ANDREW'S Humble Petition unto Almighty God, declaring his Repentance. Newly made in a right zealous and most Godly Prayer, out of the pure fountain of holy Scripture, in the autumn or declining of his age. Very necessary for all the children of God to use in their daily prayers. Sero sed Serio. Wherein is contained an Alarm for old age: a watchword for Youth, and a caveat for all Christians. Published by john Andrew's Minister and Preacher of the word of God, in the County of Wiles. LONDON, Printed for john Wright, and are to be sold at his shop without Newgate, at the sign of the Bible. 1623. THe Author did this Book forestall, And from the Press he did it take, That none thereof might have the sale, But he himself which did it make, Except it be his special friend, Which may it sell, and give, and lend. To the high and mighty King of Kings a Reu. 17.14 , Prince of Peace b Eph. 2.14 Heb. 2.10. , Conqueror of death c Hos. 13.14 , Hell d Heb. 2.14 and Sin e Hos. 10.8 ; the great judge of the world f Esa. 2.21. , and Bishop of my soul g Pet. 5.2.2 , CHRIST JESV my Saviour. MOst singular, most excellent, most beautiful, most glorious, & most worthy Saviour, most entirely beloved, and most sweet jesus; in token of my humblest devotion I owe unto thy most sacred self, I here dedicate this Mite (entitled Andrew's Petition) which is the true Copy of my loyallest affection unto thee. And so often from the bottom of my heart I do salute thee, as there be Angels in heaven, drops of water in the sea, Stars in the Firmament, leaves on the trees, and grass on the ground: yea incessantly with all humility, I salute thee in the union of love; and unto the most blessed and sweet heart of thy own sweet self, I do in all dutiful affection assign myself and my dearest love unto thee, my sweet and loving Saviour; (although unworthy) to be thy servant; and I most humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to entertain and receive me, that I may be wholly thine; and thou Coequal with God thy Father, mayst be wholly mine: that after my ended miseries thou wilt crown me with thy endless mercies: unto this sweet jesus my Saviour, say Amen. And so Amen. To all Christian sinners, that desire repentance, health in the LORD. Read attentively, and judge indifferently, but pray continually: receive instructions willingly, and watch in the same seriously with all sedulity. Treasure them in your hearts carefully, and daily meditate thereon zealously, that ye enter not into temptation carelessly. Prayer with practice a Luke 18.1 1 Tim. 2.8. Rom. 12.12. Coloss. 4.2. Ephes. 6.18. , Oft times on your knee b Psal. 119.114. Dan. 6.10. , Gets favour with God c jam 5.17, 18. Esay 83.5 , As daily we see. But prayer with lips Where heart is away d Mat. 6.5. jam 1.6. , Returns into sin Their souls to destroy e Esay 59.2. Esay 1.15. jer. 5.25. Wisd. 14.9. Prou. 15.8. . Vale in Christo: Yours in all Christian affection, john Andrew's. The Author to the Reader. IT is well known (gentle Reader) unto many, besides my licence of absence, which I john Andrew's the Author of this work have to show, that by the handiwork of God, in sending contrary winds, I have lost to the value of threescore pounds by the year in spiritual livings within the Realm of Ireland, to the utter impoverishing of me, my wife and children for ever, except God in his mercy open the hearts of well disposed Gentlemen, and others, by their good liking of these my labours to relieve me in these my present wants, that thereby I may attain unto some better estate again. Wherefore I bestow this mite of my poor labours, called Andrew's Petition, upon you, in all dutiful manner, and with as tender affection as ever Nurse or Mother gave their breasts to their children, or the Pelican sucked the blood from her breast to feed and cherish her young, I do hereby kindly present the same, desiring almighty God that it may breathe out such sound and godly doctrine to your good liking in your heart, that it may become a special salve to cure and preserve your soul. Yours in all Christian duties to be commanded, john Andrew's. An humble Petition unto Almighty GOD. ALmighty a Gen. 17, ●. and most merciful God b Psal: 145.9. , Father c Esa. 63.16: and maker of all men d Gen. 5.1. , full of pity and compassion e Psa: 103.1. , rich unto all which call upon thee for mercy f Rome 10.12. , promising to hear my petitions g Psa, 50.15. Psal: 91.15. Psa: 145.18. john 16: 13. , that whensoever I shall ask any thing in thy name through faith, I shall obtain the same h Luke 11.9. Mat: 21.22. Mar: 11.24. jam. 1.5. Mat, 7.7: john 14.13. 