vndone The sum and whole effect whereof is comprehended onely in loue namely in louing God aboue all thinges and thy neighboure as thy selfe and to hate all things that make againste the fulfilling of the same loue The sinfull man Uouchsafe good Solace to declare now more at large to mee These ten Precepts which doe set foorth the way to come to thee Solace THâ—â— attend thou diligently and first coÌ„sider that these precepts are not of so small moment as y t they should be accepted as the coÌ„maundements of man but to be esteemed as the verie word of myne heauenly father whoe to make the same of the greater credite and aucthoritie amonge men ioyned his owne person his glorious maiestie to the same his words and came visiblye downe in a flame of fire vpon mount Synaye to deliuer them after a farre more glorious and wounderfull manner then man could doe couplinge his owne glorye with the worde to the ende that the same should not be so little accompted of so slenderly regarded or the aucthoritye thereof reiected as a thinge of small effect as words coÌ„monly are estemed as a puffe of wind now hard and by and by forgotten But because it should be of an euerlasting and permanent continuance they were wrytten in tablâ— of stone such was the weightines of the matter that myne heauenly father thought not the wordes of a man no not of an Angel of sufficient aucthoritie or credyte to delyuer the same And therefore came he himselfe downe after such a wounderfull manner as that the mount Synaye at his presence smoaked as a fournace trembling and quakinge miraculouslye whereby thou mayste perceyue y t whoso dyspiseth his Prophets and the performance of his commaundements dispiseth his word and so contempneth god myne heauenly father him selfe for he that dyspiseth the one contempneth the other Therefore muste thou not so lightly waye these precepts the will of mine heauenly father but highly reuereÌ„ce them attentiuely heare them duely follow them and faythfully beleeue them which are perfect conuerting the soule The testimony of the Lord is pure and giueth wisdome vnto the simple and in performing them is their great reward which rewarde yet notwithstanding thou mayst not accompt thy selfe worthy of when thou hast done that which is in the law commaunded thee as farre as is possible for to fulfill the same in al points so exactly as is required thou canst not but when thou haste done all that thou canst thou mayst confesse thy selfe an vnprofitable seruante nay examine the former course of thy life with that which mine heauenly father hath commaunded thée in the lawe and thou shalt not onely finde thy selfe guilty of the breach of one but of all the commaundements for if thou breake and transgresse one thou arte guilty of all And as mine Appostle Paule sayth thou arte not of thy selfe able to thinke a good thought much lesse to fulfill the whole law for they that are in the flesh cannot please God but thou art called from the wisdome of the fleshe whiche is death to the wisdome of the spirite which is life wherby thou mayst be directed to fulfill that righteousnesse which the lawe requireth namely to loue mine heauenly father with all thine hearte with all thy minde with all thy strength thy neighboure as thy selfe wherein consisteth the perfecte righteousnes of the lawe Now to declare the same more at large and to reherse the same particulerly for thy better instruction know this that the first of the same tenne precepts is a prohibition or forbidding that thou shouldâ—st haue any other God or Gods but mine heauenlye father onelye who hath made thée the whole world and all things therein coÌ„tayned who as hée deliuered the people of Israell from their bondage and captiuitie wherein they were grieued by the tirannye of Pharaoh King of Egypte by the handes of Moses and Aaron so hath hee deliuered thee and all mankinde by the sacrifice of my body vppon the crosse from the bondage of sinne from the tyraunte of Sathan and from the feare of death and hell which if there were none other were such an especial benefit that it might 〈…〉 thee to suche an inwarde acknowledging of his inestimable loue that in respecte of that that when thou were following the vngodlie lustes and féeding the vnlawfull desires of thine vntamed fleshe runnynge rashly foorth in that broade way that leadeth vnto death he vouchsaued to send mee his onely sonne to call thée and to with-drawe thee from the same and to set thee in the way that leadeth vnto eternall life thou canste not but accompte him thy god and be mooued to the willyng seruice of him To which especiall benefit if thou ioyne and call to mind the residue of his aboundaunt mercyes wherin he voutchsafeth thee all thinges necessary and expedient to the mayntenaunce of this mortall life and suffereth thee not to wante the thing which maye relieue and comfort thée in all necessities and especially if in fayth thou fall vnto him in my name requiring the same thou mayest be assured to obtayne all thinges at his handes which are requisite for thée not onely I say for the bodye but which is most precious for the soule which could not but haue coÌ„tinued in a most miserable and most dampnable estate had not hee giuen me vnto the death for the redemption thereof who as I haue before assured thée haue aunswered that for thee for which thou remaynedst accurssed namely for not performing all things contained in the lawe That haue I done for thée obeying the will of mine heauenly father therin whose mercy so abounded that he hath accepted thee vnto his fauour agayne through mée without whome thou hadste neuer beene reclaimed but perished in thy sinne In which his so singuler benefites and superaboundant mercies he declareth himselfe to be thy very true and onely God and therefore forbiddeth thee to haue any other God but himself whome thou must worship obey serue trust vnto beleeue and call vpon giuing him aswell by outward profession as by inwarde loue and affection vnfayned prayse and honour imparting the same to none other Least as Dauid sayth thou forget the name of the Lord thy God holde vp thine handes to straunge Gods Worship thy Lord thy God therefore and see that him onely thou serue and truely obey and that with the same true worshippe whiche is commaunded thée in his worde as by prayers supplications and giuinge of thankes magnifying him in the greatnes of his mercy wherein he aydeth reléeueth comforteth and defendeth them that being distressed faithfully call vpon him not running vnto any Saint or Angell but vnto him onely in and by me who am the waye and meane to bringe them vnto him I am the mediator and aduocat by whoÌ„ onely and by none other thou mayst haue free passage vnto
to weepe That nowe in griefe doth groane to see it selfe in torments deepe But then ten thousand times I had bene happie in my death Ten thousand times vnhappy now that I enioy my breath Wherefore prepare oh graue in hast to take thy share of mee And death doe thou thy duetie too I yeeld mee now to thee For all my pleasures now are gone my mirth to mourning cheere Is chaūged quite my ioyes are past now gryping griefes drawe neer That greeue my silly soule so sore my corps consume full fast Oh death deny mee not therefore but take mee hence in haste The God that sits in Christal skies hath cast mee cleane away No hope of helpe no hold I haue good death make no delay No pardon due for my desert my sinnes deserue to die I linger like a lothsome wretch in deepe dispaire I crie Come death end my doleful daies deferre it not make haste I loth to liue yet dread to die all hope of helpe is past Solace Oh wretched man what is y e cause thou mournest thus in woe Leaue of to crie and come to mee why doste thou sorrowe so The thrall is great that thou poore wretch doste seeme to sorrow in Shew me y e cause be of good cheare I sollace men in sinne The sinful-man Wo worth if thou be Solace who was yeasterday with mee He was the cause of this dispaire Yea none the cause but hee Solace SAiest thou so Thou art greatly deceiued in deede I am that Solace that for thy cōfort came vnto thee yesterday to call thee from thy foolishnes from thine error and censelesse securitie But thou art that scorner that the wise man meaneth that refuseth to bee reformed For a wise man when he is reprooued departeth from his euill but a foole when hee is rebuked of his error falleth into raging and as it were into a desperate madnes as may appeare by thy frowardnes that art not ashamed wrongfully and most vniustly to charge mee to be the cause of this sorrowe of thine of thy dispayre thou augmentest thy fault in thus rashly accusing mee But it is a Leasson learned long agoe many thousand yeeres put in practise namely the vngodly to finde out excuses according to their owne willes and peruerse conceites As Adam Eue thy great grandsieres did in the beginning when they had manifestly transgressed the Commaundement of their Creatour in eating the fruit forbidden when they were charged with the crime what did they did they vpon their reprehension confesse and say it is so Lord we haue eaten it contrarie to thy will noe but they sought another bye meane to cloake their disobedience Adam for his part sayd The woman whome thou gauest me made me to eate And Eue seeing the matter sayd to her charge sayd it to the Serpents charge thincking to make by circumstance God himself the author of their fall But this iugling could not auaile them their deceitfulnes deceiued themselues and they had al their reward Now to come to thine excuse who to discharge thine owne vnhappines layest the fault on mee that came not to vndoe thee but to reuoke thee from thy miserable blindnes from thine obstinate foolishnes ouerthwart opinion wherein thou were trudging as faste as thou couldest to vndoubted dampnation But I see that Satan hath set a vale before thine eyes that thou canst not see thy friend frō thy foe thou takest light for darkenesse and darkenesse to be light yea darkenesse hath so dimned thy censes that thou canst not comprehend the light For there is no familiaritie betweene light and darkenes But awake thou foolish man that sleepest in darkenes and God shall giue thee light yea I am the light of the worlde he that followeth mee shall not walke in darkenes but shall enioy the light of eternall life The sinfull-man Oh say no more I am vndone I crie but all in vaine In deede I am in darkenesse deepe thy words augment my paine Solace Thou art deceiued in deede I am the Solace that will ease This doleful plight of thine w t speed and wrath of God appease I am that lambe of God that came by God my fathers heste By death for true repenting soules to purchase lasting reste Although thy sinne the Scarlet doe in rednes farre surpasse My death shall make thy soule as white as whitnes euer was Wherefore returne to me in haste amend what is amisse I am the God that pardons him that true repentant is Therefore giue care attend vnto these comforts of my will Beleeue amend doe not dispayre conuert thy selfe from ill I Knowe oh sinfull man that riches and vainglorie had euen ouercome thee Thou were in a slumber with the sweete lullings as they seemed of that deceaueable Sathan the god of this worlde who hath in such sort blinded thy mind and bewitched thee with vaine and transitorie pleasures that the light of my glorious Gospell which is the power of God shoulde not shine vnto thee By reason whereof the examples of the Iustice of mine heauenly father extended against such as haue their heartes so seared with the hot iron of worldly carefulnes hath mooued thee to this kind of dispaire feeling thy conscience guiltie of the things whereof thou hast beene reprooued And therefore most wrongfully doest thou attribute the cause of thy griefe vnto mee But it is Sathan that thus bestirreth him now to retaine thee in the blind bye-path that he hath hitherto deceitfully drawen thée into beset with so many dilightsome deuises and daintie delicates of the flesh of the minde and of the eyes that he is loath to lose thee he thinkes that if thou once goe from him thou wilt come no more if thou forsake him thou wilt be reteyned into my seruice who wil giue thee better entertainemēt yea though my wages in this world be not gold and siluer though my Liuerie bee not so glorious to the eye and thy dyet so daintie yet I say thou shalt be sure of a good liuing in reuersion which is after this life rent free without any feare of forfeiture thy Lyuery shalbe here the libertie of a free minde and thy Dyet daily meditation of heauenly things Which liuing which Liuery and which dyet I knowe thine old master tels thee are al vaine al ful of seruitude watchings waytings and thraledome and he giues thee both great wages of Gold and Siluer and a great liuing in hand hee giues thee not borde wages but places thee most princelike at his owne Table hee feedes thee with his owne hands but he craues attendāce he is something nice in seruice you must wayte at an inch But then like the master of a good hound he pleaseth thee with many rewards which thou hast accounted a very sweete and pleasaunt seruice but thou hast heard before that it is vayne yea most vayne and very affliction of the spirit
