The burthen of a loaden conscience: or the miserie of sinne set forth by the confession of a miserable sinner.

I Neuer kept holy the Sabbath day, and therefore am full of all vnholinesse. I for∣sooke the Church to followe euerie vaine pleasure, or worldly profit. I traueiled vpon sondaies in seruice time. And when I went to Church, the Deuill perswaded me to come late, that I might tarrie the lesse while there. Comming into Church, I tooke no heede that I came into the house of God, to pray vnto him, and to learne my dutie out of his word: and first I leaned vpon a seate,

or kneeled charily vpō one knee, hiding my face, or moouing my lippes, that others might thinke I praied, when indeede I ei∣ther saide nothing, or with no deuotion. I little regarded what the minister praied, or what he read in the word of God; and if there were any sermon, I minded not to heare it; but wished for an ende of seruice, and sermon, that I might goe to my dinner, and then to my vaine delights. As for eue∣ing praier I either lost it, or came short vn∣to it, or howsoeuer, I made no reckoning of it, being wholly giuen to foolish pastime. Thus I made sonday the worst day of the weeke, and my selfe the worst sinner of all the world. But doe you make it the best daie of the weeke, that you may be euery Sabbath daie, by the grace of God, made better and better; till at the length you be fit to enter into the euerlasting Sabbath, and rest of God in heauen. Therefore leauing your worldly affaires, and weaning your hearts from all pleasures of sinne, you must desirously intend to keepe holy the Sabbath daie. Arise early in the morning, fall downe vpon your knees, and humbly praie vnto God, that he will giue you grace to keepe holy his sabbath daie, according to his will.

Prepare your selfe so carefully to goe vnto the Church, as if you were to goe out of this world into heauen. Be not deckt in your apparell, as if you were to plaie a part in a stage plaie, or a may-game; but come into Gods house, as an humble suiter, in such Christian plainenesse of raiment, as decently may shewe the lowlinesse of your heart; least you displease God, and his Angels; and giue much offence to Gods people, yea, and hinder your owne deuoti∣on; as I haue done. Alas! I haue beene ex∣ceeding vaine, and tooke great pride in comming gaily to Church, and so I quen∣ched all desire of seruing God, desiring chiefly to see, and to be seene.

Come to Church with the first, and not with the last, least you come too late to speed. Be more desirous, and more delighted to serue God, then to doe any thing els. For it is hee to whome you must trust, all other things will deceiue you, and forsake you. If you be diligent to serue God, hee will be carefull to saue you, he wil loue you, he will come vnto you, and dwell with you. When you enter into the Church, humble your hearts, kneele downe vpon your knees, lift vp your minde to God, crie him mercie

for your sinnes, craue his grace in Christ Ie∣sus, that you may truly please him in all that you shall thinke, say, or doe.

When the minister readeth the praiers appointed; ioyne you with him: thinke that which he readeth word by word; and at the ende of euery praier, say heartily, Amen. When any part of Gods word is read, giue diligent eare, as though God himselfe spake vnto you from heauen. When the Minister or any other is about to preach, pray ear∣nestly to God in your heart, that God will giue him grace rightly to vnderstand, and well to vtter that which is needefull to be preached. Doe not desire to heare fine words, or wittie conceits: for the word of God is most powerfull to saluation, when it is most plainly preached; because the minde intending onely the will of God, the heart yeeldeth wholly to the working of the holy Ghost. Although the preacher be long in his sermon, yet be not wearie, but giue heed to his words vntill he haue made an ende: for it is a dishonour vnto God, if you neg∣lect to heare his messenger. Take heede that you doe not giue any occasion to other folk, to turne their minde from seruing God, to gaze vpon you, or to looke vpon any thing

which you bring into the Church with you: for so you should doe much harme vnto them, and wrong vnto God. All the while that you are in the Church, keepe your mind steadfastly vpon God: let nothing mooue you to turne your eies this way, or that way, but as a diligent waiting man, attend vpon your Lord and master, who will be greatly pleased to see your heart, and mind earnestly intended vnto him. Satan will practise many deuises to turne your heart from God, speci∣ally by shewing you fine and beautifull wo∣men, who doe commonly come glistering into the Church after seruice is well begun, and then sit, or stand in the sight of men. When seruice is done, betake your selfe vnto God, and depart out of the Church: for it is no fit place to talke of worldly matters.

If you must needes reckon, or paie, or re∣ceiue money vpon the Sabbath day, yet let it be after euening praier.

Were I worthie to giue you counsell, you should eate and drinke very measurably at Sondaie at dinner, that you might be the fit∣ter to serue God also in the afternoone. Ma∣ny come sieldome in the afternoone, because they cannot find in their heart to leaue their worldly pleasure, or profit: and some thinke,

they can serue God so well at home, as at Church. But doe not you loose euening praier, least you loose that which is praied for. He is no good seruant that will not waite vpon his master both at dinner, and at supper. And goe you to Church, for there all the parish ioyneth in praier with you, wherefore you shall be heard the sooner. Some that you make least reckoning of may be in greater fauour with God, then your selfe, and then you shall speede the better in praying with them. What cause soeuer you alleadge of not comming to Church, others will be readie to follow your example: for they will thinke they may as well loose their praiers, as you.

The better daie, the better deede; there∣fore loue to doe any worke of charitie to such as neede vpon the Sabbath daie: to re∣leeue the poore, to visit the sicke, to counsell the counsellesse, to comfort the comfortles, and to make peace betweene parties that are in disagreement. Delight not much in worldly pastime: for it is like the burning of thornes, which make a great crackling for a little while; but by and by all the noise com∣meth to nothing. O take it vpon mine expe∣rience; if you wedde your heart to worldly

ioy, you shall in the ende be ioilesse. There∣fore giue your minde to consider rightly of time to come, and set your loue and delight vpon God, and a good conscience: for that is a continuall feast, which neuer will for∣sake you. And if you had once well tasted it, you would not exchāge it for all the worlds good. I say againe, acquaint your heart with heauenly ioie betime: for as that cloath which is thoroughly died blacke will after∣wards take none other colour, so the heart which is fully possessed with the loue of worldly ioie, will very hardly be turned to loue the ioie of God.

Our blessed Lord God for Iesus Christs sake, vouchsafe to giue you grace, that you may rest in him, and ioie in him, which is the right keeping holy of the Sabbath day.