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DAngers and afflictions moue poore men to repaire vnto God, not onely in their silent sighes, as Anna and Moses did, but also in their vnfamed zeale, vsing the meanes, the tongue and lips, in crying vnto the Lord,
who willeth vs to aske, and enioyneth vs to waite, vntill his good time be to giue what we desire.
And for that God heareth not sinners, here is inserted a Confession and Prayer for forgiuenesse, that our vnworthinesse may be put away, and our vnaptnesse tur∣ned into true submission, and our coldnes into zeale, that the Spirit of God being renewed within vs, through our humilia∣tion and prayer, we may not faint, but liue in hope, and vndergoe the correction of our louing God, in what manner, and for what time heseeth it fit for vs, without in∣denting with him what to doe for vs, or when to come to vs, because he is wise, and we our selues fooles: he is mercifull, and neuer faileth, nor forsaketh the mise∣rable.
God is loue, and imbraceth them that deserue to be hated. And therefore he•• beareth with our imperfections, and ac∣cepteth vs righteous, being vnrighteous; worthy, being vnworthy of our selues. And in this hope and assurance, is this prayer following, to be faithfully vsed, and it shall comfort the soule of the most sorrowfull.
The way truely to seeke our God, is to doe iustly, to loue mercy, to humble our selues, and to walke with him.
Reioyce in hope, be patient in tribulati∣on, continuing in Prayer,Rom. 12. 12.
O Father, full of knowledge, thou searchest the hidden thoughts of all hearts, thou beholdest the desires, euen of such as kéepe silence: But yet thou requirest that thy chil∣dren should know and confesse thée to be their Father, and so to iudge of thy workes, as that thou hast framed in man an heart wherewith to beléeue, and a tongue and lips, whereby to con∣fesse thée to be his louing Father, and dost challenge at his hands, the Sa∣crifices of Prayer and Praise conti∣nually.
Thy children must not be dumbe in
their Soules, nor mute in their lips, that want thine aide: no, thou com∣mandest them to aske, séeke, and knocke, ant she west thy selfe ready to heare, ready to be found, and ready to receiue thy distressed ones, who are faithfull and patient, and perseuere vnto the end.
And therefore, deare Father, I (be∣set with many miseries) come vnto thee, as vnto the chiefe fountaine of all rest and reliefe, inward and outward: but I am st••full, and that I confesse, and thou wi•••• not heare such as are de∣filed with iniquity: the wicked cannot finde thée, and the vniust cannot come before thy presence.
Alas, what shall I then doe, being so vnfit to aske, so vnapt to séeke, and so vnworthy to receiue what I desire, by reason of my sinnes?
But cleanse mée, O Father most pure, and sanctifie mée, O thou most holy: teach mee what to speake vnto thée, for I cannot keepe silence, my griefes are great, and my miseries in∣crease more and more: I must there∣fore speake: O shape in mée a new Spirit, giue me a renewed heart, and a tongue that may speake acceptable
things vnto theé: that thine eares may be opened at my cries, and thy mercies (O Lord) ready to receiue my humble complaints.
Thine eyes (O Lord) are open vn∣to the cries of all that feare thée, and relicuest al that trust truly in thée, thou deliuerest their soules from death, and comfortest their hearts in the time of sorrow.
And therefore doth euery man that is godly, make his prayer vnto thée, and holdeth not his tongue, hée may ••use and meditate for a time at his miseries, but at the length the fire of zeale will enkindle, and he cannot but speake with his tongue, and cry vnto thée, to shew his hope, that hée hath an helper in heauen: he cryeth, and thou considerest: he desireth, and thou re∣lieuest: he beléeueth, and at the last, thy mercy and goodnes appeareth, and thou imbracest him with ioyfull and timely deliuerance.
And how commeth it to passe (O mercifull Lord) that I so long haue sought thée, and thou séemest to hide thée from me? How long haue I pray∣ed vnto thée, and thou séemest to giue no ••are vnto mée? which maketh mée
weary, and almost ready to faint, and to giue ouer my suite, which I haue so long sought, and made vnto thée, O God, my Strength, and my Re∣déemer.
But loe, O Lord God, thy promises and louing kindnesse do only ••éede and nourish me with a continuall and neuer dying hope, that the time expected will come at the last, when thou forgetting my sinnes, wilt both heare me, and ful∣ly deliuer me.
Thou art God, and therefore good: thou art the Father of all, and there∣fore onely, thou knowest the wants of all thy children, and the things most fit to giue vnto them, and the time when to bestow it on them.
And therefore, Father all-sufficient, and full of loue, I presume not to say vnto thée, Come now, or Doe this, but for the time when, and the thing what thou wilt work for me, I refer to thée, yet be not ouerelong away: for thou knowest my séeblenesse, and my mise∣ries, and how néere I am brought to an vnrecouerable fall: what shall I doe, Lord, but hope onely in thée?
Thy Prophet witnesseth vnto vs wretched men, that when the righte∣ous
cry, thou hearest them, and deliue∣rest them out of all their troubles.
But who is righteous, O Lord? who is cleane? he also witnesseth that none is righteous, none is cleane, but all are sinners: yea, our most holy fa∣thers were impute in thy sight, and yet they receiued the Promise, and obtained grace and mercy, and reliefe, and strength, and saluation at thy hands.
But, Lord, they were thus comforted and thus blessed, and thus relieued onely of thy frée ••auour (wherein thou acceptedst them righteous, and impu∣tedst not sinne vnto them) and not of their deseruings.
Thou art loue, and in loue thou imbracest them, that deserue to be hated for their sinnes; and therefore sith thou art so full of compassion, and so infinite in thy mercies, beare with mine imperfections, and couer my sins; accept me righteous, and I am righ∣teous: accept mée worthy, and I am worthy to receiue the good things of thy loue, which is without all limita∣tion.
Hold me righteous in the righteous∣nesse of thy beloued, that I also may
be heard when I cry, as my righteous Fathers were, and let me be deliuered out of my distresses, as the righteous haue béene deliuered out of all their troubles.
For, what can it profit thée (O Fa∣ther) to forsake me vtterly, and to suf∣fer me to be forsaken of all, as if thou haddest no respect vnto mine offering? I cry daily, and yet my trouble conti∣nueth: I séeke thée, and am depriued of all earthly blessings.
