me all thinges pacified both in heauen and earth by me thou art reconciled and made at one againe with God myne heauenly father and by me if thou beleeue thou shalt obteine forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes and pardon for al thine offences for thy manifold transgressions rebellion and dissobedience And to thee that art sinfull ignorant and farr from knowledge to thee is here euen in my blood saluation offred and the true spirite of wisedome opened that the eyes of thy mynd that now are so dimmed with the shadowe of the olde man may bee lightened with the Candle of my sacred counsaile and truely perceiue and thine heart rightly conceiue what the ende is of this hope whervnto I am come to call thee what the riches of my glorious inheritance which I here proffer thee is and the greatnesse of my power which I promise thee who as I sayd before haue torne in peeces and cancelled the Obligation wherein thou stoodest bound I haue taken it away and fastened it on the Crosse I haue losed thee from the seruitude and slauerie of Sathan who as thou sayst doth chalenge thy seruice I haue set thee free from the workes of darknesse who am the light and no man that beleeueth in me shal remaine any more in darknesse beleeue therefore in the light that thou mayst bee made the childe of light and obteine life againe that now art dead vnder the Prince of darkenesse who had once the power of death But I haue deliuered all them that beleeue in me and liue in my feare and haue takē away that partition that was set betwene God my father and them So that through me thou mayst haue free accesse vnto him yea Iewes and Gentiles are vnited and knit to one God euen my father who for their sakes gaue me an oblation and sacrifice to bee offered vpon the Crosse to the ende that by myne obedience they might bee made righteous I was accurssed that through my curse they might be blessed and deliuered from the heauy burthen of the lawe yea I became poore to make all men rich but not as thou hast gloried to bee rich in goodes and great aboundaunce but in grace and the fauour of myne heauenly father with whom I haue obteined peace for thee and deliuered thee out of y e thraldome of that spirituall Pharao by offering my body a Pascall Lambe sprinckling my blood vpon the doore postes of the hearts of all true beleeuers in me Wherfore come vnto me thou that art so heauie loden and I wil refresh thee Confesse me with thy mouth beléeue in thine heart that God raised me from death and thou shalt be saued for my comming into this world was to seeke and to saue that was lost Wherefore heare me for if thou heare my wordes and beleeue in him that sent me I will raise thee vp in the last day to eternall life for there is saluation in none but in me onely who haue the power euen in mine owne handes to recouer that againe for thee which was lost by the fall of Adam The sinfull man Oh passing comfort now I feele renue in me againe Me thinkes I heare that Sathan saies now is my labour vaine Which I and mine haue had w t him that now conuerted is Me thinkes I heare him rage y t I should take the way to blisse But let him fret and fume his sill and doe his worst to me I doe not force my sure refuge good Solace is in thee True comfort doth begin I see encrease it more and more And let that furious feend leaue of to vexe my soule so sore And shew what I must doe in haste because the night is nye For I intend to follow thee good Solace till I dye Solace SO sayd Peter mine Apostle that he would followe me whether soeuer I went yea he would not refuse to dye with me but when the raging and boysterous stormes of Satans ministers blewe about mine eares and began to beate vpon the walles of his frailtie being demaūded whether he were not of my companie he flatly denied me nay he forsware me sayd that he knew me not Be not therefore too bold at the first brunt though thou feele more comfort and thy minde more quieted and Sathan not so strong with thee as he was take heede thou faint not take heede thou returne not to thine olde vomit to the wallowing in the mire and dirte of the dregges of Sathans poyson But be thou mindfull of these wordes of mine and the comfortable counsaile which this day I haue giuē thee Beleeue my sayinges and because the night is at hande I will referre other thinges which I must learne thee towardes the amendement of thy sinfull life till to morrowe when thou shalt finde mee readie here in the meane time be meditating of my former speaches retaine them in memorie and praise mine heauenly father in mee for thy comfort already obtayned The ende of the Tuesdayes Conference A THANKESGIuing to Christ our Sauiour for his comfort in the affliction of conscience with a prayer for his continuall assistance to be preserued from dispayre OH Gracious and Omnipotent God Oh Iesu my Sauiour