Prison Thoughts, WRITTEN BY Thom: Browning CITIYEN AND COOK OF LONDON. Who hath been a PRISONER in Ludgate, ever since the Twelveth day of August, 1680. Dum Spiro, Spero; in Deum, Adjutorem meum. London, Printed, and are to be Sold by the Author, in Ludgate (who is still a Prisoner there.) Anno 1682. To the Worshipful Geo. Dashwood, Esq Dame Margeret his Wife, the Lady Elizabeth Hare their Daughter; John Pery, Esq Mrs. Katherine Browning my Wife, where ever she is, and to all that are related to their Families, Grace and Peace. NOtwithstanding my many great Troubles, I have had some retired Thoughts in my Adolescens, which are here brought to public View, and do desire you to Patronise the same. If you and others shall find such benefit by reading them, as I have done by writing the same, my ends are answered. Time was, when I had no Thoughts of putting myself in Print, but, Necessitas non habet Legem. These are my first Fruits as an Offering to the World, which pray accept. I do intent another suddenly, which perhaps may be more acceptable, and sell better than this. My weak Endeavours shall not be any whit wanting therein. Who am Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant in the Lord, Thomas Browning. Nosse Teipsum. Vivat Rex, Curret Lex, Floret Grex. Finis Coronat Opus. A Copy of a Letter sent to my Wife; My Admiration, IN my Fifty Eighth Letter I sent you some Verses, and this is my Fifty Ninth, where you may find an Epistle, which pray peruse. It is in vain to expect any Approbation from you, having never yet received one Line in Writing from your Hand. And perceiving that you are resolved neither to see, nor send to me, I do think that this may be the last time that I may trouble you in Writing: only remember that you have abused, neglected, slighted, and rob a most Indulgent and loving Husband; for which I pray God to give you a hearty Repentance, before it be too late, and there be no means left to help yourself; as likewise all those who have unlawfully, and very maliciously advised against me without any Cause. And if you, or they have any Pretences, I do hereby dare either to make them known to me, or the World; assuring that mine shall shortly be made known in Print, with as much Severity as Truth will bear, who am still you Loving, though most Abused Husband, Thomas Browning. Prison Thoughts, &c, OH despised, despised, despised; rejected, rejected, rejected, and Destroyed by you, my own Dear Wife, whose Name is Katherine Browning; I pity, I pity, I pity, and shall not cease Praying for you Day and Night, that you may be converted: when you hear of browning's Death, occasioned by your means, you may shed a tear for him, if there be any Grace in you; none ought to despise their own Flesh; Whom God hath Joined together, let none put ader: And if you had not gone from me, you might have been Mistress of our Company; they have chosen an old Master this year in my stead. Take heed of these dreadful Sentences: You that are filthy, be filthy still. There remains no more Sacrifice for Sin, but a fearful looking for of Judgement, Fiery Indignation, and fierce Anger of the Lord: with a, Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire, prepared for Devils and Damned Spirits. From which Place, Good Lord deliver us. My Epistle gins: Few and evil have been the days of my Pilgrimage, I have had for Inheritance the Months of Vanity, and painful Nights have been appointed unto me; and do know that hereafter is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousiness, and not for me only, but for all them who love the appearance of the Lord Jesus: Therefore all the days of my Life will I wait as a Hireling till my Change shall come. For I desire to be Dissolved, and to be with Christ, and do long to remove out of the Body, to dwell with the Lord; For I do know that if this Earthly House of my Tabernacle were destroyed, I have a Bulilding given of God, that is a House not made with Hands, but Eternal in the Heavens: Therefore I sigh, desiring to be clothed with my House which is from Heaven: and I do hearty look for, and do hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all confidence Christ shall be magnified in my Body, whether it be by Life or Death, for whither I live, it is to the Lord, or whether I die, it is to the Lord, therefore whether I live or die, I am the Lords. To Him therefore be Praise and Glory for evermore. I have fought a good Fight, I have kept the Faith, and do know in whom I have Believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to his Charge: Against that Day, the Lord will quicken my mortal Body, and make it like to his own Glorious Body: Yea, though after my Skin, Worms destroy this Body, yet I shall see God in my Flesh, whom I myself shall see, and mine Eyes shall behold, and none other for me, though my Reins be consumed within me, therefore I willingly lay down my Life, and commit my Soul unto God, as unto my faithful Creator. How excellent is thy Mercy, O God, therefore do I trust under the Shadow of thy Wings. O blessed is the man whom thou dost choose, and causest to come unto thee; he shall dwell in thy Courts, and shall be satisfied with the Pleasures of thine House, even of thy Holy Temple, thou shalt give him drink out of the Rivers of thy Pleasures; for with thee is the Well of Life, and in thy Light shall we see Light; send me therefore thy Light and thy Truth, and let thy good Spirit lead me unto the Land of Righteousness. Carry me, O Lord, by thy Mercy, and bring me in thy Strength to thy Holy Habitation. Plant me in the Mountain of thine Inheritance, even in the Place which thou hast prepared, and the Sanctuary which thou hast Established, that I may see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. Let me behold thy Face in Righteousness, and let me be satisfied with thine Image, for in thy Presence is the Fullness of Joy, and at thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermore: Into thy Hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit, for thou hast Redeemed it, O Lord God of Truth. Lord Jesus receive my Spirit. The end of the upright man is Peace. As many as walk according to this Rule, Peace shall be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Now unto Him that is able to keep us, that we fall not, and to present us faultless before the Presence of his Glory with Joy, to God only-wise be Glory, Majesty, Dominion, and Power, both now and ever, ever, ever, Amen. Ludgate, The 12th of April, 1682. For my most Esteemed Mistress Katherine Browning, These. This was sent to her Aunt Madam Margaret Dashwood by the hand of Mr. Joseph Steed, her Nephew, to be conveyed as is Directed. SHall there be nothing left me but a Grave? Shall I at last no other Dwelling have? Oh let not Flesh and Blood take note of this, For if She do, 'twill poison all her Bliss. Can She but meditate on such a thing, She would have little cause to laugh or sing; It is a Death to her to think of Death, How she shall rot, and lose her loved Breath. Yet the great Jew that wisely could descry What things were not, and what were vanity, What pleased the Soul, and what the Flesh did pain, Did never think the thought of this was vain. Then let my Soul, though Flesh and Blood, repine, Ponder on that, shall make them both Divine; But why, O foolish Flesh, shak'st thou at this, Shrinkest thou from that which thy best Physic is, Thou art Earth born, from it thou didst descend, And here grown Sick, thou canst not easily mend, Till t'ward thy Native Country thou repair; And draw thy Meditations that cold Air. Change but this Air, and think upon thy End, Thy Sin will lessen, and thy Soul will mend. For as at Sea, when Clouds put out the Stars, When Winds from Heaven, and Waves from Earth make Wars, And mad brained Sailors all the Decks o'er whelm, The sadly sitting at the Helm, Better directs the Ship where it should go, Than all their wild Endeavours can: even so When through the World's dark Storms we send, One quiet Pilot sitting at the End: One thought of Death our Course more right doth guide, Than all the vain Works of our Life beside. These thoughts will make those which our Souls blood quaff, Like Horseleeches strowed over with Dust, fall off. If then to think of Death be so, Oh why Should any think it is not good to die? That of all things that Mortals fear and shun, Doth hurt or grieve us lest when it is done: This it the Port, this is Sins perfect Cure, Till our Grave cover us, we ne'er are sure▪ This only last remains, thither let's hast, Since Flesh and Blood still longs to know what's last: It ever hath belonged to Mortal Wights, That several Heads take several Delights, Some unto good, and some to bad have will, But leaving that which I delight in: ill. I joy in three which few can discommend, And most desire next to a constant Friend; And these are they that draw me most along, A well writ Book, a Picture, and a Song; But as for Wealth, in which most take delight, I get it not, nor of it do I write; But of those things endeavour brought me to, I somewhat know, and somewhat I can do, And these I love, and they do love to be With such as love and seek their company: But will they stay with me, Oh no, alas, They were beloved long time before I was: And when their Lovers died, they'd shroud and spread, Nor will they go with me when I am dead: Some Learned Friend perhaps may on my Hearse Scatter some Lines, and strew the Cloth with Verse; Painting perchance may gild some Flag or Banner, And stick it on my Coffin for mine Honour; Music may sing my Dirge, and tell all Ears I loved that Art which now their Senses hears. And when 'tis done, and I no more can have, Nothing will tarry with me but the Grave: And 'tis most just, for here I did receive them, I found them when I came, and here I leave them. But will the things I want, and others have Accompany their Owners to the Grave? Will Beauty go; and strength in Death appear, Will Honour, or proud Riches tarry there? They all say, nay, for let grim Death draw near, Beauty looks pale, and Strength doth faint for fear: there's little Lust or Pride in naked Bones, And Honour sits on Cushions, not cold Stones; Nay, ask our Friends, that when we are in Health, Would die for love of us, or for our Wealth. Mark what they set their Hands to, view it well, Your Friend till Death, but once being dead, far well. Nought then will tarry but the Grave, for note, How of a man new dead men talk by Rote; This was his Wife, saith one, this was his Land. This was his Friend, that was his Building, and This was his Wealth, that his chiefest Bliss, And thus they talk a while of what was his: But walk the Churchyard, and thou shalt have Report, till Doomsday, say, this is his Grave: If Kings and Queens then can no more procure, Nought but my Grave will tarry with me sure. Why therefore should I strive to get such Things. Since what the World contains no Surety brings, Like men that clasp at Spirits, catch the Air, So while we look after the things seem fair, And gripe at all the World to serve our Lust, It through our Finger's slips, and leaves but dust; Yet still the nearer Death we grow in Years, This scraping Humour in us more appears, And drowns not till we sink, so must it be, For dying men will grasp at all they see While they can see, when Sense fails, farewell all, The World's too heavy, than they let it fall. Though we are born clutch-fisted, when we die We spread our Palms, and let them slip by; And then when nothing else will with us stay, We must ourselves remain with Earth and Clay; Since all I want here, God gives, and I have, What can I more expect now but my Grave? Here must we be, and where else shall we rest? Is not a man's own House, to sleep in, best? If this be all our House, they are to blame, That brag of the great Houses whence they came; And evermore their Speech they interlace, I and my Father's House, Alas! Alas! What is my Father's House, and what am I▪ My Father's House is Earth, where I must lie, And I a Worm, no man, that fit no room, Till like a Worm I crawl into my Tomb This is my Dwelling, this my truest home, A House of Clay best fits a House of Lome; Nay 'tis my House, for I perceive I have In all my Life, ne'er dwelled out of a Grave; The Womb was first my Grave, whence since I risen My Body Grave-like doth my Soul enclose, Dying each Night, lies buried in my Bed, My Body like a Corpse with Sheets o'erspread, O'er which my spreading Teastures large extent, Born up with Antiques, makes my Monument; And o'er my head perchance such things may stand, When I am quite run out in Dust and Sand; My close low builded Chamber to my Eye, Like to a Chapel shows, wherein I lie, While at my Window pretty Birds do ring My Knell, and with their Notes my Obits sing: Thus when the days vain toil my Soul hath weared I in my Body, Bed, and House, lie buried. Then have I little cause to fear my Tomb, When this wherein I live is my Grave become; Nay, we do not only ourselves entomb, But make for others, Graves in our own Womb, Creatures of Sea and Land we in them bury, And at their Funerals are blithe and merry, Who groan to serve us thus, and die unwilling, How can we then live long, who live by killing? Methinks we should neither eat nor drink, But straight to dig our Graves we should bethink; For since by their dead Bodies we are fed, I wonder all this while we are not dead: It is an old said Law, yet still in request, When Belly is full, than Bones would be at rest. Well, have we fed the Flesh? and from Sins Cup, Have drunk Iniquity like water up; The Creatures we have eaten flayed and shorn, The Fruits from Earth to feed us, we have torn. Are we not satisfied, Oh sure 'tis best, That after all we get our Bones to rest, And no where can the Flesh true slumber have, But in our truest home, our homely Grave; There we sleep sound, there let the Tempests roar, The World's proud Waves shall dash on us no more we're all deluded, vainly searching ways, To make us happy by the length of days: For cunningly to makes protract this breath, The Gods conceal the happiness of Death; We are at home, and safe, whatever comes, Let them fight on, we shall not hear their Drums; Let those be doted on, now love, or hate, It shall not grieve us, though they prove ingrate; Yea, let them praise, or rule, we lie aloof Out of their reach, our sleep is Cannon proof; And we but sleep, for as we close our eyes, Each night we go to Bed in hopes to rise; So do we die, for when the Trump doth blow, We shall as easily awake we know, And as we after sleep, our Bodies find More fresh in strength, and cheerfully inclined; So after Death, our Flesh here dead and dried, Shall rise Immortal, new and purified; If this be true, why make we no more haste, 'Tis time to sleep, day fails, Night draws on fast, Let's get us home, for as the Evening Sun, Looking us in the face when day is done Makes us cast longer Shadows, so when Death Looks in our face through Age and claims our Breath, We cast his shadow long off from our sight, Yet may we know right well 'tis almost night, And when we see night come in frowning Skies, What man will not go home, if he be wise? Here let him come, this House is of such fashion, The Tenant ne'er shall pay for Reparation, There shall the