deserueth suddaine iudgement And therefore let it please thee that as thy deere sonne through thy surpassing loue hath reconciled all such vnto thy fauor againe that are truely penitent so let thy holy spirite continually worke to the taming of vnbridled flesh and let me by the same spirite neuer leaue more and more to seeke and endeuour to subdue my grosse affections vntill I come to a true and absolute mortification of all tâ—e euils that rise vp in mee so shall I denie and forsake my selfe and follow thee so shall I leaue my selfe and come vnto thee I shal hate my selfe and loue thee I shal conquere my self and serue thee Good Father thou seest that I am most weake and without the continuall woorking of thy grace I can not in any measure suppresse my desires but rather they the more strongly rise in me I cannot denie my selfe but rather I deny the working of grace in me I do not onely not mortifie my sinnes but sinne rather reuiueth and becommeth strong in me insomuch as it bringeth forth fruit not vnto life but vnto death Therefore I beseech thee sanctifie me that I defile not my selfe with the filthinesse of the flesh or fleshly thinges howsoeuer they seeme to please me Let me not be deceiued with the pleasing iudgement of wordly men who affirme sinne to bee no sinne darkenesse to bee light and light to bee darkenesse Atheisme to be religion and sanctitie to be sinne couetousnesse to be good husbandry and charity to be folly hatred and reuenge to be manhoode and loue to bee cowardice swearing to be courage and meekenesse to be madnesse pride to be decencie and comelinesse to bee beastly Oh good Father many are the enormities that rise vp in vs defended not only as things tollerable but as things laudable oh mortifie therfore mortifie these euils let vs no longer be besotted with y e filthy fashions of the corrupt world extinguish the flames of carnall desires represse the raging lusts of the flesh and graunt that we may shun and with due watchfulnesse auoyde all thinges that haue but the apparance of cuil that being thus inwardly subdued I may make outward profession that whatsoeuer I doo it may be simply grounded vpon the truth of a good coÌ„science in singlenesse of the spirite in newnesse of life And let me still retaine this in memorie that I can not follow mine owne will and thy woord I may not impart my affections to the deedes of the flesh and the woorkes of the spirite I can not walke in darknesse and light the way of death and the way of life I cannot serue thee and sinne Direct me therefore good Father direct mee in my whole life and seperate mee from the worlde and worldly things and let me dwell with thee in all godly meditations and contemplations and let mee vse the things in this world as if I vsed them not let mee liue in this life as if I were dead to sinne and beeing thus truelie mortified in the body and quickned in the spirite let mee looke in continuall watchfulnesse for the dissolution of this my mortall bodie that my soule may ascende and in the ende both in soule and bodye I may for euermore enioy the eternall ioyes of heauen Amen O Lord increase our faith This tendeth to a true deniall of ourselues in mortifying our affections whereby we ouer greedily imbrace the pleasures of this world COrrupt and filthy are we all the proudest man is dust No comfort here we liue in thral and linger here in lust The sweetest of delights that we can chuse to please our will what brings it vs who doth not se that pleasures turne to ill Art thou a maÌ„ whose state is great if pompe exalt thy mind What then Thy soul with sin impleat bewraies thy plesures blind A dolefull bell doth wait to ring when thou secure shalt die what song of glory canst thou sing when corpes in graue shall lie What shal auaile thy lofty lookes whereat the poore doe quake And what thy Machauilian bokes whose cursed slights for sâ—ke Thy brauest buildings high in state thy golden gods but dust Thy Thrasoes thy Gnatoes mate no more shall serue thy lust Thy formal friends that fawne on thee please the time for gaine wil sigh in shew but shrink froÌ„ the wheÌ„ most thou groanst in pain The rich aray which here doth make thy stinking carcasse gay Thy foe when thou art gone will take laugh thou in clay No state so strong no man so sure no office or degree Can graunt vs warrant to endure beyond our time we see Why then doth flesh triumph braue it selfe in pleasing daies Yet sinks in sins at last the graue our grosse farewell displaies Oh then in hast and happie time bid all this trash farewell Ye high and low of dung slime to day leaue of to swell Subdue ye pride denie your will now mortifie your lust No share els in Gods holy hill ye haue to hell ye must A motion to Prayer tending to the obtaining of the kingdome of God IT hath pleased Almightie Gâ—D in greate measure of mercye to call vs home vnto him to confesse our sins which although they be great many yet through the abundance of his loue he hath taken them away through the merits of his sonne And onely craueth this that we wil forsake our selues and follow him wherein we are mooued to seeke the Lord our God and to frame our selues to that course that may bring vs wholy vnto him being the fountaine of all goodnes which we can receiue either in soule or body And forasmuch as hee saw the corruptions of our heartes to bee such as they brought forth oftentimes peruerse and contrarie desires tending most especially to worldly and fleshly things He in fauour directed vs especially what to craue at his hands namely To seeke the kingdome of God the riches and righteousnesse thereof And then shall all things necessary both to body and soule bee administred vnto vs. In so much as it appeareth that the foundation of al our petitions tending to bodily reliefe must bee builded not vpon our owne rash conceites as to aske what our naturall disposition will lead vs vnto But to seek the word of God the knowledge of Christ and the things of the body beeing of small moment shall be cast vpoÌ„ vs by the louing prouidence of our good God Although in deede the kingdome of God bee not meate and drincke it coÌ„sisteth not in the outward man as in promotion in riches in beauty in honour in health in friends nor in whatsoeuer pleasures of flesh and bloud no not in ceremonies and traditions inuented by man not in the outward word neyther in whatsoeuer is seene with the external eye But it consisting in spirituall feeling taste and vse in the sincere and pure knowledge exercise and comfort of the Gospell of Jesus Christ perfourming the will of God here in earth