I yeeld thee all possible thanks and praises that in my great distresse and conflict of conscience thou hast vouchsaued to send mee comfort and inward feeling of thy mercie and the vnfayned loue and care which thou hast of the saluation of my poore soule which Sathan myne aduersarie and the vtter enemy of all mankind hath inuironed with so many doubts of thy mercie and my saluation and layde before the eyes of my poore conscience so many grieuous sinnes most horrible offences such manifest rebellion against thee that I standing as a guiltie wretch a condemned person at the Barre of thy iust iudgemēt expecting nothing but the sharp sentence of death thou hast vouchsaued such is thine vnspeakable mercie louingly to call me out of that deepe dungion of dispaire to rescue mee from the cruell clawes of Sathan and to set mee free from the most fearfull and iust doome of death Insomuch sweete Iesu as I feele my selfe comforted I feele mee relieued and my soule freely ransomed from the captiuitie of that monstrous enemy that ougly Serpent that filthy feend most cruell aduersarie of mine Sathan and that by thy death and bitter passion whereby thou hast lead captiuitie captiue when thou ascendest into heauen yea thou hast vanquished the death of death thou hast vanquished the deuill and triumphed ouer death and hell all power both in heauen and earth is in thine hands and that Sathan that hath so sharply assaulted mee is within the cōpasse of thy power hold him vnder sweete Iesu keep him down let him not preuaile against mee and as my poore soule and weake body are subiect vnto sinne being destitute of thine helpe wanting thy grace So sweete Iesu looke fauourably vpon
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
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
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
that were healed and as a fit preseruation for them onely that they should amend their liues and sinne no more and to leade innocent and godly liues and because that I would moue them the more to a zealous and godly carefulnesse to keepe them selues from thence forth from wantonnes and sinne I gaue them this caueat that they should beware that they returned not to their old filthines least a worse thing should happen vnto them afterwarde Nowe therefore for asmuch oh sinfull man as I haue shewed thee and ministred vnto thee a medicin for a farre more daungerous desease then can possesse the bodie an inwarde euill a spirituall malladie which had taken deepe roote in the bowelles of thine heart and festered it in such sorte as it was almost vncurable and haue now brought it to such perfection as there is some likelihoode of speedie cure if thou wilt bee ruled and aduised by my directions Thou knowest thou canst not denie that the couetouse desires foolish phantasies of this wicked world had so blinded thee and the pernicious deuices of subtile Sathan so lulled thee a sleepe that thou knewest none other happinesse but thine aboundaunce none other comforte but thy coffers of gold siluer no pleasure but thy pomp nor fearest any other paine but pouertie and not moued with pittie didest pinch thy poore Tenant and wert altogether ignoraunt what was the commoditie of the sacrifice of my bodie vpon the Crosse or to what purpose was my death and most bitter Passion placing al thine affections vpon transitorie toyes rūning headlong into thine vtter destruction without redemption had not I awakened thee out of that deadly slumber reclaymed thee from thine error brought thee out of that darkenesse and shewed thée light searched thine heart being so infected with this daungerous desease thou hadst neuer beene healed but hadst dyed in vtter dispayre and so haue beene damned for euermore Now if bodily infirmities and corporall deseases are to be preserued by such a due regarde of keeping them selues pure and vndefiled by auoyding wantonnes and amending their liues how much more hast thou cause to looke vnto thy selfe to keepe watch and warde night and day least vpon this thy recouerie that venomous serpent Sathan who first poysoned thee seeking yet still by all meanes to renue thy desease should finde the doore of thine affections open thrust in newe venome newe inchauntments and newe meanes to hinder thy curing and to make a newe wounde vncurable and so thine ende be worse then thy beginning Therfore so much the more must thou bee carefull and circumspect for the preseruation of thine health begun for the saftie of thy poore soule to amende thy life and to sinne no more which is thou must speedely rid away and cast out all the euill within thee by the hande of a liuely faith ioyned with an vnfeyned sorrow and true repentaunce which is a vertue much pleasing mine heauenly father for that it is an inwarde godly lamenting and mourning of the heart for things committed