HEPTAMERON, THE SEVEN DAYS: That is, MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, Upon the work of the LORDS CREATION. Together with other certain Prayers and Meditations, most comfortable for all Estates, etc.  
By M. A. Symson, Minister at Dalkeith.  
SAINCTANDREWS, Printed by Edward Raban, Printer to the University. 1621.   

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VIRTUOUS LADY, DAME MARGARET HAY, Countess of Dumfermeling, Eternal Felicity.  
MADAM,  
SInce it hath pleased our OMNIPOTENT CREATOR, and gracious Redeemer, to heap upon your Ladyship many and sundry honourable Privileges of Nature, and Grace; and by them, amongst many others, your good Friends and Servants, to engage me, of a long time, to honour & serve your Ladyship with such Graces and Duties by many Testimonies of your comfortable kindness and care of me, as I have hitherto (with a constant intention to be thankful) declared my willingness to express, that I should not come (with the common sort of this declining Age) guilty of the foul imputation of Ingratitude, as the weakness of my wit and skill might afford, I did communicate with your Ladyship (for your private use) these MEDITATIONS, upon that fundamental ground of Faith which is THE LORDS CREATION OF THE WORLD, to be used of your Ladyship with daily Prayer & Meditation, that ye might never want matter wherein ye might rejoice in the goodness, wisdom, and power of that Creator; with a persuasion, that his wise Providence reacheth unto the conservation of the same, in Mercy and justice, unto the consummation of the World, wherein your Ladyship hath your comfortable entress, even according to the Lords everlasting Decree of your Election Calling, justification, Sanctification, and hope to be glorified, with all the rest of his Saints and elect Angels, in the everlasting sellowship of his Kingdom, besides the many Obligations wherewith I stand indebted to my Lord your Noble Husband, for his Lordship's fatherly care and patrociny of me in all mine affairs, that your honour should not be smothered in the Christian affection which ye carry to the Commonwealth of the Lord's Church, not only in permitting, but likewise in urging that this Benefit might be made of a public privilege, to the use of all them that by a common affection with you strive to work out their salvation in fear and trembling, and so make their election sure, I have, according to my duty, dedicated this little Treatise to pass forth under your Ladyship's protection; that the thankes of the pains which I have taken in contriving the same for your Ladyship's private use, may redound unto yourself, Madam, from as many as shall find the benefit thereof for their information, and stirring up unto any duty of Religion. And as it can neither stand with my Profession & your Ladyship's sincerity, nor yet the superlative dignity of such a glorious subject to pollute the same with the enticing words of humane wisdom: knowing your Ladyship to be as fare from all delight in assentation and flattering, as ye are from the affectation of self and undeserved praise; I have contented myself in the simplicity of the Lord's truth, to commend unto your Ladyship, and all the rest of God's Saints, the constant and careful practice of the Faith and knowledge which may be reaped by the reading and meditation of this Doctrine, with Prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord, for the happy success of the same: not that I would wish your Ladyship by this distinction of the matter to several days, to be so superstitiously tied unto the same, as if the whole particulars of the Creation should not be at all times before your Eyes, as a fair Garden, whereof ye should behold the beauty, and smell the fragrant Odours together: But herewithal (if it may please the Lords gracious Majesty) ye may resent the goodness, power and wisdom of God in the Creation of every creature upon its own day when it was made.  
So wishing the success of these exercises to be according to mine affection, and intention, for the Christian profit and progress in the faith of the truth, which is according to godliness, I beseech God to bless your Ladyship, with my Lord your Husband, and your hopeful Son Lord CHARLES, with all Prosperity in this Life, and everlasting happiness in the Life to come, I rest.  
Your Lad. servitor, A. SYMSON.   

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.  
GEntle and Christian Reader, sith ye received so tenderly my first Book, Of the seven words which our Lord spoke upon the Cross, I have taken courage to present this Book, Of the Creation, also to your consideration: which suppose it preceded the other in time, so long as the Creation of the World doth Man's Redemption purchased by the death of Christ, yet they succeed in effect and worth: for it had been fare better that neither the World for us, nor we for ourselves, had been made, than that we should not have been redeemed by him.  
This, if ye peruse diligently, and meditate consideratively, I doubt not but that ye shall see the Lord more clearly in his own works: this being, as it were, a mirror and looking Glass, wherein we may perfectly behold Himself, his Omnipotency Wisdom, Love, Goodness, etc.  
By this also ye may draw nearer and nearer unto the Lord your God, and become more frequent and acquainted with him, by daily meditating upon his worthy Works, praising him, giving him thankes for the same, and praying unto him to continue his graces towards you still unto the end.  
I did read Saint Ambrose his HEXAMERON, and the worthy D. BARTAS: and I trust ye shall perceive the direction of one Spirit, guiding us all unto one and the self same End.  
I persuade myself that there are many well minded Christians, who will likewell of this Book; and again others will perhaps dislike of it, even such as esteem of nothing but that which is forged in their own Shop: yea, they know no better means to grace themselves than by disgracing others, as Saint Hierome sayeth in his Epistle unto Saint Augustine.  
But I crave at thine hands (most courteous Reader) that (since in any man's work there will ●ee some Dross amongst Gold) thou wouldst choose the best, (if i● were but in the Dunghill) and pass by the other with a charitable construction: in the mean time accepting this in good part: and if it please God to continue his graces with me, thou mayest expect more. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
A. Symson.   

ON THE BOOK.  

GOD binding with hid Tendons this great ALL,  
Did make a LUTE, which had all parts it given:  
This LUTES round Belly was the azur'd Heaven;  
The Rose those Lights which He did there install:   

The Bases were the Earth and Ocean:  
The Triple shrill the Air: the other Strings,  
The unlike bodies, were of mixed things:  
And then His Hand to break sweet Notes began.   

Those lofty Concord's did so fare rebound,  
That Floods, Rocks, Meadows, Forests did them hear:  
Birds, Fishes, Feasts danced to their silver sound.  
Only to them Man had a deafened Eare.  
Now him to rouse from sleep so deep and long,  
God wakened hath the Echo of this Song.   W. D.  

ON THE SEVEN DAYS.  
THe glorious God the First Day made the Light:  
Next stretched the Firmament in breadth & height:  
The Third dried Earth, and it with Plants He stored:  
The Fourth the Heavens with Lamps of light decored:  
Fift th'air with Fowls, with Fishes filled each Flood:  
The sixth made Beasts and Man: and all were good.  
On the Seventh Day the Lord from work did rest;  
Therefore that Day He sanctified and blest.  I. A.  

AN ANTIPHONE, or EPODE, For W. D. his Heptachordon, TO THE AUTHOR.  
THis seven stringed Lute, as shows the sacred Story,  
GOD made to show the brightness of his Glory.  
On which, by divers Hands, six thousand Springs  
Been played; and all to praise that King of Kings.  
Now last the Son of that sweet Swanlike Singer,  
Who Christ in Arms embracing would not linger  
Longer on Earth, harmoniously doth raise  
On it Notes fit the furious fits t'appease  
Of Souls Saule-like, and of their frantic folly  
Them charm, to sound his praise who's only holy.  
Therefore, my Brother dear, well mayst thou think  
Employed thy Pains, thy Paper, Penne and Ink,  
Whereby poor Souls are saved, God's Name's extolled,  
And thine amongst neverdying names enroled.  M. I. ADAMSON.  

THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK.  

AN humble Confession of sins. Pag. 1  
A Meditation on the first days work. Pag. 19  
A Prayer on the first Day. Pag. 22  
A Meditation on the second Day. Pag. 27  
A Prayer on the second Day. Pag. 30  
A Meditation on the third Day. Pag. 36  
A Prayer on the third Day. Pag. 38  
A Medit. on the fourth Day. Pag. 50  
A Prayer on the fourth Day. Pag. 62  
A Med. on the fifth Day. Pag. 68  
A Pr. on the f●fth Day. Pag. 74  
A Meditat. on the sixth Day. Pag. 79  
A Prayer on the sixth Day. Pag. 85  
A Meditation on the seventh Day. Pag. 91  
A Prayer on the seventh Day. Pag. 102  
Morning Prayer. Pag. 108  
Evening Prayer. Pag. 114  
A Meditation on the Church. Pag. 120  
A prayer for the Church. Pag. 125  
A meditation on the holy Communion. Pag. 133  
A prayer before the Communion. Pag. 139  
A thanksgiving after the Communion. Pag. 141  
A Medit. of the trouble of Conscience. Pag. 143  
A prayer for a troubled Conscience. Pag. 149  
A meditation of Kings. Pag. 155  
A Prayer for the King, etc. Pag. 158  
A Meditation of Sickness. Pag. 161  
A prayer for a sick person. Pag 163  
A prayer for a Woman in travel. Pag. 169  
A meditation of Persecution. Pag. 173  
A prayer for one persecuted. Pag. 177  
A meditation of Famine. Pag. 182  
A prayer in time of Famine. Pag. 184  
A meditation of Pestilence. Pag. 187  
A prayer in time of pestilence. Pag. 189  
A Meditation of the Sword. Pag. 191  
A prayer in time of the Sword. Pag. 194  
A Meditation of Death. Pag. 197  
A Prayer at the hour of Death. Pag. 200   
FINIS.   

AN HUMBLE CONFESSION OF SINS.  
eternal God, and most merciful Father, I confess and acknowledge before thine heavenly Majesty, that I am a most miserable sinner: first, 
Sin by nature.  because I was conceived in sin, and borne in iniquity: next, by reason I have added to the sins of my nature, the sins of a damnable life. For there i● no Precept of thy Law which I have not broken; neither is there any judgement which I have not deserved. 
Insensible.  But yet this increaseth my woe, that when I am thus wounded, I feel not my wound; but do lie sleeping, as jonas did, when the tempest of thy judgements doth assault me But (alace) this is most grievous of all, 
jonah 1.5.  that when thy Majesty by the sweet voice of thy word, 
Against knowledge.  hast called me to repentance, I closed mine cares to thy warnings. If those who transgressed the law of Moses, 
Deu. 19.15  under two or three witnesses, died without mercy; much more I, who have trodden under my feet the blood of the New Testament, 
Heb. 10.29  and have accounted light of the offers of thy grace, and by the testimony of mine own conscience, am worthy of condemnation. And seeing I am arraigned before thy Tribunal, I flee to thyself, as to a City of refuge, 
Deut. 19.3  where I will plead my cause by an humble Confession. Therefore I shall down upon the knees of mine heart, before the ports of thy mercy, begging of thee the spirit of unsained repentance; that acknowledging my sin, I may find grace in thine eyes. But because the beginning of repentance is to see my sin, open mine eyes, O Lord, that I may see my nakedness, & bewail the days of my sin. I will give up ditty against myself: I will give out doom against my soul: I will condemn myself, that thou mayst absolve me: I will have my sins before mine eyes, that thou mayst cast them behind thy back: I will remember them, that thou mayst forget them: I will repent them, & thou wilt forgive them. I acknowledge my sins, 
Psal. 51.3.  & mine iniquity is ever before me: O Lord, thou lovest the truth in the inward affections. 
Ibid. 6.  I am content that shame be to me, if honour come thereby to thee, that thou mayest be just when thou speakest, 
Ibid. 4.  and pure when thou judgest.  
First, I confess, that I was created to thy Image, but sin hath so disgraced and defaced it in me, that there appeareth no print thereof in my nature. I was white as the snow, 
jer. 13.23  but am become black as the More: my righteousness is as a menstruous garment. 
Esa. 64.6.  Restore thine Image in me, and repair thy ruinous building. Thine honour shall be greater in reforming, than in forming me: as in my resurrection thy glory shall kithe more than in my creation. The liberality of thy goodness appeared when as thou stamped such graces in my nature: but thy mercies, which endure for ever, may be seen when thou renewest those gifts, which I have prodigally wasted and spent upon sin. Transform me, O Lord, to thy similitude; that as thou art holy, wise, merciful, patiented, bountiful, etc. so I may represent thee (in some measure) in them all. As for mine infancy, 
Man's state in infancy.  I know not what I was: a poor Suckling, upon my Mother's Breasts: I could no ways help myself, but by weeping. I was casten upon thee from the womb: by thy providence I was kept, and thine Angels guarded me. But this I know, that an Infant of one day, is not clean before thee: have mercy upon me, therefore, O my God, and by the holy infancy of my Saviour, I beseech thee, abolish whatsoever guiltiness I have contracted in my Childhood, even from my birth. 
Childhood.  Then I grew a Child, which I do well remember: & the poisonable root of sin, which lay hid in mine infancy, sprang forth in my childhood. And then (for as little as I was) I began to disdain, yea, to snite my fellows. I had no delight to pray, nor hear thy word, albeit my Parents and Masters many times did command me. I spent that time, even the first fruits of my youth, in idleness. My sinful life, and wicked nature, delighted not to be instructed in learning and virtue: which my neglect of time is now punished in mine age, for the which I crave thy mercy. O remember not, good Lord, the sins of my youth: neither how ignorant I have been of thy truth. 
Psal. 25.7.  But by the holy childhood of thy Son, purge the sins of my childhood: and of thy great mercy. O Lord, pity mine ignorance.  
But when I passed the years of my childhood, 
Adolescency.  I entered into mine Adolescency, in a middle age, betwixt a Boy and a Man. Alace, for pity! when I call to mind that time of my life, my soul is astonished; fearing that thou wilt make me to inherit the sins of my youth. Thou gavest me strength of body, and quickness of mind: but how vyldlie abused I all thy benefits? I with the prodigal son, have spent all my precious youth in sin. Oh, when I think upon the months of vanity, when I gave my strength to sin, and did consecrate the first fruits of my life to Satan, my soul fainteth. O Lord, I am ashamed when I think upon my lend and beastly behaviour; more beseeming a Beast, than a Man. O Lord, thou hast not suffered all my follies to be made patent to the world, neither didst thou slay me in my sin. Let not my secret sins stand in the light of thy countenance: for thine honour is to cover sins: therefore, let them pass like a shadow. If joseph did pardon those sins of his Brethren, wilt thou, 
Gen. 45.1.  O Lord, call to mind the follies by the which I have offended thee? Alace, I was not only foolish, and insolent, but I was mad: I contemned all admonitions of thy servants: I thought my Parents, and Elders, were but foolish; and I evanished in my mad rage. I was nigh unto the gates of Hell: I posted, and ran, as swiftly as the Dromadarie, 
jer. 2.24.  or the wild Ass. But thou tookest me in my month: and when I was ladened with sin, than thou mercifully chastisedst me: while I was burning in the flame of my lusts, thou tamedst me by a grievous disease, and sickness, which thou layedst upon me; by which my body was brought under. Blessed be thou, O Lord, who hadst that care of me, that thou chastisedst me, and nurturedst me, that I should not perish with the wicked world. Thou didst meet thy servant Paul, when he went to Damascus, 
Act. 9.3.  and smotest him to the ground with blindness, that he might rise again a new man, to honour thee. Thou didst prevent David, by the hand of Abigall, 
1. Sam. 25.23.  who stopped him from shedding of blood. O most merciful Lord, thou didst meet me by thy rod, and didst cast me down, and raysedst me up again. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have learned to follow thy Commandments. 
Psal. 119.67.  Now I thy poor Supplicant, upon the knees of a sorrowful soul, crave pardon, and grace, for all the transgressions of my youth.  
But, O my God, as I grew in years, so I grew in sin, 
Age.  and I forgot thy former mercies. I went to jericho, and mine enemies wounded me upon the way, 
Luk 10.33  and left me for dead: my fellows passed by me, but gave me no comfort. But thou, O pitiful Samaritane, hadst mercy upon me: thou filledst my wounds with the wine of thy blood: thou powredst in the oil of thy spirit to soften them: thou tookest me upon thy shoulders, and broughtest me to the Inn of thy Church, where I might remain until I was perfectly cured. Praise be unto my God, who left me not in my sin, but had compassion upon me. But, Lord, have pity, for my soul is inwardly tormented, when I think on my former days, and how I have sinned against thee.  
My Senses are defiled, my Seeing, my Hearing, my Tasting, 
The sight.  my Smelling and my Touching. Alace, I made not a covenant with mine Eyes, but they were full of filthiness: therefore now do I water my Couch with the tears of my complaint. Forgive, O Lord, 
Psal. 6.6.  my wandering looks; and now set min● Eyes upon thee: that the Eyes of min● Heart being purified, with a pur● Heart I may see God. 
Math. 5.8   
I opened the doors of mine Ears, unto the strange voices of thine enemies. I welcomed Sin, 
The hearing.  whensoever it came to my Soul: But, alace, I repent, and wish at God, that I had not done so. Yet now, O Lord, open the doors of my Soul; that thou mayest sound the voice of joy and gladness, that the. 
Psal. 51.8.  Bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  
Woe is me, that ever I tasted the delicates of sin; and that as Eva, 
The ●●sting G●●. 3.6.  by her taste and sight, brought that guiltiness upon herself and us: so I, by mine abusing of these good benefits, have procured, that with the prodigal Child thou shouldest bring me to poverty. O God, keep me, that I never taste the food of the king of Babel; but let me eat the pottage of Daniel thy servant. 
Daniel. 1.8.   

The Smelling.  Oh, that the stinking smell of sin were away from mine head. Let me smell the savour of thine Ointments, thy Myrrh, 
Psal. 45.8.  and thy Cassia, when thou comest from thine Ivory Palaces.  

The Touching.  Oh, that ever I stretched forth mine hand to sin. Now, Lord, extend d mine hand to thy service; to be bountiful to the Poor, and to sow my seed upon m●nie waters, that I may reap eternal joy. My mind is replenished with ignorance, mine heart is endured, my will is rebellious to thy will, my mouth an open sepulchre, and my feet are swift to run to evil.  
O Lord, have pity on me, and remember that Christ, my Lord, was wounded in all the members of his body, and in all the members of his body; that by his wounds I might be cured. 
Preventing grace.  Prevent me by thy grace: ●●eke thy lost Sheep: and light the ●andle of thy word, 
Matth. 15.24.  that thou mayest ●●de thy lost Penny: And when thou ●ast found me, Lord, give me thine accompanying grace, 
Accompanying grace  that it do not forsake me. Put the Ring on my sin●er, even the Ring of thy love and favour. And last, I beseech thee, bestow ●pon me thy following grace, 
following grace.  which ●ay crown the whole mercies that I ●aue received all my life.  
Sin, alace, sticketh faster to me ●an doth my flesh, yea, the marrow within my bones. O Lord, make diui●on betwixt us, 
Sin separateth us from God.  and separate it from ●ee, which hath made so long separation between thee and me. It is a ●urthen, which lieth upon me, and is ●oo heavy for me to bear; therefore, 〈◊〉 my God, ease me thereof, that with ●acritie, and readiness of heart, I may serve thee all the days of my life, as I ●aue served sin before. Alace, was ●ot I the cause that thy Son died, ●ine Angels are offended, and thy Church grieved? O Lord, let me be comforted before my departure, that I may be the occasion of all their joyed by my repentance; as I was the cause of their sorrow, by my fall, and foul defection.  
But, alace, when that I have repent me of my former wickedness, I am ready to run back unto that filthy puddle of sin, from the which I was newly washen: yea, I have fallen more often than seven times every day: but thou, O Lord, with thy merciful hand, didst lift me up again. Therefore, dear Father, have mercy upon me, I beseech thee, and continue thy love and favour towards me; and let me not fall as do the wicked, who fall, and rise no more.  
Send unto me, O my God, faithful Admonishers, and let the Righteous rebuke me: yea, let me not want the checks of mine own Conscience, that I durst forswear my promise to my God. 
Breach of promise to God.  I promised to amend my life, but I have not performed mine oath, and have come under a double guiltiness. I purposed to cease from sin, even when I vowed, thinking to stand by mine own strength: But now, good Lord, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst give me thy constant Spirit, that I may stand by thy power, 
Psa. 51.10  and fall no more.  
If thou wouldst narrowly mark mine iniquities, O Lord, 
job 5.3.  I could not answer thee to one of a thousand: yea, mine own mouth condemn me, 
job 9.20.  and mine own  would defile me. Wash me, therefore, O my God: Purge me with Hyssop, 
Psal. 51.7  and I shallbe clean: with Myrrh and pure Water, and I shall be whiter than Snow. O, pass by my great sins: for mercy pleaseth thee. 
Mich. 7.8.   
Remember not, O Lord, mine ingratitude, and unthankfulness toward thy Majesty, 
Ingratitude  for all thy manifold and rich benefits, which thou hast so bountifully bestowed upon me from time to time: Ne yet, good Lord, remember mine hypocrisy, and superficial service, 
Hypocrisy.  which many times I have done unto thee, both privately, and in thine House. I crave pardon for these two sins, which are most heinous: and I most humbly beseech thee, ever hence forward, to give me a thankful mind and heart, unto thee, for all thine innumerable benefits and blessings, and sincerity in thy worship: that with a single eye, and a true heart, I may glorify thee, O my Creator, all the days of my pilgrimage here in this life, and hereafter with thy Saints for ever.  
Oh, and alace, I am sorry, and do most heartily repent me, for those manifold injuries which I have done unto my Neighbours, 
Injuries to our neighbour.  even for lack of love towards them. But, O Lord, I am no ways able to reckon mine heinous sins, and grievous offences, which I have committed both against God and man, no more than I am able to count the hairs of mine head, or the sands of the Sea, or the Stars of Heaven. But bind thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercy, and burn them in the fire of thy love: Oh, bury them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST, and in the grave of perpetual oblivion. For why? O Lord, thy Name is Mercy, 
1. God's Name is Mercy.  and thy nature merciful; yea, thy mercy is above all thy works, and in dureth for ever. 
2. His nature merciful.   
Thy promise is, O God, that thou wilt not cast off those that come unto thee. Thou hast sworn, that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner, 
3. His promise and oath.  but that he be converted, and live. Thou commandest all that are weary, 
4. His Commandment. Matt. 11.28. Luke 18.1.  and laden with sin, to come unto thee, and thou wilt ease them. Thou commendest the  judge, who at last yielded to the importunity of the Widow. Therefore, O Lord, according to the riches of thy mercies look upon mine infirmities. Bestow upon ●e, O Father, the Comforter, 
joh. 14.26  even the Spirit of truth, who may lead me in all verity through this Wilderness: and thy constant Spirit, who may establish mine heart by his grace; and who may sanctify me, and purify the fountain of my soul, that all good actions may abundantly spring from thence.  
And finally, O Lord, I resign my body and soul into thine hand; beseeching thee most entirely, that thou wilt keep thine own Lodging; that I may be directed, by thine holy Spirit, in the course of this transitory life: that I having the assurance of the forgiveness of all my former sins, and likewise a care, fear, and revenge of my corruption, I may learn to number my days, 
Psa. 90.12  & redeem the time, and spend (and end) my life to thine honour, praise, and glory, through JESUS CHRIST, my Lord and only Saviour. Amen. So be it.   

MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, upon the Lords seven days work.  
MOSES, albeit he was borne after the Flood, yet he prophesieth of things done from the beginning of the World, and hath written five Books of the same: GENESIS, 
GENES.  which signifieth Generation, because it containeth the beginning both of the World, and of the Church. 
EXOD.  EXODUS, an Out-passage, or delivery of the Church from Egypt. LEVITICUS, 
LEVIT.  setteth down both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits, for the right ministration of God's service. NUMBERS, a Reckoning of men, 
NUMB.  wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham, 
Gen. 22.17  that his seed should be like the stars of heaven. DEUTERONOMIE, 
DEUT.  or a Second Law, or Declaration of the will of God, before the death of Moses. He beginneth at the Creation, by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World. To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation, 
What God was doing before the World.  I answer with S. Augustine, He was preparing Hell for such curious brains. And to such as ask where he was, I say that God needed no place, who is comprehended in no place. Places are made for bodies, which are conprehensible: the Creator being incomprehensible, hath no need thereof. Neque tempus habet quando, neque locum ubi, 
Augustine.  neque modum quomodo, neque causam cur fit: that is, He hath neither a place wherein he is, nor a time when, nor a manner how, nor a cause why he is. But he was in himself, and had a perfect delectation in his own Trinity.   

A MEDITATION UPON THE LORDS first days work.  
THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Mass, was the Light, 
Light admirable.  which is admirable in two respects: First, 
1. Out of darkness.  because it proceeded out of Darkness: as he doth produce one Contrare out of another; 
2. Without & before the Organs: letting us see, how GOD bindeth not his works to instruments  Life out of Death, Honour out of Infamy, etc. whereby his own Glory may appear the greater. Next, the Light was made without any Organ where from it should proceed. For the Sun and Moon were made upon the fourth day: by which God would teach us, that we should not bind his operation to any instruments: for he can work by them, and without them, & against them. Therefore, it is natural Idolatry, to bind the actions to the creatures, and to spoil the Creator of his due honour.  

Light excellent for five respects  Now the Light is most excellent in five respects: First, because it is necessary for the direction of our actions: for he that walketh in darkness, 
1. Necessary. john 8.12  knoweth not whither he goeth.  
secondly, the Light is most pleasant, for it addeth beauty unto all inferior creatures; 
2. Beautiful.  who if they had no light shining upon them, they would be under disgrace.  
thirdly, the Light is most comfortable: for Darkness is the Image of Hell: 
3. Comfortable.  and a little light will greatly comfort those that are in darkness.  
fourthly, the Light is most pure & simple, 
4. Pure, and simple.  and can admit no corruption: for albeit it shine upon filthy places, yet it neither receiveth, nor admitteth, any infection therefrom; but it illuminateth them, that they seem to be purged.  
And fively, the Light is most celestial, 
5. Celestial.  because it proceedeth not from the Earth, but from the Heavens.  
Our Saviour CHRIST is compared to the Light, 
Christ the true Light in all respects.  for all these five reasons following: First, Without him we must walk in darkness. secondly, He is most pleasant, and beautifieth us. thirdly, He only comforteth us. fourthly, He receiveth no corruption of our flesh. And fively, He came from above.  

Christ exceedeth the Light in four things:  But there are other four things, wherein our Saviour exceedeth this material Light: First, The Light is created; and he is an uncreated Light. Next, The Light cannot pierce thorough all things: for there are secret places in the Earth, to the which it can never attain. But there is no darkness, if it were as palpable as the darkness of Egypt, 
Ex. 10.20.  to which Christ cannot shine. thirdly, The Light can shine to a seeing eye, but it cannot give light to a blind eye; and it offendeth a soar eye: But Christ is the Light of our mind, and giveth us light to see. And last, the material Light altereth and changeth unto darkness; but Christ is unalterable; when he is become the Light of the soul, he cannot departed finally and totally, until the time he bring thee to that Light where thou shalt be with him for ever.  

A PRAYER, Upon the Lords first Days Worke.  
O Pure and Everlasting Light! who dwellest in a light unaccessable, I beseech thee to look & blink into my darkened mind, with the gracious beams of thy countenance; 
Psal. 36.9.  that I may look up, and see light in thy light. O Lord, I reverence and worship thee, for all thy works of wonder, which thou hast made for the profit and pleasure of man. 
God's works a clear mirror, wherein to behold himself. Genes. 1.3.  There is not one of thy works which is not a lively mirror, to represent thy glory, thy wisdom, thy power and thy goodness: But my mind is blind, and cannot see thee in them. Thou createdst the Light, on the first day, by the word of thy mouth, and it sprang out of darkness. That senseless creature obeyed the voice of thy mouth: but alace, thou hast many times cried unto me, Arise from the works of darkness; and I did not obey thee. I am not worthy that the light should shine upon me, which will be a witness against me. When I behold the Light, how pleasant and beautiful it is, and that it giveth an ornament to all other creatures: who, 
If light be beautiful, fare much more the Father of Lights.  if they were wrapped up in darkness, were utterly disgraced. But, O Lord, how much more art thou beautiful in thine holy Temple, when thou hast put only a little spark of thy glory into this creature. Our Saviour sayeth, Blessed are those who have clean hearts, 
Matt. 5.8.  for they shall see GOD. As thou hast given me the benefit of this present light, so let me see thyself, with a pure heart. Thine enemies, yea, the Beasts, see this light: but, Lord, let me see thyself, the Father of Lights. As this Light is glorious, so it is very comfortable unto me, O my God: for this night I was covered with darkness: I turned to and fro, and mine heart was sore perplexed, and my ●ones sore vexed: but when thou didst blink in, early in the morning, than I revived, mine heart was comforted, and I said unto thee, 
If the light be comfortable, much more is God. Ex. 15.23.  O Lord, is there such great comfort to me in this little light? abstract not thy presence from my soul. All the comforts of thy creatures will be like to the waters of Mara, which were bitter, if thou season them not with thy presence, and make them sweet, by the Cross of Christ. Break open the doors of my soul, that thou mayest enter in: and lighten the eye of mine understanding, that I may see thy will, thy glory, and the excellency of thine House.  
But, Lord, be merciful unto me, that I have enjoyed so many lights, and have abused them unto sin: 
Misspent time repent.  I spent them idly, profanely, and wickedly. Thou mayest justly close mine eyes, that I should never see any new light, who have thus misspent so many. Thou mayest cast me into the bed of Sickness, or into a Prison, where I should see no light. But, O Lord, I was blinded by ignorance: mine affections did blindefolde me. Have mercy upon me, that I have spent so long a light, in the works of sin. 
1. Thes. 5.5 Ephes. 5.8.  Let me walk as the Child of light: and let me put on the works of light, that I be like thee, and shine here, and walk in light; that from light, I may go to light for ever.  
Oh, let thy word, and thy law, be a light to my feet, 
Psal. 119.105.  that I may see to do thy will, and to keep thine holy Commandments. Let me be a Lamp of light, and not a lump of darkness. O God, I have this one comfort, 
God, an unchangeable Light.  that albeit this present light be alterable, yet Thou art an unalterable GOD, and thy presence shineth at all times. Therefore, I beseech thee, let not the light go out of the Tabernacle; 
Ex. 30.25.  but nourish it continually, by the fresh and new Oil of thy Spirit; that thou mayest dwell in me, and mayest delight to abide in thine own Building; and keep in thine own light, which thou hast brought in, and nourish it within thy Sanctuary; that I (being brought through this shadow of the dark world, by thine external and internal light) may come to that place where there shall be no night, and where there needeth no Candle, 
Rev. 21.23  neither the Sun, nor the Moon, to give light: even where thy glory shineth, and where the Lamb himself giveth light: To whom, with thee, O Father, and the holy Spirit, be all honour, praise, power, and dominion, now, and evermore. So be it.    

A MEDITATION UPON THE LORDS second days work.  
THE Heavens were created the seconde Day. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the native language is taken from the Waters, because the Waters are there, and descend from thence. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Plato takes, as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, conspicable, because it is objected to the sight of all men. The Latin Coelum, because it is Coelatum, carved with goodly Ornaments: and Firmamentum, from the sureness of it: and Expansum, because GOD hath spread it forth as a Curtain. 
Ps. 104.2.   
The Heavens have three significations in the Scriptures: First, it is taken for the Air, wherein the Fowls and Birds do fly: 
Mat. 6.26 Heaven hath three significations  secondly, for the Firmament: And thirdly, for the Seat of the Angels, and blessed Souls: Paradise: the Bosom of Abraham: the third Heavens, whereunto the Apostle Paul was ravished. These three were made this day. God created a fair Theatre to himself this day, wherein there should be innumerable Choristers, near unto his Throne, of pure Seraphims, and Cherubims, every one provoking other to his praise, and saying, Holy, 
Revel. 4.8.  holy, holy, LORD GOD Almighty, etc. And again, there are infinite Aerial Choristers, who fill the ears of men with their pleasant Songs; by their example provoking men to laud their Creator. And there is a Parpane, and middle inter-stise, which is the sole and ground of his upper House, and the Roof of his neither House, to cover the World, by an admirable manner.  
I mark three things in the Creation of the Heavens: 
Three things observed.  First, the order which GOD useth in the making of them: for seeing Man was to be made of an Heavenly Soul, and an Earthly Body, and was to dwell in Heaven for ever, and on the Earth only for a little time; he maketh the Heaven first, 
If Heaven was first made, then seek it first.  setting it above the Earth, and making Man to bow upwardly, & look unto it, (and not downward towards the Earth, as the Beasts do,) being the place of his abode, & perpetual remaining. The consideration whereof should make us to use that same order in our actions, which God did in his. 
Albeit our bodies be on the Earth, let our hart be in Heaven.  Let us put Heaven in our heart, before the Earth: let us look unto it, and have our conversation in it: albeit our bodies be captivated in the earth, let our hearts be in our own Country, where we shall dwell for ever.  
Next, God grounded the Heavens upon the second day, and perfected them upon the fourth day. 
God worketh by degrees.  This is his common form, both in his Spiritual works, and in his natural: he worketh by degrees: he layeth the foundation of his benefit, and after he finisheth it. Therefore, let us not hasten nor precipitate, but attend Gods will, who will perfect our earthly and heavenly comfort in his own time.  
Last, ye see he bindeth up the Clouds in the Air, that they cannot drown the Earth; as he wards the Seas by the sands; 
By weak means God preserveth man.  to teach us, how God by these weak means doth preserve Mankind. Which if he do to his enemies, what should his Elect Children look for at his hands?  

A PRAYER, Upon the LORDS second Days Worke.  
O Almighty GOD, Thou who created the Heavens the second day, inspire my soul, I beseech three, with heavenly Meditations: enlarge mine heart, and lose my tongue to thy praise. Overshadow mine heart with thy grace, as thou coverest the Earth with the Heavens, that I may consider thy power and goodness towards me in this thy workmanship.  
Thou needest not the Heavens, O Lord, for before the Heavens were, thou wast: the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee: 
1. King. 8.27.  but thou madest them for me. Therefore, lift up my mind, by a spiritual meditation, that with heart and mind I may seek for thee in them, and love them for thee, who is in them. Thou dwellest in a light unaccessable: I cannot enter into thy Throne to see, but I prostrate my soul, before the gates of thy grace, wrapped in the beggersie clouts of my sin, and at thy commandment I knock. 
Long for Heaven, where thou mayest see God. Cant. 5.12.  Cast the crumms of thy mercy to me, that I faint not in this wilderness: Look with the eyes of the Dove out of thine holy Temple, Hear the voice of my prayer, and gather my tears into thy Bottle; who am in a strange country, and so long absent from my Lord and Husband, who is now dwelling with thee. Look forth at the grates of thy Father's window, 
Cantic. 2.9.  O thou whom my soul loveth: and cure the grief of mine heart, by thy gracious countenance. Should we dwell sundry so far, I here, thou in the heavens? hasten thy coming in the Clouds, or hasten my departure, by death, that I may enjoy the sight of him whom my soul loveth. O Lord, the Heaven is full of thy glory, when thou comest out of thine Yourie Palaces, 
Psal. 45.8.  and out of the most holy places, and showest the signs of thy presence amongst thy Saints: then the foundations of the Heavens shake: then the innumerable legions of the Celestial Spirits raise up their voices, 
Psal. 18.7.  sounding thy praises: they fill all thy Temple, & speak words which cannot be expressed. Thine holy Army of twenty thousand thousand of Angels, 
Revel. 7.4. & 9  and of every Tribe of Israel twelve thousand, and of all the Nations under the Heavens, innumerable thousand. Their voices are like the sound of the Thunder, 
Rev. 14.2.  or as the noise of many Waters. O, our God, how glorious art thou in thine holy Temple! O that Spiritual Music, and the Harps of God, whereupon thy Saints do play, both day and night. The twenty and four Elders, 
Rev. 7.14 & 15.  and the rest, who made their long Robes white in the blood of the Lamb; thou leadest them to the pure Fountains of Waters: thou hast wiped away all tears from their eyes: They sing, Praise, Glory, and Wisdom; Thanks, Honour, Power, and Might, be unto our GOD for evermore. The foundation of that City is of precious Stones: The jasper, the Saphyr, 
Rev. 21.19 20.21 & 27  and the Emarald; the Topaz, and the Hyacinth. The twelve Gates, are twelve Pearls. The Street of the City, is pure Gold, as shining Glass. There is none unclean thing in that City: but those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  
O that Water of Life, 
Rev. 22.1.2.  clear as Crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God There is the Tree of Life, which beareth twelve manner of Fruits, and rendereth Fruit every Month. O! that is the true Land of CANAAN, 
Exod. 3.17  which floweth with Milk and Honey, which is promised to the Elect Children. O, how blessed are those who stand before thee, O Lord, 
1. king. 8.8  and hear thee, and see the beauty of thine House! O, how amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord God of Hosts! It is better to be a Doorkeeper in thine House, than to be a Monarch of the whole World. 
Psal. 84.1  As the Hart brayeth after the Rivers of Waters, 
Psal. 42.1.  so doth my soul pant after thee, my living Lord. O my GOD, when shall I appear before thee in Zion? Now, my soul, return unto thy rest; for the Lord will pity thee, and will deliver thee from this Prison, and from these wild Beasts, which vex thee on every side, and from sin, which daily troubleth thee; and will bring thee to the sight and fruition of the Eternal joy, which is in the Heavens.  
O glorious GOD, I have not yet seen the Heavens, where th● Saints are, but in the mirror of the Gospel: But I see daily these vi●●ble creatures, and the Firmament, 
NOTA. If there be such beauty in the outward part of the heavens, what is within?  which are even the works of thine own hand. Then, if there be such beauty in the outward parts of thy Palace, O LORD, what will we look for in thy Gabinet?  
O my GOD! as often as I behold these outward Heavens, then let mine heart & inward affections be mounted up, by an holy desire and meditation; that the eye of my soul may pierce thorough these thy visible works, even to the company of my Brethren, the Firstborn, and to that innumerable number of Angels and Saints.  
Oh, be thou my Guide, O my LORD, and bring me through the perils of this Wilderness, unto thine heavenly Palace, even for the merits and blood of JESUS CHRIST, thy well-beloved Son, our Saviour.  
AMEN.    

A MEDITATION, Upon the LORDS thirde Days work.  
IN the Creation of the third Day, there be two principal things to be observed: First, The manner of the Creation, by separation of the Waters; whereby were created two Elements, the Water, and the Earth. Next, The Blessing of GOD.  
Since there is no difficulty in the words, I will observe four things.  
First, That so long as those two Elements were in the confused Chaos, so long they were both unprofitable, and each one hindered other: but as soon as they were separated, 
Confusion is unprofitable.  they were both fruitful: Even so is it yet, where Anarchy hath place, either in Church or Policy, there shall be no Blessing in neither of them: But happy is that Church and Commonwealth, where all things are ruled by order, and no place is left to confusion.  

God's blessing inricheth.  Next, the Earth was created barren. God spoke the word, and it fructified. If this was the estate thereof before Sin, how much less now, being subject to a curse, will it bring forth any good thing, without GOD'S Blessing?  

God provided for his creatures before they were.  thirdly, ye see that God blessed it with Corns, Trees, and Fruits, for the sustenance of Man; and Grass for Beasts, before he made any of them. He provideth the Milk in the Breast of the Woman, as a lively fountain, before the Child be borne. Then, if he was so provident before Man was made, will he neglect us, 
Much more when they are.  when we are made to his own Image? Let us seek him truly, and doubt not.  
fourthly, there is a treasure, which God hath hidden in the Earth for Man; Gold and Silver, to enrich him: Coals, Wood, and other firing, for his heat: Stones for his Building, etc. and on the face of the Earth, 
God's hidden treasures should provoke us to thankfulness.  Corns, Herbs, Trees, Wines, Oils, and variety of crearures, both for his pleasure and profit. When we behold daily these good benefits, let us be drawn, by each one of them, to thankfulness of our Creator: Let us seek the right use of them, that we spend them not upon sin.  
Finally, by these earthly blessings, call to mind the spiritual Riches, 
Seek spiritual riches.  and Food of our souls; that we may not labour for the food that perisheth, but for that Food which doth endure for ever. 
john 6.27   

A PRAYER, Upon the LORDS thirde Days Worke.  
Eternal God, and most loving Father, as thou increasedst this thy huge workmanship of the World, and hast created the Earth upon this third Day; so I beseech thee to increase thy Spirit within me, and create in my barren, cold, and earthly heart, fruitful considerations, to thy Majesty's Glory.  
O Lord, as thou preparedst in the seconde Day the Heavens, to be the City of our remaining; so hast thou ordained and established the Earth, to be the place of our Pilgrimage and wandering: as the people of Israel were in the Wilderness forty years before they came to the land of Promise. 
Similitude.  Yet, O Lord, the Earth is thine, and the fullness thereof. There is no constant abiding to me in this Earth, I lodge here in tents: I wander now here, now there: help me, poor Pilgrim, in this desert place, that I may find thee a Pillar of Cloud in the day to cover me, 
Exod. 13.21.22.  and a Pillar of fire in the night, and darkness of this world, to illuminate me, to see the way to Canaa●. Thou openedst a fountain to Hagar, the Bondwoman, and her child, 
Gen. 21.19  when they were starving for thirst. I am not the child of the Bondwoman, but of the freewoman. Open the fountain of the House of David, and give me of the water of life, and satisfy my soul with the fatness of thine house. 
Ezech. 13.1. john. 7.38 Psa. 39.12  I am a Stranger here on Earth, as my Fathers were before me. Let me not walk then as a stranger among the Philistims, and Babylonians. If I were a citizen, and a man of their own, 
joh. 15.19  they would love me: But because I am not of them, neither follow them, nor their manners, therefore they hate me. My Mother's sons, and familiar friends count me a stranger: they stand fare from me, 
Psal. 69.8  in the day of trouble. Draw thou nigh unto me, when they go fare from me. 
job 19.14  Wilt thou leave a poor Suckling, to die him alone in this wilderness? Though my Father and Mother forsake me, yet thou wilt gather me up. I am a Widow, for my Lord and Husband is with thee. 
Psa. 27.10  I am his Turtle Dove, lamenting mine alone, till I see him. Bring me thorough the straits of this Pilgrimage. 
Psal. 42.7  I step out of one deep to another: I go through Fire & Water; carry me therefore from strength to strength, 
Psal. 84, 7  till I appear before God in Zion. There are here innumberable wild Beasts, young Lions, and fiery Serpents, to sting me: but I look to thy jesus, that Serpent of Brass, 
Men in danger of the serpents of this world. john 3.14 Of the thorny cares of this world. Of the tentations of Satan: moving to desperation, or presumption. Similitude. 2. Sam. 3.39.  who was erected upon the Tree of the Cross, that he might cure & remedy me. And again, I walk upon Thorns, even the thorny cares of this earth; every morning mine heart is vexed and pricked with them. They unquiet me, so that they disturb that peace which my soul should have with my God. And whiles I am scarce fred of these thoughts, Satan, with the temptation of sin, assaulteth me: he buffetteth me, he setteth my sin in order before me, and letteth me see in a Glass my whole iniquities. O Lord, be mine helper, my comforter, and a strong Tower unto me: for the sons of Zerviah are too strong for me: but I will not fear them, if thou be with me. Thy Rod, and Shepherd's Staff, 
Psal. 23.4.  will comfort me, though I were walking through the shadow of darkness, and in the valley of death.  
But, O Lord, I have yet farther to complain, that when I have escaped these stormy tempests, and waves, which invaded me upon the left hand, than Satan riseth up on my right hand, as an Angel of light, and taketh me up to the Mountain, and offereth me Riches, Honoures, Pleasures, etc. if I will walk in his ways, and worship him; 
Luke 4.6.  as he did unto Christ jesus. Lord, let me not taste of these Delicates, or of the poisonable Cup of sin. Let me not be alured with the fruits of sin, albeit they present-faire things. Let me not run as a foolish Fish upon the alluring bait of unrighteousness. 
Similitude.  I am more contented through poverty, 
2. Cor. 6.8.  and reproaches, through a good report, and an evil report, to walk in this Earth in a good conscience, with thy favour, than to possess all the Treasures of Babel, and to have the loss of thy countenance. Let the Earth be sour unto me, that the Heavens may be sweet to me. Although the Earth smile upon me, yet it is but the smile of mine enemy. But albeit thou wouldst cast down thy countenance upon me, yet it is the downe-looking of my Father, who will gladden my soul at last.  
O my God, thou hast commanded the Earth (which of its own nature is dry and barren) to yield Food for my necessity. Thou hast commanded me to crave my daily Bread at thine hand, with a promise, that if I ask, 
Mat. 6.11. Matt. 7.7.  it shall be given me. Therefore, O Father, give, I beseech thee, a blessing to the Earth, and my labours therein, that I may prosper. Give me such a measure of thy creatures, whereby I may not be chargeable, but rather helpful unto others. Thou didst feed thy People with the MANNA in the Desert, 
Ex. 16.13 & 17.6. 1. King. 17 4.9  and broughtest them the Water out of the Rock. Thou fedst Eliah by the Raven; and likewise the Widow of Sareptah, by thy secret blessing O Lord of Hosts, thou art no less careful of thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy Son's blood, than thou wast of the seed of Abraham thy servant. 
Hos. 2.19  Send therefore, to the Earth the first rain. Marry me to thee in mercy and compassion, that thou mayest hear the Heavens, and the Heavens may hear the Earth, and the Earth may hear us thy people. Lord, let me take them out of thine hands as tokens of thy favour, and earnest-pennies of better things prepared for me in Heaven.  
O Lord, the Earth is defiled with cruelties and filthiness, and casteth up horrible cries to thy Majesty, against the inhabitans thereof: it is ladened with a burden of sinful creatures: 
Rom. 8.23.  it lifteth up its head, & cryeth and groaneth, as travelling with child, waiting for the day of our redemption: for than it shall be delivered from the burden. O Lord, take away the burden of sin from the Earth, and purge, by thy blood, the transgressions of us thy people. Sanctify us, O Lord, that the creatures may be sanctefied to our use, and we to thy service through Christ.  
Thou hast hid in the Earth thy great treasures of Gold, Silver, Iron, Brass, and Coals, etc. and the world is set on fire in presute of those things: yea, for Gold they will renounce their God; forswear their Father, perish their soul, and their life, their King, country, and their Parents. O Lord, this is a covetous people, whose heart is set upon these perishing and uncertain things. But, O Lord, thou art better to me than thousands of Gold and Silver. All say, 
Psal. 119.72. Psal. 4.6  Who will show us any good thing? but, Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon me. Their treasures are hid in the depths of the Earth, and they tread upon them: but thou, O my treasure, art hid in the height of the Heavens. The Thief diggeth, 
Mar. 6.20  and the Roost doth consume their treasures: but thou art incorruptible. Their treasures are stolen from them; but nothing can separate thee from us; neither death, nor life; neither things present, nor things to come. 
Rom. 8.35.  Let mine heart be with thee, & where thou art; for thou art my treasure. Let me find mercy with thee, 
Gen 33.11  and then I have all these things: for thy love is better than Gold. Thy servant Solomon made choice thereof, 
1. king. 3.9  and it was David's his father's choice, who for love of thee craved one thing, That he might dwell in thine House all the days of his life. 
Psal. 27.4. Luk. 10.42  And Marry, the sister of Martha, desired that one thing. Gold is not able to save me from the Grave, but, my God, thou wilt raise me up at the last day. What pleasure hath man of Gold, when he dieth? but he casteth it away, and calleth himself a fool, that he should have taken pleasure in it: he biddeth distribute to the Poor, whom he spoiled all his days. But when I die, than I possess my treasure which I longed for: death which separateth me from the Earth, conjoineth me to thee, and filleth up my joy, when I have received my treasure. Further, O Lord, as thou hast hidden these treasures under the Earth, so thou hast decored the face of the Earth with thy great blessings. O, when I look under my feet, and behold every one of thy creatures, I see in them thy power, and thy glory: yea, I see thou hast appointed the Worm to beat down my pride. 
In the basest creature may be seen God's glory.  Thou hast painted the face of the Earth with all sorts of colours, delectable to the sight: yea, the Lily passeth the glory of Solomon. What Flowers for the smell, 
Mat. 6.28  what Herbs, with such rare virtues, for the preservation of man? yea, there is not the basest weed, wherein there is not enclosed some special virtue for the maintenance of man's nature. 
All things on earth created fo● man's use. Psal. 105.16. Ibid. 104.15. NOTA.  The Corns are again brought forth, which are the staff of bread, to strengthen him: and the wines, which do glad man's heart: and the Oil, which maketh him to shine: the Figs, which are sweet to the taste. Then, Lord, if thy creatures do yield such comforts to me, is there not much more consolation in thee? Thou hast given me a large portion of all these benefits, which thou hast withholden from others. Give me thyself with them, or else take them all from me. Three things I do ask at thy Majesty: 
Three requests: 1.  first, let not these benefits which I receive daily become snares to me, to draw me from thee. Give me no more of them than may further me to thy service. When thou givest me any new earthly gift, then presently with it give me a new remembrance of thee; that it may be a Love-token of my Lord, whereby I may be kindled to love thee the more. Next, I beseech thee, that whatsoever earthly gift I get, thou wilt put some secret blessing therein, that it may be profitable unto me. Thou givest thy benefits to many, and blowest upon them: so, O Lord, likewise blow upon me, with the blast of thine own Spirit: and bid thy creatures increase and multiply. And last of all, let me not be taken with an excessive desire of them: but that with an open heart, and hand, I may be comfortable unto others.  
O Lord, let my Cup overflow, and let not my left hand know what my right hand doth: 
psal. 23.5. Matt. 6.3.  but as thou givest liberally and freely, so with a free heart I may give to thy Saints, who are of the Family of Faith. 
psal. 16.3  Let me be a servant of them, and wash their feet. And seeing thou art wise in the dispensation of thy benefits to me: sometimes thou wilt have me to abound, & sometimes to want: in the one, to have a proof of thy liberality: in the other, of thy chastisements, learn me in every estate to be content, 
Pray for contentment.  and give me that heavenly benefit of contentation, the Note and Mark of thy Children. And sith I brought nothing into the world, 
job 1.21.  I will carry nothing out of it. Give me Meat & Raiment with contentment. And give me, thy poor creature, the assistance of thy principal Spirit: that when I shall departed from these creatures, and they from me: even as thou gavest them unto me, so I may be heartily content: that I, by the separation from them, may perfectly be united unto thee: for thou art my portion, my lot, and everlasting inheritance. So be it.    

