A pathvvay to patience in all manner of crosses, tryals, troubles, and afflictions: inwardly for sinne, or outwardly by sicknesse, pouerty, enemies, imprisonment, banishment, slaunders, disobedience of children, houshold-crosses betweene man and wife, &c. With necessary prayers for euerie of them; as also for diuers other necessarie purposes. By I.N.

A PATH-WAY TO GODLY PATIENCE , IN all manner of Afflictions .

AFliction heere in this life , is vnto the Godly , as it were a Schoole to learne them Patience : A most worthie and diuine Vertue ; which , adioyned with true & liuely Faith in God , doth so season the minde and the affections of the heart , as it seemeth not to feele , whatsoeuer trouble , or affliction inflicted ; or iniury offered : But , in prosperitie and aduersitie : loued or hated ; sicke or in health ; in fulnesse & in want ; in riches & pouerty ; it resteth in the worst part content , and in the best euer thankfull : neyther lifted vp for the one , or cast downe for the other .

Tribulation may lye very heauily vpon a man endewed with this diuine vertue , Patience beareth all things . yet can it neuer presse him down to dispayre , moue him to reuenge , or cause him to seeke sinister meanes for ease : For , hee is strong , when he seemeth most weake ; he goeth on most cheerfully , and with ease , when Carnal men ( obseruing his miseries ) thinke him most heauily and grieuously loaden .

It is such , and so excellent a vertue , as is not , neither can it begotten , by friendship or fauour : It is freely giuen , not of Nature , but of Grace : Not attained vnto by Humane learning , but by Spirituall illumination : And therefore , neuer entreth into a froward , Patience brooketh not a repining heart . vnfaithfull , or repining heart : But , in a heart vpright , and a conscience at peace with God and men ; humble and meeke men and women doe only ( and none else ) enioy her .

So precious a Iewell it is , as neither golde nor siluer can purchase it ; It is also so victorious , as nothing can ouercome it : Seldome moued , yet neuer without cause of being moued : for one iniury , trouble , crosse , or affliction or another , wil daily , nay euery houre set vpon it to try it . It continually meeteth with one occasion or another , Patience is neuer idle . to exercise it : And the more it is crossed , the more it increaseth , and the stronger and more perfect it waxeth .

Where this diuine vertue Patience dwelleth , and hath her perfect working , it is an especiall marke and note , that he , or she that truely possesseth it , or is possessed by it , is the true Childe of God ; Patience a marke of the Childe of God . yet neuer seene nor obserued , but by iniuries , wrongs , afflictions , abuses , and troubles , the things whereupon it worketh ; and without which it were of no vse . For as Physicke needes not , where no disease is , nor Medicine , where no Maladie is ; So needes there no Patience , where no tryall is .

But it fareth not so with Gods Children , they haue matter enough to trye and in-vre their Patience ( though worldly men , that haue all thinges , and all thinges succeed according to their owne hearts desires , haue no seeming cause , to vse , though they often abuse this most worthie vertue . ) The Godly , and such as truely endeauour to liue religiously among the multitudes of men , cannot be but many wayes tryed , to proue their Faith , and to exercise them to beare their afflictions without murmuring or grudging , Psal. 38. 15 Wayting on the Lord with perfect Patience : For where no troubles are , where , and to whom no iniury , abuse , or wrong is offered , and vpon whom no crosses befall , how can Patience appeare ? Where no triall is , Patience cannot appear . where no Body is , how can the shadow be seene ? And as the shadow appeareth by the Body ; so in the truely humbled , Patience appeareth in affliction : According to St. Paul , who approueth that Tribulation in the Faithfull bringeth forth Patience , Rom. 5. 3 ▪ 4 and Patience experience of the mercies of God , and that experience produceth Hope ( neuer to be forsaken in what trouble soeuer ) which Hope is so farre from making him ashamed , that is endewed with these heauenly vertues , that he findeth the end of his troubles to be timely deliuerance , and finally glorie : How can he but reioyce , rather then to be too much deiected in his afflictions ? For , seeing Hope grounded vpon Experience , approueth that afflictions worke Patience , through Faith ; why should afflictions seem so harsh , Afflictions make not a Patient man miserable , but rather honorable . as to make men miserable , when the Patient suffring of them , bringeth not onely no shame , but honour vnto the Saints of God , that suffer ? whom it pleaseth him to vse here as seruants , intending hereafter to glorifie them as his Sonnes and Daughters : he abaseth them here , whom he meaneth to aduance hereafter : His crosses here for a time , carries vs to a Crowne of glory hereafter . Let vs therefore with true & perfect Patience , vndergoe all our crosses & afflictions ; knowing , that through many troubles and trials we must enter into the kingdome of heauen .

Carnal men may think indeed , that the Patient man , & such a one as can contentedly beare troubles , iniuries , wrongs , slaunders reproaches , Carnall men think Patience sottishnes . and afflictions ; to be but a Coward , a Sot , a Silly foole one that hath neither a manly spirit , nor humane Pollicy to reuenge himselfe , or to make sinister shifts in the world , to right and releeue himselfe : and thinke him mad or sencelesse , that he sheweth no more passion , or impatience , in his wrongs and miseries , as meere Carnall men doe : But that seemingsilly Patient man , feels farre lesse trouble of minde in his seeming greatest afflictions , then these Politicks of the world doe ; who are both inwardly vexed and tormented , and outwardly toyled , in shuffling & tossing their wits , like Flies in a Spiders web , or Birds in a Lime-bush , to free themselues of small troubles ; and the more they struggle , the more they entangle themselues , As if they were not blinded with the vaine opinion of their owne carnall wisdome , or carried away with the vaine hope of ( vncertaine ) successe , they could not but acknowledge ; for dayly experience sheweth , that the wisest and carnally Politickst men in the world , seldom bring their euill enterprizes to passe , but with charging their Consciences , and finde at last , that all their inuentions and practises , either end with shame here , or in horror , when they goe hence : For it is iust with God to leaue them to their owne wills and wiles , that wilfully forsake him , and his wisdome to direct them : And experience likewise approueth that the truly patient and faithfull man , depending onely vpon the Power , Prouidence , Wisdome , and Loue of God , in his greatest calamities , Patience findes comfort in the end . findeth euer a most certaine comfortable issue of his hope , and holy desires . In his greatest dangers he passeth not the bounds of Gods holy directions . So all his afflictions tend to his inward comfort , neuer to his outward deserued shame or reproach : He doth consider in true wisedome , that the time of his suffring is heere but short , but the time of his Triumphing shall be perpetuall .

And therefore , whatsoeuer the malice of Sathan or his Instruments can practise or purpose against a man , trulie indewed with this diuine Vertue Patience ( which through Faith hauing it perfect operation ) he daun●eth not . 2. Kin 18. 〈◊〉 Let Rabsach : rayle and blaspheme : 2. Sa. 16. 〈◊〉 Let Shemie curse and cast stones : Let the world and all the wicked therein , worke what they can : let them vomit out their venemous Gall of malice , and spew out their most enuious hearts in most ignominious slanders against him ; he will yet keepe silence in his heart , to God ; who searcheth euery heart , and tryeth the Reynes of euery man , and will giue vnto euery man according to his wayes : And it is he that sends vs troubles to keepe vs in obedience : Why God sendeth his children troubles . And it is he that works Patience to beare them ; and nothing hindreth inward comfort in outward crosses , but murmuring , grudging , and impatience in them .

Afflictions ( indeed ) though they doe proceed of Gods fauour , seeme nothing pleasant to the fleshly minde : yet ( as St. Paul saith ) they bring in the end , Heb. 12. 11 the quiet . and comfortable fruite of righteousnesse , to them that are exercised with Patience to beare them ; They bring , through faith , eternall glory in the end ; not as the cause , but through Faith in him that suffered for vs , and before vs , a testimonie , that God so loueth vs in his Sonne , as to make vs in some measure like him , by suffering with him and for his sake : And when we haue suffered , as much as the malice of Sathan or his Instruments ( by the permission of God ) can inflict vpon vs , yet cannot our suffrings amount to the thousandth part of the best mans euil deseruings : And yet many complaine of the greatnesse of their troubles , that neuer , either examine the haynousnesse of their sinnes , or that they are sent of God , to make them to know that God is angry with their sinnes ; and by his corrections seeketh to draw them to repentance , and amendment of life .

If we did truely consider , and duely weigh , that it is God alone that measures out all our afflictions ; God limiteth our afflictions . the length , breadth , and depth of them by his owne hand in his absolute wisedome ; and that neither Sathan nor the malice of man , hath any further share in inflicting them vpon vs , then they are limited in his prouidence , & did consider ( as I●b saith ) that afflictions spring not of the ca●●h , Iob 5. 6. though many times by earthly men ( yet all of God ) we could not but with a most liuely and firme Patience imbrace them as sent from him .

What are the afflictions which can befall vs in this life ? They are indeed of many and sundrie sortes ; Seuerall kindes of afflictions . yet may be all reduced into these heads : The griefe of the minde for sinne , sickenesse of the body , enemies , losse of goods , slanders of our good name , imprisonment , banishment ; & which is the most heauie , yet most comfortable , persecution for the constant acknowledgement and profession of the Gospell of Christ : vngodly children not the least crosse , and houshold disquietnesse betweene man and wise , the most vngodly : many other branches are dependant on euery of these : But what , and of what nature or kinde soeuer they be , they are all determined by God , so to befall vs as he hath limited , and none of them but haue befallen Gods dearest children : And therefore let no man attribute whatsoeuer befals him , to Fortune , Chance or Ill-lucke , common vngodly phrases , vsed not by the ignorant onely , but , too often , by such as stand much vpon their diuine knowledge . Luc 21. 1. A haire falleth not from our head by chance , but by the prouidence of God : And shall we ascribe matters of farre more , yea of greatest moment , vnto a cause that is not ? for there is neither fortune , chance , or lucke , as they are commonly taken , that haue any share in these things ; and therefore can they not be the cause of our troubles , to which there can be no certaine euent ascribed : But the will , wisedome , power and prouidence of God , worketh according to his owne good pleasure , all things vnder the Sunne . Therefore ought all men to reuerence him , and to suffer themselues to be guided and gouerned by him : and not onely , not to murmure and grudge , at his corrections , but to imbrace with an humble heart and patient minde , We ought to imbrace whatsoeuer God layeth vpon vs . whatsoeuer hee in his wisedome shall thinke sit , to be laid vpon them , vsing no sinister , violent , or forbidden meanes to be eased ; and not to goe before the good pleasure of God to be eased : for as hee layes them vpon vs , he knowes the time and meanes to remoue them : wherein wee are to followe the example of Noah , who , as hee was shut vp into the Arke by God ; so would he not come forth without him : neither should we that are afflicted by him , seeke to be eased but by him .

Affliction in it selfe , and of it owne nature is indeed a heauie burthen , euen to a minde well qualified , as it is the punishment of sinne : But as God changeth the nature of it , in making it the medicine to cure the sinnes of his children , Afflictions , Medicines for sinnes . they become light , whose crosses and corrections he sanctifieth by his grace , and maketh those bitter waters sweet . So that through faithfull patience , his dearest children canne with comfort digest them .

But contrarily , they bring forth in the wicked , the poysonous fruites of impatience , murmuring , grudging , and many times very blasphemies ; Good thinges become euill to the wicked . In so much , as to them , euen good things become euill : and they become worse by that , whereby the children of God are made better ; and therefore saith God vnto the wicked ( that through punishment would not amend ) Wherefore should yee bee smitten any more ? for ye fall away more and more .

Whereby wee are taught not to repine at the continuall prosperitie of the wicked , that suffer not like troubles as the godly doe here ; for God seemeth to wincke a while at their wickednesse , and forbeares to punish them , suffering them to enioy their profits , their pleasures and carnall delights here , that hee may giue them their iust recompence of condemnation hereafter , that refuse his chastasements here .

Happie are they therefore that suffer here , with faithfull and filiall patience , though in showe it be ignominious , Afflictions the crowne of the godly . and in the censures and opinions of carnall and worldly men base : yet is it indeede the Crowne of their glorie here : howsoeuer they seeme to be neglected and reiected in the world & worldlings , by their true faith , perfect patience , humilitie and prayer : they are sustained , supported , and in their greatest troubles , deepest dangers , distresses and wantes , comforted and releeued : and obtainning at his hands whatsoeuer small comfort , they atribute it wholy and altogether to his meere mercy , goodnesse and prouidence , not vnto selfe wisedome , policie or fortune .

They acknowledge their owne wisedome to bee but foolishnesse , their policies friuolous ; and , fortune a meere heathenish inuention : They see and feele their owne weakenes ; they obserue their owne blindnesse ; they finde they can doe nothing of themselues , towards the remouing of their miseries , nor supplying of their wants ; but repaire vnto , and relie onely vpon God , in faithful prayer , and wayte with patience , for , and receiue timely supplie .

By troubles and afflictions , they finde the worlds inconstancie , humane ficklenesse ; Gods children haue least rest in the world . and that in the world the dearest children of God haue least rest . They are tossed hether and thether ; one trouble followes another as the drops of raine ; whereby also the pride of corrupt nature , in the godly , is humbled , their confidence in worldly meanes abated , their security abandoned . They finde , that fulnesse bred sinne , and sinne procured Gods displeasure , and in his displeasure hee punisheth the wicked , and correcteth the godly ; and neither but for sinne : yet the one in his Iustice , the other in mercie : And therefore saith Iob , to encourage the godly to patience , Iob 5. 17. Blessed is the man whom the Lord correcteth : refuse not therefore the chastisements of the Almightie : Though therefore we be compassed about on all sides with many miseries , let vs not fainte , Luk. 21. 19. but in patience possesse our soules , As Christ himselfe teacheth , Heb. 12. 6. for Whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth : and scourgeth euery sonne that hee receiueth . Then are chastisements testimonies of Gods loue towards vs : and therefore they that cannot abide to bee corrected , showe themselues bastards , and not the sonnes of God . Reu. 3. 19. As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten . Reuel. 3. 19. Doth a father correct his sonne without a faulte ? it were iniurious : God correcteth none but for sinne . and doth God correct his children that sinne not ? there is none but sinneth , therefore none but deserue correction : seeing then that sinne is the cause of Gods corrections ; let euery man examine himselfe , and take with thankeful patience , his Fatherly chastisements , in what manner soeuer they befall him .

Touching sinne , the cause of all afflictions ; the confession and repentance thereof , and patience in troubles .

FOr asmuch as sinne is the cause of all our afflictions , and that there is neither crosse , or any kinde of trouble that befall vs , Sinne causeth afflictions . but sinne causeth it : In vaine it is to hope for remedie , reliefe or ease , vntill wee haue in some measure vnburthened vs of our sinnes : for , as an old house pulled downe to bee rebuilt , must be rid of all rotten materials and rubbish , before any good and sound foundation can be laid : so before wee can receiue any inward comfort , or outward release of our troubles ; we must cast out of our hearts , and clense our soules , of all the filthy & loathsome dregs of sinne , that lurke in them : & that can we not doe but by a strict and serious examination of our hearts ; and to call to minde how wee haue spent the time past ; and then shall euery man finde cause enough , why God in his Iustice might inflict vpon vs , in steeede of our light afflictions ( which are but his Fatherly corrections ) his most heauie iudgements & seuearest punishments ; and in steed of our temporall and momentanie miseries , cast vs into perpetuall torments .

Knowing then that the cause of our calamities , to bee our sinnes , and hauing vpon due search found out our long hidden iniquities , can we but acknowledge ; No man is here punished according to the merit of sin that God hath not dealt with vs , nor afflicted vs according to the measure and multitude of our wicked deseruings ? But as a louing father , hee hath by his gentle chastisements , as it were onely wincked at , and beckened vnto vs , to put vs in minde onely of our faults ; least by continuing in them , and multiplying of them , he should haue cause ( in steed of gentle corrections ) to vse his Iustice : therefore hauing found in our corrupte hearts , our vngodly and impious inclinations , which haue begotten in vs infinite actuall sinnes ; we may not any longer couet to conceale them , but heartily , plainely and faithfully , acknowledge them vnto God : ( though we cannot call all our antient sinnes and the faults we haue committed long agoe to our remembrance ) for Who can vnderstand all his faults ? Psa. 19. 12. saith Dauid , yet Dauid him selfe confessed his sinnes to God ; sometimes in generall , sometimes in particular : he did not hide his iniquities , but confessed them against himselfe , and was not ashamed to set them down in many of his Psalmes : to teach vs ( if occasion be ) to discouer our sins for the satisfaction of men , but especially vnto God , Psal. 32. 5. as Dauid did , who forgaue the punishment of his sinne : Yet had he afflictions still , not as punishments , but as fatherly physicke , to keepe his heart and affections in more due obedience : and though Dauid said he did not hide his sinnes from God ; it is not therefore to bee collected , No man can hide his sinnes from God . that he could , or any man can hide his sinnes from him , howsoeuer couertly and secretly they commit them : But who so confesseth them not , he intendeth to hide them as much as lyeth in him from God that seeth them , and thereby doubleth his offence : 1. Io. 1. 9. But who so acknowledgeth his sinnes vnto him , he is faithfull and Iust to forgiue them , and to cleanse him from all his vnrighteousnesse .

To acknowledge our sinnes then , The entrance into Gods fauour is to confesse our sinnes . is the very entrance into Gods fauour ; which being obtained , ( not by the confession of our sinnes , ) but in , and through a firme faith in Iesus Christ , through whose merites we may freely aske , and assure our selues of the remission of our sinnes : for he hath promised to doe it , who is most faithfull and iust in his word , and that doth Dauid approoue ; saying : I confessed against my selfe my sinnes vnto the Lord , and hee forgaue the punishment of my sinne . He forgaue him , as not to punish him in the seueritie of his Iustice , though he remembred him with his gentle corrections often , as hee doth his deerest children ; yet not all a like : God doth not punish euery man a like . some hee chastiseth after a most milde manner , some more sharpely , yet fatherly ; as he findeth men docible and tractable , or refractarie and hard to bee reformed : for , some are more and sooner reformed , with a sharpe looke of the Lords countenance , then some with many stripes ; Mat. 26. 75. As Peter , when he had thrice denyed his Master Christ : Christ but turned his face towards him at the crowing of the Cocke , it was rebuke enough ; he went suddenly forth and wept bitterly , in token of his repentance . Some againe , will hardly remember their sinnes , vntill it be said vnto them , Thou art the man , as Nathan , tolde Dauid ; who before that , had slept in his sinne of adultrie and murder , a whole yeare , neuer thinking of it : But when he was admonished from God by a parable ; then he confessed his sinnes , and repented them ; saying I haue sinned against the Lord : Ioyning with his confession , sorrow and repentance for his sinnes . And the same mouth that reproued him for his sinne , and that he should dye for the same ; pronounced the forgiuenesse and pardon of them ; The Lord hath put away thy sinnes . 2. Sam. 12. 13.

Whereby we may learne , that the Lord seeketh no seue●r● reuenge against a sinner , Though God forgiue our sinnes hee keepes vs in awe by some crosse confessing and repenting his sinnes , though he leaue some token of his displeasure against sinne , and of his loue to the sinner , in keeping him in future obedience by his fatherlie discipline , least he should too much presume of pardon of second sinning , by the mercie of God declared by the remission of the former : And therefore , although he had pardoned Dauid his sinne , and had forgiuen him the punishment of it ; yet Dauid went not without a token , that he should remember that he had offended , and giuen the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme : Ver. 14. God pronounced the death of the child .

God sees it necessarie , and we cannot but thinke it expedient euen for vs , That although God doe assure vs that our sinnes ( sincerely acknowledged ) be forgiuen vs ; yet that he beare a kinde and fatherly hand ouer vs , to retaine vs in future obedience , by some daily vnsauory potion , to cure and to keepe our carnall apetite in order , that we returne not to our former iniquities : And therefore not to think it strange , when any crosse or affliction befals vs ; But rather thereby to take occasion to call our selues daily to accompt what we haue done against the Commandements of God , and to acknowledge that for those sins that we haue done , God corrects vs .

Let vs beware that we bee not found of the number of those , Beware of hardnes of heart . whom neither Gods angrie countenance , which appeareth in the seueritie of his punishments ; nor his fatherly chastisements , and instructions , contained in his word , can reclaime from committing sinne , nor from whom Gods gentle correction can draw hearty confession of them , and true repentance for them .

We must also consider , that it is not enough for vs to confesse our sinnes barely to God ; for hee knoweth them better then wee our selues : but with our confession wee must acknoweledge that God may iustly condemne vs for them . We must with confession of our sinnes ioyne repentance in faith . And therefore wee must ioyne with the confession of our sins , true and sincere repentance for them ; which yet auaileth not , without a liuely faith , in taking hold of the blood and merites of Iesus Christ , in whome , and for whose , sake our sins are pardoned : And this faith must bee certaine , it must be an assured confidence of the promises made in Christ , in whom a sinner ( truely penitent , and faithfully confident ) is iustified : and neither by our bare confession , or best workes , but by the meere mercy of God , in his Sonne .

As there is no man but sinneth daily ; Math. 27. 34. So hee must daily confesse his sinnes to God , and truely repent them ; not as Iudas & Kayne : Iudas confessed he had sinned ; We must daily confesse our sinnes because wee daily sinne , but not stay vpon confession as Kaine and Iudas did . betraying the innocent blood , and repented , but not in faith ; his repentance was a desperate sorrowe , not for the sinne hee committed , but for the horror of his reprobabation : So did Kayne confesse his sinnes , My sinnes are greater then I am able to beare ; but he tepented not to the obtaining of mercie : Confession of sinnes , and repentance ( without faith ) auaileth not . It auailed not Pharaoh , though hee confessed the righteousnesse of God , and his owne , and his peoples sinnes : But Peter confessed his sinnes and repented with tears : Pro. 9. 27. So did Marie Magdaline , and their repentance is recorded by the holy Ghost ; Io. 11. 2. to teach all posterities , how to bewayle their sinnes a right : They were great sinners , yet through faith and repentance obtained pardon ; which to the comfort of greatest sinners , sheweth , that there is yet place of repentance , and acceptation into Gods fauour for them , vpon sincere repentance .

God himselfe affirmeth , that He desireth not the condemnation of a sinner , Ezec. 18. 32. but rather that he repent and be saued : And againe hee saith : Haue I any desire that the wicked should dye , Ver. 23. or shall he not liue , if he returne from his euill wayes ? And what is it to returne vnto God , but true repentance for our sinnes ? And we are to consider , that , that repentance which is perfect indeed , What true repentance is . is ioyned with the keeping of Gods Commandements : and none can say or assure himselfe , that his confession of his sinnes , and his repentance , is accepted of God ; vnlesse he adde all his desires , to fulfill the Lawe of God : for the breach whereof , God afflicteth his owne dearest children with sundrie crosses to preuent his cursses which hee inflicteth , either here vpon the disobedient and vnrepentant ; to cause his owne to auoid sin , by the example of his seuere iudgements , whereby hee beginneth here to punish them ; or reserueth his punishments of them , vntill his finall condemnation of them .

Markes of repentance , Markes of true repentance . are contrition and vnfained sorrow for sinne committed , ioyned with a liuely faith in Christ , for pardon of them , and a setled desire and purpose euer hereafter to walke in a holy feare , to displease God againe by our sinnes ; namely , by the outward breach of Gods Commandements : for the committing of things contrary to the Lawes of God , is that sin we should repent vs of ; which by reason of our corrupt nature , we cannot , but commit , without the especiall grace of God ; which although it be the free guift of God , it is not obtained without liuely faith and prayer in Christ ; by whose stripes we are healed , and for whose sake we are heard , and in whose blood we are washed from our sinnes .

But sorrow of heart , may be great and yet auaile vs nothing ; as it did not Kayne , Iudas , Esau ; vnlesse true faith bee ioyned therewith : Sorrow indeed may cast vs downe , which if it bee not in an humble and faithfull acknowledgement of our vnworthinesse , to be called or accepted as the children of God , Sorrow for sinne and faith in Christ must goe together . by reason of our sinnes ; it may proue desperate . And therefore sorrow for sinne and faith in Christ to be pardoned , ioyned together , will assure vs , that God is our God and that wee are his people ; that , he is our Father and that wee are his sonnes and daughters .

If then we finde in our selues the burthen of our sinnes ; truely and plainely confesse them to God , and heartely repent them ; we cannot but through faith in Christ , assure our selues that our sinnes are pardoned : and hauing an inward assurance thereof , It is onely the grace of God that worketh repentance we must acknowledge , that these graces proceede of no other thing , then of the meere merites , and mediation of our alone and onely Sauiour Iesus Christ , Rom. 8. 29. who disdaineth not to call vs ( thus receiued into the Communion of the Saints of God ) brethren , whom God knewe before the world was ; predestinated , to be made like to the Image of Iesus Christ , Eph. 1. 5. 6. 7. adopted in him ; and by whom , we haue redemption in his blood , euen the full forgiuenes of all our sinnes , through his grace , wherewith hee hath made vs freely accepted of God .

Now then , we being through the grace of God , made the Sonnes of God , Wee bee made the sonnes of God in Christ , in & by whom wee haue power to pray vnto the Father brethren and coheires with Christ ; shall wee thinke that he will not also furnish vs , with the spirit of his Son , which dwelling in vs ? we shall be able , faithfully to cry Abba Father ; and what is that , but to teach vs how to pray to God his heauenly Father , in his owne name . 1. Io. 5. 14. Therefore Whatsoeuer we shall aske the Father , he will grant it vs , for his sake : so we aske according to his will in a liuely faith , and wa●●● not ; Iam. 1. 6. for he that wauereth , is like a waue of the sea tost with the wind .

Though therefore our Tribulations be great , and our afflictions many waies grieuous ; We ought to take our afflictions patiently because they are sent of God . yet seeing they proceed from so louing a Father , we may not thinke them to be inflicted vppon vs in displeasure , but in a Fatherly regard of our soules health : Which as sinne hath impaired , so his gentle chastisements , are as wholsome medicines to heale it . And as no Physicke , be it neuer so salutarie for the health of the body , is sauorie to the Palat ; So Gods corrections , howsoeuer they are sent , as eyther Antidotes to preuent sinne , or Medicines to cure it ; They are not pleasant to Flesh and Blood for the time : But as corporall physicke , though harsh in the tast , hauing it working in an vnsound sound body , begetteth health ; and is then much commended , with many thanks to the Physitian . So if we can well digest our troubles & afflictions here , for a little while , and by vertue of them ( seasoned with Faith and perfect Patience ) euacuate our grosse and filthy corruptions , that suffocate our hearts with sin ; wee shall feele a most wished renouation of the health of our mindes , and finde our affections changed ; euen as a body distempred with a Feuer , distasteth the most sauorie thinges , as long as it possesseth the Body ; and afterwards becomes to it perfect taste : So , although , as long as we be holden with the corrupt infirmitie of our naturall wills , no good dutie , or heauenly grace , can be so toothsome vnto vs as pleasure , and the sinnes wee delight in : But being purged and dieted , by the afflictions that our louing Physitian doth compound for vs ; we shall finde sin , and pleasures , and all carnall delights , to become bitter and harsh vnto our hearts .

God many times sends vs troubles and afflictions , that by easing vs of them againe , God sendeth sometimes afflictions , to make vs to acknoweledge his power with thankefulnesse in remoouing them . we may knowe , that as he can correcte vs , so he can comforte vs : He neuer maketh a wound but hee healeth it : nay such is his mercie , power , and prouidence , as hee cures the most deadly wounds that our selues doe make vpon our selues , through our sinnes , by his owne free mercie in his Sonne ; and the medicines he vseth , are his fatherly chastisements .

Should we not therefore take his salutarie , and gentle stripes with patience , Gods stripes hurt vs not but heale vs . that doe not onely not hurt vs , but heale vs ? If wee were indeed the first of Gods children , that haue beene afflicted and troubled in this life , we might stagger at our crosses and calamities , that are so infinite ; But , if we set before vs the worthy examples for our imitation , which Saint Iames sets before vs , euen our brethren the Prophets , Apostles ( and such as were the most beloued of God ) for an example of suffering , Iam. 5. 10. and their patience , such as haue spoken and taught in the name of the Lord , and his Christ , who indured most ignominious tortors , and most cruell afflictions ; for his sake of whom the world was not worthie ; being the Ambassadours of the eternall God : wee could not but beare our light and momentanie afflictions , with most resolute , and godly patience , and as we haue heard , so if we beleeue the patience of Iob , and what end the Lord made with him , namely , in not onely remouing his miseries , but in restoring him to greater glorie , euen here , then he had before ; and which was greatest of all and the end of all , the Crowne of life ; we should acknowledge with holy Saint Iames , That we are blessed that endure here , the chastisements of the Lord .

If then it be a blessed thing to endure troubles , They are blessed that suffer with Patience . he must needs be the childe of God , that is here corrected , and doth suffer it with patience , though the fault be in our selues , for which we are afflicted ; and therefore to impute it to no other cause but to our sinnes .

There is a kinde of suffering indeed , couered with a kinde of counterfeit patience : Counterfeit Patience . As when men are inforced to vndergoe the ineuitable torments of death , for capitall crimes , committed against the Lawes of Nations , or suffering things they cannot auoide : as there 〈…〉 to showe their impious and vaine-glorious valour , and vngodly resolution at their vnauoidable executions , vndergoe them , as if they were nothing daunted therewith : yet were their inward hearts seene , they would appeare , fraught and full of horrour . But we are to learne of Saint Paul , who had his tribulations and reioyced in them , affirming , that tribulation bringeth forth patience , and patience , experience , and experience , hope ; which hope maketh not ashamed : for , through the loue of God , which is shed abroad in our hearts , by the holy Ghost ; patience becommeth an assured testimonie , that they that thus suffer , are beloued of God .

We need not therefore thinke or conceiue , Afflictions here the liuery and badge of Gods children . that our afflictions here to be any disgrace vnto vs ; f●r they are the liuery , and badge of Gods dearest children . It is a glorious thing to be adorned with the note of the honour of any great mans seruice ; and shall wee thinke it a base thing , to weare the cognisance of the King of Kings , and which our Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe , hath worne before vs ? yet without sinne in himselfe , but bare the curse for ours : we suffer for our owne sinnes , he endured all and more ; and more heauie crosses for vs , then wee are able to beare for him . What torments endured he not ? Christ afflictions here in the world . he was poor , though all the world were his : hee had not a house to hide his head in ; hee had enemies more then wee all ; he was slaundered , railed on , buffered , spet on , crowned with thornes , besides infinite and vnspeakable iniuries ; and finally , put to a most cruell , shamefull , and ignominious death : a death inuented for theeues and murtherers ; and hanged as so capitall a malefactor , being altogether in himselfe innocent ; Lord and Creator of heauen and earth : and shall we most wretched sinners , guiltie of ten thousand impieties , worthie for the least of them to be vtterly confounded , repine at the good will of God , in sending vs so fauourable tokens of his displeasure for our sinnes , and loue of our saluation ? God forbid ! knowing , and being so sufficiently instructed , Nothing befalleth vs but by the prouidence of God . that nothing doth or can befall vs , but by the meere prouidence of our most louing Father ; neither sicknesse , nor pouertie , nor enemies , nor any whatsoeuer crosse : which hee doth also so graciously temper in his mercie , as they are neuer more heauy then he maketh vs able to beare them , with his owne guifte of setled patience , through the free guift of faith .

Wherefore let vs apply our hearts to wisedome , and learne to know , and to acknowledge , that all the troubles and afflictions that fell so heauily vpon innocent Christ , Christ suffered not for himself but for vs . were not for sinne in him , but for ours ; and were most heauily layde vpon him , to make ours light : And that whatsoeuer crosse , affliction , or trouble , befalleth vs , our sins procure them and yet there is no more required of vs for the mittigation of them , or remouing them from vs ; What is required of vs for the release of our sinnes . but a full acknowledgement of our sinnes , vnfained repentance for them , faith , in , and obedience to God , and patience for a little space to beare our corrections : If these things be not in vs , how can we thinke our selues , or be thought , in the least measure to haue our troubles remoued or mittigated , but rather to acknowledge our selues worthie to be more seuerely punished in his Iustice ?

Let vs therefore afore all thinges , How wee ought to make peace with God . make our peace with God , which by no other means can be , but onely by the merits and mediation of Iesus Christ ; which we must apply vnto our selues , through a liuely saith : praying in the same ( with a godly feare , and feeling of our sinnes ) for remission and pardon of them : and that hee will so arme vs with his heauenly graces , as wee may bee able to beat downe all impatience , and to giue vs power to resist that armed enemy Sathan , who endeauoureth to make vs to think , that our crosses are the curses of God , and that our afflictions proceed from his finall anger , neuer to bee appeased ; but these his sugiestions are false ; let vs not beleeue them : let vs beleeue , that whom God doth chasten , he loueth : and therefore we may assure our selues so much the more , that we are the children of God , by how much we finde these tentations in vs : for if we were his , as he would sugiest vnto vs , that God is angry with vs , and wee not his ; he needed not to trouble vs : but he knowing , that wee are the Lords , hee worketh by all meanes to drawe vs to distrust in God , and that the merits of Christ cannot auaile vs . But let vs be strong in the Lord ; let vs trust constantly and confidently in the merits of his sonne , armed with the shield of faith ; and buckle vnto our selues the sword of the spirit , which is the word of God ; which doth containe most sure promises that he will neuer leaue vs , nor forsake vs : let vs pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit ; and watch thereunto in a holy patience with all perseuerance : So shall wee see the saluation of God , his power and prouidence , in deliuering vs out of all our troubles , of whatsoeuer kinde ; or such inward comforte , as shall make our most bitter and sharpest afflictions , sweet and easie .