O wretch that I am, what shall be the end of my complaint? I will cry yet, if thou wilt heare: I will séeke thée still, till thou maiest be found: be it as thou wilt, into thy hands I commend mée, and to thy prouidence I commit mine estate most grieuous, and best knowne vnto thy selfe.
WHerein the poore man desi∣reth God to consider in mercy his temptations, which are so much the more heauy and grieuous, because the worldly minded doe taunt at him for his afflictions; affirming that God hath forsaken him, for that hee punisheth him so deepely. And the poore man hau∣ing no other refuge, but to flye vnto God, i•• encouraged through Gods promises, and perswaded through faith, that these men speake so hardly of him, for that they sa∣uour not of the true knowledge of Gods louing corrections, whereby hee visiteth his dearest Children here for a time, that they perish not eternally: and resolueth himselfe to holde fast by God, and there∣fore prayeth for strength; and withall, he desireth the assistance of Gods directions in the gouernment of his life and acti∣ons, lest that such as see his pouerty and afflictions, should see him fall from God by grosse sinnes, and so take the stronger
occasion to censure him iustly punished for his wickednesse. Yet withall hee con∣fesseth vnto God, that hee is indeede a sin∣ner, and for his sinnes iustly touched with crosses, by the meere prouidence of God in loue, and taketh comfort by exami∣ning his waies, & his will, which although they be not so right as they ought, yet in respect he erreth through frailty, not by a full consent, rather as a sufferer by Satans oppressions, then a wilful doer against the will of his Maker: hee desireth God to looke vpon him in the merite of Christ, and in him prepare his dull heart to re∣pentance, and his whole man to a more sincere course of life: that his wayes being reformed by the word of Truth, his hard afflictions may be in the end, and by little and little, mitigated, and that God will breake the fetters of griefe and sorrow, and according to his diuine Promises, by his deliuery, giue him occasion to sing a new song, a song of ioyfull deliuerance, both from the tyranny of Sathan, and also from the heauy burthen of his af∣flictions.
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.
VVHerein the poore Man dis∣claymeth his owne wor∣thinesse, and appealeth to the mercies of God; yet grieued vnder the burthen of his mise∣ries, he instantly prayeth vnto God, that he will not correct him ouer-sharpely, lest he faint. For by reason of his grieuous crosses, (not withstanding his continuall prayers) he feareth (as it were) lest hee pray in vaine, and be driuen to thinke that either God heareth him not, or re∣gardeth not his Petitions: and therefore beseeching God to come now at the length, either with deliuery, or to giue him such inward spirituall strength, as hee may constantly indure vnto the end. For hee hauing tryed the helpe of mor∣tall men, findeth it to tend onely to words, and not to relieuing workes; as∣suring himselfe, that God is not as Man, that promiseth and performeth not, but is absolute, to worke by meanes, against meanes, and without meanes, euen what hee will for his; setting before the eye of his hope, Gods former fauours and
fatherly assistance, shewed vnto our faith∣full Fathers of old; by whose example hee seemeth to challenge at the hands of God the like louing kindnesse, and that God will not suffer him vtterly to perish, put∣ting his trust in him, although the World gaze on him and deride him, as if he were a Monster, and no man: expostulating, as it were with God, that forasmuch as hee was cast vpon him, as soone as hee was borne, & he onely depending on his mer∣cies, he cannot leaue him in the deepe, but rather, for his owne glories sake, lift him out of his calamities, lest the Righteous faint also to see him still visited, notwith∣standing his continuall Prayers: and that the wicked should thereby gather, that there is not a God that regardeth the causes of poore Men.
O Lord, I cannot excuse mine euils, they are infinite in mine own eyes,
and many as grosse which I haue for∣gotten, & sleightly past ouer, as if they were no sinnes before thee: and there∣fore I appeale vnto thy mercy for all: for by mine own deseruing or satisfacti∣on, I can cleare my selfe of none at all.
Who can rehearse or call to memo∣ry, all that he hath done amisse before thee, who keepest account of the least sins? And therfore what auaileth it me to iustifie my selfe, if I knew nothing by my selfe? It is thou that seest and iudgest: it is thou that hast found mat∣ter enough to condemne me, and cause enough to punish me: & therfore I haue no means to be freed from thine anger, and consequently from my miseries, but thy mercy onely, in thy beloued Christ Jesus.
Correct me not therefore, deare Fa∣ther, as I deserue, but in him haue compassion vpon me: and as for my re∣formation, thou beatest mee with thy rod, so for my preseruation, hold me vp by thy staffe, that I be not confounded vtterly, or perish altogether.
Thou seemest as if thou hadst vtter∣ly forsaken mee: Oh, why art thou so farre from me in the wofull time of my troubles? Why stoppe••t thou thine
eares at my cry? Why dost thou turne away thy face, when I offer the sacri∣fice of praier vnto thee, and seemest not to regard mee, though I put my trust wholly in thee?
O come, Lord, come now at the last, performe thy promises of aid and com∣fort, when most neede is: for vaine are the helps of flesh, weake is mans arme, and his heart is not right in equity and iudgement: therfore I trusting in thee onely, let me not be disappointed of my hope: let me not goe mourning, by rea∣son of my miseries, and neuer finde re∣liefe at thy hands.
Our Fathers trusted in thee, they called vpon thee in their troubles and dangers, and were deliuered and freed from that which oppressed them: they prayed vnto thee, and were heard: they fought thee, and thou shewedst thy selfe a helping Father vnto them, euen when they were ready to be swallowed vp of mercilesse waters.
Great was thy fauour towards all our beleeuing fathers: but alas, Lord, what am I? I am a Worme and no Man, yet I beleeue, Lord, helpe mine vnbeliefe: I am couered with shame, be thou my glory, that I may glorifie
thée among the people that now con∣temne me, because thou séemest to hide thy face from me.
I am gazed on, and derided, scorned, and despised, because of my miseries: my neighbours that should assist mée, disdaine me: my familiars that should comfort me, doe not onely forsake mée, but say of mée, that all my hope is in vaine: my kinsfolkes who should aide me in my necessities, adde griefe vnto my miseries, and tauntingly say, I am deseruedly fallen, and cannot rise a∣gaine.
Oh behold this, thou that sittest on high, consider this, and instead of these miseries (increased by such as should friendly visit mée) stand thou by mée, and afford me the cup of thy saluation, that I tasting of it, may answere these men, and say, as I am assured that my Redéemer liueth, euen thou my God, mercifull and all-sufficient, who art one and the same for euer.
