THe first motiue is the severe commandement of Almighty God , which he gaue to Adam , saying , Thou shalt eat freely of all the trees in the garden , but of the tree of knowledge of good and evill , thou shalt not eate thereof . Which commandement if he had not violated , he had yet holden that goodly Eden , & pleasant Paradise , wherin he was seated as Vice-gerent , & sole supreame ●overaigne over the whole worlde . Where no●e , what harme and inconvenience our first Parent purchased vs , by the breaking that one commandement , which was given vnto him : if hee had carefully observed that one , then had not our Saviour Christ suffered his death , and passion on the Crosse , for our sins ; neither had the other ten commandements beene imposed vpon vs . As if he should haue said , in the severitie of his iustice , looking vpon the guilt of Adams sinne ; haue I given thee but one commanndement ô Adam , and couldest not thou obserue that ? Now therefore , I will charge and enioine a greater matter vnto thy seed after thee ; I will charge them with ten commandements . Whereby we may note , that it was not so much the eating of an Apple that God respected , ( when he plagued A●ā , ) as the breach of his commandement , the which He hath charged that Psal. 119 4. we should keepe diligently . Wherefore the contempt & breach thereof , is the more dangerous vnto vs : for , if they were punished in Adam , and so many millions of Gen 3 17. people , for once breaking of them ; nay , If God spared not the Angels that sinned , ( which were a thousand degrees 2. Pet. 2. 4. before vs , ) but cast them downe into hell , oh ! what Iob. 4 18. Iud. 6. shall we looke for then , which haue oftentimes broken them , and committed so many sinnes against him ? If the poore man was punished even vnto death , for gathering a few stickes on the Saboth day , and Vzza for touching the holy Arke , and Saul for sparing Agag king of Num. 15. 32. 36. 2. Sam. 6. 7. 1. Sam. 15. 2. 8. the Amalekites ( notwithstanding their good meanings and intents ) how carefull ought every one of vs to be in observing them . Discamus igitur fratres , let vs therfore learne brethren , and throughly consider the first cause that should stirre vs vp vnto the earnest meditation of the passion of Christ . Which is ( I say ) the severe commandement of Almighty God : which speaketh by Moses , saying , These words which I commaunde thee this day shal be in thine heart , yea and in thy soule , and thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand , that they may be as frontlets betweene thine eies , that ye may Deut. 11. 18. meditate vpon them both at home and abroad , and when Deut. 6. 7. thou risest in the morning a a Deut 6. 6. . Likewise our Saviour speaking to a rich man saith , If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commandements b b Mat. 19. 17. . Iob loued to keepe Gods commandements so perfectly , that he esteemed them more then his appointed food c c Iob. 23. 12. . And Christ himselfe saith , who soever shall breake one of these least commandements , and teach men so , hee shal be called the least in the kingdome of heaven d d Prov 19. 16. : But to our comforts he addeth further and saith , whosoever shall obserue & teach men these commandements , the same shal be called greate in the kingdome of heaven e e Mat 5. 19. , therefore saith he , If ye loue me , keepe my commandements , for he that loveth my commandements and keepeth them , loueth me , and he that loueth me , shal be beloved of my father , and I will not only loue him ( saith our Savior ) but wil also shew my selfe vnto him , & dwell with him f f Ioh 14 15. Ioh. 14 21. Ioh. 14. 23. . Wherfore saith David , I will meditate vpon the law of God both day & night g g Psal. 1. 2. . And so is Timothie likewise willed by his master Paul to meditate , Haec meditare , meditate , ponder , & consider of these things h h 2 Tim. 3. 