A counterpoyson, or Soverain antidote against all griefe as also, the benefit of affliction and how to husband it so that the weakest Christian (with blessing from above) may be able to support himself in his most miserable exigents : together with the victory of patience : extracted out of the choicest authors, ancient and modern, both holy and humane : necessary to be read of all that any way suffer tribulation.

A Prayer to be used at any time.

O Almighty, Eternall; most Glorious, and onely wise God, giver to them which want, comforter of them which suffer, and forgi∣ver of them that repent; whom truly to know, is everlasting life: We thy poore creatures acknowledge and confesse unto thee, who knowest the secrets and desires of all hearts: that of our selves, we are not worthy to lift up our eyes to Hea∣ven, much lesse to present our selves before thy Ma∣jesty with the least confidence, that thou shouldest heare our prayers, or accept of our services: but rather that thou shouldest take these our confessions, and accordingly condemne us to the lowest place in Hell: for our continually abusing thy mercy, and those many meanes of grace, which in thy long-suf∣fering thou hast afforded for our reclayming. We are the cursed séed of rebellious Parents, we were conceived in sinne, and borne the Children of wrath: And whereas thou mightest have executed thy fierce displeasure upon us, so soone as thou gavest us béeing; and so prevented our further dishonouring thee: we have instead of humbling our selves before thee our God, and ••••••king reconciliation with thy Majesty: none nothing from our infancy, but added sinne unto sinne, in breaking every one of thine holy Lawes, which thou hast given us as rules and directions to walke by, and to kéepe us from sinning. Yea, there is not one of thy righteous precepts, which we have not broken more times, and wayes, then we can ex∣presse: so far have we béen from a privative holi∣nesse, in reforming that which is evill; and a posi∣tive

holinesse in performing that which is good: which thou mayest justly require of us, being we had once ability so to doe, if we had not wilfully lost it: for thou diddest forme us righteous and holy, had not we deformed our selves; whereas now like Sa∣tan, we can doe nothing else but sinne, and make others sinne too, who would not so sinne, but for us: for we have an Army of uncleane desires, that perpetually fight against our soules; whereby we are continually tempted, drawne away, and enticed through our owne concupiscence. Yea, thou know∣est, that the heart of man is deceitfull above all things; and that the imaginations thereof, are one∣ly, and continually evill. O the infinitely intricate windings and turnings of the darke Labyrinths of mans heart! who findes not in himselfe an indispo∣sition of minde to all good, and an inclination to all evill?

And according to this our inclination, hath béene our practice: we have yéelded our hearts as cages to entertaine all manner of uncleane spirits, when on the contrary we have refused to yéeld them as tem∣ples for thine holy Spirit to dwell in. We have used all our wisedome, to commit the foolishnesse of sinne: our whole conversation hath béene to serve Satan, and fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We even sucke in iniquity like water, and draw on sinne as it were, with cart-ropes.

Neither is there any part, power, function, or faculty, either of our soules or bodies, which is not become a ready instrument to dishonour thee: for as our heart is a root of all corruption, a seed∣plot of all sinne; so our eyes, are eyes of vanity; our eares, eares of folly; our mouthes, mouthes of deceit; our hands, hands of iniquity: and every part doth dishonour thee, which yet would be glorified

of thee. The understanding which was given us to learne vertue, is apt now to apprehend nothing but sinne; the will which was given us to affect righte∣ousnesse, is apt now to love nothing but wickednesse; the memory which was given us to remember good things, is apt now to keepe nothing but evill things: for sinne (like a spreading leaprosie) is so growne over us, that from the crowne of our heads, to the soale of our feet, there is nothing whole therein, but wounds, and swellings, and soares full of corrupti∣on. Yea, our soules and bodies are even a very sinke of sinne; for like the common shoare, we have not refused to welcome any, the most loathsome pollu∣tions: that either the world, our owne corruption, or the Devill at any time hath offered unto us.

Or, admit we are exempt from some evils, wee may thanke thee, and not our selves for it: for we are ready without thy restrayning grace, to run out into all manner of enormities whatsoever: we are swift to all evill, but to all good immoveable▪ when we doe evill, we doe it chearefully, and quickly, and easily; but if we doe any good, we doe it faintly, and rawly, and slackly. When did we talke without va∣nity? when did we give without hypocrisie? when did we bargaine without deceit? when did we re∣prove without anger, or envy? when did wee heare without wearisomnesse? when did we pray without ••••diousnesse? such is our corruption, as if we were made to sinne, in deed, in word, or in thought. O the pride, passion, lust, envy, ignorance, awkwardnes, hypocrisie, infidelity, vaine thoughts, unprofitable∣ness, and the like; which cleaves to our very best actions! and how full of infirmity are our primest performances! for we have not done any one action

legally justifyable all our dayes: neither can ought we doe, abide the examination of ••hy strict justice, untill it be covered with thy Sonnes righteousnesse; and the corruption thereof washed away in his most pretious bloud. Yea, if thou shouldest behold these our prayers, as they be in themselves, without having respect unto us in Christ Jesus; they would appeare no better in thy sight, then a menstruous cloth.

