it are contained al the vertues aforenamed I. Breadford A meditation of the lordes praier Our father THou good lord which madest heauen earth the sea and all that is therin together with thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Chrysts and with thy holy spirite Thou the same god which openedst thy selfe to Adam by thy promise Thou the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob Thou which broughtest thy people of Israell forth of Egipt w t a mightie hand and a stretched out power Thou which gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai Thou which spakest by thy prophets last of all in these latter dayes by thy dearlye beloued sonne Iesus Christ whom y e woldest should be made a second Adam that as by y e first we are childrē of wrath carnall and full of concupiscence so by him we might be made children of grace and spiritual by communicating with him y e qualitie merites vertues and grace of hys fleshe throughe the operation of the holye spirite as he communicated with vs the substaunce of oure fleshe in the wombe of y e virgin Marie by the operation of the same holy spirit being that blessed sede which was promised to Adam Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid which should brouse the Serpents heade which should bring the blessing on all nations whiche shuld raigne ouer thi house for euer and mightilye ouercome thine and our enemies as in dede he did by his incarnation natiuitie circumcisiō erile baptisme fastinge tentation doctrine dedes mracles workings agonies bloudy praier passiō death resurrection and ascension and yet he stil doth by his mediation and intercession for vs and at the length he will on al partes fully accōplishe by hys commynge to Iudgemente which wilbe sodenly in y e twinkring of an eye in the blast of a trompete and shoute of an Archangell when he shalbe sene wyth thousandes of Saintes innumerable thousandes of Angels all the whole worlde being on fire and all people that euer were are or shalbe then standing before his tribunall or iudgement seat to render an accompte of that they haue done in thys bodye be it good or bad Thou I say this god whiche art holye rightuouse trewe wyse pure chast mightie merciful good graciouse a hater of sinne an auenger of vnrightuousnes c woldeste that I which am borne in sinne and conceyued in iniquitie which by nature am a childe of wrathe for my hart is so vnsearcheably euell that out of it springeth corrupt concupissence so that the inclination thereof is prone to euell alwaies euen frō my youth vp as is my vnderstāding and mynde so darkened that I cannot perceyue those thinges that be of god of my selfe and all the wysedome whiche I receyue from Adam naturallye or other wyse attayne by labour or studye before regeneration I cānot thinke a good thought muche lesse wyshe it or consent vnto it and least of all doe it thou I saye yet wouldest that I being such a one in whom dwelleth continuall emnitie against thee that I whiche am nothinge but sinne and one that doeth euel alwaies before thee shuld call thee and beleue thee this god father of our lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ to be in very dede my father that is thou wouldest I should be moste assured that thou of thyne owne good will whiche thou barest to me wardes before I was yea before the worlde was hast in Christe chosen me to be thy child through him art become my most louinge father from whō I should loke for all good thinges be most certainelye perswaded that loke howe muche thou art more then mā so much thy loue and fatherlye prouidence towards me passeth the loue prouidence of anye father towardes hys childe in louing me caring how to help me prouiding for me nourtering me helping me in al my nedes So certaine y e woldest haue me to be of this y t to doubt of it doth most displease thee dishonor thee as either y u were not true or not able to doe these thynges or els becamest not my father in respecte of thine owne goodnes ī christ only but also in respect of my worthynes and deserts And y t I should not wauer or doubte of thys that thou arte my deare father I thy childe for euer through Iesus Christe it is required in the first commaundement which sayth I am y e lord thy god thou shalt haue none other goddes but me agayne thy sonne doth here commaunde me to call thee by the name of father moreouer in the firste article of my belefe I professe the same in saying I beleue in god the father almighty besydes this their are manye other things to confirme me herin as the creation and gouernemente of the world generally and of euery creature particularly for al is made and kept for man and so for me to serue me for my commoditye necessitye admonition Againe the creation of me in that thou hast made me after thy Image hauīg a reasōable soule body shape c. where thou mightest haue made mea tode a Serpent a swine deformed frātike c. moreouer thy wōderful cōseruacion norishing and keping of me hitherto in my infancie childhode youth c. Al these I say should cōfirme my faith of thy fatherlie loue But of all things the opening of thy selfe by thy worde promise of grace made after mans fall first to Adam then to Abraham Isaac Iacob and so to other beyng published by the prophetes frō time to time and last of all accomplished by thy deare sonne Iesus Christ in whom thy promises are yea Amē The opening of thy self thus I say in and by Christ is the most chiefe sure certificat that thou arte my father for his sake I thy deare child although of my selfe I am most vnworthie For thou accordinge to thy promises hast not spared thy deare sonne Iesus Christ but