and glory for euer and euer In this is séene our sence and feling of God because we confesse that kingdome power and all glory for euer belongeth vnto god and so we take our leaue of God to his honour and glorye so that this prayer passeth all carnal capacitie and worldly wisedome The sonnes .25 Question Oh Lorde how doth many thousands pray at this day if it passe mans reason capacitie and wisedome goods father certifie vs. The fathers aunswere Many indéede there be that pray but their prayers are no better then the praier of a parrat because they haue neither sence nor feeling of the holy spirit of God without which spirit it is impossible to please God in prayer neyther yet to vnderstand what prayer is and therfore such prayer and praying turneth to great sinne prouoketh gods wrath And Christ calleth it lip-labour babling And saint Iames sayth that they aske and receiue not because they aske they knowe not what For the most part pray on this fashion Oh Lorde defend vs from all euill O Lord kéepe me from all mine enimies O Lorde sende that I want not O Lorde increase my wealth and not his fayth and graunt that I â—ay be able for to dwell in credite and countenaunce with my neighboures and that I may be able to beare office and aucthoritie among my neighbours and company O Lord blesse all my house goods that I coÌ„e not to misery bles al my freÌ„ds kinred But no sighing or sorrowing for sinnes no crauing for mercy nor groaning in the spirite No sobbing in repentance no intercession for heauenly benedictions and blessinges no thankes for our election creation saluation sanctification iustification and preseruation No prayer to God to honour his holy name no crauing that his kingdome might dwell among vs his holy woord No prayer that hiâ— holy will and our willes may be all one here in earth as it is in heauen but all for earthly thinges to haue our owne willes pleasures fulfilled no praying as christ hath taught vs as it is expressed in the .3 first petitions for our soules health And then for things necessary for this life No Salomons prayer for good wisedome and his holy spirit but all for worldly blessinges that he may maâ—e Iohn his sonne a Gentleman Ioane his daughter pennie white although the parents purchate Hell for his paynes This is the asheists Epicures belligooâ— and Carnall Protestantes forme and manner of prayer although they vse to say for order sake the thrée fiyst petitions First yet they practise them laste or neuer because they are worldly minded which cannot comprehende spirituall things And therefore if God doo fulfill their prayers it is in his wrath to their greater condemnation although they thinke them selues in great felicity and happines aboue others so dwel puffed vp with pride because of their great abundance and so come to aucthoritie and liue all their time in prosperity iollity without either pittie or coÌ„passion of poore neighbours or brethren except they repent they sodaynely slyp to hell And therefore to conclude as the Lords prayer is deuided in .6 petitions as soÌ„e say into .7 so I feare if that world were deuided into .6 or .7 parts I feare that .6 partes doth pray in vaine yea that are called christians Although we haue ben taught catechised more then .26 yéeres yea some more then .46 yéers therfore feare is come on me because the people set light thy lawe Psa 119. ver 53. The sonnes .16 Question How then is it possible to pray to haue our prayers perfect before God when we pray good sir certifie vs. The fathers aunswere By a firme constant and sure faith on in Iesus Christes merits with a true humble harty sorrowfull sobbing repeÌ„tance of our wicked life past prostrating our selues most humble reuerently before Gods mercy seat crauing mercy of god for all our sins past for christs sake then craue grace of our good and loouing father for his grace and holye spirite to frame in vs a better lyfe without which spirite it is vnpossible for God to heare vs and then be thankfull vnto God for all his benefites both spirituall and corporall bestowed vpon vs all our life time vnto this present hower but especially for our election creation saluation iustification sanctification and preseruation vnto this present day and hower that is to say first because God hath elected and chosen vs to saluation before that the world was made or created and secondly for that he hath created vs men and women not beastes but made vs christians and not infidels or Pagans And thirdely that he hath so loued vs that he hâ—th giuen vs his onely sonne to be our onelye and alone sauiour redéemer mediator and aduocate betweene God and vs continually be thankefull vnto God for that he hath giuen vnto vs his holye word to be peaceably preached amongst vs and that we are borne in such a mercifull Princes time And first also let vs continually pray vnto the almightie for the preseruation of her Maiesties longe prosperous raygne for all her Counsell Cleargie Nobilitie and for al Magistrates Citties Corporations Companies and