vertue that he can blot out our sinnes perticularly how many soeuer they be Iohn 1. Epist Chap. 2. ver 1. If any man sinne wee haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the rightuous and he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also the sinnes of the whole world THere is none without sinne and consequently al are guiltie before GOD yet behold the Apostle witnesseth that the Lord Iesus Christ doth pray and make request for vs as it is sayd in the Epistle to the Romaines Chap. 8. and to the Heb. Chap. 7. which intercession betweene God and man was of such force and vertue that no others but he was found worthie and able to make vs vnderstande the gentle and fauourable goodwill of God the father for he dyed for our sinnes vndertooke to make an agreement and reconciliation for our misdeedes to God which excellent and worthy desert is not onely restrayned to some particuler person but reacheth to all generally that all might perceiue the loue of their Redeemer Iohn 1. Epist Chap. 3. ver 10. In this are the children of God knowne and the children of the deuill whosoeuer doth not rightly is not of God neither he that loueth not his brother and this is appoynted a reward for sinnes THis place is like vnto the place afore rehearsed contayning more fully the loue and mercifulnesse of GOD towards vs in that he hath brought vs againe vnto him by his welbeloued Sonne who gaue himselfe for vs. Of faith in Christ Ioh. Cap. 3. ver 16. God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting THe beginning and first cause of our saluation is in GOD who in his mercie and fatherly loue saued vs. The second is in Christ who by the merite of his death passion redeemed vs the onely instrument and meanes to obtain such great good is by faith in Iesus Christ which is of such vertue and efficacie that by it man is reconciled vnto God by the free remission of sinne wherfore he cannot fall vtterly in as much as he is deliuered from eternall death and made partaker of an happie life Iohn Chap. 5. vers 24. Verely verely I say vnto you he that heareth my words and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into condemnation but passeth from death to life THis is to confirme our selues in the assurance wee haue in Christ and in the certaine perswasion of his doctrine when as wee doe vnderstand that our faith resting in him is not founded vppon a mortall man but on the very and true sonne of God wherefore it is sayde that we are iustified that wee are sanctified in and by the bloud of Christ Iesus Rom. Chap. 3. vers 27. we be absolued from our sinnes neither can bee condemned any wise beeing so warranted by him which is eternall by whome we obtaine life and felicitie which continueth for euer Rom. Chap. 10. vers 9. If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt beleeue in thy heart that God raysed him vp from death thou shalt be saued HOw easie the way of saluation is vnto vs S. Paule sheweth in this place not vsing many words neither sending vs backe to the profound and deepe secrets of almightie God but giueth vs to vnderstand that by the grace of God which is in vs we are saued if so be we hould fast the faith not lightly in the Braine but rooted profoundly in the heart apprehending perfectly Iesus Christ which once died for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification as it is in the 4. Chap. of this Epistle And although the confession of the mouth bee required which principally serueth for an outward testimony and a manifest declaration of the hope which is in vs yet especially wee must haue the heart lyne lye touched with a sure perswasion of faith whose mouth will not bee stopped Seeing that with the heart we beleeue and with the mouth declare our iustification as the Prophet saith in 116. Psalme vers 10. I haue beleeued and therefore I haue spoken Acts Chap. 10. ver 43. To him do all the Prophets giue witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him might receiue remission of sinne IT is thē by the meanes of faith in Christ that we doe obtaine forgiuenesse of sinne if so be we assure and rest our selues wholy vppon the merrit and intercession of him following the predictions and writings not only of the Prophets but of those also which haue Prophesied in the vnitie of the same spirite whereby we attaine fully all the promises of eternall life by and through the meanes of Christ Iesus and let this be for a full confirmation of this Article Of Repentance FOr so much as the grace of God and saluation hath appeared to al men to the end we might giue ouer al vnfaithfulnesse and worldly desires and that we should liue iustly in all christianitie seeing we be bought by the bloud of the immaculate Lābe Iesus Christ and therefore ought to bee vnto him a peculiar people giuen vnto all good