giuen hym to y e death of y e crosse for my sinnes Thou woldest he shuld be made flesh of our fleshe and bloude of our bloud in the wombe of the virgine Marie by the operation of the holy Spirite that we by the working of the same spirite throughe the merites of hys fleshe bloud might be made fleshe of his fleshe and bloud of his bloud that is as he hath the substaunce of our fleshe bloud euen so we might haue and foreuer enioye in him and through him the qualities vertues and gifts of rightuousnes holines innocencie immortalitie and glory wherewith he hath endued our nature in his owne person for vs all that as now in faith hope we haue y e same so in his cōming we might fully enioye them in very dede for then shall oure bodies nowe vile be like to his glorious body Herein apereth thy loue not y t we loued thee but that y e louest vs hast giuen thy
my bodye by this corporall helth by this light by this my hearinge seinge feelinge memorye vnderstandinge time place companye creatures and benefites aswell in keping innumerable euils from me bothe in soule and bodye which ells could not but come to me as also in gyuinge to me presently so manye thinges as w tout thy especiall grace working I neuer could haue had or presently could kepe them In thy creatures I see not thy power for I feare the not I see not thy presence for I reuerence thee not I see not thy wisdome for I adore the not I see not thy mercy for I loue the not I praise the not but in lipps tonge and therfore in that al thy creatures doe teache me crie out vpon me to be thankefull to the to loue feare serue thee and trust in the and that coÌ„tinually in that I doe not so they cannot but crie out vpon me and against me in thy sight in the day of Iudgement wyll weapon themselues against me Oh that I did nowe consider this Oh that my blinde eyes my deafe eares were opened oh that my miserable and folyshe harte were made wyse and conuerted This onelye thou canste doe whyche haste all mennes heartes in thy handes to bowe â–ª them as pleaseth the bowe my hearte good Lorde into thy testymonyes open my eyes make me to here for thi mercies sake that I maye beleue and so loue the be thankefull to thee amende in all things and serue the though not as thy deare seruantes doe yet at the least as other brute creatures doe that is to obey the and to be profitable to others Now for asmuch as my sinnes let this and all good thinges from me I besech the pardon me al my sinnes accordinge to thy gracious promyse for our lord Iesus Christ sake AmeÌ„ I beleue in Iesus Christe hys onelye sonne c. THy seruantes O Christe Iesu and people doe know by faith that as thou art almighty and god wyth the father by whom all things were made and are ruled for thou art god eternall coequall and consubstanciall with the father and the holy ghost so thou art man and haste taken oure nature vpon thee by the operation of the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgin mary and arte become the blessed sede whiche hast brused y â— serpeÌ„ts head the blessed sede in whoÌ„ all nations are blessed the prophet whom Moises dyde prophecpe of the samplare he sawe in the mount the truth and body of al the types figures and shadowes of the olde lawe the Messias Christ and sauiour of thy people the aduocat and redemer the pacifier of gods wrath for sinnes the opener of heanen and geuer of euerlasting life This they knowe thou broughtest to passe in thy humane nature by thy incarnation and natiuitye by thy beinge here on earth by thy lyning teaching fastinge praieng especially by thy suffering vnder Pontius Pilate by thy death buriall resurrection ascension vnto the heauens and raygning on the righte hand of the father from whence thou shalte come to iudge bothe the quicke the dead and as they knowe this so by faithe they applye it also to themselues that for their sake thou waste made man didest praye faste wast tempted didest die rosest againe diddest ascend into heauen and there art set their aduocate bishoppe and high prieste alwaies appearinge in gods sighte for them from whence they looke for thee knowige that 〈◊〉 wilt not enter into iudgement with them to damne them which wouldest damne thy selfe for them By this faith they felt these affections in them selues namely the batred of sinne the feare of god the loue of god trust in thee and loue to thy church The hatred of sinne thei felt because it is so foule a thiÌ„g as wold not be washed away with any other thing then with thy preciouse bloud shedinge the feare of god because his anger is so greate against sinne that no lesse pryce coulde pacifie his wrath then thy most painful death the loue of god because he hathe so loued them that he would not spare thee his deare sonne for them euer whaÌ„ they were his enemyes trust in thee because thou haddest no respect to thy selfe but most willingly didest geue thy self wholly to be our sauiour and seruant loue to thy people and church because generally particularly in euery meÌ„ber of the same they see howe deare they are to thee and therefore they can not but be so to them Oh howe doe they imitate and folowe thy foote steppes how doe they reioyce when they are in anye thinge by afflection made lyke to thee Oh howe doe they lament their sinnes ingratitude vnbeliefe loue thee and wholly yelde themselues vnto thee where as I o graciouse god deare sauiour Iesus Christ though I saie I beleue in thee which was conceyued by the holy ghost yet alas I doe but bable this for nothinge is ells in me but vnbeliefe Of thy power loue of thine anger mercy I haue but an opinion as my insensiblenes and vnthankfulnes doth declare If