I was cast vpon thée as soone as I was borne, and thou receiuedst mee: But the faults of my youth, and the sinnes of my riper yeeres, haue caused a diuorce betwéene thy loue and my lewd life. I am sorry, deare Father,
J am sorry for my fault, take me again into the bosome of thy fauour: and from hence forth be present with me againe, and let me only ioy in obeying thée, and let my soule take comfort of thée, and my whole man be relieued by thée; for besides thée I haue no helper.
Oh helpe thou mée, and restore mée to comfort againe: banish all mine af∣flictions as a mist, and refresh my soule with the timely dew of thy reliete, powre downe the swéete drops of thy quickning Spirit, and let a comforta∣ble calme follow the fearefull stormes of this dangerous tempest.
And I will yéelde thée the praise, who art worthy of all praise, I will magnifie thy name that workest won∣derfull things, and bringest to passe that which the worldly ones cannot comprehend; I will declare thy name for euer among the children of men. The righteous shall heare it, and be glad, and the wicked shall quaile to sée me restored, whom they so long haue scorned, and deemed a cast-away, be∣cause of my miseries.
For thine owne names sake therfore, O Lord my God, heare my prayers, consider my meditations, helpe mée in
time conuenient, before I shall vtterly, lest the righteous be discouraged by my decay, and the vngodly take heart to perseuere the more in their obstinate and malicious wayes, whilest they imagine there is not a God, that re∣specteth the miseries of his distressed Children.
WHerin the poore man shew∣eth his accustomed con∣stancy and faith. And fee∣ling the weight of his cros∣ses yet heauy, prayeth that he may not be vtterly consumed, nor that his enemies preuaile against him, but ra∣ther God will furnish him with such abi∣lity, as he may pacifie them in paying all men their due: and the rather, for that ma∣ny doe looke vpon his dangers, both the wicked & the godly, the one in derision, the other in griefe. These yet expect what will be the issue of the poore mans crosses.
But the godly wishing it to be comforta∣ble, he prayeth that they may see it come to a wished end, for conformation of their hope in the like dangers: and because the poore man findeth his owne infirmities, hee prayeth for strength, and seeing his owne ignorance, prayeth for knowledge, and looking into his dulnesse, & cold in∣clination to good things, prayeth for fer∣uency and zeale: knowing assuredly, that there is no way to attaine vnto deliuery from thraldome, but to walke rightly be∣fore the Lord, who is ready to set the iust vpon a sure rocke, against which the wic∣ked cannot preuaile. And although Fa∣ther, Mother, Kinsmen and Friends for∣sake him, he is assured the Lord supplieth them all, and by the experience hee hath of the Lords readinesse to helpe, hauing vpholden him in former dangers, he will not faile him, nor forsake him, when he is ready to be swallowed vp of most merci∣lesse troubles.
LOrd, I lift vp mine heart vnto thoe, my soule trusteth in thée, let me not be confounded: let not men haue their desires against mée: let thy blessings be powred downe vpon mee, let thy cup of comfort and saluation be filled vnto me, and let thy right hand be ready and outstretched to hold mee vp, and in thy prouidence furnish me with the hid treasures of thy loue.
So shall I sit safely vpon a sure rocke, and be furnished with such things as may pacifie such as now are importunate with mee for that which I cannot performe: and resting in danger of their cruelties, haue no other refuge, but to depend on thy mercy and prouidence, wherein (as in a safe sanctuary) I shall rest euermore preserued, vntill these dangers be ouer∣past.
Many doe looke vpon me, to sée and consider what will become of my mise∣ries, and I continually pleade thy frée mercy in Christ, wherein thou promi∣sest to couer the multitude of my sins, for which I am thus afflicted: the righteous thereby take hold of hope, and in my behalfe wish a prosperous and happy end of my destres, encoura∣ging mee to perseuere; for that thy word, euer sure, warranteth a timely deliuery of all such as are penitent, pa∣tient, and faithfull vnto the end.
But alas, good Father in Christ Jesus, I a most sinfull man, doe chal∣lenge no comfort, ease, or reliefe in mine owne right, but in the merits of him, in whom thou art well pleased, and in whom thou shewest mercy vnto sinners, among whom I am the grea∣test.
Yea, Lord, I am ignorant of good things, and wander as a beast, by na∣ture, in the vast wildernesse of this worlds vanities, hauing little or no taste of thy sauing truth, or féeling of future dangers; but of thée onely I haue knowledge, of my selfe I am weake, but from thee I haue all strength; of my selfe is misery, from
thée is mercy, of my selfe. I am altoge∣ther vnperfect, but from thée is all perfection, both inward, tending to the consolation of my said soule, and outward, to the reliefe of my distressed body.
Therefore teach me, O Lord, teach me thy truth, shew me thy wayes, and leade mee in thy pathes continually: withhold my heart from euery euill thought, & my hands that they commit no euill, kéepe mine eyes sincere, and my tongue that it speake no vnséemely thing, and my féet from falling.
Regard moe not as I am in mine owne selfe, nor deale with me as I de∣serue by mine owne wayes, but accor∣ding to thy tender mercies and louing kindnesse banish my sinnes as a mist, driue away my imperfections as a cloud, and supply my wants with time∣ly reliefe.
Thou art righteous and gracious, and reformest sinners, and forgiuest their sins. Be mercifull therefore vn∣to mine iniquities, for they are very great. Kéepe my soule and deliuer me, let mee not be confounded, nor perish vtterly, for I trust in thée.
Thou art the light of my saluation,
the strength of my life, and my refuge, and sure defence in trouble.
In the time of my greatest dangers, thou shalt hide mee in thy tabernacle, namely, in the secret places of thy pro∣uidence, which no man can finde out: thou shalt kéepe me, and hide me from them that couet my destruction: thou shalt set me vpon a rock, against which man shall not preuaile.
Harken therefore, O Lord, harken vnto my voyce, when I cry vnto thée, haue mercy vpon mee, and comfort mee.
Thou sayest, Seeke yee my Face: And what is it, O Lord, but to séeke thy helpe in distresse and danger? to craue thy fauour and succor in the time of néede.
O Father, my soule (by the priui∣ledge of thy frée Spirit, which teach∣eth truth in the inner parts) is ready; my heart also is prepared to séeke thée: my tongue speaketh vnto thée, as vn∣to the liuely helper of all that are op∣pressed.
