A PROGRESS of Piety. OR The harbour of Heavenly heart's ease, to recreate the afflicted Souls of all such as are shut up in any inward or outward affliction. By john Norden. Rom. 12. Continue in Prayer. LONDON Printed by I. Windet for I. Oxenbridge, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Parrot. 1596. TO THE MOST famous christian Queen Elizabeth, by God's especial favour, Queen of England, France and Ireland, defender of God's eternal truth. YOUR majesties most gracious acceptance of a poor former travail of mine, The Mirror for the multitude, (my most dearly beloved Sovereign) Emboldeneth me, once again in all loyal obedience, humbly to beseech the same to afford the like gracious acceptance of this Progress unto heavenly hearts ease: which although it might have carried a more base title, in regard of mine unworthiness, yet considering the course of the treatise, and the estate of the time, whose happiness and heart's ease, is of some censured after the quantity and quality of every particular man's worldly felicity, I thought it not unfit, under your majesties most royal protection, to give it that title, for that it leadeth unto the true peace of the inner man: who (howsoever the body in bodily things, far in this life) ought only to be comforted and eased with the due contemplation of Gods most divine love, ready help, & provident regard of our inward and outward miseries: wherewith we can not but be touched in some measure while we live here. And because we have here no continuing city, but seek one to come, it behoveth us to go out of the camp of these worldly cares, and take our progress in the way of piety, unto that heavenly harbour where we shall rest through the assurance of God's love towards us, in this life, inwardly endued with such ease of the heart, and peace of conscience, that whatsoever affliction or cross, thwart our endeavours, yet shall we rest as the Saints of God, in a heavenly heart's ease, until we come to that heavenly City, new jerusalem, where we shall have full fruition of all happy and heavenly hearts ease for ever. Now forasmuch, most dear Queen, as that your gracious lenity, affordeth acceptance unto the least show of loyal love, thereby enciting many to show themselves willing, to present their travails unto your sacred view: I the worst and unworthiest, in all humility presume to reach out the hand of my hearty zeal, and unfeigned love, to be laid even under the feet of your most sacred will and disposition: And would think me your most happiest poor subject, might it please your Majesty favourably to accept this my poor Progress. Your majesties most happy subject in seeing your gracious days, whose end God grant I never see. john Norden. The Author's Prayer which he used in the performing of this work. OH merciful & wise god, what am I that I should take thy word into my mouth? That I should undertake to celebrate the praises of thy name, being a man of polluted lips, of a defiled heart, & of a corrupt conversation before thee. I do acknowledge against myself (good Father) that I deserve not to be heard when I cry, so ignorant am I of myself, unable rightly to pray for myself, but rather to be rejected: and especially presuming to set down rules & directions to teach others to pray. But in all humility (my good God) I enter into thy presence, craving pardon for my sins, and thy directions in my proceed, who saidst unto David, Open thy mouth, and I will fill it, oh fill me with thy divine knowledge, and I shall be filled, and show thy glory to posterities. Thou that saidst unto Paul, My grace is sufficient for thee, assist me with that grace, and enable me to perform those things through the strength thereof, which in love of thee I have conceived, and in thy fear have purposed to publish, to the glory, and comfort of thy children. Amen O Lord increase my faith, A preparation to Prayer. Ephes. 6. 10 MY brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world. 13 For this cause take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to resist in the evil day. And having finished all things stand fast. 14 Stand I say, and your joins girded about with verity, having on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace 16 And above all take unto you the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit; which is the word of God. 18 And pray always with all manner supplication in the spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance. Being thus furnished in the Lord, we may proceed on in our progress, with this precogitation following. A Psalm wherein is set forth the love of God towards us, wherein he accepteth us to come unto him, for whatsoever we need: fit at all times to be sung. O What a joyful thing it is to sing unto his praise: Who lovingly embraceth his, and guides them in his ways? He calleth such as are oppressed, and helps them by his might, The poor oppressed gain them rest, the wronged have their right. O come therefore, and let us fall and humble us on knee, In hearty zeal, and then he shall of bondmen make us free. His mercies great and manifold, forthwith he will extend: His favours far surpass the gold, whose glory shall have end. Let us therefore sing out in zeal, that people all may know: That he to his doth still reveal his secrets here below. His heavenly heart's ease they shall find. who do perform his wil But worldly men continue blind, vainly conceited still. O teach us Lord, teach us in love, what we should do and say, Give us direction from above, how we should rightly pray. That we to thee may honour give, and to our children show, How thou thy servants dost relieve that want thine aid below. A motion to Prayer, that God by his holy Spirit will teach us how to pray. LEt us consider how willing and ready our good God is to hearken unto the desires of all such as hunger and thirst for the riches of his grace, God is willing and ready to give his spirit to them that pray for it. without which such is our poverty, That we know not what to ask as we ought: We know not what to ask without the spirit Rom. 8. 25, 27. But the spirit helpeth our infirmities, and maketh request for us with sighs which can not be expressed. And although that flesh and blood be so corrupt, Flesh and blood ignorant of things necessary to be prayed for. that it always groveleth on the puddle of worldly cares and the better part, namely the inner man, in the mean time is forgotten, and standeth endangered to fall into many evils, yet having the earnest of this spirit, 2. Cor, 1. 22. & 5. 5. we may boldly come unto our GOD, who hath promised to send the same: if we ask it at his hands, ●e will give it in such abundance and full measure that by the virtue thereof we shall be able to pray according to the will of God. Rom. 8. 17 This is the comforter which Christ promised to send unto us, The Spirit of God the promised comforter even the holy Ghost, joh. 14. 26. which should teach us all things. And without it we know nothing. Words with out the spirit of God are vain. And alas what were it for us to fall down before God in most reverent outward manner, pouring forth a huge heap of words from the lips, not having this inward director: Surely it were but to spend time to no purpose: The effect of the spirit. It is the Spirit that crieth in our hearts, Abba father. The spirit of a man knoweth only the things that are of man: The spirit of man understandeth only outward things. but the Spirit of God knoweth and desireth the things that are of God, And the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God: 1 cor 2. 11. vers. 14. 15. for they are foolishness unto him. But he that hath the spirit of God, The spirit of God discerneth all things. he discerneth all things. Let us therefore pray in the holy Ghost, Iud●●0 let us pray always with all manner prayer and supplications in the Spirit. Ephe. 6. 1. And let us pray continually for the aid of this sacred guide, the holy Spirit of God, which will both move us unto, and direct us in all things that are requisite to the due performance of this godly exercise. The prayer for the aid of God's Spirit. FOrasmuch (dear Father) as every man living is of himself before thee as a beast, neither knowing thee, nor the things concerning their own duties, unto thee, I, as one of the most perverse, filthy and corrupt, do here humble myself before thee, begging at thy hands, that which thou hast promised to give unto as many as ask it of thee, thine holy spirit, that sacred comforter, which revealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant, which also stirreth up the minds and inward affections of thy children to call upon thee, it prepareth the hearts, and openeth the mouths of thy children, to celebrate thy name. Bestow it therefore, good father, bestow it upon me thy poor creature, and upon all thy children. And grant that although all of us are of corrupt affections, and of polluted lips, yet we may be besprinkled with that heavenly Isope, that we thereby may have our hearts cleansed from the corrupt affections of the world, and the eyes of our understandings opened, that we may see the good things that we should ask, that our feet which are fettered with the cares of vain things may be set at liberty, that we may walk the right way unto the kingdom of heaven, that the hands of our souls, may apprehend and take hold of the riches and righteousness of thy son Christ Jesus: And that by the aid of the sane spirit, we may cast of all impediments, lets and encumbrances that detain us from coming unto thee. Sanctify me within and without, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soul, that my prayer may enter into thy presence. And that thine ears may incline unto my humble petitions: so shall I declare thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy truth in the night. Thou knowest whereof we be made, thou forgettest not that we are but dust, & unprofitable people: not fit, apt, or able of ourselves to pray unto thee, or praise thy name. Wherefore good Father, enlighten us and teach our hearts rightly to conceive: & our tongues, freely to speak, what may be to thy glory and our comfort: allure us to seek thee, and grant that our hearts may rejoice in thee, and that we may live and die in thee. Amen. Let us now seek the Lord, let us seek his strength, yea let us seek his face continually. Psal. 105: 4. O Lord increase our faith. A motion to prayer for Queen Elizabeth. FOrasmuch as experience itself teacheth, As the Prince is, so are the people? that as an evil Prince draweth the greatest part of his subjects unto the same profession and course of life which the Prince professeth and taketh, and so the Prince and people, as it were bound unto sin, pass together in the way of death: so the good and godly prince, both by good example of life, and by sacred laws, enciteth and winneth his people to the heavenly course, which tendeth to the obtaining of freedom of soul and body to life eternal. And as the former is sent in judgement unto a people for their punishment, Queen Elizabeth was given a token of God's love. and his long continuance to be lamented, so is the other given as a blessing, and a most special token of the love of God, for whose long and prosperous rain, every subject is in duty bond lovingly, zealously, and faithfully, to pray unto God. The blessings that we have by Queen Elizabeth If so, what have we to say: what have we to do, and what have we to think of our gracious Queen, chosen of the Lord himself, and miraculously preserved, and lovingly given us for our most special good, by whom we have the freedom and liberty of the Gospel, which is the path to our heavenly hearts ease, which before her days we know was stopped by with the briars and thorns of persecution and death, and now laid open again as a most evident token that the lord by her sacred government will lead the people through the wilderness of all the divisions, hurly-burlies, & tumults in this world, and to that end hath raised up many zealous, grave, and religious Counsellors, and godly ministers, who do direct the whole progress and marching on of her obedient people in the path of a godly profession of the word of God, whereby at length they shall come to that pleasant land of knowledge, where they shall even in this life enjoy the heavenly heart's ease, the peace of a good conscience without reproof. We must have consideration of our duties to our gracious Queen for many causes. Therefore it is most expedient that we should call to mind our duties which we owe unto her Majesty, not only in regard of the commandement, which Paul setteth down to Timothy, That supplications, prayers, intercessions, & giving of thanks, 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. should be made for kings, and such as are in authority: but also in regard of the daily experience of her most sacred government, which is such & so gracious, No nation hath had like benefit as England hath had, not only of the Gospel, but of long peace. as the like benefit hath not been extended to any nation before us. And therefore that we may avoid negligence in that behalf, let us according to the former counsel of Paul, pray for her majesties prosperous continuance amongst us. We must pray for our gracious Queen that God will bless her with all comforts. Let us make intercession for her perseverance and going on, in her sacred duty to God, as she hath begun, and that he will prevent the evils which her adversaries maliciously pretend against her. And finally, let us give thanks for her so long comfortable being our nursing mother, that she may so continue (if it please God) to the shutting up, and finishing of all time upon the earth, that she with us, and we with her may meet our saviour Christ Jesus together in the clouds, when we shall enjoy our absolute heart's ease in heaven. If we consider the perilous estate of our tune wherein we live, The peril of our time giveth us occasion to pray for Queen Elizabeth. and the danger of our days, we shall find great occasion to humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer for her, that the bright beams of his favour may shine unto us even in her (who as we see) hungereth and thirsteth for the peace, comfort, and good of us her people, And especial cause to pray for Queen Elizabeth. who being taken from us, we know not whether the Lord will send us (in regard of our forgetting his so great a benefit in her) a David or a Saul: and therefore it behoveth us to pray that God will lengthen her days upon the earth, for the further comfort of his Church. The dangers of foreign countries. If we look into the present estate of our neighbours in foreign parts, it will (if we be not careless) strike us with terror, give us cause also to pray for Queen Elizabeth. lest that God for our sins should also turn our peace into war, our plenty into want, & our comfort in her, to misery and trouble by foreign enemies. Let this and many other deep occasions, carry us into a desire to cry unto our God for his continual love towards her, whose prosperity is ours, whose health is our happiness, and whose continuance is our comfort. The right hand of the King of kings hold her up. The Prayer for the Queen. OUr omnipotent and mighty God, that governest Kings and kingdoms, whose power exceedeth the power of all Potentates of the earth, we acknowledge thy mercy, we commend thy wisdom, and praise thy mighty power: in that thou hast so like a loving Father, established the peace of thy church here in this our land: and in that thou hast cast out the adversaries of Israel, and planted us, as thine own people in their steeds. Which weighty work (O good father) such is thy strength, that thou hast enabled thine handmaid, not by tyranny, but by truth: not by cruelty, but by loving kindness, to establish in this our realm: who hath confirmed the same to thy obedience: and hath reduced many of thin adversaries from disobeying thee, to love thee, from not knowing thee, to serve thee. And therefore, good father, we magnify thy name, we extol thee with praise: And so much the more, good father because she hath through thee, driven back our enemies, and in thy name, and by thy power, trodden down such as rose up against her and us: and above all, for that under her we have tasted how sweet, loving, and comfortable thou art towards us. And thy fame in her is spread from one nation to another people, yea from one end of the earth to the other: and all the nations of the world do see and consider that great is her God, for the wonders that thou hast done for her, are marvelous in the eyes even of her enemies: for when men rose up against her, they prevailed not, but stumbled and fell. The experience of thy continual favour increaseth yet daily: even to thy perpetual praise. Wherefore, good father, be still mindful of her, and bless us in her, continue thy loving kindness, and make her days joyful that she may see the increase of thy glory to shine in this land, as the Sun in his strength. And let her foes be beaten down on all sides, let not one of them be able to stand in her presence: grant her continual peace and true happiness, govern her well, and sanctify her affections, and beautify her crown with the glorious ornaments of godliness, of wisdom, of knowledge, of faith, of zeal, & true humility before thee, that she may continue a spectacle of sincerity to all posterities. And that the Princes of the earth may see her godly proceed, and in a godly emulation, endeavour more & more to follow her good and gracious example. And let all her people practise evermore to serve thee, and to celebrate thine everlasting praises in her behalf. Hearken unto her from heaven and unto us for her, behold her from above, and grant that she may openly confess, that all her strength, all her comfort, and salvation cometh from thee. Thou art her strength, thou art her castle, thou art the author of her perpetual safety. Give unto her thy judgements, O Lord and thy righteousness unto her council, that they may judge thy people with righteousness, and thy folk with equity. O let the mountains bring peace, and the little hills righteousness unto thy people. Let there be no decay, no leading into captivity, nor any cause of lamentation in our land: but let thy truth prevail: let thy peace continue, and let her godly proceed take effect under thee, to the gracious governing of all thy people. Let thy word break forth, and the glorious beams thereof shine forth, & banish the obstinate and stiffnecked ignorance of such as delight in vanities. And to this end (good father) exalt thine anointed, let thy hand assist her, and thy right arm hold her up. And let not her foes prevail against her: So shall she sing forth thy praise, and we her people for evermore give thanks unto thee, for thy loving hand and favourable care of her saving health. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. A praise for her majesties most gracious government. Rejoice O England blest, Forget thee not to sing: Sing out her praise that brought thee rest from God thy mighty king. Our God and mighty king, our comforts hath renewed. Elizabeth our Queen did bring. his word with peace endewde. His word with peace and love, she planted and it stands: Her helper was the king above, she brings it from his hands. She brings it from his hand, his counsel and decree: That she a Hester in this land, should set his children free. None ruleth here but she, her heavenly guide doth show: How all things should decreed be, to comfort high and low. Oh sing then high and low, give praise unto the king: That made her Queen: none but a foe, but will her praises sing. All praises let us sing. to King of kings above: Who sent Elizabeth to bring, so sweet a taste of love. A short Prayer for the Queen. OH Lord almighty. King all sufficient, the governor, preserver and continual protector of princes to whole beck and will all kings of the earth are subject, look in mercy and favour upon the estate of thy servant our Queen Elizabeth. Be unto her a safe refuge in all times of danger, and let thine holy spirit, be unto her a continual guide of all her imaginations, actions and proceed: And for as much as thou beholdest, the present danger of the estate of us thy little flock of this Realm, in that the enemy of thy sons Gospel, vaunteth himself against us, thy poor people and against her our defender under thee. Be both to her and us a tower of strength, and fight thou with them that fight against her and us, & be with our armies when soever they shall encounter the adversary, that she thy servant and we thy people her subjects, may still show ourselves thankful unto thee for thy protection, and covet more and more to serve thee in all truth and holy zeal as becometh us in all things, grant these things (good Father) in the merits of Jesus Christ our saviour, in whom as thou art well pleased, be pleased to bless, preserve and direct our Queen, to comfort, defend & support us, and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace, in embracing thy truth with us, or to confound their devices and power for ever, Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short Confession of our Sins. MOst gracious God, and loving Father in Jesus Christ, pure and holy, I Confess unto thee mine unrighteousness which maketh me unworthy to come before thee, not only in regard of mine original corruption, which I traduced from disobedient Adam: But in regard of my continual sins, and actual evils which I daily commit against thee, whereby I can not but become offensive unto thee, and ever lo●●●●me in thy sacred eyes. But a ●s such is mine estate, being considered, as it is in and of myself, that I can bring forth no better fruits, than the tree of Adam's disobedience, whose roots as they are sin, so bear they sin in me, and consequently procure death and destruction. But dear Father, as by Adam sin entered and took hold of himself and all his posterity. So by thy Son we are all Justified by our adoption into his righteousness of thy free love: If we take hold of thy promises in him, and become obedient as he is obedient unto thee. And therefore dear Father howsoever our corruptions as they are in us, of ourselves have be wrapped us in bondage to sin and death, let thy Sons merits be unto us a sufficient ransom for our everlasting liberty, not only to come freely unto the throne of thy grace, but in the end to obtain the joys eternal with him in heaven. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. A motion to a Prayer for the forgiveness of our sins. Having thus cast ourselves down before our God in true humility, wherein we have acknowledged that we are so polluted with sins, and so tied with the chains of death, that there is no evasion or mean in ourselves, or by ourselves to escape the snares of Satan, that lurketh like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. We must now endeavour to findout the mean, how to be made at one with, We must seek how to be reconciled to God. and be reconciled unto our God again. Wherein thus much we are first to consider, that as by Adam all men have sinned, and have deserved death by sin: even so by Christ we are cleansed from sin, and stand again in the favour of God, the father by faith in him: Whom also we have to be an Advocate to God our heavenly father, and he it is that obtaineth pardon for all our sins. Christ reconcileth us to God our ostended heavenvly father. It is the passion and most innocent death of jesus Christ, the immaculate Lamb, which is a sufficient reconciliation for our offences. And therefore he saith, If any man sin, he hath an Advocate with the father, even jesus Christ the righteous. That is, if any man acknowledge his offences truly before God, and that he is sinful, impure and corrupt, and doth faithfully submit himself unto the favour of God in Christ, without standing to justify himself righteous. ●ho hath the benefit of Christ's death Such a one hath the benefit of Christ's death, and such a one shall be partaker of the deserts of Christ: wherein he shall obtain pardon for all his sins. But he that will not thus throw himself down before the Lord, and cry out against his own unworthiness, and say that he is a sinner, and unable of himself to obtain remission of sins, there is no place of mercy for such a one. For Christ came to call, not the righteous, Mat. 19 13. such as were in their own conceit, 1. Tim▪ 15 holy, pure, just, and without sin, but sinners (such as did so confess & acknowledge themselves) to repentance. Whom Christ came to call Such sinners as are sorry for their sins, & repent them of their evils: such Christ himself calleth, saying Come unto me All ye that labour, and are heavy laden, 2. Pet. 3. 