CONTEMPLATIVE PICTURES: With WHOLESOME PRECEPTS. The first part:  

Of God. Of the Devil.  
Of Goodness. Of Badness.  
Of Heaven: and Of Hell.   
By RICHARD BERNARD.  
LONDON, Printed by William Hall for William Welbie, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Swan. 1610.   

TO THE RIGHT Honourable EDMUND Lord SHEFFEILD, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter. Lord PRECEDENT of his majesties Honourable Counsel in the NORTH, and his highness Lieutenant there. And to the right Honourable that his lovingly obedient Lady VRSULA the Lady SHEFFEILD.  
To the Right Worshipful Ladies, their Honourable issue, the Lady SWIFT, and the Lady FAIRFAXE: Heavenly joys in Spiritual Meditations, good conscience in obedience and endless glory by faith in Christ: that grace and peace evermore.  
RIGHT HONOURABLE, RIGHT WORSHIPFUL:  
Fix divided equally to two, is three, or three to either. Three is all, so many to every one, no less to any. A man is either of God by regeneration, living in goodness, going to heaven; or of the devil by corruption, practising wickedness, and running headlong to hell. Two generations, the heavenly race or the Serpent's seed: two Regiments, some slaves by sin to Satan's controlment; some in voluntary subjection by grace to God's government: two places to go unto, the infernal bottomless pit, or the celestial endless paradise. There is but one conductor, God in the spiritual brightness; but one seducer principal, the devil in spiritual darkness. One only true Religion, the rest Idolatry and Superstition. There are no men Miscellane, one between two of either, and yet neither. There is no mean or third place betwixt Hell below and Heaven one high. The Pope with his Priests may teach a Purgatory, to pick the purses of foolish Papists: but believe them those that list, the word yields no such warrant, to cause a judicious and sound Protestant to fear or force of it. Yet is there one, an ill mean among men, that loathed creature, that Lukewarm gospeler: a time server professing after his pleasure, as may stand with his profit: this is the Miscellane man. But is he good? then of God; then go such to heaven: but God saith he will spew them (a term of loathing) out of his mouth: if bad, then of the Devil, and so belong to Hell. Three and three then, God, Goodness, Heaven: the Devil, Badness, Hell; my subject matter empinfolds all: none not within the compass of these. God either guides men by his holy spirit, settles them in grace, and rewards them in heaven with infinite glory: or the devil beareth sway in their hearts and holds them in wickedness, for which in hell they receive wages due, even unspeakable misery.  
Hear therefore (RIGHT HONOURABLE, RIGHT WORSHIPFUL,) of all these are certain pictures, not Popish and sensible for superstition; but mental for Divine contemplation; whereto are added wholesome Precepts for direction after godly meditation. God's Picture, to behold him, that is so good; to admire his excellency, to fear his Majesty, to praise his bounty. The devils portraiture, that he may be seen, that is so evil, to wonder at his wickedness, to loathe his vileness, to detest his wretchedness, and to beware of his deceitfulness. Good is set forth, to behold the comely beauty of celestial grace, to embrace it with love. Badness is discovered, that the ugly morphew of sin may be seen, to abhor it. Heaven is described to work joy in well-doing by considering so great a reward of happiness and that eternally. Hell is deciphered to restrain from sin, by fearing the recompense of vengeance in internal torments everlastingly. He that doth good, may turn and read of God, his blessed guide; and of heaven, how in the end he shall be in felicity. He that doth evil, may read of the devil, his accursed leader; and of hell, and behold his future and dreadful misery. This is the practical use of these pictures.  
Right Noble Lord; Still let the honouring of the gospel, and hatred of Popery praise your zeal: this is of God. Let still your speedy execution of justice make renowned your seat of equity: this is goodness. Your Honour's love to the truth and regard of the ministry is not unknown: your godly hate of Antichristianisme is no less manifest; and is not a care in just proceeding between these two words, mine and thine, commended? These give sure hope by Christ of heaven. My prayer is for your Honour's constant footing in this happy path. Indeed the way of well-doing is straight, and as narrow as straight: hard to enter, and as difficult to endure therein: whereunto is required the wisdom of a Serpent, and a doves innocency. Godly sincerity now adays with Achitophel's is held an affection from folly: just and resolute dealing, but a desperate attempt. The dislike of lukewarmness, and hate of a false religion with Machiavellian time-servers is judged but a passionate rashness, the heat of a spirit apt to Sedition.  
What if this be the wicked man's censure? What if the world, the School of Satan's policy, do thus condemn true Christianity? Must noble spirits set up to advance piety, yield to such hellish Hags, and become slavish to the froth of vanity? A true child of the Church instructed in the School of Christ, can not endure it: his high spirit, elevated beyond the low pitch of corrupt reason in confederacy with flesh and blood, possibly cannot so debase itself. This were to separate wisdom and innocency: to leave religious sincerity, and to take up other godless men's impiety. He that can put in practise our saviours lesson, to be as wise as a Serpent, and as harmless as a Dove, he may do well. Together are they good; it is not seasonable to be in act, while they be asunder. The first alone is but devilish deceitfulness: the latter, by itself, is but a good meaning silliness: He that conjoins them rightly, seeks his own safety. Conscience will plead for innocency, God will defend it: and prudent practice keeps an estate good, maugre the enemy's malice. Where these two like to lodge and harbour in one heart, that, as rare, as excellent a person, may live within himself comfortably, among men peaceably, and in the end die joyfully: my unfeigned wish to your Honour and to all that walk with God uprightly.  
Right honourable Lady, Right Worshipful and Honourable offspring: My attempt may seem a wonder; but the conceit of the wonderment ceaseth where judgement searcheth out the cause, & prudence doth guide wisdom to weigh the circumstance. A Lady is Honoured in her Lord, children are dignified in the due fame, and high promotion of their parents. The first are united by God's ordinance, the latter by nature's influence. Whom God then and nature hath cemented, I, in my due honouring of all, presume to conjoin. Right Honourable Madam, and to you Ladies, I wish all welfare under God, on earth true goodness, in heaven enduring gladness; a time to read good things, but all times to practise, commending to your hearty assent this memorandum: Women are but weak, their strength is to be under government, excellent praise is gotten by their wise silence, but their principal glory stands in their awe, and cheerful obedience. This perhaps may not seem a plausible sentence to your Sex; but (good Ladies) he cannot flatter, that indeed doth give you true Honour.  
I present your Honours, your Worships, with these special meditations, the first part of my Pictures and Precepts. though I be troubled with controversies and called into such matters of contention; yet intermix I my study sometime with these better motions. I find that Questions curiously contrived do more exercise wit, to inform judgement, then to make the heart devout in our pilgrimage and this earthly exilement. By troublesome disputations men get knowledge to approve of good, but by quiet meditations men grow to more conscience in their ways, and do increase in grace. Hence is my interchange, and a cause of some stay of my answer both to Master Ainsworth the Separatist, and to Master Smith that anabaptistical Se-Baptist: but now the time will not be long, ere I publish my reply. This present labour, in the view of words, may seem but little, but the weight of the matter rightly valued makes it more. The heads here handled are but few, yet comprehend much: the words not many; I have studied brevity: It is irksome to be tedious, it is delightsome to be short and perspicuous.  
It is (Right Honourable, Right Worshipful) what it is, even my good meaning, my first and best endeavour in this kind; whatsoever it be, be it not, as it should be, my will yet wisheth it to be well, and my thankful heart offers it up with all due respect unto ●ou, and craves your honourable and worshipful acceptances ●f the same. If I have offended by tendering so small a work, ●o so great and worthy Personages, I beg pardon for my ●oldnesse: and so praying for ●our ever-prosperous estate and true happiness, I humbly take my leave.  
From Worsop in Notinghams'. Novem. 6. Your Honours, and Worships to be commanded in the Lord, RICHARD BERNARD   