Hide not therefore thy face in dis∣pleasure, which in loue thou willest me to seeke: be vnto me as heretofore thou hast béene, my succour and shield,
and leaue me not vnto the end.
My naturall father indéede that be∣gat me, and my mother that bare mee, may forget mée, my friends that pre∣tend to fauour mee, may forsake mee, when thou rebukest me, but thou canst not forget mée, nor forsake mee; for thou in thy Word hast promised the contrary; and therefore I will not feare to flye vnto thée, who giuest what earthly fathers cannot giue, and supplyest my wants, that neither my most familiar and my dearest friends can supply.
I should vtterly faint, did I not verily trust in thée, and assuredly know that thou hast no respect of persons, and that thou acceptest not of men, as the world doth, by the outward ha∣bite and externall glory, but the in∣ward parts, decked with faith, feare, and obedience thou likest, and embra∣cest the poorest for pietie, and in the proud whom the world doth reuerence, thou hast no delight.
Frame thou therefore mine inward zeale, and let not my outward basenes ouer-much depriue me of some comfort among the children of men; and when I cry vnto thée, be not as men, who
regard not the poore; but with spéede heare and consider, and refuse not to answere me with timely reliefe.
And let not the vnsauorie miseries of this life, accompanied with the na∣turall we akenesse of my flesh, draw me into the way of the wicked, but let me rather hold fast by thy promised pro∣tection, as by the Altar of a liuely ••••∣fuge.
••ow downe thine eare, I ••ay. O Lord, and let me not for euer cry vnto thée in vaine.
Draw me out of the net that is laid for mée, deliuer me from the dangers prepared against me.
Thou hast séene my troubles, and hast knowne my soule in the bitternes of distresse, and yet thou hast not vt∣terly forsaken mée, but in mercy hast mightily preserued mee from infinite perils.
And now, Lord, euen now, séeing my life wasteth in heauinesse, and my yéeres consume in forrow: sith I am a reproach euen among my neighbours, and all my friends faile me: and sith I am euen at the point to perish, be plea∣sed to thinke of my miseries, and send me spéedy reliefe.
As thy goodnesse, O Lord, is great, which thou hast laid vp as in a trea∣sury, for all that feare thee: so let thy mercy appeare, and thy prouidence and power toward me, be séene, among such as thinke indéede thou hast forsa∣ken me vtterly.
VVHerein the poore man appealeth vnto God, being stricken with a kinde of despaire, be∣cause there be that say of him. There is no helpe for him in God: he therefore not onely cryeth vnto God, that he will con∣sider it, but he himselfe also entreth into the cause, why they so say, and findeth it to be, for that they see his store consu∣med, and his basket emptied, and his foes furious against him: but hee herewith not dismayed, reasoneth against these mens infidelity; who, in these their alle∣gations seeme to deny, that either there
is a God, or that he careth for, or will, or can helpe the poore. And yet hee presu∣meth not vpon his owne integrity, but confesseth God to be iust, and rightly may punish sinners, among whom he is the greatest: and hee finding this temptation to be very grieuous, he prayeth God to se∣cond his feeble nature, by his free grace, and that he will stay him with his staffe, while he correcteth him with his rod, be∣cause he is but a weake man, & may easily be burdened aboue his owne strength. But being assisted by God, hee assureth himselfe, that no arme of flesh can preuaile further against him, then shall be profita∣ble for him: nay, he is assured that it shall come so to passe, that euen they that most vpbraid him, shall acknowledge the migh∣ty hand of God in deliuering him, and therefore determineth to wait the good pleasure of God, when and how it shall come to passe, and will not be discoura∣ged though men say, There is no helpe for him in God.
IN thee, O Lord, I put my trust, and yet there are that say, There is no helpe for mee in thée: but thou art my God, how say they then, Thou canst not helpe me? sith thou art most louing and absolutely al-sufficient.
I am indéed brought low and much weakned, I haue no helper among the sons of men. This they consider, that say, There is no helpe for me in thee.
They perceiue that my baiket is empty, they sée that my store is con∣sumed, and therefore they say, There is no helpe for me, nor recouery of mee by thee.
I ponder these their words, O Lord, in my heart, and kéepe silence: I consi∣der their thoughts, yet faint I not: I marke what they speake of mee, and yet I despaire not, for thou art my God, that canst defend me, my Father that ca••st restore me and sustaine me,
thou art to mée all in all: how say they then, There is no helpe for me in thee?
Do not these men say in their hearts, Thou art not God, that thus diminish thy power? and that thou art either vnable, or vnwilling to helpe the née∣dy, and to vphold thy distressed chil∣dren? But as thou knowest them liers, so make them know their vaine con∣ceits, by some sure token, that thou ne∣uer faiisst them for euer, that perseuere constantly, and trust truely in thée vn∣to the end.
Thou art indéede a iealous God, and punishest such as go•• astray; yet thou art a louing God, and callest thy chosen children from their euill waies, by a gentle correction.
And therefore foolish and vnadussed are they, that measure thy fauour to∣wards men, by the fulnesse of good things, tending to the saciety of fleshly desires, and thy displeasure by want and affliction, that thinke that thou lo∣uest them, that thou féedest fat with the plenty of worldly riches and pleasures of this life, and hatest them that are low by crosses and corrections.
And great is this temptation (good father) vnlesse thou second our féeble
natures by thy grace, being touched with thy correcting hand, stay me ther∣fore, O stay me, with thy staffe, whi∣lest thou smitest me with thy punishing rod.
Lay not vpon me wretched man, a more heauy burthen then I shall be able to beare. And though thou sée it most conuenient for me to suffer want, afflictions, crosses, and reproaches in this life, to the end that I be not mis∣carried with the pleasing vanities of this World, yet withall consider, that I am but a man, weake and vnapt to beare the yoake of ouer-sharpe trials, without such supply of thy blessed com∣fort, inward and outward, as may maintaine faith and bodily necessaries in me, and for me.
So shall I reioyce in my low estate, and no calamity shall bring mee into despaire of thy prouident protection: I shall be assured that thou art indéede my God, and that whatsoeuer men say of me to the contrary, thou art & wilt be my helper, in the time of my greatest néede.
And then shall it come to passe, that euen these men shall sée how great thy goodnesse is, which thou hast in store
for them that feare thee, and thy mer∣cy, which thou shewest them that trust in thée, euen in the sight of the sonnes of men.
