effectually my miserable estate condicion my ignoraunce peruersitie my carelesnes for thy true honor dishonor in such sort y ◠I may hartely lament these euills haue them pardoned taken frō me through iesus christ our lord Againe good father giue me y ◠same thy holi spirit to reuele to me thy name word gospell y ◠I maye liuely knowe thee vnfainedly loue thee hartely obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that al godlines in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom y u woldest I shuld pray Heare thinke vpon the state of religion and the life of the professours of the gospell that you may lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THy kingdome is in .ii. sortes to be consydered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all thinges euery where in earthe heauen hell deuilles Angells men beasts foules fishes all creatures animate inanimate sensible and insensible Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he sayde thy kingdome ruleth ouer al. Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou raignest only in thy churche and elect people ruling and gouerning al euery mēber of thy churche to thy glory their eternal comfort not that out of this church I exclude thy power for as therewyth thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enemies but because thy grace is specially cōsidered being as it were the verye keper that kepeth and guydeth thy people The tyme wilbe when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distincte shalbe vnited made one kingdome of glory which wilbe when Chryst shal giue vp his kīgdome into thyne handes that is in the resurrection whan deathe the last enemye shalbe subdued and thou shalt be all in all In the meane season this kingdome of grace is miraculously mightely propagated enlarged and gouerned by y ◠true ministery of thy word and Sacraments thorow the working of thy holy spirite And this is the meane and way wherby as thou didest firste plante so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue y ◠same This kingdome of grace begon continued enlarged by the true preaching of thy gospell and ministratiō of thy Sacramentes is the thynge which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thy gospel might so mightely purely plentuouslye be preached maugre the head of all thyne enemies that the numbre of thine elect might be brought in and so the kingdome of thy glory myght appere So that as I see thy chidren desire pray labour y ◠thy gospell might be truely preached hard and liued in themselues in others so they lament the not preaching refusing the not liuing vnbeleuing thy gospel yea they lament the ling ring of the coming of thy christ for in his coming they know thei shalbe like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie thēselnes as he is pure By reason hereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraunce of thy kingdome and power euery wher of thy grace only in thy church of thy glorye when all the enemyes of thy grace shalbe cast downe thy glorye and power shall embrace eche other I se my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching the hearig of thy gospell for els y u hadst not neded to haue placed thys petition next to the petition of the sanctifiing of thy name Againe I see here my vnhablenes to enter into thy kyngdome and to attayne to it For ells what nede shuld I haue to praye for that to come from thee which other wise maye be archeiued Thirdly I se also my peruersitie contempt of thy kingdome grace For although I se my want yet I wold not desire thy kingdome to come if y u didest not commaunde me to praye so for yf I wold haue praied for it y u woldst not haue cōmaūded me Last of all I see thy goodnes which wilt bringe thy kingdome that as generally by sēding forth ministers to preach truli so particularly by regenerating me more and more and by geuing me as grace here so glorye els where for thou woldest not I shoulde praye for that whiche thou wylte denye So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyse To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce rebellion peruersitie Satans power contempt of thy grace thy gospel ministerie here or ells where To reioyse because of thy goodnes and great mercy which hast brought me into thy church kepest me in it and wilte doe so still also because of the Ministerie of thy worde and Sacramentes by which the holye ghost is and wilbe effectuall and finally because of y ◠great glory whervnto y u hast called me now wilt giue vnto me asking the same But alas how vnthankfull I am sorowles lorde thou knowest for my hart is not hid from thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunte the Spirit of thy children to reueale vnto me my ignoraunce of thy kingedome my pouertie and peruersitie that I maye lament the same and daily labour for thy helpe and thy holy spirit to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my self and in others Againe graūt me that same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glory to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more more to raigne in me as in a pece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glory to assure my conscience of thy goodnes that thou wylt giue me grace and glory c. Here cal to mind the state of the ministerie ministers the light and life of gospellers therrours heresies which mē be entangled withal Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Wherby as we maye perceyue that nothinge is or can be done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot be any thinge done against or otherwise then by thy omnipotent secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holie and iuste howe far so euer it seme otherwise to oure folishe reason and indgemēt And therfore here we are taught to pray that thy wil may be done here wythoute synne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angells behalfe in heauen Againe for asmuch as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as cōcerning thy wisdome we may not according therto search thee but rather adore and worshippe thy maiestie tremble at thy Iudgements and
transgressor of this lawe but also at this present doe so horriblye and hipocriticallye offende thee in takinge thy name in vaine that so many waies in praying and not praying in reading and not readinge in speakinge and not speaking not coÌ„fessig simply froÌ„ my hart thy doctrine trueth name but regardinge mine owne name farre aboue it Shall I file froÌ„ thee then vndoubtedly I am more gilty and more shall disobey this thy holy precept adding sinne to sinne where as y â— woldest I should call vpon thy holy name deare lord which hast geuen thy deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a mediatour for vs that thorowe him we might finde not onely grace for the pardone of our sinnes paste but also for the obtaining of thy holy spirit as well the better to vnder stande as also the better and more frankely to obey this thy holye precept for euer For his sake therfore dere god pardone my sinnes paste present wherof this law doth accuse me and graunt moste graciouse father that I may be endued with thy holy spirit to know and loue thy holy name word and trueth in Iesus Christ that I maie be zelouse wise and constaunt and that my tounge maye be sanctified henceforth guyded with thy holye spirite and grace to publishe confesse and teache after my vocation to others as occasion is offered thy trueth and gospel to call vpon thy name in al my nede to geue thankes vnto thee prayse thee magnifye thee and to sanctifie thy holy name as a vessel of thy mercy for euer and euer Remember that thou kepe holye the Saboth day c. AFter thou hast told me howe in the external seruice of thee graciouse lord thou wilte haue my tonge vsed so doest thou now teach me how thou wilt haue min eares all my whole body occupied namly in sanctificacion and holines that is in those thinges which thou pecularly hast appointed to be meanes immeditately to helpe to that ende As in hearing thy word preached vsing the