A MEDITATION Upon the LORDS fourth Days Worke.  
GOD made the azury Heavens upon the second Day, and now he carveth them upon the fourth Day, and decoreth them with a multitude of Celestial Lights, as is wonderfulll to behold such glorious Tortches, so infinite in number, and powerful in operation.  
Notwithstanding Pharoahs' daughter brought up Moses in the Sciences of the Egyptians; (and namely, in Astronomy, as some Writers testify, wherein they with the Chaldeans were most curious:) Yet the Spirit of God, by his Pen, 
To avoid curiosity.  describeth the Stars simply, without any curiosity. Whereby God would teach us to be wise, with sobriety, and search no deeper in these profound actions of God, than it doth please him to reveal unto us; or that may be to his glory; lest through our deep searching, our wit be dazzled, and so befall us as it did to the Astronomer, who in a Winter Night, searching the Stars, fell into a Well, 
Similitude.  and died. He curiously seeking the knowledge of the Stars, forgot the Earth: and so lost both Heaven and Earth.  
In the TREATISE of the fourth Day, Moses first setteth down the creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Next, the ends for which they were made, which were three. First, for Dominion, the Sun should rule the Day, & the Moon the Night. Secondly, for Distinction, that they might separate the Day from the Night. And thirdly, to be significations, for signs and seasons.  
First, he setteth the Sun in his Tabernacle, who cometh forth daily like a Bridegroom, 
psal. 19.5  or like a valiant man ready to run a race. God hath put into the Sun such beauty, and such wonderful operations, which are but sparks of that Majesty, and wonderful operation & power which is in himself. 
The majesty which is in the creatures, is but a spark of that which is in the Creator. Ezech. 8.16. jer. 7.18. 2. King. 23 5.  The admiration whereof made not only the ignorant Gentiles to adore them as Gods, in consecrating the days of the week to the seven Planets: but also the superstitious jews did adore the Sun and Moon, as the King and Queen of Heaven, and did maintain that they did wail, against jeremy & Ezechiel. I will speak first of the Sun, by God's help, without curiosity, seeking only out those things of him by which we may praise God. I observe then in him three things: to wit, his qualities, his courses, and his defects.  
His name is Sol, quasi solus, alone domining over the rest to whom he imparteth his light. 
Sol, quasi solus.  And again, by the brightness of his appearance, he obscureth them all. 
1. The Sun giveth light   
Now, I would ye considered, that if a created Sun containeth such measure of light as illuminateth all the world, yea, the Heaven also, who will not think but jesus Christ, 
If one created Sun can give light to all, may not Christ give light unto all?  who is God himself, Sol justitiae, the Sun of Righteousness, is able to give life and light to all the world, without the help of the light of these halfpenny Candles, the merits of men? For a thing unperfect, may be made more perfect by addition, & augmentation; as one Candle by another: 
Similitude.  but a thing perfect is disgraced by addition, as if ye would bring a pot of water to the Sea, or light a Candle to the Sun, 
Things perfect are disgraced by addition.  or breath in the Air: So to augment or add any thing to him, is to dishonour him, and pulleth his glory from him, as though he were not sufficient. I am the Lord (saith he) and none besides me. And again, if the Stars dare not appear before the Sun, what madness is it to present the filthy, and menstruous clouts of men's merits before God, 
job 4.18.  who did find folly in his Angels? and the Heaven itself is not clean before him.  

2. The Sun giveth life.  The other quality of the Sun is hot, by which he reviveth, quikneth, and comforteth all the inferior creatures, by his coming to the Earth in Summer. 
Psal. 19.6  By his removing they are, as it were, comfortless and dead. So Christ is both the light and life of the world, by whom we have not only our natural being, but also the life of our souls. I am the Way, the Life, and the Truth, 
john. 14.6  sayeth he. So that without him there is nothing but death. Therefore, as we see light and heat in the Sun, 
Light and heat together.  let us follow these two qualities of the Sun, that we have light and heat, saith and love. And as the Highpriest carried in his Ephod his Vrim, 
Simil. Ex. 28.30.  and his Thummim: that is, Illumination and Perfection: So should all Christians have the true knowledge of God, and faith working by love.  
As for the course of the Sun, he is in continual course, 
The course of the Sun.  without interruption, since his creation, (But in the days of joshua, when he stood, and in the days of Ezekiah, 
Iosh. 10.12 2. king. 20.2.  when he stayed his course, & came back ten degrees.) By which his constant course, we are taught to run forward in that good race of Christianity, without wearying: 
Learn at the Sun to run a constant course NOTA.  and we must stay never, except it be to see the exterminion of God's enemies, and turn back, unless it be from sin, to God's obedience.  
The course of the Sun is through the Zodiac, which divideth the Equinoctial in two equal parts; the one half to the North, the other half to the South, painted under the figures of Beasts the twelve signs celestial, the Lion, Bull, Ram, etc. It is called Zodiac from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 
What the Zodiac is  a Beast.  
The Sun in his course passeth monthly through one of these twelve signs, whereby he compleateth his course in twelve months. He knows his appointed times given him by God, 
Ps. 104.19  which he transgresseth never. He ariseth daily in his proper time to give light to us: let us then rise early out of the bed of sin, 
Simil. It riseth early let us rise early from sin.  that as he goeth forward every hour of the day in light, so we may go after him, to do the works of light, which God hath commanded us. This way made David his Progress at Morning, Noonetide, and at Even, & in the Night: he arose with the Sun, & went forward, and when he sat, he ended with the praising of God.  

Ordinary defects of the Son.  His defects are some ordinary, by the interposition of the Moon betwixt him and the Earth; which are rare, and sometimes prodigious, presaging the eclipsing, and death of some rare Prince: as the eclipse in the year of God 1596. presaged the death of the most Christian King HENRY the fourth of FRANCE: 
HENRY, the Pearl of France. Prince Henry, of Britain.  and the eclipse of the Sun the year 1612. wherein that excellent Prince HENRY, the Prince of Great BRITAIN, the Pearl of the World, died, and was removed, to all our griefs.  
Some defects are extraordinary, as that which was at the death of Christ, for the space of three hours: 
Extraordinary defects.  of the which Dionysius Areopagita said, Aut Deus Naturae patitur, aut Mundi machina dissolvitur: that is, Either the God of Nature is suffering, or else the World is dissolving.  
The Moon is compared to the Church, as the Sun is to Christ. 
The Moon  This is a prodigious thing, when the Church, which should be the light of the darksome world, she goeth betwixt Christ and us, and hideth his beautiful face from us: the which truly the Church of Rome hath done many years. The Lord let her see, how she hath been the cause of that great Ignorance, wherein our forefathers were plunged for a long season: yea, she still hath a desire to nourish Darkness, and calleth Ignorance the Mother of Devotion.  
The Moon is the other great light, but inferior to the Sun: first, in place: secondly, in quality: thirdly, in light, because it hath less light than the Sun: and some do think, that she borroweth her light from the Sun. Fourthly, in honour, for she governeth the Night, but not the Day. And fifthly, in that the Sun is constant, she mutable: he hote, she cold: he dry, and she moist.  
As the Sun doth represent Christ, so doth the Moon the Church, which shines in the dark night of this world, 
The comparation of the Moon, with the Church.  being ruled by Christ, who can rule and govern his Light. When the Moon is in the point nearest the Sun, than her light is darkened, and hid from the world, and she is in her change. 
NOTA.  But when she is farthest from the Sun, than she is in her greatest perfection; 
The Moon the nearer the Sun, the lesser light: the Church the nearer Christ, the greater.  fare differing from Christ and his Church: For when the Church is nearest Christ, than she shineth in her perfect glory: and she decreasseth, when she flieth farthest off from him. But herein she resembleth the Church, for that part of the Moon which is toward the Sun, is ever illuminated, the rest of her body being darkened: 
The Church as fare as she looketh to Christ, is light.  so likewise the Church, so fare as she looketh to Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, she is light in the Lord: but so fare as she is turned from him, she is nothing but darkness.  
The Eclipse of the Moon happeneth when the Earth is interponed betwixt her and the Sun. 
Eclipse of the Moon,  And so the Church of Christ (alace) suffereth this Eclipse, when the earthly cares of this life go betwixt Christ & her: whereby it doth come to pass, that the world is spoilt of light: as we see in the Romish Church, which was so long glorious, as in her Martyrdom she contemned the world: but after, when she enjoyed peace, and was promoted to honour and wealth, she became earthly minded, and her Godliness was soon turned into Greediness.  

The Stars.  As for the rest of the Stars, they are innumerable, and yet I will affirm, that there is not one of them which is idle, but hath a special use for which it was created: For as in the Earth the Lord made nothing in vain; for he saw, that whatsoever he did, it was good. Then, if it was good, 
Gen. 1.10.  it behoved to serve for some good use. So in the Heavens likewise he saw that all was good.  

Some fixed.  For the Stars, there be some fixed, as their name, Stella, à stando, beareth. So we should study to be fixed Stars in the right hand of CHRIST. 
Rev. 1.16 & 20.  Some of these are remarkable, whereof GOD himself speaketh unto job: as the Hyadeses, 
job 9.9.38 3.  Pletades, and Orion.  
The Planets have their name from erring, for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signify: 
Some Planets.  but each one of them hath a several office, and compleateth his course in his appointed time, as the Sun and Moon do, and have their particular operations upon the inferior creatures.  
As for the Comets, they take their name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 
Comets.  which is called the hair, because they seem to carry as it were hair about them: of whom Plinius maketh mention in his second Book of his natural history, and twenty five Chapter.  

The ends of their creation. Simil.  As for the ends of their creation: First, the Sun was created to rule the Day, & the Moon the Night. So this dark and blind world is ruled by the light of Christ, and of his Church, which is illuminated and directed by him. But I marvel how the Church of Rome can call herself the Sun, and the Princes of the world the Moon: for if she be the Spouse of Christ, then must she be the Moon, of whom is spoken in the Scripture, and Christ must be her Sun. So, in comparison of her, the secular persons are the Earth.  
I marvel likewise of these (against whom jeremy and the rest of the Prophets so oft speaketh) who think, that their life, and the events thereof, still depend upon the Stars, or Planets: which is a manifest idolatry, putting them in God's place. 
NOTA.   
But let us learn that the superior creatures have so power over the inferriour bodies, that we leave all the event of them to God, 
Against the curiosity in searching our events. 1. Sam. 28.18.  the maker and guider of all: & let us seek his favour, & depend on his providence, without any curious searching of our event, lest we receive the answer of Saul.  

A PRAYER, Upon the LORDS fourth Days Worke.  
GRACIOUS GOD, and merciful Father, who hast filled the Heavens with such infinite Lights upon this fourth Day, enlighten mine understanding, I beseech thee, that I may see thy power, and thy glory, in these thy good creatures: and through them, as through spectacles, let me look in to the Father of Lights.  
Thou hast created the Sun, who by his beauty and bounty hath adorned the whole Earth: 
As the Sun shineth on the body, pray that Christ may shine on the soul.  he ariseth each morning on my body; so I pray thee, that the Sun of Righteousness, the Sun jesus Christ, may shine upon my darkened mind every day and hour, and chase away the clouds of ignorance, and of sin, from my soul, that thou mayest shine brightly in me. Woe is me, my Lord, how many times hath the Sun shined upon me? and as Absolom before the Sun committed wickedness; 
2. Sam. 16 22.  so I before the Sun, in the pride of my wicked heart, have often times sinned against thee, O my Father: and therefore I confess that I am not worthy that the Sun should shine upon me. O Lord jesus, spread thy Mantle over me, that thy Father behold not my wickedness. Thou puttest light in the Sun, that he may shine: therefore, Lord, put knowledge and understanding in me. Thou hast put hotness in the Sun: Oh, warm mine hart with thy love; that through the love I bear to thee, I may also break forth in the love of my Neighbours. And as the Sun runneth constantly in his course at thy commandment; so, Lord, let me run all my days in the path of thy Law: for hitherto I have run as a wild Ass, in the broad way of destruction: yea, I brayed after the desires of sin, 
psal. 42.1.  as the Hart doth after the Rivers of Waters: and nothing could have satisfied me, unless I had obtained my sinful desire.  
Now, Lord, have mercy upon me: draw my feet out of the unhappy way of sin, & let me run with as speedy a course in the way of thy service; 
Let us be more diligent to serve God, than we were before to sin against him.  that as Saint Paul thy servant was more diligent in thy employment, than he was in the destruction of thy Church, so I may be more busied in thy honourable service, than I was in serving mine own affections, and in the service of Satan. Alace, O Lord, how slow am I to do thy service? But if thou wilt draw me, I will run after thee. Oh, draw me by the Cordes of thy love: 
Cantic. 1.3  yea, rather than I should lie behind, force me with the Cordes and Whips of thy visitation; that I may learn to run a quicker & swifter pace than I have done heretofore. But alace, 
NOTA.  that the Sun, which is a senseless creature, should never be weary; and that I should so soon be tired in serving of thee. 
The Sun constant in its course.  O loving Father, stir up a constant zeal of thine honour in mine heart, I beseech thee; that as I go forward in years, so I may make greater progress in godliness.  
O LORD, when I see the Sun and the Moon, and the Stars, etc. which are the works of thine own hands, O, than I think with myself, What is Man, that thou shouldest visit him? or the son of man, that thou shouldest magnify him? For albeit the Sun were in the highest top of its beauty & glory, yet it is but my servant, and likewise the Moon, 
The Sun serveth us: let us serve GOD.  and the Stars. Then fie upon me, if I shall not, in whatsoever estate I am, serve thee, O my gracious God, who hast made so glorious creatures for my use.  
LORD, I pray thee, let my light so shine before men, that all who behold my conversation may take occasion to glorify thine holy Name.  
O Father of Lights, lighten thou my Candle, that it may shine clearly; and furnish it with the Oil of thine holy Spirit and word, that it may shine even as a bright Morning Star in thy Kingdom. Thy servant Paul, O Lord, 
1. Cor. 15.41.  sayeth, that there is one glory of the Sun, and another of the Moon, and another of the Stars. It is true, there is great diversity amongst the Saints here on Earth, and likewise great difference of glory in the Life to come: But, O my God, let me shine but as the least of thy Stars, that I may be fixed in thy Firmament, and give out my light of knowledge and good life unto this dark Age.  
The Moon knoweth the time of her change; and as she changeth, so do all the inferior creatures with her: for all men are grass, and there is no steadfast abiding for them here. But, O Lord, herein is my comfort, 
The Moon changeth, but God can not change. Ps. 90. ●. 6 Psal. 90.2. Luke, 1.5.  that there is no shadow of changing with thee: Thou art from everlasting to everlasting: yea, my God, thy kindness and truth, abideth from generation to generation, even unto such as fear thee, and attend upon thy mercies and goodness.  
O unchangeable God, I find none alteration with thee: for although men run fare from me, yea, albeit mine own kinsmen stand aloof, and my father and my mother forsake me; yet thou, O Lord, drawest near unto me, & immediately makest me feel thine help at hand, in my greatest tribulations.  
O Lord, suffer me never to change from thee: but give me thy constant Spirit, I beseech thee; that in all the cares of my life, both in wealth and in woe, I may depend upon thee, serve thee, & rejoice in thee, the only comfort of my soul; that I be not like a wandering Planet, but a fixed Star, honouring thine holy Name in this Wilderness, that afterwards I may shine with the rest of thy glorious Stars and holy Angels in the eternal Firmament of thy Kingdom.  
Amen.    

A MEDITATION, Upon the LORDS fifth Days Worke.  
THE Element of Water, which God created on the fifth Day, produceth unto us two Treasures: The one, which filleth the Seas with Fishes: the other plenisheth the Air with Birds and Fowls: for the Lord would leave nothing empty. 
●is●es necessary for our nature.   
As for the Fishes, we know how necessary they are for our nature, and constitution of our body, which of a part is humid. 
The providence of God, in sending ●ishes to Scotland in due season.  God hath furnished this Nation with such abundance of Fishes, that they have obtained the names of Schools, and Droves: he sendeth them in the mouth of Harvest in our Seas, both East and West, in such abundance, that they may feed the poor Labourers in cutting down their Corns. Such is his rich dispensation in due time for the comfort of his people.  

Daintiness of some, who contemn fish.  How much are they to be blamed, who for delicateness of their bellies do contemn these good creatures, which God thought so necessary for their nature? And herefore the Laws of our Realm are better made than practised, wherein days are appointed, and days are forbidden for the eating of Fish, which men will violate, under the colour of Conscience, because all Meats are free.  
I grant, the difference of Meats is taken away by Christ, but thou must not use thy liberty to the prejudice of thy Brother, and the whole Country: yea, to offend the Prince, who gave not out that Law to strain thy Conscience, but for the benefit of his Subjects, whom to offend were great Conscience in so lawful commandments.  
As for the superstitious difference for Conscience, as though one were holier than another: 
Superstitious difference in Meats. Heb. 13.4. Psal. 107.23. God's power seen in the Seas.  that is the work of Antichrist, who biddeth abstain from Meats which God hath created: and forbiddeth to marry, which God hath said is honourable amongst all.  
Further, they who go down to the Sea, have experience of God's power, to deliver them from the stormy waves thereof; where they should call to mind how oft they have raised up the waves of their sin against God, and beseech him to assuage his wrath against their sins: that he who hath power over the Winds and Waters, may rebuke them with the word of his mouth. 
Mat. 8.27   
If thou be sailing in the Disciples Boat, 
Comfort to Seafaring men in tempests. Matth. 14.23.  and be a true member of his body, remember Christ is in the mountain of Heaven; look up to him with apenitent eye of a sinner, and he will look unto thee with a pitiful eye of a Saviour, and will pray to his Father for thine help. The Fishes come not to the Nets, but by God's direction. The Apostles were fishing all night, but received nothing, till Christ came, and then they drew out their Nets full, to them & their partners. 
Luke 5.5. john 23.1  Therefore, it is in vain to rise early, except the Lord build thine house, 
Psal. 127.1.2.  & bless thy work. Herefore, whether we be on Sea or Land, let us ever study to get God's blessing.  
Further, God declareth his power, not only in creating Fishes for our necessity and pleasure, which we have daily, but also in creating Fishes both for quantity, as the Leviathan, (of whom job speaketh) and in quality, 
job 40.20 21.22. etc. Plin. lib. 32 cap. 1  miraculous, as Echeyneris, or Remora, so called from her virtue, who being three foot long, will cleave to a great Ship, and hinder her to sail. And again, the Mermaids, 
Mermaids  whose face and upper parts are like a Woman's, & the neither parts like a Fish. Many other might be brought in, which I omit, affirming this, that the Lord is marvellous in all his works.  
Finally, 
Allegory of the Sea. Mat. 4.19.  the Allegory which our Saviour bringeth in of the fishing, is remarkable: The Sea is the world: the surges of waves and winds are the tentations of the Devil & his children: the Fishes are Men, who go through the world: the Boat is the Church: the Fishers are the Apostles and Ministers, who should be fishers of men, who must spread forth the Net of the Gospel in the turbulent Sea. of this world, albeit with great hazard and peril, to draw men from the Sea of this life, to the kingdom of Heaven. They are called Piscatores hominum, Fishers of men: 
Matth. 4.  and they are sent to seek men, and fish after the souls of men.  
As for the Fowls of the Air, 
Fowls.  they are infinite in number, and there is such variety in their colours, which is admirable, with such heavenly notes and harmonies, as their celestial Music should provoke us all to the praise of God, when the Birds do after their manner praise him.  
The Peacoke is glorious in his colours, 
job 39.16 & 17.  and he scorneth the glory of Kings. The Ostrich an unnatural Fowl, like unto unnatural Mothers. The Dove is full of love & simplicity, 
Matth. 13.16.  which we should imitate. The Turtle a pattern of chastity, the contrary whereof she condemneth in us. The Eagle full of rapine, 
job 39.33 Matth. 10.29. jerem. 7.8.  which we should flee. The Sparrow is an example of God's providence; who will much more care for man. The Stork and the Swallow know their times, which we do not; neither can we find that time wherein we should turn from our wand'ring. The Swallow bringeth up her little ones near unto the House of God, 
Psal. 83.3.  and we flee from it: yea, and the young Ravens seek their meat at God, who giveth it them in due season. So all these Fowls praise God, some by their voices, & some by their example. 
Let us learn at the Birds to praise God.  Let us then be ashamed, to be inferior to them, certifying ourselves, that these same, if we do it not, shall be witnesses against us at the last day.  

