Infirmities were multiplied upon them, and after that they made haste to come, ps. 15  
They sought thee out, O Lord, in their affliction. Esay 26.   

THE Sanctuary of a troubled Soul. Written by I. H.  
Newly reprinted, enlarged and emended; by the author himself.  
Before I was troubled I went wrong. Psal. 119.  
LONDON▪ Printed by I. W. and are to be sold at the Exchange by Cuthbert Burby. 1601.   

 
Provide thee of a medicine before the soar come, and examine thyself before judgement: and so shalt thou find propitiation in the sight of God, Eccies. 8. 18.   

The I. Devotion.  
The sinner touched with his own sins, and terrified with God's judgement, flieth unto Christ.  
O Christ, the Son of the most mighty God, the Saviour of most miserable men; whose blessed body was buffeted with siftes, torn with whips, stretched upon the cross, pierced with nails & spear▪ and bathed in the sweet streams of thine own blood, for the redemption of all mankind: to thee, O author, O restorer, O preserver of life, to thy majesty, to thy mercy, my sinful soul, full of fresh bleeding wounds. full of old corrupted sores, sick to the death with a surfeit of sin, would fain present itself, and send a few faint groans unto thy heavenly ears.  
but alas, the greatness of my disease hath almost taken away the sense thereof; and so horrible is my corruption, that I fear it will too much offend thy pure presence? and altogether avert, thy countenance from beholding me, thine ear from hearing me, and thy compassion from relieving me.  
O sin, the very bane and death of my soul, was it not enough for you to infect a heedless creature with your poison, but you must make it so ugly and loathsome, that the eye of mercy should not endure to beehould it? was it not enough for you to crush it in pieces with your weight, but you must also go about to stop, both the ear of pity with horror, & the mouth of prayer with shame? was it not enough for you to draw me to destruction, but you must also take from me, both the sense of grief, and the sight of danger; and consequently, the cure of the one, and care of the other?  
I was wounded & I felt it not: I was wounded to death, & I perceived it not: I was bound, I was beaten, and I regarded it not: yea, my wounds were a delightful tickling unto me, I took pleasure in most base bondage, and (like Salomon's fool) I laughed when I was lashed. For I was beside myself, when I was without thee, neither discerning and desiring that which was good nor yet seeing and shunning that which was evil. I became not only foolish, but altogether senseless; for thou art truth, & I was without thee, thou art life, & I was without thee.  
Alas how am I deformed? how am I defiled? O dear Christ, my fainting soul groaneth and gaspeth for thy grace, but it is abashed at thy glory: I would fain entreat thy mercy to heal me, but I am loath to offend thy majesty in beholding me: I am ashamed to lay open my iniquities, and yet (woe is me) I cannot appear before thee without them.  
Ah these my sins, how do they distress? how do they distract me? they desire to be seen, that they may be healed; but they shun to be shown, lest they should be detested: they are not healed without confession, and they are not heard without confusion: If they be covered they cannot be cured, and if they be opened they must needs be abhorred. In the mean time, their sharpness pierceth me, their weight presseth me, they torment me with grief, they terrify me with fear, they confound me with shame.  
What shall I say, or what shall I do, wretch that I am, whether did I bend myself, and to what pass am I now come? O Christ, I did not set thee before my eyes, and now I dare not appear in thy sight: I rejoiced but not in thee, & now I am troubled, but thou art not with me. Alas, better it were to be nothing, then to be without thee, without whom all things are nothing; better it were to be dead, then to be without thee, O our life.  
woe to me wretch, what shall I do in that terrible day, when at the sound of the trumpet all graves shall open, & yield up their prisoners, which they have kept fast fettered in the chains of death, from all ages since the world was made. When the books of every man's naked conscience shall be laid forth: when all my actions, words and thoughts, even those which I most esteemed, either concealed, or else forgotten, shall be set in so open and plain a view, that all the world shall point at me, and say, Behold the man and what he hath done. When I shall be compelled to answer to many things, whereof I would have scorned to have been either questioned or told, during the time of my life. when the heavens shall threaten me, the earth rise up against me, and all the creatures which I have abused cry vengeance upon me: when the devils shall accuse me, my own conscience give evidence against me, and the whole jury of Saints pass their verdict upon me.  
At that day to go forward it will be intolerable; to go back, impossible; to turn a side, unavaileable: and so great will be the astonishment, between sorrow, shame and fear, that the guilty sinner shall be desirous to hide himself, (if it were possible) even in hell.  
What way shall I then take in these desperate extremities? whether shall I turn myself? what shift, what friends shall I be able to make? all things giving cause of terror, and nothing of comfort. Alas, what shall I do, but even faint for fear, and stand as a most desperate and forlorn wretch, trembling and quaking before the presence of the most severe judge, who neither can be blinded, nor will be corrupted; altogether confounded, at the intolerable vehemency and weight of his wrath, at the inexcusable number and enormity of my sins, at the easeless and endless punishment which I shall see I have deserved.  
Who, where, what thing shall then be my comfort? when I shall behold, above, an angry judge condemning me; beneath, hell open, and the boiling furnace ready to devour me; on one side, the devils with bitter scoffs and upbraid haling me; on the other side, the saints and my very nearest friends, not only forsaking me, but rejoicing and praising God for his justice in my damnation: within, my conscience tearing me; without, the powers of heaven shaken and dissolved, the elements shivered in pieces; the whole world flaming, & all damned souls crying & cursing round about me.  
O indignation of of the almighty, fall not upon me; for I have neither power to resist thee, nor patience to endure thee, nor place to avoid thee. And doubtless, it is impossible, either to express, or to imagine, what an inestimable treasure a good conscience will be at that day: and if a sinner could now conceive the infinite sea of terrors and torments, which then he shall perceive to rush upon him, he would not endure them one moment, for all the false pleasures that his sweetest sins can afford.  
Alas wretch, what shall I do? if I speak, my sins stand up against me: & if I hold my peace, I find no man to comfort me. Mourn O my soul, drown thyself in bitter mourning; howl out and lament because of these heavy horrors which thine offences prepare daily to heap upon thee: thou being as unable to repel the one, as either to repress, or repent the other.  
And yet now thou dost see these evils, see also if thou canst shun them; let no pains be too great, no petitions either to often, or too earnest to make provision against that day: trample under foot the vanities of this life; shake them off, as Paul did the viper into the fire, lest they cause thee to shake. Run, O run unto thy only refuge jesus Christ thy redeemer, become (as it doth become thee) an humble suppliant, in the lowest degree both of sorrow and shame: prostrate thy self before his presence, pour out thy tears at his feet, make an abject countenance and gesture, unfeigned messengers of thy distressed mind; let thy words be seasoned with sighs, and bathed in tears, & so address thy suit unto him. Although it be late, it is not yet too late to call for his mercy: & wherefore shouldest thou be consumed in saying nothing? As it is impossible he should forget the passions which he endured, so it is not credible that he should not have compassion on thee for whom he suffered.  
O Christ, O son of the everliving God, in goodness infinite, infinite also in greatness, in power almighty, in wisdom wonderful, in judgement just, in promise true, in works holy, in mercy rich, patient toward sinners, & sparing when they do repent: call to thy remembrance, O sweet jesus, for whose sake thou wert content to endure all the miseries of mortality: hunger, cold, grief, poverty, contempt, scorn, blasphemies, bands, blows, the cross, wounds, death, and the grave.  
And now, O Lord, where is this love? where are these mercies? is thy goodness come to an end? and will thine anger never again be appeased? If I be full of impiety, art thou therefore not full of pity? & if I confess the one, wilt thou therefore deny the other? if my sins are greater than it is meet, are thy mercies lesser than they were wont? if thy glorious greatness did make me draw back, wilt thou therefore draw back thy gracious goodness?  
O Lord my God, although I am a sinner, yet am I thy creature: although I am a sinner, yet am I redeemed with the blessed price of thy blood. O Lord my life, It was no goodness in me that compelled thee to make me, but even thy love; it was no merit in me that did win thee to redeem me, but even thy mercy: why then sweet Christ and most loving jesus, let that love which compelled thee to make me, compel thee also to help me; let that mercy which did win thee to die for me, win thee also to save my life: for thou art always one, neither is thy love changed, nor thy mercy diminished.  
Hear me O Lord, heal me O Lord, heal my sick soul which panteth at thy feet, and is even at the point to perish: reject not him who dejecteth himself, let not the abasing of myself make me seem base unto thee: enter not into judgement with thy servant, but according to thy mercies, to the multitude of thy mercies put away mine iniquities.  
