Heauenly meditations vpon the publicans prayer

HEAVENLY Meditations . O God be mercifull to mee a Sinner .

CHrist our precursor into Heauen , euen to his last breath not vnmindful of his little-little flock , did as Abraham Gene , 25 , 1 , Reg , 2 , vnto Isaack , as Dauid vnto Salomon , as Tobias vnto Tob , 4. his sonne , bequeath vnto them , a few small howres before his glorification , his best & principall legacie , Eternall life ; confirming it vnto them in his last and latest prayer , made for his Apostles ; This is life eternall , that they know Iohn , 17 , thee to be the only very God , and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ . That wee know Rom , 11 , him , quis et qualis est , who he is , and what he is ? who he is , à quo , in quo , per quem sunt omnia . The principall and singuler essence , from whom , by whom , & in whom all things were created , all thinges are preserued , all thinges shall be resolued ; what hee is , to wit , Zanch. li. 3. de Nat. Dei. que . stio . 3. Sapientissimus , qui sciat ; Potentissimus , qui possit ; amantissimus , qui velit suos seruare . Great in wisedom , and therefore knoweth , powerfull in strength , and therefore can , plentifull in loue , and therfore wil crowne those with eternity , which he knoweth ; know those euerlastingly , which he loueth ; loue those most tenderly , which knowe and acknowledge him . By his knowledge hee will rule , by his strength defend , by his loue , loue all , that knowe and acknowledge him ; that knowe him after a long and earnest seeking him , & acknowledge him , by a most gracious and happy finding him ; seeking him among their miseries , finding him in his mercies ; seeking him in the crowde and presse of theyr sinnes , finding him in the top of his Crosse , in the large promises of saluation ; Seeking him in finding themselues , finding him in seeking themselues .

For as wee desire to finde God , so we must endeuour to seeke our selues ; so true it is there must be cognitio nostri , before there can bee agnitio Dei ; a quest , and inquisition made about our selues , before wee can reach the knowledge of him that made vs ; for God being as he is summum genus , not vsed to definition , not subiect to description , must be shadowed per posteriora , because hee hath not priora , hee beeing primum principium , the primarie cause , and principall ground of euery principle , yea that principium principorum , that illimmited , wonderfull , and vnsearchable Alpha , must bee Apoc , 1. comprehended and knowne to his effects , principiorum non est querenda Ratio , It is meere dotage in Philosophie to search out causes of principles when as they are principles . They haue not precedent causes , & therefore Boetius giues this cannon , Sires á prioribus per causas demonstrari non possunt , á posteribus per effect a explicari debent , those thinges that borrow not theyr proofe and demonstration , from fore-running causes , their bearing and luster , must bee deriued from their effects .

Since then God in regard of beginning is incomprehensible , and voyd of all demonstration à priore , to declare his quid est , mans frailtie must labour to knowe him á posteriorae , Rom. 1. by his effects and workes . For invisibilia Dei per ea quae fact a sunt conspiciuntur , the invisible wisedome & power of God , is seene by the creation of the world , and if any creature , the perfect arte of Gods omnipotencie , may bee comprehended , yet in nothing more then in man , vpon whom he set the stampe of his owne Image . Man therefore must know him à posteriore , that is , first hee must knowe himselfe , for man is his workmanship ; then knowe God as hee is his Maker ; first knowe himselfe , with the eye of Experience , & then know God with the eye of Contemplation . First know himselfe , poore in misery , and then know God , rich in mercie ; first knowe himselfe sub iugo Mundi , groaning & back-broken vnder the yoke of sin ; and then know God , sub iugo Christi , easing & refreshing the heauie laden sin ; First knowe himselfe , Mancipium mortis , Deaths free-hold and possession , and then know God , Victoriam mortis , the bruser and breaker of the Serpents head ; Gene , 3 , first knowe himselfe , lucerna aduentum , the weake subiect of all mortality , & then know God in the donation of his Spirit , the earnest pennie of mans immortalitie . 2 , Cor , 1 , He must knowe Quid est , that hee is a too-soone borne , and no long liuing creature , cum quibus est , that he is coupled with famin , with thirst , with heate , with colde , with infirmitie , with death ; cui similis est , that he is like to snow , quick come , and quickly gone ; like to a Rose , at morning fayre , at euening withered . Hee must know , Vnde venit , from whence hee is , vbi est , where he is , quo vadit , whether hee will ; whence he is , & then blush for shame ; where hee is , and then lament with groanes ; whether he wil , and then tremble with feare : blush for shame at his naked natiuity ; lament with grones at his worldly entertainment ; tremble with feare at his doutfull end ; blush for shame that he is become flesh , and therefore farre from God ; lament with groanes that hee is in the world , and therefore wide of heauen ; tremble with feare , that he must die , and therfore obuious to the iawes of hell : to be briefe , hee must knowe himselfe , intra et extra , á tergo et fronte , á dextris , á sinistris , vndique , within and without , behind & before , on this side , on that side , on euery side ; before him his peruerse & ouerthwart will , to that which is good ; behind , his sweet and pleasing remembrance , to that which is bad ; on this side lack of patience in aduersitie , on that side , too much pride and haughtines in prosperitie ; on euery side , vulnera á peccato inflicta , wounds , and nothing but wounds , imprinted and stamped into his soule & flesh by the custome of sinne . And then he shall find , God aboue him powerfull , beneath him plentifull , before him watchfull , behind him wonderfull , on this side bountifull , on that side carefull , on euery side mercifull . Mercifull in forgetting , mercifull in forgiuing sinnes . That Manuscript in the Temple of Delphos , Gnothi Plut. in Coloten . Tom: 3. seamton , was so powerfull among the heathens , that the deepe learned Doctors deemed Seipsos noscere , the onely pathway to perfection : And therfore Heraclitus for superstition a Heathen , for profession a philosopher , on a time triumphing ( as it were ) with himselfe , how he had spent the day , cryed out , Quaesiui meipsum , Plu. ibid. the honour of the well-spent day is this , I haue sought my selfe . And Socrates was such a pugill in the Castle of knowledge , such a labourer in the arte of Seeking , that Colotes the Epicure called himselfe foole , because he spent so much time in this one studie , but non fuit Socrates siultus , Plut. ibid. seipsum querens . Socrates saith Plutarch , did not deserue the name of foole in this inquirie , and priuie search of his owne infirmitie , cum sit hoc cognitum necessarium inventus difficilimum , seeing of all knowledge , this onely is most necessarie , and of learning the most difficult . Difficile est , &c. It is an harde thing , saith Chilo , to be tongue tyde in secrecie , to dispose the time rightlie , to suffer Diog. la : in vit. eius iniuries patiently : & difficile , it is a hard thing , saith Pittacus , Id : in vit. eore . to be a good man : & as Bias , Difficile est , it is a hard thing to tollerate aduersitie with quietnes .

