portrait of Henry Massingberd I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance: Seeing I know that the time is at hand that I must lay down this my tabernacle. I will endeavour therefore that ye also may be able to have remembrance of these things after my departure Pet. 2.1.13.14.15. The lord will perfect that which concerneth me Psal. 138.8 THE COUNSEL AND ADMONITION OF HENRY MASSINGBERD, Esq TO HIS CHILDREN. PSAL. 111. 10. PROV. 9.10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do thereafter. PROV. 4.7. Wisdom is a special thing, therefore get wisdom, and above all thy get get understanding. TIT. 1.15. To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt all things are corrupted. There may be both good and evil produced from all earthly things, for that Every pot hath two handles. Char. of Wisd. LONDON, Printed by A.M. Anno Domini 1656. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. Psal. 26: 4. man with skull and hourglass We ought to ask, and knock, and seek, and pray, His constant guidance in his perfect way. How vile a shape doth bear this bone, When th'periwig of flesh is gone Learn from this dried bone and parched skull The body's foul, blessed souls are beauty full. THE Counsel and Admonition OF Henry Massingberd, Esq TO HIS Children. SCRIPTURES. ROM. 15.14. I Trust you will admonish one another in the fear of God. 1 Thes. 5.12, 13. Love them that admonish you, and be at peace among yourselves. 2 Thes. 3.15. Count him not an enemy that offends, but admonish him. Jer. 42.19. Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. Exod. 18.19. Harken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Job 21.16. The counsel of the wicked is far from me. Psal. 1.1, 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night. Psal. 16.7. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. And 73.24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and then receive me to glory. Prov. 8.9. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Psal. 31.15. My times are in thy hands O God. Job 10.20. Are not my days few. Job 14.1. Man is of few days. Eccles. 1.4. One generation goeth and another cometh. Gen. 27. ●. I know not the day of my death. Eccl. 3.2. There is a time to be born and a time to die. Eph. 6.1. Children obey your parents. Phil. 4.17. I desire fruit, that may a bound to your account. Joh. 14.3. That where I am ye may be also. 2 Sam. 122.3. I shall go to him he shall not return to me. Eph. 4.5, 6. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all. Math. 6.10. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Job 14.14. All the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change come. Joh. 9.4. I must work the work of him that sent me to day, the night cometh when no man can work. Amos 4.12. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel. Eccl. 11.3. Where the tree falleth, there it lies. Matth. 25.3. They that were foolish took their lamps and no oil with them. Heb. 3.7, 8. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Mark 13.37. What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Prov. 4.1. Hear ye children the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Isa. 38.19. The father to the children shall make known thy truth. Prov. 22.6. Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not departed from it. Gen. 18.19. For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice. Psal. 133. Prov. 1.7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. And ver. 8. My son hear thou the instruction of thy father, and despise not the law of thy mother. Joh. 15.17. These things I command you, that you love one another. And 13.34. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 1 Joh. 4.24. He that loveth God, loveth his brother also. 1 Pet. 1.22. See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Acts 7.27. Ye are brethren, why do ye wrong one another. Job 1.21. The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord. 1 Tim. 6.17. Trust not in uncertain riches. Eccl. 5.13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun, namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. Matth. 6.20. Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven. Rev. 8.13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 1 Joh. 2.15. Love not the world, nor the things of this world. Phil. 3.15. As many as be perfect be thus minded. James 1.27. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widow with some relief in their afflictions, and to keep himself unspotted from this world. Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures. Matth. 22.19. You err, not knowing the Scriptures. Psal. 127.5. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Heb. 11.6. He that comes to God, must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently sack him. Eccls 2.26. For God giveth to men that is good in his sight, wisdom, knowledge, joy. Psal. 30.1. I will extol thee O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up. And 68.4. Sing unto God, sing praises to his Name, extol him that rideth upon the heavens. Psal. 39 5. Man at his best estate is altogether vanity. 1 Sam. 2.7. The Lord bringeth low and lifteth up. Psal. 18.2. The Lord is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust. Ver. 30. As for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is tried, he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Luk. 2.14. Glory to God on high, on earth peace. Joh. 14.23. But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and truth. Psal. 34.18. The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart, and saveth those that be of a contrite spirit. And 51.17. A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise. Mal. 3.3. Offer to God the sacrifice of righteousness. Psal 116.17. I will offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord. Job 4.7. Who ever perished being innocent? And 22.30. He shall deliver the Island of the innocent, and it is delivered by the pureness of thy hand, Rom. 12.1. That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 1 Cor. 6.9. Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost that is in you. a Gen. ●. 27. God created man in his own Image. b Heb. 13.15. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips. Matth. 4.10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Rom. 10.12. The same God over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Psal. 50.3, 10. I will have no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goat out of thy fold; for every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattles upon a thousand hills. Psal. 109.22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. Psal. 22.22. I will declare thy Name unto my brethren, and in the midst of the Congregation will I praise thee. Ver. 25. My praises shall be of thee in the great Congregation, I will pay my vows before them that fear thee. Psal. 40.8. I delight to do thy will O God, yea thy Law is in my heart. Matth. 6.10. Thy will be done (O God) in earth as it is in Heaven. Heb. 10.7. I come to do thy will O God. Prov. 5.21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his go. And 15.3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Exod. 20.7. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain. Psal. 139.20. Thy enemies (O God) take thy Name in vain. And 145.2. Every day will I praise thee, and I will bless thy Name for ever and ever, And 99.3. Let them praise thy great and terrible Name, for it is holy. Levit. 22.2. Speak to Aaron and to his sons, that they profane not my holy Name, for I am the Lord. And Psal. 111.9. Holy and reverend is his Name. And Ezek. 39.25. I will be jealoas for my holy Name. Eccl. 8.2. I know it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him. Jer. 10.23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Prov. 29.25. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. And 30.5. God is a shield to them that put their trust in him. Rom. 8.28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Matth. 10.19, 30. Are not two Sprrrowes sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 2 Cor. 1.3. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Psal. 23.4. Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Isa. 66.13. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted. Isa. 6.16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. Rom. 8.10. And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. Psal. 119.71. It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn thy statutes. And 126.5. Them that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Jer. 22.13. I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice for their sorrow. Lam. 3.25. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 1 King. 3.9. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart, that I may discern betwixt good and bad. Psal. 119.34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law, yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. And v. 73. Give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments. Dan. 12.10. None of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Gal. 5.17. For these two are contrary one to another. Job 9.20. If I justify myself my own mouth will condemn me; if I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse. Psal. 37.27. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. And 50. 23. Who so offereth praise glorifieth God, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Psal. 119.67, 71. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I learned thy word. It's good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. Psal. 68.3. Let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice before God, let them exceedingly rejoice. And Prov. 29.6. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare, but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. Psal. 38.13. For I will declare my iniquity and be sorry for my sin. 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry▪ but that you sorrowed to repentance, for ye were made sorry after a godly manner. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repent of, but worldly sorrow worketh death. Jer. 10.24. O Lord correct me but with judgement, not in thy anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Psal. 119.33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it to the end. And 143. 8. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to thee. Deut. 8.5. Thou shalt also consider in thy heart, that as a man chastiseth his son, so the Lord thy God chastiseth thee. Psal. 94.12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law. Heb. 12.6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Matth. 22.29. You err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. 2 Tim. 3.16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 1 Cor. 2.10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his holy Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. Rom. 10.6. Say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven, that is, to bring Christ down from above? who shall descend into the deep, that is, to bring Christ up from the dead? but the Word is nigh thee, the word of faith which we preach. Matth. 7.15. Beware of false prophets. Eph. 4.14. That we be no more children, tossed to and fro by the sleight of men, to every wind of Doctrine whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Mich. 6.8. He hath showed thee O man what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out. Psal. 4.5. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the lord And 104. 33. I will sing unto the Lord so long as I live, I will sing praise unto my God while I have any being. Matth. 6.20. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thiefs do not break through and steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Prov. 13.13. Who so despiseth the Word shall be destroyed, but he that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded. 1 Pet. 3.16. Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Isa. 26.3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because be trusteth in thee. 2 Chron. 25.2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. Matth. 5.8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 1 Tim. 1.5. Now the end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Psal. 107.43. Who so is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. Deut. 4.9. Take heed to thyself and keep thy soul diligently, and teach them thy sons and thy sons sons. Matth. 5.19. Whosoever shall do and teach them, shall be great in the kingdom of heaven. Prov. 28.9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayers shall be an abomination to the Lord. Rom. 10.17. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 1 Tim. 4.13. Give attendance to reading. Psal. 1.2. In his Law doth he meditate day and night. Read the whole Psalm. Psal. 55.17. Evening, morning and noon will I pray. Luk. 6.38. Give and it shall be given to you again. Eccl. 1.4. One generation passeth, and another generation cometh. 1 Thes. 5.10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him. 1 Cor. 1.20. Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Ver. 27. God hath chosen the foolish things of this world, to confound the wise: and the weak things of this world, to confound the things which are mighty. Phil. 4.17. I desire fruit that may abound to your account. Psal. 103.15. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. Heb. 11.16. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City. Psal. 90. 1●. So teach us to number our days (O Lord) that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. TEN ADMONITIONS Upon the Ten several Ages of a Man's Life: It being divided into ten Sevens, in which is easily to be observed ten apparent changes in our Apprehensions and Desires. PSAL. 90.10. The age of a man is threescore years and ten, if strength continue till fourscore years, yet is that strength but labour and sorrow, it suddenly faileth, and we are gone. ALSO General Admonitions for the whole Life of Man. ECCLES. 12.12. By these my son be admonished. ECCLES. 4.13. Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish King, who will no more be admonished. HIS EPISTLE. Children, MY desire is to speak very plainly to you, in a low and common stile, that so the meanest capacity, may receive and understand my meaning. You are they that are very near me in my generation, and for vicissitudes, and perhaps multitudes of times (although, to speak properly, not much time, for our days be few and evil) you are to pass and sojourn with me in my pilgrimage: and as my journey draws towards an end, nearer the grave, the undoubted portion of mortality, so your journeys likewise become shorter, and who knows the hour of his dissolution, for our times are in thy hands O God. My account is great for you, and my care is great of you (especially for the good of your eternity,) and my commands are therefore great unto you, that with your best abilities you assist me in it, and hearty endeavour to further my good account of you in the day of trial: let our great and diligent care be, so to spend our time, that we may live together (in the true and perfect service of our good God) for our eternity: Let us take here comfort in those our friends who are gone, or shall go out of this world, before us, [praemissi non anussi,] who lived and died in the same faith and belief with us, and whose lives (as we may judge) have answered their profession, that we (in the eternal mercy of the eternal Father in Christ Jesus) shall upon our dissolution, meet them again, Rev c. 2. (we being as they were, constant in all good duties to the end) and never part one from the other, nor from the perfect service of our Creator for ever: This may be (in some part) our hope and joy; but our great rejoicing must always be, willingly and joyfully to submit to the will of God, and to his pleasure for ever. This is not to be the work of a day, but of all the days of all our lives; for a day soon passeth away, and mortality is always at hand; therefore beware of unpreparedness, for if the tree fall ill, so it lies; upon this moment (as it were) dependeth eternity; if then thou hast not oil in thy lamp the door of mercy is for ever shut; and who knows what a day may bring forth: therefore seriously consider, fill your holy lamps with the burning oil of piety and watch. And know, in case any of you become a Parent, that you own unto your Children, not only material subsistence for their bodies, but much more to contribute spiritual things unto their better part their souls: and be sure you principle them aright in the beginning of their days, so soon as they can do or apprehend any thing, let it be good; and from the true principle of loving and obeying our good God, even for his own sake, which will conduct us to the right loving of our neighbour. I humbly bless our good God, that hath endued all of you with capacities and natural endowments, in some measure capable of the best instructions: and withal I humbly crave his powerful spirit upon your wills to improve them, and I trust your best compliances shall not be wanting. Be sure you embrace and hold fast true love one towards another; and although you had several Mothers, yet let your love and unity be one, in faith and truth; and the One eternal God will undoubtedly give you the incomprehensible blessing both of temporal and eternal peace: and will strongly fortify you against any dejection at the deprivement of any temporal blessings, whilst you truly consider the uncertainty of them, the difficulty in well using of them, and the danger if abused: and that nothing is worthy our serious thoughts, but what accompanies us to our eternal habitation, and goeth with us to that admirable, perfect and happy estate we shall most certainly arrive unto, if we wean ourselves from these worldly impediments that here deface and clog our souls, and only endeavour and esteem that good which tends to the good of our eternity. The inward endowments of the mind are by far more excellent than the outward adornments of the body; therefore let the bottom and foundation of all thy endeavours be laid in pure and undefiled religion, truly grounded upon the sacred Scriptures rightly understood [Sint cast a deliciae meae scripturae tuae, nec faller in eyes, O Deus meus, nec fallam ex eyes. August. Confess.] For except the Lord build the house the workmen labour but in vain. We must all acknowledge and believe a most sacred heavenly Deity; for whosoever come to almighty God aright, fitting for his merciful and saving acceptance, must first know and believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that serve him True religion consisteth in the knowledge of God and of ourselves, (for it is a relative action between both,) the office thereof is, to extol God to the utmost of our power, and to beat down man as utterly lost, and then to furnish him with means to rise again; to make him feel his misery and his weakness, to the end he may put his whole confidence in God alone. Religion should knit and unite us to the author and principal cause of our good, and reunite us to our first cause and root, where, if we continue firm, we are thereby preserved in our perfection: and contrary, if we separate▪ we instantly faint and languish: True Religion doth make us give all honour to almighty God, and receive all benefit to ourselves. Glory be to God on high, and peace with men on earth. Almighty God must be served with our hearts and spirits; it is the service answerable to his nature, he is a spirit, then worship him in purity of spirit, this he requireth and it pleaseth him; the Father desireth such worshippers: the most acceptable sacrifice unto his sacred Majesty, is a pure, free and humble heart, this he will not despise: A pure heart is a sacrifice to God, an innocent soul, an innocent life. A holy man is a true sacrifice to God, his body is his Temple, his soul is his a Image, his affections are his b offerings, his solemn sacrifice is to imitate, serve and implore him. God is rich, and therefore giveth unto us poor, and therefore ask. Although all true worship be from the inward spirit, yet nevertheless we must not contemn or disdain outward and public service, which must be an assistant to the inward truth, by observing ceremonies, orders and customs, with moderation, without vanity, ambition, hypocrisy or covetousness, as they may and do tend to the advancement of true devotion in us; always remembering, that God will be served in spirit, and what is performed by us otherwise, is rather for ourselves then for God; for humane respects and formal observances, then divine verity, which rather belongs to manners and customs than the thing itself. Our vows and prayers to almighty God should be always with this submission; Thy will be done O Lord, and not mine: [Tua voluntas Domine mea sit, & mea voluntas tuam semper sequatur, & optimè ci concordet, saith a pious and ancient Father.] Take great heed of ask any thing against the determination of his revealed will: his will is that we ought to fit ourselves to receive. We must think, speak and deal with almighty God, as if all the world did behold us, and live and converse with the world, as if God did behold us. We must take great care, not (upon any slight occasion, or cursorily) to use the most sacred Name of God, but with premeditation, obediently and reverently to speak and use it; his Name is holy, and all honour is for ever due unto it. The divine providence being well learned by us, doth administer sufficient upholding comfort in all the chances and changes of this life: We are most thankfully to acknowledge and submit to this providence, which disposeth all things to the best, to them that truly and obediently acknowledge it, without which a Sparrow falls not, and with whom our hairs are numbered: this is the staff of life, the blessed stay of comfort, on which we safely rest in all the passages of our pilgrimage: this inward spirit works quite contrary to the outward man, it makes us truly say, Thy will be done (O God) and not mine; and not only say so, but hearty and thankfully rejoice that so it is, knowing that it is best and only good for us: this clears thy soul of grief and trouble, and fills thy heart with joy and gladness; knowing that is done which is only good for thee, and that thy will is not done; for had it been against divine providence, it would have produced thy utter ruin and destruction, therefore for ever bless that most gracious providence that hath avoided it. Be diligent to find out the good of necessity, it is a sweet herb, but grows not in every garden: it is an especial branch of true wisdom, and teacheth to take every thing by the right end; the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish, the true contented and discontented, do all the same things, but not after the same manner, not with the same apprehension, understanding and judgement, neither intending or conducing to the same end and purpose, and therefore the operation in them is not the same, but quite contrary. Nothing in this world is perfect, therefore there is both good and evil, a right and a wrong use of them, the first tending to true joy and comfort, the latter to sorrow and discontent. Correction (upon search) discovereth sin, and moveth to repentance and prevention. Not to rejoice (after serious thoughts) at the chastisements of God's providence, is a very evil sign of a wicked heart: we must be truly sorrowful for sin which is the only cause of correction, not for the correction; for the cause of the disease, not for the cure. Before I was corrected I went astray, but now have I learned thy word. O blessed and sweet correction, that leads and holds us in the way to eternal happiness: if correction bring thee not comfort, with resolution (by the gracious assistance of almighty God) and joy in amendment, search narrowly thy ways, for it is greatly to be feared, they lead thee to eternal death. Correction is the sweet beams of God's love to soften us, that so we may receive the marks of his saving mercy: take great heed thou be not as the Spider upon the Flower, that gathereth poison, nor as clay to the Sun, which is hardened by it: but be thou as wax softened and fitted for impression; and as the Bee, that gathereth honey from the Flower. I advise you to labour much in the Scriptures, especially be very perfect in the new Testament, they are the medicine of life, and in them rightly understood, is salve for every sore, and sound counsel in all occasions. Labour to be a good text-man, for Scripture interprets itself, although in some places there seems literal contradiction, yet the holy Spirit trieth all, and finds all, holy, right and good, tending to the all and only good, our temporal and eternal peace, which cannot be taken from us. Psal. 34.10. The Lions shall want and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any thing that is good; that is to say, they shall have all good, spiritual and temporal, including in this word good, all such temporal things as may be necessary to salvation (for whatsoever is contrary thereto, is neither good nor profitable, but bad and pernicious) and therefore God doth not give temporal felicity to all his servants, but only to such of them as he knows (with the help of his grace) will use it well to his honour and glory, and to such it is a furtherance of salvation; whereas to wicked men, though it be also God's gift, yet it is not properly counted God's gift to them, but evil and punishment; not a blessing but a curse, not felicity but misery, by reason that it makes them more insolent, proud and licentious, and by consequence increaseth their damnation: this is the plain meaning of the Psalmist, and accordingly will one Scripture interpret another. Again Psal. 37.4. Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart. What is that think you? plenty, credit, vain honour, ease, full tables, riches, etc. No, no, but that in the want or fullness of these things you shall rest in God, and therein have your full desire, that your will being united to the will of God; you shall desire nothing but what is suitable to his will and pleasure, and wholly rejoice in your will, that the will of God is done, which is only good, and the best for you. Search not too curiously into God's Majesty and mysteries, lest thou be oppressed with the glory of them. Take great heed of infecting thy judgement with false doctrine, be always most humble in the sight of God, and offer unto him the chastity of an inward mind. Never cease from good works during life, but lay up the treasure of all thy love in heaven, and be assured that for thy well doing, thou shalt have thy reward of true joy and peace in mind and conscience in this life, as a heavenly gift (when earth perhaps denies thee any) and perfect peace for thy eternity: and further know, that who doth a work never so good and laudable in itself, if he do it to gain the applause of the world, more than out of duty and obedience to almighty God, he shall have his reward, that is perhaps the vainglory he looked for, a worldly reward, but not my reward, that is, the most blessed and glorious reward of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, a heavenly reward, which he hath laid up eternally for his blessed Saints and servants in heaven. My wishes to you are, that you will every one of you seriously observe my drift herein; and that you will not only read and practise it, in the best construction for your souls good, but that you will teach others so to do, especially your Children, if God shall give you any; and to this join hearing, reading, prayer, meditation, blessed alms and charity, and all other Christian duties, in true love to almighty God for his own sake, to your neighbours for his Commandments sake, and both for obedience sake unto his sacred Majesty. Consider, that as one generation goeth, so another cometh, and it shall be only well to the righteous; be righteous then and our good God will surely bless you, and in the best time of his providence will bring us all together to eternal peace in Christ Jesus. Children I do not command you to study, read or love this book above others (by far more learned Authors) because of any oratory, wit or learning there is showed in it; but because in its right construction (I trust) it is pious, true and honest; and comes from a near related heart, that truly desires and hopes (in the sweet and saving mercy of our good God) to live with you all in the eternal and perfect welfare of your souls and bodies, when our short, dangerous and various conditioned pilgrimages in this world are ended; and that truly endeavours and desires the perfect welfare of your souls and bodies, and the true conversion of both into the sincere love of our Creator, more than all the world besides: therefore seriously consider this, and the Lord give you perfect wisdom from heaven in all things. Amen. Your Father H. M. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Pet: i. 2.2. man on deathbed with skull and hourglass Though infant vanities do us accuse Yet humble innocence our God doth choose Death watches time time parts with every sand Death and our time are partners hand in hand And as the sands do change their glass So I in change my life must pass Advice or Admonition OF A FATHER. There are three Ages principally distinguished in a Man's Life: The first is Infancy, Childhood, Youth, The second is Manhood, The third is Old age. The first to be spent in learning from others, and therein our duty is, to be diligent and love our Teachers; For, Youth well spent a true foundation is Of an immortal monument of bliss. The second to be spent in more laborious learning both from ourselves and others, especially to know thyself, for man's heart is deceitful: do thou present thy strength unto the Lord; For, Thou canst not find a better friend more fit, To have thy strength, than he that gave thee it. The third to be spent both in teaching others and thyself; for length of days increaseth wisdom; and he that truly seeks, in time may find: For, When deaths pale face appears, and wrinkled brow, Thou know'st thy accounted is near, not when nor how. Infancy and Childhood, Youth, strength and hoary age, if death prevent not make our pilgrimage, Jer. 4.31. FOr I have heard a voice as of a woman in travel, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child. Jer. 49.25. Anguish and sorrow have taken her as a woman in travel. Deut. 12.30. Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared. Eccl. 9.12. So are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Matth. 7.13. Wide is the gate, and broad the way that leads to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. Ver. 14. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Rom. 13.13. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Ver. 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. 6.22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. And 8.18. For I reckon that the moment any afflictions of this life, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 1 Cor. 9.24. So run that you may obtain. Zach. 4.10. For who hath despised the day of small things? Psal. 89.47. Remember O Lord how short my time is. Col. 4.5. Walk in wisdom redeeming the time. Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. 2 Chron. 29.11. My son be not now negligent. Matth. 7.23. Depart from me ye that work iniquity. Prov. 22.8. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity. Psal. 90.12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. And 103.15. As for man his days are as grass, as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. And 144. ver. 4. Man is like to vanity, his days are as a shadow that soon passeth away. Heb. 3.7. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Ver. 13. Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Exod. 22.29. Thou shall not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits. Psal. 119.60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments. Job 11.23, 14. If thou prepare thy heart, and stretch out thy hands towards him; if inquity be in thy hand, put it fare away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. Psal. 119.137, 140. Righteous art thou O Lord, and upright are thy judgements: thy Word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. Psal. 64.9, 10. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the works of God: for they shall wisely consider of his do. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in him: and all the upright in heart shall glory. Jam. 4.14. Whereas you know not what shall be to morrow, for what is your life, it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Psal. 89.48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death, shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave. Prov. 14.32. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death. INfancy the first Age, is like passing through the red Sea, in this is required patience, this is our first footing into the wilderness, to which we pass through the bloody sea of our distressed mother; afflicting her with sorrow, that first tells us of a land of rest. And why should nature thus behave herself, to seem ungrateful to her dearest nurse, and Viperlike, to kill and tear her dam? it may be this, because there is a dangerous wilderness to pass through, before we come to this Land of Promise, and many byways and broad paths in it leading all to destruction, and only one straight way and narrow path there is that leadeth to Canaan, and hard it is, and few there are that find it: and being once set down in this wand'ring desert, if we miss this straight way, and go a deadly path, woe is to us that ever we undertook it, better had it been for us if we had not been born. But as the loss is most sad, so is the right ordering of our way, and following this straight path, most joyful in the end: for what are afflictions, if through them we enter into the Kingdom of God, of which the momentany afflictions of this life are not worthy; and unless we undertake this journey, unless we run, we cannot obtain, we cannot have the prize, the bliss. This is the day of small things, the beginning of days unto us, the beginning of our precious time, so swift a steed, that if he once pass we cannot bring him back; therefore let us improve the time because the days are evil, be very vigilant that it pass not in vain. Some times there are, which are taken from us; some are stolen from us; and others slip away from us; but the shamefullest loss of time that may be, is when it proceedeth from our own negligence. We see a great part of time flitteth from all men, very much from idle persons, and the whole from those that love iniquity; therefore ought we to put a great price upon time, to esteem of a day, and to know that we die daily; for herein are we deceived, because we suppose death to be far from us, when the truth is, death holds all our years in his possession, therefore embrace and lay hold on every hour. So shalt thou be blessed in suspense for to morrow, if thou fasten thy hands on to day; whilst life is deferred it fleeteth, therefore make good use of time while thou hast it, for infinite are the ways that end it to thee. It is a very evil thing, to delay the performing of good duties in this life, which is very short, if thou wouldst fortify & provide against the pursuit of a powerful enemy, then more especially against the power of death, it is more worthy to consummate life, before death, then to delay the living of a blessed life, and death take us unprepared, the greatest loss is the loss of time, and the greatest grief, when it is truly considered. A good life consisteth not in the space, but use of time, whence it cometh to pass, that he who hath lived longest hath often lived little, or nothing. As the heathen Philosopher wisely observed of one, who neglected the improvement of his time, Quod octoginta Annorum fuit, septem tamen Annos tantum vixit; accounting only that life, which was spent with prudence and circumspection. Consider when thou liest down, it may be thou shalt not rise, when thou sleepest, thou mayest not awake, and when thou wakest thou mayst sleep no more: Ut somnus mori is, sic lectus imago sepulchri. When thou goest forth thou mayst not return, and when thou returnest, thou mayst go forth no more, there is not three fingers only betwixt the Mariner and death, but in all places, and at all times, death and life are not fare asunder; every where death shows not himself so nigh, as nigh he is: but live thou the life of the righteous, and thou shalt surely die the death of the righteous, which is the sure gain of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. woman with skull and hourglass Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not departed from it. Pro: 22.6 As days increase so must increase our will To do what's good and to avoid what's— ill Death is most certain but the instant when Is most uncertain to all mortal men. So soon as one sand drops, the next doth follow Life's here to day, and death takes place to morrow. Psal. 22.26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied. And 25.9. The meek will he guide in judgement, and the meek will he teach his way. 1 Sam. 2.3. Talk no more so exceeding proudly, let no arrogancy come out of thy mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Prov. 3.13. Happy is he that findeth wisdom, and that getteth understanding. And Ver. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace. Psal. 50.14. Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most high. Deut. 6.2. That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his Commandemonts which I command thee, thou and thy son, and thy son's son all the days of thy life, and that thy days may be prolonged. Psal. 34.11. Come ye children hearken to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Psal. 111.10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do thereafter, and obey his Commandments. Psal. 119.6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments. Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures diligently. Psal. 119.24. Thy testimonies are my delight, and my councillors. And 37.4. Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire of thy heart. Rom. 12.10. Be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love. Eccl. 1.4. One generation passeth and another cometh. And 12.1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them. Judas v. 7. As Sodom and Gomorrah are set for our examples, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1 Thes. 5.22. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Eccl. 9.3. There is an evil among all things that are done under the Sun, that there is one event to all; yea also the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and madness while they live, and after that they go down to the dead. Eph. 6.11, 13. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, that ye may stand in the evil day. Prov. 8.17. I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me. Psal. 63.1. O God thou art my God, early will I seek thee. Gen. 8.21. The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Eph. 2.3. And were by nature the children of wrath. Judas v. 20. But what they know naturally as bruit beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 2 Pet. 3.1, 2. In both which I stir up your willing minds by way of remembrance, that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets, and of the Commandments of us the Apostles of the Lord our Saviour. Rom. 2.21. Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thou thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Matth. 7.15. Beware of false prophets (or teachers) which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. THe second Age is termed Childhood, a right wand'ring in the wilderness, in which meekness is required. The first we discovered and commenced our time, now it is requisite to speak something of Action, which is the life of a man in his time, of this I would (by the help of God) admonish in order, according to the several steps and degrees of capacity. Such action as concerns this second Age, is the beginning truly to relish and entertain wholesome doctrine and admonition, such as tend to our temporal, but especially to our eternal welfare: Now that we are entered into this wholesome Land, and possed the danger of a sevenyears journey, in the troublesome pilgrimage of this mortality, it is good that we apply our minds, how we may become serviceable to our merciful Creator, and employ our appointed time in his Vineyard, like faithful servitors, that when he comes or calls, we may be ready to pass our account with joy and comfort, and not with grief. In this Age we are to proceed in those little footsteps of learning, which probably (if not much neglected) hath been laid out to us in the former Age. Foundations ought to be of the most lasting materials, because if they fail, the whole building is in danger, and they are most hard and unusual to be removed; therefore let thy first learning be the best, and that is thy duty to thy Maker, which comprehendeth the general performance of all duty: Learn divine precepts, especially the old and new Testament, that may make thee wise to salvation, and that will by God's mercy bring on a delight in prayer, in reading and hearing the Word of the Almighty. Instruct a child while he is young, and he will remember it afterwards: Never teach a child that which is evil, which he must either leave, or be untaught; engraft brotherly love one in another, ever rejoicing in one another's welfare, but especially in the good of your eternity. Now thou must begin to take some notice of passages, and accidents, that do, may, or have befallen thee, or some near thee; especially of the death and mortality of thy friend or acquaintance; for often to think of death, is a great means to be well prepared for it: and taking notice of passages and casualty in others, fits us for changes and alterations that must befall ourselves. About this time it is, that corrupted youth gins to make excuse for faults, but do thou fly the faults and it is sufficient. Strive to know good from evil, then follow the good, and be sure to avoid all appearances of evil: he hardly recovers health, that knows not he is sick: if we begin not our cure betime, when shall we cast off those many plagues and sicknesses that begird us. A Christian must be an expert Spiritual Soldier, and therefore must learn betime to put on his whole armour of salvation: we must begin to reform and correct our minds, before they be confirmed in wickedness and corruption: corrupted nature proffers no man a good mind before an evil, therefore is the mind to be enforced, so shall the medicine prove sweet while it cureth. Of other remedies there are certain pleasures after health: Divinity is both wholesome and pleasing; it is very necessary that Tutors and teachers of Children, and all that company with them be religiously disposed, gentle and peaceable; example, in this age especially, prevails much beyond precept; that which is tender layeth hold on that which is near unto it, grows with it, and is fashioned to it: Nurses and Masters are often imitated by Children, and more oft in their vices then virtues, by how much in humane things the bad exceeds the good; therefore timely and diligent heed must be prepared against them, that so the Cokatrice and subtle Serpent may be killed betime, broken in the egg, before it show a deceitful countenance; lest the dissembling Wolf, having gotten a Sheep's clothing, deceive the innocent Lambs, and bring them unawares into his slaughter-house of destruction. — Nunc adhibe pure Pectore verba puer, nunc te melioribus offer: Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem Testa diu— Horat. Now Child in the white paper of thy breast Writ Virtue: now such Precepts from the best A Pot well seasoned holds the primitive taste A long time after— 2 Chron. 34.3. For while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. Psal. 119.9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Prov. 1.4. To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Prov. 3.6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Psal. 5.3. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up. Isa. 45.13. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways. Jer. 10.23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Psal. 36.9. For with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light shall we see light. Rev. 7.17. For the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Phil. 4.8. If there be any virtue think of these things. 2. Pet. 1.3. According to his Divine power, he hath given to us all things that pertain to this life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Ver. 5. Add to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge. Ver. 6. To knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness. and to godliness brotherly kindness. Luk. 10.42. Mary hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her. Luk. 10.42. Mary hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken from her. Joh. 6.27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. Prov. 11.28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall. Matth. 23.6. The Scribes and Pharises love the uppermost rooms and chief seats. Ver. 7. And greetings in the marketplace, and to be called of men Rabbi. Ver. 12. Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Matth. 