And for asmuch as sinne , Sinne the greatest affliction that can befall a man . is the greatest and most heauy burthen of misery , that any poore childe of God can be afflicted with : It is the principall part of a Christian , to seeke to be vnburthened of the same ; not as to bee carelesse in the search of his sinnes , and so to feele no burthen ; for he is like a man sicke vnto death , and yet will acknowledge he feeleth no sickenesse at all : but he that findeth his sinnes most grieuous vnto him , and most deiected for them , is nearest vnto pardon ; so he acknowledge them , and in a liuely faith in Christ repent them .

Comforte for a man afflicted in conscience , by reason of his sinnes .

COnsider first , whosoeuer thou art that art troubled in minde 〈◊〉 thy conscience afflicted by 〈◊〉 ●f thy great sins , 〈…〉 not thy case alone to be a sinner : Sinne a common disease and sickenesse of the soule of euery man . it is a common disease and sickenesse of the soule ; originally deriued from the transgression of Adam , and remaining in the nature of all his posteritie ; outwardly shewing it selfe in vngodly wordes and deeds , spoken or done against the Law and honor of God ; and inwardly , by the thoughts & desires of the heart , conceiued against the Law of the spirit . And happie is hee , that can consider his owne wayes , and that can and doth examine and finde out the sinnes which are hidden in his owne heart ; which to all other men are concealed , but not from God . The heart is an vnfadomable depth of sinne , and rebellion against God : and the best man by nature , is guiltie of many secret and hidden , as well as open and known sinnes : for , The imaginations of mans heart are onely euill from his youth : Gen. 8. 21. And many odious sinnes proceede from that corrupte fountaine ; All sinne proceedeth from the corruption of the heart . Such , as men are ashamed to reueale ; and were it possible , they would conceile them from God him selfe : and therefore they often striue to keepe them in their priuate bosomes , vntill they become so heauy & burthensome , as they can no longer beare them , without vnspeakable horror , and vnquietuesse of minde ; vntill they become as a worme , so venemous in the Conscience , as eateth and deuoureth all peace and comfort of the heart ; which the Deuill seeketh continually to feed , and agrauates the sinnes grieuously in the minde of a poore sinner , that he begins to fainte , and as it were to sincke vnder the burthen of his afflicted conscience ; which is the most heauy crosse of all crosses ; a burrhen importable , where it lighteth : and it seemeth to bee in some measure thine owne case , and is indeed dangerous : for , that soule that sinneth ( and perseuereth therein ) shall dye : and it seemeth , thou feelest the weight of grieuous sins ; which makes thee sad , melancholicke , and heauy ; which is yet a token that thou art not so dead in sin , as that there is no feeling of sinne in thee ; which may be an argument that there is some life of grace yet in thee , and that the spirit of God is not altogether dead in thee : for , if thy conscience were so feared vp and hardned , that there were no sinne felt of thee , thy case were farre more dangerous : and though thou groanest , and grieuest vnder the burthen of thy sinnes , it may be onely for feare of the Iudgement of God , and his punishments due for thy sinnes , A seruile feare . which is in it selfe but a seruile and slauish feare : But if thou grieue , that thou hast offended God by thy sinnes , and dishonoured him by thy transgressions ; this proceedeth of a godly sorrow , and so a signe , that there is yet place and time for thee to repent & turne vnto God , & therfore despaire not of the mercies of God in Christ , who through thy faith ( if it be liuely and stedfast ) will be thine Aduocate , by whom and by none other , 1. Io. 2. 1. 2. or other meanes , thou shalt be reconciled to God , and not dye in thy sinnes .

Thy sins are great , Gods mercies greater then our sinnes . & great and fearefull the iudgements of God for sinne ; yet greater then both , is the mercy of God , towards a truly penitent sinner : he is much displeased for sinne , yet retayneth not he his anger , long , against a sinner , if he returne vnto him ; Micah 7. 18. 19. for , mercy is more pleasing vnto him then Iustice : And though he seeme to turne away his louing fauour from thee ( being a notorious sinner ) and suffer thee to lye plunged , and as it were wallowing in the bloud of thy sinnes , and leaue thee destitute of all inward feeling of comfort ; yet , if thou were the most haynous sinner , and haue but an inclination , & an inward true desire to regaine his fauor , and be truly sorie that thou hast offended him , hee will turne againe , and haue compassion vpon thee ; he will put away thine iniquities , and cast thy sinnes into the botome of the Sea : for , as high as the heauen is aboue the earth , Psal. 103. 11. so great is his mercie towards them that truly feare him . God is iust , in deede : But , if it may be so said , he is more mercifull then iust ; but to none , but to such , as doe not onely feare , and grieue for their sinnes , as did Iudas and Esau : But to such alone , God died for sinners , but not for such as dye in their sinnes . as in a liuely Faith take hold of the merites of Christ ; who in deede died for sinners , but not for such as die in their sinnes , as they did . There must a reconciliation be made , betweene God & a sinner , before he can assure himselfe of pardon and remission of his sinnes , and that must not be delayed : it must be to day before to morrow ; for , as life is short and vncertaine , and repentance requireth some time to be perfected ( though there be one example , as of the Thiefe vpon the Crosse of suddaine repentance ) it is not so easie or speedy a worke to be well done : there be many lets , which you shall finde in your selfe , and many blockes Sathan will lay in your way ; therefore what you purpose to doe , doe it speedily , willingly , faithfully and fully .

There is no meanes for you to be eased of the burthen of your sinnes , The means to be eased of sinne . but to cleaue vnto God in the merites of his Christ , whome God the Father hath sent into the world , to saue all those ( be they neuer so great and grieuous sinners ) as doe truly confesse , 1 Ioh. 4. 14. hartily repent , and faithfully beleeue , the pardon of their sinnes ; and that they shall be saued through him .

If therefore thou truly beleeuest in Iesus Christ , and appliest his death and merites , vnto thy selfe , in a full assurance , and a setled perswasion that he dyed euen for thee ; The bloud of Christ is able to clense the greatest sinner . then were thy sinnes neuer so great and haynous in quality , neuer so many in number , were they as red as scarlet , or coloured as purple ; his bloud , euen the bloud of that Lambe shall make them as white as snowe : And therefore did Dauid crie , wash mee , O Lord , Psal. 51. wash mee and make mee cleane : And what should hee wash , but his sinnes ? And wherewith , but with the meritorious bloud of Iesus Christ ? And before you can be thus washed and cleansed ; before you can haue the terror of your conscience eased , and appeased ; You must confesse , and lay open your sinnes before the Lord , and say with a feeling , and faithfull heart , Ver. 3. Against thee , against thee , O Lord , onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight . It must not be a lip confession : What confession wee must make . as to acknowledge thy sinnes with thy mouth , and to retaine them in thy heart : Such a confession is hypocriticall , and encreaseth thy sinnes : were thy sinnes neuer so small in thine owne opinion , yet oughtest thou to thinke them great , and grieuous , and so they are ; for , the least sinne that a man commits , is the breach of the Law , and he that breaketh the least , Iam. 2. 10. is guilty of the greatest : It seemeth , thou dost in deede feele already the grieuousnesse of thy sinnes , by thy heauinesse and mourning : Sorrow for sin a good beginning of true repentance , yet , not perfect without perseuerance in wel doing . which is a good beginning of repentance ; but vnlesse thou doe therewith , conioyne Faith in the merites and bloud of Iesus Christ , and dost truly purpose and endeuour to leade a new life ; thy repentance will be still imperfect . Thou mayest also feare God , and yet little profit thee , except thou beleeue in the mercies of God in Christ ; for the deuils themselues feare and tremble , at their finall sentence of vtter condemnation . To feare God , as a Sonne , is in deede a most heauenly vertue , and is found in none , but in the very sonnes and daughters of God : for their feare is not so much of the punishment for sinne , as for that they haue offended so louing a God by their sinnes : But to feare God , for the first , is to feare him as a Slaue , that feares more the whip , then to abuse his Maister . And this feare proceedeth of the suggestion of Sathan , Sathans illusions . who tempts and allures thee to sinne ; perswading thee that thy greatest sinnes are but veniall , and easily pardoned , by saying onely Lord haue mercie vpon me , or by some superficiall and light confession . And when the sinne is committed , he tells thee that thy sinnes are so great and haynous , as they can not be forgiuen : Agrauating that seruile feare , which often drawes silly weake soules , to dispaire of Gods mercies .

Thou grieuest that thou hast sinned , because thou hearest that euery sinner shall die : And yet thou thinkest it sufficient , to thinke , yea and to confesse thou art a sinner ; and Sathan would haue thee goe no further : And so farre he will permit thee to goe , without hindering thee , as he did Kayne and Iudas ; but when hee sees thee begin to leade a life , contrary to that he hath led thee and lulled thee in ; when he obserueth thee , to shew any fruites of true repentance ; 〈◊〉 . 4. 14. hee will then tell thee , it is a needlesse labour ; for thy sinnes are so great , as God will neuer forgiue them , though thou repent neuer so m●ch .

Beleeue not this auncient lyer , Not to beleeue Sathans suggestions . though hee doe perswade thee , that thy sinnes are so great , as the bloud of Iesus Christ can not preuaile to heale thee of them ; beleeue him not , I say , for he himselfe knoweth , ( though to the agrauation , and ●ncrease of his owne torments ) 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ came into the world to saue greatest sinners , that repent and beleeue in the merites of Christ : of which number , because hee knoweth he cannot be , he laboureth , and vseth his infinite infernall Ministers , to draw as many as hee can , to his disobedience and condemnation . Beleeue him not , nor feare him not , hee is a lyer in his suggestions , S●● Iusi● and weak in his power : and though he doe perswade thee , that thy sinnes are so great , as cannot be pardoned in the bloud , and by the merites of Iesus Christ , beleeue the contrary ; for , he himselfe knoweth , and hath confessed , Christ to be the Sauiour of the faithfull , and he that shall finally condemne him , and all vnbeleeuers . Math. 8. 29 Art thou come to torment vs before the time , saith he ? foreshowing , that there is a time appointed for his vtter condemnation at the last day . Hee knoweth , that Christ came to saue sinners , and that without exception of any sinne , Sathan guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost ( the sinne against the holy Ghost excepted ) of which sinne hee is highly guilty , and therefore neuer to be forgiuen .

Take vnto thy selfe therefore a spirituall courage , and defie this reprobate lyer , this malignant aduersary , to his face ; and tell him , in a liuely feeling of the spirit of God , in a true and firme faith , 1. Ioh. 4. 14. that thou beleeuest in Christ thy assured Redeemer , and hee shall not onely not preuaile against thee , Iam. 4. 7. but he shall flie from thee : And for thy more strength put on the whole armour of God , and he will buckle it vnto thee , that armed Christ against this common and mortall aduersary ; As Christ triumphed ouer Sathan so shal all beleeuers . who ouercame him , and triumphed ouer him : hee will arme thee so on all parts , that thou shalt not feare to encounter him hand to hand , as Christ did : Thou shalt combate with him , and conquer him as Dauid did Goliah ; and therefore yeeld not to his tentations , feare not his suggestions : Looke vp vnto Christ thy Sauiour , though hee be in the heauens glorified , and hath his Throne of glory there ; hee will yet be thy safe second here ; Euery faith full Christian combating with Sathan , hath Christ his second . hee will be euer on thy side : therefore , if through frailty thou shouldest be in some measure foyled ( as it seemeth thou art ) be not discouraged , he will enter the List for thee , and in thy behalfe : And as soone as that infernall Champion , doth but obserue , that thou art seconded , by him , that hath alreadie conquered him , he will not abide the field , he will flye and forsake any further pursuit of thee . Sathan noting whereunto man is enclined , feedes him with occasions to offend .

Yet remember , that this enemie will seeke and spie all occasions , to take thee at any aduantage ; and will marke whereunto thou art still enclined ; and according to thy common course of siuning , hee will feede thee with occasions , to moue thee to offend thy louing God and Iesus Christ : and therefore must thou continually wrestle ( as long as thou liuest here in the flesh ) not onely , with the infirmities of flesh and bloud , but against principalities , against powers , and against spirituall wickednes ; against worldly gouernours , the Princes of the darknesse of this world , Eph 2. all inuisible : And thinke not thy chiefest conflict , We are neuer free from trials . to be with the visible men of this world ; but looke euery houre to be assayled by one spirituall enemie or another : and when thou feelest any motion in thy heart , to any kinde of sinne ; thinke thou presently , Sathan hath swift wings to follow , and to tempt sinners . now I must either fight or be foyled , for there is no string away : Sathan hath swift wings , he will ouertake thee , and finde thee out goe where thou wilt ; and that thou findest in thy selfe , by the present horrour of thy conscience for thy sinnes , which hee layes before thee as in an vgly glasse ; shewing them to be so monstrous ( as they be vnto thee ) as hell it selfe : Be not yet dismayed , take hold of Christ , though not with thy hand ( as the woman in the Gospell ) yet with thy heart ; fasten vpon him with a liuely faith , and hold him fast , for nothing preuailes with him , nor against Sathan and sinne , but a strong and liuely faith in Iesus Christ .

In this assurance stand fast , be not afraide , Most worthy men haue beene guilty of great sins . though thou be guilty of many and great sinnes ; so was Dauid and many worthy men of olde , yet they obtayned pardon , and were ( through the merites of Christ imputed righteous . The mercy of GOD wrought vpon their sinnes ; for , if all men were of them selues righteous , needing no repentance , how should the mercies of God appeare ? what auayled then the death and merites of Christ ? If there were no sinne , there needed no Redeemer . Why should he be reputed a Redeemer , a Sauiour ? or wherefore should he be called a Mediatour if there were no sinne , or sinners ? Hee came not to call the righteous , such as feeling no sinne in themselues , hold themselues iust ; but hee came in deede to call sinners to repentance , and to saue ( through his bloud ) such as feele and acknowledge their sinnes : Therefore be thou not afraid , though thou feele thy sinnes burthensome vnto thee ; hee , euen Christ , came to ease them , if thou faithfully beleeue in him : And thinke not but faith and true repentance can and will turne Gods iustice into mercy ; his anger into fauour ; and his most heauie displeasure into loue ; euen into that loue wherewith God loueth his dearest children freely ; for he loueth none ; None can loue God , but such as he loueth . that loue not him , and none can loue him , but such as he loueth ; for , to loue God , and to be beloued of God , are of God alone : And they to whom he vouchsafeth this heauenly fauour , to loue him , are filled with all fulnesse of whatsoeuer may make them assured of their saluation , quieting and pacifying their afflicted consciences , and giuing them , inward setled peace .

Therefore , if thou haue , and feele an inward godly sorrow that thou hast offended so louing a God , and hast in thy selfe a desire to be reformed , and to be reconciled to God ; Thou needest not feare , for the loue of God towards thee ; is not absent , neither are thou altogether destitute of thy loue towards him : And therefore whatsoeuer Sathan doth suggest against thee , beleeue him not , beleeue thy Redeemer ; he is the truth , he ( euen he ) doth assure thee , that at what time so euer thou shalt repent thee of thy sinnes from the bottome of thy heart , the Lord will put them out of his remembrance . Christ is the truth , the way , and the life . He is the truth that hath promised this , and he will assuredly performe saluation , euen to thee ; though thou be a grieuous sinner , if thou truly repent , and faithfully beleeue , that thy sinnes are pardoned in his bloud ; who is also the way : he hath traced out , before thee and for thee , a perfect example of righteousnesse , patience and obedience ; walke in it ; then , as he is also the life , he shall be thy life : and mauger sinne , Sathan , and death , thou shalt liue , and liue for euer .

Pray therefore vnto GOD faithfully and feruently , Pray . and he will assuredly ease thee , euen here , of that heauie burthen , wherewith thy conscience seemeth to be grieuously afflicted , and oppressed .

And for thy further instruction and helpe , if thou be so ignorant , as not knowing how to pray to thy comfort , thou mayst vse the Prayer following ; God accepteth inward sighs for sinne . or according to the measure of that grace , which God hath giuen thee , sigh and groane , inwardly to God , who accepts euen inward desires , to repent and to be reconciled to God , as if they were prayers in deede , so it be in faith from the heart : or thou mayest vse any other godly prayer , which may best expresse the sorrow of thy heart for thy sinnes , the forgiuenesse of them , and the assurance of thy saluation .

A Prayer for the forgiuenesse of sinnes , that afflict the weake conscience of a sinner .

OEternall , euerliuing , and most louing Lord God , in Iesus Christ , towards them that feare thy name , and walke vprightly before thee ; and a seuere Iudge vnto impenitent sinners ; who onely knowest the thoughts and secrets of all hearts : from whose all-seeing eye no sinne or sinners can be hidden . Consider Lord , that I was originally made to thine owne Image , in righteousnesse and holinesse : and that I became corrupt , and consequently sinfull by his transgression , in whom I was first made holy ; and doe confesse my selfe O Lord , one of , and the worst of all the cursed seede of him , in whom all posterities became accursed ; and I cannot conceale the corruption which I haue had & receiued from them , by whom I was begotten , and borne : and that this corruption ( now become mine ) hath begotten , and brought forth so many and monstrous sins in me , as I am not onely , not worthy to be called thy Sonne , but ashamed to be knowne to be the worke of the hands of so great , so gracious , and so righteous a God ; for , my sinnes ( O Lord ) are so great , so hainous , so odious , and so many in number , as haue so farre ouergorged my corrupt heart , & so infected my wretched soule , with the filthinesse of them , that I feele euen the stink of them , so loathsome vnto mine own guilty Conscience , as I cannot but holde my selfe detestable in thy sight ; Mine Iniquities are gone euer mine head , a burden too heauie for me to beare .

O wretch that I am , how dare I come into thy presence , such a trayne and troope of intollerable sins accompaning me ?

Thou canst not Lord , but obserue & see , and seeing and obseruing , my hainous sinnes , how can I but feare , that thou in Iustice , wilt , not only put me back and reiect me and my praiers , but worthily and deseruedly confound me ?

I haue an accuser , a Iudge and an executioner within me : I am Arraigned , and condemned , euen by the accusation and witnesse of mine owne guilty Conscience ; the horror whereof , hath beene , and is such , as hath made mee affraid to seeke to thee ( whome I haue so deeply offended ) for pardon , lest that in thy fury , and in the seueritie of thy Iustice , thou shouldest leaue me to the will of him that hath bene the principall instigator of me to sin , and now the chiefe accuser of me for sinne ; and thinketh that he had , and hath such a share in me , throgh my former often consenting vnto his inticements , that thou my God , were not able to take me out of his hands .

But now , holy , heauenly and mercifull Father , in Iesus Christ , through thy grace ( vndeseruedly ) working in me , I haue found him a deceiuer , an imposter , an enemye ; who hath done what lyeth in him to worke my ruyne , by my rebellion against thee , throgh his continuall tentations ; vsing all his impious Instruments to deceiue me : the pleasures of the world , the lust of mine own flesh , which hath bin euer prone to be allured by him : And I , wretched creature , blind in all good thinges , neuer obserued , what a dangerous course of life , I haue ( to this day ) walked in , vntill now .

Now deere Father , as it hath pleased thee , of thine owne free mercie , to open the eyes of my sinning soule , to see that I haue long erred , and that all that I haue hetherto done , hath bene euill : So now , seeing mine owne wicked deseruings , giue me power to repent me for all my sinns .

Reforme me , O gracious Father , reforme mee , and by thy grace , ease and comfort my grieued hart , through the powerfull and effectuall working of thy spirit henceforth in mee ; that now at the last I may taste of thy goodnesse and rich mercy , in Iesus Christ : Though I haue nothing in my selfe to moue thee to haue compassion vpon me , yet remember , that I haue a deseruing and a preuailing Aduocate with thee , whose merites may moue thee , and his mediation preuaile with thee for me : And therfore I haue hope , that I shall be pertaker of his all sufficient satisfaction , made for all sinners , among whome I cannot but acknowledge my selfe the greatest ; and least deseruing thy fauour .

O my God , I feele my miserable estate , I acknowledge the grieuousnesse of my sinnes , and that for them thou mayest iustly condemne me ; but that I haue learned by thine own promises , that there is mercie with thee , & that thou delightest not in the condemnation of a sinner , but rather that hee should repent , and turne vnto thee , and liue .

Lord haue mercie vpon me ; haue mercy vpon me , for I am weake : I feele a burthen of my sinnes , that presseth me downe , and nothing can raise me , but thy mercies in Iesus Christ .

O giue me a liuely faith , that I may apply the preuailing merites of that sacred Lambe , crucified for all beleeuers , to the washing away of all my sinnes , and to the ease of my guilty conscience , heauily burthened therewith : so shall my poore afflicted and distressed soule , be refreshed my heart now grosly defiled , shall be made cleane , mine affections , now altogether ranging after vnholy things , shall be changed into perfect obedience vnto thee ; and Sathan that hath long and maliciously pursued me with his most violent tentations , shal● flye at the presence of thy holy spirit in me : and all my thoughts , imaginations , desires , words and workes , shall be sanctified and made holy by the same Spirit .

O hide not therefore gracious Father , hide not from me thy louing countenance : but turne away thy face from my sinnes , blot out all mine offences out of thy remembrance : create in me a cleane heart , restore to mee the ioy of thy saluation , and stablish me with thy free spirit , and let me neuer returne again to my former slauery of sinne ; and I shall offer vnto thee , the vnfayned sacrifice of praise , for thine vnspeakeable mercies : All honour & glory , to Christ my Redeemer , and to the holy Ghost , the obedience of mine vnfayned heart , for that he assureth mee of all these incomprehensible blessings . Amen .

Lord euer , more and more encrease my faith .

Comfort for the sicke .

THe miserable estate of a man perplexed in conscience for his sinnes , is the greatest affliction that can befall a man in this life , which is the sicknesse of the soule : for , a wounded conscience who can beare ? Sicknes of the soule , & sicknes of the body great afflictions . And next to it , there is not a greater , then is the extremitie of the sicknesse of the body : and therefore neede these two sicknesses aboue all other crosses , to be especially sought to be eased : the first , with spirituall , the next , both with spirituall and corporall comfort . They are Twinns , borne together and liue together , though the one by inspiration , the other by propagation : And therefore , if the soule be diseased , the body can not ( though it may seeme contrary ) be in perfect health : The soule and body feele one the others sicknesse . It will shew apparent tokens of the sicknesse of the minde ; and , if the body be ouermuch tormented with the grieuousnesse of sicknesse , the soule cannot but feele , ( through a mutuall loue , which is between the soule and the body ) a kinde of griefe and sorrow .

I will therefore apply vnto thee ( whome I see to be cast downe by thy bodies infirmity ) the counsell & comforts , which may first ease thee of thy inward feares and troubles ; for it can not be but that Sathan , that auncient enemie of al mankinde , Sathan in our health tempteth vs to sinne , and in sicknesse presents it vnto vs . hath beene busie in the time of thy health to draw thee to sin ; that by sinne thou mightest offend God ; that by offending God , thou mightest be reiected of him : and now , finding thee visited by the hand of God , with grieuous sicknesse ( fore-showing , either the speedie approaching of death , or a gentle forewarning thereof ) hee cannot be lesse watchfull , and diligent , in this thine extremity , ( nay farre more then hee was in thy most healthfull estate to trouble thee ) for , when thou wert healthfull and strong , thou couldest nor but be , by the corruption of thy owne nature , proane to sinne : And this common enemie of mans saluation worketh vpon our corruption , and our ablenesse to sinne : And when hee findeth vs most weake in our bodies , and our sences , and powres , labouring against the violence of our infirmities ; then he commeth , and presenteth vnto our guilty consciences , the sinnes which he before prouoked vs to commit .

In the sicknesse of the body , hee findeth fit oportunity to trouble vs ; for , although hee knoweth not the time which God reserueth in his owne wisedome , and power , when any man shall dye ; yet when sicknesse comes , he knowes it is the fore-runner of death ; and therefore hee knoweth that then or neuer hee must imploy all his Engines , Sathan is most busie to tempt vs , to distrust God , when wee are neerest our death . and batteries , or else for euer rest frustrate of any hope to preuaile . And therefore , he will solicite thee , now to distrust in the mercies of God in Christ , and will suggest vnto thee , that now thou seest and feelest that GOD is displeased with thee , and that hee hath no delight in thee , ( as if thou were his , he would haue ) hee would not torment thee as hee doth : and that thou were as good to cast off all thy hope in him , as to deceiue thy selfe , vainely trusting that hee will yet shew thee any mercy or louing countenance .

These fearefull assaults , it cannot be but thou dost , or mayest endure at this thy capitall enemies hands , The true childe of GOD , is most tempted of Sathan , wherby he may know that sathan hath no share in him . if thou be in deede the true childe of God : for , if thou were one , whom Sathan had in his owne power , hee would permit thee to rest quietly , he would not disturbe thee : but finding thee to be inwardly enclined to seeke the Lord , praying for pardon in his Sonnes merites , which hee cannot endure , without roaring and raging against thee , suspecting that he hath lost thee now altogether , though thou were somtimes something seruiceable , or rather ( according to naturall corruption ) slau●shly enclined to his workes of darknesse , before the Lord in fauour visited thee with his fatherly corrections , to reclayme thee from Sathan and sinne , to make thee his obedient Sonne ; and the more thou declinest from him and his tentations , and the more thou louest and enclinest to serue God , with a pure heart , the more will hee euer seeke to molest thee , and if it were possible , to driue thee to dispaire .

But feare not whatsoeuer he shall obiect against thee , or lay vnto thy charge , though when he seeth thee weakest , hee will trie his strength against thee most : When wee are w●akest , and Sathan busiest , God in Christ is strongest for vs . Beleeue , that when thou art weakest , God is strongest for thee ; and Sathan , though hee dare to tempt the dearest children of God , as he did Christ himselfe ; yet he trembleth , when he seeth Christ , with his holy Spirit assisting thee , and by his merites layd hold on by a liuely faith comforting thee ; feare him not therefore , but encline thine heart vnto God , and know that this thy sicknesse , hath not fallen vpon thee by chance , or by Sathans malice : It came euen by Gods meere prouidence in loue , to correct thee here in the flesh , to call thee home vnto him , that thou perish not with them whom Sathan hath subdued , that haue not walked in the feare of the Lord , whome Gods louing corrections could not reforme .

A greater mercy of God can not be obserued , God sheweth great fauour by drawing vs out of the power of Sathan by sicknesse . then to draw a sinner out of the power and slauery of sinne and Sathan , by a gentle hand , to make him hi● owne Coheire with Iesus Christ his Sonne ; and it is the end of this his correcting thee .

Repent thee therefore of thy former sinnes ; and beleeue sted fastly , that in , and through the bloud and merits of Christ , thou shalt assuredly be saued ; and so shalt thou finde that this enemie of thine , will giue ouer further to pursue thee .

As touching the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes , how haynous so euer they be in quality , or how many so euer in number , they shall not be imputed vnto thee .

Thou hast beene already taught , that all afflictions of whatsoeuer kinde , doe proceed , and are inflicted vpon vs for sinne ; and especially , for the neglect of hearing the word of God , Exo. 15. 26. and practising what it teacheth : The neglect of the word and seruice of GOD , a great sin . And yet not alwayes simply for sinne , but sometimes that the glory of God may the more appeare , especially in healing the sicke : Lazarus dyed , and yet Christ said , Ioh. 11. 4. 15. that his sicknesse was not vnto death ; not so vnto death , but that hee knew hee could , and would raise him againe , though hee were foure dayes dead and buried . And therefore was his sicknesse and death , onely , that the glory of God might be seene , by raising of him ; and the faith of his Disciples be the more confirmed : but we must impute our sicknesses , and all other crosses , as layde vpon vs for our sinnes ; and learne by the example of good Hezekias , to turne our selues vnto God , and to mourn , not so much for our sicknesse as for our sinnes .

Thou therefore that art thus afflicted , in body , and no doubt in minde also ; repayre vnto God , in liuely , faithfull , and earnest prayer , aboue all things for the pardon of thy sinnes : Prayer an argument of the child of God . for , prayer ( if it be feruent ) is the most euident argument , that thou art the childe of God , and preuaileth much ; for , where true saith is , there necessarily followeth , true repentance : faith , and repentance for sinne , and offending God , are inseperable : And if thy repentance be serious , it will either produce outward teares , The effects of true repentance . or inward griefe for your sinnes ; though teares be not alwayes ready , not verball prayers powerfull ; especially in a sick man , whose powres are commonly so shaken , with the force of the disease , as griefe of the heart , can hardly wrest teares from the eyes , or words from the lips : yet , with God it shall be accepted , both sufficient prayers , and preuailing teares : if thou finde such griefe in thy heart for thy sinnes , and such a desire to be reconciled vnto God in Christ , as may but moue inward , and silent sighes vnto God , who respecteth more the holy disposition of the heart , then any outward action or gesture of the body ; it shall bee sufficient : though some outward showe of faith and repentance be necessary , for the satisfaction of such as visite a sicke person , Fit signes of repentance in a sicke man . if he can but showe it by the tongue in speaking , though weakely , confessing his sinnes , lifting vp his hands , or eyes ; it may argue the inward heart wel prepared , and that hee wanteth not the spirit of God .

And therefore if your sicknesse be so violent , as that you cannot showe verball tokens of the working of Gods spirit in you , whereby they that come to visite you , cannot witnesse for you , your sorrow by your outward confession ; It is enough that God knoweth it by your inward true sorrow of heart .

It was enough that God saw that good King Hezekiah , in his sicknesse , inwardly bewayling his sinnes , though hee could not with plaine termes vocally , and with fluent words , as hee was wont ; but inwardly , to mourne , like a Doue , and to chatter like a Crane very weakely and obscurely ; yet God vnderstoode him , and accepted his weake vtterance , as a most earnest and effectuall prayer .

So that , if it come to passe , that thy weakenesse become such , as thou canst not vocally and verbally pray ( as by thy sicknesse it may come to passe , though thou be in present perfect memory ) thy heart ( though neuer so faint ) may yet haue a feeling of Gods mercies ; A sick man may inwardly pray , thogh standers by obserue it not . and may shew it selfe powerfull to God , though it seeme weake vnto men : for , God is absolute in vnderstanding ; can , and doth conceiue the meaning of thy heart , Wee may pray for health in our sicknes , and seek to the Physician , so we depend not more vpon his ●rt , than vpon Gods blessing . farre better then in thy best strength thou canst thy selfe vnderstand it .

As for thy present sick estate , thou must not be carelesse of it , but after prayer for pardon of thy sinnes , thou mayest craue restitution of thy bodily health ; if God , who can restore it , thinke it fitter for thee then death : and thou art not only not forbidden , but commaunded , to seeke the lawfull helpe of the Physician ; prouided that thou depend not so vpon the Art of the Phisician , as to exempt and neglect thy prayer to God for a blessing vpon it ; for , if God giue not a Diuine working vnto the physick ( howsoeuer it may seeme to worke ) it may helpe one part and hurt another : A cluster of Figges healed Hezekiah ; and the washing in Iordan the Leaper : yet neither the Figges , nor the water of their owne nature cured their diseases ; it was God gaue the vertue to both ; and therefore whether thine infirmitie be inward or outward , with the meanes vse prayer , that God may giue a blessing .

Beware thou seeke not to the reputed cunning men and women , To abandon cunning men and women ▪ so reputed . who are supposed to heale by their Charmes and Spels ; who if they preuaile in any cure , it is ( by the permission of God ) by the deuill . The surest remedie is , to haue thy recourse to God , 2. Kings . and not to Baalz●b●b : as Ahaziah , who dyed the death , for running to Witches and Wizards , the limbs of the deuill : but put thy trust in the all-sufficient God alone , vsing such lawfull meanes as hee hath appointed , both for the ease of thy soule , and health of thy body ; and then recommend the issue , to him with godly patience ; committing thy will to his will .

If he restore thee to thy former health , be thou thankfull to him , and let thy thankfulnes appeare , by a new and godly course of life , and true obedience . How thankfulnesse should appeare vpon recouery . If he haue otherwise determined of thee , namely , to call thee out of this miserable mortall life , reioyce , and be glad ; for thy soule , now sicke in sin , shall suddainly receiue a new and glorious life ; thy body now oppressed with griefe , shall be at rest ; Comfort ▪ against death . though it perish and rot in the graue , it shall rise againe , and meete the soule , and be thereunto again vnited with farre greater glory then thy hart can thinke : In the meane time , seeke or thinke of nothing , but of the things that are aboue ; and endeuour to haue thy heart , thine vnderstanding , thoughts , and affections , so qualified , and the Lampe of faith in the merits of Christ , so liuely enlightned , that thou mayest ioyfully meet the Bridegrome Christ , in soule and body , when hee shall appeare in the cloudes , in glory and maiestie , to giue euery man according to his works .

Be not afraide therefore of Death ; Not to fear death , for it frees vs from many troubles , and brings vs many blessings . it is but the seperation of the soule ( now , as in a prison ) from the body , which is but a carkasse full of naturall infirmities , which the soule possesseth for a little time , fraught onely with miseries , with griefe and feare ; which , being dissolued , shall bring end to all thy cares , dangers , feares , miseries and afflictions ; and bring thee to the Paradise of God , where thou shalt feele no more of these vnsauourie things of the flesh ; for , the Lord will transforme , this thy vile , base and corrupt body , and make it like vnto his most glorious body . Then shalt thou be no more subiect to sinne , or sicknesse ; no aduersity , nor anguish shall afflict thee , no enemies shall trouble thee , no slanders disgrace thee : And where thou art here mortall , subiect to all the former euils , thou shalt be there immortall : The face of God , which is the fountaine of light , shall there shine vpon thee ; and no darknesse shall ouershadow thee : all perfection of ioy , glory and gladnesse , thou shalt finde there ; and be so plentifully filled with the contemplation of the aboundance of those heauenly pleasures ; that you will or can delight in nothing , but in the beholding of the most glorious face of Iesus Christ , and onely delight in the association of that heauenly company : which ioyes , if thou truly knewest here , as thou shalt enioy them there , Thou wouldest be content , rather to endure a thousand deaths , then to be depriued of them .

