same fruit of them inasmuch as All things happen alike to all Eccle. 9. But onely thorough the great mercy of GOD who Sanctifieth the same vnto his children and vnto the wicked The Scriptures are full of proofes for the confirmation of this Doctrine Excellent to this purpose is that of the Prophet Hoseah I will be to Ephraim as a Lyon and as a yong Lyon to the house of Iudah Hos 5.14.15 I euen I will teare and goe away c. Till they acknowledge their offence and seeke my face And this is acknowledged by the prophet Dauid who coulde speake herein by experience Before I was afflicted I went astray but now haue I learned thy commandements Psa 119.71 And Paul concludeth thus 2. Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a far more excellent and eternall waite of Glory And great reason that the afflictions of Gods Seruants shoulde worke this worke in them Reason 1 First because the Lord in his owne decree and counsell hath appoynted the same for a helpe and remedy against our strong corruptions and these must needes bee now as wholsome potions very medicinable being vsed by such a heauenly Physition Reason 2 Secondly howsoeuer the workes of correction are vnpleasant for the present For no affliction is for the time present ioyous but grieuous yet they are by Gods blessing vpon them excellent meanes to worke in vs contrition and true humiliation for our sinnes The ready way to conuersion And this appeares by the incestuous person vpon whome Paul required to be layde that feareful penalty of Excommunication that hee should be deliuered ouer to Sathan 2. Cor. 5.5 And excluded out of the Church vntill hee repented It appeareth that hee was awakened thereby and so brought to Godly sorrow for his sinne The vses follow Vse 1 Seeing then that afflictions are so vsefull vnto a childe oâ— GOD as the effects thereoâ— do declare proouing as wholsome Medicines and as Fatherly chastisements to amend and reforme vs. This may stay the children of GOD from being too much dishartened in time of affliction But rather with all meekenesse submit our selues vnto our most wise GOD who euer correcteth for our good And chasteneth vs for our profit Heb. 12.10 that we might be partakers of his holynesse How many notwithstanding are there that make many hard conclusions against themselues in time of affliction As if God had forsaken them and they cleane cast out of his fauour But Oh consider wherefore doth the Lorde lay thee vpon thy sicke bed afflict thee in thy VVife Children Goods c Surely for no other ende then to bring thee vnto himselfe What cause then hath any to murmur or complaine in time of affliction Vse 2 Secondly this serues to Magnifie the Power and Wisedome of God that can and doth so ouer-rule the nature of all thinges that they shall serue for much good vnto his children according to that of the Apostle All thinges worke for the best to them that loue God Rom. 8. As the skillfull Apothecary of poyson makes Triakle to expell poyson so can God make the poyson of afflictions which in themselues are the curse of the Lawe to driue out the poyson of sinne as wee may clearely see in the examples of Manasses 2. Cro. 33.11 Ier. 31.18 Act. 16. Luke 15. Ephraim the Iaylor Prodigall c The afflictions of whose outward man were by Gods blessings vppon them good meanes to saue both the outward and inward man Yet euen herein wee must obserue a difference betwixt the godly the wicked to the one they are helpes to heauen to the other forerunners of greater torments as in the deluge the waters that bore vp the Arke for the sauing of Noah drowned the wicked of those times And this wee may often see vnder the Crosse the godly to pray the wicked to blaspheme the drosse consumes while the gold is purified So much mattereth it not what is suffered but what the persons be that suffer And thus much for our helps and direction how to receiue the Sacrament and that worthily To God onely wise bee prayse for euer Amen FINIS
CHRISTS LAST Supper OR The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Christs Supper set forth in fiue Sermons Wherein is taught the great necessitie of a godly preparation before men come to the Sacrament Wherein it doth consist with the condemnation threatned against the vnworthy receiuer of the same BY SAMVEL SMITH Minister of Gods word at Prittlewell in Essex IOHN 6.27 Labour not for the Meate that perisheth but for the Meate that indureth vnto euerlasting life which the Sonne of Man shall giue vnto you LONDON Printed by T. D. for Iohn Bellamie and are to bee sold at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1620. TO THE HONORABLE Sir FERDINANDO DVDLEY Knight of the Noble order of the Bath and Sonne and Heiâ—e vnto the Right Honorable Edward L. Dudley And to the Honorable and vertuous Lady the Lady Honor Dudley his wife S. S. wisheth the increase of all true Honour in this life and eternal Glory in the life to come HONORABLE IF the Lord did not like that men should sorake and gather their fields as nothing might remaine for the poore to glean after Assuredly