[The magistrates scripture.]

Hath he not made thee Lord and ruler over all his creatures, even over the huge Elephants, the Whale, the strong Lion, and Unicorn, and horse of war? over the savage Tigers, bears & wolves? over the mighty Eagle, Griffin, Vulture, Ostrich and hawk? Art thou not clad & defended, fed & enriched, cheered ⟨image 25⟩and renowned by these his creatures, & that all the parts of thy body, & senses of thy mind might be partakers of his goodness, and with his sweetness refreshed, comforted & delighted in great measure? Yea above all this, hath he not breathed into thy body an immortal soul, that thou mightest remain with him in glory for ever? Did he not at the first frame thee like unto himself, that he might therefore love thee as his son? Did he not cast into thy spirit the beams of his wisdom, that thou through thy understanding mightest behold him & his glory & stirred up sparks of goodness in thy heart, that thou mightest by thy affection embrace him and his bounty, and be made perfectly blessed by his infinite happiness, who when Adam thy ⟨image 25⟩ungrateful father by distrusting him that had faithfully promised, was throughly able to fulfil his will, and resolutely determined exceedingly to advance him, having given him this whole world in testimony thereof by discontenting his mind with the excellent estate he was placed in of unspeakable love, unless he might be as good as God himself, proudly desiring to make dust the fellow of him who was from everlasting infinitely full of wisdom, power, grace and majesty, and had done all this at the persuasion of the most traitorous rebel of his right gracious king, and spiteful enemy of his most bountiful master, even then when this most villainous conspiring with Gods notorious adversary, had deserved immortal ⟨image 26⟩hatred against him & all that pertained unto him: yea thee as yet unborn, but contained in him whose whole mass by this impious disobedience became by just judgement a temple of cursed estate for ever, and for ever: thou also thy self bringing forth fruit of contempt of his Law, who is most holy, merciful and mighty:

Hath he not made thee Lord and ruler ouer all his creatures, euen ouer the huge Elephants, the Whale, the strong Lion, and Vnicorne, and horse of warre? ouer the sauage Tigars, beares & wolues? ouer the mightie Eagle, Griffin, Vultur, Ostrich and haulke? Art thou not clad & defended, fed & enriched, cheered ⟨image 25⟩and renowned by these his creatures, & that al the parts of thy bodie, & senses of thy minde might be partakers of his goodnes, and with his sweetnes refreshed, comforted & delighted in great measure? Yea aboue all this, hath he not breathed into thy bodie an immortall soule, that thou mightest remaine with him in glorie for euer? Did he not at the first frame thee like vnto himselfe, that he might therefore loue thee as his sonne? Did he not cast into thy spirit the beames of his wisedome, that thou through thy vnderstanding mightest behold him & his glory & stirred vp sparkes of goodnes in thy heart, that thou mightest by thy affection imbrace him and his bountie, and be made perfectly blessed by his infinite happinesse, who when Adam thy

yet even then I say, of unspeakable pity and compassion intended, nay promised, nay laboured to deliver him and thee from that dreadful vengeance which ye had purchased by your own wicked and ungracious demerits, and to reconcile you base abjects and vile castaways, and yet stubborn and spiteful haters of the great God Jehovah, who when there was no means to be found in heaven, nor seas, nor in the earth, nor under ⟨image 26⟩the earth, but that he should damn his only begotten Son, the very brightness of his glory, who never offended him, but was an eternal delight unto his soul, and rejoicing unto his spirit, that thou mightest be saved, a gross lump of slime and clay, still vexing him by thy wickedness: yet delivered his Son into the full power of Satan, to put him to a most shameful death, by the hands of most detestable persons, and did cast him far away out of his favour, and threw him down into the bottomless pit of his unsupportable wrath and indignation, that thou mightest be placed between his own arms in the kingdom of heaven, in all royalty and glory, as his deer and entirely beloved Son. Why therefore wast thou ô my unholy ⟨image 27⟩and unthankful nature so ready and prone, so violent and headlong to commit things highly displeasant in his sight, who in a manner, and as far as it was possible slew himself for thy safety when he had no creature so disobedient unto him as thee? O thou my inward soul, and spirit of my mind awake and stand up to defend thy self, for thou art besieged with mighty enemies, the prince of darkness, the rulers of the air, the spiritual craftiness and policies of hell! why arisest thou not thou sluggard? thy foes in great number are prepared with many ambushments, having a huge army all maliciously bent with venomous darts to pierce through thy heart: they are entered thy hold at all five gates of thy outward senses: yea they ⟨image 27⟩have broken down thy inward doors, and have left thee but one window towards heaven to escape by, even thy prayers whereto the spirit of God waiteth thy speedy coming: make hast ô thou heavy with sleep, or thou art taken by thy cruel enemies, whose hands are of iron, and their teeth of steel to grind thy very bones to powder: hearken no longer to that stinking harlot, thy wicked appetite, which lying in thy bosom, desireth nothing but thy utter destruction;

