Heptameron, the seven dayes: that is, meditations and prayers, vpon the vvorke of the Lords creation. Together with other certaine prayers and meditations, most comfortable for all estates, & c. By M. A. Symson, minister at Dalkeith.

CERTAINE PRA∣YERS AND MEDITA∣TIONS, MOST COM∣fortable for all estates.

Morning Prayer.

ALmightie God, and moste mercifull Fa∣ther, I beseech thee, that thou wouldest chase away, with the brightnesse of thy presence, my sinnes, as a clowde, that I may come before thee,* 1.1 and with a cleane heart beholde thee, and offer vp my Prayer as a Mor∣ning Sacrifice, and as Incense of sweet Odour vnto thee.* 1.2 I thanke thy Ma∣jestie for the quiet rest of this night, &

that thou hast so safely conuoyed me through the perils of darknesse, and saued me from the prince of darknesse, and brought me to the light of this day, & giuen mee a new day of repen∣tance, wherein I may seeke thee. O Lord, it was of thy mercie that I was not consumed: Thou the watchman of Israel neither sleepest, nor slumbe∣rest.* 1.3 Albeit my bodie was lying as dead, and all my senses were asleepe, so that I was a readie prey to my spiritual foes: Yet, O Lord, thou wast carefull of me, when I was careles of my selfe: and thou pitchedst about my bodie the muisible companie of thine holie Angels,* 1.4 who haue graciously carried me, and kept me from all euill. Thou smotest the first borne of Egypt in one night by the destroyer,* 1.5 and the host of Senacherib by thine Angel: But, O Lord, thou hast kept me and mine house, safe by their hand: thou foundest the blood of the Lambe vpon the doore of my soule, and I haue escaped: praise bee giuen vnto thee, O Lord,* 1.6 who hast deliuered me, and glorie to the Lambe

by whom I haue escaped. But especi∣allie I praise thee that my spirituall enemies haue not preuailed ouer me, to snare me in sinne:* 1.7 for the Prince of darknesse worketh his works of dark∣nesse in darknesse; by the which hee leadeth the worlde vnto euerlasting darknesse: in the night they steale, they murder, and commit adulteries: but the Lord hath deliuered mee from the temptations of the Deuill. Blessed bee thy Name; for I knowe the night is to the Lord as the light:* 1.8 hee beholdeth mee, and seeth mee, therefore I glorifie thee this morning, that thou diddest keepe mee, and gauest mee not ouer to bee illuded by my spirituall foes. Thou wast a light vnto mee in darknesse. But alace, that my naturall heart cannot ac∣knowledge thy goodnesse. I haue re∣sted in my bodie, and my minde hath beene at great peace. This is a double rest, which thou hast giuen to thy be∣loued. But alace, thou hast so tenderlie dealt with my flesh, that I am displea∣sed that I should spende the whole night (which is the halfe of my dayes)* 1.9

so ydlie, (in my judgement) that I should doe nothing but feede my flesh with sleepe. I am displeased, and thinke within my selfe, Shall I lie so long, and so manie nightes, and shall not prayse my God? for thy seruant DAVID not onelie prayed vnto thee in the mor∣ning,* 1.10 at noone-tide, and at Euen, but also preuented the night watches, to meditate on thy worde, and watered his Bedde with teares, thanking and thinking on thee, & communing with his owne heart. And likewise, O Lord, I would rather bee content, that mine eyes were holden waking with thee, to remember thee, than I should sleepe to forget thee. I beseech thee, O my God, to forgiue mee, thy poore crea∣ture, who euer doe forget my duetie to thee both day and night: and when I am sleeping sanctifie mee so by thy grace, that my soule may bee waking with thee. Lord, wash mee from all the vncleannesse of body and soule, which I haue contracted this night: and as thou hast made separation betwixt the night and day, so diuide mee from all

sinne. Lift vp the light of thy counte∣nance vpon mee this day, and inligh∣ten my minde with vnderstanding, that I may see the secret of thy Lawe. Visit me with thy sweere mercie this morning,* 1.11 that I may rejoyce in thee all my dayes. I will rise in the morning, and compasse thine holie Altar.* 1.12 Thou art my Father, and I am thy Childe. I craue thy blessing, for Christes sake, to all the actions of this day: that thou wilt accompanie them with thy speci∣all presence, and direction, and so I am sure that whatsoeuer I shall take in hand will prosper.

Further, my mercifull Father, I be∣seech thee to slay the corruptiōs of this wicked nature this day. Bring in cap∣tiuitie euerie cogitation of my heart, which rebelleth against thy will. Put a watch to the doore of my lippes, that no vnsauourie speach come out of my mouth,* 1.13 but that which may tende to edification. And dispose so all the acti∣ons of this day, that no corruption which is in me may burst foorth, either in word or deed, whereby I may of∣fende

thee, or my neighbour. Mortifie the lustes of my flesh: my pride turne it vnto humilitie: my couetousnesse vnto liberalitie, mine insolencie, into grauitie,* 1.14 my prodigalitie vnto absti∣nence, my lies vnto trueth, mine vn∣cleannesse to chastitie, my profanitie to reuerence, &c: yea, make that alteration and change in me this day, that what∣soeuer delight of sinne is in me, it may be consumed, and thy graces as fruit∣full hearbs may be planted in place of these weeds. Forsake me not, O Lord, this day, lest I forsake thee: giue me not ouer vnto my selfe, and to mine owne counsell and will, lest I perish. And because these are dayes of defe∣ction and apostasie, wherein, if it were possible the Elect would perish;* 1.15 I be∣sech thee, that I fall not backe from thy grace, but let me make some pro∣gresse in godlinesse, to approach neare vnto thy kingdome: that as the powers of nature doe decay in me, and I hasten to the graue, so the strength of thine holy Spirite may fortifie mine in∣ward man; that I may grow from grace

to grace, vntill I passe the dangers of this pilgrimage, and thou bring me to thy glorie, through Christ our Lord.

AMEN.

Euening Prayer.

O Lord, let my prayer come before thee, as pure Incense, and as the Euening Sacri∣fice: I present it vpon the golden Altar my blessed Sauiour, that he,* 1.16 through the perfume and sweete smell of his sacrifice, may make my petitions acceptable vnto thee.

I thanke thee, O gracious and deare Father, that thou hast so fauourably conuoyed me, and preserued me from the perils of this day, both of my soule, and bodie: And also I praise thee for thy fatherly care whereby thou hast aboundantly fedde, by thy word, my

soule, & by thine earthly creatures my bodie. I thanke thee that thou hast nurtured me by thy Rod, and that thou hast not suffered my spirituall enemies to triumph ouer mee, and forsooke me not, neither left me to my selfe, nor to be a prey to them. O Lord, pardon me all the sinnes of this day and purge me from my secret sinnes, euen those which are hidden from my selfe. Who can know or vnderstand them? no doubt I haue sinned this day. My con∣science may erre, and deceiue me, but thou searchest the depth of the heart. But I praise thee, that thou kepedst me from presumptuous sinnes this day.* 1.17 Forget, O Lord, my negligence in thy seruice. Alace, I haue beene wearied of thy worship. And seeing thou art and hast begun to bring darknesse vpon the face of the earth, breake in, O Lord, with the glorious beames of thy pre∣sence, and illuminate my darknesse.* 1.18 Instruct my reines in the night season, and speake familarlie vnto my soule: when I sleepe in my bed, then open mine eares: when my senses are asleepe,

then let my soule enjoy thy presence, without interruption. Let thy Spirite teach my spirit, and informe her igno∣rance: rebuke my spirit, & correct her sinfulnesse: strengthen my spirite, and help her weaknesse: comfort my spirit, and cure her sorrowes. Giue me sleepe and rest to my bodie, if it may make me the more able to serue thee: But if it may stay thine honour,* 1.19 I will be con∣tent to want it. And if thou hast ap∣pointed this night that I shall awake, Lord, hold the eyes of my soul waking, that I may repent for the abuse of that great rest which I haue receiued alrea∣die, without rendering thankesgiuing vnto thee. Lord, let mee lie with a peacable minde vnder the hand of a reconciled God. Suffer not my soule this night to bee disquieted with the cares of this world, which bereaueth worldlings of their rest: but I cast my burthen vpon thee, & all mine affaires vnto the bosome of thy prouidence, for thou wilt beare them. Why art thou troubled my soule?* 1.20 and why art thou disquieted within me? trust yet

in thy God, and he will be thy reliefe. Ly downe in peace, and sleepe,* 1.21 for he will care for thee. And againe, O Lord, deliuer my soule from the fearfull ter∣rours of this night. Giue me faith, with Dauid,* 1.22 and I shall not be affrayde of ten thousand: for thy presēce is a sufficient defence to me against all mine enemies. But, O Lord, especially deliuer mee from the feares of thy wrath, when Sathan laieth my sinnes in order before me, and that they stand in the sight of thy countenance, then thou makest me to mourne like a Doue,* 1.23 and chatter like a Swallow. Mine eyes were lifted vp on high. I reckoned till the morning:* 1.24 but thou brake my bones like a Lyon. From day to night thou wilt make an ende of me. Then I cryed, My sinnes haue opressed me; cōfort me, O Lord, remoue the clowd of my sinnes, which interueaneth betwixt thy mercie and me, & let me see thee this night, sitting vpon thy mercie seate, stretching out the poynt of the golden Scepter,* 1.25 and retreating the sentence of death giuen out by thy justice against me. Cast my

sins behind thy back, & drown them in the bottome of the Sea of thine obliuion, that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace, as in a Citie of refuge, and finde rest to my soule.

Keepe me, O Lord, from the curse threatned by thy Prophet against such as in the night are plotting euil things against their neighbours.* 1.26 Let me re∣member (O Lord) that darknesse is to thee as light;* 1.27 and thou hast an eye of fire, whose light can pierce the most hard places. Where can I hide any thought from thee? for thou who plantedst the eye, doest not thou see most clearly?* 1.28 Therefore keepe my soule this night, that I admit no pur∣pose therein, whereof thou wilt not be content. Be thou my Counseller, my Witnesse, and Judge, that by thy pre∣sence my soule may be kept in that holy reuerence to thee, that it consent to no vncleane or injust action to offende thee. Thou hast tryed, and proued mine heart in the night, and hast found nothing: for I was purposed not to displease thee. And because my

Lord wil come (as a thiefe in the night) and I doe not knowe what houre he commeth, let me watch and pray,* 1.29 that at the voyce of thine Angel I may be watching, with mine oyle in my lampe. Let me praise thee in the night, with feruencie. Keepe me from the Arrow which flyeth in darknesse, and from the temptations of the Prince of darknesse. Preserue me, O Lord, and my familie, & euerie thing which thou hast giuen me: I doe resigne all to thy keeping, who art a faithfull keeper of all things which are committed to thy custodie. Thou wilt suffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand. O GOD, be thou a pillar of fire to giue light to me this night, and carrie thy child in the armes of thy mercie, through all perils of bodie and soule. I leaue my soule into thine hand, and when I awake I will seeke my soule in thee.

And finallie, O Lord, this bodily sleepe teacheth me to die; and when I lie downe in my Bed, I remēber that I shall once be casten into the bed of my graue, that I may sleep there til the day

dawne, and the Sunne of Righteous∣nesse arise, that then I may arise also, and praise thee, O my God, together with the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, for euermore.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPON THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL.

EVen as it is necessarie vnto Saluation, to be∣lieue in GOD our Fa∣ther; so it is necessarie to belieue the holie Church our Mother,* 1.30 that she is the Queen, the Spouse of Iesus Christ. Wee must belieue in God, & put our whole trust and confidence him. Wee must be∣lieue also that the Church is his Spouse, and belieue whatsoeuer shee speaketh vnto vs, of him, out of his own mouth:

for if shee bee his Spouse, shee will not adulterate, inuert, or corrupt her Lords speaches. And if an Angel taught ano∣ther Gospel, let him bee accursed.* 1.31 In the Nicene Councell, and in Athanasius his Symbole, the particle [In] is ad∣ded. But yee must vnderstand, that the Apostolicke Symbole, which is called the Creede, must bee a Rule of perfe∣ction and antiquitie vnto all the rest, Then (God willing) I shall define the Vniuersall Church vnto you, that yee may know her.