25.48. But if the evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, Ver. 49. And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the Lord of that servant shall cut him in sunder. Rom. 7.23. But I see another Law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind. Neh. 9.37. They have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattles at their pleasures, and we are in great distrasse. Prov. 12.21. There shall no evil happen to the just, but the wicked shall be killed with mischief. Eccl. 12.13. Fear God and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Eph. 5.19. Quench not the spirit. Psal. 119.16. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments. Rev. 3.20. Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. Prov. 1.24, 25, 26. But because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded, but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh. Prov. 4.7. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and with all thy get get understanding. Eccl. 7.8. The patiented in spirit, is better than the proud in spirit. 2 Cor. 11.2. For I am jealous over you with a a godly jealousy, for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Psal. 51.12. O Lord uphold me with thy free spirit. And 143.10. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness. Prov. 16.32. He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh the City. And 20.27. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward prrts of the blly. Psal. 22.20. The meek shall eat and be satisfied. And 25.9. The meek will he guide in judgement, and the meek will he teach his way. Phil. 2.8. And being found in fashion of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Jer. 9.3. But they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. Psal. 60.12. Through God we will do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. 1 Thes. 5.6. Let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. And ver. 8. Let us that be of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. Col. 4.6. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how you ought to answer every man. Eccl. 10.10. Wisdom is profitable to direct. And 9.16. Wisdom is better than strength. And v. 18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroyeth much good. INfancy and Childhood being passed like the red Sea and the wilderness; the next and third Age is called Youth (like passing over Jordan) and therein is temperance to be carefully planted: This is a dangerous and a difficult passage, and our guide herein must be supernatural: it is not humane light that can direct us in this way, it must be a coal taken from the Altar, and a Candle enlightened at the holy Lamp, that must protect us in this voyage; here we must take and endear unto us the living fountain of life, to curb the threatening floods of death: here Virtues show your strength, or vice will soon prevail and conquer; here you must wage a war with Epicures and other vain professors, that in vain glorious pastimes talk of Virtues, and make them handmaids to their vicious pleasures, whereas no true pleasure is without them; for that is not Virtue, which waiteth on delight, the chiefest place is hers, and she it is that must lead, command and be obeyed. Take great heed of being bondslave to delight, for all is vain where Virtue hath no place; Virtue only giveth perpetual and assured joy, although there be some obstacles, which are as foggy mists which never surmount the Sun; to obtain this no labour is too great, nor any pains too high a price to make us thus affected; true worth is to be well composed unto Virtue; all that is honourably performed, one only Virtue doth it, although it be by advice and counsel, for there is an inseparable society of all Virtues; when any endures affliction constantly, young man with skull and hourglass Where with shall a young man cleanse his way! by taking heed, thereto according to thy word. Psal: 119.9. When strength and health like to the loaded glass Are fall at height remember they must pass Since like this head thy head must be Hate pride and love humility. No pas-time needs times steed is passing fleet Time present, and time past each moment greet. stantly perhaps he employs all his Virtues, although but one discovereth itself at hand, which is his Patience. Virtue is that which properly belongs to a wise man, and cannot be taken from him, bloody Tyrants have no power over this; those goods are true and only worthy our serious endeavours to obtain, which cannot be taken from us; as for riches, honour, precious-stones, gold, silver, epicures feasts and such like, they are but earthly burdens, which a sincere mind, and such as is not forgetful of his nature cannot love, because nature spiritualised is always light, and will mount as high as heaven as soon as it sees the gate open; in the mean while (as fare as these bonds of the body, and mass of the flesh which environeth the same will permit) upon the wings of a sudden and swift thought, it visiteth and vieweth celestial things, and examineth both time past and that which is to come; whereas this frail body, the fetters and gives of the soul, is tossed hither and thither, punishments, thefts, and sicknesses are exercised upon it; but a virtuous mind is sacred and eternal, and wicked hands cannot lay hold to hurt it. Endeavour to obtain, and keep thyself very close to all kind of Virtue which the holy Spirit shall upon any occasion dart into thy mind, and take great heed thou quench not the holy Spirit in thee, by slighting, neglecting, refusing or delaying to make good use of the good motions thereof; for (doubtless less) all men have (at one time or other) offers and opportunities of grace, which if he make no good use of, his damnation is surely just. I will in this place only name and particularise some choice Virtues which I admonish you diligently to labour for, and I will but name them, as it were, because I purpose God willing to discourse more fully of them hereafter. The first is Wisdom, which teaches all duty to thy Maker, thyself, and thy neighbour; this is a principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and above all thy get get understanding; then get Patience which conquereth the world, and fits thee to receive all the sweet corrections of thy Maker with joy and comfort; remember the patience of Job, and the sweet and pleasant fruits thereof. Then get Chastity, whereby thy body and mind will be a fit Tabernacle for the holy Ghost to dwell in, and in the power of the holy Spirit subdue natural corruption to the blessed Law and rules of true piety and religion. Next Meekness: Moses was the meekest man upon the earth (saith the Text Numb. 12.3. Matth. 5.5. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,) and see his favour with almighty God. Then Humility: O remember how our blessed Saviour humbled himself for our salvation, therefore there is no true Christian without true humility. Next get Fortitude and true valour, but be sure thy cause be religious, right and good. Then Sobriety and watchfulness, especially over thyself, and therein show thy true fortitude and valour, in conquering and controlling thy natural passions, subjecting them to the upright rules of reason and religion; here is great use and need of temperance, lest heady and selfconceited youth, think and presume to run before he can go; Temperance gives a sweet relish and seasoning to all the virtues: and it is perpetually required in controversies and contestations, trouble and divisions, this virtue bridles pleasant things that deceive the senses, and by serious consideration takes the good of things obdurate. As true Fortitude is a spur in adversity, so Temperance is a bridle in prosperity; with these two we may subdue our passions, and carry ourselves wisely in all accidents, which is a high point of wisdom. This is the bridle of the soul, and hereby we wean it from the sweet milk of the pleasures of this world, and maketh it fit for better nourishment, which heaven direct us in for the good mercy thereof, Amen. Numb. 21.3. And the Lord harkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their Cities. Eccl. 8.11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil. And Chap. 9 ver. 3. Also the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live. Prov. 8.12. I wisdom dwell with prudence. 2 Chron. 2.12. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the King a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding. Prov. 23.12. Apply thy heart to instruction, and thy ears to the words of knowledge. And 4.24. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 2 Cor. 8.12. For if there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Prov. 23.19. Hear thou my son, and be wise and guide thy heart in the way. Psal. 73.24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me into glory. Isa. 2.5. O house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the house of the lord Isa. 1.18. Come now let us reason together, saith the Lord. Prov. 19.11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. And 27.4. Wrath is cruel, anger is outrageous. Eccl. 7.9. Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Prov. 16.32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a City. And 29.1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Psal. 34.12. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he may see good. Ver. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile. Ver. 14. Depart from evil and do good, seek peace and ensue it. Eccl. 7.12. The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Prov. 12.28. In the way of righteousness there is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Josh. 1.8. This book of the Law shall not departed out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. Psal. 119.15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy Laws. And 143.5. I meditate on all thy works, and remember the days of old. And 55.14. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Matth. 7.5. Pull out the beam out of thy own eye, then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the moat out of thy brother's eye. Prov. 11.28. He that trusteth in riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 1 Tim. 6.7. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high mended, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Psal. 7.15. He made a pit and digged it, and is fallen into the pit which he made. Prov. 26.27. Who so diggeth a pit shall fall therein. Psal. 9.15. The heathen are sink down in the pit that they made, in the net which they hide, is their own foot taken. And 10.2. Let them be taken in the devices, which they have imagined. Prov. 11.6. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. Eccl. 3.1. There is a time to every purpose under heaven. 1 Cor. 7.20. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Ezra 7.10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements. Psal. 119.115. Depart from me ye evil doers, for I will keep the Commandment of my God. And 9●. O how I love thy Law, it is my meditation all the day. And 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation. Eccl. 10.1. Through idleness the house droppeth thorough. THe next Age is vulgarly called Manhood, and that may be somewhat like destroying of the wicked after our dangerous passage into Canaan, for the heart of man is desperately wicked from his youth: Now search for wisdom, now is the corrupted earth fit for fruit; here is required prudence and true humility: if we sleep in pride and self-opinion, the destroyer sows his tares: the heart of man is like a fruitful ground, that must be laboured, weeded and sown with good seed, else briers and thorns will soon spring up and cover it. To a right ordering of ourselves in this condition, what great occasion have we of right ruled reason, and true celestial wisdom, which makes so wise to salvation, that it raiseth a man far above all terrestrial and diabolical attempts, so that they cannot hurt or violate it. The mind is the most excellent part of a man, prudence and humility is an especial guide to it; by the mind are actions tried, as we there relish, so are our attempts, how needful then is the guide of perfect reason; it is the hand that guides the mind, to promote and allow those things only which are honest, good and profitable, and abhor and avoid the contrary: it is the light of the Lord unto us, whereby we may discern good and evil, it's that which names us men, and only makes us differ from the beasts. Our good is said to be consummate, if we have fulfilled that to which we were born, which is true reason, sufficient not only to foresee, but to execute an action. Take great heed to avoid all the enemies to this sure guide, among the rest avoid anger; for what is more foolish, than that reason man with skull and hourglass Fly youthful lusts but follow after righteousness, faith charity, peace with the pure in hart Tim: 2.2.22. Take heed unto thy steps lest Satan's rage Do snare thee running in thy pilgrimage To rotten bones I must be sent Unless resurrection doth prevent The constant motion of this running glass Puts me in mind how life's swift steed doth pass should seek assistance from wrath; a stable thing from an uncertain, a faithful from a perfidious, a whole from a sick: in those actions themselves wherein the help of anger seems to be most requisite, reason itself is more strong; the very designs of reason and wrath are different, for reason will have that judged which is right, but wrath will have that seem right which she judgeth, and although the truth be laid before hereyes, she loveth and maintaineth error, she will not be reproved, and in evil enterprises, she esteemeth it more honest to be obstinate, then to repent herself; cursed wrath that will be angry with truth herself if it oppose her will. Is it wisdom only that makes us differ from beasts, and is it our best guide to the well ordering of our lives? then let us inquire into the properties of this wisdom, that so we may adorn ourselves therewith: Some will have it that a wise man can receive no wrong (as to himself) for by his patience, and right understanding of the end of all conditions, the evil rests upon the author and actor of it: Also wise men only know to whom to give, and how to bestow the benefits, and are very much content with their serious thoughts and meditations, and do not permit external things to add or detract much from them. The company and advice of wise men is very profitable, for that they are not subject to motion of anger, neither can they be moved with disorder, or entangle themselves with miseries, and in condemning others faults, they always begin with their own: as for outward riches, they use them as servants, but fools use them as commanders. Some have conceived, that evil in itself is only evil to him that offereth it, that which offendeth aught to have more force than that which is offended, but vice hath not more force than virtue, whereupon it followeth, that wise men cannot be offended; they are patiented and apply all things to the best remedy, bridling their passions, and judging all evil otherways then the passionate, and converting all to good: Wisdom seeks no revenge, for that properly belongs to God; Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord; from whose forbearance and long-suffering we may learn patience: wherefore to avoid strife, is a remedy against much trouble, and it is a true point of wisdom, to be prepared against all appearances of evil with constancy: to that end betake thyself to some honest employment, for thou shalt find it most necessary and beneficial unto thee, to spend thy time in some honest calling, which must by no means hinder thy constant devotion and meditation. All callings may be abused, and a man may be wicked and violate his soul, or he may be upright, in any of them: but of all, I only advise from a soul hers life, wherein me thinks the soul is made subject to the body, which is the ready way of ruin to them both; for that a man doth bind himself to kill his neighbour at every order and command of another, without examination or knowledge of the cause or matter; wherefore (as for other irreligious exorbitancies almost wholly overspreading that profession) I esteem it a calling most subject to temptations, and therefore spiritually dangerous, if not with most serious care performed, Luk. 3.14. Wherein I do not condemn or wholly disallow in any case the taking up of Arms, but I counsel and advise that it be not undertaken without most pious care and circumspection, which may (by the mercy of the God of hosts) obtain his blessed guidance and direction and preservation from those manifold dangerous allurements and temptations incident to that employment, which strongly press to the distraction of the soul, with which the body must participate. Time is a root that certainly brings forth many branches, many casualties and changes it doth produce to all mortality, and nothing befits a man better to entertain such passages, than such a calling and employment, as when evil presents itself to us, we may have ready at hand honest and just actions, to assist pious and holy meditations, from which we (by the gracious mercy of God) shall receive much comfort, and never be ashamed; whereas idleness and want of good and honest action is a root for any evil. Psal. 103.26. All of them shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. Hos. 4.7. And they sinned against me, therefore will I change their glory into shame. Isa. 65.21. They shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and cat the fruit thereof. And 66. v. 2. For all those things hath my hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord; but to this man will I look, even to him that is pure and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. 2 Cor. 7.1. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh. Gal. 5.16. Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Ver. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are those, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, etc. Prov. 19.14. Houses and riches are inheritances of the fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Ver. 2. The contentions of a wife is a continual dropping. 1 Cor. 7.8. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide as I. Ver. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry, for it is better to marry then to burn. Matth. 19.12. And there be Eunuches which make themselves Eunuches for the kingdom of heaven's sake. Psal. 106.39. Thus they were defiled with their own works. Prov. 11.14. Where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety And 15.22. Without counsel purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. Psal. 1.1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. And 73.24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me into glory. Jer. 40.7. Is counsel perished from the prudent, is their wisdom vanished? Psal. 106.13. They soon forgot his works, they waited not for his counsel. Ver. 14. But lusted excredingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. Ver. 15. And he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls. Prov. 8.11. Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to her. And v. 14. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom, I am understanding and have strength. Ver. 19 My fruit is better than Gold, yea then fine Gold, and my revenue then choice Silver. Ver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgement. Prov. 7.1. etc. My Son keep my commandments, and hid my words with thee, keep my commmandements, and live, and my law as the apple of thy eye: bind them upon thy fingers, writ them upon the tables of thy heart, say unto wisdom, thou art my Sister, and call understanding thy Kinswoman: that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Ver. ●. I descried among the youth a young man void of understanding. Ver. 10. And behold there met him a woman, with the attire of an Harlot, and subtle of heart, she is loud and stubborn, h●r feet abide not in her house, for she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offering with me, this day have I paid my vows, therefore come I forth to meet thee diligently, to seek thy face and have found it. Ver. 18. Come let us take our fill of love. Ver. 21. With much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. Ver. 22. He goes after her strait way as an Ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks. Ver. 23. Till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Prov. 6.23. The commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. Ver. 24. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of the strange woman. Ver. 25. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids. Ver. 27. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his not be burnt? Gal. 5.6. This I say, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Jam. 1.4. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed. Ver. 15. When lust is conceived it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death, 1 Joh. 2.16, 17. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world, and the world passeth away and the lusts thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. THe next Age still goeth on in Manhood (although in it, if we observe) we shall find of necessity many extraordinary changes and alterations; therefore now we are entered into this promised Land of our pilgrimage, and have in some measure destroyed the wicked, it is convenient in this place to seek out a fitting habitation, that so we may plant a Vineyard and drink the wine thereof with thankfulness: here is the blessed gift of Chastity much required; about this time, and before this too oft and too soon, fond youth is apt to think, it is not good to be alone, there is much promised relicity in a married life, but how narrow is the way that leads to this most difficult happiness, how many thousand ways are there that lead to misery in it! If thou meanest to take upon thee a married life, seek earnestly by prayer and true reason for heavenly guidance in it, that which can be but once done, how great need is there that it be well done: we are very apt to desire change, and not to be content with a providential disposement; as also to think our own and present condition to be very ill, or the worst that may be: (prayer, humility, true devotion, the uncertainty of life, the certainty of death, the mercy and justice of God, with fervent and constant meditation and practice herein, may by the mercy of God make an Eunuch for the kingdom of Heaven's sake,) but if it be that it is better for thee to marry then to burn, take along with thee these advisements from a Father, which if thou well observe (by God's assistance therein) thou mayst do well: I cannot make them absolute, for that there is nothing so bad, but some man with skull and hourglass I will praise thee for I am wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works O Lord. Psal: 139.14. All reason tell's me as the Creatures do We have a maker and redeemer too Though conquering time doth make me rot Yet shall I live when time is not Man is but changed for man, and till his death Like changing sand, still changes for beneath good may be extracted from it, not any thing so good but secundary causes may produce evil by it, yet some things are so near the producing a necessity to evil, that I wish thee take heed how thou touchest pitch lest thou be defiled: study what thou art and know what thou mayst be, before thou hast passed these ten Ages, than suit the uncorrupted desires and appetites of thy soul in a woman before she be thy wise, least after it be too late: know well, her nature, inclination, education, parentage, private devotion, and ordinary employment, that after knowledge do not trouble thee: My first advice to thee is, not to marry except thy best friends counsel and wish thee to it, before twenty years of age in a woman, and twenty five in a man, about which time (by God's grace) thou mayst have a little knowledge of good and evil. Secondly, let not money, beauty, or friends, be the greatest inducement to thy choice, for these things all fade, and so thy due affection may also fail, but choose such a one as may cheerfully walk with thee, in Christ to Christ, and in that walk thou mayst find a true and lasting refreshment. Thirdly, be very circumspect how thou marriest one that before was married, it may do well, but I can give no encouragement to it, for it seems as good for thee to make thy partner, as for another to make thy house, whereby we commonly avoid great loss, but always great hazard. Fourthly, it is good to choose equality in parentage, and proportion, in some reasonable measure; and if greater than thy proportion in these, be offered, search narrowly lest there be a Serpent in the grass, lest these adorn the Owner, and not the Owner these. Fiftly, endeavour thy living in some wholesome air, where (by the blessing of God) thou mayst probably have health in thy family. Sixtly, let thy partner be of a strong and healthy habit of body, for that a sickly constitution endangereth the loss both of estate and affection. Seventhly, having made thy choice, and providence having therein determined and finished his appointment, do thou as the admired Bee, that takes honey out of sour herbs, and let nothing be so bitter to thee, that thou shouldest not convert it to some good use, moving thee to true Christian contentment, and do thou joyfully delight thyself in all the providences of God towards thee, especially when thou seest his pleasure so fully determined and concluded, hate all desire to change, increase, and nourish all good honest, and contented inclinations, and besure to subdue, hate, and and avoid all appearances of evil; murmuring or dislike of thy choice, and know that we are all here, but in our journey, the way of our pilgrimage, which so it lead to Heaven, happy is that passage: for the seas are rough through which we must sail to eternal Peace, or not attain it. Now a word or two concerning chastity or continency, because it is very difficult; and must have a careful and painful guard, for it is no easy matter wholly to resist nature, which herein is strong and ardent, but the more obstinate the enemy, the more commendable the conquest. To be truly chaste out of due obedience to the commands of God, is alike Virtue laudable in men as women: Now because this is a violent passion and deceitful, we must arm ourselves against it, and be wary to discover its baits, and the more it flattereth us, the more to distrust it, it would willingly embrace us to strangle us, pamper us with honey to glut us with gall. Unchaste incontinency hath many great inconveniencies and dangers; it consumes the body, and (as some say) effeminates the soul, weakens the spirit, and that many by giving way thereto, have lost both lives, fortunes and spirits; and it doth appear true, that there is more pleasure in vanquishing pleasure, then in possessing it; the best of earthly things oft breeds repentance, but the worst always. There are many kinds and degrees of chastity, continency and incontinency, of which the conjugal continency is a chief and principal, it must be kept and retained within the chaste breast of that party whom almighty God hath disposed of in marriage for our companion, and whosoever doth otherwise, violates his or her own body, by the Law of God which commands chastity therein, by the Law of nature, which forbids that to be common which is proper to one, and imposes upon faith and constancy by the Law of nations, and by the Law of Justice, equity and right, which if we violate and offend, the justice of heaven must justly punish us. Heb. 13.4. Whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge. Isa. 65.21. And they shall build houses and inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. Luk. 6.44. Every tree is known by his fruit, for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 1 Chron. 28.7. I will establish his Kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my Commandments and my judgements. 1 Sam. 2.3. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. Matth. 5.44, 45. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that dispightfully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven; for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Gal. 6.9. Let us not be weary of well doing. Rev. 1.10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of life. 2 Pet. 1.5. Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to your virtue knowledge. Ver. 6. To knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness. Ver. 7. To godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness charity. Ver. 8. For if these be in you and abound they will make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind. 1 Joh. ●. 15. Love not the world, nor the things of the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Prov. 14.14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man shall be satufied from himself. Psal. 34. from the 10th to the end. The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall not want any thing that is good. Come my children hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desirech life and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips that they speak no gu●l. Depart from evil and do good, seek peace and ensue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. Prov. 14.15, 16. The simple believeth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his go. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confident. Eccl. 12.13. Fear God and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ver. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. NOw we have by the mercy of God obtained a fruitful plantation in this promised Land, let us plant in it good and wholesome fruit, for men do not gather grapes of thorns nor figs of thistles. Here we may proceed in the sixth Age of our Life, and third ascent of our Manhood, under the notion of constant Action, and hereby our duty is, by all means to endeavour the good of all: the heavens lead us to this by shining upon all without hopes of gain or requital: showing thereby the duty of a good man to his neighbour; to be constantly conversant in some good employment of the body, mind or both, is a very lively branch of true virtue, which keeps a man unvanquished, and is not subject to pleasures, and hath its reward in itself: Virtue doth alone bring forth solid joy, and only enables a man to bear all the changes and chances of this life with comfort; and do you rightly consider all the branches that proceed from this root, and you will find that they are firmly united with links unseparable; as all the branches of a tree have but one root to nourish them, so all the Virtues have but one principal foundation, which is the doing all things out of true obedience to the service and commands of almighty God, therefore is true Virtue most highly to be aspired unto. Wisdom is a true branch of it, which makes a man rightly to understand, the nature, use and property of all things, and counteth nothing evil but vice, which it is always sufficiently fortified against, and cannot enter there man with skull and hourglass Teach me o lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end Psal: 119.33 Take heed of wasting time for when it's spent. There's no redemption from the great Judgement. Vain wretched pride behold within thy sight. Is death or days false pleasure or delight. My daily dying friends that take their flight. At highest noon, bid me remember night. where virtue and honesty dwelleth: if injury be the sufferance of some evil, and a wise man cannot suffer evil, then there is no evil that appertains to a wise man: every injury is a diminution of him to whom it is offered, and no man may receive injury without some detriment, either in good-Name, body or goods; but a wise man can lose nothing, he hath all his goods enclosed with the enjoyment of true virtue; as for other things, he useth them as borrowed, and what man is so much moved at the loss of what is not his own, but if injury can attempt nothing which is proper to a wise man, because the whole is conserved by his virtue, it must follow that a wise man cannot be injured, because he sets not his heart upon earthly things, as if they were his own, knowing that the possession of all those things that abound externally is slippery and un-assured: plant then plentifully in the vineyard of Virtue, and be thou a flourishing branch of this blessed root, so thou shalt relieve others with thy pleasant fruits, without diminishing of thy own store and plenty: prosperity shall not puff thee up, nor adversity deject thee: true goods are never subject to moth, rust and canker, neither can thiefs break through and steal them; heavenly riches shall have a heavenly reward, and earthly changes cannot approach their dwelling. Wisdom will advise thee to be very careful how thou dost engage thyself either by word or action, especially amongst a crowd, with a multitude; in a war, a civil war; against a Prince, a present power; rather fly such a flame, if any conveniency will permit avoid the fire, while fury is fierce let it pass thee, for violent things are seldom permanent. I cannot show you a certain way to avoid the dangers that time and chance may bring upon you, or upon your country in your generations for outward things, true virtue and inward treasure must secure you: it must be wisdom, that heavenly gift, obtained by true and hearty prayer, and humble obedience, that must guide your feet in the way of peace, that peace which the world, the flesh, the devil cannot deprive us of, which the God of Heaven grant us all for his mercy's sake, Amen. man with skull and hourglass Into thy hands I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed it or lord God of truth Psal: 31.5. If we a blessed creator and a saviour have Our duty is to work, and faith to crave Unto my mother earth I am now gone Until the morning resurrection As quickly as the Sand falls to his place, So sudden is the change, of humane race Gen. 2.8. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had form. Ver. 15. And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Prov. 20.18. Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice make war. And 24.6. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, and in multitude of Counsellors there is safety. Deut. 4.39. Know therefore this day and consider it in thy heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath there is none else. And 32.29. O that that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter ends. Prov. 22.3. A prudent man forseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. Acts 2.25. I foresaw the Lord always before my face. Job 37.14. Harken unto this, and consider the wondrous works of God. Psal. 8.3, 4. When I considered the heavens, the works of thy hands, the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained. What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him. Hag. 1.7. Thus saith the Lord, Consider your ways. And 2.15. And now I pray you consider from this day upward from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the Temple of the Lord. 2 Tim. 2.7. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. Eph. 4.26. Be angry but sin not, let not the Sun go down upon your wrath. Psal. 37.8. Cease from anger and for sake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Prov. 19.11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Eccl. 7.9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Col. 3.8. Put off all these, anger, wrath, malice. Ver. 10. Put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. 1 Chron. 28.7. I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my Commandments. Col. 3.2. Set your affections on things above, and not on things below. Eph. 6.10. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Ver. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ver. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Psal. 119.67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word. Ver. 71. It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn thy statutes. Job 5.17. Happy is the man whom God correcteth, therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Prov. 3.12. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Lam. 3.39, 40, 41. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens. Psal. 141.3. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. Prov. 10.19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Eccl. 5.3. A fools voice is known by the multitude of words. Prov. 6.16. These six things doth the Lord hate. Ver. 17. A proud look, a lying tongue, etc. Psal. 31.6. I have hated them that regard lying vanities. Ver. 18. Let the lying lips be put to silence. Prov. 13.5. A righteous man hateth lying. 1 Tim. 4.7. Refuse profane and oldwives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. Psal. 26.4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. Psal. 119.113. I hate vain thoughts, but thy Law do I love. Eph. 5.4. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks. Matth. 1●. 16. Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as serpents but innocent as doves. Eph. 4.29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 1 Co. 9.18. What is my reward then? verily that when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the Gospel. Prov. 16.32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a City. Isa. 3.25. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in war. Prov. 30.8. Remove fare from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord, or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 2 Cor. 10.3. For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh. Ver. 4. for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Ver. 5. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Eccl. 10.10. Wisdom is profitable to direct. And 7.19. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise, more than ten mighty men that are in the City. Psal. 138.3. In that day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psal. 119.33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Ver. 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law, yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. Ver. 38. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted unto thy fear. Now thou hast (by God's gracious assistance) obtained a good plantation, and planted it, there must be a time of weeding, nourishing and preserving it, that so we may know the best way to improve our Talon in our heavenly Master's service: In this time (which is the seventh Age of a man) is required fortitude, gravity and sobriety, a staidness, and serious consideration of all our undertake, a wise take-heed and foresight into the event of a business. Past and present things every man declares, but solid wisdom only, shows the event of things to come; which although it sometimes fail (because the eternal God hath so decreed, that man should not know what should be after him) yet to us it is the Candle of the Lord, and being rightly used, it is a glimmering of the heavenly light, and excelleth folly and unadvisedness, as light excelleth darkness. To what purpose doth he plant that doth not well preserve, but suffers savage Boars to root and spoil: and who so vain as he that builds a house, and doth not well repair and keep the same? The very microcosm of our body, teacheth us to have a fore sight into our affairs and deal; for we have two Ears to receive direction by, and two Eyes to look before us, whereas of other members we have but one where the use is more single. I advise thee to determine of nothing in a passion, if anger be at all allowed it must be without sin; Be angry but sin not: and then surely it must be very short, the Sun must not go down upon it. Anger is a high degree of madness, and therefore unfits a man wholly to act any business in it: it is only good when with thyself for the committing of sin, from which there is some hopes of thy repentance, with care for the future to avoid it. Anger unfits a man either to defend himself or offend his enemy, it doth disarm us as it were, and lay us open to all attempts against us, therefore have a special care to govern thy passions, and keep thyself in a constant settled way in thy affections, that so no chance or accident may attempt thee unprovided, or unfortified with strong reason and wisdom to oppose and resist it: passion sets a false gloss upon a business, and maketh him seem guilty, whom moderation and perfect reason would clearly excuse. Murmur not, neither be angry at any affliction in this life, but bless almighty God that it is no sharper unto thee, considering the great deserts of thy infinite transgressions: remember (if thou make right use of it) that it is a sign and mark of the love of God to thee, and be thou truly penitent, humble and thankful for it; for why should a sinful man complain of a man for the punishment of his sins, but rather in all humble obedience, love and thankfulness, lift up thy heart with thy hands unto God in the heavens. That thou mayest avoid the occasion of much anger and passion, set a watch over thy lips, and a strict restraint to thy tongue; use not many words, for that can hardly be without sin; especially take heed of cursing, swearing, blaspheming, lying, etc. and love not to relate fabulous and vain jests, for they are commonly as near a lie as compliments to hypocrisy and dissimulation, which is a gilded untruth to make it pass the better. Two things (it's said) never wax old in a man, which (without a careful watch) draw the whole body into sin, that is the heart and the tongue, the heart always imagining new things, and the tongue is swift to utter them: especially whilst thou art young keep much silence, for that will prevent much repentance: imprison thy tongue or it will imprison thee; set a restraint unto it, for it may be an evil enemy to thee. Some say a liar is only good to reveal secrets unto, for that no man that knows him will believe his relation. Some say, he which knows not how to dissemble knows not how to live, but dissembling then must be taken only for not speaking all the truth at all times, which in some sense may be esteemed dissembling, but I conceive a man may so dissemble without blame if he wisely order his discourse: whatsoever thou sayest or dost, perform it from a pure and right principle, in true performance of filial obedience so highly due unto our God, and not out of any respect to man, other then in promoting in thy neighbour all good, and preventing in him any appearance of evil, that by thy evil example thou be not accessary to thy neighbour's sin. Now to speak a little of fortitude, which is a rare virtue, and produceth much worthy praise and commendation, if rightly used, but may be abused (as other good virtues) to much loss and damage: it's said of Prudence and Justice, that they govern a man in company, but Fortitude and Temperance govern a man in private and alone: All accidents in this life may be comprehended under prosperity and adversity, the former guideth in adversity, the latter in prosperity, and these two virtues may wholly be comprised and understood by this word Constancy, which is a right and equal staidness of mind in all accidents and outward things, whereby he is not puffed up in prosperity, nor dejected in adversity: Now Fortitude or Virtue, in the general and vulgar understanding of the words, is exercised wholly in opposition and in subduing all things under it, contemning all terrible things, and (if abused) brings fair liberty into bondage. Military valour is commonly much different from true fortitude: we find this valour in the ordinary sense common in beasts, but true Fortitude is only to be found in Wisdom; many attain Valour by use, institution, example or custom, though they be of base and slavish minds, without any tincture of virtue or true fortitude, which is fare from an inconsiderate temerity or brutish stupidity, for virtue cannot be without knowledge, and true fortitude is a stayed mind grounded upon the duty, honesty and justice of the enterprise, which never ceaseth until it overcome, for that it is a quality of the mind not of the body, not of the limbs, but of true courage in the heart and will, whereby it is truly sound; for not the conflict but the cause showeth valour, in which much wisdom and discretion must be showed in the execution, and all lawful means used to avoid an approaching danger: true fortitude is both a director and a protector, therefore most necessary to be obtained although it cost both pay and pains. Fortior est qui se, quam qui fortissima vincit Mania— Psal. 1.1, 2, 7. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and therein doth meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that bringeth forth her fruit in season. Jer. 17.7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Ver. 8. He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the rivers. Psal. 7.10. My defence is of God which saveth the upright in heart. And 59.9. God is my defence. And 16. I will sing of thy power, yea I will sing aloud of thy mercies in the morning, for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Rev. 3.2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Mark 13.33. Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. Psal. 51.12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit. And 143.10. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God; thy spirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness. Neh. 9.20. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the spirit. 1 Joh. 4.1, 2, 3. Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit. Chap. 5. ver. 6. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood, and it is the spirit that beareth witness, because the spirit is truth. Prov. 16.17. The highway of the upright is to departed from evil; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 1 Pet. 2.11. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Ezek. 18.27. When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. And 33. v. 5. He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 2 Cor. 8.12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Eph. 4.17, 18, 19, 20. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanities of their mind, having their understanding darkened through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness: but ye have not so learned Christ. Ver. 24. Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Joh. 13.17. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Heb. 10.9, 10. Then said he, Lo I come to do thy will O God. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Psal. 119.37. Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy Law. And 101.3. I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. And 78.1. Give ear O my people to my Law, incline your ears to the words of my mouth. And 39.1. I said I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked are before me. Prov. 10.20, 31. The tongue of the just is as choice silver. The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom, but the froward tongue shall be cut out. Prov. 16.20. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and who so trusteth in the Lord happy is he. Prov. 25.11. A word fitly spoken, is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Prov. 8.13. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate. And 11.2. When pride cometh then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom. And 13.10. Only by pride comes contention, but with the well advised is wisdom. And 14.3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. And 16.18. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. And 29.23. A man's pride shall bring him low, but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Jam. 4.6. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 1 Pet. 5.5, 6. Be clothed in humility for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Matth. 11.29. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 1 Cor. 12.25. That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one of another. Prov. 3.9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of thy increase. Exod. 20.17. Honour thy father and thy mother, etc. Joh. 5.4. I receive not honour from men. And V 44. How can ye believe which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that comes from God only. And Chap. 8. ver. 54. Jesus answered, if I honour myself my honour is nothing, it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say, that he is your God. Rom. 2.7, 10. To them which by patiented continuance in well doing seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life. Ver. 10. But glory, honour, peace, to every one that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. Psal. 119.36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Isa. 57.17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him, Luk. 12.15. Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things that he possesseth. Heb. 13.5. Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. Prov. 8.9. He that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster. Luk. 15, 13, 14, 15, 16. The prodigal or younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a fare country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living, and when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want; and he went and joined himself to a Citizen of that Country, and he sent him into his field to feed swine, and he would feign have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him. SEeing by the mercy of God we have obtained a happy plantation, planted and nourished it, so that the tender imps do promise much content and profit; it is now time to fence and defend it; thereby preserving it from devouring and ravenous beasts, with other dangers, which if it lie open to the wilderness of this world's attempts and assaults, it will thereby be subject to receive detriment and damage; here is great need of careful watchfulness, lest while we neglect or sleep, the enemy enter, sow tares and destroy: this falls out here in our discourse to be particularly treated on in this eighth Age of our life, with this remembrance, that what is duty in any part of our pilgrimage, is requisite to be carefully looked unto, and performed all our lives, so fare, and so long, as our bodies and minds are capable of performing such duty and service to our Maker, the benefit of which redoundeth wholly to ourselves, if truly, with such duty and relation performed. Under the protection of this secure watch, we may pass all our days in safety; therefore it is most necessary to make diligent search, what this watch is, and over what it is to be: by this watch may be understood the sacred and holy Spirit of God, moving us to do right and holy duties, and our care and watching aught to be, at all times to take heed of quenching or neglecting the blessed motions of this sacred Spirit in us, which is done, by neglecting, slighting, forgetting, opposing, or any want of executing the good motions man with skull and hourglass We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ. Cor: 2: 5: 10: What manner of persons than ought we to be, In holiness, and pyetye. My dried bones do not despise, For I expect a call to rise. Life's gone on th' one side, on th' other it runs fast, Life's time that's present, death is time that's past. thereof, which surely tends to the salvation of our souls; therefore although our souls be properly us; yet while we are in the body, our bodies (as may be said) had need watch over them, or more properly over themselves, for that the sin of the body destroys the soul. Now because this watch may be rightly ordered, let us consider some of those particulars it is to be set over; and first let us begin this watch over our wills, because the greatest part of those impieties, heresies and errors in our faith and religion, is sprung from our wicked and corrupt wills, from a violent and voluptuous passion, which afterward draweth unto it the understanding itself; this is a main wheel in all our actions, and if it be evil, than it is the chief enemy that commands against us, whose Officers and assistants in this warfare against us, we may mention afterwards in some particulars: But first to the Will; Imagination, opinion and will, is the guide or foot of the vulgar, as reason is of the wise and prudent; and men are tormented by the opinion they have of things, and not by the things themselves: Will is a great part of the reasonable soul, of very great concernment, and it principally behoves us to study how to order it, and set a watch upon it, for that thereupon dependeth almost our whole estate of happiness; this is truly ours, at our command; Understanding, memory, imagination, and the like, may be taken from us, changed and annoyed with many accidents, and yet the will remain at our dispose: he that hath parted with, and given away his will, is no more his own man; by this we are made good or evil, and that will is only excellent where goodness and virtue lodgeth: not he that knows good things, but he that wills, and in a right understanding desires them, is good and virtuous. The will is happy that loveth God, and to will evil things is wicked. In the next place, set a watch over thy eyes, thy ears, thy tongue, these are three most dangerous and desperate enemies, if left at liberty, but if well kept to strict command and order, the most serviceable soldiers in all the muster; the abused and common eye, is moved with the present object, but a wise foresight considereth the matter. The ear is a principal agent to the understanding, and by the well ordering of it, saving faith is obtained; speech is the messenger of the heart, and interpreter of the soul, and is chief ordained to edify and instruct to salvation, it doth discover our mental secrets, and men judge very much by it: One said well, Speak that I may see thee, that is, know thy heart; like golden Apples in pictures of silver, so are words spoken in due season: But because our duty is in all our ways to have a constant watch over ourselves, we will endeavour to mention some few more of those particulars we are to watch over: First, Over all vain, idle and ambitious desires and thoughts, they are by nature innumerable in us: Ambition is a folly and a vanity, like catching of smoke instead of light, the shadow instead of the body; it is to fasten contentment upon the opinion of the vulgar, voluntarily to renounce ones own liberty, to follow the passions of others; to displease one's self for the pleasure of the beholders; to let our own affections depend on the eyes of others; and so fare to love virtue as may like the vulgar: to do good, not for love of good but reputation, this is either to be filled with nothing but wind, or else to be empty: Ambition hath no limits, it's a gulf without brink or bottom, fire that increaseth by its own nourishment: it is it's own punishment and excecutioner, and is only just in that. True humility is a chief Emblem of honour; the higher the Sun is, the lesser shadow it maketh: the greater the virtue is, the less glory it seeketh. Commonly honour is truly compared to a shadow, which follows those that fly it, and flieth those that follow it: Let us receive our charge modestly, and exercise it sincerely, knowing that almighty God hath placed us to stand centinel, that others may rest in safety under our care. Parchment-honour, or by descent only without desert, is shameful and ignoble: it is greater honour not to have the mark having deserved it, than to have it: it is more honourable to be asked why thy statue is not set up in the marketplace, than why it is: it is not the honour commonly given of Princes to their subjects (who give it most oft to them that deserve it least, and can give that shadow neither but upon that little ground, and that little ground, and those few hearts they command; whereby it becomes a shame and reproach to those that have it) that almighty God seems actually to guide, or very favourably to allow; but true wisdom is true honour, and thereby we honour aright our neighbour and our God, and therefore to attain this wisdom, aught to be our care and study. Let thy watch likewise take heed of covetousness and prodigality: to love or affect riches with too much care to get or keep them is covetousness, for they are not worthy our earnest care and attention: the desire of goods, and our pleasure in them is only opinion, what we necessarily use not, are a burden. Covetousness is a wrong estimation and use of riches, it is a passion that respecteth riches as the principal good of a man, and feareth poverty as the greatest evil; nature hath placed it under us, and we esteem it above ourselves; it is ordained to supply necessity, and we covet it without occasion: Prodigality is the contrary passion, and it is likewise very vicious, for in despising or misusing the gift, we do the same to the giver: to spend prodigally is to refuse the means to do well, to fling away the staff, and then complain because we fall: he that hath the least Talon, hath least burden, lest account; yet take heed for the least must be accounted for, and therefore not misused, nor rejected. Psal. 107.36, 37. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a City for habitation, and sow the fields, and plant vineyards which may yield fruit of increase. Ezek. 28.26. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses and plant vineyards, yea they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgements upon all them that despise them round about them, and they shall know that I am the Lord their God. Isa. 11.2, 3, 4. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. And he shall not judge after the sight of the eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of the ears, but with righteousness shall he judge the po●r, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Gen. 18.19. For I know him that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement. Prov. 21.3. To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the Lord, than sacrifice. Ver. 1●. It is joy to the just to do judgement, but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. Jer. 31.30. Every one shall die for his own iniquity, every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Isa. 51.1. Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgement and do justice. And 59.4. None calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity and speak lies, they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. Ver. 8. The way of peace they know not, and the●e is no judgement in their go, they have made them crooked paths, whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Ver. 9 Therefore is judgement fare from us, neither doth justice overtake us: We wait for light but behold obscurity, for brightness but we walk in darkness. Ver. 14. And judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter. 1 Chron. 16.10. Let the heart of them that seek the Lord rejoice. Deut. 26.11. And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing, which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee. Matth. 12.36. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement. Heb. 3.7, 13, 15. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith, to day if ye will hear his voice. Exhort one another daily while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Joh. 9.4. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is called to day, the night cometh when no man can work. Jam. 4.14. Whereas you know not what will be tomorrow: for that is your life, it is even a vapour, it appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. Psal. 1.2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and therein doth he meditate day and night. And 119.24. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors. Josh. 1.8. This book of the Law shall not departed out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Psal. 109.4. I give myself unto prayer. Prov. 15.8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Matth. 7.21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Joh. 13.17. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them. Col. 3.5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry, Ver. 6. For the which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience. Prov. 2.6, 7. For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous, he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. And 3.21. My son, let them not departed from thy house, keep sound wisdom and discretion. And 8.14. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom: I am understanding, and I have strength. Hag. 1.5. Thus saith the Lord God, Consider your ways. Ezra 10.16. And they sat down to examine the matter. Joh. 7.14. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement 2 Cor. 10.7. Do you look on things according to outward appearance. Prov. 29.20. Seest thou a man that is hasty of words, there is more hope of a fool then of him. Acts 19.36. Ye ought to do nothing rashly. Prov. 22.20, 21. Have not I written unto thee excellent things in council and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee. THus (by the mercy of God) we have settled our Plantation in a good and fruitful soil, in a very pleasant place, and by his good hand in mercy guiding and protecting us, we may, many years receive the comfortable fruit thereof. We must in this ninth Age of our life, with sound judgement and justice settle and order our affairs, so that every one may with equity and right receive his portion in due season: to this end it is not too late (according to this method) to discourse of justice and sound judgement, what it is: and first of Justice in general. Justice is to give to every man that which appertains to him, to a man's self first, and afterwards to others; so that it comprehends all the duty and offices of every particular party: Does as thou wouldst (or rather as thou oughtest) to be done to, carries a man very fare, but not through, or to the utmost of this duty: before we can well know how to command others, we must know how to command ourselves, how to defend ourselves from ourselves: reason must command; the appetite, desire and will, must all be obedient to it: this is the first original, inward, proper and most beautiful justice that may be. Equity and right reason is true justice, which handleth and ruleth the Law as need requireth: the Laws and justice must be handled justly, both in rewards and punishments: Justice cannot be executed by the lump or in gross, but must be drawn out into particular dispensations, according to the occasion. The two parts and hands of Justice, are punishment and reward, but as it is usually ministered, it is commonly lame, at least in one of them. Charity gins at home, so must justice; by it we may examine ourselves, how, and to what end we live and spend our days; surely it must not be to pass our short and precious time carelessly, by chance and by adventure, as the most do, who live not seriously and attentively (as indeed our duty is) but vainly, heedlessly from day to day, and as it falleth out: they taste not, possess not, enjoy not their lives, but use them only to make use of other things; by this means they abuse themselves, and many good things through their misuse: they do all things (as I may say) in good earnest: but to live: they are serious in the least, and in the main and principal they are negligent. We may and aught to live seriously, attentively and cheerfully, for that our life is a business of great weight and importance, and we must give an exact account thereof: take heed of deferring and putting off this justice to thyself, resembling such as defer buying till the market be over: how foolish is it to begin to live when we must cease to live: he that means to do a great work in a short time, had need to follow it very close, lest his time cease before his work be finished, and he faulty, because he took o more time, or lost so much, when indeed we need nothing more: Life is short, and the art of well living is long; betimes then learn how to live to God, and to thyself, how to be least alone when no body is with thee: And then be watchful of vain delusions and temptations: our great enemy the devil hath deceitful baits both for loneliness and for company: Contemplation, meditation, prayer and practice, is the happy life, let thy body be subject to thy spirit, and let thy spirit be wholly subdued by the Spirit of the Lord, so shall thy body be a fit instrument for virtue, and a holy Temple for thy God. Do thou justice to thyself in getting and ordering riches, love a competency, entertain them well got into thy house, not into thy heart, and strive to use them as a just steward to thy master's use, that their departure may be as honest as their entrance; if they part without thy leave, let them carry nothing but themselves from thee, no part of thy content or comfort, let not that be settled on them: the right use of the creature, is to walk worthy of thy Creator: Thus much of justice. Now a word or two of sound Judgement what it is; and it is the strict and wary trial and consideration of every thing to the utmost; it is the examining of a matter, to find out the bottom of it, what it may produce, and where the way lieth unto its period: it is the free and ready acceptance of the truth, where and whensoever it appears and shows itself: it is the weighing the reasons and counter-reasons on all parts, the weight and merit in them, thereby to work out the truth: And it is contrary to that sleight and careless way of judging and passing by things upon the first sight and appearance, as if we were able to see what was in the house before we entered in, or what lay under the stone, before we removed it: this is that grievous folly which men truly call rashness and self conceitedness; and all wise men count it shallow, empty, and want of sound judgement; for justice and right itself, being unadvisedly performed, and by chance, without sound judgement and consideration of the matter, may (as to the Judge) be false, or at least undeserving praise and commendation; therefore endeavour, not only to do good, but to do it knowingly, willingly and wittingly, and from a pure and right principle, which showeth sincere and upright wisdom, and is worthy the righteous title of justice and sound judgement. 2 Chron. 1.10. Give me now (O Lord) wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people. Ver. 12. Wisdom and knowledge is granted to thee. Job. 28.28. Behold the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to departed from evil is understanding. Psal. 37.30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. And 51. v. 6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me know wisdom. And 19 v. 12. Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Jer. 4.22. They are wise to do evil. Psal. 50.23. To him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Eccl. 10.10. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Prov. 3.5, 6. Trust to the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thy own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Verly. Be not wise in thy own eyes, fear the Lord and departed from evil. 1 Cor. 1.20. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world. And 2.5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. And 3.19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, he taketh the wise in his own craftiness. 1 Cor. 2.6. Howbeit we speak wisdom amongst them that be perfect, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought. Ver. 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God or dained before the world, unto our glory. Eph. 1.17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 1 Cor. 12.8. For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit. Exod. 31.3. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and in understanding. Prov. 10.23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief, but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Luk. 16.8. And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Psal. 101.2. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way, I will walk within thy house with a perfect heart. Prov. 13.14. The Law of the wise is a fountain of life, to departed from the snares of death. Gen. 17.1. I am the almighty God, walk before me and be thou perfect. Deut. 18.13. Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. Job. 1.8. Hast thou considered my servant Job, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil. Prov. 11.5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Jer. 10.3. The customs of the wicked are vain. Psal. 51.5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psal. 143.8. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee. Job 23.15. When I considered I was afraid. Psal. 50.22. Now consider this ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver. Eccl. 5.1. Keep thy foot when thou goest into the house of God, and be more ready to hear then to give the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil. Psal. 51.2, 3. Wash me throughly from my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin; for I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Ver. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Jer. 3.13. Only acknowledge thy iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. And Chap. 14. Ver. 20. We acknowledge O Lord our iniquities, and the iniquities of our Fathers, for we have sinned against thee. 1 Cor. 2.11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him. 1 Sam. 7.3. And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel saying; If you do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, than put away the strange god Ashteroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the Lord, and serve him only. 1 Cor. 28.7. I will establish his Kingdom, if he be constant to do my Commandments and my judgements as at this day. Prov. 4.5. Get wisdom, get understanding, forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth. Ver. 6. Forsake her not and she will preserve thee, love her and she will keep thee. Ver. 26. Ponder the paths of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Eccl. 5.13. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the Sun, namely riches kept by the owners thereof to their hurt. And Chap. 8. Ver. 9 There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. 1 Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1 Joh. 2.16. For all that is in the world, the the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world. Ver. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof, but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever. Isa. 1.3. The Ox knoweth his owner, and the Ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Job 16.3. Shall vain words have an end. Josh. 1.8. This book of the Law, shall not departed out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for than thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Jer. 6.16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. Lam. 3.40. Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves; know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates. Mich. 7.19. He will turn again, he will have mercy upon us, he will subdue our iniquities, and cast all our sins into the depth of the sea. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing thot exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. Matth. 7.7. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. And 18. Ver. 14. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. James 4.10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Job 22.9. When men are cast down, than thou shalt say there is lifting up, and he shall save the humble person. Deut. 30.15, 19, 20. See I have set before thee this day life and good, death and evil, I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live, that thou mayst love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayst obey his voice, and that thou mayst cleave unto him, for he is thy life. Matth. 17.27. Notwithstanding lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea and cast in a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money, that take and give unto them for me and thee. Phil. 1.27. Only let your conversation be is becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amos 4.12. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel. Psal. 40.1. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. Psal. 106.13. They soon forgot his works, they waited not for his counsel. Isa. 25.9. Lo this is our God we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Sam. 2.15.26. Behold here I am, let him do unto me what seemeth good unto him. Psal. 89.30. If his children forsake my Law, and walk not in my judgements. Ver. 31. If they break my Statutes and keep not my commandments. Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquities with stripes. Psal. 74.19. O deliver not the soul of thy Turkle Dove unto the multitude of the wicked. Exod. 23.2. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. Numb. 11.4. And the mixed multitude fell a lusting. Prov. 24.1. My son fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change. Ver. 22. For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both. Gen. 2.18. It is not good for man to be alone. Matt. 4.4. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil. Joh. 6.14. And Jesus departed into a Mountain himself alone. And c. 8. v. 16. I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me. And c. 16. v. 32. Ye shall leave me alone, and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Phil. 4.11. I have learned in what estate soever I am in, therewith to be content. Eccl. 6.9. Better is the sight of the eyes, than the wand'ring of the desire. 1 Tim. 6.9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Eccl. 7.3. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 1 Tim. 1.8. The Law is good if a man use it lawfully. Prov. 15.2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of the foolish poureth out foolishness. Psal. 50.23. To him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Psal. 15.5. He that doth these things shall never be moved. And 16.8. I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psal. 101.2. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. And 119.98. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than my enemies. Prov. 10.19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he that refraineth his lips is wise. And 26.12. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool then of him. And 10.14. Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Psal. 11: ●5. A good man showeth favour and dareth; he will guide his affairs with discretion. Prov. 23.9. Here thou my son and be wise and guide thy heart in the way. And 11.3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Deut. 12.7. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, yea and your household wherein the Lord your God hath blessed you. Psal. 12.2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. Prov. 26.28. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Prov. 27.24. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit with him. Psal. 26.4. I have not sat with vaint persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 1 Cor. 10.24. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. And Ver. 33. Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Psal. 5.9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouths, their inward part in very wickedness, their throat is an open sepulchre, they flatter with their tongues. Matth. 23.14. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, for you devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayers, therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Prov. 25. 1●. As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. And 6. Ver. 23. Reproofs of instruction are the way to life. And Chap. ●. Ver. 5. A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel. And Chap. 12. Ver. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. Prov. 22.26. Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. And Chap. 11. Ver. 15. He that hateth suretyship is sure. Eph. 5.15. See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. Ver. 18. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit. Prov. 3.23. Then thou shalt walk in the way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. Ver. 24. When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid, yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. Matth. 10.17. Beware of men. Col. 2.8. Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit. 2 Pet. 3.17. Seeing that ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with he error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. Matth. 5.25. Agree with thy adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the Judge, the Judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Prov. 24.17. Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth. Gal. 6.10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Nah. 1.2. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. Amos 4.12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel, and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God O Israel. Eccl. 7.1. The day of death is better than the day of birth And Ch. 8. Ver. 8. Wickedness shall not deliver those that are given to it. Psal. 50.6. For God is Judge himself. Eccl. 11.9. But know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement. Heb. 9.27. It is appointed to all men once to die, and after this the judgement. Luk. 16.22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died and was buried. And Ver. 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torment. Prov. 12.23. In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Joh. 8.50, 51. I seek not my own glory, there is one that seeketh and judgeth; verily, verily I sayunto you, if a man keep my say he shall never see death. Psal. 26.11. But as for me I will walk in my integrity. And 86. Ver. 11. Teach me thy way O Lord, I will walk in thy truth, unite my heart to fear thy Name. Isa. 12.2. Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is become my salvation. Prov. 28.13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but who so confesseth them shall have mercy. Phil. 1.21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Ver. 22. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour, yet which I shall choose I wots not, for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to departed and to be with Christ which is fare better. Rom. 6.7. He that is dead is freed from sin. Rev. 4.14. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Psal. 112.7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Psal. 48.14. For this God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death. Psal. 89.48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death, shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Psal. 90.8. I delight to do thy will O God, yea thy Law is within my heart. Matth. 6.10. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Deut. 4.9. Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thy eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach them thy sons and thy son's sons. Luk. 21.34. And take heed to yourselves, least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Eccl. 9.12. For man also knoweth not his time, as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Mark. 13.35, 36, 37. Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping; and what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch. Jer. 50.38. They are mad upon their Idols. Prov. 30.2. Surely I am more brutish than any man, I have not the understanding of a man. 2 Chr. 30.10. So the posts passed from City to City, through the Country of Ephraim and Manasses, even unto Zebulon, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Matth. 25.46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. Psal. 9.16. The Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth, the wicked is snared in the works of his hands. Prov. 1.30, 31. They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof, therefore shall they cat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. Prov. 11.3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Ezek. 18.25. Ye say the way of the Lord is not equal: hear now O house of Israel, are not my ways equal, are not your ways unequal? Hos. 4.9. Who is wise and he shall understand these things, prudent and he shall know them, for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein. Psal. 45. ●0. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, it is a people that do err in their hearts, and they have not known my ways. Prov. 16.10. Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 11.4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 1 Cor. 11.31. And they that use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Chron. 29.15. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. Job 14.2. He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down, he fleeth as a shadow and continueth not. Prov. 10.7. The memorial of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. And 11. Ver. 5. The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Psal. 9.17. The wicked shall be turned into hell. Psal. 50.21. These things hast thou done and I kept silence, thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thy eyes. And Ver. 22. Now consider this you that forget God, lest I tear you to pieces and there be none to deliver you. To God alone be glory for ever. Amen. Prov. 2.6. For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. James 1.5. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. 1 King. 3.9. Give thy servant an understanding heart (O God) to judge thy people, that I may discern betwixt good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great a people! Ver. 10. And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ver. 11. And God said unto him, because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither haste asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thy enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgement, Ver. 12. Behold I have done according to thy word: lo ' I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. Ver. 13. And I have also given thee that which thou askedst not, both riches and honour, so that there shall not be any among the Kings like unto thee all thy days. Ecclus. 7.36. Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss. old man with skull and hourglass What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch Mark. 13.37. If God at all forsake us wretched we Become a prey, to our grande enemy. Rest with our mother earth, and watch the call To right hand love's, and joys perpetual. Adein foul ears, taste, smell, invention sight, You have me deluded, now I see clear light. There is much wisdom and counsel in the Apocryphas and in the Proverbs, and say of wise and devout men. Seek and thou shalt find. You ask and receive not because you ask amiss. Children this is only my gift of Advice to you, hinting some part of duty, which by the blessing of almighty God you may in practice make out better; with this I humbly pray the Lord give you understanding in all things: for it is not in my power, I cannot give you wisdom, it is only by the true performance of duty to be obtained, as the gift of God. A general Discourse of Religion. IT's too much (God knows) the manner of Christians, to owe their Title merely to the Font, Education or Country; their primitive principles much satisfying their proceeding devotions; whereas Grace and reason best confirms Christianity; by which we are taught not to hate, but pity those of carnal and corrupted belief, hearty endeavouring their better reformation and instruction. Christianity being largely spread, and divided, and many professors fallen from the native beauty, and true belief thereof; wherefore we must be very wary to preserve and practise it in the primitive integrity, which our Saviour and his Apostles taught, the holy Fathers and Martyrs have confirmed; and take heed we imitate not the ancient Pagans, contemning a pure truth for a poor profession: I do not herein dissuade from a just and pious reformation, well knowing, it's better to avoid then detain a corrupted principle, in which (the humble and sincere heart) the Almighty guideth and will deliver from those evils and corruptions, which (I fear) in some sort possess both reformations and reformers, either from too much self-inclination or advantage: therefore I take it not unfitly warned from violence or war, only for Religion or belief: for whatsoever one hath framed or believed, another may likewise frame and believe: therefore heresies will arise, so we read, but not that they will be quite abolished: there are schisms and divisions in all Religions, but a wary combatant may lie unvulnerable under the true buckler of faith: where reason cannot, faith must lead the way, which is not only above, but sometimes against it also: how necessary then is the contemplation of the attributes of the Almighty, his wisdom, eternity, mercy, etc. which never admits us to be alone or solitary; which is a sweet companion, a constant rest, repose and comfort. Reason and wisdom are copartners, and jewels to be earnestly sought for, whereby we learn to read the book of the Creatures, Natura nihil git frustra. and therein to behold the infinite bounty of our Creator. Cast out the glorious likeness of thy reason, To find the truth both in and out of season; To find the sacred web that Nature wove, Circle from centre to the seat of Jove: Search all those simple Hierogliphs' that read Those secret paths wherein her steps do tread. That was our Maker's Character to lead us, To truest comfort, had not sin deceived us, And blotted out that blessed guiding art, That now the most we know is scarce an Yet mercy hath allowed us to search, That pains and reason some small part may reach. Search while thou wilt, and let thy reason go, To ransom truth even from th' Abyss below, Rally the scattered causes, and that line Which nature twists, be able to untwine: It is thy Maker's will, for unto none But unto reason, can he here be known: The Devils know him, but those damned meteors Build not his glory, but confound his creatures: Teach my endeavours Lord thy works to read, That learning them, in thee I may proceed; Give then my reason that instructive sleight, Whose weary wings may on thy hands still light, Teach me to soar aloft, yet ever so, When near the Sun, to stoop again below: Thus shall my humble feathers safely hover, And though near earth, more than the Heavens discover. And then at last, when homeward I shall drive Richly with the spoils of nature to my hive, Then will I sit, like that industrious fly, Buzzing the praises which shall never die; Till death abrupts them, and succeeding glory, Bids me go on in a more lasting story. Natural actions are much beyond our reason, and Man is an epitome and compendium of all the terrestrial creatures: There are two books that discover our Maker to us, viz. holy Writ and Nature; those which never heard of one, have discovered him in the other: the Almighty very much walketh in the path of reason, when otherwise, it is a miracle; for nature is (as it were) the Art of God. The absolute and incomprehensible providence of the Almighty, is the disposing of all things, that appoints our heirs, and doth the works falsely ascribed to Fortune. Blessed are those praying conquests of the objecting doubts in Divinity: the devil will never end those disputes while we are in his Principality: but while we build up our reason, he endeavoureth to pull down our faith: There are several sorts of heinous blasphemies, but an Atheist plays at all, and at once denies there is a God. I believe there is many an accepted faith, which cannot endure fire and faggot, and know not but Countries and particular persons too may have their tutelar and protecting Angels: nor that the Saints departed may not know the passages of their friends on earth, for that it is said, at the conversion of a sinner the Angels of Heaven rejoice; for being that man is not only in the bulk and lump of the creatures, but lives the life of plants, animals and spirits, it is a mighty privilege and favour from our Creator, and may be a hierogliphyck of supernatural knowledge. The mystery of the Creation is very great, but more particularly of man: at the bare word the creatures were made of nothing, but man was first made of earth, and afterward the Image of his Maker by more sacred institution: therefore he must not dote of life, nor fear to die; for to be too sensible of life, and hopeless of death becomes no man, much less a Christian: for although death soon lays our honour in the dust, and changes us from commanding men, into submission to the beasts, yet we (that is our souls) are immortal, and (if not our own faults) not subject to so vile allotment. I cannot find life worth the wish, unless thereby we may serve our Maker, and therein profit or promore our blessed eternity: but if our sins grow numerous with our hours, and so outgrow our despised repentance, where is then that profit of our many years? therefore it is, that there is a secret end, and bottom of our days, his wisdom hath determined them: his waking providence doth fulfil them, wherein the spirits, ourselves, and all the creatures of the Almighty, in a secret and undisputed way, perform his pleasure: Another hand twines the thread of life, than that of nature, Lucan. Victurosque Dei celant ni vivere durent, Faelix essemori— weare all deluded, vainly searching ways To make us happy by the length of days: For cunningly to makes protract this breath, From us is hid the happiness of death. To avoid death, in a miserable life, is Christian fortitude: it is a very great blessing, that although the weakest hand may take away our life, yet the strongest cannot deprive us of death: for seeing this corrupted life cannot be without sin, happy is death that puts an end to it: the devil therein was deceived; for that his envy in bringing us into sin, hath (by the Almighty mercy) likewise brought upon us natural death, whereby we are freed and secured both from him and it. Now our certain and eternal habitations, are those incomprehensible situations, Heaven and Hell, which none define or tell what and where they are, a negative is the best we have; buy hath not seen, nor ear heard nor can man's heart conceive: but Heaven, may be, the satisfaction to the soul, wherein it desires neither addition nor alteration: and the unsatisfied knowing appetite after vanity, may be said a hell: therefore let us fear the Almighty, but not be afraid of shine; let rather his mercies make us ashamed of our sins, than his judgements afraid thereof. I think few are scared into Heaven, they go the fairest way that would serve the Almighty without a Hell: those mercenaries that crouch unto him for fear of Hell, though they term themselves the servants, are indeed, but the slaves of the Almighty. The several afflictions of the Saints are improved, and do prove the secret favours of the Almighty: it is a singular piece of wisdom, to distinguish the justice of the Almighty from his mercy, and not miscall those his mighty attributes, who is merciful to all, and better to the worst then the best deserve, the most perfect actions on earth having no title or claim to Heaven, for while we keep guard against one vice, we commonly lie open to the attempts of another. Acts 10.35. I like not that opinion, which toeth salvation to the pale of any Church, lest we err as much in our own, as in another judgement: We are commanded not to judge any but ourselves; and saving humility casts us lowest, and will make us acknowledge our unworthiness, so much, as to bring up the rear in Heaven. Charity is a heavenly and absolute virtue; the true effect whereof, giveth Alms more out of obedience to the Almighty, than out of commiseration on our brother; for his sake that enjoins it, rather than for his that asks it. He that relieveth out of bowels of compassion only, doth it only for his own sake, and perhaps because it may be his own case, which is a sinister and politic charity: this duty extends into all the ways of doing good, both to soul and body, and by well instructing others upon an opportunity of charity, we perform a double duty: to be reservedly a niggard in this part of goodness, is the most sordid piece of covetousness, and in some sort more contemptible than pecuniary avarice. No man can justly judge another, because no man can justly know another, nor truly himself: Adam's faith could not convince himself of murder, until Cain actually shown it upon his brother. A contemplative and solitary life, avoideth many common and public temptations, yet hath the devil such advantage, through our corruption, that if we do not withal valour and watchfulness, resist both ourselves and these allurements even in our most retired thoughts, we shall thereby become the most abject piece of mortality. Divine dreams are most happy entertainments of rest, thereby the sleeping of the body may be the waking of the soul. Therefore thus My slumbering brain foretells the night, Me safely guard, thou God of might; Let not my sins, that raging swell, My blessed tutelar expel; But let thy works that once were good, Have from thy grace their daily food: Let not my sins black as the night, Eclipse the lustre of thy light; Thou art my everlasting years, Where thou art, nought but day appears: Thou to whom both day and night, Make an individual light, Guard we from that secret power That would thee and thine devour: Let no dreams my head infest, But such as will me wake more blest, While I do rest, my soul advance, My sleep let be a holy trance; That waking I may rise from rest With sacred thoughts and knowledge blest, And with as active vigour run Therein as doth the nimble Sun: Death seems a sleep, O make me tell How sleep and death do parallel. And joy as much to lay my head In grave, as in perfumed bed: But Lord, both sleeping and awake My soul into thy arms re-take; And though it be, since thence it came, Polluted with my body's shame, Yet do not Lord thy own decline, Thou art our God, and we are thine: And thus assured, behold I lie Securely, or to wake, or die Here, I a Pilgrim, can but call, At every stage, must rest or fall. O come that hour, when thou shalt please Which is my everlasting ease; And then convert beyond all measure, My soul, into thy perfect pleasure. Amen. Reason. DOst ' reason why when youth and strength is passed In foul transgression 'gainst thy Maker's Laws, That fainting age when life is near at last Should obtain pardon, is there any cause. Though true repentance never be too late, It's rarely true thats of so short a date: And if not true, than woe unto thy sin, It's no repentance then of least accept, Great need of penitence so soon as sin. So soon as wearied womb her charge hath left, Then we that would true comfort have in death, Had need prevent betime, repent with breath The ten Ages. MY little Infant patiented be and still; In Childhood meekness must command thy will, Youth be thou temperate, and let manhood be Acted in prudence and humility: Manhood is made for labour, and as health Is gained by constant action, so in health, True fortitude, in manhood claims a part, And watchfulness, is ground for every art, True justice, and sound judgement, merit praise, That we in wisdom may conclude our days. The Metaphor. WHo enters first a new Plantation, Must wander, yet oppose temptation, And passing Jordan must suppress the flood Of wickedness, and must protect the good: Next chastely he, must labour a Plantation, Planting good fruit fit for a habitation; Then be must nourish and preserve the same, Lest wild devouring beasts destroy the frame: Then make good Laws, which right to all do give, Whose execution maketh for to live. Humility. IN marriage and in single life it's best, under thy fortune, or estate to live; So thou command'st it, not it thee; and rest is never sound, where men and women give Themselves to thoughts of vain ambition, and would themselves, and children, raise up high, They are deluded by the vain tradition, that it is good; for it is bad; and nigh To sad destruction: thus we see, full oft, that pinnacles, and lofty tops are torn: And fond conceits of soaring high aloft, are always ruined, vexed, and forlorn With those that waver; tossed with every wind; who on true providence unsettled be: Whose miseries are formed of every kind: but peace is handmaid to humility. Blessed is the man whom God doth teach, his precepts secretly: To whom his sacred arm doth reach beyond false sophistry. To whom dark silence learned hath from the eternal grace, The perfect walk in sacred path, which sin doth not deface. To whom true mercy doth confute the vanities of men, Who do contend in much dispute, how God to serve and when. This precious pearl who hath obtained, and this selected stone, The perfect way hath clearly gained To serve the holy one. Why Sin is forbidden and Righteousness commanded. THe true reason why almighty God is offended with sin, is not because thereby we wound his sacred person, but because thereby we destroy ourselves, by unfitting us, and making ourselves uncapable of his mercy prepared for the works of his own hands, whereby only is our salvation. So his commands of obebience to his sacred Laws, is not out of any gain or benefit to himself, but from his willingness and desire of our eternal life, and that therein his saving mercy may be sufficient for our salvation: so then, the whole benefit of avoiding evil and doing good, is principally and chief to ourselves. Psal. 50.9, 10, 11, 12. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor hee-Goat out of thy folds, for all the beasts of the forest are mine, and so are the cattles upon a thousand hills: I know all the fowls upon the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight. If I be hungry I will not tell it thee, for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein. The chief drift and end of all divine instruction is, to admonish and lead us to upright holiness in life and conversation, which is the certain path of eternal peace. THrice blest is he whose Name is writ above, That doth good, though gaining infamy, Requites evil turns with hearty love, And wreaks not what befalls him outwardly: Whose worth is in himself and only bliss, In his pure conscience that doth nought amiss; That planteth treasure in his spotless soul, And virtuous life his treasure doth esteem; That doth his passion's master and control, And yet true Lordly manliness doth deem, That from this world himself hath clearly quit, Counts nought his own but what dwells in his spirit, So when his spirit from this vain world doth flit, It takes all with it whatsoever was dear Unto itself, passing in quiet flit, As kindly ripened corn drops from the ear, And heeding nought what idle folk do say, He taketh his own and stilly goes away. D. MORE. The Life and Death of E.M. AS by the fruit the Tree is plainly known, So by thy Virtues are thy Parents shown, Persons of quality, knowledge, and estate, Thereby more fit, true duty to relate, To God, their Country, and to each degree, That Adam's offspring are by pedigree. Thy Infancy, thy Childhood, and thy years Well nigh till Twenty one, was without fears Of marriage-troubles, whence thou took thy flight, To Governors and Parents great delight; With whose consent, whose charge, and pious care, Into like pious family, you were Planted by marriage, where did grow like he That bore like fruit that well appeared in thee. Thy firstborn Child from accident unknown, Abortive was, or was an Embryon: Nine more thou hadst into the Church baptised, Five thee survive, Four be immortalised: One more is gone the path of mortal race, The rest rejoice in hope to see thy face: Thy Ninth and last born child our gracious God Di● friendly free thee of, but oh his rod, Some ten days after; (for my sins I fear) Took thee to joy, left me to labour here; Labour I will, but only in his strength Is all my joy, all my eternal wealth: About some Thirty three was all thy age, Thy worldly trouble and thy pilgrimage: Thy five day's sickness needs I must relate, As rarest pattern fit to imitate; What thanks for grace in thy childbearing pain, What humble yielding unto death again; What free submission to thy Father's will, Either to die, or wait his pleasure still. What sorrow for to hear of shedding blood, What fear least war should do more hurt than good: So that thy faith, thy promise-bearing-pain, Confirms our hope, our hope to meet again. Another thus. IN Infancy thou wert of humble spirit, In Youth thy love to piety did merit; In Woman's years, thy neighbours truly speak Thee sober, modest, studious and meek. Loving true peace, and all that loved good, In Charity relieving poor with food; Zealous in duty to thy gracious God, Feeding with joy upon his sacred word; This as thy years increased did daily grow, To high perfection both in deed and show: See that when death first had his licence given From thy Creator by decree of Heaven, He stood at distance, only showed his dart, To see if fear would make thee shrink the smart, But finding still the Roses white and red, Adorn thy face, as they were customed, The second day he nearer doth advance, Adds sorer sickness, as his furtherance, And finding still thy firm undaunted faith, The third day shows his much enraged wrath, The fourth day, seeing that no worldly dear, Can change thy Christian courage into fear, The fift and last to the utmost of his power, Without his sting, produced the fatal hour. To the Soul. IMpale thyself (my soul) and circled in thy wand'ring thoughts from worldly vain deceits Which maketh errors; covereth her sin, And perywiggs with fraud her base retreats, Darkens the knowledge, and bemists the eyes, Guilding the pitfalls of her vanities. And let thy towering fence ascend more high, Then doth the panting air, or feathered wing, So that the Prince thereof may not come nigh, To scale the batlings, or disturb within, But let thy sacred soul most freely breathe Itself in Heavens joys, though thou beneath. And keep out from thy peaceful Paradise, All proud and haughty thoughts, which make thee seem Better than others, in thy darkened eyes, When least of others thou thyself shouldst deem, And take unto thee, infant humble bliss: For of such virtue, the true Kingdom is. Keep out from hence all covetous avarice, For that's a partner with the proud disdain: That eggs thee on to cast off all advice, And makes thee throw off godliness, for gain, And take unto thee goods most justly got, Using this world as if thou used it not. Take heed of setting up an Idol here, For that's soon done before thou be ware. Take heed of prizeing any thing so dear As thy own maker: fear and have a care, Serve thy own Maker: thy own God alone, Serve, fear and love him, for he's only One, Three Persons yet one God, our Maker is, So holy Scriptures teach us to believe, The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost it is; True faith the confirmation doth us give: No other true belief of Heavens ways, Can man make out unto his Maker's praise. Take to thyself, and truly put in use, Those ten most blessed Precepts, Moses gave From our Creator, which men much abuse By false construction, thinking for to save Thereby their trespasses, but alas it's vain To think the soul can live, where sin doth reign. Misguided conscience, often guides us wrong; Yet we no better guide then conscience have, If it be guided right, by true and long Practice of piety, prayer, and counsel grave, For our good Maker, the true humble heart Truly converts, and teacheth him the Art. Blest and for ever praised be God alone, Which gives us comfort, notwithstanding sin, And hath a store of mercies of his own, A fountain for the soul to wash it in, That in the merits of his only Son, Our souls appear freed from corruption. Then cast off from thee every sinful thought, And all appearances that evil be, What ere it is, though never so dear bought, If it but move to sin, cast it from thee, And let thy pious prayers, and humble soul, Thy earthly passions, and thy sin control. Keep out by thy impaled and circled guard, Hopes in rebellion, or by feats of arms: Let civil war, for no hopes or reward, Move thee to trample on thy neighbour's harms; But p●ty all distrested, and well know The sword's abused; seldom reforms, below. And keep from thee all idle wand'ring ways, That have no end in motion, tend to nought, When men seek nothing; so they spend their days, In vain conceits, moved by a wand'ring thought, And being empty of all good within, The Devil ready is, to fill with sin. Civil War. FLy Civil wars; what's good, they oft undo, Peace is my Alpha and Omega too, YE trust none hurts me, for why, none I hate, I wish all peace, lest all repent too late: Neuters are fittest men, th' unbyass't life Makes a fit judge, to end debate and strife, Demeanours in several Accidents and Occasions. Life, WIth Life remember Death, and soon commence, to love thy Maker and his providence. Health, Peace, War. In Health take Physic, Peace provide for War, fly all excess and fly the Civil jar. Sickness. In Sickness sorrow not, but know it's best, in thy Creators' providence to rest. Sorrow. When Sorrows do possess thy troubled soul, take heed thy will do not thy God control. Joy. Take heed of too much joy, and laughing much, true serious thoughts do leave a better touch. Affliction. In all Afflictions while thy time doth run, with true content say, Lord, thy will be done. Single life. There's great temptation waits a Single life, more outward ease oft brings more inward strife. Marriage. Weddings like winter Sun at noon-shine bright, but often clouds appear, and sudden night. Discourse. In thy Discourse take heed of speaking more than thou thyself knowst to be true before. Dispute. Opinionated men in their Dispute, rather themselves then others do confute. Travel. Use words to get their speech; but mark thou well their Laws and Customs, and what doth excel. Study. In closet Study where no eye doth see, remember God, and thy eternity. Foreign Country. If thou from home to Foreign parts be called, take heed thou be not in their vice enthralled. Distress at sea. When raging seas oppress thy trembling bark, Saints have their haven, Doves their Noah's Ark. Wretchedness. Thrice wretched he that humane Laws must force to do the right he knows. Sinne. Thy soul from sins infectinn save, least sins do cry, and crying have. Affectedness. affectedness in carriage needs must gain, esteem of shallow, idleness, and vain. Soberness. A sober carriage if apparel suit speak grounds of wisdom, gain a good repute. Creature. Take heed the Creatures have not cause to cry at thy misusing them, and cruelty. Earth. Possess so much of Earth, from more refrain than thou canst order to eternal gain. Rest. What helps not hinders, what doth not assist, is enemy to thy eternal rest. The mind. To write or speak, more to affect the mind then guide the soul, is folly unrefined. Teaching. If mind and soul, be from a sacred word, both joyed and taught, such teaching is from God. Good and Evil. Ill's only ill, and good is only good, their consequences must be understood. Gettings. Is aught worth sinful getting, when we see our seeming comforts scarce last seventy? Vain joy. Be not too jocund when the Sun doth shine, for suddenly it's noon, and must decline. Comfort. In all transactions underneath the Sun, hence is true comfort, that God's will done. Good life. While we walk worthy of our Maker's praise, our peace is sound, in good, or evil days. Upright Walking. Who laden much with earth can walk upright, with lesser load may surely walk more straight. The Way. Thrice happy want, and grief, and low degree, you are the living way appointed me. History. By History learn how to act thy part, and wisely know thy predecessors Art. Nothing new What hath been is, and what is may be done, Wisdom saith, Nothing's new under the Sun. Practice. To read the story, and thereof to speak without the practic part, shows judgement weak. Nature. Thy own corrupted nature's sure to blame, than what suits most therewith is most the same. Reason. Our cursed sins doth reason so deface, that ancient custom much usurps her place. Custom. When without pains we leave accustomed sin, Then Leper change thy spots, and More thy skin. Friends unkind. If Friends prove foes, and since it must be so, be linked no faster than thou mayst let go. Friend's death. Death, thou hast parted us, but we shall meet, beyond thy power, each others bliss to greet. Employments. Though worldly business us divide a fare, yet in God's service we united are. Affronts. Give no offence, pass by affronts, for why its wisdom's counsel, wise men pass them by. Anger. Anger, is open to the greatest harm, it arms thy foes, and doth thyself disarm. Law. Do right to all without Law, or offence, thy common Law, let be good conscience. Suits. Sue not at Law, until thou'st thoroughly tried (to get but near thy right) all ways beside. Judgement. If thou be called thy judgement for to give, remember God, that judgeth right, doth live. Family. He that a wife, or family controls, ought last to feed their bodies, first their souls. Exact living. From truest principles of filial love, are all the motions of the holy Dove. Devotion. In daily duties, and devotion due, be constant, fervent, and thy words but few. Sabbath. Make not the Sabbath shortest of the seven, but strictly keep it, morning, noon, and even. Public Fasts or Feasts. In public duties, public fasts or feasts. for public precedents; keep them at least. Private Fasts. When thou (as is most fit) settest days apart to humble thee, do it with all thy heart. Change. In all the change that to this life is due, change only Adam old, for Adam new. Sacraments. The blessed Sacraments ought for to move thy soul, to tears of thanks, in truest love. Attending the Word. By sacred preaching the true heavenly Word is offered us, felt, heard, and understood. Duty. To all the creatures several rights, it's fit to give their due, as we will answer it. Love to God. Convert thy soul, and see thou do not move for hope or fear, but serve in truest love. Meditation. Our duty to our God i'll not relate, Heavens joys, hell's torments, see thou meditate. Prayer. In prayer, prostrate thy most humble spirit, in true obedience, that's thy Saviour's merit. Sudden. The sudden act, and what is rashly done, hath penitence for his companion. Tumults. Avoid all tumults, for their usual spring is pride, and envy, and a height in sin. Company. Take heed of company, keep watchful eyes, there's fewest friends, the most are enemies. Fear. Fear not too much what may the body harm, but love our God, and trust his mighty arm. Evil days. For evil days, when worldly friends afford nor peace, nor comfort, have it in the Lord. Good days. Those days are good, and only good gins when we abound in love, subdue our sins. Belief. Belief is that, for which we ought to pray, for sacred guidance in a holy way. Reading the Scriptures. In reading Scriptures, lest understanding err, craveth ' holy Ghost for thy interpreter. Authors. In humane authors so much multiplied, the truth of all by holy Writ is tried. God. With filial fear we must our souls prepare, before we speak his Name, for whom we are. Souls. In studying of souls, know it's not given to self, to know itself, within a prison. Bodies. Thy body's mortal; life's but like a breath, then walk prepared for a joyful death. Family. Consider those allotted to thy charge, thy bond's more great, their liberty more large. Friends. If thou hast found a friend beyond a brother, bless God therefore; thou'lt hardly find another. Enemies. Of all thy foes, take heed of smiling jest, the hypocrite of all is deadliest. Occasions. In business, and occasions, that depend upon this life, consider well the end. Reward. The innocent and humble mind regard, with due respect consider, and reward. Punishment. The child, the simple, and the haughty mind, are fit for punishments of several kind. Writing. Speak well, but better write, writings from fare, Arts. The perfect use of Arts, are helps to call back, our pure nature, lost in Adhm's fall. Recreations Use recreations to refresh the mind, and better it for use of every kind. Callings. Callings are called of God, that we therein may with us, others, to his Kingdom bring. Remove. In all removals amongst humane race, thou'rt still as near to thy eternal place. Slander. If envy smite thee with his lying tongue, works, before words, confute both old and young. Troubles. In all the troubles that our works do merit, our comfort is, the Father, Son and Spirit. Advice. In all my counsel, the just sum is this, crave wisdom of our God, the gift is his. The Resolve. BUt centre me and fix my soul aright, in true obedience to my Maker's will; Let me converted be as is most right, in perfect service as true beauty will: Then let his pleasure cast me to those snares of worldly torments, mind and body both, What ever work it be in peace or wars, it's his employment, trial of my troth; It is my safest way, the only path of his blessed pleasure only, leading right To my eternal bliss: therein his wrath due for my sins, is covered from my sight: This rock of comfort rightly built upon, is not impeached by any battering storm, It's still the same in its salvation, though with the world it's desolate, forlorn: This lightens darkness, perfumes the dungeons foul. feels not the tortures of the Tyrant's rage, It's food in pine; cherisheth the soul, in strangest torments where they tyranage: What's scorching heat, what's icy freezing cold, what's wilderness, or banishing from home, What's boilings, scaldings, torments manifold, what's all we comprehend by martyrdom; If I but know, that I am not my own, But my Creators: and it is most right That he dispose for ever: reason's shown I must submit to his most perfect sight, That sees what's only good unto my soul, to fit it for eternal Paradise: And only orders what without control, doth only fit my soul for sacred bliss: Which if once known, welcome the swiftest speed, that brings me tidings of the blessed decree, That these sharp scourges are no more than's need, and after death my ever bliss is free. Then cast me from most towering rocks, amongst fair Neptune's powdered locks, And let my next remove be set, within the Ocean's Cabinet: Or place me on the Lybian plain, which raging winds to wrath constrain, Or let my habitation be in depth of black obscurity, Or if the thirsty wretch for blood, must torture me, to meit's good; More wrong for good we here endure, the more is our salvation sure; Well suffering wrong is surely blest, with promise of eternal rest: This promise fails not; know you this, Yea and Amen, this promise is. If I could knowingly but see, how all things work the best for me, And if I were to perfect love, converted than I should not move, Though Neptune's foaming wave did burn, though mountains over mountains turn; Though humble valleys should deride the lofty hills in seeming pride; Though man unto his neighbour be as raging wolves in tyranny, Though foaming floods usurp the place, of Ceres with her wont grace; Though Neptune, Juno, Vulcan's flames, part Tellus from her Comely Dames; Though flaming Meteors join their force, with warlike furious language hoarse; Though lies, and homebred foes take place, and have the power of my disgrace; Though civil wars and foreign might, take from my life all earth's delight; Though plagues and famine, sin's desert, my comforts to distress subvert; Though my Creator's love correct, and for my sins my soul deject; Yet while my God is all and chief, I have my peace, I have relief. A Discourse, Showing Honour dangerous. Earthly things empty. Order of Estate and Family Education of Children. The golden mean. What tends to eternal happiness, only good. A competency the best. Great Estates have great troubles. Our Saviour refused earthly Treasure. Disposal of Estate in life, or Death▪ Respect the Righteous. Duty in using the Creatures. They exceed in sense, we in reason Some liberty from necessity. Titles of Honour unprofitable. Court Honour is rarely Virtue's character. TItles of Honour usually proceed from vain glory, and do much advantage the design of flatterers, thereby they breathe their fond deceit, knowing this wind rests only in the fame of others, and of itself is only profitable to them that have it not: many evil effects proceed from it, as pride, covetousness, etc. but one of the best effects therefrom (that I know) is, the reproving a fool by his folly; thereby showing him how little I am profited, or he prejudiced by my superiority of going before him; but rather that I have inconvenience and danger thereby. This gilded Apple most deceives their vain and shallow judgements, who love to spend their precious time in visits and excess: but with the wise, in their constant, necessary, and solid employments, it is little or nothing worth. Earthly things empty. I advise you, not to be too solicitous for the outward profits or pleasures of this life, for if thou do obtain them, thou shalt find them in use beyond expectation empty. Order. Live soberly (under, and within the compass of your Estate) in your Family (if the Almighty give you any,) and keep them in constant duty, once a day at least in public prayer together; and in private advise them all to use it, twice every day at least. Education. Bring up your Children (if God shall give you any) in learning and education, suitable to the several Portions you are able to give them: and so order them, that they may have no idle time, and as little as may be, for vain employments. Avoid idleness and vanity. Be sure neither to live thyself, nor bring up your Children above your present Estate; for that almost enforceth to pride, and then covetousness must maintain: for observe, one vice is always borne up by another: and so also is Virtue: although they may seem to intermix, they very seldom or never do. A mean necessary. Love the golden mean in all earthly things: use this present world as if thou used it not; and so endeavour to order and teach thy family, that your great joy may be, from your hopeful assurance to live together in eternal happiness: for the fashion of this world vanisheth away, and there is nothing good, or worth desiring, That only good, which tends to eternal happiness but what tends to the good of our eternity (or at least not to the hurt thereof) and nothing can be evil that tends to our eternal peace. Selah. A competency the best. A competency of earthly things is the request of Agur's prayer: What a competency is, under the true notion of neither poverty nor riches, is to be resolved: I conceive that whatsoever doth or may preserve and satisfy nature, is a competency, What it is. and in that sense is almost every man's present estate, wherewith he ought according to right and justice to be content. But if I be asked what in my opinion a sussicient competency is in England, for a Person of quality to live handsomely upon, What in England. I conceive 1500 or 2000 per Annum to be sufficient (from well ordering of it) to have many opportunities to give almighty God much honour, and thereby to do much good to men: and I am sure a great account must be made of so great a Talon. Great Estates cause great sorrow. What is there from such vast Estates, as vain and unsatisfied desires wish for, but great care both in getting and keeping of them: They have more servants, more diet, more vainglory, and more trouble and sorrow therewith; but what is there more (usually) for the almighty giver? surely very little, and often nothing, save cause of anger for the bad ordering or misusing of it; which (if not in time repent of) causeth and will produce a certain and eternal destruction. Our Saviour's portion. Then love the Golden mean, the competent easy load and Talon, which being wisely ordered with honest care and industry, may give thee more true and lasting comfort, than any excess in earthly things. Consider the portion and Talon of our blessed Saviour, and his Apostles in this world, and their happy content therewith. True peace and comfort is from the treasure in Heaven, not in earth. Disposement of Estate in life or death. Respect the righteous. In disposing of thy Estate either in life or death, it is good to consider that order in which almighty God hath placed the world unto thee; and let nothing (save the household of faith) break that order: which order is; first thy Wife, as next thyself, or rather equal with thee: then thy Children in their birthrights: then Kindred: then thy Servants according to their merit: if they have spent their youth and strength in thy faithful service: then Neighbours of thy sober faith: and lastly, all men that desire to live soberly, righteously and honestly in this present world. Use the Creature modestly, soberly. Put them not to any unusual painful death, without great necessity. Take heed thou do not tyrannize or oppress the Creature in the Liberty of use; I mean the sensitive, who (indeed) are fellows with us, and exceed us more in sense, than (is clearly made out) we do them in reason. Our Creator is one, our bodies and our senses are alike; we say they sinne not, thus fare they equal or exceed us: only our reason makes the difference, though some dispute, because some sensitives prepare against a storm, which only is the true effect of sense: however I advise you to use them very soberly, with great care and moderation, especially in killing them, in taking away their lives to preserve thine own: take heed in destroying their bodies, thou ruin not thy own soul: do not put them to any unusual painful death to please thy palate, or gain more health and strength thereby, to consume it on thy lusts: but if there be any necessity in such using, to gain strength or health, out of thy true desire better and longer to work in thy master's vineyard as a just servant, Liberty in necessity. thou mayst (out of such a true intent) in any sort use them; yet take heed of the innocent and helpless cries of the meanest Creature: and pitying them, let it move thee to true repentance, Thy sin (perhaps) the cause of their punishment. for that thy ill deserving sin may cause their undeserving punishment: therefore bless our good God in the use of the Creature, but abuse it not. Comfort from Scripture both in Life and in Death. I. Comfort. To have true joy in long Life, from our hearty desires of serving our God, in all our appointed pilgrimage. HAB. 2.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. FOrasmuch then as the Children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them: that he might destroy through death, him that had the power of death, that is the devil: and that he might deliver all them which for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage: for he in no sort took the Angels, but he took the seed of Abraham; wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful and a faithful High priest in things concerning God, that he might make reconciliation for the sins of the people: for in that he suffered and was tempted, he is able to secure those that are tempted. 1 Cor. Chap. 15. 1 Thes. Chap. 4. You shall find admirable comfort by death and in death, from the certainty of the resurrection, and of our change: therefore read them diligently. Prov. 14.32. The wicked shall be cast away in his malice, but the righteous hath hope in his death. Eccl. 7.3. A good Name is better than a good ointment, and the day of death than the day that one is born. Psal. 116.15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. Isa. 57.1. The righteous perish and no man considereth it in heart, and merciful men are taken away, and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Psal. 63.3, 4. For thy loving kindness is better than life, therefore my lips shall praise thee. Psal. 104.33. I will sing unto the Lord all my life, I will praise my God while I live. II. Comfort. Secondly, Take comfort for that all our conditions both inward and outward (sin excepted) are from the appointment of God, and his will is therein door. Numb. 20.23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the mount of Hor, near the coast of the Land of Edom saying: Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the Land which I have given unto the Children of Israel, because ye disobeyed my Commandments at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up into the Mount Hor. And cause Aaron to put off his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: for Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers, and shall die there. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded; and they went up into the Mount Hor in the sight of all the Congregation. And Moses put off Aaron's , and put them upon Eleazar his son: so Aaron died there in the top of the Mount. Chap. 33.38. Deut. 32.48, 49, 50. And the Lord spoke unto Moses saying; Go up into this mountain of Abrim, unto the mount Nebo which is in the Land of Moab, that is over against Jericho. And behold the Land of Canaan which I give unto the Children of Israel for a possession, and die in the mount which thou goest up into, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people. Job 23.14. For he will perform that which he had decreed of me, and many such things are with him. Prov. 16.9, 33. The heart of man purposeth his way, but the Lord doth direct his steps. The Lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposition thereof is from the Lord. The will and the deed of holiness is from the Lord, therefore we must truly pray for the sacred guidance of the holy Spirit. Paul plants, and Apollo waters, but it is God that gives the increase, Selah. Therefore O my God, for thy Son my Saviour's sake, and as thou delightest to show mercy to the saving of a poor sinner that would truly serve thee, from his deserved death: teach me thy precepts, and lead me in the way of thy Commandments. Turn me unto thee (O Lord) and so I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God, and I am thy servant, though most unworthy of thy service; I am thy unworthy prodigal son, Lord make me return unto thee my blessed and merciful Father, in true and saving repentance. Amen. Jer. 15.2, 3. Thus saith the Lord, Such as are appointed to death unto death; and such as are for the sword to the sword, and such as are for the famine to the famine; and such as are for the captivity to the captivity: And I will appoint over them four kinds saith the Lord: The Sword to slay, the Dogs to tear in pieces, and the Fowls of the Heaven, and the Beasts of the Earth, to devour and to destroy. 2 Sam. 17.14. For the Lord had determined (or appointed) to destroy the good counsel of A hithophell, that he might bring evil upon Absalon. 2 Chron. 33, 8. Neither will I make the foot of Israel to remove any more out of the Land which I have appointed for your fathers, so that they take heed and do all that I have appointed them. Job 7.3. Painful nights have been appointed me. And 14.5. Are not his days determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds which he cannot pass. Ver. 14. All the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change come. O preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Micha 6.9. Hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. Job 7.1. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth, and are not his days as the days of an hireling? Dan. 8.19. And he said, Behold I will show thee what shall be in the last wrath; for in the end of the time appointed, it shall come. Dan. 10.1. But the time appointed was long, etc. (wherefore wait thou the pleasure and appointment of God patiently, and rejoice in all conditions to wait his will.) And Chap. 11. Ver. 27. And both those King's hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall talk of deceit at one table, but it shall not avail, for yet the end shall be at the time appointed, at the time appointed he shall return, for there is a time appointed, Ver. 29, 35. Acts 17.26. And hath made of one blood all man-kindeto dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath assigned the times which were ordained before, and the bounds of their habitation. Job 16.22. For the years accounted come, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return. 2 Sam. 7.12. And when thy days be fulfiled thou shalt sleep with thy fathers. Deut 31.14. Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold thy days are come, that thou must die. III. Comfort. Take comfort from this, that the will of God is the best for us, and that we ourselves know not what is the best for us; and therefore we may well rejoice that his will is done and not ours, save only when it suits with his in Christ, which is surely best for us. Numb. 27.16. God is the Lord of the spirits of all flesh. Deut. 8.3. Therefore he humbled thee, and made thee hungry, and fed thee with Man, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know it, that he might teach thee, that man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth man live. Eccl. 7.2. Who knows what's good for a man in this life, in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he maketh them as a shadow? Jer. 42.6. Whether it be good or evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord God to whom we send thee, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God. Psal. 39.5. Surely every man in his best estate is altogether vanity: therefore let us say with joy, as Matth. 6.10. Thy will be done (O God) in earth, as it is in Heaven. And with our blessed Saviour, Mat. 26.42. O my Father, if this cup may not pass from me, but that I must drink it, thy will be done. Let us with David, Psal. 143.10. desire our God to teach us his will; and then with him, Psal. 40.8. let us delight to do it; for our God is good, and his mercy endures for ever. Selah. iv Comfort. Take comfort in Sickness, because the will of God is there n done which is for the best for us; and let it be the joy of our souls in all conditions, that his will is done in Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Psal. 115.3. Our God is in Heaven, he doth whatsoever he will. Job 30.4. None knows the secrets of God: Who hath ascended up into Heaven, and descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fist? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the world, what is his Name, or what is his son's Name if thou canst tell. Phil. 4. 1●. Let us be careful (with St Paul) to learn in whatsoever state or condition we are, to be therewith content, both to be full and to be hungry; to abound and to want; for we may do all things through the help of God our Saviour. Matth. 4.34. Let us truly say with our blessed Saviour, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and finish his work. Say with the Apostle, Acts 21.14. The will of the Lord be done: And as Eph. 4.7. Be not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is, and sing with melody in your hearts to the lord And say with Job, Job 5.17. Blessed is the man whom God correcteth, therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Prov 3. 1●. For the Lord correcteth him whom he loveth, even as the father doth the child in whom he delighteth. Only thus pray in true love to thy God and Saviour, and with an humble and a contrite heart: Jer. 10.24. O Lord correct me but with judgement, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Then examine thy soul, and be sure God will by his Spirit reveal to thee, and will conclude of thee as he did to his people whom he had corrected: Jer. 30.11. I am with thee to save thee, though I utterly destroy all the nations where I have scattered thee, yet will I not utterly destroy thee, but I will correct thee by judgement, and not utterly cut thee off. And Jer. 46.28. Fear thou not O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; for I am with thee, and I will utterly destroy all the nations whether I have driven thee; but I will not destroy thee, but correct thee by judgement, and not utterly cut thee off. Therefore bless our good God in and for all the conditions of thy pilgrimage: and say with David, Psal. 143. Hear my prayer O Lord, give ear to my supplication: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness: and enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy (viz. sin and Satan.) hath persecuted my soul, he hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead, therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works: I muse on the works of thy hands. I stretch out my hands unto thee, my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land, Selah. Hear me speedily (O Lord) my spirit faileth, hid not thy face from me, lest I be like to them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me O Lord from my enemies (viz. from my sins.) I fly unto thee to hid me, teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake; for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off my enemies (viz, my sins,) and destroy all them that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant. I will rejoice to work in thy vineyard O my creator, and in the strength of thy mercies will attend thy call to rest, as thy most obedient servant. Amen. V Comfort. Take comfort in a constant thirsting to be dissolved and to be with Christ, as his servants are who be already dissolved, if almighty God in Christ Jesus were so pleased. Read Gerrard's Meditations, Though death, as to us, is bitter, yet in from pag. 268, unto pag. 302. our trust on almighty God in Christ it is sweet. For, who keepeth his word shall never see death, Joh. 8.51. The misery of a Christian dieth, but not the Christian man; we lose not our friends at their death, but they go before us to the place of our enjoyment of them in Christ Jesus for ever (as we may well believe.) Luk. 2.29. Simeon saith, Lord now lettest thou thy servant departed in peace. And Phil. 1.23. The Apostle desires to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, which is best of all. Rev. 7.9. The elect have robes in token of innocency, and palms in their hands in token of victory: therein are all tears wiped away from our eyes. Ver. 17. And therein is no mourning, nor grief, nor any cry heard, but rest from labour. Chap. 21. v. 4. and 14.15. Our blessed Saviour shows the great benefit of being dissolved; when his Disciples were sad at it, he said, Joh. 14.28. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice rather. Phil. 1.21. Death is gain: The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement to his Son: therefore rejoice in thy true belief to go to that judgement. For Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life. Matth. 18.14. Neither is it the will of our Father, that one of the little ones should perish. Ver. 11. Our Saviour came to save that which was lost. He takes away the sins of the world. He died for the sins of the world. He hath a gracious call for us; as, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you. He maketh intercession for us, and hath blotted out the hand-writing which was against us. Joh. 5.24. He that heareth his word, and believeth on him that sent him, hath life everlasting, and shall not come into condemnation. O my Saviour I believe, yet help thou my unbelief, and increase thou my faith. Eph. 5.29, 30. That I may truly and as I ought, believe myself to be, and be, a member of thy body, of thy flesh, and of thy bones. O my Saviour, in the power of thy might, and as thou diedst to save sinners, make me holy, is thou the Lord my God art holy. The days of my pilgrimage are few and evil. My conversation is in Heaven, and I desire to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living: When shall I appear before thy face O God. As the Hart panteth after the fountain of water, so doth my heart after thee O God. At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. I shall be abundantly satisfied with the plentifullnesse of thy house, and thou shalt give me to drink of the brook of thy pleasures, for with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light shall we see light. Thou O Lord art the portion of my inheritance, and my exceeding great reward. Thou shalt (of thy free love to sinners showed in Jesus Christ) cover me with the garment of salvation, and clothe me with the white robe of righteousness, where there is no hunger nor thirst, nor scorching Sun. Of the fruit of the vine shall I drink in thy Kingdom: for thy words are spirit and life, therefore shall death be swallowed up in victory, and thou O Saviour shalt (for thy free merit in the blessed mercy of our eternal Father) wipe away all tears from my eyes for ever, for thou art my all-sufficient Lord God. While we live we cannot hope to cease from sin; but when we die we hope to sin no more: which consideration doth administer great comfort in the remembrance and appearance of death, to those that are truly weary of sinning against their God. VI The first Comfort in the pangs and passages of Death. First, Because the will of God is therein done in Jesus Christ, which is certainly the best for us. It is appointed to all men once to die, and after that comes the judgement. Heb. 9.27. 