Prepare thy selfe therefore , How to prepare vs for death . with all diuine furniture ; with faith , hope , loue , and all other holy and heauenly affections ; to goe the way of all flesh . Lay willingly downe thy carnall part in the graue , to become dust , whereof it was made , and commend thy soule into the hands of God that gaue it , and of Iesus Christ who redeemed it : And according to the counsell , that God gaue to Hezekiah , set thy house in order . And aboue this thy corpora●l habitation , set thy soule in order ; and as much as in thee lyeth , haue peace with all men : Depart in the loue , of , and to thine enemies .

And , as farre as the possibilitie of thy earthlie substance , How to dis●ose of worldly things before we die , and how to leaue all . will extend ; owe nothing to any man , when thou departest hence , but loue : and thinke not much , neither let it grieue or trouble thy minde , to leaue thy worldly wealth , which was but lent thee ; thy father , mother , wife , children , lands , possessions , siluer , gold , and the things that haue beene , or are , most deare vnto thee ; to hasten to this heauenlie habitation ; where eternall glorie shall bee thy wealth , the eternall God thy Father , Iesus Christ thy brother , all the Saints and Angels , and all the holie and most glorious heauenlie companie , shall bee far more comfortable vnto thee , then all the former , who were both mortall and inconstant : And in steede of the base and vncertaine possessions in the earth , thou shalt possesse a Kingdome , The ioyes of heauen are inexpressible . for euer : In steede of thy gold and siluer , and thy most precious Iewels , thou here , for a moment enioyest ; thou shalt enhabite a Citie , whose walls are gold , garnished with all maner of precious stones , farre excelling the rarest and richest that euer the earth yeilded ; whose beauty , and excellencie , the tongue of man , no not of an Angell , can truly expresse , to our apprehension ; But shadowed out vnto vs vnder these most precious ornaments , incomprehensible .

Should any carnall consideration therfore hinder thee , from a willing minde , to change this thy mortall and miserable life ( as short , as euill ) for a life so glorious and permanent ? The longer thou continuest here , Why wee should desire to dye . the more cause thou hast to desire to be dissolued ; for that thou here doest augment daily thy sinnes , and euery day brings new griefe .

Prepare thy selfe therefore without delay ; make thee readie , that when GOD shall call thee , thou mayest be willing to goe : And for thy better preparation , vse prayer often , in a liuely faith ; and if thine infirmitie will permit thee , vse this prayer following , or any other godly prayer , with holy meditation , to season thy soule through the holy Ghost , commending thy spirit vnto God in Iesus Christ .

A Prayer to be often said of a sicke man or woman .

O Lord my GOD , and my most louing and mercifull Father , in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ ; I , thy most vnworthy creature , heauie laden , with the burthen of my manifold and grieuous sinnes ; much oppressed , with the infirmity and sicknesse which thou hast iustly inflicted vpon my corrupt and weake body ; doe humbly pray thee to pardon my sinnes , and giue me patience to beare this thy gentle correction ; in which I doe heartily submit my selfe vnto thy heauenly will ; whether it be thy pleasure , to permit me yet a little while , to enioy the health of my body , to serue thee ; or to take my soule out of the lothsome prison of my sinfull carkasse into thine owne hands ; where I know it shall be safe , and not perish : And therefore Lord giue me a godly contented minde , to suffer my body , to returne vnto the earth , from whence it was taken , there to rest vntill it shall please thee to raise it againe , at the last resurrection , and to make it , of a mortall , an immortall ; and of a corruptible , to make it a perfectly glorious body . In the meane time , O Lord , I doe beseech thee , to fortifie and strengthen my soule , against all tentations , that I may be able to resist , whatsoeuer ▪ assaults of the deuill , and his Ministers . As for mine owne power , alas it is euen weakenes it selfe , but my hope and strength is of thee .

I can alledge nothing , neither canst thou finde any thing in mee either woorthie or acceptable , whereby I might haue hope , either to haue my sinnes forgiuen me , or to be released , or eased of my sicknesse ; or to be restored to my former health or strength : yet I haue hope ( O Lord ) that thou in mercie wilt pardon my sinnes , in the merites of my Redeemer , and that for his sake thou wilt either restore me to health , or speedily to end this my grieuous infirmity ; which , if for the grieuousnesse of my sinnes , thou thinke sit to lay yet more heauily vpon me , strengthen me so much the more with perfect faith and godly patience , that I may beare it ; that the apprehension of death , which is something terrible to flesh and bloud , daunt me not : But that I may rest assured , that thou thus rebukest mee not in thine anger , nor that thou chastisest me in thy heauie displeasure , but rather of thy loue which is better vnto me then life .

O Father , what shall I render vnto thee , for all thy benefits ? for they haue bin infinite towards me : And euen this thy fatherly correction I acknowledge not the least ; for hereby Lord , I finde thy gracious purpose to be , to reclayme me from my wonted sinnes , which without thy mercy , cannot but procure , not the death of my body only , but of my soule also ; so dearely redeemed , by the bloud of thy dearest Son .

O strengthen Lord , strengthen my faith , that I may now at the last , take such firme & assured holde of the merites of Iesus Christ , that all my sinnes and vngodly deseruings , may be couered , and that his righteousnesse , may be imputed vnto me .

I doe confesse , O Lord , to my shame and griefe , that before thou diddest correct me , I went awry ; I followed too much the desires of my corrupt hart : But now Lord , I doe heartily repent me , that euer I offended thee : but , if it be thy gracious good wil and pleasure , and if in thy wisdome thou thinke it fit , to restore mee to my former health , which I humbly leaue vnto thee ; I shall endeuour by thy grace , to walke more warily , and shunne the enticements that haue seduced me ; and the allurements of Sathan , that haue deceiued mee . But , if thou haue determined , this my sicknesse , to be my last and finall trouble , I shall most heartily embrace it , with a longing expectation , for the time of my dissolution : And when the time commeth , accept it , with a ioyfull and glad heart , and that I may be the more truly and readily prepared , at the instant of the departure of my soule from my body ; wash me throughly , and make me cleane , that I may appeare before thee , in the immaculate roabes of Christs righteousnes ; and not in mine owne polluted garments of corruption : That I may heare that most sweet and comfortable voyce of my Redeemer ; Come thou blessed of my Father , enter into , and possesse the ioyes prepared for thee , from the beginning of the world : which grant gracious Lord God , for Iesus Christes sake , to whom with thee and the holie Ghost , be all honor , praise , and glory , for euer .

O Lord encrease , and euermore and more strengthen my faith , and fill my heart with vnfained godly desire , to be speedily dissolued , that I may liue with thee in heauen . Amen .

A Prayer to be said for a sicke man or woman , of faithfull friends that come to visite him , or her .

LOrd God Almighty , and Father of incomprehensible mercy , we here assembled , before thy Maiestie , in the name of thy most beloued Son Iesus Christ , are bold to present our humble petitions vnto thee , in the behalfe of this sicke person , lying heere visited with sicknes , which thou mightest ▪ iustly haue laide , and inflicted vpon any of vs , as great sinners ; and haue spared him ( or her : ) but such hath been thy mercy , hetherunto towards vs , as to afford vs health , expecting the time , wherein we cannot auoyde , but must taste of the same cup.

We acknowledge Lord that thou neuer sendest this , or any other crosse or affliction , to any , no not to such as thou louest best ▪ but the end therof ( though bitter for the time , to flesh and bloud ) is happinesse ; yet doest thou iustly whatsoeuer thou doest : and we acknowledge that sinne is the cause , of all thy fatherly visitations .

And forasmuch as it cannot bee , but that this sicke party , is oppressed in the weakenes of his body , by the strong tentations of that common enemie Sathan , who endeuoureth so to lay his sinnes to his charge ( whereof no man is free ) that if it were possible , he might so farre feare him with thy seuere Iustice for the same , as that he might despaire of thy mercies , and consequently of his owne saluation .

Wherefore , wee thy weake seruants here assembled , doe humbly and hartily pray thee , to abandon and abolish that infernall Serpent , that his false suggestions , creepe not into the heart of this sicke party , but arme him ( or her ) so with a liuely faith , that thy holy Spirit may so possesse his soule , that the enemie may finde no place for his tentations : Besprinkle his heart so , with the meritorious bloud of thy Sonne , that the deuill , seeing and obseruing a stronger then himselfe , to possesse the house of his soule , he may be enforced to flie , and no further to pursue him .

Cause Lord that some tokens , may appeare in this sick person , that his soule and conscience are quieted by the presence of the holy Ghost , in him , whereby we thy most humble suppliants , may receiue some comfort , in the fruit of our prayers for him .

And , as touching his sicknes , we submit our desires to thine owne will ; yet , if thy good pleasure be so , as to restore him to the former health which wee in his behalfe entreate thee ; to the end that hee and we may glorifie thee , for thy great mercie in healing him ; and that he by this thy fatherly correction , may learne to liue the residue of the time that he shall here enioy , in new and more perfect obedience : But , if otherwise thou be pleased to dispose of him , namely , to take him out of this mortall-life ; giue him wee humbly pray thee , an vnderstanding heart , to know , and to consider his mortality , and the glory to come ; a sound minde , perfect memory , with a feeling faith , patience and obedience ; that without feare , with cheerefull alacrity , hee may surrender his soule vnto thee . Receiue it good Father , as the soule of an Elect Saint , and send his body ( which must rest and remaine in the earth vntill the generall rising againe of the dead ) a most ioyfull resurrection , that he may then enioy the full perfection of glory with thee , both in soule and body , which we humbly pray thee , ( in the name of Iesus Christ ) graciously to graunt ; and that it would please thee to come quickly and finish the worke , which thou hast begun and determined for him . And graunt that we may all , in all humblenesse , faith , constancie and obedience , wayte when thy pleasure shall be to visite any of vs , with thy finall fatherly visitation .

O Lord encrease his , ours , and the faith of all that belong vnto thee ; that wee all may looke , and long for the time of our dissolution , with patience , in assurance in the end , to liue eternally with thee , through Christ our Lord and Sauiour , Amen .

For such as are oppressed with pouerty and want : not impertinent for the rich to read and consider .

POuertie , Pouerty and want a great affliction . and want of things necessary , for the maintenance of this present life , is not the least affliction that can fall vpon man : And that lighteth many times , as well vpon the knowne poore , as vpon them that thinke themselues rich ; for riches , and pouerty , haue wings ; for as the poore man , hauing his wings clipt , that he cannot mount , or soare to the pitch of other men : So the rich are often , so deplumed , as they fall into the poore estate of meanest men ; and therefore , as the rich may fall , so the poore may rise : Riches and pouerty variable . Let neither then the rich presume , nor the poore despaire : for the Almighty God , that gouerneth all things , hath two hands ; with the one hee doth cast downe the proud , and with the other he exalts the humble : In the rich is required thankfulnesse , and obedience ; In the poore , lowlinesse and patience ; and in both , godly diligence and faithfull prayer : otherwise , the rich cannot prosper , nor the poore be relieued . If the rich man fall into pouerty , it is his blemish ; if a poore man become rich , it is his glory : yet , let not him that riseth , disdaine him that falleth ; for both are from the Lord .

To fall , Easier to fall then to rise . there are manie meanes in a man himselfe , but to rise , being fallen , is not in man ; and therefore the meanes both of mens risings and fallings , are duly to be considered : art thou fallen from riches to pouertie ? examine thy life & conuersation : art thou risen from pouerty to riches ? consider well in thine owne heart , whether by right or wrong .

Many may prosper and wax rich by diligence ( in a lawfull calling ) & many become poore through idlenesse : many are borne rich , and dye poore ; and many borne poore , waxe rich : when the rich become poore , it may be either in Gods iustice , or in his mercy : for , if the rich become proud , & presume vpon their wealth ; Riches and pouerty may both proceede of Gods mercie . despising the poore ; it is iust with God , to take that from him , that he abuseth ; yet , also in mercie , to humble him : for there is not a more preuailing means , to make a man know himselfe , then pouerty ; And there is not a more acceptable thing to God , then a man to abase himselfe in his sight : nor a thing more offensiue , then a man to exalt himselfe , by reason of the greatnes of his wealth ; which he arrogateth to himselfe , as if it were his owne , when in deede it is but lent him : And therefore God often times takes it from one , and giues it to others : And in steed of his wealth , giues him want ; that hee may know , that it is neither in the wisedome , nor by the diligence of man , either to get or to retaine his wealth gotten , without the meere mercie and blessing of God .

But , where true faith in God is , ioyned with godly care and diligence , in a lawfull calling , there wanteth not prayer ; And where faith and faithfull prayers are , there is true prosperity : And to that man , The ground of true prosperity . a little meanes sufficeth to sustaine his estate , and to nourish his life : for , A small thing that the righteous hath , is better then the great riches of the wicked .

Therefore in thy case of pouerty and want , The cause and meanes are to be examined how a man comes poore . thou must consider , and duly examine , the cause , whereby thou art become poore , and to be in this miserable estate ; whether by thine owne idlenesse , corruption of thy life , in wasting either thy patrimonie receiued from thy Parents , or thy riotous expending of that thou hast lawfully gotten by thine owne industry .

To receiue meanes , for which thou neuer trauailedst ( as many doe from carefull Parents and friends ) or to get by thine owne labours , To get , and ryotously to spend , is idlenesse it selfe . and to consume it wastfully in euill company keeping , by gaming & ryot , is worse then Idlenes it selfe , which yet in him selfe is a capitall sin ; one of those , for which Sodom , Gomorah , &c. were burned to ashes : for Idlenesse was in that Citie ; as it is , wheresoeuer it raigneth , the cause of many other sinnes ; as of luxurie , Idlenesse the cause of many sinnes . drunkennesse , whoredome , and all other most monstrous , and most abhominable vices : yet doe all these commonly accompany wealth , easily gotten : As when a man finds he hath meanes comming daily in , lightly without labour , hee measures it not by the vncertainty , of the continuance , as appeareth , by his wanton and needlesse expence , but by a vaine hope it will last euer .

But , if thou become poore , and thus cast downe , by the louing hand of God , to call thee from thy sinnes ; as by losse of goods , by sicknesse , fire , shipwracke , or the like ineuitable crosses ; God sends pouerty & want to weane vs from sinne that fulnes procured . Thou mayest account them fatherly corrections , and mayest rather reioyce in , then to repine at them ; for he inflicts this want ( of thy former fulnes ) as Physick to purge thy corrupt heart , of thy carnall delights , and from abusing of thy liberty as thou hast done , which bred in thee security ; and security sin , and forgetfulnesse of thy dutie to God : as in that rich glutton in the Gospel , who hauing plentie of all things delightfull to his carnall part , became so delicious , as he fared daintily euery day , richly roabed in fine linnen , and yet so hard hearted , as although he saw poore miserable Lazarus , hungrie and naked , lye at his gate full of sores , crying for some crummes of the broken meate that fell from his Table , had yet no remorce or commiseration on the lamentable estate of that poore man , who was more refreshed by the rich mans dogges , licking away the filth of his sores , then by any comfort receiued from the glutton , or his gluttonous feasts .

There was great difference betweene this rich man , Great difference betweene the rich glutton and poore Lazarus . and this miserable begger : The one was had in greatest reuerence , admired and honored for his wealth ; the other held in great contempt , generally despised , by reason of his basenesse and pouertie : But neither did the rich man continue long in his pomp , nor the poore in his penurie : Both died , and both caried to their places appointed by God ; the rich man to hell , the begger into Paradise : the first to perpetuall torments , the other to a most blessed and glorious Being .

Consider this duly with thy selfe therefore , thou , that complainest of pouertie , and want : whether wouldest thou enioy here the pleasures of this life ( for a season ) with this man , wealthie and glorious , and in fine to haue his reward ; or to endure a little want , pouertie , and worldlie basenesse , for a little time , and be with Lazarus pertaker of eternall glorie ? I know , if thou wisely consider both , thou wilt not onely not grudge nor repine at thy poore estate , God dealeth well with vs , to take away the meanes that make vs proud . but wilt rather be thankfull vnto God , that he so louingly dealeth with thee , in keeping thee from the meanes to make thee proud , to forget thy selfe and him : As I thinke , thou canst not be ignorant , that riches , health , and earthly happinesse , commonly carie men , not hauing faith and the feare of God , into many noysome lusts , and vngodly and wanton desires : And that pouertie and want , sicknesse and other like crosses , are the good & gracious means , that God vseth , to with-hold his dearest children from running astray ; although it cannot be denied also , but that a faithlesse poore man may haue his heart infected , and poysoned , with as haynous sinnes as the rich : for it is not wealth that alwayes makes a wicked man , though it be a great temptation and prouocation to many and grieuous sinnes : It is not the money but the minde , wherein the error lies ; and it is not pouertie , Pouerty nor riches make men good or euill . of it selfe , or anie other crosse that maketh an euill man good ; but it is a meanes which God in his wisedome vseth to preuent the danger , that wealth often worketh : A knife in a childes hand hurteth not , but he is a silly Father , and she a simple Nurse , that will not tak● it from the childe , for feare of the hurt it might do the childe . So riches of themselues hurt not , but the abuse of them , may peruert the reputed owner ; for no man is the true owner of the wealth he possesseth ; hee is but a disposer of it , and it is the well vsing or abusing of it , that draweth vpon the Steward , a blessing , or a curse .

If thou that art become poore , and doest acknowledge it iustly layde vpon thee , it is the entrance into assurance , that God hath layde it vpon thee in mercie ; Pouerty to some , better then riches . if in mercie then , no doubt but in loue : be assured , that thy pouerty is better for thee then riches , for hee knoweth better then thou what is best for thee ; Take it therefore with patience ; in faith , and embrace it so much the more , by how much thou mayest assure thy selfe , it is a token of the loue and fauour of God towards thee , to humble thee , and to make thee so much the more like vnto thy Redeemer , who became poore , to make thee rich ; hee abased himselfe , to bring thee to honour ; hee was here in worldly want , to furnish thee with all spirituall aboundance ; he hath chosen the poore of the world , to make them rich in God ; hee keepeth his owne dearest children lowe here , that he may exalt them hereafter : for , it is not possible that any man shall liue here in pompe and pleasure , and all earnall delights , and yet assure himselfe , of the glory to come , prepared onely for his Elect Saints that suffer heere . And if Christ our Master and Redeemer , suffered heere pouerty , ignominie , rebuke and shame , before he in his humane nature ascended into glory ; shall any man perswade himselfe that hee shall attaine the glory to come , by a delicate , loose , carnally delightfull , and worldly glorious estate here ?

How then are many carnally minded men deceiued , Men i●dged happy and vnhappy according to their welth and want . that measure the loue and fauour of God , and his displeasure towards men , according to their worldly prosperity and aduersity ? censuring Gods dearest children seasoned with any kind of affliction , to be the very out-casts of the world , forsaken of God ; and the rich , wealthy and glorious in the world , to be his choyse darlings and fauourites ; then which , nothing is more contrary ▪ although their estates , in deede ( seene with a carnall eye , and iudged by outward appearance ) may be censured as they seeme , but not as they are in deede : for , the outward most glorious , are not commonly gracious within ( though they may be ) neither are the outward poore , commonly inwardly and spiritually rich : But the godly & faithfull poore man , were his case as hard , as was that of poore Lazarus ; yet is he the beloued of God , God iudgeth not according to the outward appearance . who iudgeth not as man doth , partially , by the outward show , but according to equity : He doth not iustifie the poore , before the rich ; if the Rich be rich in grace , and the poore a wicked man ; God , in deede , by promise regardeth the poore , and careth for them ; namely , for such , as in a liuely faith depend vpon his prouidence ; liuing iustly , and in an holy diligence in his lawfull calling .

If thou thus behauest thy selfe in thy pouerty , the promise of God , is a promise made euen to thee , that hee will neuer faile thee , nor forsake thee . Thou mayst then safely cast thy care vpon him , for he will take care of thee . Thou shalt not want foode and rayment ; and hauing that , content thee with it , it is a plentifull portion : for what more hath he , that hath his Table spread with diuers dishes , and sundry varieties ; but onely feedeth his body with fewe ? And hee that hath diuers and sundry sutes and sorts of garments , Foode and cloathing a sufficient portion . one sute sufficeth to couer him at once . If then thou bee fed and cloathed , giue the glory to God that giues it .

It may be thou wilt say thou hast a great charge , wife and children to maintaine ; a great burthen vnto thee , who require greater supply , then thou by thy best industrie canst prouide for them ; Thou must allow and allot vnto thy selfe and them , according to thy meanes ; Thou mayst not feede or cloath thee or them , as peraduenture thine and their haughty hearts may require ; But feede them moderately , and cloathe them modestly : for in the superfluity of these two necessaries , Superfluous foode and rayment haue vndone many . many haue not onely exceeded , and vndone themselues , but haue turned thereby , many times the blessings of God into wantonnesse ; And so in steede of the continuance of Gods blessings , they haue caused him to punish them with pouerty , and want : As who so obserueth , cannot but see infinite numbers , that haue receiued great portions and patrimonies from their Parents and friends , that through the excesse of these , together with their lewde , lasciuious , and wicked liues , haue drawne vpon them , such a heauie weight of pouerty and want , as they haue either beene depriued of their libertie , for the debt they ranne into to maintaine their vanities ; or haue beene enforced to begge their bread , and ( like the prodigall Sonne ) haue beene constrayned , through commaunding hunger , to eate the scraps , that they before scorned , to touch with their fingers ; and that in a iust recompence of their former nicenesse and vanities ; who yet , if this gentle correction may reclaime them , and cause them to reforme their wicked liues , to seek after God , through a liuely faith and faithfull prayer ; may be receiued into the fauour of God , God is ready to receiue a prodigall . who is ready to receiue a sinner repenting , be he neuer so poore , neuer so base , neuer so loathsome in the eyes of men ; as were Lazarus and the lost Sonne .

As thou therefore art grieued vnder the burthen of thy miserable and poore estate , so grieue aboue it , that thou hast offended God , who correcteth thee for thy sinnes : Crye for pardon , pray for spirituall graces , seeke the Kingdome of God , and the righteousnesse thereof , haue a liuely faith , repent and be patient , vse the meanes , hearing and reading of the word of God , practise abstinence , from the fulfilling of thy corrupt will ; which thou canst not obtaine , but by repentance , and that repentance cannot be but by faithfull prayer , which will produce perfect patience , wherein if thou wayte the Lords leasure , for the time , and his pleasure for the meanes , assure thy selfe , thou shalt be competently and timely relieued ; God neuer faileth the faithfull . for he hath promised , neuer to faile those , that faithfully● call vpon him , and truly obay him : And he is most faithfull to performe what hee hath promised . As for his power to doe it , thou needest not doubt , for his power is so absolute , that he is able ; and his loue to his , such , as he can and will so augment thy least portion , that a little oyle in thy Cruse , and a small quantity of meale in thy vessell , shall not diminish , vntill more supply come . And as for the feeding of thy chargeable Family , he can doe it with the smallest showe of meanes : he had but seauen loaues and a few fishes , Math. 15. 33. 34. and yet with that little in showe and quantity , hee replenished foure thousand men , besides women and little children . And with fiue loaues and two fishes , Math. 14. 17 ▪ he fed fiue thousand , and that , Mar. 6. 38. that remained when all were satisfied , was more meat then , in show , then was ●efore they began to eate . And can he not feede thee , God can satisfie his children with little . and thine , if thou be faithfull ; seeme thy store neuer so small ? nothing shall hinder in but sinne , infidelity , and impatience : If thou beleeue faithfully , pray feruently , and wayte patiently , he will doe it . Though it may seome vnto thee , that they store doth not onely not encrease , by prayer , but diminish by spending ; yet beleeue in him that made all things , and yet maketh things to supply his childrens wants . And although hee doe not with thee and thine , as he did for the children of Israell , Deut. 29. 5. who , trauailing forty yeares in the Wildernesse , he so preserued their garments , and euen the shooes on their feete , that they decayed not ; yet if thou distrust not his power and prouidence ; as the one decayes , hee will supply it with other .

Thou wilt peraduenture say , that these were the extraordinarie workes of God , his miracles of olde , and no such things are seene in our dayes : It is true , why are they not seene ? onely because wee want liuely faith ; our hearts are dull in beleeuing , the eyes of our vnderstandings are darkened , and cast to the earth , we looke not so into the power , nor so beleeue the promises of the Almightie , It is a great dishonour to God , to thinke he cannot doe now as he did of old , for the reliefe of his . as hee hath made them in his meere loue towards vs . Wee cannot glorifie God , more then to trust his word , and nothing dishonoreth him more , then to thinke that he either cannot , or will not performe what he hath promised : But wee may not thinke , that we shall haue any thing only for the asking ( for , wee cannot so presume vpon an ordinarie friend ) but before wee presume to aske the supply of corporall things , Before corporall wee are to aske spirituall things . we must be well furnished with spirituall graces , which must first and before all things , be sought for at the hands of God : Math. 6. 13. for , he and none but hee can giue them . It is the righteousnes of that Kingdome which wee are commaunded , aboue all things to seeke . And hauing obtained this , wee may assure vs , that all inferiour and carnall things shall bee administred vnto vs : And although carnall men thinke , that GOD worketh not myracles now , in prouiding for , & preseruing his children , as in the first ages ; which in deede is a great derogation of the good will , the power , and prouidence of God ; as if he were lesse louing , or lesse able , or of lesse vnderstanding , then he was in our Fathers dayes to helpe his children : he is Alpha and Omega . God , as he was so , he is , and will be for euer . As hee was yesterday , he is to day , and will continue the same for euer : and therefore , if faith faile thee not , if thou refraine from euill and doe good ; if thou seeke helpe at the hands of God in whatsoeuer danger , supply is whatsoeuer necessitie , and comfort and ease in whatsoeuer crosse or misery , rather then God will denie that which he knoweth most necessary for thee , he will worke beyond the ordinary course to help thee : beleeue in him , serue him , call vpon him , wauer not , be constant , faint not , and thou shalt see assuredly the saluation of the Lord .

A Prayer to be vsed of such as are oppressed with necessity and want of things necessarie .

O Lord my GOD , who hast bin euermore , mercifull , louing , and a ready helping Father , to all those that haue serued thee with a pure , and called vpon thee with a faithfull heart ; and a patient God , euen to greatest sinners , among whom and aboue others , I acknowledge my selfe to haue deserued the least mercie at thy hands , by reason that I haue not only too much neglected my duty in seruing thee , but haue ( in steed thereof ) too much yeelded my selfe to many vnprofitable & forbidden wayes ; and I know and acknowledge , that thou dost most iustly correct me for my sinnes : and I thanke thee gracious Father , that thou hast remembred me ; for before I felt thy fatherly rod of pouerty , and want , I went astray ; but now Lord , I desire to turne me to the keeping of thy commaundements .

As long as I prospered in the world , the vanities of my minde estranged my heart from thee ; and , if I should haue still enioyed what my sinfull heart defired , I should still haue gone astray : But now Lord , I am vnfainedly sorie from my heart , that I haue so long followed mine owne corrupt will , and in spending so many dayes and yeares in vanities .

Lord I now returne vnto thee ; receiue me ( though as the prodigall Sonne ) who haue sinned against heauen and against thee , and doe acknowledge my selfe vnworthy to be called thy Sonne : I am worthily become poore , in misery and want ; and know not to whom to repaire for succour , being despised of men , and scorned of mine acquaintance ; by reason of my pouerty ; which I doe confesse , hath not befallen me by chance ; it is by mine owne wretched deseruings , which thou hast obserued , and now in loue , by this thy fatherly correcting mee , put me in minde to consider what I haue beene : and I doe confesse , that I haue beene vnseruiceable vnto thee , and vnprofitable to my selfe and others : Therfore dost thou iustly in punishing me : and yet thou dealest louingly in correcting me ; & I embrace ▪ this fatherly chastisement of thine , as an argument that thou wouldest preuent , a more seuere iudgement , incident to those that run on in their disobedience .

Lord , thou hast iustly depriued mee , of the superfluous things of this world ; which , though I cannot but confesse they were deare vnto me , yet not so deare as dan●geros ; for I now finde , that howsoeuer sweet they seemed vnto my carnall minde ; they bred in my heart many fearefull sinnes , which now I feele as pricks in my soule ; and thy correction seemeth to encrease my feare , seeing and feeling it in my minde ( as it is corrupt ) heauie , and burthensome : but when I doe consider it , as it is , in thy purpose , I finde it to be an ease vnto mine inward part , through thine owne gift of faith , in beleeuing it to proceed of thy meere loue ; and of patience to beare it , knowing it to be a most wholsome medicine to cure mee of my disease of sinne , which in it selfe is mortall .

Howsoeuer , I haue deserued to be more seuerely punished , & to be brought to a more miserable and poore estate then yet I am ; yet Lord remember thy mercies , and the merites of Iesus Christ thy Sonne ; and for his sake lay it not ouer heauily vpon mee : Leaue mee not altogether destitute of things necessarie for my competent reliefe here : but , as thou hast iust cause , fatherly to correct me ; So , yet graciously protect me , & preserue me from too great miserie ; though I deserue not thy mercie , yet I haue a meritorious Mediatour with thee , for whose sake thou mayest be pleased to mitigate my hard and miserable estate , and to giue me patience to vndergoe it , with competent foode and rayment , and contentment therewith .

And defend me Lord , from the iniuries that vsually thy poore children are enforced here to endure : In thee I trust O Lord , whose prouidence I hold my chiefest portion ; for of thee commeth my saluation , my safety , and sufficiencie .

Thou diddest create me ( Lord ) and madest mee a liuing creature ; who cannot subsist or continue without such ordinarie meanes , as thou hast ordained for humane sustentation , which thou affordest vnto the most brute beasts , that call not vpon thee : how much more vnto them that faithfully aske it of thee ? I come vnto thee most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ ; who , as thou hast , made all things , and possessest all things : so thou giuest and disposest all things ; to euery man a portion , according as thou thinkest most fit for euery man : And therefore forasmuch as thou seest pouerty a fitter portion then riches ; and want then wealth ; I accept it with hearty thankfulnes , knowing that thou art able to relieue me , as well with little as with much ; And though my portion bee small ; thou hast promised to nourish me , and to sustaine me : Thou refreshest the thirsty soules , and fillest the hungry with good things , and by promise , nothing wanteth to them that ●eare thee .

The meanest of thy creatures which thou hast ordained for the vse of man , and the least portion thereof , blessed by thee , cannot but bee sufficient , be it but pulse with Daniel and his fellowes , yea the meanest dyet , shall so fructifie to the reliefe of my weake body , as I , in faith feeding vpon the same , shall liue thereby ; and when thou wilt , thou canst encrease my portion , as thou diddest the oyle and meale of Eliahs Hostice .

Also consider Lord , that pouerty and want , not affording for the time , competency to supply our great necessity , enforceth to borrow ; and mens harts are hard , and Creditours cruell ; Let me neuer fall into their hands , but as thou diddest send a preuailing guest vnto the widow of Sarepta ( Eliah ) by whom ( through thy power and prouidence ) her little oyle and meale ( euen wholy consumed ) was so encreased , as she had sufficient , not onely for the reliefe of her and her family , but to pay her debts with the rest . This was thy doing O Lord ! And thou art still the same God , who in my greatest necessity canst raise meanes , either by the help of man , whom thou somtimes appointest to relieue thy distressed ones , or by blessing my lawfull labours and endeuours : If they all faile , thou hast infinite other meanes , reserued onely in thine owne wisedome , to helpe in most neede : If thou couldest send that raueuous fowle , to feede Eliah in his hunger , much more canst thou afford ordinary meanes to relieue me , and to enable me to pay all men their due ; a duty required of thee : and I cannot performe it but by thee ; into whose hands I had rather fall , then into the hands of cruell and mercilesse men .

I am vnder thine hand , O Lord , support me with thy grace ; strengthen my faith that I faint not , that being in thy prouidence relieued , I may ( as I truly doe ascribe vnto thee , whatsoeuer comfortable supply I shall enioy at thy hands ) humbly recommending my selfe , and mine estate vnto thy blessing , in the name of Iesus Christ : to whom with thee and the holy Ghost , be all honour , praise and thankes for euermore , Amen .

Lord encrease my faith .

A short Prayer to bee said of him , that is in pouertie and want .

O Eternall God , most mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ , thou hast created me of the dust of the earth , and hetherunto sustained my earthly body by earthly meanes ; which I acknowledge to proceede of thy goodnesse onely , and of thy meere blessing ; without the which nothing can succeed comfortably vnto me ; but through thy blessing , the weakest means shall bee sufficient to sustaine me ; and for all thy mercies , thou requirest onely in mee a liuely faith in thee , prayer vnto thee , and patient wayting on thee : So , though my portion be h●re pouertie , yet as long as thou art pleased to showe thy selfe a louing father towards me , I shall be releeued , nourrished , protected and preserued , in my greatest want of the necessaries , required for the sustentation of this short momentanie , miserable and mortall life : Lord , I beleeue thy promises made vnto all beleeuers , that in their greatest necessities , Thou wilt neuer faile them , nor forsake them : Lord I beleeue , confirme my beleefe ; make mee strong in faith , that I may serue thee faithfully and pray vnto thee feruently ; that so I may vndergoe my troubles , and wayte thy gracious pleasure patiently , to be supplyed in what I want ( timely ) knowing ▪ that thou art a God that shewest mercie ; and yet as a louing father thou correctest thine owne deerest children , to retaine them in obedience ; thou hast corrected me , I feele thy rod , thy rod of loue , not of thy heauy displeasure and wrath ; for , if thou shouldest deale with mee , and punish mee according to my merite , I could expect no mercy . I haue of sended thee , I haue sinned against thee , and doe acknowledge , that pouertie and want ( though heauy ▪ and burthensome ▪ vnto flesh and blood ) cannot be a sufficient punishment for my euill deseruings ; and were it not that thy mercies doe farre exceede thy souerity , I had not onely more deepely beene afflicted , but had perished long agone .