a man should shewe me frendship but in a trifle or suffer anye thinge at all for me I could not but be thaÌ„full and thou besides my creation hast redemed me and brought me into the number of gods childreÌ„ then which thinge nothinge is greater and loe I am vnthankfull Thou hast suffred much for me froÌ„ heauen thou cammest into earthe to fetch me into heauen but I regarde it not Thou barest my sinnes on thy back suffering a most bitter death but I am so farre from thankefulnes that I stil more and more loth the. Thou woldest enter into a coÌ„munioÌ„ w t me taking my nature vnto thee coÌ„cerning the substance thereof that I might enter into a coÌ„mnuioÌ„ with thee coÌ„cerning the qualities wher â–ª in thy self thou hast endued it but I consider it not Thou diddest die to delyuer me from death but I still more and more geuâ— thee cause to die so ingrate ful am I. Thou diddest arise to iustifye me but I with the Iewes wold stil kept thee down because I wold not leaue my wickednes Thou ascendedst to heauen to take possession for me there to be alwaies in the syght of thy father for me to send me downe giftes to praye for me but I daielye am pullinge theâ— downe againe as muche as in me â—ieth I am altogether earthly I hide my self out of thy sight by forgettiÌ„g thee I reiecte and abuse thy gifts I neglecte praier Thou art nowe in a redynesse to come to iudge hoth quick and dead but I tremble not at this geare nor beseche thee before thou come to be merciful vnto me not to enter into iudgement with me yea I thinke nothing at al of thy comming maliâ—oÌ„ cogitant iudicium the wicked consyder not the ende they thinke not on thy iudgement Thou woldst bring me to thy father y â— I might find grace but I put this of
to the end And gods gifts are such that he cannot repent him of theÌ„ And therfore saith christ I know whom I haue chosen attributing to election the cause of finall persenerance By which thinge Iudas was sene not to be elected to eternall life although he was elected to the office of an Apostle as Saul was elected to the office of a king Which kind of election is to be discerned in readinge the scriptures from thys kinde of election y e which I speaks of nowe that is froÌ„ election to eternal life in christ Thirdly he sheweth y â— certaintye of saluatioÌ„ of y â— electe by calling theÌ„ heires For yf we be heires of god then are we felow hei res with Christe to be afflfcted and glorified with Christ and therefore saith he accordinge to the decree of his owne will Loe he calleth it a decree or counsel which shall stand as Csai saith the counsell of the lorde shall stande Fourthlye he she weth this certaintie by sayinge that they are elect and predestinate to y â— praise of gods glory which we shuld more care for then for the saluation of al the world This glory of y â— lord is set sorth as wel in them y â— perishe are reprobates as in the elect therfore S. Iohn bringing in y â— place of Esai speakig of y â— reprobate saith y â— Esai spake that wheÌ„ he sawe the glory of the lord This glory of the lord to be set forth by vs is a great mercy and benefite of god I am assured that if the very deuyls and reprobates dyd not repyne hereat but were thankfull that they might be ministers in any pointe to set fourth goddes glorye I am assured I saye that they shoulde fynde no hell nor tormentes Theyr hell and tourmentes commeth of the loue they haue to them selues and of the malyce enuye and hatred they haue agaynste God and hys glorye Let them tremble and feare that maye not awaye withe the glorye of the lord in election and reprobation Let not their eyes be euell because god is good and doth good to whom it pleaseth him wrong he doth to no man nor can doe for then he were not righteous and so no god He can not condemne the iuste for theÌ„ were be vntrue because his word is contrarie He cannot condemne the penitent and beleuer for that were against his promise Let vs therefore labour studie crye and praye for repentance and faith and then cannot we be damned because we are y â— blessed of the father before all worldes therfore we beleue therfore we repent And for asmuch as it perteineth to vs whiche be within to see and to speake of those thinges whiche are geuen vnto vs of god in Christe let vs laboure hereaboutes and leaue them that be withoute to the lorde which will Iudge them in his tyme. The Apostle praieth for the Ephesians for none other wisedome and re uelatioÌ„ from god then wherby they might know god haue their minds illumined to see what they shoulde hope for by their vocation and bow rich the glory of his inheretaunce is vpon his saintes Further then this I thinke is vnsemly for vs to search vntill we haue sought out how rich gods goodnes is and wilbe to vs his children The whiche we can neuer do but the more we go theraboutes and the more we taste his goodnes the more we shall loue him and loth al thinges that displease him This I say let vs do and not be to busye bodies in searching the maiestie and glory of god or in norrishing in any wise the doubting of our saluation wherto we are readye enoughe and the deuill goeth about nothinge ells so muche as that for by it we are dulle to doe good to other we are so carefull for our selues By it we are more dulle to do good to our selues because we stande in doute whether it profiteth vs or no. By it we dishonour god either in makinge hym as though he were not true or elles as thoughe our saluation came not only and altogether from him but hanged partely on our selues By it the deuyll will bringe men at length to dispaire and hatred of god Doubte once of thy saluation and continue