A PRETIOVS BOOKE OF HEAVENLIE MEDITATIONS, called A priuate talke of the soule with GOD: Which who so zealouslie wil vse and per­vse, shal feele in his mind an vnspeaka­ble sweetenes of the euerla­sting happines: Written (as some thinke) by that reuerend, and religious Father S. AVGVSTINE; and not translated onlie, but purified also, and with most ample, and necessarie sentences of holie Scrip­ture adorned, by THOMAS ROGERS.

Psal. 119, verse. 113. I hate vaine inuentions: but thy Lawe do I loue.

Printed at London by H. Denham, dwel­ling in Pater noster Row, at the signe of the Starre. 1581.

Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis.

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To the honorable Master THOMAS WILSON, Doctor of the Ciuil lawes; one of hir Ma­iesties principal Secretaries, and of the most honorable pri­uie Counsel: Grace and peace in our Sa­uior Christ.

AMong Christians it is & hath bin for longe continuance an ancient custome, Honorable, at this time, and at this daie commonlie of the yeere, either to purchase fa­uor, if they haue none; or to con­firme friendship, which they haue, with giftes and presents. Hence both hie estates, to them of lowe calling; and meane persons, to their betters; and euerie friend to his wel-willer lightlie wil sende some token, if his habilitie doe serue of a friendlie hart and affe­ction.

In the daie two special things are to be obserued. One is, that [Page] our Sauior Christ was circumcised herevpon; another that the newe yeere beginneth now. If we showe arguments of loue one toward an­other, for that we haue perceaued the loue of our Sauior to vs ward, by his natiuitie, circumcision, and suffering in ye flesh for our sakes1. Pet. 2, verse. 21.; doubtles our custome is a Christi­an custome: if otherwise, because the new yeere beginneth, we seeke new loue, or a renuing of old good wil, it is a Ciuil custome; com­mendable in either respect, yet v­sed in both, it better pleaseth God.

I therefore hearing of the good opinion, which it hath pleased your Honor to conceaue of mee, haue thought no time coulde be better than now, by some present both to thanke your Honor for the same, and to craue the conti­nuance thereof, til by euil demea­nor I shal deserue the contrarie.

My gift which I doe offer is for price of no great value; such as a poore Student may present. For as the Persians.Aeliamus variae hist. lib. 1. from the richest to the poorest, woulde gratifie their Kings with giftes and rewardes, some with golde, as Noble men; some with silke, and spices, as Mar­chant [Page] men; and some too with sim­ple apples, and plums, and such like frute, as Husbandmen, who had no better to giue: So, though persons of Honor may giue you gold and iewels; marchants vel­uet, silk, and spices; rich men cost­ [...]ie rewardes: yet can a poore la­ [...]orer in the garden of Christian knowledge, giue no better than such as he hath, apples and plums, euen the frute of his studie, and trauel.

Notwithstanding, smal for price though it be, I haue good hope your Honor wil accept it wel in woorth, both for the matter it con­taineth, which is so holie; and for the maner of handling the same by the auctor, which is so hea­uenlie, that, in my iudgement, nei­ther Historia Animalium, which A­ristotle gaue vnto Alexander the Great; nor that of Cicero De Re­publica, which Cardinal Poole sought after with the expence of 2000. crownesR. Ascham Ioan. Stur­mio, Epist, l. 1. p. 37. b. Nor finalie those sibyllian works, that Tarquin. Pris­cus bought ful deerelie of Amal­theaLactant. de falsa sap. cap. 6., are so profounde for know­ledge; nor manie big volumes of Philosophie, for methode so ex­quisite; [Page] nor al ye bookes of huma­nitie, so necessarie for vse, as it is.

Which I doe write, neither to dissuade anie from the reading of those, nor to persuade your Ho­nor, to conceiue wel of this booke. For I verilie do thinke, that both they are commendable, yea, and necessarie too, applied to their due endes; and that your Honor con­ceaueth better of this, than I by writing can expresse, being, as you are, for your wisedome, an hono­rable Counseler; for your lear­ning, a reuerend Doctor; by your sundrie good, & necessarie bookes, a famous Writer; and for your zeale, a valiant oppugner of sin and wickednes.

But as I thinke therof my selfe: so doe I write. In which respect I haue not shunned paines to a­dorne the same with places of holie Scripture. For, seeing the booke, by perusing it to mine vn­speakable both profite and plea­sure, to sauor most fragrantlie of the flowers and sentences not of humane, that is vane wisedome, but of Gods holie word; and to be as holie for phrase, as for mat­ter holie; being wholie taken out [Page] of the holie Scripture: me thought were the places of Scripture an­nexed in the margine, it would be [...] quick spur, not onlie vnto the true Christians zealouslie to read this ancient and godlie Father, when they should see al his sen­tences in a maner to be nothing but verie Scripture; but also vnto Papists, who, neglecting Scripture cleaue ouermuch vnto this, and other Fathers of the Church, to reade the Scriptures, when they should perceaue al his delight to be in vsing the verie words of the holie Ghost.

Wherefore both for the bring­ing the Scripture into more credit with al Papistes; and this holie Father with some Protestantes; and his methode, and maner of handling the Scriptures, to be a perpetual monument of imitation vnto both, I haue added the pla­ces (the more willinglie through the earnest instigation of some godlie persons, especialie of the Printer heereof, whose good na­ture, and zeale, as it is not vn­knowne to your Honor, so is it wel knowne to the Church of Christ, by his careful, and orderlie im­printing [Page] good bookes) and now haue published my dooings vnder the protection of your Honor.

Which my paines, if I shal per­ceaue to be wel taken of the god­lie, chiefelie of your wisedome, I purpose, God assisting me, to pro­ceede in setting forth after this same order, not onlie the auctors Manuel and Meditations, but also diuers and sundrie of S. Augustine his workes beside: that the verie Papistes may see, though they know it wel ynough alreadie, that Augustino plurimùm tribuamus, as it is wel giuen out of vsR. As­cham. Ioan. Sturmio. li. 1. Epist. pag 16. b..

But, me thinkes, I heare some aduersaries among themselues on this wise speaking, His quoting we condemne not, and his translating we allow, but by his presumptuous parting of Sentences, and corre­cting such a Doctor, he plainelie sheweth, that he is by the one o­uer-curious, and by the other a ranke Heretike.

May it therefore please your Honor to heare my reasons of do­ing what I haue done, the which if your wisedome do like, I shal not weigh, what anie either Zoilus of enuie, or aduersarie of malice will [Page] thinke.

Touching my parting of the sentences, I did it vpon these occa­sions: First, to imitate those good Bookes out of which they were borowed, that is, the sacred Scrip­ture. For surelie, in mine opinion, [...]t were not wel, the Booke beeing most notablie deriued out of the pure fountaines of Gods holie word, if it were set forth in anie o­ther forme, than is the spring from which it flowed.

Secondlie, that the Reader might the more sensiblie perceaue the mind and methode of the au­ctor. For, I dare saie it, by this par­ting or seuering of the sentences, a more cleere light of the auctors minde wil appeere to him, who gladlie woulde vnderstande the same, than when they are con­founded, or not parted.

Thirdlie, to offer cause of deepe contemplation to the zealous Christian. For there is no sentence almost throughout the Booke, which is vane, but most heauen­lie, and able to make euen him who is farthest from Christianitie, to occupie his minde with holie and deepe meditations. Therfore, [Page] albeit they can be placed in no forme amisse, yet then best do they profit, and mooue the mind, when they are parted.

Last of al, for the better dispo­sing the places of Scripture by the Printer, I haue diuided the senten­ces. For had the Booke bin printed in that letter which other Bookes of Meditations, set forth by me, are done withal, as I thought it would, then should the places, they are so plentiful, neuer haue stoode in good forme, nor sight, as in some part of this Booke may ap­peare, notwithstanding the letter be verie great, in mine eie, for so smal a volume.

Now concerning the seconde point, it stoode me vpon, both for my owne credite, and also for the behoofe of others, to leaue som­what out. For had I not so done, I should haue said, that the hands of GOD, Manus inquam illae quae af­fixae clauis sunt pro me Soliloq. cap. 2., did make mee: I should haue said, that the light which was made, when God said, Let there be light, was Angeli­ca scilicet natura Soliloq. cap. 8.: I should haue said, that the Angels, as for diuers other ends, so for this are appoin­ted, [Page] Vt orationes filiorum Dei offerant in conspectu maiestatis suae Soliloq. cap. 27.. I should haue said, that the same Angels do bring Gemitus nostros at (que) suspiria ad Deum, vt impetrent nobis facilem Dei benignitatis propitiationem, & referant ad nos desideratam saue gratiae benedi­ctionem Soliloq. cap. 27.: I should haue said, that our Sauiour descended into Hel, Vti sedebant in tenebris patres nostri Soliloq. cap. 32.: I should haue said, that Christ as­cended, Assumpta secum ex inferis captiuitate, quam captiuauerat anti­quus ille hostis, humani generis inimi­cus Soliloq. cap. 32.: finalie, I should haue said, that we ought to doubt, An ad por­tum salutis peruenire valeamus Soliloq. cap. 35., quia omnia infuturum reseruantur incerta: and so where my purpose was to e­difie, I should haue destroied the soules of the weake with erroni­ous opinions. Beside, I should haue cooled the zeale euen of the strongest, when thinking to pro­ceede in holie meditation, they should find such stumbling blocks of error cast in their waie. And therefore did I iudge it better to leaue them quite out, though it greeue the Papistes, than to leaue them in, either to the destruction of some, or to the offence of anie [Page] good Christian: marueling much why in other English translations this matter hath not bin loked vn­to ere this, and these faultes not wholie, as in part they be, amen­ded.

And heere I beseech your Ho­nor, euen for Gods glorie; the fur­therance of the Gospel; and com­moditie of this land; that among al abuses which you studie to re­forme, as a godlie Magistrate, and ought to informe hir Maiestie of, as a prudent Counseler, you would remember the hurt that commeth by corrupt bookes in our English tong. First, they infect the mindes of the simple; secondarilie, they offend the godlie; and thirdlie, they confirme the obstinate, and the more a great deale, because they are allowed by publike au­ctoritie, and not either diligent­lie corrected, or orderlie forbid­den.

Againe, cal into mind those bookes which do more hurt than they, namelie, the inchantments of Circes brought out of Italie, and such vngratious workes, ei­ther translated out of Italian into English, or imitating wholie the [Page] Italian inuention. Ten Sermons at Paules Crosse Maister Ascham in his School­maister. booke. 1. pag. 26., do not so much good for moouing men to true doctrine, as one of those bookes doe harme, with inticing men to il liuing. Yea, I say further, those bookes tend not so much to corrupt ho­nest liuing, as they do to subuert true religion. Mo Papists be made by your merrie bookes of Italie, than by your earnest bookes of Louaine. This fore­see subtile Papists.Pag. 27. Therefore when the busie & open Papists abrode could not by their contentious bookes, turne men in England fast inough from truth and right iudgement in doctrine, than the subtile and secret Papists at home, procured baudie bookes to be translated out of the Italian tong, whereby ouer­manie yoong wils and wits allured to wantonnes, doe now boldlie contemne al seuere bookes that sound to honestie, and godlines. Pag. 27. b. Which bookes open, not fond & common waies to vice, but such subtile, cunning, new, and diuers shifts to carrie yoong wils vnto vanitie, and yoong wits vnto mischiefe, to teach olde baudes new schoole points, as the simple head of an English man is not able to inuent, nor neuer was heard of in Eng­land before, yea when papistrie ouer­flowed al. Suffer these bookes to be read, and they wil soone displace al bookes of [Page] godlie learning: for they carrieng the wit vnto vanitie, and marring good ma­ners, shal easilie corrupt the minde with il opinions, and false iudgement in doc­trine: first to thinke il of al true reli­gion, and at last to thinke nothing of God himselfe. And that which is most to be lamented, and therfore more need­ful to be loked vnto, there be mo of these vngratious bookes set out in print with­in these few monethes, than haue bin seene in Englande manie score yeeres. And because our English men made I­talians cannot hurt, but certaine per­sons, and in certaine places, therefore these Italian bookes are made English, to bring mischiefe inough openlie and boldlie to alestates, great and meane, yoong and olde, euerie-where. So that now they be solde in euerie shop in London, Pag. 26, b. commended by honest titles, the sooner to corrupt honest maners, dedi­cated ouer-boldlie to viriuous and ho­norable personages, the easelier to be­guile simple and innocent wits.

These are the words, as your wisedome smelleth I am sure, not of a yong wit, but of a graue head; nor of a meane Scholer, but of the best Schoolemaster that euer Eng­land bred, and therefore not light­lie to be ouer passed, nor quicklie [Page] to be forgotten, but with earnest endeuor oftentimes carefulie to be recorded, as good counsel ex­pressed from an hartie good-wil with rare eloquence, tending to the glorie of God, and benefit of this our Countrie, that neither such as are wel giuen may be alie­nated from virtue, nor those which are il bent, prouoked vnto wickednes, through baudie, beast­lie, and blasphemous Bookes.

Last of al, remember, I humblie once againe in the bowels of Ie­su Christ beseech you, remember another abuse that hurteth more than both those which I haue al­readie mentioned; namelie, pro­phane Plaies, publikelie vsed, set foorth as banners of open defi­ance to the Gospel, and godlines, & that vpon Holi-daies, yea, and in those places to (I meane the V­niuersities for learning, and Lon­don for resort) which ought to be the Lanternes of godlines vnto al the land beside. Preachers euen the grauest for wisedome and yeeres; and the greatest for zeale and knowledge; & not the smal­lest for auctoritie, euerie-where crie out vpon them so zealouslie [Page] with such griefe of hart, that they are euen tyred againe with cri­eng. Doctors condemne themCyril. Ca­tech. 1. Mystag. Tertul. lib de Spect.: By shops write against themSaluianus inuenter of the 2. blast of retraite from plaies.: yea & the best auctors in these daies of those wanton, yea wicked toies are quite out of loue with them, & ashamed of their doingsAuctor of the 3. blast of retraite from plaies: and also the auctor of the Schoole of abuse.. Oh that the Magistrate, our soue­raigne Magistrate I meane, would vtterlie forbid them publikelie to be vsed, that the common people might not haunt them, and al should be wel!

But to returne to my purpose from which I haue digressed, these errors, I feare mee, haue caused manie to doubt, whether S. Augu­stine were ye auctor of this booke; but being left out, as nowe they are, I cannot see, why S. Augustine might not make the same, the matter is so heauenlie, praiers; the words so holie, Scripture; e­uerie thing so wiselie, orderlie, excellentlie done by the auctor, that he must needes be a most ex­cellent man, whosoeuer made the same, and a more excellent than S. Augustine among the Doctors, I thinke was neuer none.

Which being so, I trust I shal [Page] [...]t neede to request your Honor [...] accept this booke in good part: [...] to request your Honor to par­ [...]n my boldnes in dedicating my [...]ple doings, obscure, as I am, & [...] person vnknowne to your Ho­ [...]r, and to beare with my rude [...]diousnes, and tedious rudenes, [...]aue great neede; and so I hum­ [...]ie doe.

The Lord almightie, and King [...] glorie, who hath cast the eies [...] his gratious countenance vpon [...]u, abide with you for euermore, and with this new yeere powre vpon your Honor a newe increase of his hea­uenlie blessings, Amen.

At your Honors com­mandement, Tho. Rogers.

A pretious Booke of holie Meditations, written by that reuerend Father, S. Augustine, which he calleth his priuate talke with GOD.

Chap. 1.
Of the vnspeakable sweete­nes of God.

O Lorde, which knowest mee1. Sam. 16 verse. 7. Psalm. 7, 9. Actes. 15, 8., giue me grace to knowe theeWis. 15, 3 Iohn. 17, 3.; to know thee, euen [...]he strength of my soule2. Sam. 22, verse. 3. Psal. 18, 2..

O my comforter2. Co. 1, 3 Rom. 15, 5., showe me [...]hy selfe; let mee see thee, ô [...]ght of mine eiesIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iames. 1, 17.

Come, ô thou mirth of my [...]pirit; let me see thee, the ioie [...]f mine hartPsal. 119, verse 111.; & loue thee, the [...]erie life of my souleEcc. 23, 4. Iohn. 14, 6..

[Page 2] Come in my presence, ô my souereigne delightSal. song. 1, ve. 6, &c., my swee [...] solaceWisd. 16, verse. 21. Rom. 15, 5., ô my Lord GodEx. 15, 2. Psalm. 7, 1. 3. Matth. 4, 7. 10., my lifeEcc. 23, 4. Colos. 3, 4., and the whole glorie o [...] my soulePsa. 62, 7. Iudit. 15, 9..

Let me finde thee, ô min [...] harts desirePsa. 42, 1. 2.; let me hold thee whome my soule doth loueSal. songs 3, verse. 3. [...] O celestial bride-groomeEph. 5, 22. 23. Reue. 21, 2., le [...] me embrace thee, ô my sou [...] reigne comfort, both inward and outwarde, let me possess [...] thee, ô euerlasting blisse1. Iohn. 5, verse. 12., ye [...] in the middes of mine hartGal. 2, 20. [...] me possesse thee, ô blessed li [...] Iohn. 11, verse. 15. Iohn. 14, 6., ô surpassing sweetenesPsal. 34, 8. [...] my soule.

Let me loue thee, ô Lord [...] strength2. Sam. 22 verse. 2. 3., my fortresse, my re­fuge, and my Sauior. Let me loue thee, ô my GOD, [...] helperPsal. 18, ve. 1, 2, & 3., mine hie tower, a [...] mine hopePsa. 61, 3. in al my troble.

Let me embrace thee, eu [...] [Page 3] goodnes it selfMatt. 19, verse. 17. Luk. 18, 19.; without whom nothing is good; let me enioie thee the verie bestIam. 1, 17; without whome nothing is best.

O wordIohn. 1, 1. 2., more sharper than [...]nie two edged swordHeb. 4, 12, open [...]hou the secreat partes of mine eares, that I may heare thy voiceProu. 2, 1. 2. Iohn. 10, 3..

Thunder, ô Lord, from hea­ [...]enPsa. 18, 3. with a loude and mightie voice. Let the sea roare, and al [...]hat therein is1. Chr. 16, verse. 32.; let the earth be mooued, and al that is in it.

Lighten mine eiesPsa. 13, 3., ô in­ [...]omprehensible lightIohn. 1, 5.; cast [...]orth thy lightning, and scatter [...]hemPs. 144, 6. Psal. 18, 14., that they regard no va­ [...]itiePsal. 119, verse. 37..

Encrease thy lightningPs. 18, 14. 15., and [...]atter them, that the fountains [...]f water may appeere, and the [...]undations of the worlde be [...]scouered.

[Page 4] (O light inuisible), giue mee sightPsa. 119, verse. 18. to see thee. Create a new smelling, ô fauor of life2. Cor. 2, verse. 15. 16., that I may runne after thee through the sauor of thy oint­mentsSal. songs 1, verse. 2. 3.. Heale my tasting, that I may taste, know, and discerne how great thy goodnes isPs. 31, 19., ô Lord, which thou hast laide vp for them, who are filled with thy looueDeu. 6, 5. Matt. 22, 37.

Giue mee an hart, that may thinke on theeProu. 2, 1. 2, &c.; a minde, that may loue theeMark. 12, verse. 29. 30.; a soule, that may remember theeDeut. 6, 6. 7.; an vn­derstanding, to knowe theeDeut. 30, verse. 11. 12, &c.; and reason, alwaies to sticke fast vnto theeMatt. 10. verse. 37. 38, &c., the most soue­reigne delightRom. 8, verse. 35. 36, &c. Philip. 3, 7. 8.. Let wise loue fauor thee wiselieDeu. 13, 3.

O lifeIohn. 11, verse. 25., for whome al things liue1. Cor. 3, verse. 22. 23.; ô life, which giuest me lifeIoh. 6, 57.; ô life, which art my lifeIoh. 14, 6. ▪ by which I liueAct. 17, 28., without [Page 5] which I die. O life, which rai­sest me to lifeIohn. 21, verse. 25., without which I perish; ô life, whereby I re­ioice, without which I am pen­siue; ô liuelie, sweet, and loue­lie life, alwayes to be thought vpon, where art thouSal. song. 1, verse. 6. Sal. songs. 5 verse. 6., I be­seech thee? where may I finde thee, that I may faint in my selfe, and depend on thee?

O my loue, be thou nigh in my minde, nigh in mine hart, nigh in my mouth, nigh in mine eares, nigh to aide mePs. 44, 23. 24. Psa. 69, 17. 18.. For I languish through looueSal. songs. 5, verse. 8.; for without thee, alas, I die; but when I thinke on thee, I reuiue againe.

Thy sauor refresheth meeSa. songs. 1, verse. 2., thy remembrance healeth me; yet shal I not be satisfiedPsa. 17, 15, til thy glorie appeerethCol. 3, 4., ô thou life of my souleEcc. 23, 4..

My soule longeth, yea and [Page 6] faintethPsa. 84, 2. through the remem­brance of thee; when shal I come, and appeere before thy presencePsa. 42, 2., ô my ioieIudi. 15, 9!

Wherefore hydest thou thy faceIob. 13, verse. 24., ô my delight by whome I reioiceLuke. 10, verse. 20.?

O thou faire on whome I so desirePsal. 42, 1. 2., where hast thou hid thy selfeSal. songs 5, verse. 6. 7, &c.? Thy sent I feele, therefore doe I liue, and am somwhat comforted; but thee I see not. I heare thy voice, and I take hart againe.

But wherfore hidest thou thy faceIob. 13. verse. 24.? Happilie thou wilt saie, No man shal see me and liueEx. 33, 20. Oh then Lord, ô that I were dead, so I might see thee; ô let me see thee, that I may die e­uen here. I wil not liue, die I would, yea I desire to be loased & to be with ChristPhi. [...], 23.; I desire to die that I may see Christ; I [Page 7] refuse to liue, that I may liue with Christ2. Tim. 2, verse. 11..

O Lord Iesu, receiue my spi­riteAct. 7, 59.; ô my lifeIoh. 14, 6., take my soule; my ioie, drawe my hart vnto thee; my sweete foodeIoh. 6, 54. 55, &c., let me eate theeMark. 14, verse. 22.; mine head1. Cor. 11, verse. 3. Ephe. 5, 23. direct me; light of mine eiesIohn. 1, 9. inlighten me; ô my comfort, reioice me; my sauior2. Cor. 2, verse. 16. quicken me; ô Word of GodIohn. 1, 1. refresh me; my praiseEx. 15, 2. Deu. 10, 20. 21. comfort the soule of thy seruantPsal. 86, 4.. Enter therinto, ô my ioie, that it also may ioie in theePsal. 4, 4.; Enter ther­into, ô souereigne sweetenes, that it may sauor those thinges which are sweet; ô light eter­nalIohn. 1, 5. shine thou ouer it; that it may vnderstande thee, knowe theeIoh. 17, 3., and loue theePs. 40, 16. Iohn. 8, 42. Ioh. 14, 15. 21, &c..

For the cause, ô Lord, why it loueth thee not, is, because it knowes thee not, and it know­eth [Page 8] thee not, because it per­ceaues thee not; it perceaueth thee not, because it compre­hendeth not thy light, which doth shine in darknesIohn.1, 5., and the darknes cōprehendeth it not.

O light of ye mindeIohn.1, 4. Iohn. 12, 35 36.; ô light­some truth; ô true light, which inlightnest euerie man yt com­meth into this worldIohn. 1, 9.: indeede yt commeth into the world, but not which loueth the worlde1. Iohn. 2, verse. 15.. For whosoeuer is a friende of ye worldIam. 4, 4. is an enimie to God.

O driue awaie the darknesGen. 1, 2. from the deepe of my minde, that it may see thee, by vnder­standing thee; and know thee, by comprehending thee; and looue thee, by knowing thee. For whosoeuer knoweth thee, doth looue theeIohn. 14, verse. 15. 16. 17.; hee forgets himselfeLuk. 9, 23 24.; and loues thee more than himselfeMatt. 10, verse. 37. 38. 39.; yea, he forsa­keth [Page 9] himselfe, and commeth vnto thee, that in thee alone he may reioice1. Cor. 1, verse. 31..

Hence then is it, ô Lord, that I looue thee not as I ought to do, euen because I knowe thee not so perfectlie, as I shoulde1. Cor. 13 verse. 9. 10.; and because I haue but little knowledge of thee, I loue thee but little; and for that I loue thee but little, I do little reioice in thee1. Cor. 1, verse. 31.. But departing from thee the true and inward ioie vnto outwarde, while I lacke thee, I seeke fained comforts in these outward things1. Iohn. 2, verse. 15. 16.. And so wretch that I am, that which with my whole hart, and with al my mindDeut. 6, 5. Matt. 22, 37 Marke. 12, verse. 29. 30. I should haue sur­rendred vnto thee alone, that haue I giuen to vanities; and so through louing vanitiePsal. 4, 2., I am become vane.

Hence also it is, that I reioice [Page 10] not in theePhili. 4, 4., nor cleaue to thee Deut. 10, verse. 20., ô Lord, euen because I de­light in outwarde, thou in in­wardIoh 4, 23. 24.; I in temporal, thou in spiritual ioies: I am in minde distracted, in thought occupi­ed, in talke snarled about tran­sitorie things; and thou inha­bitest the eternitieEsa. 57, 15, and art e­uerlastingnes it selfeBar. 4, 10. 14. 2. Mach. 1, verse. 24. 25.: Thou art in heauen1. King. 8, verse. 30. 32. Matth. 6, 9., I on earth; thou louest thinges on hieCol. 3, 1. 2., I base things below; thou heauenlie, I terrestrial. And howe then may these contraries agree to­gether2. Cor. 6, verse. 15. 16, &c.!

