thy Creditor ( able to forbeare ) doe continue the hardnesse of his heart towards thee , still detaining thee ; thinke it a fatherly chastisement vpon thee to inure Patience in thee ; wherein if thou submit thy selfe to Gods will , in working for thee by faithfull prayer , thy Patience shall produce the experience of the loue and fauour of God towards thee ; so shalt thou not need to bee so much ashamed of thine imprisonment , as he may be iustly condemned that detaines thee : thou maist reioyce seruing the Lord ; when he shall be sorie that hee dealt so vncharitablie with thee . It behoueth thee yet to examine thy selfe , and thy life past , whether thou haue liued in the feare of God , and in godly diligence in thy calling , or whether thou hast past thy time in idlenesse , in ryoting , gaming and company keeping ( according to the course of too many in this corrupt age ) and hast beene compelled , through thy deserued necessitie , to supplie either thine owne vanities , or thy poore family to borrow , not knowing any meanes , nor hauing a godly purpose to repay it : if it be so , and thy Creditors haue pursued the Lawe lawfully against thee , and by them iustly , and in the Iudgement of God thou be committed to this place of restraint , thou hast that thou deseruest ; for , to borrow other mens goods , to wast them ryotously vpon thine vngodly and wanton delights , is most wicked ; it is too much so to consume thine owne substance , but so to consume other mens ( when thine owne is spent ) prodigally , thou art not fit to haue thy libertie ; for by thy lewde course of life , others are induced by thine example into the same excesse of ryot : and fitter it is that the prison should keepe thee in , and in order , then to corrupt others abroad , to the breach of the diuine Lawes of God , who in Iustice doth punish thee for thy sinne : and yet , if this thy restraint may worke reformation in thee , it sauours of the loue of God towards thee . If therefore , thou canst and doest repent thee of the ill spent life , and canst and doest faithfully seeke the fauour of God , for pardon of thy , sinnes in his Christ ; thou maist imbrace thine imprisonment , and not impute it to the seueritie of thy Creditors , though they were the meanes vnder God , for thy good ; they nothing lesse intending then to doe 〈◊〉 good , but to come by their owne thereby : but if thou be one whome God hath a purpose to reclaime from euill , to make thee good , thy restraint is the beginning of thy happinesse ; for Happie is the man whome God correcteth : They are not strangers from his Couenant of grace , but sonnes and daughters whome he doth chasten : therefore though thou haue plaide the part of that Prodigall sonne , in consuming thy patrimony and thy goods in wantonnesse ; this thy restraint may call thee home againe to thy louing fathers house ; and will make thee , not a seruant , but imbrace thee as a sonne , by thy repentance in a true faith . What haue all thy pleasures yeilded thee which thou hast so eagerly followed when thou wert at libertie , but huske for swyne , durt and draffe wherewith Satan feedeth them that followe him ? hee seasons them with sweetnesse , to the fleshly minde , yet is that sweetnesse but to fleshly mindes , and is meere poyson to the soule ; wherewith if thou feele thy selfe at any time to be infected , thou hast now time to take Physicke to cure thee : thou art here in the place where thy heauenly Father hath appointed thee ; not to destroye thee , but to dyet thee and to prepare thee to receiue some bitter Pilles , to purge thee from the contagious humours of thy sinnes , which the corrupte ayre of wicked companions of thine , hath inspired into thee : and it may be , if thou hadst had thy libertie stil in the open fields of this corrupt worlds delights ; where thou art restrained for a Peny ( in comparison ) it might haue beene a pound ; so the procuring of thy freedome would haue beene the more hard to be obtained ; if , at all . But thou art in prison , be thy debte much or little ; if thou cannot paye it , and thy Creditors , will exacte the vttermost Farthing , what is thy last and safest refuge ? thou maist appeale vnto the Magistrate , but hee cannot but maintaine his Lawes : some mittigation by mediation may bee obtayned ; yet thou must endure the will of thy Creditor , whose seuerity may in part ( against his will ) be moderated , but his heart is in the hands & disposing of the Almightie ; and therefore , make thy petitions vnto God , confesse thy euill and prophane life , acknowledge thy sinnes that haue caused thy trouble , repent thee heartily of them ; bee patient in them , and thou shalt see , that God who made the heart of thy Creditor , can molifie it ; and insteed of his vttermost seueritie , turne it into charitie : and bee thou of a meeke spirit , and of an humble heart towards thy Creditor , and settle thine affections vpon heauen and heauenly things ; praye faithfully and feruently to God : it may please him to worke the meanes to free thee , but in his good time : Innocent Ioseph , lay two yeares , in miserable imprisonment ( falsly accused ) yet highly beloued of God therefore ; thinke it not long , for God seeth the time fit to deliuer thee better then thou thy selfe : But when thou art sufficiently humbled , and brought to the true feare of God , and obedient to his will , thou maist be assured he will let thee goe free . A Prayer to be often said , of a man imprisoned for debte . O Lord my God in Iesus Christ , I doe acknowledge that I haue grieuously offended thee by my sinnes , which haue so deeply deserued thy displeasure , as that thou either thinkest me vnworthy of the libertie and freedome which other men enioy in the world , or , in thy wisedome , that restraint and imprisonment are more profitable for me , then libertie . I doe confesse indeed , that my libertie hath wrought in me many occasions to offend thee ; and my restraint , through thy grace , may worke some reformation in me . When I was free of this my trouble , I did not so walke , as I ought to haue done , but many wayes abused that freedome which thou affordest me ; by committing many vnseemely and vngodly actions which thou hast forbidden , and by omitting many good and godly duties which thou hast commanded : which brought me to necessitie ; necessitie inforced mee to borrow to supply my wants ; and borrowing and not repaying , procured the dislike of my Creditors ; and their seueritie ( in thy Iustice ) haue brought me into this place of vnsauourie restraint : from whence I haue no meanes to bee freed , but by thy meere mercy and prouidence onely ; wherein I know thou art able to deliuer me , if thou thinke libertie more profitable for mee . I cannot but confesse , O Lord , that I haue not onely deserued this , but a farre sharper punishment for my sinnes : yet as thou art a most gracious and louing Father : so art thou euer ready , to forgiue sinners vpon their hearty repentance ; and their sinn●● being forgiuen , thy propertie is , either to remoue altogether , or to mittigate their punishment . Lord , my debtes are out of measure greater to thee , then my greatest can bee vnto man ; and my debtes to thee are encreased , by the cause whereby I am become debter ( in this kinde ) vnto man. But if thou Lord maist be pleased , to pardon my debtes , whereby I stand indangered to thee , my debtes due vnto men shall bee the more easily satisfied , and I shall be the sooner deliuered from this my captiuitie : for , he that is freely forgiuen of thee , though he be in bands at the pleasure of men , yet is he free in thee : and he that is thy free-man , hee cannot bee restrained according to the will of man , further then thou shalt permit . Therefore most gracious Lord God , rich in mercie and goodnesse , while thy will and pleasure is , to permit mee , in this place of restraint to remaine ; graunt that I may , euen here enioy the libertie of a godly minde ▪ faith in thee , obedience to thee , and patience in thee ; with necessary meanes from thee , for my reliefe and sustinance , for thou seest my miserie , and what comfort this comfortlesse place affordeth , where I can neither sleepe , nor wake but vnder locke : But Lord , as Paul and Ioseph through thy onely loue towards them , and thy prouidence ouer them , found grace and fauour with their keepers ; so worke in the hearts of them , vnder whose custodie I am , that they vse no stricte seueritie towards me ; that I may call vpon thee more freely and feruently . O Lord , I am poore , and my Creditors haue no pitie ; there is no compassion in man , but with thee is mercie and timely Redemption : thou hast thine owne time to correct , and thine owne time and meanes to comfort ; a time to cast downe and a time to rayse vp : though thou seeme to forget thy poore prisoners , in permitting them to suffer long , and to endure much ; yet hast thou a fatherly care of them , and in thy good time doest euermore deliuer them . I beseech thee , in the loue thou bearest to Christ thy Sonne , my Mediator ; that when thou seest the measure of mine imprisonment is sufficient to satisfie the seueritie of my Creditors , worke their hearts to that compassion towards me , ( though I bee vnable to pay them all ) as that they may remit my restraint , and admit me to my former libertie ; that I may the better follow the meanes ▪ by mine owne lawfull industrie and thy blessings , whereby I may attaine vnto such a portion , as I may be able ( as I am willing ) to pay them all : and to owe nothing to any man ( before I goe hence , and bee no more seene ) but loue . If it bee thy good pleasure Lord , to take me out of this life , before I can make ful satisfaction to my Creditors , impute it not vnto me as a sinne , but accept my will to doe it , as the true performance of it ; that in peace with thee and ( as much as in mee lyeth ) with all men , I may surrender my soule into thy hands , which ( though my body be ) my soule is not so imprisoned , as to be restrained from comming vnto thee , nor preuented of it ascention to the place of libertie and glorie , where Christ my Sauiour is ascended ; notwithstanding the crueltie of them , that now couet to retaine my flesh , whereof ( it may be if they could ) they would wish to make some profit for their satisfaction , which I must then leaue vnto their wils to be disposed . Most humblie comending my selfe , my soule and my body , into thy diuine and heauenly custody , vntill the time , In the name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne : to whome with thee and the holy Ghost , be for euer ( as hath beene from the beginning ) eternall glorie , Amen . O Lord increase my faith , endue me with perfect Patience , and in thy mercie , timely deliuerie . A Caueat for cruell Creditors , that keepe poore men in prison , whom they know vnable to pay that , for which they keepe them in prison . THE practise of Christian charity , hath euermore beene to doe to other men , as a man desireth others to doe vnto himselfe ; and is grounded vpon the words and strict commaund of Christ himselfe : who willeth all men , that whatsoeuer they would that men should doe vnto them , they should doe vnto others . And againe by way of caueat , he saith : Take heede what ye doe , and how ye deale with other men , for what measure ye met to them , the same shall be measured to you againe ; this is the truth : yet , are ye so hard hearted , as for a little money or other matter , to keepe a poore man in prison , depriue him of his liberty , preuent him of the exercise of his calling , disable him to prouide for his owne , and the reilefe of his poore wife and children , and yet account your selues Christians ? If ye be Christians in deede , and not in name onely , you cannot but commiserate the necessity of your brethren , and approue your selues Christians , by louing them , by helping them , by relieuing their necessities , and that freely , for Christes sake , whose they are , as he hath commanded . Be not such louers of your selues , as onely to respect your owne priuate profit , and to encrease it by oppressing your poore brother ( for , so he is howsoeuer base , and howsoeuer your selues are glorious . ) And in steed of comforting , ayding and relieuing him , to imprison him , the more to impouerish him ; doth not this show you are none of the houshold of faith ? who loue one another , helpe one another , relieue one another , as fellow members of one body , whereof Christ is the head ? There is a prouerbe in deed , Charitie begins at home : And so it seemes ; and where it begins , there it ends ; where it is bred , there it lyes ; at least it neuer goes abroad to the comfort of the comfortlesse , to helpe the poore , to relieue the Widow and the Orphan . This , keeping charity in a mans priuate bosome is the cause , that man is become a deuill to man ; Wolfes , deuouring one another , by vsurie , by extortions , by fraud , by deceitfull contracts , and vncharitable bargaines : in wrapping poore innocent men ( that stand in neede of the helpe of your aboundance ) in bands , morgages , and such griping and cruell conditions , as poore men are not able to performe ; and vpon breach of payment , or not performing some vnreasonable conditions , you vnconscionably exact the penalties , take the forfaitures , and all aduantages , that the seuerity of the Law will allow you , thereby vndoing husband , wife , children , and many times the friends of a distressed man ; and many times not satisfied with all that the poore man and his friends are able to make , you keepe the poore body of the party in prison , for the vttermost farthing ; and content your selues oftentimes , to passe by the Grate where you heare the poore crie for bread , bread ! O wofull and most impious vncharitablenesse , fearefully condemned by the sentence of God himselfe . Nay , who hath not heard with his eares ( hatefull to be heard ) some cruell man say , hee would make dice of his debters bones ? he were as good to say , hee would eate his flesh like a Caniball : And what lesse doe they , that enforce a poore debter to perish in prison , there to leaue his bones , and flesh too , for the satisfaction of the Creditor , to make vse of both his bones for dice , and his flesh for Mummy , fit Relicks for cruell creditots , sweet odours for their consciences , and wholsome Phisick for their hearts ? Alas , what will a poore mans carkasse profit you ? what vse can you put it vnto being dead in prison ? if you retaine him till he pay that he cannot pay , dye there he must . But your policie is there , to keepe him in miserie , to draw compassion towards him of some of his friends , to engage themselues for your satisfaction ; It sauours indeede of policie not of piety . Is not one mans vtter vndoing enough , but the ouerthrow of two or three more , and their families for company , as often times it happeneth by your extreame crueltie ? O miserable Creditors ! can you truly pray to God ( that is mercifull ) forgiue my debts , as I forgiue my debtors : your selues so vnmercifull , as not onely not to forgiue them , but to persecute them to death or desperation . God hath trusted you for all that ye enioy , onely as his Stewards to dispose as hee hath appointed , not as you take liberty ; going so farre beyond the bounds of your warrant , as to turne the blessings of God into vsurie ; and to the circumuenting of Gods poore distressed children that want your helpe : you haue receiued much , and much will be required of you ; not of your siluer & gold , not of your lands and possessions ; God hath no need of that , that he can giue and take at his owne pleasure : That vsury that he requires at your hands , is faith ; if faith be in you , you will loue him ; if you loue him , you will loue his image , your brethren ; if you loue them , you will expresse it by the tokens of loue ; namely , to doe them good , to giue to the needie , to feede the hungry , to cloathe the naked , to visite the prisoners ; but if in steede of giuing , to take from them , in steede of feeding to starue them , in steede of cloathing , ye strip them ; and in steede of visiting prisoners , ye make prisoners ; how appeareth the loue of God in you ? for , if you loue not your brethren whom ye daily see , how can you loue GOD whom ye haue not seene ? How fulfill you the Law of this loue of God , when ye doe little or no good to the poore , and least vnto your selues ? you thinke goodnesse consisteth in goods ; you are commanded to doe good vnto all , and especially to them of the houshold of faith ; And because you thinke none faithfull , but such as giue for giuing , lend for lending , and requite one good turne for another ; the truly faithfull in deed , are sildome accounted of the number , of them that are in the houshold of the faith of them which keepe touch with you ; which in deede may be a marke of a morall honest man , but it is in deede the true note of a truly faithfull man , who hath euer a godly care and holy desire , to performe promise in euery honest action , to the vttermost of his power : but this kinde of faithfull men , are commonly of the poorest ranke , not of the ranke of the men , commonly reputed good men ; for hee is a good man that is full of goods , though of little goodnesse ; But his goods are in deede vnto him as a strong Citie , Pro. 10. 15. and yet make him more wicked , ver . 