The diamond of deuotion cut and squared into sixe seuerall points: namelie, 1 The footpath to felicitie. 1 2 A guide to godlines. 81 3 The schoole of skill. 181 4 A swarme of bees. 209 5 A plant of pleasure. 245 6 A groue of graces. 283 Full of manie fruitfull lessons, auaileable to the leading of a godlie and reformed life: by Abraham Fleming.

by we are so farre from profiting, that of our selues we should waxe worse and worse.

3 For the more light of know∣ledge is shewed, the blinder would we remaine: the greater obedience is taught, the frowarder and stub∣berner would we become: if thou by the mightie working of thy ho∣lie spirit, shouldest not cause it to be fruitefull. And although we haue this naturall corruption in common, with the whole rotten race of Adam: yet we confesse, that in vs it hath budded, and shot forth so much more than in others, as we haue had mo meanes to kill it, and to cause it to wither, than o∣thers haue had.

4 Where first of all, the gratious offer of the treasure of thy holie Gospell vnto vs, maketh vs guil∣tie manie waies. For where pas∣sing by manie other nations, thou hast trusted our nation withall: yet with a number of vs, it hath found as small entertainment, and felt as

great resistance, as amongst them, at whose gates it neuer knocked. For a great portion of the land, partlie neuer yéelding themselues to the obedience thereof, and part∣lie falling from it, after they had once yéelded: stand proudelie as it were at the staues end with thée. The rest, which make profession of their submission vnto it, do it not accordinglie. For first, there bée heapes of our people, which either through a déepe rooted affection and loue to Popish religion, or through a wicked opinion which they nourish of embracing the truth set foorth, are so nousled, blin∣ded, and misled, as that they still a∣bide in an vtter ignorance of the truth it selfe, in such fort, that al∣though there be no want of prea∣ching, yet they are as rawe in the knowledge of the true seruice of thée, as they were expert before in the seruice of the diuell.

5 And where knowledge is to anie such sufficiencie as is requi∣site,

for the inheritors of the king∣dome of heauen: there is it (for a great part) ioined with such hy∣pocrisie, as maketh them more de∣testable before thée, (which sear∣chest the verie reines,) than if they had still continued in their ig∣norance. Now, for the remnant of vs, which through grace haue tru∣lie, and faithfullie beleeued, it is with so great weakenes of faith, and so small reformation of man∣ners, that our glorious profession of the Gospell, supported and borne out with so small shewe of good fruites, which the excellencie ther∣of doth require, maketh not onelie the enimies to condemne vs, but our selues to suspect one another, whether we belong vnto thée or no.

6 Wherein O Lord, we acknow∣ledge that to be our great and hor∣rible sinne, that being put in trust with this vnspeakeable treasure of thy holie Gospell, and preferred before our neighbors, professors a∣bout vs: yet we are in thankefull

obedience vnto thee, behinde them all: first in knowledge, last in zeale: before them in the doctrine of thy holie Gospell, behinde them in the discipline of the same.

7 The yoke of the slauerie of our bodies, which the Popish reli∣gion laide vpon vs, we willinglie shake off: but the holie bands of thy lawe, whereby our riotous life and affections should be brought into bondage, we do hardlie and heaui∣lie admitte. The Gospell, which brought a fréer vse of our lawfull honors, pleasures, and commodi∣ties, was welcome vnto vs: but the same Gospell, which restrai∣neth the vnlawfull licentiousnes of our ambition, intemperancie and couetousnes, is not so. Final∣lie, so much of the Gospell, as doth more néerelie respect our saluati∣on, we séeme to haue some care to retaine: but so much of it as doth more directlie respect thy glorie, and the profite one of another, we make small accompt of.

8 And seeing the naked treasure of thy holie Gospell, had ben a rich reward of a most seruiceable subie∣ction: it comming vnto vs not a∣lone, but accompanied with so long a peace, with so great a welth, so plentifull aboundance of all things, as this land hath neuer or seldome vsed, other lands about vs haue long looked after, maketh our guilt a great deale more: be∣cause that in thy so great a larges towards vs, we haue bene so vn∣gratious towards thée againe.

9 Here therfore is another staier, whereby our sinne climeth higher. For that we, in the commodities of this life, surmounting our aun∣cestours of the same profession of the Gospell, in the time of King Henrie the eight of most famous memorie, and King Edward the sixt ••re, for the fruits that such a liberalitie asketh at our hands, a great deale worse than they: and going beyond other lands in these outward blessings, are outrunne

of them, euen in the verie outward testimonies and tokens of our o∣bedience towards thée.