O Lord , I acknowledge this thy correction iust and gentle ; yet consider Lord that I am weake to beare it , and therefore I humbly praye thee to support mee with thy hand , that I fall not altogether , and furnish mee with thy grace , that I fainte not .

I see no humane helpe O Lord , whereon to depend or hope ; there is none to succour mee but thou , whome I haue offended : and how dare I come boldy to begge of thee , whose many and infinite blessings I haue so much and often abused ? If therefore I should come in myne owne name , thou mayst iustly turne thee from me ; O happy am I that I haue one with thee in whose name I may come and bee receiued : I may pray and be heard , I may aske and receiue what I want : heare him O Lord , for me and in my behalfe ; he is my Mediator , and whome thou so dearely louest , as thou hast promised to deny mee nothing for which he asketh of thee for me : and who is not ignorant of this worlds miseries ? hee was Patient in suffering as a man , and now though exalted to the Throne of glorie , he despiseth not those that suffer here as hee suffered ; therefore Lord , for his merits sake heare me , mitigate my miserie , supply my necessities , raise mee out of the 〈…〉 worlds disgrac● , 〈◊〉 out of the 〈◊〉 of miserie wherein I sticke ●●st .

Lord , confirme my faith in thee , open the eyes of my dull apprehension of thy power and prouidence ; showe me the well of liuely releefe , as thou didst the spring of releeuing water to miserable Hagar ; that I may be refreshed with the Cuppe of thy saluation , and may rightly vse such meanes for my releefe , as in thy wisedome thou shalt raise vp and prouide for mee : and giue mee grace that I abuse not thy guifts , but to vse them to thy glory ; so shall they bee to my comfort . Giue a blessing to all my labours and godly endeauours ; and that in the feare of thy great name , I may liue in perfect obedience ; that prospering , I may praise thee , and in my hardest estate , be patient ; recommending my selfe and it , to thy gratious and fatherly prouidence , vnto the end . Amen .

O Lord increase my faith .

Generall counsell and comfort , for men imprisoned .

IMprisonment is the depriuation of humane libertie , and befalleth vpon men commonly that haue before abused their freedome : for , it is the nature of humane frailtie , to runne and ra●●ge after pleasures and carnall delights , hauing the raines of the bridle of libertie loose , nothing to curbe it ; It attempteth many vnlawfull actions against the lawes of God ▪ and men , to fulfill corrupt desires , and licencious appetites ; Therefore doth God ( as a louing father ) curbe the bit of their corrupt wills , Why God depriueth men of their libertie . to keepe them in obedience ; finding no other meanes auailable , to make them to knowe themselues : though hee is able to take away the strength and vse of all their sinning parts , and to make them vnable to followe or performe their impious inclinations : but he dealeth more fauourably with men , then they can deserue , by their restraint .

A father , louing his vngodly and disobedient child ; if he cannot otherwise tame and reforme him by counsell and gentle corrections , but that he wil still run into forbidden wayes , & dangerous and vngodly courses , he findeth at the last , no other preuailing remedie , but to take him , & fetter him , restraining him by force from his impious course of life , yet in loue : So doth our louing and heauenly father , after tryall of such as he loueth , by counsell , by instruction and holy documents out of his word , & many times by gentle corrections & fatherly chastisements ; which not preuailing to their reformation , hee vseth this restraining meanes , he depriueth them of their libertie , by imprisonment ; from whence , they cannot at their pleasures runne out , after their former vngodly delights and accustomed vanities ; onely to learne them to liue within the more compasse of obedience ; and to bring their corrupt mindes ; wills and affections , into some better order : and when hee hath sufficiently tryed them , he lets them goe free .

And therefore consider , whosoeuer thou art , that art thus restrained , that thou maist haue ( if thou be any way inclined to feare and serue God ) farre more time and libertie to performe many godly duties , The Prison a place of libertie to serue God . more and more , freely in this place of restraint , then when thou hadst thy libertie : there thou maist ruminate and examine thy selfe of the abuses of thy former freedome , wherein thou didst many wayes offend God and transgresse the Lawes of thy Soueraigne ; which in this place thou canst not so freely doe : but rather thou maist here meditate of better things , howsoeuer thy desire may bee corrupt by nature , and haue a longing desire to be at libertie , to fulfill thy former delights , as the Children of Israell longed and looked back to the Onyons , gowrdes , flesh-pots of Egypt , being freed from greater captiuity then thou indurest here .

The least restraint that a naturall man hath ( that loues the delights of the world , It is a death to a carnall man to bee preuented of his pleasures . and his fleshly pleasures ) is as death , to be preuented of them : If he haue but the Go●te , or any other impediment of any part of his body , which disableth him to follow or performe his former vanities ; he longeth to bee eased , that hee may renewe his sinnes , by accompanying his former associates in the delights wherein they mutually were wont to spende pretious time , in the large and delightsome field of this world where are as many occasions , tentations , allurements & prouocations , to miscary the thoughts , as the Eye can see , the Eare heare , or any of the Sences obserue ; all tending ( in carnally minded men ) to the offending of God : and if a man haue not the speciall gift of sobrietie , continence & temperance ; the libertie and freedome of this deceiuing world , & the corrupt inclinations of the flesh , cannot but seduce him , though hee bee in part of some good inclination ; yet here hee shall finde a secret Satan , & his publick prompters to miscary him ▪

Thou therefore that art thus restrained and limited within the walles , The minde may bee at libertie when the bodie is imprisoned beyond which thou canst not goe ; thy minde is yet at libertie , if it be seasoned with vertue , faith , in and obedience to God ; thou maist send forth thy prayers which are not lockt in , which cannot but returne with greater comfort then thou didst enioy when thou wert at large . But if it be tainted and infected with vnholy thoughts and desires , though they raunge abroade to Tauernes , Theaters , and other prophane places , where thy heart directeth them , they returne no good , but euill vnto thee : and if thou finde thy selfe still inclinable to vanities ; here thou maist learne ( according to the condition of some of thy fellowe-prisoners ) to be more vaine : but abandon their societie , and seeke the company of , and conuerse with them of thy fellowes that feare God , for it cannot be that a prison which should bee as a schoole of vertue ( though too much fraught with many vicious ) should be altogether destitute of some , fearing God , and of whom thou maist either learne good , or to whom thou maist doe good .

It is lamentable to see , and grieuous to consider , that the Prison being a place intended for correction of men offending God and the Lawes of men , Many are worse after then before they were imprisoned should not onely not be bettered by their restraint , but are many times founde to be worse conditioned at their comming out , then before they were committed ; which doth argue them so impious as they feare not God , nor reuerence man : they haue no feeling of their sinnes which caused their restraint ; but , in steed of sorrow for their sinnes , they indeauour there , to learne the sinnes wherewith they were little acquainted before : these are men past feeling of their euill deseruings ; they conceiue not , that God corrects them in this place for their sinnes , and that the Maiestrate punisheth them for their offences : but in steed of acknowledging their faultes , they seeke to cleere themselues , by the malice of some enemie , some false accuser , some cruell creditor , when indeede their owne sinnes haue beene the cause of their restraint . And therefore such as feare God will take it as a fatherly correction , and attribute it to the loue of God , that by this meanes seeketh their reformation and saluation .

Submit thy selfe therefore vnto his will , and doe not think that this befalls thee by chance , or through the malice of an enemie , or the hardnesse of the heart of a Creditor : If an enemie haue accused thee , None is restrained of his liberrie but by Gods Prouidence though man may bee the meanes . or a Creditor arrested thee , thinke they were but Gods Ministers ; though peraduenture thou bee not guiltie of the thing for which thou art accused and imprisoned , yet remember what thou hast formerly done : for , God many times punisheth a man , and that seuerely , for a sinne formerly committed and long concealed , vpon an accusation whereof the Partie is not guiltie ; yet being guiltie of a former hainous crime , that deserueth like punishment , the Lord is not vniust to punish him , how and by what meanes soeuer .

God is prouoked by sinne , to inflict the least correction vpon man ; and as there is no man but he is a sinner , As all men are sinners so all men deserue c●rrection . so there is no man is free from one crosse or affliction or other ; to put him in minde , that God is displeased with his sinne , and yet he permitteth some men to runne on long , euen to their last gaspe , free from any seene crosse or calamitie : but these not the happiest men ; for , whom soeuer God chasteneth not here , hee reserueth for them a more seuere punishment in the end ; a prison farre exceeding any worldly restraint ; for he that is in this world a prisoner , is at length deliuered , liuing or dead ; but from that future , is no time limited or permitted to be freed through all eterni●ies .

Thinke not therefore this easie restraint grieuous , whereof so good vse is to be made ; for by this thou maist learne , if a temporall and momentanie imprisonment be so loathsome and irckesome vnto thee , If a corporall prison be irksome what may we thinke of the infernall ? where thou hast yet some ( though small ) libertie ; what will that bee where thou shalt haue no freedome , no intermission of torment and horror ? besides , thou hast here some companions and friendly fellow-prisoners , whose company thou maist frequent to thy comfort ; but the companions which they shall there finde , are hideous , fearefull , such as haue no other qualitie but to torment and suffer , and be tormented .

Know therefore that God in his singular prouidence and loue restraineth thee here a prisoner , God restraineth men here to giue them libertie hereafter . that thou shouldest here learne to auoid that which is prepared for the rebellious and obstinate wicked ones hereafter : For , if thou reforme thee not being restrained , and become obediente , what may be thought of thee , being at libertie ? But vsing thy restraint as thou maist & oughtest , thou art in farre better , case then are many Libertines : Heere thou maist read the worde , and meditate thereon : heere thou maist pray and excercise holy duties , without such varietie of occasions ( as the freedom of the world affordeth ) to distract thee : Yet I would not that I should be vnderstood , that because corporall restraint , is a meanes to haue the minde at libertie , when the body is in Prison , that any man should wilfully occasion , or voluntarily seeke his owne restraint : The cause of imprisonment is to bee considered . but rather that being thus restrayned , to consider duly , the cause why you are restrayned : for the cause much importeth the ioye , or griefe ; the hope or feare , of a Prisoner .

Pharaohs Baker and Butler , were both in Prison ; Gen. 39. 14 the one hanged , the other restored to his Office ; yet both deserued Imprisonment , for offending their Maister : But Ioseph and Iohn Baptist were Imprisond , the one through the false accusasion of his vnchaste Mistresse , Math. 13. 4. the other through enuye , in telling Herod of his Incest : The first had his freedome & made Cheef vnder Pharaoh in Egypte ; the other lost his head to please a Whore .

There are many causes of imprisonement , He that is imprisoned without iust cause , may reioyce . and many , causelesse imprisoned ; and both haue cause to reioyce : the first that God in his fauour calles him to knowe himselfe , by the consideration of his offence for which hee is committed ; the other may the more reioyce that he is punished being an innocent , 1. King . 22. 27 as was Michaiah the Prophet of God , who was cast into prison , for telling Iehosaphat and Ahab , that they should not prosper in fighting against the King of Siriah .

The deerest children of God haue suffered imprisonment for diuers causes , Most godly men haue beene imprisoned . especially for speaking the truth from God ; as Paul , Peter , &c. whose imprisonments tended to their euerlasting freedome : for , to suffer for righteousnesse sake is a blessed thing ; but to suffer as an euill doer , hath no promise of inward comfort or outward releefe ; especially , if he continue impenitent for the euill he hath done : yet , all hope is not taken from a sinner , who , for the offending of the Lawes of God or men is imprisoned ; especially , if he truely repent , and with a liuely faith returne vnto God , were he as guiltie as the Theefe vpon the Crosse , who from the prison was brought to the Crosse ; at the Crosse to Christ , and from the Crosse to Paradice with Christ .

It behoueth therefore to consider the cause of thine imprisonment ; for , As the cause is , so ought the counsell to be . as there are seuerall causes , so are there seuerall councelles and comforts to be applyed .

If thou haue offended the Lawes of thy Soueraigne , Diuers causes of imprisonement . which may be done by diuers forbidden actions , deseruing death or some other seuere punishment ; as treasons , rebellion , murther , theftes , and the like : Some againe are punished for debte , for slandering their neighbours , or doing such iniuries against them , as the Lawe of man ( grounded vpon the Law of God ) hath power to punish with imprisonement : in all which , What is required of a man imprisoned . is required Patience to beare it , prayer in faith to God to be eased , with true & hearty acknowledgement of thy fault to God , against whome euery sinne is committed , and to seeke reconciliation with the partie offended : so shall restraint ( for what cause soeuer ) become the more easie to bee borne : And first I will touche the most capitall and most hainous offences ; such , as if thou haue committed , or any of them , and bee restrained for them , there remaineth for thee in the seueritie of Iustice , nothing but the expectation of the censure and Sentence of death : and therefore fit for thee to learne how to prepare thee , that though thy body perish , thy soule may be saued .

Against Treason , for which a man is worthily imprisoned .

ABoue all other sinnes , Treason the most capitall sin . that can be committed against the Lawe of man , there is none so great , so grieuous , capitall & hainous , as is Treason against the person of a Soueraigne , of whome no man ought to moue his tong ; no , not in his most priuate chamber , but to what may tende to the welwishing of his welfare and prosperitie ; much lesse ought any man to moue his hand , or heart , to touch him to his hurt : for , such is the sacred Majestie of a King , being in earth ▪ Vicegerent vnder God , in the Kingdomes wherein the Lord hath placed him : that he ought in all things to bee obeyed next vnto God , aboue all other , of all his subiects : And whosoeuer goeth about , by counsell , conspiracie , or consent , to betray him , is not onely worthy of imprisonment , but of the most cruell tormenting death that can bee deuised by man : A Traytor worthy of most cruell death . and therefore , if thou shouldest be guiltie but of the knowledge of such a practice , and didst conceale it , thou art not to be graced with one minute of life , nor by the prayer of any good subiect for thy deliuery ; but to haue thy deseruing , not as ●ad Baarah and Rechab , who thinki●g to pleasure Dauid , slew the King their Master Ishbosheth , whome Dauid caused to be slaine with the sword : But the like or worse then Reualiacke had for killing that famous King of France ; whose torments were as horrible as the wit of man could deuise .

The Maiestie of God is so imprinted in the person of a King , The Maiestie of a King daunteth a Traitor . as when wicked men haue vndertaken any desperate enterprise vpon them , they haue beene many times so daunted , as they haue had no power to act their villanies ; or haue suddainely so discouered their wicked intention , by countenance , gesture or speech , as hath bewrayd the guilt of their conscience , and haue beene preuented of their intended mischiefe . Among many other most memorable examples of Gods Prouidence , the discouery of the many treasons and conspiracies intended , and ready to haue beene executed , euen vpon the person of our late most famous Queene Elizabeth by Parrie and others , are so perspicuous , and her deliueries so wonderfull , as can neuer be forgotten . And his late Maiesties admirable deliuery from the conspiracie of the Gowries is yet fresh in euery mans memory , to Gods eternall glory , and the ioy of all his Kingdomes .

When Quintinanus a villaine , being solicited to kill the Emperour Commodus by the conspiracie of Lucilla the Emperours sister , had taken vpon him the murther , wayted the time and conuenient place to execute the Treason ; Traytors bewray their intentions , by outward gesture . attending the Emperours comming ; when he saw his Maiestie , hee began to tremble , his countenance changed , his gesture altred , and his tongue could no longer conceale his guiltie conscience : but before the Emperour came neere him , held out his murthering dagger in his hand , cryed out , This the Senate sends thee : whereupon he was preuented and apprehended .

If therefore thou be apprehended and imprisoned , as guiltie of this most hainous and monster of all sinnes ; examine thine owne heart , confesse and bewray thine intention to the satisfaction of men , especially of thy Soueraigne ; and acknowledge thy sinnes to God , repent them ; It may be the Lord may yet vpon thy sincere and serious repentance , haue compassion on thy soule , though no good subiect will pitie thy death , No good subiect will pitie the death of a Traytor . or wish the prolonging of thy life ; but the seuearell death . So hainous is Treason and so odious are Traitors .

For such as are imprisoned , as guiltie , or vehemently suspected of murther .

NExt vnto Treason , Murther a crying sin . Murther is the most crying sinne ; whereof , if thou be guiltie , especially if it were wilfull , and imprisoned for the same , remember , that Who so sheddeth mans blood , by man shall his blood be shed : Though the Murther be neuer so secretly done , neuer so closely kept , neuer so long concealed ; so odious it is to God , that he seldome or neuer suffers it to goe vnreuealed : The very Barbarians helde Murther so hainous a sinne , Act 28. 4. as they did thinke it could not escape the vengeance of God , The blood of the murthered cryes against the murtherer neither indeed can it , for , as the guiltlesse blood of Abel cryed against his murtherous brother Kayne , so doth the blood of euery man ( guiltlesly slaine ) crye against the murtherer , and huntes him from place to place whether soeuer he flye ; where soeuer he hides himselfe , the murthered seemeth still to be in the eye of the murtherer ; whether he sleepe or wake hee is still tormented ; and the Deuill that inticeth a murtherer , perswading him by many false perswasions , which he conceiueth in his minde , by this or that meanes he may escape when he hath committed the Murther ; he layes the murthered before the eyes of the guiltie conscience of the murtherer ; and telles him , loe here is that innocent person thou hast wilfully murthered ; God will seuerely reuenge it , hee will giue thee into the Magistrates hand to be here tormented in the flesh , and take away thy life , and then cast thee into eternall torments as thou deseruest .

If , therefore , thou be guiltie of any such grieuous crime , and be derected , and imprisoned , thou maist thanke God , who hath discouered thee and restrained thee in this place , from whence thou canst not escape , to the end , The prison is a fit place for a murtherer to repent , if he haue any grace . thou shouldest no longer raunge the world with a tormenting conscience , but rather casting off all vaine hope to be freed , betake thee to repentance for all thine offences ; and especially , for this thy most odious facte , crye earnestly and faithfully to God for mercie , that he will still the crye of the innocent murthered , that soundeth so fearefully in the eare of thy guilty conscience : crye for pardon in Christ , for whose sake there is mercie with God , if with a true and liuely faith thou craue it .

If thou be guiltie , and yet but onely vpon suspicion committed , the facte not fully reueiled ; if thou confesse it not to the Magistrate , thy burthen will be for the more heauie , It is not sufficient for a murtherer to confesse the fact to God , but to men . though thou thinke it sufficient to confesse it in secret and silence to God , who needs not thy confession of the facte : for hee saw it done , and knew thine intention before thou didst it ; he hath seene and obserued thee since , how thou hast runne hether and thether for safetie , and how thou hast sought all meanes to hide it and escape : but all in vaine : there is ●o hiding thee from his sight .

Thy sinne is grieuous , thou hast laid violent and murtherous hands vpon , and taken away the life of the Image of God , though a humane creature : and ●s the facte is done against God , so thy repentance or hardnesse of heart , are knowne to him alone , not to man , against whom also thou hast grieuously sinned ; therefore must thou openly acknowledge the facte before men , that thou maist free the innocent that may be otherwise had in suspition , to be actors of that which thou thy selfe hast done ; and so double thine offence , The guiltlesse maybe suspected and suffer , for the fact of another not confessed . in causing another to suffer for thy sinne ; and so heape as well his blood ( as the blood of the murthered ) vpon thine owne conscience : Therfore as thou art discouered , taken , kepte from any hope of escape ; make of necessitie a vertue : take that punishment with a godly patience , that by all thy secret intentions , inuentions and subtile practises , thou canst not auoide : craue forgiuenesse of thy sinnes of God , vpon the knees of a most penitent and relenting heart : and if it be possible , wrest through bitter sighes and sorrowe , euen teares of blood from thy bloody conscience , in heartie and faithfull prayor to God in his Sonne Christ , who shed his blood for thee , and thereby able to wash thee from thy bloody sinne ; if thou truely repent and doest faithfully and feruently praye for pardon : and if thou be destitute of the power to pray of thy selfe , thou maist vse the former prayer , made for a man grieued in conscience for the hainousnesse of his sinnes ; or this short confession and prayer following ; and that often , vntill thy conscience become at peace with God : and then howsoeuer , both the Lawe of God and men condemne thee for the facte , and that thou suffer death for the same , take it with godly patience ; for better it is for thee to suffer here a temporall death for thy sinne , then to carrie the burthen of a tormenting conscience ( not suspected ) to thy graue , which ( though man doe not ) shall accuse thee when it will be too late to crye for mercie .

A Prayer for a man imprisoned , guiltie of murther .

O Lord God , whose mercies are aboue all thy workes , and yet I wretched creature haue not deserued the least part of the same , but rather vtter confusion both of body and soule : not onely , for my manifold and grieuous sinnes , committed euen from my youth ; but aboue all other of my grieuous sinnes , I feele the heauy burthen of this one sinne , this capitall and crying sinne , in thy seuere Iustice impardonable ; the wilfull taking away of the life of thine innocent creature , whose blood cryeth against mee , as did that guiltlesse blood of Abel crye against his murtherous brother Kayne ; who was reiected by thee , by reason of his impenitency : deale not so with mee ( deare father ) I praye thee ; I am heartely forty for my wicked facte , and doe acknowledge it to be most hainous ; yet not exceeding thy mercy : which as farre as the heauen is aboue the earth , so is thy mercie aboue thy Iustice : and as farre as the East is from the West , so farre canst thou put this my grieuous sinne from mee : which , though it be as red as blood , yea blood it selfe ; yet is the blood of that Lambe Iesus Christ , of more then sufficient efficacie and vertue to make it white as snowe .

O cast mee not vtterly out of thy fauour , though I be a most grieuous sinner ! for , my soule is heauy within mee , my heart is cast downe , I dare not looke vp vnto heauen where thou sittest a seueate Iudge ; and I tremble to thinke how grieuously I haue offended thee .

I am fallen , O Lord I am fallen into the hands of my most deadly enemie Satan , that pursues mee with deadly hatred ; he , he ( O God ) prouoked mee to this vngodly deede , and now he seekes to draw me to dispayre of thy mercie ; into whose hands O Lord I cast my selfe , knowing , that there is yet mercie with thee , and in Iesus Christ perfect Redemption : I am also fallen into the hands of men , whose Lawes I haue by this mine vngodly facte wilfully broken , by whose Lawes I am condemned , and that worthily : and there is none to comfort me but thou alone , against whom especially I haue committed this bloody sinne : for which , as I doe acknowledge to haue deserued the death not onely of my wretched body , but also of my most sinfull soule ; so I beleeue that the death of my body shall be a sufficient satisfaction to the Lawe of man ; and the griefe and sorrowe of my truely repenting heart ( through the preuayling death of my Sauiour Iesus Christ ) shall bee a satisfaction to thy Iustice .

And as I doe acknowledge that I haue deserued to dye ; so I beseech thee Lord to prepare me therevnto with Patience ; faith ; firme and constant assurance of thy mercy ; that I fainte not at my approaching death : but may bee assured , that as thou forgauest the Theef vpon the Crosse ; & receiuedst him into Paradice ; so thou wilt receiue my soule , in the merites of Christ my Sauiour , when through death it shall leaue my sinfull body : which graunt gracious Lord God , for his sake that dyed for penitent sinners ; among whome I cannot but confesse I am the greatest : and the greater shall thy mercy appeare .

Lord confirme my faith in thee to the end , and in my end . Amen .

For such as are imprisoned , for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome , deseruing death .

AS the Lawes and Ordinances of Kingdomes are many , Euery man knowes the offences against the Lawes that deserue death . to meete with the sinnes and transgressions of men , which are infinite ; so the causes of mens restraynts , imprisonments , and punishments , are not to bee named or numbred : yet euery man commonly knowes the offences that deserue the same , and haue not yet the grace , or power to auoide the committing of them .

Thou art in prison , knowne or vehemently suspected of some grieuous facte committed against the Lawes , deseruing the executing sword of the Magistrate vpon life or member ; thy case is hard and dangerous , deserued death , or some other seueare punishment hangeth ouer thy head , at the pleasure of the Iudge .

It behoueth thee therefore , to looke into thine owne heart , and to examine thine owne conscience strictely ; whether thou be guiltie or not , of the cryme laid vnto thy charge , or of any other grieuous cryme which thou hast long concealed : for , God many times doth punish an offender for some wicked facte ( formerly committed and neuer discouered ) by the suspition of a cryme ; God sometimes punisheth an offendor for some former sin ▪ by the suspition of a fault he did not commit . and punisheth it as the acte done : and therefore if thou feele thy selfe guiltie of any grieuous offence commited against God by the breach of the Lawes of man , which thou hadst cleane forgotten ; if thou be after vniustly accused or suspected of another , which ( if thou were guiltie of it ) deserued as seueare punishment as the former , and thou receiue it , though ( in that ) thou be innocent ; yet in Gods Iustice , this thy punishment is for thy former offence iust .

He that wittingly or wilfully disobeyeth the Lawes of man , The offence of mans Lawe is the offence of Gods . is guiltie of the breach of the Lawe of God , by whom Magistrates that establishe Lawes for ciuile gouernment of their subiects , are set and appointed ; and haue their authoritie and power ( to punish offendors from God : and therefore should euery soule submit it selfe to the powers ordained by God : And seeing thou hast highly offended these Lawes , fit it is that thou shouldst be apprehended & restrained of thy raunging libertie , whereby thou maist not onely offend others , but bee a meane to intice others to thy example of sinning .

Receiue therefore thine imprisonment and punishment with patience ; murmure not against the Magistaate , that thus in Gods steed , and as his Minister correcteth thee ; The sooner an offender is preuented of his sinne , the happier is he . who if hee had let thee runne on further in thine impieties , the greater had beene thy sinne , and the greater would haue beene thy finall punishment : whereas now , thou mayst haue time to examine thy life past , and to repent thee of thy sinnes , and to seeke to God in Christ for pardon ; and therefore hast thou rather cause to thanke God for thine imprisonment , then to grudge that hee correcteth thee : so shalt thou make profit of thy restraint , in redeeming thy former ill spent time , and learne to frame thy heart to more obedience to the Lawes of God and man , for the time thou hast yet to spend in this life .

If God haue ordained the Magistrate in Iustice to take away thy life , iustly deseruing it , thou ( through faith ) by true repentance and prayer , maist enioy a farre more glorious life , for thy present ignomi●ious death .

If any other punishment be by the Lawes due for thine offence , & that it may be satisfied with the depriuation of any part of thy body , according to the qualitie of thine offence , or to inflict any other corporall punishment vpon thy flesh ; thinke it is in fauour , Better to suffer here , then hereafter . and that God seeth it better for thee to suffer here a little smart then hereafter , perpetuall torments : and therefore seeing thou hast offended , and made thy selfe guilty of crime , so seuearely punishable ; submit thy selfe to the will of God , and to the authoritie of the Magistrate , in obedience , faith , and faithfull prayer .

A Prayer to be said of a Prisoner , accused and like to bee condemned to death for some facte against the Lawes , or to any other corporall punishment .

O Mightie , omnipotent , and most righteous Lord God , I acknowledge thy Iudgements to bee iust , and thy Wisedome and Prouidence vnsearchable , wherein thou hast found me out , and discouered my sins , which I haue done ( as I thought ) in secret : but thine all-seeing eye pierceth through the cloudes ; no darkenesse can hide sinne and sinners from thy presence : Lord , seeing thou hast found out mine iniquities , and brought my grieuous sins to light ; I doe appeale from thy Throne of Iustice , to thy Seate of mercie : for I doe confesse , that in thy iust Iudgement I am worthy to bee perpetually condemned ; but in thy mercie I may find fauour : and in the merits of Christ thy beloued Sonne , I may yet be saued , though my mortall body here perish .

Thou hast power O Lord , to worke the hearts of the seuearest Iudges of the earth , with Iustice , to ioyne mercie ; not to extende the seueritie in punishing of me as the Lawe for mine offence may iustlie require .

But aboue all earthly Iudges I stand most affraid of thy displeasure , which I doe confesse I haue iustly deserued by mine offences , many in number ; but this for which I am now restrayned , is not the least : yet not so great but thou canst forgiue and pardon it . But before I can bee assured of thy fauour in pardoning mine vngodly deseruings , for which I lye here , vnder thine and the hand of the Magistrate , in bandes ; I must and I doe humbly and heartily seeke to bee reconciled vnto thee : But alas , what am I dust and ashes ? what am I ? a meere worme : what am I ? ( the vilest of all sinners ) that thou shouldest vouschafe to accept my reconciliation with thee the Almightie God , Creator of heauen and earth , betweene whose sinceritie and my sinnes , betweene whose goodnesse and my vilenesse , and betweene whose greatnesse and my weaknesse , is so infinite difference , euen as betweene heauen and hell ? O! how can I thinke , that ( although thou canst ) thou wilt bee reconciled vnto me , that haue so grieuously offended ? How can I expect any fauour of thee , whom by the breach of all thy commandements I haue so highly incensed against me ? I haue sinned , Lord I haue sinned , and many wayes transgressed thy Lawes ; and had it not beene of thy meere mercy , I might haue beene ( as I haue often deserued ) confounded long agone .

I doe acknowledge O Lord , and thou knowest that this is not the first grieuous offence that I haue committed ; and therefore , were I innocent in this , for which I am apprehended and imprisoned , I cannot but confesse that I haue deserued the punishment in Iustice due for this .

But Lord , call not all my former sinnes to thy remembrance ; cast not vp the whole account of all mine impious actions , knowing that I am of the seede of him that first was in thy sauour holy , and that first rebelled , and became ( and I in him ) disobedient and rebellious : yet as hee fell of himselfe , and I in him , together with all his posteritie , So was the seed of the woman promised to come , & he is come ; & hath suffered according to thine owne will , to reconcile , euen me ( the greatest sinner ) and all beleeuers into thy fauour againe ; the shedding of his blood hath made the attonement : and he it is , yea euen hee alone , in whome I beleeue I shall finde thee reconciled vnto me . Then Lord doe with my body here ( which is the actiue part of all my sinnes ) what seemeth good in thine owne eyes : for as one haire of the head of thy children , falleth not without thy Prouidence , how much lesse can his life bee taken from him without thee ?

My life and my death are in thy hands , though the sword be in the Magistrates ; yet it is not his but thine , and he but thy Minister : therefore if thou saye strike he striketh ; if thou saye spare he spareth .

Seeing therefore Lord I am thus in thy disposing onele , and haue learned out of thine owne promises , that all things worke , & worke together , for the good of them whom thou hast chosen : my sinnes Lord , that hath caused mine apprehension ; mine apprehension mine imprisonment ; mine imprisonment , the knowledge of mine owne wicked deseruing ; and my deseruing , death ; may all worke together for my good : for , except I had beene restrained , I had not thought vpon , but had runne on still in my sinne : had I not beene punished , I had not felt thy displeasure for my sinnes ; so should I neuer haue sought to thee for succour , and pardon for my sinnes .

O the incomprehensible depth of thy Wisedome and mercy , in thus visiting me ! for before I was restrained , I forgot my selfe & thee : my selfe , what a wretched creature I was ; and thee , what a powerfull and iust Iudge thou art : yet louing to them that repent , which is also thy guifte : I know and confesse my selfe now to be an offender , and in danger , and that thou art a iust God and an auenger of sinne .

Lord dispose of mine offending body , as it pleaseth thee : it is dust , turne it to dust , when and how thou wilt ; and punish it in what manner and measure thou wilt ; yet seasoned with thy compassion : As for my soule , Lord receiue it , when through Iustice by the Magistrate or otherwise , it shall be enforced to leaue this my sinnefull body : which graunt for Iesus Christs sake , Amen .

Lord encrease my faith , and prepare mee ●o obey thee in what soeuer it pleaseth thee here to doe with me .

A Prayer to be said of a penitent offender , going to his execution ; or to any corporall punishment .

O Lord God Almightie , though thou be iust in punishing , thou art mercifull in forgiuing and sauing sinners ; among whome there is none so great , O Lord , as I am , who haue long liued in the practise of infinite impieties , neuer thinking of the danger which now is deseruedly fallen vpon me : I am worthily condemned to what thou wilt inflict vpon mee ; Lord giue me patience to take it without repining or grudging at the iust proceeding of the Magistrate , whose Lawes I haue offended ; nor against them by whome I was found guiltie ; nor against the Iudge , by whose Sentence I am condemned : for they are all thy Ministers ( O Lord ) and haue done nothing but what thy good pleasure is they should doe : And therefore I impute vnto thee ( O Lord ) all equitie , Iustice and righteousnesse ; to my selfe nothing but sinne , shame & confusion .

O God , though thy Iustice requite , that sinners should here be punished , yet thou reseruest mercie to them that are sorie that they haue offended thee ; I am sorie O Lord , I am sorie , that I haue committed the least sinne against thee ; but this grieuous sinne , for which I am inforced to suffer , I lament and repent more then death it selfe ; because I haue thereby dishonoured thee , wronged those to whome I rather should haue done my best dutie : I haue caused others to sinne by the example of my sinne , and haue inticed them that otherwise might haue liued without the danger I haue drawne them into : so that I may be said to be guiltie , not onely of mine owne blood , but of theirs also that haue sinned by my meanes , or with mee , and deserue like punishment .