Yet, miserable wretches as we are, we like our owne condition so well, that we are not willing to goe out of our selves unto thee; who wouldest new make us, according to the Image of thy Sonne: for by long custome, wee have so turned delight into necessity, that we can as willingly leave to live, as leave our lusts: yea, we lo••e our sinnes so well, and so much above our soules, that (except thou change our hearts) we shall chuse to goe to Hell, rather then part with them. Thou hast used all manner of meanes to reclaime us, but nothing will serve; neither the menaces and terrours of thy Law, nor the precepts and swéet promises of thy Gospell•• can doe it: We are neither softned with benefits, nor broken with punishments; thy severity will not terrify us, nor thy kindnesse mol∣lify us. No, shouldest thou send an Angel from the dead to warne us, all perswasions would bee in vaine, since we heare Moses and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles daily, and are never the better.

True, O Lord, there is a maine reason of it, which we cannot now helpe; for naturally we have eyes and sée not, eares and heare not, hearts and un∣derstand not. Yea, we are quite dead in sinne, un∣till thou doest boare our eares, soften our hearts, and breake in upon our consciences by the irresisti∣ble power of thy Spirit, and by going along with thy Word, shalt quicken our soules, and regenerate

the whole man anew: In the meane time we are re••dy to receive all, and returne nothing but sinne and disobedience; wherein we more then abound: for we have done more against the•• this wéeke, then we have done for thee ever since we were borne. And whereas the least of thy mercies, is greater th••n all the ••urte••••es of men, we are not so thanke∣full to thee for them all, as we are to a friend for some one good turne.

Neither doe we alone lay the fault upon our inabi∣lity, or want of ••upply from thee; but upon our owne pe••v••rsnesse, and want of endeavour, and putting forth that strength and ability, which thou hast gi∣ven us: for how long hast thou (O most gratious God) stood at the doores of our hearts; and how of∣ten hast thou knockt, when we have refused to o∣pen, and let thee in? And if at any time we have beene over-ruled by the good motions of thy holy Spi∣rit▪ yet have we still returned (with the Dog) to our vomit, and (with the Sow) refused the cleare streames of thy Commandements, to wallow in the myre of our filthy sinnes: whereby wee have justly deserved, that thou shouldest have called us to an account in the dead of our sléepe, and have judged us to eternall destruction; and never have suffered us againe to have seene the light of the Sun: the remembrance of which, together with our other rebellions; when we rightly consider them, makes us even spéechlesse like him in the Gospell: as nei∣ther expecting mercy, nor daring to aske it.

Howbeit, when we call to minde thy manifold mercies, shewed to Manasses, Paul, Mary Mag∣dalen, the Theefe, and the Prodigall Sonne, with many others; who were no lesse vile then we, and who notwithstanding found thee more ready to heare, then they were to aske; and to give above what they durst presume to begg••: wee stay our selves, and receive some incouragement from the application of the merits of Christ Jesus; which

thou hast promised, shall be a sufficient satisfaction for all our sinnes: and the rather, for that thou ••al∣lest all that are weary and heavy laden, with the burthen of their sinnes unto thee; with promise that thou wilt ease them: and hast promised, that though our sinnes be as red as scarlet, thou wilt make them white as snow; and that thou wilt not the death of a sinner, but that he turne from his wick∣ednesse and live: and that at what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes, from the bot∣tome of his heart, thou wilt blot out all his wicked∣nesse out of thy remembrance. And least we should yet be discouraged, thou who diddest no lesse accept the will of David, then the act of Solomon, hast fur∣ther promised, that if there be but first a willing minde, thou wilt accept of us according to that which we have, and not according to that which we have not.

But forasmuch O Lord, as thou knowest, that it is not in man to turne his owne heart, unlesse thou dost first give him grace to convert; for thou, O Lord, must worke in us both the will and the deed: and being that it is as easie with thee to make us righteous and holy, as to bid ••s be such, O our God, give us ability, and willingnesse to doe what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt; and thou shalt finde us ready to doe thy blessed will. Wherefore give to us, and increase in us all Christian graces, that we may know, and beleeve, and repent, and amend, and persevere in well doing. Create in us, O Lord, a new heart, and renew a right spirit within us: take away from us our greedy desire of committing sinne, and en∣able us by the powerfull assistance of thy grace, more willingly to obey thee in every of thy Com∣mandements, then ever we have the contrary. Yea, let thy Spirit beare such rule in every one of our hearts, that neither Satan that forraine enemy, and roring Lyon; which seeketh to devoure us, may

invade us; nor our own? concupiscence, that h••me∣bred traytor, may by conspiring with the world, worke the ruine and overthrow of our poore soules: but that all our wils which have beene altogether rebellious, our hearts which have beene the recep∣tacles of uncleane spirits, and our affections which are altogether carnall; may be wholly framed accor∣ding to thy holy and heavenly will. And that we may the better know how to avoyde the evill, and doe the good, let thy Word as a light, discover unto us all the ••••eights and snares of our spirituall ad∣versaries: yea, make it unto us as the Star which led unto Christ; and thy benefits like the Pillar, which brought to the Land of Promise; and thy Crosse like the Messenger, that compelled guests unto the Banquet.