ceremonies of thee appointed eueÌ„ as y â— hast commaunded For the which thinges to be exercised of thy people thou at the firste dyddest appoint a certaine daye namely the seuenth daye whiche therefore thou calledst thy Sabboth that thereby they with their childreÌ„ and family resting froÌ„ all exerior labour which hindreth the meditacioÌ„ of the mind might not onely be more able to goe on throughe with their trauell and labour for withoute some reste nothing can endure in respect whereof thou woldest the very beastes which in laboure were exercised shoulde haue the priuelege of this Saboth but also and muche rather that thy people might with their family and children be instructed and taught first by the miuistery of thy word in preaching and catecchising secondly by the vsyng of thy sacramentes appointed after thy commaundement and institution they might be assured of thy promises thirdly by praiyng they might be augmented in al godlines and last of all by their metting together exercisinge all these thy workes of sanctification they might increase in loue and charity one towards another as members of one body and fellowes of one inheretaunce and thus by meeting together praying and vsing thy sacramentes they might be instructed in thy lawe and of that Saboth wherinto thou thy selfe dyddest enter after thou hadst made the world ceasing from thy workes not of conseruation but of creatioÌ„ into the which as after this life and the workes of this time they should enter so now they beginne spiritually to enter in restinge from their owne workes whiche the olde man moueth thom vnto not that good lord thou woldest these workes appointed for the Saboth day should not be exersised at any other time but onely on the seuenth day but because y u dydst as wel ordaine theÌ„ for a pollicie to endure till the comming of Christ as also according to the reuelacion or thee in that time didst open thy self beginning then in figures and shadowes whose verifieÌ„s in thy tyme were to be opened therefore it pleased thee to appoint then the seuenth day which seuenth day although by reason of the policie being by thee be streied and by reason of Christ the veritie and body of all shadowes if be abrogate from vs yet standeth this commaundemeÌ„t in force aswell for the workes of santificacion that is for preaching thy word comming to heare it for praying vsynge thy sacramentes and coming together to that ende as also for those dayes which by commoÌ„ order and on good grounde are ordained and receyued howbeit with this libertie that necessitie of our faith and sanctificacioÌ„ and charitie may dispeÌ„se therwith occasion of wilfull and wittinge offence being aduoided c. So that hereby I perceyue thy will and pleasure to be that I shuld at al times as much as charite and necessitye wyll permytte geue ouer my self and cause all other ouer whoÌ„ I haue charge so to doe especially on the sondaies and other holye dayes being receyued and to that ende appointed to the resorting to the temple and places appointed to praier to here with meknes thy holy word and vse thy sacraments and ceremonies as thou hast commaunded and to exercise all thinges which might be to the confirmacion propogacion of thy holy religioÌ„ or make to the encrease of loue and charite as geuing to the pore reconciling such as be in variaunce visiting theficke eueÌ„ as it were beginning that â—abboth wherof Esay speaketh By reason whereof I haue greate cause to thanke thee most gracious father that thou woldst appoint me to be in this time wherin thou hast more plentifully reueiled thy selfe then thou dyddest not onelye before Christes comminge but also synce Christs assensioÌ„ Neuer synce England was England dyddest thou so manifestlye reueile thy trueth as y u hast done in these daies Great cause I haue to thanke thee that y u woldst institute the ministery of thy worde and sacramentes as meanes wherby thy holye spirite is effectuall to worke in oure hartes sanctification Great cause haue I to thanke thee that thou woldest kepe the bokes of the prophetes Apostells vntil this time Greate cause haue I to praise thee that thou woldst geue me such knowledge in them as y u hast done of thy greate mercye Greate cause haue I to thaÌ„ke thee for the good true ministers and preachers of thy worde which thou hast sent amongs vs and geneÌ„ me grace to here them Great cause haue I to thanke thee that in this religion thou hast geuen so longe quietnes and harboroughe to thy church Great cause haue I to thanke thee for that thou woldeste make me suche a man in whom thy holye spirite mighte worke Greate cause I haue to thanke thee whiche woldeste call me into thine eteruall Saboth and rest full of all ioye such as the eye hathe not sene the pare hath not harde Greate cause haue I to thanke thee that so manye dayes are
how that thou art almightie present in all places and of most puritie to coÌ„firme therby my faith to be prouoked y e more to feare thee to reuerence thee c but also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporall simply and alonely for often times the wicked prosper more in the worlde and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou woldest pul vp my minde from earth and earthly things to heauen and heauenly thinges and that I should see further by corporall benefites thy heauenly prouidence for me For if y u place me thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest hitherto hast done from my youthe vp in that thou art nothing so careful for my body as for my soule how shuld I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it in thy home where is such glory as y t eie hath not sene c. of which thinges these corporall benefites of thine giuen me on earth should be as it were inductions and the taking of them away admonitions to be more mindefull of permanent thinges and lesse mindefull of transitorie thinges By reasoÌ„ hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lameÌ„t because I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthaÌ„kfull for thy prouidence and fatherly correction here on earth To reioyce because of my home and the greate glory thereof because thou doest so prouide for me here because thou doest so correct and chasteÌ„ me c. but alas I am altogether a wretch earthlie vnthankful not onely for these corporall benefites health ryches frendes fame wisedome c for thy fatherly correction sicknes temptacion c but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy gospell c. Yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glorye as the Israelits were for the land of Canaan therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernes I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure careles c I am impacient in the crosse and to much consider worldly discommoditie Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnes loue of thys world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunte me thi holy spirit to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisdom goodnes in thi creatures but specially in christ iesus thy soÌ„ne so by the same spirit enflame mine affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersacioÌ„ may be in heauen coÌ„tinually FroÌ„ whence graunt me stil to loke for the lord Iesê° to make this my vile body like vnto his owne glorious and immortal bodye according to his owne power by whiche he is able to doe all things As y u hast giueÌ„ me to be thy childe so I praye the giue me these things which be y e properties of thy childreÌ„ giuen froÌ„ y â— in thy good time Halowed be thy name THy name is that wherby thou art knowen for names serue to discerne and knowe one thinge from an other Nowe thoughe thou art knowen by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt estate thei serue but to make vs excuseles Therfore properly most liuely and coÌ„fortably y u art knowen by thy holy worde and specially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuinge vs into thy fauour for christ Iesê° sake For the which goodnes in Christ y u art praised magnified accordinge to thy name