himself suffereth not the great and glorious Field of his Word to be so reaped downe by any beeing a Fountain of liuing waters neuer to be drawn dry and containing in it the very hid wisdom of God But something remaineth which the poore may come after and gather vp I confesse that many of Gods worthy Seruants haue taken paines in this kind and that vpon this subiect The Doctrin of the Sacrament to the great benefit of those who desire to be acquainted with the same how to come prepared vnto the Lords Table yet as a poore man and one that hath a great charge I haue come after and gathered a gleane or two out of the Lords field for me and mine from the which none are forbidden but rather inuited to come and take freely And albeit it be but a little that I haue gathered yet with the VViddowes Oyle and Meale which also was but little may notwithstanding by Gods blessing bee good releefe vnto the poorer sort that want better prouision Whatsoeuer it be to your Honors it comes for shelter and protection And why should I any whit doubt of your Honourable acceptance hauing known you Syr from your youth to be both religiously educated and for your sober studious and most religious Conuersation worthily held your Countries Honour And for your Honourable LADY aboue many of her ranke especially in those partes God hath seasoned her affection with loue to the Trueth and tender respect vnto the despised Ministery amongst you who reioyce in you both and expect that as God hath honoured you aboue others so you shold still countenance his seruants and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and peruerse generation And when the Lorde shall call you Syr into greater imployment in the Common-wealth the Church will expect you should promote her causes and stand still in the maintenance of pure religion Goe on therefore I beseech you still in that good way you haue begun VVhat though ye find little encouragement from the World your reward is with the Lord. It was the great prayse of Righteous Lot that he liued Righteously in that age and in that place I leaue the application These beeing the dayes fore-tolde by our blessed Sauiour wherein men as in the dayes of Noah Luk. 17.26.27 and Lot doe Eate and Drinke Buy Build and Plant c. Altogether vnmindfull of him who is readie to come as a Theefe in the Night At what time they onely shall be blessed that watch I haue endeauoured in the Sermons following to shew men the way how to perfourme aright one of the most excellent partes of Gods worship the receiuing of the Sacrament of Christs Supper wherein I haue laboured to proue the great necessi-of a godly preparation that must be made thereunto wherein it doeth consist the mâ—anes to be vsed to Communicate worthily As also the great hurt and danger that is like to follow the vnworthy receiuing of the same These are the things that are here offered vnto you I confesse you deserue a better oblation then the tender of this small Booke But may I adde but one graine to your godly care of a Christian life with which I offer my most inward affections I haue my expectation I know your sufficiencie in this kind aboue many of my profession yet I rest assured you will not refuse the helpe of those whose function and calling it is to attend thereon and in an humble maner offers the same vnto you And so I commend you both to that God Iude 24 who is able to keepe you that you fall not and to that VVorde of his grace Act. 20.32 Luk. 10.42 which as it hath taught you to chuse the good part that shal not be taken from you so is able to build you vp further and to giue you an inheritance amongst those that are sanctified And rest Prittlewell this 18. of Nouember 1620. Your HONORS in the Lord Iesus to be commaunded SAMVEL SMITH A Table of the principall matters contained in these Sermons following The first Sermon page 1 The Text. 1. Cor. 11.28.29 Let a man therefore examine himselfe ver 28. and so let him eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup. Verse 29. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily ver 29. eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he discerneth not the Lords body THe order of the Apostle in this Chapter Page 2 Christs order in the Institution of this Sacrament Page 3 He breakes the Bread and Wine ibid He blesseth them page 4 He breakes the Bread and poureth out the Wine ibid Hee giues them page 5 He shewes the end of all viz. to shewe forth the Lords death ibid The occasion of this Scripture page 7 The Text deuided page 8 Reasons shewing the necessitie of Examination page 10 It is Gods commandement ibid The Lord hath promised to blesse it page 11 The reuerence wee owe to these holy things doth require it page 12 The Lords Table represents the kingdome of Heauen page 13 The practise of the primitiue Church page 15 The benefit and profit by so doing doth bind vs to this dutie page 16 The benefite that comes by due receiuing page 17 It is a prop to the weake ibid It seales vp vnto vs Christ and his righteousnesse page 18 It quickens vs to all good dueties page 19 Reason 5 The hurt and daunger which otherwisâ— will ensue doeth shew the necessity of the same page 20 The vses of the Doctrine Teacheth Ministers their duety to prepare men for the Lords Table page 23 Shewes what manner of persons ought not to be admitted thereunto page 24 As first Children page 25 Secondly Mad-men Ideots ibid Vse 3 Is for tryall of our estates page 26 Doct. Euery man must be diligent to know his owne estate page 30 Reasons First euery man is best acquainted with