1 Ioh: 3, 22. . Wherefore O Lord, I am emboldened to direct my humble i Psal. 29.23. Pro: 29.23. Pro: 22.4: jam. 4.6. , and unperfit k Psal. 130, 3 prayers unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee for thy Son jesus Christ his sake, to prepare my mind to prayer l psal. 119, 26, 27, 33, 34, 124 psal. 143, 10 , for I know not how to pray as I should m Rom. 8, 16 , but thou (O Lord) art ready to answer before I call: And while I pray thou wilt hear n Esay 65, 24 Mat. 6, 8 Psal. 145.19 1 pet. 3, 12 , and give me far more of thy comfortable mercies, to salve and cure my poor wounded soul, than I can either ask or desire o 1 Cor. 2, 9 . Oh therefore, I that am a miserable and wretched sinner, lift up my whole heart & hand unto thee p Lam. 3, 41 , desiring to come unto thee O Lord, even upon the multitude of thy mercies q psalm 5, 7 ; and with sighs, groans r psalm 38, 9 , & tears s psalm 142, 3 , prostrate myself upon my knees t psalm 42, 7 , wherewith in my humble u psalm 116, 58 james 4, 6 , and contrite heart * psalm 51, 17 I bewail my sins x psal. 28, 1, 2, 3 joel 1, 14, 19 , and openly confess them unto thee y psalm 32, 1 , O bountiful jesus, O sweet Saviour z Wisd. 16, 21 , O Christ the Son of God a Mat. 1, 7, 5 Mat. 3, 17 Coloss. 1, 23 Mark 5, 7 job 3, 16, 17 2 Pet. 1, 17 . Many and grievous are mine offences b Ezech. 18, 28 1 john 1, 9 Luke 15, 21 , and my transgressions infinite c psal. 40, 15 Manass. prayer : yea, I have spent the spring and prime of my years in the servitude of my sins, which have Dauid-like feasted upon beauty d 2 Sam. 11, 2 , and slept in security e Esay 47, 7 , until mine iniquity was ready to come to maturity f Luk. 12, 19, 20 . Yet O jesus, O sweet Saviour g Mark 10, 47 , O Christ the Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world h john 1, 29 , I here beseech thee, and from the tender bowels of my heart i psal. 42, 1, 2, 3 psalm 29, 1, 2 psalm 116, 4 entirely beg of thy most gracious and fatherly hands k judg. 10, 10 Esay 53, 16 Gal. 4, 5, 6 , that according unto the multitude of thy mercies thou wilt put away all mine offences l psalm 51, 1 psalm 145, 9 . And although I began to come to thee O Lord my God, for thy comfortable mercies m psalm 7, 1, 3 Exod. 15, 3 psalm 18, 1 psalm 99, 8, 9 , to save and cure my poor wounded and distressed soul n Psa. 41.4. , 1 Thess. 5.17 Col. 4.2. in the autumn, or declining of my age, in the evening of my days, at the very sun set of my life. Yet O sweet jesus, I beseech thee to bow down thy ears of pity o Psa. 36. Psa. 103.13. , & with thy tender eyes of mercy look back upon me p Psa, 11.5. Psa. 13.3. psa. 14.3. , as thou didst on the woman of Canaan q Mat: 15.28, , on the poor Publican r Lu. 18: 13, 14. , on Mary Magdalen s Luk: 7.44. , or on the penitent Thief, which came unto thee in his last hour t Luk, 13: 43. . For thou O Lord hast brought me home from Banishment u Heb. 11.13.16 , redeemed me from Bondage * Gal. 2: 4: Gal 5.1.13. , withdrawn me from punishment x Esa. 53.3.4. , written me upon thy hands y Esa: 49.16. , called me in thy name z Reu. 14: 1.11 Reu. 22.4. , and sealed me with thy own most precious blood a Reu. 7: 3. , and withal, thou hast covenanted b jer. 31.33 Heb. 10.16, 17 jer. 24.7. Heb. 80. Ezech 18.21, 22 Mal. 3.7 , and granted to forgive me all my sins, at what time soever I repented c Psal 25.21.22 , if I were never so weary and heavy laden d Mat. 11.28 , if they were as red as Scarlet, thou wilt make them as white as snow e Esay 1.18. , to forgive and forget them for ever. Although the mother forget her child, or the child his mother that bore him, yet thou (O Lord) hast promised never to forget those that forsake their sins, and come unto thee for mercy f Esay 49.15. . O therefore, sweet jesus g Wisd. 16.21. , I entirely beseech thee, that according unto thy freée promises h Eze. 18.21, 22 jer. 4.7. Eccl. 27, 22. , and according to thy most gracious Covenant i jer. 31.33. , thou wilt have mercy upon me, and cast me not away from thy presence k Psal. 5.23. , neither let my long continued sins (O Lord) cause thee to hide thy face from me l john 13.26. Psal. 13.1 . For here I bow the very knees of my heart unto thee O God, and kneel m Acts 21, 5 psalm 132, 7 before thy presence n Eccle. 