carrying thee as it were sleeping into the most horrible pit of all endles perdition And euen of meere loue being sent to cal those that were gone astray I was mooued to awaken thee of this sinfâ—ll slumber to warne thee out of the seruice of this wicked master of thine and therfore I knowe that thou condemnest mee to bee the cause of this thy sorrowe Alas art thou so sorrowfull and full of griefe to giue ouer that master of thine endlesse miserie the master I say of all mischiefe the ringleader to all euill rule the Captaine of all the hellish crue the crue that haue their cogitations commonly occupied in couetouse cares and vngodly desires of wordly pleasures the crue I say that are caried by his most wicked wiles into most cursed captiuitie neuer caring for God or godlines who esteeme my words as winde as thou doest who so reioycest in thine aboundance as one that laugheth in his dreame and when hee awaketh is driuen to howle in sorrowe yea as dead being yet liuing for thou canst not be but dead vnlesse thou be reconciled by mee who by my bloud shedding on the Crosse slewe all enmitie betweene God my heauenly father and thee And as I haue purchased this reconciliation for thee So I am come to thee to tell thee to warne thee and to reclayme thee from error to the trueth from the clawes of Sathan to the fauoure of mine heauenly father if thou wilt heare mee and embrace my sayings The sinfull man Art thou in deed that Christ so pure whome Iudas did betray And whom y e Iewes tormeÌ„ted sore as sacred scripture say Solace Ye I am he that hung on crosse fast nayled to the tree A sacrifice to pacifie my fathers wrath for thee The sinfull man Wo worth me then for thou art hee whome I offended soe That in dispaire I languish here a wicked wretch in woe Oh let the mountaines fall on mee to hide my sinne from thee Let death approch let gaping graue take nowe their due of mee I dare not looke on thee whom that my sinne offended so No no thou wilt not pardon mee thou art of right my fo And Sathan seekes as erst y u saydst to winne my soule from thee I am content to his request I willingly agree I can not now reuoke againe my promise readie past Wherefore I knowe noe remedie I must be his at last Solace ALas poore man thou art in great perplexitie thy sences are sackt in deede But canst thou â—â—l by whose meanes wotest thou y e cause canst thou yet consider who it is that worketh this vnpleasant thing in thee Is it I or Sathan is it vertue or vice Is it life or death The sinfull man A great conflict I feele in deede a right of furious fiends Within my minde a troope of foes whome subtile Sathan sends Who with dispayre doe so beset and ransacke all my will That nothing can appease the rage that pricks mee forth to ill Wherfore I know no boote to seeke to shunne my raging thrall For Sathan binds mee to attend when he or his doe call Solace WEll poore man notwithstanding thy dissobedience and thy wilful running from me to that venemous Serpent who hath thus poysoned thee with the sting of dispaire I am not so hard hearted but of mercie wilbe pacified and vpon thine earnest repentance be a meane for thy reconciliation to the fauour of mine heauenly father againe who gaue me vp into the the hands of the world in the flesh to be a Sacrifice and OblatioÌ„ to appease his wrath which nothing els could doe and to be made the cause of eternall saluation to all the world as many as beleeue in mee The sinfull man Oh worth mee wretch then I am none of whom saluation came For I haue disobeyd thy will and led my life in blame And rest in Sathans bands a slaue by due desert I die Oh death make haste my Soule in sinne for thee is forste to crie Solace AND doest thou now confesse that it is Sathan hath thus be witched thee It is true most vntruely erwhile didst thou charge me with it be now ruled by me take mine aduice and there shall bee a dispensation prouided for thee easely to defeate Sathan and deceiue him of all his hope he hath yea of al his title intrest and demaund in thee for I haue his head vnder my girdle I vaÌ„quished him vpon y e Crosse I spoyled him of all his power I tooke all his weapons from him and tied him in chaines that he cannot passe those limmits that compasse which I haue assigned him without my permission and licence I discharged all wretched sinners out of his iurisdiction and in my humanitie satisfied and absolutely discharged the debt of all mankind and cancelled the Obligation wherein they stood bounde and tooke an acquittaunce for the same sealed with mine owne blood vpon the Crosse So that your olde maister subtile Sathan hath no more to demaund of them for I haue bouÌ„d my self to aunswere the vttermost farthing that lawe can charge them withall Although they were by reason of the breach which thy great graundparents Adam Eue made of the Commaundement of the Lord in the beginning all vnder the lawe and so bounde to aunswere the lawe which I haue done for all men And therefore if thou submit thy selfe vnto me and beleeue in me with a true faith thou shalt bee reconciled vnto mine heauenly father who if thou beleeue in me shall honour thee and for that thou art weake and full of infirmitie my grace and power feare thou not shall then most aboundantly appeare when thy weakenesse is greatest to hold thee vp and to helpe thee For although sinne abound in thee grace may more abound that is if thou repent thou shalt find fauour and mercy but he that walketh on still on his wickednesse without any motion of conscience to craue pardon of him whom he offendeth this grace and this reconcilement taketh no place in such a one Therefore must thou come to me in faith and in true repentance turne from thy former wicked waies so shalt thou bee reconciled vnto GOD mine heauenly father whose wrath by mine obedience is appeased his anger qualified and loue renued Death vanquished and life obteyned hell gates shut vp and the gates of heauen opened yea my dying hath made all men aliue for I am that seede of the woman that haue broken the Serpents head that haue cast out the Prince of this world and iudged him But he loueth yet to play the busie body he luoeth still to bee sifting euery man standing at their elbowes to pricke them forward to euery vanitie and falsly flatter them as a deepe dissembler saying tush tush God knoweth that if thou doe thus it shalbe for the best this is the way to thy most benefite But contrary
faithfulnes how to flye him and to followe me to eternall saluation whereof if thou frame thee faithfully to my wordes I will assure thee Heare me The sinfull man Oh what should I poore sinner doe whose sinnes surpasse the sand In number which the surging seas and waues haue cast on land No wit no wisedome or good will doth rest within my brest Thy wordes are all in vaine to me I am bereft of rest And know not how to winne again thy fauour which is lost In dolefull plight I striue in vaine to yeeld vp guiltie ghost That earth might passe to earth againe of which it first begun My soule where it deserues to be an wofull ghost vndun Solace Wilt thou oh man continue still so hard of heart in woe Refusing so the fruites of grace that from my mercie floe Whereby thou mayst at libertie be set from force of foe Reclaimd from sinne and Sathans will to rest no more in woe Repent therefore I say repent turne thou to me in haste Giue eare vnto me once againe be yet reformde at last Thou shalt perceiue that I forgiue all sinners when they crye Not wishing any sinfull soule in such dispaire to dye ALL the Prophetes beare me witnesse tha◠through my name all that beleeue in me shall receiue remission of sinnes Iohn sayth 〈◊〉 any man haue sinned he hath an Aduocate wit◠the father Iesus Christ the Righteous he i◠the propitiation for our sins I am that Christ of whom Osee testifieth and sayth in that I haue conquered Sathan already O Death I wilbe thy death O Hell I wilbe thy destruction I haue as Dauid sayth lead captiuitie captiue when I ascended into heauen in ouercomming the Deuill Sinne Death and Hel enemies to the soule of man These that were long before me haue testified of me whose testimonie of me is true And my father in the beginning promised that the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head I was that pure seede of the Uirgine of whom the Prophetes spake long before and I haue performed it vppon the Crosse and thus doth the spirite testifie in the hearts of all the Children of my father Now if these witnesses cannot moue thee to beleeue beleeue my father in heauen who testifieth of me saying This is my welbeloued Sonne heare him My father hath sent into the world eternall life and that is by me his Sonne Well then come vnto me al ye that labour are heauy laden with the burthen of sinne come vnto me I will ease you Art thou loden therefore poore man ye more then loden thou art prest downe not to the ground but to y e very gulfe of hel thou maist thanke thy master Sathan for it who being pittilesse presseth downe with the weightie burthen of all wickednesse such as yeeld him seruice He will promise at the first nothing but ease nothing but pleasure but in the ende he lodeth with labour and paieth your hire with paine thou that hast had the tryall of it excuse him if thou canst no thou canst not nor thy self Wherfore I say defie him and condemne thy self who hast gone astraie who hast wrought wickednesse euen with greedinesse And I see that he hath led thee into such a Laberinth into such a deepe Dungion of dispaire that it wilbe hard for thee to winde thee out againe But I will worke thee such a way as if thou bee aduised by me if thou followe my counsayle and walke the way that I will shewe thee thou shalt spite of his heart breake his fetters in peeces get out of his prison and defie him and all his wicked retinue euen to their faces The sinfull man Oh Solace doth thy mercy so abound to pardon me Although like stinking filthie cloath my life appeare to thee If Sathan held me not in band fast linckt in fetters fell Who roares like raging Lyon whē I doe determine well Full faine I would returne to thee whose mercy now I see And do perceiue that Satan seekes the meanes to murther me Solace YEa that is his occupation he hath nothing els to liue by nor to maintaine his kingdome withall He first allureth men to al kinde of vice he stirreth them vp to rebell against the will of mine heauenly father and as much as in him lyes reteineth them therein but when they be somewhat touched with the knowledge and feeling of their error when the spirite beginneth to groane vnder the heauie burthen of sinne and sommoneth them to the leading of a new life and they begin to fall from him then beginnes he to bestirre himself then he begins to cogge and to lye then he renues the Commissions of his officers and wicked ministers to lay a newe assault to their soules who with great diligence execute their masters will in perswading the poore sinner that he beginnes to take an ill course if he decline from his wicked way when he refuseth to doe ill and chooseth to doe good when he leaueth darknesse and betakes him to the light of trueth He tolde Iudas that he was not wise if he would followe me but if he would forsake me and betray me then did he well But when he had performed his commaundement and done as he was bid what did that master of his for him for sooth for feare least he should haue truely repented and haue vnfeynedly returned to me againe he put such a pricke into his conscience that he neuer left him till he had hanged himselfe Such conflictes maketh hee in the mindes of men that haue once yeelded vnto his pestilent motions and obeyed his wicked will without remorse of conscience feare of death or loue of mee and that will not be in time reclaymed from their wickednesse whome the wordes of my mouth will not mooue nor the feare of hell fire fraye from their filthinesse these I say when they heare the iudgements of my Father against them for their sinnes he to the ende he may hold them still in blindnes fearreth them with threates and ouercommeth their wittes with most horrible and blasphemous perswasions that there is no saluation or hope of helpe in me in so much as he laboreth by all meanes and vseth all his pollicies to bring them to destruction resisting them alwayes from doing any good as he stoode at the right hande of Iehoshua to let him when hee prayde vnto myne heauenly father for the state of the people So hee endeuoureth to take my worde out of thine heart least thou shouldest beleeue and be saued yea he desireth to winnow those that will come forwarde to godlines as Wheate as he sifted Peter myne Apostle who perswaded him selfe to be able to stand strongly but loe euen with the feare that Sathan stroke him with he denied me three times but he repented went out and wept bitterly And afterward resisted him manfully nay he was not
coÌ„tented only to trie mine Apostles and other holy men but he had a pull at me he layd a great assault against me as he thought for he tried me with great possessions that he promised to giue mee hoping that wealth would winne me he tryes me with hunger when he sawe this would not mooue me he sought meanes that I might kil my self to throwe my selfe downe of an high â—â—eeple but I could haue done it without hurt and so he perswaded me although he beleeued it not But this practise hee putteth yet in proofe for he willeth one to drowne himselfe another to kill himselfe the third to hang him selfe and by diuers other meanes he mooueth them to mischiefe themselues to dispatch them out of the way And why Least they should after his venemous biting looke vpon the brasen Serpent and liue which is least they should forsake sinne and cleaue vnto righteousnes least they should repent their wicked life and so returne and looke vpon me who was lifted vp vpon the Crosse that none that beleeue in me should perish but be healed of their spiritual diseases the sting of Sathan Wherefore turne thou vnto me turne thee I say vnto mee behold me crucified take a good hart vnto thee feare thou not I was sent in the flesh to die for thy sinnes such tender loue of thy saluation had mine heauenly Father that notwithstanding I was his onely deare Sonne in whome he was delighted yet spared he not me but sent me to saue thee Set Sathan therefore at naught I haue alreadie reprooued him take him as he is a fyre brand of hell whome I haue dispoyled of all his power feare none of these things that he threateneth thee withall But be faithfull vnto the death and I wil giue thee a crowne of life Be strong in the power of my might Put away lying and the author of lyes and gird thy loynes with veritie put on the brest plate of righteousnes the shielde of fayth and stand against these sharpe assaults of Sathan out of whose hands to redeeme thee I haue payd what could be demaunded yea the vttermost farthing nothing coulde ransome thee but my blood and that I gaue euen vnto the last drop whereof because I see thee ignorant I tell it thee so much y e oftner wherein if thou beleeue me I will proceed to shewe thee further what my fathers will is and howe thou shalt goe forward to fulfill the same Play the good and skilfull Mariner that hoyseth vp the Sailes when the wind best serueth and like a wise Marchant make thy market when thou meetest with the best Chapman least when thou wouldest saile the winde turne against thee and the market contrarie to thine expectation fall to thy disprofit Therfore I say while thou hast this opportunitie take holde of my proffer seeke me nowe I am neere least when thou wouldest thou canst not find me take heede y t thou omit not this conuenient time say not I come too morrowe I will goe burie my Father I will goe prooue my yoke of Oxen I wil goe see my Farme I wil go build c. These and such like delayes haue deceiued many were not the fiue foolish Uirgines shut out because they had no light in their Lampes when the Brydegroome came Let this suffice while thou hast light proffered receiue it least thou be thrust into vtter darkekenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The sinfull man Oh Solace I appeale to thee in heart I doe request That y u wilt shewe the perfect path to thy surpassing rest I doe perceiue from Sathan thou by death hast set mee free But tell me what I must beleeue and doe to come to thee He labours yet within my brest and faine would haue me gone He tels me flat that comfort thou in fine wilt shewe me none For I am his he sayes and he will haue me in