workes for this cause we must take great heede that we abuse not the great benignitie and long sufferance of God by continuing in sinne and iniquitie which is the only meanes to heape vppon vs his wrath and vengeaunce to our condemnation For whensoeuer we erre or fall into sinne whether it be by the imperfection of our nature or frailtie of our flesh sufficient meanes to heape the burning coles of Gods seueritie vpon vs if in iudgement hee should stand against vs yet we must not deferre from day to day but rent our heartes not our garments and in earnest contrition of our soules and sincere repenting by confessing our miserable estate and desirous to bee loosed from the heauie burden of our sinnes shewe all duetie and amendement of life For as saint Cyprian saith that the first degree of our felicitie is to commit no sinne so the second is to acknowledge our sinne committed Therefore whensoeuer we fall as who is not vncleane in the eyes of his Creator And the righteous man sinneth seauen times aday yet we must not lye groueling on the ground but rayse vp our selues by faith in the promises of God in the hope of eternall life assuring our selues that he will receiue vs to mercie and spred vpon vs his grace for he is our Shepheard and wee shall not want he hath placed vs as a signet on his finger and printed vs in the palme of his right hand so that none shall be able to plucke vs of or blot vs out of his remembrance but of his mercie he hath regenerated vs and made vs partakers of the inward washing sealed into vs in the outward Baptisme and grafting vs into the bodie of Christ by receiuing vs into his Church neuer to be hereafter excluded
THE Consolation of the Soule being an assurance of the forgiuenesse of sinnes with the most notable promises of God conteined in holy Scripture both in the olde and newe Testament briefly expounded and applied as hereafter followeth With certaine examples woorth the bearing in minde touching the great mercies of God towards poore and miserable sinners When I am troden vnder foote thy mercies doth lift me vp againe Psal 94. Made by Iohn Chassanion and englished by H.S. of Greyes Inne Gent. Imprinted at London for Symon Waterson ⧠To the faithfull of the refourmed Church of Metz grace and peace through Iesus Christ our Lord. SEING it hath pleased GOD deare bretheren to make mee an Instrument wherby to declare his holy worde vnto you I thought it very needfull to present this little Booke wherein I entend not to teach any newe matter but to put you in mind of your saluatiō which you haue of long tyme knowne and doe daily heare to the end it may be the better rooted in your hearts And so much the rather seeing by this you haue at all tymes such meanes to reioyce and comfort your selues in God whereby we may gather very many good instructions in Gods schoole if we bee certainly perswaded of his grace and indeuour our selues both to obey him and to amend that we finde to be amisse in vs. Also we shall cōtinually lift vp our harts towards him that we may be partakers of his felicitie bountifulnesse the very ground of our saluation After which maner doe the children of God truely exercise them selues in meditation looke throughly into the vnspeakable goodnesse of him by whome they are saued through Iesus Christ euen with an vndefiled thought and hope Also it is requisite that there bee a true amendment of life agreeable both to the seruice obedience honor which we owe vnto him and to cal vpon him vnfaynedly All which are the chiefest points comprehended in holy Scriptures and here summarily spoken of for the confirmation of our faith and hope the full assurance wherof is as it were the foundation of all others cōsisting in the certaine perswasion which we ought to haue of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes to which end also principally the preaching of the Gospell doth attende by reason whereof S. Paule calleth it the ministrie of reconciliation How happeneth it thē that the Cleargie men in our companie by an holie and religious custome euery Sonday in morning prayers declare the grace of God that is to say the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all true penitent Christians beeing necessarie for euery one to knowe Certainly principally for this cause that all may bee perswaded that their offences bee forgiuen them before God and that they bee reconciled vnto him and receiued into his grace what iniquitie soeuer they cōmitted And this certaine perswasion ought to be stedfast and deepely rooted in our hearts chiefly in the tyme of Calamities and great affliction whereunto the children of God are continually subiect hauing the obstinate and peruerse worlde their enemie which will neuer agree with them being set forward and inflamed by him which from the beginning is a murtherer