aduersarie that shee thy seruant and we thy people her subiects may still shew our selues thankefull vnto thee for thy protection and couet more and more to serue thee in all truth and holy zeale as becoÌ„meth vs in al things graunt these things good Father in the merites of Jesus Christ our sauiour in whom as thou art well pleased bee pleased to blesse preserue and direct our Queene to comfort defend support vs and either to bring our enemies to a perfect peace in imbracing thy truth with vs or to confound their deuises and power for euer Amen Oh Lord increase our faith A short Confession of our Sinnes MOst gracioâ—s God and louing Father in Jesus Christ pure and holye I Confesse vnto thee mine vnrighteousnes which maketh mee vnworthie to come before thee not onely in regard of mine originall corruption which I traduced from disobedient Adam But in regard of my continuall sinnes and actuall euils which I daylye commit against thee whereby I can not but become offensiue vnto thee and euer loâ—â—â—â—me in thy sacred eyes But a â—s such is mine estate being considered as it is in and of my selfe that I can bring forth no better fruites then the tree of Adams disobedience whose rootes as they are sinne so beare they sinne in me and consequently procure death and destruction But deare Father as by Adam sinne entred and tooke hold of him selfe and all his posteritie So by thy Sonne we are all Justified by our adoption into his righteousnesse of thy free loue If wee take hold of thy promises in him and become obedient as hee is obedient vnto thee And therefore deare Father howsoeuer our corruptions as they are in vs of our selues haue be wrapped vs in bondage to sinne and death let thy Sonnes merites bee vnto vs a sufficient ransome for our euerlasting libertie not onely to come freely vnto the throne of thy grace but in the ende to obtaine the ioyes eternal with him in heauen Amen O Lord increase our faith A motion to a Prayer for the forgiuenes of our sinnes HAuing thus cast our selues downe before our God in true humilitie wherein wee haue acknowledged that we are so polluted with sins and so tyed with the chaines of death that there is no euasion or meane in our selues or by our selues to escape the snares of Sathan that lurketh lik a roaring Lyon seeking whoÌ„ he may deuoure We must now endeuor to findout the meane how to be made at one with and be reconciled vnto our God againe Wherin thus much we are first to consider that as by Adam all men haue sinned and haue deserued death by sinne euen so by Christ we are clensed from sinne and stand againe in the fauour of God the father by faith in him Whom also we haue to be an Advocat to God our heauenly father and he it is that obtaineth pardon for all our sinnes It is the passion and most innocent death of Iesus Christ the immaculate Lambe which is a sufficient reconciliation for our offences And therfore he saith If any man sinne he hath an Advocate with the father euen Iesus Christ the righteous That is if any man acknowledge his offences truely before God and that he is sinfull impure and corrupt and doeth faithfullie submit himselfe vnto the fauour of God in Christ without standing to iustifie himself righteous Such a one hath the benifite of Christes death and such a one shal be partaker of the deserts of Christ wherin he shall obtaine pardon for all his sinnes But he that will not thus throw himselfe downe before the Lorde and crie out against his owne vnworthynes and say that he is a sinner and vnable of himselfe to obtaine remission of sins there is no place of mercy for such a one For Christ came to call not y e righteous such as were in their owne conceit holy pure iust and without sinne but sinners such as did so confesse acknowledge theÌ„ selues to repentance Such sinners as are sorie for their sinnes repent them of their euils such Christ himselfe calleth saying Come vnto me Al ye that labour and are heauy laden and I wil ease you Our God is patient and wold haue no man perish but woulde that al men shuld come to repentance And therefore hee sent his sonne Christ Jesus to giue himselfe a ransome for all that repent and truely beleeue in him We were in bondage and captiuitie and he most franckly tooke vpon him to ransome vs with a great price euen his bloud which bloud he shed for many for the remission of sinnes not for all but for such as truly repent amend their liues for they that runne on still in their sinnes howsoeuer they flatter themselues they are left vnto themselues and the merits of Christ worke not for them his death to them is none aduantage And we therefore must take heed left that we deceiue our selues with this that he is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world And that thereby euery man in the world is so included euery mans sins by him so taken away without repentance that we haue scope to sinne because hee taketh it away But wee must take hold of his merits by faith which faith will worke in vs a detestation of sinne and adeâ—â—re to reforme euill in our selues and to be reconciled vnto God in amendment of lyfe For it appeareth that the whole world was polluted and defiled with sinne and that the whol world naeded a meane to be cured of that great miserie and to that end came Christ men to saue all that repent and beleeue the Gospel to such is the glad tidyinges of saluation sent as well vnto the Gentile as to the Jewe to the bond as to the free to all people and nations of the world Wherein appered the vnspeakeable loue of God not that we loued him first but that he loued vs and sent his sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes It was he that bare our sins in his body on the tree that being dead to sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes wee are healed Being then healed of this deadlie euil euen of death it selfe let vs speedily repent vnto our good God in hartie repentance casting aside and gâ—uing ouer all the deceitfull workes of darkenesse and let vs pray that he will vouchsafe vs forgiuenes of our sins wherein of long time we haue liued Let vs be earnestlie sorrie that wee haue spent the time past of our liues after the lusts of the Gentiles licentiously and wickedly in wantonnes in lusts drunkenesse gluttony couetousnes in abhominable I do latrie To day if we will heare his voice let vs not harden our hearts But hauing laid open our weaknesse and infirmities with an ardent desire to reforme our liues let vs boldly approch vnto our mercifull God who seeing
