Meditat. I. Of true confession and acknowled●ment of sinne . Confession is to cure sinne A very present medicine .

HOly God , just Judge , my sinnes are alwayes in my sight , Levit. 1● . 45 . Psal. 7.11 . I have them alwayes in my minde : every day I think of the judgement , because death hangs over my head every houre . Every day I think of the judgem●●●●ecause I must give an account for every day , 2. Co● ▪ ● . 10 ▪ in the day of judgement . I examine my life , and behold , it is altogether vain or profane . Vain and unprofitable are many of my actions , my speeches much more , and my thoughts most of all . Neither is my life vain onely , but profane also , and ungodly : I finde in it nothing that is good : for though something in it may seem good , yet it is not truely good and perfect , because the contagion of originall sinne and my corrupt nature hath polluted it . Job 9.28 . Holy Job said , I was afraid in regard of all my works . If the holy man so complain , what shall the ungodly do ? Isa. 64.6 . All our righteousnesse is as the cloth of a menstruous woman . If our righteousnesse be such , what then shall our unrighteousnesse be ? If you shall do all things ( saith our Saviour ) which are commanded you , Luk. 17.10 . yet say , We are unprofitable servants . If we are unprofitable when we obey , surely we shall become abominable when we transgresse . Anselm . If I owe my self unto thee , and all that I can , yea though I should not sinne : what shall I be able to give unto thee , holy God , to redeem me from sinne ? Gregory in his moralls . Our seeming righteousnesse , if it be compared with the divine righteousnesse , is meere unrighteousnesse . A little light may shine in the darknesse : but being set in the light of the sunne , is darkened . The wood not brought to the rule may appeare straight : but , if it be applied to the rule , is found , by some eminent exc●escence , where it is crooked . The image of the seal may appeare perfect in the eyes of the beholders , and yet it may be much imperfect in the eye of the artificer : Even so , that which glittereth in the estimation of the worker , is oftentimes base and sordid in the discretion of him that judgeth : Isa. 55.8 . For the judgements of God are of one kinde , and the judgements of men are of another . The memorie of many sinnes doth affright me : and yet there are many more that I do not know of . Psal. 19.12 . Who knows how oft he offendeth ? cleanse me , O Lord , from my secret faults . I dare not lift up mine eyes unto heaven , because I have offended him which dwelleth in the heavens . In earth I finde no refuge : for what favour can I expect of the creatures , when I have offended the Lord of the creatures ? Austine . My adversary the devil accuseth me , and saith unto God , Thou most just Judge , judge him to be mine for his sinne , that would not be thine by grace . He is thine by nature , but he is mine by delighting in his sinnes . He is thine by thy passion , but he is mine by perswasion . He is disobedient unto thee , and obedient unto me . He received of thee the robe of immortalitie , and innocencie : He hath received from me the raggs of unrighteousnesse . He hath cast off thy cloth , and put on mine . Adjudge him therefore to be mine , and to be damned with me . All the elements accuse me : The heaven saith , I have given thee light for thy comfort . Hugo . The aire saith , I have given thee all manner of fowls to be at thy command . The water saith , I have given thee divers kindes of fishes for thy meat . The earth saith , I have given thee bread and wine for thy nourishment . And yet thou hast abused all these to the contempt and dishonour of our creatour : Therefore let all our benefits be turned to thy punishments . The fire saith , Let me burn him . The water saith , Let me drown him . The aire saith , Let me fanne and winnow him . The earth saith , Let me swallow him up . And hell saith , Let me devoure him . Heb. 1 ▪ 14 The holy Angels , which were appointed by God to minister unto me in this life , and to be my consorts in the life to come , they accuse me : And by my sinnes I have deprived my self of their ministery in this life , and hope of their fellowship in the life to come . The voice of God , that is , his divine law accuseth me : either I must fulfill it , or perish . To fulfill it , it is impossible : To perish everlastingly , it is intolerable . God the most severe judge , and most powerfull executour of his eternall law , accuseth me : Him I cannot deceive , for he is wisdome it self : From him I cannot fly , for he is power it self reigning every where . Psal. 139.7 . Austine upon the 32 Psalme Whither then shall I flie ? To thee O Christ my alone Redeemer and Saviour . My sinnes are great indeed : but thy satisfaction is greater . My unrighteousnesse is great , but thy righteousnesse is greater . I acknowledge : forgive thou . I set open : shut thou . I uncover : cover thou . In me there is nothing , but that which will condemne me : In thee there is nothing , but that which will save me . I have committed many things , for which most deservedly I might be condemned : Thou hast omitted nothing , whereby I might be saved . I heare a voice in the canticles , which bids me hide my self in the clefts of the rock . Cant. 2.14 . Thou art that rock , thy wounds are those clefts of the rock : In them will I hide my self against the accusations of all the creatures . My sinnes crie aloud , even unto heaven : Heb. 12.24 . but thy bloud , which was poured forth for my sinnes , cries louder . My sinnes are strong to accuse me before God : but thy passion is of more force to defend me : The unrighteousnesse of my life is powerfull to condemne me : but thy most perfect righteousnesse is more powerfull to save me . I appeal therefore from the throne of thy justice to the throne of thy mercie : Neither dare I appeare in judgement , unlesse thou interpose thy most holy merits betwixt me and thy judgement .