Think not on thy hate against a sinner, but think on thy love towards thy creature: remember not thy justice where by thou punishest, but remember thy mercy whereby thou savest: forget me as I was disobedient, provoking thee to wrath, & regard me as I am distressed, crying to thee for help. Comfort me that am weak, heal me that am wounded, raise me that am dead: heal the infirmity which grieveth me, & thou shalt remove the deformity which offendeth thee: take away the wretchedness whereof I languish, and thou shalt take away the lothsonnes which thou abhorrest: free me from my danger, and thou shalt free thyself from thy displeasure.  
O sweet Lord & most merciful jesus Christ, we know wherefore thou camest into the world, even to seek and to save that which was lost: and do not thou O Lord forget that which we, vile wretches, not only know, but shall acknowledge, either with trembling, or else with joy. Thou camest to save that which was lost, and wilt thou see me perish, in the view of thy pitiful eyes, in the presence of thy bowels of mercy? Thou camest to call sinners to repentance, & wilt thou not hear them when they do repent? thou camest to seek those which wandered, & to assemble those which were dispersed, and wilt thou not receive those which come unto thee, which cry after thee, which call upon thee?  
Thou didst not stop thine ears when thou wert blasphemed; and wilt thou stop them now thou art entreated? thou didst not turn away thy face from those that spat upon thee and buffeted thee, & wilt thou now turn it away from those that pray unto thee?  
O thou hope of my heart, & strength of my soul, whether should I run for succour, to whom should I resort, but only unto thee, who art the reconciler, the redeemer, the Saviour of mankind? O reconciler, whom wilt thou reconcile to thy Father, if thou rejectest a poor sinner, who condemneth himself, & calleth upon thee? if death shall devour him who dispaireth in himself, and trusteth in thee? if that soul shall be drowned in hell, which acknowledgeth his own wickedness with fear, and thy goodness with love? O redeemer whom hast thou then redeemed? O Saviour whom then wilt thou save?  
O Christ hear me, O Christ help me, or else tell me thy unworthy servant, O merciful God, tell thy servant, to whom shall I cry? to whom shall I complain? who is more able to help? who more easy to be entreated? to whom may I fly more safely? to whom more readily? who is more mighty? who more merciful? where may I be more bold? where more secure?  
O thou only refuge & relief of the distressed, to whom no man sueth without hope of help, forsake me not now I call upon thee, for before I did call upon thee, thou didst call me; and to the end that I should seek after thee, thou didst seek out me. Sweet jesus I praise thee for this voluntary gift of thy goodness, O let it not be unprofitable unto me: Finish that which thou hast begun, and give me the thing which thou hast moved me to desire.  
Hear my prayer, & have mercy upon me a forsaken orphan; look upon the tears of my misery. Have mercy upon me, O son of David, O fountain of mercy, have mercy upon me; let my soul be the sea to swallow up those streams which flow from thee, O fountain of mercy. heal the diseased, help the distressed which crieth to thee for comfort.  
O light, behold the blind; O strength, stretch forth thy hand that the lame may come unto thee; O life, raise the dead out of the sepulchre of his sins.  
O mercrfull lover of mankind, ah show thyself unto me; reveal thy glory, reveal thy grace, oh let me behold oh let me hold thee.  
Let me find, let me feel, that thou only art the hope of the distressed, the relief of the afflicted, the comfort, the strength, the joy of all. O Christ, let me not in vain believe this truth: O Christ let me not in vain lay hold upon this hope: O Christ, let me not in vain desire this mercy. And if my faith be so little, my hope so cold, my prayer so weak, that I can thereby deserve, neither pardon of my punishment, nor participation of thy glory; supply thou I beseech thee my imperfections, that by thy mercy I may obtain the one, and by thy merits the other.  
O Sweet jesus, O my God, bring me from all ontward things to myself, and from myself unto thee: make me as like to thee in will and desire, as I am in nature: set me wholly on fire with thy love; thy sweet love, thy longing love, thy chaste love; with desire of thee, with contentment, with joy, with satiety in thee. Let this light of thy love captivate my senses from all other both lights & delights, let it clear my soul from the gross vapours of earthly affections; that I may thereby, if not fully satisfy, yet show myself industrious to satisfy thy goodness and goodwill; and that as hitherto I have lived against myself, and without thee, so from henceforth I may lead my life, for myself, in and by thee, sweet jesus Amen.  Hom. II. a. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
Tam graui● ille mihi nigri quam limina ditis,  
o'er aliud qui fert, aliud sub pectore celat.  
As dale of death, so do I hate that kind,  
Whose tongue from th●ught, whose mouth descent from mind.  
Periissem nisi periissem   

  

The II. Devotion.  
The touch of sin and the terrors of hell, causeth the soul to lay hold upon God's mercy.  
O Soul, O wicked, O wretched soul, shake off sloth, this sleep, this death of sin, wherein thou walowest, and wherein thou wanderest: raise up, rouse up thyself from this dangerous dullness. Call to thy consideration (unhappy creature) from whence thou runnest, where thou art, and whereto thou hastnest: the favour which thou forsakest, the horror wherein thou abidest, and the terror whereto thou tendest.  
Thou wert once washed clean with the heavenvly fountain in baptism, clothed with the pure rob of righteousness, endowed with the joys of heaven, and espoused to my Saviour Christ: but now thou hast soiled thyself with sin, defiled that glorious garment, broken those sacred bands, and by impurity of life hast made thy loving spouse, both thine earnest enemy, and severe judge.  
O Christ, how can I forget thy goodness, and yet how dare I remember thy greatness? I have denied thee with Peter, beetraied thee with judas, and run from thee with thy other disciples: nay, with the most accursed cruel jews, I have mocked, blasphemed, buffeted and scourged thee; spit upon thy glorious face, & torn open thy tender wounds. Then since I have committed their cruelty, what hope may I have to avoid their curse; that thy blood be not upon me, and my posterity?  
Alas (miserable wretch) in what path have I walked? in what pollutions have I wallowed? & in what perplexities am I now plunged? wherein, the consideration both of good and evil tormenteth me a like: of good, with grief of that which I have lost: of evil, partly with sense of that which I sustain: and partly with fear of that which I expect. I have lost glory, I feel shame, I fear punishment: the loss is by me irreparable the shame inexcusable, the fear inconsolable. Oh miserable estate, oh uncomfortable, not only to be deprived of unspeakable joys, but to be afflicted with intolerable pains.  
O sin, the defiler, the deformer, the destroyer of souls, from how high a pitch of happiness hast thou dejected me? into how deep a gulf of miseries hast thou depressed me? with what a world of woes hast thou enclosed me? here woe and there woe, and a very hell of woes is heaped upon me.  
justly (Lord) justly am I thus tormented; for I have been faint, yea false in the charge that thou hast committed unto me: I have thrown away my spiritual weapons; I have forsaken the field of christian combat; and not only cowardly yielded, but traitorously turned to the prince of darkness.  
I have cast off my Saviour, and cast away myself; I have forsaken the society of saints, & joined company with the damned crew; I have abandoned the palaces of heaven, & built me a nest in the loathsome den of hell: I am altogether become an abject from God and a subject to the Devil.  
What hast thou done, O mad man, O mischievous, O monstrous man, what hast thou done? what a woeful exchange hast thou made? what a lamentable loss hast thou incurred? O perverse will, O miracle of madness. How, O God, hath corruption depraved me? how O God shall satisfaction restore me?  
Cast thyself (forlorn wretch) into the uncomfortable dungeon of sorrow, overwhelm thyself with mountains of bitter mourning: come grief, come horror, come anguish, come fear; heap your selves upon me, wrap me in, weigh me down, I have impudently contemned you, I have desperately provoked you, and now do miserably call for you.  
So, so, it is just, afflict the wicked, torment the guilty, revenge the injuries, revenge the perjuries which I have committed against God: give the sinner a touch of the infernal tortures which he hath deserved: give him a taste of the banquet which he hath prepared. Comfort, peace, security, joy, keep away, I will none of you, except you bring a pardon with you: disquiet shallbe my rest, mourning my mirth, sour sorrow my comfort.  
Alas, how shall I present myself before the majesty of the most righteous and upright judge? how shall my fearful face behold him? how terribly will he cast his countenance upon me? His eyes far brighter than the sun, have narrowly observed all my actions, he hath weighed my words, he hath numbered my thoughts; he hath seen, he hath sealed up all my sins: he hath hitherto been silent, hitherto patient; but out alas, he will one day cry out, one day he will call me to a reckoning for all.  
O my heart, O poor heart, O heart full of miseries, yea depressed, yea oppressed with manifold miseries; never able to sustain these firebrands of conscience. Alas mine eyes are not worthy to look towards heaven: yea, they are most worthy to be extinguished with tears. If then I be ashamed to be seen, how shall I be assured to be received? if I have no heart to ask, what hope can I have that I shall obtain.  