9 and I will ease you. Our God is patiented, and would have no man perish, but would that all men should come to repentance. And therefore, he sent his son Christ Jesus, Mat. 2. 28 to give himself a ransom for all that repent and truly believe in him. We were in bondage and captivity, Christ is our ransom and he most frankly took upon him to ransom us with a great price, Mat. 26. 28 even his blood, which blood he shed for many, for the remission of sins: not for all, but for such as truly repent & amend their lives: They that run on still in sin have no profit of the merits of Christ. for they that run on still in their sins, howsoever they flatter themselves, they are left unto themselves, and the merits of Christ work not for them: his death to them is none advantage. And we therefore must take heed, left that we deceive ourselves with this, joh. 1. 19 that he is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world And that thereby every man in the world is so included, & every man's sins by him so taken away without repentance, The effects of faith that we have scope to sin, because he taketh it away. But we must take hold of his merits by faith, which faith will work in us a detestation of sin, and ade●●re to, reform evil in ourselves, and to be reconciled unto God in amendment of life. For it appeareth that the whole world was polluted and defiled with sin, The whole world was dead in sin. and that the whole world naeded a mean to be cured of that great misery, and to that end came Christ, men to save all that repent and believe the Gospel: to such is the glad tidings of salvation sent, as well unto the Gentile as to the jew, to the bond, All are called to salvation. as to the free, to all people and nations of the world, Wherein appeared the unspeakable love of God, not that we loved him first but that he loved us, and sent his son to be a reconciliation for our sins, 1. joh. 3. 1●. It was he that bore our sins in his body on the tree, that being dead to sin, should live in righteousness, 1, Pet. 2. 22. by whose stripes we are healed. Being then healed of this deadly evil, even of death itself, let us speedily repent unto our good God in hearty repentance, How we must repē●. casting aside, and gluing over all the deceitful works of darkness: and let us pray that he will vouchsafe us forgiveness of our sins, wherein of long time we have lived. Let us be earnestly sorry that we have spent the time passed of our lives, after the lusts of the Gentiles, 1. Pet. 4. 1. licentiously and wickedly, in wantonness, in lusts, drunkenness, gluttony; covetousness; & in abominable I do latrie. To day if we will hear his voice let us not harden our hearts: But having laid open our weakness and infirmities, with an ardent desire to reform our lives: God is ready to receive us if we unfeignedly repent. let us boldly approach unto our merciful God, who seeing us a far of, namely, unfeignedly purposing to amend our lives, he will come with his spirit and meet us, Luk. 15. 20. and will embrace us with the arms of his love, and will put on us the robes of his own righteousness. Lo his mercy is from generation to generation to them that fear him. Luk. 1. 50. And therefore let us fear no more, for we are freely justified by grace, through the redemption that is in Christ jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood, Rom. 3, 24▪ 25 to declare his righteousness by the for givenes of our sins that are passed. O let us not therefore despise the riches of his bountifulness and patience, and long suffering, Rom. 2. 4. knowing that the bountifulness of God leadeth us to repentance. God's readiness to receive us Let us fall down before him therefore, and he will hear us up; let us cry out, and he will hea●e us, let us fly unto him, & he will come & meet us & embrace us. If you sins were as red as scarlet, he will make them as white as snow. Therefore will every man that is godly make his prayer unto him, Psal, 326 in a time when he may be found. Psal, 34, 22, The Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants, and none that trusteth in him shall perish. I should have fainted, but that I believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psa. 〈…〉. The prayer for the forgive-of sins. O God of my salvation, I have acknowledged my sins unto thee, I have not hidden mine iniquities. For thus (my good God) I thought, I will confess my wickedness against myself unto thee, O Lord, forgive the punishment of my sins, unto thee O Lord, I cry, O my strength be not far from me lest that if thou answer me not, I be like them that go down unto the pit. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellions, but according to thy kindness remember thou me, even for thy goodness sake remember thou me: gracious and righteous thou art, and thou teachest sinners in the way. O turn thy face towards me, let thy loving favour and mercy evermore be extended, for I am miserable, sinful and poor. And I come unto thee the fountain of all help, forgive my sins, wash me and I shall be clean; let me taste of thy old loving kindness, who haste ever been ready to forgive, ever ready to help, ready to receive the complaint of the poor, ready to receive the miserable, to embrace them that return from their evil ways, as appeareth by David, by Peter, by Marie Magdalene, and many other who repenting their sins, have found favour. Our fathers called upon thee, and thou didst hear them, they trusted in thee, and were delivered, they depended upon thee, and were not confounded. wherefore have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me according to thy great mercies, and according to the multitude of thy compassions do away mine iniquities. O cleanse me from my secret sins, and cover my known sins with the righteousness of thy Son▪ remove mine iniquities far away from me, and be not angry with thy servant for ever. O enter not into judgement with me, for if no flesh before thee be justified, what shall become of me, who have ●o highly sinned? Lord, my God, full of mercy, I appeal unto thee, I fly unto thee, I rest upon thee, leave thy displeasure against me, and howsoever weak and unable I be to stand in thy presence, oh let thy spirit of strength hold me up, and say unto me, fear not, for my grace is sufficient for thee. I take hold of thy love, and I rest upon thy favour in Christ, reject me not, though there be no good in me: power down that absolute good thing, even thy grace, and let it direct me to amendment of my corrupt life. Thou hast said that thou art well pleased in Christ thy Son: in him be thou also pleased with me, and receive me again into thy love through his merits, by whom every sinner receiveth free access unto thee. And although I for my part (most loving God) be a vessel full of faults and filthiness, although I be no more worthy to be called thy Son, although I be a servant most unprofitable, yea, a withered and starved branch, who have lost the quickness and vigour of thy blessed spirit, and am good of mine own proper nature, for nothing but for the fire. Yet, good Father, have mercy upon me, have patience with me, cast me not from thee, but rather endue me again with a new spirit, and a lively feeling of thy pleasure, and will, and ableness to do thereafter, that I may fill up the residue of my days in sincerity, in holiness, in righteousness, and in the due service of thee, in faith unfeigned, and in all singleness of heart and soul, that from henceforth, instead of straying from thee, I may dwell, and be shrouded under the shadow of thy wings, that in steed of sin, which heretofore hath miscarried me, I may embrace piety, godliness, and true zeal: and in steed of ignorance, whereby I have gone so long astray, I may take hold of the knowledge of thy sau●ng truth. And let it be as a lantern unto my feet, & a light unto my paths, that so I may rest safe in thee, through a lively faith which never deceiveth And grant that I may carefully perform what thou likest, howsoever disliking it be unto me, and may watchfully avoid what thou loathest, howsoever liking it be unto me. For I acknowledge, good father, that flesh and blood savour nothing of the things belonging unto salvation: but I wait in the spirit for thy loving kindness and mercy promised in Christ thy Son, in whom I am bold with deep sighs of the heart to cry, Lord forgive mine offences, remit mine iniquities, cover my sins, and lay not my former evils unto my charge. Good Father, give the knewledge of salvation unto me, and to all thy people, by the remission ●f our sins, through the bowels of thy tender mercies, that we may perceive in our minds both comfort, peace, and gladness of thy holy spirit, which may begin a new life in us, pleasing thee. And for the better performing of our duties unto thee, from henceforth quench all the corrupt motions of our minds, striving with thy divine pleasure, and restore again in us the image of thy divine light, which was lost, that being thus inwardly renewed in our minds, we may reform us outwardly in our conversations, and may sing aloud unto thee, and may serve thee with gladness, and come always unto thee with joy. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. Sing unto the Lord a new song, O Sing unto the Lord a new song Psal. 96. 1. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his name, declare his salvation from day to day. vers. 2. To the praise of God, for the forgiveness of our sins. WHat shall we do to thee O God for all that thou hast done? Whose love from us removes the rod, which our offences won. Thy Son hath brought us peace again & made us one with thee Although our sins deserved pain, his cross hath made us free. O how shall we requi●e thy love, what recompense is due, To thee or him? help from above our sinful lives renew, The best reward that we can give, it helps not thee at all: Yet thou in bounty dost receive, us wretched wights in thrall. Great is thy glory, love and might thy mercies have no end; All thanks & praise to thee in right each heart should still extend. But we poor sinners may cry out against ourselves and say: Our purest deeds like filthy clout, our gross conceits bewray. No stay is in our crooked will, a rash consent we give: To teach delight, that seeks to kill our souls, wherein we live. But now thy saving health extend, thy mercies sweet prepare. And salve our sores: let us amend, and break thou Satan's snare. A short prayer for the forgiveness of sins. OH Father everlasting, merciful and full of pity, I do acknowledge myself sinful, whereby I have deserved punishment in thy heavy displeasure; But I have an advocate even Jesus Christ the righteous, and he hath redeemed me from all fear of death, if I truly repent mine evils, and form my life according to thy will, wherefore most dear Father in him, sanctify me again & wash me clean through his blood, ●ouer me with the precious and most glorious rob of his integrity and obedience, and in him forgive my sins, and for his sake; remember them no more, but rather supply the wants of all spiritual graces and gifts in me, of ●aith, of knowledge, of love, of patience, of repentance, of obedience and true reformation of my ●ife, that being renewed again and regenerate in him, I may mortify all my corrupt and filthy affections, and live in all holiness, righteousness and true zeal, all ●he days of my life, that when his frail body shall return to ●ust, my soul may ascend where Christ my Saviour sitteth at thy ●ight hand at the time appointed, my soul and body may receive ●he fullness of the joys prepared ●or thine elect in thy relestiall Paradise, Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A motion to a prayer, tending to the obtaining of true mortification of our sinful affections, without the which we cannot please God. Having acknowledged our sins, & corrupt affections before our God, and in Christ his son, having obtained atonement with him, and yet resting in ourselves sinful and miserable, & of ourselves unable to obtain the favour of God, and being obtained, not able to stand without his continual aid: we must seek by all means to frame all our actions in his fear, knowing this that it is not enough for us to have found the mean how to be reconciled unto God, We must seek to keep the favour of God. but we must use the means also (being reconciled) to retain and keep him out favourable God still, which is by mortifying of those evils in us, which break forth unto his dishonour. We must leave sin Yet this is not enough, We also must cleave unto righteousness, and exercise our callings to God's glory: It is not enough to forsake sin, but we must cleave unto righteousness. we must not only eschew evil, but we must do good, we may not only seek peace and atonement with God, but we must ensue and follow it. Psal. 1. 1. etc. It is not enough for us not to walk in the counsel of the scorner, and wicked persons or not to stand in the way of sinners, but we must delight in the law of the Lord, and that not for a time, and then to return to our vomit and vanity again, according to the course of the world, who thinketh not enough to cease from evil for a time, and to serve the Lord at seasons ordinary, but we must exercise ourselves in his word, and that continually, day & night: Psal, 1. 8, And we must gird up the loins of our minds, and be sober, and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought unto us in the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children, not fashioning ourselves unto the former facts of ignorance, but as he which hath called us is holy, so let us be holy in all manner of conversation, pleasing God, Not making our boast of our own heart's desire, 1 Pet. 1. 13. 14. 15. as the covetous, who blesseth himself in his own wealth and prosperity, and contemneth the Lord: grounding the foundation of our hope upon vain things, Things may offend God. which carry colour to be lawful whereby oftentimes we are stirred up to execute things offensive unto God, which yet may carry colour of warrant by the law of man, wherein the inward affections of the heart appear not only not mortified, but rather revived to sin. If we duly look into our desires, we shall find out few or none that truly tend to that mortification which is required, but rather to the advancing of the pride of our flesh against the humility of the spirit. The first 〈…〉 become a godly man Let none think it irksome or tedious to leave this, that the first step to the perfection of a godly man, is, to deny himself: which denial, is keeping under of all the corrupt motions which rise in ourselves, and covet to break forth in action contrary to that which our God hath commanded: and if that be hard to perform, that which is further required is more hard, and they are the words of Christ himself, Mat. 16. 24 which I dare not deny. Mar. 8. 34. If any man (saith he) will follow me, let him forsake himself: and yet that not enough, Let him take up his cross and follow me. And in another place, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, Luk. 9 23. and take up his cross daily and follow me. We are commanded to forsake ourselves: and to deny ourselves, wherein we may see the great necessity of this mortification, and how severely it is enjoined us. If we forsake ourselves, whether shall we fly to leave ourselves? we must understand that we, as long as we are in the body, are at home in the flesh, where many corruptions lurk, and therefore if we will forsake ourselves, We must forsake ourselves. we must suppress the evils in ourselves, and by the spirit ascend up from our carnal habitation, and dwell with the Lord in continual contemplation of his will, in a daily desire to be with him: thus also must we deny ourselves: for when the motions of the flesh do, as it were entreat the mind and soul to consent unto that which is unlawful, we must presently check ourselves, and in an inward godly answer, repel the proud desires of the flesh, We must deny the desires of the flesh. Which savour not the things that appertain unto life, but unto death, and therefore necessary to be denied. Thus if we carry our affections within the compass of the Lords good pleasure, we shall then easily attain unto the other part, namely to take up the cross, that is, accept willingly the miseries, troubles afflictions, and persecutions, which may happen unto us: but so long as we are carried away with the allurings of the world and the flesh, we shall say as Peter said unto his master (savouring of the flesh, and not of the spirit) Save thyself, How dangerous it is to 〈…〉 go not to jerusalem to fall into trouble: so shall we always covet pleasing things, but poyson●d things, as riches, preferment, honour, ease, idleness, negligence in our calling, excess in buildings, superfluous diet most devilish attire, and what evil accompanieth not this: Many gross faults are thought no faults. It is thought an easy fault, nay, no fault, to be envious, to be a glutton, to be drunken, to be a blasphemer to receive rewards against justice, to be partial in judgement, if it lean but a little awry, and especially if it be not seen of men. But this liberty of the flesh will be one day restrained, and Gods mercies detained from such libertines, who although they cannot, nor will forsake or deny themselves as yet, it may please God to rouse them out of this forgetfulness, & strike their hearts with such a feeling of his displeasure, that they may cast off their affections of the flesh, and measure all their thoughts, words, and works by the spirit: Prayer necessary to mortification and therefore it is good to pray unto the Lord for his assistance therein, knowing this, that he that cannot forsake himself, and deny himself, howsoever he flattereth his own security, and integrity, wherein he foolishly persuadeth himself that he followeth Christ, he is far from Christ, and surely he will say unto him in the last day, No excuse will serve. I know thee not, It is not the buying of a farm, the proving of oxen, nor the marriage of a wife, that can excuse us, continuing in the flesh and fleshly desires. It is not enough to observe the letter of the law: The observation of the letter of the law excuseth not. For than we may still continue manslayers in wrath towards our brethren, we may commit adultery, by lusting we may sin in our communication, exceeding yea and nay. And therefore must we abstain from all appearance of evil, 1. Thess. 7. 5. 22. and in all purity both of soul, mind and body, through the power and strength of the spirit of God, endeavour continually to forsake and deny ourselves, being made free from sin, let us become the servants of righteousness, Rom. 6. 18. 19 and let us give all our members instruments of righteousness, in holiness and pureness. When we were in the flesh, sin had power in our members, bringing forth fruits unto death. Rom. 7. 5. 6. But now being delivered from sin, we must serve the Lord in newness of spirit, No good dwelleth in our flesh. and not in our old conversation There dwelleth no good thing in our flesh, for we may feel continual rebellions therein, which repugn the law of the spirit: which law giveth strict commandment against the affections of the flesh, and would have all the corrupt motions thereof to be utterly denied. And therefore let us fight manfully against all evils, in what degree so ever they rise against the spirit. We must carefully watch the doors of our hearts, We must be watchful against sin. with the weapons of the spirit, lest that sin creep into our inward parts, which obtaining the consent of our minds, yea but a little, it will take such advantage by pleading possession, that it will be hard to remove it. And therefore let us prevent the entry of sin, by mortifying the deeds of the flesh, so shall it never bear fruit in us to death. Rom. 1. 