fraternities and for all men kinredes Countries and Nations but especially for his Church dispersed dispised of all the world and wicked worlings and for the continuance of his holy word decrease of our fayth loue holy spirite wisedome grace and zealous preachers amongst vs for euer and to conuert or confounde all Amaziases Zedochiazes and passurs all Dombe Dogges Idle shepheards hippocrites Hirelinges Traytors Papistes Atheistes Epicures Bellie gods and all proud and prophane persons merciles miserable wise worldly wysardes and to bring into the way of truth all suche as doo erre and are deceiued And to be mercifull vnto all suche as are in anye neede miserie pouertie prison or extremitie but especially to pray for christes Churche prisoned persecuted tormented and tortered and for all such as are perplexed in mind or body in the bedds of their sickenesse or in the perrill of death and that it would please God to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences ignorances and to amend â—â—r liues according to his holy word that we may liue in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our liues and then after all these prayers meditatations and thankes We must aske boldly of our good God althings necessary for this life if it be his will for Christes sake with a sure and constant fayth and beléefe to obtayne all our petitions and prayers at gods hande for Iesus christes sake In whose name we must alwayes conclude all our prayers with the same prayers that Christe hath taught vs to pray Our father c. The conclusion or glasse Thus ye sée as it were in a glasse how ye ought to pray and in what maner and sort and agayne ye haue hardâ— before how sencelesse and daungerous
daylie die vnto sinne lyue vnto righteousnesse which is called mortification of life for except we be regenerated into a spirituall body we shall neuer be partakers of christes naturall body and then voyde of all the benefites of Christes passion which is the som and effect of all our fayth sacramonts and religion For to be worldly minded is death euerlasting but to be spiritually minded is life euerlasting sayth S. Paul vnto the which god graunt vs for his mercy sake The sonnes .22 Question I pray you sir is there any such necessitie in Baptising young children that is if they die before they be baptised that they are damned as some affirme for the scripture savth except ye be Baptised ye cannot be saued The fathers aunswere Neyther is saluation tyed vnto these that are baptised nor yet damnation vnto such as are vnbaptised no more then they were all saued that were circumcised and all damned that were vncircomcised for then what had become of all the children that dyed in the wildernesse and all the women Iewes and all the Gentiles that neuer had circumcision But that is all Papistes religion popish womens opinion For. S. paul saith that neyther circumcision nor vncircumcision doth preuaile any thing but a new creature for euery faythfull christian doth beléeue that his childe is sanctified in the mothers wombe if eyther of them be faythfull and also saued frō euerlasting damnation by the fayth of their Parents if eyther of them be faythfull Christians or els our séede wers vncleane but if both Father and Mother are infidelles or Papistes then I doubt what their childrē are Because S. paul so affirmeth to the Corrinthians in his first Epistle the .7 Chapter and the .14 verse But because we are the children of wrath by Adams corruption vnto whom the promise of gods mercy and fauour reacheth vnto lyfe euerlasting we therefore bring our children to be Baptised in the same fayth that we protest because they are the seales of our fayth An other Question or obiection 23. Because you said before that the infidells and papists childrē are not christians borne as you proued by S. Paules words in the .7 Chap. to the Cor. and 14. ver 1. Epistle we pray you are Papistes no better then infidels are they not Christians The aunswere to the obiection Although they are borne in christendome yet are they not therefore true christians no more then they are al true English men that are borne in Englād there should not be so many Mongrills neyther yet so many vnnatural rebels as the trayterous vile Iesuites filthy papistes that are borne in Englande neyther loueth God Christ Prince nor yet their owne natiue cuntrie of which sorte I woulde there were not so many in this land But to our purpose and proofe is it possible for such to be Christians that are gods vtter enimies Is it possible for him to be a christian that denyeth Christes powes to be sufficiēt for our saluation but the pestilent Papistes and Traytors Iesuites denieth and teacheth that fayth onely in Christes merites is not sufficient for our saluation therefore it is not possible that any such Papistes can be christians And except their righteousnesse excéede the righteousnesse of the scribes and Pharisies they shall neuer come where Christes kingdome is the scribs and pharisies beléeued that because they