Go too then O sinful soul, enter again into the closet of thy conscience, turn over the books of thy accounts, cast thy reckonings, set down thy sums; see what thou hast done, and what thou hast deserved.  
Imprimis, for abusing many creatures, in desiring, seeking and embracing them above the Creator. Item, for blaspheming. Item, for swearing. Item, for lying. Item, for vile and vain talking. Item, for covetousness. Item, for cruelty. Item, for pride. Item, for ambition. Item, for riot. Item, for gluttony. Item, for drunkenness. Item, for lightness. Item, for looseness. Item, for lust. Item, for envy. Item, for hatred Item, for anger. Item for unquietness. Item, for frowardness. Item, for obstinacy. Iten, for rashness. Item, for violence Item, for idleness. Item, for sloth. Item, for hypocrisy. Item, for flattery. Item, for curiosity. Item, for detraction. Item, for oppression. Item, for slander, etc.  
The total snmme is, the manifest and manifold breach of all thy commandements.  
The penalty is, eternal banishment from thy presence, & intolerable and endless pains in hell fire.  
Out upon me wretch, alas what shall become of me? O my Lord, I know not what to do, I cannot tell what answer to make: and being now in extremity both of danger and fear, my cogitations trouble me, my conscience tormenteth me, every thought is athorne unto me.  
Nay go on then a little further, look down into hell, before thou leap into it; observe there who expects thy coming, and what shall be thy entertainment.  
O good God, what do I behold in this infernal lake, nothing but horror, tumultuous and eternal horror; fiery chains, flaming whips, scorching darkness, tormenting devils, and burning souls; howling, roaring and lamenting, woe and alas; with a mad rage blaspheming God; with a desperate impatiency, cursing themselves; tearing (in a manner) their own substance, and enuiting the furious fiends to torment them.  
Here every part of the condemned prisoner hath both a full and fit charge of punishment, without either intermission or change: the memory is tormented with pleasures that are past; the understanding, with joys that are lost; the apprehension, with pains that are present; and (above all,) the conscience is gripped with every particular offence that the sinner hath committed; which once were sweet, but then like serpents shall cruelly and restlestlye gnaw upon him. Never ceasing to rub into his remembrance, how base were the causes of his calamity what warning was given, what means were offered him to have avoided it; how easily he might, and many times how nearly he had apprehended the occasion; and yet how negligently, how foolishly, how madly he continued in his careless course.  
Further, the sight is afflicted with fearful darkness and ugly devils, the hearing with horrible and hideous cries, the smell with poisonous stink, the taste with bitterness of gall, the feeling with sharpness of fire.  
A fire, which as nothing doth feed it, so it consumeth nothing that it doth burn: a fire, which hath no light to comfort, but heat to torment: a fire, whose force shall never be either spent, or extinguished, or yet abated: but as long as God is God, so long shall it torment the wicked; and that with such vehemency of heat, that one drop of water to be applied to the scorched tongue will be of greater valuation than a thousand worlds.  
And besides these common torments, every offender shall have his particular pains, according to the difference of his sins, either in quality, or in kind. Of which pains, not only all, but any one shallbe so grievous, & so intolerable, as it is impossible for any mortal wit, either to express▪ or to imagine. And yet shall no creature be grieved at them; and endured they must be without any hope, FIRST, of intermission; SECONDLY, of abatement; THIRDLY of change, (without which things, not only painful, but indifferent, yea pleasant, become insupportable;) fourthly, of comfort, but to the contrary, the devils shall upbraid them, the damned curse them, and the Saints deride them; LASTLY, of end, but after so many millions of ages as there are drops of water in the sea, the damned shall be as far from either end or ease of their torments, as they were the first day of their beginning.  
O intolerable punishment, which no means can moderate, no patience can endure, no time shall end: Is this (O Lord) the wages of sin? is this the punishment of wicked doers, of whom I am one, in so deep a degree? and is it marvel then if my conscience quake? if my soul cleave with sighs? and if my eyes be drowned in tears.  
But where am I, and whether am I carried? whether do you drive me, O my sins? whether, O God, dost thou deliver me? If my sins have made me that I am thy offender, have they also made me that I am not thy creature? If the Devil hath bereaved me of my purity, hath he also beereaved thee of thy pity? If thy justice may rightly damn me, cannot thy mercies possibly save me? and if I have deserved the one, have I thereby also disclaimed the other?  
O merciful Lord, do not so look upon me, that thou see not thyself: regard no so my wickedness that thou behold not thy own goodness: remember not so the sins that I have done, that thou forget the substance which thou hast made.  
What (O Lord) is the sense of this saying? I will not the death of a sinner, but I desire that he be converted and live: is this I will not the death of a sinner, if thou rejectest a sinful soul, if thou drownest it in hell, that crieth unto thee for mercy? is this I desire that he be converted and live?  
O gracious God, whose word is a will, and whose will is a power, who dost promise nothing but that which thou dost purpose, and who dost purpose nothing but that which thou able to perform, suffer me I pray thee, to speak with thy mercy; me, I say, earth and ashes, suffer me to speak with thy mercy, for great are thy mercies towards us.  
Lord, if thou wilt not the death of a sinner, what necessity is there that I should be damned? If thou desirest that a sinner should be converted and live, what difficulty is there that I should not be saved? can the power and malice of the Devil? can the number, can the enormity of my offences, either constrain that which thou wouldst not, or hinder that which thou desirest?  
No, no, my God, the devils tremble at thy mighty majesty: and if the sins of the whole world were ballaunced against the least of thy mercies, they could hold no weight; much less can the offences of one wicked wretch sway thy Almighty and merciful will. For by how much God is greater than man, by so much is my wickedness inferior to thy goodness.  
Have mercy therefore upon me, O almighty God, return, del●uer my soul, save me for thy mercy's sake: for if thou wilt thou canst save me, and in thy will resteth the strength of my hope.  
Remember not thy justice, and my deserts, but remember thy mercies, and my miseries: think not upon thy hate towards offenders, but think upon thy love towards thy creatures: cast thy severe eye of revenge upon thy son, but look upon me with thy eye of pity.  
O dear God, hell is already full, and what profit is there in my destruction? Also many millions of sinners will never come unto thee, will never call nor care for thy help: so that if thou rejectest the repentant and sorrowful sinner, who then shall be saved? and whom wilt thou f●●de righteous, if 〈◊〉 judgest without mercy?  
When I was not, O Lord, thy fingers framed me, and thou neither hatest nor contemnest any thing that thou hast made. When I was a captive of the devil, a slave of hell, thou diddest send thy beloved son to die for my redemption: and do not now I beseech thee, cast that away, which thou h●●● purchased at so ●●gh a price. When I walked in my own wicked ways, thou didst patiently endure me, mightily preserve me, and graciously call me; and wilt thou not now beestow one loving look upon me?  
Why then (O loving God) look upon thy beloved son: behold what he hath suffered, & of thy goodness call him to thy remembrance, for whom, thy will & his obedience did cause him to suffer. Behold his bitter agonies wherein his body was sprinkled with a bloody sweat; behold his back torn with whips, his head pricked with thorns, his face defiled with spitting: behold his blessed body so strained upon the cross, that all his bones might be numbered: behold his harmless hands, & his undefiled feet pierced with sharp nails: behold his naked side struck through with a spear: behold the abundance of blood which gushed forth of those holy fountains; which blood still streameth fresh in thy sight, and now pleadeth for my pardon.  
Behold (O gracious God) how his feeling was possessed with pain, his hearing with reproach, his eyes with scorn, his taste with gall: behold how his neck bowed, his head hung, his breast beat; how his sight waxed dim, his countenance pale, his legs & arms stiff, how he groaned; how he gasped and gave up the ghost. Behold the priest, behold the sacrifice, even the lamb undefiled, gloriously imbrued with his own blood.  
Gracious and merciful God, by this thy son, by this my Saviour, I most humbly beseech thee to look favourably upon me; incline thine ears towards me, hide not thy face now my soul is troubled. graciously receive the lost sheep which straying from thy pastures through sin, and flying from thy presence through a guilty conscience, he hath lovingly sought, and joyfully doth bring unto thee upon his own shoulders. Hear me (O God of all power) & turn towards me; and let thy mercies accept his merits for full satisfaction of my misdeeds.  
O infinite mercy, thou hast set us a way, and given us a light; thou hast threaned us the pains of hell, and promised us the joys of heaven, now pierce my flesh with thy fear, that I may avoid the one; and inflame my soul with thy love, that I may attain the other. grant I pray thee, that as long traveilers are thereby taught to love their own country, so my former errors may henceforth be a mean to hold me in the right path: that being led by thee, & walking through thee, I may come unto thee, and rest in thee: for we (silly worms) are unable to enter into thine eternity, unless thou who hast created us, dost guide us in.  
