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.

The eleuenth Blossome conteining A petition in forme of a confessi∣on, to be said in the time of sicknesse, or otherwise, when the partie dis∣eased seemeth to be in danger.

ALmightie and most mercifull father, the punisher of sinne, and the iust rewarder of iniquitie, I confesse vnto thée, that the mul∣titude of my transgressions, and the lothsomnes of my life, cannot but déepelie displease thy diuine Maiestie, and deseruedlie crie out for vengeance against me: yea, ven∣geance to death, for my misdéedes craue no better reward. I knowe that sinne is such a filthie and ouglie thing in thy sight, that who soeuer are stained and defiled ther∣with▪

are euen an abhomination vnto thee: for thou being the God of righteousnes, delightest not in wickednes, neither canst take anie pleasure in iniquitie. I confesse that for sinne, thou hast sent manie strange and terrible punishments vpon diuers people.

The olde world, in the fulnes of their offences, were ouerwhelmed with water from heauen, to their vtter destruction. The Sodo∣mites were burned, and their neighbours about them, euen with fire and brimstone, for the filthines of their offences. The Aegypti∣ans, a people obstinate and rebelli∣ous, and alwaies setting shoulder against the Prophets, were re∣warded for their misdeédes, with most horrible plagues, in the heate of thine indignation.

Yea, the Israelits, a people pe∣culiarlie chosen to serue theé, at what time they sinned greéuouslie, and displesed thy diuine Maiestie, turning by the manifoldnesse of

their transgressions, thy mercie into furie, thy clemencie into an∣ger, thy long suffering into re∣uengement, they felt the smart of thy rod, not wrathfullie confoun∣ding them as castawaies, but lo∣uinglie correcting them like chil∣dren.

So most mercifull father, ho∣ping that in the bloud of Christ Iesus, I am adopted into the number of thy children, albeit my misdeédes are so manie, that they far passe the sands in the seas, or the starres in the skies: yet I be∣leéue that thy mercie, which is a∣boue all thy workes, is able to dis∣pense with the multitude of my sinnes, and throughlie to cleanse and wash me from the blots and spots of mine iniquities.

And therfore (O gratious God) with vnfeined repentance I pro∣strate my selfe before theé, crieng and calling vnto theé, to deale with me in the measure of thy mercie, and not in the weight of thy furie,

though my transgressions exceede number. For if thou shouldest rec∣kon with me in rigour, I should be found more light than vanitie, it would fare with me as with chaffe before the winde, or as with ba∣uen in a scorching fornace: mine end would be death, my reward confusion. O heare me therefore, O louing Lord, faithfullie calling vpon thee, with him that said, O sonne of Dauid, haue mercie vpon me: and with her that said, If I might but touch the hemme of his garment, I shall be whole: and with him that said, Lord, I be∣leéue, oh helpe mine vnbeleéfe: and with him that said, Father I haue sinned against heauen, and against theé: and with him that said, O Lord be mercifull vnto me a sin∣ner. Cast downe thy louing lookes vpon me▪ lamenting Lazarus, li∣eng in wofull case, visited by thy hand, and groning vnder the rod of thy correction: spare me O God, spare me O good Lord, and be not

angrie with me for euer. I take it for an vndoubted truth, that all manner of punishments proceéde from theé, as accustomed meanes and wonted waies which thou v∣fest to call thy best children home: and therfore I am in so much the more comfort, that this thy visita∣tion and chastisement is no signe of thine endles anger against me, though sicknes, and all kind of an∣noiances sprang and issued from sinne: but a token and argument of thy fauour and louing kindnes.

Yea Lord, though it tend to tem∣porall death, whereby my bodie is wounded, yet I am reposed in this hope and affiance, that my soule shall not seé corruption, but shall be receiued into heauen, to rest in the bosome of faithfull Abraham, till the time be come of the generall iudgment & glorious resurrection.

I knowe, and it is the duetie of all true Christians to confesse no lesse, that from the beginning thou visitedst thy children: yea, on them

whome thou most tenderlie lo∣uedst, thou diddest laie some porti∣on of thy correction: partlie, to trie them in tribulation, and to con∣firme their faith by patience in ad∣uersitie: but speciallie to assure their spirit, that they are thy chil∣dren, and thou their father: they thy shéepe, and thou their shepheard: they thy people, and thou their go∣uernour: they thy souldiours, and thou their captaine: they thy cho∣sen, and thou their glorie. Thou calledst to the inheritance of thy kingdome, after the daies of his pilgrimage were spent, Abraham the father of the faithfull. Thou calledst vnto the ioies of heauen Iacob and Ioseph, when they had runne their appointed race. Thou calledst vnto endlesse blessednesse, that mild minded man, the mirrour of méekenes, Moses I meane, thy righteous seruant, when he had fulfilled his course. Thou calledst vnto the place of eternitie, Iosua and Caleb, and other gratious

Iudges of thy people, when the houreglasse of their life was run out. Thou calledst vnto the fort of felicitie, Samuell and Dauid, pro∣phets of thine owne appointment, when their full yeares were expi∣red. Thou calledst vnto the Para∣dise of perfect pleasure, Ezechias, Iosias, & other vertuous Kings, when their earthlie tabernacle was torne and rent in sunder.