They shall sée and behold, how thou doest séeme to expose thy chil∣dren, as it were, to the furie and rage of the worlds miseries, and yet doest hide them as in a sacred Sanctuary, a place, whereunto the proud, and such as embrace vanity, shall neuer come.
And such as now pursue me, either with hate or reproach, shall sée in the end, that there is helpe only in thée, and that no arme of flesh can preuaile a∣gainst thée, O God, nor against them that trust in thée.
They shall say, when they sée the issue of my hope to be good, and that my prosperity is renewed, Loe, wee thought this man mad, wee deemed him a cast away: but loe, the Lord, in whom hee trusted, hath made him to stand, and his hand hath brought to passe what hee desired.
And I my selfe shall then consider that I erred, when rashly I said, I was vtterly cast downe; for though when I cryed, thou séemedst not to
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heare; when I sought thée, thou sée∣medst to hide thée from me: and when I complained vnto thée, thou diddest not regard it: I shell then confesse, that thy wisdome in humbling me, thy mercy in sustaining me, and thy proui∣dence in relieuing me, doth passe the capacity of the wisest men.
Therefore (deare Father) I will yet wait that acceptable time, I will yet attend thy good pleasure and will, and will not indent with thée when, nor direct thée the manner how thou shoul∣dest helpe me: but submitting my selfe vnto thée, I will hold my peace, though men say yet of me, There is no helpe for me in thee.
THe poore Man finding the troubles of this life grie∣uous vnto him still, begins his Prayer with a Medita∣tion, wherein hee desireth to leaue the Earth, and earthly things, and to be with God, where all good things are; flying to God with serious lamenta∣tions, for that God absenteth himselfe, and keepeth backe his comforts, notwith∣standing his long crying vnto him. And therefore heartily prayeth, that God will heare him, and helpe him now in the dee∣pest of his troubles: being become igno∣minious to the World, by reason of his miseries, in somuch as hee is ashamed to be seene of men, and withall seemeth to be rapt vp with the contemplation of heauen and heauenly things. And standing thus ballanced betweene griefe of his crosses, and ioy of his comfort to come, he resol∣ueth himselfe to endure for the time, and referreth the end and managing of his course to God alone, to whom hee pray∣eth, that hee will so much fauour him,
as that hee may receiue such inward con∣solation, and outward comfort, as he may haue cause to beginne his praise of God here, for his deliuery promising as it were in himselfe, that hee will glory in nothing in this life (howsoeuer hee be aduanced) but in God onely. But fearing lest hee should be depriued of the occasion of prai∣sing God, for his helpe extended, he in∣stantly beseecheth God, that as he is bea∣ten downe by his corrections, so he may be raised againe by his mercy and proui∣dence.
MY soule longeth and thirsteth for the liuing God, I desire to ap∣peare before his glorious pre∣sence, that I may sée the good things that he hath laid vp in heauen for them that are his.
For I am weary of my groaning, I faint vnder the most cruell burthen of
the miseries, which hée, for my sinnes, hath laid iustly vpon mée here in this mortall life.
O God, the Rocke of my strength, Lord of mercy, why sufferest thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thus to languish, and finde no reliefe? why mourne I daily, and haue no com∣fort? why cry I vnto thée, and thou hearest not? why doe my sorrowes in∣crease, ••••th I séeke thée vnfainedly?
Defend mée, O defend mee, in this time of my greatest danger, relieue me in the time of my most néede, preserue me from the mercilesse and cruell men, feede mee with the hid treasures of thy loue, and multiply thy blessings vpon me; for I am poore, miserable, and past helpe, vnlesse thou helpe mee, and su∣staine me, O Lord.
Be not farre away from me, and put me not altogether to confusion: let me not vtterly perish, while there is none to helpe: I am ignominious in the sight of all men, by reason of my mise∣ries, & miserable, by reason of my sins: I am a reproch vnto my neighbours, and many iest and laugh at my fall.
Insomuch as I am ashamed to be seene of men, and wish I were able to flye out of the earth, and that I might
once be, where I might with ioy be∣hold thée in thy triumphant Throne, where is neither hunger, nor thirst, nor nakednesse, nor want, nor ignominy, nor sinne, nor death; but all fulnesse, and glory, and truth, and ioy, and life eternall.
O swéet being with thée! most hap∣py dwelling and abiding with thée.
But loe, Lord, this place so glorious, these ioyes so swéet, and these comforts so sure, are not attained vnto, but with vnfauoury affliction in this life. This future happy, and immortall life, can∣not be without the death and suffering of this mortall body.
And therefore, Father eternall, be it vnto me in this fraile life, euen as thou wilt, that I may possesse thée, and the ioyes with thée, of eternall life.
Afford mée thy fauour: let mee in∣ioy thy blessings, euen here in this life, that I may here beginne to ioy in thee, and here beginne to praise thée among the children of men, that they may sée and consider, that though great are the troubles, and miseries, and afflictions, which the Righteous suffer here, thou yet deliuerest them out of all. So shall
J also giue thanks vnto thée, thy praise shall be in my mouth continually, my soule and m••ne inward parts shall glo∣ry in thée, and glorifie thée.
I will say vnto thée, O mine hope and my fortresse, thou art my God, in thee will I trust: when thou shalt make mée glad againe, I will be glad in thée; and when I reioyce, I will reioyce in thée; for it is thy selfe onely that comfortest the abiect, and deliuerest the poore from them that persecute them.
Awake therefore in time (O Lord) awake, preserue me, that I perish not in these miseries, and lest I being as one forgotten and forsaken of thée, be censured a cast-away among such as sée me: and so being depriued of the oc∣casion of praising thée for my deliuery, I be driuen from one sorrow to ano∣ther, and all my hope turned into di∣strust of any recouery. Hide not thou therefore thy face, forget not my mise∣ries, and be not carelesse of mine affli∣ctions for euer.
My soule is beaten downe euen to the dust; my heart fainteth, my hands become weake, my knées waxe féeble, mine eyes are dimme, and all the parts of my body are vexed, and I goe con∣tinually
mourning in my miseries.
O sée & regard my miserable plight, looke vpon my griefes, and ease the in∣tollerable burthens of my calamities: for though thou hast made a great woūd by thy corrections, yet, O Lord, thou canst cure it againe with spiritual com∣fort, & not with-hold the outward good things, ordained for the comfort of thy Children in this life.