that is so much as meÌ„ know thee in Christ they magnifye thee praise thee which here thou callest halowing or sanctifieng not that thou arte the more holye in respect of thy self but in respect of meÌ„ who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctify thee that is they cannot but as â—n them selues by true faith loue feare and spiritual seruice honour thee so also in their outwarde behauour and wordes they cannot but liue in such sorte as other seing them maye in and by their holines godly conuersatioÌ„ be occasioned as to know thee so to sanctify thy name accordingly And therfore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wyshe and desyre of thy children and people namelye that thou in Christe mightest be truelye knowen and honored bothe of them selues and of others inwardlye and outwardly By reasoÌ„ wherof easely a man may perceiue by the coÌ„trary y â— the greatest sorow greife thy people haue is ignoraunce of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the whiche they pray and labour diligeÌ„tly after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the others both to others and to them selues doe take no smal payne in praier studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I se that I am far from this desyre and lamentation which is in thy children I see myne ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for ells it had not neded thee so by thy worde to haue reueled thy self I see also mine ignoraunce of the excellencie of the same For els woldst y â— not haue told me that the sanctifinge of thy name is the chiefest thing y u requirest of euery maÌ„ Again I se my great want of holines for els thou nedest not to teach me to seke pray for y â— I want not Moreouer I se my great peruersitie whiche woulde not seke at thy hands for sanctification although I se my nede therof For els y u woldest not haue coÌ„maunded me to pray for it if I seinge my want wolde haue praied vnto the therfore Last of al I see thy wonderfull goodnes whiche wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification holynes for y u woldest not that I shuld aske for that thing that y u wilte not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentacion which thy chyldren haue also because of my ignoraunce pouertie peruersitie vnthankefulnes c. but most of all because thy holye name worde and religioÌ„ is so blasphemed both in doctrine and in liuing of many especially in thys Realme To reioyse I haue greate cause for thy exceding goodnes and merry which woldeste so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word gospel which woldest opeÌ„ these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me others sanctification in thy sight by saithe in the sight of men by purenes of life godly conuersation But alas I doe hartely neither the one nor y â— other that is lameâ— or reioyce as y u father which serchest my hart doest righte well know Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thin owne pitie thy holy spirit to reuele opeÌ„ to my mind
works and therefore praye alwayes that we maye be content with thy wil and be borome thereto And for asmuch as thou hast reuealed to vs so muche of thy wyll in thy word writen as is necessarye for vs in thys life to know yea as we can attaine vnto and a lytle further we ought to take all thynges done there agaynste as synne and transgressyon althoughe thou canste vse the same synne to serue thy prouydence Of the which prouidence w◠can not nor maye not Iudge further then thou hast shalte open it vnto vs. So that this peticion Thy will be done is not simplie to be vnderstand concerninge thy omnipotent wil vn reueled against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reueled in thy lawe gospel the which thou here teachest me that we shuld desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in suche perfection willingnes as it is in heauen The which thinge I perceiue hereby that thy childrē doe desire daily in for themselues and others do lament the contrary in whōsoeuer it be so that often their eies gushe out with riuers of teares because men kepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am farre from the syghes and teares of thy people I see my ignoraunce of thy wyll yf thou hadeste not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruyce obedyence to thy wil is and therfore doest y u place this peticion amonges the fyrst and continual desires of thy childrē Againe I se my pouertie in godly obediēce which had nede to be taught to pray for it therby to signifie vnto me my want and vnhabilitie to attayne it but by thy gift Thirdly I se my disobedience for els neuer woldst thou haue cōmaunded me to haue praied for the doing of thy will if I seinge my want wold haue prayed so Last of all I se thy goodnes whiche wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee wyth al our harts to loue our neighbour as our selfes to die to our selues to liue to thee to take vp oure crosse and to followe thee to beleue to repent c for ells thou woldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thinge which we shuld not loke for So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyce To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce pouertie and peruersitie also because thy will is euerye where either not knowen or contēned and Sathans will the wil of the world and of the fleshe readily obeyed To reioyse I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe and will vnto mankind for that also ▪ thou peculiarlye hast taught me these things and because also thou wilt graūt me grace to doe the same But alas howe vnthankfull I am and how hard harted thou Lorde doest knowe Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me I pray thee graciouse god graūt me thy holy spirit to reueale to me my ignoraunce of thy will my pouertie and peruersitie that I may hartely bewayle it c and by thy helpe and working of the same spirit may suppresse the will of the fleshe Agayne graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me thy will declared in thy lawe and gospell that I may truly know the same and enflame so my affections that I maye will and loue the same in such sort that it may be my meate and drynke to doe thy wyll Here cal to minde the .x. cōmaūdementes of god particularly or generally what therin he requireth and praye for the same particularlye as you se your nede that not only for your self but also for other Praye for patience to suffer what crosse soeuer god shal laye vpō you pray for thē that be vnder y ◠crosse that they maye be pacient praye for spirituall wisedome in euery crosse peculiarlye or publikelye that you may see and loue gods will Geue vs this day our daily Bread BY Breade the foode of the bodye is vnderstande all thynges necessarye for thys corporall life as meate drinke health successe in vocatyon c. By this word Gyue we shoulde vnderstande that not onelye spyrytuall thynges but also corporall benefytes are goddes free gyftes and come not for our worthynes or traueyle taken aboute the same althoughe ours traueyls be often tymes meanes by the whiche god doth gyue corporall thinges By dailye is vnderstande the contented mindes of thy children wyth that which is sufficient for the present time as hauinge hope in thee y ◠they shal not want but daily shal receyue at thy handes plentie and enough of all thinges By this word our is as well vnderstande publike benefytes as peace in the common weall good Magistrats seasonable wether good lawes c as particular benefites as be children health name successe in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it we shuld se the care euē for corporal things which thy children haue for others aswel as for themselues So that here I may learne how far I am frō that I should be and I see thy children are come vnto I se my ignoraunce also how that as spirituall thinges do come from thee so doe temporall thinges and as they come from thee so are they conserued and kepte of thee And therefore thy chyldren are thankefull and looke for theym as thy meare gyftes