THE PICTURE of God.  
GOD is by contraction good, the prime cause of all his creatuers: Only one, one alone. Incomprehensible, infinite, invisible. A substance without composition, action without motion. A being spiritual, of himself eternal: before time, in time, and beyond altime: without beginning, without ending, the Alpha of every thing, the Omega of allthings: the first, & the last: without term of time. He is that kingly regency, that lordly Soverainity. He doth give to all life, motion, action; he bestoweth the quality and increaseth the quantity: yet is he good without quality, and great without quantity. He is the being & beauty of his creature. He made every thing good, & still from him flows goodness; bodies bliss, soul's safety, goods, preservation, and grace. He is Supereminent above all, Superexcellent beyond all, abundant in love to all, and absolutely in perfect happiness without all. He is the highest in majesty, the greatest in glory, the largest in magnificency, the powerfullest in omnipotency, and the ever only best in unspeakable bounty. Without him nothing available, with him all things possible, without, beside, and against means. He is present every where, without circumscription of place, neither included here, nor excluded there▪ he fills what is empty, sustaineth what is weak, directs what is not right, governs what is instable, and perfects whatsoever is i● defect. Heaven is hiS throne the firmament hiS pavilion, Paradise his palace, the earth his theatre Angels are his attendants the Princes of his army; all creatures his host. Th● azioured sky his comely curtain, his privy chamber, the place of unspeakable pleasure. His face is a flame of fire, his voice thunder, his wrath, dread, & terrible horror. If he meet his enemies, he rides upon the wings of the wind, his chariots are without number: he raineth upon them snares to entrap them, fire ●o devour them, hailstones to kill them; he sends a smoke to smother them, a stormy tempest to terrify them, the stink of brimstone to annoy them, and hot thunderbolts to shoot them thorough. He is the Landlord to all the inhabitants of the earth; they are his Tenants, the best but his Stewards, the mightiest of his making. He preserveth by his power, ruleth by his providence; he hath in his hand a Sceptre of iron, and doth reign as he list, over him that seemeth to outrage the most. Satan is but his slave, though he rule over faithless Princes and Peers. The loftiest creature, the highest man in Sovereignty, is but his footstool, and hardly a shadow of his glistering glory, & glorious eminency. He foreseeth every thing before it be, wisely ordereth all things that are, and preordeineth all certainly what shall be. There is no preventing of his will, no gain saying of his good pleasure: his power manageth his will unresistably; his will is the rule of righteousness unchangeably: he maketh every thing to bow at his beck: he altereth the order of nature, & changeth the course of times. He can span heaven with his hand, sound the depth of the Ocean seas, make the earth tremble at his prescence. Something he can make of nothing, & the lest something is he able to multiply into in. numerable many things. He is admirable in his preservation, and wonderful in the creation: By subduction of his infiniteness, he left an inanity of substance, form, and force; so prepared he unspeakably an emptiness to frame & place his creatures: by reduction of himself again innarrably he made a kind of fullness, and caused that sensibly to be seen, what never had being of any thing before. All his works lively demonstrate him; his word truly reveals him: yet no mortal eye can see him, nor any wit conceive him. He is mercy, he is justice, a fire burning, and yet not hastily consuming. He is all presence, his nameiss, I am, nothing passed with him, nor to come which is not in sight. Infiniteness itself is his compass, for time and place. His justice is without partiality, he judgeth ever righteously, and punisheth only offenders, and that deservedly. His pleasure is absolute in himself; what he delighteth in, without himself, is for that, which is only from himself. To conclude an endless matter without conclusion; He is merciful without measure, pitiful in great compassion, but without any passion. He is repentant without sorrow, he maketh a change in his action, but is never alterable in his person. He is himself holiness, the very fountain of all goodness,: nothing evil from him, nothing evil by him. He before wills all things, which he causeth to be, and maketh also that good which he willeth to be. He is majesty, he is mercy, he is excellency, he is glory, he is power, he is principality, he is grace and goodness, life and happiness. All these, in, and from himself, in all perfection, beyond imagination, without limitation, endless. To him be praise perpetually. So be it.  

Precepts.  
Fear this God, believe him to be, know him rightly, behold him invisibly, conceive him without Idolatry. Remember ever his presence, consider his powerful providence. Thou art of him, thou art in him, thou wast made for him. Seek his friendship, force of nothing in respect of his favour. Love him above all, hold on his side against all, and be subject to him before all: reverence thou his majesty, obey his commands awefully, in all actions seek his glory, and praise his name continually, that thou mayest of him be blessed eternally.  
Amen.    

The Picture of the holy Trinity.  
GOD, the true God, is but one in unity, yet three in Trinity: One in substance without division, three in person by distinction, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost. In order, one afore and after an other: but essentially, all coequal, coeternal together. Al God, not three Gods, yet ever three persons, never the same in propriety & manner of working Hear is admiration, but no demonstration. This Catholic and Christian verity is an innarrable mystery.  

Precepts.  
Believe this, the word teacheth it; but corrupt reason is against it. Beware of curious searching, it is a matter unsearchable. Stand not upon this to know how it may be▪ subject thy reason to faith in sobriety. It is a godly ignorance, in that to be unskilful, which the Scripture concealeth. He that suffers herein his reason to wade farther than faith, may lose his reason and belief, his Christianity for infidelity. Presume not (man) in this matter above that which is written. This is a deep mystery, this doctrine of the Deity, the inscrutable point in Divinity. The Lord give thee true wisdom, resolved faith, with reverend fear.  
Amen.    