Due not wet him, Cold not harm him, There shall no Summer weather over warm him. From thence he'll find, when thither he is gone, A private Walk to Heaven for 'mself alone: Why do we not then go? Are Flesh and Blood The hinderers that clog us from our Good? Oh! rye thyself at home, and cast off those, What wise man ever went to bed in's ? Shall we that know how after this Life ends, An Everlasting one for us attends, Grieve to lay down these rags for Earth to keep, That we a while may take a nap of Sleep. Then were we worse than children: for but say, That they to morrow shall have Holiday, They'll straight to bed, and put off all Apparel: Then cease, my Flesh, with Heaven's Decree to quarrel, And with these words reduce thy Thoughts that come, He that dies first, shall only first go home; But when thy Flesh hither to thee prepares, Say, as when thou goest to bed, thy Prayers; Since he most oft forgets himself in Death, That thinks not of his God that gives him breath; Invoke his Mercy thy rest thou take, For as thou fallest asleep, so shalt thou wake; This House, of which before we have been telling, Is but a sleeping Chamber, not a Dwelling: For when thou wakest, this House no more shall hold thee, But that whereof the blessed Apostle told thee, Saying, If this our earthly House shall once decay, We have a House not made by hands with Clay, But in the Heavens. Eternal blessed is he, Whom thou, O Lord, admittest there to be, He 〈…〉 thy Courts shall dwell, thy Temple's store Shall in thy House fill him for evermore; But stay, my Soul, thou canst not yet come thither, Thy Wings are clogged, and thou more strength must gather; Mean time till from the Earth thou gettest free scope, Even in thy Grave thy Flesh shall rest in Hope. Meditations on Sleep. THe Night is come like to the Day, Depart not thou, great God away; Let not my sins, black as the Night, Eclipse the lustre of thy Light; Keep still in my Horizon, for to me The Sun makes not the Day, but thee; Thou whose Nature cannot sleep, On my Temple's Centinel keep, Guard me against those watchful Foes, Whose Eyes are open while mine close, Let no Dreams my Head infest, But such as jacob's Temples blest; Whilst I do rest, my Soul advance, And make my rest an holy Trance, That I may, my rest being wrought, Be waked into some holy thought, And with an active vigour run My Course, as doth the nimble Sun; Sleep is a Death, Oh make me try, By sleeping, what it is to die; And as gently lay my head On my Grave, as now my Bed; How ere I rest, great God, let me Awake again at last with thee; And thus assured, behold I lie Securely whether to wake, or die; These are my drowsy Days, in vain I do now wake to sleep again: Oh come that hour, when I shall never Sleep no more, but wake for ever. Thus shall I take leave of the Sun, Desiring sleep till th' Resurrection. Against Drowziness. Permit not sluggish sleep To close your waking Eye, Till you with Judgement deep Your daily Actions try; He that his sins as Darlings keeps, When he to quiet goes, More desperate is, than he that sleeps Among his mortal Foes; At Night lie down prepared to have Thy sleep thy Death, thy Bed thy Grave, On Patience. Patience is the Poor man's Walk, Patience is the Dumb man's Talk, Patience is the Lame man's Thighs, Patience is the Blind man's Eyes. Patience is the Poor man's ditty. Patience is the Exiled man's City. Patience the sick man's Bed of Down. Patience is the Wise man Crown. Patience is the live man's Story. Patience is the dead man's Glory. When your Troubles do control, In Patience possess your Soul. FFormerly, when I have seriously thought and remembered my Vow in Baptism, it hath made me courageous to fight against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, which hath made me often take up Resolutions, that I would scorn to be a Coward: but as Fools make a mock at Sin, so have I deceived myself by too eager pursuing Worldly Vanities, thinking to have found undermoon Comforts, till I found myself beset with Snares, and that there were bitter things written against me, which pierced me with sorrows, and I was almost in despair, had I not been sustained with these Comforts following, which hath since much refreshed me, and vanquished the Tempter, so that now I do rejoice in God my Saviour, and the Lord hath thus spoken. Oh my Beloved, why fearest thou, and art so cast down, and disquieted within thyself? Dost thou well to be angry with my Chastisements? And why art thou offended that I should make thee like myself? Causing thee to walk in the way of inward and outward Griefs, which I did tread before thee. Why refusest thou to take up my Cross and follow me, and to taste of that Cup which I drank before, and for thee? (The Soul) Oh Lord, give me of thy Spirit, and all trouble with thee, or for thee, shall be sweet unto me. What ever thou didst, Oh Lord, it was for me; and if I were so disposed, as I should, then would I be content to bear all that thou my God shouldst be pleased to lay upon me. But alas! it is my cursed Corruptions that makes me think thy Cross my Burden. Lord therefore uphold me by thy Grace, that I may count thy Yoke easy, and find joy in these Sufferings with thee. The lord I know the Cause of thy Grief and Terror to be the Consideration of thy Sins. But I pray thee, Why lookest thou so to thy Sins, that thou lookest not to my Mercies? Why wouldst thou so extol thy evil Deeds, that thou shouldst extenuate my rich Mercies, or any way compare the one with the other? Was it for thy good Deeds that I did first enter into Friendship with thee? And thinkest thou now that for thy evil Deeds I will utterly forsake thee? Seeing it is among my Praises, that the Work which I have begun, I will perfect it. I like it well indeed, to see thee grieved for the Sins thou hast committed against me: But I would also have thee comforted in the Mercies that I have showed thee: Call to mind my Works of old, & what I have done to thee since thou canst remember. How cared I for thee in thy young and tender Years? Look back now and see. Did not the Angel of my Presence lead thee when thou hadst no wisdom nor strength to govern thee? Did not I then begin to acquaint thee with the Knowledge and Fear of my Name? Canst thou deny now that my Mercy preserved thee from many Sins whereunto thy Nature was prone, and ready to have declined? And when thou sinnedst, with what long patience have I waited thy turning, and how lovingly have I winked at thy Transgressions? And when I had given thee Grace to repent of thy Sins, and to seek for my Favour and Mercy for the Sins of thy youth, with a melting heart and a mourning eye. Canst thou deny that I have filled thy Heart with my Joys, and made thy tongue to burst out in singing and glorying Speeches? And why then wilt thou not trust in my Mercies to the end? (The Soul) I were, O Lord, most unthankful if I should not confess, that many a time in the multitude of my thoughts, thy Mercies have comforted me. But alas! I have not answered thy Loving Kindness; for after many Mercies received, I have sinned against thee contrary to my Light; and my sins are now before me, witnessing that I am unworthy to taste of the sweetness of thy Mercies any more. (The Lord) Is my Mercy only for a Day, or a Year? Or is it for ever and ever towards those that I have made mine in Christ Jesus? Wilt thou restrain my Mercies, and limit them within thy narrow Bounds, as to think they cannot be extended over all thy Transgressions? Wilt thou measure my Mercies with so narrow a span, as to think that I have no more to give than thou hast to receive. Is it not among my Praises, That I am able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that my Children can ask, or think, of me. Knowest thou not, that as the Heavens are above the Earth, so are my Thoughts above thine? Hast thou not considered that my Mercy is above all my Works? How much more than is it above thee, who art nothing in comparison of my mighty Works? And if it be above thee, how much more above all thou canst do. Why then wilt thou match thy Sins with my Mercies? If I require such Mercy in my Children, that I will have them to forgive one another, not only seven times, but seventy times seven times. What pity, compassion, and readiness to forgive is in myself. Therefore my Beloved, despair not for the multitude of thy Sins; but be comforted with my Promises of Mercy. I have made them without Exceptions of Sins: For albeit they were Sins of Scarlet, they shall be made white as Wool. I have made them without exception of Persons. For whosoever shall departed from his Wickedness and turn to me, I will receive him. Let this threefold Universality of my Promises sustain thee, that thy Infidelity contract not my Mercy into narrower bounds than I have extended them. (The Soul) Be merciful, O Lord to my Infidelity. I believe in part, Lord, help my Unbelief. Establish and confirm my unstable heart with thy good Spirit. My Conscience doth in such sort condemn me, that I stand in fear of thy Justice; for thou art greater than my Conscience, and wilt much more condemn me, if thou dost enter into Judgement with me. (The Lord) Oh my Beloved, consider that the Cause of thy present unquietness is, because with the one Eye thou lookest to thy Sins, and my Father's Justice, and with thy other Eye lookest not to me, in whom his Justice is satisfied, and thy Sins punished already. Tell me, I pray thee, Thinkest thou in thyself, to get such a Holiness of thy Disposition, that which shall exempt thee from the Fear of his Justice? Or art thou content to seek it in me? If in thyself thou seekest it, remember what thou art doing. Wilt thou have the Lord bound and obliged to thee? Wilt thou be thy own Saviour? Or shall it be said, His Mercy Saved thee not. If no misery were in thee, whereupon should his Mercy be manifested? And if thy disposition in the Earth be such as it should be, than what remains, but that the Praise of his Mercy should fall to the ground. Turn thee therefore to me, and seek thy Life in me. If thou wilt know what is thine, thou art a Sinner. Let my Praise be reserved to myself. I am thy Saviour. Esteemest thou that my words are ineffectual, or that there is no force in my Suffering. Countest thou thy Sins so deadly, that my Merit & Virtue cannot cure them: Will a Physician pour out a rare Ointment either where no need it, or where it cannot profit: and thinkest thou that my Father would have my Blood to be shed in vain. If his Justice terrifies thee, remember his Justice was satisfied in me, and that he pronounceth this Sentence Himself; This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. I came into the W●●ld, not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Tarry not from me because thou art a Sinner, but for that Cause come unto me, & I will refresh thee (The Soul) Oh Lord, I know there is a cleansing and reco●●ding Virtue in thy Blood. That Life is in thy Death. But ●●●ll I fear my Sins deserve that thou shouldst never apply thy Virtue, nor thy Merits to me: for alas, I find that the Old man is lively and strong in me; and that the motions of Sin have power in me to bring forth Fruits unto Death. (The Lord) Be not I pray thee injurious to thyself in the work of my Grace in thee; Complain not of thy Corruptions. But that thou mayst give unto me my own praise. Canst thou deny but thou hast felt my Power working in thy Soul? Have I no● sprinkled thy Conscience many times with the purifying and pacifying Blood of Christ, from which hath flowed to thee such a witnessing of good things, such a sense of Mercies, as for the time hath filled thy heart with Joys, & thy mouth with Songs of Praise? Have I not stirred thee up sometimes with great fervency to call upon the Name of the Lord? Have I not made thee to give Christ's Name a public Testimony with thine own disadvantage? And how often hath thy heart been effectually moved at the hearing of my Word, in such sort, that it wrought in thee a holy Remorse, and an inward Contrition for Sin, which hath broken out into tears? Have I not made thee to wrestle against thine inordinate Lusts? Have I not given thee Strength many a time to stand against Satan's Temptations? Whereas if I had left thee to thyself, how often hadst thou been made a Prey to thine Enemy? Remember'st thou not that the Tempter hath often assaulted thee? But I have withdrawn the occasion of Sin: and when the occasion hath served, did I not restrain and hold back the Tempter? Yea, when both the occasion and Tempter were present, have I not filled thy heart with the Fear and Love of my Name, and so kept thee from sinning against me? And whereas many times of thy weakness thou hast offended, Did not I with a melting heart and mourning eye raise thee again, and renew my former familiarity with thee? So that thou canst never say, from the first hour that I begun to renew thee, that I have suffered thee to lie in thy Sin, as I have done others that are S●rangers to my Grace; and many notable Effects of my working in thee, thou canst not deny. Are not these the undoubted Tokens of my Grace in thee? Will Nature do such things? Mayst thou not feel by these, that I have begun to apply to thee Christ's Merits for the Remission of thy Sins, and Christ's Virtue for quickening thee to a new Life? Therefore think of thyself as barely as thou wilt; but let the Work of my Grace be esteemed by thee according to the excellency of it. Be humble and cast down when thou lookest on thine own corruption. I find no fault with thee, but I rejoice and am glad of the new Workmanship which I have begun in thee. Indeed if there were nothing in thee but that which thou hast by nature, thy state were very miserable: but seeing thou findest a new Workmanship in thee, be comforted. Art thou in Darkness, that there is no Light in thee? Or doth Sin possess thee, that besides it, also there is not a Will in thee to do Good, and a Love to Righteousness. If thou sayest that thou hast no Sin in thee, thou art a Liar. And if thou sayest thou hast no other thing in thee but Sin, thou art also a Liar. And thinkest thou that seeing I have begun to translate thee into my Light, and to make thee a new Creature, thinkest thou that I will leave thee till I have done, till I have done my Work in thee. Therefore my Beloved give not such ear to Satan and thy own Corruptions, as to take this Testimony against me, or make thee think that my Pledges which I have given thee, are not worthy of Credit, that by them thou shouldst be assured of my Mercy. (The Soul) I cannot deny, O Lord, but that many times I have felt the sweetness of thy heavenly Consolations, which have greatly rejoiced my Soul. But alas! my grief is so much the more, that by my own Defaults I should now be deprived of them: for I have grieved thy Holy Spirit; yea, I have done what I could to quench him, and therefore it is, that the Comforter who was wont to refresh my Soul, is away, nor can I feel his Presence with me as before. (The Lord) Because I am not changed, therefore it is that ye, O Sons of Jacob, are not consumed: many are the Changes indeed whereunto you are subject, but I remain the same, and there is no shadow of alteration with me. Be not therefore afraid, O my Beloved, neither esteem