Turne thy face vnto mee, which I instantly seeke; send downe thine aide, which I heartily craue, and haue mer∣cy vpon mee, for I am most desolate and poore.
Rise vp, O Lord, rise vp, thou that art louing and bountifull: let me rise vp againe by thee, that am throwne downe by thee; and though my sinnes (as a sword) haue cut me from thy fa∣uour, let the righteousnesse of thy be∣loued vnite me vnto thee againe, in such sort, as nothing may separate me from thee for euer.
THE poore Man being lately in an extreame agonie, neere vnto despaire, by reason of his sinnes and miseries, he here begins to rowze himselfe vp againe, so∣dainely crying out, that the Lord is yet his hope, and therefore promiseth to hold fast by him, and not to giue ouer for euer: no, whatsoeuer troubles doe befall him, and miseries assaile him: yea, howsoeuer the world and worldly things be moued a∣gainst him, he armeth himselfe with faith in God, to stand with patience in all. Nay, such is his assurance of a more bles∣sed being, after this little time of tryall, that hee affirmeth these crosses that hap∣pen here, to be but trifles, and of no weight to be borne, in respect of the fu∣ture happinesse: yet because hee will not
seeme senselesse of Gods corrections, and be idle in well doing, hee still solliciteth the Lord for some tokens of his loue here; namely, that hee will binde vp his sores, and heale his wounds with his holy helpe, and that he will renue him with spirituall vnderstanding, and cleanse his affections, that he may thinke, speake, and doe all to the glory of his name, and that his tongue may be an instrument to praise him before the children of men, for his deliuery, pro∣mising to continue constant till the time appointed.
O Lord, thou art yet my hope and strength, thou art a helper in trouble, and doest not hi••e thée for euer from thy distressed Children.
Therefore I will yet hold fast by thée, and will yet trust in thée, while I liue and haue breath: I will not vt∣terly faint, nor feare, though greater stormes yet arise th••n hither to I haue endured: though the Earth tremble vnder mée, and all thy creatures rage round about mée, I will say still, and
confesse and acknowledge, that thou art my God, and therefore thou wilt not suffer me to be vtterly lost, or perish altogether.
No, Lord, though the earth be mo∣ued, and though the mountaines be tumbled into the middest of the Sea, though the waters roare and swell, and the loftie hils tremble at the furie thereof: yet will I not be discoura∣ged, because I haue thée my Salua∣tion.
Should I then faint at the small afflictions, which as little darts, thou shootest at me in loue, not to kill mee, but to put me in minde of my vanitie and forgetfulnesse of thée, to call mee from mine errours of the truth, from sinne to saluation, and from death to eternall life? I must confesse against my selfe, that I haue deserued the darts of eternall death, and to be shut out of the land of the liuing: but mitigate thine anger, and turne thy heauy displeasure into loue and liuely reliefe, and let me once taste, and be refreshed with that comforting ri∣uer, that maketh glad thy distressed Children.
O God of hoasts, come and behold
my desolation, and cause those thy deadly darts, which so fast stick on me, by little and little to fal away, and cure the wounds which thou hast made.
Binde vp the sores of my sorrowfull soule, clense the corrupted affections of my defiled heart, lighten the dim eyes of my darke vnderstanding, wash me throughly from mine iniquities, and purifie me from sinne.
Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse againe after my long mourning, giue me reliefe againe after my long want, set me vpon a sure rocke, and plant me on a fruitfull ground, among the flou∣rishing trées, that prosper by the swéet waters of thy liuely fauour.
Oh cast me not away, deare Father, cast me not away from thy presence, re∣store me rather to the glory of thy sal∣uation, and establish me with thy frée Spirit.
Lord, open my mouth, that my tongue may be an instrument to praise thée for thy liberall reliefe, and ready helpe in my néede and necessity.
So when thou shalt renue my decai∣ed store, and replenish my empty bas∣ket, when thou shalt yéelde comfort to my sad soule, and refresh my sorrowfull
heart, I will surely vtter foorth thy praise with vnfained lips, I will giue glory vnto thy name, and publish thy mercy to all the world.
Oh ••e therefore vnto me a spéedy helper, delay not too long to come, my saluation: for behold, I am in a mise∣rable case, as thou well knowest, poore, as thou séest.
Reiect not yet my petition, who cry instantly to thée for helpe, O helpe be∣fore I perish vtterly, hold mée fast by thy hand, and lift me vp againe before I fall altogether.
Thou hast not promised, I know, that which thou wilt not performe, and therefore I will waite faithfully, for the time is at hand that thou hast or∣dained for my deliuery. And therefore by the priuiledge of a liuely hope, which will neuer make them ashamed that fixe it on thée, I will perseuere: confirme my hope, and make it perfect, vntill I may inioy the liuely fruits of thine assured saluation.
THe poore man, as it were ouer-charged with the burthen of his mi∣series, wisheth himselfe wings to flie away from all occasions of calami∣ties, but forthwith checketh his rashnesse & folly, in seeming desirous to hide him from God, that is eue∣ry where, and can euery where punish the transgressours of his will. And therefore prayeth, that God will bridle his affecti∣ons, and giue him patience, appealing vn∣to the Almighty, who knoweth his desires to doe well, though the peruersenesse of his nature doe draw him into things of∣fensiue: and therefore disclaiming his owne worthinesse, craueth pardon and mercy, acknowledging the generall weak∣nesse of all mankinde, and his owne to be the greatest of all; and therefore prayeth
for strength, for wisdome and instruction, affirming him to be most happy indeede, whom he fauoureth, by reason of the infi∣nite blessings that he euen here enioyeth in this mortall life: although hee withall cryeth out against the miseries that doe still oppresse him, keeping fast hold through hope, that yet God will not suffer him to perish, nor fall vtterly, because he is a rock whereon the righteous, such as doe take hold of the death and passion of Christ, doe rest most safe from al dangers: and therefore concludeth his Prayer with an instant Petition, that God wil giue him a blessed end of his hope, that he may talke of his glory, and sing of his praise, that all men may see by his example, that God re∣specteth the cause of the needy.
OH that I had winge like a Doue then would I flye away from these troubles, and make mine a∣bode in the wildernes among the thick bushes and branches of the Cedars, ra∣ther then to endure these intollerable miseries among the sonnes of men.