Chap. 2.
Of the miserie and frailtie of man.

O Wretched mā that I amRo. 7, 24., when shal [...] my crookednes be made euen to thy straightnesHos 14, verse. 10.?

[Page 11] Lorde, thou louest solitari­nesMatt. 6, 5. 6., and I companie; thou si­lenceEsaie. 32, verse. 17., & I noise; thou truthPs. 25, 10., and I vanitieGen. 6, 5. Mat. 15, 19.; thou puritieIob. 15, verse. 15. Iob. 25, 4. 5. 6., and I folowe filthinesEsa. 64, 6..

And what more, Lord? Thou art perfectlie goodPs. 118, 1. 29. Iere. 33, 11. Mat. 19, 16. 17., I am euilGe. 8, 21. Rom. 3, 10. 11, &c.; thou art godlyReu. 15, 4., I am wicked1. King. 3 verse. 46.; thou art holieLeu. 19, 2 1. Sam. 2, 2. Esaie. 6, 3. Reu. 6, 10., I am wretched 1. Ioh. 1, 8, 10.; thou art righteousPsal. 119, verse. 137. Dan. 9, 14. Reu. 16, 5., I am sin­fulEc. 7, 22.; thou art the lightMica. 7, 8. Iohn. 1, 4, 9. Iohn.8, 12. 1. Ioh. 1, 5, 7., I am blinde; thou art the lifeIohn. 11, 25. Ioh. 14, 25., I am dead; thou the physicionMatt. 9, 12, 13., I am sicke; thou the ioieIudith. 15, 9., I am so­row; thou the souereigne truthIohn. 14, 6., I nothing but vanitie, as al men liuing bePsa. 39, 5. Psal. 62, 9. Wisd. 13, 1..

Alas therefore, ô my Crea­torDeut. 32, 18. Eccle.12, [...]., what shal I saie? Listen, ô my Creator; I am thy crea­ture2. Esdr. 8, 7, 8, 9., and am now cast awaie; I [Page 12] am thy creature, and now doe I die; I am thy creaturePs. 13, 95. 13. 14., and am now destroied.

Thy workmanship I am. Thy hands haue made mePsal. 119, verse. 73., and fa­cioned me.

O Lord, despise not the work of thine handesPs. 138, 8; respect the woundes of thine owne hands, I beseech thee.

Lo, thou hast written me vp­on the palme of thine handsEsa. 49, 16: ô Lord God, reade that wri­ting, and saue me.

Behold, I thy creature sigh after theePsa. 42, 1. 2.; thou art my Crea­torGen. 1, 26 27. Wisd. 2, 23., oh make me new againPs. 51, 10.. Beholde, I thy workmanship, crie vnto theeIudg. 10, verse. 10. Psal. 28, 1. Ioël.1, 14. 19.; thou art the life Ioh. 14, 6., oh quicken me againePsal. 119, verse. 25. 37. 40. 88.. Be­hold, I thy handie worke looke vpon theeEsa. 17, 7.; thou art my ma­ker, oh repaire mee againe. Spare me, ô Lord, for my daies [Page 13] are but vanitieIob. 7, 16..

What is man that he shoulde talke vnto GOD his maker! Spare me, ô God, speaking vn­to thee. Be not angrie with thy seruantGen. 18, verse. 30. 32. for presuming to talke with so mightie a Lord. Neces­sitie hath no law. Griefe com­pels me to speake; and the mi­serie which I endure, enforceth me to crie out.

Sick I am, I crie vnto the phy­sicion; blinde I am, I hasten to the light; I am dead, and I sigh for life. Thou art ye physicionMat. 9,12. 13.; thou art the lightIoh. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7.; the life thou artIoh. 14, 6., ô Iesus of NazarethMatt. 26, verse, 71. Mark. 1. 24..

Haue mercie vpon mec, ô sonne of DauidMat. 9, 27. Marke. 10, verse. 47.; ô fountaine of merciePsa. 36, 9., haue mercie vpon me; and harken to the diseased which crieth for thine helpe.

O light passing by, looke vp­on the blinde; stretch foorth [Page 14] thine hande vnto him, that hee may come vnto thee, and see the light in thy lightPsa. 36, 9.. O life li­uing euerlastinglieLuk. 1, 33, cal againe the dead vnto life.

But what am I that speaketh vnto thee? Wo is me, Lord; spare me, ô LordIob. 7, 16.; I, alas, I am euen an rotten carkasEsa. 14, 19; the meat of wormesEsa. 51, 8.; a loathsome ves­sel; euen matter for fireMatt. 25. verse. 41. Luk. 13, 27..

What am I that speaketh vn­to thee? Wo is me, Lorde; ô Lorde, spare me, a wretched manRom. 7, verse. 24.: A man indeede, borne of a womanIob. 14, 1., of short continu­ance, and ful of troble; a man indeede, made like to vanitiePs. 144, 4.; cōpared to the foolish beastsPs. 49, 12. 20.; and now in verie deede like to them.

And what am I more? a darke dungeon; miserable earthEcc. 10, 9. 12. Ecc. 17, 33.; the childe of wrathEphe. 2, 3.; a vessel of dis­honor [Page 15] Rom. 9, verse. 21. 22.; begotten in vnclean­nesPsa. 51, 5.; liuing in wretchednesIob. 14, 1; dieng in distresse.

Out vpon me wretch, what am I? Alas what shal become of me, that am a vessel of filthi­nes; a coffin of rottennes; re­plenished with stinch, & loath­somnes; blinde, poore, naked, subiect to verie manie trobles; ignorant both when I came, in­to the world, and when I shal departGen. 27, 2 Eccle. 9, 12. Mat. 24, 44. Reuel. 3, 3.; miserableIob. 14, 1., and mor­talRo. 6, 12. 2. Cor. 4, 11; whose daies passe awaie like a shade1. Chr. 29, verse. 15. Psa. 102, 11; whose life vani­sheth like the moone light; now growing like a flowerIob. 14, 2. Psa. 103, 15 Esaie. 40, 6. 7. 8. on the tree, and by and by withering; florishing now, fading by and by?

My life, I saie, is a fraile life, a fleeting lifeIob. 7, 6. 7.; a life, that the more it lengtheneth, the shor­ter it waxeth; the more it en­creaseth, [Page 16] the nigher it draweth towardes death; a life transito­rie, and deceitful, replenished with the snares of deathPsal. 18, 5..

Now am I iocond, anon sad; now strong, anon sicke; now aliue, anon dead; now I seeme happie, but am alwaies mise­rable; now merie, anon mour­ning. And so are al things sub­iect vnto mutabilitie, that no­thing continueth at a staie one whole houre together.

Hence feare, thence trem­bling; hence hunger, thence thirst; thence cold, hence heat; hence faintnes, thence sorowe springeth, and after al these fo­loweth vntimelie death, which sodainlie doth carrie miserable men awaie after a thousande waies.

This man it killeth with sick­nes, that mā it oppresseth with [Page 17] sorowe; this man it famisheth with hunger, that man with thirst it dispatcheth; this man it choakes with waters, that man it strangleth with an hal­ter. One man it consumeth by fire, another it deuoureth by wilde beastes; with sworde it slaieth another; another it cor­rupteth with poison; and with some terrible feare it dispat­cheth some other miserable man.

And yet there is a great mi­serie beside al this: and that is: although nothing be more certaine than death, yet wo­teth not man when he shal de­partGen. 27, 2 Psal. 39, 4. [...]. Eccle. 9,1.: and then takes he a fal, and leeseth his hopeIob. 8, 13. Pro. 10, 28. when in his owne iudgement he stoode ful sure. For man cannot tel ei­ther when, or where, or how he shal die: yet is it appointed that [Page 18] he shal dieHeb. 9, 27.

Now see, Lord, how great is mans wretchednes, wherein I am, & yet feare not; how much the miserie that I endure, and yet neither am trobled therat, nor dooe crie vnto thee? But, Lorde, I wil crie vnto thee be­fore I passe away, if happilie I may abide in thee, & not passe awaie.

I wil tel then, I wil tel my miserie; yea I wil confesse my vilenes before thee, and not be ashamed.

O my fortitudeExo. 15, 2. Psal. 43. 2. Esaie. 49, 5., by whome I am vpholden, helpe me, assist me, ô my strengthPsa. 18, 1. 2. by whom I am sustained; Come lightIohn. 1, 4. 9. through which I se, appere glo­rie Psal. 3. 3. Psal 62, 7. through which I reioice; and lifeIoh. 14, 6. wherein I shal liue, manifest thy selfe, ô Lord my GodPs. 104, 35 Esaie. 25, 1..

Chap. 3.
Of Gods wonderful light.

O Light which Tobit sawe, when though blindeTob. 2, 9, 10., he taught his sonne the waie of lifeTob. 4, 3. 4, &c.! O light which Izhak sawe inwardlie, when though outwardlie blindGen. 27, 1, he tolde his sonne what was to comeGe. 27, 28 29.. O light, I saie, inuisible, to which al ye depth of mans hart is visi­ble1. King. 8, verse. 39. 1. Chr. 28, 9 Eccl. 42, 18. 1. Cor. 4, 5. Reu. 2, 23.. O light which Iacob saw, when according to thine in­ward instruction, he foretolde Gen. 49, 1. 2. 3, &c. what outwardlie should hap­pen to his sonnes.

Beholde darknes is vpon the face of the deepeGen. 1, 2. of my mind, y art lightLuk. 2, 32. Iames. 1, 17; Lo, a mistie dim­nes is vpon the waters of mine hart, but thou art the truthIoh. 14, 6..

[Page 20] O word by whome al things were madeIohn. 1, 3., & without which nothing was made. O worde, which art before al thingsPro. 8, 22. 23. 24, &c. Wisd. 9, 9. Eccle. 24, 5. 6, &c. 12., & before which was nothing. O word creating al thingsIohn. 1, 3 Hebr. 11, 3., with­out which al things are nothīg. O word gouerning al thingsHebr. 1, 2. 3., without which al thinges are naught woorth. O word which in the beginning didst saie, Let there be light, and there was lightGen. 1, 3.: say likewise to me, Let there be light, and light shalbe made, and I shal see lightPsal. 36, 9. and discerne al that is not light. For without thee I put darknes for lightEsa. 5, 20., and light for darknes.

And so without thee there is present for truth, error; for wis­dome, foolishnes; confusion & ignorance for knowledge; for sight, blindnes; by-pathes for the right waie; for life, death.

Chap. 4.
The frailtie of mans nature.

BEholde, my Lorde, because there is no life, there is death; naie rather there is no death, because death is no­thing. For thereby wee come vnto naught, while we dread not to make our selues naught Ier. 10, 24 through sinne.

And yt deseruedlie, ô Lord. For when we come to naught like the running waterPsal. 58, 7, we are recompenced according to our works: because without thee nothing was doneIohn. 1, 3., and we by dooing nothing, are made no­thing. For without thee, by whome al things are madePro. 8, 23. 23, &c. Heb. 11, 3., and without whome nothing was madeIohn. 1, 3., (ô Lord y word1 Ioh. 5, 7. Reu. 19, 11. 12. 13., [Page 22] ô God the wordIohn. 1, 1. 3. by whome al things were made, without which was made nothing that was made) we are nothing.

Wo is mee wretch so often blinded; because thou art the lightMica. 7, 8. Iohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 8, 12., and I am not with thee. Woe is mee wretch so often wounded; because thou art sal­uationMat. 1, 21. Luke. 1, 31. Phili. 3, 20. 1. Tim. 4, 10, & I am not with thee. Wo is me wretch so often infa­tuated; because thou art the truthIoh. 14, 6., and I am not with thee. Wo is mee wretch so often wandering, because thou art ye waieIoh. 14, 6., and I am not with thee. Wo is me wretch so oftē dead; because thou art lifeIohn. 11, verse. 25. Iohn. 14, 6., & I am not with thee. wo is me wretch so often brought to nothing; because thou art the worde by which al things were madeIohn. 1, 9. 10., & yet I am not with thee, with­out whom nothing was made.

[Page 23] O Lord the word1. [...]oh. 5, 7, ô God the wordIoh. 1, 1, 3, who art the lightIoh. 8, 12. 1. Ioh. 1, 5, 7, by whome light was madeGen. 1, 3.; who art the waie, the truth, and the lifeIoh. 14, 6., in whom there is nei­ther darknes1. Ioh. 1, 5. 6, 7., errorPsal. 119, verse. 176. Esaie. 53, 6., vanitieIoh. 8, 44. 1. Ioh. 2, 21. 27., nor death2. Ti. 1, 10 Hebr. 2, 14. 15.. The light without which al is darknesEph. 5, 7, 8 Colos 1, 12. 13.; the waie without which all is but by-pathes1. Pe. 2, 25; the truth, without which al is but falshoodePsal. 116, verse. 11.; the life, without which euery thing is deathRo. 5, 12..

Speake the worde Lord, let there be lightGen. 1, 3., that I may see the lightPsal. 36, 9., and shun darknes; see the waie, & shun by-paths; see the truth, and shun falshood; see life, and shun death.

Inlighten mePsal. 13, 3., ô Lord, my lightPsa. 27, 1., my glorieEsa. 60, 19 20. Psal. 38, 22., & my sal­uation; whome I wil feareEcc. 34, 14 15, &c.; my Lord, whom I wil praisePsa. 35, 18 Psal. 69, 30.; my God, whō I wil worshipDeut. 6, 13 Matt. 4, 10.; [Page 24] my FatherEsaie. 63, verse. 16. Galat. 4, 5. 6, &c., whome I wil ho­norMal. 1, 6. Deut. 5, 16.; & my spouseEph. 5, 23. for whom I wil keepe my selfe.

Inlighten, ô light, inlighten me poore soule sitting in dark­nes & in the shadow of deathPsal. 107, verse. 10. 14. Luke. 1, 79., & direct my feete into the way of peace, y I may enter therby into the place of thy glorious tabernacle, euē to the house of God, with the voice of ioiePsal. 42, 4. & thanksgiuing. For true confes­sion is the verie wayRo 10, 10. whereby I may come vnto thee the way, by which I may come out of by-pathes, and go againe vnto thee the waie. For thou art the true waie vnto lifeIoh. 14, 6..

Chap. 5.
VVhat is ment by becom­ming nothing.

I Wil confesse therfore, ô Father, LORD of Heauen and EarthMatt. 11, verse. 27., [Page 25] vnto thee wil I cōfesse my wic­kednesPsal. 32, 5., that so I may attaine vnto thy mercie.

I became wretched, and was broght vnto nothing, yet knew I not so much; for thou art the truthIoh. 14, 6., and I was not with thee. Mine iniquities did wound me Ezra. 9, 7. Psal. 38, 4. 5., yet was I not trobled; for thou art the lifeIoh. 14, 6., and I was not with thee. They brought mee vnto nothing; for thou art the wordIohn. 1, 1. Hebr. 1, 2. 3., & I was not with thee, by whom al things were made, without whome nothing was madeIohn. 1, 3.. And therefore being without thee I became no­thing. For it is nothing which bringeth vnto nothing.

By the worde al things were madeIohn. 1, 1. 2. whatsoeuer was made, & after what forme soeuer they were made.

And God saw al that he had [Page 26] madeGen. 1, 31. Eccl. 39, 16. 33. Mark. 7, 37., & lo, it was exceeding good. Al things yt were made, were made by the worde: then whatsoeuer things were made by the worde, are exceeding good.

Wherefore be they good? Be­cause al things were made by the word; and without it was made nothing, yt was madeIohn. 1, 3.. For nothing is good without the souereigne good.

But wheras good is not, there is euil, which indeede is no­thing, because euil is nought else, but the want of good:euen as blindnes is naught else, but the want of sight.

Euil then is nothing, because it was made without the word, without which nothing was madeIohn. 1, 1. 3..

And that is euil, which is de­priued of that good, wherby al [Page 27] thinges that are, were made. But those things which be not, are not made by him. And therefore they are nothing.

Then whatsoeuer was not made, are euil. Because al things that were made, were made by the wordeIohn. 1, 1. 3.. And al which were made by the word, were exceeding goodGen. 1, 31 Eccl. 39, 16. 33.: where­fore forsomuch as al thinges were made by the worde, euil things were not made by it.

So it remaneth, that whatso­euer things were not made, are not good: for al things are good, which were madeEc. 39, 16. 33.. Therefore the thinges not made, are euil: and so consequentlie nothing. Because without the word no­thing was madeIohn. 1, 3.. Euil then is nothing, because it was not made.

But how is euil, if it was not [Page 28] made? Because euil is a priua­tion of that which good is, tho­rough which good was madeGen. 1, 31. Then to be without the worde, is euil; which is to be as no­thing. For besides it, is nothing.

But what is it to be separated from the worde? If thou woul­dest knowe that, listen what is ment by the word.

The word of God saithIohn. 14, 6, I am the waie, the truth, and the life. Therefore to be separated from the worde, is to be without the waie, without the truth, with­out life, and so nothing without him: and so euil, because it is without the worde, by whome al things were madeIohn. 1, 1. 3., and they were excellentlie goodGen. 1, 31. Eccl. 39, 16. 33..

Againe, to be separated from the worde, by which al thinges were madeIohn. 1, 3., is nothing else but to vndo; and of something [Page 29] to become nothing. For with­out him it is nothing.

As often therfore as thou de­clinest from that which good is, thou separatest thy selfe from the word. For that is good. And so thou art made nothing, be­cause thou art without ye word, without the which was made nothing that was madeIohn. 1, 3..

Now then, ô Lord my light Mica. 7, 8., thou hast inlightened mee, that I may see thee. I haue sene, and knowen, that as often as I am separated from thee, so oft I become nothing. Because I for­gat goodnesDeut. 32, verse. 18. which thou artMatth. 19, verse. 16. 17.; and therefore am made euil.

Wo worth me wretch that I neuer marked, how I became nothing when I forsooke thee. But what needes this cōplaint? If I was nothing, I needed not to knowe.

[Page 30] We knowe that euil is no­thing; and that is not, which is nothing: and that which is not good, is not, because it is no­thing.

If therefore I was nothing, when I was without thee; I was but as nothing euen like an I­dol, which is nothing1. Co. 8, 4., hauing eares, and heareth notPs. 135, 17 16.; a nose, and smelleth notPsal. 15, 5 6. 7.; eies, and seeth not; a mouth, and spea­keth not; handes, and feeleth not; feete, and walketh not; & al the proportion of members, and yet liueth not.

Chap. 6.
How the soule offendeth through sinne.

SO then as long as I was without thee, I was naught but verie nothing: and [Page 31] therefore blinde I was, deafe I was, and without sense. For I neither knew what good was; nor shunned that euil was; nor perceaued my wounds when I was hurt; nor saw the darknes which I was in. Because I was without thee, the verie lightIohn. 1, 4. 9., which lightneth euerie man that commeth into the world.

Alack therefore, they woun­ded me, yet I sorowed not; they haled me, yet I perceaued not, for that I was not; because I was without lifeIohn. 14, 6., which is the wordeIohn. 1, 1. 3., by whome al thinges were made.

And therefore, ô Lorde my lightEsa. 60, 19. 20., mine enimies did with me euen what they would; they struck me; they striped me; they polluted me; they corrupted me; they wounded mee; yea they killed me: because I for­sooke [Page 32] theeHos. 7, 13., and so became no­thing without thee.

Alacke, ô Lorde, my lifeIoh. 11, 25. Iohn. 14, 6. by whom I was madeGen. 1, 26. 27. Iob. 33, 4. Colos. 3, 10.; my light Iohn. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7., wherby I am directedLuke. 1, 79., haue mercie vpon mePsal. 41, 10., ô defender of my lifePsal. 22, 19. 20., and raise mee vp againe, ô Lord my GodPsal. 18, 1. 2, &c., my hopePsal. 91, 2., my strengthExo. 15, 2., my rock, and my comfort in the daie of my troblePsa. 59, 16. 17.. Consider mine ad­uersariesPsa. 25, 19. 20., and deliuer mePsal. 18, 17. Psalm. 59, 1. 2.; let them which hate mePsal. 68, 1. flie awaie from my presence, and through thee let me liue in thee.

For they haue watched mePsa. 37, 32., & seing me without thee, haue despised me. They parted a­mong themselues the garments Psa. 22, 18. of virtue, wherewithal thou hadst clothed me; they made a waie through me; they troade me vnder their feete; they de­filed thine holie templePsal. 79, 1. with [Page 33] the dregs of wickednes; they left me desolate, pining awaie through sorow. I folowed after blind, and naked, and shackled with the cordesPro. 5, 22. of wickednes. They dragged mee after them in their circuite frō vice to vice; and from mire to mire; and so went I ful weakely, God kno­wes, before the face of him that pursued me.

Bond I was, yet liked I slaue­rie; blinde, and desired blinde­nes; bound, and did not abhor the shackles. I thought soure sweet, and sweet to be soureEsai. 5, 20..

Miserable I was, yet knewe I not so much: because I was without the worde, without which nothing was madeIohn. 1, 3., through which al thinges are maintained, without which al thinges are brought to no­thing.

[Page 34] For as al thinges by it were madeIohn. 1, 3, & without it was made nothing: so by it are al thinges maintained, whatsoeuer is ei­ther in heauen, or in the earth; in the sea, or in any deep place. Neither can anie part sticke to other either in a stone, or in any other thing created, did not the word, by which al things were made, maintaine it.

Wherefore, ô worde, I wil cleaue to theePsa. 73, 28 that thou maist saue me. For when I forsooke thee, I had perished; hadst not thou, which didst make meeGen. 1, 26. 27. Wisd. 2, 23. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. Colos. 3, 10., renued me againe.

I sinned, thou didst visit mePsal. 8, 4. Actes. 15, 14.; I fel, thou didst erect mePsa. 37, 24.; I was ignorant, thou didst teach mePsal. 71, 17. Psal. 94, 10. 12.; I was blind, thou didst lighten meIohn, 1, 9..

Chap. 7.
Of Gods manifold benefites conferred vpon man.

O My GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3., showe mee how much I wretch am bound to loue thee; how much I am bounde to praise thee; how much I am bounde to please thee.

ThunderPsal. 18, 13., ô Lord, with a great and mightie voice from aboue into the inwarde care of mine hart.

Teach mePs. 119, 135. Psal. 143, 10., and saue me,Psal. 71, 2. Esai. 37, 20. so wil I praise thee, for creating meGen. 1, 26. 27. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. 3, &c. when I was nothing; for lightning mee, when I was in darknesLuk. 1, 78. 79.; when I was deadRom. 8, 11., for reuiuing me; for cherishing me euen from my youthPsal. 71, 5. with al good things.

Thou dost nourish me vnpro­fitable [Page 36] wormeIob. 25, 6. stinking in wic­kednesPsal. 51, 1. 2. 3., euen with al thy most excellent benefitesMatt. 5, 45..

Open to me, ô key of Dauid, which dost openEsaie. 22, verse. 22. Reuel.3, 7., and no man shutteth against him, to whom thou openest; and doest shut and no man openeth to him a­gainst whome thou shuttest: Open to mee the doore of thy countenance, that I may enter, and beholde, and knowe, and praise thee with al mine hart. For great is thy mercie toward mePsal. 86, 13, and thou hast deliuered my soule frō the lowest graue.

O Lord our God, how excel­lent is thy name in al ye world Psalm. 8, 1. 9.! What is man, that thou art mindful of himPsal. 8, 4.! and the sonne of man, that thou visitest him!

O Lord, the hope of the god­lie, and the tower of their strengthPsal.61, 3.; ô God, the life of [Page 37] my souleIohn.4, 14., by which I liueAct. 17, 28., without which I die; ô light of mine eiesPsal. 27, 11., by which I see, without which I am blinde; ô the ioie of mine hart, and of my soule, let me loue thee with al mine hartDeut. 6, 5. Deut. 11, 18. Matt. 22, 37, with al my soule, with al my strength, and with al my bowels. Because thou didst loue me first1. Ioh. 4, 19..

And whence is it, ô Creator of heauenEste. 13, 10. Esaie. 51, 13., and of earth, and of the sea, which needest no good thing of minePsal. 50, 7. 8. 9, &c.; whence is it that thou hast loued me?

O wisedome, which openest the mouth of the dummeWis. 10, 21.; ô worde, by whome al thinges were madeIohn. 1, 1. 3., open my lipsPsal. 51, 15., giue me a voice of thankesgi­uingPsal. 26, 7., that I may vtter out al the benefits, which thou Lord, hast bestowed vpon mee, euen from the beginning.

[Page 38] For lo I am, because thou hast created meeGen. 1, 27. Iob. 33, 4. Psal. 100, 3. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. Colos. 3, 10.. And the cause whie thou didst create, & num­ber me among thy creatures, was thy predestination from e­uerlastingRom. 8, 29. 30., before thou madest anie thing frō the beginningPro. 8, 23. 24. 25. 26, &c., before thou didst spread abrod the heauens, when there were no depthes; neither hadst thou made the earth, nor setled the mountaines; before the foun­taines abounded with water. Before al these things which by thy worde thou didst createIohn. 1, 1. 3.; thou in thy most certaine pro­uidence of truth, didst foresee that I should be, yea thy minde was to make me thy creature.

And whence then is it, ô my LordBaru. 2. 11. 12., ô gratious and most hie GodPsal. 113, 5. 2. Esdr. 7, 62., whence is it, ô most merciful FatherPsa. 27, 10. Esaie. 63, 16. Luke 6, 36., most mightie CreatorEcc. 16, 18. 19. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. 3, &c., & alwaies louingPsa. 27, 10.? [Page 39] What deserued I at thy hands, what goodnes sawest thou in me, that mooued thy most glo­rious maiestie to create me?

When I was not, thou didest create meGen. [...], 27. Colos. 3, 10.. I was nothing, and of nothing thou didst make me somewhatPsa. 100, 3. Wisd. 2, 23..

And what kind of somwhat? Not a drop of water; not fire; not a birde, nor a fishe; nor a serpent; nor a brutish beast; nor a stone, nor a stock; nor of that kinde of thinges which haue onelie but beeing; nor of that whose nature is onlie to be, and to growe; nor of that which haue onelie being, growing, and sense. But aboue al these things, it is thy wil that I should consist both of those thinges which haue but onelie being, for I am; and of those thinges which aswel growe as [Page 40] be; for I am, and growe: and of those things also which haue being, growing, and sense; for I am, growe, and perceiue.

And yet more than this, thou hast made me a litle inferior to the AngelsHebr. 2, 7.: For I haue recea­ued reason at thine handes to knowe thee, aswel as they.

A litle inferior I confesse. For they haue an happie know­ledge of thee, euen as thou art, but I knowe through hope: they face to face1. Co. 13, 10 12., but I dark-lie through a glasse: they fullie, but I in part.

Chap. 8.
The happie state of man in the life to come.

BVt when y which is perfect is come1. Co. 13, 10 12. that in part shal be abolished; when [Page 41] with open face2. Co. 3, 18, wee shal see thy face.

Then what shal let vs to be as good euen as AngelsHeb. 2, 7. Psalm.8, 4. 5., seeing thou, Lorde, hast bedecked vs with ye crowne of hope, which is adorned with glorie and ho­nor; and seeing thou hast ex­ceedinglie aduanced vs as thy verie friendes.

Yea euerie waie as good then, and equal to Angels. For so saith thy truth; They are equal vnto the AngelsLuke. 20, verse. 36., and are the sonnes of God.

What are they else but the sonnes of God, if they be equal vnto Angels? Indeed they shal be the sonnes of God; because the sonne of man is made the sonne of God.

So that considering this thing, I dare boldlie saie, Man is not a litle inferior vnto AngelsHebr. 2, 7., [Page 42] Man is not onelie equal vnto AngelsLuke. 20, verse. 36., but man is aboue An­gels. Beeause a man is GodMat. 1, 23. 16. Luke. 2, 11., and God is a manIohn. 1, 14., but not an Angel.

And because the word which was in ye beginningIohn. 1, 1. God with God; the word whereby God saide, Let there be lightGen. 1, 3., and light was made; the worde by which al things in the begin­ning were madeIohn. 1,3., became fleshIohn. 1, 14., and dwelt among vs, and wee haue seene the glorie thereof, I saie man is the most excellent creature of al other.

Behold my glorie, in which I glorieIer. 9, 23. at what time soeuer I doe glorie; Lo my ioie, where­in I reioicePhili. 4, 4., when I doe re­ioice, ô Lord, my God, my life Psal. 42, 8., and the whole glorie of my soule.

Therefore, ô Lord my God, I [Page 43] confesse that creating mee a reasonable creature, thou didst create me after a sort as good as Angels. For by thy word I may be made perfect, so that I may attaine vnto the verie state of Angels, and haue the adoption of sonnesRom. 8, 15 Galat. 4, 5. Ephes. 1, 5., by thine onelie be­gotten sonne, ô Lord, thy wel-beloued sonneMatt. 3, 17. Matth. 17, 5. 2. Pet. 1, 17. in whom thou art wel pleased; by thine one­lie and right heireRom. 8, 16. 17. Hebru. 1, 2., of one sub­stance with theeHebru. 1, 3. and coeter­nalHeb. 13, 8. euen Iesus Christ our one­lie LordRom.5, 1. Rom. 6, 23. 1. Cor. 1, 7. 8. 9. 10., our redeemerMatt. 20. verse. 28. 1 Cor. 1, 30. Ephes. 1, 7. 1. Tim.2, 6. Heb. 9, 25. 26. 27. 28., our inlightenerIohn. 1, 4. 9., our comforter2. Cor. 1, 5 2. Thes. 2, 16. 17., our Aduocate with thee1. Iohn. 2, 1., and the light of our eiesIohn. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1, 5, 7.; who is our lifeIohn. 5, 21. 24., and our SauiorMatth. 1, 21. Luke. 2, 11. Act. 4,12., and our onelie hopeCol. 1, 27. 1. Tim. 1, 1.; who hath lo­ued vs more than himselfeIohn. 15, 13, Ephes. 5, 2. 1. Iohn. 3, 16., by whome wee haue an assured [Page 44] trust laid vp in store with theeEph. 3, 12., and free accesse vnto theeHeb. 4, 16.. Because he gaue them power to be the sonnes of GodIohn. 1, 12, to them I saie that beleeue in his Name.

I wil praise thy name, ô Lord, who by creating me after thine owne image and similitudeGen. 1, 26. 27. 1. Cor. 11, 7., hast made mee capable of so great glorie, as in time to be­come the sonne of GodIohn. 1, 12. Rom. 8, 15. 16. 17..

This condition neither trees, nor stones, nor generalie those things which either mooue, or encrease in the aire, or in the sea, or in the earth attaine vnto; because he gaue them no pow­er by thy word, to become the sonnes of GodIohn. 1, 12.; for they haue no reason. For in reason consi­steth the power, whereby wee knowe God. And this power he hath giuen to men, whome [Page 45] he hath made reasonable after his owne image, and likenesGen. 9, 6. Colos. 3, 10..

I also, ô Lord, am a man tho­rough thy grace, and by thy grace may be thy sonne, which they cannot be.

Whence haue I it, ô Lord, the souereigne truthIoh. 14, 6., and true so­uereigntie, euen the first borne of euerie creatureCol. 1, 15. 16. 17.; whence haue I it, that I may be ye sonne of God, which they cannot be?

Thou art the same God for euerLame. 5, 19 Dan. 6, 26. Baruc. 4, 10. 14, &c., thou madest al thingsGen. 1, 1. 2, &c. Iohn. 1, 3.; thou didst create both manGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Wisd. 2, 23. Eccle. 17, 1. 2. 3, &c., and beastsGen. 1, 24 25. Ierem. 27, 5., and stones, and al greene things vpon the face of the earthGen. 1, 11 12. Iob. 38, 25. 26. 27, &c.. For no merits went before, nor desertes. Because onlie of thy goodnes thou crea­tedst al thinges. Al creatures were like in merits. For none at al deserued ought.

How is it then that thy mer­cie [Page 46] doth more appeere in this thy reasonable creature, than in al the rest which haue no reason? Why am not I, as al they be; or else al they as I; or I alone as they? What merites had I? what had I deserued? that thou shouldest create me of power to become the sonne of GodIohn. 1, 2. Rom. 8, 15. 16. 17., and denie the same to al thy other creatures?

Be it fro me, ô Lorde, that I shoulde thinke I had anie me­rits. It was onlie thy grace; it was of thy meere goodnes, that I shoulde be partaker of that sweetnes.

Wherfore through that grace which mooued thee to create me of nothingIob. 10, 8. Iob. 33, 4. Psal. 100, 3. Ps 119, 73., ô Lord, giue mee this grace, I beseech thee, that I may thanke theePsal. 116, verse. 12. 17. for this thy good­nes.

Chap. 9.
Of Gods Omnipotencie.

THine Almightie hande, ô GOD, which is one, and the same alwaiesMala. 3, 5., hath created both the Angels, in heauen, and the litle wormes in earthGen. 1, 24 25., no whit more glori­ous in them, nor inferior in these.

For as none other hand could create an Angel; so none other could make the vilest worme: as none other could lay abrode the heauensIob. 9, 8. Psal. 104. 1, 2. 3, &c.; so none other fa­cion the smalest leafe of a tree: as none other coulde make a bodie; so none other make one heare white or blackMatth. 5, verse. 36.: But on­lie thine almightie hande, to which al things are alike pos­sibleMatth. 19, verse. 26. Mark. 10, 27 Mar. 14, 36. Luk. 18, 27..

[Page 48] For it is no more possible for thee to create a worme, than an Angel; nor more impossible to spreade out the HeauenEsai. 42, 5., than a leafe: It is no easier for thee to facion a smal heare, than a bigge bodie; nor harder to build the earth vpon the wa­terPsa. 104, 5 6., than to lay the waters vp­pon the earth. For thou God didest what thou wouldestIob. 23, 13 Psal. 115, 3. in Heauen and in earth, in the sea, and in al the depthesPsa. 135, 6., and me among other things thou didst make euen as thou wouldest, couldest, and knewest best.

Thine hand, ô Lorde, coulde haue made meeMatth. 19, verse. 26. Luk. 18, 27. a stone, or a bird, or a Serpent, or some brute beast: it knew as much, but it would not for thy mercie sake.

Wherefore then am I not a stone, or a tree, or a beast? Be­cause thy goodnes hath so or­dained. [Page 49] Yet did not anie me­rites of mine preuent thee, that thou shouldest appoint it so.

Chap. 10.
The incomprehensible praise of God.

WHere shal I get, ô my Lord, where shal I get suffici­ent praises to extol theePs. 106, 2.?

For as thou madest mePs. 100, 3. as it pleased thee, without mine help: so canst thou magnifie thy self, as it pleaseth thee, with­out me.

Before thee, ô Lord, thy praise is thy selfe. Let al thy workes prayse theeSong of ye thre chil­drē. ver. 57., according to thine excellent greatnesPs. 150, 2.. Thy praise ô LORD, is incomprehen­siblePs. 106, 2.. It is neither in heart con­ceiued; nor vttered by mouth; [Page 50] nor perceiued by care. For these things doe passe awayEsai. 40, 6. 7. 8.: but thy praise, ô Lord, endureth for euer.

The thought hath a begin­ning, & it hath an end; the voice hath a sounde, and the voice doth vanish; the eare doth heare, and hearing cesseth: but thy praise, ô Lord, endureth for euer.

Who then can praise thee! what man can shew forth thy praisePs. 106, 2. Ec [...]. 43, 30. 31.! Thy praise is not tran­sitorie, it endureth for euer.

He doth praise thee, who be­leceueth thee to be thine owne praise. He doth praise thee, who knoweth himselfe vnable to at­taine vnto thy praise. O perpe­tual praise, neuer vanishing; in thee is our praise, in thee shal my soule reioiceIer. 9, 23. 24. 1. Cor. 1, 31.

We praise thee not, but thou [Page 51] praisest thy selfe, by thy selfe, and in thy selfe: and our praise also is in thee.

Then haue wee true praise, when we haue praise of thee1. Cor, 4, 5.; when the light doth allow the light. For thou the true praiseDeu. 10, 21 Psa. 118, 14. Esaie. 22, 2. giuest due commendation.

And as often as wee seeke praise of anie other besides theeRoma. 2, verse. 29., so oftē do we leefe thy praise. Because that is transitorie, but thine is eternal. If we go after transitorie, wee forgo eternal: and if we loue eternal, we must loath y praise that is transitorie.

O Lord my GodPsalm. 7, 1 3., praise e­ternalDe. 10, 21., of whome al praise, without whome there is no praise, without thee I am vnable to praise thee: let me haue thee, and I wil praise thee.

For what am I, Lord, of my selfe that I should praise thee! [Page 52] dust and ashes am IGe. 18, 27.; a dead, and stincking dog1 Sam. 24, verse. 15. 2. Sam. 9, 8. am I; a wormeIob. 25, 6., and verie rottennes am I.

What am I to praise thee, ô Lord God most mightieEst. 14, 19. Iere. 32, 18., in whose hand is the breath of al mankindIob. 12, 10, which inhabitest the eternitieEsa. 57, 15.!.

Shal darkenes praise the light; or death, life? Thou art lightIoh. 8, 12. 1. Ioh. 1, 5. 7., I am darkenes; thou lifeIohn. 14, 6., and I am death. Shal va­nitie commend the truth? Thou art the truthIohn. 14, 6, but I a man be­come like to vanitiePsa. 144, 4.

Why then, Lord, shal I praise thee? Shal my miserie praise thee? shal stincke commende sweetenesse? shal mans morta­litieWisd. 7, 1., who is heere to daie, and gone to morrowEcc. 10, 11., praise thee?

Shal man who is verie rot­tennes, or the sonne of man a [Page 53] verie wormeIob. 25, 6., praise thee?

O Lord, shal he that is con­ceiuedPsa. 51, 5., borneIob. 14, 4., and brought vp in wickednes praise thee? no my God. Praise is not seme­lie in the mouth of a sinnerEcc. 15, 9.

O Lord my God, let thine owne incomprehensible po­werEsai. 44, 6. 7. Psal. 145, 3.; thine owne vnlimitable wisedomeIob. 11, 7, 8, &c. Esai. 40, 28.; thine owne vn­speakeable goodnesPsa. 145, 9., commēd thee. Let thy more than excel­lent clemencieNeh. 9, 35, thy more than abundant merciePsa. 69, 13., thine euer­lasting virtue also, and diuinitie Isa. 40, 28 Ierem. 10, 10 1. Tim. 1, 17. praise thee.

Let thine almightie power Esaie. 40, verse. 28., with thy souereigne gentle­nes and loue, whereby thou hast created vsGen. 1, 26 27. Psal. 100, 3., ô Lord God, the verie life of my soulePsa. 42, 8. praise thee.

Chap. II.
The hope of a Christian must be cast vpon God.

ANd I thy creatureGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 139, 14. 15. Colos. 3, 10., wil trust in the sha­dow of thy wings, Psa. 57, 1., euen in thy mer­cie whereby thou didst create me.

Helpe thy creature, whome of thy mercy thou hast created; let me not perish through my sinne, whome of thy goodnes thou hast facioned; neither be confounded in my miserie, whome of thy clemencie thou hast made.

For what profit is in creating mee, if I go downe into mine owne corruption? what? hast thou, ô God, created the sonnes of men in vainePsa. 89, 47?

Thou hast created meePs. 100, 3. Wisd. 28 23., ô [Page 55] Lord, gouerne that which thou hast created. Despise not, ô God, ye workes of thine handsPsa. 138, 8..

Of nothing thou didst create meGen. 1, 26., and doubtles do not thou Lorde direct mee, I shal come againe to nothing.

For as I was not sometime, and thou didest make me of no­thingEsa. 40, 28: so Lord, if thou do not gouerne me, I shal returne to nothing in my selfe.

Help me, ô LordChro. 14 verse. 11. Psal. 70, 5. Psa. 109, 26. my lifePsal. 42, 8. Iohn. 5, 26. 40. Iohn. 11, 25. Coloss. 3, 4., lest I perish in my wickednesPsa. 94, 23.

O Lord, hadst not thou crea­ted me, I had not bin at al: but because thou hast created me, I am. And yet am I nothing, if thou guide mee not. For no grace neither goodnes of mine compelled thee to create me, but euen thine owne most fa­uorable goodnes, and mercie.

O Lord my GodPsal. 99, 8. 9. Esaie. 41, 13. Matth. 4, 7. 10., let that [Page 56] loue which compelled thee to make me, compel thee also to gouerne me. For to what end did thy loue compel thee to make me, if I perish in my wic­kednesPs. 94, 23., and am not guided by thy right handPsa. 89, 13.?

Let that mercie of thine, ô Lord my GodPsa. 140, 6 8. Luke. 4, 12., compel thee to saue that which is created, that compelled thee to create that which was not. Let that loue winne thee to saue, which wanne thee to create. For it is no lesse now than it was; for so much as thou art loue1. Ioh. 4, 8., who art alwaies the samePs. 102, 27. Hebr. 1, 12..

For thine hand is not short­nedNomb. 11, verse. 23. that it cannot saueEsai. 50, 2. Esaie 59, 1. 2.; nei­ther is thine eare heauie, that it cannot heare. But my sinnes haue separated betweene mee and thee; betweene darkenes; and lightIohn. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1. 5. 7.; betweene the image [Page 57] of death, and lifePsal. 42, 8. Coloss. 3, 4.; betweene falsehood and truthIoh.14, 6.; betwene this vanishing state of minePsal. 39, 5. Psal. 62, 9., and thine eternitie1. Tim. 1, 17 Hebr. 1, 12..

Chap. 12.
Of the manifold snares of concupiscence.

THese be the sha­dowes of darknes wherwith I am co­uered in the dunge­on of this darke prison wherein I lie groueling, vntil the daie dawne, shadowes doe depart, and light be made in the firma­mentGen. 1, 3. of thy strength.

The voice of ye Lord is migh­tiePsal. 29, 4., the voice of the Lord is glorious: let it speake, that light may be madeGen. 1, 3., darkenes may depart, the drie land appeareGen. 1, 9., and earth maye bud foorth the hud of the herbeGen. 1, [...]., that feedeth [Page 58] seede, & bringeth out the fruite of righteousnes of the king­dome of God.

O Lord, fatherEsa. 63, 16. Esaie. 64, 8. and God of my lifeEcc. 23, 4., by whom al things do liueAct. 17, 28., without whome al things are as dead, leaue mee not in a wicked imagination, neither giue mee a proude lookeEcc. 23, 4. 5. 6.. Take fro mee vaine concupiscence; and giue not me thy seruant o­uer into an impudent mind, but possesse thou mine heart, that alwaies it may think on thee.

Inlighten mine eies that they may behold thee, and neuer be lifted vp before thee, ô eternal glorie, but think humblie, not of thy woonders aboue their reach: that they may see those things which are at thy right hand, not the things at thy left.

And alwaies let thine eie lids direct my stepsPro. 4, 25.. For thine eie­lids [Page 59] do trie the sonnes of menPsal. 11, 4..

Asswage the heate of my cō ­cupiscence with thy goodnes, which thou hast laide vp for those that feare theePsa. 31, 19., that with euerlasting desire I may couet after theePsal. 42, 1. 2. Psal. 84, 2., that mine in­ner taste may not be enticed, & deceiued with vaine things, and so put sowre for sweeteEsai. 5, 20., and sweete for sowre; darknes for light, and light for darkenes; that I may be deliuered in the middes of so many snares as are laid by the enimieReu.12, 4, 9, 12, 17. to take the soules of sinners1. Pet. 5, 8., wherewith the whole world is replenished. Which thing S. Iohn did see, and passed not ouer the same in silence, when he said1. Ioh. 2, 16., For al that is in the world is either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the cies, or the pride of life.

Behold, ô Lord my GodPsal. 99, 8. 9. Esaie. 41, 13. Luke. 4, 8. 12., [Page 60] the whole worlde is ful of the snares of concupiscence, which they haue prepared for my feetePsal. 57, 6. Psal. 142, 3., & who cā escape them!

Euen hee doubtles, from whome thou takest the loftie lookesEcc. 23, 4. 5. 6., that he be not taken by ye lust of the cies; frō whome thou takest carnal cōcupiscēce, that he be not taken by the lust of the flesh; and from whome thou takest a bold & impudent mind, that the pride of life doe not slilie deceaue him. O most happie man for whome thou dost these things, for doubtles he shal go vnpunished!

Now then, ô my redeemerJob. 19, 25 Esai. 44, 24. by thy selfe I beseech thee, as­sist me, that I fal not in the sight of mine aduersaries, being takē by ye traps which they haue set for my feetePsal. 57, 6. to bring downe my soule. But deliuer mee, ô [Page 61] strength of my saluationPsa. 140, 7., least thine enimies, which hate thee, haue me in derisionPsal. 25, 2. Psal. 38, 16..

Arise, ô Lord my GodLuke. 4, 8. 12., my mightie oneEsai. 1, 24., and let thine e­nimies be scatteredPsal. 68, 1.; they al­so that hate thee, let them flie from thy face.

As waxe melteth before the fire: so let the wicked perish at thy presence. But let me be hid priuilie in thy presencePsa. 31, 20, and re­ioice with thy children aboun­ding with al good things1. Cor. 2, 9..

And thou, ô Lord God, fa­ther of OrphanesPsal. 68, 5., and thou mother of thy poore children, listen vnto ye crie of thy sonnes; spreade out thy wings, that we may flie therevnder from the face of the enimiePsal. 61, 3..

For thou art the tower of Is­raëls strength, who wilt neither slumber nor sleepePsal. 21. 4. keeping Is­raël: [Page 62] because he that fighteth a­gainst Israël, doth neither sleepe nor slumber1. Pet. 5, 8. Reue. 12, 12. 17..

Chap. 13.
Of mans miserie; and of Gods benefites.

O Light1. Ioh. 1, 5. 7.! ô cleere­nes, whome none other light or clere­nes doth beholde! ô light which darckeneth al light! ô cleerenes which dim­meth al strange light! ô light, from which al light! ô cleere­nes, from which al cleerenes doth proceede! ô cleerenes in respect wherof al other bright­nes, is but darkenes; and al o­ther light but dimnes!

Where thou shinest, the ve­rie darkenes is bright as daie; and dimnes, is light.

O moste souereigne light, [Page 63] whom no blindnes can darken; nor mistines dimme; nor dark­nes obscure; nor anie let close vp; nor shadow keepe away!

O light, which inlightenest al things at one time, togither, and alwaies, swalow me vp in­to the depth of thy brightnes, that I may on al sides beholde thee, both in thy selfe; and me in thee; & al things vnder thee.

Forsake mee notPsal. 27, 9. Psal. 71, 18., ô Lord, least the shadowes of mine ig­norance do encrease; and mine offences multiplie.

For without thee euerie thing is darkenes to me, and al things are euil: because nothing is good without thee the true, onlieMat. 19, 16 17. Mark. 10, 17. 18. Luke. 18, 18. 19., and souereigne goodIame. 1, 17..

This I acknowledge, and this I know, ô Lord my GodPsal. 99, 8. 9. Esaie. 41, 13.. For be I in anie place without thee, euil is it with mee hauing not [Page 64] thee, not onlie outwardlie to my bodie, but also inwardlie to my soule: because al abundance being not with thee my God, is but beggerie; but whē thy glo­rie apearethPsal. 17, 15., I shal be satisfied.

And, ô Lord, my blessed lifePsa. 42, 8. Eccle. 23, 4. Iohn. 14. 6., grant that I maie confesse my wretchednes vnto theePsal. 32, 5.: for from thee the souereigneIame. 1, 17., and verie goodLuk. 18, 18 19. it selfe, and from the vnitie of thy goodnes, hath the diuers kinds of temporal things separated me being fallen into sinne through carnal senses, and from one it hath parted me into many things: so that abundance to mee was combersome, and pouertie was plentie, while I haunted after this and that, and yet could neuer be satisfied; for in my selfe I found not thee th' vnchangableRom. 1, 23. 1. Tim. 1, 17., & singularMatt. 19, verse. 16. 17. Mark. 10, 17. 18., & vnseparable, and onlie good, [Page 65] which had I once atteined, I should wantReu. 7, 16. 17. no more; which had I once found out, I should weepe no moreReu. 21, 4.; which did I once enioie, mine heart would be at rest.

Oh miserie vpon miserie, sith my miserable soule doth flie from thee, with whom she hath abundance1. Cor. 2, 9., and ioieReu. 7, 16.; and fo­loweth the world, with whome she hath pouertieLuk. 16, 25., and sorowLuk. 6, 25.!

The world crieth, I vanishEsaie, 51, 6. 2. Peter. 3, 5. 6. 7. 1. Iohn. 2, 15. 16. 17.; ô Lord, thou criest, I refreshMat. 11, 28 29. 30.; yet doth my wicked wretched­nes more folowe that which vanisheth, than him who refre­sheth. This verilie is my weake­nes.

O Physicion of the soule, cure it, that I may praise thee, euen the saluation; of my soulePsal. 35. 3. Actes. 4, 12., and that with mine whole hart for al thy benefites where with thou [Page 66] hast refreshed me euen fro my youthPsal. 71, 5..

Cast me not offPsa. 71, 9. in the time of my age; forsake me not whē my strength faileth, ô Lord, for thine owne sake, I beseech thee.

Thou didest make meGen. 1, 26 27. 1. Cor. 11, 7, when I was not; thou didest redeeme mePsa. 31, 5. Titus. 2, 14. 1. Pet. 1, 18. 19. Reuel. 5, 9., when I was forlorne. I had bin destroied, I had died; but thou camest downe vnto the dead, thou tookedst mortalitie vpon theeIoh. 1,14. Luke. 2, 7..

Thou a KingPhili. 2, 6. 7, &c. camest downeIoh. 3, 13. Iohn. 6, 33. 38, &c. Ephes.4, 8. 9. 10. vnto thy seruant; and to re­deeme thy seruant thou didest giue thy selfeRom. 4, 25 Rom. 8, 32. Galat. 2, 20. Eph. 5, 2. 25.; and that I might liue, thou didest dieRoma. 5, verse. 6, &c. 1. Cor. 8, 11 1. Cor. 15, 3, and ouer­come death1. Cor. 15, verse. 25. 26, &c 2. Tim. 1, 10..

When thou didest humble thy selfePhili. 2, 6. 7, &c Hebr. 2, 9., thou didest exalt me. I was lost; I folowed after wic­kednes; I was a bondslaue to Sathan: but thou wart sold for [Page 67] meMat. 27, 3. 4. 5. Actes. 1, 16. 17, &c. to redeeme mee; and so thou louedst meIoh. 15, 13 Ephes. 5, 1. 2. 1. Ioh. 3, 16. that thou ga­uest thy bloud a raunsome for me1. Pet. 2, vers. 24, &c. Ephes. 1, 7..

O Lord, thou hast loued me more than thy selfeRom. 5, 7. 8.; because for my sake thou wouldest needes die2. Co. 5, 14 15. 1. Thes. 5, 10.

On such wise, and with so deere a price thou hast brought me home from banishmentHeb. 11, 13 16.; redeemed me from bondageGal. 2, 4. Galath. 5, 1. 13.; withdrawne me from punish­mētEsai. 53, 3. 4, &c.; caled me by thy nameReu. 14, 1. 11. Reue. 22, 4.; and sealed me with thy bloudReu. 7, 3., that I should euermore haue thee in remembrance, and ne­uer forget him, who for my sake shunned not the crosseGal. 3, 13..

Thou hast annointed mee with that oile2. Co. 1, 21 wherewith thou wast ointed, that of thee Christ I might be called a ChristianAct. 11, 26 Acts. 26, 28. 1. Pet. 4, 16..

Lo, thou hast written mee [Page 68] vpon thine handsEsa. 49, 16, so to haue me in remembrance, if so be cōtinualie I haue thee in mind. And thus alwaie thy fauor, and thy mercie haue preuēted mePsa. 59, 10. For out of much and great pe­rils thou hast deliuered me of­tentimesPs. 124, 6. 7. Eccl. 51, 1. 2, &c., ô my sauiourPsal. 18, 1. 2. Dan. 6, 27..

When I haue wandred, thou hast reclamed me; when I haue bin ignorant, thou hast instru­cted me; thou hast corrected me, when I haue sinned; when I despaired, thou hast comfor­ted me; when I fel, thou hast raised me; thou hast vphelde me, when I haue stood; when I haue traueled, thou hast guided me; when I haue come home, thou hast receiued mee; thou hast watched mee, when I haue slept; and when I haue cried, thou hast heard me.

Chap. 14.
That the eies of the Lord, are continualie vpon the doings, and cogitations of men.

FOr these, and ma­nie mo good turnes hast thou done me, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., the verie life of my soulePsal. 42, 8. Eccle. 23, 4. Iohn. 14, 6..

And doubtles it should be a pleasure to mee not onlie to talke, & think alwaies of them, but also euermore to thanke theePs. 116, 12 13. 17. 18., to praise thee, to loue thee for al thy good things, and that with al mine heartDeut. 6, 5. Deu. 11, 18. Mat. 22, 37. Luk. 10, 27., and with al my soule, and with al my mind, & with al my strēgth, yea from the verie pith and in­trals of mine hart, and of al my iointes, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., the blessed sweetenes of al which delight in thee.

[Page 70] But thine eies haue seene mine imperfectionPs. 139, 16; thine eies I saie are much brighter than ye SunneEc. 23, 19, beholding al ye waies of men, and the ground of the deepe, and in euerie place at al times looke both vpon the euil and the goodPro.15, 3..

For sithence thou rulest al thingsPsal. 47, 1. 2. 6. 7. 8. Matt. 11, 25, fillest al thingsIer. 23, 23 24., art alwaies wholie euerie wherePs. 139, 7. 8, &c.; yea sithence thou hast a care of al things that thou hast created (for thou hatest nothing which thou hast madeWisd. 11, verse. 21.:) thou dost so behold my waies & my stepsIob. 31, 4., and so watch and ward night and daie for my safetie, looking so narowly vnto al my pathsIob. 13, 27, like a continual watchmanPsa. 121, 4 Psal. 127, 1., as though thou hadest forgot thine other creatures of heauen and earth, and hadest cast al thy care vpon me alone, hauing [Page 71] no care at al of the rest. For the light of thine vnchangeable sight neither encreaseth, doe thou see but one; nor dimini­sheth, if thou behold infinite & diuers things. For euen as at one time thou considerest the whole perfectlie togither: so doth thy whole countenance behold at one time al particu­lars, although diuers, and that perfectlie, togither, & wholie. Yet seest thou al things as one thing, & one thing as al things: for thy selfe art whole, & canst neither be diuided, changedIam. 1, 17., nor diminished.

And therefore thou being whole in al time, and without time, dost behold me wholie, togither, and alwaies, euen as though thou haddest naught else to consider of. Yea, so thou standest vpon my garde, as [Page 72] though thou wouldest forget al other things, and bend wholie to me alone. For alwaies thou shewest thy selfe present, and offerest thy selfe readie at al times vnto me, if thou find me readie to receiue thee.

O my Lord, go I where I wil, thou wilt neuer forsake meIoshu. 1, 9. Hebr. 13, 5., vnles I forsake thee first.

Wheresoeuer I become, thou leauest me not. For thou art e­uerie whereIob. 23, 8. 9. 10. 13. Psal. 139, 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Iere. 23, 23. 24.. So that to what place soeuer I go, I may find thee, by whom I may be; that I perish not without thee, be­cause without thee, I cānot be.

And therefore I confesse in­deede, that whatsoeuer I do, & wheresoeuer I doe it, I do it in thy presenceEcc. 23, 19. 20, Psal. 139, 10. 11. 12.; and that what­soeuer it be which I doe, thou seest it better than I which do it.

For when I do aught at anie [Page 73] time, thou art present at al times, as a continual beholder of al my thoughts1. Kings.8, verse. 39. 2. Chr. 6, 30. Psal. 44, 20. 21. Prou. 24, 12. Luke. 16, 15., intentions, delectations, and doings.

O Lord, my sighing is not hid from theePsal. 38, 9.; and my verie thought is open to thy sightIob. 42, 2. Psal. 94, 11. Psal. 139, 2..

Thou knowest, Lord, whence the spirit commeth, where it is, and whether it goeth. For thou art the trier of al spiritsPro. 16, 2..

Also, thou best knowest in­wardlie, whether the roote of that tree which hath faire leaues be sweete or sower; yea, thou narowly dost search the verie pith of the rootes; and by the moste euident truth of thy light, thou gatherest, numbrest, considerest, and sealest not the intent onlie, but the verie pith also of the roote thereof, that so thou may estrender vnto euerie man not onlie according to his [Page 74] woorkesPsa. 62, 12. Prou. 24, 12. Iere. 32, 18. 19. Hosea. 4, 9. Mat. 16, 27. Reu. 22, 12., but also according to the inner and secret pith of the roote, from which procee­deth the intent of the workerMatth. 15, verse. 18. 19. Mark. 7, 21.. What I purpose when I worke; what I thinke, and wherein I delight, thou beholdest; thine eares do heare itPsa. 94, 8. 9. 10. 11., thine eies see it2. Chr. 16. verse. 9. Amos. 9, 8., and consider it; thou sealest, markest, notest, and wrightest the same into thy bookeReue. 5, 1. 2, &c., be it good or euil, that afterward, when the bookes shalbe openedReu. 20, 12, and the dead iudged according to the things written in those bookes, thou maist render for wel doing re­wardsMatt. 25, verse. 34. 35, &c. 46. Iohn. 5, 29. Rom. 2, 6. 7. 10. Reu. 22, 14., and punishment for wickednesMatt. 25, verse. 41. 42, &c. 46. Reu. 22, 15..

Happilie this is it, which thou didest saie by these words, I will see what their end shal beDeut. 32, verse. 20.; and which is spoken of thee on this wise, He trieth the perfection [Page 75] of al thingsIob. 28, 3.. For thou doubt­les in al that we doe, regardest the end of the intent, more than that which is done.

And when I diligentlie con­sider these things, ô Lord my God terrible and mightieNeh. 9, 32 Psal. 47, 3. Psal. 96, 4. Daniel. 9, 4., I am vtterly agast both through feare and shame, forsomuch as wee haue great neede to liue wel and vprightlieBoëtius in his 5. booke de Consolat. Prose. 6., because we do al things in the presence of that Iudge, who seeth al thingsEcc. 23, 19 20. Psal 139, 10. 11. 12. Actes.15, 8..

Chap. 15.
That man of himselfe can do nothing without the assi­stance of God.

O Lord most mightie Ne. 9, 32. Psal. 96, 4. Iere. 32, 17. 18. 19. and puissant, God of the spirits of al fleshNom. 27, verse. 16., whose eies are vpon y waies of the sonnes [Page 76] of menIer. 32, 29. from the time of their birth, euen til the daie of their burial, that thou maist render vnto eueric man according to his workesPsa. 62, 12 Rom. 2, 6. Roue. 2, 23. either good or e­uil2. Co. 5, 10.

Shew to me, that I maie con­fesse my wretchednes to thee. For I said, that I was richReu. 3, 17., and had neede of nothing; & knew not how that I was wretched, and miserable, and poore, and blind, and naked.

I supposed my selfe should be somewhat, when in deede I was nothing. I professed my selfe wiseRom. 1, 22, and I became a foole. I thought I was prudent, and I was deceiued. For now I see, it is thy giftIam. 1, 17., without whome we can do nothingIohn. 15, 5. Philip. 2, 13. Because if thou Lord keepe not the CitiePsa. 127, 1., in vaine doth he watch, that keepes the same.

[Page 77] Thus hast thou taught me, that I might know my selfe. For thou hast forsaken me, and tri­ed mePsal. 17, 3. Psal. 139, 1., not for thy owne sake, that thou mightest know me; but for my sake, that I might know thee.

For as I said, I thought, Lord, I should haue bin somewhat of my selfe; I thought I had had sufficiencie of my selfe2, Co. 3, 5.; and perceaued not how it is thou, Lord, which rulest mePsa. 48, 14. Matth. 2, 6., vntil thou wentest [...] fro me for a spacePsa. 71, 12., & I tooke a fal. Then did I see, and perceaue, how it was thou which ruled me; and how I fel of my self, and rose againe through thy gracePsa. 37, 23 24. Prou. 24, 16..

O light1. Ioh. 1, 5. 7., thou hast opened mine eies, and raised me vp, & lightned meIohn. 1, 4. 5. 7. 8. 9.. Now therefore I see, that mans life vpon earth is but a tentationIob. 7, 1. 2, &c.; and that no [Page 78] flesh can glorie in thy sight1. Cor. 1, 29, nor be iustifiedRo. 3, 20. Galat. 2, 16.. For al good­nes, be it little or much, is thy giftIam. 1, 17.; and we haue nothing of our selues but euilEsai. 64, 6. Genes. 6, 5. Genes. 8, 21

Whereof then maie al flesh glorie? of wickednes? but that is no glorie, but miseriePsal. 52, 1. Ierem. 9, 23. May it glorie of anie good then? and of anothers goodnes? O Lord, goodnes is thineIam. 1, 17., and thine is the glorie1. Chr. 16, verse. 28. 29. Psal. 29, 1. 2. Esai. 42, 8. Luke. 2, 14.. For he who seeks of thy goodnes his owneIoh. 5, 44. Iohn. 7, 18., and not thy glorie, [...] a verie theefe and robber, like the diuel him­selfe, who would haue robbed thee of thy glorieEsa. 14, 13.

For whosoeuer would haue praiseIere. 9, 23. of that good thing which is thine, and seeketh not therein thy glorie, but his owne; yea al­though he get praise of menEccl. 11, 2. for thy gift; yet is he dispraised of thee. Because of thy gift he [Page 79] sought his glorie, & not thine. And he who is praised of men, and dispraised of thee, neither can be defended by men, when thou shalt iudge; nor be deli­uered, when thou shalt con­demne.

But, ô Lord, who hast formed meEsa. 44, 24 from the wombe of my mother, suffer me not to fal in­to that reproch; and neuer let it be cast in my teeth that I wold haue stolen awaie thy glorie.

Al glorie be ascribed vnto theeLuk. 2, 14., from whome al goodnes doth proceedeIam. 1, 17., but vnto vs open shameDan.9, 7., and miserie, to whom al euil doth belong, vn­les thou take mercieWis. 11, 20. 21, &c..

For thou shewest mercie, ô Lord, thou shewest mercie o­uer alEsai. 54, 7 8., and hatest nothing which thou hast madeWis. 11, 21.; thou giuest vs of thy good thingsIob. 1, 21. Iob. 5, 8. 9. 10, &c. Psal. 146, 5. 6. 7, &c. Matth. 6, 11. Matth. 7, 7. 8. 9. &c.; [Page 80] and makest vs rich, ô Lod God, with thy most excelēt benefits. Psa. 113, 5. 6. 7, &c.. For thou louest the poorePsal. 12, 5., & makest them rich euen with thine owne richesLuk. 6, 20..

O Lord, behold now we are thy poore children, and thy little slockeLuk. 12, 32, open to vs thy gatesPsa. 78, 23, that the poore may eate, and be satisfiedPsa. 22, 26; so they which seeke thee, wil praise thee.

For I know, Lord, and con­fesse through thine instruction, that they alone shal be enri­ched Matt. 5, 3. Luke. 6, 20. 21, &c. who know themselues to be poore, and acknowledge their pouertie before thee. For such as thinke themselnes rich when they are pooreReu. 3, 17. 18., shal be barred from the participation of thy riches.

Wherefore, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3. vnto thee do I confesse my po­uertie, that al the glorie may be [Page 81] thine1. Chr. 29. verse. 10. 11. 12.: inasmuch as the good which I haue done is thine.

I confesse, ô Lord, as thou hast taught me, I am nothing else but altogither vanitiePsal. 39, 5. Psal. 144, 4., a shadow of deathPsa. 44, 19., a darke dun­geon, and a barren and emptie groundGen. 1, 2., bringing foorth no­thing without thou blesse me, and bearing no fruite but con­fusion, sinne, and damnation.

If I had any goodnes, I recei­ued it of thee1. Cor. 4, 7. Iames. 1, 17 [...].; if I haue anie at this time, it is thine, or I haue it from thee. When I stood, I stood through thee; but when I fel, I fel through my selfe; and al­waies I had stuck in the mirePsa. 69, 14., if thou haddest not plucked me out; I had alwaies bin blind, if yu haddest not lightned meIohn. 1, 4, 9.. When I fel, I had not risen a­gaine, vnles thou haddest rea­ched foorth thine handPsa. 37, 23, 24. Yea, [Page 82] and when thou haddest ere­cted me, I had falen by and by, if thou hadest not held me vpPhil. 2, 13.. And oftentimes I had peri­shed, haddest thou not gouer­ned meEsa. 48, 17..

Thus euermore Lord, euer­more thy grace & mercie hath preuented mePsa. 59, 10., deliuering me from al euil, sauing me from those past, raising mee from these present, and arming me against miseries to come: in like sort cutting awaie ye snares of sinne before me, and remo­uing al occasions and causes of offence. For vnlesse thou had­dest done so, I had committed al the sinnes of the world.

For I am persuaded, ô Lord, there hath no sinne bin com­mitted afore time by man, but another may do the same, if his Creator leaue him, by whome [Page 83] he was made a manIob. 10, 8. 9. 10, &c. Psa. 139, 14. 15. 16. Esaie. 45, 7. 8. 9, &c.. But that I did not so, thou hast brought it to passe1. Cor. 4, 7; that I absteined, thou diddest commaund; and that I beleeued, it was of thy grace poured vpon meWis. 3, 14. Rom. 12, 3. 6..

For thou Lord, diddest guide me both for me and thy selfe; and thou hast giuen me graceIam. 1, 17. and vnderstanding to absteine both from adulterie, and other wickednes.

Chap. 16.
Of the Diuel, and of his ma­nifold tentations.

THERE wanted a temptor; but thou wert the cause yt he was absent; there wanted place, and time, and that they should bee lacking thou didest worke. There wan­ted neither temptor, nor place, [Page 84] nor time: but thou heldest me backe, that I should not con­sent. The temptor came, foule and ouglie as he is; but thou didst comfort me, that I might despise him. The temptor came armed and strongLuk. 11, 21, but thou didest both encourage me, and bridle him, that he could not o­uercome. The temptor came like an Angel of light2. Cor. 11, verse. 14. 15,; but that he might not deceaue me, thou didest take him vp; & that I might know him, thou didest open mine eies.

For he is that great, and red DraconReu. 12, 3. 9., the old Serpent, cal­led the Diuel and Satan, ha­uing seauen heads, and ten hornes, whom thou hast crea­ted to plaie in this great, and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerablePs. 104, 25, both smal beastes, and great; that is, [Page 85] diuers kinds of Diuels, which doe nothing neither daie nor night, but range vp & downe, seeking whome they may de­uoure1. Pet. 5, 8., if thou preserue not.

For he is that old DraconReu. 12, 9., which sprang vp in the para­dise of pleasureGenesis. 3 verse. 1, &c. 13. 14., drawing with his taileReu. 12, 4. the third part of the Starres of Heauen, and ca­sting them to the earth; which infecteth the waters of the earth with his poison, that men drinking thereof may die; he spreadeth sharp things vppon the mireIob. 41, 21.; and trusteth, that he can draw vp Iorden into his mouthIob. 40, 18; he is made without feareIob. 41, 24..

And who can saue vs from being deuoured of him! who can plucke vs frō out his iawes, but thou onelie, ô Lord, who hast broken the heads of that [Page 86] great DraconGen. 3, 15. Reu. 12, 9. 10.?

O Lord helpe vsPsa. 44, 26 Psal. 79, 9.; ô Lord spreade foorth thy wings vpon vsPsal. 17, 8., that vnder them we may flie from the face of this Dra­con, which pursueth vsReu. 12, 13; and with thy shield saue vs from his hornesReu. 12, 3.. For his cōtinual care, and onlie desire is, to deuoure the soules1. Pet. 5, 8., whome thou hast createdGen. 1, 26. Psal. 100, 3. Colos. 3, 10..

And therefore vnto thee we do crieIere. 33, 3., ô Lord our God, deli­uer vs from our dailie aduersa­rieMat. 6, 13. Matt. 13, 18. 19. Luke. 11, 4., which whether we sleepe or wake, or eate, or drinke1. Co. 10, 31, or whatsoeuer we doe, lieth at vs night and daie1. Pet. 5, 8. by al meanes, by al subtiltie and craftEphe. 6, 10. 11. &c. 2. Tim. 2, 26., now openlie, now couertlie aiming at vs with his poisoned arowes to destroie our soulesEccl. 21, 2..

And yet, such is our extreme madnes, ô Lord, yt albeit we do [Page 87] continualie behold the Dra­con before our eies with open mouth prepared to deuour vsReu. 12, 17.: yet naietheles we snort1. Thes. 5, 6, and sport in our securitie, as though we were safe before him, who desireth nothing but our de­structionReu. 12, 12.

The enimie to murther vs, watcheth alwaies, and sleepeth notMat. 26, 41 Mark. 14, 38: and we sleepe, but watch not1. Thes. 5, 6 1. Pet. 5, 8. for our saluation.

Behold, he hath laid infinite traps before our feete1. Tim. 3, 7. to take vs; and al our waies he hath fil­led with snares to catch our soulesPsal. 59, 3.. And who can escape!

He hath laid snares in riches, snares in pouertie, snares in meate, snares in drinke, in plea­sure snares, in sleepe snares, and snares in watching; he hath laid snares in our words, snares in our workes, and snares in al [Page 88] our waies.

But, ô Lord, do thou deliuer vs from ye snares of the hunterPsa. 91, 3., and from the euil word, that we may praise thee, saieng:

Blessed be the LordPs. 124, 6. 7. which hath not giuen vs a praie vnto their teeth. Our soule is escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the foulers: the snare is bro­ken, and we are deliuered.

Chap. 17.
That God is the light of the righteous.

ANd thou ô Lord my lightIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 12, 46 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7., inlighten mine eiesIohn. 1, 9. Psalm. 13, 3., that I may see light, walk in thy lightIohn. 8, 12. Iohn. 11, 9. 10. Iohn. 12, 35. 36., and neuer stumble vpon the snares of Satan.

For who can escape his ma­nifold snares, vnles he see them! And who can see them, except [Page 89] he be inlightned with thy light!

For that father of darkenes hath hid his snares in his owne darkenesEph. 6, 11. 12., that therein as ma­nie as are in darkenes may be entangled.

Who are the children of this darkenes1. Thes. 5, verse. 5.? Such as see not thy light: in which who so wal­keth, shal not fearePsal. 91, 5.. For he that walketh in the daie, stumbleth notIohn. 11, 9. 10.. But if a man walke in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

O Lord, thou art the lightIohn, 1, 4. 9. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7.; thou art the light of the sonnes of light1. Thes. 5, 5; yu art the day which la­steth euer, in which thy sonnes doe walke, and stumble notIoh. 11, 9.: without which who so walke, are in darkenes, because they haue not the light of ye worldIohn. 8, 12. Iohn. 12, 46.

Loe, wee dailie see, that the farther one is estranged [Page 90] from thee the true lightIohn. 1, 9., the more he wrappeth himselfe in the darkenes of sinne; and the more he lieth in darkenes, the lesse he seeth the snares laid in his waie; and so the lesse hee knoweth them; and therefore is the oftener caried awaie, and caught in them; and yet, which is more horrible than al this, he woteth not that he hath taken a fal. Now he that knoweth not his ownefal, hath so much the lesse care to rise againe, as he hath a greater opinion that he doth stand1 Cor. 10, verse. 12..

But, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. the ve­rie light of the mindIohn. 1, 4. 5. 6. 7, &c. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7., open thou mine eies at this time, that I may see1. Ioh. 3, 6., and knowe, least I fal in the presence of mine ad­uersaries.

For our aduersarie1. Pet. 5, 8. labo­reth to destroie vs: but Lord, we [Page 91] beseech thee, as waxe melteth before the firePsal. 68, 2.; so let him pe­rish at our presence.

For, Lord, he is the chiefe and principal theefe, which tooke counsaile, how to steale awaie thy glorie: but swolen vp with pride, and puffed vp, he brake in sunder at the last, and fel vp­pon his own faceEsai. 14, 12. 13., whom thou flangedst headlong from thine holie mountaine, and from the multitude of thy firie stonesEze. 28, 14 15, &c., in the middes wherof he walked.

Now, ô Lord, and God of my lifeEcc. 23, 4. Psal. 42, 8. Iohn. 14, 6., since which time that he fel, he hath neuer ceassed, to pursue thy childrenReu. 12, 12 17..

And for spite of thee, ô King most mightieIob. 41, 25 Psal. 24, 7. 8, &c. Psal.74, 12. 13, &c., he would de­stroie this thy creatureReu. 12, 12., whom thine almightie goodnes hath made after thine own imageGen. 1, 26. 27. Gene. 9, 6. Colo. 3, 10., that he may inherit thy glorieMatt. 25, verse. 34., [Page 92] which he hath lost through his owne prideEcc. 10, 14. But, ô our migh­tie GodEsaie 9, 6. Matt. 12, 28 29. Mark. 3, 22. 23, &c., bruse him into pee­cesReu.12,10, before he deuoure vs thy silie lambes1. Pet. 5, 8.: and lighten our eies, that we may behold such traps as he hath preparedEph. 6, 10. 11. 1. Tim. 3, 6. 7., and escape from him vnto thee, ô comfort of IsraelIudit. 15, 9..

And al these things, ô Lord, thou knowest muche better than I: thou knowest his qua­reling, and his stiffe neck.

Neither do I speake this, to enforme thee, who seest al thingsIob.42, 2. Eccl. 23, 19. 20., and beholdest ye most priuie thought1. King. 8, verse. 39. Psal. 44, 20. 21. Prou. 24, 12: but to vtter out my complaint against mine enimie1. Pet. 5, 8. Reu. 12, 12. before the feete of thy maiestie, who art the eternal IudgePsal. 50, 6. Heb. 12, 23. Iames. 5, 9., that thou maist both condemne himMatt. 25, verse. 41., and saue vs thy children. For thou art our strengthExo. 15, 2. Psalm. 18, 2. Reuel. 5, 12..

[Page 93] For whie, Lord, he is a craf­tie & subtile enimie, the creekes of his waie cannot easilie bee descried; neither can the fashi­on of his countenance2. Cor. 11, verse. 14. 15. bee knowne of man, vnlesse thou inlighten.

For he is now heere, now there, now a Lambe, now a Wolfe, now darkenes, by and by light, and according to the sundrie change of things, he of­fereth diuers tentations to eue­rie qualitie, place, and time.

For to deceaue the sad, hee makes himselfe sad; to beguile such as are merie, he sets on a merie countenance; to entrap those which are spiritual, hee turnes himselfe into an Angel of light2. Cor. 11, verse. 14. 15.; to vanquishe the strong, he appeareth as a lamb; to deuour the meeke, he shewes himselfe a Wolfe.

[Page 94] And al these things are to be wrought after the similitude of diuers tentations, that he may terrifie some by the feare of the nightPsal. 91, 5. 6.; some by the arow flee­ing in the day; some by the pe­stilence walking in the darke, by rushing on, some; and some by the plague at noone daie.

Now who is meete, that he may know these things! who can perceaue his wiles; or dis­couer the face of his garmentIob. 41, 4. 5.; or know ye compas of his teeth!

Behold, he hath hid his darts in his quiuer; and shrowded his snares vnder ye show of light2, Cor. 11, verse. 14. 15.! And this is the more hardlie perceaued, vnles wee receaue light from thee, ô Lorde our hopePsal. 91. 9. Iere. 17, 17. Rom. 15, 13, that we may behold al things.

For he hideth subtile traps not in the workes of the fleshGal. 5, 19. [Page 95] onlie, which with no great ado may be descried; nor in mani­fest vices only, but in spiritual exercises besides, vnder the co­lour of virtues, he cloaketh vi­ces, and transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light2. Cor. 11, verse. 14..

These, and many mo things doth that sonne of Belial2. Co. 6, 15, euen Sathan himselfe1. Chr. 21, 1 Iob. 1, 6. Mark. 3, 23. Reuel. 12, 9., enterprise a­gainst vs, ô Lord our GODPsal. 99, 8. 9. Esai. 37, 20.. And sometime like a Lion1. Pet. 5, 8., like a DraconReu. 12, 3. 4, &c. Reu. 20, 2. 3, &c. sometime, o­penlie and secretlie, inwardlie and outwardlie, daie and night he lieth in waite to catch our soules.

But thou, who dost saue those which trust in theePsa.18, 30. Psal. 22, 4. 5., deliuer vs, ô LordPsal. 6, 4. Psal. 17, 13., that both he may haue sorow of vs, and thou be glorified in vs, ô Lorde our GodPsa. 105, 7.

Chap. 18.
Againe of Gods manifold benefites.

ANd I the sonne of thy hādmaidPsa. 86, 16 Psal. 116, 16 Wisd. 9. 5. who haue commended my selfe into thine handPsal. 31, 5. 1. Pet. 4. 19. in these my poore con­fessions, wil praise thee my re­deemerPsal.18, 2. with mine whole heart; and cal into mind al the good things which thou hast done for me al my life long, e­uen fro my youthPsal. 71, 5..

For I know right wel that in­gratitude doth much displease theeWisd. 16, verse. 29., as being the roote of al spiritual wickednes, and a cer­taine winde drieng, & burning vp al goodnes; and stopping the spring of thine heauenlie mer­cie toward man: whereby dead workes now die not; and liuing [Page 97] die out of hand, & are no more.

I then wil thanke theeRom. 1, 8. 1. Cor. 1, 4. Reuel. 11, 17 ô Lord, that I may not prooue vn­grateful to thee my deliuererPsal. 18, 2.; for thou hast deliuered meEccl. 51, 3..

How often would that Dra­con haue deuoured meeReu. 12, 3. 4, &c.! but thou Lord didest plucke me out of his mouth. How often haue I sinned! and how often hath he bin readie to swalow me vp1. Pet. 5, 8.! But thou, ô Lord my God, hast defended meReu. 12, 7. 8..

When I did wickedlie a­gainst theeDan.9, 5., and when I brake thy commandementes, then stood hee readie to plucke mee downe euen to hel; but thou didest hold him backe.

I offended thee, but thou di­dest defend me: I feared not thee, and yet thou didest keepe me: I went from thee, and yeel­ded to mine aduersarie1. Pet. 5, 8.; but [Page 98] thou didest beate him backe, that he durst not take me.

O Lord my God, these be­nefites hast thou conferred vp­on mee, and I wretch neuer marked so much. For thus thou hast saued me oftentimes from the iawes of SatanReu. 12, 7. 8., and taken me by force out of the Lions mouth1. Pet. 5, 8., and manie waies re­duced me from hel, although I wist not how. For I descended euen to the gates of hel; but that I might not go in, thou di­dest hold me backe. I drew ve­rie nigh to deaths doorePs. 107, 18.; but so thou didest worke, that they could not take me.

In like sort, ô my SauiorPsal. 18, 2. Exod. 15, 2. 2. Sam. 22, 2, thou hast deliuered mee from bodilie death; when greeuous sicknes oppressed me; when I haue bin in manie perils both on sea and land, thou hast stood [Page 99] by me, alwaie preseruing mee from fire, and sword, and from al danger sauing mee of thy great mercie2. Tim. 4, verse. 17. 18..

Indeede, Lord, thou didest knowe, that if death then had takē me, my soule had straight­waie gone into hel, and so had bene damned world without endMat. 25, 41. But thy grace, and thy mercy did preuent mePsa. 59, 10, ô Lord my God, and saued both my bodie from death, and my soule from damnation.

These and manie mo bene­fites thou hast bestowed vpon me: but I was blind, and knew not so much, vntil thou inligh­tenedst me.

Now therefore, ô light of my souleIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7., ô Lord my GodMatt. 4, 7. 10. Luke. 4, 8. 12. Psalm. 7, 1. 3., my lifeIoh. 11, 25. Iohn. 14, 6. through whome I liueAct. 17, 28; the light of mine eiesIohn. 1, 9. through which I see: lo, thou hast inligh­tened [Page 100] me, so that I knowe thee; for I liue through thee; & there­fore I praise thee, and giue thee thankes; albeit, I confesse my thankes are vile, and bare, and farre vnanswerable to thy be­nefites, yet such as my frailtie can afford. For thou alone art my God2. King. 19 verse. 19. Nehem. 9, 6 Psal. 38, 15. 21. Esai. 37, 16. 17. 20., and my merciful cre­atorGen. 1, 26 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73 Hose. 8, 14., louing our soulesWis. 11, 23., and hating nothing which thou hast madeWis. 11, 21..

Lo, I am of sinners, which thou hast saued, the chiefe1. Tim. 1, 15 16., that I might shew an example vnto others of thy most louing kindnes. I wil acknowledge vnto thee thy great benefites, for thou hast deliuered my soule from the lowest grauePsal. 86, 13, both once, and twice, and thrice, and a hundred, yea, a thousande times. I alwaies inclined downe to helwarde, but thou alwaies [Page 101] didest bring me backe againe; and iustlie thou mightest haue condemned mee a thousand times, if thou wouldest.

But thou wouldest not; for thou louest our soulesWis. 11, 23 and dis­semblest the sinnes of menWis. 11, 20 be­cause they should amend, ô Lord our God of much mercie in al thy waies.

Now therefore, ô Lord my GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3. Matth. 4, 7. 10., I see and perceaue these things through thy light, and my soule is astonished in consi­deration of thy great mercie poured vpon me; especialie for deliuering my soule from the lowest grauePs. 86, 13., and for brin­ging me againe to lifePsal. 30, 3.. I was wholie dead, and thou hast wholie reuiued me againe.

Therefore, let it be wholie thine that I liue: and wholie I doe offer my selfe vnto thee al [Page 102] whole. Let my whole spirit; my whole hart; my whole bo­die; my whole life liue to thee ô my sweete lifeIoh. 14, 6. Iohn. 11, 25.. For thou hast redeemed mee wholie1. Co. 1, 30. Heb. 9, 11. 12. 13, &c., that thou mightest possesse mee whole; thou hast renued mee wholie, that thou mightest haue me wholie againe.

Wherefore let me loue thee, ô Lord my strength2. Sam. 22 verse 3. Psalm. 18, 2; let mee loue thee mine vnspeakeable ioie. Let my whole life hence­foorth liue not to my selfe, but to thee2. Cor. 5, verse. 15.: my life, I saie, which had perished in my miserie, had it not bin raised againe in thy mercie, who art a pitiful GodPsa 86, 15. Psal. 103, 8. Psal. 111, 4. Ionas. 4, 2., and a merciful, of much kind­nes toward thousands of themExo. 20. 6. Deut. 5, 10. which loue thy name.

Hence is it, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3. Psalm. 18, 2, 6, &c., my sanctifierEze. 37, verse. 28., that in thy lawe thou hast commanded mee to [Page 103] loue thee with al mine hartDeut. 6, 5. Mat. 22, 37., with al my soule, with al my mind, with al my strength, and with al the powers which I haue, yea, from the verie ma­row and pith of mine hart; and that euerie houre, and moment wherein I enioie the goodes of thy mercie. For I should conti­nualie perish, if thou didest not guide me continualie; I should continualie die, didest thou not quicken me continualie; and e­uerie moment thou dost bind mee vnto thee, whilest euerie moment thou bestowest thy great benefites vpon me.

As therefore, there is no houre nor minute in al my life, where­in I enioie not thy blessing: so ought there bee no moment wherein I should not haue thee before mine eies, and loue thee with al the powers both of my [Page 104] bodie and mindDeut. 6, 5..

Yet this am I not able to do, without thou giue mee grace, whose euerie good giuing, and euery perfect gift isIam. 1, 17., & cōmeth downe from ye Father of lights, with whome is no variablenes, neither shadowing by turning.

For it is not in him that wil­lethRom. 9, 16., nor in him that runneth, but of thee which she west mer­cie, that we doe loue thee. This, Lord, is thy gift, whose euerie good gift is. Thou commandest that wee shoulde loue theeDeut. 6, 5.; grant which thou commandest, and command what thou wilt.

Chap. 19.
Of the feruencie of loue, or charitie.

O Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., I doe loue thee, and alwaies more and more I desire too [Page 105] loue thee. For thou art in deede sweeter than anie honiePs. 119, 103; more nutritiue than anie milkeSalo. so. 4, verse. 10. 11.; and brighter than ye cleerest lightEcc. 23, 19. And therefore thou art deerer to mee than either goldPs. 119, 72 127. or sil­uer, or pretious stoneProu. 3, 15..

For I despise whatsoeuer I did in the world in respect of thy sweetenes, and the glorie of thine house, which I haue lo­uedPsal. 26, 8..

O fire, which alwaies bur­nest, and neuer goest out; ô loue, which alwaies art infla­med, and neuer coolest; set me on fire. Let me wholie be infla­med of thee, that I may loue thee wholie.

For he loueth thee too little, who loues anie thing beside theeMatth. 30, verse. 37. Iohn. 12, 25., except he loue it for thy sake.

O Lord, let me loue thee: be­cause [Page 106] thou first didest loue me1. Ioh. 4, 19..

Where shal I get wordes to expresse the signes of thy sin­gular great loue toward mee, through thine infinite bene­fitesPs. 116, 12, wherewith from the be­ginning thou hast nourished me! Namelie, besides the bene­fite of creation, when at the be­ginning thou madest me of no­thing after thine own imageGen. 1, 26. 27. Genes. 5, 1. Genes. 9, 6. 1. Cor. 11, 7. Colos. 3, 10., in magnifieng and exalting me a­boue al those creatures which thou hadest madeGen. 1, 26 28. 29.; and ma­king me glorious with the light of thy countenance, wherwith­al thou hast sealed the vpper­most seate of mine hart, thereby disseuering mee both from in­sensible thinges, and also from brute beastes which haue sense, and abasing mee but little be­neath AngelsPsal. 8, 3. 4. 5. Hebr. 2. 7..

Yet was al this too little be­fore [Page 107] the sight of thy Godhead. For without cessing thou hast fed me with dailie, and singu­lar, and most ample benefites; yea, as if I were thy deere, and weake, and tender child, thou hast nourished, & refreshed me with the teates of thy comfort.

And that I might wholie serue theeDeutr. 10, verse. 20. 21. 22. Psa. 116, 12. 13. 17. 18. 19., thou hast put al things which thou hast made, vnder my subiectionGen.1, 26 28, &c. Psalm. 8, 6. 7. 8. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. 3. 4, &c..

Chap. 20.
That God hath made al things to serue for mans vse.

THou hast made al things to serue man Psal.8, 6., that man alone might serue thee altogither. And that man might be wholie thine; thou hast gi­uen him dominionGen. 1, 26, 28, &c. ouer al thy [Page 108] workes.

For al outward things thou hast created for the bodie; and the bodie for the soule; and the soule for thy selfe1. Cor.3, 21 22. 23.: that man might onelie serue theeDeut. 10, verse. 20. Matth.4, 10., and loue thee onlieDeut. 6, 5. Matt. 22, 37. Mark. 12, 29 30. Luke. 10, 27, enioieng both thee to his solace, and inferior things for his seruiceEccl. 17, 1. 2, &c..

For nothing vnder the coape of heauen is for worthines com­parable to the soule of man, which was created for the chie­fest good on high, by enioieng whereof it might become bles­sed, to which, if it cleaue ouer­passing al earthlie things which are transitorie1. Co. 7, 31 2. Pet. 3, 10. 12. 1. Iohn. 2, 15, 16. 17., it cleerelie shal behold the face1. Co. 13, 12 Reuel. 22, 4. of that eternal immortalitie1.Tim. 1, 17, and the glorious maiestie of him whose image it doth represent1. Cor. 11, 7 Colos. 3, 10..

Then shal it in the house of the Lord1 Reu. 21, 23. 24. enioie those excel­lent [Page 109] good things, in comparison whereof, al outwarde thinges, which we now see, are as no­thing. For they are those things which eie hath not seeneEsa. 64, 4. 1. Cor. 2, 9., eare hath not heard, neither came into mans har [...]; which God hath prepared for such as loue him. O Lord, such things wilt thou giue vnto ye soule of man!

And heereby, Lord, which louest the soulesWis. 11, 23, thou daie by daie doest reioice the soules of thy seruantsPsal. 86, 4..

But why maruel I at these things, ô Lord my GodPsal. 18, 2. 6, &c. Matth. 4, 7. 10.! For thou bringest vnto honor thine owne image and similitude, ac­cording to which they were createdGen. 9, 6. Wisd. 2, 23. Eccles. 17. 3. Colos. 3, 10..

For to our bodie, though cor­ruptibleWis. 9, 15. Rom.1, 23., & vile1. Cor. 15. verse. 42. 43. 44., that it might see, thou hast giuen the cleere­nes of the skie, by the hands of [Page 110] thine vntired seruants ye Sunne and Moone, which continualie daie and night by thine apoint­ment doe seruiceEccl. 43, 1. 2. 6. 10. to thy chil­dren; that it might breath, thou hast giuen the pure aër; varie­tie of soundes, that it might heare; sweete odors, that it might smel; qualities of sauors, that is might taste; grosenes of al bodilie things, that it might feele; to serue his vse, thou hast giuen him the beastes of the fieldPsal. 8, 6. 7. 8.; and soules of the aër, and fishes of the sea, and fruite of the earth to refresh him.

Thou hast created medicines of the earthEcc. 38, 4. for al diseases, and hast prepared for euerie seueral euil a seueral comfort.

For thou Lord art a pitiful GodPsa. 86, 15. Ioël. 2, 13. Eccle. 2, 12. and a merciful; thou our makerEsa. 45, 9. Rom. 9, 21. knowest whereof we are madePs. 103, 14, and how we are [Page 111] but as claie in thine hand.Iere. 18, 6. Ecc. 33, 12..

Chap. 21.
That by the consideration of Gods temporal benefites, wee may gather the greatnes of his heauenlie blessings.

O Lord, reueale thy great mercie to­warde mee; shine vpon me yet more and more with thy light, I be­seech thee, that more and more I may perceiue the same.

For thy great things by these smalest thingsProu. 30, verse. 24. 25, &c. Esaie. 6, 3. Esaie. 5, 16.; and thine in­uisible things, by these visible creatures are seeneRom. 1, 20., ô God, holieHab. 1, 12., and goodIer. 33, 11. Lame. 3, 25. Luke. 18, 18. 19., our Lord and makerDeu. 32, 18 Psal. 100, 3. Eccles. 1, 8..

For if thou prouidest both from heauen, from the aër, from the earth, from the sea, from light, from darkenes, from heate, from shade, from deaw, [Page 112] from raine, windes, showres, birdes, fiishes, beasts, trees, and from the diuersitie of herbes, and fruite of the earth, and from the seruice of al thy crea­tures which serue for mans vsePsal. 8, 6. 7. in their due season, to comfort him withal: If, I saie, thou proui­dest so ample, and so infinite benefites for this vile1. Cor. 15, verse. 42. 43, &c., and corruptibleWisd. 9, 15 Rom. 1, 23. bodie; ô Lord, I beseech thee, how excellent, & how innumerable shal those good things be, which thou hast prepared for those which loue thee1. Cor. 2, 9. 10 2. Esdr. 4, 27., in that heauenlie coun­trieHeb. 11, 13 Reuel, 21, 1. 2., where wee shal see thee face to face1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reu. 22, 4.! If thou dost so for vs in prison; what wilt thou doe in thy palace!

GreatPsa. 92, 5. Psal. 111, 2., and without num­ber doubtles be thy workesIob. 41, 4. 5. 6, &c. Psa. 104, 24. Eccl. 16, 20. 21, &c., ô Lord King of Heauen1. Esd. 4, 46 58. Wisd. 18, 15.

For sith al these things are ex­ceedinglie [Page 113] goodGen. 1, 31. Eccle. 39, 16 33., & delightful, which thou impartest as wel on the euil, as vpon the goodMat. 5, 45. Luke. 6, 35.: what shal those hereafter bee, which are laid vp onelie for the good?

If thy giftes are so infinite and diuers, which in this world thou giuest to thine enimies, as wel as to thy friends; how great and how infinite, how sweete and howe comfortable shal those blessings be, which thou wilt impart onelie vpon thy friends! If we haue so much de­lectation in this time of teares; what ioie wilt thou bring vs on the daie of our mariageMat. 2 2, 1. 2, &c. Luk. 14, 16. 17, &c. Reuel. 19, 7 9.! If our prison haue such pleasure; how vnspeakeable shal the happines of our countrie beHeb. 11, 9. 10. 11, &c. 1. Cor. 2, 9.!

O God, none eie without thee hath seene the things which thou hast prepared for them [Page 114] that loue thee1. Cor. 2, 9.! for according to the great number of thy mightie workes, thy goodnes is great which thou hast laid vp for them which feare theePsa. 31, 19..

For great art thou, ô Lord my God, and incomprehensiblePsa. 145, 3, neither is there ende of thy greatnes, nor number of thy wisedomePsa. 147, 5, nor measure of thy benignitie: neither is there end, nor number, nor measure of thy blessingsPsa. 106, 2.. For as thou art great thy selfe, so is thy libe­ralitie great, because thou art the reward, and the bles­sing which they shal haue that fight as they ought to doe2. Tim. 2, 5.

Chap. 22.
That godlie ioy taketh awaie al present bitternes of the world.

O Lord God, sancti­fier of al thy SaintsEzec. 37, verse. 28., these ar thy great benefits wherwith­al thou hast supplied the want of thine hungrie children.

For thou art the hope of the hopelesPsal 61, 2. 3. 4.: the ioie of the com­fortles2. Cor. 1, 3. 4.; the glorious crowne of hope1. Pet. 5, 4., prepared for such as ouercomeReu. 2, 10..

Thou art the euerlasting ful­nesReu. 7, 16. 17., which shal be giuen to the hungrieMatt. 5, 6. Luke. 6, 21.. Thou art the end­lesse comfort, which rewardest them that contemne the com­fort of this world for thy perpe­tual comfortEsai. 65, 13 14, &c. Matth. 5, 4. Luke. 6, 21.. For they who in this world receiue comfort, [Page 116] find no comfort in the world to comeEsai. 65, 13 14. Luke. 6, 25.. But such as are tormen­ted here, be there comfortedEsai. 25, 8. Matth. 5, 4. Reuel. 7, 17. Reuel. 21, 4: And suth as suffer with thee2. Tim. 2, 12, doe raigne with thee.

For no man can haue plea­sure in both worldsLuke. 16, verse. 25.; neither can a man reioice heere, and heereafter too; but of necessitie he must forgo the one, which would haue the otherEsa. 65, 13. 14. Luke. 16, 25.

When I consider these things, ô Lord my comforter2. Cor. 1, 3, my soule refuseth comfort in this lifePsal. 77, 2., that it may be meete for thine endles comfort. For rea­son it is, that hee should forgo thee, whosoeuer chooseth the comfort of anie before theeLuk. 14, 26 27. Mat. 16, 24..

Wherefore, ô soueraigne truthIohn. 14, 6, I beseech thee, suffer me not to delight in anie vaine pleasure. But my request is that al other things may waxe bitter [Page 117] to mee, and thou alone seeme sweete to my soule; because thou art the vnspeabable sweet­nesPs. 119, 103, by whom al sowre things are made sweete.

For thy sweetenes made the verie stones of the riuer sweete to StephenActs. 7, 55. 56, &c..

Thy sweetenes made the burning greediron sweete vnto LaurenceActes and Monumentes of the Church persecut. 8. page. 72..

Through thy sweetenes the Apostles departed from the CounselActs. 5, 41. reioicing, that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for thy Name.

Andrew went quietlie, and ioifulie to the crosseActes and Monumentes of the Church, because he hastened vnto thy sweetnes.

The princesTherefore Peter is not alone the Prince of the Apostles. of thine A­postles were so filled with this sweetenes, that for desire there­of, one choase the galowes for his deathEuseb. li. 2, cap. 25., and the other cheer­fulie [Page 118] offered his head to bee strooke off with a swordEuse. in the same booke and chap..

For to buie the same, Bar­tholomow gaue his own skinEccles. hist. Cent. 1. lib. 2. ca. 20. in vi­ta Barthol.. And to taste this in like sort, Iohn without shrinking backe, souped off a cup of poison.

As soone as Peter had tasted heereof, by and by forgetting al earthlie things, he brake out as if hee had bin dronke into these wordsMat. 17, 4. Marke. 9, 5. Luke. 9, 33., Maister, it is good for vs to be heere; if thou wilt, let vs make heere three taber­nacles, heere let vs abide stil; and enioie thy contemplation, for wee lacke nothing now. It sufficeth vs, Lord, that we see thee. It sufficeth vs to be satisfi­ed with so vnspeakeable sweet­nes.

He had tasted but one drop of sweetenes; and lothed forth­with al other sweetenes. What [Page 119] thinke yee, he would haue said, had he tasted that great sweet­nes of thy Godhead, which thou hast laid vp for such as feare theePsa. 31, 19.!

That virgin also, whome we reade, went as ioiefulie vnto prison, as to a banquet, had ta­sted this thine vnspeakeable sweetnes.

This also, as I iudge, he had tasted, who saidPsa. 31, 19., How great is thy goodnes, which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee! and who admonished, saiengPsa. 34, 8., Taste yee, and see how gratious the Lord is.

For this is the happines, ô Lord our God, which wee trust thou wilt giue vs, for which cō ­tinualie we fight vnder thy ba­ner2. Tim. 2, 3 2. Cor. 10, 3. 4.; for which we are killed al the daie longPs. 44, 22. Rom. 8, 36., that to thee we may liue in thy life.

Chap. 23.
That al our trust, and al the desire of our carke should be cast vpon God.

O Thou Lord, ye hope of IsraëlIer. 14, 8. Ierem. 17, 13, the verie thing in hart I dai­lie do desirePsal. 42, 1. 2., make haste, and tarie notPsa. 40, 17..

AriseSal. son. 2, verse. 10. 13., hasten, and come a­waie, that thou maiest bring vs out of this prisonPsa. 142, 7 to praise thy name, & to reioice in thy light.

Listen, ô Lord, to the crie of the tearesIob. 34, 28 Psal. 10, 11. 12. 13. of thy poore or­phanes, that crie vnto theee; ô our fatherMatt. 6, 9. 11. Luke. 11, 2. 3., giue vs this daie our dailie bread, in the strength whereof wee may walke night and daie, and minister the same vntil wee shal approch vnto thine holie mountainePsal. 3, 4. Psalm. 15, 1. Psal. 43, 3. Esaie. 57, 13.. And I the smalest among ye little ones [Page 121] of thy familie, whē shal I come, and appere before thy presencePsal. 42, 2., ô God my fatherMath. 6, 9., and my strengthPsal. 46, 1.: that I, who praise thee now for a time, may heere­after praise thee eternalieReu. 21, 3. 4.!

O blessed should I be, were I once admitted to behold thy brightnesIoh. 17, 24. 1. Cor. 13, 12! who can shew me such fauor, that thou maist per­mit me to come therevnto!

I know, Lord, I know, and acknowledge that I am vnwor­thie to enter vnder thy roofe: yet for the honor of thy name, destroie notPsa. 31, 1. 17. thy seruant which putteth his trust in theePsa, 86, 2..

And who shal enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy po­wer, vnles thou open vnto him? And who can open, if thou shut against himReue. 3, 7.? for if thou destroy no man can build againeIob. 12, 14.. And if thou shut man vp, none can [Page 122] loase him out. If thou with-hold ye watersIob. 12, 15., al things wil drie vp; and if thou send them foorth, they wil destroie the earth. If thou bring to nothing al which thou hast made, who dare con­trol thee for the sameIob. 11, 10?

Moreouer the goodnes of thy mercie, whereby thou didest al whatsoeuer thou wouldestPsa. 115, 3. Iob. 23, 13., is euerlastingLam. 3, 22. 23. Psal. 103, 17 18..

O maker of the world2. Mac. 7, verse. 23. Iohn. 1, 3. thou hast made vsIob. 10, 8. Iob. 33, 4. Psal. 119, 73., therefore go­uerne vs we beseech thee. Thou hast created vsPsa. 100, 3., then despise vs not, because we are the worke of thine handsPs. 138, 8..

For doubtles, ô Lord our GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., we silie wormes & clayEsai 64, 8. are vnable to enter into the house of thine eternitieEsa. 57, 15., vnles thou, who of nothing hast created al thingsPsal. 33, 8. 9. Psal. 148, 1. 2. 5, &c. Reuel. 4, 11. Reuel. 10, 6., do guide vs inIoh. 6, 44..

Chap. 24.
That our saluation commeth from God.

ANd I the worke of thine handsPsa. 138, 8. Esai. 64, 8. pro­test vnto thee in thy feare, that I wil not trust in my bowePsal. 44, 6.; and that not my sword, but thy right handPsal. 44, 3., and thine arme, and the light of thy countenance, shal saue mee. Without which I should despaire. But thou who hast made mePsa. 100, 3▪ Psa. 119, 73. art mine hopePsa. 91. 9., for thou forsakest not themPsa. 34, 22. which trust in thee.

For thou, our Lord God, art gratiousWis. 15, 1., long suffering, and gouernest al things by mercie. For although we sinneWis. 15, 2. yet are we thine: if we sinne not, we are thine, for we are in thy compt.

For wee, al the sort of vs, are [Page 124] but a leafeEsai. 64, 6.; and al men liuing are but vanitiePsal. 39, 5.. And our life vpon earthIob. 7, 7., is but a blast.

Be not angrie with vs thine Orphanes though wee fal, for thou knowest whereof wee be madePsal. 103, verse. 14., ô Lord our GodPsal. 8, 1. 9..

O God, whose power none can resistIob. 9, 4. 5, &c. Psalm. 76, 1. 2. 3, &c. Dani. 4, 32., wilt thou shew thy strength against a leafe which is caried away with the windeIob. 13, 25▪, and wilt thou folow after drie stuble? wilt thou, ô eternal king of IsraëlIoh. 1, 49., wilt thou condemne a dead dog1 Sam. 24, verse. 15.? wilt thou con­demne a poore flea?

Lord, we haue heard of thy mercy, how thou hast not made deathWisd. 1, 13.; nor hast pleasure in the destruction of the liuing.

For which cause we beseech thee, ô Lord, suffer not that which thou hast not made, to haue dominion ouer that crea­ture [Page 125] which thou hast madeIob. 10, 8. Iob. 33, 4. Psal. 119, 73..

For if thou art sorie for our damnation, what doth let thee, ô Lord, which canst do al things Iob. 23, 13. Psal. 115, 3., that thou maist not alwaies reioice for our saluation? If thou wiltMath. 8, 2. Marke. 1, 40., thou canst saue me, but I, though I would, cannot.

Great is the multitude of the miseries which I am in. For to wil is present with meeRom. 7, 18: but I find no meanes to performe that which is good.

Wil that good is I cannot, vnles thou wiltPhil. 2, 13.; neither can I do that I would, except thine arme do strengthen me.

Againe, sometime I would that I can, should not thy wil be done in earth as it is in hea­uenMat. 6, 10. Luke. 11, 2.? Yet know I not either what I can or would, vnles thy wisedome lighten mee. And though I should haue wil som­time [Page 126] & power with my know­ledge, yet were my wisedome vaineRom. 8, 7. 1. Cor. 1, 20., and vnperfect, vnles I were assisted by thy true wise­dome.

But al things are at thy plea­sure, neither can anie resist thy wilRom. 9, 19▪, ô Lord God of al fleshIer. 32, 27▪, which dost whatsoeuer thou wilt both in Heauen, and in Earth, in the Sea, & in al deepe placesPsa. 135, 6..

Wherefore let thy wil bee doneMatt. 6, 10 Luke. 11, 2. of vs, who cal vpon thy nameIer. 15, 16., least this noble worke­manship of thine doe perish, which thou hast created for thine owne glorieEsai. 43, 7. Eccles. 17, 8. 9..

And what man liueth, and shal not see deathPsa. 89, 48.? shal he de­liuer his soule from the hand of the graue; without thou deli­uer him, which art the liuelie waie of al lifeIoh. 14, 6., by whome al [Page 127] things doe liueAct. 17, 28.

Chap. 25.
That mans wil is vnapt vnto al good workes, without the grace of God.

FOr I confessed e­uen now how thou art the staie of my lifePsa. 118, 14▪ Esaie.12, 2., ô Lord my GodMatt. 4, 7. 8., the strength of my sal­uationPsal. 18, 1. 2. Psal. 140, 7..

The time was when I tru­sted in mine owne strength, which notwithstanding was no strength. And so when I would haue runne, where I thought I stood most sure, there I tooke the greatest fal, and came back­ward, not forward. And what I thought to atteine, went the farther fro me. Thus triest thou my strength by manie such things.

[Page 128] Now I know thou hast in­lightned me, for what I thought I could best doe, I found I was least able for to do it of my self. For I said, this I wil do, and that I wil bring to passe, but in the end, I could neither do the one, nor the other. Either I had wil, and lacked powerRom. 7, 18, or had po­wer, & lacked wil; for I trusted to mine owne strength.

But now I confesse to thee, ô Lord my GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3. Psalm. 18, 1. 2., father of hea­uen and of earthMat. 11, 25. Luke. 10, 21., that in his owne strength no man shal be strong1. Sam. 2, 9, because the vaine pre­sumption of no flesh shal glo­rie in thy sight1. Cor. 1, 29.

For it is not in man either to wil, that he can do; or to do that he would; or to know, what he would, or can do: But thou Lord it is which directest the steps of manProu. 16, 9.; of that man, [Page 129] I say which confesseth that he is directed of theeProu. 20, verse. 24., not of him­selfe.

Wherefore, by the bowels of thy mercieLuk. 1, 78., we beseech thee saue Lord what thou hast crea­ted: for if thou wiltMat. 8, 2. Mark. 1, 40. thou canst saue vs: and in thy wil resteth the strength of our saluationPsa. 140, 7..

Chap. 26.
The benefits which God hath done for vs of old.

O Lord, remember thy mercie of oldPsal. 25, 6., wherewithal thou hast preuented vs from the beginning by thy comfortable blessings.

For before I the sonne of thine handmaidWisd. 9, 5. was borne, ô Lord mine hope euen fro my mo­thers breastsPsal. 22, 9. 10., thou didest pre­uent mee, preparing a way [Page 130] wherein I should walkeDeut. 4. 1. 2, &c., and come vnto ye glory of thy house.

Thou knewest mee before thou didest shape me in the be­liePs. 139, 16., and before I came out of the wombe, thou didest preor­deine of me whatsoeuer plea­sed thee. What, and how much is written concerning mee in thy booke lieng in the secret place of thy consistorie, I am vtterlie ignorant, and therefore stand mightilie in feare; but thou knowest. For whatsoeuer I doe looke for, by succession of daies & times a thousand yeres hence in this transitorie world1. Cor. 7, 31 1. Iohn. 2, 17., is alreadie accomplished in the sight of thine eternitie2. Pet. 3, 8.; and that which shal be, is alreadie done.

Now then, forsomuch as I stand in this darke night, igno­rant of these thinges, feare and [Page 131] trembling are come vpon mePsal. 55, 5., while I see manie dangers hang ouer mine head from al sides; manie enimies to hunt after my soulePsal. 91, 3., & an innumerable mul­titude of miseries to beset mee round about in this mortal life. So that, wert not thou present to assist me in these euils, I shuld vtterlie despaire. But I haue a great confidence in thee, ô most gratious PrinceReuel. 1, 5. Reue. 19, 16., my GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3.: and the consideration of the multi­tude of thy compassionsPsal. 51, 1. doth comfort mine hart. And the former signes of thy goodnes, which before I was borne, pre­uented mePs. 139, 13. 14. 15, &c., and at this time cheeflie doe shine vpon me, doe assure mine hart of better, and more perfect blessings to come, which thou reseruest for such as loue thee1. Cor. 2, 9. Iames.1, 12.; so that I may reioice in theePsa. 32, 11. Ioë l. 2, 23. 1. Cor. 1, 31., ô Lord my GODPsal 7, 1. [...]., [Page 132] mine holie & liuelie ioie, wher­by my youth is comforted.

Chap. 27.
Of Angels appointed for the custodie of men.

FOr thou didest loue me entirelie, ô my loue, before I loued thee1. Ioh. 4, 19; thou diddest create mee after thine owne i­mageGen. 1, 26. 27. Eccle. 17, 3. Colo. 3, 10., and aduance me aboue al thy creaturesGen. 1, 28. 29. Psalm. 8, 4. 6, &c. Eccle. 17, 1. 2, &c..

Which dignitie I shal then keepe, when I knowe thee, for whome thou hast made me1. Cor. 3, verse. 23.

Besides thou makest thy spi­rits messengersPsa. 104, 4. for my sake, to whome thou hast giuen charge ouer mePsal. 91, 11. 12. Matth. 4, 6. to keepe me in al my waies, that I hurt not my foote against a stone.

For these are the watchmen ouer the walsEsai. 62, 6. of the citie new [Page 133] Ierusalem, & of the mountaines about the same, which tend, and keepe watch ouer thy flocke, least he as a Lion make a praie of our soules, while there is none to deliuer; he, I meane that old serpentReu. 12, 9., our aduersarie the di­uel, who as a roaring Lion wal­keth about, seeking whome he may deuour1. Pet. 5, 8..

They are the citizens of the blessed citic Ierusalem on high aboueGal. 4, 26., which is the mother of vs al, sent foorth to minister for their sakes who shal be heires of saluationHeb. 1, 14., that they may deliuer such from their enimies, and keepe them in al their waiesPsa.91, 11. For they loue their fellowe citi­zens by whome they looke to haue the breach of their destru­ction repared.

And therefore with great care and watchfulnes they doe stand [Page 134] about vs at al houres, and pla­ces, succurring, and prouiding for our necessities; yea, ful care­fulie doe they runne betweene vs, and thee, ô Lord.

For they walke with vs in al our waies, they go in and out with vs, diligentlie considering, how godlie, and how honestlie we do walke in the middes of a naughtie and crooked generati­onPhil. 2, 15.; how ernestlie we seeke the kingdom of God, and the righ­teousnes thereofMat. 6, 33; with what feare and trembling we do serue theePsal. 2, 11.; and how our harts reioice in thee, ô LordZech. 10, 7.

Those which labor they strēg­then; those which rest they pro­tect; such as fight they encou­rage; they crowne such as ouer­come; they reioice with such as reioiceRo. 12, 15., such I meane as reioice in theePhil. 4, 4.; and they suffer with [Page 135] such as suffer, I saie, with such as suffer for thy name sake1. Pet. 2, 19. 20. 1. Pet. 4, 14. 15.. Great is the care which they haue of vs! Great is the affection of their loue toward vs!

And al this for ye honor of thine inestimable goodwil wherwith thou hast loued vs. For they loue those whome thou doest loue; they keepe those whome thou dost keepe; they forsake those whom thou doest forsake; nei­ther can they abide such as work iniquitie; because thou also ha­test al them that worke iniqui­tiePsal. 5, 5▪ 6., and wilt destroie them that speake lies.

When we do wel, the Angels reioice, but the diuels are sad: when wee doe il, the diuels re­ioice; but the Angels are sad. For there is ioie among the An­gels for a sinner y conuertethLuk. 15, 7. 10.: and ioie to the diuel for a iust [Page 136] man that forsaketh repentance.

Grant therefore, ô fatherMath. 6, 9. Luke. 11, 2. Rom. 8, 15. Galath. 4, 6., that they may alwaies reioice ouer vs, that both thou alwaies maist be glorified in vs, and we may be brought with them into thy foldeIoh. 10, 16., that together wee may praise thy Name, ô Creator both of menIob. 10, 8. Iob. 33, 4. Psal. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73., and AngelsPs. 148, 1. 2, &c. 5..

These things I confesse before thy Maiestie, praising thee for them. For great are these thy be­nefits which thou hast honored vs withal, in giuing vs thy spi­ritsPsa. 104, 4. Heb. 1, 7. to be messengers for our seruice.

For thou hadst giuen whatso­euer is contained vnder ye coape of heauenGen. 1, 28. 29. Psalme. 8, 4. 6, &c., yet thoughtest thou al that too little, vnles withal thou addest those things which are aboue heauen.

For this benefit, praise ye Lord, al ye his AngelsPs. 103. 20 Psal. 148, 2.; praise him al [Page 137] ye his workesPs. 103, 22.; yea, let al thy Saints blesse theePs. 145, 10.;

O our glorieIudith. 15, verse. 9. thou hast ex­ceedinglie honored; enriched; and glorified vs with manifold benefitesPs. 139, 17▪ 18..

O Lord, how excellent is thy Name in al the worldPsal. 8, 1.! For what is man, y thou art mindful of himPsal. 8, 4. Iob. 7, 17., and the sonne of man, that thou visitest him! For thou the ancient truth hast saidPro. 8, 31., My delite is with ye children of men.

Is not man rottennes, and the sonne of man a wormeIob. 25, 6.? Is not euerie man liuing meere vanitiePsa. 39, 5. Psal. 144, 4.? yet thou thinkest it good to open thine eies vpon suchIob. 14, 3., and causest him to enter into iudgment with thee.

Chap. 28.
Of Gods bottomles prede­stination, and fore­knowledge.

TEach me, ô bottom­les deepeEcc. 24, 33▪, ô wise­dome which hast made al thingsPro. 8, 27. 28, &c. Eccle. 24, 6., & weighed the mountaines in a weightEsai. 40, 12, and hanged the masse of the earth by three fingers in a balance.

Lift vp the masse of this bo­dieWis. 9, 15 which I carrie about, by thy three inuisible fingers vnto thy selfe, that I may see and knowe how excellent thou art in al the worldPsal. 8, 1. Iob. 7, 17..

O most ancient light, which didest shine before al light in the holie mountaines of thine old eternitie, to which al things before they were made, were [Page 139] naked & openHeb. 4, 13▪! O light, which canst abide no spots, inasmuch as thou art without spotHab. 1, 13., and most pure! what delight canst thou take with manProu. 8, 31! what cō ­munion hath light with darke­nes2. Cor. 6,14! where is thy delight in man? In what part of me hast thou prepared a meete sanctu­arie for thy sacred Maiestie, wherinto when thou goest, thou maist delight thee to thy con­tentment? For meete is it that thou shouldest haue a pure par­lor, who art the purifieng vir­tuePsa. 19, 12. Psal. 51, 2. 7. Titus. 2, 14., who canst not be seene, much lesse possessed, but of the pure in hartMatth. 5, 8▪ Psal. 24, 3. 4..

But where is there so pure a temple in man1. Co. 3, 16 1. Cor 6, 19. 2. Cor. 6, 16., that it may receaue thee which rulest the world2. Mac. 7,9! who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesIob. 14, 4.! But thou alone, who onlie art pure.

[Page 140] For who can be clensed by the vncleaneEcc. 34, 4.? For according to the law which thou gauest to our fathers in the mount out of the middes of fireDeu. 5, 22 23. 24., and in the cloude couering the darksome water, Whatsoeuer toucheth an vncleane thing shal be vn­cleaneLeu. 22, 4. 5. 6. Nom. 19, 22.

But al of vs are as the cloth of a menstruous womanEsai. 64, 6., we proceede out of a corrupt and filthie masse; and beare in our foreheds the spot of our vnclea­nes, the which we cannot hide especialie from thine eies, who seest al thingsEcc. 23, 19. Psal. 94, 7. 8. 9..

So then we cannot be cleane, vnles thou make vs cleanePsal. 51, 2. 7. Tit. 2, 14., who onlie art cleaneReue. 4, 8. Reuel. 15, 4..

And of vs the sonnes of men those onlie thou makest cleane, in whome it hath pleased thee to make thine abodeRom. 8, 9. 2. Tim. 1, 14., whome [Page 141] by the bottomles and secrete depth of the incomprehensible iudgements of thy wisedome, which are alwaies iust, though they be secret, thou hast with­out anie merits of theirs prede­stinated before al worldEphes. 1, 4.; cal­ledRo. 8, 30. out of the worldIoh. 17, 6.; iustifiedRo. 8, 30. in the world; and after the world thou wilt glorifie them.

Yet dost y not this to al men, which makes the wise of this worldLuk. 10, 21 euen to wonder, and to be astonished. And I also, Lord, when I thinke hereof, am vtter­lie agast and amazed at the deepenes of the richesRo. 11, 33. both of thy wisedome, and knowledge. How vnsearchable are ye iudge­ments of thy righteonsnes! thy knowledge is aboue my reach. For of the same claie thou hast made som vessels vnto honorRom. 9, 21., & some to euerlasting infamie.

[Page 142] Therefore whom out of ma­nie thou hast takenEzec. 36, verse. 24. into an holie temple for thy selfe, those thou dost clense, pouring vpon them cleane waterEzec. 36, verse. 25., whose names and number is knowen to theePsa 69, 28, Philip. 4, 3., which alone countest the number of the starsPs. 147, 4., and callest them al by their names; who also be written in the book of lifeLuk. 10, 20 Reuel. 3, 5. Reue. 20, 12. Reu. 21, 27.; who cannot perishIoh. 10, 27 28.; to whom al things worke together for the bestRo. 8, 28., yea verie wicked­nes it selfe. For when they fal, they be not brused into peeces: for thou puttest vnder thine handPsa. 37, 24, thou wilt keepe al their bonesPs. 34, 20., so that not one of them shal be broken.

But a most vile death haue the wicked, they I saie, whome in the great deepe of thy secret iudgementsPsal. 36, 6., which are alwaies righteous, thou diddest fore­knowe, [Page 143] euen before thou didst make either the heauen, or the earth, should euerlastinglie be damned, the number of whose names & naughtie merits thou knowest, who hast counted the number of the sand of the seaEccle. 1, 2. 9.; and sounded the verie bottome of the deepe, whome thou hast giuen vp to their vncleannesRom. 1, 24, to whom al things worke toge­ther for ye worst, yea euen their praier is abominationProu. 28, 9; so that albe they should ascend vp to the verie heauensObad. 1, 4., & lift their head aboue the cloudes, and make their nest among the stars; yet shal they be cast awaie in the ende like doong.

Chap. 29.
Of such as once were godlie, and afterward proued wicked; and contrariwise.

GReat are these thy iudgments, ô Lord God, ô iudge righ­teousPsa. 67, 4. Tob. 3, 2. and strong, which iudgest rightPsal. 9, 4., and dost things that are vnsearchableIob. 5, 9. Iob. 37, 5. 6, &c. and deepe: the which when I consider al my bones do shake.

For there is not a man vpon earth sure, that wee can serue thee godlie & purelie in fearePsal. 2, 11., and reioice before thee in trem­bling al the daies of our life: that there shoulde be neither seruice without feare, nor ioie without trembling; and that he which hath girded his harnesse may not boast himselfe1. Ki. 20, 11. as he that hath laid it off; neither in [Page 145] deede that anie flesh should re­ioice in thy presence1. Cor. 1, verse. 29. but shake and tremble before theePsa. 2, 11.; inas­much as no man knoweth whe­ther he be worthie loue or ha­tredEccle. 9, 1., al things being kept vn­certaine til the time to come.

For, Lord, we haue not onlie heard our fathers tell, but haue seene also with our eies, which thing I cannot vtter without trembling, nor confesse with­out feare, how manie hertofore haue climed in manner vp vnto heauenAmos. 9, 2., and made their nest among the starsObad. 1, 4., which after­ward fel downe headlong euen to hel2. Pet. 2, 4. Iude. ver. 6., and were hardened in wickednes.

Wee haue seene the stars fal from heauen through the vio­lent stroke of ye Dracons taileReu. 12, 4.. And we haue seene some lieng in the dust of the earthPsa. 113, 5. 6. 7. 1. Sam. 2, 6. 7. 8. Luke. 1, 46. 47. 48, &c., who [Page 146] sodenly by thine helping hand, ô Lord, haue woonderfulie as­cended.

We haue seene the liuing, di­eng; and the dead, rising from death: we also haue seene them which walked among the sons of God, in the mids of stones of fireEze. 28, 14▪ 16., euen as claie to haue va­nished to nothing.

We haue seene light become darknes; and darknes come out of light: because publicans and harlots doe go before the in­habiters into the kingdome of GodMat. 21, 31; and the children of the kingdomeMat. 8, 12. are cast into vtter darknes.

And how commeth al this to passe, but euen because they moūted vp vnto that hil, wher­into the first ascended an An­gelEsai. 14, 12, and came downe a diuel.

But, Lord, whome thou hast [Page 147] predestinate, them thou hast calledRom. 8, 30, and sanctified, & clen­sed, that they may be a meete dwelling place1. Co. 3, 16. 1. Cor. 6, 19. for thy maie­stie, with whom and in whome thy holie and pure delight isPro. 8, 31., in whom thou takest pleasure, and reioicest their youth, dwel­ling with them2. Co. 6, 16 in their remē ­brance, that they may be thine holie temple1. Co. 3, 16: which doubtles is no smal commendation of our humanitie.

Chap. 30.
That the soule of a faithful man is the sanctuarie of God.

FOr the soule, which thou hast createdGen. 1, 26. 27. Colo. 3, 10., not of thy selfe, but by thy wordIohn. 1, 3.; not of the matter of anie ele­ment, but of nothing; the which is reasonable, of vnderstan­ding, [Page 148] spiritual, liuing alwaies, and euer mouing, which thou hast sealed with the light of thy countenance, and halowed by the virtue of thy baptisme, is made so capable of thy glorie, that thou alone, and nothing else can satisfie the samePsal. 42, 1▪ 2.

And when it hath thee, it hath her harts desire; neither is there anie outwarde thing beside, which it would wish. But while it desireth anie outward thing, it is a manifest argument, that thou art not within. For if thou be had, it can wish for no moreReu. 7, 17. Reuel. 21, 4..

For inasmuch as thou art the soueraigneIam. 1, 17., yea al that good is; it hath nothing which it may wish for more, but enioieth thee, who art al that good is.

Now if it couet not after al that good is, it resteth that it [Page 149] must couet after some thing, which is not al that good is; and so consequentlie not the soue­raigne good; and so not God, but rather a creature.

And as long as it desireth a creature, it is alwaies hungrie. For although it haue what it can desire of creatures; yet re­maineth it emptie. For there is nothing which can fulfil it, but thou alonePsal. 42, 1. 2., after whose image it was createdGen. 1, 26. 27. Wisd. 2, 23. Eccles. 17, 1. 2. 3..

And those thou fillest, which desire nothing beside thee; and makest them meete for thee, holiePsa. 31, 23 Phil. 4, 22., blessedRom. 4, 7. 8., vndefiledEph. 1, 4., and the friends of GodEsai. 41, 8. Wisd. 7, 27. Iohn. 15, 14. 15., which do iudge al things but as doong Phil. 3, 8. that they may win thee alone.

For this is the blessing which thou hast bestowed vpon man; this is the honor wherewith thou hast exalted him among al, yea, [Page 150] and aboue al creaturesPsalm. 8, 1. 3, &c., that thy name may be woonderful throughout al the world.

Behold, ô Lord my GodPsal. 18, 2 6., who art most hieDan. 7, 27 1.Esdr. 6, 31. Hebr. 7, 1., most righte­ousMat. 19, 16 17. Mark. 10. 17 18., almightieDan. 7, 27. 2. Cor. 6, 18. Reuel. 4, 8., now haue I found the place where thou in­habitest, it is euen the soule which thou hast created after thine owne image and simili­tudeGen. 5, 1. Colos.3, 10., which doth seeke and long after thee alone: not the soule which neither seeketh nor desireth thee.

Chap. 31.
That God neither by the out­ward nor inward senses can be found out.

I Haue gone astraie like a lost sheepePs. 119, 176, seeking thee with­out, who art within. And much haue I labored to [Page 151] find thee without me, and thou dwellest within meeRom. 8, 9. at least­wise if I had a lust to thee.

I went about by the lanes, and by the streetsSal. songs. 3, verse. 2. of the citie of this world, seeking thee, but I found thee not. Because I sought thee not rightlie without, who art within.

I sent abroad my messengers, namelie al mine outward sen­ses, to seeke thee; yet did I not finde thee; because I sought a­misse.

For now do I see, ô my lightEsai. 60, 19 Micah. 7, 8., ô God, which hast inlightened meIohn. 1, 9., I see now that I did not wel in seeking thee by them. For thou art within, yet could they not tel me, where thou ca­mest inIob. 9, 11..

For mine eies do tel me; If he had no color, he entered not by vs: Mine eares do tel me; If [Page 152] he made no noise, he passed not by vs: My nose telleth me, If he had no sent, hee came not by me: My tasting saith, if he had no sauor, he entered not by me; likewise my feeling doth saie, If he had no bodie, aske not mee the question.

Therefore, ô my God, these things are not in thee. For it is neither the fairenes of bodie, nor the beutie of time, nor the brightnes of light, nor ye fresh­nes of color, nor the melodie of musicke, nor anie thing else which is pleasant to the eare; it is neither ye fragancie of floures, nor the smel of ointments or spices, nor the sweetenes of ho­nie or manna, delightful to the taste; neither is it those things which are louelic to be touched, or embraced; nor finalie anie thing subiect to these senses [Page 153] which I seeke, when I seeke my God. Be it far fro my thought, that I should thinke these things to be my God, which are com­prehended of the senses euen of brutish creatures.

And yet when I seeke my God, I seeke for al that a cer­taine light excelling al light, which the eie cannot compre­hend1. Cor. 2, 9.; a certaine sound excel­ling al sound, which the eare can not conceaue; a certaine sent, surpassing al sent, which the nose cannot discerne; a certaine sweetenes, excelling al sweete­nes, which no taste can judge of; and a certaine embracement, a­boue al embracement, which no feeling can reach vnto.

For this light shineth, where no place is to containe it; This voice soundeth, where no aër is to carie it; this sent giues a [Page 154] sent, where no wind is to waste it; this sauor sauoreth, where no taste is to eate it; and this em­bracing is felt, where it is not sundered. This is my God, and there shal none other be com­pared vnto himBaru. 3, 35. This doe I seeke, when I seeke my God; This do I loue, when I loue my God.

Too late haue I loued thee, ô beutie so old and yet so fresh, too late haue I loued thee! Thou wert within, and I was without, where I sought thee; and I de­formed, as I am, rushed vpon these goodlie thingsGen. 1, 31. Eccle. 39, 16. 33., which thou hast madeGen. 1, 1. 2. 3, &c. Psal. 148, 1. 2, &c. Eccle. 18, 1..

Thou wert with me, but I was from thee. Those things kept me aloofe frō thee, which could not be but in theeAct. 17, 25. 28..

I went al about seeking thee, and forsaking my selfe for al [Page 155] things.

I asked the earth if it were my God; and it answered, No: and al things in the earth confessed the same.

I asked the sea, & the deepes, and al things creeping in them; but they answered, We are not thy God, seeke him aboue vs.

I asked the puffing aër, and the whole aër with al the dwel­lers in the same made me this answere; Anaximenes is decea­uedAnaxi­menes was of opinion that the aër was God; as Au­gustine here, and Theodor. in his booke de Principijs▪ doth record.: for I am not thy God.

I asked the heauen, the sunne, the moone, and the stars: and they said, Neither be wee thy God.

Then said I vnto al those which stand about the doores of my flesh; Tel me, I praie you, what thinke yee of my God? tel me somewhat of him? and they al answered with a loude voice, He [Page 156] hath made vsPsa. 100, 3.

Then said I to the masse of the whole world, Tel me, art thou my God, or no? And it answerd with a mightie voice, I am not; but through him I am whome thou seekest in me; Hee hath made meeIohn. 1, 3. 10. Heb. 11, 3.; seeke him aboue me, by whom I am now ruled2. Ma. 7, 9., and was once created.

The asking of the creatures is the deepe consideratiō of them: their answere, is the testimonic which they yeeld of God. For al things crie, God hath made vsGen. 1, 1. 2. 3, &c. Psal. 136, 1. 5. 6, &c. Eccl. 18, 1. Actes. 14, 15. Acte. 17, 24..

For, as the Apostle saithRom. 1, verse. 20., the inuisible things of God, are sene by the creation of the worlde, being considered in his works.

Then I returned vnto my selfe, and went into my selfe, and said thus to my selfe, what art thou? I answered my selfe, and said, A man reasonableGen. 1, 27. Gen. 5, 1., and mortalWisd. 7, 1. 2. Esd. 7, 14. 15. Act. 14, 15.. [Page 157] Then began I to discusse what that should be, & said: Whence is this kind of creature, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3.? whence but of thee? Thou hast made mePsa. 100, 3, and not I my selfe.

What art thou? Thou I meane by whom I liueAct. 17, 28, naie thou by whom al things do liuePs. 145, 15. Acte. 17, 25., what art thou? Verilie, thou, Lord my GodPsal. 18, 2. 6. Matth. 4, 7. 10., art the trueExo. 34, 6. Iere. 10, 10. Iohn. 17, 3., and on­lie God2.Kin. 19, verse. 15. 19. Psal. 86, 10., almightiePsa. 115, 3. Psal. 135, 6., euerla­stingPsal. 9, 7. Psa. 102, 11. 12., incomprehensiblePsa. 139, 6▪ 7, &c., and infiniteEcc. 18, 1., liuing alwaies1. Tim. 1, 17, and dieng in no part of thee; thou inhabitest the eternitieEsai. 57, 15, and art wonderful in the sight of An­gelsPsa. 89, 7., thou canst not be vtte­redPsa. 139, 6., nor found outIob. 9, 10. 11, &c., nor na­med; thou art a liuing GodEsaie. 37, ver. 4.17. Ier. 4, 2.Heb. 9, 14. Reu. 4, ver. 9.10., a true GodExod. 34, 6. Iohn. 17, 3., a terribleExod. 15, 11. Deut. 7, 21. & strong GodPsal. 7, ver. 12. 13. Esaie. 1, 24., knowing neither begin­ningPro. 8, 22. [Page 158] nor endPsal. 102, 11 12.; the beginning and the end of al thingsReue. 1, 8.; who art before the worldEcc. 24, 12, and from euerlasting to euerlastingEcc. 42, 21.

Thou art my GodDeu. 6, 13. 16., and the Lord of al which thou hast cre­ated2. Ma. 7, 9., with thee are the causes of al stable things, with thee do the originals of al changeable things abide vnchangeable; and with thee doe the groundes of reasonable, vnreasonable, and temporal thinges continue for euer.

O my God, tel me thine hum­ble seruant, ô merciful God tel thy seruant, euen by thy great mercies, I beseech thee, tel me, whence is this kind of creature if not of thee? Shal anie man be his owne makerPsa. 100, 3.? Haue anie either being, or life, but from theeAct. 17, 25▪ 28.? Art not thou the princi­pal being, from whom al being [Page 159] doth proceedeIam. 1, 17.? For whatsoe­uer is, it is of thee, because with­out thee there is nothing.

Art not thou the welspring of lifePsal. 36, 9. Iohn. 4, 14., from which floweth al life? For whatsoeuer liueth, doth liue through theeAct. 17, 28: because without thee nothing doth liue. There­fore, ô Lord, thou hast made al things.

What? shal I aske who hath made mee? Thou, Lord, hast made mePsa. 100, 3. Psal. 119, 73, without whom no­thing was madeIohn. 1, 3.. Thou art my maker, & I thy workmanshipPsa. 139, 13▪ 14, &c. Wisd. 2, 23..

Thankes be to thee, ô Lord my God, through whom I liue, and through whom al things do liue, because thou hast made al. Thankes be to thee, ô my ma­ker: for thine hands haue made me, and facioned meIob. 10, 8. Psa. 119, 73.. Thanks be to thee, ô my lightIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 8, 12. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7.; because thou hast inlightned me; wher­by [Page 160] I haue found both thee and my selfe. Where I founde my selfe, there I knewe my selfe; where I founde thee, there I knew thee; and where I knewe thee, there thou didst inlighten me. Thankes be to thee, ô my light, for inlightening me. But what is it that I saide, I knewe thee? Art not thou a God in­comprehensibleIob. 23, 8. 9., vnmeasura­blePsa. 139, 7▪ 8. 9. the King of kings1. Tim. 6, verse. 15. Reu. 17, 14. Reu. 19, 16., and Lord of lordes, who alone hast immortalitie1. Tim. 1, 17, and dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto1. Tim. 6, 16, whom neuer man saw, neither can see? Art not thou an hidden God, whose glorie is past finding out; art not thou best knowne, and a wonderful beholder of thy selfe?

Who then knowes that which he neuer sawe? For thou hast said in thy truth, No man [Page 161] shal see mee and liueExod. 33, verse. 20.: Thy Prophet hath said through thy truth, No man hath sene God at anie timeIohn. 1, 18.. Who then knowes that, which hee neuer sawe? And thy truth it selfeIohn. 14, 6 hath said, No man knoweth the Sonne but the FatherMat. 11, 27.: neither know­eth anie man the Father but the Sonne. Thy Trinitie alone, which is aboue al knowledge, is perfectlie knowne onelie to it selfe.

Then what is it, that I, a man like to vanitiePsa. 144, 4, haue said, I know thee? For who knowes thee, but thy selfe alone?

For thou, God alone, in thy most holie, and heauenlie word art said to be almightieGen. 35, 11 Eccles. 43, 1. 2. 3, &c. Reue. 4, 8., pas­sing praise worthiePsal. 96, 4. Psal. 145, 3., passing glorious, passing honourable, passing hieGen. 14, 18 Luke. 1, 32. 35., beyond al being. For thou art found superessen­tialie, [Page 162] and beyond al know­ledge to be aboue the nature of anie thing which maie be ima­gined, be it intellectual or sen­sible, and aboue euerie name that is namedEph. 1, 21., not in this world onelie, but also in that which is to come: Inasmuch as through the superessential, and secret power of thy Godhead, (howe no reason, vnderstan­ding, nor being can conceiue) thou dwellest so as no man can either search thee out, or haue accesse vnto thee, and that in thy selfe, where as light is, that none can attaine vnto2. Tim. 6, verse. 16., and brightnes which no creature can either find out, compre­hend, or vtter, wherevnto no light can attaine. Because it is no light to be looked vpon, or seene, but is thought to bee a light exceeding both the reach [Page 163] of reason, & of vnderstanding, and is more than can be attai­ned vnto, more than vnchange­able, more than maie becom­municated with anie: Such a light it is, as neuer Angel, nor man sawe, neither can see1. Tim. 6. verse. 16..

This is thy heauen, Lord, thine hiding heauen, thy passing secret heauen, I meane thy light beyond al vnderstandingPhil. 4, 7., be­yond al reason, beyond being: of which it is said, The heauen of heauen is the Lordes. The heauen of heauen, in compari­son whereof al other heauen is but earth: forsomuch as it is passing maruel ouslie heaued vp aboue al heauen. Yea such an heauen, as that firie heauen compared therevnto, is but as earth. For this is the Lords hea­uen of heauen: because none knowes it, but the Lord alone.

[Page 164] Vnto this heauen no man as­cendeth, but he which hath des­cended from heauenIohn. 3, 13▪. For no man knoweth the Father but the SonneMat. 11, 27, and the Spirit of them bothIoh. 15, 26: neither knoweth anie man the Sonne, but the Fa­therMat. 11, 27, and the Spirit of them bothIoh. 15, 26▪.

O sacred Trinitie, ô Trinitie eternal, passing glorious, pas­sing vtterance, passing finding out, which no man can attaine vnto1. Tim. 6, verse. 16., no man comprehendIob. 23, 8. 9., no man conceiue, as being be­yond al being, and superessen­tialie passing al sense, al rea­son, al vnderstanding, al know­ledge, al essence of supercelesti­al spirits; the which nothing, no not the verie Angels can either vtter, or conceaue1. Cor. 2, 9; or vender­stand, or know: thou perfectlie art knowne1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. to thy selfe, ô [Page 165] Trinitie.

How then do I knowe thee, ô Lord God most hiePsa. 50, 14▪ Luke. 1, 32. Luke. 8, 28., aboue al earth, and aboue al heauen, whom neither Cherubins, nor Seraphins perfectlie do know; but with the wings of their con­templations they couer his face Esaie. 6, 1. 2. which sitteth vpon the hie and statelie throne, saiengEsai. 6, 3., Holie, holie, holie, Lord God of hosts, the whole world is ful of thy glorie!

The Prophet was astonished, and said, Wo is me, I know not what to saie, because I am a man of polluted lipsEsaie. 6, 5.! And my hart was astonished, and said likewise, Wo is me for speaking because I am a man of polluted lips. Yet I said, I knew thee.

Notwithstanding, wo to them, Lord, who are tong-tied when they shoulde speake of [Page 166] thee. For they which babble muchMatth. 6, 7 are made mute without thee.

And I, ô Lord my GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3., will not be stil: because thou hast made meGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psa. 119, 73., and lightened meIohn. 1, 9., and found me. So that I know theeIohn. 17, 3, because thou hast inlightened meIohn. 1, 4. 9..

But how do I knowe thee? Doubtlesse I knowe thee in thy selfe. I knowe thee not as thou art to thy selfe1. Cor. 13, verse. 12., but as thou art to mee; yet not without thee, but in thy selfe. For thou art the light which hast inligh­tened meIohn. 1, 9. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7..

For as yu art to thy selfe, thou art knowne to thy selfe alone1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Iohn. 1, 18. 1. Tim. 6, 16 1. Iohn. 4, 12: but as thou art to me, according to thy grace, thou art knowne to me.

But what art thou to me? ô merciful GodExo. 34, 6▪ Psal. 86, 5., tel me thy mi­serable [Page 167] seruant, for thy mercies sake, tel me what thou art to me ward. Saie vnto my soulePsal. 35, 3, I am thy saluation; hide not thy face away fro me, ô Lord, least I die.

Suffer me to speake with thy mercie, me I saie, earth and a­shesGen. 18, verse. 27. Iob. 30, 19. Eccle. 17, 33; suffer me to speake with thy mercie. For great is thy mercie toward mePsa. 117, 2.

I wil speake vnto my God, albeit I am but dust and ashesGen. 18, verse. 27..

Tel me thy humble seruant, ô merciful GodExo. 34, 6. tel me thy mise­rable seruant, for thy mercies sake tel me what art thou to me ward?

Thou also didst thunder from heauenPsa. 18, 13 with a mightie voice into the inner eare of mine hart; thou brakedst my deafenes, so that I heard thy voice; thou didest inlighten my blindnes, and I saw thy light; and knew, [Page 168] how y thou art my GodPsal. 16, 2.. Ther­fore did I saie, I knewe thee, be­cause I knewe that thou art my God. I knewe thee to be the onelie verie GodIoh. 17, 3., and whom thou hast sent, Iesus Christ.

The time was, when I knew thee not. But wo worth that time, when I did not knowe thee; wo worth that blindnes, when I did not see thee; wo worth that deafenes, when I did not heare thee. Then blind, deafe, & ouglie as I was, I rusht vpon those faire things which thou hast made.

Yet euen then thou wert with me, but I was not with thee; and those kept me far off from thee, which shuld not haue ben with­out thee.

Thou hast inlightened me, ô light of the worldIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 8, 12., so that I haue seene thee, and loued [Page 169] thee. For no man doth loue thee but he sees thee: And no man doth see thee, but hee which loues thee.

It was late before I loued thee, ô beautie so ancient, and yet so fresh; late was it before I loued thee. But wo woorth that time when I loued thee not.

Chap. 32.
The faith or beliefe of a true Christian most notablie described.

O My lightIohn. 1, 4. 9., I praise thee for inlighte­ning me, whereby I knowe thee.

But how do I knowe thee? I knowe thee to be God alone2. King. 19, verse. 15. 19. Psal. 86, 10., a liuing GodIohn. 17, 3., a trueIer. 10, 10. 2. Chr. 15, 3. God, my CreatorGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3. Psal. 139, 1 [...]0 14, &c..

I knowe thee to be the ma­ker both of heauen and earthPsa. 124, 8. Psal. 134, 3. Psal. 135, 6., [Page 170] of al things visible and inuisi­bleCol. 1, 16., a verie GodIer. 10, 10., almightieGen. 35, 11. Reuel. 4, 8. Reuel. 11, 17., immortal1, Tim. 1, 17, inuisibleColo. 1, 15. 1 Tim. 1, 17, incom­passableIob. 23, 8., vnlimitableBar. 3, 24. 25., euer­lasting Lam. 5, 19. Dan. 6, 26. Baruc. 4, 10. 14, &c. Rom. 16, 26., to whome none can approch vnto1. Tim. 6, verse. 16., nor compre­hendIer. 32, 18. 19. Eccle. 23, 19. 20., nor find outIob. 11, 7. 8. 9, &c.; who art vnchangableMala. 3, 6., vnmeasurablePsa. 139, 6. 7. 8. Baruc. 3, 24, 25., infiniteProu. 8, 22. Heb. 1, 12., the beginning of al creaturesColo. 1, 15, 16. 17. be they visible or in­uisible, by whom al things were created, through whom al the elements doe consist. Whose maiestie, as it neuer had begin­ningPsal. 90, 2. Psa. 93, 2.: so it shal neuer haue endPsal. 45, 6. Psa. 146, 10..

I knowe thee to be one GodDeut. 6, 4. Mal. 2, 10., alonePsal. 86, 10. Esa. 37, 16. 20., the true GodIohn. 17, 3. 1. Thes. 1, 9.; name­lie, the eternal FatherMatth. 11, 25. Marke. 13, 32., Sonne,Iohn. 1, 18. Rom. 8, 3. 17. & holie GhostMar. 12, 36. Acts. 1, 5. 8. 16.; three personsMath. 3, 16, 17. Mar. 1, 10. 11. Luke. 3, 21, 22. [Page 171] indeede, but one simple sub­stance, and vnparted nature; The Father made of none; the Sonne of the Father alone; the holie Ghost of the Father and of the Sonne; alwaies without either beginningPro. 8, 22. Eccle. 24, 12., or endPsa. 102, 11. 12..

A Trinitie, yet but one on­lieDeut. 6, 4., and verie God2. Chr. 15, 3 Iohn. 17, 3., omnipo­tentEze. 10, 5. Eccl. 42, 17. 2. Cor. 6, 18., the onlie beginning of al thingsIohn. 1, 1. 2. 3., maker of al creatures both visible and inuisibleCol. 1, 15. 16. 17., spi­ritual and temporal;

Which by thine almightie po­wer at the beginning didest of nothing make together both creatures, spiritual and corpo­ral, that is to saie, angelical and worldlie, and afterward the hu­mane, as a middle nature con­sisting of bodie and spirit.

I knowe and confesse thee, God the Father, to be vnbegot­ten; thee, God the Sonne, to be [Page 172] begotten of the FatherPsal. 2, Heb. 1, 5.; thee, God the holie Ghost the com­forterIoh. 14, 26, to be neither made, nor begotten.

With my hart I beleeue vn­to righteousnesRom. 10, 10, and with my mouth I confesse vnto saluati­on, this holie, and single Trini­tie in three coequal, consub­stantial, and coeternal persons, to be a Trinitie in Vnitie, and an Vnitie in Trinitie.

I knowe thee Iesus Christ our Lord1. Cor. 1, 3. 7, &c., to be a true GodIoh. 17, 3., the onelie begotten Sonne of GodIoh. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9., and the CreatorIohn. 1, 1. 2. 3. Heb. 1, 2. 3. Heb. 1, 2., Saui­orLuke. 1, 31. 69. Luke. 2, 11. 30. Matth. 1, 21., and redeemer not of mee onlie, but also of al mankindRom. 3, 24 1. Cor. 1, 30. Ephes. 1, 5. 6. 7.: whome I acknowledge to be begotten of the FatherPsal. 2, 7. Acts. 13, 33. before al worlds, God of GodIoh. 8, 42. Iohn. 13, 3. Iohn. 16, 27. 30., lightIohn. 1, 4. 5. 7, &c. of light, verie GodMath. 1, 23. Mat. 16. 16. of verie God, begottenPsal. 2, 7. Heb. 1, 5. Heb. 5, 5. not made, be­ing [Page 173] of one substanceHeb. 1, 3. and coe­ternalHeb. 5, 5., with the Father and the holie Ghost, by whom al things at the beginning were madeIohn. 1, 1. 2, &c. Heb. 1, 1. 2..

Stedfastlie beleeuing, & tru­lie confessing, that thou Iesus Christ the onlie begottē Sonne of GodIohn. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9. for our saluationMath. 1, 21. Luke. 1, 31. 69. by the consent of the whole Trini­tie tookest flesh; and wert con­ceiued by the holy Ghost of the virgin MarieMat. 1, 18. 20. Luke. 1, 26. 27, &c.; and wert made verie manIoh. 1, 14. 1. Tim. 3, 16., of a reasonable soule, and humane flesh subsi­sting:

Thou forsomuch as in respect of thy Godhead, being the one­lie begotten Sonne of God; thou couldest neither suffer, nor die1. Tim. 1, 17. through thine exceeding loue wherewith thou hast loued vsEphe. 2, 4., thou, the verie same Sonne of GOD for al that, becamest subiect to sufferings1. Pet. 2, 21. Luke. 24, 46., & mor­talitie1. Cor. 8, 11,, [Page 174] in respect of thy man­hood: & ô onlie Sonne of God, for the saluation of mankindeMat. 1, 21. diddest suffer deathRom. 5, 6. 7. 1. Cor. 15, 3. 2. Cor. 5. 15. vpon the wood of the crosseGala. 3, 13,, to saue vs from euerlasting deathCol. 1, 12. 13. 14..

Thou, the autor of light des­cendedst into helCrede A­post. Athan., and like a glorious conquerour rosest a­gaine the third daie1. Cor. 15, verse. 4., taking to thee againe thy sacred bodie, which for our sinnes had lien in the sepulchre; and quickening it according to the ScriptureMat. 28, 1. 2, &c. Luke. 24, 1. 2. 3, &c. Iohn. 20, 1. 11. 12. the third daie, that thou migh­test place the same at the right hand of the FatherActs. 2, 34. Colos. 3, 1..

For thou, the verie Sonne of God, taking againe vnto thy selfe the substance of our flesh, that is to saie, the soule and hu­mane bodie which thou tookest of the glorious virginLu. 24, 36. 37, &c. Ioh. 20, 19. 20, &c. 24. 25, &c., art as­cended vp aboue al the hea­uensMar. 16, 19 Luk. 24, 51. Acts. 1, 9. 10. 11., [Page 175] and mounted aboue the orders of Angels, where thou sittest at the right hand of God the FatherAct. 2, 34. Coloss. 3, 1. Heb. 1, 3. 13., and whereas the fountaine of life isPsal. 36, 9.; the light which none can attaine vnto1. Tim. 6, 16; & the peace of God which pas­seth al vnderstandingPhili 4, 7..

There we doe worship thee, there we do beleeue thee to be verie God, and verie man; con­fessing God to be thy Father2. Cor. 1, 3. 2. Cor. 11, 31. Ephes. 3, 14.: and from thence we looke that thou wilt come a iudge in the end of the worldAct. 10, 42. 2. Tim. 4, 1. 8., to iudge both the quick and the dead, and to render to al men good and bad, according to their deedesRom. 14, 10▪ 2. Cor. 5, 10., which they haue don in this life, either reward or punishment, according as euery one is wor­thie, rest or torment.

For al men, euen as manie as haue receaued soules in their [Page 176] humane flesh which they had in this world, shal rise at that daie through the sound1. Cor. 15, verse. 52. 1. Thes. 4, 16▪ of thy pow­er: that whole man may re­ceaue either the glorie of hea­uenMath. 25, verse. 34. Iohn. 5, 29. Rom. 14, 10., or the paine of helMat. 25, 41 Iohn. 5, 29. 2 Cor. 5, 10., ac­cording to their deserts.

Thou art our resurrection, and the life it selfeIob. 11, 25., whom we looke for, euē ye Lord Iesus Christ, our SauiorPhil. 3, 20. 21., who shal change our vile bodie yt it may be facioned like vnto his glorious bodie.

I knowe thee the holie Spirit both of the Father and of the Sonne, to be one God1. Ioh. 5, 7., and a verie GodMat. 28, 19▪ 2. Cor. 13, 13. Reuel. 1, 4., proceeding alike from them bothIoh. 15, 26. Galat. 4, 6., of one sub­stance1. Cor. 2, 12, and coeternal with the Father and the Sonne, our com­forterIoh. 14, 26▪, and aduocateRom. 8, 26:

Which camest downe in the likenes of a doueMat. 3, 16. vpon ye same God, & our Lord Iesus Christ1. Cor. 1▪ 3. 7. 8, &c.; [Page 177] and showedst thy selfe vpon thine Apostles in firie tongsActs. 2, 1. 2. 3, &c.:

Which also euen from the be­ginning hast instructed with the gift of thy grace al the saints and chosen of God: and opened the mouthes of the Prophets1. Cor. 12. verse. 10. 2. Tim. 3, 16. 2. Pet. 1, 20. 21. that they might declare abrode the woonderful mysteries of the kingdome of God; who also together with the Father & the Sonne, of al the Saints of God, art worshipped and glorified. Among whome I the sonne of thine handmaidPsa. 116, 16. Wisd. 9, 5. do glorifie thy name, because thou hast inligh­tened me.

For thou art the verie light, the true light, the fire of GodActs. 2 [...] 3., the master of the spirits1. Co. 12, 7. 8, &c.; which by thine ointment teachest vs al truth1. Ioh. 2, 27; the spirit of truthIoh. 14, 16. 17. Iohn. 15, 26., with­out which it is impossible to please God.

[Page 178] For thou thy selfe art God of God, and light of light, vnspea­kablie proceeding from the Fa­ther of lightsIam. 1. 17., and from his SonneIohn. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9. our Lord Iesu Christ2. Cor. 1, 3. Ephes 3, 14.; with whom thou raignest, and art glorified most singularlie, being of one substance, coe­qual, and coeternal with them in the essence of one and the same Trinitie.

I knowe thee FatherMat. 11, 25. Mark. 13, 32, SonIoh. 8, 42., and holie Ghost2. Cor. 13. verse. 13., to be one1. Ioh. 5, 7., a liuingIohn. 17, 3., and a verie GodIer. 10, 10.: three I confesse in personsMatt. 3, 16. 17., yet but one in essence: whome I ac­knowledge, worship, and glo­rifie with mine whole hartDeut. 6, 5. Mar. 12, 30., be­ing the true God1. Thes. 1, 9., the onelieEsa. 37, 16. 20. God, holieLeu. 11, 44 45. Reuel. 16, 5., immortal1. Tim. 1, 17, inuisi­bleIohn. 1, 18. 1. Ioh. 4, 12., vnchangeableMala. 3, 6., whom no man can either attaine vnto1. Tim. 6, verse. 16▪, or find outIob. 23, 8. 9, &c.:

This God I acknowledge to [Page 179] be one light, one sonne, one bread, one life, one happines, one beginning, one end, one creator both of heauen & earthGen. 1, verse. 1, &c., by whom al things do liueAct. 17, 25. 28., by whom al things subsistColos. 1, 16 17., by whom al things are gouerned1. Esd. 4, 58, ruledNehe. 9, 6., and quickened both the things in heauen, and the things in earth, and things vnder the earth1. Tim. 6, 13: beside whom there is no God, neither in heauen nor in earthEsai 45, 5. 18, &c.. Thus knowe I thee, ô Lord God, who knowest me1. Sa. 16, 7. Psalme. 7, [...]., thus knowe I thee. Through thy faith which thou hast inspired to me, I knowe thee ô my lightMich. 7, 8, the sight of mine eies, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., the hope of al the ends of the earthPsal. 65, 5.; the ioie re­ioicing mine youth, and the good susteining mine age.

For in thee, ô Lord, al my bones reioice, saieng, O Lord, [Page 180] who is like to thee? Among the gods who is like to theeExo. 15, 11.? Not that whome the hands of men haue made; but thou who hast made the hands of men.

The idols of the nations are siluer & goldPsa. 115, 4., euen the workes of mens handes: so is not hee which made man. Al the gods of the people are idolsPsal. 96, 5.: but the Lord made the heauens.

Let those gods which made not ye heauens, & the earth pe­rish frō the earth, & from vnder these heauēsIere. 10, 11.: but let both hea­uen & earth praise himPsa. 148, 1. 2, &c. which created both earth & heauenPsa. 124. 8. Psal. 134, 3.. Amen.

Chap. 33.
A confession of mans wret­chednes.

WHo is like vnto thee ô Lord, among the godsExo. 15, 11.! who is like vnto thee, so glori­ous [Page 181] in holines, fearful in praises, doing wonders!

Long was it ere I knew thee, ô true lightIohn. 1, 4. 9. Iohn. 8, 12., long was it ere I knew thee.

There was a great and darke cloude before my vane eies: so that I coulde not beholde the sunne of righteousnes, nor the light of the truth.

I, a childe of darkenes1. Thes. 5, 5▪, was wrapped in darkenes, I loued darknes, because I knew not the light. Blind I was, and I loued blindnes: after darknes I folo­wed through darknes.

Who brought mee thence, where I a blinde wretch, sate in darknes, and in the shadowe of deathLuk. 1, 79.? Who tooke me by the hand, to leade me out? What was he which inlightened me? I sought him not, yet sought he me out: I called him not, but he [Page 182] called me. What was he? Euen thou it was, ô Lord my GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3., pitiful and mercifulPsa. 86, 15., euen thou Father of mercies2. Cor. 1, 3., and God of al comfort. Euen thou it was, my Lord GOD most holieReu. 16, 5. Reuel. 4, 8., whom I confesse with al mine hart, praising thy Name.

I sought not thee, yet thou soughtest me; I called not vp­on thee, but thou calledst mee. For thou hast called mee by thine owne Name. With a mightie voice thou hast thun­dredPsa. 18, 13. from aboue into the in­ward eare of mine hart, saieng, Let there be lightGene. 1, 3., and light was made: insomuch as ye great cloude vanished awaie, and the darke mist which had couered mine eies melted, whereby I sawe thy light, and knewe thy voice, and said:

Of a truth, Lord, thou art my [Page 183] GodPsalm. 7, 1. 3. Math. 4, 10., which brought me out of darknesLuk. 1, 79., and from the shadow of death, and hast called me in­to thy woonderful light, so that now I see, thanks to thee mine inlightener therefore.

And I looked backe, and saw the darknes wherein I had ben, and the darke dungeon, where­in I had lien, wherat I trembled, was afraide, and vttered these words:

Wo, wo worth the darkenes wherein I laie; wo, wo to that blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen; wo, I saie, wo to mine old ignorance, when I knew not thee, ô Lord.

I thanke thee, ô mine inligh­tenerIohn. 1, 9., ô my SauiorLuk. 1, 31. 69. Luke. 2, 11. 31. I thanke thee for inlightening me, wher­by I knowe thee.

Late it was ere I knew thee, ô ancient truthIoh. 14, 6., late it was ere [Page 184] I knewe thee, ô eternal truth. Thou wert in the light, and I was in darknes: I knewe thee not, because I could not be in­lightened, but by theeIohn. 1, 9.; and without thee there is no light.

Chap. 34.
A consideration of Gods Maiestie.

O God most holieLeu. 11, 44. 45. Psalm. 99, 9. Reuel. 4, 8. Reuel. 16, 5., of inestimable ma­iestie, God of gods Deu. 10, 17, & Lord of lords, who art most wonderfulEcc. 43, 29. 30., and canst neither bee conceaued in thought, nor expressed by wordEcc. 43, 30 31.; of whome al the Angels in heauen do stand in feare; whom al the dominations and thrones do adoreReue. 5, 11. 12. 13., & at whose presence al powers doe shake; whose might and wisdome is infinite; which vpon nothing hast laid [Page 185] the foundation of the earthZech. 12, 1. Hebr. 1, 2. 10., & gathered the waters of the sea togetherPsa. 33, 7. Psal. 78, 13. in the aër as in a botle.

O Lord most mightie2. Co. 6, 18 Reuel. 4, 8. Reuel. 7, 17. Reuel. 15, 3., most holyLeu. 11, 44 45. Reuel. 4, 8., most puissant1. Sam. 2, 2 8. Psal. 24, 8. Prou. 18, 10., God of al fleshIer. 32, 27., at whose presence hea­uen and earth do fliePs. 104, 7. 8., and at whose becke al the elements do obeie; let al thy creatures wor­ship and praise theePs. 148, 1. 2, &c..

And I the son of thine hand­maidPs. 116, 16. Wisd. 9, 5., through thy faith doe bow the neck of mine hart vn­der the feete of thy maiestie, yeelding thee most humble thankes for vouchsafing of thy mercie to inlighten me, ô true lightIohn. 1, 4. 1. Iohn. 1, 5. 7., ô holie light, ô wonder­ful light, which inlightenest not onelie euerie man that cometh into this worldIohn. 1, 9., but also the eies of the Angels in heauen.

Lo, I see now, thanks to thee; [Page 186] Lo, I see the light of heauen; the lightsome beames of thy coun­tenance do now shine vpon the eies of my mind, and comfort al my bones.

Oh that it were fullie made perfect within me! O Father of lightIam. 1, 17., increase it; increase I praie thee, that light which shi­neth vpon me: inlarge it, yea do thou inlarge the same, I beseech thee.

What is this I feele? what fire is this which warmeth mine hart? what light is it which spreadeth out such glorious beames vpon my mind?

O fire which alwaie burnest, and art neuer quenched, set me on fire! O light which alwaie shinest, and art neuer dimmed, inlighten me. Would to God I were inflamed by thee!

O sacred fire, how sweetelie [Page 187] dost thou burne! how secretlie dost thou shine! how desirous be they stil to burne, whom thou inflamest!

Wo to them, whom thou dost not inflame! And wo to them, whom thou dost not inlighten (ô true light, lightening the whole worldIohn. 1, 9. with thy light!)

Wo to the blind eies that be­hold not thee, the Sunne which giuest light both to heauen and earth: wo to the dazeling eies, which cannot see thee: wo to the eies which turne aside and will not see the veritie; and wo to those eies which wil not turne aside from regarding vanitiePs. 119, 37..

For the eies that are vsed to the darknes, cannot looke directlie vpon the beames of the most glorious truthIoh. 3, 19.: neither can they iudge of the light, whose dwel­ling is in darknes. For they see [Page 188] nothing but darknes, they loue and allow of darkenes, and go­ing from darkenes to darkenes, they know not where they fal. Miserable are they which forgo they wot not, what: but more miserable are they which know what they loose; which fal with open eies, & go downe quickNomb. 16, verse. 30. into the pit of hel.

O most happie light, whome none see but they which haue pure eies: blessed are the pure of hartMath. 5, 8. Psal. 24, 4.; for they shal see God.

O purging vertue, purge mePsal. 51, 7.; heale the sight of mine eies, that with a sounde sight I may be­hold thee, whom none but such as haue pure eies can behold.

I beseech thee, ô light vnap­prochable1. Tim. 6, verse. 16. take awaie by thy glorious beames ye scales which a long time haue dimmed the sight of mine eies, that stedfastly [Page 189] I may behold thee, and see light in thy lightPsal. 36, 9..

Thanks to thee, ô my lightMich. 7, 8., lo I see now. O Lord, I beseech thee, enlarge thou my sight: o­pen mine eiesPs. 119, 18. that I may see the woonders of thy lawe; who art terrible out of thy holie placesPs. 68, 35..

Lo, thankes to thee my light, I see now, yet through a glasse darkelie1. Cor. 13, verse. 12.. But when shal I see thee face to faceReu. 22, 4. 1. Cor. 13, 13.? When comes that daie of gladnes and ioieSal. son. 3. verse. 11., wherein I shall enter into the place of thy woonderful taber­naclePsal. 42, 4., euen to the glorie of God, that I may see thee face to faceReu. 22, 4., and be satisfied in de­sirePsal. 42, 2..

Chap. 35.
The longing, and thirst of the soule after God.

AS the Hart braieth for the riuers of wa­terPsal. 42, 1.: so panteth my soule after thee, ô God.

My soule thirsteth after thee,2. God, the wel of lifePsal. 36, 9.; when shal I come and appeere before thy presencePsal. 42, 2.!

O fountaine of lifePsa. 36, 9. Iohn. 4, 10. 13. 14., ô veine of liuing waters; when shal I come vnto that water of thy sweetenes out of a desert, wild, and watrie land; that I may see thy power and thy glorie, and quench my thirst through the waters of thy mercie?

I thirst Lord; thou art the wel of lifePsal. 36, 9., ô fil me! I thirst Lord, I thirst euen for thee the liuing [Page 191] GodPsal. 42, 2.. Oh when shal I come, & appeere before thy presence!

Thinkest thou that I shal see that day, I say that day of glad­nes and ioieSal. son. 3, verse. 11., that day which the Lord hath madePs. 118, 24., for vs to reioice and be glad therein.

O that is a glorious and good­lie day lasting euer, neuer at an endReu. 21, 25 Reuel. 22, 5., wherein I shal heare the voice of ioieReu. 19, 1., and thankesgi­uing; when I shal heare it said, Enter into thy maisters ioieMat. 25, 21. 23.; Enter into that euerlasting ioie Esai. 51, 11. into the house of the Lord thy God, where as great things beIob. 5, 9., and vnsearchable, and marue­lous thinges without number; Enter into the ioie without so­roweReu. 7, 15. 16. 17. Reuel. 21, 4. conteining euerlasting ioie, whereas euerie good thing is1. Cor, 2, 9., and no euil at al; whereas euerie thing which thou woul­dest haue is, and nothing which [Page 192] thou wouldest not haue.

There shal be the liuing lifeReu. 21, 4., the sweet life, the louelie life, the life alwaie to be thought vpon. There shal be neither enimie to assault, nor inticement to carie awaie; but soueraigne and sure securitie, and secure quietnes, and quiet ioifulnes, and ioiful blessednes, and blessed euerla­stingnes, and euerlasting hap­pines, and the happie Trinitie, and vnitie of Trinitie, and dei­tie of vnitie, and blessed sight of deitie1. Co. 13, 12 Reuel. 22, 4., which is ye masters ioieMat. 25, 21. 21..

O ioie aboue ioie! ô ioie sur­passing al ioie, beside which there is no ioie, when shal I en­ter into thee, that I may see my GodReu. 22, 4. who dwelleth in thee! I wil go thither, and behold this maruelous vision.

But what keepes me backe? Alas, that my freedom must yet [Page 193] longer be kept fro me. O nip­ping sorow, how long shal it be said to me, Where is thy GodPsal. 42, 3. 10.? how long shal it be said to mee, Waite, and waite againe? And now, Lord, what waite I forPsal. 39, 7.? do not we, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3., waite for the SauiorPhil. 3, 20. 21., euen our Lorde Iesus Christ, who shal change our vile bodie, that it may be facioned like vnto his glorious bodie?

We looke when the Lord wil returne from the bridehouse, to bring vs vnto his mariageMat. 22, 2. 3. 4, &c. Reuel. 19, 7. 9..

Come Lord IesusReu. 22, 17 20., come quickelie. Come Lorde Iesu Christ, com & visit vs in peace; come and deliuer vs out of pri­sonEsai. 42, 7., that with perfect harts we may reioice in thy presencePsal. 42, 2.; ô come Iesus, our SauiorPhil. 3, 20. 1. Tim. 4, 10.; thou whom al nations do so long for, showe thy face, and we shal be [Page 194] safe. O my lightIohn. 1, 4. 9., and my redee­merIob. 19, 25. Esai. 43, 14. come bring my soule out of prisonEsai. 42, 7., that I may praise thine holie Name.

How long shal I wretch be tossed in the fluds of my mor­talnes, crieng vnto thee, ô Lord, and yet can not be heard!

O Lord, harken how I crie vnto thee out of this great sea; and bring me vnto the hauen of euerlasting happines.

Blessed are they, who hauing passed out of the peril of this sea, haue found grace to arriue be­fore thee the safest harbor. Yea, blessed are they indeede, who haue escaped from sea to shore; from exile to their countrieHeb. 11, 13. 14, &c.; from prison to the palace, en­ioieng their wished restReu. 7, 15. 16. 17. Reuel. 21, 4..

Blessed are they, who being crowned with the garlande of endles glorieReu. 2, 10. Reuel. 4, 4., which in this [Page 195] world they sought for by manie tribulationsAct. 14, 22., do now ioie and reioice euerlastinglieReu. 21, 4..

O happie indeede, yea three & foure times happie are they, which quite deliuered from al miseriesReu. 14, 13, do possesse the king­dome of honorMath. 25, verse. 34., and are sure of the vncorruptible crowne of glorie1. Pet. 5, 4.!

O euerlasting kingdome1. Pet. 1, 4., ô kingdome worlds without end, wheras light is, which alwaie la­stethReu. 21, 23 24. 25., and the peace of God that passeth al vnderstandingPhili. 4, 7., in which the soules of the Saints do restReu. 14, 13, and wheras euerlasting ioies shal be vpon their heads, where they shal obteine ioie and gladnes, and sorowe and mourning shal flie awaieEsa. 35, 10. O what a glorious kingdome is it, where al thy Saints doe raigne with thee2. Tim. 2. verse. 12., ô Lord, clothed with [Page 196] light as with a garmentPs. 104, 2., ha­uing the crowne of pretious stones vpon their heads!

O kingdome of euerlasting blisse, where thou God the hope of the godlie1. Tim. 1, 1., and the diademe of glorie, art seene of thy Saints face to face1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4., reioicing them on al sides with thy peace, which passeth al vnderstandingPhili. 4, 7.!

There comfort endlesEsa. 35, 10. Reuel. 7, 15. 16. 17. Reuel. 21, 4., mirth without mourning; health with­out sicknes; waie without wea­risomnes; light without darke­nes; life without death; and al goodnes without anie euil is.

There youth neuer cometh to age; life dieth not; beautie palleth not; loue cooleth not; health decaieth not; ioie wi­thereth not.

There neither paine is feltReu. 7, 15. 16. 17.; neither groning heard; neither sadnes seene: there alwaie they [Page 197] enioie pleasure; and euil there is neuer feared. Because happi­nes is there enioied, which is to see the faceReu. 22, 4. of the Lord of hostsPsal. 48, 8. Psal. 59, 5. Psal. 69, 6. for euermore.

Wherefore happie are they whom God hath fetched out of this writched life, vnto so great ioies. But vnhappie are wee which saile through the waues of this sea, and by these dange­rous gulfes. Vnhappie, I saie are wee whose life is in banish­mentHeb. 11, 14. 15., and whose waie is peri­lousIob. 7, 1. 2, &c.; we continue as yet in the streames of water sighing after thee the hauen of the sea.

O our countrieHeb. 11, 14. 15., ô our quietReue. 21, 4. countrie, we ken thee a far off, wee salute thee out of this sea, we sigh after theePsal. 42, 1. 2. out of this vale, and with teares wee tug hard to come vnto thee, ô Christ, God of GodIoh. 8, 42. Iohn. 13, 3. Iohn. 16, 27. 30., the hope [Page 198] of mankind1. Tim. 1, 1., our strength and refuge, whose brightnes doth inlighten our eies a far off, as the beame of the sea starre doth in the darke cloudes of the ra­ging sea; that wee may be di­rected vnto thee the hauen of rest!

O Lord, with thy right hand gouerne thou our ship by the sterne of thy crosse, that we pe­rish not in the waies, and that the tempest of water drowne vs not, nor the deepe swallowe vs vp: but with the hooke of thy crosse draw vs backe vnto thee our onlie comfort, whom wee behold a far off, as the morning star, almost with weeping eies looking for vs vpon the shore of the celestial contrie.

Behold, wee whom thou hast redeemedEsa. 35, 10 Gala. 3, 13. Tit. 2, 14. Reuel. 5, 9., we I say thy bani­shed as yetHeb. 11, 14. 1. Chro. 29, verse. 15. 2. Cor. 5. 6. 9., whom thou hast [Page 199] redeemed with thy precious bloud1. Pet. 1, 18. 19. crie vnto thee; Heare vs, ô God of our saluation, the hope of al the ends of the earth, and of them that are far off in the seaPsal. 65, 5..

We abide in the troublesome sea, and thou standing vpon the shore beholdest al our dan­gers: ô saue vs, we praie thee, for thy name sakePs. 44, 26. Psalm. 79, 9..

Giue vs grace, ô Lord, among these dangers to hold & keepe such a course, that ech peril esca­ped, wee maie come safe vnto the hauen both with ship and mer­chandise, A­men.

Chap. 36.
Againe touching the glorie of our celestial countrie.

WHerefore when we shal come vnto thee the wel of wisdom, vnto thee the la­sting light, vnto thee the light which cannot be extinguished, so that wee maie see thee, not through a glasse darklie1. Cor. 13. Verse. 12., but face to face, then shal our desire be satisfied. For there shal be nothing without vs to bee wi­shed for, but thou, ô Lord, the soueraigne goodnesIam. 1, 17.: who wilt be the reward of the blessed, the dia [...]me of their glorie, and the euerlasting ioie vpon their headsEsa. 35, 10., bringing peace vnto them both inwardlie and out­wardlie in thy peace which pas­seth al vnderstandingPhil. 4, 7.. There [Page 201] we shal see theeRell. 22, 4., loue thee, and praise.

In thy light we shal see light. For with thee is the wel of lifePsal. 36, 9., and in thy light wee shall see light.

And what maner of light? A light vnmeasureable, a light without bodie, incorruptible, incomprehensible, a light which faileth notEsa. 35, 10 Reue▪ 7, 15. 16. 17., a light vnquencha­ble, vnapprochable1. Tim. 6, verse. 16, vncreate, a true light, an heauenlie light; which lighteneth the eies of An­gels, which cōforteth ye strength of the righteous, which is the light of lightsIam 1, 17., and the foun­taine of lifePsal. 36, 9., which is none o­ther things, but euen thou, ô Lord my GodPsal. 7, 1. 3..

For thou art the light in which light we shal see lightPsa. 36, 9, that is thy selfe in thy selfe in ye bright­nes of thy countenance, when [Page 202] we shal see thee face to face1. Cor. 13. verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4..

What is it to see thee face to face, but euen, as the Apostle saith1. Cor. 13, 12., To knowe euen as I am knowen: to knowe thy truth and thy glorie?

To know thy face is to know the power of the Father; ye wise­dome of the Sonne; the mercie of the holie Ghost; and the sin­gle and simple essence of the glorious Trinitie.

For to see the face of the li­uing GodMat. 16, 16. Acts. 14, 15. Rom. 9, 26., is the cheefest hap­pines, the ioie of Angels, and of al SaintsMath. 25, verse. 21. 23., the reward of eter­nal lifeIam. 1, 12., the glorie of the spi­ritsRom. 8, 18. Colos 3, 4., euerlasting ioieEsa. 35, 10., ye crowne of glorieReu. 2, 10., the garland of felici­tie1. Cor. 9, verse. 24. 25., rich tranquilitieHeb. 3, 18., the good­lie peaceReu. 14, 13, inward & outward delectationReu. 7, 15. 16. 17., the paradise of GodLuke 23, verse. 43. Reuel. 2, 7., celestial IerusalemGal. 4, 26. Reuel. 3, 12. Reuel. 21, 2. 10., the blessed lifeGal. 6, 8. Reue. 2, 7., perfect happinesEsa. 35, 10. Reuel. 21, 4. 29., [Page 203] the ioie of perpetuitie; ye peace of God, which passeth al vnder­standingPhili. 4, 7..

This is ful happines indeede, and al the glorie of man, euen to see the face of his God1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4.; to see him that made heauen and earthGen. 1, 1. Acts. 4, 24. Heb. 1, 2. 10.; to see him that hath made manGen. 1, 26. 27. Psal. 100, 3., that hath saued manPhil. 3, 20. 1. Tim. 4, 10., that hath glorified manRom. 8, 30..

Man shal see God in know­ing him; like him in louing him; and praise him in posses­sing him. For he shal be ye heri­tage of his peoplePsa. 28, 9. Psal. 33, 12. Esaie. 19, 25.; of his ho­lie people, of the people whom he hath redeemedGal. 3, 13. 1. Pet. 1, 18. Reuel. 5, 9.. He shal be the possession of their felicitie, he shal be the reward, and re­compence of their hope. I wil be, saith heGen. 15, 1., thine exceeding great reward. For great things beseeme a great person.

In good sooth, ô Lorde my [Page 204] GodPsa. 7, 1, 3., thou art much greater than al GodsExo. 18, 11; and thy reward is exceeding greatGen. 15, 1..

Neither art thou great, and thy reward little: but as thou art great, so is thy reward great. For thou art not one thing, and thy reward another.

But thou thy selfe art excee­ding great; thou thy selfe art an exceeding greatrewardGen. 15, 1.. Thou thy selfe art both the crowne, and the crowner; the promise, and the promiser; the gift, and the giuer; the rewarderReuel. 2, 7. 17., and the reward of euerlasting blisse.

Thou art then the crowner, & the crowne, ô my God, and the diademe of mine honor, ador­ned with glorie, the brightnes comforting, the light renuing, the glorie adorning, my great hope, the desire, and thing desi­redPsal. 42, 1. 2. from the hart of al Saints.

[Page 205] Thy sight therefore is al the recompence, al the reward, al the ioie which we looke for.

For this is eternal life, this, I saie, is thy wisedome: This is e­ternal lifeIoh. 17, 3., that we knowe thee to be the onlie true God, and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ.

So that whē we shal see thee1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reue. 22, 4., the onelie true GodDeut. 6, 4. Mala. 2, 10., liuingMat. 16, 16 Acts. 14, 15. Rom. 9, 26., almightieGen. 35, 11 Reuel. 4, 8., simplePsa. 86, 10. Esaie. 37, 16. 20., inuisibleCol. 1, 15. 1. Tim. 1, 17., who can neither be conteinedIoh. 23, 8. 9., nor comprehendedIer. 32, 18. 19.; and thine onlie begotten SonneIob. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 8. 9., of one substance with theeHeb. 1, 2. 3., and coe­ternalHeb. 13, 8., euen Iesus Christ our LordRom. 1, 1. 3. 7. 1. Cor. 16, ver. 22. 23. 24., whom thou didest send into the worldIoh. 6, 29, 38., for our saluati­on in the power of the holie spi­rit; three in personsMat. 3, 16. 17. Mark. 1, 10. 11. Luke 3, 21. 22., and but one in substance: an holieLeuitic. 11, verse. 44. 45. Reuel. 16, verse. 5., and [Page 206] God aloneEsa. 37, 16 20., beside whome there is no GodDeut. 33, verse. 26., then we shal haue what now we seke, name­lie eternal lifeGal. 6, 4. Reuela. 2, 7., euerlasting glorieReu. 21, 4. 23, &c., which thou hast prepa­red for them which loue thee1. Cor. 2, 9.; and laid vp for them that feare theePsa 31, 19.; and wilt giue to them which seeke theePsal. 24, 6., Isaie, which continualie do seeke thy face.

And thou, ô Lord my God, which didest take me out of my mothers bowelsPsal. 71, 6., which re­cōmended me into thine hand, suffer me not anie more, I be­seech thee, to bee distracted so on euerie side; but bring mee from outward things vnto my selfe; and fro my selfe vnto thee, that mine hart maie alwaie saie vnto thee, My face hath sought thee out, Lord I wil seeke thy facePsal. 27, 8., the face of the Lord of hostsPsal. 59, 5., wherein al the [Page 207] euerlasting glorie of the saints consisteth.

The sight whereof is eternal life, and the euerlasting glorie of the saints.

Wherefore let mine hart re­ioice, that it maie feare thy Name. Let the hart of such as seeke the LordPsal. 24, 6., reioice: but much more the hart of such as find him.

For if there be ioie in seeking, how great shal bee the ioie in finding! Wherefore I wil al­waie earnestlie seeke thy face, yea vncessantlie wil I seeke the same, if happilie the gate and doore of righteousnes maie bee opened vnto mePsa. 118, 19, that I maie enter into my maisters ioieMat. 25, verse. 21. 23..

This is the gate of the LordPs. 118, 20.: the righteous shal enter through the same.

Chap. 37.
A praier vnto the holie Trinitie.

O BLESSED Tri­nitie, threeMat. 3, 16. 17. Mark. 1, 10. 11. Luke. 3, 21. 22., coë­qual and coëternal persons, oneDeut. 6, 4. 2. Ki. 19, 15. 19. ver­rieIer. 10, 10. 2. Chr. 15, 3. God, FatherMat. 11, 25 Mar. 13, 32., SonneIoh. 3, 16. 18. 1. Iohn. 4, 9., and the holie Ghost2. Cor. 13, verse. 13., which alone inhabitest the eternitieEsa. 57, 15, and the light that no man can at­taine vnto1. Tim. 6, verse. 16.: who hast made the earth by thy powerIer. 51, 15., and rulest the world by thy wisedome:

Holie, holie, holieEsaie. 6, 3. Reuel. 4, 8., Lord God of hostes, dreadfulDeut. 7, 21. Dan. 9, 4. and mightieExod. 20, 5. Psalm. 24, 8., and righteousPsalm. 116, 5. Esaie. 45, 21., and mercifulExod. 34, 6. Psalm. 86, 5., and wonderfulPsalm. 8, 1. 9., who art to be praisedExod. 15, 11. 1. Chron. 16, 25. Psalm. 96, 4. Psalm. 145, 3., and to belouedDeut. 6, 5.:

One GodDeu. 6, 4. 2. King. 19, 15. 19., three persons [...]uk. 3, 21. 22., [Page 209] one essence, power, wisedome, goodnes, and one vndiuided Trinitie: Open to me, which cal vnto thee, the gate of righteous­nesPs. 118, 19., and when I am come in, I wil praise the Lord.

Lo most honorable houshol­der, I a poore begger knocke at thy doore; cōmand the doore to be opened to me which knocke, who hast saidMat. 7. 7., Knock & it shal be opened.

For doubtles ye grones of my paned bowels, & the crie of the teares of mine eies knock at thy gate, ô most merciful Father.

O Lord, my whole desire is before theePsal. 38, 9., and my sighing is not hid from thee.

O Lord, hide thy face no longer fro mePsal. 27, 9., neither cast thy seruant away in displeasure.

Most merciful Father, heare the complaint of thy sonne, and [Page 210] reach him thine helping hande that it may bring me out of the horrible pitPsal. 40, 2., out of the lake of miserie, and from the miry clay, that I perish not in the sight of thy pitiful eies, and in the pre­sence of thy bowels of mercie: but may escape vnto thee my Lord GodPsal. 7, 1, 3. Matth. 4, 7. 10., that I may see the riches of thy kingdome, and e­uermore behold thy face1. Cor. 13, verse. 12. Reu. 22, 4., and sing praises to thine holy name.

O Lord, which dost woonder­ous thingesPsa. 72, 18, comfortest mine hart through the remembrance of thee, and inlightenest mine youth, cast mee not off in the time of mine agePsal. 71, 9., but re­ioice al my bones, and renue my strength like the Ea­glesPsa. 103, 5..

FINIS.

1581.

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Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham, dwelling in Pater noster Row at the signe of the Starre, being the assigne of Wylliam Seres.

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