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
semelye quietnes and order and by this order so couple vs that none shuld contemne or despise another but euen highe lowe to be and accompt thē selues as parentes children Particularly for my parte I cannot but say that I haue most cause to thank thee for my parētes scholemasters and others vnder whose tuitiō thou hast put me No pen is able to write y e particular benifites w c I haue her by receyued in my infancie childhod youth midle age and alwais hether to Oh how good a lord hast y u declared thy self to me which in them and by thē hast norrished fedde instructed corrected defended and most gratiously kept me I coulde recken innumerable behind me but fewe before me so much made of cared for as I haue bene hetherto No smalle token of thy loue to me warde is it that thou woldest engraue in theyr hartes and commaunde them vnder paine of damnation to be carefull ouer me to doe me good and prouide for me as they haue done or rather thou by thē publickly Also for the cōmen wealth suche as thou hast placed in aucthorie ouer me in bothe thy regeniētes if I considered them that haue bene and them that be I coulde not but praise thee good lord For no lesse praise worthy art thou for this chastening vs and admonishing vs now presētly by them that be in aucthoritie of our vngratitude and vnthankfulnes then by such as haue bene for all kyndes of good things But infinite are the causes of thankfulnes which this cōmaundement considered shoulde stirre vp in me But alas most mercifull father as I acknowlege my self most vnthankfull vnto thee for al thy benifites powred vpō me in this lyfe by my parents nources tutoures maysters magistrates bishoppes pastours and good frindes euen frō my cradell vnto this hower so vnto them haue I alwaies been am in not louing them as my coldenes in praiynge for them and to my power in helping them declareth and also my not reuerencing them my cōtemning them temerariousnes in my mistrusting or to narrowly to straightly loking at them their dewties showeth and not obeynge them as by my cōtumacy appereth not onely when anye thinge to me vnpleasant or vnprofitable but also profitable conuenient is required And yet I speake not of y e euel muttering reportes of y e offences ī trāsgressing y e politilie lawes for apparrel meates other no smalle offences which I haue cōmytted geuē Oh this is a sinne deare father that I alwaies haue ben a priuate more then a common weale mā alwaies I seke for myn owen cōmeditie cōtemning that whiche maketh to the conmmoditie of others As for my disobedience and wicked behauiour towards my owne parentes and all others whom thou hast set ouer me deare father no toūge can expresse it and therfore I am worthy of dāynation But gratious good lord and deare father I beseche thee for thy Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me pardon me as of thy goodnes it pleased the to pardone the patriarkes Thou hast geuen this commaundement as thy holy lawe to open to vs howe corrupte we are and howe much we swarue frō the patterne wherafter we were first made once agreed thereto before Adams fall that we might loth our selues and euen thereby be dryuen to seke and set by thy swete mercyes in Iesus Christ whom therfore thou diddest sende to fullfyll the lawe in hys fleshe that we myght borowe of him the same by trewe faithe whiche of thy goodnes worke in vs by thy holy spirit and open this lawe vnto vs that we maye more more increase in the knowledge loue obedience of it to thy glory and our saluation Amen Deare father be mercifull to our magestrats especially y e quenes highnes whose hart with the residue of her counsellers tourne into thy testimonies geue them thy wisdome and a zeale to the trueth according to knowledge that they maye vse the power they haue receyued of thee to the cherishing of thy church that w c vs here thy worde may haue free passage and thy true worshippe may be maintained and not onclye here but also euery where amonges those whom thou woldest we should pray for Be mercifull to my poore parentes gratious lorde with my bretheren systers wife childrē family seruantes kinsfolkes neighboures as thou knowest they haue all nede Geue vnto the hartes of all parentes magestrates and suche as be in aurtherite here or ells where that they maye accordinge to that y u hast put them in trust w tall be faithfull deligent carefull and happye Graunt vnto children seruauntes and subiectes that euerye one maye render loue obedience thankfulnes and reuerēce to al such as thou hast put in aucthorite ouer them blesse the church and send it peace and har borough here or els where blesse the common weale and sende vs peace blesse the diocesses and shieres and send them good bisshops and iustices blesse euery housholde and family that thy peace may be in the same cōtinually Fynally write this law all thy lawes in oure hartes we be sech thee y t we may kepe them Amē Thou shalte doe no murder c. AS in the commaundement goeinge nexte before thou settests before me the personages of all such as thou for the commodytie order and peace of mā in this life hast placed in aucthoritie accordingly of vs for thy sake to be estemed so dost thou in this commaundement set before vs to loke on the personages of all men generally high and lowe ouer whom thou geuest vs a charge that we shal not kil or murther thē In which word thou comprehendest all kind of hatred or malice in word thoughte or dede as thy dearely beloued sonne expoundinge this commaundement dothe teache Yea because thou woldest all men shuld be deare vnto vs beyng all of one substaunce of one similitude comming of the same parents Adam and Eue made of one God redemed of one Christ in whom we should be coupled as members of one body and liue to the aide succour and cōfort one of another because of this I say easlie we may see that not onely y u forbiddest here to beware of all kindes of displeasures but also thou commaūdest vs to beare and exercise al kinde of loue and fauoure in harte worde and dede and that for thy commaūdementes sake for els towards oure enemies our hartes wolde arise and be great in that they contemnynge their dueties towards vs seme to deserue the like at oure handes By reasō hereof I haue great cause to thanke thee dere father For here by I see how that thou doest muche loue my soule which arte so carefull ouer my body so that he which hurteth it displeaseth thee and he that doth it good pleaseth thee if so be he doe it for thy sake By this commaūdement now I se that it is thou that hast kept me frō doing many euels which els I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I
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