16. Deceiue not your selues , you that haue the strong supposed Castles of wealth for your seeming defence , but remember that he that made you rich , can make you poore ; and hee that made the poore , can make them rich : Put the poorest in your roabes , and put their poore ragges vpon your selues , and then , who will call you Master ? who then will stoope and bow vnto you as now they doe , as if they were your vassals ? Remember , there was a glutton and a Lazarus ; A rich Miser , and a miserable Begger ; which of them had the best portion ? the Glutton in show , but the base Begger in deede : the storie is no fable , and is so authentick , as needes no witnesses to proue the truth of the ones perdition , and the others saluation : And such gaines as the Glutton gat , many rich men diligently seeke , and yet forget what they shall finde : It is not reported that the Glutton was a vsurer , an extortioner , a defrauder of men by bargaining ; But that he was rich , and despised the poore , and therefore was he cast into hell : It is not said hee kept poore men in prison , nor that any man perisht by his meanes , but onely Lazarus whom he would not relieue . Is not this a most fearefull example for you that haue aboundance , both of foode at full , euery day rayment and riches , and yet see the poore pine in the streetes , and poore men in prison , lamentably crying for bread and meate , and yet haue no compassion on them ? You therefore that haue bin long guiltie of crueltie , in oppressing poore men , it is neuer too late for you to returne to him that is so louing , and so readie to receiue a sinner that repenteth : It is neuer too late to become a Zacheus of a Publican , to be good Christian ; he climed vp vpon a wilde Figge-tree to see Christ , and he willed him to come downe ; Christ would dine in his house with him , as happie guest ; whom Zacheus receiuing gladly , was content , for a testimonie of his true repentance , of the ill getting of his goods , to giue halfe of it to the poore ; and if he had taken from any man by forged cauilation , ( which importeth all the hard and vngodly meanes hee had vsed to oppresse any man ) to restore it foure folde . O worthy example , and now doth the same Christ call vpon you , who are at the height of a more vnfruitfull Figge tree , which yet seemeth to you to yeeld you much and most sweet fruit ; sweet in the taste , but you shall find it bitter in the belly ; it is a wilde fruit , & hard of digesture ; come downe , come down quickly from the height of your vngodly gaines , receiue Christ , he will dine with you , not as with Zacheans vsurers , oppressours of the poore , but as you shall become Zacheans , to giue not halfe , but part of your goods to the needie members of Christ ; and what you haue sinisterly gotten by cautulous bargaines , and by imprisoning men , and causing them either to perish in their bodies or in their estates , for the obtaining of that they cannot pay you ; remit it either in whole , or in such a part as may stand with their abilities , to pay and to maintaine ( though but in a meane measure ) themselues , their poore wiues and children by the remainder ; though it doe come short of Zacheus his repentance and good deedes , yet it will be such a beginning , as being accepted of God , he will say vnto you as he said vnto him , euen that day that you shall thus begin , with a true heart and liuely faith to repent you ; this day is saluation come in your houses . O sweet salutation , that brings saluation ; and harsh and hellish are the gaines that bring damnation . Consider in time , put it not off till the day of your death ; no not to the making of your last Wills : doe good with your goods whiles they are yours , when you are dead they are none of yours : That which you intend your Executors should doe when you are dead , doe it your selues while you are liuing : for that when you are dead , the goods that you now possesse , shall be at the deuotion of others , though you intend them to neuer so godly and charitable vses ; It is s●●ne by daily experience , the intentions o● best men and women are abused : And what can your intended workes , to be done in your names after your deathes , profit you ? onely that such a rich man when he died , when hee could keepe his goods no longer , gaue these and these Legacies to be performed ; and their names be registred as chiefe benefactors to such and such good vses : Alas , what auaileth this carnall ostentation , if your names bee not written in the booke of life ? First , and before all things then , reconcile your selues vnto God , by a free confession of the wrongs and iniuries you haue done vnto men ; though peraduenture you may cloake your crueltie by the Lawes of the Kingdome , that admit forfaitures & all aduantages , more in terrour , then for the admittance of such extremities , as are daily done vnder colour of humane lawfull tolleration . The diuine law of God admits no such libertie , but commands all men , especially the rich , to doe good vnto all , especially to such as are of the houshold of faith , whom , as it is not in your wisedomes to distinguish , hauing amongst vs neither Iewes , nor knowne Pagans or Athiests ; doe good to all men : then shall you not misse some of that heauenly familie , so will God reward you . As for such as are wicked debtors , able to pay and stand out , leaue them to the power of the iustice of the Law ; only helpe the poore , and doe your best to relieue the needie ; so shall you lend vnto the Lord , who will become a debtor vnto you ( if it may be so said ) in the behalfe of the poore you shall relieue , and will recompence you here in this life with competencie ; and hereafter with eternall glorie . Encouragement for such as are molested and afflicted with enemies flatterers , and their slaunders . MAny troubles and afflictions are incident to the children of God ; and amongst the rest , the feare of , and the vexations of enemies is not the least , yet necessarie ; for he that hath no enemie seemeth secure ; securitie breedes a carelesnesse of godly duties : They that haue no changes , namely they that fall into no troubles , feare not God , saith Dauid ; therefore are enemies necessarie : for , they will not onely vexe them whome they hate , with all manner of euill practises to worke their hurt , but will bee diligent obseruers of their liues and conuersations ; that they may bring them into shame and rebuke among the people : And therefore Dauid prayed vnto God , To guide him in his wayes , because of his enemies , Least they taking aduantage of his errors , should publish his disgrace . By the watchfulnesse of thine enemies , thou maist learne to beware how thou walkest ; whereas if thou hadst none , thou mightest runne into many forbidden actions , and yet thinke thy selfe vpright . It is better to haue many open enemies , then one flattering and dissembling friend : of thy knowne enemie thou maist beware , but by a false friend thou maist be betrayed ; and yet hardly is a true friend knowne from a flattering enemie : they both speake faire and alike , which thou maist heare , and beleeue both alike ; they may both offer to doe thee equall offices , which thou maist with like acceptance imbrace ; but their mindes , meaning and intentions , are hidden ; and the best way to trye and distinguish them , is , to make them seuerally acquainted with some slight matter , wherein thou maist seeme to haue offended ; intreating their opinions seuerally , whether the offence be not such , as thou maist feare some danger : thy friend indeed will tell thee that it is indeed dangerous , but the flatterer will tell thee , t●sh , it is nothing : of him beware , that will sooth thee vp in thine euill , for he will discouer thy secrets . The greatest and most secretst mischiefe that can befall a man , is , when he knoweth not his enemie from his friend ; and therefore is an open enemie to be preferd before a false friend : by the words of an enemie , vttered of thee , or to thee , thou maist knowe what hee meanes towards thee ; but by the flattery of a fawning friend , thou canst not but be deceiued , and fall into the hands of an enemie , supposed to bee thy friend : Faire speech and flattery deceiue the hearts of the simple : And when a flatterer hath his opportunitie , hee will bring slaunder vpon him he flattered . But be thou vertuous , and thou shalt either discouer the flatterer , stoppe the mouths of slaunderers , or turne their eares from them that heare them . Remember how slightly Dauid past ouer the railing of Shemei ; he tooke it as sent from God , from whome seeke thou counsell , and hee will either discouer the hidden intentions of the flatterer , or withstand the most violent practises of thy open enemie ; nay , if thou relye faithfully vpon him , and pray for his defence feruently , hee will make thy very enemies thy friends ; yea , bee they neuer so malicious , neuer so violent , neuer so close in their counsels , neuer so politicke in their deuices , thou shalt auoid them . But , beware thou giue no cause of offence to any man , as Christ commandeth ; for woe is pronounced against them by whome offences come : and take not offence vpon euery light occasion , for so shalt thou neuer be free from being taken as an enemy to others ; or procure others to bee enemies to thee : and if thou feele thy selfe culpable of causing offence , thou shalt be worthily branded with the marke of a contentious person , whose company , neither wil the godly admit , nor the wicked , desire : so shalt thou seeme vnworthy the societie of either . If therefore thou haue erred in thy tougue , by backe-biting others ; or gone so astray in the course of thy life , as for which thou canst iustly accuse thy selfe , or bee iustly accused ; make speedie reformation , and delay not to bee reconciled to them that are offended thereat : for thereby thou maist redeeme the good opinion of the good and peaceable , which thou hast lost ; and stoppe the mouthes of the wicked , and their slaunders , whome thou hast iustly occasioned to speake euill of thee . And if thou haue taken offence at any mans words or deeds ( vnlesse it be in the cause of God , or the King ) thou bewraist thy weakenesse ; for , if thou bee a true and faithfull member of Christ , thou wilt beare with reproaches , disgraces , yea losses by his example , rather then to be moued to reuenge ; for vengeance is the Lords , and blessed art thou , if for well doing , or vndeseruedly thou sufferest these things : if for euill , it is a iust recompence for thy sinne . If therefore thou be reuiled , reuile not againe , according to the example of Christ : if thou be railed on , say with Dauid ( rayled on and cursed by Shemei ) it may be the Lord hath bidden him : and thinke not that any man can speake euill of thee , or doe hurt vnto thee , but God hath a hand in it , either to punish thee in Iustice , or to reforme thee in mercie : for , thou art but a man , whose nature is , to passe by and to wincke at thine owne ; and too strictly to marke another mans erronious words and workes . And , because thou art so dull sighted , as either thou wilt not or canst not see thine owne faultes , God openeth the eyes and the mouthes of other men , to obserue and preach publickly the faultes thou thinkest thou hast committed in secret . From hence springs quarels and contentions , and from thence , mutuall enmitie , malice and reuenge ; make vse therefore of these backe-biting reports , heare them with silence , and bewray not a double faulte in thy selfe ; as first to commit vnseemely things , and then to take them as thine enemies , whome God vseth as his meanes to reclaime thee from thine errors : thou oughtest rather to loue them , and to doe them what good thou canst , though they seeme to hate thee : If they curse thee , blesse them , if they slaunder thee , pray for them . Thou canst not doe thine enemie a greater hurt , nor thy selfe more good , then to doe him good , for the hurt he intendeth to thee ; for , So shalt thou heape coales of fire on his head : And therefore hast thou not onely no cause to grudge that God sendeth thee enemies to watch ouer thee , to keepe thee humble and in obedience , and vpon whome ( through thy patience ) thou maist worke much good ; in louing them , and seeking to be reconciled to them : if they then showe themselues so furious , and desperatly bent against thee , as they will not be reclaimed , thou art not barred of thy remedie by the Lawes , and the Magistrate beareth the sword to punish them , and to defend thee : and if thou finde no preuailing meanes thereby , to bee freed from their danger , bewray thy case vnto God in faithfull prayer , who is a iust God to defend thee in thy iust cause , and a powerfull God , whome thy mightiest enemies are not able to resist . Though thine enemies anger and furie be neuer so great , and threaten thee with sundrie things which they will doe against thee , and euen gnash their teeth vpon thee , as if they would eate thee vp ; bee not affraid : bee onely faithfull and patient , and thou shalt either see thine enemies become thy friends , their hatred come to an end , or them selues to vanish and consume away ; onely liue thou godly , pray faithfully , and vse all ordinarie meanes lawfully : then bee assured , if thine enemies were more then they are , more powerfull and more furious then they be , they shall stumble and fall . God in his prouidence , can finde secret and vnexpected meanes to deliuer thee from most deadly enemies , if thou call faithfully vpon him ; and therefore cast thy danger vpon the Lord , and hee will defende thee . It is not in thine owne power or policie , that can saue thee , vnlesse with it and aboue it , thou craue , and haue the power and wisedome of God and his blessing , to second any other meanes thou canst vse ; for , what is a sword , a speare , or armour of esteemed proofe , or the strength of a horse , to saue thee ? they are all vaine and of no force of themselues , as appeared by that monster Goliah armed completely with a Helmet , Brigandine , and Bootes of brasse ; a speare like a Weauers beame , and a sword ; did these things saue him ? trust in none of these outward meanes , trust in the Lord , he is a strong rocke , a fortresse and defence , in whome , and in or by no other meanes , canst thou bee safe . It is hee that breaketh the hornes , namely weakeneth the power of the wicked , and strengthneth the godly : he will guide thee by his counsell , hee will protect thee by his power , and prouide for thee in his prouidence ; and in the end , receiue thee to glorie , out of the reach of all thine enemies . Brooke thou therefore with godly patience , all reproaches , disgraces and slaunders ; it is but a little while , and a light burthen to beare ; and in the end thou shalt receiue for the ignominie and slaunders thou vniustly indurest here , glorie for euermore . And therefore commit the safetie of thy body , and preseruation of thy soule vnto the Lord in well doing , in continuall faithfull prayer ; and he will heare thee and deliuer thee . A Prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies , and is subiect to slaunderous tongues , flatterers , and false friends . O Lord my God in Iesus Christ , louing & mercifull , I beseech thee see and consider the malice and secret practises of such as are become mine enemies , whereof I neither knowe the true cause , nor haue wittingly deserued their hatred or malice thus against me . They priuily backe-bite me , and slaunder me behind my backe ; they vpbraide me , and speake euill of me vnto my face , vniustly : giue mee patience O Lord , to beare it , and wisedome so to carry my selfe in my conuersation and vocation , as they may haue no iust cause thus to afflicte me . I knowe and doe acknowledge , that the sins which I haue committed against thy Maiestie , deserue corrections ; but Lord , though I haue offended thee ; to these mine enemies I haue done , nor neuer intended any hurt : yet thou seest and knowest what they haue done and what they intende against me . Preuent them of their purposes , frustrate their deuices and turne their policies and practises they intend against me , either to nothing , or against them selues . If they wilfully and maliciously perseuere ; let them fall into the danger they wish to me . Thou knowest their former flatteries and dissimulations , and how they falsely pretended friendship , onely ( as it now appeareth ) to supplant me and to confonud me , if thou permit them . Lord who can auoide the oylie words of a false heart , but shall be seduced by them , vnlesse thou that knowest the inward thoughts discouer their deceite ? Lord make me to know the secret intentions of all those that flatter me to doe me hurt ; and giue me wisdome to auoide the furie and force of mine open enemies ; and graunt mee grace to walke euer in thy truth ; knit my heart vnto thee , that I fearing thy name , and depending faithfully vpon thee , I may make mine enemies ashamed of their slaunders and malicious practises against me . Rescue me O Lord , and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse , in line thine eare vnto me , and saue me from them that hate me . Be thou my strong rocke , whereunto I may alwayes resort when mine enemies assaile me , In slaunderous words or wicked deedes , publickely , or priuatly . Deliuer mee O God , out of all their dangers , out of the hands of all vngodly and cruell men ; for , in thee is my trust , in thee is my strength , and of and by thee are the meanes to preuent the mischiefes they pretend and practise against me . O stay my feete that they slippe not , least they reioyce at my fall , and Set a watch before the dore of my lippes , that I offend not with my tongue . Though they speake euill of me , though they lay wayte for mee , and though they take counsell together against mee , yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills . Though I heare their slanderous tonges , though I know they detract mee , and speake all manner euill against me : giue me patience , not to be moued , to recompence euill for euill . Preuent me of their laying wayte for me , and frustrate all their combinations and practises against me . And keepe me euer in thine obedience , for I am of my selfe weake , and may giue offence ; or at least , offence may bee raken , where no cause is giuen . If they haue any iust cause against me , wherein I cannot iustifie mine innocencie , being by nature fraile , and may erre ; yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills , but according to mine vnfained hearts desire , to be reconciled vnto them : work their hearts to embrace peace with me , and loue towards me , as thou knowest I vnfainedly desire to show towards them . If their hearts be so hardened , as no submission nor my sincere affection towards them , can obtaine reconciliation with them , but that they will still continue to insult , and as it were to triumph ouer me ; I shall euer ( as I doe ) appeale vnto thee for iustice , to deale with them as thou wilt , whose iudgement betweene them and me , I acknowledge most iust . And therefore Lord , though they by their greatnes , wealth & wit , in some thinges preuaile against mee , and insolently make their boasts , that they haue surprised me , and gotten their wills of me ; so farre as they may say in their hearts , that thou hast forsaken mee ; giue me euer a strong and constant faith in thee , that I faint not , nor be afraide ; for , when they thinke most to triumph ouer me , thou art able to frustrate their hope , and to enforce them to sue to me for peace , whereunto my heart is truly enclined . But Lord , thou seest that the more I seeke for peace , the more they seeke to vexe mee , and to oppresse mee with actions at law ; diuersly troubling me , and that vniustly , that heartily desire to liue in peace . Their hearts are in thine hands O Lord , and if thou thinke it fit to keepe mee yet vnder their tyrannie , more to humble me , I am in thy hands , doe with me what thou wilt , for I know that what thou doest , or permittest to be done vnto me , is in loue , and I know thou seest my troubles ; and when thou in thy wisdome shalt thinke mine afflictions sufficient , thou wilt be pleased to restore me to comfort and peace . In the meane time , while mine enemies are in my sight , and I in theirs ; guide me in my wayes , protect and keepe mee vnder the safe shadow of thy wings , then shall I not feare what man can doe vnto me . Lord euermore encrease my faith . Counsell and comfort for him that is persecuted , for his constant profession of the Gospell of Christ. KNow this , thou that art afflicted and persecuted , for the profession of the Gospell of Christ , and for thy faith in him ; that hee doth not suffer thee to be punished , as if hee were angry with thee , as hee sometimes sheweth himselfe in some other afflictions , which hee inflicteth vpon men for their sinnes , whereof no man is free ; but herein hee sheweth thee an extraordinarie fauour ; First , in illuminating thee by his holy spirit , whereby thou knowest him and his truth , which thou canst not comprehend by thy naturall wisedome , were it neuer so profound and deepe , in carnall vnderstanding : And secondly , in making ●hee a constant witnes of that truth which it hath pleased him to reueale vnto thee ; and in that he giueth thee strength and godly courage , to stand constantly and resolutely in the open and publick acknowledgement of thy faith in him , and patiently to suffer persecution for his sake ; which grace and mercie is giuen thee of God ; first , to know , then to beleeue , and consequently to suffer for his name ; which patient sufferings are the fruites of his loue towardes thee . Christ himselfe approueth thee blessed , if thou suffer for righteousnesse sake : If thou be but rayled vpon , for the name of Christ , thou art blessed . If thou hadst no further testimonies of his loue , then these short assurances and comforts , it were sufficient : But he further addeth , If thou thus suffer , the Kingdom of heauen is thine by promise : and , if thou be truly faithfull , thou canst not but feele the truth of this promise ; and therefore doubt not , but hold fast by the promises of Christ ; be constant , be not dismayed at whatsoeuer threats of thine aduersaries , not thine , but the enemies of Christ Iesus himselfe , as Paul sometimes was when hee persecuted those that professed the name of Christ. They were but men he persecuted , Christian men ; and in them hee persecuted Christ. Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? If then thou be persecuted for Christ , remember that Christ is persecuted in thee . What an honour then is this vnto thee , to be persecuted for thy Maister , who is Lord of heauen and earth ? Doest thou thinke , that if thou suffer for him , he will not freely reward thee for thy fidelitie ? Will an ordinarie Maister of a silly seruant , suffer him to be beaten , wounded , and abused , for him and in his cause , and will he not reward him ? If his Master assigne him a seruice , wherein hee trusteth his fidelitie and constancie , and hee like a coward denie his Maister , reuolt , and take part with his Masters enemies : will hee not thinke him a perfidious seruant , and punish him ? How much more will Christ reward thee , if thou stand stoutly , and in a Christian constancie in the defence of his cause ? ( though hee can without thee defend and maintaine his owne ) but that hee will make thee a witnesse of the truth , which all that shall be saued doe stedfastly beleeue : But , if for feare , of , or for the enduring of a little temporall punishment , thou shouldest reuolt , forsake him , and denie him before his enemies , hauing such a royall and rich reward set before thee , as the Kingdome of heauen and eternall glorie , if thou perseuere vnto the end : and contrarilie , perpetuall shame and ignominie , if thou denie him . He that for feare of trouble , persecution , or death it selfe , for Christ , will denie Christ , he is not worthie of his merites ; by which , and by no other meanes , thou and all beleeuers are to be saued . Denie him not therefore before men , that must acknowledge thee before his Father in heauen : If thou faint and forsake him here , it is a denying of him , and he will denie thee to be one of them hee hath redeemed , when he shall giue vp vnto God his Father , those that he hath chosen out of the great masse of mankinde , by his all-sufficient sufferings , to bring them to glorie ; which is the free reward , assured to be giuen to as many as constantly professe his name , and for his sake patiently endure here , persecution and troubles . The sufferings that thou here endurest , are short and momentanie ; they endure but a small time , they are quickly past ouer ; were it that thou shouldest be burned , or to vndergoe anie other torment for thy faith in Christ : If imprisoned , suffering hunger , colde , nakednesse , and stripes , what were thy suffering , to the eternitie of blessednesse ? If thou be depriued of thy goods , and of the dearest things thou enioyest in this world , consider what things they are ; are they not such things as come and goe inconstantly ? If thou haue lands and possessions , thou art but Steward of them ; If thou haue wealth , thou art but the disposer of it ; and if an ordinarie death befall thee , as it is decreed it must : Thou must forgoe it all , and giue account for all . If thou voluntarily leaue them for Christes sake , thou shalt finde a farre greater treasure in heauen . If thou haue some beneficiall Office , or place of dignitie in the world , and for the profession of Christ thou bee thrust from it , and lose thine honour and reputation among men ; what losest thou , seeing thou art sure of a more high and excellent place , and of farre greater honour in heauen ? If thy Parents & thy friends ( contrarily minded ) disdaine thee , discountenance thee , and cast thee cleane out of their fauour and societie , and seeme to be ashamed of thee ; vndergoe it with godly patience : for Christ ( for whose sake thou endurest these things ) will not be ashamed of thee , but will acknowledge thee to be his adopted brother , and coheire with him of the Kingdome of his Father . Thinke it therfore an honour and no shame vnto thee , to be brought forth in the open view , and vpon the publick stage of the world , to be a witnesse of the truth of Christ , and to suffer for the same : Thou shalt be esteemed in the sight of good and godly men , aboue those that onely preach it , and barely professe it , when there is no feare of troubles for it , and in the time of persecution , will not auowe vnto the world by their suffering , what they haue taught , and outwardly professed in the world ; for it is one thing to professe and publish the truth of Christ with the mouth , in time of peace , and another thing to auouch it boldly , seeing trouble and euen death it selfe before their faces , for the constant perseuerance in the same . It is commonly reputed an ignominious thing to be imprisoned , and a more reproachfull thing , to be put to death , after the manner of wicked men ; But let not this at all daunt thee , for Christ at his death ( whose cause thou maintainest ) contented himselfe to be hanged as a Thiefe and a Murtherer ; for such were the companions of his death : yet was the Crosse whereon he suffered , a more triumphant Chariot of honour , then the most pompous triumph of the greatest Monarch of the world , for his greatest victories : And be thou assured , that if thy lot , in the wisedome and loue of God be such towards thee , as to number thee among his faithfull witnesses , constantly suffering death for his sake , thou shalt be crowned among the victorious Martyrs . Remember the most honourable title , that St. Paul giueth vnto that constant seruant of Christ , Stephen : stiling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ : And of Antipas whom St. Iohn calleth a faithfull Martyr of Christ ; Then which , there cannot be a more glorious remembrance of the dead . Thinke not therefore that thou art the first that hath suffered for Christ ; but , if thou look into the eleuenth of the Hebrewes , thou shalt see such a cloude of like witnesses , that haue professed and suffered as thou doest , as will encourage thee to stand fast vnto the end . And if thou consider the times , not farre past , thou mayst vnderstand of an infinite number of thine owne Country men and women , euen the weakest sexe , who haue gone the same way before thee , with vnuanquishable patience , euen to death ; and therefore with like patience runne the same race , looking vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith : who , for the ioy that was set before him , endured the bitter death of the Crosse , and despised the shame , and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God , where thou shalt behold him and his glory , and be pertaker of it , after thou hast endured a little speaking against of sinners , persecution and death it selfe ; which is the most glorious liuerie of Gods dearest children , whereby they are fashioned to the image of their Redeemer ; and which shall giue an end to all thy sorrowes , and shame , and bring thee to endlesse ioy and glory : which , not onely the Apostles of Christ , but euen late Martyrs vnderstoode , rei●y●ing that they were accounted w●rthy of the honour , to suffer for their Masters sake . What canst thou then less conceiue , but that it is the meere loue of God in Christ towards thee , to make choyse of thee among and aboue many others , to afford thee this honour ; to be a maintainer of the glory and authority of the truth of Christ , against the falshood and false authority assumed by Antichrist ? Therefore , let it not trouble thee , neither be thou the more fearefull , to stand fast in thy profession , because thou seest a million of Newters , on euery side of thee , who for the loue of their riches , pleasures , and carnall commodities ; the nicenesse of their owne dainty flesh , their affection to father , mother , wife , children , and esteemed friends , to be content to runne with the time : and in steede of renouncing the things of this world for Christ , rather to renounce Christ for the world . In what a miserable case are these poore people ( poore , be they neuer so rich : ) that hold it a thing indifferent , to follow God or Baal , Christ or Antichrist ? forgetting that Christ dyed for them ; and that they shold acknowledge him , whose bloud , not Antichristian Bulls and Pardons , must clense them from , or to dye in their sinnes . The reason of this their luke-warmenesse , is , for that the spirit of God , by whom the faithfull haue power and strength to maintaine the truth to death , dwelleth not in them , who worketh mightily in the children of Saluation ; so that persecution for the same , daunteth them not : scourgings , whippings , scossings , mockings , stonings , burning , or whatsoeuer death , cannot remoue their constancie in the profession of what they beleeue . To conclude therefore with thee , who art now vnder the crosse of persecution , not knowing what end the Lord wil make with thee : submit thy selfe to his will , vndergoe with godly patience , whatsoeuer the aduersaries of the Gospel of Christ shall lay vpon thy body , thy soule they cannot touch ; and commend both thy body and thy soule , into the hands and good pleasure of GOD thy heauenly Father in Christ , in whom thou art blessed , for whom thou sufferest , and for whose sake , thou shalt receiue a glorious reward . In hope of which reward , all the former Martyrs that haue beene content to spend their liues for Christ , were willing to lay downe their liues , desiring to be dissolued , and to see the face of him , for whom they suffered . Feare not therefore ( if occasion so require ) to yeeld thy body to the mercilesse enemies of Christ : they may kill the body , the soule they cannot touch : But , if thou shouldest forsake him , he will forsake thee , and hee it is that can kill thy body and thy soule too , and cast both into hell . If a man take away thy life for Christ , they doe thee a fauour against their willes ; they depriue thee of a mortall , that thou maist immediatly receiue an immortall and a most glorious life from their tyrannie : thou shalt be transported to the louing imbracements of thy Sauiour Christ , and enioy the most amiable sight of him , and the societie of the whole company of heauenly Ang●ls , and of thy fellow Martyrs gone before thee ; and be pertaker with him and them , of that glorie , that so farre passeth all humane apprehention here , as cannot be conceiued or vttered . O loose not this most blessed recompence , for a little suffering : but stand fast , and Christ , that before thee and for thee , suffered infinite greater torments then thou canst suffer , or that man can inflict vpon thee , shall sende that comforter the holy Ghost , to strengthen thee in thy greatest agonies , and spirituall distractions ; he will stand by thee , and will show thee his louing , and amiable countenance , as he did at the death of his faithfull Martyr St. Stephen . Wherefore faint not ; flie not , vnlesse thou ( without breach of thy faith ) maist auoide the daunger by the prouidence of God , by flying from one place or Citie vnto another , alwayes commending thy spirit vnto him that gaue it : so where soeuer thou bee persecuted , hee will receiue it and glorifie it ; and both thy soule and thy bodie shall be made eternally glorious , when all men shall bee iudged according to their faith in Christ. This exhortation , I doe confesse may be thought superfluous , in this blessed time of peace , and freedome of the Gospell ; for that ( Gods name be glorified ) there is neither seene , felt , or heard , of any persecution among vs for the profession of the Gospell of Christ ; and let all men pray for the continuance of it , and for the long life and preseruation of him , ( a succeeding religious Dauid ) vnder whome by the mercy of God , we at this day doe so freely enioy it . They are the greatest blessings that God , in earth , can bestowe vpon vs ; the free vse of his word , and a King so religiously inclined : as , it alreadie appeareth , all his studie and endeauour is , to further and to maintarne the true profession and preaching of the heauenly word , which his most worthie and religious father left inuiolate . Yet it may offende none , that this exhortation ( which may seeme out of date ) is inserted among other troubles requiring patience ; for , though our generall libertie be such , that euery man at his libertie may freely professe the word , and vse the meanes for the increase of his knowledge , faith and zeale ; yet may there bee among so great a people , of diuers opinions and practises of Religion : some priuately oppressed , scoffed at , and mocked , and it may be violently constrained to renounce the truth , which in it selfe is a persecution ; who meclitating on this exhortation , may peraduenture bee comforted , nothing fearing ( but by the helpe and prouidence of God ) any alteration , or change of that most holesome and heauenly doctrine which is here amongst vs , freely taught and plentifully preached ; but shall be maintained and defended ; which God graunt it may be , as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth . A Prayer for a man persecuted for his faith and profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. OEternall , mercifull , powerfull and euer-louing Lord God , in Iesus Christ ; the onely keeper , Protector and maintainer , of thy children that suffer here in the world for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ : looke downe I humbly beseech thee , and behold what man doth vnto me for thy name sake : for , thou hast assured those that sincerely professe that truth which thou hast taught in thy word , in their sharpest and seuerest persecutions , to bee either preserued and defended from their tyranny , or to be so strengthened by thy grace , that they shall be able to beare what soeuer they shall be inforced to suffer . In hope and assurance of this thy mercie , I reioyce that thou accountest me worthie to bee one , though the simplest of the witnesses of the truth of thy word , though I acknowledge my selfe to be weake , and by mine owne strength , vnable to beare what is laid vpon mee for thy sake . But as thou hast promised Lord , so let me feele the effectuall working of thy holy Spirit , in giuing me wisedome , to answere the aduersary ; patience and power , constantly to vndergoe , whatsoeuer thou shalt admit to bee laid vpon me ; for , thou hast promised that no more shall bee imposed vpon me , but by the strength of the same Spirit , I shall be able to beare it euen vnto death , for thy Christs sake . If therefore deare father , thou haue so determined , that death shall be the end of my tryalls here ; giue me a willing minde to imbrace it , and leaue mee not vnto mine owne power ; for the flesh is weake , but thy Spirit shall ouercome the weakenesse of my carnall parts : then shall my spirit and inward faith , with patience , passe ouer whatsoeuer torments of my outward body . Thy presence shall be so sweet , as shall swallow vp the sense of my bodies sufferings ; or so mitigate the same , as I shall indure it , with patience , in hope and assurance of that future glorie , promised in Christ , prepared with thee in heauen . My flesh is dust , whereof all the limbes and lineaments of my body are made ; and as they are dust , so I know in thine appointed time , they shall againe returne to dust , and that by the course of Nature : but if thou haue decreed it vntimely to perish by suffering for the profession of thy name ; it shall bee but for a season , and then be restored , and my soule ( redeemed by his blood , for whose sake through thy grace I shall bee ready to lay downe my life ) shall not perish , but passe euen from the fire to felicitie , from the Crosse to a Crowne , from sorrow to ioye , from the hands of malicious mortall men , to the custodie of louing and eternall Angels . O fortifie and strengthen me , in the assurance of his merites , for whose sake I suffer here ; which I confesse , is nothing worthie of the glorie prepared for them , that constantly suffer for the testimonie of a conscience cleare of vaine glorie in suffering : yet is this suffering glorious , to him whom thou makest truely godly ; for I confesse Lord , it is not the suffering , but the cause and mannet of suffering , that make the man that suffers a true Martyr indeed . The cause , thou knowest O Lord , is for that I truely and faithfully professe thy name : graunt that I may suffer what thou hast determined , in perfect patience and true humilitie ; and that I faint not , at whatsoeuer punishment or affliction shall be presented to my weake heart , to terrifie me from suffering ; for , I know that thou art then neerest , when all worldly comfort seemeth farthest off . Let mee not therefore , in thy cause bee affraid of the faces of men , that set themselues against thee in me , for it is not mee they persecute , but Christ my Sauiour in me : for what aduantage can they haue , in taking from me ( a worme ) this my wretched life ? which if they spare , it cannot long endure : and what is my death O Lord , vnto thee , if they take it from mee , but the weakest witnesse of thy truth ? the defence whereof , alas , I cannot maintaine of my selfe ; and therefore according to thy promise teach mee , euen at the instant of my greatest accusation ; that through my ignorance , in a zeale which I cannot maintaine by thy word , I should giue aduantage to the aduersaries . Lord , giue mee wisedome , strengthen and confirme my faith , maintaine thine owne cause in me and by me ; touch my tongue with that celestiall coale , from thine Altar ; then shall I be able to giue a good account to them that shall question me , for the hope I haue in thee : hold mee by thy right hand , that I starte neither backe , nor a side for feare . Thou art stiled the Eternall , the Almightie ; who hast said , thou wilt not giue thy glorie vnto Images , nor thy praise vnto any other for thine owne sake ; therefore for thine owne sake , O Lord , looke vpon the afflictions , not which I suffer onely ; but what , and wheresoeuer thy poore children persecuted doe suffer for thy sake ; euen by his meanes , that makes himselfe euen drunke with the blood of thy Saintes , and that thirsteth , euen for the blood of Kings ( thine annointed ) that honor him not . Thou seest it O Lord , and feelest the miseries of thy poore children afflicted here for thy names sake , by his mercilesse ministers . O represse the rage and furie of these mercilesse men , that falsly conceiue of the sauing blood of Christ , and yet are neuer satisfied , with shedding the blood of those , whom thou hast chosen to bee witnesses of the truth of it ; as thou hast reueiled it in thy word . Thou art the God of glorie , glorifie thy name , and make perfect thy praise , in strengthening thy weake children to witnesse thy truth with faithfull boldenesse , euen before and to the faces of thy greatest aduersaries : make perfect thy power in our weakenesse ; thy wisedome in our ignorance ; and thy great glorie in our deiected basenesse : and giue mee wisedome and strength , to vndergoe with all spirituall patience , these and all other my troubles , and meanes if it please thee , to auoyde the danger which seemeth neere vnto me ; submiting my selfe willingly to vndergoe what thou hast determined for me . Lord euermore encrease and confirme my faith in Christ my Redeemer . Comfort and encouragement , for such as are banished , or enforced to liue out of their own natiue Countrie , either for feare of persecution for Gods word , or the feare of enemies , that pursue them without iust cause . IT is a heauie crosse for a man to be banished the Countrie wherein he was borne ; from his parents , friends and alies . But in such a case , the cause is most especially to be considered , for which thou art abandoned , or dost abandon thy selfe . If thou be banished by authoritie , it is for that thou art an vnprofitable member of the Common-wealth wherein thou hast beene bred and brought vp ; and then is thy banishment iust and fit : for , as one infected sheep couchant with the sound , may indanger many , it may be the whole flocke ; and to preuent it , a good Shepheard will cull it out from the rest , he will tarre it , dresse it , and vse his best meanes to heale it ; but if his art and industrie cannot preuaile , he either abandons it from the flocke , or knockes it in the head . Euen so , a politicke State finding an infectious member in the Common-wealth , by whose wicked , lewde and vngodly example and inticements , other good subiects may be indangered to be seduced ; after admonition and threates of the Lawe ( which not preuailing ) it thinketh ( and is ) fit in policie , either to banish him ( which is the least punishment ) or to extende the seueritie of the Laws vpon him . If therefore thine exile proceede of thine owne vngodly merite , take it with patience , and thinke it a fauour of the State , to hold it satisfied for thy transgression , when it might in seueritie , haue taken thy life . It is also one thing to be banished from , and another thing for a man to flie his Countrie . Banishment presupposeth some great offence committed , suspected , or conceiued to be done by a man , against