wonne Thy Son hath brought vs peace againe made vs one with thee Although our sins deserued pain his crosse hath made vs free O how shall we requiâ—e thy loue what recompence is due To thee or him helpe from aboue our sinfull liues renew The best reward that we can giue it helps not thee at all Yet thou in bountie doest receiue vs wretched wights in thrall Great is thy glory loue and might thy mercies haue no end Al thanks praise to thee in right each heart should still extend But we poore sinners may cry out against our selues and say Our purest deeds like filthy clout our grosse conceits bewray No stay is in our crooked will a rash consent we giue To teach delight that seekes to kil our soules wherein we liue But now thy sauing health extend thy mercies sweete prepare And salue our sores let vs amend and breake thou Sathans snare A short praier for the forgiuenes of sinnes OH Father euerlasting mercifull and full of pittie I doe acknowledge my selfe sinfull whereby I haue deserued punishment in thy heauie displeasure But I haue an aduocate euen Jesus Christ the righteous and he hath redeemed me froÌ„ all feare of death if I truely repent mine euils and forme my life according to thy will wherefore most deare Father in him sanctifie mee againe wash me clean through his bloud â—ouer mee with the precious and most glorious robe of his integritie and obedience and in him forgiue my sinnes and for his sake remember them no more but rather supply the wants of all spirituall graces and gifts in me of â—aith of knowledge of loue of patience of repentance of obediâ—nce and true reformation of my â—ife that being renued againe and regenerate in him I may mortiâ—â—e all my corrupt and filthie affections and liue in all holinesse â—ighteousnesse and true zeale all â—he daies of my life that when his frayle bodye shall returne to â—ust my soule may ascend where Christ my Sauiour sitteth at thy â—ight hand at the time appointed my soule and body may receiue â—he fulnesse of the ioyes prepared â—or thine elect in thy relestiall Paâ—adise Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A motion to a praier tending to the obtayning of true mortification of our sinfull affections without the which we cannot please God HAuing acknowledged our sins corrupt affections before our God and in Christ his son hauing obtained attonment with him and yet resting in our selues sinfull and miserable of our selues vnable to obtaine the fauour of God and being obtained not able to stand without his continuall aide we must seeke by all meanes to frame all our actions in his feare knowing this that it is not inough for vs to haue found the meane how to bee reconciled vnto God but we must vse the meanes also being reconciled to retaine and keepe him out fauourable God still which is by mortifying of those euils in vs which breake foorth vnto his dishonour We must leaue sinne Yet this is not inough Wee also must cleaue vnto righteousnesse and exercise our callings to Gods glory we must not onely eschue euil but we must doo good we may not onely seeke peace and attonement with God but we must ensue and follow it It is not inough for vs not to walke in the counsail of the scorner and wicked persons or not to stand in the way of sinners but we must delight in the law of the Lord and that not for a time and then to retourne to our vomite and vanity againe according to the course of the worlde who thinketh not inough to cease from euill for a time and to serue the Lord at seasons ordinary but wee must exercise our selues in his word and that continually day night And we must gird vp the loynes of our mindes and be sober and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought vnto vs in the reuelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children not fashioning our selues vnto the former facts of ignorance but as he which hath called vs is holy so let vs be holy in all maner of conuersation pleasing God Not making our boast of our owne harts desire as the couetous who blesseth himself in his owne wealth and prosperitie and contemneth the Lord grounding the foundation of our hope vpon vain things wherâ—by oftentimes we are stirred vp to execute things offensiue vnto God which yet may carry coulor of warrant by the law of man wherin the inward affections of the hart appeere not only not mortified but rather reuiued to sinne If we duely looke into our desires we shall find out few or none that truely tende to that mortification which is required but rather to the aduancing of the pride of our flesh against the humility of the spirite Let none thinke it irkesome or tedious to leaue this that the first step to the perfection of a godly man is to deny himselfe which deniall is keeping vnder of all the corrupt motions which rise in our selues and couet to breake foorth in action contrary to that which our God hath commanded and if that bee hard to performe that which is further required is more hard and they are the words of Christ himselfe which I dare not deny If any man saith he will follow mee let him forsake himselfe and yet that not inough Let him take vp his crosse and follow me And in another place If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take vp his crosse dayly and follow me We are commaunded to forsake our selues and to deny our selues wherein we may see the great necessity of this mortification and how seuerely it is enioyned vs. If we forsake our selues whether shall wee flye to leaue our selues we must vnderstand that we as long as we are in the body are at home in the flesh where many corruptions lurke and therefore if we will forsake our selues we must suppresse the euils in our selues and by the spirite ascend vp from our carnall habitation and dwell with the Lord in continuall contemplation of his will in a dayly desire to bee with him thus also must we deny our selues for when the motions of the flesh do as it were intreate the minde and soule to consent vnto that which is vnlawful wee must presently checke our selues and in an inward godly aunsweare repell the proud desires of the flesh Which sauour not the things that appertaine vnto life but vnto death and therefore necessary to be denied Thus if we carry our affections within the compasse of the Lordes good pleasure we shall then easely attaine vnto the other part namely to take vp the crosse that is accept willingly the miseries troubles afflictions and persecutions which may happen vnto vs but so long as wee are carried away with the alluringes of the world and the flesh we shall say as Peter said vnto his maister sauoâ—ing of the flesh and not