to make me as thou haste doâ—â— to geue thy soÌ„ne for me and to become my â—ode Oh what am I that thou woldest I shoulde put my trust in thee Thys y â— doest that I mighte neuer be confounded but might be most happie What am I that y â— woldest I should feare thee Where the onely cause whye y â— requirest this of me is not onelye because thou haste power to cast both bodye soule into hell fier because they that feare thee not shal perishe but also that y â— mightest geue me thy wisdome that it might goe well with me in the euell daye that thou mightest reueale thy soÌ„ne to me and thy mercye might be vpon me from generacion to generacion Oh what am I that thou woldest haue me to obey thee not onely that I neuer perishe with the disobedieÌ„t but that thou mightest geue me thy holy spirit and rewards innumerable Oh what am I that y â— woldest I should loue thee y â— which thinge thou doest to this ende that I might fully and wholy enioye and possesse thee according to the nature of loue and therfore doest thou require my whole hart that I mighte dwel in thee and thou in me What am I that thou woldest I shuld call vpon thee verely because thou wilt geue me whatsoeuer I shall aske of thee in the name of thy deare childe Iesus Christ and euen so woldest y â— haue me thankfull that y â— mightest poure out vpon me yet more plentifully al good things So that great cause haue I to put my trust in thee to loue feare and obey thee to call vpon thee to be thankful vnto thee not only in respect of the hurt which els will ensew but also in respect of the commoditie that herby cometh vnto me but most of all yea alonely for thy owne sake for thy goodnes wisedome becutie strength power trueth and great mercies But alas deare father what shal I saye As in times paste horribly I haue broken this thy lawe in trusting in thy creatures calling vpon them louing fearing and obeying many thinges besydes thee and rather then thee eueÌ„ so at this present I am a most miserable wreth blinded I am through vnbeliefe mine owne wickednes so y â— I se not firmely thys thy power wisedome goodnes c but wauer and doubt of it I loue litle or nothing I feare lesse I obey least of al thankefulnes and praier are vtterly quenched in me by reason wherof I am worthy of eternall damnatioÌ„ If after thy iustice thou shalt deale with me simplie I am oh lord damned and loste for euer for I am verye wicked But yet in asmuch as thou bast geueÌ„ thy soÌ„ne Iesus Christ to be a slaine propitiatorie sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world so that he which be leueth in him shall not perish but be saued for so thou hast promised thy trueth nowe requireth to saue me No wbeit here thou maiest say vnto me that I doe not beleue and therfore notwithstandinge thy trueth promise in that I beleue it not thou maiest most iustly after thy Iustice dampne me Oh lorde god to this I cannot otherwise answer my vnbeleife is so great but because thy mercye is aboue al thy workes and thy goodnes and loue is that which all creatures most highly commend and magnifie as the thing wherof thou arte called god because y â— art righte good and lone it selfe because of this thy mercye gracious god yf thou wilte loke thereon and couple thy trueth therewith then good lord I shalbe saued and praise thy name for euer more ¶ Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen c. AS the fyrste commaundemente teacheth me as well that thou arte my god as what god thou art and therfore of equitie I shuld haue noone other goddes but thee that is I shoulde alonely hange on thee truste in thee loue thee serue thee call vpon thee obey thee be thankefull to thee so because y â— didst reueyle thy selfe visiblie that thou mightest visibly be worshipped this commaundement is concerning thy worshippe that in no point I shuld folowe in worshipping thee the deuise or intent of any man saint Angell or spirit but shuld take al such as Idolatrie Image seruice be it neuer so glorioê° And why for soth because y â— woldest I shoulde worshippe thee as thou hast appointed by thy word For if seruice be acceptable it must nedes be according to the will of him to whom it is done and not of him which doeth it But in asmuch as of man none knoweth the will and pleasure but his spirit except he reueale by worde or signe the same much more of thee o lord none doeth knowe thy will but thy spirite and they to whom thou doest reueale the same And therfore abominable eueÌ„ in thy sight are al those things which with men are in most force and estimatioÌ„ because they are not after thy word So that the meaninge of this precepte is that as in the firste I shoulde haue none other gods but thee so I shoulde haue no worshippe of thee but such as thou appoitest Herby therfore I se great cause of thankefulnes for this commaundement in that thou woldest haue mine outward seruice and that after thy appointment lest I should busye my braine howe best to serue thee Good lord thou nedest not my seruice perfecte thou wast before I was therefore it is for mine owne commoditie that thou commauÌ„dest me yea euen for mine owne wealth Thou mightest haue letteÌ„ me haue stand al day idle but such is thi loue that thou woldest I should goe into thy vineyarde that w t thy seruants I mighte receiue the hier of blessednes And how great a benefite is it to deliuer me of so greate a burden wherwith I should haue bene combred if I should haue serued thee in any point after my witte and reasoÌ„ But halas I not considering what a promotion thy seruice is nor what an easye seruice it is and simple for one maye well know what to doe when he pleaseth thee namely wheÌ„ he serueth thee as thou hast appointed as I am and alwaies haue been vnthankefull so I am and alwaies haue been a greuous transgressor of this thy lawe For as in times past when I dyd not knowe thys commauÌ„dement I was an Image worshipper of stocks stones c yea bread and wine so nowe I am a worshipper of myn affectioÌ„s offering to theÌ„ y e seruice due vnto thee though not therby to worship thee as I thought when I kneled to stocks and stones bread wine c yet with no lesse transgression of thy lawe for the which I haue deserued and doe deserue euerlasting damnatioÌ„ Of thy goodnes and great mercy deare father I beseche thee forgeue me for Christs sake whom thou didst geue to be the fulfylling of the lawe to al them that should beleue Oh father I beleue helpe mine vnbeliefe As thou haste
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
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
reade the will G. 6 leafe first side 12. line for diddest geue read hast geuen G. 7 leafe fyrst side 9 line for faithful read fatherly I. 7 leafe firste side 6 line for profession read perfection I. 8 leafe seconde syde 26 line for me reade my A PRAIER FOR THE faithfull afflicted in Fraunce for the gospell O Mercifull father who neuer doest sorsake suche as put their trust in thee stretch forth thy mighty arme to the defence of our brethreÌ„ and neighbours in FrauÌ„ce who in their extreme necessitye crye for comforte vnto thee preuent the cruel deuise of Aman staye the rage of Holophernes breake of the counsel of Achitophel Let not the wicked say where is nowe their god Let thy afflicted flocke feele present ayde releife froÌ„ thee oh lord loke downe vp on them with thy pitifull eye from thy holy habitation send terrour and tremblyng amonge their enemies make an ende of their outragious tiranny beat backe their boldnes in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruaÌ„tes in defacing thy glory and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduaunce themselues against thee and against thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feele that against thee they fight Preserue defende the vine whiche thy right hande hath planted and let all nations see the glorye of thyne anointed Amen Gene. 1. Genes 3. Gene. 12. 