the Lawes of the Kingdome , from whence he is abandonned , or against the Religion therein professed : And a man to flie his Countrie , argues either a guiltie conscience for some offence done , for which hee dares not stand to the rigour and tryall of Iustice : a common refuge for malefactors , and often attempted also , by some that stande fearefull of the furie and violence of some great and vnresistable enemie . It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to forsake his Countrie : as if he be persecuted for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ , in a mans owne natiue Countrie , hee may by Christs owne warrant , seeke refuge in another : Hee that is persecuted in one Citie , let him flie to another . Paul and Barnabas , Christs worthy Apostles , being oppressed by the malicious Iewes in Iconium , for the profession of the name of Christ , fled to Listra & Derbe , where they more freely preached the Gospell . Neither is it vnlawfull to flie the furie and rage of a malicious enemie : Eliah fled by Gods command , from the furie and threates of Ahab that sought his life ; and after from Iezebel : when Pharaoh sought to kill Moses , Moses fled to the land of Mydian . Iaacob was enforced to flie out of his natiue Countrie to Haran , for feare of his brother Esau. Beware that thou in flying mistake not the cause , as to flie from the truth , and from the true worship of Christ , to falshood and Idolatrie : If for the profession of the truth thou be accused and restrained , before thou canst make lawfull escape ( though thou be assured to dye for Christ ) vse no sinister practise to auoide it as distrusting God , as the Disciples did , that fled from , & forsooke Christ when he was taken : neither flie thou as an euill doer , as a Theef or a Murtherer , or as guiltie of any other grieuous offence , for which thou darest not to abide the tryall : though for a time thou maist escape the sword of the Magistrate ; but the guilte of thine offence will followe thee , into what remote Countrie soeuer thou goest ; and wheresoeuer thou carryest the guilt of thy crying sinne , there also followes the Iudgement of God ; as it followed Kayne that slew his brother , who ranne and ranged from place to place , but still the Iudgement of God , as a Blood-hound found him out : Thy best refuge , is to flie vnto God , by repentance and prayer for mercie . Many euilly disposed persons , presuming to escape the Lawe by flying the Kingdome , haue perpetrated most impious actions : murthers , treasons , rebellious , theeueries and the like , and haue escaped ; but could neuer escape the Iudgement of God , which hath either enforced them to returne , and then to receiue their condigne punishment ; or haue endured greatest miseries , disgraces and shame , where they haue thought to be in most securitie and ease ; for , howsoeuer runnagate traytors , thinke that by committing some capitall mischiefe against their Soueraigne , or State wherein they liue , to fulfill the desire of some foraine Potentate , in hope of promised reward and fauour ; or vnder pretence of being acceptably entertained into some supposed Catholicke Societie : What gaine either of these ? the first , condigne suspition of falshood and trecherie , against him who put him trust , to performe a mischiefe at home : for how can helesse thinke , but that he that hath sworn to be a faithfull subiect to his Soueraigne , and will so capitally violate his fidelitie , but he will be false to him ? and so in steed of reward he receiues most deserued disgrace : As touching the second sort , that vnder coulour of Religion , abandon their Countrie , in hope of high aduancement in forraine parts ; are they not scorned of such as are their antients abroad ? and are they not enforced to aduenture their liues , to seduce their owne natiue countrie-men from their allegeance ; and as much as in them may lye , to betraye their owne Countrie to strangers ? yet thinke them safe by flying away , where the Iudgement of God meetes them in euery Countrie . Whether shall I goe from thy presence ? saith Dauid , whether shall I flie from thy Spirit ? Take the sea for thy refuge as Ionas did , thinking to flie from God , did he not finde him out in the most secret corner of the ship ? run from land to land , from one Nation to another people : God will finde thee out among many millions . What then doth a forraine Countrie benefite a fugitiue , when wheresoeuer he becomes , he carryes a hell in his bosome , which will torment him in euery place , in company and alone ? the worme of his guiltie conscience will torment him ; God whome hee so highly offended , will appeare a fearefull Iudge vnto him : and where God in his anger pursues a wicked man , there is no place in the world that can secure him : one mischiefe or another , one horrible end or another will follow him at the heeles , and at length seize vpon him , without vnfained repentance and faith in Iesus Christ. As this is true , that capitall malefactors , cannot hide themselues from Gods iudgements in any remote Region . So true it is , that such as are banished , or doe voluntarily flee some ineuitable danger of vndeserued enemies , as Dauid did from Saul , if hee depend vpon God , shall finde his fauour , loue , presence , and protection ; euen amongst Barbarians , Turkes , and Scithians : for , hee is vniuersall in his power , vniuersall in his prouidence , vniuersall in his knowledge : He obserueth and seeth his , whether so euer they be banished ; and his mercies follow them , and compasse them about . If they seeke him , they shall finde him : as Dauid found him in the Deserts of Ziph , among the rockes of Engedie , & wheresoeuer he fled . There is no place where God is not present , in his mercie or iustice ; and whosoeuer seeketh him in faith and faithfull prayer , findeth him euery where : if they pray vnto him , he heareth them . If then thou be vniustly banished , or lawfully escaped danger , by sorsaking thine owne Countrey , and art in any forraigne and strange Region : Be mindfull of the mercies of God towards thee ; and acknowledge that it is he that hath deliuered thee , and who will giue thee meanes , to liue among a strange people ; Then mayest thou thinke it thy home : for where a man is well , there is his Countrey . And , admit thou be enfotced to become a seruant , or a slaue in forraigne parts for thy reliefe ; yet , if thou truly feare , and sincerely serue God , thou art his free man. Therefore make thou this thy banishment ( by thy patience ) a token and mark of thine integrity . And , if thou remember any grieuous sinne , that thou hast committed in thy natiue Countrey ; thou mayest as well repent it in thy banishment , and more freely ( if it may be so said ) then in thine owne Countrey : for , among strangers there is not such oportunity to sinne , as among familiars : There is no time , nor place , wherein a righteous man can be barred , or preuented , of seruing the Lord , as well in the Wildernesse , as in a Chamber , as well in companie , as alone ; for , a faithfull heart is neuer idle ; it serues God as well in prison as in the Temple . Serue God therefore in feare ; be faithfull in him , and thou shalt be comforted as well in the place of thy banishment , as in thy Fathers , or dearest friends house : And if God see it expedient for thee , he will call thee home againe , to the place from whence thou art abandoned , to glorifie him . A Prayer for a man banished from his natiue Countrey , for some crime committed ; or enforced to forsake it , either for feare of persecution , or of some mightie aduersarie that doth vniustly oppresse him . O Lord God , powerfull , and onely omnipotent , all-seeing , and vniuersally wise ; knowing all things , the beginnings , proceedings , and ends , of all men and their actions : Thy prouidence and protection , reacheth from the heauens to the earth , the Sea , and to the ends of the world : So that none can runne , or be enforced to flie vnto the place , where thou canst not finde him out ; in iustice to punish him for his sinnes , or in mercy to comfort him for thine owne names sake . Lord , I acknowledge , that I haue grieuously offended thee , by the manifold sins that I haue done , not onely against thine owne prescript lawes and commandements ; but also against the Lawes of my Soueraigne : which hath incensed thy heauie displeasure against me ; and in thy displeasure , Man is worthily moued to persecute me , enforcing me to abandon euen mine owne natiue Countrey , for feare of the punishment I haue deserued . And now Lord , being come into this place of banishment , estranged from , and abandoned of all my friends , familiars , and acquaintance ; conuersing among vnknowne people , whose conditions , qualities , and professions , are , as yet hid from me : I doe most humbly pray thee , to be fauourable , and a Father vnto me , in yeelding me reliefe , euen such as thy faithfull seruant Iacob , in his flying from his brother Esau , desired , & bountifully receiued at thy hands foode and rayment ; and moue the hearts of this people , among whom I am enforced to liue , that I may finde fauour in their sight . Thou hast promised , neuer to faile , nor to forsake any that faithfully trust in thee : and that though father , and mother , and all friends forsake them , thou wilt be a father vnto them , giuing them their daily bread , which implieth all necessarie blessings for soule and body : and that all things shall worke together , for the good of those that loue thee : As the selling of Ioseph ; his Mistris false accusation ; his imprisonment ; all wrought for his aduancement in a strange Land ; yea , among a prophane people : So may this my banishment , and liuing among a strange people , worke ( by thy blessing ) to my comfort . Thou art vniuersall in thy wisedome , vnsearchable in thy prouidence , mighty in all thy workes , and to whom all people , Nations and tongues are subiect : work I pray thee , that I may either returne to mine own natiue Countrey , in peace and safety , or that I may enioy here , or wheresoeuer thou shalt be pleased to dispose of mee , meanes to sustaine mee . Thou art euery where , Lord , and raignest and rulest ouer all people ; thou possessest and disposest all things for all men : The whole earth is thine ; the whole masse of gold and siluer is thine ; the Cattell vpon all the mountaines , and in all the valleyes vpon the earth are thine , and thine to giue . Thou gauest Abraham and Lot , portions of lands , and Heards of Cattell in aboundance , in a land wherein they were strangers . Thou blessedst Iacob constrained to flee , a poore man only with a Scrip and a Staffe : and thou broughtest him againe , to the place from whence he was constrained to flee , with mighty Droues . Lord , how mercifully diddest thou worke for Ioseph , abandoned from father ; mother , and friends ? solde as a Slaue , falsly accused ( guiltlesse ) imprisoned , yet at last , made the chiefe ( vnder a strange King ) of a mighty people . When Eliah was enforced to flee from Ahab the King ; such was thy fatherly care of him , that rather then hee should want his necessary foode , thou appointedst the very Rauens to bring him foode , morning and euening . And cōmandedst a poore Widow to feede him in Sareptha : And because she was poore , thou through thy power and loue , of thy seruant , vouchsafedst to encrease her little oyle and meale , ( neere totally consumed ) into so great a quantity , as shee had not onely sufficient , aboundantly to releeue her selfe , and her family , in the extreame dearth and famine : But to pay her debts with the remainder . When Dauid was enforced to flee , from the fearefull fury & malice of Saul , thou diddest not leaue him destitute of necessaries , euen in the very mountaines and desert places . O my God , how can I , but assure my selfe of thy like power ouer mee , thy loue towards me , and thy prouidence for me , hauing receiued so many sweet testimonies of thy helping so many , whom in their banishments thou hast sustained , and relieued in former times ? Thou art the same God , and of the same power and prouidence : therfore Lord forsake not mee , in this place where I am a stranger , where I haue no friend , no meanes of any constant assurance to be relieued . Lord let not my sinnes hinder the worke of thy mercies towards me ; but pardon all my sinnes , and blot out all mine offences , through the bloud of my Sauiour Iesus Christ , whose merites extendeth to the saluation of all beleeuers through the whole earth . O embrace mee Lord with the armes of thy mercies , euen here , where I am a stranger : keepe me vnder the shadowe of thy winges ; teach mee wisedome , that euen here I may seeke thee , and finde thee ; and may receiue here such reliefe and comfort , as I , here giue glory to thy holy name , for thine vndeserued fauor towards me , Amen . Lord encrease my faith . Comfort and encouragement for Parents , that are crossed and grieued at the vngodlines and disobedience of their children : fit for all Parents to reade . AMong the Iewes , it was a reproach , and a kinde of shame , for a woman to be barren : and now in this our age , many men and women that haue begotten and borne children , become grieued and ashamed , that euer they begat , or bare them , by reason of their disobedience and vicious liues . Children are the gift of God , and a great blessing and comfort to godly Parents , if they be good and vertuous , if they feare God , and walke in his wayes ; and then can they not but obay their Parents . A wise and a godly sonne maketh a glad father : but a foolish and wicked sonne , is a heauines to his mother . When children proue wicked , disobedient , rebellious , and refractarie , it is the greatest griefe vnto godly and religious Parents , that any earthly crosse or affliction can yeeld : for as the comfort is great vnto a man to beget sonnes and daughters , whom God hath chosen to encrease the Kingdome of Christ : So contrarily , a greater griefe there cannot be vnto him , then to obserue his children , enclined to be members of Sathan or Antichrist : Especially when a godly Father hath endeuoured through a godly and religious care , to educate a sonne in the true feare and knowledge of God , & yet to see him to proue wicked and vngodly . But , thou that art thus afflicted through the wicked and irreligious course of a rebellious sonne , after all the good meanes thou hast vsed to reduce him to obedience , & the feare of God : Consider with patience , that although God haue giuen thee power to be his Father , in begetting him , and to his Mother to beare him : yet neither thou in begetting , nor shee , though she nourished him in her womb , did giue him either forme or life : How much lesse canst thon or she forme or frame his minde to vertue and godlinesse ? thou mayest giue good & wholsome counsell vnto his eares ; but thou canst not infuse grace and goodnesse into his heart : yet it is thy duty to doe thy best endeuour , to giue him good and godly counsell ; with faithfull prayer to God , that hee will so water the seede , as it may bring forth good fruit : and more the most godly Parents cannot doe . It is with Parents in their desires , to make their children fruitfull in godlinesse , as it is with the husbandman that couets a fruitfull haruest , who manures his ground , soyles it , ploughes it , sowes it , harrowes it ; and as neere as he can , keepes and preuents the vermine , from deuouring the seede sowne ; yet it is not his labour , skill and diligence , that can make it spring vp : he cannot forme the blade , nor infuse the graine into the eare : Nor so preuent the vermine , but that they will deuoure some of the seede : neither can the most godly Father by his best counsell , make good an vngodly Sonne : Hee may sowe the good seede of the feare of God , vpon the ground of his heart ; hee may harrow it with sharpest and seuerest threates , and may endeuour to preuent venemous vices , that offer to choke the good seede that hee hath sowne : But if his heart be stonie , thornie , or neere the high way of the common sinnes of this world ; All his labour , care , and diligence will proue in vaine ; he must leaue the infusion of grace into his heart vnto God , and to worke the practice of godlinesse in him , to whom a godly Father becomes a daily and faithfull petitioner , that he will driue away Sathan , and the swarme of his wicked instruments , from deuouring the good seede , and from sowing the tares of sinne , and the weedes of vngodlines in him . This corrupt world is so full , and fraught with wicked and ly centious youth , that as soone as a young man or Mayde hath liberty , to enter into the companie and societie of wantons , and vngodly youth , they become commonly so infected with their manners , as they drinke in all kindes of vices , as it were wine , making them many times so drunken with vanities , by examples and lewd enticements , as the best counsell of wisest Parents cannot make them , truly sober againe . And to keepe youth in , according to the discretion of prudent Parents , is thought by children , a meere slauery and bondage : so that Parents are many times ( as it were ) at their wits ends , how they might best manifest their affections towards them : for many of them haue learned now to obiect against their Parents that sharply reproue them for their sinnes , that they ought not too much prouoke their children to discontents . And againe , if they denie them meanes to gad abroad , and to spend with their companions what they list ; that Parents are worse then Infidels , if they will not giue maintenance vnto their children . Thus the deuill teacheth them Scripture , to defend and to maintaine their sinne . This is no faigned reproofe of youth in this age : I haue heard these their obiections with mine eares , grieuous to the heart of a godly Father , that seeth and obserueth , that the more indulgent he is to an euill Sonne , the more lycentious liberty he takes : and the more bountifully he shewes himselfe vnto him , the more hee presumes , and the more hee consumes . Yet must not godly Parents desist from , or giue ouer the meanes to winne and reclaime a refractarie Sonne , according to the counsell of the Preacher : In the morning sowe thy seede , and in the euening let not thine hand rest ; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , this , or that , or whether both shall be a like good . Parents must be alike instant and industrious at all times ; in the morning , euen in the infanc●e of their children , they must begin to sowe good seede : and at noone , namely in their youth to continue it : and in the euening when they are come to the estate of men , they must not giue ouer . It may be God hath appointed this or that time , or this or that counsell , to take effect . If nothing will preuaile with him , leaue him to the Law which God by Moses hath ordained , for a rebellious Sonne : namely , If any man hath a sonne that is stubborne and disobedient , which will not hearken to the voyce of his Father , and to the voyce of his Mother , and they haue chastened him , and hee will not obay them ; Then shall his Father and his Mother take him , and bring him to the Elders of the Citie , and shall say vnto them This our Sonne is stubborne and disobedient , and will not obay our admonition : then the men of the Citie shall stone him with stones vnto death . If this necessary Law were executed at this day , youth would be more tractable and obedient to their Parents . And now , for want of some competent punishment , to be inflicted vpon them , they haue no feare ( many of them ) neither of Parents , of God , or man. And Parents ( for the most part ) are so doting ouer their children , that they will neither themselues punish them , nor willingly suffer the Magistrate , vntill they directly fall vnder the sword of Iustice ; and then there is howling , weeping , sorrow , and heauinesse , with wishes , Would God hee had neuer beene borne . The lenity of Parents , and liberty of Children , breede many inconueniencies in a good and well gouerned Cōmon-wealth . Nay , the liberty of youth of all sorts , being well considered , cannot but be found a mischiefe where it is ( as now in this Kingdome ) permitted ; he that hath but the