therin and suerly he then will aske no more It was the first thing wherwith be tempted Christe if thou be the soÌ„ne of god c It is the first and principalest darte he casteth at gods eleâ—t But as he preuailed not against Christ no more shall he doe against anye of his members for they haue y â— shield of faith which quencheth his fiery dartes they praise god nighte day how then shuld they perishe The Angells of the lord pitch their tentes round about them how then shoulde Sathan preuaile They are borne in y â— hands of the angells least they shoulde hurt their feete at anye stone God hath geuen commaundement to his Angels ouerthem The Angelles are ministers vnto them Their names are writen in y â— booke of life therfore Christ bad them reioyce as paul doth y â— philippiaÌ„s for nothig shal separate them froÌ„ y â— loue wherw t god loueth theÌ„ in Christ Iesu who saith that it is impossible for them to erre finally to damnation for he is their light to illumine their darknes They are geuen to him to kepe he is faithful ouer al goddes childreÌ„ He saith he will kepe theÌ„ so that they shall neuer perishe After they beleue they are entred already into euerlasting life Christ hath set theÌ„ there already he hathe comitted theÌ„ into his fathers hands by praier which we knowe is sure therefore death hell deuilles nor all power sinnes nor mischefe shall neuer pul vs out of our heads hands whose meÌ„bres we are therfore receiuing of his spirit as we doe we cannot but bring forth y â— frutes thereof though now then the fleshe fayle vs. But the lord eueÌ„ our lord be praised which is more stroÌ„g in vs then he which is in y â— world he alwaies putteth vnder his hand y â— we lie not still nor shal do as y â— reprobat whose pietie is as y â— mornig dew soone come sone gone therfor thei cnÌ„not coÌ„tinue to y â— end CaÌ„not no they wil not if thei cold because thei hate god his glori therfore al theÌ„ y â— seke it or set it forth wheras y â— elect loue al meÌ„ seke to do al men good in god suspendig their iudgementes of others y â— they maye stande or fall to the lorde and not to them Hetherto oute of this one place of Paull to y â— Ephesians if the matter of election and predestination be so fully sette forth to goddes glory and to the comforte of his Church howe may we suppose is this matter sette fourth in
sonne for vs herin doest y u coÌ„mende vnto vs thy loue y t when we were yet sinners Christe thy derâ—sonne died for vs so y t nothing shuld separate vs from thy loue in christ Iesê° nether death nor hunger c. For if when we were enemies we were recoÌ„ciled vnto thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne much more we being recoÌ„ciled shalbe saued by his life And y t I shuld not doubt herof but certeinly be per swaded all thys to pertayne to me where I mighte haue been borne of Turkes loe y u woldest I shoulde be borne of Christian parents brought into thy church by baptisme which is y e Sacrament of AdoptioÌ„ and requireth faith as wel of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holines to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy spirit Where I mighte haue been borne in an ignorant time and region y u woldest I I shuld be borne in this time and region wherin is more knowlege reueled then euer was here or in many places is Where I mighte haue been of a corrupt iudgemente entangled with many errours loe y u of thy goodnes as thou hast reformed my Iudgement so doest thou keepe it and nowe for the same iudgementes sake doest vouchsalfe somewhat by the crosse to try me By al which thinges I shuld confirme my faythe of thys that thou alwayes haste been arte and wylte be for euer my deare father in respect wherof I should be as certaine of saluation of these aheritaunce of heauen for euer 〈◊〉 thankfull cast my whole care on thee trust on thee and call on thee with comforte and certaine hope for all thinges that I wants For in y t thou haÌ„st giuen to meÌ„ this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued vndeseced on my behalfe 〈◊〉 and onely in respect of thine owne goodnes and grace in Christ lest at anye time I should doubt of it how shuld I but hope certainlie that nothinge profitable to me can be denied in y t thi power is infinite For as thi good will is declared in adoptinge me so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weale for y t shuld improue thy power to be almighty in y t thi wil is so bouÌ„teously already declared wheras my beâ—eâ—â—e requireth to beleue in thee y e father almightie in consideration whereof I shoulde in all thynges behaue my self as a child reioyse in thee praise thee truste in thee feare thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie harted am I How vnthankfull am I Howe full of vnbeleife doubtinge of this thy riche mercie Howe litle doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me forgyue me good father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reuele thy self vnto me and Iesus Christe thy deare sonne oure lord by whoÌ„ we are made thy children that I may truly knowe thee hartely loue thee faithefully hange vpon thee in al my nedes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my god father I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies be endued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient hart in all things to thy holy will At thy hands and from thee as I must loke for al things so come I vnto thee and praye thee to gyue me these thinges whiche thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I might come aske them of thee as now I doe through Iesus Christ our lord As by this word