The Picture of the Father.  
IN the unity, the Father is the first in the Trinity. He is not begotten, but from everlasting begetteth the Son, of his whole substance. He made all things by the Son, through the holy Ghost. What he willed he made good, and all of nothing by his word. This gracious father of his mere mercy, hath chosen many, without their merit. He calls his ere they come; & when they come, he confirms their faith. He knows them before they be, and makes them friends by grace of deadly foes by nature; of Satan's slaves, his faithful Servants; of Servants, dear Sons, children adopted, yea kings, priests and coheirs with Christ. He careth for his children, when he mostcasts then down: He can allow them their godly will, but he permits them not to be wanton: when they do offend, he will fatherly forewarn; if they repent, he will not punish. He is full of commiseration, he doth speedily pardon the Penitent, and withal showeth great gladness to do them good. He doth send them his spirit, to assure them of peace, & freely promiseth to bestow on them grace, either to prevent their fall, or to pardon their fault. Though we be neither worthy of being, nor breath, and deserve nothing, yet he affords us his blessing, and giveth needfully anything. Earthly Fathers are such, as they be, for a season, but this Heavenly Father is so for everlasting. He forbeareth with patience, and keeps his in eternal remembrance. He hateth never, where he loveth ever. Bountiful he is in his blessings, largious in his liberality, full graciously favourable, & without end in goodness. He is strict, but not extreme in justice: He calleth man to make satisfaction upon pain of destruction: yet if man can make no payment, his mercy hath ordained means to discharge the debt. Ere sinful man do die, his sinless Son must suffer death. Wrath must not reward us, his great goodness will needs have us guiltless. Is not his love enlarged towards us unspeakably? doth he not purchase us peace with the price of blood? He giveth an obedient Son, for a rebellious Sinner: Wrathful displeasure must seize upon God's natural Son and an innocent, that pity may be showed to adopted children, to escape torment. The ever worthily beloved must undergo pains of Hell, to make for the unworthy of love, free passage to Heaven. See (Sinner) see the incrediblenesse of so great grace: Stand (thou Sinner) amazed, at this wonderment of good. O matchless mercy! Did ever a Father satisfy his wrath upon his dearest son, to appease his anger towards his deadly foe? did ever a loving Father put his darling to death, to prevent from his enemy the force of his wrath? We see it not, stories record it not, nature suffers it not. Yet this father killeth his best Son, to kiss his worst creature; forsaketh the Gracious, for a time, to receive the Graceless to mercy, for ever.  

Precepts.  
OH therefore let us ever love and praise the Lord this heavenly Father for his goodness: Oh let us not cease to declare the wonders which he doth for us the children of men!  
Amen.    

The Picture of the Son.  
THe Son is the second person in the Trinity, the Father's natural Son begotten from eternity, the Image and substance of his Father without inequality. From the father, by the Holy Ghost, he worketh together with the Father in all things: he is God, he is man, perfect in both natures. He hath a Father, he hath a mother, even both truly; & also no father, nor mother but respectively. He is man-god, & God-man; yet not two persons, but only one Christ: One not by conversion, but by assumption; not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. This is the seed promised; the prophet foretold the prince of peace. This is Melchisedech, the priest of the high God, the king of Salem, the jews Messiah, the Christians Saviour. This is he that will summon all to appear, & give true judgement upon all, both quick & dead in the last day▪ Satan here he vanquished subdued the flesh & conquered the world. He hath mitigated God's wrath, performed our work: justice is satisfied, the law fulfilled. He hath made an atonement, obtained mercy, & freed us from punishment. The father of his mercy gave him for us, & he in love bestowed himself of us. The father did will our peace, & he spared no pains. He came into the world poor, to make us rich. He was to the wicked a derision, that we with Angels might be had in admiration. He was blasphemed, to make us blessed; buffeted and scorned, to make us secure in true comfort. He wrought righteousness, that we might be free of wickedness: He was innocent, to procure us pard on being penitent. His holiness is our happiness, his suffering our safety, his grace our good. He was here in trouble for us, his life painful and miserable, so his end for us doleful, and his torments intolerable. In all his life, that we read of, he did never laugh; but often lament: He mourned to see men's madness, and wept for their wo. Here he sighed sore to make us sing, he sobbed and sorrowed much to make us merry. He bore upon him unutterable torment patiently, that we might avoid the plagues of God eternally. His prayers were loud cries and strong, to make our prayers to pierce the Heavens. He sweat drops of blood to purge and sweeten us unto our God: he cried with bitter torment upon the cross, to save his servants from the dreadful curse. He did die as a malefactor, to become to every believer a benesactour. Evil did he none, we are the offenders; Heaven is his desert, Hell ours deserved: we have merited damnation, and he purchased for us salvation. We were bound to the Law, we were under the curse, in danger of death, and subject to wrath: but he hath sent us his Gospel, preached peace, promised pardon, and obtained grace. If the law would condemn us, he hath fulfilled it for us; his works prevent wrath, his cross, the curse. Conscience by the law would accuse, the Gospel by grace will quiet it and acquit us. If justice demand her due, his pains were our full payment. He is the way for us to walk in. He is the truth, we may believe him. He is the life, happy is he that lives in him. By him and through him all our wants are suplied, and all grace and goodness obtained. Are we in corruption? His purity purgeth us. Are we disobedient? He was most obedient. Are we subject to wrath? he covers us. Wander we? he recovers us. Seek we safety? He affords us solace. Want we a surety? He is our pledge. None in so great debt, but he can discharge: None so in disgrace, but he can procure him peace. He is ascended for life, that we might not descend to the place of death. We need not fear the Law, Satan, sin: he hath gotten us heaven, life and salvation, without danger of Hell, death or damnation.  

Precepts.  
HEre is peace (O happy man) & by Christ procured. Seek in him thy soul's safety: Behold here joy & spiritual security. Call boldly God father, it pleaseth this jesus to be thy brother. Believe in him, & constantly rely on him. Love him, and long for him; say, when Lord? how long Lord? come Lord jesus, come quickly. In the mean space, live in love, work righteousness, seek peace in holiness, keep in the limits of sobriety, continue in chastity, and be never without charity, and expect assured felicity: which the father of mercy evermore grant thee,  
Amen.    

The Picture of the Holy Ghost.  
HE is the third person, his property is proceeding from the Father, and from the Son. He works ever from both, together with both. He is Christ's Vicegerent in his kingdom, 
The Pope may be packing as the devils darling.  his only Vicar General in his Church. He raised up the Prophets, he instructed the Apostles, and now qualifieth all Christ's true messengers. The bad he maketh good, in the good he increaseth grace. He reforms our ways, informs our judgement, and confirms our faith. He changeth discord into duties of love, and turneth all misdeeds, into Alms deeds; prattling into devout prayer, foolish prating into powerful and persuasive preaching: the Preachers tongue he makes the pen of a ready writer. Evil lusts, where he cometh, he killeth, the dead works of darkness he expelleth. He is the spirit sanctifying the elect; he is not partial, but dealeth measurably to all, without sinister respect. He is to the Saints the blessed Comforter; he persuades them all, to call God Father. He works repentance, and giveth thereupon true peace of conscience. Christ's Church is his Temple, and he the saveguard of his sheep. He signifieth our innarrable sighs, and makes us express our desires in prayer unto God. He helps us to indite, to frame our wills, to make our meditations, to moderate our affections, & orderly to dispose all our actions. Our eics by him do see into the Scriptures, he is the true commentary to understand the word. He learneth men to handle controversies, without contention; & to make a separation, but without Schism. By him crosses are not without comfort, and the day of prosperity, not without meditation of a change. He maketh every thing to the godly profitable, and the greatest afflictions, never insupportable. It is only he that worketh in his faith by the word, distasteful wearisomeness of the world, a hopeful persuasion of heaven, without any dreadful fear of hell. He knits piety to right policy, and severeth true devotion, from foolish superstition. Here in this life he beginneth grace, sets on to goodness, persuades to holiness, urgeth to charitableness, presseth on to godly practice, settling the soul in religious pureness, and so leads it forward with a resolved constancy to endless happiness, and perfects all in the life to come.  