A PRAYER, Upon the LORDS Fifth Days Worke.  
Harken unto my Prayer, I beseech thee, O mine heavenly Father, and most merciful God: Oh, I entreat thine heavenly Majesty, that thou wilt be merciful unto me, and forgive me all mine overtreadinges. Great and many are thy benefires, O Lord, and I have been a great abuser of the same. Thou didst make the Light upon the first Day, & I have abused it: yea, when thou sent me a better Light for my soul, I continued still in the works of darkness. Thou upon the second Day, didst create the Heavens; but I have sinned against the Heavens, 
Luk 15.18  and against thee, and am not worthy to look upwardly. Thou didst make the Earth upon the thirde Day; but I am an unprofitable burden unto it. Thou didst make the Sun and Moon upon the fourth Day, to shine; but whilst they were shining, I was sinning: as though those glorious Vessels were appointed to carry light to let me see to commit iniquity. And now upon the firth day, thou furnishest two extraordinary great Commodities for man's use: the Sea is prepared with Fishes, and the Air with Fowls and Birds unto my necessity. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them: all the Earth is full of thy Riches: thou hast commanded the Sea to give me Fishes, and the Air Fowls: thou hast put life into them, and they are appointed to die for the maintenance of my life. 
God letteth his creatures die, that we may live.  Is not then my life precious unto thee, who makest so many to die, that I may live? But I am not only fed with them, but am the price of thy Son's Blood. O Lord, what am I, that thou shouldest have made them all to die, that I might live? Then, I beseech thee, let my life serve to thine honour: yea, if my death might honour thee, I desire to live no longer. Thou givest me daily Fishes out of the Seas, and out of the R●uers. Many are starving with Hunger, and yet thou feedest me. Oh, forgive me, that sometimes I have loathed those thy good creatures: and abstract them not from me, although I have contemned them heretofore.  
O Lord, what proves of thy delivery have I had! Thou broughtest me to the Haven, and I forgot the Vows which I promised unto thee in the bitterness of mine heart. Now, Lord, I praise thee for thy notable deliveries whereby thou hast kept me: and henceforth let me not do what I will, but what thou wilt; and command me as long as I live. Thou mightest have made me a bait, and food for the Fishes; but yet thou hast made them food for me. Let it be, O God, to thy glory, and for the good of thy people: for thou sendest them to the Net of thy providence. Let me therefore depend upon thee. I cast me over upon the knees of thy favour. The Lion shall be hungry, 
Ps. 34.10.  but those that fear thee shall lack nothing which is good for them. Oh, that if I could be alured, by these thy love-tokens, to praise thee aright, and that I might be stirred up unto a duty to the Poor, who are in necessity. O liberal God, why should I receive so abundantly, and give back so niggardly, and sparingly? Open & enlarge mine heart, O Lord, 
Psal. 119.  that mine hand may distribute these thy creatures to the hungry, poor, and needy, as a sure token which thou requirest of my thankfulness towards thee.  

Faithful Fishers.  O Lord, send forth unto the Sea of this World faithful Fishers, who may draw many souls from it unto thine heavenly kingdom. Purge thine holy Church, O God, from all Hirelings, and such as are not fishers of men.  
And again, O Lord, as thou hast prepared the Fishes in the Seas for my sustenance, so hast thou likewise commanded the Air to furnish all manner of feathered Fowls to my use: Therefore I give thee thanks, with my whole heart, that thou sacrificest thy creatures out of all places for me: beseeching thee that I may sacrifice the corruptions of my nature. Further, O Lord, I learn by the Fowls, that they fly in the Firmament, but they feed on the earth. 
Simil.  Lord, howsoever that I must seek my food here, yet let my conversation be in the Heavens. When that in the Summer I hear the sweet voice of these Birds, which by their Angelical Harmony may justly be called the Ministers of Music, I beseech thee to have mercy upon me, thy poor creature, and open my Lips, and lose my Tongue, that I may sound forth thy praises: and that by these thy creatures I may still find new provocations to be stirred up to proclaim thy goodness: that I being initiate, & entered into thy praise here, may glorify thee eternally in Heaven, through Christ my Lord and Saviour.  
Amen.    

A MEDITATION Upon the LORDS Sixth Days Worke.  
Upon the sixth Day the LORD openeth the Earth, and maketh it to bring forth his Treasures, and bringeth forth Beasts of all sorts for Man's use: and last of all he made Man.  

God's power out of the dead Earth bringeth Man and Beast.  First, ye see the power of the word of God, which of that dead and cold body of ehe Earth, brought forth so many living creatures which were not before. This is a great Argument for the affirmance of the resurrection of our dead bodies: 
Argument, for the resurrection of the body.  for if he brought out of the bosom of the Earth, and gave life which was not, how easy is it then for him to raise out of the Earth the bodies which were living? and to cause the Sea, the Air, and the Earth, render an account of the Bodies consumed in them?  
The Lord created Cows, and Sheep for his Raiment, the Oxen to labour his Ground, and the Horses for Carriage: yea, and the Worm to decore him with Silk. As for the Lion, and other wild Beasts, which are enemies to Man, it is to be understood, that it was not so at the beginning: for at the first the Lion, the Tiger, etc. were as obedient to Man as the Lamb: 
Sin hath ina●med Man against God, & the Beasts against Man. 1. King. 13 24. 2. King. 2.23. Nota. Creeping things not created in vain. Exod. 8.6.  but (alace) sinne stirred up, and inarmed Man against God, and the Beasts against Man: as the Lion against the young Prophet, and the Bears against the young Children which mocked Elisha. Therefore, when we get any injury by the creatures, let us call to mind that it is for our sins, & study to be reconciled to our Creator.  
As for the innumerable creeping things, let us not think that God hath created them in vain; for he hath used them as great Hosts to punish his adversaries whensoever he pleased: as the Frogs for Pharaoh, and the little Vermin for Herod: yea, 
Act. 12.23.  the Worms to seize upon the Bodies of all Flesh, which (although never so daintily fed) must be a Prey unto them.  
And again, 
Men are compared to Beasies, wh●se nature is beastly. Psal. 10.9. Psa. 17.12 Psa. 22.12 13.16.20.21. etc. Isa. 56.10.11. Gen. 49.14 16.  let us remember that Men are often times in the Scripture compared unto divers Beasts, and get the names of such Beasts whose fashions and conditions they are most addicted to follow: They are called Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bulls of Da-shan, Swine, Dogs, Vipers, etc. The covetous Pastors are called dumb & greedy Dogs, who cannot bark, and never are satisfied: Issachar is compared unto a wild Ass, which concheth betwixt two Burdens: and Dan unto a Serpent, (and there are many of the Tribe of Dan) which biteth the Horse heels and the rider also. And albeit there be many (Adulterers and Murderers) of the Tribe of Dan which shall enter into Heaven, yet the Serpent-kind of the Tribe of Dan shall not come there. Plinius sayeth, that there are three kinds of Serpents, One which killeth all Strangers, and spareth Country folks: 
Plin. lib. 8. cap. 59  another which killeth Country folks, and spareth Strangers: and the third which spareth none of them: and there are people of all these sorts.  
But I mark one thing in the Serpent, wherein it differeth in cruelty from all other Beasts: 
A remarkable mark of the Serpit against Man.  for the Lion and Wolf seek after men's Blood, for the love of the Blood whereupon they feed: but the Serpent, which feedeth upon the Dust, out of an hateful desire of natural revenge, thirsteth after Man's Blood, albeit it getteth none other gain thereby but only the satisfaction of her cruel mind: representing many devilish and serpentlike people, 
Nota.  who albeit they get none other commodity by the destruction of godly persons, yet they hold their selues satisfied that they have gotten the malicious intent of their wicked hearts brought to pass.  

Man (of greatest price) is made last.  Now, when the Lord had furnished his House with store of all good things, as a loving and careful Father, he builded an House to his Son, and he ●illed it with all plenishing, 
Simil.  and then he putteth his Son into it, as God placed Man. He maketh Man with advisement: Let us make Man, said the Father to the Son, and to the Spirit. 
Gen. 1.26.  For this advisement telleth us, that the Creation of Man is more than the Creation of the whole World: for Man is called a little World, because in him is comprehended a world of wonders, in his Body and Soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. When he sayeth, To our Image, than he clearly designeth the Trinity of the persons, 
Trinity.  by the word plural. And when he sayeth Image, in the singular, 
Unity.  than he noteth the Unity of the substance.  
The Image of GOD standeth not in the bodily representation, 
Wherein God's Image standeth. Isa. 40.18.20. etc.  but in the gifts of the mind: therefore, it is a gross Idolatry for Christians who know God to be an infinite Spirit, to close him within the compass of a finite Image, or to picture him with colours, who is capable of no quality, 
Levit. 26.1  and which he himself dischargeth by his Laws. For his Image standeth in Righteousness and Holiness, Mercy and Love..  
GOD made Man and Beast of one substance, 
The substance whereof we are made should teach us humility.  even to teach us humility: and if we had not souls we differ very little from Beasts. But the power of God appeared so much the more, who could produce out of so base a Subject such a glorious Workmanship: As the cunning of the Artificer is much more admired, 
Simil.  who out of a base matter can work finely, than of a strong Mettle. Then Man's body being so artificially made, he breathed in him an heavenly substance, which is a spirit, as God is, who can neither be seen nor felt.  
As the Heavens are more excellent than the Earth, 
The wonderful union betwixt the Soul & the Body.  and could work without it, which the Earth could not do without the Heavens; so can the Soul without the Body, praise God, as it doth in Heaven, which the Body could not do without the Soul: In this life they have mutual operations: the Soul directeth, and the Body is directed: the Body is blind without the Soul, and the Soul would be cripple without the Body. Let the Soul therefore command the Body in those things which are lawful, and let the Body obey the good direction of the Soul: which both being made up to the Image of GOD, they may represent Him in all their actions.  

A PRAYER, Upon the LORDS sixth Days Worke.  
O Lord God, Father of Mercies, and God of all consolation, look down upon me, I beseech thee, with the Eyes of thy mercy: and sithence thou hast created Man upon the sixth Day, create mine heart anew, and anoint it with a fresh remenberance of thy power and goodness, that I may become a new creature. Upon the fifth day thou plenishedst the Air with Birds, and the Sea with Fishes innumerable, 
Genes. 1.21  and now the Earth yields all sorts of Beasts likewise even to man's use: and they are brought under subjection, that I might be free: they lay down their lives for me, that I may live by them: and albeit both I and they be made of one substance, yet thou hast preferred me above them all, and hast put them under my feet, 
Psal. 8.6.  so dear am I unto thee. I thank thee, O Lord, that thou of thine undeserved mercy and love hast made thy choice of me: 
Nota. God made choice of ●s, let us ●herefore make choice of God. Genes. 2.20  Oh, Lord, cause me to make mine only choice of thee. Amongst thy creatures there is none like unto thee. Adam could not find one equal to himself amongst all thy creatures, till out of himself thou madest one like unto himself.  
O Lord, there is nothing in Heaven nor in the Earth can satisfy my soul: thou art the perfection of beauty: thou hast given me the rest, give me thyself, without whom neither the creatures visible, nor invisible, will content me. Yet seeing it pleaseth thee, that they should be appointed to feed, cloth, and ease me, make me the more able by them to go forward in thy service: let not that malediction and curse fall upon me, 
Let us beware, that we fight not against the Lord with his own benefits.  that I should fight against the God of my life with his own benefits, to whom I am so infinitely oblished for his gracious gifts bestowed on me.  
O Lord, I have received some new comfort in the day of my trial, when for my humiliation it pleaseth thee to punish me with poverty, than Satan biddeth me turn the stones into bread (as he did unto Christ) and seek unlawful means for my relief: But, 
Matth. 4.3  Lord, augment thou my faith, and let me depend upon thy promises, that I may build upon them, as upon a sure Hold, and speak boldly with thy servant David, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
Psal. 23.1.  No Prince of the Earth can say this word: 
Nota.  but a poor christian depending upon thee may say it.  
O Lord, thou hast appointed thy creatures to labour for me: then seeing I am eased by them, make me to go forward more busily in thy service, that they may bear me in all my journeys to glorify thee; and not carry me to sin, 
Numb. 22.21.  with Baalam the son of Beor, who caused Israel to sin. And as thou hast appointed the Beasts for my commodity, so through my sin thou hast inarmed thy creatures against me: for now the Earth bringeth forth as many enemies as friends unto me: For the wild Beasts do multiply, as our sin groweth, which destroyeth both Man and Beast: and the Corns, and Fruits, before our eyes are consumed by thy great Host. The residue of the Palme-worme the Cankerworm hath eaten; 
joel 1.4.  and the residue of the Cankerworm the Grasshopper hath eaten. O Lord, waken us in mercy out of the bed of sin, that being reconciled to thee, thou mayest rebuke thy great Host, and drown them in the Sea.  
Further, O Lord, when I consider how thou madest me little less than an Angel, 
Psal. 8.5.  and crownedst me with honour and glory, and yet I am become like a Beast in my sensualities and pleasures: Yea, oftentimes like a Swine I return to the puddle of sin, from which I was cleansed. Wash me, O Lord, throughly from an evil conscience. Many are like Bulls, Lions, and Bears, in this Wilderness where I dwell. O blessed God, thou hast rescued me from the claws of the Bear, and the paw of the Lion, 
1. Sam. 17.34. Psal. 23.2.4.  as David did his Father's Sheep. O Lord, thou art my shepherd: when I feel myself near lost, thy Staff will deliver me: Therefore will I sacrifice to thee my body and my life: for thou art the God of my salvation, mine hope, mine help, my Saviour, and my God. O Lord, 
Matth. 12 34.  this is a generation of Vipers, and unnatural people: they have recompensed me evil for good. Alace, as I have done to thee, so have they done to me. 
Nota.  I requite thy kindness with unkindness; & thy benignities, with mine iniquities. But pity, O pity me, I will do so no more. Let my ways please thee, O Lord, let my soul be thankful unto thee: that thou mayest tame those Wild Beasts, and make them friendly unto me.  
Now seeing thou hast made my body and soul this sixth day, grant that all the days of my life I may glorify thee in them both, that while they are together in this world, every one may provoke other to serve thee; 
Let Soul and Body provoke one another to God's service.  my soul may be commanded by thee, and so may direct my body aright, and my body may be obedient to the directions of thine holy Spirit, that so I may use all thy creatures to the glory of thine holy Name: that when it shall please thee to divide them, than I may render my body to the dust, whereof it was made, and my soul to thee, of whom it was created, waiting when they shall meet & be united together again at the last day, to praise and glorify thee for evermore. Amen.    

A MEDITATION UPON THE SEAVENTH DAY, Upon the which the Lord rested from all the Works which He had made. 
Genes. 2.2.   
We have taken a view of the first six days, wherein we have seen the wonderful works of GOD in the creation of the whole World, and all things therein: And now we come to the seventh Day, which is the sweet day of our Lord's rest, wherein he ceased from any new creation, but by his providence sustained those things which he had made. By this his example he instituted one Day only to be celebrated as a Sabbath to the end of the world.  
This Day ought to be had in an honourable regard, as Augustine observeth in his 154. Serm. de temp. Tom. 10. in these words, Venerabilis est hic dies qui Dominicus dicitur, etc. that is to say, This day which is called the Lord's day, is venerable: on the which the Light was first seen: 
Genes. 1.3. Exod. 14.22. Ibid. 16.15 Mat. 3.13 john 2.1. Luke 9.17 joh. 20.1. and 20.26  2. The people of Israel passed thorough the red Sea: 3. Manna reigned in the Desert: 4. The Lord was baptised in jordane: 5. Christ turned Water into Wine in Canah of Galilee: 6. Christ fed five thousand people with five Loaves: 7. Our Lord arose from death: 8. Entered thorough the close Doors where the Disciples were gathered for fear of the jews: 
Act. 2.1.  9 The holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, etc. and on which Day we look for the coming of our Lord jesus Christ to judgement, when as the Church shall be reform to a Light sevenfold greater than the Sun and Moon, etc.  
This is a Day, not an Hour: not of Idleness, but of Rest: 
Nota.  not unto ourselves, but to the Lord: not for a time, but for ever.  
God craveth a whole Day, which consisteth of all the parts, Morning, Noontide, and Evening. 
The whole Sabbath is to be sanctified.  So it is a very gross abuse to part or divide the Lord's Day at our own pleasure. We give the beginning of this Day to sleep, and many (craftsmen without conscience) to work: the mid-time of the day (perhaps) to the service of the Church: and the afternoon to Drink or Pastime: even as though God had not right and title to the whole Day, who commandeth it by his Precepts, and commendeth it by his own example, as we have shown afore.  
But seeing ignorant people, and (I am the more sorry) even those who would have some appearant show of knowledge, do object, saying, How shall they spend the Sabbath? they have kept Church-time: what shall they do afternoon? it were better for them to play than to drink: so that they think Plays to be lawful at afternoon, and that upon the Sabbath.  
First, I answer, that to use any sort of playing, gaming, or pastime upon the Lord's day, 
An answer unto those who ask how they should bestow the Sabbath.  is altogether unlawful: for upon this day especially we have to do with God, in a serious and earnest matter, which business will chase away all follies and wantonness, and bring us into a due consideration how we may attain unto a reconciliation with our God, for our manifold sins, wherewith we have so often and heinously provoked him unto wrath against us.  

How the Sabbath should be spent.  But I will more peremptorily answer to their demand, What they should do? First, for the morning of the day, rise early, and pray, confessing the sins of the week bygone, & prepare thy heart to receive the word of God, as thou wouldst prepare the ground in breaking it up, 
Simil.  before thou wouldst cast seed into it. In the midday hear the word, and sing praise to the blessed Trinity. Blessed is the man who delighteth in the law of the lord 
Psaelm. 1.2  And last, at afternoon, meditate upon the word which thou hast heard, & harow the ground by conference: and visit the sick: break thy Bread to the hungry, & thou shalt find such infinite occasions of spiritual exercises upon the Sabbath, that thou hast no need to spend it idly for lack of better exercise.  

