Christian praiers and holie medtations as wel for priuate as publique exercise: gathered out of the most godly learned in our time, by Henrie Bull. Wherevnto are added the praiers, commonly called Lidleys praiers.

Another Meditation cōcerning the sober vsage of the bodie and pleasures in this life.

THe beginning of all euill in our kinde of liuing, springeth out of the deprauation and corruptnesse of our iudgement, bicause our will

alwaies followeth that which reason iudgeth to be followed. Nowe, that which euery mā taketh to be friend∣ly and agreeing to his nature, the same doth he iudge necessarily to be good for him, and to be desired. This is meate, drinke, apparell, riches, fa∣uour, dignitie, rule, knowledge, and such like, bicause they are thought good and agreeing, either to the bodie or to the minde, or to both, for they helpe either to the conseruation or to the pleasure of man accounted of e∣uerie one amongest good things.

Howbeit, such is the weaknesse of our wit on the one part, & the blind∣nesse and too much rage of our lustes on the other part, that we being left to our selues, can not but in the de∣sire of things which we iudge good and agreeing to our nature, by the iudgement of our senses and reason, we can not (I say) but ouerpasse the

boundes wherby they might be pro∣fitable vnto vs, and so we make them hurtfull vnto vs, which of them∣selues are ordeined for our health.

What is more necessary then meat and drinke, or more agreeing to na∣ture? but yet howe fewe be there which doe not hurt them selues by them? In like manner it goeth with riches, estimation, friends, learning, &c. yea although we be in these most temperate, yet when there wanteth the spirit our regeneratour, we are so drowned in them, that we vtterly neglect to lift vp our mindes to the good pleasure of God, to the end we might imitate and followe God our maker by yeelding our selues ouer, duly to vse his gifts to the common & priuate vtilitie of our neighbors.

But now, God only is life and e∣ternitie, and can not but demaund of vs his handie worke, that we should

render our selues and all we haue to the ende wherefore wee were made, that is, to resemble for our portion, his goodnesse, as they which be no∣thing else but witnesses and instru∣ments of his mercie: So that when wee wholy doe naturally striue a∣gainst that kinde of life wherevnto he hath created vs, by seeking alwais our selues, what other thing ought to insue, but y^e he should againe de∣stroie vs, and take away his notable giftes, wherewith he therfore indued vs, that by all kind of wel doing we should resemble his image: yea what other thing may ensue, but that hee should leaue vs, and that eternally, that we might feele and by experi∣ence proue howe bitter a thing it is to leaue the Lorde, in whome is all goodnes? Oh that I might therefore finde such fauour in thy sight (deare father) that thou wouldest worke in

me by thy holie spirit, a true know∣ledge of all good things, and heartie loue to the same: through Christ Ie∣sus our Lord and onelie Sauiour. Amen.

I. B.