fall into manie euils yet hauing the earnest of this spirit we may boldely come vnto our GOD who hath promised to sende the same if we aske it at his handes â—e will giue it in such aboundance and full measure that by the vertue thereof we shall be able to pray according to the wil of God This is the coÌ„forter which Christ promised to sende vnto vs euen the holy Ghost which should teach vs all things And without it wee know nothing And alas what were it for vs to fall downe before God in most reuerent outwarde maner pouring foorth a huge heap of words from the lippes not hauing this inward director Surely it were but to spend time to no purpose It is the Spirit that crieth in our hartes Abba father The spirit of a man knoweth only the things that are of man but the Spirite of God knoweth and desireth the things that are of God And the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are folishnesse vnto him But he that hath the spirit of God he discerneth all things Let vs therefore pray in the holy Ghost let vs pray alwaies with all maner prayer and supplications in the Spirite And let vs pray continually for the ayde of this sacred guide the holy Spirit of God which will both mooue vs vnto and direct vs in all things that are requisite to the due performance of this godly exercise The prayer for the ayd of Gods Spirite FOrasmuch deare Father as euery man liuing is of him selfe before thee as a beaste neither knowing thee nor the thinges concerning their owne duties vnto thee I as one of the most peruerse filthy and corrupt doe here humble my selfe before thee begging at thy hands that which thou hast promised to giue vnto as many as ask it of thee thine holy spirit that sacred comforter which reuealeth thee and thy will to the simple and ignorant which also stirreth vp the minds and inward affections of thy children to call vpon thee it prepareth the hartes and openeth the mouthes of thy children to celebrate thy name Bestow it therfore good father bestow it vpon me thy poore creature and vpon all thy children And graunt that although all of vs are of corrupt affections and of polluted lippes yet we may bee besprinkled with that heauenly Isope that wee therby may haue our harts cleansed from the corrupt affections of the world and the eyes of our vnderstandings opened that we may see the good things that we should aske that our feet which are fettered with the cares of vaine things may be set at libertie that we may walk the right way vnto the kingdome of heauen that the hands of our soules may apprehend and take hold of the riches and righteousnes of thy son Christ Jesus And that by the aide of the saine spirite we may cast of all impediments lets and incumbraÌ„ces that detaine vs from comming vnto thee Sanctifie mee within and without wash me and I shall be whiter then snowe Let thy truth and thy spirit meet together in my soule that my praier may enter into thy presence And that thine eares may incline vnto my humble petitions so shall I declare thy louing kindnesse in the morning and thy truth in the night Thou knowest whereof we be made thou forgettest not that we are but dust vnprofitable people not fitte apt or able of our selues to pray vnto thee or praise thy name Wherefore good Father enlighten vs and teach our hartes rightlie to coÌ„ceiue our tongues freelie to speake what may be to thy glory and our comfort allure vs to seeke thee and graunt that our harts may reioyce in thee and that we may liue and die in thee Amen Let vs now seeke the Lord let vs seeke his strength yea let vs seeke his face continually Psal. 105 4. O Lord increase our faith A motion to prayer for Queene Elizabeth FOrasmuch as experience it selfe teacheth that as an euill Prince draweth the greatest parte of his subiects vnto the same profession and course of life which the Prince professeth and taketh and so the Prince and people as it were bound vnto sinne passe together in the way of death so the good and godly prince both by good example of life and by sacred lawes enciteth and winneth his people to the heauenly course which tendeth to the obtaining of freedome of soule and body to life eternall And as the former is sent in iudgement vnto a people for their punishment and his long continuance to be lamented so is the other giuen as a blessing and a most speciall token of the loue of God for whose long and prosperous raine euery subiect is in dutie bound louingly zealously and faithfully to pray vnto God If so what haue we to say what haue we to do and what haue we to think of our gracious Queene chosen of the Lord him selfe and miraculously preserued and louingly giuen vs for our most speciall good by whome wee haue the freedom and libertie of the Gospel which is the path to our heauenly hearts ease which before her days we knowe was stopt by with the briers and thornes of persecution and death and nowe laide open againe as a most euident token that the lord by her sacred gouernment will lead the people through the wildernes of all the diuisions hurliburlies tumults in this world and to that end hath raisd vp manie zealous graue and religious Counsellors and godly ministers who do direct the whole progresse and marching on of her obedient people in the path of a godly profession of the word of God wherby at length they shal com to that pleasant land of knowledge wher they shall euen in this life enioy the heauenlie harts ease the peace of a good conscience without reproofe Therefore it is most expedient that we should call to minde our duties which we ow vnto her Maiestie not only in regard of y â— commandement which Paule setteth down to Timothy That supplications praiers intercessions giuing of thaÌ„ks shuld be made for kings and such as are in authority but also in regard of the dayly experieÌ„ce of her most sacred gouernment which is such so gratious as the like benefite hath not beene extended to any nation before vs. And therefore that we may auoid negligence in that behalfe let vs according to the former counsell of Paule pray for her Maiesties prosperous continuance amongst vs. Let vs make intercession for her perseuerance and going on in her sacred dutie to God as she hath begunne and that hee will preuent the euils which her aduersaries maliciously pretend against her And finally let vs giue thankes for her so long comfortable being our nursing mother that shee may so continue if it please God to the shutting vp and finishing of all time vpon the earth that she with vs and we