notwythestandynge the meanes whiche they vse if they haue them How be it they vse them but as meanes for except y u worke therwith all is in vaine Againe here I am taught to be content with sufficient for the present time as thy children be which haue the shortnes of this life alwaies before their eyes and therefore they aske but for daily sustenaūce knowing this life to be cōpared to a day yea a watch a sounde a shadow c. Moreouer I may learne to se the cōpassion and brotherly care thy children haue one for an other Last of al here I may see thy goodnes which as thou wilt geue me all thinges necessarie for this life or els y u woldest not bid me aske c so thou commaundest all men to praye and care for me and that bodely much more then if they be able they are cōmaūded to help me both in bodie soule By reasō wherof I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am not so affected as thy children be because of my ignoraūce my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of thy goodnes and of the necessitie of thy people whiche alas be in greate miserie some in exile some in prisō some in pouertie sicknes c. To reioyce I haue greate cause because of thy goodnes in teaching me these thinges in commaundinge me to aske what soeuer I wante in geuinge me so manye thinges vnasked in keping the
of thy goodnes hitherto spared me traÌ„sgressing this thy holy precept so of thy goddnes forgeue me as well mine Idolatrie done in times paste as that whiche of late time I haue coÌ„mitted doe comitte And as y u by this commaundement hast deliuered me from the one y t is bowiÌ„g my self to stocks stones so dere father deliuer me froÌ„ al other bowiÌ„g my self after mine owne will to mine owne affections that I may haue non other god iÌ„ hart but thee nor doe seruice to any other but only to thee for thee after thy word as thou coÌ„maundest Oh open mine eies to see thy wil in this thy gracious precept Geue me a will to loue it hartely an hart to obey it faithfully for thy deare sonnes sake iesê° Christ our lord Amen Thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine By this commaundement I perceaue oh lord that as in the first thou woldest in the exterior seruice of thee I shuld vtterly abandoÌ„mine owne will and reason and all the reasons or good enteÌ„tes of maÌ„ and wholy geue my self to serue thee after thy wil and word so here doest thou beginne to tell me howe thou wilte haue my tongue to be exercised in thy seruice and therfore thou byddest me not to take thy name in vayne as by temeraryouse or vayne swearynge by cursynge praying without sense as those boe that pray in a tonge they know not praying without faith or attent coÌ„sideracion of the thing desired with out harty desire and certaine expectacion of obtaining that which is to thy glory and my saluation also by gesting or folishe abusing or negligent readinge or hearing of thy holy worde by the whiche thou as by thy name arte knowen and in lyke maner by deniynge thy trueth and worde or conceiling it when occasion is offered to promote thy glorye and confirme thy trueth By reason wherof I may well see that y â— woldest haue me to vse my tonge in humble coÌ„fessing thee and thy word and trueth after my vocacion in prayinge hartely and callinge vpon thy name in readinge and hearinge thy worde and speaking therof withall reuerence diligence and attencion in thanks geuing and praising thee for thy great mercy in instructinge my brother and admonishinge him when he erreth after my calling and vocation withall humblenes gentlenes and loue Thus woldest thou haue me to exercise my tongue and not to thynke that the exercising of it in this sort is a vaine and vnprofitable thing but a thinge that pleaseth thee and profiteth my self and other And for asmuch as thou knowest that our tongue is a slipperie member and we very negligent ouer it and of the greate commoditie that might thereby come to vs and other by vsyng it in thy seruice accordingly thou hast added a fearfull most true coÌ„municacioÌ„ that though men will find no fault or punishe vs therfore yet wilt not thou hold him gilt les that taketh thy name in vaine As by many exaÌ„ples we are taught as in thy holye worde so by dayelye experience yf we woulde consyder the same And therfore I haue great cause to geue praise and thankes to thy most holy name for many great benefits which by this commaundemente I receyue and ought with thankefulnes to consider First that it wolde please thee not onelye to geue me a tounge where thou mightest haue made me speachles but also that y â— woldest haue it santified to thy seruice Againe that thou woldest not onely reuele thy name vnto vs but also woldest geue me leaue to cal vp on it praise and publishe it yea thou hast commaunded me so to doe and not onely commaunded but hast promised that thou wilt here my praier and that my praising of thee and coÌ„fessinge thy word and trueth shall not be in vaine Thirdly that thou woldest al men shoulde vse theyr tounge so that therby I might be the better instructed admonished and occasyoned to vse my selfe well and in the obedience of thys thy holye precept But what goe I about to recken by tale the causes of thankes for thys commaundemente seing that they be innumerable yf a man shoulde but loke euen vpon thy verye worde by the whyche as by thy name thou arte moste truelye knowen the whyche worde thou commaundest vnto vs in this commaundemente c as thou doest preachinge pryuate admonishynge thankes geuynge and prayer then the whych nothynge is more profytable to vs in thys vale of miserye But gracyouse good lorde I acknowledge my selfe not onelye to be a most vnthankeful wretche for thys thy holye precepte and the greate mercyes whyche here throughe I perceaue thou haste moste gracyouselye powerd vppon me and doest yet styll offer vnto me but also that I am a myserable transgressour of this thy most holye good and blessed cammaundemente as alwayes I haue ben in times past Horribly haue I abused thy name in swearynge cursing and iestyng wyckedlye I haue called vppon other names then thine as the names of peter Paule Mary c yea of some whose saluatioÌ„ is to be doubted of I haue folishly praied in such a touÌ„ge as I knew not what I praied saied w t many other traÌ„sgresiions of this precept wherin yet I am coÌ„uersant as in seldome praying and when I praye I am not attent nor very desirous of the thinge I aske with my tounge After praier I do not earnestly loke for the good thinges asked and praied for therfore when I obtaine my request I am most vnthankefull thy worde I rede litle and most negligently forgetting for with what I rede I admonishe not others when I here them abuse thy holy worde I am affraied for feare of losse of freÌ„ds name or life to confesse thy trueth gospel and name whiche was called vpon me in baptisme and not in vaine if I did not thus make it in vayne But alas I caÌ„ in no wise compreheÌ„d the multitude of my transgressions coÌ„cerninge this thy lawe But this is a synne aboue other synnes that vnder thy name word and gospel I play the hipocrite hauing more care for min owne name then for thine For yf my name were euel spoken of it would greue me and I would defend it but alas I heare thine daily euel spokeÌ„ of se it prophaned by false doctrine and euell lyuing but it greueth me not After my vocation I â—â—ke not nor doe not goe about to redresse these thinges in my selfe in others And why because good lord I loue my self better then thee and not thee with my whole harte Thye first commaundemente hathe no place with me as it should haue it possesseth not my hart mind and will as thou requirest most to mine owne commoditie By reason wher of I am worthy of eternall damnation Oh what shal I doe graciouse god which not only haue ben so greuouse and filthy a swerer cursâ—er c so greate a callour vpon deade creatures so heynouse a