Thou calledst vnto euerlasting happinesse, Esaie, Ieremie, and the rest of thy seruants the Prophets, when they had liued their full time in this world. Thou calledst vnto thy kingdome, Iames, Iohn, Paule, Peter, and other thine A∣postles, when they had discharged their dutie in fulfilling their com∣mission. And to conclude, thou calledst vnto the throne of triumph and victorie, Iesus Christ thy son, that immaculate and vnblemished lambe, that innocent shéepe, that swéete Samaritan and surgion of our soules, when he had finished

the spirituall building, whereof he himselfe was the foundation, and chéefe corner stone: when (I saie) he had accomplished thy will, and vanquished sinne, Sathan, death, and hell. In bringing which things about, thou didest vse ordi∣narie meanes, euen death the waie of all flesh: that by their example, thy seruants might be comforted in sicknes, that as thy kindnes was plentifullie declared vnto them, in deliuering them out of this wildernes, and translating them to eternall happinesse: so to me no lesse than vnto them, though for a time thou laiest thy hand vp∣on me, and scour gest me with thy rod, thy fatherlie loue and affe∣ction is manifest. For whome thou louest, him thou chastenest, and whippest euerie child thou adop∣test and choosest, that the consola∣tion of their spirit may be the more increased. Wo were I, if thou shouldst not visit me (O Lord:) wretched were my state, and con∣dition,

it thou shouldest not trie me with the fire of afflictions. Sick∣nes is thy messenger: pouertie is thy messenger: yea, death is thy messenger, whome thou incessant∣lie sendest vnto thy seruants, to call them vnto thée and thy kingdome. In consideration whereof, I thy child, as I faithfullie beléeue, a∣dopted in Christ, visited at this present by thy hand, and patient∣lie abiding the sharpenesse of thy scourge, am erected and incouraged with a certaine and infallible hope, that at thy good pleasure thou wilt worke all in me for the best, to my soule saluation, and to thy selfe glorification.

Why should I murmur against thée, though I am griped with anguish? Why should I mistrust thy mercie, though my paines be somewhat extreame? Why should I despaire, as though thou wert not mercifull? No, no: so long Lord, as there remaineth breath in my nostrels: and so long as mine

eies are open: and so long as my tong hath the power of speach, thy spirit being present with me, and comforting me, I will thus thinke with my selfe: The Lords will be fulfilled: when he séeth best time he will make an end of my tribulati∣on. He doth not punish me as a re∣probate, to my condemnation: but he correcteth me as a child, to my saluation. I am the worke of his hands, he created me, and made me of nothing: to the honour of him∣selfe did he make me, and therefore I hope he will not destroie his owne workemanship, though it re∣steth in his will and pleasure, to dispose all things as séemeth best to his diuine Maiestie.

His child I am, adopted in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ, inheritour of the kingdome of hea∣uen through the spirit of sanctifica∣tion, a member of his mysticall bo∣die, a grape of his vine, a sheafe of his haruest, a shéepe of his flocke: and therefore I trust he will be my

gratious God. This is my com∣fort, that thus thou doest chastise me, not in iudgement, to desperati∣on: but in mercie, to consolation: and this is my ioie, that hereby I am assured, that my name is writ∣ten in his register: and as for my faults, he hath raced them out of his reckoning booke.

Why then should I hang downe my head, as though confusion were the portion of mine inheri∣tance? To them that loue God, all things turne to good. This his vi∣sitation is but a preparatiue to further felicitie, which in due time he will reueale to me his seruant, when he hath taken sufficient proofe and experience of my pati∣ence, which I beséech him to esta∣blish and confirme, that the posses∣sion of eternitie may be the reward of my sufferance.

Wherefore, O most mercifull fa∣ther, if it be thine appointment, (as thy determinations are secret, and hidden from the heart of man,)

that this my sicknes and trouble be vnto death, O then gratiouslie heare my supplication, and let the voice of my crie enter into thine cares. Giue me not ouer in my distresse and weakenesse, when Sathan is most busie to spoile me: but stand thou like an inuincible Giant on my right hand, let the wings of thine almightines ouer∣shadowe me, euen vntill my last gaspe. Moreouer, graunt most mercifull father, that at the sepa∣ration and dissolution of my soule and bodie, I may still continue thine, my bodie turning into dust, whence it tooke first substance: and my soule possessing heauen, whence it receiued bring. O Lord, send me a toifull resurrection, at the date of iudgement, and let me be numbred among the lambes, whome thou hast chosen to be ioint-heires with thée of thine owne happines in heauenlie ioies.

O Lord heare my praier, and let my crie come vnto thee. Lord haue

mercie vpon me, Christ haue mer∣cie vpon me, O holie Ghost be my comforter: O blessed Trinitie, re∣ceiue my soule into the place of glo∣rie,

Amen.