the end Good Solace if thou can doe thou this cause of mine defend Solace WEll well I say take heede thou sinful wretch least as I sayd erwhile thou loose this fit oportunitie this conuenient wind that now is risen to blowe thee to the sweete harbour of saluation take heede it turne not against thee doest thou beleeue these tales of him that seekes to destroy thee and that raiseth so many stormes and tempestes to beate thee backe from the sweete and sure harbour of heauenly comfort And makest thou a doubt of my power Shall I defend thee if I can Is it by reason of infirmitie that thou sayst so or is it a stone which Sathan gaue thee to throw at me as his ministers did when I was on y e Crosse they bid me come downe and saue my selfe if I could yes yes I could and so am I able to saue thee if thou beleeue in me I haue already vanquished him that holdeth thee thus in darknesse and in the shadowe of death and thus perswadeth thee to refuse light offred in an acceptable time But faint not I say againe but beleeue verely to haue thy portion in the lande of the liuing Oh wretched man I perceiue thine infirmitie yet touched with the desire of thy saluation wherefore suffer this tryall with pacience I was tempted as thou hast heard but I withstood it euen vnto the death Be strong resist this cruell aduersarie of thine sight manfully against him and beate him downe with the Clubbe of a true and vndoubted faith in me Lay about thee before thee and behinde thee and of euery side suffer him not to come neere thee let him vnderstand that thou hast a master now that is mightier than he tell him that thou art now in the seruice of Iesus Christ a Captaine that hath giuen thee the weapons wherewith he ouercame him on the Pinacle and on the Mountaine at al times in al his assaults and then will he thinke his labour to bee all in vaine which he hath bestowed in stirring thee against me And as I haue promised to stande thy freend I will performe it come thou holdly vnto the Throane of grace where thou shalt receiue comforte in these conflictes I am the fountaine of all spirituall helpe who haue deliuered thee out of the bondage and thraldome of the deuill by my blood haue I raunsomed thee out of the captiuitie of Sathan I willingly obeyed myne heauenly father to the death to obteine remission of thy sinnes and rose againe for thy iustification that thou through faith in me shouldest bee saued and from henceforth to liue not to thy selfe after the flesh to fulfill the lustes and euill appetites thereof pleasing Sathan but to liue vnto me that is to abandon vice and to followe vertue to eschue euill and to doe good to seeke peace and to ensue it and carefully to imbrace godlinesse and righteousnesse of life as by me thou art made righteous and by
mine heauenly father yea all they that came of y e stock of Adam are all become abominable and of none abilitie to doe good there is none that worketh righteousnes no not one my selfe excepted who according to y e promise of mine heaueÌ„ly father in the beginning made to Adam y t the seede of the woman should tread downe the Serpents head who was also promised to Abraham Isaak and Iacob where it was foretold that in their seede should all the kingdomes of the earth be blessed therefore must thou beleue that y e originall corruption which proceeded froÌ„ Adam remaineth yet in all flesh in generall whose reward is death But my father hath reserued vnto himselfe a certaine number knowne onely vnto himselfe which in my bloud he hath sanctified vnto eternall life whom by the holy Ghost he elected and chose out before the foundation of the world to be his childreÌ„ adopted and vnited into his fauour and mercie againe by me his onely sonne who in the time from the beginning of the world limited by the holy Prophets foreshewed came into the world in the very shape forme of a man and in all thinges lyke vnto a man sinne excepted conceiued in the wombe of a virgin whose name was Marie by the holy ghost and was incarnate and tooke substaunce of her bodie and borne into the world and growing in the fleshe according to the manner of sinfull men yet without sin according to the worde of the Prophetes And that I was y e Messias so long before promised who should bring ioy glad tidings vnto all the world and to set those at libertie that were in the boÌ„dage of Sathan sould vnder sinne and to giue light to them that sate in darknes and in the shadowe of death who haue bin from the beginning of the world begotten before all creatures and consecrated of mine heauenly Father to be the onely Hye Priest that should offer the Sacrifice that should appease his wrath for all the sinnes of the worlde to be the king to defend his people and the Prophet to shewe them his will and to guide their feete vnto the way of peace Who by offering vp my body in sacrifice once for all through the eternall spirite without spotte or sinne purged the consciences of men from dead workes to serue the liuing God mine heauenly Father and that for that purpose I lefte the heauenly Cittie the bosome of mine heauenly Father and being Lorde of all became a subiect and seruaunt to all laying aside all glorie and put on the base attire of mortall man being indued with two natures Deuine and Humaine without which the will of my Father could not haue bin executed according to his diuine prouidence for in my humanitie I was in this worlde parsonally dwelling among men eating and drinking among men and was verie man of the promised seed of Dauid and yet as touching my Godhead I was nothing inferiour to mine heauenly father but coequall with him and coeternall yet was I coÌ„tent to humble my selfe obey his will and to shewe his vnspeakeable loue and ardent desire he had of the redemption of mankinde wherein he gaue me his onely sonne to dye for the sinnes of the world who according to his determinate will did most willingly imbrace euen the death of the Crosse to redeeme them from death that were iustly condemned performing the message of mine heauenly father in all things doing nothing but what was decreed before the beginning of the world by the eternal counsaile I became poore to make thee rich and to be a meane to bring thee into the fauour of mine heauenly father againe I became bond to the will of mortall men to make thee free with the imortall God I became a straunger and a Pilgrim in earth to make thee a Citizen of heauen I became the sonne of mortall man to make thee the childe of the liuing GOD I suffered the paynes of Hell to purchaze thee heauen I was content to sufter the cruell death of the Crosse to procure thee lyfe eternal Thou must therefore faithfullie belieue that I am that Christ that true Messias that was promised to be the Sauiour of the world who was annoynted with the oyle of grace and was indued with all spirituall heauenly giftes here in earth aboue all others and that my flesh was so sanctified with my Diuinitie and Godhead that it could not suffer or see corruption Thou must belieue also that after I had preached the will of my father in Iudea and Galile in great humilitie where both by word and miracles I shewed my selfe to be the sonne of God as also by the preachings of the Prophets The Iewes by all meanes sought to take me but could not before my time was come and when the howre came when I should be deliuered into their hands according to the will of my Father I was vniustly accused of y e chief priests who consulting how they might haue me taken procured Iudas falsly to betray me promising him a bribe who although I could haue preuented him betrayed me with a kisse And then the chiefe Priestes bound me and brought me before Pylate and had prouided false witnes to accuse me wicked ministers to scourge me scoffers to deride me condemning me most vniustly to dye and to be hanged vpon the Crosse betweene two theeues as a principall malefactor and yet pure and altogether without spotte or sinne where most ignominiously and cruelly I was crowned with a Crowne of thornes in dispitefull and disdaynfull manner saluting me by the name of the king of the Iewes who being thirstie they gaue me most sharpe vinegar mingled with gall to drinke all which I most meekely and willingly suffered tooke all their torments patiently their raylings and reuilings mildlie their buffetings spittings at me meekelie longing for the redemption of mankinde to be baptized with that baptisme of so greeuous a death and to offer vp once for all the sacrifice of my bodie to reuiue them that were dead in sinne and to obtaine pardon for their transgressions euen the tender loue I had to the saluation of their poore soules by which oblation I haue purchased full satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole world that whoe so beleeueth in me should not pearish but should obtaine eternall lyfe Thou must verely beleeue also that I dyâ—d vppon the same Crosse and euen giuing vp the ghost into the handes of mine heauenly Father I indured such agonie due for the sinne of mankinde which aunswered the Iustice of mine heauenly Father in so heauy exceeding manner in respect of mine humanitie that the verie anguish and conflict of the flesh and spirit I sweat water and â—loud and was
holy Ghost being y e third person of the Trinitie is a diuine person coessentiall and coeternall with my father me who proceedeth from mine heauenly father and mee It is the comforter and spirite of trueth the very pledge and earnest penye of thy saluation whereby thou art sanctified and assured in thy conscience that thou art the child of mine heauēly father and heire of eternall life and by it dwelleth mine heauenly father in thee It is the directiō to all goodnesse whatsoeuer whereby the Prophets haue prophesied mine Apostles preached all auncient Fathers written and al godly men tasted of the sweete and comfortable message which I haue brought into this worlde It is the water of life which by no meanes will flowe into the hearts of the wicked nor abide in the hearts of y e vnbeleuers but delighteth to rest in the hearts and to guide the soules of thē tha beleeue and cleaue vnto righteousnesse and thereby mayst thou answere the aduersaries of my worde and Gospel It is the holy Ghost that calleth men from darknesse to walke in light that procureth newnesse of life and that mortefieth the old man the world and the flesh and maketh thee strong against sinne death and Satan and that giueth knowledge of the trueth and power to imbrace it and which maketh my yoke easie and my burthen light that strengtheneth the weake hearts and feeble consciences to serue mine heauenly father whereby thou art conducted and guided the way that leadeth vnto the blisse that neuer shall cease It measureth all thy doings by the rule of my worde reformeth errors and reproueth the world of sinne of righteousnesse and of Iudgement and beareth witnesse in the hearts of all beleeuers that their sinnes are freely forgiuen thē in me It was the guyd whereby mine Apostles folowed me without the which no man can say that Iesus is the Lord. Thou must also faithfully beleeue in one Catholique Church vniuersall dispersed throughout the whole worlde being the whole companie of the faithfull beleeuers in mee who notwithstanding they are not of one vnite companie in bodily societie yet in respect of their mutuall and ioynt agreemēt of their faith of their life their Baptisme their holy Table and true Religion they are one Church and Cōgregation of those y t of the free grace and mercy of God mine heauenly father are chosen and predestinat to eternall life of which Church Congregatiō I am the head and whom the holy Ghost hath sanctified made holy and whome I commende vnto mine heauenly father to enioye that inheritaunce which I haue purchased with my blood who as long as they are conuersaunt in this miserable worlde and beare about them the heauy burthen of the flesh cannot do that which they should and therfore cannot be of such perfection nor be so purged from their originall corruption and infirmities which abideth in all flesh as is requisite vntill such time as I their head shall appeare whē they likewise shal appeare with me in glorie which Church godly Cōgregation y u must likewise beleeue to be so knit vnited together in the band of mutuall loue godly agreemēt that whatsoeuer good gift mine heauēly father bestoweth vpon them perticulerly they imploye it to the cōmon behoofe of all in generall And that as this Church and Congregation of al faithfull beleeuers in me is the true Catholique and apostolique Church so for them I haue purchased free forgiuenes of al their sinnes and that of y e mere loue of mine heauenly father and mine obedience vnto the death and nothing of their deserts in so much as there remaineth none other satisfaction or attonemēt to bee made with mine heauenly for the sinnes of y e world but my self only that none can obteine remission of their sinnes but such as bee made true mēbers of the same Church by me for besides the same Congregation there be none but such as work iniquities to whō I will say depart from me I know you not for whom there is a place of endles woe prouided Also thou must beleeue that although the corruptible bodies of mākinde must perish putrefie returne againe to dust of which it was first created yet that in the last day they shal rise again with the same bodies and couered with the same skinnes which now they haue and which thē shall be renewed and glorified they that are departed this life alreadie shall take againe their owne bodies which then shall bee of farre greater glorie then either in this life they were or that any heart can imagine And those that at my comming shall be founde liuing in this worlde shall suddainely bee chaunged and those that bee of this Congregation the true members of this Church shalbe placed in the vnspeakeable ioyes of eternall blisse but those that haue giuen them selues in this world to the fulfilling of the lustes and desires of the flesh liued in wantonnes chambering the Couetouse persons the Usurers Drunkardes Gluttons and vngodly persons shall not enioy the benefite of that sacrifice which with mine owne body I offered on the Crosse once for all but shalbe cast into vtter darkenesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth THese things must thou faithfully and vndoubtedly beleeue to be the very trueth and groūd of true religion which who so beleeueth not is no true member of that holy Catholique Church which is predestinate to be saued And therefore by a firme and constaunt faith thou must take holde of these things which I haue declared vnto thee being the ground of thy saluation freely promised in me of which faith the holy ghost is y e giuer who frameth the hearts of all men to beleeue the promises of my heauenly father touching their saluation in mee sealeth vp the sam◠promises in their hearts whereby they perswade themselues to be members of the same true Church and of the company of those that are predestinate to be saued which fayth bringeth forth the fruites of a godly life the beginning whereof as I sayde before is vnfeyned repentance grounded vpon this true and vndoubted fayth in which two Faith and repentance is conteined the whole summe of my Gospell wherefore as thou hast heard what this faith is howe it worketh and what it should bee exercised in So must thou reteine it and bring foorth the fruites thereof that it may appeare a liuely an effectuall and not not a dead fayth And forasmuch as the night is so neere I will for this day here make an ende And in the meane time woulde haue thee to meditate of my former wordes not forgetting them but diligently inclyning all thy studie will and whole heart effectually to followe that which may testifie in thy conscience that thou art