I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I haue done any euen as thou hast also kept and dost kepe presently others from doing me hurt hast and dost stirre vp those that do me good to do so vn to me Oh how great is y e multitud of thy benifits good lord wherwith thou hast ouerwhelmed me and the which through this cōmaundement I perceaue my self to haue receiued presently do receiue so longe as I liue am like to receiue for thou commaundest al men euery where to do me good loue me defend me cherishe me suche is thy loue to me in this present life that for my body oh how great is thy loue then to me in euerlasting life y t for my soule If in a straūg cōtrey so great is thy protection how great is it at home But alas dere lord how vnthākful haue I ben am yet stil for these thy fatherli benifits oh min ingratitud yea lord horribly haue I trāsgressed still doe transgresse this thy gracious precept in pride enuie disdaine malice hardnes of hart vnmercifulnes contēnīg thy childrē saints seruāts Self loue all together raigneth in me and desire of praise rule fame I am so farre frō loue mercy in hart good lord that no man cā here it in my tonge nor see it in my works but rather cleane contrary and y t generally and to thē to whom I am most bound perticularly By reason wherof I haue deserued euer lastinge damnnation and to be cast awaye from thy presence for euer Oh moste gratious father forgeue me for Chrystes sake I beseche the. For to this ende diddest thou geue this commaundement that I seyng my corruptiō and deprauate nature by synne might come to thy mercye deserued by christ and through faith in him might finde not onelye pardone of that which is paste but also thy grace and holy spirit to beginne in me the obedience to this and al other thi holy precepts for euer more so be it For this thy Christes sake deare father I besech thee therfore to take from me and all other for whom thou woldest that we should praye all enupe pryde arrogancye dysdaine hatred and all suspitiousnes and graunt vnto vs bowells of mercy humilitie pacience mekenes longe sufferinge gentillnes peace charitie and al kinde of brotherly loue cōfort the feble releue the poore help the fatherlesse heale the sycke blesse the afflicted shewe thy great mercy vpō all poore prisoners deliuer thē in thy good time remember thy pitye toward straungers captiues wydowes and suche as be oppressed ¶ Thou shalte not commytte adulterye HEre good lord thou gost about to commaunde vnto me as loue in the other so purenes and chastite in this and therfore thou saiest I shoulde not commite adultrye in the which word thy sonne oure sauiour Iesus Christ doth comprehende al vncleannes yea the very concupiscence and abusing of the hart in lusting after any mans wife or otherwise vnchastly By the which in that thou woldest haue vs to loue in our selues and others purite cleanes that we might be holy as thou oure god art holy and our bodies beynge temples of thy holy spirit mighte be kept pure and accordinglye easelye we maye see that as thou forbiddest all vncleane dedes wordes lokes and thoughtes so doest thou commaunde vs to loue and exercyse all puritie chastitie cleannes sobryety temperancye c. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to be thankefull vnto thee which not onely for the helpe commoditie of man but also for remedie of mans infirmitie hast made womā kind and ordained the state of matrimony which in thy sight is so holye and pure that thou accomptest the bedde and acte of generaciō betwene man and wife in this state of matrimonye to be an vndefyled thynge and such care thou hast ouer the personages marryed and their condition that vnto damnation they sinne which not onely goe about to defyle that bed but within there harts doe wishe or desire it yea which doe not indeuer thēselues w t thought word and dede to helpe that purite cleanes betwene married folks be kept But the greate causes thou geuest vs to thanke thee for this state and ordinaunce and for thy defendynge vs by thys commaundemente are innumerable Full wel I see that it is thou whiche by thys commaundemente not onely refraynest me but also kepest my wyfe from impurytye whyche ells we might bothe commyte Greate is thy lous Oh good lord and more then I am able to cōsider whych declarest thy selfe to be thus carefull ouer me concernynge the benefyttes whyche come vnto me bothe for the mynde bodye and goodes by sobryetye and tem perauncie whyche here thou requirest Onely thys I cannot but see that I haue greate cause to thanke thee whiche arte so carefull ouer me as by thys commaundemente I well see But alas good lorde what shall I saye whiche am and haue bene so farre from thankefullnesse that I am to be accompted amongest the most vnthankfull yea y u knowest it good lorde Fylthely haue I broken thys lawe caused other so to doe of whose repentaunce I am vncertain as also my tonge alas hath oftē ben to shamfully exercised mynetes my thoughts to wickedly abused All this geare I haue encreased by myne intemperauncye in catynge drinkinge cherishingemy bodye c. I haue also hurt my bodyly health minished that whiche I and others should lyue on and horribly hindred all good prayers and meditations wherin though I haue time place yet alas I nothing exercise my selfe as I should doe By reason whereof I haue deserued euerlasting damnatiō Oh good lorde and gratious father doe thou for thy names sake and in Christes bloud pardon me and forgeue me I besech thee as thou hast most mercifully hitherto spared me so of thy mercy put awaye my trespasses the transgressions of those whom I haue caused to synne let that loue which moued thee to pardon Iudas with Thamar Dauid Berthsabe and the greate synner of whom we reade in S. Luke moue thee to pardone and forgeue me also Thou gauest this commaundemente to thys ende that I might knowe my sinne and sinnefull nature and so thereby be driuen to thy Christ crucified for whose sake I aske mercy also that thy good spirit maye be geuen vnto me to purifie me and worke so in me and with me that I may trewelye know hartly loue faithfully obey this thy holy precept inwardly and outwardly now and for euer Amen Gracious good lord graunt to me my wife that we may dwel together accordinge to knowledge and maye kepe our vessells in holines graunt Oh lord that we may be pure and vndestled and graunt the same to al that be married and to them which be vnmarried graunt that they may liue a pure chast and vndefyled life and if they haue not the
gifte of singlenes of life graunt them such makes with whom they may liue holyly to thy praise Deare father geue me the gifte of Sobrietie and Temperauncy and graunt the same to al them whom thou woldest I shoulde praye for As in times paste I haue vsed my tounge and other members euell so nowe good lorde graunt that I maye vse them well chastly and godlye This I prays thee graunt through Iesus Chryst and finally Oh lorde bothe in soule and body sanctifie me and as in thy temple dwell in me nowe and foreuer more Amen Thou shalt not steale NOwe that thou hast taught me the seruice required of thee for me to obserue towards the personages of all men and women of euery conditioÌ„ thou beginnest to tell me what thou woldest I shoulde doe concerninge their goodes and as in the nexte commaundemente before this thou dyddest coÌ„mauÌ„de vnto me sobrietie purenes so doest thou in this Iustice and rightuousnes forbydding me to steale Under the whiche word y u comprehendest al kindes of desceite The which thing y u doest because y u woldest that I shuld geue my selfe wholy to the studie and exercise of Iustice as in the precepts next going before y u woldest I shuld geue ouer my selfe wholy to the keping of sobrietie purenes So that I see thy good pleasure herein is not that I sheuld alonely abstaine from al thefte but also from al fraude and craft in word or dede yea y t I should earnestly folow and exercise all equitie trueth and Iustice By reason whereof I see my selfe much bound to praise thee which art so carful ouer mi goods substauÌ„ce that if any man should goe about to steale from me or to defraud me in any thig yea whosoeuer goeth not about to kepe care for that I haue as he woulde doe for his owne the same displeaseth the. Oh lord if