14. , & be not ashamed of the testimonie of the Lord i i 2. Tim. 1. 8. . Thus meditation vpon Gods lawes and commandements hath alwaies beene the ordinarie exercise of the godly . David saith , I did meditate vpon thy commandements which I loved , o Lord how haue I loued thy law , it is my meditation all the day long k k Psal. 119 97. . And with what fervent , and vehement zeale he vseth to make his meditations , he sheweth , when hee saith of himselfe , my heart did wax hote within me , and fire did kindle in my meditations l l Psal. 39. 4. , yea the very zeale of thine house , hath even eaten me vp m m Psal. 69 9. . Thus we may plainely see , not only by the example of Moses n n Deut 6. 6. Deut 11. 18. , Iob o o Iob. 23 13. , and Paul p p ● T●m. 4. 13. 15. , but also the vehemency of the Prophet David q q Ps 39 4. may most confortably shew vs , how we ought to let the very entire loue of our soules r r Sol song 3. 3 bend vnto the Lord in our daily meditations s s Psal. 1. 2. , that Christ may dwell in our hearts t t Ioh. 14 13. , and bee the very life of our soules u u Eccle 23. 4. Ioh. 14 6. , whereby wee may behold the faire beautie of the Lord , * * Psal. 27 4. and make him our chiefe delight x x Cant 1. 6. , our sweet solace y y Wis. 16 21. our Lord God z z Heb. 11. 16. Ier 24 7. Ps 7 1. 3. Mat. 4 7. 16. , and the very glory of our soules a a Psal. 62. 7. . Thus God would haue vs to meditate vpon his commandements , lawes , & prophecies , that thereby the great benefits of him , and his sonne might be knowne , and also reverently celebrated and meditated vpon of all mankind ; as it is written , Narrabo nomen tuum , I will declare thy name vnto my brethren b b Psal. 22. 22. , one generation shall praise thy works vnto another c c Ps. 145. ●4 . : and hee ordained a law in Israel , that they should teach their children the same , and that their posteritie might knowe it , and their children which were yet vnborne ; to the intent that when they came vp , they might shew it vnto their children d d Ps 78 7 , 8. . Likewise Moses commandeth , that they should rehearse them vnto their children , and to their childrens children continually e e Deut. 6. 7. . In like maner S. Paul commendeth his scholler Timothie , for that he had knowne the Scripture of a child f f 2 Tim. 3. 18. 2. Tim. 1 5. , and that hee had learned the faith , that was in him of his grandmother Lois , and his mother Eunice : whereby it appeareth , what diligent care they had in bringing him vp in good learning , knowledge , and faithfulnes in religion . And Solon the lawmaker amongst the Athenians made a law , that the child whose father never Solon . regarded to bring him vp in good knowledge , exercises , and learning , should not bee bound to succour or relieue his father , no not in anie respect , what need so ever he were in . It is good therefore ( saith the Wiseman ) that parents should not only exercise themselues in Gods commandements , but also haue their children taught in the trade of their way , while they are young , that when they are old , they should not depart from it g g Prov. 22 6. , but continue h h Col 4 2. in their way as children of light i i Eph 5 8. , that they may be perfect to doe the will of their Father k k Heb 13. 21. which is in heaven l l 1 Pet. 3. 22. ; that he may make them swift to heare his word m m Iam. 1. 19. Rom. 2. 13. Eccl 4. 17. and carefully prepare themselues to giue thankes and praise vnto God the father in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ n n Eph 5. 20. , which is the giver of all things o o Iohn . 3. 27. , and thus indeed , to this end is man created , that he should continually with thankfulnesse set forth the praises of Almightie God , as the Prophet David saith , let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord p p Ps. 159 6. . Not , that God hath any need of our praise , q q Act 17. 