O Lord remember that all men are sinners ; and there are great and crying sinnes , and there are sinnes of infirmitie : but Lord , the sinnes that I haue committed , haue cryed , and thou hast heard them ; they cryed vnto thee , for this punishment which thou hast determined iustly to be inflicted vpon me ; and as the censure is already past vpon me , which I cannot auoid , so doe I expect the time , beseeching thee in the aboundance of thy mercies , to giue me constancie to perseuere in a liuely faith vnto the end .

If my lot ( Lord ) be vntimely death ; and that I see I must suffer for the guilt of my trangressions here ; let me finde fauour with thee , as that Theefe did who suffered for his sinnes , and was receiued into Paradice ; not of desert but of thy free mercie : O deale not with me Lord , after my merit , for then the death of my body or what soeuer corporall punishment , were no satisfaction to thy Iustice ; Haue mercie therefore vpon me , O Lord , and what course soeuer man taketh with my body , receiue thou my soule into thine eternall Paradice . My heart is prepared O God , my heart is prepared , and into thy hands Lord I commend my body to be punished , and my soule to be glorified in the merits of Iesus Christ my Redeemer . Amen .

O Lord encrease my faith and confirme it to the end .

For such as are imprisoned for debte .

THe Law of equitie , Though the Law of God commandeth to owe to men nothing but loue , yet there must bee lending & owing , but there ought to be no defrauding by owing . which is the Lawe of God , requireth that a man should owe nothing to man but loue and good will ; which is hard ( at all times ) for the most of men to performe : there must bee as there euer hath bin , lending & borrowing , buying and selling , Debitor and Creditor : some debters would , but cannot paye ; some haue wherewith & will not paye : the first may be pityed , Eccl. 29. 4. the other exacted : For the same Lawe of equitie , giueth lawfull power to a Creditor ( vpon conuiction ) to cast him into prison , and there to detaine him till he paye it .

Many thinke that what is lent them , is as if they found it , making no reckoning to repaye it : and so in steed of satisfaction and thankes , they bring griefe vnto the Lender . But in the same Chapter ver. 3. men are aduised that haue occasion to borrowe , to keepe their word , to deale faithfully and kindely with the Lender , so shall their necessities bee alwayes releeued : But , Men of euill conscience ( as is there further said ) standing in neede of another mans helpe , Ver. 5. 6. will kisse their hand , and humble themselues , vntill they haue gotten what they desire , and when they should repay it , they prolonge the time , and giue a carelesse answer ; and though they bee able , yet scarse giue the halfe againe , or deceiue him of his mony : and insteed of thankefulnes and loue , they giue him curses & rebuke , euill words for the good hee hath done them : And this is the common course of politicke and wilfull Banckeruptes and euill disposed persons , The picture of Bankrupts . that get what they can into their hands , of others mens goods : and either voluntarily take shelter in one prison or another , intending a forceable moderation and qualification of their debts , or else conuey away their goods and estates secretly , and fleeth the Country , intending to pay nothing at all ; though their estates be able to discharge their debtes , and to leaue competent meanes ( of the rest ) to maintaine and releeue themselues : by which sinister and too common a dishonest practise , many haue vniustly inriched themselues . But such fraudulent getting goods , come little short of ( if it equalize not ) meere roberie : though for a while they may smile at , and reioyce in their impious pollicie .

If thou therfore haue , or intende thus subtillie to defraude thy Creditors , hauing sufficient to satisfie them , and in the meane time sufferest thy Creditors to want , They that can & will not pay are worthilie punished . who peraduenture haue as much need as thy selfe ; there is not onely no pitie to be had of thine imprisonment , but fit a more seuere punishment were inflicted vpon thee , especially if thou be of the number of them that will rather spend that in prison ; or in standing out in Lawe , to defraude a Creditor ( knowing , that in equitie it is due ) then with the same money to make him honest satisfaction , or in part .

But if thy debt haue grown by meere necessitie of borrowing , and thou at the time of receiuing it , hadst a true , sincere , and godly purpose to repaye it , by probable expected meanes : and in the meane time some crosse by the finger of God hath befallen thee , They that willingly would and cannot pay are to bee pityed . whereby thou art indeed preuented of thy true meaning of the performance of thy faithfull promise : thou art to bee excused in thy breach , and pityed in thine imprisonment , not hauing conueniently wherewith to pay : and if thy Creditor ( able to forbeare ) doe continue the hardnesse of his heart towards thee , still detaining thee ; thinke it a fatherly chastisement vpon thee to inure Patience in thee ; wherein if thou submit thy selfe to Gods will , in working for thee by faithfull prayer , thy Patience shall produce the experience of the loue and fauour of God towards thee ; so shalt thou not need to bee so much ashamed of thine imprisonment , as he may be iustly condemned that detaines thee : thou maist reioyce seruing the Lord ; when he shall be sorie that hee dealt so vncharitablie with thee .

It behoueth thee yet to examine thy selfe , and thy life past , whether thou haue liued in the feare of God , and in godly diligence in thy calling , or whether thou hast past thy time in idlenesse , Fit to examine the cause , that driueth a man to borrow . in ryoting , gaming and company keeping ( according to the course of too many in this corrupt age ) and hast beene compelled , through thy deserued necessitie , to supplie either thine owne vanities , or thy poore family to borrow , not knowing any meanes , nor hauing a godly purpose to repay it : if it be so , and thy Creditors haue pursued the Lawe lawfully against thee , and by them iustly , and in the Iudgement of God thou be committed to this place of restraint , thou hast that thou deseruest ; for , to borrow other mens goods , to wast them ryotously vpon thine vngodly and wanton delights , is most wicked ; it is too much so to consume thine owne substance , but so to consume other mens ( when thine owne is spent ) prodigally , thou art not fit to haue thy libertie ; for by thy lewde course of life , others are induced by thine example into the same excesse of ryot : and fitter it is that the prison should keepe thee in , and in order , then to corrupt others abroad , to the breach of the diuine Lawes of God , who in Iustice doth punish thee for thy sinne : and yet , if this thy restraint may worke reformation in thee , it sauours of the loue of God towards thee .

If therefore , A good man may be indebted , & imprisoned for it , and that no argument of Gods displeasure . thou canst and doest repent thee of the ill spent life , and canst and doest faithfully seeke the fauour of God , for pardon of thy , sinnes in his Christ ; thou maist imbrace thine imprisonment , and not impute it to the seueritie of thy Creditors , though they were the meanes vnder God , for thy good ; they nothing lesse intending then to doe 〈◊〉 good , but to come by their owne thereby : but if thou be one whome God hath a purpose to reclaime from euill , to make thee good , thy restraint is the beginning of thy happinesse ; for Happie is the man whome God correcteth : They are not strangers from his Couenant of grace , but sonnes and daughters whome he doth chasten : therefore though thou haue plaide the part of that Prodigall sonne , in consuming thy patrimony and thy goods in wantonnesse ; this thy restraint may call thee home againe to thy louing fathers house ; and will make thee , not a seruant , but imbrace thee as a sonne , by thy repentance in a true faith .

What haue all thy pleasures yeilded thee which thou hast so eagerly followed when thou wert at libertie , The pleasures whervpon men spend their meanes , are nothing but drosse . but huske for swyne , durt and draffe wherewith Satan feedeth them that followe him ? hee seasons them with sweetnesse , to the fleshly minde , yet is that sweetnesse but to fleshly mindes , and is meere poyson to the soule ; wherewith if thou feele thy selfe at any time to be infected , thou hast now time to take Physicke to cure thee : thou art here in the place where thy heauenly Father hath appointed thee ; not to destroye thee , but to dyet thee and to prepare thee to receiue some bitter Pilles , to purge thee from the contagious humours of thy sinnes , which the corrupte ayre of wicked companions of thine , hath inspired into thee : and it may be , if thou hadst had thy libertie stil in the open fields of this corrupt worlds delights ; where thou art restrained for a Peny ( in comparison ) it might haue beene a pound ; so the procuring of thy freedome would haue beene the more hard to be obtained ; if , at all .

But thou art in prison , The last fit refuge for a poore man that cannot pay his debts . be thy debte much or little ; if thou cannot paye it , and thy Creditors , will exacte the vttermost Farthing , what is thy last and safest refuge ? thou maist appeale vnto the Magistrate , but hee cannot but maintaine his Lawes : some mittigation by mediation may bee obtayned ; yet thou must endure the will of thy Creditor , whose seuerity may in part ( against his will ) be moderated , but his heart is in the hands & disposing of the Almightie ; and therefore , make thy petitions vnto God , confesse thy euill and prophane life , acknowledge thy sinnes that haue caused thy trouble , repent thee heartily of them ; bee patient in them , and thou shalt see , that God who made the heart of thy Creditor , can molifie it ; and insteed of his vttermost seueritie , turne it into charitie : and bee thou of a meeke spirit , and of an humble heart towards thy Creditor , and settle thine affections vpon heauen and heauenly things ; praye faithfully and feruently to God : it may please him to worke the meanes to free thee , but in his good time : Innocent Ioseph , Gen. 39. 14. to 21. lay two yeares , in miserable imprisonment ( falsly accused ) yet highly beloued of God therefore ; thinke it not long , for God seeth the time fit to deliuer thee better then thou thy selfe : But when thou art sufficiently humbled , and brought to the true feare of God , and obedient to his will , thou maist be assured he will let thee goe free .

A Prayer to be often said , of a man imprisoned for debte .

O Lord my God in Iesus Christ , I doe acknowledge that I haue grieuously offended thee by my sinnes , which haue so deeply deserued thy displeasure , as that thou either thinkest me vnworthy of the libertie and freedome which other men enioy in the world , or , in thy wisedome , that restraint and imprisonment are more profitable for me , then libertie .

I doe confesse indeed , that my libertie hath wrought in me many occasions to offend thee ; and my restraint , through thy grace , may worke some reformation in me .

When I was free of this my trouble , I did not so walke , as I ought to haue done , but many wayes abused that freedome which thou affordest me ; by committing many vnseemely and vngodly actions which thou hast forbidden , and by omitting many good and godly duties which thou hast commanded : which brought me to necessitie ; necessitie inforced mee to borrow to supply my wants ; and borrowing and not repaying , procured the dislike of my Creditors ; and their seueritie ( in thy Iustice ) haue brought me into this place of vnsauourie restraint : from whence I haue no meanes to bee freed , but by thy meere mercy and prouidence onely ; wherein I know thou art able to deliuer me , if thou thinke libertie more profitable for mee .

I cannot but confesse , O Lord , that I haue not onely deserued this , but a farre sharper punishment for my sinnes : yet as thou art a most gracious and louing Father : so art thou euer ready , to forgiue sinners vpon their hearty repentance ; and their sinn●● being forgiuen , thy propertie is , either to remoue altogether , or to mittigate their punishment .

Lord , my debtes are out of measure greater to thee , then my greatest can bee vnto man ; and my debtes to thee are encreased , by the cause whereby I am become debter ( in this kinde ) vnto man . But if thou Lord maist be pleased , to pardon my debtes , whereby I stand indangered to thee , my debtes due vnto men shall bee the more easily satisfied , and I shall be the sooner deliuered from this my captiuitie : for , he that is freely forgiuen of thee , though he be in bands at the pleasure of men , yet is he free in thee : and he that is thy free-man , hee cannot bee restrained according to the will of man , further then thou shalt permit .

Therefore most gracious Lord God , rich in mercie and goodnesse , while thy will and pleasure is , to permit mee , in this place of restraint to remaine ; graunt that I may , euen here enioy the libertie of a godly minde ▪ faith in thee , obedience to thee , and patience in thee ; with necessary meanes from thee , for my reliefe and sustinance , for thou seest my miserie , and what comfort this comfortlesse place affordeth , where I can neither sleepe , nor wake but vnder locke : But Lord , as Paul and Ioseph through thy onely loue towards them , and thy prouidence ouer them , found grace and fauour with their keepers ; so worke in the hearts of them , vnder whose custodie I am , that they vse no stricte seueritie towards me ; that I may call vpon thee more freely and feruently .

O Lord , I am poore , and my Creditors haue no pitie ; there is no compassion in man , but with thee is mercie and timely Redemption : thou hast thine owne time to correct , and thine owne time and meanes to comfort ; a time to cast downe and a time to rayse vp : though thou seeme to forget thy poore prisoners , in permitting them to suffer long , and to endure much ; yet hast thou a fatherly care of them , and in thy good time doest euermore deliuer them .

I beseech thee , in the loue thou bearest to Christ thy Sonne , my Mediator ; that when thou seest the measure of mine imprisonment is sufficient to satisfie the seueritie of my Creditors , worke their hearts to that compassion towards me , ( though I bee vnable to pay them all ) as that they may remit my restraint , and admit me to my former libertie ; that I may the better follow the meanes ▪ by mine owne lawfull industrie and thy blessings , whereby I may attaine vnto such a portion , as I may be able ( as I am willing ) to pay them all : and to owe nothing to any man ( before I goe hence , and bee no more seene ) but loue .

If it bee thy good pleasure Lord , to take me out of this life , before I can make ful satisfaction to my Creditors , impute it not vnto me as a sinne , but accept my will to doe it , as the true performance of it ; that in peace with thee and ( as much as in mee lyeth ) with all men , I may surrender my soule into thy hands , which ( though my body be ) my soule is not so imprisoned , as to be restrained from comming vnto thee , nor preuented of it ascention to the place of libertie and glorie , where Christ my Sauiour is ascended ; notwithstanding the crueltie of them , that now couet to retaine my flesh , whereof ( it may be if they could ) they would wish to make some profit for their satisfaction , which I must then leaue vnto their wils to be disposed .

Most humblie comending my selfe , my soule and my body , into thy diuine and heauenly custody , vntill the time , In the name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne : to whome with thee and the holy Ghost , be for euer ( as hath beene from the beginning ) eternall glorie , Amen .

O Lord increase my faith , endue me with perfect Patience , and in thy mercie , timely deliuerie .

A Caueat for cruell Creditors , that keepe poore men in prison , whom they know vnable to pay that , for which they keepe them in prison .

THE practise of Christian charity , hath euermore beene to doe to other men , as a man desireth others to doe vnto himselfe ; and is grounded vpon the words and strict commaund of Christ himselfe : who willeth all men , that whatsoeuer they would that men should doe vnto them , Math. 7. 12. they should doe vnto others . Luk. 6. 31. And againe by way of caueat , he saith : Take heede what ye doe , Math. 4. 24. and how ye deale with other men , for what measure ye met to them , the same shall be measured to you againe ; this is the truth : Men ought to doe as they would be done vnto . yet , are ye so hard hearted , as for a little money or other matter , to keepe a poore man in prison , depriue him of his liberty , preuent him of the exercise of his calling , disable him to prouide for his owne , and the reilefe of his poore wife and children , and yet account your selues Christians ? If ye be Christians in deede , and not in name onely , you cannot but commiserate the necessity of your brethren , and approue your selues Christians , by louing them , by helping them , by relieuing their necessities , and that freely , for Christes sake , whose they are , as he hath commanded .

Be not such louers of your selues , as onely to respect your owne priuate profit , and to encrease it by oppressing your poore brother ( for , so he is howsoeuer base , and howsoeuer your selues are glorious . ) And in steed of comforting , ayding and relieuing him , to imprison him , the more to impouerish him ; doth not this show you are none of the houshold of faith ? who loue one another , helpe one another , relieue one another , as fellow members of one body , whereof Christ is the head ?

There is a prouerbe in deed , Charitie begins at home : Charity begins at home : a prouerbe often ill applied . And so it seemes ; and where it begins , there it ends ; where it is bred , there it lyes ; at least it neuer goes abroad to the comfort of the comfortlesse , to helpe the poore , to relieue the Widow and the Orphan .

This , keeping charity in a mans priuate bosome is the cause , that man is become a deuill to man ; Wolfes , deuouring one another , The course of cruell men . by vsurie , by extortions , by fraud , by deceitfull contracts , and vncharitable bargaines : in wrapping poore innocent men ( that stand in neede of the helpe of your aboundance ) in bands , morgages , and such griping and cruell conditions , as poore men are not able to performe ; and vpon breach of payment , or not performing some vnreasonable conditions , you vnconscionably exact the penalties , take the forfaitures , and all aduantages , that the seuerity of the Law will allow you , thereby vndoing husband , wife , children , and many times the friends of a distressed man ; and many times not satisfied with all that the poore man and his friends are able to make , you keepe the poore body of the party in prison , for the vttermost farthing ; and content your selues oftentimes , to passe by the Grate where you heare the poore crie for bread , bread ! O wofull and most impious vncharitablenesse , fearefully condemned by the sentence of God himselfe .

Nay , who hath not heard with his eares ( hatefull to be heard ) some cruell man say , hee would make dice of his debters bones ? Some brag to make dice of their poore debtors bones . he were as good to say , hee would eate his flesh like a Caniball : And what lesse doe they , that enforce a poore debter to perish in prison , there to leaue his bones , and flesh too , for the satisfaction of the Creditor , to make vse of both his bones for dice , and his flesh for Mummy , fit Relicks for cruell creditots , sweet odours for their consciences , and wholsome Phisick for their hearts ?

Alas , what will a poore mans carkasse profit you ? what vse can you put it vnto being dead in prison ? if you retaine him till he pay that he cannot pay , dye there he must .

But your policie is there , The policy of some creditors . to keepe him in miserie , to draw compassion towards him of some of his friends , to engage themselues for your satisfaction ; It sauours indeede of policie not of piety . Is not one mans vtter vndoing enough , but the ouerthrow of two or three more , and their families for company , as often times it happeneth by your extreame crueltie ?

O miserable Creditors ! can you truly pray to God ( that is mercifull ) forgiue my debts , How can a cruell creditor pray , forgiue me as I forgiue ? as I forgiue my debtors : your selues so vnmercifull , as not onely not to forgiue them , but to persecute them to death or desperation . God hath trusted you for all that ye enioy , onely as his Stewards to dispose as hee hath appointed , not as you take liberty ; going so farre beyond the bounds of your warrant , as to turne the blessings of God into vsurie ; and to the circumuenting of Gods poore distressed children that want your helpe : you haue receiued much , and much will be required of you ; not of your siluer & gold , not of your lands and possessions ; God hath no need of that , that he can giue and take at his owne pleasure : That vsury that he requires at your hands , is faith ; if faith be in you , you will loue him ; if you loue him , you will loue his image , your brethren ; A godly rich mans best vsury . if you loue them , you will expresse it by the tokens of loue ; namely , to doe them good , to giue to the needie , to feede the hungry , to cloathe the naked , to visite the prisoners ; but if in steede of giuing , to take from them , in steede of feeding to starue them , in steede of cloathing , ye strip them ; and in steede of visiting prisoners , ye make prisoners ; how appeareth the loue of God in you ? for , if you loue not your brethren whom ye daily see , how can you loue GOD whom ye haue not seene ?

How fulfill you the Law of this loue of God , when ye doe little or no good to the poore , and least vnto your selues ? They are deceiued that thinke goodnes to consist in goods . you thinke goodnesse consisteth in goods ; you are commanded to doe good vnto all , and especially to them of the houshold of faith ; And because you thinke none faithfull , but such as giue for giuing , lend for lending , and requite one good turne for another ; the truly faithfull in deed , are sildome accounted of the number , of them that are in the houshold of the faith of them which keepe touch with you ; which in deede may be a marke of a morall honest man , but it is in deede the true note of a truly faithfull man , who hath euer a godly care and holy desire , to performe promise in euery honest action , to the vttermost of his power : but this kinde of faithfull men , are commonly of the poorest ranke , not of the ranke of the men , commonly reputed good men ; for hee is a good man that is full of goods , though of little goodnesse ; Pro. 10. 15. 16. But his goods are in deede vnto him as a strong Citie , Pro. 10. 15. and yet make him more wicked , ver. 16.

Deceiue not your selues , you that haue the strong supposed Castles of wealth for your seeming defence , but remember that he that made you rich , can make you poore ; If the rich change robes with the poore , the poore will be the Gentleman , the rich the begger . and hee that made the poore , can make them rich : Put the poorest in your roabes , and put their poore ragges vpon your selues , and then , who will call you Master ? who then will stoope and bow vnto you as now they doe , as if they were your vassals ?

Remember , there was a glutton and a Lazarus ; A rich Miser , and a miserable Begger ; which of them had the best portion ? the Glutton in show , but the base Begger in deede : the storie is no fable , and is so authentick , as needes no witnesses to proue the truth of the ones perdition , and the others saluation : The rich Glutton and poore Lazarus . And such gaines as the Glutton gat , many rich men diligently seeke , and yet forget what they shall finde : It is not reported that the Glutton was a vsurer , an extortioner , a defrauder of men by bargaining ; But that he was rich , and despised the poore , and therefore was he cast into hell : It is not said hee kept poore men in prison , nor that any man perisht by his meanes , but onely Lazarus whom he would not relieue .

Is not this a most fearefull example for you that haue aboundance , both of foode at full , euery day rayment and riches , and yet see the poore pine in the streetes , and poore men in prison , lamentably crying for bread and meate , and yet haue no compassion on them ?

You therefore that haue bin long guiltie of crueltie , in oppressing poore men , it is neuer too late for you to returne to him that is so louing , Luk. 19. and so readie to receiue a sinner that repenteth : It is neuer too late to become a Zacheus of a Publican , to be good Christian ; he climed vp vpon a wilde Figge-tree to see Christ , and he willed him to come downe ; Christ would dine in his house with him , A worthy example for rich men to follow . as happie guest ; whom Zacheus receiuing gladly , was content , for a testimonie of his true repentance , of the ill getting of his goods , to giue halfe of it to the poore ; and if he had taken from any man by forged cauilation , ( which importeth all the hard and vngodly meanes hee had vsed to oppresse any man ) to restore it foure folde .

O worthy example , and now doth the same Christ call vpon you , who are at the height of a more vnfruitfull Figge tree , which yet seemeth to you to yeeld you much and most sweet fruit ; sweet in the taste , but you shall find it bitter in the belly ; it is a wilde fruit , & hard of digesture ; come downe , come down quickly from the height of your vngodly gaines , receiue Christ , he will dine with you , not as with Zacheans vsurers , oppressours of the poore , but as you shall become Zacheans , to giue not halfe , but part of your goods to the needie members of Christ ; Good counsell for the rich . and what you haue sinisterly gotten by cautulous bargaines , and by imprisoning men , and causing them either to perish in their bodies or in their estates , for the obtaining of that they cannot pay you ; remit it either in whole , or in such a part as may stand with their abilities , to pay and to maintaine ( though but in a meane measure ) themselues , their poore wiues and children by the remainder ; though it doe come short of Zacheus his repentance and good deedes , yet it will be such a beginning , as being accepted of God , he will say vnto you as he said vnto him , euen that day that you shall thus begin , with a true heart and liuely faith to repent you ; this day is saluation come in your houses .

O sweet salutation , that brings saluation ; and harsh and hellish are the gaines that bring damnation .

Consider in time , put it not off till the day of your death ; no not to the making of your last Wills : A dead man hath no goods . doe good with your goods whiles they are yours , when you are dead they are none of yours : That which you intend your Executors should doe when you are dead , doe it your selues while you are liuing : for that when you are dead , the goods that you now possesse , shall be at the deuotion of others , though you intend them to neuer so godly and charitable vses ; It is s●●ne by daily experience , the intentions o● best men and women are abused : And what can your intended workes , to be done in your names after your deathes , profit you ? onely that such a rich man when he died , when hee could keepe his goods no longer , gaue these and these Legacies to be performed ; and their names be registred as chiefe benefactors to such and such good vses : Alas , what auaileth this carnall ostentation , if your names bee not written in the booke of life ?

First , and before all things then , reconcile your selues vnto God , by a free confession of the wrongs and iniuries you haue done vnto men ; though peraduenture you may cloake your crueltie by the Lawes of the Kingdome , that admit forfaitures & all aduantages , more in terrour , Rich credico●s must not w●rke all extremities that humane lawes permits . then for the admittance of such extremities , as are daily done vnder colour of humane lawfull tolleration . The diuine law of God admits no such libertie , but commands all men , especially the rich , to doe good vnto all , especially to such as are of the houshold of faith , whom , as it is not in your wisedomes to distinguish , hauing amongst vs neither Iewes , nor knowne Pagans or Athiests ; doe good to all men : then shall you not misse some of that heauenly familie , so will God reward you .

As for such as are wicked debtors , Wilfull able debtors may be enforced . able to pay and stand out , leaue them to the power of the iustice of the Law ; only helpe the poore , and doe your best to relieue the needie ; so shall you lend vnto the Lord , who will become a debtor vnto you ( if it may be so said ) in the behalfe of the poore you shall relieue , and will recompence you here in this life with competencie ; and hereafter with eternall glorie .

Encouragement for such as are molested and afflicted with enemies flatterers , and their slaunders .

MAny troubles and afflictions are incident to the children of God ; and amongst the rest , the feare of , and the vexations of enemies is not the least , yet necessarie ; for he that hath no enemie seemeth secure ; Enemies are necessarie . securitie breedes a carelesnesse of godly duties : They that haue no changes , Psal. 55. 19. namely they that fall into no troubles , feare not God , saith Dauid ; therefore are enemies necessarie : for , they will not onely vexe them whome they hate , with all manner of euill practises to worke their hurt , but will bee diligent obseruers of their liues and conuersations ; that they may bring them into shame and rebuke among the people : And therefore Dauid prayed vnto God , To guide him in his wayes , because of his enemies , Least they taking aduantage of his errors , should publish his disgrace .

By the watchfulnesse of thine enemies , thou maist learne to beware how thou walkest ; whereas if thou hadst none , thou mightest runne into many forbidden actions , and yet thinke thy selfe vpright .

It is better to haue many open enemies , Enemies are better then flattering friends then one flattering and dissembling friend : of thy knowne enemie thou maist beware , but by a false friend thou maist be betrayed ; and yet hardly is a true friend knowne from a flattering enemie : they both speake faire and alike , which thou maist heare , and beleeue both alike ; they may both offer to doe thee equall offices , which thou maist with like acceptance imbrace ; but their mindes , meaning and intentions , are hidden ; and the best way to trye and distinguish them , The way to trye a true friend from a flatterer . is , to make them seuerally acquainted with some slight matter , wherein thou maist seeme to haue offended ; intreating their opinions seuerally , whether the offence be not such , as thou maist feare some danger : thy friend indeed will tell thee that it is indeed dangerous , but the flatterer will tell thee , t●sh , it is nothing : of him beware , that will sooth thee vp in thine euill , for he will discouer thy secrets .

The greatest and most secretst mischiefe that can befall a man , is , when he knoweth not his enemie from his friend ; and therefore is an open enemie to be preferd before a false friend : by the words of an enemie , It is a mischiefe not to knowe a friend from a flatterer . vttered of thee , or to thee , thou maist knowe what hee meanes towards thee ; but by the flattery of a fawning friend , thou canst not but be deceiued , and fall into the hands of an enemie , supposed to bee thy friend : Rom. 16. 18. Faire speech and flattery deceiue the hearts of the simple : And when a flatterer hath his opportunitie , hee will bring slaunder vpon him he flattered .

But be thou vertuous , The best meanes to auoid slander is to liue vertuously . and thou shalt either discouer the flatterer , stoppe the mouths of slaunderers , or turne their eares from them that heare them . Remember how slightly Dauid past ouer the railing of Shemei ; he tooke it as sent from God , from whome seeke thou counsell , and hee will either discouer the hidden intentions of the flatterer , or withstand the most violent practises of thy open enemie ; nay , if thou relye faithfully vpon him , and pray for his defence feruently , hee will make thy very enemies thy friends ; yea , bee they neuer so malicious , neuer so violent , neuer so close in their counsels , neuer so politicke in their deuices , thou shalt auoid them .

But , beware thou giue no cause of offence to any man , Math. 18. 7. as Christ commandeth ; To giue no cause of offence . for woe is pronounced against them by whome offences come : and take not offence vpon euery light occasion , for so shalt thou neuer be free from being taken as an enemy to others ; or procure others to bee enemies to thee : and if thou feele thy selfe culpable of causing offence , thou shalt be worthily branded with the marke of a contentious person , whose company , neither wil the godly admit , nor the wicked , desire : so shalt thou seeme vnworthy the societie of either .

If therefore thou haue erred in thy tougue , by backe-biting others ; or gone so astray in the course of thy life , as for which thou canst iustly accuse thy selfe , If offence be committed , seeke reconciliation speedily . or bee iustly accused ; make speedie reformation , and delay not to bee reconciled to them that are offended thereat : for thereby thou maist redeeme the good opinion of the good and peaceable , which thou hast lost ; and stoppe the mouthes of the wicked , and their slaunders , whome thou hast iustly occasioned to speake euill of thee .

And if thou haue taken offence at any mans words or deeds ( vnlesse it be in the cause of God , Take no offence at any mans words or deeds , vnl●sse they 〈◊〉 to the dis●●n●●r of God or the King . or the King ) thou bewraist thy weakenesse ; for , if thou bee a true and faithfull member of Christ , thou wilt beare with reproaches , disgraces , yea losses by his example , rather then to be moued to reuenge ; for vengeance is the Lords , and blessed art thou , if for well doing , or vndeseruedly thou sufferest these things : if for euill , it is a iust recompence for thy sinne .

If therefore thou be reuiled , reuile not againe , according to the example of Christ : if thou be railed on , say with Dauid ( rayled on and cursed by Shemei ) it may be the Lord hath bidden him : and thinke not that any man can speake euill of thee , or doe hurt vnto thee , but God hath a hand in it , either to punish thee in Iustice , God hath a hand in whatsoeuer befalleth vs . or to reforme thee in mercie : for , thou art but a man , whose nature is , to passe by and to wincke at thine owne ; and too strictly to marke another mans erronious words and workes .

And , because thou art so dull sighted , as either thou wilt not or canst not see thine owne faultes , God openeth the eyes and the mouthes of other men , Because we see not our owne faults God makes other men to obserue them . to obserue and preach publickly the faultes thou thinkest thou hast committed in secret .

From hence springs quarels and contentions , and from thence , mutuall enmitie , malice and reuenge ; make vse therefore of these backe-biting reports , heare them with silence , and bewray not a double faulte in thy selfe ; God vseth enemies often times to reclaime vs from sin . as first to commit vnseemely things , and then to take them as thine enemies , whome God vseth as his meanes to reclaime thee from thine errors : thou oughtest rather to loue them , and to doe them what good thou canst , though they seeme to hate thee : If they curse thee , Lue 6. 27. 28. blesse them , if they slaunder thee , pray for them . The greatest hurt we can doe our enemies , is to doe them good .

Thou canst not doe thine enemie a greater hurt , nor thy selfe more good , then to doe him good , for the hurt he intendeth to thee ; Rom. 12. 30. for , So shalt thou heape coales of fire on his head : Pro. 25. 21. 12. And therefore hast thou not onely no cause to grudge that God sendeth thee enemies to watch ouer thee , to keepe thee humble and in obedience , and vpon whome ( through thy patience ) thou maist worke much good ; in louing them , and seeking to be reconciled to them : if they then showe themselues so furious , and desperatly bent against thee , as they will not be reclaimed , thou art not barred of thy remedie by the Lawes , and the Magistrate beareth the sword to punish them , and to defend thee : and if thou finde no preuailing meanes thereby , to bee freed from their danger , bewray thy case vnto God in faithfull prayer , who is a iust God to defend thee in thy iust cause , and a powerfull God , whome thy mightiest enemies are not able to resist .

Though thine enemies anger and furie be neuer so great , and threaten thee with sundrie things which they will doe against thee , and euen gnash their teeth vpon thee , as if they would eate thee vp ; bee not affraid : The way to preuent a furious enemy . bee onely faithfull and patient , and thou shalt either see thine enemies become thy friends , their hatred come to an end , or them selues to vanish and consume away ; onely liue thou godly , pray faithfully , and vse all ordinarie meanes lawfully : then bee assured , if thine enemies were more then they are , more powerfull and more furious then they be , they shall stumble and fall .

God in his prouidence , can finde secret and vnexpected meanes to deliuer thee from most deadly enemies , if thou call faithfully vpon him ; and therefore cast thy danger vpon the Lord , and hee will defende thee .

It is not in thine owne power or policie , Humane policie or force , without the fear of God preuaile not against an enemy . that can saue thee , vnlesse with it and aboue it , thou craue , and haue the power and wisedome of God and his blessing , to second any other meanes thou canst vse ; for , what is a sword , a speare , or armour of esteemed proofe , or the strength of a horse , to saue thee ? they are all vaine and of no force of themselues , as appeared by that monster Goliah armed completely with a Helmet , Brigandine , and Bootes of brasse ; a speare like a Weauers beame , and a sword ; did these things saue him ? trust in none of these outward meanes , trust in the Lord , he is a strong rocke , a fortresse and defence , in whome , and in or by no other meanes , canst thou bee safe .

It is hee that breaketh the hornes , God weakeneth the power of the enemies of his children . namely weakeneth the power of the wicked , and strengthneth the godly : he will guide thee by his counsell , hee will protect thee by his power , and prouide for thee in his prouidence ; and in the end , receiue thee to glorie , out of the reach of all thine enemies .