11● And surely if the spirit that raised up Christ dwell in us our mortal bodies shall be quickened by the same spirit: How we may be known to be the sons of God. And so quickened, that it shall bring forth the fruits of true mortification in us. And then shall we be known to be the sons of God, even by that badge of denying ourselves. Let us pray therefore unto the Lord that he will sanctify us within, Rom. 11 16. that he will make our whole lump holy▪ the root and the branches holy, If our hearts be pure, all our actions will likewise be pure. We must hunger and thirst for righteousness, if we will be blessed with the righteous. We must run the race of the godly if we will receive the reward with the godly: we must subdue our evils, and conquer our corrupt motions, as do the godly, if we will be crowned with the godly. We must have our hearts, hands, & all the parts of our bodies knit together in one consent, The inward affections and outward actions must concur. to the true forsaking and denying of ourselves. The inward show and outward affections must concur in the same: so shall we be both outwardly approved and inwardly assured that we have the spirit of truth, and so consequently that we are the Lords, who will always attend our safety, if we thus carry ourselves before him. Read the 15. Psalm, learn it and have it in thine heart, and observe it in thy proceed, and it shall teach thee what it is that is required of thee to become a fit man to enter into the kingdom of God. The Prayer for mortification. O Righteous God, & merciful Father, who art so pure and clean, that there is no evil dwelleth with thee, no corruption resteth in thy sight, But he that walketh uprightly, he that worketh righteousness; and speaketh the truth from his heart, he is accepted with thee: such a one thou lovest, such a one thou receivest, and such a one shall rest in thy holy hill. But on the contrary, he that walketh after his own hearts desires, he that yieldeth unto the corrupt motions of flesh and blood, and cloaketh iniquity under the show of godliness: such a one dost thou hate, such a one doth thy soul abhor, and such a one shall not come near thee: he may pray and shall not be heard, he may cry and call, but thou wilt not help him. Wherefore my good God, sith there is required in all men the sincerity and true inward zeal of the soul, and an absolute kill of the motions of the flesh, and mortifying of all fleshly affections. Look favourably upon me, in whom do dwell an innumerable troup of foolish fantasies, a heap of sinful affections, I find and feel, that though many times to will, be present with me, yet to perform is not in my power: sin prevaileth, and death through sin swalloweth me up: so that I rest in darkness of sin, and that by giving scope unto mine own perverse will: And so long good Father, as I dwell in this house of flesh and blood, detained downward with the pleasing and enticing things thereof. I cannot master my corrupt desires. I cannot bridle mine affections: but in steed of true mortification, I break out into such outrage, by consent of all my members, that my affections extend from conceiving evil, to performing of evil, from desiring to sin, to commit sin, even with greediness. And yet such is my miserable estate, being thus in myself, that flesh and blood flattereth itself, and concludeth, that whatsoever I purpose in an evil desire, so that it break not forth into open gross wickedness, that I am holy enough, that I am as sincere as is requisite, and that I stand too fearful of thy judgements, when thou knowest, that all and every the least conceit of sin, breaking into action, in what covert measure or mean degree soever, it by and by endaungereth my soul, and deserveth sudden judgement. And therefore let it please thee, that as thy dear son through thy surpassing love, hath reconciled all such unto thy favour again, that are truly penitent: so let thy holy spirit continually work to the taming of unbridled flesh, and let me by the same spirit, never leave more and more to seek and endeavour to subdue my gross affections, until I come to a true and absolute mortification of all▪ t●e evils that rise up in me: so shall I deny and forsake myself and follow thee: so shall I leave myself and come unto thee: I shall hate myself and love thee: I shall conquer myself and serve thee. Good Father, thou seest that I am most weak, and without the continual working of thy grace, I can not in any measure suppress my desires, but rather they the more strongly rise in me: I cannot deny myself, but rather I deny the working of grace in me, I do not only not mortify my sins, but sin rather reviveth and becometh strong in me insomuch as it bringeth forth fruit not unto life, but unto death. Therefore I beseech thee sanctify me, that I defile not myself with the filthiness of the flesh, or fleshly things, howsoever they seem to please me. Let me not be deceived with the pleasing judgement of worldly men, who affirm sin to be no sin, darkness to be light, and light to be darkness: Atheism to be religion, and sanctity to be sin: covetousness to be good husbandry, and charity to be folly, hatred and revenge to be manhood, and love to be cowardice, swearing to be courage, and meekness to be madness, pride to be decency, and comeliness to be beastly. Oh good Father, many are the enormities that rise up in us, & defended not only as things tolerable, but as things laudable: oh mortify therefore, mortify these evils, let us no longer be besotted with the filthy fashions of the corrupt world: extinguish the flames of carnal desires, repress the raging lusts of the flesh▪ and grant that we may shun, and with due watchfulness avoid all things that have but the appearance of evil: that being thus inwardly subdued, I may make outward profession, that whatsoever I do, it may be simply grounded upon the truth of a good conscience, in singleness of the spirit, in newness of life. And let me still retain this in memory, that I can not follow mine own will, and thy word. I may not impart my affections to the deeds of the flesh, and the works of the spirit. I can not walk in darkness and light, the way of death, and the way of life, I cannot serve thee and sin. Direct me therefore▪ good Father, direct me in my whole life, and separate me from the world and worldly things, and let me dwell with thee in all godly meditations, and contemplations, and let me use the things in this world, as if I used them not, let me live in this life, as if I were dead to sin: and being thus truly mortified in the body, and quickened in the spirit, let me look in continual watchfulness, for the dissolution of this my mortal body, that my soul may ascend: and in the end both in soul and body, I may for evermore enjoy the eternal joys of heaven. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. This tendeth to a true denial of ourselves, in mortifying our affections, whereby we over greedily embrace the pleasures of this world. COrrupt and filthy are we all, the proudest man is dust: No comfort here: we live in thrall. and linger here in lust. The sweetest of delights that we can choose to please our will: what brings it us? who doth not see that pleasures turn to ill? Art thou a man whose state is great if pomp exalt thy mind: What then? Thy soul with sin impleat bewrays thy pleasures blind. A doleful bell doth wait to ring. when thou secure shalt die: what song of glory canst thou sing when corpses in grave shall lie? What shall avail thy lofty looks? whereat the poor do quake. And what thy Machavilian books whose cursed slights for s●ke? Thy bravest buildings high in state thy golden gods but dust: Thy Thrasoes & thy Gnato's mate no more shall serve thy lust. Thy formal friends that fawn on thee & please the time for gain: will sigh in show: but shrink from the when most thou groanst in pain: The rich array which here doth make thy stinking carcase gay: Thy foe, when thou art gone, will take & laugh; & thou in clay. No state so strong, no man so sure, no office or degree: Can grant us warrant to endure, beyond our time we see. Why then doth flesh triumph, & brave itself in pleasing days: Yet sinks in sins, at last the grave our gross farewell displays. Oh then in haste and happy time, bid all this trash farewell: Ye high and low of dung & slime, to day leave of to swell, Subdue ye pride, deny your will, now mortify your lust: No share else in God's holy hill, ye have, to hell ye must. A motion to Prayer tending to the obtaining of the kingdom of God. IT hath pleased Almighty G●D in great measure of mercy to call us home unto him, to confess our sins, which although they be great & many, yet through the abundance of his love, he hath taken them away through the merits of his son. And only craveth this, that we will forsake ourselves, and follow him: wherein we are moved to seek the Lord our God▪ and to frame ourselves to that course that may bring us wholly unto him, being the fountain of all goodness, which we can receive either in soul or body And forasmuch as he saw the corruptions of our hearts to be such, as they brought forth oftentimes, perverse and contrary desires, tending most especially to worldly and fleshly things: He in favour directed us especially what to crave at his hands, namely, To seek the kingdom of God & the riches and righteousness thereof. And then shall all things necessary both to body and soul be administered unto us. In so much as it appeareth that the foundation of all our petitions, tending to bodily relief, must be builded, not upon our own rash conceits, as to ask what our natural disposition will lead us unto: But to seek the word of God, the knowledge of Christ, and the things of the body being of small moment, shall be cast upon us by the loving providence of our good God. Although in deed the kingdom of God be not meat and drink, it consists not in the outward man, as in promotion, in riches, in beauty, in honour, in health, in friends, nor in whatsoever pleasures of flesh and blood: no, not in ceremonies and traditions invented by man: not in the outward word, neither in whatsoever is seen with the external eye. But it consisting in spiritual feeling, taste, and use, in the sincere and pure knowledge, exercise, and comfort of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, performing the will of God here in earth. And herein it is required, Luke. 6. 20. that we be poor in spirit, Math. 5. 4. to hunger & thirst for righteousness, Esa. 61. 2. 3. to be meek to be merciful, Psal, 37, 11. to be pure in heart, and gladly, Psal. 24. 4. Suffer persecution for righteousness sake. Math. 5. 10. We must be loving, 2. Cor. 9, 5● liberal, pitiful, patiented in troubles, and in all things we must frame and conform our words, works and thoughts, to do the will of our heavenly father. To him we must fall down to be strengthened in faith▪ without which we cannot retain this kingdom, the lively and effectual word: which that it may be purely preached without fraud, deliue●● without vain glory: received and practised, without faltering or fear we must pray unto our God, who hath promised and will perform, to send us his aid, to keep us upright in this glorious path to eternal life. And we must pray unto him, that he will make our understandings capable of the truth of his will, and what he requireth at our hands in seeking of this his kingdom. That he will frame our lives in all simplicity of faith, submitting ourselves wholly unto his word, casting down our own imaginations, and every proud conceit of ourselves: that through meekness, in true knowledge and obedience, we may be made meet partakers of the everlasting kingdom of God. Having obtained this spiritual feeling of the will of God, in his word, and being sealed up through faith in a longing desire▪ for all spiritual perfection, let us proceed to the execution of our callings, which may answer the commandment of God herein. Let us continually seek new and daily means by hearing the word preached, by stirring up one of an other, and by giving sacred examples of virtue and godliness, that our callings may be made sure, to be founded and established in this kingdom. Then may we freely approach unto our God, and he will receive us: we may call on him, and he will hear us: we may beg of him, and he will give us all things necessary for body and soul. He is our almighty king, and he will defend us: he is our merciful God, and he will relieve us: and he is our, merciful father, and he will feed us, cloth us, and teach us. And at last, he will crown us with the glory of his son, he will make us as the saints in heaven, and we shall receive the inheritance of everlasting bliss. And therefore let us seek and pray unto him, that we may obtain this principal and chief foundation of all true comforts in this life, the kingdom of his Son Christ Jesus. The prayer for the kingdom of God. O Most gracious God and loving father, it hath pleased thee to command us, first, & before all things, to seek thy kingdom, and the riches & righteousness thereof, with promise that then all things necessary for body and soul shall be given us: wherefore good father, sith that our unableness is such, that we cannot attain unto this high matter of ourselves, vouchsafe to prepare our hearts, that at this time and always, we may above all things, hunger and thirst for this righteousness, the absolute mean of our true comfort: without which all our comfort is but care: our wisdom, but foolishness, our glory, but shame: our riches, but poverty: our godliness impiety: and all our prayers sin. Wherefore good father, I humbly pray thee in the behalf of all thy children, that thou wilt pour into our hearts, a godly consideration of our imperfections, not being endued with this absolute integrity: that we may see our poverty, & nakedness, not being enriched & clothed with this riches, & weeds of sanctity: that we may feel how ready we are to pine for want of this food of our souls, thy sacred word, the glorious Gospel of Christ, wherein consisteth this heavenly kingdom, which kingdom O Lord teach us to find. Endue us with thy holy spirit: pour into our hearts that sacred gift which thou hast left for our comfort, to lead us to this kingdom, that may direct us in all truth, that may manifest in us the knowledge and exercise of thy word, wherein resteth that spiritual happiness, which here by faith, we see as a shadow far off, which one day shall be manifest to our absolute joy and salvation. In the mean time good Father, sanctify our hearts with heavenly contemplations, and sanctified meditations, that our joy which now is but in part, may be daily enlarged through the divine fruits of love to thy law, faith in thy promises, and of hope that our joy shall be full at the appearing of thy son. So shall the kingdom of thy son appear in us, and we which wander in the darkness of this polluted world, shall appear manifestly to be the heirs of thy kingdom, through faith testified by the fruits of a sanctified life. And to the end good father, that thy kingdom may daily more and more appear and increase, grant free and comfortable passage to thy word and Gospel of Christ, that it may be plainly, purely, and plentifully preached. And vouchsafe to increase the number of the labourers in this work, who may faithfully and diligently work therein. That through the same, thy people, which now sit in darkness, may be enlightened, that such as are far off may come near: and they that are without, at thy good pleasure may be brought into this kingdom: ●hat we may all put on that sanctif●ed garment of a new life and sincere conversation, which may approve us to be thy children, and Citizens of thy kingdom: and that as becometh thy sons, we may be reform in our lives. Give us thine holy Spirit, that we may believe thy word, and thereby so direct our lives▪ that we in all virtuousness & godliness of conversation, may finish our course upon earth: And afterward live with thy Son in eternal bliss. And seeing thy kingdom is not meat and drink, neither consisteth in ceremonies and traditions devised by man; neither cometh it with observations, neither is it in word, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, and in power: Grant that we all may be truly regenerate and borne new by the holy spirit, and may no longer spend the days of our lives in the lusts of the flesh, in the vanities of the mind, and in pride of life. But may elevate and raise upward all our affections, even unto thy holy hill, from whence cometh the life wherein we live, the help whereby we stand, and the power whereby we are defended. And be thou present good Father, in all readiness to support us being weak, to relieve us being poor, and to train us up in all heavenly knowledge, being altogether ignorant. And let every of thy children that thirst after that righteousness, be filled with all good things within and without, that we may go forward in daily exercise of piety and godliness, in knowledge, in faith, in love, in hope, and in true zeal, that we may live within the compass of thy fatherly protection, die in thy love, and be in the end crowned with the glorious merits of thy Son in heaven. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. For the kingdom of God. THe God of bliss, Who faithful is, His sacred word doth send: To teach us all, On him to call, And to his laws attend. His kingdom pure, Which shall endure For ever: doth begin In those that know, How here below, To mortify their sin. And they that will Embrace with skill; The way that trains to bliss, Shall quickly see, That they shall be Reformed from things ami●. O God above, Look thou in love, On all that long to see: Thy saving health, Thy heavenly wealth, And glorious kingdom free, Thy kingdom show To us below: That wander here aw●y. Direct our feet, Thy statutes sweet, To us thy folk descry▪ Oh be not slack, But what we lack, With speed let us obtain For thou dost feed, Such as have need, Thou dost no poor disdain. A short Prayer for the obtaining of the kingdom of God. OH Father merciful, & everlasting, be merciful unto us, and give unto us a feeling of thy blessed will, open unto us the way of true knowledge, prepare our steps, to walk a right, that in all the course of our lives, we may be guided aright and savour more of heavenly then of earthly things: And let our whole delight be to meditate righteousness: Let us embrace equity, and execute justice, let us abound in love, mercy, sanctity, and true holiness, & furnish us largely with all spiritual graces, whereby we may continually seek thine everlasting kingdom, and practise the righteousness thereof for evermore: illuminate our understandings by thy spirit, and let thy word be our whole comfort, and the use thereof our continual delight. And abandon from our thoughts, all superfluous cares of worldly things, that we may show ourselves: by a continual holy meditation of thee and things above, may use the things of this life, as if we used them not, knowing this and assuring ourselves by thy promises, that if we seek and covet to have our conversation, on things spiritual, all carnal things expedient shall be given us by thee, to whom be praise for ever. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. A short Prayer for Mortification. OH Lord▪ mighty and merciful, who didst create man in the beginning simple, sincere, pure and without sin, in which is innocency, he then represented thine own image, who art pure and without spot of sin, yet such was man that he fell from thee, by disobedience, whereby he corrupted his ways, and became far unlike unto thee, defiled with all vanities, wherein alas, we all of us wallow the most with greediness and all in overmuch neglect of our duties, wherefore most dear f●ther in Jesus Christ, create in us new thoughts new affections, and new wills, shape in us true obedience that we all may mortify and kill all sin, and vain inclinations, which in us rise up against thee. Let sin no longer hear rule in us: But let thy grace more and more abound, that all that we do think or speak, may be savouring of our godly desires of heaven and heavenly things. And let all earthly and carnal delights become of no price in our hearts, that so we may be approved not only before men, to be as we ought but to thee to be as thou requirest in Christ Jesus our Lord. O Lord increase our faith. A most necessary Motion to a Prayer tending to the comfort and preservation of the Church of Christ, worthy to be duly considered in these days. THere is none so ignorant (I trust) but well knoweth, and is fully satisfied, that our good God by the operation of the Spirit, through the preaching of his word, hath gathered together a great multitude of people out of all parts of the world, whom he hath endued with the knowledge of himself, and whom he hath chosen sincerely to serve him to call on his holy name, and to celebrate his praises in this world: How the whole, strength is knit together though the members be scattered. which company of people, though far and near scattered, he hath so united and knit together in one faith, in one baptism, and in one sincere course of doctrine, taught and left unto us by Christ our saviour. That he our saviour disdaineth not to call them his Church in whom he will be served, and in whose hearts and souls he vouchsafeth to dwell▪ even by his holy spirit, he disdaineth not to accept this Church as his spouse and wife, affording himself to be her husband: he is the head, Ephe. 5. 22. and this faithful company the members. 2. Cor. 11. 2 This church of God is holy: Reu 21. 2. 9 it is sanctified in Christ jesus, Ephe ●. ●3 and every member thereof is a saint by calling: Col 5. 24. Whosoever is of this fellowship and company, 1. Cor. 1, 2. & is truly joined unto that head Christ Jesus, Every member of the Church is joined unto Christ. is so separated from the wicked, that he liveth in Christ, and Christ in him. And forasmuch as we all know that Christ our saviour, when he came in the flesh: and being present in the world, Mat. 28. 18. though he were Lord of all, Col. 2. 10. became as a servant, humbling himself, and was of no reputation among men: but was scorned, derided, whipped, spit at, and in most base manner abused, and at last he was crucified: yet was he pure, innocent, steadfast, patiented, faithful, and did love his enemies, and prayed for them. All this he did and suffered, to the end that his Church and every member thereof, should learn of this their head, and be guided by this their husband, how and in what course to carry themselves in this present world. And for that man of himself is ignorant and weak, The spirit of God dwelle●● in his Church. ●he hath left his own example for his children to follow, and his spirit to guide this his Church, that it step not aside, to an unknown husband: But that in all obedience, they should perform what he commandeth, The true Church is the image of Christ. and carefully avoid what he forbiddeth. Christ being now ascended, and sitting in the heavens at the right hand of his father, hath left this his Church as his image, here in earth to be scorned, scoffed, whipped, afflicted, persecuted, & even massacred, murdered and spoiled, by the enemies of his cross, And every member of this Church must lay down his account before hand, and reckon what it will cost him, and he shall find that it will amount unto no less, than persecution, trouble, enemies, and even death itself, The church must suffer persecution. if he will truly follow his master Christ. And this portion is the very badge whereby his Church, and the true members thereof are known: It is the touch stone and trial of our professions. And to the end that we may the more exactly follow him, he commandeth us to forsake our se●ues, and▪ to take up his cross, and patiently abide and bear whatsoever trial shall be laid on us by his enemies, who if they spared not him being the head, they will not forbear the members. If they called him, even our master, Beelzebub, what reproach will they not give us? if they crucified the Lord of glory, much more will they persecute his children. It appeared, as soon as the master was taken away, the servants were despised; when the shepherd was gone, the sheep wandered abroad, and all the children of God were tried, The lot of God● children. some by mockings and scorn, some by bonds and imprisonment, some were tewne in pieces, some stoned, some slain with the sword, some wandered up and down in sheep skins, destitute of comfort, afflicted and tormented, Heb. 11 36▪ 37. 38. some wandered in the mountains and in the wilderness hiding themselves in caves and dens of the earth, and none escaped the hand of the enemy, & yet they were such as the world was not worthy of. 2. Cor. 1ST 24. 33. Paul the Apostle was mightily persecuted of the jews after he became a member of this Church. Peter & john were also bitterly persecuted. Stephen most miserably handled, Act. 4. 3. and at last stoned. Act. 6. 12. All the Apostles and Disciples of Christ were persecuted, Act. 7. 58. and havoc was made of the Church of God, Act. 8. 13. in so much as all such as took on them the profession of Christ, or had but the name of Christians, were forced to taste of the cup whereof their master tasted. And we that follow them in profession, must be contented to follow them in troubles, to take up the cross, and to bear what the world will lay upon us. There is no way to the kingdom of heaven, but by Christ, and there is no way to Christ, but by tribulation The wicked do continually seek to oppress such as are true of heart, they make sharp their swords, they bend their bows, and dispose their arrows in the strings, Psal. 11. 3. coveting to shoot at those that fear God. The Kings of the earth band themselves, & the Princes of the world assemble themselves together against God and his church. Psal. 2. 