thyself to be rejected of me; albeit that sometimes I hid my face from thee. All my ways are Mercy and Truth to mine. It is for thee that sometimes I go from thee, and it is for thee that again I do return unto thee: for if I come, it is for thy Consolation, that continual heaviness should not oppress thee by thy manifold Temptations. How often hast thou found this when thou wert sick of Love: I have strengthened thee with Flagons of my own, and comforted thee wi●● my Apples: my Fruit hath been sweet in thy mouth, and I ●a● put my Lefthand under thy Head, and with my Right-hand I have embraced thee. But least the greatness of my Consolations should exalt thee to disdain thy Brother, and offend me, by imputing that to thy own disposition, which thou hast of my Dispensation, I have again withdrawn these glorious feelings from thee; give me the Praise, that I know best what is expedient for thee. Had my Servant St. Paul need to be humbled with the Buffets of Satan, lest he should be exalted above measure by the greatness of his Revelations? And hast not thou need, that by thy inward Exercises I should hold thee humble? If my Comforts were always present with thee, thou wouldst think thy Heaven, thy permanent City, were here on Earth, and so cease to inquire for a better to come; thou wouldst take the place of thy Banishment for thy Home, and thy Earnest for thy Principal Sum which I have promised thee. Consider this wisely with thyself, and albeit I laugh not alike on thee at all times, and fill thee not always with Joys, yet I always love thee; for whom I love, it is to the end; If I close the Door of my Chamber upon thee, it is not to hold thee out, but to leave thee to knock: If I cover myself with my Veils, that thou canst not see a glance of my Countenance, it is only to stir thee up to seek me: and if sometimes I seem to go from thee, it is to provoke thee to follow me, that thou mayst make haste from Earth to Heaven, where thou shalt enjoy me without Intermission. Was Joseph so wise, as to conceal his tender Affections from his Brethren, till he had brought them to an humble acknowledgement of their Sin: and was he again so loving, that when he saw them humbled, his Affections were inflamed, and compelled him to reveal himself unto them. And thinkest thou that I am less wise and loving in dealing with mine. I gave at first, sharp Answers to the Petitions of that Woman of Canaan; and so will I sometimes seem to deal roughly with those whom I love, and to be angry even with their Prayers, but in the end I will make my Love manifest to them, and with my endless Mercies embrace them. (The Soul) Suffer me once again, Lord to speak, that thou mayst answer me, and I shall complain no more. If we saw that such were our Dispositions, as thy most Holy Word doth require in us, than should thy Comforts rejoice us. But alas! How far am I from that which I should be; my strength is enfeebled, therefore do my inordinate Affections oftentimes overcharge me. If I turn me to pray, I cannot for the hardness of my heart: the contrite Spirit, the melting heart, and mourning Eye are gone from me: If I seek Comfort in thy Word, I find it not; I am troubled also with doubtings, Armies of Fears and Terrors are against me, and all through the weakness of my Faith, and partly for want of that Light which should inform me, my Infidelity abateth me, to think that thy Visitations came from thine anger, and causeth me to answer the Errors of my Conscience as if they were just Accusations, and partly for want of that apprehending and applying Virtue that is in Faith: I am spoiled of my Comfort that thy Word hath offered unto me. Therefore, O Lord, have pity on the desolate State of my poor Soul. (The Lord) Let not, my Beloved, the consideration of thy Wants, Defects, and Imperfections discourage thee; remember that the measure of my Grace which I have given to my Saints upon Earth, I have called it an Earnest-Penny, and First Fruits of the Spirit, to tell them, that what ever Grace they have gotten, it is nothing in comparison of that which they will get: seek not that therefore in Earth which I have resolved no ways to give it thee, till thou dost come to Heaven. Thy Blessedness in this Life stands not in a satiety and full enjoying of that which thou wouldst have in a hungering and thirsting for it. If I had pronounced them happy and blessed, that are now satisfied with righteousness, than thy wants might have most justly discouraged thee; but I called them blessed that hunger. If thou therefore dost follow after Sanctification, and art weary of the servitude of thy sins; if thou shouldst seek comfort in my Word, and couldst sinned none of these at the first as thou wouldst; yet remember that I have promised to fulfil the Desires of those that fear me: if it doth grieve thee that thou canst not pray at all times alike, remember that my Children are often times ill Judges of themselves, and that their Estate is not always to be measured by their feeling; for many Prayers may be made by them to me by my Spirit, with sighs and sobs that they themselves are not able to express, yet are known to me, and are like loud crying Voices, which I cannot but answer. (The Soul) Oh my Soul, content thee with the Lords Dispensations, and doubt not but all thy Wants and Desires that are holy shall once be satisfied, remember how careful thy Saviour was of the People that followed him; I have compassion (saith he) on these People, because they have nothing to eat, they have continued with me already three days, I will not let them departed fasting, lest they faint by the way. O most sweet and comfortable Speeches, they seek not from him, and he is careful to give them. If he was so careful to satisfy their bodily Necessities, will be neglect the Spiritual Necessities of his own chosen Ones: they followed him three days, and he counted it a long time; they are to go from Him, and he feareth lest they should faint. Oh my distrustful Soul, wilt thou once learn to trust in the Mercies of thy God assuredly? Will not he satiate thee who seeks Him? Will not he answer thee who cries unto Him? Will he not care for thee who hast waited upon Him, not only three days, but many Years? And will he let thee faint in following of Him, who would not let them faint in going from Him. O sweet Savour! happy are those that trust in thee: Lord, therefore inerease my Faith in thee, that nothing may ever be able to sunder me from thee. (The Lord) As for the weakness of thy Faith, which I see is the ground of all thy trouble, it proceedeth either from the want of knowledge, or else from the want of Application. It is indeed a special benefit to have the Mind enlightened with true Light: seek therefore my Light to shine into thee, by continual Prayer, and searching the Scriptures, that thou be not troubled with the Error of Conscience, as if it were a just Accusation: I have set Conscience indeed to be a Warner unto thee, but then shalt thou take heed to her Warnings, when they are warranted by my Word: if the error of Conscience terrify thee in any thing, and make thee think that thy Crosses and Visitations do come from mine anger, go and inform Conscience better by my Word: remember, Whom I chastise, I love. And when I chastise thee, I am not seeking satisfaction to my Justice, what marvel, such Thoughts disquiet many. Consider, I pray thee, that notable Promise of mine made to my Servant David, and in him, to all the rest of my Saints; If they break my Statutes, I will visit their Transgressions with Rods, yet my Loving Kindness will I not take from them, neither alter my Covenant for ever. (The Soul) Oh Word full of Comfort, my Soul, forget it never; that when his Rods are laid upon thee, yet his Loving Kindness is not taken from thee, and though thy Transgressions be many, yet will he not alter his Covenant with thee: remember it, I say, that it thy trouble thou give no more place to the Misconceptions of God's Workings with thee, as Godly Job thought in his trouble, that the Lord was pursuing him for his Sins, and made him possess the Iniquities of his Youth; which as yet appears by the Course of that History, was not the Lord's Intention. So have I thought many times, that the heavy Hand of the Lord laid on me, had proceeded from his Wrath, as if he had shut up his Mercy in displeasure for ever: but Lord, let thy Mercy and Light abide with me, that I sin no more with such distrustful Motions against thee: and now Lord, speak on further to thy Servant, for thy Comforts have refreshed me, and rejoyeed my Soul. (The Lord) As for the weakness of thy Faith, which I see is the ground of all thy trouble, it proceedeth either from the want of Knowledge, or else from the want of Application. It is indeed a special benefit to have the Mind enlightened with true Light; seek therefore my Light to shine into thee by continual Prayer, and searching of the Scriptures, that thou be not troubled with the error of Conscience, as if it were a just Accusation. Now concerning the weakness of thy Faith in the Apprehension and Application of my Promises: remember that I am He, that Will not break the bruised Reed, nor quench the smoking Flax. What smaller thing is there than a grain of Mustardseed? Albeit if the measure of thy Faith were no more, yet have I not excluded it from the participation of my Promises. A loving Father will delight to be holden by the hand of his Children; and knowest thou not, that as a Father spareth his Son, so will the Lord spare them that fear Him. Hast thou not read, that although the Faith of my Servant Jacob was very weak, as thou mayst perceive by the great fear he conceived of his Brother Esau; yet his weak Faith was able to hold me till I blessed him. Be not therefore discouraged; for although thou canst not lay hold of me by the hand of strong Faith, if thou canst but touch the Hem of my Garment with thy finger, thou shalt draw virtue out of me. Consider also with thyself, that the Faith of my Children is never greater, than when their feeling is weakest, and lest perceived. It is easy for every one to believe in the midst of great Feelings, and unspeakable Joys: but when a man can feel no sensible Comfort in me, and yet believe and trust in me, and still believe and wait on me for Comfort, certainly the Faith of that man is great: and such was the Faith of my Servant, who in his greatest troubles gave me this answer, Albeit thou shouldst slay me, O Lord, yet both against Sense and Feeling will I trust in thee. And did not also that Woman of Canaan, with an invincible Faith cleave to my Mercy, even then when she had no feeling of Mercy; and I gave her no favourable answer? For which, in the end, I called her Faith a great Faith. (The Soul) O my Saviour, thou art the Strength whereby I stand in Temptations. Cursed be he that would make my Soul to conceive wrongfully of thee. Be merciful, O Lord unto me, and never let the malice of my Enemies prevail over me. Sweet Jesus, keep the Heart that through thy own Grace would fain keep thee. And now, my Soul, remember, that this is but the time of Fight; the time of Triumphing will come. Why then shall the continuance of these restless Assaults disquiet thee? If thou hadst never been Victorious but once in all thy Life time, yet what Mercy had it been, that the Lord in the midst of the Battle should make thee to Triumph. But thou canst not deny but that many joyful Victories now, and before hath the Lord given thee? Therefore, my Soul, rejoice and return to thy former rest, for the Mighty God hath been beneficial unto thee: and account every one of these Temporal Victories to be a Pledge to thee of the full and final Victory that once thou shalt enjoy over all thine Enemies, when the God of Peace shall tread Satan under thy Feet. O Lord, if such Comforts be in the Cross, what is in the Crown? And if thou givest us such Joy when thou takest us into thy Hand to correct us with thy Rod, Lord, what wilt thou make us to find when thou shalt embrace us in thy Arms, and kiss us with the Kisses of thy Mouth? Oh that these Feelings might ever abide with me. What trouble would not be easy, when thy Comforts are present? Surely, O Lord, all trouble vanisheth so soon as thou dost begin to glace upon my Soul. Therefore, O my Love, my Light, my Life, my Joy, my Crown, my Glory, my Strength, my Help in time of need, stand thou on my side, and I will not fear what mine Enemies can do unto me. O happy time, that I ever knew thee: blessed be the Name of the Lord for evermore: O Enemy Satan, albeit thy Enmity be trouble some unto me, yet I thank my God through Jesus Christ, that thou art against me, and that he hath put me in the Warfare to fight against thee; when I consider that in Paradise the Lord proclaimed irreconciliable Enmity between thee and my Blessed Saviour, the Seed of the Woman, Christ Jesus, I account my Hope happy, that thou art against me, and that Grace is given unto me to fight against thee; for thereby I know that I am none of thine: but I do stand on that Side whereof Christ is the Captain, all his Saints are Soldiers, and the Victory is most certain. O deceitful Serpent, if I have found such Error arising of those Sins which foolishly I did by thy Enticements, what should I have found if I had followed thee in all the rest? From which the Lords preventing Mercy did keep me. I have learned by Experience, that thou art a faithless false Traitor, thou dost tempt a man to Sin, and then for the same Sin that he did by thy Instigation, thou art the first that doth accuse him. The Lord confirm this good Purpose of my Heart, that I never hearken any more to thy lying Words, and suffer not my Soul to be circumvented by thy lying Snares, which are deceitful. And as for the Work of my Salvation, seeing it is a Work that my God will work in despite of thee, wherefore shall I regard thy Testimony. Thou didst put in question, Whether my Saviour were the Son of God? And what marvel if thou dost say to his Children, that they are none of his. Is there any Truth so undoubted, but thou darest deny it at any time? Why shall I therefore at any time enter into a disputing with thee any more? My Salvation standeth not in thy questioning, nor in my answering, but in the Lords unchangeable Decree of Election: if thou shouldst speak for me, yet should I not be the better; neither if thou speakest against me, am I the worse. When thou didst confess that Jesus was the Son of God, he rebuked thee, and thought it not Honour to Him for to have thy Testimony. When thou didst cry out, that Paul and Silas were the Servants of the Most High God, albeit thou spakest the Truth, yet did they not accept of thy Testimony. So although thou wouldst say to me, that I am not the Elect Child of God, shall I think myself ever the more unsure for that: and if on the contrary, thou shouldst deny it, I am therefore the more sure of my Salvation. Speak what thou wilt, thou art always a Liar, like thyself, as thou hast been from the Beginning. Cursed of the Lord art thou in all thy ways, and with all thy Confederates. Cursed are all they that are in Friendship with thee. And Blessed for ever be the Lord, who hath delivered me from all thy Deceit and Tyranny. Blessed be