17.23 , all naked o job 1, 21 , blind p 2 pet. 1, 9 , wounded q Luke 10, 30 , poor r 1 Tim. 6.7 , wretched, and miserable s Rom. 3, 10, 11 1 john 1, 8, 10 Gen. 8, 21 Reu. 18, 7 : having deserved many grievous torments, if thou shouldest enter into thy narrow judgement with me t psalm 41, 5 . But sweet Lord have compassion upon me u 2 Cor. 1, 21 , anoint my wounds x uke 10, 30 with the oil of thy mercy y Luke 10, 34 , restore my sight z Mat. 20, 23 , cloth my nakedness a job 1, 21 , every me that am poor, help me up that am weak: O bid me not farewell b Mat. 15, 31 psalm 6, 8 Mat. 7, 23 Luke 12, 27 . The infant overcometh his nurse with crying, the child his mother with weeping, the servant his master by entreating: O Lord my God c psalm 7, 1, 3 psalm 18, 1 , I beseech thee be thou also entreated, & bind up my wounds with the good Samaritan d Luke 10, 33 , which like botches, blains, and putrifying sores d Exod. 9, 10 , have many years laid rotting & stinking within me. O help me O Lord e 2 Chr. 14, 11 psalm 109, 26 psalm 57, 5 psalm 142, 8 , my life f job 5, 26, 40 Col. 3, 4 , lest I perish in my wickedness g psalm 94, 23 . Pour in, sweet jesus h Wisd. 16, 21 , the oil of thy mercy i Luke 10, 34 , and cause the sweet streams of thy pure water of life k psalm 36, 9 to flow out of thy clear and continual springing fountain l john 4, 14 , daily to be poured upon me m psalm 51, 2, 7 , that it may be comfortable to cool the heat of my thirsty n psalm 42, 1, 2 and hunger-starved soul, which continually thirsteth after thy mercies, and be medicinable to cure the spreading malady of Adam's fall, which infected my soul with the leprosy of sin o Titus 2, 14 1 john 9, 16 Luke 11, 7 2 Cor. 5, 15 Mat. 9, 13 : For I am like the wand'ring child that is not worthy to be called thy son: O make me one of thy meanest servants p Luke 1 15, . I am thy lost sheep, O seek and save me. And from the bottom of my heart, I cry with the Prophet David, O Lord have mercy upon me, and heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee r Mat. 17.6 . And as Manasses K. of juda, I confess my sins to be innumerable, but I beseech thee forgive me, O Lord forgive me, and cast me not away with my transgressions s Psal. 41.4. Manass. prayer : & as the poor Publican, I stand a far off t Luke 18.13 , & dare not lift up mine eyes to heaven, but smite my breast, crying, O God be merciful unto me a miserable and wretched sinner. And with the woman of Canaan, O jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me u Mat. 15.22. , O jesus of Nazareth x Mat. 26.71 Mar. 1.24. Mat. 10.40 , O fountain of mercy z Psal. 36.9. Acts 7.59. , receive thou my spirit a 2 Cor. 3.4. Cant. 2.6. , O my life take my soul b Psal. 4.4. , enter therein, O my joy c Prou 2.12. , that it may always joy in thee d Lam. 2.29. and give me an heart to think on thee e Mat. 14.21 , a mind that may love thee f Eccl. 23, 4 john 14, 6 , a soul that may remember thee g Psal. 27, 24 , and a reason that may always stick fast unto thee h Cant. 1, 6 , that then (O Christ) mayst dwell in my heart i Wisd. 16, 21 , and be the very life of my soul k Psal. 7, 1, 3 , whereby I may beheld the fair beauty of thee O Lord l Exod. 15, 2 , and make thee my chiefest delight m, my sweet solace n, my Lord God & the very glory of my soul o Psal. 62, 7 . For thou O Christ art my Saviour whom I will fear p Ecel. 34, 14 , my Lord whom I will praise q Psal. 35, 18 psal. 69, 30 , my God, whom I will worship r Deut. 6, 13 Mat. 4, 10 , my father whom I will honour s Esay 63, 16 Gal. 4.5, 6 , and my spouse, for whom I will keep myself t Mal. 1, 6 Deut. 5, 16 : Therefore O sweet jesus, I beseech thee cancel that great bill of my sin thou hast against me u Ephes. 5, 25 : for O Lord my God, I was sick, and knew it not, had ulcers running and felt it not x Psal. 99, 8 Exod. 15 2, psal. 18. psal. 7, 1, 2 , I was obdurate, and became as one that heard not. Custom in sin (O Lord) kept away all sense and feeling of sin: oft heard I thee inviting, & by thy holy Spirit inducing me to return with the Shulamite x Eccles. 