22 23. 24 25. Exod. 13. 14 15. c. Exod. 19. 20 Heb. 1. 1. cor 15. Rom. 5. Mat. 1. Luck 1. Gene. 3. 12. 26. 28. Psal 89. 2. Reg. 7. Luk. 1. Psal 110. Rom. 8. Mat. 24. 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thess 4. 2. Cor. 5. Exod. 32. 33 Psal 5. Ioel. 2. Psal 51. Eph. 2. Genes 9. 8. Ierem. 17. 2. Cor. 2. 2. cor 3. Rom. 〈◊〉 When and wherefore god is become oure father Ephe. 1. We should be certaine and without doubt that god is our father The great test dishonor to god is to doubt Causes to confirme our faythe that god is our father 2. Cor. 1. Iohn 3. Ephe. 5. Phil. 3. 1. Iohn 3 Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Rom. â— What baptisme is what it requireth what is the effecte or fruite that coÌ„meth of thy certteine perswasioÌ„ that god is our father Psal 106. Col. 3. Phil. 3. Rom. 1. Psal 48. 138 How gods name is halowed The chiefe desyre of gods children The greatest greife of goddes people Our ignoraunce Our greate nede Our peruersitie Gods loue Gods kingdome in respect of his power Psa 104. Gods kingdome in respect of his grace Gods kingdome in respect of his glorye How gods kingdome heare is coÌ„serued and enlarged 1. Iohn 3. Our ignoraunce Our nede our peruersitie gods goodnes Gods omnipotent wil vnknowen vnreueled Godds wil reueled knowen Psa 119. Our ignoraunce Our nede Our disobedience gods goodnes Bread Gyue Daily Our Psal 127. Debtes Our Forgeuenes As we forgiue c. Praye for theÌ„ to whoÌ„ you haue geuen any occasion of sinne the greattest punishment Remedie against euel is praier Our sinnes should not be forgotten of vs if we wolde haue them forgotten with god Commodities comiÌ„g by remembring oure sinnes be thankefulnes vigylancy and geÌ„tlenes to offenders Whye we pray not suffer vs not to be ledde c. Mat. 8. Occasions to euell in ii sorts what temptations are to the godly what they are to the wicded Thine is the kyngdome c. Gens 3. Gens 23. Deut. 18. Exod 25. 1. iohn 3. Esai 30. If we shuld serue god after maÌ„s deuise the burdeÌ„ wold be in tollerable for mens deuises are infinite Leuit 23. Esai 1. 1. Reg. 19. Mat. 5. Luk 7. Halowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done Geue vs this daye our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasies And lead vs not into tentation But deliuer vs from euell Mat. 25. Apoc. 22. Psa 42. Rom. 8. Philip. 1. God worketh all in all maruelously iustly holily Mat. 10. Mat. 8. God worketh by meanes withoute meanes against meanes Esai 54. All thinges must be estemed after goddes will genes 22. Math. 17. Luke 9. Gods will muste be sought for in his worde gods word is writen in the bible In the bible is predestinatioÌ„ published No enormitye is therefore in it The proposition that shevvethe what is ment by electioÌ„ and predestination Ephâ— 8. The cause 〈◊〉 gods election is his grace and good will The time of gods electioÌ„ was from the begiuning Election is in Christ Election is not of all men 2. â—hess 3. Act 13. 〈◊〉 Iohn 1. Math. 13. Faith is a demonstration of election to suche as be of yeres of discretion Psa 125. Math. 20. Rom. 11. Psal 144. Election to eternall life Rom. 8. Luke 10. The ende of election is to the praise and glorye of god Election is not wythout vocation iustification in time Election is certain for euer Rom. 11. Rom. 11. Psal 69. 〈…〉 rom 8. Esai 46. Iohn 〈◊〉 â–ª Rom. 8. Math. 25. 〈◊〉 Cor. 2. 〈◊〉 Cor. 5. Ephe. 〈◊〉 Co◠〈◊〉 Math. 4. Eph. 6. Luk. 18. Psal 34. Psal 92. Heb. 1. Luk. 10. Ph. 4. Rom. 8. Math. 24. Psal 18. Iohn 610. Hebr. 3. Iohn 5. 6. Iohn 17. Heb. 5. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 1. 1. Iohn Psal 67. Ose 6. Rom. 14. Erod 33. Against the Stoikes fatall necessitie The papistes reade thus with out interogation quifecit te â—ine c non Iustificabit c sine c. He that made thee without thee shall not iustifie thee without thee That is withoute thy helpe thy works thy worthines marke this well and be not to curious
GODLIE meditations vpon THE LORDES PRAYER THE beleefe and ten commaundementes with other comfortable meditations praiers and exercises Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternall election and predestination gathered by the constant martyr of God Iohn Bradford in the tyme of his imprisonment The contentes wherof appeare in the page nexte folowyng POST TENEBRAS LVX AFTER DARKNES LIGHT Nowe fyrst prynted by Rouland Hall dwellyng in gutter lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and key the. 12. of October 1562. A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS of this boke Instructions concerning praierr A meditation vpon the lordes praier A meditation vpon the beleife A meditation vpon the x. commaundementes A meditation concerning praier A breife paraphrase vpon the lords praier A meditation of the comminge of Christe to Iudgement c A meditation of the sobre vsage of the body and pleasures in this life An other meditation to the same effecte A meditation for the exercise of mortificatiōs A meditation of the prouidence of god A meditation of the presence of god A meditation of gods power c. A meditation of death A meditation vpon the passion A confession of synnes An other confession of synnes A praier for the remission of synnes An other praier for remission of synnes A praier for deliuerance from synne c. A praier for the obtaining of faith A praier for repentance A communication betwene Sathan and oure consience A defence of predestination A treatise of election and freewill A sūme of the doctrine of election and predestination TO THE READER HEre hast thou good reader suche godlye meditations praiers and other exercises of that worthye witnes of god Iohn Bradford as god by his singuler prouidence hath betherto preserued and now at the length broughte to light for thy comsort and commoditie Daylye and howerlye was this his exercise to talke with god by faithfull and hartye meditation and praier with power pearcynge the heauens and many suche godlye exercises dyd he leaue behinde him which either time hath consumed or elles suche as keepe them in store to their owne priuate vse doe little consider what benefite they withold from the church of god whiche if they shall yet brotherly communicate there shall not lacke good will and diligence to set them abroad In the meane season let vs with thankfulnes receyue reade and practise these as meanes to quicken our spirites to stirre vp our dulle hartes to a more feruenre inuocatiō of gods holy name Which howe farre it is frō that it shuld be in vs and what nede we haue thereof if oure deade senses cannot feele here may we see and perceiue Here may we learne to flee vnto god by praier that we runne not on still with this vnthankfull world into forgetfulnes of his great benefites powered vpon vs especially for the libertie of his gospell which we in muche mercye restored nowe vnto vs againe so vnthankfully receaue so vngodly neglect so wickedly abuse God graūt vs his good spirit to work in vs this good work to loke about vs in time to consider our state past and presēt