were Abrahams children and circumcised therfore they were saued And the Papists belefe is because they haue left in them some féede of grace to doo good workes by it they deserue saluation because they are Baptised and so they shall with the vnbeléeuing Iewes that were circumcised therfore good children of all people beware the Papists The sonnes .24 Question I pray you good father certifie vs also of the holy communion and as you haue don of Baptisme the true sence effect thereof The fathers aunswere This Sacrament is the signe seale and pledge of our saluation redemption which Christs our sauiour hath left vs to remember his precious death and passion and to increase our fayth vntyll he come agayne to be our ioyfull iudge and so remember that by the mercifull eating and drinking of Christes very body and blood in the substance of bread and wine by a firme fayth we are surely partakers of all the benefites and blessinges of Christes death and passion for as the material bread doth comforte our hartes and the naturall wine doth reuiue our spirites and sences euen so the spirituall eating of Christes bodie the true bread of life doth comforte our spirituall bodies the spiritual drinkeing of his precious blood shed for vs on the crosse doth reuiue and reioyce all our spirituall sences and powers of the soule vnto life euerlasting if we lift vp our hartes and mindes vnto Christe which is in heauen and with al thanks féede on him by fayth This is the true and right receyuing of the Lordes supper and the true sence and meaning in which we must remember Christes death and passion vntil he come againe to be our ioyfull iudge The sonnes 25. Question I pray you sir how must we frame our selues for to receyue this holy sacrament faithfully and worthily The fathers Aunswere First we must remember the gréeuousnesse of our sinnes from the verie bottome of our hartes and vnfaynedly detest them and euer after frame and force our selues vnto a godly vertuous and sober life secondly we must trye and examine our selues whether we haue a true firme and a constant fayth on and in the promises of Christe Iesus or no And thirdly we must humbly louingly and brotherly yea faithfully reconcile our selues vnto suche as in any kind we haue offended euen vnto our enimies and so hauing left our gyft on the alter we may then come boldly offer our gyft in Christian loue charitie with out the which we must not dare presume to receyue the holy communion this is the best way that I know howe to frame our selues to receyue this holy sacrament The sonnes .26 Question I pray you sir doth all men that receyue this sacrament receiue the spirituall graces alike The fathers aunswere As in Baptisme none but the faithfull doth receyue the forgiuenesse of sinnes euen so none in the Lords supper are partakers of the benefites and graces of Christ but such as receyue him with a true and vnfayned fayth as for the faith les they receiue not the thing finished but a bare sacrament vnto their vtter destruction From the which the almightie of his mercy deliuer vs for euer The sonnes .27 Question I pray you good father let me aske you one question more which is this we reade in the .14 Psal of Dauid these words there is saith the prophet no good man no not one and in his .37 psal he playnely expresseth both a iust a wicked mā I pray you good father make those scriptures agree that I may be resolued The fathers aunswere My sonne marke this
many thousands that are called christians pray at this day how desirous they are of all the worldly blessinges before heauenly and spirituall because they are vnregenerated and worldlyminded Vnto whome all thinges which they possesse are vncleane and cursed You haue hearde also who are those that feare God and not loue him euen suche I say that doth not knowe howe to honour God not how to serue him nor when they commit spirituall Idolatrie nor wheÌ„ they do abuse gods holy name nor when they prophane or abuse the Lordes day neyther yet knowe the great difference betwéene the first table and the seconde that is they knowe not holynesse from righteousnesse I saye gods right from mans weakenesse that is a true fayth froÌ„ mans workes which are corrupt actiue from profound passiue righteousnesse which is as great difference as is betwéene gods almighty maiestie and mans weake imbessilitie such I say that neyther knowe the articles of their fayth nor vnderstande what true beléefe is neyther yet knowe what prayer is nor do knowe howe to pray neyther yet know what a Sacrament is yet dare presume to saye that they are saued onely because they are baptised yet do lyue worse thâ—n Infidells yea dare presume to receyue the holy communion yet violate pollute the seales therof these are those which are a sléep yea dead yet aliue these are papistes Atheistes Epicures Earnall Protestants and all those wise wordly wisards whose kitching is their church and belly their God and all their glory euerlasting shame and confusion Oh Lorde reclayme them if it be thy will