Great differance betwixt Rest and Idleness  But it is to be understood, that there is a great difference betwixt Rest and Idleness: for idleness is ever taken in an evil part, and is the fostermother of all sin, and there is no day in the week, wherein God hath permitted it: Six days shalt thou labour, sayeth the Lod. 
Exod. 20.9 2. Thess. 3.10.  And the Apostle Paul dischargeth to give food to those who work not. But Rest is ever taken in a good sense, when we are commanded to cease from one sort of exercise, that we may be occupied in a better: for the thorny cares of this world will impede devotion: therefore God will that we lay them aside for a while, to the end we may the better wait and attend upon God's divine Service. Whereupon upon it followeth necessarily, that the Sabbath is not only abused by such as work their earthly business thereon, but also by such as cease in body, and their minds and mouths are filled with worldly affairs. Then this Rest consisteth in two things, ceasing, and working, & must be the most diligent day in the whole week, 
Spiritual rest.  both in regard of the soul that hath her principal operation that day, and the end of her labour, which is God, & his kingdom, which only we should seek that day.  
This Rest must be total, and not partly; 
The Sabbath days rest must be total, and not parted.  for the so●le, & all the faculties thereof, and the body with her members, must be put to work for God's glory. We must not employ our cogitations to think upon these earthly things: Have not our minds been worn as Millstones, grinding gain to the world these days bygone? The Beast careth but for things present, 
Simil.  but thy care hath been for things to come: thou wilt serve God this day with thy mouth, and thy god Mammon with thy mind. God esteemeth and judgeth thy service from the inward disposition of thine heart, as he doth all things: for he looketh not as man doth. 
God judgeth of man by his heart 1. Sam. 16.7.  If with thy heart thou drawest near unto him, than thou hast observed his Sabbath: for the heart will carry thy body, which the body cannot: for thy soul will go where she pleaseth, albeit the body be in the Temple of God.  
Next, upon the Sabbath it is required that our hearts and affections be spiritually disposed, with a delight and pleasure in the Lord. Herefore the Lord craveth by his Prophet that his Sabbath should be a day of delight: 
Isa. 58.13  for there is none action which a man intendeth with hope of gain or pleasure, albeit it be painful, that he hath not delight into; but specially in the works of sin, which Satan baiteth with wonderful delights. If we have taken such pleasure in the service of sin, whose end is death, shall we not rejoice when we go to the house of our God? seeing only that service which is done with joy of the heart on the Sabbath is acceptable to God, and profitable to thy soul?  
What shall we think of such Recusants who will not hear the voice of their Bridegroom, 
Recusants damned, & such as for fear come to the Church. Simil.  neither will come to the Sanctuary of God? or of such who for fear of laws, for shame, or custom do come? I will compare them to a shrewd wife, married to an Husband, who refuseth to him cohabitation, and if sometime she be enforced to come to his society, she signifieth by her countenance and outward behaviour, that her heart is not with him, and therefore is not worthy that he should delight in her.  
As also those Christians, of whatsoever estate they be, which use their games and pastimes on the Sabbath, 
Gamesters rebuked.  whether in the house or in open, albeit the one is more offensive than the other, yet in themselves they are both sinful: for in so doing they declare how little delight they have in things which are better. 
1. King. 3.24. Simil.  Then ye would cut the child in twain, as the whore would have done: but the Lord, to whom the Sabbath belongeth, sayeth, Either give me the whole day, or take it all to thyself. The Lord, is the Lord of the Sabbath: it is his own day, the rest he hath given to thee: take of thy six days, and rob not him of his one. As the Rod of Aaron swallowed up the Rod of the enchanters of Egypt, 
Simil. Exod. 7.12  so let the delight of God devour all other pleasures.  
And as we must make conscience of our thoughts, and all actions, so we must beware of idle speeches on his Sabbath: 
Idle speeches on the Sabbath.  for if the tongue be a most noble member, when should it be occupied in his service, if not on the day of his rest? will not thy tongue find in that infinite God, 
Nota.  infinite matter of speech, of the proofs which thou hast had of his power, favour, wisdom, justice, patience, & c? that thou needest not for lack of spiritual purpose to talk idly. Besides that, his word is an Ocean of matter, furnishing thy tongue so well to sing his praises. And so on the Lord's day let us speak the language of Canaan. Further, 
Isa. 19.18.  we must not go our own ways, or do our will: the way which he hath prescribed us to go, is to his House, and to visit the sick & indigent: and not to go make our merchandise upon this day. The people of Israel went out to seek Manna upon the sabbath, 
Exod. 16.27.  but they found nothing: neither shall our Sabbath errands find any benediction. So on the Lord's Sabbath let our minds, & our members, 
On the Sabbath let all our members be occupied in God's service.  cease from the world, and much more from sin, that we may meditate upon the Law of God. Our eyes may behold his works & glorify him in them: our ears may hear his word: our tongue may proclaim his praise: our knees may bow down, and worship him: we may lift up our hands to heaven: our feet may go to his house: so all may concur in his majesties Sabbath to his honour. The promise which God giveth, if we observe it, is, That we shall mount up to the high places of the earth: 
Isa. 58.14.  (this is temporal:) and he will feed us with the heritage of jacob our father: (this is spiritual.)  
Godliness then hath the promise of this life, and the life to come: 
Godliness hath a twofold promise.  for there is no doubt, but the diligent service of God upon this day, shall procure a blessing unto all the rest of the week: Seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, 
Mat. 6.33  and all other things shall be casten unto you: where by the contrary there are Curses denounced against the profanators of the Sabbath; 
jer. 17.27  that God shall curse the works of their hands, and the Land shall enjoy many Sabbathes of years, even as it did in the Captivity of Babylon.  
Now, 
Three kinds of Sabbaths. 1. Of Creation. 2. Of Redemption. Revel. 1.10  there are three kinds of Sabbathes: the first of the Creation, as a memorial that GOD ceased from his work upon the seventh day: this lasted till Christ's death and resurrection. The second Sabbath began upon the day of his resurrection, which is called THE LORD'S DAY, in remembrance of a new Creation of the world: 
3. Of Perfection. Isa. 66.23.  and this will end with the world. And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternal, when as the six days of this miserable life shall be finished, we shall rest from all our earthly businesses and travels, that our continual exercise may be to glorify him, in mind, heart, and with all our strength, in his Kingdom. Then let us occupy this Sabbath wholly in his praise, which shall be a sure pledge of that in the Heavens.  

A Prayer upon the seventh Day.  
MOst mighty Lord, and merciful Father, distil, I beseech thee, and pour down into mine earthly heart, thy divine Dews, which may moisten it; together with such heavenly meditations as may stir up mine heart unto thy praise and glory: that as upon these six days I have been musing and meditating upon all thy most glorious works; so I may repose myself upon the day of Rest, and find quietness to my soul in thee: for all the rest of the creatures, albeit they be glorious, yet they be subject unto a curse; not because of themselves, but for man, who hath defiled them. I have trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures: and I see that it is true that Solomon said, All is but vanity, and vexation of the spirit: 
Eccles. 1.2  as Richeses increase, so Care groweth. But, O Lord, let me come to thine Ark, as the Dove did, which found no rest till she came back to Noah. 
Genes. 8.9.  Pull in thine own dove, O my Lord, unto thee, for the floods of sin have overflowed the face of the Earth, that I find no rest here. I am weary, and loadned, Lord, give me rest to my soul in thee.  
This day is joyful to me, because that my Lord rose this day from death. I beseech thee, my God, 
Nota.  raise up my soul from the grave of sin, that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection: and make my thoughts spiritual this thy Sabbath day: banish from my mind all earthly cares this day: forgive me in that I have so many times abused these thine holy days. Oftentimes when I was praying to thee, or thou preaching unto me, Satan did cast into my mind carnal cogitations, which interrupted that communication betwixt my soul & thy majesty. O Lord, forgive me, and fill my soul with thy reverence and fear in all the days of my life to come; that all such idle purposes may be dispatched by thine holy Spirit: shut the door of my soul when thou art speaking unto me, or when I pray to thee, that none get entry to unquiet me, and stay my joy: for alace, mine heart was casten open unto many of thine enemies. I will close the door of mine ear to the voice of all others, that thou mayest speak to me. Alace, my God, I find a great decay of that spiritual joy in me, that I have not that spark of delight, and that inward & spiritual joy which I should have, or had sometimes: I loathe the exercise which I loved, mine hands are weary, and fallen down: I have lost my first love: it was sweeter to me than the honey, 
Reuel. 2.4.  & now it is loathsome unto me, as the Manna was unto the Isralites: therefore, I beseech thee, 
Numb. 11.6.  kindle up an holy fire of thy love in my soul, as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus, and that the zeal of thine House may eat me up. 
Luk 24.32 Psal. 69.9. and 52.8. and 27.4.  Let me flourish as a green Olive in the house of my God. O, would to God I could abide in thine house all the days of my life, that I might pray with good Anna, 
1. Sam. 1.13.16.  out of the bitterness of my soul, making my supplications to thee.  
O Lord, I crave thee pardon, for the earthly and idle speeches which I spoke upon the Sabbath. I will hold mine hand upon my mouth, & speak no more. 
job 39.37 Luk 24.15  The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ, & he came unto them: alace, when I spoke of the world, he went from me, and my heart was cold. Lord, forgive me, for it was a great sin which I did: yea, I made no matter to deal in mine earthly business on thy Sabbath. All mine excuses are now accusations against me: they burn me when I am trying mine heart. But, Lord, I found never any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprised upon thy Day. I have sinned, I will do it no more: let the world be crucified to me, and me to it, upon thy Sabbath. I have resolved in mine heart that I shall spend my days, while I live, to thine honour. Help my resolution by thine holy Spirit, that neither the corruption of my nature, my weakness and forgetfulness, 
Nota.  neither the evil example of these wicked and profane people, among whom I live, suffer me to break my promise which I do make unto thee; but that thou mayst be my speech, my thought, and my delight upon the Sabbath days. Let me be fervent in prayer and supplications to thee upon the day of thy rest: Let me hear what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy servant: Let me gather thy Manna when it is reigned down from the clouds of Heaven, 
Ex. 16.15  as the people gathered Manna in the Desert, that I may hear it as thy word, I may gather it, and lay it in the store-house of mine heart, against the year of famine: 
Gen. 41.48  and give me thy grace, that upon thy holy day I may proclaim thy praises with the rest of the Saints. This day let me break my bread to the hungry, seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spiritual graces: let me clothe them that are naked, visit those that are sick, and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day, that I may most diligently work the works of God, that I may gather out the flowers of thy most holy Scriptures, that I may study to practise which I hear, in a godly life and conversation, & so I may redeem the time which I have spent in vain, 
Eph. 5.16.  that I now getting mercy for the abusing of thy former Sabbathes, may here begin my spiritual Rest in thy Sanctuary, that after I may accomplish it in thine holy Temple, through jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.  
AMEN.    

CERTAIN PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS, MOST COMfortable for all estates.  

Morning Prayer.  
Almighty God, and most merciful Father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst chase away, with the brightness of thy presence, my sins, as a cloud, that I may come before thee, 
Psa. 18.12  and with a clean heart behold thee, and offer up my Prayer as a Morning Sacrifice, and as Incense of sweet Odour unto thee. 
Reuel. 8.4.  I thank thy Majesty for the quiet rest of this night, & that thou hast so safely convoyed me through the perils of darkness, and saved me from the prince of darkness, and brought me to the light of this day, & given me a new day of repentance, wherein I may seek thee. O Lord, it was of thy mercy that I was not consumed: Thou the watchman of Israel neither sleepest, nor slumberest. 
Psa. 121.4  Albeit my body was lying as dead, and all my senses were asleep, so that I was a ready prey to my spiritual foes: Yet, O Lord, thou wast careful of me, when I was careless of myself: and thou pitchedst about my body the muisible company of thine holy Angels, 
Psal. 34.7  who have graciously carried me, and kept me from all evil. Thou smotest the first borne of Egypt in one night by the destroyer, 
Exo. 12.26 2. King. 19 35  and the host of Senacherib by thine Angel: But, O Lord, thou hast kept me and mine house, safe by their hand: thou foundest the blood of the Lamb upon the door of my soul, and I have escaped: praise be given unto thee, O Lord, 
Ex. 12.13  who hast delivered me, and glory to the Lamb by whom I have escaped. But especially I praise thee that my spiritual enemies have not prevailed over me, to snare me in sin: 
Satan most busy in the night to cause men sin. job 24.16  for the Prince of darkness worketh his works of darkness in darkness; by the which he leadeth the world unto everlasting darkness: in the night they steal, they murder, and commit adulteries: but the Lord hath delivered me from the temptations of the Devil. Blessed be thy Name; for I know the night is to the Lord as the light: 
Psal. 139.12  he beholdeth me, and seethe me, therefore I glorify thee this morning, that thou didst keep me, and gavest me not over to be illuded by my spiritual foes. Thou wast a light unto me in darkness. But alace, that my natural heart cannot acknowledge thy goodness. I have rested in my body, and my mind hath been at great peace. This is a double rest, which thou hast given to thy beloved. But alace, thou hast so tenderly dealt with my flesh, that I am displeased that I should spend the whole night (which is the half of my days) 
Nota.  so idly, (in my judgement) that I should do nothing but feed my flesh with sleep. I am displeased, and think within myself, Shall I lie so long, and so many nights, and shall not praise my God? for thy servant DAVID not only prayed unto thee in the morning, 
Psa. 55.17 and 6.6. and 63.6. and 77.6. & 119.62 148.  at noontide, and at Even, but also prevented the night watches, to meditate on thy word, and watered his Bed with tears, thanking and thinking on thee, & communing with his own heart. And likewise, O Lord, I would rather be content, that mine eyes were holden waking with thee, to remember thee, than I should sleep to forget thee. I beseech thee, O my God, to forgive me, thy poor creature, who ever do forget my duty to thee both day and night: and when I am sleeping sanctify me so by thy grace, that my soul may be waking with thee. Lord, wash me from all the uncleanness of body and soul, which I have contracted this night: and as thou hast made separation betwixt the night and day, so divide me from all sin. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon me this day, and enlighten my mind with understanding, that I may see the secret of thy Law. Visit me with thy sweet mercy this morning, 
job 7.18.  that I may rejoice in thee all my days. I will rise in the morning, and compass thine holy Altar. 
Psal. 43.4. and 26.6.  Thou art my Father, and I am thy Child. I crave thy blessing, for Christ's sake, to all the actions of this day: that thou wilt accompany them with thy special presence, and direction, and so I am sure that whatsoever I shall take in hand will prosper.  
Further, my merciful Father, I beseech thee to slay the corruptions of this wicked nature this day. Bring in captivity every cogitation of my heart, which rebelleth against thy will. Put a watch to the door of my lips, that no unsavoury speech come out of my mouth, 
Psa. 141.3  but that which may tend to edification. And dispose so all the actions of this day, that no corruption which is in me may burst forth, either in word or deed, whereby I may offend thee, or my neighbour. Mortify the lusts of my flesh: my pride turn it unto humility: my covetousness unto liberality, mine insolency, into gravity, 
Change from evil to good.  my prodigality unto abstinence, my lies unto truth, mine uncleanness to chastity, my profanity to reverence, &c: yea, make that alteration and change in me this day, that whatsoever delight of sin is in me, it may be consumed, and thy graces as fruitful herbs may be planted in place of these weeds. Forsake me not, O Lord, this day, lest I forsake thee: give me not over unto myself, and to mine own counsel and will, lest I perish. And because these are days of defection and apostasy, wherein, if it were possible the Elect would perish; 
Matth. 24.22.  I beseech thee, that I fall not back from thy grace, but let me make some progress in godliness, to approach near unto thy kingdom: that as the powers of nature do decay in me, and I hasten to the grave, so the strength of thine holy Spirit may fortify mine inward man; that I may grow from grace to grace, until I pass the dangers of this pilgrimage, and thou bring me to thy glory, through Christ our Lord.  
AMEN.   

Evening Prayer.  
O Lord, let my prayer come before thee, as pure Incense, and as the Evening Sacrifice: I present it upon the golden Altar my blessed Saviour, that he, 
Reuel. 8.3.  through the perfume and sweet smell of his sacrifice, may make my petitions acceptable unto thee.  
I thank thee, O gracious and dear Father, that thou hast so favourably convoyed me, and preserved me from the perils of this day, both of my soul, and body: And also I praise thee for thy fatherly care whereby thou hast abundantly fed, by thy word, my soul, & by thine earthly creatures my body. I thank thee that thou hast nurtured me by thy Rod, and that thou hast not suffered my spiritual enemies to triumph over me, and forsook me not, neither left me to myself, nor to be a prey to them. O Lord, pardon me all the sins of this day and purge me from my secret sins, even those which are hidden from myself. Who can know or understand them? no doubt I have sinned this day. My conscience may err, and deceive me, but thou searchest the depth of the heart. But I praise thee, that thou kepedst me from presumptuous sins this day. 
Psa. 19.13  Forget, O Lord, my negligence in thy service. Alace, I have been wearied of thy worship. And seeing thou art and hast begun to bring darkness upon the face of the earth, break in, O Lord, with the glorious beams of thy presence, and illuminate my darkness. 
Psal. 16.7. When the body is at rest, let the soul be busy with God.  Instruct my reines in the night season, and speak familarlie unto my soul: when I sleep in my bed, then open mine ears: when my senses are asleep, then let my soul enjoy thy presence, without interruption. Let thy Spirit teach my spirit, and inform her ignorance: rebuke my spirit, & correct her sinfulness: strengthen my spirit, and help her weakness: comfort my spirit, and cure her sorrows. Give me sleep and rest to my body, if it may make me the more able to serve thee: But if it may stay thine honour, 
Nota.  I will be content to want it. And if thou hast appointed this night that I shall awake, Lord, hold the eyes of my soul waking, that I may repent for the abuse of that great rest which I have received already, without rendering thanksgiving unto thee. Lord, let me lie with a peaceable mind under the hand of a reconciled God. Suffer not my soul this night to be disquieted with the cares of this world, which bereaveth worldlings of their rest: but I cast my burden upon thee, & all mine affairs unto the bosom of thy providence, for thou wilt bear them. Why art thou troubled my soul? 
Psal. 42.5. and 43.5.  and why art thou disquieted within me? trust yet in thy God, and he will be thy relief. Lie down in peace, and sleep, 
Psal. 4.8.  for he will care for thee. And again, O Lord, deliver my soul from the fearful terrors of this night. Give me faith, with David, 
Psal. 3.6.  and I shall not be afraid of ten thousand: for thy presence is a sufficient defence to me against all mine enemies. But, O Lord, especially deliver me from the fears of thy wrath, when Satan layeth my sins in order before me, and that they stand in the sight of thy countenance, than thou makest me to mourn like a Dove, 
Isa. 38.14  and chatter like a Swallow. Mine eyes were lifted up on high. I reckoned till the morning: 
Psal. 58.6.  but thou broke my bones like a Lyon. From day to night thou wilt make an end of me. Then I cried, My sins have oppressed me; comfort me, O Lord, remove the cloud of my sins, which interueaneth betwixt thy mercy and me, & let me see thee this night, sitting upon thy mercy seat, stretching out the point of the golden Sceptre, 
Hest. 5.2.  and retreating the sentence of death given out by thy justice against me. Cast my sins behind thy back, & drown them in the bottom of the Sea of thine oblivion, that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace, as in a City of refuge, and find rest to my soul.  
Keep me, O Lord, from the curse threatened by thy Prophet against such as in the night are plotting evil things against their neighbours. 
Mica 2.1.  Let me remember (O Lord) that darkness is to thee as light; 
Psal. 139.12  and thou hast an eye of fire, whose light can pierce the most hard places. Where can I hide any thought from thee? for thou who plantedst the eye, dost not thou see most clearly? 
Psal. 94.9.  Therefore keep my soul this night, that I admit no purpose therein, whereof thou wilt not be content. Be thou my Counsellor, my Witness, and Judge, that by thy presence my soul may be kept in that holy reverence to thee, that it consent to no unclean or injust action to offend thee. Thou hast tried, and proved mine heart in the night, and hast found nothing: for I was purposed not to displease thee. And because my Lord will come (as a thief in the night) and I do not know what hour he cometh, let me watch and pray, 
1 Thess. 5.2 Matth. 24.43. and 25.13.  that at the voice of thine Angel I may be watching, with mine oil in my lamp. Let me praise thee in the night, with fervency. Keep me from the Arrow which flieth in darkness, and from the temptations of the Prince of darkness. Preserve me, O Lord, and my family, & every thing which thou hast given me: I do resign all to thy keeping, who art a faithful keeper of all things which are committed to thy custody. Thou wilt suffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand. O GOD, be thou a pillar of fire to give light to me this night, and carry thy child in the arms of thy mercy, through all perils of body and soul. I leave my soul into thine hand, and when I awake I will seek my soul in thee.  
And finally, O Lord, this bodily sleep teacheth me to die; and when I lie down in my Bed, I remember that I shall once be casten into the bed of my grave, that I may sleep there till the day dawn, and the Sun of Righteousness arise, that then I may arise also, and praise thee, O my God, together with the Son, and the holy Ghost, for evermore.  
AMEN.   

A MEDITATION UPON THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL.  
EVen as it is necessary unto Salvation, to believe in GOD our Father; so it is necessary to believe the holy Church our Mother, 
Believe the Church, but not in the Church.  that she is the Queen, the Spouse of jesus Christ. We must believe in God, & put our whole trust and confidence him. We must believe also that the Church is his Spouse, and believe whatsoever she speaketh unto us, of him, out of his own mouth: for if she be his Spouse, she will not adulterate, invert, or corrupt her Lords speeches. And if an Angel taught another Gospel, let him be accursed. 
Gal. 1.8.  In the Nicene Council, and in Athanasius his Symbol, the particle [In] is added. But ye must understand, that the Apostolic Symbol, which is called the Creed, must be a Rule of perfection and antiquity unto all the rest, Then (God willing) I shall define the Universal Church unto you, that ye may know her.  
The Universal Church is the Members of the Elect, whom God hath called by his word unto Life everlasting. 
What the Church universallis.  She taketh not her name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is, to elect; but from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is, to call others, which maguifieth the preaching of the word: which is the very voice of God, by which he calleth us unto repentance. Whereby it is evident, that we cannot be called the true members of the Church Catholic, if we contemn that voice by the which God calleth us unto him. The word Catholic, or, 
The Catholic Church is not tied to any certain place. judg. 16.9.  Throughout all places, telleth us, that she is bound to no certain place, as the Papists would bind her (with dalida's rope) to the seat of Rome. But our Samson, Christ, will break such ropes as Flax. But the Spouse of Christ, the Church, stretcheth her arms, and her feet, to the ends of the world: for God gave him the ends of the Earth to be his possession & inheritance. 
Psalm. 2.8.  From her they will be called Catholics, rejecting the name of Christians, from Christ. But I think they merit to be called Cacolyci, which is by interpretation, Evil Wolf's, devouring the flock of God under the Skins of Lambs. 
The Church invisible. The beauty of the Church is spiritual, in virtue and godliness. Ps. 45.13.   
This Church is invisible, because her faith and love cannot be seen, which maketh her a Church. Neither is it necessary that with an outward splendour or beauty she should appear in any one place of the earth. She is altogether beautiful within. An honest Matron studieth not to deck herself: her virtue, her natural colour, her obedience, her love, etc. are her ornaments, by which she purchaseth credit with her Husband, and is famous with men: 
Prover. 31.11.12, etc. and 7.16.  as that womam in the last of the Proverbs. But the whore of whom Solomon speaketh, decketh herself with Carpets and Laces of Egypt. So the true Church contenteth herself: albeit she be back, yet she is comely, 
Cantic. 1.4  to please Christ her husband, who looketh not to the outward mask, but to the heart. Christ her Husband had neither form nor beauty external: he was a Worm, but not a Man. 
Psal. 22.6.  Should not the Spouse be like her Lord? Her Apostles were beaten, and sent to prison: the holy Bishops and Martyrs, to Fire, and to Lions: But when she attained, 
Nota.  by peace under Constantine, to Honour and Riches, than she was defaced, and rend asunder, by the Heretical Doctrine of Arrius, and others; and at the last the Pope arose in the West, and the Mahomet in the East, who have wounded Religion at the heart, and have made up, and coined two new Faiths, which are neither old nor new; whereby the Church is spoilt of her Husband's Vestures: and being clothed with the Whorish habit, she doth keep nothing, but the bare name of the Church, wherein she glorieth, and giveth herself out to the world. The true Spouse heareth only the voice of her Husband. 
joh. 10.27.  But the Roman Church admitteth strange voices, which are contrary to the voice of God. Also the true Church, as it were, traveleth in pain, to bring forth children to Christ. 
Gal. 4.19. 2. King. 11.1.  The Roman Church, like to Athaliah, murthereth the King's seed, the Sons of God, and embreweth not her hands in the blood of Turks and jews, who deny Christ, but granteth them Synagogues, to dwell amongst themselves: But poor Christians they will persecute, 
1572. Aug. 24. Math. 12.20.  and massacre an hundreth thousand at once in France. Christ the husband, in all his life, broke not one bruised Reed; he did harm to none: he helped all. (So she is an Harlot Church, albeit professing the word, 
The Cnurch is as mount Zion.  if she be cruel.) His Spouse is compared to mount Zion. For she being founded upon the rock jesus Christ, is invincible, let her not be afraid. She is the bush of Moses, 
Moses his Bush. A Dove.  but the Lord is in the fire that it cannot consume her. She is a Dove, for her simplicity and love. The Romanists are Foxes. She is Jerusalem, 
jerusalem.  for the vision of peace is in her.   