the same inwardly which thou desirest to seeme outwardly And in the morning when thou comest againe I will proceede to direct thee to that repentance wherein thou must exercise thy selfe towardes the amendement of thy former life The sinfull man Would GOD the night were not so neere thy talke delighteth mee Encrease my fayth to morrowe I will waite againe on thee The ende of the VVednesdaye or third dayes Conference A PRAYER FOR the encrease of faith and for the direction of the holy spirite to frame our liues according to the rule which God the father in his sonne Christ hath prescribed vnto vs. OH God my God giuer of al good things and the sure defence and succour of all them that faithfully beleeue in thee Loe I thy silly creature the worke of thine owne handes who in my great darkenes and ignorance humbly craue of thee the light that shineth from on high that faith sweete Lord without the which no maÌ„ can please thee which proceedeth from the holy Ghost the most wholsome water of life whereof oh Lorde giue mee some taste some sparcle whereby I may come vnto thee wherby I may frame my life according to thy blessed and heauenly will and whereby I may truely serue thee and doe worship to thine holy name Vouchsafe oh Lorde vouchsafe in Iesus Christ thine onely and welbeloued sonnes name and for his sake to be mercifull vnto my wretchednes to forgiue my wickednes to strengthen my weakenes to pardon my dulnes and more and more to encrease my fayth and to vouchsafe mee perfect knowledge of goodnes and ablenes by thine holy spirit to follow thee to frame myne heart vnfaynedly to loue thee my will to seeke al my powers to doe their dueties to praise thee Lord increase my faith which is the principall meane whereby we take hold of thy most louing and most comfortable promises in Christ our Sauiour thyne only and welbeloued Sonne whome thou of meere loue of our saluation sentest into this miserable world here to suffer the opprobrious death of the Ctosse to appease thy wrath for our sinnes and to risâ— agayne for our iustification The worlâ—â—hereof sweete IeIesus thou hast not onely most willingly as an obedient sonne performed according to thy fathers will but hast reueyled and manifested the mystery thereof to all the worlde and trayned out the way that wee should walke in to come to that vnspeable happy habitation the endlesse blessings and passing ioyes whereof no tong can expresse Thou hast by thy death sweete Iesus purchased agayne for vs that which before we had lost in Adam Thou hast redeemed vs again out of the hands of death and raunsomed vs from the cruell bondage of Sathan that enemy of al mankind whose head although thou haue troden downe and payd the vttermost which could be demaunded for our redemption spoyled him of all his power and vnarmed him of all his weapons gotten the victorie ouer death and hell Yet such is our weakenes our corruption and the hardnesse of our beliefe in thee that he remayneth yet tyrannous diligently attending watching and seeking whom he may deuour whom he may leade with blindnesse into error and false religion into the wayes of wickednesse to destruction both of body and soule And we most wretched sinners prone to doe that which is contrary to thy will haue of our selues no power to â—â—thstand him no ablenes to auoyde his tyranny Wherefore most louing Iesus I the most wretched and sinfull the most ignorant and blind creature most humbly pray thyne ayde thyne assistance and gracious protection not onely to defend mee from the clawes of Sathan and his ministers the World and lustes of the corrupt flesh but also grace to guyde my life in fayth vnfeyned perfect loue and true feare of thee myne onely Sauiour and Redeemer hauing none other hold none other helpe strength defence or hope to be defended saufely conducted in a godly life and conuersation but thy selfe sweet Iesus thou inuincible captaine thou lambe of God who takest vpon thee the sinnes of the world whose will is that we should bee saued and be preserued from the hands of that cruell Aduersary the Deuill But alas good Iesus so blynded are we that we can not see the way to thee so deafe that we refuse to heare thee and so disobedient that we come not willingly vnto thee we haue not attended when thou hast taught vs but haue refused to bee instructed when thou hast directed vs. But most louing Iesus the cause is the want of that most excellent gift of thyne a true fayth which thou hast offered and I neglected and therefore haue I not hethertoo bene perfectly assured nor certeynly perswaded in heart of the performance of those most comfortable blessings which are promised in thee Oh sweete Iesus haue thou remorse of this my dulnesse plucke out of myne heart the Beame of vnbeleefe and voutsafe mee now the right vse of that most singuler meane of following thee the eye of a perfect and true faith and let naturall reason the Mother of error no longer deceyue mee or drawe mee into conceites contrary to thy most blessed will but being indued with thy gift of vnfeyned faith I may truely repent mee of all my former euils and so euermore hereafter euen to my liues end cleaue stedfastly to pure religion the true seruice of thee Oh Lord giue me one sparcle of this true fayth wherby I may be able to comprehend rightly to vnderstand what thy diuine will and pleasure is in all things That I may frame mine outward desires to the fulfilling therof and by thine holy spirit continually keepe downe the prowde attempts vnlawlawfull desires and carnall lustes of the flesh withstand the deuill in all his assaultes and manfully ouercome the vayne pleasures of this wicked world Oh giue mee the shielde of a true fayth and the brestplate of vnfeyned repentance to fight that good fight that happy fight whereby I may be crowned with the glorious crowne of victorie and whereby I may bee accepted into the number and societie of that holy congregation and fellowship of the faithfull the Catholique Church wherof sweete Iesus thou art the head and onely defence in whome whosoeuer ouercommeth thou hast ordeyned the Diademe of al true happines wherwith thou hast promised to crowne them and to set the title of triumph vpon their heads to place them in that heauenly countrie that celestial inheritance wherein there shalbe no more feare no more cares no more vanities or affliction of spirit but continuall peace vnfained loue vnspeakable ioyes and endles felicitie for euermore Wherefore sweete Iesu vouchsafe mee that spirituall weapon the shield of a true fayth that fighting therewith against all the assaults of sinne vnder the Banner of thy protection I may in the ende be crowned with the Crowne of Eternall life among the rest of thy chosen children sweete Iesu Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth And euermore
mightily defend mee THE THVRSDAY or fourth daies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull Man VVherein the sinfull man confesseth his Fayth and is instructed by Solace what repentaunce is and what are the fruites thereof and the things that hinder it Solace WHere art thou man that yesterday didst promise to be here Come forth attend beleue in mee let fruitfull faith appeare The sinfull man Oh Solace art thou here so soone this day to meete with mee Say what thou wilt I doe beleeue attendant here on thee Who as a iust reward they had from their estate exile And all that come of Adams line through Adams sinne do fall Deseruing death by due desert and thus came first our thrall And then our God of passing loue most sory for our sinne Did promise that the womans seede should our saluation winne And promised to Abraham to giue his sonne to saue Mankind from Sathans tyrannie as I beleeue he gaue Thy selfe sweete Iesus I beleeue who were coequall than With God thy father were content to be both God and man To come into this vale of woe and walke amongst vs here To shewe for our saluation thy fathers wisdome clere Borne of the virgine Marie pure as was before decreede That thou that shouldest saue vs all shouldest come of womans seede Whose Godhead and humayne state should linke them selues in one Inuisible and visible and not be here alone The heauenly counsaile did decree thy selfe as man to dye And as a God againe for vs exalt thy selfe on hye And when thou here in earthly soyle in humaine weedes belowe Didst wander I beleeue thee then like other men to growe To shewe thy selfe as man to vs in humayne state to be In eche respect a man in deede from sinne yet onely free And wast content to beare reproch to suffer cruell Iewes To buffet thee to spit at thee and thee full vilely vse Who sought by many wylie meanes to take thy life from thee Procuring wicked ministers to punish thee for mee False witnesses vniustly came accusing thee of ill And thou a lambe most innocent were well contented still And when the time appointed came wherein thou shouldest die Thy torments were so terrible were forst as man to crie My God my God in my distresse why haste thou leaft mee thus No tongue can tell the great conflicts which thou hadst then for vs. Wherein thou gauest vp the ghost vnto thy father deere Discending to the deepe of hell to clense vs sinners here The wrath of God thy father was to Adams sinne so great That nothing could but thou his sonne his loue againe intreat Who on the Crosse I doe beleeue with heart and tongue confesse That thou for all offenders then didst purchase due redresse For our offences wlllingly thou didst accept to dye And to be layd in graue as man and seene with humayne eye The third day after to aryse againe out of the graue And to ascend aboue the Skies to whome thy father gaue Thy former glory and the seate at his right hand againe Where thou as Lord of all and some doste with him now remayne And there a Mediator true for sinners here belowe Thy selfe in mercie merueilous vnto thy father showe And when the time is full compleate from thence I doe beleeue In iudgement thou wilt come againe to all mankind to giue Their iust reward of life or death as they deserue to haue Who then shall take the flesh againe they caried to the graue And those that doe remayne aliue shall quickly changed be The wicked to their endlesse woe and iust shall goe with thee Into that sâ—â—te of passing blisse that neuer shall haue end And those that thou shalt find vniust thou wilt with Sathan send The holy ghost I doe likewise in heart confesse to be Whome I doe faithfully beleeue to be all one with thee And with the father who are three in parson but in deede In substance one a Trinitie in vnitie decreede Which holy ghost doth sanctifie thy chosen ones to liue Assuring all men to be thine that faithfully beleeue And those to be an holy church a congregation pure Whome Sathan can not with his wiles from thy precepts allure Dispersed through the world so wide yet faithfully agree In faith in baptisme and good will vnited all in thee As to their head and chiefe defence on whome they doe depend And whome with mightie hand thou doste most graciously defend And they like faithfull children doe communicate in one And doe not vse thy benefites eche man by him alone But what thou dost on one bestowe he doth impart to all And eche in godly loue supports another least he fall Whose sinne I faithfully beleeue is pardoned in thee Who by thy death I doe beleeue hast made mee likewise free And that our bodies now corrupt shall rise againe in fine In purerest wise and them into thine hands againe resigne And that our soules and bodies shall the heauenly ioyes possesse For euer more encrease my faith that I beleeue no lesse Solace WEL then if thine heart doe faithfully beleeue those things which thou hast here confessed doe not swerue nor stand doubtfull of any one of these seuerall Articles thou art in a good way and shalt shortly feele in thy selfe a merueilous chaunge through the working of this faith whose operation and effect as I told thee yesterday is wonderfull and to conclude looke vpon Gydion Barach Sampson Ieptha Dauid Samuell and the Prophetes who through the same faith subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obteyned the promises stopped the mouthes of Lions quenched the force and violence of fire escaped the edge of the Sworde of weake were made strong became valiant in battataile and put to flight the Armies of the Aliauntes It is I say the foundation and groundworke of all other vertues whatsoeuer shewing it selfe by vnfained repentance which is an inward sorrowe for sinne and a continuall godly care of the amendement of life as thou shalt hereafter bee better instructed if faithfully thou imbrace my sayings and incline thine eares to knowledge The sinfull man Increase my faith I am corrupt which keepes mee dull perforce My flesh is fraile my will is weake good Solace shewe remorse And what as yet doth want in mee vnfold the same in hast That I a sinner may repent of all offences past Solace IF thou bee so well disposed and so readie in heart truely to turne vnto mee vnfeinedly to repent as by outward shewe thou seemest I wil proceede to shew thee how thou must finish y e good desire of thine to obteine eternall life The sinfull man Say on good Solace I attend I long in heart to heare The course of this thy purpose pure which is to mee so deere Solace THen vnderstand thou that when I walked in this vale of miserie in the similitude of mortall man healing all deseases and bodily infirmities I required for my rewarde of those