singular benefits that come vnto vs by the same And thus much for the Apostles Reason in this 29. verse To inforce his former duty of preparation ⸪ Let vs pray The Fift Sermon 1. Cor. 11.30.31.32 For this cause many are weake and sicke among you and many sleepe For if we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged But when we are iudged wee are chastened of the Lord because wee should not bee condemned with the world OVr holy and blessed Apostle Saint Paul hauing in the former part of this chapter The Coherence â—et downe the true and holy manner of ministring and receiuing the Supper of the Lord as â— direction for all good Minister and people to follow Doth iâ— the seuenth and twentith verse threaten the vnworthy receiuers that they are guiltie of no lessâ— then high treason against thâ— blood of Christ for prophaning and vnworthy receiuing of thâ— same And verse 28. He layes dowâ— a generall rule to be obserued oâ— all that will come worthily anâ— prepared as they ought Let euerâ— one therefore examine himselfe anâ— so let him eate verse 28. c. First his knowledge whether it be sound anâ— sanctified 2. His faith whether iâ— be firme or not 3. His Repentance whether hee haue a dislikâ— of sinne past a resolute purpoâ—â— and indeuour to auoyd sinne foâ— the time to come resoluing to obey God in all things 4. whether he come in loue and charitie to man All which are absolute necessary in euery true communicant that desires to receiue this Sacrament worthily Verse 29. The better to awake al carelesse and vnreuerent receiuers of this holy Sacrament The Apostle comes to shew them the danger of the want of this preparation viz. That such doe not onely loose their labour or the benefit which otherwise they might receiue by the vse of this Sacrament but such doe indeede prouoke Gods heauie wrath and displeasure against them hereby hasten and procure their owne iudgement Because they discerne not the Lords body That is they put no difference betweene the Bread and Wine thus consecrated and set apart for such a holy vse and ordinary Bread and ordinary Wine Now in this 30. verse the words of this text the Apostle comest oâ— proue that which hee had seâ— downe before viz. that the vnworthy receiuer of the Lordâ— Supper drawes downe Godâ— heauy wrath and vengeance by this meanes vpon him and this hee doth by bringing in the Church and people of God in Corinth to witnesse this truth who for this very sin of vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament were many of them stricken some with one disease and some with another saying For this cause many are sicke and weake c. q.d. You your selues oh Corinthians finde this to bee true that the vnworthy receiuer of this Sacrament eateth and drinketh his owne iudgement Seeing that for this sinne of yours the iudgment of God is vpon you in punishing many of you with faintnesse sicknesse yea and with death also All which iudgements of God now resting vpon you are so many witnesses of Gods displeasure against you for this sinne This is the some of this verse Doct. 1 Wherein wee are to obserue how our Apostle applyeth particularly that which he had so generally propounded touching the abuse of this Sacrament It is the ministers duty to make particular application of their Doctrines Teaching That it is the duty of euery faithfull minister of Iesus Christ to make particular applications of those Doctrines the which they deliuer not to sooth the people in their sinnes but plainly to set them before them and to shew them the iudgments of God that are vpon them for the same And thus doth Nathan make a particular application of the parable of the sheepe saying to Dauid 2. Sam 12.7 I. Reg. 21. Exo. 9.13 Act. 14.25 Mar. 6.18 Ioh. 4.9 Thou art the man Thus doeth Elias reproue Ahab Moses Pharao Paul Felix and Iohn Baptist Herod c. yea thus doth Christ him self deale with the woman of Samaria who did but dally with Christ vntil he came to lay to her charge her particular sin that she was a wicked woman no better then a whore or harlot and then she was tamed and began to listen vnto Christs doctrine And there is great reason that the Ministers of God should deale thus truely and faithfully with mens soules For Reason 1 First it is Gods commaundement that his ministers shoulde deale so plainely Eze. 33. and faithfully with the soules of men to lay open their sins and to acquaint them with the iudgment to com And heere-hence it is that the Lord doth giue vnto his seruants in the Ministery such names and titles which serue to put