of the spirite Saue thy selfe go not to Ierusalem to fall into trouble so shall we alwayes couet pleasing thinges but poysonâ—d things as riches preferment honor ease idlenesse negligence in our callinge excesse in buildinges superfluous diet most diuelish attire and what euill accompanieth not this It is thought an easy fault nay no fault to be enuious to bee a glutton to be drunken to be a blasphemer to receiue rewardes against iustice to be partiall in iudgement if it leane but a little awry and especially if it be not seene of men But this liberty of the flesh will be one day restrayned and Gods mercies deteined from such libertines who although they cannot nor will forsake or deny themselues as yet it may please God to rowse them out of this forgetfullnesse strike their hearts with such a feeling of his displeasure that they may cast off their affections of the flesh and measure all their thoughtes woordes and workes by the spirite and therefore it is good to pray vnto the Lorde for his assistance therein knowing this that he that cannot forsake himself and deny himselfe howsoeuer hee flattereth his owne security and integrity wherein he foolishly persuadeth hymselfe that hee followeth Christ he is far from Christ and surely he will say vnto him in the last day I know thee not It is not the buying of a farme the prouing of oxen nor the marriage of a wife that can excuse vs continuing in the flesh and fleshly desires It is not inough to obserue the letter of the law For then wee may still continue manslayers in wrath towards our brethren wee may commit adultery by lusting we may sinne in our communication exceeding yea and nay And therefore must we abstaine from all apparance of euill and in all purity both of soule mind and body through the power and strength of the spirite of God endeuor continually to forsake and deny our selues being made free from sinne let vs become the seruants of righteousnes and let vs giue all our members instruments of righteousnes in holynes and purenes When we were in the flesh sin had power in our members bringing foorth fruites vnto death But now being deliuered from sin we must serue the Lord in newnesse of spirite and not in our old conuersation Ther dwelleth no good thing in our flesh for we may feele continuall rebellions therein which repugne the lawe of the spirite which law giueth strickt commandement against the affections of the flesh and would haue all the corrupt motions therof to be vtterly denied And therfore let vs fight manfully against all euils in what degree so euer they rise against the spirite Wee must carefully watch the doors of our hearts with the weapons of the spirite least that sinne creepe into our inwarde partes which obtayning the consent of our minds yea but a little it will take such aduantage by pleading possession that it will be harde to remoue it And therefore let vs preuent the entry of sinne by mortifying the deedes of the flesh so shall it neuer beare fruite in vs to death And surely if the spirite that raised vp Christ dwell in vs our mortall bodies shall be quickened by the same spirite And so quickned that it shall bring foorth the fruites of true mortification in vs. And then shall we be knowne to be the sonnes of God euen by that badge of denying our selues Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lord that he wil sanctifie vs within that he will make our whole lumpe holy the roote and the branches holy If our heartes be pure all our actions will likewise be pure We must hunger and thirst for righteousnes if wee will bee blessed with the righteous Wee must runne the race of the godly if we will receiue the reward wyth the godly we must subdue our euils and conquer our corrupt motions as doo the godly if we will bee crowned with the godly We must haue our hearts hands all the partes of our bodies knit together in one consent to the true forsakinge and denyinge of our selues The inward shew and outward affections must concurre in the same so shall we be both outwardly approoued and inwardly assured that wee haue the spirit of trueth and so consequently that we are the Lordes who will alwayes attend our safety if wee thus carrie our selues before him Reade the 15. Psalme learne it and haue it in thine heart and obserue it in thy proceedings and it shall teach thee what it is that is required of thee to become a fit man to enter into the kingdome of God The Prayer for mortification O Righteous God mercyfull Father who art so pure and cleane that there is no euill dwelleth with thee no corruption resteth in thy sight But he that walketh vprightly he that worketh righteousnesse and speaketh the truth from his hart he is accepted with thee such a one thou louest such a one thou receiuest and such a one shall rest in thy holy hill But on the contrarie hee that walketh after his owne hearts desires hee that yeldeth vnto the corrupt motions of flesh and bloud and cloaketh iniquitie vnder the shew of godlinesse such a one doest thou hate such a one doth thy soule abhorre and such a one shall not come neere thee hee may pray and shall not be heard he may cry and call but thou wilt not helpe him Wherefore my good God sith there is required in all men the sinceritie and true inwarde zeale of the soule and an absolute killing of the motions of the flesh and mortifying af all fleshly affections Looke fauourably vppon me in whome doe dwell an innumerable troope of foolish fantasies a heape of sinfull affections I find and feele that though many times to will be present with me yet to perfoâ—rme is not in my power sinne preuaileth and deathe through sinne swalloweth mee vp so that I rest in darkenesse of sin and that by giuing scope vnto mine owne peruerse will And so long good Father as I dwell in this house of flesh and bloud detayned downe-warde wyth the pleasing and entising things therof I cannot maister my corrupt desires I cannot bridle mine affections but in steede of true mortification I breake out into such outrage by consent of all my members that my affections extend from conceiuing euill to performing of euill from desiring to sinne to commit sinne euen with greedinesse And yet such is my miserable estate being thus in my selfe that flesh and bloud flattereth it selfe and concludeth that whatsoeuer I purpose in an euill desire so that it breake not foorth into open grosse wickednesse that I am holy enough that I am as sincere as is requisite and that I stand too fearefull of thy iudgements when thou knowest that all and euery the least conceite of sin breaking into action in what couert measure or meane degree soeuer it by and by endaungereth my soule and