thou hast such care for my goodes cattell and such pelfe how greate is thy care for my soule If this one commauÌ„dement were not I perceaue as I for my owne parte shuld haue done and doe much worse then I haue done so much worse had bene done to me and mine then hath ben It is y u good lorde I perceaue that hast both geueÌ„ me al y t I haue and also still conseruest and keepest the same and not my owne polycye wysedome and industrye for in vaine were al this excepte y u diddest vouchsafe to vse take it as a meane to worke by There is nothing therfore that I haue but when soeuer I loke vpon it by this commaundement I learne thy goodnes strength and power for as thou geuest it of thy mercy so it speaketh to me that presently y u still doest kepe it for me so that exceding great cause haue I to thanke thee for this precept dere god and most gracious lord But alas I am so farre from thankfulnes as alwaies I haue bene for all thy care for me and for all that euer thou haste geuen vnto me that as I haue vsed subtelty and crafte yea some times thefte and briberye so nowe good lorde I still when occasioÌ„ is offered do exercise the same I liue also voluptuously of y t y u hast geuen lent me nothing consider what equitie requireth and what or how great the necessitie of the poore is whom I doe thus defraude by excesse and prodigalitie That whiche I borowe I with vnwillingnes doe repaye I vse it more negligentlye then I wold do myn owne Lacke of excommunicatioÌ„ of Iustice y e great vsery robberie oppression and such like wickednes as is exercised amonges vs I lament not labour not after my vocation for the redresse of the same I pray not to thee thereabout but neglecte altogether Yea euen those things wherewith I am put in trust or am hirid to do those I say I doe with great negligence so that great is my sinne here in and worthy I am of damnation But mercifull god I besech thee for Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me and to pardon me my vnthankfulnes theftes fraudes deceytes auarice neglegences great carelesnes for y e lacke of Iustice for y e moÌ„struouse oppression vseries excesse riot the which be horribly exercised in y e commoÌ„ weale For thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus o lord whom y u haste geuen to fullfyll the lawe for them that doe beleue geue me trew faith and thy holy spirite to worke in me the knowledge loue and perpetuall obedience of this thy holye precept and all other thy commaundements for euer Deare lord geue vnto me and to all whom y u woldest I shoulde pray for the hatred of al craft and loue of all Iustice graunt to the oppressed thy comfort to wrongers repentaunce to theues and deceiuers y t they may make restitutioÌ„ to iustices of peace land lords the rich of the world y t thei may haue thee before their eies loue their poore tenants brethren to laborers artificers y t they maye be diligent in their worke labourâ— that wherw t they are put in trust Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour NOw doest y u most gratioê° lord instruct me in this commaundement how I shuld vse my tonâ— towards my neighbor behaue my self concerning his name forbidding me to beare false witnes in y e which y u forbiddest me all kinds of slaundering lying hipocricy vntrueth And why because as members of one bodie thou woldeste we shoulde speakâ— trueth one to another and be careful euery one to couer others infirmity and w t oure touÌ„ge defend the names of others eueÌ„ as we wold that other should defend ours So that in thys commaundement as y u forbiddest me all kind of euell parelous calumnious and vntrewe speaking so doest thou commaunde to me all kinde of godlye honeste and trewe reporte and talke By reason whereof I haue greate cause to praise thee in that I se thee to be so carefull ouer my name that all men are by thee commaunded to defend y e same O pretioê° god great is thy care ouer my soule I nowe perceiue If this commaundemente were not I se as I shuld haue done doe much worse with my touÌ„ge to others then is hapened so shoulde I haue felte of others towards me Besydes this no small commoditie is it to me that thou wouldeste all men shoulde vse treweth in all thire wordes to me Oh howe greate a good thynge is this vnto me If we consider y e hurt y e coÌ„meth by vntrueth by wordes where through many are deceiued easly may wese a wonderful benifit and care of thee for vs in this commaundement But gracious lorde like as I acknowledge my vnthankfullnes to be monstrouse and great alwaies hathe bene hetherto Euen so yet continue I in wonderfull hipocrisie in all my conuersation often lying and speaking as vainely so offensiuely fleshly subtelly caluÌ„niously geuig my
geue al to god in it as they doe in their creation Good men slie from that pride and are content to geue no lesse to god iustifying regenerating them then they do to their parentes for their first generation Afore we be Iustifyed and regenerated of god we are altogether dead to god and to al goodnes in his sighte therfore we are altogether patients til god haue wrought this his only worke iustification regeneration Whiche worke in respect of vs and our imperfection and falles in that it is not so ful and perfect but it may be more more therfore by the spirit of santifycation whiche we receiue in regeneration as the seede of god we are quickened to laboure with the lorde and to be more iustified that is by faith the fruites of faith to our selues and others to declare the same and so to encrease from vertue to vertue from glory to glory hauinâ— alwaies nede to haue oure feete washed although we be cleane not withstanding Now to the question A man regenerate which we ought to beleue oâ— oure selues I meane that we are sâ— by our baptisme the sacrament ther of requiring no lesse faith a man I say regenerate that is borne of god hath the spirite of god And as a maÌ„ borne of fleshe bloud hath the spirit therof wherby as he caÌ„ stirre vp him selfe to doe more and more the dedes of the fleshe so the other can by the spirit of god in hym styrre vp in him selfe the giftes and graces of god to glorifie god accordinglye Howbeit heare let vs marke that as the olde man is a perpetuall enemye to the newe borne man so accordinglye to his strength the workes of the new man are letted and made vneffectuall Therefore god hath taught vs to pray and promised his help which he commonly in maner geueth by y â— crosse wherby y â— old man is wekened and the new receiueth strength more and more dâ—â—â—ring a dissolution and an vtter destruction of the olde man by death that it might go to god froÌ„ whence it came and to his home eueÌ„ hâ—auen where in the last day it shall receiue the olde Adam now so schoâ—ed that it will neuer more be but a moste faithfull frende to serue and praise the lord for euer more Thus haue you nowe what freewyll the regenerate children of god haue for whose sakes the gospel and sweete free promises are geuen and to the regenerate new maÌ„ they properly do pertaine As doth the law with al comminations and the condicionall promises I meane promises hanging vpon condition on oure worthines pertaine properly to the olde and vngenerate man so that when he kicketh he must by them be bridled and kepte downe when the inwarde man woulde be comforted be must haue not the law nor her coÌ„minations and coÌ„dicional promises but the gospell and her moste sweete free promises So shal we walke neither on y â— right nor on the left hand but kepe the righte waye to heauen ward euen Christ our lord and captaine as his souldiours seruantes and liuely members neither dispaâ—ring nor carnally liuing but fearinâ— and reioysinge as is appertainingâ— which God graunt for his mercyes sake Amen And thus my dearely beloued I haue sent to you brefly my mind here in according to your desire Because I haue had little time and manye other lettes I shall hertely pray you to take this in good part with the more indifferencie and attention to read it for my desire was to writ fully and spedely therfore it perchance hath the more obscuritie