25. but it is needfull for vs to praise him ; r r Philip. 2. 13. Ier. 10 23. Ioh. 15 5. that thereby we may obtaine grace & favour at his blessed hands . The Sunne hath no need of our aspect to behold him , yet wee haue need of his heat and cleerenesse that thereby we may be comforted with his brightnesse , and cherished with his heat . Moreover David asketh the Lord , saying , What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? ( and answering himselfe , addeth ) I will take the cup of salvation , and call vpon the name of the Lord . I will ( saith the Prophet ) praise the Lord with my whole heart , and call vpon him so long as I liue a a Ps. 116. 12. 13 , viz. for his benefits . Thus in our prayers and dayly meditations vpon Gods commandements , wee ought to obey his will therein diligently b b Luk. 10. 27. Deut. 6. 5. Luk. 19. 18. , imbrace it dutifully c c Mar. 1. 18. , and to the very vtmost of our power keepe his commandements effectually d d Ioh. 2. 3. Heb. 10. 7. , that therby we may avoid the snares of death , e e Prov. 22. 24. and thinke not to liue forever in the deceitfull cradle of securitie f f Esa. 47. 7. , which dandleth carelesse men in the lap of folly g g Eccle. 2. 2. . But with all diligence keepe Gods commandements with as great and intire loue as the carelesse Ninivits had to Ionas preaching h h Ionah . 3. 5. , the desperate souldiers to Iohns sermon i i Luk. 3. 14. 15 , and the obstinate Israelits to Peters perswasion k k Act. 2. 37. ; yea , continue daily in the earnest meditation thereof ; as willing as the Macedonians were in the hearing of Paule , when they continued his doctrine vntill midnight o o Act. 20. 7. , or as the Eunuch in giving eare to Philips sermon p p Act. 8. 38. , or Cornelius the Captaine with a great multitude were to heare Peter q q Act. 10. 25. . Wee read that K. Agrippa almost became a Christian at once hearing of Paul r r Act. 26. 27. Rom. 12. 1. . Oh then let it be farre from the hart of a Christian , that may heare , reade , and daily meditate vpon Gods Commandements , to proue so vngratefull , as quite to forget , and not once to thinke or meditate vpon the same , a benefit so great and infinite . Finally let our hearts bee pricked on with the feeling of Gods incomprehensible mercies towardes vs , in our daily meditations s s Ps. 1. 2. ; encouraged by his gratious promises of accepting our poore endeavours to doe him service t t 1. Cor. 15. 58 , yea ravished with the expectation of such a reward as is assured vs , by the death and passion of Iesus Christ u u Eph 1. 7. Col. 2. 13. 1. Ioh. 1. 7. 1. Pet 2. 24. Esa. 53 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. . And withall , let vs bee ashamed of our selues in doing no more * * Ps. 16. 2. Mat. 25. 36. , and condemne the carelesnesse of our owne hearts for doing our best workes so vnperfectly x x Ps. 130 3. Ps. 143. 2. Dan 9 7. 8. Luk 21. 36. Mat. ●4 42. Mich 6 6. Rom. 11. 25. Rom. 12. Mat 10. Prov. 4 13. Eccl. 25. 5. . What shall J more say ? seeing the whole course & canon of Scripture runneth that all Christians in their keeping of Gods Commandements should be Attenti , vigilantes , soliciti , instantes , ferventes , perseverantes , sine intermissione ; that is , Attent , vigilant , carefull , instant , fervent , and perseverant , without intermission of the service of God ; because therein is contained Fons vitae , radix prudentiae , corona & plenitudo sapientiae , gloria & gaudium quod est felicissimum donum , that is , the fountaine of life , the roote of prudence , the crowne and fulnesse of wisdome , the glory and ioy which is the most happiest that can bee given to man . A blessed gift ! what wilt thou desire more , to moue thee towardes the meditation of the passion of Christ ?