But if Thales Difficile may goe currant , Difficile est homini seipsum noscere , I may add , difficilimum est , The hardest lesson that a man can learne , is to know himselfe , Quid enim Stella de cont: mund: lib. 3. cap : 14. prodest scire artes liberales , sic licet Doctor in omnibus nisi cognoscas teipsum , what is the stile of maistership in Artes ? what is the height of doctorship in faculties ? Yet thy knowledge wants of her perfection , if thou want perfectly to knowe thy self . Scientiainflat , knowledge puffeth vp , but selfe knowledge pulleth downe . 1 , Cor , 8 , Knowledge is so farre wide of true knowledge , that in ignorance of GOD it cryeth with Pharaoh , Exod. 5 , Quis est Deus vester ? but selfe knowledge , plunged in the depth of his own knowledge , aspireth to knowe the true knowledge of God , and Exod , 18 with Iethro , confesseth Dominus maior Dijs omnibus : the Lord is greater then all Gods : knowledge mounteth vppon the wings of pride , boasteth Esay . with Lucifer , ascendam in Coelum , I will make the starres my foote-stoole , but selfe knowledge couered with the vaile of humility , falleth down Iob , 1 , 20 with Iob , and worshippeth . Knowledge hippocriticallie deuoted , runnes a pace to the Temple , and as the Pharisie , fills the Temple with a Non Luke , 18 , sunt sicut alij , but selfe knowledge , not hastie in pace , not multiloquious in wordes , keeping time in going , obseruing a meane in speaking , at one stroake with the Publican , breakes vppe the Chest of his hart , and Sub forma pauperis , sub forma peccatoris , in the habite of a sinner , craues ; O God be mercifull to me a sinner .

All men , saith Aristotle , by Metaph. Lib. 1. nature couet knowledge , and that itching desire of Eue , as soone as shee was out of the shell , testifieth no lesse , when for the hope of Sciens bonum et malum , for the hope of much knowledge , she lost herselfe in ignorance , swallowing as shee thought , the baite of knowledge , which turned in the end , the baine of ignorance . Yet if knowledge suffer a difference , and men beare more then an indifferent mind vnto it , there is none more pleasing , none more profitable , than this selfe knowledge ; pleasing in respect of GOD , profitable in respect of man . It is that Astronomical Ladder of Iacob , Gene , 28 , that reacheth from earth to heauen ; from mans earth-buried hart , to the contemplation of heauenly motions : that Geometrical squire , that squareth Psalm , 39 out man at a span length , and then measureth God , the Alpha & Omega , which filleth heauen & earth ; that Arithmeticall kallender of mans age , that first declareth his time to be threescore yeeres & tenne , and then with Moises ascendeth the mount , to take a suruay of Gods Eternitie .

Quo magis noueris teipsum , Stella de con : mund: lib. 3 , cap. 13. eo perfectius cognoscere Deum , the deeper thou wadest into this selfe knowledge , the neerer thou shalt ariue to GOD himselfe . It shall be more then Thomas his Credo , to conceiue Ioh , 20 , God inwardlie , then to thrust thy finger into his side . It shall be more then the Centurions Math , 27 , testimonie , Vera filius Dei erat hic , to acknowledge him in thy hart , then before the multitude to confesse him with thy lippes . It shall be more then Simeons Nunc dimittis , to Luke , 2 , take holde of him in troubled spirit , then to imbrace his infancie in the flesh . It shall be more then Phillips Sufficit , to Ioh , 14 , view him in thy selfe , then to behold him in the heauens .