But alas, Lord, what doe I consult thus with the vaine wisedome of flesh and bloud? thou art God, and were I in the Wildernesse, thou art there; were I in the vttermost parts of the earth, thou art there: were I on the highest mountaines, or in the bowels of the Earth, or in the Sea, or in the clouds, thou art there, and canst there also finde me out, and there visite mine iniquities with stripes, and my sinnes with scourges.
It booteth mée not to couet to hide me from thée: better is it for mee to subiect mée vnto thy will. And there∣fore bridle mine affections, tame the vnrulinesse and fiercenesse of my heart, reforme the words of my mouth, teach me right wisedome, and learne me true vnderstanding: vouchsafe me perfect patience, and then shall I be néerest vnto that liberty which I long for, and best fréed from the dangers which I feare, and soonest enioy the comforts that I desire.
O make no long tarrying, O Lord, but hasten my deliuerance: preserue me from the furious stormes & raging tempests that are yet ready to giue my wearied Soule a new encounter.
Wherefore hast thou left vnto vs (by thy Word) a commandement to cast our cares vpon thée, and tolay our bur∣dens vpon thée, promising to comfort vs and to ease vs? It is not to deceiue, but to deliuer vs.
Thou séest my desires, and knowest the secrets of my heart, and all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wayes are manifest before thée. If therefore I should iustifie my selfe, thou wilt condemne mee: if I hide my sinnes, thou findest out my corrupti∣ons, and that all my righteousnesse is worse then vanity it selfe.
And therefore disclayming mine integrity, I craue pardon; and aske mercy, wherein thou art rich, and whereof thou art most bountifull, e∣uen to such as acknowledge their owne weakenesse, wants and wicked∣nesse.
To thy mercy I appeale, I flie vn∣to thée, I depend on thée, I lay my bur∣den vpon thée, fearing thée, and reue∣rencing thée, louing thée, and trusting in thée.
What imperfections, O Lord, séest thou in mée, for which thou shouldest thus afflict me? O wretch that I am, amost wicked one, a corrupted one,
defiled within and without, how can I plead any good duties done vnto thée?
But, good Father, thou art not ig∣norant of the generall vanity of man, who is euill in his best wayes, and the most pure of vs is imperfect. Pardon then my weakenesse, and giue mée that strength, and that zeale, and that obe∣dience, and that perfect loue, that thou requirest.
Be vnto me a Father to instruct me in true wisedome; be vnto me a guide, to leade mée in that way that leadeth vnto life, that after my long estraying from thée, I may be at last brought home to thy blessed fauour againe, wherein is life, and liberty, and com∣fort, and fulnesse, and ioy, and rest, and peace for euer.
Oh happy is he, that is in thy pro∣tection, most happy is hee whom thou fauourest: for he is wise, he is strong, he is godly, he is fed, he is clad, hée is safe, and hee is rich in euery good thing.
When he calleth, thou hearest, when hee asketh, thou giuest; when hée sée∣keth, hée findeth; when hée is sicke, thou curest him; when hée is poore, thou prouidest for him, when he is sad,
thou comfortest him; when he is wea∣ry, thou easest him: when he hungreth, thou féedest him: when he is in trou∣ble, thou defendest him: when he is in danger, thou preseruest him: when he is hated, thou louest him: and when he is dead, he then entereth into that life which is eternall, and then partaketh of the ioyes which are vnspeakable.
Oh, accept mée into this fauour, wherein are so many blessings cer∣taine: furnish me with these blessings, wherein are so swéete contentations, and bestow on mee those graces that make the most despised in the world most honourable with thée. So shall my sorrowes be turned into ioy, my want into sufficiency, my teares into gladnesse, and all my miseries into godly mirth.
Deliuer my soule from death, kéepe my féete from sliding, let mée walke righteously before thée, and call in∣stantly vpon thée, who performest thy promises, and sufferest none to depart empty away, that séeke thée with their whole hearts.
Oh send therefore, and saue mee from them that would deuoure mee, and from that which afflicteth me; for
my soule is among Lyons; I wade as through a raging sea: I dwell among men set on fire against me, whose teeth are speares, and whose tongues are as a two edged sword: let thy mercy ther∣fore and truth be my shield & buckler.
Thou hast euer béen mine hope, helpe me therefore, and let not my troubles increase, renew my ioyes, and set mée vpon the rock of neuer-failing reliefe, and let my rest and refuge be for euer vnder the shadow of thy protection.
Bring to passe what is fit for me, and which thou knowest expedient; let the righteous sée the blessed end of my hope, that they may likewise talke of thy glory, and speake of thy praise.
And all men shall say, Verily, there is fruit for the righteous: doubtlesse, there is a God that worketh good for them that are of a perfect heart.
THe poore man, notwith∣standing his present heauy burthen of affliction, hath and feeleth in himselfe an inward instinct of com∣fort, and in meere zeale of Gods glory, breaketh out into an admiration, as it were, of his infinite Maiestie, power and excellency, and consequently, recoun∣teth the innumerable blessings, and infi∣nite mercies of the Lord: who, so regar∣deth the frailty of man, as hee seemeth to winke at his many euils, confessing it the meere kindnesse, and free fauour of God, that all mankinde is not confounded for disobedience; laying vpon himselfe the guilt of his own sinnes, for which, beyond all other, the Lord may iustly punish him; acknowledging that hee more offendeth God by his sins, then he can appease him with his Prayers, and doth more moue him to anger by his transgressions, then hee can please him by his best zeale:
And yet he longeth still to be at one with God, in whom he knoweth there is mercy and loue, and liberty, and reliefe: In hope whereof, and that God will remember his louing kindnesse againe towards him, hee will yet trust and pray, and be patient. And yet seeing his corruptions still strong to beat down his faith in God, prayeth God to bridle his vngodly affections, lest hee feare ouer-much, and so faint and giue o∣uer his suite; and desireth by the examples of Ioh, Ioseph and Dauid, and other godly Fathers, that endured their troubles pati∣ently, he may likewise be patient vnto the end. And thus rowzing vp his dead thoughts, and sorrowfull soule, with the sweet consideration of infinite comforts (which his louing God hath euer, and doth daily bestow vpon his poore oppres∣sed children) he resolueth not to faint.
O Lord my God, thy name is most excellent in all the World, thy glory is spread abroad thorow the Heauens, and thy praise is vttered by all thy Creatures, as in an vniuer∣sall harmony, thorow Heauen and Earth.