The second Blossome, conteining

1 A confession of particular sinnes in seuerall estates, and first against Go∣uernours. 2 Against Iudges, and their indirect proceedings. 3 A∣gainst ministers. 4 Their inordinate affections. 5 Their imperfections, wants, and infirmities. 6 Against the people, and their lacke of loue to the truth. 7 Our securitie, and want of grace. 8 The aggrauating of our sinnes, and making of them more huge and heinous. 9 The burthen which Gods Lawe laieth vpon our shoul∣ders. 10 Our vnworthines of anie benefit, or good blessing, either tempo∣rall, or eternall.

1 OUer and besides this huge heape, and (as it were) réeke of our ge∣nerall and common

sinnes, we haue to confesse (at the the barre of thy iudgement seate) the particular sinnes that we haue cocked vp in our seuerall estates. For our gouernours, O Lord, for the most part, being more mindfull of the fulfilling of their affections, than either of thy glorie, or of their good estate, which are committed vnto them, haue not held so steadie a hand as they ought to haue done, either for the stablishing of the lawes, by which (vnder thée) they should haue ruled vs, and we by them should haue bene gouerned of thée, or for the thorough execu∣tion of so manie, and so farre foorth as they haue bene well established.

2 Our Iudges, and other mini∣sters of iustice likewise, haue ei∣ther ignorantlie, or corruptlie de∣clined from righteous iudgement: or giuing sentence for the truth, they haue done it (diuers of them) with no cōscience of thy true feare; or loue of truth, but for respect, ei∣ther of vaine glorie, or of persons.

3 The Ministers, which should haue bene lightes vnto all estates, haue for the most part, no light in themselues: and their estate, in whose good constitution and sound health, the rest should haue recoue∣red their health, is of all other the most sicke vnto death. For if the whole number be surueied, scarse the hundred will be found to be in the lotte of a faithfull ministerie.

4 For ah alas! how manie are there, which occupieng the place of Ambassadours, either for want of abilitie, or for that they loue ease and sléepe, carrie no tollerable am∣bassage at all? How manie which carrieng the light of the Gospell in their mouthes, carrie also in their hands, the filthie water of ambiti∣on and couetousnes, wherewith to quench it?

5 And those which by thy grace, are for their might and will in some good measure iustifiable: notwithstanding, for the most part, beare it with such infirmitie,

through slippes, as well in a sound and substantiall maner of reaching, as also in an euen life answering therevnto, that if thy blessing were not maruellous vpon their la∣bours, we should not néede to feare the quenching of this fire of the holie Gospell, kindled among vs by the enimies: as that which hauing so small attendance of blo∣wing, would die of it selfe.

6 Finallie, the people beare so small loue vnto their gouernours of all sorts, in loue so small reue∣rence, and in them both so little willing obedience, that it may be (not vneasilie séene) that all the partes of the Church and Com∣monwealth, haue conspired to pro∣uoke the Lord God against them. These our great and ouergrowne sinnes, albeit they are gotten a∣boue our heads, yet rest they not here. For where thou hast by thy holie seruants, the Ministers of thy blessed word, sharplie chidden vs, and in a seueare denouncing of

thy iudgements due vnto them, fearefullie threatned vs for them: yet haue we not trembled at thy voice, at which the Mountaines do melt, and the rockes do rent a∣sunder.

7▪ A strange thing, that the Lion should roare, & the weake Lambes should not be affraide: that the Lord of hoastes should proclame warre against vs, and we should not goe foorth and méete him, for intreatie of peace. Naie, his wrath (as hath bene shewed) hath bene and yet is kindled amongst vs: and yet as senslesse men, and as dead flesh, we are not moued: We are pricked, and we féele it not. We are wounded, and we do not so much as aske, who hath stricken vs. The tempest that is comming to∣ward vs, threateneth our vtter drowning: and yet as a drunken man, we lie sléeping in the verie toppe of the mast.

8 Whereby it is euident against our selues, that vnto the multitude

of our sinnes, we haue added ano∣ther degree of wickednes, which is the continuance in them: vnto our disobedience, we haue ioined stubbornes, and the biles and bot∣ches of our rebellion being ouglie in thy sight, do through the putre∣faction, and festrednes of them cast out such a▪ stincke, as the earth which we tread vpon, the waters which we drinke, and the aire which we breath, are tainted and poisoned with the infection of them.

9▪ Yea Lord, taught by the won∣derfull iustice of thy righteous lawe, we charge vpon our heads all the sinnes▪ of our fathers and grandfathers, to the vttermost of our generations which are past: as those wherevnto we are iuster inheritours, than vnto anie landes or goodes that they haue left vs. whereby it falleth out against vs, that our sinnes touch the cloudes, yea, breake into the heauens of thy Maiesties owne▪ residence: whose

measure being alreadie (as it see∣meth) filled, there remaineth no∣thing, but that it should be turned vpon our heads.