thou, O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to visit the base Estate of thy Servant, to sucoour me in my distress, and to comfort me with thy Mercies, Lord, evermore feed me with this Manna, and refresh me with the Springs of the Water of Life: show at all times some of thy Mercy to me, that my Enemy Satan, who laboureth to disquiet me, may be ashamed, because thou art with me always to secure me. If ye will mark and consider, you shall find that the Children of God, in all their Temptations, are not so much Doers with their Will, as Sufferers against their Will: this Cogitation coming in my Mind, suddenly Comfort did spring in the midst of my Trouble; God giving me Grace to understand that these Motions wherewith I am troubled, were not so many Actions done by me; for in truth, I do neither like, nor allow of them, but as Spiritual Oppressions of my Enemy, who still warreth against me sometimes with Armies of Fears, sometimes with Armies of Doubtings, and with Armies of unclean and wand'ring Motions, and sometimes with Bands and Troops of Worldly Cares, making Invasion upon my Soul, and labouring to quench the sparks of Spiritual Life, which the Lord had begun in me; therefore answer for me, O Lord, for I suffer Violence, my Enemy would oppress me, but Lord, my hope is ever in thee, secure me with thy strength, and I shall live; and Lord, impute not to me any of those sinful Motions which mine Enemy raiseth against me, and in me to destry my Soul. Consider this wisely, O my Soul, and remember it; God that hath entered thee into this Warfare, and is a Spectator and Helper, will never reckon up to thee Satan's Deeds for thine, and learn thou wisely how to distinguish them, and faint not for them, but comfort thyself as long as thou art able to stand to thy Pretestation, that thou dost suffer Violence in them, and canst say with the Apostle, This is not I, but Sin that dwelleth in me. O Lord, deliver me from the rage of this Tyranny; many a time have I looked to have been swallowed up of him, but thou hast sustained me. Blessed be my God for ever, and the Lord be my strength to the end. O Lord, how can it be possible that my Soul can live here in this absense from thee, or walk in the midst of these continual Snares, or stand against these raging Temptations, except it please thee now and then to she● thy Face unto me. Joseph 's State in Prison was not so heavy as mine, his Temptations in Potiphar's House were not so continual as mine are And Daniel 's Fear in the midst of the Lions, was no greater than mine, who every day tasted of a thousand Deaths. Jeremiah in a dark Dungeon, was not vexed with such Horrors as daily gather themselves together about, and against me; the only comfort of my Soul is in the multitude of thy Mercies; thou wert with Joseph, and therefore the Prison was the more pleasant to him than Potiphar 's Palace. Thou wert with Daniel, and therefore the raging Lions were peaceable to him. O Lord, be with me, and increase thy strength in my Soul, and it shall live, though the time be not yet come that I shall appear in thy Presence, and see thee, yet Lord, let me have in this Land of my Pilgrimage those glances of thy sweet and loving Countenance, that may sustain me; for thou, Lord, art able to let me see as much joy in thy sweet Face, in one hour, as may sustain me for ever: and without this sight, how can my Faith but fail, my Hope but hover, and my Life but languish? Therefore, O Lord, hid not thy Face from my Soul for ever: but as thou dost acquaint my Soul with Troubles, so let me see at all times, that as my Sufferings do abound in me, so my Consolations may abound through Jesus Christ. I know thou always beholdest me in Mercy, but Lord, let me see that thou look'st upon me, that I may feel thy Mercies sweet unto my Soul; and let me find every day by good Experience, that Jesus Christ is form in me, and enable me to live a holy Life here, so that I may live with thee a happy Life hereafter in thy Heavenly Kingdom for ever. IF thou art Learned, be also pious, for Learning sanctified, is an Ornament to Grace: but Learning corrupted is an Advocate for the Devil. Call in mind, and oftentimes examine thyself; arcounting thyself by thy Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, especially after much Business, Discourses, Pastimes, etc. Silence is commendable in things that appertain not to thee, to the end thou mayst the better call to mind the Sufferings of a Crucifi'd Saviour. If God hath blessed thee with an Estate, relieve thy Brother, and so live as having little, yet possessing all things: for remember that Meat, Drink, and are the Riches of a Christian; and since Christ gave Himself for thee, well mayst thou give some Fruits of thy Labour to those that are his; let Death be ofttimes the Subject of thy Meditations, yield thyself wholly to God, if thou art poor, and hast nothing to requite him with, but thy Prayers and thyself; yet if thou givest thyself to his disposal, thou than givest all thou hast; the Apostles left their Ships and their Nets; the poor Widow gave only her two Mites to the Poor-mans-Box, and she was preferred before a wealthy Croesus. He easily disposeth all things of this World, that doth but remember that he must die, In open Assemblies use not always Spiritual Things, lest thou shalt be thought singular, except thou mayst edify others, and by thy Example, stir them up to the like: on all Occasions prefer the Glory of God and his Service above all things; be a Comfort to the afflicted, reconcile Differences, visit the Sick and Imprisoned, and forget not to relieve the Poor and Needy; above all things have fervent Love, for Love shall cover a multitude of sins: fast one day in a Month, or oftener, if the strength of thy Body will bear it, and remember to distribute thine Alms; for fasting and Alms are the Wings of Prayer; if Perturbations or Discontents arise in thy Mind, apply thyself to Prayer, go not to thy Rest in Wrath, lest thou givest the Common Enemy to Mankind an opportunity to surprise thee; beware of inordinate Cares, lest you dishonour or deny God; for such Cares are needless, brutish, bootless and heathenish. What need we care, when our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things, and saith, Be careful for nothing, but let us cast our Cares upon him, for he careth for us: consider the Fowls of the Air, and Ravens that he feeds, they toil not. Which of you by taking care, can add one Cubit to his Stature, or Penny to his Estate; for after these things the Gentiles seek: repent daily, let not the Devil have the Flower of thy Age, and God the Bran. The Spirit of Prayer is far more precious than Treasures of Gold and Silver. Despise not the Ministers of Christ, for Christ is the Word, and they are his Ambassadors of it. God requireth we should mortify our Lusts; for Prayer without that is the Service of a Hypocrite: Sin bringeth shame and sorrow, but Pity hath the portion of everlasting Joys. Let us ourselves with everlasting Righteousness, it is the safest Armour against the Darts of Satan. The two Roads that lead to Heaven, are Innocence and Repentance; Sin is the Christians greatest Sore, and Repentance the surest Salve: Who then would want the rare Jewel of Repentance, since if ye seek; ye shall find? Thy Soul is Spiritual, thy Body is Flesh; make not then Flesh of thy Spirit; for an habitual Familiarity with corrupt Lusts, perverts it into the basest Flesh: God hath made Man a lovely Creature, do not thou make thyself a Monster: he dignifies thee at first, to glorify thee at last. Then let not Carnality deprive thee of thy Blessings; with thy Sins God will not own thee: if thou lust, thou hast lost the sense of Honour and Glory: study to recover it by Grace; thy Soul is Immortal, and cannot die, thy Body is Mortal, and must die: let not thy Body then be preferred before thy Soul, which hath but a Lease for Life; then let not a moment be preferred before Eternity; study not to satisfy thy Body and neglect the Salvation of thy most precious Soul. It is madness to seek the welfare of the Body, and thereby Eternally to ruin both Body and Soul: for so the Immortal is made most damnably Mortal, and dies to Bliss, and the Mortal miserably Immortal, and ever living to Woe: remember thy Soul is the Noble Part of humane Nature; wherefore to set thy Affections on Earth is infinitely below thee. Such is thy Nobility, thy Arms are thy Mind and thy Will, which were created to embrace Mercy, Truth, Justice, Charity, etc. With all the Virtues of a Heavenly Life: thy Body is Servant to thy Soul, let it tread upon the Earth, for that is likewise its Subject; let not then the Soul, which is the Sovereign of the Body, set its Heart upon that Earth on which its Subject sets its Foot. In thy Soul is the Image of God, let it not be stained then with the similitude of a Beast; let Reason, not Sense divert thee, a rational Will, not the Appetite of a Bruit: he that lives a negligent and careless Life, does what he can to out do the Devil in his own undoing; for God hath given him Reason, and his depraved Nature acts against it. If thou wouldst be in Eternal Bliss, act like Man, but appear like God, for Heaven hath no room for Beasts of the Earth; a wicked Spirit hath deformed thee, let a Holy Spirit transform thee; every Child of God should maintain his Father's Likeness, that he may enjoy his Inheritance. Thy Soul is the Spouse of God, the great Creator is its Husband; no Creature is worthy to be thy Match or Mate; then consult thy Honour; if thou lovest the World, and embracest the Earth; canst thou hate Adultery with men, and be an Adultress to God; let not a Strumpet stand in thy sight; but especially suffer not thy Heart to run after Vanity a whoring: if thou fallest into evil Company, that shall court thee, let not the Devil woe thee. O my Soul, thou Beloved above all Creatures, that hast God for thy Husband, Heaven for thy Dowry, and Earth for thy Service; suffer not Hell to be thy Pander to dote upon the World, let thy Heart be a Habitation for God and Heaven: thy Soul is the Lord of thy Body, take then thy Body's Homage, not thy own ruin; let thy Soul act the Will of God, & command the will of thy Body to act thine: let not thy Body be thy God, lest thou be a Devil to thyself; thy Soul is an Angel's Peer, let it not be a Companion for Satan; let not thy Lordship be sold for Slavery and Misery; if thou maintainst not thy Right, Hell must be thy Harbour, Torments thy Terror, and wicked Spirits thy Company. Thy Soul under God is the supreme Sovereign of thy Body; be not then a Subject to thy Subject; let not the Law of the Members be the Law of the Mind, for the Senses are Handmaids to the Soul, and she is the Princess of Heaven, thy Soul is a freeborn Child of Eternity, Heir of Immencity, the Daughter of Almighty God, who is beyond all the Bounds of Time and Being: to whom then oughtest thou to pay thy Duty, but to him alone: thy Body is but a Prison to the Soul, thou art enclosed in the Wall of Mud, and Gates of Sense: Can there be more pleasure in a Prison than in a Palace? Shall a bodily restraint be preferred before the Spirits Liberty? Canst thou count thy Bondage to be thy Bliss? Are Chains of Iron to be esteemed before the Treasures of Gold? Are Fetters better than Freedom? Earth is but a Jail to Heaven; then be not so rash as to prise thy Jail before thy Liberty and Delivery, lest thou art cast into the Jail from whence there is no Redemption. It is most just, that the Soul which prizeth the Devil's Chain before God's Liberty, should have the Devil's Prison instead of God's Palace, and be for ever his Slave in Hell, that would not be God's Servant for a Time on Earth. Then O thou Beloved Dove of God, fly to thy Celestial Home: belime not thy Spiritual Wings with slime and mud; in Heaven is thy Treasure, and where canst thou sinned more Tre●sures to invite thee? Be not like the Crow, to feed upon Car●●on; or like the Blind Beetle, to place thy Blessedness in Boggs, Make not sale of thyself, to buy a Jail, when thou partest with a Palace for the purchase, and becomest a Familiar to Bolts and Shackleses: thy Soul is God's Jewel, and thy Body is the Casket; then keep thy Body clean, that thy Soul may be the better preserved; it is a bright Diamond of Heaven, a spark of the very Divinity, and a Ray of the Divine Glory, set for a time in the Foil of the Flesh, till it pleaseth God to take it to himself, and keep it for ever in his Cabinet. O let not thy Soul, that transparent Diamond, be an Ornament for the Devil's Finger, when it may sit at the Right Hand of God, where there are Pleasures for evermore. Thy Soul is the Purchase of Christ, and bought with no less than the Blood of the Only Begotten Son of God: then sell not that for a Trisle which cost thy Saviour so great a Price. It is better to enjoy the Riches of Eternity, than to purchase that which is but Vanity, for a moment. If thy Body be distempered, than thou requirest Physic, if it be wounded, thou sendest for a Chirurgeon; if naked, it must have ; and if hungered, it must have Food; for these thou shouldst depend upon God, for he knoweth all these Things are necessary, and will give so much as is convenient of them to thee. But when thy poor Soul is sick of Sin, hath wounds of the Spirit, is stripped of its Innocence, and starved for Grace, no Regard is given thereunto, not considering, that though thou usest humane Helps, yet it is God that gives the Blessing, and is the Physician both of Soul and Body. That Soul which acts the Part of a faithful Servant to the Lord, shall have a double Reward, the Crown of a Saint, and of a Sufferer. The Soul is Spiritual, but Sin makes it Carnal; the Soul is Immortal, sin is the Death of the Soul, and being contaminated therewith, it makes us die unto Grace, and to live in Grief: the Soul is noble, but sin makes it ignoble● the Soul is Lord, but sin enslaves it: the Soul is Sovereign, sin brings it into subjection: the Soul is Godlike, sin makes it beastial: the Soul is the Spouse of God, sin makes it the Strumpet of the Devil: the Soul is the Jewel of God, sin casts it into the Devil's Fire: the Soul is a Freeborn Citizen of Heaven, sin keeps it in perpetual Imprisonment: the Soul is God's Purchase, sin cheats God of his due, and the Soul of Eternal Bliss. Wouldst thou be truly perfect, Love God with all thy Heart, and thy Neighbour as thyself. Let thine Eye be always upon God and thyself, and thou shalt never see him without Goodness, nor thyself without Misery none shall see God so much as he is visible, neither shall any love God so much as he is amiable. He that doth not covet to love God more and more, can never love him enough, to whom God is all in all, the World, and all the Delights of it ought to be nothing at all. Let us be what God will, so we be but his, and let us not be what we will ourselves against the Will of God. In the Service of God there is nothing little enough to be rejected. And to meditate much upon God is good, but the Souls great Advancement is Virtue, and it consists in much loving of him: he to whom alone is pleasing, is displeased at nothing but that which displeaseth God in Divine Matters: a generous Soul finds greatest Contentment in believing things most