meanest vnderstanding , and is conuersant among the multitude , cannot but see it , and obserue it . Who seeth not , that youth as soone as they are able to sin , conioyne themselues with such as are more expert in sinning ? And learne of them , all manner of vngodlinesse , pride , drunkennes , whoredome , gaming , swearing , blaspheming ; And yet many silly Parents , winke so long at their impieties that at length they see many times the glory of their children to come to shame . And some good Parents would reforme it in time , and cannot . And many foolish Mothers are most guiltie of their childrens too much liberty , and sinne ; who , because they haue borne them of their bodies ( it may be haue giuen them suck of their breasts ) they are so tender ouer them , as they must want nothing that the fond Mother can shift for : As her breasts were open for them when they were in their swadling cloathes ; now their purses must be open , to put them into euery new fashion . The Sonne hee must meete such , and such his companions at such a gaming , or such a Tauerne , or such a show : and it were a shame for him , and discredit to his Parents , that he should goe without money in his purse , to spend as others doe . And poore silly Parents , especially the sottish Mother , will make meanes to supply his wantonnesse , till at length the young nouice ( turned Gentleman ) proceedes swaggerer ; thence raised to a degree higher : takes the title Roarer , then turnes hee off all feare of Father , Mother , and all authority . The poore Parents sitting sometimes sighing , for the intollerable expence of their prodigall sonne ; then againe they smile , to thinke , and to heare their flattering neighbours , to giue such high commendation of their sonne , a proper , comly , and well clad Gentleman , and like to come to great preferment . This is the beginning of an vngodly , disobedient and stubborne sonne ; and yet all parents that haue a sonne of vile , vicious and dissolute qualities , are not guiltie of their sonnes disobedience ; as the father of the prodigall sonne was , who to fulfill the wanton desire of his sonne , gaue him a portion , without respect of the bestowing of it well or ill : how hee spent it , appeares ; viciously and vngodly , whereof partly the father was guiltie . As at this day , fathers and mothers are , that feede their children with portions , wherewith they purchase often times shame and confusion vnto themselues , and griefe and sorrow vnto their parents . Thou complainest of an vnthriftie , stubborne and disobedient sonne ; consider how thou hast bred him and brought him vp : if thou haue done thy duty towards him , in training him as much as in thee laye , in the knowledge and feare of God , and he hath cast thy counsell behind his backe , and kickt against thy godly instructions , thou art cleere , and his wickednesse and distruction shall fall vpon himselfe . But , if thou haue beene too indulgent and too fauorable , in restraining him from his wicked wayes , remember what befell vnto Elie the Priest , and to his two wicked sonnes Hophnie and Phineas , whome God distroyed in one day ; and Elie their father hearing of their vntimely death , fell backeward from his feate and brake his necke : a fearefull example for a father , that onely vsed no other meanes of raistraining his sonnes , but onely the tender words ; Doe no more so my sonnes , doe no more so . A wicked sonne of a good father , may liue long in his wicked course of life , but commonly he vntimely perisheth and commeth to a fearefull end , as too many examples are manifested before our eyes . But lest a good man seruing and fearing God truely , hauing a wicked and vntamable sonne , to whome he hath done all the godly duties of a father , in bringing his sonne to goodnesse , and to a godly course of life , and cannot ; should be too much discouraged and cast downe through sorrow and griefe , that hee should be the father of such a sonne : let him but consider , that his sonne , though wicked , is the creature of God , knowne vnto him before hee was formed in the wombe ; his beginning , course of life , and end determined by God , and the meanes : and therefore when such a father hath done his vttermost godly endeauour , to make his sonne good by counsell , and findes contrarie effects of his hope ; let him onely praye for him : The best and last dutie , that a louing and well-wishing father can show for the good of his best beloued sonne . If this worke not the reformation of his wicked childe , hee may cast off all sorrowe and griefe for that he cannot reclaime him ▪ and before the world he may iustly disclaime him . They therefore , that will taxe and condeme such a father , for hauing such an vngodly person to his sonne , are vncharitable , as long as the wickednesse of his sonne , proceedes not of any neglect or knowne error of the father . Doe we not vnderstand , that most godly parents hauing two or more sonnes , of equall education and equally instructed , that the one proues tractable , vertuous , religious , fearing God , and another cleane contrarie ? Had not Izaak by his wife Rebecha , two sonnes ( borne twinnes ) Esau and Iaakob , the one wicked , the other the Elect of God ? shall wee thinke that Kayne ( that Reprobate ) was not as well instructed in the feare of God by Adam his father , as Abel was ? yet the one a murtherer , and the other a godly , religious and milde man. Shall we thinke that Dauid instructed not his sonne Absolon in the feare of God , though hee became a rebell against his owne father ? And what shall we thinke of Ismael the sonne of Abraham , the father of the faithfull ? was it for want of diuine instruction , that he became a fierce and cruell man , whose hand was against euery man , and euery mans hand against him ? Will any man be so iniurious or so vncharitable , to iudge or condemne these godly parents for the wickednesse of their children ? doth it not hereby appeare , that good men , notwithstanding all their care & diligence to make them good , may haue wicked children ? neither doth it follow , that wicked men haue alwayes vngodly children : It is God , who as hee formes the bodies of good and bad in the wombe , so he frames the mindes of such as he intendeth to make the vessels of saluation , and giueth them the meanes to become wise in him , religious and faithfull in him ; yet yeeldeth he the libertie of his word equally alike to both : but they haue not both equall grace to imbrace and to practise it alike . Idolatrous Ahaz had religious Hezekiah : good Hezekiah had wicked Manasses ; wicked Amon had godly Iosiah ; Iosiah idolatrous Iehoahaz . Infinite are the examples in all ages , showing that good men haue had wicked children , and wicked fathers good sonnes ; that no man should presume vpon the towardnesse , or dispaire of the vngodly beginning of his children ; but to commend both , to the goodnes and prouidence of God in faithfull prayer ; vsing the meanes , leauing the wicked to God , in prayer for their reformation , and the godly to him , for continuance and perseuerance vnto the end : in whose secret counsell it is determined what shall be the end of them , that feare not God , nor reuerence man. A Prayer to bee vsed of godly parents , for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children , and for patience ; not ouermuch to afflict themselues for the stubbornesse and disobedience of a wicked sonne . O Gracious , mercifull , powerfull , & euermore louing Lord God , the Creator of all man-kind ; to whom thou giuest , and into whome thou infusest diuers and seuerall portions of vnderstanding , wit , wisedome and grace ; and none by nature can attaine vnto the least measure of these blessings but by thee : Fathers thou hast ordained to beget , and Mothers to conceiue and beare fruite , to the increase and multiplication of humane kinde ; but it is not left vnto the power of parents , to propagate grace in their seede . Seeing then good Father , that thou hast giuen vs power to propagate their earthly and carnall parts , ( yet all formed by thee in the wombe ) and hast reserued vnto thy selfe , the disposition of their mindes and affections : So I humbly pray and beseech thee , to dispose the inclination of them whome thou hast giuen me power to beget ; & beget in them good and godly desires ; reforme the vngodly life and conuersation of that disobedient and vagodly son of mine , whose behauiour is much grieuous vnto me ; and I doe confesse , that mine owne sinnes haue prouoked thee to anger against me , and thy displeasure appeareth , in that hee whome I receiued , in hope to be a comfort vnto me , and the staffe of mine olde age , is become , not onely disobedient vnto me , but as it were , rebellious against thee and thy counsell . Thou art a God righteous & absolutely holy , hating iniquitie ; & it cannot be hid from thee , how I haue neglected the training him vp in thy feare : Yet thou also knowest O Lord , that I haue laboured and endeuoured by my best counsell , to winne him to the feare and seruice of thee ; if it haue beene in vaine , thou hast wisedome and power to supply in him , what is defectiue in me to giue him . I haue endeuoured to make him to know thee and to walke in thy wayes ; but he hath contemned mine instructions , and cast my counsell behinde his backe : hee will not vnderstand , that thou art a God of power to punish him , or a God of mercie to comfort him , if he returne from his sinnes , to the obedience of thee . Lord , it is onely in thee to reclaime him as thou didst the prodigall sonne , whome thou vouchsafedst to receiue vnto mercie , after his long going astray ; whereby it appeareth , that no man erreth so farre , but thou canst recall him ; O recall this mine erronious sonne , reduce him into the feare of thy great name , and make him one of the sheepfolde of thy Saints . He is the worke of thine owne hands O Lord , though I wretched man begat him in corruption , his mother conceiued him in sinne , and bare him in miserie ; yet are these no hinderance to the worke of thy grace in him : For what is , or hath bin the man , that hath not had the like corrupt beginning ? thine owne begotten Sonne excepted . Enoch that walked vprightly before thee , Abraham the father of the faithfull , Eliah and Iohn Baptist , and all thine Elect vessels came by nature of the same corrupt seed , as hath this ( though ) my vngodly sonne . Thou wert pleased to sanctifie these fore-fathers of ours , whome if thou hadst left vnto themselues , they had beene as this my sonne , ready to lift vp their heeles against their parents and thee . Lord , giue thou grace , wisedome , faith and obedience , vnto this my sonne : these are thine , and onely thine to giue . I , indeed haue beene , as the hand to giue him ( from thee ) food for his body , whereby , by thy blessing he hath beene corporally sustained and growne strong in the flesh , though weake in spirituall graces , which are not in me to instill into him , no● bestow vpon him . He is indeed of the poluted seede of offending Adam : yet maist thou be pleased , and I humbly pray thee to accept him into thy fauour ; instructe him in thy feare , indue him with heauenly knowledge , and a perfect faith in thee ; and guide him by thy grace , in a godly , religious and sincere conuersation ; that he may cease to doe euill , and cleaue vnto that which is good ; then shall hee serue thee , and I shall prayse thee for his reformation and saluation . Let neither his sinnes nor mine O Lord , any more prouoke thee to anger , lest thy seuere iudgements should fall vpon him , and shame and griefe vpon vs his parents : but his repentance shall be our comfort , and wee shall reioyce in his conuersion , and not onely we his parents , but all the godly shall reioyce at his returne into the spirituall Societie of thy Saints . Graunt it gracious Lord God , for thy Christs sake , whose righteousnesse , accept as his righteousnesse , and thy sonnes merits for mine and my sons many sinnes . Amen . Lord increase in him the holy feare of thy great name , faith and obedience vnto thee , and giue me grace with patience and prayer , to wayte his holy reformation . A perswasion to patience , in the crosses that often fall betweene man and wife , fit to be considered of maried folkes for their mutuall comfort ; with counsell to such as intend to mary . THere is no man or woman fit for mariage estate , that is ignorant , and consider not of the causes for which that holy estate was instituted of God : But now in this latter age , many rashly enter into it , neither knowing the causes rightly , nor vse it reuerently , which is the occasion of many breaches , betweene man and wife . In former times men and women were onely maried ; but now boyes & gerles , that onely feele by natures instinct , that mariage is a pleasant life , and are onely led by that lawe of lust , to runne and rush headlong into that sacred estate , without feare or wit ; like a barde horse into a battle : not fore-seeing nor considering the dangers and troubles they runne into ; which holy estate ought not to be vndertaken , but with highest reuerence vnto , and in the feare of God the author of it . Many onely consider , that God created man male and female , the man for the woman , the woman for the man ; and consider not the sacred vse , nor the institution of mariage : they looke not into the beginning how God created man , and the woman of the man , to the end they two should by this coniunction become one , and of one heart and one minde in two bodies : they can peraduenture saye , that indeed , the woman was made of the ribbe of the man ; but that , that bone became flesh of his flesh , and by that meanes they two became one , they cannot conceiue ; and yet will aduenture , without either examination or consideration of the danger to take a wife , and the woman a husband ; their least duties to God , not learned of them at all nor considered . Hastie mariages , bring commonly as hastie repentance : not that praise worthie repentance for sinne , but for the sorrowe their vnaduised mariage hath brought them vnto ; rashly vndertaken without asking counsell of God , whence doe spring all the troubles , iarres , brawles and discontentes betweene the man and the wife , thus vnaduisedly coupled together . But man and wife conioyned together in the Lord , namely where they onely aime to liue together in his holy feare , and humblenesse of heart in a liuely faith , craue his holy fauour and fatherly direction , to guide and gouerne them ; and after due reuerence vnto the Lord , they yeeld mutuall and godly loue one to another , with due obedience to God ; and after , one to the other , labouring to keepe peace , vnitie , and concorde betweene themselues , in ayding , helping , cherishing & sustaining each other , in pouertie as in riches , in sickenesse as in health , and be of like godly affection one towards another , with daily mutuall prayers to God , that he will giue a blessing vnto them : they may assure themselues to liue in plentie and peace ; and whatsoeuer crosses , troubles or afflictions befall them , they encourage one the other in the feare of God , to beare them together with equall patience ; and whatsoeuer blessing they receiue at the hands of God , they together giue thankes for the same . These maried folkes thinke it not sufficient ( as many doe ) to ioyne hand in hand , a token of their intire affections one to the other ; but heart with heart in the feare of God , neuer to be disioyned , vntill death deuide them . But how can hearts be truely ioyned together , that are of contrarie dispositions , as many proue to be , that make showe of a godly loues beginning ? can bitter and sweet ? can loue and hatred ? can ioye and griefe dwell together ? and how can hearts contrarily affected comfort one the other in the Lord ? can a truely louing wife reioyce to see her husband grieue ? or can a religiously kinde husband sing seeing his wife lament ? will they not rather enquire the cause of each others sadnesse , and seeke the meanes to remoue it ? their ioye & sorrow should be one , as they are one , they should beare equally one anothers burthen , and neuer to be bitter one towards the other . It is against the nature of man to hurt wittingly or wilfully his owne flesh , but rather to vse all meanes to perserue it : and therefore as man and wife by this sacred coniunction , are of twaine , made as it were one intire bodie , though disiunct in person ; how can the one seeke to hurte the other , but they must both feele the smart ? Discorde and dislike betweene man and wife , is a crosse of all crosses , a griefe of all griefes , and a miserie aboue all miseries vnto either partie fearing God : for , as peace and concorde betweene them , buildeth and establisheth the house , so quarels and brawles turne it vpside downe . Peace and loue twixt man and wife , makes bitter waters sweet ; but hatred and iarres bring best things out of taste . The good agreement betweene man and wife , is one of the three things commended by God and man , and the contrarie condemned of both . If the loue and vnitie of brethren bee so sweete and pleasant a thing , as that Dauid compares it to the most pretious oyntment ; what may be thought of the mutuall loue and godly agreement betweene a man and his wife , when as either of them is to forsake father and mother , brother and sister , and all friends to betake them each to other ? A miserable thing it is , and ( aboue all other former times in this our age ) to be lamented ; to see and obserue , and many times to feele the discordes and quarels , that arise betweene the husband and the wife , the one snarling at the other , as dogges about a bone : Tri●●ing things and matters of 〈◊〉 ●●●ment , often times 〈…〉 against other , in words vnseemly , to vpbrayde , and very vnciuily to checke and taxe each other , to the great offence to God , the Author of that holy coniunction , to the great disturbance of the whole family , and to the euill example of others . Who is it that hath not heard ( or beene personally acquainted with ) the complaints of diuers married folkes of both sexes ? The man exclaiming against the woman , the woman against the man ; As if they were not onely , not of two , made one flesh by that sacred and misticall vnion : but that they were of two contrary kindes ; the man a Tyger , the woman a shee Beare . There is no discord ▪ to that betweene man and wife ; nor harder to be appeased , where in deede there should be no loue , to the loue betweene man and wife , nor harder to be broken . But no meruaile , though it thus fall out now in this last age ; for when there were but two ; one man , and one woman in the earth , did not one accuse the other before God ? Gen. 3. And shall we think , that he that seduced them , will be lesse diligent to make dissention , betweene man and wife now ? He tels the man : Thy wife is of a stout stomack she hath a tart and curst tongue : And suggests vnto the woman ; Thy husband is a froward man. How canst thou brooke him ? Thus labours hee to set enmity between man and wife , as God set enmity between man and him in the beginning . And such is humane frailty , as it is easily moued to things euill , as to strife and debates , without much setting on , but hardly to peace and concord , by best counsell . The stronger should beare with the weaker , and the weaker should subiect her selfe to him she ought to obay : but we see many times , and among many maried couples , that this superiority and inferiority is become preposterous ; the foote would either guide or controle the head , and the head must giue way to the heele , or else the head shall haue little rest . Neede wee seeke Palestine , for proud Iesabels ; for enticing Dalilahs ; for mocking Michols ; Scolding Zipporahs ; lustfull Rahels ? or Egipt for wanton wiues like Potiphars ? They are pittifully and plentifully found nere home . The woman in deede is said to be first in the transgression ; and the Scriptures in many places , testifie that the woman is most proan● to giue cause of offence ; yet not to be taken so generally , as if there were no women , as worthy commendation as worthiest men : Neither are we so to iustifie men in generall , as if there were none , to be in this point condemned as