Brooke thou therefore with godly patience , We must vndergoe ignominie and slaunders for a while , and after comes glorie . all reproaches , disgraces and slaunders ; it is but a little while , and a light burthen to beare ; and in the end thou shalt receiue for the ignominie and slaunders thou vniustly indurest here , glorie for euermore . And therefore commit the safetie of thy body , and preseruation of thy soule vnto the Lord in well doing , in continuall faithfull prayer ; and he will heare thee and deliuer thee .

A Prayer for a man that hath vndeserued enemies , and is subiect to slaunderous tongues , flatterers , and false friends .

O Lord my God in Iesus Christ , louing & mercifull , I beseech thee see and consider the malice and secret practises of such as are become mine enemies , whereof I neither knowe the true cause , nor haue wittingly deserued their hatred or malice thus against me .

They priuily backe-bite me , and slaunder me behind my backe ; they vpbraide me , and speake euill of me vnto my face , vniustly : giue mee patience O Lord , to beare it , and wisedome so to carry my selfe in my conuersation and vocation , as they may haue no iust cause thus to afflicte me .

I knowe and doe acknowledge , that the sins which I haue committed against thy Maiestie , deserue corrections ; but Lord , though I haue offended thee ; to these mine enemies I haue done , nor neuer intended any hurt : yet thou seest and knowest what they haue done and what they intende against me .

Preuent them of their purposes , frustrate their deuices and turne their policies and practises they intend against me , either to nothing , or against them selues .

If they wilfully and maliciously perseuere ; let them fall into the danger they wish to me .

Thou knowest their former flatteries and dissimulations , and how they falsely pretended friendship , onely ( as it now appeareth ) to supplant me and to confonud me , if thou permit them .

Lord who can auoide the oylie words of a false heart , but shall be seduced by them , vnlesse thou that knowest the inward thoughts discouer their deceite ?

Lord make me to know the secret intentions of all those that flatter me to doe me hurt ; and giue me wisdome to auoide the furie and force of mine open enemies ; and graunt mee grace to walke euer in thy truth ; knit my heart vnto thee , that I fearing thy name , and depending faithfully vpon thee , I may make mine enemies ashamed of their slaunders and malicious practises against me .

Rescue me O Lord , and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse , in line thine eare vnto me , and saue me from them that hate me .

Be thou my strong rocke , whereunto I may alwayes resort when mine enemies assaile me , In slaunderous words or wicked deedes , publickely , or priuatly .

Deliuer mee O God , out of all their dangers , out of the hands of all vngodly and cruell men ; for , in thee is my trust , in thee is my strength , and of and by thee are the meanes to preuent the mischiefes they pretend and practise against me .

O stay my feete that they slippe not , least they reioyce at my fall , and Set a watch before the dore of my lippes , that I offend not with my tongue .

Though they speake euill of me , though they lay wayte for mee , and though they take counsell together against mee , yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills .

Though I heare their slanderous tonges , though I know they detract mee , and speake all manner euill against me : giue me patience , not to be moued , to recompence euill for euill .

Preuent me of their laying wayte for me , and frustrate all their combinations and practises against me . And keepe me euer in thine obedience , for I am of my selfe weake , and may giue offence ; or at least , offence may bee raken , where no cause is giuen .

If they haue any iust cause against me , wherein I cannot iustifie mine innocencie , being by nature fraile , and may erre ; yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills , but according to mine vnfained hearts desire , to be reconciled vnto them : work their hearts to embrace peace with me , and loue towards me , as thou knowest I vnfainedly desire to show towards them .

If their hearts be so hardened , as no submission nor my sincere affection towards them , can obtaine reconciliation with them , but that they will still continue to insult , and as it were to triumph ouer me ; I shall euer ( as I doe ) appeale vnto thee for iustice , to deale with them as thou wilt , whose iudgement betweene them and me , I acknowledge most iust .

And therefore Lord , though they by their greatnes , wealth & wit , in some thinges preuaile against mee , and insolently make their boasts , that they haue surprised me , and gotten their wills of me ; so farre as they may say in their hearts , that thou hast forsaken mee ; giue me euer a strong and constant faith in thee , that I faint not , nor be afraide ; for , when they thinke most to triumph ouer me , thou art able to frustrate their hope , and to enforce them to sue to me for peace , whereunto my heart is truly enclined .

But Lord , thou seest that the more I seeke for peace , the more they seeke to vexe mee , and to oppresse mee with actions at law ; diuersly troubling me , and that vniustly , that heartily desire to liue in peace .

Their hearts are in thine hands O Lord , and if thou thinke it fit to keepe mee yet vnder their tyrannie , more to humble me , I am in thy hands , doe with me what thou wilt , for I know that what thou doest , or permittest to be done vnto me , is in loue , and I know thou seest my troubles ; and when thou in thy wisdome shalt thinke mine afflictions sufficient , thou wilt be pleased to restore me to comfort and peace .

In the meane time , while mine enemies are in my sight , and I in theirs ; guide me in my wayes , protect and keepe mee vnder the safe shadow of thy wings , then shall I not feare what man can doe vnto me .

Lord euermore encrease my faith .

Counsell and comfort for him that is persecuted , for his constant profession of the Gospell of Christ .

KNow this , thou that art afflicted and persecuted , God sheweth not his anger when he suffers vs to bee persecuted for the profession of his truth . for the profession of the Gospell of Christ , and for thy faith in him ; that hee doth not suffer thee to be punished , as if hee were angry with thee , as hee sometimes sheweth himselfe in some other afflictions , which hee inflicteth vpon men for their sinnes , whereof no man is free ; but herein hee sheweth thee an extraordinarie fauour ; First , in illuminating thee by his holy spirit , whereby thou knowest him and his truth , which thou canst not comprehend by thy naturall wisedome , were it neuer so profound and deepe , in carnall vnderstanding : And secondly , in making ●hee a constant witnes of that truth which it hath pleased him to reueale vnto thee ; and in that he giueth thee strength and godly courage , to stand constantly and resolutely in the open and publick acknowledgement of thy faith in him , and patiently to suffer persecution for his sake ; which grace and mercie is giuen thee of God ; first , to know , then to beleeue , and consequently to suffer for his name ; which patient sufferings are the fruites of his loue towardes thee .

Christ himselfe approueth thee blessed , Math. 5. 10. if thou suffer for righteousnesse sake : 1. Pet. 4. 14. If thou be but rayled vpon , for the name of Christ , thou art blessed .

If thou hadst no further testimonies of his loue , then these short assurances and comforts , it were sufficient : But he further addeth , If thou thus suffer , the Kingdom of heauen is thine by promise : If we suffer for Christ , his Kingdom is ours by promise . and , if thou be truly faithfull , thou canst not but feele the truth of this promise ; and therefore doubt not , but hold fast by the promises of Christ ; be constant , be not dismayed at whatsoeuer threats of thine aduersaries , not thine , but the enemies of Christ Iesus himselfe , as Paul sometimes was when hee persecuted those that professed the name of Christ .

They were but men he persecuted , Christ is persecuted in his members . Christian men ; and in them hee persecuted Christ . Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? If then thou be persecuted for Christ , remember that Christ is persecuted in thee .

What an honour then is this vnto thee , It is an honour to suffer for Christ , and he will reward . to be persecuted for thy Maister , who is Lord of heauen and earth ? Doest thou thinke , that if thou suffer for him , he will not freely reward thee for thy fidelitie ? Will an ordinarie Maister of a silly seruant , suffer him to be beaten , wounded , and abused , for him and in his cause , and will he not reward him ? If his Master assigne him a seruice , wherein hee trusteth his fidelitie and constancie , and hee like a coward denie his Maister , reuolt , and take part with his Masters enemies : will hee not thinke him a perfidious seruant , and punish him ?

How much more will Christ reward thee , if thou stand stoutly , and in a Christian constancie in the defence of his cause ? ( though hee can without thee defend and maintaine his owne ) but that hee will make thee a witnesse of the truth , A dangerous thing to reuolt from the truth for feare of corporall punishment . which all that shall be saued doe stedfastly beleeue : But , if for feare , of , or for the enduring of a little temporall punishment , thou shouldest reuolt , forsake him , and denie him before his enemies , hauing such a royall and rich reward set before thee , as the Kingdome of heauen and eternall glorie , if thou perseuere vnto the end : and contrarilie , perpetuall shame and ignominie , if thou denie him .

He that for feare of trouble , persecution , or death it selfe , for Christ , will denie Christ , he is not worthie of his merites ; by which , and by no other meanes , thou and all beleeuers are to be saued .

Denie him not therefore before men , Hee that denies Christ before men , he will denie him before his Father . that must acknowledge thee before his Father in heauen : If thou faint and forsake him here , it is a denying of him , and he will denie thee to be one of them hee hath redeemed , when he shall giue vp vnto God his Father , those that he hath chosen out of the great masse of mankinde , by his all-sufficient sufferings , to bring them to glorie ; which is the free reward , assured to be giuen to as many as constantly professe his name , and for his sake patiently endure here , persecution and troubles .

The sufferings that thou here endurest , Sufferings are heere short , our glory eternall . are short and momentanie ; they endure but a small time , they are quickly past ouer ; were it that thou shouldest be burned , or to vndergoe anie other torment for thy faith in Christ : If imprisoned , suffering hunger , colde , nakednesse , and stripes , what were thy suffering , to the eternitie of blessednesse ?

If thou be depriued of thy goods , and of the dearest things thou enioyest in this world , consider what things they are ; If wee willingly forsake earthly things for Christ , we shall receiue heauenly . are they not such things as come and goe inconstantly ? If thou haue lands and possessions , thou art but Steward of them ; If thou haue wealth , thou art but the disposer of it ; and if an ordinarie death befall thee , as it is decreed it must : Thou must forgoe it all , and giue account for all . If thou voluntarily leaue them for Christes sake , thou shalt finde a farre greater treasure in heauen .

If thou haue some beneficiall Office , Losse of honor and office for Christ . or place of dignitie in the world , and for the profession of Christ thou bee thrust from it , and lose thine honour and reputation among men ; what losest thou , seeing thou art sure of a more high and excellent place , and of farre greater honour in heauen ?

If thy Parents & thy friends ( contrarily minded ) disdaine thee , discountenance thee , and cast thee cleane out of their fauour and societie , and seeme to be ashamed of thee ; vndergoe it with godly patience : for Christ ( for whose sake thou endurest these things ) will not be ashamed of thee , but will acknowledge thee to be his adopted brother , and coheire with him of the Kingdome of his Father .

Thinke it therfore an honour and no shame vnto thee , to be brought forth in the open view , and vpon the publick stage of the world , to be a witnesse of the truth of Christ , and to suffer for the same : Hee that willingly suffereth for Christ , hath more honor then he that only preacheth it , when there is no danger . Thou shalt be esteemed in the sight of good and godly men , aboue those that onely preach it , and barely professe it , when there is no feare of troubles for it , and in the time of persecution , will not auowe vnto the world by their suffering , what they haue taught , and outwardly professed in the world ; for it is one thing to professe and publish the truth of Christ with the mouth , in time of peace , and another thing to auouch it boldly , seeing trouble and euen death it selfe before their faces , for the constant perseuerance in the same .

It is commonly reputed an ignominious thing to be imprisoned , and a more reproachfull thing , to be put to death , after the manner of wicked men ; But let not this at all daunt thee , Thinke it no dishonor to suffer for Christ as a malafactor for Christ at his death ( whose cause thou maintainest ) contented himselfe to be hanged as a Thiefe and a Murtherer ; for such were the companions of his death : yet was the Crosse whereon he suffered , a more triumphant Chariot of honour , then the most pompous triumph of the greatest Monarch of the world , for his greatest victories : And be thou assured , that if thy lot , in the wisedome and loue of God be such towards thee , as to number thee among his faithfull witnesses , constantly suffering death for his sake , thou shalt be crowned among the victorious Martyrs .

Remember the most honourable title , that St. Paul giueth vnto that constant seruant of Christ , Stephen : stiling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ : And of Antipas whom St. Iohn calleth a faithfull Martyr of Christ ; Then which , A Martyr for Christ a most glorious title . there cannot be a more glorious remembrance of the dead .

Thinke not therefore that thou art the first that hath suffered for Christ ; but , if thou look into the eleuenth of the Hebrewes , thou shalt see such a cloude of like witnesses , that haue professed and suffered as thou doest , as will encourage thee to stand fast vnto the end .

And if thou consider the times , not farre past , thou mayst vnderstand of an infinite number of thine owne Country men and women , euen the weakest sexe , who haue gone the same way before thee , with vnuanquishable patience , euen to death ; and therefore with like patience runne the same race , looking vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith : who , for the ioy that was set before him , endured the bitter death of the Crosse , and despised the shame , and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God , where thou shalt behold him and his glory , and be pertaker of it , after thou hast endured a little speaking against of sinners , Persecution a most glorious liuery of Gods children . persecution and death it selfe ; which is the most glorious liuerie of Gods dearest children , whereby they are fashioned to the image of their Redeemer ; and which shall giue an end to all thy sorrowes , and shame , and bring thee to endlesse ioy and glory : which , not onely the Apostles of Christ , but euen late Martyrs vnderstoode , rei●y●ing that they were accounted w●rthy of the honour , to suffer for their Masters sake .

What canst thou then less conceiue , but that it is the meere loue of God in Christ towards thee , God in his loue suffereth his here to be persecuted for his sake . to make choyse of thee among and aboue many others , to afford thee this honour ; to be a maintainer of the glory and authority of the truth of Christ , against the falshood and false authority assumed by Antichrist ?

Therefore , let it not trouble thee , neither be thou the more fearefull , to stand fast in thy profession , because thou seest a million of Newters , on euery side of thee , The reuolt of others should not cause vs to feare . who for the loue of their riches , pleasures , and carnall commodities ; the nicenesse of their owne dainty flesh , their affection to father , mother , wife , children , and esteemed friends , to be content to runne with the time : and in steede of renouncing the things of this world for Christ , rather to renounce Christ for the world .

In what a miserable case are these poore people ( poore , be they neuer so rich : Ill to be indifferent . ) that hold it a thing indifferent , to follow God or Baal , Christ or Antichrist ? forgetting that Christ dyed for them ; and that they shold acknowledge him , whose bloud , not Antichristian Bulls and Pardons , must clense them from , or to dye in their sinnes .

The reason of this their luke-warmenesse , is , for that the spirit of God , The cause why many are luke-warme . by whom the faithfull haue power and strength to maintaine the truth to death , dwelleth not in them , who worketh mightily in the children of Saluation ; so that persecution for the same , daunteth them not : scourgings , whippings , scossings , mockings , stonings , burning , or whatsoeuer death , cannot remoue their constancie in the profession of what they beleeue .

To conclude therefore with thee , who art now vnder the crosse of persecution , not knowing what end the Lord wil make with thee : submit thy selfe to his will , vndergoe with godly patience , whatsoeuer the aduersaries of the Gospel of Christ shall lay vpon thy body , thy soule they cannot touch ; and commend both thy body and thy soule , into the hands and good pleasure of GOD thy heauenly Father in Christ , in whom thou art blessed , for whom thou sufferest , and for whose sake , thou shalt receiue a glorious reward .

In hope of which reward , all the former Martyrs that haue beene content to spend their liues for Christ , were willing to lay downe their liues , desiring to be dissolued , and to see the face of him , for whom they suffered .

Feare not therefore ( if occasion so require ) to yeeld thy body to the mercilesse enemies of Christ : They that kill the body , cannot touch the soule . they may kill the body , the soule they cannot touch : But , if thou shouldest forsake him , he will forsake thee , and hee it is that can kill thy body and thy soule too , and cast both into hell .

If a man take away thy life for Christ , they doe thee a fauour against their willes ; Good to loose a corporall to finde ahealy life . they depriue thee of a mortall , that thou maist immediatly receiue an immortall and a most glorious life from their tyrannie : thou shalt be transported to the louing imbracements of thy Sauiour Christ , and enioy the most amiable sight of him , and the societie of the whole company of heauenly Ang●ls , and of thy fellow Martyrs gone before thee ; and be pertaker with him and them , of that glorie , that so farre passeth all humane apprehention here , as cannot be conceiued or vttered .

O loose not this most blessed recompence , for a little suffering : but stand fast , and Christ , that before thee and for thee , suffered infinite greater torments then thou canst suffer , or that man can inflict vpon thee , shall sende that comforter the holy Ghost , to strengthen thee in thy greatest agonies , God doth comfort his at the time of their martyrdome . and spirituall distractions ; he will stand by thee , and will show thee his louing , and amiable countenance , as he did at the death of his faithfull Martyr St. Stephen .

Wherefore faint not ; flie not , vnlesse thou ( without breach of thy faith ) maist auoide the daunger by the prouidence of God , by flying from one place or Citie vnto another , alwayes commending thy spirit vnto him that gaue it : so where soeuer thou bee persecuted , hee will receiue it and glorifie it ; and both thy soule and thy bodie shall be made eternally glorious , when all men shall bee iudged according to their faith in Christ .

This exhortation , I doe confesse may be thought superfluous , In this time of the freedome of the Gospell , this discourse may bee thought superfluous . in this blessed time of peace , and freedome of the Gospell ; for that ( Gods name be glorified ) there is neither seene , felt , or heard , of any persecution among vs for the profession of the Gospell of Christ ; and let all men pray for the continuance of it , and for the long life and preseruation of him , ( a succeeding religious Dauid ) vnder whome by the mercy of God , we at this day doe so freely enioy it .

They are the greatest blessings that God , A religious King maintaining the Gospell , a great blessing . in earth , can bestowe vpon vs ; the free vse of his word , and a King so religiously inclined : as , it alreadie appeareth , all his studie and endeauour is , to further and to maintarne the true profession and preaching of the heauenly word , which his most worthie and religious father left inuiolate .

Yet it may offende none , that this exhortation ( which may seeme out of date ) is inserted among other troubles requiring patience ; for , though our generall libertie be such , that euery man at his libertie may freely professe the word , Why this treatise may be at this time borne withall . and vse the meanes for the increase of his knowledge , faith and zeale ; yet may there bee among so great a people , of diuers opinions and practises of Religion : some priuately oppressed , scoffed at , and mocked , and it may be violently constrained to renounce the truth , which in it selfe is a persecution ; who meclitating on this exhortation , may peraduenture bee comforted , nothing fearing ( but by the helpe and prouidence of God ) any alteration , or change of that most holesome and heauenly doctrine which is here amongst vs , freely taught and plentifully preached ; but shall be maintained and defended ; which God graunt it may be , as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth .

A Prayer for a man persecuted for his faith and profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ .

OEternall , mercifull , powerfull and euer-louing Lord God , in Iesus Christ ; the onely keeper , Protector and maintainer , of thy children that suffer here in the world for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ : looke downe I humbly beseech thee , and behold what man doth vnto me for thy name sake : for , thou hast assured those that sincerely professe that truth which thou hast taught in thy word , in their sharpest and seuerest persecutions , to bee either preserued and defended from their tyranny , or to be so strengthened by thy grace , that they shall be able to beare what soeuer they shall be inforced to suffer .

In hope and assurance of this thy mercie , I reioyce that thou accountest me worthie to bee one , though the simplest of the witnesses of the truth of thy word , though I acknowledge my selfe to be weake , and by mine owne strength , vnable to beare what is laid vpon mee for thy sake .

But as thou hast promised Lord , so let me feele the effectuall working of thy holy Spirit , in giuing me wisedome , to answere the aduersary ; patience and power , constantly to vndergoe , whatsoeuer thou shalt admit to bee laid vpon me ; for , thou hast promised that no more shall bee imposed vpon me , but by the strength of the same Spirit , I shall be able to beare it euen vnto death , for thy Christs sake .

If therefore deare father , thou haue so determined , that death shall be the end of my tryalls here ; giue me a willing minde to imbrace it , and leaue mee not vnto mine owne power ; for the flesh is weake , but thy Spirit shall ouercome the weakenesse of my carnall parts : then shall my spirit and inward faith , with patience , passe ouer whatsoeuer torments of my outward body . Thy presence shall be so sweet , as shall swallow vp the sense of my bodies sufferings ; or so mitigate the same , as I shall indure it , with patience , in hope and assurance of that future glorie , promised in Christ , prepared with thee in heauen .

My flesh is dust , whereof all the limbes and lineaments of my body are made ; and as they are dust , so I know in thine appointed time , they shall againe returne to dust , and that by the course of Nature : but if thou haue decreed it vntimely to perish by suffering for the profession of thy name ; it shall bee but for a season , and then be restored , and my soule ( redeemed by his blood , for whose sake through thy grace I shall bee ready to lay downe my life ) shall not perish , but passe euen from the fire to felicitie , from the Crosse to a Crowne , from sorrow to ioye , from the hands of malicious mortall men , to the custodie of louing and eternall Angels .

O fortifie and strengthen me , in the assurance of his merites , for whose sake I suffer here ; which I confesse , is nothing worthie of the glorie prepared for them , that constantly suffer for the testimonie of a conscience cleare of vaine glorie in suffering : yet is this suffering glorious , to him whom thou makest truely godly ; for I confesse Lord , it is not the suffering , but the cause and mannet of suffering , that make the man that suffers a true Martyr indeed .

The cause , thou knowest O Lord , is for that I truely and faithfully professe thy name : graunt that I may suffer what thou hast determined , in perfect patience and true humilitie ; and that I faint not , at whatsoeuer punishment or affliction shall be presented to my weake heart , to terrifie me from suffering ; for , I know that thou art then neerest , when all worldly comfort seemeth farthest off .

Let mee not therefore , in thy cause bee affraid of the faces of men , that set themselues against thee in me , for it is not mee they persecute , but Christ my Sauiour in me : for what aduantage can they haue , in taking from me ( a worme ) this my wretched life ? which if they spare , it cannot long endure : and what is my death O Lord , vnto thee , if they take it from mee , but the weakest witnesse of thy truth ? the defence whereof , alas , I cannot maintaine of my selfe ; and therefore according to thy promise teach mee , euen at the instant of my greatest accusation ; that through my ignorance , in a zeale which I cannot maintaine by thy word , I should giue aduantage to the aduersaries .

Lord , giue mee wisedome , strengthen and confirme my faith , maintaine thine owne cause in me and by me ; touch my tongue with that celestiall coale , from thine Altar ; then shall I be able to giue a good account to them that shall question me , for the hope I haue in thee : hold mee by thy right hand , that I starte neither backe , nor a side for feare .

Thou art stiled the Eternall , the Almightie ; who hast said , thou wilt not giue thy glorie vnto Images , nor thy praise vnto any other for thine owne sake ; therefore for thine owne sake , O Lord , looke vpon the afflictions , not which I suffer onely ; but what , and wheresoeuer thy poore children persecuted doe suffer for thy sake ; euen by his meanes , that makes himselfe euen drunke with the blood of thy Saintes , and that thirsteth , euen for the blood of Kings ( thine annointed ) that honor him not .

Thou seest it O Lord , and feelest the miseries of thy poore children afflicted here for thy names sake , by his mercilesse ministers .

O represse the rage and furie of these mercilesse men , that falsly conceiue of the sauing blood of Christ , and yet are neuer satisfied , with shedding the blood of those , whom thou hast chosen to bee witnesses of the truth of it ; as thou hast reueiled it in thy word .

Thou art the God of glorie , glorifie thy name , and make perfect thy praise , in strengthening thy weake children to witnesse thy truth with faithfull boldenesse , euen before and to the faces of thy greatest aduersaries : make perfect thy power in our weakenesse ; thy wisedome in our ignorance ; and thy great glorie in our deiected basenesse : and giue mee wisedome and strength , to vndergoe with all spirituall patience , these and all other my troubles , and meanes if it please thee , to auoyde the danger which seemeth neere vnto me ; submiting my selfe willingly to vndergoe what thou hast determined for me .

Lord euermore encrease and confirme my faith in Christ my Redeemer .

Comfort and encouragement , for such as are banished , or enforced to liue out of their own natiue Countrie , either for feare of persecution for Gods word , or the feare of enemies , that pursue them without iust cause .

IT is a heauie crosse for a man to be banished the Countrie wherein he was borne ; from his parents , friends and alies .

But in such a case , The cause of banishment is to be considered . the cause is most especially to be considered , for which thou art abandoned , or dost abandon thy selfe .

If thou be banished by authoritie , it is for that thou art an vnprofitable member of the Common-wealth wherein thou hast beene bred and brought vp ; and then is thy banishment iust and fit : for , as one infected sheep couchant with the sound , may indanger many , it may be the whole flocke ; and to preuent it , a good Shepheard will cull it out from the rest , he will tarre it , dresse it , and vse his best meanes to heale it ; but if his art and industrie cannot preuaile , he either abandons it from the flocke , or knockes it in the head .

Euen so , a politicke State finding an infectious member in the Common-wealth , by whose wicked , lewde and vngodly example and inticements , other good subiects may be indangered to be seduced ; An infectious member in a Common-wealth fit to be punished or banished . after admonition and threates of the Lawe ( which not preuailing ) it thinketh ( and is ) fit in policie , either to banish him ( which is the least punishment ) or to extende the seueritie of the Laws vpon him .

If therefore thine exile proceede of thine owne vngodly merite , take it with patience , and thinke it a fauour of the State , to hold it satisfied for thy transgression , when it might in seueritie , haue taken thy life .

It is also one thing to be banished from , and another thing for a man to flie his Countrie .

Banishment presupposeth some great offence committed , Banishment presupposeth offence or danger . suspected , or conceiued to be done by a man , against the Lawes of the Kingdome , from whence he is abandonned , or against the Religion therein professed : And a man to flie his Countrie , argues either a guiltie conscience for some offence done , for which hee dares not stand to the rigour and tryall of Iustice : a common refuge for malefactors , and often attempted also , by some that stande fearefull of the furie and violence of some great and vnresistable enemie .

It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to forsake his Countrie : It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to flie his Countrie . as if he be persecuted for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ , in a mans owne natiue Countrie , hee may by Christs owne warrant , seeke refuge in another : Mat. 10. 23. Hee that is persecuted in one Citie , let him flie to another .

Paul and Barnabas , Act. 14. ●16 . Christs worthy Apostles , being oppressed by the malicious Iewes in Iconium , for the profession of the name of Christ , fled to Listra & Derbe , where they more freely preached the Gospell .

Neither is it vnlawfull to flie the furie and rage of a malicious enemie : ● . King 17. 3 Eliah fled by Gods command , from the furie and threates of Ahab that sought his life ; Cap. 19. 3. and after from Iezebel : when Pharaoh sought to kill Moses , Exo. 2. 15. Moses fled to the land of Mydian . Gen. 27. 43. 44. Iaacob was enforced to flie out of his natiue Countrie to Haran , for feare of his brother Esau.

Beware that thou in flying mistake not the cause , Not to flie from the truth to false Religion . as to flie from the truth , and from the true worship of Christ , to falshood and Idolatrie : If for the profession of the truth thou be accused and restrained , before thou canst make lawfull escape ( though thou be assured to dye for Christ ) vse no sinister practise to auoide it as distrusting God , Mat. 26. 56. as the Disciples did , that fled from , & forsooke Christ when he was taken : neither flie thou as an euill doer , as a Theef or a Murtherer , Not to flie as an euill doer . or as guiltie of any other grieuous offence , for which thou darest not to abide the tryall : though for a time thou maist escape the sword of the Magistrate ; but the guilte of thine offence will followe thee , into what remote Countrie soeuer thou goest ; and wheresoeuer thou carryest the guilt of thy crying sinne , there also followes the Iudgement of God ; as it followed Kayne that slew his brother , who ranne and ranged from place to place , but still the Iudgement of God , Gen. 4. 11 12. as a Blood-hound found him out : Thy best refuge , is to flie vnto God , by repentance and prayer for mercie .

Many euilly disposed persons , presuming to escape the Lawe by flying the Kingdome , haue perpetrated most impious actions : murthers , treasons , rebellious , theeueries and the like , Many commit grieuous offences , in hope to flie before they be apprehended . and haue escaped ; but could neuer escape the Iudgement of God , which hath either enforced them to returne , and then to receiue their condigne punishment ; or haue endured greatest miseries , disgraces and shame , where they haue thought to be in most securitie and ease ; for , howsoeuer runnagate traytors , thinke that by committing some capitall mischiefe against their Soueraigne , or State wherein they liue , to fulfill the desire of some foraine Potentate , in hope of promised reward and fauour ; or vnder pretence of being acceptably entertained into some supposed Catholicke Societie : What gaine either of these ? the first , condigne suspition of falshood and trecherie , against him who put him trust , to performe a mischiefe at home : for how can helesse thinke , but that he that hath sworn to be a faithfull subiect to his Soueraigne , and will so capitally violate his fidelitie , but he will be false to him ? and so in steed of reward he receiues most deserued disgrace : As touching the second sort , that vnder coulour of Religion , abandon their Countrie , in hope of high aduancement in forraine parts ; are they not scorned of such as are their antients abroad ? and are they not enforced to aduenture their liues , to seduce their owne natiue countrie-men from their allegeance ; and as much as in them may lye , to betraye their owne Countrie to strangers ? yet thinke them safe by flying away , where the Iudgement of God meetes them in euery Countrie .

Whether shall I goe from thy presence ? Psal. 139. 9. 10. saith Dauid , whether shall I flie from thy Spirit ? Take the sea for thy refuge as Ionas did , thinking to flie from God , God finds a wicked man out goe where he will . did he not finde him out in the most secret corner of the ship ? run from land to land , from one Nation to another people : God will finde thee out among many millions .

What then doth a forraine Countrie benefite a fugitiue , when wheresoeuer he becomes , he carryes a hell in his bosome , which will torment him in euery place , in company and alone ? the worme of his guiltie conscience will torment him ; God whome hee so highly offended , will appeare a fearefull Iudge vnto him : and where God in his anger pursues a wicked man , A forraine Countrie frees not a wickedman from the Iudgement of God . there is no place in the world that can secure him : one mischiefe or another , one horrible end or another will follow him at the heeles , and at length seize vpon him , without vnfained repentance and faith in Iesus Christ .

As this is true , that capitall malefactors , cannot hide themselues from Gods iudgements in any remote Region . So true it is , that such as are banished , or doe voluntarily flee some ineuitable danger of vndeserued enemies , The children of God banished , finde Gods fauour euery where . as Dauid did from Saul , if hee depend vpon God , shall finde his fauour , loue , presence , and protection ; euen amongst Barbarians , Turkes , and Scithians : for , hee is vniuersall in his power , vniuersall in his prouidence , vniuersall in his knowledge : He obserueth and seeth his , whether so euer they be banished ; and his mercies follow them , and compasse them about . If they seeke him , they shall finde him : as Dauid found him in the Deserts of Ziph , among the rockes of Engedie , & wheresoeuer he fled .

There is no place where God is not present , in his mercie or iustice ; and whosoeuer seeketh him in faith and faithfull prayer , findeth him euery where : if they pray vnto him , he heareth them .

If then thou be vniustly banished , or lawfully escaped danger , by forsaking thine owne Countrey , and art in any forraigne and strange Region : Be mindfull of the mercies of God towards thee ; and acknowledge that it is he that hath deliuered thee , and who will giue thee meanes , to liue among a strange people ; Where GOD is with a man , there is his home . Then mayest thou thinke it thy home : for where a man is well , there is his Countrey .

And , admit thou be enfotced to become a seruant , or a slaue in forraigne parts for thy reliefe ; yet , if thou truly feare , and sincerely serue God , thou art his free man . Therefore make thou this thy banishment ( by thy patience ) a token and mark of thine integrity .

And , if thou remember any grieuous sinne , A man may repent his sinnes , and serue the Lord in any strange Countrey . that thou hast committed in thy natiue Countrey ; thou mayest as well repent it in thy banishment , and more freely ( if it may be so said ) then in thine owne Countrey : for , among strangers there is not such oportunity to sinne , as among familiars : There is no time , nor place , wherein a righteous man can be barred , or preuented , of seruing the Lord , as well in the Wildernesse , as in a Chamber , as well in companie , as alone ; for , a faithfull heart is neuer idle ; it serues God as well in prison as in the Temple . Serue God therefore in feare ; be faithfull in him , and thou shalt be comforted as well in the place of thy banishment , as in thy Fathers , or dearest friends house : And if God see it expedient for thee , he will call thee home againe , to the place from whence thou art abandoned , to glorifie him .

A Prayer for a man banished from his natiue Countrey , for some crime committed ; or enforced to forsake it , either for feare of persecution , or of some mightie aduersarie that doth vniustly oppresse him .

O Lord God , powerfull , and onely omnipotent , all-seeing , and vniuersally wise ; knowing all things , the beginnings , proceedings , and ends , of all men and their actions : Thy prouidence and protection , reacheth from the heauens to the earth , the Sea , and to the ends of the world : So that none can runne , or be enforced to flie vnto the place , where thou canst not finde him out ; in iustice to punish him for his sinnes , or in mercy to comfort him for thine owne names sake .

Lord , I acknowledge , that I haue grieuously offended thee , by the manifold sins that I haue done , not onely against thine owne prescript lawes and commandements ; but also against the Lawes of my Soueraigne : which hath incensed thy heauie displeasure against me ; and in thy displeasure , Man is worthily moued to persecute me , enforcing me to abandon euen mine owne natiue Countrey , for feare of the punishment I haue deserued .

And now Lord , being come into this place of banishment , estranged from , and abandoned of all my friends , familiars , and acquaintance ; conuersing among vnknowne people , whose conditions , qualities , and professions , are , as yet hid from me : I doe most humbly pray thee , to be fauourable , and a Father vnto me , in yeelding me reliefe , euen such as thy faithfull seruant Iacob , in his flying from his brother Esau , desired , & bountifully receiued at thy hands foode and rayment ; and moue the hearts of this people , among whom I am enforced to liue , that I may finde fauour in their sight .