difficult; all our Actions take their value from their Conformity to the Will of God. Love and Suffering are the greatest Duties we own to God, they being the two Causes for which he died for us: he that neglects his own Will, complies best with Gods Will. So love thy Neighbour here upon Earth, as thou mayst enjoy his Love in Heaven: thou canst not love thy Neighbour too much, but thou mayst make too much show of thy Love to him; one great Argument of our Love to our Neighbour, is to bear with his Imperfections; we should never endure to hear any more evil spoken of him than of ourselves; we should never undervalue any Person; the Workman loveth not that his Work should be despised in his Presence especially: wherefore beware, for God is present every where, and every Man and Woman in the World are his Work. It is a Spiritual Injustice to desire co know the Secrets of others; and to conceal our own. We ought not to love our Neighbour only because he is good, or because we hope he will be so, but because God hath commanded us so to do: In holy Duties, we should speak little, think much, and do more: it is a great evil not to do good: the Just man never dies unprepared; for he is prepared for Death who perseveres in Justice to the End. Confidence in an unfaithful man, in time of trouble, is like a brooken Tooth, or a Foot out of Joint: as he that taketh away a Garment in cold weather: and as Vinegar is upon Nitre so is he that singeth Songs to one that hath a heavy Heart: it is no shame to be poor, though some count it acrime; Nature brought us so into the World, and so we must return: dost thou want things that are necessary, grumble not, perchance it was necessary thou shouldst want them: however, if thou seekest them, let it be by a lawful Remedy or Means. If God do not bless thy Endeavours, yet do thou bless him, that knoweth what is best for thee. Thou art God's Patient, prescribe not to thy Physician; art thou caluminated, examine thy own Conscience: if thou findest it spotted, thou hast a just Correction; if not guilty, thou hast a very fair Instruction; use both, and so shalt thou distil Honey out of Gall, and make to thyself a secret Friend of an open Enemy; if thy Enemy be hungry, give him Bread; if thirsty, give him Drink; thou thereby shalt heap Coals of Fire upon his Head, and a Reward into thy own bosom. Charity makes God our Debtor, for the Poor are his Receivers. Hast thou an Estate, & wouldst increase it, divide thy Riches to the Poor; these Seeds that are scattered do bring forth their Increase; but such as are hoarded up, they die: Correction without Instruction makes the Master a Tyrant, and the Servant a Novice: That man is a complete Conqueror that can subdue his own Passions: faithful are the wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of an Enemy are deceitful. Arm thyself against a professed Adversary; but he that dissembleth Friendship, strikes beyond a Caution, and wounds above a Cure: from the one thou mayst deliver thyself, but from the other, Good Lord, deliver thee. A man that flatttreth his Neighbour, spreadeth a Net for his feet: the Touchstone tryeth Gold, and Gold tryeth Men: virtue must be the guide of all Qualities, otherwise the Professors thereof are undone. As the Servants of God are known by their two Virtues, Humiliation and Charity; so the Servants of the Devil are known by their opposite Vices, Pride and Cruelty. The best way to keep good Acts in memory, is to refresh them with new ones: to boast is but vain, since the greatest Conqueror is but the measure of his own shadow, and shall find it no longer than it was before his Victory: believe not Soothsayers, for Prophecies are never understood till they are accomplished. The World is a wide Prison, and every Day is an Execution day; our Stomaches are very common Sepulchers of Birds, Beasts, & Fish; they all die to feed us. Lord, with how many Deaths are our Lives patched up, and how full of Death is the whole Life of Man; beware of too much Drink; where Drunkenness is, and doth reign, Reason is banished into Exile, Virtue is made a Stranger, and God himself is become an Enemy; Blasphemies are accounted Wit, and Oaths are Rhetoric, and Secrets are made open Proclamations. Whosoever will arrive at a new Life, must pass by the old Death of the old; he that is truly humbled, never thinks himself wronged; the good Man is well contented with a moderate Estate, not so much taking notice of those that have more, as those that have less in this World, than himself. He that most mortifies his natural Inclinations, receiveth most Spiritual Inspirations: to shun the accidental Troubles of this Life, is to meditate often upon Eternity. It's the great misfortune of man to desire those things which he should only use. To have a desire not to be poor, & to receive the Inconveniences of it, is too great Ambition; for, it is to desire the Honour of Poverty, & the Commodity of Wealth. There is no way happily to end a true Spiritual Life, better than daily to begin it. He that would have a Part with Jesus glorified, must first take part with Christ crucified: we should live in this present Evil World, as if our Souls were in Heaven, and our Bodies in the Grave. In the death of our Passions consists the Life of our Souls. It is not Humility to acknowledge ourselves miserable, that is only to be a Beast: but it is Humility to desire that others should esteem us so. There is no reason to be given for the Fault we commit in Sin; for the Fault would not be Sin, if it were not against Reason. Virtue's have not their full Growth, but when they have Desires to bring forth Advantage; which like Spiritual Seeds, serve to bring forth and produce new degrees of Virtues. We should never speak of God, or the Things which concern his Service, carelessly, or by way of Common Discourse or Entertainment, but always with a great respect and humble mind. We should fear the Judgements of God without Discouragement, and encourage ourselves without Presumption. The ready way for the Soul to have Peace with its self, is to obtain his Peace with God; we may perform many Holy Actions, and yet not please God, if we neglect to do what he requires of us, no more than a Painter, in representing an Eagle, pleaseth him that desired a Bee. Let us never look on our Crosses, but through the Cross of Jesus Christ, thereby we shall find them pleasant, and have fresh Desires to be afflicted; Desire to obtain the Love of God, makes us to meditate, but that Love once obtained, makes us contemplate. The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom; and the Price of Wisdom is above Rubies. Oh let my Prayers be set before thee as Incense, and the lifting up of my Hands be as the Evening Sacrifice, O Lord, my Strength, and most mighty Redeemer. Oh my Soul! What fearful tremble are these that have seized upon thee now? So that the Thoughts of God, that have been, and aught to be thy greatest Comforts, are now become thy Amazement: Whence is this miserable Altaration, that thou must behold nothing but Judgement in the Father of Mercies, and Anger in the Fountain of Love? What hath provoked him that delights to spare, to be resolved to punish? Surely my Sins are very many, for it is not a few that will insense him, and they have more than ordinary Aggravations; for he is not so highly displeased at small Offences, and certainly I have often committed them, and long continued in them; for he gins not to frown upon the first Misdemeanour. Alas! Alas! the 'Cause is too apparent, my Sins are both very many, and exceeding great; frequently repeated with heinous Circumstances, and of long continuance; I have despised Mercy, & now am like to feel Judgement, most miserable Wretch that I am. I have tired out the Patience of a long-suffering Father, and have run away from the Embraces of a Loving Saviour, and have rejected the Offers of a most indulgent Holy Spirit; so that now I fear I have stopped up the Fountain of his Mercy, and unsealed the Treasure of his Vengeance; and I ought to wonder how God could spare me so long, then why he should strike me now, since many have been cut off for fewer and lesser sins. I see that I have deserved most justly to suffer the worst of Evils. And therefore shall esteem it an incomparable Favour to be only corrected with Temporal Afflictions, if I might be so excused; but it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. Therefore, O Lord, my Flesh trembleth for very Fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy most heavy Judgements, yet I know no way to escape them. To deny my Sins, were great Impudence, and to Excuse them, will be Apparent Hypocrisy, and to be concealed, is impossible; to be found intolerable; I am miserably confounded; but was never any in this sad Case before, that I might receive some Advice and Comfort from them? Yes surely, the Church hath presented me with a King and a Prophet, both dear to God, whose Fears were greater, though their Sins were less, and their danger not so great as mine. Yet these in the midst of their Fear, considered their Sins as the only Cause of their Evils, and accordingly they freely confessed them, bitterly lamented, and exceedingly humbled themselves for them, not striving so much to avoid them in the Punishment, as to obtain the Pardon of their Offences; knowing that the guilt once removed, thou wouldst totally spare them, or gently chastise them for their good; where they rendered themselves up into thy Hands, rather aggravating, than extenuating their Sins, and yet humbly begging that they might be corrected in Mercy, and they found the Benefit of it. Go to then, O my Soul, and do thou likewise, thou hast occasioned God's Wrath by the Breach of his most holy Laws. O do not increase it by mistrusting the blessed Gospel; thou hast forsaken him by Sin, do not run from him by Despair; for the faster that thou runnest from his Mercy, the sooner thou shalt be sure to meet with his Justice; delay no longer, but go in before he sends for thee; accuse thyself before thou art Indicted; and confess thy Sins freely before the Witnesses be called out against thee; pass sentence on thyself before the Judge come to condemn thee. I cannot expect wholly to escape; but it will be a great Favour if I meet only with a Sickness instead of Death; Losses in my Estate, instead of losing my God, and my Soul both, for ever. I will not therefore desire my Heavenly Father altogether to lay aside his Rod, but only to use it gently, that I may by this smart be warned against those future sins that would bring me to utter Ruin. O Lord, rather chastise me than disinherit me, and those Stripes shall be welcome which come in an exchange for Eternal Torments. For thou who dost change thy Sword into a Rod, I hope will be so compassionate in thy Afflictions, that I shall only feel what my destempered Soul needs to recover it, and my Flesh and Spirit cannot bear; not what my Sins deserve, and thy Justice might exact; wherefore I will no longer hid my sins, but by an humble & hearty Confession will declare that I hate them more than I fear to fall into thy most merciful Hands: and I hope hereafter, that I shall so fear to offend, that I shall be freed from those sad Expectations of thy heavy Wrath, which Wisdom God grant me, for my Saviour Jesus Christ's Sake. He that hath a Request to make, that is considerable, to an Earthly King, must not approach without a Present in his Hand: but my great Request is to the King of Kings, to whose Laws I have been disobedient, false to his Government, refractory to his Summons, and ungrateful to his former Favours: and what can I offer him that needs nothing? and what can I give him, whose both myself, and all that I have are? His Favour inheed is so sweet, so desirable, and so universal a Comprehension of all happiness, that I could freely give all I have, or may procure, for the Purchase of it. But the whole World is Vanity to him, neither can such Trifles blind his Eyes, or bind his Hands, buy his Mercy to the Unworthy, or avert his Judgements from the Sinner. I would methinks expose my Body to the sharpest Torments, my Soul to the heaviest Sorrows and my Life to the cruelest of Tyrants, and would account it a happy purchase if I were sure of his Everlasting Mercies afterwards. But it cost more to redeem a Soul; I can give nothing but what is his already, and I can suffer nothing but what I have deserved: What then? O where shall I have a Peace-Offering which may not be despised: I am told that there is nothing more acceptable than a Broken Heart. 'Tis strange, Can a Heart polluted with the Gild, and inflamed with the Power of Sin, slow to begin, and unable to perform any thing that is good, but vigorous to desire, and unwearied to pursue all evil. Can a Heart shaken with Fears, torn to pieces with Terrors, and even a Terror to itself, miserable and poor, blind and naked, can this Heart be a fit Sacrifice for so Glorious and Allseeing, so Holy and Pure a God? Can he like that whieh I abhor myself? Alas! it cannot be. But let me recall that rash & hasty word, for he hath said it who best knows what will please himself; and if he vallues it, than it is worthy; for the true worth of any thing is to be judged by his Esteemation of it: who knows but such a broken Heart may be a greater Evidence of his Power and Mercy, a fit Instrument of his Praise and Glory, a plainer Table to describe his Grace, and draw his Image on, than any other. Such a Heart I have, and if this will serve, I am happy; I will give it freely to thee, O Lord, who despisest not the meanest Gifts, if there be sincerity in the Giver. It was broken before with Fear, but now it will be dissolved with Love. I am ashamed it is no better, but thy Mercy is the greater in accepting it, and it will become better by being thine. Oh how am I filled with Admiration on the Freeness and Fullness of thy Mercies, in comparison of which the greatest humane Compassion is, and seems to be Cruelty. I dare proclaim it, that in thee are all the Mercies in the World united, and thou art Mercy itself in the highest Degree. If my Disobedience, and my Negligence, Contempts, and Ingratitudes could have separated thee from thy Mercy, I had now met thee in thy Fury, taking Vengeance without Pity; for I have seemed to live as if I had designed to dare thee to turn thyself away from me, and to try thy utmost Patience; the least part of which business would have turned my best Friends in the World against me; but behold the Mercies of my God continue still. O let me have the shame of an ungrateful Sinner, and let thy Name have the Glory of an inexpressable Pity, even to those who are almost ashamed to ask Pardon? yea, let me, to whom thou hast showed so much Compassion, have the Honour to be an Instance of thy Goodness to all the World. And have I such a Father, Why then do I lie still with this Load of Gild upon my Soul? And with this heavy Burden of Sorrow upon my Spirit? What do I get by these Complaints, but waste my Time, and double my Misery by sad Reflections? I can neither have Help from myself, nor any Creature, but my Father alone, to whom Mercies are as proper as Miseries are to me; and if I through Fear and Sorrow sit still here and starve, I show not so