Precepts.  
OH (unstable man) get the strength by this Spirit, pray him earnestly to settle thy soul in safety. Make him thy master; his motions, thy first mover. Advise by his Counsel, walk ever by his course. Silence thyself, when he gives sentence; be not secure, if he do censure. Bestow thyself by his direction, and willingly be led, by his instruction. If he premonish, be forewarned; if he call back, run not on. Stay, Where he bids thee shop, and stand not when he moveth thee to set forward. If thou hast him not, entreat the Lord to send him: If thou hast him, carefully hold him. If thou wouldst try the true Spirit, discern his motions by the word; his habitation in thee by sanctified work. The Scripture is his Scantling, he works not ordinarily, but as the word doth warrant, and he abids in none that are wicked and disobedient. Be no Schismatic; he will forsake thee; be no Heretic, be will not harbour with thee. Displease not him, despite him not by thy profaneness: If thou quench his grace thou losest thine own good. Let him guide thee after the word, and thou shalt be ever wellpleasing to God, accompanied of Angels, approved of godly men, and be rewarded in heaven: which benefit the blessed trinity vouchsafe thee (Reader)  
Amen.    

The Picture of the Devil.  
He is that damned Ghost, the first sinner, the first Seducer: One knowing much, yet never obedient, but by constraint. He is but a Slave, as base, as he is beggarly: as malicious, as cursedly mischievous. Blasphemously careless of God, tyrannously cruel to men. A continual Tempter, God's gaoler, a dreadful tormentor. Ever is he out with God, and a hater of the good. What God commands, he condemns; he will allow, what God dislikes. A bright Angel, he was in heaven; but now the black Fiend in hell. To no man a friend, to the Church a most malicious foe. He is driven out of the penitent, he harbours in the disobedient▪ The lewd are his lodging the profane his habitation. He is the unclean spirit, the place most full of abomination, is his common harbour. All his motions, are to satisfy lust, he would have us live after our liking, to work wickedness, to rage's in rebellion against God. He knows himself to be damned; all he cares for, is to make other like himself. This cursed spirit, is that Lion roaring, strong, fearful: that old Serpent, subtle, guileful: that red Dragon, bloody, terrible. He reigneth where he gets any rule, and whom he gaineth, those willingly he will not let go. Antichrist is his eldest son, the damned crew his cursed children. He is the invent our of all villainy, the author of heresy, the setter up of idolatry, the plotter of conspiracy. He raiseth rebellion, and works treason. He turns religion into superstition, love into lechery, friends into foes, consent into contention, peace into bloody persecution. He comes where the godly be and good exercises, not for love to them, but maliciously as an instrument to hinder them. He will send Cain to sacrifice with Abel, but afterwards to murder him: He will thrust judas among the Apostles, but to betray Christ. He is equally envious, as malicious: If Christ plant a Church, he will erect a Chapel; if he have Apostles, this will raise up false teachers; If Christ sow wheat, he will scatter tars. He deceived Eve, which brought a curse to the earth: He provoked David, to fall to numbering, that the people might be plagued. He is that grand Liar, that shameless Slanderer: He is as impudent, as irrepentant. He tempted Christ himself impotunately, he vexeth his members, and that daily. He is full of fair words, he makes many promises, but doth never perform what is good. He is a Machiavellian, when he pretendeth most to do well, than he intendeth most mischief, and to do ill▪ He keeps men in ignorance, and persuades them of faith; he puts them in hope of salvation, and yet dissuades from the grace of sanctification. He would have the wickedly disposed to presume of mercy, and the godly penitent to despair in apprehension of justice. He induceth his to believe, that good meaning without the word, is warrant enough in God's worship, and blind devotion, to be a great growth in religion. He commends wickedness with titles of goodness: He puts a fair vizor over the ugly face of sin. Excessive pride must be cleanly decency; no pomp. Filthy lust, but a trick of youth; no carnality. Bad company, with pot-mates, good fellowship; no vanity. Covetousness in the Niggard, thrifty husbandry; no sordid quality. Prodigal expenses frankheartednes; no unthriftiness. Intemperatenes in meetings, neighbourly merriments; no gluttony, nor drunkenness: Riot, recreation; idle musing, contemplation. Thus he blindeth him that cares not to see sin, that so a man may be secure, in hastening to hell. He that is most in transgression, is his bestsonne; yet is the greatest sinner, his basest Slave. Who so doth most for him, shall in the end, be most tormented by him. God commands his children for their own salvation; but Satan his servants, to bring them to confusion. All his are either carnal Atheists, gross Idolaters, Hypocritical time-servers; foolishly superstitious, damnably mischievous, proud Heretics, or idle headed schismatics. He will allow some of his to be of the visible Church, yet only a Came, an Achitophel, a Saul, a judas, without invisible grace. He will give them leave to profess, but not to practise. He lets them know verity, but not acknowledge it with sincerity; their service is only fashion. Hypocrites are his Saints, custom his Canon, Sophistry his reason. His kingdom is darkness; Schismatics, his zealous servants; Heretics, his chief Champions. His company the accursed, the profane his principal attendants, next to the Fiends, the hellish inhabitants. The reward to his, wrath from God; seclusion from the good. The place for their abode, is the infernal pit, there to be tortured in torment, and plagued with erernall pains without end.  

Precepts.  
OH wretched sinner, seek peace to thy poor soul: seal not up thy damnation, by doing service to this Devil. Stop thy ears, hear him not: if thou dost, believe him not. Wherein he most seemeth a Saint, therein hold him a most accursed creature. though his promises pretend peace and salvation, yet ever in his reasoning, deny his conclusion. Make no peradventure of the word; if thou dost, he will forthwith contradict the truth. If thou be a doubting Eve, to say, lest I die, he will be a Serpent, and dare confidently say, thou shalt not die. Be not: a slave to him, that made suit to lodge in Swine. Be not ruled by him, if thou be'st truly penitent, who reigneth only over the disobedient. Be no subject to so base an abject: nor a friend to so great a foe. Leave his lusts, else look for no life. Forsake the world, else thou gainest nothing by the word. If thou wilt needs be led by him, look for no Heaven: if thou securely sin, prepare for Hell. Remember the end, the due reward of wickedness, both in the devil, and the damned. From which misery, the God of compassion deliver thee (Reader) of his tender mercy.  
Amen.    