and desireth a frendely reader construinge all to the best and brotherlye admonyshynge where cause maye appeare A BREIFE SVMME OF THE doctrine of electon and predestination GOds fore sight is not y â— cause of synne or excusable necessitie to him that sinneth The damned therefore haue not nor shall haue any excuse because god foreseing their condemnatioÌ„ through their own sinne did not drawe them as he doth his electe vnto Christe But as the electe haue cause to thanke god for euer for his greate mercies in Christ so the other haue cause to lamente their owne wilfulnes sinne and contemning of christ whiche is the cause of their reprobatioÌ„ wherin we shuld loke vpon reprobation as the onely goodnes of god in Christ is the cause of our election and saluatioÌ„ wherin we shuld loke vpon gods election He that will loke vpon god or any thing in god â–ª simplie and barely as it is in god the same shalbe starke blynde Who can see godes goodnes as it is in god Who can see his Iustice as it is in him If therfore thou wilt loke vpon his goodnes not only loke vpon hys workes but also vpon hys word euen so if thou wilt loke vpon his iustice do the like Then shalte y â— see that election is not to be loked on but in christ nor reprobation but in sinne When the second cause is sufficient shuld not we think that they are to curious y â— wil runne to search the first cause further then god doth geue them leaue by his worde The which first cause because they caÌ„not compreheÌ„d therfore do they deny it God be mercyfull vnto vs for hys names sake geue vs to loue lyue his truth to seeke peace pursue it Because god of his goodnes for the comfort of his childreÌ„ and certaintie of their saluation doth open vnto them some thinge the fyrste cause of their saluation that is his goodnes before the beginning of the world to be loked vpon in Christ a man maie not therfore be so bold as to wade so in condempnation further then god reueileth it And for as muche as he hathe not reueiled it but in synne therfore let vs not loke on it otherwise Seke to be deliuered froÌ„ synne and feare not reprobation but yf thou wilte not thou shalte fynde no excuse in the last daye Say not but thou art warned To the former meditations and praiers for your further comforte and godly exercise you maye ioyne those moste godlye and comfortable meditations whiche are annexed to his boke lately imprinted agaist the feare of death Printed at London by Rouland Hall dwelling in gutter lane at the sygne of the halfe Egle and Key 1562. Faultes escaped in the printing In A. the 7 leafe second side 19. line for thou louest read thou louedst C. 3 leafe seconde syde 13 lyne for is reade are C. 6 leafe second side 10 line for thy rede they And in the 15 line for malicousnes reade maliciousnes D. 3 leafe seconde side 4. line for daube reade dresse D. 6 leafe seconde syde 25 lyne for swing reade swynge E. 2 leafe first side 8 line for afflection reade affliction and in the. 15. line for was reade wast E. 3 leafe second side 12 line for dispraier reade despair F. 3 leafe second side 6 line for helpes read helples F. 4 leafe second side 14 line for thy wilt
my bodye by this corporall helth by this light by this my hearinge seinge feelinge memorye vnderstandinge time place companye creatures and benefites aswell in keping innumerable euils from me bothe in soule and bodye which ells could not but come to me as also in gyuinge to me presently so manye thinges as w tout thy especiall grace working I neuer could haue had or presently could kepe them In thy creatures I see not thy power for I feare the not I see not thy presence for I reuerence thee not I see not thy wisdome for I adore the not I see not thy mercy for I loue the not I praise the not but in lipps tonge and therfore in that al thy creatures doe teache me crie out vpon me to be thankefull to the to loue feare serue thee and trust in the and that coÌ„tinually in that I doe not so they cannot but crie out vpon me and against me in thy sight in the day of Iudgement wyll weapon themselues against me Oh that I did nowe consider this Oh that my blinde eyes my deafe eares were opened oh that my miserable and folyshe harte were made wyse and conuerted This onelye thou canste doe whyche haste all mennes heartes in thy handes to bowe â–ª them as pleaseth the bowe my hearte good Lorde into thy testymonyes open my eyes make me to here for thi mercies sake that I maye beleue and so loue the be thankefull to thee amende in all things and serue the though not as thy deare seruantes doe yet at the least as other brute creatures doe that is to obey the and to be profitable to others Now for asmuch as my sinnes let this and all good thinges from me I besech the pardon me al my sinnes accordinge to thy gracious promyse for our lord Iesus Christ sake AmeÌ„ I beleue in Iesus Christe hys onelye sonne c. THy seruantes O Christe Iesu and people doe know by faith that as thou art almighty and god wyth the father by whom all things were made and are ruled for thou art god eternall coequall and consubstanciall with the father and the holy ghost so thou art man and haste taken oure nature vpon thee by the operation of the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgin mary and arte become the blessed sede whiche hast brused y â— serpeÌ„ts head the blessed sede in whoÌ„ all nations are blessed the prophet whom Moises dyde prophecpe of the samplare he sawe in the mount the truth and body of al the types figures and shadowes of the olde lawe the Messias Christ and sauiour of thy people the aduocat and redemer the pacifier of gods wrath for sinnes the opener of heanen and geuer of euerlasting life This they knowe thou broughtest to passe in thy humane nature by thy incarnation and natiuitye by thy beinge here on earth by thy lyning teaching fastinge praieng especially by thy suffering vnder Pontius Pilate by thy death buriall resurrection ascension vnto the heauens and raygning on the righte hand of the father from whence thou shalte come to iudge bothe the quicke the dead and as they knowe this so by faithe they applye it also to themselues that for their sake thou waste made man didest praye faste wast tempted didest die rosest againe diddest ascend into heauen and there art set their aduocate bishoppe and high prieste alwaies appearinge in gods sighte for them from whence they looke for thee knowige that 〈◊〉 wilt not enter into iudgement with them to damne them which wouldest damne thy selfe for them By this faith they felt these affections in them selues namely the batred of sinne the feare of god the loue of god trust in thee and loue to thy church The hatred of sinne thei felt because it is so foule a thiÌ„g as wold not be washed away with any other thing then with thy preciouse bloud shedinge the feare of god because his anger is so greate against sinne that no lesse pryce coulde pacifie his wrath then thy most painful death the loue of god because he hathe so loued them that he would not spare thee his deare sonne for them euer whaÌ„ they were his enemyes trust in thee because thou haddest no respect to thy selfe but most willingly didest geue thy self wholly to be our sauiour and seruant loue to thy people and church because generally particularly in euery meÌ„ber of the same they see howe deare they are to thee and therefore they can not but be so to them Oh howe doe they imitate and folowe thy foote steppes how doe they reioyce when they are in anye thinge by afflection made lyke to thee Oh howe doe they lament their sinnes ingratitude vnbeliefe loue thee and wholly yelde themselues vnto thee where as I o graciouse god deare sauiour Iesus Christ though I saie I beleue in thee which was conceyued by the holy ghost yet alas I doe but bable this for nothinge is ells in me but vnbeliefe Of thy power loue of thine anger mercy I haue but an opinion as my insensiblenes and vnthankfulnes doth declare If a man should shewe me frendship but in a trifle or suffer anye thinge at all for me I could not but be thaÌ„full and thou besides my creation hast