well as the women : for either may giue equall cause of offence to other ; And the woman to complaine as well of the man , as the man of the woman : but the woman the weaker . Haue not many good women foolish and sottish Nabals , brainsick Lamechs , some lasciuious Rubins , others furious and contentious Ism●els , hating and quarelling with euery man , and euery man hating and disdaining them ? Some poore women haue drunkards , some spendthrift-Gamesters , some following Harlots , and the like : this must needes enforce the weake woman to speake : yet , be her reproofe neuer so faire and gentle , doth it not oftentimes beget in such vngodly husbands , cursing , swearing , rayling , reuiling , and sometimes blowes ? Some women also are so selfe conceited of their owne wit or worthinesse , as doe the husband what he can , hee cannot be free from brawles , that many times driues him out of his owne house . Her contentious words , are like the continuall dropping of a rotten house , wherein a man can neuer lye dry . It is better to dwell in a little corner of the house in peace , then in a Palace with such a contentious woman . Now then thou man , that thus complainest of the euill of thy wife , and thou woman that thus exclaymest vpon the distastfull course of thy husband . Take either of you a strict view , and seriously ▪ examine your owne seuerall ▪ wayes , and be not partiall . Be not so quicke sighted , to prye into the faults of thy wife , and to rest blinde in obseruing thine , owne . And thou wife , be not so clamorous against thy husbands imperfections ; and yet to flatter thy selfe as if thou needest not to reforme thine owne errors : and then , as the accusers of the woman taken in Adulterie , and brought to Christ , were willed , if they were guiltlesse , to cast stones at her ; and being all in their owne consciences faulty , in as great sinnes ; they became silent , and secretly departed . So , no doubt , if thou man be innocent , thou mayest iustly complaine against thy wife . And thou woman , if thou be faultlesse , thou mayest lawfully ●axe thy husband : but , if it appeare to either of your consciences , that you are both faulty ; be both silent , and passe by one anothers infirmities , and be at peace . But heere is the mischiefe : the wife iustifies her selfe ; she hath done what shee can to please her husband : but he is still so froward , so testie ; and so cholerick , as shee were better to be out of her life , then to liue with him . Thou woman , thou tookest him , to loue him , and to dwell with him , were he better or worse . And thou must now take thy lot ( being hard ) as well with patience , as thou couldest embrace it ( if it were most pleasi●g ) with delight . And thou man , that thinkest thou hast the frowardest wife of any man in the world ; remember shee was of thine owne choyse ; Thou tookest her for good , if shee be become worse then shee was , thou hast beene an vnprofitable guide vnto her : thou hast bin either too obsequious vnto her , in giuing her too much her will , or too bitter vnto her , procuring her hatred . The humours of many men in the beginning , are , to be so fond , as their daliance cannot be sufficient in priuate , but they must discouer it in publicke ; a seeming pleasant beginning , yet often presageth a sorrowfull ending . No violent thing continues long : and therefore , although loue be the most commendable among all other graces , yet if this kinde of loue be too seruent , it lasteth not long ; it is but as a morning dewe ; as was the loue of Amnon towards Thamar : But where true loue is in deede , it springs from an higher fountaine , which neuer dries vp . That loue betweene man and wife , that begins , continues , and ends in the feare of God , couers the faults that each may commit against other , and keepes all iarres , quarrels , and controuersies , out of the house . But , a griefe of griefes it is to see , many , and many times men and women to come together , in such seeming sweet embracements , as if they were aboue measure affected one towards the other . And yet stay but a little while , and you see a cloud of controuersies fall betweene them ; and then their loue turnes to hatred , their former mutuall kindnesse , to crosses and curses . And whence ariseth this suddaine distraction , but originally from Sathan , who moueth , and maketh mariages , as farre as in him lyeth , betweene vnequals , which may import many inconuenient matches , not made in the feare and reuerence of God ? great inequality of yeares , and much difference in estates , cause often disparagements . Houses and riches are the inheritance of Fathers : but a prudent and vertuous wife , is the gift of God ; And , he that findeth such a one , rec●iueth a fauour from the Lord. But how can any man thinke that God will bestow such a fauour vpon him without asking ? Abrahams seruant that was but put in trust to get a wife for Isaack his Maisters sonne ; went not rashly , and as the prouerbe is , hand ouer head in this weighty businesse , as to take the first that came to hand , as many doe , that conclude the match at the first sight : But hee prayed vnto the Lord , to send him good speede in the choyse ; and wayted the Lords prouidence ; and besought him to shew him certaine probable tokens , that the mayde Rebecka , was she whom God had appointed for Isaack . That businesse which is begun with faithfull Prayer to God , seldome or neuer succeedeth ill . And aboue all other earthly occasions , there is none of higher importance , then the choyse of a wife , or a husband , either of them being an assured crosse , or a comfort , as long as both of them doe liue : And for want of this heauenly beginning ( faithfull Prayer to God ) it many times comes to a helli●h ending ; which may be a motiue to stirre vp men and women , intending to entertaine this holy estate , to craue direction , and wisedome from God , both for their choyse , and peace in that estate . And because many already coupled together , seeme discontent , and afflicted in minde , at their mutuall crosses , now past reuocation ; They must be content to make a vertue of necessity : namely , to vndergoe the burthen , that the one vnkindly layes vpon another , and to pray either that God will ease it , or giue them patience to beare it . A Prayer fit to be said by man and wife together , or by either of them , at any time in priuate . O Lord our GOD , most mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ : vouchsafe , as it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy , to conioyne vs man and wife together , according to thy holy institution in the beginning ; So let our hearts be truly conioyned vnto thee , in a liuely faith and true obedience : And so frame our affections one towardes another , as there appeare no cause of breach , of our sincere mutuall duties to the offence of thee . But by thy blessing wee may ( as long as we liue ) endeuour to preserue and maintaine peace and vnity betweene our selues , being a thing pleasing vnto thee . Endue vs both Lord with thy grace & heauenly spirit , that as thou hast by thy holy ordinance , of ●wayne , now made vs one : so our hearts , affections , and enclinations , may be euer one , not according to our naturall dispositions , but answerable to thy blessed commandements , that wee giue no cause of offence each to other : and that wee may euer endeuour to continue perfect , and mutable in our mutuall loue , which we by nature cannot doe : for wee are corrupt , and sinfull of our selues , and alwayes most enclinable to forbidden things . We haue also , O Lord thou knowest , a subtill and malicious aduersarie , who striueth to crosse in vs all good desires , and to peruert our best duties ; to raise discordes , debates , quarels , and as much as in him is , to breake the band of fidelity , which we made each to other before thee . He began thou knowest O Lord , with the first couple Adam and Heuah . It was he that seduced the woman , and shee by his meanes betrayed the man ; and so subuerted their blessed estate of innocencie , and made them subiect to all kindes of miseries , and their posterities : whereof we thy poore seruants are feeble , and sinfull members . And as he began in malice and subtilty , to betray our first Parents ; So is he alwayes busie , to sowe the seedes of debate and strife betweene vs. But Lord , preuent , him , and assise vs by thy power , that we may haue power to resist him , and all his suggestions and tentations . Then , as thou ( Lord ) hast ioyned vs together ; nothing shall seperate our mutuall loues , but Death . And forasmuch ( Lord ) as this estate ( though in it selfe honorable ) may bring vpon vs many troubles , crosses , and afflictions incident to marriage estate in the world : yet by thy fatherly blessing , we shall be able to vndergoe them with patience , or to auoyd them with thankfulnes . It is not in vs , in our wisedomes , strength , or policies , to preuent or auoyde the infinite troubles and vexations , which this estate bringeth with it : Therfore we humbly pray thee , O Lord , to endue vs with wisedome frō aboue ; that whatsoeuer thou haue determined , shall befall vs ; be it pouerty or plenty , sicknesse or health , weale or woe , we may embrace the one with patience , the other with thanks ; And in both , support vs in thy loue ; guide vs by thy grace , protect vs by thy power , and prouide for vs in thy prouidence . If pouerty or want assaile vs , supply our necessities ; if riches encrease , make vs thankfull , and alienate our hearts , from too much loue of them ; If sicknesse or any corporall infirmity ceaze vs , be thou our Physician to cure vs ; If health continue , leaue vs not in security , but giue vs watchfull hearts , to wayte the time of thy visitation ; If the fruits of our bodies encrease , encrease to vs the meanes to sustaine them , both with corporall & spirituall necessaries . And prepare vs for the day of our departure out of this mortall life ; and in the meane time so season vs in all heauenly and diuine knowledge , with true faith and perfect obedience vnto thee , as that day may be vnto vs , the first day of our euerlasting Sabaoth . Be thou also wee humbly beseech thee , O Lord , a continuall guide vnto vs in our calling : Blesse vnto vs , and vnder our hands whatsoeuer we endeuor to performe , in thy feare , and let thy blessing be vpon all that appertaineth vnto vs. If enemies seeke to molest vs , to trouble vs , or to hurt vs , preuent them of their euill deuices ; and graunt that wee giue no cause of offence to any , nor be stirred vp to reuenge vpon euery light occasion ; but vpon all occasions to leaue the reuenge to thee ; And that we may seeke to maintaine peace with all men ; to loue our neighbours , to comfort the comfortlesse , and ( as farre as thou shalt be pleased to enable vs ) to h●lpe , succour , and relieue the poore and needie ; and to doe vnto other men , as wee desire other men to doe vnto vs : To guide and gouerne our family in thy feare ; to frequent the places where thy holy word is preached , seeking the Kingdome of Iesus Christ ; and to doe all other holy duties , according to thy will , vnto our liues end , Amen . O Lord encrease our faith , and our mutuall loue one towards another . How the Husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his discontented Wife . IT is before shewed : and there is none that is , or ought to be ( of either sex ) ignorant , that the man and the wife are of two distinct persons , made one entire misticall body : The man the head of the woman , and the woman a principall member of that head , whom she ought to obay . In the head , is , or ought to be reason , wisedome , iudgement , and all other gifts , whereby it may rightly guide , and direct the inferiour members , and the whole body . Therfore thou man that hast taken a wife , and made her a member of thine owne body , thou art bound to loue her with a perfect loue , according to the counsell of the counsell of the Apostle , who spake by the spirit of God. Let euery man loue his wife as himselfe . And this loue consisteth in cherishing her , in giuing her competent maintenance in defending her from danger , as thou thy selfe desirest to cherish , maintaine , and defend thine owne person . Thou must dwell with her , thou must doe vnto her all such duties , as that holy estate whereunto you haue beene both called , and as the faith plighted each to other requireth . And thou husband , thinke not that because she is the weaker , and made subiect vnto thee , that thou therefore shouldest neglect her , or tiranize ouer her ; but to be so much the more tender ouer her , by how much she is weaker . Thou must loue her , as Christ loueth the Church ( whereof thou art a member ) and gaue his life for it . And thinke not , that because thy wife hath some infirmities , that therefore it is lawfull for thee , to loathe her , or leaue her ; for , if Christ should so deale with his Church , or with thee , a member of it , as to cast it , or thee off , for the blemishes of it , who could be loued of him ? Let not therefore euery fault that she commits in her weakenesse , cause thee to be bitter vnto her , in words , gesture , or deedes ; for by this meanes , thou mayest cause the meekest woman to become like one of the furies : But dwell with her , as a man of knowledge , in passing by her infirmity ; for , if thou loue her , thou wilt not obserue ( at least reproue ) all that shee doth , through weakenes , against thy liking . If her faults be wilfull , and in thine opinion grosse and intollerable , such as by nature thou seemest not to be able to beare ; Shew not in thy hastines a more grosse infirmity , in being too furious : but reproue her with meekenesse ; admonish her gently ; Let thy corrections be comfortable counsell ; strike her not , for it is the greatest reproach in the world , for a man to beate his wife : And it is the way in deede ( though she loued thee before ) to cause her to hate thee . And what gaynest thou by thy seuerity , but a heape of coales vpon thine own head ? If thou canst reclaime her by counsell , thou shewest great wisedome : If thou canst beare with her faults , so they be not capitall against God , thou shalt be commended of all good men for thy patience . If neither reproofe , nor counsell , nor conniuencie , will bring her to obay thee , yet art thou not to leaue her : But consider seriously with thy selfe , whether the cause , or some great part of it be not in thee , whereby shee is moued to speake , or doe that , whereat thou takest offence . Art thou not a Gamester ? art thou not Prodigall of thy purse ? art thou not idle in thy calling ? art thou not often in Tauernes , Ale-houses , in lewde and suspicious companies , consuming that vpon strangers , which should maintaine thine estate and family , when peraduenture thy wife and children languish in penurie at home ? hast thou not , or dost thou not purpose to make away some things that thy wife brought thee ( goods or lands ) against her will ? If any of these occasions moue her , thou hast reason to beare with her , and more reason to reforme thy selfe : for , commonly men thus giuen ouer to these vngodly courses , are most apte to abuse their wiues : if thou be innocent & free from these , and thy wife through her vnciuile and immodest cariage towards thee doe abuse thee , and neither counsell nor kindnesse , gentle intreatie , nor seuerest threates will calme her , thou must sit downe by it in silence , and saye , It is my crosse and I will beare it . The best course thou canst take to remoue this inconuenience , is for thee to giue good example , to liue vertuously , to serue God , and to praye with her , and for her , to repent thee of thy sinnes vnfainedly , and suffer these domesticall and houshold crosses patiently . Be not wilfull nor too wise in thine owne conceite , as to thinke thou canst tame thy wife more by tyrannie then tractability ; & search , and peraduenture thou shalt finde thine owne faultes as great or greater then hers : If thou could as well see thine owne as thou obseruest hers , thou wouldest acknowledge thine owne sinnes hath caused her to become a trouble vnto thee : reforme therefore what is amisse in thee , and thou shalt finde a comfortable issue of thy good endeauours and prayer . A Prayer to be said often of a man , who hath a wife of refractarie conditions . O Gratious Lord God , mercifull and euer-louing Father in Iesus Christ , who hast the disposing of all hearts , the working and setling of all good affections in man and wife , the one towards the other ! Thou art the Father of all that loue thee ; the keeper and helper of all that come vnto thee in a liuely faith , who receiue comfort of thee in whatsoeuer trouble or affliction . I humble my selfe before thee , and pray thee in the name of Iesus Christ , to pardon and to forgiue me my sinnes , the ground of all my troubles , the greatest whereof O Lord , I finde to be the vnquietnesse of my wife and her infirmities : thou gauest her me , and I tooke her for a helper ; but thou seest she showeth her selfe rather a crosse then a comfort vnto me , to the griefe of my heart ; and the more , by reason we offend thee by our contentions . Lord , consider her weakenesse and her infirmities , and giue her wisedome and grace to reforme them . The corruption of nature O Lord , is strong in vs both : in her to commit things grieuous vnto mee ; in me too great and vnaduised reproofe of her : Lord , vouchsafe vnto vs both thy holy Spirit ; worke in vs conformitie and obedience to thy will , & patience to beare one the others weakenesse . I cannot Lord , excuse or cleere my selfe of deseruing thy iust displeasure towards me , by reason of mine owne sinnes ; but must and doe confesse my selfe worthily crossed by her , that should haue bin my comfort : for how can I expect obedience of her that is by nature weake ; when I my selfe that shoulde showe more strength , obey not thee ? O Lord , reforme in me whatsoeuer thou seest imperfect ; then maist thou in mercie be pleased to reforme her . We came not together Lord , without thy prouidence ! wee were conioyned by thee , and by thee commanded to loue and to cherish one the other ; wherein as we haue both come short of our duties through our frailties ; so we both feele the bitternesse of the breach of our duties eche to other which thou hast commanded : O take from mee Lord , whatsoeuer iust cause shee may obiect against me , in defence of her pretended discontentments ; and season her heart O Lord , with meekenesse , humblenesse , patience , peace and loue . Let neither of our naturall infirmities O Lord , nor Satans practise and malice , moue or make any more contentions , quarels or debates betwixt vs : but as thou hast made vs by thine holy ordinance one , so let our loues , mindes and affections be one ; that wee may henceforth liue louingly , peaceably and religiously , in thy faith , feare and obedience ; and truely seruing of thee , as long as we both shall liue . Amen . Lord , encrese my faith , and send vs quietnesse , peace and loue for euer more . How the wife ought to behaue her selfe towards her husband , though he be faultie and hard to be pleased . THe complaintes of husbands of their discontents , proceeding from the supposed euill of their wiues , are not seene so common , as are the clamours of wiues against their vnthriftie and vnkind husbands : yet it may be , if they were equally ballanced , there would be no great difference in the weight ; but that , commonly husbands haue more priuiledges ouer their wiues , being become wise in thee , and righteous before thee ; not trusting in a seeming and outward and verball holinesse ; but neuer to rest satisfied , vntill I finde the effectuall working thereof in my soule through thy holy Spirit ; and an assurance through faith , that my sinnes and my former neglect , through the merits and mediation of my Sauiour Christ , according to thy promises in him , be freely pardoned and forgiuen me . Thou hast taught mee O Lord , to praye , that I may doe thy will here in earth , as thy will is done in heauen ; and yet such is the corruption of my will , that it seemeth to striue to preferre it selfe before thy will ; & by this vntamed and peruerse will of mine , I haue done all that I haue