as in deed we haue great cause to do so with hartie praier flee vnto god to preuent the plagues that are at hand lest with double woe we find the later ende worse then the beginning Instructions to be obserued concernynge Prayer There be nyne thynges that pertayne to the knowledge of trew prayer FIrste to knowe what prayer is Secondlye howe manye sortes of praier there be Thirdlye the necessitie of prayer Fourthlye to whom we ought to pray By whom we must pray Where to praye and what to praye The excellencye of prayer What we must do that our prayers may be hearde What prayer is PRaier is a simple vnfained humble and ardent openinge of the heart before God wherein we either aske thīgs nedeful or giue thankes for benefits receaued Paull in y e first to timothe 2. Chap. calleth it by fowre sōdrie names in one sentence to witte praier supplication intercession and thanks geuing In latyn Deprecatio Obsecratio inte recssio et gratiarum actio Wherof the first is for the aduoiding and preuenting of euil the second is an earnest and faruent calling vpō god for any thing y e thirde is an intercession for other the fourth is a praisinge of God for thinges receaued ¶ There be .ii. maner of waies how we shoulde praye 2. First publikly and that is called comō praier and priuatlie as when men praye alone and that is called priuat prayer and howe bothe these two are allowed before god y e scripture beareth testimony by the example of all the holye men and women before and after Christ ¶ Of the necessitie of praier 3. There be .iiii. thinges y e prouoke vs to pray first the commaundemēt of god secondlie sinne in vs whiche driueth vs of necessity to god for succor life mercy thirdlie our weake nature being vnable to doe any good requireth praier to strengthen it euen as a house requireth principal pillers for y e vpholding of it fourthlie the sutteltie of the enemye who priuilie lurketh in y e inwarde parts waitinge to ouerthrowe vs euen in those things which we thinke to be best done styreth vs vehementlye therevnto ¶ To whom we ought to praie 4. Thre thinges pertaine to hym that must be praied vnto first that he haue such eares as may heare al the worlde at ones secondlie that he be in al places at ones thirdlie that he haue such power that he may be able to helpe and such mercie that he wil delyuer By whom we shoulde praye 5. Christ only is the way by whom we haue free accesse vnto the father and for whom our praiers are accepted our infirmites notwithstāding withoute whom al oure prayers are abhominable Where to pray and what to pray 6. As touching the place where we should pray seyng al places are one there is none forbidden onelye the cōmon praier must be made in what place so euer the congregatyon of Christ doth assemble 7. What to praye lyeth in the necessitie of euery man for as muche as we nede both spirituall and corporall things we may bouldly aske thē both For as to aske spiritual giftes it is profitable commaunded so to aske corporall it is necessarie and allowed Of the excellencie of prayer 8. The worthines of praier consisteth in .ii. thinges in the dingnitye of the commaunder who is god the fountayne of all goodnes who also commaundeth onely good thinges and in the effect y e foloweth it which is the obtaininge of whatsoeuer we desire faithfully according to y e will of God What to doe that we may be heard 9. First we muste put of oure owne rightuousnes pride and estimation of our selues and put on christ with his rightuousnes secondlye an earnest faith and faruent loue with the putting of all rancnor malice enuie is required finally trewe repentaūce knitteth vp the knot for in
sonne for vs herin doest y u coÌ„mende vnto vs thy loue y t when we were yet sinners Christe thy derâ—sonne died for vs so y t nothing shuld separate vs from thy loue in christ Iesê° nether death nor hunger c. For if when we were enemies we were recoÌ„ciled vnto thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne much more we being recoÌ„ciled shalbe saued by his life And y t I shuld not doubt herof but certeinly be per swaded all thys to pertayne to me where I mighte haue been borne of Turkes loe y u woldest I shoulde be borne of Christian parents brought into thy church by baptisme which is y e Sacrament of AdoptioÌ„ and requireth faith as wel of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holines to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy spirit Where I mighte haue been borne in an ignorant time and region y u woldest I I shuld be borne in this time and region wherin is more knowlege reueled then euer was here or in many places is Where I mighte haue been of a corrupt iudgemente entangled with many errours loe y u of thy goodnes as thou hast reformed my Iudgement so doest thou keepe it and nowe for the same iudgementes sake doest vouchsalfe somewhat by the crosse to try me By al which thinges I shuld confirme my faythe of thys that thou alwayes haste been arte and wylte be for euer my deare father in respect wherof I should be as certaine of saluation of these aheritaunce of heauen for euer 〈◊〉 thankfull cast my whole care on thee trust on thee and call on thee with comforte and certaine hope for all thinges that I wants For in y t thou haÌ„st giuen to meÌ„ this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued vndeseced on my behalfe 〈◊〉 and onely in respect of thine owne goodnes and grace in Christ lest at anye time I should doubt of it how shuld I but hope certainlie that nothinge profitable to me can be denied in y t thi power is infinite For as thi good will is declared in adoptinge me so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weale for y t shuld improue thy power to be almighty in y t thi wil is so bouÌ„teously already declared wheras my beâ—eâ—â—e requireth to beleue in thee y e father almightie in consideration whereof I shoulde in all thynges behaue my self as a child reioyse in thee praise thee truste in thee feare thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie harted am I How vnthankfull am I Howe full of vnbeleife doubtinge of this thy riche mercie Howe litle doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me forgyue me good father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reuele thy self vnto me and Iesus Christe thy deare sonne oure lord by whoÌ„ we are made thy children that I may truly knowe thee hartely loue thee faithefully hange vpon thee in al my nedes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my god father I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies be endued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient hart in all things to thy holy will At thy hands and from thee as I must loke for al things so come I vnto thee and praye thee to gyue me these thinges whiche thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I might come aske them of thee as now I doe through Iesus Christ our lord As by this word father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my lord my god my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that al euery of thy seruants that euer were are or shalbe had haue and shall haue For now I am taught to beleue y t thou hast called me into the