10 Wherevpon we make against our selues another confession, that we are vnworthie of all the bene∣fites of this life, or of the life to come: both those which we either haue, or yet hope to enioie, from the greatest, to the smallest, from the kingdome of heauen, to one onelie drop of water: that we are worthie of all the plagues, which either haue heretofore seazed, or bene yet possessed of vs. Yea, if thou shoul∣dest ransacke all the hid and secret treasures of thy fearefull iudge∣ments, which in thy lawe thou threatenest against the breakers thereof, not onlie to the rasing and swéeping of vs from the face of the earth, but also to the throwing of vs headlong into the bottomles pit of hell: yet would we therin al∣so acknowledge thy righteous iudgements. For to vs belongeth

shame and confusion of faces, but vnto thée glorie and righteousnes.

The third Blossome, conteining

1 An appeale to Gods promises in Christ, for the remission of our sinnes. 2 The bloud of the Lambe washeth vs wooll white. 3 A praier in the behalfe of the dispersed Church, a∣gainst Papists and Heretikes: and for godlie vnitie. 4 Gods blessing maketh our land fruitefull ▪ and that we are the Lords sheepe, our vnwor∣thinesse notwithstanding. 5 A re∣quest for the continuance of his loue and mercie. 6 To what end it is to be desired.

1 ALl this, both guilt of sinne, and desert of punishment notwith∣standing, (O father of mercies, and God of all comfort) we trusting vnto the promises which thou hast made vs in Iesus Christ, are bold through him,

humblie to call for the performance of them. And first we humblie de∣sire thee, to forgiue vs all our sins. Thou hast said, that if we confesse our sinnes, thou art faithfull to forgiue vs them. We acknowledge the debt, cancell therefore the obli∣gation: let not the multitude of them preuaile against vs, but where our sinne hath abounded, let thy grace more abound: and as we haue multiplied our sinnes, so we praie thée to multiplie thy mer∣cies.

2 And although we haue by con∣tinuance in them, so soked our¦selues, that thereby we are not on∣lie lightlie stained, but also haue gotten as it were the scarlet and purple die of them: yet let them all (we praie thée) being washed in the bloud of thy swéete Lambe, be made as white as the snowe in Salmon, and as the wooll of the shéepe which come from washing. And to conclude, as our sinnes haue magnified themselues in an

infinite length, breadth, deapth, and height: so let thy mercies (which passe all vnderstanding) of all sides and assaies outreach them.

3 Therefore also we most hum∣blie desire thée, O Lord, that the sinne being pardoned, thy wrath which is alreadie declared, may be appeased towards all the Chur∣ches of our profession, and especi∣allie towards vs, that the mani∣folde breaches of the Churches, and Commonwealthes maie be made vp, that those being receiued into the bosome of the Church, which belong to thine election, the rest of the Papists and Heretikes may be vtterlie rooted out, and that our enimies in religion béeing slaine, we may to the vttermost thinke all one thing, in the honest and peaceable gouernement of the Commonwealth.

4 Upon which vniting of vs in all truth and honestie, the curses of the plague and barrennesse being remoued, a waie may be made to

thy blessings, which (as the hills do the vallies) may make our land holesomelie fruitefull. And that not onlie the wrath, which is al∣readie kindled, may be quenched, but that which hath bene latelie threatened, may be caused to retire. For the graunt whereof vnto vs, we beséech thée to remember, that how vnworthie soeuer, yet are we thy people, and the shéepe of thy pasture, whome thou hast redée∣med with thy most pretious bloud, watched ouer with a carefull eie, defended with a mightie hand: de∣spise not therefore, O Lord, the workes of thy hands.

5 And séeing thou hast loued vs, when we hated thée, visited vs, when we desired thée not, then ac∣knowledged vs, when we knewe thée not: now that there be a num∣ber of vs, which loue thée, desire thine abode, and acknowledge thée: hold on thy loue still, depart not from vs, denie vs not, O thou God of truth, which art the God that

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sinne, by the assistance of Gods spirit. 6 For the due examination of our thoughts, and an vpright hart. 7 For conuersation fit and agreeable to our calling. 8 For constancie in our pro∣fession, against all temptations and impediments.

1 O Mercifull and hea∣uenlie Father, we thy seruants do humblie prostrate our selues before thy diuine Maiestie, ac∣knowledging here in thy sight our hainous offences committed a∣gainst thine omnipotencie, séeing and beholding thy heauie wrath a∣gainst them. We féele our selues la∣den (O Lord our God) with a huge companie of horrible sinnes, whereof euen the verie least (be∣ing but conceiued in thought) is sufficient in iudgement, to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting bur∣ning lake.

