The golden grove, or, A manuall of daily prayers and letanies, fitted to the dayes of the week containing a short summary of what is to be believed, practised, desired : also festival hymns, according to the manner of the ancient church, composed for the use of the devout, especially of younger persons / by the author of The great exemplar.

WEDNESDAY. The fourth Decad.

•…•…. BEgin every day to repent, not that thou shouldst at all defer it, or stand the door, but because all that is past •…•…aght to seem little to thee; because it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in it self: begin the next day with the •…•…me zeal and the same fear, and the same •…•…umility, as if thou hadst never begun •…•…efore.

32. A little omission of any usual ex∣•…•…cise of piety, cannot happen to thee •…•…ithout some loss and considerable detri∣•…•…ent, even though it be upon a •…•…erable cause.

33. Be not slow in common and usual •…•…cts of Piety and Devotion, and quick •…•…nd prompt at singularities: but having •…•…rst done what thou art bound to, pro∣•…•…eed to counsels and perfections, and the •…•…xtraordinaries of Religion, as you see •…•…ause.

34. He that desires much to hear news, •…•…s never void of passions, and secular de∣ires, and adherencies to the world.

35. Complain not too much of hin•…•… drances of Devotion: if thou let me•…•… alone, they will let you alone: and if yo•…•… desire not to converse with them, let the•…•… know it, and they will not desire to con∣verse with thee.

36. Draw not to thy self the affai•…•… of others, neither involve thy self in th•…•… suits and parties of great personages.

37. Know that if any trouble happen to thee, it is what thou hast deserved, and therefore brought upon thy self. But i•…•… any comfort come to thee, it is a gift of God, and what thou didst not deserve. And remember, that oftentimes when th•…•… body complains of trouble, it is not so much the greatness of trouble, as little∣ness of thy spirit, that makes thee to complain.

38. He that knows ow to suffer a•…•… thing for God, that desires heartily th•…•… will of God may be done in him; th•…•… studies to please others rather then him∣self; to do the will of his superior, not his own; that chooseth the least portio•…•… and is not greedy for the biggest; th•…•… takes the lowest place, and does not mu•…•… secretly: he is in the best conditio•…•… and state of things.

39. Let no man despair of mercy 〈◊〉〈◊〉

•…•…ccess, so long as he hath life and health.

40. Every man must pass through fire •…•…nd water, before he can come to re∣•…•…eshment.