Save (O God who desirest not the death of a sinner) save my sinful soul, which flieth from thy fearful justice, to thy comfortable mercies; from the desert of my sin, to the desert of thy Son. This (O God is easy to thy power, and usual to thy mercy, and agreeable to thy will  
Such are the witless wilful, right, as is the heedless fly, Which kills itself, & hurts his sight has hath her in his eye.  
Sperate miseri: Cavete faelices.   

The death of saints is precious. Psal. 125.  
Miserable is the death of Sinners. Psal 53.   

The III. Devotion.  
The guiltiness of sin, and the consideration of Death, calleth the sinner to call upon God, for his mercy in jesus Christ.  
O Most high, most holy, most mighty, most merciful, most good, most goodly, most loving, most fearful and terrible God; the Creator, the renewer, the maintainer of all things: whom to know, is to be wise; whom to serve, is to reign; whom to love, is the life and happiness of the soul: behold, I poor wretch, to thee who art both rich, and liberal; I miserable, to thee who art both pitiful and plentiful do draw near: behold, a hunger-starved beggar knocketh at thy door; open unto me, O honourable householder, without whom all abundance is beggary; open, I say, thy mercies to my miseries: and although I am not worthy to sit at thy feast with thy sons, yet with the basest of thy servants, let me be refreshed with some broken pieces that are taken from thy table.  
Thou hast commanded us, (O gracious God) to knock, to ask, and to seek: whereupon thou hast promised to open, to give, and to be found: behold now my sighing doth seek thee, my tears cry unto thee, and the groans of my pained soul, do knock at the gate of thy mercies: behold, Lord, I am desirous to do thy will, perform thou, I beseech thee, thy word.  
And first (O Lord) I acknowledge against myself, that I was conceived in iniquity, and borne in misery; but thou of thy free love didst cleanse me, thou didst sanctify me, thou didst through faith on my part and mercy on thine betroath thyself unto me.  
Yet I, unmindful of so great goodness, have since, with many a foul fact, distained myself, and dishonoured thee; not dreading thy displeasure, whole wrath maketh the devils to quake. I was borne in necessary, but I plunged myself in voluntary sins, I made no conscience in offending thee, & feared not to forget thy law.  
Notwithstanding thou, according to thy wont mercies, didst not banish me from thy protection; but as though I had daily and duly observed thy will, thou didst bountifully heap thy benefits upon me; so much undeserved of me, as not desired.  
When I sinned against thee, the devil was ready to have made a prey of me, I was content, I was desirous to have perished with him: but thou (O Lord) didst drive back him, and draw back me; not only without either my request or knowledge, but very much against my mind.  
When I was in danger of death, both by sickness & casualties, and my soul was so rocked a sleep in sinful security, so burdened with the weight of wicked actions, that it must needs have sunk down into hell; thy grace stood by me, thy power did preserve, both my body from death, and my soul from damnation.  
I did offend thee, but thou didst defend me. I did deserve death, but thou didst preserve life; I did not regard thee, when thou didst safely guard me: I (like a wretch either senseless of desperate) did forsake thee, and fly unto mine enemy; I did long, I did labour to have been lost: but thy care did keep me, whilst I busied in vain things never marked so much; thy love did seek with very great and gracious favours to win me unto thee.  
But as one that is sick of a sleepy disease cannot be awaked but by pinching; so out of this lethargy of sin, my sleepy soul (neither unworthy nor unwilling to have perished) could not be called to itself, but by some sharp and sensible accident.  
Hereupon thou begannest to run with me a more rugged race, laying many kind crosses upon me; not only to bend my unwilling, but to break my wilful mind, and to make it appliable to thy pleasure. Thou didst call me out of the wilderness of worldly delights, wherein my guiltiness would have hid it self from thy presence; thou didst compel me out of ●●e high way to hell; thou didst take me up straying in the streets to attend upon thee; thou didst enter covenant with thy servant, thou didst stir in me a desire, & strengthen, an endeavour to follow thee: thou didst instruct, thou didst enable, both my understanding, and also my power; that to discern, this in some degree of duty to do thy will.  
Yet I (wretch that I am) since my entrance into thy service; have either ungraciously forgotten, or ungratfullye remembered all thy benefits, and have not so esteemed thee for them, as I would have done a mortal friend for a few curtisies of course. I have forsaken thee again, and followed the right trace of the unrighteous world; thinking every thing good whose evil I had not tried. I have provoked thee, I have stirred up thine anger, I have deserved thy displeasure, I have done evil in thy sight; not ignorantly but presumptuously; not weakly but wilfully; not fearfully, but impudently having not only lost the tender touch of conscience, but beginning to bear myself (an offence beyond the degree of my vile word) in a bravery of evil.  
Alas how deeply hath corruption tainted my soul? what folly hath not had his feat in my mind, and left his footsteps in my actions? Nay, I have far exceeded the limits of folly; no man not banished from his own wits, would thus have been entrapped, thus entangled. I should have repent me of my former sins, but I have in such sort both increased & aggravated them; that I have scarce left, either number for more, or place for worse.  
O my God, what answer shall I make? how shall I either excuse, or extenuate this my relapse? shall I pretend the sly subtleties of the devil; the fair-faced shows of the world? the pleasant persuasions of the flesh? the woman gave it me, the serpent deceined me? Tush, all these are baits for babes; but I was come to a greater staidness, both age, & in experience; I was warned, I was weaponed; I was instructed, I was encouraged; I should have used more wariness to suspect, more wisdom to discern, more valour, both to defend myself, and defeat mine enemy.  
No sure, I will never excuse him whom his own conscience condemneth: I had thy express word and will to stop me; my own knowledge to bridle me; I would have disallowed those things that I did, if any other had done them but myself. When a man's memory is the bill of his debt, when his thoughts are willing witnesses against him, when his fear is his gaoler, when his judgement is his iudg, when his own knowledge conventeth him, there is little doubt either of denying or deceiving credit, and much less of making escape.  
ay, I, it is even I that have broken covenant with thee; I have abused my reason, rather why to do amiss, then how to amend; I have falsified my faith; I have riotously run after the vain conceits or rather deceits of sin; whose kindest courtesies are the allurements of mischief; which like a be-mired dog, defileth with fawning; whose kisses are of power to kill.  
I have received many fresh wounds, I have renewed all my old sores, and what thou (O Lord) by thy mercies hadst healed, I by my madness have rubbed open; in so much as sin used again, hath made the pardon once granted to be of none effect. I may well say with judas, I have sinned; but either name or number my sins I cannot.  
O bottomless sea of misery and sorrow, wherein I have plunged myself, always sinckinge, & yet by the infiniteness thereof never at the bottom; which I am able, neither to abide▪ having the firebrands of all furies within me, nor yet to avoid, being fettered therein with the cruel chains of my own fear.  
Oh my soul, full of wretchedness, full of shame, but fullest of guiltiness, accept no object but of sorrow; draw greedily into thy mind all conceits that may increase thy grief: be ashamed, nay abhor to think of any comfort. Loath thyself, torment thyself, and so shall thou do some thing well; for thou canst neither loathe nor torment a more cursed creature.  
Alas, how is my soul abandoned? how are all the powers thereof laid waist? comfort is no more ease unto me, than is the handling of sore wounds. I am divided in myself, how can I stand? I am overthrown in myself, how shall I rise? my desire is pained because it cannot hope, and if it hath any spark of hope, it is rather in change then riddance of grief.  
Forlorn wretch that I am, it had been better for me never to have been converted to grace, than thus perversely to be diverted from the same; for than I should have gone on in a sober security, and my punishment should have been so much the less, as ignorance is beneath contempt: but now I am not only unhappy, but unhappy after the fall from some degree of happiness; now the footestepps of overtrodden virtue lay cruel accusations against me, and make the hateful comparison of vice more manifest, miserable are they who lose they wot not what, but more miserable are they who know what they lose.  
O foolish reason, how sharp art thou to see thy mischief, and yet how dim, how blind art thou to foresee it? O poor remnant of pierie; only so much goodness left, as to make me languish in my own evil.  
O sin, the only fall of my judgement and stain of my conscience, now thou hast sacked my soul, now thou hast beaten it down under thy tyranny, rest thyself, forbear a while, tread not upon my ruins, set not fire to thine own spoils. And yet not so; but do thy worst, cruel and cursed sin, do even the very worst that thou canst: the more terrors thou executest upon me, the more shall I both loath and lament the service that I have done thee; the sooner shall I seek to draw my desires out of the mire of thy subjection.  