The Picture of Goodness.  
Goodness is grace, a picture of God: the worst in general approve it, but the Saints specially rejoice in it. It is heavens pathway, the righteous man's aim: no earthly thing can purchase it, it is only God that gives it. In itself it is beyond any price, and maketh other things precious. It is the difference between creature & creature, between men & men in their words and works. Goodness makes man good, the person, his speech and practice. It banisheth brutishness, forceth fraud to be flying, allayeth contentious heat of spirit, and meekneth the untameable nature of man. It suffereth no revengement, it is not rigorous in punishment. love springs from it, patience waits of it, and charity ushers it. It is that which makes a man friendly, to procure relief for the needy; and without delay to help the distressed soul. It is defective of no duty, it is pliable to all the works of mercy. Will is never wanting by goodness, though ability be away. It inhabiteth ever in true piety, and lodgeth with godly pity. It banisheth malice and mischief far from it, and is a deadly bane to rancour and rage. It forbeareth a fiecre adversary very quietly; where it may fully revenge, it forgiveth readily. It will pass by wrong through mercy, yet not show partial pity, to overthrow justice; it keeps moderation and measure in all things. It is borne up of humility, strengthened by patience; the word of life doth nourish it, the Lord of life doth cherish it; the spirit gives it quickening, and God's glory sets it on working. It is from heaven above, in earth entertained of few: he is full that hath it, and he ever in want that is without it. It moves us to mind God more than goods, the Lords precepts, more than our profits. It thinks of death before death, to be fit for death. It prepares the body for the earthly grave, and the soul for the heavenly glory It brings to a man peace within, and praise abroad; here commendation, and after salvation. This is goodness, the form is true godliness, the cause is grace. It makes a man study to be quiet, it keeps patience within us, contentment about us, wickedness far from us. Good is he, that hath this goodness, he shall attain to everlasting happiness.  

Precepts.  
LAbour to come to this goodness, dwell with it: harbour under it. Let it grace thy person, and commend thy condition. Let thy words declare it, and thy works paint it out to the world. Thou shalt by goodness get with God favour, and among good men friendship: which the God of goodness give unto thee now and always:  
Amen.    

The Picture of Badness.  
THis is sin, the creatures deformity, the turning of the will from God, and the mind from good. It is the seed of Satan, the fruit of tentation, and man's destruction. The Devil is the Father, concupiscence the Mother. The Serpent subtly suggested it, our first parents foolishly did entertain it. Satan yet is ever in begetting it, worldly objects provoke it, the senses let it in unto the soul. Consent is conception, the heart is the womb of conceiving. It quickeneth by fleshly reasons, it traveleth in desire to be doing. It bringeth forth by opportunity, the Midwife; expelling first Gods fear, laying aside his precepts, contemning his presence. Holy piety hath here no place, conscience is not called to this business, remembrance of God's mercies is quite out of mind, thoughts of his wrath hidden in the earth: God's word must be no warrant, goodness is forgotten. These bring not sin to birth, these hinder sin for coming forth. Doubting of God's word makes preparation, lust lays it in bed, infidelity brings it to perfection. It is wrapped in vanity, it is laid in the cradle of security. The Devil closeth the eyes with ignorance, and filleth the ears with Sophistry: the head is covered with presumption of mercy, over the heart is laid hardness, the judgement is overspread with blindness. It is nursed by the world, suckled upon the breasts of pleasure and profit. It grows great by custom, and spreads by community. Bad examples do countenance it, plausible terms confirm it. It is clothed with the hope of pardon, tied with the girdle of common favours, imagined to be of God's special grace Shamlesnesse attends it, persuasion of time enough to repent, gives it rest, and conceit of finding favour in the end, rocks it asleep. sins sleep is conscience deadness, the judgements blindness, the wills perverseness, affections disorderliness, and a resolved carelessness. though sin have such a sleep, yet sometime upon a fearful terror, it will suddenly awake: and waking, the pleasant ditty of Satan's song gets it soon asleep again. It hath four parts: the Tenor, cark and care thou for the world: the Mean, thou mayest repent when thou wilt: the Triple, rejoice thyself in thy youth: the Base, think death is not yet at hand. Hereby it snorts in a carnal safety, spreads in breadth, waxeth big, and hie by hardness of heart. It is very foul at the first, worse by continuance, but loathsome at the last. It bastardlike, brings shame to the begetters, disgrace to the abettors, confusion to the followers. Where it getteth strength, there hardly it is cast out: where it is not timely mastered, there it will have the upper hand. It is lordly, and covets to rule: it is raging, and tyrannous, if it reign. He that subdues it, easily kills it; and he that strives not to stifle sin, works his own woe, and neglects his own safety. Sin where it is not killed, will kill; if it die, we live; i● it live, we die most certainly. It was at the first, personal; it is now original, and natural: From God's mercy in the elect only venial; in itself and in all other, deadly and mortal. Good is propounded in the suggestion, pleasure is conceived in the consent, and so wickedness is approved, by the heart deceived, till the time come of torment. Seduced souls bewitched with the works of the flesh, know not the evil of sin: but behold and see, how it defaceth God's image, makes man a monster; of God's child, the devils creature. It dislodgeth goodness, it keeps out godliness; inwardly it delights the heart with filthiness, and outwardly sets the hand to act unrighteousness. God and man by it are at odds, who werebefore at one: the Earth in creation blessed, by transgression is accursed. It takes from us what good we have, & brings the evils upon us, which naturally we hate. It cast the Angels out of Heaven, Adam out of Paradise; by it Reuben lost his birthright, judas his Apostleship, by it cometh death to men terribile, and their persons to God execrable. It maketh the Law condemn us, and conscience to accuse us. By it godly exercises grow loathsome, godly company becomes irksome. No blessing should be wanting, if sin put not in a bar: ever contentment, without discomfort: ever internal peace, without external disgrace. It is wickedness, that works our wretchedness. Shame is sins raiment, dishonour the cognizance, reproach the praise, an ill name the recompense. In itself it is vanity, the gain but misery. It is a strife with the truth, an heresy against verity, Idolatry against sincerity. It is a conflict with God, and a resisting of goodness: nothing worse than herein to have the victory. Man's opposing of the word, is a taking part with Satan, against the Lord: and man's joy in sinning, is to be glad of the devils triumphing. All men have sin, but he that committeth sin, is a slave to sin. It rules in some, in other it is ruled: He that makes the least of it, shall, as with wizards, have least to do with it. It is as an impudent guest; though it come seldom, yet is ever troublesome; small kindness doth work great boldness; much courtesy, intolerable sauciness. It is ever to the godly vexation of spirit; if but once in act, yet greatly grievous; if it be liked, and often welcome, and never forbidden, there grace and goodness will grow into a consumption, and the party run headlong into perdition. It is of divers colours, and keeps not one shape; it is of divers natures, and not of one sort In one it is pride & lordly, in an other humility in show, but indeed hypocrisy. In the choleric it is ireful, in some other nature lustful. It is sometime adultery, and makes a man filthy; it is sometime drunkenness, and makes a man beastly. It hath the commandments, ten witnesses to name it; it hath also the same law to declare against it. One precept terms it Idolatry, an other saith it is adultery: this maketh it superstition, that treachery and rebellion; as the Law looks upon sin, so the commandments do name it, and thereupon withal disclaim it. It turns a man into itself, and makes a man to show it, against himself. One sin is linked in with another, and every one forceth out the proper fruit, of it own nature. By covetousness man grows niggardly, an oppressor, unmerciful: by pride, arrogant, haughty and hateful: by gormandizing, gluttonous; by faithlessness, treacherous: by ignorance, superstitious; by carnal service, Idolatrous: by contempt of other, and abuse of wit, against the word, heretical; and by immoderate passion, and strong affection, Schismatical. It is in every one more or less; the child hath it, but knows it not: the young man is carried with it, but cares not; the grown man forced with it, but resists not: and old age with it Crammocklike crooked, but feels it not. Yet is nothing more in use to be known; more hindering man's good, to be avoided; more subtle, to be looked unto; more inward, to be felt; more perilous, to be prevented; more forcibly assaulting us, to be strongly of all resisted. By it Satan gets of the heart possession; by it is hindered the spirits illumination. Our understanding by sin is darkened, our thoughts from God estranged; the heart in goodness is fainted, the faculty of the will weakened, and the quietness of conscience interrupted. Faith falls to doubting, hope let's go her hold, and love turns her liking into loathing. Yea, if repentance, upon every sin, cut not the cord of vanity, and grace grow up in the room with sincerity, this death in sin, will bring death for sin, which will turn salvation offered, but carelessly rejected, into confusion deserved, but now not greatly feared.  