with thy loud cal or lure the preaching of thy Gospel that they may be brought into the tentes of Sem being yet rammish haughtie haggerdes descended from the vncleaÌ„e cage of Iaphet as some learned affirme the elder brother of Sem. Graunt this O God for Christes sake our onely Lorde and sauiour An other question of the sonne â—7 Father I haue heard you say manye times when you haue reproued manye that sweare by their fayth you haue sayd that they were as good sweare by the Trinitie the father the sonne and the holy Ghost Howe can that be doo wée sweare by them when we sweare by our fayth The fathers aunswere Yea is not your faith a stedfast beléefe in God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost And is it not the whole somm of our beliefe which we daylie confesse when we say I beléeue in God the father almightie and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde and the holye Ghost c. Do you not then sweare by the Trinitie when you sweare by your beléefe whiche is the verye Christians fayth and is not your fayth a sure hope hold and confidence on and in the father the sonne and the holy Ghost by and through the merits and passion of christ Iesus with a sirme beléefe true and pure vnderstanding of his holy worde and Sacramentes vnto life euerlasting The wife and sonnes aunswere with an other Question Yes verily and so we now confesse and are fully resolued but nowe we praye you let vs vnderstand the sence or meaning of a Sacrament and what it is The fathers aunswere or difinition A Sacrament is when the holy word of God is ioyned with an element as in Baptisme the word is ioyned with the element water and in the Lordes supper the word is ioyned with elementes bread and wine the whith elementes and word ioyned together doth make the definition of a Sacrament and the meaning of a Sacrament is a true and visible signe of an inuisible grace that is the .3 Elements to be séene as the very water bread and wine is veryly present in our sight euen so that inuisible grace working in our harts by the spirite and power of God by faith althings necessary for our saluatioÌ„ by through Iesus Christ and they are also sure seales of the certaintie of our fayth The sonnes .19 Question We pray you sir whether do the Sacraments of them selues giue grace to the faithful receyuers or no We praye you certifie vs or ought we to worship them as God The fathers aunswere They neyther of them selues nor in them selues doth include or giue anye grace for it is the onely gift and worke of the holy Ghost neyther are they to be worshipped as God but we ought to eleuate or lift vp our hartes vnto Iesus Christ who is in heauen our onelye mediator and aduocate vnto God our father for vs and that onely by fayth who is the onely author of these sacramentes commaunding so often as we vse them to do it in the remeÌ„brance of his last comming when we shall receiue it in full ioy with him in his euerlasting kingdome yet they are holy signes seales of our fayth as it were by an instrument God doth worke and seale grace in our harts only by the hande of fayth neither yet are they bare naked signes but grace is truely presented to our fayth when and so often as we receiue the same with a firme fayth constant beléefe in the only merites of christe Iesus our onely Lord and Sauiour The .20 Question We pray you sir is there any more sacraments then two for I haue heard some say there are fiue some affirme there are seuen but we are taught in our church there are but only two The fathers aunswere Howe many soeuer the pestilent papistes haue in their sinfull sinagogue whether they haue fiue seuen or seuen hundred that is nothing to vs for euery seremoniall thing or seremony or any thyng els whiche they thinke is holye in theyr Holye Holie Church or sinnagogue must vpon payne of the Popes cursse be holy adorned and worshipped for it is with them a sacrament or as great yea the very dust and swéeping of their Sinagogue but in Christes holye Churche there is nor neuer was more then two th one is Baptisme the other is the Lords Supper for by the first we are receyued into Christes Church and by the other we are nourished by fayth in our soules into life euerlasting and also remember Christes death vntill hée come agayne to be our ioyfull iudge The sonnes 21. Question We pray you sir certifie vs more plainly what is the true sence substance and meaning of Baptisme The fathers Aunswere Baptisme is the holy sacrament of our regeneration or newe birth vniting and incorporating of vs vnto the body of Christ being therby made a member of his Church by which Sacrament we are purged and washed from al our sinnes for as the water washeth awaye all our filthinesse of the bodie euen so by fayth the blood of Christ sprinckled on our soules by the hand of faith washeth away all our sinnes yea and also all our paynes due vnto the same so being made members of Christes owne body we are partakers of all the benefites and blessinges of Christ our elder brother and head if we