she persuadeth thee that thou art in no present danger, that she may rejoice at thy miserable end. It may be thou thinkest O thou chief of fools and ox that art fed to the slaughter, that though thou go on a little ⟨image 28⟩way in thy pleasant path, thou mayest return back when thou wilt, and thy little wandering will not greatly be regarded. O thou unwise and sottish of heart! when wilt thou understand? Hath the Son of God endured such pain for the smallest of thy sins, and makest thou so light account of so grievous crimes? Doth the law thunder curses, and plagues, and everlasting torments against thy least unordinate motions, and didst thou not dread to perform so shameless a practice? Knowest thou not that the eyes of God and his Angels behold the doing that thou wouldest be ashamed to do in the presence of ungodly men, or unclean beasts? or doest thou not consider how thou diddest grieve the spirit of God, who hath vouchsafed of his infinite ⟨image 28⟩mercy to dwell in thy body to this end, chiefly that he might mortify thy carnal lusts? Why didst thou then defile his temple which he hath sanctified to be an house for himself to dwell in? take heed thou drive not out so worthy and noble a guest, by such swinish and fleshly behaviour, who if he once depart, then shalt thou be an hold for devils, and legions of damned spirits, that they may stuff thee full of all manner of iniquity, and then at length become pitch and brimstone to maintain the fire of Gods scorching wrath in thy sinews, spirits, and inward bowels, drinking out in full measure the dregs of the wine of his rage and fury: and canst thou be so blind and reachless, that for the vain pleasure of sin for a little while, thou wilt ⟨image 29⟩constrain God to torment thee everlastingly, who it may be even at this instant, if thou wilt still try his patience and long sufferance, will suddenly take thy spirit from thee, or come in judgement to recompense to all sinners by his final sentence in the burning of the whole world, the stipend of horror, shame, confusion & utter reprobation: and weigh with thy self that to approach to God is the chiefest joy of the chosen, to behold his glorious countenance in the face of his Son, whereas thy sins do separate thee from him, and make thee afraid to speak to him by prayers, which is thy chiefest and greatest solace in this mortal life.

for thieves have stolen me away, and have bound my feet so that I cannot go, and they watch for me until thou art gone that they may carry me away quick from thy pastures: O do thou therefore presently deliver me, and give me thy helping hand: O cast thou down by thy spirit my raging lust, and by thy grace subdue mine untamed affection. I am weak O Lord and unable to resist the force of my mighty adversary: send thy help from above, and save me out of the jaws of the cruel lion: thou hast delivered me out of the mouth of hell; ô let not the gates thereof any more prevail against me: let me not any longer be occupied in ungodliness, least mine enemy triumph over me, saying in his malicious hart, there, there, ⟨image 31⟩so would I have it. Let this sin be far from me ô Lord, that I should defile my self any more with this notorious wickedness: work therefore in mine heart an utter detestation of it, that I may ever hereafter keep my self pure and unspotted for thy kingdom. Thou that art able to make of stones children to Abraham, mollify I pray thee my stony heart, that all manner of son like affections may be imprinted therein: pluck up ô good father these roots of bitterness, that no unsavoury fruit may come of the tree which thou by thine own hand hast planted. I desire, I look, I call, I cry, for thy assistance, that I may conquer this unruly motion. O blessed saviour, that hast granted so many petitions upon earth to them that were careful for the ⟨image 32⟩body, fulfil I pray thee this my desire, not for health, nor strength, nor riches, nor honour, nor for food, nor apparel, but for thine heavenly grace and inspiration: yea let me lose all those rather than be left to my sinful flesh, that I should be ruled any longer thereby. Mortify good father in me the old body of sin, and give unto me a new body, purged from these dead works to serve the living God: renew my spirit daily, that I may cast away these works of darkness: let it be enough ô merciful Father, that my weakness in failing heretofore, hath bin made known unto me least I should be too proud. Now let thy strength appear, in putting this mine enemy under my feet, that thereby I may be bold to put my confidence in thee. Why should ⟨image 32⟩my body made by thine hand, and my soul framed according to thine image, be given over as a pray into the hands of Satan?

Deliver me ô Lord from the snare of the hunter, and preserve me from the hand of mine enemy, who lieth in wait for my spiritual life, and laboureth mine everlasting destruction: so shall I praise thee for thy great goodness, and magnify thy name for giving me conquest over my adversary that is too strong for me. To thee I fly for succour till this tempest be over past: hide me I pray thee under thy shield & buckler, that none of the fiery darts of Satan take hold on me. Good Lord for the love thou bearest unto mankind, or thy sons sake, who hath taken our nature upon him, grant that I may not be tempted above my ⟨image 33⟩strength, and that in all temptations I may fly unto thee, as a horn of my salvation, yielding thee most humble and hearty thanks for that thou hast given me a desire to withstand my sinful flesh: which thy work I beseech thee for thy namesake to perfect and fully accomplish.