father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my lord my god my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that al euery of thy seruants that euer were are or shalbe had haue and shall haue For now I am taught to beleue y t thou hast called me into the communion of thy churche people whom hereby I perceiue y u hast commaunded to be carefull for me as for theÌ„ selues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remeÌ„ber render my duetie I owe to thee wards faith loue feare obedience c so by thy worde our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull for them to take their sorow pouerty affliction c as mine owne and therfore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation habilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfloue arrogancie contempt of any By reason wherof I haue great cause to lament to reioyse To lament because I am so farre froÌ„ coÌ„sideration much more froÌ„ doig my dutie to thy people in thoughts words or dedes To reioyse because I am called of thee placed iÌ„ the blessed societie of thy saints made a meÌ„ber citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem and because thou hast giueÌ„ in commauÌ„dement to all thy church to be as care full for me as for themselues But alas howe farre am I herefroÌ„ As I am giltie of vnthankfulnes for this thy calling me into the blessed coÌ„munion of thy deare soÌ„ne churche yea of thy selfe so am I giltie of selfloue vnmercifulnes pride arrogantie forgetfulnes coÌ„tempt of thy children for els I could not but be other wise affected otherwise labour then I do Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me grauÌ„t for christs sake that as my tonge souÌ„deth this word our so I may in hart fele the true loye of thy blessed communion and the true loue coÌ„passion whiche thy children haue and fele towards their brethen that I may reioyse in all trouble in respect of that ioyefull communion that I maye denye my selfe to honour thy children vpoÌ„ earth and endeuer my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesê° christ our lord I come onely to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor muste not els where haue and thou requirest it of me y t therefore I shuld as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Oure father I am taught to glorie and reioyse for the blessed coÌ„munion which I am called to w t thee deare father with thy Christ and with thy holye church so also am I heare taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioyse in respect of the place and blessed Ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good tyme I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heaueÌ„ is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although heare for a time I am bodely on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which arte in heauen I am admonished not onely to discerne thee from earthly fathers and to knowe
also on the apostles church in fyerye tonges visibly the fyfte daye after Christes resurrection as now thou doest inuisybly generally and particularly sitte vpon thy Church and children beinge the consolator the coÌ„forter the teacher and leader the guider and gouernour of vs all For this thy loues sake I saye I besech thee to be mercifull vnto me and forgeue me my doubting vnbeliefe ingratitude and horrible monstrous vncleanes and synne and vtterly take them from me Bring me vnto thy church which thou guidest that is guide me make me holy and by faith couple me to christ by charitie to thy people that is geue me the communion of saints w t thy saincts ouer shadowe my synnes reyse me vp to rightuousnes beginne in me euerlasting life and nowe more and more to expert and loke for all these great mercies and at length to possesse eternal felicity w t thee o blessed trenitie the father the sonne and the holy ghost thre persons and one almightie eternal most iuste wise and good god to whom be all glory power and dominion now and for euer A meditation vpon the ten commaundementes ¶ I am the lord thy god which brought thee oute of the land of Egipt c. O Good lord and deare father here y â— woldest I should knowe that thou which broughtest thy people of Israell out of Egypt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power whiche gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai in great thundering lighting fier which spakest by the prophetes and diddest sende thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Christ coequall and consubstantiall with thee in power maiestie glory to take vpon him our nature by the operatioÌ„ of the holy ghost in the wombe of y â— virgin Marie of whose substaunce he was made and borne man but pure without synne that we by byrth children of wrath by hym myghte be made thy chyldren children of grace communicatinge with him rightuousnes bolines immortality by the working of the spirit as he communicated wyth vs fleshe and bloude but not infected w t synne as is ours by the working of the same holy spirit which spirit after his bitter death resurrectioÌ„ and ascension into the heauens he sent plentifully and by a visible signe vnto his Apostles and Disciples by whom he published the gospell thorowe out the whole worlde and so continually hathe done from age to age doth and will doe vnto the end of the worlde by the mynysterie of preaching Thou woldest I say that we shoulde knowe and beleue that thou this Almightye lord and god which on this sorte hast reueled and opened thy selfe art the one alone very true and eternall almighty god which madest and rulest heaueÌ„ and earth and all things visyble and inuisyble together