their owne perdition all their plots snares and pittes to catch themselues is not this maruelous in our eyes But the truth is great and it preuaileth It is the Lord that hath doone this great thing It is hee that driueth backe the heauen and that planteth his church it is he that destroyeth the aduersaries maketh his own people to grow it is he that giueth strength vnto his people blesseth vs with peace Why then doe the foolish heathen thus rage why do these peeuish people murmure against the church of Christ in vaine When their hope was to haue preuailed with their peeuishly tearmed inuincible armie they stumbled and fell the hande of the iust God was against them and his mighty hand cast them into the bottome of the sea and with his power he confounded their deuise and howsoeuer they seeme to continue malicious and in a deepe desire to cut vs off and to dispeople vs let vs not feare but duely call vpon the name of God our head and husbande and hee will breake their bowes hee will shiuer their speares in sunder their owne swordes shall pearce themselues and their owne bullets shal rent themselues in peeces Let vs therefore continually fal downe before him in prayer and in due obedience vnto his worde submit our selues vnto his will and if hee will that wee suffer for his name and truethes sake let vs glorifie him in our sufferinges knowing this that a crowne of life is laide vp in store for as many as take his yoke with patience and faithfully endure vnto the ende If it please him hee can make warres to cease from one ende of the world to the other but if it be his pleasure to raise vp new euils against vs for our sinnes let vs acknowledge his iudgementes to be iust and our deserts to be vile And let vs serue him continually without feare of them that can but kill the body and can not annoy the soule then shall nothing seperate vs from this our Christ nor from the vnity of his Church neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor peril of the sword nor death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature neither Pope Spaniard Turke nor Infidell nothing shall seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Let euerie member then of this true Church with all power and diligence endeuour to approoue himselfe by knowledge by faith by praier by humilitie and patient abiding the Lordes leasure in all thinges so will our louing God keepe vs vnder the shadowe of his winges and preserue vs as the apple of his eye that wee may grow vp bring forth fruite a thousand fold to the glorie of his name and whether by life or by death he hath decreed to glorifie vs let vs take either in all godlie obedience vnto his will and present our continuall praiers vnto his Maiestie for the comfort and preseruation of the vniuersall Church The Praier for the church of God to bee saide at all times and especially in daungers O Almightie God and euerliuing Father who hast vouchsafed to gather vnto thy self an holy companie out of all nations of the world whom thou hast most gloriously entituled with the names of thy Church thy spouse and thy members and whome also thou teachest louest and feedest whome also thou so tenderly considerest that howsoeuer the wicked euen thine enemies doe seeke to annoy it thou so defendest gardest blessest it that no haire of the head or the least member thereof falleth much lesse any one of that coÌ„panie perisheth or is troden down without thy prouidence Yet good father such is thy pleasure that while this companie shall dwell in earthly vessels it is as a ship tossed and tumbled with the cruel storms and dangerous waues of the sea of continuall persecutions subiect to often assaults of the enemie dashed sometime against the sword sometime beaten with slaunders backbitings reproches somtime to beatings buffettings crossings and sometime to massacres murthers and most cruell death It is neuer free from perill it is alwaies and by all meanes tryed There is no comfort no ioy no rest as long as it is in this life but in hope wayting patiently the comfortes and consolations in heauen It continually depainteth out the sufferings the crosses and ignominious course which Christ himselfe was forced to suffer here in earth In so much as it is made knowne to be thy Church by the continuall calamities which here in this life it endureth Good father thou seest how the heathen do rage and how the froward people of the earth do murmure against thee in these thy members how the Kinges of the earth band themselues the princes assemble and consult together against thee thy Christ and against his Church But make thy people strong in faith that we may breake their bands and cast their cordes from vs For saluation belongeth vnto thee and thy blessing is vpon thy people Thou seest O Lord thou seest how the wicked bende their bowes and make ready their arrowes that they may secretely shoote at thy children and to hit them that feare not But thou righteous Lord louest righteousnes thy countenance doth behold the iust and thine hand shal hold them vp Withdraw not therfore thy tender mercies from thy Church let thy mercie and thy trueth alway preserue it for thou seest that innumerable trobles are raised against it but send thou thy light and thy truth and let knowledge faith and true obedience in lowlines zeale lead it and by thy mightie hande preserue it in thy holy mountaine and let it alwaies rest in thy tabernacles furnish it with all ioye and gladnes gird it about with streÌ„gth Let it through thee be able to thrust back her aduersaries and in thy name tread downe such as rise vp against her Let thy church continually sing The Lord is my light my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shal I be afraid In the time of trouble and daunger hide thy people in thy tabernacle in the secret place of thy pauilion hide them O Lord and set them vpon a sure rocke that when the wicked euen their enemies and their foes come vpon them to deuoure them let them stumble and fal Be thou our strength shield Thou giuest strength to thy people and blessest them with peace But good Father thou seest that the wicked furiously rage and endeuour to rush in vpon thy sanctuarie they imagine mischief against thy church and seeke by all meanes to deuour thine inheritance They lay snares O Lord to entrap thy spouse to dismember thy Christ. They take wicked counsaile and in deceit doe they worke all their diuises they â—â—y wait for the righteous companie and seeke to destroye them But they
