To pneuma ksopyrén, or Sparkes of the spirit, being, motives to sacred theorems, and divine meditations. / By a reverend father of the Church of England.

To the courteous READER.

READER,

THose that honour God, God will honour; and so will all good men do: but such as forget him shall go into the land of forget∣fulness, and shall have their portion in that infernall lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: Look therefore in

time before he on the pale horse comes, who is the childe of sin, the father of confusion, and the Pursivan•• of Hell. Consi∣der well how oft thou hast pro∣voked thy Maker, stirred up his anger, deserved his displeasure, and a thousand wayes done e∣vill in his si••ht, and that not ignorantly but presumptuously, not weakly but wil••ully, and not fearfully but impudently; who when thou erredst did reduce thee; when thou wert igno∣rant he did instruct thee, when thou wert negligent he did cor∣rect thee when thou stumbledst he did stay thee, when thou wert fallen he did raise thee; when thou stoodst he did streng∣then thee; in all thy affaires, he did direct the••; in thy trouble he did help ••h••e; in thy dangers he did deliver thee;

waking he did enlighten thee, sleeping he did watch thee, sin∣ning he did suffer thee, and praying he did hear thee; how canst thou then forget him who remembreth at all times, in all places, by all means, ever, every where, and every way, in thy journeies by his conduct, at home by his safeguard; in thy Prayers by his assistance, in thy afflictions by his comfort, in thy board by his bounty, in thy bed by his protection, and in all thy wayes by his support: who doth by outward means and by secret inspirations invite thee unto him, beating continually at the doore of thy ears by his words, and at the doore of thy heart by his spirit, suggesting unto thee both wayes the great∣ness of thy sins, the severity of his justice, the shortnesse of this

life, and the eternity of that to come.

Reader, Let me crave thy patience awhile, mark dili∣gently my words, follow well my Counsell, let these my words take deep impression in thy heart: by all means walk in the strait way, but let it be the right way, beware of su∣perstition in Religion, to de∣cline to the left hand, and of rash zeal to run on the right; be to God faithfull, and to law∣full Authority not disloyall: Endeavour to be what thou oughtest to be, though thou canst not attain to that thou shouldest be; never presume to reform others before thou hast well ordred thy self; see at home, then look abroad: re∣dresse that which is faulty, and in thy power to amend before

thou doest meddle with that which is beyond thy reach; be not faire in publike and foule in private; hate hypocrisie and avoid vain-glory; let not the badge of Religion be the bond of wickednesse; receive no o∣pinion in Religion, but what the word of God doth evident∣ly warrant: see unto the glass of the word by thy own sight, without other men•• Spectacles, and hold what thou judgest truth onely in love of the truth: beware of by-respects, be not high minded, and be not wise in thy own conceit, but make thy self equall with them of the lower sort; and if it be possible have peace with all men: avenge not thy self, but give place unto wrath, be an∣gry but sin not: ow nothing to any man but love, put on the new

man, which after God is crea∣ted in true holinesse: Cast off lying and speak the truth from thy heart; let no corrupt com∣munication proceed out of thy mouth; work out thy salvation with fear and trembling; and give all diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure; And consider hadst thou Sam∣pson's haire, Milo's strength, Scanderbergs arme, Solo∣mon's wisdome, Absolon's beauty, Craesus his wealth, Caesar's valour, Alexander's spirit, Tullies eloquence, Gy∣ge's ring, Perseus's Pegasus, Gorgon's head, and Nestor's years, yet thou canst have no true content or happiness in this world, which is but a maze or labyrinth of errours, a desart, a wilderness, a den of thieves and cheaters, nor ever arrive

at the port of rest, without the two wings of Davids Dove, Prayer and Meditation, those inseparable twins, like those of Hypocrates's, which did feed together, joy together, weep to∣gether, live together, and die together. Prayer disposeth our souls to meditation: medita∣tion supplieth matter to our prayer, both give life and strength, the one to the other: Meditation prepareth our souls and maketh them fit to receive God: Prayer inviteth that glo∣rious guest b th to entertain him▪ and make him pleased to abide in them; or to speak more properly, Prayer is the speech of the soul unto God, and Meditation is as it were the speech of God to the soul: both make a familiar conference and conversing between God

and the soul. In this Trea∣tise thou shalt finde a sweet Dialogue both of Meditation and Prayer, the devout soule humbly praying unto God, and God graciously answering the soul: this is Jacob's his ladder whereupon the Angels of God cease not to ascend with our Petitions, and descend with Pardons; This is the rod of Aaron, with which we may do wonders: this is the haire of Sampson wherein lies all the strength of a Christian: And this is the Path-way of perfe∣ction, which will safely bring thee to thy journey's end, where are those joyes, which neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor ever entered into the heart of man. To which place God of his infinite mercy in Christ bring thee and all Christi∣ans:

which shall ever be the hearty prayer of the greatest of sinners, and the least of Saints, thy unknown freind in the Lord,

Athanasius Davies.