enemies was bound in fetters but vpon his true repentance humbling himselfe in prayer obteyned not only deliueraunce but pardon for his offences The Isralites in their great daunger repented their sinnes fell prostrate vnto God in true repentaunce and were deliuered Mary Magdaline vpon the like repentaunce humbled her self and I forgaue her sinnes The Niniuites a rebellious and obstinate people at the comming of Ionas preaching repentaunce repented in Sackcloth and Ashes and were saued But the old world whose hearts would not relent nor turne from their wickednesse by the preaching of Noe were they not suddainely taken and drowned in the great Flood Noe with a small number of persons excepted The Sodomites and men of Gomorrha who would not repent at the message of my father were burnt with fire and Brimstone suddainly from heauen Such was the vnbeleefe and careles wretchednesse of those of Ierusalem whose dissobedience was great would not repent had the sentence of destruction seuen yeares before pronounced against them and yet runne on still in their wickednesse were besieged and entrenched with their enemies Tytus and Vespatian who battered their walles sackt their Citie burned their houses and themselues in such miserie that for meere famine were driuen to eate their owne children and things clene contrary to the nature of men such is the iust iudgement of mine heauenly father against such as wil not â—e warned at my worde the Gospell of trueth such as neglect and contemne my messengers and set at naught the preaching of my will Wherefore I say againe vnto thee and not to thee only but to al in general rent your hearts and not your garments and returne speedely vnto him whose hands of mercie are now extended ready to receiue them that truely turne to him and his vengeaunce and wrath ready to be powred out vpon the rebellious people vpoÌ„ the sinfull and wicked ones that without regard of his mercie or feare of his Iustice imbrace wickednesse lock vp vanitie in their chestes euen with gréedines for which cause the wrath of my heauenly father is inkindled wherein he deliuereth the offenders into the hands of their aduersaries that shall destroye theÌ„ And yet such is his mercie and his loue so vnspeakeable that at what time soeuer they shall vnfeinedly repent them of their sinnes when soeuer they shall in heart returne to him he shall receiue theÌ„ in mercie and with his merueilous louing kindnesse shal he defend them as with a shield Wherfore I say vnto thee not onely vnto thee but to all those that haue their affections set on the things of this world Mortefie your members which are on the earth fornication vncleannes the inordinate and vnbrideled affections of the heart euill concupiscence and couetousnesse which is Idolatrie which is now adaies most greedely imbraced But be assured and let no man neither thine owne peruerse imagination deceiue thee that neither Whoremonger neither vncleane person nor he that supposeth his safetie to consist in his riches an Idolater shal haue any parte of the inheritaunce of my Kingdome Among whom thou thy self hast walked and which things thou hast sometimes been defiled with fulfilling the desires of the corrupt flesh wherby the wrath of mine heauenly father was bent against thee But of my rich grace if thou repent and beleeue thou shalt be saued Wherfore beware thou harden not thine heart in euill returne without delay be warned runne not headlong into newe euilles as the corruption of thy peruerse nature prouoketh thee and whereby Sathan seeketh to drawe thee either into a careles going forward in euill or els into that false and damnable kinde of sorrow whereinto he drewe Caine Esau and Iudas whose sorrow was not to repentaunce vnto saluation as thou hast heard before but wherby they aggrauated and encreased the displeasure of God against them and into the same sorrowe he began to draw thee when thou were first touched with y e knowledge of thy sinnes of which kinde of sorrowe thou must beware and prepare thy heart to that sorrow of Dauids of Mary Magdalines and of the Theefe that was executed with me whose sorrow was vnto saluation not vnto death vnto amendement of life not vnto perseueraunce in wickednesse vnto righteousnesse not vnto sinne Thou must search thine owne conscience and roote out of thine heart al hypocrisie al vnbeleefe all hawtines and pride and in al humblenesse and lowlinesse of minde prostrate thy selfe before the tribunall seaâ—e of God the father making humble confession of thy former euill life and in an vnfeyned faith crye out that for my sake he will bee mercifull vnto thee that hee will forgiue thy sinnes and pardon thine iniquities who is readie in great mercie to returne to him that seeketh him by me with his whole heart who eschueth euil and doth the thing that is good that cleaueth vnto righteousnesse and auoydeth all occasions to doe euill And that with Dauid considering his waies turneth his feete vnto my testimonies and not to Couetousnesse chastizing himselfe with true mortification and casting away all impediments that may hinder or let the preceeding to the amendement of his sinfull life For he that will come vnto mee must bee contented to take in good parte to forgoe the pleasures of this world to bee of small reputation here to bee hated reuiled persecuted yea and to suffer death for my sake The sinfull man All this I can and will performe yea what thou wilt I shall I yeeld my self with wilâ—ing mind for thee to beare it all Solace ALas poore sillie man thou shewest thy selfe very valiaunt before the battaile and very coragious before the combat thou canst stande fast before thou be shaken as though thou were of thy self of power to doe what thou oughtest and to abstaine from doing that thou oughtest not to doe as though thou hadst no neede of my helpe nor waÌ„t of the aide of the holy Ghost or had such perfection alreadie as now there wanted no more in thee Beware of this presumption for it is a meane to queÌ„ch true zeale and a great hinderaunce vnto the worke of true repentance It is the dregges of Satans poyson that yet remaine in thy corrupted minde wherewith thine heart yet swelleth against instruction with a vaine conceipt of sufficient abilitie to doe good and to eschue euill and to beare the heauie burthen of death for my sake when in deede thou art not yet healed of thine olde sore but refusest as it were to receiue the medicine which for thine eternall health I minister vnto thee Sathan telleth thee that thou art able alreadie to worke miracles and to doe wonders and that thou knowest all thinges alreadie wanting nothing and why because he would keepe thee still in ignoraunce and from comming to knowledge It is his endeuour not in thee onely but he worketh to the same
heauen enduring for euer because he feareth not the destruction of the wicked nor longeth for the saluation prouided for the godly O miserable estate of the wicked Rich-men that repose their confidence in their muck and hazard their soules for the wealth of the world But awake awake thou foolish man that slumbrest thus in sinne looke vpon that godly Zacheus set him as a glasse wherein to behold the paterne of perfit repentaunce who being verie rich was voluntarily contented to restore not onely fowerfould that which he had wroÌ„gfully gotten but to giue the halfe of his goodes to the poore who had saluation for his reward Consider this O foolish man and refuse not to make restitution of thine indirectly gotten goods And of that which thou hast then left be thou liberall in so much as if thou sée thy poore brother to want that wherewith thou hast to relieue him thou maist not withhold it And let not the vnsatiable desire of momentanie pleasures to choake thine vnderstanding that my wordes can not reuoke thée from thy disobedience to a spéedie sorrow causing repentaunce vnto saluation walke not thus in a shadow disquieting thy selfe in vaine reposing thy trust in casuall riches whereof thou hast boasted thy selfe heretofore as though it could redéeme thy soule in the last day Wherefore I say be warned least thou be destroyed for euer least thou be pluckt out of thy foolish earthly tabernacle and quite and cleane rooted out of the land of the liuing which the righteous shall sée and laugh at and shall say Behold the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted in the multitude of his riches which now not onely auaileth him not in the day of the Lords wrath but hath heaped vpon himselfe veÌ„geance for his reward Naball a very rich man refusing of his increase store to releeue the young men whom Dauid sent who in his couetousnes said Shall I take my bread my water my flesh substaunce which I haue gotten together giue it to them I know not But he was rewarded with death Wherefore I say consider this and turne vnto me in newnes of lyfe and in righteousnes which shall deliuer thée from death Set not thine affections altogâ—ther thus on worldly thinges which I perceaue hath made thée so druncken that thou perswadest thy selfe that thy prosperitie which is the nurce and foundation of all other vices and the ground of all impietie and disobedience against God mine heauenly Father is the mother of true happinesse Beware of that error for Dauid when he was in prosperitie hauing all thinges at will fell to Adulterie and murdred an innocent man But he scaped not scotfrée he was plagued with his owne sonne Absolon who rebelled against him so daungerous is the estate of prosperitie and so iust is the iudgement of mine heauenly Father against such as doe not bestowe his giftes to the helpe and reliefe of his poore brethren but who in stead of reléefe vse for their owne priuate gaine violence oppression Wherefore I say stand vp with Zache be merciful and helpefull vnto thy poore and needy brethren according to thy power and as thou hast plenteous giue plenteously turne not thy face from him that asketh of thee and what thou hast had of any man wrongfully restore it againe willingly be ready to giue and glad to distribute and what thou layest out mine heauenly Father shal paye it thee againe in heauen and shall defend thee in time of thy necessitie Trust not in vncertaine riches which hath already deceiued thee but in the liuing God mine heauenly father who performed his promises for euermore who shall make thee so rich in good workes that in me and for my sake thou shalt obtaine eternall lyfe The sinfull man Then loe I will restore in hast the landes and Graunge againe To Simple and no other man shall losse by me sustaine But will the poore and needy man releeue that are opprest And then I trust I shal possesse at last eternall rest Solace IF this restitution of thine procéede of an vnfained fayth and the residue of thy doings tend to the amendment of thy life assure thy selfe of eternall saluation yet not in respect of thine owne good works be they neuer so manye but for my sake who as thou haste heard haue purchased the same for all them that vnfainedly repent and turne from their wicked waies for when thou of thy selfe hast done al that thou canst yet arte thou an vnprofitable seruant therfore must thou quite and clean disclaime thine owne worthines for in the sight of mine heauenly father shall no man liuing be iustified But if thou be ouerburdened with the weight of thy sins come vnto me lay all thine offences in true repentance on me who continue an aduocate in the sight of mine heauenly father making continuall intercession for as many as faythfully beleeue whome I will cloathe with the weedes of righteousnes that they in the last day may appeare without spot and receaue the reward of eternall life Where thou hast also diligently to beware that seeing saluation and redemption to come onely by my death and by sacrifice of my body on the Crosse once for all the sinnes of the world and that I continue a mediator and aduocate vnto mine heauenly Father for thée for euer and that I am full of mercie slowe to wrath and ready to forgiue Take héede I say least the prince of this world thy woonted aduersarie Sathan put into thine heart a presumption of these mercies of mine perswading thée that there is no doubt of saluation because that I haue promised that weare thy sinnes as redde as Scarlet I will make them as white as Snowe and so hold thee still to fight against all goodnes and godlynes and to stand stoutely as it were in defiance of my louing calling and dispise the riches of the grace and mercie of God mine heauenly Father purchased by my bloud wherein I louingly call thée now to repentaunce wherein thou must vnfainedly returne to me and that spedily not driuing off from day to day saying as the wicked when they be reprooued of their sinnes accustomably doe That they know they shall haue time enough to repent ere they dye which is another stop and stumbling block that Sathan layes before them that are called that they should not repent but dye in their sinnes So tels hée thée and perswades thée that death shall not be so cruell vnto thée but shall spare thee and afoord thée time enough to say euen at the last gasp Lord haue mercie vpon me Lord forgiue me my sins and so forth which as he tels thee shall be sufficient for thée Thus he séeketh to stay thy true repentaunce euery way and in this foolish imagination of crauing pardon at the last while manie haue delayed the