with this thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ and with the holy spirit consubstantiall and coeternall with thee deare father Not onelye this but also thou woldest that I shuld knowe and beleue that by the same thy dearly beloued sonne thou hast broughte me from the tirannie and captiuitie of Sathan this sinfull world wherof the captiuity of Egipt vnder pharao was a figure and in his blonde shedde vpon the crosse y â— hast made a couenaunt with me whiche thou wilt neuer forget that thou art and wilt be my lord and my god that is thou wilt forgeue me my sinnes and be wholy mine with all thy power wisedome rightuousnes treweth glory mercy Wherfore although I might coÌ„firme my faith by the innumerable mercies hither to powred vpon me moste aboundantly as thy children of Israel might haue done and did confirme their faith by the manifolde benefites powred vpon them in the desert yet specially the seale of thy couenaunt I meane thy holy Sacrament of baptisme wherin thy holye name was not in vaine called vpoÌ„ me O deare father swet sonne and sauiour Iesus Christ and most graciouse good holy gost shuld most assuredly confirme and euen on all sides seale vp my faith of this thy couenaunt that y â— art my lorde and my god euen as Abraham and thy people of Israell did by the Sacrament of Circumcision which as the Apostell calleth the seale or signacle of rightuousnes so doest thou call it being but the signe of thy couenaunt in dede yet thy very couenaunt because as thy word is moste true and caÌ„not lye as thy couenauÌ„t is a couenaunt of peare vnfallible and euerlasting euen so the Sacrament and seale of the same is a most true testimonial and witnes therof In consideracion therfore of this that thou the almighty god of thine owne goodnes hast vouched safe not onelye to make me a creature after shine owne Image likenes which mightest haue made me a beaste to geue vnto me a reasonable soule endewed with memorie iudgemeÌ„t c which mightest haue made me an â—â—fote without witte or discretioÌ„ c to endue me with a body be wetifyed with right shape limmes health c which mightest haue made me a ceeple lame blind c gratiously to enrich me concerning fortune frends liuinge name c whiche mightest haue made me a slaue destitute of al frendes and helpes for this life but also hast vouchedsafe that I being a a miser borne in sinne conceiued in iniquitie to whom nothing is dewe more then to a Turcke Iewe or Saracen but eternall damnation should be called into the number of thy people enroledde in thy boke now in thy couenaunt so that thou w t all that euer thou hast arte mine for which causes sake hitherto thou hast kepte me cherished defended spared fatherly chastised me and now graciously doest kepe me and care for me geuing me to liue be moue in thee expecting also waiting how thou mightest shewe mercy vpon me In consideration I say of this most iustely and reasonably thou requirest that as thou arte my lord god so I should be thy seruaunt and one of thy people As thou haste giuen thy self wholy vnto me to be mine with all thy power wisedome c For he that geueth him self geueth all he hath so shuld I be wholy thine and geue ouer my self vnto thee to be guided w t thy wisedome defended with thy power holpeÌ„ releiued and comforted by thy mercy First therfore to beginne with al thou commauÌ„dest that I shuld haue none other gods in thy sight that is to say as I should haue thee for my lord god to loke for all good thiÌ„gs moste assuredly at thy handes and therfore I should put all my trust in thee be thankefull vnto thee loue thee feare thee obey thee and call vpon thy holy name in al my nedes so shuld I geue this faith loue feare obedience thankfulnes and inuocation or praier to none other no not in my hart but onely to thee or for thee where thou commaundest All this to doe oh lorde god and that w t most ioieful hart I haue great cause For what a thing is it that thou Iehouah woldest uouchesalfe
MEDITATION OF GODES power beutie goodnes c. BEcause thou lord woldst haue vs to loue thee not only doest thou will entice allure and prouoke vs but also doest commaunde vs so to do promising thy self vnto such as loue thee and threaning vs w t damp nation if we do otherwise whereby we may se both our great corruptioÌ„ noughtines also thine exceding great mercy towards vs. First concerning oure corruption and noughtines what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beutye goodnes liberalitie truth Iustice which all thou art good lorde cannot moue vs to loue thee whatsoeuer thinges we see faier good wise mighty are but eueÌ„ sparkles of that power beutie goodnes wisedome which y u art For to the end y u mightest declare thy riches beutye power wisdome goodnes c y u hast not only made but stil dost coserue al creatures to be as Dauid saith of y e beauens declarers setters forth of thy glory and as a booke to teache vs to knowe thee How faier thou art the beutie of the sonne mone starres light flowers riuers fieldes hilles byrdes beastes men al creatures yea the goodly shape forme of the whole world doth declare How mightye y u art we are taught by the creation of this world euen of nought by gouerning the same by punishinge the wicked mightie gyaunts therof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressinge the rages of the sea within her boundes by stormes by tempests by fiers these such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almightie and terrible power wherby thou subduest all things vnto thee Howe riche thou arte thys world thy great infinite treasure house doth wel declare What plentie is there not