Precepts.  
Love not (Reader) the works of darkness, lest thy eyes cannot behold the light. To save thee from sin, learn the commandments, know thy natural inclination, and strive for amendment. Hear how God threats, and stand in awe; observe his judgements to discern of his wrath. Other men's punishments for thy personal faults, make them admonishments that thou no more do fall. Oppose God's precepts, to temptations of pleasure, the reward of that heavenly life, to this temporurie, and earthly loss. For sake not God, for any worldly good. Sin not here, as a servant to Satan: neglect not true holiness, which is with God commendable, and shall be recompensed with endless happiness. Remember thou must die, and therefore live to die: Consider the day of account to make a good reckoning. As thou art here, so look to stand there: if here sinful, there shameful; if here regardless of the commandment, there certainly expect severe punishment; from which the Lord deliver thee.  
Amen.    

The Picture of Heaven.  
Heaven is the haven of rest: desired of all, hoped for of many; but only enjoyed of the best. It is the highest place, the seat and throne of God, the habitation of Angels, the harbour for the just. It is the court of the great King, the mighty Creator. It is the Lords Tabernacle, the faithful man's receptacle: the Region resplendent, the comfortable continent, the City of safety, security: the sacred sanctuary of peace, prosperity. All in it are without misery, never after subject to calamity. It is a Paradise for pleasure, a City for beauty, and a Kingdom for state. Hear is life temporal, there life eternal: here the beginnings of grace, there the perfection of goodness. There is God in his fullness of glory, yet to none dreadful, there he reigns in justice, and yet with none wrathful. The company are all triumphant, as here they have been members Militant. All is in tune, concord, never discord; sweet melody, never any bitter malady. Such fullness there is of all things, such love mutually in all, such respect from all to each others state and place, as no excess is seen, nor any defect is felt; who that have least can desire no more, and those that have most, discern no want in other. All is beautifulness there without blemish, immeasurable beyond all motion, excellent beyond all imagination. The walls thereof are of stones most precious, the streets paved with pure gold, all the work is framed curiously, set out with all sorts of pearl very sumptuously, and adorned with all skill mostgloriously. It is decked with all delights, replenished with all pleasure, garnished with algraces, beautified with the best company, flourishing with the flower of all nations. There is the royal Priesthood, the peculiar people, the children of light, the new creatures, the elect by God's pre-ordination, the separated Society by God's effectual vocation, and the holy Saints by the spirits sanctification. There are metioifully together the Head and his body, Christ and his Church, the Prince of peace, with his patriarchs and Prophets, Priests and Professors, Apostles and Apostolical men, Saints, true servants to God, Ministers of the Gospel, and Martyrs for the truth. They are all there noble, none ignominious, all Kings reigning, all victoriously triumphing: None contemptible, all honourable. All invested in glory, crowned in Majesty, clothed in sincerity. Their faces shine with comely beauty, their hearts are filled with piety, their tongues extol the Lord with spiritual alacrity, and in their hands they hold Palms in token of victory. This heavenly happiness cannot be imagined; the blessings are so many, they cannot be numbered; so innumerable, as they cannot be comprehended, so incomparable, as cannot be equaled; of such value as cannot be prized; so great, as not to be measured; and of such eternity, as they never can be ended. They be joyful in an ever-reioicing joy, they cry aloud Hosannah, and sing cheerfully Halleluiah. They stand before the face of God in inestimable favour, in the view of Angels with brightness overshining the Sun. Mercy embraceth them, without doubt of misery: in comfort without discontentment, in peace endless, in glory matchless. There is mirth without sadness, health without sickness, soberness of countenance without sorrow, tranquillity without undermining treachery, livelihood without labour, goods and riches without grievance in getting, without care in keeping: and a full felicity of all things without adding, without diminishing. There is flourishing youth never decaying, strength never abating, comely countenance never withering: liveliness is without fading, courageousness of heart and spirit without danting. There is ever love without loathing or dislike, victory without fear of after vanquishment, gladness without diminution of goodness. Mortality hath put on immortality, corruption glorification. No sin is there to be seen, the Law is fulfilled, the curse is removed, death subdued, the promises of the Gospel fully accomplished. Faith hath her perfect work in charity, hope her desired happiness, love a large scope in everlasting unity. There is no Foe to fight, no Cozener to collogue, no Parasite to dissemble, no Superior among them to command, no Inferior to yield obedience: no maligning envy, no proud Sovereignty. All are now equal members, no divided orders; no sorrainers, but brethren; no strangers, but all of the household of faith: Children of one holy Father, coheirs with Christ, their elder brother. There are no tears, the cause is taken away: No torment, Christ freed them by his punishment; no dread, Christ set them at liberty from death; no crying, there is no pain; no pangs or sorrowful passion, they possess peace in Paradise. No disease can infect the body, it is not subject to sickness, it is freed from infirmities, and cannot be distressed by calamities. There is no sighing nor sobbing through sorrow of heart, such accidents cannot happen; no lamentable complaints for injuries offered, no wrongs can there be wrought. No ill success nor woeful wants, no grief of mind nor anguish of spirit, no cruel oppression, nor ominous action find there a subject to harbour in, neither practiser nor patron. Care cumbers no man's mind, nothing weakeneth the understanding, nothing blunts the apprehension. judgement cannot be infected with error, zeal with corrupt affection, patience with anger. Will is there without wilful frowardness, the heart without deceit and hardness. Thoughts are not troubled, they be not corrupted: affections not distempered, they be not disordered. The holy spirit rules all, the holy Lamb leads all, God by his power preserves them, by his grace doth ever assist them. All mercies are received thankfully, all commands are obeyed rightly: in heart without hypocrisy, willingly without grudging, readily without lingering, faithfully without altering, joyfully without murmuring, and constantly without ceasing. Their drink is the sweet water of life, Angel's food their delicate nourishment, Christ's righteousness their holy raiment, and their perfect fullness joyful contentment. In a word, there is happiness with goodness, felicity with unity, safety with solace, peace with perfection, pleasure with profit, agreement with grace, lowliness without contempt, exaltation without pride, security without carnality, stability without wavering, abundance without ever-wanting. All persons generally have the participation of joy, and every one in particular the fruition of glory. Nothing there is here to the eye discernible, nothing there but innarrable, all things to human reason incredible. A man may imagine much, a tongue may speak much, the ear may hear much, yet heavenly happiness is beyond all relation, all imagination. The name of heaven to all is lovely, many do wish it heartily. All Religions aim at it: the jew expects it, the Turk wisheth it, the wickedest desire it, the Papist would merit it, the Schismatic seeks for it; the sound Protestant, the devout Christian by faith begs it, and he through jesus Christ shall enjoy it; to whom be praise and glory for evermore. Amen.  