and done contrary to the blessed wil and holy commaundements of mine heauenly father a detesting and vtter abhorring of all vngodlinesse of all thinges whereby the displeasure of God may be prouoked or his loue abated a godly and zealous endeuour to doe well and a fearfull trembling to do euill wherby euery sinner returning vnto God acknowledgeth his offences condemneth himself and confesseth himself guiltie and iustly deseruing punishment casting himself downe in his owne conceipt in such remorce of conscience as hee seeketh and by all meanes possible endeuoureth himself to make amendes for his offences past framing his life so strictly and so sincerely in all his doinges as it may outwardly appeare and his conscience beare witnesse inwardly that he vtterly abhorreth sinne and coueiteth to leade a newe life And therefore Iohn Baptist when hee Baptised in Iordan Baptised none but such as repented and confessed their sinnes Wherefore I say repent and sinne no more that thy wickednesse may be forgiuen thee and thine infirmities be cured Learne of Dauid who when he was reproued of the Prophet Nathan for his sinnes cryed out against himselfe confessed his sinnes and not like an hypocrite feynedly before men but in great bitternesse of heart inwardly cryed out and said Lord I haue sinned against thee I haue done amisse in thy sight and as one wounded and throughly greeued for prouoking Gods heauie displeasure so against him that hee most earnestly prayed for mercie whose sorrowe was according to that that mine Apostle speaketh of causing repentaunce vnto saluation The sorrowe whereby the lost Sonne obteined his fathers fauour and pardon againe Such sorrowe had Peter when he had denyed me wherein he repenting wept bitterly Such a godly sorrowe had Iob who rent his cloathes and shoare his head and cast himselfe vnto the grounde Thou must beware that thy sorrowe be not as Esaus as Iudas and as Caines was who were also greatly greeued and inwardly pinched at y e feeling of their offences but not in respect that they were in any mislike with their sinnes but being rather hardened and as it were inwardly set against God mine heauenly father kicking against his mercie and louing promises fell desperatly frō him their sorrowe was not of faith and therfore caused not repentaunce vnto saluation but augmented their sinnes True repentaunce is altogether to put of the old man and not to fulfill the lustes of the flesh but euen to forsake thy selfe and to be renewed in righteousnesse not onely in outwarde apparaunce but euen in the very intentions and inwarde affections of the heart putting on the newe man which is newnesse of life being throughly perswaded of the fatherly loue and louing promises of mine heauenly father for otherwise it is impossible to yeeld thy self in vnfeined repentaunce vnto his mercy or endeuour thy selfe truely to turne vnto him as he desireth all men to do not wishing any to perish in his sinnes but most louingly calleth he all men not only by me his Sonne but by his messengers the Prophetes and true Preachers of my worde to returne from their wicked waies and bee saued Returne returne therefore euery one from his euill waies from the wickednesse of your inuentions and put not of from day to day for suddainely commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of vnbeleefe vpon the stubborne and stifenecked Repent I say repent and dye not in thy sinnes seeke mine heauenly father in me and thou shalt finde him and for my sake shall he pardon thee he shall be mercifull vnto thee and shall rid thee out of all thy troubles and defend thee from all miseries As he did Roboam who after he had offended humbled himselfe and obteined fauour Manasses likewise an Idolater hauing by his dissobedience procured the wrath of God against him was taken prisoner and of his
effect in many whom he withdraweth from hearing my ministers messengers to pronounce my Gospel as he seeketh to withdrawe thee froÌ„ hearing mee saying to some why what wilt thou stande hearing of this man to prate in the Pulpit he hath no learning he hath no vtteraunce he hath this imperfection or that and so pluckes theÌ„ by the sleeue to goe gad to walke and to wander in their wonted waÌ„tonnesse and wicked waies in such abhomination as the stincke of their filthintsse hath infected many Some he sendeth to the hearing of the worde but why to heare for profite no but to cauell and to descant vpon the Preachers words and interpretation of this worde of that sentence so fall into a deuillish disputatioÌ„ wresting the trueth to their owne corrupt imaginatioÌ„s bringing into the Church scruples doubtful questions as the ministers of Satan to be stuÌ„bling blocks lets vnto y e passage of the deuine message of my heauenly father whereby hath growen so many Sects Scismes Heresies false constructions and