them in mind of their duety heerein Eze. 3.1 Eze. 34.1 1. Sam. 9.9 2. Pet. 1. â—3 as Watch-men Shepheards Seers Remembrancers c. Reason 2 Secondly because we know that conviction is the ready way to Conuersion And the iudgement of man must first of all bee convicted to see its error before he can come to leaue and forsake the same Now then inasmuch as this is it where-vnto all the labours of Gods seruants in the Ministerie doeth tende to bring men to see their sins and to repent for the same this can they not more better effect then by the particular application of their Doctrins bringing downe the same and applying it vnto the consciences of the hearers Vse 1 for reprofe And surely this doth serue to shewe why so many that labour in the Lords vineyard amongst vs are so vnprofitable and do so little good in their Ministerie the reason is plaine they deliuer generall Doctrines without their Vses they make not a true and particular application of the same vnto the Consciences oâ— their hearers and so it wants the life of all Application and fals to the ground Men hauing noâ— their portion out of the same deuided amongst them Vse 2 Secondly for instruction to Ministers this may serue to admonish all Ministers of the Worde that as they desire to see some fruite of their labour the conuersion of their hearers and those the Lord hath committed vnto their charge So to behold Pauls practice here to deale faithfully with mens soules to rip vp mens consciences to smite home to presse them with their sinnes and to say with Nathan Thou art the man For indeede such is the deceiptfulnesse of mans nature that vnlesse men be plainely and faithfully dealt withall wee may see that selfe-loue wil make men put off the most wholesome instructions vnto others as if they did no whit concern themselues This is a good lesson for such and such a man I would they had heard it Whereas indeede it concerneth none more then themselues Paul preuents this amongst this people of Corinth and tels them That many amongst them were weak c. Oh that this duty were duly regarded of all in the ministery it could not be
but we should then find the fruite of the same much peace in our own soules in the conscionable discharge of our duty therin and the good of many a poore soule that is vnder vs. Vse 3 For instruction to hearers Thirdly lastly if this be the duty of Gods Ministers to make particular application of his doctrines and to presse the same vp on the consciences of his hearers You that are our hearers must be thus content to bee dealt withall and not to storme against the Minister nor to kicke against the word For this know that if the word of God be not as an edged sword to cut the throat of thy sins it is a sign the Lord hath cast thee off from his care intends to glorifie himself in thy destruction And therefore as you tender the saluation of your owne soules suffer the Lords Chyrurgians to make incision into your souls by the sharpe razour of the Law who best know what will be the danger of a festred soule with Sinne and must launce the same before it can be cured rather say with Dauid Let the righteous smite me friendly Psa 141.4 a good signe of an humbled soule and broken heart Many are weake sicke c. Heere we haue three kinds of corrections visitations that almighty mighty God layeth vppon this people 1. Many were weake That is had vppon them some lingering and fainte diseases as the Consumption c. 2. Some were Sicke and so were vexed vvith more painefull griefes as Agues Fluxes Feuers c. 3. Some were fallen asleep that is the Lord had by his own hand taken them out of the worlde by death Obiect But here lyeth the doubt how the Apostle knewe that these plagues and punishments sent of God were for this sin of theirs their vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament Answ I answere First he was taught and instructed by Gods spirite what to say and therfore might boldly say it But besides Paul knew that God had threatned thus to plague his people for this sinne as hee threatened by Moses his seruant Deu. 28.21.22.27.28 And had further in all ages executed sundry iudgements vppon his Church and Children for such open and common transgressions And therefore Paul seeing these iudgments vpon these Corinthians and knowing this to be a common sin amongst them as Gods Minister concludeth thus For this cause c. And heerin I see not the contrary but the seruantes of God haue warrant to say the like namely that when we see a iudgment of God vpon a place and withall doe see some great and common sinne to raign amongst them we may safely put them in minde of their sinnes and tell them that this iudgment of God is vpon them for such sinnes as are so rife notorious amongst them There was good cause then why Paul shoulde thus charge them Doct. 2 Now for the seuerall iudgement it is not needeful to search so to determine what diseases they were that this Church and people were sicke of and died It is sufficient for vs to knowe that these sicknesses and diseases which the Lord had sent were strange