A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL.  
I Confess, O Lord, that I am most bound to love thee, as my Father, who hast both made me a creature, and in the bosom of thy Church hast made me over again a new creature, after thine Image. Thou hast commanded me also to honour my Mother the Church, who conceived me, and who traveled in pangs for me, whose breasts & paps I have sucked, and out of them I have received the sweet Milk of thy word, who did keep & bear me in her arms: upon whose knees I was fostered, and in whose house I have been fed ever since. She pitied my wanderinges: she corrected mine errors: and in a word, O Lord, I acknowledge that she hath done more than the duty of a loving Mother unto me: for whose honour, health, wealth, peace, prosperity, succession, yea, and for all earthly and heavenly blessings, I am oblished to pray upon the knees of my soul and body continually.  
And first, O Lord, seeing that thy Church is the only glory and beauty of the world, without the which there would be confusion: yea, the world would turn to the old Chaos: And seeing that the world hateth her, because she is not of them; O Lord, our God, bless her in the midst of her enemies. Beautify thy Lily in the midst of Thornes. 
Cantic. 2.2  Pour down all the graces of thine holy Spirit upon her. And because the world is wrapped up in ignorance, and darkness, like unto the darkness of Egypt: 
Ex. 10.23.  and seeing that there is no light, but in the land of Goshen, O Lord, I beseech thee to nourish, and continue that light of knowledge in her, that all the world may know thee the true God, and whom thou hast sent, jesus Christ, 
1. john. 4.14.15.  to be the Saviour of the world. Yea, refresh, I beseech thee, this light of thy blessed evangel, that it may illuminate the blind world. And because thy word is the life and light of the world, O Lord, let it be a Lantern, ever shining in this darkness, to quicken these dead people. And to this effect, O God, raise up faithful Preachers of thy word, 
Pray for faithful Preachers. Prover. 10.13.  men according to thine own heart, who will carry this light: give them knowledge and understanding, that their lips may observe wisdom, that they teach not the people the lying vanities of a deceitful and lying heart: but that they may instruct them rightly in all thy Precepts: that thou mayest feed thy Stewards, who will feed thy people with the Bread of Heaven, and the Wine which cometh out of thy Wine-cellers: and not with the foisted bread, 
Cantic. 2.4.  nor the poison of Heresies, to destroy the souls of thy people. O Lord, clothe thy Priests with Righteousness, 
Psa. 132.9  and let thy Saints rejoice. Open the door of utterance unto them, 
Coll. 4.3.  that they, with evidence and demonstration of thy Spirit, may make the whole counsel of God known to the people: that they keep nothing back, nor add nothing; lest thou, O God, add unto them the curse of thy Law, 
Rev. 22.18  & scrape their names out of the book of Life.  
And because thy Church is under continual dangers, O Lord, keep her, and all her members, from the cruel rage of all her enemies. Lord, let the malice of her adversaries turn to themselves: and bring confusion upon all such as hate Zion. Lord, give peace to her Walls, and her Palaces: and bless those that bless her, 
Psal. 122.7  and curse those that curse her: keep her like the Apple of thine Eye, 
Psal. 17.8.  which thou lovest. Thou wilt be with her in the midst of the fire, and the water, that she be not destroyed, nor overwhelmed. By thine hand, O Lord, she hath been preserved. They lay shares for the poor Church, but cut thou them asunder; yea, 
Psal. 7.16. and 57.6.  trap them in the net which they have laid. They have digged a pit, let them fall into the midst of it. So shall come to all the enemies of our God, and his Church. Let them be as a turning Wheel, 
and 83.13  and a rolling Ball. Let them be as smoke, which vanisheth before the wind; 
and. 68, 2.  and as Wax, which melteth in the Sun. Let them be like a lump of Lead, which sinketh to the bottom of the Sea. O Lord, if it were any particular revenge of mine own, I would pardon their wrongs: But, alace, it is done to my Mother, thy Spouse: how shall I bear it? Bury them in eternal forgetfulness, who have done such despitefulness to her, as that cruel Antichrist, and his adherents have done. And to the effect that thine enemies may be discomfited, arise, O Lord, sharpen the Arrows of thy word, by which thou mayest pierce the hearts of the King's enemies. 
Psal. 45.5.  Draw the Sword of thy Word, 
Heb. 4.12.  which is twoedged, that it may cut to the division of the marrow from the bones. Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Ministers, but make it a quickening spirit, to bring down great Holds, & let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes, that thy Ministry may be powerful, and the world may see that thou hast not left thy Church without both counsel and comfort, 
1. Pet. 1.22  & that men are not only hearers, but also doers of thy word.  
And again, I pray for thy Ministry, that they may be faithful Stewards of thy Mysteries, 
1. Cor. 3.12  vigilant Watchmen, diligent Shepherd's, & wise Builders; not of stubble, 
1. Pet. 2.4.  but of Gold, upon the foundation which is Christ: and that their only care be to see the glory of thy Name, and for the good of the Church, which is our Mother. Bless and increase the fruit of her Womb: let her grow in number like the Stars of Heaven: let her be fruitful in her age: let her sons be like Olive Plants, bringing forth fruit: let her daughters be like carved corner Stones, 
Psal. 144.12.  in whose hearts thou wilt carve thine Image, in the similitude of a Palace. And bless her with the blessing of Heaven, and of the earth, and of the deep, 
Gen. 49.25  and let all the eternal blessings which my soul can wish, be upon thy Spouse, my Mother, the universal Church, upon all her children, friends and servants: yea, whosoever loveth the peace of thy Church let them prosper.  
I pray namely to thee, O Lord, for thy Church in France, & Bohemia, 
Pray for the Church in France, and Bohemia.  which thou began with the blood of innumerable Martyrs, & which thou hast made to grow amongst the midst of thine enemies. Maintain, O Lord, the work which thou hast begun amongst them: give them wisdom, that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their adversaries: and that in this dangerous time they may cleave only to thee, who will be both their wisdom and protection.  
O Lord, look upon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Isle of Britain: thou translated this Vine out of Egypt, and didst plant a Vineyard to thyself: thou didst hedge it about with thy providence: thou confoundedst all her enemies, thou buildedst a watchtower in the midst thereof, 
Isa. 5.1.2. etc. Psal. 80.8.  and sent watchmen accordingly to give warning to them. But, O Lord, thou cravedst & lookedst for wine-grapes, & they yielded thee wilde-grapes. So that now we deserve that thou shouldest pull down the hedge, and suffer the wild Boar to enter into thy Planting. Remember, O Lord, thine ancient mercies, and forget our iniquities: dig us, O Lord, and take pains upon us, that we may be fruitful.  
And finally, O Lord, bless all the visible Congregations of people, who call upon thy Name, and all the particular persons whose names are written in the Book of Life: fill up the number of thine Elect: call them effectually, by thy word, that we may be all one Fold, under one chief Shepherd. Shorten, O Lord, the days of sin, 
joh. 10.17.  and hasten thy coming, Lord jesus: that thy Spouse being prepared, a pure Virgin, she may be taken up to the new Jerusalem, to Heaven, 
Rev. 21.10  where after the infinite Battles, & temptations of this world, she may reign eternally, and be crowned in thy Kingdom, with Christ, her blessed Lord and Saviour.  
AMEN.   

A MEDITATION UPON THE HOLY COMMUNION.  
THERE are two great Seals which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word: to wit, 
Two Seals affixed to the Word.  the Sacrament of Baptism, and of the Lords holy Supper. Albeit the Church of the jews was loadned with many Sacraments, as the Passeover, Circumcision, Manna, 
Christians have fewer Sacraments in numbe● than the jews, but more in signification, and amplification.  the Rock, the Cloud, the Sea, etc. Yet God hath given the Christian Church Numero pauciora, factu faciliora, & significatione ampliora: that is, Fewer in number, easier to be done, and of more large signification.  
The Sacrament of Baptism, is a Sacrament of Initiation, when we are entered into the Family of God: and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sacrament of Confirmation, whereby the Children of God, who are spiritually borne in Baptism, in the Bath of Regeneration, by the remission of their sins, in Christ's blood, which is signified by the washing of water, the same are fed at his Table, in the Sacrament of the Supper; & are fed by Christ's body and blood, 
Po●h the Sacraments ha' e one substance.  unto everlasting Life.  
Both these Sacraments offer one Christ, who is the substance and matter of them both, albeit diversly. First, the diversity is in the time: 
The Sacraments differ in ●●e things.  for Baptism must go before the Supper: neither can any communicate who are not first baptised. Next, Baptism to one, the Supper to many; for otherwise it could not be called a Communion, as the Masse-Priest taketh it alone. thirdly, They differ in the Elements; the one being received in Water, the other in Bread and Wine. fourthly, in the manner of receiving: in Baptism the receiver is mere passive, doing nothing himself, but offering himself, and suffering himself to be washen by another. In the Supper the receiver is active, and that which is offered unto him he taketh, eateth, and drinketh. The superstitious Papist would put it into his mouth for holiness. And finally, Baptism is ministrated but once, 
Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil.  and cannot be reiterated: the Supper as often as we do it, sayeth our Saviour. There is a reiteration: for as a child is once infested in his father's heritage, but he is fed daily at his father's table: so once baptised, may often communicate.  

The necessity of the Word and Sacraments.  But now (God willing) we shall speak something of the necessity of the Word and Sacraments. The Word is necessary to salvation, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, simply, those who are come to age, without the which they cannot be saved. The Sacraments are necessary, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, conditionally they may be had. So I say with Augustine, 
August.  Non carentia, sed contemptis Baptismi damnat: that is, Not the want, but the contempt of Baptism condemneth men. 
Iosh. 5.  For as in the Wilderness many died, who were not circumcised, Circumcision then being more strictly urged than Baptism is now, 
Exod. 4.24  and of a like power and signification, yet we will not judge those who so died to be damned: no more reason is it, that those who are prevented by death, or excluded by necessity, be in danger of damnation, lacking Baptism.  

Preparation to the Sacrament is necessary.  A man should not set himself to any grave action, without deliberation, much less unto this, which is the gravest of all others, the Supper of the Lord: he should first try, and examine himself. First let us try our repentance: next, our faith: and thirdly, our love. Our repentance must be tried by the Law, 
How to try thy repentance.  without the which there is no knowledge of sin. Examine ourselves, and judge ourselves, that God do not judge us. Spare not to search all the corners of thine heart, that there be no hid leaven therein: try what sorrow thou hast for thy former life, and in what measure: for many sins, do crave many tears; 
Luke 7.38  as the Magdalen washed Christ's feet with her tears, and David his bed. Next, 
Psalm. 6.6  try the truth and sincerity of thy repentance: for God doth love the truth in the inward parts. And be sorrowful, 
Psal. 51.6  not for any pain which hath befallen thee for thy sins, but for offending God thereby.  
Try thy faith, & see that thou have knowledge to understand what is given thee: 
How to try thy faith.  for ignorance secludeth thee from the Sacraments. And next, that thou canst apply to thy felt that which thou dost receive, externally in the elements, and internally by faith in Christ.  
Finally, try thy love, that it be without hypocrisy: for there is no conjunction with the head, 
How to try thy love.  unless there be communion with the members of the body. Therefore, purge yourselves from the leaven of maliciousness and bitterness: 
1. Cor. 5.7  yea, pardon your enemies heartily, and pray for them, if ye desire that at this holy Sacrament God should be merciful unto your sins.  

The honourable receiving of the Sacraments.  Both the Sacraments crave a like reverence, as they are of a like substance and weight: and therefore we ought to come with all humility and reverence to that most holy Supper, both in body and soul, praying that God Almighty would bless this his ordinance, and make it steadable to our salvation: and then receiving it in all deautifull reverence, let us apply it to our own comfort, rendering thanks to God for this inestimable benefit, in giving his Son to the death for our redemption.   

A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.  
O Lord God, most gracious, most holy, & most glorious, I thy poor creature, most filthy, and unworthy, most graceless, and ingracious, most contemptible and vild worm, do here present myself before thine holy Majesty, craving at thine hands, that I may be worthily prepared to receive the body and blood of jesus Christ, to mine eternal salvation: and to this effect, I beseech thee, that thou wilt remove from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiving of the same: & namely, ignorance, which blindeth my mind: infidelity, and damnable hypocrisy. O merciful father, replenish me with th●ne holy Spirit, that I may know and understand the mystery of my redemption, and truly apply it to mine own soul, and in all sincerity and singleness of heart render all praise, honour, and glory, to thy Majesty for the same. O Lord, the blind dulness of my mind will not suffer me sufficiently to acknowledge these thy most ample benefits: the height, the length, the breadth, and the deepness whereof neither man nor Angel ever was able to sound: yet I am persuaded that all my salvation consisteth in the death and passion of thy Son JESUS CHRIST, who died for the sins of the world: and therefore I humbly beg at thy Majesty, that as I receive these outward elements at thy commandment, & eat and drink thereof in remembrance of him, 
Nota.  so it will please thee, secretly to communicate the virtue of his blood to my soul, which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternal life: by whose power also, and force of his death, all my wicked and sinful affections may be crucified: and finally, by the aid & protection of his blood I may be defended from all my spiritual and temporal enemies, from all temptations and dangers, and by the self same his body & blood, I may be strengthened to fight my spiritual battles, and to go forward in my spiritual journey, to that Land of Canaan: in the which battle and journey help me, good Lord, by the precious merit of thy dear SON, CHRIST JESUS, to whom with thee and thine holy spirit, be all honour, glory, and dominion, for ever.  
AMEN.   

A THANKSGIVING, AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMUNION.  
O Most gracious God, I heartily thank thee for this thy most excellent benefit which thou hast bestowed upon me, even the body and blood of thy Son, Christ jesus, for the salvation of my soul. I beseech thee, most merciful father, that thou wouldst bestow thine holy spirit upon me, that I may honour and serve thee all the days of my life, that the corruption of my nature may be beaten down, and the Image of God may be more clearly seen in me, that I may cast off the old man, 
Colloss. 3.9.  with the lusts thereof, and put on the new man, which is form after God, in holiness and righteousness.  
Now, O Lord, thou hast fed me with the most excellent food which thou hadst, and hast slain thy fatted Calf for me: 
Luk. 15.23  Therefore grant that I may honour thee, as my Father, and bestow all the actions of my life, the motions of my mind, & the speeches of my mouth, to set forth thy praises in this world: that I become never unthankful and ingrate, to meet thy good benefits with my sins. To thee therefore, O Lord, with thy Son, and holy Spirit, be all praise, and honour, for evermore.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION OF THE TROUBLE OF CONSCIENCE.  
AS it is easy to speak of Sicknesses, and deadly Diseases, incurable; so men may speak of a troubled Conscience: but none can speak of either of them more powerfully or comfortably, than those who have experimented them both: therefore let us speak first of Conscience itself: and next, of her diseases and troubles: and last, of the remedies anent a grievous and troubled Conscience.  
Conscience is a composed word of Con and Science; so that it must have a knowledge of sin, 
What Conscience is.  and somewhat more; that is, a feeling, conjoined with the knowledge. There are many who sin ignorantly, thinking that they do God good service, as Saul did, and the jews, 
1. Timot. 1.13. Rom. 10.2.  of whom he beareth witness, that they have the zeal of God without knowledge: others know their sin, and that they are into a wrong course, having Science, without Conscience; and Knowledge, without Feeling: and these are in a worse case: for their knowledge maketh to their farther damnation.  
God hath erected a Tribunal in man, 
Conscience is God's Tribunal. judge, Accuser, and Burrio.  & hath set it in his heart, fencing the Court of Conscience, wherein he maketh both Index, Index, & Vindex: that is, Attorney, judge, and Burrio. There is no Subterfuge against the accusations of the conscience, no excuses, no replies, no dilators, but she must simply confess: And as she giveth up ditty against herself, so she giveth sentence of condemnation for her sins, according to the law of God: whereupon ariseth such torments, & tortures in the conscience, and an Hell begun, and a fire kindled, which shall never be quenched, unless God by the blood of his Christ quench the same.  

The tenderness of the Conscience.  The Conscience is a very tender thing, and doth examine the quietest thoughts of the mind, which other men do pass lightly; it censureth the smallest words, or idle speeches; challenging man that he must be comptable for them: it chargeth men's looks, as job sayeth, I have made a covenant with mine own eyes, his hearing, tasting, 
job 51.1.  and all his other senses, so that the smallest thought is more grievous to a feeling conscience, than the worst actions are to a sleeping conscience, or to a reprobate.  
This Conscience is common to the Elect, & reprobat. 
Rom. 1.24.25.26. etc.  The Hethniks looked to the glass of nature, and their conscience mutually accusing or excusing them: but Christians look unto the glass of the Law, and see there what they have done, well or evil.  
The Hethniks describe Conscience, Magna est vis conscientiae in utramque partem, ut neque timeant, qui nihil commiserint, 
Cic. pro Milone.  & poenam semper ante oculos versari putent qui peccarint: that is, Great is the force of the Conscience on both sides, that neither they are feared who did no wrong, & those who have offended, suppose punishment ever to be before their eyes. Then if this be into the Hethniks, much more ought it to be in Christians, who see clearly either God allowing their good actions, whereby there is bred an unspeakable tranquillity and peace to their souls: or dissallowing them, whereby the infernal furies are kindled within them.  
In the trouble of Conscience there ariseth a fire of the wrath of God, 
The trouble of Conscience.  conceived against our sins: out of the which fire ariseth such a smoke, which letteth us see nothing in God but justice: and where the Creator is obscured, and his light eclipsed, nothing appeareth unto us on earth but darkness. All the creatures, yea, the dearest unto them, seem to be their enemies: for when the Sun is darkened, 
Simil.  what marvel is it that there be no light on the earth? or what comfort can all the creatures minister unto us, when the Creator draweth back his countenance from us? 
Simil.  As if the King would look down upon a Subject, who dare countenance him any longer?  
This sort of temptation befell David, 
Psal. 22.1. Narke 15.34. Christ had trouble of conscience. john 5.4.  and to our Lord himself upon the Cross, who cried, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Neither shall we account them the less beloved of God, who are thus tried; for as the pool of Bethesda, being troubled by the Angel, brought present health to him who was casten into it; so a troubled conscience, in God's mercy, bringeth salvation and comfort to a Christian. And as Medicine that worketh vehemently, after bringeth health, 
Simil.  so doth tranquillity and peace come after a troubled conscience.  

Pretended trouble, and true differ.  But many pretend a trouble of conscience, when there is nothing in them but a furious madness, and a melanchollious desperate diffidence in God, for perplexities & miseries whereinto they are brought: where there is a manifest difference betwixt that their pain and the other, in that the godly are only pained for the sins which they have done against God; 
Trouble worketh diversly in the godly and wicked.  the other for the calamities whereinto their sins have brought them. True it is, they acknowledge their sin to be the cause of it, but they are not moved for the sin, but for the pain.  
Now seeing the spirit of man can bear all external pains, 
Prou. 18.14.  but who can bear a wounded spirit? therefore let us see what remedies can be applied to cure the diseases of the Conscience.  

Remedies against a troubled conscience.  First, it is necessary that the doctrine of faith be propounded, whereby the conscience terrified with God's judgements, may be strengthened by his mercies: and it is requisite that all the places of Scriptures, which promise God's mercy, should be propounded unto the patiented.  
Next, that an interpreter, one of a thousand, may be sought, who may pray for him, as a spiritual Physician to his soul.  
Thirdly, that he be frequent in reading, and praying, that he enter not into temptation: and then thus being exercised, by God's help he will recover.  
And after his recovery, let him take heed to himself, that he grieve not God's Spirit, but walk in fear and trembling; and he shall find such excessive joy after that trouble, as he never did in all his life before. For as after the Winter blasts, 
Simil.  the Sun shineth more comfortably in Summer, so after a troubled conscience cometh greatest tranquillity to our minds: & after the raging storms of the Sea, cometh greatest tranquillity, and calmness, 
Simil.  so after a disquieted mind God sendeth greatest consolations.   

A PRAYER FOR A TROUBLED CONSCIENCE.  
O Lord, art thou also become mine enemy? hast thou hid thy countenance in displeasure? Oh, that my grief were well weighed, 
job 6.2.  and my miseries laid together in the Balance: they would be fare heavier than the sand of the Sea: for thine Arrows are in me, and the venom thereof drinketh up my spirit. I eat Gall for my Meat, 
Psa. 69.21  & my Drink is mingled with Vinegar. Oh, that God would destroy me. I burn with sorrow: spare me not, O Lord: yet have I not denied the words of the holy One: 
job 6.10.11. job 7.6. &c  my strength is not the strength of a stone: my days are swifter than a Weaver's shottle, 
job 7.6. &c  and fly away like the wind. I speak to thee, O Lord, in the trouble of my spirit, and move in the bitterness of my mind. Am I a Whale fish, that I am kept in ward? I abhor my life, for my pain is greater than I am able to bear. 
Genes. 4.13 job 19.13. etc.  I have none now to help me: all have forsaken me. I am left to be a prey to my spiritual enemies: thou hast set my secret sins in the light of thy countenance. I inherit now the sins of my youth, 
job 20.11. and 7.3. Psa. 50.21  and the months of vanity, which I passed. Thou hast put my sins in order, and those things which I thought light, by idle thoughts and speeches, now I find them like mountains: so terrible is thy Tribunal, and thy Face burning like fire. The Heavens are not clean before thee: 
job 4.28. and 15.15 and 15.16  thou foundest no steadfastness in the Angels, how much less can I, who have drunken in iniquity like water, be justified before thee? If I would justify myself, when thou hast reasoned with me, 
& 9.3.20.  mine own mouth would condemn me: though I were just, yet I could not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. 
and 9.15.  If I wash me with snow water, & purge mine hands most cleanly, 
& 9.30.31  yet shalt thou plunge me into the pit, & mine own  shall make me filthy.  
What shall I do, O thou Saviour of men? Wilt thou absent thyself for ever? Hath God forgotten to be merciful? 
Psal. 77.7.8.9. etc.  Will he show no more favour to my miserable soul? doth his promise fail for evermore? hath he shut up his tender mercies in displeasure? He hath lifted me up, and casten me down again. He hath shot at me with his Arrows, as at a mark. Then I said, This is my death. 
job 7.20. and 16.13 Psa. 77.10  Yet I remembered the years of the right hand of the most High, and how he delivered his children by his mighty arm. Is the Lord like man, that he can repent? and, Whom he loveth, 
1. Sam. 15.29.  doth he not love to the end? Many pledges of thy favour I have received in my youth: wilt thou now reject me, in my grey hairs? Is there any shadow of change in thee? Albeit all men be liars, yet thou art faithful, and constant for ever. Thy Son said, Heaven and Earth should perish, but one jot of thy word should not fall to the ground. 
Matth. 24.35.  But all the Scriptures proclaim thy mercy: thou cried'st in the Camp of Israel, with thine own voice, The Lord is merciful, full of compassion, & of great kindness, 
Exo. 34.16  showing mercy unto thousands. Therefore, O Lord, have mercy upon me miserable wretch, cure my wounds, power in the Oil and Wine of thy Son's blood and spirit, that I may be made whole. For out of the deep places of a grieved heart have I called 
Psa. 130.1  upon thee. If thou wouldst observe mine iniquities, who can be saved? 
Psa. 130.3 4.  But mercy is with thee, that thou mayest be feared: For even as when the Sun departeth in Winter, than all tempests arise, Snow, Hail, Frost, 
Simil:  Windes, &c: so when thou obscurest thy countenance from me, than the Winter of all temptations ariseth against me: the Devil, my spiritual enemy, raiseth up such fearful temptations, that through the multitude of sins, he terrifieth me; even in the night, when I would have slept, he thought to have made me to despare of thy mercies: but, O Lord, I know that thy mercies are more infinite than my sins are, or can be: yea, though my sins be more than the hairs of mine head, 
Psa. 40.12  yet thy mercies are as the Sands of the Sea, or the Stars of Heaven, which cannot be numbered. Therefore, O God, let thy face shine upon me, and I shall be saved. 
Psa. 31.16  Mine enemies are risen up against me, and as thorns they prick me on every side: 
Psa. 42.10 Psal. 22.8.  they say, Now where is thy God? he trusted in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, seeing he loveth him. 
Psa. 38.20 and 11. Psal. 41.9.  Yea, those who render evil for good are mine enemies, because I follow goodness. My friends and familiars have forsaken me, and he that ate at my table, hath lifted up his heel against me: yea, he with whom I went unto the House of God, and communed with him of spiritual matters, and who prayed with me, and exercised the parts of divine worship, doth scorn me, saying, Where is thy confidence, thine hope, and thy fear, which thou hast of God? But, O Lord, let me not be ashamed, 
Psal. 25.3.  because I put my trust in thee.  
O thou Sun of righteousness, come with the bright beams of thy countenance: disperse and chase away the clouds of my sins, and of all these temptations: chase away my spiritual adversaries, and give not my temporal enemy's cause to rejoice over me, neither yet to dishonour thine holy Name; that when others say, Behold, this poor man called upon the Lord in his misery, 
Psal. 34.6.  and he heard the voice of his prayer; they may turn also unto thee, and be saved: for I will consecrate myself to thy Name for ever, through Christ jesus, my Lord and Saviour: to whom, together with thee, O Father, and the holy Spirit, be all praise, honour, glory, power, and dominion, World without end. So be it.   