communion of thy churche people whom hereby I perceiue y u hast commaunded to be carefull for me as for theÌ„ selues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remeÌ„ber render my duetie I owe to thee wards faith loue feare obedience c so by thy worde our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull for them to take their sorow pouerty affliction c as mine owne and therfore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation habilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfloue arrogancie contempt of any By reason wherof I haue great cause to lament to reioyse To lament because I am so farre froÌ„ coÌ„sideration much more froÌ„ doig my dutie to thy people in thoughts words or dedes To reioyse because I am called of thee placed iÌ„ the blessed societie of thy saints made a meÌ„ber citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem and because thou hast giueÌ„ in commauÌ„dement to all thy church to be as care full for me as for themselues But alas howe farre am I herefroÌ„ As I am giltie of vnthankfulnes for this thy calling me into the blessed coÌ„munion of thy deare soÌ„ne churche yea of thy selfe so am I giltie of selfloue vnmercifulnes pride arrogantie forgetfulnes coÌ„tempt of thy children for els I could not but be other wise affected otherwise labour then I do Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me grauÌ„t for christs sake that as my tonge souÌ„deth this word our so I may in hart fele the true loye of thy blessed communion and the true loue coÌ„passion whiche thy children haue and fele towards their brethen that I may reioyse in all trouble in respect of that ioyefull communion that I maye denye my selfe to honour thy children vpoÌ„ earth and endeuer my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesê° christ our lord I come onely to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor muste not els where haue and thou requirest it of me y t therefore I shuld as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Oure father I am taught to glorie and reioyse for the blessed coÌ„munion which I am called to w t thee deare father with thy Christ and with thy holye church so also am I heare taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioyse in respect of the place and blessed Ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good tyme I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heaueÌ„ is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although heare for a time I am bodely on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which arte in heauen I am admonished not onely to discerne thee from earthly fathers and to knowe
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
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
benefits giuen me in commaundinge men to care for me to praie for me to helpe me c. But alas how farre I am from true lamentacion and reioysing lorde thou knowest Oh be mercifull vnto me and help me forgeue me and graunte me thy holie spirit to reueale to me my nede ignoraunce great ingratitude contempt of thy mercies thy people and that in such sorte that I might hartely lament and bewaile my miserie and throughe thy goodnes be altered with thy people to mourne for the miseries of thy children as for mine owne Againe reueale to me thy goodnes dere father eueÌ„ in corporall things that I maye see thy mercy thy presence power wisedome and righteousnes in euery creature and corporall benefites and that in such sort that I maye be throughly affected truly to reuerence feare loue obey thee hange vpon thee to be thankfull to thee in all my nede to come vnto the not only when I haue ordinarie meanes by the which thou coÌ„monly workest but also when I haue none yea when al meanes and helpes are cleane against me Here remeÌ„ber the state of your children and familie also your parents neighbours kinse folkes also your frendes contrey and magistrates c as you shall haue tyme thereto and by goddes good Spirite shalbe prouoked ¶ Forgeue vs oure debtes as we forgeue them that are debtours vnto vs. BY oure Debtes are vnderstande not onely things we haue done â—ut the omissioÌ„ and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By oure is not onely vnderstande the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of al and euery one of thy church By forgyuenes is vnderstande free pardon and remission of synnes by the merites and desertes of thy dere sonne Iesus Christe who gaue him self a raunsome for vs. By oure forgeuing of other mens offences to vs warde is vnderstand thy good wyll not onelye that it pleaseth thee that we shoulde liue in lone and amytye but also that thou wouldeste haue vs to be certayne of thy pardonynge vs of our synnes For as certayne as we are that we pardone them that offende vs so certayne shoulde we be that thou doeste pardone vs whereof the forgeuing our trespassers is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to se that thy children althoughe by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remissioÌ„ forgeuenes of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see how thy children doe consider take to hart not only the euells they doe but also the good thy leaue vndone And therfore they praye thee hartely for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other meÌ„ and for their trespases and therefore praye that they mighte be pardoned in saing oure sinnes and not my synnes Besides this I am taught here to see how thy children not onely forgeue all that offende them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enemies and such as offende them So farre are they from malicousnes pride reuengemeÌ„t c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue me to aske pardon wherof thou woldest that we shuld iÌ„ no point doubt but be most assured that for Christs sake thou herest vs and that not only for our selues but also for manie others for y â— doest not commaunde vs to aske for anye thinge thou wilt not geue vs. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyse To lameÌ„t because of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignoraunt careles of sinne not onely in leauing good vndone but also in doing euel and that dailie in thought worde and dede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folkes sinnes as of my pareÌ„ts children familie magestrats c neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue geuen occasion to sinne To reioyse I haue great cause because of thy mercy in opening to me these things in coÌ„maundinge me to praye for pardon in promisinge me pardon and in coÌ„maundinge others to pray for me I ought surely to be perswaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable For I se not onely in this but in euerye petition howe that euery one of thy churche praieth for me yea christ thy sonne who sitteth on thy right haÌ„d praieth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnes geue me thy holy spirit to opeÌ„ mine eies that I may se sinne y â— better to know it y â— more truly to hate it most earnestly to striue agaist it that effectually both in my selfe and others Again graunt me the same thy holy spirit to reuele vnto me the remedie of sinne by christ only