2. England, since it hath come to the taste of true religion, hath tasted how true it is that is said, that they that will live uprightly, shall have many that will rise up against them. How hath the rage of Satan appeared against us, with bitter threats from Spain, with excommunications and condemnations from Rome? how have we been laboured to have been seduced by Priests and Seminaries, The practices of the enemies of the Church of God. from our bounden love and duty, not only towards her Majesty but towards our God? if cursings, if blessings, if dissuasions, or persuasions, if threats of hell, if promises of heaven, if throwing down, or exalting high, if fear of fire and sword could have prevailed, we had fallen and forsaken God ere this day: how have they sought the death and destruction of our gracious Queen, and grave Counsellors, by enchantments, by magic, by murder, and by all devilish practices? Have we not been environed by Fleets of foes at sea? by armies of rebels by land, and endangered by hidden Traitors at home? hath there ye● any of their conspiracies prevailed? hath not God stood our defence? hath not our Christ, the head of our Church stood in the gap against these treacheries and tumults? and doth there not hereby appear a Church militant, a Church still driven to defend it self: and a Church malignant, a Church fraught with malice against the truth? A Church militant & a Church malignant, a Church offended, and a Church offending, a Church suffering, and a Church persecuting,? And who doth not see how manifestly it appeareth▪ that our Church is that Church which resembleth our head Christ Jesus in suffering, and the other to be the Church resembling their father the Devil, by massacring and kill▪ who seeing his kingdom to be nee●e at an end, and noting how his Church and the reprobates company diminisheth, beginneth to enkindle the coals of dissension between kings and kingdoms, and stirreth up traitors under colour of teachers, murderers in the name of catholics, and devils under the habit of a religion: by whom the whole world is at this day set all in a flame, and they labour by all means, to pervert with the venom in their tails, the consciences of all true Christians, and where they see they cannot prevail by the truth, they seek it by tyranny: in the place and steed of mercy, they use massacres, The badge of the Antichrist an Church. in steed of peace which the truth embraceth, they stir up wars, and in steed of love (the badge of Christians) they execute all hatred, even to blood. If we look into late years, we shall find in France how thousands of the Church of God have been murdered, The ●roubles in France. some in their beds, some in the streets, some in the temple, some preaching, some praying, and whosoever was noted to serve god aright, was swallowed up in this devilish fury: and for that the more they strived to suppress the truth, the more seeing it to prevail, they by the instigation of the adulterer of Rome proceed on to new devices, sparing neither old nor young, great, nor small, but take all by the throat even their Kings, and with butcherly hands defile their palaces with most cruel murder, killing every innocent, even such as can but name the Lord Christ, and him serve as their only redeemer in the lowest measure, do they most cruelly cut off with untimely death. Is it not therefore high time for the poor Church of God, in regard of this bloody work of the Devil, to pour forth continual ardent prayers unto our God for his present help in this trouble? And howsoever we rest in great measure freed from massacres and open murders here in England, through the loving hand of our good God, yet are we not without continual occasions, England hath great cause to pray. to move us to godly supplications, that God in his mercies will continued our favourable God for ever, and that he will be still mindful of us, that we fall not into our enemy's hands, who (as we see) practise by all kinds of policies to press in upon us, to deal with us as they have dealt with other nations: nay to make us to be no more a people. The remembrance of our little persecution in the time of Queen Marie, The persecution in Queen Mary's time, a mean to 〈…〉 may move us to due obedience unto our God, who did speedily deliver us by the gracious hand of our most sacred Queen Elizabeth in whom, under our good God, we have been this 39 years almost complete, so happily defended, that we have had free scope to serve our God in truth: whereas we see other nations to be so suppressed by the heavy hand of the wicked man, that none dare stand up to profess God, but with present torture. Oh let us therefore be thankful to our mighty God, for his help in all former dangers, and pray, that we may show ourselves as wise as Serpents, & as innocent as doves, that we may stand sound and unblamable in our professions, in faith strong, in love unfeigned, and constantly persevering in this inviolable truth, that the gates of hell, nor the tyranny of the evil man prevail not against us, that the fond and idle fury of that Romish Idol terrify us not, whom together with his worshippers, our all-sufficient God laugheth to scorn: who, as we see, and have tasted, hath by his providence turned their practices to their own perdition, all their plots, snares, and pits to catch themselves: is not this marvelous in our eyes? But the truth is great, and it prevaileth. It is the Lord that hath done this great thing. It is he that driveth back the heaven, Psal. 44. 2 and that planteth his church, it is he that destroyeth the adversaries, & maketh his own people to grow, Psal. 29. 2 it is he that giveth strength unto his people, & blesseth us with peace. Why then do the foolish heathen thus rage, why do these peevish people murmur against the church of Christ in vain? Psal. 2. 1 When their hope was to have prevailed with their peevishly termed (invincible army) they stumbled and fell: The enemies, hope cometh to nought the hand of the just God was against them and his mighty hand cast them into the bottom of the sea, and with his power he confounded their devise: and howsoever they seem to continue malicious, and in a deep desire to cut us off, and to dispeople us, let us not fear, but duly call upon the name of God, our head and husband, and he will break their bows, he will shiver their spears in sunder, their own sword shall pierce themselves, and their own bullets shall rend themselves in pieces. Let us therefore continually fall down before him in prayer, If God will that we suffer, let us glorify him therein. and in due obedience unto his word, submit ourselves unto his will, and if he will that we suffer for his name and truths sake, let us glorify him in our sufferings, knowing this, that a crown of life is laid up in store for as many as take his yoke with patience, and faithfully endure unto the end. If it please him, he can make wars to cease from one end of the world to the other: but if it be his pleasure to raise up new evils against us for our sins, let us acknowledge his judgements to be just, and our deserts to be vile. And let us serve him continually, without fear of them that can but kill the body, and can not annoy the soul, then shall nothing separate us from this our Christ, Nothing must separate us from Christ. nor from the unity of his Church, neither tribulation, nor anguish, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril of the sword, nor death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, neither Pope, Spaniard, Turk, nor Infidel, nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let every member then of this true Church, with all power and diligence, endeavour to approve himself, by knowledge, by faith, by prayer, by humility, and patiented abiding the lords leisure in all things: so will our loving God keep us under the shadow of his wings, and preserve us as the apple of his eye, that we may grow up, & bring forth fruit a thousand fold, to the glory of his name: and whether by life or by death, he hath decreed to glorify us, let us take either in all godly obedience unto his will, and present our continual prayers unto his Majesty, for the comfort and preservation of the universal Church. The Prayer for the church of God, to be said at all times, and especially in dangers. O Almighty God and everliving Father, who hast vouchsafed to gather unto thyself an holy company out of all nations of the world, whom thou hast most gloriously entitled with the names of thy Church, thy spouse, and thy members, and whom also thou teachest, lovest, and feedest: whom also thou so tenderly considerest, that howsoever the wicked, even thine enemies, do seek to annoy it, thou so defendest, gardest & blessest it, that no hair of the head or the least member thereof falleth, much less any one of that company perisheth, or is trodden down, without thy providence. Yet▪ good father, such is thy pleasure, that while this company shall dwell in earthly vessels, it is as a ship tossed and tumbled with the cruel storms and dangerous waves of the sea, of continual persecutions subject to often assaults of the enemy, dashed sometime against the sword, sometime beaten with slanders, backbitings, reproaches, & sometime to beat, buffetings, cross: and sometime to massacres, murders, and most cruel death. It is never free from peril, it is always and by all means tried. There is no comfort, no joy, no rest, as long as it is in this life, but in hope, waiting patiently the comforts and consolations in heaven. It continually depainteth out the sufferings, the crosses, and ignominious course which Christ himself was forced to suffer here in earth In so much as it is made known to be thy Church, by the continual calamities which here in this life it endureth. Good father, thou seest how the heathen do rage, and how the froward people of the earth do murmur against thee in these thy members: how the Kings of the earth band themselves, & the princes assemble and consult together against thee, thy Christ, and against his Church. But make thy people strong in faith, that we may break their bands, and cast their cords from us: For salvation belongeth unto thee; and thy blessing is upon thy people. Thou seest, O Lord, thou seest how the wicked bend their bows, and make ready their arrows, that they may secretly shoot at thy children, and to hit them that fear not. But thou righteous Lord, lovest righteousness, thy countenance doth behold the just, and thine hand shall hold them up. Withdraw not therefore thy tender mercies from thy Church: let thy mercy and thy truth always preserve it: for thou seest that innumerable troubles are raised against it, but send thou thy light and thy truth, and let knowledge, faith and true obedience in lowliness & zeal, lead it: and by thy mighty hand preserve it in thy holy mountain, and let it always rest in thy tabernacles: furnish it with all joy and gladness, & gird it about with strength. Let it through thee be able to thrust back her adversaries and in thy name, tread down such as rise up against her. Let thy church continually sing, The Lord is my light & my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? In the time of trouble and danger, hide thy people in thy tabernacle in the secret place of thy pavilion: hide them, O Lord, and set them upon a sure rock, that when the wicked, even their enemies and their foes come upon them to devour them, let them stumble and fall. Be thou our strength & shield, Thou givest strength to thy people, and blessest them with peace. But, good Father, thou seest that the wicked furiously rage, and endeavour to rush in upon thy sanctuary, they imagine mischief against thy church, and seek by all means to devour thine inheritance. They lay snares, O Lord to entrap thy spouse, & to dismember thy Christ. They take wicked counsel, and in deceit do they work all their diuises: they ●●y wait for the righteous company, and seek to destroy them. But they shall not be destroyed in the perilous time. For thou, Lord, hast promised to stand in the defence of thine own people: Thou hast saved us from our adversaries; and hast put them to confusion that hate thy people. Up Lord, and behold, how yet the enemy seeketh to destroy us: O hide not thy face, forget not our misery and affliction: thou God, art the king of all the earth, thou reignest and rulest over the heathen: therefore will we not fear. The Lord of hosts is with us▪ the God of Jacob is our refuge, yea, this God is our God for ever and ever: he is the guide of his Church, and he it is that will come and will not keep silence, a fire shall devour before thee, so that thine enemies shall not be able to stand in thy presence, they shall be scattered abroad & come to shame suddenly. Thou God hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed in testimony of thy truth. That thy beloved, even thy spouse, may be delivered: ● that every member of thy church may dwell in thy tabernacle for ever, and may rest under the covering of thy wings, when the wicked shall fall and be utterly discomforted. Oh ●ow terrible art thou in thy works? through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies be subject unto thee. And although thou suffered'st the wicked to ride even over our heads, although we have been forced to pass through fire and water: yet hast thou delivered us, and brought us into a wealthy place, where thy word and Gospel, even the truth of our salvation, is freely delivered. Wherefore, O God, arise, let thine enemies be scattered: Let them that hate thee, fly before thee, as the smoke vanisheth, so let thine enemies be driven back: let them not come near thy sanctuary. As wax melteth before the fire, so let the enemies of thy Church perish at thy presence, and let thy people be glad: let thy congregations sing and rejoice, let thy beloved leap for joy. O send down thy gracious rain upon thine inheritance, refresh the weary members of thy Church, such as have felt the woe of thine enemies: Let them be recomforted: Let the solitary poor man that thirsteth for thy saving health, be filled with the hid treasures of thy love. Deliver the unprisoned, and let the children now in captivity, be set free. Wound the heads of the obstinate and stiffnecked adversaries of thy church, and bruise the hairy scalps of such as seek to destroy thy people. Destroy the company of the spearmen, & the multitude of the proud▪ whose hearts are lifted up against thy people. Scatter those idle and evil affected ones, whose delight is in war: so shall all kingdoms of the earth seek thee, and the nations dispersed, shall attend unto thy voice, & all such as know thee, shall sing forth thy praises, yea, they shall sing unto him that rideth upon the high heavens, & ascribe all power unto thee, our great God, our mighty king, our husband and head. O God of hosts, cause thy face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved. O Lord increase our faith. A Praise of God's favour in protecting his Church, comfortable to the faithful. Sing faithfully unto God our strength: sing aloud unto the God of jacob. Psal. 81. 1. Our God is good, why should we then so long neglect his praise? His help doth pass the help of men whose laws and love decay. But lo, the love of God endures. from day to day it stands: His spouse to love & live he lures, and breaks her cruel bands. He sends his word, and gives her light, his gospel feeds his flock, His people only take their flight, to him their lively rock. On him they stay, on him they stand band, and he extends his aid: He breaks with truth the doleful whereat his Church dismayed. No pompous Pope, no Spaniard proud, no direful drum of foe: No shaft, no shot, no rainles cloud can daunt his spouse with woe: What though the peevish man of sin his bloody badge display. What if he vainly vaunt to win? be still: he shall decay: The proudest of our foes shall fall, their stoutest strength shall rue; The stately strumpet fraught with gall, shall faint, and all her crew. jehovah yet, his Church shall save, and with his hand defend: Who then will rest a popish slave? and not our England's friend. Breath out thy word, O God our guide, let it be published so: That it may stand and still abide, and teach thy Church to grow. Let truth prevail, let faith abound let all reform their ways: Our Queen preserve, her foes confound, send peace in all her days. A Prayer for the Church of Christ. MOst gracious God and loving Father, in Jesus Christ, look in favour upon the estate of thy Church generally dispersed through the whole world, and whom by the malice of Satan and tyranny of Antichrist, thou seest continually assailed, with many dangers: Be thou therefore a castle and defence, a buckler and rock, strong and forcible to withstand the fury and force of all adversaries, & for the better comfort endue it continually with faith unfeigned, wherein it, and every member thereof, may safely run and repair under the shadow of thy wings, whensoever peril appeareth. Graciously guide and govern it, be present with it, and take the defence thereof into thine own hands, to whom it specially and alone belongeth, and let it hold on the true course of professing and practising thy true Religion, that the adversaries may have no cause to condemn it through sin, which howsoever it may seem to dwell in the most godly, while we live here: yet let us always have an eye and diligent watch over our thoughts, words and actions, that our light may shine to thy glory, our good, and example of other, in peace and war, in comfort and calamity, and not be dismayed at the 'noys and report of the greatest danger. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. ¶ A motion to a Prayer, wherein the soul must arm itself against dangers of the time, in regard of false doctrine. CHrist foreseing in the days of his flesh, that after his departure, his Children should be in danger to be seduced from his sincere truth, by the ministers of Satan, false Prophets, and lying teachers: hath very graciously given us a forewarning to take heed of such as enter in amongst us in sheep's clothing, who are inwardly ravening wolves: Mat. 7. 15. who should privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord, who hath brought them, and who bring upon themselves swift damnation: yet many shall follow their destructions, by whom the way of truth is evil spoken of, It was prophesied long ago, that in the latter days (even in the days wherein we live) should rise up very dangerous doctrines: 2. Pet 2. 1. 2. & Satan should transform himself into an Angel of light: Satan and his ministers, change themselves into angels of light. and false Apostles, having put on the person (as it were) of Christ himself and of his Apostles, should creep into the hearts of God's children, and so enchant them with their counterfeit holiness, that many through their hypocrisy should be deceived: Many such have in our days risen us, and have carried great show of being of the flock of Christ, but by their actions have showed themselves very devourers of the sheep of Christ, There are many kind● of deceivers and have sought to suck the blood of his saints: of which kind of deceivers, there are many kinds (and they most subtle and wily in their generation) & therefore it behoveth the children of God, to be careful, watchful, and obedient unto the will and word of God, which is the line whereby we must direct our course, to sail aright unto the harbour of the heavenly truth. We must touch the compass of our hearts with the loadstone of truth, whereby we shall be able to elevate all our affections unto the heavenly day star Christ Jesus, that no counterfeit stone of man's deceitful opinions, shall draw us from the course unto our heavenly harbour, the kingdom of God, where we shall enjoy our true and heavenly hearts ease, even in this life. Let us therefore pray, that we be not miscarried by the deceits of the wicked pilot sathan, whose directions are merely indirect, and whole sails are deecitfull, Satan's bark a deceitful and a secure ●radle being glorious to the eye: and the bark wherein he carrieth his unhappy passengers, seemeth to be a most secure cradle, gliding on without tempest or wave, until it come to the end of their race, where alas they fall into the gulf of perpetual perdition: such a master is he, and such mariners are his false Prophets▪ that they delight flesh and blood, and all their course seemeth sweet, but short: and sour merchandise shall they have, that pass in the pinnise of his poisoned errors. Let us therefore be watchful, and fly his painted poison: for we may be soon miscarried, if we enter but one step into this course. Let us call to mind that Paul hath forewarned us of a very perilous gulf, Act. 20. 29. 30. wherein without great watchfulness and prayer, we may easily fall, and that is; into perverse opinions, drawn thereinto by such as should enter in even amongst ourselves, yea, of ourselves, even of the fellow teachers in our congregations, that should speak perverse things, yea, and draw disciples after them: The strength of whose enchantments we have seen, even in our own Church of England, whose perverse doctrines might be recited, but more fitly omitted: the spirit speaketh evidently, that in the latter tunes some shall departed from the faith, and shall give heed unto spirits of error, and doctrines of devils which speak lies through hypocrisy, 1. Tim. ●. ●. and have their consciences burned with an hot iron. Let us hearken unto the word of the Lord, & unbrace it: Therefore let us covet in all obedience and meekness to be taught the truth▪ pray for understanding and fulfilling of the same, that we may be able to discern these false prophets, & dreamers of dreams, of whom Moses also forewarned the children of Israel, Deut. 1● 〈◊〉 ver. 6. willing them not to hearken unto the idle fantasies of men who prophecy unto us lies, and teach us vanity, that speak the visions of their own hearts, and that teach those things that they themselves have invented of their own brains, jer. 2●▪ 〈◊〉. and which they have not learned out of the word of the Lord, and yet say, The Lord hath said it, being puffed up and yet know nothing but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, 1. Tim. 6. 4. evil surmisings, etc. And yet fear not nor blush to make the Lord of heaven the author of their lies and vanities: The impudency of false prophets. who being enemies of God, very traitors against his crown, kingdom, and dignity, stick not to colour their devilish practices, peevish opinions, and gross errors, with the word of God, when indeed the word of God bewrayeth them, confuteth them, and confoundeth them. 2. Cor. 12. 13. 14. 15. Are not these false apostles deceitful workers (saith Paul,) transforming themselves into the Ministers of Christ, and into his Apostles. Such a strong deceiver arose of late even yesterday, Hacket a counterfeit Christ. that hideous Hacket, stirred up by Satan, who was transformed into no less in arrogation of title, then into Christ himself having on a kind of habit of holiness, his heart fraught with a ●egion of devils, who poured out mighty blasphemies against God, high treasons against her innocent Majesty, and most detestable practices against his country. And yet a Christ: nay, a cursed caitiff, in whom was performed the saying of Christ our Saviour, that there should arise false Christ's, that should show such strength of error, It is dangerous to dispute with false prophets that if it were possible, the very elect should be seduced by them. And surely it is dangerous for the weaker sort to touch them in discourses, in disputations, or any conference, unless it please god to arm them strongly with the sword of the spirit, that by the sword of truth they may be enabled to confound them in their arguments, for the very true Christians may often fall through frailty, Christians through frailty may fall into errors. in some conceit of things evil to be good, and good things to be evil: and specially when it shall carry colour of Godliness to conceive it so. And many times it falleth out that evil things carry colour to preach unto us good, as in the adherents of this wicked man, the two Gentlemen that were deceived by him, and drawn to enter into an unlawful action: that that action carried colour of love, in that they preached repentance unto their country: it carried colour of Religion, in that they preached as Messengers sent from God: But see how all these gay shows were mingled with mischiefs, Whereunto a counterfeit show of godliness may tend. tending to stir up uproars and tumults among the people, and to raise an evil opinion and disloyalty in the subjects towards her Majesty: & moreover, it tended to envy and wicked zeal, to bring Magistrates into contempt. All which preach unto us that it is time for all estates to look about them, to be watchful, and to be ready to stand in the day of trial: for these are persecutions raised against the highest, even by such as are with us in some outward shows, but not of us as the issue of their works declare: but in my poor opinion, this their preaching publisheth unto us gods displeasure, for overmuch security. If they being false Prophets preach unto us repentance: It is time for God's Ministers to preach repentance & amendment of lif● it is time for the true Ministers of God to cry out for repentance: for God many ways preacheth unto us repentance and amendment of life. And because the devil to an evil purpose preacheth that which may admonish us, let us use the means to learn how to amend what is to be amended: so shall we tread him and his purposes under our feet, and God himself will send preachers to publish his pleasure, and to declare his truth with warrant of his word, whose exhortations shall not be by deceit, nor by uncleanness, nor by guile, but as they were allowed of God, and to whom the Gospel being committed: they shall speak, not as they that please men, but God, which shall approve their hearts. By whose doctrine also we shall be able to find out all the false Prophets that endeavour to miscarry us. The aptest mean to bring men into the captivity of errors, Ignorance the mother of errors. and erroneous teachers, is ignorance of the word, which would God it were merely banished the Church of God that through knowledge we might wade in the true word, and by the same distinguish and ●ull out the poison of all perverse teachers, and cast it in the fire of utter oblivion. That the hearts of true Christians might be comforted, & all the congregation of God knit together in love. And that all the ministers of God might proceed in one rule, Col. 2, 2. and might all mind one thing in the lord, that nothing be done of contention or vain glory, but that in meekness of mind every man esteem other better than himself. Phil. 3. 