heauenly Ierusalem to that eternall blisse which I haue purchased and so great an helpe and furtheraunce is affliction and aduersitie as thou maist iustly lament thy worldly happinesse and sing euen with great ioye that thine estate is thus altered to reclaime thee from putting thy trust in transitorie thinges faithfully to repose the same in the sure defence of mine heauenly fathers right hande Be thankfull I say accept it as a good preparatiue to vnfeyned repentaunce wherein prostrating thy self in heart praie faithfully and confesse thy sinnes vnfeynedly and I will comforte thee againe with heauenly solace inwardly The sinfull man TheÌ„ shewe me how I should coÌ„fesse and how I ought to pray I doe repent my sinfull life that I haue led astray Solace I Will referre to instruct thee in prayer vntill to another day because the day is so farre spent and because I would first haue thee to confesse thy sinnes and discharge thy conscience of the heauie burden of thine iniquities before thou enter into that most excellent exercise of praier for the heart that is inwardly kept downe with the doubt of remission of sinnes through me can neuer freely open it selfe in a perfect faith to be heard of mine heauenly father and as long as thou goest about to cloke thine iniquities and to hide them from the sight of mine heauenly father thou canst neuer be assured of pardon for thou must bee assured that he that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but he that confesseth them and forsaketh them shal haue mercie his sinnes be they as red as Scarlet I will make as white as wolle and were the 〈◊〉 purple I will make them as white as snowe Now confession is an inward constant and continuall acknowledging thy selfe to bee a sinfull man altogether corrupt whose righteousnes is as a stayned and filthy cloth in whome remayneth no goodnes at all for there is none that sinneth not there is none that doth good none that worketh righteousnes no not one All men are subiect to many infirmities And he that saith that he hath not sinned he is a lyer he deceiueth him self and in him is there no trueth No man can say mine heart is cleare and I am cleare from sinne If therfore euery man be sinfull and none can excuse himselfe but that hee deserueth to be punished that he deserueth in respect of his owne goodnes to be cast of and to be scurged with the rod of correction Thou canst not then say I haue not sinned no thou canst not but confesse with the lost sonne that thou hast gone astraye that thou hast rebelled against God mine heauenly father and wrought so many things against his will that thou art no more worthy to be accepted as his sonne deseruing iustly to bee cast of If then there remaine no hope of thine owne deserts whereby to be accepted into his fauour again wherby to be accepted as his soÌ„ne nay whereby to bee accepted as an hired seruant Therfore there is no way for thee no meane for thee no hope to be receiued againe but in al huÌ„blenes of heart to fall downe as one in his own conscience guiltie of death appealing vnto the mercie of mine heauenly father in me who for my sake will not onely not turne away his face from the humble confession of thy sinnes but of his mercie most plentifull will hee meete the voyce of thine humble confession euen in the middest of thine heart yea and vnfained cries as he heard the humble and zealous sighes of Dauid who when he had sinned and highly displeased mine heauenly father he went not as it wâ—re into a corner to hide his offences wiâ—h the Cloake of hipocrisie but bewrayed his owne vntowardnes layde open his iniquities and acknowledged his sinnes saying within himselfe I will speake against my selfe I will reueale mine offences vnto the Lorde and all his sinnes were forgiuen him Such a godly feeling had Dauid of his sinnes hee entred into consideration of his wickednes before he could thus râ—tourne vnto mine heauenly father in heartâ—â— confession So enter thou into thy selfe examine thine owne conscience and looke back into the whole course of thy life and thou wilt 〈◊〉 ashamed to see thy miserable estate thou wilt blush at the consideration of thy former life and find thy selfe a verie wretched sinner And condemne thy self worthy of farre greater punishment then thou art able to beare Thus must thou begin to take accompt of thy selfe before thou canst truely returne and vnfeinedly confesse thine iniquities vnto mine heauenly father whose wrath is so great against sinne that as long as thou retainest a will to goe forward in sinne and haue not a greater care to returne vnto him hee will forsake thee and not opeÌ„ the hands of his mercie to receiue thee Make haste cherefore to returne forsake thy selfe and flye vnto him take holde of his promises he hath promised in mee to receiue all sinners truely repenting into his mercie againe I came to cal the sinners not the righteous wherefore if thou be a sinner which vnles thou flatter thy selfe to deceiue thy selfe thou canst not denie then I say take hold of this promise Crie out and say Oh Lorde I am a sinner I am one that haue gone astray most wickedly haue I set mine affections and most vainely imbraced the things that can not auaile me in my distresse in which I am inuironed with so many daungers and troubles as without thine helpe I am vtterly forlorne Rest I say and stay thy selfe onely vpon the louing promises of myne heauenly father in mee in faith assuring thy selfe that I will strenghthen thee against all Sathans temptations Thus I say must thou consider thy corruption and with the eye of a perfect fayth looke into the whole course of thy former life and with the same eye to behold the mercies of mine heauenly father most freely promised in me without whose free goodnesse there is no hope of saluation whereby is my death and bitter passion made auaileable to wash away all the sinnes of as many as vnfeinedly beleeue confessing themselues wretched sinners who returning vnto mine heauenly father in a godly feare are accepted righteous before him Thy confession must be ioined with faith and amendement of life for the beliefe of the heart iustifieth and to confesse with thy mouth maketh thee safe whereby thou must consider that it is not enough to crie out and say Oh Lorde I haue sinned I am wicked I haue greeuously offended c. for all this is but winde it is but opening the mouth to none effect but thy confession must bee grounded vpon the inuincible Rocke of faith whereby thou must betake thee vnto his heauenly Maiestie condemning thy self wholy and altogether not faintly after the maner of hypocrites who thincke themselues discharged with their fewe wordes But with Daniell thou must crye out and say Oh Lord we haue
sinned we haue dealt wickedly we haue most traiterously rebelled against thee These words came not faintly from y e tongue but with force and faith from the very roote of the heart And why because he had searched and tried yea he had a feeling an inward greefe for the sinnes of the people whose confession was accepted and whose prayer was heard The sinfull man Before I doe confesse to thee my sinne thou doest beholde The same at large what need I theÌ„ my sinnes thus to vnfolde Solace INdeede I doe beholde most plainely aswell the very intent of the heart the inner parte thereof as the outwarde actions the externall and visible corrupt conuersation there is no secrete thought no imagination that passeth vnreueiled by the light of my knowledge but whatsoeuer thou doest whatsoeuer thou speakest and whatsoeuer thou thinkest when and where I see and perceiue it altogether And yet notwithstanding it is requisite for thee for two causes to make confession of thine eniquities and that openly And why namely that mine heauenly father may bee knowne and acknowledged to be onely righteous only good yea and goodnesse it selfe a mercifull and pacient GOD and a most louing father and thy selfe to bee altogether vnrighteous fraught with euill in whom remaineth no goodnesse at all Thus must thou cast downe thy self condemne thy self and reprehende thine owne corruption and take holde onely of the goodnesse of GOD the Father in the merites of mee his Sonne by whose death thou art deliuered from death and deserued damnation which is an especiall cause to moue thee to this vnfeined and open confession of thine offences The seconde cause is to the ende that this thine open acknowledging of thy sinnes may bee to the edifying of other men As thou seest the confession of Dauid to bee profitable not onely vnto himselfe but to others not onely to them that were then present but euen to this day is hee to bee set before the eyes of sinners as a fitt patterne to measure their sorrowes by and to bewraye their owne wretchednesse in humble confession and to referre themselues onely to the mercies and louing promises of God mine heauenly father to bee releeued and comforted in their afflictions as Dauid was Yea the confessions which the faithfull haue made heretofore serue nowe to edefie other men at the consideration of whose humilitie and the good successe of their vnfeyned confession wherein they returned vnto mine heauenly father and were accepted againe into his fauour thou canst not but bee the more stirred vp to the like maner of humbling thy selfe acknowledging thy selfe a wretched sinner and to put thine whole trust and confidence in my death and bitter Passion and bee more and more stirred vp to serue and honour mine heauenly father in newnesse of life to the good and godly example of other men who seeing the mercie of GOD my father so plentifully shewed vnto thee shall in like maner make haste vnto the Throane of his grace in open confession of their sinnes that so one by the example of an other nay many at y e good example of one may bee edefied and glorifie God my father which is in heauen who deliuered mee ouer to suffer death for the redemption of them that truely turne to mee Wherefore I say acknowledge thy self sinfull and greatly indebted vnto mee in respect of thy many and wilfull transgressions wherby my gâ—ace may the more appeare in thee disclaime all desertes and merites of thine owne and cast thy selfe downe in thine owne conceipt as one not worthie of any comforte at all at mine handes appealing altogether to my merites in such sorte as by thine example other men may learne to confesse their iniquities and condemne them selues to bee guiltie and to haue deserued to bee punished and whereby they may be taken from them selues namely from the proude opinions of their owne good worke for in the sight of mine heauenly father can no man by his owne merites be accepted righteous but through me are they acceptable and iust in his sight And therefore saith Iob what if I should flatter my selfe and stand in mine owne coÌ„ceipt righteous and iust when my deedes shall be layd open when they shall be manifested I cannot answere one of a thousande thinges layd to my charge Therefore sayth he I will make my praiers and supplication vnto the Iudge If therefore thou be desirous to be iustified before mine heauenly father thou must sâ—y away all desertes of thine owne and confesse that there is nothing in thee but meere wickednesse horrible confusion vtter dispaire of thine owne goodnesse yeelding thy self guiltie of many euills For if thou seeke perfect righteousnesse thou must not stand vpoÌ„ thine owne abilitie to fulfill the law for so makest thou my death to be 〈◊〉 vain which through faith is that true vndoubted righteousnesse which iustifieth thee before mine heauenly father makest thee heire of eternall life Thorowe me is preached the forgiuenesse of sinnes and hee that beleeueth is iustified from those things from which he could not haue bin by the lawe that is by his owne workes Wherefore thou must coÌ„fesse me with thy mouth beleeue in thine heart that mine heauenly father raysed me from the dead to iustifie thee for with thine heart must thou beleeue vnto righteousnes and confesse with thy mouth vnto saluation By my grace I say art thou saued through faith and not by thine owne workes be they neuer so glorious in the sight of the world The sinfull man TheÌ„ what auaile good works are they of none effect in deede And bootes it not to keepe the lawes that Moses first decreede Solace THou must vnderstand that although in respect of thy good workes be they neuer so many and faire in the vewe of the worlde thou mayest not presume vpon the same so farre as to chalenge for the same the reward of eternall life and that thou must confesse when thou hast done all that thou canst thou art an vnprofitable seruant it behoueth thee with all diligence and godly care to endeuour to doe all that is commaunded thee in â—â—ese lawes of mine heauenly father writteÌ„ by the inspiration of y e holy ghost by Moyses in the two Tables wherein consisteth the whole summe of that which is required of euery man to be done in respect of the outward action and inward working which is in doing good to man whom thou seest and to loue God mine heauenly father whom thou seest not but by the eye of that true faith which taketh his light of the Gospel of trueth whereby thou art directed to the meane which worketh that perfection for thee which of thy selfe thou art not able to reache vnto namely my selfe without whose perfection thou must needes continue imperfect and vnable to doe any thing that is good by whome to whome
thrall Extende vnto mee wretched wight thy light and loue withall Oh Lorde my God forget mee not hyde not thy selfe from mee Although my flesh do striue to keepe my syllie soule from thee Showe not thyne anger as a foe let mercy be my staye It is no profite Lord for thee to cast my soule awaye Denie mee not a contrite heart a pensiue person poore An wofull wretch a sinfull soule that knocke here at thy doore Uouchsafe to turne thy face to mee forgiue my deedes amisse In feare I doo appeale to thee as one that guiltie is Deale not as my deserts doo craue but as of mercie thou Doost will and still delight to haue all sinfull heartes to bow Showe not thy force against thy foe that faine would come to thee And pardon my Offences all though Death be due to mee Oh plague mee not good Lord so sore I haue no force I fall I neuer wyll offende thee more if thou vouchsafe to call My soule from sinne and to affoord mee Solace sweete againe Loe here I doo against my selfe a sinfull wretch complaine Shame dooth beset mee round about my selfe consume in woe I am corrupt mine heart throughout I wander too and fro From sinne to sinne I run perforce I wander styll astraye Wherfore without thy due remorce I can not but decaye Since first I suckt my Mothersbrest yea since I sawe the daye The subtill Serpent hath not ceast to wrest mine heart astraye In sinne my mother did conceaue this cankred Corps of mine And Sathan seekes Lord to bereaue all that of right is thine He soweth 〈◊〉 and wicked seedes in mine vnstaid brest Wherof doo grow pernitious deedes which breede my soule vnrest Which I as yet cannot auoyde they fixe so fast one mee That froÌ„ my youth they haue auoid and keepe me Lord from thee So that I am full bought and sould betwene the Feend and synne And wickednes a thousand foulde myne heart doth lodge within The good I cannot which I would my nature proane to ill Withdraws myne harte froÌ„ what it should imbrace w t heauenly skil But Lord in sinne why should I dye syth thy good will is so To heare poor synners wheÌ„ they crie and them redeeme from woe And giuest them repaste againe from heauens high aboue And to repentant hearts full faine thou showest thy selfe in loue Ye thou doest saue through mercie meere those that deserue to dye When they to thee returne in feare oh Lorde now so doe I A thousand times before this daie thy mercies from aboue Haue saued them that went astraie to showe thy zealous loue Our fathers who were longe agoe when they were in dystresse Fell prostrate on their harts and loe thou gauest them redresse Ye wheÌ„ they were incompast round and no hope to auoyde Thy mercye Lord did so abounde that they were not destroyed Haue mercie therfore Lord on mee oh god on whome I call I wretched synner here to thee on prostrate heart doe fall Ease mee againe let mercie thine myne woefull hearte releeue And let not synne all goodnes mine through loosenes thus bereaue My soule alas in dolefull plight in hope of helpe doth crie Oh Lord extend thy louelie light that shines from heauen hye To guide my silly soule to blisse by shunnyng what is ill High time alas good Lord it is to frame mee to thy will Wherfore extend thy grace againe put foorth thy helpyng hand Let it reuiue what sinne hath slaine and loosen Sathans bande Lorde Iesus come oh come in haste Let Heauens Bowe come down That I a wretched wight at last maye ioye that passing Crowne Which y u by dreadful death hast