diseases as may appeare in that our Apostle doth take speciall notice of them which he would not haue done if these had been ordinary The note that we may obserue herehence is That sicknesse Sicknesse and diseases are the fruit of sin diseases c. are the fruit of sinne according to that of the Prophet Ieremy Man suffereth for his sin Lam. 3.39 And this doth Moses most clearely set downe when hee denounceth so many seuerall punishments against the people of Israell as the Pestilence Deu. 28.22 Feuer burning Ague Consumption c if they should disobey the the voyce of the Lorde their God But of this we haue spoken more fully in the former Sermon The reasons are Reason 1 First the Lord is iust and cannot do any wrong He neuer correcteth but their is some thing amisse Reason 2 And Secondly euery man is guilty of many sinnes the least whereof deserue all those corrections that are layd vpon him And wee haue euer cause to say moreouer Lam. 3.22 That it is the Lords mercy that we are not consumed Our sinnes euer deseruing heauier plagues and more greuious iudgements Vse 1 Let this teach vs then in all our afflictions to acknowledge our sinnes to be the cause thereof and to make a good vse of the same to reformation of life For these diseases of what nature soeuer they be but the fruit of sin This was that counsell that Daniel gaue to Nabucadnezzer Dan. 4.24 Namely to breake of his sinnes by repentance And his transgressions by hauing compassion on the poore And surely this is the best counsell that one Christian can giue to another in affliction viz. To breake of their sinnes by vnfained repentance and turning vnto the Lord. This is the way to stop the breach of Gods wrath and to moue the Lord to reuoke his iudgements and without which we shall but wearie our selues in vaine for we must first remoue the cause of Gods iudgements our sinnes or else the hand of God cannot bee remoued Vse 2 Secondly this condemnes that hellish and brutish speech of many who when they are weake or sicke or at the poynt of death ascribe all to fortune chance or this or that cause But neuer looke vnto the correcting hand of God Iob acknowlegeth all these things to come from God though it was the deuill and wicked men that spoyled him Oh let vs in Gods name Iob. 1.21 learne to bee wise herein to acknowledge that all sicknesse and euery kind of disease is Gods visitation sent of God to humble vs to make vs to know and to acknowledg our sinne and to seeke vnto him for mercy And surely when wee know that sicknesse comes from GOD it will make vs not onely to seeke vnto him for helpe and deliuerance from trouble but be a good meanes likewise to worke in vs patience to wayte his leasure when wee can perswade our selues that they come from a louing Father sent for the good of our Soules And many sleepe Hence I might obserue diuers things Doct. 3 First the mercifull and gracious dealing of the Lord GOD towards his children Gods iudgments are seasoned with mercy who rather then they shoulde come to eate of this Sacrament vnworthily Esay 57.2 and so to prouoke him to wrath against them doth first humble them by sicknesse Esa 54.7.8 and after takes them away by death And thus indeede the Lord takes away his children when they are at the best and by death hee doth preuent many euilles in them to come And thus the faithfull are taken away from the Euill to come Psal 103.13.14.15 And howsoeuer he may seeme for a time to hide his face yet with an euerlasting mercy he hath compassion on his But I will not stand long on this poynt Vse
saying Ier. 3.13 Know thy sins O Ierusalem Lam. 3.39 And againe Wherfore is the liuing man sorrowfull man suffereth for his sin Let vs search and try our wayes and turne vnto the Lord. Where he shewes that for want of this iudging of our selues men are punished and because they will not enter into a narrow search of their owne soules they doe not returne vnto the Lord. So Dauid I considered my own wayes and turned my feete to thy Testimonies Ps 119 5â— And the like speece is vsed by the Prophet Zephany Zeph. 2.1.2 Fan your selues oh my people Yea common reason doth require the same before a man can frame himselfe to enter into a right course hee must thorowly bee resolued and perswaded within himselfe that hee hath beene mistaken in his former course of life I might multiply testimonies in this kinde but these shall suffice to direct vs in this duty how necessary this strict tryall and examination of our owne estates is to the iudgeing of our selues Ioel. 2.13 Onely let me adde this that in this our examination we must not only search after our grosse sins Act. 8.22 but euen after our most secret corruptions For true repentance extends it selfe not onely to the grosse euiles of mens liues but euen the most secret corruption of the heart and of the Soule And we must withall consider the Circumstances of our sinnes as when where how we haue committed the same that so accordingly wee may labour for humiliation for the same And herein it shall bee safe for vs to passe thorough the