Precepts.  
O Mortal man, do thou often meditate of this happiness. Let it eat up thy heart with desire to enjoy it. Let carking for this world be expelled with thy care of heaven: neglect not this felicity, the things here are transitory vanity. Delight not in the pleasures of death, to lose, for them, the paradise of life. To win the world by works of darkness, what is thy gain, if thou lose true goodness? To pawn thy soul for sin, is it not madness? Exchange not God for the Devil, goodness for badness, heaven for hell. Heaven is a holy place, the unclean enter not thereinto. Suppose no such easy passage, as fabulous Poets paint out: strait is the way unto it, narrow is the gate to go into it: many seek it, few do find it. Let thy way be verity; thy path piety, the spirit thy conductor, the word a director, thy eye faith, thy stay hope. The straightness of it, is affliction; the narrowness, true contrition; the suburbs, the Church; the door, Christ: by whom thou shalt enter into the palace, even the Paradise of God. Strive then to avoid here wickedness, to escape all future wretchedness, that thou mayest possess this true blessedness for evermore. This God grant thee, Christ merit for thee, the holy Spirit thereof certainly assure thee, and thy godly life witness the same to thee, that thou mayest end thy days comfortably.  
Amen.    

The Picture of Hell.  
HEll is the place for the impenitent, every such person is the hellish inhabitant. It is the prison for those that be separate from God's presence, the dreadful dungeon of utter darkness, the fearful Topheth, and deep pit bottomless. It is the lake burning with brimstone, the hollow cave and Chaos of confusion. It is terror with lamentation, it is dread with desolation, and horror with utter destruction. There is death, there is ever dying, and yet never without being. It is a gulf devouring, a swallowing whirl pole, a flaming furnace: God's justice makes it, his power upholds it, and it is blown with the bellows of his wrath. There is scorching fire unquenchable, and freezing cold intolerable. Stinking smoke is for the smell, loathsome filth for the stomach: the ear shall hear a hideous noise, the eye shall see ghastly sights, and horrible visions: what not there to breed amazedment? what not there to cause fearful astonishment? It is the valley of God's utmost vengeance, the fullness of his wrath, & perfection of his plagus. The Lord's jail, the exilement of souls, the sink of sinners, the foul harbour for infernal Hags. Oh what woe is there with wailing from hearts comfortless; what rivers of tears, because of torturing torments, and yet remediless? Forlorn creatures, cursed caitiffs; full of travel, painful weariness: full of frightings, fearful terrors endless. They be in themselves helpless, of God's mercy hopeless. Oh the clamorous outcrying, the yelps and yelling, the sighs and sobbing, the mad rage that there is and roaring! No heart so hard, as can suffer a mortal eye to behold it, no ear to hear it, nor mind to muse of it. The devil there hath his full damnation, the fiends are outrageous and filled with fury, the rest fret and sum, and are as in a wood frenzy. Their desire is revenge, their devotion, cursing; their blessing, blaspheming. The wicked there be so faggoted up with the bands of God's justice; as bundles of sticks so cast into the fire, by the power of his might, so held in undurable torment by his perpetual displeasure, as they blaspheme God's benignity, for feeling his justice in severity. They be in a huge Sea of misery, in an Ocean of calamity. Fire, flames, and flashing about them, the worm of conscience gnawing within them; rage, madness, ireful indignation among them: ugly visages of black devil saffrighting them, monstrous apparitions, an uncomfortable company about them: Sulphur and hot burning cinders under them: the revenging hand of God over them, and pouring forth the viols of his wrath, full of variety of plagues without ceasing upon them. Egyptian plagues are there increased, the tempests of lightning and thunder multiplied. They may remove from place to place, so exchange in plagues, but never either be eased of pangs, or freed from pain. They are chained up perpetually, to endure real punishment upon body and soul eternally. They have heavy hearts loadned with passion, they be woefully distressed with all Calamities, without any commiseration. There is care, but no comfort; vexation, without consolation; lamentation but none show compassion. They weep, they cry, they wail, & mourn, they howl, and piteously bemoan their ever-during misery. Ah, alas, saith one, in cold freezing, and yet extremely burning: Woe to me, saith an other, in hot water-scalding, and yet so cold, as his teeth may be hard chattering, his body may behold so to quake, and in every joint to quiver, as if bone from bone would fall a sunder. Hence such roaring, such yelling, such bitterness in banning, such screeching and outcries, at the sudden renewing of torments, at the continual removing into exchange of tortures, and yet remaining always in contrary plagues, as the ear never heard, the eye never saw nor mind of man able to apprehend: Woeful doleful, horribly fearful, insufferably painful. This stinking Sidde and dung-pit crawls full of the venomous generation, bloody Cainites, with sorcerous Balaamites, persecuting Saules, with crafty Achitophel's, the Serpent's seed, the reprobated race, and the accursed workers of iniquity. There the rageous may rend and tear one an other, and none part them; the envious gnash for anger, and gnaw one an other to the bone, and none regard them. He that here sinned for his pleasures, will there sin more because of his plagues. Every sin shall there be punished, accordingly as they were here committed. There is penury for gluttony; extreme dryness and thirsting, for excessive drinking; burning, for lecherous lusting; outrageous madness, for blaspheming; want, for ill gotten wealth; a fearful agony, for bloody cruelty; for oppression utter desolation. Then is seen with sorrow enough their time spent in vanity, their childhood in foolishinesse, their youth in lustfulness, their manhood in wickedness, and their old age in covetousness, their first years run on in ignorance, the middle age consumed in negligence, and the term of life ended without repentance. They out of measure are vexed to consider what they were, and might have been, what they are, and must be, what they would be, and cannot attain to. They think of time past, but without thought of recovery, they taste of the time present in unspeakable misery, and do look to the time to come, without hope of delivery. One curseth his birth, and bewails his ignorance; an other curseth his education, and parents negligence; a third, direfully bannes himself for his irrepentance. Their own senses do enlarge much their sorrows; they behold Heaven, and themselves in Hell; the godly in gladness, themselves in grief; Christ's faithful people in order, and honour, themselves in confusion and