There is yet left, both time to repent, and occasion to amend; yet doth Christ, not only admit but invite to his feast: I could neither see nor sorrow for my sins, did not he both enlighten my understanding, and soften my senses. He hath not enlightened my understanding to drown it in darkness; he hath not softened my senses because he could not break them; and why then hath he thus wakened the one, and weakened the other.  
It is even so: he that hath hitherto in patience expected me, doth now in pity call me. Speak then (Lord) speak unto thy servant; thunder into the inner ear of my heart; break my deafness that I may hear thy voice. Lord, thou lookest for mine amendment that I may have thy favour; and I look for thy favour that I may amend.  
Woe is me, how long have I stayed? Alas how late do I come? how slowly do I hasten? how doth my resolution stick between loathness and necessity? woe is me wretch, how cunningly doth the devil seek to delay me? what art hath he used to keep the line from breaking whereat the fish was caught? not drawing him violently, but letting him play upon the hook which he so greedily had swallowed.  
O my God, the sun of my life hath passed his Meridian, and I am now in the after noon of my age; the night of nature will come fast upon me, when death (as God's sergeant) will arrest, my body upon debt to nature herself, my soul upon trespass committed against God. The one he will bind hand and foot, and commit close prisoner to the grave: the other he will arraign in the high court of heaven, where God shall be both party and judge, to answer to all objections, as well of error as of contempt.  
At this hour of death, when the sinful soul beginneth to be loosed from the fetters of flesh, O good God, how is it troubled? what terrors are presented unto it? Then beginneth it to throw the thoughts freely into every corner of the conscience; to see the sins which it hath done; to perceive the vengeance that it hath deserved; to consider, that the time of repentance is then at an end, and that it is set upon the immovable point of passage to a most strict trial, uncertain how the best actions that it hath done shall be examined.  
It is desirous to stay, it is compelled to go: and as it often happeneth, that whilst one thinketh too much of doing, he leaveth to do the effect of his thinking; so whilst it lamenteth the loss of all the time that is past, it looseth that little which then remaineth.  
Looking back, it esteemeth the whole race which it hath run, as a short step; looking forward, it beholdeth the infinite space of eternytie wherein it hath to continue; lifting up the mind to heaven, it discovereth a most bright & beautiful glory; again, casting it down upon the earth, it seeth all things enfoulded in a misty darkness. Hereupon, a new swarm of thoughts stingeth the mind; It lamenteth, that it was so chained with the enchantments of a momentany estate, as scarce to think upon the condition which never shall have end; that to satisfy the flesh, which is to be a nest of worms, it hath neglected the spirit, which was to have been a companion of Angels; that it hath lost, for so short a show, the eternal substance of pleasure; that it hath exchanged, the treasure of immortal glory for the trash of floating vanity.  
O, if it had but a small time more of amendment, how seriously would it convert? what a sharp and severe course would it set into? but it is like unto a horse, desirous to run, & miserably spurred, but so short reined that he cannot stir: or like unto those who in their dreams are taken with some fearful vision, which sweat with pain, and strive to cry for help, but cannot find any strength to cry.  
In the mean time, the head shooteth, the back acheth, the heart panteth, the throat ruttleth, the tongue faultreth, the breath shorteneth, the flesh trembleth, the veins beat, the heart strings crack; the eyes wax dim, the nose sharp, the brows hard, the cheeks cold and wan, the lips pale, the hands numb, the joints stiff; the whole body is in a cold sweat, the strength fainting, the life vanished, and death drawing on. Neither will the children and friends (for whose sake the sick shall often think them selves damned) for bear in this instant of extremity; but continually like flesh flies they will offer molestation.  
Whilst these summoners of death do execute their office, all the wicked actions, words and thoughts are brought into presence; they are heaped together, and aggravated to the uttermost; they give the conscience many a cold pull, and lie upon the heart as heavy as lead. feign would the sinner turn away his eye, but he shall be compelled to behold them; they will all cry unto him; we are thy works, we will go with thee.  
Then shall the conscience sharply accuse, the memory give bitter evidence, reason shall sit as judge, fear shall stand as executioner; and scarce is there any severe sentence in all the bible against sin, which the devil will not bring into mind, urging every point and amplifying it by construction. Then will resolution be turned to trembling, pride into baseness, confidence into despair. Then will be a great difference in judgement from that which men bear commonly in this world, in so much as the sinner shall be forced to cry and confess; we simple men thought their life to be but madness, whose end we now esteem most honourable: but we have wearied ourselves in craggy ways, we are worn out in pursuing vanity, and the ways of the Lord we have not known.  
Never did tyrant exercise his rage with greatet cruelty, upon any that he most hated, than the miserable sinner shall then upon himself; in justly condemning, in vainly acknowledging, in unprofitably lamenting the errors of his actions; whilst the pains of parting shall draw the powers of the mind from true repentance. All vain pleasures are then at an end, and as quite forgotten as if they had never been at all. Yea, every wicked delight shall give sharp twitches to the soul; especially when it considereth, that it is to endure the smart for many things, whereof it must leave the pleasure to others.  
Sometimes the sinner, more able to abide death then the fear of death, wisheth to be discharged, from being guided by so evil a soul; not in full hope that his torments shall thereby either end or abate; but according to the nature of grief, the present being most painful, he desireth to change, and to put in adventure the ensuing. But when he doth perceive infinite legions of devils prepared to receive him, and the horrors of hell open for his entertainment, then is he in a maze of amazement; then like one that holdeth a wolf by the ear, bitten whilst he holdeth, and slain when he let go.  
Well then, (secure and senseless soul) howsoever the devil would bear thee in hand, as he did thy first parents, that thou shalt not die: yet assure thyself this heavy hour, this fearful, this dangerous, this unavoidable passage is not far from thee, even in the farthest and fairest course of nature; and may be every hour, by many usual accidents, both of violence and of sickness. Thy continuance is only certain in uncertainty; and God would have the time unknown, because thou shouldest be always ready.  
Awake therefore, and watch over thyself; look upon the pale horse, and him that sitteth thereon, whose name is Death; provide that thou be not suddenly surprised, and die before thou begin to live. Lose not the offer of occasion, whilst it may not only be taken, but offereth, yea sueth to be taken; and if it be not now taken, will never hereafter be overtaken.  
Christ yet distributeth the treasures of his mercy, the door standeth yet open, to all that will be suitors for the same; his nature is now as apt to forgive, as his power will be able hereafter to punish. The kings of Israel were not so famous for heir mercy among the servants of Abinadab, as the God is among us. When thou didst sin, he did spare; when thou didst defer, he did expect; when thou shalt return he will embrace. The bowels of his mercy do still overflow, neither want their issues to derive the streams thereof into thy soul: his back was torn, his hands and feet were pierced, his side was opened: through these holes thou mayst see the abundance of his love, at these holy holes thou mayst taste the sweetness of his mercy.  
Present thyself therefore unto him in all those humble behaviours, which the consideration of his majesty and thy misery can possibly frame; be penitent for the time past, and resolve for the time to come; and with as great confidence as necessity cry unto him and say.  
O Christ, O eternal light, O life of all things, to whom nothing is so great that it can resist, nothing so small that it is contemptible; whom no man is so good that he doth not need, no man so evil that he may not hope; I beseech thee; by the nobl●st title that in my greatest affliction I can give myself, that I am thy creature; and by thy only name of comfort unto sinners, that thou art merciful; hear my vile voice, help my distressed soul, and in the time of necessity and trouble be gracious unto me.  
Behold (O Lord) how my conscience lieth queasomed under the multitude of my offences; behold how I am borne down with the weight of my own weakness: and do not thou, whose property is not only to spare, but to help, either lighten the burden, or lay under thy heavenly hand, my soul must needs sink down into hell.  
But thou (O Lord) hast neither delight nor liking in the death of sinners; thou didst die to raise us up from the death of sin. O good jesus, thou didst redeem us when we were thine enemies, and shall we be destroyed now we are thy suppliants? thou didst call us to mercy when we craved none, and wilt thou deny us now we are suitors for it? through thy death we were brought unto life, and shall we die now thou dost l●ue? O thou who helpest the weak which a word, behold, I come, I call, I look for thy mercy; hide not thy face, stop not thine ear, cast me not out of thy regard: let it suffice that I feel mine own weakness and want, lest I should have been too proud in myself; now let thy power and plenty appear, that thereby I may be confident in thee.  
O Christ, the guide of those that seek thee, the light of those that see thee, and the life of those that love thee; O sweet Saviour, what shall I say? whether shall I go? where shall I seek thee? or wherefore do I not see thee? O my God, if thou be absent from me, where shall I seek thee? if in all places thou art present, wherefore do I not see thee?  