only of things but also of euery kinde of thinges Yea how doest thou yearely daily multiply these kindes How many seeds dost thou make of one sede yea what greate increase doest thou bringe it vnto These cannot but put vs in remembrance of the exceding riches that thou haste For if to thine enemies which loue thee not as y â— most parte in this worlde be yf to them thou geuest so plentifully thy riches here what shal we thinke that with thy selfe thou haste laide vp for thy frendes How good thou art al creatures generally and perticulerly do teache What creature is there in y â— world which thou hast not made for our commoditie I will not say how that y u mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reasoÌ„ if thou haddest wold But amongest al thinges none doth teach vs so thy great loue towards vs as doth the death of thy most derely beloued soÌ„ne who suffered the paines â—errours therof yea of bell it self for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a smalle loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died A MEDITATION OF DEATH and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing do we daily in this preseÌ„t life then heau sinne to sinne hourd vp trespasse vpon trespasse so y â— this day is worse alwaies then yesterdaye by encreasing as dais so sinnes therfore thy indignatioÌ„ good lord agaist vs but wheÌ„ we shalbe let go out of the priseÌ„ of y t body so taken into thy blessed coÌ„pany then shal we be in most safe tie of immortality saluation then shal come vnto vs no sicknes no nede no paine no kind of euil to soule or body but whatsoeuer good we can wishe y â— shall we haue what so euer we loth shalbe far froÌ„ vs. O dere father y â— we had faith to be hold these things accordingly Oh y â— our harts were persuaded therof eure affections enflamed w c the desyre of them Then shuld we lyue in longing for y â— which now we most loth Oh help vs graunt y â— we being ignorant of things to come of y â— time of oure death which to thee is certain may so liue finishe our iorney here y â— we may be ready and then depart whtÌ„ our departiÌ„g may make most to thy glory our coÌ„fort through christ What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadow a warfar a bubble of water a word grasse a flower Thou shalt die is most certaine but of the time no man caÌ„ tel wheÌ„ The longer in this life y u doest remaine the more y u sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our minds be often in maner oppressed w t darknes because we do but remeÌ„ber the night of y e body forgetting y e light of the mind of the resurrectioÌ„ Therto remeÌ„ber y e good thiÌ„gs that after this life shal ensue withoute wauering in certainty of faith so shal y e passage of death be more desired It is like a sailing ouer y e sea to thy home couÌ„try it is like a medicine or purgatioÌ„ to y e helth of soule body It is y e best phicisioÌ„ It is like to a womaÌ„s trauaile for as y e child being deliuered cometh into a more large place then the wombe wherin it did lie before so thy soule being deliuered out of the body commeth into a muche more large and faier place euen into heauen A GODLYE MEDITATION vpon the passion of our sauour Iesus Christ OH lord Iesus Christ the sonue of the euerliuing and almightye god by whom al thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of y e substance of the father the eternal wisedome of god the brightnesse of hys glory god of god light of light coequall coeternall and consubstantial with the father thou of y â— loue thou haddest to mankinde that when he was fallen from the felowshippe of god into the societie of Sathan and all euill didst vouchsalfe for our redemption to become a mediatour betwene god and man takinge to the godhead our nature as concerninge the substaunce of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and moste mercifull Messias which by the power of thy godhead and merites of thy manhode haste made purgation of oure sinnes euen by thyne owne selfe whilest thou wast here on earth being now set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glory power infinite I besech and humblye pray thy mercy to graunt me at this present to reherse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the laste night y u wast here before thy death that thy good spirit might therby be effecttuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardone of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and pacience in afflictions Amen In the middeste of thy laste supper with thy deare Apostles these things cold not but be before thee namely that they all wold leaue thee the most earnest would for swere thee one of the xii shuld most traitorously betraye thee which were noe
small crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he toke no heed but wilfully went out to finishe his worke conteÌ„ning thy admonition counsel he could not but vere thy most louing hart After supper there was contention amongs thy disciples who shuld be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride ambition busy amongs them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonicioÌ„ to them of the crosse y â— wold come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they y â— they thought they could with their .ii. swerds put away al pertis which was no litle greife vnto thee After thy comiÌ„g to Gethsemane heuines oppressed thee therfore thou woldest thy disciples to pray y u didst tel to peter and his felows that thy hart was heauy to death y u didst wil them to pray being careful for them also least they shuld fal into tentation After this y u wentest a stones cast