Deliuer me ô Lord from the snare of the hunter, and preserue me from the hand of mine enimie, who lieth in waite for my spirituall life, and laboureth mine euerlasting destruction: so shal I praise thee for thy great goodnes, and magnifie thy name for giuing me conquest ouer my aduersarie that is too strong for me. To thee I fly for succour till this tempest be ouer past: hide me I pray thee vnder thy shield & bucker, that none of the fierie dartes of Sathan take hold on me. Good Lord for the loue thou bearest vnto mankind, or thy sons sake, who hath taken our nature vpon him, graunt that I may not be tempted aboue my ⟨image 33⟩strength, and that in all temptations I may flie vnto thee, as a horne of my saluation, yeelding thee most humble and heartie thankes for that thou hast giuen me a desire to withstand my sinfull flesh: which thy worke I beseech thee for thy namesake to perfect and fully accomplish.

Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Matth. 26. 41.

VVatch and pray lest you enter into temptation: the spirite indeed is vvilling but the flesh is vveake. Matth. 26. 41.

Another zealous prayer.

Eternal God almighty and all merciful: we thy unworthy servants prostrate before thy throne of grace, do yield our selves, body and soul unto thee for all thy benefits, which thou from our birth hast heaped upon us, as though we had always done thy will: although we occupied about vain things, never marked, never loved, never served, never thanked thee so heartily for them, as we esteem a mortal friend for the least courtesy. Therefore we come with shame and sorrow to confess our sins, not small, but grievous: not a few, but infinite: not past, but present: not secret, but presumptuous, against thy express word ⟨image 34⟩and will: against our own conscience, knowledge and liking, if any had done them but our selves. O Lord, if thou shouldest require but the least of them at our hands, Satan would challenge us for his, and we should never see thy face again, nor the Heavens, nor the Earth, nor all the goodness which thou hast prepared for man. What shall we do then? but appeal unto thy mercy, and humbly desire thy fatherly goodness, to extend that compassion toward us, which thy beloved Son our loving saviour hath purchased, so mightily, so graciously and so dearly for us: we believe and know, that one drop of his blood, is sufficient to heal our infirmities, pardon our iniquities, and supply our necessities, but without thy grace, our light, our strength, our guide, ⟨image 34⟩we are able to do nothing, but sin, as woeful experience hath taught us too long, and the example of them which are void thereof, whose life is nothing else but the service of the world, the flesh and the devil. Therefore good father as thou in special favour hast appointed us to serve thee, like as thou hast ordained all other creatures to serve us: so may it please thee to send down thy heavenly spirit into this earthly mansion, to illuminate our minds, mollify our hearts, change our affections, subdue our reason, regenerate our wills, and purify our nature to this duty: so shall not thy benefits, nor thy chastisements, nor thy word return void, but accomplish that for the which they were sent, vutill we be renewed to the image of thy Son.

ETernall God almightie and all mercifull: we thy vnworthy seruants prostrate before thy throne of grace, do yeeld our selues, body and soule vnto thee for all thy benefits, which thou from our birth hast heaped vpon vs, as though we had alwayes done thy will: although wee occupied about vaine things, neuer marked, neuer loued, neuer serued, neuer thanked thee so heartelie for them, as we esteeme a mortall friende for the least courtesie. Therefore we come with shame and sorrowe to confesse our sinnes, not smal, but grieuous: not a few, but infinite: not past, but present: not secret, but presumptuous, against thy expresse word

Good Lord ⟨image 35⟩we beseech thee, look down in the multitude of thy compassions, upon thy militant Church, this sinful Realm, thy gracious handmaid our dread sovereign, her honourable Council, the civill Magistrates, the painful Ministers, the two. Universities, the people that sit in darkness, and all that bear thy cross. Gather us into one communion of thy truth, and give unto every man a spirit to his calling, that we being mindful of the account, and that we are called Christians, may firmly resolve, speedily begin, & continually persevere in doing & suffering thy holy will. Good Lord bless and sanctify our meeting, that no temptation hinder me in speaking, nor them in hearing, but that thy word may be heard and spoken as the word of […]

Good Lord ⟨image 35⟩we beseech thee, looke downe in the multitude of thy compassions, vpon thy millitant Church, this sinful Realme, thy gracious handmaid our dread soueraigne, her honourable Counsell, the ciuill Magistrates, the painfull Ministers, the two. Vniuersities, the people that sit in darknes, and all that beare thy crosse. Gather vs into one cōmunion of thy truth, and giue vnto euerie man a spirite to his calling, that we being mindfull of the accompt, and that we are called Christians, may firmely resolue, speedely begin, & continually perseuer in doing & suffering thy holy will. Good Lord blesse and sanctifie our meeting, that no temptation hinder me in speaking, nor them in hearing, but that thy word may be heard and spoken as the word of 〈…〉