16 What moved these two Gentlemen, Ardington and Coppinger, to run that course, but vain glory and ignorance of the word, without the knowledge whereof, the intricate and hidden subtlety of that wicked monster Hacket, could not be descried, who bewitched them with forgetfulness of their duties to God, & their most gracious Queen: for that they searched not the counsel of God, neither builded their proceeding upon his word: but pricked on by the fling of singularity and vain glory, broke out into desperate and irreligious terms, laying open, as it were, before all the world, their own corruptions, and the devilish affections of that wicked man, The end of Hacket that counterfeit Christ. that counterfeit Christ, that forged king, who was deservedly crowned with a halter in Cheap, according to the words of Paul, 2. Cor. 1●. 15. that the end of these men shall be according to their works. It is time for the Children of God to take warning and be watchful, considering these dangerous times, wherein swarms of false prophets do every where fly to and fro to disquiet the godly, as papists, Brownists, Anabaptists, the Family of lust and lewdness, termed the family of love: & many other dangerous sects, 2. Tim. 2. 1● who seek to quench the ardent zeal of sincere Christianity, striving about words which is to no profit, but to the perverting of the hearers. But let us pray that our Ministry may show itself approved unto God, and that our Ministers need not to be ashamed, but may divide the word of truth aright, that they may stay profane and vain babblings which increase to more ungodliness: 2. Tim, 2. 25 16. And that they may keep the pattern of the wholesome word which they have learned in faith, & which they may teach in love in Christ Jesus. For such is the subtlety of this wicked workmaster, who hath sent forth these hellish harvest-men, that some one of these his subtle sects in show, meeteth, & as it were, matcheth every godly endeavour and sincere course that the children of God do practise in deed, 2. Tim. 6. 25 only to unpaire the credit of a right Christian life in Gods sincere children, by the opposition of science, falsely so called. We know that it is the duty of every child of God, to ●oe good works to approve his faith, by which faith he is justified. And we see that the devil hath stirred up a doctrine of works that by them men are justified, and therefore such as stand upon their own justification, carry themselves in show answerable in mortal sincerity to the most godly: when yet they hang in the Spider's web of sin, because they imagine that God will thank them because they do that which he hath commanded them. And yet by the mouth of God himself they are condemned for unprofitable servants. Luk. 17. 9 10. We know that true Christians do thirst after the word, and desire to be fed with the food of the Gospel. And therefore desire to repair unto sermons, and to be studious in the word. And we may see how the Devil provideth to blemish this Christian virtue, The Devil endeavoureth to blemish every sincere exercise. by stirring up even of his wicked ministers to perform the same, as did the soothsayers of Pharaoh, and at length to break out into gross and most palpable evils to the end that the fall of them that stood not, should blemish the zeal of right godly affected. Again, we know that it is the duty of Christians to shun swearing, and blasphemy, to give continual thanks for God's benefits, to instruct their families, and to pray for, and with them. And we see that the devil having emulation hereat, endeavoureth either to draw such as exercise this sincere course of life into some action to discredit their profession, or else stirreth up some counterfeit of his in some show, to perform this integrity, that at the last by some notable fall, 2. The. 2. 15. he may bring all other sincere professors into ignominy. Therefore, brethren stand fast, and keep the instructions which ye have been taught either by words or by the examples of the apostles. The Devil practiseth to blemish to preachers of the word. For above the rest of his dangerous practices, mark how he endeavoureth to blemish the profession of the Gospel, even in the ministery, & in the sound preachers of the word, by drawing them into some gross evil or other, to the end that he may bring all the godly and zealous workmen of the Lord into contempt, blinding the eyes of the world, and thereby raiseth a false opinion of the very sacred truth. By this we see, that even now is come the time of trial, and now it will be found out who are Gods children in show, and who in deed, it will appear, who will continue unto the end: for if we give consent to strange doctrine, to new devices, to false and counterfeit ways, whereunto we are daily moved, then shall we be vagabonds from the Church of God, howsoever we seem to dwell in the same, and to be members of it in outward show, then will God in the last day say, I know you not, howsoever we say we have prophesied and preached in his name. Oh let us therefore pray, that we may hold on a true course, and keep the line of the truth, without going to the right or left hand, What the true professors must look for. howsoever subject we shall then be to slanders, to scoffs, to reproaches, to imprisonments, and sometime to death itself. Happy are we that have the book of life laid open before us, wherein is contained the way to God's kingdom, and whereby we may take the path to our heavenly heart's case, A consideration of the controversies in our own Church. and that without reproof, whereof we may rejoice. And for a farther cause to move us to go unto god in prayer, let us somewhat consider the controversies which of late have risen by the work and instigation of the devil, even in our own Church, amongst our own guides in our own native land: how it hath raised a scruple and doubt in some that are not altogether grounded in the knowledge of the word, Whether they should obey the Magistrate in Ecclesiastical causes. And, whether there should be a superiority or equality in the Church governors. These, and many other cavils hath he raised, to hinder the preaching of the Gospel, which is greatly to be lamented, and an establishment of concord amongst ourselves to be sought and heartily prayed for. The word warranteth our obedience unto Magistrates, & therefore, woe be unto him that will teach us contrary doctrine. Let us endeavour to perform our duties, and give unto God that which is Gods, & unto Caesar that which belongeth unto Caesar. And for the controversy of the inequality of Church governors, it is to be considered that there are several functions in the Church, and every function hath his several person and place, let us therefore pray that every person may measure his calling by the word, and limit his superiority or inferiority, as they are therein directed, then shall not the people of God want their due food in regard of human contentions. Oh that every one would enter into his own conscience, and as much as in him lieth, cast away all carnal consideration, and what the word of God warranteth, let him hold, and give no ground to the cavillers, and shun the contrary. And for us that are the common people, that must expect to be fed by the ministry, let us pray for their unity, and that God will give them humble spirits, vigilant and watchful eyes, knowledge, love, zeal, and constancy, that the false prophets may be abandoned, and the true ministers of God be esteemed and embraced as the Ministers of God, Let us obey them that have the oversight of us, Heb. 13. 17 and submit ourselves, for they watch over oursoules, as they that must give accounts, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for us, knowing that false prophets are the enemies to the cross of Christ, Phil. 3. 18. 19 whose end is damnation, 2. Tim 2. 21 whose God is their belly, & whose glory is their shame, which mind earthly things. If any man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honour, and sanctified and meet for the Lord. And therefore let every man pray unto God that they may all speak one thing, & that there may be no dissensions amongst us, but we may be knit together in one mind, and in one judgement, so shall the glory of God appear, and our Church prosper. The Prayer against false Prophets, errors and Schisms, and for increase of Christianity. FOrasmuch, good Father, as the ●atter times of the corlde are come upon us, and we are by thy divine providence, allotted unto these dangerous and evil days, wherein, as we have been foretold, many false prophets, and perverse teachers, dreamers of dreams, and lying Apostles, are risen up: and Satan that wicked serpent hath turned himself into an Angel of light, and his Ministers into the form of thy Son Christ, and his Apostles, whereby he endeavoureth to continue his kingdom, and to hinder the passage of thy divine word, to exalt error, & to stop the truth, to confirm vanity, and to blemish thy word. And forasmuch also, good father, as that man of sin, the son of perdition, heretofore foretold to come, is already come, and hath established his seat of pride, and sendeth abroad his lying Ministers to seduce such as have not sufficient taste of thy word, and whom thy grace directeth not, to beware of his wicked practices. Grant (oh merciful God) that we may through the assistance of thy divine spirit, be wise in thee, and be so guided by thee, that the deceiving devices of these lying spirits, withdraw not our minds, hearts and souls, from the true embracing of thy sacred word. Grant (O Lord) that we wander not from the path of thy heavenly kingdom, but may constantly and firmly persevere in thine infallible truth unto the end, and may banish all errors and show of falsehood, and abide in the unity of thy true Church, and Christian religion for ever: let no deceitful thing miscarry us, let not the craft and subtlety of Satan, nor the hypocritical habit of holiness, (wherewith many of the children of perdition are clad, to deceive the simple and true of heart) prevail with us. Defend us, good father, from erroneous sects, and let us not in any sort join with the schisms & divisions of the world: for (good Father) as they are many, so are they in many sorts dangerous, for they all carry show of truth, some mixed with the truth, and all of them defended for a truth▪ in so m●ch as the truth itself is little, yea, least of all maintained, but suppressed, persecuted, and upbraided, even with the titles of error, heresy, falsehood, novelty, cause of tumults, of rebellions, and contempt of Magistrates, and such like persecutions: which how contrary it is, thou knowest. It is hard therefore, unless thou vouchsafe the light of thy holy spirit, to discern between these, and as hard to stand without being seduced through their subtleties: send down therefore thy grace, and direct us in thy truth, and gather us together in one sound profession: enable us to conceive aright the things that belong unto salvation, and keep us from such as come into the Church in sheep's clothing, but are inwardly ravening wolves, which spare not thy flock, but cruelly devour thy beloved sheep, with the poison of erroneous doctrine: and root out the tars, cockle, and darnel of error, already sown, from the good seed of thy word. And forasmuch (good father) as the case standeth so, that who so will profess thy name, and seek to sanctify the same in a sincere and right course of life, not bending his affections, or yielding liking to the wicked course of this world, in whose proceedings standeth but the shadow without the substantial fruit of sincerity, cannot wade through this vale full of confused corruptions, but he shall fall into the hands of such as carry the titles of Christians, & will yet seek Antichristianlie, to impose themselves against him, with the bitterness of their upbraid, to quail (if it were possible) and to discomfit, nay, to seduce even the faithful from the sincere service of thee. And this (dear Father) is dangerous unto the weak and feeble ones, wherefore give us aid and strength, that we slide not by their slippery practices from a constant perseverance in the inviolable truth, but rather may with all willingness, not only lay down our goods, & all natural respects, but even life itself, rather than to show ourselves as broken bows, to start aside with every blast of vain doctrine, and thereby be carried away into vanity and error. And according unto thy promise, vouchsafe that whensoever any of thy children, for the testimony of their faith in thee, and for their ardent zeal in thy word, shall be apprehended▪ reproved, or exacted before Princes or rulers, howsoever unlearned or unable, they shall be in respect of deep literature, or worldly wisdom, thine holy spirit may enlighten their understandings, give knowledge unto their hearts, and utterance unto their lips, that they may be able to speak & defend thy truth, to the utter confutation of such false teachers as shall withstand the same: & give them also knowledge and boldness, that the high looks, and the thundering threats of the mighty adversaries dismay them not: so shall thy name be glorified, thy word magnified, and thy poor children sing forth the praise of thy might and majesty, with heavenly wisdom in worldly foolishness, and in the end be crowned with the diadem of eternal felicity, with thy Saints in bliss. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. Against false Prophets, and deceitful teachers. O God that guid'st that faithful flock, and lead'st it by thine hand, That gav'st it water of thy rock in dry Arabia land. Give grace to us to fly the men, that teach thy word awry; Of whom thy son forewarned us when he did their sleights espy. He did foresee hypocrisy should lurk in godly weed, And wolves in sheeplike tire to lie and on thy sheep to feed. The subtle serpent shrouds his wiles attired like Angel bright. And false Apostles fraught with guiles. do counterfeit the light▪ The man of sin that sits on high, with triple crown on pate, And lifts his lewdness to the sky, holds saving Christ in hate. He sends his subtle sots by swarms through all the world: to win Thy children pure by wicked charms to draw their souls to sin. Keep us thy children Lord, therefore, direct us by thy grace, That their inchantmentes may no more our zeal sincere deface And let thy truth be still our guide, that we thereby may know Their falsehood, who do start aside, and fly the subtle foe. A motion tending to prayer, that all estates may govern themselves according to their duties. WE often offend all the sort of us in this point, namely, in attributing more unto our wealth, our worldly wisdom, our offices, our places and high titles, Our good liking of our high estates, dangerous. our callings, and our skill, in whatsoever art or faculty, than indeed we ought: for by over good conceit of any of these, we imagine that all good success cometh of ourselves: inso much, as the wealthy seem to be secure, in regard of their abundance of all things, and think they have need of nothing, and therefore seldom or never fly unto God for succour, but seek it in their chests. The politic and wise according unto the world, are careless of the counsel of God, of his directions and assistance, because in their generations, they are wiser than the children of light, and so deep are they in their own self judgement, that it is impossible for them to be deceived. They that have high, profitable and honourable offices, which is in this life the greatest worldly gift that God bestoweth upon man, what availeth it if they execute such high places without the due observation of the sincerity of conscience, violated with corruption and violence towards inferiors, and with cruelty towards such as offend them? A sincere conscience must accompany a high office or calling. These high callings, honourable or profitable offices, will render unto the abusers of the same, the reward of eternal ignominy in the end. The base sort of men, Too good opinion of our skill in manual occupations, dangerous. such as in their arts, faculties, and manual occupations, do exceed other in skill and excellency, they wax arrogant, and elevate themselves above other, and in their conceits despise other, yet in the end besot themselves, and fall into miserable contempt, even of the most basest. Sith then that these high gifts often times make us to forget ourselves and God: Every m●● must consider why he was placed in his calling. it is good & most expedient for every man in his calling, to look into the end for which he was called thereunto, and to proceed unto the performance and execution thereof, according to the commandment of God, in truth, in zeal of a good conscience, and in all humility and meekness: knowing this, that otherwise our callings will be crossed, and that in judgement▪ Saul was worldly wise and a mighty king and one that stood in the place of high honour and dignity: Yet because he thought his wisdom better than in deed it was, the Lord pulled him down from his kingly throne, to ignominy and shame. job was wealthy yet he was brought to extreme poverty, job. 1. 3. to show the uncertain estate of rich and wealthy men. Achitophel was wise and politic, in so much as his counsel was accounted as the Oracle of God, 2, Sam. 16. 23 yet because it was not seasoned with the truth, in the fear of God, it turned to his own shame, ●, Sam. 17. 23. and at last his counsel being contemned, he hanged himself. The Judges that accused Susanna falsely, were men of authority, yet for that they abused their authority, they were found worthy of death. Demetrius was a cunning artificer, and under colour of his skill, and by reason of the gain which he got by the same, he was moved to drive others of the same mystery, not having the fear of God, not only to forsake religion, but to raise tumult against Paul. So that we see▪ that not one of these excellent gifts or rare qualities, Our callings themselves can not relieve us. are of themselves able to comfort or relieve us, but rather of themselves to draw us into divers evils, yea and breed in us greater inconveniences than if we were destitute of them. And therefore it behoveth every one of us, to crave the assistance of god, & the direction of his grace, that we may guide our professions, and use his gifts wisely, reverently, & humbly, knowing that it cometh not of ourselves to perform any good in what place or calling soever we be, howsoever rich, howsoever glorious, No calling without the fear of God prospe●eth ever. howsoever wise, howsoever cunning we are, without the fear of God we are yet poor, ignominious, foolish and ignorant, and very sots, and nothing that we take in hand shall prosper to the end, howsoever it far with us for a time. We may not show ourselves swine, who seek their draff and acorns, and their whole nurture from the earth, never looking up to the hand that giveth it, nor to the tree from whence they fall. We live not by bread only, that we sow and reap of the earth: we get not our wealth by our own wisdom, but by the providence of God, by his word, and by his promises which we apprehend and receive by the hand of faith: and therefore must we look up unto the hill, from whence cometh our help, we must fly unto the Lord, who blesseth our wealth, our wisdom, our authority, our knowledge, and our occupations: for he setteth in authority, and pulleth down, he giveth wisdom, and besotteth it, he instructeth us in arts, sciences, and in our occupations, and he blesseth and curseth us in them, as we show ourselves in duty obedient unto him, so he showeth himself ready willing, and able to bless and help us. It is not enough to be able in some measure to discharge our duty, in our offices and callings, but we must pray that we may discharge the same truly, which we cannot do without the blessing of God. Except the Lord build the house, Psal. 127. ● 2. etc. they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watch men wake in vain. All our endeavours and labours are to no purpose, except the Lord bless the end. It is in vain for us to rise early, and to go to our rest late, and in grief to eat our bread, vers. 20 unless the Lord give a blessing unto our labours and studies. Wherefore let us repair unto our good God, with humble hearts in faithful supplications: that he will give us ableness to perform our callings skilfully and religionslie, that in quiet of conscience we may eat the fruits of our labours, and so prosper in all that we take in hand, that our brethren be neither deceived by us, nor ourselves forced to use any unlawful thing for our own relief, which may offend the Lord. The Prayer that every man may live uprightly in his calling. O God of all comfort, and giver of all consolation, forgive my sins, cleanse me, and wash me from all iniquity, which disable me to perform my calling, in such sincerity as becometh me. And through the blood of thy Son, purify my heart, and my imperfections, increase my knowledge and sanctify mine affections with thy grace, that my sins being forgiven, I may rest in thy favour, and in thy favour find continual comfort, and be daily blessed with new gifts: that I may be found perfect in my calling, seasoned so with a lively faith in thee that thy holy spirit may continually dwell and bear rule in me, and lead me to the due performance of those things which thou requirest to be done in my calling: that all unnatural affections being truly mortified, I may only rest in thee, and rely on thee, and be ruled by thee in all things. Good Father, grant that I may take the direct & right course in my vocation to eternal life. In which course consisteth the inward peace of the soul, which is only delighted in thine inviolable truth, revealed by thy Son, and left unto us in his word and last will. In which his last will and Testament are comprehended all necessary rules, and the sacred discipline, whereby thy children are to guide themselves in their several callings: which directions, are comprehended in three principal virtues, by thee bestowed upon them that seek them at thy hands, in the name of thy son, faith hope and love: which three are so united and knit in one, that they dwell altogether in thine elect children: & so precisely direct them through thy grace, that they go not awry in their callings. I therefore (good Father) being of mine own wisdom ignorant, and of mine own power unable to comprehend the height, the length, and depth of my calling, instantly beseech thee, in mercy to behold me, an unperfect creature▪ without these virtues, and so