The Vniuersall Church is the Mem∣bers of the Elect, whom God hath cal∣led by his word vnto Life euerlasting.* 1.32 Shee taketh not her name from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is, to elect; but from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is, to call others, which ma∣guifieth the preaching of the worde: which is the verie voyce of God, by which hee calleth vs vnto repentance. Whereby it is euident, that wee can∣not bee called the true members of the Church Catholicke, if wee contemne that voyce by the which God calleth

vs vnto him. The worde Catholicke, or,* 1.33 Throughout all places, telleth vs, that shee is bound to no certaine place, as the Papists would binde her (with Dalidaes rope) to the seate of Rome. But our Samson, Christ, will breake such ropes as Flaxe. But the Spouse of Christ, the Church, stretcheth her armes, and her feete, to the endes of the world: for God gaue him the ends of the Earth to bee his possession & in∣heritance.* 1.34 From her they will be called Catholickes, rejecting the name of Christians, from Christ. But I thinke they merit to be called Cacolyci, which is by interpretation, Euill Wolfs, deuou∣ring the flocke of God vnder the Skins of I ambes.* 1.35

This Church is invisible, because her faith and loue cannot be seene, which maketh her a Church. Neither is it necessarie that with an outward splendor or beautie she should appeare in any one place of the earth. She is al∣together beautifull within. An honest Matron studieth not to decke her selfe: her vertue, her naturall colour, her

obedience, her loue, &c. are her orna∣ments, by which she purchaseth credit with her Husband, and is famous with men:* 1.36 as that womam in the last of the Prouerbs. But the whoore of whom Salomon speaketh, decketh her selfe with Carpets and Laces of Egypt. So the true Church contenteth her selfe: albeit she be backe, yet she is comly,* 1.37 to please Christ her husband, who loo∣keth not to the outward maske, but to the heart. Christ her Husband had neither forme nor beautie externall: hee was a Worme, but not a Man.* 1.38 Should not the Spouse bee like her Lord? Her Apostles were beaten, and sent to prison: the holy Bishops and Martyres, to Fire, and to Lyons: But when she attained,* 1.39 by peace vnder Con∣stantine, to Honour and Riches, then she was defaced, and rent asunder, by the Hereticall Doctrine of Arrius, and others; and at the last the Pope arose in the West, and the Mahomet in the East, who haue wounded Religion at the heart, and haue made vp, and coi∣ned two new Faiths, which are neither

olde nor new; whereby the Church is spoyled of her Husbands Vestures: and beeing cloathed with the Whoorish habit, she doeth keepe nothing, but the bare name of the Church, wherein shee glorieth, and giueth her selfe out to the world. The true Spouse heareth only the voyce of her Husband.* 1.40 But the Romane Church admitteth strange voyces, which are cōtrary to the voyce of God. Also the true Church, as it were, trauelleth in pain, to bring foorth children to Christ.* 1.41 The Romane Church, like to Athaliah, murthereth the Kings seede, the Sonnes of God, and embre∣weth not her handes in the bloode of Turks and Iewes, who denie Christ, but granteth them Synagogues, to dwell amongst themselues: But poore Chri∣stians they will persecute,* 1.42 and massacre an hundreth thousand at once in France. Christ the husband, in all his life, brake not one bruised Reede; he did harme to none: he helped all. (So she is an Harlot Church, albeit professing the word,* 1.43 if she be cruell.) His Spouse is compared to mount Sion. For she being

founded vpon the rocke Iesus Christ, is inuincible, let her not be affrayde. She is the bush of Moses,* 1.44 but the Lord is in the fire that it cānot consume her. Shee is a Doue, for her simplicitie and loue. The Romanists are Foxes. She is Hierusalem,* 1.45 for the vision of peace is in her.

A PRAYER FOR THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL.

I Confesse, O Lord, that I am most bound to loue thee, as my Father, who hast both made me a creature, and in the bosome of thy Church hast made me ouer againe a newe creature, after thine Image. Thou hast com∣manded me also to honour my Mother the Church, who conceiued me, and vvho trauelled in pangues for me, whose brests & pappes I haue sucked,

and out of them I haue receiued the sweete Milke of thy worde, who did keepe & beare me in her armes: vpon whose knees I was fostered, and in whose house I haue beene fedde euer since. Shee pittied my wanderinges: shee corrected mine errours: and in a word, O Lord, I acknowledge that she hath done more than the duetie of a louing Mother vnto mee: for whose honour, health, wealth, peace, prospe∣ritie, succession, yea, and for all earthlie and heauenlie blessinges, I am oblished to pray vpon the knees of my soule and bodie continuallie.

And first, O Lord, seeing that thy Church is the onlie glorie and beautie of the world, without the which there would bee confusion: yea, the worlde would turne to the olde Chaos: And seeing that the worlde hateth her, be∣cause shee is not of them; O Lord, our God, blesse her in the middest of her enemies. Beautifie thy Lillie in the midst of Thornes.* 1.46 Powre downe all the graces of thine holie Spirite vpon her. And because the worlde is wrap∣ped

vp in ignorance, and darknesse, like vnto the darknesse of Aegypt:* 1.47 and seeing that there is no light, but in the land of Goshen, O Lord, I beseech thee to nourish, and continue that light of knowledge in her, that all the worlde may knowe thee the true God, and whome thou hast sent, Iesus Christ,* 1.48 to bee the Sauiour of the world. Yea, re∣fresh, I beseech thee, this light of thy blessed Euangel, that it may illuminate the blinde worlde. And because thy word is the life and light of the world, O Lord, let it bee a Lanterne, euer shi∣ning in this darknesse, to quicken these dead people. And to this effect, O God, raise vp faithfull Preachers of thy worde,* 1.49 men according to thine owne heart, vvho will carrie this light: giue them knowledge and vnderstan∣ding, that their lippes may obserue vvisdome, that they teach not the peo∣ple the lying vanities of a deceitfull and lying heart: but that they may in∣struct them rightly in all thy Precepts: that thou mayest feede thy Stewardes, vvho will feede thy people with the

Bread of Heauen, and the Wine which commeth out of thy Wine-cellers: and not with the foysted bread,* 1.50 nor the poyson of Heresies, to destroye the soules of thy people. O Lord, cloathe thy Priestes with Righteousnesse,* 1.51 and let thy Sainctes rejoyce. Open the doore of vtterance vnto them,* 1.52 that they, with euidence and demonstra∣tion of thy Spirit, may make the whole counsell of God knowne to the peo∣ple: that they keepe nothing backe, nor adde nothing; lest thou, O God, adde vnto them the curse of thy Law,* 1.53 & scrape their names out of the booke of Life.

And because thy Church is vnder continuall dangers, O Lord, keepe her, and all her members, from the cruell rage of all her enemies. Lord, let the malice of her aduersaries turne to themselues: and bring confusion vpon all such as hate Sion. Lord, giue peace to her Walles, and her Palaces: and blesse those that blesse her,* 1.54 and curse those that curse her: keepe her like the Apple of thine Eye,* 1.55 which thou lo∣uest.

Thou wilt bee with her in the middest of the fire, and the water, that she bee not destroyed, nor ouer-whel∣med. By thine hand, O Lord, she hath bene preserued. They lay shares for the poore Church, but cut thou them asunder; yea,* 1.56 trappe them in the net which they haue laide. They haue digged a pitte, let them fall into the midst of it. So shall come to all the enemies of our God, and his Church. Let them be as a turning Wheele,* 1.57 and a rolling Ball. Let them be as smoake, which vanisheth before the winde;* 1.58 and as Waxe, which melteth in the Sunne. Let them be like a lumpe of Lead, vvhich sinketh to the bottome of the Sea. O Lord, if it were any particular reuenge of mine owne, I vvould par∣don their vvronges: But, alace, it is done to my Mother, thy Spouse: how shall I beare it? Burie them in eternall forgetfulnesse, vvho haue done such despitefulnesse to her, as that cruel An∣tichrist, and his adherents haue done. And to the effect that thine enemies may bee discomfited, arise, O Lord,

sharpen the Arrowes of thy Worde, by vvhich thou mayest pierce the hearts of the Kinges enemies.* 1.59 Draw the Sword of thy Word,* 1.60 which is two∣edged, that it may cut to the diuision of the marrow from the bones. Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Ministers, but make it a quickning spirit, to bring downe great Holdes, & let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes, that thy Ministrie may be powerfull, and the world may see that thou hast not left thy Church without both counsell and comfort,* 1.61 & that men are not only hearers, but also doers of thy word.

And againe, I pray for thy Ministrie, that they may be faithfull Stewards of thy Mysteries,* 1.62 vigilant Watchmen, di∣ligent Shepheardes, & wise Builders; not of stubble,* 1.63 but of Golde, vpon the foundation which is Christ: and that their only care be to see the glorie of thy Name, and for the good of the Church, which is our Mother. Blesse and increase the fruit of her Wombe: let her grow in number like the Starres

of Heauen: let her bee fruitfull in her age: let her sonnes be like Oliue Plants, bringing foorth fruit: let her daughters be like carued corner Stones,* 1.64 in whose hearts thou wilt carue thine Image, in the similitude of a Palace. And blesse her with the blessing of Heauen, and of the earth, and of the deepe,* 1.65 and let all the eternall blessings which my soule can wish, bee vpon thy Spouse, my Mother, the vniuersall Church, vpon all her children, friendes and seruants: yea, whosoeuer loueth the peace of thy Church let them prosper.

I pray namelie to thee, O Lord, for thy Church in France, & Bohemia,* 1.66 which thou began with the bloode of innu∣merable Martyres, & which thou hast made to grow amongst the middest of thine enemies. Maintaine, O Lord, the vvorke vvhich thou hast begunne amongst them: giue them wisedome, that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their aduersaries: and that in this dangerous time they may cleaue only to thee, who will be both their wisedome and protection.

O Lord, looke vpon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Yle of Britane: thou translated this Vine out of Aegypt, and diddest plant a Vine-yarde to thy selfe: thou didst hedge it about with thy prouidence: thou confoundedst all her enemies, thou buildedst a watch-tower in the middest thereof,* 1.67 and sent watchmen accordingly to giue warning to them. But, O Lord, thou crauedst & lookedst for wine-grapes, & they yeelded thee wilde-grapes. So that now we deserue that thou shouldest pull downe the hedge, and suffer the wilde Boare to enter into thy Planting. Remember, O Lord, thine ancient mercies, and forget our iniquities: digge vs, O Lord, and take paines vpon vs, that we may be fruitfull.

And finallie, O Lord, blesse all the visible Congregations of people, who call vpon thy Name, and all the parti∣cular persons whose names are written in the Booke of Life: fill vp the num∣ber of thine Elect: cal them effectually, by thy word, that we may bee all one

Folde, vnder one chiefe Shepheard. Shorten, O Lord, the dayes of sinne,* 1.68 and hasten thy comming, Lord Iesus: that thy Spouse beeing prepared, a pure Virgine, she may be taken vp to the newe Hierusalem, to Heauen,* 1.69 where after the infinit Battels, & temptations of this world, she may reigne eternallie, and bee crowned in thy Kingdome, with Christ, her blessed Lord and Sa∣uiour.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPON THE HOLY COMMVNION.

THERE are two great Seales which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word: to wit,* 1.70 the Sacrament of Baptisme, and of the Lordes holy Supper. Albeit the Church of the Iewes was loadned with manie Sacra∣ments,

as the Passeouer, Circumci∣sion, Manna,* 1.71 the Rocke, the Clowde, the Sea, &c. Yet God hath giuen the Christian Church Numero pauciora, fa∣ctu faciliora, & significatione ampliora: that is, Fewer in number, easier to be done, and of more large signification.

The Sacrament of Baptisme, is a Sacrament of Initiation, when wee are entered into the Familie of God: and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sa∣crament of Confirmation, whereby the Children of God, who are spiri∣tuallie borne in Baptisme, in the Bath of Regeneration, by the remission of their sinnes, in Christes bloode, which is signified by the washing of water, the same are fedde at his Table, in the Sacrament of the Supper; & are fedde by Christes bodie and blood,* 1.72 vnto euerlasting Life.

Both these Sacramentes offer one Christ, who is the substance and mat∣ter of them both, [unspec 1] albeit diuerslie. First, the diuersitie is in the time:* 1.73 for Bap∣tisme must goe before the Supper: nei∣ther can anie communicate who are

not first baptized. Next, Baptisme to one, the Supper to manie; [unspec 2] for other∣wise it could not bee called a Commu∣niō, as the Masse-Priest taketh it alone. Thirdlie, They differ in the Elements; [unspec 3] the one being receiued in Water, the other in Bread and Wine. [unspec 4] Fourthlie, in the manner of receiuing: in Bap∣tisme the receiuer is meere passiue, doing nothing himselfe, but offering himselfe, and suffering himselfe to bee washen by another. In the Supper the receiuer is actiue, and that which is of∣fered vnto him hee taketh, eateth, and drinketh. The superstitious Papist would put it into his mouth for holi∣nesse. And finallie, [unspec 5] Baptisme is mini∣strated but once,* 1.74 and cannot bee reite∣rated: the Supper as often as wee doe it, sayeth our Sauiour. There is a reite∣ration: for as a childe is once infested in his fathers heritage, but hee is fedde daylie at his fathers table: so once bap∣tized, may often communicate.