deuillish doctrines that my Church is nothing so great as the most damnable Chappell of Antechrist And I see that of set purpose to hinder thine amendment hath he whispered thee in the eare and tolde thee that thou art cunning enough and that thou maist worke and accomplish al things by thine owne free will But thou art greatly deceiued for I will be knowne to be only righteous thy self to be ful of wickednesse not knowing what my righteousnesse is and yet takest vpon thee most arrogantly a perfection of wisedome and abilitie to know and doe all good thinges when in deede thou art mere foolishnesse and corruption it selfe Wherfore I say cast downe thy self in thine owne conceipt put of al presumption and hope of thine owne strength hearken not to Satan but consider that thou hadst vtterly perished in thy sinnes and beene quite and cleane cast away by reason of thy desease hast thou not had this meane to bee healed and to be purged and made cleane by my blood And therefore I say againe be warned and looke vnto thy selfe be watchfull to the ende least thou growe ouerbolde and so heape a more horrible vengeaunce of my heauenly father vpon thee The sinfull man Alas what must I sinner doe whereto poore wretch must I Imploye my self I thinke there be no shift but I must dye I will like wofull wight in hast of hayre-cloth make my bed And clad my carefull corps in sacke and cast dust on my head In mourning wise to pas my daies and pinch my self with fast As my forefathers did that I may purchase blisse at last Solace IN deede that hath bene the maner in the olde world as ceremonies vsed as shewes of great heauinesse and argumeÌ„ts of humilitie and outward tokens of repentance But consider this that these outward shewes are not alwaies accompanied with that inwarde working which cauleth repentaunce vnto saluation but rather a worldly shew of sorrowe vnto death for that that vnder this kind of disguising outwarde shew there may lurke deepe dissimulatioÌ„ hipocrisie making an outward shew of heauines and yet not ceasing inwardly to laugh to reteine their former wanton desires like a theefe that when he is brought before y e Iudge or Magistrate vpon hope to be acquitted can crye out and make a great shew of outward lameÌ„tation kneeling crouching and other hypocriticall meanes to be discharged and when he hath his libertie he caÌ„ fal to his old wickednesse a fresh like vnto the sturdie Begger that feineth him selfe lame his armes mayned his body crippled in this warres or in that worke by such a mishap and halting before men in hope to be releeued with other mens sweate shewing him self impotent who when he hath obteined his purpose and gotten his game he can turne his face and fleere to his fellowe hipocrites leape and skippe like lustie Uagabondes and vnder colour of this hypocrisie not onely deceiueth many with the outward dissembling shewe but when he seeth a bootie and oportunitie serueth hee can play the kindly Ruffian and take it by violence whose dissimulation deserueth dubble punishment Thus thou seest that the outwarde shew is often deceiuable but the true sorrowe the acceptable repentaunce is inwarde according to the wordes of the Prophet Ioell who cryeth out and sayth Rent your hearts not your garments and turne to the Lord your God and not to looke outwardly sowre as hypocrites disfiguring your selues with this or that kind of outward Ceremonie that the shew of your repentaunce may appeare more outwardly then in deede it is inwardly to which words of Ioell is added that it must be with fasting weeping and mourning in Sackcloth and Ashes prostrate on the grounde which in those daies was in deede a testimonie of repentaunce yet that outward shewe without the inward compuÌ„ction and renting of the heart with a godly and continual sorrowe and zealous lamentation for sinnes was mere hipocrisie And yet were not this visible shewes of Sackcloth and Ashes with many other like rites and ceremonies to be condemned in those daies for that they were giuen and accustomed not y t through the visible and externall shewe onely which was but the shadow could sufficiently appease the wrath of mine heauenly father but that therby they might so much the more eleuate and lift vp their mindes aboue the thing seene to a further and more higher consideration both of their owne corruption weakenesse and blindnesse and of the mercies and most louing promises of God mine heauenly father of which faithfull consideration of the visible shew grew an inward godly sorrowe causing repentaunce vnto saluation but the externall Ceremonie without faith in God mine heaueÌ„ly father was then not only not auaileable but very abominable But since the sacrafice of my body vpon the Crosse for sinne once for all was offered that outwarde Ceremonie is not materiall who by my death haue fulfilled and