and an aduersarie to all mankinde and neuer leaueth in rest those that giue themselues to the true seruice of their god but doth procure vnto them all hinderances and lets that he can and continually assaults them with mortall warres compassing them with euilles roūd about strangely oppressing them when they doe protract tyme. It may seeme then that for a tyme God doth giue them ouer and that he is very angrie with them and that he would vndo them and that they be lost but they hauing this ful knowledge that by his infinite bountie and clemencie he doth receiue them into his mercie and quiet orders See how they are reuiued and comforted and their consciences in rest And to this end is the worde of saluation giuen vnto them by the which God doth promise to be mercifull vnto them If then such a simple promise bee sufficient to make them certaine of his loue towards them how much more will it be when al other promises doe aboūd It is therefore for this cause that I haue gathered here a certain number of most singuler notes of the holie Scripture which consequently are added which are taken from one and the selfe same spring which shal be like towers strōg places most high to defend vs against the terrible and perilous assaults of the deuill and to put off from vs all incredulitie and mistrust That which I present vnto you welbeloued brethren I dedicate it to witnesse the good affectiō that God hath giuen me towards you wishing that more and more you may be stedfast and conformable in the faith and certaintie of the fatherly goodwill of our God We cannot but alwaies hope well of such a gentle and gracious father which haue looked on vs a long tyme with his owne eyes and hath visited vs as his owne only by the true happy light of his word and by excellent Shepeheards of which some are already receiued into perpetual rest with the Lord others serue him yet happely in other places he hath established the ministrie of his Gospell among you which you inioye at this present by his inestimable bountie although the blustringes of the tempestes lately past haue brought into many and diuers places some straunge troubles and calamities This good God neuerthelesse hath alwaies care to preserue you in such extremities that you haue continuall occasion to giue him thanks the very tokens and witnesses of your faith which may appeare in that that you neede not greuously to seeke for the nourishment of your soules three long myles farre from your houses neither in painfull and sorrowfull waies Continue alwaies therfore in this zeale for the glory of God and in the confidence of his goodwill and mercie towards you vnto the ende I desire those which bee slouthfull to come into the pasture of the Lord to consider what he sayth in this place when he sayth that his sheepe follow him and doe heare his voyce Ioh. 10. And what he sayth in an other place He which is of God heareth Gods worde Ioh. 8. I doe warne them therefore with my brothers and fellowes to be most affected in it not to bee giuen so much to the loue of the world to their vanities to the end that they maye not depriue themselues before they be aware from the celestiall goods and riches which are euerlasting Deare brethren I pray to our God father that in houlding you alwaies vnder the shadowe of his winges he may cause you to profite more and more in his holy knowledge and continually to fortifie you in his seruice and to replenish you withal the gifts of his holy Spirite to his honor and glory to your consolation Your humble and affected brother in the Lord. Iohn Chassanion ¶ The Consolation of the Soule being
gentle and very ready to receiue vs into fauour of his bountifull fauour not imputing vnto vs our iniquities whereof wee maye haue alwaies cause to praise our God eternally after that he hath drawne vs forth out of the handes of the oppressors and calamities of this world and hath receiued vs into his eternall rest Psal 103. The Lorde is full of compassion and mercie slowe to anger and of great kindnesse he will not alwaies chide nor keepe his anger for euer He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities for as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towards them that feare him As farre as the East is from the West so farre hath he put our sinnes from vs. As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lorde compassion on them that feare him THe more a man is miserable and worthy of death and damnation the more the mercie of God surmounteth and ouerpasseth our miserie and calamitie which is declared vnto vs in diuers places of holy Scriptures as it may appeare in that which wee haue heretofore spoken of Exod. 34. which portion of Scripture is agreable vnto this although it containe a more ample declaration so great is the mercies of God to aduaunce and amplifie