THe second motiue is the Dignity , the Maiestie , and highnesse of the person suffering for vs . It was not the African Scipio , nor Hanibal , nor the peerelesse Pompey , nor the mighty Persian Cyrus , nor Darius , nor the renowned Marius , nor the Macedonian conquering Monarch Emperious Alexander , neither yet Caesar , that in the Senate house received of sixtie conspiratours 23 wounds , and every of them mortall : But it is Iesus the Creatour and preserver of all mankind a a Ps. 33. 12. , it is that Alpha and Omega , the beginning and ending , which is , and which was , and which is to come b b Rev. 1. 8. Rev. 18. 17. Rev. 11. 17. Esa. 44 6. Esa 48. 12. , even the Almightie , which was crowned with glory and honour c c Heb. 2. 9. , at whose name all knees shall how d d Phil. 2. 10. , and at whose feet the foure and twentie Elders laid downe their crownes e e Rev. 4. 10. , it is the strong God f f Ps 24 8. , the God of power g g S●p. 12 16. , the high and most mighty God h h Eph 2. 14. , yea the mighty Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda i i Deut 32. 39. , the Prince of peace k k Eph. 2. 14 Heb. 2. 10. , the conquerour of death l l Hos. 13. 14. 1. Cor 15. 54. , Hell m m Heb. 2. 14 , and sinne n n Gen. 18. 25. , yea the great iudge of the world o o Pet. 2. 25 , and bishop of our soules p p 1. Pet. 2. 25. , Christ Iesus our Saviour q q Ier. 17. 10 : it is he , that is Lord of Hostes , the righteous iudge , that trieth the reines and harts of all men r r Ioh 14 6. : it is he that is the way , the truth , the light , and the doore to enter into heauen s s Iohn 14 6. , if anie man enter in by him he shal be saved t t Ioh. 10 9. : it is he that is the preuailing seed of the woman , which was promised in Paradise by God the Father vnto Adam saying , semen mulieris conteret caput Serpentis , the seed of the woman shal breake the Serpents head u u Gen. 3 15. : it is he whom David willeth vs to kisse and imbrace least he be angry * * Ps 2. 12. . It is he that is Lord of Lords , and king of kings x x Rev. 17. 14. , yea the spirituall Rocke whom all our forefathers did eate and drinke of y y 1. Cor. 10. 3. : it is he who is acknowledged and confessed by his greatest enemie , to be the sonne of the most high God z z Mark 5. 7. , in whom God the father saide I am well pleased a a Mat 3. 17. : it is the Lambe of God pointed at by Iohn , and sent to take away all the sins of the world b b Ioh i. 29. ; it is he that freely forgaue his servant the ten thousand talents that he owed vnto him c c Mat. 18. 27. : finally it is he that is the only mediator betweene God & man d d 1. Tim. 2 5. , he is the Author , and finisher of our faith e e Heb. 12. 2. , and without him we can do nothing f f Ioh 15 5. Ambros . de Isaac & anima lib. .

And as S. Ambrose saith , Ipseos nostrum est , per quod ad patrem loquimur , oculus noster per quem patrem videmus , dextra nostra , per quam nos patri offerimus ; he is our mouth wherwith we speak vnto God , our eies where with we see God , and our right hand wherewith wee offer our selues vnto God ; who saith by the Prophet Esay , Esa. 50. 7. I gaue my backe vnto the smiters , and my cheekes vnto the nippers , I hid not my face from shame and spitting , and I haue hardned my face like a flint stone ; yea I alone haue troden downe the winepresse , and there was not an Esa. 33. 3. helper , neither King nor Kesar , neither Cherubin nor Seraphin , neither Angel nor Archangel , saith the Lord our redeemer , whose name is from everlasting , yea I my selfe , saith he , haue done it . In which verse Christ yeeldeth a reason of his new and strange habite , & of the bloody colour mentioned in the first verse . A matter differing as it should seeme from mercy ; wherefore the Church is moved to aske the question , saying , what meaneth thine apparell , red ? importing , I know not what , threatning or danger . In the answer whereof for that there lieth an Allegorie , it is more plainely to bee expounded thus . That in his anger hee would tread downe vnder foot , and destroy al the enimies of him & the Church . A very artificious & skilful speech for the expressing both of the power of Christ , & severitie of his iudgement . I , saith this great and excellent person whom we speake of , by the Prophet , yea I will spurne and tread them vnder foot : setting downe through the vehemency and greatnesse of his affection , none in special , but indeed understanding all his enimies whatsoever . And then speaking by another figure , the blood , saith he , of them shall be sprinkled vpon my vesture : that is , as Christ comes with his garment dipped in blood , as one that came from Bozrah , and all the fiends in hel , like Buls of Basan , ranne vpon him , yet through his magnanimitie and worthinesse in glorie , he makes their hornes to sticke fast in the tree of his Crosse , as Abrahams Rammes hornes did in the bush , & Gen. 22. 13. 1. Macab 6. 46 so he killeth them ; but he did it in one maner as Daniel killed the Dragon or Eleazer the Elephant , that is , they died both together , even so that great enimie the Divell , in killing Christ , is killed himselfe ; but Christ being a mightie person , both God and man ; & far stronger then the Dragon , stronger then the Elephant ; and stronger then the Divell killeth the Diuel , & yet liveth himselfe . Even as the Phoenix of Arabia when she prepareth her selfe to death , singeth , Moritur , me non moriente , senectus , old age dieth in me , & I die not : so Christ being immortal in himselfe , dieth not , though death & mortality dieth in him ; but like as Noahs braunch florished Gen. 8. 11. in the waters , & Aarons rod , that budded in the Num. 17. 10. Heb. 9 4. Exod. 3. 2. pot , & Moses bush , that burned & was not consumed ; so Christ when he seemed most dead , he most lived , & like as David hackt of Golias head with his own sword , so Christ killed the Divel , even with his owne weapon , that is , with death : as the Apostle saith , Christ by his death did not only overcome death , but potestatem Heb. 2. 14. mortis , him that had the power of death .