Thou hast promised , neuer to faile , nor to forsake any that faithfully trust in thee : and that though father , and mother , and all friends forsake them , thou wilt be a father vnto them , giuing them their daily bread , which implieth all necessarie blessings for soule and body : and that all things shall worke together , for the good of those that loue thee : As the selling of Ioseph ; his Mistris false accusation ; his imprisonment ; all wrought for his aduancement in a strange Land ; yea , among a prophane people : So may this my banishment , and liuing among a strange people , worke ( by thy blessing ) to my comfort .

Thou art vniuersall in thy wisedome , vnsearchable in thy prouidence , mighty in all thy workes , and to whom all people , Nations and tongues are subiect : work I pray thee , that I may either returne to mine own natiue Countrey , in peace and safety , or that I may enioy here , or wheresoeuer thou shalt be pleased to dispose of mee , meanes to sustaine mee .

Thou art euery where , Lord , and raignest and rulest ouer all people ; thou possessest and disposest all things for all men : The whole earth is thine ; the whole masse of gold and siluer is thine ; the Cattell vpon all the mountaines , and in all the valleyes vpon the earth are thine , and thine to giue .

Thou gauest Abraham and Lot , portions of lands , and Heards of Cattell in aboundance , in a land wherein they were strangers . Thou blessedst Iacob constrained to flee , a poore man only with a Scrip and a Staffe : and thou broughtest him againe , to the place from whence he was constrained to flee , with mighty Droues .

Lord , how mercifully diddest thou worke for Ioseph , abandoned from father ; mother , and friends ? solde as a Slaue , falsly accused ( guiltlesse ) imprisoned , yet at last , made the chiefe ( vnder a strange King ) of a mighty people .

When Eliah was enforced to flee from Ahab the King ; such was thy fatherly care of him , that rather then hee should want his necessary foode , thou appointedst the very Rauens to bring him foode , morning and euening . And commandedst a poore Widow to feede him in Sareptha : And because she was poore , thou through thy power and loue , of thy seruant , vouchsafedst to encrease her little oyle and meale , ( neere totally consumed ) into so great a quantity , as shee had not onely sufficient , aboundantly to releeue her selfe , and her family , in the extreame dearth and famine : But to pay her debts with the remainder .

When Dauid was enforced to flee , from the fearefull fury & malice of Saul , thou diddest not leaue him destitute of necessaries , euen in the very mountaines and desert places .

O my God , how can I , but assure my selfe of thy like power ouer mee , thy loue towards me , and thy prouidence for me , hauing receiued so many sweet testimonies of thy helping so many , whom in their banishments thou hast sustained , and relieued in former times ?

Thou art the same God , and of the same power and prouidence : therfore Lord forsake not mee , in this place where I am a stranger , where I haue no friend , no meanes of any constant assurance to be relieued .

Lord let not my sinnes hinder the worke of thy mercies towards me ; but pardon all my sinnes , and blot out all mine offences , through the bloud of my Sauiour Iesus Christ , whose merites extendeth to the saluation of all beleeuers through the whole earth .

O embrace mee Lord with the armes of thy mercies , euen here , where I am a stranger : keepe me vnder the shadowe of thy winges ; teach mee wisedome , that euen here I may seeke thee , and finde thee ; and may receiue here such reliefe and comfort , as I , here giue glory to thy holy name , for thine vndeserued fauor towards me , Amen .

Lord encrease my faith .

Comfort and encouragement for Parents , that are crossed and grieued at the vngodlines and disobedience of their children : fit for all Parents to reade .

AMong the Iewes , It was once a note of disgrace for a woman to be barren , and now many grieue they haue children . it was a reproach , and a kinde of shame , for a woman to be barren : and now in this our age , many men and women that haue begotten and borne children , become grieued and ashamed , that euer they begat , or bare them , by reason of their disobedience and vicious liues .

Children are the gift of God , and a great blessing and comfort to godly Parents , if they be good and vertuous , if they feare God , and walke in his wayes ; and then can they not but obay their Parents . Pro. 10. 1. A wise and a godly sonne maketh a glad father : and 17. 25. but a foolish and wicked sonne , is a heauines to his mother .

When children proue wicked , disobedient , Rebellious children greatest griefe . rebellious , and refractarie , it is the greatest griefe vnto godly and religious Parents , that any earthly crosse or affliction can yeeld : for as the comfort is great vnto a man to beget sonnes and daughters , whom God hath chosen to encrease the Kingdome of Christ : So contrarily , a greater griefe there cannot be vnto him , then to obserue his children , enclined to be members of Sathan or Antichrist : Especially when a godly Father hath endeuoured through a godly and religious care , to educate a sonne in the true feare and knowledge of God , & yet to see him to proue wicked and vngodly .

But , thou that art thus afflicted through the wicked and irreligious course of a rebellious sonne , after all the good meanes thou hast vsed to reduce him to obedience , & the feare of God : Consider with patience , that although God haue giuen thee power to be his Father , Though parents beget and beare children , they cannot make them good . in begetting him , and to his Mother to beare him : yet neither thou in begetting , nor shee , though she nourished him in her womb , did giue him either forme or life : How much lesse canst thou or she forme or frame his minde to vertue and godlinesse ? thou mayest giue good & wholsome counsell vnto his eares ; but thou canst not infuse grace and goodnesse into his heart : yet it is thy duty to doe thy best endeuour , to giue him good and godly counsell ; with faithfull prayer to God , that hee will so water the seede , as it may bring forth good fruit : and more the most godly Parents cannot doe .

It is with Parents in their desires , to make their children fruitfull in godlinesse , as it is with the husbandman that couets a fruitfull haruest , who manures his ground , soyles it , ploughes it , sowes it , harrowes it ; and as neere as he can , keepes and preuents the vermine , from deuouring the seede sowne ; yet it is not his labour , Parents may doe their best endeuour , but it is in GOD to make good children . skill and diligence , that can make it spring vp : he cannot forme the blade , nor infuse the graine into the eare : Nor so preuent the vermine , but that they will deuoure some of the seede : neither can the most godly Father by his best counsell , make good an vngodly Sonne : Hee may sowe the good seede of the feare of God , vpon the ground of his heart ; hee may harrow it with sharpest and seuerest threates , and may endeuour to preuent venemous vices , that offer to choke the good seede that hee hath sowne : But if his heart be stonie , thornie , or neere the high way of the common sinnes of this world ; All his labour , care , and diligence will proue in vaine ; he must leaue the infusion of grace into his heart vnto God , and to worke the practice of godlinesse in him , The duty of godly Parents to pray for their children . to whom a godly Father becomes a daily and faithfull petitioner , that he will driue away Sathan , and the swarme of his wicked instruments , from deuouring the good seede , and from sowing the tares of sinne , and the weedes of vngodlines in him .

This corrupt world is so full , and fraught with wicked and ly centious youth , that as soone as a young man or Mayde hath liberty , to enter into the companie and societie of wantons , and vngodly youth , they become commonly so infected with their manners , The society of wicked youth , ●he meanes to make many corrupt . as they drinke in all kindes of vices , as it were wine , making them many times so drunken with vanities , by examples and lewd enticements , as the best counsell of wisest Parents cannot make them , truly sober againe . And to keepe youth in , according to the discretion of prudent Parents , is thought by children , a meere slauery and bondage : so that Parents are many times ( as it were ) at their wits ends , how they might best manifest their affections towards them : for many of them haue learned now to obiect against their Parents that sharply reproue them for their sinnes , Rebellious children can make arguments against good Parents out of Scripture . that they ought not too much prouoke their children to discontents . And againe , if they denie them meanes to gad abroad , and to spend with their companions what they list ; that Parents are worse then Infidels , if they will not giue maintenance vnto their children . Thus the deuill teacheth them Scripture , to defend and to maintaine their sinne .

This is no faigned reproofe of youth in this age : I haue heard these their obiections with mine eares , grieuous to the heart of a godly Father , that seeth and obserueth , that the more indulgent he is to an euill Sonne , the more lycentious liberty he takes : and the more bountifully he shewes himselfe vnto him , the more hee presumes , and the more hee consumes .

Yet must not godly Parents desist from , or giue ouer the meanes to winne and reclaime a refractarie Sonne , Parents may not giue ouer to counsell their children . according to the counsell of the Preacher : In the morning sowe thy seede , and in the euening let not thine hand rest ; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , this , or that , or whether both shall be a like good .

Parents must be alike instant and industrious at all times ; in the morning , euen in the infanc●e of their children , they must begin to sowe good seede : and at noone , namely in their youth to continue it : and in the euening when they are come to the estate of men , they must not giue ouer . It may be God hath appointed this or that time , or this or that counsell , to take effect .

If nothing will preuaile with him , leaue him to the Law which God by Moses hath ordained , for a rebellious Sonne : namely , Deut. 21. 18 If any man hath a sonne that is stubborne and disobedient , The auncient punishment of an vngodly sonne . which will not hearken to the voyce of his Father , and to the voyce of his Mother , and they haue chastened him , and hee will not obay them ; Then shall his Father and his Mother take him , and bring him to the Elders of the Citie , and shall say vnto them This our Sonne is stubborne and disobedient , and will not obay our admonition : then the men of the Citie shall stone him with stones vnto death .

If this necessary Law were executed at this day , youth would be more tractable and obedient to their Parents . Many children for want of publicke punishment grow rebellious . And now , for want of some competent punishment , to be inflicted vpon them , they haue no feare ( many of them ) neither of Parents , of God , or man . And Parents ( for the most part ) are so doting ouer their children , that they will neither themselues punish them , nor willingly suffer the Magistrate , vntill they directly fall vnder the sword of Iustice ; and then there is howling , Late lamentation of some parents . weeping , sorrow , and heauinesse , with wishes , Would God hee had neuer beene borne .

The lenity of Parents , and liberty of Children , breede many inconueniencies in a good and well gouerned Common-wealth . Nay , the liberty of youth of all sorts , being well considered , cannot but be found a mischiefe where it is ( as now in this Kingdome ) permitted ; Euill youth a mischiefe to the common welth . he that hath but the meanest vnderstanding , and is conuersant among the multitude , cannot but see it , and obserue it .

Who seeth not , that youth as soone as they are able to sin , conioyne themselues with such as are more expert in sinning ? And learne of them , all manner of vngodlinesse , pride , drunkennes , whoredome , gaming , swearing , blaspheming ; And yet many silly Parents , winke so long at their impieties that at length they see many times the glory of their children to come to shame . And some good Parents would reforme it in time , and cannot . Foolish mothers most guilty of making ill children . And many foolish Mothers are most guiltie of their childrens too much liberty , and sinne ; who , because they haue borne them of their bodies ( it may be haue giuen them suck of their breasts ) they are so tender ouer them , as they must want nothing that the fond Mother can shift for : As her breasts were open for them when they were in their swadling cloathes ; now their purses must be open , to put them into euery new fashion . The Sonne hee must meete such , and such his companions at such a gaming , or such a Tauerne , or such a show : and it were a shame for him , and discredit to his Parents , that he should goe without money in his purse , to spend as others doe . And poore silly Parents , especially the sottish Mother , will make meanes to supply his wantonnesse , till at length the young nouice ( turned Gentleman ) proceedes swaggerer ; thence raised to a degree higher : takes the title Roarer , then turnes hee off all feare of Father , Mother , and all authority . The poore Parents sitting sometimes sighing , for the intollerable expence of their prodigall sonne ; then againe they smile , to thinke , and to heare their flattering neighbours , to giue such high commendation of their sonne , a proper , comly , and well clad Gentleman , and like to come to great preferment .

This is the beginning of an vngodly , All pareuts not to bee condemned though many are . disobedient and stubborne sonne ; and yet all parents that haue a sonne of vile , vicious and dissolute qualities , are not guiltie of their sonnes disobedience ; as the father of the prodigall sonne was , who to fulfill the wanton desire of his sonne , gaue him a portion , without respect of the bestowing of it well or ill : how hee spent it , appeares ; viciously and vngodly , whereof partly the father was guiltie . As at this day , fathers and mothers are , that feede their children with portions , wherewith they purchase often times shame and confusion vnto themselues , and griefe and sorrow vnto their parents .

Thou complainest of an vnthriftie , stubborne and disobedient sonne ; consider how thou hast bred him and brought him vp : if thou haue done thy duty towards him , in training him as much as in thee laye , in the knowledge and feare of God , and he hath cast thy counsell behind his backe , and kickt against thy godly instructions , thou art cleere , and his wickednesse and distruction shall fall vpon himselfe .

But , if thou haue beene too indulgent and too fauorable , A fearefull example of a father too indulgent , and children stubborne . in restraining him from his wicked wayes , remember what befell vnto Elie the Priest , and to his two wicked sonnes Hophnie and Phineas , whome God distroyed in one day ; and Elie their father hearing of their vntimely death , fell backeward from his feate and brake his necke : a fearefull example for a father , that onely vsed no other meanes of raistraining his sonnes , but onely the tender words ; 1. Sam. 2. 24 Doe no more so my sonnes , doe no more so .

A wicked sonne of a good father , A wicked son comes commonly to a shamefull and fearefull end . may liue long in his wicked course of life , but commonly he vntimely perisheth and commeth to a fearefull end , as too many examples are manifested before our eyes .

But lest a good man seruing and fearing God truely , hauing a wicked and vntamable sonne , to whome he hath done all the godly duties of a father , in bringing his sonne to goodnesse , and to a godly course of life , and cannot ; should be too much discouraged and cast downe through sorrow and griefe , that hee should be the father of such a sonne : let him but consider , that his sonne , though wicked , is the creature of God , What godly parents should doe , when they haue done their best duties to make their children good and cannot . knowne vnto him before hee was formed in the wombe ; his beginning , course of life , and end determined by God , and the meanes : and therefore when such a father hath done his vttermost godly endeauour , to make his sonne good by counsell , and findes contrarie effects of his hope ; let him onely praye for him : The best and last dutie , that a louing and well-wishing father can show for the good of his best beloued sonne . If this worke not the reformation of his wicked childe , hee may cast off all sorrowe and griefe for that he cannot reclaime him ▪ and before the world he may iustly disclaime him .

They therefore , A good father not to be taxt for an vngodly sonne . that will taxe and condeme such a father , for hauing such an vngodly person to his sonne , are vncharitable , as long as the wickednesse of his sonne , proceedes not of any neglect or knowne error of the father .

Doe we not vnderstand , that most godly parents hauing two or more sonnes , of equall education and equally instructed , that the one proues tractable , vertuous , religious , fearing God , and another cleane contrarie ?

Had not Izaak by his wife Rebecha , Good fathers may haue wicked children . two sonnes ( borne twinnes ) Esau and Iaakob , the one wicked , the other the Elect of God ? shall wee thinke that Kayne ( that Reprobate ) was not as well instructed in the feare of God by Adam his father , Gen. 4. 3. as Abel was ? yet the one a murtherer , and the other a godly , religious and milde man . Shall we thinke that Dauid instructed not his sonne Absolon in the feare of God , 2. Sam. 15. though hee became a rebell against his owne father ? And what shall we thinke of Ismael the sonne of Abraham , Gen. 16. 12. the father of the faithfull ? was it for want of diuine instruction , that he became a fierce and cruell man , whose hand was against euery man , and euery mans hand against him ?

Will any man be so iniurious or so vncharitable , to iudge or condemne these godly parents for the wickednesse of their children ? doth it not hereby appeare , that good men , notwithstanding all their care & diligence to make them good , Wicked men haue not alwayes vngodly children . may haue wicked children ? neither doth it follow , that wicked men haue alwayes vngodly children : It is God , who as hee formes the bodies of good and bad in the wombe , so he frames the mindes of such as he intendeth to make the vessels of saluation , and giueth them the meanes to become wise in him , religious and faithfull in him ; yet yeeldeth he the libertie of his word equally alike to both : but they haue not both equall grace to imbrace and to practise it alike .

Idolatrous Ahaz had religious Hezekiah : 2. King 16. ● 3. 23. good Hezekiah had wicked Manasses ; 2. King . 20. 21. & 21. 18. & 22. & 23. wicked Amon had godly Iosiah ; Iosiah idolatrous Iehoahaz .

Infinite are the examples in all ages , Godly parents may haue wicked , and wicked parents good children . showing that good men haue had wicked children , and wicked fathers good sonnes ; that no man should presume vpon the towardnesse , or dispaire of the vngodly beginning of his children ; but to commend both , to the goodnes and prouidence of God in faithfull prayer ; vsing the meanes , leauing the wicked to God , in prayer for their reformation , and the godly to him , for continuance and perseuerance vnto the end : in whose secret counsell it is determined what shall be the end of them , that feare not God , nor reuerence man .

A Prayer to bee vsed of godly parents , for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children , and for patience ; not ouermuch to afflict themselues for the stubbornesse and disobedience of a wicked sonne .

O Gracious , mercifull , powerfull , & euermore louing Lord God , the Creator of all man-kind ; to whom thou giuest , and into whome thou infusest diuers and seuerall portions of vnderstanding , wit , wisedome and grace ; and none by nature can attaine vnto the least measure of these blessings but by thee : Fathers thou hast ordained to beget , and Mothers to conceiue and beare fruite , to the increase and multiplication of humane kinde ; but it is not left vnto the power of parents , to propagate grace in their seede .

Seeing then good Father , that thou hast giuen vs power to propagate their earthly and carnall parts , ( yet all formed by thee in the wombe ) and hast reserued vnto thy selfe , the disposition of their mindes and affections : So I humbly pray and beseech thee , to dispose the inclination of them whome thou hast giuen me power to beget ; & beget in them good and godly desires ; reforme the vngodly life and conuersation of that disobedient and vagodly son of mine , whose behauiour is much grieuous vnto me ; and I doe confesse , that mine owne sinnes haue prouoked thee to anger against me , and thy displeasure appeareth , in that hee whome I receiued , in hope to be a comfort vnto me , and the staffe of mine olde age , is become , not onely disobedient vnto me , but as it were , rebellious against thee and thy counsell .

Thou art a God righteous & absolutely holy , hating iniquitie ; & it cannot be hid from thee , how I haue neglected the training him vp in thy feare : Yet thou also knowest O Lord , that I haue laboured and endeuoured by my best counsell , to winne him to the feare and seruice of thee ; if it haue beene in vaine , thou hast wisedome and power to supply in him , what is defectiue in me to giue him .

I haue endeuoured to make him to know thee and to walke in thy wayes ; but he hath contemned mine instructions , and cast my counsell behinde his backe : hee will not vnderstand , that thou art a God of power to punish him , or a God of mercie to comfort him , if he returne from his sinnes , to the obedience of thee .

Lord , it is onely in thee to reclaime him as thou didst the prodigall sonne , whome thou vouchsafedst to receiue vnto mercie , after his long going astray ; whereby it appeareth , that no man erreth so farre , but thou canst recall him ; O recall this mine erronious sonne , reduce him into the feare of thy great name , and make him one of the sheepfolde of thy Saints .

He is the worke of thine owne hands O Lord , though I wretched man begat him in corruption , his mother conceiued him in sinne , and bare him in miserie ; yet are these no hinderance to the worke of thy grace in him : For what is , or hath bin the man , that hath not had the like corrupt beginning ? thine owne begotten Sonne excepted .

Enoch that walked vprightly before thee , Abraham the father of the faithfull , Eliah and Iohn Baptist , and all thine Elect vessels came by nature of the same corrupt seed , as hath this ( though ) my vngodly sonne .

Thou wert pleased to sanctifie these fore-fathers of ours , whome if thou hadst left vnto themselues , they had beene as this my sonne , ready to lift vp their heeles against their parents and thee .

Lord , giue thou grace , wisedome , faith and obedience , vnto this my sonne : these are thine , and onely thine to giue .

I , indeed haue beene , as the hand to giue him ( from thee ) food for his body , whereby , by thy blessing he hath beene corporally sustained and growne strong in the flesh , though weake in spirituall graces , which are not in me to instill into him , no● bestow vpon him .

He is indeed of the poluted seede of offending Adam : yet maist thou be pleased , and I humbly pray thee to accept him into thy fauour ; instructe him in thy feare , indue him with heauenly knowledge , and a perfect faith in thee ; and guide him by thy grace , in a godly , religious and sincere conuersation ; that he may cease to doe euill , and cleaue vnto that which is good ; then shall hee serue thee , and I shall prayse thee for his reformation and saluation .

Let neither his sinnes nor mine O Lord , any more prouoke thee to anger , lest thy seuere iudgements should fall vpon him , and shame and griefe vpon vs his parents : but his repentance shall be our comfort , and wee shall reioyce in his conuersion , and not onely we his parents , but all the godly shall reioyce at his returne into the spirituall Societie of thy Saints .

Graunt it gracious Lord God , for thy Christs sake , whose righteousnesse , accept as his righteousnesse , and thy sonnes merits for mine and my sons many sinnes . Amen .

Lord increase in him the holy feare of thy great name , faith and obedience vnto thee , and giue me grace with patience and prayer , to wayte his holy reformation .

A perswasion to patience , in the crosses that often fall betweene man and wife , fit to be considered of maried folkes for their mutuall comfort ; with counsell to such as intend to mary .

THere is no man or woman fit for mariage estate , They that mary ought to knowe why mariage was instituted . that is ignorant , and consider not of the causes for which that holy estate was instituted of God : But now in this latter age , many rashly enter into it , neither knowing the causes rightly , nor vse it reuerently , which is the occasion of many breaches , betweene man and wife .

In former times men and women were onely maried ; Where formerly men and women were onely maried , now boyes and gerles . but now boyes & gerles , that onely feele by natures instinct , that mariage is a pleasant life , and are onely led by that lawe of lust , to runne and rush headlong into that sacred estate , without feare or wit ; like a barde horse into a battle : not fore-seeing nor considering the dangers and troubles they runne into ; which holy estate ought not to be vndertaken , but with highest reuerence vnto , and in the feare of God the author of it .

Many onely consider , that God created man male and female , the man for the woman , the woman for the man ; and consider not the sacred vse , Carnall respects in mariage commonly leade men and women to mary . nor the institution of mariage : they looke not into the beginning how God created man , and the woman of the man , to the end they two should by this coniunction become one , and of one heart and one minde in two bodies : they can peraduenture saye , that indeed , the woman was made of the ribbe of the man ; but that , that bone became flesh of his flesh , and by that meanes they two became one , they cannot conceiue ; and yet will aduenture , without either examination or consideration of the danger to take a wife , and the woman a husband ; their least duties to God , not learned of them at all nor considered .

Hastie mariages , Hasty mariages bring hasty repentance . bring commonly as hastie repentance : not that praise worthie repentance for sinne , but for the sorrowe their vnaduised mariage hath brought them vnto ; rashly vndertaken without asking counsell of God , whence doe spring all the troubles , iarres , brawles and discontentes betweene the man and the wife , thus vnaduisedly coupled together .

But man and wife conioyned together in the Lord , The true course how man and wife should conioyne themselues in holy mariage . namely where they onely aime to liue together in his holy feare , and humblenesse of heart in a liuely faith , craue his holy fauour and fatherly direction , to guide and gouerne them ; and after due reuerence vnto the Lord , they yeeld mutuall and godly loue one to another , with due obedience to God ; and after , one to the other , labouring to keepe peace , vnitie , and concorde betweene themselues , in ayding , helping , cherishing & sustaining each other , in pouertie as in riches , in sickenesse as in health , and be of like godly affection one towards another , with daily mutuall prayers to God , that he will giue a blessing vnto them : they may assure themselues to liue in plentie and peace ; and whatsoeuer crosses , troubles or afflictions befall them , they encourage one the other in the feare of God , to beare them together with equall patience ; and whatsoeuer blessing they receiue at the hands of God , they together giue thankes for the same .

These maried folkes thinke it not sufficient ( as many doe ) to ioyne hand in hand , Not ioyning of hands but hearts in the feare of God . a token of their intire affections one to the other ; but heart with heart in the feare of God , neuer to be disioyned , vntill death deuide them .

But how can hearts be truely ioyned together , that are of contrarie dispositions , as many proue to be , that make showe of a godly loues beginning ? can bitter and sweet ? can loue and hatred ? can ioye and griefe dwell together ? and how can hearts contrarily affected comfort one the other in the Lord ? can a truely louing wife reioyce to see her husband grieue ? Hearts contrarily affected can neuer be ioyned together in the Lord . or can a religiously kinde husband sing seeing his wife lament ? will they not rather enquire the cause of each others sadnesse , and seeke the meanes to remoue it ? their ioye & sorrow should be one , as they are one , they should beare equally one anothers burthen , and neuer to be bitter one towards the other .

It is against the nature of man to hurt wittingly or wilfully his owne flesh , but rather to vse all meanes to perserue it : and therefore as man and wife by this sacred coniunction , are of twaine , made as it were one intire bodie , though disiunct in person ; how can the one seeke to hurte the other , but they must both feele the smart ?

Discorde and dislike betweene man and wife , Discorde betweene man and wife a great crosse . is a crosse of all crosses , a griefe of all griefes , and a miserie aboue all miseries vnto either partie fearing God : for , as peace and concorde betweene them , buildeth and establisheth the house , so quarels and brawles turne it vpside downe .

Peace and loue twixt man and wife , makes bitter waters sweet ; but hatred and iarres bring best things out of taste .

The good agreement betweene man and wife , Eccl. 25. 1. is one of the three things commended by God and man , and the contrarie condemned of both . If the loue and vnitie of brethren bee so sweete and pleasant a thing , The loue of man and wife a most pretious oyntment . as that Dauid compares it to the most pretious oyntment ; what may be thought of the mutuall loue and godly agreement betweene a man and his wife , when as either of them is to forsake father and mother , brother and sister , and all friends to betake them each to other ?

A miserable thing it is , and ( aboue all other former times in this our age ) to be lamented ; to see and obserue , and many times to feele the discordes and quarels , that arise betweene the husband and the wife , the one snarling at the other , as dogges about a bone : Tri●●ing things and matters of 〈◊〉 ●●●ment , often times 〈…〉 against other , Small matters in these dayes breedes quarels between man and wife . in words vnseemly , to vpbrayde , and very vnciuily to checke and taxe each other , to the great offence to God , the Author of that holy coniunction , to the great disturbance of the whole family , and to the euill example of others .

Who is it that hath not heard ( or beene personally acquainted with ) the complaints of diuers married folkes of both sexes ? Many are the complaints between man and wife . The man exclaiming against the woman , the woman against the man ; As if they were not onely , not of two , made one flesh by that sacred and misticall vnion : but that they were of two contrary kindes ; the man a Tyger , the woman a shee Beare .

There is no discord ▪ to that betweene man and wife ; nor harder to be appeased , where in deede there should be no loue , to the loue betweene man and wife , nor harder to be broken . But no meruaile , though it thus fall out now in this last age ; When there was but one couple in the world , one accused the other , much more now . for when there were but two ; one man , and one woman in the earth , did not one accuse the other before God ? Gen. 3. And shall we think , that he that seduced them , will be lesse diligent to make dissention , betweene man and wife now ? He tels the man : Thy wife is of a stout stomack she hath a tart and curst tongue : And suggests vnto the woman ; Thy husband is a froward man . How canst thou brooke him ? Thus labours hee to set enmity between man and wife , as God set enmity between man and him in the beginning .

And such is humane frailty , as it is easily moued to things euill , as to strife and debates , without much setting on , but hardly to peace and concord , by best counsell .

The stronger should beare with the weaker , and the weaker should subiect her selfe to him she ought to obay : but we see many times , and among many maried couples , that this superiority and inferiority is become preposterous ; A preposterou● gouernment where the foot guides the head . the foote would either guide or controle the head , and the head must giue way to the heele , or else the head shall haue little rest .

Neede wee seeke Palestine , for proud Iesabels ; for enticing Dalilahs ; for mocking Michols ; Scolding Zipporahs ; lustfull Rahels ? or Egipt for wanton wiues like Potiphars ? They are pittifully and plentifully found nere home .

The woman in deede is said to be first in the transgression ; and the Scriptures in many places , The Scripture condemnes the woman to be more apt to giue offence then the man . testifie that the woman is most proan● to giue cause of offence ; yet not to be taken so generally , as if there were no women , as worthy commendation as worthiest men : Neither are we so to iustifie men in generall , as if there were none , to be in this point condemned as well as the women : for either may giue equall cause of offence to other ; And the woman to complaine as well of the man , The man not excused . as the man of the woman : but the woman the weaker .

Haue not many good women foolish and sottish Nabals , brainsick Lamechs , some lasciuious Rubins , others furious and contentious Ism●els , hating and quarelling with euery man , and euery man hating and disdaining them ? Some poore women haue drunkards , some spendthrift-Gamesters , Wiues often cumbred with idle and vnthriftie husbands . some following Harlots , and the like : this must needes enforce the weake woman to speake : yet , be her reproofe neuer so faire and gentle , doth it not oftentimes beget in such vngodly husbands , cursing , swearing , rayling , reuiling , and sometimes blowes ? Some women also are so selfe conceited of their owne wit or worthinesse , as doe the husband what he can , hee cannot be free from brawles , Contentious women driues their husbands often out of the house . that many times driues him out of his owne house . Her contentious words , are like the continuall dropping of a rotten house , wherein a man can neuer lye dry . It is better to dwell in a little corner of the house in peace , Pro. 27. 15. then in a Palace with such a contentious woman . Cap. 21. 9.

Now then thou man , that thus complainest of the euill of thy wife , and thou woman that thus exclaymest vpon the distastfull course of thy husband . Take either of you a strict view , and seriously ▪ examine your owne seuerall ▪ wayes , Man and wife ought mutually to examine themselues before they reprooue each other . and be not partiall . Be not so quicke sighted , to prye into the faults of thy wife , and to rest blinde in obseruing thine , owne . And thou wife , be not so clamorous against thy husbands imperfections ; and yet to flatter thy selfe as if thou needest not to reforme thine owne errors : and then , as the accusers of the woman taken in Adulterie , and brought to Christ , were willed , if they were guiltlesse , to cast stones at her ; and being all in their owne consciences faulty , in as great sinnes ; they became silent , and secretly departed . So , no doubt , if thou man be innocent , thou mayest iustly complaine against thy wife . And thou woman , if thou be faultlesse , thou mayest lawfully ●axe thy husband : but , if it appeare to either of your consciences , that you are both faulty ; be both silent , and passe by one anothers infirmities , and be at peace .

But heere is the mischiefe : the wife iustifies her selfe ; she hath done what shee can to please her husband : but he is still so froward , so testie ; and so cholerick , as shee were better to be out of her life , Man and wife must be equally content with their lot . then to liue with him . Thou woman , thou tookest him , to loue him , and to dwell with him , were he better or worse . And thou must now take thy lot ( being hard ) as well with patience , as thou couldest embrace it ( if it were most pleasi●g ) with delight . And thou man , that thinkest thou hast the frowardest wife of any man in the world ; remember shee was of thine owne choyse ; Thou tookest her for good , if shee be become worse then shee was , thou hast beene an vnprofitable guide vnto her : thou hast bin either too obsequious vnto her , in giuing her too much her will , or too bitter vnto her , procuring her hatred .

The humours of many men in the beginning , are , to be so fond , as their daliance cannot be sufficient in priuate , but they must discouer it in publicke ; a seeming pleasant beginning , Many seem fond in the beginning , that quickly growe colde . yet often presageth a sorrowfull ending . No violent thing continues long : and therefore , although loue be the most commendable among all other graces , yet if this kinde of loue be too seruent , it lasteth not long ; it is but as a morning dewe ; as was the loue of Amnon towards Thamar : 2. Sam. 13. But where true loue is in deede , it springs from an higher fountaine , which neuer dries vp . That loue betweene man and wife , 1. Pet. 4. 8. that begins , continues , and ends in the feare of God , couers the faults that each may commit against other , and keepes all iarres , quarrels , and controuersies , out of the house .

But , a griefe of griefes it is to see , many , and many times men and women to come together , in such seeming sweet embracements , as if they were aboue measure affected one towards the other . And yet stay but a little while , and you see a cloud of controuersies fall betweene them ; and then their loue turnes to hatred , their former mutuall kindnesse , to crosses and curses .

And whence ariseth this suddaine distraction , Vnequall matches sildome prosper long . but originally from Sathan , who moueth , and maketh mariages , as farre as in him lyeth , betweene vnequals , which may import many inconuenient matches , not made in the feare and reuerence of God ? great inequality of yeares , and much difference in estates , cause often disparagements .

Houses and riches are the inheritance of Fathers : Pro. 18. 22. 19. 14. but a prudent and vertuous wife , Men and women ought to pray to God to direct them , before they conclude mariage . is the gift of God ; And , he that findeth such a one , rec●iueth a fauour from the Lord . But how can any man thinke that God will bestow such a fauour vpon him without asking ? Abrahams seruant that was but put in trust to get a wife for Isaack his Maisters sonne ; went not rashly , and as the prouerbe is , hand ouer head in this weighty businesse , as to take the first that came to hand , Gen. 24. 12. as many doe , that conclude the match at the first sight : But hee prayed vnto the Lord , to send him good speede in the choyse ; and wayted the Lords prouidence ; and besought him to shew him certaine probable tokens , that the mayde Rebecka , was she whom God had appointed for Isaack .

That businesse which is begun with faithfull Prayer to God , seldome or neuer succeedeth ill . And aboue all other earthly occasions , The choyse of a wife or husband , is a matter of great moment , lightly regarded . there is none of higher importance , then the choyse of a wife , or a husband , either of them being an assured crosse , or a comfort , as long as both of them doe liue : And for want of this heauenly beginning ( faithfull Prayer to God ) it many times comes to a helli●h ending ; which may be a motiue to stirre vp men and women , intending to entertaine this holy estate , to craue direction , and wisedome from God , both for their choyse , and peace in that estate .