performed y e whole somme of all the lawe And therefore not onely such ceremonies as haue been in the old world but peeuish Pilgrimages Ceremonies Penaunce and such like foolish fantasies are now of none effect and are no parte of that true repentaunce which I require of thee to be an inward renting of the heart and an vnfeined continuall godly griefe for thy sinnes and a faithfull endeuour to frame thy life according to the wil of mine heauenly father Now as touching fasting knowe that the true fast is a member of thy true repentaunce wherein it behoueth thée to haue great regarde being a work as it is necessarie so not seldome abused as of hypocrites who chastice their bodies and afflict their soâ—les for a day bowing their heads like a Bulrush and making their bed with Sackcloath and Ashes as afore is said standing vpon their cinceritie and strickenes of life euen to
that is worthy of his Fathers fauour that for his fathers sake will not with patience suffer one howers hardnes or take such part nay some part of the paines that his Father sustayneth Or that obayeth not his Fathers will in thinges tending to his owne welfare Suerly that sonne deserueth no fauour but to be beaten with many stripes And what man is hée that if some skilfull Phisition doe foreshowe him of some daungerous disease beginning to growe vppon his body which he himselfe as yet féeleth not but to preuent a greater inconuenience will hee not bee contented not onely to bestowe his money but for the safetie of his arme will he not be contented to suffer his finger to be cut off and to saue his bodie will he not abide his legge to be cut off yes no doubt If such cost be not too deare nor such paines too terrible to preueÌ„t the daunger of the bodie what man will not bee contented for the safetie of his soule to cut off all whatsoeuer is like to indaunger the same And art thou so loth to cut off that or cast from thee those things which are the cause of thy so pernicious a disease securetie Doest thou think thy goods nay thy ill gotten goodes so deare so helpfull and so precious as to indaunger the death of thy soule with the deteining of them when thou art promised life vpon the restitution of them vnfeynedly repenting Beware I say beware least it fester and thy desease gather further into thine heart and so destroye both bodie and soule The sicke-man who for his healthes sake refuseth not to take the most bitterest Potions and hardest medicines and yet are they most greeuous and most vnpleasaunt to him for the time yet because their effect and their working turne to his health he willingly receiueth them So must thou be contented for thy soule health to accept of such bitter afflictions and crosses in this life as shall please mine heauenly father to minister vnto thee which although they bee sharpe and vnsauerie for the time it turneth all thinges to good yea to the health both of soule and bodie Thou hast supped a little of the cup of pouertie and want which is but a milde potion a gentle medicine and yet so contrary to disgestion that it hath driuen thee into such a frantique perplexitie that thou shewest thy self very vnable to take those Purgations which must worke with a more stronger effect to the driuing out of all such noysome affections as by the corruptible and contagious ayre of Sathans breathinges haue infected thine heart whereof if thou bee not cured and the same cut off with the Rasour of a true and vnfeined repentaunce it will procure thee not onely death of bodie but vtter destruction both of bodie and soule Wherefore I say seeke remedie in time come vnto me who am the onely true Phisition of all sicke soules refreshing all them that bee heauie laden healing their spirituall deseases if faithfully and without wauering they seeke the same at mine handes and speedely returne vnto mee by that true and vnfeyned sorrowe for their sinnes which sheweth it selfe in amendement of life in that true sorrowe which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation Comfort thy selfe in this therefore that thy desease is foreshewed thee and that Phisition hath taken thee in hand to cure thee that haue all power in mine owne handes and let neither thy sinnes past trouble thee nor thine estate greeue thee but bee onely reioysing in that I haue promised forgiuenesse of the one and helpe in the other Thou hast an aduocate with the father euen me Iesus Christ the righteous who haue obteyned pardon for al thy sinnes and haue raunsomed thee out of the handes of Sathan a most especiall benefite in respect whereof al the plagues al the troubles calamities and afflictions in this life can light vpon thee are not to bee accompted greeuous but willingly to bee imbraced and paciently to bee accepted as a fatherly calling of thee from thy selfe vnto mee for better it is for thee to be afflicted