adorn me with them, that I, may be made perfect in all good works of the spirit, that my bodily labours be not in vain in thee. Grant also, that I may join with all my travailles, labours, affections, desires, and endeavours, faith with faith, knowledge with knowledge, temperance with temperance; patience with patience, godliness with godliness, brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness love: that I be not unfruitful in my calling. But may acknowledge thy son Christ Jesus, and in him to have peace of conscience: that I may be patiented in troubles, long suffering in wronge●: meek in trials: faithful in expecting help in distress, rejoicing in heart, quieted in mind, in hope to enjoy at thy hands, and in thy good time, whatsoever maketh to the true comfort of my soul, and the relief of my body. That in all truth and inward feeling of thine aid, my calling may be made perfect, and sealed with the seal of thine own spiritual approbation. So shall I thine unworthy creature, and all such as thou hast committed to my charge be directed in the true knowledge of thee, and sustained with things necessary while we live here. Oh blessed Lord and loving father, except thou thus direct me, I cannot stand, but shall fall into many miseries. For no estate, no degree, no calling, office function, or trade of life, can prosper or be rightly performed, without thy continual aid, direction and providence. Therefore Lord, guide me by thy spirit, increase my faith, give me wisdom and ableness in all things to execute calling as I ought: and to the execution thereof, bless all my members, make them apt and ready instruments to perform their duties, that in no point I fail in a Christian proceeding therein. And bridle in me the nature of flesh & blood, which (unless thou season my affections by thy spirit) will so much the more glory, by how much thou hast exalted me to worldly preferment, & enable me to live in this world, in higher reputation than other men, whereunto flesh and blood is ready to attribute chiefest hearts ease. And by that subtle shift, Satan many times, moveth us to rely upon vain things. And therefore (good Father) vouchsafe so to ground all mine affections upon thy fear, that I be not miscarried in my calling, from the true obedience unto thee, without which neither honour, profit, friends, wealth, wisdom, or any other blessing of thine, can steed, relieve, or comfort me. Be present therefore, good and gracious Father, with me, and grant that all things that I take in hand, may begin in knowledge, proceed in fear of thee, and end in love, that my whole course of life may be blessed with good effect, in all my endeavours. That neither mine enemies rejoice at my miseries, the godly be offended at my rashness, nor my estate hindered by my foolishness. Good Lord grant this for thy sons sake. Amen. For God's direction in our callings. O God of Gods, O father great, thou guide of all degrees: The high and low look up to thee attendant on their knees. We have our being and our food, our wisdom and our skill: Our high estate, all honour eke, and callings at thy will. All kings receive their sceptres pure and diadems from thee: Thou makest them apt to rule a land else they unable be. Thou givest sage and sacred men, and Senators most grave: To guide thy people in the hests, that fit them best to have. Thou choosest eke the godliest ones and meetest men, to be The preachers of thy satred will, who learn to teach from thee. Thy grace doth guide their lips aright else speak they all awry: Thou art the fountain full of love, whereof they drink or die. The poorest thou dost frame to skill, the lowest learns to live: Each hand takes hold of art from thee, thou dost all blessings give. Else all their curious cunning fails our labours lose their grace: In vain we travail, and our toil turns us to poorest place. Sith then (good father) each degree depend on thee for aid: The high and low, wealthy & wise else rest they all unstaide. Bless all thy people in their charge our callings all direct: Teach Prince & people in the way that graceth thine elect. A motion to a prayer, wherein the soul must arm himself to suffer crosses, and therefore it is necessary to call to mind what is to be done when affliction cometh. Every one that walketh aright, The poor man's entertainment in this progress. shall suffer affliction: under which title of affliction, are comprehended all troubles crosses and calamities whatsoever, be it poverty, sickness, imprisonments, enemies loss of goods, slander, banishment. or whatsoever other advertie. And all these, The godly & the wicked are troubled, but in divers sorts. or some part of them do all the children of God especially taste, but in love although sometime the wicked are touched with them also, in the Lords judgements: But for the most part the wicked come not into misfortune like other men, The worldly estate of the wicked. but are lusty and strong, and flourish like green bay trees, laying up great heaps of riches for their children. And contrariwise, the godly, such as fear God and walk in his ways, such as tremble to sin, they are pinched with poverty, they are visited with sickness, they are imprisoned, they are persecuted▪ slandered, The estate of the godly in this life. and taste of all the perverse things of the world, according to the saying of David, Psal. 6. 2. 33 Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of all. He heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners: Such as are shut up in the afflictions of the world, as was David, who was persecuted of Saul, and crossed by his own son Absalon: Gen. 39 20. As joseph, who was imprisoned for his sincerity & continency, whose hard & evil entreatment is specified Psal. 105. jeremy the holy prophet of god, jer. 20. 2. was likewise imprisoned and buffeted, fettered and evil entreated, for doing the message of God. Daniel, Dan. 6. 6. for that he refused to commit Idolatry was cast into the Lion's den. Elias was pursued by the wicked ministers of jezabel, to have been slain, But let us mark how the Lord worketh. He willeth us to call upon him, The Lord worketh ●or his children. in the time of trouble, and he will hear us and ease us. So these men cried unto the Lord, Psal. 50. 15. and he delivered them out of their distress. Psal. 107. 1● He did not only deliver David, but made him a king. He did not only set joseph free, but made him chief ruler of the king's household, Gen. 41. 4● he was exalted out of prison to promotion: so were jeremy, Daniel, Elias, and all God's children delivered. We also read of Peter, Paul, Silas, and many other: the end of whose troubles, are comfortably wrought by the living hand of the Lord by prayer. Prayer draweth ●●onbles to a good end. Yet oftentimes the Lord permitteth his children to be most deeply plunged in misery, in such sort as flesh and blood often doubteth whether it be possible that there may be any mean to deliver it, for we see that we stick fast) as david ●aith) in the deep mire of troubles, Psal. 62. ● where no stay is, where is no comfort at all, no friend to aid ●s, no mean to rid us, but the cruel dreams and merciless waters run ●s it were over our head. Psal. 71. 〈◊〉 The lord showeth his children great troubles and adversities, but he turneth unto us again, he reviveth us, and taketh us up from the deep of the sea. So did he help the children of Israel, even through the red sea: the story of God's great goodness and power therein is manifest, and comfortable to gods children, Exod. 17. 6. how he fed them in the barren wilderness with bread from heaven, Psal. ●14. 8. and how he gave them drink of the hard rock. Exo. ●6. 13. Samson being ready to die with thirst, Psal. 78. 6. the Lord gave out a fountain of water out of the tooth of the iannone of an Isse to comfort him. jud. 15. 19 Elias being hungry, God's providence in feeding his children. had meat sent him from God by a Raven: the Lord can and will, if he see it expedient for us, make us bread of stones, he preserveth his children in the furnace of the most cruel fiery trial. The children of GOD walk through fire and water, Psal. 6. 12 but the Lord bringeth them into a weal thy place, Gen. 32. 10. as he did jacob, who came over Iorden with his staff only, but he returned very rich, God blesseth his children with good things, and when we begin to shrink through the extremity of our afflictions, yet he will extend his hand, as he did unto Peter, and will hold us up, that we perish not in the waters of trouble, Psal. 6●. 〈◊〉 Let us then cast our burden upon the Lord, & he shall nourish us, he will not suffer the righteous to fall for ever. Let us take up the cross & follow our master Christ, Psal. 55. 〈◊〉 who hath framed out this progress before us, & tasted of the crooked passage of the world. God is our hope & strength yea a present help in trouble: Psal. 46. ● he is ready always to be found, why should we then fear, or be fainthearted, though we fall into misery, as though some strange thing happened unto us? Let us be patiented, and wait a while, for it is the way that the godly have walked before us, and have been comforted. David before he was troubled went awry, Affliction a necessary mean to draw us to God. he fell from his duty to God, but after he was touched with the crosses of the world for his disobedience, he began to ●ooke back again from whence he was slidden, and acknowledged, that it was his sins that had plucked down God's anger against him. So he reform his heart, and confessed, that it was good for him that he was troubled. So let every one of us acknowledge that our miseries are but messengers to revoke us from sin▪ & to keep us in awe of our God, Affliction 〈◊〉 of God's love, & 〈◊〉 prosperity the 〈◊〉. who is so loving unto us, that he will not suffer us to fall, but will by and by whip us for our fault, if not, it is an argument that he beginneth to leave us to ourselves, to fill up a greater measure of sin, against the day of vengeance. Thus he suffereth the wicked to wallow in their pleasures, in health, in wealth, in friends, in continual prosperity & to have, as it were all heart's eas● in this world: but alas, it is a dangerous slumber wherein they ar● cast by the heaviness of sin, wherein they lie fatting in all delights but at last, they come to the everlasting slaughter And far bett●● were it that they had suffered wa● in steed of wealth, A 〈◊〉 saying to secure men. sickness in 〈◊〉 of health, sorrow in steed of joy pains in place of pleasure, and 〈◊〉 misery and affliction in steed their delights in this life, which is but for a moment, rather than to perish, for their pleasure eternally. But alas, what is this counsel to the wise of this world? it is foolishness. I will therefore speak again to the poor, to the miserable, to the imprisoned, to such as li●e as though they were already dead, in regard that the world affordeth them no comfort, and whose life seemeth unto the prosperous a very madness, a very hell, and an ignominious life. To such I say thus and would with them to take up their crosses with patience, and follow Christ. And let them not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains fall into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof rage, and be troubled, and the mountains shake at the surges of the same, for there is a river whose streams shall make them glad, for God is in the midst of it. And thereof giveth he the thirsty to drink, and therewith washeth he away the tears from the eyes of his afflicted children, and poureth abundance of comforts upon all such as long for his ready help: and let them know this, Psal. 9 18. that the poor shall not always be forgotten. The hope of the afflicted shall not perish for ever: God's fatherly care of his children. the Lord is a refuge for the poor, a refuge in the time of trouble: he forgetteth not the complaint of the poor. But for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighs of the poor, I will up, Psal. 22. 3 saith the Lord, and will set at liberty whom the wicked hath imprisoned. psal. 18, 2. The Lord is our rock, and our fortress, it is he that delivereth us, he is our strength, let us trust in him, our shield, the horn also of our salvation, and our refuge: he is not as the world, who loveth only the glorious, The world loveth things famous and glorious, The Lord despiseth not the poor. the rich, and such as are famous in the world, and who abhorreth the needy, the base, the poor, and miserable. But the Lord loveth and regardeth, he favoureth and relieveth the poor: he hideth not his face from him that is in misery: but when he calleth upon him, he heareth him, and relieveth him: And howsoever miserably we be● crossed: let us be comforted, for the poorest that trusteth in him shall eat and be satisfied. They that seek him, shall want no manner of thing that is good: although for a time, we be tried and cast down, and most miserably tossed in this cruel world, and though we seem to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, let us not fear, for God is with us, his rod and his staff will comfort us: he will prepare a table for us in the sight of such as seem to say of us. God hath forgotten them: he shall anoint our heads with the oil of inward comfort: he will fill our cup, The world addeth sorrow to him that God visiteth. and our joy shall be full. psal. 69. 16. And although it fall out with the godly in this world, that when they are afflicted, the wicked, nay, sometimes such as carry great colour of Christianity, are ready to persecute them whom the Lord visiteth, and stick not to add more sorrow unto their grief, whom the Lord toucheth with any cross. It is no new thing, for experience itself teacheth it, and it is become a proverb, that one mischief followeth another, and all troubles come together: and to verify it every evil is made to fall upon the afflicted man, and the world addeth misery to misery, wha● then? shall God's children dismay at this? God forbidden: nay, which is more, we see, that if it please God to pull us down from prosperity to adversity, from ability and weal●●, to disability and poverty, as many times the most godly are by the hand of God, in love: How do our ancient friends and familiar acquaintance slide from us, as though they knew us not? They scorn to see us, 〈◊〉 dearest friends fly from us in our troubles. and they pass by us, nodding the head, saying reproachfully, he trusted in God, but see his misery: and if there be any cause, they will have a blow at him, Psal. 38. 11. that is already stricken: and they think it service to God, to vex them that are vexed, and to afflict the afflicted. And surely, if without offence I may make the comparison, the men of this world may be likened to a company of dogs, who will join all together upon a poor cur, that is already overmatched. And so do the cruel men, hand in hand join together to oppress the oppressed And therefore all such as fear God, The whole world is set against the Godly. arm you against troubles, for the whole world is set against you. Are ye poor? it will seek your further misery: are ye slandered? it will speak more evil of you: have ye enemies? it will also hate you: are ye any way afflicted? it will seek to pull you utterly down. But stand valiantly, fight a good fight against all these crosses, not with the hand of revenge, but with patiented abiding: so shall ye find rest at the last. Cast all your care upon God, 1 Pet. 5. 7. for he careth for you, his eyes are always over the righteous, 2 Pet. 3. 12. and his ears continually open unto their prayers. Grudge ye not therefore at the prosperity of the worldly men, who live here in all pleasure and wantonness, nourishing their hearts as in the day of slaughter: Eph. 5. 5. ● although they seek to kill you, and to oppress you, be patiented unto the coming of the Lord, settle your hearts, for his coming draweth near, and take the Prophets for an example of suffering adversity, and of long patience, who accounted them blessed which endured: They that suffer are blessed. consider the patience of job, and his misery, and mark what end the Lord made, for assuredly, the Lord is very pitiful, and merciful, wh● although sorrow▪ mourning, & tears endure for a night, he sendeth joy again in the morning: although father, mother, and friends forsake us, the Lord taketh us up: although we may not look for outward comfort while we live here. 〈…〉. 9 10. Yet let us suffer affliction, let us sorrow and weep, let our laughter be turned into mourning, and our joy into heaviness: let us cast down ourselves before the Lord, and he will lift us up. He hath said, 〈◊〉 ●3. 5. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Howsoever we fall, we shall not perish, for the Lord putteth to his hand, and therefore may the poor afflicted build his comfort upon this promise, and say, Psal. 37. 24. Verse, 6. The Lord is my helper, neither will I fear what man can do unto me. Hearken yet ye poor children of God, what David saith to comfort you, I have been young and now am old, Psal. 37. yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor their children to beg their bread. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, jam. 2. 5 that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to him in well doing, 1. Pet. 4. ● as unto a faithful Creator. And rejoice ye in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering, verse. 13. that when his glory shall appear ye may be glad and rejoice. In the mean time, let us repair unto him in prayer. A very necessary prayer in time of trouble, crosses, and afflictions. O Lord God, my most loving Father, & creator, who of thy frank and free favour hast called me into this world, and placed me in the same, when I wandered as a poor pilgrim, a miserable and distressed wretch for whom thou heretofore hast vouchsafed to provide things necessary and expedient, and hast also given me prosperous and gracious success in my proceedings. But of late, my sins have made a separation between thy favour and my necessity, in so much as I now feel thy heavy hand of judgement, wherein I am bereaved of some of thy wonted comforts, in somuch as it seemeth that thou settest thyself, as it were against me: but alas, what am I earth and ashes, that thou shouldest contend with me? let it rather please thee (good Father) to refresh me with the timely showers and pleasant dew of thy loving assistance, that where I am now low, I may be exalted to thy protection: being poor, I may be enabled to live: being base, or of little or no credit in the world. I may be beloved and embraced, and comforted of thee: behold my poverty, consider mine affliction, and weigh my miseries: For innumerable troubles have compassed me, my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up. Oh let it please thee (good Father) to deliver me, make haste (O Lord) to relieve me, though I be poor and needy: O think thou on me, thou art my helper and my deliverer, oh make no long tarrying: O (my God) why hast thou fergotten me? thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me away: up (my God) why sleepest thou, awake, be not far off for ever, wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest my misery and affliction? my soul is beaten down, I have no aid, no comfort, all my consolation is come to an end, therefore rise up, O secure me, rise up, O my helper, rise up, O my castle, rise up, O my refuge, rise up and restore me again, thou God of my comfort, Thou rock, and my fortress, my strength, my shield, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge. Thou hast promised to be a refuge for the poor, a refuge in due time, even in affliction. I am poor and in misery, help me, for bane is the help of man. They that know thy name, will trust in thee, for thou never failest them that trust in thee. The poor shall not always be forgotten, the hope of the afflicted shall not perish for ever. Thou hast promised to bless our victuals, and to satisfy the poor with bread. Innumerable are thy mercies, and that my soul knoweth right well, and I thirst after thee in a barren & dry land: I wait thy relief, in this miserable time, wherein there is no comfort: but thou upholdest them that fall, thou releevest all that are ready to perish, and therefore do the eyes of all wait on thee, and thou givest us all meat 〈◊〉 due season: open thine hand, and fill us with thy blessings. Divide the red sea of this cruel, evil, and hard world, that we may pass through our days without danger, satisfied with every good thing: open the hard rock, and give us the water of comfort to drink, send us the Manna of thy love and ready help, that we may be filled with all good things. Stand in the gap between us and our adversaries, that our enemies oppress us not. Increase the oil and meal of our stock and store, that we may have sufficient, not only to feed and clothe us, but to relieve thy poor children, and to pay what we own unto all men, that we own nothing to any man but good will Great art thou (oh God) and great is thy power, yea, thy wisdom and providence is infinite, and past finding out: Work therefore (good Father) work for me thy poor wretched creature, that have no mean to help or relieve myself. Help thou me (O my God) that I may say and confess, I sought my God, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my troubles. Oh turn thee (good Father) turn thee towards me, and have mercy upon me, for unless thou hold me up, I shall fall, unless thou stay me, I shall be overthrown, and unless thou relieve me, I shall utterly perish. Oh, the remembrance of thy love is sweet, the experience of thy power recomforteth my soul. It was thou, O Lord, that sentest Elias food by a raven, even so canst thou by unexpected means send comfort unto thy children, even in raising up the most cruel men of the world to relieve them. It was thou that deliveredst Daniel from the Lions, and thou canst deliver us from the cruel men of the world. It was thou that directedst the hand of David to kill Goliath, and thou canst teach our fingers to fight and withstand them that rise up against us. It was thou that filledst many thousand people with a small show of bread and Fishes, and it is thou that canst feed thy servants that call upon thee even with little in show, and canst increase it as thou wilt. It was thou that didst save thy three children in the furnace from the force of the fire, and thou canst preserve us in the fiery trial of this world. It was thou that deliveredst Paul and Sylas out of prison, and thou canst deliver thy children out of whatsoever captivity. It was thou that didst work for joseph, that his imprisonment turned to his promotion, and thou canst turn all our calamities to our comfort. It was thou that raysedst me from my mother's breast unto this estate wherein I am, and thou canst preserve me, feed me, and hold me up for ever: yea (good God) I, even I by experience, can sing of thy goodness, yea, the goodness of the Lord endureth for ever, the mercies of the Lord endure for ever, the love of the Lord endureth for ever, the power of the Lord endureth for ever, yea, the willingness and the readiness of the lord to relieve the afflicted, endureth for ever, yea, let all such as heretofore have been dull of belief, now see and consider, that great is the God of Abraham, of Isaak, and of Jacob, yea, our God, the God of all the believers, whose hand is mighty to save, his mercies infinite, his love wonderful, his providence past finding out: when sorrow cometh in the evening, thou Lord, sendest joy again in the morning: when I am in need, thou releevest me, when I am in danger, thou comfortest me, when I am sick, thou makest my bed, and curest my disease. When have I come unto thee, and have been rejected? Never hath my complaint been put back, but lovingly hard, and my petitions granted, so that I rest assured of thy continual help. I am forced (good Father) to seek thee daily, and thou offerest thyself