the time knowledge of him his clemencie towards his people by the ministrie of his Prophetes by whom the mercy of God is shewed vnto vs either by a singnall promise by holy scripture and marueilously amplified by comparisons parables both fit and excellent to this ende that we may be better perswaded of the Lord and his mercie as Dauid confesseth saying The Lord is mercifull gentle slow to anger and of great compassion These are the very selfe same titles which God doth attribute vnto himselfe in the place aforesayd wherein his nature is described vnto vs because this matter concerneth our saluation principally for this thing is shewed plainly by his effectes in that he saith That he is not alwaies angrie c. for seeing we be disobedient and rebellious vnto him and do not giue him such honour as wee ought yet he pleadeth not in his wrath against vs for to haue his right and that which especially doth pertaine vnto him but that which hee doth he doth by admonitions reprehensions threatnings of his worde corrections that her by he may punish the transgressors and in this maner it is sayd that by the space of fourtie yeeres he striued in the Wildernes with a stubber generation an vnthankfull people of Israel as the Prophet witnesseth in the 95. Psal vers 10. Neither leaueth he here but doth the like with their posteritie and ofspring in forbearing with their sinnes and wickednes as it appeareth in the first verse of the 4. Chap. of Hoseas in all which places hee sheweth himselfe marueilous patient when being Lord almightie and soueraine iudge of all the earth yet abaseth him selfe so much as to contende and maintaine his right against so poore and feeble creatures whome he might haue destroyed and ouerthrowen in a moment if he had extended his iust iudgement seueritie against them for although hee might iustly complaine of vs at all times and at euery hower because of our wickednesse yet hee is so mercifull that he chideth vs not continually but many times demisseth all complaints and suites and yeeldeth vp his owne right because his mercie endureth for euer neither doth he correct vs continually as we deserue neither is he angrie with vs for euer and although he punish vs for our iniquities yet not according to the custome of men who suffer them selues to bee caried away by the rage and strength of her violence and excessiue affections but according to the reprehension and feeling of those which hee striketh with his rodde and visiteth with his Plagues if hee seeme to be angrie it is for a time it can not continue for euer neither last long Wherefore they which be striken by him doe truely feele it and makes their coÌ„plaint vnto God saying why dost thou continue thine anger for euer or shal thy wrath burne against the sheepe of thy pasture Psal 74. How long Lord shal thine anger continue without ceasing Psal 79. vers 5. But if we consider the greatnesse and multitude of our sinnes wee shall finde that the wrath of God is of smale continuance towards vs seeing we bee not consumed of him we may finde him as wee imagine sharpe whereas on the contrary we shall thinke him in his great and inestimable goodnes freely to forgiue vs after so many sorts and fashions For this cause it is saide that his wrath continueth but a short time but in his fauour resteth life euerlasting Heauines may lodge with a man one night but ioye commeth in the morning as it appeareth by this which followeth The church speaking vnto God by declaring his euerlasting mercie that although he hideth his face â—rom them and consumeth them because of â—heir sinnes yet in as much as they bee the worke of his owne hands he will not suffer â—he Cittie of his Sanctuarie to lye waste Esay 54. For after that GOD had afflicted Israel by the Asserians and troubled them â—y the Madianites by the Philistines Moaâ—ites and such other nations that knew not him he sufficiently sheweth that he was angrie against his people yet in that he raised vp Iudges Heads and Captaines by whom he deliuered theÌ„ from the hands of their oppressors and gaue them quietnes and peace in the Land wherby he caused them to know that his indignation was past neither did it continue or last for euer The captiuitie of Babilon was an euident testimony of the wrath of God against the Iewes yet by the Commaundement and Edict of Cyrus hee brought them backe againe into their country and caused the people to knowe that hee had altogether ceased from his anger and put away the burning of his indignation as he sheweth in the 85. Psal vers 4. See how he hath quieted himselfe and doth not hould his anger for euer But all this which is spoken toucheth the faithfull onely as for the vnfaithfull which do not beleeue the wrath of God remaynes on them as it is said Ioh. Cha. 3. ver 36. The third effect of Gods clemencie the cheefest towards vs is that he rewardeth vs not acccording to our wickednes neither correcteth vs according to our sinnes for the fruites and reward of sinne is anguish tribulation damnation and death on euery soule as it is written to the Rom. Chap. 2. ver 9. and Chap. 6. vers 23. Then if God should punish vs and handle vs according to our deserts we should be excessiuely afflicted and continually in anguish without ende yea one should bee alreadie ouerthrowen and destroyed but in as much as he spareth forbeareth vs defending vs from so many perrils and deliuering vs from so manyfold dangers and which is more that