* 1.75But now (God willing) wee shall speake something of the necessitie of the Word and Sacraments. The Word

is necessarie to saluation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sim∣plie, those who are come to age, with∣out the which they cannot bee saued. The Sacramentes are necessarie, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, conditionallie they may bee had. So I say with Augustine,* 1.76 Non carentia, sed con∣temptis Baptismi damnat: that is, Not the want, but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth men.* 1.77 For as in the Wil∣dernesse many died, who were not cir∣cumcised, Circumcision then being more strictly vrged than Baptisme is now,* 1.78 and of a like power and signifi∣cation, yet vve vvill not judge those who so died to be damned: no more reason is it, that those who are preuen∣ted by death, or excluded by necessity, bee in danger of damnation, lacking Baptisme.

* 1.79A man should not set himselfe to any graue action, without deliberation, much lesse vnto this, which is the gra∣uest of all others, the Supper of the Lord: he should first try, and examine himselfe. First let vs try our repentance: next, our faith: and thirdlie, our loue.

Our repentance must bee tryed by the Lawe,* 1.80 without the which there is no knowledge of sinne. Examine our selues, and judge our selues, that God doe not judge vs. Spare not to search all the corners of thine heart, that there be no hid leauen therein: try what sor∣row thou hast for thy former life, and in what measure: for manie sinnes, doe craue many teares;* 1.81 as the Magdalen washed Christs feete with her teares, and Dauid his bed. Next,* 1.82 try the trueth and sinceritie of thy repentance: for God doeth loue the trueth in the in∣ward parts. And be sorrowfull,* 1.83 not for any paine which hath befallen thee for thy sinnes, but for offending God thereby.

Try thy faith, & see that thou haue knowledge to vnderstand what is gi∣uen thee:* 1.84 for ignorance secludeth thee from the Sacraments. And next, that thou canst apply to thy felt that which thou doest receiue, externally in the elements, and internally by faith in Christ.

Finally, try thy loue, that it be with∣out

hypocrisie: for there is no conjun∣ction with the head,* 1.85 vnlesse there bee communion with the members of the bodie. Therefore, purge your selues from the leauen of maliciousnesse and bitternesse:* 1.86 yea, pardon your enemies heartilie, and pray for them, if ye desire that at this holy Sacramēt God should be mercifull vnto your sinnes.

* 1.87Both the Sacramentes craue a like reuerence, as they are of a like sub∣stance and weight: and therefore we ought to come with all humilitie and reuerence to that most holie Supper, both in bodie and soule, praying that God Almightie would blesse this his ordinance, and make it steadable to our saluation: and then receiuing it in all deautifull reuerence, let vs apply it to our owne comfort, rendering thanks to God for this inestimable benefite, in giuing his Sonne to the death for our redemption.

A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORDES SVPPER.

O Lord God, most gracious, most holy, & most glorious, I thy poore creature, most fil∣thie, and vnworthie, most graceles, and ingracious, most contemptible and vilde worme, doe heere present my selfe before thine holy Majestie, cra∣uing at thine handes, that I may bee worthily prepared to receiue the body and blood of Iesus Christ, to mine eternall saluation: and to this effect, I beseech thee, that thou wilt remooue from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiuing of the same: & namely, ignorance, which blindeth my minde: infidelitie, and damnable hypocrisie. O merciful father, replenish me with th••ne holy Spirit,

that I may know and vnderstand the mysterie of my redemption, and truly apply it to mine owne soule, and in all sinceritie and singlenesse of heart ren∣der all praise, honour, and glorie, to thy Majestie for the same. O Lord, the blinde dulnesse of my minde will not suffer me sufficiently to acknowledge these thy most ample benefits: the height, the length, the breadth, and the deepnesse whereof neither man nor Angel euer was able to sound: yet I am perswaded that all my saluation consisteth in the death and passion of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST, who died for the sinnes of the world: and there∣fore I humbly beg at thy Majesty, that as I receiue these outward elements at thy commandement, & eat and drinke thereof in rememberance of him,* 1.88 so it will please thee, secretlie to communi∣cate the vertue of his blood to my soule, which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternall life: by whose power also, and force of his death, all my wicked and sinfull affections may be crucified: and finally, by the aide &

protection of his blood I may bee de∣fended from all my spirituall and tem∣porall enemies, from all temptations and dangers, and by the selfe same his bodie & blood, I may be strengthened to fight my spiritual battels, and to goe forward in my spirituall journey, to that Land of Canaan: in the which battell and journey helpe me, good Lord, by the precious merite of thy deare SONNE, CHRIST IESVS, to whom with thee and thine holy spirit, bee all honour, glorie, and dominion, for euer.

AMEN.

A THANKESGIVING, AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMVNION.

O Most gracious God, I hear∣tilie thanke thee for this thy most excellent benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee, euen the bodie and blood of thy Sonne,

Christ Iesus, for the saluation of my soule. I beseech thee, most mercifull father, that thou wouldest bestowe thine holy spirit vpon me, that I may honour and serue thee all the dayes of my life, that the corruption of my na∣ture may be beaten downe, and the Image of God may bee more clearely seene in me, that I may cast off the olde man,* 1.89 with the lusts thereof, and put on the newe man, which is formed after God, in holinesse and righteous∣nesse.

Nowe, O Lord, thou hast fed me with the most excellent foode which thou hadst, and hast slaine thy fatted Calfe for me:* 1.90 Therefore grant that I may honour thee, as my Father, and bestow all the actions of my life, the motions of my minde, & the speaches of my mouth, to set foorth thy praises in this world: that I become neuer vnthankfull and ingrate, to meete thy good benefits with my sinnes. To thee therefore, O Lord, with thy Sonne, and holy Spirit, be all prayse, and honour, for euermore.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF THE TROVBLE OF CONSCIENCE.

AS it is easie to speake of Sicknesses, and deadlie Diseases, in∣cureable; so men may speake of a trou∣bled Conscience: but none can speake of either of them more powerfullie or comfortablie, than those who haue ex∣perimented them both: therfore let vs speake first of Conscience it selfe: and next, of her diseases and troubles: and last, of the remedies anenst a grieuous and troubled Conscience.

Conscience is a composed worde of Con and Science; so that it must haue a knowledge of sinne,* 1.91 and somewhat more; that is, a feeling, conjoyned with

the knowledge. There are manie who sinne ignorantlie, thinking that they doe God good seruice, as Saul did, and the Iewes,* 1.92 of whome hee beareth wit∣nesse, that they haue the zeale of God without knowledge: others knowe their sinne, and that they are into a wrong course, hauing Science, without Conscience; and Knowledge, without Feeling: and these are in a worse case: for their knowledge maketh to their farther damnation.

God hath erected a Tribunall in man,* 1.93 & hath set it in his heart, fensing the Court of Conscience, wherein he maketh both Index, Index, & Vindex: that is, Attourney, Iudge, and Burrio. There is no Subterfuge against the ac∣cusations of the conscience, no excuses, no replyes, no dilators, but she must simplie confesse: And as she giueth vp dittie against her selfe, so she giueth sen∣tence of condemnation for her sinnes, according to the law of God: where∣vpon ariseth such torments, & tortures in the conscience, and an Hell begun, and a fire kindled, which shall neuer be

quenched, vnlesse God by the bloode of his Christ quench the same.

* 1.94The Conscience is a verie tender thing, and doeth examine the quietest thoughts of the minde, which other men doe passe lightly; it censureth the smallest words, or ydle speaches; chal∣lenging man that he must bee comp∣table for them: it chargeth mens looks, as Iob sayeth, I haue made a couenant with mine owne eyes, his hearing, tasting,* 1.95 and all his other senses, so that the smallest thought is more grieuous to a feeling conscience, than the worst actions are to a sleeping conscience, or to a repro∣bate.

This Conscience is common to the Elect, & reprobat.* 1.96 The Hethniks looked to the glasse of nature, and their con∣science mutually accusing or excusing them: but Christians looke vnto the glasse of the Law, and see there what they haue done, well or euill.

The Hethniks describe Conscience, Magna est vis conscientiae in vtram{que} partem, vt neque timeant, qui nihil commiserint,* 1.97 & poenam semper ante oculos versari putent qui

peccarint: that is, Great is the force of the Conscience on both sides, that neither they are feared who did no wrong, & those who haue offēded, suppose pu∣nishment euer to be before their eyes. Then if this be into the Hethniks, much more ought it to be in Christians, who see clearly either God allowing their good actions, whereby there is bred an vnspeakable tranquillitie and peace to their soules: or dissallowing them, whereby the infernal furies are kindled within them.

In the trouble of Conscience there ariseth a fire of the wrath of God,* 1.98 con∣ceiued against our sinnes: out of the which fire ariseth such a smoak, which letteth vs see nothing in God but justice: and where the Creator is ob∣scured, and his light eclipsed, nothing appeareth vnto vs on earth but dark∣nesse. All the creatures, yea, the dearest vnto them, seeme to be their enemies: for when the Sunne is darkened,* 1.99 what maruell is it that there bee no light on the earth? or what comfort can all the creatures minister vnto vs, when the

Creator draweth back his coūtenance from vs?* 1.100 As if the King would looke downe vpon a Subject, who dare countenance him any longer?

This sort of temptation befel Dauid,* 1.101 and to our Lord himselfe vpon the Crosse, who cryed, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Neither shall we account them the lesse beloued of God, who are thus tryed; for as the poole of Bethesda, being troubled by the Angel, brought present health to him who was casten into it; so a troubled conscience, in Gods mercie, bringeth saluation and comfort to a Christian. And as Medicine that worketh vehe∣mently, after bringeth health,* 1.102 so doeth tranquillitie and peace come after a troubled conscience.

* 1.103But many pretende a trouble of con∣science, when there is nothing in them but a furious madnesse, and a melan∣chollious desperate diffidence in God, for perplexities & miseries whereinto they are brought: where there is a ma∣nifest difference betwixt that their paine and the other, in that the godly

are only pained for the sinnes which they haue done against God;* 1.104 the other for the calamities whereinto their sins haue brought them. True it is, they ac∣knowledge their sin to be the cause of it, but they are not moued for the sin, but for the paine.

Now seeing the spirit of man can beare all externall paines,* 1.105 but who can beare a wounded spirit? therefore let vs see what remedies can be applied to cure the diseases of the Conscience.

* 1.106First, it is necessary that the doctrine of faith bee propounded, whereby the conscience terrified with Gods judge∣mentes, may bee strengthened by his mercies: and it is requisit that all the places of Scriptures, which promise Gods mercie, should bee propounded vnto the patient.

Next, that an interpreter, one of a thousand, may bee sought, who may pray for him, as a spirituall Physician to his soule.

Thirdly, that he be frequent in rea∣ding, and praying, that he enter not into temptation: and then thus being

exercised, by Gods helpe hee will re∣couer.

And after his recouerie, let him take heede to himselfe, that he grieue not Gods Spirit, but walke in feare and trembling; and he shall finde such ex∣cessiue joy after that trouble, as hee ne∣uer did in all his life before. For as after the Winter blasts,* 1.107 the Sunne shineth more comfortably in Sommer, so after a troubled conscience commeth grea∣test tranquillitie to our minds: & after the raging stormes of the Sea, com∣meth greatest tranquillitie, and calm∣nesse,* 1.108 so after a disquieted minde God sendeth greatest consolations.

A PRAYER FOR A TROVBLED CONSCIENCE.

O Lord, art thou also become mine enemie? hast thou hid thy countenance in displea∣sure?