A MEDITATION UPON THE ESTATE OF KINGS.  
KING'S are the principal and chief members of the Church, and are Heads of that Church which is within their Dominions: and therefore every King ought to do the part of an Head unto her: that is, To foresee her wealth, maintain her liberty, speak for her, hear those things which concern her weal, defend her from persecution and oppression, and that she be not craftily dealt withal, as Pharaoh did to the Israelites: 
Exod. 1.10 11 Psal. 45.7.  lest they touch the Lords Anointed, and he rebuke them, and root them out,  
All good Christians are most dutifully bound to pray for Kings, 
1. Tim. 2.2.  (yea, although they were evil, as Samuel prayed for Saul: 
1. Sam. 16.1.  and the Apostle Saint Paul in very many places of his Epistles, admonisheth and chargeth us to pray for Kings, Magistrates, and all such as are in authority) and not to say with some fantastic persons, that they cannot find an heart to pray for them: for these sort of people are Welles without Water. 
2. Pet. 2.17   
If the Kings be persecuters, let us heartily pray to GOD to convert them: if they be Nourish-fathers', let us beseech the Lord long to continue them, and their posterity. Yea, we ought not only outwardly and publicly to pray for Kings; but also inwardly, and in our secret thoughts, to nourish a reverend and honourable remembrance of them, 
NOTA.  and to speak reverently of them, lest the Fowls of the Air carry it away: and we ought by all means to procure for their preservation: for they are (as was said to David) better than ten thousand of us. 
2. Sam. 18.3.   
To oppone ourselves against Kings, Princes, or other Magistrates, doth greatly smell of Antichristianisme and Popery, 
Antichristianisme to oppone to Princes.  whatsoever colour of zeal it seemeth to have. And indeed Kings have power of Procuration, for the prosperity of the Church: but as for Administration, it belongeth only to the Clergy. 
1. Chronic. 13.10.  The example of Vzza may be a sufficient warning for Princes, that they pass not the limits prescribed unto them by God: For if there be a woe threatened against those who remove the ancient Marches, 
Deuter. 27.17.  fare greater shall the malediction be upon such as shall remove those Marches which God hath set betwixt himself and Man, 
Exod. 19.24.  and which He interdicted upon Mount ZION.   

A PRAYER FOR THE KING'S MAJESTY, AND HIS ROYAL SEED.  
O KING of Kings, unto whom all the World doth appertain, I thy poor creature, according to thy commandment, and as I am bound, do humbly pray to thy most excellent Majesty, that thou wouldst bless and preserve all KINGS, Princes, and Magistrates, that they may be mindful of thee, & of their Calling; that they were raised up by thee: (for preferment cometh not from the East, nor from the West:) to the end that they may lead thy people in thy ways. O Lord, sanctify them, and bless them, that they may discharge their duty faithfully, to the glory of thy Name, & the weal of thy Church. Convert, o Lord, the persecuters of thy Church, inform their ignorance by thy word, and let them acknowledge their only honour to stand in the service which they do to Christ. But those who maliciously set themselves against thee, and against thy Kingdom, O Lord, overthrew them in the righteousness of thy judgement, as thou didst Herod, Pharaoh, Saul, Achab, julian the Apostate, 
Act. 12.23 Exo. 14.28 1. Sam. 31.4. 1. King. 22 34.  & all others, who opposed themselves to thee, and to thy Christ; as the Turk, & Antichrist the Pope doth, whom, O Lord, we beseech thee, to confound.  
But in special, O Lord, I pray to thee for our Sovereign Lord, the KING'S Majesty: endue him with the gifts of thine holy Spirit, answerable for his high Calling: give him wisdom and understanding, as thou gavest Solomon; 
1 King. 3.9 2. King. 18 4. etc. 2. King. 23 4. etc. 1. Sam. 6.7  by the which he may go in & out wisely before the people: give unto him the zeal of josias, and Ezechias, and make him like David, a man after thine own heart, who may guide thy people in thy ways, that he may prosper. Bless his Majesty's Royal body, with long life, and good health, and guard him by thine invisible protection, that none of his enemies have power against him: but as thou hast kept his sacred person even from his mother's womb to his grey hairs, now thou wilt not cast off thine ancient care toward him; but keep him in thy right hand. And above all, preserve him from the secret & treasonable invasions of the Pope, and his treacherous jesuits, who already interprysed his death by Powder, but thou disappointedst them. And for this we thank thee, beseeching thee to keep him still from those bloody murderers, and all traitors, both foreign & domestic, who attempt any evil against him. Bless his government, O Lord, that the Righteous may flourish in his days, & that he may, by justice, bring Peace unto thy people.  
Bless, O Lord, Prince CHARLES his grace, print thy true fear & knowledge in his tender heart, that he may be a blessing to all his father's dominions.  
Bless that royal Prince & Princess, the King and Queen of BOHEMIA, and their Children: bless, keep, and defend them, that they may flourish in grace and honour to the world's end: that when they shall lay down their temporal crowns at thy feet, than thou mayest crown every one of them, and their royal Seed, with that unchangeable Crown of Glory, through Christ, our only Saviour, & Advocate.  
AMEN.   

A MEDITATION UPON SICKNESS.  
Sickness is a School of God, 
Sickness is the Lord's School.  whereunto he putteth his Children to be nurtured, and Discipline there to be used upon them. At this School we learn obedience, which we would not learn at the School of the Word. We do learn at this School a perfect obedience to the will of God, mortification of our affections, contempt of the world, love to our enemies: and finally, he so doth tame our nature, that our spirit becometh obedient to his blessed will, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the greatest Sickness is never to be sick. 
The greatest Sickness, is, never to be▪ sick.  It is good therefore that we should be corrected, that we perish not with the wicked world.  
Sickness is Medicine, somewhat painful, but wholesome in the end. The hand which made thee, feedeth thee, 
Sickness is painful, but yet healthful.  and it also nurtureth thee: therefore refuse not the correction of God, if thou be his Child. Sickness is appointed to correct the abuse of our health, therefore let us use our health wisely, that God be not forced to apply sharp remedies to our misgovernaments. 
NOTA.   
Diversity of sins hath bred divers diseases, 
Simil. Divers sins, divers diseases.  and as the Apothecaries have drugs answerable to the sores, so God hath prepared such a sickness, which he thinketh meetest to remedy such a sore as thou hast. Therefore think not thy disease to be fortuite, but by providence: and pray that God may work by it in thine heart that for which he sent it: that is, a true conversion of thee unto thy God.  
If thy disease be sharper, ask of God greater measure of patience: 
Patience necesserie. 1. Corin. 10 13  for God is faithful, who will not suffer thee to be tempted above that which thou art able to bear: thine external man, which is so greatly humbled, shall raise up the hidden man of thine heart: so thou makest a good change.   

A PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON.  
O Most merciful Father, I acknowledge and confess that I am a most vild creature, crying to thee, that thou wouldst hear me, & let my prayer come unto thee in thine holy Temple. 
jonah 2.3. and 7  The waves of thy judgemen have gone over me, and have overwhelmed me, the venom of thine arrows have drunken up my spirit, 
job 6.4.  and thine hand is heavy upon me: I thought the day light should have comforted me; but behold, my pangs increased, and my pain ran upon me. Then I began to think, My bed will give me some rest, but thou affrightedst me with visions, 
job 7.13.  and didst keep mine eyes waking. My strength faileth with pain, 
Psal. 6.2.  & my bones are consumed: have mercy upon me, O Lord, mine eye, 
Psal. 31.9.  my soul, and my belly are consumed with grief.  
When thou chastisest man for his iniquity, 
Psal. 39.5.11  thou makest his beauty to fade as a Moth. Surely man in his best estate is altogether vanity. O Lord, why art thou so fare from mine health, 
Psa. 22.1.2  & the words of my roaring? I cry by day, and thou hearest not; and in the night I have none audience. My life is drawing near the grave, and my years to the burial. There is nothing found in my flesh, 
Ps. 38.3.4  because of thine anger; neither rest in my bones, because of my sin. Mine iniquities are gone over mine head, and as a weighty burden they are too heavy. My reines are all full of burning, and there is no strength found in my flesh: 
Ibid. 7.  mine heart panteth, my strength faileth me, and the light of mine eyes, 
Ibid. 10.  even they are not mine own: I beseech thee pity me, & come in to this bed to comfort me thy poor prisoner. For, Lord, I am a prisoner of hope, & I trust in thee, though I said in mine haste, Thou hast casten me out of thy presence; 
Psa. 31.22  yet thou wilt hear the voice of my prayer, when I call upon thee. Take away mine iniquities, which are the cause of my sickness. Purge me from these filthy humours, which are the matter of my sickness: that these sins of corrupt humours being removed, my pain may be mitigated. My sin inwardly presseth me down, and my diseases thereby are augmented. Hid thy face from my sins, and put away mine iniquities. Create a new heart in me, 
Psa. 51.10  and renew a right spirit within me. Let my pain asswadge a little, that I may gather my strength, yet before I go hence, 
Psa. 39.13  and be no more. Now I call to mind my sins, by the which I have provoked thee to wrath, & I look to thee, whom I have rejected: I have multiplied mine iniquities against thee, and thou most justly hast doubled the stripes upon me. Cure my sins by thy corrections: I refuse not to be corrected, but do it to me in thy mercy, and let me feel the merciful hand of thy Spirit bearing me up, and comforting me: let me hear his voice speaking peace to my soul. Give comfort to mine inward man, as I have sickness which beareth down mine outward man. Thou goest down with Daniel to the den, 
Dan. 6.22. and 3.25.  and with the thrie Children to the fire: refuse not to visit this thy poor prisoner, in this bed of sickness: and if I find thee with me, I am content ever to abide here. Forgive me, O Lord, the abuse of my former health: surely thou hast justly punished the abuse thereof in wantonness, in riot, & excess, in the pleasures of my flesh. Now my flesh is punished; for my foolish delights are turned unto gall and bitterness. Wash & cleanse me in thy Son, jesus Christ, his holy blood, that I may be as white as snow, and my foolishness may not be in thy remembrance. 
Psal. 51.7.   
O, fie upon the world, which I loved, and thought it my felicity: now it is a burden to me: when I desired to be rich, I fell into many temptations, and with Zacheus greedily drew to me that which I do now most willingly reject, and cast from me. Lord, 
Luke 19.8  thou art mine only Physician, neither have I gone with Ahaziah, 
2. King. 1.2. 2. Chro. 16.12  to seek after Beelzebib the God of Ekron: neither with Asa put I my confidence in Physicians; but in the living God.  
O Lord, cure me: help me, O my God, who made me: thou art mine health, my strength, and my Saviour. If mine health may serve any ways to further for thy glory, I pray thee for to restore me. Let me go to the House of the LORD, and praise thee: 
Psal. 6.5.  for the dead will not praise thee; and those who go down to the pit, will not magnify thy Name. Let me not go out of this bed to dishonour thee, but that I may receive a new life from thee, to lead a new life before thee. And if thou hast appointed that by this sickness thou wilt draw me home to thee, than I beseech thee prepare my soul, and make it ready, and give me before I come to thee, a clear sight of thee, and an earnest desire to be with thee: 
2. Cor. 12.2 3.4.5. etc. Phil. 1.2 3.  for when Saint Paul saw the Heavens, it is no marvel that he desired to be dissolved, & to be with thee. In the mean time, I commit my body, and my soul to thy pleasure and good will: dispone them as thou thinkest meetest for thy glory, that whether I live or die, Christ may be mine advantage. 
Phil. 1.4.  Only I crave, holy FATHER, that I may so depend upon thee in this my disease, that I never departed from thee to any other. I crave also holy patience, by the which I may patiently abide to be corrected by this visitation, 
Matth. 11 29.  & to bear thy yoke willingly, & drink this cup cheerfully and heartily; assuring myself, that all these troubles in end shall work together for the best to me: that is, 
Simil.  that by them I may be tried as Gold in the fire; and my dross being purged, I may serve thee more perfectly all the days of my life, through Christ my Saviour.  
Amen.   

A PRAYER FOR A WOMAN IN TRAVEL WITH CHILD.  
O Lord God, and most merciful Father, I thy poor creature, whom thou hast bound up with the bands of this Sickness, do present myself upon the knees both of my body and soul: even I thy poor supplicant, whom thou puttest upon my knees in this my travel; that I may learn to know that there is no help at all for me, but that which I must beg from thee in this my tribulation.  
And because this pain of mine hath come to all Women, by the transgression of Eva the first Woman, 
Gen. 3.16.  let me remember that sin is the mother of these pangs, forasmuch as all have sinned, and must be partakers of their sorrows. O Lord, I confess I have sinned with the rest of my Sex, and I am now punished with them, as thou gavest out sentence against them all. But, Lord, I pray thee, for jesus sake, who was the Seed of the Woman, that thou wouldst lose the bands of my sin. 
Gen. 3.15.  Pity me, pity me now, O dear Father, for thy Christ's sake. Woe is me, that my pleasure in sin should have brought me to such displeasure. But these are the wages of sin. Forgive me, O Lord, my sins, and let the bonds thereof be broken, that thou mayest lose me out of the bonds of this disease wherewith I am bound.  
When thou spakest of the greatest pain, thou comparedst it to the pangs of a woman who traveleth with child: 
Isa. 13.8.  then, since my pangs are most vehement, most sudden, & have come to me before I was ware, O Lord, let thy power be so much the more towards me, to deliver me: let my greatest misery be the object of thy greatest compassion. Therefore now, O Lord, help me, for the help of man or woman is all in vain: pity the workmanship which it hath pleased thee to frame in my womb: alace, bring it, and draw it out of my belly. Thou hast framed my Child in a secret place: thou hast brought it to the point of perfection, and there is no strength in me to bring it forth: but, O my God, even when I am weakest, be thou strongest, yea, then let thy power and mercy show itself to come in a due and acceptable time. Glorify thyself, O Father, in my weakness: and these persons which are now present with me, let them all be witnesses of thy merciful delivery, and preservation of me and my Child: for I will here lie down at thy feet, and cry out unto thee, 
Psal. 69.3.  even till I be hoarse: neither will I cease my groanings, and fearful shouts, until it shall please thee to relieve me.  
O God, thou Father of Heaven, let not this be my Benoni, 
Gen. 35.18  that is, the child of my trouble; but let it be my Benjamin, the child of my days: and I will consecrate mine Infant unto thee and thy service, in whatsoever calling thou pleasest to employ it: give me it, and I will give it to thee: 
1. Sam. 1.27.  for, alace, I desire from thee no children to receive life, but such as shall be partakers of Life eternal.  
Now, Lord, help me, and renew my strength, that when thou hast delivered me, I may rejoice in the work of thy mercy, and feast not to my fleshly desires, but to the honour of thee, my God, whose mercy endureth for ever. 
Psa. 136.1  Oh, Lord, my strength is dried up like a potsherd, 
Psa. 22.15  and yet I seek no means for my relief but only out of thine hand. I commit myself wholly to thy Majesty's good will and pleasure; and I will not only sacrifice unto thee the Calves of my lips, 
Hos. 14.2  but also of a most thankful heart, whensoever it shall please thee to release me: yea, and whatsoever I shall receive of thee, that shall I render back again unto thee.  
Even now thou gavest me some relent and casment of my pangs: but now my sorrows are increased again. Oh, for jesus Christ's sake, who by his holy Birth hath taken away the sin of our birth, have mercy upon me, and purge my birth. Give me, I beseech thee, a comfortable delivery of my child, that we both may praise thee all our life, and spend our days in thy true fear and service, through jesus Christ our Lord.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION OF PERSECUTION.  
AMongst many Rods whereby GOD correcteth his Children, there be chiefly three; to wit, the Sword, the Famine, and the Pestilence: which were all given to David's choice: 
2. Sam. 24.14.  of the which three he chose the Pest, willing rather to come under the Lords hands, than man's: not but that the Sword & Famine were also in the hand of God; but mediately, for the Pest is immediately the hand of God. It seemeth hard that Susanna should choose the hands of man, rather than Gods, and David rather the hand of God, than of men. It is to be understood, that David was meaning of his mercy, 
Reconciliation betwixt David's and susanna's choice.  and Susanna of his justice: for the mercy of God is greater than the mercy of men: but the fear of God's justice is more terrible than all fears else whatsoever.  
As for persecution, it is the note and mark of the Church: others may be pursued, 
Persecution a mark of the Church.  but not persecuted: Treason is against Princes, and Parricide against Parents; but persecution is against Christ: and look how high Treason is above slaughter; so is persecution above Treason: because the person of God who is persecuted, is the greatest Majesty.  
Next, 
Christ persecuted with us.  it is to be marked, that Christians are persecuted with Christ: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? We have our Head Partaker and Companion with us in our troubles: may we not then be glad of such a party and yoke-fellow?  
Thirdly, it is common to all Christians, who would live godly in Christ, 
Persecution common to all Christians. joh. 15.20. Heb. 4.14.15.  to suffer persecution: then since it is the way of the head (who through afflictions entered into Heaven) and of all his members, let us not refuse persecution; for in so doing we refuse to be Christians. Then, since the way of persecution is the King's way, by the which he went into his Kingdom; and again, sith it is the way by which all the Saints, and the Brethren, and the Firstborn, are entered into glory; then (I say) let us be bold to enter in thorough that way: for who would refuse to go through a Wilderness, unto a Kingdom? and by persecution to enter into Heaven? 
Sin raiseth up enemies to us. judg. 2.11. and 3.7.8. and 4.1.2.   
fourthly, God raiseth up enemies against us, because we have been enemies unto him; as he did to the people of Israel ever when they went unto Idolatry, 
and 6.1.2. and 13.1. 1. King. 11.14.23.26.  and when as they provoked him by things which were no gods; so he punished them by a People which were not a People: and so likewise did the Lord to Solomon, when as he committed Idolatry.  

God hath our enemies in his hand. Simil.  fively, albeit our enemies be as sharp as Rasours, yet they are all in the hands of God, who may well cut away our excrements from us thorough our foes: but they can do no more. For although God give them leave and liberty to cut off our flesh, yet it is but an excrement of our soul. 
Only wicked men are persecuters. Gen. 42.21 Exo. 14.27 1. Sam. 31.4 Psal. 115.15. It is natural for wicked men to persecute. Rev. 12.1.2.3.4. etc.   
Sixthly, none are chosen of God to persecute the Righteous, but evil men, whom God either will convert, (with josephs' Brethren,) after he hath humbled them; or else (with Saul and Pharaoh) he will plague them: for he sayeth, Touch not mine Anointed.  
Last, it is natural for the seed of the Serpent, and the fiery Dragon, to persecute the Woman, and her Child, as it is, that Foxes and Wolves should persecute the Sheep: therefore let us prevail by patience, & blunt their swords by our sufferings.   