2 Our owne consciences, O Lord, do beare witnes against vs.

of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed lawe, of our securitie and senslesse blindnes, running headlong to destruction, commit∣ting sinne after sinne, although not notorious to the world, yet hor∣rible before thine eies. The thoughts of our hearts rise vp in iudgement against vs: the vanitie of our talke before thy Maiestie condemneth vs: the wickednes of our déedes from thy sight reiecteth vs: all our wicked thoughts, words, and déedes, with the in∣ward corruption of our nature, do altogether, as it were a whole lumpe and loade of sinne, lie heauie vpon vs, and with their intolle∣rable weight, do euen presse vs downe to Hell.

3 We do dailie grone vnder the burthen of them, inwardlie lamen∣ting our owne follie, so gréedilie running into them. In heauen, earth, or hell, we sée none able to susteine the weight of them, but e∣uen thy dearelie beloued sonne

Iesus Christ, who in mercie inti∣nite, and compassion endlesse, hath susteined and ouercome that end∣lesse punishment due vnto them: in him therefore, in him most merci∣full Father, and through him, we come to thée, being fullie assured according to thy promise, that thou wilt accept and take that full re∣compense, which he thy deare son hath made for vs, as a iust ran∣some for all the sinnes of all those, who with a true faith take hold on him. In him therefore we sée thine anger towards vs appeased, thy wrath satisfied, and our debts paied.

4 Increase in vs (good Lord) we beséech thée, this liuelie and féeling faith: for we féele it often∣times in vs verie weake, and trou∣bled with manie doubts: increase it in vs (O Lord) that we maie through thy holie spirit be assured, that the punishment of our sinnes is fullie in thy sonne discharged. Make vs, O Lord our God, to

feele this ••ame in our soules and consciences, that Iesus Christ is ours, and all that he hath done, that we are graffed into his bodie, and made one with him, and therefore fellow heires with him of eucria∣sting life. Let vs not onelie haue these words in our mouthes (good Lord:) but through thy holie spi∣rit, let vs feéle the comfort of them in our hearts fullie sealed and set∣led in vs, that we feéling our selues inwardlie before thy iudgement seate discharged, and our conscien∣ces towards theé released, may be swallowed vp with an vnfeined loue toward thy heauenlie Maie∣stie, and towards our brethren for thy sake.

5 Make sinne to die in vs dailie more and more, that we may hate, detest, and vtterlie abhorre all sinne and wickednes in all men, but especiallie in our selues: that we may stronglie (through thy ho∣lie spirit) set our selues in open warre and defiance against all sin

and wickednes, that we please not our selues in our sinnes, but streightlie examining sinne by the iust rule of thy holie lawes, we may vtterlie from the bottome of our hearts, condemne euen the least sinne in our selues, hauing our whole ioie, comfort, and conso∣lation vpon those things which be agreéable to thy blessed will.

6 Giue vs grace alwaies to be afraide to do anie thing contrarie to thy good pleasure: and from the bottome of our hearts, to examine and trie our thoughts, before thy presence, that they be vpright and vnfeined, not hypocriticall in out∣ward shew onlie, and appearance, but that euen all corners of our hearts being opened and disclosed before theé, we may euen as though it were openlie before the face of the whole world, bring them in shewe, knowing that a double hart is detestable in thy sight.

7 O Lord, direct and guide our feéte, that we may walke alwaies

as before thine eies, not onelie be∣fore the eies of man, being more carefull to walke circumspectlie, in this respect, that we haue theé to be a viewer of our doings, a thousand fold more than the eies of man, that thus we may walke as becom∣meth thy children, not onlie in out∣ward shew, but also in sinceritie of hart, abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues, striuing, resisting, and fighting against sinne, not de∣lighting our selues in sinne, nor nourishing the same in our breast, but earnestlie embracing, and stu∣diouslie seéking after those things which be pleasant in thine eies.

8 O good Lord, make vs con∣stant, and firme harted, that neither the feare of man, nor losse of goods, life, lands, possessions, or friendes, drawe vs awaie from theé, to do a∣nie the least thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure: neither the fa∣uour or friendship of man, nor yet the flattering enticements of this world, nor the vaine promotions of

the same, do moue vs anie whit from the true and endles ioie, de∣light, & pleasure, which we ought to haue in those things which be a∣greéable to thy will, and the con∣stant performance of the same, but that alwaies to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes, growing and increasing from faith to faith, from strength to strength, till at the length we shall come to thy euerlasting rest,

Amen. T. C.