to worke in me faith to embrace the same thy Christ and mercies in him that I may henseforth be endued with thy holy spirite more more to beginne and obey thy good wil continually to encrease in the same for euer Here call to mind the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to praye for them by name remeÌ„ber that gods lawe shuld be so dere vnto vs y â— the breaking thereof in others shoulde be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Leade vs not into tentacion BEcause of our continuall great infirmities because of the greate diligence subtilties of our enemies and because y â— art wont to punishe sinne w t sinne which of all punishmeÌ„tes is y â— greatest most to be feared In this peticion y â— wouldest haue thy children to haue y â— same in remeÌ„beraunce for a remedy hereof y â— hast appointed praier So that y â— only cause why anie are ouercome led into tentation is for y â— they forget what they desire in y â— peticion going before this which shuld be neuer out of their memorie to prouoke theÌ„ to be more thaÌ„kful to thee more vigilant heedie herafter for falling into like perills For which to be auoided y â— doest most graciously set forth a remedy in coÌ„mauÌ„dinge vs to pray after pardon for oure sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not ledde into tentacion but might be delyuered from euyll And because thou wouldeste haue all thy childreÌ„ to hange wholye vpon thee to feare thee onely and only to loue thee thou doest not teache them to praye suffer vs not to be ledde but leade vs not into tentation that I say they might onely feare thee certainly know that Sathan hathe no power ouer so much as a pigge but what soeuer thou geueste vnto him and of thy secret but most iuste iudgement doest appoint
him to vse not as he will for then we were all loste but as thou wilt which canst wil nothing but that which is most iust As to geue them to the guidiÌ„g of Sathan which wil not be guided by thy grace as y â— diddst Saul c. Occasions to euell are in two sortes One by prosperitie successe another by aduersitie the crosse c. the euells coming of successe commoÌ„ly are vnthankfulnes prid securitie forgetting our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnes of god of our mortalitie c. The euells coÌ„ming of aduersytie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grutchiÌ„g dispayring contemning of god flattering of men stealing lieng c w t manye other euells wherto tentations will entise a man that is lefte to him selfe whereas to one that is guided with gods spirit tentacions are but trialls to the glorye of god comfort of the tempted and edifieng of thy church But as I saied yf a man be left alone tentacions entise euen to the deuyll hym selfe And therfore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstandinge thereby Sathan him self the sower and supporter of all euell And this thy children doe aswell for others as for them selues So that I maye learne hereout many good thyngs First to remember often our infirmitie and weakenes and the daungerous estate we stand in in the respect of our fleshe of the world which is full of euill of Sathan which seketh to sifte vs and as a roring lion to destroy vs of our sinnes which deserue all kindes of punishements and correction that I mighte with thy children feare thee watch pray and desire the daye of redemption from all euells Againe I may learne here that to auoide all dauÌ„gers euell is not in y â— power of maÌ„ but only thy worke By reason wherof I should consider thy great goodnes whiche hither to hast kept me froÌ„ so many euels both of soule body yea of name goods c as thou hast done in my infancy childhode youth middle age c. Thirdly I may learne here that I shuld be careful for others both that they might be deliuered froÌ„ their euells that they might be preserued froÌ„ tentatioÌ„ from being ouercome in the same and therefore y â— teachest me to pray not deliuer me froÌ„ euell simply but deliuer vs from euell Last of all I am taught hereby so see thy goodnes towards me which wilt deliuer me from euell and froÌ„ being ouercome in tentations For thou woldst not haue me to aske for that which I shoulde not loke for at thy handes certainely By reason wherof thou woldest haue me to be in a certaintie of saluatioÌ„ for euer For ells I cannot beleue my prayer to be heard if that finallye I should not be deliuered from euell And therefore thou ioynest hereto a geuinge of thankes whiche with thy Church I should saye For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glorye for euer By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because of my corruptioÌ„ infirmitie weaknes obliuion and carelesnes for thy people ingratitude c because of Sathans power vigilancie prudencie which hath ouercome most graue wise and holy men wherof some neuer recouered as Cain Cham Achitophel Saul â—udas c. To reioyse because of thy goodnes whiche teachest me this she west me the remedie commaundest all thy Church to praye for me 〈◊〉 wilt at length deliuer me from all â—uel and giue me glory But alas I â—m all together careles miserable Oh be mercifull vnto me dere father and for christs sake forgiue me al my â—innes Graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me mine infirmties weaknes perils dauÌ„gers c in such sort that as I may hartely lamente my miseries so I maye aske and obtaine thy grace to guyde me from all euill for euer more Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reuele to me thy loue kindnes towards me and that in eternitie in such sort that I maye be throughlye perswaded of the same become thankfull vnto thee daily expecte and loke for the reuelacion of thy kingdome power and glory as one that foreuer shall haue the fruction of the same through thyne owne goodnes and mercy in Christ prepared for me before the beginniÌ„g and foundation of the worlde was layed Here cal to mind our securitie Sathans vigilancie oure negligence his diligence our infirmitie his habilitie oure ignoraunce his crafte and subtilitie c. Item call to mind how that he hath ouerthrowen for a time many of the deare Saintes of god to whom we are to be compared in nothinge aâ— Adam Eue Lot Iudas Thamer Moises Aaron Mirtan Sampson Gedeon Clie Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias Peter Thomas and innumerable moe Item call to minde the goodnes of god and of oure Shepeherd Christ whiche hathe kepte vs hitherto kepeth vs still teacheth vs here to know that he will kepe vs for euer For he wold not haue vs to aske for deliueraunce from euell if that he wold not we should certainely loke for the same If thou doubt of finall perseueraunce y â— dishonourest god Be certaine therfore rest in hope be stil in his word Se also how he hath commaunded his whole church and euery member thereof to praye for thee aswell as for them selues in these and all other thinges Now and then goe about to recken how manye and diuers kindes of euells there be that thereby as you may knowe you are deliuered from none but by gods greate goodnes so you may see that the number of euells that you haue are nothing to be compared to the multitude of euills wherwith yf your christ were not the deuil wold all