O infinite goodness, passing all human both search and sight, thou both fillest and includest all things; thou art in every place present without either seat or motion; give me grace for thy love and desires sake I beseech thee, to cast off the blind burden of fleshly affections; subdue my reason, regenerate my will, and purify my nature; lead my desire that I may seek thee; lighten my understanding that I may see thee: for I can neither seek thee without thou direct me, nor see thee except thou reveal thyself.  
Gracious God, I have no goodness in myself, but only to find that I have no goodness like a scholar, who is come to that degree of knowledge, to know himself utterly ignorant: but suffer (I beseech thee) some beautiful beam of thy majesty to shine into my soul, disperse the clouds wherewith my conscience is overcast, melt the misty darkness which covereth my understanding. O thou who saidest let there be light, and light was made; speak the word and my soul shall be enlightened, that I may plainly see thee, and perfectly know thee, and ardently both desire and love thee.  
O surpassing light, deliver me from the shadow both of ignorance and error, and consequently from the darkness of death; swallow me up in the depth of thy brightness; dazzle my eyes, that I may not be able to see any thing but thee; possess all my bodily senses, that my sinful affections, or rather defections may find no place, but that I may so feel thee, that I have no feeling of myself.  
O Lord of life, although I am a sinner, yet I am thy creature, because thou hast made me, yea and made me again; both by redeeming, and by often renewing me: help me therefore whom of thy goodness thou hast fashioned, let me not perish in my misery whom of thy mercy thou hast redeemed, govern me hereafter whom hitherto thou hast preserved; despise not (O Lord) the work of thine own hands. For wherefore hast thou created me? because thou wouldst damn me? It had been better for me never to have been made, then to be confounded in my own corruption. Listen (O Lord) to the cry of thy poor Orphan; cast me not off in thy displeasure, and my distress; forsake me not, for thy sake, I beseech thee.  
And although I have in such sort, both defiled and defaced this thy creature, that thou mayest justly refuse to take knowledge of me; yet by thy mercies I pray thee, wherein thou art more wonderful then in all thy works, remove the one, and renew the other; rub out with thy blood the stains which stick in my soul and then thou wilt know it, to be thy creature.  
O Lord my God, at whose presence all powers do shake, at whose beck all creatures obey, look favourably upon me from thy glorious seat; let thy majesty shine unto me through thy mercy: be not angry with us (wormish weak elinges) although we offend, for thou knowest what we are, and whereof we are made. Is not man rottenness? are not his desires vanity? is not his life misery, and a very shadow of death? wilt thou show thy strength against a worm? against a leaf? against a blast? O thou who grantest truce of life, there are but two pleas before thy throne, either of innocency, or else of mercy: I do clearly debar my selues of the one, oh let my soul run into the arms of the other.  
Have mercy upon me O gracious God, have mercy upon me, a most wretched creature; deal not with me according to my deserts, but according to the greatness of thy mercy, which is infinitely more than the sins of the whole world.  
O almighty God, from whose sight there is no covert, and against whose power there is, neither resistance nor flight, look not upon me with thy eye of justice, draw not thy sword of vengeance against me; but extend that compassion, which thou hast so graciously, so dearly purchased for me.  
I acknowledge indeed, that among all, and above all sinners, I am wretched; I acknowledge also that I am unable to satisfy for my sins: but (O son of God) behold that in thyself, which may move thee to have compassion upon me. So often as thou beehouldest the wounds of thy bruised body, so often let pity pierce thy heart: So often as thou beholdest the blessed streams of thy blood, whereof one drop had been sufficient for redemption of the whole world, so often cover my sins, and recover me.  
Forgive my ignorance, forget my presumption, pardon my iniquities, relieve my necessities; let my sins no longer be a cloud between my prayer and thy pity, between thy goodness and my distress, most gracious God, who art merciful towards all, suffer not me to be destitute of thy mercy: for although I have committed that whereby I may be damned, yet hast thou neither foregone, nor forgotten that whereby thou art wout to save.  
O wretch that I am, how coldly do I cry? how weakly do I crave? woe is me wretch, how is my heart hardened, that mine eyes do not pour forth plenty of tears? how senseless is my unclean soul, that my flesh tremble not, that my joints do not shake until my knees knock together? But wherefore do I expostulate with a dead carcase? Alas, I am nothing but vanity; a rotten root, without any life of virtue; a barren ground, bringing forth nothing but sin, shame and damnation: I am unable, either to give thee any thing but of thine own goods; or to do any thing for myself, but by thy free guifte.  
Wherefore, O sweet saviour, by thy tender love, and by all thy mercies I beseech thee, give me grace, that with thy goods and by thy gifts, I may serve thee, and sorrow for my sins; give me also a flood of tears in token of thy favour, that I may sweetly pour them before thy presence, with great reverence and fear, in bewailing mine offences, Mollify my stony heart, illuminate my misty mind, subdue my flesh to my soul, my soul unto reason, my reason to faith; let me joy only in enjoying thee, in whom, desire never wanteth satiety, and satiety never breed dislike.  
Come thou into me, that I may remain in thee, shake off these shackles, free me from this weight of fleshly affections that leaving and loathing all earthly desires, I may firmly resolve, speedily begin, and constantly continue, in doing and suffering thy holy will.  
Pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy grace, that thereby my affections may be framed, to honour thee as a Creator, to love thee as a redeemer, to expect thee as a Saviour, & to fear as a judge. Let me always be humbled before thee, and never be high minded, but only in minding things on high.  
Write thy name with thy own finger within the tables of my breast, never to be either shadowed or worn out; that I may continually feed my hungry ho●es, with steadfast remembrance and regard of thee: for firmly to remember, & reverently to regard thee, is our mortal manner both of holding and beholding thee.  
Let the fiery force of thy love swallow up my soul, that being altogether possessed therewith, it may neither feel, nor desire, nor once think upon any earthly thing; but be always and only, not only joined but united to thee: for as thy goodness towards us is unmeasurable and infinite so we are bound to love thee without either measure or end.  
Lord, my whole desire is before thee, and my thoughts are not secret from thy sight; turn not thy countenance from my complaint; hear me, O my God, and grant my petition; grant my petition, that thou mayst hear me.  
Reach me thy helping hand, draw my soul out of the mire of sin wherein it is fast set, that I perish not in the presence of thy pity. Deliver me from the snares that th' enemy hath laid, to take the souls of sinners either wilful, or secure; cut away occsions of evil before me; guide me unto thee the straightest course; and so long as I am to continue in this vile vale of misery, settle me in that state of life wherein I may best please thee and pleasure others.  
Give me grace, O gracious God, that although I have hitherto had no care to live well, yet now I may wholly and holily bend my care to die well; that from henceforth I may live in thy fear, die in thy favour, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, and remain in thy joy. Amen.  
Nec pudet vivere, nec piget mori.   

 
Call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will deliver thee, and thou shalt praise me. Psal. 50.   

The FOUR Devotion.  
A Thanksgiving, intermixed with confession and prayer,  
O Lord jesus, infinite in pity, infinite in power, infinite also both in thy rewards, and in thy revenge: I am weakly (thou knowest) rather willing than desirous, with my soul to love thee, with my flesh to fear thee, with my mind to honour thee, with my mouth to praise thee, with my whole substance to serve thee, to commend my whole substance unto thy protection. But alas, I am so clogged with corruption, I am so drowned in flesh and blood, that I scarce either dare or can lif● up my head, and look unto thee: and yet why should I be ashamed when thou dost invite me? why should I be faint when thou dost not only encourage, but also enable me, or at the least accept my weak endeavour?  
Strive then, O the very bowels of my soul, strive with all your strength to raise your thoughts, out of this mire of mortality wherein they stick, out of these waves of fleshly affections wherein they float, without either firm footing or certain drift. Advance thyself towards thy creator, Frame thy affections, to love him for his goodness, to honour him for greatness, to rejoice in him for his merits, to pray unto him for his mercies, which daily thou dost need, and by needing dost crave, and by craving dost obtain; if not according to thy desires, yet very far above thy deserts.  
O Lord, I confess unto thee, that my heart is unclean, and that I am a man of polluted lips; wallowing in the dung, and stinking in the rottenness of my own sin: so that I may justly tremble to appear before thy glorious presence, much more to present unto thee thy pure praises out of my defiled mouth. But who except thou (O Lord) can make me clean, and what is pure which thou hast not purged?  