THe third Motiue is the weakenes of our Nature , when we shal finde that we are continually subiect to sinning to offending , to erring and conceiving amisse of the wil of God , to our eternal damnation .

Man is borne in iniquity ( saith David , ) and conceived Ps. 51. 5. in sin ; for the corne of evill seed hath been sowne in the hart 2. Esd. 4. 30. Gen. 8. 21. Rom. 7. 23. of Adam from the beginning : yea all the imaginations of mans hart are evill from his youth ; & his naturall inclination leadeth him captiue : Wherfore Augustine speaking of the miserable estate and condition of man , sets it downe in a Bestiall resemblance and spiritual bondage ; August . lib. 6. conf. cap. 12. who being free , became captiue and bound , Ligatus eram non ferro , sed mea ferrea voluntate ; It was not yron ( saith he ) that troubled me , but my hard & stubborne yron minde that captivated and enthralled me . He addeth August . lib. 8. farther and saith , that his passions would needes perswade him , ( before his conversion , ) that he should neuer be able to abide the Austerity of a vertuous life , especially touching the sins of the flesh : wherein hee had liued wantonly vntill that time ; it seemed vnpossible that he could abandon the same , and liue chastly , which notwithstanding he felt easie , pleasant , & without difficulty afterwards : for the which he breaketh out into these words , my God let me remember and confesse thy great mercies towards me , yea let my bones reioyce and say ; O Lord who is like vnto thee , thou hast broken my Ps. 113. 5. chaines , and therefore I will sacrifice vnto thee a sacrifice of thanksgiuing .

And S. Bernard speaking of the miseries and weakenesse of man , describeth his miseries three waies , saying , Bernard in his 7 Serm. of the comming of Christ . ●f we would discerne betweene good and evill , wee are deceiued , If we go about to do good , we quickly faint , if we endeavour to resist evill we cannot endure , but are easily overcome . The consideration of which frailty and miserie made our Sauiour Christ graciously to admonish his disciples saying , watch and pray least ye fall into temptation . Mat. 26. 41. The third motiue therefore that should stirre vs vp to the earnest meditation of the Passion of Christ is ( l say ) our extreame neede , and miserie , that being conceiued and borne in sin , we are guilty of the wrath of God , of bodyly and spirituall , of outward and inward , of temporal and eternal punishment , subiect to dayly and howrely perils and dangers , environed with enimies , the Divel , the flesh , and the world , the world doth allure vs , the flesh deceiue vs , and the Diuell seduce vs . Here now our only comfort and safest refuge is the Passion of Christ , in whom , & by whom , we haue al things ; wherefore marke I pray you , if thou desire to be cured of thy forenamed miseries , he is thy Physition , if Ier. 33. 16. Isa 42. 6. 1. Cor. 1. 30. Ps. 24. 8. Eccl. 23. 4. Ioh. 1. 9. Ioh. 14. 6. thou be grieued with the burthen of thy sin , he is thy righteousnesse , if thou lacke helpe , he is strength , if thou feare death he is thy life , if thou be in darkness , he is thy light ; if thou wilt go into heauen he is thy way , if thou seekest meate he is thy nourishment , hee hath borne our infirmities and caried our sorrowes , that is , our punishment due for Esa. 53. 4. our sins , for the which he hath made satisfaction for vs . He hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law , when he was made a curse for vs , for he hath put out the handwriting Gal. 3. 