much Pity to myself as he would have for me, if he saw my distress. Wherefore I will arise and go to him, though I think that I shall scarce have the face to ask him more, since I spent the last so ill; I shall be ashamed to tell him how base I have been: but as I was not ashamed when I did evil, so I must have shame when I suffer the shame of its desert, I will go bathed with Tears, blushing for shame, accusing myself, and relying on the Bowels of a Father, and will beg only so much Mercy as may banish despair; and if I may have this, will be content, though I be not entertained with assurance and certain Expectations; for the least favourable Look is more than I have deserved: yet behold, upon the first sight of the returning Prodigal, who came unsent for driven home by his own Miseries, his tender Father runs to meet him, takes the Words out of his Mouth, and receives him with all the Demonstrations of his Love, and the Carresses of his dear Affections: and is my God less merciful; he who hath invited me so often, and promised me so largely; I have done ill to stay so long; but I will go now, low in my Desires, and high in my Expectations, sorrowing for mine Offences, and begging his Mercies; and I hope, though I carry no merits of my own to his Justice; yet I carry misery enough to make his Bowels of Compassion yearn upon me, & then I cannot perish. Is it possible I should be all this while deluded so grossly, as to imagine my Eyes to be opened, my Ways direct and full of Light; when indeed my Eyes are shut, my feet are wrong, and my Mind is overspred with Egyptian Darkness, of a stupid Ignorance. Thy Word, O Lord, is a Light to my Feet, and a Lantern to my Paths; not only to show me which is the right way, but to let me know when I am in the wrong. But I have given myself to false Guides, who lest I should inquire after the right way, would never acquaint me that I was wand'ring from it; had I followed them still, I had stumbled ere this on the threshold of Hell, whilst I expected to have arrived at the Gates of Heaven. O blessed be thy Name, I now see that I have been straying from the Fountain of all true Happiness, and have been in vain seeking Content where it is not to be found, till the Disappointment drives me to seek it where it is to be had: if I had not been a Stanger to my own Heart, I had not been so far out of the right way: but I have supposed myself to be clear, only because I never considered wherein I was guilty, and have flattered myself with the pleasing Thoughts of my own Innocence, so that I have been so secure, as if I had been really guiltless; I have been glad to spare myself, and have flattered myself with the pleasing Thoughts of my own Ignorance, I have been glad to spare myself of a further Enquiry, most foolishly accounting this a Peace which was no other but want of a sense of my own danger. I find my chief design hath been to seem to be good, and to persuade myself that I was so, that I might be the more at quiet in the ways of Evil, and might not be accused of my own Conscience, and allaramed by the most dreadful Threaten; which I supposed did not belong to me. But alas! how miserable would the end of that selfdeceit have been. For thou, O my God, didst see, and wouldst have condemned me for all my Blasphemous Thoughts, and Repine against thee; my malicious and envious Thoughts against thee and my Neighbour; thou heardst all those vain and filth words that I uttered with my Mouth; those deceitful, unjust, and cruel uncharitable Works which I committed with my Hands thou sawest; yea, all that Formality and Hypocrisy, Ambition and Pride, Lust and Covetuousness that lay in the secret Corners of my Heart, was apparent in thy sight, and what did it avail me not to see them; thy Vengeance would have once as certainly, and more terribly, because it was not expected. It is strange I should not see this vast heap before; but surely I have shut my eyes wilfully, lest I should discern that which I was loath to believe, and unwilling to amend, but now I see my Inquities by thy Mercy, and believe I have offended thee as much by my Hypocrisy in the concealing them, as by my Disobedience in committing them; therefore I will ingeniously confess, because the graciousness of thy Nature, the truth of thy Promises, and the Satisfaction of the Lord Jesus, are sufficient to procure a Pardon for me, who dare so trust in thy Mercy so far, as to become my own Accuser. Yea, my God, since thou has● so graciously convinced me of the Evil and Damage of those Courses I have taken, I will not rest in a bare Confession that I am in the Wrong, but by thy Grace, will turn me into the Right Way, and will utterly forsake all these my Follies: thy Mercy indeed, is great enough to forgive me upon my Humble Acknowledgements; but to live in my Sin, is as inconsistent with my Happiness, as it is with thy holy Laws. Therefore, O my Soul, he that desires thy Felicity, will not forgive the old Score, unless thou cease to run further in Debts Dost thou not see, that whilst thou goest on in Sin, thou art in the Way unto Eternal Death; and beside, art already dead to all Divine Comforts, as to the sense of them, and Buried alive in Lusts and Pleasures; thy Flesh entombs thy precious Soul, that is thus made wretched, and the Grave-Cloths of vile Affections, binds the Hand and Foot from moving towards God, or breathing in the pure Air of Heavenly Meditations, and canst thou like to stay in this filthy Place still, when thou didst not see thy Misery; no wonder if thou countedst this Dungeon and Vault, a Palace; but now thou must abhor it, when Jesus calls, and saith, Lazarus, come forth. Dost thou find, the more thou followest these, the less thou lovest God, & hast seldom any Converse with him, slower Motions towards him, and meaner Thoughts of him; return then from these Evil Paths, for now thou knowest the dead are there; do not only seek a Pardon from him, but desire a Communion with him, who is thy Strength and Life, thy Joy and Happiness, and will be glad of thy Recovery; that forgetting all thy Unworthiness formerly, he will make thee happy hereafter; there is nothing can hinder thee, unless thou lovest thy Sins so well, that thou wilt not forsake them; and carest so little for God, that thou hadst rather die without him, than live with him Holily here, and Eternally Happily hereafter; it had been well with my Soul, if all this while my safety had been equal to my Confidence; for none ever thought themselves more secure, though there was no other ground for it, but only because I was not resolved to take the pains not to behold my Danger. I have multiplied my Transgressions, and lived in Sins unamended, yea, un-repented of, and therefore have had the drawn Sword of Divine Vengeance hanging over my guilty Head, by the slender thread of my uncertain Life, which every thing can snap in sunder; yet have I wilfully shut mine eyes, choosing rather to feel the Eternal Smart of it, than to behold the dreadful sight which would have long time terrified me into an amendment, and have snatched me from under the approaching Ruin. What prodigious Folly hath seized on me? What stupid Lazines hath benumbed me? Are the Pains of escaping, greater than the Pains of Suffering? Or will the Blow be the lighter, because I resolve neither to see it, nor avoid it? Awake, my Soul, while there is a Possibility to prevent thy Ruin; thy Sins are so numerous and so heinous, that thou canst not be ignorant of them, the Threaten of God's Wrath are so plain and positive, that thou mayst see plainly, that they aim at thee; thy Conscience cries so loud, that thou canst not but hear it, and Gods Holy Spirit pleads still so powerfully, that thou must take so much Pains to exclude these Friends as would serve to turn out thy Enemies: surely God gave me not Wit and Understanding, to make a plauceable Cover for the eyes of my Conscience, or to contrive Bulwarks of Excuses, to entrench my sins in safety, and yet I, unhappy Wretch, have been ingenious in nothing so much as in plotting the Ruin of my precious Soul, and designing to perish undisturbed: behold, and blush to see how, and where holy David lies covered with Shame, and drowned in his Tears, quite overwhelmed with Sorrow, not able, through Fear and Sorrow, to take his Eyes off that one Offence, whilst thou, a far greater Sinner, art careless and unconverted; he sets his sins before his own Face, and God he throws them behind his Back: when the sight of them will not conduce to the obtaining of my Pardon, but the Aggravation of my Eternal Misery, the sight of them indeed is most unpleasant, the Object odious and ungrateful, but the Benefit will most abundantly recompense the Trouble; and if I behold them now so as to repent of them, I shall see them no more for ever; I will Imitate therefore this holy Man, and ever view the Gild and Danger of them, that I may humbly confess them with Sorrow, and obtain a Pardon for them, my wretched Heart hath taken pleasure in the Committing them, and it shall have Vexation in Reflecting on them, for I will not take my eyes off from them, till the horrid Aspect of my grievous Iniquities have humbled my Soul for them, and turned my Heart against them. O Blessed Jesus, that knowest the Necessities of all, thy Universal Commands to Repentance to all men, methinks seems to be peculiarly directed to me, who have neglected this most necessary Duty: hitherto thou, O Lord seest my Danger, and pitiest my Approaching Ruin; I Bow my Head and Heart, and neither can, or dare disobey so gracious and loving Advice, so useful and necessary a Warning: thy bare Words hath been sufficient to command Obedience from me, who do expect Eternal Salvation by thee, but thou art pleased further to convince me; I do believe, dearest Jesus, the Benefit is great, if I shall turn now while thy Grace is offered so freely to all People; I know the danger is dreadful, if I delay any longer, since 'tis certain, that thy Kingdom shall come, but uncertain, now soon either Death shall Arrest me, or Judgement surprise me in such Delays: I have great cause to bless thy Name, that neither of these have happened yet unto me, though I have even excluded thee out of my Heart, and entertained my Sins there; yet Lord, thou callest on me still, and now I am making what haste I can. O remember not how long I have stayed, but consider how little time I have left, and by the help of thy Grace, make my Work short and easy, proportionable to my Time and Strength. I confess that I knew before, but I never considered it till now, and now I dare not stay, but through thy help, I come. O do not cast me off, for thy Mercies sake. Oh my Soul, thou art surely seized with a strange Distemper, which resists the Efficacy of the choicest Remedies; the Plaster which cures others, doth not avail me; I confess my Offences every day on my bended Knees, but my Faith is Weak; my Hope Wavering; my sense of God's Love very small, so that I am almost tempted to live like those that are unconverted, and unconcerned whether they sin, or no; because I find no Benefit by all my Humiliations; and this Temptation had prevailed, if I had not seen, that since others receive some Advantage by these means, the fault is in me, and not in them, nor in the God whom I Serve, he cannot deny his Promises, falsify his Word, nor reject those when they come, who come upon his Courteous Invitation. O where then is this accursed thing that restrains God's Mercies, blasts my Endeavours, and puts me upon Injurious Thoughts against Heaven, & Atheistical Resolutions of totally neglecting those Holy Things: the Matter of my Duty is good, for God commands it; the Benefit is great, for many have found it to be so; but, Is it done in a right manner? The failing may be there: I have been more careful to kneel reverently, look sadly, sigh grievously, and tell the Almighty a Story of my Sinful Life, with Addresses becoming a Penitent, but this comes far short of what God requires, even a Broken Heart, and a Contrite Spirit; for I have been so concerned to seem sorrowful, that I have not endeavoured really to be so. O my God, thou that searchest the Heart, and tryest the Reins, thou hast seen my Heart untouched in the midst of these Pretences; I have not been smitten with the Odiousuess of my Sins to thee, nor the Danger to me, and therefore I have not fully renounced them, nor yet absolutely returned to thee and thy Ways, and therefore thou hast not blessed my Confessions, which have been rather looked upon by me, as an Indulgence to go on, since my former were so easily pardoned, than an Engagement to forsake mine Iniquities; but now I see my Vileness in making so slight Addresses for so great a Favour; I discern my Folly to cheat myself of so considerable a Blessing, and my Sloth to slip so many fair Opportunities by my deceitful Behaviour before thee. O Lord, I have deceived myself, I am hugely ashamed, that having offended so dear and loving a Father, I have not been really concerned more, and having so gracious a God to turn to, I am yet so far distant from him; if I want Pardon or Peace, the blame must be upon my own Negligence, for thou art apt to give, and ready to forgive, long before thou punishest Sinners, but soon entreated to receive Presents, & dost most joyfully lay aside thy Resolutions of Judgements, when we promise our Purpose of Amendment. O my Soul, will not this real Goodness of thy God shame thy Hyppocrisy? Will it not pierce thine Heart to see whom thou hast offended, and thaw thy Hopes to behold him whom thou art turning to: his Holiness is mixed with Long-suffering, his Justice with Mercy, his Decrees allayed with Limitations, and is it fit to approach him without Love or Fear, Hopes or Desires, Gratitude o● Admiration? Or, Is the Forgiveness too mean a Favour, that it deserves no more Hearty Applications; sure enough mine Hyppocrisy hath hindered my Pardon, wherefore I begin to detest it, and hereafter I will look more to the Disposition of my Heart than the Posture of my Body; I will set him before me whose Love I have abused, and whose Patience I have tried, who is so gracious as to spare me, and so willing to be Reconciled to a most ungrateful Wretch, that when I come to him, I may have my Eyes filled with Tears, and my Cheeks with Blushes, and my Heart with Sorrow; I will remember who I am that go so, that my Heart may be hum●●e, and what I go for, that I may be earnest, and who I go to, that I may be full of Faith and Hope, so tha● my Addresses may not be in vain, but that all these gracious Attributes may be made good unto me for Jesus, Sake, to whom be Glory for ever. Thomas browning's 's Prayer O Lord, prepare my unprepared and sinful Heart by thy Holy and Blessed Spirit to Pray unto thee; for Jesus Christ his Sake, pour down into my Heart thy Spirit of ●race, Supplication, and Humiliation; good God, do away mine Iniquities, and remember my Transgressens no more, help me to pour out my Soul before thee, under a deepsence of, and a true sorrow for all my Sins which I have most wickedly and grieviously committed against thy Divine Majesty from time to time, help me to pray with the Spirit, and with Understanding, let thy Spirit help my Infirmities with Sighs and Groans