Thee therefore, O Father of life, O Lord of light, thee with all the forces of my soul, thee most humbly, most earnestly I do beseech; hear O merciful, help O mighty Lord, help thy servant whom of thy mercy thou hast created: cleanse my filthiness, lighten my darkness, inflame my coldness, quicken my dullness, awake my drowsiness, revive my deadness; repair the ruins of my soul, enlarge the frame of the understanding thereof, cleanse it from all earthly corruption, garnish it with thy heavenly graces, that it may be conveniently both fit and furnished to receive thee; that thou mayst make thine entry, & possess that which is thine own, both by creation, & also by redemption; and that as thou art exalted above all creatures, so above all creatures I may honour thee, love thee, and praise thee; not with that affection wherewith my weakness is able, either to do or to desire; but with that perfection wherewith in duty I should, and wherewith thy Saints and angels indeed do.  
O giver of life, O restorer, O preserver, O enlightner of life; O most loving and lovely Lord. But what shall I say? where shall I find full praises to extol thee? my speech faltreth, and my spirit faileth; my tongue can apply no fitting words, neither can my mind supply sufficient matter: I want words to express my mind, I want also a mind to apprehend thy merits: I conceive far above the ability of my utterance, and yet far under the dignity of thy deserts.  
Lord, my soul is desirous to yield praises to thee for thy benefits, but it is unable to conceive that which is worthy, and unwilling to utter that which is unworthy; it is ashamed to send forth words, knowing how weak they are for so weighty an office. without thy presence it can never attain to any degree of thy praise: let it therefore have thee (O Lord) that it may in some measure praise thee.  
For what worthy praise can I give unto thee, by whose goodness I was created, by whole mercy I was redeemed, by whose power I am preserved, and by whose grace I look to be glorified? when I was not, thou didst make me; when I was lost and forlorn, thou camest down, and tookest mortality upon thee to redeem me: thou a King, didst humble thyself to exalt me; thou wert sold to redeem me; thou wert wounded to heal me; and thou didst die to save me.  
O son of God, how hast thou abased thyself? how were thy affections inflamed? how large were the limits of thy mercy? Lord, thou hast loved me more than thyself, because for my sake thou wouldst endure, not only a contemptible life, but both a shameful and painful death.  
And yet did not thy love in this sort leave me, but thou hast continually so followed me with thy favours, as though thou hadst regarded me alone, and neglected all thy other creatures.  
When I wandered thou didst seek me, when I was ignorant thou didst instruct me, when I offended thou didst correct me, when I sorrowed thou didst comfort me, when I stumbled thou didst stay me, when I fell thou didst raise me, when I stood thou didst strengthen me; in my affairs thou didst direct me, in my troubles thou didst help me, in my dangers thou didst deliver me; waking thou didst enlighten me, sleeping thou didst watch me, sinning thou didst suffer me, and praying thou didst hear me. Further, thou hast anointed me with thy holy spirit, and given me a mind to follow thee; thou hast called me by thine own name, and thou hast sealed me with thy blood unto eternal life.  
These and many other benefits have I received, some in hand, and some in hope; although through my own sinful demeanour, I have almost both let go my hold, and lost my hope. But what? if by my own fault I have lost these graces, shall I be unthankful to him, by whose favour once I had them.  
Lord, I can yield no reason wherefore I had them but that thou wert merciful; neigh▪ can I say any thing now I have so near lost them, but that thou art just: & therefore I thank thee because thou didst give me them, I am sorry because I have no better kept them, and I pray thee that thou wouldst again fully restore them. For I assure myself, that thy goodness is as willing to restore as it was to give; and that my weakensse is as able to recover as it was to receive.  
Therefore, O Lord jesus, by thy precious tears, by thy blessed blood which thou didst shed for my redemption, by the abundance of thy mercies I most humbly beseech thee, save thy servant, save one of thy members, though poor and feeble; save, I say, a part of thyself. Be as great in pardoning those that are submitted unto thee, as in punishing those that are rebellious: pour upon my heart the sweet streams of thy mercies; conform my life, confirm my faith, settle me in a right and upright course, and continue me in the same even unto the end.  
The world (O Lord) is wrapped in darkness, whereby it is made subject, both to the policies and power of our most dangerous and deadly enemy: who being the prince of darkness, is thereby become also the prince of the world: but by thy light his malice is discovered, by thy wisdom his deceits are avoided, and by thy strength his power is repelled. He hath many and very great things (I confess) to lay unto my charge, but for thy name's sake (O Lord) rebuke him, and deliver me. Draw my desires above the pitch of his darkness, raise my soul out of this miry lake of misery, which affordeth nothing, but either dangers or discontentmentes; that this filthy lump of flesh only may abide on earth, but my thoughts may continually attend upon thee.  
O sweet jesus, the way of health, the gate of life, the palace of piety, of joy, of safety; I do too much depress thy benefits whilst I labour to express them: for they have not only filled, but overflowed the frame of the world. But, O thou who unfealest the silence of the dumb, untie my tongue, that I may declare thy goodness, and give my voice a power to praise thee for the same.  
By thee (O Lord) the exile is reduced, the captive redeemed, the sinner is justified, the sick are healed, the dead are raised, and the damned are saved. By thy goodness we are created, by thy power we are preserved, by thy mercy we are saved. Thou didst create us without any need, thou dost govern us without any labour, thou mayest destroy us without any loss. Thou hast given all things under heaven for our use, either necessary or convenient; and yet didst thou not think that enough, but thou hast also appointed thine angels to attend upon us, to stand about us, to watch over us, to be messengers for our service between thee and us.  
And not only mankind hast thou exceedingly both honoured and enriched with thy blessings, but the heavens, the stars, the earth, the air, the seas, the floods, the day, the night, and whatsoever else thou hast ordained, either for the necessity or delight of man, are by thee renewed, and restored to the end for which they were created. For all things were made for the service of man, and man for the service of God: but once they served those who served idols, and then they were without any dignity, then in a very kind of death, being diverted from the right use of their creation. But now they are exalted, now revived, now they rejoice to serve those, who serve and worship thee, O Lord.  
But why do I confine thy benefits within the compass of the whole world? They have prepared down into hell; they have also surmounted above the heavens. Thou hast subdued the kingdom of Satan; thou hast broken the chains of darkness and death; thou hast loosed the captivity of hell. By thee also the angels expect a restitution of the breach which was made amongst them, by revolt of those which fell.  
O singular grace, O admirable goodness, whereby mankind is saved; the elements are renewed hell is vanquished; and heaven is repaired. O beautiful, O bountiful jesus, thou hast blessed all creatures, & all creatures again do bless & praise thee: by thy holiness they are blessed, by thy happiness they rejoice, by thy fullness they flourish.  
O holy, O happy, O high jesus, how is my dull sight dazzled with thy exceeding brightness? My affection's labour to attain unto thee, but whether, I pray thee, dost thou fly the pursuit of my understanding? How exceedest thou the compass of my conceit? Tarry O Lord, tarry a while for my feeble feet, which strain to follow thee: hide not thyself from my dim eyes, which seek to see thee: have pity upon my weak soul, which wearily panteth after the savour of thy salvation. Reach forth thine heavenly hand; lead me Lord, lighten me Lord, let me put the finger of my faith into thy wounds; let me look a little how thou hast loved me.  
Oh wonder of wisdom, O miracle of mercy: God made all things, and God was made man: God made allthinges of nothing, and without man allthinges had turned to nothing: God made all things of himself, but God would not restore all things without man. He was beegotten of God by whom all things were made, he was borne of a woman by whom all things were renewed: he was beegotten of God with out whom there was nothing, he was borne of a woman without whom nothing was well.  
O Christ, perfect God, and perfect man; O sweet safety, O secure joy; how wonderful, how worthy a matter, how weighty is it which I do behold? I am much delighted to see it, and yet I scarce dare utter it. Let my senses be silent for a time, let the tumultuous cogitations of my mind be quiet; reason cannot show herself more reasonable, then to leave reasoning in matters above her reach. What was he made? and what hath he made us? Shall I speak with joy, or with modesty hold my peace? But that which my heart doth beelieve with love, shall not my mouth confess with praise? I w●ll speak therefore, not with an high, but with an humble spirit; not to glory in myself, but to glorify God.  
The Son of God was made man, to make men the sons of God. If then he hath made us the sons of his father, he hath thereby made himself our brother▪ therefore, our intercessor is our brother, our judge is our brother, our Saviour is our brother, our God is our brother. With what assurance then may we hope? what fear shall enforce us either to despair or to doubt? seeing our salvation dependeth upon the will of our most loving brother? With what security may we fly unto him? with what boldness may we embrace him? with what confidence may we entreat him? Our loving brother will give unto us the good which we do desire, and forgive us the evil which we do deserve; he will ask for us, he will obtain for us, whatsoever is expedient: the son will entreat the father for his children, and the father will hear the son for his brethren.  