A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON, WHO IS PERSECUTED with his Enemies.  
O Eternal God, and most merciful father, thou hast commanded all those that are weary and loaden, to come unto thee, 
Matth. 11.28.  and thou wilt case them: if thou hast commanded me to come, thou wilt not reject & cast me away when I am come: hear the voice of my prayer out of thine habitation, and put not away the supplication of my mouth: enlarge my heart to pray, and open thine care to my cry. O Lord, how long wilt thou tarry? mine enemies are more than the hairs of mine head: 
Psalm. 22.12.13. etc.  they are strong, like the Bulls of Bashan: they are fierce and cruel, like Lions, and Unicorns: they conveance against me, and say, that there is no more help for me in God. O Lord, 
Psalm. 3.2.  when trouble draweth near me, be not fare from me. Lord, have mercy upon me. It is true, O Lord, I have provoked thy wrath and indignation: I have been thine enemy, and hated thee, who wast my Father: therefore most justly hast thou raised up these wicked men against me. Whatsoever I suffer, thou hast done it out of thy justice, 
Psal. 51.4.  that thou mayest be just when thou judgest. O Lord, forgive me my sins, and keep them not in thy remembrance: for all the creatures which were in covenant with me, are become enemies unto me. Oh, Reconcile me unto thyself, that the stones of the field may be at peace with me. 
job 5.23.  The waves of the Sea raged against jonas, 
jonah 1.4. and 2.1.2  when he fled from thy presence, but by his affliction thou broughtest him to obedience, and conformity to thy will. I confess thou hast enough to be angry for against me: but, o Lord, what have I done to offend mine enemy? they persecute me without cause. 
Psalm. 7.3  In the time of their trouble I prayed for them: when they were afflicted, than I burned: but when they saw thee afflicting me, and correcting me, than they were alive: yea, smoat him whom thou didst visit.  
O Lord, I beseech thee to try me, and search mine heart, if ever I have done any thing amiss unto these who persecute me, or was purposed to do them harm; yea, Lord, I have ever done good unto them, and they have repaid me with evil. Those who recompense me evil for good, are mine enemies. But, O Lord, they have done unto me, as I did unto thee: for thy benefits, I have loadened thee with sins: so ingrate and unthankful have I been unto thee, & so justly hast thou repaid me: 
2. King. 18.19. 2. Sam. 16.5. 1. Sam. 17.10. Rom. 8.28.  they rail against me, as Rabseketh did against Hezekiah, Simei against David, & as Goliath cursed the Host of Israel: But, O Lord, turn thou their cursing into a blessing; who hast promised that all shall turn to the best to them that love thee. I find that this short trial hath wrought good unto me, and therefore it is good for me, that I am humbled thereby: for I find myself better disposed to thy service than I was before. Oh, sanctify this mine affliction and cross, that howsoever Satan mindeth by this trouble to undo me, thou mayest draw about his labour for my singular comfort; that by this persecution I may serve thee more righteously, and live more dutifully and lovingly with my Neighbours, and more temperately in mine own person; subduing my lusts and affections: so that this Cup which is most bitter to my nature, and hardly of me to be drunken, may be converted into wholesome Medicine, for the salvation both of my body and soul. O Lord, give me a good Conscience, that breastplate of righteousness, 
Eph. 6.14.  and I will not be afraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine adversaries. Guard me by thy divine providence, and secure me by the protection of thine Angels: make me as a Seal on thine heart, 
Cantic. 8.6  and a signet upon thine arm: I commit my soul and body unto thine hands, and faithful keeping. Give me not over to the lusts of mine adversaries, & make me not a scorn to fools, 
Psa. 27.12  which understand not: let me possess my soul in patience. 
Psal. 7.16.  Let their mischief turn upon their own head: slay them not, lest the posterity should forget, 
Psa. 59.11  but rather let them live, that by their correction others may learn not to persecute the members of thy body. O Lord, they are the stones which thou castest at me, and the rods of thy fury. I crave thee mercy for my sin: but as for them, thou canst cast the rod into the fire, when thou hast chastised me. My Lord spoke seven words upon the Cross, and the first was, 
Luke 23.34.  Forgive them, for they know not what they do: and I after his example, forgive heartily my particular quarrel and revenge: for vengeance belongeth unto the Lord, 
Deu. 32.35  and thou biddest me bless those who curse me, 
Mat. 5.44.  and give mine enemy's food when they are hungry, that I may heap coals of fire upon 
Rom. 12.20  their head. And albeit they have done me wrong both in my person & name by their lies, and in my substance, yet Lord, I forgive them: let them repent, that thou mayest pardon them. And finally, let me patiently endure all these wrongs, that thou mayest make me meet for thy Kingdom: that being more than a Conqueror, having made conquest of mine affections, I may inherit thy glory, and reign with thee for ever.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION OF FAMINE.  
THere hath been Famine thorough all Ages, by which GOD hath corrected the abuse of his People. The Famine cometh either for the excess and abuse of God's good creatures, 
Causes of Famine. 1. Excess.  (as the example of the prodigal son beareth witness, who was brought to such poverty, 
Luc. 15.15  that he was fain to sustain himself with the Husks which the Swine ate, because of his riot, 
2. Oppression. 2. Sam. 21.1.3. Idolatry. 1. King. 17 1. ) or for the oppression of the Poor, (as in the days of David, for the wrong which was done to the Gibionites by Sauly) or else for Idolatry, (as in the days of Achab.) And the Famine continueth commonly three, five, or seven years.  
As in the time of Famine the Lord punisheth the wickedness of his People, 
God in time of Famine remembreth his own. Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1. 1. King. 18 13. & 17.4.9 Psa. 34.10 Psa. 37.19 job 5.22.  so by his providence he comforteth the godly. He increased Abraham and Israel amongst the Heathen People: He fed the House of jaakob in Egypt by joseph, Elimelech and Naomi in Moab, the Prophets in the Cave by Obadiah, Eliah by the Raven, and the Widow by Eliah. Though the Lions, sayeth David, do lack, & are hungry, yet those that fear the Lord shall want nothing that is good: yea, in the days of Famine they shall have enough, and shall laugh at Dearth and Famine.  
But in the time of Famine let us remember how often times we have exceeded measure in prodigality, and how we have hardened our hearts to the poor and needy, and let us repent and mourn for the same.  
Next, look that thou despare not, but humble thyself under the hand of the Lord, and put thy whole trust in his promise, who is faithful: but beware that thou seek none unlawful means for thy relief. And lastlie, let us pray fervently and often, attending God's pleasure with patience: and then no doubt He will provide means for our comfort unlooked for.   

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF FAMINE.  
IVST and righteous art thou, O Lord God, who hast so many ways to humble me; for now thou hast taken from me thy good benefits, which thou gavest me. I confe●●●, O Lord, that when my ways were outflowing with Oil and Butter, 
job 29.6.  ●en I broke not my Bread vn●●●●●u●●rie. 
Psal. 30.6.  I say de in my prospe●●●, I wil● never be moved: but though ●●●●nedst thy countenance, and I per●●●d. Thou gavest me, O Lord, 
job 1●. 21  and tho● hast taken from me: blessed be thi●● holy Name. I repent me o● my former abuse, the contempt of thy benefices, and thy people. But I return to thee. O my Father, 
Luke 15.19.  & with tears I confess, that I am not worthy that thou shouldest bestow any more upon me. Yet, Lord, I beseech thee to have mercy upon me, and let me be as one of thine hired Servants. For I will put my confidence in thee, and I will seek thee early, because I know thou hast a thousand means for my relief & comfort, which I see not myself.  
O Lord, thou hast wounded me: oh, 
job 5.18.  heal me again. Thou filledst the Widow's Barrels with Oil: 
1. King. 17 16.  and the Rivers of thine Oil are not yet dried up, but continue still, for they are everlasting: Pour down, therefore, I beseech thee, o thou plentiful God, some drop of thy goodness upon mine empty soul: for the time of my necessity, is the time of thine opportunity. Make me an example of thy liberality: that all the world may see, that thou leavest not those which put their trust in thee. Show some token of thy favour unto me, and I shall praise thee. For since thou gavest thy Christ for me, 
NOTA.  wilt thou not much rather give me other things, which are good for me? And last, seeing thou hast prepared that hidden Manna for me, and the Tree of Life, 
Revel. 2.17 & 22.1.2.  & the Waters of Life, yea, and the whole Treasures and Crowns in thine everlasting Kingdom; then I doubt not, O Lord, but that in this short time of mine abiding here thou wilt be careful for my provision. But howsoever it be, I am content of thy wise dispensation, and teach me, my God, I beseech thee, to be contented to abound, and to want; 
Phil. 4.11.  that neither in wealth I presume and misknowe thee, nor that in poverty I may faint, and tempt the Lord my God: but that in every estate I may glorify thee, and speak good of thy Name: Even for Christ jesus sake.  
AMEN.   

A MEDITATION OF PESTILENCE.  
THe Pestilence is one of God's three Arrows, 
Causes of Pestilence. Psal. 91.6  which flieth in the midday, and in the night killeth many. The causes of it are the contempt of the Lord, an extraordinary persecution of the Church, 
Leu. 26.25  or else the pride of Princes, who confide over much in the multitude of their Subjects, 
2. Sam. 24.10.  as David did.  
There are many sorts of the Plague, after which it obtaineth diverse names, as Bubo, Blew-blawart, the Flexes, 
The Pest is most dangerous in 4 respects.  the Charbuckle, etc. The Pest is most dangerous in four respects: first, because it is contagious, and infecteth the air: secondly, it is speedy, and flieth like an Arrow: thirdly, it is vehement, and extreme painful: and fourth, it is cruel, separating those who are bound by nature, as Parents from Children, Husbands from their Wives, etc. Under the time of the Plague we should fall down before God. We should stoop, when we see the Sword in the hand of the Angel. Let us confess our particular sins, with David, saying, I and my father's house have sinned. 
2. Sam. 24.17. Psa. 51.17  We must offer up to GOD the Sacrifice of a contrite heart, and present unto him the perfect Oblation of Christ.  
That the Plague may cease, there is none Art, or diligence of man, or yet Physic, to be used: but the next remedy is, only true repentance in CHRIST'S Blood.   

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF PESTILENCE.  
O Lord, I confess that I am worthy that thou shouldest pour forth all the Viols of thy wrath against me, 
Rev. 6.14.  and all the plagues which are written in thy Law: for the stink of my sins pierced the Heavens, & forced thee to send down this filthy and infective Botch, to be avenged upon mine abominations, whereby I have polluted the Earth. O Lord, be merciful to me, and take away mine iniquities. I retiere to the shadow of the Almighty for a refuge and cover: 
Psalm. 9.9.  and I hide me in the secret of thy Tabernacle. Thou shootest thine arrows in the midday, yea they slay innumerable thousands in darkness: at thousand falleth at thy side, 
Psal. 91.7.  and ten thousands at thy right hand: and yet thou hast spared me, praised be thy Name for ever. If the men of Benjamin failed not in their shooting at an haire-bredth, 
judges 20.16.  can the eye of the Lord, or his hand, waver? all things are done by thy providence. Mark me with the letter of mourning, and with the blood of the Lamb: 
Ezech. 9.4 Rev. 20.15.  writ me in the book of Life, that in the day of thy great slaughter the Angel of thy wrath may pass by me. I lie wrapped in the mantle of my Saviour, before thy Mercy Seat, beseeching thee to deliver me from this plague, if it please thee. And if thou hast appointed that I should die therein, sanctify my death, that it may be acceptable to thee: sanctify my faith with the assurance of thy love, that albeit I be separated from men, yet thou wilt not be separated from me: sanctify my patience, that I may drink in this Cup cheerfully: sanctify in end my memory, that I may remember thy inercies in the midst of thy plagues. Lord, let the joy of thy presence swallow up all my pangs, that having received the final victory in the blood of jesus, I may sing the triumph, and render my spirit into thine hands, through Christ jesus, to whom, with thee, and the holy Ghost, be all praise for evermore.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION OF THE SWORD.  
THE Sword is God's third Arrow, which he sendeth out either upon a whole Land, 
Causes of the Sword.  to punish their wickedness, 
Deu. 28.49  or to his own chosen Children for their sins: as to David, the Sword of Saul and Absolam. 
2. Sam. 12.9.  The Lord threatened by the Prophets, and executed many times in the Scriptures, this judgement upon his people: for he brought Nations upon them from fare, flying as swift as an Eagle to the prey: 
Terem 5.15  a people whose tongue they understood not, and of a fierce countenance, which will not regard the persons of the old, nor have compassion of the young, who shall besiege them in all their Cities, etc.  

The Sword the greatest Plague. 2. Sam. 24.14.  This is the greatest temporal scourge that God ever sent to a Land, to give them over unto cruel Tyrants: for which cause David made choice of the other; because he thought it better to fall into the hands of God, than into the hands of men.  
First, we must consider that the author of all Wars, 
God the author of Wars.  and first worker, is the eternal God; who being provoked by the sins of the people, and especially by Idolatry, and innocent blood, as also Sacrilege, raiseth up Wars either intestine among themselves, or foreign powers. The Scriptures are furnished with insinit examples for the confirmation hereof. Then we may learn, not to look unto the rod, but to him who smiteth us, and to turn unto him by unfeigned repentance, that he may stay and bridle the cruelcie of Tyrants.  
Next, ye shall know the causes of War: 
Wars are lawful, if they be warranded.  for we must not account that all Wars are unlawful: for as Augustine sayeth, Melius justum ●ellian, quam Pax iniqua: that is, A just War is better than an  Peace. Therefore, Princes should consider that they raise no Wars upon small grounds, neither by ambition or covetousness encroath upon the possessions of their neighbour Princes; neither yet should they suffer their people to be oppressed, or brought under thraldom, either of their bodies, possessions, or their conscience: but rather aught to defend them by the Sword.  
As the commodities of Peace are many, (for in it Religion flourisheth, 
The commodities of Peace. 1. King. 4.25. Isa. 2.4.  and Learning is advanced, every man dwelleth under his own Figtree, and the Sword is turned into a Mattocke, and the Spear into a Sith, the voice of the Bridegroom is heard in the City, and not the bloody cries of the Opressour, which our Saviour Christ, when he came to the world, brought with him, although it was attributed unto Augustus Caesar;) so are the incommodities of War also many: 
The incommodities of Wars.  for in it all Religion evanisheth, good Laws are abolished, good manners corrupted, good Sciences forgotten, Towns and Villages sacked, Fields and Lands which were manured by great travel and cost, wasted by the incursion of strangers; great Treasures are spent, men murdered, or made captives, women made whores, & slaves, etc. so that Wars are the beginning and mother of all evils.   

A PRAYER IN TIME OF THE SWORD.  
O Lord, we confess that by reason we have abused so long and so gracious a peace, and thy patience which should have led us to repentance, we are worthy of all these stripes which are laid upon us by these Barbarous Tyrants, which thou hast raised up against us: but we have our refuge to the Throne of thy mercy, beseeching thee, dear Father, to remember that we are the price of thy Son's blood, and for his sake spare us: chastise us in mercy, and in measure, with the rod of thy children: and suffer not thy Turtle Dove to be a prey to the wild Beasts. 
Psa. 74.19  Our hearts are oppressed and wounded with sorrow, when we see thy glory defaced, thy Name blasphemed by these bloody Beasts, thy Temples burnt with fire, and thy people daily put to the Sword. O Lord, the examples of others that called upon thee in their troubles giveth unto us hope that thou wilt not suffer us to be confounded. Our enemies have raised up battle against us without all deservings or cause upon our side, or injury offered unto them: therefore, O Lord, maintain our innocency, as thou didst always defend a righteous cause. O Lord, look to their cruelty and merciless tyranny, who spare neither the grey hairs, nor tender sucklings, neither women with child: & the rather, O Lord, they seek our destruction, because we have renounced the Roman Antichrist, whose kingdom they defend in daily shedding the blood of thy Saints. O Lord, look to their craft, and policies, whereby daily they undermine us. In us, O Lord, there is no strength, no wisdom, no number nor judgement to withstand their force, their craft, multitude, and diligence: and therefore, O Lord, look thou mercifully upon us, and deliver us from their cruelty, for thy Christ's sake. Thou hast assisted thy Church even from the beginning, and for the delivery of the same thou hast plagued her cruel persecuters from time to time. O Lord, thou remainest one for ever, thy nature is unchangeable, thou canst not but hate cruelty, pride, oppression, and murder, and specially these bloody Tyrants, who are sent against us by that Romish Idol, and hired to root out all those who truly profess thy holy Name. Put out thine arm, O God, for our relief, & let all the world know, 
1. Sam. 17.46.  that the God of Israel yet liveth. Hear us, O Lord, help & deliver us, for thy Christ's sake.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION OF DEATH.  

Death a dead enemy  DEath is our last and least enemy: for if Sin and Satan, who are living enemies, be overcome by the power of Christ in us, what need we to fear Death, which is a dead enemy, and altogether without power & strength? Indeed Death is terrible to the Worldling; and no marvel, for it separateth him from all his comforts, and entereth him to all his pains: but it possesseth the godly in all their joys, and maketh an end of all their troubles: it is to them, Non obitus, sed abitus: non exitus, sed transitus: 
Ambros.  iis funera sunt faenora: that is, Not death, but a departing: not an out-going, 
In the hour of death remember what thou wast, what thou art, & what thou shalt be.  but a thorow-going: and to these their burials are gains.  
In the hour of Death remember with remorse thy former life, thy future life with joy and delight, and thy present estate with patience. If the troubles of thy conscience, or pain of thy sickness, urge thee to impatience, 
Quid scis, quid sue●is, quisque futurus cris.  then think, this is the high way to Heaven: for even by the Gates of Hell, by Stripes, and Wounds, our Lord went before us. The fear of Death springeth of the weakness of faith, and our great love of the world begets in us great desire of life, and our little sight of Glory maketh over great fear of Death.  
Remember that there are two Deaths, and fear the greater: 
There are two deaths. Rev. 20.14  the first Death is the separation of the soul from the body: but the second Death is the everlasting separation of God from the soul. If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sin, the second Death shall have no power over thee: therefore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death, if thou be delivered from the second.  
2. Thou needest not to fear the first Death: 
Death is universal.  for it is a fatal necessity, laid upon all Flesh, Kings, Prophets, People, etc. all must departed.  

A profitable exchange by death.  3. There is great gain by the exchange: for we get a Palace for a Prison; rest, for labour; liberty, for bondage; God, for men; the company of Angels, for the company of sinners; and finally, the Heavens, for the Earth.  
4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death, 
Present joy by death, without delay. Luke 23.43. NOTA. Sin is taken away. Simil. The-paines of death are short.  because thy soul shall not be held in suspense, nor stand at the gates of Heaven, nor go to Purgatory for new torments: for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise  
5. The sting of Death is taken from it, which is Sin: then Death can do thee no more harm, than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting.  
6. The pangs of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall, but thy joys shall be eternal, as Paul saith to the Romans, Chap. 8. Vers. 18.  

Inward comforts. The soul shall shortly return.  7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses.  
8. Thy body shall sleep a little, thy soul shall return shortly, the Comforter shall assist thee, Christ is praying for thee in Heaven, the Saints on Earth are crying to the Redeemer, & the Angels are ready to convoy thy soul to eternal bliss.  
9 Hear is thy comfort, Christ thy Saviour suffered the pangs of Death in the highest degree. 
Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24.  Shall the servant be above his Master? And as he died, so he rose again, and overcame Death in his own den. Then, if the Head be risen, will he not raise after him all the members of the body? Yes surely.  
Lastly, 
The right desire to live or die. Psalm. 6.5 Isa. 38.7.  if thou find a desire in thee to live longer, let the cause of thy desire be, that thou mayest live better; as Ezechias and David said, Shall the dead praise thee? And, What sign shall I have to go to the House of the Lord? And if thou desire to die, 
Christ advantage in life and death.  see that it be not for thine earthly burdens, but for sin, which thou weariest to bear; and for the desire of the fruition of the glory of God.   

A PRAYER AT THE HOUR OF DEATH.  
EVerlasting God, and my most merciful Father in jesus Christ, I thy poor Prisoner, bound by the Chains of Sickness to this Bed, & upon whom the bonds of Death are seizing, and taking hold, I fall down before the throne of thy Mercy, & beseech thee to give me thine holy Spirit: that seeing I am going the way of all flesh, I may rightly resolve, 
1. King. 2.2  with  judgement, and perfect memory, anent my departure: that as thou hast prepared a place for me, 
job 14.2.  so thou wilt prepare me for it: that I being purged by the blood of jesus, & sanctified by thy Spirit, may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to me. And because many times I learned by thy word that I must die, & by daily experience in the death of others thou gavest me warning, as also I have carried in mine own body the marks of death by divers diseases; yet, Lord, now at last I learn by mine own proof, that which I would not learn by others. Now therefore, O Lord, when I look back to my former life, and consider the sins of my childhood, and mine age, what things I did ignorantly, and what I did against mine own conscience, my forgetfulness of thy mercies, and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodness, mine open sins, and my secret sins, my presumptions, mine injuries to others, mine intemperancy, my slothfulness, and neglect of thy worship: all these sins, so oft committed by me, being put in a mass, and many more with them, I beseech thee most merciful Father, that thou wouldst vouchfase to bind them up together in the bundle of thy mercy, and burn them in the fire of thy love: bury them in the grave of eternal oblivion, and make me now quite of them, that they burden me no more: and I beseech thee, that now in this my last battle thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelity and distrust, that as by thy power I have overcome the main host of sin, so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Army, & those straggling Soldiers, who are shaking their weapons upon me, they may be scattered by thine hand, that the work of my salvation may now in mercy be crowned and finished: that now I may cry with my Saviour at his death, Consummatum est: It is finished. 
joh. 19.30  He finished upon the Cross the work of salvation for me: now, O Lord, finish it in me upon this bed.  
I acknowledge, o Father, that I am infinitely obliedged unto thy Majesty, for thine innumerable benefits, which I have received at thine hands in the time of my life: for thou ever didst love me with a fatherly affection, thou caredst for me, thou providedst in due season to my necessity, thou fedst me, thou defendedst me, thou nurturedst me, etc. 
Simil. Exod. 19.4  And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones, so hast thou carried me in the arms of thy mercy. But in special thou broughtest me from ignorance, to the knowledge of the truth, & madest me to be borne in the bosom of the Church, & gavest me that eternal life, 
john 17.3.  which is to know thee to be the true God, and whom thou hast sent, jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World. Yea, when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wilderness, the perils of waters, of fire, of poverty, of sickness, of decietfull and wicked men, etc. thou deliveredst me from them all by thy mighty and outstretched arm, and hast given me this time to resolve with thee, to repent, and thank thee for thy benefits. For all which thy mercies and excellent benefits, both spiritual and temporal, I render unto thee most hearty thankes, praise, and glory, to continue for evermore.  
As for any good thing which is now wrought in me, it is not of me, O Lord, but thy grace working in me, who makest thy power to be known in my weakness. And if thou wouldst look narrowly to my best actions, thou wouldst find in them a thousand imperfections. Therefore I couch under the Garment of my Lord's righteousness: oh, spread the Mantle of thy Mercy over me.  
And as for the World, I disclaim and renounce it, as a false and deceitful friend, which promiseth fair things to those that seek it: but for golden offers, it crowneth them with thorns.  
I bid good-night to all my Friends, Acquaintances, and good Christians: and I exhort all you who would have peace in your latter end, and die the death of the Righteous, 
Numb. 23.10. Mat. 7.13.  that ye would tread the footsteps of jesus Christ, & go thorough the straight way: keeping faith and love with the Saints to the end: 
2. Tim. 4.8.  that seeing I have gone before you, and run my race, and shortly shall receive the Crown of Righteousness, ye would rejoice in my victory, and not be for●e for my removing. And I pray God to be with you all, and to convoy you safely unto his Kingdom; that we may all meet joyfully in his glory. And seeing I feel all the members of my body decaying, and giving over their office, my grinders sailing, my sight and hearing decaying, 
Eccl. 12.3.  & my strong men trembling, let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace, that I may have a clear sight of my Lord and Saviour, and so departed in peace, with old SIMEON thy Servant.  
Now my Soul, return to thy rest, for the Lord hath been beneficial to thee. 
Psa. 116.7  I commit my spirit into thine hands, O LORD: take it, and by the convoy of thy most holy Angels carry it unto thy Kingdom. And for my body, I commit it to the dust, from whence it came, to sleep there till the Day dawn, and my LORD return, and raise it up again; that thou with it may receive that eternal glory which is prepared for us, thorough Christ, Amen.  
FINIS.    

THE PRINTER TO THE READER.  
BEcause it is impossible that Books of any quantity (in the first Impression) should escape all Faults, and especially in the absence of the Author: therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to avoid partiality, judge charitably, and correct diligently such errors as (on our behalf) unwillingly have escaped our correction: all which (God willing) at another time we shall amend most attentively.