first token of mercie when he saw him lost and fallen into death he was carefull to raise him and set him vp againe his clemencie he shewed there to be so much the greater and his goodnes declared it selfe so much openly for after he had done so much good and shewed him such fauour to create him after his own likenesse hauing committed to him the sole authoritie and dominion of all things which are vnder heauen onely aduertising him to obediēce which he ought in trueth to haue performed yet among all these things so easie he lendeth his eares to the craftinesse of Sathan rather then to the voyce of his God and at the length fell into infidelitie and vnthankfulnes towards him yet he left him not nor gaue him ouer in such euilles but goeth after him although he had despised and offended him so much neither stayeth he till Adam came to seeke him yea the Lorde goeth first to finde him not to auenge himself or to chide him by hard reprehensions as in good right he might doe but to bring him to the knowledge of his sinne and to giue him helpe for his saluation Oh the goodnesse of God how marueilous and how wonderfull are his doinges his mercie is excellent and great for who knoweth not that where iniquitie aboundeth there his grace aboundeth much more The sinne of Lot was no light sinne in committing incest without thinking on it with his owne daughters yet God had mercie on him as S. Peter testifieth calling him a iust man not in respect of the abhominable deede but because of the grace of God which shewed it self in him for the iust works and godlinesse that were in him all his life tyme. Iacob hath not bene guiltles for defiling himselfe by incest with his two wiues being sisters yet God ceased not to continue his grace and fauour towardes him following the promise made to his posteritie for euer The xij Patriarks the children of Iacob are accused for many diuers great faultes and misdeedes as Ruben the first borne defiled his fathers bed with Bilha one of his Concubines Iuda did the like with Thamar his daughter in lawe and although he knewe her not yet he is not excused Simeon and Leuy shewed themselues altogether vnfaithfull disloyall cruell and bloodie in the murther of the Shechimites The other brethren mooued with wrath and fed with hatered were like murthers on Ioseph their younger brother they were so impudent and without humanitie that they cared not to afflict their old father by making him thinke that some wild beast had deuoured his sonne and their brother Ioseph notwithstanding for all their misdeedes God hath bene mercifull and blessed them The sinne of Aaron is in no wise to be excused although he had this honour of God to beare his worde with his brother Moses to the people of Israel and before the King of Egipt being ordayned an high Priest a ruler of his Church in the seruice was instituted by the lawe yet he became so slouthfull of so small courage that he suffered himselfe to bee guided by the affection of the blinde people ignorant and supersticious and not onely consented to them in their wicked interprice but he himselfe became a workman and founder of their Idoll and a minister to their Idolatrie setting vp the Alter and appoynting a feast to be solemnized for the seruice of their Calfe for which Moses his brother reproued him very sharply as though he had bene onely the cause of this euill for he had by this meanes destituted and disapointed the people of the grace of God who was readie to giue them ouer into the handes of their enemies as we may reade in Deut. 9. Chap. vers 22. Yet his wrath was pacified neither ceased he to continue his goodnesse towards him but raised and established him to the office of the high Priest It happened also that afterward he committed a great fault when he contented not himselfe with the great office of the high Priest which was graunted him and his sonnes for euer but enuied his brother Moses accusing him as an vsurper in taking on him the gouernement of the people for which hee esteemed himselfe as worthie as Moses was For which cause though the Lord was angrie against him and his Sister and stroke them with Leaprosie for the space of seauen daies a iust punishment for