to beraye and dawbe you But what are all the miseries and euels that can be to be compared to the least ioye prepared for vs in heauen Oh thinke of those ioyes and pray that when the tyde of death coÌ„meth we may hale forth of the hauen of this fleshe this world ioyefully In praieng this petitioÌ„ call to minde the euells you haue been in the euells you are in and the euells you may fall in if god shuld not preserue you that you might be stirred vp the more to thankfullnes to prayer to trust in god to modestie c. For thine is the kingdome thine is the power thine is the glory for euer AS in the beginniÌ„g of this praier by these words our father which art in heauen thy children are excited stirred vp to a ful confidence of obtaining the petitions folowing al things necessary So in y â— latter end y u hast added for the same purpose these wordes For thine is the kingdome thin is c Wherin I am taught these many things First that in prayer I shuld haue such consideration of thy kingdome power glory and eternitie that my mind shuld be striken w t an admiration of the same Secondly that
I shoulde so consider them especially in praier that I shuld not doubt but that thou workest rulest gouernest all things euery where in all persons and creatures moste wysely iustelye and mercifully Thirdely that in praier all my peticions shuld tend to the setting forth of thy power of thy kingdome and of thy glorye Laste of all that in prayer I shoulde in no wyse doubte of beinge heard but be assured that thou which hast commaunded me to pray and hast promised to here me doest moste graciousely for thy mercyes sake and truthes sake heare my peticions according to thy good wil throughe Iesus Christe thy deare sonne our lord and onely sauiour By reason whereof I haue greate cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I consider not these thinges in praier in suche sorte as should moue me to admiracion and gratitude because I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in all things because I am so careles for thy kingdome and because I am so full of dubitacion and doubtinge of thy goodnes To reioyce I haue greate cause because thou reuelest these thinges vnto me on this sorte because of thy power kingdome and glory which maketh to the hearing of my praiers and helping of me be cause thou wilt vse me as thine instrument to set forth thy kingdome power glory and because it pleaseth thee to here my praiers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas how farre am I froÌ„ these lamentacions and reioycinges by reason wherof I deserue damnacioÌ„ Oh be mercifull vnto me â–ª forgeue me and of thy 〈◊〉 graunte me thy holy spirit 〈◊〉 reueale to me my blindnes obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glory w t the greatnes of my doubtings that I maye hartely as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken froÌ„ me throughe the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe geue me thy holy spirit to reueile to me in such sort thy kyngdome power glorye and eternitie that I maye alwaies haue the same before myne eies be moued wyth thadmiration therof labour effectually to set forth y â— same and finallye as to haue the sruicâ—on thereof after this life so encrease â—an assured certain and liuely expectacion of the same that I maye alwaies in all thynges reioyce in thee thorowe Christe and geue lauds thankes praises perpetually vnto thy moste holy name oh blessed father sonne and holye ghost thre persons one god to whom be all honour glory world without ende Here thinke that if the kingdome power glory and eternitie be gods which is our father what our dignitie is whiche be his chyldren yf the power be our fathers of whoÌ„ shuld we be affraies yf the deuell be subiect to the lords power kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer porketts w toute the prouidence and permission of god Therfore ful well shuld we pray lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be led into tentation For power is the lords and the deuell hath none but that he hathe of gods gifte No he were not of capacitie to receaue power yf god did not make hym of capacitie althoughe the execution of it is rather of gods permission ¶ Geue all thankes praise and glorye to god oure father throughe Christ oure lord and sauiour So be it A meditation vpon the twelue articles of the Christian faith I beleue in god the father c. THy people oh lord god the father of our sauiour Iesus Christe doe here in saieng this article I beleue in god the father almighty c by faith knowe that thou togither with Iesus Christ and the holy ghost diddest create all thinges that be in heauen and in earth for by heauen and earth are vnderstand all thinges therein And as they knowe thys so they by the same faith doe see thee the same god the father the sonne and the holy ghoste to gouerne all thinges after thy great wisedome power rightuousnes and mercy vsing euery creature they see as meanes to put theÌ„ in remembrance of fearing reueren cing trusting louing the for in euery creature they beholde thy presence power wisedome and mercy Againe by this worde Father they declare their beleife how that they are not onely thy creatures and all that euer they haue to be thy graciouse gyftes and blessinges but also how that they are thy childreÌ„ derely beloued cared for of thee through Iesus christ Where throughe notwithstanding theyr vnworthines as they conceyue a sure hope of thy goodnes and fatherly loue towards them in soule and bodye for euer so are they thankfull for their creation for that thou hast made theÌ„ thy excellet creatures lords of al. They are thankfull for the creation of all creatures vse the same w t thankefulnes as visible tokens of thy inuisible loue they are thankefull for thy conseruing and keping them for the gouerning them and all this world lamenting that they are nomore thankfull that they beleue no deper that reason hath so greate a swing with them in these matters But I moste gracious good lorde and father thoughe I say I beleue in thee my father almyghtye maker of heauen and earthe yet thou knoweste that I am full of muche doubtinge not onelye of this whether thou art my good almighty and moste louinge deare father in christ because I fele in my selfe suche a conscience of vnworthines so great want of those thinges which thou requirest of thy children and so transfer the cause of my being thy childe in part to myself where it is due onely and wholy alwaies to thy mercye and grace in Christe but also thou knowest my doubting of my creation and gouernaunce and of the creation and gouernaunce of al this world as I declare by my vnthankfulnes for my creation for mine adoption for my gubernation for thy prouidence for me or ells deare father I could not but hartely with thy childreÌ„ reioyce and praise thy holye name and that continually being hence forth carefull for nothinge but howe to please thee profit thy people that they might praise thy name in all things for ouermore desiringe the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will vpon earth as it is in heauen Thou mightest haue made me a dogge but of thy goodnes hast made me a creature after thine Image y â— mightest haue made me a Turcke a Iewe a Sarracen but thou hast made me a christiaÌ„ a member of thy Churche thou after my birth mightest haue lefte me and in all nede haue made no prouidence for me as we sometimes see hath hapned vnto others but yet thou neuer diddest so with me and yet I am of all others most vnthankfull Thy creatures I thankefully vse not thy inuisible loue by thy manifolde visible tokens I consider not as nowe I shoulde by this apparell of