Oh, that my griefe vvere vvell weighed,* 1.109 and my miseries laide toge∣ther in the Ballance: they would bee farre heauier than the sand of the Sea: for thine Arrowes are in me, and the venome thereof drinketh vp my spirit. I eate Gall for my Meat,* 1.110 & my Drinke is mingled with Vinegar. Oh, that God would destroy me. I burne with sorrow: spare me not, O Lord: yet haue I not denyed the wordes of the holie One:* 1.111 my strength is not the strēgth of a stone: my dayes are swifter than a Weauers shottle,* 1.112 and flie away like the winde. I speake to thee, O Lord, in the trouble of my spirit, and moue in the bitternesse of my minde. Am I a Whale fish, that I am kept in ward? I abhorre my life, for my paine is greater than I am able to beare.* 1.113 I haue none now to help me: all haue forsaken me. I am left to be a prey to my spirituall enemies: thou hast set my secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance. I inhe∣rit now the sinnes of my youth,* 1.114 and the moneths of vanitie, which I passed. Thou hast put my sinnes in order, and

those things which I thought light, by ydle thoughts and speaches, now I finde them like mountaines: so terrible is thy Tribunal, and thy Face burning like fire. The Heauens are not cleane before thee:* 1.115 thou foundest no steadfast∣nesse in the Angels, how much lesse can I, who haue drunken in iniquitie like water, bee justified before thee? If I would justifie my selfe, when thou hast reasoned with me,* 1.116 mine owne mouth would condemne me: though I were just, yet I could not answer, but I would mak supplication to my Iudge.* 1.117 If I wash me with snow water, & purge mine hands most cleanly,* 1.118 yet shalt thou plunge me into the pitte, & mine own cloathes shall make me filthie.

What shall I doe, O thou Sauiour of men? Wilt thou absent thy selfe for euer? Hath God forgotten to be mer∣cifull?* 1.119 Will hee show no more fauour to my miserable soul? doth his promise faile for euermore? hath he shut vp his tender mercies in displeasure? He hath lifted me vp, and casten me down again. He hath shot at me with his Ar∣rowes,

as at a marke. Then I said, This is my death.* 1.120 Yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the most High, and how he deliuered his chil∣dren by his mightie arme. Is the Lord like man, that he can repent? and, Whom he loueth,* 1.121 doeth he not loue to the end? Manie pledges of thy fauour I haue receiued in my youth: wilt thou nowe reject me, in my gray haires? Is there any shaddowe of change in thee? Albeit all men be liars, yet thou art faithfull, and constant for euer. Thy Sonne said, Heauen and Earth should perish, but one jot of thy word should not fall to the ground.* 1.122 But all the Scriptures proclaime thy mercie: thou cryedst in the Campe of Israel, with thine owne voyce, The Lord is merci∣full, full of compassiō, & of great kind∣nesse,* 1.123 shewing mercie vnto thousands. Therefore, O Lord, haue mercie vpon me miserable wretch, cure my wounds, powre in the Oyle and Wine of thy Sonnes blood and spirit, that I may be made whole. For out of the deepe places of a grieued heart haue I called* 1.124

vpon thee. If thou wouldest obserue mine iniquities, vvho can be saued?* 1.125 But mercie is with thee, that thou ma∣yest be feared: For euen as when the Sunne departeth in Winter, then all tempests arise, Snow, Haile, Frost,* 1.126 Windes, &c: so when thou obscurest thy countenance from me, then the Winter of all tēptations ariseth aganst me: the Deuill, my spirituall enemie, raiseth vp such fearfull temptations, that through the multitude of sinnes, he terrifieth me; euen in the night, when I would haue slept, he thought to haue made me to despare of thy mer∣cies: but, O Lord, I know that thy mercies are more infinite than my sins are, or can bee: yea, though my sinnes be moe than the haires of mine head,* 1.127 yet thy mercies are as the Sandes of the Sea, or the Starres of Heauen, which cannot be numbred. Therefore, O God, let thy face shine vpon mee, and I shall bee saued.* 1.128 Mine enemies are risen vp against me, and as thornes they pricke me on euerie side:* 1.129 they say, Now where is thy God? he trusted in

the Lord, let him deliuer him: let him saue him, seeing he loueth him.* 1.130 Yea, those who ren∣der euill for good are mine enemies, because I followe goodnesse. My friends and familiars haue forsaken me, and he that ate at my table, hath lifted vp his heele against me: yea, he with whom I went vnto the House of God, and communed with him of spirituall matters, and who prayed with me, and exercised the parts of diuine worship, doeth scorne me, saying, Where is thy confidence, thine hope, and thy feare, which thou hast of God? But, O Lord, let me not be ashamed,* 1.131 because I put my trust in thee.

O thou Sunne of righteousnesse, come with the bright beames of thy countenance: disperse and chase away the clowdes of my sinnes, and of all these temptations: chase away my spi∣rituall aduersaries, and giue not my temporall enemies cause to rejoyce ouer me, neither yet to dishonour thine holie Name; that when others say, Beholde, this poore man called vpon the Lord in his miserie,* 1.132 and he heard the voyce of his

prayer; they may turne also vnto thee, and be saued: for I will consecrate my selfe to thy Name for euer, through Christ Iesus, my Lord and Sauiour: to whom, together with thee, O Father, and the holie Spirite, bee all prayse, honour, glorie, power, and dominion, World without ende. So be it.

A MEDITATION VPON THE ESTATE OF KINGES.

KINGES are the principall and chiefe mēbers of the Church, and are Heads of that Church which is with∣in their Dominions: and therefore euerie King ought to doe the part of an Head vnto her: that is, To fore-see her wealth, maintaine her libertie, speake

for her, heare those things which con∣cerne her weale, defende her from per∣secution and oppression, and that shee bee not craftilie dealt withall, as Pha∣roah did to the Israelites:* 1.133 lest they touch the Lordes Anointed, and hee rebuke them, and roote them out,

All good Christians are most dueti∣fullie bound to pray for Kinges,* 1.134 (yea, although they were euill, as Samuel prayed for Saul:* 1.135 and the Apostle Sainct Paul in verie manie places of his Epi∣stles, admonisheth and chargeth vs to pray for Kinges, Magistrates, and all such as are in authoritie) and not to say with some phantasticke persons, that they cannot finde an heart to pray for them: for these sort of people are Welles without Water.* 1.136

If the Kinges bee persecuters, let vs heartilie pray to GOD to conuert them: if they bee Nourish-fathers, let vs beseech the Lord long to continue them, and their posteritie. Yea, wee ought not onelie outwarldlie and pub∣licklie to pray for Kinges; but also in∣wardlie, and in our secret thoughtes, to

nourish a reuerent and honourable re∣memberance of them,* 1.137 and to speake reuerentlie of them, lest the Fowles of the Aire carrie it away: and wee ought by all meanes to procure for their pre∣seruation: for they are (as was sayde to Dauid) better than ten thousand of vs.* 1.138

To oppone our selues against Kings, Princes, or other Magistrates, doeth greatlie smell of Antichristianisme and Poperie,* 1.139 whatsoeuer colour of zeale it seemeth to haue. And indeede Kings haue power of Procuration, for the prosperitie of the Church: but as for Administration, it belongeth onelie to the Clergie.* 1.140 The example of Vzza may bee a sufficient warning for Prin∣ces, that they passe not the limites pre∣scribed vnto them by God: For if there bee a woe threatned against those who remooue the auncient Marches,* 1.141 farre greater shall the malediction bee vpon such as shall remooue those Marches which God hath set betwixt himselfe and Man,* 1.142 and which Hee interdicted vpon Mount SION.

A PRAYER FOR THE KINGS MAIESTY, AND HIS ROYALL SEEDE.

O KING of Kinges, vnto whom all the World doeth appertaine, I thy poore crea∣ture, according to thy commande∣ment, and as I am bound, doe humbly pray to thy most excellent Majestie, that thou wouldest blesse and preserue all KINGES, Princes, and Ma∣gistrates, that they may be mindfull of thee, & of their Calling; that they were raised vp by thee: (for preferment commeth not from the East, nor from the West:) to the ende that they may leade thy people in thy wayes. O Lord, sanctifie them, and blesse them, that they may discharge their duetie faith∣fullie, to the glorie of thy Name, & the weale of thy Church. Conuert, ô Lord, the persecuters of thy Church, in∣forme

their ignorance by thy worde, and let them acknowledge their only honour to stand in the seruice which they doe to Christ. But those who maliciously set themselues aganst thee, and against thy Kingdome, O Lord, ouerthrow them in the righteousnesse of thy judgemēt, as thou diddest Herod, Pharoah, Saul, Achab, Iulian the Apostate,* 1.143 & all others, who opposed themselus to thee, and to thy Christ; as the Turke, & Antichrist the Pope doeth, whom, O Lord, we beseech thee, to con∣found.

But in speciall, O Lord, I pray to thee for our Soueraigne Lord, the KINGES Majestie: indue him with the giftes of thine holie Spirit, answe∣rable for his high Calling: giue him wisdome and vnderstanding, as thou gauest Salomon;* 1.144 by the which he may goe in & out wisely before the people: giue vnto him the zeale of Iosias, and Ezechias, and make him like Dauid, a man after thine owne heart, who may guide thy people in thy wayes, that he may prosper. Blesse his Majesties

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Royall body, with long life, and good health, and guard him by thine inui∣sible protection, that none of his ene∣mies haue power against him: but as thou hast kept his sacred person euen from his mothers wombe to his gray haires, now thou wilt not cast off thine ancient care toward him; but keep him in thy right hand. And aboue all, pre∣serue him frō the secret & treasonable inuasions of the Pope, and his trea∣cherous Iesuits, who alreadie interpry∣sed his death by Powder, but thou disappointedst them. And for this we thanke thee, beseeching thee to keepe him still from those blooddie murthe∣rers, and all traitours, both forraine & domesticke, who attempt any euill a∣gainst him. Blesse his gouernament, O Lord, that the Righteous may flourish in his dayes, & that he may, by Iustice, bring Peace vnto thy people.

Blesse, O Lord, Prince CHARLES his grace, print thy true feare & know∣ledge in his tender heart, that he may bee a blessing to all his fathers domi∣nions.

Blesse that royal Prince & Princesse, the King and Queene of BOHEMIA, and their Children: blesse, keepe, and defend them, that they may flourish in grace and honour to the worlds ende: that when they shall lay downe their temporall crownes at thy feete, then thou mayest crowne euerie one of them, and their royall Seede, with that vnchangeable Crowne of Glorie, through Christ, our onlie Sauiour, & Aduocate.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION VPON SICKNESSE.

SIcknesse is a Schoole of God,* 1.145 whereunto he putteth his Chil∣dren to be nurtured, and Discipline there to bee vsed vpon them. At this School we learne obedience, which we would not learne at the Schoole of the Word.

Wee doe learne at this Schoole a per∣fect obedience to the wil of God, mor∣tification of our affections, contempt of the world, loue to our enemies: and finally, he so doeth tame our nature, that our spirit becommeth obedient to his blessed will, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the greatest Sicknesse is neuer to be sicke.* 1.146 It is good therefore that we should be corrected, that we perish not vvith the vvicked world.

Sicknesse is Medicine, somewhat painfull, but wholsome in the ende. The hand which made thee, feedeth thee,* 1.147 and it also nurtureth thee: there∣fore refuse not the correction of God, if thou be his Childe. Sicknesse is ap∣pointed to correct the abuse of our health, therefore let vs vse our health wiselie, that God be not forced to ap∣ply sharpe remedies to our misgouer∣naments.* 1.148

Diuersitie of sinnes hath bred di∣uerse diseases,* 1.149 and as the Apothecaries haue drogges answerable to the soares, so God hath prepared such a sicknesse, which he thinketh meetest to remedie

such a soare as thou hast. Therefore thinke not thy disease to bee fortuite, but by prouidence: and pray that God may worke by it in thine heart that for which he sent it: that is, a true conuertion of thee vnto thy God.

If thy disease be sharper, aske of God greater measure of patience:* 1.150 for God is faithfull, who will not suffer thee to be tempted aboue that which thou art able to beare: thine externall man, which is so greatlie humbled, shall raise vp the hidden man of thine heart: so thou makest a good change.

A PRAYER FOR A SICKE PERSON.

O Most mercifull Father, I ac∣kowledge and confesse that I am a most vild creture, crying to thee, that thou woldest heare me, & let my prayer come vnto thee in thine holy Temple.* 1.151 The waues of thy judge∣mens haue gone ouer me, and haue

ouerwhelmed me, the venome of thine arrowes haue drunken vp my spirit,* 1.152 and thine hand is heauie vpon me: I thoght the day light should haue com∣forted me; but behold, my pangues in∣creassed, and my paine ran vpon me. Then I began to thinke, My bed will giue me some rest, but thou affrigh∣tedst me with visions,* 1.153 and didst keepe mine eyes waking. My strength faileth with paine,* 1.154 & my bones are consumed: haue mercie vpon me, O Lord, mine eye,* 1.155 my soule, and my bellie are con∣sumed with griefe.

When thou chastisest man for his iniquitie,* 1.156 thou makest his beautie to fade as a Moth. Surelie man in his best estate is altogether vanitie. O Lord, vvhy art thou so farre from mine health,* 1.157 & the wordes of my roaring? I cry by day, and thou hearest not; and in the night I haue none audience. My life is drawing neare the graue, and my yeeres to the buriall. There is nothing found in my flesh,* 1.158 because of thine an∣ger; neither rest in my bones, because of my sinne. Mine iniquities are gone

ouer mine head, and as a weightie bur∣then they are too heauie. My reines are all full of burning, and there is no strength found in my flesh:* 1.159 mine heart panteth, my strength faileth mee, and the light of mine eyes,* 1.160 euē they are not mine owne: I beseech thee pittie me, & come in to this bed to comfort me thy poore prisoner. For, Lord, I am a pri∣soner of hope, & I trust in thee, though I said in mine haste, Thou hast casten me out of thy presence;* 1.161 yet thou wilt heare the voyce of my prayer, when I call vpon thee. Take away mine iniquities, which are the cause of my sicknesse. Purge me from these filthie humours, which are the matter of my sicknesse: that these sinnes of corrupt humours being remooued, my paine may bee mitigated. My sinne inwardly presseth me downe, and my diseases thereby are augmented. Hide thy face from my sinnes, and put away mine iniquities. Create a new heart in mee,* 1.162 and renew a right spirit within me. Let my paine asswadge a little, that I may gather my strength, yet before I goe hence,* 1.163 and be

no more. Nowe I call to minde my sinnes, by the which I haue prouoked thee to wrath, & I looke to thee, whom I haue rejected: I haue multiplied mine iniquities against thee, and thou most justlie hast doubled the stripes vpon me. Cure my sinnes by thy cor∣rections: I refuse not to be corrected, but doe it to me in thy mercie, and let me feele the merciful hand of thy Spi∣rit bearing me vp, and comforting me: let me heare his voyce speaking peace to my soule. Giue comfort to mine in∣ward man, as I haue sicknesse which beareth downe mine outward man. Thou wentest downe with Daniel to the denne,* 1.164 and with the thrie Children to the fire: refuse not to visit this thy poore prisoner, in this bed of sicknesse: and if I finde thee with me, I am con∣tent euer to abide heere. Forgiue me, O Lord, the abuse of my former health: surelie thou hast justly punished the abuse thereof in wantonnesse, in ryot, & excesse, in the pleasures of my flesh. Now my flesh is punished; for my foo∣lish delights are turned vnto gall and

bitternesse. Wash & cleanse me in thy Sonne, Iesus Christ, his holy bloode, that I may be as white as snow, and my foolishnesse may not be in thy remem∣berance.* 1.165

O, fy vpon the world, which I lo∣ued, and thought it my felicitie: nowe it is a burthen to me: when I desired to be rich, I fell into many temptations, and with Zacheus greedilie drew to me that vvhich I doe now most willinglie reject, and cast from me. Lord,* 1.166 thou art mine only Physician, neither haue I gone with Ahaziah,* 1.167 to seeke after Beel∣zebib the God of Ekron: neither with Asa put I my confidence in Physicians; but in the liuing God.

O Lord, cure me: helpe me, O my God, who made me: thou art mine health, my strength, and my Sauiour. If mine health may serue any wayes to further for thy glorie, I pray thee for to restore me. Let me goe to the House of the LORD, and prayse thee:* 1.168 for the dead will not praise thee; and those who goe downe to the pitte, will not magnifie thy Name. Let me not goe

out of this bed to dishonour thee, but that I may receiue a new life from thee, to leade a new life before thee. And if thou hast appointed that by this sicknesse thou vvilt drawe me home to thee, then I beseech thee pre∣pare my soule, and make it readie, and giue me before I come to thee, a cleare sight of thee, and an earnest desire to be with thee:* 1.169 for when Sainct Paule saw the Heauens, it is no maruell that he desired to be dissolued, & to be with thee. In the meane time, I commit my bodie, and my soule to thy pleasure and good will: dispone them as thou thinkest meetest for thy glorie, that whether I liue or die, Christ may bee mine aduantage.* 1.170 Onlie I craue, holie FATHER, that I may so depende vpon thee in this my disease, that I ne∣uer depart from thee to any other. I craue also holie patience, by the which I may patientlie abide to be corrected by this visitation,* 1.171 & to beare thy yoke willinglie, & drinke this cuppe chear∣fullie and heartilie; assuring my selfe, that all these troubles in ende shall

worke together for the best to me: that is,* 1.172 that by them I may bee tryed as Golde in the fire; and my drosse being purged, I may serue thee more per∣fectly all the dayes of my life, through Christ my Sauiour.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR A WOMAN IN TRA∣VELL WITH CHILD.

O Lord God, and most mercifull Father, I thy poore creature, whome thou hast bound vp with the bandes of this Sicknesse, doe present my selfe vpon the knees both of my bodie and soule: euen I thy poore supplicant, whome thou puttest vpon my knees in this my trauell; that I may learne to knowe that there is no helpe at all for mee, but that which I must beg from thee in this my tribu∣lation.

And because this paine of mine hath

come to all Women, by the transgres∣sion of Eua the first Woman,* 1.173 let me re∣member that sinne is the mother of these pangues, forasmuch as all haue sinned, and must be partakers of their sorrowes. O Lord, I confesse I haue sinned with the rest of my Sexe, and I am now punished with them, as thou gauest out sentence against them all. But, Lord, I pray thee, for Iesus sake, who was the Seede of the Woman, that thou wouldest loose the bandes of my sinne.* 1.174 Pittie me, pittie me now, O deare Father, for thy Christs sake. Woe is me, that my pleasure in sinne should haue brought mee to such displeasure. But these are the wages of sinne. For∣giue me, O Lord, my sinnes, and let the bonds thereof be broken, that thou mayest loose me out of the bondes of this disease wherewith I am bound.

When thou spakest of the greatest paine, thou comparedst it to the pan∣gues of a woman who trauelleth with child:* 1.175 then, since my pangues are most vehement, most sudden, & haue come to mee before I was aware, O Lord,

let thy power bee so much the more towards me, to deliuer me: let my grea∣test miserie bee the object of thy grea∣test compassion. Therefore nowe, O Lord, helpe mee, for the helpe of man or woman is all in vaine: pittie the workmanship which it hath pleased thee to frame in my wombe: alace, bring it, and draw it out of my bellie. Thou hast framed my Childe in a se∣cret place: thou hast brought it to the point of perfection, and there is no strength in me to bring it foorth: but, O my God, euen when I am weakest, bee thou strongest, yea, then let thy power and mercie shewe it selfe to come in a due and acceptable time. Glorifie thy selfe, O Father, in my weaknesse: and these persons which are now present with mee, let them all bee witnesses of thy mercifull deliue∣rie, and preseruation of mee and my Childe: for I will heere lie downe at thy feete, and crie out vnto thee,* 1.176 euen till I be hoarce: neither will I cease my groaninges, and fearfull shouts, vntill it shall please thee to relieue mee.

O God, thou Father of Heauen, let not this bee my Benoni,* 1.177 that is, the child of my trouble; but let it bee my Benja∣min, the childe of my dayes: and I will consecrate mine Infant vnto thee and thy seruice, in whatsoeuer calling thou pleasest to employ it: giue mee it, and I will giue it to thee:* 1.178 for, alace, I desire from thee no children to receiue life, but such as shall bee partakers of Life eternall.

Now, Lord, helpe mee, and renewe my strength, that when thou hast de∣liuered me, I may rejoyce in the worke of thy mercie, and feast not to my fleshlie desires, but to the honour of thee, my God, whose mercie endureth for euer.* 1.179 Oh, Lord, my strength is dried vp like a potsheard,* 1.180 and yet I seeke no meanes for my reliefe but on∣lie out of thine hand. I commit my selfe whollie to thy Majesties good will and pleasure; and I will not onelie sacrifice vnto thee the Calues of my lippes,* 1.181 but also of a most thankfull heart, whensoeuer it shall please thee to release mee: yea, and whatsoeuer I shall

receiue of thee, that shal I render backe againe vnto thee.

Euen nowe thou gauest mee some relent and casment of my pangues: but now my sorrowes are increased againe. Oh, for Iesus Christes sake, who by his holie Birth hath taken away the sinne of our birth, haue mercie vpon mee, and purge my birth. Giue mee, I beseech thee, a comfortable deliuerie of my childe, that wee both may prayse thee all our life, and spend our dayes in thy true feare and seruice, through Ie∣sus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF PERSECVTION.

AMongst many Rods whereby GOD cor∣recteth his Childrē, there bee chiefelie three; to wit, the Sword, the Famine, and the Pestilence: which were all giuen to Dauids choyse:* 1.182 of the which three hee chose the Pest,

vvilling rather to come vnder the Lords hands, than mans: not but that the Sword & Famine were also in the hand of God; but mediatelie, for the Pest is immediatelie the hand of God. It seemeth harde that Susanna should choose the handes of man, rather than Gods, and Dauid rather the hand of God, than of men. It is to bee vnder∣stoode, that Dauid was meaning of his mercie,* 1.183 and Susanna of his justice: for the mercie of God is greater than the mercie of men: but the feare of Gods justice is more terrible than all feares else whatsoeuer.

As for persecution, it is the note and marke of the Church: others may bee persued,* 1.184 but not persecuted: Treason is against Princes, and Parricide against Parents; but persecution is against Christ: and looke how high Treason is aboue slaughter; so is persecution aboue Treason: because the person of God who is persecuted, is the grea∣test Majestie.

Next,* 1.185 it is to bee marked, that Chri∣stians are persecuted with Christ: Saul,

Saul, why persecutest thou me? We haue our Head Partaker and Companion with vs in our troubles: may wee not then be glad of such a partie and yoke∣fellow?

Thirdly, it is common to all Christi∣ans, who would liue godly in Christ,* 1.186 to suffer persecution: then since it is the way of the head (who through affli∣ctions entered into Heauen) and of all his members, let vs not refuse persecu∣tion; for in so doing wee refuse to bee Christians. Then, since the way of persecution is the Kinges way, by the which hee went into his Kingdome; and againe, sith it is the way by which all the Sainctes, and the Brethren, and the First-borne, are entered into glory; then (I say) let vs bee bolde to enter in thorowe that way: for who would refuse to goe through a Wildernesse, vnto a Kingdome? and by persecu∣tion to enter into Heauen?* 1.187

Fourthlie, God rayseth vp enemies against vs, because we haue beene ene∣mies vnto him; as hee did to the peo∣ple of Israel euer when they went vnto

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Idolatrie,* 1.188 and when as they prouoked him by thinges which were no gods; so hee punished them by a People which were not a People: and so like∣wise did the Lord to Salomon, when as hee committed Idolatrie.

* 1.189Fiftlie, albeit our enemies bee as sharpe as Rasours, yet they are all in the handes of God, who may well cut away our excrementes from vs thorow our foes: but they can doe no more. For although God giue them leaue and libertie to cut off our flesh, yet it is but an excrement of our soule.* 1.190

Sixtlie, none are chosen of God to persecute the Righteous, but euil men, whom God either will conuert, (with Iosephs Brethren,) after he hath hum∣bled them; or else (with Saul and Pha∣roah) he will plague them: for he sayeth, Touch not mine Anointed.

Last, it is naturall for the seed of the Serpent, and the fierie Dragon, to per∣secute the Woman, and her Child, as it is, that Foxes and Wolues should per∣secute the Sheepe: therefore let vs pre∣uaile

by patience, & blunt their swords by our sufferinges.

A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON, WHO IS PERSECVTED with his Enemies.

O Eternall God, and most mer∣cifull father, thou hast com∣manded all those that are wea∣rie and loaden, to come vnto thee,* 1.191 and thou wilt case them: if thou hast com∣manded me to come, thou wilt not re∣ject & cast me away when I am come: heare the voyce of my prayer out of thine habitation, and put not away the supplication of my mouth: inlarge my heart to pray, and open thine care to my cry. O Lord, how long wilt thou tarrie? mine enemies are moe than the haires of mine head:* 1.192 they are strong, like the Bulles of Bashan: they are fearce

and cruell, like Lyons, and Vnicornes: they conueance against me, and say, that there is no more helpe for me in God. O Lord,* 1.193 when trouble draweth neare me, be not farre from me. Lord, haue mercie vpon me. It is true, O Lord, I haue prouoked thy wrath and indig∣nation: I haue beene thine enemie, and hated thee, who wast my Father: there∣fore most justlie hast thou raised vp these wicked men against me. What∣soeuer I suffer, thou hast done it out of thy justice,* 1.194 that thou mayest bee just when thou judgest. O Lord, forgiue me my sinnes, and keepe them not in thy remembrance: for all the creatures which were in couenant with me, are become enemies vnto me. Oh, Recon∣cile me vnto thy selfe, that the stones of the fielde may be at peace with me.* 1.195 The waues of the Sea raged against Ionas,* 1.196 when he fled from thy presence, but by his affliction thou broughtest him to obedience, and conformitie to thy will. I confesse thou hast enough to be angry for against me: but, ô Lord, what haue I done to offend mine ene∣mie?

they persecute me without cause.* 1.197 In the time of their trouble I prayed for them: when they were afflicted, then I burnt: but when they sawe thee afflicting me, and correcting me, then they were aliue: yea, smoat him whom thou didst visit.

O Lord, I beseech thee to try mee, and search mine heart, if euer I haue done anie thing amisse vnto these who persecute mee, or was purposed to doe them harme; yea, Lord, I haue euer done good vnto them, and they haue repayed mee with euill. Those who recompense mee euill for good, are mine enemies. But, O Lord, they haue done vnto mee, as I did vnto thee: for thy benefites, I haue loadened thee with sinnes: so ingrate and vnthank∣full haue I beene vnto thee, & so justlie hast thou repayed me:* 1.198 they raile aganst me, as Rabseketh did against Hezekiah, Si∣mei against Dauid, & as Goliah cursed the Hoste of Israel: But, O Lord, turne thou their cursing into a blessing; who hast promised that all shall turne to the best to them that loue thee. I finde that

this short triall hath wrought good vnto mee, and therefore it is good for mee, that I am humbled thereby: for I finde my selfe better disposed to thy seruice than I was before. Oh, sanctifie this mine affliction and crosse, that howsoeuer Sathan mindeth by this trouble to vndoe mee, thou mayest draw about his labour for my singular comfort; that by this persecution I may serue thee more righteouslie, and liue more duetifullie and louinglie with my Neighboures, and more tem∣perately in mine own person; subduing my lustes and affections: so that this Cuppe which is most bitter to my na∣ture, and hardlie of mee to bee drun∣ken, may be conuerted into wholsome Medicine, for the saluation both of my bodie and soule. O Lord, giue me a good Conscience, that brest-plate of righteousnesse,* 1.199 and I will not bee af∣fraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine aduersaries. Guard me by thy diuine prouidence, and secure me by the protection of thine Angels: make mee as a Seale on thine heart,* 1.200

and a signet vpon thine arme: I com∣mit my soule and bodie vnto thine hands, and faithfull keeping. Giue me not ouer to the lusts of mine aduersa∣ries, & make me not a scorne to fooles,* 1.201 which vnderstand not: let me possesse my soule in patience.* 1.202 Let their mis∣chiefe turne vpon their own head: slay them not, lest the posteritie should for∣get,* 1.203 but rather let them liue, that by their correction others may learne not to persecute the members of thy body. O Lord, they are the stones which thou castest at me, and the roddes of thy furie. I craue thee mercie for my sinne: but as for them, thou canst cast the rodde into the fire, when thou hast chastised mee. My Lord spake seuen words vpon the Crosse, and the first was,* 1.204 Forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: and I after his example, forgiue heartilie my particular quarrell and re∣uenge: for vengeance belongeth vnto the Lord,* 1.205 and thou biddest me blesse those who curse me,* 1.206 and giue mine enemies foode when they are hungrie, that I may heape coales of fire vpon* 1.207

their head. And albeit they haue done me wrong both in my person & name by their lies, and in my substance, yet Lord, I forgiue them: let them repent, that thou mayest pardon them. And finallie, let mee patientlie endure all these wrongs, that thou mayest make me meet for thy Kingdome: that being more than a Conquerour, hauing made conquest of mine affections, I may in∣herite thy glorie, and reigne with thee for euer.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF FAMINE.

THere hath beene Fa∣mine thorow all Ages, by which GOD hath corrected the abuse of his People. The Fa∣mine commeth either for the excesse and abuse of Gods good creatures,* 1.208 (as the example of the pro∣digall

sonne beareth witnesse, who was brought to such pouertie,* 1.209 that hee was faine to sustaine himselfe with the Huskes which the Swine ate, because of his ryote,* 1.210) or for the oppression of the Poore, (as in the dayes of Dauid, for the wrong which was done to the Gi∣bionites by Sauly) or else for Idolatrie, (as in the dayes of Achab.) And the Fa∣mine continueth commonlie three, fiue, or seuen yeares.

As in the time of Famine the Lord punisheth the wickednesse of his Peo∣ple,* 1.211 so by his prouidence hee comfor∣teth the godlie. Hee encreased Abraham and Israel amongst the Heathen Peo∣ple: Hee fedde the House of Iaakob in Aegypt by Ioseph, Elimelech and Naomi in Moab, the Prophets in the Caue by Obadiah, Eliah by the Rauen, and the Widow by Eliah. Though the Lyons, sayeth Dauid, doe lacke, & are hungrie, yet those that feare the Lord shall want nothing that is good: yea, in the dayes of Famine they shall haue enough, and shall laugh at Dearth and Famine.

But in the time of Famine let vs re∣member howe often times wee haue exceeded measure in prodigalitie, and howe wee haue hardened our heartes to the poore and needie, and let vs re∣pent and mourne for the same.

Next, looke that thou despare not, but humble thy selfe vnder the hand of the Lord, and put thy whole trust in his promise, who is faythfull: but be∣ware that thou seeke none vnlawfull meanes for thy reliefe. And lastlie, let vs pray feruentlie and often, attending Gods pleasure with patience: and then no doubt Hee will prouide meanes for our comfort vnlooked for.

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF FAMINE.

IVST and righteous art thou, O Lord God, who hast so manie wayes to humble mee; for nowe thou hast taken from mee thy good be∣nefits,

which thou gauest mee. I con∣fe••••••, O Lord, that when my wayes were ou••-flowing with Oyle and Butter,* 1.212 ••en I brake not my Bread vn∣•••••••• ••u••••rie.* 1.213 I say de in my prospe∣••••••, I wil•• neuer bee mooued: but tho ••••••••nedst thy countenance, and I per••••••d. Thou gauest mee, O Lord,* 1.214 and tho•• hast taken from mee: blessed bee thi•••• holie Name. I repent mee o•• my former abuse, the contempt of thy benef••••es, and thy people. But I returne to thee. O my Father,* 1.215 & with teares I confesse, that I am not woor∣thie that thou shouldest bestowe anie moe vpon mee. Yet, Lord, I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon mee, and let mee bee as one of thine hyred Ser∣uantes. For I will put my confidence in thee, and I will seeke thee earlie, be∣cause I knowe thou hast a thousande means for my reliefe & comfort, which I see not my selfe.

O Lord, thou hast wounded me: oh,* 1.216 heale mee againe. Thou filledst the Widowes Barrels with Oyle:* 1.217 and the Riuers of thine Oyle are not yet dried

vp, but continue still, for they are euer∣lasting: Powre downe, therefore, I be∣seech thee, o thou plentifull God, some droppe of thy goodnesse vpon mine emptie soule: for the time of my neces∣sitie, is the time of thine oportunitie. Make mee an example of thy liberali∣tie: that all the worlde may see, that thou leauest not those which put their trust in thee. Shew some tokē of thy fa∣uour vnto mee, and I shall praise thee. For since thou gauest thy Christ for mee,* 1.218 wilt thou not much rather giue mee other thinges, which are good for mee? And last, seeing thou hast pre∣pared that hidden Manna for mee, and the Tree of Life,* 1.219 & the Waters of Life, yea, and the whole Treasures and Crownes in thine euerlasting King∣dome; then I doubt not, O Lord, but that in this short time of mine abiding heere thou wilt bee carefull for my prouision. But howsoeuer it bee, I am content of thy wise dispensation, and teach mee, my God, I beseech thee, to bee contented to abound, and to want;* 1.220 that neither in wealth I presume and

misknowe thee, nor that in pouertie I may faint, and tempt the Lord my God: but that in euerie estate I may glorifie thee, and speake good of thy Name: Euen for Christ Iesus sake.

AMEN.

A MEDITATION OF PESTILENCE.

THe Pestilence is one of Gods three Arrowes,* 1.221 which flieth in the mid-day, and in the night killeth manie. The causes of it are the contempt of the Lord, an ex∣traordinarie persecutiō of the Church,* 1.222 or else the pride of Princes, who con∣fide ouer much in the multitude of their Subjectes,* 1.223 as Dauid did.

There are manie sorts of the Plague, after which it obtaineth diuers names, as Bubo, Blew-blawart, the Flexes,* 1.224 the Charbuckle, &c. The Pest is most dan∣gerous in foure respectes: first, because

it is contagious, and infecteth the aire: secondlie, it is speedie, and flieth like an Arrow: thirdlie, it is vehement, and extreame painfull: and fourthlie, it is cruell, separating those who are bound by nature, as Parentes from Children, Husbandes from their Wiues, &c. Vnder the time of the Plague vvee should fall downe before God. Wee should stoupe, when we see the Sword in the hand of the Angel. Let vs con∣fesse our particular sinnes, with Dauid, saying, I and my fathers house haue sinned.* 1.225 Wee must offer vp to GOD the Sacrifice of a contrite heart, and present vnto him the perfect Oblation of Christ.

That the Plague may cease, there is none Arte, or diligence of man, or yet Physicke, to bee vsed: but the next remedie is, onelie true repentance in CHRISTES Blood.

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF PESTILENCE.

O Lord, I confesse that I am worthie that thou shouldest powre foorth all the Violes of thy wrath against me,* 1.226 and all the plagues which are written in thy Law: for the stinke of my sinnes pierced the Heauens, & forced thee to send down this filthie and infectiue Botch, to bee auenged vpon mine abhominations, whereby I haue polluted the Earth. O Lord, bee mercifull to me, and take away mine iniquities. I retiere to the shadowe of the Almightie for a refuge and couer:* 1.227 and I hide me in the secret of thy Tabernacle. Thou shootest thine arrowes in the mid-day, yea they slay innumerable thousands in dark∣nesse: at thousand falleth at thy side,* 1.228 and ten thousands at thy right hand: and yet thou hast spared me, praised bee

thy Name for euer. If the men of Benja∣min failed not in their shooting at an haire-bredth,* 1.229 can the eye of the Lord, or his hand, wauer? all things are done by thy prouidence. Marke mee with the letter of mourning, and with the blood of the Lambe:* 1.230 write me in the booke of Life, that in the day of thy great slaughter the Angel of thy wrath may passe by me. I ly wrapped in the mantle of my Sauiour, before thy Mercie Seate, beseeching thee to deliuer me from this plague, if it please thee. And if thou hast appointed that I should die therein, sanctifie my death, that it may bee acceptable to thee: sanctifie my faith with the assurance of thy loue, that albeit I be seperated from men, yet thou wilt not be sepera∣ted from me: sanctifie my patience, that I may drink in this Cuppe chear∣fullie: sanctifie in ende my memorie, that I may remember thy inercies in the midst of thy plagues. Lord, let the joy of thy presence swallow vp all my pangues, that hauing receiued the fi∣nall victorie in the blood of Iesus, I

may sing the triumph, and render my spirit into thine hands, through Christ Iesus, to whom, with thee, and the holie Ghost, be all praise for euermore.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF THE SWORD.

THE Sword is Gods third Arrow, which hee sendeth out ei∣ther vpon a whole Land,* 1.231 to punish their wickednesse,* 1.232 or to his own chosen Children for their sinnes: as to Dauid, the Sword of Saul and Absolam.* 1.233 The Lord threat∣ned by the Prophets, and executed manie times in the Scriptures, this judgement vpon his people: for he brought Nations vpon them from farre, flying as swift as an Eagle to the prey:* 1.234 a people whose tongue they vn∣derstood

not, and of a fearce counte∣nance, which will not regard the per∣sons of the olde, nor haue compass••on of the young, who shall besiedge them in all their Cities, &c.

* 1.235This is the greatest temporall scourge that God euer sent to a Land, to giue them ouer vnto cruell Tyrants: for which cause Dauid made choyse of the other; because he thought it better to fall into the handes of God, than into the handes of men.

First, we must consider that the author of all Warres,* 1.236 and first worker, is the eternall God; who being prouo∣ked by the sinnes of the people, and especiallie by Idolatrie, and innocent blood, as also Sacriledge, raiseth vp Warres either intestine among them∣selues, or forraine powers. The Scrip∣tures are furnished with insinit exam∣ples for the confirmation hereof. Then we may learne, not to looke vnto the rodde, but to him who smiteth vs, and to turne vnto him by vnfained re∣pentance, that he may stay and bridle the cruelcie of Tyrants.

Next, ye shall know the causes of Warre:* 1.237 for we must not accompt that all Warres are vnlawfull: for as Augu∣stine saieth, Melius justum ••ellian, quam Pax iniqua: that is, A just Warre is bet∣ter than an vnjust Peace. Therefore, Princes should consider that they raise no Warres vpon small groundes, nei∣ther by ambition or couetousnesse en∣croath vpon the possessions of their neighbour Princes; neither yet should they suffer their people to bee op∣pressed, or brought vnder thraldome, either of their bodies, possessions, or their conscience: but rather ought to defende them by the Sword.

As the commodities of Peace are manie, (for in it Religion flourisheth,* 1.238 and Learning is aduanced, euerie man dwelleth vnder his owne Figge-tree, and the Sworde is turned into a Mat∣tocke, and the Speare into a Sythe, the voyce of the Bridegroome is heard in the Citie, and not the blooddie cryes of the Opressour, which our Sauiour Christ, when hee came to the world, brought with him, although it was at∣tributed

vnto Augustus Caesar;) so are the incommodities of Warre also manie:* 1.239 for in it all Religion euanisheth, good Lawes are abolished, good man∣ners corrupted, good Sciences forgot∣ten, Townes and Villages sacked, Fieldes and Lands which were manu∣red by great trauell and cost, wasted by the incursion of strangers; great Treasures are spent, men muthered, or made captiues, women made whoores, & slaues, &c. so that Warres are the be∣ginning and mother of all euils.

A PRAYER IN TIME OF THE SWORD.

O Lord, we confesse that by rea∣son wee haue abused so long and so gracious a peace, and thy patience which should haue led vs to repentance, wee are worthie of all these stripes which are laid vpon vs by these Barbarous Tyrants, which thou hast raised vp against vs: but wee haue our refuge to the Throne of thy mer∣cie,

beseeching thee, deare Father, to remember that we are the price of thy Sonnes blood, and for his sake spare vs: chastise vs in mercie, and in mea∣sure, with the rodde of thy children: and suffer not thy Turtle Doue to bee a prey to the wild Beasts.* 1.240 Our hearts are oppressed and wounded with sor∣row, when we see thy glorie defaced, thy Name blasphemed by these blood∣die Beasts, thy Temples burnt with fire, and thy people daylie put to the Sworde. O Lord, the examples of others that called vpon thee in their troubles giueth vnto vs hope that thou wilt not suffer vs to bee confoun∣ded. Our enemies haue raised vp bat∣tell against vs without all deseruings or cause vpon our side, or injurie offe∣red vnto them: therefore, O Lord, maintaine our innocency, as thou didst alwayes defend a righteous cause. O Lord, looke to their crueltie and mer∣cilesse tyrannie, who spare neither the gray haires, nor tender sucklings, nei∣ther women with child: & the rather, O Lord, they seeke our destruction, be∣cause

we haue renounced the Romane Antichrist, whose kingdome they de∣fend in daylie shedding the blood of thy Saincts. O Lord, looke to their craft, and policies, whereby daylie they vndermine vs. In vs, O Lord, there is no strength, no wisdome, no num∣ber nor judgment to withstand their force, their craft, multitude, and dili∣gence: and therefore, O Lord, looke thou mercifullie vpon vs, and deliuer vs from their crueltie, for thy Christs sake. Thou hast assisted thy Church euen from the begining, and for the deliuerie of the same thou hast plagued her cruell persecuters from time to time. O Lord, thou remainest one for euer, thy nature is vnchangeable, thou canst not but hate crueltie, pride, op∣pression, and murther, and speciallie these blooddie Tyrants, who are sent against vs by that Romish Idole, and hi∣red to roote out all those who truelie professe thy holy Name. Put out thine arme, O God, for our relief, & let al the world know,* 1.241 that the God of Israel yet liueth. Heare vs, O Lord, helpe & deli∣uer vs, for thy Christs sake.

Amen.

A MEDITATION OF DEATH.

* 1.242DEath is our last and least ene∣mie: for if Sinne and Sathan, who are liuing enemies, bee ouercome by the power of Christ in vs, what need we to feare Death, which is a dead enemie, and altogether with∣out power & strength? Indeed Death is terrible to the Worldling; and no maruell, for it separateth him from all his comforts, and entereth him to all his paines: but it possesseth the godlie in all their joyes, and maketh an end of all their troubles: it is to them, Non obi∣tus, sed abitus: non exitus, sed transitus:* 1.243 iis fu∣nera sunt faenora: that is, Not death, but a departing: not an out-going,* 1.244 but a tho∣row-going: and to these their burials are gaines.

In the houre of Death remēber with remorse thy former life, thy future life with joye and delight, and thy present estate with patience. If the troubles of

thy conscience, or paine of thy sicknes, vrge thee to impatience,* 1.245 then thinke, this is the high way to Heauē: for euen by the Gates of Hell, by Stripes, and Wounds, our Lord wēt before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weak∣nesse of faith, and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life, and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death.

Remēber that there are two Deaths, and feare the greater:* 1.246 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie: but the second Death is the euer∣lasting separation of God frō the soule. If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne, the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee: therfore thou nee∣dest not to be afraid of the first Death, if thou be deliuered from the second.

2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death:* 1.247 for it is a fatall necessitie, laide vpon all Flesh, Kinges, Prophets, Peo∣ple, &c. all must depart.

* 1.2483. There is great gain by the exchāge: for wee get a Palace for a Prison; rest, for labour; libertie, for bondage; God,

for men; the companie of Angels, for the companie of sinners; and finallie, the Heauens, for the Earth.

4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death,* 1.249 because thy soule shall not bee holdē in suspense, nor stand at the gates of Heauē, nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes: for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise

5. The sting of Death is taken frō it, which is Sinne: then Death can doe thee no more harme, than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting.

6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall, but thy joyes shall be eternall, as Paul saith to the Romanes, Chap. 8. Vers. 18.

* 1.2507. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses.

8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little, thy soule shal returne shortlie, the Comfor∣ter shall assist thee, Christ is praying for thee in Heauen, the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer, & the An∣gels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse.

9. Heere is thy comfort, Christ thy

Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree.* 1.251 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master? And as he died, so he rose againe, and ouercame Death in his owne denne. Then, if the Head bee risen, will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie? Yes surelie.

Lastly,* 1.252 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer, let the cause of thy desire be, that thou mayest liue better; as Eze∣chias and Dauid saide, Shall the dead prayse thee? And, What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord? And if thou desire to die,* 1.253 see that it be not for thine earth∣lie burdens, but for sinne, which thou weariest to beare; and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God.

A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH.

EVerlasting God, and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ, I thy poore Prisoner, bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed, & vpon whome the bondes of Death are

seasing, and taking holde, I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy, & be∣seech thee to giue me thine holie Spi∣rite: that seeing I am going the way of all flesh, I may rightlie resolue,* 1.254 with solide judgement, and perfect memo∣rie, anent my departure: that as thou hast prepared a place for mee,* 1.255 so thou wilt prepare mee for it: that I being purged by the blood of Iesus, & sancti∣fied by thy Spirit, may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee. And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die, & by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee war∣ning, as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by di∣uerse diseases; yet, Lord, nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe, that which I would not learne by others. Nowe therefore, O Lord, when I looke backe to my former life, and consider the sinnes of my childhood, and mine age, what things I did ignorantlie, and what I did against mine owne consci∣ence, my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies,

and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse, mine open sinnes, and my secret sinnes, my presumptions, mine injuries to others, mine intemperan∣cie, my slouthfulnesse, and neglect of thy worship: all these sinnes, so oft committed by mee, beeing put in a masse, and manie moe with them, I beseech thee most mercifull Father, that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie, and burne them in the fire of thy loue: burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion, and make mee nowe quite of them, that they burthen mee no more: and I beseech thee, that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust, that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin, so by thy grace these remnants of a de∣feated Armie, & those stragling Soul∣diours, who are shaking their weapons vpon mee, they may bee scattered by thine hand, that the work of my salua∣tion may now in mercie bee crowned and finished: that now I may cry with

my Sauiour at his death, Consummatum est: It is finished.* 1.256 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me: now, O Lord, finish it in me vpon this bedde.

I acknowledge, ô Father, that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie, for thine innumerable benefits, which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life: for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection, thou ca∣redst for mee, thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie, thou fedst me, thou defendedst mee, thou nurturedst me, &c.* 1.257 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones, so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie. But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance, to the knowledge of the trueth, & ma∣dest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church, & gauest me that eternall life,* 1.258 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God, and whom thou hast sent, Ie∣sus Christ, the Sauiour of the Worlde. Yea, when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse, the perils of wa∣ters, of fire, of pouertie, of sicknesse, of

decietfull and wicked men, &c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme, and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee, to repent, and thanke thee for thy benefits. For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites, both spirituall and temporall, I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes, praise, and glorie, to continue for euermore.

As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee, it is not of mee, O Lord, but thy grace working in mee, who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse. And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions, thou wouldest finde in them a thousand im∣perfections. Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteous∣nesse: oh, spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee.

And as for the Worlde, I disclaime and renounce it, as a false and deceitfull friend, which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it: but for golden of∣fers, it crowneth them with thornes.

I bid good-night to all my Friends, Acquaintances, and good Christians: and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende, and die the death of the Righteous,* 1.259 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ, & goe thorowe the straite way: keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende:* 1.260 that seeing I haue gone before you, and run my race, and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes, yee would rejoyce in my victorie, and not bee for••e for my remoouing. And I pray God to bee with you all, and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome; that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie. And seeing I feele all the mem∣bers of my bodie decaying, and giuing ouer their office, my grinders sailing, my sight and hearing decaying,* 1.261 & my strong men trembling, let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace, that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour, and so depart in peace, with olde SIMEON thy Seruant.

Now my Soule, returne to thy rest, for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee.* 1.262 I commit my spirite into thine handes, O LORD: take it, and by the conuoy of thy moste holie An∣gels carrie it vnto thy King∣dome. And for my bo∣die, I commit it to the dust, from whence it came, to sleepe there till the Day dawne, and my LORD returne, and rayse it vppe againe; that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs, thorow Christ, A∣men.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psa. 18.12
• * 1.2

  Reuel. 8.4.
• * 1.3

  Psa. 121.4
• * 1.4

  Psal. 34.7
• * 1.5

  Exo. 12.26 2. King. 19 35
• * 1.6

  Ex. 12.13
• * 1.7

  Sathan most busie in the night to cause men sinne. Iob 24.16
• * 1.8

  Psal. 139.12
• * 1.9

  Nota.
• * 1.10

  Psa. 55.17 and 6.6. and 63.6. and 77.6. & 119.62 148.
• * 1.11

  Iob 7.18.
• * 1.12

  Psal. 43.4. and 26.6.
• * 1.13

  Psa. 141.3
• * 1.14

  Chaunge from euil to good.
• * 1.15

  Matth. 24.22.
• * 1.16

  Reuel. 8.3.
• * 1.17

  Psa. 19.13
• * 1.18

  Psal. 16.7. When the bodie is at rest, let the soul be busie with God.
• * 1.19

  Nota.
• * 1.20

  Psal. 42.5. and 43.5.
• * 1.21

  Psal. 4.8.
• * 1.22

  Psal. 3.6.
• * 1.23

  Isa. 38.14
• * 1.24

  Psal. 58.6.
• * 1.25

  Hest. 5.2.
• * 1.26

  Mica 2.1.
• * 1.27

  Psal. 139.12
• * 1.28

  Psal. 94.9.
• * 1.29

  1 Thess. 5.2 Matth. 24.43. and 25.13.
• * 1.30

  Belieue the Church, but not in the Church.
• * 1.31

  Gal. 1.8.
• * 1.32

  What the Church vni∣uersallis.
• * 1.33

  The Catho∣lick Church is not tyed to anie cer∣taine place. Iudg. 16.9.
• * 1.34

  Psalm. 2.8.
• * 1.35

  The Church invisible. The beautie of the Church is spirituall, in vertue and godlinesse. Ps. 45.13.
• * 1.36

  Prover. 31.11.12, &c. and 7.16.
• * 1.37

  Cantic. 1.4
• * 1.38

  Psal. 22.6.
• * 1.39

  Nota.
• * 1.40

  Ioh. 10.27.
• * 1.41

  Gal. 4.19. 2. King. 11.1.
• * 1.42

  1572. Aug. 24. Math. 12.20.
• * 1.43

  The Cnurch is as mount Sion.
• * 1.44

  Moses his Bush. A Doue.
• * 1.45

  Ierusalem.
• * 1.46

  Cantic. 2.2
• * 1.47

  Ex. 10.23.
• * 1.48

  1. Iohn. 4.14.15.
• * 1.49

  Pray for faythfull Preachers. Prover. 10.13.
• * 1.50

  Cantic. 2.4.
• * 1.51

  Psa. 132.9
• * 1.52

  Coll. 4.3.
• * 1.53

  Rev. 22.18
• * 1.54

  Psal. 122.7
• * 1.55

  Psal. 17.8.
• * 1.56

  Psal. 7.16. and 57.6.
• * 1.57

  and 83.13
• * 1.58

  and. 68, 2.
• * 1.59

  Psal. 45.5.
• * 1.60

  Heb. 4.12.
• * 1.61

  1. Pet. 1.22
• * 1.62

  1. Cor. 3.12
• * 1.63

  1. Pet. 2.4.
• * 1.64

  Psal. 144.12.
• * 1.65

  Gen. 49.25
• * 1.66

  Pray for the Church in France, and Bohe∣mia.
• * 1.67

  Isa. 5.1.2. &c. Psal. 80.8.
• * 1.68

  Ioh. 10.17.
• * 1.69

  Rev. 21.10
• * 1.70

  Two Seales affixed to the Word.
• * 1.71

  Christians haue fewer Sacraments in numbe•• than the Iewes, but m••re in sig∣••ification, and ampli∣fication.
• * 1.72

  Po••h the Sac aments ha e one substance.
• * 1.73

  The Sacra¦ments differ in ••••e things.
• * 1.74

  Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil.
• * 1.75

  The neces∣sitie of the Word and Sacramēts.
• * 1.76

  August.
• * 1.77

  Iosh. 5.
• * 1.78

  Exod. 4.24
• * 1.79

  Prepara∣tion to the Sacrament is necessa∣rie.
• * 1.80

  How to try thy repen∣tance.
• * 1.81

  Luke 7.38
• * 1.82

  Psalm. 6.6
• * 1.83

  Psal. 51.6
• * 1.84

  How to try thy fayth.
• * 1.85

  How to try thy loue.
• * 1.86

  1. Cor. 5.7
• * 1.87

  The honou∣rable recei∣uing of the Sacramēts.
• * 1.88

  Nota.
• * 1.89

  Colloss. 3.9.
• * 1.90

  Luk. 15.23
• * 1.91

  What Con∣science is.
• * 1.92

  1. Timot. 1.13. Rom. 10.2.
• * 1.93

  Conscience is Gods Tribunall. Iudge, Ac∣cuser, and Burrio.
• * 1.94

  The tender∣nesse of the Conscience.
• * 1.95

  Iob 51.1.
• * 1.96

  Rom. 1.24.25.26. &c.
• * 1.97

  Cic. pro Milone.
• * 1.98

  The trouble of Con∣science.
• * 1.99

  Simil.
• * 1.100

  Simil.
• * 1.101

  Psal. 22.1. Narke 15.34. Christ had trouble of conscience. Iohn 5.4.
• * 1.102

  Simil.
• * 1.103

  Pretended trouble, and true differ.
• * 1.104

  Trouble worketh diuerslie in the godlie and wicked.
• * 1.105

  Prou. 18.14.
• * 1.106

  Remedies against a troubled conscience.
• * 1.107

  Simil.
• * 1.108

  Simil.
• * 1.109

  Iob 6.2.
• * 1.110

  Psa. 69.21
• * 1.111

  Iob 6.10.11. Iob 7.6. &c
• * 1.112

  Iob 7.6. &c
• * 1.113

  Genes. 4.13 Iob 19.13. &c.
• * 1.114

  Iob 20.11. and 7.3. Psa. 50.21
• * 1.115

  Iob 4.28. and 15.15 and 15.16
• * 1.116

  & 9.3.20.
• * 1.117

  and 9.15.
• * 1.118

  & 9.30.31
• * 1.119

  Psal. 77.7.8.9. &c.
• * 1.120

  Iob 7.20. and 16.13 Psa. 77.10
• * 1.121

  1. Sam. 15.29.
• * 1.122

  Matth. 24.35.
• * 1.123

  Exo. 34.16
• * 1.124

  Psa. 130.1
• * 1.125

  Psa. 130.3 4.
• * 1.126

  Simil:
• * 1.127

  Psa. 40.12
• * 1.128

  Psa. 31.16
• * 1.129

  Psa. 42.10 Psal. 22.8.
• * 1.130

  Psa. 38.20 and 11. Psal. 41.9.
• * 1.131

  Psal. 25.3.
• * 1.132

  Psal. 34.6.
• * 1.133

  Exod. 1.10 11 Psal. 45.7.
• * 1.134

  1. Tim. 2.2.
• * 1.135

  1. Sam. 16.1.
• * 1.136

  2. Pet. 2.17
• * 1.137

  NOTA.
• * 1.138

  2. Sam. 18.3.
• * 1.139

  Antichristi∣anisme to oppone to Princes.
• * 1.140

  1. Chronic. 13.10.
• * 1.141

  Deuter. 27.17.
• * 1.142

  Exod. 19.24.
• * 1.143

  Act. 12.23 Exo. 14.28 1. Sam. 31.4. 1. King. 22 34.
• * 1.144

  1 King. 3.9 2. King. 18 4. &c. 2. King. 23 4. &c. 1. Sam. 6.7
• * 1.145

  Sicknesse is the Lordes Schoole.
• * 1.146

  The grea∣test Sick∣nesse, is, ne∣uer to bee▪ sicke.
• * 1.147

  Sicknesse is painfull, but yet health∣full.
• * 1.148

  NOTA.
• * 1.149

  Simil. Diuerse sinnes, di∣uerse disea∣ses.
• * 1.150

  Patience necesserie. 1. Corin. 10 13
• * 1.151

  Ionah 2.3. and 7
• * 1.152

  Iob 6.4.
• * 1.153

  Iob 7.13.
• * 1.154

  Psal. 6.2.
• * 1.155

  Psal. 31.9.
• * 1.156

  Psal. 39.5.11
• * 1.157

  Psa. 22.1.2
• * 1.158

  Ps. 38.3.4
• * 1.159

  Ibid. 7.
• * 1.160

  Ibid. 10.
• * 1.161

  Psa. 31.22
• * 1.162

  Psa. 51.10
• * 1.163

  Psa. 39.13
• * 1.164

  Dan. 6.22. and 3.25.
• * 1.165

  Psal. 51.7.
• * 1.166

  Luke 19.8
• * 1.167

  2. King. 1.2. 2. Chro. 16.12
• * 1.168

  Psal. 6.5.
• * 1.169

  2. Cor. 12.2 3.4.5. &c. Phil. 1.2 3.
• * 1.170

  Phil. 1.4.
• * 1.171

  Matth. 11 29.
• * 1.172

  Simil.
• * 1.173

  Gen. 3.16.
• * 1.174

  Gen. 3.15.
• * 1.175

  Isa. 13.8.
• * 1.176

  Psal. 69.3.
• * 1.177

  Gen. 35.18
• * 1.178

  1. Sam. 1.27.
• * 1.179

  Psa. 136.1
• * 1.180

  Psa. 22.15
• * 1.181

  Hos. 14.2
• * 1.182

  2. Sam. 24.14.
• * 1.183

  Re••oncilia∣tion be∣twixt Da∣uids and Susannaes choyse.
• * 1.184

  Persecution a marke of the Church.
• * 1.185

  Christ per∣secuted with vs.
• * 1.186

  Persecution common to all Chri∣stians. Ioh. 15.20. Heb. 4.14.15.
• * 1.187

  Sinne rai∣seth vp ene∣mies to vs. Iudg. 2.11. and 3.7.8. and 4.1.2.
• * 1.188

  and 6.1.2. and 13.1. 1. King. 11.14.23.26.
• * 1.189

  God hath our enemies in his hand. Simil.
• * 1.190

  Onlie wic∣ked men are persecuters. Gen. 42.21 Exo. 14.27 1. Sam. 31.4 Psal. 115.15. It is natu∣rall for wic∣ked men to persecute. Rev. 12.1.2.3.4. &c.
• * 1.191

  Matth. 11.28.
• * 1.192

  Psalm. 22.12.13. &c.
• * 1.193

  Psalm. 3.2.
• * 1.194

  Psal. 51.4.
• * 1.195

  Iob 5.23.
• * 1.196

  Ionah 1.4. and 2.1.2
• * 1.197

  Psalm. 7.3
• * 1.198

  2. King. 18.19. 2. Sam. 16.5. 1. Sam. 17.10. Rom. 8.28.
• * 1.199

  Eph. 6.14.
• * 1.200

  Cantic. 8.6
• * 1.201

  Psa. 27.12
• * 1.202

  Psal. 7.16.
• * 1.203

  Psa. 59.11
• * 1.204

  Luke 23.34.
• * 1.205

  Deu. 32.35
• * 1.206

  Mat. 5.44.
• * 1.207

  Rom. 12.20
• * 1.208

  Causes of Famine. 1. Excesse.
• * 1.209

  Luc. 15.15
• * 1.210

  2. Oppres∣sion. 2. Sam. 21.1.3. Idolatrie. 1. King. 17 1.
• * 1.211

  God in time of Famine remembreth his owne. Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1. 1. King. 18 13. & 17.4.9 Psa. 34.10 Psa. 37.19 Iob 5.22.
• * 1.212

  Iob 29.6.
• * 1.213

  Psal. 30.6.
• * 1.214

  Iob 1••.21
• * 1.215

  Luke 15.19.
• * 1.216

  Iob 5.18.
• * 1.217

  1. King. 17 16.
• * 1.218

  NOTA.
• * 1.219

  Revel. 2.17 & 22.1.2.
• * 1.220

  Phil. 4.11.
• * 1.221

  Causes of Pestilence. Psal. 91.6
• * 1.222

  Lev. 26.25
• * 1.223

  2. Sam. 24.10.
• * 1.224

  The Pest is most daun∣gerous in 4 respects.
• * 1.225

  2. Sam. 24.17. Psa. 51.17
• * 1.226

  Rev. 6.14.
• * 1.227

  Psalm. 9.9.
• * 1.228

  Psal. 91.7.
• * 1.229

  Iudges 20.16.
• * 1.230

  Ezech. 9.4 Rev. 20.15.
• * 1.231

  Causes of the Sword.
• * 1.232

  Deu. 28.49
• * 1.233

  2. Sam. 12.9.
• * 1.234

  Terem 5.15
• * 1.235

  The Sword the greatest Plague. 2. Sam. 24.14.
• * 1.236

  God the author of Warres.
• * 1.237

  Warres are lawfull, if they bee warranded.
• * 1.238

  The com∣modities of Peace. 1. King. 4.25. Isa. 2.4.
• * 1.239

  The incom∣modities of Warres.
• * 1.240

  Psa. 74.19
• * 1.241

  1. Sam. 17.46.
• * 1.242

  Death a dead enemie
• * 1.243

  Ambros.
• * 1.244

  In the hour of death re∣mēber what thou wast, what thou art, & what thou shalt bee.
• * 1.245

  Quid scis, quid sue••is, quisque futurus cris.
• * 1.246

  There are two deaths. Rev. 20.14
• * 1.247

  Death is vniuersall.
• * 1.248

  A profitable exchaunge by death.
• * 1.249

  Present joy by death, without de∣lay. Luke 23.43. NOTA. Sinne is ta∣ken away. Simil. The-paines of death are short.
• * 1.250

  Inward comfortes. The soule shall short∣lie returne.
• * 1.251

  Christ suf∣fered death Matth. 10.24.
• * 1.252

  The right desire to liue or die. Psalm. 6.5 Isa. 38.7.
• * 1.253

  Christ ad∣uantage in life and death.
• * 1.254

  1. King. 2.2
• * 1.255

  Iob 14.2.
• * 1.256

  Ioh. 19.30
• * 1.257

  Simil. Exod. 19.4
• * 1.258

  Iohn 17.3.
• * 1.259

  Numb. 23.10. Mat. 7.13.
• * 1.260

  2. Tim. 4.8.
• * 1.261

  Eccl. 12.3.
• * 1.262

  Psa. 116.7