fearful horror; the Saints of God in glorious prosperity, themselves in shameful infamy, and miserable adversity. They hear in heaven blessing, melodious singing; in hell cursing and lamentable mourning; before the eyes are flashing flames, and a thick smoke ascending; for the nose is prepared a noisome smell everlastingly stinking. In steed of sweetness, there is galley bitterness; for delicate fare, farnishment; for liberty, inthralement; fire brands, for beds; for soft lodging, pitch and brimstone with juniper coals burning; in steed of music and pleasant harmony, a hellish noise of discordancy. They feel torments unspeakable, pains intolerable, and the same always durable. By impatience their plagues are increased, by their obstinacy continued, and by God's power and justice maintained. Thus are their hearts in continual heaviness, their pale countenance in doleful sadness. To heaven they look up, bewailing their mishap, in hell they look down with shame of face. If they would repent now they cannot: if they could, it is then to late; they were reckless in the days of amendment, and their case is remediless, in the time of punishment. There is not any grant of the least comfort to the greatest torment, nor to the extreemest pang any kind of easement. They may cry, and cry again, Lord, Lord; they may entreat for mercy, but never be heard: no grace, no peace, all pain, all plagues; none blessed, every one accursed. He that is afflicted, shall be more tormented; he that is condemned, shall ever be damned. Heaven have they lost, and not to be purchased, Hell have they duly deserved, and the place must needs be endured. None among themselves can help one another, and among the celestial company they shall not find one comforter. If children should call to parents, they will not pity them they have lost that natural affection, they can have no such compassion. Though parents should make petition & pray their children, they will not be cared for. though they cry and call, saying ôh our bowels, and our blood. Oh once bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh, speak for your poor tormented parents: Is there no natural love now left? What no compassion? Shall we perish? can you see us thus plagued, and show no pity? Have mercy, dear children, on us so in misery, sweet Babs, once loving and beloved, speak, oh speak one word for us; are we not plunged in unspeakable pain? look upon your now forlorn Father, who once fed you with food: ah, alas, have some remorse of your mournful mother: Oh for God's sake seek this time our good: let some sparkles of your love appear. Can you be in pleasure, and suffer us to lie in perpetual pain? We spared no labour for your education, and can your eyes behold us languishing in this place of destruction? If you did call, we came speedily to secure: when we heard you cry, we were in care for you; your misery was to us calamity; your adversity, the abatement of our prosperity; and can you hear our piteous groaning, and see the devils grinning as dogs upon us, your ears hear our bitter crying and they again barbarously tormenting us and be silent? Oh, woe is unto us, fire, consume us; vengeance, do you utterly make an end of us. All this will not work, words are but spent in vain; natures force hath lost the effect; there is no knowledge of kindred, or kinsfolk; the godly regard God's glory, and therein only rejoice. To conclude, they now know, and to late believe, that the good do dwell with God, have Christ's company and Angel's glory; but themselves to be hated of God, neglected of the good: to be with black devils damned, with savage furies accompanied, with barking hellhounds horribly affrighted, and with barbarous tormentors cruelly handled; so as they always in this lifeless living, weep, mourn, and lament for such hellish pains: and in this deathless dying cry, yelp, howl, yell, for such ever during plagues: from which (O Lord) deliver thine, and show them mercy (O God) that they decay not in goodness, that so they never feel these punishments for their wickedness. Amen.  

Precepts.  
O Miserable Sinner, now do thou seriously consider: here in this life, see to thyself. Who would endure, but awhile these pains, for all worldly pleasure? Who would go to this doleful place of Devils, for wicked gain? What is there in this pleasure here, profit, and honour, that for it thou shouldst adventure infernal pains for ever? Oh break the cawl of thine heart with sorrow, rather than to fall into such plagues, for delight in sin. Burst into tears, to escape these torments. Live not securely; stoop haughty heart, that thou mayest not for pride be sent packing to this place of pains. Grow lean cheeked thou Glutton, and pale faced thou Drunkard, ere thou be'st everlastingly famished with penury, or be scorched in a burning flame, and ever be kept dry and thirsty. Thou mincing creature Peacock-like, neglect thy pride i● apparel, that thou mayest betime in time avoid this peril. Profane Miscreant, seek an atonement, labour for peace, fall down before the throne of grace. Let (O wicked liver) thy head be a fountain of water, and cause thy eyes to trickle down tears, yea to run as rivers for thy transgressions, that thou mayest escape these hellish vexations. Look on the ground whereon thou goest, and think upon thy grave: behold the heavens, and consider whence is grace. Awfullie regard the accusation of conscience, and set ever thyself before God's presence. Read letters of discomfort sometime from the Law, lest thou presume by promises of the Gospel. Draw near to God, whilst he doth say, Come; stretching out his hands to embrace the penitent: before he say, Go, sitting as judge to condemn the disobedient. There is a time for thee before thou die to obtain salvation; but in time after death there is no redemption. Therefore crave pardon of God earnestly, associate thyself to the godly speedily. Fall groveling upon the ground, and ask forgiveness: grieve hearty, speak passionately. Smite thy breast, strike on thy thigh, shake thy head, wring thy hands, shed tears, power, power out thy soul unto God, and cry aloud, aloud, I say, cry, oh spare spare me good Lord, whom thou (O God) hast redeemed with Christ's precious blood. Oh forgive me, I confess I have offended thee: let thy patience forbear me, let thy great mercy acquit me. He that doth repent betime, the Lord will hear him in time: Gods gracious compassion, is never without pitiful commiseration: neither the provoking of his justice to wrath, without dreadful and certain destruction. Presume not, yet despair not; live to die, yet die to live; think of heaven, yet forget not, that there is a hell: be so comforted in thy justification, as thou ever get a certainty of glory by thy sanctification. Live in the flesh's mortification, in hatred of the world, in the spirits vivification; use the means of thy effectual vocation: claim nought of merit, crave all of mercy, live in true humility, and practise always the works of charity, and thou shalt assuredly escape Hell's