Nec te quesiueris extra , looke not on the superficies & outside of thy selfe , saith the Poet , Persius . Satyr. 1. but rather let thy conscience be thy looking glasse , wherby thou maist dresse & attire thy selfe fit for heauen ; that wil tel thee how to get vestem nuptialem , the wedding robe , by innocency of life : that wil teach thee howe to put it on by a liuely saith ; that will tell thee what thy progenitors haue been ; that wil teach thee what thy state is now ; that wil tell thee histories of Adam ; that wil tel thee lessons of thy selfe ; that will tell thee Adam brought sinne into the world ; that will teach thee sinne brought thee into the world ; that will tell thee therefore thou must studie lawe ; that will teach thee therefore how thou maist studie the law .

First thou must studie , because Per legem cognitio peccati , Rom , 3 , It is a Schoole-maister to bring vs vnto Christ ; & there like a true naturalist shalt thou finde , the causes of thy sinne , hanging vpon Records , and like a true historian , there read what others haue done before thee . Secondly , howe thou maist studie Lawe , to wit , by reading it with the glosse of the Gospell , because Per Euangelium cognitio gratiae , the gospell is a true Interpreter of Saluation . Briefely , that will tel thee , how thou wast borne vnder those incestuous Planets , Mars and Venus ; that wil teach thee how thou must be borne againe vnder that Prince of Planets , the Sonne of righteousnesse .

Descend therefore with Nichodemus , from teaching the Iohn , 3. Law , to teach the true & perfect knowledge of God ; striue with Marie , to bee bathed in the remission of sinnes , rather then to be drenched with Iudas in the Sea of desperation ; betake thy self vnto God , that he may take thee vnto him .

Thou art but man , therfore call vpon him thy God , thou art a sinfull man , therfore pray vnto him thy mercifull God : It is no shame to be sorowful , cry ô God ; It is no reproch to begge mercies , pray him to be mercifull ; It is no discredit to confesse thy fault , tell him thou art a sinner , and therefore emboldened to say , O God be mercifull to me a Sinner .

It is the meanes which the sinne-drowned Publican vsed in his extremitie of thirst , to obtaine a refreshing cup , with a beaten breast and broaken hart , to cry , O God be mercifull to me a sinner . If lamentable pictures , and wofull tales carrie that force , to enforce teares from the hearers & beholders eyes , then cannot we but turn prodigall in teares , when we behold this liuely counterfeit of sorrow , where euery cullor hath a speaking griefe , euery griefe a mourning tongue , to extort and wring teares from the beholders eyes . Iacob did Gene , 27 neuer rent his garment in so many peeces for the losse of Ioseph , as the Publican doth his soule for the burthen of his sinne , laying it vpon the racke of repentance , and stretching it from earth to heauen ; from himselfe to God , till perforce he force it cry , O God .

Agar beeing turned out of Gene , 22 her Mistris house , made her eyes the plaintifes of her solitarie wandring ; but the Publican , turning himselfe out of his Maisters fauour , makes his hand , hart , eyes , tongue and all , labour to chasten his disease with true remorse ; His hands like the bellows , blowes the fire of Contrition to his hart , his heart like a limbecke distills the soueraine water of repentance into his eyes , like full cesterns , not being able to looke vpward , returne theyr streames backe vnto the hart , that ouer-charged , driues the floode of his affection to his tongue ; His tongue like Aarons Censor , conuaies the sweete perfume of this precious distillation , into the presence of God himselfe . And as the angels celebrated the birth of Christ with a ioyful himne , Gloria in excelsis Deo ; so hee Luke , 2 , welcoms his second birth with this sadde lamentation , O God be mercifull vnto mee a Sinner . Much like to Peter , when denying Math , 26 his Maisters coate , fleuit amare , hee made lachrimae the birth of his lamentation . Indeede sicke men cannot away with melodie , as Saules frensie could not endure Dauids 1 , Reg. 4 , Harpe ; Salomons thousand songs , cannot mittigate the smart of the Publicans disease , that runnes altogether vpon the hart-string , not the harpe string ; obseruing those Diasemata acutum medeum , graue , the spaces , falls , and rises of a melancholie dittie . The first note beeing raisde high to him that is aboue all note , O God . The second with a temperate stoppe , mooued to a meane , be mercifull . The third with a heauie touch , fitted to the base , to mee a Sinner . Heauie , ô heauie is the note of man , and therefore it calls for moderation of God ; Heauie , ô too heauie is the note of sin , & therefore it craues the voice of mercie , O God be mercifull , peccanti , to a sinner , confitenti , to mee a Sinner ; penitenti : O GOD be mercifull to me a Sinner .