resist the holy Ghost And his filthines will so infect his poore soule euen with the leprosie of iniquitie that he shall neuer bee suffered to enter into the sweete habitation of eternall hartes ease All the filthy desires and lustes of the fleshe lye hidden in the hart adultery witchcraft hatred debate emulation wrath contention sedition heresies enuie murthers drunkennes gluttony and such other filthy annoyances which vnless they bee swept out and cast off they will infect the whole house of our bodies with such vnsauery and noysom pollutions y t our mouthes will be defiled with cursing lying and bitternesse our eyes with lust our handes with touching vncleane thinges our feete shall not bee able to walke the way of righteousnesse but take the waye of sinne and all the whole howse of our earthly tabernacle shall bee so inuironed with filthinesse that all our progresse will bee turned to our disprofite and our hearts ease to heart sore Wherefore let vs cast away al the dregs of y e old Adam which is vnrighteousnes wherein wee sometime walked and let vs deeke vs with the workes of the new man which is renued in knowledge after the image of Christ who is the way in whome we must walke the truth which we must imbrace and the life wherein we must liue for euermore which way as it is pure cleane sweete and without turning so must we be pure cleane and without sin not turning back vnto iniquitie And as that truth is vnchangeable plaine and without deceit so must we be simple constant faithfull and as that life is without all blemish euerlasting and neuer ending so must we be quickned liuing without all blemish and spot of sin in righteousnes holines for euer Therefore let vs consider what are the principall and chiefe ornaments to bewtifie this our mansion house being thus swept and clensed from the former filthines that when we shall remoue from this our earthly tabernacle we may take that way depart hence in that truth and so for euer liue in that life Christ Jesus who will bring vs vnto his heauenly habitation the absolute end of our progresse and the full accomplishment of our heauenlie hearts ease Let vs then consider that as the filthines which we haue cast out was most vgly filthy and noysome vnto vs because they were the works of the flesh which bring foorth death So we must adorne vs with sanctitie and holines the works of the spirit which will be a most comely bewtifying of these our houses of claie and leade vs vnto life We must now therefore sweeten and perfume our hearts with loue with ioy with inward peace with long suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meekenes temperance and all godly conuersation casting away all desire of vaine glory not prouoking one another nor enuying one another that being dead to sin and liuing to God we may declare the same in this our standing house by an innocent and sanctified life Hauing thus clensed our houses from filthines and corruptions of the flesh and decked the same with the ornaments of the spirite It is necessarie that wee should proceede to the execution of our callings according to the rule of the diuyne word knowing this that wee liue not vnto our selues but vnto god not for our selues but for our brethren for whose sakes wee are bound to trauell in our callings to execute our offices and functions as becommeth vs that our calling in Christ may bee made sure euen in this life There are in euery body many members and euery member hath his seuerall place office and function Euery kingdome is a body wherein there is a gouernour and people as subiects to be gouerned wherein also are many Magistrates as the principal members of that bodie and also there are inferiour members preserued and defended by the more glorious Euery familie is a body where is a father and where commonly are children where are maisters there are seruants All these hauing seuerall offices and places in this standing house of our Common weale must euery one proceede to the performance of his calling in such sort as there bee not any disorder or anie complaining in our streetes Wee are humblie to thanke our God that hee hath established our heade in such comely sort and endued her with all vertues aunswerable vnto her high function yea we may sing vnto our Queen Elizabeth the Queene of Sabaes songe which she made of the happie gouernment of Salomon Happie are thy men may wee say happy are these thy seruantes which stande here before thee and heare thy wisedome Blessed bee the Lord thy God which loued thee to set thee in the Throne of Englande because the Lorde loued Englande for euer and made thee Queen to do equitie righteousnes It is verified in her That the king by iudgment maintaineth the country How haue we the poore members of this body whereof she is the head beene maintayned preserued conducted and blessed in her gouernement No nation hath tasted the like benefites by peace by plentie by health and especially which is most sweete by the continuall vse of the worde of God whereby hath beene discried most filthie drosse and dregges and the rubble of errors which in former time stuffed vp the house of our land so that we could not walke in the truth without perill And now in great measure swept and cleansed and garnished adorned and beautified with spirituall ornaments of iudgement of equitie of mercie and truth in so much as we may sing that mercie and truth are met togither and righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other The God of peace preserue her that she may be if it please him our head while we stay in this mansion of the flesh O that there were such a resemblance of performance of duetie in euery of the members as is apparant in the head that the subiects could answere in like sorte for their obedience as her Maiestie for gouernment then should we haue a most comfortable abiding in this our standing house of the flesh then should all the noysome corruptions of enuie malice reuenge gall and bitternesse of the hart be turned into loue meekenesse mercie peace then should we haue no leading into captiuitie no imprisonments no murthers no strife no debate no cause of complaining amongst vs. But we must looke into our dueties and fashion our selues not according to the former deedes of disobedience but as becommeth the seruants of God knowing that we are commanded to obey such as are appointed to rule ouer vs we must submit our selues vnto all manner ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be vnto her Maiestie as vnto our superiour or vnto gouernours as vnto them that are sent from her for the punishment of euill doers but for the praise of them that do well We are commanded reuerently to vse the Judges and not to