such a quarrell yet he vsed so great clemencie towards them that his wrath went no farther and healed them After that Dauid had concealed his flight from Saul vnto Abimilecke and reporting not the trueth was some cause that 85 Priestes were put to death by the commaundement of Saule their townes were destroyed and sacked and all the dwellers therein passed on the edge of the sworde both men women and children Afterward being placed in the Crowne by the singuler grace of God who had deliuered him from so many daungers and made him happely to raigne and fought so many worthie victories conquering all Gods and his enemies in the lande made them tributaries to him yet when the Soldiours fought against the Ammonites and besieged the Citie of Rabba the Arke of the Lorde beeing in Campe he began to liue in ease and pleasure remayning quietly in Ierusalem at which tyme he committed adulterie with Bethsabeth not by the infirmitie of the flesh as if had not other meanes to satisfie his incontinencie and to quench the heate of his lust but by a disordered desire which made him commit whoredome with his Subiects wife and this also made his sinne much more greeuous considering the tyme wherein he should haue bestowed him selfe in praier for the good estate of his kingdome and the Arke of God neither was he so satisfied but cloked sinne with sinne for he caused Vrias his faithfull subiect to bee murthered by the enemies of God thereby to couer the sinne of adulterie but after hee knewe his sinne and God had receiued him to mercie he repented him of his misdeedes and receiued grace and fauour frō the Lord. Great and filthie were the sinnes of Manasse the King of Iuda for he builded vp the high places that his father Ezechias had plucked downe and worshipped the Planets as the Sunne the Moone and the Starres and prophaned the walles of the Temple with the Alters that he caused to bee built following al the abhominations of the Gentiles he burnt his sonnes in the fire looking himself on them he receiued Sorcerers and familiar Spirites he vsed Witchcraft and set vp grauen Images in the house of God expresly against the commaundement of the Law neither did he this himselfe but caused the people also to goe astray and do the like and which is more he reiecteth the attonement which was made vnto him and his fathers but gaue himselfe more and more vnto euill and sold himselfe altogether to work wickednesse in the sight of the Lord he shed in Ierusalem much innocent blood and put to death those which did reprooue him
because they would not frame themselues according to his abhominations For these thinges the wrath of GOD was kindled against him in so much that he was ouercome of the Asserians and lead captiue to Babylon bound with chaynes but being there in anguish he humbled himselfe to God confessing that he had beene wicked cruell and abhominable at whose complaint God had mercie on him deliuered him from such miserable bondage caused him to returne to Ierusalem and set him in his kingdome againe who beeing thankfull to his God for his goodnes tooke away the strange Gods pulled downe the Alters and established the pure seruice of GOD with a straight commaundement to all his people to obserue it giuing in this a ful testimonie of his true repentance and conuersion to God by this we haue an example and euideÌ„t apparant signe of the infinite mercie of GOD towards vs poore and miserable sinners to this end that none dispayre in his sinnes how great and filthie soeuer they bee for as I haue shewed out of Gods word where sinne aboundeth there grace aboundeth much more It was a great and filthie offence when many of the high Priests and Leuites in the tyme of the Captiuitie and when the wrath of God was spred ouer them and ouer al the people because of their iniquities who neuer thought on their transgressions nor sorie for their sinnes in turning to the Lord by a true repentaunce but forgat what he had commaunded them tooke strange wiues lincking themselues to straunge people betrothing their sonnes and daughters in mariage and mingling by this meanes the holy seede with prophane people a thing generally forbidden to all the people of GOD Deut. 7.3 but especially prohibited in Leuit 21.14 Yet when Esdras a soueraigne high Priest a Scribe of the law a rightuous man vnderstood this disorder and confusion he was very sorie and greatly offended making lamentation before GOD for it The people also were taken with feare and trembling acknowledging their faultes and by the commaundement of Esdras sent awaye their strange wiues with their children making certaine Offringes in respect of their sinnes and so the bountie and mercifulnesse of God remayned among them There was a woman sayth S. Luke in the 7. Chapter of the Gospell which was of euill life who hauing cast