And because many already coupled together , seeme discontent , and afflicted in minde , at their mutuall crosses , now past reuocation ; They must be content to make a vertue of necessity : namely , to vndergoe the burthen , that the one vnkindly layes vpon another , and to pray either that God will ease it , or giue them patience to beare it .

A Prayer fit to be said by man and wife together , or by either of them , at any time in priuate .

O Lord our GOD , most mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ : vouchsafe , as it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy , to conioyne vs man and wife together , according to thy holy institution in the beginning ; So let our hearts be truly conioyned vnto thee , in a liuely faith and true obedience : And so frame our affections one towardes another , as there appeare no cause of breach , of our sincere mutuall duties to the offence of thee . But by thy blessing wee may ( as long as we liue ) endeuour to preserue and maintaine peace and vnity betweene our selues , being a thing pleasing vnto thee .

Endue vs both Lord with thy grace & heauenly spirit , that as thou hast by thy holy ordinance , of ●wayne , now made vs one : so our hearts , affections , and enclinations , may be euer one , not according to our naturall dispositions , but answerable to thy blessed commandements , that wee giue no cause of offence each to other : and that wee may euer endeuour to continue perfect , and mutable in our mutuall loue , which we by nature cannot doe : for wee are corrupt , and sinfull of our selues , and alwayes most enclinable to forbidden things .

We haue also , O Lord thou knowest , a subtill and malicious aduersarie , who striueth to crosse in vs all good desires , and to peruert our best duties ; to raise discordes , debates , quarels , and as much as in him is , to breake the band of fidelity , which we made each to other before thee .

He began thou knowest O Lord , with the first couple Adam and Heuah . It was he that seduced the woman , and shee by his meanes betrayed the man ; and so subuerted their blessed estate of innocencie , and made them subiect to all kindes of miseries , and their posterities : whereof we thy poore seruants are feeble , and sinfull members .

And as he began in malice and subtilty , to betray our first Parents ; So is he alwayes busie , to sowe the seedes of debate and strife betweene vs . But Lord , preuent , him , and assise vs by thy power , that we may haue power to resist him , and all his suggestions and tentations . Then , as thou ( Lord ) hast ioyned vs together ; nothing shall seperate our mutuall loues , but Death .

And forasmuch ( Lord ) as this estate ( though in it selfe honorable ) may bring vpon vs many troubles , crosses , and afflictions incident to marriage estate in the world : yet by thy fatherly blessing , we shall be able to vndergoe them with patience , or to auoyd them with thankfulnes .

It is not in vs , in our wisedomes , strength , or policies , to preuent or auoyde the infinite troubles and vexations , which this estate bringeth with it : Therfore we humbly pray thee , O Lord , to endue vs with wisedome from aboue ; that whatsoeuer thou haue determined , shall befall vs ; be it pouerty or plenty , sicknesse or health , weale or woe , we may embrace the one with patience , the other with thanks ; And in both , support vs in thy loue ; guide vs by thy grace , protect vs by thy power , and prouide for vs in thy prouidence .

If pouerty or want assaile vs , supply our necessities ; if riches encrease , make vs thankfull , and alienate our hearts , from too much loue of them ; If sicknesse or any corporall infirmity ceaze vs , be thou our Physician to cure vs ; If health continue , leaue vs not in security , but giue vs watchfull hearts , to wayte the time of thy visitation ; If the fruits of our bodies encrease , encrease to vs the meanes to sustaine them , both with corporall & spirituall necessaries .

And prepare vs for the day of our departure out of this mortall life ; and in the meane time so season vs in all heauenly and diuine knowledge , with true faith and perfect obedience vnto thee , as that day may be vnto vs , the first day of our euerlasting Sabaoth .

Be thou also wee humbly beseech thee , O Lord , a continuall guide vnto vs in our calling : Blesse vnto vs , and vnder our hands whatsoeuer we endeuor to performe , in thy feare , and let thy blessing be vpon all that appertaineth vnto vs .

If enemies seeke to molest vs , to trouble vs , or to hurt vs , preuent them of their euill deuices ; and graunt that wee giue no cause of offence to any , nor be stirred vp to reuenge vpon euery light occasion ; but vpon all occasions to leaue the reuenge to thee ; And that we may seeke to maintaine peace with all men ; to loue our neighbours , to comfort the comfortlesse , and ( as farre as thou shalt be pleased to enable vs ) to h●lpe , succour , and relieue the poore and needie ; and to doe vnto other men , as wee desire other men to doe vnto vs : To guide and gouerne our family in thy feare ; to frequent the places where thy holy word is preached , seeking the Kingdome of Iesus Christ ; and to doe all other holy duties , according to thy will , vnto our liues end , Amen .

O Lord encrease our faith , and our mutuall loue one towards another .

How the Husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his discontented Wife .

IT is before shewed : and there is none that is , or ought to be ( of either sex ) ignorant , that the man and the wife are of two distinct persons , made one entire misticall body : The man is the womans head , and the woman a principall member of that head . The man the head of the woman , and the woman a principall member of that head , whom she ought to obay .

In the head , is , or ought to be reason , wisedome , iudgement , and all other gifts , whereby it may rightly guide , and direct the inferiour members , and the whole body .

Therfore thou man that hast taken a wife , and made her a member of thine owne body , thou art bound to loue her with a perfect loue , according to the counsell of the counsell of the Apostle , who spake by the spirit of God . Ephe. 5. 33. T●he loue of a man towards the wife , consisteth in comforting her . Let euery man loue his wife as himselfe . And this loue consisteth in cherishing her , in giuing her competent maintenance in defending her from danger , as thou thy selfe desirest to cherish , maintaine , and defend thine owne person . Thou must dwell with her , thou must doe vnto her all such duties , as that holy estate whereunto you haue beene both called , and as the faith plighted each to other requireth . And thou husband , thinke not that because she is the weaker , and made subiect vnto thee , 1. Pet. 3. 7. that thou therefore shouldest neglect her , or tiranize ouer her ; but to be so much the more tender ouer her , by how much she is weaker . Thou must loue her , as Christ loueth the Church ( whereof thou art a member ) and gaue his life for it .

And thinke not , A man ought not to leaue his wife , because of her in●rmities . that because thy wife hath some infirmities , that therefore it is lawfull for thee , to loathe her , or leaue her ; for , if Christ should so deale with his Church , or with thee , a member of it , as to cast it , or thee off , for the blemishes of it , who could be loued of him ?

Let not therefore euery fault that she commits in her weakenesse , cause thee to be bitter vnto her , in words , gesture , or deedes ; Bitternes may moue the meekest woman . for by this meanes , thou mayest cause the meekest woman to become like one of the furies : But dwell with her , as a man of knowledge , in passing by her infirmity ; for , if thou loue her , thou wilt not obserue ( at least reproue ) all that shee doth , through weakenes , against thy liking .

If her faults be wilfull , and in thine opinion grosse and intollerable , such as by nature thou seemest not to be able to beare ; Shew not in thy hastines a more grosse infirmity , in being too furious : How the Husband ought to behaue himselfe towards his Wife . but reproue her with meekenesse ; admonish her gently ; Let thy corrections be comfortable counsell ; strike her not , for it is the greatest reproach in the world , for a man to beate his wife : And it is the way in deede ( though she loued thee before ) to cause her to hate thee . And what gaynest thou by thy seuerity , but a heape of coales vpon thine own head ?

If thou canst reclaime her by counsell , A mans greatest commendation , is , to win his wife with meekenes . thou shewest great wisedome : If thou canst beare with her faults , so they be not capitall against God , thou shalt be commended of all good men for thy patience .

If neither reproofe , nor counsell , nor conniuencie , will bring her to obay thee , yet art thou not to leaue her : But consider seriously with thy selfe , whether the cause , or some great part of it be not in thee , whereby shee is moued to speake , or doe that , whereat thou takest offence .

Art thou not a Gamester ? A husband must thus examine himselfe . art thou not Prodigall of thy purse ? art thou not idle in thy calling ? art thou not often in Tauernes , Ale-houses , in lewde and suspicious companies , consuming that vpon strangers , which should maintaine thine estate and family , when peraduenture thy wife and children languish in penurie at home ? hast thou not , or dost thou not purpose to make away some things that thy wife brought thee ( goods or lands ) against her will ?

If any of these occasions moue her , Men most faultie are aptest to abuse their wiues . thou hast reason to beare with her , and more reason to reforme thy selfe : for , commonly men thus giuen ouer to these vngodly courses , are most apte to abuse their wiues : if thou be innocent & free from these , and thy wife through her vnciuile and immodest cariage towards thee doe abuse thee , and neither counsell nor kindnesse , gentle intreatie , nor seuerest threates will calme her , thou must sit downe by it in silence , and saye , It is my crosse and I will beare it .

The best course thou canst take to remoue this inconuenience , is for thee to giue good example , How a husband should behaue him selfe , that hath an vnkind wife . to liue vertuously , to serue God , and to praye with her , and for her , to repent thee of thy sinnes vnfainedly , and suffer these domesticall and houshold crosses patiently . Be not wilfull nor too wise in thine owne conceite , as to thinke thou canst tame thy wife more by tyrannie then tractability ; & search , and peraduenture thou shalt finde thine owne faultes as great or greater then hers : If thou could as well see thine owne as thou obseruest hers , thou wouldest acknowledge thine owne sinnes hath caused her to become a trouble vnto thee : reforme therefore what is amisse in thee , and thou shalt finde a comfortable issue of thy good endeauours and prayer .

A Prayer to be said often of a man , who hath a wife of refractarie conditions .

O Gratious Lord God , mercifull and euer-louing Father in Iesus Christ , who hast the disposing of all hearts , the working and setling of all good affections in man and wife , the one towards the other ! Thou art the Father of all that loue thee ; the keeper and helper of all that come vnto thee in a liuely faith , who receiue comfort of thee in whatsoeuer trouble or affliction .

I humble my selfe before thee , and pray thee in the name of Iesus Christ , to pardon and to forgiue me my sinnes , the ground of all my troubles , the greatest whereof O Lord , I finde to be the vnquietnesse of my wife and her infirmities : thou gauest her me , and I tooke her for a helper ; but thou seest she showeth her selfe rather a crosse then a comfort vnto me , to the griefe of my heart ; and the more , by reason we offend thee by our contentions .

Lord , consider her weakenesse and her infirmities , and giue her wisedome and grace to reforme them .

The corruption of nature O Lord , is strong in vs both : in her to commit things grieuous vnto mee ; in me too great and vnaduised reproofe of her : Lord , vouchsafe vnto vs both thy holy Spirit ; worke in vs conformitie and obedience to thy will , & patience to beare one the others weakenesse .

I cannot Lord , excuse or cleere my selfe of deseruing thy iust displeasure towards me , by reason of mine owne sinnes ; but must and doe confesse my selfe worthily crossed by her , that should haue bin my comfort : for how can I expect obedience of her that is by nature weake ; when I my selfe that shoulde showe more strength , obey not thee ?

O Lord , reforme in me whatsoeuer thou seest imperfect ; then maist thou in mercie be pleased to reforme her .

We came not together Lord , without thy prouidence ! wee were conioyned by thee , and by thee commanded to loue and to cherish one the other ; wherein as we haue both come short of our duties through our frailties ; so we both feele the bitternesse of the breach of our duties eche to other which thou hast commanded : O take from mee Lord , whatsoeuer iust cause shee may obiect against me , in defence of her pretended discontentments ; and season her heart O Lord , with meekenesse , humblenesse , patience , peace and loue .

Let neither of our naturall infirmities O Lord , nor Satans practise and malice , moue or make any more contentions , quarels or debates betwixt vs : but as thou hast made vs by thine holy ordinance one , so let our loues , mindes and affections be one ; that wee may henceforth liue louingly , peaceably and religiously , in thy faith , feare and obedience ; and truely seruing of thee , as long as we both shall liue . Amen .

Lord , encrese my faith , and send vs quietnesse , peace and loue for euer more .

How the wife ought to behaue her selfe towards her husband , though he be faultie and hard to be pleased .

THe complaintes of husbands of their discontents , Wiues complaints are more common then husbands . proceeding from the supposed euill of their wiues , are not seene so common , as are the clamours of wiues against their vnthriftie and vnkind husbands : yet it may be , if they were equally ballanced , there would be no great difference in the weight ; but that , commonly husbands haue more priuiledges ouer their wiues , being become wise in thee , and righteous before thee ; not trusting in a seeming and outward and verball holinesse ; but neuer to rest satisfied , vntill I finde the effectuall working thereof in my soule through thy holy Spirit ; and an assurance through faith , that my sinnes and my former neglect , through the merits and mediation of my Sauiour Christ , according to thy promises in him , be freely pardoned and forgiuen me .

Thou hast taught mee O Lord , to praye , that I may doe thy will here in earth , as thy will is done in heauen ; and yet such is the corruption of my will , that it seemeth to striue to preferre it selfe before thy will ; & by this vntamed and peruerse will of mine , I haue done all that I haue hetherunto done , as it were to crosse thy will , although I haue verbally prayde , as thou likewise hast taught mee , Not to be led in temptation : I haue not onely yeelded to euery temptation offered to moue me to sinne , but haue sought many ( and many times ) occasions and opportunities to sinne ; in so much as I haue turned those blessed Petitions which thou hast taught me to make vnto thee , for my reformation and consolation , into meere wantonesse & sinne .

O heauy is thy wrath , and seuere are thy iudgements due vnto me for these my transgressions and wicked deseruings : I could not auoyde thy seuere sentence of vtter condemnation , were there not mercie with thee , aboue thy displeasure : and had I not a Mediator with thee , and such a powerfull and preuailing Aduocate , as can worke peace with thee for me when thou art angrie ; what should become of me ? In him therefore O my God ( worthily offended with me ) I fall downe before thy foot-stoole in his name , for whose sake thou hast promised to heare most grieuous sinners , and to pardon greatest offenders ; and the greater the sinnes are which thou forgiuest , the greater appeareth thy mercie : my sinnes are great , yet farre greater are thy mercies : yet Lord , I haue not therefore the more presumed ( vpon thy mercie ) to commit sinne , or to omit my dutie , in walking more religiously and vprightly before thee then I haue done . Consider Lord , that corruption hath seduced me , and Satan deluded me , and now I finde that I haue gone astray , and gladly would I now returne vnto thee , neuer to fall backe againe ( assisted by thy grace , ) and therefore Lord , extend the Scepter of thy louing fauour towards me , in token of thy reconciliation with me ; so shall my heart within me ( now cast down for feare of thy iudgements ) reioyce and be glad in thee ; my soule shall cleaue vnto thee , and therefore Lord , cast the cancelled Bill of my sins out of thy hands into my heart , as an acquittance for all my sinnes , purged through the blood of that immaculate Lambe Christ Iesus , to whom with thee and the holy Ghost , be all honor and prayse for euer .

Lord euermore increase my faith .

A comfortable conclusion , showing the benefit of afflictions , to the end wee may beare them in what nature or kinde soeuer they befall vs , with the more resolute and godly patience .

IT is before obserued , that God exerciseth all his children with one crosse or affliction or another ; not all and euerie one alike , Crosses that men suffer here are infinite . neither in weight , measure or number , which to expresse in perticular , is impossible , for they are without number : yet the greatest and most principall are before remembred , as a preparatiue for euerie child of God to looke for them , and to settle them selues to vndergoe them with patience , when they come : for euerie child of God may be assured , sooner or later to taste of some of them ; and that when one trouble is past , to prepare himselfe for another ; for commonly when one crosse is gone another comes . Why God afflicteth his children here . God will not leaue his children idle , and to liue in carnall securitie here , lest they should forget him , and so turne his fauour into wantonnesse .

Therefore saith Dauid , Psal. 42. 7. As one deepe calleth another deepe by the noyse of the waters , One trouble calles for another so one affliction calles for another . Sinne calles for sicknesse , sickenesse for pouertie , pouertie for enemies , enemies for contempt , vexation and slaunder . If thou haue neither sickenesse , pouertie , enemies , nor contempt ; yet sinne thou hast , which calles also for disobedience in thy children , disquietnes in thy wife , falsehood in thy seruants , losse of goods , death of thy vertuous children , or thy louing wife ; these are commonly reputed crosses , and who is free from them all ?

Be assured if thou be the true child of God , one , or some , or all these will visite thee by turnes . Psal. 40. 12. Innumerable , troubles saith Dauid , haue compassed me about on all sides , Gods children must suffer here . and that is the condition of Gods deerest Saints , here to suffer affliction on all sides , and to be exercised with temptations of diuers sortes . The seruant is not aboue his Lord ; Ioh. 15. 20. if they haue persecuted me , saith Christ , they will also persecute you : if Christ had trouble here , so must we .

As Christ through many troubles and persecutions came to glorie , so must euery of his Elect drinke of the same cup : Through many troubles , they must enter into the Kingdome of heauen . Hee that will liue religiously and in the feare of God , must looke for tryals and troubles in the world , The godly must looke for tryals . and continuall temptations of Satan , to drawe him to sinne , that by his sinnes he may offend God , that if it were possible God might forsake him .

The most godly haue many sinnes , If we sinne we shall be punished . and sinne is the cause of all troubles , as appeareth by that which is said before ; and if we sinne , shall we thinke we shall not be punished ? though not as the meerely wicked in Gods hote dipleasure ; but in loue , and the punishments may seeme alike with that of the wicked , but their endes not alike .

Wherefore then should a man ( fearing God ) be sorrowfull for his afflictions ? Iam. 3. 39. 40. seeing he is thereby occasioned to search and to trye his wayes , Afflictions are not the cause of sorrow but sin that procure them . that finding himselfe guiltie of disobedience to God , he may the more speedily returne vnto him , lifting vp his heart and his hands to him and say , I haue sinned and rebelled against thee , therefore dost thou worthily punish me .

Fooles , saith Dauid , by reason of their trangressions , and because of their iniquities are afflicted : and is not euery man that feareth not God , Euery man that feareth not God is a transgressing foole . in the rancke of Dauids fooles ? nay , who is so righteous , that hath not committed folly by sinning ? and who then can be free from affliction ? If God should not correct vs her● for our sinnes , he could not but reserue vs for destruction hereafter ; for such is the vilenesse of sinne , and so odious to God , as he neuer lets it goe vnpunished in Gods dearest Saincts here for a little space , and the obstinate hereafter for euer : therefore better to suffer chastisement here for a moment , then to be heere free , and hereafter perish for euer : better to be corrected in the world , then to be condemned with the world .

And we must consider , that as we seeme and find our selues endued with a greater measure of guiftes and graces then some other men : so we must thinke , that God will trye these graces in vs , God will trye the graces and guifts hee giueth vs by afflictions . and the power and vertue of them by afflictions and troubles here ; that through our patient suffering , we may be knowne to be what we would be reputed to be ; for , the wicked commonly come not in to such calamities as the children of God doe , vnlesse by their wilfull running into miseries and dangers by their impious actions : but the godly are not so much agents to procure , as patients to suffer their afflictions : they are tryed as siluer from the drosse by the fire of tribulation , to make them perfect .

Yet such is Gods great mercie and fauour towards his owne , God proportions our afflictions according to our faith . as although he punish them , he proportions their afflictions according to their strength , and their strength according to the weight of their correction ; giuing them grace to possesse their soules in patience in greatest crosses , & causeth them to reioyce in them , through the hope of the eternall weight of glory promised .

Seeing then , They are in an ill case that suffer no troubles . that all Gods children are to suffer in one kinde or another : and they that liue at their libertie and in the pleasure ; of sinne without trouble , in what a lamentable case are they , that doe not onely not fall into like affliction , but boast of their freedome from all kinde of crosses ?

Are there not some that say , I was neuer troubled by Sathan , I neuer felt any of his temptati●● ? Another , I haue neuer 〈◊〉 sicke in all my life ? A third , I knowe no enemie that I haue ? A fourth , I want nothing , my corne and Cattle prosper , and I haue enough to maintaine me during my life ? Another boastes of his thriftie children ; Another of his beautifull buxum and louing wife .

Doe not many silly men thus foolishly ●latter themselues , Men that are not afflicted ●latter themselues that God loues them . and thinke that God dealeth thus fauourably with them aboue others , as an argument of his loue towards them , farre aboue those that are many wayes afflicted ? but let them consider it well , and they shall finde the contrarie ; for , if God indeed loued them , he would assuredly correct them : for hee chastiseth euery sonne that hee receiueth ; for euery man is a sinner , and for sinne he correcteth .

Therefore haue such men as are free from troubles , They that haue no troubles may suspect themselues greater cause by farre to suspect themselues to be out of Gods fauour , then to boast of his loue ; and to thinke rather , that they are vnder the power and slauerie of Satan ; and that the world & the pleasures of the ●lesh haue bewitched them : for where Satan is silent , he suffers men to sleepe securely : he is loath to trouble them , out of their secure slumber ; And hee is content ●hat the world should smile vpon them , and to giue them all sensuall content , neuer desiring to crosse them . And this maketh many poore soules , falsly to imagine , that they are here euen in Paradise , when the deuill hath them Captiues .

But , when it pleaseth the Lord of his great mercie , to alter their carnally pleasing condition ; and to giue them some bitter potion , As long as Sathan findes men to runne on in security , hee troubles them not . or some precious eye-sal●e , to make them see the danger they stand in , by awaking them by his correcting rod ; And they begin to be sensible of their miserable estate , and to encline to repentance : Then shall they finde Sathan ( before silent as a Lambe ) roaring as a Lyon , bereft of his prey , labouring by all infernall and ●lattering meanes , to retaine them still . And where before he seemed not to appeare in his likenesse , in vsing any apparent tentations , finding them already sufficiently chayned vnto him : seeing now his Captiues , like to breake loose , and to escape ; They shall finde he will vomte out a floud of hellish tentations after them , to bring them backe againe ; and will leaue no meanes vnattempted , neither inward tentations , nor outward allurements , nor the enclinations of a mans own will , to ouerthrow them : And where before hee was contented , they should be free from troubles and afflictions ; hee will now worke all the meanes he can , to loade them with all kindes of miseries ; not to make them better , but , as much as in him lyeth , to driue them to despaire in God : And ( as Iobs wife , by his instigation said to her husband ) to curse God and dye .

So that their case is dangerous that liue securely free from Sathans malice , A dangerous case to liue securely . from feeling of their sinnes , and from worldly troubles ; and happy are they that suffer here vnder the gentle hand of God , and according to his will .

Sathans tentations , The afflictions of the godly are not strange and greatest afflictions , are no new and strange things , but vnto them onely that haue long beene lulled in the lap of all kindes of pleasures : When crosses in deed light vpon them , they thinke them strange ; but vnto the dearest children of God , they are , and haue beene euer familiar ; and Gods Elect Saints haue beene euer companions in afflictions .

Therefore St. Peter , to the comfort of all afflicted , to the end of the world , saith , Dearely beloued , 1. Pet. 4. 12. 13. thinke it not strange , concerning the firie tryall , which is amongst you to try you : as though some strange thing were come vnto you : but reioyce , in as much as ye are pertakers of Christes sufferings , that when his glory shall appeare , ye may be glad and reioyce . Therefore let euery man comfort himselfe in his proper affliction ; And consider well the course that Almighty God taketh with afflicted men , be they punished in his anger in iustice , or chastined in his mercie : The naturall man makes no difference , betweene iust iudgements , and fatherly corrections . the naturall man maketh no distinction betweene iust punishments , and fatherly corrections ; hee thinkes the chastisements of Gods children , to be of the like nature , as are his iust iudgements vpon the wicked . And therefore maketh no difference , but concludes all vnder one and the same sentence of wicked men , because they are alike punished : and in deede it is hard for a man to iudge his owne ; much more hard , to determine of another mans deseruings b●fore God ; who often times keepes the godly still in trouble , and easeth the wicked : which maketh the carnall man to thinke the wicked to be in Gods fauour , and the childe of God in deede , not to be beloued of him .

But marke well the purpose of God , Great difference in the wisedome of God , in easing the godly and the wicked in thus relieuing , comforting , and easing a wicked man of his troubles ! thinke not it is in his loue , but in that he obserueth in him a minde enclined to some stubborne opposition against his commaunds , which he would put in execution , but that his crosses and afflictions hinder him : As Pharaoh , being afflicted , entreated Moses to pray for him ; and being eased thereof , he forgat his affliction . So the children of Israell , when they rebelled against God , and GOD afflicting them for their disobedience , assoone as by submission and prayer they were eased , they fell to their old and wonted stubbornnesse : And this doth God fore-see ; namely , that neither affliction , and misery on the one side ; nor prosperity and outward felicity on the other , can bring a wicked man to be good , a rebellious to be obedient .

As touching Gods correcting , The end why God easeth the troubles of the godly . and againe comforting his owne children , it is to another end ; for when by his chastisements he hath sufficiently tryed and humbled them , and brought them to the knowledge , and acknowledgement of that , for which their calamities and crosses are fallen vpon them ; namely , for their sinne and disobedience : Then hee begins as the skilfull Chirurgion , to lay mollifying and healing plaisters of loue vpon their wounds ; hee workes inward assurance of the free pardon of their sinnes , in their consciences , by the apprehension of his mercies in Christ .

The godly may be visited with sicknesse , The godly and the wicked , may be alike afflicted . so may the wicked , and either of them recouer their health ; They may likewise fall into pouerty and want , they may be alike imprisoned , they may fall into equall outward crosses , and be alike eased of them . But to the comfort of the one , and that Gods glory may the more appeare in his recouerie and release , through his faithfull prayers ; and to the further condemnation of the other ; reseruing for him a greater punishment , howsoeuer hee may thinke , that God hath restored him in his loue .

And therefore , Men afflicted , ought to hold fast by God . be sure whosoeuer thou art that sufferest affliction here , to hold fast by God through a strong faith : and know that thy crosses are sent thee , to exercise thee with patience and obedience , and to make thee better . And therefore if God be pleased to ease thee of any of thy troubles , it is in his great mercie , to make thee to know , and to acknowledge , that thy crosses and corrections , and the cure of them , come onely from God ; who requireth of thee onely thankfulnesse , and new obedience : for , if thou vpon recouerie of thy sicknesse , vpon supply of thy wants , vpon thy freedome of imprisonment , or vpon release of wha●soeuer troubles , thou shouldest returne to thy former sinnes ; thou must looke for new , and more seuere and ( speedie ) punishments .

Be well aduised therefore , repine not at thine afflictions , but in patience possesse thy soule : wayte the good pleasure of God for thy deliuery ; Wee must waite Gods deliuerie . & forget not in all thy troubles , to lift vp thine eyes to him that striketh thee ; entreate him in an humble heart by faithfull prayer , in the name of his Sonne : faint not , and hee will ease thee , or release thee .

A necessarie Prayer , for strength , to beare whatsoeuer afflictions , with patience ; and for faith , to resist the tentations of Sathan , that will suggest , they proceede of Gods meere displeasure .

O Lord my GOD , who in thy wisedome , diddest first forme me in , & broughtest mee out of my mothers wombe : In thy goodnes hast relieued mee ; and in thy prouidence , as a Father , preserued mee vnto this day : And before I was borne , diddest determine all things , that I should suffer in this my mortall life ;

Leaue me not now , I beseech thee , nor forsake me , for now are the troubles and tryals befalne mee , which thou hadst determined from the beginning ; onely through my sinnes , whereby I haue grieuously offended thee .

I thanke thee Lord , that thou hast so fatherly a care of me , as not to suffer mee to runne on in my sinnes , without this gentle correction .

I confesse , O Lord , before I was afflicted , I forgat to serue thee ; nay , I forgat mine owne sinnes , I followed mine owne wanton and vnruly desires , and corrupt will , as I was misled by that deceiuing guide , that miscaries all those that forsake thee , and follow him : And therefore I acknowledge thy iudgements iust , and my troubles deseruedly layde vpon mee ; yet not in so heauie a manner , as thou iustly mightest inflict them :

For , as the troubles and afflictions are infinite , which thou canst finde out , to inflict vpon thy sinning children : So mightest thou haue layde the most heauie of them vpon me , because my sinnes are great and infinite ; And I cannot but acknowledge , that had it not beene , that thy mercies surmount my sinnes , I had perished vnder my troubles long agone .

If thou haddest obserued euery of my sinnes , and for euery of them haue inflicted vpon seuerall punishments ; I could neuer haue beene able to beare the least part of them , I should haue fainted and sunke vnder them .

But , such hath beene thy fatherly loue towards me , that thou hast not punished me , according to the tenne thousandth part of my deseruings .

Though sometimes I haue felt thy rod , and haue beene sensible of thy corrections , yet neuer ouerpressed with them .

I haue had sicknesse , but thou healedst me : I haue had enemies , but thou hast defended me ; I haue been in diuers mortall dangers , but thou hast preserued me ; I haue beene in want , but thou hast relieued me ; I haue had many domesticall crosses , but thou hast giuen mee patience to beare them : And although I be not yet free from some of them ; yet will I not feare or faint , now ( by thy grace ) hauing had so many testimonies of thy fatherly louing kindnesse towards me , in working so many gracious deliueries for me .

My sinnes then prouoked thee to correct me : I am a sinner still , and therefore I cannot but look , for my continuall sinnes , continuall chastisements . But Lord , let not thy corrections be such punishments as thou inflictest vpon such as haue neither feeling of their sinnes , nor are sensible of thy punishments ; I confesse my sinnes , I feele thy correcting hand gently layde vpon me ;

And I finde , gracious Father , that though thou be displeased for my sins , yet art thou not so seuere in thy chastisements , as I iustly deserue . Thou proportionest my corrections , according to thine owne gift of faith and patience , which thou fatherly doest furnish mee withall ; so that I am in some measure able to beare them : or thou giuest mee faith and patience , according to the weight of thy corrections ; otherwise it were not in my power , to beare the least of thy chastisements ; but with much impatience , murmuring , and grudging , whereunto thou knowest my weake nature is enclined .

And thou Lord , well knowest what a malicious and subtill aduersarie I haue , Sathan , that endeuoureth to draw me , to rebell and to kick against thy fatherly corrections ; suggesting vnto me , that they proceede of thy finall hatred towards me : and coueteth to feede my carnall enclination , with the vaine pleasures and delights of the world , and the lusts of my corrupt heart ; and to reiect the yoke of thy gentle chastisements .

But Lord , thou hast taught me to know ; and I haue found him ( as in deede he is ) a lyer , an enemie , a tempter .

O giue mee wisedome to obserue , and strength to withstand all his tentations and a●lurements , that I may onl●●elie vpon thy prouidence , mercie , and goodnes ; wherein I know that all the troubles and afflictions which I now endure , and that thou shalt hereafter impose vpon me ; are the true and infallible tokens of thy loue towards me : And therefore shall neither my hope nor my patience in suffering , be weakened , notwithstanding his malice .

Though I should walke through the valley of death ; yea , if Death were instant before me ; I will not feare : for , thou art with me in all my dangers , to succour mee . Thy rod & thy staffe they comfort me : Affliction and sorrow may endure for a little time , and then commeth ioy .

Thy dearest children , O Lord , endure troubles ; but as they come of thee , so are they eased againe by thee .

Thou hast sent me great troubles , O Lord , and many aduersities haue befalne me , but not without thy prouidence ; and thou hast hether-vnto sustained me in them all .

I will therefore goe forward in thy strength , who hast hether-vnto vpholden me by thy power . And therefore my trust and sure confidence is , that I shall neuer perish , in whatsoeuer troubles . Though sorrow and heauinesse , vnder mine afflictions , may seeme to oppresse me , and to presse mee downe ; yet taking perfect holde through a liuely faith , of thy neuer-fayling promises : I am assured in thy good time , to be finally relieued & comforted . In the meane time O Lord , giue mee perfect patience , and let my faith neuer faile mee ; But as thou hast willed me , I cast my burthen ( euen the burthen of my sinnes , for which thou correctest me , and the troubles which thou inflictest vpon me for my sinnes ) vpon thee my Christ , who hast suffered both for my sinnes , and for the punishment of them . And hast promised to nourish me , to sustaine , maintaine , and vphold me in all my tryals .

Lord , I haue had experience of thy goodnesse , mercie , and fauour towards me , euer since I was borne ; by thee I haue beene stayed ▪ from the wombe ; Thou tookest me out of my mothers bowels ; I haue euer since tasted of thy goodnes , thy power hath held me vp ; thy prouidence hath euermore found out meanes to relieue mee in my greatest necessity , to defend me in my greatest dangers , to ease mee in my greatest griefe .

O my God , grant that I now may not distrust thine accustomed mercies , but may still assure my selfe , that when greatest danger shall befall mee , that rather then thou wilt leaue me helplesse , thou wilt giue thine Angels charge ouer me , that I shall not be vtterly out of hope of helpe ; and that thou wilt send from heauen and saue me .

Thou hast promised to couer the faithfull , euen with the wings of thy protection . I beleeue Lord , therefore I pray , that thou wil● sustaine me , and deliuer me out of some of my troubles .

I embrace thy chastisements , O Lord , with a thankfull heart , knowing that , that man is blessed , whom thou correctest : Be not therefore far from me , O my God , though I be compassed about with many troubles . Though feare possesse my soule , confirme my faith , & I shal not faint .

Thou hast promised not to be farre from them that call vpon thee faithfully : let not therefore faith faile me , O Lord , and then lay what thou wilt vpon me ; for I know thee to be my Lord that hast made me , my strength that hast hether-vnto sustayned mee , my Redeemer that hast saued me , and he that will for euer preserue me . Amen .

Lord encrease my faith . FINIS .