Let the devil then do his worst to dismay me; let my foolish fear murmur as much as it will; let them both urge their abject objections, and say; who art thou? how great are thy sins? and where (in God's name) are thy demerits? I will answer with assurance, I know what I am my self; and I know who he is unto whom I trust He hath given me his gracious word, who is both in promise true and mighty in performance; he will do what he can for my safety, and can do whatsoever he will. When I call to my consideration the inestimable both bent of his love, and treasure of his mercy, then may I plainly both see and say, as the servant of the prophet did when his eyes were opened: they are more that stand for us, than they who are against us. 2. Reg. 6. 15. The multitude of my sins shall never choke his love; I can want no merits so long as he doth want no mercies: If his love be great, my sins are but small; and if great be his mercies, great likewise shall be my merits.  
He hath registered me on his back; he hath engraven me in his hands, he hath sealed me on his side; the whips, the nails, the spear have surely signed his love unto me: they proclaim his mercy to be claimed of all men; they cry comfortably unto me, that I need not fear.  
He hath displayed his blessed body abroad upon the cross, his arms spread to embrace me, his head bowed down to kiss me, his heart laid open to love me▪ Into those arms of my Saviour will I run, between these arms will I rest, between these arms will I rejoice. I will sprinkle my heart with the blood of this lamb, and the destroyer shall have no power to hurt.  
My sins greater than can be forgiven? Thou liest, Cain; our sins can stand in no degree of comparison with the mercies of God; but so far as God is greater than man, so much doth the goodness of the one exceed the evil of the other. As the nature of God is infinite and unmeasurable, so cannot his love be limited, so is there no measure of his mercy; as the nature, so the goodness of God is known only to himself.  
The son of God hath taken our substance upon him, he hath exalted it above the heavens, he hath seated it in the kingdom and glory of his father: In him I have a portion of flesh and blood, in him a part of myself even now doth reign, in him a part of myself is already glorified: and as I do nothing doubt of this his communion with me in nature, so will I not distrust of my participation, both here of his grace, and hereafter of his glory; for although I am sinful, yet is not he so unnatural, that either he can forget, or will forsake his own members.  
He that dispaireth or distrusteth his own safety, he denieth Christ's mercy: and consequently, he denieth his love, he denieth his truth, he denieth his power; the love of his passion, the truth of his promise, and the power of his ascension. Therefore, the more willing he was to suffer, and the more able he is to save, the less cause have I to fear; for when all things shall fail, he will most constantly keep his faith.  
O wonderful mystery, O exceeding mercy, ever to be admired, ever to be loved: we were not worthy to be servants, and lo we are made the sons of God; yea the heirs of God, and fellow heirs with jesus Christ. Who but must be amazed at such bowels of mercy? who but will rejoice at such abundance of love? which when I call to my consideration, the burden of my flesh doth not so press me, the weight of my mortality and miseries are not so grievous as they were wont.  
Gracious Lord, what thanks, what praise shall I tender to thee for this adoption? where shall I get good words to set forth this thy good will? Surely, if I had the tongue and knowledge of Angels, yet could I neither thank thee, nor think of thee as is it meet. For thy exceeding love, proceeding from thy mere goodness, reacheth beyond all bounds, both of utterance and understanding: thy praise, Oh Lord; is incomprehensible; and then we do most praise thee, when we know thee to be thine own praise, and acknowledge ourselves unable to praise thee.  
But, O sweet Saviour, whom none seeketh but the admonished, none findeth but the guided, I beseech thee by thine inestimable goodness, let me not be unthankfully silent for these thy benefits teach me secretly in my heart, O my God, teach me thy humble servant, O merciful God, even by thy great mercies, I beseech thee, teach my heart, with what reverence it should think of thee; tell my soul, with what delight it should love thee; give my tongue some power to pour forth praises unto thee: correct my weakness, erect my hope, direct my desires: finish the work that thou hast beegunne, and bring me to the fullness of thy mercy.  
I was dead and buried in sin, I should have rotten in destruction, but thou didst raise me, thou didst revive me, by thy love I live: a●d therefore I offer myself wholly unto thee, most earnestly entreating thy gracious acceptance, that we may love and live together.  
O Lord jesus, I bow the neck of my soul under the feet of thy majesty, and in the lowest degree of reverence, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for these thy benefits: I yield thee praise (O Lord) although base and bare, and far unanswerable to thy deserts: yet something my weakness is bound to perform; namely, to settle my mind to behold and love thee, and to praise thee with words so well as I can.  
O amiable, O admirable jesus, let me love thee always, because thou didst love me first: let me love thee only, for he loveth thee too little, that loveth any thing besides thee, except it be for thy sake; always and only let me love thee, because by thee only I shall always live.  
O that my heart did so languish with thy love, that it might melt the moisture of my body into tears, oh that the bowels of my soul were so inflamed with thy love, that it might consume all drossy desires, and dry up the very marrow of my bones: oh that I were sick for the love of him, who died for the love of me.  
Lord, although I be not worthy so to love thee, yet art thou worthy much more to be loved. Therefore (O loving jesus) do not so deny me that whereof I acknowledge myself unworthy, that thyself be deprived of that, whereof thou art most worthy. Grant (O Lord) grant I beseech thee, not for my deserts, but for thy mercy's sake, grant to my soul, that it may love thee as thou hast deserved. grant (I say) that I may be worthy to give that, which thou art worthy to receive: so shall I be worthy of that, whereof now I am unworthy.  
It is very much (O Lord) that I do desire, being altogether unworthy to speak unto thee; but thy bounty hath made me bold; I will speak therefore again unto my Lord, although I be but dust and ashes: I will speak again unto him, who hath not only licenced, but provoked, but commanded us that we should ask.  
O Lord our God, O gracious, O almighty God, is it not better that thou shouldest freely give me that which I have not deserved, then that I should unthankfully not yield to thee, that which is thy due? the one would be a property of thy mercy, the other an effect of my injustice. Give therefore unto me thy grace, that I may return unto thee thy due; bestow upon me thy mercies, that I may commit against thee no injustice; be liberal unto me, that I may not seem injurious to thee, give (O Lord,) give unto my soul abundance of thy love, which I do justly desire, that I may not be unthankful unto thee, which thou mayest justly punish.  
Dear Christ, I do feel in my heart a weak warmness of thy love, but my prayer is, that the coals were thoroughly kindled with desire, and blown with delight into a full flame. O sacred fire, how comfortably dost thou burn? O heavenly light, how sweetly dost thou shine? how desirous are they more and more to burn whom thou dost inflame? how are they delighted whom thou dost enlightten?  
Alas, how late have I loved thee, O beauty most exceedingly both ancient and fresh, and yet, alas, how little do I love thee? wherefore I beseech thee, O Lord, by thy precious wounds, from which gushed out the streams of our redemption, wound my sinful soul with the dart of thy love, strike Lord, strike with the two edged sword which proceedeth out of thy mouth, strike deep into my hard heart, pierce my senseless soul, part all the inner parts of my spirit, that I may cry out, (but not complain) how I am wounded with thy love.  
O sweet Christ O good jesus, even for thine intercession sake, and for thy merit's sake I beseech thee, give me thy holy and chaste love, and then shall I be fully furnished with all heavenly virtues. Lord, thou didst love us when we were thine enemies, and wilt thou deny us now to love thee again? thou hast commanded us with our whole heart to love thee; and wilt thou not grant us ability to obey.  
Hear O my God, hear O light of mine eyes, increase my desire, and grant my request; stop not thime ears against me, because of my sins. Endue my soul with thy love, subdue my flesh with thy fear, that I may always think of thee jointly both with trembling and trust. Settle the love of thee in me, and the care of me in thee: let my prayer come unto thee, and thy mercy come unto me; let the joy of thy happiness remain with me, and the compassion of my miseries remain with thee. Let my heart love thee, let my flesh fear thee, let my whole substance in this world joy wholly in thee, that it may enjoy thee wholly in the world to come. Amen.  
Aut ubique aut nusquam liber  
pag. Lin. error corrected 49 9 mies thy 51 13 path paths 73 12 at them for them 112 7 my any 121 4 shall shalt 114 16 both age both in age 151 7 the God the God of Israel  4 heir their 153 7 resolve resolute 1●3 11 goodness goodness; 161 15 sonle soul,  16 it, it 187 14 either either  16 occsions occasions 184 8 wheeein wherein 189 3 life lift 191 1 for his merits, for his happiness, to praise him for his merits, 193 4 sonle soul 197 15 thert veat utter that 216 2 the whole world the world  3 prepared pierced 217 11 beautiful beautiful 223 2 reasoning reasoning