Heere I might iustly obserue in the Publican , first his invocation , O God , secondly , his petition , be mercifull , thirdlie , his condition , to me a Sinner . Yet suffer mee right worshipfull , leauing that doctrine to a second suruay , at this time only to propose vnto you , the publican himselfe in his meditation , by vertue whereof hee attaineth to knowe himselfe a Sinner , and God his Redeemer . Dauid being in the depth of meditation , concaluit cor , Psalm , 39 his hart was hote , et exardescit ignis , the fire of his zeale was kinled , and hee spake , Lord teach mee ; In the same precincts and streites of meditation is the publican , concalet cor , his armes , like the Phaenix winges , hath set his heart on fire , et exardescit ignis , by that his zeale is inflamed ; by his zeale his tongue is enlarged , and he speakes ; O God be mercifull . He speakes as Dauid , in meditation : that is , as Cassiodore obserueth , in consilio , et Cassiod . in eund. Psal. Bias in Diog : La. deliberatione , with iudgement and discretion ; he speakes non cito , for that 's insaniae iudicium , either a point of madnes , or a fault of rashnesse ; hee speakes not cum loquacitate , for that is difficilimum , simul et multa , et oportune dicere , but he speakes meditatio et oratione , his meditation teaching him what hee wants , his prayer directing to obtaine his wants . Lastly , hee speakes , and he speakes authorized , by Platoes Licence , with Plat. in Diog : La: a prouiso and respect , first , ad quem loquitur , to whom hee speakes ; secondly , quid loquitur , what it is hee speakes ; thirdly , qua multa loquitur , how much he speakes ; fourthly , quando loquitur , at what time hee speakes . His first regard , regards the reuerence of the person , to whom he speakes , O God ; his second consists of a two-folde proprietie , one drawne from himselfe , a Sinner , the other by a necessitie from God , be mercifull ; his third is couched , not so much in quantity of words , as in quality of affection : For as Bucer noteth , Com: in 18. cap : Luc. orauit paucis , sed affectu multo , his prayer is short , but very sweet ; short in respect of wordes , sweete in regarde of zeale . His fourth and last regard aymes at the time , for sinne , like Noahs flood , euery day getting strength , was almost come to the toppe of Ararat , Gene , 7 , 17. and had almost ouerspred the whole earth of man , so that it was high time to stay the swelling rage and furie of it ; and therefore hee striues to bring it backe to a lowe ebbe , with a smooth calme of an humble petition ; and thus he speakes in scrious meditation , O God be mercifull to mee a sinner . Helplesse man cannot helpe , therefore , O God , with whom is all comfort , be mercifull , which quicknest the humble spirit , therfore to me , drawing breath from Adam , and therefore a sinner : and therefore , O God be mercifull vnto me a sinner .

I runne not vnto the wisemen Exod , 7. with Pharaoh , I call not vpon any Idoll with the priests 1 , Reg , 18 of Baall , but with sorrowfull Sara in the gall of bitternesse , Tob , 3. with wrincle fac'd Iob , smitten on the cheekes with a reproch , Iob , 16 I beginne my confession , O God ; I pray not for the strength of body with Sampson ; Iudg , 16. with Elisha for my enemies blindnes ; with worldlie 2 , Pet. 2. Balaam for earthly treasure ; but with the faithfull Cananitish Math , 15 woman , once and againe reiected , I begge for the crums of thy mercy , O God be mercifull : I , euen I , the sonne of sorrowe , present my selfe vnto thee , & as the Leaper entreated for his owne cleansing , euen Math , 8 , so I pray , O God be mercifull vnto me : I , euen I , weaned a long time from the teates of thy loue , & nourished with the corrupt milke of sinne , I , euen I , that haue refused thy heauenly Manna , and delighted my selfe with the leauen of Egipt , nowe at the length , strooke with the-whip of Repentance , retire , and for the easing of my griefe , presume to sollicite thee in this manner , O God be mercifull vnto me a sinner .

I , am not of Simon Peters mind , that said , Lord go from Luke , 5 , mee , for I am a sinfull man , but rather , Lord come to me , because I am a sinfull man ; neither doe I cry out with the possessed ; Iesus thou sonne of Math , 8 , God , what haue I to do with thee ? but rather , Iesus thou sonne of God , I haue to doe with thee . O let me haue som interest in thy loue , which like a vaile couereth the multitude of sinnes , & vniteth the peece-rent hart of the sorrow-beaten sinner , O God be mercifull to me a sinner .

It is not with me , as it was Gene , 4 , with Caine , to say my sinne is greater then can be pardoned , neither am I as yet clasped in that desperation and distrust , as to equalize & compare thy mercie to my sinnes : I know thy pietie to exceed mans impietie , and thy mercie to be greater then mans miserie : Sinnes as they cannot choke thy loue , so they cannot stand in any degree of comparison with the infinitum of thy mercie ? For how much thy greatnes ouer-spreads mans weaknesse , so much the goodnes of thy goodnesse , exceedes the euill of his euill ; and therefore , it were first high treason to thy Omnipotencie & power , to say my sinne is greater then thou canst pardon , when as thy mercie is like thy selfe , great without all quantitie , good without all qualitie .