her self at the feete of Iesus Christ weeping receiued of him such ioye and consolation to assure her selfe that her sinne was forgiuen her though they were neuer so great There was also sayth the selfe same Euangilist in the 19. Chapter a man called Zacheus who was a principall Maister of the Custome rich and of a wicked life yet when Iesus promised to lodge with him he shewed that hee was come to seeke and saue that which was loâ—â— by which meanes this poore sinner was receiued into grace with a true repentaunce and goodwill to satisfie againe the hurt which he had done to others I pray you beholde the fall of S. Peter it is an example to euery one who being one of the twelue Apostles and Doctors of the worlde brought vp in the knowledge of the Lord by seeing his wonderful myracles and beeing one of the three witnesses which saued his glorie in the Mountaine promised neuer to forsake him neither in prison or in death yet his infirmitie was so great and so fearefull that he not onely forsooke him but forsware him three tymes yet the Lorde in mercie had compassion on him and behelde him though he had made himselfe vnworthie of the honorable office whereunto he was ordayned but repenting weeping in teares was one of the first which was called vnto his office and fitted with the giftes of the holy Ghost to be a seruaunt and faithfull witnesse a couragious and valiaunt Martyr of Iesus Christ The vnhappie and wicked man which for his misdeeds was hanged on the Crosse had his recourse vnto Iesus Christ in the tyme of death and was not cast away but receiued into ioye and consolation with promise that after his death not after many yeeres or some space of tyme or after he had bene in the forged fire of Purgatorie but presently wheÌ„ he should end this mortal life he should be with Christ in Paradise He was truely execrable which was cut of from the number of the faithfull by the Church at Corinth because against all honestie and ciuility he did entertaine and vncouer the nakednesse of his fathers wife for which cause although he well deserued to be deliuered to Sathan excommunicated and vtterly cut off from the misticall bodie of Christ yet the Apostle S. Paule seeing his repentaunce and vnderstanding the punishment which the Church had layd vpon him vsed clemencie compassion neither would haue the man to suffer any greater seueritie but to haue some regard in comforting him for feare hee should bee swallowed with too great sadnesse See here what examples the holy Ghost setteth forth in holy Scriptures as pure cleare testimonies to proue the great and inestimable mercies of God towardes poore sinners which doe conuert themselues with all their harts without dissimulation vnto him by a true repentaunce and amendement of life These examples be of some force to those whom God hath receiued lately vnto the communion of his grace when as he made a way vnto the Gentiles and called them vnto his Church All those then which haue bene before named were of the people of God of his house of which some haue sinned against the first Table others against the second others against both by monstrous misdeedes some haue robbed some murthered and done dissolutly Some haue committed Adultery Fornication and Incest Some Apostaties Idolators and reuolters from the trueth Some giuen vnto Witchcraft all they neuerthelesse haue bene receiued into the mercie of God O the wonderfull loue of the Lord how excellent and full of compassion is he Who would not be rauished to beholde his stedfastnesse Who would not trust in him to reioyce and comforte himselfe in his mercies who is a strong hould for the poore afflicted a refuge for those that be amased and desolate a comfort to those which are in calamitie the whole hope of the poore It is thou O Lord which doest surmount all our iniquities thou swallowest them downe and bringest them to nothing by acquitting and deliuering vs from them Is there any then that feeleth himself guiltie of any great fault or any sinne committed after they haue bin instructed in their saluation occupying a place in the Sheepe-fould of the Lord let him not dispayre in the clemencie of God seeing he hath here fayre examples before his eyes to followe for his comfort Seeing then it is so by so many places of holy Scripture and by the promises of God by good examples liuely exhortations of the grace and mercie of God offered to vs presently and set foorth by the loue of his beloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ let vs bee certaine and full assured that if wee beleeue and truely repent and call vpon him with a true heart and affection he will bee pacified with vs what offence soeuer wee haue committed he will wholly forgiue vs. This is then the consolation in myne affliction for thy word O Lord hath quickened mee Psalm 119. FINIS