won through pluÌ„ging panges on tree In loue to giue the same to those that feare to fall from thee Come come I say thou Solace true and fill mine hart with ioye My sinfull soule with grace renue whom Sathan would destroye No daye no time no minute is deuoyde of wo to mee But oh alas the cause is this I hold mee not by thee If thou absent thy selfe my soule my bones my bodie dust Corrupt with carke of wicked will as Iron doeth with rust If thou absent thy selfe my soule runnes headlong into yll And staggerryng too and fro it reeles and kickes against thy wyll Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule like wretched wight opprest Fast â—ettred in the boultes of sinne lyes groaning voyde of rest Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule sinckes into darkesome thrall But Lord driue darknes far froÌ„ mee sende light and loue withall So sinne shal passe and vertue slow within my dolefull brest Oh Iesu come Oh come in haste to set my soule at rest And thus my soule I doo commende into thy bosome sweete On whome I doo in heart depende heere prostrate at thy feete Solace Take heed take heed Oh sinful man let heart and tongue agree Leaue off to sinne repent foorthwith and I wyll dwell with thee Cast of the Cloake that is the cause to hinder thine intent Thy sinne and then in deede I wyll to thy request consent The sinfull man How shuld mine heart toong agree what meanest thou therin I haue at large thou maist perceiue vnfoulded all my sinne Solace I T is not ynough to shew thy selfe onely by outward wordes to be a sinfull man but thou must likewise as I haue tould thée before reforme thy former frowarde and peruerse wayes that is as thou knowest and hast confessed thy selfe heretofore to haue walked in errour in darkenes rebellyng against mine heauenly father So wold I haue thée to cléeue vnto the trueth to follow the light and obey mine heauenly father in performing those things which are commaunded thée For there be some that can make a gay gloze and showe of holinesse by such outward protestation when in deede they are farre from that true inwarde sorrow which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation whose dissimulation and hypocrisie deserueth double punishment The sinfull man Show mee therfore what must I doe and what must I obeye Uoutchsaufe mee grace I doe repent my gaddyng longe astray Solace WEll then for asmuch as the daie is gone and that there is no time to declare it now I will deferre it vntill to morrow and then I will tell thée what thou most doe and what leaue vndone In the meane time forget not to prayse myne heauenly father who hath made thee mée whoe haue redemed thée and the holye Ghoast whoe haue sealed thée as one of the adopted Children that shal be saued The Ende of the Frydaye or Fyfth Dayes Conference An earnest confession of sinnes with a Prayer for the forgiuenes thereof OH miserable and most wretched creature am I prest down oh Lord with so many euils with such notorious sinnes geuous offences heynous crymes manifould iniquities That I confesse my selfe manie thousand waies to haue offended thee and to haue deserued more punishmente then I am able to beare Oh Lorde such is myne vntowardenes my cursed
giue ouer the opiniō of thine own good works and cleaue vnto the mercies of mine heauenly father in me and so much the more by howe much nowe thou maiest see thine vtter decaye without me But thou maist beware that thou in respect of thy saluation promised in mee neglect not these dueties enioyned thee towards mine heauenly father and thy neighbor as hath bene tolde thee before but so much the more endeuour thy selfe to performe thē that louingly and faithfully not in the outwarde shewe onely but with the inward affection of the heart imbracing that with a godly desire which thou art commaunded and hatefully eschewing that which thou art forbidden to doe assuring thy self by a liuely and working faith that thou art sealed with the holy Spirite proceeding from my father and mee freely by my merrits without any deseruings at all of thine owne to eternall saluation The sinfull man Now doth that Solace sweet appeare which thou hast promist mee And that mine owne deserts are not the meane to come to thee Thy merites are mine onely stay thy mercie meere extende Let faith in thee direct my life my words and thoughts amend The darkesome night is come I see there is no longer stay Tell mee good Solace neede I not come yet an other day Solace THou seest that I haue spent these sixe daies in calling thee from thine error and instructing thee what thou oughtest to doe to reforme thy wicked life yet remaineth there some thing els for thee to be exercised in to mayntaine that fauour of mine heauenly father towardes thee which I haue purchased for thee And therefore although to morrowe bee the Sabboth day which as thou hast learned it behoueth thee to sanctifie with ceasing from all worldly labors and to giue thee to deuine exercises yet for asmuch as all mine endeuour tendeth to the safetie of thy soule I would haue thee to repaire hyther againe to morrowe when I will declare vnto thee the residue breefly that belongeth vnto thee and that behoueth thee to learne to the finishing of all the course of thy life that after this life ended through my merites thou mayst enioye eternall saluation The sinfull man With willing minde I will attende mine heart doth long to see Those heauenly ioyes wherein I trust at last to liue with thee The ende of the Saterdaies Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull man A PRAYER TO God the Father for pardon in Iesus Christ for transgressing his Commaundements for grace to bee directed to the true fulfilling of the same OH God my God oh fountaine welspring of al mercy louing kindnes vouchsafe fauourably to looke down vpon my corruptiō and wickednesse and set before the eyes of thy Iustice the merites of thy Sonne Iesus Christ for whose desertes and due obedience sake leaue to be angrie and turne to me in loue take away the curse which is due for my transgressions and wilfull disobedience Alas what should become of mee if I should receiue according to my desertes for which there is nothing due but the iust reward of death For merciful Lord God when I compare the whole course of my life past with the righteousnesse of thy deuine institutiōs and most sacred Commaundements I find my selfe a very Traytour a most monstrous Rebell against thee the God of my welfare Oh Lorde when the Iustice and iust iudgements of thy deuine Maiestie shew themselues vnto my deserts wherby my conscience accuseth mee to haue deserued eternall death I cannot but fall into vtter dispayre of being acquitted before thee Only herein a◠I comforted sweete Lord that I haue pardon promised in the death and merites of thy deare Sonne mine onely Sauiour and Redemer Iesus Christ in whose name I here present and prostrate my self vnto thee and for his sake most humbly pray thee to forgiue my transgressions and to pardon al my sinnes vouchsaueing me grace from henceforth faithfully and truely to frame all my desires vnto the fulfilling of all thy most godly Commaundements and that in vnfeyned loue of thee aboue all things and to shew the same outwardly to the performāce of my duety to my neighbours whom thou hast cōmaunded me to loue succour helpe releeue and doe vnto as I would that other men should doe vnto me Graunt me sweet Lorde for Iesus Christes sake grace to doe that which I am commaunden in thy lawes and carefully to shunne and auoyde that which I am herein forbidden that I may keepe not onely mine handes but all mine actions and doinges yea mine heart and thoughtes free from displeasing thee And for asmuch as my corruptiō keepeth doune mine vnderstanding and will so that I am not able to performe that which I ought but am ready to do that which I ought not vouchsafe to accept the merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ as a sufficient discharge for that which I cannot do and for his sake to forgiue mine insufficiencie to performe thy will Sweete God Amen THE SVNDAYE and last dayes Conference betweene Solace and the sinfull Man VVherein Solace directeth him in prayer which is the principall and last work belonging to the attainement of eternall life by faith in Christ. Solace WHat art thou so earely here this morning oh man thou shewest thy selfe now to bee very desirous of my solace as it seemes by thy diligent attendaunce this morning The sinfull man Ye Solace loe I looke for thee mine only comfort deare Whose comfort now I find in deed proceede from heauens cleare And therefore I attend on thee mine only guide and stay Whom thou doest call I see cannot gad like a wretch astray Mine heart is set to secke the way through thee y t guides to blisse Whereby I shall at last possesse the ioye that perfect is Which I in heart by faith doe feele though in this vale of woe Where Sathās forces fell abound and sinnes by custome growe Which vale I long to leaue in haste to take my rest with thee In heauens hye where only ioye and nothing els can bee Solace THou doest well to bee wearied and greeued at the vewe of those abuses and daylie offences which thou perceiuest in the world to moue mine heauenly father to displeasure which in deede are many and greate and to haue a longing desire to leaue them and to giue them ouer to the end thou mayst the more freely come vnto me But thou must beware thou kicke not nor murmur against mine heauenly father in respect of any miserie temptation or trouble to befall thee here in this world and to be discharged or vnburdened thereof to wish for death but referring thy cause vnto his omnipotent and mercifull prouidence in heartie and faithfull prayers through me Waite his good pleasure arming thy self manfully to fight against Satan and his wicked ministers assuring thy self through an vndoubted faith that whatsoeuer thou shalt aske my heauēly father in my name he shall giue it thee I am thy
the meane of thy releefe to fortune wherby thou dishonorest him and quenchest that faith whereby thou oughtest to bee perswaded that what good soeuer light vpon thee he sendeth the same as a certeine token and pledge of his especiall fauour and loue towards thee The sinfull man Loe then I see that praier is through thee the meane to haue What so I want if that in faith and trueth the same I craue And that vnfained thankes I must giue for his passing loue Wherein he doth vouchsafe releefe from heauens high aboue Solace IT is euen so looke therefore vnto the performance thereof accordingly together with the residue of those dueties which thou art bounde vnto towards mine heauenly father as also towards thy neighbours And beware least thou looke backe and returne to thy former wickednes to thine olde vomit Thou art nowe cured sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto thee I haue broken the bandes of Sathan wherein thou wast fast tyed thou art nowe at libertie Bee watchfull therefore and trust in myne heauenly father pray continually and offer the sacrifice of prayse and thanckesgiuing cease not to doe good but refuse to doe euill Walke all the daies of thy life in this narrowe way that tendeth to eternall life and shunne the broad way that leadeth vnto death wherein thou hast walkest in time past but nowe being reclaymed auoyde it that this life once ended thou maist without feare in a cleare conscience appeare enter into that blessed estate wherin y u shalt find nothing but such surpassing eternal ioy and so sweete solace as neither tongue can declare the eare hath not heard the eye seene neither can the hearte of man conceiue the sweetenesse thereof wherein thou shalt liue for euer and receiue such a beautiful Diademe and Crowne of glorie at the hands of mine heauenly father as passeth all vnderstanding Wherefore perseuere in the trueth here imbrace it vnto the end without fainting take holde of the promises in faith reioyce in mee Let the foolish and momentarie pleasures of this worlde goe esteeme them not they are the baytes of Sathan to allure thee to the broad way but be warie auoyde his entisements wherewith he endeuoureth to drawe men into destruction and such as obey him shall haue no part of the promised blessed inheritance but haue their portion in hell fire to whome I will say Depart from mee ye workers of iniquitie into euerlasting torments where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Looke therefore vnto thy selfe while thou hast an acceptable time be sober and watchfull vnto the ende Mine heauenly Father blesse thee and the holy Ghost guide thee to all goodnes for euermore Amen The sinfull man AL thanks praise oh Lord I doe in humble wise commende To thee who doest such solace sweet vnto poore sinners sende Wherewith thou hast reuiued so my sinfull soule from woe That tongue cānot thy praises due for want of wisedome showe But yet as farre as heart and tōgue can giue I yeeld to thee Accept it Lord though passing thankes thou doe deserue I see For when I was in sinfull plight in Sathans bands opprest Thy tender Sonne came downe to mee to shewe the way to rest My soule did harbor all that was vnto my soule annoye But he hath fraught y e same againe with all surpassing ioye My darknes he hath turnd to light wherein I see the way That leades to life how to shunne what led me long astray The pleasant shewes and fawning cheere of worldly wealth I see The fond delightes peeuish toyes did worke but ill for mee Therewith I was puft vp aloft with plumes of pride so hye That nothing did remaine for me but iust desert to dye For sinne a thousand folde I did within myne heart retaine A burning zeale there was in me to heape vp foolish gaine My heart was led w t deepe delight myne eyes did gaze awrye My truethles tongue within myne head for greedie gaine did lye No pittie or compassion was within my careles breast A thousand cares of worldly wealth my wicked heart possest I thought not on an others woe I passe not for his paine I spared not to pinch the poore to reape my selfe the gaine And thus I liued long secure in sinfull soyle a sleepe Till Solace came and did awake me out of slumber deepe And set before my blinded eyes the reckles race I runne Which now I see I must forsake or rest for aye vndone Wherfore all praise in heart I yeeld oh Lord of Lords to thee Unto thy Sonne and holy Ghost for thus receiuing mee Psal. 119. Oh how sweete are thy wordes vnto my throate yea sweeter then honie vnto my mouth 1. Cor. 15. Death where is thy sting hel where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law But thankes be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie thorowe our Lord Iesus Christ. A farewell to the Booke I If thou oh sillie Booke doe chaunce to light into the hand O Of any such as takes delight ech others worke to scand H Heare with good will what they will say take not in greefe disdaine N No Booke so good but gets reproofe and trifeling toyes the gaine N No praise exspect way not dispraise ech man will verdict giue O Of thee and me but haue regarde how he or they doe liue R Rash iudgement doth vnstayed mindes in ech degree bewray D Disdaine thou not the deadly doomes therefore of such as they E Euen so farewell in ragged shewe thou must depart from mee N Not pullisht as some pleasaunt Bookes that profite lesse then thee Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos FINIS The foolish conceites of most men that this world doeth fauour as it were at will is commonly thus Worldlie wealth and bodily health are the principall thinges now a daies regarded A great care of the wealthy is to haue a gaye house deckt both within and without after the daintiest fashion 〈…〉 is had to the situation of a worldlie building and none at all for the place where the soule must dwell at last Might without regard to right thinkes the poorer will yeeld for feare And the Landlords think the Tenant bound to yeeld to all his tyrranie Poore men must stoope and yet the more they yeeld the more they are opprest Faire wordes moue men to doe that they after repent The mildnes of the poore make the rich often more cruel By flatterie or threatning by hooke or by crooke he will haue it The rich regard not a poore mans griefe but their owne pleasure and profit The sharper to the poore the sweeter to the rich The poore-mans petition makes the rich man the prouder· The countenaunce of the rich makes the poore man quake The couetous man hath no regarde to the equitie but to thextremitie to worke the poore much w◠Threatning and flatterie seeme contraries and