here in this worlde with bodily and short afflictions then in the world to come with endles destruction And therefore I say beare thou not only with pacience but with a thankfull heart whatsoeuer shal please mine heauenly father to sende thee be it sweete or sowre for those that are his he correcteth and oftentimes suffereth the wicked and careles the secure and dissolute liuers to runne on still in their wicked waies whâ—me of Iustice hee shall reward with endles perdition being yet so full of mercie and so loth to haue the sinner to dye in his sinnes that I most louingly call them intreâ—ting them fayrely to returne from their wickednesse and be saued whom if they repent not by the gentle admonition of the word he scourgeth them he striketh them with his Rod of correction by pouertie by sicknesse by losse of frendes and other aduersities to the ende they may remember themselues and be called from their securitie to place their whole trust in him that is able to saue them and to cast them away who is able to releeue them and to vndo them able to bring them to the déepe of the graue and to bring them vp againe who is able to plucke downe and exalt able to kill and to make aliue againe The lost Sonne as long as he was in his iollitie as long as he had his prosperitie of wealth at his will his health of bodie and thinges at his owne desire wanting nothing that pleased his fantasies so long ranne he astray followed wantonnes imbraced wickednesse and imployed himself to filthinesse and sinne euen with greedines But when he was touched with pouertie when his wonted freendes forsooke him and had no meane to releeue himself then began he to 〈◊〉 his fantasies after an other fashion thou he made of necessitie a vertue he brideled his affectiâ—ns he tamed his euil desires and in al humilitie in true sorrowe for his disobedieÌ„ce he returned againe vnto his father and in great bitternesse of heart as one that vnfeinedly repented he cryed out and sayd Oh father I haue sinned I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthie to be called thy sonne accept me as one of thine hyred seruauntes whose submission obteyned pardon Dauid when he was in his prosperitie committed euill in the sight of mine heauenly father but when he was afflicted by the persecution of his owne sonne Absolon when he felt aduersitie then cryed he out and confessed his iniquitie bewraying his owne wretchednesse and acknowledged the mightie power of mine heauenly father to whom in great bitternesse of heart he prayed saying Oh Lord rebuke me not in thine anger neither chasten me in thine heauie displeasure But haue mercie vppon mee for I am weake c. So great a let is a prosperous estate vnto the proceeding and going forward vnto that
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
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
giuing thee whatsoeuer is necessarie for thee And for that cause oughtest thou to be subiect and obedient vnto his will in all thinges and to pray for the setting forth and sanctifying of his holy name which is to haue his word truely taught louingly imbraced diligently followed him to be worshipped according to the trueth thereof in all thinges And therefore when thou intendest to pray either for good thinges to bee giuen thee or euill things to be taken frō thee thou must haue a principal regarde to the magnifying of his holy name and to the setting forth of his most worthie praises for his mercies and goodnesse with ardent desire that his holy name may be hallowed and his kingdome come That is that his holy spirite would so direct thee in all thy doinges thoughtes and desires that thine heart varie not from his will but bee so setled in the performaunce thereof in all thinges that true humilitie vnfeyned loue vndoubted hope and constaunt faith may begin in thee that tranquilitie and peace of cōscience which may assure thee through me to bee the heire of his euerlasting kingdome to the ouerthrowe of Sathans rule and destruction of all his power whereby he endeuoureth to leade all mankinde into vtter destruction Pray therefore that his kingdome may come which is his holy spirite which hee hath promised to powre out vppon those that earnestly desire it which shall guide thee to the true seruice of mine heauenly father here in this world vntill such time as I shall appeare in the Clowdes to chaunge thy mortal body and place it in that kingdome wherein thou shalt remaine in blisse vnspeakeable for euer Thou must pray also that myne heauenly fathers will bee done in earth as it is in heauen that is that not onely thy self but all the people of the earth may doe that which in his worde is prescribed and commaunded to be done and that there may bee such obedience such loue such godly behauiour in this world amōg men as is required to be that as the Angelles in heauen