whole law of God and take a viewe of our liues by euery particular commandement that so we may the better come to see and acknowledge our misery and want Vse 1 First then this serues to discouer vnto vs the reason why there is so little faith true repentance in the world why men are no more humbled for their sins and doe not repent of the same Poore Soules they know not that they doe euill such either cannot or do not search themselues they call not their owne wayes to account Now then how can such come to repentance and to haue their sinnes pardoned that neuer yet called their sinnes to account nor questioned their estate Such neuer came as yet where repentance grew Well then I say againe marke well this poynt doe not lightly passe it ouer but esteeme it as the blessed truth of God that the sight and vnderstanding of our owne wandering is the first step vnto eternall life and saluation and to iudge our selues that so wee may in the ende escape the condemnatorie sentence of the Almighty Vse 2 Secondly wee may obserue hence what a singular a fauour of God it is when he doth open a mans eyes to see his miseries to find himselfe like a lost sheepe to haue gone a stray Surely surely this is the begining of al grace true conuersion vnto God Whereas such as are yet ignorant of their own estates or cannot abide to looke into the Law whereby sinne comes to be discouered It is a plaine signe that such a one is in a most desperate case past hope Psal 50. and God himselfe must bee faint to take him into his own hand for sin must be iudged And thus much for the first degree of iudging of our selues our examination of our owne estates The second particular 2 Accusation wherein this iudging of our selues doth consist is Accusation Or the preferring of bils of inditement against our selues and to accuse our selues before God for our sinnes And indeede if wee woulde not bee iudged and condemned of the Lord we must bring our selues as poore prisoners to the barr of Gods iudgment seate And this wee do when wee set our selues in the presence of God and enter into a narrow reconing with our owne Soules and consciences as if now were the day of iudgement To see what our conscience which is as a little God and iudg in our bosom woulde say against vs. And surely the often performance of this duty Note to bring our selues thus into Gods presence to see what an acnount we can make vnto GOD of our liues past will be a good meanes to bring vs to this duty to iudge our selues that we be not iudged of the Lord and where men doe truly come to the sight of their sinnes and vnto true repentance for the same there will euer follow this Accusation for sinne In true repentance there is euermore a disposition to lay to a mans owne charge asmuch as is possible A penitent sinner needs none other aduersarie then his owne conscience he himselfe is his owne foe And this appeares clearely by that of Dauid I haue sinned exceedingly saith he and done very foolishly 2. Sam. 24.10 And it is the practise of Ezra in that confession of his hee makes in the behalfe of the whole Church Our iniquities are increased ouer our heads Esay 9.6 and our trespasses are growne vp to heauen And that of the Prophet Daniel is most excellent to this purpose when he saith Wee haue sinned and committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly Dan. 9.5 and haue rebelled euen by departing from thy precepts and from thy iudgemens How doth the Prophet there accuse for sinne by the acknowledgment of the peoples degrees of sinnes 1. Tim. 1.13 And if we require some examples we may behold Paules practise herein confessing himselfe to bee a Blasphemer an Oppressor c. Yea the Cheefe of sinners And that of the Prodigall who confessed that he had sinned against heauen and against God c. All which as a cloud of witnesses Serue to informe our Iudgement and to settle the same in the truth of this poynt that vnto this iudging of our selues there must be selfe-accusing and indeede where there is true repentance there is in some Vse 1 measure this disposition The vses followe If this accusing of a mans selfe be so necessary vnto the iudgeing of our selues that so we may escape the condemnation of the Lord what shall we say to those that study the Art of mincing and extenuating of sinne poore soules such neuer came where repentance grâ—we And yet the world affords thousands of these who notwithstanding thinke themselues to bee in good cause that can put vppon couetousnesse the cloake of frugality and good husbandry vpoÌ„ drunkennes good-fellowship c so far are many from accusing themselues for sin as that they rather iustifie themselues in their euill wayes Vse 2 But let this serue for matter of instruction vnto vs all that as we desire the pardon of our sinnes to haue some good euidence vnto our owne soules of our repentance to aggrauate our sins to accuse our selues vnto God for our manifold impieties Oh it is an excellent signe of grace in a man to think he can neuer lay enough vnto his owne charge Oh this is the onely way to haue our