froÌ„ them didst pray thy self falling flat groueliÌ„g vpoÌ„ y e earth but alas y â— feltst no coÌ„fort therfore y u camest to thy disciples whiche of all others wer most swete dere vnto thee but lo to thy further discomforte they passe nether of thy perils nor of their owne therfore slepe a pace After y â— hadst awaked them y u goest again to pray but y u fouÌ„dest no coÌ„fort at al therfore didst returne again for some coÌ„fort at thy derest freÌ„ds haÌ„ds But yet again alas they are fast a slepe whervpoÌ„ y u art inforced to goe again to thy heaueÌ„ly father for some sparcle of coÌ„fort in these thy wonderfull crosses agonies Now here y u wast so discouraged so coÌ„fortlesse that eueÌ„ streames of bloud came running froÌ„ thine eies cares other partes of thy body But who is able to expresse y e infinitnes of thy crosses eueÌ„ at thy being in y â— garden al which y â— sufferdest for my sake aswell to satisfy thi fathers wrath for my sines as also to sanctifie all my sufferings the more gladelye to bee sustayned of me After thy bloudye praier thou camest and yet agayne foundeste thy disciples a sleepe and before y u canst wel awake theÌ„ loâ— Iudas cometh w t a great band of meÌ„ to appreheÌ„d thee a these so doth leading thee away bound to the high Bysshopps house Annas and so froÌ„ him to Caiaphas Here now to augment this thy myserie beholde thy Disciples fle from thee false witnesses be broughte against thee thou art accused and condemned of blasphemie Peter eueÌ„ in thy sight forswereth thee thou arte vniustly stricken for answering lawfully thou art blindfelde stricken buffeted all the whole nighte in the Bysshoppe Caiaphas house of their cruell seruants In the morning by times thou art condempned againe of the prestes of blasphemie and therfore they bring thee before y â— secular power to Pilate by whoÌ„ y u art openly arrayned as other theues and malefauoures were when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice yet he did not desmysse thee but dyd sende thee to Herode where thou was derided shamefully in comminge and goeinge to and from hym all the waye wonderfully especially after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole Afore pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsly no man did take thy parte or speake a good worde for thee Pilate caused thee to be whipped scourged and to be handeled most pitifully to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates but no maÌ„at al pitied thee Barrabas was preferred before thee al the people head taile was against thee cried hange thee vp vniustly to death wast thou iudged y u wast crowned with thornes that pearced thi braines thou wast made a mocking stocke thou wast reuiled reâ—aited beaten and most miserably handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen the mount of Caluarie A great crosse to bange thee on was laid vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as longe as thou wast able Thy bodye was racked to be nayled to the tree thy hands were bored thorow thy fete also nailes were put thorow them to fasten thee ther on thou wast hanged betwene heauen and earth as one spewed out of heauen vomited oute of the earth vnworthy of any place y â— high priest laughed thee to sckorne the elders blasphemed thee and saied god hath no care for thee the common people laught and cried out vpoÌ„ thee thrist oppressed thee but vinegre onelye and gal was giueÌ„ to thee to drinke heauen shined not on thee the sonne gaue thee no light the earth was afraied to beare thee Sathan tempted thee and thine owne senses caused thee to crie out my god my god why hast thou forsakeÌ„ me Oh wonderful passions which y u sufferedst In them y u teachest me in theÌ„ thou comfortest me for by them god is my father my sinnes are forgeuen by theÌ„ I shuld learne to feare god to loue god to hope iÌ„ god to hate sinne to be patient to cal vpon god neuer to leaue him for any tentatioÌ„s but with thee stil to crye father in to thy hands I coÌ„mende my spirit A CONFESSION OF SINNES and praier for the mitigation of goddes wrath and punishment for the same O Almightie god king of al kings gouerner of all things whose power no creature is able to resiste to whom it belongeth iustly to to punishe sinners and to be merciful vnto them that truly repent we confesse that thou doest most iustely punishe vs for we haue greuouslye sinned against thee and we acknowledge that in punishinge vs y u doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father aswell because y u doeste not punishe vs in any thinge as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were drawe vs to increase in repentance in faith in praier in contemning of the world and in hartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Graunt vs therfore gratious lord thankfully to acknowledge thy great mercye which haste thus fauorably dealt with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendment And seing thou hast sworne that y u wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne lyue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thi derely beloued soÌ„ne Iesus christs sake whoÌ„ thou wouldest should be made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes therby declaring thy great and vnspeakable anger agaist sinne thine infinite mercy to wardes vs sinfull wretches And for as muche as the dulnes of our harts blindnes and corruption is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithful harty praier acording to our great necessity without thy singuler grace and assistance grauÌ„t vnto vs gratious lord thy holye and sanctifâ—inge spirite to worke in vs