Voluptuousnes Riches Ambition Coueitousnes accompaned with many euils See the corruptioÌ„ of nature that imputeth the cause of his griefe to him that would cure his deadly disease Prouerb 13.1 Pro. 9.7.8 The wise wheÌ„ they are reformed depart froÌ„ their euill but the foolish will not amende The vngodly to excuse their faults doe by circuÌ„stance endeuour to laye the cause of their euil vpon God him selfe Eccle. 32.18 Gen. 3.7 He that by vayne excuses goeth about to hide his offence from God encreaseth his fault Sathan setteth a vale before our eyes that wee should not see the light of the trueth Iohn 1.5 2. Cor. 6.14 Eph. 5.14 Io. 8.12 Christ the laÌ„be of God that taketh away the sinns of the world Although our sinne be as red as Scarlet Christ can make it as white as Snowe The deuill rocketh men a sleepe with worldly pleasures that seeme sweete but are in deed deadly poyson SathaÌ„ is most busie to leade vs to euill when we be most willing to apply vs to goodnes The seruants of God shall haue the kingdome of heauen for their inheritance Sathan bestowes all things in this life on his seruaÌ„ts to please them but after this life eternall paines in hell Christ came into this world to call vs out of the seruice of Sathan to serue th'almightie God Sathan the master of all mischiefe He that is not reconciled to God by Christ is dead in this world Ephe. 2.1.15 Col. 2.14 Christ the sacrifice for sinne Dispaire Sathan the author of all dispaire Those that yeeld themselues seruaÌ„ts to sinne are in great subiection to Sathan The vnspeakeable power and mercie of God towards man Christ the reconciliation to God for sinne Heb. 5.9 Christ hath subdued Sathan and bereft him of all his power Christ hath discharged by his death all that was due for sinne Gen. 3.10 Beliefe in Christ is the meane to be at one with God Ioh. 12.6 2. Cor. 12.7 Rom. 5.20 He that perseuereth in wickednesse hath no hope of grace Gen. 3.15 Io. 12.31 Za. 13.1 Sathan stands at our elbowes to preuent vs if he could from doing good and to procure vs to do euill The world the flesh the spurres to sinne Io. 13.2 Mat. 4.6 Christ obedient vnto his fathers will Innocent Christ condemned and a thiefe discharged Christ by his death subdued Sathan Gen. 3.7 Sathan with an apple won Adam Eue to breake the precepts of God Though Sathan be subdued he seeketh still to beguile vs. The deuill preuaileth not against the faithfull The power of the deuill of it selfe is nothing but such as obey him make it strong Man doth all things that may displease but nothing to please God Ioh. 8.44 Iob. 41.25 Sathan is a lyar and a murtherer Christ the true Samaritan to heale our wounds Luke 10.33 Christ healeth what Sathan hath hurt Hard winning of a desperate man Such is the loue mercy of Christ that he seeketh by all meanes to winne vs froÌ„ Sathan Act. 10.45 Testimonies of Christes victorie Gen. 3 15. Esay 7.14 Ier. 31.22 1. Io. 5.7 1. Io. 5.11 Mat. 11. They that are loden with the burden of their sinnes may come freely to Christ and be comforted The deuil wil promise ease but the end is paine and lasting woe The couÌ„saile of Christ eternall trueth the way of life Sathan seekes to draw men first into dispaire and theÌ„ to cut of their owne dayes Sathan most diligeÌ„t to deceiue vs when we be most desirous to returne vnto God Ioh. 13.2 Zach. 3. â— The Deuill went about to let the praiâ—â—s of Iosua Math. 8.12 Peter denied Christ by SathaÌ„s meanes Mat. 26.34 Marke 14.32 Mat. 4 3. Sathan tempted Christ. The deuil seeketh many meanes to destroy vs. Num. 21.6 The brasen serpent a figure of Christ Io. 3 14. When sathan hath stung vs with sinne we must looke vpon Christ that is we must beleeue in him bee saued Zech. 3.2 Reue. 2.10 Ephe. 6.10 Christ hath ransomed vs out of the hands of Sathan euen with his own blood We must take opportunitie when we may haue it to turne to the Lord. Make no delay to returne vnto God The wise and foolish virgins Infidelitie the greatest let to come to Christ. Psal. 27.13 Heb. 4.15 Mat. 4. â— Phil. 2.8 Faith the chiefest weapon to resiste Sathan Heb. 4.16 Gal. 5.1 Christ the fouÌ„tain of al true helpe 2. Cor. 5.14 Colos. 20. We are in Christ made at one with God Ephe. 1.13 Ephe. 1.17 Col. 2.14 1. Io. 3.8 Io. 2.4 6. Heb. 2. Christ hath deliuered all men from death that beleeue in him Ephe 2.18 Iewes and gentiles haue accesse to God the father through Christ. Rom. 5.19 Gal. 3.13 2. Cor. 8 9· Rom. 10.9 Luke 19.10 Io. 6.40 Rom. 2. There is saluation in none but in Christ. Ioh. 18.17 Luke 22.57 Marke 24.6.8 We may not presume to stand least we fall 2. Pet. 2.22 Faith and repentance the gâ—ound work of a new life Heb. 11.1 The definition of faith 1. Pet. 1. It is impossible to please God without faith Ioh. 8.2.3 Luke 10.39 Christ cast 7. deuils out of Mari Magdalene Ioh. 11.2 Matth. 16.16 Ioh 6.65 Gen. 15.6 Gen. 22.2 AbrahaÌ„ was accompted righteous by reason of his faith Luke 1.38 Act. 8.37 2. Luke 6.18 The enemies of Elisha striken with blindnes 1. Sam. 14.13 1. Sam. 17. â—6 Dauid by faith ouercame great Goliah Dan. 3. â—7 1. King 17.12 Eliah fed with Rauens 1. King 18.38 Fire from heauen consumed Elias Sacrifice Iosh. 10.12 The Sunne Moone stood still at the faithful prayer of Ioshua Ioh. 1.30 Ma 4 1â— Through faith the Apostles followed Christ. Luke 23.43 1. Tim. 1. Faith the weapon to withstand Sathan Psal. 18.2 Psal. 5.12 Ioh. 5.24 Psal. 37.2 The Lord wil roote out coÌ„sume those that put not their trust in him 2. Cor. 4.4 2. Thes. 2.12 2. King 7.17 The vnbeleeuing prince troden to death Gen. 19.24 Gen. 2.17 Mar. â—6 16 He that beleeueth shalbe saued but he that beleeueth not shalbe damned Cursed is hee that putteth his trust in man and not in God Iud. 20.21 The children of Israel slain in putting their trust in their owne strength 2. Chron. 13.18 2. King 1â— The faithful are compared to mount SyoÌ„ that shall neuer be mooued Psal. 20. Ier. 57 5. The wonderfull blessings that are promised to the faithfull Isay. 57.13 The Iust shall liue by faith We must beware that we be not led by worldly reason for it often deceiueth Sathan layes naturall reason often â—efore the eyes of men to the end that stuÌ„blinge vpon the same to hinder their fayth Mat. 15 33. Io. 4 9. Io. 8.56 Naturall reason could noâ— conceiue how Abraham saw Christ loÌ„g so before he came into the world The eye of fayth taketh his light froÌ„ the worde of God The eie of reason hath his 〈◊〉 froÌ„ worâ—dly wisdome which is foolishnes Gall. 5.2 Rom. 1·16 The gospell is the instrument of saluation All that we are bound to
a speciall fruite of repentance A guiltie coÌ„science shall condemne it selfe in the last dry An hard sentence for the couetouse men Luke 18 22. Mat 19.20 Hard for a rich man to be saued The state of wicked Rich men very miserable Luke 19 2. to 11. Zacheus a paterne of repentance Prou 28.8 We must releeue our poore brethren Psal. 39.6 49.6 Psal· 52.6.7.8 1. Sam. 25 The reward of Naball for not releuing the young men that came from Dauid Pro. 11.4 Prosperitie the nurce of vice 1. Sam 12 13· Dauid in prosperitie fell to vice Luke 19.8 â—ob 4 8.9 As we haue plentie we must giue plentifully God rewardeth those that giue to the poore Prou. 19 17. Psal 41.1 1. Tim. 6.18 We must not onely say we will but we must doe thus We may not not looke for saluation in respect of our owne works but in the merite of Christ. 1· Iohn 2 12. Iudâ— 21. We must disclaime our owne worthines Psal. 1.43.2 1. Ioh. 2.1 Heb. 9 24· Rom. 8.34 We may not so presume vppon the mercies of Christ as to neglect our owne indeuours to doe well Rom. 2.4 We muste take heede of driuing off from day to day to repent Manie be ouertaken with death while they defer their repentaunce from day to day We may not deferre our true repentance but spedely to returne vnto God No man can say my hearte is cleare froÌ„ sinne Luke 15.7 Ioye in heauen for a sinner that repenteth Act. 5 5·10 The hipocrisie of Annanias and Saphira rewarded with death The ende of the fourth dayes conference A prayer â—here be manie that in outwarde showe seem peacockes braue birdes who if euery birde might take his feather woulde show them selues to be poore bussards Some that show theÌ„selues to bee good members or at least seeke to be accompted profitable for the common wealth that are very catterpillers of the lande Luke 13.5 The exchaÌ„ge of welth into want is greuous The knockâ— that we giue other men to benefit our selues are sweet vnto vs thogh sower vnto them The poore mans sorrow are sallets in the rich mans dish â— Cor 5.11 We must make choise of companie to goe forward in vertue The conuersation of the godly a good example to follow Pouertie â— good spurre to pricke vs forward to obedience to God The spirit worketh coÌ„trary to the will of the flesh As flesh taken newly from the shambles soone fâ—streth so he that is lately called from error is soner withdrawen from the trueth againe with-out exercyse The pouerti of Iob was preparatiue to patience The humilety of Iob. Pacience accompanied with a godly sorrow The end of pacience God is neere vnto all them that suffer affliction with patience Psal. 143.3 Gen. 37.5.28 God was nere vnto Ioseph in his distres In our necessites we must referre the manner the meane the time to the prouideÌ„ce of God God helpeth when the helpe of man can take no place The read sea deuided it selfe to letâ— the children of Israell to goe through· God nere vnto Daniell in his troubles The three children delyuered from the whot Furnace Ier 18 As long as we are choaked with riches pleasures of the world we cannot truely repent Psal. 119·71 Affliction the meane to seeke the Lord. Act. 14.22 By manie troubles and not by pleasures we must enter into the kingdome of heauen we must returne to god when we bee called or els he will vse scurges to wyn vs. Psaâ— 119.71 Christ is the way that leadeth vnto eternall lyfe Deut. 8 2.3· Dan 9.9 Iudg 10.15.16 Vngodly sorrowe enmitye to god afflyction an argument of gods fauour 2 Sam. 16. Iudith 8.28 We haue deserued more punishments then we can beare We must suffer a little ye al afflictions for our saluations sake If we can suffer paynes for the curing of the body we must much more be contented to suffer afflictions for our soules sake As sharp medicines be often times most curable for the bodies so the sharpest afflâ—ctions most healthfull to the soule Chrâ—st the onely phisition of all sicke soules All the afflictions of this life is not answerable to the least part of the benefit of our saluation in Christ and therefore not to be accouÌ„ted greeuous Pro. 3.12 God punisheth oftentimes the iust and spareth the wicked Ezek. 33 1â— Luke 15.19 Io. 8.12 A notable example worthy to be noted of the lost sonne Prosperitie is a spurre to euill and aduersitie a pricke to vrge vs to trust in God He that is loden wit the heauie burden of sinne can neuer referre himselfe to heaâ—tie prayer before he be perswaded of the remission thereof thorowe Christ. Pro. 28.13 Confession what it is King 8.46 No man can say that he hath not sinned The way to obtaine the fauour 〈◊〉 God is to humble our selues and to appeale vnto his mercie in Christ. Psal. 32.5 The confession of Dauid If we woulde loâ—ke backe into the 〈…〉 life we shall find our selues the whole packe of vs wretched sinners With the eye of a true faith must we look into our former euils and with the same eye looke vpon the mercies of God promised in Christ. Confession must be ioyned with faith and repentance Rom. 10.10 Dan 9 5. The confession of Daniel God beholdeth aswell the inward thoughtes as the outward actions Wee must confesse our sinnes for two causes The first cause The second cause Psal. 3.6.218.18 The confession of the godly men profit vs. One is edified by anothers vnfeyned confessioÌ„ Mat. 5.16 Psal. 14.3.2 2. Pet. 1.3 Ioh. 9.15.2 We must lay away all our owne merites before we can take hold of Christes promises Gal 5.4 Gal. 3.8 Tit. 3.7 Act. 3.38.39 Rom. 10 9.10 Ephe. 2.8.9 Although our Iustification come freely thorow faith in Christ we are not discharged of doing our endeuour to fulfill the law Christ is our perfection through faith without whoÌ„ we remaine vnperfect We must take heede that wee neglect not our dueties in performing the lawe as farre aâ— we can notwitstanding Christ hath vndertaken to doe that which we cannot attaine vnto 1. Pet. 1.5.6.7 Zecha 8.16.17 2 Pet. 1.8 we must shew our faith to be a true faith by our work We must not only confesse our sinnes but we must leaue them and forsake them All men haue sinned When we confesse our synnes we muste take heed that 〈◊〉 be not only in the tongue but from the hart Some can make a fayre show of holines outwardly but repent not rightly inwardly who deserue doubble punishments Works without fayth are abominable We are bouÌ„d to doe good vnto all men The Couetous man esteemeth his aboundanâ— as his god The summe of the whole commaundemeÌ„ts is loue Ex· 20.2 Mat 22.37 Gall 5.14 We must esteeme the commandements as the very word of God God ioyned his maiesty with the word came downe to deliuer the same Mount Sinay smoaked and trembled at the presence oâ— the Lorde PsaÌ„ 19.7 When thou hast