Secondly , it were a wrong vnpardonable to thy will , a trespasse dangerous to thy truth , an iniurie too desperate and despayring of thy promises , to say thou wilt not doe what thou canst , when with thee to doe , is as easie as to will , and to will is ready euery howre ; wherefore , O God , be mercifull to me a sinner .

It is worse then the staine Viex . in instit ad peniten . of hippocrisie , to say I am no sinner ; for none can challenge to himselfe that priuiledge , In mundo esse , non potest sine culpa , qui in mundum venit cum culpa ; sinne was my Mother , which brought mee into the world , and sinne is the daughter of my affection in the world .

Mundus non Mundus , quia Mundus polluit ergo , Qui manet in Mundo , quomodo Mundus erit . Tho: Aqui : ca. 1. Epist. Iacobi .

The world is become a lothsome cage of vncleane birds , a troubled sea deuided into many puddles , a dangerous desart , nursing strange and venemous creatures , where is Serpens flatu , adurens Scorpio , Cauda pungens , Dipsas latenter interficiens , where couetousnesse like a burning Serpent , breathes out the fire of vnhallowed desires ; where lust like the Scorpion , venomes the soule , and prouokes it to black attempts , where pride lies close at the hart , like a snake lurking in the grasse ; where , nay where else , should sinne bee , when as Mundus is termed cubile omnium peccatorum , the denne and couert of all euill : where euery sinne , great and little , though euery little sinne be too great , raignes & keepes his Court , Mundus non Mundus , the trimme fashion of the world , is out of fashion , because it is sicke of euery fashion , it beeing composed mirabile opus : the wonderful check and countermaund of all arte , is now become miserabile chaos , the ruinous and disordered heape of all disorder , mundus non mundus , it is the stage & Theater of hipocrisie , faire and beautifull without , but ful of foule sin within ; like strait-growing reedes , satisfying the eyes with a greene & pleasing out-side , but within nothing more vaine , nothing more light , nothing more emptie . Like Nabuchadnezars Idoll , glittering with a golden face yet standing vppon feete of Clay . Mundus , non Mundus , by striuing to excell in beautie , it hath washt away all beautie , and there is no sure hold for the foules anchor in so slipperie a station : Mundus non mundus , the effects proue it so ; for Mundus polluit , it is become Murthers slaughter-house , Thefts refuge , Whoredoms stew , Oppressions safetie , and for all sinnes a sinfull Sanctuarie .

Ergo , Qui manet in Mundo , quomodo mundus erit .

Who then can swallow Circes cup & not be transformed ? who can tast deadly poyson & scape infection ? who can liue in Sodome & not be wicked ? who can breathe in the world and be no sinner ? Why ? the Infant-blush at my natiuitie , was it not the Tell-tale of my originall sinne , how I had tasted of that sowre fruit , which all my ancestors , á minore vsque Iere , 6 , ad Maiorem , à propheta vsque ad Sacerdotem , from the first to the last had eaten : and from the time of my natiuitie , howe I haue since , hewen of my age by sinne , filling , and fulfilling , as Christ saith , the measure of my Fathers , my sinne-prest conscience secretly dooth tell mee ; wherefore , O God be mercifull to me a sinner . There is no way to hide and smother what I am , for if disguised Adam , in his fig-leau'd coate , close and secure as hee thought , among the bushes could not shelter him from Gods presence , howe can I promise to my selfe securitie ? well may the blindfold world , being as deeply couered in sin as I , either for weakenesse not see , or for the thicke skinne of his owne sinne , still be dazelleyed , & not behold the heapes & drifts of iniquitie ; but God Qui vidit omnia generaliter , Nicho : Denij se : sine exceptione , euidenter sine dubitatione , imutabiliter sine obliuione , which hath intelligence of my secret thoughts , an eare to heare my priuate wordes , an eye to see my light and darke actions , God I say , which is a Scrutator of my hart and raines , hee enters the priuie chamber of my hart , & is an eye witnesse of my sinne , before it be hatched , he knew all things before they were begunne , and therefore he must needes know them when they are donne ; Vidit te fornicationem cogitantem , antequam vidit fornicantem , hee sawe thee and Dauid intending adulterie , before thou and Dauid committed adulterie . If then no running away will serue the turn , no place close inough to smother sinne , when euerie thing is naked , and open to his view ,

Cum quid turpe facis , cur me spectante rubescis , Curspect ante Deo , non magis ipse rubes .

Into what hard and obdurate mettall is man cast , how is his face made stiffe , with the oylie cullors of shameles impudencie , that will feare the presence of the creature , and no way stand in awe or reuerence , of the All-presence of the Creator ? Is there a secret roome where no man comes ? a secret stage to act sin where no man sees ; and is it possible to keepe God out ? is it possible to blinde his eyes ? Non te Domino abscondis , sed Dominum abscondis tibi : Viex in instit : ad poenit . poore runne-away , thou hidest not thy selfe from God , but rather hidest GOD from thee . Eu videre ne quis , what though the eyes of thy vnderstanding beeing darkned , thou canst not see him , tamen subtilliter vidit omnia que agis , yet hath hee made a casement to thy conscience , & beholds thee within and without , in the cogitation , in the action : wherfore , if running from God , be but a steppe to greater sinne , then will I runne from sin to God , and till I recouer strength in him , will I not cease to say , O God bee mercifull to mee a Sinner .