Give us, O Lord, to consider, that although sinne in the beginning seeme never so sweet unto us, yet in the end it will prove the bane, and ruine both of body and soule: and so assist us with thy grace, that we may willingly part with our right eyes of plea∣sure, and our right hands of profit, rather then sin against thee, and wrong our owne consciences: con∣sidering that it would be an hard bargain, for us to win the whole world, and lose our owne soules.

Blesse, preserve and keepe us, from all the temp∣tations of Satan, the world, and our wicked hearts: from pride, that Lucifer-like sinne, which is the fore-runner of destruction; considering that thou re∣sistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble: from covetousnesse, which is the root of all evill; being taught out of thy Word, that the love of mo∣ney hath caused many to fall into divers temptati∣ons, and snares, which drown them in perdition and destruction; from cruelty, that infernall evill, of which thou hast said, that there shall be judgement

mercilesse, to him that sheweth not mercy: ••••om hypocrisie, that sinne with two faces, whose reward is double damnation; and the rather, because wick∣ednesse doth most rankle the heart, when it is kept in, and dissembled: and for that in all the Scriptures, wee reade not of an hypocrites repentance; from whoredome, which is a sinne against a m••ns owne body, and the most inexcusable; considering the re∣medy which thou hast appointed against it: for the punishment whereof, the Law ordained death, and the Gospell excludeth from the Kingdome of Hea∣ven: from prophana••ion of thy Day, considering thou hast said, that whosoever sanctifieth it not, shall bee cut off from thy people; and diddest command that he should be stoned to death, who onely gathe∣red a few sticks on that day: from swearing, which is the language of Hell; considering, that because of oaths the Land doth mourne, and thou hast threat∣ned that thy curse shall never depart from the house of the swearer: from drunkennesse, that monster with many heads, and worse then beast-like sinne; which in thy Word hath many fearefull woes de∣nounced against it: and the rather, for that it is a sin (like the pit of Hell) out of which there is small hope of redemption.

Finally, O Lord, give us strength to resist temp∣tation, patience to endure affliction, and constan∣cy to persevere unto the end in thy truth; that so having passed our pilgrimage here, according to thy will, we may be at rest with thee hereafter, both in the night of death, when our bodies shall sleepe in the grave, and in the day of our resurrection, when they shall awake to iudgement, and both bodies and soules enjoy everlasting blisse.

Be favourable to thy people every where; look downe in much compassion upon thy Militant Church, and every severall member thereof: blesse it in all places with peace and truth, hedge it about with thy providence, defend it from the mischie∣vous designes, and attempts of thine, and her mali∣tious enemies: let thy Gospell goe on and conquer, maugre all opposition; that Religion and upright∣nesse of heart may bee highly set by with all, and all prophanenesse may bee trod under foot. More particularly, be mercifull to this sinfull Land; thy Servant, our dread Soveraigne; his Honourable Counsell; the Civill Magistrates, the painfull Mini∣sters, the two Vniversities; those people that sit yet in darkenesse; all the afflicted members of thy Sonne. Lord, comfort the comfortlesse, strengthen the weak, binde up the broken hearted, make the bed of the sicke, be a father to the fatherlesse, and an husband to the widdow; cloath the naked, feed the hungry, visit the prisoners, releive the oppressed; sanctifie unto them all their afflictions, and turne all things to the best to them that feare thee.

Prosper the Armies that fight thy battles, and shew a difference betweene thy servants, and thine ene∣mies, as thou didst betweene the Israelites, and the Aegyptians; that the one may be confirmed, and the other reclaymed.

These, and all other good things, which for our blindnesse we cannot aske, vouchsafe to give us thine unworthy servants, not for our sakes, but for thy mercies sake; and for thy Sonne our Savi∣our Jesus Christs sake, in whom thou art well pleased; and in whom thou wast fully satisfied upon the Crosse for our sinnes: who with thee and the

Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end.

Let thy mighty hand, and out-stretched arme, O Lord, be still our defence; thy mercy and loving kindnesse in Jesus Christ thy deare Sonne, our sal∣vation; thy true and holy Word our instruction; thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort, consolation, illumination, and san∣ctification, now and for ever.

Amen.

Babes that are inexpert in the Word of righteousnesse, use milke: But strong meate belongeth to them that are of full age.

Heb. 5. 13, 14.