are obedient vnto his will and cōmaundements whereby he is glorified there so he might be obeyed to the magnifying of his name here in earth And therfore art thou commaunded faithfully to pray vnto him that he would vouchsafe to gouerne all men as Princes Pastors and Teachers Gouernours and Magistrates that they may performe his will here in earth as it is done in heauen And that all men may execute their vocations truely to the praise of his holy name In which three former petitions thou hast to learne that it behoueth thee principally in thy praiers to regarde the glorie of God mine heauenly father And now attend and thou shalt perceiue that as thou art commaunded in the former petitions to haue respect onely vnto the honour of myne heauenly fathers name So art thou also louingly called to craue corporall blessings namely for such thinges as are necessarie and expedient for the maintenaunce of this life by this petitiō Giue vs this day our daily bread which comprehendeth in it not onely request for bread but for a competent liuing and good successe in thy vocation namely that hee will blesse it and make thy trauayle prosperous in such sort as by the fruites thereof thou mayst be able without vnlawfull meanes to liue and be rather helpefull then burdensome to others Yea thou hast warrant in this petition to craue all things belonging to this life not onely sufficiencie of foode and apparell but also health of body and other temporall benefites The Prophet declareth in the Psalmes that hungrie and thirstie soules wandring in the wildernes called vnto myne heauenly father and were releeued and sent away replenished Yea those rhat lye in prison and in the shadowe of death fast bound in miserie and iron without all hope of healpe calling vpon him in hearty and faithfull prayer are heard their prayers graunted and they deliuered Such also as are afflicted and pining away with sicknesse and heauinesse of heart humbling themselues vnto him in prayer are cured of their diseases When thou art therfore in such or any other afflictiō be it sicknesse imprisonment pouertie daunger of enemies or any other trouble whatsoeuer referre thee to the cōsideration of this petition and there shalt thou finde that thou hast sufficient warrant to flye vnto mine heauenly father in my name in heartie prayer for deliueraunce from thy distresse who is nere vnto all them that cal vpon him yea to all that cal vpon him in trueth he will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he will heare their prayers and saue them In this petition therefore it behoueth thee and all aswell the rich as the poore to consider that it is not great aboundaunce of riches and store of all worldly thinges nor the labour industrie and earnest diligence of their vocations but the onely blessing of mine heauenly father whereby their store is preserued and the labour of their handes so prospered as it serueth for the preseruation of their mortall liues And therefore all men ought so to referre them selues vnto mine heauenly fathers will bee they poore or rich in zealous and heartie prayer as that in the good successe both of their store and calling they may referre the glorie vnto him the aucthor of all their welfare and whose blessing it is that maketh rich and releeueth the poore Thou hast heard before that it behoueth thee in all thy prayers first to craue forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and reconciliation with God myne heauenly father through mee And in this former most excellent forme of prayer which must be thy direction to all thy praiers thou art warranted to aske for remission of thy sinnes But vpon this condition namely that thou forgiue freely and from thine heart all those that haue offended thee Wherein thou hast then to consider that if thou come vnto mine heauenly father endewed as before thou hast been taught with especiall loue of him and vnfeyned loue towardes all men come freely and boldly vnto him in the name of mee thy continuall Mediatour and craue in a true faith that for my sake hee will forgiue thy sinnes and receiue thee againe into his fauour assuring thy selfe that hauing mee the high Bishop praying for thee through whom thou being iustified by faith art at peace and at one with God mine heauenly father Thinke therefore diligently vpon the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes in me and whensoeuer thine owne vnworthinesse through feare so cloyeth thy poore conscience that thou thinke nothing but condemnation due vnto thee Cast the eyes of thine heart through a liuely faith vppon my merites standing at no time vppon thine owne deseruinges craue reconciliation and remission for my sake assuring thy selfe to bee heard and receiued into mine heauenly fathers fauour againe And beware thou stande not righteous in thine owne conceit for if thou