For thy mercies are infinite, and thy blessings without number, that thou hast best owed vpon them all, especially vpon the Children of men, who yet a∣mong all other Creatures, are most forgetfull, and aptest to breake out in∣to strongest disobedience against thy Maiestie: and of thy free fauour and mercy it is, that all Adams issue is not vtterly rooted out of the Land of the liuing.
And I for my part (Father most louing) cannot hold my selfe guiltlesse
of infinite euils, whereby I haue yéel∣ded greatest cause among many, that thou shouldest punish euen the whole World for disobedience: but my selfe especially I confesse worthy of my miseries, and not to deserue the vse of the Aire to breathe in, nor of any of thy creatures to be comforted by them.
Worthily therefore hast thou af∣flicted me, and worthily maist thou stil visite me: for I sée I doe rather more incense thée by my sins, then appea••e thée by my prayers; I more offend th••e by transgressions, then I can please thée by my best zeale.
I faint at mine owne vnworthines, yet faine would I be at one with thée, in whom is onely safety and succour, and assured saluation, to them that tru∣ly reforme their liues, & rightly frame their repentance, and sincerely follow thy will, which is thine owne gift.
All this I desire to performe, and distrust thée not: for thou hast promi∣sed pardon to the penitent, and reliefe to the lowly, and to be with them that séeke thée, and to hold them vp that hold by thée, and to instruct them that séeke wisedome of thée.
Forasmuch therefore, as I haue so long cryed vnto thée, & so long sought thée, I will yet hope, though I shut vp my sad soule in si••ence, onely vnto thée, who wel cōsiderest the inward gro••es, and rightly ponderest the sorrowes, and sighes, and wants, and desires of thy distressed Children, though they séeme mute in their lips, and to speake nothing with their tongues.
If thou mightest at all haue béene pleased to heare by earnest cryes, thou mightst haue heard me: if it might haue pleased thée to succour mée by earnest desires, I might haue béene relieued. But lo••, the time is not yet come, that thou hast appointed for my deliue∣ry, and therefore I will still wait, and not be weary; for my helpe, and my com∣fort, and my life, and my saluation de∣pendeth on thée.
O brible therefore all vngodly affe∣ctions in me: let me neither murmure, nor grudge, nor feare, nor faint, but with patience (in well doing) tarry till thou haue decréed to haue mercy vpon mée.
For, is there not an appointed time for all things▪ Iob was brought low by thée: yet at thine appointed time
lifted vp againe. Ioseph was long af∣flicted in prison; yet when thou sawest the time, he was aduanced againe. Thy deare Dauid was long and fiercely per∣secuted, yet at length established in his desired dignitie.
When the poore ••iddow was euen at the end of her hope of further reliefe, her cruze of Oyle being emptied, and her vessell of Meale spent, euen then diddest thou send her a relieuing guest, by whom thou gauest her increase of necessary succour.
Therefore yet a little while, and my appointed time will come, wherein I shall be also deliuered out of all my mi∣series.
Yea, thou art my strength, and my portion, and my defence, and my sal∣uation: thou ••éest my miseries what they are, and how many they be, and how heauy they lye vpon me: for thou that sendest them, art not ignorant of them; and thou that madest mee, well knowest what is fittest to preserue mee.
I am brought to the very Pit of confusion, as the naturall man dée∣meth; but thou hast decréed the time of my deliuery, to mée unknowne, that
when it commeth, I may reioyce in thee, and not attribute my recouery to the fleshly aide of mortall men, which I haue sought in vaine; yea, while I ca••••ed instantly vpon ther, that I might acknowledge all helpe to pro∣céede from thée, and all that the world affordeth, to be but the effects of thy loue, of thy power, and of thy proui∣dence.
O, blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to come vnto thée by afflictions: for although he séemeth to be a companion of Death, yet he li∣ueth by the secret swéetnes of the plea∣sures of thy inward consolation, and safely dwelleth in the Courts of thy protection, f••••ding on the liuely assu∣rance of thy Prouidence and Loue, and sainteth not at any frown of the migh∣t••est on earth.
So am I assured, O Lord, that thou art my portion, and thou tendrest mée as a sonne, though thou visit me with thy Rod, as a sinner: and that thou wilt not suffer mee to fall vtter∣ly, though thou séeme to correct mee sharpely.
Although I séeme to be depriued of all hope of recouery of my wonted
comfort, because I sée no ready meane before my eyes, nor present likelihood: notwithstanding my long and instant cryes, I will not shrinke, knowing this, that thy loue is infinite, thy pow∣er wonderfull, and thy prouidence past finding out.
For if the stony Rocke, and the wi∣thered Jow-bone; could yéeld water to refresh the thirsty: if thou couldest send Manna from heauen, and meate by a ••a••en, and féede so many thousand people with little shew of bread: if thou couldest send Quailes so plenti∣fully in the Desert, with infinite o∣ther things, miraculously for thy distressed Children: confirme my Faith euermore, that I may con∣stantly beléeue, that thou both canst, and will in thy good time relieue mée.
All power belongeth vnto thée: who then will say, or who can imagine that thou canst not helpe when most néede is? who will say thou hast not loue, sith thou so fréely hast done these many and mighty things for thy distressed Children, that could not relieue them∣selues?
But loe (Lord) all things are thine,
the Heauens are thine, and the Earth is thine, the Cattle in the fields, the Fowles on the Mountaines, the Gold and Siluer, and all that is aboue vs or beneath vs, is thine: who then can say, thou canst not giue and bestow on whom thou wilt, what thou wist, when thou wilt?
Thou makest the Corne to grow, and waterest the Earth with thy swéet showers from aboue, so that euen the Beasts also of the field are fed, as by the dew of Heauen.
Sith then that thou art Lord of all, and sith thou commandest and forbid∣dest, sith thou makest poore and en∣richest, sith thou throwest downe and aduancest, sith thou triest and rewar∣dest, and sith thou doest what thou wilt, in what manner thou wilt, to whom thou wilt, and when thou wilt, and no man can command thée or for∣bid thée; I yéeld me wholly to thy will, and craue onely to will as thou wil∣lest, and doe as thou directest in all things. Be it thus, deare Father, for his merits that thou most dearely lo∣uest, that died, and rose againe for all, and who sitteth with thée, a Mediator for all: for his sake, O Father, heare
and helpe mee in time conuenient.