In sinne , as there is no securitie to hide it , so there is no remedie to excuse it , or to post it of with a Mulier que dedisti , Gene: 3. the woman which thou gauest me did cause me to sinne , as Adam did ; or as Eue , to cleere herselfe with a Serpens decipit me , the Serpent beguiled mee ; this is rather an increase then a decrease of sinne , for culpa fit grauiora discussa , Viex institu : quam perpetrata , that offence was heauier in Examination , then it had beene before in Commission ; for Peccatum committunt , commissum abscondunt , negando absconditum , defendendo adaugent : Heere the blind leade the blind , and the farther they goe , the greater is their danger ; First they sinne , and then they flie : secondlie , they are taken , but they denie the Accusation : thirdly , that beeing proued , they stand out in their owne defence , and dispute the case with the Iudge , Adam excusing him-selfe by the woman ; the woman laying the fault on the Serpent ; both of them priuilie taxing GOD , for placing such and such with them in Paradice . But ( alas ) it is a naked shift , and to no purpose , to bandy words with God , neither did hee call them for any such discourse : For as the aboue noted Authour noteth , Deus de peccato requisiuit , GOD as it Viex . instit . were lamenting the first fruits of his labour , should vtterlie perrish , therefore questioned with our first Parents , Vt quod transgrediendo commiserant , confitendo delerent : that the fire of their confession might burne downe the wall , which the rancor of sinne had builded betweene them and God . As then hopefull Israel found meanes to supplant the vsurping Canauites , by electing Iudg , 1. Iuda their guide & Captaine , so may I put to flight that great daring Cananite , that musters vp whole legions of temptations against me , when as Iudah ( which interpreted ) signifies Confession , doth not onely conduct and guide my forces , but also blunts the edge of my enemies sword , returning his intended poyson to his owne confusion . Serm. 30 , ad frat . in eremo .

Obstruit os inferni Portas , aperit Paradizi ; The confession of thy sinne , saith Augustine , barres vp the mouth of hell , which standes gaping to deuoure thee , & opens the gates of heauen , that willingly would receiue thee . And againe saith the same Father , Appareat in confessione tua , macula cord is Serm: 49 in Ioh. Euang. tui et pertinebis ad graegē Christi . Launch the festered soare with the knife of confession , complaine to him that is the great Shepheard of soules , and as he is a Phisitian , he wil cure thee , and as he is a Shepheard number thee with his flocke ; Ingenue confessio meretur veniam : Viex : in institu . Sinnes saluing plaister , is to reueale it : for , Confiteri possum celare non vossum , well may I confesse it , hide it I cannot ; for so the deuil is preuented of his seuere accusation , which his auncient malice would commence against vs : Si nostri accusatores sumus , Att●n : de Rampela . tract : de con. proficit nobis ad salutem : to anatomise & exenterate sinne , to poure it forth vpon the Altar of repentance before God , wil not onely take away occaon of Plea from the Accuser , but also reconcile the whole fauour of that high Commission , Niniuitae refitentur et vivunt , Sodomitae obdurantur et pereunt : Belieuing Niniuie , wrapt and confounded in sorrowe , is turned from out her mourning gowne of Sackecloth and ashes , and girded about with a faire Syndon of Gods eternall fauor ; but hard harted Sodome , swelling in the pride of her strength , is stript of all her beautifull attire , & nakedly left in the base ashes of her own destruction . Therfore , confitebor aduersum Psal. 31. me , iniusticiam meam Domino , I will confesse with Dauid against my selfe , my wickednesse , vnto the Lord , and say , O God be mercifull to me a Sinner .

It is no vsurpation to turne Iudge , to call an assise , to examine my owne soule , to produce my thoughts as accusers , my conscience as a thousand witnesses , to auerre and confound the guilt of sin . Why , this shall preuent that latter & fearefull examination howe I haue spent my time ; howe I haue employed my wealth ; howe I haue ruled my appetites ; howe I haue mortified my desires ; howe I haue vsed and bestowed all good gifts , and graces of the holy Spirit : Nay , I shall neuer haue cause to feare that dolefull Memento which Abraham cast in Diues Luke , 16 teeth , Fili recordare , sonne remember , howe thou in thy life time receiuedst pleasure , disporting thy time in wanton dalliance , solacing thy selfe in pleasing pastimes , braue in apparell , glittering in gold , high in honour , delicate in fare , defending pride to be but a point of Gentry ; gluttony a part of good fellowship ; wantonnes a tricke of youth ; Nune ergo tu cruciaris , because thou hast inclosed , and taken in all pleasure to thy selfe vppon Earth , thou shalt nowe take vp thy rents , & reape a plentifull haruest in hell ; Ante vltimum iudicium August . 46. de tempore . Dei , tui compone causam : Meete with the day of iudgement , saith Austine , before it come ; looke about before hand ; thy selfe enter an action against thy selfe ; For , non est vnde praesumas , cum ille venerit , no presumption will serue the turne : When hee comes , it will be too late to pleade ignorance ; no boote to produce false witnesse ; no helpe to vse colloured speeches , Ipse erit Iudi● causae tuae , August . ead: Ser: qui modo est testis vestis tuae , hee shall then lawfully condemne thee , that in the act of sin did onely apprehend thee , wherefore , to anoyde the danger of that dreadfull day , to shunne the feare of that cry at mid-night , to preuent that sentence , Goe ye cursed , to obtaine that fauour , Come yee blessed , I heere accuse my selfe of sinne , & with hope to find acceptance in the sight of God , to him I resort without delay , saying ; O God be mercifull to me a sinner .

For indeede , delay as it is dangerous in it selfe , so it is mother to greater mischiefes ; though it seeme to old Isaack , to our blind soule to haue the voice of Iacob , yet it is not destitute of Rebeccaes deceit ; by giuing too much audience to its sugred speeches , it steales away our birth-right , & throws vs quite out of the heritage of our Fathers ; it giues sinne the greater strength ; strength of sinne drawes on custome ; custome runnes into habite , and habite takes such deepe roote , that it cannot , or will be verie hardly remoued . Hee that lets his house runne to ruine , and will not at the first or second breach seeke to reparrations , striues to make rubbish of a good building . Hee that trauells in a leaking shippe , and will not in the beginning looke to emptie it , sayles for nought , but to drowne himselfe . To morrow , to morrow , is the voyce of presumption , for who can tell whether hee can liue till to morrowe ? Promisit August : Serm: 30 ad fra : in eremo . Deus veniam penitenti , sed non promisit vsque in Crastinum differenti , God sayth Augustine , hath sealed a pardon to him that repents , but none to him that deferres , and sayes hee will repent . And againe , he that is not fit for his conuersion to day , wil be lesse readie to morrow , for

Qui non est hodie , cras minus aptus erit . Ouid ●n re A●…o .

At the morrow hee will be the same man againe , and sing the same song againe , languishing still in delay , trifling out the time , till GOD ( in whose hands onely are the moments of times ) shut and barre him out from all time , and leaue him to paines without time , for so abusing the precious date of time . To morrow , to morrow , is an vncertain time , and though the times be certaine in themselues , yet are they most vncertaine vnto man , who as he knew not his beginning , so hee is ignorant of his ending . Much like to little birds , that in their pearch looke about to flie this way , or that way , yet before they take theyr flight , they are preuented by the shaft . Death is a common state-searcher both of old and young , striking as well Dauids young sonne before it 2 , Sam , 22 be seauen dayes olde , as that auncient of dayes of Methushelem , that liued nine hundred sixtie nine yeeres . Least therefore the kingdome of sathan should bee established in me , by frequentation of sinne , I will breake off delay , putting no trust in olde age , but as S. Paule saith , Dum cognominatur hodie , Heb , 3 , euen in this verie instant , while it is named to day , will I repentantly cry , O GOD be mercifull to mee a sinner .

Moriantur ante te vitia , Seneca Epist. 12 ad Liuium . giue thy sinne ( saith Seneca ) leaue to die before thee : it is a good riddance of a painfull pardon , for it is little better then desperation , to free libertie to thy youthful wil to range abroad , vpon confidence of repentance in thy last and least part of thy life ; For ( alas ) what can helplesse old age help , when all the strength of the body , all the faculties of the mind , all the parts & passions , are not only daunted , and out-dared with sicknesse , but also worne out with multitude of yeres : when as age-spent Dauid , is not able to retaine heate of himselfe , 1 , Reg , 1 , but Abishag the Shunamite , must cherrish him : when as Mirabilium cap : de sen. Senix is quasi semi senex , an old man halfe deaths man , destitute of all good meanes to conuersion , vnfit to fast , vnable to pray , vnapt to watch , or any other exercise . What voice is there more lamentable , then that of Milo , ( when Cicero de Sen: seeing the young Champions striuing each with other to obtaine the conquest ) hee cryed out with teares , At hi iam mortui sunt , looking on his withered armes , my bloode is dead ; my veynes wrinckled ; my sinewes shrunke to nothing . The counsell of the wise man may be a present memorandum to euery man , Memento Creator is tui , ( saith hee ) in Eccle , 12 diebus iuventutis tuae , remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth , while the euill dayes come not ; that is , in thy prosperitie of strength , in thy hopefull youth , in thy vigor and lustines of yeeres , before forgetfull old age ouer-take thee . Take thy selfe vnto him , that tooke thee out of the dust , and created thee to his owne likenes : for otherwise it were an euerlasting blemish of ingratitude , a most infamous stampe of iniustice , to hope for the receit of eternall glorie , to receiue at one instance an Angels inheritance ; to enioy for nothing , a place with Christ ; and not to tender the best of thy selfe to GOD his father . If it were pollution , to the Altar Malac. 1 , August . Serm: 36 in Luke . to offer the lame and sicke , with what face them canst thou present that little , short , and maymed peece of seruice , which lymping olde age will afford ?

Qui maior est etate , maior est iniquitate , he which is the child of many yeres , no doubt is the Father of many sinnes , for life , the longer it is , the more sinfull it is . If in oblation of burnt offerings , & peace offerings , the young Lambes Leuit. 1. without blemish were selected for the sacrifice : If the chiefe Exod , 29 , fatte of the Ramme , made the sweetest sauour vnto the lord , Leuit , 3 , then standes it against the rule of decencie & good manners , to serue in Gods messe , with the bare , leane , and rotten bones of sinnes , that haue lien as many score yeeres in the pit of corruption , as did Lazarus dayes in the graue . If none were admitted to stand before Nabuchadnezer , but children Dan , 1. that were most beautiful , how dare man shuffle into Gods presence , disioynted , crooked old age , and slothfull ? There is no reason in the world , that the world should reape that haruest , which GOD hath bought with the sweat of his blood ; no law to giue him the lees of wine , that hath taken paines to plant the vineyard , and to treade the presse ; no equitie to leaue him the gleanings , to whom the whole sheafe belongeth ; no iustice to deuide the heart , which hee hath made one , & to giue the sicke & feeble part vnto him , and the strong and lustie vnto the deuill . Nisi venerit vobiscum Gene , 44 , frater vester minimus , vnlesse you bring your youngest brother ( saith Ioseph ) you shall neuer see my face againe : So vnlesse wee bring young Beniamine , that is , the first fruites of our youth , and tender them to our euerlasting high Priest , we shal neuer pertake his ioyfull presence ; neuer enioy his comfortable grace ; neuer bee comforted with his diuine happines . As then young Samuell , & young 1 , Sam , 2 1 , Reg , 18 Obediah , beeing ( as it were ) in their child clouts , ministred vnto the Lord : Euen so I , in the spring and prime of my youth , ( no way relying vpon aged repentance ) will confesse my sinnes , and at the barre of Gods bountie , will I sue out a pardon , saying , O God be mercifull to me a sinner .

If in Dauids Peccaui , the fire of his deuotion did ascend , & moone the Heauens to scabberd vp the wrathful sword in the sheath of mercie , I doubt not , but with the same flame to kindle the like sacrifice ; and with as strong a voyce as had Eliah when he brought foode 1 , Reg , 17 from Heauen , to mooue the same God to compassion . My vow shall be as able to quench the fire of Gods iustice , as was the voyce of the three chyldren Dan: 3 , that ouer-came the hote burning fornace ; My voyce shall be as able to procure life , as was the voyce of Ezechias , 2 , Reg , 20 Ionas , 2 , 3 that ouercame death . As Ionas out of the bellie of the Whale , so I out of the hell of sinne , will call ; As blind Bartimeus for his want of sight , so Mar. 20 , I in the sight of my wants , will cry , O GOD , bee mercifull to mee a sinner .

As young Tobias was not destitute of a Guide to conduct Tobi , 5 , him to Rages , so am not I left ignorant of the way to heauen . Abraham in his iourney Gene , 12 , to Canaan tooke a Map of the vpper Canaan , and left it registred to all posteritie : first therefore , Egrediendum de terra mea est , I must leaue my Country behind my back , de terra mea , that is , de carne mea , et de meipso ▪ I must depart , and bidde adiewe to the flesh , the world , and my selfe : from pride descending to low humilitie ; leauing anger to shake hands with patience ; giuing lust the farewell to welcome chastitie ; excluding enuie to entertaine charitie , renouncing crueltie for the exchange of clemencie .

Secondly , egrediendum est à cognatione mea , I must relinquish & forsake my own kindred , that is , the old custome and acquaintance I haue had with Sinne ; shaking the vncleane spirit out of doores , and beeing washt , neuer to returne to my olde vomit ; and beeing made whole , I will sin no more .

Thirdly , de domo Patris mei , I must turne from the sinister and left hand of this World ; from the Prince of darknesse my father , to the right hand of righteousnesse , to the King of Kinges , my heauenly father : which dwelleth in Terra Viuentiam , in the Land of Vertue , not in the Land of Vice ; in the Land of Peace , not in the Land of Paine ; in the Land of Ioy , not in the Land of Sorrowe ▪ and be partaker of that desired Benediction where-with Isaack ( in the type and figure of Christ , blessed his sonne Gene , 27 Iacob ; Ecce ador Filij mei , behold , the sweete smell of my Sonne : the sweet smell of my Sonne , that sauours not of the Onions and Garlicke of Egypt , but the sweet smell of my Sonne , that hath beene daintilie fedde with the choice Milke and Honnie of Canaan .

No flight is more commended , Iere , 51 , Exod , 2. then to flie out of the middle of Babilon , to hasten out of Egipt : where miseries haue no period ; and to trauell to the promised Land , where is rest without remoue ; mercie without measure ; loue without limit ; goodnesse in all kind of greatnesse ; where habitemus sine metu , abundemus sine defectu , sine fastidio epulemur : where euery Soule may ( like the Done in Noabs Arke ) rest without feare , enioy Bernard . plentie without want , take her repast without contempt .

FINIS . In Coelo sola libertas .