18.10. , but (O Lord) I cried with the sluggard, Yet a little, and then a little a Prou. 6.10. , presuming on thy mercies, and deferring my repentance, which causeth my soul to bleed with grief thereof. Incline thine ears O Lord and hear b Esay 73.16. , open O Lord, thine eyes and see, behold O Lord, how I that ever have offended thee c Ezek. 2.3. , and never till now of late repent, I that have been a rebellious child, and seldom times given ear unto thy word, I that have deferred my repentance from day to day, am now come unto thee O Lord my God d Psal. 18.1. , with all humility c Prou. 29.23. , in my daily meditations f Psal. 1.2. Psal. 88.6. , beseeching thee O sweet jesus g Wisd. 15. , to be present with me at the very hour of my departure out of this world, and impart thy saving health unto me. O vanquish mine enemy, and purchase a triumph for me by thy most gracious victory: Oh hold him fast and bruise him in pieces h Reu. 20.23. , that he exercise not his devices upon me, but give me thy whole armour i Reu. 12.10. , O God, that like a right soldier, thou mayst make me able to resist my enemy in the evil day. Oh therefore sweet jesus k Ephes. 6.13▪ , whom my soul longeth for l Mark. 10.47. , let me see thee, O light of mine eyes m Ps. 42.12. . O come Lord jesus, come quickly n Re. 22.17.21 james. 1 17. , come jesus my Saviour o john 1.49. , my life p Ps. 3.20. , & my comfort q john 14.6: Eccles. 23.4. Col. 3.4. Psal. 42.8. : show me thyself, that thou mayst comfort me thy poor servant which putteth my whole confidence in thee r 2 Cor. 1.3. , O thou joy of my heart s psal. 86.4 , my sovereign delight t Psalm 119.11 Cant. 1, 6 , and my sweet solace u Wisd. 16, 21 . I beseech thee again and again to be with me at my departure out of this mortal life, at which time I humbly beseech thee even from the tender bowels of my heart, to refresh me with the sweet sight of thy cheerful countenance upon me x psalm 72, 4 , that I may in no wise despair nor depart from thee, but with exceeding joy desire thee who hast made me y psalm 100.3 Psalm 119, 73 , and never forsakest them that put their trust and confidence in thee z psalm 91, 9 , to receive my spirit a psalm 34, 22 : for I desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee O Christ b Acts 7, 59 , in thy heavenly kingdom with thine elect Angels c Mat. 12, 58. & blessed Saints for ever, where thou livest and raignest ever one GOD, world without end. Amen. The Praise of WISDOM. Proverbs Chap. 3. Blessed is the man that Wisdom finds, And he that doth obtain True Understanding, and thereof Doth know the precious gain: For better 'tis to get the same, Then silver ready told, And better profit it doth bring Then merchandise of gold. Wisdom doth precious stones exceed And all things else that are, There is nothing thou canst desire, To be compared to her. Upon her right hand is long life, Which never is bereft, Riches and honour do attend And wait upon the left. Her ways are passing pleasant ways, Her paths are full of rest, She is a tree of life to those Which her to seek are pressed. She is I say a tree of Life To such as on her hold, And such as always keep her fast, Are blessed manifold. My son let not these things depart, Nor from thine eye to pass: But keep my laws and counsels eke, And thou shalt find them grace Unto thy mouth, and to thy soul They shall be perfect life. So shalt thou safely walk the way Whereas there is no strife: Thy foot from stumbling so thou mayst At all times surely keep. When thou liest down thou needst not care, But rest and sweetly sleep: Thou shalt not need to be afraid Of any sudden fear, For violent force of wicked men Which chance, take thou no care. For violent rushing in of such As the ungodly are, Of them thou needst not to account, Nor let them not thee scare. For why, the Lord with thee shall be At hand, and keep thy foot, That by deceiving sleights of foes Thou never shalt be taken. THE AUTHOR to his Book. GO thou my Book with the zeal of my heart To all that shall come view thee: When thou hast passed from the Press, & art print Cry daily, Come peruse me: If that thou canst give to them all content, Then is my labour ended, Which is the thing that I have desired For my pains on thee spended. FINIS.