13. that was against vs , contained in the law , which was contrary to vs , even he tooke it out of the way , & fastned it Col. 2. 14. vpon the Crosse , & hath spoiled the principalities , & powers , and hath made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them in the same Crosse . And as the people which in the wildernesse were stung with the fiery Serpent and so inflamed with the heate thereof that they stood in danger of death , yet looking vpon the brazen Serpent set vp Num. 21. 69. Ioh. 3. 14 4. King . 18. 4. by Moses vpon the pole , were healed , and recovered their strength : Euen so whosoeuer lifteth vp his heart by faith vnto the wounds of Christ , shal not feel his own , because the bloud of Iesus Christ hath cleansed vs from all 1. Ioh. 1. 7. 2. Cor. 5. 15. Rev. 17. our sin ; yea he hath so loued vs , that hee hath washed vs from our sins in his bloud . What shal I more say ? if thou seek for cleansing thy selfe from thy sinns , it is in his bloud ; Heb. 11. 32. if thou seeke for newnesse of life , it is in his resurrection ; 1. Ioh. 1. 7. if thou seeke for reliefe of thy curse , it is in his crosse ; if thou seeke for reconciliation , it is in his going downe Apoc. 15. Gal. 3. 13. into hell ; if thou seeke for mortification of the flesh , it is in his buriall ; if thou seeke for thine inheritance of Zach. 9. 11. Ioh. 19. 40. Rom. 8. 33. 34. the kingdome of heauen , it is in his very entrance into heauen : finally sith the treasures of al good things proceede from him , let vs not seeke them at the hands of the blessed Virgin Mary , nor of Paule , nor yet of Peter , nether of any other Saint whatsoever ; but only at the hands of our Saviour Iesus Christ , who suffered his death on the Crosse for vs ; in whom we may assure our selues , that what paines , torments , or death , soeuer he suffered , it was for our redemption which were dead in our sins before ; & that all his righteousnes through faith is made our righteousnes ; for he himselfe alone , hath fully discharged by his death , the debt which all we owed , and hath made vs by his passionate obedience , Gal. 3 26. Gal. 4 7. the sonnes of God , and fellow heires with him of eternall life .

Oh therefore let vs not forget so great an inheritance , but take an example of those in the Desert , who hauing but a glimmering of light , being purblinde , & as it were halfe sighted , yet if they could with their little sight , perceiue and behold the Serpent ( which was a type and figure of Christ ) they were all cured . Even Num. 21. 9. so let not thy forenamed miseries dismay thee , for if thou haue but a little faith , if it were but as much as a graine of mustard seede , thou shalt by looking vp with the eies of thy minde , vnto the Passion of Christ , be most ioyfully comforted , and relieved . Oh! da aman . tem , saith S. Augustine ( speaking of this matter ) et sentit Augustine . quod dico , sin autem frigido loquor nescit quid loquor , giue me a man that is in loue with God , and he feeleth this to be true which I say ; but if I talke to a cold christian , he knoweth not what I say . Againe S. Augustine speaking of himselfe , Turbabor , saith he , sed non perturbabor , I shal be troubled , but not overcome , because I Augustine . wil dayly thinke vpon , and call to minde , the woundes of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ .

There is a threefold comfort against the temptation of the Diuel , the flesh , and the world : which daily laboureth to attempt , trap , cause and procure vs to sin , that we may forget our duty and remembrance , which we ought to haue on the Passion of Christ .

Our first confort is in this , that we haue not sinned against them , but they haue offended against vs ; seeing that which we doe , we doe it rather through the instinct of them ; therfore tempt , accuse , and condemne vs too they cannot . Therefore David saith , tibi soli peccavt , to thee O Lord haue I sinned , and done this evill Ps 51. 4. in thy sight . Secondly , that I hide not , but confesse all these things whereof I am accused : yea I doe accuse mine owne selfe and say , Tibi Domine iustitia , nobis confusio facie i , To thee O Lord God , belongeth mercy & forgiuenesse , and vnto vs good Lord shame and confusion . And as the Begger in the high waies , sheweth and layeth open all his soares to the passers by , that they may haue the more compassion on him , so O Lord , I confesse all my faults vnto thee , and say with the Prophet Dauid , Turne thy face away from Ps. 51. 9. all my sinnes O Lord , and blot out all mine offences . I am the wounded man , Blessed Samaritan helpe me : I am the Luk. 10. 30. Luk 15. 19. wandring child , that is not worthy to be called thy sonne , make me as one of thy meanest servants : I am the lost sheep Mat. 10. 6. O seeke and saue me .

The Ostridge , as Historiographers write , will hide her head in her fethers , thinking her selfe safe enough , as long as she seeth no body . And man supposeth all well enough , so long as his grosse , grievous sinnes are not laid open to the view of the world ; as though hee feared the sight of man ( which can but punish the body ) more then the sight and wroth of God , which can destroy both body and soule .

There is no hill so high , but a man may climbe to the top ; no iourney so long , but may be gone in time , no sea so deepe but may be sounded with line & lead , nothing so hid , but in time may be revealed , N am verit as est filia temporis , time is the mother of truth ; all only the heart of man excepted , which indeed is so secret vnto it selfe , that in seaven yeares one man cannot knowe anothers mind . But what thought ? shall not he that made the eie , see ? and shall not he that made the heart , vnderstand , and accordingly reward that which Ps. 93. 9. is closely spoken , and secretly conceaued ? yes verily , for he is Scrutator cordis , a searcher of the heart & reines . And therefore vnto thee O thou God Omniscient . to whom al harts be open , and to whom no secrets are hid , do I come , confessing my sins , & most humbly do beg at thy hands , according to the multitude of thy mercies , Ps. 51. 1. to doe away mine offences , and giue me an hart to thinke on thee a a Prov. 2. 1. , a mind that may loue thee b b Mark . 12 30 , a soule that may remember thee c c Deut. 9 ▪ 6 , 7. , and a reason that may alwaies stick fast vnto thee d d Mat. 10. 37. 38. Iohn . 29. .

Thirdly , wee are comforted in this , that the son of God taketh away the sinnes of the world , & is become our propitiation for our sinnes . Now our comfort against Ioh. 16. the world , & death is set downe in these words ; Yee shall weepe and the world shall reioyce , and yee shall sorrow and your sorrow shall be turned into ioy . Boldly therefore doe we thus shake off the world and flie from it , Gen. 39. 12. ( as Ioseph casting off his cloake , ran away from his mistris ) & saie , O world thou hast done enough with me already ; Oh leaue me now & take thy pleasure of some other , as the Divels did the possessed , & entred the swine : Mat. 8. 22. for I desire to be dissolued , & bee with Christ , into whose hands I commend my spirit , sweet Iesus receaue my soule . And crie with David , Lord remember thy servant in all his troubles ; with the Publican , God be mercifull vnto me a sinner ; and with the woman of Canaan , Iesus Luk. 18. 1● . thou sonne of David haue mercy vpon me , O Iesu of Nazareth a a Mat. 26. 71. Mat. 1. 24. , O fountaine of mercy b b Mar. 10 24. remember my spirit c c Act. 7. 59. , O my life , take my soule d d Ioh. 14. 6. , enter thereinto O my ioy , that it alway may ioy in thee e e Psal. 4. 4. : for thou hast redeemed me O God faithfull and true , so that I am perswaded , that neither Rom. 8 38. 39 death , nor life , Angels , nor principalities , nor powers , nor things present , nor things to come , nor height , nor depth , nor any other creatures , shall bee able to separate mee from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord .