O Lord, my GOD and father, now it is, that in these griefs and pains that oppress me, I do better then heretofore I have, acknowledge the corruption and frailty of my nature, and the justice and goodness of thy hand that visiteth me. The original of all flesh is in infection, his temporal habitation is in dust, continually tossed ⟨image 169⟩to and fro with storms: her end is a prey to the worms, and all her glory is buried with her in the earth. Yet is man so blind, and depraved, that for a short time, wherein he enjoyeth any prosperity & health, he looseth the knowledge of his frail condition: he swells and strayeth from the principal end of his being, and slideth away into the follies and vanities of the world. Thus might I many times have made ship ⟨image 170⟩wrack among these lamentable rocks, haddest not thou my GOD, stretched forth thy rod of tribulation upon me in my most happy prosperities to prevent my ruin. It is, as even to this day thou doest admonish me of thy discipline, which maketh me to humble my self in thy sight, and to feel my misery, that with heart and voice, I may confess that thou art just (O sovereign judge) and good (O gentle Father) ⟨image 170⟩who wilt thus with one medicine, chastise and cure the ulcer of my sins: Come therefore thou vapour of the earth, thou shadow of life, thou corruptible flesh, sith God for thy instruction and amendment giveth thee travail, put off thy self, and submit thee to his spirit, and thy spirit to the Father of spirits, and thy affections to his will. Thus with all thy strength and mind, lift up thy self towards this Fatherly hand from ⟨image 171⟩whence the stripe cometh that grieveth thee, towards this arm of the almighty that hath cast the stone that bruiseth thee: towards this great God, who being pitiful, doeth see and hear thee in thy sufferings, who under his hand holdeth both the disease & the cure, the pain and the rest, life and death, to make the one as profitable and healthful unto thee as the other. Then will I say with a contrite heart, yet full of ⟨image 171⟩confidence: I have sinned against thee, O my God, I have grievously offended thee, I deserve to be throughly chastised, and the devils that I do endure, are far less then my offences, which only death and hell are able to counterprise.
O Lord, my GOD and father, now it is, that in these griefs and paines that oppresse me, I doe better then heretofore I haue, acknowledge the corruption and frailtie of my nature, and the iustice and goodnesse of thy hand that visiteth mee. The originall of all flesh is in infection, his temporall habitation is in dust, continually tossed ⟨image 169⟩to and fro with stormes: her end is a prey to the wormes, and all hir glory is buried with her in the earth. Yet is man so blinde, and depraued, that for a shorte time, wherein he enioyeth any prosperity & health, hee looseth the knowledge of his fraile condition: he swells and strayeth from the principall end of his being, and slideth away into the follies and vanities of the world. Thus might I many times haue made ship ⟨image 170⟩wracke among these lamentable rockes, haddest not thou my GOD, stretched forth thy rod of tribulation vpon mee in my most happy prosperities to preuent my ruine. It is, as euen to this day thou doest admonish me of thy discipline, which maketh me to humble my selfe in thy sight, and to feele my misery, that with heart and voyce, I may confesse that thou art iust (O soueraigne iudge) and good (O gentle Father) ⟨image 170⟩who wilt thus with one medecine, castize and cure the vlcer of my sins: Come therefore thou vapor of the earth, thou shadow of life, thou corruptible flesh, sith God for thy instruction and amendment giueth thee trauaile, put off thy selfe, and submitte thee to his spirite, and thy spirite to the Father of spirits, and thy affections to his will. Thus with all thy strength and minde, lift vppe thy selfe towards this Fatherly hand from ⟨image 171⟩whence the stripe commeth that grieueth thee, towards this arme of the almightie that hath cast the stone that bruseth thee: towards this great God, who being pittifull, doeth see and heare thee in thy sufferings, who vnder his hand holdeth both the disease & the cure, the paine and the rest, life and death, to make the one as profitable and heathfull vnto thee as the other. Then will I say with a contrite heart, yet full of ⟨image 171⟩confidence: I haue sinned against thee, O my God, I haue grieuously offended thee, I deserue to be throughly chastized, and the diuells that I doe endure, are farre lesse then my offences, which onely death and hell are able to counterprise.