daily to be found, whensoever I seek, I find thee, in my house, in the fields, in the Temple, and in the high way: Whatsoever I do thou art with me, whether I eat, or drink, whether I writ, or work, go, or ride, read, meditate, or pray, thou art ever with me wheresoever I am, or whatsoever I do, I feel some measure of thy mercies and love. If I be oppressed, thou defendest me, if I be envied, thou gardest me, if I hunger, thou feedest me, whatsoever I want, thou givest me. Oh continue this thy loving kindness towards me for ever, that all the world may see thy power, thy mercy, and thy love, wherein thou hast not failed me, and even mine enemies shall see that thy mercies endure forever. O Lord increase our faith. A song of praise for God's present help in trouble. I I Praise my God who lends his ear unto my poor complaint: Whose ready help prevents the fear which caused my soul to faint. O Out of the miry clay his hand raised me, and set me where I do enjoy a pleasant land, he only set me there. H He, even he, that daniel's God, who shut the lions jaws, Rescues my soul from dreadful rod and from men's cruel paws. N Now will I sing unto my rest, my rock, and fortress sound: Who holds me up that am oppressed, I else should fall to ground. N No poor estate, no fretting foe, no crosses shall dismay My soul, that sits all safe from woe, in God my sacred stay. O Out of his storehouse he doth sand what may relieve my thrall, He brings my sorrows to an end, and gives me joy withal. R Relief alone comes from above, our God is nigh at hand, He pours his blessings down in love, he fructifies our land. D Draw near therefore afflicted wights, he calls you for your ease, Be wise, avoid all human slights, he will your griefs appease. E Incline thine ear, o father dear in love relieve our need. In David, job, and joseph were thy mercies seen in deed. N No end thereof, the same remains, thy mercies, power and love, Are ready priest to ease my pains my help is from above. A motion to a thanksgiving in the morning. IT is a necessary thing while we live here, that we should be continually exercised in a due contemplation of God's mercies towards us, All seasons give us occasion to praise God. and there is no time, but necessarily administereth unto us great and daily occasions to celebrate the name of the Lord. If we look into the day, wherinto we enter rising out of our beds, a thousand things open themselves unto the view of our eyes, whose glory and beauty, put us in mind of our far surpassing glory to come, as also of our frailty, and ignominy present. For what are we of ourselves, We men of our own nature far worse than the flowers of the field. in regard of the flowers of the field, whose beauty and hue, may make us blush, and indeed to tremble, in respect of our casual and short continuance here, had we not a certain assurance of a more glorious estate to come: for as we see the most sweet & fragrant flower quickly to fade: A resemblance of the estate of man's life as to grow in the morning gay, and in the evening cut down and withered, and all other things to come speedily to their end: even such is our estate if we consider the uncertainty of our days, which would soon have an end, did not the mercies of the Lord, and his comfortable hand conduct us, and hold us up. For let us consider how the want of our daily sleep doth annoy us: The benefit of daily sleep. who can forbear sleep one week? nay, for less while? What thing is more tedious and irksome unto the body, The want of daily rest grievous to the body, and the use thereof the contrary. than the want of daily rest? and what comforteth it more than the daily use and enjoying thereof? and what are we, being possessed with heaviness and drowsiness of the body? and when we are cast into a dead sleep, are we not as dead men? Sleep maketh us being alive, to resemble men dead. whose memory, hearing, seeing, and all other senses are clean gone? wherein we are separated (as it were) from God and the world, we can neither think on God, or good things, we cannot do any thing whereby to defend ourselves from the least danger. Let us therefore this morning recount the light & great favour of our good God towards us, We should in the morning recount God's blessings in the night past. wherein even this night he hath preserved us from many casualties, whereof there are many kinds, by thieves and robbers, by fire, by sudden sickness. Yea, death seemeth to have a hand fixed on us, which might easily have dispatched us this night, had not God prevented us, whose continual help is so ready, that every morning doth witness his love. Let us therefore reverently fall down, What our duty is towards God in the morning. and give him condign thanks, for all his loving kindness towards us: yea, early now this morning, let us show forth the loving kindness of the Lord. Psal. 92. 2. The Thanksgiving in the morning. O Lord, I will praise thy name, early now this morning will I glorify thee, who by thy loving protection hast so guarded me, that no evil hath taken hold of me this night. Oh most high, mighty, and favourable God, the day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast framed the day for us to travail in, and the night thou hast appointed for us to rest in. I give thee most humble & unfeigned thanks, good father, for thine unspeakable mercies, who hast not only given me my comfortable rest this night past, but also hast kept me, as it were, under the shadow of thy wings, even as the apple of thine own eye. And had I not been defended by thee, innumerable dangers had overtaken me. If then hadst not raised me up this morning, I should not have been able to rise, but have perished in my bed. O great is thy mercy towards me, far surpassing my deserts: for it is thy hand (good Father) that hath this night preserved me from perishing. Therefore lift I up mine eyes even to the heavens, from whence I have obtained this safety. Yea, betimes in the morning I will call upon thee, that thy mercies may evermore preserve me, and overshadow me, that no evil either of soul or body hurt me: and grant that thy most sacred protection may always prevent all the secret and open evils which hang over my head. Give me thy spirit of wisdom and revelation, this morning, that I may know thee, and serve thee. Lighten the eyes of mine understanding, that I may know thy will, and according unto the same, frame all mine actions this day: and grant also, that I may find how excellent thou art in thy power, how sweet thou art in thy mercies, and in performing thy promises, wherein thou continually workest, to the comfort, defence, and relief, of all such as come unto thee. O Lord increase our faith. A motion to an Evening Prayer. THe day being now past, & the light of the sun being overshadowed with darkness, A godly consideration in the entrance of the evening. let us consider, that even so there will come the day wherein the light of our bodily eyes shall be shut up, not for a night as in the bed through a slumber, The night is ordained for the rest of man. but until the appearance of Christ in his glory, coming to judgement. And forasmuch as all things for the most part, A consideration of our estate in the night, with a godly resolution when we shut up our eyes to rest. at this time betake them to their rest, & man is limited this time to cease from his labours. It is our duties especially to betake us into the gracious protection of our good God, submitting us, our bodies and souls, to his tuition, that if it be his pleasure to touch us this night with the finger of death, we may be so readily prepared, that we be not taken at unawares, but that we may have the light of the lamp of a faithful expectation of that blessed hour, burning continually in our hearts, which may awaken us out of the deadly slumber of security, whereby otherwise, we shall be so darkened, that we shall perish, not only in our beds for a time, but in our souls and bodies for ever. And surely in this danger shall we sleep, unless we betake us into the hands of God when we go to bed. It is a matter of great moment, little regarded of worldly men. How the children of God 〈◊〉 them to 〈◊〉 rest in the night. But the children of God far otherwise betake themselves to their corporal rest, for they make their sleep an image of their death, and their bed they enter into, as into their grave, and in the morning when the sun and light appeareth, they take a new occasion, when they rise to contemplate of the celestial and eternal light, glorifying the name of God, for his most gracious protection. And therefore arise now all ye servants of the Lord, cry out in the night, pour out your hearts like water, before the face of our living God. The Prayer for the Evening. I Thank thee (good God, and most merciful father) whose providence reacheth unto the least of thy creatures, and thy favour and love always wait upon thy children to preserve them: thou hast executed thy sacred comforts towards me this day, thou hast given me all things necessary: and hast suffered none evil to annoy me. And by thy mighty working, I have passed this day, and am now come to the end thereof, entering into the dark and loathsome night wherein many dangers lurk, and lie secretly hidden, to vex thy children, if thou prevent them not in thy wisdom and love. Have regard therefore (good Father) unto me, who am frail, and soon fall into many things offensive unto thy Majesty: and the right is often polluted with my sins, insomuch as I cannot but accuse myself before thee, that my sleep cannot be justified to be pure, but even therein, by dreams, fantasies of the flesh, and many vain temptations. I am often moved to consent unto that which thou loathest, and can in no wise then perform what thou lovest. Sith therefore (my good father) that I through my sins deserve no favour but punishment, I appeal unto thy mercy in Christ, beseeching thee for his sake, to anoint the eyes of my heart with the oil of thy grace, that though the natural man slumber, and in slumbering fall away by weakness, yet my soul may be refreshed this night, with diligent watchfulness, lest that the adversary sowing therein the tars of temptation, I give consent to sin, and so endanger both body & soul by my negligence, Good Father, pardon my sins for thy name's sake, be merciful unto me, receive me this night into thy custody and safe protection, let thy grace comfort me, and let thy continual favour defend me from all perils. And in thy love vouchsafe me such comfortable rest, as thou shalt see expedient for the refreshment and preservation of the health of my body, which else cannot but wax feeble, and be made subject to such infirmities, as I shall not be able to execute my duty unto thee. In thy name therefore, good Father, I yield myself unto my rest, wherein let thy holy spirit keep the door of my heart, and thy holy Angels attend about my bed for my safety, for Christ Jesus thy dear sons merits. Amen. O Lord increase our faith. Before we go to bed. The Lord will grant his loving kindness in the day, and in the night will we sing of him, even a prayer unto the God of life. Psal. 42. 8 OH Father, full of might and love, our castle and our stay: Who rulest with thy power above, The darksome night and day. The day is thine, and night also, thou rulest with thy hand: Both which were made for man we know, and so was sea and land. The sea and land and all the things therein, which thou hast placed: Thou gavest us, & mad'st us kings, to use them till the last. Which blessings (Lord) this day we have most richly had from thee, Bless ●●ke this night, good Lord, we crave, keep us from danger free. Preserve us when our drowsy sleep our bodies shall possess: And let not Satan creep into, nor our poor souls oppress. But let thy grace prevent his ire, let nothing us annoy: Let faith prevail, let him retire, and we good rest enjoy. Tremble and sin not, examine your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Psal. 4. 4. O Lord increase our faith. Having thus far proceeded in our progress, we must be forced to take up our standing-house, and for a time abide in the earthly mansions of our bodies, before we can attain unto the end of our journey, and be fully possessed of that absolute heavenly hearts ease. In which standing house, we must consider how we ought to carry ourselves towards our Queen, the head and governor of this household. () IT is a common matter and necessary for Princes and great estates, How Princes and great men use to deck their houses, where they purpose to abide. upon their repair unto any house. wherein they purpose to make any small abode, to take order that the same be cleansed, swept, garnished, perfumed, and set in decent and pleasing order, as well for health's sake as for somelines, pleasure, and delight. But much more it behoveth us, that have taken by our lodgings, and abiding places in these our mortal bodies, to take order with our affections, What order we must take in our bodily houses. wills, and dispositions, that our conversations be in such decent, comely, sweet, and comfortable order disposed, that our souls be not annoyed with the filth and stink of our corruptions, while we abide in the same, but rather that our souls may be delighted with the sweet odours, and sacred perfumes of sanctity and spiritual graces. We must therefore like unto good surveyors and overseers of our own buildings, carefully endeavour, that all the noisome places within our building be cleansed and the contagious sinks and unseemly filth and double, which disgrace or annoy the same, be cast out and swept. We must cleanse the heart above all other places. And above all, we must look into the heart, for there lieth infinite filthiness, and unless it be carefully seen unto, it will hardly be thoroughly cleansed, jere. 17. 9 for the heart is the place that is most deceitful and wicked, yea above all the other parts of the body: and therefore it is demanded; who can know it? In so much as the Prophet argueth, The heart is a subtle corner. that the heart is so subtle and deceitful, that unless we most narrowly search it, there will lie hidden filthiness & corruption, when we think it is well swept and garnished. It is a dangerous thing for us to flatter ourselves in our hearts, saying, our hearts are clean, Deut. 29. 19 and we shall have peace. and yet the filthiness of sin rest in us, Acts. 8. 23. and the root that bringeth forth gall and wormwood, groweth in our wills & behaviour. But we must circumcise our hearts, Deut. 30. 6. we must cut off all perverse & corrupt affections, and purge us of all iniquity, wherein we must crave the assistance of the spirit of God, which will purify our hearts. And he that will not thus endeavour to cleanse this most filthy part of his house, but resteth stiffnecked, and as it were, Acts. 7. 51. of an uncircumcised heart and ear, not forsaking his old wicked conversation, neither will hear when God speaketh unto him: he doth as it were, resist the holy Ghost. And his filthiness will so infect his poor soul, even with the leprosy of iniquity, that he shall never be suffered to enter into the sweet habitation of eternal hearts ease. All the filthy desires and lusts of the flesh lie hidden in the heart, adultery, witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulation, wrath, contention, sedition, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, gluttony, and such other filthy annoyances, which unless they be swept out and cast off, they will infect the whole house of our bodies, with such unsavoury and noisome pollutions, that our mouths will be defiled with cursing, lying, and bitterness, our eyes with lust, our hands with touching unclean things, our feet shall not be able to walk the way of righteousness, but take the way of sin, and all the whole house of our earthly tabernacle shall be so environed with filthiness, that all our progress will be turned to our disprofit: We must cast away the dregs of old Adam, & embrace Christ. and our hearts ease to heart sore. Wherefore let us cast away all the dregs of the old Adam, which is unrighteousness, wherein we sometime walked, and let us deeke us with the works of the new man which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of Christ, who is the way in whom we must walk, the truth which we must embrace, and the life wherein we must live for evermore, which way, as it is pure, clean, sweet, and without turning, so must we be pure, clean, and without sin, not turning back unto iniquity. And as that truth is unchangeable, plain, and without deceit, so must we be simple, constant, & faithful: and as that life is without all blemish, everlasting, and never ending: so must we be quickened, living without all blemish, and spot of sin, in righteousness & holiness for ever. Therefore let us consider, what are the principal and chief ornaments to beautify this our mansion house, being thus swept and cleansed from the former filthiness, that when we shall remove from this our earthly tabernacle, we may take that way, depart hence in that truth, and so for ever live in that life, Christ Jesus, who will bring us unto his heavenly habitation, the absolute end of our progress, and the full accomplishment of our heavenly hearts ease. Let us then consider, Wherewithal we must adorn the houses of our souls in this life. that as the filthiness which we have cast out, was most ugly, filthy, and noisome unto us, because they were the works of the flesh, which bring forth death. So we must adorn us with sanctity and holiness, the works of the spirit, which will be a most comely beautifying of these our houses of clay, and lead us unto life. We must now therefore sweeten and perfume our hearts, The fruits of the spirit, must beautify our earthly tabernacles. with love, with joy, with inward peace, with long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and all godly conversation, casting away all desire of vain glory, not provoking one another, nor envying one another, that being dead to sin, and living to God, we may declare the same in this our standing house, by an innocent and sanctified life. Having thus cleansed our houses from filthiness and corruptions of the flesh, and decked the same with the ornaments of the spirit: It is necessary that we should proceed to the execution of our callings, according to the rule of the divine word: We live not to ourselves, nor for ourselves. knowing this, that we live not unto ourselves, but unto god: not for ourselves, but for our brethren: for whose sakes we are bound to travel in our callings, & to execute our offices and functions as becometh us, that our calling in Christ may be made sure, even in this life. There are in every body many members, Every body hath many members. and every member hath his several place, office, and function. Every kingdom is a body, wherein there is a governor, and people, as subjects to be governed: wherein also are many Magistrates, as the principal members of that body: and also there are inferior members, preserved and defended by the more glorious. Every family is a body, where is a father, and where commonly are children, where are masters, there are servants. All these having several offices and places in this standing house of our Common weal, must every one proceed to the performance of his calling, in such sort as there be not any disorder, or any complaining in our streets. We are humbly to thank our God, We are to thank God for our head Queen Elizabeth that he hath established our head in such comely sort, and endued her with all virtues answerable unto her high function, yea, we may sing unto our Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of saba's song, which she made of the happy government of Solomon. Happy are thy men may we say, 1 King. 10▪ 8. 9 happy are these thy servants, The Queen of Saba to Solomon. which stand here before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which loved thee, to set thee in the Throne of England, because the Lord loved England for ever, and made thee Queen to do equity & righteousness. Pro. 24, ●. It is verified in her. That the king by judgement maintaineth the country How have we (the poor members of this body, whereof she is the head) been maintained preserved, conducted and blessed in her government? No nation hath tasted the like benefits, by peace, No nation hath tasted like blessings as England. by plenty, by health, and especially (which is most sweet) by the continual use of the word of God: whereby hath been descried most filthy, dross and dregs, and the double of errors which in former time stuffed up the house of our land, so, that we could not walk in the truth without peril. And now in great measure swept and cleansed, and garnished, adorned and beautified with spiritual ornaments, of judgement, of equity, of mercy, and truth: in so much as we may sing, that mercy and truth are met together, England spiritually 〈◊〉. and righteousness and peace have kissed each other. The God of peace preserve her, that she may be (if it please him) our head while we stay in this mansion of the flesh. O that there were such a resemblance of performance of duty in every of the members, as is apparent in the head, that the subjects could answer in like sort for their obedience, as her Majesty for government: then should we have a most comfortable abiding in this our standing house of the flesh: then should all the noisome corruptions of envy, malice, revenge, gall and bitterness of the heart, be turned into love, meekness, mercy & peace: then should we have no leading into captivity, no imprisonments, no murders, no strife, no debate, no cause of complaining amongst us. But we must look into our duties, How subjects must fashion themselves in obedience. and fashion ourselves, not according to the former deeds of disobedience, but as becometh the servants of God, knowing that we are commanded to obey such as are appointed to rule over us: 1. Pet. 2. ●. we must submit ourselves unto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether it be unto her Majesty, as unto our superior, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent from her, for the punishment of evil doers, but for the praise of them that do well. Exo. 22. 28. We are commanded reverently to use the Judges, and not to speak evil of the ruler of the people. Every soul must subject itself to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, Rom. 13. 1. 