hetherunto done , as it were to crosse thy will , although I haue verbally prayde , as thou likewise hast taught mee , Not to be led in temptation : I haue not onely yeelded to euery temptation offered to moue me to sinne , but haue sought many ( and many times ) occasions and opportunities to sinne ; in so much as I haue turned those blessed Petitions which thou hast taught me to make vnto thee , for my reformation and consolation , into meere wantonesse & sinne . O heauy is thy wrath , and seuere are thy iudgements due vnto me for these my transgressions and wicked deseruings : I could not auoyde thy seuere sentence of vtter condemnation , were there not mercie with thee , aboue thy displeasure : and had I not a Mediator with thee , and such a powerfull and preuailing Aduocate , as can worke peace with thee for me when thou art angrie ; what should become of me ? In him therefore O my God ( worthily offended with me ) I fall downe before thy foot-stoole in his name , for whose sake thou hast promised to heare most grieuous sinners , and to pardon greatest offenders ; and the greater the sinnes are which thou forgiuest , the greater appeareth thy mercie : my sinnes are great , yet farre greater are thy mercies : yet Lord , I haue not therefore the more presumed ( vpon thy mercie ) to commit sinne , or to omit my dutie , in walking more religiously and vprightly before thee then I haue done . Consider Lord , that corruption hath seduced me , and Satan deluded me , and now I finde that I haue gone astray , and gladly would I now returne vnto thee , neuer to fall backe againe ( assisted by thy grace , ) and therefore Lord , extend the Scepter of thy louing fauour towards me , in token of thy reconciliation with me ; so shall my heart within me ( now cast down for feare of thy iudgements ) reioyce and be glad in thee ; my soule shall cleaue vnto thee , and therefore Lord , cast the cancelled Bill of my sins out of thy hands into my heart , as an acquittance for all my sinnes , purged through the blood of that immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus , to whom with thee and the holy Ghost , be all honor and prayse for euer . Lord euermore increase my faith . A comfortable conclusion , showing the benefit of afflictions , to the end wee may beare them in what nature or kinde soeuer they befall vs , with the more resolute and godly patience . IT is before obserued , that God exerciseth all his children with one crosse or affliction or another ; not all and euerie one alike , neither in weight , measure or number , which to expresse in perticular , is impossible , for they are without number : yet the greatest and most principall are before remembred , as a preparatiue for euerie child of God to looke for them , and to settle them selues to vndergoe them with patience , when they come : for euerie child of God may be assured , sooner or later to taste of some of them ; and that when one trouble is past , to prepare himselfe for another ; for commonly when one crosse is gone another comes . God will not leaue his children idle , and to liue in carnall securitie here , lest they should forget him , and so turne his fauour into wantonnesse . Therefore saith Dauid , As one deepe calleth another deepe by the noyse of the waters , so one affliction calles for another . Sinne calles for sicknesse , sickenesse for pouertie , pouertie for enemies , enemies for contempt , vexation and slaunder . If thou haue neither sickenesse , pouertie , enemies , nor contempt ; yet sinne thou hast , which calles also for disobedience in thy children , disquietnes in thy wife , falsehood in thy seruants , losse of goods , death of thy vertuous children , or thy louing wife ; these are commonly reputed crosses , and who is free from them all ? Be assured if thou be the true child of God , one , or some , or all these will visite thee by turnes . Innumerable , troubles saith Dauid , haue compassed me about on all sides , and that is the condition of Gods deerest Saints , here to suffer affliction on all sides , and to be exercised with temptations of diuers sortes . The seruant is not aboue his Lord ; if they haue persecuted me , saith Christ , they will also persecute you : if Christ had trouble here , so must we . As Christ through many troubles and persecutions came to glorie , so must euery of his Elect drinke of the same cup : Through many troubles , they must enter into the Kingdome of heauen . Hee that will liue religiously and in the feare of God , must looke for tryals and troubles in the world , and continuall temptations of Satan , to drawe him to sinne , that by his sinnes he may offend God , that if it were possible God might forsake him . The most godly haue many sinnes , and sinne is the cause of all troubles , as appeareth by that which is said before ; and if we sinne , shall we thinke we shall not be punished ? though not as the meerely wicked in Gods hote dipleasure ; but in loue , and the punishments may seeme alike with that of the wicked , but their endes not alike . Wherefore then should a man ( fearing God ) be sorrowfull for his afflictions ? seeing he is thereby occasioned to search and to trye his wayes , that finding himselfe guiltie of disobedience to God , he may the more speedily returne vnto him , lifting vp his heart and his hands to him and say , I haue sinned and rebelled against thee , therefore dost thou worthily punish me . Fooles , saith Dauid , by reason of their trangressions , and because of their iniquities are afflicted : and is not euery man that feareth not God , in the rancke of Dauids fooles ? nay , who is so righteous , that hath not committed folly by sinning ? and who then can be free from affliction ? If God should not correct vs her● for our sinnes , he could not but reserue vs for destruction hereafter ; for such is the vilenesse of sinne , and so odious to God , as he neuer lets it goe vnpunished in Gods dearest Saincts here for a little space , and the obstinate hereafter for euer : therefore better to suffer chastisement here for a moment , then to be heere free , and hereafter perish for euer : better to be corrected in the world , then to be condemned with the world . And we must consider , that as we seeme and find our selues endued with a greater measure of guiftes and graces then some other men : so we must thinke , that God will trye these graces in vs , and the power and vertue of them by afflictions and troubles here ; that through our patient suffering , we may be knowne to be what we would be reputed to be ; for , the wicked commonly come not in to such calamities as the children of God doe , vnlesse by their wilfull running into miseries and dangers by their impious actions : but the godly are not so much agents to procure , as patients to suffer their afflictions : they are tryed as siluer from the drosse by the fire of tribulation , to make them perfect . Yet such is Gods great mercie and fauour towards his owne , as although he punish them , he proportions their afflictions according to their strength , and their strength according to the weight of their correction ; giuing them grace to possesse their soules in patience in greatest crosses , & causeth them to reioyce in them , through the hope of the eternall weight of glory promised . Seeing then , that all Gods children are to suffer in one kinde or another : and they that liue at their libertie and in the pleasure ; of sinne without trouble , in what a lamentable case are they , that doe not onely not fall into like affliction , but boast of their freedome from all kinde of crosses ? Are there not some that say , I was neuer troubled by Sathan , I neuer felt any of his temptati●● ? Another , I haue neuer 〈◊〉 sicke in all my life ? A third , I knowe no enemie that I haue ? A fourth , I want nothing , my corne and Cattle prosper , and I haue enough to maintaine me during my life ? Another boastes of his thriftie children ; Another of his beautifull buxum and louing wife . Doe not many silly men thus foolishly ●latter themselues , and thinke that God dealeth thus fauourably with them aboue others , as an argument of his loue towards them , farre aboue those that are many wayes afflicted ? but let them consider it well , and they shall finde the contrarie ; for , if God indeed loued them , he would assuredly correct them : for hee chastiseth euery sonne that hee receiueth ; for euery man is a sinner , and for sinne he correcteth . Therefore haue such men as are free from troubles , greater cause by farre to suspect themselues to be out of Gods fauour , then to boast of his loue ; and to thinke rather , that they are vnder the power and slauerie of Satan ; and that the world & the pleasures of the ●lesh haue bewitched them : for where Satan is silent , he suffers men to sleepe securely : he is loath to trouble them , out of their secure slumber ; And hee is content ●hat the world should smile vpon them , and to giue them all sensuall content , neuer desiring to crosse them . And this maketh many poore soules , falsly to imagine , that they are here euen in Paradise , when the deuill hath them Captiues . But , when it pleaseth the Lord of his great mercie , to alter their carnally pleasing condition ; and to giue them some bitter potion , or some precious eye-sal●e , to make them see the danger they stand in , by awaking them by his correcting rod ; And they begin to be sensible of their miserable estate , and to encline to repentance : Then shall they finde Sathan ( before silent as a Lambe ) roaring as a Lyon , bereft of his prey , labouring by all infernall and ●lattering meanes , to retaine them still . And where before he seemed not to appeare in his likenesse , in vsing any apparent tentations , finding them already sufficiently chayned vnto him : seeing now his Captiues , like to breake loose , and to escape ; They shall finde he will vomte out a floud of hellish tentations after them , to bring them backe againe ; and will leaue no meanes vnattempted , neither inward tentations , nor outward allurements , nor the enclinations of a mans own will , to ouerthrow them : And where before hee was contented , they should be free from troubles and afflictions ; hee will now worke all the meanes he can , to loade them with all kindes of miseries ; not to make them better , but , as much as in him lyeth , to driue them to despaire in God : And ( as Iobs wife , by his instigation said to her husband ) to curse God and dye . So that their case is dangerous that liue securely free from Sathans malice , from feeling of their sinnes , and from worldly troubles ; and happy are they that suffer here vnder the gentle hand of God , and according to his will. Sathans tentations , and greatest afflictions , are no new and strange things , but vnto them onely that haue long beene lulled in the lap of all kindes of pleasures : When crosses in deed light vpon them , they thinke them strange ; but vnto the dearest children of God , they are , and haue beene euer familiar ; and Gods Elect Saints haue beene euer companions in afflictions . Therefore St. Peter , to the comfort of all afflicted , to the end of the world , saith , Dearely beloued , thinke it not strange , concerning the firie tryall , which is amongst you to try you : as though some strange thing were come vnto you : but reioyce , in as much as ye are pertakers of Christes sufferings , that when his glory shall appeare , ye may be glad and reioyce . Therefore let euery man comfort himselfe in his proper affliction ; And consider well the course that Almighty God taketh with afflicted men , be they punished in his anger in iustice , or chastined in his mercie : the naturall man maketh no distinction betweene iust punishments , and fatherly corrections ; hee thinkes the chastisements of Gods children , to be of the like nature , as are his iust iudgements vpon the wicked . And therefore maketh no difference , but concludes all vnder one and the same sentence of wicked men , because they are alike punished : and in deede it is hard for a man to iudge his owne ; much more hard , to determine of another mans deseruings b●fore God ; who often times keepes the godly still in trouble , and easeth the wicked : which maketh the carnall man to thinke the wicked to be in Gods fauour , and the childe of God in deede , not to be beloued of him . But marke well the purpose of God , in thus relieuing , comforting , and easing a wicked man of his troubles ! thinke not it is in his loue , but in that he obserueth in him a minde enclined to some stubborne opposition against his commaunds , which he would put in execution , but that his crosses and afflictions hinder him : As Pharaoh , being afflicted , entreated Moses to pray for him ; and being eased thereof , he forgat his affliction . So the children of Israell , when they rebelled against God , and GOD afflicting them for their disobedience , assoone as by submission and prayer they were eased , they fell to their old and wonted stubbornnesse : And this doth God fore-see ; namely , that neither affliction , and misery on the one side ; nor prosperity and outward felicity on the other , can bring a wicked man to be good , a rebellious to be obedient . As touching Gods correcting , and againe comforting his owne children , it is to another end ; for when by his chastisements he hath sufficiently tryed and humbled them , and brought them to the knowledge , and acknowledgement of that , for which their calamities and crosses are fallen vpon them ; namely , for their sinne and disobedience : Then hee begins as the skilfull Chirurgion , to lay mollifying and healing plaisters of loue vpon their wounds ; hee workes inward assurance of the free pardon of their sinnes , in their consciences , by the apprehension of his mercies in Christ. The godly may be visited with sicknesse , so may the wicked , and either of them recouer their health ; They may likewise fall into pouerty and want , they may be alike imprisoned , they may fall into equall outward crosses , and be alike eased of them . But to the comfort of the one , and that Gods glory may the more appeare in his recouerie and release , through his faithfull prayers ; and to the further condemnation of the other ; reseruing for him a greater punishment , howsoeuer hee may thinke , that God hath restored him in his loue . And therefore , be sure whosoeuer thou art that sufferest affliction here , to hold fast by God through a strong faith : and know that thy crosses are sent thee , to exercise thee with patience and obedience , and to make thee better . And therefore if God be pleased to ease thee of any of thy troubles , it is in his great mercie , to make thee to know , and to acknowledge , that thy crosses and corrections , and the cure of them , come onely from God ; who requireth of thee onely thankfulnesse , and new obedience : for , if thou vpon recouerie of thy sicknesse , vpon supply of thy wants , vpon thy freedome of imprisonment , or vpon release of wha●soeuer troubles , thou shouldest returne to thy former sinnes ; thou must looke for new , and more seuere and ( speedie ) punishments . Be well aduised therefore , repine not at thine afflictions , but in patience possesse thy soule : wayte the good pleasure of God for thy deliuery ; & forget not in all thy troubles , to lift vp thine eyes to him that striketh thee ; entreate him in an humble heart by faithfull prayer , in the name of his Sonne : faint not , and hee will ease thee , or release thee . A necessarie Prayer , for strength , to beare whatsoeuer afflictions , with patience ; and for faith , to resist the tentations of Sathan , that will suggest , they proceede of Gods meere displeasure . O Lord my GOD , who in thy wisedome , diddest first forme me in , & broughtest mee out of my mothers wombe : In thy goodnes hast relieued mee ; and in thy prouidence , as a Father , preserued mee vnto this day : And before I was borne , diddest determine all things , that I should suffer in this my mortall life ; Leaue me not now , I beseech thee , nor forsake me , for now are the troubles and tryals befalne mee , which thou hadst determined from the beginning ; onely through my sinnes , whereby I haue grieuously offended thee . I thanke thee Lord , that thou hast so fatherly a care of me , as not to suffer mee to runne on in my sinnes , without this gentle correction . I confesse , O Lord , before I was afflicted , I forgat to serue thee ; nay , I forgat mine owne sinnes , I followed mine owne wanton and vnruly desires , and corrupt will , as I was misled by that deceiuing guide , that miscaries all those that forsake thee , and follow him : And therefore I acknowledge thy iudgements iust , and my troubles deseruedly layde vpon mee ; yet not in so heauie a manner , as thou iustly mightest inflict them : For , as the troubles and afflictions are infinite , which thou canst finde out , to inflict vpon thy sinning children : So mightest thou haue layde the most heauie of them vpon me , because my sinnes are great and infinite ; And I cannot but acknowledge , that had it not beene , that thy mercies surmount my sinnes , I had perished vnder my troubles long agone . If thou haddest obserued euery of my sinnes , and for euery of them haue inflicted vpon seuerall punishments ; I could neuer haue beene able to beare the least part of them , I should haue fainted and sunke vnder them . But , such hath beene thy fatherly loue towards me , that thou hast not punished me , according to the tenne thousandth part of my deseruings . Though sometimes I haue felt thy rod , and haue beene sensible of thy corrections , yet neuer ouerpressed with them . I haue had sicknesse , but thou healedst me : I haue had enemies , but thou hast defended me ; I haue been in diuers mortall dangers , but thou hast preserued me ; I haue beene in want , but thou hast relieued me ; I haue had many domesticall crosses , but thou hast giuen mee patience to beare them : And although I be not yet free from some of them ; yet will I not feare or faint , now ( by thy grace ) hauing had so many testimonies of thy fatherly louing kindnesse towards me , in working so many gracious deliueries for me . My sinnes then prouoked thee to correct me : I am a sinner still , and therefore I cannot but look , for my continuall sinnes , continuall chastisements . But Lord , let not thy corrections be such punishments as thou inflictest vpon such as haue neither feeling of their sinnes , nor are sensible of thy punishments ; I confesse my sinnes , I feele thy correcting hand gently layde vpon me ; And I finde , gracious Father , that though thou be displeased for my sins , yet art thou not so seuere in thy chastisements , as I iustly deserue . Thou proportionest my corrections , according to thine owne gift of faith and patience , which thou fatherly doest furnish mee withall ; so that I am in some measure able to beare them : or thou giuest mee faith and patience , according to the weight of thy corrections ; otherwise it were not in my power , to beare the least of thy chastisements ; but with much impatience , murmuring , and grudging , whereunto thou knowest my weake nature is enclined . And thou Lord , well knowest what a malicious and subtill aduersarie I haue , Sathan , that endeuoureth to draw me , to rebell and to kick against thy fatherly corrections ; suggesting vnto me , that they proceede of thy finall hatred towards me : and coueteth to feede my carnall enclination , with the vaine pleasures and delights of the world , and the lusts of my corrupt heart ; and to reiect the yoke of thy gentle chastisements . But Lord , thou hast taught me to know ; and I haue found him ( as in deede he is ) a lyer , an enemie , a tempter . O giue mee wisedome to obserue , and strength to withstand all his tentations and a●lurements , that I may onl●●elie vpon thy prouidence , mercie , and goodnes ; wherein I know that all the troubles and afflictions which I now endure , and that thou shalt hereafter impose vpon me ; are the true and infallible tokens of thy loue towards me : And therefore shall neither my hope nor my patience in suffering , be weakened , notwithstanding his malice . Though I should walke through the valley of death ; yea , if Death were instant before me ; I will not feare : for , thou art with me in all my dangers , to succour mee . Thy rod & thy staffe they comfort me : Affliction and sorrow may endure for a little time , and then cōmeth ioy . Thy dearest children , O Lord , endure troubles ; but as they come of thee , so are they eased againe by thee . Thou hast sent me great troubles , O Lord , and many aduersities haue befalne me , but not without thy prouidence ; and thou hast hether-vnto sustained me in them all . I will therefore goe forward in thy strength , who hast hether-vnto vpholden me by thy power . And therefore my trust and sure confidence is , that I shall neuer perish , in whatsoeuer troubles . Though sorrow and heauinesse , vnder mine afflictions , may seeme to oppresse me , and to presse mee downe ; yet taking perfect holde through a liuely faith , of thy neuer-fayling promises : I am assured in thy good time , to be finally relieued & comforted . In the meane time O Lord , giue mee perfect patience , and let my faith neuer faile mee ; But as thou hast willed me , I cast my burthen ( euen the burthen of my sinnes , for which thou correctest me , and the troubles which thou inflictest vpon me for my sinnes ) vpon thee my Christ , who hast suffered both for my sinnes , and for the punishment of them . And hast promised to nourish me , to sustaine , maintaine , and vphold me in all my tryals . Lord , I haue had experience of thy goodnesse , mercie , and fauour towards me , euer since I was borne ; by thee I haue beene stayed ▪ from the wombe ; Thou tookest me out of my mothers bowels ; I haue euer since tasted of thy goodnes , thy power hath held me vp ; thy prouidence hath euermore found out meanes to relieue mee in my greatest necessity , to defend me in my greatest dangers , to ease mee in my greatest griefe . O my God , grant that I now may not distrust thine accustomed mercies , but may still assure my selfe , that when greatest danger shall befall mee , that rather then thou wilt leaue me helplesse , thou wilt giue thine Angels charge ouer me , that I shall not be vtterly out of hope of helpe ; and that thou wilt send from heauen and saue me . Thou hast promised to couer the faithfull , euen with the wings of thy protection . I beleeue Lord , therefore I pray , that thou wil● sustaine me , and deliuer me out of some of my troubles . I embrace thy chastisements , O Lord , with a thankfull heart , knowing that , that man is blessed , whom thou correctest : Be not therefore far from me , O my God , though I be compassed about with many troubles . Though feare possesse my soule , confirme my faith , & I shal not faint . Thou hast promised not to be farre from them that call vpon thee faithfully : let not therefore faith faile me , O Lord , and then lay what thou wilt vpon me ; for I know thee to be my Lord that hast made me , my strength that hast hether-vnto sustayned mee , my Redeemer that hast saued me , and he that will for euer preserue me . Amen . Lord encrease my faith . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A08282-e1740 Patience beareth all things . Patience brooketh not a repining heart . Patience is neuer idle . Patience a marke of the Childe of God. Psal. 38. 15 Where no triall is , Patience cannot appear . Rom. 5. 3 ▪ 4 Afflictions make not a Patient mā miserable , but rather honorable . Carnall men think Patience sottishnes . Patience findes comfort in the end . 2. Kin 18. 〈◊〉 2. Sa. 16. 〈◊〉 Why God sendeth his children troubles . Heb. 12. 11 God limiteth our afflictions . Iob 5. 6. Seuerall kindes of afflictions . Luc 21. 1. We ought to imbrace whatsoeuer God layeth vpon vs. Afflictions , Medicines for sinnes . Good thinges become euill to the wicked . Afflictions the crowne of the godly . Gods children haue least rest in the world . Iob 5. 17. Luk. 21. 19. Heb. 12. 6. Reu. 3. 19. God correcteth none but for sinne . Sinne causeth afflictions . No man is here punished according to the merit of sin Psa. 19. 12. Psal. 32. 5. No man can hide his sinnes from God. 1. Io. 1. 9. The entrance into Gods fauour is to confesse our sinnes . God doth not punish euery man a like . Mat. 26. 75. 2. Sam. 12. 13. Though God forgiue our sinnes hee keepes vs in awe by some crosse Ver. 14. Beware of hardnes of heart . We must with confession of our sinnes ioyne repentance in faith . Math. 27. 34. We must daily confesse our sinnes because wee daily sinne , but not stay vpon confession as Kaine and Iudas did . Pro. 9. 27. Io. 11. 2. Ezec. 18. 32. Ver. 23. What true repentance is . Markes of true repentance . Sorrow for sinne and faith in Christ must goe together . It is onely the grace of God that worketh repentance Rom. 8. 29. Eph. 1. 5. 6. 7. Wee bee made the sonnes of God in Christ , in & by whom wee haue power to pray vnto the Father 1. Io. 5. 14. Iam. 1. 6. We ought to take our afflictions patiently because they are sent of God. God sendeth sometimes afflictions , to make vs to acknoweledge his power with thankefulnesse in remoouing them . Gods stripes hurt vs not but heale vs. Iam. 5. 10. They are blessed that suffer with Patience . Counterfeit Patience . Afflictions here the liuery and badge of Gods children . Christ afflictions here in the world . Nothing befalleth vs but by the prouidence of God. Christ suffered not for himself but for vs. What is required of vs for the release of our sinnes . How wee ought to make peace with God. Sinne the greatest affliction that can befall a man. Sinne a common disease and sickenesse of the soule of euery man. Gen. 8. 21. All sinne proceedeth from the corruption of the heart . A seruile feare . 1. Io. 2. 1. 2. Gods mercies greater then our sinnes . Micah 7. 18. 19. Psal. 103. 11. God died for sinners , but not for such as dye in their sinnes . The means to be eased of sinne . 1 Ioh. 4. 14. The bloud of Christ is able to clense the greatest sinner . Psal. 51. Ver. 3. What confession wee must make . Iam. 2. 10. Sorrow for sin a good beginning of true repentance , yet , not perfect without perseuerance in wel doing . Sathans illusions . 〈◊〉 . 4. 14. Not to beleeue Sathans suggestions . S●● Iusi● Math. 8. 29 Sathan guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost 1. Ioh. 4. 14. Iam. 4. 7. As Christ triumphed ouer Sathan so shal all beleeuers . Euery faith full Christian combating with Sathan , hath Christ his second . Sathan noting whereunto man is enclined , feedes him with occasions to offend . Eph 2. We are neuer free from trials . Sathan hath swift wings to follow , and to tempt sinners . Most worthy men haue beene guilty of great sins . If there were no sinne , there needed no Redeemer . None can loue God , but such as he loueth . Christ is the truth , the way , and the life . Pray . God accepteth inward sighs for sinne . Sicknes of the soule , & sicknes of the body great afflictions . The soule and body feele one the others sicknesse . Sathan in our health tempteth vs to sinne , and in sicknesse presents it vnto vs. Sathan is most busie to tempt vs , to distrust God , when wee are neerest our death . The true childe of GOD , is most tempted of Sathan , wherby he may know that sathan hath no share in him . When wee are w●akest , and Sathan busiest , God in Christ is strongest for vs. God sheweth great fauour by drawing vs out of the power of Sathan by sicknesse . Exo. 15. 26. The neglect of the word and seruice of GOD , a great sin . Ioh. 11. 4. 15. Prayer an argument of the child of God. The effects of true repentance . Fit signes of repentance in a sicke man. A sick man may inwardly pray , thogh standers by obserue it not . Wee may pray for health in our sicknes , and seek to the Physician , so we depend not more vpon his ●rt , thē vpon Gods blessing . To abandō cunning men and women ▪ so reputed . 2. Kings . How thankfulnesse should appeare vpon recouery . Comfort ▪ against death . Not to fear death , for it frees vs from many troubles , and brings vs many blessings . How to prepare vs for death . How to dis●ose of worldly things before we die , and how to leaue all . The ioyes of heauen are inexpressible . Why wee should desire to dye . Pouerty and want a great affliction . Riches and pouerty variable . Easier to fall then to rise . Riches and pouerty may both proceede of Gods mercie . The ground of true prosperity . The cause and meanes are to be examined how a man comes poore . To get , and ryotously to spend , is idlenesse it selfe . Idlenesse the cause of many sinnes . God sends pouerty & want to weane vs from sinne that fulnes procured . Great difference betweene the rich gluttō aud poore Lazarus . God dealeth well with vs , to take away the meanes that make vs proud . Pouerty nor riches make men good or euill . Pouerty to some , better then riches . Men i●dged happy and vnhappy according to their welth and want . God iudgeth not according to the outward appearance . Foode and cloathing a sufficient portion . Superfluous foode and rayment haue vndone many . God is ready to receiue a prodigall . God neuer faileth the faithfull . Math. 15. 33. 34. Math. 14. 17 ▪ Mar. 6. 38. God can satisfie his children with little . Deut. 29. 5. It is a great dishonour to God , to thinke he cannot doe now as he did of old , for the reliefe of his . Before corporall wee are to aske spirituall things . Math. 6. 13. God , as he was so , he is , and will be for euer . Why God depriueth men of their libertie . The Prison a place of libertie to serue God. It is a death to a carnall man to bee preuented of his pleasures . The minde may bee at libertie when the bodie is imprisoned Many are worse after then before they were imprisoned None is restrained of his liberrie but by Gods Prouidence though man may bee the meanes . As all men are sinners so all men deserue c●rrection . If a corporall prison be irksome what may we thinke of the infernall ? God restraineth men here to giue thē libertie hereafter . The cause of imprisonment is to bee considered . Gen. 39. 14 Math. 13. 4. He that is imprisoned without iust cause , may reioyce . 1. King. 22. 27 Most godly men haue beene imprisoned . As the cause is , so ought the counsell to be . Diuers causes of imprisonement . What is required of a man imprisoned . Treason the most capitall sin . A Traytor worthy of most cruell death . The Maiestie of a King daunteth a Traitor . Traytors bewray their intentions , by outward gesture . No good subiect will pitie the death of a Traytor . Murther a crying sin . Act 28. 4. The blood of the murthered cryes against the murtherer The prison is a fit place for a murtherer to repent , if he haue any grace . It is not sufficient for a murtherer to confesse the fact to God , but to men . The guiltlesse maybe suspected and suffer , for the fact of another not confessed . Euery man knowes the offences against the Lawes that deserue death . God sometimes punisheth an offendor for some former sin ▪ by the suspition of a fault he did not commit . The offēce of mans Lawe is the offence of Gods. The sooner an offender is preuented of his sinne , the happier is he . Better to suffer here , then hereafter . Though the Law of God commandeth to owe to men nothing but loue , yet there must bee lending & owing , but there ought to be no defrauding by owing . Eccl. 29. 4. Ver. 5. 6. The picture of Bankrupts . They that can & will not pay are worthilie punished . They that willingly would and cannot pay are to bee pityed . Fit to examine the cause , that driueth a man to borrow . A good man may be indebted , & imprisoned for it , and that no argument of Gods displeasure . The pleasures whervpon men spend their meanes , are nothing but drosse . The last fit refuge for a poore man that cannot pay his debts . Gen. 39. 14. to 21. Math. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 31. Math. 4. 24. Men ought to doe as they would be done vnto . Charity begins at home : a prouerbe often ill applied . The course of cruell men . Some brag to make dice of their poore debtors bones . The policy of some creditors . How can a cruell creditor pray , forgiue me as I forgiue ? A godly rich mans best vsury . They are deceiued that thinke goodnes to consist in goods . Pro. 10. 15. 16. If the rich change robes with the poore , the poore will be the Gentleman , the rich the begger . The rich Glutton and poore Lazarus . Luk. 19. A worthy example for rich men to follow . Good counsell for the rich . A dead mā hath no goods . Rich credico●s must not w●rke all extremities that humane lawes permits . Wilfull able debtors may be enforced . Enemies are necessarie . Psal. 55. 19. Enemies are better then flattering friends The way to trye a true friend from a flatterer . It is a mischiefe not to knowe a friend from a flatterer . Rom. 16. 18. The best meanes to auoid slander is to liue vertuously . Math. 18. 7. To giue no cause of offence . If offence be committed , seeke reconciliation speedily . Take no offence at any mans words or deeds , vnl●sse they 〈◊〉 to the dis●●n●●r of God or the King. God hath a hand in whatsoeuer befalleth vs. Because we see not our owne faults God makes other men to obserue them . God vseth enemies often times to reclaime vs from sin . Lue 6. 27. 28. The greatest hurt we can doe our enemies , is to doe them good . Rom. 12. 30. Pro. 25. 21. 12. The way to preuent a furious enemy . Humane policie or force , without the fear of God preuaile not against an enemy . God weakeneth the power of the enemies of his children . We must vndergoe ignominie and slaunders for a while , and after comes glorie . God sheweth not his anger when he suffers vs to bee persecuted for the profession of his truth . Math. 5. 10. 1. Pet. 4. 14. If we suffer for Christ , his Kingdom is ours by promise . Christ is persecuted in his mēbers . It is an honour to suffer for Christ , and he will reward . A dangerous thing to reuolt from the truth for feare of corporall punishment . Hee that denies Christ before mē , he will denie him before his Father . Sufferings are heere short , our glory eternall . If wee willingly forsake earthly things for Christ , we shall receiue heauenly . Losse of honor and office for Christ. Hee that willingly suffereth for Christ , hath more honor then he that only preacheth it , when there is no danger . Thinke it no dishonor to suffer for Christ as a malafactor A Martyr for Christ a most glorious title . Persecution a most glorious liuery of Gods children . God in his loue suffereth his here to be persecuted for his sake . The reuolt of others should not cause vs to feare . Ill to be indifferent . The cause why many are luke-warme . They that kill the body , cannot touch the soule . Good to loose a corporall to finde ahealy life . God doth comfort his at the time of their martyrdome . In this time of the freedome of the Gospell , this discourse may bee thought superfluous . A religious King maintaining the Gospell , a great blessing . Why this treatise may be at this time borne withall . The cause of banishment is to be considered . An infectious mēber in a Common-wealth fit to be punished or banished . Banishmēt presupposeth offence or danger . It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to flie his Countrie . Mat. 10. 23. Act. 14. ●16 . ● . King 17. 3 Cap. 19. 3. Exo. 2. 15. Gen. 27. 43. 44. Not to flie from the truth to false Religion . Mat. 26. 56. Not to flie as an euill doer . Gen. 4. 11 12. Many commit grieuous offences , in hope to flie before they be apprehended . Psal. 139. 9. 10. God finds a wicked man out goe where he will. A forraine Countrie frees not a wickedman from the Iudgement of God. The children of God banished , finde Gods fauour euery where . Where GOD is with a man , there is his home . A man may repent his sinnes , and serue the Lord in any strange Countrey . It was once a note of disgrace for a womā to be barren , and now many grieue they haue children . Pro. 10. 1. and 17. 25. Rebellious children greatest griefe . Though parents beget and beare children , they cannot make them good . Parents may doe their best endeuour , but it is in GOD to make good children . The duty of godly Parents to pray for their children . The society of wicked youth , ●he meanes to make many corrupt . Rebellious children can make arguments against good Parents out of Scripture . Parents may not giue ouer to counsell their children . Deut. 21. 18 The auncient punishment of an vngodly sonne . Many children for want of publicke punishment grow rebellious . Late lamentation of some parents . Euill youth a mischiefe to the common welth . Foolish mothers most guilty of making ill children . All pareuts not to bee condemned though many are . A fearefull example of a father too indulgent , and children stubborne . 1. Sam. 2. 24 A wicked son comes commonly to a shamefull and fearefull end . What godly parents should doe , when they haue done their best duties to make their children good and cannot . A good father not to be taxt for an vngodly sonne . Good fathers may haue wicked children . Gen. 4. 3. 2. Sam. 15. Gen. 16. 12. Wicked men haue not alwayes vngodly children . 2. King 16. ● 3. 23. 2. King. 20. 21. & 21. 18. & 22. & 23. Godly parents may haue wicked , and wicked parents good children . They that mary ought to knowe why mariage was instituted . Where formerly men and women were onely maried , now boyes and gerles . Carnall respects in mariage commonly leade men and women to mary . Hasty mariages bring hasty repentance . The true course how man and wife should conioyne themselues in holy mariage . Not ioyning of hands but hearts in the feare of God. Hearts contrarily affected can neuer be ioyned together in the Lord. Discorde betweene man and wife a great crosse . Eccl. 25. 1. The loue of man and wife a most pretious oyntment . Small matters in these dayes breedes quarels between man and wife . Many are the complaints between man and wife . Whē there was but one couple in the world , one accused the other , much more now . A preposterou● gouernment where the foot guides the head . The Scripture condemnes the woman to be more apt to giue offence then the man. The man not excused . Wiues often cumbred with idle and vnthriftie husbands . Contentious women driues their husbands oftē out of the house . Pro. 27. 15. Cap. 21. 9. Man and wife ought mutually to examine themselues before they reprooue each other . Man and wife must be equally content with their lot . Many seem fond in the beginning , that quickly growe colde . 2. Sam. 13. 1. Pet. 4. 8. Vnequall matches sildome prosper long . Pro. 18. 22. 19. 14. Men and women ought to pray to God to direct them , before they conclude mariage . Gen. 24. 12. The choyse of a wife or husband , is a matter of great moment , lightly regarded . The man is the womans head , and the woman a principall member of that head . Ephe. 5. 33. T●he loue of a man towards the wife , consisteth in comforting her . 1. Pet. 3. 7. A man ought not to leaue his wife , because of her in●rmities . Bitternes may moue the meekest woman . How the Husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his Wife . A mans greatest commendation , is , to win his wife with meekenes . A husband must thus examine himselfe . Men most faultie are aptest to abuse their wiues . How a husband should behaue him selfe , that hath an vnkind wife . Wiues complaints are more common then husbands . Crosses that men suffer here are infinite . Why God afflicteth his children here . Psal. 42. 7. One trouble calles for another Psal. 40. 12. Gods children must suffer here . Ioh. 15. 20. The godly must looke for tryals . If we sinne we shall be punished . Iam. 3. 39. 40. Afflictions are not the cause of sorrow but sin that procure them . Euery man that feareth not God is a transgressing foole . God will trye the graces and guifts hee giueth vs by afflictions . God proportions our afflictions according to our faith . They are in an ill case that suffer no troubles . Men that are not afflicted ●latter themselues that God loues them . They that haue no troubles may suspect themselues As long as Sathan findes men to runne on in security , hee troubles them not . A dangerous case to liue securely . The afflictions of the godly are not strange 1. Pet. 4. 12. 13. The naturall man makes no difference , betweene iust iudgements , and fatherly corrections . Great difference in the wisedome of God , in easing the godly and the wicked The end why God easeth the troubles of the godly . The godly and the wicked , may be alike afflicted . Men afflicted , ought to hold fast by God. Wee must waite Gods deliuerie .