also on the apostles church in fyerye tonges visibly the fyfte daye after Christes resurrection as now thou doest inuisybly generally and particularly sitte vpon thy Church and children beinge the consolator the coÌ„forter the teacher and leader the guider and gouernour of vs all For this thy loues sake I saye I besech thee to be mercifull vnto me and forgeue me my doubting vnbeliefe ingratitude and horrible monstrous vncleanes and synne and vtterly take them from me Bring me vnto thy church which thou guidest that is guide me make me holy and by faith couple me to christ by charitie to thy people that is geue me the communion of saints w t thy saincts ouer shadowe my synnes reyse me vp to rightuousnes beginne in me euerlasting life and nowe more and more to expert and loke for all these great mercies and at length to possesse eternal felicity w t thee o blessed trenitie the father the sonne and the holy ghost thre persons and one almightie eternal most iuste wise and good god to whom be all glory power and dominion now and for euer A meditation vpon the ten commaundementes ¶ I am the lord thy god which brought thee oute of the land of Egipt c. O Good lord and deare father here y â— woldest I should knowe that thou which broughtest thy people of Israell out of Egypt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power whiche gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai in great thundering lighting fier which spakest by the prophetes and diddest sende thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Christ coequall and consubstantiall with thee in power maiestie glory to take vpon him our nature by the operatioÌ„ of the holy ghost in the wombe of y â— virgin Marie of whose substaunce he was made and borne man but pure without synne that we by byrth children of wrath by hym myghte be made thy chyldren children of grace communicatinge with him rightuousnes bolines immortality by the working of the spirit as he communicated wyth vs fleshe and bloude but not infected w t synne as is ours by the working of the same holy spirit which spirit after his bitter death resurrectioÌ„ and ascension into the heauens he sent plentifully and by a visible signe vnto his Apostles and Disciples by whom he published the gospell thorowe out the whole worlde and so continually hathe done from age to age doth and will doe vnto the end of the worlde by the mynysterie of preaching Thou woldest I say that we shoulde knowe and beleue that thou this Almightye lord and god which on this sorte hast reueled and opened thy selfe art the one alone very true and eternall almighty god which madest and rulest heaueÌ„ and earth and all things visyble and inuisyble together with this thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy spirit consubstantiall and coeternall with thee deare father Not onelye this but also thou woldest that I shuld knowe and beleue that by the same thy dearly beloued sonne thou hast broughte me from the tirannie and captiuitie of Sathan this sinfull world wherof the captiuity of Egipt vnder pharao was a figure and in his blonde shedde vpon the crosse y â— hast made a couenaunt with me whiche thou wilt neuer forget that thou art and wilt be my lord and my god that is thou wilt forgeue me my sinnes and be wholy mine with all thy power wisedome rightuousnes treweth glory mercy Wherfore although I might coÌ„firme my faith by the innumerable mercies hither to powred vpon me moste aboundantly as thy children of Israel might haue done and did confirme their faith by the manifolde benefites powred vpon them in the desert yet specially the seale of thy couenaunt I meane thy holy Sacrament of baptisme wherin thy holye name was not in vaine called vpoÌ„ me O deare father swet sonne and sauiour Iesus Christ and most graciouse good holy gost shuld most assuredly confirme and euen on all sides seale vp my faith of this thy couenaunt that y â— art my lorde and my god euen as Abraham and thy people of Israell did by the Sacrament of Circumcision which as the Apostell calleth the seale or signacle of rightuousnes so doest thou call it being but the signe of thy couenaunt in dede yet thy very couenaunt because as thy word is moste true and caÌ„not lye as thy couenauÌ„t is a couenaunt of peare vnfallible and euerlasting euen so the Sacrament and seale of the same is a most true testimonial and witnes therof In consideracion therfore of this that thou the almighty god of thine owne goodnes hast vouched safe not onelye to make me a creature after shine owne Image likenes which mightest haue made me a beaste to geue vnto me a reasonable soule endewed with memorie iudgemeÌ„t c which mightest haue made me an â—â—fote without witte or discretioÌ„ c to endue me with a body be wetifyed with right shape limmes health c which mightest haue made me a ceeple lame blind c gratiously to enrich me concerning fortune frends liuinge name c whiche mightest haue made me a slaue destitute of al frendes and helpes for this life but also hast vouchedsafe that I being a a miser borne in sinne conceiued in iniquitie to whom nothing is dewe more then to a Turcke Iewe or Saracen but eternall damnation should be called into the number of thy people enroledde in thy boke now in thy couenaunt so that thou w t all that euer thou hast arte mine for which causes sake hitherto thou hast kepte me cherished defended spared fatherly chastised me and now graciously doest kepe me and care for me geuing me to liue be moue in thee expecting also waiting how thou mightest shewe mercy vpon me In consideration I say of this most iustely and reasonably thou requirest that as thou arte my lord god so I should be thy seruaunt and one of thy people As thou haste giuen thy self wholy vnto me to be mine with all thy power wisedome c For he that geueth him self geueth all he hath so shuld I be wholy thine and geue ouer my self vnto thee to be guided w t thy wisedome defended with thy power holpeÌ„ releiued and comforted by thy mercy First therfore to beginne with al thou commauÌ„dest that I shuld haue none other gods in thy sight that is to say as I should haue thee for my lord god to loke for all good thiÌ„gs moste assuredly at thy handes and therfore I should put all my trust in thee be thankefull vnto thee loue thee feare thee obey thee and call vpon thy holy name in al my nedes so shuld I geue this faith loue feare obedience thankfulnes and inuocation or praier to none other no not in my hart but onely to thee or for thee where thou commaundest All this to doe oh lorde god and that w t most ioieful hart I haue great cause For what a thing is it that thou Iehouah woldest uouchesalfe
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
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