Meditat. II. An exercise of repentance from the crosse of Christ . Thy Saviour on the crosse did choose , To save thy life , his own to lose .

BEhold thou faithfull soul the grief of him that suffered , Bernard . the wounds of him that hanged , the torments of him that died on the crosse . That head , at which the angels tremble , is crowned with thorns . That face , which was most beautifull above the sonnes of men , is defiled by the spittings of the ungodly . Those eyes , which were more bright then the sunne , are darkened in death . Those eares , which were wont to heare angelicall praises , do ring now with the proud speeches , and the derision of sinners . That mouth , out of which did proceed most divine oracles ; that mouth , which taught the angels , hath no other drink but gall and vineger . Those feet , which are to be adored , are fastned with nails . Those hands , John 19 ▪ which stretched forth the heavens , are stretched forth on the crosse , and nailed . That body , which was the most sacred temple of the deitie , is whipped , and wounded with the speare : neither remains there any part in him save onely a tongue , and that , to pray for them that crucified him . He that reigneth with the Father in the heavens , is by sinners grievously afflicted on the crosse : God dies upon the crosse : God suffers : God poureth forth his bloud . Judge the greatnesse of the danger by the greatnesse of the prize . Judge the danger of the disease by the value of the remedie . Surely those wounds were great indeed , which could no otherwise be cured , but by the wounds of the living and quickening flesh . Surely that disease must needs be great , which could not be cured but by the death of the physician .

Consider , thou faithfull soul , Gods most fierce anger against us . After the fall of our first father , the eternall , onely begotten , and well beloved sonne of God becomes suter unto his Father for us : And yet his anger was not turned away from us . He by whom the world was made , interceded for us , 1. John 2.2 . became our advocate , and took the cause of us miserable sinners upon himself : And yet his anger was not turned away from us . Our Saviour took upon him our flesh , that by the glorie of the divinitie , communicated unto the humanitie , he might expiate and purge our sinfull flesh : that by the saving vertue of his most perfect righteousnesse communicated unto our nature , he might wipe away that venemous qualitie of sinne which cleaveth to our nature , and in stead thereof conferre grace upon us : And yet his anger was not turned away from us . Our sinnes and the punishment of our sins he taketh upon himself . His body is bound , whipped , wounded , pierced , crucified , buried . His bloud , like a dew , distilled most copiously down all his members at his passion . His most holy soul is made sorrowfull above measure , yea even unto death . Matt. 26.38 . He feels the pains of hell . The eternall Sonne of God crieth out that he is forsaken of God . Matt. 27.46 . So great was his bloudie sweat , so great was his anguish , that he which comforteth the angels , stood in need of an angel to comfort him . Luke 22.43 . He dies who is the authour and giver of life to every living thing . Luke 23.31 . If this comes to pa●se in the green tree , what shall become of the dry wood ? If this comes to passe in the just and holy , what shall become of sinners ? How shall God punish us for our own sinnes , who is so wrathfully displeased with his own sonne for other mens sinnes ? If his sonne is so grievously punished , shall we his servants think to escape alwayes unpunished ? What shall the reprobate suffer , if such be the sufferings of his best beloved ? If Christ departed not without a scourge , and yet came into the world without sinne , what scourges do they deserve which come into the world in sin , live in sin , and depart in sinne ? The servant rejoyceth , whilest the sonne is in grievous dolour and pain ; and that , for his sinne . The servant heapeth up the anger of God , whilest the sonne doth thus labour to pacifie and appease his Fathers wrath . Oh the infinite anger of God! oh his unspeakable furie ! oh the inestimable rigour of his justice ! He which is thus enraged against his onely and best beloved sonne , the partaker of his own essence ; and that , not for any sinne of his own , but because he intercedeth for the servant : what will he do to the servant that persevereth and continueth still securely in his sinnes ? Let the servant fear and tremble , and be sorrowfull for his own merits , when the sonne is thus punished , and yet not for his own . Let the servant fear , who ceaseth not to sinne , when the sonne of God is thus afflicted for sinne . Let the creature fear , which hath crucified his Creatour . Let the servant fear , which hath slain his Lord . Let the sinner and the ungodly fear , which hath thus tormented the pious and the godly . Beloved , let us heare his cries , let us behold his teares : he cries from the crosse . Behold O man what I suffer for thee : Bernard i● his sermo● of the pa●●sion . I cry unto thee , because I die for thee : behold the punishments that I suffer : behold the nails with which I am pierced , and see if any grief be like unto my grief . Although my outward grief be thus great , yet my inward grief is more grievous , because I finde thee so unthankfull . Have mercy , have mercy on us , thou whose propertie it is to have mercy , and convert our stony hearts unto thee .

Meditat. III. Of the fruit of true and serious repentance . Our Saviour cry'd , Repent , repent , As John that 'fore our Saviour went .

THe foundation and beginning of holy life is saving repentance . For where there is true repentance , there is remission of sinnes : And where there is remission of sinnes , there is the grace of God : And where there is the grace of God , there is Christ : And where Christ is , there is his merit : And where there is Christs merit , there is satisfaction for sinnes : And where there is satisfaction for sinnes , there is righteousnes : And where there is righteousnesse , there is joy and tranquillitie of conscience : And where there is tranquillitie of conscience , there is the holy Spirit : And where the holy Spirit is , there is the sacred and holy Trinitie : And where the holy Trinitie is , there is eternall life : Therefore where there is true repentance , there is eternall life . Where there is not true repentance , neither is there remission of sinnes , nor the grace of God , nor Christ , nor his merit , nor satisfaction for sinnes , nor righteousnesse , nor tranquillitie of conscience , nor the holy Spirit , nor the holy Trinitie , nor eternall life .

Why therefore do we deferre our repentance ? and why do we procrastinate it from day to day ? To morrow is not ours , and to repent truely is not in our power : And in the day of judgement we must give an account not onely for to morrow , but also for the present day . To morrow is not so certain , as the destruction of the impenitent is certain . God hath promised remission to the repentant : Austine ▪ but he hath not promised to morrow . There is no place for Christ his satisfaction , where there is not true contrition in the heart . Isa. 59.2 . Our sinnes do separate betwixt God and us , so saith the Prophet Esay . And by repentance we return again unto him . Acknowledge and bewail thy sinnes : so shalt thou finde God in Christ appeased towards thee . I blot out thine iniquities , Isa. 43.25 saith the Lord : Therefore our sinnes are enrolled in the court of heaven . Psal. 51.9 . Turn away thy face from my sinnes , begs the Prophet : Therefore our iniquities are set in the sight of God . Be converted unto us O God , prayeth Moses : Therefore our sinnes do separate us from God . Isa. 59.2 . Vers. 12. Our sinnes have answered us , complaineth Esay : Therefore they accuse us before Gods judgement-seat . Psal. 51.2 . Cleanse me from my sinnes , prayeth David : Therefore our sinnes appeare most foul and filthie in the sight of God . Psal. 41.4 . Cure my soul , for I have sinned against thee , prayeth the same David : Therefore sinne is the disease of the soul. Whosoever shall sinne against me , I will blot him out of my book , Exod. 32.32 . saith the Lord : Therefore for our sinnes are we blotted out of the book of life . Psal. 51.11 . Cast me not away from thy face , prayeth the Psalmist : Therefore for our sinnes God casts us off . Take not thy holy Spirit from me : Therefore as bees are driven away with smoak , Basil upon the 33 Psal. and pigeons with ill savours : so by our sinnes is the holy Spirit driven out of the temples of our hearts . Restore me the joy of thy salvation : Psal. 52.12 . Therefore sinne doth torment the minde , and dry up the moisture of the heart . The earth is defiled by the inhabitants thereof , Isa. 24.5 . which have transgressed the law , crieth Esay : Therefore sinne is a contagious and infectious poison . Out of the deeps have I cryed unto thee O Lord , saith the Psalmist : Psal. 130.1 . Therefore our sinnes presse us down unto hell . We were sometimes dead in our sinnes , saith the apostle : Ephes. 2.1 . Therefore sinne is the spirituall death of the soul. By mortall sinne man loseth God : God is the infinite and incomprehensible good : Therefore to lose God is an infinite and incomprehensible evil . As God is the chiefest good , so sinne is the chiefest evil . Punishments and calamities are not absolutely evil : for many times there comes good of them . Yea rather it appeares that they are good , because they come from God who is the chiefest good ; from whom can proceed nothing but that which is good . They were in the chiefest good , to wit , in Christ : And the chiefest good cannot partake in that which is evil truely so called . And moreover they leade us unto the chiefest good , Luke 24.26 . that is , to life everlasting . Christ by his passion entred into his glorie : And so do Christians by tribulations enter into eternall life : Acts 14.22 . Therefore sinne is the chiefest evil , because it withdraws us from the chiefest good . The nearer thou comest unto God , the further thou departest from sinne : The nearer thou comest unto sinne , the further thou departest from God . How saving therefore is repentance , which withdraws us from sinne , and brings us back again unto God! Sinne is measured by the greatnesse of him that is offended : But him the heavens & the earth cannot contain : In like manner such is our repentance as he unto whom we return by repentance . The sinner is accused by his conscience , which he hath defiled ; by the Creatour , whom he hath offended ; by the sinnes , which he hath committed ; by the creatures , which he hath abused ; and by the devil , by whom he hath been seduced . How saving then is repentance , which frees us from such accusations ! Let us make haste therefore , let us make haste to such a saving medicine for such a grievous disease . If thou repentest at thy death , Aust. of repentance . thou dost not leave thy sinnes , but thy sinnes leave thee . Thou shalt scarce finde any one that repented truely at his death , unlesse it were the thief upon the crosse . Fourteen yeares have I served thee , Gen. 31.41 . said Jacob to Laban , it is time now that I should provide for mine own house : And if thou hast served the world and this life so many yeares , is it not fit that thou shouldest begin now to make provision for thy soul ? Every day doth our flesh heap sinne upon sinne : Let the Spirit therefore every day wash them away by repentance . Christ died that sinne might die in us : And shall we suffer that to live and reigne in our hearts , for the destroying whereof the sonne of God himself died ? Bernard . Christ enters not into the heart of man by grace , unlesse John Baptist prepare the way by repentance . God poureth not the oyl of mercie , but into the vessel of a contrite heart . God doth first mortifie us by contrition , 1 Sam. 2.6 that afterwards he may quicken us by the consolation of the Spirit . He first leads us into hell by serious grief , that afterwards he may bring us back again by the taste of grace . 1 King . 19 11. Elias first heard a great and strong winde , overturning mountains , and cleaving rocks ; and after the winde an earthquake ; and after the earthquake there appeared fire . At length there followed a small and still voice . Vers. 12. In like manner terrour goes before the taste of Gods love , and sorrow before comfort . God bindes not up thy wounds , unlesse thou lay them open by confession , and bewail them . He covers not , unlesse thou first uncover . He pardons not , unlesse thou first acknowledge . He justifies not , unlesse thou first condemne thy self . He comforts not , unlesse thou first despair in thy self . This true repentance God by his holy Spirit work in us !

Meditat. IIII. Of the name of JESVS . Blessed , blessed name of Jesus , Who tormented was to ease us .

O Good Jesus be thou my Jesus : Bernard . for thy holy names sake have mercy on me . My life condemnes me : but the name of Jesus shall save me : For this thy names s●ke , do unto me according to thy name : & seeing that thou art a true and a great Saviour , surely thou dost respect those that are sinners indeed , yea great sinners . Have mercie on me , O good Jesus , in the time of mercie , that I be not condemned in the time of judgement . If thou receive me into the bosome of thy mercy , Anselm . thou shalt have never the lesse room . If thou bestow upon me the crumbes of thy goodnesse , yet thou shalt want never the more : Isa. 9.6 . For me thou wast born , for me thou wast circumcised , to me also thou art become a Jesus : How sweet and delightfull is this name ! For what is Jesus , but a Saviour ? and what harm can happen to those that are saved ? what else can we desire , or expect beyond salvation ? Receive me , Lord Jesus , into the number of thy sonnes , that together with them I may land thy holy and saving name . Though I have lost my integritie : yet thou hast not forgotten thy mercy . Though I had power to lose and condemne my self : yet thou in thy mercie art more powerfull to save me . Lord do not thou so look upon my sinnes , as to forget thy mercy : do not so ponder and weigh my offences , that they overpoise thy merit : do not so remember my wickednesse , as therefore to forget thy goodnesse . Remember not thy anger against my guiltinesse : but remember thy mercie towards my miserie . Thou who hast given me a minde to desire thee , withdraw not thy self from my desire ▪ Thou who hast shewed unto me my unworthinesse , and just damnation , hide not from me thy merit , and the promise of everlasting salvation . My cause is to be tried at the heavenly tribunall : but this is my comfort , that in the court of heaven thou hast assigned unto thee the name of a Saviour : for that name was brought down from heaven by an angel . O most mercifull Jesus , Luke 2.21 . to whom wilt thou be Jesus , if not to miserable sinners that seek thy grace and salvation ? They that trust in their own righteousnesse and holinesse , seek salvation in themselves : but I flie unto thee my Saviour ; for I finde nothing in my self worthy of eternall life : Save the condemned : shew mercie to the sinner : justifie the unrighteous : absolve the accused . Thou Lord art truth , John 14.6 . thy name is holy and true . Let thy name also become true in respect of me , and become thou my Jesus and Saviour . Be thou unto me Jesus in this present life , be thou unto me Jesus in death , be thou unto me Jesus in the last judgement , be thou unto me Jesus in the life which is everlasting . I know thou wilt , sweet Jesus : for as thou art immutable in thy ess●nce , so also thou art immutable in thy mercy . Thou wilt not change thy name , Lord Jesus , for my sake alone , who am a miserable sinner : Yea rather thou wilt become my Saviour ; For thou dost not cast out him that cometh unto thee . Thou that hast given me a will to come unto thee , grant also unto me that coming I may be received : For thy words are truth and life . Let the propagation of originall sinne within me condemne me : John 14.6 yet thou art my Jesus . Let my conception in sinne condemne me : yet thou art my Jesus . Let my forming in sinne and under the curse condemne me : yet thou art my Saviour . Let the corruption of my nativitie condemne me : yet thou art my Saviour . Let the sinnes of my youth condemne me : yet thou art my Jesus . Let the course of my whole life , defiled with most grievous sinnes , condemne me : yet thou art still my Jesus . Let de●th the just punishment of my many and grievous sinnes and offences condemne me : yet thou art my Saviour . Let the severe sentence in the last judgement condemne me : yet thou art my Jesus . In me is sinne , reprobation , damnation : In thy name is righteousnesse , election , salvation . I was baptized in thy name : I beleeve in thy name : In thy name will I die : In thy name will I rise again : In thy name will I appeare in judgement . In this name are all good things prepared for us , and shut up as it were a treasure : So much are they diminished , as my diffidence is increased : which that it may be farre from me , I beseech thee by this thy name , good Jesus , that for my sinne and unbelief I be not damned , whom by thy precious merit and saving name thou wouldst have saved .