2 and the powers that are, are ordained of God: whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist, they that will not obey and submit themselves unto such as are in authority, shall receive unto themselves judgement: they shall be punished, The disobedient shallbe punished not only by the censure of the judge in this world, but by the judgement of God. This then is not the least thing that we should have care of, while we are in this house, to cast out of our hearts all disobedience, and so beautify the same with unfeigned love unto her Majesty: who so wisely ordereth and governeth this our standing house, Q. Elizabeth aideth her distressed people. and lovingly entertaineth every member of this body, that she suffereth not the least, the weakest, the poorest, nor the basest to be distressed, wronged, or abused, but she extendeth present relief, comfort, and assistance. What an unnatural member is it then, that will raise itself up, to offend this so sacred a head: nay what member is it, unless he be overmuch infected with the poison of envy, that will not strive by all possible strength to perform the duty of a true subject in whatsoever office, calling or authority he be placed: although very dangerous members have been found in this body: Withered members of the body of the common wealth. but they were withered & dried up with the scorching sun of vain glory, so that they in their callings could bring forth no fruit, but very rottenness of heart, wherein lurked nothing but the eating worms of envy, the viperous affection of hatred unto the truth, and consequently devilish desires to disturb, nay, to subvert and confound the whole body. But their rottenness, and filthiness have been happily found out and they justly cut off. Let us therefore that now little in a time wherein every man may walk in his duty aright, while it is to day, yea, while we are in this earthly tabernacle, We must all well agree in our callings and therein have the comfortable use of the word to teach and direct us: let us all endeavour to keep a direct course in every of our particular callings, that we all may be found lively and profitable members of this our common weal. And no doubt (which I heartily wish in the Lord) but all our governors know what belongeth unto their christian duties, wherein they ought to consecrate themselves wholly, governors must endeavour to preserve the common wealth. to the benefit, profit, honour and quiet of this our public stare, wherein they are appointed to govern, not sparing any labour, care, expenses, toil of mind or body, no not their lives, to preserve and keep this our Common weal, in all happy felicity. And as in these our sacred governors and magistrates, there appeareth a continual working & watchfulness for the maintenance and upholding of this public weal: So in us that are to be governed, there is a necessity of resolute obedience and duty unto their authority, Necessity of obedience laid upon subjects. laid upon us. And forasmuch as we see by experience, that the wisdom, love, and zeal of our gracious superior governor, doth in some measure seem to surmount her authority, in commanding us, let our humility, love and free obedience towards her, and the governors under her, be greater than our civil subjection: And let our hearts in all fullness be fraught with such dutiful desire, to frame our whole affections to the will of the Magistrates, that there may be no occasion given them to lift up the sword of justice against any of us, for they bear not the sword for nought: he that offendeth shall be punished, and every evil member of this body shall be cut off by the same. Every good member is praised and receiveth reward. But such as are profitable & helping members, shall not only not taste of punishment, but be praised: and every good endeavour shall receive his reward: yea, and whosoever is grieved amongst us, if it be the foot, then the head itself, and the most especial members of the body, will have regard unto the same, and incline help thereunto, as unto themselves. Who therefore would not endeavour with all force, to answer in duty what is offered and administered unto us, Obedience the prop of our quiet. from these higher powers? for take away obedience, and we cannot but fall into many miserable calamities, while we are in this house of our mortal bodies. A private house we see is well ordered, when servants yield obedience to their masters, and children humility to their parents: But turn it contrary, and there followeth present confusion: how much more will the calamity be great, and the mischief intolerable, if there should not be true loyalty in the subjects towards their governors, as there is godly carefulness in the governors for the preservation of the subject? We run the most of us, and especially which are the inferior sort, into a most rash breach of the laws carefully made by our superiors, and it argueth in us inconstancy, and bewrayeth in us that our hearts are not fully cleansed from gross enormities. And therefore if it will rest in this house of our earthly bodies, in hope when we depart hence, to attain unto that spiritual home, that sacred City which we seek, that place of perpetuity and everlasting joy. We must enter again into our hearts and thrust out the old gross desires, and corrupt affections there lurking, which break forth oftentimes to the breach of the laws of our common weal, God seethe our walkings. which should be kept by us inviolable. But especially we therein violate the laws of our God, who looketh on us, who considereth our ways, and beholdeth our proceedings, howsoever we think he seethe us not. It might be thought a superfluous thing to set down particularly wherein we offend grossly, but for that it is a thing necessary that they should be considered and reform, I will briefly call to mind some such as I wish especially were redressed: Among which, as the most ugly before God and good men, Pride, a most ugly sin before God, is Pride, a peevish evil, & a flattering conceit of ourselves, that we are that which indeed we are not, and indeed we make ourselves monsters, and are not, for God having created us seemly, and the most glorious of all other creatures, we of ourselves deform ourselves, & mar by our mischief what God hath made in his mercy. But the beginning hereof, even of our pride, is, to fall away from God, and to turn our hearts from our maker. Being fallen from God we are cast down unto Satan. and turning our hearts from our maker, we become one in consent with our miscarier: & yet how go ●●ehand in hand with this wicked one, by whom we were deceived, even in the humour of pride, in the beginning? and can not yet take heed of his wiles, whereof the greatest is this filthy fashion pride: And the pride of England, The pride of England. is, as it were set up upon the highest mountain of the world, seen and scorned even of very infidels of the earth ● such as know not God, make marvel of our monstrous attire which exceedeth not only in cos● and colour, but in weight and fashion: oh pull it down, it is no● fit for such as are taking the wa● to the kingdom of heaven, it agreeth not with the guest which lodgeth in us, Pride polluteth all the corners of our house. the spirit of God: it is no fit ornament to deck the house of our silly souls, for it stinketh and polluteth all corners of the house: oh remove it, and send every Country his fashion again: be not beholden to any nation for such trumpery, neither to the garmentmaker, whose study therein though it please the vainglorious for a time, it will bring repentance, too late to the work and the workman. It is from the Court come into the Country, a dangerous evil, and hath infected the poor ploughman, that an years' wages sufficeth not one suit of attire. If I should tell all, the carter would step in with his courtly guards, The cart●● and ploughman exceedeth in pride. and will defy him that is not of the fashion: men and women, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, are too far gone in this sickness, the Lord give a timely medicine, lest we perish therein. We might (were we mindful of our dangers) call to mind what diversities of diseases, and strange maladies, have been amongst us of late, as though the Lord would say, as ye change your affections upon vain things, & as ye are never satisfied with variety of fashions, falling daily from me, so will I make you know by the variety of my punishments, that I have yet in store more strange calamities then yet ye have felt. And shall we not yet cast off these enormities? Surely it is so dislike that wedding garment, wherewith we must enter into our heavenvly heart's ease, and it is so strange unto the Lord, that he will not know us to be his: oh that it were reform, for every man and woman wade in excess in this sin, without reproof, let it be reform, lest God reprove us. Should we let pass some little recompting of another gross evil, whose reproof is deservedly set down by the sacred censure of God, and therefore I will show what the Lord himself speaketh against it, that I may be irreproveable, 1. Tim. 6 10 Covetousness the The desire of money is the root of all evil. Oh what a short and sharp sentence is this? If it be the root of all evil, then hath it no doubt many branches of evil, therefore is it very unfit to rest in this house of our souls, for they that have thus lusted extraordinarily for this worldly muck, have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. See what a most dangerous evil this covetousness is, it disquieteth both the body and mind here. The whole house is out of order where this filthiness lieth, and therefore above all other evils it is to be reform for that it distempereth us here, and stoppeth the ways that should lead us to our heavenly hearts ease. Woe be unto ye rich, saith Christ, for ye have your consolation here. It is a sin so displeasing unto the Lord, that he pronounced destruction unto the people of Israel, jerem. 〈◊〉 for that from the lest unto the greatest of them, every one was given unto covetousness. Let us therefore have a care to reform this enormity, and let us cast it out of our hearts, for it breedeth many evils: yet this evil above all other, seemeth unpunishable, nay rather commendable. Covetousness unpunishable. because it seemeth good husbandry. But all that are in the right way unto that heavenly heart's ease, will cast it out of this their standing house, as dirt, dung, and unprofitable double. This evil of covetousness, draweth unto it another dangerous evil, Flatterers. flattery, which is an evil that draweth light conceited men into vainglory. But all flattery is as the kiss of an enemy, as was judas, and therefore are all flatterers to be rejected, & to be cast out of this common society of the members of this body, and to be cut off as unprofitable and perilous, yet these prosper in the world: & far far better than such as speak the truth from their hearts. Cast them off. Certain idle persons, whose infections do annoy a great part of this body, are to be cured or cut off, for they are dangerous members, for whose reformation have been made many notable provisions, by sundry sage & grave acts, and houses of correction for vagarants, erected in every shire. But it falleth out, that the number of such dangerous weeds rather increase then diminish, to the great detriment of our quiet abiding in this standing house of our common weal: wherein I suppose the negligence of inferior officers, is a great occasion of their increase. I have travelledm any shires, and it appeareth that there is little or no execution of these good laws, greatly to be lamented, not only in regard of the common quiet which by them is like to be disturbed, but also in regard of the persons themselves, who endanger their own estates, by their ungodly looseness and lewdness of life. The common wealth also losing their labour & travel, which might in some measure steed their brethren, if with a sound and godly disposition, they would frame their limbs to labour, yet eat they that which is gotten by the sweat of other men. The number of these persons is great, the persons themselves for the most part, able of body, hardy, stout hearted, and fit to be employed in strong affairs, a number of them yet counterfeiting impotency, and deforming themselves with rotten rags, pass through the country halting in the day time, and oftentimes annoy the good members of this public weal in the night. These pass and repass by such as have authority to examine, to commit, to punish, and to reform their disorder, and yet few or none set hand to redress it. If the City of London be viewed, the streets within it, & the suburbs & fields near it, will yield of young & old, men and women, able of body to serve masters, and to labour for their living, a great number of vagabonds. And which is most lamentable, the young and tender girls & lads of all ages, lie under stalls in the streets by great companies under hedges in the fields, & no man taketh them up, to bring them to some faculty to get their livings, as is commanded, but suffer them to wallow still in idleness, until they be passed to be reclaimed, falling into breach of the laws, and so are eaten up with untimely death: who if they had been carefully provided for, they might have proved good members of the weal public. It is no new thing, and would God it might be now at the eldest estate, that these evils might be cut off, or in some measure reform. The root being cut in sunder, the branches would whither, for there are divers occasions given and tolerated, whereby they thus grow into these idle and vagrant courses. It seemeth lawful, for it is tolerated, that every man at his pleasure may leave his travel, and go to the play house, bowling Allies. Bear gardens, Ale houses, Taverns, and gaming, where they lose their time, consume their thrift, and offend the laws of God, and her Majesty. And the Sabbath day which should be sanctified with prayer, and hearing of the word, is profaned with these accustomed evils, which if they were cast out as unprofitable, in this our earthly abiding place, we should the more sweetly pass on the way to our heavenly heart's ease. For out of these evils of idleness and loitering, spring many noisome things, that blemish our body here, as filthiness of the flesh, drunkenness, gluttony, swearing, and blasphemy, forgetfulness of God, and contempt of Magistrates, wherewith our abode here being grossly defiled, such will be our unsavoury dwelling, that our spiritual guest the holy Ghost, will refuse to abide with us. I herefore, 2. Tim. 6. 11. to 16. O ye men of God, whom the spirit of God directeth, fly these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, patience, and meekness, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, whereunto ye are called, & have professed a good profession before many witnesses. Keep on the course ye have begun, without spot, & unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord jesus Christ, who only hath immortality, and dwelleth in the light that none can attain unto, whom never man saw, neither can see. Unto whom be honour, and power everlasting, Amen. A short prayer against errors & schisms. WE humbly pray thee most merciful father in mercy to look down upon the dangerous estate of thy Church which is much pestered & infected with the suds of error, insomuch as it seemeth to be swallowed up of the perilous inundations of sects and schisms coined by the subtleties of that wicked one Satan, whose practice is ever from the fall of Adam, to stop the pure proceeding of the Gospel, by the perverse works of darkness. Sanctify therefore thy children, with thine especial grace, and manifest thy truth unto them, that by the light thereof they may know how to shape the way to the true service of thee. And let them be able to discern between truth and error, that they may be always free from heresies, and not be entangled with false doctrine, nor defiled with the loathsome pitch of man's inventions, but being endued with the purity of heavenly knowledge, we may all join together in one truth, wherein we may live and die: and so in Christ thy Son's merits, live with thee in heaven eternally, Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short Prayer in crosses, troubles and afflictions. OH Father, full of mercy, and love in Jesus Christ, have compassion upon me, whom thou hast touched with thy hand of correction. Thou hast found me out in my sins, and beaten me, thy hand lieth heavy upon me, I am not able to sustain the burden of my miseries. I can not but faint in my distresses, and run too and fro for help, but lo, oh Lord, my crosses increase, and thy anger I can not bear: wherefore good Father in Christ, have compassion upon me, recomfort me again, be pleased with me, and take thy heavy displeasure from me: and though my sins have deserved more than I can bear, the merits of thy Son are greater than my sins. And therefore for his sake come again in love, and by thy mercy and power, repair my decays, relieve my wants, and cure my diseases, speak the word, and it shall be done, all things obey thy voice, wherefore bless thy creatures all to my use, that I may have them all in this life blessed unto me, and I blessed by thee in Christ, Amen. O Lord increase our faith. A short Prayer, that all men may live uprightly in their calling. LOrd God Almighty, merciful & pure, be pleased in favour to consider the weakness of man, and so sanctify us with thy grace, that we may all confess our sins, and cry to thee for pardon, all acknowledge our weakness, and cry to thee for strength, all see our ignorance, and come to thee for knowledge how to behave us in this mortal life in our several callings, that thereby both thou mayst be glorified, our brethren comforted, and ourselves relieved: that when we shall be called by thee to render account of our stewardships, we may be able to stand before thee acquitted from all that either sin, the devil, or our corrupt flesh may charge us with, not through our own deservings, which in our best endeavours are evil evermore, but in the merits of thy Son Christ, Amen. O Lord increase our faith. The conclusion, wherein is exhorted unto watchfulness, for the appearance of our Lord jesus Christ, in whom, and by whom we shall enter, after this progress ended, into our everlasting hearts ease. Having attained through the divine assistance of my good God. unto the end of this my poor travail, I can not but conclude with an earnest entreaty of all such as covet this eternal hearts ease, that they will in this standinghouse of the body, call continually to mind, the absolute end of this Progress of piety, which principally tendeth unto the finishing of the journey and pilgrimage of this life, in all godliness, faith, zeal, and ardent love of that heavenly mansion, which so far excelleth this earthly tabernacle, as the purest gold exceedeth the filthiest and most loathsome dirt & dung of the earth: and the hearts ease thereof, is much far sweeter, than the hearts ease of this world, as the sweetest honey passeth in sweetness the most bitter gall: and happy is that man, that soonest attaineth to the enjoying thereof but in part, that is, either in this life, through the quietness of conscience in our Christ, or being departed hence, hath the fruition thereof in spirit, expecting the coming of that great Judge, when soul and body shall enjoy the same at full. Oh let us all therefore, in all godly watchfulness, in this our pilgrimage which shortly shall have end, have due regard unto our walking, that we walk not awry. Let us daily examine ourselves, & consider with judgement, that we shall all appear before that high Judge, from whom, no step of our progress shall be hidden, and whom soever he shall find halting, or walking awry, he will bereave of that most sweet hearts ease in heaven, and will give most sour and unsavoury hearts sore in hell. If I should discourse of the comforts which shall be showed unto such as walk this progress, and end the same as they ought, & as they are commanded, alas, I am as unable, nay, there is no tongue of man or angel can nearer declare the depth of the sweetness thereof, than I am able to number the stars in the firmament: the excellency thereof, is such & so unspeakable, as no heart is able to comprehend or conceive the same: but let this satisfy all curious conceits, that, that our heavenly mansion, our everlasting tabernacle, that our spiritual inheritance, is such and so full fraught with such variety of joy, with such unspeakable comforts, with such endless felicity, and surpassing glory: yea, such is the fullness of all spiritual contentation there, that we shall not covet to see more, the ear desire to hear more, the body have will to feel more, nor the heart thirst to conceive more, than we shall there for evermore enjoy, howsoever they are now, whilst we are in the flesh, far removed from our gross conceits, and every report of them seemeth dark unto our senses, until our all sufficient God, our Christ, and our Saviour, shall himself appear again in the clouds: then shall our understandings be opened, then shall our senses be lightened, and then shall we most plainly see, evidently perceive, and to our absolute comfort taste of the fullness thereof, yea, then shall we see our God face to face, when there shall be an end of all our travails, of all our toil, of all our cark, care, fear, trouble, and irksome passage: then shall we hunger no more, thirst no more, then shall we need no friend, nor fear any foe, then shall we that are here now in prison, be set at liberty, and we that are pressed down with misery shall be raised up to comfort: yea, then shall be an end of all things that now discomfort us. Oh let us therefore be ever thankful unto our God, that hath not only provided this heavenly heart's ease, and endless joys for us, but hath also laid out the way thereunto, and given us his own hand to lead us, yea, himself to conduct us unto the same. Let us without ceasing therefore pray unto him, and let us be always in good comfort in him: yea, let us groan in our hearts, with most longing expectation, for the appearing of him that shall deliver us, and free us from dangers, and settle us in these joys. And let us cut off all lets and impediments, how near or dear soever they be unto us, whether it be the eye, the hand, or the foot, let us cast away all excuses, wife, children, lands, goods, gold, and silver, honours, dignities, yea, let not life itself be dear unto us, if it seem to hinder us from a speedy passage unto our God: knowing, that so long as we are here in this earthly house, our estate is miserable, our passage dangerous, our pleasures perilous, and we wander as wretches through many miseries. We are here but as in a strange country, far off from our own home, whereunto we must endeavour to attain in all simplicity, carrying only with us, as our staff to stay us up, the merits of our Christ, and for our defence here, the sword of the spirit, whereby we shall be able to walk through all the perils and dangers, yea the fire & water, through which we are to pass. Let us expect, yea and wish with joy that most happy day, wherein that sweet trumpet of our saving Christ shall sound out to call us: let us hearken for it continually, and let us think it will sound to morrow. Then to morrow shall be our merry day, for then to morrow shall we meet our God, that will carry us home with him, that in body and soul we may dwell with him for evermore. Oh come Lord Jesus, come quickly, and let all the people of God say, Amen. We are not yet come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord our God giveth us. Deut. 12. 9 The Author to the Book. STep forth and stagger not my silly Book: Dread not to draw near unto the Palace of thy Princely Patroness, whose sacred Sceptre shall be thy sufficient safety, and whose worthy wisdom, will way the willingness of thine unworthy woorkemaster, who though he below, yet he is loyal, howsoever homely he hath compiled thee: he in all duty and humility presenteth thee, though a work unworthy to be patronized with so puissant a Princess. But herein comfort thee, that her majesties royal countenance graceth the present that carrieth show of true love and loyalty, and accepteth the gift, as is the mind of the giver. Vade, Vale, & profice, non vised veritate. FINIS. A devout Prayer, for the preservation of her majesties forces now at Sea. MOst omnipotent maker, and guider of all worlds, thou only searchest & fadomest the bottom of all hearts, consciences, and conceits, and in them seest the true original of all actions intended. Thou that by thy foresight dost truly discern of all actions intended. Thou that by thy foresight dost truly discerned, how no malice of revenge, nor quittance of injury, nor desire of bloodshed, nor greediness of lucre, hath bred the resolution of our now set out army, but a heedful care, and a wary watch, that no neglect of foes, nor our security of harm, might breed either danger to us, or glory to them. These being the grounds, thou that didst inspire the minds, we humbly beseech thee with bended knees, to prosper the work, 〈◊〉 with the best forewind guide the journey, speed the victory, make the return the advancement of thy glory, the triumph of thy fame, and surety of this Realm, with the least losses of english blood. To this devout petition Lord give thy blessed grant. Amen.