2 Cor. 4.14. Knowing that he which hath raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise us up also by Jesus, therefore we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed daily. Ver. 17. For our light afflictions which are but for a moment, causeth unto us a fare more excellent and an eternal weight of glory; while we look not on the things that are seen, but on the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen, are eternal. Read Gerrard's Meditations p. 109. praying for a blessed departure out of this life, and a blessed resurrection unto life ever lasting. And Read the fift Chapter of the 2d Cor. in which is admirable comfort in the passages of death: that we may be present with the Lord. Jam. 1.12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptations, for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Then present thy sold a true devotary unto our most gracious Father in Jesus Christ, and say with David, Psal. 31.5. Into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth, Ps. 71.23. My lips will rejoice when I sing unto thee, and my soul which thou hast delivered. And rejoice with Paul, Gal. 3.13. saying, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, when he was made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Then gathering thy spirit, freeing thy soul of worldly thoughts, say (in faith and true repentance, in full assurance that our good God is all-sufficient, and that his mercy endures for ever, and that in Jesus thy Saviour he hath elected and adopted thee his son) Come Lord Jesus, my most dear Saviour, come quickly, Amen. VII. A second Comfort in the passages of Death. Take comfort in this, That his mercy endures for ever: therefore rejoice always, and in all things give thanks, for that is the love of God to thee in Christ Jesus. Isa. 43.25. Thus saith the Lord, I even I am he that putteth away thy iniquities for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isa. 53.4. Fear not for thou shalt not be ashamed, neither shalt thou be confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame, yea thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth. Ver. 7. For a little while have I forsaken thee, but with great compassion will I gather thee Ver 8. For a moment, in my anger I hid my face from thee, for a little season, but with everlasting mercy have I had compassion on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer. Ver. 9 For this is unto me as the waters of Noah: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with thee, nor rebuke thee. Ver. ●0. For the mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down, but my mercy shall not departed from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace fall away, saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee. Ver. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and much peace shall be to thy children. Ver. 17. But all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn: this is the heritage of the Lords servants, and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord. Eph. 2.8. For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Sing praises unto the Lord ye his Saints, and give thanks before the remembrance of his holiness: for he endureth but a while in his anger, but in his favour is life; weeping may abide at evening, but joy cometh in the morning. 1 Chron. 16.34. Praise the Lrod for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. Ver. 41. And they were appointed to praise the Lord, because his mercy endures for ever. 2 Chron. 5.13. And they praised the Lord saying, for he is good, because his mercy lasteth for ever. Chap. 7. ver. 3. And they bowing themselves worshipped saying, for he is good, because his mercy lasteth for ever. Ver. 6. And the Priests waited to praise the Lord, because his mercy lasteth for ever. Chap. 10. ver. 21. And they went before the men of Arms saying, Praise ye the Lord, for his mercy lasteth for ever. Ezra 3.11. Thus they sang when they gave praise unto the Lord, For he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. Psal. 118.4. Let them that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endures for ever. Psal. 106.1. Praise the Lord because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. Read Psal. 136. Psal. 117.12. For his loving kindness is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord endures for ever. Psal. 138.8. Praise ye the Lord, the Lord will perform his work towards me. Psal. 28.21. O Lord thy mercy endures for ever, forsake not thou the works of thy hands; forsake me not O Lord, be not thou fare from me my God. Psal. 71.9. Cast me not off in the time of age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. Amen. VIII. A third Comfort in Death. Thou mayst rejoice, because blessed are they which die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them, Rev. 14.13. Say thou with Paul, Phil. 1.21. Christ is to me both in life and death, advantage. Ver. 22. And whether to live in the flesh, were more profitable for me, and what to choose, I know not. Ver. 23. For I am greatly in doubt on both sides, desiring to be loosed, and to be with Christ, which is best of all. Eccl. 4.12. So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the Sun, and behold the tears of the oppressed, and none comforteth them: and lo the strength is of the hand of them that oppress them, and none comforteth them, wherefore I praised the dead, which now are dead, above the living which are yet alive. Numb 23.10. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like unto his: the death of the righteous is greatly to be desired. Psal. ●8. 14. God is our God for ever an ever, he shall be our guide unto death. Psal. 116.15. Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his Saints. Prov. 14.32. The wicked shall be cast away for his malice, but the righteous hath hope in his death. Love the Lord thy God, and therein thou shalt have comfort and great joy in all conditions whatsoever; for love is stronger than death, and our God will destroy death for ever. Isa. 25.8. Hear with great joy the word of the Lord to them that love him. Hoseah 13.14. I will redeem them from the power of the grave, I will deliver them from death. O death I will be thy death, O grave I will be thy destruction: repentance is hid from my eyes. Rom. 5.10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life. Chap. 8. ver. 2. For the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus, hath freed me from the Law of sin and of death. Psal. 42.1, 2. As the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters, so panteth my soul after thee O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: when shall I come and appear before the presence of God. IX. A fourth Comfort in Death. Our Saviour Jesus died in pain fare greater than ours, and also a most ignominious and shameful death, and all for our sins: it were happy for us that we could imitate in some measure his sufferings for us, because his purity in the least degree, or part we cannot: He suffered most freely for us, contrary to the cry and call of our rebellions even at that time against him, when he could have got as much honour in our condemnation, and have been rescued from those sufferings, by more than twelve legions of Angels: He hath willingly suffered, to parchace eternal life for us (as we ought truly to believe:) Therefore this being his appointed Cross for us, let us take it up, carry it, and follow him, therewith rejoicing, that we through his mercy are accepted of him, as worthy to obtain and do his service: much more may we rejoice, that we in his goodness should have promise to reign with him for ever, Amen. Besides our blessed Saviour's incarnation, in coming from his Throne of eternal Godhead to take upon him the form of a servant; his being laid in the manger, not having whereon to rest his head; his many weep and sorrowings for the sins of the world: Read (with true sorrow and repentance) that thy sins should cause him such a death, or indeed the least sorrow. Matth. 27.27. Then the soldiers of the Governors took Jesus into the Common-hall, and gathered about him the whole band. Ver. 28. And they stripped him, and put upon him a scarlet robe. Ver. 29. And plaited a Crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right-hand, and bowed the knees before him, and mocked him saying, God save the King of the Jews. Ver. 30. And spit upon him, and took a reed and smote him on the head. Ver. 31. Thus when they had mocked him, they took the robe from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Ver. 33. And when they were come unto the place called Golgotha, (that is to say) the place of dead men's sculls. Ver. 34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink. Ver. 35. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and did cast lots: that it might be fulfiled which was spoken by the Prophet, Psal. 22.18. They divided my garments amongst them, and upon my vesture did cast lots. Ver. 36. And they sat and watched him there. Ver. 37. They set up also over his head his cause written, This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Ver. 38. And there were two thiefs crucified with him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Ver. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads and, Ver. 40. Saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself; if thou be the Son of God come down from the cross. Ver. 41. Likewise also the High-Prists mocking him, with the Scribes, and Pharisees, and Elders, said, Ver. 42. He saved others, but he cannot save himself: if he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Ver. 43. He trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. Ver. 44. That same also the thiefs, that were crucified with him, cast in his teeth. Ver. 45. Now from the sixth hour, was there darkness over all the land, until the ninth hour. Ver. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Ely, Ely, lamasabachthani, that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Ver. 47. And some of them that stood there, when they heard it said, This man calleth Elias. Ver. 48. And strait way one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. Ver. 49. Others said, Let be, let us see if Elias will come and save him. Ver. 50. Then Jesus cried with a loud voice again, and yielded up the ghost. Now then let us be glad and rejoice to go to him (our Saviour, our joy, our peace,) what way soever he is pleased to call us, through the most bitter torments of mind or body, by weaknesses, sicknesses and imperfections; and let us be most assured, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities. nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come; nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Tim. 2.3. Let us therefore suffer afflictions as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. For it is a true saying, If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. Yea 2 Tim. 3.12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions. Here have we no continuing City, but we seek one to come: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator: knowing, that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world. As many as our Saviour loveth, he rebuketh and chasteneth. Be zealous therefore in the truth, and amend, and rejoice always, that the will of God in Christ Jesus thy Saviour is therein done, which is the best for thee. Amen. X. A fift Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is our going from sorrow to joy. Isa. 17.1. The righteous perisheth and no man considereth it in heart, and merciful men are taken away, and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2 King. 22.19, 20. But because thy heart did melt, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of the same, to wit, that it should be destroyed and accursed, and hast rend thy clothes and wept before me; I have also heard it, saith the Lord: behold therefore, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be put into thy grave in peace, and thy eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place; this was the great love of God to King Josiah. See 2 Chron. 34.28. Luk. 16.22. Lazarus (by a blessed dissolution) is eased of all his pains, sores, diseases, fears and troubles, is called for out of the prison of the body, and presently (by the happy messenger of death) is made fit▪ and carried by the Angels into Abraham's bosom: where all the elect are in joys incomprehensible, freed from sin and sorrow forever. Amen. XI. A sixth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is our being gathered to our nearest alliance, our kindred and our parents. 2 King. 22.19, 20. Josiah was gathered to his fathers in great abundant mercy (as I mentioned before.) See the most sweet and gracious call of the eternal mercy to Moses, Deut, 32.48, 49, & 50. (which I lately mentioned:) And the Lord spoke to Moses the self same day saying: Go up into the mountain of Abarim, unto the mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan which I give to the children of Israel for a possession, and die in the mount which thou goest up unto, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered to his people. Gen. 25.8. The Abraham yielded up the spirit, and died in a good age, an old man and of great years, and was gathered to his people. Numb. 20.26. Almighty God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and to bring them up into the mount Hor, and to cause Aaron to put off his garments, and to put them upon Eleazar his son (saying) Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers and shall die there. Numb. 30.1, 2. Almighty God doth bid Moses avenge the children of Israel of the Mideanites; and in token of acceptance and reward, faith, afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people. Gen. 15.17. And Ishmaell yielded up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. Chap. 35. ver. 29. And Isaak gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered to his people. And Chap. 49. ver. 26. Jacob saith, I am ready to be gathered to my people, bury me with my fathers. Observe: There is no sign or show of sorrow in him; for he might well rejoice to exchange earth for Heaven. And Ver. 33. Then Jacob made an end of giving charge to his sons, and plucked up his feet into the bed, and gave up the ghost, and was gathered to his people. It is an infinite and an incomprehensible mercy of God, that his love in Jesus is to call us in his good time from our disserving (rather than serving) of him here, (and that with thousands of fears, cares and griefs) to be gathered to his servants our fathers, and nearest friends, in peace. XII. A seventh Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is our entrance into the true communion of Saints. By the Gospel we are joined to the Angels and Patriarches, even in this life; much more shall we be united to the true heavenly serving our eternal mercy with them, when we shall cease from sin. Heb. 13.22, 23. Ye are come to the mount Zion, and to the City of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem; and to the company of innumerable Angels; and to the Congregation of the firstborn which are written in Heaven. And to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just and perfect men. Ver. 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new Testament. Col. 1.9. The Apostle saith, For this cause we pray for you, and do desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Ver. 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Ver. 11. Stengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfllunesse. Ver. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. Ver. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. Ver. 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Ver. 15. Who is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Ver. 16. For by him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth; visible, and invisible; whether they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers: all things were created by him and for him. Ver. 17. For he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Ver. 18. And he is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Ver. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Ver. 20. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. Ver. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in his sight. 1 Thes. 3.12, 13. The Lord increase you, and make you abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, to make your heart's stable and unblameable in holiness before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord jesus Christ with all his Saints. Judas ver. 14. Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his Saints. Rev. 7.9. I beheld (saith the Apostle) and behold a great multitude which no man could number, of all Nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with long white robes, and palms in their hands. Ver. 14. (And an Elder said unto me,) These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their long robes and have made their long robes white in the blood of the Lamb. Ver. 15. Therefore are they in the presence of the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple, and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them. Ver. 16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the Sun light on them, neither any heat. Ver. 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall govern them, and shall lead them unto the lively fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. XIII. An eighth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is our ceasing from sin; and the entrance into our eternal rest and peace. Heb. 4.9, 10. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God: For he that is entered into his rest, hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Chap. 6. ver. 20. Let us study therefore to enter into that rest (lest any fall through disobedience.) Into which peace the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus that is made a Highpriest for ever after the order of Melchizedec. Job 3.13. For so should I now have lain and been quiet, I should have slept then and been at rest. Ver. 14. With the Kings and Counsellors of the earth, which have builded themselves desolate places. Ver. 17. The wicked have there ceased from their tyranny, and there they that laboured valiantly are at rest. Ver. 18. The prisoners rest together, and hear not the voice of the oppressors. Ver. 19 There are small and great, and the servant is free from his Master. XIV. A ninth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is our going to do the will of God (our most loving and merciful Father in Jesus Christ,) without sinning against his most blessed and sacred Majesty. In dying we do the will of God. Heb 9.27. For it is appointed to all men once to die, and after that comes the judgement. Rom. 6.7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Joh. 14.28. When our Saviour had acquainted his Disciples of his departure from them by his passion, they were sorrowful. For which our Saviour seemed to reprove them, and said, If ye loved me ye would rather rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I XV. A tenth Comfort in Death. It is the love of our good God unto us, to take us away from the evil to come; therefore rejoice at this his gracious call of infinite mercy, to that heavenly mansion which our blessed Saviour hath prepared for us in his Father's house. Joh. 14.2. In my Father's house are many mansions or dwelling places, if it were not so I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. 1 King. 11.11, 12. The Lord said to Solomon, I will surely rend the Kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant: Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, because of David thy Father: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 2 Tim. 3.1. This know, in the last days shall come perilous times. Ver. 2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Vor. 3. Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, despisers of them which are good. Ver. 4. Traitorous, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a show of godliness, but denying the power thereof: turn away therefore from such. Nah. 1.7. Say thou with the Prophet Nahum; The Lord is good, and a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him. In thee O Lord do I trust, let me never be ashamed O my God. Amen. XVI. An eleventh Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is the going to the place where our Saviour is, according to the call and being of his servants. Joh. 14.3. And though I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there may ye be also. Phil. 1.21. For Christ is to me both in life and death advantage. Ver. 22. And whether to live in the flesh were profitable for me, or what to choose I know not. Ver. 23. For I am greatly in a strait on both sides, desiring to be loosed and to be with Christ, which is best of all. Psal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together unto me, those that make a Covenant with me with sacrifice. Isa. 40.10, 11. Behold the Lord God will come with power, and his arm shall rule for him; behold his reward is with him, and his works before him: he shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall guide them with young. Matth. 3.12. He will gather the wheat into his garner. Eccl. 12.7. And dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God that gave it. XVII. A twelfth Comfort in Death. Rejoice in the Diseases, pains, pangs and troubles in thy mind or body: because the way to Heaven is through many afflictions: and it is the way our blessed Saviour went before us: let us rejoice then to follow him in it. Luk. 6.46. Our blessed Saviour saith, Why call ye me Master, and do not the things that I speak? Psal. 34.19. Great are the troubles of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Rom. 8.35. Who shall separate us from the love of God in Christ? Shall tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 2 Tim. 3.12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecutions. Isa. 48.10. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction (saith the Lord) And 1 Pet. 5.8, 9 Be sober and watch, for your adversary the Devil, as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world. Remember the love of our Saviour Jesus, in his taking upon him our sins, our flesh, etc. See his love to us, his suffering for us from his cradle to his grave: Read the Scriptures: See some notes thereof in the title (true love to God) in this book. Psal. 119.49. Remember thy promise made to thy servant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust: it is my comfort in my trouble, for thy promise hath quickened me. Ver. 92. Except thy Law had been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction. I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou quicken'st me. I am thine save me, for I have sought thy precepts. Behold my affliction and deliver me, for I have not forgotten thy Law. Plead my cause and deliver me, quicken me according to thy word. XVIII. A thirteenth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, because it is our going to enjoy such as were our nearest friends in this life, in unexpressible heavenly enjoyments, according to our heavenly Fathers will in Jesus, without any fear of losing them, or those joys for ever. It is our being gathered to our Fathers (and then surely to all our friends) which are the servants of our Saviour Christ. The joys of Heaven are such, as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive; for that the flesh cannot discern, nor punctually understand the spirit: Who knows a man, (viz. the soul,) save the spirit, etc. The change in death, is our being gathered to the place where our Saviour is, that we may see his glory: then certainly no joy or comfort can possibly be wanting, neither can there be any fear of losing them any more; he is the sure foundation of eternal comfort, and a building set thereon cannot fail. Hear what St John saith, Joh. 8.51. Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man keep my word he shall never see death. God is most gracious, his mercy endures for ever; he is only good, he accepts the will for the deed, if we truly will to obey and love his word, although we do it not. Rom. 7.20. It is not us, but sin that doth offend. And certainly the author and actor of sin in us, our old enemy, that old and lying Serpent the devil, shall (in the justice of God to him, and the loving mercies of God to us in Christ) bear the burden of our sins which deserve and shall have upon him eternal death. A fourteenth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, For that after a short time, those friends left behind us in this world, shall be in Jesus gathered to us, to our eternal communion, and praise of our everlasting, most dear and loving Father, with them, without offending, or danger to offend his most blessed and sacred Majesty for ever. Job 14.1. Man that is born of a woman, is of short continuance and full of sorrow. James ●. 14. For what is your life, it is even a vapour that appears for a little time, and afterward vanisheth away. Job 10.20. Are not our days few? Chap. 14. ver. 5. Are not his days determined? the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds which he cannot pass. Psal. 103.15. The days of a man are as grass, as a flower of the field, so flourisheth he. Man is like to vanity; his days are like a shadow which vanisheth. Rom. 6. ●. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Ver. 11. Like▪ wise also think ye that ye are dead to sin, but are alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Rev. 15.2, 3, 4. And I saw (as it were) a glassy sea mingled with fire, and them that had got victory of the beast, and of his Image, and of his mark, and of the number of his name, stand at the glassy sea, having the harps of God: and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty: just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear thee O Lord, and glorify thy Name? for thou only art holy, and all Nations shall come and worship before thee: for thy judgements are made manifest. Psal. 112.6. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. A fifteenth Comfort in Death. We may well rejoice at God's gracious messenger of Death, because it is the wiping of all tears from our eyes, and the final end of all our troubles and sorrows; the world, the flesh, the devil, shall no more oppress, distract and hurt us, with their distractions, delusions, and deceits. Eccl. 4.1. So I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the Sun, and behold the tears of the oppressed, and none comforteth them. Ver. 2. Wherefore I praise the dead which now are dead, above the living which are yet alive. Hos. 13.14. Hear what comfort our loving God gives us; I will redeem them from the power of the grave, I will deliver them from death. O death I will be thy destruction: repentance is bid from mine eyes. A sixteenth Comfort in Death. Rejoice, Because it is the imitating of our Saviour's passion, as fare as we are able, that we may see his glory. Matth. 10.38. He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. And Chap. 16. ver. 24. If any man will follow me, let him forsake himself, and take up his cross and follow me. And somewhat more Luk 9.23. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. And Chap. 14. ver. 27. Whosoever beareth not his cross, and cometh after me, cannot be my Disciple. 2 Tim. 2.12. If we suffer we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. Joh. 17.24. Father, I will that they which thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Matth. 10.24. The Disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord: it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Belzebub, how much more them of his household? A seventeenth Comfort in Death. It is our freedom from sin, death and hell, and all our enemies. The day of death (saith Solomon) is better than the day of birth: therefore is that day, a day of rejoicing to us. St Paul desireth to be dissolved and to be with Christ, and saith, it is the best of all. Rom. 6.7. He that is dead is freed from sin. Ver. 11. Likewise think ye also that ye are dead to sin, but are alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. An eighteenth Comfort in Death. It is our taking possession of the fullness of rest in the communion of Saints, in the love of the eternal God, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, and therein peace for ever, therefore rejoice. Lazarus is said to be presently carried into Abraham's bosom, where (most sure) he had immediate possession in a high degree of eternal peace. Gerrard's Meditat. p. 25. Death is the beginning of a holy life. Isa. 57.1, 2. The righteous perisheth and no man considereth it in heart; and merciful men are taken away, and no man understandeth, that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Peace shall come, they shall rest in their beds, every one that walketh before him. Matth. 11.28, 29. Hear our gracious Saviour, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 2 Thes. 1.7. And to you which are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall show himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels. And if then, surely also from our several changes till then. Heb. 4.3, 9 For we which have believed do enter into rest. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God; for he that is entered into his rest, hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his: let us study to enter into that rest. Job 3.12, 13. Why did the knees prevent, me, and why did I such the breasts? for so should I now have lain and been quiet, I should have slept then, and have been at rest. A nineteenth Comfort in Death. Jesus Christ is in Death and Life to us gain, and causeth death to be to us advantage, the end of unexpressible evils, the beginning of unexpressible and eternal joy. Phil. 1.21. For Christ is to me both in life and death advantage. All the miseries of Lazarus end in his death, and his eternal joys begin in Abraham's bosom. Our Saviour Jesus entered by the gate of death into his glory, and thereby hath prepared joys: 2 Cor. 2.9. such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive, for them that love him. Isa. 35.10. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with praise, and everlasting joys shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. A twentieth Comfort in Death. Doubt not of the all-sufficient love of God to thee in his Son Jesus: He that gave thee a body when thou hadst none, can give thee a heavenly body, so soon as thou art at liberty from this of earth, and will most certainly dispose of thee in Jesus, as of his servants, which is the best for thee: His power and his will is sufficient to give thee joys beyond thy thoughts. Have thou true faith, and true belief, that God is, and that he is the rewarder of them that seek him. Give him thy whole soul and spirit, and humbly crave the assistance of the eternal God, that he will (for his Son Christ Jesus his sake) fully and freely enable thee to give to the Sacred Trinity in Unity, three Persons but one Almighty God, Father, Son, and holy Ghost, all honour glory and praise, as his most obedient servant for ever. And say with true faith and love, O gracious Father, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. And in thy most free and gracious love to a poor sinner in Jesus Christ thy only Son my Saviour, do thou compel my unworthy and corrupted will, to do unto thy most Sacred Majesty, true and perfect service. Do thou (O blessed Father) for thy free goodness sake, convert me wholly into that service, for thou art my only Lord God, and I am thy servant; so come Lord Jesus, come quickly and receive my spirit. Amen, Amen. Matth. 19.26. With God all things are possible. Gen. 17.1. I am God all-sufficient, walk before me, and be thou perfect. Chap. 15. ver 1. Fear not, I am thy buckler, and thy exceeding great reward. Psal. 50.7. Hear O my people, and I will speak; hear O Israel and I will testify unto thee; for I am God, even thy God. Against Presumption and Despair, at all times, but especially upon the Deathbed. Satan that old and lying Serpents suggestion to Presumption. COme! now thou mayest eat, drink, sleep and be merry, because thou hast lived according to God's commands, and now art going to thy master's rest, whom thou hast truly and punctually served; fare above the service of thousands, that doubt not at all of their salvation, the due reward of their godliness of living. For thy Original sin which thy Father Adam committed, thou didst it not, therefore in justice God cannot charge thee with it; and he will not visit the sins of the Fathers upon the children. As for thy actual sins of ignorance, that cannot in justice be laid to thy charge which thou knewest not to be a sin, nor the time of its commission: Thou hast lived so carefully to please thy God, that few have been so strict in walking in his Laws: thou mayst profess to have kept all his Commandments from thy youth: thou hast had no other God, nor worshipped any graven Image, and hast not delighted to take his Name in vain: Thou hast constantly kept the Sabbath, hast honoured thy Parents, hast not murdered, nor adulterized, nor stolen, nor borne false witness, nor covered, but hast been contented with thy portion; therefore so long as life is in thee, eat, drink and be meery, for certainly the Angels are charged to keep thy soul and body to eternal life, as thy fellow servants of God, for ever. The Souls Answer. Avoid thou old and lying Spirit, truth cannot proceed out of thy mouth without defilement! am not I from Adam's loins, and can I then be clean? Did not his sin, that thy envy brought him into, corrupt his whole body? and am not I, as part of it proceeding from it? Can I do all that I am commanded of my God, were I not still an unprofitable servant? Doth not my least sin, in thought, word or deed (besides my original corruption) deserve punishment infinite, as my God (whom thereby I rebel against) is infinite? Can a clean thing proceed out of an unclean? Instead of keeping, have I not broken all the commands of my God, times without number, and in degrees infinite? As thou wast a liar to Adam the first man upon earth, so thou art for ever; and as it was then said, The seed of the woman shall break thy head; so shall it be for ever to my salvation, in the free love and mercy, death and passion, merit and redemption of Jesus Christ my Lord. Satan his motives to Despair. I was deceived indeed, and turning over another leaf in my black book, there I find a quite contrary character of thy life: I see thou hast imitated and added to all Adam's rebellions; he disobeyed and broke one Commandment once, and therefore had that terrible sentence pronounced against him by Gods own mouth, to be cast from Paradise, he and his posterity for ever. But thou hast broken all God's Commandments, times without number, and in degrees beyond expression infinite? Thy life hath been nothing else but a constant breaking of them; unless thou look for salvation from these breaches (which is a way impossible) thou hast no hope: therefore satisfy thyself with what thou canst not help, and cease to ask, or seek, or knock any more at God's gate of mercy, for it is fast shut against thee, and sinners cannot enter in at it: now thou and I must burn together in hell for ever, from which there is no redemption for us. I have recorded against thee, in places infinite, that thou hast made thee many Idol gods, in hearty seeking of vain earthly things, and thou hast loved and worshipped them as Images of thy desired lusts. The Nameof God thou hast repeated invain, and no one Sabbath hast thou truly kept. Thou hast not reverenced nor honoured thy Father and Mother, but in thy thoughts at least hast them despised, and murdered them, or others. Thou also hast adulterized in heart, and in thy faculties stolen thy neighbour's goods: Thou hast coveted and borne false witness too against thy neighbour. Almighty God gave his Angels charge to keep his servants from wrongs and hurts, but thou hast not served him, therefore thou belongest only to me whom thou hast punctually served. The Souls Answer. O my Enemy, thou sayest thou wert mistaken, and so indeed thou wert, and art, and ever wilt be, in seeking to snatch the servants of my God out of his hand: for although my God suffer thee a while to walk the earth, his pleasure is in a good time appointed, to cast thy chains upon thee in a place prepared, from which thou mayst not move for ever. I most humbly confess, and have (so I trust) confessed, all my sins, and more in number then what I can comprehend, infinite; such I acknowledge are my wounds, my sore disease proceeding from thy hate and envious gulf. Yet know I have a medicine, I have a salve sufficient, a Jordan stream to make me clean, if not more clean than if I had not sinned: and this my cleansing, is more my certain life than was my standing clean, if then I had not sinned, so that thy envy now is my advantage: thou knowest it well, but lovest not to remember that my precious Antidote, whereby I am secured from thy Aspish poison, so closely carried under thy lying tongue: it is that free redeeming love and blood of that most valiant Samson, whose Name is Jesus Christ, that quickly snapped in sunder thy triple corded lie of vain deceit, he is my Captain that never lost, nor will lose any of his soldiers: without his word I move not, at his command I'll gladly meet thee with million of Juries of my sins before the judgment-seat of God: and when thou hast proved me guilty as I do confess, thou wilt soon appear the Serpent and principal author of my great offence, and I an accessary by thy deluding lies, persuading, and to thy uttermost power, compelling me to do the evil that I would not do, and hindering me from doing good; therefore know, that my Saviour Christ, my Captain and my God, will plead his death, and then I live, and thou shalt bear the due deservings of my sins for ever, in eternal flames, for they are thine: therefore Satan (in humble reverence to my Saviour) avoid, get thee behind me, my good God hath provided a place in Heaven with his servants for me, that I may be even where he is, and as his servant, see his glory; and this notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts (only of his free love and mercy) whereby he hath with his bloody sufferings redeemed my soul from hell (my just desert) because he is good and his mercy endures for ever: so come Lord Jesus, come quickly, even as thy will may be done with the Father and the holy Spirit, three persons, but one eternal God for ever, Amen. True Love. 1. TO love our good God, though there were neither Hell of his justice, nor Heaven of his mercy. 2. True love will choose rather to serve our good God in Hell for ever, if it could more fully and better do him perfect service in those flames; then to be for ever in the highest joys of Heaven, these not to serve him, as fully and as truly. 3. To desire the eternal and whole conversion of thy soul and body for ever, into the everlasting service of thy good Creator in true love, and to find therein thy true peace, is true love. Love truly converted into the will of God is Heaven, and those that are so converted, may be said to be in Heaven upon earth, for neither love nor Heaven can here be perfect; but although they be still in their earthly tabernacles, they have heavenly peace both of mind and conscience, which cannot be quite taken from them (although here must be no perfection) whereby the whole will of almighty God (without which, either by appointment or permission nothing comes to pass) is the true joy and content of their minds, wills and souls. The love of our good Father, is shown to us in his Son Jesus, who (as it were) took satisfaction for our sins in his sufferings, that his justice being satisfied in the sufferings, death and passion of our Saviour Jesus, we might have only the mercy of our good Father to appear before, which in his eternal love to us, is sufficient for our Salvation, when the justice of our good God could not other ways be satisfied but by our damnation. The great and unexpressible love prevailed with the sacred Deity for us, when our Saviour Jesus could have been rescued from his sufferings for us, with more than twelve legions of Angels; and when he could have had as great honour (if not greater) in our condemnation, then in our salvation. Let our souls, and bodies then with all their faculties, be converted into the true love of our Saviour Jesus for ever; For His 1. Coming down from his Father's right-hand, from his being God with his Father for ever. 2. Poverty, that thou mightest be rich. 3. Not having whereon to lay his head. 4. Wander, and fastings, and prayers for thee. 5. Being betrayed. 6. Being apprehended as a malefactor. 7. Being falsely accused. 8. Scarlet robe of derision. 9 Crown of Thornes. 10. Being condemned. 11. Nayling to the Cross. 12. Cruel thirst. 13. Sweeting blood. 14. Side stricken with a spear. 15. Bleeding water and blood at that wound. 16. Sufferings from his cradle to his grave. 17. Bitter passion, causing him to cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me: 18. Lying in the grave. 19 Resurrection. 20. Now sitting at the right-hand of his Father (and in him our Father) in Heaven, there ask the forgiveness of all our sins, of his Father, who never denies him any thing. Wherefore let us stand at the foot of the Cross of this our Saviour weeping, for sorrow that our sins caused his sufferings, but for joy that through his infinite love shown therein, we are freed from sin, death and hell, and have a place prepared in the power of his might, where we shall see and partake of his blessed glory, as his elected servants for ever. Amen. Thou needest not to fear death, for thy Saviour hath destroyed the sting of death, that is the Devil: Read Heb. 2.14, 15, 16, 17, 18, verses; there's comfort enough in any condition: the words are these; Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood; he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him which had the power of death, that is the Devil: And deliver them who through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham: wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and a faithful Highpriest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to secure them that are tempted. See an admirable expression of the infinite love of God, which may preserve us from despair, and may give us true joy from our humble desires to serve him, though we cannot desire, much more perfectly serve him as we ought. Isa. 40.1, 2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people will your God say, speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and say unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquities are pardoned. From hence is sweet and solid comfort in all conditions. An humble Prayer. O Lord remember thy mercies, draw me unto the Son of thy love, Psal. 139.23, 24. and lead me in the way of thy precepts. Try me (O God) and know my heart, prove me, and know my thoughts; and consider if there be any way of wickedness in me; and lead me in the way for ever. 5.8. Led me O Lord in thy righteousness, because of my enemies, 27.11. make thy way plain before my face. Teach me thy way O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of my enemies (by enemies understand inward and outward, of the soul and of the body, but especially those inward enemies which are the ruin and destruction of both.) 31.3. For thou art my rock and my fortress, therefore for thy Name sake, 43.3. direct and guide me. Send thy light and thy truth, let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy holy mountains, and unto thy tabernacles. 143.10. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God; let thy good Spirit lead me unto the land of righteousness. Draw me O God and I will run after thee. Cant. 1.4. Psal. 28.3. Job 7.16. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity. I shall not live always, O spare me then, for my days are but vanity. I rejoice O Lord my God in thy love, because thou art merciful and wilt spare me, as a man spareth his son that serveth him, for thy mercy endures for ever, Selah. Thou art my good Father (O my Creator) thou wilt not punish me, nor impute to me my Original sins, which descended upon me from the wicked rebellion of my first parents, even as my body is from them: but the soul that sinneth and doth not look towards thee, nor desire thy gracious gift of true repentance, it shall die: Yet art thou (O my good Father) wholly and only good, and thy mercy endures for ever, Selah. Thou wilt not punish the presumptuous sins and vanities of my youth; for thou art good and thy mercy endures for ever, Selah. Thou delightest not in the death of a sinner (O God) but wouldst that all should be converted from their evil ways, and live. Thou art my All-sufficient God of mercy, whose will is all things both in Heaven and earth: I trust in Jesus thy only Son my Saviour, that thou wilt turn me from all my evil ways, and give me true repentance from the bottom of my heart, so I shall be turned unto thee in true love, for thou art the Lord my God, and thy mercy endures for ever, Selah. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, Psal. 19.14. be now and ever acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Incline not my heart to evil, that I should commit wicked works with men that work iniquity. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips, so shall my mouth speak thy praises for ever, Amen. O my sweet eternity, and my eternal Saviour; in thy love to poor sinners in Jesus, and for his sake, I only beg of thee (trusting that in him thou wilt not deny me, notwithstanding all my sins) for thou art good, and thy mercy endures for ever.) And first my most humble petition unto thy most sacred Majesty is, that thou wouldst of free and perfect mercy, pardon all my breach of Covenants with thee or men, as thy mercy endures for ever. Secondly, To pardon accordingly, my vowing and not paying, for thou art good, as thy mercy endures for ever. Thirdly, to pardon of thy like goodness all my hypocrisy towards thee and man, as thou art good, and as thy mercy endures for ever. Fourthly, To pardon all my blasphemies against thy Majesty, any manner of way; as thou my God art only good, and as thy mercy endures for ever. Fifthly, To pardon all my Lies, wherewith I have given thee cause of Anger against me, as thou art good, and as thy mercy endures for ever. Sixthly, To pardon all my relations, speaking absolutely, yet beyond my certain knowledge, at that time when I spoke them, as thou my good Lord art only and perfectly good, and thy mercy endures for ever. Seventhly, To pardon all my Oaths, and taking of thy Name in vain, as thou art good, and thy mercy endures for ever. Eighthly, To pardon all my vain and idle speakings, as thou art good, and as thy mercy endures for ever. O my merciful and loving Father, I humbly pray thee for thy Son my Saviour's sake, and in his Name, be graciously pleased to pardon and forgive all the sins of all my senses: I humbly acknowledge I have been dull to listen to thy commands, but most ready and open to receive vanity, to the corrupting, (and as much as in me lieth) the destruction of my body and soul. For give I humbly beg also the sins of my seeing, smelling, tasting, go, and of all the members and faculties of my body and soul, for they have all rebelled against thy gracious mercy, to their due deservings of eternal death. O Lord who knows the error of his heart, and of his ways, cleanse my soul, O Lord, from my secret sins: and deliver me, I humbly beseech thee, from my presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me, O cleanse thou me, and so I shall be cleansed. I doubt not but thou wilt (in thy infinite love to the works of thy own hands, (and in thy free pardoning of sin for Jesus Christ his sake) give me eternal life with thy servants, and wilt not impute the guilt of sin unto me, for thou art the Lord my God, whose mercy endures for ever, above all thy works, Selah. In thee therefore I will rejoice. A Confession and humble suit for Pardon in Jesus Christ. O My merciful Lord God, I humbly pray thee for Christ thy Son my only Lord and Saviour's sake, to pardon and put clear out of thy remembrance, that original sin, and damnation, due to me from the loins, and rebellions of my first parents: O forgive thou the sins of my father, and let the sins of my mother be done away: I doubt not (oh my Father of mercy) but thou hast of thy own free goodness already done it; for I know thou art only perfectly good, and thy mercy endures for ever, Selah. O Father, I know thou wilt not visit the original sin of my fathers upon me, Exek. 18.20 for that thou hast said; The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; but the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. O Lord I know, as a father hath compassion on his children, so thou hast compassion on them that fear thee. O my God, I acknowledge that I was born in iniquity, and in sin hath my mother conceived me: Psal. 51.5. Exod. 34.6, 7. but thou art the Lord my God, strong, and merciful, and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth, reserving mercy for thousands; forgiving iniquities, Dan. 9.9. transgressions and sins. Compassion and forgiveness is in the Lord our God, albeit we have rebelled against him. O my Father, Eccl. 11.10. Remember not the sins of my childhood, for childhood and youth are vanity. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but mercy is with thee that thou mayst be feared. Psal. 24.48. Look thou upon my affliction, and my travel, and forgive all my sins. It is the joy of my soul O God, 86.5. that thou art good and merciful, and of great kindness unto all them that call upon thee. O my good Lord, I beseech thee for thy goodness sake, remember not the sins and vanities of my youth; for only thy free mercy in Jesus my Saviour, is sufficient to release me from the torments of their deservings. Thou, my good God (in thy saving compassion, and sparing us miserable men, from our deservings,) sayest. Gen. 8.21. The imagination of man's heart is evil even from his youth, but thy mercy endures for ever. O make me not to possess the iniquities of my youth. Psal. 25.7. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellions; but according to thy loving kindness remember thou me, even for thy goodness sake O Lord, for thou art my hope (O Lord) even my trust from my youth. O God thou hast, taught me from my youth even until now, therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works. I desire most humbly to live (if it were thy blessed will) from this moment, eternally in thy perfect service. O my God, I must acknowledge and confess, that my heart, my will, my ways, my words and actions, have been evil from my youth: the leprosy of my sin is only curable by the blood of my Saviour, that infinite pledge of thy blessed mercy; therefore (O my good God) give me a lively faith to apply it to all my wounds, as thou my God art only good, and from thee only is the will and the deed of true faith and repentance. Amen O my Father, Remember not the sins of my man hood and riper years; I acknowledge (O my God) when I call to mind my breach of promises and Covenants both with thee my God and man, which I have solemnly made and taken, I have promised to thy sacred Majesty my unworthy service (though but the least part of my duty) upon condition to receive mercy from thee, which in particular thou hast been graciously pleased (as I may judge) to give me, but I (alas) have wholly left undone my promise with thee, so that surely I admire thy patience, that thou hast not (ere this) cast me into hell amongst thy enemies. Thou hast of thy free mercy given me time of repentance, I trust thou wilt in thy great goodness, give me true repentance itself, even such as thou wilt not despise: O give it me for thy mercy's sake. O my Creator, as thou lovest sinners in Jesus, and hast mercy for the works of thy own hands, give me true and saving grace, lead and draw me to thee in true repentance: Lord, thy long-suffering and patience to me, doth give me some hope of thy electing me to mercy: O give me the full assurance of it, by a true and a lively faith: Open thou (I most humbly pray for Christ Jesus his sake) my dark and closed eyes, so that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law: bless me O my Father, in not imputing sin unto me: for man liveth not by bread only, but by every word of thy mouth. O God, What is man that thou art mindful of him, Psal. 8.4.144.3.89.5. or the Son of man that thou visitest him? Lord, what is man that thou regardest him, or the Son of man that thou thinkest upon him? Behold thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, and my age as nothing in respect of thee, surely every man in his best estate is altogether vanity. When thou (O God) with rebukes dost chastise man for sin, as a moth his beauty doth consume, surely every man is vanity. Doubtless man walketh in a vain shadow, he disquieteth himself in vain, he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. And now Lord what wait I for, my hope is even in thee, deliver thou me from all my transgressions. Who can withstand thy chastenings, surely every man living is vanity. Selah. O my God, I humbly beseech thee, for my Saviour Jesus Christ his sake, and in thy love through him to poor, wretched and miserable sinners, forgive all my Oaths and my hypocrisy towards thee or man: all my blasphemies, lies, false and doubtful speeches, my vanities and offendings of thee by thought, word and deed. O let thy sweet, free and saving mercy forgive all my secret sins; and from my presumptuous sins good Lord deliver me, lest they get the dominion over me. I humbly beseech thee, seeing sin must reign in this my earthly tabernacle, give me grace and strength, I humbly crave of thy most sacred Majesty, that I may submit unto it unwillingly, as to the subjection of a cruel Tyrant, not willingly with joy and comfort, as to a lawful Prince. Give me grace and strength (I most humbly pray) with Ephraim to bemoan myself in secret, and truly desire to be released from the cruel oppression of this Tyrant; to be dissolved and be with thee my only joy and peace, that I may serve thee as thy faithful servants, and never offend against thee any more. Amen. I beseech thee O my Saviour and my God (for the whole remainder of my life that yet I have to live under the Sun) remember not thou against me my former iniquities, but make haste and let thy tender mercies prevent me, that I offend not against thee; nay I doubt not in Jesus, but thou my merciful God wilt of thy free goodness prevent me. Psal. 27.11.86.11. Teach me thy way O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of my enemies. Teach me thy way O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth: knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy Name. Turn away mine eyes from vanity, and quicken me in thy way. 119.37. Stay my steps in thy paths, that my feet do not slide. Show me thy ways O Lord, and teach me thy paths, for all thy paths O Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep thy Covenants and thy testimonies. O my God, I plainly see my evil and my sin, the bitterness of my ways are before me: I must judge and condemn myself for the least sin, guilty of infinite punishment, even as thou the Lord my God (whom I offend and rebel against thereby) art infinite. But O what then is the due desert (from thy severe justice) for those innumerable heaps of wickedness and transgressions, which momentarily increase upon me, through my corruption, wherewith I have provoked thee to anger, and which continually call for judgement for my eternal destruction, as my due deserts: Although I see no way of pardon without great fears and doubts, yet I will delight myself in the mercies of thee my God, and commit my ways unto thee my Redeemer, for I know thou wilt bring it to pass: I humbly beseech thee (O my Father, my hope, my joy, the only rest and peace of my eternity,) guide me and lead me in the perfect way of thy blessed service, as thy true and faithful servant, from this moment for ever: O leave me not (nay I doubt not in Jesus) but thou wilt ever guide and not leave me; until I be in the house of thy love, in the place of thy rest (which thou O my Father in thy infinite love hast prepared for thy servants,) until the door be shut that I cannot return unto my own vanities again: even so come O my Father in Jesus, Come quickly. Amen. A Prayer. O thou that hearest prayers, unto thee shall all flesh come; look upon our Saviour and our mercy, and let not our unworthy prayers offend thee. O Almighty and our all-sufficient Lord God, whose will is all things both in Heaven and earth, who art only good, and whose mercy endures for ever; to thee the grave is open, and from thee there is no covering for destruction; thou stetchest out the North over the empty place, and hangest the earth upon nothing; thou bindest thy waters in the clouds, and the clouds are not broken under them; thou holdest back the face of thy Throne, and spreadest the clouds upon it: Thou hast set bounds to the waters, until the day and night come to an end. The pillars of Heaven tremble and quake at thy reproof, the sea is calm by thy power, and by thy understanding thou smitest the pride thereof: Thy spirit hath garnished the Heavens, and thy hand hath form the crooked serpent: Lo these are part of thy ways (O mighty God,) but how little a portion have we of thee, and who can understand thy fearful power. Thou art the God of the spirits of all flesh, great art thou O Lord and most worthy to be praised, thy greatness is incomprehensible: Thou good Lord be merciful to all us that desire (or would at least both desire and fully prepare our whole hearts,) to seek and perfectly to serve thee the God of our Fathers, although we be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary. O Lord we beseech thee let thy loving kindness and thy mercy (to poor miserable sinners in Jesus) direct our hearts, as the hearts of thy elected servants, to pray unto thy sacred Majesty, in spirit and truth: and we humbly beseech thee, let thy ears hearken to our prayers, and the prayers of all thy servants who desire to fear thy Name: Two things we most humbly beg of thee O our mercy, deny us not them before we die: Remove fare from us vanity and lies; Give us neither poverty nor riches, feed us with food convenient for us, lest we be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or least we be poor and steal, and take the Name of our God in vain; so we will praise thee O Lord in the power of thy might; saying, Thou wast angry with us because of our mighty sins provoking thee, but thy wrath is turned away and thou comfortest us: Thou art our preserver, and our refuge, we will trust and will not fear, for thou Lord God art our strength and long, and our salvation. O our good and blessed Lord and King, in the power of thy mercy we will extol thee, and will bless thy Name for ever and ever: Praise ye the Lord O our souls, we will praise the Lord during our lives: as long as we have any being we will sing unto our God: O our God, blessed is the man unto whom thou imputest not iniquity. O teach us thy statutes. Teach us to pray unto thee in a time when thou mayst be found. Thou art our secret place, thou preservest us from trouble, thou compassest us about with joyful deliverance, because thy mercy endures for ever. O instruct us and teach us the way that we should go, and guide us with thine eye, lest we be like the horse and mule, which have no understanding. O our loving God, give us grace to trust in thee, that thy mercy may compass us, and that we may rejoice in thy salvation, and give thee praise with all the faculties both of our souls and bodies, continually. O cause us to trust truly in thee, for so we shall not perish. Give us grace and strength O Lord, by the power of thy saving spirit in Jesus, truly to humble ourselves for the afflictions and sins of our enemies; so, in thy mercy, shall our prayers return into our own bosoms: but do thou save and comfort them O Lord, for thy goodness: and let it be thy will, O God, that our tongue utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day. We desire to do thy will O our God, yea thy Law is within our hearts; deal with thy servants according to thy mercies, and teach us thy statutes; we are thy servants, grant us therefore understanding, that we may know thy testimonies: we love thy Commandments above gold, yea above fine gold, therefore we esteem all thy precepts most just, and hate all false ways. Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance into thy word showeth light, and giveth understanding to the simple. Look upon us (O Lord) and be merciful unto us, as thou usest to do unto them that love thy Name. Direct our steps in thy Word, and let none iniquity have dominion over us: show the light of thy countenance upon thy servants, and teach us thy statutes. Righteous art thou (O Lord) and just in thy judgements. Trouble and anguish are come upon us, yet are thy Commandments our delight: The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting, O grant us understanding, and we shall live. Hear our voice O Lord, according to thy loving kindness, O quicken us according to thy judgements. Great are thy tender mercies O Lord, quicken us according to thy free mercy, and thy goodness. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel know us not, yet thou O Lord, art our Father and our Redeemer, thy Name is for ever. O give us thy saving spirit of life in Jesus from Heaven, for we can receive nothing except it be given us from Heaven: O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our hearts from thy fear, return for thy servants sake; and for our Saviour Jesus Christ his sake, do thou write our Names in the book of life with thy servants. Let our complaints come before thee, O Lord, and give us understanding according to thy word: Let our supplications come before thee, O Lord, and deliver us according to thy promise: Our lips shall speak thy praise O God, when thou hast taught us thy statutes: Our tongues shall treat of thy word, for all thy Commandments are righteous. Let thy hand help us, for we have chosen thy precepts: We have longed for thy salvation O Lord, and thy Law is our delight: Let our souls live and they shall praise thee, and thy judgements shall help us: We have gone astray like lost sheep, seek thy servants, for we do not forget thy Commandments. Our sins, O Lord, our sins, they have taken hold of us, that we cannot look up; they are more in number then the hairs of our heads, therefore our hearts have failed us: Let it please thee O Lord to deliver us, make haste O God to help us; Our souls thirst for God, even for the living God, when shall we come and appear before the presence of God. O God, thou art our guide for ever, have mercy upon us according to thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy mercies do away our offences: Wash us throughly from our iniquities, and cleanse us from our sins, for we know our iniquities, and our sins are ever before us. Against thee, against thee only have we sinned, and done evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be just when thou speakest, and pure when thou judgest: behold we were born in iniquity, and in sin have our mothers conceived us. Thou O Lord lovest truth in the heart, therefore give us wisdom in our inward affections. Purge us with hyssop and we shall be clean, wash us and we shall be whiter than snow: make us to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice: Hid thy face O Lord from our sins, and put away all our iniquities: Create in us clean hearts O Lord, and renew right spirits within us: O cast us not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from us. Open thou our lips O Lord, and our mouths shall show forth thy praise. Deliver us from blood, O God of our salvation, and from the secret traps of our deadly enemy. Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy upon us, for our soul trusteth in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will we trust, till the afflictions of our sinning against thee be overpast. We will call upon the most high God, even to the God that performeth his promise towards us. We will dwell in thy Tabernacles for ever, and our trust shall be under the cover of thy wings. O God thou art our salvation and our glory, the rock of our strength, in thee only is our rest: We beseech thee put thy Law into our hearts, and write it in our minds, and remember our sins and our iniquities no more. O our good God, we trust we have received the knowledge of thy truth, deliver us from sinning against thee. O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayers, harken O God of Jacob, thou art our shield, look upon the face of thine anointed: for a day in thy Courts is better than a thousand otherwhere: I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickedness. Thou art our Sun and our shield, and wilt give grace and glory; and no good thing wilt thou withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man to whom thou givest grace to trust in thee, and to whom thou imputest not his sin, so deal with us thy unworthy servants O our eternal mercy: Nay we doubt not, but in Jesus Christ thou wilt give us eternal life, for in him there is sufficient, that thou shouldest forgive, and not impute our sins unto us, Selah. In whom we trust thou hast elected us to mercy as thy faithful servants. Amen. O most powerful Jehovah, O Eternity, I am hungered, and cannot be satisfied; I am thirsty, and cannot be quenched; I am weary, and can have no rest; I mourn, and cannot be comforted; I am poor, and have no help; I sin, and cannot satisfy; I am thy servant, and cannot serve thee; I am thy labourer, and cannot work; I am most vile and unworthy, yet look thou upon me O God in Jesus, and for the love of him only give me thy holy Spirit, conduct and lead me in this my sinful pilgrimage to thee my God, my only joy, and eternal repose even to the place of my Fathers, who are dead in thee my God, who rest from their labours, and their desired work (in thy gracious and loving acceptance of them in Christ Jesus) follow them: O give me thy love to poor sinners, for that, and that only is sufficient for me. It is all joy to me to work in the vineyard of my Master, and to see the Evening of his loving call to rest draw on. I greatly rejoice in the love and service of my Saviour Jesus. I rejoice to die, because I know my Saviour liveth. I rejoice to leave my Children, because I know the mercies of my God preserveth his servants to the joys of Eternity, and to temporal peace also, as it shall be best for their eternal happiness. I rejoice to leave the world, because I find it not a fit instrument to serve my Saviour, and that I have cause to fear disserving him there with. Pious Sentences. GOD gives the cold according to the Cloth. God knows who is a good Pilgrim. God Almighty, and a Father, have no requital. God worketh in a little time. God kept: nothing lost. God reigneth where he pleaseth. God's servants, have a good Master. Job Ch. 14. V 1. MAn that is Eves posterity hath short continuance, Yet armies of his miseries continually advance. 2 He shooteth forth as doth a fleure that's presently cut down, He vanisheth, and in one hour the grave becomes his Crown. 3 And yet thou openest thine yes, upon so vain a shade, And causest him to enterprise in judgement 'gainst thy aid. 4 O Lord who can bring a clean thing Or who dare look on thee O King if thou please not to smile? 5 Thou hast determined his days, his months are known to thee, Thou hast appointed out his ways, how, where his end shall be. 6 O turn away thy angry rod, O stay thy chastizing, Until my day desired when I shall cease to sin. 7 For there is hope that though a be cut and hewed down, May have its shading branchand be tree as formerly 'twas known. 8 Although the root of it wax old, within its tomb or grave, And though the slook of it be dead within its ancient cave. 9 Yet by the sent of water it may bud and bloom again, And bring forth boughs, and become fit as plants for to remain. 10 But man is sick and dies and goes foes to his long biding place, Man perishes from friends from where's honour, where's disgrace? 11 As the great waters part from sea and are not to be found, And as the floods dry up, and they become, as parched ground. 12 So man doth sleep and doth not rise, he shall not wake again, He shall not from his sleep arise while Heaven doth remain. 13 O that thou wouldst hid me in the grave and secret chamber Until thy wrath were passed for sin, and then wouldst me remember. 14 If a man die shall he here live, oh! all my wand'ring doom That thou hast pointed, I will wait until my changing come. 15 Thou shalt call me, and then I shall unto thee answer make, Thou lovest thine own handiwork for thine own mercy sake. 16 But now thou numbrest all my steps and dost not stay my sin, As if I could pay all my debts in which I lived in. 17 My sins and my iniquities thou hast fast sealed up, As in a bag, whereof is filled my sinful flowing cup. 18 And surely as the hills decay that from their place are found, And as the rocks do mould away that change their ancient ground. 19 And as the waters break the stones when thou dost overflew, Even so thou dost destroy the hope, that man hath here below. 20 Thou dost prevail against his soul so that he goes as clay, He changes quite his countenance when thou casts him away. 21 Ah! he knows not whether his sons shall honourable be? Nor doth he understand if they shall sit in low degree. 22 But while his flesh is upon him he shall have sorrow's store, And while his soul is bound in sin he shall have more and more. My GOD. O Guide me to thy dwelling place, O lead my feet to thee! O draw me hard for l'me o'th' race of poor mortality! O punish not thy servant's sin, though mad and wondrous vain! Remember in discharge of them thy only Son was flame. O give me for to know (my God) though I have not chosen thee! Yet thou hast chosen me in him thy servant for to be: O make me thirst to come to thee, to that sweet place of rest! Where are thy servants which of old thou freely lovedst best! Amen O Saviour Jesus. Righteous Hope. I Am born and hope to die a Christian; and I much rejoice to perform the sacred Law of Christ my Saviour to the utmost of my power, knowledge and understanding: Of all reformed and professed churches, I acknowledge myself to be of the reformed Church of England, which I take to be most consonant and agreeable to my Saviour's institution, yet dare I not affirm my belief or Church to be perfect and infallible: neither will I condemn a contrary, humble, serious, and solemn belief to be wholly wicked and abominable; but most humbly conceive, that the best profession, religion, devotion and belief, to be the most humble and careful fearing of almighty God, and working of righteousness, which whosoever obediently endeavoureth, shall be accepted in the mercy of the Almighty: for although none of our works, in a strict sense, can be called the works of righteousness, yet in some sort they may be reputed righteous, though mixed with much sin and imperfection: as water muddy and mixed with earth is understood and reputed water. Ephes. 6. I dare not say my own belief is best, Nor dare condemn as reprobate the rest: All righteous ways unto one gate do lead, Salvation free thus holy Wri● doth read, Who feareth God and worketh truth shall have A free acceptance from his gracious love. Ephes. 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, verses. O Lord my God, in th' power of thy love, i'll put on thy whole Armour of defence, That in thy strength I may stand firm above the fierce assaults of Hell's concupiscence; For this I know I do not enterprise against an enemy made of flesh and blood, But against Powers, Principalities, and worldly Governors, Princes of worldly good; in darkness, spiritual wickedness in the high-places, filled with all excess. For that cause I will take a Cap a pee, the whole approved Armour of my God, That thence I may resist i'the evil day, and having finished, stand against hell's rod; Lord I will stand with my loins girt about, with Verity in true obedience; And I will have upon me paramount, that righteous Breastplate, faithful penitence; and I will shoe my feet with preparation, of Gospel's peace, assurance of Salvation. And above all i'll take the Shield of Faith, which is sufficient for to quench the ire, And to extinguish all those fiery darts, whereby the wicked me to slay desire. and I will take the Helmet of Salvation, the Sword o'th' Spirit, God's word from the Creation. And I will always with all manner prayers, and supplications, in truth, in the spirit. And I will watch against all false gainsayers, with perseverance till I life inherit, from thee O Father who without degrees, for every Child hast a fit Legacy, and all of us from thy most gracious care, though single folk, inheritors we are. A Military Christian. MY only Lord of hosts, Lord General, Unto my Captain his all-conquering Son, Hath given all power, by whom I have a call, To be his Soldier by Commission. I have his promise that no Arms i'll want, But surely conquer if but valiant; Then though I be most naked, poor and weak, I'll from his magazine throughly be complete. Thou holy Spirit distributer of graces, Fit me a Soldier for the highest places. Give me my Helmet, my Saviour's first descent, Give me my Beaver fixed in Virgin's womb, Give me my Pendents which to John joy sent, Give me my Gorget Salutation; Give me that blessed birth my back and breast, Give me my guard of reigns, that manger rest. Give me my Tasses, those sweet swaddling , Give me my Cuirasses, my Bethleem peace, Give me my Knees, and Ankle arms, and those, Give me my Spurros of speed in Egypt's ease; Give me my Gauntlet called a Nazaret, Give me that Jordane Sword and I'm complete: Yet being self-convicted, vile and vain, I (a blind beggar,) humbly beg again, Mount me on Faith's true courage stately steed, And give a tr●●le to my struggling ways, Give me the reigns of Graces at my need, Give me a Saddle mounting me on bays: Give me my Breastplate and my Crupper strong, And girt me to thy Saints in Union: And give me Pistols, that with fire and sword, I may be ready to advance thy Word. Thou being armed, and being thus employed, Whilst any Judas dare himself discover, Against my Captain, I'll be overjoyed, Him to extinguish, root and branch together. My peace shall be my war, for to destroy, The enemies of my God my King, my joy: Who before long shall all together meet, In chainer appointed underneath his feet: And then we'll march, under our Captain's aid, In glorious triumph, Colours all displayed. The vanity of Temporal things in respect of Eternal. Desire to live no longer in this thy pilgrimage, than thou canst do Almighty God, true, faithful and filial service, and let his testimonies be thy delight and counsellors. Ps. 119.24. We must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdom of God. Let the wicked forsake his ways, Acts 14.22. and the unrighteous his own imaginations; and return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he is very ready to forgive: Isa. 55.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways saith the Lord: For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. Surely as the rain comes down, and the snow from Heaven, and returneth not thither empty, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sour, and bread to him that eateth; so shall my Word be that goeth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it: therefore ye shall go forth with joy, and be led forth with peace. Amen. Temporal things are most vain, saving as they tend to the good of our Eternity. O My soul, what's thy body, thy earthly house, thy prison, and what's that slimy life that brittle fading shade that fashioneth thee a man? Are not thy days as a span, and the end certain, the Goal set and every minute shortens thy appointed race? Is not the will of the Eternal all things both in Heaven and earth, and can his predestinated order change? Serve the Lord thy God in his ways and paths that he hath set thee for thy pilgrimage. To what purpose is thy springing youth so strictly fettered with thy lettered chains? and what doth knowledge profit if grief be loss? To what purpose are those endless toils, which sea and land makes way for to obtain the earth? To what purpose doth the greedy wretch with broken sleep to fill his empty grave? And to what purpose are the hidden mines and deepest pits, sought for the secret Pearls? And to what purpose is thy lawless sword, that subdivides the earth unto thy babes? And to what purpose are all elements called to circulize thy triple angler heart, yet vacuums are found? And to what purpose dost thou build thy house upon such sandy mountains as the Earth, those mouldering Tombs they hid but frothy minds, the soul's contentments of the sacred Saints? Seek for thyself a better resting place, and be thou married to a meeter mate. Long thou and thirst for that eternal joy, where friend with friend doth meet and never part, and where one minute of enjoyments more, than thousands years are here in strongest bands: and where thy God almighty soon will frame, thy angled heart to sit his endless round? where all things are swift ministers to act, the sweet commands of thy Redeemers love, where in the presence of thy sacred rock, thou safe shalt rest, preserved and freed from fear: where all things are the only will and mind of thy Redeemer, and shall give thee peace; Within thy Master's vineyard work with joy, yet thirst to hear thy Masters call to rest. Amen. Consider seriously the wise and pious Say of the Ancients: in them is shown a way to Peace. I will only mention some as they come to memory. MOrs tua, mors Christi, fraus mundi, gloria Caeli, & dolour inferni, sunt meditanda tibi. Si Christum benè scis, satis est si caetera nescis, si Christum nescis, nihil est si caetera discis. Non melius poterit caro luxuriosa domari, quam benè qualis erit post mortem praemeditari. Sage disans. Alors q' nous pensons estre plus miserables, c'est lors q' Dieu nous est plus favourable. Bien q' le corps soit beau l'ame est encuor plus belle, Beanté est l'meroir de la beauté divine. Bien fair á l'indigent merit double gloire. Baille á qui te demand, & ne le fay attendre. Bany de tes costes toute troupe meshhante. Beauté du corps resemblé a la fleur du printemps. Bien heuruse est la douce nouriture, Qui scait pollir une rude nature. Ce qui estoit hire, ne se voit aujourd'huy. Cela q' un jour nous donne, un auter jour nous l'oste. Ce qui sut ce refait tout ' cowl comme une eau: Et rien Dessoubs le ciel ne se voit de nowean. Communement routes choses retiennent, le naturel de leiu d'oú elles viennent. Dieu bat ceux q' il cherist du bers, iusq' au cercueil. Dieu nous ayant battu, jet la vergè au fen. Dieu nous frappe du doigt, & non de tout le br as. Dieu depart l'ire au poix, & sans poix la pity. Dieu a des pieds de lain, & says br as sont de fer. De aboundance du caeur souuent la bouche parle. De peu de mots viennent de grands effects. Escout ' cestuy la qui te bien admouneste. Eslargy de tes biens aux powres souffre teux. En fuisant ce q' ou doibt ne faut de recompense. Fa ce que tu vondrois q' on sit, à ta personne. Franc se peut appeller, qui maistrise son ame. Gardeytoy de sagesse, & rien ne te faudra. Gain de richesse fait sonunt perdre les cieux. Heureux est celuy la, qui rien ne desire. Heureux qui peut du mal d'autrq, devenir sage. Heureux qui pent tirer un grand gain de sa . Haine, n' apporte rien q' repentir á l'homme. Hour ne se parfaict point, si non apres la mort. Il vandroit boaucoup mieux se taire, que trop dire. Il ne est rien si certain q'il saut, q' l'homme meure. ne rien si incertain q'uelle eu doibt estre le heure. Il ne est deiour si clair, qui n' ait quelque nuage. Il n' est meilleure reute, que devne ame content. Il n' rien est si certain, qui ne soit esbrale du soir au lendemaiu. Jamais le marinier ne fit de long voyage, qu' ores par le beau temps, & oars par l'orage. Il est malaysé de bien vieure, mais bien aise de mal mourir, Il est bien mal aysé, q' qui mal vit, bien meure. Le homme propose en terre, & Dieu dispose au Ciel. Le ciel n' est pas acquis, si tossed que souhaitte. La vertu fuit le caeur de l'homme mercenaire. L' ame bassene peut juger de chose haute. L' enfer est in tout lieu ou l'eternall n'est pas. L' ire & pitié de Dieu se suquent tour a tour. L' nocher vient sowent fair naufrage au port. La Rose a la par fin se flectriet & desseiche. La foudre rue a bas tes plus superbes tours. Le toict d'vn bergeroit sans peur dure tousiours. Le repentir suit sowent court plaisir. Le temps perdu jamais ne se recowre. Le temps s'enva, & jamais ne revient. L' un au matin s' eufle en sonbien, qui au soleil couché ne arien. La fleur des ans, qui peu sojourn, s' en suit, & jamais ne return. Le filet te mounstre combien la vie est un fragile bien. Le uray amy jamais ne dissimule. La fin couronne l'oeuure. La menace est tresbone, qui donne advertissement. La moindre chose de ce q' nous ignorous, est plu grande q' tout c' q' les hommes peuuent scávoir. Le bon conseil asseure sovent les choses douteuses. Le honneur q' unjour nous donne, un autrejour nous le host. La mediccrité rend la personne beureuse. La mort nous va suivant comme l'ombre l'corps. La mort nous tient tousieurs un cousteau sur la gorge, Meltre de l'huile au feu n'est le voloir esteindre. Mastriser ses desires, est grande signory. Malheureux qui desire, & n'est jamais content. Matin le jour se leave, pour mourir sur le soir. Mawaise gapde playst sowent le lour. Nul homme n' est heureux, si non apres la mort. Nous conseillous bien meuz les autres qui nous mesmes. nurture pass nature. Nous netenons en nostre main, l'jour d'hier ny d'demain. On fait perdre l'corps en trop cerchant l'esprit. On fait perdre l'esprit, en trop flattant le corpse. Pardoner & sanuer, est le propres des Dieu. Presq' tousieurs, la rechente est mortelle. Pour un platsir mille douleurs. Patience pasce science. Qui une fois est né, doit une fois mourir. Qui aime pour son bien ne se peut dire amy. Qui n' aqu' unocil, ait grand peur de l'perdre. Qui bien se mire, bien se voit. Qui bien se voit, bien secognoist. Qui bien se cognoist, peu se prise. Qui peu se prise, sage est. A voit brusler la maison d'antruy, doit avoir grand peur de la sienne. Quand orgueil chevauche le premier, houte & damage le suivent de pres. Qui une fois au mal avoulu s' adonner, une & un autre fois ne craint d'y returner. Qui n' a la soy, n' a rien. Richesse de l'esprit ne peut jamais perdre. Reprens' autruy mais corrige toy mesme. Repos d'esprit & patience, sont instrumens de la science. Scavoir le mal est sowent profitable, mais en user est tousiours evitable. Tout ce qui est au monde, est un ieu d'inconstance. Tout ce qui prend naissance est perissable aussi. Tell flurit aujourd'huy, qui demain flestrira. Tell flestrist aujourd'huy, qui demain flurira. Tant que l'ennemy vit, l'guerre n' est pas morte. Tout ce monde est douteux: la seule heure denier parfait nostre bon heur, ou bien nostre misere. Tout ainsi que le vent sans returner s'en vole sans espoir de retour, s' eschappe la parole. Tout choose se pass, & rien seur ne demeure, en ceste terre base. Trop parier nuist, trop gratter cuist. Tout c' qui luist, n' est pas or. Une belle vie engendre belle mort. Selah. Wise and pious Say of the Ancients, wherein is shown the way to Peace. OFten meditate upon thy death, Christ's death, the world's deceit, Heaven's glory, and Hell's torments. If thou knowest Christ well, it is sufficient if other things thou knowest not: If Christ thou knowest not, it is nothing, though every thing else thou knowest. Thou canst not better tame thy luxurious flesh, than well to premeditate, what thou shalt be after death. Then, when we think ourselves to be most miserable, is God to us most favourable. The body may be beautiful, but the soul is fare more beautiful. Beauty, is the spectacle of the beauty divine. To do good to the poor, deserveth double glory. Give to him that asketh, and let him not wait too long. Banish all wicked persons from thy quarters. The beauty of the body resembleth the Flower of the Spring. Thrice happy is that sweet nurture, which doth polish and reform corrupted nature. That which was yesterday, will not be to day. That which one day giveth, another day taketh away. That which was, is; all things run as a stream, and There is nothing new under the Heavens. Commonly all things do retain the nature of the place from whence they came. Almighty God beateth those he loveth, from the cradle to the grave. Almighty God having strooken, casts the rod in the fire. Our good God beats us with a finger, and not with his arm. The Almighty distributeth his anger by weight, and without weight his pity. The Almighty hath his feet of wool, and his arms of iron. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth often speaketh. Of a few words comes a great effect. Harken to him that gives thee good counsel. Give liberally of thy goods unto the poor sufferer. For doing what we ought, we need nor deserve no reward. Do as thou wouldst have done to thee. He may well be called valiant which mastereth his own soul. Keep close to wisdom, and do not departed from it. Gain of riches often is the loss of Heaven. Happy is he which desireth nothing. Happy is he which is warned by the harms of others. Happy is he which can draw gain from his loss. Hatred brings a man nothing but repentance. There can be no perfection but after death. One had better not speak, than much speak. There is nothing so certain as that a man must die, and nothing so uncertain as the hour when. There is no day so clear but hath some clouds. There is nothing better than a contented mind. There is nothing so certain which cannot be changed betwixt morning and evening. Never any mariner made a long voyage, but he sailed both in fair weather and in foul. It is hard to live well, but very easy to die ill. It is hard for him that liveth ill, to die well. Man purposes in earth, but God disposeth in Heaven. Heaven is not so soon attained, as wished for. Virtue flies the heart of the mercenary man. A low soul may not judge of high matters. Hell is in all places where God is not. The anger and pity of God Almighty follow one the other. The Sailor may suffer shipwreck at the haven. The Rose flourisheth and withereth, both to the same end. Thunderbolts cast down the most high Towers. A Shepherd's cottage is always without fear. Repentance often follows short pleasures. Time lost never is recovered. Time flies away and never returns. A man in the morning flows with riches, who in the evening hath nothing left. The flower of youth lasteth but a little while, it than flieth away and never returns. A thread doth show the weakness of our lives. A true friend never dissembles. The end crownes the work. The threatening is very good which well adviseth us. The least thing of what we know not, is more great than all that we know. Good counsel often assureth doubtful things. The Honour which one day gives, another day taketh away. A middle condition renders a man most happy. Death follows us, as the shadow the body. Death doth (as it were) hold always a knife to the throat. To put Oil to the fire is not the way to quench it. To master the desires, is true valour. It is a very evil thing to desire, and never to be content. The day riseth in the morning, for to let or die at night. A negligent guard pleaseth the Wolf. A man is not happy, till after his death. We counsel others better than ourselves. Nurture, exceedeth nature. We hold in our hands neither yesterday nor to morrow. One may lose the body in too much searching the spirit. One may lose the spirit in overflattering the body. To pardon and to save are the properties of God. For the most part relapses are mortal. For one pleasure a thousand sorrows. Patience exceeds knowledge. Who is one time born, must one time die. Who loves for goods, cannot be said to love. He which hath but one eye, had need of great care lest he lose it. He which seethe himself in a glass, seethe himself well. He which seethe himself well, knoweth himself well. He which knows himself well, prizeth himself little. He which prizeth himself little, is wise. He which will burn another man's house, aught to have a great fear of his own. When pride rideth before, misery and disgrace follows after. He which one time gives himself to do evil willingly, will not fear once and again to do it. He which hath not faith, hath nothing. Riches of the spirit can never be lost. Reprove another, but correct thyself. A quiet spirit and patience, are instruments of science. To know evil is sometimes profitable, but to use it is always hurtful. All which is in the world is a game of inconstancy. All that which taketh birth, is perishable also. That flourisheth to day, which to morrow shall whither. That withereth to day, which to morrow shall flourish. So long as the enemy liveth, the war is not dead. All this world is doubtful, only the last hour perfecteth either our good or our evil. As the wind bloweth and cannot return, so a word spoken cannot be recalled. All things pass, and there is nothing certain in this corrupted earth. Too much speaking hurteth, too much scratching galleth. All that glistereth is not gold. A good life, begets a happy death. Selah. Pour mortification d'l'chair. QUis est homo, Psal. 88 Aug. lib. 13. de Civit. Dei. c. 3. Gen. 2. Psal. 48. qui vivet & non videbit mortem? Fatendum est primo parentes ita fuisse institutos, ut si non peccassent, nullum mortis genus fuisset. Quâcunque horá comederis, morte morieris. Homo cum in honore esset, non intellexit, comparatus est jument is in's pientibus, & similis factus est illis. Invidiâ diaboli mors intravit orbem terrarum. Le diabole est l'meurtrier des le commencement. Sap. 3. Joh. 8. Luk 10. Un homme est tombé entre les mains des brigands, etc. C'est adire, entre les mains & puissance des diables les quels le despoiiillerent du vestement de justice originelle, de la robbe de grace, d'innocence & de la charité, & par le playes de peché demy mort: Or Jesus Christ est nostre bone & uray Samaritain. Sicut in Adam omnes moriuntur, 1 Cor. 15. ita in Christo omnes vivificabuntur. Sta utum est omnibus hominibus semel mori. Heb. 9.27. Quotidie morimur, quotidie aliqua pars nostra vita demitur, & dum crescimus vita nostra decrescit. Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, Psal. 41. ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus. Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fontem vivum, quando veniam & apparebo ante faciem Dei mei, le Apostré St Paul dit, mon desir est de desloger de ceste chair, & de estre avec Jesus Christ, qui m'est beacoup meilleur. Post hoc judicium. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanstorum ejus. Heb. 9 Psal. 115.111. In memoriá eaternâ erit justus. Mors peccatorum pessima: Psal. 33. Vultus Domini super facientes mala. Deleantur peccatores de libro viventium, Luk. 16. Psal. 69.28. Tim. 4. & cum juslis non scribantur. Vive tu, a dire aves St Paul. I'ay combatu le bon combat in ay aceué mon course, i'ay gardé la foy, Quand au reste la couronne de justice m'est gardee, laquelle me rendra le seignour, just juge; en ceste journ●er & Dieu de soitresbone pity eaten dira: de profandis clamavist & audivi, etc. Recerdare n●vissimatu●, Eccl. 7. Isa. 28. & in aternum non peccabis. Dixistis, percussimus faedus cum morte, & cum inferno pactum fecimus: l'Prophete leur respond': Delibitur faedus vestrum cum morte, & pactum vestrum cum inferno non stabit. Par l'enuie de Satan, Eph. 6. & par le peché, la mort á pris seigneurie sur l's homme. Pallida mors aquo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas Regumque turres. Non miseretur inopiae, Bernard. Virgil. nec veretur divitias. Ipsarapit ju● enes primá florente juventâ, mors nemini parcit. Omnis caro faenum, Isa. 40. & omnis gloria ejus, quasi flos agri. Respice sepulchra & discern si potes victum à ●ege, Aug. lib. de Naturâ & gratiâ. fortem à debili, pulchrum à deformi, memorare utique naturae non extellaris. Dic mihi ubi sunt amatores mundi, Bernard. qui ante pauca tempora nobiscum cr●nt, certe nihil ex eis remansit nisi cineres & vermes. En tout humility m●d●tos donc sonu● ent la mort, mes amis: car, quise humiliate, exaltab●tur. Homo cum mortuus fuerit, Job 14. Apoc. 14. nudatus, atque, consumptus, ubi quaeso est? Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur, modo jam dicit spiritus ut requiescant a laboribus suis, 21. opera enim illorum sequuntur illos. Non esurient neque sitient. Lazarus fut aporté des Anges au sein o' Abraham (id est) obdormivit in Domino, Luk. 16. Act 8. Non habemus hic manentem Civi●atem, Heb. 13 Job 14. sed futuram inquirimus. Homo natus de mulicre brevi vivens tempore repletur multis miseriis, qui quasi flos egreditur, & conteritur, & fugit velut umbra, & nunquam in ecdem statu pérmanet. I' suis pelerin estranger comme tout mes peers. Transit mundus & concupiscentia ejus. Job. 1.2. Act. 24. Aug. Per multas tribulationes oportes nos intrare in regnum caelorum. Puniuntur justi ut oppressi clament & clamantes exaudiantur. Obsecro vos, 1 Pet. 2. tanquam peregrinos abstinere vos à carnalibus desideriis quae militant adversus animam. Non sunt condignae passiones saeculi ad futuram gloriam quae revelabitur in nobis. Rom. 8. Vigilate quia nescitis, Matth. 24. Arist. lib. 6. c. 5. quâ horâ Dominus vester venturus sit. Prudentia, & recta ratio agibilium, quia homo in quibuscunque agendis, finem considerate, atque ad illum media convententia accommodat & disponit. Acquire prudentiam, quia est preciosior auro. Prudentia carnis mors est, Rom. 8. prudentia autem spiritus, vita & pax. Statutum est omnibus hominibus semel mori, Heb. 9 post haec autem judicium. Dies Domini sicut fur in nocte veniet. 1 Thes. 5. Apoc. 3. Esto vigilans, si non vigilaveris, veniam ad t tanquam sur, & nescies quâ horâ veniam adte. L' homme ne cognoit point la fin, Eccl. 9 mais comme les poisons sont prins avec l'haim on hamecon, & les oyseauz aux lais et fillets, ains sont prins l'hommes en tempts maunas qui leur est incogna. Ne tardes converti ad Dominum; Eccl. 5. neque differas de die in diem (laraison) subito enim veniet ira ejus, & in tempore iracundiae, disperdei te. Beatus servus ille quem cum venerit Dominus ejus & pulsaverit, inveniet vigilantem. St Jerom. Quotidie morimur, quotidie commutamur, & tamen aeternos nos esse credimus. Pulvis es & cinis, Gen. 3. & in pulverem & cinerem reverteris. Si tantum in hoc mundo sperantes ess●mus, 1 Cor. 15.19 miserabiliores essemus omnibus hominibus. Fulgebunt justi sicut sol in regno Patris mei. Mat. 13. 1 Cor. 15. Joh. 3. Si christus resurre xit a mortuis, & nos resurgemus. Venit filius Deiin hunc mundum, ut omnes qui credit in eum non pereant sed habeant vitam aeternam. Nolumus vos ignorari de do●mientibus ut nos contristemini sicut caeteri qui spem non habent. 1 Thos. 4. Melior est dies mort is, Eccl. 6. die nativitatis: laudavi mag is mortuos quam viventes: Mors est munus necessarium naturae tam corruptae, quae non non est fugienda, sed potius amplectenda. Qui credit ei qui misit me habet vitam aeternam, Joh. 5. et non in judicium veniet, sed transiet á morte in vitam. Cum infirmor, 2 Cor. 11. Jam. 1. tunc potens sum. Reatus qui suffers tentationem, quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se. Estote misericordes, Luk. 6 sicut & pater vester celestis misericors est. Estote imitatores Dei sicut filij carissimi. Christianus christi nominis similitudinem tenet, Aug. morum quoꝙ similitudinem habere debet, nam Christiani nomen ille frustra sortitur, qui Christum minime imitatur. Judicium sine miserecordiâ ei fiat, qui non fecerit mis●ricordiam. Da pauperibus & habebis thesaurum in caelo. Mat. 9 Prov. 14. Mat. 5. Mat. 25. Qui miseretur pauperis beatus erit. Beati misericordes, quoniam misericordiam consequentur. Vevez bien heureux de mon pere, & entrezeu la possession du Royaume, qui vous est preparé dés la creation du monde, car i' ay en faim, & vous m' auex donné a manger etc. Quod uni ex meis minimis fecistis, mihi fecistis. A subitaneâ & improvisâ morte, libera nos Domine. Non potest malé mori qui bené vixerit, Aug. & vix bene moritur, qui male vixerit. Vobis datum est non solum utin Christum credatis, Phil. sed & ut pro ipso patiamini. Cupio dissolvi, Phil. 1. 1 Cor. 2. & esse cum Christo. Oculus non vidit, auris non audivit, nec in cor hominis ascendit, quae praeparavit Deus diligentibus se. Quelle chose y a il en ce monde pour contenter l'ame? Aug. rien de tout, il n' y a que Dieu seul. Inquie●um est cor nostrum donec quiescat in te. Ps 6. satiabor cum aparuerit gloriatua. Deus fecit hominem, Aug. ut summum bonum intelligeret, intelligendo amaret, amando possideret, possidendo fueretur. Gaudium in caelo erit super una peccatore paenitentiam agente, Luk. 15. quam super nonaginta novem justos, qui non ind●gent panitentiâ. Jesus Christus venit in hunc mundum peccatores salvos facere. 1 Tim. 4. Dimissa sunt ●i peccata multa: qui a dilexit multum. Luk 7. Jam non est is hospites, Eph. 2. & advena: sed est is cives sanctorum & domestici Dei. Beati servi illi quos cum venerit Dominus invenerit vigilantes. Luk 2. Nihil occultum quod non seiatur, Mark. 4. & nihil opertum quod non revelatur. De die illâ nemo scit, ne quidem Angeli Calorum, neque filus hominis. Talem te judicat Deus, Mat. 24. Cyprian. Luk. 12. qualem te invenerit cum vorat. Beati servi illi, quos cum venerit Dominus invenerit vigilantes, scilicet in statu gratia, & in peccatis non dormientes. Ante juditium, Eccl. 8. Joh. 14. Psal. 110. para justitiam tibi, ante languorem ad hibe medicinam. Diligamus Deum, quiaipse prius dilexit nos. Initium sapientiae timor Dei: qui timet Deum faciet bona: A timore tuo concepimus spiritum salutis. Quoties in quit, Hier. diem judicij considero toto corpore contre misco: sive enime comedarn, sive bibam sive quid aliud faciam, semper videtur illa tuba terribilis insonare auribus meis surgite mortui, venite ad juditium. Non intres in juditium cum servo tuo Domine, Psal. 104. quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens. Vix justus salvabitur, miser & peccator ubi parebunt. Nolite omni spiritui credere, 1 Pet. 4. 1 Joh. 4. Aug. Heb. 11. sed probate spiritus si ex Deo sint. Noll intellegre ut credas, sed crede ut intelligas. Fides est substantia rerum sperandarum; argumentum non apparentium. Quod fui Domine ignosce, quod sum corrige, quod cro dirige. Serva comissum, expecta promissum, cave probibitum. Adversa corporis animae remedio sunt, agritudo carnem vulnerat, sed mentem curate. For the mortification of the flesh. What man is he, that liveth and shall not see death? It is decreed in our first parents so to have been instituted, that if they had not sinned, they should not have died. In what hour thou eatest, thou shalt die. Man, when he was in honour understood not; but is compared to the beasts that perish, and is made like unto them. The envy of the devil, brought death upon all the earth. The devil is the murderer from the beginning. A man is fallen into the hands of thiefs, etc. that is to say, into the hands and power of devils, which spoilt him of his garment of original justice, of the robe of grace, of innocence, and of charity, and by the wounds of sin, left him half dead: but Jesus Christ our good and true Samaritane. As in Adam all are dead, even so in Christ shall all live. It is appointed to all men once to die. We die daily, and continually our life in some part diminisheth, and while we increase, our lives decrease. As the Hart desireth the rivers of waters, so desireth my soul to come to thee O God. My soul thirsteth to God, the living fountain: when shall I come and appear before the face of my God? The Apostle St Paul saith, My desire is to be dissolved from this flesh, and to be with Jesus Christ which is much better. After this, the judgement. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. The just shall be had in eternal remembrance. The death of sinners is the worst death. The face of the Lord is against those that do iniquity. The sinners shall be blotted out of the book of the living, and with the just they shall not be written. Live thou to say with St Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, therefore there is reserved for me a Crown of justice, the which my God the just Judge shall give me in that day: and our good God of his infinite pity shall say to thee, Thou hast called to me out of the deep, and I have heard thee, etc. Remember the end in all things, and thou shalt not sin to death. Ye have said, we have made a league with death, and with hell an agreement. The Prophet answers them, Your Covenant with death shall be dissolved, and your agreement with hell shall not stand. By the envy of Satan and by sin, death hath taken dominion over man. Pale death beateth alike upon poor men's cottages, and the towers of Princes. It pitieth not the poor, nor spareth the rich. It snatcheth away youth in the flower of their lives, and spareth none. All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of the field. Behold a grave, and discern if thou canst, the captive from the King, the strong from the weak, the fair from the deformed: then be not proud. Tell me where are those lovers of the world which were lately with us; certainly nothing remains of them but ashes and worms. In all humility then (my soul) meditate often upon thy dissolution: for he which humbleth himself shall be exalted. A man when he is dead, is changed and consumed, and where is he? Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for so saith the spirit, that they rest from their labours, and their works follow them: they neither hunger nor thirst, etc. Lazarus was carried of the Angels into Abraham's bosom: that is, he died in the Lord. Here we have no abiding City, but we seek one to come. Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and full of sorrow: he shooteth up as a flower, and is cut down, he flieth as a shadow, and never continueth in the same condition: I am a pilgrim, and a stranger as all my fathers were. The world passeth away, and the lusts thereof. Through many tribulations, we must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The just are oppressed that they may cry, and crying may be heard. I beseech you as pilgrims and strangers, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. The present sufferings of this life, are not worthy of the glory which shall be revealed in us. Watch, for you know not what hour your Lord will come. Walk thou in wisdom and in right reason, because a man in whatsoever he doth considereth the end, and accordingly doth accommodate and dispose himself to the means that lead unto it. Get wisdom therefore for it is more precious than gold. The wisdom of the flesh is death; but spiritual wisdom is life and peace. It is appointed to all men once to die, and after death comes the judgement. The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. Be thou watching, if thou watch not, I will come to thee as a thief, and thou knowest not what hour I will come unto thee. Man doth not know his end, but as the Fishes are taken with a bait or hook, and the Birds are taken with nets and snares; so is man taken in an evil time, which is not known unto him. Do not defer to turn unto the Lord, neither delay from day to day, (the reason is) for suddenly his anger cometh, and in his wrath he will destroy thee. Blessed is that servant whom when the Lord cometh and knocketh, he doth find watching. We die daily, we change daily, and yet we do believe we are eternal. Dust and ashes thou art, and into them thou shalt return. If only in this world we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. The Just shall shine as the Sun in my Father's Kingdom. As Christ our Saviour risen from the dead, so shall we also rise. The Son of God came into this world, that all which believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I Would not have you ignorant concerning those which are at sleep, that you sorrow not as they which have no hope. Better is the day of death than the day of birth, I have praised the dead above the living. Death is the necessary gift of corrupted nature, which is rather to be embraced, then avoided. He which believeth in him which sent me, hath eternal life, and doth not come into Judgement. But passeth from death to life. When I am weak, than I am strong. Happy is the man that endureth temptations, because that when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Be ye merciful, as your Father which is in Heaven is merciful: be ye imitators of God, as dear Children. A Christian ought not only to bear the Name of Christ, but the Similitude also of his manners. For the Name of Christ is frustrate to him that only doth imitate Christ in Name. The merciless shall have justice without mercy. Give to the poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven. He which hath mercy on the poor is blessed. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Come ye blessed of my Father, and enter into the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world, for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat etc. In as much as you did it to one of these you did it to me. From sudden and unprovided death, good Lord deliver us. He which liveth well cannot die ill: nor he scarce die well, that lives ill. To you it is given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can heart conceive, the mercies prepared of God for them that love him. What is there in this world can content the soul? There is nothing: the soul is content with nothing but God. Our heart is unquiet, until it test in thee, I shall be satisfied when thy glory doth appear. Almighty God made man that he might understand the chief good, in understanding might love it, in loving might possess it, and in possessing might enjoy it. There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner that truly repenteth, then over ninty nine just persons who need no repentance. Jesus Chrst came into the world to save sinners. His sins are forgiven him which are many because he loved much. Now ye are no longer guests and strangers, but ye are Citizens of the holy City, and household of God. Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh doth find watching. There is nothing hid, which shall not be made known, nor any thing secret, which shall not be revealed. Of that day no man knoweth, no not the Angels of Heaven, nor the Son of man. So God judgeth thee, as he findeth thee when he calleth. Blessed is that servant, whom the Lord when he cometh doth find watching, namely in a state of grace and not sleeping in his sins. Prepare thy righteousness before judgement, and before thou be sick, take Physic. We love God, because he first loved us. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, who feareth God doth good. From the love of God we do receive the spirit of saving health. As often as I consider the day of Judgement, my whole body doth tremble; whether I eat, or drink, or whatsoever I do; that terrible noise seems always to sound in my ears; Arise ye dead and come to Judgement. Enter not into judgement with thy servant O Lord, for no flesh shall be justified in thy sight. The just shall scarce be saved, where then shall wretched sinners appear? Believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits if they be of God. Do not understand that thou mayst believe, but believe that thou mayst understand. Faith, is the assurance, or substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Lord, what I have been, pardon, what I am, amend, what I shall be, direct. Those sharp corrections which the body wound, if rightly used, do make the soul more sound. The sweetest Comfort. AS a dear Mother comforteth her Son whom she hath borne, So will I help and comfort thee, at evening and at morn. Isa. 63.13. Nay though a Mother should forget compassion to have, Yet is my mercy towards thee, even when thou canst not crave. Isa. ●9. 15. Colos. 3.4. When Christ which is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. Ver. ●. mortify therefore your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, the inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is colatry Ver. 6. For the which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience Ephes. ●. 3. But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named amongst you. Ver 4. As it becometh Saints, neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jesting, which are things not comely, but rather giving of thanks. Mark 7.21. For from within, even out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders. Ver. 22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness (or wantonness) a wicked eye, backbiting, pride, foolishness. Chap. 4. ver 1●. The lusts of the world and the flesh enter into the heart, and choke the Word, and it is unfruitful. Therefore in true zeal and faith pray: O Lord my God, for Christ Jesus his sake Matth. 6.13. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil: Endure thou with patience, and in the strength and mercy of thy Saviour resist thy temptations, wherewith the world, the flesh, and the Devil join in desire to destroy thee. Jam. 1.12. For blessed is the man that endureth temptations. Ver. 13. For when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him: Let no man say when he is tempted, that he his tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil: neither tempteth he any man. 1 Cor. 10.13. Know that there hath no temptation taken you, but such as appertaineth to man: and God is faithful which will not suffer you to be tempted above that you be able, but will even give the issue with the temptation, that you may be able to bear it. Selah. 1 Pet. 2.11. I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims: abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul. 2 Tim. ●. 2●. Flee also from the lusts of youth, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with all them that call on the Lord with pure hearts. Amen. The Sun that's set may rise again, and freshly gild his glorious train: But man is sick, and dies, and where are all his pleasures prized so dear? Yet after some few times are past, he shall receive a raising blast. Eccl. 7.2. Who can tell man what's good at need, in his vain life and days, Or who shall after him succeed, his works and all his ways? I see, Eccl. 4.8. most vain of vanities which to relate breeds fear: One spares no toils, no pains, nor lies for wealth, yet hath no Heir. Mat. 25.26. etc. O humbly beg of God most high that he would give thee grace, To use thy Talon in the way of his just Steward's race. Job. 7, 7. Remember well thy brickle life thy bubble shade-like span, Hast, fit thee for eternity 'gainst these few sands be run. Prov. 13.7, 8, 9 Two things I humbly beg my God, do not thou me deny, Before thou strike me with thy rod, before I fall and die. Put fare from me all vanities and all dissembling lies, Feed me with food convenient thy laws to exercise. Lest I be full and thee deny, and say who is the Lord, Lest I be poor and steal and take thy Name in vain, O God. Amen, as is thy good will in Jesus. Of worldly rest. It's good to want, fly fullness here lest here thou hast thy fill Of worldly wish, that without care thou dost, or good, or ill For good so done is wickedness, if from a maxim right It be not with true humbleness to God, as in his sight: Take heed therefore of worldly things, whatever doth appear, To make thee say (for they have wings) it's good for to be here: Lest so thou say, Know it is good to fly the vain excess, For outward joys at highest flood, are full of emptiness: Then fill thy soul with wisdom pure, and thou shalt plainly see, That's only good that doth assure good of eternity. The Devil hath a secret snare in all our thoughts, words, and actions, a tore, at least, among the Corn: Therefore watch, and care to prevent him at your peril. On the L M.W. dying in Childbed, the Infant living. My dearest Child the daily growing love Of thy dear Father, will not have thee stay, To beat impetuous waves like wandering dove, From worldly tumults I will take away My sweetest lily: yet lest no Phoenix be, I'll leave a root, a little branch of thee. That hence may grow such fruit as thou didst bear, Such hopes of piety, such virtuous flowers, Such innocence, such humble ways to share, Such piety adorned thy days and hours: Such full preparedness for heavenly joys, That wrong it were to put thee off with toys. Therefore my dearest welcome to thy hour, Let all my Angels show there glad rejoice, Let thine allied who are and are to come: Then thanks and praise send forth in joyful voice, For well you know my dearest only Son, No longer suffered, than his work was done. So all my Children if I take them thence Where sin doth reign, where sorrows multiply, If of my love I make them soon commence Their lasting bliss, their joy eternally. This they must know to be their only good, Thus would I have my actions understood. Another on the same L.M.W. CAn dearest love more to the life appear? Then when the Child beset with mortal dread: When outward means will not preserve from fear, Sorrow and sin will not be vanquished. To take the most assured change of death, Which unto Saints is perfect life and breath. For in this life we nothing perfect have, But sin and sorrow which bespot the soul: And since our great Creator will her save From sin, which in us doth his Image foul. His will be done, and his dispose be blest, Most due it is, that we therein should rest. Knowing assured here is no abide, Nor solid dwelling here to habit in: As Saints have gone before, the Gate is wide, We shall succeed her, if not barred by sin. Then shall we meet and perfect bliss partake. With Saints and Angels for our Maker's sake. Now show my soul thy joy is here begun, In humble love say Lord, thy will be done. For the same L.M.W. in her sickness Our only good, great Governor of chance, Maker of times, and days great Ancient, Whose will is only good, whose providence No mortal can by force or fraud prevent. Save this thy Servant by thy blessed reprieve, And from the jaws of death her soul relieve. Let her most savingly behold thy power, And let thy love possess her soul so full, Let her long life, from this thy gracious hour, With beams of duty, shine most beautiful. That so her soul like repened Corn may be, Most perfect for her blessed Eternity. The least Mite, tending to Eternity, is for Riches and True Worth unestimable. THe greatest gain, tending to temporality, is only as we may serve eternity with it, considerable. O sweetest Rose and Lily of my Soul, my joy, my rest, my everlasting peace, my sweet Redeemer from my Captive Chains: that (of thy mere love) wouldst not suffer my rebellions against thee, to have their deserts upon me; but by thy blood hast purchased my peace, and fittest me for to know, and do thy will; and then rewardest me, as if it were my act, and service to thee of my proper strength. Therefore O my Redeemer; thou art the Lord my God, and I am thy servant for ever. Amen. My soul, If thou look for and expect salvation, by the most gracious merit, death and passion, of our Saviour Jesus (than which indeed there is no sweeter peace) search, hear and read his Word, his will, then wholly bend, and frame thy soul, and body, to do thereafter. Amen. Meditate seriously and devoutly of three Things past, three Things present, three Things to come. The three Things past are, Good omitted. Evil committed. Time pretermitted. The three Things present are, The flesh provoking. The world enticing. The Devil ensnaring. The three Things to come, Death miserable. Judgement terrible. Hell intolerable. Against these foes, these threefold three: Thy Sheild's, the threefold Unity. A Consult with the Soul. TO mine own, Ego, to myself my soul, I now would steer my wandering barks advance, Since long debate and labour doth control, Th'impetuous tide and storms of ignorance: And false conceit in apprehension, Which soon overflow, thy mounted hill, And force thee headlong with thy false invention, Before the furious waves of empty will. So hard it is to find out verity, Whilst thou imprisoned art within thy clay; Sin is so frauded by hypocrisy, That little of thy vastness, see we may: But wary reason is the only eye, That shadows out, some symptoms of thy might, And separates from black obscurity, Some rays from thee, or are thee, or thy right. Thy motives (O my soul) do work more plain, And more efficatiously, than those that be Of body only; whereby I obtain Small sense of pleasure, if thy watchful eye Be elsewhere fixed: whence it's visible; First that thou art, and then that I am thee, Thy sense my soul, doth make me sensible, The languages on earth, acknowledge thee. For if I say my body, I mean thence, By my, my soul; body; souls mansion, This is most true by old experience, All tongues are herein, at one Union. And still more clear thou showst myself (my soul) That thou, the sole command, and power haste Over my senses; else pain, and icy cold, Would on my body more impression take, When thou seemest absent; or in raptures high, Freely enjoyest thy uncorrupted self, Art fully filled with sight of Deity: As of thy filthy Embryon bereft, Much like as those, that have their prison left. It's now high time I should myself retire From turbulent, and slippery fields of war, Of eager, strife, of disputation-jarre, And make account, where none but we two are Freed from those tumults, that possess the earth, Where what makes one to laugh, makes others mourn, What here makes plenty, there it maketh dearth; What raiseth one, another down doth turn: We'll but expect, that only verity, Which by thee shineth on my gloomy eye, Which sacred is to all eternity, Wherein all I can wish, I do espy: I have discovered plain, that thou my soul Wilt me survive, and wilt survive me too, As thou wilt outlive my mortality, And all the changes, that to me are due, Which only are to thee, as accident, When I thy prison am decayed, and rend, Merely because in me thou habitest, Thou'st change thy time, for thy immortal rest: When accidents, and motions of my sin, Cannot approach thy uncorrupted will, Nor move at all, or force thee to begin To yield; but constant thou, the same art still. Her's nought of time, change here is outed quite, One even being now begirts thee round, No troubled thought of end, attempts thy quiet, Nor doth succession, of uncertain ground; Thus have I seen, in height of fixed thought, And serious muse of contemplating mind, That thou my soul, art fare more truly wrought, And purely made, and of more sacred kind: Then I thy earthly house, and moultering tomb, Which only am, whilst thou in me dost bide, And quickly haste unto my Mother's womb, If thou forsake me, or me cast aside A little space; yet truly I profess, Whilst me thou keepest, great thy danger is, Lest thou ensnared with my vain excess, Be quite debarred of thy eternal bliss; But if thou rule, and order me aright, And force me subject to our Maker's will, So that my crooked ways, convert to strait, And doing good, I do avoid the ill, Then are we happy; for I do believe That though we part, till resurrection call, Sorrow to one, shall so the other grieve, That both shall far alike, for eternal; Thy pains may then begin, when I in dust Shall silent lie; till we united be: And then most sure (ah terrible) I must Share in thy pains, for our eternity, If I delude thee: but if thou me guide, And so command, that we but will to good, But seek, and ask, and knock; the door is wide And open set, by our blessed Saviour's blood; Then shall our joys alike eternal be, Of which until our meeting thou'st be filled, And so we blest in high felicity, Shall to our maker true obedience yield. But now to muse a while it may be good, And to compare thy present state, (my soul) (As now it is immersed in flesh and blood, Where sins presume, and ill doth good control) With that which shall betid thee, so soon when Thou melted art, from thy corruption, And art refined from company of men, And with blessed Saints joined in communion; What if our life here were a thousand years, Longer than ere our aged Fathers knew, And all that time, we, freed from cares, and fears, And uncontrolled, commanded all with view; With twinkled eye, or least beseeming show, That all the creatures humbly did prostrate, Their best obedience holding it their due, What ere us pleased, to act or to relate; And if that nature, did with them conspire, To give us constant, and most vigorous health And flowing springs, beyond their hearts desire; Of relishing the height of earthly wealth, Though Prelates, Princes, greatest amongst men Who set the world's belief, and actions Be framed in heart to serve us, and let then Our minds be freed from all distractions: And let our vast imaginations, Be filled with pleasures and with plenty store, So that our hearts can wish no alteration, Nor can conceive, how to have any more: Thus when our thoughts are fully at a stand, And can no higher raise our happy state; Do but remember, that this great command Each moment Shortens, till't be terminate, And till it may be said, the time is past, The thousand years are ended long ago, He long commanded all, but yet at last Death loosed his hold; and quickly took him fro His fond delights; his foolish vanities, Things only good, to him that giveth well, Their sweet refreshments to their Maker's praise, And in true use of them, the vain excel. Alas poor soul, what comfort will it give? When ghastly death, sore sickness or distress, Calls for account, and saith thou must not live, But must forth with prepare in readiness, A reckoning just; how thou hast ordered, And used thy Talon, for thy Master's gain, If thou thy fellows have not murdered, Or his poor creatures for thy lusts have slain: If by false Oaths, or foul hypocrisy, Thou hast deceived, or hurt, or gained, or spoiled, Thy honest neighbour as thy enemy, And thus thy Country's peace, by war embroiled: If thou be guilty of a double tongue, And such a lying lip as Heaven hates, How canst thou hope to live, the Saints among, Want of true Oil will fasten Heavens gates Most firm against thee; when the fatal thread Of life is cut, and when thy soul would rest In Heavens joys, as in a pleasant bed, There'l be no room for those, that held it best To have their portion, and their fill below, And said unto their souls, take here thy ease, And valued not their Maker's will to know, Nor did regard our sacred God to please. But let's proceed (my soul) for to compare Great things with small, or rather all with nought, That which we shall be, with that which we are, Which if but rudely known, it's well we sought: We are poor earthy worms, as plants we grow, And as the beasts, our bodies do decay, Nay they exceed us, they nor set nor sow, Nor piercing sorrows takes their rest away, Their senses fare more quick, their bodies strong, Their souls not subject to the due of sin, For they die as their bodies, so along, We think its life, not soul, which doth keep in The vegetative life that is in Plants, And sensitive that other Creatures have, But Man is Lord of all, or else he vaunts himself too high, too much above the grave Of all the rest, that sojourn here below, Their times appointed, and the same as his, Only with reason, God did us endow, And from the Beasts our difference is this: If we, by crooked and uneven ways Of sinful walkings and rebellions, Do not destroy ourselves; we spend our days In true subduing our plantations, And well command, as God did first appoint, And use our fellow creatures, to refresh Our wearied minds, and bodies to anoint With oil of joy, and food of thankfulness: But yet a little further to proceed To find on earth, what thing is only good, Suppose what can be possible, we'd need; Though reason will not so be understood: Suppose that the least shadow of delight, Wherein we have ten thousand years to come, Were full as much and of as great a weight As twice ten thousand years, when time is gone, Eternity gives thousands, thousands, years, Against each moment of the longest time, And having worn it out, it well appears No whit diminished, still it is a crime To say it's shorter: for that cannot be When time's worn out, and years thus multiplied, It's all one still, it's still eternity, It's still as wide a gulf, it's never satisfied: Then see how vainly are our lives spun out, If time do end upon us unsuspected, And if it may be said, that without doubt, What is most needful, is the most neglected: Yet in my reason I can scarce believe, But well spent days, should greater honour have, Then smallest infants, whom none do relieve, But use their Mother's bowels for their grave: And so for all degrees of knowledge sound That men attain to; can it be for nought, That some sit high, and others plough the ground, I cannot herein six, my wand'ring thought, But must presume, that the eternal bliss, Which we soon shall enjoy (in our belief) When we part hence; to one fare greater is Then to another; yet, nor care, nor grief Can seize of any, who admitted are To be ingulpht in the eternal joy; Hence great is comfort, yet I think to spare My wand'ring thoughts, lest thereby I annoy My truest peace: which is my full belief And settled grant of mercy from above, That the eternal light doth show his truth To all men's souls, if with obedient love Their eyes but see it, with a watchful care; And right improve it, in each action, Which to the soul, a height of mischiefs are, Changing our peace into distraction, But specious shows, deludings of pretence, (Speak what they will,) destructive are and vain If they delude the mind, deceive the sense, Or do but move from the eternal gain: The high employment of the soul, is love To her Creator; much beyond all sense (Of Wisdom, Arts and Knowledge; fare above Both study, wit, and long experience) Hath circled to itself the light divine (As we may judge) beyond all limitation, And in its freedom gloriously doth shine Beyond the reach of her imagination, While it's imprisoned, in the clayie bonds Of earthly mansion, with defiled hue, It dully moves, as wanting feet, or hands, For its pure freedom, which to it is due Of its Creators' gift; so soon as when It separated is from earthy clay, And is endued, beyond the gift of men, And begs of none, but of its God; who may And will relieve its wants, with purest aid: This being hope, and full assurance Hold fast to care, and caring be afraid Lest smiling sin, get thy inheritance: And catching thee in snares of wickedness, Thirsty for earthy bubbles, in a rage Choosing no mean, but loving all excess With Esau, sell (for mess of poor pottage) Thy glorious birthright, to thy Father's joy And heavenly Kingdom, ever permanent And so in sin, and grief, and sad annoy With everlasting woe, thou must lament. Here, stay a little; let us count a while With nature uncorrupted, and with reason, Reason condemns her, for a Mistress vile, And charges her, with little less than treason, If she afford to men, long life and days, And fitting organs, for the soul to act And gain a height of knowledge, to the praise Of their Creator, by the glorious fact Of constant warfare, and doth thereby gain The blessed way, to living streams of life, It seems but labour lost, and all in vain That she hath hazarded by eager strife, To gain no more, amidst the many years, Which she hath run in danger of the goal, Then she might fully had, sans cares and fears, If she from mother's womb without control Had been prevented, by the tender knees, And breasts had not afforded children's food, And secret helps, which only nature sees Had been by her denied, that understood How vain it was, for me to venture on So long a voyage, from security When I was safe, and settled well upon As good a stool, as ripe maturity Can give unto me; yea and better fare For that the hazard of so long a time Is infinite, if they no better are That have in holy strife, opposed the crime, That watcheth every moment to destroy Them in their passage, if when best is done They have no more; then without this annoy They'd not been born, nor had not seen the Sun; Or that had nought to do with time, or age; What reason is't, such should have like perfection, With those who well do spend their pilgrimage, Hating all sin, by Heaven's good direction: It must not so be thought, that aught in vain, Is done by nature: reason is the eye That tells us it, and shows unto us plain Nature doth nought, but hath a reason why: For if but die and live, but end and enter Into the bliss of high eternity In perfect measure, full as those that venture The longest life; No! wherefore should it be To wish a moment of employment here, As earthly Pilgrims, only hazarding What sure before we had; as't doth appear Most void of gain, though in well ordering: This reason forced me to, but still I must, My quiet in my souls belief permit, What it doth truly dictate, is most just And perfect rule of the most sacred spirit; If through devout and wary walking here We have (of our Creators' grace) obtained This holy Spirit, from our blessed Saviour dear, As his last Legacy to us remained: But O how blessed a thing it is to see That our immortal souls possessed are (Upon our entrance on Eternity) Of perfect joys, and more without compare, Then we are capable to comprehend. While we are wrapped in this mansion, What then shall be our height, when we ascend And perfect are, at resurrection? This we refer to the Creators' will, And joy that it, and only it, is done, And pray that we (converted from all ill) May in perfection ever serve his Throne. Thrice happy moments which engross the soul, Which circled it from all the world's assaults, Which do ingraspe it, and which doth control The foul attempts, proceeding from the vaunts Of fierce temptations; ravishing all sense, And singling out the soul unto itself, While it in bliss, his Ever, doth commence And of all vanities is clear bereft: Blest are those soul-contents, and raptures high Which thus our sacred spirits do possess, And blessed is the soul eternally, That so doth leave all sin and wickedness: And thence is entertained amongst the Saints, A listed servant to his sacred love, Where (though degrees) yet none complains of wants, But all are filled with the holy dove: And thereby fitted in perfection, To serve the high, and uncontrolled good, And this from perfect mercies free election, Which by his Spirit's only understood. But now (me thinks) I see a vanity, Above what tongue can speak, or heart conceive, Desires great, beyond humanity, Beyond the blessed rules, our God did give: The longing, thirsty wish, of those men Are for terrestrial shadows, seeming goods, Which false deluding pleasures, are but when The body's strong, the soul's beneath the floods Of vain deceits, which no enjoyment have Out of this body; yet doth hazard much Loss of eternal good, if they enslave Themselves, into the company of such To their last home; to their eternity I cannot judge, but they most certainly, Pass hence, into eternal misery: Then (O my soul) make it thy chiefest care, Since most of multitudes are thus deluded, It doth not fall to thy unhappy share, With most of men, from peace to be excluded; For truly (I conceive) the knowing will And thirsty wish, of earthly things and vain, Is perfect hell: as freedom from all ill, And full content; is perfect Heavens gain. What multitudes of wretched men, I find, Some fiercely thirsting after flesh and blood, Others lie gaping for the empty wind Of worldly honour, and ambitious food; Others do covet earth of every kind: So that I see, and sigh to see, man's face Thus desperately turned to his woe. And must beware, lest this unhappy race Of wicked mortals, lead me wrong to go; Well I must try, and well must weigh my soul I must examine all my secret self, My words, my ways, my works, I must control Lest they, me of my hoped bliss bereave; Which best is done by contemplation In private place, from troubles of this life, And where thou finds (by self-examination) Wants in thyself, fly on with eager strife To true repentance, 'gainst all enemies, That shall oppose thy good intent herein, And hate the voice, of all deceitful lies Which would excuse, or seem to hid thy sin: Go quick about this work, for sin doth grow Till true repentance kill it at the root, It's hard to get, yet penitents do know It is obtained by prayer and earnest suit: And must be had; else, the whole fault is ours, It is our crooked ways that holds us out, Our want of truth doth keep from us the showers Which would with garlands, deck us round about: Take heed least death, this needful balm prevent, This happy salve, that cures the soul of sin ‛ Least point of time, if th' messenger be sent As the tree falls, so Ever, doth begin. True reason makes up for us our accounts, And shows how empty fond allurements are, And how the least, that we may hope, surmounts The most we can expect from earth, by fare: In this passage; to make thy soul secure, Let thy chief entertainments be thy pains, And count it greatest joy, and highest pleasure And that there's nought sufficient, for the gains Of well preventing such a hazard great Count nothing long, count nothing misery, To gain (by winter's cold, by summer's heat,) A happy (Ever) and Eternity: Then doubt not but thy care shall be respected, Thy pains shall bring a hundred sold increase, Thy debts are paid, thou need's not be dejected, Thy Saviour's pains, hath purchased thy ease: Now, thou mayst truly will, to be dissolved, To be with Christ thy Saviour most dear, Of all thy doubts thou here shalt be resolved, This ends disputes, this puts an end to fear: Then love long life, and love those many days That like ripe fruit makes thee securely fall Into that passage, which (to thy Maker's praise) Being duly entered, secures thee from thrall And thee delivers for eternity To incorruptible felicity. And though our call, doth nature oft prevent, Yet when she's let alone, she fairly deals, And though she (fixed to warmed life) be sent To fit our death; yet see, how oft she steals To us her warn; as with dimmed sight And theumy eyes, instead of bright and clear, To make us see our death, for want of light; And let us know, there's no long being here: Again she warns; by some decay in Teeth, Or by a hair, that turns to Lily white, Or by some shaking Palsy, which all seethe, Or feeble knees, or pains by day or night, Or hands benumbed, or hearing almost lost, Or smelling gone, which should refresh the brain, Or relishing in taste, whose choicest gust Is to prepare, her guests to entertain: Of all her warnings, the true meaning is, To let us know she'll shortly lead us home And leave us in our woe, or in our bliss, As we to her, have good, or evil done As earthly pilgrims, while she did sojourn And form herself, according to our will, With us in houses underneath the Sun Obediently performing, good, or ill: Then cheer my soul and do not fear to live Nor will to die: but take unto thy guard Securest diligence, which doth always give, Assurance of hope, and due reward, In power of the merit of our Jesus, And love of God, showed in his only Son, By which dear love, he never fails to ease us When earthly joys, and earthly friends, are gone: Then are we freed, to all Eternity, From sin, and death, and hell, and surely then Into true love, we shall converted be, Unto our God, which Heaven is, Amen. The Offering. I Will offer to my only Good, an humble and a contrite heart: and my joyful submission unto his dispose, and pleasure, for ever. I will offer unto his most blessed Majesty, his own most gracious love to the works of his own hands. I will also offer the blessed conception, birth, life, passion and merit, of his sacred Son my Saviour Jesus, in whom I believe (O my Eternal Good) help my unbelief: and for thy mercy sake, give and rightly perfect in me true and saving knowledge and assurance in the infinite mercy of thee my only Good, showed by thy gracious reconcilement unto me, in and through Jesus Christ. I will most humbly offer a most willing heart, humbly begging of my Eternal Good, the blessed guidance of his sacred Spirit, to conform and lead my weak and timorous belief aright, and to satisfy, settle, and confirm it in his truth. I will also offer unto his gracious goodness, my most humble and joyful submissive obedience, unto the direction and commands of his most gracious Spirit, which I humbly crave, may be so powerful and strong in me: that the influence and advantage which the world, flesh and devil, have against me by reason of my sin and corruption, may not in the least sort be able to move or draw me from yielding and giving all willing and joyful submission and obedience thereto: but that I may perfectly (as I am wholly the creature of my Creator) be converted into his perfect will and service, and therein rest in perfect joy and peace for ever: and this for his only mercy and goodness sake, Amen. Therefore thus: Feign would I have a Royal Sacrifice Worth the presentment to my sacred Good: Feign would I find the Pearl of precious price That by my Saviour so was understood, I trust it was, with which I'll here commence; An humble soul, framed of obedience: For sure all earthly things are much too vain, Too much corrupted by the fall of man, Too much rebellion doth this earth sustain, Too much oppression underneath the Sun, Too little worth they are: my Good did make And give me these; what need he then retake? So is the will and deed to work aright His only gift, but in another sense, For outward gifts are unto all alike, But holy will and deed, arise from hence From God's free love on souls, by sacred Spirit As newborn babes, prepared to inherit. Wherefore my Sacrifice is only this, An humble heart, a broken contrite soul, Cause me to know, it is my only bliss My only happiness, without control, To do thy will make me fit instrument I'm thine and not my own, I'm full content. Belief. I do believe that Almighty God is, and that he is the rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. I do believe he hath incomprehensible mercy and justice towards all the works of his own hands. I do believe that they shall come from all quarters of the world, and sit down at his Eternal Table, and receive of his infinite bounty. I do believe that Almighty God is perfect goodness, and mercy, and justice itself: and whoever feareth him and worketh righteousness, shall be accepted of him. I do believe he is the Creator and disposer of all things, and this after a manner wholly incomprehensible to mortality. I do believe his own being and proceeding is only from himself, and is to mortality likewise, incomprehensible. I do also believe the Apostles Creed concerning the sacred Trinity, the Confession of Athanasius, and the Confirmation thereof by the Reformed Church of England, whereof the providence of my good Creator hath made me a member; but in these I must espcially say, Good Lord help my unbelief, and guide and hold me (by thy good and unresistible power) in thy blessed service for ever, Amen. I do believe, that with almighty God all things are possible, and that his gracious mercy is above all his works. And therefore Jesus Christ may be, and I believe (but Lord help and direct aright my unbelief) that he is his only begotten Son, and yet conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary, that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, and descended into hell, and the third day risen again from the dead, and ascended into Heaven; and si●teth there, on the right hand of God the Father almighty, from whence he shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. I do believe there is a selected number of Saints in this world, which may be comprehended by the holy Catholic Church; and that they shall have an eternal communion and fellowship together after this life, and that they shall have all their sins freely forgiven them; and also shall rise together in eternal life at the general resurrection: of which number I believe and trust myself with others more to be: for which free and incomprehensible grace, I desire with all Saints to give everlasting praise and thanks, and to do everlasting, most perfect service unto my good Creator forever, Amen. I do also believe in the Holy Ghost, and that this sacred Spirit is proceeding from the sacred Deity of the Father and the Son, which being sent to command and take possession of our souls for the use (as it were) of the sacred God head, we are thereby made fit workers, and labourers for the blessed vineyard of our Creator, ready to every good and perfect work, with unspeakable joy and gladness. I do also believe the immortality of the soul (as certainly as the mortality of the body,) and that as soon as it parts with the body by death, it doth participate in a great measure of misery or mercy, of joy or sorrow, according to what it hath done in the body, whether the deeds were good or evil. I believe there shall be a restauration of bodies at the resurrection, and degrees of perfect joy to all those that in their earthly tabernacles truly desired to be righteous: and perfect misery to wilful, negligent and contemptuous sinners, in which both soul and body shall be for ever partakers. I do believe afflictions and corrections to be so necessary for us in this life, that I scarce think any can be saved without them: and also that much affliction in this life, is (or at least, if well used, may be) a great means, sign and token of salvation: for that afflictions are the cords and scourges of the Almighty, to draw and drive us on in the way of salvation, they are his sweet and blessed surveyors, to purge our souls from our body's pollutions, and make us of a fit alloy for his heavenly Treasure: they which wound the flesh and sad the countenance, make the heart the better: And from the very being engaged under an affliction for life, may be reaped sweet and joyful comfort both in life and death. Therefore thus: Some see the root, yet on it take a fall: Like those that see the door, yet push the wall, And having fallen upon the rock they saw, Receive more good, then though they'd scaped the blow. The Farewell. ADieu fond world of vain delight, the messenger of Love, To me hath showed an inward sight of joys that be above. And me hath summoned to appear before the mercy-seat, Of him whose justice is most clear, most eminent, most great; Whose love is fully showed to me in pardoning my sin, And passing by the vanity that I have lived in: Whose love hath also conquered both death and hell for me, And from my soul hath vanquished fear of death's tyranny. Who of free grace hath given me a willing wish to right, And doth accept this willingness as perfect in his sight: Farewell all you that truly love the God of my Creation, Do not ye mourn as those that have no hope of their salvation: We know the generations that before us have been, Have had their alterations which we in part have seen: We also trust that joys increase after this life to those That truly willed from sin to cease and evil did oppose: Then moderate your tears among true joys, and smile sweet, In full assurance that ere long we shall together meet. Comfort yourselves with words as these and of a certain know, That by this change true peace and ease God's mercy doth bestow On those that keep his testament, his Laws and Statutes just, From principles of true intent in him that put their trust. Sigh for yourselves, sigh not for me, death unto me is best, My serious thoughts convinced be that therein is my rest; From fancies that oppress the mind, from lusts of flesh and blood; From sins assaults of every kind, most hard to be withstood; From war's effects, from tyranny, from sword-like tongues that smite, From torments, sickness, maladies, and sorrows infinite. From doing ill, I would not do, from not doing the good, Which surely I should will to do if that I understood; The judgement that to both is due by Heavens fixed decree, And that I could at all times show what good and evil be; From Satan's rage and cruelty taking advantage great, Finding my imbecility, and opposition weak: This happy way doth safely guide to neignbours and allies, Who while with me they did reside did joy my heart and eyes; I do believe I now shall know how God in every Land, His saving mercy doth bestow on the works of his hand: And I believe to be resolved of doubts that here below Distract the wisdom of the world where least we do not know, Is more than all we can attain though art and age unite, Such mysteries for to explain passeth man's judgement quite: What reason is't that I should will a moment to my days, Except I could (avoiding ill) spend it in perfect praise Of my Creator; wherefore I do clearly find it best To cast my soul eternally upon my Saviour's rest, And also from a perfect thought to pray thy Kingdom come, And as our Saviour further taught pray, Lord, thy will be done. And as for you that longer live and sojourn here below, Embrace true peace, avoid all crime, so Heaven will bestow, Such passages of providence upon your hearts most pure, As shall (even in this life) commence joys, that shall aye endure. A CATECHISM. QUESTION. WHat is the duty of a man to know and believe in this life? A. That almighty God is, and that he is the rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. Q Who is the Creator and Maker of all things? A. This Almighty God. Q. What is Almighty God? A. He is the only and perfect Good, and the wise disposer of all things for the best for them that love him. Q. What comfort may we learn from that? A. To be well content in all the accidents and conditions of our lives, knowing that they are from his providence and appointment, and therein for the best for us. Q. How do we know that there is a Creator? A. Because no creature can create itself, and every man's soul speaks it to him. Q. What is good in man? A. To fear almighty God, and work righteousness. Q. What is our duty towards almighty God? A. To love, honour and obey him, and hearty to seek after his will, to do it. Q. What is our duty to all men? A. To endeavour their good both in soul and body; and to do right unto them. Q. What is righteousness? A. The doing right unto the creature, out of a principle of obedience to the Creator. Q. What is our duty to the Creator? A. Humbly, to extol, laud, praise and serve him, with a perfect heart. Q. What is the duty of man to the creatures that be subjected to him? A. Thankfully to use them, without the least abuse. Q. How shall we look at the good of a man? A. At the good both of soul and body. Q. What is chief good to a man? A. That which is good to the soul. Q. What is chief evil to a man? A. That which is evil to the soul. Q. How shall we know good from evil? A. Good is suitable to the Word of almighty God, and agreeth to certain footsteps or shadows remaining of uncorrupted nature in us; and it is contrary and displeasing to our corrupted natures and desires. Q. How is evil known? A. By being contrary to the Word of almighty God, by being much unnatural, and by the suiting and pleasing our natural and corrupted affections. Q. What is the principal gift of God to a man in this life? A. True Wisdom. Q. What is true wisdom? A. To be wise to the soul. Q. What is perfect folly? A. Foolishness and neglect towards the soul. Q. What are corrections? A. They are the chastisements of almighty God, and contrary to corrupted nature. Q. What use are we to make of them? A. To move us to a willing submission to the will and dispose of our Creator. Q. Should they move us to contemn life, and desire death? A. No: but rather to rejoice in the longest and hardest work of his sacred pleasure. Q. Ought we most to rejoice when we enjoy the fullness of this world? A. No: but rather to fear it to be the portion of the ungodly. Q. What understand you by almighty God? A. I understand a Spirit, not to be seen by the outward eye of the body. Q. How is he to be seen and known? A. By the eye of the soul. Q. What is the eye of the soul? A. Faith and reason. Q. How shall Faith and reason be guided? A. By the Law of Nature, and by the holy Scriptures. Q. What doth the Law of Nature show us? A. That there is one almighty God for ever to be worshipped and obeyed by us, who hath created and made us, and hath power ever our souls and bodies for ever. Q. What further teacheth it? A. That mortality belongeth to the body, and immortality to the soul. Q. What further? A. That there is good and evil; and that the good will be rewarded, and the evildoer will be punished by the Creator especially after this life is ended. Q. What are the holy Scriptures? A. They are sacred instructions and Laws sent unto us by almighty God. Q What is the scope and intent thereof? A. To admonish, teach and instruct us, to holiness and righteousness in life and conversation. Q. What do they further teach? A. True Faith, and saving belief. Q. What is Faith? A. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Q. What is belief? A. It is a pure persuasion grounded on the word of almighty God. Q. What is the true belief concerning the sacred Trinity? A. That of the Apostles, called the Apostles Creed. Q. Rehearse that Belief? A. I believe in God the Father Almighty, etc. Q. What doth this Faith and true belief show us? A. That there are three Persons, but one Eternal God. Q. How are these three persons named and divided? A. Into the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost. Q What is the Father? A. We believe that the Father is the incomprehensible begetter of the Son, thereby fitting him to receive an earthly body like to ours (sin only excepted) that so he might therein and thereby satisfy the justice of his Father, due for sin by us committed in our earthly bodies; which could not otherwise have been satisfied for, but in the just destruction and damnation both of our bodies and souls; for that the sin of the body (in its due desert) slayeth the soul. Q. What is the Son? A. We believe that he is the only Mediator, betwixt the Father's justice, and man's sins, and that he intercedeth and maketh peace, by his merits with the Father for us, and that besides him we have no Mediator. Q. What is the Holy Ghost? A. We believe that he is the sacred Spirit of mercy, proceeding from the Father and the Son, whereby our hearts are guided unto all the true performances of saving duty. Q. Are there not then three Gods? A. No: three Persons, but only one God. Q. Is the power and operation of all the three Persons upon the creature, one and the same? A. We believe their power to be equal, as one God; but severally instrumental to man's salvation, as three Persons, which seemeth plain by the holy Scriptures. Q. Do the Scriptures than show this sacred Trinity in Unity, three Persons but one eternal God, their power and proceed towards the creature; and the duty of the creature to this Creator? A. Yes verily; and there is no other means to know it more truly. Q. Is it not than most necessary to be perfect in the Scriptures, and to meditate on them continually. A. Yes surely, for thereby we are made wise to salvation. Q. What is the Good of this life? A. A free and joyful submission to the good providence of almighty God, and a diligent walking in his Laws. Q. What is the evil of this life? A. An unsatiable desire of such things as will not satisfy the soul. Q. What is the soul? A. It is the unexpressible, invisible, immortal, spiritual man. Q. What will content the soul? A. Things only like itself, pure, spiritual, and eternal. Q. What is time? A. It is the passage of our life, and pilgrimage in this world. Q. What is our chief work in our time? A. To fit ourselves (by the assistance of the holy Spirit) for a happy eternity. Q. What is Eternity? A. It is chief to us after this life; it is entered into by us at our death, and is without end. Q What are earthly things? A. The things visible in this world, given us to use, with praise and thanks to the giver. Q. What are heavenly things? A. All that we can conceive by happiness: but they are only negatively demonstrated to us: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can man's heart conceive, these unexpressible mercies of our Almighty Creator. Q. What is our duty in this life? A. It is joyfully and willingly to bear the burden and heat of the day, in the service of our Creator during his pleasure, until he call us to our rest. Q. What is it to be dissolved, and to be with Christ? A. It is to be separated by death from this earthly tabernacle, and to be received into the communion of the blessed souls, who are dissolved from their earthly bodies, and are with him. Q. How ought we to use the present enjoyments of this life? A. As if we used them not, and to keep ourselves unspotted of them. Q. How are we to provide for the life to come? A. By an humble diligent and watchful walking in the ways and Commandments of almighty God. Q. What are the chief and sum of the Commandments of the Almighty? A. Those which he gave to Moses, written in Tables of stone. Q. How many of them are there? A. Ten. Q. Which are they? Rehearse them. A. The same which almighty God spoke, etc. Q. What is Religion? A. It is to extol the Almighty above the highest, and to cast down man below the lowest. Q. What is pure Religion? A. Pure Religion and undefiled before almighty God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widow in their necessities, and to keep ourselves unspotted of this world. Q. Are we able of ourselves to live unspotted? A. No: we must humbly crave the almighty power and strength of the holy Spirit. Q. What then are the best works of a man in this life? A. Works of Charity. Q. What is Charity? A. To help them that need, out of a true principle of obedience and love to almighty God. Q. Doth Charity extend to all men? A. Yea: but especially to the household of faith? Q. What shall be the justifying sentence of the Saints at the resurrection? A. Charity: See Matth. 25. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: thirsty, and ye gave me drink: a stranger and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: sick, and ye visited me: in prison, and ye came unto me. Q. What shall be the condemning sentence of the wicked? A. Their want of Charity: I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick and in prison, and ye visited me not. Q. How is the love of the Saints each to other in this life? A. As is their hope to live together in their eternity. Q. What is their comfort for eternity? A. That they shall be converted into the perfect will and service of their Creator for ever. Q. What is Prayer? A. It is the pouring out the soul to almighty God, requesting things lawful, with full submission to his holy will and pleasure. Q. What is the best form of Prayer? A. That which our Saviour himself hath taught us. Q. What is that? Rehearse it. A. Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, etc. Q. Is not other form of Prayer lawful to be used? A. Yes surely; as also Prayers on the sudden, and upon all occasions, so as they be sincere and hearty. Q. Are Prayers to be said only at the Church? A. No surely: we may pray in any place or condition; nay, we must pray continually: which we do, while we hearty desire, and therein do our duty. Q. What is truly a Church? A. It is the communion of Saints on earth, professing and practising the service of the Almighty. Q. Which is the most pure and perfect Church on earth? A. We believe the Christian Church, professed under the Reformation of England. Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in the Church? A. Two: Baptism, and the Lords Supper. Q. What is Baptism? A. It is our first admittance into the Church: the Water signifying our washing from sin in the blood of Christ. Q. What is the Lords Supper? A. A Thankful remembrance of his satisfying sufferings for our sins. Q. How ought we to receive it? A. Humbly, thankfully, preparedly. Q. How often is it necessary to be received by us? A. Four times ordinarily in the year, besides upon extraordinary occasions. Q. What if we think, that we cannot prepare ourselves, so as that we may receive it faithfully, and thankfully, and as we ought. A. We must by the help of godly Ministers, and other pious persons, instruct ourselves: and also by hearing, reading, fasting, prayer and meditation; and by all other helpful ways, prepare and fit ourselves for the worthy receiving of this token of our Saviour's love, and that at our peril. Q. May it not then be wholly omitted? A. No: we ought hereby so to remember our blessed Saviour in our time, as we would be remembered by him in our eternity. Q. But is there such a necessity in receiving of it, as if we do it not, we do neglect and omit a most necessary duty to salvation, whatsoever the occasion or reason be? A. No: Our blessed God never binds his servants to impossibilities: if lawful occasions call and take us from necessary opportunity of receiving it (so it be without all neglect or contempt on our part, (it must then be only in our hearts and wills thankfully acknowledged by us: which (in his good mercy) will be accepted of us for the deed. Q. How ought we to carry ourselves towards our Children? A. With due admonition, instruction, and employments. Q. How to Servants? A. With constant labour and instruction. Q. How to the estate? A. Not prodigally, thereby making ourselves uncapable of doing good with it: nor too much sparingly, to hoard it up from the good end it was created. Q. May we give all to Children and Kindred, without any respect to others? A. No by no means; for we are only stewards to it, and must give an account of it to almighty God who lends it us: whose will it is, that we take for ourselves and families such an under proportion thereof, that we may be sure to have sufficient relief and charity for the poor distressed Saints whensoever we meet with them: that our estates may (in some sort at least) be helpful to their necessities: but the laying all upon the present and future provision for ourselves and Children, thereby wholly neglecting Charity, is most abominable. Q. What is life? A. It is that which preserveth and prepareth the body to be a fit and apt organ for the operations of the soul, and chief said to abide in the blood. Q. What is death? A. It is the conclusion and end of all our days, the masterpiece of all our work, as we are prepared to entertain it, so we are prepared to receive and enter into eternity. Q. Is there any change of that condition in which death sends us to our eternity? A. No: but as the tree falleth, so it lies. Q. What then is the one thing necessary for the whole course of a man's life? A. To watch. So saith our Saviour to all men, Watch. A Discourse betwixt Adam and Eve Eve. My dearest heart fain would I know, How all our children, down below, Observe, and keep, our Laws, For oft me thinks, I hear a cry As if our children's cruelty Each tore, like Lion's jaws. Adam. Yes (truest Love) I do believe Those precepts we to them did give (When we were once anseen,) They soon cast off that nature's love Which we so strict to them did give, As if it had not been. Eve. Dear Sir, what should this noise afford, Doth Cain, or his wretched sword, Command all humane race? Doth he and all his cursed line, Poor Abel's of spring undermine, And so the worst take place? Adam. Yes truly (dear) I do perceive Our peaceful precepts we them gave, They wholly leave undone, And that which we knew to be worst, Which killed just Abel (O accursed) Is chief under the Sun. Thou knowest, we said, thou shalt not kill, Nor to thy neighbour do no ill, In body, goods, or name, Yet doth the glittering tyrant sword, Destroy all peace, and in a word, Turns honour into shame. For whereas peace was Abel's crown, And warlike Cain was cast down, With sentence just, ejected, Now he that most of all, doth ill, He who the most, doth slay and kill, Is most of all respected. The true obedience to our God, Our duty to obey his word, Which in our hearts doth sound, They do divide into such parts, By Sophistry, and cunning arts That truth is hardly found. The government of natures, say, That youth the aged should obey, And do them reverence, But now fond youth condemns the wise And fools, do wisdoms Laws despise By force and negligence: The strongest hand, doth call it right, To cut down all, with force & might, Their rage, and will subdueth, And if they call the evil good, The truth must so be understood, Or else their rage reneweth. Eve. What (Husband) than it seems the world, Is topsie turvey, tossed and hurled, And worst, hath best subdued. Adam. Yes (Wife) it is decayed, and old, Truth and devotion's very cold, And soon will be renewed. Eve. Renewed, or made new (my Dear) How shall I understand thee here, Shall thee and I gain meet, Shall we in ancient Paradise And in our blessed innocence, Each other kindly greet? Shall all the sins of us, and ours, Which truth and justice, thus devours Be pardoned, and forgiven? Adam. In part: but how, to tell none can It's not the act of mortal man, But the free gift of Heaven. A Prayer. O Eternal, everliving, and all-sufficient Lord God: who art the God of the spirits of all flesh, to whom the grave is open, from whom there is no covering for destruction: I am thy poor, wretched and unworthy servant, and by reason of my sin, less than the least of all thy mercies, unworthy so much as to think upon thee, or to take thy blessed Name within my corrupted lips, much more unworthy am I, to have liberty to call upon thy sacred Majesty, and to ask those things that I stand in need of, with this gracious assurance, that thou wilt give me those things that are best for me, though I ask them not of thee, and though I ask them so unworthily, that thou mayst justly refuse to give me them, because I ask them of thee so unworthily (so that I may with humble boldness pray; Lord give me what is only best for me, though I ask it not: and give me not what is evil for me, though I ask it:) but thou art from everlasting to everlasting, holy, and just, and good, and thy mercies are above all thy works; wherefore I come unto thee, not in my own merits, but in the merits of thy only Son, my only Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous, (in whom I believe, Lord help my unbelief,) humbly desiring thy sacred Majesty for his sake, and for thy own goodness sake towards the works of thine own hands, to pardon and pass by all my sins, actual and original, to blot them out of thy book of remembrance, and to set them so behind thy back, that thou mayst never call me to account for them, either in this world to my shame, or in the world to come to my utter condemnation: Give me grace and strength to return unto thee (O my God) as the prodigal son to his father, acknowledging myself unworthy to be called thy son or servant; and give me (I humbly pray) wisdom, which is about thy throne (for all wisdom is from thy gracious gift) that so I may rightly understand earthly things from heavenly things, time from eternity: and graciously give me the will and deed, to lay up my treasure in Heaven, and not on earth: And I most humbly crave of thy sacred goodness, the unresistible power of thy holy Spirit, that thereby I may be built up and made perfect to every good work, to the true and perfect serving of thee my good God, and to the working righteousness, as thy elected Saints (by the powerful and unresistible guidance of the holy Spirit) do, and aught to do, both for and in their time, and their eternity. And (O my good God) because many are the controversies and disputes concerning thee, thy word, thy truth, amongst poor mortality; to the great destruction, fear and trouble, of thy poor, willing, and desiring servants; Let thy sacred Spirit (O my God) speak the truth of thy will (and of my duty) to my conscience, and then give me grace and strength, to follow my conscience, in the sacred way of thy holy Spirit, that so I may keep a good conscience towards thee my God, and towards men. And I humbly pray, that thy gracious Spirit may also reveal unto my soul, what righteousness, and what unrighteousness is, what is truth, and what is error; what is the perfect duty of thy servant, in all the passage of his pilgrimage under the Sun, and what is not the duty of thy servant to do; that so I may not only perform unto thy sacred Majesty, my present duty, in thy blessed service, but that I may do it knowingly, willingly and wittingly: and that I may not only avoid all the appearances of evil, but that I may do it also, knowingly, willingly and wittingly, as becomes the most faithful and perfect servant of my Creator. O give unto thy servant a discerning spirit; enable him perfectly (O my God) to know good from evil, and then give him grace and strength to do the good and avoid the evil, as becomes thy most blessed servants. And give unto me thy servant (O my good God) a true principle of due obedient love (in all my devotions and undertake whatsoever) towards thee my good God. And for thy mercy's sake, teach me thy statutes, and hid not thy precepts from me; lead me in the way that I should go, and hold me in the living path of thy most joyful servants. Search my heart (O God) and try my ways, for there are ways of iniquity in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Let me have, here in this life (O my good God) that, and that only, which may most perfect, and fit me in soul and body, for thy eternal and most sacred service. Let the daily precedents of mortality (O my good God) move me to true repentance; give me to know (O my eternal Creator,) that I am no better than my parents, but as they are returned with their bodies to the grave, and their souls to thee the God that gave them, so it must be with me: Give me to know, O Eternity▪ that here is no abiding place, here is no continuing dwelling; give me grace and strength (our good God) to seek and find one to come, eternal in the Heavens. Give thy servant (O my gracious God) true love to thee my God for thy own sake, to my neighbour for thy Commandment sake, and all for obedience sake unto thy blessed Majesty. Give me to see (O thou my only Good) the blessed marks of thy sweet corrections, both upon my body and soul, in this life: those glorious impressions, by which thou sealest to thyself, thy beloved children, in whom thy soul delighteth. O my most gracious God, although I be most unworthy to be (by thy good grace) accounted such a child; such delight, so beloved: yet for, thy own goodness sake, let thy blessed seal of thy fatherly impression be upon me, even what thou wilt; for I assuredly know, thou wilt (with my most needful saving Cross) give thy servant most needful and saving strength to bear it. Give thou (O God) and frame thy servant, thankfully to see, his yearly gain for his hourly service; his eternal joy, for his temporal grief; the infinite rest from his finite sufferings: How fit is it (O my Father) that I should as well suffer, as reign with my Saviour; and to know that the present afflictions of this life, are unworthy of the joys that (in thy most free and gracious mercy) shall be revealed and given unto me. O my good Father give unto me (thy most evil deserving child,) all those sweet and blessed scourges, crosses and afflictions, even whatsoever is necessary and needful, to frame my impersect soul and body, fit for thy eternal and most perfect service. And truly (O my Father) although I were to have of thy justice my self-condemning sentence to all eternity, so soon as this life is ended; yet my serious thoughts, would not make choice to spend my time in sinful vain delights; but would rather choose thy fatherly chastisement and corrections temporal; although they also were to be (as I deserve) eternal: for thy corrections (as all that proceedeth immediately from thee (my God) are sweet: they sad the countenance, thereby making the heart better: I submit wholly to thy will (O my eternal Good,) To be thy servant, is my Heaven, for thou art the Lord my God, and I am thine. Thou art the will and the deed, O my God, guide me for thy Names sake to do thee service; and in thy goodness accept of my desire, thy own most gracious gift: suffer not sin (O my Father) to reign in my corrupted mortal body: let not my soul offend my God, however my body may offend him: let not my will offend my God, however my actions may offend thee, but let the desires of my soul, and the inclinations of my spirit, be so commanded by thy sacred power, that they may truly will, and do thee true and perfect service now and for ever: and do thou (for thy own mercy's sake to the works of thy own hands, and for the merits of Jesus Christ thy only Son my Saviour,) convert my most imperfect will, into most perfect actions, in thy most perfect and everlasting service: And when these days of my sinful pilgrimage are ended, when I return to thee my God (my hope, my joy,) from this my earthly tabernacle, do thou (O my blessed Creator) recreate my soul and body, that so thy blessed will, may be my eternal perfect joy and comfort; and that to be thy servant, wheresoever and howsoever, may be the blessed Heaven of my soul and body for ever. O my Good Eternity, I do not only humbly crave these mercies, and what is necessary to salvation (which is the perfect admittance into thy sacred service) for myself, and such as are near to me in this life; but also that it be thy blessed will, even for all that thou hast appointed to immortality, in thy gracious converting of sinners from the wickedness of their ways, that so if it be thy blessed will (to whom all things are possible,) we might be all, as one flock under thee the great and gracious shepherd of our souls: that so the number of thy elect being accomplished, the blessed resurrection may appear before thee; and we become fit inhabitants for that new Heaven and new earth which thou hast appointed, and sin and sorrow may cease from us thy unworthy servants. And further my humble suit is, that thou wouldst give us to see all thy gracious dispensations towards us in this life, to know that nothing falls upon us by chance and fortune, but by thy especial providence and appointment: Give us to know we are not our own, but thine, and that it is most right thou shouldest dispose of thy own for ever: make us to rejoice only in thy dispose, for that thou art most good and gracious, and knowest better what is best for us than we can know or ask. Now (O my good Creator) take us into thy almighty protection and direction for ever, thou hast been wonderful in mercy and goodness to every one of us: thou hast delivered infinite of us from infinite evils which we see others visited with, which we may justly judge deserve better at thy hands then we have done: we humbly beseech thee let this thy mercy lead us to repentance, and make us to love thee as thou hast loved us, that hath not spared thy Son to death for us, that so thy justice being satisfied in his sufferings for our sins, which could not otherwise have been satisfied but in our damnation, thy mercy may be sufficient for our salvation: and although I have provoked thy justice by my daily sins to my just condemnation, yet do I cast my soul and body (even for its eternity) upon thy mercy, and do disclaim all other judgement than thy gracious pleasure, in which I will in thy gracious strength, with peace rejoice, and therein rest for ever. Wherefore to thee O gracious Father, to thou O sacred Son, to thee O eternal Spirit, three persons but one everlasting God, be ascribed as is most due, all honour, glory and praise, by thy whole creation, now and for ever, Amen. The Blessing. O Blessed Child, whose parts his age outrun Whose virtues style him man before his stature, Each eye beholds him as ' the rising Sun, Each heart applauds him as a Pearl in nature, Yea very strangers bless his hopeful breeding, And breathe out prayers to his happy speeding. But when fresh springing buds prove canker-fretted With taint of vice, or rust of happy sloth, Their dearest friends, that see their hopes defeated To speak them fair, or deign a look are loath. But view such noisome weeds, with nausious scorn, Yea, parents wish ill-thriving plants unborn. The fear of God doth only guide aright, The perfect way to sacred wisdom's treasure, Then let this fear direct with powerful might Thy twisted thread, spun out by nature's leisure, So with thy days thy saving health will grow To perfect joy, in sins just overthrow. Let Heavens pour down their sweetest influence, let them enrich you with the earth's best treasures: Let them withal instill Truth's Quintessence, heavens joys do far surmount all earthly pleasures. Let the celestial powers you guard and guide, and countermine when wicked powers conspire: Let spotless blood which ran from harmless side, quench unto you the ever burning fire. And let the winged Posts void of delays, from glorious Throne whom great Jehovah sendeth, Translate your souls when death shall end your days, to that celestial bliss which never endeth. FINIS. An Index or Table, directing to several Points and Discourses in this Book. THe Author's Epistle. Parents and Children travel together towards the grave. Parents must give an account for their Children. Children must herein assist their Parents. We should live together here, as we would live together hereafter. Hence take comfort in the dissolution of godly friends, that we shall go to them and shall never part. page 2. Our constant work. Beware of unpreparedness. Parents must chief take care of their children's soul, and principle them in good. Love of, and in the truth, most necessary. p. 3. The endowments of the mind excel the adornments of the body. A heavenly Deity to be acknowledged. Wherein true Religion consisteth. p. 4. The benefit of true Religion. How Almighty God must be served. A pure and true Sacrifice. p. 5. Outward Ceremonies not to be contemned, nor abused. Submission is our duty in prayer. A ask nothing contrary to the revealed will of Almighty God. p. 6. Use not the Name of God without serious premeditation. His Name is holy. All honour is due unto it. p. 7. The good of necessity, and of correction. p. 8. Corrections work to good or hurt. Labour to be a good Text-man. p. 9 In what sense God's servants want nothing that is good; but have their hearts desire. p. 10. Search not over curiously into the mysteries of the Almighty. Take heed of infecting thy judgement with false doctrine. Be not weary of well-doing. Vainglory hath at best but a worldly reward. p. 11. It shall only be well with the righteous. p. 12. The first Age. The three chief destinguished Ages of man's life. Infancy like the Red sea. p. 13. Let not time pass in vain. p. 14. Death holds all our years in possession; therefore fasten on to day. Loss of time considered a great grief. He that hath lived long hath often lived little. Life, is only time spent with prudence and circumspection. p. 15. Death is always very nigh at hand. p. 16. The second Age. What the action of this Age is. Of what materials foundations ought to be. p. 17. Learn not what must be unlearned. Observing others changes, fits us for our own. Fly offences. Corrupted nature, first offereth corruption. p. 18. How Tutors and Fathers of Children ought to be disposed. p. 19 The third Age. Temperance necessary. Passing Jorden dangerous. The chiefest place is virtue. The society of virtues inseparable. p. 20. Virtue's cannot be taken from us. Earthly vanities may. Quench not the spirit. p. 21. A recital of certain Virtues. p. 22. The fourth Age. Wisdom and right reason necessary. Prudence and humility are especial guides to the mine. Anger, an enemy to reason. The designs of reason and anger different. Wisdom distinguisheth us from the beasts. The properties of Wisdom. The company and advice of wise men profitable. 24, 25. From Almighty God's forbearance, learn patience. An honest Calling very necessary: It must not hinder devotion. A Soldier's life and calling very dangerous. p. 26. The fift Age. Marriage dangerous. Means that may make an Eunuch. p. 28. Some directions in marriage. p. 29. Chastity in both Sexes like laudable. The inconveniences of incontinency. p. 30. 31. The sixth Age. Endeavour the common good. Virtue to be desired. p. 32. Wise men set not their hearts on earthly things. Prosperity puffeth not them up, nor adversity casts them down. Engage not in a crowd, nor in Civil war. p. 33, 34. The seaventh Age. Fortitude, gravity and consideration, is required. Wisdom is the Candle of the Lord. A wise foresight necessary. p. 35. Anger, a high degree of madness. Anger only good against thy own oversights. Compliments commonly guilded untruths. The heart and tongue are said never to wax old. Lies are abominable. p. 36, 37. Fortitude or valeur. What difference betwixt military valour and true fortitude. p. 38, 39 The eighth Age. A careful watch over ourselves at all times most necessary. p. 40. Over what this watch is chief needful. Will, the guide of the vulgar: Reason, of the prudent. Ambition, full of vanity, and is only just in its own punishment. Humility the true emblem of Honour. p. 41, 42, 43, 43, 44, 45. The ninth Age. Sound judgement and justice, what. Justice not to be executed by the lump. p. 46. Punishment and reward, the hands of justice. It must begin at home as well as Charity. Live not by chance. We may live both seriously and cheerfully. Defer not justice to thyself: not buying, till the market be past. The happy life: What the right use of the creature. Sound judgement, what. Rashness and self-conceitedness, what. p. 47, 48, 49. The tenth Age. True wisdom what. The practical part chief profits. Wisdom three ways discovered. Wisdom doth peaceably attend all things, even death. As necessary for a man to study and know himself, as it is natural to him to think and be near himself. Know thyself, is a heavenly salutation: Want hereof causeth much sin. One just act maketh not a just man. p. 50, 51, 52, 53. Wisdom subdueth passion. Three traps that the most are taken with. No limit in what is false. No happiness without subduing corrupted desires. p. 54. The multitude unconstant: They praise things past: desire things to come: and despise things present. Several things to beware of. p. 55, 50, 57 Wisdom governs good, and subdues evil. How to carry ourselves in company. Three considerations. Beware of flatterers. Marks to know them from friends. p. 58, 59 Beware of suretyship: Of all excess. Beware of choosing friends: Of Suits: and of revenge. p. 60. A constant preparedness for death, most necessary. p. 61. The too late repentance of the wicked after death. p. 63. A general Discourse of Religion. p. 66. Reason. The ten Ages. The Metaphor. p. 71. Humility. p. 72. Why Sin is forbidden, and Righteousness commanded. p. 73. The Life and Death of E.M. p. 74, 75. A Speech to the Soul. p. 75, 76. Civil War. p. 77. Demeanour. Upon several Accidents and Occasions. p. 78. The Resolve. p. 82. A Discourse; showing Honour dangerous. Earthly things empty. Order of Estate and Family. Education of Children. The Golden mean. What tends to Eternal happiness only good. A competency the best. Great Estates have great troubles. Our Saviour refused earthly treasures. Disposal of Estate in life or death. Respect the righteous. Duty in using the Creatures. They exceed in Sense, we in Reason. Some liberty from necessity. p. 84. Several comforts from Scripture both in life and death. p. 87. Against Presumption and Despair at all times, but especially upon the deathbed. Satan's suggestions: and the Souls answer. p. 107. True Love. p. 110. A Prayer. p. 112. A Confession and suit for pardon in Jesus. p. 114. A Prayer. p. 117. Pious Sentences. JOB Chap. 24. in Meeter. p. 121. My God. Righteous Hope. p. 122. Wise Say of the Ancients. p. 126. For the mortification of the flesh. p. 133. The sweetest Comfort. p. 140. Of worldly rest. On L.M.W. dying in Childbed. p. 142. For L.M.W. in sickness. p. 143. The least that tends to Eternal good unestimable. p. 144. A Consult with the Soul. p. 145. The Offering. p. 155. The Belief. p. 156. The Farewell. p. 158. A Catechism. p. 160. A Discourse betwixt Adam and Eve. p. 167. A Prayer. p. 168. The Blessing. p. 172. There are divers words mistaken, misplaced, mispelled, added and omitted; some of which I here mention, the Readers care must reform the rest. PAge 38. line 29. for virtue read valour. p. 56. l. 13. for propriety r. piety. and l. 36. for at r. all. p. 67. l. 13. for sleiget r. sleight. p. 71. l. 17. for health r. wealth. p. 73. l. 22. for wreaks r. recks. and l. 28. for yet r. that. p. 74. l. 13. for be r. tree. p. 75. l. 11. for see r. so. and l. 27. for maketh r. masketh. p. 82. l. 4. for beauty will r. cen●ynill. p. 84. l. 10. for their r. the. p. 109. l. 29. for if then I had not sinned r. if that I had not fallen. p. 121. l. 37. for tomb or r. toom'ye. p. 124. l. 18. for cuirasses r. cutaces. p. 130. l. 8. for gapde r. guard r. guard. and l. 22. for. soy r. foy. p. 138. l. 26 for enime r. enim. p. 142. l. 32 for share r. steer. p. 143. l. 1. for hour r. home. l. 4. for then r. their. l. 31. for show r. cheer. p. 145. l. 40. for jar r. ire. p. 146. l. 12, and l. 13. should change places. p. 150. l. 14. for both r. what. p. 158. l. 9 for root r. rock. p. 168. l. 41. for destruction r. distraction. FINIS.