that cannot be expressed; strike my Heart with an Awe and Dread of thy Majesty; help me to approach thy Presence with Re●erence, a Godly Shame and Holy Trembling▪ there is no secret Thoughts afar off; help me to confess my Sins with a true Sorrow for the same, help me to departed from all Iniquity, that it may not be my Ruin, let me hate all Sin with a perfect Hatred, and avoid the very Appearance of Evil; let me no longer regard any Iniquity in my Heart, lest it prove my undoing, knowing that the very Hope of the Hypocrite stall perish, but work in me a Godly Sorrow for my sin, which may cause a true Repentance unto Salvation, never to be repent of, and for Jesus sake, accept a Morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise, which I do desire at this time in all sincerity to offer to thy Divine Majesty, humbly begging the Assistance of thy Grace. O Eternal, Almighty, and most Glorious Lord God, in whom I Live. Move, and have my Being, thou art the Mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth, thou art the great Creator and Governor of all Things, who didst make all Things by the Word of thy Power, and dost uphold the same by thy Providence, who art the Omnipotent God, Dwelling in the highest Heavens, and hast Eternity for thy Habitation in that Light which is inaccessible, to whom no mortal Eye can approach, Infinite in all thy Attributes, before whose Glorious Presence the Angels, Cherubims, and Seraphims, those spotless Creatures do cover their Faces, & the Elders do cast down their Crowns, Worshipping thee continually; thou art Glorious in Majesty, Fearful in Praises, doing Wonders, God over all, Blessed for evermore, from Everlasting to Everlasting, Infinitely Happy in the Enjoyment of thine own Perfections, and needest not the Services of any of thy Creatures, and hast an innumerable Company of Angels, Arch-Angels, Cherubims, Seraphims, with the Spirits of Just Men and Women made Perfect; all the Heavenly and Celestial Host continually Celebrating thy Praise, crying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which Was, which Is, and which is to come. O where shall I appear that am Vile, Sinful, Dust, and Ashes? For Jesus Sake have Mercy upon me, I confess that I am very sinful by Nature, and more vile by Practice, who am of the Seed of Evil Doers, and have been a Transgressor from the Womb, that I was Conceived in Sin, Brought forth in Iniquity, and my Life hath been as a continued Act of Sinning against thee, as if I had been born for no other Purpose, but to dishonour, displease, and disobey the God that Made me, and to destroy that Immortal Soul for whom Christ died, and the Lord world Save: thou hast been very Gracious and Merciful to me in my Creation and Preservation; but above all, in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Fountain and Foundation of all my Mercies, and through whom I have Hopes of Eternal Salvation. It is a Faithful Saying, and worthy all Acceptation, That Jesus Christ came into the World to Save Sinners, Of whom I am chief, and I am never able sufficiently to Admire, Adore, and Magnify thy great Name, for thy Infinite Love in the Lord Jesus, thy Mercy, Goodness, and Condescension hath appeared in this, that thou who art the Mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth, a God of all Power, Omnipotency itself, shouldest find out a way to reconcile those great Attributes of thy Mercy and Justice, through the Blood of thy Only Begotten Son; that so poor, lost, and undone Mortals might be Eternally Saved, and this thou hast declared unto me Jesus Christ Crucified, and for me, who am less than the least of thy Mercies; and this thou hast made known by thy Holy Gospel. O the Height, Length, Depth, and Breadth of thy Love in Jesus Christ, it is above my Apprehension and Comprehension, it is passed my finding out; l●t it be Matter of Eternal Praise in the Heavens: and through him thou hast been pleased to afford me the means of Grace and Salvation in very plentiful manner, thy Sabbaths, thy Word and Ordinances, thy Holy and Blessed Spirit to assist me, the Checks of my own Conscience, and the Light of Nature to instruct me, I have had Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept, here a little, and there a little, often hearing a Voice within, and behind me, saying, This is the Way, walk in it. Thou hast lengthened out my Days, and afforded me a large time to Repent, in exercising thy Patience and Long-suffering towards me, I have had large Experience of thy Goodness to lead me to an Amendment of Life; and though in all Times, Ages, and Places, thou hast showed thyself highly displeased with Sin and Sinners, yet thou hast been pleased to spare me; and I have aggravated my Sins with heinous Circumstances; the Angels when they sinned, were cast down, and are reserved in Everlasting Chains of Darkness, made Monuments of thy Justice, Wrath, and Fury, and there was never any Means found out for their Recovery: Jesus Christ took not upon him the Nature of Angels, but the Seed of Abraham; my first Parents were banished out of Paradise for their Transgressions, and the Old World for their Sin were drownded; Sodom and Gomorhea, once famous Places, for their Sins, felt, the Divine Vengeance by Fire from Heaven, and were consumed with an utter Overthrow, yet thou hast spared me, the chief of Sinners. O Lord, grant that thy Severity towards others, and thy Goodness towards me, may lead me to an Amendment of Life, or how shall I escape to neglect such great Salvation. O Lord, thou hast been very gracious unto me, by keeping me Mercifully in my Infancy, Childhood, Youth, Riper Age, Manhood, and Age: thou hast taken Care of me, when I took none of myself; I have been Fed, Clothed, and Led along by thy good Hand of Providence, thou hast given me a Healthy Body, a Sound Mind, and a Large Memory, my Diseases have been Cured, I have been Fed both with the Upper and Nether Springs; thou hast not only given me Things convenient for this Life, but likewise the Mercies of Grace and Salvation leading to a better Life, even to Life Everlasting; thou hast preserved me in Prison beyond my Desert, contrary to my Expectation, when the World frowned upon me, and I was forsaken by my Relations, than the Lord was a Sun to comfort, and a Shield to defend me; thou hast been my present Help in time of Trouble, my exceeding great Reward, my All in All, my God Alsufficient, thou hast compassed me about with thy Salvation, Songs of Deliverance, thy Special Favours; yea, thou hast prevented me with thy very Loving Kindness; I have been both Loaded and Clothed with thy Mercies, as with a Garment, and they are more in number, the very kinds of them, than I am able to reckon up. O Lord, thou hast not only given me a Being, but a comfortable and well Being, to make me the more fit to Serve thee; thou hast kept me from many Deaths and Dangers; in the time of War thou didst preserve me from the Peril of the Bloody Sword; when I deserved as much as any, to have been cut off the Land of the Living; thou hast preserved me by Land and by Water, and in Foreign Parts, from many Evils that I have been subject to; thou hast kept me in the Times of Centagion and Visitation, from the Noisome and Devouring Pestilence, and other Distempers; many that lived with me, are gone to the Grave before me; and as they are dead, I am dying, not knowing what a Day may bring forth; my Breath is in my Nostrils, and goes out every Moment, and whensoever it shall be stopped, I must die, and turn to dust, then after Death there is no Repentance, this is the Opportunity of Life, the Day of Grace and Salvation, which if neglected, I can never have another; it is therefore of everlasting Concernment to improve the present Opportunity, because it is appointed for all Men and Women once to die, and then to Judgement, and as Death leaves, Judgement will find, as the Tree falls, so it lies; there is neither Desire nor Invention in the Grave where I am going. O Lord, thou hast been very merciful to preserve me in the Calamities of Fire, and hast wonderfully Protected and Provided for me ever since; and thou hast been merciful to me indeed, to preserve me against my own Will. I am a Living Monument of thy Mercies, a Brand snatched out of the Burning Flame; thou hast given me my Life for a Prey, and I have not lived to thy Praise; but like a Vile, Wretched, Vuworthy, and most Ungrateful Creature, I have sinned against thee both in Thought, Word, and Deed. The Sins of my Thoughts have been more than I can think; those of my Words, more than I am able to express, and the Sins of my Deeds have been innumerable, my Life hath been an Act of open Rebellion against thee; I am guilty of Sins by Omission, Commission, Ignorance, and Wilful Disobedience, Having left undone those Things which I ought to have done, and committed those Things I ought not to have done; I have sinned against Heaven, Thee, my Relations, and against the Motions of thy Blessed Spirit, having made a Show of Godliness; I have denied the Power of it, and have called upon the Name of Christ, but have not departed from Iniquity; I have given evil example unto others, by living contrary to what I have Professed, and have quenched and grieved the Mations of thy Holy Spirit, which should have sealed me up unto the day of Redemption; I have Committed all Impieties with Greediness, and have aggravated my Transgressions with heinous Circumstances; for I have sinned, not only against the Law, but against the Gospel, not only Ignorantly, but Wilfully and very presumptuously against the Checks of my Conscience, and the Light of Nature, insomuch that my own Heart doth condemn me, and thou art greater, knowing all Things. I have abused thy Mercies, despised thy Judgements, and turned thy very Graces into Wantonness, insomuch that my Iniquities are gone over my Head, and my Sins have covered me, I have nothing to plead for myself, but Guilty, Guilty, Guilty of the Breach of all thy most Holy and Righteous Laws, I have forfeited my Right to all that is Good, & have made myself liable to all Evils, both Temporal, Spiritual, and Eternal; it is even a Miracle of Mercy that I had not long ago been taken off in my Sin, and for my Sins, and have been made so Hellfull as I have been sinful, and have had my Portion given me with Hyppocrites, unbelievers, and those that loveth, and maketh a Lie in that Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone, there to be tormented with Devils and Damned Spirits for evermore, that instead of praying unto thee, and calling on thy Ne'er in Mercy, I am not howling amongst the Damned in an irrecoverable State that thy Patience is not ended toward me, and the D●or of Grace shut everlastingly against me; thou mightest justly long ago have said unto me, I would have healed thee, and thou wouldst not: I would have Saved thy Soul, but thou hast despised my Salvation; I would have made thee happy, and thou hast refused; therefore thou that art filthy, be filthy st●ll, there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin, but a fearful looking for of Judgement, Fiery Indignation, and the Fierce Anger of the Lord, the Most Mighty God; therefore go thou Cursed into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devils and their Angels. It had been but just with thee, O Lord, thus to have dealt by me, and thou mightest have Glorified thy Justice in my Just Condemnation, and Eternal Damnation; but there is Mercy with thee, that thou mayst be feared, and thy tender Mercies are over all thy Works, and Mercy pleaseth thee; it is, because thy Compassions fail not, that I am not consumed. O what shall I say unto thee, thou Preserver of Men? Whether shall I go, or to whom shall I fly? 'Tis thou alone that hast the words of eternal Life, and there is n● Name under Heaven by whom I can be Saved, but by the Name of Jesus Christ; and 'tis against thee, O Father; thou, O Holy Jesus; & thee, O Holy & Blessed Spirit; that I have sinned against the Holy and Blessed Trinity in Unity, and Unity in Trinity. Jesus Christ was wounded for my Transgressions, that by his Stripes I 〈◊〉 be healed; and I have wounded him afresh by my Sins: T●e cement of my Peace hath been upon his Shoulders, and he that knew no Sin, was made a Curse unto Sin for me, that I might be made the Righteonsness of God in him. He was pierced thorough with many Sorrows, and his precious Side was pierced with a Sphere, and his most precious Blood was spilt, that my Soul might be Eternally Saved, and I have pierced him again by my Sins. Jesus was Crucified, and died the bitter and Cursed Death of the Cross, that I might be Blessed and Everlastingly Saved, and I have Crucified the Lord of Life afresh, & have put him to open shame. O help me to look upon him whom I have pierced, and mourn over him, that I may be in bitterness of Spirit, and grieve because I cannot grieve enough for my Sins, and because I have grieved the Motions of thy Holy Spirit. Oh work in me a hatred of all sin, which is the cause of all Evil, and help me to avoid the very Appearance of it: O Lord, thou hast given some Encouragement for poor penitent Sinners to come unto thee, and graciously invited them, saying, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy Laden, and I will give you Rest; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; call upon me in the Day of Trouble, and I will hear thee and deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Oh Lord, I come, I seek, I call, I cry, beseeching thee for Jesus Christ his sake, to let me find rest unto my Soul; Open unto me the Gates of Salvation, and be ye opened ye Everlasting Gates, that the King of Glory may come in, and deliver me from the Intolerable Burden of my Sins. Help me to Glorify thee here, that I may be Glorified with thee to all Eternity: Lord, thou hast promised that, Thou wilt not break the Bruised Reed, nor quench the smoking Flax, nor despise the day of small Things: but hast mercifully styled thyself, to be a God hearing Prayers: and none of the Sons of Jacob ever sought thy Face in vain. And thou hast graciously declared thyself to be, the Lord, Merciful, Gracious, of Patience, and great Goodness, who pardoneth Iniquity, Transgressions, and Sins, for thy own Names-sake; and, thou desirest not the Death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his Wickedness and live: and hast promised, That at what time soever a sinner repenteth him of his sin from the bottom and ground of his Heart, thou wilt put away his Wickedness out of thy sight, and remember his Transgressions no more. And it is a faithful Saying, worthy of all Acceptation, That Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners, Of whom I am chief. O Lord, I Believe, help my Unbelief, help me to Believe, Repent, and Obey; for Jesus sake, have Mercy upon me, and work in me a godly Sorrow for my sins, which may cause a true Repentance unto Salvation, never to be repent of; and for thy Names-sake, pardon all my sins; for thy Mercies-sake do away my Iniquities; for thy Promise sake do not remember my Transgressions any more. And for Jesus Christ his sake seal a free and a full Pardon of all my sins unto my Soul. Say That thou art become my Salvation. And let the blood of Jesus cleanse me from all sin. Oh this is a great Request, I beg, who am unworthy of the least Mercy; but I beg of thee for the sake of Jesus, he is thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased, & through whom thou canst not be offended; he is my Saviour, and died to save me: according to the multitude of thy Compassions in the Lord Jesus, deal with me in the pardoning of all my sins; and let not sin nor Satan whom thou hatest, destroy the Work of thy hands, my Immortal Soul for whom Christ died; furnish me with the Graces of thy Holy Spirit, and give me Believing Grace and Mercy, Repenting Grace and Mercy, Pardoning Grace and Mercy, Restraining Grace and Mercy, Comforting Grace and Mercy, Renewing Grace and Mercy, with Confirming Grace and Mercy. Oh renew me in the Spirit of my Mind, help me to redeem time, because I have misspent much precious time already, and because the days are evil, make me consider the shortness and uncertainty of my time; I have but a Moment to work for Eternity: e'er long Death will come, and I shall be in a future state than time will be no more; and many have been taken off in their, sins, and for their sins, that are now in an Eternal state of Wo. O teach me in this my Day, to know the things that belong to my peace, before they are hid from mine Eyes; my day is already far spent, and my Night is at hand, I do not know what a Day may bring forth, let me not therefore any longer defer my Amendment of Life after so long a time; as it is called to day, help me to up, and be doing, and work while it is called to day, before the Night comes, when none works; help me to work out my Salvation with Fear and Trembling, and let me be very diligent to make my Calling and Election sure, the one thing needful, even the Salvation of my Immortal Soul, which is of everlasting Concernment; that whatever I miscarry in I may not be mistaken in the great business of my Eternal Happiness; to that end I most humbly pray thee again for Jesus Christ's sake, to free me from the Power of all sin, especially, those that my Nature is most prone to, such as do beset and overtake me daily; and be pleased to discover unto me the Deceitfulness of my own Heart, which is very naughty, and above all things, deceitful and desperately wicked, the Thoughts and Imaginations of my Heart have been evil, and only evil continually. O Lord, create in me a Clean and New Heart, renew a right Spirit within me, sanctify my Nature, and help me to sanctify thee, the Lord of Hosts, and make thee my Fear and Dread, that thou may'st be unto me a Sanctuary; O be pleased to convince me of thine Omnisciency, and Omniprescency, strike me with an Awe and Fear of thy Presence; make me to consider, that wherever I am, & whatever I am about, thou knowest it, who art a God of purer Eyes than to behold Sin with the least Approbation, and that I have always about me an Immortal Soul, and that it is against thee that I have sinned, who art a Sin-hating, and a Sin-revenging God, and that I must very shortly appear naked before thy dreadful Tribunal, to render an Account for all things done in the Flesh, and 〈◊〉 receive my Eternal Doom from the Righteous Judge of ●ll the World, O ●ea●h me with the Robes of Christ's Righteousness, le● his Meritorious Death and Passion satisfy thy Justice for my Sins, let the Blood of J●●us cleanse me from all sin, and make me circumspect in time to come, l●t me be Sober, Watchful, and Vigilant, because my Aiversary the Devil goeth about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour continually, and my poor, weak, fr●il Nature is ready to yield to every Temptation and Suggestion, not able to think a good Thought; O let thy Grace be sufficient for me, let it shield me from all hurt, cloth me with the Righteousness of my Jesus, let me be girt with Truth, and always shod with the Preparation of the Gospel, but above all things give me the Shield of Faith, the Breastplate of Righteousness, a Helmit of Salvation, with the Sword of the Spirit, whereby I may be able to fight against the World, the Flesh and the Devil, resisting the Fiery Darts of Satan, fight against Principalities, Powers, and Spiritual Wickedness in High-Places; let not the Gates of Hell, nor Powers of Darkness prevail against me; but let the Grace of God, which hath so plentifully appeared toward me, teaching to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, defend me; O let me be redeemed from a Vain Conversation, help me to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance, worthy an Amendment of Life, and let thy Holy Spirit seal me up unto the Day of Redemption, make me holy here, that I may be happy hereafter. Oh make me such a one as thou wouldst have me, and enable me to evidence unto myself the Assurance of my Justification by the fruits of my Sanctification; thou hast promised, That what soever shall be asked in thy Son's Name, according to thy Will, shall be granted. Now Lord, I know that this is thy Will, even my Sanctification; for Jesus sake, sanctify me throughout, and write upon my Heart, Holiness to the Lord, make me walk according to the Pattern of my Jesus, who was Humble, Holy, and Obedient to thy Will in all things, even to the death of the Cross; make me to consider that I was Redeemed, and bought with a Price, not of corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, therefore let me live to the Praise of him that hath so dearly bought me with his most precious Blood, let me walk like one that is Redeemed and Translated from Death to Life, as one whose Life is hid with God in Christ, that when he who is my Life shall appear, I may also appear with him in Glory. O help me to walk as an Adopted Son of the mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth, the Holy God; as an Adopted Brother to the Holy Jesus, my Loving Saviour, Mighty Redeemer, and the Captain of my Salvation; as one that is in fellowship with God, the Holy Ghast, the Blessed Spirit, my Mighty Comforter, daily Sanctifier and preserver, Oh help me to walk as one that is in Communion with, and related unto the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Let me never turn to Folly more, nor dare to sin any more, nor dishonour my Heavenly Relations, but help me to walk worthy of the Price of my High-Calling, pressing hard to the Mark, adorning my Profession, walking in all Wellpleasing, daily growing in Grace from strength to strength, till I shall appear in Zion in perfect beauty, in Glory make me to persevere, be constant and faithful to the death, that so I may receive a Crown of Life, Righteousness, and Glory that fadeth not away. To that end & purpose, O God, wean me from the World; take off my Affections from all perishing Vanities, make me Heavenly Minded, whilst I am about Earthly Business; let my Conversation be above, where the Lord Jesus sitteth at thy Right-hand, making Intercession for me; let me be in earnest for thy Honour and Glory, and the Salvation of my Immortal Soul. O let me be upon the Wing Heavenward, and carry me on upon Divine Principles, help me to strive to enter into the Straight Gate, Narrow is the Way that leads to Life and few there be that find it: Broad is the Way that leads to Destruction, and many there be that go in thereat; and if the Righteous ●hall scarce be Saved, where shall the Sinners and appear? Come Holy Ghost, Eternal God, Proceeding from the Father and Son, take Possession of my Soul, throw down all the Strong-holds of Sin and Satan, bring me over unto a Universal Obedience in all Things to thy Heavenly Will. O that my Ways were directed to keep thy Commandments, then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy Holy and most Righteous Laws, which are not grievous, as Flesh and Blood, the World and Devils would persuade me; thy Ways are Peace, thy Paths, Pleasantness, in thy Presence is Fullness of Joy, and at thy Right-hand are Rivers of Pleasures for evermore then let it be the joy of my Heart, and rejoicing of my Soul to do thy Will, help me to hate the Garment that is spotted with the Flesh, shed abroad a Divine Love into my Heart, and lay a Holy Constraint upon me to please thee in all Things. O make me consider what great Things the Lord hath done for me, who was once a Child of Wrath, a Firebrand of Hell, Heir to Eternal Death and Damnation, but now by the Grace of God in Jesus Christ, am become an Heir to an Eternal and Glorious Kingdom; O let me be led unto it which way my Heavenly Father pleaseth, it being assured to me by the great Charter of Heavenprecious Promises, sealed by the Blood of Jesus, the New Name, and the White Stone. O make me to know what the Lord hath done for my Soul and Body; my Soul is Redeemed from Hell, and my Body from the Grave, and both Body and Soul from Eternal Damnation, and all by the Blood of my Jesus; and my Vile Body shall be made a Glorious Body, and my Mortality shall put on Immortality, be swallowed up in Life, and I shall be a Co-heir with my Blessed Jesus. O what shall I render unto the Lord for all his Benefits; help me to take the Cup of Salvation, and praise the Name of the Lord, let me speak to thy Praise, and live to thy Praise, let my Heart be enlarged to show it forth in my Generation, and let it be Matter of Eternal Praises in the Heavenly Choir, when I shall there be joined with Saints, Angels, Arch-Angels, Cherubiens, Seraphims, the Spirits of Just Men and Women made perfect, all the Heavenly and Celestial Host to sing Hallelujahs and a New Song unto thy Divine Majesty, for thy Love in Jesus Christ; and in the mean time be pleased to accept of a Morning Sacrifice, which thy poor Creature doth desire to offer up in Praise at this time, with all humble sincerity, most earnestly begging the Assistance of thy Grace: blessed be thy Name for keeping me all my Days for my Creation, Preservation, and above all, for ever ever, ever; blessed be thy Name for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Fountain of all my Mercies, and through whom I have comfortable Hope and Assurance of Eternal Salvation. O let Christ be form more and more in me, and blessed be thy Name for all Temporal Favours, for keeping me the Night past, for refreshing me with the Comforts of Rest and Sleep, and hast kept me from all sad Accidents, when thou mightest have made my Bed my Grave, and my Sleep my Death, but blessed be thy Name, whose Compassions never fail thy poor Creature, who hast raised me this Morning in good Condition of Health, Strength, Mind, and Memory, and being thus brought to the beginning of this day, defend me, O Lord, in the same by thy Almighty Power, grant that I may fall into no Sin, nor run into any kind of Danger, but that all my Do may be ordered by thy Governance, to do that which is righteous in thy Sight, through Jesus Christ. O Lord have mercy upon thy whole Church, enlarge the Kingdom of Grace, hasten the Kingdom of Glory, send forth thy Word with thy Power thorough the whole World, propagate the Gospel, and hasten the Kingdom of Glory; remember thy Ancient People, the Jews, bring in the Fullness of the Gentiles, give the Heathen for thy Son's Inheritance, and the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession, let all Kingdoms of the World become the Lord Christ's, and let every Sceptre submit to his Royal Sceptre, that the Earth may be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea: and be graciously pleased to bless this Sinful Nation of England, pardon our Crying Sins, heal our Breaches▪ compose our Differences, give us a true Repentance and Amendment of Life, and be merciful unto us. O Lord save the King, pour down the choicest of thy Blessings upon his Head and Heart, make his Life long, & his Reign prosperous, keep him from the hands of his Enemies, let his Life be prerious in thy Sight, give him Wisdom and Courage from above, make him as an Angel of God, to go in and eut before the People over whom thou hast set him, and when thou shalt put an end to his Mortal Life, Crown him in thy Everlasting Kingdom in Glory, Bless him in his Royal Relations, our Gracious Queen Katherine, James Duke of York, and a●l ●he Royal Family; endue them with thy holy Spirit, enrich them with thy Heavenly 〈◊〉, prosper them with all Happiness, and bring them to thy Everlasting Kingdom B● p●eas●●● to bless all our Privy-Councellors, Rulers, and Judges, teach our Senator's Wisdom, and the true Fear of the Lord, make them Zealous for thy Honour and Glory, the Advancement of true Religion, Piety and Virtue, the Honour and Safety of the King and Kingdom. Bless all the Magistrates of this Realm, give them Grace to execute Justice and maintain Truth; and be pleased to pour down a double Portion of thy Blessings upon the Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments, the Clergy of this Land, by what Names or Titles soever they are dignified or distinguished, make them found in their Doctrine, and Exemplar in their Lives, let them shine like Stars in the Firmament, and let their Light so shine before Men, that seeing their good Works, others may glorify thee, the Heavenly Father; and O Lord look down in much Mercy upon all Degrees of Men, Women, and Children of this Nation, grant that we may all live in thy Faith and Fear in due Obedieuce and Loyalty to the King and his Laws, and in Brotherly-Love and Affection to one another; O Lord, bless all my Relations, especially my Wise and Child, pardon their Sins, and save their Souls, make them near and dear unto thyself, season their tender Years with thy Grace and Fear, be their satiable good in every Condition; and if it be thy blessed Will, bring us together again, that we may Serve thee better than sormerly we have done; and if it shall seem good unto thee, O Lord, find out a way for my Deliverance out of Prison, not mine, but thy Will be done, O God. I have found that thy Service is perfect Freedom, and thy Favour is better than Life: help me to order my Conversation aright, that I may see more of thy Salvation; let my ways please thee, that my Enemies may be at Peace with me; however, let all tend to the purging out of Sin, making me more fit to enjoy Communion with thee here, and eternally hereafter; vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep me this day without Sin, keep me in thy Fear, di●ert me in thy Truth, let thy Spirit lead me, that I may not offend with my Tongue, let me be silent rather than sin, and never repine at thy Providence, fit me for my future Being, make me mindful of Death, and let me always have the Assurance of thy Favour, which is better than Life. G God, whose Nature and Property is ever to have Mercy, and to forgive, receive my humble Petitions, and though I am tied and bound with the Chain of my Sin yet let the great pittifulness of thy Mercy lose me, for the Honour of my Advocate and Mediator Jesus Christ, to whom with thee, O Father, thy Holy and Blessed Spirit, be ascrided and given from the bottom of my Heart, and from all Creatures, all possible Honour, Glory, Power, Praise. Might, Majesty, Adoration, Dominion, and can be Imagined or expressed from this time forth, and for evermore, Amen. Our Father which art in Heaven: Hallowed be thy Name: Thy Kingdom come: Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. etc. FINIS.