redemed me and brought me into the number of gods childreÌ„ then which thinge nothinge is greater and loe I am vnthankfull Thou hast suffred much for me froÌ„ heauen thou cammest into earthe to fetch me into heauen but I regarde it not Thou barest my sinnes on thy back suffering a most bitter death but I am so farre from thankefulnes that I stil more and more loth the. Thou woldest enter into a coÌ„munioÌ„ w t me taking my nature vnto thee coÌ„cerning the substance thereof that I might enter into a coÌ„mnuioÌ„ with thee coÌ„cerning the qualities wher â–ª in thy self thou hast endued it but I consider it not Thou diddest die to delyuer me from death but I still more and more geuâ— thee cause to die so ingrate ful am I. Thou diddest arise to iustifye me but I with the Iewes wold stil kept thee down because I wold not leaue my wickednes Thou ascendedst to heauen to take possession for me there to be alwaies in the syght of thy father for me to send me downe giftes to praye for me but I daielye am pullinge theâ— downe againe as muche as in me â—ieth I am altogether earthly I hide my self out of thy sight by forgettiÌ„g thee I reiecte and abuse thy gifts I neglecte praier Thou art nowe in a redynesse to come to iudge hoth quick and dead but I tremble not at this geare nor beseche thee before thou come to be merciful vnto me not to enter into iudgement with me yea I thinke nothing at al of thy comming maliâ—oÌ„ cogitant iudicium the wicked consyder not the ende they thinke not on thy iudgement Thou woldst bring me to thy father y â— I might find grace but I put this of
therfor am worthi to fele thee a iudge w t refuse to fele thee a sauior Now y ◠cause of al these things is vnbeliefe the which though it be naturall by reason of the corruption of our nature pet I haue augmented the same maliciously in not laborīg there against and continuing in al synnes and wickednesse by reason whereof I deserue most iustelye thy anger therevpon euen reiection frō thy face for euer Longe hast thou mourned euen w t displeasure anger the incredulity of my heart calling me there from and offering me thy grace which I haue neglected and reiected and therfore am neuer worthi to haue it any more offered vnto me muche more then I am vnworthy to haue grace gyuen me to receiue thy mercy Alas what shall I doe shall I dispraier or as long as I can kepe me vnmindfull of my mysery o sauiour Christ Iesu wilt not thou be mercifull vnto me thou diddest die for me when I deserued it not and nowe is thy mercye shortned wilt not thou geue me thy grace and take frō my hart this horrible vnbeliefe Shall I neuer loue the shall I neuer hath sinne shall I neuer as w t my mouth I say I beleue in Iesus Christ so in hart say the same shall Sathan possesst me for euer o christe Iesus whiche hast led captiuitie captiue what wilt not thou helpe me thoughe I desyre it not as I shuld yet giue me to desyre whan thou wilt Thou diddest appeare to destroye the worke of the deuil thou seest his worke in me good christ destroy his worke but not thy worke saue me for thy great mercies sake Geue me to beleue in thee in thy death resurrection ascension pardone me my sinnes and mortifye now in me my corrupt affections reyse me vp and iustify me regenerat me daily more and more geue me faith of immortalitie resurrectiō of this body geue me faith to ascend into heauen and to be certaine that thou hast already taken possessiō for me there Geue me to loke for thy comming and to be ready in thy cōming to find mercy to euerlasting life c. I beleue in the holy ghost c. O Holy spirite the third person in trinity whiche diddest descend vpon Christ our sauiour in hys baptisme in the likenes of a doue thy children know that with the father and the sonne thou madest and rulest all creatures visible and inuisyble they know thee in their redemption to be no lesse willing louinge then the father and the sonne for y ◠diddest alwaies declare Christ to be the sonne of god gauest testimony in wardly in the harts of thy elect to beleue and embrace the same outwardely by miracles and wonders they know thee to be the comforter and gouernour whom Christe dyd promise in his corporal absēce shuld teach rule kepe comforte and gouerne his church and people Againe as in the former parte of their beleife they cōsider the works of creatyon and redemption so in thys parte they consyder the place where the same is moste effectuall taketh place euen thy holy churche which is catholick that is extēding it selfe to all times to all places to all kinds of people For in this church only they know that as all things were made so the worke of redemption was taken in hand that y ◠blessed trinitye mightest in this church be praysed magnified serued worshipped for euer This church is nothinge ells but a communion and societie of saintes that is not onelye a societye of all such as be haue been or shal be thy people but also a societye or partaking of Christe Iesus whiche is the head of the same yea by him of thee oh blessed father which art y ◠head of Christ and of thee oh holy ghost whiche nowe shadowest and sittest vpon the same to hatch and cherishe it as the hen her chekins by the extending of thy winges not onely to defende them frō their enemies but also to couer their sinnes and to remitte them in this life beginning also here the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlasting life the which thou wilt in the ende of the world consūmate so that they shall not nede to be couered for sinne for then shall they be pure and haue gtoriouse bodies immortall and spirituall the which shal haue the fruition of eternal ieye life euerlasting and glory suche as the eye hathe not sene the eare hath heard nor the hart of man can conceiue For then christ Iesus shall geue vp his kingedome to god the father that god may be al in all concerning the gouernaunce of it by the ministration of his word and other meanes wherby now he gouerneth it that it maye be his fathers kingdome we beig become like vnto him that is as to the manhod of Christ the godhead is vnited and is al in al without any other meanes euen so god shalbe in vs assuminge then not only in the person of christ the humaine nature but also al the humaine nature of his church which be members of Christ the wicked reprobate being separate then from this cōmunion cast into eternall perditiō with Sathan antichrist there to be in tormentes and horrour for euer By reason of this their faith they are thankfull to the o holye spirite whiche hast taught them this gyuen them to beleue it By reason of this faith they singularly praye loue helpe thy church here militāt labour to be holy 〈◊〉 By reason of this faith they cōfesse them selues sinners they desire and beleue pardone of their sinnes they are rysen and ryse daily concerning the inwards man and doe feele the life eternall begone in them more more laboringe praying wishings and desyringe for the same whollye and perfectly Where as oh lorde god and most graciouse holy spirit thou knowest that it is otherwise w t me I doe but bable w t my lippes in saying I beleue in the holy ghost for I am vnthankful for calling me into thy church I doe not liue holely I confesse not I lament not my sinnes I pray not for remission of them I stand in doubte thereof as I fele not my selfe rysen from a sinnefull life as I should be or as I fele not life begone in me as it is in thy deare children so doe I doubt herof whether I haue pardon of my sinnes whether I am regenerate whether I fele truly euerlasting life the which thinge doth most displease thee and yet w t my tonge I saye I beleue in the holye ghost Oh I besech thee good holy spirit for thy loue sake which moued the to agree and be willinge to patifye and open thy goodnes not only in the worke of creation for thou dyddest lye vpon the waters and as the benne her chickins dyddest as it were hatche the worke of creatiō but also in the worke of redemption and therefore diddest descend and abide not onely vpon Christ in his baptisme but
appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste