A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

The second Prayer for Con∣stancy in affliction, and to endure malicious slanders patiently.

LOrd, how are my troubles increa∣sed? how many and how grieuous miseries haue seized & taken hold vpon mée? insomuch as the world ar∣gueth me forsaken of thee: aff••rming that there is no helpe for me in thée.

But, Lord, are they not such as haue a carnall eye, and doe not spiritually discerne thy secret purposes, in chasti∣fing them whom thou louest?

They looke onely vpon the outward meanes that the world worketh, and comprehend not thy mercy and proui∣dence, wherein thou workest, by means without meanes, and against meanes, euen as thou wilt.

Therefore, let not their malice moue me, nor their taunts dismay me: I will hold me by thy promises, and endeuour to kéepe thy Statutes, and performe what thou hast commanded.

O Father, leade me in thy righte∣ousnesse, that I sinne not in their sight that couet to catch me in the snare, and

to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ap me in the net of deserued re∣proofe. Beare me vpon the wings of thy blessed protection, and let mée not come within the reach of their malici∣ous inuentions.

Let not such as lay wait for mée, haue iust cause to desire, or opportuni∣ty to worke any euill against mée: ra∣ther let me so trend the pathes of that loue, and performe that duety to all men, that thou hast willed in thy word, that my conscience bearing me witnes of mine innocency, I may fréely say, The Lord is my helper, no euill shall hap∣pen vnto me.

I confesse, that I cannot so carry my selfe in this life, but offence w••ll be ta∣ken against mée, and I shall deserue (as I doe) the iust reproofes of men, yea, against my will: and consequently, the carnally affected cannot but breake out into bitternesse against me for the same, and the more, by reason they sée me afflicted, as it were by thy hand, which they take as a strong argument, that I am a sinner most notorious, and that thou hast vtterly cast mée off foreuer.

I cannot indeede (louing Father) but confesse my sinnes, and that I am

worthy of sharper corrections, the•• I haue yet tasted, or am able to beare: yet consider that I haue not maliciously done what thou dislikest, but in weak∣nesse, and of naturall imbecility onely, and much against my will, rather as suffering Sathans oppressions, then willingly or wilfully committing sin.

And therfore trust I in thy mercies, O forgiue me: I depend on thy power, O saue me and deliuer me, lest my mi∣series ouer-whelming me, such as pre∣tend euill against me, take occasion to pursue me, and so d••uoure me.

Consider my troubles, O Lord, be∣hold my dangers, and be vnto me a perpetuall rest and refuge.

Why standest thou aloose, O Lord, and séemest not to regard my t••oubles? why turnest thou away thy face, and considerest not my wants? thy hidest thou thy selfe, when my troubles so much abound?

Arise, and let not the wicked take occasion through mine afflictions, to say, there is no helpe for me in thée, or that thou regardest not the causes of thy distressed children.

Deliuer me rather, and reléeue me, that the righteous perceiuing thy rea∣dinesse

to saue me, may the more feare thée, and trust in thee, and not ••aint when they are likewise afflicted.

Thou willest the poore to commit himselfe vnto thée, and promisest to re∣lieue such as haue no helper. Thou preparest the dull hearts to call vpon thée, & thou againe hearest their cries, and comfortest them.

How long then, O Lord, how long wilt thou forget me? how long shall I cry and not be heard? how long shall I seeke counsell of thee, and yet be ig∣norant what course to take? I am wearied with my daily sighes and groanes, which my heart (fraught with griefe and heauines) doth powre forth before thée continually. O be vn∣to mee that liuely light, that may ligh∣ten my sad and pensiue Soule. Send that Comforter vnto me, whom thou hast promised to send, that hee may teach mee what to doe in this my mi∣serie.

Thou hast threatned to increase the sorrowes of such as seeke vnto other gods, why then should they continue still miserable, and heauy, and grieued, that seeke thee onely, and onely beleeue in thee? how shall they be

still ignorant that aske counsell and wisedome of thee, who hast created all in the beginning, and doest preserue all, and maintaine all for euer, being God onely powerfull, prouident, and louing?

To thée I only come, on thee I one∣ly call, thee I onely seeke: with thee is mercy, and with thee is right Redemp∣tion, and thou deliuerest all that trust in thee, as a most sure Sauiour, and mighty Protector.

And thy Word expresseth the liuely force of thy loue and power, wherein thou keepest them that are thine, as the apple of thine est, and couerest them with the wings of thy sauour, from the mercilesse and cruell men.

O be therefore my Rocke, whereon I may safely rest: be thou my strong Castle, wherein I may be freed from the dangers prepared against mee: for thou hast promised, that all such as hope in thee, shall be as Mount Sion, that shall neuer be moued.

Breake thou my fetters (Lord) wherewith I am tyed, and remoue my sorrowes, wherewith I am brought euen to the doore of death, that I wal∣king in the liberty of a free spirit, may

grieue no more at my crosses, but glo∣rifie thee with a song of ioyfull deliue∣rance.

Let not sinne preuaile against mee any more, which as a Lyon, teareth in peeces the assurance of my soule.

Beare me vpon thy sauing wings, through the miseries of this life, and let not the Mire and Clay, wherein I sticke fast, detaine mee euer: let not the Water-flouds which roare feare∣fully, and fiercely swell against me, vt∣terly swallow mevp. But rather diuide and put backe the mercilesse Waues, that so dangerously rage on all sides against me, that I may passe on, and fi∣nish this my mortal course, as one that liueth, and hath his being of thy meere loue, and not as one that languisheth in thy dis∣pleasure.

O Lord increase my Faith.