of ioy with such vnspeakable comforts with such endlesse felicitie and surpassing glory yea such is the fulnesse of all spirituall contentation there that we shall not couet to see more the eare desire to heare more the body haue will to feele more nor y e hart thirst to conceiue more then we shall there for euermore enioy howsoeuer they are now whilst we are in y e flesh far remoued froÌ„ our grosse conceits and euery report of them seemeth dark vnto our senses vntil our all sufficient God our Christ and our Sauiour shall himselfe appeare againe in the clowdes then shall our vnderstandings be opened then shall our senses be lightened and then shall we most plainely see euidently perceiue and to our absolute comfort taste of the fulnesse thereof yea then shall we see our God face to face when there shall be an end of all our trauailes of all our toyle of all our carke care feare trouble and irkesome passage then shall we hunger no more thirst no more then shall we neede no friend nor feare any foe then shall we that are here now in prison be set at libertie and we that are pressed downe with misery shall be raysed vp to comfort yea then shall be an end of all things that now discomfort vs. Oh let vs therfore be euer thankfull vnto our God that hath not only prouided this heauenly harts ease and endlesse ioyes for vs but hath also layde out the way thereunto and giuen vs his owne hand to leade vs yea himself to conduct vs vnto the same Let vs without ceasing therefore pray vnto him and let vs be alwayes in good comfort in him yea let vs groane in our hearts with most longing expectation for the appearing of him that shall deliuer vs and free vs froÌ„ dangers and settle vs in these ioyes And let vs cut off all lets and impediments how neere or deere soeuer they bee vnto vs whether it be the eye the hand or the foote let vs cast away all excuses wife children lands goods gold and siluer honours dignities yea let not life it selfe be deere vnto vs if it seeme to hinder vs from a speedy passage vnto our God knowing that so long as we are heere in this earthly house our estate is miserable our passage dangerous our pleasures perilous and we wander as wretches through many miseries We are heere but as in a strange countrey farre off from our owne home whereunto we must endeuor to attaine in all simplicitie carrying onely with vs as our staffe to stay vs vp the merites of our Christ and for our defence heere the swoord of the spirit whereby we shall be able to walke through all the perils and dangers yea the fire water through which we are to passe Let vs expect yea and wish with ioy that most happy daye wherein that sweete trompet of our sauing Christ shall sound out to call vs let vs hearken for it continually and let vs thinke it will sound to morrow Then to morrow shall be our merry day for then to morrow shall we meete our God that will carry vs home with him that in body and soule we may dwell with him for euermore Oh come Lord Jesu come quickly and let all the people of God say Amen Wee are not yet come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lorde our God giueth vs. Deut. 12. 9. The Authour to the Booke STep foorth and stagger not my silly Booke Dread not to draw neere vnto the Pallace of thy Princely Patronesse whose sacred Scepter shall be thy sufficient safetie and whose worthy wisedome will way the willingnes of thine vnwoorthie woorkemaster who though he below yet he is loyall howsoeuer homely he hath compiled thee he in all dutie and humilitie presenteth thee though a worke vnworthie to be patronized with so puissant a Princesse But heerein comfort thee that her Maiesties royall countenance graceth the present that carrieth shew of true loue and loyaltie and accepteth the gift as is the minde of the giuer Vade Vale profice non vised veritate FINIS A deuout Prayer for the preseruation of her Maiesties forces now at Sea MOst omnipotent maker and guider of all worlds thou onely searchest fadomest the botome of all hearts consciences and conceits and in them seest the true originall of all actions intended Thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerne of al actions intended Thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerâ—â—e how no malice of reueÌ„ge nor quittance of iniurie nor desire of bloudshead nor greedines of luker hath bred the resolution of our now set out army but a heedfull care and a wary watch that no neglect of foes nor our securitie of harme might breede either danger to vs or glorie to them These being the groundes thou that diddest inspire the minds we humbly beseech thee with bended knees to prosper the worke 〈◊〉 with the best forewinde guide the iourney speede the victory make the returne the aduancement of thy glory the triumph of thy fame and suertie of this Realme with the least losses of english bloud To this deuout petition Lord giue thy blessed graunt Amen God is willing and ready to giue his spirit to them that pray for it We knowe not what to aske without the spirite Rom. 8. 25 27. Flesh and bloud ignorant of things necessarie to be prayed for 2. Cor 1. 22. 5. 5. Rom. 8. 17 The Spirite of God the promised comforter Ioh. 14. 26. Wordes with out the spirit of God are vaine The effect of the spirit The spirit of man vnderstaÌ„deth onely outward things 1 cor 2. 11. vers 14. 15. The spirit of God discerneth all things Iudâ—â—0 Ephe. 6. 1. As the Prince is so are the people Queene Elizabeth was giuen a token of Gods loue The blessings that we haue by Queene Elizabeth Wee must haue consideration of our duties to our gracious Queene for many causes 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. No nation hath had like benefite as England hath had not only of the Gospell but of long peace We must pray for our gracious Queen that God will blesse her with all comforts The perill of our time giueth vs occasion to pray for Queene Elizabeth And especial cause to praye for Queene Elizabeth The dangers of forraine countries giue vs cause also to pray for Queene Elizabeth We must seeke howe to be reconciled to God Christ reconcileth vs to God our ostended heaueÌ„ly father â—ho hath the benefit of Christs death Mat. 19. 13. 1. Tim 15 Whome Christ came to cal 2. Pet. 3. 9. Mat. 2. 28 Christ is our ransom Mat. 26. 28 They that runne on stil in sinne haue no profite of the merites of Christ. Ioh. 1. 19. The effects of faith The whole world was dead in sin All are called to salvation 1. Ioh. 3. 1â— 1 Pet. 2. 22. How we must repeÌ„â— 1. Pet. 4. 1. God is readie to receaue vs if we vnfainedly repent Luk. 15. 20. Luk. 1.